Hello and welcome back to Box Office Beat, the column in which I hopelessly predict the upcoming weekend’s box office grosses. We’ve been apart for too long — because of the fact that last week’s major releases (“The Amazing Spider-Man” and “Katy Perry: Part of Me”) opened prior to Friday, I figured that you could […]
Box Office Beat: Weekend of July 13 Read More »
In order for an “intertwining stories”-formatted ensemble film to succeed, it must offer engaging characters and/or a compelling overarching thesis to unite each segment. As if all his creative juices were expended on last year’s masterwork “Midnight in Paris,” which achieved both feats, writer/director Woody Allen accomplishes neither in “To Rome with Love,” a turgid,
Review: “To Rome with Love” Read More »
Peter O’Toole, the 79-year-old actor made famous by his starring role in David Lean’s epic “Lawrence of Arabia,” released a statement today that he has decided to retire from acting. Via The Hollywood Reporter: It is time for me to chuck in the sponge. To retire from films and stage. The heart for it has gone
Peter O’Toole announces retirement from acting Read More »
One of the most valid critiques of the mumblecore movement is that its stories lack universality — that they speak specifically to hipster audiences in their late 20s and early 30s who share a sense of directionless-ness with the characters, as if said characters have nothing in common with any other demographic. The major exception
Review: “Your Sister’s Sister” Read More »
“The Amazing Spider-Man” was number 1 at the box office this weekend, with $65m Friday through Saturday and $140m since its Tuesday opening. But you knew that would be the case. The real winners of the weekend were Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom” and Woody Allen’s “To Rome With Love,” both in modestly wide bows of
Filmmakers, like humanity in general, have long been obsessed with death – and why wouldn’t they be? The construct is simultaneously universal and intensely personal, terrifying and exciting, certain and unknown. These bipolarities make for good theater. But for as frequently as The End is dramatized on the silver-screen, the years leading up to it
Reviews by Request: “Make Way for Tomorrow” (1937) Read More »
As expected, “The Amazing Spider-Man” came in at #1 on Friday, continuing to do healthy business after a robust Tuesday opening. The movie is not quite performing up to par with previous superhero phenomenons (Sam Raimi’s original “Spider-Man” trilogy included), but it’s doing fine business. It may prove to be the latest “3-D killer,” however,
Friday Box Office: “Amazing Spider-Man” slings to victory Read More »
We’re barely past the Fourth of July, but that’s not stopping DreamWorks Animation from releasing the trailer for its Holiday Season tent-pole, “Legend of the Guardians,” based on the book by William Joyce. The family-friendly pic tells the story of five children’s heroes – Santa Claus, Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny, the Sandman, and the
New trailer: “Rise of the Guardians” Read More »
In the age of viral Internet marketing and 30-second TV spots, audience appraisals that a film “didn’t live up to expectations” usually imply that said film wasn’t as good as its advertising campaign. But what about the expectations established within the film itself? It’s hard not to watch the opening scenes of “The Hunter” with
Blu-Ray Review: “The Hunter” Read More »
It’s been a rough summer for Tom Cruise, what with “Rock of Ages” bombing, his marriage collapsing, and his wife attempting to win sole custody of their six-year-old daughter. However, maybe Cruise will be able to earn a little bit of goodwill back from audiences with the trailer for his upcoming “Jack Reacher” (embedded above),
New trailer: “Jack Reacher” Read More »
