Box Office Report: Sept. 22-24

Not really to any surprise that stupidity reigned this past weekend at the box office, as Johnny Knoxville and his fellow, well, jackasses, easily snagged the top spot on the charts, netting nearly $30 million. “Jet Li’s Fearless” was the only other film to make a dent on its opening weekend domestically, as “Flyboys” and the critically-panned “All the King’s Men” both bombed. Although Sean Penn has been receiving good notices for his performance in “All the King’s Men,” the movie is seeing its Oscar chances rapidly going down the drain.

1. “Jackass: Number Two”
(Weekend domestic gross - $29.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $29.0 million)
(Budget - $11.5 million)
2. “Jet Li’s Fearless”
(Weekend domestic gross - $10.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $40.9 million)
(Budget - N/A)
3. “Gridiron Gang”
(Weekend domestic gross - $9.5 million)
(Worldwide gross - $27.0 million)
(Budget - $30 million)
4. “Flyboys”
(Weekend domestic gross - $6.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $6.0 million)
(Budget - $60 million)
5. “Everybody’s Hero”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $11.5 million)
(Budget - N/A)
6. “The Black Dahlia”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.4 million)
(Worldwide gross - $19.9 million)
(Budget - $50 million)
7. “All the King’s Men”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $3.7 million)
(Budget - $55 million)
8. “The Illusionist”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.3 million)
(Worldwide gross - $28.7 million)
(Budget - $16.5 million)
9. “The Covenant”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.2 million)
(Worldwide gross - $21.8 million)
(Budget - N/A)
10. “Little Miss Sunshine”
(Weekend domestic gross - $2.8 million)
(Worldwide gross - $56.7 million)
(Budget - $8 million)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $1.045 billion)
(Budget - $225 million)
2. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $754.0 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
3. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $645.9 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
4. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $454.0 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
5. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $443.5 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
6. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $395.7 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
7. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $388.1 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
8. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $309.6 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “The Break-Up”
(Worldwide gross - $197.0 million)
(Budget - $52 million)
10. “Click”
(Worldwide gross - $184.6 million)
(Budget - $82.5 million)

Movie Review: "The Illusionist"

Starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan
Directed by Neil Burger
Official Web site

Taking its cue from some of the early days of filmmaking, the look of “The Illusionist” is as much a character as the cast that inhabits its 19th century Vienna setting. It’s a period piece that centers around the magical, perhaps supernatural abilities of a man with the stage name of Eisenheim (Edward Norton). Arriving to town with little fanfare, he quickly captivates and amazes audiences with his superior slight of hand skills.

Among those he impresses is Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti), who is frequently in the service of the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell, crafting a perfectly dastardly villain). Soon after, the prince and his fiancee Sophie (Jessica Biel) attend a performance that leads to the young woman being incorporated into Eisenheim’s show. But there’s more here than meets the eye, as the two have a history from their childhood. Their brief friendship and blossoming romance as children is captured in beautifully photographed flashbacks that incorporate old-fashioned storytelling fade-outs.

Writer-director Neil Burger chose to shoot the movie in a muted color palate, with sepia tone in the flashbacks that helps the movie look like more than a bunch of actors playing dress up – a problem that has plagued more than a few period pieces over the years. Speaking English in German accents could have been a practical invitation to ham it up, but luckily the actors largely avoid the temptation. They recognize there’s some good storytelling on display here, and choose to service the script, rather than upstage it.

While the pacing is a bit lax in certain stretches, the presence of the always interesting Norton and Giamatti proves to be the film’s greatest asset. Norton brings a quiet intensity to his role as the enigmatic illusionist, playfully sparring with Giamatti in several of their scenes together, while showing some romantic passion for the woman who has unexpectedly reentered his life. To her credit, Biel easily has her best role to date, and doesn’t disappoint.

Having usually stood out in films, even when he’s been superior to the material handed him, Giamatti offers a wonderful performance as the conflicted inspector. At the urging of the prince, who sees Eisenheim as a potential threat for the heart of his fiancee, Uhl is determined to expose the illusionist as a fraud – a task that seemingly becomes more difficult as time passes. Eisenheim accuses Uhl of basically being a puppet of the prince, with the promise of a high position in his regime dangled as a proverbial carrot for his loyalty. It’s a charge that Uhl knows he can’t deny, but refuses to let it deter him from his job – even when it leads him down a path he’d rather not travel.

Some of the story’s twists and turns, particularly in the third act, maybe take a few liberties with logic. But by then, “The Illusionist” has already cast its compelling spell over the audience. One would imagine Eisenheim wouldn’t have it any other way.

Grade: A-
(Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence.)


What’s Next
Edward Norton - Set to co-star with Naomi Watts in “The Painted Veil,” based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham. Release scheduled to be limited in December and going wider in January 2007.

Paul Giamatti - Cast as a villain in an upcoming action pic, “Shoot ‘Em Up,” coming in 2007. The film will also star Clive Owen and Monica Bellucci.

Jessica Biel - Her next film will be this December’s “Home of the Brave,” as one of several soldiers struggling to adjust back to civilian life after an extended tour of duty in Iraq. Samuel L. Jackson and Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, co-star.

Box Office Report: Sept. 15-17

Apologies for the delay, but vacation called and I answered, so here’s last weekend’s box office report this weekend. Obviously, the next one will be soon to follow in a couple of days. Overall, the newcomers made a mostly unspectacular debut, with the well timed release of “Gridiron Gang” snagging the top spot. Based on its somewhat disappointing first weekend, it would seem that “The Black Dahlia” will depend on word of mouth to recoup its budget costs.

Also look for an upcoming review on “The Illusionist,” which will feature the debut of “What’s Next,” a brief glance at what the movie’s major players have coming up for future projects. Not that the reviews need anything extra to them, but I’m in a giving mood, so just go with it.

1. “Gridiron Gang”
(Weekend domestic gross - $14.4 million)
(Worldwide gross - $14.4 million)
(Budget - $30 million)
2. “The Black Dahlia”
(Weekend domestic gross - $10.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $10.0 million)
(Budget - $50 million)
3. “Everybody’s Hero”
(Weekend domestic gross - $6.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $6.1 million)
(Budget - N/A)
4. “The Covenant”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.8 million)
(Worldwide gross - $18.4 million)
(Budget - N/A)
5. “The Last Kiss”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $4.6 million)
(Budget - $20 million)
6. “Invincible”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $52.1 million)
(Budget - N/A)
7. “The Illusionist”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $25.1 million)
(Budget - $16.5 million)
8. “Little Miss Sunshine”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.3 million)
(Worldwide gross - $51.4 million)
(Budget - $8 million)
9. “Hollywoodland”
(Weekend domestic gross - $2.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $11.4 million)
(Budget - N/A)
10. “Crank”
(Weekend domestic gross - $2.68 million)
(Worldwide gross - $28.7 million)
(Budget - $12 million)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $1.032 billion)
(Budget - $225 million)
2. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $754.0 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
3. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $645.9 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
4. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $451.3 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
5. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $435.9 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
6. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $395.6 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
7. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $386.3 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
8. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $310.0 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “The Break-Up”
(Worldwide gross - $193.3 million)
(Budget - $52 million)
10. “Inside Man”
(Worldwide gross - $183.9 million)
(Budget - $45 million)

Box Office Report: Sept. 8-10

It was a rather uneventful weekend at the box office, as the teen horror flick, “The Covenant,” slipped into the top spot with a rather unimpressive $8.9 million. The fact that it was $3 million more than the next newcomer, “Hollywoodland,” is an unfortunate comment on the generally poor numbers for the weekend.

One movie whose numbers have been far from unimpressive is “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” which has officially broken through the $1 billion barrier at the worldwide box office. For the record, it now ranks third on the all-time list, trailing only “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and “Titanic.”

1. “The Covenant”
(Weekend domestic gross - $8.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $8.9 million)
(Budget - N/A)
2. “Hollywoodland”
(Weekend domestic gross - $5.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $5.9 million)
(Budget - N/A)
3. “Invincible”
(Weekend domestic gross - $5.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $45.5 million)
(Budget - N/A)
4. “The Protector”
(Weekend domestic gross - $5.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $12.5 million)
(Budget - N/A)
5. “Crank”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $21.3 million)
(Budget - $12 million)
6. “The Illusionist”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.5 million)
(Worldwide gross - $18.1 million)
(Budget - $16.5 million)
7. “Little Miss Sunshine”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.3 million)
(Worldwide gross - $41.6 million)
(Budget - $8 million)
8. “The Wicker Man”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $19.3 million)
(Budget - $35 million)
9. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $142.8 million)
(Budget - $72.5 million)
10. “Barnyard”
(Weekend domestic gross - $2.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $67.2 million)
(Budget - $51 million)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $1.0 billion)
(Budget - $225 million)
2. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $753.7 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
3. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $645.8 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
4. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $441.7 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
5. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $415.5 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
6. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $395.6 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
7. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $383.4 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
8. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $307.8 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “The Break-Up”
(Worldwide gross - $190.9 million)
(Budget - $52 million)
10. “Inside Man”
(Worldwide gross - $183.9 million)
(Budget - $45 million)

Movie Review: "The Sentinel"

Starring Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Kim Basinger, Martin Donovan, David Rasche
Directed by Clark Johnson
Official Web site

In his role as Secret Service agent Pete Garrison, Michael Douglas is in a familiar role, playing a tough talking authority figure who makes a mistake that gets him in trouble. Maybe it’s a role that’s too familiar. Still, it’s tough to deny that Douglas isn’t good as this kind of character, the flawed hero.

“The Sentinel,” directed by Clark Johnson, is a bit of an old-fashioned action flick that doesn’t rely on wildly over-the-top stunts, car chases and explosions to propel the story. Instead, it largely depends on its solid collection of actors to wade through some of the plot’s more implausible situations.

One of those situations involves the rather difficult to swallow premise of Garrison having a secret affair with none other than the First Lady, Sarah Ballentine (Kim Basinger). Having served in the Secret Service for more than a quarter of a century, including taking a bullet for President Reagan in 1981, Garrison has earned a lot of trust among his co-workers and his boss, President Ballentine (David Rasche). But the affair is evidently not a secret to everyone, as Garrison receives mysterious photographs of him with Sarah in her bedroom.

That soon becomes a smaller concern for him once he receives information from an informant about a planned assassination attempt that will be instigated by a mole in the Secret Service. Now how this informant receives this information isn’t really explained, but for the sake of advancing the story, you just have to accept it.

Around the same time, another Secret Service agent is murdered, leading to an investigation by David Breckinridge (Kiefer Sutherland, doing a good impersonation of Jack Bauer from “24”). Naturally, his initial investigation overlaps with the assassination plan, leading to a series of events signaling that Garrison is the number one suspect. Garrison goes on the run with the intent of clearing his name, while Breckinridge is left trying to track down a man who knows very well how the pursuing agency operates.

The building investigation and subsequent pursuit between the mentor and his protégé is quite a bit more interesting than the rather uninspired and predictable final act. The script from George Nolfi (based on a novel by Gerald Petievich) has a number of good moments, particularly when Douglas is on the run, but also contains some plot holes big enough to drive a presidential motorcade through. Viewers enjoyment of the film will likely vary on the ability to overlook such details.

Ultimately, “The Sentinel” is an example of a couple of good actors playing roles they know how to do all too well. And while that can’t necessarily be considered a bad thing, it certainly doesn’t show a lot of creativity.

Grade: C+
(Rated PG-13 for violence, profanity and sexual situations.)

Box Office Report: Sept. 1-4

Scoring another touchdown over the extended Labor Day weekend, “Invincible” maintained its hold at the top of the box office, tackling new films starring Jason Statham and Nicolas Cage, respectively. Slower expansion in theaters and strong word-of-mouth have seemingly paid off for “Little Miss Sunshine” and “The Illusionist,” which both had solid weekends of their own. Otherwise, it was a rather uneventful weekend on the charts.

1. “Invincible”
(Weekend domestic gross - $15.4 million)
(Worldwide gross - $38.1 million)
(Budget - N/A)
2. “Crank”
(Weekend domestic gross - $12.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $14.2 million)
(Budget - $12 million)
3. “The Wicker Man”
(Weekend domestic gross - $11.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $13.6 million)
(Budget - $35 million)
4. “Little Miss Sunshine”
(Weekend domestic gross - $9.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $35.8 million)
(Budget - $8 million)
5. “The Illusionist”
(Weekend domestic gross - $8.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $12.3 million)
(Budget - $16.5 million)
6. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”
(Weekend domestic gross - $7.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $138.9 million)
(Budget - $72.5 million)
7. “Barnyard”
(Weekend domestic gross - $6.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $63.9 million)
(Budget - $51 million)
8. “World Trade Center”
(Weekend domestic gross - $5.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $63.8 million)
(Budget - $65 million)
9. “Accepted”
(Weekend domestic gross - $5.63 million)
(Worldwide gross - $29.1 million)
(Budget - $23 million)
10. “Step Up”
(Weekend domestic gross - $5.61 million)
(Worldwide gross - $58.5 million)
(Budget - $12 million)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $970.1 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
2. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $753.5 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
3. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $645.8 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
4. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $441.6 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
5. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $401.3 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
6. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $395.3 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
7. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $377.8 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
8. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $307.1 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “The Break-Up”
(Worldwide gross - $189.0 million)
(Budget - $52 million)
10. “Inside Man”
(Worldwide gross - $183.9 million)
(Budget - $45 million)

'13' In Vegas

Filming is currently underway in the third, and according to director Steven Soderbergh, last installment in the “Ocean’s Eleven” film franchise. “Ocean’s Thirteen” will center around Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his crew looking to pull off another Las Vegas heist, having to deal with a ruthless casino owner (Al Pacino, likely to be in full “hoo-ah” villainous mode) in the process.

While much of the action is being filmed in L.A., where producers have constructed an on-set poker lounge for the cast and crew, the gang is also filming some in Vegas, including at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, site of the first movie. The cast and crew previously filmed there in early August, and are set to return for a week in mid-September. And guess where yours truly will be in mid-September? Vegas, baby, Vegas! I’ll be sure to tell Clooney and Co. hello for you when I inevitably cross paths with them.

With the exception of Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones, all the major players are back, including Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia, Elliott Gould and Bernie Mac. Release date is set for June 8, 2007.