Box Office Review - December 7, 2008

Jeff Bayer
News

WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, DECEMBER 5-7, 2008 Rank. Movie Title - Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. Four Christmases - $16.8 million | 3,335 | $70.8 million | 2

2. Twilight - $13.2 million | 3,620 | $138.6 million | 3

3. Bolt - $9.7 million | 3,516 | $79.3 million | 3

4. Australia - $7.0 million | 2,721 | $30.9 million | 2

5. Quantum of Solace - $6.6 million | 3,423 | $151.5 million | 4

Look closely, not one new film made it into the Top 5 this weekend. You'll have to drop down all the way to the 7 spot ... Punisher: War Zone bombed. Thank goodness. We shouldn't reward mindless violence unless it's the good kind. Yes, Quantum of Solace, I'm talking about you.

Cadillac Records

Cadillac Records

Nick Allen
Film Reviews

Cadillac Records Directed by: Darnell Martin Cast: Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Columbus Short, Beyonce Knowles Running Time: 1 hr 50 mins Rating: R

Plot: The story of record producer Leonard Chess (Brody) and the blues musicians he made famous with his Chicago based company Chess Records.

Who’s It For? Music fans, particularly those of Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James etc., would be better off reading a book, or hell, even a Wikipedia page. Beyonce fans will get a kick out of seeing one of their Dreamgirls ham it up once again. But falling into a sad realm of forget-ability will be Wright's noteworthy portrayal of Muddy Waters.

Expectations: Music movies tend to clone themselves as much as sports films. Considering this, would a music movie with more musicians than usual have even more cliches? And unlike

Nobel Son

Chris De Salvo
Film Reviews

Nobel Son Directed by: Randall Miller Cast: Alan Rickman, Bryan Greenberg, Shawn Hatosy, Mary Steenburgen Running Time: 1 hr 42 minutes Rating: R

Plot: When Barkley Michaelson’s father is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, it begins a series of events that turns his directionless life around. An oft-troubled kid who has been pursuing his PhD in the study of cannibalism, Barkley get tangled up in an unorthodox love-triangle where nothing (and I mean nothing) is as it seems.

Who’s It For?: Fans of film-noir. Director Randall Miller undoubtedly studied at Tarantino Film School, so be prepared for a slew of quick cuts, harsh editing, and a soundtrack custom made for pretentious art students. But seriously, this is a film that tries hard to prove its level of coolness to a crowd not quite hip enough to

Punisher: War Zone

Jeff Bayer
Film Reviews

Punisher: War Zone Directed by: Lexi Alexander Cast: Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, and Julie Benz Running Time: 1 hr 47 mins Rating: R

Plot: Waging his one-man war on the world of organized crime, ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle (Stevenson) sets his sights on overeager mob boss, Billy Russoti (West). After Russoti is left horribly disfigured by Castle, he sets out for vengeance under his new alias ... Jigsaw.

Who’s It For? Anyone who can't be talked out of this being the Punisher film worth seeing. Maybe you didn't know, but this is the third Punisher film that Hollywood has tried. They need to stop. And kids should not see this bloody mess (just like they shouldn't play ultra-violent video games).

Expectations: I know better going to these films. All I was looking for was mindless action.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors:

Ray

My Name is Bruce

Chris De Salvo
Film Reviews

My Name is Bruce Directed by: Bruce Campbell Cast: Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Grace Thorsen, Taylor Sharpe Running Time: 1 hr 26 mins Rating: R

Plot: When an unexplained supernatural yeti-monster wreaks havoc on a rural Oregon town, the community requires desperate measures to save themselves. When a naïve super-fan believes Bruce Campbell is the only one who can help, he kidnaps his hero to thwart the evil that has invaded his beloved community.

Who’s It For?. Bruce Campbell fans, only. If you have no knowledge of the man or his films, steer clear. This film is made along the same lines as the Evil Dead series. If you’re a fan however, get in line.

Expectations: It’s easy to be swept up in the relative hype of this film. What’s easy to forget is that none of

Australia

Jeff Bayer
Film Reviews

Australia Directed by: Baz Luhrmann Cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Brandon Walters, David Wenham Running Time: 2 hrs 45 mins Rating: PG-13

Plot: This is Luhrmann's epic romance action adventure ode to Australia. Set just before and during World War II comes the story of an English aristocrat (Kidman) joining forces with a rough local (Jackman) for a cattle drive and much more.

Who’s It For? Look at the running time again. Is it for you? It's not completely action packed, but there aren't many dull moments in this crowd pleaser.

Expectations: I was completely and utterly on the fence with this film. Love Luhrmann, but Jackman and Kidman only occasionally put a smile on my face. Plus, the previews make this look just like another take on Far and Away.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors: Nicole Kidman as Lady Sarah

Four Christmases

Chris De Salvo
Film Reviews

Four Christmases Directed by: Seth Gordon Cast: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Mary Steenburgen Running Time: 1 hr 22 mins Rating: PG-13

Plot: An evasive couple attempts to forgo sharing Christmas with their slew of family members, but are caught in the act (on national television). Faced with the unthinkable reality of having to withstand four Christmas gatherings, fun-loving Brad [Vince Vaughn] and Kate [Reese Witherspoon] are reminded how powerful the “holiday spirit” is.

Who’s It For? Those who haven’t grown tired of watching Vince Vaughn candidly play himself for the umpteenth time, and those who have sincerely believed Ms. Witherspoon can’t “bring the funny.”

Expectations: Relatively speaking, Seth Gordon is “merely (a) freshman,” when it comes to film making. This the sixth time he’s taken a seat in the director’s chair, and the first time

Transporter 3

Nick Allen
Film Reviews

Transporter 3 Directed by: Olivier Megaton Cast: Jason Statham, Natalya Rudakova, Robert Knepper Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins Rating: PG-13

Plot: Personal driver Frank Martin (Statham) is hired to transport a Ukrainian minister's daughter (Rudakova) who has been kidnapped by an evil American (Knepper) that is attempting to bribe the European country with toxic waste. However, an explosive device attached to Martin restricts him from being any more than 75 feet away from his car.

Who’s It For? People who don't own DVD players and a type of membership to some form of movie rental business. Seriously, if you're really revved up for Transporter action, just rent the previous two.

Expectations: I'm always down for some butt kicking, especially when Jason Statham's involved. Fully aware of the reality-defying thrills in the trilogy's previous two films, I

Milk

Jeff Bayer
Film Reviews

Milk Directed by: Gus Van Sant Cast: Sean Penn, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna Running Time: 2 hrs 8 mins Rating: R

Plot: Sean Penn is gay-rights activist Harvey Milk. Set in the 1970s, Milk became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in America. This film tells the story of his rise to power and his tragic end.

Who’s It For? This is a story that isn't told that much. We still live in an insanely divided country ... just look at the horrendous decision to reverse gay marriage rights in California, of all places. There is an insanely talented cast and a very important story to be told here.

Expectations: Thanks to my wife the history major, I knew just a hint of this story. But I think

TOP 7 Australian Films

Megan Lehar
Top 7

We start the Top 7. You finish the Top 10. Australia, the other English speaking country. The one that doesn't have Shakespeare, Hollywood or Peter Jackson. It's so easy to forget about, until you remember it's the land of Russell Crowe, Naomi Watts, Geoffrey Rush and Mel Gibson. Not to mention Baz Luhrmann, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman who want to give you a big fat jolt of memory with the release of Australia. Expect something big, flashy and hella sexy.

Until then, here's a list of my favorite movies from the land down under. I have a few rules, a movie has to be directed, acted in, and financed primarily in and by Australians. That means no Moulin Rouge, though it was shot in Australia

Angus MacLane - Director of Burn-E

Jeff Bayer
Interviews

And along comes Burn-E ... the one being who's life is not charmed my Wall-E. I sat down with Angus MacLane at the Westin Hotel in downtown Portland. He's the directing animator on Wall-E and directed the original short Burn-E which is included on the Wall-E DVD.

He's also worked on Geri's Game, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo. So yes, he is Pixar.

For those that don't understand animation film making, what does a director animator do? The director directs everybody, the supervising animators help organize the animation department, and interface with the producer, director and they make artistic calls. The directing animator is more downward facing and helps on the ground the animators to get their work done and facilitate the consistency. They make sure the characters

Twilight

Jeff Bayer
Film Reviews

TwilightDirected by: Catherine Hardwicke Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli Running Time: 2 hrs Rating: PG-13

I READ THIS BOOK ... if you are looking for a review that didn't click here for Thomas Pardee's review.

Plot: Based on the best-seller by Stephanie Meyer comes the story of Bella (Stewart), an awkward teen who moves to Forks, Washington to be with her dad. She's immediately drawn to the mysterious Edward Cullen (Pattinson) who turns out to be much more than she ever thought possible.

Who’s It For? There is a huge following from the books. It's probably the most anticipated adaptation since Harry Potter. And that's exactly who this is for, and teenage girls won't mind staring at Edward for a couple of hours either.

Expectations: I read the first book and

Bolt

Morrow McLaughlin
Film Reviews

Bolt Directed by: Byron Howard, Chris Williams Cast (voices): John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, Mark Walton Running Time: 1 hr 30 min Rating: PG

Plot: This animated movie has Bolt (Travolta) the dog as the star of the biggest television show, but he doesn’t understand that none of it is real. When he believes his television owner, Penny (Cyrus), has been kidnapped, he escapes from his handlers and ends up alone, and without his special effects powers, on the streets of New York.

Who’s It For? Kids who don’t scare easily. It’s mildly enjoyable for adults, but, honestly, it might give young children nightmares.

Expectations: From the previews, I thought I was going to really like this movie. I have a weakness for smart animation with subverted veins of adult humor.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors: John Travolta as Bolt: Travolta

Twilight

Thomas Pardee
Film Reviews

Twilight Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson Running Time: 2 hrs. Rating: PG-13

I DIDN'T READ THIS BOOK ... if you want to read a review from someone who did -- click here for Jeff Bayer's review.

Plot: Bella Swan (Stewart) is forced to trade her teenage life in the desert of Phoenix for the cold, rainy woods of Washington when she moves back in with her lonely father. Here she finds a new set of friends and an inconvenient attraction to the mysterious Edward Cullen (Pattinson), whose intensity both scares and fascinates her. Slowly, Bella and Edward’s paths entangle, their relationship heats up, and the terrifying truth comes out—Edward is a vampire, and he would like nothing more than to suck Bella’s blood. But, he’s also a good guy, and though

He said - She said ... Twilight

Jeff Bayer
He Said - She Said

Let's get one thing clear ... If you haven't seen Twilight and you want to go in fresh ... STOP! Key plot points, the ending, spoilers and differences between the book and film will be discussed. It's HE (Jeff Bayer) and SHE (Morrow McLaughlin). Both read the first book (though McLaughlin read all four ... in three days).

She said: In lieu of crucial dialogue, the movie instead chose to fumble its way through uninspired montages, bland visuals, and then what I could only describe as random flotsam--scenes that seem to go nowhere and serve no purpose. Mix that in with Bella's inconsistent narration, which felt like it had been stapled on--probably because no one on board actually knows how to tell an engaging story--and what you have is a painfully average teenage-angst

TOP 7 Vampire Films

Jeff Bayer
Top 7

We start the Top 7. You finish the Top 10. I'm going to stick my neck out and say this list will be something you can really sink your teeth into. It will be your cross to bear if you don't read it. OK, those are all the awful vampire puns I could muster. More importantly, Twilight fandom is upon us, so before we are all blinded by dreamboat Edward Cullen, let's sift through the millions (seems like it) of other vampire films that Hollywood has made.

This list focuses on the last 25 years of blood sucking. So if you are looking to reminisce over the brilliance of Nosferatu from 1922, it probably feels like I stabbed you in the heart (with a wooden stake). And I want to offer Jim

Religulous

Jeff Bayer
Film Reviews

Quickcard Review Religulous

Directed by: Larry Charles Starring: Bill Maher Running Time: 1 hr 41 mins Rated: R

Mug. That's the key to Religulous ... which, by the way took me WAY too long to finally pronounce correctly. It was like staring at Scarlett Johansson ... I knew I was supposed to get "it," but I wasn't seeing what everyone else was.

Back to mug, which can pretty much equal Maher for the duration of this film. He's front and center leading the way to create an understanding of why and how people believe what they do. Maher says he simply doesn't know the answers. That's his religion, the unknowing. And he attempts to investigate why others believe what they do with an open mind, but it's Maher. He mugs.

And most everyone who sees Religulous

Box Office Review - November 16, 2008

Jeff Bayer
News

WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, NOVEMBER 14-16, 2008 Rank. Movie Title (Distributor) Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. Quantum of Solace (Sony / Columbia) $70.4 million | 3,451 | $70.4 million | 1

2. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Paramount (DreamWorks)) $36.1 million | 4,065 | $118.0 million | 2

3. Role Models (Universal) $11.7 million | 2,798 | $38.1 million | 2

4. High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Buena Vista) $5.9 million | 3,202 | $84.4 million | 4

5. Changeling (Universal) $4.2 million | 1,896 | $27.6 million | 4

Source: www.boxofficemojo.com

Just as you would expect, Bond broke records. I predicted last week that it would pass Casino Royale's opening weekend. But even I am a little surprised by $70 million.

Next week will be very interesting with Bolt and Twilight coming into play. It could be

First-Look Production Still: Edward Norton's 'Leaves of Grass'

Jeff Bayer
News

Is there any actor better than Ed Norton right now?.. OK, the answer is probably yes. But please remember this is the man from Fight Club, American History X and The Painted Veil (which more people should have seen)... Well, maybe "Leaves of Grass" will bring him back. I mean, there's two of him. What could go wrong? HollywoodChicago.com -- TSR's news partner -- just published a first-look production still for the comedic thriller "Leaves of Grass" in which Edward Norton stars as twin brothers. The film, which recently wrapped production in Shreveport, La., is due out in 2010. It also stars Richard Dreyfuss, Keri Russell and Susan Sarandon.

See the first-look "Leaves of Grass" production still at The Scorecard Review partner HollywoodChicago.com.

Quantum of Solace

Jeff Bayer
Film Reviews

Quantum of Solace Directed by: Marc Forster Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins Rating: PG-13

Plot: James Bond (Daniel Craig) picks up right where he left off … kicking arse. Still seeking revenge for the death of his true love Vesper (who betrayed him), Bond encounters Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), an environmentalist who has sinister motives.

Who’s It For? Action fans will flock. No romance this time ... and if all you care about is gadgets and villains ... take a deep breath, you aren't getting your fill here.

Expectations: I am one of the few who thought Casino Royale was just average. I have unusually high expectations for Bond films. But Casino was just simply too long on a romance I never believed in and

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