By Chris Kavan - 10/24/13 at 06:41 AM CT
Last weekend proved to be a bit of a letdown - at least for the new movies. Gravity continues to rule the top of the box office and I see no reason why this weekend should be any different. You have another thriller aimed at adults (granted with a well-rounded cast) and yet another sketch comedy from the master of gross-outs and violence, the Jackass crew, who take things in a slightly different direction this time out. Still, I don't think either film has enough pull to unseat Gravity.
THE COUNSELOR The Counselor faces a somewhat uphill battle this weekend. While this has a bit of an edge to it compared to Gravity and Captain Phillips, there is no doubt it is competing for the exact same audience as those two films. If there is one thing The Counselor has going for it - aside from its drug trafficking angle, it is that the cast looks pretty phenomenal: Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, Penélope Cruz and everyone's favorite, Brad Pitt - this screams all-star cast. Granted, red hot Ben Affleck couldn't help the doomed Runner Runner take flight - but it looks at least like The Counselor has a much better story going for it. The marketing has been pretty good but I just don't know if there is enough appeal here to bring in such a well-rounded audience as Gravity has been attracting. This movie also looks like it will earn its R rating - but whether that is a plus or a detraction, I'm not sure at this point. This is the kind of film I will watch at home but not the kind that I will see in theaters.
It has been three years since Jackass 3D came out and once again thrilled us with the disgusting yet oddly watchable antics of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera and the rest of the Jackass crew. Now we have Bad Grandpa. Although this is pretty much just Johnny Knoxville, taking a page from Sacha Baron Cohen and going incognito as an old man pulling off a variety of staged (but not to the general public) events - all while pulling along his "grandson" )Jackson Nicoll) - it is just the kind of raunchy, stupid film that could easily attract a surprise audience (much like the previous Jackass films). Never underestimate the lowest common denominator. I actually think this has a better chance than The Counselor as making a splash just because it is going after a much different audience - and if that high school/college-age crowd comes out in force... I'm just saying the box office could be seeing a shakeup. This is the kind of stupidity I'll never admit to looking forward to... but I also won't turn it down if someone offers to watch it.
Of note is the expansion of 12 Years a Slave - which, while still not going into wide release, will still be interesting to see how it does outside a handful of theaters. With Monuments Men getting pushed to 2014 - this could be one of the main contenders for the Oscars. Otherwise, I will be back on Sunday with the final results.
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