Looking at the Weekend: Dec. 23-25, 2011

This is going to be a rather bizarre weekend for Box Office observers. Of the six films opening wide, four open Wednesday before Christmas. Two open the day of Christmas. Given these parameters, The Adventures of Tintin will make a good case for number one this weekend with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a close competitor.

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.

The Adventures of Tintin: Whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, this is your kind of film.
The Darkest Hour: If a genre film can’t even appeal to genre fans, what kind of success can it be?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Is it too soon for its own good?
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol: Early buzz is strong for the fourth M:I film, could be worth your time as the only true action film of the holiday season.
War Horse: Spielberg doesn’t often let us down, so give this one some consideration.
We Bought a Zoo: Early buzz hasn’t exactly been palpable, so it might be worth renting on DVD.
Albert Nobbs: If you’re an Oscar enthusiast, consider this film for its performances and original song. Otherwise, it probably won’t be your cuppa.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: Daldry works crowds well, so if it drops by your neighborhood, give it a thought.
In the Land of Blood and Honey: Reviews haven’t been ecstatic, but the trailer’s compelling, so it might be a nice change of pace.
Pina: It stretches the definition of documentary, but if you love expressive dance techniques, this Pina Bausch tribute is your best bet.

WIDE RELEASES

The Adventures of Tintin
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts You can’t ignore the potent Steven Spielberg-Peter Jackson combination. It looks like a fun little animated diversion.	Thoughts Probably just a contender in the Animation category, but could be a Best Picture contender in a ten-way race.	Thoughts Spielberg’s first foray into animated films (as a director, at least) could prove to be a force in several categories.

The Adventures of Tintin

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

You can’t ignore the potent Steven Spielberg-Peter Jackson combination. It looks like a fun little animated diversion.

Thoughts

Probably just a contender in the Animation category, but could be a Best Picture contender in a ten-way race.

Thoughts

Spielberg’s first foray into animated films (as a director, at least) could prove to be a force in several categories.

The Darkest Hour
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts Counter-programming Christmas isn’t a wise idea. And even for someone who enjoys alien invasion and post-apocalyptic films, this just doesn’t pique my interests.	Thoughts Looks like a minor sci-fi drama.	Thoughts I didn’t even know what this was until I just looked it up…the Academy won’t either.

The Darkest Hour

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

Counter-programming Christmas isn’t a wise idea. And even for someone who enjoys alien invasion and post-apocalyptic films, this just doesn’t pique my interests.

Thoughts

Looks like a minor sci-fi drama.

Thoughts

I didn’t even know what this was until I just looked it up…the Academy won’t either.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts The first trailer had me intrigued. The second did not. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt considering how much I’ve liked Fincher’s last few films.	Thoughts The Hollywood remake comes too closely on the heels on the Swedish original for me.	Thoughts It is still to be shown if Fincher’s dark adaptation will resonate with the Academy voters or not.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

The first trailer had me intrigued. The second did not. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt considering how much I’ve liked Fincher’s last few films.

Thoughts

The Hollywood remake comes too closely on the heels on the Swedish original for me.

Thoughts

It is still to be shown if Fincher’s dark adaptation will resonate with the Academy voters or not.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts For the most part, I’ve been entertained by the Mission: Impossible films. I see little reason why I shouldn’t also enjoy this one.	Thoughts If you liked the first three, you’ll prbably like this one. I could take this franchise or leave it.	Thoughts Brad Bird has had a lot of luck at the Oscars with his animated films, but his live-action debut probably won’t pick up much outside of a token sound nomination

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

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Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

For the most part, I’ve been entertained by the Mission: Impossible films. I see little reason why I shouldn’t also enjoy this one.

Thoughts

If you liked the first three, you’ll prbably like this one. I could take this franchise or leave it.

Thoughts

Brad Bird has had a lot of luck at the Oscars with his animated films, but his live-action debut probably won’t pick up much outside of a token sound nomination

War Horse
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts A Steven Spielberg war drama about horses seems like an easy sell for an animal lover. So, I’ll be there.	Thoughts Critical reaction has been all over the place, but this looks like a major crowd-pleaser that could pull a come from behind win at the Oscars.	Thoughts I have no interest in this, but voters could eat up Spielberg’s latest live-action film.

War Horse

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

A Steven Spielberg war drama about horses seems like an easy sell for an animal lover. So, I’ll be there.

Thoughts

Critical reaction has been all over the place, but this looks like a major crowd-pleaser that could pull a come from behind win at the Oscars.

Thoughts

I have no interest in this, but voters could eat up Spielberg’s latest live-action film.

We Bought a Zoo
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts The film looks relatively generic but has a smart cast, so if I do pick it up, it will be after it hits DVD.	Thoughts Cameron Crowe’s presumed comeback looks like a decent time-killer.	Thoughts Cameron Crowe’s latest is proving to be an awards non-starter.

We Bought a Zoo

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

The film looks relatively generic but has a smart cast, so if I do pick it up, it will be after it hits DVD.

Thoughts

Cameron Crowe’s presumed comeback looks like a decent time-killer.

Thoughts

Cameron Crowe’s latest is proving to be an awards non-starter.

LIMITED RELEASES

Albert Nobbs
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts I’ve seen the film and it’s a lovely, if slight film. Glenn Close and Janet McTeer give excellent performances.	Thoughts Glenn close and Janet McTeer may or may not recive Oscar nominations, but this is an unusual film that should be seen by anyone interested in cinema.	Thoughts Buzz has been fluctuating on the two central performances, but it looks like they are pushing into the Oscar race.

Albert Nobbs

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

I’ve seen the film and it’s a lovely, if slight film. Glenn Close and Janet McTeer give excellent performances.

Thoughts

Glenn close and Janet McTeer may or may not recive Oscar nominations, but this is an unusual film that should be seen by anyone interested in cinema.

Thoughts

Buzz has been fluctuating on the two central performances, but it looks like they are pushing into the Oscar race.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts I think the film has a lot of promise and I’ve liked the prior Stephen Daldry films I’ve seen, so I’ll give it a shot.	Thoughts Another possible come from behind winner. With a 94% Audeince Want to See percentage at Rotten Tomatoes, why isn’t this opening in wide release?	Thoughts The book was one of the most manipulative “tear-jerkers” I have read in a while, but I think the film will play right into the Academy’s wheelhouse.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

I think the film has a lot of promise and I’ve liked the prior Stephen Daldry films I’ve seen, so I’ll give it a shot.

Thoughts

Another possible come from behind winner. With a 94% Audeince Want to See percentage at Rotten Tomatoes, why isn’t this opening in wide release?

Thoughts

The book was one of the most manipulative “tear-jerkers” I have read in a while, but I think the film will play right into the Academy’s wheelhouse.

In the Land of Blood and Honey
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts The film has the kind of premise that might be intriguing. I’ll probably catch it on DVD at some point in the future.	Thoughts Angelina Jolie wrote and directed this. Early critical recpetion has bene mixed. I’ll take a wait and see approach.	Thoughts Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut is not living up to the early hype.

In the Land of Blood and Honey

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

The film has the kind of premise that might be intriguing. I’ll probably catch it on DVD at some point in the future.

Thoughts

Angelina Jolie wrote and directed this. Early critical recpetion has bene mixed. I’ll take a wait and see approach.

Thoughts

Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut is not living up to the early hype.

Pina
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts It looks like a rousing tribute to dance, which appeals to me from an artistic perspective. However, it’s definitely a film i can wait to watch on the small screen.	Thoughts Looks a bit too precious.	Thoughts Wim Wenders has never factored into the Oscars, and this won’t buck the trend.

Pina

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

It looks like a rousing tribute to dance, which appeals to me from an artistic perspective. However, it’s definitely a film i can wait to watch on the small screen.