18 articles
'Lego Batman' Tops Presidents' Day Weekend, 'Great Wall' Leads Newcomers
3 hours ago | Box Office Mojo | See recent BoxOfficeMojo.com news »
The Lego Batman Movie topped the weekend box office for a second week in a row, holding off a trio of newcomers led by Universal's The Great Wall. Fellow new releases, Fist Fight and particularly Fox's A Cure for Wellness, fizzled in their respective debuts as the start of 2017's Presidents' Day weekend saw the top twelve come in 47% behind last year. While that was mostly to be expected, it's a rather significant dip as 2017 is currently pacing 10.4% behind 2016's yearly grosses. With an estimated $34.2 million, WB's The Lego Batman Movie finished #1 by a considerable margin, dropping 35.4% and raising its domestic cume to $98.7 million after ten days in release. The film should top $43 million for the four-day weekend, pushing it over $100 million by end of day Monday. Internationally, Lego Batman is up to $72 million after bringing in an estimated $21.5 million from 62 markets this weekend elevating its worldwide total over $170 million. »
- Brad Brevet <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
‘Logan’ Director James Mangold Wants to Make an X-23 Spinoff
17 February 2017 3:30 PM, PST | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »
Hugh Jackman‘s Logan is the undisputed star of Logan (you know, as indicated by the title), but its resident scene-stealer is definitely Laura, a.k.a. X-23. As played by 11-year-old Dafne Keen, she’s a force of nature who’s more than capable of holding her own against veteran X-Men like Wolverine and Professor X. I’ve got a strong feeling she’ll […]
The post ‘Logan’ Director James Mangold Wants to Make an X-23 Spinoff appeared first on /Film. »
- Angie Han
‘The Batman’: Negotiations Break Down Between Studio and Director Matt Reeves
17 February 2017 3:40 PM, PST | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
In another setback for the superhero tentpole, talks have broken down between Warner Bros. and director Matt Reeves about becoming the director of “The Batman,” Variety has confirmed.
A studio source indicates that negotiations have stopped, but adds that talks could resume down the road. WB is still intent on making the film, the source insisted, whatever means necessary.
The news comes after star Ben Affleck stepped down as director in order to focus on playing the Caped Crusader.
“There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” Affleck said in a statement on Jan. 30. “Performing this role demands focus, passion, and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in »
- Justin Kroll
‘Shazam’: Superhero Movie Eyes ‘Lights Out’ Director
17 February 2017 2:20 PM, PST | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
“Lights Out” director David F. Sandberg is in talks to direct New Line’s “Shazam” superhero movie.
“Lights Out,” based on Sandberg’s short film, was a breakout success last summer for New Line with the horror film grossing nearly $150 million on a $5 million budget. Several months before the release of “Lights Out,” New Line hired the Swedish filmmaker to direct “Annabelle 2,” which will be out in August.
Shazam first appeared in 1939 as Captain Marvel in comic books published by Fawcett Comics as a creation of artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker. He is the alter ego of teenage Billy Batson, who becomes the superhero when he says the word “Shazam!” — an acronym for the gods of the ancient world with the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Aries, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury.
- Dave McNary
Donald Glover to Play Simba in Live Action ‘Lion King’
17 February 2017 4:52 PM, PST | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Donald Glover will play Simba in Disney’s live action “Lion King,” The Wrap has learned. I just can’t wait to be king. #Simba pic.twitter.com/wUYKixMBJI — Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) February 18, 2017 The director also revealed on twitter that James Earl Jones will reprise his role as Mufasa, the father role he played in the 1994 animated original. Looking forward to working with this legend. #Mufasa pic.twitter.com/1LszbWrcYT — Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) February 18, 2017 After the success of Favreau’s “The Jungle Book,” the director is teaming up with Disney to create a live-action version of “The Lion King. »
- Umberto Gonzalez
Angela Lansbury Joins Emily Blunt in Disney’s ‘Mary Poppins Returns’
17 February 2017 12:38 PM, PST | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Angela Lansbury has joined the cast of Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” starring Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Meryl Streep. It is directed and produced by Rob Marshall and will be set in the 1930’s Depression-era London. Michael and Jane are now grown up. Michael (Ben Whishaw) lives with his three children and their housekeeper, but when he suffers a personal loss, enigmatic Nanny Mary Poppins (Blunt) re-enters their lives. The film is produced by Marshall, John DeLuca (“Chicago”) and Marc Platt (“La La Land”). The screenplay is by David Magee (“Life of Pi”) based on the “Mary Poppins” stories by P. »
- Beatrice Verhoeven
‘Last Jedi’ Title Translations Reveal There Are Multiple Jedi
17 February 2017 2:37 PM, PST | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
The international titles for the upcoming “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” appear to confirm that said “Jedi” are in fact plural. The official Star Wars twitter accounts of France, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Italy, and more revealed the titles in their respective languages — all of them calling out multiple Jedi. Because of this development, we now know that the title is supposed to mean more than one Jedi, as in, Luke and Rey… and maybe even more of masters of the Force.
Not A Drill I Repeat This Is. »
- Umberto Gonzalez
‘On Body and Soul’ Wins Golden Bear Award at Berlin Film Festival
18 February 2017 11:11 AM, PST | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
The Hungarian love story “On Body and Soul” has won the Golden Bear award as the best film at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival. Acting awards went to Georg Friedrich for “Bright Nights” and Kim Minhee for “On the Beach at Night Alone,” while the prize for the festival’s best director went to Aki Kaurismaki for “The Other Side of Hope.” The awards were announced at a ceremony in Berlin on Saturday night, at the conclusion of a festival that began on Feb. 9. Also Read: 'The Dinner' Berlin Review: Laura Linney, Steve Coogan Cram Too Much on Their Plate The winners were. »
- Steve Pond
‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Title Confirmed To Be Plural, And Fans Are Freaking Out
18 February 2017 8:52 AM, PST | ET Canada | See recent ET Canada news »
After much speculation, we now know that the title for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is referring to multiple individuals. Because Jedi is both the singular and plural form of the word, there was a debate about how many Jedi were being referred to in the title for “Episode VIII”. Finally, foreign-language posters let the cat […] »
- Brent Furdyk
‘La La Land,’ ‘Game of Thrones’ Win Cinema Audio Society Awards
13 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
“La La Land” and “Game of Thrones” walked away with top film and television honors at the 53rd Cinema Audio Society Awards Saturday night.
“Finding Nemo” won the theatrical animated prize, while “The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble” took the documentary award. Other television winners included “Modern Family” and “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.”
“The Jungle Book” director Jon Favreau received the organization’s Filmmaker Award. Previous recipients include Quentin Tarantino, Richard Linklater, Bill Condon, Rob Marshall and Jonathan Demme.
“La La Land” is nominated for the sound mixing Oscar this year, along with “Arrival,” Cas nominee “Hacksaw Ridge,” Cas nominee “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.”
“Game of Thrones” and “The People v. O.J. Simpson” won sound mixing Emmys last year.
Full list of Cas Awards winners below.
Motion Picture – Live Action
Production Mixer: Steven Morrow, Cas »
- Kristopher Tapley
Fox News’ Chris Wallace Scolds Reince Priebus: ‘You Don’t Get to Tell Us What to Do’ (Video)
23 minutes ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Fox News’ Chris Wallace clashed Sunday morning over Donald Trump’s labeling of mainstream media as “the enemy of the American people,” with Wallace saying, “we don’t have a state-run media” in this country, to which Priebus responded by criticizing the media for publishing “unsourced” stories. Priebus argued that the media was giving too much coverage to Trump’s perceived failures rather than policy, but Wallace responded by saying Fox News covered both. “When the President says that we’re the enemy of the American people,” Wallace noted, “it makes it »
- Jeremy Fuster
Before ‘The Good Fight': The 27 Best ‘Good Wife’ Characters, Ranked (Photos)
52 minutes ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
When a character played by Margo Martindale (Ruth Eastman) is only No. 27 on the list of best characters, you’re talking about a pretty excellent show. Join us as we say goodbye to “The Good Wife.” From Alicia Florick (Juliana Margulies) to Eli Roth (Alan Cumming) and Peter Florrick (Chris Noth), here are the best “Good Wife” characters. Also Read: 'The Good Wife's' Matthew Morrison Laughs Off Terrible Movie He Did With Christine Baranski You know how Batman is maybe the fourth most-interesting person in Gotham? So it is with St. Alicia. There’s no show without her, »
- Tim Molloy
Syria’s ‘White Helmets’ Rescue Workers Obtain Visas to Attend Academy Awards
1 hour ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Rescue workers depicted in Syria’s Oscar-nominated documentary “White Helmets” have obtained U.S. visas and will now be able to attend the Academy Awards on Feb. 26. Although Raed Saleh, leader of the group, and cinematographer Khaled Khatib, received their visas Friday, the film’s producer Joanna Natasegara said they “remain cautious about the physical part of entering the country.” Syria's 'White Helmets' makers have obtained Us visas for next week's Oscars https://t.co/LRufrJIUIK pic.twitter.com/li8w9rg49m — Al Jazeera News (@AJENews) February 19, 2017 Also Read: Syrian Heroes May Miss Oscars After Trump Travel Ban, Filmmakers »
- Rosemary Rossi
‘Fifty Shades Darker’ Stays Hot at International Box Office With $43.7 Million
2 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Universal’s erotic sequel “Fifty Shades Darker” has scored its second consecutive win at the international box office with $43.7 million in 59 territories.
“Fifty Shades Darker” declined 52 percent from its opening weekend for a foreign total of $187.2 million and a worldwide gross of $276.9 million.
The film is holding in first place in Germany, Austria, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad, Uruguay, Venezuela, Hong Kong, and Australia. Germany is the top market with $6.2 million, declining just 27 percent for a $20.9 million total.
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Box Office: ‘Lego Batman’ Flies High Over ‘Great Wall,’ ‘Fist Fight’
The film finished second in the U.K.-Ireland market behind “Lego Batman” as “Darker” declined 52 percent to $4.5 million for a total of $21 million. France saw a 49 percent decline to $4.2 million for a total of $15.1 million.
Brazil has totaled $13.7 million, followed by Italy at $12.9 million, Russia at $10.7 million, Australia at $10.6 million, and Spain at $9.6 million. Japan will »
- Dave McNary
Why Matt Damon’s ‘The Great Wall’ Became a Great Big Bomb
2 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
After years of hype, Legendary’s would-be China-u.S. crossover epic “The Great Wall” crumbled at the box office, earning just $18.1 million during its opening weekend in North America on an estimated $150 million production budget. (The projection for the four-day holiday is $21 million.) Worse, director Zhang Yimou’s English-language fantasy epic starring Matt Damon didn’t prove to be much of a blockbuster in China either, reeling in a disappointing $170.4 million since it opened in December. “That movie became one of the worst movies in China,” Wang Haige, chairman of the Huading Awards (China’s version of the People’s Choice Awards) told TheWrap. »
- Matt Pressberg
Box Office: ‘Lego Batman’ Flies High Over ‘Great Wall,’ ‘Fist Fight’
3 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
“The Lego Batman Movie” is dominating the North American box office with an estimated $44 million this President’s Day weekend — nearly matching the combined haul of “Fifty Shades Darker” and “The Great Wall.”
Universal’s second weekend of “Fifty Shades” is heading for $24 million at 3,714 sites and its action-fantasy “The Great Wall” was projected to wind up with $21 million at 3,325 locations for the Friday-Monday period. Lionsgate’s second weekend of “John Wick: Chapter 2” is finishing in a solid fourth place with $19.5 million at 3,113 venues as holdovers propped up the holiday weekend business.
New Line’s opening of high school comedy “Fist Fight” showed only a modest punch in fifth with around $14 million at 3,185 locations. And Fox’s horror-thriller “A Cure for Wellness” was scaring up a modest $4.9 million at 2,704 screens as it was projected to finish 11th.
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Box Office: ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ Shaping Up to Be Documentary Hit
“Lego Batman, »
- Dave McNary
‘Lego Batman Movie’ Dominates Box Office for 2nd Weekend
4 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Everything continues to be awesome for Warner Bros.’ “The Lego Batman Movie,” pacing to earn a heaping $44 million for the four-day holiday weekend. Director Chris McKay’s stop-motion animation parody of The Dark Knight will finish the President’s Day holiday with a cumulative $108 million from 4,088 locations. Universal’s “Fifty Shades Darker” is on track to earn $24 million in its second weekend from 3,714 locationswhile Legendary and Universal’s Matt Damon epic “The Great Wall” is headed toward a disappointing $21 million for the four-day weekend. Also Read: 'The Batman:' Talks With Director Matt Reeves Break Down That’s probably not what Legendary was. »
- Jeremy Fuster
'Skins' ('Pieles'): Film Review | Berlin 2017
6 hours ago | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News | See recent The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News news »
Movies have often reminded us that physical beauty and ugliness are only superficial, but Spaniard Eduardo Casanova's debut Skins makes the point in a distinctive and entertaining way. Fusing the bright, kitsch colors of early Almodovar with John Waters' transgressive love of the forbidden, this series of interlocking stories about folks with physical differences seeking their place in the world has the virtue — especially rare in Spanish cinema — of introducing the viewer to a new, off-kilter world. Though it lacks depth and is sometimes clunky, the film is persuasive and thought-provoking for as long as it lasts. On »
- Jonathan Holland
Berlin Film Review: ‘Ghost Hunting’
12 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Having already indulged an exercise of soul-baring filmed psychoanalysis with “Fix Me,” director Raed Andoni extends his outdated idea of therapy to others in “Ghost Hunting,” an ethically problematic documentary in which Palestinian men recreate the circumstances of their incarceration and torture by the Israeli occupiers. Using the largely debunked notion that acting out one’s trauma is a means towards catharsis, Andoni has his various “actors” verbally and physically abuse one another while he watches from the side, exchanging the charge of narcissism that accompanied his previous doc with that of sadism.
Glowing pre-premiere praise from Ken Loach and Mike Leigh, the sensationalized emotional charge of the subject, plus Berlin’s best documentary prize means “Ghost Hunting” will garner far more attention than it deserves. The concept must have sounded hard-hitting and original on paper, considering the number of respected funding bodies — Doha, Sundance, Sanad, Venice’s Final Cut, »
- Jay Weissberg
Berlin Film Review: ‘The Inland Road’
12 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
In “The Inland Road,” the ruggedly beautiful landscapes of New Zealand’s isolated Otago region on the South Island provide a scenic backdrop to — and the most unique aspect of — a slender coming-of-age tale from debuting feature writer-director Jackie van Beek. The loose, performance-focused drama follows troubled Maori teen Tia (camera-friendly non-profressional actress Gloria Popata), who survives a fatal road accident while hitchhiking and is subsequently sheltered by the car’s driver, despite the objections of his wife. As the physically and emotionally-wounded Tia slowly comes to terms with her turbulent past, her sometimes confrontational presence provokes a crisis in the marriage of her hosts. Further fest action seems likely for this small-scale but strikingly-shot film.
Much like laconic 16-year-old Tia (whose curvaceous body, smoking habit and way with a rifle make her seem more mature than her age), van Beek’s spare narrative only parsimoniously doles out information, something »
- Alissa Simon
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