Blog

Given that neither film had much prospect of reaching $60 million someday, I think both Takers and The Last Exorcism are winners, even though, in the end, Takers turned out to be slightly more the winner.

9/3

Wide

MACHETE

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Bad guys fuck with the wrong Mexican.

WILL IT SUCK?
Is it too fanboyish of me to call this one of the most anticipated films of the year?  Ever since the faux trailer for this film appeared as one of the breaks in Grindhouse, moviegoers have wondered “what if?”  Well, apparently so was Robert Rodriguez, who co-directs with his Planet Terror/Shorts co-editor Ethan Maniquis and co-writes with his cousin Alvaro Rodriguez.  Early buzz is crazy good and the cast goes from the fun (Robert DeNiro, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, Cheech Marin) to the “I wonder what he’ll do with…” (Steven Seagal, Lindsay Lohan, “introducing” Don Johnson) to the hip (Tom Savini, Nimrod Antal).  But the most important casting is Danny Trejo, finally getting his time as a lead.  And when’s the last time you saw a trailer that looked like this much fun (well, besides the first Machete trailer from Grindhouse)?

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not much to fear from Going the Distance, but, sadly, Resident Evil Part Eleven could be just as successful the following week.  $42mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No, but Trejo standing in the background with a machete will keep those speeches damn short.

THE AMERICAN

(9/1)

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Bad guys fuck with the wrong American.

WILL IT SUCK?
George Clooney is always fun to watch, and acclaimed video director/photographer Anton Corbijn (Control) is supposed to have made it all internal and deep and shit.  Critics seem to be torn on whether or not that’s a good thing.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Clooney box office is surprisingly hard to predict, but my guess is this will end up on the lower end of his brooding, indie fare.  $33mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Not the film to put Clooney back in play.  Hear good things about Thekla Reuten, tho.

GOING THE DISTANCE

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The distance in question refers to a long distance relationship between Justin Long and Drew Barrymore.

WILL IT SUCK?
While it’s interesting that talented documentarian Nanette Burstein (The Kid Stays in the Picture, American Teen) is going the romcom route, the early buzz is quite meh.  Nice to see Jim Gaffigan get some feature work, tho.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
No romcoms in sight. $26mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No, but Barrymore needs to direct more.  Whip It shows great promise.

Limted

MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY #1

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Sequel to that movie I told you about last week about the legendary French gangster neither of us had ever heard of.

WILL IT SUCK?
Like its predecessor, great reviews, plus this one adds Mathieu Amalric to the mix.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
First one had a solid open, and the Girl With series proved you can have two parts of a franchise in play at the same time without hurting b.o.  $2mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
It would be interesting to see if France did submit this, if they’d go with part one or two.

A WOMAN, A GUN AND A NOODLE SHOP

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Zhang Yimou remakes Blood Simple in period China.

WILL IT SUCK?
Yimou’s track record is impressive (To Live, Hero, Raise the Red Lantern).  Unfortunately, this is one of his least well regarded films.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Coen Bros. angle will help.  Lukewarm reviews and lack of stars won’t.  $2mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Nope.  But how Yimou’s gone this long without a nod is beyond me.

THE WINNING SEASON

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Sam Rockwell coaches girl’s varsity basketball.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed.  From the writer/director of Grace Is Gone.  Co-stars Rob Corddry and the amazing Shareeka Epps (go see Half Nelson right now).

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even Grace Is Gone didn’t make that much.  $1mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Nope.  But Rockwell’s due.  Did you see Moon?

WHITE WEDDING

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Road trip/wedding comedy where the groom has to travel across South Africa to get to his nuptials.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is pretty meh.  But, you know, clever title.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Will get drowned in the fifty or so other movies coming out this week. $500,000.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Kind of doubt it.

LAST TRAIN HOME

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Documentary about the journey 130 million Chinese workers make every year to go home to be with their families.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is outstanding.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Will probably be overlooked.  $250,000.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
I could see this making the doc short list.

Next Week: They’re just going to keep making Resident Evil films, aren’t they?

When five films go head-to-head at the end of the summer, the only winner is Sly.

8/27

Wide

TAKERS

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Cops and robbers.  Mostly robbers.

WILL IT SUCK?
Aside from the coincidence of T.I. playing a guy who just got out of jail, there’s really nothing interesting going on here.  Early buzz is mixed.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The release date tells me Screen Gems never had high hopes for this one.  $16mil.

THE LAST EXORCISM

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Documentary film crew records a priest’s last (and first real) exorcism.

WILL IT SUCK?
Daniel Stamm directed the woefully underseen A Necessary Death (you can see me heap praise here).  Given the premise of that film, the documentary aspect of this one should suit him well. Early buzz is great.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
A hit horror film without stars is lightning in a bottle, especially in the summer.  $20mil.

Limited

CENTURION

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Behind Enemy Lines – 117 A.D.

WILL IT SUCK?
Neil Marshall lost a lot of the good will of Dog Soldiers and The Descent with Doomsday, but mixed early buzz says this is a step back towards not sucking.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Masrhall has built himself up a decent following over the years.  $6mil.

MESRINE: THE KILLER INSTINCT

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Vincent Cassel plays legendary French gangster Jacques Mesrine (I have no idea who that is).

WILL IT SUCK?
You had me at Vincent Cassel.  Early buzz is good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It will have to compete with its sequel the following week.  But neither looks like they’ll get good exposure.  $1mil.

Next Week: The Tauntaun sleeping bag started out as a joke, too.

Did you know? You can get this preview e-mailed to you:

When in Martha’s Vineyard, please visit:

The corner where Brody buys the supplies to make “Beach Closed” signs

The ferry where the mayor convinces him everything is all right.

The beach where that Kitner boy gets it.

The bridge where the shark goes into the lagoon and eats some guy’s leg (well, actually everything but his leg).

No real box office surprises this weekend.  At this point, I’m just waiting for Toy Story 3 to make another $2 million and knock Transformers 2 out of the top ten highest grossing films of all time.

8/20

Wide

NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The eponymous supernanny (Emma Thompson) helps out Maggie Gyllenhaal (proving she’s not the only one in her marriage who can put on a British accent) with her rotten, rotten children and their spoiled cousins.

WILL IT SUCK?
First off, if you haven’t seen the original, it’s actually pretty good.  Thompson, who wrote the original, writes again and early buzz says it’s even better.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This is really about the international gross.  $37mil.

PIRANHA 3D

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Not just piranha.  Super, big-ass, prehistoric piranha!

WILL IT SUCK?
This is from the guys who wrote the Sorority Row remake which, given the level of camp this is likely to reach (they’ve recast Richard Dreyfuss as Hooper from Jaws and Chris Lloyd has never looked sillier), that might not be a bad thing.  If it weren’t for the high levels of gore director Alexandre Aja (High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes, Mirrors) has added to the mix, I might actually enjoy the crapulence.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The Last Excorcism might be a problem next week, but I doubt it.  $32mil.

VAMPIRES SUCK

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Vampire Movie

WILL IT SUCK?
Please.  Just.  Make.  It.  Stop.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I hate to say it, but these movies hit more often than miss.  $29mil.

LOTTERY TICKET

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy (Bow Wow) gets a winning lottery ticket but has to hold on to it for 3 days before he can cash it in.  The neighbors find out, and hilarity ensues.

WILL IT SUCK?
The only thing interesting about this is that Ice Cube is now essentially playing the dad role John Witherspoon played when Cube was in Friday.  Sunrise.  Sunset.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Friday, it ain’t.  $11mil.

THE SWITCH

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Woman (Jennifer Aniston) uses artificial insemination to get pregnant, not knowing that, through a mishap, her platonic friend (Jason Bateman) is the donor.

WILL IT SUCK?
From the directors of Blades of Glory but from the writer of 21.  Nice to see Patrick Wilson up in here, tho.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
2nd frame of Eat Pray Love may be an issue.  Will probably fall on the lower end of the Aniston romcom spectrum.  $41mil.

Limited

MAO’S LAST DANCER

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy becomes a dancing sensation in China, then America, but then China wants him back.  Based on a true story.

WILL IT SUCK?
From director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Tender Mercies, Breaker Morant).  Early buzz is great.  Apparently, would have won the audience award at Toronto last year if it hadn’t been for some film called Precious.  With Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan, and Joan Chen.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This has a fairly open playing field, although Tillman Story will provide a little grief.  $3mil.

THE TILLMAN STORY

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Doc about football-player-turned-soldier Pat Tillman’s death in Afghanistan and how his family investigates the ensuing cover-up.

WILL IT SUCK?
From director Amir Bar-Lev (My Kid Could Paint That) and writer Mark Monroe (The Cove).  Early buzz is outstanding.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
War docs have it tough, though the subject matter in this case may give it a little more press than usual.  $2mil.

Next Week: The director of a film I championed two years ago finally makes it to the big time.

The Other Guys topples Inception to no one’s surprise while Toy Story 3 quietly becomes the 11th highest grossing movie of all time.

8/13

Wide

EAT PRAY LOVE

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Woman (Julia Roberts) goes on a journey of self-discovery after getting a divorce.

WILL IT SUCK?
Writer/director Ryan Murphy’s last adaptation was the less-than-stellar Running With Scissors.  Nice supporting cast, tho: Richard Jenkins, Javier Bardem, Billy Crudup, Viola Davis, and James Franco.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not much competition.  This is close to Roberts’ very lucrative wheelhouse.  $95mil.

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Boy (Michael Cera) meet girl (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).  Boy, of course, must defeat girl’s seven evil ex-boyfriends.

WILL IT SUCK?
Besides getting a thumbs up from J.J. Abrams at comic-con and Boxcutters‘ Josh Kinal declaring it “a film so good even those who’re dead inside enjoy it,” you’ve got Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz writer/director Edgar Wright on the job.  Also starring Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, and Bill Hader.

Early buzz is good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This is a fairly niche audience, so it’s kind of hard to tell.  $39mil.

THE EXPENDABLES

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Let’s get together a bunch of action icons (Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Steve Austin) together and, um, that’s pretty much it.

WILL IT SUCK?
Written and directed by Sly, which on a good day means Rocky Balboa, but on a bad day means Rocky’s II – IV, Rambo (2008), and Staying Alive. Early buzz indicates that it’s a bad day.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I think nostalgia will get the better of people.  $71mil.

Limited

ANIMAL KINGDOM

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kid goes to live with his criminal extended family.  Godfather-type shit ensues.

WILL IT SUCK?
Won the Grand Jury Prize (World Cinema – Dramatic) at Cannes.  Early buzz is sick.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
At least by reputation, probably the best indie bet of the week.  $5mil.

TALES FROM EARTHSEA

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Some Hiyayo Miyazaki-style shit with dragons from his son, Goro.

WILL IT SUCK?
Adapted from the Ursula Le Guin novel, if that does anything for you.  Early buzz is not quite up to the elder Miyazaki’s standard.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Given his old man’s rep, I would not underestimate Goro’s box office potential.  $4mil.

LA SOGA

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Dominican Republic Confidential

WILL IT SUCK?
Well Junot Diaz loves it, so what’s your problem?  Early buzz is mixed.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Like many foreign thrillers before it, not so well.  $1mil.

PEEPLI LIVE

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Cameras arrive when a poor Indian farmer announces he will kill himself to make his family money.

WILL IT SUCK?
Audiences are more in love than critics, but early buzz is generally good.  Based on a true story.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Hard for foreign comedies, too.  $500,000.

Next Week: I rather liked Nanny McPhee, but I don’t remember asking for a sequel.  Um, thanks?

Inception holding strong and Kids Are All Right looking like it’ll be this summer’s (500) Days of Summer.  And then there’s the overreaction to Cats and Dogs‘ craptactular numbers as a death knell for 3D, as if Despicable Me hadn’t just hoovered cash less than a month ago (not to mention Pixar’s highest grossing film of all time being only their 2nd foray into the 3rd dimension).  Let’s wait for, say, five 3D films in a row to flop before we start making empty promises, mmm’kay?

8/6

Wide

THE OTHER GUYS

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Bumbling cops (Will Ferrell, Mark Whalberg) live in the shadow of supercops (Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson) until they stumble upon a big case.

WILL IT SUCK?
More often than not, Adam McKay proves to be good writing/directing mojo for Ferrell (Step Brothers vs. Anchorman and Talladega Nights).  Not happy that a Land of the Lost writer is also up in here, tho.  Early buzz is mixed.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
If Dinner for Schmucks can’t provide a decent challenge, I doubt Scott Pilgrim will next week, either.  $101mil.

STEP UP 3D

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
More dancing.  Oh, and to look at the trailer, some of those kids are from Tron.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz can probably be summed up by this quote: “It’s not good, but it’s a lot of fun.”

By the way, if you’re looking for a movie with amazing dance sequences and a lack of suck, check out Planet B-Boy.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This is a fairly solid franchise.  $47mil.

MIDDLE MEN

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Internet Porn Begins

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good, which is encouraging since writer/director George Gallo’s track record isn’t consistent (Local Color on one end and Trapped in Paradise on the other).  Stars Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, James Caan, Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Pollak, and Robert Forster.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not sure why they’re releasing this wide.  This seems like early fall indie art house fodder.  $18mil.

Limited

TWELVE

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Rich white kids deal drugs on the Upper East Side.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is not so good, but Roger Ebert likes it.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Chace Crawford could draw some teens, if teens generally went to art house films.  $4mil.

FLIPPED

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
When Little Harry Met Little Sally

WILL IT SUCK?
From the formerly awesome Rob Reiner, who is writing again for the first time since Spinal Tap, but his writing partner did North, Bait, and a Kangaroo Jack sequel.  Early buzz is not so good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Without stars, it’s very hard for a kid’s film to get traction, especially an indie kid’s film.  $7mil.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Woman (Gemma Arterton) gets kidnapped.  Woman fights back.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good.  And who doesn’t wanna see Eddie Marsan kidnap somebody?

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This weekend is getting way too crowded.  $2mil.

THE OXFORD MURDERS

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
John Hurt and Elijah Wood play a professor and a grad student trying to solve a code-laced killing spree at Oxford University.

WILL IT SUCK?
From Ferpect Crime writer/director Alex de la Iglesia.  This one’s not getting nearly the reception of his Spanish-language work.  To wit, “…makes The Da Vinci Code look like a masterpiece.”

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
On a weekend this crowded, without good reviews, even Frodo won’t help.  $1mil.

CAIRO TIME

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig hang out in Cairo.  Clarkson’s married to someone else, but, dude, it’s Alexander Siddig!

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is pretty good.  I’d expect more outstanding raves from a Siddig/Clarkson combo, however.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Again, not a good weekend to be a movie.  $2mil.

Next Week: The movie that J.J. Abrams called “awesome” at Comic-Con.  Hint: Not Eat Pray Love.

Inception still rules the roost.

6/30

Wide

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Paul Rudd has to bring an idiot (Steve Carell) to dinner to impress his boss and outdo his co-workers who are bringing their own idiots.

WILL IT SUCK?
Director Jay Roach knows comedy (and, even more so, drama).  Writers did The Ex, which is less promising.  Remake of the French comedy The Dinner Game.  Great cast: including Carell and Rudd you’ve got Zach Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement, Bruce Greenwood, Ron Livingston, Larry Wilmore, Kristen Schaal, and Nick Kroll.  Early buzz is great.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The Other Guys is going to be a problem the following week.  This week is free and clear.  $99mil.

CATS & DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kind of like X2: X-Men United, except with more crying and “Why did they make a sequel?” bursts of anger.

WILL IT SUCK?
From the writers of Brother Bear, Chicken Little, and Open Season so, meh.  Early buzz is not so good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Step Up 3D is a credible threat next week, for 3D screens and some of the audience.  Charlie St. Cloud won’t help much, either.  $46mil.

CHARLIE ST. CLOUD

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy (Zac Efron) is torn between a new love and the ghost/memory of his dead little brother, with whom he plays catch every day.

WILL IT SUCK?
Director Burr Steers ain’t foolin’.  He helmed an auspicious debut with Igby Goes Down before directing Efron to better-than-expected reviews in 17 Again.  Screenplay comes from frequent Baz Luhrmann collaborator Craig Pearce and the less consistent Lewis Colick (everything from Domestic Disturbance to October Sky – at least the latter is more on topic, genre-wise).

Early buzz is not so good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
As Efron strays from his wheelhouse, so falls his box office.  $32mil.

Limited

GET LOW

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Unpopular man (Robert Duvall) holds his own funeral with the help of Bill Murray and Lucas Black.

WILL IT SUCK?
Saw this at SXSW and it was quite good.  Murray especially (and predictably) is delectable in his low-key role as the town mortician.  Also starring Sissy Spacek.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This is not a very showy film (to its credit), so it’s going to be hard to get attention.  $4mil.

THE EXTRA MAN

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy (Paul Dano) moves in with an eccentric older guy (Kevin Kline) who occasionally works as an escort for widows.

WILL IT SUCK?
From the writer/directors of American Splendor (R.I.P. Harvey) and, admittedly, The Nanny Diaries, but this is getting Splendor buzz.  Also starring John C. Reilly and Katie Holmes (yeah, she’s still acting).

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The buzz for Kline’s performance might give this an edge over Get Low. $5mil.

THE DRY LAND

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy comes home from Iraq and is perfectly fine.  No, wait, the other thing.  Completely fucked up.  That’s the one.

WILL IT SUCK?
Glad to see America Ferrara hasn’t forgotten her indie roots.  Also starring Wilmer Valderrama, Ethan Suplee, and Melissa Leo.  Early buzz is mixed.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Lesser star power and the curse of Iraq movies will hurt.  $1mil.

HUGH HEFNER: PLAYBOY, ACTIVIST AND REBEL

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Doc about a guy who did stuff like publish the last essay written by MLK in between getting untold quantities of poon.

WILL IT SUCK?
Directed by a woman, in case you were wondering.  Early buzz is mixed.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Just too many voices in the indiesphere at this point.  $1mil.

Next Week: Will Ferrell.  No, not Anchorman 2.  Stop asking.

Inception, Leo’s biggest open ever, will end up doing a little better than I expected (thank you America for having a brain and being willing to use it), but Sorcerer’s Apprentice?  Wow.  Just wow, dude.

Oh, and yes, Inception was the awesomest awesome to ever awesome.  But you really don’t need me to tell you that.

7/23

Wide

SALT

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Agent (Angelina Jolie) is accused of being a Russian spy.  Name-clearing ass-kicking ensues.

WILL IT SUCK?
I like Jolie and director Philip Noyce better in dramas, but neither exactly sucks at this sort of fare.  I keep wanting to believe writer Kurt Wimmer has another Equilibrium in him, but I somehow doubt this is it.  Always nice to see Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor.  Early buzz is mixed.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I don’t know that this film has done enough in marketing to distinguish itself.  Inception might get two weeks at number one.  $101mil.

RAMONA AND BEEZUS

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The Beverly Cleary series about the misadventures of a girl and her older sister comes to life.

WILL IT SUCK?
From the director of Aquamarine.  Hrmmm.  (That’s a Marge-like disapproving “hrmmm”.)  Early buzz is of the “meh” variety.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It’s sad when the upcoming release of Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore has to be considered competition, but it does.  $21mil.

Limited

LIFE DURING WARTIME

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Sequel to Happiness but, since it’s a Todd Solondz film, no one is played by the same actors as in the original.

WILL IT SUCK?
I haven’t walked away dissatisfied by a Solondz film yet.  Disturbed?  Usually, but never dissatisfied.  Won Best Screenplay at Venice and Allison Janney won Best Actress at Mar del Plata.  Early buzz is good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Probably about as good as any post-Happiness Solondz.  $750,000.

COUNTDOWN TO ZERO

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Doc about the assload of nuclear weapons on the planet and how we don’t even know where they all are.  And how they’re relatively easy to steal.  And a few other reasons it would be better if there weren’t any.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed.  From the director of the heard-it-was-awesome Blindsight.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
You can say “from the makers of An Inconvenient Truth” all you like, but that doesn’t give it that gross.  $2mil.

Next Week: Steve Carrell’s third starring role of the year.

No real surprises at the box office, although, for the record, Toy Story 3 is now the highest grossing Pixar flick of all time (domestic).  Oh, and this might also be a record:  The Girl Who Played With Fire came out while The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was still in theaters.  Can anyone else think of an example where two parts of a franchise were in their first theatrical run (in a given nation – these two already played in Sweden) simultaneously?

7/16

Wide

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE

(7/14)

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Sorcerer gets an apprentice.  It’s not rocket science.

WILL IT SUCK?
Oh, my, yes.  Early buzz is pretty awful.  Not Last Airbender awful, but still.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
If bad buzz couldn’t kill Airbender… $120mil.

INCEPTION

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Unbelievably bad-ass Dreamscape.

WILL IT SUCK?
Oh, my, no.  Early buzz is outstanding (like, ridiculously so).  And Chris Nolan is one of the most consistent directors out there.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Maybe I underestimate the moviegoing public, but I just don’t see them lining up for a surrealistic mindfuck that doesn’t have any kung fu.  On the other hand, Leo helped turn a less FX-heavy mindfuck into Scorcese’s biggest movie of all time.  $140mil.

STANDING OVATION

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Junior High School Musical

WILL IT SUCK?
In case you were wondering, the same guy directed Ice Pirates, Mac & Me, and Mannequin: On the Move.  He also directed this.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Has the edge of being a family film but lacks any name recognition.  $10mil.

Limited

THE CONCERT

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Formerly ousted conductor tries to get back on stage by passing off a rag tag bunch of misfits as the Bolshoi Orchestra in Paris.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good.  Stars Melanie Laurent (Not Diane Kruger in Inglourious Basterds). Not surprisingly, won Cesars for Best Music and Sound.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Will probably fall below the radar.  $750,000.

Next Week: Save me, Beezus!

So, Dr. Wife led me to this brutally honest article about parenting and how/why it doesn’t make you happy and I thought of one particular aspect that doesn’t get covered in it that has to do with an amazing lecture by Jane McGonigal I heard at SXSW (natch) a few years ago.

One of the key points is the idea that positive psychologists have boiled down happiness to four aspects:

1. Satisfying work to do

2. The experience of being good at something

3. Time spent with people we like

4. The chance to be part of something bigger

Now think for a moment about point number two.  I know that one of the key frustrations I have as a parent is that, by definition, you can never be an expert.  You know Malcom Gladwell’s 10,000 hour rule?  Well, you can’t get that as a parent because by the time 10,000 hours have gone by the very act of parenting has changed radically.  (The closest you could get would be someone involved in professional child care, but even they have problems raising their kids.)

So the main frustration I feel as a parent is that I never feel like I’m good at it.  If my wife has a question on a particular aspect of raising Kiran, I have no idea what the answer is.  I can only make an educated guess (and that’s on a good day) but I never feel like I’m giving an authoritative answer the same way I feel when I’m giving someone advice about the web or talking about movies or even just giving someone directions to Dunkin’ Donuts.

And this is exacerbated by the fact that usually when there’s a decision to be made, a question to answer, it’s urgent.  Why is the baby crying?  We’ve tried x, y, and z.  What is the answer?  To have to give a shot in the dark answer at a time when you feel it is your duty as a parent to Know with a capital K what to do is disempowering and a little heartbreaking because the people you feel like you’re failing are very, very important to you.  (I should clarify that my wife and I make these decisions together, which is awesome, but still, feeling like you have jack to contribute to that conversation is disheartening.)

This is not to say that raising a child is a wholly miserable experience (and the article makes that distinction as well).  In fact, I experience three out of the four aspects of happiness defined in that lecture pretty regularly.  But 2?  Almost never.