August. Otherwise known as the studios’ dumping grounds. When a studio has a film that it doesn’t think can compete with the big boys earlier in the summer, they unceremoniously dump it into August hoping to earn a little extra from the weaker box office. However, like earlier in the year, studios are starting to spread out their tentpoles and the quality is increasing in those zones. There are still clunkers in both, but some of the films listed below could well exceed expectations for the standard August fare.

August 3, 2012

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “School is out and Greg is ready for the days of summer, when all his plans go wrong. What on earth is he going to do all summer?”
Box Office Prospects: $45 M
Expectations: A franchise like this tends to slowly diminish over time and after the second film failed to meet the original’s box office tally, a third go-round will probably share the same fate.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Total Recall

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “As the nation states Euromerica and New Shanghai vie for supremacy, a factory worker begins to suspect that he’s a spy, though he is unaware which side of the fight he’s on.”
Box Office Prospects: $120 M
Expectations: The original made $119 million at the box office. The sequel may have some initial interest but it will have to be damned special to make much more than my prediction. Even at his peak, Colin Farrell is no Arnold Schwarzeneggar in his prime.
Oscar Prospects: Perhaps nominations for Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing or Visual Effects, but I’m leaning towards none at this juncture.

360

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “A dramatic thriller that weaves together the stories of an array of people from disparate social backgrounds through their intersecting relationships.”
Box Office Prospects: $5 M
Expectations: Very little buzz has built around this film, which is how The Constant Gardener managed to make so much at the box office ($33 million). I don’t expect much out of this Meirelles film.
Oscar Prospects: Being released in August is a bad sign. It has the pedigree of an Oscar contender, but the release window of a dud.

August 10, 2012

The Bourne Legacy

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “Centered on a new CIA operative in the universe based on Robert Ludlum’s novels.”
Box Office Prospects: $150 M
Expectations: With the franchise starting over, seemingly from scratch, it’s hard to say if the film will build on its predecessor or return to the box office performance of the original. They moved the film back a week to avoid direct competition, but that suggests it’s not going to do as well as they think otherwise.
Oscar Prospects: The franchise has done decently in the tech categories at the Oscars, so it may still be an Editing, Sound Mixing and/or Sound Editing contender, but I’m dubious.

The Campaign

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “Two rival North Carolina politicians with presidential aspirations tangle with one another.”
Box Office Prospects: $100 M
Expectations: When Will Ferrell goes at the box office alone, the results are poor. When he hits audiences with a team-up, he does much better. Although Zach Galifianakis isn’t the best partner for the box office, I suspect the dearth of comedies may give it a shot.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Hope Springs

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “After thirty years of marriage, a middle-aged couple attends an intense, week-long counseling session to work on their relationship.”
Box Office Prospects: $75 M
Expectations: It just doesn’t sound like a sleeper hit, but with Meryl Streep as part of the cast, it could do quite well. Matter of fact, when Streep looks like she’s having fun, her films tend to do surprisingly well at the box office, so I’m guessing this could be another case for her success.
Oscar Prospects: There will be talk. There always is when Meryl Streep’s involved. Yet, getting the August release doesn’t bode well for the film in general. I think Streep will be discussed, but her recent win accompanied by the heavy list of potential contenders this year will keep her out of the face along with the entirety of her film.

August 15, 2012

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears.”
Box Office Prospects: $40 M
Expectations: An odd title, an odd release window and a kid-friendly film may not seem like big possibilities and that’s why it’s opening two days early to avoid competing entirely against ParaNorman, which is likely to do better overall. A modest result could occur, but I’m guessing I’m a bit high in my prediction.
Oscar Prospects: None.

August 17, 2012

The Expendables 2

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.”
Box Office Prospects: $150 M
Expectations: Old and crusty action stars have a marketplace these days and this sequel to a highly popular film should have no problem doing good business at the box office.
Oscar Prospects: None.

ParaNorman

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “A misunderstood boy who can speak with the dead, takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.”
Box Office Prospects: $125 M
Expectations: Advertising has been better for this film as opposed to Coraline and I can imagine the success of Coraline bolstering this film’s chances. With very little family competition in this part of the year and no animation competition, I think it will be quite successful.
Oscar Prospects: Coraline scored an Oscar nomination and I am fairly certain this one will be a contender for Best Animated Feature. Other categories might not be so easy to obtain.

Sparkle

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “Set in the 1960s, three sisters form girl group and soon become Motown sensations, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart.”
Box Office Prospects: $50 M
Expectations: Apart from the initial curiosity over this being Whitney Huston’s last film, I don’t really see it being much of a success. Advertising has been limited and curiosity can only help so much.
Oscar Prospects: There will be talk of a posthumous Oscar nod for Whitney Houston in Best Supporting Actress, but my guess is the original song she sings in the film will be nominated, though with R. Kelly as an Oscar nominee and not Houston.

August 24, 2011

The Apparition

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “A couple are haunted by a supernatural presence that is unleashed during a college experiment.”
Box Office Prospects: $60 M
Expectations: It’s been a few months since we had a significant horror outing, so it’s likely to do well in the lead-up to Halloween, but it’s not the only generic-looking horror flick coming out in the next couple of months, so it could just as easily be a dud.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Hit & Run

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “Former getaway driver Charlie Bronson jeopardizes his Witness Protection Plan identity in order to help his girlfriend get to Los Angeles. The feds and Charlie’s former gang chase them on the road.”
Box Office Prospects: $45 M
Expectations: The premise is rather outlandish and the advertising hasn’t ramped up yet. I think it may end up being a popular, if unsuccessful film.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Premium Rush

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “In Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city.”
Box Office Prospects: $25 M
Expectations: David Koepp has written more successful films than he’s directed. This concept seems so unusual that it’s more likely to confuse and keep away audience members than draw them in. If it’s good enough, word of mouth will draw people to the theater, but I’m not sure that’s going to help much.
Oscar Prospects: The film has to not only be a modest hit at the box office, but a hit with critics to be considered an Oscar contender. Releasing in August doesn’t give one much confidence.

August 29, 2012

Lawless

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “Set in the Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by authorities who want a cut of their profits.”
Box Office Prospects: $55 M
Expectations: In spite of the relatively well known names in the cast, this period gangster-style film doesn’t feel like the kind of movie that ignites the box office. The closest recent example is Public Enemies, which tallied just under $100 million. That’s with the far more popular Johnny Depp as the top draw and about a much more famous central character: John Dillinger.
Oscar Prospects: Early word out of festivals is that it’s pretty good. The trailer doesn’t confirm that and releasing in August seems like a bad move for an Oscar contender. It could still compete, but something doesn’t sit right with me about all of this.

August 31, 2012

The Possession

Premise: IMDb Plot Summary: “A young girl buys an antique box at a yard sale, unaware that inside the collectible lives a malicious ancient spirit. The girl’s father teams with his ex-wife to find a way to end the curse upon their child.”
Box Office Prospects: $65 M
Expectations: Another supernatural horror flick and this one picks uses the surprisingly popular possession element to make it a more likely success than The Apparition two weeks earlier.
Oscar Prospects: NOne.