Huh? Julia Already Hyped for a 'Duplicity' Golden Globe?

Perhaps I stand in utter defiance to this story because I didn't think Duplicity was anything special (as you can tell from my review), but Gold Derby, the official awards hot plate of The Los Angeles Times says stars Julia Roberts and Clive Owen might be in the running for Golden Globes thanks to their performances.

While I also think it's entirely too early to even pencil them in, I don't believe they'll stand up to other performances later in the year. Who knows, maybe this year will be horrible in the comedic categories, where Gold Derby slots Roberts and Owen in as early-year front-runners, but looking ahead, I can see at least three potential nominees in Roberts' category that I'd think would have better odds. Curiously, two of them could be double nominees, if the rules allowed it. Amy Adams and Meryl Streep are in Julie and Julia, and Streep will almost certainly be nominated for that or the end-of-the-year Nancy Meyers comedy she's in. That's if Julie and Julia isn't viewed as a drama. Adams could also be a nominee for Sunshine Cleaning, a better film and a better performance.

Click to read more ...

Box Office - 'Knowing' Takes Top Spot, $25 Million

For the first time in a while, the top movies at the box office performed fairly consistently in their debut weekend. After seeing Watchmen make half of its cash on Friday and The Last House on the Left appear to be competitive last Friday only to dry up over the next couple of days, all three of this week's new releases used their opening day as a blueprint for the entire frame.

Knowing, the new sci-fi flick starring Nicolas Cage, took the top spot with just about $25 million, slightly better than most expectations, and had the second-highest per-screen average of any movie in theaters. I have a suspicion that the film will do at least as well internationally as it should do here in the U.S. That could mean an international take of over $150 million. The new comedy I Love You, Man opened well, too, but in 600 fewer theaters. Still the $18 million debut is very similar the opening weekends for Paul Rudd's Role Models and Jason Segel's Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and both of those movies topped $60 million.

Click to read more ...

Box Office - Friday Crowds Get to Know 'Knowing'

The sci-fi flick Knowing jumped out to an early weekend lead over the comedy I Love You, Man by taking in nearly $9 million on Friday, according to Box Office Mojo. Can the new Nicolas Cage movie hold on to the top spot? It was always going to be a close call this weekend, but the three million dollar head start might be enough to give Cage another number one debut.

Because so many films this year have posted big debuts on Friday just to have softer returns on Saturday and Sunday, it's possible that Knowing will lose some steam but the percentages still have this one surpassing $20 million without too much trouble. Can I Love You, Man build on its $6.3 million start and take over the top spot? It would need a huge day today to pull even with Knowing, which is playing in 600 more theaters, so while it's possible, comedies don't normally have big spikes in their second days. Both films might top $20 million, which is a better return than Duplicity, the high-profile spy comedy with Clive Owen and Julia Roberts will show in the first weekend. It opened with just under $5 million, so $13 - $15 million seems like the path this one will take.

Click to read more ...

Movie Review - 'Duplicity'

Duplicity Starring Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, and Tom Wilkinson Directed by Tony Gilroy Rated PG-13

To follow up Michael Clayton, his 2007 legal drama that snared seven Oscar nominations, writer-director Tony Gilroy has again chosen to skewer corporate greed and corruption in Duplicity, but there are major differences between the two films. The tone in Duplicity is lighter and breezier, and even though there are millions of dollars at stake for rival companies in Gilroy's latest, it takes a back seat to a quirky, unsatisfying romance between Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. The biggest difference, however, is that Duplicity simply isn't a good film. Roberts and Owen portray former spies - she was CIA, he was MI6 - who had a one night stand in Dubai in 2003. Now working as security and intelligence operatives in the private sector for rival health and cosmetics companies, they meet again to trade leaked insider information. Given their history, however, they refuse to work together. At least, that's what other characters in the film are led to believe. There's an even more duplicitous game at work, one the trailers give away, so it's hard to know how well that part of the movie is executed. There's no surprise when the surprise is revealed.

Click to read more ...

Fearless Forecast - 'I Love You, Man' Could Win Competitive Weekend

It's a legitimately tough weekend to predict at the box office. There are three new releases that should all do about the same business of the course of their lives. Knowing will arrive in just over 3,000 theaters, so it doesn't need to do as well in each location to make an impact.

I Love You, Man probably has the most momentum. Paul Rudd is coming off a big hit with Role Models just a handful of months ago, and his new comedy is geting great reviews. It will arrive in about 500 fewer theaters than Knowing, as will Duplicity, the new romantic spy comedy with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Roberts, more than any other actress in history, can open a movie. That this probably won't arrive at number one has a little to do with her decreased activity, but again, theater counts play a part; it will only be in about 75% of the number of houses that Knowing will.

Click to read more ...