The #1 movie over the past weekend (10/3-10/5) was the Disney talking doggie film Beverly Hills Chihuahua, which brought in a surprising $29,300,465 in its first weekend. Starring the mostly Latino voices of Drew Barrymore, George Lopez, Eddie “Piolín” Sotelo, Andy Garcia, Placido Domingo, Edward James Olmos, Paul Rodriguez, Cheech Marin, and Luis Guzman, this family film is a cute one for the kids. The parents will be entertained as well, but its not really one that I could see adults paying full price for without kids present. (more…)

The #1 movie over the past weekend (9/19-9/21) was Neil LaBute’s latest movie, Lakeview Terrace. The movie came in with $15,004,672 in its first weekend…which for a movie being released in September is pretty good. I was actually looking forward to this movie for several weeks based on the trailers, but when I saw that LaBute was directing, I got even more excited (he is the director of some very provocative movies like 1997’s In the Company of Men, 1998’s Your Friends & Neighbors, 2000’s Nurse Betty, and 2003’s The Shape of Things. I’m trying to forgive him for 2002’s boring Gwyneth Paltrow movie Possession though.) Samuel L. Jackson is one bad mutha (shut yo mouth!) that you don’t want to mess with…especially when he is a police officer who doesn’t agree with the lifestyle of his new interracial neighbors, played by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington. My girlfriend thought that Jackson was the most evil villain she has ever seen him play (has she ever seen Jules Winnfield from 1994’s Pulp Fiction?) I wouldn’t go that far, but he did command the screen. I highly recommend it. (more…)

The #1 movie over the past weekend (9/12-9/14) was the Coen Brothers’ follow-up to their Oscar-winning movie, No Country for Old Men.  Burn After Reading was a violent black comedy that took in $19,128,001 and became the highest grossing movie for them in their careers.  I personally loved the movie…but it may be that I really enjoy R-rated black comedies (I’m twisted that way.)  It reminded me a little of their 1996 Oscar-nominated comedy Fargo in tone (which, probably not by coincidence, stars Reading’s Frances McDormand…Joel Coen’s wife.)  Will it achieve the lofty Oscar praise that Fargo received (or some leftover praise of Old Men)?  I doubt it, but there are some standout performances.  Brad Pitt is a riot as McDormand’s personal trainer co-worker who encourages her blackmailing exploits (you’ll just have to see the movie to catch my drift.)  John Malkovich is also a standout as the recently demoted CIA analyst with a foul mouth, a foul temper, and a serious drinking problem.  My girlfriend loved it (she thinks that Pitt is adorable in the movie)…until one of the characters meets an untimely end (I don’t want to spoil it for you…so I won’t.)  I recommend it if you are a fan of any of the actors (Pitt, McDormand, Malkovich, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, etc.) or the Coens’ sick sense of humor. (more…)

The #1 movie over the past weekend (9/6-9/7) was the Pang Brothers’ English remake of their first movie Bangkok Dangerous starring Nicholas Cage. It came in with $7,783,266 in its debut weekend…which is the lowest box office gross for a #1 movie in five years (when the David Spade movie Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star was the #1 movie with $6.7 million.) The movie specialized in the two types of movies that Cage does best: action movies and movies where he is depressed. I’m actually a big fan of the mopey one, but this movie was just so-so to me. I’m getting sick of Asian remakes anyway…so let’s stop while we’re far behind anyway…okay? (more…)

The #1 movie over the past weekend (8/29-8/31) was Tropic Thunder for a third weekend. It came in with $14,602,121 for a total gross so far of $86,935,945. The movie that came in #2 ($11,541,571) was the futuristic Vin Diesel Children of Men-rip off flick Babylon A.D. Despite the brief return to real acting in Sidney Lumet’s Find Me Guilty two years ago, Diesel continues his downward slope into crappy action flicks. This one wasn’t screened for critics (shocker!), so I had to see it over the weekend. It wasn’t the worst movie I’ve ever seen (or even the worst Diesel movie I’ve ever seen…which would be 2005’s The Pacifier), but it was just so bland for an action flick. There were a couple of cool toys, like a paper map that you could scroll down in the way you can do if you use Google Maps, but overall, it didn’t do anything for me. If you want to see a good movie from last weekend, check out the #5 movie ($11,507,654 from the previous Wednesday)…the political thriller Traitor, starring Don Cheadle and co-written by comedian Steve Martin. Think 2005’s Syriana…only not so long and boring. (more…)

The number one movie over the weekend of 8/8-8/10/08 was…surprise…again The Dark Knight in its fourth weekend atop the box office chart with $26,117,030, bringing its overall total to $441,628,497, putting it in third place of the all-time film grosses.  To become the second highest grossing film of all time, it will have to make more than the $460,998,007 gross of 1977’s Star Wars IV: A New Hope (a.k.a. the “original” Star Wars), but analysts are saying that there is virtually no chance of beating the $600,788,188 gross of the number one movie of all time…1997’s Titanic.  Coming in second place for the weekend was Pineapple Express…the R-rated, violent, Judd Apatow comedy starring former “Freaks & Geeks” co-stars Seth Rogan and James Franco.  I’ve noticed that every production Apatow has done since 2005’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin has been R-rated, with the exception of this year’s Drillbit Taylor (which was rated PG-13.)  I’ve seen all of them, and Drillbit is the only one that I didn’t think was hilarious…so Apatow should only be making R-rated comedies, because Pineapple was a black stoner comedy that cracked me up (and I’ve never smoked the wacky weed before in my life.)  Franco was practically channeling Sean Penn’s Jeff Spicoli from 1982’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High.  Rogan proved again that an overweight, schlubby guy can lead a movie effectively.  My girlfriend didn’t like the end, but I did.  Bonus: the greatest rock band of all time (in my mind)…Huey Lewis & The News…sings the theme song of the same name!  I’m so getting the soundtrack! (more…)

The number one movie over the weekend of 8/1-8/3/08 was again The Dark Knight in its third weekend atop the box office chart with $42,664,219, bringing its overall total to $393,751,065.  Some people are saying that the movie could surpass the overall champ, 1997’s Titanic ($600 million), but analysts are predicting that it will actually only gross $515 million in the end.  Meanwhile, the #2 movie, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emporer, came in with a decent $40,457,770.  Almost every other critic hated it, but I thought it was a fun, action-packed movie that teen boys and adults would like…especially if they liked the first two movies (or the 2002 spin-off The Scorpion King.)  Forget the critics…check it out for yourself. (more…)

The number one movie over the weekend of 7/25-7/27/08 was again The Dark Knight with $75,166,466, bringing its overall total to $313,781,677.  That is the first movie to cross the $300 million mark in just 10 days.  I ended up watching the movie over again myself with my girlfriend’s nephew, and I liked it better the second time (though I still liked Iron Man better.)  Surprisingly, the #2 movie…the Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly comedy Step Brothers…was very funny.  It was much better than last year’s Blades of Glory or this year’s Semi-Pro.  That movie was lucky to rake in $30,940,732 in its first weekend.  If you are looking for a stupid funny R-rated comedy…check it out. (more…)

Shawn the Chart Guy here…The number one movie over the weekend of 7/18-7/20/08 was The Dark Knight with $158,411,483, exceeding the previous record of $151.1 million for a three-day opening set by Spider-Man 3 last year.  The movie also set a record for the biggest single-day gross for a movie ($67.9 million), the biggest midnight preview ($18.5 million), the biggest IMAX opening ($6.21 million), and the most opening theaters (4,366.)  While it’s not my favorite superhero movie of the year (that would still be Iron Man), I did think that it was very good.  In fact, I liked it better than the original Christian Bale Batman movie, 2005’s Batman Begins.  Heath Ledger is amazing as The Joker.  They decided not to give him a back story…he’s just crazy.  All of the buzz about him getting a possible posthumous Oscar nomination is completely justified.  James Dean became the first actor to be nominated for an Academy Award after his death for the 1955 movie East of Eden and in 1956 for the movie Giant (he is the only actor to get two posthumous Oscar nominations.)  Spencer Tracy (1967’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner), Peter Finch (1976’s Network), and Massimo Troisi (1994’s Il Postino) were also recognized, though Finch is the only actor to actually win the award posthumously.  Ledger might be added to this list. (more…)

Shawn the Chart Guy here…The number one movie over the weekend of 7/11-7/14/08 was Hellboy II: The Golden Army with $34,539,115.  I personally didn’t like it quite as much as the original 2004 flick, but it was okay.  In a summer where there is a superhero movie every other week, this ranks below Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and even Hancock. (more…)