Looking at the Weekend: Jun. 30-Jul. 2, 2017

Always bet on yellow. While R-rated comedies have had success in the past, The House looks like it will go down in ignominious defeat to two of this weekend’s new films. Despicable Me 3 may feature its yellow-skinned minions, but Gru (Steve Carell) and company have proven time and again that this franchise is dependable. So dependable that a number one finish is almost guaranteed. Giving it a run for its money is Baby Driver, which has been building buzz in recent weeks and was so assured of success that the studio moved it form the doldrums of August into a prime July 4 weekend slot. The House will probably come in a distant third. The big question is whether the frequently delayed Amityville: The Awakening will be much of a figure at all. Will it top House or will it bottom-dwell the top ten? My guess is that it finishes poorly dooming the franchise before it can reboot.

Our Highest Rated Films: Baby Driver
Our Best Awards Ratings: Baby Driver (Globes/Oscars); Despicable Me 3 (Oscars)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography
Reset (Ni Shi Ying Jiu)
The Skyjacker’s Tale

Jun. 30-Jul. 2, 2017
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Amityville: The Awakening (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	1.8 Wesley Lovell: (1) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (3) Thomas LaTourrette: (1)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): I was never a huge fan of the Amityville films and this “original story” just doesn’t look that appealing on top of that disinterest. Peter J. Patrick (PP): When will they leave that house alone? Tripp Burton (TB): This is a series that appears to have worn out its welcome. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The reboot of this horror franchise has no interest for me at all.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Baby Driver (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	7.0 Wesley Lovell: (8) Peter J. Patrick: (7) Tripp Burton: (7) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	1.0 Wesley Lovell: (2,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (2,Globes) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: Picture (TB) Actor (TB) Original Screenplay (WL) Film Editing (WL) Screen Couple (TB)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Edgar Wright’s romantic heist action flick looks like a great deal of fun with strong actors who also look like they’re having fun. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Stylish thriller with strong cast has good advance word of mouth. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks like a lot of summer fun! Thomas LaTourette (TL): This has great reviews on rottentomatoes.com, but the trailer tries to be too cool and it did not spike my interest the way it should.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Despicable Me 3 (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.0 Wesley Lovell: (8) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (3) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	3.5 Wesley Lovell: (7,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (7,Oscars)	Categories: Animated Feature (WL,TL) Original Song (TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The Despicable Me films (not including the execrable spin-off Minions) have been a consistently entertaining batch. I hope that continues with this third film. Peter J. Patrick (PP): For fans of the franchise. Tripp Burton (TB): I have little time for this franchise, but my kids love the minions so I’m sure I will see this. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It has been a pretty good franchise, so this should prove entertaining. Hopefully it will be more like Despicable Me 2 than Minions, which was a letdown.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The House (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	3.5 Wesley Lovell: (5) 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): I’m sure it might be funny, but it’s also equally likely to be awful. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Tasteless looking comedy. Tripp Burton (TB): This is a great idea for a film, but I’m not sure how well executed it looks. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This looks like a truly dreadful comedy, with no redeeming features, even though I like Amy Poehler.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
13 Minutes (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.3 Wesley Lovell: (4) Peter J. Patrick: (6) 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 don’t think I can stomach another story about a potential Hitler assassin and the love affair he conducts. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Another take on Hitler from the director of Downfall could be good. Tripp Burton (TB): Hirschbiegel’s last WWII film, Downfall, is one of the most powerful I’ve seen, so I will check this out for sure. Thomas LaTourette (TL): Looking at reviews, it takes what should be a gripping story and makes it ordinary.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Little Hours (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.3 Wesley Lovell: (7) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (2) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Irreverant comedies can sometimes be brilliant and the trailer suggests that might be true here as well. Peter J. Patrick (PP): 21st Century take on Boccaccio’s 14th Century The Decameron doesn’t look particularly appealing. Tripp Burton (TB): I have little patience for Aubrey Plaza’s comedy, so I will be skipping this. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It does not have a medieval feel to it, but it might be a fun comedy about misbehaving nuns. Not high cinema, but hopefully worth watching.