Looking at the Weekend: Aug. 25-27, 2017

This the kind of weekend where nothing breaks out and everything bombs, leaving a surprise number one selection? Of the new releases, Leap! has the best chance at becoming a modest hit. Animation hasn’t had a lot of options lately, meaning families aren’t getting much entertainment. All Saints could tap into a religious-oriented demographic that hasn’t been seen a lot at the theater lately, or people could shockingly flock to the poorly advertised Birth of the Dragon. Ultimately, Leap! has the best opportunity for success, but number one may not be in the cards.

Our Highest Rated Films: Beach Rats
Our Best Awards Ratings: Leap! (Oscars)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

Carl Jackson’s The Jesus Freak
A Gentleman
Polina
Served Like a Girl
Good Time (Expanding) (Read our Looking at the Weekend commentary here.)

Aug. 25-27, 2017
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
All Saints (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	2.8 Wesley Lovell: (1) Peter J. Patrick: (4) Tripp Burton: (4) Thomas LaTourrette: (2)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Another fauxpirational film that looks more manipulative than good. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Faith based drama looks like a glorified TV movie, but could conceivably be a modest hit. Tripp Burton (TB): This is not my cup of tea. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It could be an inspiring true story, but it looks hackneyed from the start and the trailer takes away any doubt that all will turn out well.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Birth of the Dragon (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	2.5 Wesley Lovell: (2) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (4) Thomas LaTourrette: (2)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The film might not feel like one featuring the White Savior archetype, but the trailer gives that impression. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Inept looking biopic about the legendary Bruce Lee already done justice by 1993’s Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. Tripp Burton (TB): This does not look like the biopic that Bruce Lee deserves. Thomas LaTourette (TL): I am not much of a kung fu fanatic anyway, and the trailer certainly does not make a case for watching this film, especially as the winner of the main fight remains uncertain.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Leap! (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.0 Wesley Lovell: (2) Peter J. Patrick: (7) Tripp Burton: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (5)	2.3 Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (4,Oscars) Tripp Burton: (5,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: Animated Feature (PP,TB) Screen Couple (PP-First Feature)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Shouldn’t this being showing on the Disney Channel? Looks just like something they would produce on the cheap. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Cute Looking animated feature about an aspiring ballerina has possibilities. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks like an interesting little film, and the trailer grabbed my kids’ attention. Thomas LaTourette (TL): I normally enjoy animated films, but this one looks very trite and unoriginal.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Beach Rats (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.3 Wesley Lovell: (8) Peter J. Patrick: (7) Tripp Burton: (3) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	1.3 Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Critics) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): I’m not certain the premise is too interesting, but the second trailer at least paints it as an atmospheric drama. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Well-regarded festival hit could be an art-house success with proper handling. Tripp Burton (TB): Eliza Hittman’s last film was too bleak and flat for me, and this doesn’t look like much of an improvement. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The trailer may not be that exciting, but the early reviews of this gritty modern film make it sound worth seeing.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Ghost House (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.3 Wesley Lovell: (7) Peter J. Patrick: (5) 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): This looks like it might be a bit creative and a little bit original, which would be nice to see. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Thai locations make this horror film look a bit more interesting than the typical Hollywood rip-off. Tripp Burton (TB): That stupid title seems to say it all for this film. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The Thai settings may lead to some creepy visuals, but this ghost story won’t be seen by me.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Legend of the Naga Pearls (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	3.3 Wesley Lovell: (4) Peter J. Patrick: (2) 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): A shopworn tale that takes itself too seriously and not seriously enough at the same time. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Dumb looking Chinese adventure film – I’ll pass. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks generic and not very interesting. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The CGI does not look terribly well done and the storyline and acting seem to be the same, so I will pass on this one.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Red Christmas (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.5 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (4) Tripp Burton: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (2)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): It will be nice to see Dee Wallace back in action. The trailer isn’t great, but it does look reminiscent of the great, cheesy 1980s horror films I grew up on. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Dumb looking Christmas horror film looks several notches below the classic Black Christmas. Tripp Burton (TB): I’ve heard this is an original take on the slasher film, but I’m still not in a rush to check it out. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The second horror film of the week tries to be comical, but I am doubtful that it will succeed.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Villainess (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.3 Wesley Lovell: (5) Peter J. Patrick: (5) 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): The premise sounds good, but the trailer does not make much of a case for the film. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Well-received Hong Kong actioner could be a decent entry in the genre. Tripp Burton (TB): This stylized action film isn’t for me, but it looks original if nothing else. Thomas LaTourette (TL): Of the three Asian kung fu-inspired films, this looks like it has the most exciting choreography but perhaps the least well defined story.