Welcome back to the latest edition of the WEEKLY PREVIEW where I'll forecast this weeks releases. Enjoy!
SUNSHINE CLEANING (DIR. CHRISTINE JEFFS)2009 welcomes AMY ADAMS with open arms (after having to stomach an ISLA FISHER mess earlier this year) and finds her in a quirky comedy opposite EMILY BLUNT (DEVIL WEARS PRADA) and ALAN ARKIN. Eerily familiar to LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE in both its creative team and promotional habits, but I do expect a genuinely intimate family study, something we were not treated to by LITTLE MISS. Opens to a moderate box office but should have good legs - not least of which because it'll be a great DATE movie in it's appeal to both genders (guys, you'll probably like this one I'm afraid). For those STEVE ZAHN fans out there, rumor has it he's pretty good in this.
RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN (DIR. ANDY FICKMAN)RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN should entertain, at least. While not as epic or star heavy as what DISNEY is capable of, DWAYNE "THE ROCK" JOHNSON has tremendous appeal (and a fan base that includes myself I may add) and there is little else going on in the tweeny-time cinema-scene. ANNASOPHIA ROBB plays the young girl and many will recognize her from THE REAPING and BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA (among other pictures) and WITCHMOUNTAIN is a reboot of sorts which should peak more than a few people's interest. THREE STARS is probably too high, but i give THE ROCK and DISNEY the benefit of the doubt nine times out of ten.
BROTHERS AT WAR (DIR. JAKE RADEMACHER)Seems this is the week of three star forecasts, and BROTHERS AT WAR is no different. Filmed over a three year period both domestically and internationally (with four different combat units), BROTHERS is DIRECTOR JAKE RADEMACHER'S attempt to understand what motivated his two brothers to serve in IRAQ. Apparently absent are any glaring pro/anti slants and in their place is an examination of brothers, brothers in arms - and the incredible commitment of so many young Americans.
THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (DIR. DENNIS ILIADIS)TWO STARS may be two too many for the yet unproven hands of DENNIS ILIADIS. But I can't deny the previews have sparked my interest and there's a bit of a buzz going around about this one. People may turn out for it, either discouraged by the length of WATCHMEN or disinterested in the now-last-week FRIDAY THE 13TH reboot. With no names to garner any attention, something tells me ROUGUE PICTURES is banking on people remembering that WES CRAVEN directed the original in '72. LAST HOUSE burns slowly to the ground until sometime in APRIL.
MISS MARCH (DIR. ZACH CREGGER, TREVOR MOORE)That MISS MARCH cites two directors in it's credits should be telling enough not to expect much from this picture (and shame on anyone who dare bring up the COHEN brothers to refute this statement). Further, the two WROTE and STAR in the picture as well (and no, MEL GIBSON comments aren't welcome either). Having said all that, there really isn't another strong sex comedy in theaters, the closest being either PAUL BART (a picture that's taken nearly $140 MIL - so it won't be posing any threats here) or FIRED UP. Opening over $5 MIL would surprise me. What wouldn't surpise me? Seeing MISS MARCH on the DVD shelf in eight weeks.
