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Box Office Breakdown: Gran Torino Expands to a Win

Gran Torino

He may have lost out to Bruce Springsteen last night, but Clint Eastwood was still a big winner this weekend. After 4 weeks in limited theaters, the 78-year-old’s film became the top movie in wide release.

Eastwood’s directorial project not only pulled in $29.4 million over the last three days ($40.5 million to date), it outranked the vehicles from Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Will Smith. also earned the best per screen average of any charter in the Top Ten.

Despite opening on approximately 600 more screens than the first place finisher, #2’s grossed nearly $4000 less per theater. The Kate Hudson-Anne Hathaway comedy also averaged less than #3’s The Unborn.

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Read More | Variety

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Box Office Breakdown: Marley & Me Ends 2008 on Top

Marley & Me

Aside from a few changes at the bottom of this week’s Top Ten, every single movie remained planted in their positions from last Monday. Since Friday’s new entries (Good, Defiance) were only offered in limited release, there really wasn’t much of a battle.

Over the last three days, tacked on another $24 million and officially crossed the $100 million mark. The Fox adaptation became the 25th film from 2008 to accomplish that. Meanwhile, the only new charter was #10’s . Although it was only shown in 612 theaters (that’s down two from last week), the Fox Searchlight feature helped push The Spirit down to #13. The probable Oscar contender also earned a better per screen average than all the films ahead of it.

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Read More | Variety

Inglourious Basterds Gets 2009 Date

Inglorious Bastard's Brad PittStill getting used to the spelling of ‘s new film? (It was once spelled Inglorious Bastards.) Well, you’ll now have until this fall to get the title mastered.

The WWII drama about Jewish-American soldiers on a mission to kill to Nazis has just been scheduled for an August 21 release. The film, which will be be distributed by the Weinstein Company in the States (by Universal internationally), marks Tarantino’s attempt at a period film. Production began in Germany back in October.

stars Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, BJ Novak, Eli Roth and Diane Kruger.

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Marley & Me is the Weekend’s Top Dog

Marley & Me

When it comes to the box office, has no problem pushing best friends (Courteney Cox), exes (Brad Pitt) or former leading men (Jim Carrey) aside.

After a record-breaking Christmas Day, pulled in approximately $36.4 million over the last three days. The PG-rated film, which earned nearly $51 million since December 25, gave Aniston bragging rights and Owen Wilson his best Friday-Sunday gross ever.

Although he eventually lost out to Jen, Brad Pitt really had nothing to complain about. , the weekend’s #3 finisher, had the 2nd best ($12 million) Christmas day opening. Meanwhile, Bedtime Stories - starring Adam Sandler and Courteney Cox - now ranks 3rd ($10.6 million) on the all-time Dec. 25 debuts list.

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Read More | Variety

In Theaters This Holiday Week: December 25, 2008

The Spirit

Here are some possible suggestions for your holiday weekend:

2009 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)

Revolutionary Road

Although a looming SAG strike may threaten next year’s Academy Awards, the Golden Globes ceremony should finally go on as planned. The 66th annual event is scheduled to air on Sunday, January 11th, just 11 days before the Oscar nominations are announced.

Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from this year’s list of film nominees:

  • Frost/Nixon and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button both led the field with five nominations each.
  • Despite being chosen Best Film by the New York Film Critics, Sean Penn was the only nod Milk received by the HFPA.
  • Meryl Streep earned two nominations for her work in Doubt and Mamma Mia.
  • Kate Winslet is also up for two awards. Her films - Revolutionary Road and The Reader - are also up for Best Picture.
  • Heath Ledger did get a posthumous nomination as expected.
  • Although he was recently recognized for his acting work in Gran Torino, director Clint Eastwood (Changeling) was only acknowledged for his musical achievements.

(You can find the full list of film nominees after the jump. Click here for the TV nominations.)

 

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Read More | Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Casting Corner: Cloris Leachman, Jack Black, Sly Stallone and More

Cloris LeachmanJack Black

Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:

Cloris Leachman: She may not have won a mirror-ball trophy, but she was able to snag something even bigger. Oscar-winner Cloris Leachman was recently added to Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds (formerly spelled Inglorious Bastards) cast. The 82-year-old will cameo as Mrs. Himmelstein, an elderly Jewish woman who inspires Eli Roth’s character to seek vengeance. The WWII movie already has Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, Diane Kruger and B.J. Novak in its lineup.

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Variety


Brad Pitt Named for Odyssey, Moneyball

Brad PittIf you thought a growing household would slow Brad Pitt down, you were wrong. The actor, who is currently filming Inglourious Basterds (previously spelled Inglorious Bastards) in Germany, just recently had his name attached to two more possible projects. (Keep in mind, Angelina will eventually be abandoning the children for Edwin A. Salt.)

According to Variety, Pitt may soon be following his work on Troy with another Homer adaptation. Brad - who played Achilles in the 2004 film - is currently in discussions to take on the Odysseus-like character in Warner Bros.’ update of The Odyssey. Sadly (for me), this role would not require the 44-year-old to sport any type of toga. It’s the studio’s intention to set the classic tale in outer space.

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Variety


Box Office Breakdown: Beverly Hills Chihuahua is Weekend’s Top Dog

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

On a weekend with seven new wide releases, it was that emerged as Best in Show. The film, one of the few family-oriented titles currently being offered, earned nearly $30 million over the past three days. That amount was enough to easily surpass Eagle Eye, last week’s #1. The talking-dogs feature also gave Disney its best October opening thus far.

Of the other new entries in the Top Ten, one was religion-centric while the other had political overtones. (Could this be an election year?) Coming in at #10 was , the documentary from Bill Maher. Although the movie was only offered in limited release, it pulled in $6,792 per theater. That was the second highest average amongst the chart toppers. Meanwhile, An American Carol, a right-wing satirical comedy, found itself in 9th place.

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Variety


Box Office Breakdown: Eagle Eye Soars to #1

Eagle Eye

Despite mixed reviews for his latest film, Shia LaBeouf once again proved he has box office appeal. , a film from Disturbia‘s D.J. Caruso, earned $29.2 million over the past three days and the #1 spot. Even a Friday night presidential debate couldn’t stop the thriller from putting nearly $16 million between itself and Nights in Rodanthe, this weekend’s #2. Although Nights - the third pairing for Diane Lane and Richard Gere - took in $13.4 million, the romantic drama did almost $1 million less than 2002’s Unfaithful.

- a faith-based film starring Kirk Cameron - surprised many with its 4th place finish. Although it was only available in 839 theaters, the movie had an impressive $8111 per screen average. Meanwhile, two films outside the Top Ten boasted averages over the $10,000 mark. The Duchess (ranked #13) pulled in $10,238 per theater while Ed Harris’ Appaloosa (#35) did slightly better with $10,469.

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Variety


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