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‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop’ is #1 at the box office, again?

By Pau Brunet

2009/01/26 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop’ is #1 at the box office, again?

01.26.2009 | By Pau Brunet |

What is this world coming to?

Is Kevin James the new Will Smith? He has just proved he has some cred. In its second frame, Paul Blart: Mall Cop was able to take down the favorite to win, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans and hold onto the number one spot.

Mall Cop continues to beat out expectations in its second frame by declining a miniscule 32% to earn another $21.5 million over the weekend. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans followed at number two with $20.7 million.

While the number is still strong, Lycans is the worst opening we’ve seen from the franchise. The first Underworld bowed to $21.8 million and the sequel, Underworld: Evolution, saw a boost with $26.9 million. While I’m sure Sony will find a way to spin a reason for the drop in ticket sales, we can all assume that an Underworld installment lacking in Kate Beckinsale just didn’t feel right. Lycans cost $35 million to produce, so Sony should have no problem earning some positive cash flows with what should be the franchise’s final installment.

Probably the biggest disappointment was Inkheart. New Line’s latest attempt at fantasy, the family adventure was only able to gross $7.7 million in its opening bow. With a strong cast and a family audience, this film should have done much, much better.

“We’re disappointed. We wish the opening would have been bigger, but I think it was always going to be this type of result. Unfortunately, the audience wasn’t excited to see it,” said Warner exec VP of domestic distribution Jeff Goldstein.

The final film worth a mention is Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino. Though the film didn’t get the love that many hoped from the Oscar nominations, Gran Torino was still able to hold onto the number three spot over the weekend after declining only 27% from the last frame. Tack on the latest earnings of $16 million and the film is close to jumping the $100 million mark. By next weekend it looks like Gran Torino will quickly become Clint Eastwood’s highest grossing film for both directing and acting.

Here’s the estimated ticket sales for Friday through yesterda.

1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop, $21.5 million

2. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, $20.7 million

3. Gran Torino, $16 million

4. Hotel for Dogs, $12.4 million

5. Slumdog Millionaire, $10.6 million

6. My Bloody Valentine 3D, $10.1 million

7. Inkheart, $7.7 million

8. Bride Wars, $7 million

9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, $6 million

10. Notorious, $5.7 million

Complete list of winners of the 15th annual SAG Awards

By Mack Chico

2009/01/26 at 12:00am

Movies

Complete list of winners of the 15th annual SAG Awards

01.26.2009 | By Mack Chico |

“Slumdog Millionaire” won best ensemble cast at the 15th Screen Actors’ Guild Awards Sunday in Los Angeles, while lead roles went to Sean Penn in “Milk” and Meryl Steep in “Doubt.” “I didn’t even buy a dress,” a surprised Streep said upon winning.

Penn who portrayed slain gay politican Harvey Milk said “as actors we don’t play gay/straight, we play human beings.”

He said it was a myth that actors are pitted against one another. “We’re all so proud and challenged by eachother.”

Heath Ledger won posthumously for his final role as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” while Kate Winslet won for best supporting actor in “The Reader” — a role which was nominated this week for best actress in the Academy Awards, for which she had previously won a Golden Globe for the supporting role.

Here’s the complete list of winners of the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards:

Movies:

_Cast: “Slumdog Millionaire.”

_Actor in a leading role: Sean Penn, “Milk.”

_Actress in a leading role: Meryl Streep, “Doubt.”

_Supporting actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight.”

_Supporting actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader.”

_Stunt ensemble: “The Dark Knight.”

Television:

_Drama series cast: “Mad Men.”

_Actor in a drama series: Hugh Laurie, “House.”

_Actress in a drama series: Sally Field, “Brothers & Sisters.”

_Comedy series cast: “30 Rock.”

_Actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock.”

_Actress in a comedy series: Tina Fey, “30 Rock.”

_Actor in a movie or miniseries: Paul Giamatti, “John Adams.”

_Actress in a movie or miniseries: Laura Linney, “John Adams.”

_Stunt ensemble: “Heroes.”

Life Achievement: James Earl Jones.

The 2009 Oscar Nominations: ‘Slumdog,’ ‘Button,’ ‘Penelope,’ ‘Rourke’

By Jack Rico

2009/01/22 at 12:00am

Movies

The 2009 Oscar Nominations: ‘Slumdog,’ ‘Button,’ ‘Penelope,’ ‘Rourke’

01.22.2009 | By Jack Rico |

No major surprises at the 81st annual Academy Awards announcements. Some of the highlights were Spanish actress Penelope Cruz’s second nomination in her career, this time for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a post-humous nod for Heath Ledger for his work in The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire’s 10 nominatios and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leading the way with 13 nominations.

Its competition in the best picture race includes the political dramas “Frost/Nixon” and “Milk,” the post-Holocaust tale “The Reader” and the Mumbai-set rags-to-riches story “Slumdog Millionaire.”

The best actor nominees include Richard Jenkins for “The Visitor,” Frank Langella for “Frost/Nixon,” Sean Penn for “Milk,” Brad Pitt for “Button” and Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler.”

Best actress nominees are Anne Hathaway for “Rachel Getting Married,” Angelina Jolie for “Changeling,” Melissa Leo for “Frozen River,” Meryl Streep for “Doubt” and Kate Winslet for “The Reader.”

Winslet’s nomination for playing a former concentration camp guard in “The Reader” proved to be a particular surprise since the actress had been promoted for the lead actress slot for her performance in “Revolutionary Road,” while it had been suggested to the Academy that she be nominated for a supporting role “The Reader.”

This year, all the best picture nominees also earned their respective directors best director noms. Making the list are David Fincher for “Button,” Ron Howard for “Frost/Nixon,” Gus Van Sant for “Milk,” Stephen Daldry for “The Reader” and Danny Boyle for “Slumdog Millionaire.”

Best picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Reader
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon

Director
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Actress
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Actor
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Supporting actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

Supporting actor
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, Dark Knight
Shannon, Revolutionary Road

Original screenplay
Courtney Hunt, Frozen River
Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonough, In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Andrew Stanton, WALL-E

Adapted screenplay
Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
David Hare, The Reader
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

Foreign-language film
Baader Meinhof Complex, Germany
The Class, France
Departures, Japan
Revanche, Austria
Waltz With Bashir, Israel

Animated film
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

By Mack Chico

2009/01/15 at 12:00am

Movies

Official BAFTA nominations list

01.15.2009 | By Mack Chico |

This is Bafta’s best year by far, and there isn’t a major studio in the world that doesn’t know it. The British are creating the best independent films in the world, and for the first time in its long history of pure envy the British Academy can cock a snook at its far more glamorous American counterpart. You don’t need to be Barry Norman to work out that the big films fighting for the top honours at the Bafta awards on February 8 will also be walking up the aisle two weeks later in Los Angeles.

Penelope Cruz was nominated again, making her chances to be nominated at the Oscar’s even better. I did scour the internet and got the complete list of BAFTA nominees. Here you go:

BEST FILM

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

DIRECTOR

Clint Eastwood, Changeling
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Joel and Ethan Coen, Burn After Reading
J. Michael Straczynski, Changeling
Philippe Claudel, I’ve Loved You So Long
Martin McDonagh, In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black, Milk

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
David Hare, The Reader
Justin Haythe, Revolutionary Road
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

LEADING ACTOR

Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

LEADING ACTRESS

Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved You So Long
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Brad Pitt, Burn After Reading

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams, Doubt
Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Freida Pinto, Slumdog Millionaire
Tilda Swinton, Burn After Reading
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

MUSIC

Alexandre Desplat, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard, The Dark Knight
Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia!
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Thomas Newman, Wall-E

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

EDITING

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
In Bruges
Slumdog Millionaire

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

COSTUME DESIGN

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

SOUND

Changeling
The Dark Knight
Quantum of Solace
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Quantum of Solace

MAKE UP & HAIR

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Frost/Nixon
Milk

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

Hunger
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Man on Wire
Slumdog Millionaire

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

The Baader Meinhof Complex
Gomorrah
I’ve Loved You So Long
Persepolis
Waltz With Bashir

ANIMATED FILM

Persepolis
WALL-E
Waltz With Bashir

SHORT ANIMATION

Codswallop
Varmints
Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death

THE CARL FOREMAN AWARD
(For special achievement by a British director, writer or producer for their first feature film.)

Simon Chinn, producer; Man on Wire
Judy Craymer, producer; Mamma Mia!
Garth Jennings, writer; Son of Rambow
Steve McQueen, director/writer; Hunger
Solon Papadopoulos, Roy Boulter, producers; Of Time and the City

SHORT FILM

Kingsland #1 The Dreamer
Love You More
Ralph
September
Voyages D’affaires (The Business Trip)

THE ORANGE RISING STAR AWARD

Michael Cera
Noel Clarke
Michael Fassbender
Rebecca Hall
Toby Kebbell

By Jack Rico

2009/01/14 at 12:00am

Movies

Shalim Ortiz’s new movie is #1 on TV

01.14.2009 | By Jack Rico |

“Sssshhhhhhh…” Shalim Ortiz, an international star, and one of the bright young stars of the hit TV show, ‘Heroes’ in Season 2, was recently given some good news this week: his new TV movie “Expecting a Miracle” on the Hallmark Channel on January 10th, ranked as the #1 cable program of the night, #1 cable movie of the week, and boosted the family-friendly network to rank #1 in Prime Time for the day. As we understand it, it will air 2 more times on Friday Jan. 16 and Thursday Jan. 22 on the Hallmark Channel at 9pm.

If you want to know what Shalim is up to, check out his website:

http://www.shalim.net/

We extend our congrats to Shalim and his big ratings success!

Also, check out the cool pics form the movie:

‘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.

‘Halloween 2’ is coming to a theater near you!

By Mack Chico

2008/12/16 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Halloween 2’ is coming to a theater near you!

12.16.2008 | By Mack Chico |

We just got word that Dimension Films will make “H2,” the sequel to Rob Zombie’s 2007 remake of “Halloween.” The film made $58.3 million domestically and was considered a success. Will the sequel do better?

Here’s a look at the press release Dimension sent us:

Once again, Rob Zombie has been tapped to write and direct. Malek Akkad of Trancas International Films, who also produced 2007’s Halloween with Dimension, will produce the sequel, along with Andy Gould of Spectacle Entertainment Group, Zombie’s long time manager and producing partner. The announcement was made today by Bob Weinstein, Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company.

Dimension’s “Halloween” scored the highest Labor Day weekend opening ever with a record-breaking $30.6 million in its first four days of release and went on to gross nearly $60 million at the domestic box office in 2007.

Zombie’s “H2” will pick up at the exact moment the first movie stopped and follow the aftermath of Michael Myers murderous rampage through the eyes of heroine Laurie Strode.

“H2” will be Zombie’s fifth written and directed feature. Prior to the success of Halloween, Zombie released the critically-acclaimed film “The Devil’s Rejects” (2005), the follow-up to his cult classic “House of 1000 Corpses” (2004). Zombie just wrapped production on his animated feature film “The Haunted World of El Superbeasto” due to be released in 2009. Zombie, also an accomplished recording artist, has sold over fifteen million albums worldwide, making him one of Geffen Records’ top selling and longest running artists.

Bob Weinstein stated: “Following the success of 2007’s ‘Halloween,’ we are thrilled to be back in business with Rob Zombie, bringing a sequel to theatres. The fans have made it clear – and we agree – that they feel the franchise is in great hands with Rob Zombie.”

Rob Zombie said, ”I am very excited to be working with Bob Weinstein again and returning to the world of ‘Halloween.’ The remake laid the groundwork, now it’s time to really take Michael Myers to the next level. I believe we’ve just barely scratched the surface of where we can take this series.“

John Carpenter’s “Halloween” launched the Halloween franchise in 1978 and Moustapha Akkad, founder of Trancas International Films, executive produced the original classic. Akkad’s son Malek has continued with the franchise, producing “Halloween” (2007), “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (1998) and now, “H2.”

“I am thrilled to be making ‘H2’ at Dimension, the home of the ‘Halloween’ franchise for the last 15 years,” commented Malek Akkad. “I look forward to working again with Bob Weinstein, as well as a filmmaker of Rob Zombie’s talent and stature.”

New York Film Critics choose ‘Milk’ as best picture

By Mack Chico

2008/12/11 at 12:00am

Movies

New York Film Critics choose ‘Milk’ as best picture

12.11.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Here’s the winners’ list:

Best picture: “Milk”
Best director: Mike Leigh, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Best actor: Sean Penn, “Milk”
Best actress: Sally Hawkins, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Best supporting actor: Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Best supporting actress: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Best screenplay: Jenny Lumet, “Rachel Getting Married”
Best cinematographer: Anthony Dod Mantle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best animated film: “WALL-E”
Best foreign film: “4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days”
Best documentary: “Man on Wire”
Best first film: Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”

Best Picture: “Milk” won on ballot four with 29 points. “Rachel Getting Married” had 25 points while both “Happy-Go-Lucky” and “Slumdog Millionaire” had 20 points. LA champ “WALL-E” had to settle for a win as best animated picture.

Best Director: Mike Leigh (“Happy-Go-Lucky”) won on ballot four with 31 points. LA winner Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire”) had 30 points and David Fincher (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) had 26 points. (Ballot two had Boyle ahead by two and ballot three had Fincher up by one.)

Best Actor: LA pick Sean Penn (“Milk”) won on ballot four with 59 points. Mickey Rourke (“The Wrestler”) had 50 points and Clint Eastwood (“Gran Torino”) had 17 points.

Best Actress: LA champ Sally Hawkins (“Happy-Go-Lucky”) won on ballot two with 39 points. Melissa Leo ( “Frozen River”) had 32 points while Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”) and Kate Winslet (“Revolutionary Road”) each had 22 points.

Best Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin (“Milk”) won on ballot three with 33 points. LA winner Heath Ledger (“The Dark Knight” ) had 26 points and Robert Downey, Jr. (“Tropic Thunder”) had 24 points. (On ballot two, Brolin, Ledger and Eddie Marsan (“Happy-Go-Lucky”) were tied with 29 points each.)

Best Supporting Actress: LA victor Penelope Cruz (“Vicky Christina Barcelona”) won on ballot two with 40 points. Viola Davis (“Doubt”) had 31 points and both Rosemarie DeWitt & Debra Winger (“Rachel Getting Married”) had 28 points.

Best Screenplay: Jenny Lumet (“Rachel Getting Married”) won on ballot four with 44 points. LA winner Mike Leigh (“Happy-Go-Lucky”) had 38 points and Robert Seigel (“The Wrestler”) had 19 points.

Best Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire” won on ballot three with 37 points.”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” had 28 points and “The Dark Knight” had 16 points.

Best Animated Picture: LA best pic “WALL-E” won on ballot one with 17 points over LA animated pic “Waltz with Bashir” with 11 points.

Best Foreign Film: “4 Months, 3 Weeks, Two Days” won on ballot four with 45 points. Two French films followed – “A Christmas Tale” had 34 points and “The Class” had 23 points.

Best Documentary: LA pick ” Man on Wire” won on ballot two with 45 points. “Waltz With Bashir” had 25 points and “Trouble The Water” had 22 points.

Best First Picture: “Frozen River” won on ballot two with 39 points. “Ballast” had 26 points and “Reprise” had 18 points.

Mendes, Vega and Scarlett promote ‘The Spirit’ in Madrid

By Mack Chico

2008/12/03 at 12:00am

Movies

Mendes, Vega and Scarlett promote ‘The Spirit’ in Madrid

12.3.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Living it up in Madrid as they promote their new movie, Scarlett Johansson, Paz Vega and Eva Mendes were all on hand for a photocall for “The Spirit” on Tuesday (December 2).

The co-star cuties made their way to the Santo Mauro Hotel press room, playfully posing for photographers along the way.

As for the movie, “The Spirit” tells the story of “a rookie cop named Denny Colt, who returns from the beyond as The Spirit, a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces in Central City.”

Directed by Frank Miller, the film is scheduled to be released in theaters on Christmas Day (December 25).

‘Four Christmas’ merries in a #1 gift at the box office

By Mack Chico

2008/12/01 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Four Christmas’ merries in a #1 gift at the box office

12.1.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Thanksgiving weekend movie crowds gobbled up the Reese Witherspoon-Vince Vaughn holiday comedy “Four Christmases,” which premiered at No. 1 with $31.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The film raised its total to $46.7 million since opening Wednesday.

In terms of revenue, it was Hollywood’s second-biggest Thanksgiving period ever. The top 12 movies took in $223.7 million from Wednesday to Sunday, trailing only the $232.2 million haul over 2000.

“Twilight,” which had a huge No. 1 opening the previous weekend, took a steep 62 percent decline from its $69.6 million premiere.

Based on Sunday’s estimates, Disney’s animated “Bolt” had a slight lead on second place with $26.6 million for the weekend, to $26.4 million for “Twilight.”

In San Francisco, Focus Features’ film “Milk,” directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Sean Penn as slain Supervisor Harvey Milk, set a box-office record at the Castro Theatre. From Wednesday through Friday, the single-screen theater grossed $109,440 on “Milk,” breaking the previous three-day record of $50,584 set in May by “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” according to film promoters Terry Hines and Associates.

The film opened nationally on 36 screens, two of which, the Sundance Kabuki and the Embarcadero, didn’t begin showing the film until Friday. “Milk” opened at No. 10 nationwide with $1.4 million in just 36 theaters. The film had a strong average of $38,375 a cinema, compared with $9,571 in 3,310 theaters for “Four Christmases.”

The weekend’s other new wide release, “Australia,” opened at No. 5 with $14.8 million for the weekend and $20 million since premiering Wednesday.