Looking at the Weekend: Dec. 23-25, 2022

Although Avatar: The Way of Water is likely to spend a second week at the top of the box office, it will be a tough race with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, the sequel to the popular animated feature that has been receiving stellar reviews so far. We might even see James Cameron’s film take second position if it’s not as popular as the original film was. That film had long legs and this film has opened to almost double its predecessor, so it’s possible it could maintain a high level of retention.

Our Highest Rated Films: Women Talking, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Our Best Awards Ratings: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Oscars), Women Talking (Oscars), Living (Oscars), Babylon (Oscars), Corsage (Oscars), I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Oscars)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

Broker (Limited)
Cirkus (Limited)
No Bears (Limited)
The Pale Blue Eye (Limited)
Rattled! (Limited)
Samurai Wolf (Limited)
La Usurpadora (Limited)
The Whale (Limited)
Wildcat (Limited)

Dec. 23-25, 2022
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Babylon (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.7 Wesley Lovell: (7) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (8)	7.0 Wesley Lovell: (6,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (10,Oscars)	Categories: Picture (WL,PP,TL) Director (WL,PP) Actor (WL,PP) Actress (WL,PP,TL) Supporting Actor (WL,PP,TL) Supporting Actress (WL,TL) Original Screenplay (WL) Adapted Screenplay (TL) Original Score (WL,TL) Film Editing (WL,PP,TL) Cinematography (WL,PP,TL) Production Design (WL,TL) Costume Design (WL,TL) Makeup (WL,TL) Sound (WL,PP)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): In spite of how trashy it looks, it might be fun. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Mixed reviews seem to have dampened this film’s Oscar chances. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The wild, anarchic trailer was more confusing than intriguing, and I would not have known it was about Hollywood at the advent of talking pictures if I had not read the description. The reviews are all over the place. It should definitely score tech nominations, but I am unsure if it will score any big ones.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.7 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	2.7 Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (3,Oscars)	Categories: Actress (PP,WL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The lead performance looks at least interesting in this otherwise formulaic biopic. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Newcomer Naomi Ackie is a long shot Best Actress contender as Whitney Houston. Thomas LaTourette (TL): If Naomi Ackie can pull it off, she might snag an Oscar for her Whitney Houston impression, but that is probably the only one this biopic might muster.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	7.7 Wesley Lovell: (9) Peter J. Patrick: (8) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	9.0 Wesley Lovell: (10,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (9,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (8,Oscars)	Categories: Animated Feature (WL,PP,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): This is one of the best characters to come out of Shrek and I’m curious to see what they do with him in this sequel. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Looks like a surefire animated feature contender. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The trailer did not boast as many laughs as I expected, but it should be fun though probably not memorable.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Corsage (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.7 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	4.0 Wesley Lovell: (7,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: International Feature (WL,PP) Actress (WL) Costume Design (PP)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Vicky Krieps is said to give a solid performance, which is the only reason I’m really interested in this other than its potential irreverance. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Heavily fictionalized story of assassinated Austrian Princess Elizabeth that even gets the details of her death wrong. Thomas LaTourette (TL): Vicky Krieps is said to give a bold performance as Empress Elizabeth of Austria, but the rest of the film looks mixed.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Joyride (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.3 Wesley Lovell: (4) Peter J. Patrick: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Olivia Colman is the main reason to watch this dull looking road trip picture. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Looks like an interesting, offbeat comedy but it’s not Oliva Colman’s ticket to this year’s Oscars. Thomas LaTourette (TL): As always, Olivia Colman shines, but the rest of the film does not seem to be as good.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Living (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.7 Wesley Lovell: (5) Peter J. Patrick: (9) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	7.7 Wesley Lovell: (7,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (9,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (7,Oscars)	Categories: Actor (WL,PP,TL) Adapted Screenplay (WL,PP,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Based on Kurosawa and starring the wonderful Bill Nighy, the film nevertheless looks a bit dull. Peter J. Patrick (PP): English language remake of the Japanese masterpiece Ikiru is a showcase for Bill Nighy. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The trailer does not look like much, but the reviews make it sound impressive with Bill Nighy giving a career best performance.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Women Talking (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	9.0 Wesley Lovell: (10) Peter J. Patrick: (9) Thomas LaTourrette: (8)	8.3 Wesley Lovell: (10,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (7,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (8,Oscars)	Categories: Picture (WL,PP,TL) Director (WL,PP,TL) Supporting Actor (WL,PP,TL) Supporting Actress (WL,PP,TL) Adapted Screenplay (WL,PP,TL) Original Score (WL,PP,TL) Film Editing (WL) Cinematography (WL) Production Design (WL) Costume Design (WL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Sarah Polley is one of the greatest working filmmakers who hasn’t yet gotten her due. Maybe this film will do it and I’m excited for that. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Early Oscar favorite seems to have faltered with the precursors but could rebound. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It should be a searing film led by an extraordinary ensemble. It has surprisingly not done well in the precursors so far, but I expect it to garner a number of Oscar nominations.