|
The future is now: "V" for victory
2006-03-17
The new sci-fi action thriller "V for Vendetta" should emerge victorious at the weekend box office, industry observers believe. The Warner Bros. release, whose controversial plot line revolves around a futuristic terrorist, will send incumbent champ "Failure to Launch" to No. 2. The box office boasts just one other new entry, the teen romantic comedy "She's the Man," which will vie for the No. 3 spot with "The Shaggy Dog" and "The Hills Have Eyes," two holdovers from last weekend. Based on a comic book by Alan Moore, "Vendetta" revolves around a man known as V (played by Hugo Weaving), who seeks to free the English people from a totalitarian regime. Natalie Portman, Stephen Rea and John Hurt co-star in the R-rated film, which marks the feature directorial debut of James McTeigue. "Vendetta" is getting an ultrawide release in 3,365 theaters in North America. Of those, 56 are Imax large-format venues. "She's the Man," a light romantic comedy aimed at the under-25 demographic, centers on a high school girl, played by Amanda Bynes, who poses as her twin brother to play on the boys' soccer team. Director Andy Fickman's DreamWorks release opens in 2,623 houses. The previous weekend's three new films look likely to continue to generate some decent box office. Midweek business for the trio -- Paramount's "Failure to Launch," Disney's "The Shaggy Dog" and Fox Searchlight's "The Hills Have Eyes" -- has been respectable, thanks to the start of sprinbg break. "Failure to Launch," which opened to a surprisingly strong $24.4 million last weekend, generated solid exit-poll scores, which usually translates into legs at the box office. The romantic comedy stars Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker. Freestyle Releasing's "Find Me Guilty" debuts in 443 theaters in the top 20 markets. The R-rated drama, starring Vin Diesel and directed by Sidney Lumet, is based on a true story about a New Jersey mobster and his unique and record-long day in court. Freestyle's "Don't Trip ... He Ain't Through With Me Yet!" opens in 54 theaters and 10 markets. The PG comedy documentary stars Steve Harvey. Fox Searchlight's "Thank You for Smoking" opens in five locales. The R-rated festival fave, an ensemble comedy-drama starring Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Adam Brody, Sam Elliott and Katie Holmes, is about a Big Tobacco lobbyist who begins to have second thoughts about what he is doing. Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Michael Douglas in the spotlight at Deauville film fest (2007-08-29)On Broadway, Schreiber is "Talk" of the town (2007-03-13)The future is now: "V" for victory (2006-03-17)Berlin film festival prepares for its big night (2006-02-18)Bosnia War Story Tops Berlin Film Fest (2006-02-18)
| 
