This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: February 17, 2009
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Lionsgate, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Drama, Horror, Music, Period, Religious, Sequels, Comedy, Home Entertainment, Lists,
Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available this Tuesday:
- 21 Grams: Blu-ray
- Body of Lies: DVD, Blu-ray
- The Butterfly Effect: Blu-ray
- Changeling: DVD, Blu-ray
- Choke: DVD
- Cold Mountain: Blu-ray
- The Constant Gardener: Blu-ray
- Flash of Genius: DVD
- Freddy vs. Jason: Blu-ray
- Good Will Hunting: Blu-ray
- High School Musical 3: DVD, Blu-ray
- Hounddog: DVD, Blu-ray
Click to continue reading This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: February 17, 2009
Read More | Amazon
Advertisement
2009 Academy Award Nominations
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,
Despite no major wins for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at Jan. 11’s Golden Globes, the film lead all entries at this morning’s Academy Award nominations. The Brad Pitt feature will go into next month’s ceremony with 13 opportunities to walk away with at least one statue. (Slumdog Millionaire will have 10 chances.)
Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from today’s press conference:
- Kate Winslet (The Reader) - a double-winner just a few weeks ago - only received one nomination this morning. Meryl Streep will only get one chance as well for her role in Doubt.
- Although it wasn’t represented at the Globes, Frozen River was recognized several times today.
- Heath Ledger‘s nomination (on the anniversary of his death!) was expected; The Dark Knight‘s omission was a disappointment.
- Four acting nods for Doubt didn’t equate to an honor for the film.
- Several pleasant announcements in the Best Actor/Supporting Actor categories: Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) and Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder). Shannon got the only major nom for his picture.
Click to continue reading 2009 Academy Award Nominations
Read More | Oscars
2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Fox Searchlight, Miramax, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Period, Political, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Awards, Lists,
Although last January’s Screen Actors Guild Awards were spared from the writers’ dispute, SAG is facing its own strike this year. Regardless, the awards season must go on. Next month’s event - scheduled to air on Sunday, January 25th on both TNT and TBS - will come just three days after the Oscar nominations are announced.
Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from this year’s list of film nominees:
- Doubt led this year’s crop with three nominations. Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button came in second with two nods each.
- Richard Jenkin was honored for The Visitor while Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino) was left off.
- Heath Ledger added another nom to his belt. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. was nominated for his turn in Tropic Thunder.
- Kate Winslet was named for both The Reader and Revolutionary Road. Leonardo DiCaprio was left empty-handed.
- The Dark Knight, Revolutionary Road and The Reader were all left out of the Best Ensemble categories.
Click to continue reading 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)
Read More | Screen Actors Guild Awards
2009 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Foreign Language, Independent, Musicals, Period, Political, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Awards, Lists,
Although a looming SAG strike may threaten next year’s Academy Awards, the Golden Globes ceremony should finally go on as planned. The 66th annual event is scheduled to air on Sunday, January 11th, just 11 days before the Oscar nominations are announced.
Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from this year’s list of film nominees:
- Frost/Nixon and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button both led the field with five nominations each.
- Despite being chosen Best Film by the New York Film Critics, Sean Penn was the only nod Milk received by the HFPA.
- Meryl Streep earned two nominations for her work in Doubt and Mamma Mia.
- Kate Winslet is also up for two awards. Her films - Revolutionary Road and The Reader - are also up for Best Picture.
- Heath Ledger did get a posthumous nomination as expected.
- Although he was recently recognized for his acting work in Gran Torino, director Clint Eastwood (Changeling) was only acknowledged for his musical achievements.
(You can find the full list of film nominees after the jump. Click here for the TV nominations.)
Click to continue reading 2009 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)
Read More | Hollywood Foreign Press Association
Box Office Breakdown: A Bloody Good Weekend for Twilight
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Miramax, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Independent, Musicals, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Although Disney features typically find a place at the top of the pack, the studio’s cute puppy was outmatched by a hot vampire this weekend. After pulling in $35.9 million on Friday ($7 million of which was earned at midnight), Twilight went on to suck up nearly $70 million in total. The film’s first day take alone was enough for Summit Entertainment to immediately greenlight a sequel. (A script for New Moon had already been in the works.)
The Stephenie Meyers adaptation - which was originally slated to premiere on December 12 - undoubtedly owes Warner Bros. partial credit for its success. Had the studio not chosen to move Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince until next year, Twilight would most likely have debuted in fewer theaters. The Catherine Hardwicke film also wouldn’t have become the highest opener ever for a female director. (Deep Impact, helmed by Mimi Leder, took home $41.2 million in 1998.)
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: A Bloody Good Weekend for Twilight
Read More | Yahoo! Movies
Box Office Breakdown: Record Showing for 007
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Musicals, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
In the battle of Bond vs. Bourne, Jason won out this time…though not by much.
Although it was initially believed Quantum of Solace would break the $70 million mark, the final numbers for the Sony/MGM film came up slightly short. The 22nd Bond installment hauled in $67.5 million this weekend, just under $2 million shy of the debut for The Bourne Ultimatum. (The 2007 premiered to $69.3 million.)
But don’t feeling sorry for Daniel Craig. The actor has helped to revitalize the franchise in a big way. Quantum officially just became the best opener of all the 007 films. (Die Another Day grossed $47.1 million back in 2002.) The movie is also on pace to to beat the theatrical run record set by Casino Royale. (The 2006 film eventually pocketed $167.4 million domestically.)
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Record Showing for 007
Read More | Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Ticket Buyers Escape to Madagascar 2
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Universal, Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Musicals, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
Move over High School Musical 3. Another family-friendly movie is taking over.
This past weekend, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa stormed into theaters in a big way. The animated sequel took in a whopping $63.1 million, making it second biggest debuter this year. (The Dark Knight pulled in $75.2 million in July.) The film - which topped its 2005 predecessor by $2.1 million - also had the 7th best opening for a cartoon ever.
In other noteworthy news, last week’s #2 was pushed aside for another R-rated comedy. Role Models, starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott, surpassed expectations to rake in an impressive $19.2 million. That amount nearly doubled what Zack and Miri - this week’s #5 - earned during its first three days. Meanwhile, a movie that was critically-panned did fairly well in its limited release. Repo! The Genetic Opera - the wannabe cult musical featuring Paris Hilton - averaged $6,711 over 8 theaters. That’s a number most of the movies in the Top Ten couldn’t match.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Ticket Buyers Escape to Madagascar 2
Read More | Variety
Box Office Breakdown: High School Musical Makes it Two for Two
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Picturehouse, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Musicals, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
This past weekend, moviegoers showed very little interest in Halloween-themed fare. Despite several horror options, ticket buyers put a G-rated film on top once again.
Although Friday night was slow for cineplexes everywhere, theater attendance thankfully picked up by Saturday. And while there was tight battle for 2nd place, High School Musical 3 had an easy fight for #1. One week after its $42 million debut, the Disney feature added another $15.3 million to the bundle.
Coming in second was a movie on the opposite end of the wholesome spectrum. Zack and Miri Make a Porno - a movie that narrowly escaped an NC-17 rating - pulled in just over $10 million during the past three days. That turnout placed the raunchy comedy amongst Kevin Smith’s highest debuters. (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back earned $11.1 million in 2001 while 2006’s Clerks II raked in $10.1 million.)
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: High School Musical Makes it Two for Two
Read More | Variety
In Theaters this Weekend: October 31, 2008
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: MGM, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Independent, Period, Romance, Satire, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,
Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:
- The Haunting of Molly Hartley (PG-13): starring Haley Bennett, Jake Weber, Chace Crawford (directed by Mickey Liddell)
- Zack and Miri Make a Porno (R): starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes (directed by Kevin Smith)
- Changeling** (R): starring Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan (directed by Clint Eastwood)
- Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father* (NR): starring Kurt Kuenne, David Bagby, Kathleen Bagby (directed by Kurt Kuenne)
Click to continue reading In Theaters this Weekend: October 31, 2008
Box Office Breakdown: High School Musical at the Top of the Class
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Musicals, Political, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
This past week, the multiplexes had a little bit of something for everyone: politics, animals, music, dancing, thrillers, Oscar contenders and even horror. Not surprisingly, this meant a lot of dollars were shelled out in return.
As expected, the big screen debut of High School Musical 3 had tweeners (and their loving parents) all atwitter. Thanks to a $42 million debut, the G-rated film officially became the best musical opener of all time. (Mamma Mia! - with its $27.8 million - was the previous leader.)
Meanwhile, a film on the other end of the ratings spectrum was scaring up some decent dollars of its own. Saw V, which probably could have waited to premiere on Halloween, took in approximately $30 million over the last three days. Although it was pitted against the highly-anticipated Disney sequel, the movie carved out its own audience and raised first place-worthy numbers. Although the series is currently on its fifth life, the 2008 installment came within $4 million dollars of Saw III, the franchise’s best performer to date.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: High School Musical at the Top of the Class
Read More | Variety
Advertisement
© Gear Live Media, LLC. 2007 – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.