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‘Transcendence’ Chinese Opening Weekend Beats Domestic Box Office With $11.4 Mil
40 minutes ago
While Johnny Depp failed to make an impression Stateside, with his latest starring vehicle “Transcendence” belly-flopping with $11.2 million, the actor proved impactful in China, where the sci-fi pic grossed an estimated $11.4 million.
In total, “Transcendence” grossed $17.4 million from 27 overseas markets, China being the largest by far.
The Chinese weekend take — still not earth-shattering by any means — outdoing the domestic launch is an extremely rare occurrence for a wide domestic release, let alone a one with someone like Depp attached.
However, the star, whose box office power is rather hit or miss depending on the film (think “Pirates of the Caribbean” vs. “The Lone Ranger”) made a first-time appearance on the mainland to promote the film. Moreover, Alcon, which produced and financed the movie for $100 million, released an exclusive 3D version of the film for Chinese audiences.
As proof, Imax contributed a significant chunk of the film’s mainland gross from »
- Andrew Stewart
Tribeca Film Review: ‘Broken Hill Blues’
51 minutes ago
The economical/ecological paradox at the heart of tyro helmer Sofia Norlin’s impressive “Broken Hill Blues” could not be clearer: The northernmost Swedish town of Kiruna fiscally depends on the iron-ore mine that is dangerously undercutting the town’s very foundation, leaving its youth anxious and bereft of options. Extraordinarily evocative of place as it juxtaposes primeval nature and complex industrial formations, and acted with convincing adolescent angst by a cast that includes non-pro locals, the film lacks only narrative clarity, its minimalist story threads and similar-looking characters proving hard to follow. But Norlin’s compelling imagery weaves its own hypnotic throughline, marking her as a director to watch.
In both reality and Norlin’s fiction, Kiruna stands on unstable ground and must be relocated, but no one knows quite when or where, enveloping the townfolk in perpetual uncertainty. Throughout the film, dark rumblings break the silence and the earth trembles, »
- Ronnie Scheib
Tribeca Film Review: ‘Ballet 422’
1 hour ago
Director Jody Lee Lipes delivers an exhilarating third feature with “Ballet 422,” tracing the two-month creation of a new work by New York City Ballet dancer/choreographer Justin Peck. Sampling various stages of the process from initial conception through rehearsals to premiere performance, the documentary moves with the same fluidity that characterizes Peck’s choreography. Himself a noted cinematographer, Lipes captures the dancers, musicians, costumers and lighting designers from a variety of angles within the larger canvas, always suggesting kinetic movement continuing beyond the frame. A delight for balletophiles, the film reps a beautifully crafted entree into the intricacies of collective endeavor.
Lipes makes films about artists at work (“Brock Enright: Good Times Will Never Be the Same,” “NY Export: Opus Jazz,”), and “Ballet 422” focuses on the 25-year-old Peck as he conceives and shapes his third choreographed piece for Nycb, “Paz de la Jolla.” Expectations run high, given the »
- Ronnie Scheib
Disney Crosses $1 Billion Overseas in Record Time
6 hours ago
Fueled by whammo performances from “Frozen” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Disney has crossed the $1 billion mark this weekend at the international box office, marking the fastest time the studio has ever done so.
So far, “Captain America” has grossed a whopping $586 million-plus globally, of which $385.1 million comes from overseas markets — a massive improvement over the original.
Though “The Winter Soldier” has impressed to date, the Mouse’s far-and-away stand-out player has been Disney Animation’s “Frozen,” which this weekend became the highest-grossing film internationally, with $729.3 million, surpassing “Ice Age: Continental Drift” (with $715 million in 2012).
“Frozen” has defied expectations in nearly every market: For instance, in Japan, where anime usually reigns supreme, the Disney toon has amassed an outstanding $104.1 million locally, making that territory the film’s largest contributor outside the U.S.
South Korea is the toon’s second-largest international territory, with $76.9 million, followed by the U.K. »
- Andrew Stewart
‘Captain America’ Scores Third Straight Win; Auds Believe in ‘Heaven Is for Real,’ Dismiss Johnny Depp’s ‘Transcencence’
7 hours ago
Even Johnny Depp couldn’t save Warner Bros.-Alcon Entertainment’s pricey sci-fi blunder “Transcendence” from a dismal $11.2 million domestic start, with Sony’s faith-based miracle “Heaven Is for Real” amassing an estimated $21.5 million in three days, with $28.5 million from Wednesday through Easter Sunday.
“Heaven Is for Real,” which scored an overall ‘A’ CinemaScore rating, still trailed Disney-Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” over the three-day frame: The superhero holdover claimed its third straight win at the Stateside box office, grossing $26.6 million for a domestic cume of $201.5 million.
The Marvel wonder, which fell just 36% Friday-Sunday, has surpassed the original “Captain America” ($177 million) in only 15 days domestically. Globally, the sequel also has far surpassed its predecessor with a whopping $586.6 million, of which overseas territories have contributed $385.1 million and counting.
Elsewhere internationally, Sony’s “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ kick-started its worldwide run bowing early in 14 offshore markets, including the U.K. »
- Andrew Stewart
‘Crouching Tiger’ Sequel to Shoot in New Zealand, China
8 hours ago
Beijing – The Weinstein Company’s “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon II – The Green Destiny” is expected to shoot in New Zealand and China later this year.
The film is to be directed by Yuen Woo-ping, the veteran martial arts ace who was action choreographer on the original 2000 film. Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh are set to star.
Much of the principal photography will take place at Auckland Film Studios in New Zealand, with some two weeks shoot in China.
Shooting a large budget film in New Zealand unlocks substantial production incentives. Under new rules introduced at the beginning of this month, called the New Zealand Screen Production Grant, feature films which spend more than Nz$15 million (Us$12.8 million) in the country can receive a rebate of 20% of local expenditure. Under previous rules the rebate was worth 15%.
Producers had given serious consideration to filming at the new Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia studios, but »
- Patrick Frater
Quentin Tarantino’s Still Working on ‘The Hateful Eight’
14 hours ago
After the script of Quentin Tarantino’ s “The Hateful Eight” was leaked in January, the director said he had “no desire to make it.” Well, it’s safe to say he’s reconsidered. At Film Independent’s staged reading of “The Hateful Eight” on Saturday at Downtown L.A.’s Ace Hotel, Tarantino said he was working on a second draft and a third would also come.
“This is the first draft,” he clarified. Tarantino noted that the final chapter, chapter five titled “Black Night, White Hell,” has been rewritten and “this is the only time you’ll see” this version.
In a black cowboy hat and western shirt, the director introduced in order of appearance “the Tarantino Superstars,” all alums of his previous films: Samuel L. Jackson as Major Marquis Warren, James Parks as the driver O.B., Kurt Russell as bounty hunter John Ruth also known as “The Hangman, »
- Janine Lew
Zack Snyder: ‘Everyone Clings to the Christopher Reeve Version of Superman’
19 April 2014 1:40 PM, PDT
Zack Snyder took a lot of flack for depicting mass deaths and the destruction of Metropolis in last summer’s “Man of Steel.”
As he gears up to shoot the pic’s sequel, the still-untitled “Batman-Superman” movie, the director told Forbes that he’s merely depicting the “real world we live in.” Snyder said that fans are clinging to the more squeaky-clean Superman as depicted by Christopher Reeve in the iconic movies, instead of the comic book version of Superman, who wreaked massive damage.
“The thing I was surprised about in response to Superman was how everyone clings to the Christopher Reeve version of Superman,” he told Forbes. “How tightly they cling to those ideas, not really the comic book version, but more the movie version. … If you really analyze the comic book version of Superman, he’s killed, he’s done all the things. I guess the rules »
- Maane Khatchatourian
Watch: ‘Godzilla’ Shows Itself in New Trailer
19 April 2014 12:45 PM, PDT
The monster has finally arisen.
The latest TV spot for “Godzilla” provides the first full look at the deadly reptile. True to deadly form, Godzilla lets out a vicious roar that sends everyone on the street running. Now we know what Bryan Cranston and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who play a father and son in the pic, are looking at with wide-eyed, open-mouthed astonishment.
Titled “Nature Has An Order,” the clip includes new footage on the personal drama of the movie’s main characters.
“You’re only going to be gone for a few days, right?” Elizabeth Olsen’s character asks her boyfriend Taylor-Johnson. “You are going to come back to me. It’s not the end of the world.” Well, not until the tsunami hits.
Taylor-Johnson is separated from him loved ones to join the U.S. Army to fight the monster.
Legendary and Warner Bros.’s “Godzilla” also stars Juliette Binoche and Ken Watanabe. »
- Maane Khatchatourian
‘Rush Hour’ Producer Developing Spy Tale ‘Fugitive Colors’
19 April 2014 10:07 AM, PDT
“Rush Hour” producer Arthur Sarkissian is developing “Fugitive Colors,” optioning Lisa Barr’s debut novel about the 1930s art world in Paris.
The novel, published in October by Arcade Publishing, centers on an American Jewish artist who flees Chicago for the artistic freedom of Paris and becomes a spy amid the Nazis’ plans to rid Europe of “degenerate art.”
In addition to the “Rush Hour” trilogy, Sarkissian’s producing credits include “While You Were Sleeping.” Barr is a journalist who has worked as an editor at the Jerusalem Post and the Chicago Sun-Times.
The deal was made by Dana Spector of Paradigm on behalf of Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency.
»
- Dave McNary
Johnny Depp Flops Again, ‘Captain America’ Sequel Rises Past its Predecessor
19 April 2014 9:17 AM, PDT
Disney-Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” eked out a small lead over Fox’s “Rio 2” at the Friday box office. The superhero pic looks to win the weekend in this year’s second three-peat (after “The Lego Movie”).
The “Captain America” sequel earned $9.6 million, just over the animated movie’s $9.2 million, which should keep growing as kids hit theaters over the Easter weekend.
Warner Bros.’ new entry “Transcendence” was no match for the epic battle of the sequels, the second tightest race of the year following last weekend’s close showdown. The Johnny Depp-starrer came in at a disappointing fourth place with $4.8 million, making it the actor’s fourth flop in a row. Another newcomer, Sony’s “Heaven Is for Real” exceeded expectations by rising to $7.9 million.
With a cume of $184.5 million, “The Winter Soldier” overlapped its predecessor, “The First Avenger,” which hauled in $176.7 million domestically in its lifetime. »
- Maane Khatchatourian
Beijing Market Emphasizes Film Production Detail
19 April 2014 5:30 AM, PDT
Beijing — The fourth running of the Beijing Film Market wrapped on Saturday with a quickfire series of set-piece contract signings in front of an array of senior Chinese officials. It was announced that over RMB10 billion ($1.61 billion) of business had been done in the three days April 17-19.
That claim breaks down in RMB3.8 billion ($612 million) for production, RMB3.4 billion ($550 million) for cinema and other construction projects and RMB2.3 billion ($370 million) for ‘film foundation projects’.
As such, Beijing seems to be treading a path towards a different, more generalized, film industry mart, than major rights trading events such as Cannes’ Marche du film, the American Film Market or FilMart.
Housed this year in yet another new venue – the China Millennium Monument exhibition center near the old CCTV headquarters in Haidian, West Beijing – the event saw stands arranged on three circular floors and visitors swing round and round.
Organizers report that »
- Patrick Frater
Film Review: ‘Make Your Move’
19 April 2014 4:41 AM, PDT
“East-Meets-West Side Story” might have made a clunkier but more interesting title for “Make Your Move,” a slick, disposable soap opera about a poor white boy and a spirited Korean girl who fall in love despite hailing from rival corners of Brooklyn’s club scene. Wringing yet another variation on the boy-hoofer-meets-girl-hoofer formula that fueled his screenplays for “Save the Last Dance” and “Step Up,” writer-director Duane Adler weaves an overly tangled web of resentment, betrayal and thuggish violence around his attractive two leads (“Dancing With the Stars” champ Derek Hough and pop star BoA), both of whom display almost enough fancy footwork to overcome the cliches they’ve been saddled with. Theatrical biz will be limited, but this amiable time-filler could have ancillary legs, particularly among the Asian-American audiences being targeted.
A genial, tap-dancing ex-con from New Orleans, Donny (Hough) decides to skip out on his parole and hightail it to Brooklyn, »
- Justin Chang
Johnny Depp’s ‘Transcendence’ Laying an Egg at the Box Office
18 April 2014 6:32 PM, PDT
Despite the star power of Johnny Depp, “Transcendence” will likely play fourth fiddle in the box office this Easter weekend.
The race looks to be a repeat of last weekend’s sequel showdown between Disney-Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and Fox’s “Rio 2,” which are each tracking for $25 million-plus.
“Rio 2” looks to benefit from the holiday timeframe as the number of children on spring break doubled this weekend from 10% to 20%. The 3D comedy could win this weekend by a beak, as it stands to earn an estimated $27 million-plus — roughly $2 million more than “Captain America.”
“Winter Soldier” has grossed almost $510 million worldwide ($175 million domestically), while “Rio 2” has tallied $177.2 million ($53 million domestically) through Thursday.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ “Transcendence” is headed for a soft $16 million-plus launch. The sci-fi thriller, which reportedly cost $100 million to produce, may suffer from lackluster word of mouth and poor reviews (pic currently has 19% Rotten Tomatoes meter). “Transcendence” could, »
- Maane Khatchatourian
Tribeca Film Review: ‘Five Star’
18 April 2014 6:10 PM, PDT
Straight out of Brooklyn comes Keith Miller’s “Five Star,” a low-key but powerfully affecting urban drama that tells a familiar story — of drugs, power and respect on the inner-city streets — with such unusual authenticity and dramatic force that it’s as if we’re seeing it for the first time. Much of that impact is due to the presence of James “Primo” Grant, a real-life gang member who makes his acting debut as a dramatized version of himself, a kind of gangsta Othello who rules his kingdom with a fair but unwavering hand. Building on the promise already evident in his 2012 debut feature, “Welcome to Pine Hill,” Miller’s strongly assured sophomore effort is probably too bleak and rough-edged to make much of an impact in the commercial arena, but should be championed by discerning critics and adventurous fests following its Tribeca world premiere.
In many ways a companion piece to “Pine Hill, »
- Scott Foundas
Will Summer Releases Get Blocked By ‘The Lego Movie’?
18 April 2014 4:26 PM, PDT
Studios releasing their movies this summer have another film to compete with for attention as they try to lure younger moviegoers into the multiplex: “The Lego Movie.”
Warner Bros. will release the animated hit on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital HD in the heat of the summer on June 17.
The studio’s homevideo division also plans to release a special “Everything Is Awesome Edition” (named after the movie’s catchy tune), which will offer a Vitruvius minifigure and collectible 3D photo of Emmet, along with commentary tracks; an “Everything Is Awesome” sing-along; deleted scenes; outtakes; making-of featurettes; fan-made Lego movies; and the short films “Batman: A True Artist” and “Michelangelo and Lincoln: History Cops.”
What’s interesting about the release date is that Hollywood doesn’t have a new family release debuting that weekend, giving “Lego Movie” most of the attention.
The only film going after the same audience will be »
- Marc Graser
‘Everest’ Movie Crew Safe After Deadly Avalanche, Continuing to the Top
18 April 2014 3:16 PM, PDT
The crew working on location for the Cross Creek Pictures and Walden Media film “Everest” is safe from its position at base camp after a deadly avalanche swept down a climbing route on the Nepalese mountain.
The nine members of the second-unit crew, which consists of professional hikers and cameramen, will remain on schedule to continue acclimating, with plans to summit the mountain early next month. May is peak climbing season, when weather conditions are at their most favorable.
“We just got word that everyone is fine,” Tyler Thompson, a co-founder of Cross Creek, told Variety, “and we are looking to set up some kind of donation to help out some of the affected (Nepalese) families.”
The avalanche killed 12 Nepalese guides around 6:30 a.m. local time and has left four missing in the deadliest disaster on the world’s highest peak. Several more people sustained injuries.
Previously, the worst »
- Alexandra Cheney
Bryan Singer Allegations Part of Upcoming Sex Abuse Documentary from Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker
18 April 2014 2:37 PM, PDT
Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg has spent the last two years working on a scandalous new documentary about sex abuse in Hollywood that includes allegations about Bryan Singer, Variety has confirmed.
Michael Egan, who filed a lawsuit this week alleging Singer raped him as a teenager, has been cooperating with Berg on her documentary.
The Daily Mail first broke the story about Berg’s film.
It’s unclear if Egan had been interviewed on camera for the film. Amy Berg, who runs Disarming Films, received an Oscar nomination for her 2006 documentary “Deliver Us From Evil,” about sex abuse allegations in the Catholic Church.
She also directed the Peter Jackson-produced recent West Memphis Three documentary “West of Memphis.”
Berg, who has a feature film at the Tribeca Film Festival (“Every Secret Thing,” written by Nicole Holofcener), could not be reached for comment on this story.
Egan, now 31, filed a lawsuit on »
- Ramin Setoodeh
Film Review: ‘A Haunted House 2’
18 April 2014 2:10 PM, PDT
It’s not that the Marlon Wayans horror spoof “A Haunted House 2” isn’t stupid. It is, incredibly so, as well as technically inept, damn near plotless, and mired in humor so puerile, ugly and regressive that this critic witnessed a gaggle of preteen theater-hoppers groan with exasperation at several of the running sex jokes. And yet, there’s a certain tragically admirable level of commitment from the cast, particularly the dignity-averse Wayans, that at least lifts it above the parody-movie nadir set by “Date Movie”/“Epic Movie” auteurs Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. It’s certainly likely to be among the worst movies in wide release this year, but it’s far from the most hateable, and that should count for something.
A sequel to last year’s “A Haunted House,” which grossed $40 million even though it appeared to have been financed with change collected from a shopping mall fountain, »
- Andrew Barker
Watch: Marion Cotillard Wants to Be Saved in ‘The Immigrant’ Trailer
18 April 2014 1:08 PM, PDT
The “American dream” looked a whole lot different in 1920s Ellis Island.
The new trailer of James Gray’s “The Immigrant” follows Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, playing a Polish nurse who thinks she’s being saved by Joaquin Phoenix’s character, only to find herself sold into prostitution. Jeremy Renner plays a street magician who falls for her and tries to set her free.
The period piece premiered to rave reviews at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Variety’s Peter Debruge wrote that the romantic tale “cuts to the very soul of the American experience.”
“The Immigrant” hits theaters on May 16.
»
- Nikara Johns
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