The Wrong Mexican vs. The Wrong American
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

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.
(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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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?













































