Looking at the Weekend: Apr. 21-23, 2017

Five films release this weekend in hopes of picking up some scraps during The Fate of the Furious‘ guaranteed second week at the top of the box office. Among these, Unforgettable has the most potential for broad appeal. Free Fire is too niche, Phoenix Forgotten is being dragged down by a late and weak marketing campaign, and The Promise is trying to avoid the more lucrative and appropriate platform release to head wide at the start. As such, the pulpy Unforgettable should pick up the most business, though it won’t even come close to holding a candle next to Furious.

Our Highest Rated Films: The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki, Free Fire, The Promise
Our Best Awards Ratings: Free Fire (Oscars)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

The Lost City of Z (Expanding) (Read our Looking at the Weekend Coverage here)
Born in China
Citizen Jane
The Penguin Counters

Apr. 21-23, 2017
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Free Fire (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.3 Wesley Lovell: (8) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (5)	.8 Wesley Lovell: (3,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: Costume Design (WL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): This period shootout pic has all the earmarks of a fun, unexpected trip to the box office. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Looks like a pointlessly violent waste of talent to me. Tripp Burton (TB): A wonderful ensemble seems to help save this film. Thomas LaTourette (TL): Shoot ’em up with everyone turning on everyone else. It was hard to get excited by the trailer when you don’t know if there is anyone to root for.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Phoenix Forgotten (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	2.3 Wesley Lovell: (2) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (3) Thomas LaTourrette: (2)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): I had seen the trailer for this film at the theater a week before reviewing the trailer. Suffice it to say, I had entirely forgotten what the title was in the span of a week. Not a good thing. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Another cheap shaky camera horror flick to avoid. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks like one of thousands of Blair Witch ripoffs, just 15 years too late. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This looks like another Blair Witch rip-off using found footage, found decades after the event.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Promise (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.3 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Tripp Burton: (7) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): As much as the cast is appealing, the trailer is atrocious and setting a romantic drama against the backdrop of the Armenian genocide is incredibly tone deaf. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Armenian genocide drama from the director of Hotel Rwanda looks underwhelming. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks like a solid drama, but I’m not in a rush to see it. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The trailer spends more time on the love triangle than the Armenian war that causes it, which makes it look like a tepid soap opera.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Unforgettable (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.0 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (3) Tripp Burton: (4) Thomas LaTourrette: (3)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): I’m a sucker for schticky revenge thrillers like thi, so I’m certainly intrigued. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Revenge drama looks like a glorified TV movie. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks very generic and more suited for a Lifetime movie. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It looks like a typical spurned ex-wife wanting to break up her ex’s new marriage.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
7 Witches (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	2.8 Wesley Lovell: (4) Peter J. Patrick: (3) Tripp Burton: (2) Thomas LaTourrette: (2)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Horror does best when the subject matter is compelling. The trailer doesn’t give that impression. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Minor horror film looks like another waste of time. Tripp Burton (TB): Nothing about this film appeals to me. Thomas LaTourette (TL): Yet another horror movie, and this looks weaker than most.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.5 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (7) Tripp Burton: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): A biopic about a boxing figure who falls in love as the biggest match of his career approaches doesn’t seem that appealing. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Award-winning Finish film looks interesting but nothing to rush out to catch in the theatre. Tripp Burton (TB): Some good festival buzz has me intrigued beyond the premise. Thomas LaTourette (TL): A tale of a Finnish boxer in 1962 does not sound that exciting, but early reviews are good and the black and white photography works. It’s the best bet of the week.