HORROR FLICK TAKES "POSSESSION" OF BOX OFFICE

Still from The Possession

Horror Flick The Possession rockets to the top of the Box Office in its debut for Lionsgate/Alliance Films. Starring Kyra Sedgwick, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Matisyahu, the Film earns $17.7 million this Labour Day weekend (Friday to Sunday) from 2,816 theatres; it was made for $14 million already making back its Production costs.  In Canada alone this weekend, Alliance Films accounts for all top three Films.

Western Lawless opens with $9.6 million from 2,888 theatres for The Weinstein Co. and Alliance Films, a positive showing boosted undoubtedly by its all-star Cast including Tom Hardy, Shia Labeouf, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman and Jessica Chastain. The Film which premiere at Cannes in May, has received positive reviews, garnering 65% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Former Champion The Expendables 2 earns $8.8 million it its third week of release, now earning a cumulative total of $69.3 million, just ahead of The Bourne Legacy in fourth with $7.2 million.

Family-focused Films occupy the fifth and sixth spot with ParaNorman and The Odd Life of Timothy Green respectively. The former earns $6.5 million this weekend, while the latter earns $6 million.
 

2016 Obama's America, continues to gain feverish buzz in the U.S., expanding to 1,750 theatres and earning $5.1 million in ninth. The anti-Obama Documentary to date has earned $19 million thus far all on word-of-mouth with its micro-budget.

Sony Pictures' Hope Springs rounds out the Top Ten with $4.7 million in its fourth week of release. It now has earned $52.5 million domestically.

"THE EXPENDABLES 2" OPENS STRONG ON ACTION-PACKED WEEKEND AT BOX OFFICE

Still from The Expendables 2

It was no match for The Expendables 2 at the Box Office this weekend as the Sequel with an all-star Cast debuts at number one for Lionsgate/Alliance Films with $28.7 million, from 3,316 theatres across North America. Audiences and Critics also are responding well with the Film receiving many positive reviews, tallying a 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. This result falls just-shy of the previous Film in the Series, earning $35 million back in 2010 in its opening.

Slipping to second this weekend is Universal Pictures' The Bourne Legacy with $16.8 million, for a two-week total of $69.4 million.

Sony Pictures' Musical Sparkle opens at number three this weekend, with the distinction of being Whitney Houston's last Film ever. It opens with $14 million, already recouping its production costs back. Reviews also have been fairly decent despite perceptions, rating a 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. There is much praise for Mike Epps' performance in the Film.

ParaNorman, from the same Creators as Coraline, debuts in fourth spot with $14 million from 3,429 theatres, with the misfortune of opening on a crowded weekend of new releases. Like Coraline, it has also has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, rating 87% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green which opened mid-week for Disney also had a decent opening in seventh, earning $10.9 million from 2,598 theatres. Its five-day total is $14.9 million.

Hope Springs is proof that there indeed is a market for mature audiences, slipping to eighth spot in its second week with a respectable $8.7 million, a two-week tally of $34.6 million. I did actually see the Rom-Com starring Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep and can vouch that it is entertaining, with strong performances all around.

Total Recall rounds out the Top Ten with $3.5 million in its third week, which surprisingly almost is being out-performed by Hope Springs - also from Sony Pictures - costing about an eighth ($30 million) of what it cost to make Total Recall ($250 million).

On a side note, Toronto-filmed Cosmopolis also has a strong bow in a U.S. limited release. The David Cronenberg Film starring Robert Pattinson earns $97k from three theatres, an average of $24.1k per theatre.

"THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from The Odd Life of Timothy Green

After struggling to conceive, Jim and Cindy Green (Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Garner), one stormy night decide to bury a box in their Backyard containing every possible trait they'd want in a Child. With the sprinkle of a Storm and the blowing of the wind, ten-year-old Timothy (CJ Adams) surfaces in their lives suddenly, bearing many of the traits they had wished for, adopting Jim and Cindy as his Mom and Dad.

Faced with the challenge of incorporating Timothy into their lives - including explaining his sudden presence to Family and Friends - Jim and Cindy are delighted, yet painfully aware of their own insecurities as new Parents. The Boy too faces his own struggles in adapting to life in his Town as the odd one out. 

As the mysterious leaves which sprout from Timothy's legs begin to fall, he goes on to touch the hearts of those around him, learning what it means to love and be loved. Faced with the pressures and expectations of being the Son whom his Parents want him to be, we see the Couple begin to lose sight of what it means to be a Family. Will they figure it all out before Timothy decides to reveal to them his deepest Secret?

JOEL EDGERTON CAST IN KATHRYN BIGELOW'S BIN LADEN FILM

Joel Edgerton & Mr. Will-W. - April 2010

2012 will be Joel Edgerton's year.  Mark these words.  The brilliant and always hard-hitting Australian Actor has just officially been cast in first female Oscar-winning Director Katyhrn Bigelow's (The Hurt Locker) next Film about the hunt for Osama bin Laden.  The Film was in-development prior to that one's death in May 2011 and has been re-written to include updates.

There is however, a bit of controversy though surrounding the Film from Sony Pictures as there are allegations that Bigelow may have been given access to highly-guarded information about Seal Team 6, which executed the anti-terrorist Mission.  The matter currently is being investigated by U.S. government officials, which possibly could delay or thwart completely its October 2012 release.  A couple working titles for the Project are Kill bin Laden and Seal Team 6.  It is said to star Rooney Mara, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba and more.

Edgerton despite turning down a Prequel to 300, will be seen this year in Baz Luhrmann's big-budget The Great Gatsby 3-D from Warner Bros. and also Disney's The Odd Life of Timothy Green.  His Agent definitely deserves a pat on the back, wouldn't you agree? He also can be seen in Aussie Thriller Wish You Were Here alongside Teresa Palmer.