The summer's most anticipated film, Inception, over-performed at the box office to the tune of $60.4M to easily win the weekend box-office crown. While Nolan's dreamy action flick gets very wobbly in its last act, it is still the best big-budget movie of the summer season (mainly because of the great Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Last week's winner, Despicable Me, had a strong second weekend, piling on an additional $32.7M ($118.3M). The same can't be said for The Sorcerer's Apprentice which debuted to an expectedly weak $17.3M.
Box Office Review: Inception Performs Huge Extraction!
Box Office Review: What a Nightmare!
Hundreds of thousands of moronic, cud-chewing Americans paid good money to see the new A Nightmare on Elm Street this weekend, allowing the unnecessary remake to easily claim the box office crown ($32.2M). Recent powerhouse How to Train Your Dragon slipped to a distant second ($10.8M | $192.3M), but still easily managed to hold off both the funny-ish Date Night ($7.6M | $73.6M) and the horrifying The Back-up Plan ($7.2M | $22.9M). As expected, newcomer Furry Vengeance suffered through an awful debut ($6.5M).
Weekend Movie Guide: Please Go See Rebecca Hall!
Is there a more captivating actress right now than Rebecca Hall? She alone would get me into the theater to see Please Give. The fact that Catherine Keener and Oliver Platt join her and Nicole Holofcener directs makes it the easiest decision of the weekend. Did we really need another A Nightmare on Elm Street? Seems to me that Jackie Earle Hailey is just being asked to re-do his awesome Rorschach voice from Watchmen. Will there at least be tons of naked boobs? Roger Kumble continues his descent down the directorial ladder with Furry Vengeance. It's a shame because Cruel Intentions was some seriously nasty fun.
TV Junkie: 'Damages' Season(?) Finale
Tonight's season finale of "Damages" promises to be a nail-biter - we know where we'll be at 10pm. As it approaches, we wonder how there could possibly a third season after this, but that's the result of great writing. Unfortunately it's conflicting with the season premiere of "Reno 911!" but we take solace in the fact that it airs again later, because we're cheap that way.
Your Weekly LAist Film Calendar
Between special screenings, TV tapings & incestual industry conduct, filmmakers are a common appearance in this town. When the New Beverly hosts a filmmaker, it's truly special. Eclectic personalities take complete control of the theater's programming, spotlighting elements of their own work, their influences, or simply their favorite, lesser-known films. Previous hosts include Edgar Wright, Patton Oswalt, Joe Dante & Peter Bogdanovich, and now writer-director Rian Johnson has the slate. A new kid on the block compared to those names, Johnson's hard-boiled sleeper Brick is one of the most unique & enjoyable films of the last few years. His "Festival Of Fakery" (running through the end of February) features advance screenings of his new film, The Brothers Bloom, and a cadre of con men, criminals, thieves & scoundrels.
DVD Tuesday: Dark indeed!
While Heath Ledger seems assured of winning Best Supporting Actor at next year's Oscars (and should have won for and Colbert are both minor miracles in utterly different ways.
Box Office Review: Dark Knight again!
For an unprecedented fourth week in a row, , which pulled in $10.7M ($19.7M) despite the fact that none of the film's winsome co-stars had a topless scene.
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.
DVD Tuesday: Semi-funny
Will? Please make Anchorman 2 while you still can! | Photo courtesy of New Line Cinemas
TV Junkie: Big Wednesday
5:00pm CNN/You Tube Republican Debate CNN - Get ready to look at a bunch of middle-aged white guys, the one and only true face of the United States of America. 8:45pm The Wrong Box TCM - (1966) Two borthers try to outlive each other to get the contents of a cash hoard in Victorian London. Starring, among others: (Hello, my name is) Michael Caine, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Peter Sellers. TV Junkie Pick O' The...
Londonist's Top 10 Film-Related Brit List of 2006
Our pals at Londonist are the first to jump on the orgy of Best Of lists, so heres what they have to say... A list for LA? Got to be film related, but because we don't have a film industry anymore I've had to alternate between a great flick of 2006 (with a British connection) and an associated great Brit. Don't worry you'll see what I mean. So in reverse order: 10 - Steve...
TV Junkie: Hepburn; Big Losers; Top Models; Queens' King
Tonight - Wednesday "Funny Face" (TCM, 6:00 p.m.) Audrey Hepburn stars in this '57 musical comedy that features the dance sequence that the Gap has been using in their recent commercials "NHL Hockey" (PRIME, 7:00 p.m.) Predators @ Ducks "NBA Basketball" (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) Hornets @ Lakers "America's Next Top Model" (the CW, 8:00 p.m.) Season finale "The King of Queens" (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) Season premiere - back to back episodes "The Biggest...
Rodney finally gets his Star on the Walk of Fame
The white smoke slowly rose from atop the Angelyne billboard which meant the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce had decided who would get stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.
Angie Dickinson kicks butt at American Cinematheque
In between an Angie Dickinson double feature last night, the woman herself made an appearance and answered questions from a hoarde of enthusiastic male fans. At 75, the woman still has it; heck, she doesn't look a day over 50. (she may have had work done, but it's exceptionally good work).

