Looking at the Weekend: Dec. 10-12, 2021

After two weeks on top of the box office due to the lack of wide openings this past weekend, Encanto will almost assuredly fall to the opening weekend of Steven Spielberg’s long awaited re-adaptation of the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim stage musical classic West Side Story, based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. There’s really no other competition for the top spot this weekend as National Champions might even struggle to make the top 10.

Our Highest Rated Films: West Side Story, Being the Ricardos
Our Best Awards Ratings: West Side Story (Oscars), Being the Ricardos (Oscars)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

Agnes (Limited)
American Sicario (Limited)
Back to the Outback (Limited)
Hurt (Limited)
The Last Son (Limited)
Mosley (Limited)
The Only One (Limited)

Dec. 10-12, 2021
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
National Champions (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.3 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (7) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): It’s a story that needs to be told and this films looks like it might tell it well, but the trailer is a relatively dull one. Peter J. Patrick (PP): An important topic but may be a bit too heavy-handed especially as a holiday release. Thomas LaTourette (TL): Actually it looks like an interesting film with some topical issues raised about paying student athletes.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
West Side Story (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	9.7 Wesley Lovell: (9) Peter J. Patrick: (10) Thomas LaTourrette: (10)	10.0 Wesley Lovell: (10,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (10,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (10,Oscars)	Categories: Picture (WL,PP,TL) Director (WL,PP,TL) Actress (WL,PP,TL) Supporting Actor (WL,PP,TL) Supporting Actress (WL,PP,TL) Adapted Screenplay (WL,PP,TL) Film Editing (WL,PP,TL) Cinematography (WL,PP,TL) Production Design (WL,TL) Costume Design (WL,TL) Makeup (WL) Sound (WL,PP,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Spielberg’s films are always welcome. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Rapturously reviewed remake of the 1961 Oscar winner looks to be a visual and aural treat. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It looks to be a grittier version of the classic musical, and word of mouth is good. I am looking forward to it and seeing if it will be as big a player as the original was at the Oscars.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Being the Ricardos (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	7.7 Wesley Lovell: (7) Peter J. Patrick: (9) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	8.0 Wesley Lovell: (9,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (9,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (6,Oscars)	Categories: Picture (WL,PP,TL) Director (WL,PP) Actor (WL) Actress (WL,PP,TL) Supporting Actor (WL,PP,TL) Supporting Actress (WL) Original Screenplay (WL,PP,TL) Original Score (WL) Film Editing (WL) Cinematography (WL) Production Design (WL) Costume Design (WL) Makeup (WL,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The trailers have made me reticent about the film’s potential quality. Peter J. Patrick (PP): I’m taking a show-me attitude with this one, but indications are that Aaron Sorkin has succeeded in his love for Lucy. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The trailers are not exciting, but the critic from Variety really loved it which makes me think it could be a winner. And one should never underestimate Aaron Sorkin.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
France (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	3.7 Wesley Lovell: (4) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Thomas LaTourrette: (5)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): It might be worth seeing, but the trailers don’t make it very feel very involving. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Looks like nonsense cloaked in self-importance. Thomas LaTourette (TL): I could not tell what this movie is about from the trailer, and just do not feel like finding out more.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Hating Game (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	3.3 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (2) Thomas LaTourrette: (5)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): It looks like a fairly dull romantic drama. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Lame looking Hallmark channel style romantic comedy. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The leads are cute, but stories of people hating each other and secretly falling in love have been done many times, and probably better.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Off the Rails (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	3.7 Wesley Lovell: (2) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (4)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): It has potential, but the trailer is rather bland. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Nice to see Jenny Seagrove in a rare leading role but the material seems a bit beneath her. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It is trying to be a comedy, but that is sorely lacking in the trailer. It feels like a big misfire.