Weekend Box Office: 'Venom' Dominates a Sleepy Box Office

[scriptedending]

'Venom 3' Leads Box Office Again, A24's 'Heretic' Scares Up $11 Million Debut in Sleepy Weekend https://t.co/gSt7fXFJ8e
- Variety (@Variety) November 10, 2024

There were no major studio releases this weekend, likely because of the US election, and Venom: The Last Dance took advantage of the lull, taking in $16.2 million for first place at the box

Comments

[quinnmorgendorf]

I saw Anora and was disappointed. They could've cut 30-45 minutes of repetitive scenes and montages and it would've been a better, tighter film. I felt the same way about The Florida Project so maybe this is just a gripe I have with Sean Baker films. I also think it suffers from the same problem as the last season of The Bear where people screaming at each other nonstop is presented as compelling and hilarious. But it's possible that I'm just old and don't get it.

Mikey Madison was great though, and I loved Toros.

[scriptedending]

YES re: the editing! That was my first takeaway after seeing the film, and I cannot believe more people have not said the same. Sean Baker edited it himself, and I really think he needs an actual editor, because you cannot tell me they needed every beat in the second half of the film. But yeah, Mikey was fabulous.

[bananasnrum]

Yeah agreed. Its probably my least favorite Baker film. It doesn't really have a central compelling message imo like his other films too. But the acting is good. I don't have any desire to rewatch it either.

[donaestrangera]

I feel exactly the same as you. Some scenes went on way too long and should have been trimmed down to make a tighter movie, and at some point I just wanted them to stop screaming at each other. And I was surprised I haven’t seen more love for Karren Karagulian’s performance; most of the awards talk I’ve seen has been focused on Mikey (and deservedly so) and the other two guys.

That said, as someone who didn’t like The Florida Project, I liked this one much better because I thought it perfectly captured the feeling of wanting to believe in something you know is too good to be true and the eventual let down when it doesn’t come true.

[genbu_no_miko24]

See for me [Spoiler (click to open)] while I liked the movie I feel like even before they get go to Vegas, it’s pretty obvious it was never gonna work out. The scene where they’re on the sofa and he’s playing video games while she laying there pretty much defined it all for me. And then later when he abandons her to the goons…confirms his immaturity and inconsiderate personality. Then him all drunk at the club getting serviced by her rival (even though he doesn’t know it’s her rival). I thought maybe~ he’d have a moment of clarity as a plot twist but nope! It plays exactly how you expect.

They should’ve cut out a good chunk of the search sequence cause I felt it just dragged out the obvious. So while I got the emotional aspect of the ending, I was also like “yeah it was gonna end like this”.

I feel like Sean kinda spoiled it by saying “it’s a Cinderella story until it’s not” I just wish they would’ve given me a twist or something. I was honestly surprised this was the Cannes winner and now major consideration for Oscars/awards season!!

[donaestrangera]

Re: your last point, I just kind of feel like it’s a weak year for movies which is why I’m still personally going to predict it for Best Picture and Best Actress. For Best Picture, the other film people seem to be predicting as a contender is The Brutalist and while I haven’t seen it yet, having heard more about it, nooo way people are going to turn out in droves for a 3.5 hr movie by an unknown director and that someone on here who saw it describe as a poor man’s Paul Thomas Anderson. I guess a more realistic Best Picture competitor would be Conclave which I also haven’t seen yet but sounds more like a crowd pleaser. So Anora vs. Conclave for Best Picture? For best actress I think it’s still going to be Mikey Madison vs. Demi Moore vs. Nicole Kidman but the latter two have genre hurdles with their films to overcome but could still happen if awards bodies warm up to this films. It’s a weird year for awards because it’s already November and there don’t seem to be clear frontrunner aside from Zoe Saldaña for Best Supporting Actress.

[genbu_no_miko24]

I’ve heard a few people here say conclave was pretty good!!

Lol I’m guessing the strikes from last year really messed everything up!!

[Spoiler (click to open)]I’ve seen a looot of people debate about her character. From some saying she’s well-written enough to others making similar points to you. Personally I don’t know I guess she’s pretty simple and flat. I think Sean plays it straightforward here. She’s just a working-class stripper tired of the same mundane routine and puts all eggs in the basket when she gets with Vanya. So yeah I agree with people that say why would you get involved with an immature brat in the way she did. I heard some people say that’s her problem is that all she knows is transaction which is why she gets emotional at the end cause Igor is not really demanding something in return

[quinnmorgendorf]

I thought it perfectly captured the feeling of wanting to believe in something you know is too good to be true and the eventual let down when it doesn’t come true.

Well said and this is why the ending worked so well for me and why I wish the rest of the storytelling had been given that kind of consideration and space to breathe. I also think part of my problem is that I found Vanya so fucking annoying and completely devoid of any redeeming qualities. If he had been a charming fuckboy at least I could've understood Ani getting swept off her feet by him but as it was I was just like uhhh I guess she's into him because he's rich and only because he's rich.

[genbu_no_miko24]

I liked Anora but I felt like it got overhyped. Everyone was right about the middle section dragging. A good 30 minutes could’ve been shaved off. The whole search didn’t need to be as long. Plus I feel like the movie was a bit predictable. I’m surprised this is getting pushed a BP frontrunner.

I thought Mikey was good but I kept thinking “hmm if someone comes with a stronger performance or narrative then she could lose that BA steam” lol. From the way she’s hyped you’d think she would’ve brought something new to the game but after a while I was like “no offense to her but any decent actress could’ve played this”.

[quinnmorgendorf]

From the way she’s hyped you’d think she would’ve brought something new to the game but after a while I was like “no offense to her but any decent actress could’ve played this”

I think she gave a really good, honest, unselfconscious performance but your comment made me wonder who else among her peer group could've played Ani. Like if it had been Daisy Edgar Jones or Sydney Sweeney or Zendaya that would've been a disaster lol. Who else? Maybe Cailee Spaeny?

[genbu_no_miko24]

Florence Pugh? Mia Goth? Lol Zendaya could never and couldn’t!! I like Cailee but she’s way too short lol.

Mikey lived in that character but hype is a bitch lool. Like I’ll be fine if she gets a nom cause she was good but I wasn’t as blown away after months and weeks of critics hyping her and the movie. Which is why I’m curious about who else gets in cause it only takes a stronger performance or narrative from better-known actor to steal it. Mikey is a newcomer with may or may not work against her. Personally I’m waiting on Nicole Kidman for Babygirl cause she’s gotten attention for it.

[yami_no_hoshi]

I really liked Anora but I agree that it needed editing, the search for Vanya could have been cut down and nothing would have been lost