Box Office Preview – October 22, 2010
|
Paranormal Activity 2
Director: Tod Williams Writers: Oren Peli (characters), Michael R. Perry (screenplay) Stars: Katie Featherston MPAA Rating: Rated R for some language and brief violent material. Synopsis: A family sets up security cameras around their house believing they have been the victim of several break-ins, only to discover that the cause of their problems is actually supernatural. |
Lars’ take: Studios love movies like this because they have relatively no budget and they end up being a great success. And in this particular genre, having a lower budget will help you because it makes it more real to see a shitty hand-held video camera taping really scary stuff. So if this sticks to it’s grassroots, I think it will be a solid scary movie.
Joel’s take: So they made a little indie movie and it blew up and made a ton of money. What I give them credit for with the sequel is that, unlike something like the Blair Witch series, they are staying true to their low tech roots and trying to give the film the same feel as the original. Still, it will be tough to recapture that same magic a second time around. Not that it matters though, this movie will make it’s entire budget back on opening night.
|
Hereafter
Director: Clint Eastwood Writer: Peter Morgan Stars: Matt Damon, Cécile De France, Bryce Dallas Howard MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements including disturbing disaster and accident images, and for brief strong language. Synopsis: The movie focuses on three intersecting stories dealing with death and loss. |
Lars’ take: When you see a trailer for a movie and they reveal almost none of the plot, chances are they are doing that to save all the good stuff so that when you go see it, you can see it in context. With Clint Eastwood, who has proven again and again that he is a magician behind the camera, directing and Matt Damon in front of the camera, it’s going to be good. Then there’s also Cécile De France, who you could just put her picture in the bottom corner of the screen and I would be happy. It looks really interesting and I’m really excited about it.
Joel’s take: I’m definitely finding myself wondering what this movie is all about, but with Clint Eastwood directing and Matt Damon starring in it, does it really matter? They are two of the best in the business right now. so regardless of the plot, you know you are in good hands.
|
Inhale (limited release)
Director: Baltasar Kormákur Writers: Walter A. Doty III and John Claflin (screenplay), Christian Escario (story) Stars: Dermot Mulroney, Diane Kruger, Sam Shepard MPAA Rating: Unrated Synopsis: A desperate father travels to Mexico in search of a transplant for his daughter, but the lengths he has to go to to save her life may be more than his conscience can bare. |
Lars’ take: It seems like they’ve taken an all star list of character actors that play the same character in every movie they’re in. While I enjoy that, it seems like this is going to be predictable, not only with the story but with the corners these characters are going to turn. I don’t hold out a lot of hope for this one, but I think it will be entertaining enough to see.
Joel’s take: If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times – don’t go to Mexico to harvest organs. It might seem like a good idea at the time, but it’s not going to turn out well. Also, I don’t like Dermot Mulroney. I’m just going to go ahead and say it. I can’t imagine watching a movie where I’m supposed to sympathize with his character for two hours. It just doesn’t work for me.
|
This week’s recommendations …
|
HoboTrashcan’s Confidence Rating System
Since we force Joel and Lars to make a recommendation each week (using the classic “If a gun was pointed to your head and you had to pick one” scenario), we are also having them rate their confidence in their pick using HoboTrashcan’s patented Confidence Rating System. The system is on a scale of one to five, which breaks down as follows:
- Eddie Murphy – Like every film Eddie Murphy has done in the last decade, avoid this movie at all costs.
- Nicholas Cage – The movie is most likely awful, but like Cage, there is a chance it may still surprise you.
- Samuel L Jackson – With this rating, you don’t know what you are going to get. It could be another Pulp Fiction or it could be Jumper.
- Bruce Willis – Like Bruce Willis, chances are the film is good, but there’s always a possibility it’s another Surrogates.
- Morgan Freeman – The highest possible rating. The film, like Morgan Freeman himself, is a lock to be entertaining.