Check out the Amazing Chicago/Dreamgirls/Les Mis Medley from the Oscars Again

My favorite moment of Sunday’s Oscar telecast was the musical medley of the fantastic and Oscar-winning musical films Chicago, Dreamgirls and Les Miserables. Oscar winner Catharine Zeta-Jones did a nice job opening the segment with “All that Jazz” but it really kicked into gear with an astounding performance by Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson singing her iconic Dreamgirls song “And I Am Telling You I am Not Going”. It was a brilliant moment that netted her a much deserved standing ovation. Following J Hud, was the wonderful ensemble of Les Miserables featuring newly minted Oscar winner Anne Hathaway, Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Russell Crow, Samantha Barks, Aaron Tveitt, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter with a medley of “Suddenly/I Dreamed a Dream/One Day More” that also yielded a standing O. I have to say that Barks and Tveitt stole that number which is not too surprising considering they’re the seasoned stage performers of the group. All in all, I absolutely loved the whole musical shebang and I’m thrilled that these amazing movies and performers were singled out again. It’s an incredible moment and I have it for you again below. Enjoy!

Chicago/Dreamgirls/Les Miserables Oscar Medley

Horror Claws its way to the Top of the Box Office while “Django” Puts up a Good Fight

Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained put up a valiant effort at the weekend box office with a strong $20 million to cross the $100 million mark, but it still had to settle for second place for the frame. Slashing its way to the top was the new horror crapfest Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D with $23 million. It was a good opening for the film, but it will likely fall apart quickly with dreadful reviews and poor audience reaction… Films that audiences are loving continued to do well as The Hobbit took in another $17 million for a big $263 million total while Les Miserables is on its way to becoming the highest grossing musical since Grease as it added another $16 million to quickly cross $103 million. It should easily charge in to the top five for musicals by next week and then have to fend off Mamma Mia ($144 million) and Chicago ($170 million) as it attempts to outdo Grease ($188 million). You can see the top grossing musicals of all time here at Box Office Mojo and remember, the numbers are NOT adjusted for inflation)… The only new entry in the top ten was the Matt Damon drama Promised Land with a disappointing $4.3 million for tenth place. Take at look at the all the numbers below and head to Box Office Mojo for more numbers and analysis here.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 N Texas Chainsaw 3D LGF $23,000,000 – 2,654 – $8,666 $23,000,000 – 1
2 2 Django Unchained Wein. $20,082,000 -33.3% 3,010 – $6,672 $106,351,000 $100 2
3 1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey WB $17,525,000 -45.1% 3,755 -345 $4,667 $263,820,000 – 4
4 3 Les Miserables (2012) Uni. $16,117,000 -40.9% 2,904 +90 $5,550 $103,605,000 $61 2
5 4 Parental Guidance Fox $10,125,000 -30.4% 3,368 +1 $3,006 $52,761,000 $25 2
6 5 Jack Reacher Par. $9,300,000 -31.6% 3,288 -64 $2,828 $64,804,000 $60 3
7 6 This Is 40 Uni. $8,559,000 -31.5% 2,931 +17 $2,920 $54,460,000 $35 3
8 7 Lincoln BV $5,258,000 -28.3% 1,901 -65 $2,766 $143,933,000 $65 9
9 8 The Guilt Trip Par. $4,530,000 -30.8% 2,312 -119 $1,959 $31,207,000 $40 3
10 - Promised Land (2012) Focus $4,312,000 +2,379.4% 1,676 +1,651 $2,573 $4,661,000 – 2

Les Mis and Django Open Big while The Hobbit Rules the Holiday Box Office

After opening at # 1 on Christmas day, Les Miserables slipped to third after its first full weekend in release behind a strong frame for The Hobbit and Quentin Tarantino’s revisionist western Django Unchained. All three did fantastic business and should continue to pack them in for the next few weeks. Nabbing another $ 32.9 million, The Hobbit has now pulled in over $ 222 million in the US and a giant $686 million worldwide. Following close behind in second was Django Unchained with $30 million and a very good $64 million since opening on Christmas day. The film (which I gave a “B+” grade to) is likely to easily become Tarantino’s biggest grosser as it is quickly out passing his previous best Inglorious Basterds…. In third was the astoundingly brilliant Les Miserables (my film grade: “A”) with $28 million and a total of $67 million since its Christmas debut. The film set records for the biggest opening day for a musical, biggest opening week for a musical and biggest Christmas debut. For more on its record-setting ways, head to Box Office Mojo here. Les Mis is on target to become the biggest domestic musical since Oscar winner Chicago in 2002… Opening better than expected in fourth place was the Billy Crystal/Bette Midler family comedy Parental Guidance with $ 14.8 million and $29.5 million since Christmas…. The rest of the top ten held up pretty well despite some underwhelming total numbers for Jack Reacher, the atrocious This is 40, and the under-appreciated The Guilt Trip. Take a look at the top ten below and head to Box Office Mojo for more in-depth analysis and all the numbers for the limited release debut of the new Matt Damon film Promised Land (which I gave a “B” grade to by the way).

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey WB $32,920,000 -10.9% 4,100 – $8,029 $222,703,000 – 3
2 N Django Unchained Wein. $30,688,000 – 3,010 – $10,195 $64,008,000 $100 1
3 N Les Miserables (2012) Uni. $28,027,000 – 2,808 – $9,981 $67,466,000 $61 1
4 N Parental Guidance Fox $14,800,000 – 3,367 – $4,396 $29,589,000 $25 1
5 2 Jack Reacher Par. $14,010,000 -10.2% 3,352 – $4,180 $44,661,000 $60 2
6 3 This Is 40 Uni. $13,186,000 +13.9% 2,914 +2 $4,525 $37,116,000 $35 2
7 5 Lincoln BV $7,509,000 +35.9% 1,966 -327 $3,819 $132,039,000 $65 8
8 6 The Guilt Trip Par. $6,700,000 +24.3% 2,431 – $2,756 $21,102,000 $40 2
9 7 Monsters, Inc. (3D) BV $6,363,000 +33.3% 2,618 – $2,430 $18,490,000 – 2
10 4 Rise of the Guardians P/DW $4,900,000 -16.9% 2,055 -976 $2,384 $90,230,000 $145 6

Rock of Ages Preview~ “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”!

The all-star movie musical Rock of Ages hits theaters this weekend and I’m a little too excited about it. I’m not sure if it’s gonna be a hot mess or a really well crafted movie musical (ala Hairspray which was also directed by Ages helmer Adam Shankman), but I will be there day 1 to find out. Regardless, it looks like a really good time and the curiosity factor of seeing Tom Cruise as the ultimate rock god is pretty much reason enough to see it. I’m also thrilled to see Oscar winner Catharine Zeta-Jones back singing and dancing on the big screen like she did in the brilliant Chicago. In the film, she plays an anti-rock crusader and sings the big Pat Benatar classic “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”. Now, I have your first look at that scene below. Check it out!

Rock of Ages~ “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” by Catharine Zeta-Jones

And check out the full film trailer below. The movie which chronicles the rise of two young Hollywood wannabes played by newcomer Diego Luna and Dancing with the Stars’ Julianne Hough on the rocking Sunset Strip in the 80′s also stars Mary J. Blige, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Malin Ackerman, Bryan Cranston and the aforementioned Cruise and Zeta-Jones. Ages features some of the best rock and metal anthems of the 80′s from the likes of Poison, Bon Jovi, Journey, Foreigner, Guns N’ Roses, Warrant, Quiet Riot, Night Ranger, Extreme, Def Leppard and more! It hits theaters this Friday June 15.

Rock of Ages trailer

Lady Gaga, “Pariah” and “Dancing With the Stars” win the first round of GLAAD Awards

Last night, the first round of awards for the annual Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Awards were announced at a ceremony in San Francisco. Hosted by Glee stars Cory Montieth and Naya Rivera, the show honored the film Pariah for Outstanding Film in Limited Release and Lady Gaga for Musical Artist. Dancing With the Stars won the Reality Show award for the first time following a season featuring gay contestant Carson Kressley and its first transgender contestant Chaz Bono. Other awards to the brilliant TV Movie Cinema Verite, Diane Sawyer, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Smash/Chicago/Hairspray producers Neil Meron & Craig Zadan . Take a look at the winners below and for more on GLAAD, head here. Also watch for the next round of winners in April which will include the TV Drama and Comedy Series winners.

VITO RUSSO AWARD
Craig Zadan & Neil Meron, executive producers of Smash

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Katy Butler, openly gay 17-year-old anti-bullying advocate

OUTSTANDING FILM – LIMITED RELEASE
Pariah (Focus Features)

OUTSTANDING TV MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES
Cinema Verite (HBO)

OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM – NEWSMAGAZINE
The ‘Sissy Boy’ Experiments, Anderson Cooper 360

OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM SEGMENT
Battle Against Bullying, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer

OUTSTANDING LOS ANGELES THEATRE
No Word in Guyanese for Me by Wendy Graf

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATRE
The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures by Tony Kushner

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATER/ Off-Off Broadway
Southern Comfort, book and lyrics by Dan Collins, music by Julianne Wick Davis

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW EPISODE
“Coming Out on the Oprah Show: 25 Years of Unforgettable Guests” The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated)

OUTSTANDING MUSIC ARTIST
Lady Gaga, Born This Way

And here’s Musical Artist winner Lady Gaga with her equality anthem “Born This Way”

Ranking this Decade’s Oscar Winners…

The 2010 Oscar race is in full swing and we have some seriously exciting fights going on for Picture (The King’s Speech v. The Social Network), Actress (Annette Bening v. Natalie Portman) and Actor (Colin Firth v. James Franco) to name a few… However, before we get all immersed in a new decade of award worthy films, I thought I’d take a look back at the first decade of this millennium and it’s Oscar winners. So, I have ranked my preference of all of the early 00′s Academy Award winners in the big 6 categories below. Take a look. Who stands the test of time? Who is forgettable? And there’s a few notes on who was robbed too… After you’ve read my lists, give me your picks for the best of the past decades Oscar winners too.

Ranking the Oscar Winners~ 2000 – 2009

Best Picture:
1. Chicago (2002)
2. Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King (2003)
3. The Hurt Locker (2009)
4. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
5. No country for Old Men (2007)
6. Gladiator (2000)
7. The Departed (2006)
8. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
9. Crash (2005)~ over Brokeback Mountain? A travesty!
10. A Beautiful Mind  (2001) ~ this over Moulin Rouge and the first Lord of the Rings? Ridiculous

Best Director:
1. Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
2. Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King (2003)
3. Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker (2009)
4. Stephen Soderbergh, Traffic (2000)
5. Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
6. Roman Polanski, The Pianist (2002)
7. The Coen Brothers, No Country for Old Men (2007)
8. Martin Scorcesse, The Departed (2006)
9. Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby (2004)
10. Ron Howard, A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Best Actor:
1. Sean Penn, Milk (2008)
2. Adrien Brody, The Pianist (2002)
3. Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland (2006)
4. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Capote (2005) ~ even though I would’ve given it to Heath Ledger for Brokeback Mountain
5. Denzel Washington, Training Day (2001)
6. Sean Penn, Mystic River (2003)
7. Jamie Foxx, Ray (2004)
8. Russell Crowe, Gladiator (2000)
9. Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart (2009) ~ should’ve gone to Colin Firth for A Single Man
10. Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood (2007)~ should’ve gone to Johnny Depp for Sweeney Todd

Best Actress:
1. Marion Cottillard, La Vie en Rose (2007)
2. Charlize Theron, Monster (2003)
3. Helen Mirren, The Queen (2006)
4. Kate Winslet, The Reader (2008)
5. Nicole Kidman, The Hours (2002)
6. Julia Roberts, Erin Brockovich (2000)
7. Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby (2004)
8. Halle Berry, Monster’s Ball (2001)
9. Sandra Bullock, The Blindside (2009)~ love her, but this should not have won over Meryl Streep!
10. Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line (2005)~ love her too, but this should not have won over Meryl Streep either, or anybody else in the category for that matter.

 

Best Supporting Actor:
1. Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight (2008)
2. Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds (2009)
3. Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men (2007)
4. Jim Broadbent, Iris (2001)
5. Benecio Del Toro, Traffic (2000)
6. Chris Cooper, Adaptation (2002)
7. George Clooney, Syriana (2005)
8. Tim Robbins, Mystic River (2003)
9. Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
10. Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Best Supporting Actress:
1. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chicago (2002)
2. Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls (2006)
3. Monique, Precious (2009)
4. Cate Blanchett, The Aviator (2004)
5. Marcia Gay Harden, Pollack (2000)
6. Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008)

7. Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton (2007)

8. Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener (2005) ~ I would’ve given it to Michelle Williams for Brokeback though…
9. Renee Zellweger, Cold Mountain (2003)
10. Jennifer Connely, A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Burlesque Sneak Peak~ Christina’s a “Good Girl”

The highly anticipated movie musical Burlesque starring Oscar winner Cher and in her big screen debut multiple Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera on November 24th and we keep getting more juicy tidbits about the film. You’ve seen the trailer and Christina’s wonderful take on Sam Cooke’s classic track “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” and now we have another clip, a performance of “But I’m a Good Girl” (first featured on Access Hollywood). I have to say this clip gives me a lot of hope that the film could be a success and stop all those pesky Glitter/Showgirls comparisons. If we focus on this number, the movie is looking more Chicago meets Cabaret and that’s a good thing. Take a look below and let me know your thoughts. And here’s the official track listing for the Burlesque soundtrack which hits stores on Nov. 22nd. Note it features two new songs by Cher including the Oscar ready power ballad “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” written by 6 time Oscar nominee and Grammy winner Diane Warren. There are several other songs the studio will be pushing for the Best Original Song Award as well including “Bound to You” written by Australian pop star Sia and Christina herself. For more on the film, click here and for more goodies, head to the Burlesque facebook page here.

Burlesque Official Soundtrack Tracklisting
01 Something’s Got A Hold On Me Christina Aguilera
02 Welcome To Burlesque Cher
03 Tough Lover Christina Aguilera
04 But I Am A Good Girl Christina Aguilera
05 Guy What Takes His Time Christina Aguilera
06 Express Christina Aguilera
07 You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me Cher
08 Bound To You Christina Aguilera
09 Show Me How You Burlesque Christina Aguilera
10 The Beautiful People (from Burlesque) Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera “But I’m a Good Girl” from Burlesque

The Official Burlesque Poster!

Ok, I’m a little too excited about this movie. Whether Burlesque will be fantastic or a train wreck, I’m there day one! Today, the new film poster was revealed and I have to say it’s a step in the right direction. It’s classy and brings to mind the Oscar-winning musical Chicago. We’ll see what happens with the Cher-Christina starrer when it opens on November 24. … What do you think of the new poster?

Be Italian! “NINE” hits dvd and blu ray tomorrow!

My favorite movie of 2009 finally hits dvd and blu ray tomorrow, the gorgeous musical Nine. Now, I know it got mixed reviews from a lot of critics and movie goers, but I blame that more on the source material. The stage musical is a very introspective tale about a filmmaker and the women that influence his life. It’s not the most easily adaptable piece, nor the most accessible show around. Nonetheless, the film is beautifully shot and features incredible performances by the heartbreakingly brilliant Marion Cottilard and sexy Oscar nominated Penelope Cruz. Plus, there are fierce numbers by Kate Hudson and Fergie who practically steals the show. Oscar winners Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Judi Dench and Daniel Day-Lewis round out the cast. I highly recommend this film that grabbed 4 Oscar noms, 5 Golden Globe noms and 10 Critic’s Choice noms. For more on the film, directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago), and how to buy it, click here. And I’ve included a couple of the best numbers from the film below. BE ITALIAN indeed!

Fergie “Be Italian”

Kate Hudson “Cinema Italian”

Penelope Cruz “A Call from the Vatican”