'Star is Born' is our Best Picture front-runner, but watch out for 'Green Book'

Before I tackle the Best Picture Oscar race, here are a few important takeaways when it comes to this weekend's box-office totals:

The slasher genre has most definitely been reignited with "Halloween." David Gordon Green's sequel to the 1978 classic topped the box-office yet again, in its second week of action, with a strong $32M weekend. That puts its 2-week total at a whopping $132M. Watch out for a major bump this week as it seems to be the only Halloween-centered movie currently in theaters and many will want a fright night at the cinema on the 31st.

On the indie side, “Suspiria” grossed $179,806 in just two screens for a wow-worthy $89,903 per screen average, that's the highest per-screen average of the year by any movie.

As for "A Star is Born," well, the word OSCAR comes to mind when it comes to the Bradley Cooper-Lady Gaga musical. It has legs and will continue to have legs all the way up to Oscar night. It has thus far made $148M, that includes this weekend's $14M intake, and is all but assured to become a major Oscar contender for Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Director, Screenplay, Cinematography, Song and other technical categories. In other words, it's turned into a behemoth of a movie.

As far as I can tell, 'Star' is the best picture front-runner, followed closely by Peter Farelly's still-unreleased "Green Book" which will win the hearts of American audiences. Bank on it. In fact, I think Farelly's film will win Picture over 'Star.' Why? Because it not only is tremendously entertaining but it also has a socio-political resonance that makes it all-the-more relevant to today's America, whereas Cooper's film is pure vanilla.

Best Picture rankings 10/29/18:

A Star is Born
Green Book
Black Panther
Roma
The Favourite
First Man
BlacKKKlansman
Widows
Can You Ever Forgive Me
If Beale Street Could Talk
First Reformed

Still unscreened for press: Mimi Leder's On the Basis of Sex, Adam McKay's Vice, Josie Rourke's Mary Queen of Scots, and Clint Eastwood's The Mule.

Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’ Raved at Telluride! Julianne Moore “Astonishing” Performance in Best Picture Contender

The film has taken over the Telluride Film Festival. It’s a best picture contender. Julianne Moore is a best actress frontrunner. Paul Giamatti might win his first Oscar for as supporting actor.

Drew Goddard Won’t Move Forward With ‘Matrix 5’ Without the Wachowskis’ “Blessing” of the Script

Wachowski, who isn’t involved with Goddard’s “reboot,” confirms being “done” with The Matrix, but apparently Goddard still wants Lily and Lana’s blessing before continuing with his work.

‘Ink’: Danny Boyle Confirms AI Was Used to Generate Margaret Thatcher, The Kray Brothers and Mice

Danny Boyle tells Vanity Fair that AI was used to animate old photographs—which means Margaret Thatcher and the Kray brothers—and to create mice running around the newsroom.

John Malkovich Heads to Israel for ‘The Music Critic’ as ‘Wild Horse Nine’ Puts Him in the Oscar Race: “Closeness and Solidarity”

John Malkovich is set to star in a production of “The Music Critic” in Israel next year, just 24 hours after entering the best actor race for his “Wild Horse Nine” performance. I gather he won’t be getting Mark Ruffalo’s vote.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Good/Great Movies That Don't Deserve Their “Rotten" Scores

These 31 titles clearly have their share of detractors — that’s why they’re “rotten” — and I expect some people to question a few of these picks. That’s fine. However, I believe most are strong films, worth reevaluating.

‘Dune: Part Three’ Reportedly “Blew Away" Warner Bros. With Rough 3-Hour Cut as New Teaser Stuns

Today, “Dune: Part Three” tickets went on sale, this time non-premium formats were made available, and it was all accompanied by a brand-new teaser—and the footage is stunning.

What is David Fincher’s Best Film? 100+ Critics Say, No Contest, It’s ‘Zodiac’

We managed to gather 118 ballots from critics, programmers, filmmakers, and scholars. Each was asked to submit a single title, the one they believe to be the best of Fincher’s filmography.

Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Glimpses of the Moon’ (Apparently) Starts Production This Month in Italy

Coppola has described “Glimpses” as a “strange 30s-style musical.” No cast has been announced. The film is a loose adaptation of Edith Wharton’s novel, “inspired” by Leo McCarey’s “The Awful Truth.”

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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