Box Office
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1 (70 comments)
Fairy tales came true as mothers and daughters powered the animated film The Princess and the Frog to the number one spot in its first weekend of nationwide release. But the frame's only other wide opener, Clint Eastwood's Nelson Mandela drama Invictus, suffered a soft debut in third place. Overall, the North American box office remained ahead of the same frame from a year ago as 2009 continued on its record pace towards shattering the $10 billion mark for the first time ever.
Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Blind Side Takes the Lead (29 comments)
This weekend audiences across North America cheered on Sandra Bullock as she defeated all her opponents to clinch the number one spot at the box office with her runaway hit drama The Blind Side which spent the last two weeks in second place. Flip flopping positions, The Twilight Saga: New Moon finished in the runnerup spot while new releases were met with moderate to dismal results. It was typical for the frame as the weekend after the Thanksgiving holiday session always sees huge declines and unimpressive openings from new titles. But overall, the marketplace remained strong with sales up double digits over last year and 2007. Crowd favorite Sandra Bullock scored her second number one of the year with The Blind Side which climbed from second to first place with an estimated $20.4M for a relatively light 49% decline.
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Vampires and Football Break Thanksgiving Records (43 comments)
Audiences feasted on leftovers and drove the North American box office to a new record for the busy Thanksgiving holiday frame. Moviegoers were almost evenly split been vampire love and football heroics as The Twilight Saga: New Moon remained at number one while Sandra Bullock's The Blind Side held steady in second place with just $2.4M separating the two. That was a far cry from the $108.7M gap between the pair last weekend when they both opened as Twilight tumbled and Blind Side rose this weekend. The disaster film 2012 placed third as no new release managed to make it into the top three. The Top 20 over Thanksgiving weekend has consistently delivered $150-160M over the last six years but this time it soared to $181M, a new industry high.
RT on DVD
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Inglourious Basterds and a Hangover (9 comments)
This week on home video, we've got a bizarre combination of interests represented by new releases. With the holiday season in full swing, what better gift to give than... a Quentin Tarantino movie? Sure, why not? It got pretty great reviews, and it's the most acclaimed new release on deck this week. But if fantastical, talky, WWII-era war films aren't your thing, then perhaps you'll go for an over-the-top buddy comedy, or maybe a group of talking CGI guinea pigs. Still not your bag? Well, alright, then we've got a collection from a comedy legend, some eccentric animation, a documentary on a winning sports team, and a beloved sci-fi franchise. And, if all else fails, there's always a prosthetic penis to complete the holiday mood.
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Harry Potter and Public Enemies (13 comments)
This week on home video, it's all about Harry Potter. The franchise's sixth installment comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray this week, but that's not all. Warner Home Video is also releasing "Ultimate Editions" of the first two films, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which are jampacked with new special features. But if HP and the gang aren't your thang, then there are several other new releases, from Public Enemies to The Cove, a couple of oldies but goodies, a limited edition box set for a popular TV show, and a workout video (yeah, you read that right). Peruse this week's column and see if you'll be picking up any of these choice selections.
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Terminator Salvation and a Smithsonian Battle (22 comments)
Pickings are indeed slim this week for new releases on home video. While we have the requisite new releases, which include a couple of major pictures that opened earlier this year (Terminator Salvation and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian) and a couple of lesser-known flicks (Paper Heart and A Christmas Tale), the offerings were decidedly lacking in terms of special editions and newly packaged items. As such, we've decided to profile a handful of Blu-Ray reissues of films we already know and love (well, most of us, anyway), like Gremlins, The Mask of Zorro, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Check out our complete list and see what tickles your fancy this week!
Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus: Princess, Invictus Are Certified Fresh (21 comments)
This week at the movies, we've got a Southern-fried fairy tale (The Princess and the Frog, with voice work from Anika Noni Rose and Keith David) and inspiration through rugby (Invictus, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon). What do the critics have to say? The Princess and the Frog has gotten plenty of notice for two reasons: it marks Disney's return to traditional cel animation, and it features an African American heroine. However, critics say that it's also a rousing, heart-warming, and likable (though somewhat predictable) movie that works on its own. Sure, Invictus is yet another inspirational sports film, but critics say Clint Eastwood's drama about how sports helped heal South Africa is a strong, well-crafted entry in the genre.
Critics Consensus: Everybody's Fine Is Just OK (50 comments)
This week at the movies, we've got a fractured family (Everybody's Fine, starring Robert De Niro and Drew Barrymore); a sibling rivalry (Brothers, starring Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal); an inside job (Armored, starring Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne); and vampire hilarity (Transylmania, starring Patrick Cavanaugh and James DeBello). What do the critics have to say? Sometimes a film contains such good acting that one is willing to overlook its other faults. One example might be Jim Sheridan's Brothers, a film critics say often works despite being frequently overwrought. Robert De Niro has an intensity and presence that shines through even when he's not playing Travis Bickle/Jake La Motta types. And critics say his measured performance is easily the best thing about Everybody's Fine.
Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin (47 comments)
This week at the movies, we've got martial arts mayhem (Ninja Assassin, starring Rain and Naomie Harris); family-friendly hi jinks (Old Dogs, starring John Travolta and Robin Williams); and a post-apocalyptic trek (The Road, starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron). What do the critics have to say? It seems that the latest collaboration between the Wachowski brothers (The Matrix Trilogy) and James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) is a bit of a dud, and that the Travolta-Williams pairing in Old Dogs fails to work very effectively, despite the pedigree of its stars. It may be left up to The Road to be the most solid choice at the movies this week, but we'll let you decide for yourselves.
Total Recall
Total Recall: Keith David's Best Movies (82 comments)
You may not know his name, but you almost certainly recognize his face -- and you might even know his voice too: Since the early 1980s, Keith David has been one of the most prolific actors in the business, scoring roles in a dizzying array of films, lending his voice to cartoons and videogames, and even singing when he feels like it. Heck, he even popped up on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood during the 1980s, appearing as Keith the Southwood Carpenter. You've heard of "that guy" status for actors? That's Keith David in a nutshell -- and since you'll be hearing his voice in The Princess and the Frog this weekend, we thought now would be the perfect time to give this ubiquitous thespian the Total Recall treatment!
Total Recall: Natalie Portman's Best Movies (83 comments)
Child actors are notorious for fizzling out once their prepubescent charms disappear during adolescence, or once they discover the various vices of the adult world, and it seems to be the rare case when a young starlet can overcome these hurdles and transition successfully into a career of grownup roles. Natalie Portman is one such success story: after making her debut as a 12-year-old in Luc Besson's Leon The Professional, Portman gradually took on more adult roles until she was playing everything from a young, widowed mother (Cold Mountain) to an emotionally manipulative stripper (Closer). This week, she stars alongside Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal in the family drama Brothers, so we felt it was the right time to take a look back at the extensive filmography of this young star to determine Natalie Portman's Best Movies.
Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies (97 comments)
Some actors are lucky enough to make the jump from television to film stardom. Some are lucky enough to get their careers back on track after falling off the A-list. But how many stars have been able to do both -- and walk away virtually unscathed from the flaming wreckage of Battlefield Earth in the bargain? Only John Travolta, ladies and gentlemen. Travolta buddies up with Robin Williams in this weekend's Old Dogs, which inspired us to take a look back at a filmography far more varied than you might remember. Dramas? Comedies? Thrillers? Cartoons? Heck, Travolta's done 'em all -- and he's been doing it for more than 30 years, too. It's high time he got the Total Recall treatment, wouldn't you say?
Weekly Ketchup
Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage (33 comments)
This week's Ketchup includes a remake of Fantastic Planet, a crazy Spider-Man 4 rumor, new roles for Natalie Portman, Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston and yet more movies riding the coattails of The Twilight Saga.
Weekly Ketchup: Tron Team to Remake The Black Hole (37 comments)
This week's Ketchup include news of plans to remake The Amityville Horror (again) and Disney's The Black Hole, a new project for acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson and new roles for Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gwyneth Paltrow and one of the stars of The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D? (29 comments)
Hollywood has mostly taken the week off for Thanksgiving, so that they can all enjoy their vegan turduckens down by the pool, no doubt. Nature abhors a vacuum however (even Hollywood follows MOST of the laws of physics), and so even in a light week there's still news to report, such as franchise news for Zombieland, Kull and The Howling, and casting news for The A-Team, UFO and Thor.
What the Hell Happened To...
What The Hell Happened To ... Cuba Gooding Jr.? (86 comments)
This week, Rotten Tomatoes turns its gaze upon the once promising, now perplexing career of a certain boat-tripping, dog-sledding Oscar winner in hopes of pinpointing just where things went wrong. So what the hell happened to Cuba Gooding Jr.?
What The Hell Happened To Shannon Elizabeth? (101 comments)
In our second installment of What The Hell Happened To... we again turn to the Tomatometer to chart the rise and fall of a once-promising Hollywood talent. [To read our inaugural assessment of Wesley Snipes, click here.] What will the Tomatometer tell us, and is there any remedy for Shannon Elizabeth?
What The Hell Happened To Wesley Snipes? (103 comments)
In the first part of a new Rotten Tomatoes feature, we examine the career ups and downs of our favorite fallen celebrities -- as charted by the Tomatometer, of course, and with only the best of intentions in mind.
Five Favorite Films
Five Favorite Films with Keith David (13 comments)
Whether you realize it or not, you probably already know who actor Keith David is, even if his name is not immediately familiar. Are you a fan of John Carpenter's cult classic films The Thing and They Live? Have you seen any of Ken Burns' documentaries on PBS? Did you grow up watching the popular animated television series Gargoyles? And more recently, have you played such blockbuster video games as Mass Effect, Halo 2 or 3, or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you know who Keith David is.
Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington (55 comments)
Audiences down under have been familiar with Australian actor Sam Worthington for a few years now, but for the rest of the world it's almost as though the guy appeared out of nowhere. This year he's already starred in Terminator Salvation (some critics suggesting he was the best thing about the film), and will soon headline 2010's amped-up remake of Clash of the Titans. Then, of course, there's his pivotal role in arguably 2009's most anticipated film -- James Cameron's 3-D sci-fi epic Avatar. So just how did this little-known actor become the planet's go-to action guy? Maybe it's got something to do with his taste in movies...
Five Favorite Films with Jason Reitman (57 comments)
It's no secret that director Jason Reitman comes from an established Hollywood pedigree, and while his father, Ivan Reitman (Stripes, Ghostbusters), is remembered most for his iconic 80s comedies, Jason is well on his way to making a similar name for himself with his edgy comedies of the aughts. Reitman burst onto the big screen in 2004 with a critically acclaimed satire, Thank You for Smoking, then followed that up in 2007 with the quirky, indie comedy Juno. The latter went on to win various awards, including the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for newcomer Diablo Cody's pop-slang heavy script, and jumpstarted the career of its diminutive, sharp-tongued star, Ellen Page. This week, Reitman's latest effort, the George Clooney-powered Up in the Air, opens in limited release, and we were lucky enough to sit down with Jason for a friendly chat about his Five Favorite Films and his personal Tomatometer.
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