FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE (Part 2): According to Jeremy Devine, Director of Marketing for Rave Motion Picture Theatres, Watchmen topped Indiana Jones and the Kingdom Skull 's haul from midnight screenings at Rave theatres, and it finished with a little less than what Twilight delivered and half of what The Dark Knight did. Devine says that the midnight screenings were particularly well attended in college towns. FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: Watchmen has reportedly grossed $4.6 million already from midnight screenings. As of 9 a.m.
Read moreIn Phobe in Wonderland, writer/director Daniel Barnz managed to pull a very mature, refined performance out of Elle Fanning, the 10-year-old sibling to Dakota Fanning, who is now graduating to more mature roles herself. In Phoebe, Elle takes on the role of Phoebe Lichten, a precocious young girl who doesn't quite fit into her surroundings. Phoebe's life is inhabited by a group of adults who all have their own problems and insecurities, including her parents (played by Felicity Huffman and Bill Pullman) and her school principal (Campbell Scott). Phoebe takes refuge in her school's production of Alice in Wonderland, and she strikes up a strong bond with her theater teacher, Miss Dodger (Patricia Clarkson).
Read moreDirector James Gray has a new film in theatres called Two Lovers co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw. However, much of the film’s attention has been centered on lead actor Joaquin Phoenix for two reasons, his recently announced retirement from acting and the fact that if he’s telling the truth, Two Lovers is his last completed film before he begins his new career as a hip-hop rapper. Two Lovers marks Gray’s third collaboration with Phoenix which dates back to 2000's The Yards and 2007's We Own the Night.
Read moreOkay, I think we're all agreed that Sunday's Academy Awards show was, on balance, only marginally more entertaining than the sound of a medeival peasant having his eyes gouged out with a burnt stick. But in fairness, before we move on with our lives I feel constrained to point out at least one moment that made me sit up and go "Right On!" As the kids say. But first -- Steve's Movie Reviews©!!! Confessions of a Shopaholic -- An airhead runs up a ...
Read more2009 represents a crucial year for 3D cinema. With a strong slate of films scheduled to land in theatres this year, it's certainly reassuring that moviegoers are beginning to respond positively to films such as My Bloody Valentine 3D and Coraline. Since opening on February 6, Coraline has grossed nearly $55 million, and it's holding its audience very well. While most films plummet as much as 50% percent during their second weekend of release, the Focus release fell only 12% during its second frame and it dropped only 23% this past weekend. Comparatively, Hotel for Dogs, another recent family film, fell 24% its second weekend and 33% during its third.
Read moreWith the usual rush of sequels and comicbook adaptations, 2009 is a lot like any other year when it comes to Hollywood's output. When it comes to the marketing those films, however, it may be anything but traditional. As Warner Bros. proved last year with The Dark Knight, a successful viral marketing campaign is now crucial to the success of a film. It's no longer enough to rush television sets with 15 second spots and plaster billboards up in major metropolitan areas. A buzz needs to be created. Welcome to Facebook.
Read moreDespite being born and raised in Sweden, An American Affair director William Sten Olsson found that he was able to relate to a lot of the mystery, intrigue and sadness that surrounded John F. Kennedy's presidency. Affair deals with a 13-year-old boy (Cameron Bright, X-Men: The Last Stand who discovers that his next-door neighbor (Gretchen Mol, Rounders ) is having an affair with JFK. Naturally, as is the case with most films about the late president, conspiracy theories come into play.
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