Variety‘s Monica Corcoran considers the always-entertaining phenomenon of movie directors getting into scraps with anonymous online detractors. Specifically, helmers Mike Binder and George Hickenlooper jumping into Hollywood Elsewhere reader-response discussions (including some scattered dissings) of their respective films, Reign Over Me and Factory Girl. “So it seems directors do, in fact, read their reviews,” says … Read more
As this Pete Hammond audio interview with Mike Binder confirms, Reign Over Me (Columbia, 3.23), which Binder directed and wrote, has a gnarly marketing issue that’ll require some expert finessing. Reign Over Me director-writer Mike Binder (l.); Pete Hammond The over-30 couples who would absolutely respect and admire and probably love this film are disinclined … Read more
Herewith a five-part Showtime docuseries on L.A.s The Comedy Store, directed by none other than HE’s own Mike Binder (Black and White, Reign Over Me, The Upside of Anger) and launching on 10.4. Boilerplate: “…brings to life the legends, heartbreak and history created at The Comedy Store, which opened in 1972 in West Hollywood and … Read more
For the unpardonable sin of having directed and written a moving, strongly acted, mostly well-received and somewhat profitable Adam Sandler film called Reign Over Me (’07), Mike Binder was arrested and charged with intent to make dramadies, found guilty and sent to Movie Jail. (It’s not widely known that Movie Jail is a real-deal, privately-funded … Read more
Studios owned by super-sized corporations haven’t been in the business of making real movies in a dog’s age. Not with any consistency, for sure. We are living in an era of mass devolution, and pitiless world-market realities demand that studios create and sell the hell out of renewable brands and franchises that the least educated, … Read more
The weekend’s #1 film and the absolute toast of America is Blades of Glory, which will end up with $33,433,000 by tonight. Meet The Robinsons is second with $25,7000,000…very respectable. And Zack Snyder‘s 300 came in third with $11,235,000. TMNT is #4 with $9,001,000, down 63% (popular!) from last weekend. Wild Hogs Roasting On A … Read more
Things aren’t as soft as they seem for Reign Over Me, which took in $8 million last weekend for an 8th place showing. What matters is that (a) the $4788 per-screen average was fairly decent and (b) the film is expected to motor along with good word-of-mouth from women and over-25s. The per-screen tally was … Read more
“Of all the things to make you pause, hand on wallet, before shelling out for a movie ticket, try this: a film about the aftermath of 9/11, starring Adam Sandler. What possible cultural need, one might ask, could be met by such a project? It is thus with a degree of amazement that I find … Read more
Tracking indicates that TMNT (Warner Bros,., 3.23), the jacked-up CGI’ed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles flick, is going to take the weekend. It’s at 83, 25 and 5, but you always have to figure higher with kiddie movies because phone surveyors don’t talk to six year-olds. It could do between $20 million and $25 million. Close … Read more
Reign Over Me is Mike Binder‘s “best film, and these are two of the best performances I’ve seen from either Adam Sandler or Don Cheadle, and that is saying something for both of them,” writes HE columnist Moises Chiullan (i.e., “Arthouse Cowboy”) from South by Southwest. “What’s that? Sandler isn’t an actor, he’s a comedian? … Read more
“Did Mike Binder tonight” — i.e., interviewed him in conjunction with a screening series after showing Reign Over Me. I think I recorded it with your recorder but am afraid to check it for fear I don’t know what I’m doing. Mike was excited I was taping it at any rate. BRILLIANT FUCKING MOVIE. Emotionally … Read more
Tens of thousands of L.A. Times “Calendar” readers were informed yesterday in the “Guide” section (page E20) that Mike Binder‘ s Reign Over Me will open on Friday, March 9th. Informed not just by the film’s inclusion in the list of bullet graphs identifying the title, makers and synopses of the films opening five days … Read more