The DVD Wrapup: J. Edgar, Puss in Boots, On the Bowery, more

It’s the rare documentarian whose sympathizes don’t lie with common men and women, especially those dealt a weak hand at birth. Compassion isn’t something that can be taught at film school, like cinematography, history and theory. It pretty much has to be bred in the bone.

Wilmington on DVDs. J. Edgar

This is a movie you should see both for its storytelling skills and the intense interest of the story it tells. So the hell what if it’s not constructed like the usual movie. Who wants it to be?

Wilmington on Movies: Ghost Rider

No screenings for critics here on Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance — for reasons that become quickly apparent when you watch it — so I decided to fork over coin of the realm anyway and catch it at a multiplex. After all, I thought, how bad could it be? I mean really: How bad?

The Weekend Report: Feb 17-19, 2012

Weekend box office pushed to about $160 million and a 12% slippage for the three-day portion of the holiday frame. It was however 9% improved from the comparable 2011 session when newcomers Unknown and I Am Number Four ranked one and three in the lineup with $21.8 million and $19.4 million.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance had been tipped to top the charts by pundits with estimates in the low to mid $30 million range. While hardly a review driven title, the picture received withering response and diminished the crowd composed 61% male and 52% aged 25 years older plus. According to studio sources just 352 playdates were 3D engagements and accounted for 72% of box office … but those details seem highly questionable.

Friday Estimates: February 18, 2012

The Vow continues to hold the lead, keeping the return of Ghost Rider in the 2 spot. And Safe House, in #3, holds off This Is War.

In holdovers, The Woman in Black has become CBS Films’ highest domestic grosser. And Star Wars: Episode 1′s 3D re-release has to be seen as a bit of a bust.

Wilmington on Movies: The Secret World of Arrietty

Who, I pondered, were the craftsmen who made all the wonderful furniture and clothes and hand-crafted-looking household items that graced the Clocks’ house? Did these objects come from dollhouses? Are Pod and Homily master artisans as well as brilliant borrowers? As I said, I thought about it, but not much.

Box Office Hell — February 16

Our Players|Coming Soon|Box Office Prophets|Box Office Guru|EW|Box Office . com Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance|37.2|23.6|35.0|29.5|30.0 The Vow |25.0|22.7|26.0|30.0|31.0 Safe House|24.5|22.2|28.0|27.0|28.0 This Means War |23.5|16.0|17.0|17.0|18.0 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island|23.0|16.5|24.0|26.0|27.0 The Secret World of Arrietty |5.0|6.4|6.0|n/a|5.5

Critics Roundup — February 16

The Secret World of Arrietty |Green||||Green Undefeated (limited) |Green||Green|| Michael (limited) |||Yellow|| On the Ice (limited) |||Green|Green| Undefeated (limited) |||Green|Green|Green Thin Ice |||Red|Yellow| Jess + Moss (NYC — reRun Theater) |||Green|Green| Bullhead |Yellow|||| Roadie(LA) |Yellow||||

Wilmington on DVDs. Mozart’s Sister

The movie begins lyrically, with a scene that recalls the openings of both Bergman’s The Magician and Max Ophuls’ Lola Montes: the Mozart family traveling to an engagement in a nearly broken down coach through the woods. When it does break down, we’re made painfully aware of how vulnerable their existence really is, the dilemma of many artists.

The DVD Wrapup: Take Shelter, Tiny Furniture, More …

You’ll either buy into Aura and her world or you’ll find Tiny Furniture excruciatingly pretentious and boring.

Wilmington on DVDs: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn; A Fish Called Wanda

The movie, despite its hollow dialogue and sometimes punishing slow pace, does look sort of good. But it seems odd at times that this movie was directed by a man who made a movie about the Kinsey Report.

Wilmington on Movies: Safe House

I didn’t dislike it. But I didn’t like it much (except for Washington), and I kept feeling that I should like it — that there was so much fuss being taken over Safe House, and so much obvious talent involved, that I was being somehow ungrateful in remaining unmoved — or in wishing that two or three of the action or chase set-pieces (say, the soccer stadium scene) had been replaced with a few more scenes devoted to character and dialogue and human interaction.

The Weekend Report: February 12, 2012

Not unexpected was the 72% female demos for The Vow (Safe House attracted 50%) but while it was anticipated to attract an older crowd, exit polls indicated an audience that was 55% aged 25 years old and younger. Conversely Safe House drew a 62% crowd aged 30 years and older. It also skewed African American with 38% of viewers compared with 31% identified as Caucasian and 23% Hispanic.

Friday Estimates: February 10, 2012

It looks like a trio of $20m+ openings, two of which are looking at $30m+. The newcomers balance between four demographics, though the Star Wars 3D re-release is likely siphoning ticket sales from two of the other new films. This will be the second time in movie history with five $20m+ openings in February with Ghost Rider 2 due next weekend to, perhaps, set a new Feb record with six $20m+ openings.

Wilmington on Movies. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Along the way to the credits, The Artist Formerly Known as the Rock treats us to a performance of the Louis Armstrong favorite “What a Wonderful World,” with his own ukulele accompaniment; advises Sean on his love life, smiles constantly, and tops it off by bouncing berries off his popping pectorals, making for an unprecedented 3D experience.

Wilmington on DVDs. The Rest: The Rum Diary, Harold & Kumar Christmas

This sort-of cinematic roman a clef, changed by writer-director Bruce Robinson—considerably, but that’s all right—is a good nasty show pulsing and snapping and exploding with the witty chaos, counter-culture venom and inspired invective that were the Good Doctor’s mock-shock-and-awe stock in trade. Second-hand Gonzo, it’s true, but even diluted Thompson packs a wallop, since the raw unfiltered original blows the back of your head off.

Critics Roundup — February 9

Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace 3D |||Red||Green Journey 2: The Mysterious Island |||||Red The Vow |Red|||| Safe House |Yellow|Green|||Yellow The Turin Horse (NY) |Green||Green|Green|Green Rampart (limited) |Yellow|Green|Green|Green|Green In Darkness (NY, LA) |Yellow|Green|Yellow|Yellow|Green Perfect Sense ||||Green| The Oscar-Nominated Short Films 2012 |Green|Green|Green|| Chico and Rita (NY) |Yellow|Green|Green||

Box Office Hell — February 9

Our Players|Coming Soon|Box Office Prophets|Box Office Guru|EW|Box Office . com The Vow |33.1|35.2|23.0|31.0|38.0 Safe House|26.2|26.3|24.0|24.0|30.0 Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace 3-D |21.5|20.8|21.0|22.0|19.0 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island|17.8|14.3|17.0|16.0|18.0 Chronicle|11.5|12.2|11.0|11.0|11.0 The Woman in Black|10.0|10.0|11.3|n/a|9.7

My DVD Wrapup: A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, Lady and the Tramp, Downton Abbey, more…

If I were younger and had been far more stoned than I’ve been in years, I probably would have enjoyed “A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas” quite a bit more than I did. Apparently, too, if I were rich enough to afford a Blu-ray 3D television, the experience would have been enhanced exponentially. Nothing freaks out stoners faster than images flying off a screen and landing in their laps.

Wilmington on DVDs. Pick of the Week: Project Nim

Oh Nim. Humans sorry. Forgive us.