Box Office: ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Triumphs Over ‘The Happytime Murders’, Melissa McCarthy’s Lowest Ever Debut

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August 26, 2018

1. Crazy Rich Asians– $25M/$76.8M
A slow weekend for new releases really played into a tremendous second weekend for Crazy Rich Asians. The film fell a near-record low 5.7%, the 4th smallest second-weekend drop for a movie that opened in over 3000 theaters. How and why this happened is pretty simple. It’s super rare that a major Hollywood film gets targeted at the Asian audience, and this one already had a built-in fanbase due to the bestselling novel. The result is an event experience that’s like Black Panther on a much smaller scale. With an adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s followup novel China Rich Girlfriend already in the works, we could be looking at the first blockbuster rom-com franchise since….when was the last one? I don’t even remember. Bridget Jones’ Diary?
2. The Meg– $13M/$105.3M
Not to dwell on this too much but The Meg has $408M worldwide, which is more than Solo: A Star Wars Story by a healthy margin. Just sayin’.
3. The Happytime Murders (review)- $10M
I may not have dug The Happytime Murders all that much, but I wanted Brian Henson’s raunchy puppet noir-comedy to succeed. Unfortunately, that’s not the case and the $40M film opened with just $10M, which is an all-time low for a Melissa McCarthy starring vehicle. Oof. I don’t really know what should have been expected. The R-rated film blew its load in the promos (literally in some cases), and there simply wasn’t much left that was very funny. The reviews were terrible, there wasn’t a lot of buzz even for a McCarthy movie, and I expect this will plummet out of the top 10 next week. Or come close to it, anyway.
4. Mission: Impossible-Fallout- $8M/$193.9M
5. Disney’s Christopher Robin– $6.3M/$77.6M
6. Mile 22– $6M/$25.1M
Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg’s actioner Mile 22 slid 56% for $6M in its second weekend. That’s not great, but it’s made worse by the low opening weekend. At a cost of roughly $50M this one is going to need help overseas, but with Iko Uwais in the cast I think it should turn out alright. We’ll see.
7. Alpha – $5.6M/$20.1M
Eh, the 45% drop for the genuinely good survival drama Alpha isn’t awful by any means. I think the strong reviews may have helped out in that regard. However, it’s another case of a weak debut really hamstringing future prospects.
8. BlacKkKlansman- $5.3M/$32M
9. A.X.L.– $2.9M
It’s been a REALLY bad summer for movies about dogs, and the weakest performer of them all is A.X.L., about a boy and his robot canine companion. The film opened to just $2.9M and is the third straight flop this year for fledgling distributor Global Road after Midnight Sun and…wait for it…Show Dogs.
10. Slender Man– $2.7M/$25.4M

The Russo Brothers To Direct Post-Iraq War Crime Drama ‘Cherry’ After ‘Avengers 4’

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John Nolan

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August 26, 2018

When Joe and Anthony Russo first hooked up with Marvel Studios few had ever heard of them. They had directed two features, the little-seen George Clooney comedy Welcome to Collinwood and You, Me, and Dupree with Owen Wilson. It was a gamble setting them on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but it was a risk that paid off in spades. They’re now gearing up for their fourth Marvel film, Avengers 4, which will also be their final one before fully focusing on their fledging studio, AGBO. And as part of that, the Russos have decided on the next film they’ll direct.

Deadline reports the Russos have bid a whopping $1M to win the rights to Cherry, the upcoming novel by first-time author Nico Walker. The story follows the author’s real-life journey as an Army medic who returned from the Iraq War with severe undiagnosed PTSD, got hooked on opioid and turned to robbing banks as a way to cope. Walker was eventually caught and convicted, and isn’t due to be released until 2020.

The Russos plan to make this the next film they will direct once Avengers 4 is completed. The Cherry script will be penned by Jessica Goldberg, a writer who is working on multple projects for AGBO so the Russos clearly have a lot of faith in her. They outbid many of the major studios to get this one, including Warner Bros. who had James Franco and Stronger screenwriter John Pollono onboard. But the Russos feel a personal connection to Walker’s story, having grown up near where Walker did in Cleveland, and having known others who have succumbed to opioid addiction.

This is obviously a total gear shift for the Russos, but how much you want to bet they rifle through that Marvel rolodex when it comes time to start casting?

Emma Watson In, Emma Stone Out Of Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’

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John Nolan

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August 25, 2018

Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women got put together pretty quickly, with a star-studded cast announced right from day one. Meryl Streep, Emma Stone, Saoirse Ronan, and Timothee Chalamet were on board from the start, making this a group any director would be lucky to have. However, scheduling conflicts are driving Stone out, and she’s been replaced by someone that’s a little bit ironic.

According to Variety, Stone’s promotional obligations on awards season hopeful The Favorite will prevent her from a role in Gerwig’s film. In talks to replace her? Emma Watson, who will step in just in time as Sony plans for production to begin next month. It’s unclear which of the March sisters she will play as that’s still being decided. Check out IMDB and they claim it’s Meg March, though.

So why the irony? Following his success on Whiplash, director Damian Chazelle moved ahead on his L.A. musical, La La Land, and originally he wanted Emma Watson to star alongside Miles Teller. Obviously, that didn’t happen for a number of reasons, scheduling being one of them. Now the situations are reversed.

‘Lost’ Actor Dominic Monaghan Reteam With JJ Abrams On ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’

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John Nolan

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August 25, 2018

I feel like this is old news but a sweep tells me I’m wrong, but looks like there’s going to be a Lost reunion over on Star Wars: Episode 9. Dominic Monaghan will be re-teaming with Lost creator JJ Abrams on the film, having made the reveal during a chat with Deadline.

“The galaxy far, far away has had almost as much influence as the one I live in, so I am delighted to be involved,” Monaghan told the outlet.

While he’s not exactly a huge name, this marks the second blockbuster he’s been a part of. He played the hobbit Merry on all three of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies. He was recently seen in a small role in Duncan Jones’ Mute.

As for his role, well, who can say? He might be a CGI character or something, or under a Stormtrooper helmet. We just don’t know. Whatever it is, between Lost and LOTR the guy has more than enough experience with rabid fandom to handle whatever the Star Wars faithful throw at him.

‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3’ Put On Hold By Disney

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John Nolan

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August 25, 2018

As we’ve seen with the Danny Boyle situation and the James Bond franchise, the loss of a director can cause ripples of problems that can grow into a tidal wave. And think about it, he really has no connection to the series outside of the movie he was about to make. In the case of James Gunn and Guardians of the Galaxy, he has been instrumental to it in every single phase, and it’s safe to say much of its success is due in large part to him and his personality quirks.

So this news should come as no surprise. Production on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has been halted for now, just as pre-production was to begin this fall with plans for shooting in January. Crew members have been told they are free to seek work elsewhere and filming is now in a state of limbo. But without Gunn, who was fired last month over controversial tweets, there was little hope of righting the course so quickly. Despite the film’s cast and certainly the movies’ fans rallying together in support of Gunn, Disney held firm on their decision to let him go. That puts them in the unenviable position of finding someone to replace the franchise’s driving force, and clearly that is not going to be an easy job.

THR calls the delay a temporary “‘regrouping’ as Marvel and Disney look for a filmmaker to take on the third installment of a franchise.” Another issue is whether they will continue to use Gunn’s screenplay, which presumably would have found a way to wrap-up the trilogy. If Disney hires someone like Thor: Ragnarok‘s Taika Waititi, a popular pick to be sure, then he would probably want to do a rewrite or even start from scratch. All in all, it sounds like Vol. 3 will miss its loose 2020 release date, which may be why Marvel has an unidentified film shooting next summer in hopes of slotting something else in that spot.

My guess is that whatever happens in Avengers 4, they find another way to kill off Drax because Dave Bautista is still pissed and still very vocal about Gunn’s firing, and he doesn’t seem to care if it costs him his job.

‘My Dinner With Hervé’ Trailer: Peter Dinklage Becomes The ‘Fantasy Island’ Star For HBO’s New Film

By

John Nolan

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August 24, 2018

With news of a Fantasy Island movie headed to the big screen, now’s the perfect time for HBO to drop the teaser for the long-developing My Dinner with Hervé. Since there are only so many famous people with the name Hervé, it’s obvious this centers on Hervé Villechaize who, for better or worse, became a household name for his role as Tattoo on Fantasy Island. Unbeknownst to many, Hervé had a lot of personal demons that haunted him away from the show, and this film will attempt to shed a little bit of light on who he was when the cameras were off.

Peter Dinklage takes on the role of Hervé, with Jamie Dornan as a journalist he strikes up an unexpected friendship with. The footage doesn’t reveal much other than a look at Dinklage’s physical transformation to play “the most famous dwarf in the world”, including some clear facial prosthetics, while teasing Hervé’s fast lifestyle.

The film is directed by Sacha Gervasi , best known for the documentary Anvil!: The Story of Anvil and his feature debut, Hitchcock. Also starring Mireille Enos, Andy Garcia, Oona Chaplin, and David Strathairn, My Dinner with Hervé premieres on HBO on October 20th.

DC Readers: Attend A Free Screening Of ‘Kin’ Starring James Franco And Jack Reynor

By

John Nolan

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August 24, 2018

We’re happy to offer our DC readers the chance to attend a free early screening of Kin, the sci-fi crime thriller starring James Franco, Jack Reynor, Zoe Kravitz, Carrie Coon, Dennis Quaid, and Myles Truitt.

SYNOPSIS: “Kin,” a pulse-pounding crime thriller with a sci-fi twist, is the story of an unexpected hero destined for greatness. Chased by a vengeful criminal (James Franco) and two otherworldly soldiers, a recently released ex-con (Jack Reynor) and his adopted teenage brother (Myles Truitt) are forced to go on the run with a weapon of mysterious origin as their only protection.

The screening takes place on Tuesday, August 28th at 7:30pm at AMC Mazza Gallerie. If you’d like to attend, please go to the Lionsgate ticketing site here. Please remember that all screenings are first come first served and having passes does not guarantee entry. You will need to arrive early to ensure receiving a seat. Enjoy the show!

Kin opens on August 31st.

Review: ‘Skate Kitchen’, Jaden Smith Experiences Personal Growth In Skateboarding Culture

By

John Nolan

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August 24, 2018

Skate Kitchen tells
the story of Camille (Rachelle Vinberg), a lonely girl living in the suburbs of
New York City with her single mother. Camille loves skate boarding and often
finds herself as the only girl at the neighborhood skatepark. When Camille has
an unfortunate accident, her mother makes her promise to give up skateboarding.
Even though Camille reluctantly makes the promise, she is quick to go behind
her mother’s back and continuing pursuing her passions. Camille’s whole world
seems to revolve around skateboarding. If she is not at the skatepark, she is
watching videos of skateboarding on Instagram or dreaming she was on her board
grinding rails. Skateboarding is where Camille feels happiest, but there is
still something holding her back from finding true bliss. One day Camille
stumbles upon an Instagram post for a girl’s skate session in New York City and
she quickly maps out the path, collects her last few dollars, and heads out.

Camille quickly befriends a group of female skaters who go
by Skate Kitchen. Kurt (Nina Moran) recognizes Camille from her own Instagram
skating posts and immediately wants her to hop on a board and show her talents.
As the girls skate across the streets of New York city, Ruby (Kabrina Adams)
follows suit with a camera glued in her hands documenting all the tricks,
stunts, and good times that they have together. As the days pass, Camille finds
herself going to New York city after her mom leaves for work and spending all
her free time with ladies of Skate Kitchen. The group is free spirited, a stark
contrast to the sheltered life and upbringing that Camille has experienced.
They spend their afternoons carelessly skating around the city, stopping at
different parks, recklessly skating through intersections, smoking marijuana,
and discussing life and the world around them. Camille slowly begins to open up
to her new friends, but unfortunately this comes at a cost as she keeps lying
to her mother about where she is spending her days. This seems like a small
price to pay as Camille has finally found her place and her people.

At the heart of Skate
Kitchen is a story of personal growth and self-discovery. Writer/director
Crystal Moselle and writers Aslihan Unaldi and Jen Silverman introduce the
audience to the underground skating subculture of New York City’s skate scene. We
see how this group of young women are managing to make their mark in a typical
male dominated sport. Throughout Skate
Kitchen we see how Camille and her friends interact with one of the main
groups of male skaters in the area – usually tension filled affairs stemming
from a lack of mutual respect and sense of entitlement over turf. As times
passes Camille manages to befriend Devon (Jaden Smith) who brings her into his
group of male skaters and they eventually embrace her and her talents.
Camille just wants to skate and forget about all of the drama between these
groups of skaters, but that may not be as easy as she had hoped. Moselle
successfully displays the rawness of skateboarding through various close ups
and camera movements and contrasts that with the serenity and freedom that all
these characters are feeling while skateboarding with her song choices and slow
distance shots that capture moments of pure joy. Skate Kitchen is an interesting look at friendship, maturity, and
passion mixed with an insider glimpse at a skating culture that many have never
seen or experienced and is worth a watch.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Julia Roberts Welcomes Home Lucas Hedges In First ‘Ben Is Back’ Teaser

By

John Nolan

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August 24, 2018

TIFF has a strong lineup of potential Oscar contenders playing next month, and one that has a lot of buzz is the family drama, Ben is Back. When you see the cast and the new teaser it’s clear why. Oscar winner Julia Roberts and Oscar nominee Lucas Hedges star in the latest from writer/director Peter Hedges, best known for offbeat films Dan in Real Life, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, and my personal favorite from him, Pieces of April.

The first footage teases a happy family reunion, but clearly there’s danger lurking as well. We see Roberts and her daughter (Blockers‘ Kathryn Newton) surprised on Christmas Eve by the sudden arrival of the estranged Ben. While Roberts swiftly welcome him back with open arms, the daughter is warning her not to go to him, and the fear in her voice is very real.

Ben is Back co-stars Courtney B. Vance and Alexandra Park, and will hit theates on December 17th.

‘Bond 25’ May Start Over From Scratch, Miss 2019 Release Date

By

John Nolan

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August 24, 2018

It seems every trade outlet has a different take on the future of Bond 25. Following Danny Boyle’s departure we heard the film would miss its November 2019 release date while a new director was found. That was quickly followed by reports it probably would still probably hit the target as contenders to replace Boyle were already being spoken to. Now Variety chimes in with another angle on it, and they say producers going back to square one.

According to their sources, Bond 25 is “going back to the drawing board” with the searching for a new writer or writer/director. They say producers at EON and MGM are focusing their search on hiring a new screenwriter which suggests Boyle and John Hodge’s script will likely be scrapped, and that the prior script written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade won’t be used, either. And as we noted before, they aren’t interested in bringing in just anybody to direct, so expect another big name to slide behind the camera.

Filming was to begin in December but if a new script is needed then expect that date to move significantly.