ghosts of girlfriends past Tagged Articles at Cinematical
How'd That 'Hangover' Baby Get Glasses?
Filed under: Movie Marketing », Posters »
Like many people, I regularly bemoan the Photoshop-ization of movie posters without any real knowledge to back it up. Sure, I can tell when heads and bodies don't appear to belong together, or when the movie's stars are not in alignment, as though they were taken from two different photographs and smushed against one another. But where is the hard evidence?
A man named Sebo is my hero. He created a blog and invited readers to "look at movie posters and ads with the eye of a graphic designer." Sebo is an "Artistic Director" and graphic artist in Paris, France, and his blog has concrete examples of "duplications and other hidden actions on Photoshop in images." In the example posted above, he found the source image for the "baby with sunglasses" in the poster for The Hangover: the shot of Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, and Bradley Cooper in an elevator. The poster artist cropped out Helms, Cooper, and the elevator, changed the colors -- Galifianakis and the infant are clearly wearing the same t-shirts in both images -- added sunglasses, and voilà!
Sebo has a very keen eye: he found duplications of the sea in the poster for Becoming Jane, the two different images of a romantic couple merged into one in the poster for Downloading Nancy, the three different images combined for the Summer Hours international poster, and the disturbing way that Matthew McConaughey's face was altered for the Ghosts of Girlfriends Past poster, transforming his mug from movie-star handsome into plasticized perversity. It's all fascinating, and will make me start looking even closer at movie posters.
[ Via Twitter, thanks to Wise Kwai, mattriviera, and transmission.]
Weekend Box Office: Consider 'Star Trek' Rebooted
Filed under: New Releases », Box Office »
Though I enjoyed Todd's post, I actually don't think much of the idea that J.J. Abrams needs to go around rebooting franchises, if only due to my vain hope that some Hollywood talent might ration out a little time for some original programming rather than endless prequels, sequels and remakes. But credit where credit is due. Seven years after Star Trek hit its box-office nadir with Nemesis, Abrams' reboot opened to $72.5 million ($76.5 million including Thursday night "sneaks") -- more than twice the gross of any previous franchise entry -- and, crucially, seems to be enjoying good word-of-mouth even among non-Trekkies. That falls shy of last weekend's $85 million opening for Wolverine, but I expect Star Trek to hold up better than the generally disliked superhero flick. Wolverine dropped nearly 70% in its second week of release, and will struggle to get to $200 million domestic. (Its drop to $27 million is actually slightly bigger, percentage-wise, than Watchmen's much-discussed deflation back in March.) On the other hand, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past held up well, as the weekend didn't bring any new anti-action counterprogramming.
Summit's Next Day Air, the only other opener, managed $4 million on just over 1000 screens, which isn't too bad -- though I'm hoping Summit can do a bit better with the difficult-to-market Brothers Bloom, opening on just a few theaters next weekend and expanding on the 22nd and 29th.
The full top 10 after the jump.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: Why Rom-Com 'DBs' Aren't Good For Men or Women
Filed under: New Releases », Fandom »
Several weeks ago at a press conference for Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Matthew McConaughey's latest cinematic, um, effort, I asked him and co-star Jennifer Garner if this film was more a cautionary tale for women not to be drawn in by douchebags than an object lesson for would-be lotharios. While McConaughey marveled at the prospect anyone would think one of his characters was a douchebag, Garner dismissed the idea that the greater lesson could or should be learned by the film's female viewership. "It's more for men to say you have to risk love and commitment," she insisted. "Otherwise, you're going to end up alone with old-age make-up and sad and the beautiful woman is going to go off and marry someone else."
While Garner's make-up reference was a clever play on the film's decidedly underwhelming "ghosts of girlfriends future" segment – and one which, if you're lucky enough to never see the film, will never be provided an actual context - the question unfortunately remains: who is this film supposed to teach a lesson, much less entertain? Having analyzed its reprehensible characters and deconstructed its mixed messages, it seems obvious that the film was either made specifically for terrible, stupid people of both genders, or for no one at all.
Weekend Box Office: 'Wolverine' Beheads McConaughey
Filed under: New Releases », Box Office »
It is of course impossible to say whether the much-discussed work print leak damaged Wolverine's box office take, nor whether Fox's cockamamie strategy of tacking on different mid-credits codas to different prints of the film helped matters. All we can conclude is that if piracy hurt, it didn't hurt that much (which really has been the refrain for the movie industry all along), since I don't think too many people will be unhappy with an $87 million first weekend. For those keeping score, that's well ahead of X-Men, marginally ahead of Bryan Singer's X2, and roughly $15 million behind Brett Ratner's X-Men: The Last Stand. Wolverine is not likely to hold up well, but it's hard to imagine a scenario where it doesn't get to $200 million domestic. And after all the angst, that's a victory. One thing to consider is what this means for the straight action model of the comic book movie. I didn't dislike Wolverine like a lot of people did, but it undoubtedly did away with the nuance, intricacy and character focus that we've gotten used to seeing in major comic book adaptations. I bet it's much easier to make a Wolverine than a Iron Man or an X2 or a Watchmen, and it seems not to be much less financially rewarding.
I very much enjoyed not watching Ghosts of Girlfriends Past this weekend, and it seems so did a bunch of other people. The Matthew McConaughey romantic comedy picked up $15.3 million, which isn't bad, but puts the film way behind the last three identical Matthew McConaughey romantic comedies. And the 3D-animated Battle for Terra, while not a Delgo-level bust, couldn't break the top 10 and ended up with just over $1 million on around 1,200 screens. It's tough out there for animated features not bankrolled and marketed by huge studios.
The weekend's top 10 after the jump.
Insert Caption: Star Trek
Filed under: Fandom », Contests », Insert Caption »
Welcome back to another edition of Insert Caption -- the game that attempts to go where no man no one has gone before. Last week we asked you to cough up some worthy captions for a photo from the new film Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, which stars Matthew McConaughey as a dude who's haunted by the ghosts of his ex-girlfriends. Seems three of you rose to the top of our list, so congrats go out to those lucky ones who managed to climb their way into the winners circle.
1. "I said I would never molest an apple pie again, I never said anything about CAKE!" -- Brad H.
2. "Lives were ruined and dreams were shattered when Jennifer misunderstood her husband's request to play "patty-cake"." -- Kevin F.
3. "We are all glad you are eating again, but this is a little much." -- Woody T.
See full image and all captions
The 2009 summer movie season has officially begun, and to celebrate we're bringing in some live music with one catch: You have to perform ... along with some friends, of course. At this time next week Star Trek will return to theaters in exciting form, thanks to a fresh take from J.J. Abrams and his gang of merry rebels. Having already seen it, I have no problem calling it this summer's Iron Man -- a fantastic piece of spirited entertainment that sizzles and stampedes across your blockbuster-lovin' brain. And so to welcome Star Trek back into our lives (and hearts), we're bringing out the big guns: One lucky grand prize winner will beam up one Star Trek poster and one Rock Band xBox bundle containing the game, guitar, drum kit, and bass guitar, while two runner-ups will each receive one Star Trek poster and one Rock Band Wii bundle containing the game, guitar, drum kit, and bass guitar. You know what to do ...
Read the official rules for this contest
1. "I said I would never molest an apple pie again, I never said anything about CAKE!" -- Brad H.2. "Lives were ruined and dreams were shattered when Jennifer misunderstood her husband's request to play "patty-cake"." -- Kevin F.
3. "We are all glad you are eating again, but this is a little much." -- Woody T.
See full image and all captions
The 2009 summer movie season has officially begun, and to celebrate we're bringing in some live music with one catch: You have to perform ... along with some friends, of course. At this time next week Star Trek will return to theaters in exciting form, thanks to a fresh take from J.J. Abrams and his gang of merry rebels. Having already seen it, I have no problem calling it this summer's Iron Man -- a fantastic piece of spirited entertainment that sizzles and stampedes across your blockbuster-lovin' brain. And so to welcome Star Trek back into our lives (and hearts), we're bringing out the big guns: One lucky grand prize winner will beam up one Star Trek poster and one Rock Band xBox bundle containing the game, guitar, drum kit, and bass guitar, while two runner-ups will each receive one Star Trek poster and one Rock Band Wii bundle containing the game, guitar, drum kit, and bass guitar. You know what to do ...
Read the official rules for this contest
Review: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », New Line », Theatrical Reviews », Summer Movies »
I apparently loved Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.
See, according to the logic doled out by the monogamy-hating, scotch-addled mind of one Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey), the power of any relationship falls to whoever cares less, and my friends, I really could not care less about whether or not his boozing, cruising lothario was going to learn any magical lesson lifted straight out of Dickens. Ergo, the further I slumped in my seat while watching this mawkish, obvious, and not very funny film, the more powerful I grew in this particular relationship, and let me tell you right now: that and two bucks will get you a cup of coffee, with no need for any more artificial sweetener...
Box Office: Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Blockbusters of Summer!
Filed under: Animation », Comedy », Romance », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Box Office Predictions »
All four of last week's newbies landed in the top five, though the previous week's number one film 17 Again had enough staying power to retain second place. Here's the top five:
1. Obsessed: $28.6 million
2. 17 Again: $11.5 million
3. Fighting: $11 million
4. The Soloist: $9.7 million
5. Earth: $8.8 million
Three new releases this week, one of which is a likely candidate for the first Summer Blockbuster of 2009.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
What's It All About: In this Dickensian romantic comedy Matthew Mconaughey stars as a commitment-phobic womanizer who is visited by the ghosts of the women he has dumped over the years. Jennifer Garner also stars.
Why It Might Do Well: Good counter programming choice as this one will share virtually no audience members with the other new releases.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Maybe it's the testosterone talking, but the trailer seems kind of dopey.
Number of Theaters: 3,000
Prediction: $22 million
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
What's It All About: In this prequel to the X-Men movies, the adamantium-clawed mutant Wolverine takes center stage and shares the screen with other classic Marvel characters including The Blob, Deadpool and Gambit.
Why It Might Do Well: The three previous X-Men movies had opening weekends of $54 million, $85 million, and $102 million respectively. Will the trend toward mutant fever continue?
Why It Might Not Do Well: Can Wolverine put asses in seats without the rest of the X-Men backing him up?
Number of Theaters: 4,000
Prediction: $90 million
1. Obsessed: $28.6 million
2. 17 Again: $11.5 million
3. Fighting: $11 million
4. The Soloist: $9.7 million
5. Earth: $8.8 million
Three new releases this week, one of which is a likely candidate for the first Summer Blockbuster of 2009.
Ghosts of Girlfriends PastWhat's It All About: In this Dickensian romantic comedy Matthew Mconaughey stars as a commitment-phobic womanizer who is visited by the ghosts of the women he has dumped over the years. Jennifer Garner also stars.
Why It Might Do Well: Good counter programming choice as this one will share virtually no audience members with the other new releases.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Maybe it's the testosterone talking, but the trailer seems kind of dopey.
Number of Theaters: 3,000
Prediction: $22 million
X-Men Origins: WolverineWhat's It All About: In this prequel to the X-Men movies, the adamantium-clawed mutant Wolverine takes center stage and shares the screen with other classic Marvel characters including The Blob, Deadpool and Gambit.
Why It Might Do Well: The three previous X-Men movies had opening weekends of $54 million, $85 million, and $102 million respectively. Will the trend toward mutant fever continue?
Why It Might Not Do Well: Can Wolverine put asses in seats without the rest of the X-Men backing him up?
Number of Theaters: 4,000
Prediction: $90 million
Trailer Park: The Lost, The Damned and The Dead
Filed under: Fandom », Trailer Trash », Trailers and Clips »
Land of the Lost
This comedic remake of the classic Saturday Morning show takes some license with the material, but it's got Will Ferrell and it's got Sleestak. Where can I buy my ticket? Ferrell plays scientist Rick Marshall, who's written a book on time warps (which is particularly odd since IMDB says his character is a Forest Ranger). Despite a Today Show interview that goes hilariously wrong, Marshall apparently proves his theories by traveling across time and space with two colleagues to a world of dinosaurs, ape people and lizard men. Check out the trailer below.
The Damned United
Michael Sheen of Frost/Nixon plays Brian Clough, who for forty-four days coached the Leeds United soccer team (or football team as they call it on that side of the pond). Based on true events, Clough was apparently a controversial figure. I got the impression the trailer was assuming I already knew who he was, so perhaps a different approach would be appropriate for the non U.K. markets.
Deadline
Brittany Murphy stars as a writer who moves into an old house so she can work in peace, but the ghost of a young woman murdered in the house (Thora Birch) is getting in the way of her deadline. This looks like generic ghost plot number 4 and there's something about Murphy here I find off-putting. Not sure if it's her "I don't want to be bothered by the outside world" attitude or her out of control hair. Despite the premise this looks like a less than spirited effort.
Memories of Rom-Coms Past in Trailer for 'Ghosts of Girlfriends Past'
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », New Line », Trailers and Clips »
Goodness me, for just how long has Hollywood been sitting on the high-concept rom-com that is Ghosts of Girlfriends Past? So narrow-minded lothario Matthew McConaughey (who's getting good at this kind of role) is visited by three of his exes and shown the error of his ways -- namely, letting childhood flame Jennifer Garner slip away (I'll give 'em that much; a dumb, dumb move). If the Moviefone trailer above is any indication, saccharine and slapstick will be in no short supply.
It seems that director Mark Waters has opted to skew the sharper comedic stomping grounds of, say, Mean Girls in favor of another rom-com fantasy in the vein of Just Like Heavin', from the pair of writers who also brought us Full of It and Four Christmases. If we're really supposed to have any hope for this project, let me know when you find it.
At any rate, Ghosts opens on May 1st as counter-programming against X-Men Origins: Wolverine -- for all the girls who just can't stand that Hugh Jackman fella, I suppose. Come on, which one are you readers counting down the days for?
Jennifer Garner is Looking to Join 'Ghosts of Girlfriends Past'
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Casting », Deals »
After going nowhere with Disney, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past got nabbed by New Line, and it was over a year ago that the company was trying to get Matthew McConaughey to star. At the pace of a snail, the pieces are coming together. In February, The House of Yes and Just Like Heaven helmer Mark Waters had signed on to direct, from a script by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. Now, according to Variety, Jennifer Garner is in talks to co-star in an unspecified role. To recap -- the film will focus on a womanizer who gets haunted by 'ghosts' of his past, present, and future girlfriends while at the wedding of his younger brother. These apparitions lead him to realize that he's in love with his childhood sweetheart.I imagine that means Garner is the sweetheart, although she could be the new sister-in-law, or a ghostly shepherd that herds the beings in and out of the guy's head. I really hope this flick is worth it, but I don't have much hope. I'm quite sure it will be a fluff success, but it would be really nice if it could be a substantial, fun, and worthy comedy. Or, even a decent one -- 13 Going on 30 wasn't a flawless movie, but it was a welcome change from the usual fare, and it had a killer Thriller recreation. Furthermore, Garner has been involving herself in some solid work lately, like The Kingdom and the hugely-buzzed Juno, so it would be a waste to tarnish those stints with a stinker of a cinema cherry. We'll have to wait a while to find out, however -- production won't get in gear until January.
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