"Dark Waters" flood in but everything is still "Frozen"
Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 9:00PM This weekend Frozen II easily stayed up top and will soon vault over Joker which has been out for a month and a half longer in the box office sweepstakes. We share that only so you can marvel at how quickly the royal family of Arendelle is collecting taxes from their subjects (aka everyone on planet Earth). In other news Dark Waters expanded into wide release. Murtada reviewed it for us and let's just say that I think he was very kind (as several reviews have been). It felt like it twice the length of The Irishman with no shaping, rhythm, visual style, or verve -- completely mystified that it's a Todd Haynes film shot by Ed Lachmann and acted by Ruffalo and Hathaway who are both fairly generic in it. What happened?
| Weekend Box Office [Estimates] Dec 6th-8th 🔺 = New or Expanding / ★ = Recommended | |
| W I D E |
PLATFORM |
 |
|
| 1 FROZEN II $34.6 (cum. $337.5) REVIEW |
1 PARASITE $700k on 333 screens (cum. $19.3) PODCAST, CLASS, BONG ★ |
| 2 KNIVES OUT $16 (cum. $57.9) REVIEW, WHODUNNITS?, ANA DE ARMAS ★ |
2 JOJO RABBIT $562k on 579 screens (cum. $19.2) CAPSULE, PODCAST |
| 3 FORD V FERRARI $6.5 (cum. $91.1) REVIEW, PODCAST ★ |
3 🔺 HONEY BOY $452k on 460 screens (cum. $2.1) REVIEW, PODCAST ★ |
| 4 QUEEN & SLIM $6.5 (cum. $26.8) |
4 🔺 WAVES $421k on 570 screens (cum. $1.0) REVIEW, 2ND OPINION ★ |
| 5 A BEAUTIFUL DAY... $5.2 (cum. $43.1) CAPSULE, PODCAST, TOM HANKS ★ |
5 NO SAFE SPACES $292k on 200 screens (cum. $749k) |
| 5 🔺 DARK WATERS $4.1 (cum. $5.2) REVIEW |
6 🔺 PANIPAT $282k on 172 screens *new* |
WHAT DID YOU SEE THIS WEEKEND?
Reader Comments (33)
It's recognizably a Todd Haynes film! It shares thematic concerns with several Haynes films. Edward Lachman saves it, though. The script almost destroys it.
Le jeune Ahmed by the Dardennes.
Ford V. Ferrari also. Take away my Gay Card, I know.
I saw Dark Waters and it was as bland and forgettable as its title would indicate.
That said, the theatre was more full than I expected, and Tim Robbins’ yelling monologue ended with some hollering from the crowd.
I think the film has a mostly environmental-based audience. But I wonder if even THEY would ever want to watch this again??
Just saw Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Still processing. Didn’t see what the fuss was about, save cinematography, for the first hour and then it popped, and then page 28, and then......
I was dreading Nightingale, but found it totally gripping and far more complex than I anticipated.
Mike Wallace was here — solid, some nice modern history.
Marriage Story — likely going on my top ten. Cast top notch. great scene work.
I Lost My Body — best animated film of the year? Probably.
21 Bridges — sort of reminded me of episodic television like Hunter?
Queen and Slim — a mess in some places, but soared in others. Well worth your time despite its flaws.
Did a bit of Oscar box-ticking with THE TWO POPES, Cannes box-ticking with THE WILD GOOSE LAKE and trashy thriller box-ticking with THE GOOD LIAR.
A re-watch of Gulliver's Travels (it's not as bad as people claim to be but it's just lazy) and a first-timer in Knives Out (awesome fucking film).
Why everybody is saying Jojo Rabitt is a hit? Moderate reviews and $ 19.2 for a budget of $14 .
Peggy Sue: I loved Ford v Ferrari (a.k.a. Le Mans '66 in the UK) and I'm keeping my gay card! Terrific film.
I saw Marriage Story and Knives Out. I thought Marriage Story was good but I wasn't convinced by Driver and Johansson's chemistry as a married couple. They seemed more like...siblings. I couldn't imagine those two people kissing, or romancing, or conceiving a child (even if individually I thought their performances were very good). The other main issue I had was tone. A lot of scenes felt very 'scene-y'. The explosive argument is an example of that. I think it's something to do with the camerawork: perhaps it was locked off a bit too often. Furthermore, I thought that a lot of the scenes went on just a bit too long. As a result, the film feels too long. I thought Alan Alda was very sharp and Laura Dern was flamboyant, fun and slightly frightening, as befits the character: an eye-catching supporting role. Overall I thought the film was good but not great.
I thought Knives Out was fun, if perhaps a little too frenetic. But yes: a nicely convoluted story, and Ana de Armas was excellent, and I enjoyed Daniel Craig a lot, and boy is Lakeith Stanfield handsome.
I only watched "Marriage Story" & "Dolemite is My Name". Don't take away my cinephile card, I already watched "Parasite" and "Jojo Rabbit".
Marriage Story was really good. Although I have to say that the scene where Charlie says he wishes Nicole was dead, and then he breaks down crying, and then Nicole comforts him even though he just said this awful thing, was patriarchy in a microcosm.
I really loved "Dolemite is My Name" (rewatch) and thought Murphy was great. Just a completely enjoyable movie. Da'Vine Joy Randolph deserves praise, and a career - can I see her in 12 movies, please?
Edward L. -- Don't feed the troll.
Sorry, Peggy Sue - I assumed it was you. Definitely don't want to feed the troll.
Edward you fool, you just fed the troll who said don’t feed the troll. Don’t trust any Peggy Sue.
Nathaniel, we all know the impostor is /3rtful. He's the only reader that uses words such as fa**ot or c**t regularly.
I saw "Marriage Story" and I absolutely loved it ! Intelligent, Bittersweet, Heartbreaking - not easy to digest at times - but it has beautiful light moments. I was drawn in by the first minute due to the fantastic cast & director & script. Fine nuanced work by Johansson - she literally blew me away and is my definite choice for the Oscar this year so far. Marriage Story is not shy in referencing genre classics "Kramer vs. Kramer" & "Scenes Of A Marriage" - and I would go so far and think it can hold it's stand with these on a good note. A-
Minus: ... it could have been a tiny bit shorter (2h and a bit ?) - and as a fan of hers Laura Dern was my only disappointment, she's great - but not superb - as a frontrunner for supporting I expected more - then 'Little Big Lies'.
For heaven's sake, now I'm being trolled. The last comment attributed to me wasn't from me.
You chose to jump into the fray Edward. Just ignore Peggy Sue, Suzanne and I are Thelma and Louise-ing and rebranding next year. Interact again anew.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire: I really respect the filmmaking, and everyone should see it. But put your patience hat on before going in. The use of the female gaze and the sound (or lack thereof) makes the first half seem very slow. But it's storytelling we don't normally see. And the careful framing of every single scene ... particularly those last 2 scenes ... wow. I didn't love it because I am not as patient as I used to be. But my friend said that she felt very calmed by the movie (which I did not). But it's wonderful filmmaking, and I hope Sciamma makes more!
And Then We Danced: It's definitely in my top 5 movies of the year. I am not sure why it is not getting more traction with audiences. The overseas controversy surrounding it just shows why we need more films like this. It's more traditional filmmaking and storytelling than POALOF. But, it is another film where the "gaze" plays a pivotal role. Unlike POALOF where every shot has been poured over, the filmmakers here paint a broader picture, creating a general contrast between the more traditional societal element (the dance studio, where they dance traditional Georgian dance, is dark and gray and rigid) vs. global forces impinging on traditional society (see, e.g., the clothing and the club scenes). The lead actor is spectacular. I highly recommend.
Time to shut down the comment section Nathaniel.
I saw Synonyms - loved! Great performance by Tom Mercier.
Watched Waved. Great cinematography/style but I'm meh on it overall.
And LOVED Marriage Story. Will watch again for sure. Would give Johansson the Oscar from who I've seen so far.
Oh - forgot to ask - what is the release schedule for And Then We Danced. Really want to see that.
@JW - I think And Then We Danced releases wide(r) in February?
I think Mark Ruffalo is a good actor only about 20% of the time. I can't imagine him playing a corporate lawyer from Cincinnati.
I rewatched Marriage Story because I thought my expectations might have been too high the first time. I did like it a lot better this time and particularly felt it was more balanced this time (Charlie really is kind of obnoxious, but Driver is so charismatic that it's easy to let that slide). Also, that Being Alive scene is wonderful. I would have a hard time choosing between Driver and Banderas, but I think Phoenix will probably win, because the big performances usually do.
I also watched Midsommar and thought it was a major step forward from Hereditary. The production design was gorgeous and specific and feels as though it should be getting some attention.
I thought DARK WATERS was perfectly fine, albeit hardly among Haynes' best. In a weaker year, I suspect Bill Camp could've been a Supporting Actor player.
Marriage Story is great! Heartwrenching but also has one of the funniest (and cringiest) scenes of the year. I also watched Long Shot which I loved. It's the best romantic comedy in years and it's a shame it didn't do as well in the box office. It was a total delight.
I watched Marriage Story on Netflix and loved it. It's not Baumbach's best (will he ever top Frances ha?) but it's one of the smartest and loveliest films about divorce, period. Johannson and Driver's performances were beyond excellent and I'd be very happy with both winning Oscars (wishful thinking, I know).
I'm so glad to see Murtada's "okay" and your even harsher take on Dark Waters, because I have been REALLY struggling with some of these rave reviews, which honestly sound like critics working overtime to give a positive review to Todd Haynes. It's so aggressively mediocre, with only Mark Ruffalo's passion for the material (and some of Lachmann's cinematography) to save it.
This weekend I saw The Aeronauts (the script did it no favors, but Felicity Jones is great and the cinematography/visual effects are phenomenal), Queen & Slim (I don't think I buy what those characters as established do in THAT scene, but other than that it was very well-done), and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (far and away the best, so gorgeous). It's going to take me a LONG time to get over that last shot of Portrait. WOW.
Dark Waters -- I really recommend this movie, because it is so informative and shows the power of determined, focus work to achieve justice. Mark Ruffalo is my hero.
Marriage Story -- I also liked this movie a lot. It's a modern day Kramer vs. Kramer. The entire cast is great, but I am so impressed with Adam Driver. He is becoming a great actor.
I saw two films--A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and The Irishman.
Beautiful Day--Loved it. Tom Hanks was so perfect. Such beautiful stillness. Mesmerizing. Marielle Heller has become a force in cinema. A few points deleted due to Matthew Rhys' bland character.
Irishman--Did I expect too much? This was good but disappointing after all the raves I heard. Scorsese creates some poignant moments, but they don't hit as hard as I thought they would. I do love the three main performances, especially Pacino. But the movie was just missing something for me.
"The Irishman" on Netflix- I added my own intermission. This is a good film that would have been great if it had been shorter- the first hour specially seem generic Mafia stuff at least they should have cast a younger actor for DeNiro. Yes he is is playing a character but no digital fx can turn at 76 year old man into a 30 year old one. Joe Pesci who was wonderful kept calling De Niro "kid". It was suppose to be a father -son relationship not a bromance. Pacino really made the film come to live- and the historical events were well integrated into the script. But the movie left me cold at the end- are we suppose to feel sorry for the cold blooded killer?
Jaragon -- i felt the same way. I don't think you needed the first hour of the film. Or certainly not as much of it. The film gets much better as it progresses but it was testing my patience that first hour.
Everyone who watched And Then We Danced seems to love it. It's one of the best films of the year. It has to make the top 10 list.
I'm another gay man who saw and loved 'Ford vs Ferrari"...and yes I agree with you Nathaniel on "The Irishman" the film really begins for me once Al Pacino as Hoffa enters the scene - the opening hour could have been reduced into a montage and would have improved the film - there is not enough story for a three hour movie.