Box Office: 'Fury' Steamrolls to #1 with $23.5M; 'Dear White People, 'Birdman' Both Open Strong

1. Fury- $23.5M
When was the last time we had a big Hollywood war movie? It's been awhile, and apparently audiences were eager to see Brad Pitt in an R-rated war flick like Fury, as the film opened with $23.5M, basically hitting all the projections. While the $68M movie was largely sold on Brad Pitt back on a war footing for the first time since Inglourious Basterds, the strong debut is also a feather in the cap of David Ayer, the director best known for cop dramas like End of Watch and Sabotage. As he pushes ahead to direct the DC Comics adaptation Suicide Squad, this should go a long way in establishing him as a director capable of painting on a larger canvas.
2. Gone Girl- $17.8M/$107M
Another solid hold for David Fincher's Gone Girl, moving past the $100M in week 3 and totally $181M worldwide. And just as it hurt the chances of success for The Judge last week, I think it may have done the same to The Best of Me's debut. More on that later.
3. The Book of Life- $17M
For my money the best animated film of the year, 20th Century Fox's Latin-themed The Book of Life opened strong with $17M. The $50M film had the backing of producer Guillermo Del Toro, and a number of popular celebrity voices in Channing Tatum, Zoe Saldana, Ice Cube, and Diego Luna, along with many popular Mexican entertainers. It's been a strong year for movies geared at Latin audiences and The Book of Life is just the latest example, but it also saw benefit from an ad campaign that emphasized how different it was from the familiar projects by other studios. Sometimes audiences do reward movies that dare to be different.
4. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day- $12M/$36.8M
5. The Best of Me- $10.2M
Opening with a scant $10.2M was The Best of Me, the latest melodramatic romance adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel. This is actually the ninth film based on the author's work, and it's also the lowest-debuting of the bunch, which hopefully means people are getting tired of them because they're all telling the same story but with different white people. And yeah, that is a factor in today's multicultural society where diversity is seen as a virtue; Sparks' films seem antiquated by comparison. I hesitate to blame stars Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden because Sparks adaptations have never needed big stars to be a hit. Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough starred in Safe Haven and that nearly broke $100M. The bigger problem may be competition, with Gone Girl locking down much of the "date night" audience. Whether this is the start of a trend we'll find out soon enough because two Sparks adaptations are on the way in The Longest Ride and The Choice, both with essentially the same plot. Ugh.
6. Dracula Untold- $9.8M/$40.7M
7. The Judge- $7.94M/$26.8M
8. Annabelle- $7.92M/$74.1M
9. The Equalizer- $5.4M/$89.1M
10. The Maze Runner- $4.5M/$90.8M

Opening in limited release were two of this season's most anticipated films. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's meta-comedy Birdman opened in four theaters and banked $415K, while Justin Simien's satire on race, Dear White People, made $344K at only 11 locations. Not bad for both, and they'll likely keep up the pace upon expansion in the next few weeks.

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Box Office: 'Gone Girl' Finds Another $26M; 'Dracula Untold' Not Far Behind with $23M

1. Gone Girl- $26.8M/$78.2M
As expected, David Fincher's Gone Girl held strong to its audience, slipping only 29% and adding another $26.8M. Genre films like Annabelle or even Dracula Untold tend to be heavily frontloaded while those aimed at older audiences having longer life spans. Unfortunately, this is exactly the audience The Judge was trying to nab, and we'll see how that worked out further down on the chart.
2. Dracula Untold- $23.4M
So perhaps we should take Universal's relaunch of their classic movie monsters more seriously? Unabashedly geared towards fans of superhero flicks, Dracula Untold shifts the vampire villain into a tragic hero in a Braveheart-style war for freedom. The $70M film had a star in Luke Evans, best known for his cheekbones in The Hobbit and Fast & Furious 6, so it didn't pack a ton of star power. That means audiences were genuinely interested in Drac's origin, a fact which should make Universal extremely happy.
3. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day- $19.1M
The film with the overlong title got off to a blistering start with $19.1M, practically guaranteeing Disney is going to make a mint on the $28M-budgeted adaptation of Judith Viorst's book. Interesting connection to Gone Girl: Viorst is jokingly pitched as a suspect in Amy Dunne's disappearance at one point in Gillian Flynn's novel. Anyway, this one will benefit from the presence of Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner, plus the trailers and TV spots have just been a ton of fun. Audiences clearly responded to it, giving it an 'A-' Cinemascore, and with the Columbus Day holiday tomorrow we may see 'Alexander' do even better. 
4. Annabelle- $16.4M/$62.1M
5. The Judge- $13.3M
Not that anybody was expecting Iron Man-type numbers for the family courtroom dramedy, The Judge, but $13.3M is still pretty disappointing for a Robert Downey Jr. film. Once eyed as an Oscar hopeful, all that died pretty quick once reviews starting coming out, with positive notice only given to Downey and Robert Duvall's performances. But the truth of the matter is it might have done better if Gone Girl wasn't around targeting the same audience looking for adult-oriented, R-rated thrillers.
6. Addicted- $7.6M
Ever seen Zane's Sex Chronicles late at night on Cinemax?  They were more popular than you may know, just as the erotic novels by author Zane are probably read by just about every woman you know. And so there was a deep built-in audience for the adultery drama, Addicted, which opened at only 846 theaters and pulled in a sizable $7.6M. The R-rated film boasts no major stars or big time direction but never really needed it, and this is probably going to encourage Lionsgate to build this as their next urban franchise after parting ways with Tyler Perry early this year.
7. The Maze Runner- $7.5M/$83.8M
Has now surpassed $200M worldwide, by the way.
8. The Boxtrolls- $6.6M/$41M
9. Meet the Mormons- $3.5M
Mormons are people, too, and apparently they go to the movies. And star in them. Meet the Mormons is a documentary about six mormons living in different parts of the world, and their various experiences trying to escape the shadow of Mitt Romney. Okay, I added that last part. But really, the point of this one is showing that Mormons are just like everybody else, and it's a message that is obviously clicking. The film was originally meant to only be shown in the Mormon hotbed of Salt Lake City, but audience reaction convinced the LDS to expand it further. Good move.
10. Left Behind- $2.9M/$10.9M

Also releasing in limited fashion in more ways than one is Kill the Messenger, the Jeremy Renner-led biopic of journalist Gary Webb. Webb had exposed the CIA's drug connection to Contra rebels and had his character assassinated for it. The film is not off to a promising start. Bad reviews have killed any buzz for Renner as an Oscar contender, and it only earned $939K at 374 locations. Yikes. Off to a much better start is the Sundance Award-winner Whiplash, which stars Miles Teller as an aspiring drummer terrorized by JK Simmons. Opening at 6 sites the film earned $143K.

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Interview: David Dobkin Talks 'The Judge', Working with Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall, and More

This weekend Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall square off in the family/courtroom drama, The Judge. It's a chance to see a version of Downey Jr. that we haven't seen in a long time, but it's also a new path for director, David Dobkin, who is best known for comedies such as Wedding Crashers and The Change-Up.  A Washington, DC native who attended Walt Whitman High School, Dobkin sat down with me and my Addicted to Film partner Tim Gordon to talk about directing The Judge, working with two such talented stars, and his childhood in the area.

The Judge opens in theaters Oct. 10th and you can check out my review here.

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Review: 'The Judge' starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall

It's a shame we don't get to see more of Robert Downey Jr.'s swaggering ways outside of playing Iron Man or Sherlock Holmes, because boy is he fun to watch. He's so good that even movies like The Judge which are totally predictable, a little overwrought, and frankly a little bit outdated, are a genuine pleasure to watch. And when matched up with the great Robert Duvall, snarling at one another like a couple of combative bulls, The Judge more often than not exceeds its conventional trappings into purely enjoyable popcorn fare.

With Downey there's always going to be a little bit of Tony Stark in every performance, and right away we see the brash arrogance that undoubtedly hides a heart of gold within big city lawyer, Hank Palmer. After a troubled childhood Hank escaped his small town roots and made something of himself as a high-priced defense attorney. "Innocent people can't afford me", he tells the schlub of a prosecutor (David Krumholtz) who has probably lost to him on more than one occasion. But a sudden phone call with a tragic message sends Hank racing back to Carlinville, Indiana for his mother's funeral and an unwanted reunion with his father, tough-as-nails Judge Joseph Palmer (Duvall).  With a script by the writers of Clint Eastwood's curmudgeonly turn in Gran Torino, it's no wonder Joseph is so darn ornery. He's the kind of guy who believes in old school, All-American values. Joseph is tough but fair in the courtroom, but not so much to his own son who he deems as a troublemaker and failure. So when they are reunited there aren't a lot of hugs. Or no hugs at all, actually. If there's a compliment from Joseph it's of the back-handed sort.

Those old values were never Hank's thing, and he can't wait to leave town and the bad memories behind until Joseph is suddenly charged with a murder. He can't remember what happened; can't remember much lately it seems, and Hank decides to stick around and defend his old man who is either very ill, a murderer and liar, or has fallen of the wagon. Or perhaps all three. Directed by David Dobkin, who also had a hand in developing the story, The Judgehas a hard time getting out of its own way thematically. A big problem is the sheer number of subplots, each of wildly ranging tones that crush a fairly simple story under their weight. Hank pities his pathetic older brother Glen (Vincent D'Onofrio), a former baseball prospect now just an average working stiff; and his autistic younger bro Dale (Jeremy Strong), the "Fredo" of the family. Hank has a young daughter back home and is about to get a divorce from his cheating wife, but that's okay because an old flame resurfaces in Samantha (Vera Farmiga), owner of the town's most popular restaurant. Oh, and she has a daughter (Leighton Meester) who may be Hank's, although that situation is awkward in more ways than one.  You could probably get two or three movies out of all that, but The Judge tries to fit them all into a package just over two hours long, and it's a tough gig to pull off.

Dobkin is best known for directing comedies like Wedding Crashers andFred Claus, and he's clearly more comfortable when handling the many humorous beats. He's less steady when expressing the dramatic themes, and oversells them to make sure we "get" it. A massive thunderstorm erupts just as family tension reaches a boiling point; Hank and Joseph argue angrily and stomp away in opposite directions with the camera practically screaming "Look at the gulf between them!!” These are problems caused by inexperience handling issues of actual weight, and Dobkin isn't served well by a soundtrack that is begging you to tear up. Photographed beautifully by Janusz Kaminski (Schindler's List), the film strikes a perfectly homey image of America through the lens of Norman Rockwell.

Tonal issues aside, The Judge is saved by the performances of Downey and Duvall, two great actors with more in common than one would think. There's a certain level of showmanship in both men, each getting their chances to either chew scenery or strum at a heart string. Duvall really shines as the film goes along and we learn more of Hank's predicament, while Downey is consistently motor-mouthed throughout. They're difficult roles to play because neither Hank nor Joseph is immediately sympathetic. It takes time for the actors to earn that from us, but they eventually do. The courtroom scenes, on the other hand, are no different than anything you'd find on an episode of Law & Order, with the exception of Billy Bob Thornton as a mustache-twirling prosecutor played by Billy Bob Thornton. Why not just stamp "bad guy" on his forehead?

The Judge is too busy for its own good and tries too hard to play with our emotions, but as solidly entertaining family drama it's guilty as charged.

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New Trailer for 'The Judge' Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall

Robert Downey Jr.'s The Judge isn't getting the marketing push that he's used to getting with Iron Man or The Avengers (which really don't need it), but Warner Bros. is definitely trying to get the word out. A pair of trailers for the courtroom dramedy were released just days ago, and now another, more serious look is here. Also starring Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Vincent D'Onofrio, Billy Bob Thornton, and Leighton Meester, The Judge centers on a hotshot defense attorney who returns to defend his estranged father, the town judge, who has been accused of murder. There will be Downey acting like a pompous ass, because that's what he's good at, but also plenty of family reconnection and male bonding.

The Judge is directed by David Dobkin and hits theaters October 10th.

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Two Trailers for 'The Judge' Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall

It's been a long time since a leading role by Robert Downey Jr. has been met with the silence faced by The Judge. Days after the courtroom dramedy premiered at TIFF the buzz has been quiet and the reviews middling, but with a release date right around the corner two new trailers will attempt to put the film on a few radars.

Downey stars as Hank Palmer, a big time defense attorney, specializing in getting the rich and guilty of trouble. The great Robert Duvall plays Hank's father, a stern local judge who has been accused of his wife's death. It's up to Hank to defend him while learning some hard truths along the way. If Duvall's curmudgeonly demeanor seems familiar then blame screenwriters Nick Schenk and Bill Dubuque who wrote Clint Eastwood's angry old-timer in Gran Torino.

Directed by David Dobkin, The Judge opens October 10th.

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Robert Downey Jr. Goes to Court in First Trailer for 'The Judge'

The Iron Man and Avengers movies may pay the bills, but when there's a break in his schedule Robert Downey Jr. is dabbling in projects that don't involve superpowers. He recently took time out for an extended cameo in Chef, the small-budget film from his Iron Man director, Jon Favreau, which is doing gangbusters (for an art house film, anyway) at the box office. He also agreed to star in The Judge, a courtroom drama that Downey has previously said has one of the best scripts he'd ever read.

The question is whether audiences will be as interested in him when not in the role of Tony Stark. Certainly, The Judge isn't going to make $1B or anything like that, but at least judging by the first trailer it may earn Downey some awards attention. Directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) and featuring a solid cast of Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Vincent D'Onofrio, Melissa Leo, David Krumholtz, Leighton Meester, Dax Shepard, and Billy Bob Thornton, the story follows a slick big-city lawyer called back home upon learning of his mother's death. Only when he returns he discovers it's his estranged father, who happens to be the town judge, accused of her murder.

Not only is this something of a change of pace for Downey, but also for Dobkin who is best known for helming comedies. There's certainly a good bit of humor here, as well, along with mystery and family drama elements making for an ambitious combination. Whether it all comes together for The Judge we'll have to wait until October 10th to find out.


The Judge - The Official Trailer HD by thecinemasource

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Vera Farmiga joins Robert Downey Jr. in 'The Judge'

Last year proved to be a quiet one for Vera Farmiga, with the Denzel Washington thriller Safe House her only major project. But this year has already gotten off to a huge start, thanks to AMC's Bates Motel debuting to huge ratings. This summer she'll star in James Wan's horror, The Conjuring, and is now joining Robert Downey Jr. in the rapidly-growing cast of The Judge.

With Vincent D'onfrio, Billy Bob Thornton, and Robert Duvall joining in just the last few days, the film is speeding towards a June start. The film centers on successful attorney who returns home for his mother's funeral, only to learn that his father is accused of her murder. Farmiga will play a hometown waitress who shares a past with Downey's character.

The Judge is directed by David Dobkin and will likely hit theaters next year. [THR]

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