The Monica Edwards Weblog

One year ago, 300 pulled in an astounding $70 million dollars.  This past weekend, another period drama grossed exactly half that much.  Half, schmalf—it was still enough for a win.

Warner Bros.’ 10,000 BC easily topped its futuristic competitors with a $35 million take over this last weekend.  The total was leaps and bounds better than the amount produced by second place finisher, College Road Trip.  The Disney flick, starring Martin Lawrence and Raven-Symone, rang up only $13.6 million.

Meanwhile, last week’s #1, Semi-Pro, was already showing signs of fatigue.  The basketball comedy fell to 5th place and earned a disappointing $5.7 million.  Does this mean the Will Ferrell sports era is finally over?

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Theatergoers Take a Trip to 10,000 BC

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• 10,000 BC (PG-13): starring Steven Strait, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis (directed by Roland Emmerich)
• The Bank Job (R): starring Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Richard Lintern (directed by Roger Donaldson)
• College Road Trip (G): starring Martin Lawrence, Raven-Symoné, Donny Osmond (directed by Roger Kumble)

• Bar Starz* (PG-13): starring Derek Waters, Charlie Finn, Jana Kramer (directed by Michael Pietrzak)
• CJ7* (PG): starring Stephen Chow, Kitty Zhang Yuqi, Chi Chung Lam (directed by Stephen Chow)

  Click to continue reading In Theaters this Weekend (3/7)

  
  
  • Tools:
  • Permalink
  • Comments (0)
  • Digg This
  • Share on Facebook
  • Email this story

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• Fool’s Gold (PG-13):  starring Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland (directed by Andy Tennant)
• Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (PG-13):  starring Martin Lawrence, Margaret Avery, Mo’Nique (directed by Malcolm D. Lee)

• Bab’Aziz - The Prince Who Contemplated His Soul* (NR):  starring Maryam Hamid, Parviz Shahinkhou, Kaveh Khodashenas (directed by Nacer Khemir)
• The Band’s Visit* (PG-13):  starring Saleh Bakri, Khalifa Natour, Ronit Elkabetz (directed by Eran Kolirin)
• The Hottie & the Nottie* (PG-13):  starring Paris Hilton, Adam Kulbersh, Christine Lakin (directed by Tom Putnam)
• In Bruges* (R):  starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes (directed by Martin McDonagh).  Read the FilmCrunch review here.
• Military Intelligence and You!* (NR):  starring Patrick Muldoon, Elizabeth Bennett, Mackenzie Astin (directed by Dale Kutzera)
• Spiral* (PG-13):  starring Amber Tamblyn, Joel David Moore, Zachary Levi (director Joel David Moore, Adam Green)
• Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Tour* (R):  starring Ahmed Ahmed, Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau (directed by Ari Sandel)

*limited and/or gradual release

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Last week, FilmCrunch had the opportunity to interview Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell, director and star of the upcoming film In Bruges.

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are two hitmen sent to the Belgian city of Bruges after a botched job in London. They’ve been told by their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), to do some sight-seeing, lie low and await further instruction. But the city, full of ancient architecture and historical landmarks, can’t satiate Ray and his need for distraction. The men venture out and soon discover that beneath the city’s quaint exterior lies a strange and disturbing underbelly, a surreal setting that causes them to begin to question life and death, right and wrong, and the purpose behind their little “vacation.”

For more about the film, visit the official site or read the FilmCrunch review.

Click to continue reading Interview With Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell of ‘In Bruges’

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

I love when I come into a film having preconceptions, and they are totally obliterated and replaced with the feeling that I’ve found something unique, something I was unable to foresee. That may seem a bit dramatic—In Bruges is, after all, a fairly linear story. But writer/director Martin McDonagh injects a dark, reflective tone into what could’ve easily been a talk-’em-up, shoot-’em-up Guy Ritchie film; those who’ve seen the trailer know what I mean. And while Ritchie films are appealing in their own right, In Bruges deviates significantly, exhibiting characters who somehow transcend their quick wit and hardened exteriors to reveal—much like the city itself—great history and depth.

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are two hitmen sent to the Belgian city of Bruges after a botched job in London. They’ve been told by their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), to do some sight-seeing, lie low and await further instruction. But the city, full of ancient architecture and historical landmarks, can’t satiate Ray and his need for distraction. The job-gone-wrong had been Ray’s first assignment as hitman, but the unspeakable mess left in London is but a slight snag for long-timer Ken, numb to the violence of his profession.

Check out the FilmCrunch interview with Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell.

Click to continue reading Review: In Bruges

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

UPDATE:  The auction ended March 1.  The winning bid was $46,000.

Attention all Double-0’s: the exquisite green dress seen in the romantic weeper, Atonement, is now up for grabs.  Clothes Off Our Backs, an organization that sells celebrity frocks for children’s charities, has started an auction for the memorable garment.  Bids can be placed anytime through March 1.

Oh - I should probably mention that the item is considered a Size 2 (or so the site says), not a Double-0.  Apparently stick-thin Keira Knightley has more meat on her bones than I thought?

Now if that dress came with a James McAvoy, I might not care that it wouldn’t fit me.

(Click on the link below to place your bids.)

Read More | Clothes Off Our Backs

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Final numbers for the three-day weekend revealed what many had suspected: Cloverfield toppled New York and the competition.  The strong numbers were a result of Paramount’s smart marketing.  In addition to the eerie trailers, the film debuted in January - usually a fairly quiet month for decent films.  Cloverfield’s $46 million take has already covered the movie’s budget (estimated at around $25 million).  That dollar amount also earned the Matt Reeves flick the title for best MLK and January opener ever.

Although 27 Dresses raked in $20 million less than the horror flick, Katherine Heigl had nothing to cry about.  Thanks to more strategic marketing - this time by Fox - the film was able to take advantage of those looking for something less dark.  Dresses was originally scheduled to debut last week but was repositioned so it could open during the busy weekend.

Unfortunately, female focus on the romantic comedy didn’t help the female-filled Mad Money.  The movie - co-starring Queen Latifah, Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes - cashed out in 8th place.  This makes two disappointing debuts in a row for the Cruise Clan (the first being Tom’s Lions for Lambs).  Let us not forget that Katie opted to do this film instead of the Batman sequel for her post-Tom movie return.  Come to think of it, maybe it was for the best.  I could just hear Tom telling us now that if he had known Heath was doing drugs, he would have cured Ledger himself.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Cloverfield Attacks the Charts

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

The nominations for the 80th Annual Academy Awards were announced bright and early Tuesday morning from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.  Assuming the ceremony goes on as scheduled, you can see the live broadcast Sunday, February 24th on ABC.

Notable additions/omissions from today’s announcement:

• Based on the major categories alone, it looks like Michael Clayton may be the frontrunner.  It received six nominations.
• Aside from one nod each in the Best Supporting Actor category, both Into the Wild and Charlie Wilson’s War were virtually shut out from the top prizes.
• Sweeney Todd - winner for Best Comedy/Musical at the Golden Globes - was shut out for Best Picture.  Johnny Depp’s nom was the only major accolade for the film.
• A much-deserving Amy Adams did not receive a nom nor did her film, Enchanted.
• Atonement - the movie with the most nominations at the Globes - only received 3 in the major areas.  The two main stars (Knightley, McAvoy) were also shut out.
• Cate Blanchett earned two nominations this year (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I’m Not There).
• Angelina Jolie was not recognized for her heartbreaking performance in A Mighty Heart.
• And last but not least, great news for (my personal) standouts this year: Ellen Page (Juno), Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) and screenwriter Sarah Polley (Away From Her).

Click to continue reading The 80th Annual Academy Award Nominations

Read More | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

After placing 23rd last week, The Bucket List - starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman - soared 22 spots to take the #1 spot this past weekend.  It seems a simple case of addition was all that was needed to accomplish this feat.  Up until now, the movie had only been playing in 16 theaters total; it expanded to nearly 3000 on Friday.  Bucket’s impressive finish was not only a win for 70-year-olds everywhere, it was a win for director Rob Reiner.  His biggest opener had been 1992’s A Few Good Men.  (That film grossed $15.5 million.) Maybe Reiner should write Jack into all his films.

Debuting at #2 was the latest Ice Cube comedy.  First Sunday, co-starring Tracy Morgan (30 Rock), earned an impressive $8000 per screen average.  That was the best median performance for any movie in this week’s Top Ten.  (There Will Be Blood, this week’s #17, averaged $14,421 over the past three days.)

Will this yesterday’s Golden Globes have any effect on Sweeney Todd’s financial future?  After only 4 weeks in release, the dark feature dropped off the chart and landed at #12.  Assuming theatergoers are still interested in watching potential Oscar nominees, I’m guessing the win for Best Comedy/Musical will give the movie a nice boost next weekend.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Bucket List Rises to the Top

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

When the final numbers were tallied on Monday, something exciting happened at the top of the charts.  After a very close race, Juno surpassed I Am Legend for the second place finish.  (National Treasure was tops for its third week in a row.) Already in its fifth week, the comedic charmer continued its steady climb up the box office ladder.  After gaining five spots last week, Juno rose another two spots this weekend.  (A wider release contributed to this feat.) If the movie continues at its current pace, it is expected to be the most successful film from Fox Searchlight.  Sideways grossed $71.5 million while last year’s darling, Little Miss Sunshine, earned $59.9 million.

Meanwhile, another praised film is slowly making an ascent in its fifth week.  Atonement, starring ribby Keira Knightley and James McAvoy (the man who has replaced Ewan McGregor), made its first entry into the Top Ten.  Although the Golden Globe-nominated drama is only being seen in about 1/6 of the theaters Treasure is in, Atonement had a per screen average of $8687.  In comparison, the Nicolas Cage film only had a $5332 median.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Atonement Joins Juno in Top Ten

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story