Archive for February, 2011

Neeson’s ‘Unknown’ tops US box office

Monday, February 21st, 2011
'Unknown' still

Liam Neeson’s new action thriller Unknown has managed to top the US box office this weekend, opening with $21.8 million.

Entering just behind in second place is the much-hyped teen sci-fi adaptation I am Number Four, starring English actor Alex Pettyfer and Glee‘s Dianna Agron, which took $19.5 million for its opening weekend.

Holding its place in third for the second week in a row with a strong $19.4 million is the animated Shakespeare re-imagining Gnomeo & Juliet, followed by last week’s box-office topper Just Go With It, which took $18.2 million.

Rounding out this weekend’s top five films is another new entry in the form of Martin Lawrence’s third Big Momma’s House outing which took $17 million, despite a savaging from critics.

Next weekend sees the release of the Farrelly Brothers’ latest comedy Hall Pass, as well as Nicolas Cage’s new action film Drive Angry 3D.

This week’s US box office top ten in full:
1. (-) Unknown- $21,800,000
2. (-) I Am Number Four – $19,500,000
3. (3) Gnomeo & Juliet – $19,400,000
4. (1) Just Go With It- $18,200,000
5. (-) Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son – $17,000,000
6. (2) Justin Bieber: Never Say Never – $13,600,000
7. (6) The King’s Speech – $6,560,000
8. (5) The Roommate – $4,100,000
9. (4) The Eagle – $3,560,000
10. (7) No Strings Attached – $3,120,000

MGM revives ‘Robocop’ remake after job cull

Sunday, February 20th, 2011
Robocop

MGM is reportedly intending to revive a cancelled Robocop remake, despite having axed its entire digital department today.

Mashable claims that the move, which is thought to be part of the studio’s post-bankruptcy restructuring, has freed up enough funds for an updated version of Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 sci-fi thriller to proceed.

The project was shelved in July 2010, along with the newly greenlit Bond 23, as MGM’s financial problems began to escalate.

Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky was attached to direct when production of the film stalled, but Total Film speculates that the Oscar nominee will be unable to take up the project after committing to X Men spinoff The Wolverine.

It is unknown how many jobs were lost following the scrapping of MGM’s digital department, or how the move will affect the studio’s operation and output.

DiCaprio, Scorsese reunite for ‘Wall Street’

Saturday, February 19th, 2011
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Hollywood hunk hits 36 on Thursday

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are planning to make The Wolf Of Wall Street their fifth big screen collaboration.

According to Vulture, the project – based on Jordan Belfort’s memoir – has left the hands of Warner Bros and director Ridley Scott and will be produced independently with Scorsese at the helm.

Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter wrote the script for Wolf Of Wall Street. The book details how a New York broker guided his team into making millions, then used the money to fund an extravagant lifestyle until getting caught by the FBI.

Shooting on Wall Street could begin as early as June 2012, when Scorsese has completed work on the Benicio Del Toro-led thriller Silence.

Scorsese and DiCaprio previously worked together on Gangs Of New York, The Aviator, The Departed and Shutter Island.

New ‘Spider-Man’ title revealed

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Columbia Pictures has confirmed that the new Spider-Man movie will be titled The Amazing Spider-Man.

The Andrew Garfield-led comic book adventure, which will be released in 3D, is currently filming under the direction of (500) Days Of Summer helmer Marc Webb.

Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen and Sally Field co-star in the picture.

The Amazing Spider-Man is due to open in cinemas on July 3, 2012.

Being Human actor Sam Witwer raw interview transcript:

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Please click on the image to read a transcript of the interview at GenreOnLine.net

Please click on the picture to read a transcript of the interview at GenreOnLine.net

Sandler beats Bieber to box office win

Monday, February 14th, 2011
Adam Sandler is honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Adam Sandler’s latest romantic comedy has topped this week’s US box office, just ahead of Justin Bieber’s 3D biopic.

Just Go With It, which also stars Jennifer Aniston and Brooklyn Decker, took $31 million this weekend, narrowly holding off competition from Bieber: Never Say Never, which took an impressive $30.3 million.

In third place is Touchstone Pictures’ latest animated feature Gnomeo & Juliet, featuring the voices of Steve McAvoy and Emily Blunt, which took a respectable $25.5 million.

Historical epic The Eagle entered in fourth place with $8.5 million, followed by last week’s box-office topper The Roommate, which rounds out the top five at $8.4 million.

Next weekend sees the release of sci-fi film I Am Number Four, starring Alex Pettyfer and Glee actress Dianna Agron, the new Liam Neeson thriller Unknown and Martin Lawrence’s return to drag in Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son.

This week’s US box office top ten in full:
1. (-) Just Go With It – $31,000,000
2. (-) Bieber: Never Say Never – $30,300,000
3. (-) Gnomeo & Juliet – $25,500,000
4. (-) The Eagle – $8,580,000
5. (1) The Roommate – $8,400,000
6. (4) The King’s Speech – $7,410,000
7. (3) No Strings Attached – $5,645,000
8. (2) Sanctum 3D – $5,130,000
9. (8) True Grit – $3,770,000
10. (5) The Green Hornet – $3,600,000

Sam Worthington: ‘Titans sequel was a surprise’

Sunday, February 13th, 2011
Sam Worthington

Sam Worthington has confessed his surprise that the critically-panned Clash Of The Titans remake was awarded a sequel.

The Avatar actor stated that he is looking forward to reprising the role of demigod Perseus for Wrath Of The Titans, as he believes that the unexpected follow-up will be improved for breaking away from the 1981 original.

He told Contactmusic: “The thing is the first film we got criticised a lot for, but now the good thing about the sequel is that we are not beholden to an original story and we can learn from the mistakes of the first and hopefully improve on it.”

He added: “I mean there is a surprise that we are making a sequel because of the critical drubbing.”

Noam Murro to direct ‘Die Hard 5’

Saturday, February 12th, 2011
Noam Murro

Noam Murro has been signed by 20th Century Fox to direct Die Hard 5, reports claim.

Journalist Mike Fleming of Deadline understands that the Smart People star will head the sequel alongside writer Skip Woods.

Actor Bruce Willis, who starred in all previous films in the franchise, is apparently yet to agree a deal with the studio.

The surprise appointment comes as a result of Murro’s successful video game campaign for Halo, the report claims.

Blu-ray disc reviews:

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Please click on the respective cover image to read a review at GenreOnLine.net

Schwarzenegger confirms acting return…

Friday, February 11th, 2011
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger has confirmed that he intends to return to acting.

The former California governor revealed on his Twitter page that he has instructed his representatives at the Creative Artists Agency to find him a big screen comeback role.

“Exciting news. My friends at CAA have been asking me for 7 years when they can take offers seriously. Gave them the green light today,” he wrote.

Schwarzenegger stepped away from acting in 2003 after becoming Governor of California. His last major role was in Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines, although he made cameo appearances in Around The World In 80 Days, Welcome To The Jungle and The Expendables.

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