the men who stare at goats Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Weekend Box Office: 'Christmas Carol' and 'Precious' Bow Big
Filed under: New Releases », Box Office »
I was considering a title pun on Richard Kelly getting Box-ed out -- which works on multiple levels!! -- but I couldn't pull the trigger. That, though, is my main concern this weekend, to be honest: I am heartbroken (though not surprised) that Kelly's wonderful, hugely ambitious sci-fi flick couldn't get a foothold at the box office. People at my Thursday night screening thought they had seen one of the worst movies ever, which I guess is what happens when you're led to expect harmless PG-13 horror and get something so radically different. I also suspect that Donnie Darko would have been similarly received had it opened on 2,600 screens instead of building its cult cred in mini-release and on DVD. Anyway, The Boxearned $7.9 million -- not a total disaster for a $25 million movie, but not exactly a resume-builder for Kelly to the extent he has commercial ambitions. It was roundly defeated by the rest of the weekend's newcomers, most notably A Christmas Carol, which took first place with $31 million. That may not seem like a lot, but note that Zemeckis's The Polar Express opened to even less on its way to $180 million. I predict that A Christmas Carol, which looks wonderful on IMAX 3-D, will hold up well.
The weekend's other big winner was Precious, which Lionsgate pushed to an impressive $100,000 per-screen average on 18 screens. Even accounting for the very limited release, that's pretty strong; Brokeback Mountain-like numbers ($80-90 million) are probably within reach.
More, and the weekend top 10, after the jump.
Review: The Men Who Stare at Goats
Filed under: New Releases », Theatrical Reviews », George Clooney »
We're told at the beginning of The Men Who Stare at Goats that "more of this is true than you would believe." But the story of the U.S. Army's attempts to harness psychic powers to create super-soldiers is so bizarre it almost HAS to be true, in accordance with the "how could anyone make this up?" principle. In fact, I believe more of this admittedly fictionalized story than I do of The Fourth Kind, which claims to be 100 percent true. Surely there's a lesson in there.
Based on Jon Ronson's nonfiction book, The Men Who Stare at Goats stars Ewan McGregor as Bob Wilton, a journalist covering the Iraq War in 2003. Bob meets a man named Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a private contractor with an unusual past: He claims to have worked for the government as a psychic spy. Bob once met a man, back home in Michigan (played by Stephen Root), who made the same claims, and who named Lyn Cassady as one of his colleagues.
You can see why the military would be interested in psychic spying. Surveillance is a lot less dangerous when you can do it entirely with your mind, rather than having to actually sneak up and eavesdrop on people. And if we could harness things like telekinesis, well, forget about it! We'd beat the Russkies for sure!
Check Out The Real-Life Men Who Stare at Goats
Filed under: Comedy », Fandom », Trailers and Clips »
By: John Gholson
I'm not sure why, but Overture Films has chosen to downplay the "based on a true story" aspects of their high-profile new satirical film The Men Who Stare at Goats. The film finds Ewan McGregor as a journalist looking for a story in Iraq who stumbles across a former member (George Clooney) of a special platoon of psychics employed by the U.S. military. While many moments in the film seem outlandish and ridiculous, they become even more jaw-dropping with the knowledge that the film is based on fact.
Author Jon Ronson first explored the topic of remote viewers and psychic super-soldiers in a three-part Channel 4 television documentary, The Crazy Rulers of the World, the first part of which ("The Men Who Stare at Goats") he turned into a book in 2004. It's amazing to see the very real people behind the First Earth Battalion (renamed the New Earth Army in the film) recounting the bizarre stories that are brought to life on the big screen in the quasi-fictional movie by writer-director Grant Heslov.
It's a must-see if you plan on catching the film, and absolutely fascinating. There's a cynical side of me that would like to assume the members of the First Earth Battallion all are crackpots, but there's too much fact mixed in with the weirdness for me to dismiss it outright.
You can see the first episode of Jon Ronson's original documentary, in its entirety, over at SciFi Squad.
Insert Caption: Pirate Radio
Filed under: Contests », Insert Caption »
Welcome back to another edition of Insert Caption -- the game that whole-heartedly congratulates the New York Yankees on their 27th (!) World Series title! Last week we asked you to join a little staring contest with a few our of goat friends in honor of the new comedy The Men Who Stare at Goats (in theaters now). Congrats go out to our three animal-loving winners, all of whom have admitted to staring at Cinematical all day long (because we're just that cool).
1. "Part of a secret government program to... bake me a cake as fast as you can." -- Kurt P.
2. "The mirror game is a fun acting game to play in Army Acting Class...as long as you know and trust your partner implicitly." -- John R.
3. "Little did the woman know, but an electrifying rendition of the YMCA was about to break out." -- Ben M.
See full image and all captions
This week we're turning up the dial and tuning in for the upcoming release of Pirate Radio, about a group of rogue DJs who, in the 1960s, changed the world of Rock n Roll forever by playing rock records (and simultaneously breaking the law) from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Directed by Richard Curtis (Love, Actually), the film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost and Kenneth Branagh. The folks behind our three favorite captions this week will sail away with one Pirate Radio soundtrack and one Pirate Radio poster. Sound off below.
Read the official rules for this contest
1. "Part of a secret government program to... bake me a cake as fast as you can." -- Kurt P.2. "The mirror game is a fun acting game to play in Army Acting Class...as long as you know and trust your partner implicitly." -- John R.
3. "Little did the woman know, but an electrifying rendition of the YMCA was about to break out." -- Ben M.
See full image and all captions
This week we're turning up the dial and tuning in for the upcoming release of Pirate Radio, about a group of rogue DJs who, in the 1960s, changed the world of Rock n Roll forever by playing rock records (and simultaneously breaking the law) from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Directed by Richard Curtis (Love, Actually), the film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost and Kenneth Branagh. The folks behind our three favorite captions this week will sail away with one Pirate Radio soundtrack and one Pirate Radio poster. Sound off below.
Read the official rules for this contest
A Peek at George Clooney Voicing 'Fantastic Mr. Fox'
Filed under: Action », Animation », Comedy », Fox Searchlight », Family Films », George Clooney », Trailers and Clips »
Yahoo! has posted an incredibly cool video of George Clooney acting out his role as Mr. Fox in the freakin' adorable Fantastic Mr. Fox. The video shows cool side-by-side comparisons of Clooney acting out different scenes on a farm with costar Wallace Wolodarsky, who voices loopy sidekick Kylie, as well as just running around pretending to be Mr. Fox, down to rolling around on the ground and doing his super cool whistle. This behind-the-scenes peek at Mr. Fox also offers mini-interviews with director Wes Anderson, producer Allison Abbate, and Bill Murray (Badger) about working with Clooney on the film. The funniest part shows an argument between Mr. Fox and Badger, which involves growling and swiping, split-screened against the actors themselves doing the voices in an office.
As Abbate notes, "There couldn't be a more perfect Mr. Fox, because he has the Cary Grant suave, debonair sparkle where he can talk his way out of any situation, which is so our Mr. Fox character. He's just got a great voice."
Clooney's got a rather full docket this season, with The Men Who Stare at Goats coming out this week, Fantastic Mr. Fox coming out at the end of November, and Up in the Air out on Christmas day.
Click through to see the video itself, then let us know which Clooney feature you're going to be lining up for at the theaters this season, by cuss!
Box Office: Carol Boxes With Men and Goats
Filed under: Animation », Horror », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Thrillers », Box Office Predictions »
Halloween slowed down box office figures, but Michael Jackson's This Is It still managed the top honors for the weekend. Here's the top five:
1. Michael Jackson's This Is It: $23.2 million (total of $34.4 million)
2. Paranormal Activity: $16.3 million
3. Law Abiding Citizen: $7.4 million
4. Couples Retreat: $6.4 million
5. Where the Wild Things Are: $5.9 million
With only one wide release last week studios are making up for it with four new flicks this week.
The Box:
What's It All About: A couple in a tough financial situation are given a box that will grant them riches, except every time they use it someone somewhere will die.
Why It Might Do Well: Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly is at the helm, with a script based on a Richard Matheson story.
Why It Might Not Do Well: 55% at Rottentomatoes.com.
Number of Theaters: 2,500
Prediction: $16 million
A Christmas Carol:
What's It All About: Jim Carey stars in several roles in this 3D animated version of the classic Dickens Christmas tale.
Why It Might Do Well: This Robert Zemeckis guy has got some decent flicks on his resume.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Good lord, how many times has this been adapted before?
Number of Theaters: 3,500
Prediction: $42 million
1. Michael Jackson's This Is It: $23.2 million (total of $34.4 million)
2. Paranormal Activity: $16.3 million
3. Law Abiding Citizen: $7.4 million
4. Couples Retreat: $6.4 million
5. Where the Wild Things Are: $5.9 million
With only one wide release last week studios are making up for it with four new flicks this week.
The Box:What's It All About: A couple in a tough financial situation are given a box that will grant them riches, except every time they use it someone somewhere will die.
Why It Might Do Well: Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly is at the helm, with a script based on a Richard Matheson story.
Why It Might Not Do Well: 55% at Rottentomatoes.com.
Number of Theaters: 2,500
Prediction: $16 million
A Christmas Carol:What's It All About: Jim Carey stars in several roles in this 3D animated version of the classic Dickens Christmas tale.
Why It Might Do Well: This Robert Zemeckis guy has got some decent flicks on his resume.
Why It Might Not Do Well: Good lord, how many times has this been adapted before?
Number of Theaters: 3,500
Prediction: $42 million
Discuss: Which Trailers Are You Sick Of?
Filed under: Action », Comedy », Drama », Mystery & Suspense », Paramount », Focus Features », George Clooney », Trailers and Clips »
I'm grateful for this Friday, because that's the day that The Men Who Stare at Goats comes out and I can stop seeing its trailer relentlessly attached to anything and everything I see (and given that I try to see most anything and everything out there, it's really only a 'me' problem, I suppose). One night, I had myself a triple feature and saw the preview not one, not two, but three times; as a pal put it, he had "more than a feeling" that I was getting sick of it.Before that, it was a summer of Taking Woodstock time and time again, and it would already seem that Shutter Island's move to February will insure that I'll be sitting there, trying to piece the thing together for the next three months when not perfecting my New England Leo impersonation.
So, whether currently or in your own formative years, what trailers have you been just absolutely burnt out on? Did you and your friends quote along with them as they played? Were you actually ever turned off from seeing a film because you had it advertised to you too much? Come on, let it all out...
Exclusive 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' Character Posters
Filed under: Comedy », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Posters »
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Click below to view the full versions of all posters
Cinematical has just received these four exclusive character posters for The Men Who Stare at Goats, which hits theaters this Friday, November 6th. And yes, we freely admit that it sorta freaks us out to see four dudes eerily staring down goats in the above (and below) posters, partly because we never ever thought we'd be premiering posters that feature George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor and Kevin Spacey all staring at goats, but also because, well, Spacey looks like he wants to make out with the animal.
Based on the book by Jon Ronson and directed by Grant Heslov, The Men Who Stare At Goats follows a reporter (Ewan McGregor) who stumbles across a fantastical story about a secret unit in the US military that employs paranormal powers in their missions. Reviewing the film from Fantastic Fest, Cinematical's William Goss called it "unpredictable" and "amusing", and after you scope out the four character posters below, feel free to check out the trailer after the jump.
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Savannah Film Fest: Where Indie Meets Oscar
Filed under: Independent », Festival Reports », Exhibition », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Oscar Watch », Other Festivals », Cinematical Indie »
I'm in Savannah, Georgia to spend a week as a guest blogger for the Savannah Film Festival, an eight-day fest hosted in the historic Southern town by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). [Read my entries in the "Voices from the Fest" section on the festival website.] As the town prepares to kick off the 12th annual festivities with the Iraq film, or rather post-Iraq film, The Messenger, I'm wondering how SFF's growing success might reflect or even influence the rise of film festivals that similarly fall somewhere in between the biggies (Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Venice) and the little guys.
For starters, a brief look at SFF's line-up and star-studded guest list. The festival begins today, October 31, with The Messenger, a Sundance entry that has Oscar possibilities but more likely will make a run at the Indie Spirit Awards. Stars Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster will be in attendance. (I will be attempting to run into them at the local Starbucks or wherever it is that Hollywood actors hang out when they visit other cities.) Another Oscar hopeful, the Emily Blunt-starring period biopic The Young Victoria, is screening the following day.
And then there are the almost certain Oscar pictures: George Clooney in The Men Who Stare At Goats; Lone Scherfig's An Education; Michael Haneke's Cannes winner The White Ribbon; Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker, with star Jeremy Renner in attendance; and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, which will bring both director Lee Daniels and his star Gabourey Sidibe to town.
Read on for more about this year's Savannah Film Festival.
Insert Caption: The Men Who Stare at Goats
Filed under: Contests », Insert Caption »
Welcome back to another installment of Insert Caption -- the game that spent the past 36 hours staring at goats only to walk away with nothing but a migraine and a funky odor on its clothing. (Oh yes, games wear clothes -- you didn't know?) Last week we asked you to get in touch with your Cagey side and spit out a caption for a photo from Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, starring Nicolas Cage as the kind of guy you really don't want to have to buy Christmas gifts for. Congrats to our three winners for their inspired (and hilarious) captions!
1. "I had the boys mock up the poster to our next movie. I call it "Dress/ Off". -- Remy W.
2. "I know that it sounds romantic and all, but I'm not going to fight that bear for you." - Daniel M.
3. "Just don't let that leopard eat me, honey!!!" -- Joe P.
See full image and all captions
This week we're joining George Clooney in a goat staring contest as he throws on his strange dude hat for a role in The Men Who Stare at Goats, which brings its army full of paranormal military wackjobs to theaters on November 6th. The folks behind our three favorite captions this week will walk away with one The Men Who Stare at Goats book and one The Men Who Stare at Goats T-shirt. (Hint: If you stare at the below photo long enough, you may come up with the winning caption.) Sound off below ...
Read the official rules for this contest
1. "I had the boys mock up the poster to our next movie. I call it "Dress/ Off". -- Remy W.2. "I know that it sounds romantic and all, but I'm not going to fight that bear for you." - Daniel M.
3. "Just don't let that leopard eat me, honey!!!" -- Joe P.
See full image and all captions
This week we're joining George Clooney in a goat staring contest as he throws on his strange dude hat for a role in The Men Who Stare at Goats, which brings its army full of paranormal military wackjobs to theaters on November 6th. The folks behind our three favorite captions this week will walk away with one The Men Who Stare at Goats book and one The Men Who Stare at Goats T-shirt. (Hint: If you stare at the below photo long enough, you may come up with the winning caption.) Sound off below ...
Read the official rules for this contest
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