November Movies to See and Skip

This past month was filled with spooky stories (mostly sequels or re-makes), and indie darlings.  Most of the films released throughout the month of October were a build up Halloween, even the animated features.

There was Paranormal Activity 4, Silent Hill 2, and Sinister, these were the films that tried to get you to jump.  Then there two animated feature Hotel Transylvania, and Frankenweenie.  Frankenweenie received the best reviews, but did lousy at the box office, and Hotel Transylvania received middling reviews but was one of the biggest successes at the box office.  While Paranormal Activity had a solid opening, it was way down from the previous installments, and failed to hold a steady box office proving the franchise is weakening.  Most folks would rather stay in and watch their favorite old Halloween films than the ones coming out at the movies.

People wanted drama in the month of October.  The main star, of October, was the Ben Affleck directed Argo, which got amazing reviews (it was a great film), and has already made 60 million making it the Best Picture front runner at the moment.  Taken 2 has performed solidly at the box office, but was trashed by critics, I am intrigued to see if they turn this into a trilogy.

Then there the the bombs on all accounts, Here Comes the Boom, Alex Cross, and Chasing Mavericks.  These films did incredibly poorly, and received terrible reviews.  Like within our government its time for Hollywood to assess the structure of their film releases and the movies they are making.  Here's to hoping November is a bit more exciting.

November 2nd

Flight

Wreck-It Ralph

Look for Flight and Wreck-It Ralph to improve last week's box office numbers by a lot.  Wreck-IT Ralph will do well because it will appeal to kids of all ages, and looks just plain fun.  The film is also getting great reviews.  Denzel fans will show up for this one; he has a great box office track record, combine that with Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) directing and you have a hit.  Both are must see movies of the month.

November 9th

Skyfall (November 8th)

Lincoln

Another weekend filled with must see movies.  Skyfall looks fantastic, and its already killing it over seas at the box office.  Combine that with it being the 50th anniversary of the films, and you have a surefire hit on your hands.  I have seen Lincoln already, and boy is it great.  No film maker has tackled Lincoln, and Spielberg was the man for the job!

November 16th 

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (15th)

Anna Karenina 

Thank God the Twilight Saga is ending, that's all I have to say about that!  Anna Karenina looks beautiful, and Keira Knightly has grown into a very talented actress.  Twilight will dominate at the box office for the rest of November.

November 23rd

Silver Linings Playbook

Life of Pi

Hitchcock

Rise of the Guardians

Rust and Bone

Thanksgiving weekend has a lot of interesting options, Life of Pi is being hailed as "the next Avatar" in television spots, but I do not think audience are going to show up like they did for Avatar.  The film looks solid though.  Silver Linings Playbook will have the Juno effect, solid cast solid word of mouth, and it will do well at the box office.  Hitchcock and Rust and Bone both look fantastic but they will do solid business in their limited release.  Rise of the Guardians looks weird and I am not sure the marketing is working well at the moment, so it could be a lower box office draw.

November 30th

Killing them Softly

Brad Pitt playing a bad-ass never looked so good, this film has a great cast and solid reviews, and looks bloody (literally) brilliant.  I am there!

Must See-Flight, Wreck-It Ralph, Lincoln, Skyfall, Silver Linings Playbook, Hitchcock, Life of Pi, Killing Them Softly

Skip-Twilight (come on folks)

Audiences Cheer for the Silver Linings Playbook at theToronto International Film Festival

The Hollywood Reporter announced that the dramedy, The Silver Linings Playbook, won the Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Playbook, which was directed by David O. Russell (The Fighter, I Heart Huckabees) stars Bradley Cooper as Pat Solitano a former teacher who comes back home to live with his parents after a stint in a mental institution.  While at home Pat meets Tiffany played by Jennifer Lawrence who has problems of her own, the two start to go on their own relationship adventures, but their mental status interrupts a true "happy ending."  Robert DeNiro also stars as Pat's dad.  News from TIFF is that the film played uproarious joyful applause from audiences, reminiscent of past winner Slumdog Millionaire (2008).

Over the past years the audience prizes have gone to the following films:

Where Do We Go Now? (2011)
The King’s Speech (2010)
Precious (2009)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Eastern Promises (2007)
Bella (2006)
Tsotsi (2005)
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Zatôichi (2003)
Whale Rider (2002)
Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain (2001)
Wo hu cang long (2000)
American Beauty (1999)

Last year's winner did nothing at the Academy Awards, but throughout the years this prize, along with the festival has helped build a buzz helping films garner more attention than they may have received in the past.  Of the audience prize winners Eastern Promises, Hotel Rwanda, Whale Rider, and Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain all became major players in the acting, and technical categories at the Academy Awards.  Eastern Promises got Viggo Mortensen his first acting nomination, Hotel Rwanda recieved nominations for Don Cheedle, and Sophie Okenedo, Whale Ride helped Keisha Castle Hughes pull off a shocking Best Actress nomination and Amelie was 6 time nominee with nominations in the technical categories and foreign language category.

On the other hand TIFF helped The King's Speech march on The Social Network, and win 4 Oscars including Picture, Director, and Lead Actor. Slumdog Millionaire took home 8 Oscars including Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay.  American Beauty won 5 Oscars including Picture, Director, Lead Actor, and Original Screenplay.  Precious was the other film on this list that scored wins, two wins, one for Mo'Nique in the Supporting Actress category, and the Best Adapted 
Screenplay.

Where does this leave Playbook in the hunt for Oscar?  Well of the first two festivals of the year, Venice and TIFF, both films that won at each were from The Weinstein Company.  The Master, which won at Venice, will be a much bigger hit with the critics, while Playbook will make a bigger showing at the Globes etc.  Could this be another David vs. Goliath like 2010s Speech vs. Network (both Weinstein films).  There is potential.  Russell's Fighter was well respected netting two major Oscars, this bodes well for him this year.  Paul Thomas Anderson's last film There will be Blood, was one of the most nominated films and grabbed two Oscars as well, for Lead Actor and Cinematography.  So who wins in this battle.  My guess is Argo, the Ben Affleck picture, but only time will tell, and the Oscar race is off to an interesting start.