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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Studios Sweating August Releases

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(Newser) – Studios used to spending August releasing movies from slightly out in left field, free from the pressure of early summer blockbusters, are finding this year more stressful than usual, the New York Times reports. A soft four weeks has put releases such as Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds under pressure to perform well, but the disappointing performance of recent releases like Funny People and Bruno has Hollywood worried.

If Basterds bombs, the Weinstein brothers are likely to lack resources to fund an Oscar push for upcoming musical Nine. Sony Pictures, without a $100 million picture since May's Angels & Demons, has high hopes for comedic Julia Child biopic Julie & Julia, but director Nora Ephron hasn't had a hit since 1998. Paramount, meanwhile, is riding high on the success of Star Trek and Transformers, but could be embarrassed if GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra flops next weekend as predicted. 

Dennis Quaid plays General Hawk in
Dennis Quaid plays General Hawk in "G.I. Joe:The Rise of Cobra."   (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures)
Eli Roth, left, and Brad Pitt are shown in a scene from
Eli Roth, left, and Brad Pitt are shown in a scene from "Inglourious Basterds."   (AP Photo/The Weinstein Company, Francois Duhamel)
Brad Pitt is shown in a scene from
Brad Pitt is shown in a scene from "Inglourious Basterds."   (AP Photo/The Weinstein Company, Francois Duhamel)
Adam Sandler, left, and Seth Rogen are shown in a scene from,
Adam Sandler, left, and Seth Rogen are shown in a scene from, "Funny People."   (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, Tracy Bennett)
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9 comments
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Nwambe
Aug 5, 09 9:56 AM CDT
GI Joe looks like it's going to be a hell of a stinker. I wouldn't be surprised if it hits the skids after the first weekend. Reply
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Circusdog
Aug 5, 09 10:10 AM CDT
rotten tomatoes shows it getting good reviews. Every boy in America will be going btw
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IN RESPONSE:
iamacidangel
Aug 5, 09 8:19 PM CDT
I have been looking forward to GI Joe but I am afraid it is going to bomb. I read a article stating that the studio would not even let critics screen it so they must be worried about something.
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BleeBloo
Aug 5, 09 10:18 AM CDT
Basterds looks wonderful in that "Tarantino having fun" sort of way. When he tries to get dramatic is where he falls down, for me--where he's just being silly, he's splendid. Reply
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PrestoEnigma
Aug 5, 09 12:14 PM CDT
If Transformers did so well, there's no reason GI-Joe wouldn't strike gold either, its the same crowd (i.e. ALL MALES) Reply
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