Thompson on Hollywood

Arthouse Audit: 'Moonrise Kingdom' Conquers More Box Office; Specialized Success of The Year

Box Office

The news this week is in the expanding films. Two huge hits-- a phenomenal second week for Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" and more success for "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"-- joined with two other decently grossing expansions-- "Intouchables" and "Bernie"-- to provide an even better early June than last year.

By Tom Brueggemann
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June 3, 2012 2:55 PM
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EXCLUSIVE: Kevin Spacey, Whiskey and Sending the Elevator Back Down

Features

Less than a year ago, Benjamin Leavitt moved to Austin, Texas. An aspiring filmmaker, Leavitt was looking to get back into the world of narrative film, but had few connections in his new home city. Tonight, eight months later, he'll attend the premiere of his new film "The Ventriloquist" at High Line Stages in New York's meatpacking district.

By Jacob Combs
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June 3, 2012 1:14 PM
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Weekend Box Office: 'Snow White and the Huntsman' Surpasses Universal's Lowball Projections

Box Office

Universal’s “Snow White and the Huntsman” cast its spell on the weekend box office as it flew past early projections. The fantasy action-adventure film racked up an estimated $56.3 million to easily capture the top spot. Heading into the session most observers had “Snow White” opening in the $40 to $45 million range.

By Brian Fuson
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June 3, 2012 1:06 PM
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Weekly Wrap: Cannes Reviews, Oscar Talk is Back, Trailer Watch, and Industry News

News

Weekend Preview - it's slim pickings ahead but we steer you right. We give "Snow White and the Huntsman" a review and review round-up: it wants to everything it's not. Our review and review round-up for Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" in case you're planning ahead, this one promises stunning eye candy.

By TOH!
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June 2, 2012 8:17 PM
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Waging War Against Texting in Theaters and 10 Other Things I Learned at CinemaCon

News

The latest salvo in an ongoing war against texting in theaters started at a CinemaCon panel I moderated in Las Vegas with Sony vice-chairman Jeff Blake, Regal Entertainment CEO Amy Miles, "Fast & Furious" producer Neal Moritz, IMAX president Greg Foster and Alamo Drafthouse chief Tim League.

By Anne Thompson
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June 1, 2012 6:41 PM
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Trailers from Hell: Bernard Rose on Ken Russell's 'The Music Lovers'

Video

Today from Trailers from Hell, Bernard Rose guides us through Ken Russell's big-budget film ballet "The Music Lovers."

By Trailers From Hell
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June 1, 2012 2:59 PM
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Kathleen Kennedy Joins Lucasfilm as Co-Chair, In Line to Take Over When Lucas Moves On

News

George Lucas has been running his Bay area Lucasfilm empire, which includes not only his production company but VFX house Industrial Light and Magic, post-production facility Skywalker Sound, LucasArts Games and all the various publishing and television/video spin-offs that the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" franchises have spawned, for some 30 years. In other words it's a huge enterprise to manage, and finally, Lucas has come up with an exit strategy.

By Anne Thompson
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June 1, 2012 2:33 PM
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Which Fall Films Will Land at Venice? Michael Mann President of Jury; Fest Directors On the Move

Festivals

One Cannes hot topic: which fall films will show at Venice, Telluride, New York or Toronto on the fest circuit that kicks off award season? Harvey Weinstein showed footage from two key titles, Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master," starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, and David O. Russell's comedy "The Silver Linings Playbook," starring Bradley Cooper.

By Anne Thompson
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June 1, 2012 1:39 PM
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Weekend Preview: Slim Pickings Ahead

Features

There aren't many fresh choices at the box office this weekend. Critics deem "Snow White and The Huntsman," "For Greater Glory" and "High School" misfires, while first-person Israel/Palestine documentary and SXSW breakout "5 Broken Cameras" is the weekend standout. Oscar-nominated French animation "A Cat in Paris" lands (with a new English-language voice cast) for families to enjoy and the underappreciated Josh Lucas returns with "Hide Away." Check out trailers and reviews below:

By Sophia Savage
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June 1, 2012 1:27 PM
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Review: Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus' Offers Eye-Popping 'Alien' Origin Myth

Reviews

Ridley Scott’s return to the genre that forged his reputation as a visionary stylist arrives weighed down by expectations it was always going to struggle to match, let alone surpass. "Prometheus" contains neither the taut, visceral chills of "Alien" nor ground-breaking aesthetic of "Blade Runner" but does bite off some colossal themes.