Looking at the Weekend: December 10-12, 2010

More family films are crowding the marketplace, hoping to be offset by a thriller. We’ll see how both work out. Once again, the more interesting content appears to be going out in limited release, which pretty much fits the Oscar season standard.

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 Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: Each of us chose a different response to this release, but we’re mostly leaning towards seeing it, though not necessarily at the theater (50%), but we are in complete agreement that this is a contender in the Oscar tech categories (100%).
The Tourist: This one was almost like Narnia, but split on the Likely front (50%). As to Oscar competition, we are evenly split (50%).
The Company Men: An identical dispersal as The Tourist, though from different contributors (50%), but we are generally agreed it’s not an Oscar contender (75%).
The Fighter: It’s an agreement to watch the film (100%) primarily because it’s a major Oscar contender (100%).
Garden of Eden: Split between watching it on DVD and not watching at all (50%), we are fairly certain Oscar won’t take note (75%).
The Tempest: Another split between two Won’ts and two wills, but in different mediums (50%) but we are unified on its Oscar chances in the tech categories (100%).

WIDE RELEASES

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER
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 first film was decent, the second film was a disappointment. The trailers really haven’t given me any reason to want to see this, but as a completionist, I feel I must.	Thoughts I waited for the first two on DVD so I’ll probably do the same with the third.	Thoughts I never caught up with the other films, so this is not a high priority.	Thoughts I only marginally liked “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” but actually enjoyed the much darker (and, in my opinion, more ambitious) “Prince Caspian” more than I expected I would. However, the trailers for the latest offering in the “Narnia” franchise have struck me as fairly tepid. While I’m hardly interested in “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” my girlfriend is in love with the book and can hardly wait to see the movie. I suppose that we’ll eventually end up going to see it.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:
THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

The first film was decent, the second film was a disappointment. The trailers really haven’t given me any reason to want to see this, but as a completionist, I feel I must.

Thoughts

I waited for the first two on DVD so I’ll probably do the same with the third.

Thoughts

I never caught up with the other films, so this is not a high priority.

Thoughts

I only marginally liked “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” but actually enjoyed the much darker (and, in my opinion, more ambitious) “Prince Caspian” more than I expected I would. However, the trailers for the latest offering in the “Narnia” franchise have struck me as fairly tepid. While I’m hardly interested in “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” my girlfriend is in love with the book and can hardly wait to see the movie. I suppose that we’ll eventually end up going to see it.

THE TOURIST
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 No matter how much I like Angelina Jolie, I cannot stand Johnny Depp. From his desecration of Sweeney Todd forward, he’s been utterly disappointing, having lost all shred of originality he once possessed.	Thoughts Ordinarily I’d wait for the reviews, but having recently been in Venice where it was filmed (at least in part) I want to see it for comparison value if nothing else.	Thoughts Depp and Jolie are a possible great pairing, but there is nothing overly fresh-looking about this film.	Thoughts Depp and Jolie look to be in top form, and it looks like awesomely Hitchcockian. I’ll probably check it out sometime before it leaves theaters.

THE TOURIST

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

No matter how much I like Angelina Jolie, I cannot stand Johnny Depp. From his desecration of Sweeney Todd forward, he’s been utterly disappointing, having lost all shred of originality he once possessed.

Thoughts

Ordinarily I’d wait for the reviews, but having recently been in Venice where it was filmed (at least in part) I want to see it for comparison value if nothing else.

Thoughts

Depp and Jolie are a possible great pairing, but there is nothing overly fresh-looking about this film.

Thoughts

Depp and Jolie look to be in top form, and it looks like awesomely Hitchcockian. I’ll probably check it out sometime before it leaves theaters.

LIMITED RELEASES

THE COMPANY MEN
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 Once considered a potential Oscar vehicle, the film has melted into the background; and although the trailer makes the film look decent, I can’t decide if I really want to see it.	Thoughts Corporate downsizing was so two or three years ago, but it’s relevant to our times, so I guess you could say it’s an “impotant” movie with a good cast.	Thoughts I love John Wells’ television work, and he has assembled a great cast here.	Thoughts This is what “Up in the Air” would look like if it sucked.

THE COMPANY MEN

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

Once considered a potential Oscar vehicle, the film has melted into the background; and although the trailer makes the film look decent, I can’t decide if I really want to see it.

Thoughts

Corporate downsizing was so two or three years ago, but it’s relevant to our times, so I guess you could say it’s an “impotant” movie with a good cast.

Thoughts

I love John Wells’ television work, and he has assembled a great cast here.

Thoughts

This is what “Up in the Air” would look like if it sucked.

THE FIGHTER
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 I’ve never been a fan of boxing films, so it’s hard for me to muster excitement for these types of Oscar contenders.	Thoughts It’s on the short lists of year-end films receiving major buzz that I want to see.	Thoughts This is supposed to be a formidable contender this awards season, but it looks awfully paint-by-numbers to me.	Thoughts A strong contender for Oscars in all the major categories, including every single member of the principle cast. It might not win anything, but it will certainly contend.

THE FIGHTER

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

I’ve never been a fan of boxing films, so it’s hard for me to muster excitement for these types of Oscar contenders.

Thoughts

It’s on the short lists of year-end films receiving major buzz that I want to see.

Thoughts

This is supposed to be a formidable contender this awards season, but it looks awfully paint-by-numbers to me.

Thoughts

A strong contender for Oscars in all the major categories, including every single member of the principle cast. It might not win anything, but it will certainly contend.

GARDEN OF EDEN
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 I may be completely alone in this, but the film looks like it could be fun.	Thoughts WWI Hemingway tale opened in the U.K. two years ago. Doesn’t seem too promising, but might be worth catching on DVD or cable.	Thoughts I love Ernest Hemingway, but this looks like a dreadful adaptation.	Thoughts I like Hemingway as much of the next guy, but this just doesn’t look very good. I think I’d rather go to Barnes and Noble and pick up the novel instead.

GARDEN OF EDEN

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

I may be completely alone in this, but the film looks like it could be fun.

Thoughts

WWI Hemingway tale opened in the U.K. two years ago. Doesn’t seem too promising, but might be worth catching on DVD or cable.

Thoughts

I love Ernest Hemingway, but this looks like a dreadful adaptation.

Thoughts

I like Hemingway as much of the next guy, but this just doesn’t look very good. I think I’d rather go to Barnes and Noble and pick up the novel instead.

THE TEMPEST
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 An Oscar tech powerhouse, the film looks a bit dry and I’m not sure whether my mild like of Julie Taymor will permit me to enjoy this.	Thoughts Prospero is now Prospera. Has there ever been a straight adaptation of this Shakespeare play?	Thoughts The reviews haven’t been great, but Julie Taymor is a genius and this looks like a spectacle to behold.	Thoughts While it’s been getting extremely lousy reviews across the board, Julie Taymor’s pictures have never failed to show up on the Best Costume Design shortlist. If it weren’t for that category, however, it would be a non-contender.

THE TEMPEST

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

An Oscar tech powerhouse, the film looks a bit dry and I’m not sure whether my mild like of Julie Taymor will permit me to enjoy this.

Thoughts

Prospero is now Prospera. Has there ever been a straight adaptation of this Shakespeare play?

Thoughts

The reviews haven’t been great, but Julie Taymor is a genius and this looks like a spectacle to behold.

Thoughts

While it’s been getting extremely lousy reviews across the board, Julie Taymor’s pictures have never failed to show up on the Best Costume Design shortlist. If it weren’t for that category, however, it would be a non-contender.