MAY, 20

MOVIES RELEASED

1-THE AVENGERS

Action / Superhero
Cast: Orlando Bloom, Robert Downey Jr., Rose McGowan, Kurt Russell, Adam Baldwin, Tyler Mane, Malcolm McDowell
Director: Gore Verbinski
Producer and Screenwriter: Matt Kubrick

Box Office: 96 mill.
Net Gains: 49 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Finally, this pitch has become one of the most expensive CMP’s productions ever. And the first CMP’s movie ever released in 8000 screens. But it hasn’t reached the ‘100’ in box office. And look at those poor net gains… there are many little movies that make it better. So, although it has worked in box office well enough, I can't help feeling very disappointed after all the hype. Anyway, I am ready to announce that CMP will give the sequel a chance.

2-FORTUNE CITY

Western
Cast: Edward Norton, Susan Sarandon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Josh Brolin
Director: Lawrence Kasdan
Screenwriter: Marcus Trax

Box Office: 30 mill.
Net Gains: 0.2 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: Saved by the bell from net losses. Making a western work in box office is a tough target. This is a good movie but cow-boys cannot compete with superheroes in nowadays.

3-LIFE AND FACTS OF A DIRTY MIND

Drama / Comedy
Cast: Jack Black, Bill Murray, Uma Thurman, Robert De Niro, Brittany Murphy, Holly Hunter
Director: Bill Murray
Screenwriter: Joey Stark


Box Office: 23 mill.
Net Loss: 10 mill.

Stark’s Reaction: First movie of the Season with net losses. Poor Joey… It was a complicated release that could not find its audience. A tough week…

THE CRITICS CORNER

1-THE AVENGERS

"In some way, this movie pretends to be 'the mother of all superheroes movies'. And partially it does. When you go to watch a superhero movie, you can be sure 99% of what you are going to see. And that also happens in this one. There are some immutable rules in this genre: the tormented hidden personality of the hero, the love relationship with someone ignoring the true identity, the crazy villain wanting to rule the world... That's how these movies have been since the wonderful Richard Donner's 'Superman' - without doubt The Superhero Movie, still unbeaten - and every cliché of the genre is here too. But, accepting that, 'The Avengers' reaches the top of superheroes movies mainly due to the intelligent Kubrick's screenplay and especially due to the mastery of Verbinski, who has put everything he learnt with his Pirates' movies here. 'The Avengers' may be as predictable as any superhero movie, but at least it is entertaining, spectacular, thrilling and wonderfully shot. Much more of what can be said of many of its genre mates".
-Charlie Kiggs

"Every time I watch a superhero movie I feel like its authors believe moviegoers are stupid. I mean, is it possible to make an intelligent superhero movie not treating moviegoers like kids? Donner did so with 'Superman'. And Burton did it too with his first 'Batman'. But who else? Well, Verbinski has now. 'The Avengers' is a brilliant action movie. Verbinski has controlled some of the excesses he showed in the Pirates' trilogy but, at the same time, has put all his experience in setting up a big show. As it happened with the Pirates, there is non stop action here to keep you trapped on your seat for more than two hours. Maybe, there's a certain lack in the development of the characters, as the action show eats it all, but at least we have here an entertaining and quality production that it is not set on the 'minimum effort law' - as some superheroes movies usually do … - but tries to offer a revitalization of a genre in which too many failures have been produced in recent years."
-Vic Carter

"This movie directly feeds from the most classic Marvel's comic books. As Tim Burton did with CMP's 'Captain America vs Superman' - the best movie of the Captain America trilogy -, 'The Avengers' recovers the looks, the spirit and the concepts of old comic books, offering a breathtaking action adventure. The virtues of this feature are based in some clear factors: 1-The cast: all the talents perfectly adapt to their characters as if nobody else but them could have played them. 2-The screenplay and direction: Verbinski has known how to translate into amazing images the story written by Kubrick. And 3-The production design, recovering the colours and looks of old comic books moved to our days and not putting the accent on CGI but on the story itself. No doubt, 'The Avengers' will become a reference in superheroes movies and this first episode of what has been announced as a new CMP's saga has left us with hunger of more."
-Roy Winslow

2-FORTUNE CITY

"If this movie was shot something like 40 years ago, it would have directly entered into the Hall of Fame of the western genre. Kasdan has made an exercise of classicism here. Even the cinematography of the production takes us back to the good old glory days of western. This is not just a camp revisitation of a genre in its decadence but a honest attempt to make a quality movie. Kasdan is not trying here to redefine the western, not even to look for new ways to resurrect the genre. But he is not looking neither for a simple tribute to the past. He has directly tried to make a brilliant western, no matter if that intention is out of time or old fashioned. With the help of a solid screenplay and a more than brilliant cast, Kasdan can now write his name in the list of the best western's directors, even close to John Ford or Howard Hawks."
-Anne Roman

“Edward Norton has played a good Gary Cooper here. And Lawrence Kasdan has made me remember Clint Eastwood’s ‘Unforgiven’. The premise of a city leaded by prostitutes is a great idea from Marcus Trax. And I want to underline the great work by Philip Seymour Hoffman as the shy but finally brave doctor. The sum of it all is an entertaining movie with the delicious taste of the classics.’
-Bob Felton

“There was a time when a movie like this would have become an admired and praised example of moviemaking. In 2008, everybody will run to watch ‘The Avengers’ before enjoying this intense story that flows with no hurry but, at the same time, with no pot hole in its perfect pace. Kasdan has applied a perfect timing to the story as its tension and interest grow step by step until its climax and its sad ending. Yes, there was a time when a movie like this would have been considered a masterpiece. And sometimes it is not wrong to miss the good old days.”
-Chris Burguess

3-LIFE AND FACTS OF A DIRTY MIND

“Moviegoers are lazy. They want to know what they are going to watch when they go to the movies. They seem to say 'don't make me think, please'. So when they face a movie that mixes drama and dark and acid comedy in an undefinable story, they'll feel too lazy to give it a chance. Bill Murray has chosen a peculiar story for his directing debut in CMP. And it is a pity that it has not been supported by audiences. The mixture of satire, parody and a radiography of Hollywood's sins deserved better luck. Brave performances from Uma Thurman and Brittany Murphy - nude scenes included -, excellent work from Black and Murray, and De Niro and Hunter are as efficient as they use too. The work from the whole cast was reason enough to go and watch this movie'
-Jackie O’Callaghan

“From time to time, every comedian wants to make a try in drama. They feel they won’t be recognized as an acting talent until they succeed in a drama. Bill Murray, director of this movie, has finally been considered an Actor – with capital letter – with ‘Lost In Translation’ after decades of making good comedies. Same goes for people like Steve Martin or Jim Carrey, among many other comedians, every now and then trying to prove they can be ‘serious’ actors. And this is the opportunity for Jack Black. And the big surprise – no, I admit I could have never expected that from him – is that he has made a wonderful dramatic work. Black makes the perfect nasty egocentric movie director with an intense performance full of shades I would have never imagined from him.”
-Tim Reeve

“The structure based on dialogue / flashbacks was a dangerous choice for Murray in his first directional job for CMP. And he has faced it with talent. With reminiscences of Ingmar Bergman's 'The Seventh Seal' (where Death played a chess game with its victim) and even of Bob Fosse's 'All That Jazz' (where Roy Schneider also received the visit of the Death with the looks of Jessica Lange), the conversation between Murray and Black becomes a wonderful duel of acting, while the flashbacks show the insides of a cruel industry where you can move from bottom to top and back in one day. It is a pleasure to see Jack Black doing a good job, not forgetting the immense talent of Uma Thurman as the subdue Black’s lover who sacrifice her career – and her life – for the man she – incomprehensibly – loves.”
-Lily Stevens


THE AVENGERS

Excellent. Robert Downey Junior once again proves he was born to play Tony Stark. It was hard to see Kurt Russell wearing the Nick Fury eye patch and not be reminded of Snake Plissken. Give 'em a motorcycle. The rest of the cast played believable enough heroes and Baldwin did ok as Captain America, but I suppose we still miss Heath too much to accept a new Captain so soon. The film was still entertaining enough for the superhero genre. Fans of the series will not be disappointed!

FORTUNE CITY

Ah the good old days of the classic westerns brought to the modern times. A solid well made film that you just have to see. Kasdan was an excellent choice to direct this film. And when I say Trax is one of the best CMP writers, it's the truth. Very original and it would be a shame to see Trax get passed up come GMA time with this interesting take on a corrupted greedy town. Excellent work, Marcus. Or should I say.. next GMA winner?

LIFE AND FACTS OF A DIRTY MIND

Another very well written film about the rise and fall of a film making legend and the prices to pay for fame and to be 'mr. controversy' and it was a great role for Jack Black to be in. A guy we're used to seeing as a wacky chubby rock-star persona gives a GMA worthy performance and proves that when he takes the right role that showcases him, he can be a great actor. I laughed, cried but never took my eyes off the screen. Beautiful film, Mr. Stark.