SCATHING REVIEWS FAIL TO DETER MOVIEGOERS FROM "THE DEVIL INSIDE"

Still from The Devil Inside

Paramount Pictures scores big again this weekend at the Box Office, taking the top spot with low-budget Exorcism Horror, The Devil Inside. The Film with a relatively unknown Cast, takes in $35 million in its debut from 2,285 theatres on a weekend short on new releases. Reviews however haven't been quite as stellar for it, receiving 7% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes and an "F" on CinemaScore. 

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, also from Paramount Pictures, continues to perform strongly in its fourth week of release with $18 million, a total of $161.9 million domestically, landing just ahead of its biggest nemesis, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows with $13.7 million. 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo brings in $11.3 million in its third week for Sony Pictures in fourth spot.  Thus far, it is earned a decent $76.3 million domestically, edging out DreamWorks' War Horse in fifth spot with $8.5 million in this its third week of release.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy edges its way up to eighth spot for Focus Features with $5.8 million in its fifth week of release, now expanding to 809 theatres. Gary Oldman seems to be getting the must buzz for his performance here, possibly his first-ever Oscar nomination.

New Year's Eve rounds out the top ten this week for Warner Bros. with $3.2 million in its fifth week, a total of $52.3 million domestically.

"MI4" ON-TOP AGAIN: MOVIEGOERS CHOOSE FIREWORKS ON NEW YEAR'S WEEKEND

Still from Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Moviegoers wants fireworks and explosions this New Year's Eve weekend at the Box Office, choosing Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol first with $31.2 million for Paramount Pictures. The fourth installment in the Franchise also was number one last weekend, now bringing in $134 million in three weeks of release. In fact, the Top Three currently is identical to last weekend - all sequels on-top.

In second again is Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows with $22 million also in its third week out, now earning $132 million domestically for Warner Bros., ahead of Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked with $18.2 million, a three-week total of $94.6 million.

DreamWorks' War Horse is faring well in fourth spot with $16.9 million in its second week, a two-week total of $42.9 million, well on its way to making back its $70 million in production costs. It has only thus far had a small opening Overseas and will continue to expand in coming weeks.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is showing some glimmer of hope in fifth spot in its second week earning $16.3 million, a total of $57.1 million thus far. The American Adaptation by David Fincher of the Swedish phenomenon, was made for $90 million by Sony Pictures.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: "MI4" TAKES TOP OF THE BOX OFFICE CHRISTMAS WEEKEND

Still from Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol as expected, takes the top of the Box Office over Christmas Weekend with $26.5 million, earning $58 million in two weeks.  Its limited opening last week was exclusive to IMAX theatres. Overseas it has fared even better, earning $102 already since its release, for Paramount Pictures. The Film made for $145 million, already has recouped its Production costs quickly.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows slips to second spot this weekend with $17.8 million and despite faring stronger than Mission Impossible stateside, internationally it has made only $14.6 million thus far.  It will continue to expand in coming weeks for Warner Bros. overseas.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked slips to third spot this weekend with $13.3 million for 20th Century Fox, earning $50.2 million in two weeks domestically - not shabby at all considering internationally, it has garnered $91 million already; it was made for $75 million.

"SHERLOCK HOLMES" NO MYSTERY AT TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shaows

As expected, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, a sequel in the Franchise, not so mysteriously debuts on-top with $40 million at the Box Office. Of course, this isn't quite as strong as its 2009 opening with $62.3 million but that had the benefit of opening on Christmas Day for Warner Bros.

Opening in second is Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked with $23.5 million for 20th Century Fox, again distantly trailing its Franchise predecessor from 2009 which earned $48.8 million. The lack of Family Comedies over the next bit fares well for this one.

Paramount Pictures' Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, filmed partly in Vancouver, has a strong limited opening, showing only in IMAX at 425 theatres with $13.3 million but as pointed out by Nikki Finke at Deadline, this was boosted much by its Thursday night opening and the help of a much-hyped six-minute Warner Bros.' Dark Knight Rises Preview beforehand, which unfortunately that Studio wasn't able to secure with its own Sherlock Holmes.  Also, the increased Ticket Prices for IMAX Movies (approximately $4 more than a Regular Ticket), also inflates its opening numbers somewhat.

New Year's Eve, the Star-spangled Rom-Com slips to fourth spot with $7.4 million for Warner Bros. after a tepid debut last weekend, again ahead of The Sitter in fifth with $4.4 million.

Young Adult from Paramount Pictures, from the same team which brought us Juno, debuts in 986 theatres with $3.5 million, while The Descendants is going strong still in only 878 theatres with $3.5 million.  To-date, the George Clooney Oscar Vehicle has brought-in $28 million, but on a side note, it was made for about $20 million which is rather expensive for an Indie Film.

AVATAR FTW!

They can try all they want, but they still can't come close to topping Avatar.  In its seventh week atop the Box Office, the film brought in $30 million this weekend.  Shall it go for an eighth consecutive week?  Likely.

Coming in second in its debut weekend was Warner Bros.' The Edge of Darkness starring Mel Gibson, which earned $17.2 million.  Gibson's definitely still got it despite one P.R. botching after another.  What is it about him that keeps the public asking for more?  

Touchstone Pictures' romantic comedy starring television show Veronica Mars' Kristen Bell, who has successfully transitioned into a bankable film actress, came in third in its opening weekend with $12.1 million.  Not stellar, but not horrible either. Read my review of it here.

Rounding out the Top Ten this weekend were The Tooth Fairy, which is showing some gumption in its second week with $10 million in slipping to fourth spot.  The Book of Eli drops to fifth spot, but in its third week has almost recouped all of its $80 million production budget.  The bottom three, Sherlock Holmes, Alvin and The Chipmunks 2 and It's Complicated respectively, are all showing amazing resiliency after having opened on Christmas Day.

Also noteworthy is Fox Searchlight's Crazy Heart in fourteenth spot, which in only 250 theatres, is averaging just under $10,000 per theatre.  The musical drama starring Jeff Bridges showcases the actor at his absolute finest. Read my review of it here.  The film will expand to 500 theatres next Friday.

THE GOLDEN GLOBES: A QUICK RECAP

Congratulations to the cast of Glee, The Hangover, Mad Men and Avatar, in addition to Sandra Bullock, Drew Barrymore, Mo'nique, Meryl Streep, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, who were among the big winners from the 2010 Golden Globe Awards tonight at The Beverly Hilton. 

There were no real surprises tonight other than I'd say, Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes) and Bridges (Crazy Heart) winning for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy and Drama respectively.  Many were banking on George Clooney (Up In The Air) winning in the latter category.   Mo'nique was pretty much a shoe-in for her performance in Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire and you can expect the same result a the upcoming Oscars. And true to form, Bullock was humble and gracious in accepting her award for The Blind Side, acknowledging that she is not the most talented actress in accepting her award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama.  This win definitely solidifies her chances at a possible Oscar win, although we will only know the list of nominees when they are announced February 2, 2010.

And guess what?  You, my Mavenati, guessed correctly in a recent survey posted here on who would win in Bullock's category.  Way to go!  Streep also had some of her fellow nominees like Marion Cotillard in tears during her speech in accepting her award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy for Julie & Julia.  A true class act.

View some fantastic photos from this evening's rainy red carpet.  The ladies below looked absolutely amazing, particulary Kate Hudson and Sandra Bullock in purple.  Despite appearing under-dressed, Julia Roberts looked chic in a simple black number accessorized with a showpiece necklace.  Once again, Lea Michele from Glee is proving that she belongs with the best of them, after dazzling in red recently at the People's Choice Awards.

For a full list of winners, visit The Hollywood Foreign Press Assocation's official website here.  (Photo credit: Getty Images)

AVATAR, UNSTOPPABLE

Avatar is unstoppable.  Pulling in $48.5 million this weekend at the Box Office, it is now only a question of how many weeks it will be before it gets toppled by another film.  It's been on top for four weeks now, which is pretty much a rarity in this day and age.

In second position was Sherlock Holmes, which still brought in a healthy $16.6 million in its third week, which on any other week would be enough to place it on top.

Lions Gate Films' Daybreakers was the top debut in fourth this week, taking in $15 million.  The well-reviewed vampire action film stars Willem Dafoe and Ethan Hawke and is well on its way to recouping back its $20 million budget.

Leap Year starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode debuted in sixth this weekend with $9.2 million in earnings.  The film set in Ireland has a Transatlantic appeal with its American in Europe theme and should do well overseas when it sees a release there.  Read my review of it here.

The Weinstein Co.'s Youth in Revolt starring Canadian Michael Cera opened in ninth with $7 million.  The film which may have seen further revisions since its premiere at TIFF in September, has also received great reviews.

AVATAR SURPASSES $1 BILLION MARK

Avatar just continues to slaughter the competition in its third week on top of the Box Office, earning an estimated $68.3 million in ticket sales this weekend.  In its short run, the film ranks as the world's fourth biggest film of all time, just surpassing the $1 billion mark this weekend.  Incredible.

Sherlock Holmes, which I enjoyed very much, came in a distant second at a still very excellent $38.3 million. Surely this is just the start of a successful franchise for the Warner Bros. film, making Robert Downey Jr. perhaps the most bankable male actor in Hollywood today heading both this and the wildly popular Iron Man series.

Fox's Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakuel continues to nail those high notes with a $36.6 million take this weekend, easily beating out its closest competition in the animated genre, Buena Vista's The Princess and The Frog, which placed seventh this weekend with $10 million.

My personal favourite NINE still continues to underperform, rounding out the Top Ten with $4.2 million this weekend, bringing its total North American earnings to $14 million in its second week in wide release.  The film opens overseas soon and will likely fare much better internationally.  I've seen it four times already!

REVIEW: SHERLOCK HOLMES

Director Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes is tons of fun.  And that  means a lot considering I'm not big on action-type films.  The Sir Arthur Conan Doyle adaptation centers around fast-acting, quick-thinking Detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) in pursuit of Black Magic-practicing serial killer Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong).  Holmes is aided by sidekick Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) and love interest Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) who is caught between her personal and professional interests as she is hired to destroy Holmes.  After thinking that he has aided in Blackwood's capture and subsequent punishment by execution, we learn that he isn't dead really.  The second time around isn't nearly as easy for Holmes as Blackwood pulls out all the stops in his conquest to create a new world order.

Ritchie, together with screenwriters Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg effectively take a classic and transform it into a big-budget contemporary context.  Downey Jr.'s Holmes is not the same Sherlock Holmes I would have envisioned based on what I've read.  In this film, he is a sexy superhero who is all-knowing, but faltering into a bumbling fool when it comes to love and Downey Jr. plays this to perfection.  He can fight as well physically as he can with reason and logic.

The playful brotherly chemistry between him and Law is electric, making what should otherwise be a dark story, comical in all the right spots.  McAdams unfortunately is miscast as the American temptress and never really quite hits her best stride. And I appreciate the closed loops in storytelling as subplots like Watson's romance with governess Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly) are given just the right amount of detail.  And let's not forget Philippe Rousselot's breathtaking cinematography, especially in the film's final action scene between Holmes and Blackwood over the Thames River.