Weekend Highs: Inside Emotions, Dinosaur Thrills, Prison Love
Sunday, June 21, 2015 at 10:07PM Two separate films earning over $90 million in a single weekend? Impressive. That didn't leave a ton to money to go round for other films, though. Spy is a solid performer at the box office but I'd actually expected it to be much bigger since it's the funniest film of the year. But all the action was at the dinosaur theme park and Pixar's return to form, the delightful Inside Out. The new film follows the emotions inside an 11 year old girl's head as she moves to a new city. I was resistant to the concept, which seemed too gimmicky and "Herman's Head" like, but resistance was futile: it's wonderful. Better still they didn't even remotely give the best stuff away in the trailer and that's such a surprise nowadways!
WIDE RELEASE BOX OFFICE
June 19th-21st Weekend
01 Jurassic World $102 (cum. $398.2) Jurassic Articles
02 Inside Out NEW $91 Inside Out Articles
03 Spy $10.5 (cum. $74.3) Rose Byrne FYC
04 San Andreas $8.2 (cum. $132.2)
05 Dope NEW $6 Sundance capsule
06 Insididous Chapter 3 $4.1 (cum. $45.3)
07 Pitch Perfect 2 $3.3 (cum. $177.5) Review & Sequel
08 Mad Max: Fury Road $2.8 (cum. $143.6) Review & Podcast & Random Articles
09 Avengers: Age of Ultron $2.7 (cum. $451) Review & Marathon & Podcast
10 Tomorrowland $2 (cum. $87.6) Review
The opening weekend for Dope was solid especially for a film with zero stars. It was one of the big sales at Sundance (7 million) and it nearly nabbed that back on opening weekend. Good word of mouth (which is likely - the film is very funny and likeable) could turn it into a minor hit. None of the miniscule limited releases caused a stir at the arthouse but The Overnight (also from Sundance -- why do they wait till all the heat dissipates to release those films?) took in $62,000 on 3 screens.
What did you see this weekend?
I'd already seen Inside Out so I started on the Smackdown movies -- Key Largo is so good. I hope y'all are watching along at home. I also went to a reunion concert for the original cast of Into the Woods . Let me just say that it was basically heaven on earth. I'm still high from it... and not just from the always sublime Bernadette Peters. I went in expecting more of a talk with a few musical numbers but they did several from each act. As it turns out the original Cinderella (whose voice is still ridiculously pretty) and the original Cinderella's Prince/Wolf got married in real life and they have kids now. Joanna Gleeson was still amazingly funny as the Baker's Wife,and so on.
And of course I took in a couple more episode of Orange is the New Black. I'm absolutely loving this newly low-key character-driven season. Gone are the distractions of the outside world that marred the otherwise brilliant Season 1, the absence of a focus pulling villain like season 2's Vee (Lorraine Toussaint's Emmy worthy work aside) means more focus on the complicated network of friendships and rivalries among the women in the prison and ways that they cope, or don't. I'm just loving it.
You?
Reader Comments (31)
I know I am jaded, but I found Inside Out depressing. Saturday morning cartoon like and recycles The Wizard of Oz, which was done with actors on screen. People were crying so it must hit some candy colored nerve with the mainstream.
I guess Oren Moverman is becoming one of my favorite filmmakers right now, because he is partly responsible for several films that I've loved or admired over the last 15 years: Jesus' Son, I'm Not There, Married Life, The Messenger, Rampart...and now Love and Mercy, which he co-wrote. I saw it Friday and I'm still in a daze. Need to see it again soon. (When is Elizabeth Banks going to become a big screen leading lady?)(Atticus Ross is a genius.)(Vindication for die-hard fans of Dano and/or Cusack.)
And yesterday I attended a screening of How to Marry a Millionaire at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Marvelous as ever, but I don't get how the Writers Guild nominated it for Best Written Comedy. You can tell that it's a hodgepodge of two unrelated plays by several authors that works despite the seams showing.
Saw INSIDE OUT Friday. As sublime as I'd heard - and hoped - it would be. I don't subscribe to the idea that Pixar has been in a creative slump lately (CARS 2 aside) but IO is still clearly a cut or five above its recent output.
Saturday I watched JAWS on blu ray in celebration of its 40th birthday. Still one of the all time greats.
Earlier today I watched THE BURBS for the first time. I can't imagine how I missed that growing up, but I did. A great, fun, inventive black comedy. I miss funny Tom Hanks, and I miss Joe Dante. I guess that means I should see BURYING THE EX, right?
On the TV front, I've nearly finished the second season of ORPHAN BLACK, and watched the season premiere of TRUE DETECTIVE, which I found dreary and dangerously close to self parody.
Inside Out made me laugh and cry. I found the concept and execution pretty much perfect. So gorgeous to look at.
Also finished Sense8. Hope it gEts a second season.
I appreciated the fact that this season of OITNB focused on the corrupt/unjust nature of the corporate prison system, but this season majorly lacked conflict. I watched because I love the characters and it's all the character development you don't get on a Ryan Murphy show, but I was kind of bored. Whereas the other seasons had me on the edge of my seat.
Season 3 has no forward momentum. Hope season 4 goes for urgency.
I also spent the weekend (well, the media-consuming part of it) with Orange Is the New Black. I'm up to episode 10, and so far I agree with you that the season is very strong. There is plenty of conflict, but it's more nuanced than seasons 1 and 2. In those previous seasons almost every episode faded to orange on an intense and sometimes ridiculous cliffhanger. This season, the show realized that the best reason viewers have to keep moving from episode to episode is watching the relationships between the characters form and deepen.
I caught "Dope" and it was amazing. Funny, thought-provoking and very fresh. I don't know how wise it was to try and open wide but I'm very sure that good word of mouth will get people to check it out.
Stuck in a hotel room and watched most of A Deadly Adoption. The last few minutes almost made it worth my time.
I saw Jurassic World which is every bit as bad as I assumed it would be -- a big, stupid, predictable, slightly fun, mildy sexist movie with CGI dinosaurs that look worse than they did 22 years ago. In my alternate universe Spy would be making that money. Seriously, why are people not going to see it in droves? It should be well past the $100 million mark by now.
I too am saddened by Spy not doing better because it is such a great film. I haven't seen Inside Out but I have seen Jurassic World and that was just a mess of a film and it doing so well really is not right.
I'm glad you're enjoying OITNB because it is a wonderful season. The criticism of it being slow is baffling to me because while there is no big bad the character evolution of the show just made me so happy watching each new episode. I hope you enjoy the rest of the season because it's so great.
I watched the three 1948 supporting actress smack down films last week and with one week till your discussion I have chosen to return to 1948 and rewatch some great movies from the year and so far my favourite is The Treasure of Sierre Madre just a stunning and unexpected movie and if modern film watchers haven't seen it yet they should return to this brilliant film.
I'm enjoying OINTB Season 3, too, although I wish they'd have just cut Alex Vause loose. She's the one character I don't care about. She has no depth or comedic value, and Piper is a lot more interesting without her.
OITNB hasn't been doing it for me this season, also diss appointed that the show almost completely side stepped the fallout from last season. Also my wish that the creator had just cast his last leading lady, Mary-Louise Parker, just gets stronger as this show goes on. Schilling can be quite good but generally doesn't bring anything extra to the role than what is written, Parker would have killed it.
For me it was Jason Robards in 1962 in two nighttime films--Tender Is the Night and Long Day's Journey Into Night. Jennifer Jones is ravishing and magnetic in the former, which deserves a better reputation. The O'Neill piece was very well-done, but so depressing and really challenging in an emotionally and intellectually draining sort of way.
Next weekend: Spy
Anonny, the creator (Jenji Kohan) is a woman, sister of one of the Will & Grace creators and daughter of a writer on The Carol Burnett Show.
I love revisiting my favorite characters on OITNB (Boo, Red, Pennsatucky, & Lorna), but I think what doesn't work is the big storylines it tries to have -- Norma as a religious figure and Alex worried about being taken out -- seem really paint-by-numbers and waste a lot of time.
Was disappointed by 'Orange' this season. I found that the story lacked focus, flashbacks came out of nowhere and contradicted previously established facts about characters, Ruby Rose was a random addition, and Piper's arc was very contrived.
Really liked the first season and loved the second, and fear that we're at the point where the show's quality will decline every year.
I'mm with you Nat, I loved this third season of Orange is the New Black, specifically because of how character-focused it was and how closely we came to know these people. Unlike someone here, I thought Pipers arch this season was the most natural place they could take that character, a spoiled woman who slowly loses control of everything she's ever known in life finds a way to get control of something in this prison ecosystem. It was also great to get more insight into characters we hadn't explored before. Yes, some of it was ridiculous, but you know what? In prison, you'll so whatever you need to do to keep yourself occupied and somewhat hopeful, so I welcome a little silliness from people who have no choice but to bide their time.
I saw Inside Out this weekend and absolutely loved every minute of it! It's just the Pixar film we've been missing. Nat, are you going to talk more about the movie (maybe in a podcast or a full-length review)?. I want to hear more of your thoughts on the film, specifically the very clever way it dealt with depression and that central conflict between Joy and Sadness (a conflict that I feel exists inside of all of us, which is why I felt it made for amazing storytelling), the character of Bing Bong and also the fact that it's a female-driven film that doesn't really call attention to itself being female-driven. I'm sure you'll have a lot to say about that last one...
Rewatched The Immigrant - still great the second time around. Joaquin and Marion and Jeremy - all wonderful. Still sort of upset/confused that that movie didn't do better in awards & box office. Also, after several recommendations I caught Mad Max in theatres. Still processing whatever was going on. (Simultaneously a lot and a little.) Great style though all around. And didn't take itself too seriously. Thankfully a very bizarre and revolting but somehow pleasant and fun action movie.
I am so. Jealous. Of the ITW event. I have no words. (Other than: Bernadette is looking fine these days. You should see her tangerines!)
Rewatched SELMA and PRIDE this weekend. Strikingly different portrayals of the importance of activism. I found that both were even better on the second viewing, if possible. Imelda Staunton is perfection and should have all of the roles.
Saw Inside Out - really enjoyed it. I cannot believe that a mainstream animated movie will not only be forcing little boys everywhere to get inside the head of a girl, but that sadness is portrayed as helpful and even essential.
AND it had that amazing sequence in the Abstract Thought tunnel which just blew my mind. Again, in a mainstream American animated movie. So freakin' cool.
Deadline is reporting that Jurassic World actually gross for the weekend is between $106-108 million for a new second weekend record. It crossed $400 million in 10 days, Very impressive. I saw "Spy" yesterday and it's my favorite movie of the summer. I can't believe it's not doing better than it is.
Catastrophe (a ridiculous title; don't hold it against the show) - new sitcom on Amazon Prime. Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan are quite charming and funny. Pleasant 30 minutes.
Some catching up on Netflix:
OITNB-1st episode of Season 3. Found it so depressing. Perhaps because I also saw, Girlhood (2003 doc) which chronicled the story of two young girls in the juvenile justice system.
Words and Pictures - love Juliette Binoche so much but Clive Owen was channeling Michael Caine in Educating Rita in this film. I know he's has some recent success with The Knick (though I'm not a fan) but what happened to his movie career post-Children of Men and Closer?
A Trip to the Moon--visually fantastic, but I'm not sure what was going on with the accompanying soundtrack in this version. Can someone explain?
A Most Wanted Man--Even some great actors can't do accents (see Al Pacino in Manglehorn-ugh). I miss Philip Seymour Hoffman, but mostly I miss the PSH of 1998-2009. This film was a slog.
Pam - I caught the first 3 episodes of Catastrophe this weekend and really liked it, too! The two leads are such interesting characters with a complicated relationship that the actors play beautifully.
Spent the weekend at Frameline, our queer film festival here in S.F. Lots of stuff to recommend, either lightly or strongly. More or less in order of my enthusiasm:
1. Henry Gamble's Birthday Party : a queer Christian teen celebrates his 16th birthday party poolside. Altmanesque in its one-set, multi-character story lines. Naturalistic performances, and at times very funny!
2. Do I Sound Gay? : documentary that explores the "gay voice" but really looks at all sorts of issues around our self-image as gay men, including masculinity, misogyny, the history of a certain gay villain archetype in movies (including in animation), how our families see (and hear) us, etc. Interviews David Sedaris, Dan Savage, Margaret Cho. Super entertaining and moving at the same time.
3. Those People : Woody Allen's Manhattan meets Whit Stillman...rich kids in New York in the throes of friendship, sex, betrayals, etc., with a plot stolen from the Bernie Madoff story. Beautifully produced, well acted, though the script gets melodramatic at key moments.
4. I Am Michael : James Franco giving a great performance in a strange (true) story of a gay activist who freaks about about mortality, the afterlife, his own identity etc. and winds up as a devout anti-gay Christian. Not always deep enough but fascinating at times.
5. Naz and Maalik : two African American Muslim gay teenagers who are friends with benefits, ambling through their Brooklyn neighborhood trying to make a buck on one summer afternoon. Wonderful chemistry between the leads, and an almost documentary like shooting style, are the high points. But the plot gets contrived by the end.
I saw Dope and Inside Out on Friday. Enjoyed both quite a bit. I also watched Transformers: Age Of Extinction on Netflix Friday and Saturday (I refuse to see anymore Transformers films in theaters). The first hour or so is probably the tightest storytelling any of the films has ever had and unlike the last two, it actually has a plot to it. Unfortunately, it has two more plot threads going on that jumble things up and it becomes an endless stream of action for the remainder of the film. It's the best - most tolerable - of the four but it's not a good film at all.
" Penny Dreadful" which like the rest of this season has some sublime and ridiculous moments- but for lovers of classic cinematic horror the series is pure Universal-Hammer glory
Had two very interesting audience-driven movie experiences in the last week for DOPE and SPY. Sat near some rowdy women for the latter who evidently found it the most hilarious movie in the world. Their enjoyment was infectious, so I found myself laughing along even at the lines that didn't particularly strike a chord. That being said, I'm pretty confident that I loved it. And everyone is right--Rose Byrne is at the height of her glory here.
Found DOPE to be spectacular, incredibly winning in its energy and fearless mix-and-match of genres. The portrayal of women in it was a sorry and completely unnecessary low, but I was stlll surprised to find that the mainstream critic reaction has been favorably lukewarm. Am genuinely interested as to how much personal identity plays into it--a lot of white critics seem more bothered by the inclusion of stereotypes than PoC, it seems. My audience was super diverse and they seemed to love the shit out of it. Maybe critics are also overestimating how certain cliches in this movie were purposely included to give Black teens a classic coming-of-age movie of their own? Clearly need/want to read more perspectives on it!
Should also mention that I've been trying to avoid Jurassic World at all costs and laying low for True Detective as well, even though I really liked the first season. From what it looks like/sounds like, it's basically the macho posturing of Season 1 minus the interesting true crime/surreal aspect. But we already knew this from the trailer, where the lead men all do the exact same thing: look grimly stoic, and then punch another dude in the face.
I saw Inside Out, and cried like a baby!
Would the song from Lava (assuming it's also called Lava) be eligible for Original Song contention or does a song have to be from a feature?