Box Office Breakdown: Glorious Outing for Inglourious Basterds

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

Inglourious Basterds, Inglorious Bastards. However you spell it, it was still a hit.

The WWII-era tale about a band of Jewish-American soldiers hit the mark this weekend with a $38 million debut. Basterds, which more than doubled its nearest competitor, gave Quentin Tarantino his biggest premiere ever. (Kill Bill, Vol. 2 grossed only $25.1 million in 2004.) The director also raked in his best international turnout to date.

Finding himself even further down the list was Tarantino buddy Robert Rodriguez. The director followed up Planet Terror with a $6.4 million outing for the PG-rated Shorts. That was enough to give the Warner Bros. feature a 6th place finish.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Glorious Outing for Inglourious Basterds

Read More | Variety

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Box Office Breakdown: Number 1 for District 9

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists

District 9 may not have have any big name stars and it may not be based on a story everyone knows, but it does have something no other film has this Monday: a first place finish.

Over the weekend, the R-rated actioner landed on Earth safely with over $37 million in ticket sales. The sci-fi entry also raked in one of the best per screen averages ($12,251) of any film currently in in theaters. (Sony Pictures Classics’ It Might Get Loud averaged $13,240 while in limited release.)

In the non-alien department, The Time Traveler’s Wife cornered the romantic genre with an $18.6 million total. Meanwhile, Vanessa Hudgens proved she’s nothing without her better half. The Disney star’s new film, Bandslam, failed to even crack the Top Ten. The teen comedy barely managed to gross over $2 million.

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Read More | Box Office Mojo

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In Theaters This Weekend: August 14, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Foreign, Music, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Lists, New Releases

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

• Bandslam (PG): starring Gaelan Connell, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Aly Michalka (directed by Todd Graff)
• District 9 (R): starring Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James (directed by Neill Blomkamp)
• The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (R): starring Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, David Koechner (directed by Neal Brennan)
• The Time Traveler’s Wife (PG-13): starring Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Ron Livingston (directed by Robert Schwentke)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: August 14, 2009

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Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla Trailer Premieres Online

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adventure, Mystery, Political, Comedy, Thrillers, Filmmaking, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

Getting back into his usual field of movies like Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Madonna’s hubby-director Guy Ritchie is now gracing us with another amazing crime comedy-thriller, RocknRolla.

With a trailer like that and a cast that includes the likes of Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, and Jeremy Piven, one can only imagine the possibilities!

The film is scheduled to hit theaters this Halloween.

Read More | Empire Online

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FilmCrunch 036: Smokin’ Aces Review

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Universal, Action, Comedy, Short FilmCrunch, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts

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Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Smokin’ Aces in this episode of FilmCrunch:

In these interlocking tales of high stakes and low lifes, Mob boss Primo Sparazza has taken out a hefty contract on Buddy “Aces” Israel—a sleazy magician who has agreed to turn state’s evidence against the Vegas mob. The FBI, sensing a chance to use this small-time con to bring down big-target Sparazza, places Aces into protective custody-under the supervision of two agents dispatched to Aces’ Lake Tahoe hideout. When word of the price on Aces’ head spreads into the community of ex-cons and cons-to-be, it entices bounty hunters, thugs-for-hire, smokin’ hot vixens and double-crossing mobsters to join in the hunt. With all eyes on Tahoe, this rogues’ gallery collides in a comic race to hit the jackpot and rub out Aces.

Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.

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FilmCrunch 033: The Oscars, Smokin’ Aces, Sherrybaby

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: IFC Films, Universal, Action, Drama, Comedy, Awards, DVD Reviews, Full Episodes, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts

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Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep are back with another full episode of FilmCrunch, this time focusing on The Oscars, Smokin’ Aces, and Sherrybaby on DVD.

Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.

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Piven, Shannon to Voice New Computer Animated Feature

Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Weinstein Company, Animation, Family, Comedy, Casting

Jeremy Piven, Christian Slater, and Molly Shannon have signed on to voice the new CG movie, Igor.  The film centers on the aptly named Igor (Slater), a hunchback and servant to a cruel mad scientist, Dr. Glickenstein (John Cleese).  The annual Evil Science Fair is approaching in the land of Malaria, and Igor has dreams of winning.  In a twisted stroke of luck, Dr. Glickenstein dies and Igor decides to enter his own creation into the fair.  There’s just one problem: his creation, Eva (Shannon), isn’t scary.  In fact, she is the sweetest creature in the world and even aspires to become an actress.  With the help of a few of Dr. Glickenstein’s other creations – including a reanimated roadkill rabbit named Scamper (Steve Buscemi) – Igor must hide the doctor’s death, fool Eva into “acting” mean, and keep a nosy scientist, Dr. Schadenfruede (Piven), from messing everything up.  Igor will be written by Chris McKenna (American Dad) and directed by Anthony Leondis (Lilo & Stitch 2).  If Igor can match the intensity and fun of this year’s Monster House, we are certainly all for it.  Of course, an all-star cast doesn’t hurt either.  Look for it in theaters next year.

Read More | Exodus Film Group

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