By Sarah Sluis
It's Friday premiere time at the box office, and the biggest release is Bride Wars (3,226 theatres), a film
sure to water down the flames surrounding Anne Hathaway's Rachel Getting Married "Best Actress" nomination, and extinguish the embers of Kate Hudson's rom-com career run. Four out of five Kate Hudson movies are rom-coms, and the only distinguishing one of the pack was Almost Famous, more a comedy-drama (and a supporting role!) than the unlucky-in-love pieces she, or her agent, insist on making. All this makes me wonder--can Kate Hudson actually act? Besides Almost Famous, I did enjoy her in twist-ending The Skeleton Key, but How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? Or this weekend's Bride Wars? Save me. Thankfully, it appears Hudson has received the message: her next projects include two dramatic, historical romances (departure!), and a supporting role in prestige picture Nine (stage adaptation; Weinstein project).
Next on the list is The Unborn (2,356 theatres), another addition to the wave of Holocaust/Nazi movies that have been raining on audiences. This time, though, a woman is possessed by a deceased demonic twin, which has its root in Nazi spirits and can only be ousted by a Holocaust survivor. It sounds a bit exploitative and disrespectful to me, but I'm sure the film manages to handle this deftly. Especially because one of their frights involves a dream of a dog wearing a human mask. Go see it if this idea creeps you out in a good way.
Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino expands to 2,808 theatres this week, ensuring audiences will see this well-reviewed film that has especially resonated with older viewers. The Reader will also expand to 507 theatres, surpassing the release of Kate Winslet's other picture, Revolutionary Road, which is still at 135 theatres.
Not Easily Broken, about a couple struggling to maintain their marriage, sounds like the black version of Fireproof, the Christian-themed film that quietly made over $30 million this fall by marketing towards church groups and highly targeting its distribution. Since Not Easily Broken is releasing on just 724 screens, demographic targeting will be extremely important to the film's success.
My advice? Stick to seeing the event/awards films, but, if you must, know that the fluffy releases smell a bit like a dog left in the rain.
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