My Studios

geezer, to answer your questions, first, I for one am skeptical of We Own the Night's ability to outperform American Gangster. Gangster's going to hit at a much more potentially lucrative time than Night (a few weeks can make a lot of difference, as we move toward the Holiday filmgoing season) and figures to have a far more considerable marketing campaign. Plus, I'm not all that certain that the Wahlberg-Phoenix axis is as big a draw as Crowe-Washington. Denzel's lost some momentum, true, but I'm not sure that the two younger guys are quite at Crowe's level, yet.

The one advantage that Night seems to have, at least for now, is in IMDb (currently an 8.2; Gangster's unrated at present, but may be hard-pressed to outperform that mark); this, moving on to your second question, is the reason I would pick We Own the Night over 30 Days of Night. Own is simply the safer bet, a known quantity; there's simply no way it will fail to enter the Top 5 in its debut weekend, and while 30 Days LOOKS to be a strong genre title, it's just that -- a genre title. By definition, it's going to have an uphill battle generating significant mainstream attention... and, let's face it, this hasn't exactly been the year for horror movies, no matter how clever and buzz-worthy.

I realize we're nearly to Halloween, traditionally the time of year when even the most derivative and foolish horror / thriller films will have an audience, and it's true that only two are coming out this month: 30 Days of Night and Saw IV, and one is a fairly inventive title, and the other merely the latest in a seemingly interminable line of ever-more-pathetic sequels. But here's the thing: 30 Days' novelty will certainly work FOR it in terms of die-hard horror fans, who'll seek out the new and interesting before trudging wearily back to the multiplex to pay homage to the Saw franchise... But, unless it manages to capture lightning in a bottle, 30 Days will suffer from Saw's general familiarity. Gore-fest fanatics will surely make time for 30 Days; the average theatergoer will more likely stick with what they already know. (This is why sequels are such cash machines.)

I could be wrong. If any horror film this year is going to make a splash in terms of PTA, it's probably 30 Days of Night, and if User Ratings are through the roof that could well make it a better investment than We Own the Night, which is sure to make more money and Top 5 points. So, here's my calculus:

We Own the Night: Better Box Office earnings potential, better Top 5 points potential, already-proven high IMDb.

30 Days of Night: Unknown IMDb, and it's possible it has better PTA points potential.

Neither one's going to be a blockbuster, but I'd say it's advantage: We Own the Night. Call it 5-4 and pick 'em. Much will depend, however, on just how high 30 Days' IMDb User Ratings are. If you have a hunch that the horror film is going to make jaws drop, perhaps you'd better go with it.

And now, I'm all out of hands. (On the one hand... but on the OTHER hand... And on the GRIPPING hand...)

I remain, as always...

Nico. (Handyman.)

Bless you Michael Bay. Armageddon is a masterpiece.

I just finished watching Death Proof and the Euro version must be significantly better than than the US cut because I was bored. As Toby Keith wrote, I guess I was hoping for "a little less talk and a lot more action." I understand that it is a Tarantino movie and long blab fests are a given, but could the movie just DO something? Also, what was the era that the film was aiming for? '70s or '90s? And Stuntman Mike? The biggest case of overhyping a character since possibly Darth Maul. I guess if that is what grindhouse movies are like, I don't regret missing them.

Planet Terror gets released next tuesday on DVD. I am looking forward to that, and that was the half of the billing I was looking forward to anyways. And while it's not the sexy pick, I have preferred Rodriguez's talent, consistancy, and personal attitude much more than good old Quintin.

I agree completely, Jamey,

i know Tarantino's film are about the digressions (Pulp Ficiton was nothing but), but usually it's interesting- that scene where the four girls in the movie business talk about falling intoa ditch, and then go on about Vanishing Point... I mean, I know Vanishing Point is cool, I really don't need to hear 4 chick harp on aabout it for 15 minutes- it's a long way from the tipping argument at the start of Reservoir Dogs.

I didn't like Death Proof at all. There's some quality moments ( Kurt's girly screams, the car chase, the first killings), but that amounts to about 20 minutes out of the film's 2 hours.

Nope, Quent has lost it for me, and I have doubts about Inglorious Bastards, considering I'm not a fan of the whole war-action genre (that said, I'm no fan of kung fu but Kill Bill V1 rocked my world)

oh no...You guys missed the point of DeathProof. The first time I saw it...I was not a huge fan, but now that I've watched it closer a few times it's probably my third favorite Tarantino Movie. All of Tarantino's films are tributes. Obviously. Whether it's Kill Bill Vol. 1 (Kung Fu) Kill Bill Vol. 2 (westerns) Pulp Fiction (serials) they all are Tarantino's version of a genre that influenced him as a kid. And he does tribut films better than pretty much anyone. He, instead of avoiding these genres cliche's, uses every single one of them he can. He throws in a stupid plot that you would find in an actual crappy western or kung fu film or old car film. He tosses in the stereotypical characters you would find in those films. He puts all of the cliche'd elements that make those movies so bad, and manages to stick by it and make it interesting and watchable. If you've ever seen any of the old car movies of the 60s and 70s, they are DeathProof. There's a ridiculous plot. Terrible acting (deathproof is definitely no exception, but again that's the point). Stupid, pointless dialogue that doesn't really serve the plot or pretty much anything. And then, after 2 hours of nothing you get an awesome 15 minute car chase for absolutely no reason. And for that, DeathProof is perfect.

You are obviously allowed you're opinion, this movie is definitelt not for everyone, but I personally love DeathProof with all of my heart!

You're right Stn, Death Proof gets it perfectly in mimicking an awful genre that should never be revived: he has made an awful film that shouldn't have been made.

What gets my goat is that he spent about 30million dollars- no Grindhouse movie ever cost that. If he was truly genuine he should have shot it in dodgy 16mm, or even better, camera phones! Instead he used 35mm (or so IMDB says, although I thought he shot in digital) and spends all this money to make scratchy effects? Talk about taking the long way around.

Bless you Michael Bay. Armageddon is a masterpiece.

I don't know I don't think this film gives you enough. It is pretty much a jack of all trades and master of none. It has nice reviews... It will make between 25 and 40 million... but it will give you only one week in the top 5 and no PTA. If it were a sub 10 dollar pick up I would say go for it but not for more than for more than 10 percent of your slate. However, it does apear to be nice pick up in BO moguls b/c you won't pay a premium for the ratings.

Planet Terror is a masterpiece its a lot better than Death Proof trust me. Planet Terror has the actual Grindhouse vibe and Is really well bloody as hell and funny as hell Planet Terror by itself made Grindhouse one of my favorite films of 2007. [Along with Eli Roth's Thanksgiving trailer pure genius].

uh...sorry. Planet Terror can be watched ONCE. Any repeat veiwing is a waste of time. Unlike DeathProof, Planet Terror has absolutely nothing below the surface period. Nothing is subtle and once you watch it again, to be completely honest, it isn't nearly as outrageous or entertaining as you thought it was the first time. DeathProof has more subtleties that you might not pick up the first time, much like all of Tarantino's movies. I'm just saying...Give DeathProof another look. You will most likely find some things that you didn't see before. If you don't. Then, your taste in movies is obviously too mainstream. And I understand Tarantino is considered a mainstream director, but his movies are anything but.

Bless you Michael Bay. Armageddon is a masterpiece.

good point in defense of QT, Stn,

I agree somewhat- there are things going on in Deathproof, such as the whole old skool Vs New Kids (Kurt Vs Stunt ladies), or the fact that the heroes aren't trying to save/avenge their children/husband (the motive for 99% of female heroes)- there's someting in that.

BUT

I think Tarantino doesn't have enough to make it interesting. Those dialogue scenes... really, they are very uninteresting. Sure, there's a lyricism to them, but it feels so insignificant and downright dull that I couldn't care less. That, and the fact that I felt no real sympathy or interest for the sassy stuntladies, that I didn't really give a damn whether they lived or died. Even Reservoir Dogs had the bond between White and Orange, or Jules had his epipheny- these are issues of SOME emotional weight, something we can invest ourselves in. And I didn't have that for anyone in Death Proof. Perhaps it's reflecting the traits of Grindhouse, and if that's the case, fine, but that just limits the film as much as original grindhouse limited itself, and why the genre is not considered to be of any true quality besides a nostalgic nod.

I definitely understand why you would feel that way six, the film is definitely not for everyone.

Getting back to We Own the Night, the reviews are coming in, and they're mainly pretty tepid. Almost all praise the competent direction and performances of the male leads, but almost all also go to great lengths to say, there's nothing new here, folks. I'm thinking (in lieu of Mase's always-comprehensive tracking reports) it's going to be a horse race between Night and Elizabeth: The Golden Age, with The Game Plan a VERY strong holdover and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married stumbling into fourth. The Darjeeling Limited ought to make a minor splash, though I doubt it will earn Top 5 status.

We should begin to have our answers here in the next 12-24 hours...

I remain, as always...

Nico.

Nico Nico Nico- do you honestly think Elizabeth 2 will do well? Look at the reviews, my rodent friend- Elizabeth is the kind of film that really requires good word of mouth and reviews to prosper. This film has neither, opening as wide as possible and to very very poor reviews. It has no real appeal, no real audience, it will not make the Top 5, I'm afraid. I say Clayton will get top spot, then We Own, followed by Tyler Perry, Game Plan, and Heartbreak Kid.

My Studios

ADVICE & ANALYSIS: