PREVIEW: 'Boleyn Girl,' 'Penelope,' 'Chicago 10,' 'Semi-Pro' and More

By Connect Mason Reporter Matthew Todd

Last Weekend’s Predictions

Well, I nailed Vantage Point, snatching the number one spot while Jumper dropped a considerably disappointing 61 percent from $32 million to $12.7 million after being critically berated and receiving a Yahoo! User rating of a lowly “B-.”

Point grossed $22 million but also received less-than-flattering reviews as well as a “B-“ Yahoo! User rating, indicating little staying-power potential. Be Kind, Rewind also failed to gain traction grossing a so-so $4 million, while Witless Protection thankfully tanked with a $2 million opening. On the other hand, the better-received Charlie Bartlett bombed with a $1.8 million debut.

The Other Boleyn Girl

A surprising string of indie-box office friendly films are ruling the roost.

First up is the heavily-anticipated “The Other Boleyn Girl” (Focus Features/Columbia, PG-13), which features Oscar nominee Natalie Portman (Closer), Scarlett Johansson (Lost In Translation), and Eric Bana (Munich). Two sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, are driven by their overly ambitious father and uncle to heighten the family’s status by courting the affections of the King of England.

The girls thrust into the dangerous world of court life, and what started as a bid to help their family ends up being a pitiless enmity between Anne and Mary for the love of the king.

Showing overwhelming potential, the film is adapted by the book by Philippa Gregory and written by Oscar-nominated writer Peter Morgan (The Queen). The sets and costumes are lush, the actors are great to look at, and the acting looks powerful, with Portman, Johannson, and Bana convincingly donning British accents.

There’s always a chance the film could end up technically masterful but with a hollow and clichéd implementation (i.e. Memoirs of a Geisha). But for right now, my money is on a film from the studio that brought you masterpieces such as The Pianist, Far From Heaven, and Brokeback Mountain.

Penelope

Then comes Penelope (Summit Entertainment, PG), the story of sheltered Penelope (Christina Ricci) who was born with a pig’s nose. After a series of romantic rejections, she decides to escape her rich household and see the world. (Are you kidding me!?).

Indicating a satirical romantic comedy, and a very oddball one at that, Penelope attempts to be different from what you’ve seen before. Unfortunately it looks like everything you’ve seen before complete with the “Accept me for what I am” message.

The previews didn’t make me laugh with the exception of a hopeful boyfriend who throws himself out the window after seeing Penelope’s snout. McAvoy and Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line) look like they’ve been wasted, along with the always appealing Catherine O’Hara. For me, Penelope is a "NO".

Chicago 10

For the limited indie pick, first off is Chicago 10 (Roadside Attractions, R), which is about the 1968 anti-war protests at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and the ensuing Chicago Conspiracy Trail in 1969.

From the acclaimed director of The Kid Stays In the Picture, Chicago 10 actually looks like an eccentrically electrifying film I’d want to see. Mostly documentary with half animation (it’d be interesting to see how THAT is executed), the film looks to pack an intense punch (or it could be overly preachy).

Yet, it could be a cult favorite for political buffs (and opportunely released just in time for the final presidential nominations).

Bonneville

Bonneville (SenArt Films, PG) is another of this weekend’s limited releases. It stars Oscar winners Kathy Bates (Misery) and Jessica Lange (Blue Sky), as well as nominee Joan Allen (The Contender & The Bourne Ultimatum), and is about a woman who promises her husband to cremate him and scatter his ashes.

But her sister, a socialite in California, wants a proper burial. So she decides to travel from a small town in Idaho to Santa Barbara in her ’66 Bonneville with her supportive friends. And they take the road trip of their lives.

The perplexing “Coming Soon to DVD,” when it’s to be released in theaters this weekend isn’t all that surprising after all. A glossed up made-for-Lifetime-type film with high-profile (and super-talented) actresses, Bonneville DOES look more appropriate for a direct-to-DVD release. Interesting to watch for the chemistry between the three actresses, but it’s a film that I would more than likely wait for “DVD.”

Romulus, My Father

Romulus, My Father (Magnolia, R) stars Eric Bana, Franke Potente (The Bourne Supremacy), and Marton Csokas (The Bourne Supremacy), and is about a Yugoslavian immigrant, Romulus, emigrating from his native country to Australia with his wife and son to find a better life. But in the midst of making a new life, Romulus’s wife feels depressed and wildly out of place, and then abandons him and her son to run off with the Romulus’s best friend.

Another small film based on a true story about infidelity, struggle, and betrayal actually looks like a very quiet film that would not expand into mainstream territory. But depending on how it’s carried out, it might be one I could be interested in. Just not anytime soon.

Semi-Pro

Finally, Semi-Pro (New Line, R) is this weekend’s only other major release. Set in the 1970s, it stars the hit-or-miss Will Farrell as Jackie Moon, a one-hit wonder singer who decides to go after his dream of owning his own basketball team.

But he is in threat of losing his team, the Flint Michigan Tropics (known as the worst team in basketball), as the ABA is likely to merge with the NBA. Now they must do the impossible… win.

Like Farrell himself, the film too looks very hit-or-miss. He along with Oscar-nominee Woody Harrelson (The People vs. Larry Flynt) and Outkast’s Andre Benjamin have not had the best records either, but depending on what brand of humor the writers resorted to, Farrell fans shouldn’t be disappointed…maybe.

The Predictions

There are hardly any anticipated wide releases aside from The Other Boleyn Girl and Semi-Pro, and it’s undoubtedly a very tough one to predict. I will call the number one or the higher spot to Semi-Pro which could pull in a respectable $16-20 million, while Boleyn could rake in $12-15 million. But it will largely be divided between male and female audiences, while I have no hope for Penelope

My Pick: Chicago 10