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Monday, May 21, 2012

Box Office: 'Avengers' Makes Billion Dollars Worldwide


 

'Argo' Trailer: Ben Affleck Rescues Iranian Hostages

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Less than 10 years ago, Ben Affleck was the laughing stock of Hollywood, thanks to the commercial and critical bomb known as "Gigli." Thankfully -- for Affleck and for audiences -- it seems like those days are far, far behind him.


In his next film, "Argo," Affleck stars as Tony Mendez, a C.I.A. officer who helped extract six American hostages from Iran in 1979, by making them pose as a Canadian film crew. The movie, which Affleck also directed, is based on the real-life story that was documented in a 2007 Wired article by Joshuah Bearman.


In the first trailer for "Argo," Ben -- in his best disco attire -- orchestrates the C.I.A.'s extraction during the Iranian hostage crisis. Fittingly, Aerosmith's "Dream On" plays in the background. You can check out the trailer above.


"Argo," which also stars Bryan Cranston, John Goodman and Alan Aarkin, hits theaters September 14. This will be second the third film directed by Affleck, who received critical acclaim with his last movie, "The Town."


(Correction: We originally referred to "Argo" as the second film directed by Affleck. It is actually his third. Thanks to Twitter user @Ally20791 for pointing that out.)


[via Apple]


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'The Campaign': Will Ferrell And Zach Galifianakis's Political Teasers (UPDATE)

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The Campaign Teaser

UPDATE: The full trailer for "The Campaign" just debuted. It features a lot of the same footage you saw in the teasers, except this time around, Will Ferrell's character gets caught punching a baby in the face (seriously). Check out the trailer above. For the original teasers, head below.

EARLIER: If you were subsisting on Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis's cymbal performance at the Oscars, then it's your lucky day: The first teaser for "The Campaign" has hit the web.

From Jay Roach ("Dinner for Schmucks"), the film sees the funnymen as two local politicos duking it out for the presidency. And just in case anyone was doubting the sincerity of this comedy, the new teaser was fashioned as in-character commercials.

Here, the two hurl political fodder (facial hair, communism): Ferrell is trying to not do his George W. Bush impression and Galifianakis plays a cuddly, mustachioed candidate.

Take a look at the teaser above. "The Campaign" hits theaters August 10.

[via Vulture]

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Thomas Parkin, Real-Life Norman Bates, Convicted Of Fraud In 'Psycho'-Like Case

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"We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you?" said Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) in Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 horror film, "Psycho." In regards to a recent lawsuit, those words have never been more appropriate.

A few weeks ago, Michael Daly of the Daily Beast wrote about a fascinating case involving a man who's been nicknamed the "Real-Life Norman Bates." In a tale of Hitchcockian proportions, 51-year-old Thomas Parkin had beem accused of dressing up like his dead mother in an attempt to secure her $2.2 million brownstone and to cash her Social Security checks.

(Fans of "Psycho" will remember that the film's main character had been impersonating his mother long after she had passed away. Of course, in the movie, Bates was also murdering innocent people, something Parkin was not accused of.)

The trouble began in 1997, when Irene Prusik supposedly signed over her brownstone deed to her adopted son Thomas Parkin (the house was eventually foreclosed on when he couldn't pay the mortgage). However, things really got weird in September 2003, after Irene passed away. That's when Thomas gave the funeral director an incorrect Social Security number for his mother. As Daly reports, this prevented "[Irene's] death from being logged in the federal database and allegedly [allowed Thomas] to collect her continuing Social Security benefits."

Soon after, a pending lawsuit -- one brought forth by Samir Chopra, the man who bought the foreclosed brownstone from the bank -- began to heat up. Chopra wanted Parkin banned from the brownstone. Parkin, however, took his case to the district attorney, painting him and his (now deceased) mother as victims of fraud. But the D.A. was suspicious: He continually asked to meet with Irene Prusik, only to be rebuffed by Thomas, who said she was ill.

Eventually, Thomas Parkin relented, and D.A. investigator Vincent Verlezza went to visit Irene...with a hidden camera. The video, which you can watch over on the Daily Beast, shows Parkin dressed as his mother. The tape would later be used as evidence against Thomas. (Thomas Parkin would later admit to detectives that "I held my mother when she was dying and breathed in her last breath, so I am my mother.")

Last week, Parkin was convicted on 11 counts, including larceny and falsifying records. He can now be sentenced to up to 83 years in prison. Although the NY Daily News states that Parkin was a fan of Bates, his lawyer maintains his innocence: "That could have been anyone," he said, in reference to the person in the video dressed as "Irene Prusik."

For a whole lot more regarding the case and Parkin's background, head over to the Daily Beast.

Coincidentally, a movie about the making of "Psycho" -- starring Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchock and James D'Arcy as Anthony Perkins -- is set to hit theaters in 2013.

[via The Daily Beast b/w Movies.com]

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'The Dictator' Trailer: Sacha Baron Cohen Makes 9/11 Jokes, Delivers Baby

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The Dictator Red Band Trailer

If the first trailer for Sacha Baron Cohen's newest alter-ego comedy, "The Dictator," left you wanting more, don't worry: the new red-brand one will certainly, uh ... deliver.

The new clip explains a bit more of what's happening in Cohen's upcoming parody: A tyrannical, good-time dictator (Cohen) travels to America -- "the birthplace of AIDS" -- and has his regal identity stripped from him. Then, in a "Coming to America"-esque fashion, the dictator is forced to take a menial job and prove his American-ness.

The trailer features a whole lot of 9/11 jokes, a baby delivery scene (cue the ever-so-overdone line: "That's the wrong hole!") and general envelope-pushing that we've come to enjoy from Sacha Baron Cohen. (See: Ryan Seacrest.)

Check out the red band trailer above. "The Dictator" -- with Cohen, Reilly, Ben Kingsley, Megan Fox and Anna Faris -- hits theaters May 16.

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Tim Burton's 'Dark Shadows': Pros And Cons

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By now, you've probably heard about Tim Burton's new movie, "Dark Shadows." Based on the popular '70s soap opera, the adaptation stars Johnny Depp (of course) as Barnabas Collins, a vampire who seeks revenge on a jealous witch. Does "Shadows" breathe life into the director's recent crop of underwhelming films? Is the latest Depp-Burton collaboration in need of resuscitation? Will [INSERT THIRD CLICHED PUN ABOUT VAMPIRES]? Let's take a look in this week's Pro-Con.


PRO: The set design and costumes


One thing the movie nails: The 1970s aesthetic, with its lava lamps, music, clothes and cars.


CON: The script


Sure, the movie may be great to look at, but that doesn't matter when the script is in total shambles. "Dark Shadows" is filled with plot holes and unanswered questions.


PRO: The soundtrack


The film features a terrific selection of classic rock hits, from "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" by T.Rex to the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin" to (appropriately) "Season Of The Witch" by Donovan.


CON: The misuse of Danny Elfman


The legendary composer has worked on almost every Tim Burton movie. But here, his score is banished to the short intro and end credits.


PRO: Eva Green


Even with a bland script, the French actress succeeds at playing the menacing evil witch, Angelique Bouchard.


CON: Chloe Moretz


The 15-year-old actress has been deservedly praised for her roles in "Kick Ass" and "Let Me In." But her portrayal of the despondent (and stoned) Carolyn Stoddard is, for a lack of a better word, terrible.


PRO: Collinwood Manor


Along the same lines as the first "pro." The house is filled with secret passages, ancient artwork and an unbelievably cool caretaker played by Jackie Earle Haley.


CON: Collinwood Manor montage


Barnabas' arrival in 1972 was Burton's perfect excuse to film a cheesy montage at Collinwood Manor, filled with bad fish-out-of-water jokes.


PRO: Johnny Depp


The movie star is his usual reliable self in "Shadows," lurking around Tim Burton's gorgeously gothic sets as only Johnny Depp can do.


CON: Johnny Depp


Still, we've seen this role from Depp before; he's played the pasty-faced creeper in almost every one of Burton's films.


PRO: Jonathan Frid cameo


The original Barnabas Collins, who passed away last month at the age of 87, made his final film appearance in "Shadows." As Depp told the LA Times on set, Frid was "as elegant and magical as I had always imagined."


CON: Alice Cooper cameo


You know what's cool? Seeing Alice Cooper perform in 1972. You know what isn't? Watching a 64-year-old Alice Cooper perform in a film that's set in 1972.


PRO: This Mondo poster


CON: This photo at the "Dark Shadows" premiere, which would have been great ... in 1972.

Each of the actresses in the cast looks great and star-acts up a perfect storm. " data-credits="" data-height="800" data-width="1200" data-title_link="Richard_Corliss_Time" data-slideimage_id="961570" data-image_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961570_free.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961570_huge.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961570_large.jpg"]' data-thumb_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961570_sq50.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961570_small.jpg"]' data-display_domain="http://i.huffpost.com/">

So why see Dark Shadows, on a weekend when The Avengers beckons you for a second look? Five reasons, and they're all females. Each of the actresses in the cast looks great and star-acts up a perfect storm.

Mr. Burton's most pleasurable film in years. " data-credits="" data-height="800" data-width="1200" data-title_link="Manohla_Dargis_NY" data-slideimage_id="961573" data-image_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961573_free.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961573_huge.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961573_large.jpg"]' data-thumb_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961573_sq50.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961573_small.jpg"]' data-display_domain="http://i.huffpost.com/">

Of all the morbid beauties in Tim Burton's work, the spooky goth girls and deathly pale boys, none wear their ghoulishness as lightly or winningly as Johnny Depp. And what a bewitching corpse he makes in "Dark Shadows," Mr. Burton's most pleasurable film in years.

But that's when I knew it for sure." data-credits="" data-height="1000" data-width="667" data-title_link="Andrew_OHehir_Salon" data-slideimage_id="961574" data-image_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961574_free.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961574_huge.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961574_large.jpg"]' data-thumb_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961574_sq50.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961574_small.jpg"]' data-display_domain="http://i.huffpost.com/">

As the door to Collinwood creaks open... we glimpse a powerful, almost Proustian totem leaning against the front porch: A Schwinn kids' bicycle, with a banana seat. I had already suspected I was going to love "Dark Shadows," even before that moment. But that's when I knew it for sure.

feels like a place-holder, a meandering first draft of an adaptation of the supernatural soap opera that ran on ABC-TV from 1966 to 1971." data-credits="" data-height="800" data-width="1200" data-title_link="Michael_Phillips_Chicago" data-slideimage_id="961575" data-image_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961575_free.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961575_huge.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961575_large.jpg"]' data-thumb_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961575_sq50.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961575_small.jpg"]' data-display_domain="http://i.huffpost.com/">

Some of director Tim Burton's costume parties are livelier than others, and the new "Dark Shadows" -- from the man who gave us "Edward Scissorhands," "Sweeney Todd," "Alice in Wonderland" and other chalkface-makeup spectaculars starring Johnny Depp -- feels like a place-holder, a meandering first draft of an adaptation of the supernatural soap opera that ran on ABC-TV from 1966 to 1971.

It's as if Burton directed at arm's length, unwilling to find juice in the story." data-credits="" data-height="800" data-width="1200" data-title_link="Roger_Ebert_Chicago" data-slideimage_id="961576" data-image_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961576_free.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961576_huge.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961576_large.jpg"]' data-thumb_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961576_sq50.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961576_small.jpg"]' data-display_domain="http://i.huffpost.com/">

Tim Burton's "Dark Shadows" is all dressed up with nowhere to go, an elegant production without a central drive. It offers wonderful things, but they aren't what's important. It's as if Burton directed at arm's length, unwilling to find juice in the story.

It's a whelmer. " data-credits="" data-height="0" data-width="0" data-title_link="Peter_Bradshaw_The" data-slideimage_id="961577" data-image_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961577_free.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961577_huge.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961577_large.jpg"]' data-thumb_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961577_sq50.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961577_small.jpg"]' data-display_domain="http://i.huffpost.com/">

The film delivers precisely the satisfaction a sympathetic audience could expect from its director, not one degree above or below. The audience is whelmed. It's a whelmer.

Burton is helpless. " data-credits="" data-height="674" data-width="1200" data-title_link="James_Verniere_Boston" data-slideimage_id="961579" data-image_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961579_free.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961579_huge.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961579_large.jpg"]' data-thumb_urls='["http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961579_sq50.jpg","http:\/\/i.huffpost.com\/gadgets\/slideshows\/225616\/slide_225616_961579_small.jpg"]' data-display_domain="http://i.huffpost.com/">

Burton's greatest strength remains his visual artistry. "Dark Shadows" obviously springs from the same brilliantly ma-cabre imagination that has given us such works as "Beetlejuice," "Sleepy Hollow" and "Corpse Bride." But when the script is as weak as this "Munsters"-level pastiche by John August ("Big Fish") and Emerson graduate Seth Grahame-Smith, Burton is helpless.

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