Tag: Anthony Carrigan

Oscar Predictions: Superman

James Gunn’s Superman reboot flies into theaters this weekend with a new franchise on the line for Warner Bros and high expectations. Davin Corenswet plays the title character with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult portraying Lex Luthor. Other costars include Edi Gathergi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell, Wendell Pierce, and Skyler Gisondo.

It arrives 47 years after the Christopher Reeve saga, which won a special award for its Visual Effects and was also up for its editing and classic score from John Williams. Three sequels failed to generate any nominations. 2006 reboot Superman Returns was up for its visuals, falling short to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. The Zack Snyder Supes flicks (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) did not factor into the Oscar mix.

Will Gunn’s take on the icon generate awards chatter? The Rotten Tomatoes meter is at 84% with 71 on Metacritic. Critics are all over the place on which cast members shine brightest (though there’s general agreement that Corenswet is strong). That said, above-the-line nods are a major long shot. Gunn is no stranger to the VE competition as all three of his MCU Guardians of the Galaxy features were nominated. This is where Superman has the strongest chance at a nod with Sound and Makeup & Hairstyling less probable. I don’t think inclusion in VE is automatic though don’t be surprised if it populates one of the five slots. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Superman Box Office Prediction

After bringing lesser known superheroes to box office dominance over a decade ago, James Gunn helms a reboot with perhaps the most iconic one via Superman starting July 11th. Warner Bros hopes the latest reboot of the Man of Steel saga flies high with David Corenswet donning the tights, Rachel Brosnahan playing Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult handling villainous duties as Lex Luthor. The supporting cast includes Edi Gathergi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell, Skyler Gisondo, and Wendell Pierce.

With a reported budget of $225 million, hopes are high for the summer tentpole. Gunn’s contribution as director is in addition to his duties as head of DC Studios. He was given the role after successfully handling three Guardians of the Galaxy features for the MCU. Counting Supergirl, this marks the 10th overall feature in the Supes series that began in 1978.

The best opening of the bunch is 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice which kicked off with $166 million. #2 on the board is 2013’s last proper restart Man of Steel, which made $116 million in its inaugural weekend. Opening above Justice would be a massive victory for WB while debuting below Steel would be a disappointment.

I’m guessing the opening will be somewhere in between, but closer to Steel than Justice.

Superman opening weekend prediction: $128.6 million

Death of a Unicorn Review

Alex Scharfman’s Death of a Unicorn is the latest in a lengthy list of eat the rich pics over the past few years. This one is mixed with some centuries old European folklore pertaining to the title characters and Jenna Ortega bringing her mopey teen attitude inside its mansion walls. The auto accident that kicks off the multi-genre exercise should ensure more B-movie scares and humor. It’s curiously low on both and dodgy CGI doesn’t help. While not a complete wreck, it’s damaged goods.

Elliot (Paul Rudd) is a widowed attorney en route to the sprawling estate (doubling as a nature preserve) of his pharmaceutical empire boss Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant). Daughter Ridley (Ortega) is reluctantly along for the ride when they smash into a creature that sure seems like the mythical beast of legend. When Ridley touches the wounded creature’s horn, a connection is made before Dad tire irons the animal.

At the Leopolds, Elliot at first tries to conceal the roadkill in his hatchback and get down to business with Odell, wife Belinda (Téa Leoni), and clueless and hobby hopping son Shepard (a game Will Poulter). Yet the roadkill might not be actually killed and its elders lurk on the property grounds. Meanwhile Ridley googles the history of unicorn mythos and it indicates a violent near future. The Leopolds plot a way to increase their wealth despite the dangerous situation.

When the horn piercing bloodletting finally commences, Unicorn hadn’t yet added compelling ingredients to its menu of top 1% satire combined with a familiar daddy-daughter healing subplot. I was hoping the righteous kills from the otherworldly beings would bring the gory and guilty pleasures. Subpar visual effects tame those aspects. That leaves us with occasional laughs courtesy of Poulter and Anthony Carrigan’s unappreciated family butler. The overall results are served up in middling fashion.

** (out of four)

Oscar Predictions: Death of a Unicorn

A24’s Death of a Unicorn has screened at South by Southwest prior to its March 28th theatrical premiere. The horror comedy from Alex Scharfman stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father-daughter who accidentally cause the title of the film to occur. This displeases another unicorn. The supporting cast includes Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, Richard E. Grant, and Anthony Carrigan.

Early reviews are complimentary mixed with so-so notices. The Rotten Tomatoes score is 70% with Metacritic at 60. Unicorn represents the latest feature in a growing eat the rich sub genre that includes Triangle of Sadness, The Menu, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and Saltburn. Some of those titles received awards attention. Don’t expect Death to. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…