If you were driving by the Alex Theatre in Glendale, you might have done a double-take after passing a marquee proclaiming that the theater was hosting a private screening of "Deep Throat."
Sorry, But There Will Not Be a Screening of 'Deep Throat' in Glendale
DVD Tuesday: Greenberg Meet Chloe
Either you enjoy the films of Noah Baumbach, or you find the whole enterprise pretentious and annoying and wonder why anyone would want to spend another moment in the presence of his characters. Greenberg may mark the apogee of this distinction. Chloe isn't nearly as good as his masterpiece, Where the Truth Lies, but it is an Atom Egoyan film and deserves watching. I hope that all the Mormons who fought to ban gay marriage -- as seen in 8: The Mormon Proposition -- will expend an equal amount of energy fighting other supposed biblical prohibitions. Like, you know, following false prophets like Joseph Smith! What a bunch of fucking weirdos.
Box Office Review: Iron Man Kills Robin Hood!
While by no means a flop, Robin Hood does bear the scent of an under-performer this morning. The latest Ridley Scott | Russell Crowe collaboration only managed to steal $37.1M in its debut, placing a distant second to the mighty Iron Man 2 ($53M | $212M). Female counter-programming didn't exactly work for Letters to Juliet which only garnered $13.8M in its opening frame. Romantic "comedy" Just Wright was even worse at $8.5M, while powerhouse How to Train Your Dragon continued to print money ($5.1M | $208M).
Weekend Movie Guide: Meh?
Some may find Russell Crowe surly and rude, but I think he's a rock-solid actor who always delivers (Bud White deserves induction into the pantheon alongside Michael, Antonio, Carmine, Jack, Giles and Tom ). That said, I'm a bit skittish about Robin Hood. How do I put it? Maybe like this: is anyone really excited to see it? Amanda Seyfried is probably the most weirdly hot actress on the planet, but even that won't be enough to drag me to Letters to Juliet. God, I hope this isn't Vanessa Redgrave's theatrical swan song. Bring your hankies.
Box Office Review: How To Make a Dragon Movie
Parents and kids (and critics) were totally charmed by How To Train Your Dragon as it easily won the weekend box office race. It's huge haul of $43.3M demolished previous champ Alice in Wonderland ($17.3M | $293.1M) and disappointing newcomer Hot Tub Time Machine ($13.6M). The terrible, shitty, depressing The Bounty Hunter actually had a decent hold in its second frame ($12.4M | $38.8M) while Diary of a Wimpy Kid was clearly the victim of a nasty dragon bite ($10M | $35.7M).
Weekend Movie Guide: Gonna Get In The Hot Tub!
Week by week, trailer by trailer, Hot Tub Time Machine is growing on me. Now, I'm really itching to see it (and not just to see aging hottie Jessica Pare slumming it in a thankless role). Is it this year's The Hangover? We'll see on Monday morning! Atom Egoyan definitely belongs on the list of directors who never get the notoriety they deserve. Chloe looks fantastic (and not just because crush object Amanda Seyfried is all kinds of naked in it). What's the best reviewed movie of the week? How about How to Train Your Dragon. I love that the filmmakers employed ace DP Roger Deakins as a consultant. Does Pixar finally have a challenger?
Box Office Review: It's Finally Over!
After seven weeks as King of the World, Avatar was knocked from its perch by the maudlin Dear John. The phony love story brought in an obscene $32.4M in its debut weekend to best the Pocahontas rip-off ($23.6M | $630M). From Paris With Love disappointed in its first frame ($8.1M) while Edge of Darkness collapsed in week two ($7M | $29M). The Tooth Fairy -- to America's eternal shame -- is holding up well ($6.5M | $34.3M)
Weekend Movie Guide: Dear Amanda...
Ordinarily, the radiant, slightly goofy presence of Amanda Seyfried would have me rushing to the theater (as it will in the case of the randy Chloe), but the noxious presence of Channing Tatum will keep me away from the awful Dear John. Can someone please explain Nicholas Sparks to me? He's still writing? Really? I'm sure it will suck, but From Paris With Love looks like a hell of a lot a fun. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is completely out of his depth, but Travolta is usually -- and counterintuitively -- rock-solid when he plays a bad ass. Does it get more matter of fact than Frozen? Kids get stranded in the cold and bad things ensue. There's your movie!
Weekend Movie Guide: Here's to you, Mr. Batman!
It's already a foregone conclusion that The Dark Knight will set some sort of record this weekend at the box-office. The only question is how much it will eventually make. 130 million bucks? 140 million? More? The buzz surrounding the film has been almost universally positive so expect a great time as you settle into your seat and enter the dark world of Batman and the Joker. Ledger's final performance is one for the ages.

