Casting Corner: Anthony Hopkins, January Jones and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Remakes, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

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

Anthony Hopkins: The Wolfman actor will soon play dad to another large character: Thor. Hopkins has been cast as Odin, father of the title character (Chris Hemsworth) who is sent down to Earth after reigniting an ancient war. The film - which also includes Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston - will open May 20, 2011.

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In Theaters This Weekend: October 2, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Disney, IFC Films, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

• Capitalism: A Love Story** (R): starring Michael Moore (directed by Michael Moore)
• The Invention of Lying (PG-13): starring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill (directed by Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson)
• Toy Story/Toy Story 2 in 3D (G): starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Ratzenberger (directed by John Lasseter)
• Whip It! (PG-13): starring Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis (directed by Drew Barrymore)
• Zombieland (R): starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone (directed by Ruben Fleischer)

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Box Office Breakdown: Meatballs Rolls to Another Victory

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Lionsgate, Sony, Touchstone, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Independent, Music, Period, Remakes, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Surrogates was no substitute for meatballs.

Despite competition from a Bruce Willis film, a music-based remake and a sci-fi horror entry, A Cloudy Chance of Meatballs remained the theatergoers’ order of choice for the second week in a row. The children’s book adaptation had Sony dining to the tune of $25 million—over $10 million more than the second place finisher.

Many thought Willis, who hasn’t had a major role since 2007’s Live Free or Die Hard, was on track to take first this weekend. Unfortunately, his hair movie was considered a big letdown given its $15 million gross and $80 million budget. Meanwhile, Fame, a remake of the 1980 hit, had no one feeling like they wanted to live forever. The MGM feature only rung up $10 million for third place.

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Read More | Variety

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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: September 29, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Magnolia, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Comedy, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, Lists, New Releases

Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available this Tuesday:

• Away We Go: DVD, Blu-ray
• The Dark Crystal: Blu-ray
• Filth and Wisdom: Blu-ray
• Fireproof: Blu-ray
• The Girlfriend Experience: DVD, Blu-ray
• Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: Blu-ray
• Labyrinth: Blu-ray
• Management: DVD, Blu-ray
• Monsters vs. Aliens: DVD, Blu-ray
• Shrink: DVD
• Snakes on a Plane: Blu-ray
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003): Blu-ray
• The Wizard of Oz (70th Anniversary Edition): DVD, Blu-ray

Make sure to also check out the TV-on-DVD options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

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Box Office Breakdown: Chance of Meatballs is Winning Recipe

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Lionsgate, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists

While it may not have had a Damon, an Aniston or a Fox, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs had something no other film did this weekend: a win. The animated adaptation raked in $30.3 million over the weekend easily pushing it to the top of the charts. The PG-rated entry towered over the box office and nearly tripled its nearest competitor (The Informant). The 3-D film also gave Sony Pictures Animation its biggest debut to date.

Elsewhere, two Hollywood beauties were struggling to make a respectable showing. Despite (or because of) a number of notable quotes, Megan Fox failed to muster any interest in her first starring vehicle. Jennifer’s Body, a horror film penned by Diablo Cody, raised a whopping $6.9 million for a fifth-place finish. (I’m not even sure that would be enough to fund one day of a Transformers production.) Megan Fox might not be a fan of Michael Bay, but she better be grateful she met him.

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Read More | Variety

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Box Office Breakdown: Tyler Perry Can Win All By Himself

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Horror, Period, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Leave it to Tyler Perry to take on the horror industry.

The actor/writer/director’s latest film, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, earned $23.4 million over the weekend—enough to stop The Final Destination from taking its third crown in a row. The urban comedy, starring Taraji P. Henson and Mary J. Blige, more than doubled its nearest competitor since opening Friday and gave Perry his third biggest debut to date.

I Can Do Bad also topped Sorority Row, the newest scare flick to enter the scene. Although the movie boasts more recognizable names (Audrina Patridge, Rumer Willis) than Destination, the R-rater barely scraped up $5.1 million for a 6th place finish.

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Read More | Variety

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In Theaters This Weekend: September 11, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Lionsgate, Warner Bros, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

• 9 (PG-13): starring Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau (directed by Shane Acker)
• I Can Do Bad All By Myself (PG-13): starring Tyler Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige (directed by Tyler Perry)
• Sorority Row (R): starring Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis, Audrina Patridge (directed by Stewart Hendler)
• Whiteout (R): starring Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt (directed by Dominic Sena)

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Box Office Breakdown: Final Destination Has Last Laugh

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Disney, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Theatergoers made The Final Destination the destination this weekend.

Even though it had no A-list names and was pitted against another horror film, the fourth Destination installment gave the franchise its best opening to date. The movie, which was boosted by 3D venues and pricing, grossed approximately $27.4 million since its Friday debut. Up until now, the series only saw openings under $20 million.

Warner Bros.’ win meant a loss for Halloween II. Rob Zombie’s latest splatter-flick scared up nearly $14 million less than 2007’s Halloween grossed. (This could be part of the reason why the director is being replaced for Halloween 3D.) Unfortunately, the $16.3 million take wasn’t even good enough for 2nd place. The sequel was actually topped by a different Weinstein Company film: Inglourious Basterds.

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Read More | Variety

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In Theaters This Weekend: August 28, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, IFC Films, New Line, Biopics, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Music, Period, Sequels, Comedy, Lists, New Releases

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

• The Final Destination (R): starring Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Hayley Webb (directed by David R. Ellis)
• Halloween II (R): starring Tyler Mane, Brad Dourif, Chris Hardwick (directed by Rob Zombie)

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In Theaters This Weekend: July 31, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, IFC Films, Fox Searchlight, Universal, Adventure, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Romance, Comedy, Lists, New Releases

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

• Aliens in the Attic (PG): starring Ashley Tisdale, Carter Jenkins, Austin Butler (directed by John Schultz)
• The Collector (R): starring Josh Stewart, Madeline Zima, Michael Reilly Burke (directed by Marcus Dunstan)
• Funny People (R): starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann (directed by Judd Apatow)

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