The general rule in documentarian Morgan Spurlock’s career thus far has been that the trailers are much better then the movies themselves. That’s because Spurlock is a great concept guy, but not a great filmmaker. When the movies are reduced to mere two-minute tag-lines–“I’m going to eat McDonalds for every meal for a month and […]
New trailer: Morgan Spurlock’s Mansome Read More »
Just as I predicted in this weekend’s Box Office Beat, Think Like a Man, the African-American targeted rom-com based on Steve Harvey’s bestselling self-help book, was a surprise #1, exceeding almost everybody’s expectations (including the studio’s). What even I failed to foresee, however, is that the film would amass over $12 million on opening day
Friday Box Office: Think Like a Man big winner Read More »
Writing in his native England’s The Guardian, actor Tom Hiddleston, who plays Loki in Thor and the upcoming The Avengers, published a passionate editorial defense of superhero blockbusters as legitimate works of filmmaking, not simply fun and games. That Hiddleston believes superhero pictures are still marginalized in this way surprises me; after all, Christopher Nolan’s Batman epics and the first Iron Man, for instance, were heralded by critics and audiences alike for being great films. But whether or not a snooty bias against these popular entertainments really exists or not, Hiddleston has thoughts on the genre that are well worth reading. Read the highlights after the jump…
Avengers actor Hiddleston defends superhero films as art in Guardian editorial Read More »
The New South Wales government announced that The Wolverine, the next spinoff film in the X-Men series, is slated to begin filming this August in Sydney. Hugh Jackman, a Sydney native, will reprise his role as Wolverine, the ferocious, nigh-invulnerable mutant and by far the most popular member of the X-Men clan.
The Wolverine to begin shooting in July in Australia Read More »
Hello and welcome to the inaugural Box Office Beat column here at Critic Speak, a weekly post in which I will predict/analyze the monetary prospects for the upcoming weekend’s crop of new films. To those of you who have read variations of this column in the past at BucketReviews.com and on the Hollywood Stock Exchange forums, I’m glad we have been reunited here, where I plan to crunch the numbers for some time to come.
This weekend, three new films open in wide release, two of which have a strong shot of unseating The Hunger Games from the #1 slot, where it has dominated for a stunning four weekends straight. They are the Zac Efron tearjerker The Lucky One and the African-American targeted comedy Think Like a Man. Joining them on the marquee is Disney’s annual nature documentary, Chimpanzee, which is unlikely to be a real competitor.
Box Office Beat: Weekend of April 19 Read More »
We posted earlier this week that Francis Lawrence, the director of such films as I Am Legend and Water for Elephants, was reportedly one of Lionsgate’s top choices to direct the sequel to the year’s biggest film so far, The Hunger Games. Well now, it’s official, as Lawrence has been extended (and will presumably accept) the offer today.
Francis Lawrence offered director’s chair for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Read More »
What would you do if your soul mate, exactly as you imagined them, sprang to life from your imagination? That’s one of the questions posed by Ruby Sparks, the upcoming film from Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, the directors of Little Miss Sunshine.
The film stars Paul Dano as Calvin, a novelist who writes his dream girl (on a typewriter, which means he might be a poseur) and is justifiably shocked when she materializes in his house.
Ruby Sparks trailer: Another dose of Sunshine Read More »
Fans of the Martin Scorsese/Leonardo DiCaprio partnership need not wait much longer for another picture from the duo. After months of speculation, Scorsese and DiCaprio, who last worked together on 2010’s Shutter Island, today officially signed on to make The Wolf of Wall Street, marking their fifth collaboration. The New York production will begin shooting in August.
Scorsese, DiCaprio ink deals, make The Wolf of Wall Street official Read More »
At least two of Sin City’s most famous residents are returning to that dark, brutal, black and white metropolis.
Director Robert Rodriguez confirmed in an interview with MTV that Mickey Rourke and Rosario Dawson were both set to star in the sequel to 2005’s Sin City, tentatively titled Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.
Sin City 2: Mickey Rourke and Rosario Dawson return to the cesspool Read More »
Mel Gibson, furious that Joe Eszterhas has released a tape confirming what pretty much everyone already knew (he’s a lunatic), is considering bringing in the lawyers. It could be worse; the man behind The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto can certainly think of worse things to do to his enemies.
Sources in the know have told TMZ that the actor is beyond livid that Eszterhas released a recording of him ranting and raving during at dinner party at his Costa Rican palace. Gibson’s minions are reportedly studying Costa Rican law to see if laws were violated, and even if not if the breach of privacy would constitute grounds for a lawsuit.
Mel Gibson decides against crucifixion, sics lawyers on Joe Eszterhas Read More »
