Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, September 5, 2011
Monday, December 6, 2010
"Black Swan" bow breaks studio record
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – The weekend went swimmingly for Fox Searchlight's Natalie Portman
stars in "Black Swan" and other adult-targeting art films and prestige pictures.
An atmospheric suspense thriller about ballet dancers directed by Darren Aronofsky ("The Wrestler"), "Swan" dove into 18 theaters in eight markets and came up roses with $1.4 million for a Searchlight-record $77,459 per venue.
One of the holiday season's key platform pictures, "Swan" is set for an incremental expansion during the next few weeks and will reach at least 60 locations next weekend.
"We may increase that further, based on the weekend," Searchlight senior vice-president Sheila DeLoach said. "But this isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. So we don't want to just blow it out, but we may do a few more theaters than we had planned next weekend."
Another well-reviewed prestige movie -- Roadside Attraction's "I Love You Phillip Morris," starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor -- wooed $113,200 from audiences in six opening venues. That represented $18,886 per engagement for an encouraging launch to the dramedy's platform campaign.
Roadside spokesman Howard Cohen said executives were particularly pleased with the big bow, as "Morris" boasted a relatively modest marketing budget.
Calling Morris an "underdog" in opening opposite the higher-profile "Swan," Cohen added, "We think we came through with shining colors."
In a curious coincidence, "Swan" and "Morris" both drew pre-release buzz for their same-sex stars' locking lips in the pics. Portman and co-star Mila Kunis do the honors in the former.
In a simultaneous debut in two theaters and video-on-demand, director Andrew Jarecki's mystery thriller "All Good Things," starring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst, collected $40,000, or a better-than-good $20,000 per venue.
Elsewhere in the specialty market, the Weinstein Co. expanded period drama "The King's Speech" by just two theaters for a total six and grossed $325,874, or an enviable $54,312 per venue. "Speech" -- whose Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush have drawn broad kudos-season notices for their marquee performances -- totes $808.874 million in cumulative box office through two weekends.
Searchlight's mountain-climbing survival drama "127 Hours" added 154 locations for a total 433 and rang up $1.6 million. That represented an acceptable $3,695 per site as its total reached $6.6 million.
stars in "Black Swan" and other adult-targeting art films and prestige pictures.An atmospheric suspense thriller about ballet dancers directed by Darren Aronofsky ("The Wrestler"), "Swan" dove into 18 theaters in eight markets and came up roses with $1.4 million for a Searchlight-record $77,459 per venue.
One of the holiday season's key platform pictures, "Swan" is set for an incremental expansion during the next few weeks and will reach at least 60 locations next weekend.
"We may increase that further, based on the weekend," Searchlight senior vice-president Sheila DeLoach said. "But this isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. So we don't want to just blow it out, but we may do a few more theaters than we had planned next weekend."
Another well-reviewed prestige movie -- Roadside Attraction's "I Love You Phillip Morris," starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor -- wooed $113,200 from audiences in six opening venues. That represented $18,886 per engagement for an encouraging launch to the dramedy's platform campaign.
Roadside spokesman Howard Cohen said executives were particularly pleased with the big bow, as "Morris" boasted a relatively modest marketing budget.
Calling Morris an "underdog" in opening opposite the higher-profile "Swan," Cohen added, "We think we came through with shining colors."
In a curious coincidence, "Swan" and "Morris" both drew pre-release buzz for their same-sex stars' locking lips in the pics. Portman and co-star Mila Kunis do the honors in the former.
In a simultaneous debut in two theaters and video-on-demand, director Andrew Jarecki's mystery thriller "All Good Things," starring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst, collected $40,000, or a better-than-good $20,000 per venue.
Elsewhere in the specialty market, the Weinstein Co. expanded period drama "The King's Speech" by just two theaters for a total six and grossed $325,874, or an enviable $54,312 per venue. "Speech" -- whose Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush have drawn broad kudos-season notices for their marquee performances -- totes $808.874 million in cumulative box office through two weekends.
Searchlight's mountain-climbing survival drama "127 Hours" added 154 locations for a total 433 and rang up $1.6 million. That represented an acceptable $3,695 per site as its total reached $6.6 million.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Madonna's new Mexico City gym has no permits
MEXICO CITY – Madonna may be touched by bureaucracy the very first time she opens a fitness club.
The club she launched this week in Mexico City is in danger of being shut down because it lacks a security plan and a land use permit, local authorities said Wednesday.
Officials from the singer's Hard Candy Fitness have until Friday to get a land use permit, though they will be allowed to turn in other necessary documents later, said Demetrio Sodi, the chief of the Miguel Hidalgo municipality where the gym is located.
"If they don't have a land use permit, they will not be able to operate," Sodi told the Spanish-language station Televisa.
Sodi said the gym also needs to present a certificate showing it has parking.
He said that when he was told last week that the gym would open Monday, they "didn't have any permits" but he granted a special permit for the inauguration.
Madonna was in Mexico City Monday night for the ribbon cutting and taught a dance class for 20 hand-picked members with music by Paul Oakenfold, the DJ who opened her last tour.
Madonna said in a statement last week that she wanted to use Mexico "as a place to fine-tune our brand and then expand it to other countries and, in the long term, develop a global brand that includes the United States."
Membership at the gym costs about $159 a month. It costs $827 to join and that includes the first two months.
Sodi, a longtime political figure in Mexico, is the uncle of Latin Grammy winner Thalia.
may be touched by bureaucracy the very first time she opens a fitness club.The club she launched this week in Mexico City is in danger of being shut down because it lacks a security plan and a land use permit, local authorities said Wednesday.
Officials from the singer's Hard Candy Fitness have until Friday to get a land use permit, though they will be allowed to turn in other necessary documents later, said Demetrio Sodi, the chief of the Miguel Hidalgo municipality where the gym is located.
"If they don't have a land use permit, they will not be able to operate," Sodi told the Spanish-language station Televisa.
Sodi said the gym also needs to present a certificate showing it has parking.
He said that when he was told last week that the gym would open Monday, they "didn't have any permits" but he granted a special permit for the inauguration.
Madonna was in Mexico City Monday night for the ribbon cutting and taught a dance class for 20 hand-picked members with music by Paul Oakenfold, the DJ who opened her last tour.
Madonna said in a statement last week that she wanted to use Mexico "as a place to fine-tune our brand and then expand it to other countries and, in the long term, develop a global brand that includes the United States."
Membership at the gym costs about $159 a month. It costs $827 to join and that includes the first two months.
Sodi, a longtime political figure in Mexico, is the uncle of Latin Grammy winner Thalia.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Obama gets 12 stitches after 'elbow in the lip'
WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama had to get 12 stitches on his upper lip Friday after being struck in the face by an elbow during a basketball game, the White House said.
"After being inadvertently hit with an opposing player's elbow in the lip while playing basketball with friends and family, the president received 12 stitches today administered by the White House Medical Unit," spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
Obama was given local anesthetic during the treatment, Gibbs said, adding that he was given a smaller filament that increases the number of stitches to ensure a smaller scar.
The White House later identified the man who struck the president as Rey Decerega, the program director at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, who said the game was all in good fun and did not apologize.
"I learned today the president is both a tough competitor and a good sport. I enjoyed playing basketball with him this morning. I'm sure he'll be back out on the court again soon," Decerega said in a statement.
The White House said Obama was playing defense in the fifth of five games at a gym in Fort McNair military base in Washington when Decerega went to take a shot and accidentally hit the president in the mouth.
An avid basketball fan and player, Obama often plays with friends, including his towering personal aide Reggie Love, who played Friday.
Obama has a famous love for the game, and often displays skills on the court that are the envy of many of his compatriots.
A game among friends became a ritual for him throughout the long campaign for the White House in 2008.
For his birthday this year he traded passes and scuffles at the White House with a number of the game's current greats, including Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James of the Miami Heat, and former NBA star Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
had to get 12 stitches on his upper lip Friday after being struck in the face by an elbow during a basketball game, the White House said."After being inadvertently hit with an opposing player's elbow in the lip while playing basketball with friends and family, the president received 12 stitches today administered by the White House Medical Unit," spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
Obama was given local anesthetic during the treatment, Gibbs said, adding that he was given a smaller filament that increases the number of stitches to ensure a smaller scar.
The White House later identified the man who struck the president as Rey Decerega, the program director at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, who said the game was all in good fun and did not apologize.
"I learned today the president is both a tough competitor and a good sport. I enjoyed playing basketball with him this morning. I'm sure he'll be back out on the court again soon," Decerega said in a statement.
The White House said Obama was playing defense in the fifth of five games at a gym in Fort McNair military base in Washington when Decerega went to take a shot and accidentally hit the president in the mouth.
An avid basketball fan and player, Obama often plays with friends, including his towering personal aide Reggie Love, who played Friday.
Obama has a famous love for the game, and often displays skills on the court that are the envy of many of his compatriots.
A game among friends became a ritual for him throughout the long campaign for the White House in 2008.
For his birthday this year he traded passes and scuffles at the White House with a number of the game's current greats, including Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James of the Miami Heat, and former NBA star Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Rapper DMX back in Arizona jail after arrest
PHOENIX – Rapper DMX was arrested in Phoenix for investigation of violating probation by using drugs, authorities said.
Court documents released Friday allege the 39-year-old performer used cocaine and OxyContin, failed to submit to drug testing, and drove on a suspended license.
DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was arrested Thursday by Maricopa County probation officers and was being held without bond in the county jail.
His attorney, Glenn Allen, said he had been working with his client and probation officials and expected the arrest.
"It is very frustrating that the probation department would time it in such a way to violate Mr. Simmons right before the holiday and just a few weeks shy of the termination date of the probation," Allen said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Mr. Simmons has been working very hard and will overcome this setback."
Simmons was placed on probation last year after convictions for attempted aggravated assault for throwing a food tray at a jail guard, and theft for trying to using a fake name to avoid paying a $7,500 hospital bill.
He has completed probation for 2009 felony convictions for cruelty to animals and two drug counts.
Maricopa County adult probation officers went to Simmons' north Phoenix home Thursday to take him into custody. He also is accused of failing to participate in counseling programs and make required payments.
"He has been directed to treatment as well as chose his own treatment program and continues to use drugs following these opportunities," a probation officer wrote in a court document requesting that DMX be held without bond. "His ongoing drug use places him in great danger."
Simmons could face prison time because of his repeated probation violations, and officials will likely ask that his probation be revoked, said Zach Dal Pra, chief deputy of the county adult probation department.
Simmons' other legal troubles include pleading guilty in 2008 to attempted cocaine and marijuana possession in Miami, and pleading guilty in a 2004 incident in which he posed as an undercover federal agent and crashed his sport-utility vehicle through a security gate at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
DMX recorded such hits as "Get At Me Dog" and "Party Up" in the 1990s. He also appeared in films including 2000's "Romeo Must Die" and 2003's "Cradle 2 the Grave."
was arrested in Phoenix for investigation of violating probation by using drugs, authorities said.Court documents released Friday allege the 39-year-old performer used cocaine and OxyContin, failed to submit to drug testing, and drove on a suspended license.
DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was arrested Thursday by Maricopa County probation officers and was being held without bond in the county jail.
His attorney, Glenn Allen, said he had been working with his client and probation officials and expected the arrest.
"It is very frustrating that the probation department would time it in such a way to violate Mr. Simmons right before the holiday and just a few weeks shy of the termination date of the probation," Allen said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Mr. Simmons has been working very hard and will overcome this setback."
Simmons was placed on probation last year after convictions for attempted aggravated assault for throwing a food tray at a jail guard, and theft for trying to using a fake name to avoid paying a $7,500 hospital bill.
He has completed probation for 2009 felony convictions for cruelty to animals and two drug counts.
Maricopa County adult probation officers went to Simmons' north Phoenix home Thursday to take him into custody. He also is accused of failing to participate in counseling programs and make required payments.
"He has been directed to treatment as well as chose his own treatment program and continues to use drugs following these opportunities," a probation officer wrote in a court document requesting that DMX be held without bond. "His ongoing drug use places him in great danger."
Simmons could face prison time because of his repeated probation violations, and officials will likely ask that his probation be revoked, said Zach Dal Pra, chief deputy of the county adult probation department.
Simmons' other legal troubles include pleading guilty in 2008 to attempted cocaine and marijuana possession in Miami, and pleading guilty in a 2004 incident in which he posed as an undercover federal agent and crashed his sport-utility vehicle through a security gate at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
DMX recorded such hits as "Get At Me Dog" and "Party Up" in the 1990s. He also appeared in films including 2000's "Romeo Must Die" and 2003's "Cradle 2 the Grave."
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Home Depot beats estimates, raises profit outlook
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Home Depot Inc (HD.N) reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings on tighter cost controls, prompting the world's largest home improvement chain to raise its profit outlook for the year.
However, the company softened its full-year sales forecast as U.S. consumers continue to put off expensive renovations and open their wallets only for repairs and small remodeling projects.
Home Depot, which has benefited from a slower expansion strategy, supply chain improvements and cost cuts that included job reductions in January, said it would continue to invest in its efforts to improve its merchandise and distribution.
The sentiment echoed that of smaller rival Lowe's Cos (LOW.N), which said on Monday it would rather focus on boosting margins and market share in the coming year than bet on a U.S. economy plagued by high unemployment.
Home Depot's net income rose to $834 million, or 51 cents a share, in the third quarter ended October 31, from $689 million, or 41 cents a share, a year earlier.
Analysts on average were expecting 48 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Sales rose 1.4 percent to $16.60 billion, slightly above the analysts' average estimate of $16.59 billion. Sales at U.S. stores open at least a year rose 1.5 percent.
Home Depot forecast earnings of $1.94 a share from continuing operations for the current fiscal year, up 4 cents from its prior outlook. The company expects sales growth of about 2.2 percent, down from a prior view of 2.6 percent.
However, the company softened its full-year sales forecast as U.S. consumers continue to put off expensive renovations and open their wallets only for repairs and small remodeling projects.
Home Depot, which has benefited from a slower expansion strategy, supply chain improvements and cost cuts that included job reductions in January, said it would continue to invest in its efforts to improve its merchandise and distribution.
The sentiment echoed that of smaller rival Lowe's Cos (LOW.N), which said on Monday it would rather focus on boosting margins and market share in the coming year than bet on a U.S. economy plagued by high unemployment.
Home Depot's net income rose to $834 million, or 51 cents a share, in the third quarter ended October 31, from $689 million, or 41 cents a share, a year earlier.
Analysts on average were expecting 48 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Sales rose 1.4 percent to $16.60 billion, slightly above the analysts' average estimate of $16.59 billion. Sales at U.S. stores open at least a year rose 1.5 percent.
Home Depot forecast earnings of $1.94 a share from continuing operations for the current fiscal year, up 4 cents from its prior outlook. The company expects sales growth of about 2.2 percent, down from a prior view of 2.6 percent.
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