Looking at the Weekend: July 29-31, 2011

Jon Favreau may be the new summer movie guru after his success with Iron Man. How well the Daniel Craig/Harrison Ford Cowboys & Aliens plays will make that determination.

Consensus

Below is a list of what we have come to a general consensus on. The number in parens represents the percentage of our contributors who agree with the statement.

Cowboys & Aliens: It’s a genre blend that should please fans of both.
Crazy, Stupid, Love: With an all-star cast, it could be entertaining.
The Smurfs: Whether the effects are good or not, it’s just not something we’re interested in.
The Devil’s Double: It be an entertaining diversion, but probably not one of consequence.
Life in a Day: The interesting concept is what makes this a film to consider.
Point Blank: A foreign thriller could be a fun watch.

WIDE RELEASES

Cowboys & Aliens
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts Although I’m reticent to see the film, this is the week’s chosen flick by my cadre of friends. So good or bad, we’ll be there.	Thoughts It may be a new mix of genres but it still strikes me as too derivative of past invasion flicks.	Thoughts A fun-sounding premise could prove a contender in the tech categories if it can succeed enough at the box office.	Thoughts

Cowboys & Aliens

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

Although I’m reticent to see the film, this is the week’s chosen flick by my cadre of friends. So good or bad, we’ll be there.

Thoughts

It may be a new mix of genres but it still strikes me as too derivative of past invasion flicks.

Thoughts

A fun-sounding premise could prove a contender in the tech categories if it can succeed enough at the box office.

Thoughts

Crazy, Stupid, Love
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts I think the film has a lot of potential with some very good actors. I may not be able to catch it at the theater, but if I don’t, I’ll definitely watch it on DVD.	Thoughts Looks like a mildly entertaining summer comedy.	Thoughts An all-star cast won’t lead it to contention this winter, unless it can become some kind of surprise smash.	Thoughts

Crazy, Stupid, Love

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

I think the film has a lot of potential with some very good actors. I may not be able to catch it at the theater, but if I don’t, I’ll definitely watch it on DVD.

Thoughts

Looks like a mildly entertaining summer comedy.

Thoughts

An all-star cast won’t lead it to contention this winter, unless it can become some kind of surprise smash.

Thoughts

The Smurfs
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts There was a time when I wanted to see this, but that time was fleeting when I heard it would be partly live action and absent almost entirely when I saw the trailers. Still, curiosity may get me to pick it up on DVD some day far from now.	Thoughts	Thoughts Doesn’t appear to be more than mildly entertaining.	Thoughts A dark horse in the effects categories.

The Smurfs

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

There was a time when I wanted to see this, but that time was fleeting when I heard it would be partly live action and absent almost entirely when I saw the trailers. Still, curiosity may get me to pick it up on DVD some day far from now.

Thoughts

Doesn’t appear to be more than mildly entertaining.

Thoughts

A dark horse in the effects categories.

LIMITED RELEASES

The Devil’s Double
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts It looks like it could be a fun genre thriller and might have something profound to say in the end.	Thoughts Appears to put a different slant on recent history.	Thoughts Tamahori’s reputation and previous output makes this Oscar-friendly subject matter out of the grasp of Oscar glory.	Thoughts

The Devil’s Double

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

It looks like it could be a fun genre thriller and might have something profound to say in the end.

Thoughts

Appears to put a different slant on recent history.

Thoughts

Tamahori’s reputation and previous output makes this Oscar-friendly subject matter out of the grasp of Oscar glory.

Thoughts

Life in a Day
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts Despite thinking it could be somewhat interesting to watch, I’m just not a big watchers of documentaries.	Thoughts Looks to be an impressive microcosm of life on the planet today.	Thoughts Documentaries that piece together lots of people’s mini-stories tend not to do well with the Oscars.	Thoughts

Life in a Day

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

Despite thinking it could be somewhat interesting to watch, I’m just not a big watchers of documentaries.

Thoughts

Looks to be an impressive microcosm of life on the planet today.

Thoughts

Documentaries that piece together lots of people’s mini-stories tend not to do well with the Oscars.

Thoughts

Point Blank
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts I don’t think this is going to be the kind of movie I seek out, even on DVD, but it might be of interest to a number of fans of the genre.	Thoughts Looks like an exciting French thriller.	Thoughts French potboilers tend not to do well Oscar-wise.	Thoughts

Point Blank