So I was perusing IMDB's release calendar, to see what I think are the chances of Disney/Marvel's prospects for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever of breaking even. And also to see if there is anything good coming that I might want to see. (I was TOLD that white people should not see Wakanda Forever on the opening weekend, and I promised that I would not see it. And I won't, not if I have to pay money to see it.)
So there are 2 biopics coming out in the next little bit. One looks to be trying to rip-off the hype around the latest Top Gun, and the other is about the life to Whitney Houston. I might see that second one eventually, when I can get the DVD free from my local library. Well, I suppose I might see it if it shows up on a friend's streaming service, assuming anyone is still subscribing to streaming in the new year. (Honestly, there isn't a single service that is worth 10 bucks a month, and they will all cost a lot more than that starting soon.)
There are two, and maybe three movies about movie-making. Those are never good. There is exactly one play about a play that is good, and that is Kiss Me Kate. I don't count Hamlet, because while there is a play in the play, it isn't what the play is about. Never see a movie about actors, or plays, or directors, or the noble struggle of screen-writers, or ... Just don't.
There is exactly one "Christmas" movie coming out, though it hardly looks to qualify. Violent Night looks to be a rip-off of Die Hard with David Harbour playing Santa Claus in the place of John McClane. It will probably be as much of a Christmas movie as Die Hard is. While the trailer looks interesting, I'm not convinced. I certainly won't pay money to see it. Maybe next year it will be available at the library.
There is She Said in which Hollywood makes a film in order to try and excuse themselves for ignoring what Harvey Weinstein was doing. And make no mistake, people knew what he was doing, and shut-up about it. I won't be seeing that film. Ever. (See this joke, as only one example. And then there is Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes.)
There's another gay, romance film coming out. I expect it will do as poorly as Bros and the media and Hollywood will blame homophobia.
At least one more horror film, that I think should have come out before Halloween, and a few others.
There is no Pixar/Dreamworks/other animated film for the holidays. There are no straight-ahead romantic comedies. There is one action film staring Robert De Niro and John Malkovich, who are both too old for that kind of thing, so the action will be left to younger actors who I don't know.
There are few others, but a couple of films coming out in December can't even be bothered to tell IMDB who is in the full cast. I don't expect good things.
So my take is that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will probably have decent legs at the box-office, unless it really is as bad as some people are saying it is. If only because there isn't anything else coming along to dislodge it. Time will tell.
I guess I should order my DVDs from the library soon, though I can always hunker down with my copies of Die Hard and Scrooged. I should probably own a copy of Gremlins too. (Another great Christmas movie!)
My all time favorite movie is Round Midnight, about a fading musician, living in Paris. Starring Dexter Gordon, who played a sax player who was a drunk/drug abuser, which many musicians of that time actually were.
ReplyDeleteI have tried to find it, but never have been able to find it anywhere. But they made a movie about shooting the movie, called Before Midnight. It was shot at the same time as the movie it documents. I liked it since it covers much of the movie and includes how they set up the shots, how they filmed them, etc. It helped me get a feel for what Dexter Gordon was like.
I am a sax player from way back, having been selected an All American musician as a Senior in High School. I also played saxes in a rock and roll band, and play most instruments. But Dexter Gordon had the sound from his sax that most closely matched the sound that I had, when I was playing gigs.
You are right, though, this was the only documentary about making a movie that I ever managed to like. It was well done, though, and not just the subject that made me like it.
Here is a link to the movie, if you want to read about it. I think it was on Amazon Prime that I watched it.
https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/977149-avant-minuit