August 21, 2009

New Movies Releases: 8/21

This week's wide releases -
Inglorious Basterds
Post Grad
Shorts
X Games The Movie - 3D


August is steaming towards a finish, which will bring a slow period at the box office as kids head back to school. There are only a couple of chances left to make any sort of summer bang. This week's biggest hope lies with Quentin Tarantino. His latest film is set to explode onto the big screen, although I suspect it will have a quick fall off. In any case, this week is not nearly as strong as last week, which had a pretty good selection of films, led by the phenomenal District 9. So, what will you be heading out for this weekend?

Inglorious Basterds. (2009, 153 minutes, R, action) Inspired by a 1970's era exploitation film, Inglorious Bastards, starring Bo Svensen and Fred Williamson, Quentin Tarantino looks to put his unique stamp on the war movie. This is a tale that has been bouncing around in Tarantino's head for a few years now, it has finally come to be. The story moves forward on a couple of fronts, one has a Jewish girl see her family murdered by a Nazi officer, and followed her escape to Paris where she runs a cinema. Meanwhile an Allied officer (Brad Pitt) puts together a strike force which hits specialized targets, taking no prisoners. This looks like it is going to be a blast, funny, thrilling, dramatic, and distinctly Tarantino in flavor.



Post Grad. (2009, 89 minutes, PG-13, comedy)Alexis Bledel stars as a young college graduate forced to move back home and the stress of being there, looking for a job, and finding a guy. Sounds like pretty typical stuff, but with the new school year right around the corner, this could be the right time for a movie of this topic. It looks like it could be fun, although I would not get my hopes up.



Shorts. (2009, 89 minutes, PG, family) Robert Rodriguez is an interesting character. He is equally adept at delivering films with a distinct adult target (Desperado, Sin City) as he is at hitting the child demographic (Spy Kids series). This is the latest from the child side of the coin. The story centers on a boy disinterested in the town he lives in, then a magical wish-granting stone arrives in his life and plays with reality as the town is torn apart by its presence. It does not interest me much, but I am sure it will be decent and worthwhile for the families in the audience.



X Games The Movie: 3D. (2009, 92 minutes, PG, sports)Go behind the scenes of the 2008 competition. This film surely will deliver some breathaking footage of the tricks and runs at the event, but I cannot bring myself to care. Perhaps if I was a fan it would be a different story, although I am interested in what you think of it.



Also opening this week, but not near me:
  • Casi Divas
  • Five Minutes of Heaven
  • The Marc Pease Experience
  • My One and Only
  • Worlds Greatest Dad

Box Office Predictions
I think this weekend will be owned by Quentin Tarantino, the bg question is whether or not his latest will have any legs. His films tend to be a bit of a hard sell and it may have a short shelf life. However, this weekend will be owned by the Q-man. I am hoping to see continued success from District 9, one of the year's best so far. The other new films will slot in along the chain of returning titles without much really standing out.

Here is how I think it could play out.

RankTitleBox Office
1Inglorious Basterds$26 million
2District 9$21 million
3G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra$12 million
4The Time Traveler's Wife$9 million
5Shorts$7.5 million
6Julie & Julia$6.5 million
7Post Grad$6 million
8G-Force$3.5 million
9The Goods$2.5 million
10X Games The Movie: 3D$2 million


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