2012 Movies - February

*** Edit to add in opening weekend numbers for the wide release films that opened in February 2012 ***


Feb. 3

Big Miracle
Drama/Romance
What: In small town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his ex-girlfriend - a Greenpeace volunteer - on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.
Who: director – Ken Kwapis, stars – Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell, Dermot Mulroney & Ted Danson
Lowdown: I know one brand-new eight year old who will be there opening weekend with bells on. The similar-in-theme Dolphin Tale (family film, based on a true story & marine life subject mater) opened to a hefty 19M last September. I don’t think this flick will come close to those numbers, but should be a nice solid opener for Universal.
Opening Weekend: 7.76 million 73% score on Rotten Tomatoes





Chronicle
Sci-fi
What: Three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery. Soon, though, they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides.
Who: director – Josh Trank, stars – Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly & Alex Russell
Lowdown: A mash of two proven hit makers - “found footage” and “superhero adventure”. But, I don’t know, this trailer looks pretty badass. The idea that teenagers would tape themselves doing stupid shit comes about naturally – in the sense that “found footage” this time around doesn’t seem so out of the question. Could be a nice surprise hit for Fox.
Opening Weekend: Surprise hit it was. Chronicle was the #1 movie in America it's opening weekend, beating out the much more promoted Woman in Black. With only a 12 million dollar budget, this pic is already in the green with it's huge 22.0 million opening. The critics loved it - it got an impressive 90% at Rotten Tomatoes.






The Woman in Black
Horror/Thriller
What: A young lawyer travels to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals.
Who: director – James Watkins, stars – Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer & Ciarán Hinds
Lowdown: Based off the popular novel of the same name by Susan Hill. I saw this trailer a few months back while at the cinema and it scared the shit of the entire audience and me. At the end when a face appears in the window? The entire audience let out a shriek. And those ghostly children with their crazy eyes are freaky as fuck. So I guess mission (so far) accomplished. Now, the big test here really is for Daniel Radclife, as he leaves the wizard world behind in his first post Harry Potter role. I’m sure his legions of fans will turn up to see how he fares, so I’m expecting a nice opening weekend somewhere around 18-20 million.
Opening Weekend: Not too shabby for the boy wizard, a nice 20.87 million opening weekend and a 64% score on Rotten Tomatoes

Feb. 10

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D
Adventure/Family
What: Teenager Sean Anderson partners with his mom's boyfriend on a mission to find his grandfather, who is thought to be missing on a mythical island.
Who: director – Brad Peyton, stars - Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Vanessa Hudgens, Kristin Davis
Lowdown: This trailer looks like absolute garbage, so I have to think that the movie is too. I wonder how embarrassed will Josh Hutcherson be after his star blows up thanks to a little movie call the Hunger Games. This is the sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth, which in 2008 made a cool 100M in theaters (it opened with 21M). It will be interesting to see if this follow-up can open and/or make a similar amount. My prediction is that it won’t, with an opening of somewhere close to 15-16M.







Safe House
Action/Crime/Mystery
What: A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.
Who: director – Daniel Espinosa, stars - Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Sam Shepard, Brendan Gleeson & Robert Patrick
Lowdown: Going rouge is the new black. I’m not sure the trailer they cut for this is going to help sell this movie. Hopefully a second one is on its way. It’s just seems like cliché after cliché – after only watching the trailer I can guess what will happen: 1) There will be a scene where Denzel will reveal that he has in fact not gone rogue but this is all part of a bigger plan 2) There will be a double-cross scene where Ryan and Denzel pretend to be enemies to force the real enemy to reveal themselves 3) The real enemy will turn out to be someone at the CIA 4) Denzel will give that trademark smile (you know the on I mean) at least 50 times during the movie 5) Ryan will act confused at least 100 times during the movie 6) There will be some jokes thrown by Denzel at Ryan about him being new/white/out of the loop – they won’t be funny 7) Denzel will teach Ryan some skill early on that will be used later with much success. For Ryan’s sake I hope this is a better movie than this trailer depicts – he desperately needs a box office win.







Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace 3D
Action/Adventure/Fantasy
What: Two Jedi Knights uncover a wider conflict when they are sent as emissaries to the blockaded planet Naboo.
Who: director – George Lucas, stars - Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson and Natalie Portman
Lowdown: George Lucas does not have enough money, so he has decided to take a page out of Disney’s playbook and convert his 'Star Wars' movies into 3D and then re-release them in order (prequels first), beginning with this one. His plan will work and he will make a ton of green.






The Vow
Drama/Romance
What: A car accident puts Paige in a coma, and when she wakes up with severe memory loss, her husband Leo works to win her heart again.
Who: director – Michael Sucsy, stars - Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Jessica Lange, Scott Speedman & Sam Neill
Lowdown: Playing right into the Valentine’s Day hype – it’s the only “date movie” opening the weekend before the big day – was super smart for this studio. Both Rachel & Channing are likeable enough stars – it should play well with the younger audience.

Feb. 17

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D
Action/Fantasy/Thriller
What: As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form.
Who: directors – Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor, stars – Nicolas Cage, Ciarán Hinds & Idris Elba
Lowdown: You didn’t love the first Ghost Rider but would you be interested in the sequel? No? What if you heard that Nicolas Cage peed fire in this one? Still no? Ok. God, I hope not at least. Please let this movie bomb. Studios put out shit and audiences eat it up. This is why we can’t have nice things.






The Secret World of Arrietty
Animation/Family
What: The Clock family are four-inch-tall people who live anonymously in another family's residence, borrowing simple items to make their home. Life changes for the Clocks when their daughter, Arrietty, is discovered.
Who: directors – Hiromasa Yonebayashi & Gary Rydstrom, stars (voice) – Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett & Carol Burnett
Lowdown: I can't lie, this looks super cute. I’m into it. Already an international box office smash (it won Japan’s Academy Award for Animation of the year), Disney is bring this version of the beloved fantasy series The Borrowers to an American audience. This will be the first animated movie of the year – should do well.







This Means War
Action/Comedy
What: Two top CIA operatives wage an epic battle against one another after they discover they are dating the same woman.
Who: director – McG, stars – Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine & Tom Hardy
Lowdown: Mr. and Mrs. Smith sent a very clear message to film execs: shoot-em-up stories + beautiful people = solid gold. But this is McG we are talking about, and he is no Doug Liman. The entire premise of this movie seems hilarious and completely implausible to me. And that bums me out, as I really like all three leads here too. Maybe it will be so bad it’s good?

Feb. 24

Act of Valor
Action/Adventure
What: An elite team of Navy SEALs embark on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent.
Who: director – Mike McCoy & Scott Waugh, stars – Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez & Nestor Serrano
Lowdown: Relativity is not kidding around about this one, they have purchased FOUR Super Bowl spots. Do you know how expensive those things are?! They’ve got a lot banking on this being a hit for them. This movie has no star power going for it and that’s because the majority of the actors in this are all active duty US Navy SEALs and everything is based on actual missions. Watch this trailer. If you don’t get a little emotional, something might be wrong with you.

Feb. 30

Gone
Thriller
What: When her sister disappears, Jill is convinced the serial killer who kidnapped her two years ago has returned, and she sets out to once again face her abductor.
Who: director – Heitor Dhalia, stars – Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Carpenter, Wes Bentley & Sebastian Stan
Lowdown: This movie look's very paint-by-numbers. That is to say like every other PG-13 thriller movie that’s been made in the last five years or so that is courting a female audience. Which this on is so clearly trying to do. My money is on the actual killer being Amanda Seyfried's character and Wes Bentley as the fall.

Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds
Comedy
What: Right before his wedding, an affluent man develops complicating feelings for a single mom.
Who: director – Tyler Perry, stars – Tyler Perry, Gabrielle Union, Thandie Newton, Rebecca Romijn, Eddie Cibrian & Phylicia Rashad
Lowdown: “We live in the real world.” “And I don’t?” “Tell me how much a gallon of milk costs.” “….” “You don’t even know.” I can’t. This is just another in a long line of obvious, manipulative, pandering bullshit. But that’s okay because he learns to give and that makes him and everyone happy. Let’s not offer any challenges whatsoever to the audience. Lets just feed them crap and they’ll eat it up. At least Perry isn’t in drag this time around. Small miracles I guess.






Wanderlust
Comedy
What: Rattled by sudden unemployment, a Manhattan couple surveys alternative living options, ultimately deciding to experiment with living on a rural commune where free love rules.
Who: director – David Wain, stars – Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Malin Akerman, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta & Justin Theroux
Lowdown: David Wain knows how to do comedy (If you missed 2008's Role Models you are missing out) Paul Rudd always brings it, and once upon a time (before she decided a paycheck was more important than her dignity) Jennifer Aniston was a pretty great actress. If she’s given the right material Aniston can be wildly funny – and Wain just might be the guy to do that. This one has a good amount of buzz around it and is making a lot of the “must-see” lists.






Notable limited engagements opening in February:
Perfect Sense - Feb 10 (drama/romance) A chef and a scientist fall in love as an epidemic begins to rob people of their sensory perceptions. Ewan McGregor, Eva Green and Connie Nielsen star in this film that played at Sundance in 2011.

2012 Movies - January

*** Edit to add in opening weekend numbers for the wide release films that opened in January 2012 ***


2012 is shapping up to be the year of the superheros/franchises/remakes, but thrown in the mix is some new fare with plenty of esteemed directors showing off their newest work. Sundance Film Festival is right around the corner (Jan. 19-29) and, as in years past, some movers and shakers are sure to come from there that as of this writing are unknown. But for now here are all the films set to be released through out the upcoming year.

January

Jan. 6

The Devil Inside
Horror
What: In Italy, a woman becomes involved in a series of unauthorized exorcisms during her mission to discover what happened to her mother, who allegedly murdered three people during her own exorcism.
Who: director – William Brent Bell, stars – Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman & Evan Helmuth
Lowdown: There are no other wide releases compeating against it, and as of this writing Fandango is reporting that it is accounting for 31% of ticket sales. Could be a surprise hit? Lord knows they’ve spent a good amount of moolah on tv adds – I don’t even watch tv and I have somehow seen this trailer about eleventy billion times. I’m thinking around 18-20M opening weekend is a good guess.
Opening Weekend: Thoroughly trashed by critics and audiences a like (5% on the Rotten Tomatoes scale), this pic was still able to open with a HUGE weekend - 33.73 Million. That's the third best opening weekend in January box office history. (It fell nearly 77% the following weekend - the worst drop in almost three years.)  

Jan. 13

Contraband
Action/Thriller
What: To protect his brother-in-law from a drug lord, a former smuggler heads to Panama to score millions of dollars in counterfeit bills.
Who: director – Baltasar Kormakur, stars – Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Ben Foster & Kate Beckinsale
Lowdown: A remake of the Icelandic thriller Reykjavik-Rotterdam. Despite what the trailer wants you to think, there is a reason this movie is being released in the dead month of January. Still, there will be an audience that turns out to see it - 20M+ opening weekend is my guess.
Opening Weekend: Marky Mark's starpower was able to overcome some very mixed reviews (48% on RT) for an opening of 23.34. 

Beauty and the Beast 3D

Animation/Family

What: The beloved story we all know from our childhood is getting a fresh 3D conversion re-release.

Lowdown: Disney spent the cash to convert one of its most beloved animated fairytales into 3D. And if the box office take of the 3D Lion King is any indication, it will turn out to be money well spent. I expect this thing to make buckets of cash – an opening weekend somewhere around 20-25M.

Opening Weekend: Not nearly as big of an opening weekend as I thought, or as others predicted. Despite it's super fresh ranking at Rotten Tomatoes (92%) The Beast came in second for the weekend with 17.75 Million. 

Joyful Noise

Comedy/Music

What: Two choir members have differing opinions on how to win the national choir competition.

Who: director – Todd Graff, stars – Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton & Keke Palmer

Lowdown: Oh. My. God. Have you seen the trailer for this yet? If not you are missing out. Do yourself a favor and hit up this link to see the best trailer commentary http://www.ultraculture.co.uk/10116-joyful-noise-trailer-amazing.htm It should do okay with the church crowd – I’m thinking an opening weekend of 15-16M

Opening Weekend: Rounding out the lackluster 4-day MLK holiday weekend, Joyful Noise came in third with 11.22 Million. (34% RT score)

January 20

Haywire

Action/Thriller

What: A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission.

Who: director – Steven Soderbergh, stars – Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Gina Carano, Channing Tatum, Michael Douglass & Antonio Banderas

Lowdown: The only movie I am excited for in January. Gina Carano is a MMA fighter turned actress using her fighting skills to take down the bad guys. It played at AFI Fest last November to pretty good reviews. Plus it’s got Oscar-winning Soderbergh. Sign me up. I have no idea what the opening weekend is going to look like for this movie. It's got the man of the moment Fassbender, but an unknown female lead in Carano and an R rating. I'll say 13-15M, but that is super wild guess.

Opening Weekend: Despite awesome reviews, Soderbergh's latest was a bit of a disappointment, and only brought in 8.42 Million opening weekend. (80% RT score) 

Red Tails

Action/Adventure

What: A crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, are called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard.

Who: director – Anthony Hemingway, stars – Bryan Cranston, Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard

Lowdown: George Lucas produced this bio-drama, so that will be a draw for some. The flight sequences look pretty good at least. Surprised this isn’t a February opener – seems like they could capitalize on Black History Month. But what do I know. Around 15M opening weekend is my prediction.

Opening Weekend: Performing better than expected by industry folk, opened to 18.78 Million even with it's horrible reviews - 36% RT score.

Underworld Awakening 3D

Action/Horror

What: When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, a war to eradicate both species commences. The vampire warrioress, Selene leads the battle against humankind.

Who: director - Måns Mårlind & Björn Stein, stars – Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy & India Eisley

Lowdown: This franchise keeps (inexplicably) making money, so they keep on making them. This time a couple of Swedes are directing. 20-23M opening weekend sounds about right.

Opening Weekend: I will never understand why this franchise is a continuing money maker, but there is no denying it - there is an audience that will turn up every single time a new one comes out. That audience make this movie #1 for the weekend with 25.3 Million. (29% RT score)

Jan. 27

The Grey

Action/Thriller

What: In Alaska, an oil drilling team struggle to survive after a plane crash strands them in the wild. Hunting the humans are a pack of wolves who see them as intruders.

Who: director – Joe Carnahan, stars – Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney & Frank Grillo

Lowdown: From the director of The A Team, this movie probably deals with the triumph of the human spirit and against-the-odds survival but what I got out of the trailer? Liam Neeson affixing broken mini bottles to his fists to ostensibly box the wolves. Like, Ali-style. (Check out the last twenty seconds or so of the trailer to see the amazingness.) I mean, who wouldn’t pay $12 to go see that? Around 12M opening weekend is my prediction.

Opening Weekend: Good reviews (80% RT score) and excellent word of mouth helped make it #1 for the weekend with 19.66 million. (Over-performed by quite a bit - 2 days before opening the industry was expecting 9-10 million for the weekend.)

Man on a Ledge

Crime/thriller        

What: As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex-con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in motion.

Who: director – Asger Leth, stars – Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Edward Burns, Ed Harris, Kyra Sedwick & Anthony Mackie

Lowdown: The most literal movie title award goes to Summit. This is a movie about a man literally on the ledge…of a building. Other things going for it: that token “hot girl in her underwear” shot in the trailer. Because if you are in the middle of a diamond heist wouldn’t you strip down too? I have seen this trailer every single time I’ve been to the cinema lately (it may have had something to do with that other Summit movie I was watching), and it never seemed to play well with the crowd (again, that might have soothing to do with the crowd being too excited to see some sparkling vampires that they weren’t paying attention). I’ll guess around 10M opening weekend.

Opening Weekend: Maybe the first real bomb of the year? With a 32% RT score, this pic only brought in 8 million for it's opening weekend.

One for the Money

Action/comedy

What: Unemployed and newly-divorced Stephanie Plum lands a job at her cousin's bail-bond business, where her first assignment puts her on the trail of a wanted local cop from her romantic past.

Who: director – Julie Anne Robinson, stars – Katherine Heigl, Jason O’Mara, Daniel Sunjata, John Leguizamo & Sherri Shepherd

Lowdown: One for the money – isn’t that what all of Katherine Heigl’s movies have been? Based on the Janet Evanovich “Stephanie Plum” novels, there were quite a few people upset when Heigl was named as the lead character, and I have pretty much zero hopes that she is going to be able to make those people happy, I mean watch the trailer. This thing looks hor.ri.ble. 10-12M opening weekend sounds about right.

Opening Weekend: To say that critics hated this movie would be an understatement - it got a 2% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. TWO. PERCENT. Audiences didn't seem too into it either, it made only 11.5 million it's opening weekend.

Some notable limited releases being released in January:

Norwegian Wood – Jan. 6 (drama/foreign) Super sad, super beautiful film about a guy who grows close to his best friends girlfriend after the friend kills himself. Nominated for the Golden Lion in Venice.

Loosies - Jan. 11 (comedy/drama) A young pickpocket in the New York subways, living a fast, free lifestyle is confronted by a woman with whom he has a one night stand. Written by and staring Peter Facinelli of Twilight fame. 

Albatross - Jan. 13 (drama) Beth, a bookish teenager, befriends Emilia, an aspiring novelist who has just arrived in town. Emilia soon begins an affair with Beth's father that threatens to have devastating consequences. Stars "It Girl of 2011" Felicity Jones.

Coriolanus – Jan. 20 (drama/thriller) Ralph Fiennes makes his directing debut in this film based off Shakespeare’s play. Staring Ralph Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrace, Gerard Butler & Jessica Chastain.

Declaration of War – Jan 27 (drama/foreign) This film made it’s debut at Cannes last year and finally gets its US release. A beautiful film about a young couple that wrestle with their child's cancer diagnosis.

Rampart – Jan. 27 (action/crime) Set in 1999 Los Angeles, veteran police officer Dave Brown, the last of the renegade cops, works to take care of his family, and struggles for his own survival. Stars Robin Wright, Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Sigourney Weaver & Ben Foster.