Tag: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

Oscar Predictions: Jurassic World Rebirth

None of the five follow-ups to Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic Jurassic Park generated much awards attention. Will that change with the sixth? Jurassic World Rebirth hits theaters on Wednesday with Gareth Edwards handling directorial duties and Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo starring.

The original over three decades ago won all 3 Oscars it was up for – Visual Effects, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing (back when the sound races were separated). 1997 sequel The Lost World: Jurassic Park landed a sole VE nom, but lost to Titanic. The next four entries – Jurassic Park III, Jurassic World, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Jurassic World: Dominion – garnered a total of zero Academy mentions.

Reviews for Rebirth are mixed to negative. While certainly stronger than Dominion‘s 29% Rotten Tomatoes rating and 38 Metacritic, the 56% RT and 53 Meta are nothing to roar about. Edwards has seen two pics in his filmography contend in Visual Effects – 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and 2023’s The Creator. I doubt his first dino adventure will bring the series back into that category for the first time this century. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Jurassic World Rebirth Box Office Prediction

Jurassic World Rebirth looks to rule the Independence Day holiday frame beginning July 2nd. This is now the third iteration of the dino franchise that kicked off with 1993’s Jurassic Park from Steven Spielberg and the seventh entry overall. Gareth Edwards, no stranger to franchise fare with Godzilla and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in his discography, directs. Scarlett Johansson headlines the cast that features Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

The second Jurassic trilogy premiered in spectacular fashion a decade back when Jurassic World made $208 million out of the gate and $652 million domestically. The follow-ups performed well though with diminishing results. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in 2018 debuted at $148 million and $417 million overall. 2022’s Jurassic World: Dominion was barely behind at $145 million and $376 million in total.

I anticipate that Rebirth will continue the downward trend. When World opened 10 years ago, there was pent up anticipation for the franchise with a nostalgia factor in play. Such factors are diluted with only a three-year layover between entries. It doesn’t help that Dominion was generally considered a disappointment.

That means the streak of Jurassic tales making nine figures in the traditional weekend is endangered. I’ll say high 70s to low 80s is likelier. However, the five-day could top $130 million.

Jurassic World Rebirth opening weekend prediction: $80.8 million (Friday to Sunday); $133 million (Wednesday to Sunday)

A Man Called Otto Review

A Man Called Otto is metaphorically and actually about the title character eventually getting his power back. Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) is a recent widower just retired. We’re introduced to him as he suspiciously and precisely purchases a length of rope at a local suburban Pittsburgh home improvement store. Otto is a curmudgeon and he would probably tell neighbors to remove themselves from his condominium lawn, but he’s also Tom Hanks so we’re softened to him. It’s a bummer when that length of rope turns out to be what we fear. Not happy about his current situation, he shuts his electricity off as a prelude to suicide.

Then he keeps getting interrupted. The first prevention comes unwittingly from new neighbors Marisol (Mariana Treviño, stealing the show) and Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo). They are parents of two adorable girls with a boy on the way. The husband is a kindly dim bulb. Marisol is not. She’s strong and caring and seems to drive every relationship she’s in even if she can’t drive a car. At first Otto is dismissive of her (though not her cooking).

Another attempt involving carbon monoxide poisoning is thwarted by Marisol. Slowly an odd friendship develops. Their interplay generates the real electricity in the screenplay from David Magee. It was, as many know, adapted from Fredrik Backman’s 2012 novel A Man Called Ove. It was turned into an Oscar nominated 2015 Swedish film.

The genuine emotional connection between Otto and Marisol helps mask that other characters are broad caricatures. There’s silly Jimmy (Cameron Britton), who’s always doing his comically awkward walks nearby. Or the hip hop blaring Real Estate Agent (comedian Mike Birbiglia), who is trying to evict Otto’s long-time friends with health problems. Minimal nuance is involved with these folks – “Real Estate Agent” isn’t even granted a name. I forget if Bratty Dog Walker (her pooch is treated like royalty) has one. There is a cat who is easily more memorable as Otto increasingly seems to have nine lives. Also on the plus side, flashback sequences that show his marriage to Sonya (Rachel Keller) help inform Otto’s condition. His younger self is portrayed by the actor’s real son Truman Hanks.

Marc Forster is behind the camera and what a fascinating filmography he’s had. From directing Halle Berry to an Oscar in Monster’s Ball to Daniel Craig’s weakest 007 outing Quantum of Solace to the effective adaptation of World War Z and Finding Neverland and Christopher Robin, he mixes it up. His main style might be that he doesn’t have much of one (whatever fits the occasion). A silhouetted and overly dramatic later suicide attempt tries to bite off more stylistically than its filmmaker can chew. Forster is mostly content to allow Hanks and Treviño steer the vehicle and that’s welcome. A Man Called Otto is far from perfect yet it has a lot of heart.

*** (out of four)

A Man Called Otto Box Office Prediction

Blogger’s Update (01/09): Based on Otto‘s impressive performance on just over 600 screens the previous weekend, I am revising my estimate considerably up from $11.3 million $15.9 million for the four-day MLK haul.

One of the most beloved Everyman actors is a grumpy man in A Man Called Otto, opening wide on January 13th. Tom Hanks is the title character in this remake of the 2015 Swedish film which was adapted from a 2012 Fredrik Backman novel. Marc Forster directs with a supporting cast including Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Cameron Britton, and Mike Birbiglia.

Reviews are fairly decent with a current 66% Rotten Tomatoes score. Hanks is obviously a big name though he’s not the box office draw he once was. He did just recently appear in the summer hit Elvis. However, recent starring roles have either been streaming debuts (Greyhound, Finch) or under performers (News of the World).

Pics catering to adults have generally suffered at multiplexes lately. What might help is that the book was a huge bestseller. That said, even with a four-day MLK rollout, I question whether this gets to double digits. I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt. Otto does expand to over 600 venues on January 6th. Depending on how it rolls out this weekend, it could change the forecast below.

A Man Called Otto opening weekend prediction: $15.9 million (Friday to Monday estimate)

For my Plane prediction, click here:

Plane Box Office Prediction

For my House Party prediction, click here:

House Party Box Office Prediction

Oscar Predictions: A Man Called Otto

Marc Forster’s A Man Called Otto is the second cinematic rendering of Fredrik Backman’s 2012 Swedish dramedy novel titled A Man Called Ove. The first originated from that nation in 2015, drew wide critical praise, and was nominated for both Best Foreign Language Film and Best Makeup Hairstyling at the Oscars.

The American remake is out for an awards qualifying run on December 30th before a wide release on January 13th. I’m really wondering if Sony Pictures dropped the ball a bit with their campaign. Reviews are of the mixed variety with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 74%. However, this sounds like a crowdpleaser that might win over audiences and rustle up decent business.

In a stronger year for lead, I might discount Hanks. The two-time recipient of the prize and six-time nominee plays against type as a widowed grumpy old man. Four slots in the Actor derby seem spoken for: Austin Butler for Elvis (in which Hanks costars), Colin Farrell in The Banshees of Inisherin, Brendan Fraser in The Whale, and Bill Nighy for Living. The fifth seems wide open with Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick), Hugh Jackman (The Son), and Paul Mescal (Aftersun) among those in contention. If Otto had been allowed a little more runway for its buzz to build, I’d throw Hanks in that mix. Now it might simply be too late.

That same logic applies to Mariana Treviño and even more so. The Mexican actress is getting rave notices. More than any other of the acting competitions, Supporting Actress has lots of possibilities and perhaps no slam dunk nominees. Had Sony mounted a spirited drive for Treviño, her inclusion would have been feasible. It’s still doable though unlikely.

There is one category where Otto could hear its name called. Of the 15 announced shortlist tunes for Original Song, “Til You’re Home” is in. The track is performed by the star’s wife Rita Wilson and Sebastiān Yatra. It was a surprise entry in the field and I’d be surprised if it makes the eventual five. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…