Looking at the Weekend: November 19-21, 2010

Trying to carve its way into Harry Potter‘s pre-Thanksgiving weekend release, The Next Three Days hopes to make a counter-programming exception. On the limited release side, we have Heartless, Made in Dagenham and White Material. (Updated 11/17/10, 9:00p Central: Wes’ comments and updated consensus)

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.

Harry Potter VII, Part I: We concur that this is a must see (75%) and agree it’s an Oscar contender (100%), but disagree on where it’s going to qualify.
The Next Three Days: Half are undecided, the other two split on seeing it and we’re also split on its Oscar chances (50%).
Heartless: Another half-undecided and split will/won’t see option. We are unified on it not being Oscar’s style (100%).
Made in Dagenham: Our split is not whether to see it or not, but whether we are likely to see it or will wait until DVD (50%). We are likewise split on Oscar. We all agree it’s an Oscar contender, but half believe it’s a Major contender the other half only a Minor one.
White Material: It’s a DVD rental possibility for all of us (100%), but we are only mostly agreed it’s not an Oscar threat (75%).

WIDE RELEASES

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART I
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts As a fan of the books and the films, this is the last film this year I was excited to see prior to the year beginning. While the series is getting long in the tooth and David Yates is not the best director for the series, it will be nice to have closure (or at least the beginnings of closure).	Thoughts More than likely I won’t see this until it comes to DVD.	Thoughts I love the Harry Potter films, and this looks like it is a fitting ending to a great series.	Thoughts Well, I’ve seen every other Harry Potter movie in the theater so far, so it goes without saying that my butt will be in a seat for the first part of the final installment.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART I

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

As a fan of the books and the films, this is the last film this year I was excited to see prior to the year beginning. While the series is getting long in the tooth and David Yates is not the best director for the series, it will be nice to have closure (or at least the beginnings of closure).

Thoughts

More than likely I won’t see this until it comes to DVD.

Thoughts

I love the Harry Potter films, and this looks like it is a fitting ending to a great series.

Thoughts

Well, I’ve seen every other Harry Potter movie in the theater so far, so it goes without saying that my butt will be in a seat for the first part of the final installment.

THE NEXT THREE DAYS
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts Word is that it’s better than people are expecting; however, the trailer does make it look like a fairly safe chase procedural.	Thoughts Interesting premise, and I really liked writer-director Haggis’ last film, In the Valley of Elah but may wait for the DVD.	Thoughts Paul Haggis and Russell Crowe are a match I don’t want to see work together.	Thoughts All of Paul Haggis’ films have figured, however minor, to be Oscar contenders to some degree. Then again, none of his past films have been high-octane action thrillers, so it’s difficult to say whether or not this one will figure at all. I know it’s a long-shot, but I suppose we shouldn’t completely count out Russell Crowe as a dark horse Best Actor contender.

THE NEXT THREE DAYS

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

Word is that it’s better than people are expecting; however, the trailer does make it look like a fairly safe chase procedural.

Thoughts

Interesting premise, and I really liked writer-director Haggis’ last film, In the Valley of Elah but may wait for the DVD.

Thoughts

Paul Haggis and Russell Crowe are a match I don’t want to see work together.

Thoughts

All of Paul Haggis’ films have figured, however minor, to be Oscar contenders to some degree. Then again, none of his past films have been high-octane action thrillers, so it’s difficult to say whether or not this one will figure at all. I know it’s a long-shot, but I suppose we shouldn’t completely count out Russell Crowe as a dark horse Best Actor contender.

LIMITED RELEASES

HEARTLESS
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts On the one hand, I think Jim Sturgess has a lot of talent as an actor. On the other, this film looks abysmal.	Thoughts Jim Sturgess is one of he most interesting young actors around, but probably not interesting enough to overcome my aversion to modern horror films.	Thoughts Looks like a horrible, B-level horror film.	Thoughts It could be interesting, but I won’t be rushing out to see it.

HEARTLESS

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

On the one hand, I think Jim Sturgess has a lot of talent as an actor. On the other, this film looks abysmal.

Thoughts

Jim Sturgess is one of he most interesting young actors around, but probably not interesting enough to overcome my aversion to modern horror films.

Thoughts

Looks like a horrible, B-level horror film.

Thoughts

It could be interesting, but I won’t be rushing out to see it.

MADE IN DAGENHAM
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts The film has slowly emerged as a dark horse contender for Oscar consideration this year. And with such an interesting, talented cast it may well be worth the effort even if it does look fairly commonplace in terms of plot.	Thoughts I’m not sure we need another Norma Rae, but this film is getting enough Oscar buzz to pique my interest.	Thoughts The buzz is good, but I have no interest in this saccharin-looking film.	Thoughts A major contender for Best Picture and Best Actress (Sally Hawkins) nominations. I probably won’t watch it while it’s in theaters, but it’s sure to go into my Netflix queue.

MADE IN DAGENHAM

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

The film has slowly emerged as a dark horse contender for Oscar consideration this year. And with such an interesting, talented cast it may well be worth the effort even if it does look fairly commonplace in terms of plot.

Thoughts

I’m not sure we need another Norma Rae, but this film is getting enough Oscar buzz to pique my interest.

Thoughts

The buzz is good, but I have no interest in this saccharin-looking film.

Thoughts

A major contender for Best Picture and Best Actress (Sally Hawkins) nominations. I probably won’t watch it while it’s in theaters, but it’s sure to go into my Netflix queue.

WHITE MATERIAL
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts If I am going to catch this film, it will be on DVD. The grittiness of the premise intrigues me, but I’m not sure if that will be enough to sustain my interest.	Thoughts Claire Denis’ films are always interesting, but I can wait for the DVD.	Thoughts A great role for Isabelle Hupert makes this look watchable.	Thoughts See comments for Heartless.

WHITE MATERIAL

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

If I am going to catch this film, it will be on DVD. The grittiness of the premise intrigues me, but I’m not sure if that will be enough to sustain my interest.

Thoughts

Claire Denis’ films are always interesting, but I can wait for the DVD.

Thoughts

A great role for Isabelle Hupert makes this look watchable.

Thoughts

See comments for Heartless.