Star Power

As we head deeper into the fall season, the studio starts to dangle more and more possible Oscar bait. While I’m not sure if either of this weekend’s big releases will be there when the nominees are announced, they’re certainly chock full of people who have been there before. Body of Lies stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, which these days seems like the younger version of a Pacino/DeNiro pairing. Judging by the trailer, the Ridley Scott-directed war on terror era thriller looks like it’s about two American guys that can’t trust each other in the Middle East. Beyond that it’s a little hazy. It looks like The Departed set against a foreign backdrop. Hopefully watching the film will clear things up a bit, because right now it appears to be a bunch of arguments and explosions strung together by narrow threads of plot that someone decided to stick a title on.

City of Ember looks slightly more interesting if child-centric fantasy flick. The tale of an underground city and civilization that’s running out of time boasts a pretty excellent cast featuring the likes of Bill Murray and Tim Robbins. Though this time around the two accomplished actors seem relegated to more ensemble roles as the it seems the real centerpiece here is Saoirse Ronan, the fourteen year old actress nominated for her turn in last year’s Atonement. However, despite it’s host of talent, there’s something about this film that was a little off. Watching the trailer, the first few seconds were slightly exciting and then it seemed to plateau. This film at least deserves a shot if only to see if Director Gil Kenan who received heaps of praise for Monster House, can pull off another deft production.

The final wide release this weekend is Quarantine, which more or less seems like just another one of those horror flicks that comes out every few months that stars a bunch of nobodies and quickly dissolves into the ether. Which is fine with me because, I won’t be seeing it anyway, and at least one film has to disappear in order to make room for next week’s new fare.

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Box Office Faith

The #1 earner at the box office this weekend was certainly no surprise. It’s a rare occasion when something with Steven Spielberg’s named attached to it goes belly up. So when the Spielberg-produced Eagle Eye took top honors at the box office nobody batted an eyelash. The action thriller starring Shia Lebeouf and Michelle Monaghan pulled in a robust $29.2 million. Second place saw a near $16 million dropoff as the Richard Gere/Diane Lane romance vehicle, Night in Rodanthe only scored $13.4 million. The previous week’s #1 Lakeview Terrace fell two rungs down the box off ice ladder with only a scant $6.97 million take.

The biggest surprise of the weekend was Fireproof. I had to do research on this one. Fireproof stars Mike Seaver…ahem…Kirk Cameron. That’s right, everyone’s favorite pseudo son of Alan Thicke’s who’s turned into a crazy evangelical was in the #4 grossing movie this week…but don’t expect to see this in any local multiplex if you’re a city dweller unless that city in which you dwell is somewhere in the bible belt. Fireproof is not for film fans who like their films light on preachy-ness. The story of a firefighter husband who tries to save his marriage by engaging in something cheesily named “the love dare” is heavy on Christ and if the trailer is any indication also on total lameness. While I’m sure Fireproof is no lamer than any of those “Epic Movie”-type spoofs it’s braek through into the top five is nothing short of astonishing. It leaves you to wonder if a “values” laden film such as Fireproof can score relatively big at the box office, whether or not the folks in Hollywood will look towards a more faith-based initiative, releasing films that play to those audiences. Perhaps the studios will seek a balance between mainstream appeal and religious appeal. If that’s the case then I have four words for you: Jesus Christ Action Superstar!

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THIS WEEKEND’S INFINITE PLAYLIST

It looks like Hollywood is ready to open up the gates and release a huge herd of flicks this weekend. Ten, count ‘em Ten, films make their debut at the theatre over the ghe next few days and several of them are hotly anticipated. So which of these ten will become cash cows and which will be left to slaughter, well that’s a tough one.

Conventional wisdom and my general dislike of Chihuahas says that Beverly Hills Chihuahua will be a disaster simply because the trailer was enough to make a grown man give into most of his violent impulses, but then again it is a kids movie so one could safely place it somewhere in the top ten when the dust settles on Monday.

I think the ones that will draw the most audience and critical attention are sure to be Religulous, How To Lose Friends and Alienate People, and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Religulous will likely only hit it big in the blue states, but there seem to have been the emergence of more blue states over the last few days, so that could be good for returns. Nick & Norah scores points with a large audience for the sole reason that I think Michael Cera is quickly becoming this generation’s John Cusack. He’s the every guy that every guy thinks they can relate with. Sure hismovie’s aren’t as completely wacky like One Crazy Summer and Better off Dead, but he’s got almost the same universal appeal.

Speaking of universal appeal, we could use a nice feel good and then feel bad and then maybe feel good again inspirational sports story. The Express fits nice and snug in that round peg that was previously occupied by films like Remember The Titans, Glory Road, We Are Marshall, and whatever. That being said, I do have an interest in seeing it due to certain alma mater implications.

Several other films not poised to make a big monetary splash but that will probably be conversational fodder are An American Carol, the conservative comedy from one of the Zucker brothers that seems slightly insane; Rachel Getting Married, Anne Hathaway’s possible Oscar turn; and finally Flash of Genius, the story of your intermittent windshield wipers…now that’s just strange. Oh so much to chose from this weekend, chose wisely. And if you don’t, just go see something else rightafter.

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THREE FILMS

Upon first glance at this weekend’s releases, it appears that the Hollywood monkey is heaving a large mass of fecal film matter at the big screen. I have a nearly impossible time believing that Lakeview Terrace is a Neil Labute film seeing as director of such films as In The Company of Men, and The Shape of Things has always managed to keep audiences rapt using a clever cruelty. While Lakeview Terrace could be going that way with it’s bad cop vibe, I can’t stop thinking of Unlawful Entry whenever I see it. It just kind of looks annoying and the early response hasn’t been too great.

My Best Friends Girl is another clunker in Kate Hudson’s long descent into the abyss of unwatchable romantic comedies. The former Oscar winner essentially looks to be starring to the sequel to How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days with each successive appearance. This time she stars with Dane Cook and Jason Biggs instead of Matthew McConaughey. I’m not really sure either of her costars them deserve further mention, though I’ve never seen anyone get further career mileage from unfunny comedy routines and intercourse with a dessert.

Conversely, I can’t think of a bad thing Ricky Gervais has done. Unfortunately, the lighthearted trailer to Ghost Town almost activated my upchuck reflex. That being said, maybe the track record of the star of the original “The Office” series and HBO’s “Extras” should be reason enough to give this one more than a pregnant pause. I’m not sure that Ghost Town blows anyone away with it’s box office numbers this weekend, but it could make for an enjoyable evening or afternoon of entertainment at your local theater, as the early critical returns have been anything but lackluster. Here’s hoping that Mr. Gervais keeps his track record in tact.

This blog is published by The film school & acting School at the New York Film Academy. Visit our website to learn more about our exciting curriculum!

BOX OFFICE GHOST

It was another weekend absent of appealing options at the movies and the box office reflected the lack of fresh choices. The top film was the Neil Labute directed Lakeview Terrace which scored $15 million flat on the money meter…a $4 million abatement from last weeks #1, Burn After Reading, which slipped down to second place. Rounding out the top five were the horribly reviewed My Best Friends Girl, Igor and Righteous Kill.

The other film in wide release this weekend, Ghost Town, barely broke into the top ten just beating out The Dark Knight for 8th place.While it’s opened to rave reviews, I think the problem with Ricky Gervais’ first star vehicle for Paramount is that it’s a little lost on who it’s audience is. Judging by the trailer this film, it was made to look like a run of the mill semi-ridiculous, American romantic comedy that could star just about anyone. Unfortunately, the people who go to see innocuous romantic comedies go to see them for stars like Jennifer Aniston and Drew Barrymore, not necessarily a frumpy, yet impossibly witty forty-seven year old men best known as the architect of a British television classic. The involvement of Greg Kinnear certainly adds more star appeal, but rest assured Gervais is the star here and that’s ultimately a hard sell on this side of the pond, though not to this writer.

The worst part is, that given the cast, I’m not sure if there’s a way to repackage this to appeal to the masses. I think it will be much more successful on the British Isle because of the amount of reverence people have for “The Office” over there. Here in the States invoking that television title just brings up visions of Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson. Oh well, poor little Ghost Town, lost at the box office. Won’t someone come along and save it…probably not.

This blog is published by The film school & acting school at the New York Film Academy. Visit our website to learn more about our exciting curriculum!