Twilight of Our Youth: It isnt just a tween phenomenon. Women in their 30s and beyond are addicted to Stephenie Meyers vampire saga, too, Sarah Hepola, Salon Nov 19, 2009
Editor: Updated: Today Topic. Monday, Nov 16, 2009 16:17 PST. (Harper's Magazine)
`2012' Debuts as Top U.S., Canada Weekend Movie With $65 Million in Sales Nov 16, 2009
87 million for GEs Focus Features. In the movie, set in the 1960s, plays the leader of a group of DJs who illegally broadcast rock music from a boat in the North Sea when radio play for the music was limited in Britain. (Bloomberg -- Canada)
Doom spells dollars at box office for 2012 Nov 16, 2009
" Poor weekend for Pirate RadioThe weekend's other new wide release, Focus Features' rock 'n' roll comedy "Pirate Radio," opened a weak No. 11 with $2.9 million in 882 theaters, averaging $3,253 a cinema. The ensemble cast of "Pirate Radio" features Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy and Kenneth Branagh in a story about 1960s disc jockeys blasting illicit rock music into stodgy Britain from an offshore radio station aboard a tanker. Starting in limited release, Fox Searchlight's animated... (MSNBC -- News)
Indie Film Shakeout: There Will Be Blood Nov 8, 2009
It won't be the last to fall under the knife, industry insiders predict, pointing to Universal's Focus Features as the next likely victim. "Very few people think Focus is going to survive," says one industry executive who asked not to be named. (Time.com)
Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Viola Davis, Zoe Kravitz, Aasif Mandvi, Lauren Graham, Jim Gaffigan Cast in Focus Features' It's Kind of a Funny Story for Writer/Directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck Nov 3, 2009
Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Viola Davis, Zoe Kravitz, Aasif Mandvi, Lauren Graham, Jim Gaffigan Cast in Focus Features' It's Kind of a Funny Story for Writer/Directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck - Yahoo ... Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Viola Davis, Zoe Kravitz, Aasif Mandvi, Lauren Graham, Jim Gaffigan Cast in Focus Features' It's Kind of a Funny Story for Writer/Directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck ... Source: Focus Features. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Galifianakis in Funny Story Nov 3, 2009
Hangover star joins Focus Features' new comedy ... Focus Features holds worldwide rights to the project, which it is co-financing with Wayfare Entertainment. (IGN FilmForce)
Zombies Take Over Box Office Oct 6, 2009
Released by Focus Features, "A Serious Man" follows the domestic and professional troubles of a physics professor in a 1960s Midwest Jewish community. Lionsgate's basketball documentary "More Than a Game" - which explores the high school years of NBA star LeBron James - opened solidly with $196,681 in 14 theaters, averaging $14,049 a cinema. (CBS News -- Entertainment)
Fans feast on undead as 'Zombieland' opens to $25M Oct 5, 2009
Released by Focus Features, "A Serious Man" follows the domestic and professional troubles of a physics professor in a 1960s Midwest Jewish community ... Universal Pictures and Focus Features are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.; Sony Pictures, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount and Paramount Vantage are divisions of Viacom Inc.; Disney's parent is The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is a division of The Walt Disney Co.; 20th Century... (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3-D Mo... Oct 2, 2009
And now that 3-D fever is officially sweeping the animation nation thanks in part to films like DreamWorks Animation's , Focus Features' Coraline and Disney/Pixar's own Up what better excuse did the Mouse House need to give these Chr;tien-era flicks the 3-D treatment. While watching the first two movies shows how far computer-generated animation has come since 1995, it also shows how much Pixar got right with these movies, especially when it came to the script and voice cast. (Suite101.com)
A Serious Man Oct 2, 2009
- By Dana Stevens - Slate Magazine. Reviews of the latest films. (Slate)
Skies clear for no. 1 film 'Chance of Meatballs' Sep 22, 2009
" Warner Bros., $10,464,314, 2,505 locations, $4,177 average, $10,464,314, one week. 3. "Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself," Lionsgate, $9,877,436, 2,255 locations, $4,380 average, $37,749,545, two weeks. 4. "Love Happens," Universal, $8,057,010, 1,898 locations, $4,245 average, $8,057,010, one week. 5. "Jennifer's Body," Fox, $6,868,397, 2,702 locations, $2,542 average, $6,868,397, one week. 6. "9," Focus, $5,563,134, 2,060 locations, $2,701 average, $22,918,077, two weeks. 7.... (The Star Online, Malaysia)
'Bad' Is Good Enough to Top Box Office With $23.4M Sep 15, 2009
"9," Focus Features, $10,740,446, 1,661 locations, $6,466 average, $15,160,926, one week. 3. (ABC News -- Wire)
Tyler Perry has good opening with Bad Sep 14, 2009
Coming in second was the dark, animated "9" from Focus Features, which made $10. 9 million this weekend, according to Sunday estimates. (MSNBC -- News)
Little Burlap Guys Sep 11, 2009
Shane Acker's 9 (Focus Features) is a symptom of the trickledown of high-quality animation ... Still from 9 2009 Focus Features. (Slate)
9 may set a new animation standard in film Sep 9, 2009
Focus FeaturesElijah Wood provides the voice of the title character in "9." This post-apocalyptic adventure tells the story of a group of "stitchpunks" fighting back against the machines ... Despite that fact, and that it doesnt come from the hit-making Pixar or DreamWorks animation factories, advance word on 9 is strong as Focus Features prepares to release it in theaters Wednesday (09/09/09, if youre into numerology). (MSNBC -- News)
Movie Review: 9 Sep 9, 2009
Shane Acker Directs Focus Features Film, Tim Burton Produces. Focus Features/Relativity Media's 9, starring Elijah Wood, Christopher Plummer and Jennifer Connelly, is a strong debut from writer/director Shane Acker ... Focus Features appears to be positioning itself as the dark horse of animated film. (Suite101.com)
The real McCoy - or meringue Sep 8, 2009
The challenge is always making it seem delicious and hyper-real,'' says John Lyons, president of production for Focus Features. If it doesn't look hyper-real, it doesn't work in the movie. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
'Final Destination' arrives at No. 1 with $28.3M Sep 1, 2009
The weekend's other new wide release, Focus Features' music romp "Taking Woodstock," opened a weak No. 9 with $3 ... " Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday. 1. "The Final Destination," $28.3 million. 2. "Inglourious Basterds," $20 million. 3. "Halloween II," $17.4 million. 4. "District 9," $10.7 million. 5. "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," $8 million. 6. "Julie ," $7.4 million. 7. "The Time... (Missourian Publishing, MO)
Final Destination' arrives at No. 1 with US$28.3mil Aug 31, 2009
The weekend's other new wide release, Focus Features' music romp "Taking Woodstock," opened a weak No. 9 with $3 ... Universal Pictures and Focus Features are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.; Sony Pictures, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount and Paramount Vantage are divisions of Viacom Inc.; Disney's parent is The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is a division of The Walt Disney Co.; 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Fox... (The Star Online, Malaysia)
The Dud in the Mud Aug 28, 2009
Jonathan Groff and Demetri Martin in Taking Woodstock Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock (Focus Features) is a mild-mannered coming-of-age piece that feels like a young director's debut film, not something we'd expect from the man who's already given us , , and the (I thought) underrated spy romance ... Still from Taking Woodstock Focus Features. (Slate)
'Taking Woodstock' Aug 27, 2009
What(ex: pizza or concert). Where(ex: 85004, Phoenix). (AZCentral -- Entertainment)
Best bets: Woodstock, thirtysomething on DVD Aug 24, 2009
Best bets: Return to Woodstock 40 years later - Entertainment- msnbc. Best bets: Return to Woodstock 40 years later. (MSNBC -- News)
A flying priest, a wounded wife, a lot of blood Aug 2, 2009
Beyond the Multiplex - Salon. Site Presented By Sunday, Aug 2, 2009. (Salon)
'Thirst': Drinking Problem, By Kurt Loder Aug 1, 2009
Kim Ok-vin in "Thirst" ( Focus Features ). A movie about a priest who's transformed into a vampire might inspire some deep noodling about Catholic liturgy, no doubt. (VHI.com -- Music News)
Graphic 'Thirst' gives vampire genre some new blood Jul 31, 2009
Thirst* * 1/2 (out of four)Stars: Song Kang-ho, Kim Ok-vin, Kim Hae-sook, Shin Ha-kyunDirector: Park Chan-wookDistributor: Focus FeaturesRating: R for graphic bloody violence, disturbing images, strong sexual content, nudity and languageRunning time: 2 hours, 13 minutesOpens Friday in select cities. By Claudia Puig, USA TODAY Forget Twilight. (USA Today -- Life)
Consistency and change Jul 17, 2009
" According to the MPAA, the number of films released domestically in 2008 increased 1.8 percent to 610 films. Of those films, 26 percent were MPAA members' releases and 73 percent were independent films. (MPAA members include the "big six" movie giants: Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures. Twentieth Century Fox, NBC Universal, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Some movie companies considered "independents" are actually subsidiaries of the big six, such as Fox Searchlight, Miramax, Sony... (Juneau Empire)
'Bruno' Sashays To No. 1 With $30.4M Jul 13, 2009
Universal Pictures and Focus Features are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.; Sony Pictures, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount and Paramount Vantage are divisions of Viacom Inc.; Disney's parent is The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is a division of The Walt Disney Co.; 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Fox Atomic are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a consortium... (Click2Houston, TX)
Aaron Kwok: New role boosts acting credentials Jul 7, 2009
Partly funded by the Hollywood art-house studio Focus Features, "Murderer" is the directorial debut for Hong Konger Roy Chow, who worked as an assistant to Oscar-winning "Brokeback Mountain" director Ang Lee and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" producer Bill Kong. Comments. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
The New Dave Eggers Movie: A Disappointing Work of Staggering Quirkiness Jun 6, 2009
Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski in Away We GoAway We Go (Focus Features) is like a disappointing term paper by a promising student ... Still of Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski in Away We Go 2009 Focus Features. (Slate)
Do you see what I twee? How precious Jun 2, 2009
Do you see what I twee. How precious - Movies- msnbc. (MSNBC -- News)
Pixar goes `Up' with $68.2 million Jun 1, 2009
Pixar goes `Up' with $68. Pixar goes `Up' with $68. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Cannes: Winners/Losers May 28, 2009
Ex-Picturehouse chief Bob Berney and his new partner Bill Pohlad made official their new distribution combine, which will enter the middle ground between art-house distributors Sony Pictures Classics, IFC and Magnolia and remaining studio subsidiaries Fox Searchlight, Miramax and Focus Features ... Focus Features and Ang Lee ... Focus Features International continues to be one of the strongest , because it boasts the A-list projects (like Almodovar's Broken Embraces and the latest pics from Sam... (Variety)
Weekend Box Office Battle May 26, 2009
Night At The Museum' Tops 'Terminator' - Entertainment News Story - KCRA Sacramento. Night At The Museum' Tops 'Terminator. (KCRA 3, CA)
Ang Lee partnership gives him broad film focus May 24, 2009
Schamus' distribution banner - Focus Features, a unit of NBC Universal - released "Brokeback Mountain" and is issuing "Taking Woodstock" in August around the 40th anniversary of the concert ... "Crouching Tiger" was a rare foreign-language smash hit in the United States and "Brokeback Mountain" was Focus Features' top-grossing hit with 180 million U.S. dollars in ticket sales worldwide. (Xinhuanet, China)
'2009 MTV Movie Awards' Honors Ben Stiller With 'MTV Generation Award' May 23, 2009
Stiller recently wrapped production on Noah Baumbach's film Greenburg for Focus Features and was most recently seen opposite Robert Downey Jr and Jack Black in Tropic Thunder, an action comedy about a group of self-absorbed actors who set out to make the biggest war film ever. Stiller also co-wrote, directed and produced the film through his Red Hour Films production banner. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
'The Limits of Control' May 19, 2009
The Limits of Control. What(ex: pizza or concert). (AZCentral -- Entertainment)
"X-Men Origins" Claws To Top Spot May 5, 2009
In limited release, Jim Jarmusch's moody crime drama "The Limits of Control" opened solidly with $54,233 in three theaters, averaging $18,078 a cinema, compared with $21,225 in 4,099 locations for "Wolverine." The Focus Features film about a mystery man on a murky assignment features Isaach De Bankole, Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton. It was not all good news for the weekend's new movies. (CBS News -- Early Show)
Wolverine claws its way to box office top May 4, 2009
The Focus Features film about a mystery man on a murky assignment features Isaach De Bankole, Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton. It was not all good news for the weekend's new movies. (Globe and Mail)
Jim Jarmusch's New Movie Is Unbearably Pretentious May 2, 2009
Tilda Swinton and Isaach De Bankol in The Limits of ControlJim Jarmusch's The Limits of Control (Focus Features) earns an adjective that I don't throw around lightly: pretentious ... Still from The Limits of Control 2009 Focus Features. (Slate)
Cary Fukunaga talks about his breakout film and future goals Mar 30, 2009
The movie, distributed by Focus Features (with whom Fukunaga has a writing and directing deal), depicts a hesitant romance between a Honduran ... A. (laughs) I'm surprised Focus Features even gave me the film ... I know that [Focus Features head James] Schamus really liked the script but the problem is this market - how do you justify making a film like this if you have General Electric on your back talking about returns. (Boston Globe)
Weekend roundup: Movies not to miss Mar 21, 2009
He sold the script for his thesis project at New York University's film school, a feature called to Focus Features before he had graduated. Mexican stars Gael Garca Bernal and Diego Luna signed on as executive producers, and with exactly zero experience in writing or directing features, Fukunaga went on to shoot the film in Mexico -- entirely in Spanish, and with no professional actors -- and premiered it this year at Sundance, where it won prizes for best direction and best cinematography. (Salon)
Natasha Richardson, 45; part of acting dynasty, won Tony Award Mar 19, 2009
(Gene Page/ Focus Features) By Washington Post / March 19, 2009. . (Boston Globe)
Bay Area produces an overnight sensation Mar 14, 2009
More tests of his humility followed when, in short order, Fukunaga was awarded best director at Sundance, a writing-directing contract with Focus Features (the distributor of "Nombre") and a writing deal with Universal. His name is the newest on an impressive list headed by Clint Eastwood of locals made good in Hollywood. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
'Watchmen' dominates box office Mar 13, 2009
"Coraline," Focus Features, $3,255,852, 1,959 locations, $1,662 average, $65,627,777, five weeks ... "Milk," Focus Features, $582,593, 447 locations, $1,303 average, $31,111,155, 15 weeks ... Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Rogue Pictures are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.; Sony Pictures, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; DreamWorks, Paramount and Paramount Classics are divisions of Viacom Inc.; Disney's parent is The Walt Disney... (Hanford Sentinal, CA)
Hollywood health report Feb 21, 2009
And they may also be denying themselves a pipeline for future Oscar contenders three of this year's nominees for best picture are being distributed by specialty labels, including Milk (Universal's Focus Features) and The Reader (The Weinstein Company). The edges of the industry are really where the most vital energies come from. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
Where there's hope, there's Oscar Feb 20, 2009
"Milk" (Focus Features). "The Reader" (The Weinstein Company). (International Herald Tribune)
MORE: Eight scene-stealers to keep an eye on Feb 16, 2009
Penn by Focus Features; Rourke, Ledger, Cruz and Davis by AP; Winslet by The Weinstein Co.; Streep by Miramax Films; Shannon by Reuters. Posted. (USA Today -- Life)
"Not Into You" Is In Box Office Top Slot Feb 10, 2009
Two movies featuring Dakota Fanning opened in the top 10 Focus Features' animated adventure "Coraline" at No. 3 with $16. 3 million and Summit Entertainment's science-fiction thriller "Push" at No. 6 with $10. (CBS News -- Early Show)
Movie buyers cautious at Sundance festival Feb 8, 2009
And despite some prominent deals - including Sony Pictures Classics' buying the rights to "An Education," a British coming-of-age drama set in the '60s, for a reported $3 million - there was no blockbuster sale to match the $10 million that Focus Features spent last year on a single picture, "Hamlet 2." ... Shortly before the premiere of "Brooklyn's Finest," whose stars included Richard Gere and Don Cheadle and which was directed by Antoine Fuqua, Weber had expressed hope that the film would not... (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
Box Office Boffo Feb 8, 2009
Focus Features' stop-action family pic "Coraline" surprised in its strength, opening north of $4 million ... I remember feeling the same way about "Brokeback Mountain" (both films are from Focus Features) ... Best pic noms The Reader, from the Weinstein Co., and Focus Features Milk both expand nationwide this weekend. (Variety)
Oscar smiles on Chatham screenwriter Feb 8, 2009
In the IndieWIRE interview, Hunt said that producer James Schamus ( Brokeback Mountain ), CEO of Focus Features which is also behind the upcoming Ang Lee film Taking Woodstock, filmed mostly in New Lebanon last year presented a sneak preview of 21 Grams (which Leo starred in) at FilmColumbia in 2003. Hunt sent Leo who attended the film festival with Schamus a script and she agreed to star in the film as one of the leads, Ray Eddy. (Catskill Daily Mail, NY)
