04/29/10

Tops at the Box: Another week, another pathetic list of box office winners. Coming in at No. 1 last weekend was, once again, How To Train Your Dragon, pulling in another (belch)$15 million at the box, upping its five week total to (belch) over $178 million, making it the second highest grossing film so far of 2010. We hear it’s good. We also heard that the year’s so-far No. 1 film, Alice In Wonderland was a new classic. We hear a lot of things.  

More From the Box: Coming in at No. 2 last weekend with over $12 million over its first three days was J-Lo rom-com The Back-Up Plan. First Ricky Martin dances his way into the headlines again and now J-Lo is starring in date night flicks again? Feels like Pseudo-Latina Explosion 1999 all over again! Coming in at No. 3 last weekend was Date Night, a rom-com that might actually be worth checking out. Thus far the Steve Carell and Tina Fey comedy has already grossed $91 million worldwide, marking a new high for awkward geek comedy. Coming in at No. 4 last weekend was The Losers, an action flick many critics are comparing to the upcoming A-Team film. Critics shmitics, The Losers managed to make over $9 million its first three days despite very mixed reviews and no A-list name on the marquee. And, finally, coming in at No. 5 last weekend was new ScreenTime favorite Kick-Ass, a $30 million mash-up genre flick that has already surprised with over $56 million worldwide over its first 10 days. Not bad for a film with an awful trailer and hack marketing. We smell a new cult classic.

Opening this Weekend: Director Roger Kumble, who started his career out strong with Cruel Intentions before coughing up a string of major stinkers (The Sweetest Thing, Just Friends, College Road Trip), has once again scored major studio work, this time for a Talking Animal genre film starring Brendan Fraser. The film, titled Furry Vengeance, promises to be the best can’t-take-your-eyes-off-it piece of trash since Kangaroo Jack. Now, a word from ScreenTime about Brendan Fraser: Look this guy’s late night interview clips up on YouTube. He’s a genuinely strange person who takes on some of the oddest roles in Hollywood. If the right director could find a way to harness his insane/peculiar personality, I could see him doing some interesting work. Furry, however, looks like another major dud. Also out everywhere this week is the much anticipated A Nightmare on Elm Street remake, starring Jackie Earle Haley as the man in the striped sweater and handsome face. Helmed by music video director Samuel Bayer, this looks like one horror remake that might be worthwhile.

New to Home Video: Out this past Tuesday, April 27, was It’s Complicated, Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, something called Five Minutes of Heaven, season five, part two of “The Hills,” straight-to-video sequel The Descent 2 and two awesome new additions to the Criterion Collection, Fugitive Kind and Ang Lee’s Ride With the Devil. (If you’re not familiar with the back story of Lee’s little seen Civil War-era epic, we’d highly suggest reading up on it.) Out this coming Tuesday, May 4, is Leap Year, Nine, Tooth Fairy, Hamlet, Fallen and, as usual, a slew of Blu-ray reissues. So, aside from the Criterion goodness, not much to look forward to at home right now.

ScreenTime Archival Pick: Spike Lee’s 1989 ensemble classic, Do the Right Thing. We know, we know, this is a more obvious choice than usual. We picked it for three reasons: 1) Summer is coming and we consider this to be the best summertime movie ever; 2) this film topped a recently compiled list our favorite films from the 1980s; 3) John Freakin’ Turturro owns! If you’re looking for a less obvious Archival Pick, how about Jean-Luc Godard’s 1962 classic, Vivre Sa Vie. Starring Godard’s then-wife and longtime muse, Anna Karina, this black and white beauty is, as usual for Godard, stuffed with style and swagger. Without films like Vivre the film world would be a much different place. Essential viewing, both of ‘em.

Written by G. William Locke