The November 2007 Movie Preview
by Dave Thomas
Sarah Michelle Gellar in Southland Tales
It’s November, which means it’s time once again for the studios and their indie divisions to start pulling out the heavy hitters, family films and occasional horror counterprogramming.
November 2
AMERICAN GANGSTER
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Denzel vs. Crowe
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is excellent to the tune of #120 in the IMDB Top 250, pre-release. You’d expect no less from Steve Zaillian writing, Ridley Scott directing and the leads I’ve already mentioned. And those of you who thought you saw Common in the trailer, you did.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Opening in fairly thick competition, but this will be hard to beat. $65mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Who won’t get a nod from this movie?
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MARTIAN CHILD
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kiddie K-Pax
WILL IT SUCK?
Variety describes it as “sententiously moralizing.” I’m not 100% sure what that means, but it doesn’t sound good. They like the leads, though: John Cusack and newcomer Bobby Coleman as the Martian tyke. From the director of Max, which was, well, okay.
Incidentally, in the book on which this is based Cusack’s character is a gay, single father. In this version, he’s a hetero widower. Hmm…
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Feel good dramedy is gonna come more from Dan in Real Life‘s second frame than this. $22mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Cusack has a better shot with his other hetero widower role.
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BEE MOVIE
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Antz with wings. And Jerry Seinfeld.
WILL IT SUCK?
All the hallmarks are there for a good Seinfeld ep, from the setting to the writers. Co-director did Prince of Egypt, which was, well, okay. Haven’t seen anything from it yet that actually looks funny, though. I get the feeling I’d rather watch Seinfeld do stand-up for 90 minutes.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Basically has the demo to itself, with just the slightest leeching from Fred Claus the following week. $120mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Depending upon how reviews pan out, it’s easy game for Best Animated.
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DARFUR NOW
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Doc about six activists (including Don Cheadle) who try to make a difference in the Sudan.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. It’ll be interesting to see if people can get past their prejudices against celebrities touting causes to get into the film (Clooney’s up in here, too).
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
If Leo can’t sell global warming, I don’t know if Cheadle can market Darfur. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Might be in contention with Devil Came on Horseback for doc.
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JOE STRUMMER: THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Doc about Clash icon Joe Strummer.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is outstanding. From perennial musicphile Julien Temple.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Nobody knows about this. $500,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Musical docs rarely make the short list.
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November 9
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LIONS FOR LAMBS
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise wax polemic on Afghanistan.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is not so good, which is too bad since director (and star, in this case) Robert Redford hasn’t really knocked one out of the park since 1994′s Quiz Show. Matthew Michael Carnahan (Joe’s brother) wrote the script, so maybe I have to give the buzz a little salt since I like The Kingdom and a lot of other folks, not so much. Oh, and this is Tom Cruise’s first shot at not looking crazy since…the troubles.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even without American Gangster the week before, Fred Claus this week and Beowulf the week after, war films are just not doing it this season. $23mil.
WILL ANYB0DY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Not with these reviews.
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FRED CLAUS
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Vince Vaughn as Santa’s brother.
WILL IT SUCK?
David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) directs a script by Dan Fogelman (one of the fifteen writers on Cars). Great cast: Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Spacey, Rachel Weisz, Miranda Richardson, Kathy Bates, John Michael Higgins, and any movie where Ludacris gets the credit “Angry Elf” has gotta be good. And keep an eye out for Frank Stallone as Frank Stallone. The only real question is can Dobkin handle PG comedy as deftly as he did R.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Just the slightest bit of a challenge from Beowulf next week. $109mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
No. But, I think Vince should host the pre-show.
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P2
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Career woman vs. creepy parking lot attendant (Wes Bentley).
WILL IT SUCK?
Well, if you’re into that sort of thing, Alexander Aja (Haute Tension, The Hills Have Eyes) is your man. He didn’t direct this one, but he co-wrote with his writing partner Gr√©gory Levasseur. I’m actually more psyched for Aja’s next couple of projects, one of which is a remake of Piranha with prehistoric piranhas. See what they did there?
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not a good year for horror. $8mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
No, but there will be an intervention for Wes Bentley’s career during the show.
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NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Coen Bros, baby. That’s all you need to know.
WILL IT SUCK?
The best-rated film of their career. And I’ve never been more psyched for one of their films based on the trailer alone. Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, and Stephen Root star.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not getting the marketing push of a Fargo, but not much competition, either. $12mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
I think the Coens could at least be looking at another screenplay nod, maybe even director (do they give out co-directing nods?).
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November 16
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BEOWULF
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy kills monster. Pisses off monster’s mom. Naked CG Angelina Jolie ensues.
WILL IT SUCK?
Robert Zemeckis doesn’t exactly suck as a director, and his FX team seems to have learned a thing or two since Polar Express. He’s also got Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary on screenplay duty. Add to that a stellar voice cast (Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, Robin Wright Penn, Crispin Glover, John Malkovich, Alison Lohman, Brendan Gleeson) and you’ve got anticipation.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Audiences may have a tough time resolving the 300-style mood with the often kid-friendly medium. Families will go see Mr. Magorioum’s Wonder Emporium instead, but the die hard goth/renfest faithful will turn out. $57mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Have you seen Angelina Jolie all Grendel’s mommed-up? Shoo-in for Best Animated nod. Also, there were some rumors at Comi-Con that Anthony Hopkins could get the first-ever nod for a CG performance.
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MR. MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Old guy (Dustin Hoffman) leaves magical toy store to young woman (Natalie Portman).
WILL IT SUCK?
Zach Helm, who wrote Stranger Than Fiction, writes and directs here. That’s the only reason I’m interested in this.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Has a head start on next week’s slew of family films, but that head start is abbreviated by the fact that they all open on a Wednesday. $41mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Hoffman has to do more than be a wacky old guy to cut it.
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LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Lovers separated by time and distance, blah, blah, blah…
WILL IT SUCK?
Should an adaptation of a Gabriel Garcia Marquez have a MySpace page and a soundtrack by Shakira? While you ponder that, know that the early buzz is good, probably because combining director Mike Newell with the screenwriter from The Pianist and casting Javier Bardem as the lead are all good choices. This, in spite of a trailer that seems to be a collection of Jane Austen clichés.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It’s almost noble to use MySpace and Shakira to get the kids interested in the magical realism, but I don’t think it’s going to work. $4mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
With good reviews it’s got a shot. Maybe 50/50 for Best Adapted screenplay or even a directing nod. I’d almost rather see Bardem get his props for Country, though.
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MARGOT AT THE WEDDING
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Two sisters clash over one of the sister’s choice of fianc√©.
WILL IT SUCK?
This is Noah Baumbach’s follow-up to The Squid and the Whale and it’s not getting nearly the same kind of unanimous approval. Critics overall are down on it (though some love it) while audiences are mostly on board. I have to admit I’m curious to see what he can do with Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jack Black, Ciaran Hinds and John Turturro in his line-up.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Has to deal with the higher-profile I’m Not There next week plus I’m not even sure most people who liked The Squid and the Whale know this is coming out. $8mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
If the best they could do for Squid was a screenplay nod, I don’t have high hopes for this.
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SOUTHLAND TALES
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko follow-up has weird goings-on in L.A.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is not good. Even audiences seem to be kind of “meh.” Does have an ecclectic cast, however, including The Rock, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean William Scott, Mandy Moore, Cheri Oteri, Miranda Richardson, Jon Lovitz, Kevin Smith, Wallace Shawn, John Larroquette, Amy Poehler, Justin Timberlake, Curtis Armstrong, Janeane Garofalo, and Christopher Lambert. You could probably just spend the whole movie playing “spot the celeb.”
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Delayed releases and multiple trips to Cannes and Comic-Con could actually help this open before word of mouth kills it. $5mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Conceptual and Wacky tend not to go over so well with the Academy, especially with bad reviews.
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REDACTED
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Casualties of War: Iraq Edition
WILL IT SUCK?
This is the kind of movie over which people get their panties in a bunch long before anyone actually sees it. A fictional depiction of the real life rape and murder committed by U.S. troops against an Iraqi family, it has managed to piss off even the writer/director Brian De Palma (you may have heard of him), who is incensed that actual images of dead Iraqis have been…wait for it…redacted from the close of the film. For all the controversy (which is the majority of ink it will get) the actual reviews are middling.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Just like Death of a President generated a whole lot of controversy and not a lot of box office, this, too looks to be much ado about a very limited release. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
The controversy could help if the reviews were there to support it, but that just isn’t the case here.
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November 23
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ENCHANTED
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Animated princess is banished to the very real New York City.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz has this pulling off the Shrek satirical vibe well. Director of the underrated Tarzan and writer of the I’ve-heard-it’s-underrated Blast From the Past on board with Amy Adams, James Marsden and Susan Sarandon rounding out the cast.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Very crowded field, but this has the Disney label. $54mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
No, but this could put former nominee Amy Adams on the mainstream map.
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AUGUST RUSH
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Musical prodigy (Freddie Highmore) and his birth parents (Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers) try to find each other with a little help from Robin Williams.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. This film has a very strange pedigree. It’s directed by Jim Sheridan’s daughter Kirsten, who co-wrote In America with him and her sister, and its writers include scribes behind Escape From New York and Coppola’s Dracula. If this somehow turns out to be a combination of those three films, I am so going.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
A crowded time of year for this sort of fare. $12mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
I think Russell’s got a better shot with Waitress.
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THE MIST
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Group trapped in store vs. big-ass monsters shrouded in the title.
WILL IT SUCK?
This is the first time recidivist Stephen King adapter Frank Darabont has decided to envision one of the author’s horror stories – and he picked an especially creepy one at that. If he can make this half as good as Shawshank or The Green Mile it’ll be light years beyond most of this year’s horror crop.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Relatively little competition, and a lot of King fans love this story. $30mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
If anyone can get horror on the Academy radar, it’s three-time Oscar nominee Darabont. But it’s not gonna happen.
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HITMAN
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy kills people for money. What did you think it would be about?
WILL IT SUCK?
Interesting combination of talents here. You’ve got the director of the film-fest-fave horror flick Fronti√®res and the writer of the shameless-yet-addictive Swordfish, so I’m thinking this will turn out to be a good 3 a.m. TNT watch. In addition to Timothy Olyphant in the lead, I’m liking the casting of Dougray Scott and Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond on Lost) as well.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Video game on which this is based has a decent following and there’s little or no action competition. $29mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
No, but Olyphant’s turn in Die Hard IV puts me in mind of adding an Oscar for films that exceed expectations.
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THIS CHRISTMAS
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Why Did I Come Home for Christmas?
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed, which is better than you’d expect from Preston A. Whitmore II, writer/director of Crossover (Check the IMDB bottom 100. Lower. Lower. Lower.) I’m liking the casting of Delroy Lindo and Regina King, and the trailer actually looks decent.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
That Tyler Perry crack is for real (and I swear I thought of it before I saw IMDB do the same thing). Expect a similar marketing campaign with diluted results given the glut of holiday fare. $22mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
If either ever do make it to the show, it’ll be Perry will before Whitmore.
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I’M NOT THERE
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Ben Whishaw ARE Bob Dylan.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Props to Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven, Velevet Goldmine) for pulling off an audacious project and getting his best IMDB love ever. Also, you gotta love that David Cross is Allen Ginsberg.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Diving Bell and the Butterfly and The Savages will be kind of big deals next week, but none of them have six people playing Bob Dylan. $9mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
This is the kind of quirky fare that could maybe get a screenplay nod. Poss. supporting actress nod for Blanchett since she’s been there before and is playing, you know, a dude.
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STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Grad student (Lauren Ambrose) tries to rejuvenate old writer (Frank Langella).
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed with audiences not nearly as in love with it as critics.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Like, five people in New York are gonna watch this thing. $750,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Langella’s performance is getting mad buzz, but will anyone see it?
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NINA’S HEAVENLY DELIGHTS
(Delayed from October)
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Indian woman returns to Scotland to save her deceased father’s failing restaurant.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed. From the screenwriter of Dear Frankie.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
They’ve moved this to a less crowded weekend, but it’s still in over it’s head. $500,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Not enough eyeballs.
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November 30
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AWAKE
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Man (Hayden Christensen) overhears his own murder being plotted while under really ineffective anesthesia.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Terence Howard plays the doctor who may have betrayed Christensen.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
A little competition from the second frame of The Mist, but next week Golden Compass obliterates everything in its path. $14mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Hustle & Flow it is not.
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THE SAVAGES
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney play siblings putting their father in a home.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is outstanding, having this surpass writer/director Tamara Jenkins last effort as a double threat, 1998′s The Slums of Beverly Hills.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Fox Searchlight has got to get the word out. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Provided enough people see it, Linney and Hoffman could get some love.
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THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The French Sea Inside
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is fantastic. Like, best director at Cannes award for Julian Schnabel (Before Night Falls) fantastic. Ron Harwood (The Pianist) adapts the memoir written by Elle France editor Jean-Dominique Bauby one blink at a time after he suffered a stroke. Mathieu Amalric (Louis in Munich) plays Bauby. Oh, and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski works for someone besides Spielberg for once.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Has an uphill battle. Foreign, indie and no star. $3mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
Looks lined up to be that foreign film that gets nominated for more than just Best Foreign Film.
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TEETH
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Story about a woman who has teeth, you know, down there.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. FYI, the writer/director is Roy Lichtenstein’s son.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Indie horror comedy usually does better on DVD. $500,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME??
No, but lead Jesse Weixler could see an Indie Spirit nod to go along with her Special Jury Prize at Sundance.
Next Month: There Will Be Paul Thomas Anderson
Related posts:
- January 2007 Movie Preview
- The November 2006 Movie Preview
- The October 2007 Movie Preview
- The February 2007 Movie Preview
- The September 2007 Movie Preview
