Good evening, ladies and gentleman, and welcome to the start of a new month! Now, we haven’t quite left February behind. There were a handful of films that sped in to theaters! I made my own predictions of how they would do, and now it’s time to pay the piper!
You’re now about to enjoy this week’s installment of DIB?! Did I pull it off?
Chicago 10 (Limited Release): Those of you who lived through or were unaware of the anti-Vietnam War protests at the Democratic National Convention in 1968 are in for the long haul with this film. Not only that, but you also get the recreation of the trial of the men that were blamed for the whole kit and caboodle.
Will It Bomb? This is a very important voting year, so that will propel the revenue. It’ll bring in a modest amount of dough.
Did It Bomb? Shown in less than 15 theaters, this brought in a bit over $44,800. Not bad!
Outcome: Mezza-mezza. ½ out of 5
City of Men (Limited Release): Best friends in a poor area of Brazil need to face troubled pasts, crime, and their own crumbling relationship.
Will It Bomb? Considering the dialogue of the film was in Portuguese, I was a bit miffed that they didn’t include any of it in the trailer. Either way, this film’s timing didn’t seem to be right. I don’t see much success at this time.
Did It Bomb? Shopped around at approximately 75 theaters, this wound up making $122,000.
Outcome: Score! 1 ½ out of 5.
Penelope (Limited Release): “Cursed” with a pig snout, Christina Ricci has been growing up with her very overprotective parents, and she’s ready to make a break for it and see what life is really about.
Will It Bomb? The casting is stellar and the story is cute, so I think that a good chunk of people will plunk down the dough to see this. It’s in Limited Release, so the first week’s take with show its potential.
Did It Bomb? This did better than I could have imagined! It set up shop at the #8 slot, earning a tidy sum of $4.01 million.
Outcome: Score! 2 ½ out of 5.
Semi-Pro: Oh, the trailer shows Will Farrell naked, with the exception of a strategically placed basketball, urging the public to come and get “basketball sweaty.” Wearing many hats on a minor-league basketball team, he’s ready to play with the big boys!
Will It Bomb? Will Farrell + Comedy = Major bucks at the Box Office. It’s absolutely hitting the Top 5.
Did It Bomb? Everybody wanted to get “basketball sweaty,” all right! This jumped into the #1 slot, making a reasonable $15.3 million along the way.
Outcome: Score! 3 ½ out of 5.
The Other Boleyn Girl: Most of us already know from our history books that Henry VIII really liked women, and he really liked marriage. Philippa Gregory’s book tells a tale of the two Boleyn sisters, the notorious Anne and lesser known Mary, as rivals for the king’s love and the securing of a position in his court. Only, their familial bond may prove to be disposable, when you think of what’s at stake.
Will It Bomb? Heavy marketing, great cast. This will appear in the Top 5. Mark my words.
Did It Bomb? Just as I thought! This made a nice $8.3 million, and shot up to the #4 position.
Outcome: Score! 4 ½ out of 5.
***Official Box Office tallies and positions according to Variety (variety.com), The Hollywood Reporter (hollywoodreporter.com) and the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com).
That’s all for this week, people! Come on back later this week, where I gauge all the newbies over at WIB?! Until then!
Release Date 12/5/2008 
