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Box Office: Brad Pitt’s ‘Fury’ Edges Out ‘Book of Life,’ ‘Gone Girl’
18 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Brad Pitt and a squadron of up-and-coming actors held off “Gone Girl” at the multiplexes this weekend as “Fury” topped box office charts with a $23.5 million debut.
Despite surrendering first place after two weeks wearing the crown, “Gone Girl” showed some impressive stamina. David Fincher’s adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s best-selling mystery dropped just 32% to $17.8 million. Its total now stands at $107.1 million and is striking distance of surpassing “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” ($127.5 million) as Fincher’s highest-grossing domestic release. Water cooler effect achieved.
“It’s one of those movies that it’s so provocative that if you haven’t seen it yet, you have to in order to be part of the conversation,” said Chris Aronson, distribution chief at 20th Century Fox, the studio behind “Gone Girl.” “It’s as simple as that.”
In a sign that adults are returning to theaters after sitting out the summer popcorn season, »
- Brent Lang
Russian Oscar Entry ‘Leviathan’ Takes Top Prize at London Film Fest
18 October 2014 6:54 PM, PDT | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
It may have received only a screenplay award at Cannes, but Andrei Zvyagintsev’s stinging satirical drama “Leviathan” came out on top at the 58th BFI London Film Festival.
At a lavish awards dinner in Westminster’s Banqueting Hall, the Russian critical favorite was presented with the festival’s sixth annual Best Film prize by this year’s jury president, Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas, who described the vote as a unanimous one. “Its grandeur and themes moved us all in the same way,” he said.
The London award adds fuel to the Sony Picture Classics acquisition’s Oscar campaign. Zvyagintsev’s politically contentious work was unexpectedly selected as Russia’s Best Foreign Language Film submission. Among the films it faces in the foreign Oscar race, incidentally, is last year’s London champ — Polish submission “Ida.”
The Official Competition jury, which also included Variety chief critic Scott Foundas, actor James McAvoy, »
- Guy Lodge
Nicholas Sparks’ ‘Best of Me’ Can't Find Love at Box Office
16 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Nicholas Sparks “The Best of Me” lost at love this weekend at the box office. The $10.2 million opening of the ninth big-screen adaptation from the famed romance author was the lowest ever for an adaptation of his novels, below the $12 million that “A Walk to Remember” debuted with back in 2002. And it wasn't even half the $21 million that his last film, “Safe Haven,” managed in its opening. Relativity Media was standing by its man, however. “We have had great success with Nicholas Sparks over the years and are always glad to be in business with him,” the distributor »
- Todd Cunningham
Matthew Morrison Gets Married, Zac Efron Turns 27 & More Weekend News
just now | PEOPLE.com | See recent PEOPLE.com news »
Stars celebrated good times this weekend, from two weddings and a birthday to one celeb being honored for how far he's come. Here's the news you might have missed: 5. He's a Survivor Derek Hough opened up about overcoming bullying as a child as he received an inspirational award at the Glsen Respect Awards. More good news? This now confident dancer wants a wife and kids, saying he's "pretty eligible." Read his empowering message.4. Hot MamaNewly single Amber Rose isn't ready to mingle, but she is putting family first by focusing on her 19-month son with Wiz Khalifa, Sebastian. "I don't »
- Michele Corriston, @mcorriston
Matthew Morrison Gets Married, Zac Efron Turns 27 & More Weekend News
just now | PEOPLE.com | See recent PEOPLE.com news »
Stars celebrated good times this weekend, from two weddings and birthday to one celeb being honored for how far he's come. Here's the news you might have missed: 5. He's a Survivor Derek Hough opened up about overcoming bullying as a child as he received an inspirational award at the Glsen Respect Awards. More good news? This now confident dancer wants a wife and kids, saying he's "pretty eligible." Read his empowering message.4. Hot MamaNewly single Amber Rose isn't ready to mingle, but she is putting family first by focusing on her 19-month son with Wiz Khalifa, Sebastian. "I don't really have time for a man, »
- Michele Corriston, @mcorriston
‘Revenge': Emily Finally Sees David Clarke Is Alive (Video)
51 minutes ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Spoiler alert: Do not read on if you haven't watched Sunday's episode, “Meteor,” and don't want to be spoiled. ABC's “Revenge” wasted very little time for its biggest scene ever to air on Sunday's episode. Not even halfway through the one-hour program, Emily (Emily VanCamp) set eyes on her father, David Clarke (James Tupper), alive. Having been caught shoplifting, David was arrested. But, as soon as Officer Ben (Brian Hallisay) saw that he resembled the description Emily gave him of the man who broke into Grayson Manor with the intent to kill her, Ben rushed David into a lineup to see. »
- Jethro Nededog
BBC to Launch 'Doctor Who' Online Game for Kids
1 hour ago | The Hollywood Reporter | See recent The Hollywood Reporter news »
The BBC said Monday it would launch The Doctor and the Dalek, an online game, using Doctor Who characters and voiced by the sci-fi show's star Peter Capaldi, that will teach children basic computer programming skills. The puzzles featured in the game are linked to the computing curriculum in the U.K. and are designed to allow children to learn core programming principles as they play, the U.K. public broadcaster said. The game is designed to be part of the BBC's Make it Digital initiative to inspire a new generation to get creative with digital technology. It will
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- Georg Szalai
Film Review: ‘Sacrifice’
1 hour ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
When high-school bros go deep into the woods armed with hunting rifles and expanding torsos, there will be blood, along with plentiful inclement weather. There are gobs of both in “Sacrifice,” but also a quieter moral reckoning that offers the more compelling reason to see this conventional, intermittently absorbing indie from writer-director Michael Cohn (“When the Bough Breaks”). For all its thriller accessorizing, the film grows on you — a little — as a biblical family melodrama that digs into the domestic origins of a compound crime while piling on the wages of sin. Solidly fortified with seasoned actors Dermot Mulroney and Melora Walters, and Austin Abrams as a struggling adolescent, the movie was made under the aegis of the film collaborative JuntoBox, and its combination of horror frissons and contemplative character study should give it modest crossover appeal in young and older markets.
Part hunk, part otherworldly good boy, Texan football »
- Ella Taylor
Will 'Fury,' Brad Pitt and Logan Lerman join the battle for Oscars?
1 hour ago | Gold Derby | See recent Gold Derby news »
"Fury" came out blasting this weekend, ambushing the box office ($23.5 million), conquering film critics (81 score at Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences, too (A- CinemaScore). But how will it fare at the Oscars? That's a tough call. The film lacks one key Oscar element – snob appeal – but it's packed with many others. It may generate broad academy support with noms in various crafts categories (sound, editing, etc.) Most important, it's such a slick, passionate action flick that it has a high Rooting Factor. That's vital since a film must be the number-one choice of at least 5% of voters in order to earn a nomination for Best Picture. (Here is more detailed explanation of the voting process.) -Break- Is that possible? Perhaps, yes. Historically, voters have adored war films (Best Pic winners "The Hurt Locker," "Platton" and "Patton"; nominees like "Zero Dark Thirty," "I..." »
Will "Fury," Brad Pitt and Logan Lerman join the battle for Oscars?
1 hour ago | Gold Derby | See recent Gold Derby news »
"Fury" came out blasting this weekend, ambushing the box office ($23.5 million), conquering film critics (81 score at Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences, too (A- CinemaScore). But how will it fare at the Oscars? That's a tough call. The film lacks one key Oscar element – snob appeal – but it's packed with many others. It may generate broad academy support with noms in various crafts categories (sound, editing, etc.) Most important, it's such a slick, passionate action flick that it has a high Rooting Factor. That's vital since a film must be the number-one choice of at least 5% of voters in order to earn a nomination for Best Picture. (Here is more detailed explanation of the voting process.) -Break- Is that possible? Perhaps, yes. Historically, voters have adored war films (Best Pic winners "The Hurt Locker," "Platton" and "Patton"; nominees like "Zero Dark Thirty," "I..." »
Tokyo Film Festival, Market to Open With Animation Focus
1 hour ago | The Hollywood Reporter | See recent The Hollywood Reporter news »
The Tiffcom market of the Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff) opens Tuesday and runs until Thursday, the day the 27th edition of the main festival kicks off with the world premiere of Disney's Big Hero 6. The market is expecting 320 exhibitors and 1,100 buyers, up slightly from last year, plus seminars and talks on fund raising, co-productions, location incentives and how to predict a hit movie using big data. Tiffcom will be in its third year of its guise as the so-called Japan Content Showcase, incorporating the Tokyo International Music Market and Tokyo International Anime Festival
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- Gavin J. Blair
Parents Desensitized to Sex and Violence in Movies, Study Finds
2 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
When it comes to sex and violence, the more parents see, the less they care.
That’s the takeaway form a new study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center on the attitudes that parents of children aged 6 to 18 have towards film content that may be objectionable or disturbing.
Researchers showed bloody or erotic scenes from PG-13 and R-rated movies such as “8 Mile,” “Collateral,” “Die Hard” and “Casino Royale” to 1,000 parents and found that they grew desensitized as the body count mounted and sexual activity heated up. The research was conducted online last January.
The findings will be published in Pediatrics and the report serves as a companion to a 2013 study by Annenberg that found that gun violence in PG-13 movies has tripled since 1985 and movies with that rating contain more gun violence than R-rated movies.
“The rise of violence and gun violence in PG-13 movies means that lots of kids »
- Brent Lang
Snapchat Scares Up Advertising Business with ‘Ouija’
2 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Universal Pictures became the first company to distribute an advertisement on Snapchat, using the social media app to promote “Ouija” over the weekend.
A 20-second trailer for the upcoming horror film based on Hasbro Studio’s boardgame appeared in the “Recent Updates” section of users’ accounts on the app, with a sponsored icon. The ad disappears after it’s viewed or within 24 hours. It’s unclear how much Universal paid for the plug.
As with any update, users choose whether to view the video or photos, but many of those who did, took to Twitter to talk about the video — some approving what they saw, while others were irritated by the promo that suddenly appeared on their accounts.
Snapchat, however, has said sponsored ads were coming to its 100 million users.
“We need to make money,” Snapchat put it simply in a company blog post. “Advertising allows us to support our »
- Marc Graser
‘The Walking Dead’ Recap: ‘Strangers’ in the Night
3 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Spoiler Warning: Do not read on unless you’ve seen “The Walking Dead” season five, episode two, titled “Strangers.”
After the adrenaline rush of last week’s season premiere, “Strangers” gives our newly expanded group some much-needed breathing room, but as Abraham presciently points out during the hour, whenever our survivors get a chance to slow down, “shit inevitably goes down.”
In the aftermath of the escape from Terminus, forgiveness is in the air; Rick and Maggie officially welcome Tara into the group despite her previous association with the Governor — an especially poignant act of grace for Maggie, given what the Governor did to Hershel — and Tyreese insists that the rest of the gang must forgive Carol for her actions back at the prison. Rick also shares another meaningful moment with Carol (during which she finally returns his long-lost watch), telling her that he owes her everything for helping to bring Judith back safely. »
- Laura Prudom
Off the Carpet: So let's talk about that crowded Best Actor Oscar race
3 hours ago | Hitfix | See recent Hitfix news »
Let's start with a broad assessment that may or may not be true, but can be taken as close enough for the purposes of this column: there are four Best Actor slots spoken for. What are they? Steve Carell in "Foxcatcher," Benedict Cumberbatch in "The Imitation Game," Michael Keaton in "Birdman" and Eddie Redmayne in "The Theory of Everything." Only one of those films, mind you, has opened and screened for the Academy ("Birdman"). But if I were a betting man, I'd say that quartet is secure. So who slides in besides? First and foremost, we've been in this place at least since the Toronto Film Festival, when Cumberbatch further solidified himself after "The Imitation Game" debuted at Telluride and Redmayne jumped onto the scene as part of a new wave of contenders that included "Nightcrawler's" Jake Gyllenhaal and "St. Vincent's" Bill Murray. But as one of the »
- Kristopher Tapley
Jay Leno Awarded Nation's Top Humor Prize, Honored by Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon
3 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Jay Leno was the target of a slew of jokes on Sunday night, and it wasn't a roast. The former host of NBC's “The Tonight Show” was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the nation's top humor prize, at the Kennedy Center in Washington. The award comes on the heels of Leno's announced return to television on CNBC, this time focusing on his other passion: cars. “Jay Leno's Garage” will premiere on the network in 2015. See photos: From Steve Allen to Jay Leno – All of ‘Tonight Show's’ Hosts and Sidekicks Before Jimmy Fallon The Mark Twain Prize event, »
- Jason Hughes
Lisa Kudrow Upsets Everyone in First Full Trailer for HBO's 'The Comeback' Season 2
3 hours ago | The Hollywood Reporter | See recent The Hollywood Reporter news »
Valerie Cherish is back on TV — again — in the first full trailer for the HBO comedy series The Comeback. Canceled after a single season in 2005 before breathing new life, the show stars Lisa Kudrow as Valerie, a sitcom star desperate for the limelight and willing to be followed by reality TV cameras. In the new season, Valerie learns she has landed a part on an HBO series called Seeing Red. She also reunites with her old pals, including Jane (Laura Silverman) and Juna (Malin Akerman). Watch more Jimmy Kimmel Reunites 'Friends' Co-Stars to Read Awkward
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- Ryan Gajewski
Mark Frost Is Writing a Twin Peaks Book
4 hours ago | Vulture | See recent Vulture news »
As you may have heard, that gum you like is going to come back in style (read: Twin Peaks is returning to TV). And, to prepare fans for the return of the cult-hit 25 years after it first debuted, David Lynch's co-creator Mark Frost plans to release a novel titled The Secret Lives of Twin Peaks catching us up on what has happened to the characters since we last saw them. "This has long been a dream project of mine that will bring a whole other aspect of the world of Twin Peaks to life, for old fans and new,” Frost said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled.” »
- Anna Silman
San Francisco Radio Stations Ban Lorde's 'Royals' Ahead of World Series Showdown
4 hours ago | Vulture | See recent Vulture news »
As the San Francisco Giants prepare to face off against the Kansas City Royals in the World Series, some local San Francisco radio stations have decided to blacklist Lorde’s “Royals” from the radio in protest. Both Kfog and Koit tweeted their intention to boycott the song Friday, writing:In response, Kansas City's 99.7 The Point announced plans to play the song "on the hour, every hour." As far as we know, both the Royals and the Giants are still totally cool with fake Lorde. »
- Anna Silman
London Film Fest: ‘Fury’ Closes; ‘Whiplash,’ ‘Leviathan’ Are Big Winners
4 hours ago | Thompson on Hollywood | See recent Thompson on Hollywood news »
The film’s stars -- Brad Pitt, Shia Labeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Pena, Jon Bernthal, Jason Isaacs and Ayers – walked the red carpet in Leicester Square but skipped out on the after-party at a nearby club in Bloomsbury. Before the film began, BFI CEO Amanda Nevill and Lff artistic director Clare Stewart appeared on stage to introduce the “Fury” gang and declare the latest edition of the festival a resounding success, citing the fact that attendance figures reached their highest mark ever: 163,300, an increase of 7.5% from 2013. Stewart, in particular, has reason to feel proud of this year’s festival. She set about revamping the Lff when she joined in 2012 from the Sydney Film Festival, shortening the length from an unwieldy 16 to 12 days; widening the reach to new venues across London; introducing competition strands; and dividing the program into themed categories, including Love, Dare, Thrill, Laugh and Cult. Now that her »
- Matt Mueller
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