This week in DVD and Blu-ray releases, we’re seeing some of the Fall’s biggest missteps starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller. The good news is one of the year’s best films hit the streets, while there’s also classics by Otto Preminger, John Ford and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Check out our new release roundup…
What the heck, people? Eddie Murphy was subject to another of the long standing internet traditions: The faux-death rumor. Though his career may be in trouble (on that note: will anyone see his latest movie A Thousand Words?) the Tower Heist star is not dead. There is nothing wrong with him (other than bad career-making decisions), and it’s a non-story.
Adam Sandler‘s Jack and Jill features twins named after the childhood rhyme. Puss in Boots features those characters from the childhood rhyme. Both are the most likely candidates for the top slot at the box office this weekend, with The Immortals and J. Edgar also hitting theaters. Last weekend saw Boots rebound from bad weather and hold the top spot against Tower Heist – perhaps it will make it a week three. Weak three could also describe the wide releases this weekend.
Remember earlier in the week when we reported that Brett Ratner slipped his foot into his mouth and stated that only “fag” directors rehearse their films before shooting? Well, on top of that, he’s been spending his Tower Heist promotional tour talking less about the film (which might be for the best) and is spending more of his time graphically describing sex with Lindsay Lohan and Olivia Munn, as well as his sperm count and sexual prowess. All of which has led the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to say, “hey, maybe this isn’t the guy to produce the Oscars next year.”
Dwight Errington Myers, better known the world as Heavy D, has passed away at the age of 44. Best known for such hits songs as “Now that We Found Love” and “Nuttin’ But Love” in the heady days of “Yo MTV Raps!” Myers was known for his trademark sunglasses, and heft. Eventually he lost the weight, and became a sometime actor, appearing most recently in Brett Ratner’s Tower Heist.
Oh, Brett Ratner. After doing his damndest to offend humanity and culture in general by making some of the most offensively bland films without the slightest semblance of a unique directorial style (Rush Hour parts 1-3, Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Family Man, After the Sunset, Tower Heist), the hobbit-like director has decided to start offending very specific groups in particular.
Brett Ratner‘s ensemble movie was no match for the sword-fighting feline of Puss in Boots. The Shrek spinoff topped the box office for a second week, taking in $33 million, bringing its total to $75 million. Despite Tower Heist‘s promising debut on Friday, the Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy action comedy came in second place for the weekend with $25.1 million. The other comedy in theaters, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, opened with $13.1 million – thanks to the inflated ticket prices. Paranormal Activity 3 and In Time rounded out the top 5. Check out the complete numbers.
Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy join forces in Brett Ratner‘s new action comedy, Tower Heist. It’s about a heist that takes place at a Tower – Donald Trump’s tower in Manhattan, to be exact. Stiller is the head of a talented ensemble which includes the likes of Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Stephen Henderson, Michael Peña and Gabourey Sidibe. In Tower Heist, Stiller and company are a group of working class heroes who attempt to bring down one of Wall Street’s greats. This is a comedy about getting even, and with the events currently making news (Occupy Wall Street), it couldn’t have come at a better time. But the big deal in this movie isn’t its topic, it’s Mr. Murphy, who come February will be hosting one of the most anticipated televised events. You might be asking yourself if good old Eddie can still tell a joke. Well, let me ask you this, can Shaq still dunk?
This weekend Tower Heist and A Very Harold and Kumar 3-D Christmas won’t have to face the winter storms of last weekend. That’s good for them, as this is considered the first heavy hitting weekend of the fall season. What it also means is that shortly we’re going to see a number of the bigger Oscar pictures go into limited and wide release. But – for the most part – big studios aren’t in that race any more, and so other than J. Edgar, we won’t see a big studio Oscar-bait film until around Christmas.
