The Playlist

Weekend Box Office: 'Argo' Takes Top Slot As 'Cloud Atlas' And Other New Releases Crash & Burn

By Oliver Lyttelton
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October 28, 2012 12:48 PM
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5 Comments

Box Office

In one of the weakest weekends of the year which may yet get weaker thanks to the oncoming Frankenstorm (stay safe, East Coasters), the only real winner was Ben Affleck's "Argo." It's rare for a movie to make it to number one several weeks into release, but the actor/director's political thriller has had outstanding word of mouth, and though it dropped a touch more than its record-breaking hold last weekend, managed to rise up to the top with a $12.4 million haul. It's still the second-lowest number one of the year, but for a third week of release, still very strong numbers, and the film should carry on steaming towards $100 million, though the competition is going to be fiercer in the next few weeks.

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What Are You Seeing This Weekend? 'Cloud Atlas' & 'Chasing Mavericks' Ride The Wave Of New Movies In Theaters

By Emma Bernstein
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October 26, 2012 4:58 PM
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2 Comments

News

Here at The Playlist, we regularly express a variety of opinions in reviews, columns, and features, and now we'd like to encourage that opportunity among you, our faithful readers. We're launching a new format for "In Theaters" (let’s call it version 2.0), in which we’ll provide short summaries of the critical reactions to new releases so that you can easily determine your favorites in the bunch. We would love to hear any and all remarks about the films you'll be investing your hard-earned cash in (or not) each weekend. So, please, comment away!

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5 Obscure Sports Films That Will Get You Wetter Than 'Chasing Mavericks'

By Oliver Lyttelton
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October 26, 2012 2:42 PM
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6 Comments

Features

This weekend sees the Gerard Butler-starring, Curtis Hanson-directed surfing picture "Chasing Mavericks" sneak unheralded into theaters, joining a relatively small but illustrious list of surfing movies. Not many fringe sports have been as lucky as to have movies like "Big Wednesday," "Point Break" and "Riding Giants" focused on them, of the relatively few that have been made.

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Review: 'Chasing Mavericks' Drowns Under A Crushing Wave Of Moroseness & Melodrama

By Drew Taylor
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October 25, 2012 3:35 PM
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3 Comments

Reviews

One of the first things we see in "Chasing Mavericks," a mostly uninspiring surfing drama starring Gerard Butler, his lumpy face framed by strands of willowy wet hair, are the words "Based on a True Story." But the true story behind the scenes of "Chasing Mavericks" is almost as compelling as what made it onto the screen – Butler was hospitalized in a surfing stunt gone wrong (one that left the star nearly dead according to some reports) and the film's original director, "L.A. Confidential" helmer Curtis Hanson, had to leave the project following heart surgery ("Gorillas in the Mist" director Michael Apted was called in to finish the film; the two filmmakers share credit, in an atypical DGA decision). The fact that you can't see the Frankenstein stitches used to sew the film together is a testament to the cleverness of the editorial team, but it also speaks volumes about the interchangeable blandness of the movie.

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'90s Alterna-Heavy Soundtrack For 'Chasing Mavericks' Features Dinosaur Jr, Lemonheads, Mazzy Star, Butthole Surfers & More

By Kevin Jagernauth
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October 16, 2012 11:38 AM
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0 Comments

News

If you're gonna do it, then do it right. That seems to be the driving force behind the decisions on the soundtrack for the upcoming surfing drama "Chasing Mavericks." Telling the true story of surfer Jay Moriarity who rode the waves and climbed to fame during the '90s, the tunes for the film are appropriately pulled from college radio, providing a pretty fierce flashback of sorts for anyone who came of age in the era of grunge and flannel.

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Watch: Gerard Butler Gets Wet In Trailer For 'Chasing Mavericks'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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July 26, 2012 2:39 PM
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4 Comments

News

So are uplifting yet tragic surfing movies a thing now? Last year we got "Soul Surfer," the true story of a young woman who gets attacked by a shark while out on the water, loses an arm, finds God, and gets back on the board. And now, we're getting another wholesome slice of sadness in the form of "Chasing Mavericks," a movie that will make you feel good before dropping some heaviness on y'all.

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Michael Apted Will Replace Ailing Curtis Hanson For Last Few Weeks Of Surfing Drama 'Of Men And Mavericks'

By Ryan Sartor
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November 28, 2011 12:05 PM
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4 Comments

News

It’s hard to tell if a filmmaker is in 'Director Jail' or if he just doesn’t feel like working. After the critical and commercial misfire “Lucky You,” Curtis Hanson (“L.A. Confidential,” “Wonder Boys,” “8 Mile”) didn’t have much going on. Then 2011 came around, and he made the well-received HBO Wall Street docudrama “Too Big To Fail,” and began filming, only a few weeks ago, the Gerard Butler surfer movie, “Of Men and Mavericks.”

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John McClane Returns For 'A Good Day To Die Hard' On February 14, 2013

By Kevin Jagernauth
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October 12, 2011 6:04 AM
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4 Comments

'Taken 2' Reloads On October 5, 2012 Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker. If you're a fan of John McClane or things blowing up in general, get ready, because the long in development "Die Hard 5" is now officially titled "A Good Day To Die Hard" and it will be the date movie of choice on Thursday, February 14, 2013.

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Elisabeth Shue & Abigail Spencer Join Curtis Hanson's Newly Named 'Of Men And Mavericks'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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October 4, 2011 3:27 AM
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1 Comment

"Of Men And Mavericks"? Really? We're not sure we dig the title change given to Curtis Hanson's surfing pic formally known simply as "Mavericks" -- it makes it sound like an English lit movie -- but there is no denying the talent on board.

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'All My Children' & 'Hunger Games' Star Leven Rambin Joins Curtis Hanson’s ‘Mavericks’

By Kevin Jagernauth
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September 20, 2011 7:00 AM
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4 Comments

It looks like things are definitely on this rise for the young actress Leven Rambin. Previously best known for her role as Ava Benton on "All My Children," Rambin received a profile boost earlier this year when she was cast as Glimmer in "The Hunger Games," and it looks like her career continues to snowball into greater things.

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