The Screening Log - blogging film

Weekend of October 2 – 4, 2009: The zombies rule them all!

Ruben Fleischer’s excellent horror comedy “Zombieland” stormed the North American box office and slashed its competition this weekend with a solid $25 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The film scored a surprising average of $8,235 per theater at 3,036 locations. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin, the film follows four humans trying to survive in a world taken over by zombies.

At a distant No. 2, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” bagged another $16.7 million, lifting its domestic gross to an impressive $82.3 million after a three-week run. The Sony Pictures Animation release is playing in both 3D and standard format.

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Monday

28Sep2009

Movie Review: “Fame”

Monday, September 28, 2009 at 11:41PM | By

Seen on: September 28, 2009

The players: Director: Kevin Tancharoen, Writer: Allison Burnett, Cast: Kherington Payne, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Paul McGill, Asher Book, Kristy Flores

Facts of interest: Remake of the 1980 "Fame."

The plot: A bunch of youngsters try to survive four years at the prestigious New York City High School of Performing Arts.

Our thoughts: Sure, I’ll remember the name of this disappointing remake, but that’s about it already. I can’t say I’m surprised Kevin Tancharoen’s new version of the 1980 musical lacks energy and heart, and as forgettable as this film is, I also admit I didn’t find this big-screen experience to be as boring as I expected.

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Sunday

27Sep2009

Box Office: 'Meatballs' defeats 'Surrogates,' 'Fame'

Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 2:13PM | By

Weekend of September 25 – 27, 2009: 'Meatballs' reigns as new releases struggle

Sony Pictures Animation’s “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” topped the North American box office for the second consecutive weekend with a decent $24.6 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Scoring an average of $7,887 per theater at 3,119 locations, the animated adventure brought its domestic total to $60 million after a little more than one week in release. The film is playing in both 3D and standard format.

At No. 2, Jonathan Mostow’s “Surrogates” debuted with $15 million via an average of $5,083 per theater at 2,951 locations. In the film, Bruce Willis plays a cop investigating a murder in a world in which humans use surrogates to complete everyday tasks.

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Saturday

26Sep2009

'Chance of Meatballs' holds on to No. 1

Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 5:50PM | By

Sony Pictures Animation's 3D adventure "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" delivered yet another strong performance at the top of the North American box office Friday with an estimated $5.6 million in ticket sales, lifting its domestic total gross to $41 million after a superb one-week run.

At No. 2, Bruce Willis' new sci-fi action flick "Surrogates" debuted with $5.1 million. The Jonathan Mostow-directed film is set in a world in which humans use surrogates to complete everyday tasks. Willis plays an FBI agent who investigates the first homicide in years.

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Monday

21Sep2009

This week's new movie releases - Sept. 25, 2009

Monday, September 21, 2009 at 8:21PM | By

Opening this week are "Surrogates" with Bruce Willis; "Fame" with Kherington Payne; "Pandorum" with Ben Foster and Dennis Quaid; and "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" with Matt Czuchry and Jesse Bradford.

SURROGATES (with Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell)

Synopsis: People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates, but when the first murder in years jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer (Willis) discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate, risking his life to unravel the mystery.

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Wednesday

02Sep2009

The Big 2009 Fall Movie Preview: September

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 6:49PM | By

HERE'S WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN SEPTEMBER

The summer season at the movies has come to an end, and it's time to look ahead. Fall is next, and this is The Screening Log's ultimate preview for the coming season of big-screen entertainment. To do things a bit differently, every month gets its own entry, and we start with what September has to offer:

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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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Wednesday

17Jun2009

About that new 'Fame' trailer...

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 11:38AM | By

While the teaser trailer for Kevin Tancharoen's upcoming "Fame" remake (it opens Sept. 25, 2009) didn't really show us much, this new feature preview offers viewers a first good look at the characters and central story line.

We've seen quite a few musicals heading our way on the big screen during the past years, and while some delivered the goods, others kind of fell flat. At this stage I obviously don't know where to place "Fame," but judging by this trailer, it all already looks a tad too familiar.

Sure, the energetic music definitely won me over, but all the drama going on around it is already starting to bug me a little. I'm all for stories about a bunch of kids dreaming big and tackling the challenges they face on the road to success, but you can do all that without too much melodrama and monotony.

But hey, this is still only a trailer, and appearances can indeed be deceiving. "Fame" stars Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth, Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Walter Perez and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle.

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Thursday

12Feb2009

New pics for 'Fame' remake, 'Jennifer's Body'

Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 4:52PM | By

The folks at Entertainment Weekly visited the set of Kevin Tancharoen's upcoming remake of Alan Parker’s 1980 musical “Fame" and posted a new pic of Kherington Payne (pictures below on the left).

The picture on the right is a still from Karyn Kusama's horror flick "Jennifer's Body," written by Diablo Cody and starring Megan Fox (pictured on the right) as a man-eater who thinks her friend Needy's boyfriend would make the perfect dinner. Amanda Seyfried and Johnny Simmons co-star.

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Sunday

30Nov2008

Four more join 'Fame' cast

Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 9:01PM | By

Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally and Bebe Neuwirth are the latest to join MGM’s remake of Alan Parker’s 1980 musical “Fame."

Thomas Dekker, Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Walter Perez and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle are also on board.

Kevin Tancharoen is directing the film, which focuses on young performers trying either to get in or survive the school year at the prestigious High School for the Performing Arts in New York.

According to Variety, Dutton, Grammer, Mullally, Neuwirth and Debbie Allen play the instructors and supervisors in the movie, which will start shooting this week.

Grammer was last seen in "An American Carol;" Mullally is known for her role as Karen on "Will & Grace;" Neuwirth starred in "Frasier;" and Dutton recently appeared in "The Express."

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