I'm kind of shocked, but Inferno (the Tom Hank's helmed film, the third of Dan Brown's novel adaptations) only came in second place at the box office this weekend. It snuggled in between Boo! A Madea Halloween and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. Overall, there was very little monetary intake. It will be interesting to see what kind of numbers Doctor Strange pulls in!

We have a few flavors of drama coming out over the next two weeks. Take a look!

Almost Christmas (11/8/2016):

Almost Christmas stars Danny Glover (Gridlocked, Checkmate), Gabrielle Union (Good Deeds, Think Like a Man), Jessie T. Usher (Independence Day: Resurgence, Teenage), Omar Epps (House, Higher Learning), and Mo'Nique (Precious, The Parkers), and is about a family coming together for the first time since the passing their mother. It feels like a long time since seeing Glover in a movie, but it appears he's been rather busy and I've just not happened across many of his recent projects. This movie looks cute, a light dramedy, and the chemistry seems decent. Some of it appeared forced, if that makes sense, but it could just be how the trailer is cut. Some of the comedic bits focused on Mo'Nique were funny and I loved Glover's callback to Lethal Weapon.

I'm not sure how well this will do in the theaters. This trailer was much better than the original I saw, which gave it a very straight to DVD/Blu-Ray vibe, but it still just doesn't draw me in. I'd check it out on Netflix/Redbox, though!

A Street Cat Named Bob (11/18/2016):

Sooooo this is based on a true story?! How cool would that be to have such a loyal, chill companion/co-pilot. My cat is a prick! I have to be honest, if this movie didn't have the inclusion of the feline friend, I'm not sure how inclined I would be to seeing it. It's a well made trailer, and looks like a touching story, but that cat is definitely the strongest selling point. And I swear to fuck, if they kill Bob off, I'm going to punch a llama... I'll be waiting for Netflix/Redbox to discover the ginger guardians fate! I mean, I already know the drug addict likely survives and turns his life around...

A Street Cat Named Bob stars... well... Bob the Cat (This Morning, Lorraine), Luke Treadaway (Unbroken, Attack the Block), and Ruta Gedmintas (The Strain, Prowl).

The Edge of Seventeen (11/18/2016):

Ah, high-school. I feel like I either missed out on a lot of adventure or avoided a shit ton of drama in my childhood. Granted I grew up in a small town and lived a relatively sheltered life. In The Edge of Seventeen, Hailee Steinfield (Ender's Game, True Grit) plays a student who is already downtrodden, but becomes even more distraught upon discovering her best friend (Haley Lu Richardson — The Bronze, The Last Survivors) has been dating her brother (Blake Jenner — Everybody Wants Some, Glee). The chemistry looks really good among the cast and there are some very emotional moments hinted at, as well as some lightheartedness. To my surprise, there is a red-band trailer, but I've yet to watch it because of its almost four minute run time. It makes me wonder, though, just how much more crude the humor may be.

The movie also boasts the acting talents of Kyra Sedgewick (The Closer, Gamer) and Woody Harrelson (Triple 9, Cheers) in supporting roles.

Manchester by the Sea (11/18/2016):

This is a really good trailer and I'd be very interested in seeing Manchester by the Sea. I've missed out on many Casey Affleck (Gerry, Sole Survivors) films, but I have liked most of what I have seen. I enjoy his acting and his performance here looks great. The story revolves around a man having to eventually care for his nephew after his brother dies. It looks to be a fairly somber movie, but hopefully there are some lighter moments spread throughout. There was a time, albeit different reasoning, where I thought I was going to end up becoming a guardian (even if for a short time) for a family member. Not sure how that would have turned out!

The film also stars Michelle Williams (Mammoth, Synecdoche, New York), Kyle Chandler (Carol, Broken City), and Lucas Hedges (Kill the Messenger, Moonrise Kingdom).

Nocturnal Animals (11/18/2016):

This may be my favorite trailer of the bunch. Many shared today were good, but I like how this one builds up the suspense. Granted it's a thriller and not exactly a dramedy. Either way, the pacing, music selection, and subtle reveal of the storyline is very compelling. I think Amy Adams (Arrival, The Master), Jack Gyllenhaal (Demolition, October Sky), and Michael Shannon (Loving, Bug) are all great actors. I have high expectations, but the trailer seems to confirm just how convincing their performances will be. I'm sure the chemistry between them will be amazing. Even the other supporting performances, in particular Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Chatroom, Dummy), look really good.

I'm very interested in seeing Nocturnal Animals. The premise intrigues me and I'm really curious to find out what wrongdoing Amy Adam's character admits to doing to her ex husband. Obviously enough to cause fear that he is carrying out a revenge plot. I'm sure it will be full of plot twists!

Did any of the featured movies interest you? What was the last Danny Glover movie you've seen? Are your family gatherings during the holidays stressful and drama-filled? How true do you think the story of A Street Cat Named Bob is? Have you ever known anyone who had a cat that would follow its owner anywhere and everywhere? Do you remember your high school years? If so (and if you don't, why not?!), were they ever so dramatic? Have you ever had to take care of a niece, nephew, or another family member due to someone passing or other circumstances? How hard was the transition? Does Nocturnal Animals interest you? Do you think the movie will have a surprise ending?