By Chris Kavan - 09/09/11 at 10:15 AM CT
After three weeks of box office doldrums, I'm finally going to say the The Help will not be the #1 film for the weekend.
1) One of Steven Soderbergh's final films, Contagion looks to get under your skin by presenting a pandemic of global proportions and following different people and how they react: from a grieving father to CDC and WHO officials to a vindictive blogger - it doesn't look like a very uplifting movie, but it does look like a good film. I'm hoping they keep things tense and don't let up - from the previews I've seen, I doubt most of the cast is going to make it to the end.
2) If you're not into world-ending diseases, don't worry, you can chill out with Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte and Jennifer Morrison in Warrior. From what I can tell it's a story about two brothers who grow up to beat the crap out of each other. Plus you have an alcoholic father - so you know things are going to lean towards the dramatic. It looks like Rocky mixed with The Fighter but with a PG-13. I'm not sure if the impact will be less with the lighter rating, but if you're into inspirational sports films, this one should work just fine.
3) I'm completely flabbergasted by the marketing campaign for Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star. Every time I see one of their annoying commercials or ads, it actually makes me want to watch the movie LESS. Sometimes you need a dumb comedy to get by - but this may be too dumb for even the most desperate audiences. I would recommend this only as a form of torture based on what I've seen thus far.
4) If you want a comedy experience that's bound to be better - may as well check out the documentary/comedy tour Laugh at My Pain. Kevin Hart has made some serious cash on his tour, not to mention being pretty good at the MTV Video Music Awards - so I have to give him credit. It's bound to be more entertaining than Bucky Larson, even if it won't open in as many locations.
I have a feeling The Help will fall victim to Contagion. It's truly a movie I have been looking forward to for awhile, but I'll be back Sunday with the full report.
