Transformers vs. – Oh, Who Are We Kidding?
Comedies are back! Comedies rule the box office! America is ready to laugh again! Or maybe comedies are pretty much all Hollywood has released for the past three weeks. When Transformers kicks all ass at the box office this weekend, it will prove that America is ready for massive angry robots again.
6/26
Wide
TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The Decepticons just can’t get enough of that sweet, sweet LaBeouf.
WILL IT SUCK?
The Transformers are a pretty known quantity at this point, so expect more of the same. Literally. 40 robots instead of the 10 or so they scrounged together for the first one. Same talent behind the camera, adding screenwriter Ehren Kruger who hasn’t impressed since The Ring
(It really is impressive the difference a director makes. One of the biggest critical successes of the summer, Star Trek, was penned by the same writers as this – minus Kruger – and the original Transformers, but Bay is no J.J. Abrams.)
But there is no question you’ll get plenty of giant robot smashy-smashy.
Early buzz is not so good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Probably going to be the biggest movie of the summer. $304mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Little girl (Abigail Breslin) is understandably put out to discover that she was bred as a an organ farm for her ailing older sister.
WILL IT SUCK?
Director Nick Cassavetes’ reteams with the writer of his The Notebook which, in spite of the critical drubbing it took upon release, is very well regarded on the IMDb. Still not enough to get me interested, although I am curious to see what Jason Patric does with his role.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Plot-wise, this doesn’t seem equipped to catch fire the same way The Notebook did. $17mil.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
It’s Stephen Frears. I don’t really care. I’m in.
WILL IT SUCK?
Well, if you must know it’s based on some Collette novels about a layabout (Rupert Friend) whose mother (Kathy Bates) interferes with his relationship with a retired courtesan (Michelle Pfieffer). And after all that talk about Frears (who reunites with another Dangerous Liaisons alum here, screenwriter Christopher Hampton), the early buzz has this as one of his weaker efforts.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Without strong buzz, lacks breakout potential. $8mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Woman tells journalist a horrifying story about what happened to a woman in a small Iranian village.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mostly good. Starring Shohreh Aghdashloo and a defy-you-to-recognize-him-in-the-trailer Jim Caviezel.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
With the right coverage, I could see this getting some attention. $5mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Bomb defusers in Iraq.
WILL IT SUCK?
Hell no. Read.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Summit has a pretty clever release strategy here. It’ll have about a month of limited release before going wide. If the buzz pans out, that could work. Unfortunately, I think the trend against Iraq films hitting at the box office isn’t making an exception for one that’s actually good. $11mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Different people’s lives intersect in, well, Cracktown.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Probably not as cheesy as the trailer would suggest. Interesting cast, including a 180-from-Superman Brandon Routh as a resident crackhead.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Overcrowded weekend. $500,000.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Witnesses and investigators converge on a killing spree in Nowheresville, USA.
WILL IT SUCK?
More like meh. See my review (scroll down).
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Again, overcrowded weekend. $1mil.
Next Week: Johnny Depp plays a charismatic criminal who isn’t based on Keith Richards.