By Chris Kavan - 10/17/13 at 06:41 AM CT
With Gravity continuing to pull in the majority of audiences - is there any chance that a different October release has any chance of making it big? Chances are we're not going to see much of a challenge this weekend. We have a horror remake and a little-advertised action/thriller and another film targeting the adult crowd with a riveting biography. I have a feeling the three films combined offer little credible threat at knocking Gravity from its perch.
CARRIE Even when horror remakes go relatively well (like the Evil Dead from earlier in the year), let's face it - the film is facing an uphill battle. For one thing, I happen to think the original Carrie is still an excellent horror film and holds up rather well. Nothing against Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore - but this is truly one of those movies I just don't see the appeal of remaking. This is truly the first "horror" movie of October - so the only saving grace is going to be whether people are just suffering from withdrawal and are willing to give this one a chance. Horror films seem somewhat unaffected by reviews - but if it has a bad response from audiences, don't expect this one to stick around that long. I would give it a shot from the comfort of my own home but this is one I don't see being a movie that is theater-worthy.
ESCAPE PLAN Remember how hard it was for action films early in the year? Films like Bullet to the Head, The Last Stand and even perennial favorite Die Hard just couldn't muster up much interest in audiences. I have a very sneaking suspicion that Escape Plan is going to join that list. We know that having a big name (or in this case, two big names in Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone) does not mean you will find success. The idea behind the film - a man who designs security systems for high security prisons is framed an becomes locked in a place of his own design. Naturally he has to find help on the inside in order to break free and clear his name. The marketing for this has been on the weak side and the generic-looking premise this will be lucky to make it into the top five in my eyes. Just like Runner Runner - I just don't think it has enough appeal to make that big of an impact at the box office.
THE FIFTH ESTATE Now here is a straight-up drama with the always-welcome Benedict Cumberbatch playing the lead as the wikileaks mastermind Julian Assange. The real-life Assange has been
unimpressed by his portrayal here - but Hollywood has never been shy about taking real life and embellishing it a bit. This is the kind of film that I think would be a good watch - but it's also not the type of film that brings in a big audience. Plus, with both Gravity and Captain Phillips still fighting over the adult audience, Fifth Estate may find it a bit tough to gain a foothold. Still, the subject matter is topical and intriguing and I have a feeling I will be watching it at some point in time.
Three new films are going to try their best, but unless something miraculous happens, I predict that Gravity is still going to be the top film of the weekend. We'll see come Sunday, but I'm pretty sure of my choice this time around.
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