Thompson on Hollywood

Weekend Box Office: Inception Beats Dinner for Schmucks, Charlie St. Cloud

In its third go-round, Inception, buoyed by repeat business, continued to stave off all challengers, including the comedy Dinner for Schmucks, which scored a robust $23.3 million, and the Zac Efron weepy Charlie St. Cloud and animated sequel Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, which were both DOA. Anthony D'Alessandro does the numbers.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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August 1, 2010 4:08 AM
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Box Office: Inception Beats Out Salt on Boffo Summer Weekend

Having already passed the $100-million mark, Inception and Leonardo DiCaprio beat out box office challenger Salt and Angelina Jolie this weekend, reports Anthony D'Alessandro. It was an embarrassment of riches at the weekend box office, as two films led by stars, Leonardo DiCaprio’s Inception and Angelina Jolie’s Salt, racked up $43.5 million and $36.5 million respectively. Clearly both original pictures leaned on serious star power to launch their franchises, during a time when box office analysts have been questioning whether stars mean much these days. Inception had a remarkably small slip for a tentpole film of just 31%. Typically an actioner will halve its ticket sales in its second frame, but Inception's complex plot inspires moviegoer debate--and lots of repeat business.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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July 25, 2010 4:26 AM
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Comic-Con: Whedon Confirms Avengers, Inception Passes $ 100 Million, Warner Bros. Does Dan Dare

Joss Whedon has confirmed that he is directing The Avengers. The beloved sci-fi writer-director revealed this nugget of info--which everyone already knew--at a Comic-Con EW interview with colleague J. J. Abrams. The two men joked about their nerd tendencies before Whedon said, "That is not an official thing because I think Marvel couldn't afford a press release. So can I just make that an official thing? I'm directing The Avengers." He also claimed, "It's just a gig."

By Cameron Carlson
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July 23, 2010 3:17 AM
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Weekend Box Office: Inception Launches Strong, Sorcerer's Apprentice Flops

Proving yet again that originality does not breed contempt at the box office, Christopher Nolan's Inception scored a strong opening weekend with $60 million, while Disney uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer suffered his second b.o. dud this summer with Sorcerer's Apprentice. Anthony D'Alessandro does the numbers:

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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July 18, 2010 3:50 AM
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Oscar Talk: Inception, Comic-Con, Summer Contenders

In another summer Oscar Talk, Kris Tapley and I discuss lingering questions on Inception and first-wave internet criticism. Spoilers beware!

By Anne Thompson
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July 16, 2010 8:00 AM
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Next Wave of Inception Reviews: Less Effusive

One sign of a movie worth seeing more than once is that you also want to read more than one review. Rarely have I been more compelled to read what my respected colleagues have to say about a new film. Now that those reviews are pouring in, Inception's Rotten Tomatoes ranking among "top critics" has fallen to 87--which is a very high number, by the way. Most Oscar contenders rank in the 80s.

By Anne Thompson
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July 15, 2010 2:26 AM
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New York Magazine Blows Inception's Rave Review Record

Expect an Inception backlash. Warner Bros.' marketing pattern is to launch a big movie's buzz with the internet press and trades, then let the established print critics (who tend to be tougher on films) have at it closer to release. And so the inevitable negative review from New York's David Edelstein breaks Inception's 17 for 17 record on Rotten Tomatoes.

By Anne Thompson
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July 12, 2010 5:01 AM
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Inception Featurette Clips

By Anne Thompson
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July 8, 2010 6:38 AM
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Inception's Joseph Gordon-Levitt Walks on Ceilings

Joseph Gordon-Levitt graces the August cover of Details magazine. He talks about the intense training required to play his character (The Point Man) in Inception; his abiding love for smoking weed; his creative collaboration website hitRECord; and the "most valiant" thing one can do as an artist: "inspire someone else to be creative."

By Sophia Savage
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July 6, 2010 10:15 AM
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Inception Early Reviews Are Raves

After the breach of the preset review embargo by Rolling Stone's Peter Travers, who was allowed to run early in print but not online--Warner Bros. took a different approach to opening the gates to coverage of the much-anticipated Inception. In a sign that studios are ceding ground to online sites over the traditional trades, on Monday afternoon, the trades shared the same embargo with key fan sites and Oscar bloggers. The junket press saw the film in L.A. last weekend; I saw it with the trades and Oscar bloggers on Friday (and posted my review at exactly 3 PM Pacific).