Source: Focus Features New Captive State Trailer If you wanted some alien drama sprinkled in your “Purge” movies , this upcoming thriller starring John Goodman and Ashton Sanders ( Moonlight ) is for you and looks GOODT. Captive State hits theaters March 29, 2019. Continue reading →
Two weeks after carrying home the big prizes from the Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe Awards , Argo firmly established its Oscar front-runner status with another one-two punch in the form of the PGA’s Motion Picture Producer of the Year honor and the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. And in a season of confusion and contradiction, that front-runner status gives Argo traction that none of its Best-Picture rivals have. The PGA win was not a surprise, especially after Argo ’s strong showing with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Content-wise, it’s the type of film that charms producers, being a taut political thriller 65% of the time and a stack of insider Hollywood jokes the other 35%. Apart from that, you have The Affleck, and the time has come to love and praise The Affleck . Rejuvenated and relevant again, Ben Affleck is this year’s Oscar story. When the nominations came out, who was the “snubbed” director? It wasn’t Kathryn Bigelow , Paul Thomas Anderson , or Wes Anderson , the three directors whose films appeared on the most end-of-year lists. It was The Affleck, and within 72 hours, The Affleck was redeemed with populist awards broadcast live on the CW and NBC, making Argo the People’s Film and Affleck the Oscar story of the year. For Best Picture prognostication, the PGA Award is a major get. Since it was started in 1989, the Producers Guild has awarded the eventual Best Picture Oscar winner nearly 70 percent of the time, and has been perfect over the past 5 years. Additionally, the PGA uses a preferential ballot just as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has done since 2009. What this means is that Argo and Affleck do not need to top all ballots, they just need to be agreed upon by most ballots. I don’t have scientific findings to present here, but think about the conversations you’ve had about the Best Picture nominees: Lincoln , Les Misérables, Django Unchained , and Silver Linings Playbook are much more polarizing than the crowd-pleasing Argo . For what it’s worth, Argo also has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of all the nominees, 96, followed by Zero Dark Thirty , 93, and Amour , 92. The movie’s SAG win was more of a surprise. Argo is not an Actor’s Movie. This is not to say the award was not earned, simply that most of the attention was divided between the flashy Les Mis and the kitchen sink acting of Silver Linings Playbook . But there’s that word: “divided.” The Screen Actors Guild is a massive organization of nearly 160,000 members (though only current on dues are eligible to vote), so while theater types might have leaned toward Les Mis and classically-trained types might have opted for Silver Linings or Lincoln , the one film the Guild ended up agreeing on was Argo and its Affleck-led cast. It was, in a word, the most popular. (Keeping with the populist theme, note how the SAG Awards are the only guild awards that appear on billboards). SAG has a terrible track record with Best Picture. The two top awards aligned less than half of the time since SAG started their awards in 1995. But this is a season when stats mean less than they would normally. The film with the most Oscar nominations is no longer the film to beat. Harvey Weinstein , who put Affleck on the Oscar map with the 1997 movie Goodwill Hunting, is fighting an uphill battle. There’s a legitimate front-runner in town, and it does not have the director’s nomination assumed necessary. (And I’m not talking about Django Unchained .) This season, the Best Picture race is all about tone and attitude, and Argo and its affable director are all about tone and attitude. Affleck is an A-lister once again, charming every room he enters — his jokes won the room at the PGA breakfast Saturday morning — and his film’s recent run of awards-season honors have made its Best Picture prospects impossible to ignore. After months of having several films on the radar, there is finally one at the center of it. John Hendel is a playwright from Los Angeles. Follow John Hendel on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
Ryan Gosling , Eva Mendes and Bradley Cooper are at the center of Focus Features’ newest poster for its upcoming The Place Beyond the Pines by director Derek Cianfrance ( Blue Valentine . The film, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, revolves around a motorcycle stunt rider who turns to bank robbing in order to provide for his newborn child. [Related: The Principals Behind The Pines: Gosling and Cianfrance On Robbing Banks, Fatherhood, Face Tattoos and More AND WATCH: Ryan Gosling Sheds A Manly Tear In ‘The Place Beyond The Pines Trailer ] The trio front a gloomy sky and a buffed Gosling riding a motorcycle against a setting sun as he rides passed – alas – a bank. Also starring Ray Liotta, Rose Byrne, Dane DeHaan and Ben Mendelsohn Focus will release the film Stateside in late March. Official synopsis follows: The daring new film from director of Blue Valentine , The Place Beyond the Pines is a sweeping emotional drama powerfully exploring the unbreakable bond between fathers and sons. Luke (Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling) is in constant motion, a high-wire motorcycle stunt performer who travels from town to town with the carnival. Passing through Schenectady in upstate New York, he tries to reconnect with a former lover, Romina (Eva Mendes), only to learn that she has in his absence given birth to their son Jason. Luke resolves to forsake life on the road and to provide for his newfound family, taking a job as a car mechanic with Robin (Ben Mendelsohn). Robin soon discovers Luke’s special talents, and proposes to partner with him in a string of spectacular bank robberies. But it is only a matter of time before Luke will run up against the law – which comes in the form of Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper). Avery is an ambitious rookie cop navigating a local police department ruled by the menacingly corrupt detective Deluca (Ray Liotta). When Avery, just beginning to balance his profession and his family life with wife Jennifer (Rose Byrne) and their infant son AJ, confronts Luke, the full consequences will reverberate into the next generation. It is then that the two sons, Jason (Dane DeHaan) and AJ (Emory Cohen) must face their fateful, shared legacy. [Source: Flicks And Bits ]
The 23rd installment of James Bond became one of only a little over a dozen to score $1 billion worldwide. Also in Wednesday’s round-up of news, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey crossed a milestone of its own; Silver Linings Playbook snatches European awards; China’s Lost in Thailand marks a record at home. Skyfall Crossed $1 Billion Mark The 23rd installment of James Bond became the 14th film ever to pass the $1 billion mark globally. It has grossed nearly $290 million as of the weekend, Deadline reports . The Hobbit Crosses $600 Million Globally The first installment of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit pics hit the $600 million milestone over the holiday weekend. It has taken in $22.7 million domestically, putting it ahead of 2001’s The Fellowship of the Ring ($189.3 million), but below the 17-day come of The Two Towers ($243.6 million) and The Return of the King ($272.8 million), EW reports . Silver Linings Playbook Wins Most Awards at Italian-Hollywood Festival The feature directed by David O. Russell picked up four awards at the Capri, Hollywood Film Festival including the festival’s film of the year prize. Other winners included Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild , Juan Antonio Bayona’s action drama The Impossible and crime thriller The Iceman by Ariel Vromen, THR reports . Low Budget Lost In Thailand Becomes Highest Grossing Chinese Film The low budget Chinese-produced comedy is Chna’s highest-grosing domestically made film, passing the 1 billion yuan ($160 million) mark since debuting December 12, even beating out James Cameron’s Titanic in 3-D, last year’s most popular foreign film. Set in Thailand, the film revolves around two businessmen who link up with a tourist who explore the country. It’s full of slapstick humor and action scenes, Variety reports . Specialty Box Office: Zero Dark Thirty , Amour , Stellar in 2nd Weekend; West of Memphis OK in Debut, Promised Land Soft Sony/Columbia Pictures’ limited-run engagement of Zero Dark Thirty showed impressive stamina, and the studio’s specialty market distributor Sony Pictures Classics also had great news for Amour but not so great news for newcommer West Of Memphis in three-day estimates for the pre-New Year’s weekend, while Focus Features, Deadline reports .
Also in Wednesday evening’s round-up of news briefs, Toronto winner Silver Linings Playbook makes its U.S. move. Christopher Lloyd, Robert Vaughn, and Jerry Stiller set for a fete. And Focus Features unveils its winners for an African film program. Friar’s Club to Fete Christopher Lloyd, Robert Vaughn, and Jerry Stiller Christopher Lloyd, Robert Vaughn, and Jerry Stiller will be honored with the “Best Ensemble Cast of Yesterday and Today” award for their new film, Excuse Me for Living October 9th. The comedy written and directed by Wayne Knight, centers on a “charming, suicidal druggie must obey his rehab-clinic’s demand to lead a seniors men’s group or face incarceration and lose the love of his psychiatrist’s daughter.” Silver Linings Playbook to Open Film Independent Forum The film by David O Russell, which won the People’s Choice Award at last month’s Toronto International Film Festival, will open Film Independent’s Forum, taking place October 19 – 21. The event helps indie filmmakers bring their projects to the screen. Focus Features Names Winners of its Africa First Program For a fifth consecutive year, five filmmakers have been selected for Focus Features’ Africa First Program. The worldwide film company’s initiative earmarked exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, will award the filmmakers $10,000 apiece. The winning filmmakers for 2012 are Mr. Vincent Moloi (from South Africa); Mr. Jeremiah Mosese (from Lesotho); Ms. Ekwa Msangi-Omari (from Tanzania); Ms. Samantha Nell (from South Africa); and Mr. William Nicholson (from South Africa). Around the ‘net… Gael Garcia Bernal Joins Matthew McConaughey in the Dallas Buyer’s Club The drama from Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallee ( The Young Victoria ) initially had Hilary Swank attached, but has since dropped out. In the film Garcia Bernal will play an effeminate member of the club, a fellow AIDS patient who meets Woodroof in the hospital, THR reports . Julianne Nicholson Joins August: Osage County Nicholson will play Ivy Weston, one of the sisters to Julia Robert’s Barbara in the adaptation of the Oklahoma family clan drama. She will be the middle daughter to Violet, played by Meryl Streep, Deadline reports .
Also in Monday morning’s round-up of news briefs, accused Dark Knight Rises killer James Holmes told a classmate he’d intended to kill people ahead of the theater shooting that left 12 dead. Sleepwalk with Me soared atop the new specialty box office releases becoming one of the biggest this year. And Adrien Brody will play a villain in a new role. Jamie Bell, Connie Nielsen Join Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac The drama that has been dubbed “pornographic” starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Shia LaBeouf and stellan Skarsgard begins shooting in Germany Tuesday and now Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell and Danish star Connie Nielsen ( Boss ) have joined the cast, THR reports . Ben Affleck Kills Justice League Rumors The actor-director laid to rest rumors that he’d join Warner Bros.’ Justice League project, saying he isn’t involved in the studio’s planned superhero ensemble. “Justice League sounds really exciting, but it’s not something I’m working on,” he said. THR reports . Sleepwalk with Me Wows in 1 Theater, Samsara Very Strong: Specialty Box Office Sleepwalk with Me as predicted lead the pack of new specialty releases. With $65,000 at only one engagement, the feature nonetheless sprinted into very specific record-breaking territory. Also opening with a strong start in its debut, Oscilloscope’s Samsara averaged a fantastic $37,500, Deadline reports . James Holmes Told Classmate He’d Kill People Ahead of Dark Knight Rises Shooting Four months before he allegedly opened fire in a crowded theater in Aurora, CO, James Holmes told a classmate at the University of Colorado that he intended to kill people before flunking oral exams in his graduate studies program, THR reports . Adrien Brody Joins Motor City He will replace Gary Oldman as the villain in Albert Hughes’ Motor City , which also stars Gerard Butler and Mickey Rourke, Variety reports .
The weekend box office was anything but stellar over the weekend. Expendables 2 and The Bourne Legacy remained the top two earners in the final weekend of August. One bright spot, however, was conservative doc 2016 Obama’s America , which went wide after spending the first three weeks with limited runs. Its gross jumped over 400% and it landed in 8th place in the overall box office despite remaining in far fewer theaters than compared to other titles in the top 10. Newcomers Premium Rush and Hit and Run bowed softly. 1. The Expendables 2 Gross: $13.5 million (Cume $52,313,944 Screens: 3,355 (PSA: $4,024) Week: 2 (Change: $- 53%) Despite a drop of 53%, The Expendables 2 remained the weekend’s top earner at the box office. The feature added 39 runs over its debut and averaged $4,024 vs. last weekend’s $8,670. Adding $22.4 million from overseas and the film has so far cumed over $74.71 million. 2. The Bourne Legacy Gross: $9,281,160 (Cume: $85,467,375) Screens: 3,654 (PSA: $2,540) Week: 3 (Change: – 46%) The Universal Pictures release again took second place now in its third weekend of release. Abroad, the title has taken in $28.1 million. Last weekend in the U.S., the feature averaged $4,535 from 3,753 showings and had dropped 55% from its debut. This weekend’s drop was not as steep despite playing in less theaters, giving the release some momentum in an otherwise dismal box office weekend. 3. Paranorman (3-D, Animation) Gross $8,545,883 (Cume: $28,274,234) Screens: 3,455 (PSA: $2,473) Week: 2 (Change: -39%) Again, Paranorman landed in the third spot over the weekend. Its 39% drop is respectable given its second go-around. Focus Features only added 26 theaters for the film in its second weekend. 4. The Campaign Gross: $7.44 million (Cume: $64,543,000) Screens: 3,302 (PSA: $2,253) Week: 3 (Change: – 43%) The comedy added 47 theaters in its third weekend. Last weekend it averaged $4,112 in 3,255 theaters. It has also drummed up an additional $2.1 million abroad. 5. The Dark Knight Rises Gross: $7.155 million (Cume: $422,188,000) Screens: 2,606 (PSA: $2,746) Week: 6 (Change: – 35%) Worldwide the finale in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy has amassed $941,188,000. It’s sixth week domestic drop of 35% compares to the previous weekend’s 41% decline vs. its fourth weekend run, showing the feature is still holding well now in its sixth weekend of release despite losing 551 venues from the previous week. 6. The Odd Life of Timothy Green Gross: $7,125,000 (Cume: $27,080,000) Screens: 2,598 (Average: $2,742) Week: 2 (Change: – 34%) The title actually went up one spot from the previous weekend’s seventh place showing though that is more a result of a lack of openers that caught audiences attention. Still, its revenue only dropped 34% and it remained in the same number of theaters as the previous weekend. 7. Premium Rush Gross: $6.3 million Screens: 2,255 (PSA: $2,794) Week: 1 The feature opened softly with only $6.3 million and a disappointment after a big sports-related promotional. Also a disappointment for Joseph Gordon-Levitt who has otherwise had a stellar year. 8. 2016 Obama’s America Gross: $6,237,517 (Cume: $9,075,393) Screens: 1,091 (PSA: $5,717) Week: 4 (Change 401%) The anti-Obama doc went wide after three weeks in limited release. Box office watchers were a flutter Friday that the title would even out-gross Expendables 2 , though it ended up in fourth place that day. Still, a strong showing for the title the feature has a strong shot at being the top grossing non-fiction film of the year. 9. Hope Springs Gross: $6 million (Cume: $45 million) Screens: 2,402 (PSA: $2,498) Week: 3 (Change: -34%) Hope Springs ranked eighth last weekend. Its $2,498 average compares with its second weekend average of $3,854. The title added 41 screens. 10. Hit and Run Gross: $4,675,026 Screens: 2,870 (PSA: $1,629) Week: 1 The newcomer made it into the top 10, but it was otherwise a weak showing with a $1,629 average. Still, the production budget was around $2 million, but its otherwise weak opening likely indicates it will have a rough road ahead. [Sources: Hollywood.com , Box Office Mojo ]
The Expendables 2 bumped last week’s number one film The Bourne Legacy to number two over the weekend. The latest installment of the action pic grossed over $28.7 million in its first roll out, averaging a solid $8,670 screens. Bourne dropped 55% in its second round, while Focus Features’ Paranorman rounded out the top three in its initial run. 1. The Expendables 2 Gross: $28,750,000 Screens: $3,316 (PSA: $8,670) Week: 1 The first round of The Expendables opened with $34,825,135 when it debuted in theaters in August 2010, averaging $10,650 in 3,270 theaters. The second round is decidedly less heavy-hitting in terms of box office, but nevertheless a solid start for the action title starring Sylvester Stallone, who gave the director’s chair over to Simon West for the latest installment. 2. The Bourne Legacy Gross: $17,019,855 (Cume: $69,580,935) Screens: 3,753 (PSA: $4,535) Week: 2 (Change – 55%) The Jeremy Renner starter added just eight theaters in the U.S. and its drop from its first weekend roll out was a fairly acceptable 55%, though the pic landed in the second spot in the overall box office. The Bourne Legacy debuted in 3,745 theaters, averaging $10,752. Internationally, Legacy added five international territories, bringing the title to 18 abroad. it’s worldwide gross is now at $97.7 million. 3. Paranorman (3-D, Animation) Gross: $14,008,498 Screens: 3,429 (PSA: $4,085) Week: 1 The stop-action animated feature landed in the third place in the overall box office with just over $14 million with a so-so $4,085 average in 3,429 screens. The pic was produced by Coraline creators Laika and their latest effort performed similarly, grossing $16.8 million in a third place bow in February, 2009. 4. The Campaign Gross: $13,385,000 (Cume: $51,694,000) Screens: 3,255 (PSA: $4,112) Week: 2 (Change: – 50%) The comedy added 50 locations in its second weekend and its 50% drop was in the realm of acceptable. Internationally, The Campaign has added another $2.1 million so far. 5. Sparkle Gross: $12 million Screens: 3,255 (PSA: $5,348) Week: 1 With a $14 million budget, the film had a solid debut, landing in the top five of the overall box office. 6. The Dark Knight Rises Gross: $11,140,000 (Cume: $409,916,000) Screens: 3,157 (PSA: $3,529) Week: 5 (Change: – 41%) TDKR hit the $400 million milestone on Friday after 29 days of release. Overseas, the pic has grossed nearly $489 million bringing its worldwide total to just under $900 million. 7. The Odd Life of Timothy Green (opened Wednesday) Gross: $10,909,000 (Cume: $15,187,000) Screens: 2,598 (PSA: $4,199) Week: 1 The feature debuted Wednesday in 2,551 theaters with a head-start total of $2.3 million ahead of the weekend. It is the weekend’s fourth debut in the top 10. 8. Hope Springs Gross: $9.1 million (Cume: $35,051,000) Screens: 2,361 (PSA: $3,854) Week: 2 (Change: -38%) The comedy opened in the fourth spot when it debuted in theaters last weekend. The title stayed in the same number of locations, averaging a decent $3,854 vs its $6,607 opener. 9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days Gross: $3,850,000 (Cume: $38,762,321) Screens: 2,737 (PSA: $1,407) Week: 3 (Change: – 52%) The title lost 664 locations in its third weekend, averaging $1,407 vs $2,411 in its second round last week when it placed fifth in the overall box office. 10. Total Recall Gross: $3.5 million (Cume: $51,782,000) Screens: 2,434 (Average: $1,438) Week: 3 (Change: – 56%) This is likely the final weekend for the title in the top ten. Total Recall lost 1,167 screens compared to its second round last week. Watch the full video on YouTube . [ Sources: Box Office Mojo , Hollywood.com ]
The Expendables 2 bumped last week’s number one film The Bourne Legacy to number two over the weekend. The latest installment of the action pic grossed over $28.7 million in its first roll out, averaging a solid $8,670 screens. Bourne dropped 55% in its second round, while Focus Features’ Paranorman rounded out the top three in its initial run. 1. The Expendables 2 Gross: $28,750,000 Screens: $3,316 (PSA: $8,670) Week: 1 The first round of The Expendables opened with $34,825,135 when it debuted in theaters in August 2010, averaging $10,650 in 3,270 theaters. The second round is decidedly less heavy-hitting in terms of box office, but nevertheless a solid start for the action title starring Sylvester Stallone, who gave the director’s chair over to Simon West for the latest installment. 2. The Bourne Legacy Gross: $17,019,855 (Cume: $69,580,935) Screens: 3,753 (PSA: $4,535) Week: 2 (Change – 55%) The Jeremy Renner starter added just eight theaters in the U.S. and its drop from its first weekend roll out was a fairly acceptable 55%, though the pic landed in the second spot in the overall box office. The Bourne Legacy debuted in 3,745 theaters, averaging $10,752. Internationally, Legacy added five international territories, bringing the title to 18 abroad. it’s worldwide gross is now at $97.7 million. 3. Paranorman (3-D, Animation) Gross: $14,008,498 Screens: 3,429 (PSA: $4,085) Week: 1 The stop-action animated feature landed in the third place in the overall box office with just over $14 million with a so-so $4,085 average in 3,429 screens. The pic was produced by Coraline creators Laika and their latest effort performed similarly, grossing $16.8 million in a third place bow in February, 2009. 4. The Campaign Gross: $13,385,000 (Cume: $51,694,000) Screens: 3,255 (PSA: $4,112) Week: 2 (Change: – 50%) The comedy added 50 locations in its second weekend and its 50% drop was in the realm of acceptable. Internationally, The Campaign has added another $2.1 million so far. 5. Sparkle Gross: $12 million Screens: 3,255 (PSA: $5,348) Week: 1 With a $14 million budget, the film had a solid debut, landing in the top five of the overall box office. 6. The Dark Knight Rises Gross: $11,140,000 (Cume: $409,916,000) Screens: 3,157 (PSA: $3,529) Week: 5 (Change: – 41%) TDKR hit the $400 million milestone on Friday after 29 days of release. Overseas, the pic has grossed nearly $489 million bringing its worldwide total to just under $900 million. 7. The Odd Life of Timothy Green (opened Wednesday) Gross: $10,909,000 (Cume: $15,187,000) Screens: 2,598 (PSA: $4,199) Week: 1 The feature debuted Wednesday in 2,551 theaters with a head-start total of $2.3 million ahead of the weekend. It is the weekend’s fourth debut in the top 10. 8. Hope Springs Gross: $9.1 million (Cume: $35,051,000) Screens: 2,361 (PSA: $3,854) Week: 2 (Change: -38%) The comedy opened in the fourth spot when it debuted in theaters last weekend. The title stayed in the same number of locations, averaging a decent $3,854 vs its $6,607 opener. 9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days Gross: $3,850,000 (Cume: $38,762,321) Screens: 2,737 (PSA: $1,407) Week: 3 (Change: – 52%) The title lost 664 locations in its third weekend, averaging $1,407 vs $2,411 in its second round last week when it placed fifth in the overall box office. 10. Total Recall Gross: $3.5 million (Cume: $51,782,000) Screens: 2,434 (Average: $1,438) Week: 3 (Change: – 56%) This is likely the final weekend for the title in the top ten. Total Recall lost 1,167 screens compared to its second round last week. Watch the full video on YouTube . [ Sources: Box Office Mojo , Hollywood.com ]
Also in Tuesday morning’s round-up of news briefs, John Travolta will receive honors at a Swiss festival this fall. Rebel Wilson heads for a new indie project. And Woody Allen ‘s next film is starting to take shape. Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Tomb Swedish filmmaker Mikael Håfström will direct Stallone and Schwarzenegger will star opposite in The Tomb centered on a professional on structural security who must then escape a prison of his own design, Deadline reports John Travolta to Receive Zurich Film Festival Honors The Zurich Film Festival will present John Travolta with its Lifetime Achievement Award – the Golden Eye – at its festival taking place September 20 – 30. He’ll receive the award opening night ahead of the gala premiere of Oliver Stone’s Savages , THR reports . Rebel Wilson Set for Unicorn Store Bachelorette star Rebel Wilson will star in indie feature Unicorn Store , which Miguel Arteta is set to direct, Variety reports . Interns Expand Law Suit Against Twentieth Century Fox Two interns who last year sued Fox Searchlight over unpaid work on the Oscar-winning film Black Swan are now expanding their legal action to include all internships at parent company Twentieth Century Fox. Alex Footman and Eric Glatt’s latest suit could have a major impact on working practices in Hollywood, where unpaid internships have risen in recent years. Fox itself says it changed its guidelines in July 2010 to ensure that all interns are paid at least $8 an hour, The Guardian reports via THR . Sales for Woody Allen’s Next Film to be Handled by Focus Woody Allen’s next untitled film starring Alec Baldwin, Cate Blachet, Louis C.K., Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, Michael Emerson, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard, Max Casella and Alden Ehrenreich will be sold through Focus Features International. Principal photography begins in San Francisco and New York next month, Deadline reports .
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