Best Bet(s): “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ (read my review) is an intense action thriller, Deznel Washington and John Travolta are very good!!  “Imagine That” (read my review) is a charming family comedy, but you might want to wait to rent it.  ”The Brothers Bloom” finally comes to Grand Rapids market after months of release date changes before it opened in limited release May 22nd.

New on DVD (Tuesday): “Crossing Over”, “Fired Up”, “Gran Torino”, “The International”, “Spinning Into Butter”

Best Bet(s): If you’re like me and embarrased to say you haven’t yet scene the post-incentives filmed in Michigan movie with the most attention (”Gran Torino”)… now is your time to see Clint Eastwood and the Detroit area locales.  I actually haven’t seen any of the other movies eother, but “The International” looks like a good action thriller and while Harrison Ford’s U.S.-Mexican border drama “Crossing Over” looks good, it got some mixed reviews.

 CLICK HERE TO FIND A MOVIE SHOWTIME

Next Week at Theaters: “The Proposal”, “Year One”, “Away We Go” (limited release), “Moon” (limited release)

Next Week on DVD: “Friday the 13th” (2009), “Morning Light”, “Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail”, “The Cell 2″

MY REVIEWS OF OTHER MOVIES CURRENTLY PLAYING IN THEATERS OR AVAILABLE TO RENT/BUY: 

Playing at West Michigan movie theaters:
“Star Trek” (8.5 / 10)
“Angels & Demons” (8.5 / 10)
“The Hangover” (8.0 / 10)
“I Love You, Man” (8.0/ 10)
“State of Play” (8.0 / 10)
“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ (8.0/ 10)
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (7.5 / 10)
“Four Christmases”  (7.5 / 10)
“Knowing” (7.0 / 10)
“Watchmen” (7.0 / 10)
“Imagine That” (6.5 / 10)
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” (6.5 / 10)
“Monsters Vs. Aliens” (6.0 / 10)
“My Life in Ruins” (5.5 / 10)
“Confessions of A Shopaholic” (5.5 / 10)
“Dance Flick” (2.0 / 10)

- – -

Available to rent or buy:
“Slumdog Millionaire” (9.5/ 10)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (9.5 / 10)
“The Dark Knight” (9.5 / 10)
“Changeling”  (9.5 / 10)
“WALL-E” (9.0)
“Pride and Glory” (9.0 / 10)
“The Wrestler” (8.9 / 10)
“Righteous Kill” (8.9 / 10)
“Eagle Eye” (8.5 / 10)
“Burn After Reading” (8.5 / 10)
“Wanted” (8.0 / 10)
“Defiance” (8.0 / 10)
“The Visitor” (8.0 / 10)
“Australia”  (7.9 / 10)
“Frozen River” (7.9 / 10)
“Revolutionary Road” (7.9 / 10)
“New in Town” (7.9 / 10)
“Quantum of Solace”  (7.5 / 10)
“Taken” (7.5 / 10)
“Fanboys” (8.5 for me, adjusted to 7.5 for most)
“He’s Just Not That Into You” (7.5 / 10)
“Traitor” (7.5 / 10)
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
“Marley & Me” (7.5 / 10)
“Bride Wars” (7.5 / 10)
“Rachel Getting Married” (7.0)
“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” (7.0 / 10)
“Get Smart” (7.0 / 10)
“Bedtime Stories” (7.0 / 10)
“Twilight”  (7.0 / 10)
“Hotel for Dogs” (7.0 / 10)
“Appaloosa” (6.9 / 10)
“Lakeview Terrace” (6.5 / 10)
“Hellboy II: Golden Army” (6.5 / 10)
“Body of Lies” (6.0)
“Noise” (6.0 / 10) 

– 

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Director of Photography Erik Curtis (white hat), extras, and stand-in Craig Roberts (gray sportsjacket) setting up a different angle on the set of "The Steam Experiment" at Bull's Head Tavern in Grand Rapids, MI 9/10/08

One Year Later: Michigan Film Incentives

A year ago today marks one year since Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm signed the film incentive package on April 7th, 2008  that provides up to 40% percent refundable or transferable tax credit for projects in Michigan, with an additional 2% available for projects in core communities.

According to a Michigan State University economic impact study, the incentives brought 32 projects (including “The Steam Experiment”), creating 2,763 jobs and creating $65.4 million in revenue to the state in 9 months of 2008 (since the incentives were signed in April).   Of that, $25.1 million was spent on direct wages and salary and $40.3 million was spent on Michigan goods and services.

The Movies
Those 32 projects shot in Michigan in 2008 include more than a dozen feature films:
“Whip It” (shot in Ann Arbor and Detroit area, Drew Barrymore directed, expecting a 2009 release)

“Youth In Revolt” (shot in Ann Arbor area, starring Michael Cera, Justin Long, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, set for October 2009 release)

“The Job” (shot in Detroit, starring Ron Pearlman and Joe Pantoliano, expecting a 2009 release)

“Gran Torino” (shot in Detroit area, directed by/starring Clint Eastwood, released in 2008)

“All‘s Faire in Love” (shot in Flint area, starring Christina Ricci, expecting a 2009 release)

“Red and Blue Marbles” (shot in Detroit, expecting a 2009 release)

“Tug” (shot in Holland, starring Haylie Duff and Sam Huntington, expecting a 2009 release)

“The Steam Experiment” (shot in Grand Rapids, starring Val Kilmer, Armand Assante, and Eric Roberts, expecting a 2009 release)

“Meet Monica Velour” (formerly “Miss January”) (shot in Detroit area, starring Kim Cattrall and Brian Dennehy, expecting a 2009 release)

“Offspring” (shot in Muskegon, Moderncine, expecting a 2010 release)

“Butterfly Effect: Revelation” (shot in Detroit,  expecting a 2009 release)

“Cherry” (shot in Kalamazoo, expecting a 2009 release)

“High School” (shot in Howell and Detroit, starring Colin Hanks, Adrien Brody, Michael Vartan, Michael Chiklis, expecting a 2010 release)

The Future
Researchers estimate total production expenditures will grow 187% over the next four years (2008 to 2012) based on the experiences of Louisiana and New Mexico, who passed similar, but lower incentives in 2002.   Both states continue to experience year over-year growth in total in-state production expenditures.

The study also says Michigan film will likely “generate tourism… and other indirect benefits from film production”.

Reaction from those in the industry has been overwhelmingly positive, look for interview video soundbites later today from Ed Harris, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Joe Pantoliano.

The Opposition
There are at least four Michigan State Senators speaking out against the current tax incentives: Sen. Nancy Cassis, Sen. Jud Gilbert, Sen. Tom George, and Sen.  Mickey Switalski…. and on March 25th, there was a new proposal to put a cap on the benefits.

The history and the future of the incentives was discussed March 25th at a panel discussion on Michigan’s Tax Incentives and part of that discussion included Ken Droz from the Michigan Film Office saying ”ideally, we’d like to think the program can run its course and be allowed to have time to breathe and to mature and for the entire industry to gets its legs before any major changes are being done to it.”     The panelists agreed that while the state is staying ahead of other states like New Mexico and Louisiana,  more work has to be done to build infrastructure and train workers.

For more on the incentives, see Michigan Film Office Report:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/filmoffice/MFO_2008_Annual_Report_269261_7.pdf

For more on the economic impact, see MSU Economic Study:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/filmoffice/MSU_Economic_Impact_Study_269263_7.pdf

And it wasn’t even close… with the remake “Friday the 13th” taking in more ($42 million) than the second and third place movies combined, the slasher movie also becomes the biggest opening of the year, passing “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”’s $31 million opening in January. 

Last week’s number one “He’s Just Not That Into You” slipped to second and new movies “Confessions of A Shopaholic” and “The International” opened in fourth and seventh place.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Friday the 13th” (2009) – $42.25 million (1st week)

2. “He’s Just Not That Into You” – $19.61 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 29% from last week)

3. “Taken” – $19.25 million
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 6% from last week)

4. “Confessions of A Shopaholic” – $15.41 million (1st week)

5. “Coraline” – $15.32 million
(2nd week, was #3 last week, lost 9% from last week)

6. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” - $11.70 million
(5th week, was #5 last week, gained 7% more than last week)

7. “The International” – $10.00 million (1st week)

8. “The Pink Panther 2″ - $9.00 million
(2nd week, was #4 last week, lost 22% from last week)

9. “Slumdog Millionaire” - $7.15 million
(14th week, was #8 last week, lost 0.5% from last week)

10. “Push” – $6.93 million
(2nd week, was #6 last week, lost 31% from last week)

- – -

11. “Gran Torino” – $6.75 million
(10th week, was #7 last week, lost 6% from last week)

13. “Hotel for Dogs” – $4.23 million
(5th week, was #10 last week, lost 26% from last week)

17. ”The Wrestler” – $1.80 million
(4th week of wide release, was #15 last week, lost 19% from last week)

18. “New in Town” - $1.72 million
(3rd week, was #12 last week, lost 47% from last week)

19. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – $1.60 million
(8th week, was #13 last week, lost 30% from last week)

20. “Revolutionary Road” – $0.98 million
(8th week, was #17 last week, lost 42% from last week)

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “He’s Just Not That Into You” – $27.47 million (1st week)

2. “Taken” – $24.63 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 18% from last week)

3. “Coraline” – $16.34 million (1st week)

4. “The Pink Panther 2″ - $12.00 million (1st week)

5. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” - $11.00 million
(4th week, was #2 last week, lost 21% from last week)

6. “Push” – $10.20 million (1st week)

7. “Gran Torino” – $7.42 million
(9th week, was #5 last week, lost 10% from last week)

8. “Slumdog Millionaire” - $7.40 million
(13th week, was #6 last week, lost 3% from last week)

9. “The Uninvited” - $6.40 million
(2nd week, was #3 last week, lost 38% from last week)

10. “Hotel for Dogs” – $5.82 million
(4th week, was #4 last week, lost 33% from last week)

- – -

11. “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” – $3.90 million
(3rd week, was #7 last week, lost 49% from last week)

12. “New in Town” - $3.30 million
(2nd week, was #8 last week, lost 51% from last week)

13. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – $2.40 million
(7th week, was #11 last week, lost 32% from last week)

15. ”The Wrestler” – $2.23 million
(3rd week of wide release, was #16 last week, lost 4% from last week)

17. “Revolutionary Road” – $1.67 million
(7th week, was #13 last week, lost 38% from last week)

18. “Bride Wars” - $1.50 million
(5th week, was #12 last week, lost 57% from last week)

19. “Defiance” - $1.42 million
(4th week of wide release, was #14 last week, lost 43% from last week)

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (estimated results):
1. “Taken” – $24.63 million (1st week)

2. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” - $14.00 million
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 35% from last week)

3. “The Uninvited” - $10.51 million (1st week)

4. “Hotel for Dogs” – $8.71 million
(3rd week, was #4 last week, lost 32% from last week)

5. “Gran Torino” – $8.60 million
(4th week of wide release, was #3 last week, lost 47% from last week)

6. “Slumdog Millionaire” - $7.68 million
(12th week, was #5 last week, lost 28% from last week)

7. “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” – $7.20 million
(2nd week, was #2 last week, lost 65% from last week)

8. “New in Town” - $6.75 million (1st week)

9. “My Bloody Valentine” – $4.26 million
(3rd week, was #6 last week, lost 58% from last week)

10. “Inkheart” – $3.70 million
(2nd week, was #7 last week, lost 51% from last week)

- – -

11. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – $3.61 million
(6th week, was #9 last week, lost 41% from last week)

12. “Bride Wars” - $3.57 million
(4th week, was #8 last week, lost 48% from last week)

14. “Defiance” - $2.53 million
(3rd week of wide release, was #11 last week, lost 55% from last week)

16. ”The Wrestler” – $2.35 million
(2nd week of wide release, was #14 last week, lost 37% from last week)

22. “Marley & Me” – $0.95 million
(6th week, was #15 last week, lost 69% of audience from last week)

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

I’ve been telling people to see “Slumdog Millionaire” ever since it was released in West Michigan, now it seems that the Golden Globes wins, the Oscar nominations, and national advertising is working.  The movie saw an 83% increase in ticket sales from last weekend, which was already up 55%  than the weekend previous.

Also seeing a Golden Globes/Oscar bounce, the audience for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” grew 9% from last week.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (actual results):
1. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” - $21.62 million
(2nd week at #1, lost 32% from last week)

2. “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” – $20.82 million (1st week)

3. “Gran Torino” – $16.24 million
(3rd week of wide release, was #2 last week, lost 26% from last week)

4. “Hotel for Dogs” – $12.86 million
(2nd week, was #5 last week, lost 24% from last week)

5. “Slumdog Millionaire” - $10.70 million
(11th week, was #10 last week, gained 83% more audience from last week)

6. “My Bloody Valentine” – $10.01 million
(2nd week, was #3 last week, lost 53% from last week)

7. “Inkheart” – $7.60 million (1st week)

8. “Bride Wars” - $6.87 million
(3rd week, was #6 last week, lost 41% from last week)

9. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – $6.09 million
(5th week, was #11 last week, gained 9% more audience from last week)

10. “Notorious” – $5.78 million
(2nd week, was #4 last week, lost 72% from last week)

–

11. “Defiance” - $5.67 million
(2nd week of wide release, was #8 last week, lost 36% from last week)

12. “Revolutionary Road” – $5.19 million (1st week of wide release)

13. “The Unborn” – $4.36 million
(3rd week, was #7 last week, lost 53% from last week)

14. ”The Wrestler” – $3.75 (1st week of wide release)

15. “Marley & Me” – $3.03 million
(5th week, was #9 last week, lost 50% of audience from last week)

18. “Bedtime Stories” – $1.95 million
(5th week, was #12 last week, lost 59% of audience from last week)

26. “The Dark Knight” – $0.67 million
(IMAX re-issue, total gross now $531.71 million, still $69 million behind “Titanic”, the #1 domestic movie of all time)

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” was number one… by more than $10 million dollars over second place “Gran Torino”.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (actual results):
1. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” - $31.83 million (1st week)

2. “Gran Torino” – $21.98 million
(2nd week of wide release, was #1 last week, lost 26% from last week)

3. “My Bloody Valentine” – $21.24 million (1st week)

4. “Notorious” – $20.50 million (1st week)

5. “Hotel for Dogs” – $17.01 million (1st week)

6. “Bride Wars” - $11.65 million
(2nd week, was #2 last week, lost 45% from last week)

7. “The Unborn” – $9.34 million
(2nd week, was #3 last week, lost 53% from last week)

8. “Defiance” - $8.91 million (1st week of wide release)

9. “Marley & Me” – $6.14 million
(4th week, was #4 last week, lost 46% of audience from last week)

10. “Slumdog Millionaire” - $5.85 million
(10th week, was #11 last week, gained 55% more audience from last week)

- – -

11. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – $5.78 million
(4th week, was #5 last week, lost 39% of audience from last week)

12. “Bedtime Stories” – $4.73 million
(4th week, was #6 last week, lost 46% of audience from last week)

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

“Bride Wars” and “The Unborn” also pushed “Marley & Me” out of its two weeks at number one.

 TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (actual results):
1. “Gran Torino” – $29.48 million (1st week of wide release)

2. “Bride Wars” - $21.06 million (1st week)

3. “The Unborn” – $19.81 million (1st week)

4. “Marley & Me” – $11.39 million
(3rd week, was #1 last week, lost 53% of audience from last week)

5. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – $9.21 million
(3rd week, was #3 last week, lost 49% of audience from last week)

6. “Bedtime Stories” – $8.80 million
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 58% of audience from last week)

7. “Valkyrie” – $6.62 million
(3rd week, was #4 last week, lost 53% of audience from last week)

8. “Yes Man” – $6.03 million
(4th week, was #5 last week, lost 56% of audience from last week)

9. “Not Easily Broken” – $5.31 million (1st week)

10. “Seven Pounds” – $3.82 million
(4th week, was #6 last week, lost 61% of audience from last week)

—-

11. “Slumdog Millionaire” - $3.78 million (limited release: just 601 theaters)
(9th week, was #10 last week, lost 21% of audience from last week)

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

For some reason (lack of sleep?) I left The Unborn off the new in theaters list… and “Revolutionary Road” is still in limited release and not coming to the Grand Rapids market until January 23rd…. sorry !!!
I also received word that “The Reader” is moving from Celebration! Woodland to Celebration! Rivertown this weekend.

New this week in Theaters (Friday): “Bridewars”, “Not Easily Broken”, “Gran Torino” (Grand Rapids), “The Unborn”

New this week on DVD (Tuesday): “Pineapple Express”, “Righteous Kill”, “Babylon A.D.”, “Bangkok Dangerous”, “Disaster Movie”, “The Wackness”

.

.

MY TAKE ON WHAT’S NEW ON DVD: Okay, I know I’m one of the few people who actually liked the Pacino/DeNiro movie “Righteous Kill”, but if you listened to most critics and waited to rent it, now’s the time to see it.

The other five movies I haven’t seen but have varying levels of concern: “Pineapple Express” is a stoner/action/comedy that was well received by some audiences and critics, “Disaster Movie” is another farce by the producers of all those other recent spoof movies, “The Wackness” got some good reviews by the limited audiences that saw it… it also has a *pot* plot.

And then there are the box office stinkers “Babylon A.D.” and “Bangkok Dangerous”, yes the second was #1 the week it opened, but there was nothing else in wide release that week, audiences for both movies dropped signigicantly the 2nd week at the theater and by the way scored very low on most reviews.

Looking for other rentals?   Check out these movies:
“The Dark Knight” (9.5 / 10)
“Eagle Eye” (8.5 / 10)
“Wanted” (8.0 / 10)
“Burn After Reading” (8.5 / 10)
“Traitor” (7.5 / 10)
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”

- – -

.

.

MY TAKE ON WHAT’S NEW IN THEATERS: 1 Oscar contender, a romantic comedy aimed at the ladies, a romantic drama, and a horror movie.  “Gran Torino” was filmed in Detroit and Clint Eastwood has said its his last acting appearance, although he plans to keep directing, Eastwood has received several nominations for his acting in “Gran Torino”.   “Bridewars” is the light-hearted “date” movie of the bunch about two friends Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway who dream of having their weddings at the same hard-to-book location.     “Not Easily Broken” is a movie I haven’t heard much about, but its about a couple and how a life-changing event tests their relationship.   “The Unborn” is another seemingly formulaic, yet unique horror flick about a girl who discovers her unborn twin is haunting her.

MY REVIEWS OF MOVIES CURRENTLY PLAYING IN THEATERS:

“Slumdog Millionaire” (9.5)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (9.5)
“Changeling” (9.5)
“Australia” (7.9)
“Four Christmases” (7.5)
“Marley & Me” (7.5)
“Quantum of Solace” (7.5)
“Role Models” (7.5)
“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” (7.5)
“Twilight” (7.0)
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” (6.5)
“What Just Happened” (6.5)

- – -

Next Week at Theaters: “Defiance” (wide release), “Hotel for Dogs”, “Last Chance Harvey” (wide release), “My Bloody Valentine 3-D”, “Notorious”, “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”

Next Week on DVD: “Appaloosa”, “Brideshead Revisted”, “Mirrors”, ”My Best Friend’s Girl”, “Swing Vote”,  ”Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys”

Director Clint Eastwood and actress Ahney Her (right) attend the after party for the world premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Gran Torino" held at Warner Bros. Studios on December 9, 2008 in Burbank, California (photo courtesy Getty Images)

(Originally published January 7th)

Ahney Her, Clint Eastwood’s co-star in “Gran Torino” (the movie shot in the Detroit area and reportedly Eastwood’s last acting performance) will visit Grand Rapids and meet moviego-ers as the movie opens Friday in West Michigan theaters.

Her is a Lansing native and will be making her feature film debut in “Gran
Torino” as the self assured young woman who makes an effort to befriend her surly next-door neighbor, Walt Kowalski, played by Clint Eastwood.

Her was 16 years old when she won the role of Sue Lor.

Although she had not acted professionally, she loved performing and had trained for three years in a local drama school.   Her is an avid student and plans to attend college and study both photography and interior design.

Her will watch the Grand Rapids opening night of “Gran Torino” at 7:00pm at Celebration! Cinema North (East Beltline and Knapp Street in Grand Rapids) then meet and greet movie-goers after the movie at approximately 9:00pm.