The View From Jackie’s Head – #4

The View From Jackie’s Head #4

“Sully” held on to the top position at the box office this past weekend even though it had challengers such as “Blair Witch,” “Snowden” and “Bridget Jones Baby.” Why did this trio of movies fail to displace the Tom Hanks/Clint Eastwood movie? Well maybe because “Sully” is a very positive movie and Tom Hanks is a genuine movie star.

I haven’t seen “Blair Witch” yet but those I have talked with who have seen it say it just isn’t very good. Plus it has been seventeen years since the “Blair Witch Project.” That’s a long time to be thinking about a sequel. Also I hate that hand held camera angle which “Blair Witch Project” utilized with great success. Since then it has been done to death.

Then there is “Snowden,” a movie about a hero or a traitor depending on your political point of view. It is directed by Oliver Stone, a man people either love or hate (do you see a pattern here). It should also be noted the film’s star is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, a young man Hollywood has tried to convince us is a star but have failed miserably thus far. Remember “The Walk”? That was the movie that was going to push him into the big time. It flopped and he is still waiting for “the role”.

Rene Zellweger took a few years off from her career and audiences promptly forgot her. It doesn’t take long these days. Out of sight, out of mind. Of course she has the company of Colin Firth and Patrick Dempsey as her co-stars in “Bridget Jones Baby” but would either of them really draw in an audience? For many teens “Bridget Jones” is a movie series their mothers liked.

So in a competition “Sully” sails through again. It is a movie all ages can enjoy, and some are going back again and again. I do believe however that this coming weekend either “The Magnificent Seven” and/or “Storks” will push it down in the rankings. “The Magnificent Seven” has Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt as its stars. Denzel will bring in the older crowd and Pratt will bring in the younger set. Since he lit up “Guardians of the Galaxy” he is the hottest actor around.

“Storks” will make a bundle just because it is an animated feature, and animation rules at the box office these days. Think about “Finding Dory” and “The Secret Life of Pets.” Even “The Wild Life” has taken in nearly seven million domestically.

Don’t forget “Longmire” season five starts its new season on Netflix Friday, September 23. I love this series and can’t wait to start binge-watching. Amazon has a new series coming out in October titled “Goliath.” It stars Billy Bob Thornton and looks good (October 14). I am still in shock that Netflix has cancelled “Bloodline.” I really liked that show. Thank goodness we still have one final season to watch.

I have only added two new shows to my TiVo Season Pass and those are “Designated Survivor” and “This Is Us”. I added the first because I am a huge Kiefer Sutherland fan, and I added the second because I think it is from the people behind “Parenthood.” Have you got any new shows you are optimistic about? Let me know.