This Is A Hit
In the US: Michael Jackson's documentary film THIS IS IT takes the #1 spot, but it's nowhere near the blockbusting juggernaut Sony were predicting, with just $23m to its name... biopic AMELIA is faring atrociousl0 in is second week of release, only just inching into the top 10 with $3m... and THE BOONDOCK SAINTS II: ALL SAINT'S DAY was only released on 63 screens, but came in off-chart at #14
US TOP 10
(-) 1. This Is It $23.2m
(1) 2. Paranormal Activity $16.4m
(4) 3. Law Abiding Citizen $7.4m
(5) 4. Couples Retreat $6.46m
(3) 5. Where The Wild Things Are $5.93m
(2) 6. Saw VI $5.27m
(6) 7. Astro Boy $3.46m
(8) 8. The Stepfather $3.21m
(7) 9. Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant $3.1m
(-) 10. Amelia $3.03m
In the UK: Likewise, the late King Of Pop grabs #1 with THIS IS IT, which took just shy of £5m... animation 9 is a disappointment at #7 with just £468,000... AN EDUCATION debuts at #8 with £399,000, but it was only released on 93 screebns (so it actually had the best per screen performance of any film this week)... and DEAD MAN RUNNING sneaks into the top 10 at #10 with a lowly £198,000...
UK TOP 10
(-) 1. This Is It £4.8m
(1) 2. Up £3.4m
(3) 3. Fantastic Mr. Fox £1.5m
(2) 4. Saw VI £940k
(5) 5. Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant £544k
(4) 6. Couples Retreat £500k
(-) 7. 9 £468k
(-) 8. An Education £399k
(6) 9. The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus £323k
(-) 10. Dead Man Running £198k
UK RELEASES THIS WEEK
BRIGHT STAR
Romantic biopic. The drama based on the three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, which was cut short by Keats' untimely death at age 25.
Director: Jane Campion Starring: Ben Wishaw, Abbie Cornish, Kerry Fox, Paul Schneider, Thomas Sangster & Edie Martin
Tomatometer: 83% (Fresh; based on 122 reviews) "Jane Campion's direction is as refined as her screenplay, and she gets the most out of her cast -- especially Abbie Cornish -- in this understated period drama."
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Animated family drama. A miserly old man is haunted by three spirits on Christmas Eve, who intend to make him change his ways.
Director: Robert Zemeckis Voices/Performances: Jim Carrey, Bob Hoskins, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn & Cary Elwes
Tomatometer: 55% (Fresh; based on 107 reviews) "Robert Zemeckis' 3-D animated take on the Dickens classic tries hard, but its dazzling special effects distract from an array of fine performances from Jim Carrey and Gary Oldman."
JENNIFER'S BODY
Comedy-horror. A newly possessed cheerleader turns into a killer who specializes in offing her male classmates. Can her best friend put an end to the horror?
Director: Karyn Kusama Starring: Megan Fox, Anna Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody & Ryan Levine.
Tomatometer: 44% (Rotten; based on 136 reviews) "Jennifer's Body features occasionally clever dialogue but the horror/comic premise fails to be either funny or scary enough to satisfy."
THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS
Comedy. A reporter in Iraq might just have the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady, a guy who claims to be a former member of the U.S. Army's First Earth Battalion, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions.
Director: Grant Heslov Starring: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, Stephen Lang, Robert Patrick, Stephen Root, Glenn Morshower & Rebecca Mader.
Tomatometer: 58% (Fresh; based on 106 reviews) "Though The Men Who Stare at Goats is a mostly entertaining, farcical glimpse of men at war, some may find its satire and dark humor less than edgy."
