#BOXOFFICE: “HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA” BITES INTO BOX OFFICE

After a few weak weekends in a row, Moviegoers finally showed their Box Office support this weekend with a big debut for Sony Pictures’ Hotel Transylvania.  The Animated Feature starring Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez and Kevin James debuts with $43 million from 3,349 theatres across North America. The Film debuted at TIFF just a few weeks back.  See my Snaps with the Cast here!

Sony Pictures/Alliance Films earned big numbers from Action-Thriller, Looper, starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the Film also receiving a Premiere here at TIFF a couple weeks back as the Opening Night Gala.  It earns $21.2 million from 2,992 theatres, making it a Sony Pictures Top Two in the U.S., opening with resoundingly strong reviews at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Last week’s number one Film End of Watch continues to perform well in third with $8 million, tallying  at a two-week total of $25.9 million, exceeding all expectations for Open Road and VVS Films with a $7 million budget.  Trouble with the Curve and Thriller The House at the End of the Street follow closely behind in fourth and fifth with  $7.5 million and  $7.1 million respectively.

Musical-Comedy Pitch Perfect, debuts in sixth impressively with $5.2 million from only 335 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Film is Anna Kendrick‘s second film in the Top Ten along with End of Watch this weekend, and it likely will expand to bigger numbers in coming weeks.

Best Picture Candidate The Master showing in 856 theatres only, continues to perform fairly well with $2.71 million in ninth spot for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, while Won’t Back Down starring Maggie Gyllenhaal (two Gyllenhaals in the Top Ten) and Viola Davis, rounds out the Top Ten for 20th Century Fox with $2.7 million from 2,515 theatres.

#BOXOFFICE:”END OF WATCH” EDGES-OUT “HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET” FOR #1

In an extremely tepid weekend at the Box Office, End of Watch, an intense Action-Drama starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena opens on-top  with $13.1 million for Open Road (VVS Films in Canada) from 2,730 theatres. The Film earned really positive reviews coming out of TIFF 2012 and also 85% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer. In what originally was deemed at two-way tie, final numbershave End of Watch at number one.

Ottawa-filmed House at the End of the Street decidedly is number two in its debt, just edged-out by a hair with $13 million based almost completely on the Starpower of The Hunger Games Star, Jennifer Lawrence alone. The Horror opened in 3,083 theatres, although receiving widely negative reviews.

Clint Eastwood‘s latest Baseball Drama Trouble with the Curve opens in third for Warner Bros. with $12.7 million from 3,212 theatres. Sadly, the legendary Eastwood earns another negative review here following consecutive disappointments Hereafter and J. Edgar.

The excellent Dredd 3D debuts in fifth behind Finding Nemo 3D, earning $6.3 million, which is unfortunate as had great reviews (78% on the Tomatometer), but ultimately a lack of buzz.

The Master expands to 788 theatres this weekend, earning $5 million for The Weinstein Co. and eOne Films. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive with its trio of stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix all garnering Oscar buzz.

ParaNorman, meanwhile, rounds out the Top Ten in its sixth week with $2.3 million for Focus Features and Alliance Films.

#REVIEW: “HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET”

The difference between The House at the End of the Street and any other Haunted House-Horror is that this Mother and Daughter know exactly what they’re getting, versus finding out along the way when it’s already too late.   This effort from Director Mark Tonderai  has  Sarah (Elisabeth Shue) and Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence) aware precisely of a Double Homicide which took place on the same street they  relocate to, all in the name of affordable housing.

Despite their genuine efforts to make reconnecting as Mother and Daughter a primary focus, things fall to the wayside quickly with Sarah‘s busy work schedule as a Doctor.  A headstrong Elissa befriends Ryan (Max Thieriot) against her Mother’s wishes as something isn’t quite right about Ryan. You guessed it –  the Victims of that said Double Homicide were his Parents and the Killer would be his brain-damaged younger sister, who is rumoured to live in the woods. Great.  On paper, the signs are all there to steer the heck clear of the Drama, but if weren’t for Drama, there wouldn’t be a Movie.

House at the End of the Street doesn’t tread any new territory in terms of the Genre, but what makes it entertaining is the honest and fully-committed performance given by now-Megastar Lawrence. Surely she couldn’t have known that back in the Summer of 2010 when she filmed this Movie in Ottawa, that she’d see her Star rise as quickly as it has.  Thieriot – whom I kept confusing for Cam Gigandet – more than ably fills the role of the Villain here and if you are patient enough to wait till the end, you’d better have your Baseball Bat ready for a sharp Curve Ball thrown your way. It’s always a pleasure to see Oscar-nominated Shue on the Big Screen, even if she isn’t fully challenged here.

This Horror may have Genre Enthusiasts turning-up their noses, however Lawrence’s younger Fans definitely will have a bit of fun with this. And did you know she could sing really well?  Alliance Films releases House at the End of the Street on Friday, September 21, 2012.