CinemaNerdz

The Preview Reel: What Movie Should You See This Weekend

Scott Davis

Welcome to week two of CinemaNerdz’s “Preview Reel” where we look at the week’s upcoming wide release movies. Last week gave us one of the biggest box office openings ever in Captain America: Civil War, which many movie studios saw coming so they opted to stay far away from its release. There’s only one brave soul to go up against the mighty Marvel, Jodie Foster’s Money Monster. Let’s break it down and see if there is anything to be excited about with this financial thriller.

What we are excited about:
The two leads are certainly what has us the most excited. George Clooney is one of Hollywood’s most reliable actors, and the trailers make it seem like he’s going to be able to show his wide range of acting talent. His signature wit and charm seem to be on display, but the trailer also shows the dramatic heft he is able to bring to the table. Julia Roberts is always noteworthy, and it looks that her and Clooney have great chemistry. The film is directed by Jodie Foster, whose The Beaver (2011) received mixed reviews, but her work on Orange is the New Black and House of Cards is certainly noteworthy. Hopefully the immense talent in front of the camera, along with Foster’s growing directing talent, will result in an interesting thriller.

What we are worried about:
While the trailer has its moments, it cannot help but feel a little conventional. The hostage situation has been seen in countless movies (including another 2016 Clooney flick, Hail, Caesar!) and the film will have to have some intriguing twists to make it stand out from the crowd. The film does feel modern and could be a nice piece of commentary on today’s financial market, but it does not seem to have the same punch as say, last year’s Oscar nominated The Big Short. While underwhelming trailers can be used to market great movies, and it is not always fair to compare a film to a previous Best Picture nominee, it’s safe to say that as of right now there is not enough to make Money Monster standout from other similar films.

Critical reception (if any):
The film makes its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this week right before its domestic release on Friday. That seems to be really late in the game for Sony, but if it makes a splash at the festival, it could pay off for them.

Box office expectations:
There’s a reason this movie is the only wide release this week, that’s because Captain America: Civil War is going to continue to dominate. That film had the fifth biggest domestic box office opening of all time, and should continue to top the box office for at least one more weekend. As for Money Monster, its prospects are a little less certain. Clooney is certainly one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and Roberts has had her fair share of hits, but star power is not enough anymore. Reviews will determine if the older crowd will turn out for the film instead of seeing Civil War, but be prepared for a distance second-place (or even third behind Jungle Book) finish.

Final thoughts:
As of right now, there is not too much to be excited about with Money Monster. The leads and a promising director make it seem like it could be a well-made thriller, but the trailers and lack of critical reception have us a little worried. It seems like it could get lost in the shuffle of the huge summer blockbuster season, and although a positive reception at Cannes could help, it doesn’t look like this film is going to be any sort of monster.

Scott Davis

Scott Davis is a recent graduate of Oakland University where he earned a degree in journalism. He worked for the student newspaper on campus, The Oakland Post, where he became the paper's managing editor. He also earned a minor in Cinema Studies at OU. Scott enjoys all things film and TV related, especially the blockbuster kind. He might be the biggest Christopher Nolan fan you know.
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