Thompson On Hollywood

Next Generation Golden Boys: Nick Montana, Trevor Gretzky and Trey Smith

This front-page L.A. Times photo will be seen all over the world. It captures a moment of genetic glory, as the sons of Joe Montana (Nick), Wayne Gretzky (Trevor) and movie star Will Smith (Trey) take the football field at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village. See the photo gallery.

[Photo courtesy LA Times]

Hancock: Critic-Proof?

Based on seeing Hancock the other night, I can tell you this. Todd McCarthy's early negative review will be one of many. The knives are out, and they are sharp. When this movie opens July 2, it will be eviscerated.

But because Will Smith is in what I call the Fluke Zone, the movie will open great over the 4th of July weekend (five-day estimates are from $80 to 100 million), and will do robust business. But it won't be one of the top-grossers of the summer, because it is unlikely to please everybody, or generate repeat biz. It could do better overseas.

It's a movie that tried to be smart and weird and interesting, with gifted filmmakers behind it: producers Michael Mann and Akiva Goldsman (who do cameos), edgy screenwriter Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), and director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom).

They created a fascinating damaged, alcoholic, homeless superhero, well-played by Smith, but their attempts to mix and match smart character-based drama (Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman also star) with superhero action adventure (VFX by Sony Pictures Imageworks) is a Frankenstein's Monster.

These are not cynical people. I don't know who to blame, so I'll start with the budget. If the movie cost, as I have been told, from $150 million (Sony's claim) to a rumored $180 million, then Sony and investor Relativity Media may have a tough time getting their money back. Studio-think dictates that you take elements like these filmmakers and Smith and spend tons of money on a big big movie. Which means the risk has to go down, and what's interesting and strange has to be mitigated by the usual series of second act action sequences that someone like Spielberg knows how to pull off without getting dopey, but this group could not.

Another problem, as Rachel Abramowitz points out, is superhero overload. Watch for Hancock's second weekend drop-off. If it's more than 60%, the movie could be in trouble.

Hancock: New Trailer

Hancock, starring Will Smith as a homeless superhero, is making me think about Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Men in Black--when an action comedy works, it can be huge.

Preview of 2008

Tis the season for previews of 2008.

Here's this weekend's annual LAT sneak preview of 2008.

Reelz Channel.

Jeff Sneider.

The Vanity Fair cover story on Indy 4, plus follow-up blog.

[Vanity Fair photo by Annie Leibovitz.]

The Movies Destroy New York City

As I Am Legend rocks the boxoffice (David and Nora were disappointed) and J.J. Abrams' Cloverfield looms, several media outlets are checking out Hollywood's love affair with destroying New York.

Here's the NYT.com.

New York's Culture Vulture.

Here's the Cloverfield trailer:

And the 1998 Godzilla:

And The Day After Tomorrow:

Trailer Watch: Will Smith is Superhero Hancock

Yet another Will Smith hit in the making is Hancock:

I Am Legend: Popular Mechanics Debunks Film's Science

Popular Mechanics takes on the dubious science in I Am Legend, which is based on Richard Matheson's book--which tried to explain the science behind vampires! I think you're supposed to call it "suspension of disbelief."

[Hat Tip: MCN]

Weekend Boxoffice: I am Legend's Vampires vs. Alvin's Chipmunks

Will Smith's futuristic actioner I am Legend and the family-friendly Alvin and the Chipmunks should both make strong debuts this weekend. According to Fandango's stats, the upcoming Hannah Montana and Celine Dion concert films are already fueling brisk movie ticket sales.

UPDATE: Here are weekend b.o. predictions from Fantasy Moguls and Variety, which also assesses the b.o. impact of the Golden Globes.

Fandango Five – Ticket Sales (as of 12/13/07 9:00 a.m. PT):

Movie Fandango User Rating % Fandango Sales

I Am Legend “Must Go” 40%

Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds (concert movie) “Go” 18%

Alvin and the Chipmunks “Go” 12%

The Golden Compass “Go” 5%

Celine Dion (concert movie) “Must Go” 4%

Fandango Weekly Poll (as of 12/13/07 9:00 a.m. PT):

Will Smith returns this week in I Am Legend. Among his movies that opened during a holiday season, which was your favorite?

Independence Day 27%

The Pursuit of Happyness 24%

Men In Black 17%

Bad Boys II 14%

Hitch 12%

Enemy of the State 6%

I Am Legend: Early Review

Here's Variety's review by Todd McCarthy:

Although Smith's role may not be as difficult in certain ways as Tom Hanks' was in "Cast Away" -- Smith gets to move around a lot, indulge in eye-catching action scenes and interrelate with a wonderful dog rather than a volleyball -- they are comparable in that both parts required the actors to carry their films virtually singlehandedly, with long silent passages. Smith manages it very well, showboating only briefly to show off his newly trim physique and intermittently displaying the incipient madness that would surely come from being alone against an unrelenting threat.

Thesp's greatest scene, which reps an inspired staging choice on the director's part, consists of a prolonged, agonizing closeup of Neville dealing with his dog after it's been contaminated; you're thankful not to have to watch what he's doing, and the powerful emotions Smith expresses are riveting to behold.

Smith Sings Ati kya khandala

There's a reason why Will Smith is the number one movie star in the world. Here he ingratiates himself on an Indian TV show by singing the Hindi song "Ati kya khandala" from the 1998 movie Ghulam.

Here's the original:

Aamir Khan doesn't look like that anymore!