'Dear John' bumps 'Avatar' with $32.4 million debut

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

A sci-fi love story has given way to an earthbound romance at the box office, livening up typically slow times at theaters over Super Bowl weekend.

Released by Sony's Screen Gems banner, "Dear John" debuted as the No.1 movie with $32.4 million, knocking off "Avatar" after seven weekends in first place, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"It is very cool to know that it was our movie that audiences just totally embraced and made No. 1 for the weekend," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution at Sony. As for runaway blockbuster "Avatar," he quipped, "I think they're going to be fine in the long run."

"Avatar" slipped to No. 2 with $23.6 million. The weekend's other new wide release, Lionsgate's spy story "From Paris With Love," opened at No. 3 with $8.1 million. The movie stars John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as CIA men trying to crack a terrorist plot.

Fox Searchlight's acclaimed country-music tale "Crazy Heart" expanded from narrow release and broke into the top 10, coming in at No. 8 with $3.7 million. Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal have acting Oscar nominations for the film, which follows a boozy country star trying to turn his life around.

According to the Associated Press, Hollywood could use more fresh hits like "Dear John" if it hopes to match 2009's record box office pace.

Why Americans love 'Jersey Shore'

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

In a matter of weeks, MTV's unlikely hit series "Jersey Shore"--documenting the doings of ten self-described "guidos" and "guidettes" during a month living together in Seaside, New Jersey--became a cultural phenomenon. The show's participants, with self-styled handles like "Snookie" and "The Situation," have become household names, fascinating their audience by proudly embodying the superficial values of a local subculture obsessed with fake tans, buff phsyiques and spikey hair. What is it about "Jersey Shore" that millions of fans find so compelling?

Audiences appreciate "Jersey Shore"'s unashamed embrace of trashiness says Brian Moylan at Gawker. We've all acted like the cast "at one point in our lives"--drunkenly engaging in questionable exploits while on vacation--but most of us have the sense to be ashamed by our behavior. The cast's guileless embrace of trash turned them into "media avatars, acting in irresponsible ways we could only dream about."

Watching "Jersey Shore" makes us feel like we're "anthropologists secretly observing a new trible through a break in the trees," says Nancy Franklin at The New Yorker. Blend the cast's outlandish behavior with a "particulary heavy load" of "Guido" stereotypes--"attitudes, looks, poses, burdens and aromas of Italian American culture"--and you have a perfect recipe for reality-TV mockery.

The "train wreck" characters of "Jersey Shore" provide a healthy dose of schadenfreude for the overburdened, unemployed masses, says Lakeia Brown at The Root. When we think things couldn't get worse, we only have to "flip on the TV and "meet 'The Situation'...and realize it could be worse--a lot worse." We mock them to forget out own sad lives.

"There's something condescending about singling out the cast of 'Jersey Shore' for special scorn," says Joanna Weiss at The Boston Globe. Their behavior isn't more reprehensible than the "rick kids" and "skeletal" wives of Orange County--but they're more fun to watch. "Bacchanalia as identity politics" just makes for utterly fascinating TV. "They're fools, but they're our fools: Born in the USA."

Mel Gibson's 'Edge of Darkness' strong at No. 2

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

According to Daily Variety, Mel Gibson's "Edge of Darkness" opened at No. 2 at the box office with $17.1 million.

"Darkness" about a Boston police officer who discovers a corporate cover-up after investigating the death of his daughter, drew a 53% male and a surprising 47% female viewership. The R-rated Mel Gibson flick scored a B+ Cinema Score rating in exit polls.

"You would assume that Mel would now have an older audience," said Warner Bros. prexy of domestic distribution Dan Fellman. "But I think the audience was not only older, but broader."

Entering its seventh frame at the domestic box office, 20th Century Fox's "Avatar" again proved its staying power, taking in an estimated $30 million. Cameron's pic easily surpassed "Edge of Darkness."

Meanwhile Disney saw a solid opening for its first release of the year, romantic comedy "When in Rome," which took an estimated $12 million. CBS Films' "Extraordinary Measures" failed to gain traction after a disappointing bow last weekend. The picture earned $2.6 million.

"The Lovely Bones" continues to perform solidly for Paramount after opening in a lukewarm limited release, grossing an estimated $4.7 million.

Fox Searchlight continues to position Jeff Bridges film "Crazy Heart" with kudos publicity in mind. Bridges has already been tapped for lead actor trophies at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild. The picture earned $2.5 million and Searchlight plans to extend "Crazy Heart" to some 800 theaters next weekend.

Is Snooki worth $10 million an episode?

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Plans for season two of "Jersey Shore," MTV's runaway hit about the unapologetically trashy adventures of a group of self-proclaimed "guidos" and "guidettes," have hit a snag: the cast wants a giant raise. Snookie, The Situation, Pauly D., and their seven housemates unanimously rejected the network's initial offer of $5,000 an episode for each member and have not yet responded to MTV's second offer of $10,000. Is the cast pressing their luck, or just being smart negotiators?

The show's 'guidos' are a dime-a-dozen: Don't feed the "greedy" "Jersey Shore" ego, says Susie Anderson at LimeLife. "It doesn't really take that much to get drunk, hook up and party non-stop." That's a job plenty of youngsters would gladly do for free. If MTV ends up finding a new cast for the show, "it might be kind of fun." Frankly, I'm not convinced the original cast can "keep us entertained" for a second season.

The kids deserve more money than MTV is offering: Whether or not the cast of "Jersey Shore" has any real talent isn't the point, says TMZ. The season finale of the show drew an "off the charts" 4.8 million viewers. Considering that characters in "The Hills"--MTV's other hit reality TV show--sometimes make over $100,000 an episode, "the 'Jersey Shore' kids, frankly, should be holding out for a bell of a lot more than $10 k.

They should take the $10K--that's really all they're worth: While the cast of "Shore" could justifiably demand more than $10,000 an episode, says Foster Karner at Gawker, the "Orange Creature Cadre" was "smart" to push such a low-ball price. Why? Because they're never really going to be that popular. Unlike the uber-rich cast of "The Hills," nobody actually wants to "be like" the "Shore" crew-- "except for a small segment of the population who are either already like them or, given a few years, will be them."

'Basterds,' Bridges, Bullock win SAG Awards

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

Jeff Bridges of "Crazy Heart" and Sandra Bullock of "The Blind Side" claimed top acting honors at Saturday's Screen Actor's Guild Awards, building momentum for possible Academy Awards glory for the two stars.

"I love being an actor--pretending to be other people and getting into the shoes of other folks," said Bridges, who plays a hard-luck, hard-living country singer in the drama.

Although respected by his peers, Bridges has largely been bypassed for major awards. Bullocks also got a rare chance to bask in the awards spotlight, winning for her portrayal of a tenacious real-life mom, Leigh Anne Tuohy, who helped a youth in need, future NFL player Michael Oher.

Both Bridges and Bullock had picked up Golden Globes trophies for their roles less than a week ago. Backstage, Bullock refused to speculate on her Oscar chances in March.

"Shhhhh, Shhhh, Shhhh," she said, repeatedly to a reported asking the question.

"I would be a hostess or a waitress or a house restorer before I ever considered myself an actor, because I never thought I was good enough," Bullock added.

In another repeat of the Golden Globes, Austrian actor Chris Waltz was honored as best supporting actor for his role as an energetically ruthless Nazi in the film "Inglorious Basterds," while Mo'Nique's searing portrayal of an abusive mother in "Precious" was honored as best supporting actress.

The cast of AMC's 1960s Madisove Avenue saga "Made Men" won the trophy for best drama series ensemble for the second year in a row, while 19 cast members of a FOX TV newcomer "Glee" about misfits in a high school singing club, accepted the award for best comedy series ensemble.

Glee is on a streak: It claimed the best comedy series award at the Golden Globes.

Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey of NBC's "30 Rock" won for best acting in a comedy series, allowing Fey to get in a sly joke about NBC and its bitter late-night battle with O'Brien in her acceptance speech.

Betty White, 88, accepted a liftetime achievement award from Bullock for an enduing career that included "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Golden Girls" and showed her sharp comedic chops.

When Bullock joked that she finds White annoying, White shot back, "Isn't it heartening to see how far a girl as plain as she is can go."

Forget popcorn--try these movie treats from around the world

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

According to Mark Ellwood in "Travel and Leisure," Americans may not drink much beer at the movies like the Lithuanians do, but snacking is undeniably, a central part of movie-going in the U.S. as well as abraod. And while popcorn may be popular in movie theaters worldwide, there are still some holdouts in every country, where unusual local treats are still offered at the concession counter.

Palates vary widely across the globe, so movie snacking is bound to be an adventure. In Japan, for example, the movie snacks of choice are baked fish skeletons coated with soy and sugar. South Koreans adore fishy snacks as well, but they also go mad for roasted chestnuts. And in Moscow, VIP theater patrons indulge in--what else--beluga caviar.

And don't be surprised to see strange cinema snacks in U.S. theatres too. Concessions are of course big business here; the country's largest theater chain, Regal sold almost $860 million worth of food and drinks in 2009. And to increase sales, Regal is experimenting with new offerings, many of which are sure to shock the popcorn, Milk Duds and Coke crowd. Egg rolls, beef jerky, and even frozen soft drinks with sour apple, wild cherry and blue raspberry-flavored syrups are just a few new and unusual items currently being tested in local markets.

The Golden Globe Awards

By: Vickie J. Rubinson

The science-fiction blockbuster "Avatar" won best drama at the Golden Globes and picked up the directing honor for James Cameron on Sunday, raising the "Titanic" filmmaker's prospects for another Academy Award trimph.

Winning the dramatic-acting honors were Sandra Bullock for the football tale "The Blind Side" and Jeff Bridges for the country-music story "Crazy Heart."

The crowd gave a standing ovation to Bridges, a beloved veteran generally overlooked for key Hollywood honors.

The son of late actor Lloyd Bridges, Bridges thanked his father for encouraging him to go into show business.

"So I'm glad I listened to you, dad," he said.

Bullock cited Michael Oher, the Baltimore Ravens rookie lineman whose life is the subject of "The Blind Side." She plays a wealthy woman whose family took in the teenager Oher after discovering he was homeless.

"If I may steal from Michael Oher, I may not be the most talented, but I've been given the opportunity," Bullock said.

The acting prizes for musical and comedy went to Merly Streep for the Julia Child story, "Julie and Julia" and Robert Downey Jr. for the crime romp "Sherlock Holmes." The supporting-performance Globes were won by Mo'Nique as an abusive welfare mother in "Precious" and Chris Waltz as a gleefully bloodthirsty Nazi in "Inglorious Basterds."

Waltz, a veteran Austrian actor who is a relative newcomer in Hollywood, won the supporting-actor Globe for "Inglorious Basterds."

"A year and a half ago I was exposed to the gravitational forces of Quentin Tarantino," Waltz said. "He took my modest little world, my globe, and with the power of his talent, and his words and his vision, he flung it into its orbit, a dizzying experience."

Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner won the screenplay honor for "Up in the Air," which Reitman also directed. The foreign-language honor went to "The White RIbbon," a stark drama of guilt and suspicion set in a German town on the eve of World War I.

Though one of Hollywood's biggest parties, the Globes bore somber reminders of tragedy in the real world, many stars wearing ribbons in support of earthquake victims in Haiti.

The Vegas bachelor bash "The Hangover" won for best musical or comedy, bringing uncharactersitic awards attention for broad comedy, a genre that often gets overlooked at Hollywood honors.