Looking at the Weekend: Jul. 20-22, 2018

It’s hard to know which has more fans: Denzel Washington and his extreme justice character in The Equalizer 2 or fans of Mamma Mia. The two films will go head to head for the box office crown with both posing a threat to win. I give the edge to Mamma Mia simply because it was the bigger success when it debuted. Of course, as the sequel to My Big Fat Greek Wedding proved, second times aren’t always the best.

Our Highest Rated Films: Blindspotting
Our Best Awards Ratings: Blindspotting (Oscars)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

Far from the Tree
Generation Wealth
McQueen
Running for Grace
Teefa in Trouble

Jul. 20-22, 2018
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Equalizer 2 (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	3.5 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (3) Thomas LaTourrette: (3)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): I never saw the first film, but the second looks interesting enough that I might one day pick both up on DVD. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Loved the TV series, hated the overly violent first film reboot, will undoubtedly hate this as well. Tripp Burton (TB): Am I alone in not remembering that The Equalizer was even a movie that existed? Thomas LaTourette (TL): I like Denzel Washington, but this looks like a violent and needless sequel to a film I never wanted to see.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.3 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Tripp Burton: (3) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The first film was a godawful mess and this film doesn’t look to improve on it. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Expect more silly but tuneful nonsense in the same vein as the original in the sequel. Tripp Burton (TB): I love musicals, but Mamma Mia is one that I just don’t get the appeal of. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The first film suffered by being compared to the humorous stage version and not being as good. Switching to a new director who is more used to film may make this a better movie.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Unfriended: Dark Web (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.0 Wesley Lovell: (5) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Tripp Burton: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (3)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): It’s an interesting concept, but the trailer isn’t that exciting. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Looks like another horror film to avoid. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks like it could be an effective scary film that might play even better if I wait for streaming and watch it on my computer. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It is a very effective trailer about a group of friends who stumble into the dark web and face the consequences, but it is still not my kind of movie. It looks good for horror/thriller fans.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Blindspotting (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.5 Wesley Lovell: (7) Peter J. Patrick: (7) Tripp Burton: (8) Thomas LaTourrette: (4)	2.0 Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Tripp Burton: (3,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: Actor (TB) Original Screenplay (PP,TB)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Early reviews have been good, which puts this one on my list to catch at some point. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Looks like a compelling social drama with comic undertones. Tripp Burton (TB): I’ve heard fantastic buzz around this, and it is my most anticipated film this week. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The trailer brings raw emotions up to the surface, but it was also hard to make sense of. Hopefully it is a more coherent movie than the trailer made it out to be.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Damascus Cover (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.0 Wesley Lovell: (4) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Tripp Burton: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (5)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The concept is old hat by now and the trailer doesn’t make it look energizing. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Thriller set in modern day Syria could prove topical enough to draw attention. Tripp Burton (TB): This looks like a neat little thriller. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This looks like a very by the book thriller, where no one can trust anyone and of course a beautiful woman gets involved.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Third Murder (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.8 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (6) Tripp Burton: (7) Thomas LaTourrette: (3)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): A bland trailer makes for an uninspiring option. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Japanese Oscar winner over Let Me Eat Your Pancreas – hopefully it translates well. Tripp Burton (TB): This doesn’t have the buzz of Kore-eda’s other film this year, but it should still be worth checking out. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This may have won six Japanese Academy Awards, but the trailer certainly does not show why and made a lukewarm case for seeing this film.