Sorry about the hiatus last week on my part, but with it being the holiday season I think we can all learn to live with my absence and move on. I know none of you read that boring rag that my brother likes to call writing, so now that I've retaken the throne I'll just set the DeLorean for 2013, rev the engine up to 88MPH, and kick off the new year!
We have a small compilation of films that seem to be going for those heart strings in almost every aspect of the words. "Promised Land" is a heartwarming feature about a man sent to a small town to buy up land for a natural gas company but he learns what humanity and pride are all about in this little place full of people wanting a better future. "The Impossible" Is a heart-wrenching tale about a family trying to get through a disaster and shows you how hope and love can carry you as far as you ever need to go. And last but not least (or maybe least), we have "Texas Chainsaw 3D", a heart-ripping movie full of the blood and guts people want to see in a Chainsaw movie - but this time they will fly at your face! So whether its warming, wrenching or wripping (I know its spelled wrong, but it is phonetically awesome, so deal with it.), your heart will enjoy the experience.
"Promised Land" is written by Mat Damon, John Krasinski and Dave Eggers. We're all familiar with Damon and Krasinski, but for reference, Eggers has previously worked on such films as "Where the Wild Things Are" and "Away We Go". The movie is also starring both Damon and Krasinski as two people on opposite sides of the conflict of the film. Damon plays a man sent to a small town to buy up land from economically downtrodden farmers for the natural gas company he works for. Krasinski, on the other hand, is playing a man who lives in the town leading the campaign against the gas company. They both must work through their problems to see the best solution for themselves and the town. I think the main pull for this movie, for me, is the cast. It's a cast I can get behind. The people in this film have never let me down and I don't see that happening for this one. I'm excited to get to the theater for this to watch the story play out.
"The Impossible" is directed by well-received filmmaker, Juan Antonio Bayona, who also directed "The Orphanage". It stars Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts as a couple, based on a real life couple, who are caught in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and torn from each other. It is the account of their real life struggle to rejoin each other and put the family back together in the aftermath of one of the worst catastrophes in modern history. I for one am excited to see this because I want to see how McGregor and Watts portray these people who seemed to have lost everything but hold on to the hope that the other is still out there. I am interested to see if they can portray the strong emotions that have to be seething throughout this movie.
Lastly, we have "Texas Chainsaw 3D". I can't imagine that this flick will put fourth any real inspiration into the genre, but we can dream. Though we've seen various Texas Chainsaw movies in the past, this is actually the first one that takes place directly after the events of the original, from 1974. While the original is a classic of the genre, I Imagine this movie will have a similar existence to the 2003 and 2006 versions - both of which provided a few decent moments, but were ultimately unmemorable. At this point, the question is just where will this one rank amongst the plethora of other Texas Chainsaw films we've seen in the past? At this point, I can honestly say that I don't think the Mathew McConaughey/Renee Zellweger team-up from "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation" can be beat.......if you want a heaping plate of garbage, then have yourself a big bite of that movie!
Well I guess that about wraps things up here for the first week of 2013. Not really sure what to expect from the box office, in this, our first weekend after the holidays. I think both "Texas Chainsaw 3D" and "The Impossible" have a chance at something like $15MM each, but they'll both face still competition from previous holdovers like "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", "Django Unchained", and "Les Miserables". "Promised Land" probably won't resonate well at theaters, but something around $5MM or so seems decent.
As always, feel free to leave feedback on any movies you might see, or even on how much of a tool you think I am - I'm looking in your direction Mr. Anonymous... Either way, it's accepted and appreciated.
I can't wait to sink my eyeballs into some of these saucy flicks! (I'm never saying that again....)