Oscar bounce at B.O. for many?

The Oscar spotlight could boost several challengers in the box office. It better: The category of 2011 includes some comparative underachievers. To date, the nine best-pic hopefuls have gained $1 billion in the box office, during each one of the previous 2 yrs, just one film eventually passed the $1 billion mark: "Toy Story 3" entered that threshold this year, while 2009's "Avatar" eventually made $2.78 billion in the global box office. Where one of many best picture Oscar nomineeswas this area office behemoth that's become an Oscar staple recently? Their email list of nominees are a mixture of pix presently in the box office, including "The Artist" and "The Descendants" -- the likeliest B.O. receivers, together with "Very Noisy and extremely Close" -- and flicks already launched on homevid, for example "The Assistance,Inch "Night time in Paris" and "Moneyball." Disney-DreamWorks' "The AssistanceInch may be the greatest grosser from the bunch, with $205 million worldwide. That's absolutely nothing to sneeze at, but nonetheless far in the global hauls of 2011's greatest-grossing pair, "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows: Part 2" and "Transformers: Dark from the Moon," each of which gained three bids each. "The AssistanceInch and Oscar's second-greatest grossing pic nominee this season, The new sony Pictures Classics' "Night time in Paris," will not see a theatrical boost, though VOD and DVD rental fees and purchasers could spike. Other pic nominees competing for attention at home audiences include Sony's "Moneyball" and Fox Searchlight's "The Tree of Existence." For individuals photos still in play theatrically, an Oscar nom can prompt distribs to change their release methods. Last week, the Weinstein Co. broadened "The Artist" to a lot more than 600 locations, lifting the pic's Stateside total just north of $12 million. Warners also went wide with "Very Noisy" for any domestic cume of $10.7 million through Sunday. "The Descendants" -Body of Searchlight's two nominees for the best picture -- has totalled $51.3 million locally. Based on online ticketing site Fandango, "The Artist" saw a 190% uptick in Tuesday's ticket sales versus. the day before, while "The Descendants" saw a 65% increase. Both of them are likely to expand Friday to roughly 900 locations each. While Paramount's "Hugo" obtained probably the most nominations at 11, including best picture and director, the film, launched November. 23, has cumed a lukewarm $86.5 million worldwide. "Hugo" grows a few days ago to 944 domestic locations, up from 650. Disney-DreamWorks' "War Equine," with six noms, has seen $75 million Stateside but still is playing at a lot more than 2,500 locations. For films outdoors the very best picture race, Oscar's effect on a film's B.O. can differ broadly. Focus Features' "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" has seen solid totals around the niche front. Pic's three Oscar bids, including best actor for Gary Oldman and modified script, should bolster a Stateside run approaching $20 million. "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo," which The new sony launched over Christmas, should mix $100 million locally a few days ago. Pic snapped up five noms including actress for Rooney Mara. Kerbside Attractions' "Albert Nobbs" opens limited on Friday. Par's animated-feature contender "Rango" relaunches for any one-week engagement in the ArcLight Hollywood. "Rango" first opened up locally on March 4 and it has cumed a lot more than $240 million worldwide. Pic has arrived at roughly $23 million in homevid sales since starting This summer 15. Also within the toon area, GKids' "Chico and Rita" bows February. 10 in NY and can expand into March. Meanwhile, GKids' second feature toon nominee, "The Cat in Paris," is slated for any mid-2012 release. One of the foreign-language nominees, The new sony Pictures Classics' "A Separation," which won the same trophy in the Golden Globes, may be the category's only nominee to possess been launched within the U.S. to date. In four days, the film has totalled around $541,000. The new sony Classics' other foreign-lingo challengers, "In Darkness" and "Footnote," are going to bow February. 10 and March 9, correspondingly. "Bullhead," distribbed by Drafthouse Films, launches April 27 Music Box's "Monsieur Lazhar" will also bow early in the year. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Ben Stiller's All Talk

He's signed on for an HBO pilotIt's clearly the day that HBO has decided is most auspicious for announcing new comedy pilots. Hot on the heels of news about Paul Feig directing Goldie Hawn in The Viagra Diaries comes word that Ben Stiller has jumped aboard to star, direct, executive produce and run the electrical department* for All Talk.Novelist Jonathan Safran Foer cooked up the concept and has written the script for the pilot, which will follow the daily dramas of a Jewish family in Washington, DC. Foer, whose book Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close is currently on screen in the US with Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock starring, has labelled the show "politically, religiously, culturally, intellectually and sexually irreverent."To add that little bit of extra class, Stiller's Tower Heist co-star Alan Alda (already a telly legend thanks to the likes of M*A*S*H, ER and The West Wing) is in talks to co-star. And working behind the scenes will be Social Network producer and regular Stiller collaborator Scott Rudin.According to Deadline, the pilot is currently pencilling in a late 2012 shoot, which presumably will allow Stiller to work on new film projects such as The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty and Noah Baumbach's While We're Young. He also just finished shooting action comedy Neighbourhood Watch, a moment that Jonah Hill marked on Twitter with a new pic of the main cast. Though big film names have always been drawn HBO, we wonder how many episodes the ever-busy Stiller would shoot if the series gets picked up. Still, with shorter seasons than on network TV, there's always the chance he'll be able to juggle both.*May not be 100% truth.

SPC nabs 'Celeste & Jesse'

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all rights for North America, Latin America and Eastern Europe to Lee Toland Krieger's "Celeste and Jesse Forever." Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg star in the film as high school sweethearts who get divorced and attempt to remain best friends while pursuing other relationships. Jones wrote the script with Will McCormack, who co-stars along with Chris Messina, Ari Graynor, Emma Roberts and Elijah Wood. Team Todd principals Jennifer Todd and Suzanne Todd produced the pic with Lee Nelson of Envision Media Arts, which financed the film. The deal was negotiated by UTA's Independent Film Group. "No recent movie is more current, more perceptive or more fun than 'Celeste and Jesse Forever,'" Sony Classics said in a statement. "Lee Toland Krieger has made a major film. The cast is superlative and it is an obvious labor of love for Rashida Jones and Will McCormack." In a joint statement, the producers said: "We are thrilled our film has found a home with Sony Pictures Classics and are incredibly excited to work with Michael (Barker), Tom (Bernard) and Dylan (Leiner). Their track record is unparalleled." Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Mary J. Blige To Pen Song For Sundance Documentary

First Launched: The month of the month of january 21, 2012 10:42 AM EST Credit: FilmMagic PARK CITY, Utah -- Caption Mary J Blige attends the tenth Annual Gotham Magazine gala at Capitale on October 14, 2010 in NY CityMary J. Blige is lending her support and her voice with a documentary showing within the Sundance Film Festival about sexual assault inside the U.S. military. Blige attended the Friday world premiere in the Invisible War. Producer Amy Ziering states the multiple Grammy champion would write a geniune song for your film following a Sundance festival. Bliges song, Need Someone, plays inside the closing credits in the film. Written and directed by Kirby Dick, The Invisible War examines the trauma felt by men and women people with rape consequently of the military co-employees as well as the difficulty they have in protecting their attackers. Sen. Barbara Boxer of California,U.S. Repetition. Jackie Speier, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Repetition. Mike Turner of Ohio also attended the premiere. Copyright 2012 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Kelsey Grammer Expecting Fifth Child

Kelsey Grammer and Kayte Walsh Kelsey Grammer and wife Kayte Walsh Grammer are expecting their first child together, People reports. Walsh Grammer, 32, is in her second trimester. This will be her first child - following a miscarriage with Grammer in the fall 2010 - and his fifth child. Check out photos of Kelsey Grammer The ex-Frasier star, 56, has two children, 7-year-old Jude and 10-year-old Mason, with ex-wife Camille Grammer. He also has one daughter with Barrie Buckner, 19-year-old Greer, and one daughter with ex-wife Doreen Alderman, ex-Greek star Spencer, 28. Grammer and Walsh Grammer tied the knot in NY last February.

First trailer for Wes Anderson's Moonlight Kingdom

The initial trailer has showed up online for Wes Anderson's transitional phase comedy Moonrise Kingdom, so when you weren't formerly interested in the director's kookily offbeat style, chance are this can not function as film to change the mind!The film is positioned among a completely new England island community inside the mid- '60s, and notifies the story of some twelve-year-olds who fall crazily for each other, produce a secret pact after which it elope together to the backwoods. However, a massive off-shoreline storm is brewing, as well as the government physiques are anxious to recoup the runaways before it eventually hits.Take a look within the new trailer below... A clip couldn't be awesome whether or not this attempted, using its patented Anderson cast of figures, from preternaturally composed kids to spectacularly ill-fitted parents, and whimsical soundtrack.However, even if Anderson isn't your bad, there's no denying the truly amazing cast on show, including Bruce Willis, Erection dysfunction Norton, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwatzman. We particularly like the design of Willis' local lawman, and Murray's extended-suffering husband and father.Moonrise Kingdom comes to america on 25 May 2012, getting a Uk release expected later inside the summer season.

An Evening With...'My Week With Marilyn'

An Evening With...'My Week With Marilyn' January 4, 2012 Photo by Laurence Cendrowicz/The Weinstein Company Back Stage and the SAG Foundation invite you to An Evening With"My Week With Marilyn" in Los Angeles. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with actors Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh.The screening will be Friday, January 6 at 7 p.m. at the Harmony Gold Theatre, 7655 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Free parking is available.To attend, please email EveningWith@backstage.com with "Marilyn" in the subject header. Indicate if you plan on bringing a guest. This event is free, but we overbook to ensure capacity so please arrive early. You will not receive a response until the event is full."My Week With Marilyn" has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Picture. Stars Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh have both received SAG Award nominations and Golden Globe nominations for their work in the movie.In the early summer of 1956, 23 year-old Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), just down from Oxford and determined to make his way in the film business, worked as a lowly assistant on the set of 'The Prince and the Showgirl'. The film that famously united Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams), who was also on honeymoon with her new husband, the playwright Aurthur Miller (Dougray Scott). Nearly 40 years on, his diary account The Prince, the Showgirl and Me was published, but one week was missing and this was published some years later as My Week with Marilyn - this is the story of that week. When Arthur Miller leaves England, the coast is clear for Colin to introduce Marilyn to some of the pleasures of British life; an idyllic week in which he escorted a Monroe desperate to get away from her retinue of Hollywood hangers-on and the pressures. An Evening With...'My Week With Marilyn' January 4, 2012 PHOTO CREDIT Laurence Cendrowicz/The Weinstein Company Back Stage and the SAG Foundation invite you to An Evening With"My Week With Marilyn" in Los Angeles. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with actors Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh.The screening will be Friday, January 6 at 7 p.m. at the Harmony Gold Theatre, 7655 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Free parking is available.To attend, please email EveningWith@backstage.com with "Marilyn" in the subject header. Indicate if you plan on bringing a guest. This event is free, but we overbook to ensure capacity so please arrive early. You will not receive a response until the event is full."My Week With Marilyn" has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Picture. Stars Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh have both received SAG Award nominations and Golden Globe nominations for their work in the movie.In the early summer of 1956, 23 year-old Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), just down from Oxford and determined to make his way in the film business, worked as a lowly assistant on the set of 'The Prince and the Showgirl'. The film that famously united Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams), who was also on honeymoon with her new husband, the playwright Aurthur Miller (Dougray Scott). Nearly 40 years on, his diary account The Prince, the Showgirl and Me was published, but one week was missing and this was published some years later as My Week with Marilyn - this is the story of that week. When Arthur Miller leaves England, the coast is clear for Colin to introduce Marilyn to some of the pleasures of British life; an idyllic week in which he escorted a Monroe desperate to get away from her retinue of Hollywood hangers-on and the pressures.