Star Trek has found itself at the top of one of Hollywood's least-desirable year-end lists, emerging as the most pirated film of 2009. With almost 11 million illegal downloads recorded, J.J. Abrams's epic narrowly edged Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (10.6 million) for the No. 1 slot, followed by RocknRolla (seriously), The Hangover and Twilight. Somewhat surprisingly, the infamously leaked X-Men Origins: Wolverine hovered in ninth place below even the turgid reporter drama State of Play. Among the lessons: You know newspapers are doomed when people won't even pay for movies about journalism. [Torrent Freak via NYT]
· There's good news and bad news this morning about Tyler Perry, who announced over the weekend that he will return to the touring-theater circuit next month with his new play Madea's Big Happy Family. The good news is that you can see Perry's next masterwork live at an arena or other large performance venue near you. But that means you're going to have to survive 2010 with only one Perry entry at the movies, the would-be instant classic Why Did I Get Married, Too?. OK, never mind, there is no downside. [TylerPerry.com via WSJ]
Paramount rewrites its Lovely Bones plan, Val Kilmer and 50 Cent sort out their next masterpiece, and more Hollywood Ink after the jump.
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The stockings were hung by the chimneys with care, but Americans, still bitter about the "I O U ... One Hug!" coupons found stuffed inside them on a very recession-y Christmas morning, chose to take out their frustrations at the local multiplexes. The result: a record-breaking, $285 million weekend at the domestic box office. Read on for the merry-making results.
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There really was something elementary about uncoiling Robert Downey Jr.'s sly, sinewy Sherlock Holmes on Christmas Day, when nearly $25 million worth of holiday moviegoers flocked to the star's action-comedy riff on the famous sleuth. Avatar was not far behind, continuing its own robust run with an estimated $23.5 million. Off in fourth place behind Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel was Nancy Meyers's It's Complicated, ably overriding its R-rating with a solid $7.1 million. Let it suffice to say these gifts fit Hollywood fine, and no returns will be necessary. Read on for the full top 10.
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· While the staff of Movieline takes the next two days off (either to celebrate Christmas or to book an easy reservation at the local tortilla place), what better moment to leave you with than the infamous Christmas monologue from Gremlins? Sure, Phoebe Cates may be the ultimate buzzkill, but your Christmas plans are bound to seem better in comparison. Happy holidays, and enjoy:
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Call them sluts, tramps, sexually empowered, "in touch with themselves," or whatever your bedroom religion permits. Still, it can't be denied that the past decade has bred a new kind of television floozy, thanks in part to Sex and the City gently escorting us into the 2000's with its bold bedroom dialogue. After the jump, Movieline recalls the 8 best characters who overindulged in the boudoir.
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Sad news, everybody! After 23 years of cohabitative non-marriage, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins have split, her rep just confirmed to People. (Apparently, it happened over the summer when no one noticed.) I mean, I didn't like The Lovely Bones either, but what the hell? [People]
Next up in our cavalcade of celebrity Fave Five lists comes this one, from one of Movieline's favorite actors/comedians/cultural commentators/Lost fan-artists extraordinaire: Paul Scheer. Enjoy!
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· Slashfilm's got the poster for Ridley Scott's upcoming, unofficial Gladiator sequel Robin Hood. Click for bigger.
· Guy Ritchie may be blue about directing Lobo. "Is it a matter of fact that I'm doing it?" he said to MTV. "I don't think it's a matter of fact. In fact, I can tell you it's not a matter of fact."
· How much do you want to see Neil Patrick Harris's Christmas balls?
· Balloon Boy's parents have been sentenced to jail.
· Michael Fassbender, Christoph Waltz, and Keira Knightley in a film by David Cronenberg? The title (The Talking Cure) and plot are almost superfluous. My ticket has already been bought.
· Amid anguished cries of poverty from studios, distributors and production companies around Hollywood, the film industry yesterday broke the $10 billion-annual-gross barrier for the first time ever. But $10,008,000,000 with 11 days to go, a few questions remain, like: How much of that is inflated by 3-D and IMAX surcharge boosts? (Answer: Probably between 3 and 4 percent.) And how much of that will your miserly boss float you for a belated holiday bonus? (Answer: You're kidding, right?) Expect above-the-line salary warfare to ensue in 2010. Should be fun! [The Wrap]
James Cameron wins the only award that really matters, 2010's best film title is officially taken, and more Hollywood Ink after the jump.
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· First Showing has the trailer to the upcoming Jackie Chan/Jaden Smith redo of The Karate Kid, which is still stubbornly holding onto the original title, martial arts discrepancies be damned! Don a pair of nighttime sunglasses and take a look, won't you:
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If you've spent your entire life aspiring to become a police officer only to repeatedly fail the psychological exam, Base Prods. has the answer for you. The company's reality series POV-PD, which is close to being signed with a major cable network, will allow you to live vicariously through a cop thanks to its policemen wearing head-mounted cameras. While it might almost feel like you're running after a drug dealer, burning yourself on scalding coffee or smashing someone into the hood of your squad car, there's one thing you will definitely feel one thing: nausea. [THR]
Bryan Singer on Monday gave a lengthy, revealing interview about his upcoming projects, including his recently disclosed bombshell X-Men: First Class, his likely Valkyrie follow-up Jack the Giant Killer, and the more slowly developing Battlestar Galactica and Excalibur. If it's a lot for a fan to contemplate, just imagine how overwhelming it must be for Singer himself to even begin attacking the material. Thankfully, he said, he expects to get plenty of quiet, undisturbed work done this week at his regular Hawaiian haunt. He'll even tell you where -- sort of -- in case you want to check it out yourself.
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HBO officially confirmed that Ricky Gervais will lend his voice to an animated series entitled The Ricky Gervais Show, which will be based on the comic actor's popular podcasts. If there was ever a job for drunk people who announce that they won't rehearse, it's voice acting. Will the animated Gervais boast an above-average face too? [THR]
Summit just released a clutch of new photos to promote its 2010 film slate, and of paramount importance are the ones promoting its twin Robert Pattinson projects, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and Remember Me. Above, in a brand-new still from Eclipse, you can see Pattinson and Kristen Stewart reenacting Tom Cruise's famous romp through a freshly Sea Org-planted meadow with Nicole Kidman. However, if you need more, perhaps some additional Pattinson pictures will do? (WARNING: No abs.)
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