Box Office: ‘Black Panther’ Nears $900M Worldwide, ‘Red Sparrow’ Edges Out ‘Death Wish’

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March 4, 2018

1. Black Panther– $65.7M/$501.1M
In its third week of release, Black Panther has scored a record-breaking $65M. That’s just incredible, especially for a film that has had such incredibly high numbers each week. The film dropped only 41%, and now has $501M domestically and $897M worldwide.
2. Red Sparrow (review)- $17M
Let’s make it clear; Jennifer Lawrence is the only reason anybody showed up to see Red Sparrow. The 2 1/2 hour, R-rated spy thriller debuted with $17M, and scored another $26M overseas for $43M. That’s not awesome but it would have been worse with another actress in the lead role, and Fox is likely happy to see so much of the $69M production budget eaten into. I don’t expect this will move the needle for mature, female-led espionage flicks, the same way Atomic Blonde didn’t last year, but I think if Hollywood pays attention they’ll find a market out there that’s waiting to be served. It may not be big, but it’s out there.
3. Death Wish (review)- $13M
Considering the downright awful timing, it’s surprising Eli Roth’s Death Wish remake managed a halfway decent $13M. The film stars Bruce Willis in the role Charles Bronson made famous, as a regular guy who turns murderous vigilante when his wife and daughter are viciously attacked. The violent, gun-glorifying film has been punted up and down the schedule and honestly, with the frequency of mass shootings in this country there was never going to be a good time for a movie about a white guy gunning down those he doesn’t care for. Still, these numbers aren’t bad and that probably has to do with Willis’ enduring popularity in action flicks, even though most of his filmography lately are straight-to-VOD efforts.
4. Game Night– $10.7M/$33.5M
The hilarious Game Night passed Go and collected $10.7M, falling only 37% in the process. That’s not bad at all, and the film’s success is all the more reason why Warner Bros. put directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein on their upcoming Flash movie.
5. Peter Rabbit– $10M/$84M
I must be missing something but is Peter Rabbit actually good? The live-action/animated hybrid with James Corden voicing the trouble-making bunny fell only 21% and now has $101M worldwide.
6. Annihilation– $5.6M/$20.6M
I don’t know if people are just waiting for it to hit Netflix, but $20M after two weeks is too low for what may be the best sci-fi movie to hit this year. Annihilation is worth the time and money so go check it out.
7. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle– $4.5M/$393.2M
8. Fifty Shades Freed– $3.3M/$95.5M
9. The Greatest Showman– $2.6M/$164.6M
10. Every Day – $1.5M/$5.2M

‘The Flash: Flashpoint’ Finally Confirms Its New Directors

By

John Nolan

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March 4, 2018

Well, DC Films has directors in place for The Flash movie, currently titled Flashpoint. Again. Let’s hope this one turns out better than the others. In January we learned that Vacation and Game Night directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein were in talks to helm the long-developing comics adaptation. But in the last couple of weeks the duo made clear that no deal was in place. Now sources within Warner Bros. are saying that the deal is done, and what’s more, Daley has tweeted out as much of a confirmation as we’re likely to get…

It’s happening! pic.twitter.com/Ga8vF6EnGG

— John Francis Daley (@JohnFDaley) March 3, 2018

Daley and Goldstein are just the latest directors to take a stab at directing The Flash. It began with Seth Grahame-Smith (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) who left over creative differences, followed later by Rick Famuyiwa (Dope) who exited for the same reasons.

From the beginning the plan has been to follow Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen, who was first glimpsed in Batman v Superman then fully introduced in Justice League. It’s unclear if Kiersey Clemons is sticking around to play his girlfriend, Iris West, or if the delays have hampered her ability to stay in the cast. I think there’s a good shot Daley and Goldstein will rewrite any existing script, so we may not get the time travel story the Flashpoint title suggests. Whatever they do, Daley and Goldstein are a pretty good choice. After a rough start they’ve really hit their stride with Spider-Man: Homecoming and Game Night, and can make Flash young and fun as he should be.

‘Sadie’ Trailer: A Teen Won’t Let Melanie Lynskey Break Up Their Family

By

John Nolan

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March 4, 2018

A good rule of thumb is if Melanie Lynskey is in it and it’s playing at a festival, make time room on your schedule. At SXSW the indie darling will appear in the new thriller, Sadie, from writer/director Megan Griffiths (Eden), and this teaser suggests a film that’s poised for a breakout.

We’ve seen a lot of movies about the effect military life can have on a household (Last Flag Flying, Foxtrot), but Sadie takes it a different route. Newcomer Sophia Mitri Schloss plays Sadie, a teen whose father is constantly away on military leave, and she just wants her family to stay together. But while he’s away, her mother (Lynskey) will play, and the teen does whatever it takes to drive away the new man (John Gallagher Jr.) in her mother’s life.

It’s an effective tease because I’m curious to see how far Sadie goes, and what happens when/if her father returns. Sadie also stars Tony Hale, Orange is the New Black‘s Danielle Brooks, and Keith Williams.

Indie Spirit Awards 2018: ‘Get Out’ Takes Best Picture And Best Director

By

John Nolan

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March 4, 2018

If tonight’s Independent Spirit Awards are anything to go by, the Oscars are going to be very good for Jordan Peele and Get Out. Peele’s racially charged thriller-comedy has been the popular pick all year long, and tonight it won Best Feature at the Indie Spirits. Peele also won Best Director. Groundbreaking director Spike Lee made the presentation of Best Director award to Peele.

“It’s clear that we are in the beginning of a renaissance where stories from outsiders are being honored,” Peele said during the Best Picture acceptance speech that capped the night.

Frances McDormand won Best Actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, just as she’s expected to do at the Oscars. Her co-star Sam Rockwell also won for Best Supporting Actor, which he is also expected to repeat tomorrow.

Luca Gudagnino’s Call Me By Your Name was well represented, with young star Timothee Chalamet winning Best Actor, and Sayombhu Mukdeeprom taking the award for Best Cinematography.

Greta Gerwig’s Oscar-nominated Lady Bird won for Best Screenplay, while real-life couple Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon won Best First Screenplay for their sleeper hit comedy, The Big Sick, about their complicated courtship.

The full list of winners is below:

BEST FEATURE
(Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)

WINNER: Get Out
Producers: Jason Blum, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Sean McKittrick, Jordan Peele

BEST FIRST FEATURE
(Award given to the director and producer.)

WINNER: Ingrid Goes West
Director: Matt Spicer
Producers: Jared Ian Goldman, Adam Mirels, Robert Mirels, Aubrey Plaza, Tim White, Trevor White

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000.
(Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)

WINNER: Life and Nothing More
Writer/Director: Antonio Méndez Esparza
Producers: Amadeo Hernández Bueno, Alvaro Portanet Hernández, Pedro Hernández Santos

BEST DIRECTOR

WINNER: Jordan Peele
Get Out

BEST SCREENPLAY

WINNER: Greta Gerwig
Lady Bird

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

WINNER: Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani
The Big Sick

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

WINNER: Sayombhu Mukdeeprom
Call Me by Your Name

BEST EDITING

WINNER: Tatiana S. Riegel
I, Tonya

BEST FEMALE LEAD

WINNER: Frances McDormand
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

BEST MALE LEAD

WINNER: Timothée Chalamet
Call Me by Your Name

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

WINNER: Allison Janney
I, Tonya

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

WINNER: Sam Rockwell
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
(Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast.)

Mudbound
Director: Dee Rees
Casting Directors: Billy Hopkins, Ashley Ingram
Ensemble Cast: Jonathan Banks, Mary J. Blige, Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Rob Morgan, Carey Mulligan

BEST DOCUMENTARY
(Award given to the director and producer.)

WINNER: Faces Places
Directors: Agnés Varda, JR
Producer: Rosalie Varda

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
(Award given to the director.)

WINNER: A Fantastic Woman
Chile
Director: Sebastián Lelio

BONNIE AWARD – Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo joined American Airlines in 1973 at age 24, becoming the first female pilot to fly for a major U.S. airline. In her honor, the inaugural Bonnie Award will recognize a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant, sponsored by American Airlines.

WINNER: Chloé Zhao

JEEP TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 23rd annual Truer Than Fiction Award, funded by the Jeep brand, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by the Jeep brand.

WINNER: Jonathan Olshefski
Director of Quest

KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 24th annual Someone to Watch Award, funded by Kiehl’s Since 1851, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Kiehl’s Since 1851.

WINNER: Justin Chon
Director of Gook

PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 21st annual Producers Award, funded by Piaget, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget.

Giulia Caruso & Ki Jin Kim

Ben LeClair

Summer Shelton

Podcast: The Obligatory Oscars Prediction Show!

By

John Nolan

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March 3, 2018

It’s the time of year when everybody you know is asking you, “So who is going to win Best Picture”? I’m as sick of it as you are, but it all ends this weekend with the 10hr+ Academy Awards. And before that happens I might as well answer the question, right? So here are my picks for every movie that will win in the categories anybody cares about.

Not only that, but I’ve got something to say about Netflix and how they should never be allowed another prestige movie with Oscars potential. Let’s face it, their track record deserves to be at the bottom of the DVD pile.

*NOTE: Excuse the spotty, distracted opening. It only last a moment!*

‘Gotham’ Recap Season 4, Episode 12 – ‘Pieces of a Broken Mirror’

By

John Nolan

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March 3, 2018

As a quick refresher, we ended the midseason break with a
lot of crazy things happening in Gotham.
Alfred and Bruce get into a physical fight leading to Bruce firing him, Jim
took over the Captaincy of the GCPD from Harvey which definitely rubbed Harvey
the wrong way, Lee became the new leader of the Narrows, Ed’s visions of the
Riddler finally returned, Grundy remembers that he used to be Butch, Sofia
shoots Pyg in the head which was a very underwhelming end to an amazing
villain, and Penguin gets locked up and bumps into his neighbor – the Joker. This
new episode seems to mostly take place in the narrows and is heavily focused on
relationship building. Let’s see how things have progressed in Gotham since
we’ve been away, shall we?

I have been patiently waiting for us to dive into the Poison
Ivy storyline. You’ll remember that she took some ancient medicine/drugs that
clearly had a hell of a reaction to her body. Well a couple of lowlifes go into
the shop Ivy got the drugs from, looking to get high themselves. They stumble
upon what looks to be a cocoon that is housing Ivy. She emerges from the cocoon
looking pretty confused and vastly different then the last time we saw her. Ivy
quickly disposes of one of the lowlifes with some sort of poison that burns his
face while the others run. Later Lucius and the GCPD coroner will examine the
body and cut it open to find that poison ivy is literally growing inside him and
living off of the man’s dead tissue.

In the same building where this shop is, Lee is upstairs running
a sort of motivational seminar for the people of the narrows. She is trying to
convince them that they are just hurting themselves by stealing from each
other. Lee wants to turn the narrows around and make it a place where people
don’t need to steal to live. While she is in the front of the room, there is
someone in the very back with a remote controlled toy plane that he flies
towards Lee. Luckily for everyone there, someone smacks it out of the window
right before the plane, which happens to be a bomb, detonates.

Jim has been looking for Harvey since their last exchange
where Harvey turned in his badge and gun and this search has taken him to the
narrows. During his search he stumbles upon Alfred who was getting mugged by
three large men. Fortunately for the attempted muggers, Jim stops the robbery
before Alfred has a chance to cause them too much physical harm. Jim realizes
that Alfred has been fired by Bruce and is now living in the narrows. Right as
he realizes this, the toy plane explodes outside the building next to them and
Alfred and Jim go to the building to help everyone get out safely. While
investigating the crime scene, Lucius finds the remnants of part of the toy
plane. Lucius and Jim come to the conclusion that this was most likely an
assassination attempt and a good place to start searching for answers would be
local toy stores.

Luckily for them the first creepy toy store they enter is
home to our toy plane operator. He sets a few booby traps for them and manages
to escape because his son stops Jim and Lucius from chasing him. Jim and Lucius
question the son who lets them know he overheard his father confirming a name
the other night “the doc.” As you all know, the doc is what everyone in the
narrows calls Lee. And alas we have the path for Jim and Lee to finally
interact again. Jim goes to ask Barbara who the doc is and she lets him know
the doc is partners with Ed at a place called ‘Cherries’ in the narrows.

Jim goes to Cherries to investigate and sees that the
doc is indeed Lee. They have a brief conversation where it is clear that there
are still feelings between the two of them. Right afterwards, Ed spots the
toymaker at the back of the room and chases him into the alley where he flips
the script on Ed. During their conversation it comes out that Ed is the one
that paid the toymaker to kill the doc, well not Ed – but the Riddler. It seems
like we have a ‘Fight Club’ situation on our hands between Ed and his
Riddler persona. Jim shows up and shoots the toymaker, killing him.

While this is happening, Ivy breaks into an apartment of a
couple who are out of town and sees a commercial for the Sirens featuring
Tabitha, Barbara, and Selina promoting the club. She recognizes them and goes
to the club to confront them. Bruce also happens to be there and is enjoying
some private table service, but his company is becoming quite rowdy. Selina
goes over to calm them down and calls out Bruce for acting like a schmuck. Ivy
leaves, but not before Selina realizes it is her and follows her to the
apartment. Ivy cuts Selina – poisoning her, just to show Selina her power. She then
gives Selina the antidote and invites her into a partnership for them to take
over Gotham together.

Mixed in with everything is a storyline featuring Alfred
falling for a diner waitress in the narrows. He realizes that her boyfriend is
abusing her and confronts him about it. During the confrontation Alfred’s ring
falls out of his pocket and the boyfriend picks it up. That night the boyfriend
wears the ring while beating the waitress to death, causing Alfred to become
the primary suspect in the murder. Alfred goes after the waitress’ boyfriend at
a seedy local bar. He manages to hold his own for a bit before he gets
overmatched by four men. Right before he is about to get stabbed by the
boyfriend, Harvey saves the day with a baseball bat. The boyfriend’s alibi was
one of the men Alfred and Harvey beat up and they end up recanting – leading to
the boyfriend getting arrested and Alfred being cleared of the murder charge. Jim
comes to the bar to see Alfred and Harvey taking shots. He tells Harvey he
misses him and puts his badge on the counter, offering his job at the GCPD back.
Harvey does not reciprocate the feelings and tells Jim to essentially go kick
rocks.

This episode of Gotham
was one of the weaker ones from an otherwise strong season. Too many people
just happened to randomly be in the same place at the same time and then the rushed
story lines – the toymaker and the murder Alfred was involved in – all just
made it a disjointed episode. Moving forward it is looking like the season will
focus on Joker and Penguin as well as Ivy and Selina’s new partnership, and of
course the fact that one of Ed’s personalities loves Lee while the other is
trying to kill her. I have full faith that Gotham
will get back on track as the season progresses.

Keanu Reeves Eyes Rick Famuyiwa’s Vigilante Superhero Movie, ‘Past Midnight’

By

John Nolan

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March 3, 2018

Rick Famuyiwa hasn’t missed a beat since dropping out of directing The Flash: Flashpoint; instead he’s been busier than ever. The first season of Showtime’s The Chi drew a ton of praise, and recently he agreed to direct an adaptation of Charles Burns’ acclaimed graphic novel, Black Hole. Now he’s joining up with Netflix for a hot new project from Marvel stalwarts Joe & Anthony Russo (Avengers: Infinity War), and possibly Keanu Reeves.

Famuyiwa will direct action flick Past Midnight, which has a buzzed-about script from TJ Fixman (Ratchet & Clank). The Russos are on board to produce and they’re eyeing Reeves to star in the film which is described as a vigilante superhero movie. Vigilante? Sounds perfect for Mr. John Wick himself, doesn’t it?

No word on when this will start, but I’ll be honest in that Netflix being involved lessens my excitement quite a bit. Otherwise this sounds like a film worth keeping a close eye on. [Deadline]

‘The Humanity Bureau’ Trailer: Nicolas Cage Leads A Low Budget Thriller You Can Watch In VR

By

John Nolan

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March 3, 2018

Nicolas Cage is always busy, but the last few months have found him giving us more than usually array of crapola. Sure, we had junk like Looking Glass and Inconceivable, but we also had a couple of great ones in Mom & Dad and Mandy. Unfortunately, his next film looks like another that won’t be high on Cage’s career highlights.

The Humanity Bureau looks and sounds like something Andrew Niccol rejected a long time ago, only to have someone else pick it out of the waste bin. Directed by Rob W. King (??), the film is set in a future where the American Midwest has been devastated by climate change. Cage plays a government agent who uncovers a conspiracy involving exiles sent to a mysterious colony known as New Eden. Here’s the synopsis:

In the near future climate change has wreaked havoc in parts of the American Midwest. In its attempt to take hold of an economic recession, a government agency called the Humanity Bureau exiles members of society deemed unproductive and banishes them to a colony known as New Eden.

An ambitious and impartial caseworker NOAH KROSS (Nicolas Cage) investigates a case appealed by a single mother RACHEL WELLER (Sarah Lind) and her son LUCAS (Jakob Davies). Knowing the unjust fate of the innocent boy and against the wishes of his superior ADAM WESTINGHOUSE (Hugh Dillon), Kross sets off to save the lives of the mother and child and to expose the truth about the Humanity Bureau’s secrets once and for all.

I dig the subtle assertion in the trailer that Donald Trump’s presidency led to all of the devastation. Points for that, but damn this looks cheap and incredibly dull. Cage doesn’t even look to be having much fun, which was the only thing that might have rescued it.

The Humanity Bureau, sadly not a sequel to The Adjustment Bureau, hits theaters and VOD on April 6th. You can also check it out in virtual reality using an Oculus Headset. Yep, if you’re absolutely dying to see Nicolas Cage in a movie that cost less than the VR helmet on your head, then The Humanity Bureau is for you.

‘Submergence’ Trailer: James McAvoy And Alicia Vikander’s Love Is Under Pressure

By

John Nolan

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March 3, 2018

James McAvoy and Alicia Vikander fall in love under most unusual circumstances in Submergence, the latest film from acclaimed German director Wim Wenders. In a storyline that sounds ridiculous but looks more plausible in the newly-released U.S. trailer, the pair of gorgeous actors play a spy and a bio-mathematician (???) who strike a romance just before they both take on deadly missions.

Wenders hasn’t been so hot with his narrative features lately (Does anyone remember Every Thing Will Be Fine?), finding much greater success as a documentarian. But with Vikander and McAvoy headlining this one he may have turned a corner. Maybe. Here’s the synopsis:

Danielle Flinders (Alicia Vikander) and James More (James McAvoy) meet by chance in a remote hotel in Normandy where they both prepare for a dangerous mission. They fall in love almost against their will, but soon recognize in each other the love of their lives. When they have to separate, we find out that James works for the British Secret Service. He’s involved in a mission in Somalia to track down a source for suicide bombers infiltrating Europe. Danielle ‘Danny’ Flinders is a bio-mathematician working on a deep sea diving project to support her theory about the origin of life on our planet. Soon, they are worlds apart. James is taken hostage by Jihadist fighters and has no way of contacting Danny, and she has to go down to the bottom of the ocean in her submersible, not even knowing if James is still alive…

Submergence hits theaters and VOD on April 13th.

Pop! Obsession: ‘The Shape Of Water’ Funkos Surfacing Soon!

By

John Nolan

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March 3, 2018

Guillermo Del Toro’s dark fairy tale romance The Shape of Water may have 13 Oscar nominations this weekend, and a damn good shot at winning Best Picture, but that’s nothing compared to the honor it received today. Funko has revealed a new line of Pop! Vinyl figures from the film, and while it’s only three so far, they’re all pretty cool.

The first group of figures includes one of Sally Hawkins’ Elisa, sporting her trusty broom. Another is, of course, Doug Jones as the merman, or Amphibian Man, that she falls in love with. Dude is sorta jacked, and he’s got lips that are ready-made for a mute custodian to kiss.

The third is of director Guillermo Del Toro, and I think this is the one that may end up being the most popular. Even if you don’t dig The Shape of Water, is there anyone out there who doesn’t like Del Toro?

I’m not that shock over a Del Toro figure, but I never thought for a second there would be one of Sally Hawkins. That’s kinda great, if you ask me.

No word on when these figures drop, but you know I’ll be waiting and will let you know. [EW]