Spooks Superbad out of top spot as moviegoers cap record summer
Variety Sep 2, 07 4:36 PM CDT
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Moviegoers basked in the glow of Halloween a month early this year, shocking the movie biz by capping the fastest $4 billion in Hollywood summer history. Rob Zombie’s horror remake topped the weekend box office with a record $26.5 million, scaring two-time champ Superbad out of first place - yet the teen romp scored another $11.6 million, totaling $89 million in three weeks.
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Drugs, heartbreak
may have been behind suicide attempt
Fox News Aug 29, 07 3:41 PM CDT
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Owen Wilson won’t appear in Tropic Thunder after an alleged suicide attempt that's made the actor tabloid fodder, Fox News reports. Wilson was to join the production next week in Hawaii but has struck a “mutual agreement” with director Ben Stiller. The news comes on the heels of an Us Weekly report that Wilson was addicted to cocaine and heroin.
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Ratings group slaps 'Brokeback' director's new flick with NC-17
Hollywood Reporter Aug 25, 07 1:45 PM CDT
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Focus Features says it will stand by Ang Lee and his racy new war flick “Lust, Caution,” even though a movie trade group branded the film NC-17. The film industry's Scarlet Letter could cost the pic audiences, ad dollars, and theater distribution, but Focus CEO James Schamus said he won’t “change a frame” to satisfy the MPAA—or even appeal its decision.
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Low-budget teen comedy rakes in $31.2M at box office despite R rating
Variety Aug 20, 07 12:34 AM CDT
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Ribald teen romp "Superbad" triumphed at the box office this weekend, raking in $31.2 million despite an R rating and a modest budget under $20 million, reports Variety . It marks the seventh biggest opening for an R-rated comedy, edging out Judd Apatow's other summer hit, "Knocked Up," which opened in June and has earned $147 million to date.
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Steve McQueen's cachet will be tested when Christie's auctions off his Ferrari
Los Angeles Times Aug 15, 07 5:45 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Growling exhaust and a thumping V-12 engine doesn't usually garner $2 million at luxury auctions, but then this speedster was once owned by a movie star “synonymous with cars, horsepower, racing.” It's Steve McQueen who used to cruise in this ’63 Ferrari, a classic so polished that even the door trim screws are handpicked to perfection. But is McQueen’s name still strong enough to make this baby sell like a Bullitt ?
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Slate of controversial war films on the way
Guardian (UK) Aug 14, 07 7:15 PM CDT
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About a dozen films exploring America's widely debated role in Iraq and Afghanistan are set for release or in production, marking a break with Hollywood's unwritten rules for depicting an ongoing war. Most films made during WW2 were outright propaganda. And films critical of the Vietnam conflict weren't released until three years after the fall of Saigon.
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Driver sues starlet
over alleged drunken car pursuit
Associated Press Aug 14, 07 5:13 PM CDT
(Newser)
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An apparent drunken car chase has already landed starlet Lindsay Lohan in trouble for drugs and in rehab—when she gets out she'll have small claims court on her busy docket. A passenger in the other car is suing, claiming the alleged pursuit was "one of the most frightening experiences" of her life.
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Franchise's third film fails to match second installment
Associated Press Aug 12, 07 7:30 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Critics tried to slash its tires, but Rush Hour 3 still raced to the top of the box office this weekend. The Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker vehicle gauged $50.2 million according to studio estimates, though falling short of the franchise’s second installment Rush Hour 2 , which earned $67.4 million in its debut weekend.
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Pitt mingles with other panel members; trial ends in no contest plea
BBC Aug 10, 07 2:01 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt showed up for jury duty in Los Angeles after a judge ordered him to serve or be slapped with contempt charges, the BBC reports, drawing on a series of breathless updates by TMZ.com. Luckily for the busy actor, yesterday's trial ended immediately after a no contest plea to drunk driving charges.
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Recycled gags fall flat in tired buddy comedy
Rotten Tomatoes Aug 10, 07 7:07 AM CDT
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Legendary martial artist Jackie Chan teams up with peppy funnyman Chris Tucker for the third time since 1998 in Rush Hour 3, but critics are panning the film, opening today, as a flat-tire addition to the buddy-comedy franchise. "It’s a generically crummy action flick. It’s ugly. It’s noisy. It’s stupid," declares Manohla Dargis of the New York Times .
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Creepiest destinations have everything from ghosties to UFOs
Discovery Channel Aug 8, 07 10:54 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Do you like scary movies? Then you may enjoy the real thing even more. The Discovery Channel finds 10 spots guaranteed to send your shorts to the dry cleaners. Lizzy Borden Bed-and-Breakfast, Fall River, Mass. Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, Calif. Roswell, NM Salem, Mass. New Orleans
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Damon's spy thriller earns more in debut than any 007 film
Variety Aug 5, 07 6:13 PM CDT
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Hollywood’s top spy has a new name: Bourne, Jason Bourne. The Bourne Ultimatum shattered box office records this weekend by racking up the largest August opening ever, Variety reports. Domestically, the Matt Damon vehicle grossed $70.2 million, more than the two previous “Bourne” flicks or any James Bond movie.
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