Tag: Isla Fisher

Oscar Watch: Nocturnal Animals

Another piece of the potential Oscar puzzle has come into focus with Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals, which screened at the Venice Film Festival. The thriller has garnered a number of very positive critical notices and looks to be a player come awards season.

The feature is the second directorial feature from famed clothing designer Ford, who drew positive reactions from his first effort – 2009’s A Single Man (which earned Colin Firth a Best Actor nomination). Animals boasts an impressive cast – Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Laura Linney, Armie Hammer, Isla Fisher, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Based on early word, this looks to be a factor in Best Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay (tech categories such as Cinematography and Editing as well). As for the performers, it will be an interesting story to watch with Adams, as she’s likely to compete against herself with Arrival (which also screened at Venice). Gyllenhaal could be in the mix for Actor while Shannon has had a solid 2016 and could compete for Supporting Actor.

Another day. Another strong possibility for Oscar attention. Nocturnal Animals hits screens on November 18th.

The Brothers Grimsby Box Office Prediction

Sacha Baron Cohen is back in his first starring role in nearly four years with action comedy The Brothers Grimsby and the effort looks to be a real test of his drawing power. From Now You See Me director Louis Leterrier and costarring Mark Strong, Penelope Cruz, Rebel Wilson, Ian McShane, Isla Fisher, and Gabourey Sidibe – Grimsby may represent a low mark for Cohen’s headlining output.

He burst onto the film scene in 2006 with Borat to the tune of a $26 million opening and improved those numbers with Bruno‘s $30 million premiere three years. His last vehicle, 2012’s The Dictator, managed $17 million out of the gate. That number would probably be on the higher end of expectations for this, which is managing an OK 50% on Rotten Tomaotes and looks unlikely to be a breakout hit like he’s experienced in years past.

While Grimsby should reach double digits, I believe it may not get much beyond that for a disappointing haul.

The Brothers Grimsby opening weekend prediction: $11.4 million

For my 10 Cloverfield Lane prediction, click here:

https://toddmthatcher.com/2016/03/03/10-cloverfield-lane-box-office-prediction/

For my The Young Messiah prediction, click here:

https://toddmthatcher.com/2016/03/03/the-young-messiah-box-office-prediction/

For my The Perfect Match prediction, click here:

https://toddmthatcher.com/2016/03/03/the-perfect-match-box-office-prediction/

This Day in Movie History: February 3

Eight years ago Today in Movie History – February 3 – the horror remake When a Stranger Calls set the record for largest Super Bowl weekend opening with $21.6 million on its way to a $47 million domestic run. The remake of the well-known 1979 original didn’t have critics on its side (an awful 9% on Rotten Tomatoes) but audiences answered the call. The Super Bowl record would only hold for two years until the Hannah Montana concert flick would eclipse it.

As for birthdays, Nathan Lane is 58 today. He may be best known for his acclaimed Broadway work, but Lane made a successful foray into film with 1994’s The Lion King (as the voice of Timon) and as the significant other of Robin Williams in the 1996 hit The Birdcage. Other notable appearances: MouseHunt, The Producers, and Swing Vote.

Actress Isla Fisher is 38 today. The 2005 comedy Wedding Crashers made Fisher well-known and her performance was certainly a highlight. Pictures such as Definitely, Maybe and Confessions of a Shopaholic would follow. Last year Fisher appeared in supporting roles in two huge hits – The Great Gatsby and Now You See Me.

As for Six Degrees of Separation between the birthday performers:

Nathan Lane was in The Birdcage with Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman was in The Quick and the Dead with Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio was in The Great Gatsby with Isla Fisher

And that’s today – February 3 – in Movie History!