The Screening Log - blogging film

Weekend of October 9 – 11, 2009: 'Couples Retreat' wins; 'Paranormal Activity' delivers!

Universal’s comedy “Couples Retreat” safely landed at the top of the North American box office this weekend with a solid $35.3 million in ticket sales at 3,000 locations, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Starring Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell and Jason Bateman, the film follows four couples traveling to a prestigious tropical island resort where they’re forced to partake in numerous couple therapy sessions.

Also breaking into the top 10 this weekend was “Paranormal Activity,” which expanded to 159 locations and took the No. 5 spot with a superb $7 million. The film’s early total gross currently stands at $8.2 million.

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Monday

05Oct2009

The best movie weekend of 2009 so far?

Monday, October 5, 2009 at 1:20AM | By

In terms of quality of the overall new releases this past weekend, I think it's fair to say that it's been one of the best movie weekends of the year so far, and I say that because I really enjoyed all the films I saw.

Now, don't get me wrong. Looking at the new releases of Oct. 2, 2009 individually, I wouldn't qualify any of them as one of the year's best, but taken together, they offered me a great time at the theater this weekend.

Sure, I've seen quite a few fantastic films so far this year, but most of them were accompanied by at least one mediocre or really sucky film during their opening weekend. Not so this weekend!

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Sunday

04Oct2009

'The Ugly Truth' wins overseas box office race

Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 5:19PM | By

Sony's romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth" worked its way to the top of the overseas box office this weekend with an estimated $12.1 million in ticket sales after expanding to 54 territories.

Starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler as two TV personalities struggling to get along, the film has reached an international total gross of $70.8 million.

At No. 2, Jonathan Mostow's sci-fi action flick "Surrogates" took home $11.4 million, reaching a cumulative gross of $28.4 million. Willis plays a cop in a world where humans use surrogates to perform everyday tasks.

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Sunday

04Oct2009

Box Office: 'Zombieland' destroys competition

Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 2:07PM | By

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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Saturday

03Oct2009

'Zombieland' rules Friday box office with $9.4M

Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 4:24PM | By

Ruben Fleischer's hilarious horror comedy "Zombieland" delivered a superb start at the North American box office Friday, grossing $9.4 million from ticket sales at 3,036 locations. That's a solid performance indeed.

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. I absolutely enjoyed it, and I'm glad it's doing this well.

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Friday

02Oct2009

Movie Review: “The Invention of Lying”

Friday, October 2, 2009 at 10:47PM | By

Seen on: October 2, 2009

The players: Directors: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson, Writers: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson, Cast: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K.

Facts of interest: Gervais also starred in "Ghost Town."

The plot: In a world in which no one lies, Ricky Gervais plays a loser who discovers he has the ability to not tell the truth.

Our thoughts: Ricky Gervais returns to the big screen with “The Invention of Lying,” a thoroughly amusing little comedy set in a world in which lying does not exist. In this film, people tell the truth and nothing but the truth, and trust me, I don’t lie either when I say this is quite a funny big-screen experience.

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Monday

28Sep2009

This week's new movie releases - October 2, 2009

Monday, September 28, 2009 at 1:31PM | By

Opening this week are Ricky Gervais' "The Invention of Lying" with Jennifer Garner; "Whip It" with Ellen Page; "Zombieland" with Woody Harrelson; and Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story."

ZOMBIELAND (with Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg)

Synopsis: "Zombieland" focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is a big wuss - but when you're afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive.

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Tuesday

01Sep2009

New poster for 'The Invention of Lying'

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 1:23AM | By

Funny man Ricky Gervais ("Ghost Town") returns to the big screen in a lead role in his upcoming comedy "The Invention of Lying," and the folks at Cinematical have received a cool new poster you should check out after the jump. It's simple, yet appealing, and certainly refreshing to look at. Okay, Jennifer Garner is refreshing to look at.

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Monday

29Jun2009

Trailer for Ricky Gervais' 'The Invention of Lying'

Monday, June 29, 2009 at 11:54AM | By

Ricky Gervais's next project (co-diretced with Matthew Robinson) is a comedy entitled "The Invention of Lying," which will hit theaters Sept. 25, 2009. A first trailer for the film debuted online, and you should check it out below.

The flick is set in a world where lying does not exist. Everyone - from politicians to advertisers to the man and woman on the street - speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences.

But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards. In a world where every word is assumed to be the absolute truth, Mark easily lies his way to fame and fortune.

But lies have a way of spreading, and Mark begins to realize that things are getting a little out of control when some of his tallest tales are being taken as, well, gospel. Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill and Rob Lowe co-star.

Sounds like a charming concept, and judging by this footage, "Lying" seems to be typical Gervais comedy and along the lines of "Ghost Town," a film I really enjoyed. What do you think?

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