The Screening Log - blogging film

Weekend of Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2009: Michael Jackson film triumphs with $21M

Sony Pictures’ Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It” prevailed at the top of the North American box office this weekend with $21.3 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The Kenny Ortega-directed film opened at 3,481 locations Wednesday, bagging $11.1 million in two days. The domestic total of “This Is It” currently stands at a solid $32.5 million.

Most of the film's footage was shot in June 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. It includes scenes drawn from hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage.

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Wednesday

28Oct2009

Movie Review: “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant”

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 9:34PM | By

Seen on: October 19, 2009

The players: Director: Paul Weitz, Writers: Brian Helgeland, Paul Weitz, Cast: John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Massoglia, Ray Stevenson

Facts of interest: Based on the books by Darren Shan.

The plot: A teenager visits a freak show and decides to jump on board and become a vampire, which really pisses off his best friend. A rivalry ensues...

Our thoughts: Paul Weitz’s “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” is the beginning of something we may even never get to see. It’s merely an introduction to what could be a more intriguing story, and that’s the main reason I simply couldn’t connect with this dark, periodically humorous vampire tale.

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Saturday

24Oct2009

'Paranormal Activity' beats 'Saw VI' Friday!

Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 11:30PM | By

This just keeps getting better and better. Just as I expected, Paramount's surprise suspense thriller "Paranormal Activity" overpowered new entry "Saw VI" at the North American box office Friday with a superb $7.6 million in ticket sales after expanding to 1,945 locations.

Oren Peli's excellent thriller lifted its domestic total to $48 million. Meanwhile, Lionsgate's "Saw VI" opened at 3,036 locations and bagged $7 million Friday, enough for second place. The sixth installment in the series picks up where the last film ended and digs deeper into Jigsaw's past.

Things didn't go that well for this week's other new releases. Paul Weitz's "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," about a teenager who joins a freak show and becomes a vampire, only made it to No. 7 with a daily gross of $2.2 million from ticket sales at 2,754 locations.

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Sunday

18Oct2009

This week's new movie releases - October 23, 2009

Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 11:33PM | By

Opening this week are Kevin Greutert's "Saw VI"; Paul Weitz's "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant"; Mira Nair's "Amelia" with Hilary Swank and Richard Gere; and David Bowers' "Astro Boy."

SAW VI (directed by Kevin Greutert)

Synopsis: Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood.

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Thursday

27Aug2009

So-so clip from 'Vampire's Assistant' debuts online

Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 6:49PM | By

While Chris Weitz recently wrapped the vampire romance "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," his brother Paul has been hanging around vampires as well. Paul Weitz's latest directing gig is "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," and a first clip from the upcoming adventure has hit the Web. Watch after the jump.

Based on a series of books by Darren Shan, the film centers on a young man who attends an illegal freak show and later decides to join the club. Before he knows it, he finds himself at the center of a nasty feud between vampires and their rival clan.

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Tuesday

25Aug2009

Great poster for 'Whip It' & sucky one for 'Vampire'

Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 12:44PM | By

Today, I've got four new posters for you to enjoy (or not). The first one after the jump (from MTV) is for Drew Barrymore's upcoming directorial debut "Whip It," a film that centers on Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page), a Texas teenager who finds a way of dealing with her misery after she discovers a roller derby league. It's a great one-sheet.

The one among this selection I hate is the new poster for "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant." It's a crappy one indeed, with the lead putting on that Robert Pattinson look and the more interesting character looming in the background. Why not give them more room or something?

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Saturday

08Aug2009

Poster Madness: 'Whiteout;' 'A Serious Man;' 'Extract'

Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 1:50PM | By

Another week is coming to an end, and it's time to go back and check up on recent movie poster releases on the Web. Check out one-sheets for "Whiteout" and "A Serious Man," among others, below.

The first poster below is for Dominic Sena's upcoming action thriller "Whiteout," in which Kate Beckinsale plays a deputy marshal heading to Antarctica to investigate a ruthless murder before the threatening arctic winter begins. It's a simple sheet, but it looks decent nonetheless.

Next up is the new one-sheet for Ethan and Joel Coen's new film "A Serious Man," about a physics professor whose life starts to fall apart when his wife decides to leave him, his lazy brother refuses to move out, his son has problems at school, and his daughter is trying to get a nose job.

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