Box Office: You Must "Focus"
Sunday, March 1, 2015 at 1:35PM I kept thinking of Agent Carter's Russian villain whenever I saw the trailer to Focus, because he said "you must focus" every other line in that series while he performed his instant super-hypnosis. Which was ridiculous but the show is really fun. Anyway: Will Smith! The media tour around Focus kept focusing (sorry) on how Will Smith is not concentrating on box office now! and Box Office doesn't define him! so they were obviously prepping for disaster should it happen. But no disaster. He's still bankable even if a $19 million opening isn't what he used to be able to carry off with ease. I wonder if the presence of Margot Robbie helped? Or maybe people don't even realize yet that it's "that hot girl from Wolf of Wall Street".
The other new wide release was the horror film The Lazarus Effect which did over $10 million.
In news we care more about Julianne Moore entered the top ten for the first time with Still Alice during her Oscar-winning weekend and at $12 million already the Alzheimers drama is turning into quite a little hit for her. As beloved as she is, she's not a box office star so this is a major success --along the lines of a Far From Heaven. Unfortunately her other movie, the David Cronenberg picture Maps to the Stars, tanked in limited release. I'm sure the distributor utterly confused its potential audience by holding it in reserve during those weird intermittent bursts of buzz it had for well over 9 months and then releasing it quietly while everyone was concentrating on her other movie. But she's marvelous in that one, too.
The Irish thriller '71 starring Jack O'Connell and set during 'The Troubles' also opened in very limited release (reviewed) and it's very good so you should see it.
What did you see this weekend? Or maybe you just stayed in to bingewatch House of Cards?
Reader Comments (21)
I saw two films which just opened here on Friday, and which were sort of in the Oscar conversation, at least in the preliminary stages. The first was "Gett: the Trial of Vivian Ansalem," the Israeli candidate for the Foreign-language Oscar. I found it very good, so good that I'm surprised that it didn't at least make the shortlist, if not actually garner a nomination. I've been impressed by Ronit Elkabetz in other films (e.g. The Band's Visit), and found her even better in this, in a role which is built on subtility of looks and gestures.
The other was "Red Army," which I quite enjoyed, although I found the director's self-important way of questioning people before the camera got kind of tiresome. I must admit that I was surprised to see Vladimir Posner...I don't think I'd thought of him since he was on Radio Moscow's World Service many years ago.
"The Lazarus Effect" looks like an episode from "The Outer Limits"
Heading out for "What we Do in the Shadows" soon. Otherwise I finally saw "Whiplash" this weekend, which was a lot to take in. I'm pretending that all the women quit that band prior to the start of the movie because they were too smart to put up with that nonsense for more than a day. Also, no one rents cars to 19-year-olds.
Too cold and snowy to venture out so I, for no reason in particular had myself a 1992 weekend. It started out with "One False Move" and "The Player" then I kept it going with "Death Becomes Her" and finally seeing arguably that year's most famous flick "A Few Good Men". I'm thinking about capping it off a '92 grand sweeping epic: either "The Last of the Mohicans" or "Malcolm X"
It's been too cold for me to go to the theatre for weeks. I haven't even Still Alice yet, so to make up for it I watched Safe, which I haven't seen in like 20 years. This might be a good choice for Hit Me (which I never participate in)... Mainly I would just like to see others' perspectives on it here. I also watched the first 2/3 or so of House of Cards. Season 3 is by far my favorite season; the writers have finally figured out that Frank Underwood is more interesting when he loses once in awhile instead of constantly outsmarting his rivals.
Stayed in and binge-watched House of Cards. (I'm on the second to last episode now.) You know me so well!
Another really slow viewing weekend for me. No movies. Watched one episode of House of Cards, two episodes of Agent Carter, and that's it!
I watched Focus, which was pleasant, but not quite the Will Smith comeback vehicle I was hoping for (particularly as I'm a big fan of Requa and Ficarra's last two films).
Otherwise, I spent the weekend Netflix-ing older movies, including Invasion of the Body Snatchers (in tribute to Leonard Nimoy) and The Quiet Man (very uncomfortable gender politics).
Finally watched A Most Violent Year, and am sad the cast couldn't get more recognition. Curse the Dec. 31st debut date!
Stayed home working on a grant proposal all weekend, but a neighbor just dropped off a stack of Independent Spirit screeners: The One I Love, Obvious Child, Virunga, Big Eyes (all unseen) and (for rewatching) Selma and Jimi: All Is By My Side.
So there actually was a Selma screener...
I watched Focus, The Duff, The Lazarus Effect and Whiplash. The Lazarus Effect was a waste of time (shocker), but I'd recommend everything else. Maps to the Stars and Serena are both on iTunes so I hope to check them out soon.
The Canadian Oscars were held and televised tonight. Julianne was gracious to attend. She was nominated for Maps. She lost to Anne Dorval however. The whole Mommy cast won their categories and the film won Best Picture.
Oh, I meant to point out earlier too - yes, the Map to the Stars number is not great, but it is already out on VOD, so the theatrical number isn't actually *that* bad, all things considered.
Wild Tales-very entertaining. Loved the road rage segment the best. The foreign film committee must find this funnier than the cringe comedy of "Force Majeure."
I also binge-watched HOC this weekend. Episode 6 just blew my mind. But again, as I thought happened in season 2, the show gets bogged down with too many storylines. Some of which I can't be arsed with (like Doug Stamper and his elusive Rachel). Robin Wright really deserves the Emmy this time.
I totally confirm that people don't know who Margot Robbie is yet... When the trailer for Focus popped up during the Oscars commercials, everyone in my Oscar Party (that would be 9 people) was talking about Will Smith and someone asked: Who's the girl? and I said her name and no one knew what I was talking about until I said: The girl from Wolf of Wall Street and everyone in unison said aaaaahhhh... So, no, I don't think she's a box office factor yet...
I normally like hustle movies, so may end up watching Focus soon. Although, assuming the two main characters have a romantic link besides the mentor/mentee relationship, I think that's a bit creepy considering Smith's over 20 years older than her... but then, Hollywood!
For me, the big news of the weekend is the expansion and consistent word-of-mouth of the hilarious and poignant "What we do in the Shadows". Crossing fingers so it becomes the huge sleeper it deserves to be, and can aim for an Original Screenplay nom at the next Oscars. It has the reviews, already, it needs the b.o., cult following is already secured.
Jesus, as hilarious as WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS is, it's being self-distributed and is a horror comedy and was released in February. Still, very funny movie though.
I'm super impressed by that STILL ALICE number. Further making the "she only won because she's due!" idea a lot of bunkum. People are responding to the film.
Julianne in Maps to the Stars >>> Julianne in Still Alice.
Saw Kingsman and Spongebob this weekend. Friends wanted to go, and my friends don't always have the same tastes I do. Kingsman was fun, and I loved the gratuitously violent fight scenes. Spongebob I feel asleep during parts. There were a few light laughs, but gauge them on par with softball jokes in church. They get to see Song of the Sea tonight.