Tag: Danny Huston

Oscar Predictions: The Naked Gun

Arriving over 30 years after the Leslie Nielsen trilogy of outrageous slapstick comedies, Akiva Schaffer’s The Naked Gun reboot blasts off in theaters Friday. Liam Neeson stars as Frank Drebin’s son with Pamela Anderson as his love interest (which reportedly translated to real life). Costars include Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, and Danny Huston.

1988’s original (which was based on the short-lived but acclaimed TV show Police Squad!) was the critical darling of the series with the two follow-ups generally judged as inferior. Reviews for 2025’s installment are impressive with critics lauding its joke-a-minute landing percentage. It’s at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 78 on Metacritic.

I’m not saying Gun will be an Oscar contender. The Golden Globes? Maybe that’s a possibility. The critical reaction is sturdy enough that a nom in Best Musical/Comedy and Neeson in Actor (Musical/Comedy) doesn’t appear out of the question. My Oscar (and Globe) prediction posts will continue…

The Naked Gun Box Office Prediction

After three decades plus of dormancy, a comedy franchise gets its reboot on August 1st via The Naked Gun. The legacy sequel casts Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (son of Leslie Nielsen’s bumbling lawman) with Akiva Schaffer directing. Costars include Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston, and Liza Koshy.

With Seth MacFarlane producing, Gun has been in development for over a decade. 1988’s original from the Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker team (based on the short-lived but acclaimed Police Squad! TV series) is considered a genre classic. Further installments in 1991 and 1994 didn’t quite hit the funny bone bullseye, but managed to perform well at the box office.

Younger viewers may not have much familiarity with the series. Others could reject Mr. Neeson outside of his action thriller comfort zone. However, an effective trailer should help and advance word-of-mouth is encouraging. Comedies have struggled in recent years at multiplexes with many going the streaming route instead. Anything above $25 million would be an accomplishment. I’ll say low to mid 20s is more doable and that’s still a win for Paramount.

The Naked Gun opening weekend prediction: $22.3 million

For my The Bad Guys 2 prediction, click here:

The Bad Guys 2 Box Office Prediction

For my Together prediction, click here:

Together Box Office Prediction

Oscar Predictions – Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 was a critical and commercial disappointment when it opened in late June following its Cannes premiere in May. Kevin Costner’s epic western underwhelmed enough so that part 2’s release plan is undetermined (though it’s still expected to be out by year’s end). The second chapter of a planned four (part 3’s principal photography is underway) has also debuted in Europe via the Venice fest. The director/cowriter headlines a cast that includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Danny Huston, Jena Malone, Ella Hunt, Will Patton, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Thomas Haden Church, Glynn Turman, and Kathleen Quinlan.

Initial word-of-mouth is that while Chapter 2 is a slight improvement, don’t get your hopes too high. In other words, awards voters are not likely to get their sights on either 2024 Horizon. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

The Crow Box Office Prediction

Lionsgate Films is currently reeling from Borderlands performing a box office belly flop. On August 23rd, they hope The Crow reboot flies higher with moviegoers. Bill Skarsgård trades in the Pennywise makeup for the comic book based vigilante hero first made famous onscreen 30 years ago by Brandon Lee (who was killed in an onset tragedy during filming). Costars include FKA Twigs, Danny Huston, and Josette Simon. Rupert Sanders, who was behind the camera on Snow White and the Huntsman and Ghost in the Shell, directs.

While this is the fifth feature in the franchise, it is the first in nearly 20 years. Fun fact: Skarsgård is the fifth actor to play the title role following Lee, Vincent Perez, Eric Mabius, and Edward Furlong. The last two entries from 2000 and 2005 experienced limited theatrical runs before going the direct-to-video route.

1994’s original gained plenty of notoriety due to the death of its lead. It also struck a chord with youth culture and was assisted by a hit soundtrack. Fans of that picture are three decades older and probably have little interest in this long-in-development project which at times had Bradley Cooper, Jason Momoa, and others attached.

The marketing campaign seems muted. General brand recognition could get this to $10 million, but it may fall a bit under that. That’s not much to crow about considering the reported $50 million budget.

The Crow opening weekend prediction: $7.4 million

For my Blink Twice prediction, click here:

Blink Twice Box Office Prediction

For my The Forge prediction, click here:

The Forge Box Office Prediction

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 Box Office Prediction

Warner Bros is hoping Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is more Dances with Wolves, less The Postman when it comes to Kevin Costner’s behind the camera filmography. The three-hour Western epic is the first of four planned sagas with Chapter 2 slated for mid-August and part 3 shooting. Costner, who has experienced a recent career resurgence thanks to Yellowstone on the small screen, also stars and co-scripts. The large supporting cast includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Fahey, Will Patton, Tatanka Means, Owen Crow Shoe, Ella Hunt, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Thomas Haden Church.

A May premiere at Cannes yielded shaky buzz. The Rotten Tomatoes score is only 43%. There is no doubt that Horizon is a risky summer proposition. Costner apparently financed the bulk of the project himself.

I do think the Yellowstone exposure could cause this to surprise with a better than expected turnout of older viewers. A best case scenario might be a kickoff in the high teens to low 20s. I’ll hedge my bets and go with low to mid teens.

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 opening weekend prediction: $14.8 million

For my A Quiet Place: Day One prediction, click here:

A Quiet Place: Day One Box Office Prediction

For my Kinds of Kindness prediction, click here:

Kinds of Kindness Box Office Prediction

Oscar Predictions – Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One

When it comes to Academy possibilities for Kevin Costner’s latest directorial epic, think The Postman more than Dances with Wolves. The latter from 1990 was up for 12 Oscars and took home 7 including Picture and Director. The former was a flop at multiplexes and on the awards circuit.

His latest is Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One and it has premiered at Cannes ahead of its June 28th theatrical bow. The Western is not only directed by Costner, but he stars and cowrites what is a mostly self-financed project. The large supporting cast includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Danny Huston, Duval Branch, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Jamie Campbell Bower, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Luke Wilson, Ella Hunt, Will Patton, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Fahey, and Thomas Haden Church.

I kind of thought Cannes seemed like an odd launch pad for the Yellowstone lead’s first behind the camera big screen production since 2003’s Open Range. Critics have not been kind as evidenced by the 29% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

I’m not sure how much the reviews will hurt its commercial prospects. This could be effective adult counter programming in the summer months and Costner’s visibility from his hit show won’t hurt. Chapter 2 will follow in mid-August. Who knows? Maybe it will garner better notices from cinematic pundits. You can close the book on any Oscar buzz for this first chapter. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: The Dead Don’t Hurt

Western The Dead Don’t Hurt marks Viggo Mortensen’s second directorial feature after 2020’s Falling. In addition to his behind the camera work, he’s the star, writer, coproducer, and even composed the score. It premiered last fall at the Toronto Film Festival and is being readied for a semi-wide May 31st theatrical bow. Vicky Krieps, acclaimed alongside Daniel Day-Lewis for 2017’s Phantom Thread, co-headlines with a supporting cast including Garret Dillahunt, Solly McLeod, and Danny Huston.

Reviews out of Canada were more respectful than gushing with an 85% RT rating. Mortensen, a two-time nominee for Eastern Promises and Captain Fantastic, is unlikely to see any of his many jobs on the project rewarded during awards season. That goes for everything in the picture. If there’s a slight chance for recognition, it would be with Krieps (whose performance is being singled out). The better odds are that The Dead is forgotten by voters a few months from now. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Marlowe

Liam Neeson has a reprieve from interchangeable action flicks this weekend with Marlowe. The neo-noir crime pic reunites the lead (playing the title character detective created by Raymond Chandler) with his Michael Collins director Neil Jordan (Oscar winner for his screenplay for The Crying Game 30 years ago). William Monahan, himself an Academy recipient for his The Departed script, handles writing duties. The supporting cast includes Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Alan Cumming, Danny Huston, and Colm Meaney.

Despite the pedigree, Marlowe isn’t turning up many positive reviews. The Rotten Tomatoes score is an underwhelming 24% and early box office returns are meager. Set in 1939 L.A., it was feasible that categories such as Production Design or Costume Design would be in the mix. However, based on initial reactions, this should be long forgotten come nominations time. My Oscar Predictions posts will continue…

Angel Has Fallen Box Office Prediction

In 2913, Olympus Has Fallen surprised box office prognosticators with a gross of $98 million stateside, eclipsing the earnings of the similarly themed and higher profile White House Down from that same year. The Gerard Butler action thriller has now spawned two sequels with Angel Has Fallen rising in cinemas next weekend.

Butler’s Secret Service agent now finds himself framed for the attempted assassination of Morgan Freeman’s character. Ric Roman Waugh, best known for directing Dwayne Johnson in Snitch, is behind the camera. Costars include Jada Pinkett Smith, Lance Reddick, Tim Blake Nelson, Piper Perabo, Danny Huston, and Nick Nolte.

As mentioned, Olympus was a sleeper hit that soared out of the gate with $30 million. 2016 follow-up London Has Fallen couldn’t match those numbers with a $21 million start and $62 million eventual tally.

My expectation is that the third edition will continue the downward trend. Mid to possibly high teens is likely. In the dog days of August, that might be enough for an unremarkable #1 debut.

Angel Has Fallen opening weekend prediction: $15.2 million

For my Overcomer prediction, click here:

https://toddmthatcher.com/2019/08/14/overcomer-box-office-prediction/

For my Ready or Not prediction, click here:

https://toddmthatcher.com/2019/08/16/ready-or-not-box-office-prediction/

Game Night Movie Review

Too many big studio comedies can be numbered by the handful of gags that work while the rest fall flat. This is thankfully not the case with Game Night. It’s gimmicky, sure. It’s a bit forgettable. Yet it’s consistently amusing and doesn’t overburden itself with too much sentimentality. As far as the genre goes as of late, that’s enough to mark this a success.

The pic comes from co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who last made the more consistently unfunny Vacation reboot. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams are Max and Annie, married with no children even though she’s ready. Their biggest shared love is one of competitiveness, which includes their game nights with friends. Their usual group includes playboy Ryan (Billy Magnussen) and childhood sweethearts Kevin and Michelle (Lamorne Morris and Kylie Bunbury). Next door neighbor and police officer Gary (Jesse Plemons) is a former regular until his recent divorce has turned him into quite the weirdo.

Our main couple’s typical showing of charade and board gaming dominance is interrupted when Max’s brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) pops up. Brooks is the ultra cool brother with a better bone structure and larger pocketbook that Max harbors jealousy for. Instead of Clue or Risk, Brooks has a different idea for game night involving a kidnapping and real actors interacting with the group. The players won’t know what’s real and what isn’t.

Wouldn’t you know it? Turns out some real kidnappers turn up and that Brooks may be involved in some seedy stuff. What follows is a search for a Faberge egg, guns that the principals think aren’t real (an overused gag by now), squeaky toys used to bite down on for pain (a never before seen gag that’s pretty darn funny), and Bateman’s patented ironic detachment that always seems to work.

Night is served with a game cast. Standouts include Plemons as the creepy but probably well-meaning neighbor and Magnussen as the dim bulb participant of the team. Sharon Horgan is his much smarter date for the evening and she provides some humorous moments as well. The screenplay also provides a twist or two that are genuinely surprising.

The actual concept of a game night may not be as joyous as it’s supposed to be on occasion. You need fun people there. This movie has them. Like real game nights, you may forget some of details by the next day but you’ll remember enjoying it.

*** (out of four)