Here we look at the upcoming month’s offerings.

November 1, 2019

Arctic Dogs

Premise: From IMDb: “Swifty the Arctic Fox works in the mailroom of the Arctic Blast Delivery Service but dreams of one day becoming a Top Dog (the Arctic’s star husky courier). To prove himself worthy of the Top Dog role, Swifty secretly commandeers one of the sleds and delivers a mysterious package to a secret location. He stumbles upon a hidden fortress, where he comes face to face with Otto Von Walrus, a blubbery evil genius, who walks around on mechanical legs and commands a loyal army of oddly polite puffin henchmen. Swifty soon discovers Otto Von Walrus’ plan to drill beneath Arctic surface to unleash enough ancient gas to melt the Arctic, in order to reign as the world’s supreme leader. Now, Swifty has to enlist the help of his friends: PB, an introverted polar bear, Lemmy, a scatterbrained albatross, Sal and Weez, two conspiracy theorist otters and Jade Fox, a tough as nails mechanic. This ragtag group of Arctic misfits has to band together to stop Otto Von Walrus’ sinister plans and save the day.”
Box Office Prospects: $20 M
Expectations: Weak. This terrible-looking animated feature didn’t even show up on the Academy’s list of Animated Feature submissions, suggesting it’s either too awful to be selected or is about to get pushed into next year. Whatever the reason, it looks like a flop in the making.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Harriet

Premise: From IMDb: “Based on the story of iconic freedom fighter Harriet Tubman, her escape from slavery and subsequent missions to free dozens of slaves through the Underground Railroad in the face of growing pre-Civil War adversity.”
Box Office Prospects: $35 M
Expectations: Uncertain. Why this film is releasing wide is anyone’s guess. A platform release might generate more success. That said, it’s just not the kind of film that does blockbuster business. Even 12 Years a Slave, which got significantly better reviews, only made $56 million and it was an Oscar contender. That said, it’s entirely possible that the far more famous Harriet Tubman could generate sufficient business, but I’m doubtful.
Oscar Prospects: Weak. Early Oscar buzz has faded dramatically after it was seen at the Toronto Film Festival thanks to lukewarm reviews. Cynthia Erivo coud still be a Best Actress contender, but her chances are quite diminished.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Motherless Brooklyn

Premise: From IMDb: “Set against the backdrop of 1950s New York, Motherless Brooklyn follows Lionel Essrog, a lonely private detective afflicted with Tourette’s Syndrome, as he ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend, Frank Minna.”
Box Office Prospects: $2 M
Expectations: Weak. This film was never a likely contender for a box office crown. It’s currently listed as a potential wide release, but my suspicion is that it’s dropped to limited release or flops miserably in wide.
Oscar Prospects: Weak. Edward Norton’s film received a tepid response from critics, which pretty much dooms a film that no one had high expectations for in the first place.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Terminator: Dark Fate

Premise: From IMDb: “Sarah Connor has returned from far away, and she’s gearing up with a team of agents who will fight against T-1000.”
Box Office Prospects: $200 M
Expectations: Good. The Terminator frachise, even when not living up to expectations, still pulls in a decent amount of money at the box office. This one could be particularly impressive since it brings in the original cast.
Oscar Prospects: Uncertain. The second Terminator film was a big player at the Oscars in the tech categories, but a lot has changed and the effects are no longer revolutionary, which could hinder its chances this year.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Waves (Limited)

Premise: From IMDb: “Two young couples navigate through the emotional minefield of growing up and falling in love.”
Box Office Prospects: $10 M
Expectations: Uncertain. Releasing limited and platforming could be a viable strategy for a film like this, building buzz into Oscar season. That said, it will need to make a lot of money fast to generate box office numbers beyond expectations.
Oscar Prospects: Good. The film earned strong reviews at Telluride and Toronto festivals and has a pretty decent shot of being one of the year’s big players. A strong box office performance could boost the film.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

November 8, 2019

Doctor Sleep

Premise: From IMDb: “Years following the events of “The Shining,” a now-adult Dan Torrence meets a young girl with similar powers as his and tries to protect her from a cult known as The True Knot who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.”
Box Office Prospects: $50 M
Expectations: Uncertain. Stephen King films have had an uneven history at the box office. While It and its sequel did huge business, the remake of Pet Sematary was a flop. This film, based on a late-career novel by King may not have the cachet of his earlier works, which will hinder its box office prospects.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Last Christmas

Premise: From IMDb: “Kate is a young woman subscribed to bad decisions. Her last date with disaster? That of having accepted to work as Santa’s elf for a department store. However, she meets Tom there. Her life takes a new turn. For Kate, it seems too good to be true.”
Box Office Prospects: $65 M
Expectations: Uncertain. The November release seems ill-advised for a film that is set during the Christmas holidays. So, its chances might be muted a bit, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a lot of box office potential.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Midway

Premise: From IMDb: “The story of the Battle of Midway, told by the leaders and the sailors who fought it.”
Box Office Prospects: $100 M
Expectations: Good. Roland Emmerich is nothing if not a showman and his films, even if they aren’t always the highest of quality, can often perform well at the box office when they delve heavily into the action. This film looks like standard-issue Emmerich fare, which means it has a decent shot at box office glory, even without critical support.
Oscar Prospects: Uncertain. This is an uncharacteristically weighty subject for an Emmerich film, so it could have potential, but only if critics support it. The film could make inroads in some tech categories, but again disastrous reviews or box office could kill it, especially against a likely superior effort in 1917, a film from a different war, but from a more respected filmmaker.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Playing with Fire

Premise: From IMDb: “A crew of rugged firefighters meet their match when attempting to rescue three rambunctious kids.”
Box Office Prospects: $85 M
Expectations: Uncertain. John Cena is trying his damnedest to follow in the footsteps of Dwayne Johnson, but his efforts have largely been in vain. While he’s following a similar trajectory, films like this don’t boost his credentials, especially since it looks particularly cheesy. That doesn’t mean it won’t succeed. It just means that it won’t be a huge blockbuster.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

November 15, 2019

Charlie’s Angels

Premise: From IMDb: “Reboot of the 2000 action comedy based on the 1970s television series. A new generation of private detectives working for the mysterious Charlie.”
Box Office Prospects: $100 M
Expectations: Uncertain. When the TV series Charlie’s Angels was first adapted to the big screen, it generated $125 million at the box office. That was with big names like Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore in the cast. This time, the biggest name is Kristen Stewart and I’m not sure that’s enough. That said, it coud still do quite well if it’s even marginally good.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Ford v. Ferrari

Premise: From IMDb: “American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.”
Box Office Prospects: $70 M
Expectations: Uncertain. It’s a prestige pic, but it’s being advertised as a piece of mass entertainment. That could be just enough to make it a modest hit.
Oscar Prospects: Uncertain. The film hasn’t gotten enough press, but it’s a prestige picture and that should bolster its chances at the Oscars. That the critics have liked it should give it a small boost.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

The Good Liar

Premise: From IMDb: “Career con artist Roy Courtnay can hardly believe his luck when he meets well-to-do widow Betty McLeish online. As Betty opens her home and life to him, Roy is surprised to find himself caring about her, turning what should be a cut-and-dry swindle into the most treacherous tightrope walk of his life.”
Box Office Prospects: $25 M
Expectations: Uncertain. Bill Condon is a terrific filmmaker, but his films rarely ever do well at the box office, and this one doesn’t seem to have the kind of cachet needed to do much business.
Oscar Prospects: Uncertain. Bill Condon is a terrific filmmaker, but his films haven’t been Oscar contenders since Dreamgirls. This might be a return to form for him, though the film’s lack of screening on the festival circuit might suggest trouble. At least its stars should be in competition if nothing else.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

November 22, 2019

21 Bridges

Premise: From IMDb: “A disgraced detective in the NYPD is given a shot at redemption.”
Box Office Prospects: $65 M
Expectations: Uncertain. We’ve seen a number of cop dramas like this in the past and there’s little in the trailer to suggest much is different, so other than a marginal success, I wouldn’t expect too much.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Premise: From IMDb: “Based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod.”
Box Office Prospects: $45 M
Expectations: Uncertain. It’s starting wide just prior to Thanksgiving, that could give it a chance, but Frozen II might drown it out at the box office. That said, it’s the kind of feel-good film that could buck expectations and become a bona fide adult holiday hit.
Oscar Prospects: Good. The pedigree of the film and the cast is enough to propel it into consideration. Early reviews are incredibly strong making it a major contender.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Frozen II

Premise: From IMDb: “Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf are going far in the forest to know the truth about an ancient mystery of their kingdom.”
Box Office Prospects: $375 M
Expectations: Excellent. While there might not be a gargantuan hit song out of the film like the predecessor’s “Let It Go,” that shouldn’t stop the film from being a huge hit over the Thanksgiving holiday and well into the Christmas season.
Oscar Prospects: Good. With lukewarm competition so far this year, a nomination should be all but assured. A win might be more difficult, but is still highly possible.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Dark Waters (Limited)

Premise: From IMDb: “A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.”
Box Office Prospects: $10 M
Expectations: Weak. Todd Haynes’ biggest box office success was Far from Heaven in 2002. That film made $15 million ($24 million by today’s standards). His second most popular film, and the only other one to top $10 million, was Carol four years ago. This film looks slightly more accessible than those films, but without critical acclaim, I doubt the film crackes $10 million.
Oscar Prospects: Uncertain. No one has seen it yet, but Haynes has made a lot of terrific films and his films have gotten several Oscar nominations. Yet, Wonderstruck proved that critics and even Oscar voters don’t always bite. That said, the important topic at the heart of the film could help with its Oscar chances, especially if critics are in love with it. Its absence from the festival circuit, though, could be a problem.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

November 27, 2019

Knives Out

Premise: From IMDb: “A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.”
Box Office Prospects: $70 M
Expectations: Uncertain. Rian Johnson’s only major box office success was as director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Beyond that, he’s only got three prior films and two were poor performers at the box office. His closest comparison here is Looper, which pulled in $66 million seven years ago. That’s enough to suggest that he can create popular entertainment and with this cast, he could do about as well this time too.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Queen & Slim

Premise: From IMDb: “A couple’s first date takes an unexpected turn when a police officer pulls them over.”
Box Office Prospects: $7 M
Expectations: Weak. Releasing the weekend after Thanksgiving isn’t generally a good sign and this film doesn’t have the kind of compelling magnetism that would allow it to be much of a hit.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.