Director David Fincher returns to help Jake Gyllenhaal (pictured) solve the mystery of the Zodiac (reviews) killings Based on the actual case files of one of the most intriguing unsolved crimes in the nation's history; The buddy road comedy Wild Hogs (reviews) looks to be kinda sloppy; Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci make for an unlikely pair in the drama Black Snake Moan (reviews); Opening in limited release is the comedy Full of It (reviews)
Ian Mohr and Dave McNary of Variety handicap the weekend:
Disney will angle for its motorcycle ensembler "Wild Hogs" to run over Sony's B.O. champ "Ghost Rider" this weekend as the Mouse House guns "Hogs" into 3,287 theaters.
Paramount, meanwhile, is double dipping over the frame by sending out David Fincher's serial killer drama "Zodiac" and "Black Snake Moan," from the studio's specialty division Paramount Vantage.
Critically maligned, yet audience-endorsed holdover "Ghost" has ridden to consecutive No. 1 finishes at both the domestic and foreign B.O., and will remain a force to be reckoned with, likely winning the overseas title hands down.
The Nicolas Cage vehicle has already peeled off $82.2 million in just two weeks of release.
But while "Hogs" -- starring John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen and William H. Macy -- seems like a macho pic made for gearhead guys, it is actually tracking more strongly with women, which could put it over the top as a No. 1.
"Zodiac," meanwhile, which has a running time of nearly 160 minutes, will cut into more than 2,300 locations, while "Snake," from "Hustle & Flow" helmer Craig Brewer, slithers into 1,252.
Par brass isn't concerned that the two pics will butt heads. Studio sees "Zodiac" as a review-driven pic for the over-25 crowd and "Snake" as appealing to a core African-American demo, and crossing over to younger auds.
New Line's Jim Carrey pic "The Number 23" is another holdover that will look to make up some ground this weekend.
Also hitting theaters in more limited release will be New Line's teen comedy "Full of It," which rolls out on 15 screens.
MGM, meanwhile, expands its "Two Weeks" to 12, and IFC opens "Wild Tigers I Have Known" on 1.
The article continues here...
Meanwhile, Joshua Rich of Entertainment Weekly predicts:
The motorcycle flick's star-studded cast should help it cruise past ''Zodiac'' (No. 2) and ''Ghost Rider'' (No. 3)
Hogs is getting savaged by the critics--while Zodiac is enjoying solid notices--Fincher knows how to make a good thriller. I'm pulling for his film to make a surprise run for the top spot.
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