Looking at the Weekend: Feb. 16-18, 2018

Advance ticket sales have been robust and the film has been generating the kind of buzz that a Star Wars film might. That will undoubtedly propel it to an easy number one finish. It could also mean that the film, which has no real competition for months, could put up the kind of box office numbers often reserved for Avengers movies, possibly even as high as one of the one-off Star Wars films.

Our Highest Rated Films: Loveless, Black Panther
Our Best Awards Ratings: Black Panther (Oscars), Loveless (nominated already)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

Aiyaary
Detective Chinatown 2
The Party

Feb. 16-18, 2018
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Black Panther (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	7.8 Wesley Lovell: (10) Peter J. Patrick: (7) Tripp Burton: (7) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	4.5 Wesley Lovell: (7,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Tripp Burton: (3,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (3,Oscars)	Categories: Production Design (WL,PP) Costume Design (WL,PP,TB) Sound Mixing (WL,PP,TB,TL) Sound Editing (WL,PP,TB,TL) Visual Effects (WL,PP,TB,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The potential for this film is incredible. If there’s one character in the Marvel universe that could give us something different than the standard Disney formula, this is it. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Eagerly anticipated superhero movie looks strong. Tripp Burton (TB): I’m sort of done with the Marvel Universe, but the word of mouth is so good that I’m curious about it. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This has gotten some really strong ratings by the critics and sounds like one of the better Marvel Universe films.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Early Man (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.3 Wesley Lovell: (4) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (8) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	3.3 Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (6,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (7,Oscars)	Categories: Animated Feature (TB,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): I love Aardman, but they haven’t been at their best in some time. I don’t seee this as being the road to redemption. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Unimpressive looking cartoon movie. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks like another solid comedy from Aardman. Thomas LaTourette (TL): Aardman films have been contenders for both short and feature length animated films. Unfortunately this looks like a lesser film than what they normally produce.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Samson (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	2.0 Wesley Lovell: (0) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (2) Thomas LaTourrette: (4)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): This religious adaptation doesn’t look even remotely appealing. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Sappy looking take on the legend of Samson and Delilah. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks abysmal. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It is an odd Biblical film as it looks both violent and preachy. The lily white casting of the leads will not go over in certain circles.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Boy Downstairs (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.8 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (6) Tripp Burton: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (5)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): This indie rom-com retread doesn’t look that interesting. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Low-key romantic comedy looks like it could be good. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks like a good streaming pick down the road. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This looks like an awkward rom-com, without much to distinguish it.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	2.8 Wesley Lovell: (2) Peter J. Patrick: (4) 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): Do we really need more cheap Asian martial arts comedies? Peter J. Patrick (PP): Third film in a series I’ve never heard of and will probably never see. Tripp Burton (TB): I guess this is an entry in a Korean series that I’ve never heard of. Thomas LaTourette (TL): I know nothing of the earlier films in this series, and the trailer definitely gives me no interest in seeing this or the others.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Loveless (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	8.0 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (10) Tripp Burton: (8) Thomas LaTourrette: (8)	1.0 Wesley Lovell: (4,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: Foreign Film (WL,PP,TB)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): While the story sounds like it could be interesting, it seems a little too moribund. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Devastating Russian submission for 2017 Foreign Language Oscar should register strongly with critics for 2018. Tripp Burton (TB): I’ve seen this powerful Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language film, and it is well worth seeking out. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The story of a family dissolving and the disappearance of their son looks mesmerizing and bleak.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Monkey King 3 (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	3.8 Wesley Lovell: (7) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (3) 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 dazzling effects might be worth catching, but the story doesn’t seem very solid. Peter J. Patrick (PP): I have no interest in seeing this dopey looking sequel to a film I never heard of. Tripp Burton (TB): I guess this is an entry in a Hong Kong series that I’ve never heard of. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The visuals of the trailer are alternately beautiful and hokey, which does not make it look like that good a film. I have not heard of the first two in the series.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Nostalgia (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.8 Wesley Lovell: (4) Peter J. Patrick: (8) Tripp Burton: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (5)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The film doesn’t have a lot of bold choices or original concepts to make it worth catching. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Good cast could make this mosaic of stories interesting. Tripp Burton (TB): A great cast and some good festival buzz could make this worth tracking down. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The trailer manages to do nothing with a big name cast, and the first reviews are not kind. It looks like one to miss.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Oh Lucy! (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.3 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (8) Tripp Burton: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (5)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): I have a vague interest in seeing this, but it doesn’t look like it would be absolutely great. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Japanese comedy looks like fun. Tripp Burton (TB): I’ve seen this small indie, and it is well acted and an entertaining watch if you can track it down. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The first reviews are mostly good, but an awkward trailer does not do a good job of selling this movie.