Weekend Movie News Wrap Up: November 16, 2008

Niall Browne — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:33:34 +0000

This week:

Spielberg and Eastwood visit the Hereafter; Len Wiseman drives a Motorcade; Guillermo del Toro plays with Pinocchio; George Miller has Happy Feet again and Matthew McConaughey and David O. Russell fight with The Grackle.

Box Office

James Bond captured the top spot of the US box office with an amazing $71 million. The weekend take of Quantum of Solace was higher than any previous Bond entry in the series, and it highlights Daniel Craig’s popularity in the iconic role.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa took the runner up position with another $32 million giving the animated animal film an amazing $100 million. Role Models continues to impress with another $11.5 million in the bank, High School Musical 3: Senior Year grossed another $5.5 million bringing its total to $84million. While this is far from a bad gross (considering its low budget) it must be slightly disappointing for Disney.

Clint Eastwood’s Changeling eeked out another $4 million bringing its total to $27 million. If the Angelina Jolie film is going to make any sort of profit it absolutely needs some award nominations in its future. It looks like Clint’s fans are holding out for Gran Torino.

Movie News

1. Speaking of Clint Eastwood, it looks like he might be helming a supernatural thriller “in the vein of The Sixth Sense.”

Steven Spielberg approached the actor/director with the script Hereafter, which was written by Frost/Nixon writer Peter Morgan. Whilst he’s not attached yet, don’t be too surprised if Eastwood hops onto the project soon, as he worked with Spielberg previously on Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima.

That’ll make somebody’s day.

Source: Variety

2. Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) will direct the high-concept thriller Motorcade.

According to Variety Bill Ray’s script is:

“about terrorists attacking the president’s motorcade as it traverses through Los Angeles.”

Could be good, it could be bad and I’m pretty sure that it’ll be mindless. At least it should give some ageing actor the chance to play President.

Source: Variety

3. Guillermo del Toro will produce a new stop-motion adaptation of Pinocchio. According to The Hollywood Reporter:

“In the retelling, when Pinocchio comes to life, he turns out not to be that nice of a boy, creating mischief and playing mean tricks. He eventually learns a few lessons.”

There’s a good joke about Keanu Reeves’ wooden acting skills in this somewhere.

Guillermo del Toro is making a little art film called The Hobbit in the near future. Bet you didn’t know that!

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

4. When George Miller couldn’t get Justice League made he must have sought solace in Happy Feet, as a sequel is already in production.

The animated pic will be made in Australia and employ 438 people over three years.

Hey George! What about Mad Max?

Source: The Age

5. David O. Russell will direct Matthew McConaughey in The Grackle.

According to Variety in the R-rated comedy:

“McConaughey will play a barroom fighter in New Orleans who hires himself out for $250 to settle disputes for people who can’t afford to hire a lawyer. Harsh language and quick fists are his weapons of choice.”

Mike Arnold and Chris Poole’s script is supposed to have the same vibe as The Wedding Crashers.

Could be interesting.

Source: Variety

That’s it for this week. See you at the movies.

Screen Rant » the grackle

Weekend Movie News Wrap Up: November 16, 2008