Faster

Weekend Box Office – THE RITE Stays On Top with $15 Million; The Mechanic Ties for Third with $11.5 Million

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: January 30th, 2011 at 10:11 am

After finishing in first on Friday, The Rite stayed on top with a three day estimate of $15 million from its 2,985 locations.  No Strings Attached followed in second place, holding on to 58% of its first weekend total.  The Mechanic opened in third for the weekend with $11.5 million, a figure that was well above most projections for the R-rated action film.

	Title	Weekend	Total
1	The Rite	$15,000,000	$15
2	No Strings Attached	$13,700,000	$39.7
3	The Mechanic	$11,500,000	$11.5
4	The Green Hornet	$11,500,000	$78.8
5	The King’s Speech	$11,100,000	$72.2
6	True Grit	$7,600,000	$148.3
7	The Dilemma	$5,470,000	$40.6
8	Black Swan	$5,100,000	$90.7
9	The Fighter	$4,055,000	$78.3
10	Yogi Bear	$3,165,000	$92.5

Weekend Box Office – TANGLED Takes in $21.5 Million; HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1 Falls to Second

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: December 5th, 2010 at 9:47 am

The kids are back in school, the leftovers are congealing in the fridge and you’ve already run through all the releases at your local multiplex. Such is life on the weekend after the Thanksgiving Holiday.  The upshot is that there isn’t much to talk about in terms of box office.  We’ve got holdovers as far as the eye can see – and they’re not holding very well at that.  In fact, overall box office is down 13% this weekend from 2009 levels when The Blind Side claimed first place.

	Title	Weekend	Total
1	Tangled	$21,500,000	$96.5
2	Harry Potter 7A	$16,700,000	$244.2
3	Burlesque	$6,100,000	$26.9
4	Unstoppable	$6,100,000	$68.8
5	Love & Other Drugs	$5,700,000	$22.6
6	Megamind	$5,030,000	$136.7
7	Due Date	$4,215,000	$90.9
8	Faster	$3,829,000	$18.1
9	The Warrior’s Way	$3,051,000	$3.1
10	The Next Three Days	$2,650,000	$18.3

Weekend Box Office – HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1 Holds Off TANGLED For First Place Over Five Day Holiday

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: November 28th, 2010 at 9:49 am

For the second weekend in a row Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 heads the weekend box office, taking in an estimated $76.3 million over five days and bringing its ten day domestic total to $220.4 million.  Potter was not the only family film that enchanted over the Thanksgiving holiday: Disney’s Tangled pulled in an estimated $69 million in its five day start, besting many predictions.  Meanwhile, debuts aimed at the adult audience gave new meaning to the term ‘turkey trot.’ Burlesque, Love & Other Drugs and Faster all failed to pass $20 million after five days. Nevertheless, this was the second-highest grossing Thanksgiving on record after Twilight Saga: New Moon and The Blind Side took 2009.

	Title	Weekend	5-day	Total
1	Harry Potter 7A	$50.4	$76.3	$220.4
2	Tangled	$49	$69	$69
3	Megamind	$12.8	$17.3	$130.4
4	Burlesque	$11.8	$17.2	$17.2
5	Unstoppable	$11.7	$16	$60.7
6	Love & Other Drugs	$9.8	$14	$14
7	Faster	$8.7	$12.2	$12.2
8	Due Date	$7.3	$10.2	$85
9	The Next Three Days	$4.8	$7.8	$14.5
10	Morning Glory	$4	$5.9	$26.4

Thanksgiving Box Office – HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1 Tops TANGLED

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: November 25th, 2010 at 10:29 am

Four new releases made up this year’s traditional Thanksgiving movie-smorgasbord, though none came close to unseating Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.  After six days in theatres, Potter’s penultimate chapter has already racked up a domestic estimate of $158.5 million.  When added to its foreign haul, the film’s worldwide total stands at $363 million.  As expected, Potter’s closest competitor on the day before Thanksgiving was Disney’s Tangled.  The animated take on Rapunzel opened with $11.6 million from its 3,603 runs and is expected to bring in $65 million by the end of the holiday weekend.  Sony/Screen Gem’s Burlesque beat out Fox’s Love and Other Drugs – a surprise which can be partially explained by the musical’s higher screen count. Neither title is expected to earn over $18 million by Sunday.  Finally, CBS’s Faster fell outside the top five in seventh place. The R-rated action flick brought in an estimated $1.6 million from its 2,454 runs.  We’ll have Thanksgiving box office updates later this weekend.

	Title	Wednesday	Total
1	Harry Potter 7A	$14,000,000	$158.5
2	Tangled	$11,600,000	$11.6
3	Burlesque	$2,800,000	$2.8
4	Megamind	$2,700,000	$115.6
5	Love & Other Drugs	$2,500,000	$2.5

Billy Bob Thornton Exclusive Video Interview FASTER

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 23rd, 2010 at 5:51 pm

The other day I posted part of my video interview with Billy Bob Thornton for Faster.  However, with the film opening tomorrow, it’s time for the full sit down.

During the brief  interview, Thornton talked about why he decided to take on the project (he gives a really honest answer), did he just work as an actor or did he help out with any of the writing, and we talked about his next writing-directing project Jayne Mansfield’s Car.  However, the best part of the interview was when he told me there’s been talk of doing a Bad Santa sequel (please let this happen)!  Hit the jump to check it out:

FASTER Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 23rd, 2010 at 3:46 pm

Dwayne Johnson is an actor who seemed destined for action-star greatness.  When Arnold Schwarzenegger turns to Johnson in The Rundown and says “Have fun,” it was a passing of the torch.  But that light seems to have diminished as Johnson has, much to the chagrin of his fans, chosen family fare that doesn’t really encourage the bloody mayhem someone of Johnson’s physique and charisma could deliver.  As if to answer all those who were unhappy with films like The Game Plan and Tooth Fairy, in the first five minutes Faster has Johnson get out of prison, drive a badass Chevelle, and shoot a guy in the head.  The film then struggles to keep the remaining 90 minutes interesting, going so far as to introduce a distracting antagonist whose only purpose is to provide brief action scenes.  Weighed down further by vague notions of sin and salvation, Faster is a surprisingly joyless affair that still manages to show Johnson’s dramatic range, but replaces his charismatic grin with deep sorrow.

Dwayne Johnson Exclusive Video Interview FASTER; Plus Updates on PROTECTION and He’s Seen Part of His Fight with Vin Diesel in FAST FIVE

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 22nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm

In the past few weeks, I’ve run two interviews with Dwayne Johnson for Faster.  The first was from my set visit earlier this year, and the more recent interview was a lengthy 45 minute phone conversation while he was on the set of Fast Five.  Since we’d covered so many of the things that went into the making of Faster, when I sat down with him a few days ago at the Los Angeles press junket, I knew I’d have to mix it up.  Thankfully, Johnson was game for answering all my questions, and he talked about reading online reviews, why he’s excited for Faster, confirms that he wants to make more action movies, says Protection should be his next film after Journey to the Center of the Earth 2, and he even talks a bit about his fight with Vin Diesel in Fast Five.  Hit the jump to check it out:

4 Movie Clips from FASTER

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 19th, 2010 at 3:02 pm

With Dwayne Johnson’s Faster hitting theaters next week, CBS Films has provided us with 4 clips from Johnson’s return to kicking ass. While I’m under embargo from saying too much, I don’t think they’ll mind if I tell you Faster is exactly what I hoped it’d be:  a lean, violent, revenge flick that shows what Johnson can do when he’s not making family films.

What I especially like about the movie is that it never wastes time trying to give Johnson’s character too much backstory, or trying to make him out to be a saint.  The movie starts with him leaving jail and almost immediately he kills someone.  That’s Faster.  If you’re into watching Johnson going around extracting revenge on the folks that killed his brother, you’ll like this film.  Hit the jump to watch 4 clips.

FASTER THE CHRONICLES: Dwayne Johnson – Exclusive Interview that Covers FASTER, FAST FIVE, THE OTHER GUYS, 3D, More

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 15th, 2010 at 11:53 am

With Dwayne Johnson’s Faster opening November 24, we’ve partnered with a bunch of other online sites for Faster The Chronicles.  The seven chapter series features exclusive interviews with the stars and filmmakers of Faster, and each one offers a clue to winning The Ultimate Guy’s Getaway trip for two to Las Vegas, which includes roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations (2 nights) and $1000 in FAST cash.  If you’d like to enter, head over to the official Faster Facebook page.

Since we’ve been covering Faster extensively over the past few months (click here to read our coverage), you know this is Johnson’s return to kicking ass and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve said many times that while I understand why Johnson made those family films, I’ve always thought he should be one of the biggest action stars on the planet.

Anyway, for the final chapter of Faster The Chronicles, we landed an exclusive interview with Johnson.  During our 45 minute phone interview, Johnson talked to us about making Faster, who he plays in Fast Five and what the movie is about (he was filming in Atlanta when we spoke), how he got involved in The Other Guys, his thoughts on 3D, would he be interested in The Expendables 2, and, of course, I asked about Peter Berg and will we ever get a Rundown 2.  Hit the jump to check it out:

Grindhouse-style Fan-made Trailer for FASTER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 14th, 2010 at 8:55 pm

One of the biggest selling points for Faster is that it features Dwayne Johnson in an R-rated action movie, something audiences have been feeling denied all of his acting career.  The Rundown is close but it’s PG-13, and while Doom is a hard-R film, Johnson isn’t really the protagonist.  With Faster, it looks like Johnson is ready to tear it up.  A fan-made trailer from “TheMonocularGroup” happily exclaims that it’s time to “Witness The Rock claim his birthright as a total fucking badass.” (although he prefers not to be called “The Rock” anymore)  Let’s hope that will be the case.  While I haven’t seen the film, I think it’s safe to assume there won’t be any fairy wings or tooth-related puns.

Hit the jump to check out the fan-made trailer.  Faster also stars Billy Bob Thornton, Carla Gugino, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Moon Bloodgood, and Maggie Grace.  It opens November 24th.

Oliver Jackson-Cohen On Set Interview FASTER

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 10th, 2010 at 9:11 am

While most of you don’t know who Oliver Jackson-Cohen is, if you see Dwayne Johnson’s Faster,  that’ll change.  That’s because Jackson-Cohen plays a bi-polar, very well dressed, killer who is after Johnson’s character.  If you saw the green or red band trailers, you might have seen Johnson firing his gun at him in the hallway.  I know this because I watched the scene get filmed earlier this year.

Anyway, while on set, during a break in filming, I was able to participate in a group interview with Jackson-Cohen.  He talked to us about his character, preparing for the role, working with Maggie Grace, Dwayne Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton, as well as how he got the part and what it was like to work on his first big Hollywood movie.  Hit the jump to either read or listen to what he had to say:

Director George Tillman Jr. On Set Interview FASTER

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 8th, 2010 at 9:58 pm

While director George Tillman Jr. was incredibly busy when I got to visit the set of Faster earlier this year, towards the end of the afternoon, during some down time, we managed to get in a few questions about Dwayne Johnson’s return to kicking ass.

What I liked about Tillman Jr. was that he told us Faster reminded him of a 70′s action film (which he’s a big fan of).  He told us, “I just felt like this movie was a throwback to those films in the Seventies… like with Steve McQueen.”

The other thing that made me happy was that Faster wouldn’t be filled with CGI cars and fake driving. Tillman told us, “we doin’ it all, there’s no visual effects, it’s us.” And if they didn’t get a shot they needed, “we gotta come back and get it next week.  I think that’s what makes it interesting.  The closest recently I think is what (Quentin) Tarantino did with Death Proof. “  Much more after the jump:

Exclusive First Clip from FASTER Starring Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Carla Gugino

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 8th, 2010 at 9:01 am

We’re pleased to bring you an exclusive look at the first clip from the upcoming action flick Faster starring Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Carla Gugino.  The clip shows detectives played by Thornton and Gugino investigating a crime scene where someone has recently done some murderin’.  The story centers on an ex-con (Johnson) looking to avenge the death of his brother.

Hit the jump to check out the clip.  Also, you can click here to read Steve’s on-set interview with Johnson, click here for Steve’s set report, and you have a choice of red and green-band trailers.  Be on the lookout for more interviews with the cast and crew of the film soon.  Faster also stars Maggie Grace, Jennifer Carpenter, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Moon Bloodgood, and Tom Berenger.  It opens November 24th.

Dwayne Johnson On Set Interview FASTER

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 1st, 2010 at 3:07 pm

Earlier this year I got to visit the set of Dwayne Johnson’s Faster while the production was shooting here in Los Angeles.  Since most of you have seen the green and red band trailers and read my set report, you know Faster is Johnson’s return to action and I couldn’t be happier.  While I understand it’s good for Johnson’s career to expand his audience and that’s why he made family movies like The Game Plan and Race to Witch Mountain, I’ve always felt he should be one of the biggest action stars on the planet.  Hopefully Faster will be a big hit and Johnson will stay in the action genre for awhile.

Anyway, while on set, a few of us got to participate in an interview with Johnson in between takes.  He talked to us about what they were filming that day, working with the rest of the cast, the cars he drives and his gun (which is a .454 Casull nicknamed the Bear Stopper), director George Tillman Jr., and a lot more.  As always, you can either read or listen to what Johnson had to say after the jump:

New Trailer for FASTER starring Dwayne Johnson

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: October 12th, 2010 at 12:45 am

With the November 24 release date only a month away for Dwayne Johnson’s return to kicking ass in movie theaters, CBS Films has released a new green band trailer for Faster.  If you remember, last week the studio released a red band trailer, which showed you this wasn’t another Dwayne Johnson kids flick.

Written by Joe and Tony Gayton (Bulletproof), Faster is directed by George Tillman, Jr. (Notorious) and it stars Carla Gugino, Billy Bob Thornton, Maggie Grace, Jennifer Carpenter, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Moon Bloodgood, and Tom Berenger.  Hit the jump to watch:

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