FEBRUARY, 15


THE RESPECTED

Action / Gangster
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Robert Pattinson, Lea Michele, Johnny Depp, Bruce Willis, Tom Wilkinson, Nicole Kidman, Michael Douglas
Director: Jonathan Demme
Producer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Screenwriter: Chad Taylor

Box Office: 64 mill.
Net Gains: 46 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
Ouch. Numbers much lower than expected. Maybe the excessive length of the movie – more than 2 hours – discouraged moviegoers of watching it. That’s the only reason I can find to justify the weak turnout of this splendid movie.

MIRROR’S EDGE

Action
Cast: Megan Fox, Mila Kunis, Billy Bob Thornton, Sean Bean, Jon Voight
Director: Doug Liman
Screenwriter: Steve Connors


Box Office: 56 mill.
Net Gains: 15 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
We have got used lately at CMP to see how any release works so well at box office. The poor numbers made by this expensive production should take our feet back to the ground. Not everything works in box office as well as we expect and the Studio should better not forget that.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HOLDEN CAULFIELD?

Drama
Cast: Tobey Maguire, James Franco
Director: Wes Anderson
Screenwriter: Josh Collins



Box Office: 137 mill.
Net Gains: 224 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
WOW! Look at those numbers! I liked this movie but I would have never imagined such a success! I think it is the most successful release of a movie labeled as ‘Drama’ in CMP’s History! It has succeeded not only in theatres but also at the DVD market in such an amazing way. It has made the second highest net gains of the Season after ‘The Dark Tower’ and the fifth best box office. And it has made all that being one of the cheapest movies produced by CMP ever. Box office still surprises me after all these years… and I love that!


THE RESPECTED

‘Jonathan Demme has wanted to put an end to his trilogy with a blast, a big epic story of mobsters able to compete with classics of the genre like ‘The Godfather’, ‘Goodfellas’ or its direct precedent CMP’s ‘The Heirs’. And he has almost reached that ambitious objective. ‘The Respected’ is by far the best movie of this trilogy. The movie means a perfect ending to all the plotlines opened not only in the two previous movies but also some others left opened by ‘The Heirs’. It’s a great movie. The only reproach I can make it is that it mixes a bit too much the gangster genre with elements directly taken from soap operas. Every gangsters’ movie has to show the private side of the gangsters’ life to make a complete picture of them. But I had the feeling here that, at some moments, the complex web of love and family relationships created in the plot takes it to leave aside the mobster spirit of the story and to take it closer to those tv shows full of complex sentimental relationships. But, besides that minor observation, we have here one of the big CMP’s movies of the Season.’
-Andrew Stampton

‘I’d have never thought I’d write this: Robert Pattinson has stolen the show to Joseph Gordon-Levitt! I consider Gordon-Levitt a much better actor than Pattinson. In fact, I have always seen Pattinson as nothing more than a marketing product, a teen idol built by the ‘Twilight’ saga. But I must admit that his character ends up becoming the most interesting one in this movie. While Gordon-Levitt’s character’s evolution is pretty predictable, Pattinson becomes the main attraction of the show turning into a kind of unleashed serial killer. He killed his mother and Levitt’s girl at the end of ‘The Resurrected’. And he goes on in his career as serial killer here with his father, Johnny Depp’s and Michael Doulglas’ deaths. And still finds time to rape Lea Michele! Maybe, Jonathan Demme will probably never create a villain as iconic as Hannibal Lecter again. But I am sure he has enjoyed following with his camera the crimes of this dedicated killer played by Pattinson.’
-Vic Carter

‘It is obvious all the energy and talent that Chad Taylor has put in this trilogy, probably one of his most beloved works. And he has certainly built up a mob saga to be taken into consideration. It is a shame that some minor things in his story weaken a bit the credibility and strength of this exciting movie. There are in the story some too forced situations hard to believe. Gordon-Levitt’s character meets a class mate, played by Lea Michele… and the amazing coincidence is that she used to be no other than Pattinson’s girlfriend. Not only that, it’s also an amazing coincidence that Lea Michele’s father is dating no other than Nicole Kidman… who used to be the lover of Gordon-Levitt’s father and grandfather. It’s a small world, isn’t it? Also, there’s a moment in this movie when Gordon-Levitt leaves a bar and walks under the rain and, suddenly, a speeding police chase races by. Guess who’s involved in the chase? Yes, police cars are chasing no other than his big enemy, Pattinson. Isn’t it another amazing coincidence? Ok, you have to believe those coincidences exist. This wonderful movie deserves that act of faith.’
-Jackie O’Callaghan

MIRROR’S EDGE

‘Megan Fox should learn from Michael Cera. What do I mean with this? Well, when Michael Cera realized that his attempt to become one of the main comedians in CMP’s world was failing (remember ‘Lyin’ Wish’ and ‘Guitar Hero’?), he quickly made a wise move. He has begun accepting minor roles in other kind of movies, more adult and artsy oriented ones like ‘Turn Of A Friendly Card’ or ‘Love Lost’. And now his acting prestige in CMP has increased and he can be taken more seriously as an actor. Megan should realize that it seems like she will never succeed as the lead star of top budget productions in CMP. ‘Mirror’s Edge’ has disappointed at box office as much as the ‘Kingdom’ movies. After working in six top budget movies – including two installments of the popular ‘Wild Cards’ saga – Megan has never been in a ‘+100’ CMP’s release yet. So the conclusion is obvious: Megan, you personify what is known as ‘box office’s poison’. Follow my advice: choose a little drama, accept a minor role in it and prove that you can be an actress. But don’t keep making CMP’s writers, directors and producers lose their time trying to make a top star out of you.’
-Tim Reeve

‘Doug Liman has made a big effort trying to build a big show out of this weak story. He has shot the jumps from one building to another from any possible angle. But watching the sexy Megan Fox jumping in the roofs is not enough to make a good action movie. Unless you suffer of severe vertigo and you take this movie as a kind of therapy, it ends up being repetitive watching Megan jumping as the main – and almost only – attraction of the show. The whole plot in the background is only a pretext to shoot those spectacular sequences on top of the skyscrapers. Liman is a good director but he deserves a better material to work with to finally show in CMP his real talent.’
-Mark Anderson

‘I understand that Steve Connors must have ended exhausted after writing so many drafts of screenplays for the complex and very interesting ‘Freedom City’. That’s probably the reason why he has put his writing talent to rest in this adaptation of another console game. ‘Mirror’s Edge’ is a routine movie that does not take off at any moment although most of the action takes place almost in the clouds. There is no suspense in the plot. The presence of Mila Kunis – a much more talented and sexy actress than Fox – is wasted. And the futuristic world where the story takes place does not have any interest compared to other CMP’s movies. I have the feeling that all the talents involved in this poor production are in it only for the pay. Dispensable and forgettable.’
-Roy Winslow

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HOLDEN CAULFIELD?

‘Here is an extraordinary little movie. The story does not take place in any futuristic world. Its CGI budget is 0. No special effects, no complex universes, no digital generated characters and only two names in the cast… And what do we have? One of the best CMP’s movies of the Season. The story of the peculiar relationship between these two characters along the years becomes a wonderful reflection about creativity, loyalty, friendship, literature and the distance between dreams and reality. The contrast between the characters – the good-hearted and loyal Maguire, the eccentric and unpredictable Franco – works perfectly to build a story that keeps you interested in each and every second of the movie. ‘Whatever happened to Holden Caulfield?’ is a little master piece that will be still remembered long after many big budget pretentious productions have been forgotten.’
-Anne Roman

‘Tobey Maguire and James Franco prove here that they are much more than Peter Parker and Harry Osborn. Josh Collins and Wes Anderson could not have chosen better the two actors to play the great characters of this movie. Maguire is perfect as the nice guy, flashed by the successful writer, then manipulated, then disappointed and still loyal to him until the end. And Franco is equally perfect playing that egocentric and unbalanced literature star (inspired by the enigmatic legend around the life of J.D. Salinger) that uses Maguire’s admiration and devoted friendship for his own interest. Wes Anderson has perfectly found too the tone to tell this story. Sometimes, simplicity is the key. Anderson has told a simple story here about a relationship full of shades of meaning. And it works. There’s something about it that turns it into a most engrossing movie.’
-Chris Burgess

‘Here is my favorite Josh Collins at his best. It is a paradox but when I like Collins’ stories better is when he leaves aside his recurrent interests as writer – family conflicts, child abuse, intense emotional dramas – and explores new territories. I would dare to say that this is the best screenplay coming from him ever. Or, at least, it joins the list of his best works together with ‘The Rock Star’, ‘The Orphan Train’, ‘The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon’, 'Prison Letters' or ‘The Pitiful Plight Of Tom Collins’. ‘Whatever Happened To Holden Caulfield?’ builds up a simple but wonderful story not needing of any effectism, any excess or any unnecessary twist. It is the work of a mature writer that knows how to create believable characters, rich dialogues and a coherent plot being also entertaining at the same time. A must see. (And I am not writing this just to avoid Collins putting his butt in my face…)’
-Charlie Kiggs