The idea for Jason Thomas Gordon’s new book, “The Singers Talk” — which features new interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Roger Daltrey, Chrissie Hynde, Willie Nelson, Mavis Staples, Ozzy Osbourne, Robert Smith, Geddy Lee, Michael Stipe, Thom Yorke, Rod Stewart, Steve Perry, and many other superstar vocalists — came to him one night after meeting Eddie Vedder at a party.
“I went from being the drummer of my band to begrudgingly becoming the lead singer as well,” Gordon, who fronts the L.A. rock band Kingsize, tells Rolling Stone. “Once I started taking it serious,...
“I went from being the drummer of my band to begrudgingly becoming the lead singer as well,” Gordon, who fronts the L.A. rock band Kingsize, tells Rolling Stone. “Once I started taking it serious,...
- 9/8/2023
- by Jason Thomas Gordon
- Rollingstone.com
Before his passing in late March, the late Japanese composer and electronic music pioneer Ryuichi Sakamoto had been putting together a playlist of music to be played at his own funeral. Now, Sakamoto’s management has shared that “last playlist,” simply titled “funeral.”
“We would like to share the playlist that Ryuichi had been privately compiling to be played at his own funeral to accompany his own passing,” Sakamoto’s team wrote in an accompanying message. “He truly was with music until the very end.”
Opening with an 11-minute track by Sakamoto’s frequent collaborator Alva Noto, the 33-song playlist features classical music from Johann Sebastian Bach, Claude Debussy, and Maurice Ravel. It also includes the work of renowned film composers Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota, jazz music from Bill Evans Trio, and David Sylvian’s “Orpheus” — the latter of which features Sakamoto himself on piano and synths. Closing out...
“We would like to share the playlist that Ryuichi had been privately compiling to be played at his own funeral to accompany his own passing,” Sakamoto’s team wrote in an accompanying message. “He truly was with music until the very end.”
Opening with an 11-minute track by Sakamoto’s frequent collaborator Alva Noto, the 33-song playlist features classical music from Johann Sebastian Bach, Claude Debussy, and Maurice Ravel. It also includes the work of renowned film composers Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota, jazz music from Bill Evans Trio, and David Sylvian’s “Orpheus” — the latter of which features Sakamoto himself on piano and synths. Closing out...
- 5/15/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Ryuichi Sakamoto, one of Japan’s most influential and beloved composers, has passed away at 71 from cancer. The news broke on Twitter via the composer’s recording company:
pic.twitter.com/Fq0hRyp5F4
— commmons (@commmons) April 2, 2023
Sakamoto had a long, legendary career as a composer, famously winning an Oscar for his score to Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor. Sakamoto, who was a major celebrity in Japan, also co-starred in the film, as well as another movie he composed a famous soundtrack for, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, which starred David Bowie. In that one, Sakamoto gave a well-received performance as a Japanese Pow camp commander during WW2 who develops an unrequited romantic obsession with Bowie’s heroic Pow.
Additionally, Sakamoto also composed music for Martin Scorsese’s Silence, The Revenant, Snake Eyes, Femme Fatale, and even the recent Netflix thriller Beckett. Recently, he also wrote the theme for A24’s After Yang,...
pic.twitter.com/Fq0hRyp5F4
— commmons (@commmons) April 2, 2023
Sakamoto had a long, legendary career as a composer, famously winning an Oscar for his score to Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor. Sakamoto, who was a major celebrity in Japan, also co-starred in the film, as well as another movie he composed a famous soundtrack for, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, which starred David Bowie. In that one, Sakamoto gave a well-received performance as a Japanese Pow camp commander during WW2 who develops an unrequited romantic obsession with Bowie’s heroic Pow.
Additionally, Sakamoto also composed music for Martin Scorsese’s Silence, The Revenant, Snake Eyes, Femme Fatale, and even the recent Netflix thriller Beckett. Recently, he also wrote the theme for A24’s After Yang,...
- 4/2/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.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
Ryan Lambie Nov 16, 2017
There's more to handhelds than the Game Boy. We take a look at how mobile gaming has changed over the decades...
It goes without saying that handheld games have come a long way over the past 35 or-so years. From electronic bleepy things that were little more than glorified calculators, portable technology is now almost unrecognisable in 2017.
See related Star Wars: Rogue One review Star Wars: Rogue One - what did you think?
Back in 1989, the world collectively shrieked with excitement at the thought of playing Tetris on a bus. By the early years of the 21st century, we were finally able to type angry messages on Twitter from the top deck of the number 45 from Wellingborough without a second thought.
Yes, mobile phones and tablets have changed the way we do just about everything, from navigating around cities to connecting with friends. But while those...
There's more to handhelds than the Game Boy. We take a look at how mobile gaming has changed over the decades...
It goes without saying that handheld games have come a long way over the past 35 or-so years. From electronic bleepy things that were little more than glorified calculators, portable technology is now almost unrecognisable in 2017.
See related Star Wars: Rogue One review Star Wars: Rogue One - what did you think?
Back in 1989, the world collectively shrieked with excitement at the thought of playing Tetris on a bus. By the early years of the 21st century, we were finally able to type angry messages on Twitter from the top deck of the number 45 from Wellingborough without a second thought.
Yes, mobile phones and tablets have changed the way we do just about everything, from navigating around cities to connecting with friends. But while those...
- 11/15/2017
- Den of Geek
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
There have been some very good super-hero adaptations, some very bad ones, and some very weird ones. Here are five film and TV reworkings of popular super heroes that made fans scratch their heads and say “Wha…?”
The 3 Mighty Men (Aka 3 Dev Adam): Better known as Turkish Spider-Man, this strange, low-budget 1973 super hero flick has Captain America teaming up with popular masked Mexican wrestler El Santo, to fight the evil villain—Spider-Man? Yes, Spider-Man is the villain in this one. With the help of a slim Kingpin and some female henchwomen, Spidey stabs, strangles and even uses carnivorous gerbils to slay his victims. I’m not sure why Captain America is operating in Turkey, or why he doesn’t have a shield, or why he’s teaming with a Mexican wrestler, or why Spider-Man is criminal now, and what the hell what up with those puppets? (Don’t ask!
The 3 Mighty Men (Aka 3 Dev Adam): Better known as Turkish Spider-Man, this strange, low-budget 1973 super hero flick has Captain America teaming up with popular masked Mexican wrestler El Santo, to fight the evil villain—Spider-Man? Yes, Spider-Man is the villain in this one. With the help of a slim Kingpin and some female henchwomen, Spidey stabs, strangles and even uses carnivorous gerbils to slay his victims. I’m not sure why Captain America is operating in Turkey, or why he doesn’t have a shield, or why he’s teaming with a Mexican wrestler, or why Spider-Man is criminal now, and what the hell what up with those puppets? (Don’t ask!
- 10/27/2017
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla in the original 1954 film
Fans have been exchanging condolences today over the death of Haruo Nakajima, who has passed away at the age of 88. The Yamagata-born actor was one of Japan's biggest stars - literally, portraying Godzilla in 12 films and also playing several of the much-loved monster's kaiju friends and enemies.
Highly respected at Toho Studios, where he was regarded as one of the best in the business, he may rarely have shown his face onscreen but his acting inside a rubber suit made Godzilla much more than just a source of scares, giving him a personality that endeared him to millions around the globe. In later life, the actor discovered the convention circuit, where he won many fans of his own, always providing great entertainment. He also published an autobiography, Monster Life: Haruo Nakajima, The Original Godzilla Actor.
Nakajima also acted in more conventional roles,...
Fans have been exchanging condolences today over the death of Haruo Nakajima, who has passed away at the age of 88. The Yamagata-born actor was one of Japan's biggest stars - literally, portraying Godzilla in 12 films and also playing several of the much-loved monster's kaiju friends and enemies.
Highly respected at Toho Studios, where he was regarded as one of the best in the business, he may rarely have shown his face onscreen but his acting inside a rubber suit made Godzilla much more than just a source of scares, giving him a personality that endeared him to millions around the globe. In later life, the actor discovered the convention circuit, where he won many fans of his own, always providing great entertainment. He also published an autobiography, Monster Life: Haruo Nakajima, The Original Godzilla Actor.
Nakajima also acted in more conventional roles,...
- 8/7/2017
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
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
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
Director Nitesh Tiwari and Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan have made movie history once again with sports drama “Dangal.” The movie became the highest grossing Indian film worldwide when it surpassed the $120 million made by “PK” in 2014, but it officially surpassed the $300 million mark this week to become only the fifth non-English movie in history to do so. According to a report from Forbes, global ticket sales for “Dangal” now stand at $301 million, with $179.8 million coming from China and $84.4 million from India.
“Dangal” tells the true story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, an amateur wrestler who trains his two daughters to be world-class wrestlers despite societal oppression. Disney opened the inspirational drama in U.S. theaters last Christmas, and it earned over $12 million at the domestic box office. Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra co-star.
“Dangal” tells the true story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, an amateur wrestler who trains his two daughters to be world-class wrestlers despite societal oppression. Disney opened the inspirational drama in U.S. theaters last Christmas, and it earned over $12 million at the domestic box office. Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra co-star.
- 6/13/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Terror Films and iflix recently forged a partnership to distribute films digitally in multiple global markets, including Unearthed and Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary. Also: Monster Hunt DVD release details, The Passing clips, Matthew Quinn's The Thing in the Woods, and the winners recap for the 5th Annual Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival.
Terror Films and iflix's Global Distribution Digital Deal: Press Release: "Los Angeles, California (Friday, May 26th, 2017): Genre distributor Terror Films has teamed up with the world’s leading Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) service, for emerging markets, iflix. This newly formed partnership will allow the distributor to expand their digital reach into multiple territories within iflix’s footprint including South East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, with future territories to be announced.
The films set to launch under the deal will include a wide variety from the label. They will include: the post- apocalyptic film,...
Terror Films and iflix's Global Distribution Digital Deal: Press Release: "Los Angeles, California (Friday, May 26th, 2017): Genre distributor Terror Films has teamed up with the world’s leading Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) service, for emerging markets, iflix. This newly formed partnership will allow the distributor to expand their digital reach into multiple territories within iflix’s footprint including South East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, with future territories to be announced.
The films set to launch under the deal will include a wide variety from the label. They will include: the post- apocalyptic film,...
- 6/8/2017
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
“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
Exclusive: Off-beat romantic comedy set to premiere in Cannes Critics’ Week.
Paris-based Elle Driver has snapped up international sales on Atsuko Hirayanagi’s off-beat comedy romance Oh Lucy! ahead of its premiere in Cannes Critics’ Week.
Top Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima stars as Setsuko, a lonely, chain-smoking office worker in Tokyo, who brings fresh meaning to her life when she starts taking English lessons, dons a blond wig and adopts a new American persona called Lucy.
In the process, she also falls for her American English teacher played by Josh Hartnett. When he suddenly disappears, she teams up with her sister to track him down in a journey that will take them to some of the sleazier parts of outer Los Angeles.
The feature builds on Hirayanagi’s short film of the same name which premiered in Cannes in 2014, after winning the second prize in the festival’s Cinéfondation Selection initiative focused on shorts and medium-length works from...
Paris-based Elle Driver has snapped up international sales on Atsuko Hirayanagi’s off-beat comedy romance Oh Lucy! ahead of its premiere in Cannes Critics’ Week.
Top Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima stars as Setsuko, a lonely, chain-smoking office worker in Tokyo, who brings fresh meaning to her life when she starts taking English lessons, dons a blond wig and adopts a new American persona called Lucy.
In the process, she also falls for her American English teacher played by Josh Hartnett. When he suddenly disappears, she teams up with her sister to track him down in a journey that will take them to some of the sleazier parts of outer Los Angeles.
The feature builds on Hirayanagi’s short film of the same name which premiered in Cannes in 2014, after winning the second prize in the festival’s Cinéfondation Selection initiative focused on shorts and medium-length works from...
- 5/3/2017
- ScreenDaily
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
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
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
Berlin’s Panorama lineup also includes new films from Us, China and Brazil.
Berlin’s Panorama strand is now complete following the addition of 24 additional titles.
A total of 51 works from 43 countries have been chosen for screening in the section, including 21 in Panorama Dokumente and 29 feature films in the main programme and Panorama Special. 36 of these films will be getting their world premieres at the Berlinale.
The German production Tiger Girl by Jakob Lass will open this year’s edition of Panorama Special at Berlin’s Zoo Palast cinema, along with the previously announced Brazilian production Vazante.
Among newly confirmed films are UK Sundance title God’s Own Country, Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, Cate Shortland’s Berlin Syndrome, feminist fairy tale The Misandrists by Berlinale regular Bruce Labruce, Erik Poppe’s The King’s Choice and Belgian-French-Lebanese co-production Insyriated which stars Hiam Abbass as a woman trapped in an apartment during war.[p...
Berlin’s Panorama strand is now complete following the addition of 24 additional titles.
A total of 51 works from 43 countries have been chosen for screening in the section, including 21 in Panorama Dokumente and 29 feature films in the main programme and Panorama Special. 36 of these films will be getting their world premieres at the Berlinale.
The German production Tiger Girl by Jakob Lass will open this year’s edition of Panorama Special at Berlin’s Zoo Palast cinema, along with the previously announced Brazilian production Vazante.
Among newly confirmed films are UK Sundance title God’s Own Country, Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, Cate Shortland’s Berlin Syndrome, feminist fairy tale The Misandrists by Berlinale regular Bruce Labruce, Erik Poppe’s The King’s Choice and Belgian-French-Lebanese co-production Insyriated which stars Hiam Abbass as a woman trapped in an apartment during war.[p...
- 1/25/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
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
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
Exclusive: Adam McKay and Will Ferrell are executive producing the feature adaptation of Atsuko Hirayanagi’s short film, which stars Shinobu Terajima and Josh Hartnett.
Shinobu Terajima and Josh Hartnett are heading the cast of Us-Japan co-production Oh Lucy!, which marks the feature debut of Japanese director Atsuko Hirayanagi.
A feature-length version of Hirayanagi’s short film, also titled Oh Lucy!, the film is produced by the Us’ Matchgirl Pictures, Gloria Sanchez Productions and Meridian Content.
The comedy drama tells the story of a lonely, chain-smoking office lady in Tokyo (Terajima) who falls for her teacher (Hartnett) when she decides to take English lessons. When her teacher disappears, she sets out on a journey to find him that takes her to Southern California.
Producers on the film include Yukie Kito (Tokyo Sonata), Jessica Elbaum (Welcome To Me), Hirayangi and Han West (Lemon), while Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Meileen Choo and Razmig Hovaghimian are on board as executive...
Shinobu Terajima and Josh Hartnett are heading the cast of Us-Japan co-production Oh Lucy!, which marks the feature debut of Japanese director Atsuko Hirayanagi.
A feature-length version of Hirayanagi’s short film, also titled Oh Lucy!, the film is produced by the Us’ Matchgirl Pictures, Gloria Sanchez Productions and Meridian Content.
The comedy drama tells the story of a lonely, chain-smoking office lady in Tokyo (Terajima) who falls for her teacher (Hartnett) when she decides to take English lessons. When her teacher disappears, she sets out on a journey to find him that takes her to Southern California.
Producers on the film include Yukie Kito (Tokyo Sonata), Jessica Elbaum (Welcome To Me), Hirayangi and Han West (Lemon), while Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Meileen Choo and Razmig Hovaghimian are on board as executive...
- 12/16/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Woe betide the critic assigned an auteur’s passion project. To finally experience the long-awaited work of a favorite artist always proves slightly psychotic for yours truly, distilling as it does the central components — shots, the movements (or lack thereof) within, the cuts linking them together, the framework for which it’s in service — even at their most banal, to a sort of revelation: “So this is what they’ve concocted.” Invest enough in that artist and the concept of how long they’ve sat on material, and the remaining balance has a way of being completely thrown off.
It doesn’t help that Silence, a picture Martin Scorsese has pursued since before I was born, boasts a visual and emotional complexity that has the effect of being open for all and permitting to none — in which Catholicism’s foremost living filmmaker positions faith and spiritual vocation as the central...
It doesn’t help that Silence, a picture Martin Scorsese has pursued since before I was born, boasts a visual and emotional complexity that has the effect of being open for all and permitting to none — in which Catholicism’s foremost living filmmaker positions faith and spiritual vocation as the central...
- 12/10/2016
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
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
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
This year’s festival will include an inaugural virtual reality strand and a co-production forum focused on UK-Ibero-American relations.Scroll down for line-up
The 24th Raindance Film Festival has revealed its line-up, with 90 feature films set to be screened in London September 21 – October 2.
This year’s jury will be comprised of Stephen Fry (V For Vendetta), Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous), Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch), Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies), Jack Davenport (Pirates Of The Caribbean), Nicholas Pinnock (Top Boy) and American artist David Datuna.
They will preside over awards for a competition line-up that features the international premiere of Stephen Elliott’s After Adderall, a semi-autobiographical story about the production of the film adaptation of Elliott’s memoirs. Receiving its European premiere will be Japanese director Yoshiyuki Kishi’s A Double Life, about a young woman who is assigned to follow a stranger.
Among the seven UK premieres playing in competition are Indian drama [link=tt...
The 24th Raindance Film Festival has revealed its line-up, with 90 feature films set to be screened in London September 21 – October 2.
This year’s jury will be comprised of Stephen Fry (V For Vendetta), Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous), Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch), Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies), Jack Davenport (Pirates Of The Caribbean), Nicholas Pinnock (Top Boy) and American artist David Datuna.
They will preside over awards for a competition line-up that features the international premiere of Stephen Elliott’s After Adderall, a semi-autobiographical story about the production of the film adaptation of Elliott’s memoirs. Receiving its European premiere will be Japanese director Yoshiyuki Kishi’s A Double Life, about a young woman who is assigned to follow a stranger.
Among the seven UK premieres playing in competition are Indian drama [link=tt...
- 8/25/2016
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
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
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
From Rainmaker Entertainment and Blockade Entertainment, Ratchet & Clank is a CG-animated movie based on the iconic PlayStation video game.
Two unlikely heroes struggle to stop a vile alien named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. Ratchet is the last of his kind, a foolhardy “lombax” who has grown up alone on a backwater planet with no family of his own. Clank is a pint-sized robot with more brains than brawn. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way, they will learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one’s own identity.
The film features the voicecast of Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Bella Thorne, Rosario Dawson, Jim Ward, James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye, Armin Shimerman, and Sylvester Stallone.
Two unlikely heroes struggle to stop a vile alien named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. Ratchet is the last of his kind, a foolhardy “lombax” who has grown up alone on a backwater planet with no family of his own. Clank is a pint-sized robot with more brains than brawn. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way, they will learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one’s own identity.
The film features the voicecast of Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Bella Thorne, Rosario Dawson, Jim Ward, James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye, Armin Shimerman, and Sylvester Stallone.
- 4/28/2016
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
I’ve always wanted to visit Tokyo, one of the most magnificent cities in the world. At the moment, the closest I’ve came to seeing the Japanese capital is experiencing it in movies and games. The new anime style game Tokyo… Continue Reading →
The post Angels and Demons Descend on Japan in New Game Tokyo Babel appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Angels and Demons Descend on Japan in New Game Tokyo Babel appeared first on Dread Central.
- 4/6/2016
- by David Gelmini
- DreadCentral.com
Kyas Sherriff (Head of the Indigenous Unit) Guillermo Arriaga, Sue Elphinstone (Indigenous Unit Project Officer). Photographer: Graeme Taylor.
Last week Aftrs relaunched its Indigenous Unit with the first instalment of its Black Talk series..
The Unit's new head, Kyas Sherriff, hosted a session with Mexican writer Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel), in town as a guest of Nitv.
Arriaga was in mischevious form, riffing for an hour on everything from his writing process, his fights with director Warwick Thornton, his creative divorce from Alejandro González Iñárritu, and the damage his "friend" Tarantino has had on cinema.
The screenwriter and novelist started the session off with a flourish, producing an aboriginal flag from his pocket and laying it in front of him, declaring "I want to show my love".
Arriaga was first brought to Australia by Sally Riley, who met Arriaga at the Sundance Labs the same year that Amores Perros bowed at the festival.
Last week Aftrs relaunched its Indigenous Unit with the first instalment of its Black Talk series..
The Unit's new head, Kyas Sherriff, hosted a session with Mexican writer Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel), in town as a guest of Nitv.
Arriaga was in mischevious form, riffing for an hour on everything from his writing process, his fights with director Warwick Thornton, his creative divorce from Alejandro González Iñárritu, and the damage his "friend" Tarantino has had on cinema.
The screenwriter and novelist started the session off with a flourish, producing an aboriginal flag from his pocket and laying it in front of him, declaring "I want to show my love".
Arriaga was first brought to Australia by Sally Riley, who met Arriaga at the Sundance Labs the same year that Amores Perros bowed at the festival.
- 2/22/2016
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
Above: UK one sheet for The Man Who Fell to Earth (Nicolas Roeg, UK, 1976). Designed and illustrated by Vic Fair.David Bowie, who left our planet this week, appeared in some 20 movies, but his appearances on movie posters are restricted to just a handful of films. Many of his roles, especially in later years, were cameos or small, but significant, character parts. He memorably played Pontius Pilate in Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Andy Warhol in Julian Schnabel’s Basquiat (1996), and Nikola Tesla in Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige (2006); he appeared as himself in films as varied as Christiane F. (1981), Zoolander (2001) and Bandslam (2009); and he was endearingly strange as an FBI agent in the opening section of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992).His most important and iconic film role by far is his starring role as the titular alien in Nicolas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell to Earth...
- 1/16/2016
- by Adrian Curry
- MUBI
Terra Formars
Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Kazuki Nakashima
Given his mindboggling output, it would be strange not to have a most anticipated list not featuring Japanese auteur Takashi Miike, who usually has several projects premiering during any given year. As far as we can tell, he only has one title scheduled for release in 2016, the intriguing Terra Formers, a live action manga adaptation which sounds an awful lot like Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers (1997). Humans deposit some moss and cockroaches on Mars in hopes of fostering an inhabitale environment for later use on the Red Planet. In the year 2599, they return to find a species of dangerous humanoid cockroaches. The production is the first Japanese film to shoot in Iceland. A cast headlined by Rinko Kikuchi (Babel; Pacific Rim) has us even more excited for what sounds like one of Miike’s most extravagantly gonzo creations yet.
Cast: Rinko Kikuchi,...
Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Kazuki Nakashima
Given his mindboggling output, it would be strange not to have a most anticipated list not featuring Japanese auteur Takashi Miike, who usually has several projects premiering during any given year. As far as we can tell, he only has one title scheduled for release in 2016, the intriguing Terra Formers, a live action manga adaptation which sounds an awful lot like Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers (1997). Humans deposit some moss and cockroaches on Mars in hopes of fostering an inhabitale environment for later use on the Red Planet. In the year 2599, they return to find a species of dangerous humanoid cockroaches. The production is the first Japanese film to shoot in Iceland. A cast headlined by Rinko Kikuchi (Babel; Pacific Rim) has us even more excited for what sounds like one of Miike’s most extravagantly gonzo creations yet.
Cast: Rinko Kikuchi,...
- 1/7/2016
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Most filmmakers spend the duration of a career emphasizing one walk of life over the infinite others, but occasionally there is an artist who seeks the truth through universality: the common thread that unifies a Mexican intersection, a Moroccan village, or an American theatre into a snapshot of what it truly means to be alive. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu is one such artist, pursuing the crevices of the human soul for nearly twenty years, and doggedly striving to capture fear, hope, and mortality on the silver screen. Some label it pessimistic cinema, but in the words of Iñárritu idol Oscar Wilde, “A pessimist is nothing but a well informed optimist.”
Starting his own production company in the 1990s, the Mexico City native would spend much of the decade churning out advertisements and short films – many of which, including Detras del Dinero (1995) and El Timbre (1996), provided glimpses of the director’s penchant for humanized drama.
Starting his own production company in the 1990s, the Mexico City native would spend much of the decade churning out advertisements and short films – many of which, including Detras del Dinero (1995) and El Timbre (1996), provided glimpses of the director’s penchant for humanized drama.
- 1/6/2016
- by Danilo Castro
- CinemaNerdz
2016 is shaping up to be a very exciting time at the movies thanks to the many blockbusters, sequels, and original movies that will be here before we know it. I think just about every genre is covered, there’s even a new Star Wars movie!
Here is an alphabetical list of the highly anticipated movies I’m looking forward to the most – Note: Release dates are more than likely to change on some of these.
Reach out to us and share the movies you’re most looking forward to on Twitter and Facebook.
31
31 is an upcoming independent horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie. The film was crowdfunded online two times at fanbacked.com. There’s just something I love about a Rob Zombie movie; he’s fearless and seems to make movies he would want to watch, I dig that. Here’s what the plot of 31 looks like:...
Here is an alphabetical list of the highly anticipated movies I’m looking forward to the most – Note: Release dates are more than likely to change on some of these.
Reach out to us and share the movies you’re most looking forward to on Twitter and Facebook.
31
31 is an upcoming independent horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie. The film was crowdfunded online two times at fanbacked.com. There’s just something I love about a Rob Zombie movie; he’s fearless and seems to make movies he would want to watch, I dig that. Here’s what the plot of 31 looks like:...
- 1/1/2016
- by Graham McMorrow
- City of Films
While the Alamo Drafthouse has become a familiar name to film fans for their unique theatrical style as well as their amusing PSAs on not using cell phones during a movie, the chain has moved into film distribution over the past five years, working to bring films such as Mood Indigo, Four Lions, and The Congress to wider audiences. Their latest offering comes from Japan.
Titled The World of Kanako, the film is the newest feature from Kamikaze Girls filmmaker Tetsuya Nakashima, his first film since 2010. Along with directing, Nakashima co-wrote the screenplay with Miako Tadano and Nobuhiro Monma, with the trio adapting it from the novel by Akio Fukamachi. The film’s synopsis is as follows.
An uncompromising revenge thriller of operatic scope, The World of Kanako is a non-stop visual and emotional assault to the senses as it follows troubled ex-detective Akikazu (Kôji Yakusho, 13 Assassins, Babel) on the...
Titled The World of Kanako, the film is the newest feature from Kamikaze Girls filmmaker Tetsuya Nakashima, his first film since 2010. Along with directing, Nakashima co-wrote the screenplay with Miako Tadano and Nobuhiro Monma, with the trio adapting it from the novel by Akio Fukamachi. The film’s synopsis is as follows.
An uncompromising revenge thriller of operatic scope, The World of Kanako is a non-stop visual and emotional assault to the senses as it follows troubled ex-detective Akikazu (Kôji Yakusho, 13 Assassins, Babel) on the...
- 10/28/2015
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
While the only film I’ve seen of Japanese director Tetsuya Nakashima was his 2010 drama Confessions, I was immediately taken by its ravishing visual style, enough to keep him on my radar when it comes to future output. The director is now back with the thriller The World of Kanako, which is finally getting a U.S. release in December.
As seen in the U.S. red band and theatrical trailer, the story follows an ex-detective who has set out track down his missing teenage daughter. With the film debuting back during last year’s fall festival circuit, we’ve heard its tough subject matter and unrelenting approach might not be for everyone, but if you’re taken with the trailers, keep it on your radar. Check them out below, along with the poster.
An uncompromising revenge thriller of operatic scope, The World of Kanako is a non-stop visual and...
As seen in the U.S. red band and theatrical trailer, the story follows an ex-detective who has set out track down his missing teenage daughter. With the film debuting back during last year’s fall festival circuit, we’ve heard its tough subject matter and unrelenting approach might not be for everyone, but if you’re taken with the trailers, keep it on your radar. Check them out below, along with the poster.
An uncompromising revenge thriller of operatic scope, The World of Kanako is a non-stop visual and...
- 10/28/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
I interviewed Takeshi Kitano, aka "Beat" Takeshi, in spring of 2001 regarding "Brother," his first film shot on American soil. Kitano is arguably, still, the biggest star in Japan, one whose influence crosscuts virtually all areas of media.
Memories: Kitano was surrounded by a small entourage of Japanese men, one of whom was his interpreter. He was formal and stoic in his interaction with me, but never unfriendly. As Sofia Coppola so deftly portrayed in "Lost in Translation," the English to Japanese process of translating can often be time-consuming for what amounts to seemingly little that's been said. Kitano rarely made eye contact or smiled, although when he would laugh softly, a crooked grin would form on one side of his mouth, the right. The other striking thing about Kitano's appearance was a tic, or slight tremor, that would appear on the left side of his face, the after-effect of a...
Memories: Kitano was surrounded by a small entourage of Japanese men, one of whom was his interpreter. He was formal and stoic in his interaction with me, but never unfriendly. As Sofia Coppola so deftly portrayed in "Lost in Translation," the English to Japanese process of translating can often be time-consuming for what amounts to seemingly little that's been said. Kitano rarely made eye contact or smiled, although when he would laugh softly, a crooked grin would form on one side of his mouth, the right. The other striking thing about Kitano's appearance was a tic, or slight tremor, that would appear on the left side of his face, the after-effect of a...
- 7/27/2015
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
In a recent post about Toyo Harada I talked about the order of Valiant character appearances in the original Valiant universe from the early 1990s. I thought about it some and decided to piece together three reviews I did of first three original (post-Magnus and Solar) Valiant properties in their initial arcs as titles. Please note that these are several years old so some of the references might not be up to date and I’m not a good writer now, so you can imagine how I was then. These cover the two hardcovers that the current Valiant owner released of the classic material, Harbinger: The Beginning and X-o Manowar: Birth, along with the classic first Tpb of Rai from the ’90s.
The first page of Harbinger #1 is a splash page, the backdrop is mundane: a traffic jam, trees, a helicopter hovering above, this is the real world, the...
The first page of Harbinger #1 is a splash page, the backdrop is mundane: a traffic jam, trees, a helicopter hovering above, this is the real world, the...
- 6/9/2015
- by Jay Tomio
- Boomtron
"I helped create you." The sinister side of artificial intelligence is teased in the first trailer for AMC's sci-fi series, Humans, premiering Sunday, June 28th at 9:00pm Est:
Press Release (via TV By the Numbers) -- New York, NY – May 14, 2015 – "AMC today announced its new eight-part drama series “Humans” will premiere Sunday, June 28th at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt. Set in suburban London, “Humans” takes place in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a Synth – a highly developed, artificially intelligent servant eerily similar to its living counterpart. Penned by British writing partners Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley (“Spooks,” Spooks: The Greater Good) and based on the award-winning Swedish sci-fi drama “Real Humans,” the series explores the emotional impact that comes as the lines between humans and machines become increasingly blurred. This bold new series is produced in conjunction with the...
Press Release (via TV By the Numbers) -- New York, NY – May 14, 2015 – "AMC today announced its new eight-part drama series “Humans” will premiere Sunday, June 28th at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt. Set in suburban London, “Humans” takes place in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a Synth – a highly developed, artificially intelligent servant eerily similar to its living counterpart. Penned by British writing partners Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley (“Spooks,” Spooks: The Greater Good) and based on the award-winning Swedish sci-fi drama “Real Humans,” the series explores the emotional impact that comes as the lines between humans and machines become increasingly blurred. This bold new series is produced in conjunction with the...
- 5/14/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
USA, 2015
Written by David and Nathan Zellner
Directed by David Zellner
Once upon a time, there was a Japanese woman who watched the movie Fargo. The movie begins with a title card pronouncing, “This Is A True Story,” and the fact that the Coen Brothers were playing a little prank with that statement was covered in American media only. So it came to pass that the woman believed the film to be true, and carried her belief to such a degree that she travelled to Minnesota alone, in search of the ransom money hidden by the Steve Buscemi character near the end of the film.
That preceding paragraph is an urban legend, birthed as a result of a real Japanese woman’s odd journey to Minnesota for reasons unrelated to Fargo or the Coen Brothers, and was later exaggerated into an Internet fairy tale (this person...
USA, 2015
Written by David and Nathan Zellner
Directed by David Zellner
Once upon a time, there was a Japanese woman who watched the movie Fargo. The movie begins with a title card pronouncing, “This Is A True Story,” and the fact that the Coen Brothers were playing a little prank with that statement was covered in American media only. So it came to pass that the woman believed the film to be true, and carried her belief to such a degree that she travelled to Minnesota alone, in search of the ransom money hidden by the Steve Buscemi character near the end of the film.
That preceding paragraph is an urban legend, birthed as a result of a real Japanese woman’s odd journey to Minnesota for reasons unrelated to Fargo or the Coen Brothers, and was later exaggerated into an Internet fairy tale (this person...
- 3/20/2015
- by Mark Young
- SoundOnSight
The 87th Academy Award nominations for 2015 were recently released on January 15, 2015 representing the excellence in film for the previous year. Naturally there was the standard controversy regarding those films and performances that got unfairly overlooked. Unfortunately, the perceived snubs do happen from year to year so this goes along with the territory. Nevertheless, the lucky selections that do manage to grab Oscar’s attention are understandably grateful and psyched to see if the golden statuette will in fact go home with them on the film industry’s biggest and most elegant evening.
With the obvious crankiness of Oscar omissions aside and the injustices that go with these “reel” deals has anyone ever considered the Academy Award nominees that are surprisingly recognized that could have gone unnoticed for whatever reasoning? After all there are films and exceptional performances that get lost in the shuffle but manage to get the accolades it...
With the obvious crankiness of Oscar omissions aside and the injustices that go with these “reel” deals has anyone ever considered the Academy Award nominees that are surprisingly recognized that could have gone unnoticed for whatever reasoning? After all there are films and exceptional performances that get lost in the shuffle but manage to get the accolades it...
- 1/25/2015
- by Frank Ochieng
- SoundOnSight
I've already listed my top ten most anticipated blockbusters of the new year and now I'll take a look at the rest of the field as I've done my best to whittle things down to an even twenty films. So before you get in a huff that your favorite franchises aren't listed, just remember you can view all my anticipated blockbusters right here, I simply didn't know how to write the headline other than to just say these were my most anticipated movies without any further distinction. That said, I think I have a nice rounded list for you here. Obviously several from the major studios, but also a few overseas entries to spice things up. Plenty of Tom Hardy and Jake Gyllenhaal and a couple starring Rachel Weisz along with several of my favorite directors coming with new films for the new year. If you're wondering where films such...
- 1/14/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
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