WEEKEND OF HORROR

With a masterfully executed promotional strategy, Paramount Pictures scores big this weekend with Paranormal Activity, which I reviewed last week. It lands in the number one spot at the Box Office after a very steady climb and earned $22 million from 1,950 theatres.

It was a very competitive weekend for horror flicks with Saw VI, the latest installment in the popular Lionsgate Films franchise, debuting at number two with $15 million. This is the annual series' poorest showing in quite some time as previous installments debuted at number one. Perhaps this will queue the studio to quit it finally! Warner Bros.' Where The Wild Things Are continues to do well, now recovering back half of its production costs. The film took in a respectable $14 million in third place. Summit Entertainment's animated adaptation of popular cartoon Astro Boy. The film entered the Top Ten at number six earning $7 million, which is well below its $65 million budget. Expect this film to fare better internationally with its loyal worldwide following, as it has only seen a North American release thus far.

Also noteworthy was Fox Searchlight's Amelia starring Oscar winner Hilary Swank, which fared respectably coming in just shy of the Top Ten. The Amelia Earhart biopic, reviewed earlier this week, garnered $4 million from 800 theatres.

REVIEW: AMELIA

I just attended an advanced screening of director Mira Nair's Amelia, a biopic about legendary female pilot Amelia Earhart. The film begins from the point Earhart meets eventual husband George P. Putnam (Richard Gere), who helps guide her into becoming America's premiere heroine during The Depression. The film ends at the point of her disappearance, after almost completing an ambitious flight around the world.

The amazing thing about this film is the effervescent Hilary Swank, who remains one of my favourite actresses of all time. Her Oscar-winning turns in Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby both left a deep impression on me and sometimes in life when I reflect on what it is I want and how far I am willing to go to achieve it, Swank's deeply-affecting performances come to mind. Her convincing portrayal of Earhart is pretty much the only remarkable thing about the film, above the fantastic costumes and cinematography. Unfortunately, Nair fails to bring out the best from the quality cast and this in effect hinders Swank's chances in the Oscar race for Best Lead Actress, which appears to be what Fox Searchlight Pictures is gunning for.