In Theaters This Week: August 13, 2008
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, IFC Films, Paramount, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Foreign, Horror, Music, Religious, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,
Once again, theatergoers will have new options to choose from this Wednesday:
- Mirrors (R): starring Kiefer Sutherland, Amy Smart, Paula Patton (directed by Alex Aja)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (PG): starring Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Matthew Wood (directed by Dave Filoni)
- Tropic Thunder (R): starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. (directed by Ben Stiller)
- Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer* (NR): starring Amy Albany, Buddy Bregman, Charles Britton (directed by Robbie Cavolina, Ian McCrudden)
- Bachna Ae Haseeno* (NR): starring Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone (directed by Siddharth Raj Anand)
Click to continue reading In Theaters This Week: August 13, 2008
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Box Office Breakdown: Semi-Pro Scores the Win
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Period, Romance, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
What comes up, must eventually come down. That goes for Will Ferrell‘s sports career as well.
Even though Semi-Pro netted this weekend’s #1 spot, the basketball flick earned a measly $15 million. That gross trails far behind 2006’s Talledega Nights ($47 million) and 2007’s Blades of Glory ($33 million). Sadly, Semi‘s debut also takes a backseat to Kicking and Screaming and Bewitched. (In Ferrell’s defense, this movie was the only one of his sports films to be rated R.)
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Semi-Pro Scores the Win
Variety
Memorable Moments from the Unmemorable Academy Awards
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Celeb News,
Last night’s Best Actor categories were as predictable as the Best Actress races were surprising. Yesterday’s ceremony was also as disappointing as it was routine.
For months now, we’d been hearing about several plans being orchestrated for the Academy Awards. If the writers’ strike was still in effect, the producers swore the telecast would continue with packages that celebrated Oscar’s 80-year history. Interestingly enough, even with the scribes back at work, the show was still horribly written and crammed with unnecessary fillers. (Even I could have penned ‘the always Fantastic…Jessica Alba’.)
As it was, the winners appeared to have been given less time last night to accept their awards than ever. (Which may or may not have been a good thing.) But did Javier Bardem really need to rush his lovely speech to his mother? Did the organizers have to reshow the previous awards presentations? Did the AMPAS President really need to waste time explaining how the selection process is done??
Click to continue reading Memorable Moments from the Unmemorable Academy Awards
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Love Scene for Scarlett Johannson and Penelope Cruz
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Weinstein Company, Drama, Romance, Comedy, Rumors, Upcoming Releases,
Now that I’ve caught your attention…
According to the New York Post, an upcoming moment in Vicky Cristina Barcelona may rival that scene from Wild Things most people know quite well about.
In this film, two A-List actresses will engage in what is being described as an “extremely erotic” lesbian performance. To ramp up the tension, the ladies - Scarlett Johannson and Penelope Cruz - will later be joined by a third.
Cruz’s on-screen husband (and real-life boyfriend), Javier Bardem, is the lucky guy who will eventually turn the twosome into a ménage à trois.
Did I mention that this is a Woody Allen film?
Click to continue reading Love Scene for Scarlett Johannson and Penelope Cruz
New York Post
2008 Academy Award Nominations
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Picturehouse, DreamWorks, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Miramax, Lionsgate, Picturehouse, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Warner Independant Films, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Independent, Period, Political, Romance, Comedy, Awards, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Lists,
The nominations for the 80th Annual Academy Awards were announced bright and early Tuesday morning from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Assuming the ceremony goes on as scheduled, you can see the live broadcast Sunday, February 24th on ABC.
Notable additions/omissions from today’s announcement:
- Based on the major categories alone, it looks like Michael Clayton may be the frontrunner. It received six nominations.
- Aside from one nod each in the Best Supporting Actor category, both Into the Wild and Charlie Wilson’s War were virtually shut out from the top prizes.
- Sweeney Todd - winner for Best Comedy/Musical at the Golden Globes - was shut out for Best Picture. Johnny Depp’s nom was the only major accolade for the film.
- A much-deserving Amy Adams did not receive a nom nor did her film, Enchanted.
- Atonement - the movie with the most nominations at the Globes - only received 3 in the major areas. The two main stars (Knightley, McAvoy) were also shut out.
- Cate Blanchett earned two nominations this year (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I’m Not There).
- Angelina Jolie was not recognized for her heartbreaking performance in A Mighty Heart.
- And last but not least, great news for (my personal) standouts this year: Ellen Page (Juno), Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) and screenwriter Click to continue reading 2008 Academy Award Nominations
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
2008 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Picturehouse, FOCUS, Fox Searchlight, Miramax, Lionsgate, Picturehouse, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Foreign, Foreign Language, Independent, Music, Musicals, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Awards, Lists,
Thanks to an interim waiver granted by the WGA, the 14th Annual SAG Awards telecast will air as scheduled on Sunday, January 27. Since plans for the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards are still up in the air, this could be TNT’s most viewed awards show in quite some time.
This year’s film nominees are:
OUTSTANDING LEADING MALE PERFORMANCE
- George Clooney, Michael Clayton
- Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
- Ryan Gosling, Lars And The Real Girl
- Emile Hirsch, Into The Wild
- Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
OUTSTANDING LEADING FEMALE PERFORMANCE
- Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
- Julie Christie, Away From Her
- Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose
- Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
- Ellen Page, Juno
Click to continue reading 2008 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)
Screen Actors Guild
Box Office Breakdown: Will Smith a Legend in December
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, New Line, Warner Bros, Yari Film Group Releasing, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Period, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
You have to wonder whether Tom Cruise is just a wee bit jealous of his friend’s success…
This weekend, Will Smith not only smashed the box office debut of Cruise’s Lions for Lambs, he pounded everything in his path. I Am Legend - the third adaptation of the 1954 Richard Matheson novel - nearly doubled the take of its nearest competitor while breaking the record for a December release. Legend’s $77 million debut surpassed the bar set by Oscar-winner The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The final installment in the Lords trilogy brought in $72.6 million back in 2003.
Although Alvin and the Chipmunks was far behind in second place, its $44 million weekend was nothing to sneeze at. The movie not only exceeded most expectations, it downright embarrassed third place finisher, The Golden Compass. How could anyone possibly explain freaky-looking chipmunks taking down a large polar bear? The latter film only added another $8.8 million to its total, putting it a smidge closer to its $180 million budget. (Granted, it has done better overseas.)
But let’s not be fooled by the large numbers at the top of the charts, the weekend’s most notable turnout was made by #11: Juno. The comedic charmer earned an impressive $35,686 per screen. Meanwhile, Legend (which opened in 3566 more theaters) averaged only $21,411. Take that, Fresh Prince!
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Will Smith a Legend in December
Yahoo!
AFI’s Top Films of 2007
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Independent, Political, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Awards, Lists,
The American Film Institute, probably best known its ‘100 Greatest’ countdowns, has just selected their top films of this year. Unlike the other lists we have seen on television, this particular grouping does not include rankings nor does it highlight a winner.
The AFI Movies of the Year are:
- Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
- Into the Wild
- Juno
- Knocked Up
- Michael Clayton
- No Country for Old Men
- Ratatouille
- The Savages
- There Will Be Blood
(You can find the AFI’s list of Top Shows here.)
AFI
2008 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Foreign Language, Independent, Music, Musicals, Period, Political, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Awards, Lists,
Assuming the ongoing writers’ strike doesn’t put a wrench into everyone’s plans, the 65th Annual Golden Globes ceremony is scheduled to air on Sunday, Jan. 13th. (The NBC telecast will come just 9 days prior to the Academy Award nominations.)
Here are the most notable omissions/additions in this year’s list of film honorees:
- Atonement led the nominations with seven; Charlie Wilson’s War came in second with five.
- Musicals (Sweeney Todd, Across the Universe, Hairspray) dominated the Comedy/Musical category.
- Cate Blanchett received two acting nominations (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I’m Not There).
- Philip Seymour Hoffman was also a double-nominee (The Savages, Charlie Wilson’s War)
- Hoffman’s Savages co-star, Laura Linney, was not nominated for her performance.
- The Kite Runner was nominated in the Foreign Film category.
- Javier Bardem was the only actor nominated from No Country for Old Men.
- Into the Wild was left out of all major categories.
(Click below for the full list of film nominees; click here for the TV nominations.)
Click to continue reading 2008 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)
Hollywood Foreign Press Association
New York Film Critics Choose ‘No Country’
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Miramax, Animation, Drama, Foreign, Foreign Language, Thrillers, Awards, Lists,
On Monday, the New York Film Critics Circle revealed their 2007 film award winners. This announcement comes shortly after the National Board of Review (NBR) and the Los Angeles Film Critics (LAFCA) revealed their honorees. Although the Golden Globe nominations are still two days away, certain trends have already started to emerge from just these three lists.
The 2007 NYFCC winners:
- Best Picture: No Country for Old Men*
- Best Director: Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
- Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis**, There Will Be Blood
- Best Actress: Julie Christie*, Away from Her
- Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
- Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan***, Gone Baby Gone
- Best Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen*, No Country for Old Men
- Best Animated Film: Persepolis**
- Best Foreign Film: The Lives of Others
- Best Documentary: No End in Sight**
*also the NBR winner
**also the LAFCA winner
***both the NBR and LAFCA winner
New York Film Critics Circle
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