Celeb News Aggregate
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Actress Julia Stiles' dream of turning writer Sylvia Plath's acclaimed novel The Bell Jar is taking shape--she will produce and star in the film adaptation of the book.
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Box Office Analysis: Dec. 21 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King came in first place at the box office, followed by Mona Lisa Smile Something's Gotta Give The Last Samurai Stuck on You Elf Bad Santa The Haunted Mansion Love Don't Cost a Thing Honey Calendar Girls House of Sand and Fog
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Box office analysis for Jan. 19, 2003. Top 10 Kangaroo Jack, National Security, Just Married, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Catch Me If You Can, Chicago, A Guy Thing, About Schmidt, The Hours, Two Weeks Notice.
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Gwyneth Paltrow says her comments in Now magazine about the British dating scene were misunderstood, and she wants to set the record straight.
Madonna Guy Ritchie Swept Away Maggie Gyllenhaal Julia Roberts Mona Lisa Smile Steven Soderbergh George Clooney David Mamet the Rolling Stones Moby Eminem Triumph The Insult Comic Dog
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On May 8 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences will begin a yearlong celebration in honor of its 75th anniversary
Oscar 75th Anniversary Denise Richards Charlie Sheen Julia Stiles Smithy's Films Eric Gitter Steve Scavelli Roger Ebert Overlooked Film Festival Pixar Disney Finding Nemo The Incredibles Cars John McCain Faith of My Fathers Robert Michael Geisler John Roberdeau Dylan McDermott Macaulay Culkin Seth Green Marilyn Manson Chloe Sevigny Natasha Lyonne AMC Movie Trailer Mike Nelson Tribune Broadcasting Jenny Jones Sylvester Stallone Video Software Dealers Assn Convention Shaolin Soccer Hong Kong Film Awards Reginald Rose
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Box Office Analysis: Sept. 9 Happy Accidents L.I.E. Rock Star Soul Survivors The Iron Ladies The Musketeer Two Can Play That Game
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Box Office Analysis: Dec. 9 Ocean's Eleven Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Behind Enemy Lines Spy Game Monster's Inc Black Knight Shallow Hal Amelie Domestic Disturbance
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Box Office Analysis: Sept. 2 Jeepers Creepers Rush Hour 2 American Pie 2 O Jay and Silent Bob Strike Captain Corelli's Mandolin Summer Catch Rat Race The Princess Diaries
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This week He Said, She Said on O with Makhi Phifer, Julia Stiles, and Josh Hartnett.
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"O" Julia Stiles Josh Hartnett Jeepers Creepers Tim Blake Nelson American Pie 2 Rush Hour 2 Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Kevin Smith Woody Allen The Curse of the Jade Scorpion Nicole Kidman The Others John Carpenter Ghosts of Mars
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HOLLYWOOD, Mar. 8, 2001 -- Minnie Driver ("Return to Me") has signed on to star with Philip Seymour Hoffman in Canadian Alliance Atlantis Motion Pictures' "Owning Molony," a film based on the nonfiction book "Stung" by Gary Ross. Richard Kwietniowski ("Love and Death on Long Island") will direct.
Driver will play the girlfriend of Brian Moloney (Hoffman), a mild-mannered Toronto bank manager who has a serious gambling problem. Miraculously, he is given access to an unsupervised account of $20 million and manages to gamble away $12 million in 18 months.
Execs hope to start production before the impending actors' and writers' strikes this summer.
STILING WITH PARAMOUNT, MTV: Julia Stiles, hot off her hit film "Save the Last Dance," has inked a development and production deal with Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. Under the open-ended deal, she will develop starring ve
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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 16, 2000 -- Tired of Oscar-worthy dramas? In the mood for (hey!) a teen flick? Your time is here (again).
"Down to You," a Generation Y romance starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Julia Stiles, leads the pack of new releases this week, presumably to the delight of the nation's mall rats.
Elsewhere, a host of critically acclaimed (or in teenspeak: boring and long) films previously in limited engagements will add screens. That list includes: "Angela's Ashes," "A Map of the World" and "Titus".
Here's a complete list of films opening this week:
FRIDAY:
"Angela's Ashes" (Paramount) -- Adapted from Frank McCourt's Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, this film documents the author's childhood in Ireland during the 1930s and '40s. Emily Watson ("Hilary & Jackie") and Robert Carlyle ("Trainspotting") co-star as Frank's working-class parent
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"The Wedding Planner" was still living happily ever after in first place this weekend.
The PG-13-rated romantic comedy from Columbia Pictures and Intermedia Films continued to show great legs in its second week with a shapely estimated $11.0 million (-19%) at 2,785 theaters (theater count unchanged; $3,950 per theater). Its cume is approximately $28.2 million.
"Down 19%. You couldn't hope for better than that," Sony Pictures Entertainment worldwide marketing & distribution president Jeff Blake said Sunday morning.
"It's turning out absolutely the best you could have possibly hoped for -- number one two weeks in a row and Valentine's weekend coming up and Presidents' holiday after that. We certainly now are believers that we'll be in excess of $50 million (in domestic theaters). This is a very profitable picture for both us and Intermedia."
Jere Hausfater, pr
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HOLLYWOOD, Mar. 6, 2001 -- In these turbulent times, films dealing with high school violence are being shelved -- presenting a serious problem for the film, "O," a modern-day retelling of Shakespeare's "Othello" that takes place in a high school.
Dimension Films and its Miramax parent completed the film in the summer of 1999. As in the play, the tragedy ends with four characters brutally killed, one wounded and the others left asking "Why?" The movie stars Julia Stiles, Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett and Martin Sheen.
When executives screened the film, it was a little more than a month after the Columbine High School shootings, and the violence depicted sent up warning flares. Unsure of what to do, Dimension postponed the film's Oct. 17, 1999 release.
Even after more than a year, politicians' anti-violence campaigns, especially those of former vice-presidential candid
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'Save' Tops Holiday Box Office
"Save the Last Dance" kicked off in first place to a record-setting $28 million for the four-day Martin Luther King holiday weekend.
Distribution executives had anticipated that Paramount's PG-13-rated teen appeal dance drama would end 20th Century Fox's three-week chart-topping reign with "Cast Away," but they were only thinking in terms of an opening of about $20 million. Instead, "Dance" came in swinging to the tune of an ESTIMATED $28.00 million at 2,230 theaters ($12,556 per theater). (For the three-day period Friday through Sunday, Paramount estimated "Dance" at $24.00 million.)
"Dance" had the highest per-theater average for any film playing at over 1,000 theaters last weekend.
"$20 million was kind of the benchmark (estimate going into the weekend)," Paramount distribution president Wayne Lewellen said Sunday morning.
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HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 18, 2001 -- Most of who'll converge at Park City, Utah, beginning today could care less about the powdery conditions on the local slopes. There’s no time for skiing when the Sundance Film Festival is in town.
The annual event, backed by actor/director Robert Redford, kicks off today with a who’s who of Hollywood celebrities and studio brass with fat wallets expected to take over the small mountain town for the next 10 days.
Aside from being one long party, the event is also a platform for young, independent filmmakers to dangle their projects before Hollywood big wigs in hopes that one will bite with an offer to buy. Last year, film fans from around the world saw big-screen offerings such as "Chuck & Buck" and "You Can Count on Me".
The year before that, Sundance darling “The Blair Witch Project” made big headlines when it was purchased by Artisan
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Winners of the sometimes bizarre and always hip MTV Movie Awards.
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Inside.com reports that Miramax has paid the producers of O about $1 million to settle a complaint alleging the studio breached its distribution agreement by failing to release the film before March 17.
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Another negotiating session between the Writers Guild of America and the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. today, with several news reports suggesting that a settlement could be announced by the end of the day.
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HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 14, 2001 -- The hip-hop teen romance "Save the Last Dance" starring Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas dethroned box office champion "Cast Away," earning an estimated $24 million during the Friday-through-Sunday period of the Martin Luther King Jr. four-day weekend, according to estimates by Hollywood.com's box office analyst, Martin Grove.
After three weekends on top, Tom Hanks' "Cast Away" finds itself in the runner-up spot. The film earned $17.2 million, bringing its total to $168 million.
Steven Soderbergh's Golden Globe frontrunner "Traffic" remained in the No. 3 spot with an estimated $11.2 million (its total stands at $35.1 million). Taking two steps down from last week is the Mel Gibson comedy "What Women Want," which took in $10.5 million and has thus far grossed $153.9 million.
The fifth and sixth spots saw a close race between the week
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HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 12, 2001 -- Looks like Tom Hanks has finally met his match.
And believe it or not, it is in Julia "Teen Beat" Stiles.
That's right. Hanks' seemingly invincible "Cast Away" withstood the test of supremacy last week with the wide release of "Traffic" (although "Traffic" played in many less theaters). But this weekend (a four-day weekend for most kids due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday), it's likely that the bubble gum flick "Save the Last Dance" could knock "Cast Away" off the No. 1 spot.
Then again, it might not.
OK, you got us. We're not definite about anything this weekend. But before you go throwing your popcorn at us, hear us out.
"This is a very crowded marketplace," Brandon Gray, editor of boxofficemojo.com, told Hollywood.com. "It's going to be a busy weekend, with all the new releases and the expanding releases."
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"The Wedding Planner" marched down theater aisles this weekend, celebrating in first place with $14 million.
The PG-13-rated romantic comedy from Columbia Pictures and Intermedia Films easily captured the top spot on Super Bowl Weekend with a sexy ESTIMATED $14.0 million at 2,785 theaters ($5,027 per theater).
"Planner" had the highest per-theater average for any film playing in over 1,000 theaters last weekend.
"Great news for us this weekend," Sony Pictures Entertainment worldwide marketing & distribution president Jeff Blake said Sunday morning, noting that Sony had four of the top ten films ("Planner," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Finding Forrester" and "Snatch").
"$14 million is allowing for an over 50% drop on Sunday because we (should) do a little better than the rest of the world (against) the Super Bowl," Blake explained. "We got a real clear mi
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HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 19, 2000 -- Is Hong Kong action starlet Michelle Yeoh game enough to take on Keanu Reeves in "The Matrix" sequels?
Maybe. Daily Variety columnist Michael Fleming is reporting that the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" actress might jump in to replace fellow actioner Jet Li in the back-to-back sci-fi action sequels.
According to Fleming, Li's decision to drop out of the project has to do with a disagreement over pay.
The "Romeo Must Die" hotshot has allegedly asked for $13 million for two films, but the project could only afford shelling out $3 mil for both films without any backend deal.
Julia Stiles 'INDENTITY' CRISIS: "10 Things I Hate About You" actress Julia Stiles will join Matt Damon in "Go" director Doug Liman's "The Bourne Identity," Variety reports.
The picture is an adaptation of a Robert Ludlum novel about an amnesia v
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HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 4, 2000 -- Catherine Zeta-Jones knows how important trust is.
The new Mrs. Michael Douglas will star in the thriller "Trust," a project that is said by Daily Variety to be in the vein of 1987's "Fatal Attraction."
Originally a British miniseries, "Trust" will follow a lawyer living in New York who discovers that her psychiatrist hubby is having an affair with one of his patients.
KING OF THE 'CASTLE': "The Legend of Bagger Vance" helmer and actor Robert Redford might return to the front of the camera in "The Castle," a drama directed by "The Contender's" Rod Lurie, Variety says.
The project, which centers on an imprisoned five-star general as he rallies other prisoners into a mutiny, is also in discussions with Mark Wahlberg for a co-starring role.
'SHOW' TIME: Variety also says that Ethan Hawke, Carla Gugino and Frank Whaley have a
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HOLLYWOOD, June 4, 2000 -- Here on Planet MTV, Keanu Reeves isn't just any pretty-boy actor. He's the best actor. All righty, then.
Reeves was named best actor, his 1999 sci-fi hit, "The Matrix," best film at the ninth annual MTV Movie Awards, held Saturday at the Sony Pictures backlot in Culver City, Calif.
"The Matrix" was the night's big winner, taking home a field-best three awards. The other multiple winners were: "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" and "Cruel Intentions," which took two trophies a piece.
Of course, at the MTV Movie Awards, it's not who wins, it's what the winners say backstage. In Reeves' case, it was this: "It's all good."
All righty, then.
Here's a complete rundown of the winners of the 2000 MTV Movie Awards, to be broadcast Thursday at 9 p.m. EDT/PDT on, yes, MTV:
BEST MOVIE: "The Matrix" BEST MALE PERFORMANC
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Dinosaurs snapped back to life this weekend as Buena Vista/Disney's "Dinosaur" kicked off to nearly $39 million.
The PG-rated, computer-animated feature, which cut short the chart-topping reign of DreamWorks' "Gladiator," set a record as the year's biggest opening with an ESTIMATED $38.6 million at 3,257 theaters ($11,860 per theater).
"Dinosaur's" per-theater average was the highest for any film playing in wide or limited release this weekend.
"I think it's great," Buena Vista Distribution president Chuck Viane said Sunday morning.
Noting that some studios had estimated the picture as opening to even bigger numbers, Viane said, "I know some of my competitors have given me more credit than we're giving ourselves, but I'd rather see it than say it and then have to back off. If tomorrow (when actual weekend figures are released) it's a bigger num
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A "Dino"-mite opening by Disney's "Dinosaur" should cut DreamWorks' "Gladiator" down to size this weekend.
After its two-week box office reign, "Gladiator" should fall prey to Buena Vista/Disney's opening of its PG-rated computer-animated "Dinosaur" at 3,257 theaters.
"Dinosaur's" 21% first-choice tracking doesn't really tell the whole story, according to insiders. "It's just fine, because kids' movies don't track," says one executive.
Estimates by Hollywood handicappers of just how big "Dinosaur" will open range from a cautious $25-35 million to a really exuberant $35-40 million. Making projections even more challenging is the fact that a great many "Dinosaur" tickets will be sold at reduced prices to children.
"'Lion King' did $40.9 million in its opening weekend," explains one source. "Now, it opened the end of June. Kids were out of school
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"Gladiator" continued to rule the box office this weekend, collecting another $24 million in tribute from moviegoers.
The R-rated action adventure from DreamWorks easily held on to first place in its second week with a hefty ESTIMATED $24.3 million (-30%) at 2,943 theaters (+40 theaters; $8,257 per theater). Its cume is approximately $73.3 million, heading for about $150 million in domestic theaters.
"Gladiator's" per theater average was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend.
"Obviously, it's a strong hold," DreamWorks distribution head Jim Tharp said Sunday morning. "The positive word-of-mouth continues to be very strong."
Although DreamWorks is distributing "Gladiator" domestically, Universal is releasing it internationally. The two studios are 50-50 partners, sharing equally in its success. The film reportedly cost $1
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DreamWorks' "Gladiator" should be victorious again on the box office battlefield this weekend.
With "Gladiator" still commanding a 30% first-choice tracking score among opening and released movies, there's little doubt the R-rated action adventure will keep a tight grip on the top spot.
If "Gladiator" slips 36% from its $34.8 million opening, its second weekend tribute will still be a handsome sum of about $22 million.
DreamWorks is distributing "Gladiator" domestically, while Universal is releasing it internationally. The two studios co-financed the film, which reportedly cost $103 million to make, and are 50-50 partners, sharing equally in its success.
Directed by Ridley Scott, it stars Russell Crowe.
Warner Bros. and Franchise Pictures' PG-13 rated sci-fi action adventure "Battlefield Earth," opening at 3,307 theaters, should w
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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 23, 2000 -- Hollywood was suffering from the box office blahs over the weekend, just as Hollywood insiders anticipated. For the first time since Oct. 22, no films cracked double-digits.
Miramax's PG-13-rated teen-appeal romantic comedy "Down To You" managed to top the chart with only an estimated $8.30 million at 1,971 theaters ($4,211 per theater).
Written and directed by Kris Isacsson, it stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Julia Stiles.
"I think it's great," Miramax Senior Vice President, Marketing, David Kaminow said Sunday morning. "Freddie Prinze Jr. cannot deny the fact that he has a following. He really can do a great job of opening a picture.
"I think our (marketing) materials were good, and it just looked like a fun movie for its core audience of young girls. There hasn't been anything for them for a while.
"The PG-13
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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 20, 2000 -- Hollywood is ready for a relatively blah box-office weekend that could see New Line's R-rated urban-appeal comedy sequel "Next Friday" hold on to the top spot.
"Nothing looks real exciting," said one studio executive at mid-week. "'Down To You' (opening at about 1,900 theaters via Miramax) actually dropped a little in the tracking. It's down to a 5% first choice -- although you would think that kind of movie with teen-age appeal would be strong on Friday.
"I don't know what it does for the (full) weekend. But right now, it's not looking to me like any of these films get into double digits."
Written and directed by Kris Isacsson, the PG-13-rated teen-appeal romantic comedy "Down" stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Julia Stiles.
"'Down To You' has a real opportunity here because it's the only (new) thing for teens," an insi
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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 30, 2000 -- The Super Bowl sacked Hollywood over the weekend with a gross of only about $6.2 million being enough to grab first place.
There was a close race for top honors among Destination Films' opening of its thriller "Eye Of the Beholder," Universal's Oscar contender "The Hurricane" and New Line's urban-appeal comedy sequel "Next Friday." As always, Monday's actual numbers could reverse today's estimated results.
Although Destination's "Eye" appeared to have the weekend's best score with about $6.2 million, it was not an impressive one.
"There was no No. 1 film in 1999 lower than $9 million," one studio distribution president said Sunday morning, looking back at the record books. "That was 'The Best Man' (the weekend of) Oct. 22-24, 1999, with $9.03 million. In 1998, the lowest-grossing No. 1 film was 'He Got Game' (the weekend of)
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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 6, 2000 -- The only loud noise at this weekend's box office was Dimension Films' "Scream 3," opening to a blockbuster estimated $35.20 million.
"Scream 3" accounted for about 42% of the ticket sales for key films over the weekend, living up to industry expectations reported by Hollywood.com on Friday. With its first-choice tracking score of 31% going into the weekend, the Wes Craven film was seen as likely to open to at least $30 million.
Dimension, Miramax's genre label, launched "Scream 3" to an estimated $35.20 million at 3,467 theaters ($10,152 per theater). The film's theater count set a new record for wide release, topping last summer's 3,342 theaters for Warner Bros.' "Wild Wild West." Dimension said there were 5,522 prints of the film in the marketplace.
An indication of how little business everything else in t