*** Edit to add in opening weekend numbers for the wide release films that opened in February 2012 ***
Feb. 3
Feb. 3
Big MiracleDrama/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
ChronicleSci-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 BlackHorror/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 3DAdventure/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 HouseAction/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 3DAction/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 VowDrama/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 3DAction/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 ArriettyAnimation/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 WarAction/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 ValorAction/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
GoneThriller
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.
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.
WanderlustComedy
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.
