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Xmas Weekend Box Office: “Hustle” Beats “Wolf,” “Smaug” $30 Mil Behind “Journey”

Roger Friedman
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Xmas Weekend Box Office: “Hustle” Beats “Wolf,” “Smaug” $30 Mil Behind “Journey”

The Christmas box office race: winner was “The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug,” which has a tidy $190 million in the bank domestically. It’s nothing to sneeze at. But “Smaug” is running around $30 mil behind the first Hobbit movie, “An Unexpected Journey.” The Smaug may be too thick, or there are just a lot choices out there.

Meantime, “American Hustle” beat “The Wolf of Wall Street”– narrowly, yes. And “Wolf” is limited in its earning power by its length. There are fewer showtimes during the course of a day. Both movies are headed to the Oscars.

“August: Osage County” had a strong debut in very limited release. Another Oscar and possible SAG winner (the Golden Globes people didn’t understand it), “AOC” expands next month.

Keanu Reeves’ “47 Ronin” is dead at the box office. The Universal feature took in $20 million over the weekend. That’s one-tenth of of what it cost. Keanu will now try for “Bill and Ted’s Digital Adventure” or something like that.

New Bruce Springsteen Album Hacked? Uploaded Via Amazon Then Removed

Roger Friedman
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0
New Bruce Springsteen Album Hacked? Uploaded Via Amazon Then Removed

Bruce Springsteen had “high hopes” for his album of that name, due from Sony on January 14th. But someone evidently uploaded it onto amazon.com early, or amazon.con accidentally did it themselves this afternoon. Billboard caught it and wrote the news as if Sony and Springsteen knew this. Was it a Beyonce type sneak attack? Or was it some kind of retribution for Sony giving iTunes Beyonce’s digital album in advance, and cutting off amazon?

Don’t know. But right now there’s an ad running on the web that looks like it’s from iTunes for “High Hopes.” When you click on it, it takes you to amazon.com. “High Hopes” is no longer available to download from amazon.The link that was there now says the page is ‘unavailable.’

But people who bought it and downloaded it are the ones who have now uploaded it to sketchy file sharing sites. Those sites are infected with Malware, so proceed with caution. Better to wait until January 14th.

Some UK Newspapers, by the way, have posted reviews of the album from the download. And Billboard says it’s going to publish one on Monday.

UPDATE Bieber Panic as Fans Ignore New Documentary: Box Office Free Fall

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE Bieber Panic as Fans Ignore New Documentary: Box Office Free Fall

UPDATE SUNDAY 12NOON: Open Road didn’t turn in numbers for the weekend after all. But estimates are that “Believe” came in around $4.3 million for its first weekend. The spin is that the film only cost $5 mil and had little promotional budget because they felt it didn’t need it. But it’s a disaster of disinterest from the Bieber fans. They simply didn’t go.

EARLIER:

If I were Scooter Braun, now I’d be concerned. Ticket sales for Justin Bieber’s “Believe” dropped 19% from Wednesday to Thursday, and 22% more from Thursday to Friday. The teenybopper’s big new documentary is a shiny new flop. This isn’t just because it’s only in 1,037 theaters. In those theaters, it’s a flop. The film has taken in $3 million, most of it on the first two days. By Friday it was down to $780,000. It may not clear the $5 million mark for Wednesday-Sunday. If that’s the case, the Bieber insiders may have to look at how their pet project is faring in a post-teen world. Can a pop star poop out this fast? Yes. Good news, though: “Believe” has beaten by “Mandela” so far, which is playing in fewer theaters. No doubt Mr. Bieber feels that Nelson Mandela (if he’s heard of him) would have been a ‘belieber’ just like Anne Frank.

Duck, Duck, Goose: A&E Shows It Has No Standards

Roger Friedman
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5
Duck, Duck, Goose: A&E Shows It Has No Standards

I remember when A&E stood for “Arts & Entertainment.” Now it’s “Asshats & Egos.” The modern day Beverly Hillbillies have won a staring match with the cable network.  I had never seen “Duck Dynasty” until this scandal and the marathon showing of it that followed. If you’re dumb enough to watch this thing, you deserve whatever they say. On the other hand, who’s fooling who? These people are living high. I suspect the beards and bandanas come off when the cameras are finished. Here’s A&E’s statement:

As a global media content company, A+E Networks’ core values are centered around creativity, inclusion and mutual respect. We believe it is a privilege for our brands to be invited into people’s home and we operate with a strong sense of integrity and deep commitment to these principals.

    That is why we reacted so quickly and strongly to a recent interview with Phil Robertson. While Phil’s comments made in the interview reflect his personal views based on his own beliefs, and his own personal journey, he and his family have publicly stated they regret the “coarse language” he used and the mis-interpretation of his core beliefs based only on the article. He also made it clear he would “never incite or encourage hate.” We at A+E Networks expressed our disappointment with his statements in the article, and reiterate that they are not views we hold.

    But Duck Dynasty is not a show about one man’s views. It resonates with a large audience because it is a show about family… a family that America has come to love. As you might have seen in many episodes, they come together to reflect and pray for unity, tolerance and forgiveness. These are three values that we at A+E Networks also feel strongly about.

    So after discussions with the Robertson family, as well as consulting with numerous advocacy groups, A&E has decided to resume filming Duck Dynasty later this spring with the entire Robertson family.

    We will also use this moment to launch a national public service campaign (PSA) promoting unity, tolerance and acceptance among all people, a message that supports our core values as a company, and the values found in Duck Dynasty. These PSAs will air across our entire portfolio.

Bieber Bombs: “Documentary” Drops 19% After First Day

Roger Friedman
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0
Bieber Bombs: “Documentary” Drops 19% After First Day

School’s out so there’s no excuse. Justin Bieber’s beliebers have not shown up at the cineplex for him. His “Believe” movie opened on Wednesday. The next day, yesterday, the film dropped 19% at the box office. The film went from $1.25 million on Wednesday to $1 million on Thursday. That means even in a limited release, “Believe” is a dud in the making.

That may also explain proclamations of retirement by the teen pop star this week.

The 19% drop is particularly worrying because the other movies pitched at kids– “Walking with Dinosaurs,” “Frozen,” and “The Hobbit”– all had significant increases on Thursday from Wednesday.

Meantime, the holiday weekend’s biggest loser, “47 Ronin,” dropped 47% from Wednesday. Whoever went on Christmas Day obviously didn’t recommend it to friends.

Brad, Angelina Gave $1 Million to Eradicate TB in Ethiopia

Roger Friedman
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Brad, Angelina Gave $1 Million to Eradicate TB in Ethiopia

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie continue to put their money where they say it will go. Their Jolie-Pitt Foundation donated just under $1million in 2012 to eradicate tuberculosis in Ethiopia. The foundation made three separate donations of $500k, $300K, and $166K to centers named for their children in  that country.

That’s not all: Jolie-Pitt made a total of $1.7 million in donations for 2012. The other beneficiaries included $200,000 to Drury University Hospital in Missouri for their pediatric cancer center named for Jane Pitt, Brad’s mother; and $100,000 for Sean Penn’s Haiti relief fund. They also gave over $100.000 to organizations in Sarajevo.

The couple weren’t the only ones to donate money to their foundation in 2012. Beverly Hills jeweler Robert Procop donated $100,000 to Jolie-Pitt. International jeweler Asprey gave $25,725. Pitt’s private Chivan company kicked in $150,000.

Jolie-Pitt Foundation– which ended 2012 with $2.3 million in total assets- is as straightforward as you can get for a celebrity foundation. Madonna could take a lesson from them.

 

“Bieber” Movie Falters, Beaten in Same Number of Theatres by “Mandela”

Roger Friedman
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5
“Bieber” Movie Falters, Beaten in Same Number of Theatres by “Mandela”

Further proof there is a God: in a similar number of theaters, Justin Bieber’s “Believe” movie was beaten handily by the Oscar buzzed “Mandela:Long Walk to Freedom.” The two movies can be compared because “Believe” was shown in 1,037 theatres. Mandela’s total was 975.

“Mandela” was number 13 at the Christmas Day box office. “Believe” was number 14. The former title earned $1,252,131. The latter took in $1,250,000.

That’s not a huge difference. But remember “Mandela” is playing at 62 fewer theaters. Once again Madiba triumphs!

Miley Cyrus Xmas Gift: Sex Tape Music Video Simulating Masturbation

Roger Friedman
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3
Miley Cyrus Xmas Gift: Sex Tape Music Video Simulating Masturbation

She makes the videos, we take the bait and write about them. It’s kind of soft core cesspool cycle of fun. Miley Cyrus’s new video for the song “Adore You” is out. It’s not for kids, and not for office. This year Miley’s been photographed in the nude by Terry Richardson, made soft core videos for other songs, stuck her tongue inappropriately, and done just about everything to wipe away the memory of her Disney character “Hannah Montana.”

Now she simulates masturbation in “Adore You.” Next February she’ll have sex with a moose–just an antler–just kidding– for another single. All the porn doesn’t make the records sell or the songs better. But if she ever has kids, it will be a nice legacy for them.

and here’s another song, really good, just cuz:

Review: Justin Bieber’s Believe Reveals a Well Oiled Machine

Roger Friedman
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2
Review: Justin Bieber’s Believe Reveals a Well Oiled Machine

I didn’t learn a lot watching Justin Bieber’s “Believe” infomercial, or slightly scripted, well-sculpted “documentary.” Most of what I gleaned was about his manager, Scooter Braun, and the elaborate machine that it takes to keep this cipher ready for 8 to 12 year old young girl fans. I got to see how Bieber’s songs are “constructed” (as opposed to composed), and how his stage show comes together via everyone but him.

You will not find out much about 19 year old Bieber in “Believe.” Many people in the movie sing his praises, but there’s no evidence of any extraordinary skill aside from being able to get progressively more tattooed, and his inability to grow facial hair. You do see, if you hadn’t already, that Bieber wears all his pants so low that his genitals are only noticeable because he tugs at them on stage. This renders him as a pretty eunuch. ( I was worried he’d contracted something.)

I kept thinking that another teen sensation, Elvis Presley, caused an outrage because his pants were too tight. This is not a problem for Justin Bieber. He is almost completely sexless in “Believe,” very much like an anatomy-less Ken doll. He’s the harmless rock star, the anti-Jagger.

For some reason, Bieber and his cohorts think this movie will show “who he really is.” If that’s the case, then he is a blank screen upon which others project their ideas. He is inarticulate and seemingly without his own specific thoughts or philosophies about anything. He is innocuous.

Was he born somewhere? Did the family have roots, a background? Was he discovered? Did that change the family? Did he ever think he might go to school? Does the sight of thousands of small girls shrieking do anything to him? Does he think about it?

At one point Bieber turns to the camera and says, unironically, “I never thought I could be loved so much,” referring to the fans.

The most fun in the movie is watching Scooter Braun, the missing Weinstein brother, go outside at shows and tease girls about getting seats, ultimately giving them the best tickets of the night. Braun is the story in this movie. I’ve never seen a manager so high profile since David Geffen. Long after Bieber is gone, Scooter Braun is going to be around.

There is also a creepy segment– unintended — about Bieber and a six year old girl who’s dying and calls him her “husband.” Many may find this uplifting. I found it skeevy.

None of this is to say that Bieber doesn’t have talent. He’s shown just at the beginning and end of the movie playing a nice tune on the piano. He is also a competent drummer. His voice sounds thin, but that’s because the material is so threadbare. There may be something here besides marketing. But “Believe” doesn’t believe it.

 

Box Office: In One Mall, “Mitty” and “Madea” Take Xmas Night

Roger Friedman
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0
Box Office: In One Mall, “Mitty” and “Madea” Take Xmas Night

This is just an official midnight post from a typical suburban mall cinema in America on Christmas night. I ambled over to the Ft. Myers Bell Tower 20 tonight to catch the 10:05 showing of “Justin Bieber’s Believe.” It was never screened for critics, so I thought, what the heck? My great thanks to mall manager Jen Nettles for getting me past a huge, and I mean huge, crowd of young people waiting to see Tyler Perry’s “Madea Christmas.” Apparently Bell Tower sold out the last two shows of the night.

What else did well on Christmas Day? Ben Stiller’s “Secret Life of Walter Mitty” was the cineplex’s biggest hit of the day. “Wolf of Wall Street” did very well, they told me. “Mandela” had some traction. “American Hustle” did well. No one, but no one, saw “Ronin 47.”

And “Believe”? I was told that late afternoon shows did alright. There were maybe a dozen people in my theater, all young girls — 8 to 12– and one mom. There was a lot of eating, trips to the bathroom and snack stand. It didn’t bother me. But I did notice that the many Coming Attractions were all for animated films, all aimed at 12 and below, right down to children. That’s who the Bieber movie is for.

One other thing: Warner Bros. has a Lego movie coming next spring, with animated Batman and Superman. I guess this is the way to seed the fields for future generations of fans. I felt bad for Batman and Superman, though.

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