Tony Scott did not leave a reason for his suicide. The news came Friday from the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, which said that notes left behind by the Top Gun filmmaker did not give a motive for his self-inflicted death south of Los Angeles last Sunday.
The coroner’s office also said Friday that the notes written by Scott did not mention any health issues, according to A.P. Soon after his death, ABC News quoted an insider who said the director had been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, which was later refuted by family members.
Tony Scott, 68, jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge, which spans the busy L.A. Harbor south of downtown. The coroner’s office performed an autopsy Monday, but the results will take a month or longer before official details are released about the cause of death, though it is being treated as a probable suicide.
Coroner’s office spokesperson Ed Winter said that the notes left behind had a list of emergency contact numbers and a separate message to friends and family.
[Source: A.P.]
A pensive Daniel Day-Lewis turned Abraham Lincoln appears in this black and white poster of DreamWorks’ Lincoln due to hit U.S. theaters in November – actually only days after the 44th POTUS or the 45th POTUS wins the U.S. election. Directed by Steven Spielberg, Lincoln spotlights the 16th President of the United States during his final months in office.
On set, Spielberg revealed that he’d refer to Day-Lewis as “Mr. President” along with referring to all the film’s actors by their character names, ML noted via a report by EW when the first color images of Lincoln appeared two weeks ago. If the sneak looks are any indication, an Oscar-nomination for Make Up and even Costume Design cannot be far off the mark.
A quick look at Lincoln’s actual beard in an actual photo of the President shows his beard to appear less whiskery in the mid-jaw area. And voila, such is the facial hair as it manifests in the Lincoln version of Lincoln.
Though obviously some time before audiences will first see Lincoln, with two-time Academy Award-winner Daniel Day-Lewis as the Civil War leader, more Oscar nominations will likely be in the offing come January. And who knows what Joseph Gordon-Levitt will do as Robert Todd Lincoln (the First Son) and Sally Field as the sometimes maligned wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.
Dreamworks revealed its official log-line for the feature:
Steven Spielberg directs two-time Academy Award® winner Daniel Day-Lewis in “Lincoln,” a revealing drama that focuses on the 16th President’s tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With
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Full Story »The Expendables 2 bumped last week’s number one film The Bourne Legacy to number two over the weekend. The latest installment of the action pic grossed over $28.7 million in its first roll out, averaging a solid $8,670 screens. Bourne dropped 55% in its second round, while Focus Features’ Paranorman rounded out the top three in its initial run.
1. The Expendables 2
Gross: $28,750,000
Screens: $3,316 (PSA: $8,670)
Week: 1
The first round of The Expendables opened with $34,825,135 when it debuted in theaters in August 2010, averaging $10,650 in 3,270 theaters. The second round is decidedly less heavy-hitting in terms of box office, but nevertheless a solid start for the action title starring Sylvester Stallone, who gave the director’s chair over to Simon West for the latest installment.
2. The Bourne Legacy
Gross: $17,019,855 (Cume: $69,580,935)
Screens: 3,753 (PSA: $4,535)
Week: 2 (Change – 55%)
The Jeremy Renner starter added just eight theaters in the U.S. and its drop from its first weekend roll out was a fairly acceptable 55%, though the pic landed in the second spot in the overall box office. The Bourne Legacy debuted in 3,745 theaters, averaging $10,752. Internationally, Legacy added five international territories, bringing the title to 18 abroad. it’s worldwide gross is now at $97.7 million.
3. Paranorman (3-D, Animation)
Gross: $14,008,498
Screens: 3,429 (PSA: $4,085)
Week: 1
The stop-action animated feature landed in the third place in the overall box office with just over $14 million with a so-so $4,085 average in 3,429 screens. The pic was produced by Coraline creators Laika and their latest effort performed similarly, grossing $16.8 million in a third place bow in February, 2009.
4. The Campaign
Gross: $13,385,000 (Cume: $51,694,000)
Screens: 3,255 (PSA:…
The Bourne Legacy and The Campaign opened over the weekend with enough gusto to topple The Dark Knight Rises from its box office throne, though the final installment in the Christopher Nolan-directed Batman trilogy still held solid in the third spot in the overall box office rankings. Hope Springs gained momentum after its mid-week bow, while Total Recall lands soft in its second frame.
1. The Bourne Legacy
Gross: $40,265,491
Screens: 3,745 (PSA: $10,752)
Week: 1
The latest Bourne easily snatched the top spot in the overall box office in its debut, ending the long reign of The Dark Knight Rises. But compared to its most immediate predecessor, the latest installment came in a bit thinner. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) landed at just per $69.28 million in its opening weekend in 3,660 theaters, averaging $18,929. The pic went on to gross over $227.47 million in the domestic box office. Legacy also opened in 13 small territories, grossing $7.8 million, bringing its worldwide total to $48.1 million.
2. The Campaign
Gross: $27.44 million
Screens: 3,205 (PSA: $8,562)
Week : 1
The comedy touched the funny bone for audiences, grabbing the second spot in the box office. It is the biggest weekend opener for Will Ferrell since 2010 comedy The Other Guys, which came in at over $35.5 million in 3,651 theaters.
3. The Dark Knight Rises
Gross: $19.54 million (Cume: $390,149,000)
Screens: 3,690 (PSA: $5,295)
Week: 4 (Change: – 45%)
The Christopher Nolan-directed Batman finale held the top spot for three weeks in the domestic box office, but has likely crested Stateside. The blockbuster dropped 552 theaters from the previous week and its screen average came in at $5,295 vs the previous weekend’s $8,590. Its worldwide cume is now well over $835.4…
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Also in Monday morning’s round-up of news briefs, Red Hook Summer and 2 Days In New York lead an unspectacular weekend in the specialty box office. The Dark Knight Rises leads the way for another weekend overseas. And remembering Al Freeman Jr.
Jesse Eisenberg Eyes Night Moves for Old Joy
Eisenberg is in talks to play the leader of a group of eco-terrorists who plot to blow up a dam in the thriller, directed by Kelly Reichardt. Dakota Fanning is also in talks to play the wealthy girl who funds the destructive scheme, The Guardian reports.
Mary Steenburgen Joins Las Vegas
Steenburgen joins the comedy from CBS Films and Good Universe in which she’ll be the object of affection in a love triangle. In the film, a group of friends throw a Las Vegas bachelor party for the one remaining single member of their group, Deadline reports.
Red Hook Summer, 2 Days In New York Debuts So-So: Specialty Box Office
A pair of New York-centric limited releases debuted in exclusive runs in NYC over the weekend and the numerical results were decent at best. Red Hook Summer and
2 Days In New York lead specialty openers with limited runs. Spike Lee’s latest Brooklyn tale Red Hook Summer bowed in four locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, averaging $10,525. The film doesn’t have major stars and its distributor touted its opening on four screens instead of the “safer route” of two locations as many specialty openings do, Deadline reports.
Foreign Box Office: Dark Knight Rises Still Tops
The box office was down overall with summer heat and the Olympics blamed for a suppression of the numbers. The Dark Knight Rises took the top spot overseas, taking in $34.2 million,…
His film The Avengers is one of the highest grossers of the year and legions of fans gave adulation to him at the recent Comic-Con and even more did so at the box office. So what do you do when you have a blockbuster that has made nearly $1.5 billion worldwide and quickly counting? Take on Shakespeare and Much Ado About Nothing!
Well, he’s done it already and it’s headed to the Toronto International Film Festival in September, but the film adds to the filmmaker’s wide-ranging repertoire which has included, of course, The Avengers, a portion of last year’s doc Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope (as a writer) and TV episodes of Glee, The Office and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Whedon’s version of Much Ado About Nothing will be a contemporary version of the Shakespearean story, which was shot in just 12 days, the Los Angeles Times notes. Toronto programmers noted the black and white movie “offers a dark, sexy and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that is love.” The Bellwether Pictures project actually completed shooting last fall, well ahead of The Avengers massive debut in April. The film stars Amy Acker (from Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods and Alexis Denisof (How I Met Your Mother) as Beatrice and Benedick, which Bellwether calls “the least likely lovers” who are headed for their “inevitable tumble into love.”
It is not the first time the story has been picked as a springboard for a contemporary re-telling. Kenneth Branagh took it on back in the early ’90s. That version starred Branagh along with Emma Thompson, Keanu Reeves, Kate Beckinsale and Denzel Washington.
Also starring in Whedon’s Ado are Nathan Fillion (Waitress, Clark Gregg (Avengers, Fran Kranz (Cabin in the Woods and Reed Diamond (Moneyball).
[Source: Los Angeles Times]
Magic Mike has already scored just under $78 million at the box office since its release in late June and the production budget was only $7 million. Minus the marketing budget, the stripper feature has likely already packaged a hefty sum. But never mind the money, there’s plenty of skin to be had, so why not let the strip show go on? Actors flexing their hot bods is a winning formula, and Tatum teased recently that another round of Magic Mike is in the early stages.
In a Twitter interview with Glamour magazine, Tatum said this when asked about a possible Magic Mike 2: “Yes, yes and yes! We’re working on the concept now. We want to flip the script and make it bigger.” Bigger? hmmm… Tatum didn’t provide much more in the way of details including whether director Steven Soderbergh has signed on for the follow-up or if co-stars Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Manganiello and the rest of the cast will be donning the thong for a second round.
He did offer up some insight in the making of the first Mike, however, saying that wearing a thong in front of people is “awkward,” adding, “I don’t know how you girls do it.” He also said in the Twitter back-and-forth that Joe Manganiello’s body was the most impressive. “He looks like he’s from Spartan blood!” said Tatum, referring to the war-waging city from Greek antiquity. He also said Manganiello and McConaughey were “a toss up” in the top stripping talent category. Tatum also shared that during McConaughey’s dance, the build-up was so intense that some women in the audience took matters into their own hands. “The women lost their minds and ripped his thong off,” he said. DVD extra anyone?
In non-related…
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In Monday afternoon’s round up of news briefs, SXSW is inviting audiences to propose panels for their 2013 event via online. BB takes a quick look at final weekend box office numbers. Samuel L. Jackson will host an upcoming awards show, while Fandango and MSN team up. And which book will be the next box office golden child?
SXSW Accepting Panel Proposals for 2013
The South by Southwest Conferences and Festivals are now accepting programming proposals for next year’s edition. The event’s “PanelPicker” interface is an online tool that allows the SXSW attendees to have a voice in programming Music, Film, and Interactive conference activities through an open proposal and voting process. SXSW 2013 takes place March 8 – 17. Step One allows users to submit proposals for programming at the SXSW website beginning Monday, June 25 and continuing through Friday, July 20. Step Two allows participants to browse proposals and rate which ones they think are the best fit for SXSW. Community voting begins Monday, August 13 and will continue through Friday, August 31.
Final Box Office Numbers for the Weekend
Actual numbers are in and Brave rests comfortably at the top of the box office. It’s Friday through Sunday total came to $66,323,594 in 4,164 locations for a screen average of$15,928. Next up was fellow animation, Madagascar 3 with $19,712,315 in 3,920 theaters. That was a 42% drop in gross from the previous week and a per screen average of $5,029. It’s three week total is $157,086,037. [Source: Hollywood.com]
Around the ‘net…
Julian Assange Internet Dating to Become a Film
Documentary filmmaker Cyril Tuschi will direct a film about a series of fictional dates involving the Wikileaks founder. Shooting will take place in Germany. Casting is pending, The…
Also in Friday morning’s news round up, Universal is marketing an Alfred Hitchcock box set for its 100th anniversary. Pixar’s Brave looks ready to triumph at the weekend box office, and Marcia Gay Harden will play a librarian who finds life in Costa Rica.
Hey Alfred Hitchcock Fans, Here’s the Box Set for You
Packaged as a “Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Universal,” the Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection. The collection includes Psycho, The Birds, Vertigo, Rear Window, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Marnie, Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt, Rope, The Trouble with Harry, Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy and Family Plot. But there is a bit of a wait, the collection of 15 titles won’t be available until September 25th.
Around the ‘net…
Charlie Sheen Joins Robert Rodriguez’s Machete Kills
Sheen has joined the cast in the sequel to the director’s Machete who will play the President of the United States. The two announced the news via Twitter, Deadline reports.
Box Office Preview: Brave Set to Triumph Over Abraham Lincoln
The animated film may hit $60 million, while Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is projecting a $15 – 20M opening. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is hitting around $5 – 7 million in weekend predictions, THR reports.
Marcia Gay Harden Books The Librarian
The actress will play lead in the film about a woman who finds “a new life path while touring Costa Rica. Produced by Classic Films along with Mano a Mano Films, Juan Feldman will direct from a script by Joel Silverman, Variety reports.
Casey Affleck & Thunder Road Head to Pic on Baseball Superstar Josh Hamilton
Hamilton went from crack addict to baseball star in the American league.…
