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For the 1958 production of Bacio del sole, Il, Viggo Mortensen plays the part of Himself.
In 2007, Viggo Mortensen is cast in the role of Himself in the mag Auto Express.
In 1977, Viggo Mortensen plays Eddie Boone in the production of Alicia.
In 1960, he is cast in the role of Captain Alatriste in the show Fifties Music Sequence.
In 1998, Viggo Mortensen plays the part of Guy Foucard in the production of Anne Ross: Rebel with a Cause.
He stars as Nick Davis/David Brandt in the 2002 video Assficianado 2.
For the 1917 feature Eiserne Wille, Der, Viggo Mortensen is cast in the role of Worthless Junkie.
In 1996, Viggo Mortensen plays Lalin in the production of Angaara.
In 1911, Viggo Mortensen plays Phillip in the show The Ad, the Maid and the Man.
He stars as Lt. Peter 'Weps' Ince in the 1933 production of Barcos de Socorro.
For the 1912 feature Brown's Seance, he plays Roy Nord.
In 1998, Homeless Man in the movie Airtime.
In 1913, he plays Green in the show Crooks and Credulous.
In 1970, Viggo Mortensen plays Master Chief John James 'Jack' Urgayle in the movie Asia: An Introduction.
In 2005, he takes the role of Hombre (Man) in the release of A mano.
For the 1998 show Abrazo, El, Viggo Mortensen plays Frank Hopkins.
For the 1898 movie California Volunteers Marching to Embark, Frank Roberts.
For the 1925 movie Calvaire de Dona Pia, Le, Viggo Mortensen is cast in the role of Tex.
Viggo Mortensen is cast in the role of Aragorn in the 2005 show Annihilation.
Viggo Mortensen plays the part of Aragorn in the 1999 movie The Annihilation of Fish.
He takes the role of Aragorn in the 1987 movie Afro Erotica 15.
In 1962, Viggo Mortensen plays Himself/Aragorn in the show Balloon Blues.
For the 1999 show Balloon Farm, Viggo Mortensen's character is Himself.
In 1987, he is cast in the role of Himself in the movie Bellman and True.
Viggo Mortensen is cast in the role of Clay in the 2006 video The Crew Cut.
Viggo Mortensen plays the part of David Shaw in the 1991 production of Al Oud.
For the 2001 show Camp Chaos, he is cast in the role of Juanito.
Viggo Mortensen plays Caspar Goodwood in the 1991 show Babe Ruth.
Viggo Mortensen plays Burke/Forsythe Electrocution in the 2004 tv series Andere Frau, Die.
For the 1994 release Adventures of D.P. Boys 14: Tokyo Tramps, he is cast in the role of Lucifer.
In 1968, he takes the role of Samuel 'Sam' Loomis in the movie 3 Ring Wing-Ding.
Viggo Mortensen is cast in the role of Himself/Aragorn/Strider in the 1998 video Ballroom Dancing Intermediate.
In 2004, he plays the part of Cameron Dove in the video Butthole Reamers.
He plays the part of John E. 'Johnny' Faro in the 2005 video Deep Throat This 27.
Viggo Mortensen plays Jerome Stample in the 1921 movie Beach Nuts.
Viggo Mortensen is cast in the role of Hans in the 1999 production Barracuda Dancing.
For the 2006 Bangin' Brea, Viggo Mortensen plays Jimmy Kowalski.
Walker Jerome in the 1927 release of Altars of Desire.
In 1994, he stars as Moses Hochleitner in the video release of Billy Connolly Live 1994.
Viggo Mortensen plays the part of Carl Frazer in the 1979 feature 'Pogoda domu niechaj bedzie z Toba...'.
For the 2005 video Air Guitar Tutorial with Champs Bjorn Turoque and Rockness Monster, he is cast in the role of John W. Poe.
He plays the part of Lieutenant at LeBoeuf in the 1996 feature Aatank.
For the 2006 video ...hab mich verlaufen, Viggo Mortensen's character is Bragg (1985).
Viggo Mortensen's character is Himself in the 1920 movie The Great Clean Up.
For the 1902 movie Bridge of Alexander III, Frank Roberts.
In 1929, Viggo Mortensen's character is Wes in the release of Crooning Melodies.
For the 1993 release of Grand Finale, he plays Tom Stall.
In 1999, Viggo Mortensen is cast in the role of Himself in the release of Green Fire.
He takes the role of Himself in the 2006 911 Mysteries Part 1: Demolitions.
Who Is the Best Dramatic Actor of 2009?
The men in my dramatic actors poll can sing, dance, put on accents and inhabit legendary figures like second nature - and how I enjoyed watching them this year. Some have started bringing home the nominations, but until we find out who gets the statues, v
on 2009-12-20 04:47:46Joker Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Mortensen played a prank on Elijah Wood every day for six weeks.The actor - who starred alongside Elijah in 'Lord Of The Rings' - often plays practical jokes on set to keep his colleagues in a good mood and once played a prank which lasted for weeks
on 2009-12-07 04:47:18On 'The Road' and off, Viggo Mortensen walks the walk
The star of 'The Road' brings intensity to everything he does
on 2009-12-03 04:52:35Concerned Parent Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Mortensen has always been a worried father.The 51-year-old actor plays a father struggling to protect his son as they try to survive in a post-apocalyptic world in new movie 'The Road' and he admits he could relate to the fear of not being able to p
on 2009-12-03 04:50:10On 'The Road' and off, Viggo Mortensen walks the walk
The star of 'The Road' brings intensity to everything he does
on 2009-12-03 04:48:13Viggo Mortensen hits ?The Road?
Talking with Viggo Mortensen about ?The Road? would give even the greatest cynic pause. He was so invested in the film, he even convinced a scared corporate giant to take a leap of faith.
Viggo Mortensen - Road - movie - Arts - Titles
on 2009-11-28 04:45:30Viggo Mortensen talks about finding hope in ?The Road? and if he?ll do ?The Hobbit?
Viggo Mortensen may have galloped his way into our collective pop-culture consciousness as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, but he was already mesmerizing a full decade earlier in Sean Penn’s The Indian Runner. His post-Rings output has seen some s
on 2009-11-26 04:46:21What to TiVo: Friday
ABC has Shrek the Third, and is new with 20/20
CBS is new with Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and NUMB3RS
FOX has repeats of House and Bones
NBC is new with Law & Order and Dateline NBC
The CW is new with Smallville and has a repeat of America's Next Top M
on 2009-11-20 04:51:23Charlize and Viggo Light Up "The Road" Red Carpet
(Fashion Wire Daily)
Fashion Wire Daily - Two of Tinseltown's best-looking stars lit up the red carpet on Wednesday night, Nov. 4, in Hollywood, as Charlize Theron and Viggo Mortensen brought their long-anticipated film "The Road" to the AFI Fest at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
on 2009-11-06 04:45:21Viggo debunks retirement rumours
Viggo Mortensen has denied reports that he is quitting acting, but a question mark remains over whether his future lies on the stage or screen.
on 2009-09-14 04:49:23Mortensen 'I'm Not Retiring'
Viggo Mortensen has assured fans he has no plans to retire from the movie business - explaining he was just trying to be honest in a recent interview.The Lord of The Rings star had devotees worried new movie The Road would be his last when he told Men's J
on 2009-09-14 04:48:21Viggo Mortensen 'not quitting acting'
(AFP)
AFP - Actor Viggo Mortensen on Sunday angrily dismissed reports that he is quitting acting, appearing at the Toronto film festival to promote his latest film "The Road."
on 2009-09-14 04:45:22Studio News
It looks like District 9 lived up to all of it's pre-release hype as it stormed to the top of the UK box office.But it's that time of week again when we round up all the studio news in what has been a busy few days for the movie industry.- It looks likes
on 2009-09-12 04:48:29Do You Believe Viggo Mortensen Will Quit Acting?
Another one bites the dust? Viggo Mortensen recently dropped a bombshell about the future of his career, telling Men's Journal in an interview that he's going to quit acting altogether.
Mortensen is currently promoting his film The Road with Charlize The
on 2009-09-10 04:51:04Mortensen Considers Movie Retirement
Viggo Mortensen is considering early retirement following the release of his new movie The Road - because he wants to spend more time as a publisher, poet and photographer. The Lord of The Rings star, who publishes his poetry and photographic books throug
on 2009-09-09 04:48:41Mortensen 'Movie Kid Will Blow Your Minds'
Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen has heaped praise on his The Road co-star, insisting the 11 year old was his best acting partner ever.Young Aussie Kodi Smit-McPhee plays the actor's son in the harrowing adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's bestseller an
on 2009-09-09 04:48:36'The Road' premieres at Venice
(AP)
AP - Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee play father and son on a harrowing and hopeless journey in the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's devastating novel "The Road," premiering Thursday at the Venice Film Festival.
on 2009-09-04 04:45:12Movie Preview: The Road
It must be Highly Anticipated Trailer Day today or something: First we got a glimpse of Nine, and now we have the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy?s novel The Road. The movie stars Viggo Mortensen as a man coping emotionally and physically in a post-apo
on 2009-05-15 04:53:28Stars to Re-Enact U.S. History
Actors Matt Damon, Viggo Mortensen and Marisa Tomei are among the stars who will re-enact the past for a documentary chronicling American history.A number of celebrities are teaming up with TV network The History Channel to film dramatic performances for
on 2009-04-18 04:48:25Mortensen 'No More Movies'
Viggo Mortensen has vowed to give up making movies - because promoting them leaves him exhausted.
The 50 year old has starred in numerous films and TV shows since launching his acting career in 1985, most notably as Aragorn in the Lord of theRings franchi
on 2009-04-12 05:23:07Viggo Mortensen To Quit Acting
Viggo Mortensen is quitting movies.The 'Eastern Promises' star has been left exhausted by his gruelling workload and has decided to take an indefinite break to recover.He said: "In the past week I've been from Los Angeles to Japan to Korea to Poland to th
on 2009-04-05 04:47:06Viggo Mortensen's Awards Indifference
Viggo Mortensen isn't interested in winning awards. The 50-year-old actor, who was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his role in 'Eastern Promises' in 2008, insists he didn't mind losing out to Daniel Day-Lewis.
on 2009-02-14 04:48:12CHICKENS HOME TO PROUST
THE banality of evil has met its match in the banality of "Good," a Holocaust parable that barely registers a pulse. Viggo Mortensen plays a literature professor in Hitler's Germany who is offered a job writing a paper for the party. The Fuhrer...
on 2009-01-01 04:47:47Nazi-themed pic doesn't bring much to the party
Shouldn't Viggo Mortensen be a bigger star? It's not as if he's short on either looks or talent. What he is missing, though, is that all-consuming drive for fame. Instead, he seems impressively attracted to the actual artistry of acting.
on 2008-12-31 04:47:40Dramatic sendoff to '08 box office
Front Page: 'Defiance,' 'Good' open in final weekend -- Coming in under the wire for awards consideration, the two final releases of 2008 are Paramount Vantage's "Defiance," directed by Ed Zwick, and IFC's Viggo Mortensen starrer "Good."
on 2008-12-30 04:46:41Q&A WITH VIGGO MORTENSEN
You have to wonder where Viggo Mortensen finds the time to act. In between gigs like the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and David Cronenberg's movies (most recently "Eastern Promises"), the 50-year-old star is also a photographer, poet, musician...
on 2008-12-29 04:46:44Viggo Mortensen Struggles With Germans And Germany
Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen hated playing a Nazi author in controversial new movie Good - because he has never been fond of Germans or Germany. Many of the actor's relatives lived in German-occupied Denmark during the second world war, and he h
on 2008-12-14 04:46:49Viggo Mortensen: Tennis Champ?
Filed under: We're Just Sayin'TMZ.com: Here's 50-year-old "Lord of the Rings" star Viggo Mortensen (left) at an event in Madrid on Thursday -- and 52-year-old tennis legend Martina Navratilova (right).One of them proudly came out as a lesbian in the '80s
on 2008-11-22 04:49:34Streep helps 'Mamma' sink 'Titanic'
Liz Smith: Viggo Mortensen channels his inner artist -- Talk about laughing all the way to the bank! Isn't the one doing the laughing the same little lady with long blonde hair and talent she hasn't even tapped yet? She's Meryl Streep, who the major criti
on 2008-11-04 04:47:23Good
Good stars Viggo Mortensen as John Halder, a good, decent individual with family problems. A German literature professor in the 1930s, Halder explores his personal circumstances in a novel advocating compassionate euthanasia. When the book is unexpectedl
on 2008-10-15 04:49:05-
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/119712004.htm
Viggo Mortensen - Hollywood's most elusive star
December 22, 2005, 6:46:58
By Philip Hamilton.
Despite starring in three of the most talked about movies in recent years,
'Lord of the Rings' star Viggo Mortensen tries his best to shun the fame
game - you'd be more likely to see him at a poetry reading than gallivanting
round Beverley Hills with a model on his arm.
With his rugged good looks and star quality, the actor could have quite
easily fallen into the trap of becoming tabloid fodder like many stars
before him.
But he is notoriously cagey about his private life and considers any
discussion of his own romantic affairs as "not pertinent."
However, there is no doubting that the 47-year-old has a colourful love life
and speculation about the women in his life has been rife since the break-up
of his marriage to punk singer and mother of his 16-year-old son, Henry,
Exene Cervenka, in 1997.
As well as starring opposite some of Hollywood's most beautiful women,
including Liv Tyler, Gwyneth Paltrow and Demi Moore, Viggo has been linked
to a string of beauties off-screen. Viggo has remained tight-lipped about
his romances but it seems not all girls are bowled over by the handsome
actor.
In 2003, he was dumped by 22-year-old Lola Achnabel, his girlfriend of two
years, because he reportedly didn't wash enough and liked to go away for
extended periods without telling anyone where he's going. He admits that his
sometimes erratic behaviour and lack of communication has, in the past,
caused friction with his ex-wife and son.
During the filming of one movie, Viggo decided to get into character by not
speaking for four weeks - not even to his family.
He said: "Because my son at the time was about eight years old, I faxed my
ex-wife and said, 'I'm not going to be speaking for a while, but I will
call. And can you put Henry on the phone?' So I'd call and she'd say, 'Hi
Viggo, how are you?' and I would be silent."
However peculiar his behaviour may sound, this is Viggo's way of getting
into character and once he starts acting, everything else takes second
place - even if he injures himself.
During the filming of 'Lord Of The Rings', the Hollywood heartthrob broke
one of his front teeth while shooting a violent scene in New Zealand. But he
was so determined to carry on filming he even suggested using Superglue to
fix the tooth so the shoot wouldn't be held up.
His serious approach to the characters he plays means that he often becomes
too involved with the parts he portrays. In the vigorous sex scene in 'A
History of Violence', Viggo and his co-star Maria Bello didn't have body
doubles and ended up with bruises from the rampant romping.
He revealed: "The process of working on it with her was awkward to perform,
because we did it right. Maria didn't play it safe and was willing, as
difficult as it was, to go for it and to risk making a fool of herself. I
was also willing to make a fool of myself and so it worked well in the end.
The scene goes on for longer than you would normally see, certainly in an
American movie. The power position shifts and the jockeying for position is
interesting emotionally, as well as the physical aspect."
Viggo is so dedicated to his craft that he is eager to thank the people that
helped put him where he is today - his fans.
But the more successful his acting career becomes, the less time he has to
answer fan mail.
He said: "I always, until just the last year, opened, read and then answered
each one. And if I'm going to do it, that's the way it should be done. But I
realised I was spending two to three hours every night. One night, I just
thought, this is ridiculous."
However, when given the opportunity he makes sure he doesn't forget his fans
and signs autographs in person - even if it means scribbling for nine hours
at bookstore signings. Since his screen debut as a young Amish Farmer in
Peter Weir's 'Witness' in 1985, Viggo's career has been marked by a steady
string of compelling performances.
Critics have continually recognised his work in over thirty movies,
including such diverse projects as Jane Campion's 'The Portrait of a Lady
(1996), Sean Penn's 'The Indian Runner (1991), Brian De Palma's 'Carlito's
Way' (1993), Ridley Scott's 'G.I. Jane' (1997), Tony Scott's 'Crimson Tide'
(1995), Andrew Davis' 'A Perfect Murder' (1998) and Tony Goldwyn's 'A Walk
on the Moon' (1999).
He is now working on new movie 'Alatriste, due for release in 2006, in which
he plays Spanish soldier-turned-mercenary Captain Alatriste, a veteran of
Spain's 17th century imperial wars.
-
http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=9213
Wallace Shines, But Waiting, The Gospel Real Winners at the Box Office
Weekend Box Office Wrap-Up for October 7-9, 2005
By John Hamann
October 9, 2005
Top Ten Estimates for the Weekend of October 7-9, 2005
Rank Film Number of Sites Percentage Drop Estimated Gross ($)
Cumulative Gross ($)
1 Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit 3,645 New $16.1 $16.1
2 Flightplan 3,323 -27% $10.8 $60.9
3 In Her Shoes 2,808 New $10.0 $10.0
4 Two for the Money 2,391 New $8.4 $8.4
5 The Gospel 969 New $8.0 $8.0
6 The Corpse Bride 3,004 -35% $6.5 $42.1
7 Waiting 1,652 New $5.7 $5.7
8 A History of Violence 1,340 -37% $5.1 $16.7
9 Serenity 2,189 -51% $4.9 $17.6
10 Into the Blue 2,789 -32% $4.8 $13.9
11 The Greatest Game Ever Played 1,810 +10% $4.0 $8.8
12 Just Like Heaven 2,307 -45% $3.4 $43.6
It's another one of those weekends. The new films and even the holdovers had
a whole bunch of potential this weekend, but failed to draw significant
overall numbers into local movie theatres. g Holdovers included Jodie
Foster's surprisingly leggy Flightplan, arthouse A History of Violence, and
the second (and very key) weekend for Joss Whedon's Serenity.
The number one film of the weekend is Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the
Were-Rabbit, which got off to a fairly good start. Wallace and Gromit,
heroes of the Aardman Universe, took in $16.1 million this weekend from a
summer-like 3,645 venues. While the opening isn't bad, the DreamWorks'
release had to be looking for at least $20 million over the Columbus Day
Weekend, and failed to live up to that billing. At the very least,
DreamWorks had to be hoping to equal the success of Chicken Run's open,
which came in at about $17.5 million, but it opened at only 2,491 venues.
Chicken Run had a per venue average over $7,000 - Wallace and Gromit's venue
average came in at a much lower $4,417. The Curse of the Were-Rabbit had
everything it needed to break out - a big cult following for starters, but
it also had some of the best reviews of the year on its side as well.
Personally, I thought the ad campaign was late and not overly inspired, but
the crowd at my screening of The Corpse Bride sure seemed to like the
trailer. 100 reviews were counted at RottenTomatoes, and only 4, yes four,
were negative. Word of mouth here should be quite good, and we're already
seeing signs of it. After a Friday gross of about $4 million, Wallace and
Gromit had a weekend multiplier (Friday gross divided by weekend gross) of
about 4.0, which is quite good even considering the holiday Monday. With
school in session Friday, the kiddies can't get out in summer-like numbers
on the first day of the weekend, meaning the multiplier gets inflated. The
holiday Monday leads to stronger Sunday numbers, and if you check in with
BOP's Monday Morning Quarterback, you can get a figure on how W&G did over
the long weekend. Last point: with Chicken Run, DreamWorks put a lot of
effort in after opening weekend, into making that animated film a $100
million winner (Chicken Run finished with about $107 million). Because that
one was a June release it had summer on its side, but at least Wallace and
Gromit don't have any animated competition until Disney's Chicken Little
hits screens in early November. I really hope that this one can find similar
success to that of Chicken Run.
Second spot this weekend is Flightplan, a film that I have to admit is more
leggy than this analyst thought it would be. The Jodie Foster flick grossed
another $10.8 million this weekend, down a slim 27% compared to the previous
weekend, thanks in large part to the holiday Monday. Last weekend the
thriller dropped 40%, so it is trending in the right direction. Flightplan
is proving that Foster is still a big draw, as Flightplan now looks to be
heading toward $100 million, although it will probably come up a little
short. Having seen this movie, I'm scratching my head a little, but its
total so far of $60.9 million shows that its found an appreciative audience
out there somewhere, somehow.
In at third is In Her Shoes, Cameron Diaz's first on-screen appearance since
Charlie Angel's: Full Throttle, released in 2003 (of course she was in the
$440 million earner Shrek 2 last year). The film, which co-stars Shirley
MacLaine and Toni Collette, opened to an okay $10 million this weekend, from
2,808 venues. It had a venue average of $3,570. Based on a book by Jennifer
Weiner, In Her Shoes did not have a lot of buzz heading into the weekend,
but was boosted by better than average reviews, and positive preview
screenings in the last frame. At RottenTomatoes, critics were kind but not
over the top. Of the 103 reviews counted, 73 were positive, leading to a
fresh rating of 71%. Considering the pedigree of director Curtis Hanson
(Wonder Boys, LA Confidential), its star and co-stars, one might think this
would review better. While most likely not an expensive film to make, the
cast would have been costly, so Fox will be hoping for a good hold next
weekend.
Fourth goes to our next opener, Two for the Money, the Al Pacino/Mathew
McConaughey sports betting film (if In Her Shoes was a chick flick, this is
its opposite). Two for the Money carried some ugly reviews heading into its
debut, leading it to an opening weekend figure of $8.4 million. This one
opened at 2,391 venues (a figure that tells me distributor Universal didn't
like it so much), and carried a venue average of $3,504. The good news here
is that Two for the Money was made on the cheap. Universal and partners
spent only $20 million on this one, which in the end will make this one a
great gamble.
Fifth spot goes to the surprise of the weekend (at least for this analyst),
as The Gospel takes in more than tracking or analysis had indicated. The
Gospel, from Rainforest Films and distributed by Screen Gems, earned a
powerful $8 million from only 969 venues, resulting in an uplifting average
of $8,255, far and away the best average in the top ten. The Gospel was made
for only $5 million, and is another in what's becoming a long list of
religious features to make some serious cash at the box office. Like A Diary
of A Mad Black Woman, which made $50 million at the domestic box office, The
Gospel should have a good run once the news of its successful first weekend
gets out.
Sixth goes to The Corpse Bride, Tim Burton's solid opener that has been
surprising weak since its debut. This weekend the Bride earned $6.5 million,
down a large-for-the-long-weekend 35%. The Corpse Bride, which cost WB about
$40 million to make, has now earned $42.1 million, and should finish with
about $65 million.
Sixth spot goes to Waiting, Ryan Reynolds latest attempt at being funny. The
gross out restaurant movie earned a slight $5.7 million this weekend from
1,652 venues. The Lions Gate release had a venue average of $3,450.
Considering Waiting had few stars (Reynolds, Anna Faris and Justin Long),
and a first time director, expectations couldn't have been too high. Now for
the really good news for all involved: Waiting, according to Reynolds, was
shot for $1 million dollars (yes, one million) over a four week period. This
means that Waiting is even better off this weekend than The Gospel. Funnily
enough, Waiting is being distributed by Lions Gate, who got Diary of A Mad
Black Woman out to audiences. In fact, Lions Gate is heading toward studio
of the year status, as they have released Diary ($50.4m), Crash ($55m), The
Devil's Rejects ($16.9m), and now they have Waiting, with Saw 2 and A Good
Woman waiting in the wings. Waiting may be critically reviled (32% fresh at
RT), however Lions Gate already has what it needs from this one.
Eighth is a bit of a surprise, as A History of Violence slid harder than I
expected after getting off to a good start last weekend. After earning a
solid $8.1 million last weekend, the David Cronenberg flick fell 37% this
weekend after adding zero screens, to a gross of $5.1 million. Still at
1,340 venues, the Viggo Mortensen flick had a venue average this weekend of
$3,824. The New Line release currently sits with $16.7 million.
In at ninth is Joss Whedon's Serenity, which needed a solid follow up
weekend, but unfortunately didn't get it. Serenity couldn't play past the
built-in audience, and it grossed $4.9 million this weekend. That's a drop
of 51%, hurting Universal's chances of recouping the $40 million spent on
this one. So far, Serenity has earned $17.6 million, and will struggle to
earn $35 million.
Tenth goes to Into the Blue, which will hopefully push Paul Walker towards
retirement. Into the Blue grossed $4.8 million this weekend, down 32%. So
far this one has earned $13.9 million.
Finishing in eleventh this weekend is The Greatest Game Ever Played, which
earned 10% more than last weekend after Buena Vista added almost 800
screens. Game earned $4 million this weekend from 1,810 venues, but still
had to settle for a disappointing venue average of $2,216. So far, this one
has earned $8.8 million.
Overall this weekend, things still aren't very rosy at the box office. The
top ten this year earned about $80 million, well back of last year's $95
million. Next weekend we get The Fog, Elizabethtown and Domino, so maybe
things will perk up a bit next weekend. On the other hand, I wouldn't bet on
it.
-
http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=9213
Wallace Shines, But Waiting, The Gospel Real Winners at the Box Office
Weekend Box Office Wrap-Up for October 7-9, 2005
By John Hamann
October 9, 2005
Top Ten Estimates for the Weekend of October 7-9, 2005
Rank Film Number of Sites Percentage Drop Estimated Gross ($)
Cumulative Gross ($)
1 Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit 3,645 New $16.1 $16.1
2 Flightplan 3,323 -27% $10.8 $60.9
3 In Her Shoes 2,808 New $10.0 $10.0
4 Two for the Money 2,391 New $8.4 $8.4
5 The Gospel 969 New $8.0 $8.0
6 The Corpse Bride 3,004 -35% $6.5 $42.1
7 Waiting 1,652 New $5.7 $5.7
8 A History of Violence 1,340 -37% $5.1 $16.7
9 Serenity 2,189 -51% $4.9 $17.6
10 Into the Blue 2,789 -32% $4.8 $13.9
11 The Greatest Game Ever Played 1,810 +10% $4.0 $8.8
12 Just Like Heaven 2,307 -45% $3.4 $43.6
It's another one of those weekends. The new films and even the holdovers had
a whole bunch of potential this weekend, but failed to draw significant
overall numbers into local movie theatres. g Holdovers included Jodie
Foster's surprisingly leggy Flightplan, arthouse A History of Violence, and
the second (and very key) weekend for Joss Whedon's Serenity.
The number one film of the weekend is Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the
Were-Rabbit, which got off to a fairly good start. Wallace and Gromit,
heroes of the Aardman Universe, took in $16.1 million this weekend from a
summer-like 3,645 venues. While the opening isn't bad, the DreamWorks'
release had to be looking for at least $20 million over the Columbus Day
Weekend, and failed to live up to that billing. At the very least,
DreamWorks had to be hoping to equal the success of Chicken Run's open,
which came in at about $17.5 million, but it opened at only 2,491 venues.
Chicken Run had a per venue average over $7,000 - Wallace and Gromit's venue
average came in at a much lower $4,417. The Curse of the Were-Rabbit had
everything it needed to break out - a big cult following for starters, but
it also had some of the best reviews of the year on its side as well.
Personally, I thought the ad campaign was late and not overly inspired, but
the crowd at my screening of The Corpse Bride sure seemed to like the
trailer. 100 reviews were counted at RottenTomatoes, and only 4, yes four,
were negative. Word of mouth here should be quite good, and we're already
seeing signs of it. After a Friday gross of about $4 million, Wallace and
Gromit had a weekend multiplier (Friday gross divided by weekend gross) of
about 4.0, which is quite good even considering the holiday Monday. With
school in session Friday, the kiddies can't get out in summer-like numbers
on the first day of the weekend, meaning the multiplier gets inflated. The
holiday Monday leads to stronger Sunday numbers, and if you check in with
BOP's Monday Morning Quarterback, you can get a figure on how W&G did over
the long weekend. Last point: with Chicken Run, DreamWorks put a lot of
effort in after opening weekend, into making that animated film a $100
million winner (Chicken Run finished with about $107 million). Because that
one was a June release it had summer on its side, but at least Wallace and
Gromit don't have any animated competition until Disney's Chicken Little
hits screens in early November. I really hope that this one can find similar
success to that of Chicken Run.
Second spot this weekend is Flightplan, a film that I have to admit is more
leggy than this analyst thought it would be. The Jodie Foster flick grossed
another $10.8 million this weekend, down a slim 27% compared to the previous
weekend, thanks in large part to the holiday Monday. Last weekend the
thriller dropped 40%, so it is trending in the right direction. Flightplan
is proving that Foster is still a big draw, as Flightplan now looks to be
heading toward $100 million, although it will probably come up a little
short. Having seen this movie, I'm scratching my head a little, but its
total so far of $60.9 million shows that its found an appreciative audience
out there somewhere, somehow.
In at third is In Her Shoes, Cameron Diaz's first on-screen appearance since
Charlie Angel's: Full Throttle, released in 2003 (of course she was in the
$440 million earner Shrek 2 last year). The film, which co-stars Shirley
MacLaine and Toni Collette, opened to an okay $10 million this weekend, from
2,808 venues. It had a venue average of $3,570. Based on a book by Jennifer
Weiner, In Her Shoes did not have a lot of buzz heading into the weekend,
but was boosted by better than average reviews, and positive preview
screenings in the last frame. At RottenTomatoes, critics were kind but not
over the top. Of the 103 reviews counted, 73 were positive, leading to a
fresh rating of 71%. Considering the pedigree of director Curtis Hanson
(Wonder Boys, LA Confidential), its star and co-stars, one might think this
would review better. While most likely not an expensive film to make, the
cast would have been costly, so Fox will be hoping for a good hold next
weekend.
Fourth goes to our next opener, Two for the Money, the Al Pacino/Mathew
McConaughey sports betting film (if In Her Shoes was a chick flick, this is
its opposite). Two for the Money carried some ugly reviews heading into its
debut, leading it to an opening weekend figure of $8.4 million. This one
opened at 2,391 venues (a figure that tells me distributor Universal didn't
like it so much), and carried a venue average of $3,504. The good news here
is that Two for the Money was made on the cheap. Universal and partners
spent only $20 million on this one, which in the end will make this one a
great gamble.
Fifth spot goes to the surprise of the weekend (at least for this analyst),
as The Gospel takes in more than tracking or analysis had indicated. The
Gospel, from Rainforest Films and distributed by Screen Gems, earned a
powerful $8 million from only 969 venues, resulting in an uplifting average
of $8,255, far and away the best average in the top ten. The Gospel was made
for only $5 million, and is another in what's becoming a long list of
religious features to make some serious cash at the box office. Like A Diary
of A Mad Black Woman, which made $50 million at the domestic box office, The
Gospel should have a good run once the news of its successful first weekend
gets out.
Sixth goes to The Corpse Bride, Tim Burton's solid opener that has been
surprising weak since its debut. This weekend the Bride earned $6.5 million,
down a large-for-the-long-weekend 35%. The Corpse Bride, which cost WB about
$40 million to make, has now earned $42.1 million, and should finish with
about $65 million.
Sixth spot goes to Waiting, Ryan Reynolds latest attempt at being funny. The
gross out restaurant movie earned a slight $5.7 million this weekend from
1,652 venues. The Lions Gate release had a venue average of $3,450.
Considering Waiting had few stars (Reynolds, Anna Faris and Justin Long),
and a first time director, expectations couldn't have been too high. Now for
the really good news for all involved: Waiting, according to Reynolds, was
shot for $1 million dollars (yes, one million) over a four week period. This
means that Waiting is even better off this weekend than The Gospel. Funnily
enough, Waiting is being distributed by Lions Gate, who got Diary of A Mad
Black Woman out to audiences. In fact, Lions Gate is heading toward studio
of the year status, as they have released Diary ($50.4m), Crash ($55m), The
Devil's Rejects ($16.9m), and now they have Waiting, with Saw 2 and A Good
Woman waiting in the wings. Waiting may be critically reviled (32% fresh at
RT), however Lions Gate already has what it needs from this one.
Eighth is a bit of a surprise, as A History of Violence slid harder than I
expected after getting off to a good start last weekend. After earning a
solid $8.1 million last weekend, the David Cronenberg flick fell 37% this
weekend after adding zero screens, to a gross of $5.1 million. Still at
1,340 venues, the Viggo Mortensen flick had a venue average this weekend of
$3,824. The New Line release currently sits with $16.7 million.
In at ninth is Joss Whedon's Serenity, which needed a solid follow up
weekend, but unfortunately didn't get it. Serenity couldn't play past the
built-in audience, and it grossed $4.9 million this weekend. That's a drop
of 51%, hurting Universal's chances of recouping the $40 million spent on
this one. So far, Serenity has earned $17.6 million, and will struggle to
earn $35 million.
Tenth goes to Into the Blue, which will hopefully push Paul Walker towards
retirement. Into the Blue grossed $4.8 million this weekend, down 32%. So
far this one has earned $13.9 million.
Finishing in eleventh this weekend is The Greatest Game Ever Played, which
earned 10% more than last weekend after Buena Vista added almost 800
screens. Game earned $4 million this weekend from 1,810 venues, but still
had to settle for a disappointing venue average of $2,216. So far, this one
has earned $8.8 million.
Overall this weekend, things still aren't very rosy at the box office. The
top ten this year earned about $80 million, well back of last year's $95
million. Next weekend we get The Fog, Elizabethtown and Domino, so maybe
things will perk up a bit next weekend. On the other hand, I wouldn't bet on
it.
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http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=9213
Wallace Shines, But Waiting, The Gospel Real Winners at the Box Office
Weekend Box Office Wrap-Up for October 7-9, 2005
By John Hamann
October 9, 2005
Top Ten Estimates for the Weekend of October 7-9, 2005
Rank Film Number of Sites Percentage Drop Estimated Gross ($)
Cumulative Gross ($)
1 Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit 3,645 New $16.1 $16.1
2 Flightplan 3,323 -27% $10.8 $60.9
3 In Her Shoes 2,808 New $10.0 $10.0
4 Two for the Money 2,391 New $8.4 $8.4
5 The Gospel 969 New $8.0 $8.0
6 The Corpse Bride 3,004 -35% $6.5 $42.1
7 Waiting 1,652 New $5.7 $5.7
8 A History of Violence 1,340 -37% $5.1 $16.7
9 Serenity 2,189 -51% $4.9 $17.6
10 Into the Blue 2,789 -32% $4.8 $13.9
11 The Greatest Game Ever Played 1,810 +10% $4.0 $8.8
12 Just Like Heaven 2,307 -45% $3.4 $43.6
It's another one of those weekends. The new films and even the holdovers had
a whole bunch of potential this weekend, but failed to draw significant
overall numbers into local movie theatres. g Holdovers included Jodie
Foster's surprisingly leggy Flightplan, arthouse A History of Violence, and
the second (and very key) weekend for Joss Whedon's Serenity.
The number one film of the weekend is Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the
Were-Rabbit, which got off to a fairly good start. Wallace and Gromit,
heroes of the Aardman Universe, took in $16.1 million this weekend from a
summer-like 3,645 venues. While the opening isn't bad, the DreamWorks'
release had to be looking for at least $20 million over the Columbus Day
Weekend, and failed to live up to that billing. At the very least,
DreamWorks had to be hoping to equal the success of Chicken Run's open,
which came in at about $17.5 million, but it opened at only 2,491 venues.
Chicken Run had a per venue average over $7,000 - Wallace and Gromit's venue
average came in at a much lower $4,417. The Curse of the Were-Rabbit had
everything it needed to break out - a big cult following for starters, but
it also had some of the best reviews of the year on its side as well.
Personally, I thought the ad campaign was late and not overly inspired, but
the crowd at my screening of The Corpse Bride sure seemed to like the
trailer. 100 reviews were counted at RottenTomatoes, and only 4, yes four,
were negative. Word of mouth here should be quite good, and we're already
seeing signs of it. After a Friday gross of about $4 million, Wallace and
Gromit had a weekend multiplier (Friday gross divided by weekend gross) of
about 4.0, which is quite good even considering the holiday Monday. With
school in session Friday, the kiddies can't get out in summer-like numbers
on the first day of the weekend, meaning the multiplier gets inflated. The
holiday Monday leads to stronger Sunday numbers, and if you check in with
BOP's Monday Morning Quarterback, you can get a figure on how W&G did over
the long weekend. Last point: with Chicken Run, DreamWorks put a lot of
effort in after opening weekend, into making that animated film a $100
million winner (Chicken Run finished with about $107 million). Because that
one was a June release it had summer on its side, but at least Wallace and
Gromit don't have any animated competition until Disney's Chicken Little
hits screens in early November. I really hope that this one can find similar
success to that of Chicken Run.
Second spot this weekend is Flightplan, a film that I have to admit is more
leggy than this analyst thought it would be. The Jodie Foster flick grossed
another $10.8 million this weekend, down a slim 27% compared to the previous
weekend, thanks in large part to the holiday Monday. Last weekend the
thriller dropped 40%, so it is trending in the right direction. Flightplan
is proving that Foster is still a big draw, as Flightplan now looks to be
heading toward $100 million, although it will probably come up a little
short. Having seen this movie, I'm scratching my head a little, but its
total so far of $60.9 million shows that its found an appreciative audience
out there somewhere, somehow.
In at third is In Her Shoes, Cameron Diaz's first on-screen appearance since
Charlie Angel's: Full Throttle, released in 2003 (of course she was in the
$440 million earner Shrek 2 last year). The film, which co-stars Shirley
MacLaine and Toni Collette, opened to an okay $10 million this weekend, from
2,808 venues. It had a venue average of $3,570. Based on a book by Jennifer
Weiner, In Her Shoes did not have a lot of buzz heading into the weekend,
but was boosted by better than average reviews, and positive preview
screenings in the last frame. At RottenTomatoes, critics were kind but not
over the top. Of the 103 reviews counted, 73 were positive, leading to a
fresh rating of 71%. Considering the pedigree of director Curtis Hanson
(Wonder Boys, LA Confidential), its star and co-stars, one might think this
would review better. While most likely not an expensive film to make, the
cast would have been costly, so Fox will be hoping for a good hold next
weekend.
Fourth goes to our next opener, Two for the Money, the Al Pacino/Mathew
McConaughey sports betting film (if In Her Shoes was a chick flick, this is
its opposite). Two for the Money carried some ugly reviews heading into its
debut, leading it to an opening weekend figure of $8.4 million. This one
opened at 2,391 venues (a figure that tells me distributor Universal didn't
like it so much), and carried a venue average of $3,504. The good news here
is that Two for the Money was made on the cheap. Universal and partners
spent only $20 million on this one, which in the end will make this one a
great gamble.
Fifth spot goes to the surprise of the weekend (at least for this analyst),
as The Gospel takes in more than tracking or analysis had indicated. The
Gospel, from Rainforest Films and distributed by Screen Gems, earned a
powerful $8 million from only 969 venues, resulting in an uplifting average
of $8,255, far and away the best average in the top ten. The Gospel was made
for only $5 million, and is another in what's becoming a long list of
religious features to make some serious cash at the box office. Like A Diary
of A Mad Black Woman, which made $50 million at the domestic box office, The
Gospel should have a good run once the news of its successful first weekend
gets out.
Sixth goes to The Corpse Bride, Tim Burton's solid opener that has been
surprising weak since its debut. This weekend the Bride earned $6.5 million,
down a large-for-the-long-weekend 35%. The Corpse Bride, which cost WB about
$40 million to make, has now earned $42.1 million, and should finish with
about $65 million.
Sixth spot goes to Waiting, Ryan Reynolds latest attempt at being funny. The
gross out restaurant movie earned a slight $5.7 million this weekend from
1,652 venues. The Lions Gate release had a venue average of $3,450.
Considering Waiting had few stars (Reynolds, Anna Faris and Justin Long),
and a first time director, expectations couldn't have been too high. Now for
the really good news for all involved: Waiting, according to Reynolds, was
shot for $1 million dollars (yes, one million) over a four week period. This
means that Waiting is even better off this weekend than The Gospel. Funnily
enough, Waiting is being distributed by Lions Gate, who got Diary of A Mad
Black Woman out to audiences. In fact, Lions Gate is heading toward studio
of the year status, as they have released Diary ($50.4m), Crash ($55m), The
Devil's Rejects ($16.9m), and now they have Waiting, with Saw 2 and A Good
Woman waiting in the wings. Waiting may be critically reviled (32% fresh at
RT), however Lions Gate already has what it needs from this one.
Eighth is a bit of a surprise, as A History of Violence slid harder than I
expected after getting off to a good start last weekend. After earning a
solid $8.1 million last weekend, the David Cronenberg flick fell 37% this
weekend after adding zero screens, to a gross of $5.1 million. Still at
1,340 venues, the Viggo Mortensen flick had a venue average this weekend of
$3,824. The New Line release currently sits with $16.7 million.
In at ninth is Joss Whedon's Serenity, which needed a solid follow up
weekend, but unfortunately didn't get it. Serenity couldn't play past the
built-in audience, and it grossed $4.9 million this weekend. That's a drop
of 51%, hurting Universal's chances of recouping the $40 million spent on
this one. So far, Serenity has earned $17.6 million, and will struggle to
earn $35 million.
Tenth goes to Into the Blue, which will hopefully push Paul Walker towards
retirement. Into the Blue grossed $4.8 million this weekend, down 32%. So
far this one has earned $13.9 million.
Finishing in eleventh this weekend is The Greatest Game Ever Played, which
earned 10% more than last weekend after Buena Vista added almost 800
screens. Game earned $4 million this weekend from 1,810 venues, but still
had to settle for a disappointing venue average of $2,216. So far, this one
has earned $8.8 million.
Overall this weekend, things still aren't very rosy at the box office. The
top ten this year earned about $80 million, well back of last year's $95
million. Next weekend we get The Fog, Elizabethtown and Domino, so maybe
things will perk up a bit next weekend. On the other hand, I wouldn't bet on
it.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051002/en_nm/leisure_boxoffice_dc;_ylt=AhUZv.NDmNlVaz5ejqY.J0hb.nQA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
By Dean Goodman
Sun Oct 2, 2:19 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Jodie Foster stayed aloft at the North
American box office for a second weekend as her airplane thriller
"Flightplan" outdistanced some low-flying competition and overall sales
ended a four-week winning streak.
The Walt Disney Co. release sold $15 million worth of tickets in the
three days beginning September 30, according to studio estimates issued
on Sunday. The film's 10-day haul rose to $46.2 million, and industry
observers believe it could add about $30 million by the time its run
ends.
Foster stars as a mother who manages to lose her daughter aboard a
transatlantic flight. The film generated some additional publicity last
week when labor unions representing most of the nation's 90,000 flight
attendants urged their members to boycott it since it portrays a
stewardess and a U.S. air marshal as terrorists.
The top 10 contained three new releases, and one film entering the top
tier in its second weekend.
"Serenity," a film based on the short-lived Western-flavored sci-fi TV
series "Firefly," opened at No. 2 with $10.1 million, a figure within
the modest expectations of its distributor, Universal Pictures. It
marks the feature directing debut of "Firefly" creator Joss Whedon.
The animated fable " Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" slipped one place to
No. 3 with $9.8 million in its second weekend of wide release. The
total for the Warner Bros. release rose to $32.9 million.
"A History of Violence," a thriller starring Viggo Mortensen and Maria
Bello as a small-town couple terrorized by some gangsters, jumped 14
places to No. 4 with $8.2 million in its first weekend of wide release.
The New Line Cinema release was directed by Canadian filmmaker David
Cronenberg, and has earned $9 million after 10 days.
The surfing picture "Into the Blue," a showcase for the buff bodies of
Jessica Alba and Paul Walker, wiped out at No. 5 with $7 million. The
film was inherited by Columbia Pictures after its Sony Corp parent led
a group that acquired the assets of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer earlier this
year.
Disney's true-life golf saga "The Greatest Game Ever Played," about an
amateur who defeated the defending champion at the 1913 U.S. Open, teed
off at No. 9 with $3.8 million.
The best of the limited-release rookies was "Capote," a critically
hailed picture starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as noted writer Truman
Capote. The Sony Pictures Classics release grossed $349,000 from 12
theaters, and will expand nationwide on October 28.
Not so promising was "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio," starring
Julianne Moore as a 1950s housewife who supports her large family by
winning jingle-writing contests. The film, from closely held DreamWorks
SKG, earned $155,000 from 41 theaters.
After four "up" weekends, overall sales were down from the year-ago
period, according to tracking firm Exhibitor Relations. The top 12
films grossed $75.3 million, down 25 percent from last year, when the
animated "Shark Tale" opened at No. 1 with $47.6 million.
Universal Pictures is a unit of NBC Universal, which is controlled by
General Electric Co.
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http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=9198
Violence, Serenity Hot at the Box Office
Weekend Box Office Wrap-Up for September 30-October 2, 2005
By John Hamann
October 2, 2005
Top Ten Estimates for Weekend of September 30-October 1, 2005
Rank Film Number of Sites Percentage Drop Estimated Gross ($)
Cumulative Gross ($)
1 Flightplan 3,424 -39% $15.0 $46.1
2 Serenity 2,188 New $10.1 $10.1
3 The Corpse Bride 3,204 -49% $9.8 $32.9
4 A History of Violence 1,340 New $8.2 $9.0
5 Into the Blue 2,789 New $7.0 $7.0
6 Just Like Heaven 3,543 -37% $6.1 $38.4
7 The Exorcism of Emily Rose'>Emily Rose'>Emily Rose'>Emily Rose 3,004 -41% $4.4 $68.5
8 Roll Bounce 1,661 -47% $4.0 $12.7
9 The Greatest Game Ever Played 1,014 New $3.7 $3.7
10 The 40 Year-Old Virgin 2,152 -28% $3.1 $101.4
You can really tell that summer is over. There are more good films than bad
in the top ten this weekend, and it feels like an eternity since we've had
this kind of slate for the Weekend Wrap-Up. However, the question remains:
do good films mean more box office, and even if they do, is anyone
listening? Four films spun into the rotation, taking up 7,331 new venues.
That means many of the older titles were flushed, but the average venue
count for the openers came in at about 1,833, meaning at least half of the
debutantes were going to need some good word-of-mouth to continue at the
ball next weekend.
It's tough facing off against last year's numbers. A year ago, Shark Tale
opened to over $45 million, and was followed by Ladder 49, which grossed
over $20 million in its first three days. This weekend is blockbuster-free,
but there are some good titles that moviegoers actually might enjoy instead
of the same old, same old from the likes of something like Shark Tale and
Travolta's Ladder 49. This weekend brings us the blockbuster-wannabe in
Serenity, Joss Whedon's follow-up to his cult hit Firefly series; Into the
Blue, Paul Walker'>Paul Walker and Jessica Alba's latest; the art house A History of
Violence (starring "Viggo," as my wife would say quite dreamily - if I said
mmm...Alba during the Into the Blue trailer, I would be hit); and lastly,
The Greatest Game Ever Played, a golf movie for kids, directed by Bill
Paxton of Aliens fame - "We're on an express elevator to hell". It's a wacky
group of movies this weekend, especially when we add in holdovers like the
brilliant Corpse Bride and the not so brilliant Flightplan. Let's have a
look at how things shook out this weekend.
The number one film again - I'm sad to say - is the not-very-good
Flightplan, starring Jodie Foster. Out of a crop of not-so-bad movies, North
America picks one of the worst in the list (but at least it isn't Into the
Blue). Flightplan grossed $15 million from 3,424 venues, giving it a second
weekend venue average of $4,391. The saving grace here is that at least
Flightplan is down 39%, and may get the shiv similar to the way Just Like
Heaven has performed. Currently Flightplan sits with $46.1 million, and
could see as much as $70 million before this long flight is over.
Pulling up in second this weekend is Serenity, Josh Whedon's take on what a
space opera is in 2005. Serenity did pkay over its opening frame, grossing
$10.1 million, thanks mostly to the cult success of its creator and its
originating TV Series called Firefly. Notable here is that the venue count
was actually quite low for an sci-fi flick at only 2,188. That gives
Serenity the second best venue average in the top ten at $4,634, which means
it stays ahead of new films despite having fewer screens in the per venue
battle. We often talk about how the second weekend of a film's release is so
crucial, and it's even more important in this case. Because this movie is
based on a TV show that only a renegade few watched and stars no one
mainstream audiences would know, the second weekend drop could be inherently
precipitous. However, Serenity does seem to have reviews and word-of-mouth
on its side. At RottenTomatoes, a much higher than expected 80% of critics
gave this one a thumbs up, a number I certainly did not think it would see.
Not only is this one fresh in the critics' eyes, but also in the Users of
RottenTomatoes. Signed-up users of the review compilation Web site combine
to give this a 92% fresh rating. Sure, it may just be a bunch of freaks and
geeks, but remember that this same demo made Napoleon Dynamite a $44.5
million winner against a production budget of $400,000. Universal and
partners spent a small $40 million on Serenity, a good investment for this
kind of opening weekend. If it doesn't drop crazily next weekend, a
franchise could be born. Ah hell, with this sort of open it's probably a
franchise already. A decent follow up weekend probably makes it a trilogy.
It worked for Transporter 2, so there's no reason not to do it here.
Third spot goes to Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride. Proving that good movies
don't always hold well, The Corpse Bride grossed $9.8 million, down a nasty
49% compared to its just shy of $20 million open. Out to 3,204 venues, The
Corpse Bride had a disappointing second weekend venue average of $3,044. As
I mentioned last weekend, this movie is a tough one to keep rolling at the
ticket window. Since it is too old for the younger set and good but not good
enough for repeat viewings from the Goth crowd, Corpse Bride seems to be
falling into a hole versus competition from Flightplan and Serenity. The
best news for Warner Bros is that the production cost was only $40 million,
a sum which will easily be made from DVD sales and rentals. In terms of
theatrical success, I'm looking at you, North America, to keep this churning
at least until Halloween. Also, I'm begging Oscar (and BOP Columnists!) to
keep Danny Elfman in mind for next year's awards.
Pulling up in a surprise number four spot is A History of Violence, a film I
thought would have finished in the lower rungs of this weekend's box office
top ten. History, starring Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello, grossed $8.2
million from only 1,340 venues. It had the best venue average in the top ten
at $6,119. From director David Cronenberg, History was released by New Line
with a big-for-Cronenberg-budget of $32 million. It got off to a great start
last weekend in limited release, grossing about a half million from only 14
venues, giving it an average in the $36,000 area. Reviews are of the
fantastic variety on this one, with 118 out of 131 critics liking this one
enough to give it a thumbs up. Hopefully, word-of-mouth will take over and
get this movie the attention it deserves. So far, A History of Violence has
earned about $9 million.
In fifth is Into the Blue, a leftover from MGM before execs fled after
seeing The Pink Panther. Into the Blue stars Paul 'if you see my name, don't
see my movie' Walker and Jessica Alba in a film about finding drugs,
planning to steal them and then getting caught by the strung-out druggies.
Into the Blue grossed $7 million this weekend from 2,789 venues and should
be out my hair within a few weekends (why can't Paul Walker'>Paul Walker just do porn?).
It had a venue average of $2,509 for Sony, who got the rights for MGM films
after the takeover.
Sixth this weekend, with an inordinate number of venues, is Reese
Witherspoon's Just Like Heaven. Heaven, now in its third weekend, earned
$6.1 million. Still at a mind numbing 3,543 venues, this one had one of the
worst averages in the top ten at $1,721. The DreamWorks product has now
earned $38.4 million against a budget of about $60 million.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose'>Emily Rose'>Emily Rose'>Emily Rose holds onto seventh spot this weekend, as the
shine is coming off of it very quickly. Emily Rose'>Emily Rose'>Emily Rose'>Emily Rose grossed $4.4 million in
her fourth frame from 3,004 venues, dropping 41%. The Screen Gems release
has now earned $68.5 million versus a production budget of about $20
million.
Eighth spot goes to Roll Bounce, the roller-derby Fox Searchlight film that
hasn't made much noise. Roll Bounce grossed $4 million in its second
weekend, down 47%. The '70s-style flick has now grossed a whopping $12.7
million.
Ninth place goes to our last new release, The Greatest Game Ever Played.
Greatest Game, a Disney movie directed by Bill Paxton (I miss the Near Dark
days), earned $3.7 million from a tiny venue count of only 1,014. It had a
strong average at $3,697. Getting the greenlight on this one must have been
tough. Let's do a kids movie, set it in the early 1900s and make it about
golf. Marketed solidly to the Christian Church (don't ask, I don't know why)
worked, and the TV campaign was solid, so awareness is up. The question is
still whether it will find an audience in the weeks to come. For what it's
worth, critics were mostly mixed on this one, but it did come out fresh at
RottenTomatoes, with a 61% fresh rating (less than 60% is rotten, so come up
with your own conclusions on that one).
Tenth goes to The 40 Year-Old Virgin, who hosted Saturday Night Live over
the weekend. The Steve Carell comedy grossed $3.1 million, dropping a slight
28% and finally pulling its total above the $100 million mark. The huge
Universal hit now sits with $101.4 million, versus a production budget of
only $25 million.
Overall, the box office didn't have a chance and could afford to take a
weekend off after cleaning up in the last frame. This weekend, the top ten
films grossed about $72 million, which does not compare favorably with last
year's Shark Tale-enabled top ten gross of about $97 million. Last weekend
we were way up, this weekend we are way down, and next weekend we get
Wallace & Gromit, where last year had Taxi with Jimmy Fallon.
-
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/95762004.htm
David Cronenberg's On Set Public Sex Scenes
September 27, 2005, 7:24:15
CRONENBERG'S PUBLIC SEX
Eccentric film-maker DAVID CRONENBERG shocked his cast and crew on the set
of new movie A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, by publicly performing sex scenes with
his wife.
The director hoped his explicit displays of affection with his wife would
help stars VIGGO MORTENSEN and MARIA BELLO, who play man and wife in the
film, feel more comfortable during their sex scenes together.
But, instead, the Cronenbergs just left everyone on the set stunned.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS star Mortensen says, "There's a couple of fairly racy
sex scenes in the movie... between Maria Bello and myself. David, trying to
be helpful, as usual, thought it might be a good idea to call up his wife
and have her come down to the set.
"The crew and Maria and I just sat and watched while he and his wife got
into something comfortable - nothing - and they started to say, 'We want you
to (do this).' Maria and I were both going, 'OK, we get it.'
"This is a testament to their relationship, they kept going and they kept
going and then we broke for lunch and some time in the evening Maria and I
got to have a crack at it.
"Instead of putting us at ease, we actually were kind of freaked out...
Maybe some things ought to stay private."
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http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/M/Mortensen_Viggo/2005/09/21/1228055.html
Mortensen handles new-found fame
By BRUCE KIRKLAND - Toronto Sun
TORONTO - Of all the stars who emerged from Peter Jackson's The Lord Of The
Rings trilogy, Viggo Mortensen seems to be the least ambitious, the most
humble, the least likely to try to capitalize on the phenomenon.
David Cronenberg, the Toronto filmmaker who directed Mortensen in A History
Of Violence, calls his Danish-American leading man "a really down-to-earth
guy" for whom he harbours great affection. The fruits of their friendship
opens Friday in Toronto, plus eight other North American cities, before
expanding wide next week.
"He really is not very concerned with money," Cronenberg tells the Sun, "and
he really is not very concerned with career goals. It's genuine with him."
Cronenberg flew from Toronto to Los Angeles to meet Mortensen during the
casting of A History Of Violence "because I had to seduce him to do the
movie and it had to be in person. You can't do that over the phone. Once we
had the discussion, he was talking about it like he was doing the movie,
even before the deal was made. And he never wavered from that. He's
fantastic. We had the best time. He is a complete collaborator."
Call it a mutal admiration society. When Mortensen sits down with the Sun
during the Toronto film festival - where A History Of Violence was a
featured Gala - he is shy and even awkward about the legacy of playing the
heroic warrior Aragorn in The Lord Of The Rings.
"That trilogy had its own life," Mortensen says, "and obviously it's
something that affected people." Among the autograph seekers and fans at the
filmfest Gala, he says, "there were a lot of people with images from A
History Of Violence, a few from the Spanish movie (El Capitan Alatriste) I
just did, and some from other things. But there were a lot of Lord Of The
Rings pictures there - and you see them everywhere."
After the screening, Mortensen had his own Rings reunion, hanging with Sean
Bean and Hugo Weaving at the Cronenberg festival party. "It shows how it had
an effect on me, as well, because it was long and interesting and it was a
bonding experience, more than most. There is an interest in that project but
I don't know if it gets in the way of them watching this movie."
The projects are just too different, Mortensen says. Even through the issue
of heroism is raised in both, the context is different in A History Of
Violence. It is a searing drama in which Mortensen plays a "perfect" husband
and father whose American Dream life is thrown into turmoil through an
explosive act of brutal violence. So he never worried about the Rings
legacy, he says.
"I guess, if I did, it wouldn't do any good anyway. But I don't have to make
myself not worry about it. I actually don't really care. When Lord Of The
Rings fans show up, it doesn't surprise me. But I don't think I thought of
Lord Of The Rings once when we were shooting this. Why would I, you know?"
The fame that Rings brought him is useful, however. "Well, I wouldn't have
even been in this movie," he says of an Aragorn-free life. "Let's face it, I
would not have been given the lead in David's movie."
Not that he would be idle. Besides acting, the 46-year-old Mortensen pursues
jazz music, poetry, art photographs, painting and being father to his teen
son Henry (Mortensen is divorced from the boy's mother, Exene Vervenka). But
Mortensen says he would have regretted missing out on Cronenberg's
made-in-Toronto film.
"It's beautifully done. It's like music. I think any good movie is, I
suppose, but his are always so well thought out. And within its boundaries,
it's a live performance and things happen."
-
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexd?blogid=7
Mortensen & Bello Injured After Violent Sex Scene
Movie stars Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello were left battered and bruised
after shooting a hard-hitting sex scene on a wooden stairwell in the new
David Cronenberg film, "A History of Violence."
The couple, who play husband and wife in the gritty drama, spent weeks
preparing for and talking about the scene, but had no idea it would leave
them in so much pain.
Bello reveals, "I was covered from head to toe in black and blue and red
bruises -- Viggo, too. His whole hip and his elbow was swollen. I bit the
inside of his lip and it was swollen for, like, two days.
"We really committed to the scene and couldn't help but get physical. I was
really in pain after that scene.
"There's a scene in the movie where I have a bruise on my back -- that was
filmed three weeks later.
"Emotionally, it was very tough, too. I've been, in my life, such a control
freak, and, in my work, I always question how things are going to work I
talk about a scene for hours.
"For this, David (Cronenberg) simply said, 'Maria, you can't control this
one.' The scene is about her finally losing control and she comes out with
this animal instinct; a desire and a passion that she never knew existed
before."
-
"Thanatos" wrote in message
news:atropos-5602CE.21455318032008@news.giganews.com...
> In article
> ,
> TranslucentAmoebae wrote:
possession"http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/11/mary-ann-busted-with-mary-jane/
responsibility"http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/12/it-wasnt-mary-anns-mary-jane/
> difference?
He can't tell you...too drunk.
-
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/338821p-289317c.html
This year's fall and winter movie season looks fantastic.
That doesn't mean it's going to be particularly good, just that there
are so many ... fantasies.
There are children's fantasies like "Zathura" and "The Chronicles of
Narnia"; gravity-defying fantasies like "The Legend of Zorro" and "Aeon
Flux"; the animated fantasies "Chicken Little," "Tim Burton's Corpse
Bride" and "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-rabbit"; sci-fi
adventures "Serenity," "Doom" and "A Sound of Thunder"; the fourth
Harry Potter movie, and Peter Jackson's remake of the ultimate
fantasy-adventure, "King Kong."
We begin our preview at the end of August, but the string of fantasies
gets an early start on Friday with Terry Gilliam's galloping "The
Brothers Grimm," which has more references to classic fairy tale
characters than all the other coming fantasies combined.
Some analysts may attribute the rash of fantasy films to the escapism
that comes with war, and that may play a role. But it seems just as
likely that fantasy reigns because the ability to create incredible
images today makes the genre irresistible to storytellers.
The trailers for all of the above movies are linked on the Web sites
www.apple.com/trailers and www.imdb.com. Take a look and you'll agree:
They look fantastic.
Fall/winter is also Oscar season, and there are plenty of potential
contenders. The high-profile films with awards ambitions include Steven
Spielberg's "Munich," a drama based on the search for the planners of
the assault on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games; Rob
Marshall's "Memoirs of a Geisha," based on Arthur Golden's acclaimed
novel about a woman who spends her life in the high art of pleasing,
and Terrence Malick's "The New World," an epic account of the first
Virginia colony and the meeting of John Smith and Pocahontas.
Recent Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski returns with a new version
of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist," and Marc Forster'>Marc Forster ("Finding
Neverland") turns to drama with "Stay," the story of a psychiatrist's
efforts to stop a patient from carrying out a suicide threat.
Two Broadway musicals make the transition to the screen. Susan Stroman,
who directed "The Producers" on stage, handles the film adaptation as
well, while Chris Columbus directs "Rent."
A few laughs
Comedies abound. Among them are: "Rumor Has It," starring Jennifer
Aniston as a female version of "The Graduate's" Benjamin Braddock; "The
Man," a buddy film featuring unlikely chemistry between Samuel L.
Jackson and Eugene Levy; "The Weather Man," starring Nicolas Cage'>Nicolas Cage'>Nicolas Cage'>Nicolas Cage as a
TV weather guy who wears his bad forecasts on his shoulders, and a pair
of old-fashioned family films about families that are too big - "Yours,
Mine, and Ours" and "Cheaper by the Dozen 2."
The following schedule may have changed by the time the ink was dry on
this newspaper. But the great majority of films listed are locked in to
those dates.
Every New Film
AUG. 31
The Constant Gardener Brazil's Fernando Meirelles ("City of God")
directs Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz in an adaptation of John
LeCarre's thriller about a British diplomat rousted from his Nairobi
garden to investigate the murder of his activist wife.
Games of Love and Chance Abdel Kechiche directs the Cesar-winning drama
about a group of French students coming of age in a political pressure
cooker of a French project.
William Eggleston in the Real World Director Michael Almereyada
followed the 65-year-old avant garde photographer, musician, draftsman
and videographer across country for this intimate documentary portrait.
SEPT. 2
The Underclassman Action-comedy starring Nick Cannon ("Drumline") as a
young L.A. detective who goes undercover at a posh prep school to break
up a stolen car ring. Directed by Marcos Siega ("Pretty Persuasion").
A Sound of Thunder Edward Burns, Ben Kingsley'>Ben Kingsley and Catherine McCormack
star in an adaptation of a Ray Bradbury story about a group of people
who travel back to the dinosaur era and cause a chain reaction that
alters the future to which they return. Directed by Peter Hyams
("Timecop").
The Transporter 2 Jason Statham returns as Frank Martin, a man who
delivers anonymous packages to anonymous clients, no questions asked.
Inevitably, the packages get him into trouble, this time with a
gun-toting blonde (Amber Valletta).
SEPT. 7
Touch the Sound Documentary about symphony percussionist Evelyn
Glennie, a child prodigy from Scotland who lost her hearing at age 12
but didn't miss a beat. At 40, she's still performing.
SEPT. 9
The Exorcism of Emily Rose Laura Linney plays a lawyer defending a
priest (Tom Wilkinson) accused of murder after his exorcism of a
possessed woman leaves her dead. With Campbell Scott.
The Man Comedy of mistaken identity starring Samuel L. Jackson as a
special agent whose search for his partner's killer leads him to a
dorky salesman (Eugene Levy). Directed by Les Mayfield ("Encino Man").
Curandero "Sin City's" Robert Rodriguez wrote the for this
horror movie about a man caught up in black magic in Mexico City.
Director Eduardo Rodriguez is apparently no relation.
An Unfinished Life Lasse Hallstr=F6m's sentimental drama brings the
unlikely pairing of uptight rancher Robert Redford and emotional single
mom Jennifer Lopez. Don't expect sparks, though: he's a grieving
father, and she's the woman who married, and then accidentally killed,
his son. Can her preteen daughter unite them, or will she become just
another wedge in their long-simmering enmity? More important, will
Lopez benefit from a boost in her lukewarm screen career, or has the
shelf-life on this much delayed movie already expired?
Steal Me A 15-year-old boy abandoned by his mother befriends another
boy his age and moves in with his family, soon developing a crush on
both his friend's mother and the sexy older woman living next door.
Keane Lodge Kerrigan ("Claire Dolan") directs Damian Lewis
("Dreamcatcher") in a psychological drama about a man haunted by the
disappearance of his 6-year-old daughter at Manhattan's Port Authority
Bus Terminal - or was it all in his head?
The Outsiders - The Complete Novel Francis Coppola's elongated
version of his 1983 adaptation of the S.E. Hinton novel. The DVD goes
on sale immediately after the release.
Cote d'Azur French comedy about a family whose seaside vacation gets a
little foamy when the couple's daughter takes up with a biker and their
son drifts off with his best friend, who is secretly in love with him.
Walking on the Sky A group of six New York friends have to wrestle with
the new dynamics in their relationships when another member of their
circle kills himself and leaves behind a revealing diary. Directed by
and starring New York native Carl T. Evans.
Green Street Hooligans Elijah Wood plays a wrongly expelled Harvard
student who moves to London, where he is instantly drawn into the
violent subculture of soccer hooliganism. With Charlie Hunnam, Claire
Forlani.
Music From the Inside Out Daniel Anker documentary weaving together a
mosaic of the stories, ideas and experiences of the 105 members of the
Philadelphia Orchestra, a musical institution that hasn't participated
in a film since "Fantasia."
Answering the Call Documentary honoring the people who answered
emergency calls on 9/11.
SEPT. 14
The Future of Food Documentary about genetically engineered products
that have become part of the U.S. food chain - whether they're good
for us or not. Directed by Deborah Koons Garcia, widow of Jerry Garcia.
SEPT. 16
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang Big-fee action screenwriter Shane Black ("Lethal
Weapon") makes his directing debut with his own about a New York
actor (Robert Downey, Jr.) who impersonates a detective and gets
himself in all sorts of trouble. With Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan.
Lord of War Nicolas Cage'>Nicolas Cage'>Nicolas Cage'>Nicolas Cage is an international gun dealer in Andrew
Niccol's topical black comedy, which co-stars Ethan Hawke as an
Interpol agent intent on bringing him down. With Donald Sutherland, Ian
Holm, Jared Leto.
Just Like Heaven "Mean Girls"' Mark Waters directs Mark Ruffalo and
Reese Witherspoon in a romantic fantasy about a young man and the
spirit of a comatose doctor who fall in love while sharing an
apartment. Once they're over their, uh, dimensional differences, the
race is on to keep her body from being taken off life support.
Proof Last time director John Madden and Gwyneth Paltrow worked
together, she landed herself an Oscar. Though more erudite and intimate
than "Shakespeare in Love," Madden's adaptation of David Auburn's
Pulitzer Prize-winning play might just catch the eyes of Academy's
voters, too. Reprising a role she has already tackled on the London
stage, Paltrow plays an overwhelmed young woman rapidly losing her grip
after the death of her father (Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant math
professor. Hovering around the edges are her concerned support system:
brainy admirer Jake Gyllenhaal'>Jake Gyllenhaal and coldly practical sister Hope Davis.
The Woods Psychological horror film about the students of an all-girl
boarding school who begin to go missing in the surrounding woods.
Patricia Clarkson is the headmistress and Agnes Bruckner'>Agnes Bruckner is the new
student caught up in the mystery.
Separate Lies It's been a while since we were faced with the sight of
middle-class Brits keeping a stiff upper lip while suppressing
dangerous secrets. Fortunately, Emily Watson and Tom Wilkinson are
always willing to suffer stoically for our entertainment. "Gosford
Park" screenwriter Julian Fellowes makes his directorial debut, while
Watson and Wilkinson play a long-married couple who are still quite
happy together (aside from the passionate affair and possible homicide
she's hiding).
Venom Jim Gillespie ("I Know What You Did Last Summer") directs another
teens-in-trouble horror picture, this one involving voodoo in the
bayous of Louisiana. With Agnes Bruckner'>Agnes Bruckner (poor thing), Bijou Phillips.
The Libertine Johnny Depp takes on the role of notorious 17th-century
poet, derelict and debaucher John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester and
grand embarrassment of Charles II (John Malkovich). Samantha Morton is
the actress who comes under Wilmot's shaky tutelage.
Adapted from his play by Stephen Jeffreys and directed by first-timer
Laurence Dunmore.
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride Another day, another Johnny Depp-Tim Burton
collaboration. Not that we're feeling cavalier about it: These two have
given us some of the most unusual movies in recent years. Since
Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "James and the Giant
Peach" are among them, we have high hopes for this latest stop-motion
animated fantasy, which is based on an old Russian folk tale about a
young groom (voiced by Depp) who inadvertently finds himself with two
wives (he could do worse than Helena Bonham Carter'>Helena Bonham Carter and Emily Watson).
Thumbsucker Offbeat comedy about a 17-year-old boy whose infantile
habit of sucking his thumb makes him the subject of ridicule and
isolation even in his own home. But the people trying to help him kick
the habit are even stranger. With Tilda Swinton, Vincent D'Onofrio,
Keanu Reeves, Vince Vaughn. It's the first feature directed by Mike
Mills, maker of the well-received short "Paperboys."
Everything Is Illuminated Actor Liev Schreiber makes his writing and
directing debut with his adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's darkly
comic best seller about a young American Jew who travels to Russia to
find the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis. With Elijah
Wood.
One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern
Documentary about the 1972 presidential campaign and political
humiliation of the idealistic former South Dakota senator.
Cry Wolf A high-school prank turns lethal when classmates listed on a
joke Web site as the next victims of a serial killer start turning up
dead. With Julian Morris, Lindy Booth, Jon Bon Jovi.
Hard Goodbyes: My Father Greek drama about a lonely boy who has to rely
on his imagination when the father with whom he'd shared a passion for
outer space does not come home.
The Thing About My Folks Paul Reiser wrote this film and co-stars in it
with Peter Falk as a son and father rediscovering the bond between them
on a cross-country trip in a restored '36 Ford. Directed by Raymond De
Felitta ("Two Family House").
The Weeping Meadow The first film in a planned trilogy by Greek master
Theo Angelopoulos follows a pair of refugee children as they come of
age in the small Greek village they are brought to after the Russian
Revolution.
SEPT. 23
A History of Violence With echoes of Alfred Hitchcock's "wrong man"
theme and Sam Peckinpah's "Straw Dogs," David Cronenberg's latest film
stars Viggo Mortensen as a small-town family man whose celebrated
heroism in thwarting and killing two thugs in his diner draws gangsters
to town. The one with the deformed face (Ed Harris) claims he knew the
hero years before and he has come for some payback. Despite his
denials, Mortensen's character ends up having to fight violence with
violence. With Maria Bello, William Hurt.
Oliver Twist If ever there were a story that suited Roman Polanski's
dark sensibilities, it's Charles Dickens' classic saga of an orphan
whose fate falls and rises at the mercy of others. The screenplay was
written by Ronald Harwood, Polanski's partner on their Oscar-winning
"Pianist," so it is always possible that this artistically acclaimed
pair aims to entertain adults and youngsters alike, while
simultaneously approaching the Academy with a respectful request: "May
we have some more?" With Barney Clark as Oliver, Ben Kingsley'>Ben Kingsley as Fagin
and Jamie Foreman as Bill Sykes.
Flightplan In her first starring role in three years, Jodie Foster
plays a recently widowed woman whose 6-year-old daughter disappears in
the middle of a trans-continental flight from Berlin to New York. Since
no one else on the plane remembers seeing the girl, they question
whether she was there only in her mother's mind.
Daltry Calhoun Johnny Knoxville returns to his hometown as a roustabout
and would-be golf magnate whose ex-wife (Elizabeth Banks) throws a
twist into his life by dropping their 14-year-old daughter at his door.
Roll Bounce Nick Cannon, Bow Wow and Mike Epps star for "The Best Man"
director Malcolm D. Lee in this comedy-drama about a group of hip-hop
roller skaters preparing for a competition on the other side of 1970s
Chicago.
Dear Wendy Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, two of the founders of
the Danish film collective Dogme 95, team up as writer (von Trier) and
director (Vinterberg) of this parable about America's contradictory gun
culture. It follows a group of teenage outcasts in a fictional mining
town who form a secret club known as "The Dandies." Their purpose -
to love and admire guns but never use them on anybody - soon goes out
the window.
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D Tom Hanks produced and
narrates this 3-D IMAX film that re-creates for the audience what the
12 astronauts who have walked on the moon experienced.
Into the Fire Drama about a troubled NYPD harbor cop who freezes during
a rescue attempt of a drowning woman and tries to make peace with his
conscience and the victim's identical twin. With Sean Patrick Flanery
and Melina Kanakaredes from TV's "Providence."
Dorian Blues Coming-out story about a young man who, on the cusp of
moving to New York, begins showing his preference for men, much to the
dismay of his right-wing father and his jock brother.
7 Dias Mexican film about a U2 super fan determined to raise the
half-million dollars it would cost to bring the band to his country.
Dirty Love Jenny McCarthy wrote this comedy and co-stars in it with
Carmen Electra. It's about a jilted woman who sees a psychic to find
out where she should search for true love.
Occupation: Dreamland Documentary focusing on the men of the 82nd
Airborne in Iraq and on the Army's recruitment tactics.
SEPT. 28
Forty Shades of Blue Rip Torn plays a legendary (and doesn't he know
it) Memphis music producer whose comfy existence is shaken when his
young Russian trophy wife (Dina Korzun) falls in love with his
estranged son.
SEPT. 30
Capote The estimable Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the late novelist and
social gadfly Truman Capote. It's not a conventional biopic, but an
account of the writer's research for "In Cold Blood," his classic
"nonfiction novel" about the murders of a Kansas farm family and the
subsequent trials and executions of their killers. Catherine Keener is
Harper Lee, Capote's young associate (and future author of "To Kill a
Mockingbird") and Clifton Collins Jr. plays the killer Perry Smith,
with whom Capote developed a strong relationship. Bennett Miller is the
first-time director.
The Greatest Game Ever Played Shia LaBeouf ("Holes") stars for director
Bill Paxton in the dramatization of 20-year-old American amateur golfer
Francis Ouimet's legendary victory at the 1913 U.S. Open in Brookline,
Mass. Stephen Dillane plays Harry Vardon, the cocky British champion
who was humbled before the golfing world.
Into the Blue "Blue Crush" director John Stockwell goes back to the
water for this thriller about a group of buff young divers who find a
fortune in the cargo bay of a sunken airplane and make the mistake of
keeping it. With Paul Walker and Jessica Alba.
MirrorMask British fantasy about a 15-year-old circus entertainer whose
guilt over her mother's illness sends her into an alternative universe
of contrasting light and dark kingdoms.
Serenity Feature-length finale to Joss Whedon's 13-episode sci-fi TV
series "Firefly," about a group of adventurers aboard a space
transporter 500 years in the future. Here, Capt. Mal Reynolds (Nathan
Fillion) and his crew are being chased by the galaxy-ruling Alliance,
which wants to reclaim the telepathic fugitive River (Summer Glau)
traveling with them.
Little Manhattan Mark Levin, a story editor for "The Wonder Years,"
makes his directing debut with this tale of first love between two
12-year-olds.
The War Within Drama about a Pakistani engineering student who is
mistaken for a terrorist and placed in confinement.
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio Julianne Moore is a mother of 10
helping her luckless husband (Woody Harrelson) make ends meet by
entering - and winning - jingles contests in the 1950s. Adapted
from the memoir of Terry Ryan, whose mother did such things.
Going Shopping Henry Jaglom directs his wife, Victoria Foyt, in a story
about a clothing boutique owner's wild experiences during a Mother's
Day weekend sale.
OCT. 5
The Squid and the Whale Noah Baumbach, son of former Village Voice film
critic Georgia Brown, wrote and directs a loosely autobiographical
drama about two brothers dealing with their parents' divorce in 1980s
Brooklyn. With Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney.
OCT. 7
Goodnight, and Good Luck This drama, directed by George Clooney, is
built around the public fight between legendary broadcast journalist
Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) and Sen. Joseph McCarthy. In the
1950s, McCarthy was the most visible member of the witch-hunting House
UnAmerican Activities Committee, which destroyed the careers of
innocent people from all walks of life by associating them with
Communists. Murrow led the reaction to McCarthy and got labeled a
Communist for his trouble. CBS News stuck with Murrow despite the
pressure, and McCarthy's power began to fade. Clooney co-stars as CBS
news producer Fred Friendly and Frank Langella plays the corporation's
chief, William Paley.
In Her Shoes Curtis Hanson ("L.A. Confidential") goes all soft on us
with this story about two estranged sisters (Cameron Diaz and Toni
Collette) who are reconciled by the grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) they
never knew they had.
Two for the Money Matthew McConaughey is a former college football star
whose track record for handicapping sporting events draws him into the
world of high stakes gambling, where nothing short of his life will be
at stake. With Al Pacino as the betting agency mogul who comes to rely
on and dominate him. Directed by D.J. Caruso ("The Salton Sea").
The Gospel An R&B star (Clifton Powell) faces a spiritual crisis when
he returns home on learning of the illness of his father, a church
bishop, and his boyhood rival's plans to take over the church. With
Omar Gooding.
Before the Fall German drama about a young boxing prospect whose
repulsion over Nazi atrocities sets him against the biggest opponent of
all.
Waiting An "American Pie"-style comedy about the crude and rude
employees of a restaurant whose name - Shenanigans - describes
their behavior. With Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Justin Long.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-rabbit What are the odds we'd
have two stop-motion movies to look forward to this season? (Strangely
enough, Helena Bonham Carter'>Helena Bonham Carter lends her voice to both.) Already the
subject of three Oscar-nominated shorts, inventor Wallace and his dog
Gromit make their feature debut in a comedy about a mysterious monster
who's destroying the garden plots of an English village. Naturally,
it's up to our intrepid heroes to stop him. "Chicken Run," the last
import from the inspired minds at Aardman Animation, was a surprise
smash. Wallace and Gromit deserve nothing less.
Dandelion A coming of age story about a 16-year-old boy and how his
search for his identity is connected with the various forms of love
that are missing from his life.
OCT. 12
Henri Langlois: Phantom of the Cinematheque Documentary about the film
archivist who inspired French New Wave directors Godard, Truffaut,
Rohmer and Chabrol.
OCT. 14
Nine Lives Rodrigo Garcia directs a series of nine vignettes about
women getting on with their lives in Los Angeles. Each segment is done
as a single 10-minute take. With Sissy Spacek, Robin Wright Penn, Glenn
Close and Holly Hunter.
Elizabethtown Orlando Bloom is an industrial designer hit with three
pieces of devastating news: his girlfriend (Jessica Biel) is breaking
up with him; he has lost his job because of a disastrous mistake, and
his father has died. On the plus side, he meets an irrepressible flight
attendant (Kirsten Dunst) traveling to his father's funeral in Kentucky
and realizes that his life may get better - if it doesn't get worse.
Written and directed by Cameron Crowe ("Almost Famous").
North Country Oscar-winner Charlize Theron'>Charlize Theron ("Monster") stars in a
fictionalized account of the landmark 1984 sexual harassment case
involving a woman working in the Minnesota mining industry and her male
co-workers. With Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson. Directed by Niki
Caro ("Whale Rider").
Domino Keira Knightley'>Keira Knightley assumes the title role in Tony Scott's highly
exaggerated account of the adventures of British actor Laurence
Harvey's daughter, who turned her back on a modeling and potential
acting career to become a bounty hunter; she died at age 35 in June.
With Mena Suvari, Mickey Rourke.
Where the Truth Lies Atom Egoyan ("The Sweet Hereafter") adapts Rupert
Holmes' novel about a young journalist (Alison Lohman) probing for the
truth of a 15-year-old scandal that destroyed the careers of a revered
showbiz duo (Kevin Bacon, Colin Firth).
The Fog Rupert Wainwright ("Stigmata") directs the remake of John
Carpenter's 1980 horror film about the ghosts of long-buried lepers who
rise on a dense fog surrounding a coastal California town. Selma Blair
and Maggie Grace are among the terrorized.
Loggerheads Three interwoven stories about a young gay man (Kip
Pardue), his biological mother (Bonnie Hunt) and his adoptive parents
(Chris Sarandon and Tess Harper).
Innocent Voices Based on screenwriter Oscar Torres' childhood
experience, this is the story of a 12-year-old boy who is automatically
enlisted in the army in 1980s El Salvador. Directed by Luis Mandoki
("Message in a Bottle").
OCT. 19
Ushpizin Drama about the daily lives of ultra-Orthodox Jews learning,
living and loving in modern-day Israel.
OCT. 21
Shopgirl Steve Martin'>Steve Martin adapted his slight novella and co-stars with
Claire Danes in a story about a salesclerk at a Beverly Hills
department store who gets involved with a middle-age sugar daddy.
Barely Legal Three high-school sophomores try to make a porno movie in
their basement while their parents are at work. The results are
disastrous, especially when a school bully wants to participate in the
film.
Stay Marc Forster'>Marc Forster ("Finding Neverland," "Monster's Ball") directs Ewan
McGregor and Naomi Watts'>Naomi Watts in a thriller about a psychiatrist's
nightmarish effort to prevent a patient from carrying out his threat to
kill himself in three days.
Kids in America At fictional Booker High in Brooklyn, a group of
politically active students joins forces with a fired teacher on a film
documenting their campaign against the repressive school principal.
Dreamer A "Seabiscuit"-like "underhorse" story about a filly who breaks
her leg and is nursed back to health by her trainer (Kurt Russell) at
the insistence of his daughter (Dakota Fanning). The horse then returns
to the track to try and win the Breeder's Cup.
After Innocence Documentary about the reentry into society of seven men
released from prison after DNA evidence proved they were innocent of
the crimes for which they were sent away for decades.
Protocols of Zion Documentary filmmaker Marc Levin takes his camera to
the streets of New York to learn from passing anti-Semites why they
hate Jews.
Doom The Rock stars in Andrzej Bartkowiak's feature version of the
super-hot '90s video game about Marines taking on invading monsters on
their base on a moon of Mars in the year 2145.
Innocence This Belgian-French film is based on an 1888 Gothic novella
about young girls growing up in a subterranean boarding school beneath
an isolated wood.
The Ordeal Belgian psychological drama about a singer who ends up in a
creepy, out-of-the-way motel after his car breaks down in the night.
Derailed Adapted from James Siegel's heralded first novel, this
thriller stars Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston as illicit Manhattan
lovers trying to outwit a violent blackmailer who is much smarter than
they are. With Vincent Cassel, Melissa George, RZA, Tom Conti, Xzibit,
Giancarlo Esposito.
White King, Red Rubber, Black Death Documentary about the brutality of
a jungle gulag created by Belgium's King Leopold II in the colonial
Congo in 1885.
OCT. 26
Ballets Russes Documentary about the famed ballet company, which is
about to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
OCT. 28
The Legend of Zorro The sequel to the 1998 "Mask of Zorro" traces how
Antonio Banderas' Don Alejandro is forced to put on the mask and take
up the sword several years after marrying the lovely Elena (Catherine
Zeta-Jones) and having a son. The boy is now 10 and unaware of dad's
outlaw fame, but he will soon learn as the mark of Zorro begins
appearing anew on the landscape and on the bodies of baddies in Old
California. Returning director is Martin Campbell.
Prime What's a girl (Uma Thurman) to do when she learns that the
psychotherapist to whom she's told the most intimate details of her sex
life is her boyfriend's mother? For that matter, what's the shrink to
do? A comedy by writer-director Ben Younger.
Three ... Extremes A pan-Asian sampler of 30-minute horror shorts from
China's Fruit Chan, Japan's Takashi Miike and South Korea's Chan-wook
Park.
The Dying Gaul A grieving gay screenwriter (Peter Sarsgaard) has a shot
at selling his about his relationship with his late lover and
agent, but there's a Faustian catch: He has to change it to a
heterosexual relationship. With Patricia Clarkson, Campbell Scott.
Craig Lucas (writer of "Long Time Companion") directs his own .
Saw II The serial killer known as Jigsaw returns to terrorize eight
more strangers with his murderous game playing in the sequel to last
year's Halloween hit.
Paradise Now A drama about two Palestinian boyhood friends spending
their last day together before going off on suicide bombing missions in
Tel Aviv.
The Weather Man Nicolas Cage'>Nicolas Cage'>Nicolas Cage'>Nicolas Cage is a Chicago TV weatherman, family man and
neurotic whose decision to take a job in New York puts all of his roles
at risk in this offbeat comedy. With Hope Davis, Michael Caine.
Directed by Gore Verbinski ("Pirates of the Caribbean").
Blackmail Boy A blackmail scheme leads to murder in a small Greek town.
NOV. 4
Jarhead Jake Gyllenhaal'>Jake Gyllenhaal is a young Marine forced to grow up fast during
Desert Storm. Based on former Marine Anthony Swofford's 2003
best-seller. With Jamie Foxx, Lucas Black. Directed by Sam Mendes
("American Beauty").
NY Doll This documentary about the late Arthur Kane, bassist with the
New York Dolls, centers on the notorious glam-punk band's 2004 reunion.
The Matador In writer-director Richard Shepard's black comedy, Pierce
Brosnan plays an international hit man who, on assignment in Mexico
City, befriends, then enlists, a woebegone businessman (Greg Kinnear)
as a partner in crime. With Hope Davis, Philip Baker Hall.
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story British comedy actor Steve
Coogan ("24 Hour Party People") plays the title character in Michael
Winterbottom's audacious adaptation of Laurence Sterne's 1759 novel
"Tristram Shandy," about an egocentric country gentleman sharing his
views with readers, when not digressing about his family.
Chicken Little This non-Pixar CGI cartoon from Disney stars Zach Braff
as the voice of Chicken Little, a vigilant sky watcher who proves he
isn't always wrong when he says "the sky is falling." Joan Cusack, Don
Knotts, Fred Willard and Amy Sedaris also lend their voices.
The Family Stone A romantic comedy about a family that circles the
wagons when Ben Stone (Luke Wilson) brings home an uptight woman
(Claire Danes) he intends to marry. Facing a cold reception, she calls
in her sister (Sarah Jessica Parker) for support, then things get
really bad.
Summer Storm German coming-out story about a camping trip during which
one of two best friends discovers he wants more than friendship.
NOV. 9
The New World Terrence Malick ("The Thin Red Line") wrote and directed
this historical epic about the arrival of British colonists on the
coast of North America and their conflicts with the natives they found
there. It's the story of John Smith, Pocahontas and John Rolfe, and of
the teenage Pocahontas' role in saving the white colonists from her
tribe's warriors, and of her subsequent trip to England. Colin Farrell
plays Smith, Christian Bale is Rolfe and 15-year-old German-born
Q'Orianka Kilcher, partly descended from native South Americans, is
Pocahontas.
Pulse Remake of a Japanese horror film about a computer virus or
supernatural force that turns viewers into suicidal depressives. With
Kristen Bell (from TV's "Veronica Mars").
The Swenkas In South Africa, flamboyant, stylish - and straight -
blue-collar Zulu men replace their overalls with colorful designer
suits to compete in fashion shows of their own making, in a ritual
called "swanking."
NOV. 11
Bee Season Fans of Myla Goldberg's best seller ought to be happy with
the team behind this adaptation: Directors Scott McGehee and David
Siegel did a nice job exploring family tensions in "The Deep End." And
if any actor can handle the story's spiritual twists and turns, it's
surely the Dalai Lama's No. 1 fan, Richard Gere. He plays a theology
professor convinced his young daughter (Flora Cross) has a divine
connection to another plane. Meanwhile, his teenage son (Max Minghella)
and mentally ill wife (Juliette Binoche) are floundering right here on
Earth.
Take My Eyes Acclaimed Spanish drama about a woman who takes her son
and leaves the abusive husband she still loves.
Ellie Parker In this low-budget indie comedy, which originated as a
2001 short film project, Naomi Watts'>Naomi Watts plays what she once was, an
Australian actress trying to get traction in Hollywood. With Chevy
Chase as her manager and writer-director Scott Coffey as her boyfriend.
Get Rich or Die Tryin' Taking its cue from "8 Mile," this urban drama
is a loosely autobiographical tale about an inner-city thief and drug
dealer who leaves prison determined to become a rap star. He's played
by - and inspired by - Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. The director is
Jim Sheridan ("In America").
Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic The raw standup comic expounds on
politics, race, sex and religion.
Cape of Good Hope South African drama about three women whose lives
intersect at an animal rescue shelter, to their lasting good.
Zathura Less a sequel to 1995's "Jumanji" than another wild game. In
this one, directed by Jon Favreau ("Elf"), two young brothers find a
space adventure board game in the attic of their California bungalow
and are soon hoist - house and all - into the galaxy. Tim Robbins
plays their befuddled father. The screenplay by David Koepp and John
Kamps was based, like "Jumanji" and "Polar Express," on a book by Chris
Van Allsburg.
NOV. 16
The Syrian Bride Israeli filmmaker Eran Riklis' drama about a Syrian
woman who, in her bridal outfit, is steps away from crossing the border
into Israel to meet her groom when politics stops her in her tracks.
NOV. 18
Walk the Line James Mangold ("Identity") directs Joaquin Phoenix in
this Johnny Cash biopic. Reese Witherspoon plays his wife, June Carter.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire In the fourth part of the series,
Harry, Ron and Hermione face down Voldemort's Death Eaters. There have
been some grumblings that Mike Newell, the director of "Four Weddings
and a Funeral," will not stay true to the daringly dark tone set by his
predecessor, Alfonso Cuar=F3n. As Dumbledore tells Harry, "We must all
face the choice between what is right and what is easy." Here's hoping
Newell chose wisely.
Pride & Prejudice A new adaptation of Jane Austen's novel about the
five Bennet sisters in Georgian England. Keira Knightley'>Keira Knightley is Elizabeth,
the most self-determined of the girls, and Matthew MacFadyen is Darcy,
the snob whom love will tame.
Breakfast on Pluto Director Neil Jordan ("The Crying Game") takes up
with another transvestite character in his adaptation of Pat McCabe's
novel about an Irish cabaret singer and prostitute who is wrongly
accused of planting a bomb in a 1970s London club. With Cillian Murphy
("Red Eye") and Liam Neeson.
Wolf Creek Australian horror movie about three young people who follow
their spring break with a trip to the outback, where somebody intends
to have fun at their expense.
NOV. 21
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things A Southern Gothic movie about a
boy learning about the seedy sides of the world while on the road with
his impulsive young mother (played by actress-director Asia Argento).
With cameos by Winona Ryder, Marilyn Manson and Peter Fonda, among
others.
NOV. 23
Syriana George Clooney stars in the biographical drama of Robert Baer,
a 20-year veteran of the CIA, who worked undercover studying terrorists
in the Middle East and became fed up with the growing weakness of the
agency and the cozy relationship between the oil-hungry West and a
certain government (hint: Saudi Arabia). With Matt Damon, Amanda Peet.
Written and directed by Stephen Gaghan.
Rent Chris Columbus, director of the first two Harry Potter movies,
helms the screen version of Jonathan Larson's Tony- and Pulitzer
Prize-winning rock opera about a group of bohemians struggling with
life in the East Village. It stars Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs and
several members of the original Broadway cast.
The Ice Harvest "Groundhog Day's" Harold Ramis directs John Cusack and
Billy Bob Thornton in a comedy about two guys who embezzle $2 million
from corrupt Wichita businessmen and are set to make a clean Christmas
Eve getaway until an ice storm arrives.
Yours, Mine and Ours Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo take over for Henry
Fonda and Lucille Ball in the remake of the 1968 comedy about a man
with 8 kids who marries a woman with 10.
The White Countess The final Merchant-Ivory production (Ismail Merchant
died in May) is set in late-1930s Shanghai, where a blind,
disillusioned American diplomat (Ralph Fiennes) is making a careful
study of the decadent city's rankest bars with the idea of building the
perfect dive. Natasha Richardson plays the Russian taxi dancer who
catches the diplomat's eye and is recruited as the centerpiece of the
club.
Dying For Dolly After saving a mafioso's life, a young African-American
(R&B star Usher) is rewarded with a job in the mob and puts it in
jeopardy by falling in love with the boss' daughter. With Chazz
Palminteri, Emmanuelle Chriqui.
NOV. 30
The Boys of Baraka Documentary about the experience of a group of
Baltimore 12-year-olds sent to an experimental boarding school in
Kenya.
DEC. 2
Transamerica "Desperate Housewives'" Felicity Huffman plays a pre-op
he-to-she transsexual whose plans for the life-changing surgery are
disrupted by the discovery of a son (Kevin Zegers) fathered 20 years
before.
Aeon Flux Charlize Theron'>Charlize Theron has the title role in this adaptation of the
cult MTV action series about a physically agile heroine working as a
rebel operative in a walled city run by scientists 400 years in the
future. With Frances McDormand, Sophie Okonedo.
Be Here to Love Me Documentary about the late, hard-living songwriter
Townes Van Zandt, with appearances by fans Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett,
Steve Earle and Kris Kristofferson.
The Kid and I California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger makes his first
post-inauguration movie appearance in a comedy about a 17-year-old boy
with cerebral palsy whose wealthy father (Joe Mantegna) decides to
grant his wish by financing an action movie for him to star in.
First Descent A documentary about snowboarding.
DEC. 9
Memoirs of a Geisha Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li and Michelle Yeoh, three of the
most beautiful Asian actresses, star in the adaptation of Arthur
Golden's epic novel about a peasant girl who is sold by her father to a
geisha house in 1920s Japan. As she flowers into adulthood, she becomes
the most desired geisha in the popular Gion district, and learns not
only the nuances of her profession but about human nature. With Ken
Watanabe. The director is "Chicago" Oscar nominee Rob Marshall.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe What,
you thought there was room for only one series of CGI-heavy epics made
in New Zealand from an Oxford don's quasi-religious, mythical stories
of good and evil ? Whether "Shrek" director Andrew Adamson can do as
well by C.S. Lewis as Peter Jackson did by J.R.R. Tolkien remains to be
seen, but this tale of four children who discover the land of Narnia
and fight the evil white witch (Tilda Swinton) holds even more
box-office promise. While "The Lord of the Rings" had three parts,
"Narnia" has seven.
Brokeback Mountain Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") directs
Jake Gyllenhaal'>Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in an adaptation of Annie Proulx's
short story about two ranch hands who - to their great surprise -
fall in love in 1963 Wyoming. With Michelle Williams.
DEC. 14
King Kong Why, you ask, do we need another version of the 1933 classic?
Because the 1976 remake with Jessica Lange was awful and the special
effects in the black-and-white original are a bit too rudimentary for
today's audiences. Besides, Peter Jackson, hot off the "Lord of the
Rings" trilogy, was willing to do it. Unlike the '76 movie, Jackson's
film is faithful to the Depression period and to the original story.
Naomi Watts'>Naomi Watts is in for Fay Wray as heroine Ann Darrow, Jack Black is
obsessed filmmaker Carl Denham, and Oscar-winner Adrien Brody ("The
Pianist") plays Watts' love interest, Jack Driscoll. Andy Serkis, who
did the body-motion performance for the computer-animated Gollum in
"Rings," does the same for Kong and also gets a role of his own, as
Lumpy the Cook.
The Grace Lee Project An Asian-American documentary filmmaker with the
extremely common name of Grace Lee sets out to learn what she can about
other Grace Lees current and past, and comes to some conclusions about
Asian stereotypes.
DEC. 16
All the King's Men Sean Penn stars in Steven Zaillian's new version of
Robert Penn Warren's 1946 Pulitzer Prize-winning political satire about
a populist Southern governor (a thinly-veiled Huey Long) who becomes
intoxicated with power. A 1949 adaptation directed by Robert Rossen won
Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor (Broderick Crawford). Jude Law
is Jack Burden, the journalist who unwittingly aids the cause of Penn's
Willie Stark, and Kate Winslet is Anne Stanton, the governor's niece
and Jack's girlfriend.
The Promise Chen Kaige ("Farewell My Concubine") directs this romantic
fantasy about a royal concubine in love with a slave.
DEC. 21
The Producers: The Movie Musical At last, the film version of the stage
musical of Mel Brooks' 1968 film arrives! Nathan Lane and Matthew
Broderick reprise their roles of Max Bialy=ADstock and Leo Bloom. The
only actors not from the Broadway production are Uma Thurman, as
Swedish secretary Ulla, and Will Ferrell, as retro Nazi Franz Liebkind.
Susan Stroman, director of the stage hit, makes her film-directing
debut, a stint that prompted rumors that Brooks stepped in to direct
some of the nonmusical scenes. The film was shot in the new Steiner
Studios in Brooklyn.
Fun With Dick and Jane The year's umpteenth remake stars Jim Carrey and
T=E9a Leoni in the roles played by George Segal and Jane Fonda in a 1977
comedy about a quiet suburban couple who moonlight as hooded robbers.
Cheaper By the Dozen 2 Steve Martin'>Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt return for the
sequel to the 2003 remake of a 1950 comedy about a couple with an
oversized brood. Here, the Bakers find themselves in competition with a
family of eight children while on vacation. With Eugene Levy.
DEC. 23
Munich Steven Spielberg follows "War of the Worlds" with a true story
about a squad of Israeli secret agents assigned to track down and kill
the terrorists who engineered the plot against Israeli athletes at the
1972 Olympics in Munich. Eleven members of the Israeli Olympic team
were killed along with all of their Palestinian captors in a failed
rescue mission. Eric Bana plays the Mossad agent in charge of the
post-Munich search. With Daniel Craig and Geoffrey Rush.
The Ringer Black comedy (you may prefer the word "sick") starring
Johnny Knoxville as a nonhandicapped athlete who infiltrates the
Special Olympics with hopes of dethroning the champion.
Hard Candy When a 32-year-old man brings home a 14-year-old girl he met
on the Internet, things don't go as well as he'd hoped. With Patrick
Wilson and Ellen Page.
Cach=E9 A TV book critic (Daniel Auteuil) and his wife (Juliette
Binoche) have their lives turned upside-down by an increasingly
intimate and anonymously sent stream of videos and drawings depicting
the family in alarming situations.
When the Sea Rises French film starring Yolande Moreau as a married
actress and mother whose out-of-town tour with her one-woman show is
spiced up by her impetuous romance with a parade float conductor.
DEC. 25
Casanova What happens when the legendary seducer meets a Venetian
beauty immune to his charms? Why, he falls in love. With Heath Ledger,
Sienna Miller. Directed by Lasse Hallstr=F6m.
Rumor Has It Rob Reiner is back in "When Harry Met Sally ..." country
with this romantic comedy about a young woman (Jennifer Aniston) who
puts off her engagement (to Mark Ruffalo) when she discovers that her
grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) was the inspiration for Mrs. Robinson in
"The Graduate." When she meets an older man (Kevin Costner) who has
slept with both her mother and her grandmother, she begins to believe
she is reliving the experiences of Dustin Hoffman's Benjamin Braddock.
Match Point Woody Allen abandons Manhattan to direct this English
tragicomedy about a former tennis pro who has an affair with the former
girlfriend of his wife's brother. With Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Scarlett
Johansson, Emily Mortimer. It was acclaimed at the Cannes Film Festival
in May.
Mrs. Henderson Presents Judi Dench stars in the biographical story of a
society matron who bought an old London theater with hopes of drawing
back audiences that had been lured away by talking pictures. Her
roaring success was an all-nude revue. With Christopher Guest, Bob
Hoskins. Directed by Stephen Frears.
Hoodwinked CGI-animated spoof of "Little Red Riding Hood," involving
cops sent from the animal world to investigate disturbances at Granny's
house. Voices of Andy Dick, Sally Struthers, David Ogden Stiers.
DEC. 28
My Name Was Sabina Spielrein Documentary about a Russian Jewish woman
who became Carl Jung's first patient in 1904, then began a long
correspondence with Sigmund Freud and ended up a renowned psychoanalyst
in her own right.
DEC. 31
In the Land of Women After being dumped by his actress girlfriend, a
young Hollywood screenwriter (Adam Brody) goes home to Michigan to ease
his pain and spend time with his grandmother (Olympia Dukakis). While
there, he starts up a relationship with a family across the street that
will change all of their lives. With Meg Ryan, Kristen Stewart.
Compiled and written by Jack Mathews and Elizabeth Weitzman
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