November 2005 Forecast
By Marty Doskins
November 4, 2005
BoxOfficeProphets.com

It looks like we're not going to have a huge blockbuster holiday this season, but at least it should be a decent one. Movies are being advertised heavily and well in advance of release dates. Some TV viewers may be getting tired of seeing the commercials, but the studios know that they have to keep their films in the public eye if they want a big payoff.

And now, let's move on to my Top 10.

1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Well, duh. What else were you thinking would be the number one film for November? The cast is brought together for the fourth of an eventual seven films. The kids' acting abilities have been increasing with each film, as they get more familiar with their roles and their co-stars. People see this quality in the films and will continue to support these efforts. And it's good to see that the moviemakers are trying to keep a shooting schedule that has the actors aging at the same rate as the books. Quality all around really pays off at the box office.

2. Jarhead

There's already been some Oscar talk around this film and the performances of Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx. However, this is not going to be one of those limited release films that no one has seen and that wins an Oscar. There is definite effort to get this out there for the general viewing public. I really think that with the war in Iraq still a current topic in peoples' minds, they will turn out to see this film - no matter which viewpoint they support.

3. Chicken Little

I can't believe this film is finally here! I remember seeing a quick teaser for this film probably two years ago. At that time, I thought for sure that it would be released soon. After all, there was already some animation. Silly me! But now, seeing the movie and its story fleshed out in the more recent advertisements, it makes me want to see it even more. And I think there will be even more than just the usual families turning out for this latest Disney movie.

4. Zathura

This film was featured recently in a task on the current season of The Apprentice (Donald Trump version). The two teams were asked to create a parade float advertising this movie. The guys' team won the task, while the ladies' team just didn't capture what the director (Jon Favreau) and Sony were searching for. If you noticed that this film seemed a lot like Jumanji (board game comes to life), there's a good reason for that. Brilliant children's book author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg wrote both Jumanji and Zathura. But I think were separated enough in time between the films so that parents and most definitely kids won't be affected by the similarities.

5. Derailed

Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen try to see if they can make the sparks fly in this thriller. As the commercials say, they were in "the right place at the wrong time". But I think that they are in the right place at the right time for this film. The two actors seem to have chemistry on screen, but we'll have to wait for the whole effort to be seen before a determination can be made if Aniston and Owen are the new Roberts and Gere.

6. Yours, Mine and Ours

And you thought Cheaper by the Dozen had a big family. How about 18(!) kids? I think people will make the connection to Cheaper by the Dozen, which enjoyed a successful run. I think Dennis Quaid may not be the right guy for the male lead, but we'll soon find out.

7. Rent

The popular Broadway musical makes its way off the stage and onto the big screen. This kind of film has to be tough for moviemakers to be involved with because you have to balance staying true to the original versus allowing creativity to flow freely. Too much either way can alienate audiences and make sure they will only spread bad word-of-mouth to their friends, family, and coworkers.

8. Just Friends

Movie hunk Ryan Reynolds tries his hand at a romantic comedy. I think he should be able to pull it off pretty easily. His experience being on a TV sitcom should help along with his natural quick wit and timing. He's been seen in a variety of films where he's been making a bit of a name for himself. I think he'll bring enough of those fans along for this effort. And I think his star power will continue to rise in the future.

9. The Ice Harvest

Unless this film gets some advertising out there, I think the name of the film is trouble. It just doesn't sound like any particular genre or give any clues. I know that's not a good way to judge a film, but a title is definitely part of the package. The cast is strong (John
Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton) as well as the director (Harold Ramis). So at least in that respect, this film's off to a good start.

10. Get Rich or Die Tryin'

50 Cent has decided to bring a movie based on his life to theaters. He's a pretty popular rapper and his fans should be able to pop this film onto the Top 10.

Michael Bentley's November Forecast