I first encountered Kim Justice when the channel Kim presided over was in it's infancy. Concentrating on Sega games of yesteryear, Kim brought list based content, featuring Top Ten Megadrive games, Beat -em Ups, Shooters presented in an interesting, real and humorous fashion. I found myself not only subscribing but re-watching, hidden gems were revealed and overly familiar titles were given a new perspective. It was becoming clear that this channel and it's presenter was something special. Before long, this youtuber became one of the most popular of the UK broadcasters regarding gaming and it's history.
Kim's channel soon became popular and thanks to Patreon, the channel is completely self-sufficient, the videos became of higher quality and longer, the subjects became more ambitious, focusing not just on Reviews but on illuminating aspects of gaming history in extensive documentaries.
Soon the channel caught the attention of the prestigious and long running magazine - Retro Gamer,...
Kim's channel soon became popular and thanks to Patreon, the channel is completely self-sufficient, the videos became of higher quality and longer, the subjects became more ambitious, focusing not just on Reviews but on illuminating aspects of gaming history in extensive documentaries.
Soon the channel caught the attention of the prestigious and long running magazine - Retro Gamer,...
- 12/11/2017
- by GameTyrant
- GeekTyrant
We know it can be challenging find the best songs from any band and creating a playlist you can enjoy all day. That’s why we have compiled the ten best songs by Oasis for you. Oasis came into being in 1992, in Manchester. Initially, it was composed of four members: Tony McCarroll as the drummer, Paul MacGuigan who played the bass guitar, Liam Gallagher, who supplied the vocal and played the tambourine, and Paul Arthus who play the guitar. When Liam’s older brother Noel Gallagher joined them as the lead guitar and vocalist, they changed their name to Oasis. They
The Top Ten Oasis Songs of All Time...
The Top Ten Oasis Songs of All Time...
- 11/27/2017
- by Nat Berman
- TVovermind.com
DC Comics’ “Justice League” (Warner Bros.) opened to just shy of $100 million. That makes it the seventh best opening for 2017, just $7 million shy of DC’s “Wonder Woman,” which would seem a reasonable box-office launch.
But the movie marks a disappointment in relation to its $300-million production cost–before worldwide marketing expenses. Yet again, DC and Warners seem to be whiffing this crucial Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman franchise at bat against rival Disney/Marvel– which just delivered a home run with “Thor: Ragnarok.”
Nonetheless “Justice League” boosted the weekend — with help from a surprisingly strong showing for family heart-tugger “Wonder” (Lionsgate) — to more than $200 million total box office. That’s more than $40 million ahead of last year, when “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” debuted to $79 million.
Boasting a robust ensemble of familiar superheroes and fresh franchise entries including Aquaman, the epic was expected to reach $110 million or better.
But the movie marks a disappointment in relation to its $300-million production cost–before worldwide marketing expenses. Yet again, DC and Warners seem to be whiffing this crucial Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman franchise at bat against rival Disney/Marvel– which just delivered a home run with “Thor: Ragnarok.”
Nonetheless “Justice League” boosted the weekend — with help from a surprisingly strong showing for family heart-tugger “Wonder” (Lionsgate) — to more than $200 million total box office. That’s more than $40 million ahead of last year, when “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” debuted to $79 million.
Boasting a robust ensemble of familiar superheroes and fresh franchise entries including Aquaman, the epic was expected to reach $110 million or better.
- 11/19/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Once again the weekend box office fell short of even the most dire predictions. This pre-Halloween weekend looks to be the second worst of the year. Initial tallies total $72 million. That’s down about 20 per cent from last year, which was the worst weekend of 2016.
Read More:The Dead Zone: Why Halloween Is One of the Worst Box-Office Weekends Three New Flops
This isn’t due to a lack of new product. Three studios released wide films this weekend: “Jigsaw,” Lionsgate’s eighth time around for the “Saw” franchise; George Clooney’s badly-reviewed “Suburbicon” from Paramount; and Middle- America-targeted “Thank You for Your Service” from Universal.
Only “Jigsaw” showed a pulse, though at $16,250,000 it’s the lowest (ticket price adjusted) opening in the series. The earlier annual Halloween efforts (from 2004-2010) ranged from slightly better to $44 million. The most recent, “Saw 3D” debuted at $25 million.
The other two newbies...
Read More:The Dead Zone: Why Halloween Is One of the Worst Box-Office Weekends Three New Flops
This isn’t due to a lack of new product. Three studios released wide films this weekend: “Jigsaw,” Lionsgate’s eighth time around for the “Saw” franchise; George Clooney’s badly-reviewed “Suburbicon” from Paramount; and Middle- America-targeted “Thank You for Your Service” from Universal.
Only “Jigsaw” showed a pulse, though at $16,250,000 it’s the lowest (ticket price adjusted) opening in the series. The earlier annual Halloween efforts (from 2004-2010) ranged from slightly better to $44 million. The most recent, “Saw 3D” debuted at $25 million.
The other two newbies...
- 10/29/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
The one and only Pam Grier will be honored by Cinema St. Louis with a ‘Women in Film Award’ when she’s in town for this year’s St. Louis International Film Festival. Pam’s iconic movie career began when she moved to Los Angeles in the late ‘60s from her native North Carolina at age 18. After a tiny role in Russ Meyer’s Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970), she landed a job as a receptionist for American International Pictures where she was discovered by Jack Hill, an Aip director who cast her in a pair of women’s prison films: The Big Doll House (1971) and The Big Bird Cage (1972). Soon she was known as the “Queen of Blaxploitation” at a time when film roles for African-American women were, as Grier puts it, “practically invisible, or painfully stereotypical”.
Sliff, which runs Nov. 2nd-12th will kick off with...
Sliff, which runs Nov. 2nd-12th will kick off with...
- 10/12/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Thirty-five years after the Ridley Scott sci-fi original (which was not an initial box office success but grew into a cult favorite), the long-aborning sequel “Blade Runner: 2049” had much to recommend it: rave reviews, Denis Villeneuve directing his follow-up to sci-fi Oscar-winner “Arrival”; Ryan Gosling’s first wide release since “La La Land”; a committed multi-generational smart sci-fi fan base.
So why did the movie fall short of expectations? It was expected to score at least $40 million domestically against a $155-185-million budget: $31 million marks a serious under-performer and suggests that to the extent that Villeneuve channeled the original, he may have delivered an artistic achievement that is not mainstream.
With most of the world outside Asia already playing the film, the initial foreign $81 million take will not yield $300-million worldwide — which is close to what the movie cost to make and market (shared by Alcon Entertainment and financier...
So why did the movie fall short of expectations? It was expected to score at least $40 million domestically against a $155-185-million budget: $31 million marks a serious under-performer and suggests that to the extent that Villeneuve channeled the original, he may have delivered an artistic achievement that is not mainstream.
With most of the world outside Asia already playing the film, the initial foreign $81 million take will not yield $300-million worldwide — which is close to what the movie cost to make and market (shared by Alcon Entertainment and financier...
- 10/8/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
After a few love false starts, Khloé Kardashian finally has her Prince Charming – NBA player Tristan Thompson.
With the announcement on Tuesday that the couple are going to be parents, it’s time to take a look back to where it all began.
He’S Very Much Her Type
From day one it was clear that the twenty-six-year-old Thompson had the sporting skills that in the past turned the reality’s star head. Thompson already has an impressive NBA career under his belt. Originally from Canada, he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011, and helped the team win its first NBA Championship in June.
With the announcement on Tuesday that the couple are going to be parents, it’s time to take a look back to where it all began.
He’S Very Much Her Type
From day one it was clear that the twenty-six-year-old Thompson had the sporting skills that in the past turned the reality’s star head. Thompson already has an impressive NBA career under his belt. Originally from Canada, he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011, and helped the team win its first NBA Championship in June.
- 9/26/2017
- by Julia Emmanuele
- PEOPLE.com
Bill Murray returned to Groundhog Day… again.
On Tuesday, the 66-year-old comedian went back in time — taking in a performance of Groundhog Day, the Broadway musical based on his hit 1993 movie about a cranky TV weatherman who gets stuck in a time warp while covering the Groundhog Day ceremonies in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and is forced to relive the same day over and over again until he gets it right.
It was Murray’s first time seeing the musical, which was nominated for seven 2017 Tony awards and took home London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical. And according to reports from The New York Times,...
On Tuesday, the 66-year-old comedian went back in time — taking in a performance of Groundhog Day, the Broadway musical based on his hit 1993 movie about a cranky TV weatherman who gets stuck in a time warp while covering the Groundhog Day ceremonies in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and is forced to relive the same day over and over again until he gets it right.
It was Murray’s first time seeing the musical, which was nominated for seven 2017 Tony awards and took home London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical. And according to reports from The New York Times,...
- 8/9/2017
- by Dave Quinn
- PEOPLE.com
Long-planned Stephen King adaptation “The Dark Tower” (Sony) managed to score the top spot at the weekend box office. Only the second King adaptation to reach theaters since 2007’s “Carrie” remake (which opened even lower), this one contributes a pittance to a mighty adjusted gross of $2.2 billion for all of King’s movies since the original “Carrie” in 1976.
Coming in under the projected $20 million for the weekend with an estimated $19.5 million, “The Dark Tower” couldn’t save one of the biggest falloffs ever for a summer weekend. The Top Ten came in at just $106 million, compared to $218 million exactly a year ago. That weekend boasted D.C. Comics entry “Suicide Squad.” But a $112 million shortfall and a drop of some 50 percent is grim. Last year’s second-ranked sequel “Jason Bourne” came in ahead of anything in the Top Ten this weekend.
As Sony kept the budget down on “Tower,” foreign returns could mitigate any losses.
Coming in under the projected $20 million for the weekend with an estimated $19.5 million, “The Dark Tower” couldn’t save one of the biggest falloffs ever for a summer weekend. The Top Ten came in at just $106 million, compared to $218 million exactly a year ago. That weekend boasted D.C. Comics entry “Suicide Squad.” But a $112 million shortfall and a drop of some 50 percent is grim. Last year’s second-ranked sequel “Jason Bourne” came in ahead of anything in the Top Ten this weekend.
As Sony kept the budget down on “Tower,” foreign returns could mitigate any losses.
- 8/6/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Sometimes you just need to get away.
When Anna Faris and Chris Pratt need a break from their hectic Hollywood lifestyle, they send each other their own version of the bat signal.
“I send the emoji of an eagle landing to say, ‘Let’s get away to the islands,” Faris, 40 tells People in this week’s issue. “We both grew up in Washington State, and we have a place up there.”
It’s no wonder the couple has had to come up with a secret code. This summer alone, Faris has been juggling filming a remake of Goldie Hawn’s classic Overboard,...
When Anna Faris and Chris Pratt need a break from their hectic Hollywood lifestyle, they send each other their own version of the bat signal.
“I send the emoji of an eagle landing to say, ‘Let’s get away to the islands,” Faris, 40 tells People in this week’s issue. “We both grew up in Washington State, and we have a place up there.”
It’s no wonder the couple has had to come up with a secret code. This summer alone, Faris has been juggling filming a remake of Goldie Hawn’s classic Overboard,...
- 7/27/2017
- by Jodi Guglielmi
- PEOPLE.com
An epic comic mashup is coming just in time for the Halloween season from Dynamite Entertainment! From Tim Seeley, Shawn Aldridge, Stefano Caselli, and Rapha Lobosco, Hack/Slash vs. Vampirella sees Cassie Hack, Vlad, and Vampirella battling The Queen of Hearts on October 4th.
Press Release: Mt. Laurel, NJ: Writer Shawn Aldridge (The Dark and Bloody), and artist Rapha Lobosco (Doctor Who) have been selected as the creative team to helm what is sure to be the biggest hit of this year's Halloween season, Hack/Slash vs. Vampirella. With the blessing of Hack/Slash creator Tim Seeley, the two heroines of horror are set to hit shelves October 4th, 2017!
Created by writer/artist Tim Seeley and Stefano Caselli, Hack/Slash harkens back to the classic 80's slasher flick, as it follows the story of young Cassie Hack, the very epitome of horror movie clichés: the young woman and lone survivor...
Press Release: Mt. Laurel, NJ: Writer Shawn Aldridge (The Dark and Bloody), and artist Rapha Lobosco (Doctor Who) have been selected as the creative team to helm what is sure to be the biggest hit of this year's Halloween season, Hack/Slash vs. Vampirella. With the blessing of Hack/Slash creator Tim Seeley, the two heroines of horror are set to hit shelves October 4th, 2017!
Created by writer/artist Tim Seeley and Stefano Caselli, Hack/Slash harkens back to the classic 80's slasher flick, as it follows the story of young Cassie Hack, the very epitome of horror movie clichés: the young woman and lone survivor...
- 7/27/2017
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
By Nathaniel R
Spidey was only able to stay on the box office mountain-top for a single week. Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his army of intelligent ape friends came storming in on horseback to take over during the War For the Planet of the Apes.
Weekend Box Office (July 14th-16th)
W I D E L I M I T E D 1. Planet Of Apes (9) $56.5 New
1. The Hero $343k (cum. $3.4)
341 screens Best Actors 2. Spider-man (6) $45.2 (cum. $208.2) Review 2. The Little Hours $318K
(cum. $689k) 105 screens Review 3. Despicable Me 3 $18.9 (cum. $187.9)
3. Maudie $252K (cum. $3.5)
99 screens Review
4. Baby Driver $8.7 (cum. $73.1)
Review | Best Of | Posterized
4. Beatriz At Dinner $222k
(cum. $6.4) 205 screens 5. The Big Sick $7.6 (cum. $16)
Review | Holly ♥︎ !!!
5. Paris Can Wait $153k (cum. $5.3)
177 screens
6. Wonder Woman $6.8 (cum. $380.6) Review | Top Ten | Special
6. A Ghost Story $146k
(cum. $288k) 20 screens
7. Wish Upon $5.5 New 7. Lost In Paris $79K (cum. $138k)
38 screens 8. Cars 3 $3.1 (cum. $140)
8. Lady MacBeth $68k New
5 screens 9. Transformers (5) $2.7 (cum.
Spidey was only able to stay on the box office mountain-top for a single week. Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his army of intelligent ape friends came storming in on horseback to take over during the War For the Planet of the Apes.
Weekend Box Office (July 14th-16th)
W I D E L I M I T E D 1. Planet Of Apes (9) $56.5 New
1. The Hero $343k (cum. $3.4)
341 screens Best Actors 2. Spider-man (6) $45.2 (cum. $208.2) Review 2. The Little Hours $318K
(cum. $689k) 105 screens Review 3. Despicable Me 3 $18.9 (cum. $187.9)
3. Maudie $252K (cum. $3.5)
99 screens Review
4. Baby Driver $8.7 (cum. $73.1)
Review | Best Of | Posterized
4. Beatriz At Dinner $222k
(cum. $6.4) 205 screens 5. The Big Sick $7.6 (cum. $16)
Review | Holly ♥︎ !!!
5. Paris Can Wait $153k (cum. $5.3)
177 screens
6. Wonder Woman $6.8 (cum. $380.6) Review | Top Ten | Special
6. A Ghost Story $146k
(cum. $288k) 20 screens
7. Wish Upon $5.5 New 7. Lost In Paris $79K (cum. $138k)
38 screens 8. Cars 3 $3.1 (cum. $140)
8. Lady MacBeth $68k New
5 screens 9. Transformers (5) $2.7 (cum.
- 7/16/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
All of a sudden the scary decline at the indie box office has reversed. Through the first five months of 2017, only four films opening limited in the standard four New York/Los Angeles theaters opened with a per theater average of $20,000. In the last four weeks, four films have opened strong as “Beatriz at Dinner” (Roadside Attractions), “The Big Sick” (Lionsgate) and “The Beguiled” (Focus) opened well and reached crossover crowds.
This week’s addition, Sundance comedy hit “The Little Hours” (Gunpowder & Sky) is the latest surprise. Loosely inspired by the bawdy 14th-century Boccaccio classic “The Decameron” (The Hollywood version starred Joan Fontaine while Pasolini shocked in 1971), this tale is set in the Medieval Italian countryside with bawdy contemporary dialogue as a randy peasant hides out at a convent after his master catches him with his wife. It did strong business at four theaters on two coasts.
This comes the...
This week’s addition, Sundance comedy hit “The Little Hours” (Gunpowder & Sky) is the latest surprise. Loosely inspired by the bawdy 14th-century Boccaccio classic “The Decameron” (The Hollywood version starred Joan Fontaine while Pasolini shocked in 1971), this tale is set in the Medieval Italian countryside with bawdy contemporary dialogue as a randy peasant hides out at a convent after his master catches him with his wife. It did strong business at four theaters on two coasts.
This comes the...
- 7/2/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Disney's Newsies, My Neighbor Totoro and Deconstructing the Beatles make our July Events list!Disney's Newsies, My Neighbor Totoro and Deconstructing the Beatles make our July Events list!Scott Goodyer6/30/2017 10:01:00 Am
It's no secret that we at Cineplex adore movies. But there are plenty of other reasons to visit our theatres - every month we bring special features and old classics to the big screen as part of Cineplex Events programming. Check out some highlights from our July Events list below.
For full details and showtimes for each event, click on their titles! The Old Vic's The Crucible - July 2nd
From London's West End, Richard Armitage stars in Arthur Miller’s classic American drama, based on Salem’s infamous witch trials, brought vividly to life in this visceral new production by internationally acclaimed director Yaël Farber.
In a small tight-knit community in Salem, Massachusetts, personal grievances collide with lust and superstition,...
It's no secret that we at Cineplex adore movies. But there are plenty of other reasons to visit our theatres - every month we bring special features and old classics to the big screen as part of Cineplex Events programming. Check out some highlights from our July Events list below.
For full details and showtimes for each event, click on their titles! The Old Vic's The Crucible - July 2nd
From London's West End, Richard Armitage stars in Arthur Miller’s classic American drama, based on Salem’s infamous witch trials, brought vividly to life in this visceral new production by internationally acclaimed director Yaël Farber.
In a small tight-knit community in Salem, Massachusetts, personal grievances collide with lust and superstition,...
- 6/30/2017
- by Scott Goodyer
- Cineplex
Birthday girl Ariana Grande is feeling the love.
The singer, who turned 24 on Monday, received numerous birthday messages on social media, including a cute note from boyfriend Mac Miller.
“Happy Birthday to this adorable pure soul who has reminded me what being happy feels like,” the 25-year-old rapper captioned a black and white photo of the duo making silly faces as the Eiffel Tower looms in the background. “Thank you for loving me so good. I think it’s supposed to be ‘so well’ but I don’t care. I love you and can’t wait for all of the adventures.
The singer, who turned 24 on Monday, received numerous birthday messages on social media, including a cute note from boyfriend Mac Miller.
“Happy Birthday to this adorable pure soul who has reminded me what being happy feels like,” the 25-year-old rapper captioned a black and white photo of the duo making silly faces as the Eiffel Tower looms in the background. “Thank you for loving me so good. I think it’s supposed to be ‘so well’ but I don’t care. I love you and can’t wait for all of the adventures.
- 6/26/2017
- by Stephanie Petit
- PEOPLE.com
Rival studios gave “Transformers: The Last Knight” a wide berth, not that it was necessary. While that assured its entry at #1, it set the wrong kind of record as the lowest-opening entry in Paramount’s “Transformers” franchise. A Wednesday opening camouflages the size of its weekend drop, and while its worldwide haul stands at just under $200 million, once again domestic theaters are the major losers.
There’s scattered good news, including another strong hold for “Wonder Woman,” but this was another down weekend led by another lackluster sequel.
Read More: Studios Are Right: Rotten Tomatoes Has Ruined Film Criticism — Opinion
Next weekend should change the tone with “Despicable Me 3” (Universal) primed for a possible $100 million opening, with Edgar Wright’s “Baby Driver” (Sony) and the Will Ferrell/Amy Poehler comedy “The House” adding to the potential. The need for a gamechanger keeps getting bigger.
The Top Ten
1. Transformers: The Last Knight...
There’s scattered good news, including another strong hold for “Wonder Woman,” but this was another down weekend led by another lackluster sequel.
Read More: Studios Are Right: Rotten Tomatoes Has Ruined Film Criticism — Opinion
Next weekend should change the tone with “Despicable Me 3” (Universal) primed for a possible $100 million opening, with Edgar Wright’s “Baby Driver” (Sony) and the Will Ferrell/Amy Poehler comedy “The House” adding to the potential. The need for a gamechanger keeps getting bigger.
The Top Ten
1. Transformers: The Last Knight...
- 6/25/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
By Nathaniel R
The opening weekend for Transformers: The Last Knight was such a huge drop from the series past bows that they might want to use the last film's title The Age of Extinction rather than dumping more billions into keeping this franchise alive. Unless of course its overseas take continues to be ginormous.
Weekend Box Office (June 23rd-25th)
W I D E L I M I T E D 1. ...
The opening weekend for Transformers: The Last Knight was such a huge drop from the series past bows that they might want to use the last film's title The Age of Extinction rather than dumping more billions into keeping this franchise alive. Unless of course its overseas take continues to be ginormous.
Weekend Box Office (June 23rd-25th)
W I D E L I M I T E D 1. ...
- 6/25/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
“Rough Night” described the box office this weekend for too many movies. “Cars 3” (Disney), Pixar’s latest animated entry, took the top spot — but fell below opening estimates. “The Mummy” continued its domestic unraveling, falling to $13 million and number 4 in its second weekend. And then there’s Sony’s “Rough Night” — the latest attempt to replicate the “Bridesmaids” R-rated female comedy magic, and latest to fall short.
Winners were “Wonder Woman” (Warner Bros.) at number two, and two original, non-franchise films with Lionsgate’s Tupac Shakur biopic “All Eyez On Me” flying much higher than predicted, while the British sharks-in-the-water thriller “47 Meters Down” (Entertainment Studios) scored a surprisingly strong $11.5 million.
Next week, expect another sequelitis outbreak with “Transformers: The Last Knight” (Paramount, fifth in the series) the sole wide opener next week on Wednesday. “Despicable Me 3” (Universal), actually the fourth in its franchise, opens the following week; a few countries have opened already,...
Winners were “Wonder Woman” (Warner Bros.) at number two, and two original, non-franchise films with Lionsgate’s Tupac Shakur biopic “All Eyez On Me” flying much higher than predicted, while the British sharks-in-the-water thriller “47 Meters Down” (Entertainment Studios) scored a surprisingly strong $11.5 million.
Next week, expect another sequelitis outbreak with “Transformers: The Last Knight” (Paramount, fifth in the series) the sole wide opener next week on Wednesday. “Despicable Me 3” (Universal), actually the fourth in its franchise, opens the following week; a few countries have opened already,...
- 6/18/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
“Wonder Woman” captured the weekend zeitgeist with reviews as good as any new adult-appeal specialized opener — and gobbled up potential audience. But that’s not the sole reason the specialty box office went to hell this weekend.
“Churchill” (Cohen), with the pedigree of an arthouse crossover winner, went nationally in top theaters but failed to capture more than desultory business. A trio of niche releases showed some mid-level interest in New York and Los Angeles — “The Exception”(A24), “Letters from Baghdad” (Vitagraph), and “Band Aid”(IFC) — but none looks likely to cross over beyond the big-city arthouse market.
The scariest weekend news: the total lack of response to Ken Loach’s Cannes 2016 Palme d’Or-winner “I, Daniel Blake.” While it’s been a long wait after a year-end qualifying run, it’s shocking that the well-reviewed BAFTA-winner met with near total disinterest.
Last weekend’s top opener “Long Strange Trip...
“Churchill” (Cohen), with the pedigree of an arthouse crossover winner, went nationally in top theaters but failed to capture more than desultory business. A trio of niche releases showed some mid-level interest in New York and Los Angeles — “The Exception”(A24), “Letters from Baghdad” (Vitagraph), and “Band Aid”(IFC) — but none looks likely to cross over beyond the big-city arthouse market.
The scariest weekend news: the total lack of response to Ken Loach’s Cannes 2016 Palme d’Or-winner “I, Daniel Blake.” While it’s been a long wait after a year-end qualifying run, it’s shocking that the well-reviewed BAFTA-winner met with near total disinterest.
Last weekend’s top opener “Long Strange Trip...
- 6/4/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Chris Blue may have been named the new winner of The Voice on May 23, but that’s not the only reason he’s celebrating.
The Knoxville-bred singer is also getting ready to marry his longtime love, fiancée Stephanie Dunkley.
“The wedding is paid off,” Blue tells People after his win. “ can actually decorate the church, and we’ll have wedding cars.”
He adds: “Our lives will never be the same.”
Dunkley has battled bone marrow cancer for most of her life and faced a major bone marrow transplant prior to Blue’s audition.
“When I lost her, I really thought it was over,...
The Knoxville-bred singer is also getting ready to marry his longtime love, fiancée Stephanie Dunkley.
“The wedding is paid off,” Blue tells People after his win. “ can actually decorate the church, and we’ll have wedding cars.”
He adds: “Our lives will never be the same.”
Dunkley has battled bone marrow cancer for most of her life and faced a major bone marrow transplant prior to Blue’s audition.
“When I lost her, I really thought it was over,...
- 5/31/2017
- by Brianne Tracy
- PEOPLE.com
Harry Styles has been doing a lot as a solo recording artist during his hiatus from One Direction.
And the British crooner, 23, revealed new details about his independent music venture while riding shotgun with longtime mate James Corden during Thursday’s Carpool Karaoke.
1. He feels more “in control” as a solo singer.
Back in December 2015, Styles had a group Carpool with his 1D band mates Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne, months following Zayn Malik‘s departure. “I feel like I have more control over the buttons,” Styles joked during his one-on-one ride with Corden, after pointing out he...
And the British crooner, 23, revealed new details about his independent music venture while riding shotgun with longtime mate James Corden during Thursday’s Carpool Karaoke.
1. He feels more “in control” as a solo singer.
Back in December 2015, Styles had a group Carpool with his 1D band mates Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne, months following Zayn Malik‘s departure. “I feel like I have more control over the buttons,” Styles joked during his one-on-one ride with Corden, after pointing out he...
- 5/19/2017
- by Karen Mizoguchi
- PEOPLE.com
Almost a year after getting married, Eva Longoria is still in the honeymoon phase.
The actress opened up to People about newlywed life with Mexican media mogul José “Pepe” Antonio Bastón, and her role as stepmom, while promoting her new film, Lowriders.
“My husband is the best part of life,” Longoria, 42, gushes. “Like, people get really annoyed with us because we love each other so much!”
Longoria and Bastón, 49, tied the knot in a gorgeous ceremony in Valle de Bravo, Mexico in 2016. Dating since 2013, Bastón popped the question in Dubai in December 2015 with a ruby and diamond engagement ring.
“People always ask,...
The actress opened up to People about newlywed life with Mexican media mogul José “Pepe” Antonio Bastón, and her role as stepmom, while promoting her new film, Lowriders.
“My husband is the best part of life,” Longoria, 42, gushes. “Like, people get really annoyed with us because we love each other so much!”
Longoria and Bastón, 49, tied the knot in a gorgeous ceremony in Valle de Bravo, Mexico in 2016. Dating since 2013, Bastón popped the question in Dubai in December 2015 with a ruby and diamond engagement ring.
“People always ask,...
- 5/17/2017
- by Brianne Tracy
- PEOPLE.com
While she may have missed appearing on the original Vh1 showcase series, there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Jennifer Lopez is a bonafide diva. After all, as Beyoncé once said, “diva is a female version of a hustler,” and the pop star is nothing if not a prolific multi-disciplinary talent. A point she hammered home on Monday morning, arriving on the NBC Upfronts red carpet in typical showstopping fashion.
While she already completely dominates the musical world and is responsible for some of the most iconic rom-coms of the early aughts, Lopez now has her eyes set on conquering TV,...
While she already completely dominates the musical world and is responsible for some of the most iconic rom-coms of the early aughts, Lopez now has her eyes set on conquering TV,...
- 5/16/2017
- by Emily Kirkpatrick
- PEOPLE.com
“King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” surpassed Warner Bros.’ modest expectations by revealing itself as a full-on belly flop, grossing $14.7 million. While nothing else approaches its level of disaster, it’s a beacon for the weaknesses that have begun to plague summer 2017.
Next week, expect Fox’s “Alien: Covenant” to lead three new summer entries. Ridley Scott’s return to his 1979 classic opened to $42 million in a majority of the world (but not China, among other territories); it will need to soar next weekend at home in order to restore some confidence to the industry.
The Top Ten
1. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (Disney) Week 2- Last weekend #1
$63,007,000 (-57%) in 4,347 theaters (no change); PTA (per theater average): $14,494; Cumulative: $246,164,000
2. Snatched (20th Century Fox) New – Cinemascore: B; Metacritic: 46; $; est. budget: $42 million
$17,500,000 in 3,501 theaters; PTA: $4,999; Cumulative: $17,500,000
3. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Warner Bros.) New – Cinemascore: B+; Metacritic: 41; $; est. budget: $175 million
$14,700,000 in...
Next week, expect Fox’s “Alien: Covenant” to lead three new summer entries. Ridley Scott’s return to his 1979 classic opened to $42 million in a majority of the world (but not China, among other territories); it will need to soar next weekend at home in order to restore some confidence to the industry.
The Top Ten
1. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (Disney) Week 2- Last weekend #1
$63,007,000 (-57%) in 4,347 theaters (no change); PTA (per theater average): $14,494; Cumulative: $246,164,000
2. Snatched (20th Century Fox) New – Cinemascore: B; Metacritic: 46; $; est. budget: $42 million
$17,500,000 in 3,501 theaters; PTA: $4,999; Cumulative: $17,500,000
3. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Warner Bros.) New – Cinemascore: B+; Metacritic: 41; $; est. budget: $175 million
$14,700,000 in...
- 5/14/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Indiana Groom Makes 90-Year-Old Grandpa His Best Man: ‘I Didn’t Think He’d Want an Old Man Up There’
Kc Schafer began his happily ever after with his wife Sarah in Louisville, and he had a special person by his side as his best man: his 90-year-old grandpa.
“He has been my role model and idol since I was a little kid,” Kc Schafer, 27, of Clarksville, Indiana, told ABC News about his decision to make his grandpa, Charles Schafer, his best man. “I spend so much time with him. He pretty much modeled me into the man I am today.”
Schafer also played a special role in his grandson’s engagement. Schafer went shopping for a coffeemaker with his grandpa,...
“He has been my role model and idol since I was a little kid,” Kc Schafer, 27, of Clarksville, Indiana, told ABC News about his decision to make his grandpa, Charles Schafer, his best man. “I spend so much time with him. He pretty much modeled me into the man I am today.”
Schafer also played a special role in his grandson’s engagement. Schafer went shopping for a coffeemaker with his grandpa,...
- 5/12/2017
- by Katherine Richter
- PEOPLE.com
This Was the Worst Box Office of 2017 — But ‘How to Be a Latin Lover’ and ‘Baahubali 2’ Were Amazing
This weekend was the nadir of what has become a bipolar year at the box office, but it comes with an extraordinary, if unsettling sidelight: Mass audience fare is no longer guaranteed, even with top stars and well-known IP.
“How to Be a Latin Lover” (Lionsgate) and “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion” (from previously unheralded Great India) ranked second and third, both over $10 million. Those are grosses better than not only Stx’s “The Circle” (which had the benefit of Emma Watson and Tom Hanks, and is based on Dave Eggers’ novel), but are also better than any new release on the same weekend last year. Studios concede the weekend before the new Marvel release in early April, but that’s also an opportunity that two smart distributors recognized.
That left “The Fate of the Furious” (Universal) as the default #1 again. $19 million for a third weekend, and $192 million total, is strong...
“How to Be a Latin Lover” (Lionsgate) and “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion” (from previously unheralded Great India) ranked second and third, both over $10 million. Those are grosses better than not only Stx’s “The Circle” (which had the benefit of Emma Watson and Tom Hanks, and is based on Dave Eggers’ novel), but are also better than any new release on the same weekend last year. Studios concede the weekend before the new Marvel release in early April, but that’s also an opportunity that two smart distributors recognized.
That left “The Fate of the Furious” (Universal) as the default #1 again. $19 million for a third weekend, and $192 million total, is strong...
- 4/30/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Specialty films these days range across more than core upscale urban and critically acclaimed quality fare. This weekend’s surprise: two foreign-language films placed second and third in the box office Top Ten.
The U.S./Mexican coproduction “How to Be a Latin Lover” (Lionsgate/Pantelion) ranked second with over $12 million from 1,118 theaters. Even more impressive, the Indian epic sequel “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion” (Great Indian) placed third with $10,138,000 in only 425 theaters. Both movies beat James Ponsoldt’s Dave Eggers novel adaption “The Circle” (Stx), starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks, which opened to only $9.2 million in more than twice as many theaters.
(Read more in our Top Ten report.)
Among the specialty audience usual suspects, nothing managed to open with as much as a $10,000 per theater average. “Obit” (Kino Lorber) ranked highest, while Rami Malek-starrer “Buster’s Mal Heart” (Well Go USA) and “Natasha” (Menemsha) led the other New York openers.
The U.S./Mexican coproduction “How to Be a Latin Lover” (Lionsgate/Pantelion) ranked second with over $12 million from 1,118 theaters. Even more impressive, the Indian epic sequel “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion” (Great Indian) placed third with $10,138,000 in only 425 theaters. Both movies beat James Ponsoldt’s Dave Eggers novel adaption “The Circle” (Stx), starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks, which opened to only $9.2 million in more than twice as many theaters.
(Read more in our Top Ten report.)
Among the specialty audience usual suspects, nothing managed to open with as much as a $10,000 per theater average. “Obit” (Kino Lorber) ranked highest, while Rami Malek-starrer “Buster’s Mal Heart” (Well Go USA) and “Natasha” (Menemsha) led the other New York openers.
- 4/30/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
While good news could be just around the corner with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” two weeks away, this weekend it’s hard to find much to cheer about. Combined, five new wide openings could barely muster $17 million, while the second weekend of “The Fate of the Furious” saw a 61 percent drop.
The grim details, as well as some positive news, after the Top Ten.
The Top Ten
1. The Fate of the Furious (Universal) Week 2 – Last weekend #1
$38,682,000 (-61%) in 4,329 theaters (+19); PTA (per theater average): $8,936; Cumulative: $163,578,000
2. The Boss Baby (20th Century Fox) Week 4 – Last weekend #2
$12,750,000 (-20%) in 3,697 theaters (-46); PTA: $3,449; Cumulative: $136,992,000
3. Beauty and the Beast (Disney) Week 6 – Last weekend #3
$9,773,000 (-27%) in 3,315 theaters (-277); PTA: $3,008; Cumulative: $471,097
4. Born in China (Disney) New – Cinemascore: A-; Metacritic: 58; Est. budget: unknown
$5,147,000 in 1,508 theaters; PTA: $3,413; Cumulative: $5,147,000
5. Going in Style (Warner Bros.) Week 3 – Last weekend #5
$5,005,000 (-20%) in 3,038 theaters (-38); PTA: $1,647; Cumulative: $31,766,000
6. Smurfs: The Lost Village (Sony...
The grim details, as well as some positive news, after the Top Ten.
The Top Ten
1. The Fate of the Furious (Universal) Week 2 – Last weekend #1
$38,682,000 (-61%) in 4,329 theaters (+19); PTA (per theater average): $8,936; Cumulative: $163,578,000
2. The Boss Baby (20th Century Fox) Week 4 – Last weekend #2
$12,750,000 (-20%) in 3,697 theaters (-46); PTA: $3,449; Cumulative: $136,992,000
3. Beauty and the Beast (Disney) Week 6 – Last weekend #3
$9,773,000 (-27%) in 3,315 theaters (-277); PTA: $3,008; Cumulative: $471,097
4. Born in China (Disney) New – Cinemascore: A-; Metacritic: 58; Est. budget: unknown
$5,147,000 in 1,508 theaters; PTA: $3,413; Cumulative: $5,147,000
5. Going in Style (Warner Bros.) Week 3 – Last weekend #5
$5,005,000 (-20%) in 3,038 theaters (-38); PTA: $1,647; Cumulative: $31,766,000
6. Smurfs: The Lost Village (Sony...
- 4/23/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Two new indie distributors injected some life into the specialty box office this weekend with two unconventional releases.
Both “Colossal” (Neon Films) and Japanese anime smash “Your Name.” (FUNimation) rode positive reviews to strong box office. With more conventional World War II drama “Their Finest” (Stx), three films from non-establishment distributors show impressive arthouse strength.
Read More: ‘Colossal’ Is the Monster Movie No Studio Would Ever Make, And It’s Teaching Hollywood a Lesson
Jessica Chastain vehicle “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” shaping up to be the biggest specialty release so far this year, justified its initial wider run with a solid second weekend.
At least nine of the new limited releases this week also are available on Video on Demand. The only one to see much traction was “Alive and Kicking” (Magnolia), directed by specialty industry veteran Susan Glatzer, marking an unusual documentary presentation from Blumhouse Productions. The dance movie grossed $9000 in five theaters.
Both “Colossal” (Neon Films) and Japanese anime smash “Your Name.” (FUNimation) rode positive reviews to strong box office. With more conventional World War II drama “Their Finest” (Stx), three films from non-establishment distributors show impressive arthouse strength.
Read More: ‘Colossal’ Is the Monster Movie No Studio Would Ever Make, And It’s Teaching Hollywood a Lesson
Jessica Chastain vehicle “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” shaping up to be the biggest specialty release so far this year, justified its initial wider run with a solid second weekend.
At least nine of the new limited releases this week also are available on Video on Demand. The only one to see much traction was “Alive and Kicking” (Magnolia), directed by specialty industry veteran Susan Glatzer, marking an unusual documentary presentation from Blumhouse Productions. The dance movie grossed $9000 in five theaters.
- 4/9/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
It was animated “The Boss Baby” (20th Century Fox) vs. manga remake “Ghost in the Shell” (Paramount) starring Scarlett Johansson at the weekend box office.
As expected, the week’s two new wide releases combined to gross just under $70 million, but with a shocker: the latest DreamWorks Animation release took the lion’s share of that total. $100-million actioner “The Ghost in the Shell” turned out to be yet another pixel-packed movie to be met by blah critical and domestic audience response. Foreign will have to save the day on this one.
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (Disney) barely missed its third #1 weekend, but propelled the Top Ten box office to a 37 per cent ($43 million) improvement over last year (when nothing much was going on). The year-to-date uptick remains a steady five per cent. And that’s ahead of the expected huge April 14 opening for F. Gary Gray’s...
As expected, the week’s two new wide releases combined to gross just under $70 million, but with a shocker: the latest DreamWorks Animation release took the lion’s share of that total. $100-million actioner “The Ghost in the Shell” turned out to be yet another pixel-packed movie to be met by blah critical and domestic audience response. Foreign will have to save the day on this one.
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (Disney) barely missed its third #1 weekend, but propelled the Top Ten box office to a 37 per cent ($43 million) improvement over last year (when nothing much was going on). The year-to-date uptick remains a steady five per cent. And that’s ahead of the expected huge April 14 opening for F. Gary Gray’s...
- 4/2/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
“Beauty and the Beast” (Disney) held beautifully, down less than half after its phenomenal opening, and easily led the Top Ten for the second weekend.
But the Lionsgate reboot of “Power Rangers” (officially “Saban’s Power Rangers”) exceeded expectations to lead the new wide releases. The two other studio newbies, “Life” (Sony) and “Chips” (Warner Bros.) stumbled out of the starting blocks with weak showings as more attention is directed at the four March 2017 releases well past $100 million domestic (“Kong: Skull Island”/Warner Bros. and “Logan”/20th Century Fox) as March looks to be the new April in terms of studio release schedules. The calendar keeps expanding and the returns at the top are strong.
Opening
1. Beauty and the Beast (Disney) Week 2; Last weekend #1
$88,347,000 (-49%) in 4,210 theaters (no change); PTA (per theater average): $20,985; Cumulative: $316,953,000
2. Power Rangers (Lionsgate) New – Cinemascore: A; Metacritic: 44; Est. budget: $100 million
$40,500,000 in 3,693 theaters; PTA: $10,967; Cumulative: $40,500,000
3. Kong: Skull Island...
But the Lionsgate reboot of “Power Rangers” (officially “Saban’s Power Rangers”) exceeded expectations to lead the new wide releases. The two other studio newbies, “Life” (Sony) and “Chips” (Warner Bros.) stumbled out of the starting blocks with weak showings as more attention is directed at the four March 2017 releases well past $100 million domestic (“Kong: Skull Island”/Warner Bros. and “Logan”/20th Century Fox) as March looks to be the new April in terms of studio release schedules. The calendar keeps expanding and the returns at the top are strong.
Opening
1. Beauty and the Beast (Disney) Week 2; Last weekend #1
$88,347,000 (-49%) in 4,210 theaters (no change); PTA (per theater average): $20,985; Cumulative: $316,953,000
2. Power Rangers (Lionsgate) New – Cinemascore: A; Metacritic: 44; Est. budget: $100 million
$40,500,000 in 3,693 theaters; PTA: $10,967; Cumulative: $40,500,000
3. Kong: Skull Island...
- 3/26/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Competition in the expensive action-film market made things tricky for the opening of “Kong: Skull Island” and the second weekend of “Logan.” There’s no doubt as to the victor; “Kong” opened far better than pre-opening estimates (a very good thing for Warner Bros. which spent $185 million to revive the big gorilla). “Logan,” however, dropped much more than expected. Had they not been head to head, assume that a sizable chunk of the audience for each would have seen the other.
Overall, it left theaters with a top 10 total is up 27 percent from the same weekend last year. But before anyone gets too excited, that 2016 weekend didn’t have two films in their first two weeks that cost nearly $300 million combined.
Next week sees “Beauty and the Beast,” another strong potential (and at $160 million, also expensive) release. With less overlap, it’s expected to outgross both “Logan” and “Kong” in its opening and total run.
Overall, it left theaters with a top 10 total is up 27 percent from the same weekend last year. But before anyone gets too excited, that 2016 weekend didn’t have two films in their first two weeks that cost nearly $300 million combined.
Next week sees “Beauty and the Beast,” another strong potential (and at $160 million, also expensive) release. With less overlap, it’s expected to outgross both “Logan” and “Kong” in its opening and total run.
- 3/12/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Above: Mondo poster for The Graduate (Mike Nichols, USA, 1967); artist: Rory Kurtz; lettering: Jay Shaw.On my daily movie poster Tumblr I don’t make a habit of posting fan art or art prints—call them what you will—because I’m most interested in the intersection of commerce and art that is the theatrical movie poster. But I make an exception when something stands out, and nothing stood out last year quite like Rory Kurtz’s beautiful, elegant and unexpected Mondo illustration for The Graduate, which quite rightly racked up over 200 more likes than even its nearest competitor. But its nearest competitor was fan art too: a brilliant poster for Badlands by the insanely talented Adam Juresko, whose art poster for In the Mood for Love (featured in my Maggie Cheung article) was also in the top four. What makes art posters easy to like—beyond their extraordinary artistry...
- 1/7/2017
- MUBI
Surprise! The 2016 North American box office total is slightly higher than 2015’s $11.13 billion. Yes, the record has been broken (it should reach $11.4 billion). But that doesn’t mean record-breaking attendance; ultimately, it’s increased ticket prices that get the credit.
With minor inflation this year, theaters sold slightly more tickets in 2016. After a summer dip, it looked unlikely that the year could catch up with last year’s jumbo summer and holiday seasons, led by the year-end “Star Wars” reboot.
Check out why 2016 beat 2015 below, along with our box-office charts revealing the surprising theatrical winners and losers of the year — based not on grosses, but on real profits and losses.
The Good News
Smart opening dates elevated a majority of the top-grossers that were released outside the five prime months (May-July, November-December). That allowed more appealing films to thrive for longer periods with less competition, as well as fill in...
With minor inflation this year, theaters sold slightly more tickets in 2016. After a summer dip, it looked unlikely that the year could catch up with last year’s jumbo summer and holiday seasons, led by the year-end “Star Wars” reboot.
Check out why 2016 beat 2015 below, along with our box-office charts revealing the surprising theatrical winners and losers of the year — based not on grosses, but on real profits and losses.
The Good News
Smart opening dates elevated a majority of the top-grossers that were released outside the five prime months (May-July, November-December). That allowed more appealing films to thrive for longer periods with less competition, as well as fill in...
- 12/30/2016
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Eight films opened in limited engagements from last Wednesday through Sunday. Four studio productions had pre-set January wide-release plans: “Hidden Figures” (Twentieth Century Fox), “Silence” (Paramount), “Patriots Day” (Lionsgate), and “Live by Night” (Warner Bros.). Studio specialty division Focus Features moved “A Monster Calls” into holiday play with crossover hopes. And three top Cannes competitors entered the fray: Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winner “I, Daniel Blake” (IFC), Maren Ade’s “Toni Erdmann” and Pedro Almodovar’s “Julieta” (both Sony Pictures Classics).
These joined multiple awards contenders expanding to capitalize on holiday playtime, with Lionsgate’s “La La Land” the clear audience leader. But “Manchester by the Sea” (Roadside Attractions) and “Jackie” (Fox Searchlight) showed strength, and several other films also are adding to their totals in this lucrative season.
The elevated number of limited openers among more general audience high-end films follows studio successes such as “Zero Dark Thirty,...
These joined multiple awards contenders expanding to capitalize on holiday playtime, with Lionsgate’s “La La Land” the clear audience leader. But “Manchester by the Sea” (Roadside Attractions) and “Jackie” (Fox Searchlight) showed strength, and several other films also are adding to their totals in this lucrative season.
The elevated number of limited openers among more general audience high-end films follows studio successes such as “Zero Dark Thirty,...
- 12/26/2016
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
This year’s Best Director battle boasts frontrunners who emerged from the year’s film festivals.
Breaking out at Sundance was Kenneth Lonergan’s intense four-hankie family drama “Manchester by the Sea,” which is not only a frontrunner for original screenplay and actor (winning the New York Film Critics Circle for both), but director. Lonergan’s portrait of a New England family dealing with death and loss masterfully reveals information in the present and via flashbacks over a disciplined two hours and 15 minutes. Lonergan’s ensemble cast led by Casey Affleck is superb.
Jeff Nichols is in the mix for his measured and refined direction of interracial marriage drama “Loving,” which critics agreed was the one surefire awards contender to emerge from Cannes this year. He brings a grounded urgency to a storyline that could have been rendered as emotion-baiting melodrama. Nichols started the year strong with the well-reviewed sci-fi drama “Midnight Special,...
Breaking out at Sundance was Kenneth Lonergan’s intense four-hankie family drama “Manchester by the Sea,” which is not only a frontrunner for original screenplay and actor (winning the New York Film Critics Circle for both), but director. Lonergan’s portrait of a New England family dealing with death and loss masterfully reveals information in the present and via flashbacks over a disciplined two hours and 15 minutes. Lonergan’s ensemble cast led by Casey Affleck is superb.
Jeff Nichols is in the mix for his measured and refined direction of interracial marriage drama “Loving,” which critics agreed was the one surefire awards contender to emerge from Cannes this year. He brings a grounded urgency to a storyline that could have been rendered as emotion-baiting melodrama. Nichols started the year strong with the well-reviewed sci-fi drama “Midnight Special,...
- 12/20/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
This year’s Best Director battle boasts frontrunners who emerged from the year’s film festivals.
Breaking out at Sundance was Kenneth Lonergan’s intense four-hankie family drama “Manchester by the Sea,” which is not only a frontrunner for original screenplay and actor (winning the New York Film Critics Circle for both), but director. Lonergan’s portrait of a New England family dealing with death and loss masterfully reveals information in the present and via flashbacks over a disciplined two hours and 15 minutes. Lonergan’s ensemble cast led by Casey Affleck is superb.
Jeff Nichols is in the mix for his measured and refined direction of interracial marriage drama “Loving,” which critics agreed was the one surefire awards contender to emerge from Cannes this year. He brings a grounded urgency to a storyline that could have been rendered as emotion-baiting melodrama. Nichols started the year strong with the well-reviewed sci-fi drama “Midnight Special,...
Breaking out at Sundance was Kenneth Lonergan’s intense four-hankie family drama “Manchester by the Sea,” which is not only a frontrunner for original screenplay and actor (winning the New York Film Critics Circle for both), but director. Lonergan’s portrait of a New England family dealing with death and loss masterfully reveals information in the present and via flashbacks over a disciplined two hours and 15 minutes. Lonergan’s ensemble cast led by Casey Affleck is superb.
Jeff Nichols is in the mix for his measured and refined direction of interracial marriage drama “Loving,” which critics agreed was the one surefire awards contender to emerge from Cannes this year. He brings a grounded urgency to a storyline that could have been rendered as emotion-baiting melodrama. Nichols started the year strong with the well-reviewed sci-fi drama “Midnight Special,...
- 12/20/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Early Friday morning, a messenger arrived at the front doors of 90 voting members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Some of them had stayed up all night filling out their paper ballots in all Golden Globe categories, both film and TV (those predictions here). One member admitted to me that she only ventures out to movies she feels she has to see, as she’d rather stay home watching TV. (This is our world, folks.) This group, like the Academy, skews over 50.
That said, expect a few surprises when the nominations are announced Monday morning. With both Musical/Comedy and Drama categories — which will likely be dominated by consensus favorites “La La Land” and “Manchester By the Sea,” respectively — there are more slots for Globe winners such as “Florence Foster Jenkins” stars Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, Tom Hanks (“Sully”), Denzel Washington (“Fences”), Mel Gibson (“Hacksaw Ridge”), Amy Adams (“Arrival”), Sally Field (“Hello,...
That said, expect a few surprises when the nominations are announced Monday morning. With both Musical/Comedy and Drama categories — which will likely be dominated by consensus favorites “La La Land” and “Manchester By the Sea,” respectively — there are more slots for Globe winners such as “Florence Foster Jenkins” stars Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, Tom Hanks (“Sully”), Denzel Washington (“Fences”), Mel Gibson (“Hacksaw Ridge”), Amy Adams (“Arrival”), Sally Field (“Hello,...
- 12/9/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The American Film Institute’s annual list highlighting the top 10 movies of the year includes three Oscar frontrunners: “Moonlight,” “La La Land,” and “Manchester by the Sea.”
These lists, along with this weekend’s awards shows —the International Documentary Association on Friday and Sunday’s televised Critics’ Choice Awards (A & E, 5pm Pacific) — build forward momentum for these and other awards contenders.
On the documentary side, the AFI jury — a hand-picked mix of academics, critics, and industry insiders — also gave a special award to Ezra Edelman’s seven-hour epic “O.J.: Made in America” (Espn), which is racking up awards.
Gaining traction are a number of films nominated for multiple Critics’ Choice Awards, including two from veteran Oscar-winners and seven who have never been nominated. Oscar winners are Clint Eastwood, whose “Sully” stars Tom Hanks as real-life aviation hero Chesley Sullenberger, and Mel Gibson’s box-office hit “Hacksaw Ridge,” starring Andrew Garfield...
These lists, along with this weekend’s awards shows —the International Documentary Association on Friday and Sunday’s televised Critics’ Choice Awards (A & E, 5pm Pacific) — build forward momentum for these and other awards contenders.
On the documentary side, the AFI jury — a hand-picked mix of academics, critics, and industry insiders — also gave a special award to Ezra Edelman’s seven-hour epic “O.J.: Made in America” (Espn), which is racking up awards.
Gaining traction are a number of films nominated for multiple Critics’ Choice Awards, including two from veteran Oscar-winners and seven who have never been nominated. Oscar winners are Clint Eastwood, whose “Sully” stars Tom Hanks as real-life aviation hero Chesley Sullenberger, and Mel Gibson’s box-office hit “Hacksaw Ridge,” starring Andrew Garfield...
- 12/8/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The American Film Institute’s annual list highlighting the top 10 movies of the year includes three Oscar frontrunners: “Moonlight,” “La La Land,” and “Manchester by the Sea.”
These lists, along with this weekend’s awards shows —the International Documentary Association on Friday and Sunday’s televised Critics’ Choice Awards (A & E, 5pm Pacific) — build forward momentum for these and other awards contenders.
On the documentary side, the AFI jury — a hand-picked mix of academics, critics, and industry insiders — also gave a special award to Ezra Edelman’s seven-hour epic “O.J.: Made in America” (Espn), which is racking up awards.
Gaining traction are a number of films nominated for multiple Critics’ Choice Awards, including two from veteran Oscar-winners and seven who have never been nominated. Oscar winners are Clint Eastwood, whose “Sully” stars Tom Hanks as real-life aviation hero Chesley Sullenberger, and Mel Gibson’s box-office hit “Hacksaw Ridge,” starring Andrew Garfield...
These lists, along with this weekend’s awards shows —the International Documentary Association on Friday and Sunday’s televised Critics’ Choice Awards (A & E, 5pm Pacific) — build forward momentum for these and other awards contenders.
On the documentary side, the AFI jury — a hand-picked mix of academics, critics, and industry insiders — also gave a special award to Ezra Edelman’s seven-hour epic “O.J.: Made in America” (Espn), which is racking up awards.
Gaining traction are a number of films nominated for multiple Critics’ Choice Awards, including two from veteran Oscar-winners and seven who have never been nominated. Oscar winners are Clint Eastwood, whose “Sully” stars Tom Hanks as real-life aviation hero Chesley Sullenberger, and Mel Gibson’s box-office hit “Hacksaw Ridge,” starring Andrew Garfield...
- 12/8/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The 2016 box office continues unpredictable.
“Doctor Strange” lead the recent but short-lived box office revival, along with some hits that surpassed expectations (“Boo! A Madea Halloween” and “Trolls”). But the pre-Thanksgiving weekend came in below predicted numbers. After several years with strong franchise entries opening to over $100 million, the costly J.K. Rowling Harry Potter prequel “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (Warner Bros.), a potential major blockbuster, ended up with an acceptable but unexceptional $75 million total. The well-reviewed VFX extravaganza could build word of mouth as it goes along.
The Top Ten
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Warner Bros.) New – Cinemascore: A; Metacritic: 65; Est. budget: $180 million
$75,000,000 in 4,144 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $18,098; Cumulative: $75,000,000
2. Doctor Strange (Disney) Week 3 – Last weekend #1
$17,676,000 (-59%) in 3,694 theaters (-188); PTA: $4,785; Cumulative: $181,543,000
3. Trolls (20th Century Fox) Week 3 – Last weekend #2
$17,500,000 (-50%) in 3,945 theaters (-121); PTA: $3,945; Cumulative: $116,215,000
4. Arrival (Paramount) Week 2 – Last weekend #3
$11,800,000 (-51%) in 2,335 theaters...
“Doctor Strange” lead the recent but short-lived box office revival, along with some hits that surpassed expectations (“Boo! A Madea Halloween” and “Trolls”). But the pre-Thanksgiving weekend came in below predicted numbers. After several years with strong franchise entries opening to over $100 million, the costly J.K. Rowling Harry Potter prequel “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (Warner Bros.), a potential major blockbuster, ended up with an acceptable but unexceptional $75 million total. The well-reviewed VFX extravaganza could build word of mouth as it goes along.
The Top Ten
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Warner Bros.) New – Cinemascore: A; Metacritic: 65; Est. budget: $180 million
$75,000,000 in 4,144 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $18,098; Cumulative: $75,000,000
2. Doctor Strange (Disney) Week 3 – Last weekend #1
$17,676,000 (-59%) in 3,694 theaters (-188); PTA: $4,785; Cumulative: $181,543,000
3. Trolls (20th Century Fox) Week 3 – Last weekend #2
$17,500,000 (-50%) in 3,945 theaters (-121); PTA: $3,945; Cumulative: $116,215,000
4. Arrival (Paramount) Week 2 – Last weekend #3
$11,800,000 (-51%) in 2,335 theaters...
- 11/20/2016
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
A Tribute to King Kong takes place as part of the The St. Louis International Film Festival Sunday, Nov. 6 beginning at 6:00pm at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium. The first film screened will be the new documentary Long Live The King, which explores the enduring fascination with one of the biggest stars — both literally and figuratively — in Hollywood history: the mighty King Kong. Produced and directed by Frank Dietz and Trish Geiger, the creative team behind the award-winning “Beast Wishes,” the documentary devotes primary attention to the 1933 classic, celebrating the contributions of filmmakers Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, stars Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, and Bruce Cabot, writer Edgar Wallace, and especially stop-motion innovator Willis O’Brien. But Kong’s legacy is also fully detailed: the sequel “Son of Kong,” the cinematic kin “Mighty Joe Young,” the Dino DeLaurentis and Peter Jackson remakes, even the Japanese versions by Toho Studios.
- 10/21/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Things get serious this weekend. Three studio released with a combined cost of some $300 million —”Deepwater Horizon” (Lionsgate), “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” (20th Century Fox) and “Masterminds” (Relativity)— are opening on a single early fall release date.
After three fall weeks, Clint Eastwood’s “Sully” is the sole clear winner with “The Magnificent Seven” opening in the mid-$30 millions. So the season is down 15% so far.
For all three new releases, this timing could be perilous. The same weekend in 2015, “The Martian” opened at $54 million and the second weekend of “Hotel Transylvania 2” scored $33 million, boosting a Top Ten total to $140 million. Weekend results could bring both marginal returns for the three studios as well as a continuation of the downward trend.
At least each of this week’s debut films can rely on some pedigree to boost their chances. But their anticipated results will all fall...
After three fall weeks, Clint Eastwood’s “Sully” is the sole clear winner with “The Magnificent Seven” opening in the mid-$30 millions. So the season is down 15% so far.
For all three new releases, this timing could be perilous. The same weekend in 2015, “The Martian” opened at $54 million and the second weekend of “Hotel Transylvania 2” scored $33 million, boosting a Top Ten total to $140 million. Weekend results could bring both marginal returns for the three studios as well as a continuation of the downward trend.
At least each of this week’s debut films can rely on some pedigree to boost their chances. But their anticipated results will all fall...
- 9/29/2016
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
I think everyone in this country should be aware by now that our race relations are at an all time low. It seems every time we hear the news another black citizen has been shot by the police or police have been shot by someone angry about these shootings. It cannot continue. We as a nation cannot keep going down this road.
I have always sympathized with Black Americans. In fact as a Scot and Irish American I have always sympathized with anyone who ever got pushed around, starting with Native Americans, Asians, Jewish immigrants, women of any ethnic group, Hispanics from any country.
I also sympathize with the people who are tasked with law enforcement. It’s a tough job. I had some training in that area. A couple of years ago I was hired by a Security company and was trained in unarmed, and armed, uniformed security. I...
I have always sympathized with Black Americans. In fact as a Scot and Irish American I have always sympathized with anyone who ever got pushed around, starting with Native Americans, Asians, Jewish immigrants, women of any ethnic group, Hispanics from any country.
I also sympathize with the people who are tasked with law enforcement. It’s a tough job. I had some training in that area. A couple of years ago I was hired by a Security company and was trained in unarmed, and armed, uniformed security. I...
- 8/30/2016
- by Sam Moffitt
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Matt Damon is running toward the rooftop railing of an L.A. building, and people are afraid he's gonna die. James Corden is not one of them. Damon is reprising Jason Bourne, walking fast and looking over the right shoulder of his scuffed brown leather jacket. He then runs into a plump Brit who's dressed exactly the same. Damon smiles. It's Corden, the host of CBS' The Late Late Show, and the proud son of Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire, in England's unfashionable Home Counties. It's an hour before the taping of Corden's show,...
- 8/24/2016
- Rollingstone.com
On its second weekend, “Suicide Squad” was set to repeat at number one. The question was how far Warner Bros.’ latest D.C. franchise bid would drop. The weekend surprise was Sony’s raunchy “Sausage Party” beating out Disney family remake “Pete’s Dragon” among new films.
Overall business is up with a healthy field of offerings in this jammed-up summer. That’s impressive considering competition from the Olympics. Business is surviving this year against them.
The Top Ten
1. Suicide Squad (Warner Bros.) Week 2 – Last weekend #1
$43,770,000 (67-%) in 4,255 theaters (no change); PTA (per theater average): $10,287; Cumulative: $222,875,000
2. Sausage Party (Sony) New – Cinemascore: B; Metacritic: 67; Est. budget: $19 million
$33,600,000 in 3,103 theaters; PTA: $10,828; Cumulative: $33,600,000
3. Pete’s Dragon (Buena Vista) New – Cinemascore: A; Metacritic: 72; Est. budget: $65 million
$21,501,000 in 3,702 theaters; PTA: $5,808; Cumulative: $21,501,000
4. Jason Bourne (Universal) Week 3 – Last weekend #2
$13,620,000 (-39%) in 3,528 theaters (-511); PTA: $3,861; Cumulative: $126,782,000
5. Bad Moms (Stx) Week 3 – Last weekend #3
$11,450,000 (-18%) in 3,188 theaters (-27); PTA:...
Overall business is up with a healthy field of offerings in this jammed-up summer. That’s impressive considering competition from the Olympics. Business is surviving this year against them.
The Top Ten
1. Suicide Squad (Warner Bros.) Week 2 – Last weekend #1
$43,770,000 (67-%) in 4,255 theaters (no change); PTA (per theater average): $10,287; Cumulative: $222,875,000
2. Sausage Party (Sony) New – Cinemascore: B; Metacritic: 67; Est. budget: $19 million
$33,600,000 in 3,103 theaters; PTA: $10,828; Cumulative: $33,600,000
3. Pete’s Dragon (Buena Vista) New – Cinemascore: A; Metacritic: 72; Est. budget: $65 million
$21,501,000 in 3,702 theaters; PTA: $5,808; Cumulative: $21,501,000
4. Jason Bourne (Universal) Week 3 – Last weekend #2
$13,620,000 (-39%) in 3,528 theaters (-511); PTA: $3,861; Cumulative: $126,782,000
5. Bad Moms (Stx) Week 3 – Last weekend #3
$11,450,000 (-18%) in 3,188 theaters (-27); PTA:...
- 8/15/2016
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Critics be damned, but Warner Bros.’ latest D.C. Comics offering, “Suicide Squad,” will again prevail at the box office this weekend, against three new wide releases: “Sausage Party” (Sony), “Pete’s Dragon” (Buena Vista) and “Florence Foster Jenkins” (Paramount). However, it’s unclear whether “Sausage” or “Dragon” will come in second place.
Also up for debate is how much, if any, improvement we’ll see from the same weekend in 2015, when “Straight Outta Compton” dominated a Top Ten that totaled $130 million. Assuming “Suicide” doesn’t replicate the 69% second weekend collapse of “Batman v Superman” (that would place it around $40 million), and the new openings do expected business, $140 million or more is likely.
While holding the top spot for two weekends is always a nice bragging right, the real fate of “Suicide” lies in determining the profit it can eke out against a production and marketing budget of more than $300 million.
Also up for debate is how much, if any, improvement we’ll see from the same weekend in 2015, when “Straight Outta Compton” dominated a Top Ten that totaled $130 million. Assuming “Suicide” doesn’t replicate the 69% second weekend collapse of “Batman v Superman” (that would place it around $40 million), and the new openings do expected business, $140 million or more is likely.
While holding the top spot for two weekends is always a nice bragging right, the real fate of “Suicide” lies in determining the profit it can eke out against a production and marketing budget of more than $300 million.
- 8/12/2016
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
The recent box office success of The Boss firmly establishes Melissa McCarthy as the current queen of movie comedies (Amy Schumer could be a new contender after an impressive debut last Summer with Trainwreck), but let us think back about those other funny ladies of filmdom. So while we’re enjoying the female reboot/re-imagining of Ghostbusters and those Bad Moms, here’s a top ten list that will hopefully inspire lots of laughter and cause you to search out some classic comedies. It’s tough to narrow them down to ten, but we’ll do our best, beginning with… 10. Eve Arden The droll Ms. Arden represents the comic sidekicks who will attempt to puncture the pomposity of the leading ladies with a well-placed wisecrack (see also the great Thelma Ritter in Rear Window). Her career began in the early 1930’s with great bit roles in Stage Door and Dancing Lady.
- 8/8/2016
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
With “Suicide Squad,” Warner Bros. and D.C. Comics for the second time delivered an opening competitive with a Disney/Marvel superhero movie. Its strong August-record-breaking $135 million debut also kept the recent late summer rebound alive. The question is: Will it hold or suffer the fate of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and fade quickly? Whatever its future, “Suicide Squad” marks a welcome start late in a bumpy summer.
Part of that seasonal trend is steep early-week drops for some live-action franchises—neither “Jason Bourne” nor “Star Trek Beyond” show much strength after strong openings. And Stx boasts a sleeper comedy hit driven by women– “Bad Moms” is thriving and looks to have a shot at reaching as much as $100 million.
Read More: Box Office Preview: ‘Suicide Squad’ Posed to Set August Record
Top Ten Chart
1. Suicide Squad (Warner Bros.) New – Cinemascore: B+; Metacritic: 40; Est. budget: $175 million
$135,105,000 in 4,255 theaters...
Part of that seasonal trend is steep early-week drops for some live-action franchises—neither “Jason Bourne” nor “Star Trek Beyond” show much strength after strong openings. And Stx boasts a sleeper comedy hit driven by women– “Bad Moms” is thriving and looks to have a shot at reaching as much as $100 million.
Read More: Box Office Preview: ‘Suicide Squad’ Posed to Set August Record
Top Ten Chart
1. Suicide Squad (Warner Bros.) New – Cinemascore: B+; Metacritic: 40; Est. budget: $175 million
$135,105,000 in 4,255 theaters...
- 8/7/2016
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Universal’s “The Secret Life of Pets” will easily take top spot this weekend, ousting the great three-week reign of another animated smash, Pixar/Disney’s “Finding Dory.” But that likely won’t be enough to outpace the same weekend last summer.
Last year, the post-July 4th weekend featured the release of another Universal animated film, “Minions.” The third “Despicable Me” entry capitalized on the series’ popularity to a $115 million opening, comprising more than half of the Top Ten total of $202 million. That was the fourth best weekend of last summer, and the last over $200 million.
“Pets” is the latest release from Universal’s Illumination. With an emphasis on comedy and high-end voice talent (Kevin Hart and Louis C.K. among them), the animation unit has thrived with productions less expensive than those of rivals Pixar, Disney, and Dreamworks.
Related‘The Secret Life of Pets’ Review Roundup: Critics (Mostly) Go...
Last year, the post-July 4th weekend featured the release of another Universal animated film, “Minions.” The third “Despicable Me” entry capitalized on the series’ popularity to a $115 million opening, comprising more than half of the Top Ten total of $202 million. That was the fourth best weekend of last summer, and the last over $200 million.
“Pets” is the latest release from Universal’s Illumination. With an emphasis on comedy and high-end voice talent (Kevin Hart and Louis C.K. among them), the animation unit has thrived with productions less expensive than those of rivals Pixar, Disney, and Dreamworks.
Related‘The Secret Life of Pets’ Review Roundup: Critics (Mostly) Go...
- 7/6/2016
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
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