Looking at the Weekend: September 17-19, 2010

Another hectic week of new releases with no less than four new wide releases (Easy A, The Town, Devil, Alpha and Omega) and four new limited releases (Never Let Me Go, Catfish, Jack Goes Boating, Kings of Pastry) we’ll be talking about today: (Update, 9/15/10, 6:39p: added Wes’ comments & 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.

Easy A: We are split on whether to watch the film (50%), but agreed it’s not a contender (75%).
Devil: The film barely ekes out a “may view” rating (75%), but solidifies itself as a non-contender (100%).
The Town: We are all very likely or certainly going to see it (100%) and we’re all agreed it will be an Oscar contender of some magnitude (100%).
Alpha and Omega: No one’s buying it (100%) and it’s not a contender (75%).
Never Let Me Go: We are mostly agreed on watching it (75%) and also thinking it may be an Oscar contender (75%)
Catfish: A semi-split decision with two not watching it, one undecided and the other waiting until DVD if at all. But one thing we can agree on: no Oscars (100%).
Jack Goes Boating: Another split decision with two undecideds, a likely and a later on DVD. We are also evenly split on whether Oscar will go for it (50%).
Kings of Pastry: We won’t be tasting this delicacy (75%), nor will we be seeing it at the Oscars (100%).

WIDE RELEASES

EASY A
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Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts The trailer makes the film look absolutely hysterical. It should be great fun and if the buzz about the film’s critical response is to be believed, an Election-like writing nomination could be possible.	Thoughts Looks like an extended episode of one of those WB network cable TV shows.	Thoughts This looks like a painful John Hughes knock-off.	Thoughts I’ve enjoyed Emma Stone in “Superbad” and “Zombieland,” and this looks like it might be funny. That said, I think I’ll wait until it’s on DVD or television.

EASY A

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Thoughts

The trailer makes the film look absolutely hysterical. It should be great fun and if the buzz about the film’s critical response is to be believed, an Election-like writing nomination could be possible.

Thoughts

Looks like an extended episode of one of those WB network cable TV shows.

Thoughts

This looks like a painful John Hughes knock-off.

Thoughts

I’ve enjoyed Emma Stone in “Superbad” and “Zombieland,” and this looks like it might be funny. That said, I think I’ll wait until it’s on DVD or television.

DEVIL
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Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts I keep getting burned by M. Night Shyamalan, but he’s not directing, so it could be good (and the trailer suggests it may be). When I’ll see it is the big question.	Thoughts Looks like what we used to call a B movie with no name talent both in front of, and behind, the camera.	Thoughts The original trailer looked real effective, but the more I see it advertised, the less interesting it looks.	Thoughts It’s nice to see M. Night Shyamalan is finally letting someone else adapt one of his stories into a screenplay instead of doing it himself because he is a dreadful screenwriter. This looks like it could be exciting, but I’m still kind of cautious when it comes to Shyamalan. I’ll wait for the reviews, and if they’re decent enough I’ll wait for it to come out on DVD. If they are on the same level as his last three films, I’ll skip it.

DEVIL

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Thoughts

I keep getting burned by M. Night Shyamalan, but he’s not directing, so it could be good (and the trailer suggests it may be). When I’ll see it is the big question.

Thoughts

Looks like what we used to call a B movie with no name talent both in front of, and behind, the camera.

Thoughts

The original trailer looked real effective, but the more I see it advertised, the less interesting it looks.

Thoughts

It’s nice to see M. Night Shyamalan is finally letting someone else adapt one of his stories into a screenplay instead of doing it himself because he is a dreadful screenwriter. This looks like it could be exciting, but I’m still kind of cautious when it comes to Shyamalan. I’ll wait for the reviews, and if they’re decent enough I’ll wait for it to come out on DVD. If they are on the same level as his last three films, I’ll skip it.

THE TOWN
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Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts The buzz is that this is another gem from Ben Affleck as a director, so expect a lot of Oscar buzz and perhaps even some critics prizes. That pretty much cements it as a film I’ll have to see.	Thoughts I’m wavering between “will” and “likely” see, and “major and “minor” Oscar contender, but it’s definitely on my radar.	Thoughts Affleck’s Gone Baby Gone showed him a great director, and this looks like a great follow-up.	Thoughts I think that Ben Affleck’s “Gone Baby Gone” is kind of an underrated gem, and I think this looks like it might be even better. I’m also glad to see that Jeremy Renner’s recent Oscar nomination is helping him get more substantial roles. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him turn up in the supporting actor race later this year.

THE TOWN

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Thoughts

The buzz is that this is another gem from Ben Affleck as a director, so expect a lot of Oscar buzz and perhaps even some critics prizes. That pretty much cements it as a film I’ll have to see.

Thoughts

I’m wavering between “will” and “likely” see, and “major and “minor” Oscar contender, but it’s definitely on my radar.

Thoughts

Affleck’s Gone Baby Gone showed him a great director, and this looks like a great follow-up.

Thoughts

I think that Ben Affleck’s “Gone Baby Gone” is kind of an underrated gem, and I think this looks like it might be even better. I’m also glad to see that Jeremy Renner’s recent Oscar nomination is helping him get more substantial roles. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him turn up in the supporting actor race later this year.

ALPHA AND OMEGA
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Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts This movie looks agonizingly painful. A harsh, saccharine-drenched kids flick with little originality or inspiration. It reminds me a good deal of Doogal.	Thoughts I say minor contender only because I know nothing about it, though it does have some names doing voice work including the late Dennis Hopper.	Thoughts Horrible looking cartoon.	Thoughts I don’t need to see a trailer to figure out that this is just another crappy CG-animated film that serves no purpose other than to pad out the lackluster early fall movie season that is usually devoid of quality kids movies. Obviously it will be a bake-off finalist for Best Animated Feature, but it won’t get any further than that.

ALPHA AND OMEGA

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Thoughts

This movie looks agonizingly painful. A harsh, saccharine-drenched kids flick with little originality or inspiration. It reminds me a good deal of Doogal.

Thoughts

I say minor contender only because I know nothing about it, though it does have some names doing voice work including the late Dennis Hopper.

Thoughts

Horrible looking cartoon.

Thoughts

I don’t need to see a trailer to figure out that this is just another crappy CG-animated film that serves no purpose other than to pad out the lackluster early fall movie season that is usually devoid of quality kids movies. Obviously it will be a bake-off finalist for Best Animated Feature, but it won’t get any further than that.

LIMITED RELEASES

NEVER LET ME GO
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Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts Based on the pedigree, this could be a strong contender. Then again, a lot of people have begun comparing it to The Lovely Bones and we all know how that turned out. A lot depends on the major critical response.	Thoughts Comparisons to The Lovely Bones make me wary, but could be an awards contender in minor categories and maybe even supporting actress (Charlotte Rampling?).	Thoughts This looks like a real strong adaptation of a great novel.	Thoughts While I’m pretty certain that the filmmakers and studio made this film primarily with Oscar voters in mind, it’s not going to happen. Sorry Fox Searchlight.

NEVER LET ME GO

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Thoughts

Based on the pedigree, this could be a strong contender. Then again, a lot of people have begun comparing it to The Lovely Bones and we all know how that turned out. A lot depends on the major critical response.

Thoughts

Comparisons to The Lovely Bones make me wary, but could be an awards contender in minor categories and maybe even supporting actress (Charlotte Rampling?).

Thoughts

This looks like a real strong adaptation of a great novel.

Thoughts

While I’m pretty certain that the filmmakers and studio made this film primarily with Oscar voters in mind, it’s not going to happen. Sorry Fox Searchlight.

CATFISH
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Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts People are saying it’s not as predictable as the trailer makes it appear, yet the wrong marketing campaign can kill a film faster than anything. It doesn’t look appealing to me and nothing short of rapturous response will make me reconsider.	Thoughts Fake documentary with a twist – if I didn’t know the twist I might be intrigued, but I do, so I’m not.	Thoughts The buzz has been real mixed, but it looks like such an odd premise that it could work.	Thoughts It has received some pretty good reviews so far, but it’s not the type of movie that I would go out of my way to watch in theaters. However, a little bit skeptical having just learned that Brett Ratner is one of the film’s producers.

CATFISH

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Thoughts

People are saying it’s not as predictable as the trailer makes it appear, yet the wrong marketing campaign can kill a film faster than anything. It doesn’t look appealing to me and nothing short of rapturous response will make me reconsider.

Thoughts

Fake documentary with a twist – if I didn’t know the twist I might be intrigued, but I do, so I’m not.

Thoughts

The buzz has been real mixed, but it looks like such an odd premise that it could work.

Thoughts

It has received some pretty good reviews so far, but it’s not the type of movie that I would go out of my way to watch in theaters. However, a little bit skeptical having just learned that Brett Ratner is one of the film’s producers.

JACK GOES BOATING
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Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts I am very quickly tiring of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Not only does he have an undeserved Oscar, but every performance I’ve seen from him seems cut from the same cloth. So, even though he’s also directing the film, I have little desire to see it.	Thoughts Philip Seymour Hoffman is not one of my favorite actors, but his much heralded directing debut at least looks like something different.	Thoughts A great team behind the film could show promise.	Thoughts It’s getting good notices, so I might check it out.

JACK GOES BOATING

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Thoughts

I am very quickly tiring of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Not only does he have an undeserved Oscar, but every performance I’ve seen from him seems cut from the same cloth. So, even though he’s also directing the film, I have little desire to see it.

Thoughts

Philip Seymour Hoffman is not one of my favorite actors, but his much heralded directing debut at least looks like something different.

Thoughts

A great team behind the film could show promise.

Thoughts

It’s getting good notices, so I might check it out.

KINGS OF PASTRY
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Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?	Will We See?
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Thoughts I don’t get to a lot of documentaries and even if I do, this isn’t the type I would prefer to watch.	Thoughts A feature length cooking, or more accurately, baking, show with no opportunity to sample the goods. No thanks.	Thoughts This is a documentary that looks right up my Top Chef-loving taste.	Thoughts If I want to see people making pastries, I’ll watch Food Network, thank you very much.

KINGS OF PASTRY

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Thoughts

I don’t get to a lot of documentaries and even if I do, this isn’t the type I would prefer to watch.

Thoughts

A feature length cooking, or more accurately, baking, show with no opportunity to sample the goods. No thanks.

Thoughts

This is a documentary that looks right up my Top Chef-loving taste.

Thoughts

If I want to see people making pastries, I’ll watch Food Network, thank you very much.