Weekend Box Office: September 7-9

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1.  The Possession - $9.5 million

2.  Lawless - $6 million

3.  The Words - $5 million

4.  The Expendables 2 - $4.7 million

5.  The Bourne Legacy - $4 million

6.  ParaNorman - $3.8 million

7.  The Odd Life of Timothy Green - $3.6 million

8.  The Campaign - $3.5 million

9.  The Dark Knight Rises - $3.285 million

10.  2016 Obama's America - $3.281 million

It was a box-office weekend that only an Oogielove could appreciate.  The Possession took the top spot for the second weekend in a row, but earned just $9.5 million, which means no one was really going to the movies this weekend.  Of the new releases, The Words fared best, although that only made an estimated $5 million and just barely beat Expendables 2, which is in its 4th weekend (that earned $4.7 million).

The weekend's other new wide release fell well outside the top ten, as The Cold Light of Day - starring next year's Man of Steel Henry Cavill - stumbled with just $1.8 million, landing it in 13th place.  Ouch.

One movie that is doing quite well is 2016 Obama's America, whose $26 million makes it the second-highest grossing political documentary behind Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, which earned $119 million in 2004. 

And if anyone is still tracking those Oogieloves, that historic bomb still hasn't cracked the $1 million mark since losing most of its screens this weekend.  Its current domestic total stands at $985,196.

The one movie absolutely worth heading out to see this weekend was the re-release of Raiders of the Lost Ark, which earned $1.7 million from 267 IMAX locations.  I saw that one yesterday - honestly, if they made more movies like Raiders, we'd have fewer depressing weekends like this one.  That movie's 31 years old and hasn't lost a thing.

Next weekend looks bit livelier...or undead, considering it's the latest Resident Evil film taking over the multiplex.  Another big re-release is headed our way as well, with Finding Nemo returning to theaters in glorious 3D.  For those ready to start their Oscar watch, Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master also opens next weekend.  So next week should have some better news from the box office. 

SKYFALL - TURKEY LOCATIONS VIDEOBLOG

We are getting close to the release of the highly anticipated new Bond movie and this new videoblog takes a look at the Turkey location shoot, the location where the opening sequence was shot.

As everyone knows the pre-credits sequence of a Bond movie is a big deal, many of them are iconic and each director looks to deliver a memorable one, and judging by this videoblog Sam Mendes may well have created one of the franchise' best chases!

Celluloid Nightmares Launches Upcoming Production & Sales Slate

Celluloid Nightmares, the foreign sales partnership between LA-based XYZ Films and Paris-based Celluloid Dreams, has acquired world sales rights to a slate of film projects that are starting production over the next few months.  The company’s projects span a number of genres hailing from multiple territories around the world. XYZ Films and Celluloid Nightmares will be introducing these projects, along with the company's current slate, during the Toronto International Film Festival next month.
 
STAGE FRIGHT from Serendipity Point Films (EASTERN PROMISES, BARNEY’S VERSION) marks the feature film debut from director Jerome Sable.  Sable is best known as the director of the short film THE LEGEND OF BEAVER DAM which was a recent TIFF Midnight Madness selection as well as a Sundance selection.  The musical/horror film has Meat Loaf and Minnie Driver confirmed for the cast and has a scheduled September production start.  
 
THESE FINAL HOURS is a sci-fi thriller from first-time Australian director, Zak Hilditch.  The film follows a self-obsessed young man who makes his way to the party-to end-all-parties on the last day on Earth, but ends up saving the life of a little girl searching for her father. Their relationship ultimately leads him on the path to redemption. The film will begin production in Perth, Australia in October with the support of Screen Australia.  
 
CREEPING ZERO is a European co-production from director Billy O’Brien (ISOLATION, a TIFF Midnight Madness title from 2005).  The sci-fi film is scheduled to start shooting October 29th in Budapest and will star John Boyega (ATTACK THE BLOCK), Ashley Hinshaw (CHRONICLE), Eddie Marsan (SHERLOCK HOLMES) and Adam Deacon (ANUVAHOOD). CREEPING ZERO is budgeted at 7 million Euro. 
 
KILLERS is a Japanese/Indonesian co-production between Guerrilla Merah Productions and Gareth Evans’ Pt. Merantau Films (THE RAID) out of Indonesia and Nikkatsu (COLD FISH) out of Japan.  This serial-killer thriller from directors The Mo Brothers (MACABRE), follows two contrasting serial killers inadvertently discover each other’s existence, as the world around them falls apart, their paths will cross in a violent collision. Starring an international cast, the film is has just commenced production. 
 
Rounding out the slate is ON THE JOB TRAINING, a Filipino action thriller being directed by Erik Matti (TIK TIK: THE ASWANG CHRONICLES) which is scheduled to start production on October 1st. The film is inspired by actual political scandal in the Philippines in which politicians, gangsters and prison official cooperated to use prison inmates as assassins to commit hits outside the prison walls. 
 
XYZ Films is next producing BERANDAL (aka THE RAID 2) which starts production in January and is currently in pre-production in Jakarta, Indonesia. They are alsoproducing THE RAID, an English-language remake which is currently in development at Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems.  The company is in post-production on THE RAMBLER, directed by Calvin Reeder and starring Dermot Mulroney; and FRANKENSTEIN'S ARMY, directed by Richard Raaphorst. They are also handling world sales on the film RAZE, which is currently in post-production and starring Zoe Bell and Rachel Nichols.
 
"We're excited to be working with and supporting these talented filmmakers from around the world,” said XYZ Films’ and Celluloid Nightmares’ partner Nate Bolotin.  “With filmmakers from Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, the UK and Ireland honing their unique craft to smart genre and story, the marketplace and eventual audiences should keep their eyes peeled."
 

Freestyle Releasing Takes U.S. Rights To "Funeral Kings"

Freestyle Releasing announced today that they have acquired all U.S. rights to FUNERAL KINGS, the charming, critically acclaimed comedy that was written, produced and directed by brothers Kevin McManus and Matthew McManus. The film was executive produced by Andrew  van den Houten (‘’The Woman,” “In the Family”) and stars Dylan Hartigan (“The Black Donnellys”), Alex Maizus, Jordan Puzzo, and Charles Odei (“The Good Wife”).  Michaela McManus (“The Vampire Diaries”), Michael Delaney (“The Other Guys”), and Kevin Corrigan (“Superbad”) round out the cast. FUNERAL KINGS debuted as an official selection at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and is slated for a fall release.
 
It's always a good day for a funeral at St. Mark's Middle School in Rhode Island. Andy and Charlie, two altar boys, don't just get to miss class anytime a parishioner kicks the bucket, they cut out early and play hooky as soon as the service is over. Eventually their irreverent personalities will put them in a situation that is too big for them to handle.
 
The deal for the U.S. rights was negotiated by Freestyle Releasing’s Co-President Susan Jackson and Andrew van den Houten, President of Modernciné.   
 
“Kevin and Matthew McManus are talented new filmmakers who bring a fresh humor to the adventures of these ne’er-do-well New England Altar boys. We absolutely love the film and can’t wait to bring it to audiences,” said Jackson.

“Funeral Kings was an audience and critics hit at SXSW and Fantasia and we are delighted to secure U.S. distribution with Freestyle for this very funny film,” said Andrew van den Houten.

Isabel Lucas To Star in "Careful What You Wish For"

Hyde Park-Image Nation, Troika Pictures and Merced Media Partners have announced that they will finance and produce the thriller CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. The film, to be directed by Elizabeth Allen (“Ramona and Beezus,” “Aquamarine”), was written by Chris Frisina and will star Isabel Lucas (“Transformer 2,” “Immortals”). Producing are Hyde Park’s Ashok Amritraj along with Troika’s Robert Stein, Michael A. Helfant and Bradley Gallo, and Myriad Pictures’ Kirk D'Amico. Executive Producers are William Gallo, Chris Frisina and Merced Media Partners’ Raj Singh, Stuart Brown and Kevin Frakes.  Philip Cohen is Co-Executive Producer. Hyde Park International will represent worldwide rights at the Toronto International Film Festival.
 
Self-conscious high school student Doug Martin gets more than he bargained for when he starts a torrid affair with Lena—the young, lonely wife of a wealthy businessman renting the lake house next door.  But when a serious crime rocks their sleepy vacation town, Doug is let in on a devastating secret and suddenly finds himself a suspect in this sexy thriller reminiscent of “Basic Instinct” and “Body Heat.”
 
Lucas is in high demand after completing roles that include the upcoming Terrence Malick film KNIGHT OF CUPS, as well as starring in the new RED DAWN and THE LOFT.  In addition to Lucas, two other A-list stars will be cast in other roles. 
 
The film will commence principal photography in the first quarter of 2013. 
 
"I look forward to bringing the fascinating characters to life in this provocative and sexy coming of age thriller.  The lead character of Lena is a uniquely complex femme fatale -- a compelling archetype that hasn't been brought to the screen in some time and is due a revival.  I am thrilled to be collaborating with the talented Isabel Lucas on this project and am excited by the depth and mystery she will infuse into the film," said Allen. 
 
CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR has a lot of heat coming into Toronto with the film having already been sold to Square One for Germany, Swen for Latin America, Grandview for Eastern Europe, Phars for the Middle East, Aqua Pinema for Turkey, Lusomundo for Portugal, Ster Kinekor for South Africa and PT Amero for Indonesia.

"You May Not Kiss The Bride" Trailer

YOU MAY NOT KISS THE BRIDE is a charming tale of adventurous high jinx and budding romance involving an unassuming pet photographer (Annable) who is thrown head first into a series of unforeseeable events when he's forced to marry a Croatian mobster’s daughter (McPhee) and spend his honeymoon at a secluded Tahitian resort where the bride is kidnapped.

New "Wake In Fright" Poster From Drafthouse Films

Official Selection Cannes Film Festival 2009 – Cannes Classics
Cannes Film Festival 1971 – Official Competition
TIFF 2009 – Official Selection

 “Wake In Fright is a deeply – and I mean deeply – unsettling and disturbing movie. I saw it when it premiered at Cannes in 1971, and it left me speechless. Visually, dramatically, atmospherically and psychologically, its beautifully calibrated and it gets under your skin one encounter at a time, right along with the protagonist played by Gary Bond. I’m excited that Wake In Fright has been preserved and restored and that it is finally getting the exposure it deserves.” –Martin Scorsese, 2012 

“Powerful, Genuinely Shocking & Rather Amazing!”-Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times 

“The Best & Most Terrifying Film About Australia In Existence.”-Nick Cave

The film made its world premiere at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival where it was nominated for a Palme D'Or and its US distribution rights were sold. Retitled Outback and hurried into a few theaters across the country, the film barely played for more than a week before it was yanked from circulation due to poor attendance and lack of advertising. Wake In Fright vanished into obscurity, barely reviewed by American critics and not ever appearing on domestic VHS or DVD.

For over three decades the film materials were thought to be lost until the film's persistent cinematographer unearthed the original negative elements in Philadelphia in canisters marked for destruction just one week away from its impending incineration. The materials were painstakingly restored frame-by-frame at Sydney's AtLab Deluxe with the support of the National Film And Sound Archive of Australia. The new restoration was invited back to Cannes by guest curator Martin Scorsese, where it held the honor of being one of two films to ever screen twice at the festival (the other being Antonioni's L'Avventura).

Virtually unseen in the US and renowned in its home country after years of neglect for its daring criticism, Wake In Fright is ripe for rediscovery, and returns after 40 years to reclaim its title as one of the most awe-inspiring, brutal and stunning films of all time.

Wake in Fright is the story of John Grant (Gary Bond), a bonded teacher who arrives in the rough Australian outback mining town of Bundanyabba, planning to stay overnight before catching the plane to Sydney. But, as his one night stretches to five, he plunges headlong toward his own destruction. When the alcohol-induced mist lifts, the educated John Grant is no more. Instead there is a self-loathing man in a desolate wasteland, dirty, red-eyed, sitting against a tree and looking at a rifle with one bullet left.

Indican Pictures Picks Up Rights To "A Green Story"

Indican Pictures announced today that it has acquired exclusive North American rights to the Van Vlahakis biopic, A Green Story. Indican plans to release the film theatrically in April, 2013 . Through the deal, Indican also holds all video, television, ancillary and VOD rights in North America.

From Paramyth Films, A Green Story stars Ed O’Ross, Shannon Elizabeth, Annabella Sciorra, George Finn, Malcolm McDowell, Billy Zane and chronicles the life of Van Vlahakis, a Greek immigrant who arrived in America with only $22 in his pocket and eventually founded the multi-million dollar Green company, Earth Friendly Products. 

The movie was written and directed by Paramyth’s Nika Agiashvili and filmed in Los Angeles, Chicago and on location in Greece. Agiashvili produced alongside John Edward Lee, Dimitri Birbilis, Deanna Plascencia and Chadwick Struck. Paramyth’s David Agiashvili served as executive producer.

Nika Agiashvili said, “We are very pleased to be working with Indican on A Green Story. They understand the message of the movie and have a great vision for releasing the film and showcasing it to audiences.”

VP of Indican Pictures, Randolph Kent said, “Indican Pictures is proud to release ‘A Green Story’. A timely film in a decade when corporate greed runs rampant and the concerns of consumers are cast aside. It’s fascinating to see Van Vlahakis stand up for what he believes, take on the powers that be and create safer products for consumers – all the while showing the ‘rags to riches’ tale can be done with honor and dignity.”

The deal was brokered by Glen Reynolds and Zac Reeder from Circus Road Films.

Located in Beverly Hills, Paramyth Films is a fully financed development and production company that produces story driven content for theatrical release and straight-to-DVD markets with budgets of $2M to $3M.

Indican Pictures acquires and distributes feature films to a broad range of entertainment outlet by providing a diverse selection of independent films (action, comedy, documentary, drama, family, foreign, horror, sci-fi, thriller and urban) across theatrical, home video, TV, VOD, PPV and streaming platforms.  Additionally, Indican has expanded into foreign market and territories, licensing their content worldwide. Indican features are represented and sold AFM, Berlin, Cannes, DISCOP, HKFilmart, MIPCOM, MIPTV, NAPTE and Toronto.

Guess Who's Playing Joe Paterno?

In news that shouldn't shock anyone, a feature-film is moving forward about Penn State's once legendary, now infamous head football coach, Joe Paterno.  Along with this, Michael Corleone himself, Al Pacino, is attached to play the title role.

The picture will be built around the newly released New York Times Bestseller, Paterno, a biography written by Joe Posnaski that was in the works long before the recent, national scandal.

While the biographical novel is said to focus on Paterno's early life and rise as one of college football's most prestigious coaches, his tragic fall from glory centered around his former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky's pedophile crimes and Paterno's own ignorance in the matter will be the main selling point of the film.

No word yet on who will direct or what actor will play Sandusky (can't imagine it would be a heavily sought after role), but expect much news to break on this project in the coming months.

As for Al Pacino playing JoePa...couldn't be a more perfect choice.

Source: Deadline

Star Trek Sequel Title Headed "Into Darkness"

Fitting this news-item leaked on the 46^th anniversary of the landmark, original series. Coming Soon knows the title for J.J. Abrams' Star Trek sequel:

Star Trek Into Darkness.

Heard worse titles, then again also heard better. Remember the freak out heard round the Internet when The Phantom Menace was announced as the title for Episode I? Too soon to get worked up over an admittedly crummy, sounding title. Most still want to know if Abrams will reduce himself to re-implementing Khan into the mix and when we'll get our first glimpse at footage.