The weekend before Christmas is officially here! Since the holiday falls on a Tuesday, the flicks that are about to hit the masses are going to make or break the end of the year totals!
So, what do you have to look forward to besides gifts and warm moments? A good selection of flicks! We’ve got a lot to discuss, so let’s get right to it!
Welcome to WIB?: The Christmas 2007 Edition!
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Limited Release): Johnny Depp, Tim Burton, and Helena Bonham Carter team up once again to prove that 3 is indeed a magic number. Bringing Stephen Sondheim’s beloved musical about one disturbed British barber out for blood and revenge to the big screen has to be one of the smartest things the studios have done in a long while!
Will It Bomb? No way. This will further solidify Johnny as the leading man of the acting world as of late. As if anyone needed more reinforcement of that concept. While this is going into Limited Release at this point, it’s going to clean up financially and critically.
Charlie Wilson’s War: An unorthodox Congressman uses unusual means in covertly assisting Afghanistan with their war against Russia. The cast is strictly A-List! As the title character, Tom Hanks plays the politician who’s into plenty of extra-curricular activities; Julia Roberts as a sassy Texas dame; Philip Seymour Hoffman as Wilson’s governmental cohort who whips out classic dry wit. This is writer Aaron Sorkin’s spin on this unbelievable true story.
Will It Bomb? I love all three of these actors and so does everyone else! Since they have obviously shown their longevity and range, I would not be surprised that that alone will bring in the money! I vote it will get into the high to middle end of the Top 10. I doubt that it will be able to take down Will Smith or a couple of other competitors, but there’s something there.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets: There always has to be at least one sequel or prequel for the holidays that is sure to bring in more bang for your buck. Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, and Helen Mirren get together to make this picture sparkle. This time around treasure hunter Cage finds something that will clear the name of his ancestor for his alleged role in the Lincoln assassination, as well as uncover many governmental conspiracies.
Will It Bomb? Adventure buffs will totally be on board to see this! This is the only sequel to branch out this weekend, so I vote that it will get into the Top 3, at least.
P.S. I Love You: I love Gerard Butler from his primal portrayal as Spartan king Leonidas in 300 and I love Hilary Swank from her two more than well- deserved Oscar-winning performances. Am I sensing real chemistry between them in this film? Surprisingly, yes! When her husband passes, Hilary gets a series of letters that he wrote giving his blessing for her to go on with her life.
Will It Bomb? This does look sweet and Lisa Kudrow’s scenes in the trailer were hysterical and enough to show she will be the standout. Overall, I think that this will bring a modest take. Mid-to-low end of the 10.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story: Helmed by Jake Kasdan and co-written along with Judd Apatow, their wacky, raunchy brand of humor is back! Parodying Walk the Line and plenty of those biopics of a musician’s rise to and fall from stardom, this flick introduces us to one Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly), who really takes the cake for climbs and plummets in show business!
Will It Bomb? Mind you, I’m a very harsh critic when it comes to comedy. So, if I laughed that much at the trailer, I have a feeling that other people may find it pretty hilarious, too! I think it’ll put in an appearance in the middle of the 10!
All right, folks! That’s going to do it for me! Don’t forget to come back next week where I will have the official scorecard as to how my predictions fared over at DIB?! Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Holidays!
Release Date 11/28/2008 
How could you forget to mention Justin Bartha in the predictions for National Treasure: Book of Secrets? He’s the whole reason I’m going back for a sequel! He was hilarious on that failed show Teachers.