Looking at the Weekend: Sep. 20-22, 2019

Contemplative science fiction, television movie made for cinemas, or 80s action staple returned. Those are the three films trying to unseat It Chapter Two form the top spot at the box office and each of them have the kinds of positive and negative attributes that could elevate or sink them. Ad Astra follows in a long tradition of sci-fi on the big screen and that alone could push it to the top of the box office, but this is more along the lines of Arrival than Star Wars, and its pensive elements might not make it a big sell. Downton Abbey makes the transition to the big screen after six seasons on the small screen. Leaving television behind four years ago has given creator Julian Fellows an opportunity to transfer his successful and popular show to the big screen, but TV on the big screen, unless completely re-adapted, hasn’t found a lot of success, so this will be an interesting test case. Will it follow the Sex and the City trajectory of success or the Entourage flop? Finally, there’s Rambo: Last Blood, the supposedly final film in the very popular 80s action franchise starring Sylvester Stallone. The film’s biggest issue is that no one asked for the film and after the dismal disappointment of the prior attempt to revive the character, there can’t be a lot of hope for this one.

Ultimately, it’s probable that enough people don’t know that Ad Astra is supposed to be more cerebral than action-oriented and will give it their weekend dollars, but never underestimate the staff of Downton Abbey.

Our Highest Rated Films: Downton Abbey, Ad Astra
Our Best Awards Ratings: Ad Astra (Oscars); Downton Abbey (Oscars)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

Diego Maradona
Midnight Diner
Midnight Traveler
Tazza: One Eyed Jack
Where’s My Roy Cohn?
The Zoya Factor

Sep. 20-22, 2019
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Ad Astra (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	7.0 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (8) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	4.3 Wesley Lovell: (4,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (4,Oscars)	Categories: Picture (PP,TL) Actor (WL,TL) Original Screenplay (WL,TL) Original Score (WL,TL) Film Editing (WL) Cinematography (WL,PP) Production Design (WL,PP,TL) Sound Mixing (WL,TL) Sound Editing (WL,TL) Visual Effects (WL,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The trailers aren’t terribly impressive, but the pedigree alone behind the film makes it least an interesting prospect. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Highly anticipated sci-fi film nominated for Best Picture at Venice – looking forward to it. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This sounds like an interesting film and the early reviews are good, but the lackluster trailer does little to sell it as a science fiction epic or a more personal story.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Downton Abbey (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	9.0 Wesley Lovell: (8) Peter J. Patrick: (10) Thomas LaTourrette: (9)	3.7 Wesley Lovell: (3,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (3,Oscars)	Categories: Supporting Actress (PP,TL) Production Design (WL,PP,TL) Costume Design (WL,PP,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): As a fan of the television series, I’m certainly interested in the film, but will it be more than hollow nostalgia? Peter J. Patrick (PP): For fans of the TV series, unmissable, for eveytone else, you have some catching up to do. Thomas LaTourette (TL): I was a fan of the television series, and am looking forward to this, though I do hope they have created something more than just an extended episode.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Rambo: Last Blood (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	1.7 Wesley Lovell: (2) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Thomas LaTourrette: (1)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): I never saw any of the original Rambo films as they just weren’t interesting to me. I don’t plan to start now. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Stallone grunts again for his dwindling fan base. Thomas LaTourette (TL): I have managed to never see a Rambo film, and I feel no urge to start now. It looks very violent and has no appeal for me.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Britt-Marie Was Here (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.3 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	.7 Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (2,Oscars)	Categories: Foreign Film (TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): There are some nice moments in the trailer, but not enough to make me want to see it. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Looks like an acting showcase for Pernilla August but the material seems routine. Thomas LaTourette (TL): A Man Called Ove was charming and an Oscar nominee. This film adapted from a book by the same author might be the same.