Thompson on Hollywood

Selick Talks with Laika Break Down UPDATE

News

Henry Selick is apparently in discussions with Laika to finance his stop-motion feature recently shut down by Disney (with newly appointed chairman Alan Horn deciding to take a $50 million write off reportedly because the tone was too dark and the production was moving far too slowly)...

By Bill Desowitz
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September 30, 2012 6:35 PM
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Arthouse Audit: All Quiet on the New Opener Front

Box Office

Following two weeks with outstanding new limited openings of anticipated Toronto premieres, this week offered only one new opening -- Film Arcade's "The Other Dream Team" -- with any traction in the market. At least ten other films opening in significant specialized theaters didn't even report grosses, suggesting very little business.

By Tom Brueggemann
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September 30, 2012 3:34 PM
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Weekend Box Office Top Ten: Originals and Innovative Marketing Rule UPDATE

Box Office

For the first weekend in a while, there's been a real uptick in business. The top ten films grossed $105 million, compared to last week's $71 million and $84 million a year ago. Led by two Sony releases in the top positions, followed by indie holdover "End of Watch," the wide range of films prove that outside-the-box production decisions can deliver --and broaden the kind of non-sequel, non-franchise series films that get made.

By Tom Brueggemann
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September 30, 2012 12:50 PM
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Hollywood Memoirs Past and Present: from Juicy Langella and Schwarzenegger to Keaton and Marshall

Reviews

Hollywood memoirs have been movie industry currency for decades. Recently there has been a flurry of books by aging actresses and actors. The newest is “My Mother Was Nuts” by Penny Marshall, which was published by Amazon on September 18th. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story,” which will be for sale in October, promises the whole truth about his affair with his housekeeper and the birth of their [now 14-year-old] son a week after his wife, Maria Shriver, gave birth to their fourth legitimate child.

By Aljean Harmetz
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September 29, 2012 4:29 PM
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Friday Box Office Top Ten: Original Films and Inventive Marketing Win

Box Office

For the first weekend in a while, there's been a real uptick in business. The top 10 films on Friday grossed over $30 million, compared to $23.5 million last Friday and $26 million a year ago. Led by two Sony releases in the top positions, followed by indie holdover "End of Watch," the wide range of films prove that outside-the-box production decisions can deliver --and broaden the kind of non-sequel, non-franchise series films that get made.

By Tom Brueggemann
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September 29, 2012 4:20 PM
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Wes Bentley and Brit Marling Join Malick Collaborator AJ Edwards' Lincoln Drama, 'The Green Blade Rises'

News

Wes Bentley and Brit Marling have boarded "The Green Blade Rises," about Abraham Lincoln's early years. The film, from writer-director AJ Edwards and producers Terrence Malick, Nicolas Gonda and Charley Beil, will also star Diane Kruger and Jason Clarke as Lincoln's step-mother and father. Bentley will play Lincoln's first teacher and Marling will play his biological mother.

By Sophia Savage
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September 28, 2012 5:10 PM
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Best of the Week: 'Life of Pi' Ecstatic Early Review, 'Looper' Opens, Interviews, Awards and More

News

This week on TOH!, we reviewed Ang Lee's NYFF opener and Oscar contender "Life of Pi," we got you ready for Rian Johnson's "Looper" with two interviews (Emily Blunt and VFX supervisor Karen Goulekas), we expounded on the virtues of Emmy-winning "Homeland" and much more!

By TOH!
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September 28, 2012 4:55 PM
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Inaugural First Time Fest Seeking Submissions, Announces John Huston Lifetime Achievement Prize

Festivals

A new film festival is seeking submissions for its inaugural event. First Time Fest will celebrate first time filmmakers and offer a Grand Prize of theatrical distribution. The festival will take place at New York City's Gramercy Park Players Club and the Loews Village VII theater from March 1-4, 2013. The festival states;

By Sophia Savage
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September 28, 2012 4:43 PM
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Oscar Talk: 'Life of Pi,' Best Actor Race

Awards

Oscar chances for Ang Lee's 3-D New York Film Festival opener "Life of Pi" was the main Oscar Talk discussion this week for Kris Tapley and me. We also dissected the Best Actor race, where it is now and who could enter the contenders list. Here's my "Life of Pi" review, a report from the press conference and a link to another streaming Lee Q & A.

By Anne Thompson
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September 28, 2012 4:00 PM
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Second Trailer for 'Silver Linings Playbook' is Adorable

Video

With this second trailer, a vast improvement over the first, the buzz out of Toronto for David O. Russell's "The Silver Linings Playbook" is starting to make sense. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence star and look fittingly neurotic and adorable. Check it out: