"THE HELP" RISES TO THE TOP

Still from The Help

The great news for Disney this weekend is that they wound up on top of the Box Office with The Help which in its second week, climbs to number one with $20 million. The bad news is that their Remake Fright Night starring Colin Farrell and Alex Pettyfer, under-performs in its debut in fifth spot, with $8.3 million despite great reviews. Coincidentally, both Films have garnered 74% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Finishing second is two-week champion, The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which brings in $16.3 million this weekend, with a three-week total of $133.4 million in North America. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4-D (Aroma-scope) debuts in third with $12 million for the successful franchise. The three previous installments of Spy Kids combined have grossed $161.7 million total.

Conan the Barbarian debuts in fourth spot with $10 million, which is devastating for its Backers at Lionsgate Films as it was made for $90 million.  Meanwhile, The Smurfs 3-D is still going strong in sixth spot behind Fright Night with $8 million, now having earned $118 million in four weeks. Sony Pictures recently announced plans to do a Sequel to this successful first installment.

The Romance One Day debuts in ninth spot for Focus Features/Alliance Films with $5 million, while Crazy, Stupid, Love. rounds out the Top Ten for Warner Bros.

ONE DAY - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from One Day

On July 15, 1988, Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) graduate from the University of Edinburgh and after a night of celebrating, they begin a relationship which spans the course of over 20 years. After spending one night together, they vow every year after to re-convene as Friends on that same date, we too catch-up with them taking stock of where they are in their lives respectively. Although they find themselves growing further apart from one another as their lives and loves pull them in opposite directions, they find that one thing is constant  - their undying regard for one another as each other's Soul Mates. Dexter is empty despite having wealth and hoards of admirers, while Emma despite having a stable career and relationship, is not self-fulfilled.

Adapted from the Novel One Day written also by David Nicholls, this Screen Adaptation is helmed by Lone Scherfig, who brought us 2009's outstanding An Education. To be frank, what ultimately keeps One Day from being an amazing Film is its own ambitions to be faithful to the Novel. Taking characters and aging them seamlessly over the course of 23 years involves a great amount of dexterity on all accounts, but both Sturgess and Hathaway - even with those audible Americanisms in her accent especially early on - do a credible job selling their chemistry. The pacing and tempo of the Story however appear rushed, while at the same time progressing slowly. That is, we never get the true essence of what drives Emma and Dexter to be impossibly inseparable as our attentions are directed constantly towards the minutiae of both their unhappy lives.

One Day ably fills the void in the sparse Romance genre and Female Moviegoers, but on a larger scale might not be remembered for its sincere message: to never waste a day when it comes to following your heart when it comes to Love. That being said, Hathaway and Sturgess Fans - and there are many - will not be disappointed with their work.  One Day hits theatres August 19, 2011.

ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 10 PASSES TO SEE AN ADVANCE SCREENING OF "ONE DAY"

ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 10 

DOUBLE PASSES TO 

AN ADVANCE SCREENING 
IN TORONTO OF

"ONE DAY"

Alliance Films and Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven want to take ten lucky Readers and their Friends to see One Day, the latest Romance from the acclaimed Director of An Education, Lone Scherfig.  The Screening takes place on Thursday, August 18, 2011 in Toronto.

Join Dexter (Jim Sturgess) and Em (Anne Hathaway) as they vow on the night of their College Graduation to reunite the same day, every year over the course of 20 years, checking-in to see where they are in their lives.

To qualify for the win, you must be following Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Twitter here and leave a comment below with the name of the song which plays in the Official Canadian Trailer for One Day after the 1:26 mark. Please leave your Twitter handle so I can let you know if you win! HINT: It's too late to apologize.  It's too late.

Good luck, Mavenati!

One Day hits theatres Friday, August 19, 2011.

Watch the Trailer below:

ANNE HATHAWAY IN NOVEMBER ISSUE OF VOGUE

Anne Hathaway on November issue of Vogue

Have you ever seen anything more lovely than Anne Hathaway?  The brilliant and beautiful actress covers the November issue of Vogue in a photo spread by the amazing Mario Testino and interview by Adam Green. 

Hathaway reveals in the interesting piece that when Dating, "there’s that pressure to be the most, to be more comfortable and open than anyone else. When you finally realize that you can just be your own scared, fucked-up self and that you can still be sexy without trying to be, it’s such a great relief".  And it's that down-to-earthness that keeps us coming back for more.

Having seen her in-person on a couple occasions, I can vouch that she is just wonderful.  The kind of Actress who shows up to her Movie Premieres almost an hour early to do Press and greet her fans. It is little wonder why we rarely hear about her in Tabloids because she doesn't need that type of Publicity.  She truly is talented and people are drawn to her for that.  Okay, I guess it doesn't hurt that she's incredibly stunning too.

Hathaway can be seen in the upcoming Romantic Comedy/Drama Love and Other Drugs alongside Jake Gyllenhaal which will be released November 26, 2010.  She wrapped production recently on An Education Director Lone Scherfig's One Day alongside Jim Sturgess in Paris.

Click here to read the article in full.

(Photo credit: Mario Testino/Vogue)

ANNE HATHAWAY DEBUTS NEW HAIR

Anne Hathaway was spotted on the set of her new film One Day in Paris, sporting this new Coif and I must say it suits her well.  Sources say though that it's just a wig.  The film is directed by Lone Scherfig who brought us the excellent An Education last year starring Carey Mulligan.  The story revolves around two classmates who reunite one auspicious day 20 years later.  Romantic! 

No set release date yet for the film, but it will surface some time in 2011.

(Photo credit: Pacific Coast News)