This Weekend, Watch This: One Year Anniversary Edition
And a comparison of the new releases for October 1, 2010
By Curt David
October 1, 2010
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Now a quick history lesson. The first This Weekend, Watch This column came out on Oct. 2, 2009. Today's the one-year anniversary of this column. If you've been reading this column religiously this past year (which would be weird, if this was part of your religious experience), then you know that each week I research and compare the new releases for the weekend and then I tell you which movie to watch.
History lesson ain't over, kids. How did this all come about? After writing some movie previews for Box Office Prophets, I submitted an idea for a column called The Best Movie to Watch This Weekend. They liked my idea and it evolved into the column you are now reading. As a special treat for this one-year anniversary edition, click here to read my never-before-published submission draft for the August 2009 movies Inglorious Basterds, Post Grad, and Shorts.
Now onto the weekend of Oct. 1st, 2010... the movies in wide release are Case 39, Let Me In, and The Social Network.
| Case 39 | Let Me In | The Social Network | Winner (1 point per category) | |
| Clearest Title | Is this the 38th sequel of Case 1? | Props to this movie if it's a crazy adaptation of The Three Little Pigs (hopefully directed by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp) | This sounds like Facebook. They didn't really make a Facebook movie did they? | The Social Network has the clearest title this weekend. (Facebook just "liked" my decision) |
| Best Genre and Rating | Horror
Rated R for violence and terror including disturbing images. | Horror
Rated R for strong bloody horror violence, language, and a brief sexual situation. | Drama
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and language. | Why would you release two horror films in one weekend? The Social Network wins this round. (Facebook just sent me a friend request) |
| Cleverest Tagline (out of 5 stars) | "Some cases should never be opened"
This is foreboding considering the title. Nice tagline. 3/5 stars | "Innocence dies. Abby doesn't."
This is even more foreboding. Creepy. 5/5 stars | "You Don't Get to 500 Million Friends without making a few enemies"
Makes it sound like the history of facebook has an interesting backstory. 3/5 stars | Abby doesn't die? WTF? Perfect tagline for a horror movie, and the winner of this point. (Facebook just poked me!?!) |
| Best Part of Trailer | Not a typical horror movie where you just want to kill the spooky little girl... you want to help this one | A vampire movie with an elementary aged vampire girl. | Dramatic background music and intriguing one-liners. | The horror trailers were good, but I think I actually want to watch The Social Network now. Point. (Facebook just became "in a relationship" with me) |
| Coolest Lead Actor | Renee Zellweger, who has quite the resume (Chicago, Bridget Jones' Diary, Jerry Maguire) | Child-actor Chloe Moretz who also has quite the resume (Kick-Ass, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, 500 Days of Summer) | Jesse Eisenberg, also with a nice resume (Zombieland, Adventureland, The Education of Charlie Banks) | Oscar winner, and three-time nominee, Renee Zellweger takes the point. (Aw, Facebook is now "listed as single") |
| Best Cast | Bradley Cooper (Hangover), Jodelle Ferland (Eclipse) | Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) | Justin Timberlake (Love Guru), Rooney Mara (Nightmare on Elm Street), Rashida Jones (The Office) | While I do appreciate how Bradley Cooper was in Alias, The Social Network has the more famous cast. Point. (Facebook just posted a new Farmville score- that's annoying) |
| Best Street Cred For the Production | Writer Ray Wright has also written Pulse and The Crazies. | Director Matt Reeves has also directed Cloverfield, The Yards, and Felicity. | Director David Fincher has also directed The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Panic Room, Fight Club, and se7en. | Man, The Social Network is looking award season worthy. Point for Mr. Fincher. (Facebook just posted a link to this column on their wall) |
So out of a maximum of 7 points per movie, The Social Network scores 5 points, Let Me In scores 1 point, and Case 39 scores 1 point.
You may interpret this column for your own movie preferences. For example, if you like horror movies, go see two movies this weekend. However, if you are still on the fence, please read the following conclusions from the scientific data gathered in this column.
For the "This Weekend, Watch This" list of the Top 5 Titles, Trailers, Taglines, and Actors so far in 2010...click here.
Conclusion 1: On paper, The Social Network is the movie to watch this weekend.
Conclusion 2: Let Me In just got on the Top 5 scoreboard for 2010. It is in 5th place for the Best Tagline so far this year (and just pushed Sex and the City's "Carrie On" off the list). Click above link to see the chart.
Conclusion 3: While Bradley Cooper couldn't help Case 39 win the Best Cast point for this round, he can take solace in the fact that he is currently the 3rd best "This Weekend, Watch This" actor for 2010. Click above link for an explanation of the selection process.