SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 30, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Only two of the three films opening this weekend were available for critics to see: “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” and “Deepwater Horizon.”
The weekend is set for more changes at the box office as “Miss Peregrine’s” has industry experts convinced it will knock “The Magnificent Seven” off the top perch. The Tim Burton-directed fantasy, starring Eva Green and Samuel L. Jackson, is estimated to take in around $28 million during its debut weekend, placing it at No. 1.
“Deepwater Horizon,” starring Kurt Russell, Mark Wahlberg and Kate Hudson, is primed to take over the second place slot with an estimated total of $22 million, according to Box Office Mojo.
The third film premiering this weekend, “Masterminds,” starring Zach Galifianakis and Kristen Wiig, is predicted to open outside the top five films on the list. The film was not screened for critics, which speaks to how much faith Relativity Media has in the movie.
Here’s the estimated weekend box office, according to Box Office Mojo:
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – $28.0 million
Deepwater Horizon – $22 million
The Magnificent Seven – $17 million
Storks – $12.6 million
Sully – $8.5 million
Masterminds – $6.3 million
Queen of Katwe – $4 million
Bridget Jones’s Baby – $2.4 million
Don’t Breathe – $2.1 million
Snowden – $2.1 million
The Reviews:
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Starring: Eva Green and Samuel L. Jackson
Rated PG-13
When young Jacob discovers clues to a mystery that spans different worlds and times, he finds a magical place known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
But the mystery and danger deepen as he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers… and their powerful enemies.
Ultimately, Jacob discovers that only his own special “peculiarity” can save his new friends.
“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” could have been a wonderful children’s adventure if the plot weren’t basically just a revisit to “The X-Men.” The story takes us into a very dark and strange world where children with rare gifts are protected and encouraged to explore their oddities. Sound familiar?
Along with the film’s air of unoriginality, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” is far too dependent on special effects and not enough on good storytelling and pacing.
Eva Green, who plays the title character, is very watchable, as is Samuel L. Jackson. But overall, the film just doesn’t enlist the audience’s enthusiasm for it to achieve the suspension of belief needed to be a true children’s classic.
“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” gets a D and is rated PG-13.
Deepwater Horizon
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell and Kate Hudson
Rated PG-13
The film is set on the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, which exploded April 20, 2010, and ultimately created the worst oil spill in U.S. history. The film explores the relationships and interconnections of the crew as they fight this disaster at sea.
“Deepwater Horizon” is a highly entertaining disaster film.
Under Peter Berg’s direction, the film takes it’s time to come to a boil, as the audience is introduced to the main characters and the technical information needed to follow the story. And although this is a very necessary step, the film loses a point because of the long-winded way it was done.
“Deepwater Horizon” offers some of the best practical action camera work seen in a while, as the audience follows the crew into intense heat and explosions as they attempt to save the massive oil rig.
Mark Wahlberg puts in a strong performance as he portrays real life oil man Mike Williams, who was a consultant on the film. Although Wahlberg gives us an everyman turned hero in the face of this disaster, it is Kurt Russell’s performance that pushes the film forward.
Russell’s Mr. Jimmy is a strong, wise and no-nonsense father figure to his men. And as much as Russell is crusty and ill-tempered, he exudes a very hard charm the audience finds irresistible.
“Deepwater Horizon” is very much worth the time to see. It gets a B and is rated PG-13.
