SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

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Shrykespeare
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SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by Shrykespeare »

Let's hear it for Christopher Nolan, who after this past weekend can put another notch in his belt. Not only will Inception be, like The Dark Knight, one of the most critically-raved films of its year, but her will have dispelled any lingering doubts that he is one of the most original and innovative directors currently working in Hollywood today. Mark your calendars, folks, for the third Batman film is scheduled to hit theaters two years from right now. That's 104 weeks, 728 days, and approximately 200 Diamondback losses. (Yeah, it's just not getting any better.)

The big guns of summer are slowly becoming tiny dots in our rear-view mirror. Iron Man 2, Robin Hood and Shrek 4 have had their fun. Karate Kid, Grown Ups and The Last Airbender are now gracefully bowing out. And even Twilight: Eclipse and Toy Story 3 will be down to seven-digit weekends starting this Friday. The number of potential blockbusters between NEXT Friday and the end of October can probably be counted on one hand. For many youngsters, school will be starting any day now. But before scholastic drudgery begins anew, there is one more slam-bang high-octane thrill ride left to be had this summer, and it stars one of Hollywood's most famous and sexiest packages.

I am, of course, referring to Salt, starring A-list actress Angelina Jolie in the title role. The film is directed by Australian helmer Phillip Noyce, who is no slouch to directing political-intrigue actioners (having been behind the camera for Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger as well as The Bone Collector, a 1999 thriller that co-starred a 24-year-old Jolie).

Jolie plays CIA agent Evelyn Salt, whose life is turned upside-down when a former Russian-spy-turned-defector walks in off the street and accuses her of being a sleeper agent for the KGB, and whose mission it is to assassinate the President of the United States. Of course, even a false accusation of that magnitude is enough to get you detained indefinitely, so Salt must go on the run in an attempt to not only prove her innocence but prevent said assassination attempt herself. Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Andre Braugher co-star.

It's interesting to note that the original script for Salt was written for a man to play – specifically, Tom Cruise, who eventually turned it down stating that it was too close to his role in the Mission: Impossible films – but if any woman in the business can carry this film on her own, it's Jolie, who has led the way in numerous blockbusters of her own, including Wanted, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the second Lara Croft movie. And, of course, how many critics will use the headline "A 'Salt' with a deadly weapon", I wonder...

Sony/Columbia is putting Salt into nearly 3,500 theaters come Friday, and I fully expect that the action crowd will be there to meet it. In all, I expect $48 million in its first three days, which is a little bit lower than Inception pulled in last week, but the good news is, it's only $18 to Inception's $26 (in both leagues). The further good news is, which the three films opening on July 30th looking extremely weak by comparison, Salt has an excellent chance at going back-to-back. In all, it could pick up as many as fourteen Top 5 points, along with a few PTA and a terrific User Rating (probably no lower than 7.0). I have to believe that this film has more box-office potential (around $150 million) than anything else coming out between now and November, so if you have the room on your July roster, snap this one up.

Up next is Ramona and Beezus, a live-action kiddie movie from Fox Studios that is based on the series of children's novels by author Beverly Cleary. It stars pop star and singer Selena Gomez – who turns 18 years old the day this Thursday - as Beatrice “Beezus” Quimby, and Joey King (Quarantine) as her little sister Ramona, an irrepressible third grader with a vivid imagination, boundless energy and is more than just a little accident-prone.

I didn't really get a sense of the movie's actual plot from the trailer, but Wikipedia says that Ramona's “sense of fun, adventure and mischief must come in handy when she puts her mind to helping save her family's home before it's too late”. There are also some very recognizable faces in the supporting cast, which includes John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan, Josh Duhamel, Ginnifer Goodwin and Sandra Oh.

Like most harmless feel-good rated-G kids' movies, it's rather tough to track just how well-received a film will be. I myself have seen some advertising for this film, but not much... though it wouldn't surprise me if they've been plugged like crazy on networks like the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. Still, only 2,700 theaters or so will be showing it, so I'm going to predict a rather soft opening of $11 million, which will be good enough for fourth place only. It's only $8 in Ultimate leagues ($7 in Box Office), but for that, you'll probably only get two Top 5 points, no PTA and a middling User Rating. I'd pass on it.

And now, a little bit about this weekend's three limited-release features.

Life During Wartime ($4 Ult) – Well, if anything has the oomph (besides Salt) to knock The Kids Are All Right off of its PTA perch, it's probably this one. No, it has nothing to do with the awesome 1979 song by the Talking Heads, but it still looks pretty hefty. It's been showcased at many notable film festivals including Venice (where it won best Screenplay), Toronto, New York and Telluride.

Director Todd Solondz (Palindromes, Happiness) has brought together a stellar cast, including reprising characters from Happiness (but with different actresses): Trish (Allison Janney), Joy (Shirley Henderson) and Helen (Ally Sheedy). Also in the cast are Ciaran Hinds, Paul Reubens, Charlotte Rampling and Michael K. Williams.

I won't go much into the plot, beyond the fact that it looks like a very biting satirical comedy with more than just a few political overtones. It looks like the very definition of an art-house movie, and given that it will be shown in only one theater this weekend, I think it has the strongest chance to strike PTA gold of the bunch this week. It also has a decent User Rating so far (6.7), but that could even improve.

Countdown to Zero ($3 Ult) – Also with a 6.7 User Rating is this documentary about the escalating nuclear arms race. Director Lucy Walker and the people who helped create An Inconvenient Truth paint a picture that is really quite disturbing... namely, that because of international terrorism, lax security and whatnot, the people of this planet are actually closer to nuclear oblivion than they were during the Cold War. The film will include stock footage of interviews and speeches with many political bigwigs, including Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Will this film galvanize audiences the way Al Gore's project did? Unknown. It's only opening in three places this Friday (in New York and Washington D.C.), so PTA points are indeed possible. But between the PTA prospects of Salt, Life During Wartime and The Kids Are All Right, I don't think it's the best choice for your slates.

Valhalla Rising ($2 Ult) – The last time Danish filmmaker Nicholas Winding Refn got behind a camera, it was to bring us the critically-acclaimed film Bronson, which he also co-wrote. The same applies to this brutal Viking saga, which stars Mads Mikkelsen (who played Le Chiffre in Casino Royale) as One Eye, a mute Scandinavian slave who is caged like an animal and only released so he can fight for money. But when a slave boy named Are slays his captors and frees One Eye, the pair must find their way home, joining a band of Viking Christian warriors en route to Jerusalem. But things are never quite that simple...

There's nothing like a good Viking epic to bring back that grimy feel of one millennium ago, is there? In the 50's and 60's, there were plenty to go around. But that era of history hasn't been touched on much of late, and despite the appeal, I don't think there will be much of an audience for this one, despite it's debuting in only one theater. I'd pass on this one, if only for the fact that its Rating is only 5.9 (with over 3,600 votes, which means it's not likely to “rise” much). Heh.


My predictions for the weekend of July 23-25, 2010:

1. Salt - $48 million
2. Inception - $32 million
3. Despicable Me - $20 million
4. Ramona and Beezus - $11 million
5. The Sorcerer's Apprentice - $10 million


Well, that will do it for me for another week. Next week I'll have a full plate, with seven films to contend with as we close out the May-July season, including: Dinner For Schmucks, a comedy starring Steve Carell and Paul Rudd; Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, a live-action kiddie comedy about household pets joining forces to vanquish the schemes of an evil feline; Charlie St. Cloud, a drama starring High School Musical hunk Zac Efron; as well as limited-release films Le Concert (which was postponed from this week to next), Get Low, Twelve and The Extra Man.

Later!






Happy 60th birthday Jet Li! (4/26/23)

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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by Buscemi »

So Friday happens to be my birthday. I've got plenty of choices (Salt, Ramona and Beezus, Inception, Predators) but my mother wants to see Salt so I'll probably see that.

Meanwhile, I'll predict on the openers:

Salt $45 million (Angelina Jolie almost always does well when she gets to kill people)
Ramona and Beezus $8 million (it could be Diary Of A Wimpy Kid but I'm thinking Kit Kittridge)
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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by undeadmonkey »

I'm so excited for Salt. probably even more so than Inception. But I really want to see Inception too

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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by Ron Burgundy »

Im not amped up for Salt at all, i dislike the idea of Jolie as an agent, and the trailer looks a bit too much like Tomb Raider/Wanted/The Fugitive. And what no skintight clothes?
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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by undeadmonkey »

Well I wasn't too amped up for the movie by the trailer, but my producing teacher is friends with the producer of Salt and she got to read the script and she said the script was amazing. Of course she doesn't know how much has been changed during shooting and editing, but the script she read right before they started filming was great. So that is what got me excited for it. Starting to get into the industry myself and reading the scripts out there, good scripts are really a diamond in the rough.

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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by Ron Burgundy »

maybe true, lets see how it pans out...
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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by numbersix »

Anyone else think Salt looks like Michael Bay remaking The Long Kiss Goodnight? I've no interest in seeing it, but if Wanted can open to 50 mil, then Salt (which will probably skew slightly older) can open to something similar. Boosch's $45 seems about accurate.

And if Ramona and Beezus makes over $10 OW I'll be surprised. Just looks a bit dead in the water to me.

As for the limited releases, Life During Wartime will almost certainly get 5 PTA points this weekend. A sort-of sequel to Happiness, with decent reviews and a simple theatre release? PTA gold. The other two may nab some PTA points if they're lucky.

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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by Buscemi »

Phillip Noyce is a far better director than Michael Bay.
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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by Donte77 »

My cat directs himself pooping in a box better than Michael Bay could.
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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by transformers2 »

As an action movie whore I am personally not excited to see Salt. It looks really stupid imo. I will hold off to see The Expendables in a few weeks for my action fix.
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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by Brockster »

MTC has Salt at 36M, R&B at 7M

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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by Geezer »

transformers2 wrote:As an action movie whore I am personally not excited to see Salt. It looks really stupid imo. I will hold off to see The Expendables in a few weeks for my action fix.
Pretty much my thoughts exactly. Wanted had me salivating and it delivered. Salt has me feeling very "meh."
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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by Brockster »

I think there's a good chance Inception might win back to back weekends. Thoughts?

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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by Brockster »

Inception passes the 100M mark in 7 days! The only non 3D movie to do so this year so far.

Salt seems to be getting good word of mouth, hopefully that bodes well for some decent legs (no pun intended).

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Re: SPEARE'S TIPS - The Films of 7/23

Post by undeadmonkey »

err, Iron Man 2 and Eclipse both opening weekends had passed the $100M mark and neither are 3D.

on another note. I went to the archlight at noon and they had already sold out all tickets for Salt for the day. So i guess i'm watching it some other day.

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