Weekend Movie Preview and Trailers 2014: As Above/So Below, 'Cantinflas' Open Weak Labor Day Weekend
As the summer winds down, Hollywood begins to release less films and leave the box office open for holdovers.
This Labor Day weekend will see two minor wide releases and a number of art house films in search of awards, including the 'Cantiflas' biopic, 'As Above/So Below,' and more. Latin Post breaks down the top movies (with trailers) to watch for this weekend:
As Above/So Below
Having had a lousy summer, Universal will end it with this horror flick. The movie tells the story of a team of explorers who venture into the catacombs that lie beneath the streets of Paris and uncover the dark secret that lies within this city of the dead.
The film stars Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, and Edwin Hodge. Universal is not really selling the cast as it is made up of unknowns. Instead, the company is trying to sell the concept. However, there is little buzz and marketing has been relatively unseen. As a result, the film will likely not gain traction during the Labor Day weekend. Universal will open "As Above/So Below" in 2,500 theaters.
The November Man
This film already has a sequel in the works despite not being released yet. The new actioner, starring Pierce Brosnan and Olga Kuryalenko, tells the story of an ex-CIA operative who is brought back in on a very personal mission and finds himself pitted against his former pupil in a deadly game involving high level CIA officials and the Russian president-elect.
The movie brings Brosnan back to the actioner after a long absence. Relativity hopes to engage fans of Brosnan's Bond films. However, the movie is receiving negative reviews with some even calling it one of the worst movies of the year.
Additionally, tracking has been a bit low and according to boxoffice.com, the film will only make $10 million over the four-day weekend. Relativity will release the film in 2,750 hoping for a surprise.
Cantinflas
Pantelion will release the untold story of Mexico's greatest and most beloved comedy film star of all time. The new feature, starring Oscar Jaenada, Ana Layevska and Barbara Mori, tells the story of Cantinflas from his humble origins on the small stage to the bright lights of Hollywood.
"Cantinflas" debuted at the Guadalajara Film Festival and has been submitted as one of the 21 Mexican Films that will be considered for the Academy Awards. The movie is likely to be a huge commercial success, but currently there are no reviews released. Pantelion will release it in 350 theaters before expanding nationwide.
Starred Up
Tribeca Film will release one of the most acclaimed films of the year. Directed by David Mackenzie and starring Jack O'Connell, Ben Mendelsohn and Rupert Friend, the prison movie tells the story of a troubled and explosively violent teenager who is transferred to an adult prison, where he finally meets his match -- a man who also happens to be his father.
The film currently has a 98 percent aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes and critics are hailing it for being smart, hard-hitting, and queasily realistic. The movie was already nominated for Best Film at the British Independent Film Festival and is likely to be a huge awards candidate come Oscar season. Tribeca Film will push out into theaters before bringing it to on demand.
The Notebook
The new Hungarian film tells the story of twin siblings enduring the harshness of WWII in a village on the Hungarian border. The feature was selected last year as Hungary's submission for the Academy Awards. While it made the Top Nine films, it did not make the nomination list.
The feature premiered to rave reviews and won the Best Picture at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. It also premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival as well as the Hamptons and Palm Springs Film Festivals. Sony Pictures Classics has not really promoted the feature, especially since it will not compete during awards season.
Other new releases this week will include the highly acclaimed Ari Folman feature "The Congress." The movie is currently on demand and stars Robin Wright, Danny Huston and Paul Giamatti.
Meanwhile Roadside Attractions will release "Life of Crime" starring John Hawkes, Jennifer Aniston, Tim Robbins, Isla Fisher and Will Forte. The feature premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and has scored good reviews.