Thompson on Hollywood

Apparition Picks Up Boondock Saints II

Apparition's Bob Berney is adding another movie to his burgeoning release slate, which kicks off September 18 with Jane Campion's Toronto-bound period romance, Bright Star. The latest release is Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, set to open October 30, marking yet another distribution deal with Sony Worldwide Acquisitons Group, which also pacted with Apparition to release Black Dynamite. Other releases include Toronto closing nighter The Young Victoria and Terrence Malick’s The Tree Of Life, starring Sean Penn and Brad Pitt.

By Anne Thompson
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September 2, 2009 7:47 AM
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Tarantino Reviews There Will Be Blood, Sunshine, Taxi Driver

Brit Sky Movies gave Quentin Tarantino a shot at programming, and he reviews his selections. Not surprising if you've ever spent any time with him, the guy's a perceptive and engaging critic.

By Anne Thompson
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September 1, 2009 5:03 AM
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Los Angeles Blows Hot

It was bloody hot in L.A. Saturday. Film Threat's Chris Gore was among those who had to evacuate their homes as fires advanced. He tweeted:

By Anne Thompson
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August 30, 2009 7:42 AM
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Video: Obama Eulogizes Ted Kennedy

President Barack Obama delivers a heartfelt eulogy to Ted Kennedy, saying he was "the greatest legislator of our time."

By Anne Thompson
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August 30, 2009 6:47 AM
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Trailer Mash: Downfall Keeps on Giving

The scene where Hitler berates his officers in Downfall is the gift that keeps on giving. Here's the latest in a series of alternate subtitles to accompany Bruno Ganz's climactic tirade. The latest object of Hitler's wrath: the bad reaction to James Cameron's Avatar trailer:

By Anne Thompson
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August 28, 2009 5:33 AM
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Trailer Watch: Men Who Stare at Goats

Grant Heslov's comedy The Men Who Stare at Goats looks pretty funny, I must say. I love George Clooney in full-on dimwit mode (see: O Brother, Where Art Thou?). The film is based on non-fiction writer Jon Ronson's book of the same name about a special paranormal military unit.

By Anne Thompson
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August 28, 2009 4:28 AM
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Trailer Watch: Bullock Adapts Blind Side

Hollywood was bound to make a movie of Michael Lewis's non-fiction book The Blind Side. The question is, what kind? I wish Steven Soderbergh were directing this Lewis movie (as long as he's not doing Moneyball) because he would bring the clear-eyed authenticity that made both Erin Brockovich and Traffic Oscar winners instead of soapy high-minded morality tales.

By Anne Thompson
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August 24, 2009 4:13 AM
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Trailer Watch: Nolan's Inception Stars DiCaprio

The new website for Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan's Inception is up. Everything is genre these days. This looks like Matrix meets Shutter Island, which also stars DiCaprio. The scary thing about mind-movies--anything can happen, you don't know what the rules of reality are. Film Drunk has culled some plot points.

By Anne Thompson
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August 24, 2009 3:33 AM
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Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds Opens Strong

Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds opened strong Friday night, raking in an estimated $14.3 million. (We'll see how it holds.) Reviews were mixed, 69 on Metacritic. Richard Corliss, Roger Ebert and Jim Hoberman were thumbs up on this cinephile's fantasy, while Ken Turan, David Denby and Manohla Dargis were thumbs down on the slow-paced, often ridiculous alternative take on history. Here's New Yorker blogger Richard Brody and LA Weekly's Tarantino Q & A.. UPDATE: Looks like a $37-million opening, and great opening overseas, too. The film performed similarly to last weekend's District 9.

By Anne Thompson
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August 23, 2009 2:36 AM
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Avatar Day

James Cameron himself wasn't happy that the Avatar online trailer preceded the Avatar Day IMAX 3-D screenings on Friday. The reason that happened, according to Fox, is that the trailer went out at the same time as the first 10 AM screenings in New Zealand Tokyo on the other side of the world. It was a synchronous global release. The Apple site was so overwhelmed with clicks that it crashed at first. More than 4 million people streamed the Avatar trailer on that first day, breaking the prior record of 1.7 million set by Star Trek. So that was good news for Fox. Curiosity was high.