‘Oblivion’ won the box office in its opening weekend, with ticket sales worth approximately $38.2 million. Tom Cruise’s sci-fi thriller took in $13.3 million on opening day Friday and $14.9 million on the following day reported the Globe and Mail. The PG-13 movie is not Cruise’s first opening weekend gross of above $25 million; previously, ‘Minority Report’ brought in $35 million, ‘Interview With The Vampire’, $36 million, ‘Mission: Impossible’, $45 million, ‘Mission: Impossible II’, $57 million, ‘Mission: Impossible III’, $47 million, and ‘War Of The Worlds’, $64 million. Also in the Top 5 this week are: ’42′, ‘The Croods’, ‘Scary Movie V’, and ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’.

The adventure movie also stars Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Melissa Leo. It takes place in the year 2077, sixty years after an alien attack destroyed half of the moon, ruining Earth’s ability to support life. Cruise plays the main protagonist Jack Harper (Technician #49), who along with the communications officer Victoria, played by Riseborough, is among the very few humans to remain on the planet, with the rest of the survivors located at a massive space station called the Tet. Victoria maintains contact with Sally, her commander on the Tet, played by Melissa Leo to receive daily tasks. The storyline takes a turn for the worse once a spaceship, the Odyssey, crashes nearby and Jack discovers that drones were programmed to kill humans.

Coming in second at the box office was Brian Helgeland’s ’42′, a biographical sports drama about the life of baseball player Jackie Robinson. The biopic continued its successful run, bringing in $18 million this weekend with an overall domestic gross total of $54.1 million after two weeks in the box office. The number three slot was ‘The Croods’ with a $9.5 million gross, bringing its total to $154.9 million. ‘Scary Movie 5′ and ‘GI Joe: Retaliation’ are at numbers four and five respectively, while Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper’s latest film, ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’ just missed the Top 5 after expanding nationwide from 514 theaters into 1,542 theaters. Approximate ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at US theatres, according to Hollywood.com can be seen below. 

‘Oblivion’ is a great sci-fi film full of persuasive characters, dramatic tension, and a strong plot with a few unexpected twists. The movie’s director Joseph Kosinski (‘Tron: Legacy’) was successfully able to combine visual and narrative elements to produce an engaging yet emotional addition to the genre. The film opened in roughly 35 countries including France, Sweden, Argentina, and the United Kingdom, bringing in nearly $112 million worldwide. The head of distribution for Universal, Nikki Rocco said, “He’s a global star; people love Tom Cruise. If you put him in the right vehicle, they love him even better.”

Next weekend, the main competition for the top spot will be ‘Pain and Gain’ and ‘The Big Wedding’ just before Summer 2013 kicks off with ‘Iron Man 3′.

Image credit: Oblivion UK via Facebook

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In Academy Award-winning director James Marsh’s new film ‘Shadow Dancer’, the story of a young mother torn between family loyalties and personal freedom places Northern Ireland’s troubled past in a quietly personal and intimate setting. Featuring a diverse cast of British and Irish actors, and shot on location in Dublin, ‘Shadow Dancer’ is one of the most fascinating representations of the troubled period which defined Northern Ireland in recent decades.

The film begins in Belfast in 1973 with a young girl, Colette McVeigh, sending her younger brother on an errand her father had asked her to do, only to see her brother carried into their home minutes later with a gun shot to the chest. Consumed with guilt and fear, the film flashes forward twenty years to London, where an older Colette is seen planting a bomb on the London Underground and then fleeing from the scene. Quickly caught by the police, the plot takes a surprising turn when it is immediately revealed that Colette never set the timer on the bomb. From here, director Marsh calmly sets up the main drive of the film: Colette, eager to escape from her involvement with the IRA (Irish Republican Army) can either agree to work for the British police as an informant on her family’s terrorist activities or she will lose her son and be sent to jail for twenty five years.

The strength of ‘Shadow Dancer’ rests in Marsh’s ability to mine gold out of a relatively-sparse screenplay. Moments of dialogue are few and far between, and in a Q&A session following a screening at the Belfast Film Festival, Marsh revealed that this led to the significance of costume and color in scenes where characters needed to make their presences known without any verbal introduction. Colette’s red coat in particular drew attention from audience members, with one person at the Belfast Film Festival screening linking it to Marsh’s previous work on the ‘Red Riding’ series for Channel 4.

As for the cast, there is not a flaw to be found. Andrea Riseborough is captivating as Colette, a woman whose domestic struggle (staying with the ignorant way of thinking exemplified by her brothers or leaving with her son who signifies the innocence of a new generation uncorrupted by sectarian bigotry) drives the narrative. Clive Owen is equally solid as Mac, the MI5 member who takes a personal interest in ensuring her safety. Strong supporting performances come from Gillian Anderson, Brid Brennan and Martin McCann, whose quiet turns in the film respect the tone and assist in making ‘Shadow Dancer’ a successful depiction of life and hardships for the contemplative individual in the midst of ongoing political strife and painful national division.

‘Shadow Dancer’ will be released in UK cinemas on August 25.

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The Golden Globe nominated music from Madonna’s upcoming film W.E. composed, orchestrated and produced by Abel Korzeniowski, which also includes Madonna’s Golden Globe award winning song “Masterpiece”, is scheduled to be released digitally on Interscope Records on January 31st, it was announced recently.

W.E. which was directed, co-written and produced by Madonna and distributed by The Weinstein Company is scheduled to be released in February. The score was recorded in April 2011 at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London with a 60-piece orchestra conducted by Terry Davies including piano, violin and viola solos.

The Polish born Los Angeles based Korzeniowski previously wrote the original score for the Tom Ford film A Single Man for which he also received a Golden Globe nomination.

“The prevailing sense of obsession was what inspired me in W.E. — the irrational compulsion to sacrifice everything and anything for love – a love that could easily be just an illusion. In my music, I wanted to reflect those powerful and conflicting emotions through a web of melodic themes, which relentlessly repeat and constantly swing between despair and sorrow, and hope and joy,” commented Korzeniowski.

“W.E.” tells the story of American divorcee Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough) and England’s King Edward (James D’Arcy) who abdicated his throne to be with the woman he loved. It is considered one of the greatest love stories of the 20th century.

The story is told through the eyes of a modern day New Yorker Wally Winthrop (Abby Cornish). Composer Korzeniowski masterfully and seamlessly bridged the two unique worlds of Europe in the 30′s and 40′s and the contemporary Manhattan environment of a woman lost in her dreams of the perfect love.

In addition to Korzeniowski’s magnificent score, the soundtrack includes the original song ”Masterpiece” composed by Madonna, Julie Frost and Jimmy Harry and sung by Madonna which is played during the end credits of the film. It will also be included on Madonna’s upcoming solo album for Interscope, MDNA,which is scheduled for release this spring.

photoproject.eu / Shutterstock.com

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From Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman’s stacked bracelets to Angelina Jolie and Jessica Biel’s diamond stud earrings, Hollywood’s leading actresses chose to celebrate their achievements with platinum jewelry at the 69^th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Platinum is naturally white, so it never changes color or fades, thereby maximizing the brilliance of diamonds and colored gemstones. It is the ideal setting for the red carpet. Following is a list of stars that celebrated the night’s achievements in platinum:

Angelina Jolie

-Platinum and diamond stud earrings (25 carats) by Lorraine Schwartz
-Platinum and diamond ring (12 carats) by Lorraine Schwartz

Reese Witherspoon

-Platinum and European cut diamond drop earrings (9 carats each) by Fred Leighton
-A pair of platinum and diamond bracelets from 1900 by Fred Leighton
-Platinum and diamond bracelet from the 1920s by Fred Leighton

Natalie Portman

-Platinum and diamond drop earrings by Harry Winston
-3 platinum and diamond bracelets by Harry Winston
-Platinum and pear shaped diamond cluster ring by Harry Winston

Jessica Biel

-Platinum and round diamond opera length necklace worn down her back by Tiffany & Co.
-Platinum and round solitaire diamond stud earrings by (6.12 carats) by Tiffany & Co.

Emma Stone

­-Blackened platinum and ruby stud earrings (19 carats) by Lorraine Schwartz

Lea Michele

-Blackened platinum and diamond earrings by Lorraine Schwartz
-Blackened platinum and emerald ring (29 carats) by Lorraine Schwartz

Claire Danes

-Platinum earrings with princess cut diamonds by Bulgari

Jessica Alba

-Platinum earrings with diamonds (37.14 carats) by Bulgari

Kate Beckinsale

-Platinum and diamond mesh bowtie earrings by Lorraine Schwartz
-Platinum and diamond braided cuffs by Lorraine Schwartz
-Platinum and diamond geometric cuff by Lorraine Schwartz
*Total is 300 carats of diamonds

Jodie Foster

-Platinum and diamond earrings (8 carats) by Bulgari
-Platinum bracelet with 84 diamonds (42.61 carats) by Bulgari
-Platinum and diamond ring by Bulgari

Stacey Keibler

-Platinum and diamond cluster earrings by Chopard (9 carats)

Sofia Vergara

-Platinum and diamond earrings by Harry Winston
-2 Platinum and diamond bracelets by Harry Winston
-Platinum and diamond ring by Harry Winston

Jessica Chastain

-Platinum cluster earrings with pearl and diamonds by Harry Winston
-Platinum and diamond feather ring by Harry Winston
-Vintage platinum and diamond bracelet by Harry Winston

Emma Roberts (Warner Bros./InStyle party)

-Platinum and diamond cluster earrings (15 carats) by Chopard
-2 platinum and diamond cuffs (107 total carats) by Chopard
-Platinum and rose cut diamond ring (15 carats) by Chopard

Diane Lane

-Platinum chandelier earrings with yellow and white diamonds by Neil Lane
-Platinum cocktail ring with yellow and white diamonds by Neil Lane
-Platinum bangle bracelets with yellow and white diamonds by Neil Lane

Zooey Deschanel

-Platinum Estate ring from 1970 featuring pearl and diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels

Dianna Agron

-Platinum bow bracelet with onyx and diamonds from the 1920s by Fred Leighton
-Platinum line bracelet with diamonds and onyx from the 1920s by Fred Leighton

Sarah Hyland

-Blackened platinum and multicolored diamond flower earrings by Lorraine Schwartz
-Platinum and diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz
-Platinum and diamond cuff by Lorraine Schwartz

Piper Perabo

-Platinum and diamond cuff by Tiffany & Co.
-Platinum and diamond stud earrings by Tiffany & Co.

Debra Messing

-Blackened platinum, amethyst and emerald drop earrings by Lorraine Schwartz
-Platinum and emerald ring by Lorraine Schwartz

Julianne Moore

-Platinum earrings with diamonds and emerald bead tassels by Fred Leighton

Julianna Margulies

-Blackened platinum, green jade and diamond drop earrings by Lorraine Schwartz

Paula Patton

-Platinum and diamond “Firecracker” earrings by Kwiat
-Platinum and diamond bracelets by Kwiat

Madonna

-5 platinum and diamond bracelets by Neil Lane
-Platinum and diamond cocktail ring by Neil Lane

Helen Mirren

-Platinum pendant earrings with sapphire and diamonds from the 1950s by Fred Leighton
-Platinum barrel link bracelet with sapphire and diamonds from the 1930s by Fred Leighton

Queen Latifah

-Platinum and diamond chandelier earrings (30 carats) by Chopard
-Platinum and asscher cut diamond bracelet (40 carats) by Chopard

Andrea Riseborough

-Platinum and diamond necklace (25 carats) by Neil Lane

Jane Lynch

-Blackened platinum, black diamond and blue sapphire earrings by Lorraine Schwartz
-Blackened platinum ring by Lorraine Schwartz
-Blackened platinum bracelet by Lorraine Schwartz

Jane Fonda

-Platinum and diamond drop necklace (38 carats) by Chopard
-Platinum and diamond bracelet (43 carats) by Chopard
-Platinum and cushion cut diamond drop earrings (7 carats) by Chopard
-Platinum and diamond heart shaped rings featuring 390 diamonds (14 carats) by Chopard

Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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