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By Bill Bonfanti on
12/30/2008 5:47 PM
Wow. Another year has passed already. Time flies when there are so many amazing shows on television. Here are my top 10 shows for the year.
1- Lost – This is the best show ever! I’ve never been so passionate about a show before (and I’m passionate about them all). The brilliance of Lost isn’t the crazy where the hell are they storyline. The brilliance comes from the fact that even though this may be the most epic, mind boggling serialized show in history, each episode feels self contained due to the focus on one characters flashback (or flash forward) storyline. Lost climbed back to the top of everyone’s must watch list in its fourth season, after what some describe as a lackluster third season, although in my opinion the show has always been incredible. I...
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By Bill Bonfanti on
12/29/2008 1:00 PM
It was a busy holiday weekend at the box office as 4 out of 5 new releases had scorching debuts. Family drama Marley & Me, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston led the way, with a big #1 debut, exceeding all industry expectations. Adam Sandler’s family comedy, Bedtime Stories, and Brad Pitt’s Oscar contender, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, opened to similar results, although Button, performed better overall due to less theatres and less show times. Tom Cruise cemented his comeback, with World War II drama, Valkyrie, while Frank Miller’s solo directorial debut, The Spirit, bombed big time.
Marley & Me opened on Christmas day to a huge $14.7M, setting a new record for the holiday. It went on to gross $37M over the weekend for a powerful $51.7M 4 day debut,...
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By Bill Bonfanti on
12/24/2008 4:46 PM
Christmas day arrives with 5 presents for moviegoers under the tree. This is one crowded holiday weekend with enough choices to satisfy everyone. All predictions for this weekend are for the 4 day holiday frame starting on Christmas day.
First up, is Disney’s Bedtime Stories starring Adam Sandler. The film has been marketed really well and is sure to be a big hit. Sandler has made a brilliant career move making a family film and it will pay off. Sandler is in esteemed company in branching out into family comedies, joining Ben Stiller (Night at the Museum), Eddie Murphy and Mike Meyers (the Shrek movies) and Jim Carrey (The Grinch, Horton Hears a Who), all of which have had major success in the genre. Look for Bedtime Stories to rake in $45M over the 4 day frame and to become Adam Sandler’s 10th movie to gross over $100M.
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By Bill Bonfanti on
12/22/2008 3:01 PM
It’s been several weeks since it has been announced that ABC is cancelling Eli Stone, but I’m stilled really bummed out about it. This is a wonderful show that appeals to both fans of serialized television and those who prefer episodic television. Each episode contains a case that you know will be concluded by episodes end while propelling the story of Eli as a prophet and how that affects him and his wonderful supporting cast. This is the rare show that can mix legal drama, subtle comedy and song and dance numbers to blazing success. Hell… this show even made George Michael famous again (for reasons not involving rest stop men’s rooms). Johnny Lee Miller is perfectly cast as Eli Stone and deserves the opportunity to evolve this character over several seasons. The supporting cast is terrific,...
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By Bill Bonfanti on
12/22/2008 11:44 AM
Jim Carrey’s latest comedy, Yes Man, opened at #1 this weekend edging out Will Smith’s confusing drama, Seven Pounds. Although Carrey had the top spot, he should keep the celebrating to a minimum, as Yes Man opened to a slim $18.2M. Yes Man opened lower than most industry expectations and even performed worse than the dismal Fun With Dick and Jane, Carrey’s last comedy offering (not counting Horton Hears a Who) from 3 years ago. Dick and Jane opened during the holiday season as well, and did go on to make $110M, so Jim has a chance to steer Yes Man into moderate hit territory. I would look for Yes Man to have slim declines over the holiday weeks and wind up with a final gross in the $90M range.
The trailer for Seven Pounds is unique in that it doesn’t give anything away...
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By Bill Bonfanti on
12/19/2008 4:49 PM
 With the December 25th release of his new film, Valkyrie, and a Golden Globe nomination for his hilarious turn in Tropic Thunder, Tom Cruise is on the comeback trail. Too be fair, it was never Mr. Cruise’s films, but his public persona, that led his career into a downward spiral the last few years. Being honest, I think Tom has been raked over the coals for no real reason at all. Shouldn’t actors, directors and all artists alike be judged on their body of work and not who they are in real life? Tom Cruise has entertained audiences with great movie after great movie for 25 years! He deserves respect and admiration for that alone. Really, did Tom deserve to be ridiculed for the things he has done and said in the last few years? Let’s examine. Let’s start with the Oprah incident. Tom jumps up and down on a couch to proclaim his love for Katie Holmes. A man who is one of the most popular
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By Bill Bonfanti on
12/19/2008 11:30 AM
Moviegoers are offered three new films this weekend as Yes Man, Seven Pounds and The Tale of Despereaux invade multiplexes. It is quite a mixed bag ranging from comedy to heavy drama to animated adventure, and ones box office take should not influence the other.
Jim Carrey returns to his comedy roots for the first time in 3 years with Yes Man. Carrey plays a man who has never taken any risks, says no to everything in life, until one day he learns the power of the word yes and hilarious antics ensue. Jim Carrey fans can rejoice in the fact that the former comedy king is back after a long absence, but this one looks more like it will perform like the terrible Fun With Dick and Jane than his comedy classics such as Bruce Almighty and Liar, Liar. Don’t get me wrong,...
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By Bill Bonfanti on
12/15/2008 2:51 PM
The Day the Earth Stood Still grabbed the #1 spot at the box office this weekend, grossing $31M, even lower than my already low (for this type of movie) $40M prediction. Fox can be happy that it had its first #1 opening since Horton Hears a Who opened with $45M this past March. They won’t be happy when they realize that their Keanu Reeves sci-fi vehicle isn’t going to have any legs in the coming weeks. Reviews have been bad and word of mouth has been poor. Expect a 60% drop next weekend and the final domestic tally to be a disappointing $60-$65M.
The Christmas spirit didn’t extend to Latino family drama, Nothing Like the Holidays, which debuted with a paltry $3.5M despite decent reviews and a strong cast. Maybe it will have better luck on DVD next holiday season. This week’s third new release, the animated fantasy adventure film, Delgo, bombed even bigger than I expected,...
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By Bill Bonfanti on
12/12/2008 2:42 PM
The Golden Globe nominations are in and there are quite a few surprises and plenty of odd omissions.
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By Bill Bonfanti on
12/12/2008 1:32 PM
This weekend moviegoers will have 3 new options at the multiplex; the Sci-Fi remake, The Day the Earth Stood Still starring Keanu Reeves, family movie, Nothing Like the Holidays starring John Leguizamo and animated adventure film, Delgo, featuring the voice talents of Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The marketing campaign for The Day the Earth Stood Still has been super strong making awareness of this film very high. Unfortunately, the reviews haven’t been good and Keanu Reeves box office performance is spotty at best. For every hit like Speed or The Matrix, there are big flops like The Watcher or Sweet November. Sci-Fi is his best performing genre though, so The Day the Earth Stood Still should attract a decent audience this weekend. Fox is also sweetening the pot by premiering the trailer for X-Men Origins: Wolverine in front of the film which should definitely...
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