Looking at the Weekend: Oct. 2-4, 2015

Matt Damon will take command of the U.S. box office this weekend, with a debut that’s bound to excite and amaze. Well, at least that’s the plan. Early word suggests the film may be two tech heavy, which might not sell well to some audiences. However, any space-based sci-fi film has an edge at the box office if it’s set in the modern or near-modern time frame. There are no other wide releases, but even the second weekend of Hotel Transylvania 2 isn’t likely to stop Ridley Scott’s new film.

Our Highest Rated Films: The Martian
Our Best Awards Ratings: The Martian (Oscars) & The Walk (Oscars)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

Attack on Titan: Part 1 (Limited)

Sicario (Expanding) (Previously Reviewed in Looking at the Weekend)

Shanghai (Limited) (Previously Reviewed in Looking at the Weekend)

Oct. 2-4, 2015
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Martian (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	8.5 Wesley Lovell: (9) Peter J. Patrick: (8) Tripp Burton: (9) Thomas LaTourrette: (8)	6.5 Wesley Lovell: (7,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (9,Oscars) Tripp Burton: (7,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (3,Oscars)	Categories: Picture (WL,TB,TL) Director (WL,TB) Actor (WL,TB,TL) Supporting Actress (WL) Adapted Screenplay (WL,TB) Original Score (WL,TB) Film Editing (WL,TB) Cinematogrpahy (WL,TB) Production Design (WL,TB) Costume Design (WL) Sound Mixing (WL,PP,TB,TL) Sound Editing (WL,PP,TB,TL) Visual Effects (WL,PP,TB,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Ridley Scott’s last sci-fi outing wasn’t very good, but this one looks much better. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Box office gold seems assured, as do Oscar nods in technical categories. Will Best Picture follow? Perhaps. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks like a fresh take on the blockbuster, and the buzz from Toronto was very positive. One of my most anticipated movies this fall. Thomas LaTourette (TL): Surprisingly good early reviews have me much more interested in this film than I previously was. It sounds like both actor Matt Damon and director Ridley Scott do their best work in years.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Freeheld (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.5 Wesley Lovell: (7) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Tripp Burton: (7) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	5.0 Wesley Lovell: (6,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Globes) Tripp Burton: (4,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (5,Oscars)	Categories: Actress (WL,PP,TB,TL) Supporting Actress (WL,PP,TB,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Early reviews haven’t been great, but I’m still compelled by Julianne Moore and Ellen Page. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Early reviews of real-life drama have been mixed. Golden Globe nominations maybe, but it’s probably not an Oscar film. Tripp Burton (TB): Two actresses who can do little wrong in my book make this a must-see, even if I may wait to watch it at home. Thomas LaTourette (TL): I was more excited before I saw the reviews. A strong cast and an interesting subject sound like they get buried by a mediocre screenplay and direction. I am still intrigued to see it.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Partisan (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.0 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Tripp Burton: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (4)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (nil) Peter J. Patrick: (nil) Tripp Burton: (nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): I’m curious from a purely post-apocalyptic standpoint. Peter J. Patrick (PP): It looks important, but this Australian film about a commune that raises child killers doesn’t quite ring my bell. Tripp Burton (TB): Cult movies intrigue me, even if this doesn’t look like the best example. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It is hard to tell whether this film will be interesting or just slow moving enough to be grating.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Talvar (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.0 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (6) Tripp Burton: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (nil) Peter J. Patrick: (nil) Tripp Burton: (nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): It could be interesting, but the trailer doesn’t really give that impression. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Rashomon-like Indian films about a real-life 2008 murder seems intriguing. Tripp Burton (TB): I’m not sure what to make of this, although with some good buzz from Toronto, I may check it out On Demand someday. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This fact-based film could prove a sleeper hit as we get outraged by the injustices of the Indian legal system.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Walk (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.5 Wesley Lovell: (8) Peter J. Patrick: (9) Tripp Burton: (3) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	7.3 Wesley Lovell: (10,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (9,Oscars) Tripp Burton: (3,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (4,Globes)	Categories: Picture (TB) Director (TB) Actor (TB,TL) Original Score (WL,TB) Film Editing (TB) Cinematography (TB) Production Design (WL) Costume Design (WL) Sound Mixing (WL,PP,TB) Sound Editing (WL,PP,TB) Visual Effects (WL,PP,TB)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The only thing making me not want to see this is my intense fear of falling. Peter J. Patrick (PP): This should be a definite technical category nominee with a strong shot at a Best Picture Oscar as well. Tripp Burton (TB): This seems pointless to me when Man on Wire did such a perfect job capturing the story. Combine that with my hatred of heights, and I’ll wait to see what the buzz is like and then reluctantly watch it on my TV at home Thomas LaTourette (TL): I should be more excited by this film as Joseph Gordon Levitt has turned into an interesting actor, but the previews just leave me cold. A documentary about the subject was a little slow moving as well, but hopefully this film will be more exciting.