Box office report for March 15, 2010: “Alice in Wonderland” still ruling charts
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton’s reimagining of “Alice in Wonderland” easily remained the No. 1 weekend draw with $62 million, according to the Associated Press.
The Disney fantasy has earned a $208.6 million total domestically, becoming the first $200 million hit released this year.
In its second weekend in theaters, “Alice in Wonderland” pulled ahead of the $206.5 million domestic haul of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” to become the top-grossing of Depp and Burton’s seven films together, which also include “Edward Scissorhands,” ”Sweeney Todd” and “Corpse Bride.”
“Alice in Wonderland” added $76 million overseas to bring its international total to $221 million and its worldwide gross to $430 million, according to the AP.
A rush of new movies notched so-so openings, led by Matt Damon’s Iraq War thriller “Green Zone,” which debuted at No. 2 with $14.5 million domestically. Released by Universal, “Green Zone” stars Damon as the leader of a U.S. Army team who stumbles onto a conspiracy over the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Paramount’s romantic comedy “She’s Out of My League” debuted at No. 3 with $9.6 million. The movie stars Jay Baruchel as a geek in an unlikely romance with a babe.
“Twilight” star Robert Pattinson’s romantic drama “Remember Me” opened at No. 4 with $8.3 million. The Summit Entertainment release stars Pattinson and “Lost” co-star Emilie de Ravin in a dark story of young lovers with tragedy in their past.
Debuting at No. 6 with $7.6 million was Fox Searchlight’s comedy “Our Family Wedding,” starring America Ferrera as a Hispanic bride marrying a black man.
In its fourth weekend, Paramount’s “Shutter Island,” the latest teaming for Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese, was No. 5 with $8.1 million, raising its domestic total to $108 million.
“Alice in Wonderland” took in nearly as much as the rest of the top-10 movies combined.
Hollywood’s business soared, with overall revenues at $144 million, up 43 percent from the same weekend last year, when “Race to Witch Mountain” led with a $24.4 million debut.
For the year, revenues are at $2.24 billion, up 9 percent compared to receipts last year, when Hollywood took in a record $10.6 billion.
Factoring in higher admission prices, movie attendance this year is running 6.7 percent ahead of 2009’s, according to the AP. Before “Alice in Wonderland” opened, attendance was lagging slightly behind last year’s.
James Cameron’s science-fiction sensation “Avatar” remained a strong draw after nearly three months in theaters, taking in $6.6 million for seventh place and raising its domestic total to $730.3 million. The 20th Century Fox release has topped $2.6 billion worldwide.
Summit Entertainment’s “The Hurt Locker,” which beat “Avatar” for best picture at the Academy Awards, got a slight box-office bump from its Oscar triumph. The Iraq War drama, which is out on DVD but came back to theaters for Oscar season, pulled in $828,000, raising its box-office total to $15.7 million.
Here is the weekend’s top 10, according to the AP:
1. “Alice in Wonderland,” $62 million.
2. “Green Zone,” $14.5 million.
3. “She’s Out of My League,” $9.6 million.
4. “Remember Me,” $8.3 million.
5. “Shutter Island,” $8.1 million.
6. “Our Family Wedding,” $7.6 million.
7. “Avatar,” $6.6 million.
8. “Brooklyn’s Finest,” $4.3 million.
9. “Cop Out,” $4.2 million.
10. “The Crazies,” $3.7 million.
-BAM
RIP Peter Graves
Peter Graves (Associated Press file photo)
Peter Graves, who starred in both the TV series “Mission: Impossible” and satirical “Airplane!” films, has died, the Associated Press is reporting.
Graves passed away Sunday just a few days before his 84th birthday outside his home in Los Angeles. Graves was returning from brunch with his wife of nearly 60 years and his family when he had what Graves’ doctor believed was a heart attack, the AP reports.
Graves remained best known for the role of Jim Phelps, leader of a gang of special agents who battled evil conspirators in TV’s “Mission: Impossible.” Normally cast as a hero, he turned in an unforgettable performance early in his career as the treacherous Nazi spy in Billy Wilder’s 1953 prisoner-of-war drama “Stalag 17.”
He also masterfully lampooned his straight-arrow image when he portrayed bumbling airline pilot Clarence Oveur in the 1980 disaster movie spoof “Airplane!”
Graves appeared in dozens of films and a handful of television shows in a career of nearly 60 years. The authority and trust he projected made him a favorite for commercials late in his life.
In his later years, Graves also brought his white-haired eminence to public television as host of “Discover: The World of Science” and A&E’s “Biography” series.
Graves followed his older brother James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on TV’s “Gunsmoke,” into stardom. Born Peter Aurness, Graves took his grandfather’s last name to avoid confusion with his older brother, who had dropped the “U” from the family name.
Graves’ career began with cheaply made exploitation films like “It Conquered the World,” in which he battled a carrot-shaped monster from Venus, and “Beginning of the World,” in which he fought a giant grasshopper.
He later took on human villains each week on “Mission: Impossible.”
Every show began with Graves, as agent Phelps, listening to a tape of instructions outlining his team’s latest mission and explaining that if he or any of his agents were killed or captured “the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.” The tape always self-destructed within seconds of being played.
The show ran on CBS from 1967 to 1973 and was revived on ABC from 1988 to 1990 with Graves back as the only original cast member.
Graves’ first television series was the children’s Saturday morning show, “Fury,” about an orphan and his untamed black stallion. Filmed in Australia, it lasted six years on NBC and introduced Graves to the baby boomer generation.
He noted during an interview in 2000 that he made his foray into comedy somewhat reluctantly. Filmmakers Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker had written a satire on the airplane-in-trouble movies, and they wanted Graves and fellow handsome actors Lloyd Bridges, Leslie Nielsen and Robert Stack to spoof their serious images.
All agreed, but Graves admitted to nervousness in a 2000 interview.
“I thought I could lose a whole long acting career,” he recalled.
“Airplane!” became a box-office smash, and Graves returned for “Airplane II, The Sequel.”
Graves was a champion hurdler in high school in Minnesota, as well as a clarinet player in dance bands and a radio announcer.
After two years in the Air Force, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota as a drama major and worked in summer stock before following his brother west to Hollywood.
He found enough success there to send for his college sweetheart, Joan Endress. They were married in 1950 and had three daughters — Kelly Jean, Claudia King and Amanda Lee — and six grandchildren.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans.
-BAM
Monday Catchy Quote No. 107
A catchy quote from a movie, TV show or other source to brighten the beginning of the week:
Clark Kellogg: There’s a kind of freedom in being completely screwed… because you know things can’t get any worse.
- Click here to learn the source.
-BAM
3D’s Need to See: Western Month Part Two
Hey loyal readers, it’s week two of my month of Western movie recommendations. This week’s movie is the 1965 comedy Western “Hallelujah Trail.” (Yes, I know I recommended an older Western comedy last week as well. I promise next week’s suggestion will be more serious.)
For this week’s film, half the recommendation is done for me just by listing the cast: Burt Lancaster, Lee Remick, Donald Pleasance, Brian Keith, and Martin Landau are just some of the stars in this. The whole movie concerns a huge wagon train full of whiskey that is bound for Denver. It is both helped and hindered along its way by Indians, miners, Temperance followers, and the cavalry.
The best part of the film, in my humble opinion, is the increasing aggravation of Burt Lancaster’s character, who has to try and control the entire circus surrounding the wagon train. It is a masterful comedic performance. (If you don’t like Burt Lancaster, don’t bother reading any of the rest of my recommendations this month because he’s in all of them. Yes, he was that awesome.)
So, if you’re a Burt Lancaster fan, if you like silly Westerns, or if you just want to watch a comedy tonight, you need to see “Hallelujah Trail.”
—3D
Robert Pattinson talks about how his “Twilight” fame affected “Remember Me” filming
Robert Pattinson (Associated Press file photo)
The first two films in the blockbuster “The Twilight Saga” have turned Robert Pattinson into an international heartthrob who is constantly pursued by gaggles of female fans and camera-wielding paparazzi.
These circumstances complicated filming in New York City on his new film, the romantic drama “Remember Me,” opening today. It is the first film for Pattinson since he took on the role of the dreamy vampire Edward Cullen in the movie’s based on Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling books.
“It’s weird,” Pattinson said during a recent NYC press event hosted by Summit Entertainment. “I did this film, and I hardly knew anyone on the crew because I couldn’t get out of my trailer, especially the first month. I mean, I didn’t know anyone on the set. It was really odd.
“But at the same time, it’s really a quite nice lesson in discipline because you literally have to do it,” he said. “You can’t say, ‘I’m not performing until all these people go away.’ It was way more intense than any of the ‘Twilight’ films even.”
As The Oklahoman’s Dennis King reports, the 23-year-old Brit is learning to cope with the tough challenges that have come with fame. Pattinson’s celebrity isn’t going away; the first full trailer to the third “Twilight” film, “Eclipse,” debuted with great fanfare Thursday. “Eclipse” opens June 30.
“It really is just about blanking it out,” he said. “I mean, at the beginning I was having loads of problems with it because it was really crazy. When we were filming around Washington Square Park, it was just complete mayhem. There was this one moment where one of the security guys saw me getting more and more and more angry with the paparazzi guys, and he said to me, ‘Imagine like going up and trying to hit one of them and missing, right there in front of 40 cameras.’ And that was enough to break my rage. It didn’t really bother me after that.”
To read the rest of Dennis’ story, click here and travel to the entertainment portal Planet46.com.
-BAM
DVD review: “Coco Before Chanel”
A version of this story appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
“Coco Before Chanel”
Audrey Tautou’s trademark elfin charm and sparkling smile are rarely on display in “Coco Before Chanel.” But the French actress’ studied portrayal of a pre-fame Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel forms the sturdy seams that hold together the slice-of-life biopic.
Director/co-writer Anne Fontaine’s French film opens as young Gabrielle, nicknamed Coco as a child, and her sister are dumped at an orphanage by their peddler father, who hardly gives them a glance as he rides away. Coco and Adrienne (Marie Gillain) grow up to become seamstresses, one of the few legitimate trades open to women in the early 20th century, but moonlight with song-and-dance duets in a local saloon. Coco hopes they will make their fortune as performers, but Adrienne breaks up the duo to become the mistress of a baron who frequents the club.
With few options but a fierce desire to rise out of poverty, Coco boldly pursues wealthy racehorse enthusiast Etienne Balsan (Benoit Poelvoorde) right to his estate outside Paris. Balsan keeps her richly fed and sheltered as long as she warms his bed, tends his needs and doesn’t forget her place. But he also indulges her truly revolutionary fashion choices as she casts off corsets, dons trousers and converts his shirts and ties into chic ensembles. Starting with actress Emilienne d’Alencon (Emmanuelle Devos), Coco starts designing elegant (as opposed to the then-typical frou-frou) hats for Balsan’s well-heeled former conquests.
Ardor and opportunity sweep into Coco’s life with the arrival of Balsan’s Brit businessman pal Arthur “Boy” Capel (Alessandro Nivola), who loves Chanel’s spirit and style enough to become her lover and financial backer but not enough to marry her instead of a moneyed Englishwoman.
“Coco Before Chanel” sharply illustrates the limited opportunities afforded to women in Coco’s time. Tautou’s Chanel clearly resents these constraints and resolutely makes whatever compromises and maneuvers she must to rise above her station. She viewed the fashion of the time with its restrictive undergarments, long, layered dresses and frilly, face-concealing hats as another way men oppressed women. So, when she cast off her corset and put on short, clean-lined dresses, she was not only making an audacious fashion statement, she also was making a revolutionary social one.
Like Chanel’s signature styles, Tautou’s turn as the youthful and determined future fashion icon holds the eye with its unadorned simplicity. With her wide, expressive eyes, unsmilingly assessing gazes and sharply critical tongue, Tautou’s Chanel fascinates despite her distinct dearth of warm and fuzzy likeability.
DVD features: Several brief making-of featurettes, Chanel biography, commentary and red carpet premiere clips.
— BAM
Movie review: “Our Family Wedding”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. 2 of 4 stars.
Potential of ‘Our Family Wedding’ veiled by silliness
Just before the titular nuptials of the comedy “Our Family Wedding” march down the aisle, a destined-for-the-barbecue goat runs amuck, gobbling down Viagra, tipping over tables and trampling decorations.
But lame slapstick, predictable drama and easy stereotypes wreak havoc on director/co-writer Rick Famuyiwa’s (“Brown Sugar”) culture-clash tale long before the goat does its damage.
In Los Angeles, slick disc jockey Brad Boyd (Oscar winner Forest Whitaker) returns from his latest tryst with a young thing to discover tow truck driver Miguel Ramirez (Carlos Mencia) hitching up his tony, illegally parked car. The guys exchange racial slurs and heated insults as Miguel hauls away Brad’s wheels.
The alpha males are unexpectedly reunited over dinner at a fancy restaurant, where their college-age children, Marcus (Lance Gross) and Lucia (America Ferrera), announce they are engaged. To their relatives’ horror, the couple plan to tie the knot quickly and move overseas so Marcus, a recent medical school grad, can serve with Doctors Without Borders.
Like most broad comedies, “Our Family Wedding” comes overstuffed with extreme characters struggling with daunting family and personal issues that will nonetheless be resolved in 90 minutes or less. A divorced playboy, Brad can’t get excited about his son’s decision to marry, just as he can’t see that his best pal and lawyer Angela (Regina King) is the perfect woman for him.
Fiercely traditional and protective, Miguel can’t cope with the notion of his daughter marrying a non-Latino and moving so far from home. He’s too busy running his tow truck and classic car restoration businesses to notice that his own union is in trouble: His wife Sonia (Diana-Maria Riva) feels so neglected and lost in their marriage that sardonic younger daughter Isabella (Anjelah N. Johnson) vows never to wed.
Egged on by Lucia’s screechy grandmother (Lupe Ontiveros), the Ramirezes insist that their daughter’s nuptials incorporate several Mexican traditions, which prompts Brad to make his own series of wedding demands. Montages chronicle the one-upmanship that ensues, with Lucia and Marcus continually muttering the mantra “our marriage, their wedding.”
Still, the couple starts feeling the strain and wondering if they should get married after all. Marcus, who has trust and abandonment issues, takes it personally that Lucia, who needs to cut a few apron strings, won’t tell her parents that she has dropped out of law school to become a teacher instead of an overachieving attorney.
With several solid performances and its share of sweet and even clever moments, “Our Family Wedding” occasionally blooms with potential. But the goat and other silly notions it gobble it up like so much Viagra.
— BAM
Video: First “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” trailer unleashed
Summit Entertainment released today the first full trailer for “Eclipse,” the third film in the blockbuster “The Twilight Saga.”
As the trailer shows, the love triangle between human Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) intensifies in the sequel.
As the battle for Bella’s heart builds up, villainous vamp Victoria brings a more tangible danger to Bella and the small town of Forks, Wash., as she seeks to avenge the death of her mate James (Cam Gigandet).
The trailer offers a quick glimpse of Bryce Dallas Howard as Victoria; she replaces Rachelle Lefevre, who played the baddie in “Twilight” and “New Moon.”
Personally, I found “Twilight” and “New Moon” (directed by Catherine Hardwicke and Chris Weitz, respectively) faithful enough to the storylines in the books but recommended strictly for previous fans of the books only. Neither film was able to really capture the intensity or emotion of the novels. How will director David Slade (“30 Days of Night”) do in adapting the latest chapter of Stephenie Meyer’s super-popular saga? Time will tell.
“Eclipse” opens in theaters June 30.
To tide Twihards over in the meantime, “New Moon” comes out on DVD and Blu-ray March 20.
-BAM
RIP Corey Haim
Top: Corey Haim in the 2009 film “Crank: High Voltage.” Bottom: Haim and Jason Patric in the 1987 vampire flick “The Lost Boys.”
Actor Corey Haim, who became a teen heartthrob in the 1980s but struggled for much of his life with drug abuse, died today. He was 38.
Haim died early today at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, according to the Associated Press. The actor experienced flulike symptoms before he died and was getting over-the-counter and prescription medications.
An autopsy will determine cause of death. There was no evidence of foul play, police told the AP.
Haim rose to prominence with his roles in movies like “Lucas” and “The Lost Boys,” and he was half of the famed “two Coreys” of the ’80s, along with friend Corey Feldman, who said he cried when he heard of Haim’s death.
“This is a tragic loss of a wonderful, beautiful, tormented soul, who will always be my brother, family and best friend,” he said in a statement. “We must all take this as a lesson in how we treat the people we share this world with while they are still here to make a difference.
“I hope the art Corey has left behind will be remembered as the passion of that for which he truly lived,” Feldman said.
Haim acknowledged his struggle with drug abuse to a British tabloid in 2004, telling The Sun he smoked his first joint on “The Lost Boys” set and moving on to cocaine and crack. Haim said he went into rehabilitation and was put on prescription drugs, including stimulants and sedatives. He also said drugs hurt his acting career.
In 1997, Haim filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing debts for medical expenses and more than $200,000 in state and federal taxes.
The Toronto-born actor got his start in television commercials at 10 and developed a good reputation for his work in such films as 1985’s “Murphy’s Romance” and his portrayal of Liza Minelli’s dying son in the 1985 television film “A Time to Live.”
His career peaked when he became a heartthrob with his roles in the 1986 movie “Lucas” and the 1987 vampire flick “The Lost Boys.”
In later years, he made a few TV appearances and had several direct-to-video movies. He also had a handful of recent movies that have not yet been released.
In recent years, he appeared in the A&E reality TV show “The Two Coreys” with Feldman. It was canceled in 2008 after two seasons. Feldman later said Haim’s drug abuse strained their working and personal relationships.
Our thoughts go out to Haim’s family, friends and fans.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood Day on BAM’s Blog celebrating Checotah star’s birthday
Above: Carrie Underwood celebrates her 27th birthday today. Below: Fellow Oklahomans Shannon Miller and Chuck Norris also are marking their birthdays. (Associated Press photos)
Happy 27th birthday to Checotah native, country music superstar and budding actress Carrie Underwood.
The 2005 “American Idol” winner is getting ready to embark on her “Play On Tour” Thursday in Pennsylvania. As usual, she’s been staying busy in 2010.
In honor of her birthday, we’re marking Carrie Underwood Day here on BAM’s Blog with a few newsy posts, photos and videos.
But Underwood isn’t the only state celeb celebrating a birthday today: Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller, who attended the University of Oklahoma, turns 33 today, and martial arts master/actor/all-around tough guy Chuck Norris, who was born in Ryan, turns 70.
- BAM
