Oscar Predictions: Mother Mary

David Lowery’s latest is the psychological drama Mother Mary with Anne Hathaway portraying a pop singer and Michaela Cole as a fashion designer. Hunter Schafer and FKA Twigs are in the supporting cast though most write-ups are describing this as a two-hander. Out this weekend in limited release, the A24 title expands wide April 24th. The writer/director can sometimes be a critical darling with varied projects including Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, A Ghost Story, Pete’s Dragon, and The Green Knight.

Early reviews are as diverse as Lowery’s filmography. The 76% Rotten Tomatoes rating and 60 Metacritic hint at that spectrum. Some critics are claiming it’s among the auteur’s finest works while others are calling it a dud. Hathaway and Cole’s acting is being praised, but awards possibilities are likely limited to their character’s professions: music and costume design. Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX supplied original songs sung by Hathaway. Perhaps lead single “Burial” could be in contention as well as the threads worn throughout. Above the line attention is a long shot at best. 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:

For my The Forge prediction, click here: