New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Crank, Crossover, The Wicker Man

September is here, bringing with it lower box office totals and the arrival of summer leftovers as the releases start to move towards the Oscar season that will get an early start in October. It's not that there aren't Oscar potentials now, but when you look at what ios being released, you can tell the studios are looking for the last dollars from the students before school gets back in force.

Crank. (2006, 83 minutes, R, action, trailer) The beginning of September is turning into Jason Statham's time of year. He is following up the over the top action of Transporter 2 with another over the top action fest. The difference this time is that the movie is moving towards harder territory with the R rating. It looks like it is going to be a lot of fun, hopefully it will do well on what is usually a slow weekend.

Crossover. (2006, 95 minutes, PG-13, drama, trailer) This movie centers on a pair of friends who are also first rate street ballers. They make a trip to LA in the hopes of becoming the top players around. To be honest, this does not appeal all that much to me.

The Illusionist. (2006, 110 minutes, PG-13, drama, trailer) A good cast looks to anchor this period drama surrounding a magician, an old flame, and royalty. Edward Norton and Paul Giammatti star as the magician and the man in charge of debunking him. Co-starring are Jessica Biel as the lynchpin of the love triangle and Rufus Sewell as the opposition. The film looks good, but I wonder how it will compare to the similarly themed The Prestige, coming later this fall.

The Wicker Man. (2006, 97 minutes, PG-13, horror, trailer) Nicolas Cage stars in this remake of the UK film from the 1960s, which featured Christopher Lee. When a remake comes up of a film I have not seen, I am torn whether or not to watch the earlier film before seeing the new one. In this case, I have a feeling I will see the remake first. Hopefully I will like it.

A Scanner Darkly. (2006, 100 minutes, R, suspense, trailer) This is had previously played at the local arthouse, but unfortunately I missed it then. I am so happy to have this new shot to see it. Richard Linklater directs the film based on a Philip K. Dick story, and it stars Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson and Robert Downey Jr. It is a near future tale of drug culture, I can't wait.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Idiocracy
• Lassie
• Looking for Kitty
• Mutual Appreciation
• Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles
• This Film is Not Yet Rated

Box Office Predictions

I have no idea how this week will go. I would like to see Statham lead the pack, but I think Invincible could remain in the top slot. Whichever way it goes, here are my predictions.

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	Crank	$12 million
2	Invincible	$8 million
3	Little Miss Sunshine	$7 million
4	The Wicker Man	$6.5 million
5	Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby	$6 million
6	The Illusionist	$5.5 million
7	Beerfest	$4 million
8	Crossover	$3.5 million
9	World Trade Center	$3 million
10	Accepted	$2 million

What are you seeing this weekend?