Looking at the Weekend: Dec. 25-29, 2019

With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker dominating the box office for a second weekend, the only new wide release that has any chance of topping all other newcomers is Little Women. It seems the perfect family film for Christmas day, though it might be front-loaded mid-week rather than over the weekend.

Our Highest Rated Films: 1917, Little Women
Our Best Awards Ratings: 1917, Little Women, Just Mercy, Clemency, Spies in Disguise

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael (Limited)
The White Sheik (Limited)
Les Misérables (Oscar Qualifying Run)
Apparition (Limited)
M&M: The Mall The Merrier (Limited)

Dec. 25-29, 2019
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Little Women (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	9.0 Wesley Lovell: (10) Peter J. Patrick: (9) Thomas LaTourrette: (8)	7.7 Wesley Lovell: (9,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (9,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (5,Oscars)	Categories: Picture (WL,PP,TL) Director (WL,PP,TL) Actress (WL,PP,TL) Supporting Actress (WL,PP,TL) Adapted Screenplay (WL,PP,TL) Original Score (WL,TL) Film Editing (WL) Production Design (WL,PP,TL) Costume Design (WL,PP,TL) Makeup (TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Gerta Gerwig’s last film was terrific and the early reviews have been incredibly positive. I’m looking forward to this one. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Latest version of the Louisa May Alcott classic has already won major awards and is a prime Oscar contender. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It sounds like this is a fresh and vital take, and I am not certain why it is not getting any love from the guilds.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Spies in Disguise (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.0 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	2.7 Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (3,Oscars)	Categories: Animated Feature (TL) Original Score (PP)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Nothing about this premise or its cast appeals to me. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Amusing but frantic animated spy caper has already been nominated for two Annie Awards. Thomas LaTourette (TL): I am not certain that the film will be any good, but it looks like it could be entertaining.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
1917 (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	9.7 Wesley Lovell: (10) Peter J. Patrick: (10) Thomas LaTourrette: (9)	9.0 Wesley Lovell: (10,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (9,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (8,Oscars)	Categories: Picture (WL,PP,TL) Director (WL,PP,TL) Actor (PP,TL) Supporting Actor (PP,TL) Original Screenplay (WL,TL) Original Score (WL,PP) Film Editing (WL,PP,TL) Cinematography (WL,PP,TL) Production Design (WL,TL) Costume Design (TL) Makeup (WL) Sound Mixing (WL,PP) Sound Editing (WL,PP) Visual Effects (WL,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): Two acclaimed films in one week is a blessing. Other reviews are ecstatic and the single-take conceit sounds promising. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Looks to be the success other recent World War I epics haven’t been. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This looks to be an exciting war film, tense yet beautifully made.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Clemency (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.7 Wesley Lovell: (6) Peter J. Patrick: (7) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	3.0 Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (4,Oscars)	Categories: Actress (PP,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): If it weren’t for Alfre Woodard in this, I cannot say that I would have much interest in it. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Alfre Woodard’s performance is said to be one of her best, but this death row drama may be a tough sell. Thomas LaTourette (TL): It does not boast a terrific trailer, but Alfre Woodard is said to be amazing as a prison warden, and that will be enough for me to see it.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Ip Man 4: The Finale (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	3.3 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (2)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): I haven’t seen a single one of these films and I don’t plan on starting now. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Kung Fu film for afficianodos of the genre. Thomas LaTourette (TL): I have not seen any of the previous films in this series, and do not plan to start with this one.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Just Mercy (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.3 Wesley Lovell: (5) Peter J. Patrick: (8) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	4.0 Wesley Lovell: (1,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (5,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (6,Oscars)	Categories: Actor (TL) Supporting Actor (WL,PP,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): It has solid reviews and an affable cast, but the trailers have not made it look that interesting. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Law and politics are once again a potent mix in this real-life tale with Jamie Foxx a potential Oscar nominee. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The other prison-set film being released this week does not seem as interesting, though evidently is an actor’s showcase.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Song of Names (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.0 Wesley Lovell: (2) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (5)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): A film like this might have been at home in the 1980s and 1990s and might have even been celebrated, but it all looks rather artificial nowadays. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Interesting story seems a bit too drawn out even if well-acted with a strong music score. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The trailer makes one wonder why one brother is looking for the other so many years after he disappeared. It’s not good when that is the main takeaway.