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'Glory Road' Glides Past 'Hoodwinked' in MLK Photo Finish
Duking it out for the top spot, Glory Road and Hoodwinked bowed within $50,000 of each other, and that close race was the most exciting thing that transpired over the four-day Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. Jerry BruckheimerQueen LatifahJim Carrey
'Hoodwinked' Rides Past 'Glory Road' for MLK Win
NOTE: This report was re-written Tuesday, Jan. 17 with actual grosses and additional reporting to account for Glory Road's photo finish win. Click here to read the new report. Jerry BruckheimerQueen LatifahJim Carrey
Dench Shines in British Mischief
As an eccentric British widow turned theater matron who seeks to revive London's Windmill Theatre, the indomitable Judi Dench does another top job in director Stephen Frears' Mrs. Henderson Presents. The bright script by Martin Sherman keeps this reality-based story in good taste while retaining its marvelous sense of mischief and amusement.
Race-Based College Hoops Shoots Blanks
What looked like another decent, feel-good sports picture, like Rudy, Miracle or Remember the Titans, falls apart in Buena Vista's Glory Road. This race-based drama lacks guts, glory and, worst of all, a good basketball game. Josh LucasJon Voight
Latifah Can't Cure Formulaic Hotel Comedy
Queen Latifah pushes her appealing personality in director Wayne Wang's star vehicle, Last Holiday, which is so laughably bad at times it's almost campy. Saved from disaster by a few laughs with easygoing Latifah, with more wardrobe changes than Cher, this zany affair chucks in not only the sink but also the whole kitchen.
Around the World Roundup: 'Chronicles' Conquers 'Kong' Overseas
After ruling Christmas and New Year's, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was again No. 1 with more than $30 million over the weekend. Its foreign total rose to $283 million, surpassing King Kong for the first time—Kong has a hefty $272 million. Narnia now ranks as distributor Buena Vista's ninth-highest grossing picture of all time. Jim Carrey
Utah Theater Snub Can't Bridle 'Brokeback Mountain'
Last week, distributor Focus Features set up 484 theaters for Brokeback Mountain's expansion, but on Friday that figure was revised to 483. The difference was one theater in Utah. Ang LeeHeath LedgerLasse HallströmSteven SpielbergWoody Allen
'Hostel' Lodged Into Top Spot
In the wake of the bloody holiday duel between a crusading lion and a sensitive gorilla, the first weekend of 2006 saw a gruesome little horror picture bludgeon expectations, demonstrating the genre's consistency, and overall business rose eight percent over the comparable frame in 2005. Quentin TarantinoAdam SandlerUwe BollJerry Bruckheimer
NEW FEATURE: MPAA Rating Updates
The Release Schedule now shows the most recent movie ratings issued by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). The page displays the movie titles, distributors, release date, rating and the rating reason for the last four weeks of new ratings issued by the MPAA.
Hallstrom Makes Loving Fun
Like his inspiring fable, Chocolat, Lasse Hallström's Casanova, starring Heath Ledger as the legendary lover, is frivolous, naughty and thoroughly enchanting. Uncork the bottle, enjoy the bubbly and live a little—this effervescent follow-up to Mr. Hallstrom's overlooked An Unfinished Life is the perfect movie to start the new year.
'Chronicles' Conk Out 'Kong' on New Year's Weekend
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ascended to the top spot over New Year's weekend, ousting King Kong. Jim CarreyJennifer AnistonAng LeeSteven SpielbergLasse HallströmWoody Allen
Hollywood Boulevard Rebounds
Burbank, California—A case of cabin fever on an unusually warm and sunny Christmas Eve—even for Los Angeles—led me to Hollywood Boulevard, which, despite the usual round of redevelopment projects, hasn't been glamorous for a long time. Awash with last-minute shoppers and busy parking attendants, it practically bustles and shines.
'King Kong' Clings to Christmas Top Spot Over 'Chronicles'
Eight national releases entered the fray over Christmas weekend, but all paled in comparison to the mega-budget grudge match between a computer-rendered gorilla and lion. Peter JacksonJim CarreySteve MartinSteven SpielbergJennifer AnistonKevin Costner
Spielberg Rationalizes the Munich Massacre
Once again, Steven Spielberg transforms a serious subject—an historic act of Arab terrorism—into a skillfully arranged horror show, trivializing another example of 20th century barbarism. Recalling the terrorist attack at the 1972 Munich, West Germany, Olympic Games, in which 11 Israeli athletes were seized and murdered, Munich tracks besieged Israel's response. It makes for a slow motion wreck. Eric BanaEric Roth
Japanese Subculture Lost in Translation
After an inviting introduction, with two Japanese sisters cruelly sold by their father into slavery, director Rob Marshall's Memoirs of a Geisha slips into a slumber from which it never recovers. This long-awaited adaptation of Arthur Golden's 1997 novel is a yawner—too in awe of the Geisha subculture to translate the tragic tale of a lone survivor. Dion BeebeJohn Williams
Past TV Gems Add Christmas Cheer
Burbank, California—With wrapped presents under the tree, packages on their way and plenty of wood on the fire, it's time to wish you, dear reader, a merry Christmas. I say this bearing a few joyful gems from television Christmases past—and it doesn't hurt that they're relatively cheap and easy to obtain.
Around the World Roundup: 'Kong' Strong But Disappointing in Global Launch
King Kong charged the foreign box office with an $83 million in five days from 55 territories, but there were many signs that Kong was not king. Most figures barely matched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire's second weekend grosses. Director Peter Jackson remake failed to top any of his Lord of the Rings movies in his native New Zealand, and it placed third in Italy and Japan.
'King Kong' Mighty But No Monster
"Why, the whole world will pay to see this."—Carl Denham, King Kong (1933) Peter JacksonSteven Spielberg
'Brokeback' Wrangles Strong Numbers in Expansion
In limited release, Brokeback Mountain saw another stampede of moviegoers in its second weekend, while there was no springtime for The Producers in its debut.
A Warm and Funny Family Christmas
Gather the family grownups for an affectionately funny Christmas with The Family Stone, a dramatic comedy that winds its way around numerous obstacles thanks to writer-director Thomas Bezucha. He takes an ordinary premise—holidays with the family—and injects an amusing and powerful elixir. Craig T. NelsonRachel McAdamsLuke WilsonSarah Jessica ParkerClaire Danes
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