This week:
There are No Strings Attached for Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher at the box office; Will Gluck asks About Last Night; learn about Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho; Ben Affleck ponders his next film as director and Josh Lucas takes flight for Clint Eastwood.
Box Office
Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher’s No Strings Attached topped the box office over the weekend with a decent $20.3 million debut. The R-rated comedy surpassed the start of recent adult-themed comedies, a major factor in this was more than likely Portman’s Black Swan publicity blitz.
The Green Hornet dropped to second place after grossing a smidgen over $18 million. The super hero film has now upped its cume to over $63 million.
Ron Howard’s The Dilemma was down to number three after bringing in another $9.7 million. $33 million in the till means that this will have to go a long way to meet its estimated $70 million production budget.
The King’s Speech was next after grossing another $9.2 million. The $15 million budgeted film has now grossed an impressive $58.5 million.
Jeff Bridges continued his presence in the top ten with True Grit. The Coen brothers’ film has now banked a mighty $138.5 million after scoring another $8 million this weekend.
Sixth place saw Natalie Portman again in Black Swan. The Oscar-tipped film brought in another $6.2 million, upping its total to over $83 million.
Five weeks on the chart sees Little Fockers drop to seven. The Ben Stiller comedy has now grossed $141 million after bringing in just under $5 million.
The Fighter is still in the ring with a $73 million total. The Christian Bale film punched up over $4.5 million through the weekend.
Yogi Bear upped its total to over $88 million. The Justin Timberlake voiced CGI/live action effort grossed an estimated $3.8 million from Friday to Sunday.
The top ten was rounded out by Jeff Bridges – again. TRON: Legacy banked another $3.7 million for a $163 million total. Word on the street is that a sequel might be announced soon!
Movie News
1. Will Gluck has signed on to produce the remake of About Last Night. The Easy A and Friends With Benefits director will help bring a writer and director to the project which is based on the 80s film starring Demi Moore and Rob Lowe.
Well, it’s not like there are too many remakes on the way.
2. Anvil! The Story of Anvil director Sacha Gervasi is set to direct a film about legendary director Alfred Hitchcock.
According to The LA Times:
“Ivan Reitman’s Montecito Pictures are in discussions with Gervasi to take the reins of Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, a long-gestating film based on Stephen Rebello’s 20-year-old book about, well, just what the title says. [It previously had drafts written by Rebello and Black Swan writer John McLaughlin.]”
Anthony Hopkins is apparently in the frame to take the lead role.
3. Ben Affleck is mulling over the opportunity to direct Eric Warren Singer’s script American Bull***t.
Apparently, the film is:
“The true story of Abscam, the FBI’s 1980 undercover sting operation of Congress to root out corruption which was the brainchild of the world’s greatest con man.”
Affleck is hot at the minute, following the success of The Town, so a lot of potential projects are being thrown at him. Will he take it? Who knows.
4. The Closer actress Kyra Sedgwick has signed on to star opposite Jeffrey Dean Morgan in Dibbuk Box.
According to Deadline:
“Sedgwick will play a mom whose youngest child becomes strangely attached to an antique wooden box purchased at a yard sale. The girl’s behavior becomes erratic and her divorced parents get the carvings on the box deciphered and find the box contains a spirit bent on devouring its human host.”
Sam Raimi will produce the film.
5. Josh Lucas will star as famed aviator Charles Lindbergh in Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar.
The Poseidon actor will star opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the biopic for Warner Bros.
That’s it for now. See you at the movies.
