Looking at the Weekend: November 26-28, 2010

It’s Thanksgiving weekend, which means plenty of new releases to try and please the boatload of people who’ll be out at the theaters from Wednesday through Sunday. Burlesque should appeal to the younger female audiences, Faster will pique the curiosity of young males, Love and Other Drugs will appeal to the middle aged women and couples looking for a date movie and Tangled will appeal to families. There will no doubt be some cross-over, but these are the key demos being sought. For the bigger city families, The Nutcracker will be playing in 3D; and for Oscar enthusiasts, they’ll have The King’s Speech to try and be impressed by. And this is what we think of the showdown. (Updated: 11/25/10, 8:44a – Added Wes’ comments)

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.

Burlesque: We are against seeing it (75%) and agreed there are no Oscars in its future (100%).
Faster: Another film we aren’t going to watch (100%) and aren’t going to see at the Oscars (100%).
Love and Other Drugs: We are at least likely to see it (75%) and agree its an Oscar contender of some type (100%).
Tangled: We are likely to watch it, but not all at the theaters (100%) and we agree Best Animated Feature is a possible Oscar category (100%).
The King’s Speech: We are agreed that this is at most a must see, at least a likely (100%) and we’re unified that this is a major Oscar contender (100%).
The Nutcracker in 3D: Our decision is not to see it (75%), but we’re split on whether it’s a tech contender or not (50%).

WIDE RELEASES

BURLESQUE
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 It looks like it should be fun, which will be perfect for some light weekend entertainment. As for Oscar, it depends on how it is handled by critics and whether the art direction is worth noting.	Thoughts If I do end up seeing this, it will be on DVD or cable TV, but given its tired old plot this film could have been made 80 years ago.	Thoughts This films looks like it contains nothing to hold my interest.	Thoughts No… just, no.

BURLESQUE

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

It looks like it should be fun, which will be perfect for some light weekend entertainment. As for Oscar, it depends on how it is handled by critics and whether the art direction is worth noting.

Thoughts

If I do end up seeing this, it will be on DVD or cable TV, but given its tired old plot this film could have been made 80 years ago.

Thoughts

This films looks like it contains nothing to hold my interest.

Thoughts

No… just, no.

FASTER
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 can smell that The Rock is bombing.	Thoughts Looks like a standard Grade B gangster film.	Thoughts What happened to Billy Bob Thornton that he went from making great independent cinema to films like this. I want another Sling Blade.	Thoughts It looks like a crappy remake of The Fast and the Furious. Is it a coincidence that The Rock is starring in Fast Five next summer?

FASTER

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

I can smell that The Rock is bombing.

Thoughts

Looks like a standard Grade B gangster film.

Thoughts

What happened to Billy Bob Thornton that he went from making great independent cinema to films like this. I want another Sling Blade.

Thoughts

It looks like a crappy remake of The Fast and the Furious. Is it a coincidence that The Rock is starring in Fast Five next summer?

LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS
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 Critics haven’t hated it, but they haven’t loved it either. However, with the presence of both Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal, it’s certainly a must see.	Thoughts Advance word on this highly publicized film is not good, but Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal make an interesting team.	Thoughts I am unabashed in my love of Anne Hathaway, and this looks like a great vehicle for her.	Thoughts A one-time major contender that has really slipped in recent weeks. I honestly don’t think it’s going to receive any nominations, but Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal will probably both be nominated for Golden Globes, which makes them at least contenders for nominations, albeit very unlikely ones.

LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

Critics haven’t hated it, but they haven’t loved it either. However, with the presence of both Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal, it’s certainly a must see.

Thoughts

Advance word on this highly publicized film is not good, but Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal make an interesting team.

Thoughts

I am unabashed in my love of Anne Hathaway, and this looks like a great vehicle for her.

Thoughts

A one-time major contender that has really slipped in recent weeks. I honestly don’t think it’s going to receive any nominations, but Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal will probably both be nominated for Golden Globes, which makes them at least contenders for nominations, albeit very unlikely ones.

TANGLED
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 It looks like some of your late-’90s Disney, which doesn’t bode well, but I could be surprised and I’ve seen nearly every one of their animated films, so I’ll be there.	Thoughts Could be an Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature, but I will wait for the DVD.	Thoughts This doesn’t look like one of Disney’s great achievements, but it could be fun.	Thoughts It could be a lot of fun. Disney Animation Studios has really improved significantly since John Lasseter took over (see last year’s fantastic The Princess and the Frog). It’s been receiving glowing reviews, and is a huge contender for a Best Animated Feature nomination.

TANGLED

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

It looks like some of your late-’90s Disney, which doesn’t bode well, but I could be surprised and I’ve seen nearly every one of their animated films, so I’ll be there.

Thoughts

Could be an Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature, but I will wait for the DVD.

Thoughts

This doesn’t look like one of Disney’s great achievements, but it could be fun.

Thoughts

It could be a lot of fun. Disney Animation Studios has really improved significantly since John Lasseter took over (see last year’s fantastic The Princess and the Frog). It’s been receiving glowing reviews, and is a huge contender for a Best Animated Feature nomination.

LIMITED RELEASES

THE KING’S SPEECH
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 Personally, I don’t think it looks all that great, but this is one of the major Oscar contenders, so it must be seen.	Thoughts Early speculation says this is the film to beat for this year’s Best Picture Oscar. Should be fun.	Thoughts An amusing story that is quickly becoming a leading contender for the Oscars.	Thoughts One of this year’s top contenders, not just for a Best Picture nomination, but for the win. It should give The Social Network a run for its money and will likely win a couple of major guild awards. Colin Firth is also a shoo-in for a Best Actor nomination (and this year’s frontrunner at this point in the race).

THE KING’S SPEECH

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

Personally, I don’t think it looks all that great, but this is one of the major Oscar contenders, so it must be seen.

Thoughts

Early speculation says this is the film to beat for this year’s Best Picture Oscar. Should be fun.

Thoughts

An amusing story that is quickly becoming a leading contender for the Oscars.

Thoughts

One of this year’s top contenders, not just for a Best Picture nomination, but for the win. It should give The Social Network a run for its money and will likely win a couple of major guild awards. Colin Firth is also a shoo-in for a Best Actor nomination (and this year’s frontrunner at this point in the race).

THE NUTCRACKER in 3D
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 lush design work should make it a competitor in Art Direction and Costume Design and while it seems a bit too family-oriented, Elle Fanning is one of the most interesting young actors working today, so it might be worth checking out.	Thoughts The director hasn’t made a decent film in more than twenty years, and this doesn’t look any better than most of those.	Thoughts Why go see this when you can go see one of hundreds of live performances going on this season.	Thoughts I’m not going to waste my money, especially to see this “movie” in 3D.

THE NUTCRACKER in 3D

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will We See?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

The lush design work should make it a competitor in Art Direction and Costume Design and while it seems a bit too family-oriented, Elle Fanning is one of the most interesting young actors working today, so it might be worth checking out.

Thoughts

The director hasn’t made a decent film in more than twenty years, and this doesn’t look any better than most of those.

Thoughts

Why go see this when you can go see one of hundreds of live performances going on this season.

Thoughts

I’m not going to waste my money, especially to see this “movie” in 3D.