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Back Seat Quickies Shows

Back Seat Quickies #59: Total Recall (2012)

In the seat (of a floating maglev car):

  • Scott
  • Krissy
Recorded 08/07/12
Find out more about extra life at this link: http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=8287
Categories
Announcement

Weekend Box Office: Aug 10-Aug 12

#1 The Bourne Legacy from Universal opened at #1 with a gross of $38.1 million in 3,745 theaters.  Budget was $125 million.

#2 The Campaign from Warner Bros. opened at #2 with a gross of $26.6 million in 3,205 theaters.  Budget was unknown.

#3 The Dark Knight Rises from Warner Bros. fell from #1 to #3 with a gross of $19 million (-46.9%) in 3,690 theaters (-552).  Total gross to date is $389.6 million.  Budget was $250 million.

#4 Hope Springs from Sony opened at #4 with a gross of $14.7 million in 2,361 theaters.  Total gross to date is $19.1 million.  Budget was unknown.

#5 Total Recall (2012) from Sony fell from #2 to #5 with a gross of $8.01 million (-68.7%) in 3,601 theaters.  Total gross to date is $44.1 million.  Budget was $125 million.

#6 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days from Fox fell from #3 to #6 with a gross of $8 million (-45.3%) in 3,398 (+7) theaters.  Total gross to date is $30.4 million.  Budget was $22 million.

#7 Ice Age: Continental Drift from Fox fell from #4 to #7 with a gross of $6.4 million (-25.9%) in 3,102 theaters (-440).   Total gross to date is $143.7 million.  Budget was unknown.

#8 Ted from Universal fell from #7 to #8 with a gross of $3.2 million (-42.9%) in 2,208 theaters (-559).  Total gross to date is $209.8 million.  Budget was $50 million.

#9 Step Up Revolution from Summit Entertainment fell from #6 to #9 with a gross of $2.9 million (-50.4%) in 1,898 theaters (-708).  Total gross to date is $30.3 million.  Budget was $33 million.

#10 The Watch from Fox fell from #5 to #10 with a gross of $2.2 million (-66%) in 2,461 theaters (-707).  Total gross to date is $31.4 million.  Budget was $68 million.

#11 The Amazing Spider-Man from Sony fell from #8 to #11 with a gross of $2.1 million (-51.8%) in 1,585 theaters (-840).  Total gross to date is $255.5 million.  Budget was $230 million.

#12 Brave from Buena Vista fell from #9 to #12 with a gross of $1.8 million (-39.6%) in 1,259 theaters (-851).  Total gross to date is $227.2 million.  Budget was $185 million.

 

The combined gross of the top 12 movies this weekend was $133.1 million.

Sources:
Box Office Mojo

 

Categories
Announcement

Theatrical Review: The Bourne Legacy

Taking place concurrently with the events of The Bourne Ultimatum, we discover in short order that the reach of the Treadstone project goes much further than originally thought with more Treadstone subjects still out there. Jason Bourne’s sheer existence and defiance to the project leads to what could be an even bigger public relations nightmare than what was suggested from the events of The Bourne Ultimatum. Now, a CIA division lead by Eric Byers, the man behind most of the major black ops missions, is out to erase any sort of trace of Treadstone that still exists, though one other Treadstone subject now stands in his way, a man by the name of Aaron Cross.

That’s a broad version of the premise to The Bourne Legacy a new movie designed to expand the Bourne franchise’s life further. What you have here is a movie that feels like the TV pilot for extending the series, and while I think for the most part it’s a pretty enjoyable ride, it’s still has a few problems.

The biggest problem that I see with the film is that it’s just too long and it feels it. The film could probably be tightened up by a good 20 minutes or so. But, there’s also an advantage to its length and that’s with what it does to build up the Aaron Cross character, which I think is actually quite well done. I just wish there had been a comfortable medium here, something that could’ve kept a quicker pace but still give us the Cross build-up.

Another problem that I see with this is that it’s ending is pretty abrupt literally with our central protagonists, Cross and Dr. Marta Shearing, sailing off into the sunset when there should be something more to it. There’s been rumor floating around that Matt Damon could possibly return for a fifth movie in the series and while there was probably no chance that this would happen, this could’ve been punched up considerably if there had been an actual appearance by Damon near the end. Or at the very least, some sort of suggestion that Jason Bourne now also knew of the existence of Aaron Cross.

Some might be disappointed with director Tony Gilroy’s new inclusion of genetic enhancements to the Treadstone subjects, but I thought it was pretty cool and reasonably explained by Shearing once she and Cross have made their way to Manila. It’s basically taking the ideas behind a character like Marvel’s Captain America and trying to make it as real as they can.

The biggest pluses come with the new cast additions. Jeremy Renner plays Aaron Cross and I’ve been a huge fan of Renner’s for quite awhile now. the thing that I really like about Renner’s character is that he’s not playing this part as a tortured pawn, but more embraces what he’s become. He’s done some horrible things in service to his country, but the trade-off , at least from what I see with him, has been worth it, especially as the movie reveals his true origin. Renner has terrific intensity and certainly can sell the action in just the right way. He is terrific here, though I have to say my preference for him is more with the character that he played in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

Rachel Weisz plays Dr. Marta Shearing. Shearing is part of a program called The Outcome and she specifically monitors the Treadstone subjects after their genetic enhancements. Shearing becomes a major component here after a tragic shooting incident occurs at her workplace which of course wipes out anyone who would have any knowledge of what’s really going on. Shearing is the lone survivor and becomes Cross’ lone avenue of keeping himself alive. Weisz, does a pretty good job here and I was particularly impressed with the above-mentioned scene in which she explains to cross just how the subjects are enhanced.

Edward Norton plays Eric Byers and like Renner, certainly brings the right intensity to the part. I don’t necessarily think it’s one of his better parts, but he does command the room once he enters it and has a great flashback scene with Renner that tries to put Cross right with something horrible that he’s just done. Filling out the film and basically giving this continuity with the other Bourne movies, you have Scott Glenn, David Strathairn and Joan Allen all reprising their parts from the previous films in the series.

While I enjoyed The Bourne Legacy it’s still somewhat of a mixed bag, it’s long and it feels it and it’s ending is forced and just doesn’t feel right, but it does introduce a great new character with Aaron Cross, who certainly has potential with this series. I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing a fifth film in the series, but if such a thing does happen, I can only hope that they manage to bring back Matt Damon as Bourne and team him with Cross.

Categories
Announcement

Theatrical Review: Nitro Circus: The Movie 3D

For two seasons, extreme sports superstar Travis Pastrana and his tightly-knit group of friends (all extreme sports stars in their own right) had an extremely entertaining show on MTV called Nitro Circus in which they would perform all sorts of truly amazing stunts. Essentially, the show sort of followed in the same style as MTV’s Jackass but with one major difference that’s perfectly outlined by Jackass star and creator Johnny Knoxville during the course of this movie. Knoxville says that at it’s core, the Jackass stunts are sort of designed to fail with the humor coming out of that, but with the Nitro Circus, those stunts are designed to succeed and true failure there just isn’t a funny thing. While precautions were certainly taken on both shows, it really was way more of a matter between life and death when it came to the Nitro Circus.

I really enjoyed the TV show; I was almost always guaranteed to see something really amazing on it and I’ve just been waiting to see if there was ever going to be a third season. Well, the third season obviously didn’t happen but what did was this movie; Nitro Circus: The Movie 3D and It’s a very entertaining ride.

While there’s no story per se here, it is set against a backdrop of telling an overall story about this group of people, why they do what they do and their dream to take what they do and make it a live show that they perform in Las Vegas. Some of the stunts performed in the movie have also been done on the TV show, but here they have a little bit more of a production budget and the added bonus of 3D. And here, 3D is really an added bonus and it’s right on display during the opening stunts of the film. This stunt is a massive recreation of one of the greatest stunts from the TV show, involving motocross cycles, trophy trucks and buggies (and I’m sure I’m missing something else) all jumping over each other in a criss-crossing pattern, with each of the bike riders all performing stunts as they take to the air. It’s a dazzling display of talent and the 3D just really makes it even more impressive, making you feel more like being there than anything else. Now none of the other stunts that follow in the film are as impressive as it’s opening, but they’re still fun to watch nonetheless. There is humor in the film as well, but don’t go expecting the same variety that you’ll see in a Jackass movie- most of the humor comes from the interview situations and narration through the film.

Travis Pastrana is certainly the most recognized name amongst the crew of the Nitro Circus, but this isn’t the Travis Pastrana show by any means. The main core of the Circus includes Jolene Van Vugt, Jeremy Rawle, Gregg Godfrey, “Streetbike” Tommy Passamante, Erik Roner, Jim DeChamp and Greg Powell. Everybody gets a chance to shine, though “Streetbike” Tommy gets just a little more play than the rest of the group, sort of acting as their comic relief- if there can be such a thing here. You can tell that this group of folks genuinely enjoy what they’re doing and genuinely enjoy doing it with each other.

If you were a fan of the show, then you’ll probably have a great time with Nitro Circus: The Movie 3D, I know I did and just sort of look at as a bit of a palette cleanser amongst the other movies out there right now. It packs quite a lot into it’s short 90 minutes run time and doesn’t wear out it’s welcome in the slightest, and as I said above, the 3D here is just incredible.

Categories
Back Seat Box Office Shows

Back Seat Box Office #99

Picks:

Lena, Father Beast

  1. The Bourne Legacy
  2. The Campaign
  3. The Dark Knight Rises
  4. Total Recall
  5. Hope Springs

Scott, Mrs. Beast

  1. The Bourne Legacy
  2. The Dark Knight Rises
  3. The Campaign
  4. Hope Springs
  5. Total Recall

There are no other movies in wide release this weekend.

Happy picking!!

Categories
Back Seat Box Office BSBO Results Shows

Back Seat Box Office #98 Results and Voice Mail

I forgot to get William the file he needed – Sorry, Tad! (Who did actually send in a voice mail.  I promise!)

Categories
Back Seat Quickies Shows

Back Seat Quickies #58: Toronto Tourist’s Guide to Scott Pilgrim vs the World

In the backseat of a tour bus:

  • Scott
 Recorded 8/6/12
Categories
News

Weekend Box Office: Aug 3-Aug 5

#1 The Dark Knight Rises from Warner Bros. held at #1 with a gross of $35.7 million (-42.5%) in 4,242 theaters (-162).  Total gross to date is $353.9 million.  Budget was $250 million.

#2 Total Recall (2012) from Sony opened at #2 with a gross of $25.6 million in 3,601 theaters.  Budget was $125 million.

#3 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days from Fox opened at #3 with a gross of $14.6 million in 3,391 theaters.  Budget was $22 million.

#4 Ice Age: Continental Drift from Fox fell from #2 to #4 with a gross of $8.6 million (-35.5%) in 3,542 theaters (-327).   Total gross to date is $132.1 million.  Budget was unknown.

#5 The Watch from Fox fell from #3 to #5 with a gross of $6.5 million (-48.8%) in 3,168 theaters.  Total gross to date is $25.5 million.  Budget was $68 million.

#6 Step Up Revolution from Summit Entertainment fell from #4 to #6 with a gross of $5.9 million (-49.5%) in 2,606 theaters (+39).  Total gross to date is $23.7 million.  Budget was $33 million.

#7 Ted from Universal fell from #5 to #7 with a gross of $5.6 million (-23.2%) in 2,767 theaters (-362).  Total gross to date is $203.6 million.  Budget was $50 million.

#8 The Amazing Spider-Man from Sony fell from #6 to #8 with a gross of $4.4 million (-34.3%) in 2,425 theaters (-735).  Total gross to date is $250.7 million.  Budget was $230 million.

#9 Brave from Buena Vista fell from #7 to #9 with a gross of $3 million (-30.6%) in 2,110 theaters (-441).  Total gross to date is $223.4 million.  Budget was $185 million.

#10 Magic Mike from Warner Bros. fell from #8 to #10 with a gross of $1.4 million (-46%) in 1,202 theaters (-873).  Total gross to date is $110.9 million.  Budget was $7 million.

#11 Moonrise Kingdom from Focus Features fell from #10 to #11 with a weekend gross of $1.24 million (-13.6%) in 687 theaters (-166). Total gross to date is $40.8 million. Budget was $16 million.

#12 Beasts of the Southern Wild from Fox Searchlight Classics rose from #13 to #12 with a gross of $1.15 million (+24.7%) in 318 theaters (+110).  Total gross to date is $5.9 million.  Budget was unknown.

The combined gross of the top 12 movies this weekend was $113.8 million.

Sources:
Box Office Mojo

Categories
Back Seat Producers Season 07 Shows

BSP Episode 237: Chariots of Fire

Release date:  3/30/1981

20th Century Fox

Directed by

  • Hugh Hudson

Produced by

  • David Putnam

Written by

  • Colin Welland

Cast

Harold Abrahams

  • Ben Cross

Eric Liddell

  • Ian Charleston

Ian Holm

  • Sam Mussabini

 

The hosts review:

Darrell starts off by mentioning the Chariots of Fire representation in the opening ceremonies of this year’s Summer Olympics… featuring the one and only Mr. Bean!

Tony felt that the music, even being 30 years old, sounded dated even for its time, specifically the synthesizer.  Darrell thought that the music worked well, and was surprised that they used modern music for a movie that takes place from 1919-1924.  He then went on to talk about how the Chariots of Fire theme is integral to the movie, how it immediately conjures up that iconic image of men running on the beach.

Darrell enjoyed the movie and found it to be a true “drama.”  He appreciated the movie a lot more now than he did years ago, as did Tony.  Tony, though, didn’t think it was as fantastic as critics proclaimed it to be, and found the dialogue “clunky.”  Darrell said that a lot of the dialogue was based on a journal by one of the characters in the movie, and Tony concurred that it did sound like written word and didn’t always flow naturally.  He found that it almost appears to be a “talking down” to the audience.

Tony also brought up how the anti-Semitism and racism was apparent, even in a very polite manner, from the onset of the movie.  There were constant little snips at and about Abrahams Jewish heritage.  There were also offhand comments regarding Abrahams personal coach, Mussabini, who was of Italian and Arab descent.

The hosts also discussed the different reasons and passions behind each man needing to run.  Abrahams runs to win and Liddell runs for God, and how each of them faced hurdles (no pun intended… I think) to accomplish their goals of Olympic gold.

They talk about how in most other sports-themed movies, there is usually a big build-up to the main sporting event.  In this movie, the race was almost an anti-climactic moment, an after-thought.  The “meat” of the story was in getting to the Olympics, in each man’s journey and struggle to get there.

They found it almost amusing to compare the opening ceremony scene of the 1924 Olympics to the grand spectacle of the 2012 Olympics.

Darrell mentioned that he wondered what Liddell did when he returned to China as a missionary:

Liddell’s first job was as a teacher at an Anglo-Chinese school for wealthy Chinese students.  The belief at the time being that by teaching these wealthy children, they would grow up to be influential figures and promoters of Christianity in China.

He also competed periodically in local and North China championships.

In 1943, he was interned at the Weihsien Internment Camp when the Japanese took over the mission station he was serving.  He died in February of 1945, still in the internment camp, of an inoperable brain tumor.  In his final letter to his wife (who had returned to her native Canada with their children when the Japanese had become aggressive toward China), he told her that he had suffered a nervous breakdown.

Trivial bits ‘n pieces:

Most of the runners training on West Sands in St. Andrews during the title sequence were St. Andrews golf caddies.

Chariots of Fire was named as one of “The 20 Most Overrated Movies of All Time” by Premiere.

The producers intentionally added profanity to the film to avoid a G rating because they thought people would associate a G rating with a film for children.

Abrahams also competed in the 1920 Olympics: he finished fourth in the 4×100 relay, 20th in the long jump and was eliminated in the quarter-finals of both the 100m and 200m races.

Kenneth Branagh was a gofer and an extra for the shoot. He is a Cambridge student in the “Society Day” crowds, wearing a grey knit vest with dark trim, a white shirt, and a dark tie. He’s on screen for 20 seconds, starting at about 11:00.

Stephen Fry is also an extra in the film, singing in the chorus of the Cambridge ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’ production. He is the third face to the right of Harold Abrahams, singing “He Is An Englishman”. He’s on screen for about 35 seconds, starting at around 32:00.

Awards won by Chariots of Fire:

1981 Academy Awards (Best Picture, Original Music Score, Writing Original Screenplay and Costume Design)

1981 Cannes Film Festival (Best Supporting Actor/Ian Holm, Prize of Ecumenical Jury-Special Mention/Hugh Hudson

1981 BAFTA (Best Film)

Your Producers for this episode were:

  • Tony
  • Darrell

This episode was recorded: 8/1/2012

 

Categories
Announcement

Theatrical Review: Total Recall

In the late 21st century, much of the planet has become uninhabitable due to global conflicts. Two main land masses remain that can support a population; the United Federation of Britain, and the land previously known as Australia, but now known as The Colony. Both land masses are connected by a mode of transportation that passes through the planet called The Fall, and as one would expect, due to the population, habitable land is at a premium.

Doug Quaid is a man who lives in The Colony but commutes daily to the UFB for his job, which is the manufacturing of a mechanized peacekeeping force. Doug is married, but lately he’s been having some troubling dreams which indicate a life different from the one he knows, a life that was filled with some harrowing adventure and intrigue and with a woman different from his wife. Doug’s a little frustrated and wants a little more than what he’s getting now and so he makes the attempt to go to a company called Rekall, that specializes in creating new virtual memories for people. Doug chooses the life of a secret agent, but thanks to a wrinkle in the way Rekall works, this backfires because in actually Doug was a secret agent in his life, even though he doesn’t still know the full details.

When this is awakened in Doug, it puts him in jeopardy and now Doug is on the run to find out the real truth, while in the background, conflict looms between the UFB and The Colony.

That’s the basic premise to Total Recall the latest film from the director of the first two Underworld movies, Len Wiseman. It’s also a re-make of a movie of the same name from director Paul Verhoeven starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and both are adaptations of the Philip K. Dick short story, “We Can Remember it for You Wholesale.” Now I really enjoyed the original film (even though it has it’s problems) and I’ve not really been a fan of Wiseman’s Underworld movies, so while I thought the trailer looked decent, I was keeping my expectations for this on the low side. For myself, I was pleasantly surprised and actually prefer the remake over the original, though don’t get me wrong, the original is still a fun movie.

Wiseman’s version looks fantastic and is obviously paying big homage to another film adaptation of the work of Philip K. Dick, Blade Runner. I know in the party of people that I saw this with, a few were a little disappointed about this aspect of the film’s look, but honestly, it just didn’t bother me in the slightest and more I thought it made total sense with the revised premise to the film. The film’s action sequences are quite well done, with some particular standouts being Quaid’s battles with his “wife” and a pretty thrilling chase sequence involving your literal flying cars. Wiseman keeps the whole thing moving at a fast clip, and while there are a few holes here and there, and a few stretches of credibility (the most glaring being a fight at the end between Cohaagen, the leader of the UFB, and Quaid), I still had a great time with this.

What really stood out to me though was Colin Farrell who plays the part of Doug Quaid, taking over the part originally performed by Schwarzenegger. Farrell brings an extremely solid likability to the character right from the start, and has much more of an everyman quality to him than Schwarzenegger does. It’s not a knock against Schwarzenegger’s performance in the original, that was all well and good for it’s time and fitted Schwarzenegger screen personality. When Quaid’s past is discovered at Rekall and he’s put in jeopardy, he reacts accordingly (in a really nice little action set piece) but at the end he displays that slight little bit of nuance at being shocked at what he just did and how he’s picking up all of this naturally. Further in the film, Quaid has a conversation with himself (from an interactive recording) that just takes things a step further and really allows you to see the differences that he’s put into both characters. It’s been awhile since Colin Farrell has headed up a film like this and it’s just really nice to see him back and doing some pretty darn good work.

Farrell’s backed up with an impressive group of support. Jessica Biel plays Melina, the girl who’s from Quaid’s dreams, but who in actuality is the lieutenant to Mathias (Bill Nighy) the leader of the resistance against Cohagen and the UFB. I’ve not been much of a fan of Biel’s work in the past, but here, I think she and Farrell have some pretty nice chemistry that has it’s own subtleties to it in the midst of all of the big action. The great Bryan Cranston (of Breaking Bad fame) plays the part of Cohaagen, and Cranston is obviously having a good time playing this villainous part, even getting to get his hands dirty in his own physical fight with Quaid near the film’s end (though as mentioned above, I think this fight does stretch things a little bit).

Really standing out for me in the support area though are Kate Beckinsale as Lori, Quaid’s “wife” who’s been tasked by Cohaagen to keep watch over Quaid, and Bokeem Woodbine as Harry, Quaid’s best friend on his job in his new manufactured life. Beckinsale is certainly no stranger to this type of action having played in the Underworld films (Len Wiseman is her husband). I’m not really a fan of those movies, so I wasn’t necessarily expecting much of her here, but I was quite surprised, she’s got a real venality that shows through and it certainly makes the fight sequences pretty convincing. Bokeem Woodbine really stands out in a sequence where Quaid is trying to be convinced that he’s not really out in the midst of all of this action, but still in the confines of Rekall. This was something that was done in the original film as well, but the way that Woodbine plays it, it has a lot more gravity here and it’s, at least for me, quite a tense bit of business.

Some will probably be dismayed by the fact that this version is rated PG-13 over the original’s R rating, lacking the original’s more bloody violence. Some might also be disappointed with the change in plot that takes out the whole aspect of going to Mars with Mars and it’s mutated society being the object of Cohaagen’s plans. But honestly, I thought that the changes that Len Wiseman and screenplay writers Kurt Wimmer (hopefully some will remember Wimmer’s terrific film Equilibrium) and Mark Bomback made sense and worked well carrying a lot of little “nods” to the original peppered throughout the film. While my expectations were low at the start, I was still expecting to have a pretty good time with this. Total Recall, though exceeded those expectations and I ended up having a great time instead and certainly look forward to seeing this again down the road. For me, this surpassed the original, but it doesn’t replace it by any means, I think there’s room enough for both versions to be out there.