Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT Tops Box Office

Sony Pictures’ Michael Jackson documentary This Is It prevailed at the North American box office this weekend, with $21.3 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The Kenny Ortega-directed film opened at 3,481 locations Wednesday, bagging $11.1 million in two days. The domestic total of This Is It currently stands at a solid $32.5 million.
Most of the film’s footage was shot in June 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. It includes scenes drawn from hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage.

At No. 2, Paramount’s sensational hit Paranormal Activity generated another superb $16.5 million after expanding to 2,404 locations. That [...]

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE Tops Box Office

Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are easily defeated its competition at the North American box office this weekend with a solid $32.4 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The big-screen adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s beloved book scored a strong average of $8,693 per theater at 3,735 locations. Starring Max Records, the film follows a lonely boy who bonds with a bunch of wild creatures in his imagination.

New entry Law Abiding Citizen debuted in second place with $21.2 million, with an average of $7,353 million at 2,890 locations. The F. Gary Gray-directed thriller stars Gerard Butler as a desperate widower threatening to bring down the justice system. [...]

COUPLES RETREAT Tops Box Office

Universal’s comedy Couples Retreat safely landed at the top of the North American box office this weekend with a solid $35.3 million in ticket sales at 3,000 locations, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Starring Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell and Jason Bateman, the film follows four couples traveling to a prestigious tropical island resort where they’re forced to partake in numerous couple therapy sessions.

Also breaking into the top 10 this weekend was Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity, which expanded to 159 locations and took the No. 5 spot with a superb $7 million. The film’s early total gross currently stands at $8.2 million.

Last week’s winner Zombieland, starring Jesse Eisenberg [...]

Slamdance 2008: Narrative Feature Competition

Slamdance 2008: Narrative Feature Competition
 

Glory Boy Days by Paul Encinas
 
Fix, World Premiere (2008, 90 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Tao Ruspoli
This darkly comedic road movie journeys from Beverly Hills to Watts over the course of 12 hours, as documentary filmmakers Bella and Milo race to get Milo’s brother Leo from jail to rehab before 8 p.m. – or Leo goes to prison for three years.
 
Frost, World Premiere (2008, 92 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Steve Clark
When a Manhattan playboy learns his childhood love is engaged he is forced to face the demons of his past and grow up.
 
Glory Boy Days (photo), World Premiere (2008, 100 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Paul Encinas
A story about a group of young adults in the prime of their lives, in [...]