Thompson on Hollywood

Weekend Preview: Almodovar's The Skin I Live In is Best Bet of Disappointing Openings

While it may not be his greatest film, The Skin I Live In is still essential viewing for any Pedro Almodovar fan. Just gazing at stars Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya and the gorgeous sets within this beyond-twisted melodrama is worth the ticket price. Given the star power spread across the other films on offer, you'd think there was much to look forward to, but critics are grasping at straws trying to say positive things about the likes of Fireflies in The Garden (Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe), Trespass (Nicole Kidman, Nicholas Cage), Universal's remake of The Thing (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Joel Edgerton) and The Big Year (Jack Black, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson). Ami Canaan Mann's (Michael Mann's daughter) gritty debut Texas Killing Fields, inspired by actual events, is boosted by a strong cast (Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Chloe Moretz). But it's a wasted opportunity; promising moments are weakened by an uninspired script and clumsy construction. Believe it or not, the Footloose remake is making critics tap their feet.

By Sophia Savage
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October 13, 2011 5:43 AM
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Brothers Grimm: Snow White Stills Diminish Hope in Relativity's Family Flick

The more we learn about Relativity's The Brothers Grimm: Snow White, the less excited we become. This "family friendly" take on Snow White (with Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer), versus Universal's edgier (or so they want us to think). The Brothers Grimm: Snow White, is directed by Tarsem Singh, and will be first out of the gate on March 16, 2012. Rupert Sanders' Snow White and the Huntsman (with Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth) is in theaters July 1.

By Sophia Savage
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October 12, 2011 6:33 AM
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Long-Delayed Fireflies in the Garden, Starring Julia Roberts, Finally Gets October Release

Back in 2007 when Julia Roberts was tributed by the American Cinematheque, they screened a clip from her upcoming midwest family drama Fireflies in the Garden. The film debuted in 2008 at the Berlin Film Festival and was released around the world (Tomatometer: 28%). Four years later, finally, after the film was extricated from the financial quagmire of Senator Entertainment, a never-before-seen director's cut of Fireflies will be self-distributed to stateside theaters in four major cities on October 14, with Roberts looking fresher than she has in years and Ryan Reynolds a much bigger star. “I am so pleased our film will finally get a theatrical release in the U.S.,” said rookie writer-director Dennis Lee. “Anyone familiar with our story knows the road to this moment has been paved with challenges. It’s not lost on me how much care and determination it took to bring Fireflies to light. I am so grateful for all the support I’ve received.”

By Anne Thompson
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August 25, 2011 5:40 AM
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The Sell-Out Failures of Oscar Winners

Entertainment blog Grantland's "made-up entertainment-related statistics" department trashes Oscar-winners who cash in on boffo box-office paydays in often second-rate studio features. We're not sure if potential embarrassment outweighs the paychecks these stars receive, but Grantland makes a valid career query:"2011's bumper crop of sequels, remakes, and general schlock has built swimming pools in the backyards of some of our most revered [Oscar winning] actors. But at what cost to their dramatic cred? Exactly how much of the shine have they taken off their Academy Awards? And which actor did the most damage this year?"

By Sophia Savage
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July 11, 2011 7:52 AM
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Weekend Box Office: 3-D Transformers 3 Breaks Records, Larry Crowne Fizzles

The weekend box office brings back event 3-D with Michael Bay's Transformers 3's $372 million worldwide so far (UPDATE: six day worldwide total was $379 million), and puts major movie stars on notice that they'd better deliver high quality if they want to target adults: Tom Hanks may have bitten off more than he could handle by co-writing, producing, directing and starring in Larry Crowne, an old-fashioned romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts which has totaled just $13 million (UPDATE: four day total was $15.7 million). Anthony D'Alessandro reports:

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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July 3, 2011 4:23 AM
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Transformers 3 Set to Slaughter 2-D Field; Plus Terri, Aurora, Perfect Host, Uninspired Larry Crowne

Michael Bay's Transformers: Dark of the Moon, in all its 3-D glory, is going to score huge and remind us that good acting doesn't always accompany box office success. The visual payoff, especially in IMAX 3-D, is worth the ticket price, and reinstates 3-D as a positive cinematic achievement after months of disappointments. One critic speculates: “One gets the feeling that if [director Michael] Bay could stop including people in his films altogether we’d all have a much better time with this franchise.” Tom Hanks' adult-targeted counterprogrammer Larry Crowne, despite having America's Sweetheart (Julia Roberts) and America's Other Sweetheart (Hanks himself), is having a hard time convincing anyone it's worthwhile. The WSJ's John Anderson says: "You wonder who thought any of this was funny."

By Sophia Savage
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July 1, 2011 5:35 AM
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Long-Running Ron Meyer Wins Universal Game of Survivor; More Changes in Store?

As I predicted, Ron Meyer has won the NBC Universal game of survival. The wily ex-CAA partner has successfully run Universal Pictures as president and COO through three owners over 16 years. While former NBC Universal president and CEO Jeff Zucker is gone, Meyer remains. Hollywood's longest-running studio chief has signed a new contract to continue as President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Studios. He will remain with the company at least through through 2015 and he will continue to report to Comcast CEO Steve Burke. He joined Universal in August 1995.

By Anne Thompson
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June 27, 2011 9:00 AM
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Dueling Snow Whites: Relativity Shoots First with No Title, Universal's Huntsman Gets Rewrite

Relativity may be first out of the gate in the dueling Snow White competition, but they could also be the first to crash and burn.

By Sophia Savage
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June 15, 2011 7:40 AM
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Dueling Snow Whites: Relativity's Grimm vs. Universal's Huntsman, The Casts So Far

UPDATE: One point for Relativity's untitled Snow White! Finally, some good news for the film comes in the form of Sean Bean. He will play the King whose kingdom is destroyed by the Evil Queen (Julia Roberts). Relativity is now touting this as a family-friendly Snow White, since they already know Universal's Snow White and the Huntsman is going to outdo them in the creative edge department. The film is currently shooting in Montreal.

By Sophia Savage
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May 27, 2011 11:40 AM
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Relativity Moves Up Untitled Snow White Ahead of Universal's Snow White and the Huntsman

In a dangerous game of chicken between dueling Snow White projects, Relativity Media is moving up Tarsem Singh's untitled Snow White film to March 16 from June 29, 2012, jumping ahead of Universal, which had pushed forward its $160 million Snow White and the Huntsman, directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth, to June 1 from December 2012. Neither film is even under way as yet.