India Talkies

Thursday, February 10, 2011

In honor of the 10th anniversary of its original release, Christopher Nolan's psychological thriller Memento is hitting theaters again -- for one night only.

The nonlinear film, written and directed by Nolan and starring Guy Pearce, will screen Feb. 17 at 11 select digital cinemas across the U.S. and Canada via Cinedigm Digital Cinema.

The screenings will feature a recorded never-before-seen Q&A with Nolan (Inception, The Dark Knight), talking to filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro at a Feb. 4 screening of the movie at theAmerican Cinematheque Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles.

Memento, released by Exclusive Media Group’s Newmarket Films, will be screened from an all-new, director-approved, high-definition digital print.

In addition, the film will be released as a 10th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-ray, available from Lionsgate Home Entertainment, on Feb. 22.

The Blu-Ray will include brand new featurette with the director discussing the legacy of the film, plus the director’s script, audio commentary with Nolan, the original short story the film was based on, "Anatomy of a Scene" and other features.

'Tangled' continues to weave spell on world BO

LOS ANGELES - As it heads toward a half billion dollar worldwide gross, "Tangled" is proving that a lack of family fare in the international marketplace is good for a Disney animated feature adapted from a beloved fairy tale. The Rapunzel-based film was the top-grossing movie overseas for the fourth consecutive weekend, earning $23.4 million from 41 territories in its 11th weekend of release.

Oscar has proven its long reach with both "The King's Speech" and "Black Swan" showing continued strength in the foreign arena. A fourth place finish with $13.4 million in 20 territories shows that this King has appeal to audiences the world over as it nears the $175 million global mark.

International audiences in 23 territories have also embraced "Black Swan" which dances into fifth place with $12.7 million and a worldwide total of nearly $130 million. The global importance of the Academy Awards translates into dollars for the major awards contenders as both "Speech" and "Swan" clearly demonstrate through their globally enhanced "Oscar Bumps."

Here are the top 20 movies at international theaters last weekend, followed by international gross for the weekend (excluding North America), number of theater locations, number of territories, worldwide gross to date (including North America), and number of weeks in release as compiled Wednesday by global media measurement company Rentrak Corp. and provided by Hollywood.com:

1. "Tangled," $23,403,919, 5,277 locations, 41 territories, $469,662,683, 11 weeks.

2. "Nothing to Declare," $21,643,338, 1,126 locations, three territories, $29,531,710, two weeks.

3. "The Green Hornet," $14,634,739, 6,711 locations, 60 territories, $171,109,863, four weeks.

4. "The King's Speech," $13,439,476, 3,754 locations, 20 territories, $172,387,344, 11 weeks.

5. "Black Swan," $12,968,317, 3,505 locations, 23 territories, $129,364,275, 10 weeks.

6. "Kokowaah," $9,613,589, 791 locations, three territories, $10,383,687, one week.

7. "Sanctum," $9,502,478, 3,538 locations, eight territories, $20,608,445, one week.

8. "Gulliver's Travels," $8,687,752, 2,009 locations, 32 territories, $164,139,774, seven weeks.

9. "Yogi Bear," $7,943,341, 3,581 locations, 24 territories, $140,553,367, eight weeks.

10. "Detective K: Secret of a Peddler's Inn," $7,616,442, NA, one territory, $18,614,107, two weeks.

11. "The Fighter," $5,482,221, 2,285 locations, 13 territories, $94,073,284, nine weeks.

12. "Hereafter," $5,393,639, 1,661 locations, 25 territories, $82,642,560, five weeks.

13. "Femmine Contro Maschi," $5,316,559, NA, one territory, $5,316,561, one week.

14. "Tron Legacy," $4,999,898, 2,470 locations, 34 territories, $345,695,815, eight weeks.

15. "Gantz," $4,699,824, NA, 1 territories, $17,809,636, two weeks.

16. "The Comic Battle in Pyongyang," $3,560,178, NA, one territory, $9,046,393, two weeks.

17. "The Tourist," $3,500,195, 1,881 locations, 49 territories, $224,353,255, nine weeks.

18. "Season of the Witch," $3,490,078, 1,405 locations, 19 territories, $63,113,386, five weeks.

19. "Love and Other Drugs," $3,075,051, 1,809 locations, 33 territories, $86,295,591, 11 weeks.

20. "Red," $2,853,324, 605 locations, 12 territories, $174,328,009, 15 weeks.

Lohan pleads not guilty to felony theft charge

LOS ANGELES - Lindsay Lohanpleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony grand theft of a $2,500 necklace — the most serious charge yet filed against the troubled starlet who has wrestled with drug and alcohol abuse for years.

"You're in a different situation now that a felony has been filed," Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz scolded Lohan after she entered the plea through her attorney. "Everybody else has to follow the law. You're no different than anyone else. So please, don't push your luck."

Saying it appeared Lohan had violated her probation in a 2007 drunken driving case, Schwartz set bail at $40,000 and warned that if she was accused of breaking the law while free, he would have her held without bail.

Lohan, 24, posted bail and was released about an hour after the hearing. She spoke little during the arraignment, except to acknowledge her name and that she understood the charge and possible consequences.

Lohan could face up to three years in state prison if eventually convicted of stealing the necklace in January from a Venice Beach store.

The "Mean Girls" star has remained in the spotlight throughout her legal problems. Wednesday, she was met by a swarm of photographers and TV cameras when she arrived at the courthouse in a white dress and sunglasses.

Until now, Lohan has struggled with the terms of her probation in the DUI case but has not been charged with other crimes.

The former Disney star has been a courthouse regular since May, when another judge determined she had violated her probation by missing weekly alcohol education classes.

She was sent to jail and rehab after missing a hearing then granted early release from both facilities. Within weeks, however, she failed a drug test and was briefly returned to jail before spending the next three months in rehab.

Lohan's three stints in jail in the past three years have all been shortened by overcrowding and the fact that she could not be held without bail on a misdemeanor.

The jewelry case is not Lohan's only legal concern. Prosecutors in Riverside County are considering whether to charge the actress with battery for an altercation with a rehab worker at the Betty Ford Center in December.

The worker was fired after giving an on-camera interview to celebrity website TMZ, but district attorney's spokesman John Hall has said the allegation against Lohan was under review.

Schwartz was the third judge in seven months to warn the actress she was facing serious jail time if she broke the law.

Defense attorney Shawn Chapman Holley said Wednesday that Lohan was interested in an early disposition program where she could work out a deal to keep the case from going to trial.

Holley also said Lohan has received good reports from her probation officer and had not failed any recent drug screens.

Prosecutor Danette Meyers rejected the idea that Lohan has been well-behaved.

"A good probationer doesn't pick up a new case," Meyers said.

Another hearing was set for Feb. 23.

Director Kevin Smith Credits Getting Booted From Flight For Dropping 65 Pounds

Director Kevin Smith has admitted that getting kicked off of a Southwest Airlines flight last year helped inspire him to lose a hefty 65 pounds.

Almost a year ago, the "Cop Out" director launched a Twitter tirade against the popular airline chain, after he said they booted him from a flight for being too large for just one seat, something the airline confirmed in a blog on February 14, 2010.

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The incident sparked a media firestorm, and a host of headlines, and Smith said it led him to slimming down.

"Because I was heavy-heavier, people were just like.. you know, you're profiled, you look the part," Kevin told Joy Behar on Tuesday's "The Joy Behar Show." "I felt, at that moment, I was like, you know what? I'll lose the weight, but I'm not putting on thinner clothes."

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Happy in his baggy top, the "Mallrats" director told the HLN host he isn't entirely comfortable now that he's smaller.

"I feel mixed feelings about losing the weight. I sympathize far more with heavier people than I ever will with thin [ones]. I'll never be thin," Kevin said. "Look, Lets be honest, I've lost 65 pounds, but nobody's going I want to sleep with you, they're just like, 'Keep going, you look better.'"

HK's To shoots 2nd romance aimed at Chinese market

HONG KONG - Stepping up his push into the mainland Chinese market, Hong Kong director Johnnie To is now shooting his second romance in a row, in a break from the stylish crime thrillers that helped him win international acclaim.

The veteran filmmaker is regarded as one of the last holdouts of Hong Kong-style action cinema as his fellow directors flock to the mainland to make crowd-pleasing historical and kung fu epics. But even To now acknowledges the need to balance his artistic aspirations and commercial pressures.

On Thursday, the maker of films like "PTU," "Election," "Sparrow" and "Vengeance" was shooting a wedding banquet scene at a Hong Kong hotel for his new romantic comedy starring Hong Kong heartthrob Louis Koo, actress-singer Sammi Cheng and mainland actors Gao Yuanyuan and Wang Baoqiang. The film, called "High Altitude Romance II" in Chinese, doesn't have an English title yet.

It's his second straight romance in a row geared at mainland audiences after "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," which also starred Koo and Gao and will be released in March. To said he sees an opening for light comedies in the mainland amid a spate of big-budget costume dramas and that it's also a genre that's easier to clear by Chinese censors wary of sex, violence and political undertones.

"This is intentional. We need to cultivate our mainland market. It's difficult to do that with the kind of movies we typically make. In order to avoid problems and excessive edits with the censors, we are making softer movies like love stories and comedies," To told reporters. "If we make a crime movie or one of our more personal films, there will be more obstacles."

The Hong Kong director also added that he felt an obligation to investors who backed his more artistic productions.

"The kind of movies we truly like may not be the kind of movies we are making now. But in view of your investors, you can't only make your own stuff. You need to return the favor to the company. Otherwise why should it support you? That is a deal you have to make," he said.

To also revealed that he will start shooting a third movie geared at the Chinese market in July or August — a comedy starring Cheng and superstar Andy Lau.

To's frequent directing and screenwriting partner Wai Ka-fai, however, told The Associated Press that the duo will still try to infuse their personal style and messages in their more commercial productions. Wai, who wrote "High Altitude Romance II," said while "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" is a straightforward story, their new movie is more philosophical.

"High Altitude Romance II" stars Koo as an actor who escapes to a rural Chinese tourist getaway in Yunnan province after being abandoned at the altar by his girlfriend, played by Gao.

Referring to the name of the production company that he and Wai run, Wai said, "There will still be Milkyway Image DNA in the movies."

As is common with prolific Hong Kong directors, besides "High Altitude Romance II" and the upcoming Andy Lau movie, To is juggling a third project, a thriller starring veteran Hong Kong actor Lau Ching-wan and Taiwanese actor-singer Richie Jen. To said that movie, called "Lethal Gold" in Chinese, has been delayed because the actors have other commitments, but he still aims to finish it by the end of the year.