Haywire

CHICAGO – Audiences really didn’t take to “Haywire” like critics as the film bombed at the box office, grossing only $19 million domestically and just over $30 million worldwide. It’s the kind of flick that I think polarized its two potential audiences. Action movie fans didn’t think it had enough action. Steven Soderbergh fans thought it had too much. Personally, I think everything Soderbergh does is interesting and this is no exception. Which makes the lackluster HD release disappointing.

CHICAGO – In the heat of award season, with critically praised movies getting most of the buzz in Hollywood, it is sometimes easy to forget some of the films currently in theaters. But while the Golden Globes took place last weekend and Academy Award nominations come out in two days, “Underworld: Awakening” was the winner at the weekend box office.

CHICAGO – Steven Soderbergh is one of the few directors who can do whatever the hell he wants. Whatever genre, whomever he casts, whichever story he chooses to tell – he pulls it off.

CHICAGO – In a battle between action/thriller and Disney/animation, Mark Wahlberg’s new film “Contraband” came out on top. Battling all weekend against the 3D re-release of “Beauty and the Beast 3D,” “Contraband” was able to come in at number one after earning an estimated $24.1 million in its first weekend in theaters.

CHICAGO – However, unexpectedly, the past few weeks have seen the release of some major trailers for movies that are targeted for typically off-season release months (September, October, January), and most of them look fairly awesome. While a few underwhelm (looking at you, “Paranormal Activity 3”), the rest feature some of the coolest, most exciting movie trailers that we’ve seen all year.