Movie Reviews and Ratings

‘The Dark Knight’ wins big at People’s Choice Awards

By Mack Chico

2009/01/08 at 12:00am

Movies

‘The Dark Knight’ wins big at People’s Choice Awards

01.8.2009 | By Mack Chico |

“The Dark Knight” took home top honors at the People’s Choice Awards Wednesday night, walking away with five awards.

The movie, which won high praise and acclaim from critics and fans, won the award for favorite movie, favorite action movie, favorite cast, favorite on screen match-up (Christian Bale and Heath Ledger) and favorite superhero (Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman).

“Here’s to Heath,” Bale said after accepting the award, referring to his co-star, who died of an accidental drug overdose in January 2008.

Host Queen Latifah introduced the movie at the end of the ceremony and all five awards were presented at the same time.

“American Idol” lost to “Dancing With the Stars” for favorite reality TV show, but two of their alums — Jordin Sparks and Carrie Underwood — picked up their own awards.

Underwood, who performed earlier during the show, nabbed two wins early on — one for “Last Name” (favorite country song) and also for favorite female singer.

Sparks and Chris Brown both took home the award for “Favorite Combined Forces,” for their collaboration on “No Air.” The pair beat out “4 Minutes” by Madonna and Justin Timberlake and “Love Like This” by Natasha Bedingfield and Sean Kingston.

“I think this is the first awards show where they actually aired my award,” Sparks jokingly said as she accepted the award. Brown, who was in Dublin, accepted the award via satellite.

Ellen DeGeneres took home the award for best talk show host.

“I wish I could share this with you,” DeGeneres said. “I could throw it on the ground and smash it into a million pieces, and give each one of you a little piece of it, but that’s violent, and that’s probably why you voted for me, because I’m not violent.”

Other early winners included: “27 Dresses” (favorite comedy movie), Hugh Laurie (favorite male TV star) and Robin Williams (favorite scene stealing guest star for his role on “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”). EW review: You showed up? Here’s a trophy!

The People’s Choice Awards celebrated its 35th ceremony this year.

The awards were created in 1975 by producer Bob Stivers, who sold the show to Procter & Gamble in the early 1980s. The awards have reflected the growing divergence between popular and critical preferences; in its early years favorite movie honors went to “The Sting” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” — both best picture winners at the Oscars as well as critical favorites — while more recently, categories have included slots no industry group would even hazard, such as favorite superhero, favorite on-screen matchup and Nice n’ Easy Fans Favorite Hair (a nod to a Procter & Gamble product).

For most of their run, the People’s Choice Awards were based on Gallup polls. In the last few years, online voting has decided the winners, and this year’s categories included tech-friendly slots for favorite user-generated video and favorite online sensation.

‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ nominated by the WGA

By Mack Chico

2009/01/08 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ nominated by the WGA

01.8.2009 | By Mack Chico |

Woody Allen received his 19th screenplay nomination from the Writers Guild of America on Wednesday, when he was named for his romantic comedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” Allen, 73, has previously won the WGA award for original screenplay for “Annie Hall,” “Broadway Danny Rose,” “Hannah and Her Sisters” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

Joining Allen in the original screenplay category are Joel and Ethan Coen for “Burn After Reading” — the brothers won the guild’s award for adapted screenplay last year for “No Country for Old Men” — Dustin Lance Black for “Milk,” Tom McCarthy for “The Visitor” and Robert Siegel for “The Wrestler.”

Nominated for best adapted screenplay are “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” screenplay by Eric Roth, screen story by Roth and Robin Swicord, based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald; “The Dark Knight,” screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer, based on the characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, Batman created by Bob Kane; “Doubt,” screenplay by John Patrick Shanley based on his stage play; “Frost/Nixon,” screenplay by Peter Morgan based on his stage play; and “Slumdog Millionaire,” screenplay by Simon Beaufoy based on the novel “Q&A” by Vikas Swarup.

Although “Dark Knight” didn’t perform well with many critics’ groups or with the Golden Globe nominations — save for Heath Ledger’s supporting actor turn as the Joker — the box-office blockbuster is still shaping up to be a force to be reckoned with this award season, having earned nominations this week from the Producers Guild of America, the American Society of Cinematographers and now the WGA.

Competing in the documentary screenplay categories are “Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story,” written by Stefan Forbes and Noland Walker; “Chicago 10,” written by Brett Morgen; “Fuel,” written by Johnny O’Hara; “Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson,” screenplay by Alex Gibney from the words of Hunter S. Thompson; and “Waltz With Bashir,” written by Ari Folman.

Though the WGA and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences haven’t always seen eye to eye on screenplay picks over the decades, the academy was in agreement with last year’s WGA winners: “No Country for Old Men” and Diablo Cody’s original screenplay for “Juno.”

The 2009 Writers Guild Awards will be held simultaneously Feb. 7 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hudson Theatre in New York.

By Mack Chico

2009/01/06 at 12:00am

DVD Reviews Reviews

Righteous Kill

01.6.2009 | By Mack Chico |

Rating: 2.5

Rated: R for violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and brief drug use.
Release Date: 2008-09-12
Starring: Russell Gewirtz
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.righteouskill-themovie.com/

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Jon Avnetâ€™s new film â€˜Righteous Killâ€™ reunites legendary actors Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. Both actors flood the screen with their trademark acting styles and larger than life personalities, and convert what is an ordinary police thriller into a surprisingly entertaining cop romp.

The premise has the Lennon and McCartney of detectives (Pacino and De Niro) hot on the trail of a serial killer who might end up being one of their own. Some tension is developed by two younger investigators (John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg) who want to crack the case before the seniors do.

The film offers some believable acting from the supporting cast, but nothing outstanding to make you begin your Oscar nomination pool. Leguizamo seems to play the same wise cracking cop in every movie and Wahlberg just seems to be happy to be working. Underrated is Carla Gugino, De Niroâ€™s love interest, who continues to deliver consistently fine work. The director Jon Avnet, who gave us one of Pacinoâ€™s worst efforts, 88 Minutes, doesnâ€™t offer us anything new here. Screenwriter Russell Gewirtz, who did Spike Leeâ€™s Inside Man, one of the better films of the cop genre in the last five years, regresses with this hit and miss script and dialogue.

De Niro and Pacino are no longer the multi-layered, method acting thespians with depth, but they still possess enough of that charm, wisdom and experience to know how to carry a movie, ergo â€˜Righteous Killâ€™. Together it becomes memorable and nostalgic.

It wasnâ€™t so long ago that whenever someone asked who the best actor in Hollywood was, the answer was either Al Pacino or Robert De Niro. That is no longer the case. The best way to put it I guess, is that we are still looking for that last performance of greatness from them, that last attempt to prove all us critics wrong, that last hurrah for olâ€™ time sakes. Regrettably, this movie wasnâ€™t the one to make us believe that.

By Mack Chico

2009/01/04 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Marley and Me’ is #1 at box office

01.4.2009 | By Mack Chico |

The box office this weekend brought more of the same, which for Hollywood was a good thing, as the comedy “Marley & Me” and other Christmas films continued strongly. The top five films — and some others down the ladder — kept their positions from last week.

“Marley & Me,” from 20th Century Fox, with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, was the weekend’s top film, with about $24 million in domestic ticket sales and $106.5 million since it opened on Christmas.

It was followed by another comedy, “Bedtime Stories,” from Walt Disney Company, with Adam Sandler. That film took in about $20.3 million over the weekend, for a total of $85 million since opening. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” from Paramount Pictures with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, was third, with about $18.5 million in weekend sales for a $79 million total.

In a similar display of staying power, “Valkyrie” from MGM, with Tom Cruise, remained the No. 4 film for a second weekend. The film took in $14 million, for a total of $60.7 million since opening on Christmas. Its success has laid to rest months of public speculation about whether the audience would accept Mr. Cruise in his role as a German officer who tried to kill Hitler.

Another holdover, the comedy “Yes Man” with Jim Carrey, from Warner Brothers, took in about $13.9 million, for a total of $79.4 million since opening.

A number of the season’s potential Oscar contenders continued to jockey for position in a field packed with movies that have been released to a relatively limited number of theaters.

“Doubt,” from Disney’s Miramax unit, among the more widely played of these, took in about $5 million for the weekend and $18.7 million since opening, to reach No. 8, up from 10th place.

“The Reader,” from the Weinstein Company, took in $1.6 million, as it moved into 398 theaters, and became the weekend’s 17th-ranked film, up from 22nd last week, when it played in a much smaller number of screens. It has total sales of $3.6 million.

‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ 3D trailer to be seen in Super Bowl!

By Mack Chico

2009/01/04 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ 3D trailer to be seen in Super Bowl!

01.4.2009 | By Mack Chico |

Some 150 million 3D glasses will be given away for Super Bowl viewers to watch a 90-second 3D sneak preview of the big-screen animated feature “Monsters vs. Aliens.” While 3D telecasts are nothing new, this marks the first time one has been done for such a large audience.

DreamWorks Animation chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg called the stunt “perhaps the biggest media-advertising event in history.” He wouldn’t give a hard figure on the cost, but said it “involves tens of millions of dollars.”

Katzenberg promised the quality of the 3D will be superior to what has been done in the past. He said the glasses will use Intel InTru 3D and ColorCode 3-D, which updates the old red-blue Anaglyph system.

The technology will also allow those without the glasses to see an almost ordinary image on the TV screen. But, Katzenberg added, it still doesn’t come close to the 3D quality moviegoers will see in theaters when the film opens stateside March 27.

“Monsters vs. Aliens” follows a group of ragtag Earthling monsters who are out to save the world following an alien invasion. The film features the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen and Kiefer Sutherland.

The glasses will be distributed free at Pepsi/SoBe Life Water displays at 28,000 locations including grocery, drug and electronics stores and big-box retailers.

The promotion was unveiled Saturday during NBC’s telecast of the AFC Wild Card Playoffs between the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers. NBC, which will air the Super Bowl on Feb. 1, has its own interest in making sure the glasses are used, as it will air a 3D episode of its series “Chuck” the following night.

“Monsters vs Aliens” is co-directed by Rob Letterman (“Shark Tale”) and Conrad Vernon (“Shrek 2”), who supervised production of the promotion that will air during the Super Bowl.

The directors said they will be watching the telecast from home. “With beer,” Vernon said, laughing. “We’re going to test the effects of beer and 3D,” said Letterman.

By Jack Rico

2009/01/03 at 12:00am

Reviews

Valkyrie

01.3.2009 | By Jack Rico |

Rated: PG-13 for violence and brief strong language.
Release Date: 2008-12-26
Starring: Christopher McQuarrie, Nathan Alexander
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA, Germany
Official Website: http://valkyrie.unitedartists.com/

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Woody Allen won’t be coming back to film in New York

By Mack Chico

2008/12/31 at 12:00am

Movies

Woody Allen won’t be coming back to film in New York

12.31.2008 | By Mack Chico |

US filmmaker Woody Allen said Tuesday he hopes to shoot a new comedy in Paris next summer, continuing his recent run of choosing to film in European cities over his native-New York.

“I have always wanted to shoot a film in Paris. I have a scenario for Paris all written. I was going to shoot it a few years ago but when we came here and I started to put the film together, suddenly it became such an expensive film that I could not do it,” he said.

Allen’s last batch of films, including “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and London-based drama “Match Point”, were filmed in Europe.

He said financial problems should not derail the Paris project completely but added that he is prepared to film the comedy during the summer of 2011 in the event of more delays.

“Now that there is a new tax incentive in Paris we are returning and trying to see if it is possible to come again to do it,” he said after meeting with French Culture Minister Christine Albanel.

“If I can’t do it, then I will probably do another film in the US this year,” he added.

Pooch film ‘Marley and Me’ barks to #1 at the box office

By Mack Chico

2008/12/29 at 12:00am

Movies

Pooch film ‘Marley and Me’ barks to #1 at the box office

12.29.2008 | By Mack Chico |

“Marley & Me,” the story of a mischievous dog who grows up alongside the young couple who owns him, made $37 million in sales at U.S. and Canadian theaters, emerging as the top film in one of Hollywood’s most-competitive weekends.

“Bedtime Stories,” starring Adam Sandler, finished second with $28.1 million, box-office tracker Media By Numbers LLC said today in an e-mailed statement. Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” debuted in third place with $27 million.

‘Benjamin Button’

Christmas ranks among the busiest times for Hollywood studios in terms of new releases, making this holiday weekend among the most competitive, Media By Numbers President Paul Dergarabedian said in an interview.

Second place’s “Bedtime Stories” stars Sandler as a father whose nighttime tales come to life. It will surpass $100 million in sales, which will be the second Sandler film this year to do so, after “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan,” Pandya said.

“Benjamin Button,” which finished third, is the tale of a man who ages in reverse and is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The film has garnered five Golden Globe nominations from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, including best drama and best actor. The Paramount Pictures movie cost about $150 million, according to Internet Movie Database Inc.

‘Valkyrie’

Also debuting this week was Tom Cruise in “Valkyrie,” the story of a German officer in World War II who leads a group trying to assassinate Adolf Hitler. The movie, the second from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Inc.’s United Artists studio, opened in fourth place with $21.5 million. The cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson.

Last weekend’s No. 1 movie, “Yes Man” from Time Warner, slid to fifth with $16.5 million. Jim Carrey plays a man who transforms his humdrum life by saying “yes” at every opportunity for a year. It has made $49.6 million in two weeks of release.

Rounding out the top 10 in sixth through 10th places, respectively, were “Seven Pounds,” from Sony Corp., at $13.4 million; “The Tale of Despereaux” from General Electric Co.’s Universal Pictures with $9.37 million; Fox’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” at $7.9 million; “The Spirit,” from Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., opened ninth with $6.51 million; and Disney Miramax’s “Doubt” finished in 10th with $5.68 million.

Receipts for the top 12 movies rose 7.6 percent to $182.5 million from the year-earlier period, Los Angeles-based Media By Numbers said. For the year, box-office sales have dropped 0.9 percent to $9.55 billion. Year-to-date attendance has declined 5.3 percent.

The following table has figures provided by studios to Media By Numbers. The amounts are based on gross ticket sales from Dec. 26 and yesterday and estimates for today.

‘The Spirit’ is a total disaster at the box office

By Mack Chico

2008/12/29 at 12:00am

Movies

‘The Spirit’ is a total disaster at the box office

12.29.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Things have not gone as Frank Miller had hoped for. The Spirit only managed to collect $6,510,000 from Friday to Monday and $3,842,000 on Christmas day. That is considered a calamitous result for a big budget film over this holiday weekend.This is also bad news for the actors associated with it like Eva Mendes and Gabriel Macht.

I scoured the internet and found a few quotes summarizing this abysmal outcome:

iO9.com says:

“We can only hope that this poor opening – and presumed subsequent disappointing box office, as I can’t see this movie suddenly becoming a hit based on word of mouth – means that TPTB will rethink their plan to let Miller recreate Buck Rogers for a new generation.”

Comicmix.com says:

“Frank Miller’s interpretation of Will Eisner’s classic character met with horrified reviews from those familiar with the source material and poor reviews from everyone else. Spirit is considered the second straight misfire for Lionsgate, which also flopped with Punisher War Zone at the beginning of the month”.

Manodogs.blogspot.com says:

“Frank Miller’s film adaptation of Will Eisner’s The Spirit was soundly pummeled by ‘Marley and Me.’ Perhaps it’s a mixed blessing: if recent superhero movie performances are an indicator of audience taste, maybe the superhero movie fad is finally over; no longer will studios be able to churn-out cookie-cutter crap with a cape and expect big box office returns. Only time will prove either theory true. If The Spirit is a good film, it may have been overlooked in the wake of the superhero fad’s death; it may (also) have been overcome by bigger box-office star-power; or it could just be a bad flick. Only time will tell.”

Let’s see if Frank Miller gets a big budget for Buck Rogers now. Only time will tell.

By Mack Chico

2008/12/26 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Spirit

12.26.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of stylized violence and action, some sexual content and brief nudity.
Release Date: 2008-12-25
Starring: Frank Miller, Will Eisner (Comic)
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.mycityscreams.com/

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