'Jackass 3D' and 'Red' lead new releases

By Sarah Sluis

The antics of Steve-O and his masochistic bunch continue in Jackass 3D (3,081 theatres). 80% of the screens will be in 3D, which is expected to boost the film's opening weekend and make it a strong contender for first place. The first Jackass opened to $22 million and the sequel to $29 million, so the film should post a number in the $20 millions.

A "Retired, extremely dangerous" group of CIA agents take the sceen in Red (3,255 theatres). Helen Mirren, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Mary-Louise Parker head up the cast. The action comedy centers on a retired CIA agent (Willis) who escapes an assassination attempt and tries to track down his killers. Adult males should comprise the majority of the audience. The success of this summer's The Expendables, which also featured adult "classic" action stars, has raised hopes for the movie's box-office potential. Critic Dana Stevens at Slate, however, was not impressed, sighing that Red "keeps up a steady, frantic barrage of bullets, blood, and wisecracks, but never manages to convince us that anyone involved�characters, actors, filmmakers or audience�is having any fun."

Two big studio films begin their platform releases today. Fox Searchlight's Conviction (11 theatres) stars Hilary Swank as Betty Anne Waters, a woman who went to law school in a successful attempt to free her brother, imprisioned for murder. Critic Kevin Lally enjoyed the movie but found it flawed: Conviction is "less remarkable than the story behind it, but it benefits from Tony Goldwyn's low-key direction and a very solid supporting cast."

Matt Damon re-teams with director Clint Eastwood in Hereafter (6 theatres), which centers on three characters' interest and connection to the afterlife. Damon stars as a psychic uncomfortable with his powers, Cecile de France portrays a woman who had a near-death experience in the Thailand tsunami, and a set of twins (Frankie/George McLaren) play a young English boy who lost his twin brother. Like many ensemble pieces, all three characters eventually meet. Critic Daniel Eagan had some quibbles with the film's script and sketchy depiction of the afterlife, among other things, but predicted that "audience reaction will be muted, but fans will still appreciate Eastwood's talent." Both Hereafter and Conviction have been mentioned as Oscar contenders at some point, but each film is currently tracking at 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, and based on critical reactions it seems safe to say they will each pick up, at most, a couple of ancillary nominations.

The anti-Obamacare, conservative documentary I Want Your Money will debut in 537 theatres, with Freestyle Releasing focusing on smaller markets, the Midwest, and the South. Most wide-releasing documentaries in the past few years (Michael Moore's projects, An Inconvenient Truth, etc.) have espoused liberal viewpoints, so it will be interesting to see if conservative audiences turn out as well, especially given the heated activity going on in the conservative realm, such as the Tea Party movement.

Releasing under the radar, N-Secure will bow in 483 theatres, primarily those that do well with Tyler Perry and other black-centered films. The suspense-melodrama centers on the romance and business dealings of a group of affluent black professionals.

Samson & Delilah, the tale of two young Aboriginal outcasts who find solace in each other, opens in New York City. The British black comedy Down Terrace will hit two theatres.

On Monday, I'll circle back to analyze the performance of Jackass 3D, Red, and see how Conviction and Hereafter set the stage for their expanding releases.