Latest Movie News From Moviefone

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• The 'Parks and Recreation' Season 6 Finale Is 'Insane'
• Leonardo DiCaprio as Steve Jobs? Danny Boyle Eyes Actor for Biopic
• Will Netflix's Price Increase Affect You?
• 'Mean Girls' Holds Up Pretty Well, Say Today's Teens (VIDEO)
• 'I Thought I Was Too Ugly to Be an Actress,' Says Meryl Streep
• Here's a Photo of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker's Brothers on the Set of 'Fast & Furious 7'
• Our 'The Other Woman' Unscripted Is an Ode to Uncontrollable Laughter (VIDEO)
• A Tom Hanks-Led CIA Thriller Could Be Steven Spielberg's Next Movie
• A 'Game of Thrones' Fan Made a Beautiful, Interactive Map of Westeros
• The 'True Blood' Final Season Teaser Is Eerily Apocalyptic (VIDEO)
• 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' Writer Foresees a Fully Connected Marvel Cinematic Universe
• You Can Watch Joss Whedon's New Movie, 'In Your Eyes,' Right Now (VIDEO)
• 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes': 5 Things We Learned About the Simian Sequel
• Box Office: Why Did Johnny Depp's 'Transcendence' Flop?

The 'Parks and Recreation' Season 6 Finale Is 'Insane' Posted: It's been an eventful year for Leslie Knope on NBC comedy "Parks and Recreation": She lost her City Council seat; her best friend, Ann (Rashida Jones), and Ann's fiance, Chris (Rob Lowe), moved away and had a baby; she's been offered a dream job running an outpost of the National Parks Department in Chicago; and she just found out she and her husband, Ben (Adam Scott), are about to be first-time parents -- to triplets. That's already a lot for one character to swallow, but Amy Poehler, who plays Leslie, says there's even more surprises in store when the "Parks" season six finale airs Thursday night -- including a huge, shocking final moment to the episode. "The last minute or so of our season finale ... the last moments are really important and big things happen that kind of show you where we're going and where a lot of the characters are going or shows you where they may go," Poehler told reporters last week. "I would encourage everybody to make sure they watch until the very end. ... It ends with, I don't know, a pretty exciting and - dare I say, in a good way - very exciting last moment. I'm very excited for people to see it." That's pretty cryptic of Poehler, though of course, fans of the beloved series probably don't want too much spoiled before the episode airs later this week. And while series creator Michael Schur wouldn't reveal too much about the finale, either, he did say it remained true to the characters everyone knows and loves, while advancing the plot into believable territory for the show's seventh -- and rumored final -- season. "I think that the biggest question for season seven will be how do you continue to honor the characters and their lives and what they want in life while still keeping everybody in a sphere where they actually get to interact with each other," Schur said. Aubrey Plaza, who plays April on "Parks," also confirmed that there were some big surprises in store come Thursday. "The season finale is insane," Plaza told Vulture. "I don't know how much I can say about it, but it's very satisfying. There's so many characters that come back that it feels like a crazy free-for-all of Pawnee characters. It's really, really fun." And as for the already-revealed life-changing news of Leslie and Ben's impending parenthood, Poehler said that Leslie's tireless work on behalf of Pawnee had prepared the character for the challenge ahead. " ... [S]he's actually been a working mother for a while, even before she was married," Poehler said. " ... We always believed that Pawnee was Leslie's kid and she wanted the best for it. That's why when she's trying to decide to take a new job or when her real, actual, physical family may get in the way of her life in Pawnee, it just creates more challenges. I think she's always been a pretty maternal and paternal force at the same time on the show. It will be fun to see which baby wins. Baby fight!" We can't wait. The season finale of "Parks and Recreation" airs Thursday at 8 p.m. on NBC. [via E! News, h/t Uproxx] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Leonardo DiCaprio as Steve Jobs? Danny Boyle Eyes Actor for Biopic Posted: That was fast: After director David Fincher was bounced from Sony's upcoming Steve Jobs biopic last week, The Hollywood Reporter writes that Danny Boyle is set to take his place. Boyle is reportedly also courting Leonardo DiCaprio to star as the Apple founder, THR reports. The duo would replace Fincher and Christian Bale, who were the first team Sony was circling for the project, an adaptation of Walter Isaacson's bestselling Jobs biography by Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. THR reports that Boyle is currently in talks with the studio, and has already approached DiCaprio about the leading role. The pair first worked together on 2000's "The Beach." Neither has collaborated with Sorkin before. Fincher had been circling the Jobs biopic for some time, and had set his sights on Bale as his leading man, but according to a THR report from last week, the director had unrealistic demands and wanted too much control over the feature, leading Sony to dump him and scramble to find a new director. The studio had hoped to re-team the Oscar-nominated trio of Fincher, Sorkin, and producer Scott Rudin, who worked together on "The Social Network." While that line-up has been scrapped, it seems that a Boyle-DiCaprio-Sorkin collaboration is far from a sure thing just yet. THR writes that "deals are not done" yet, and DiCaprio already has a new film on his docket, after "committ[ing] to star in Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu's thriller 'The Revenant' for New Regency starting in September." Production had at one point been slated to start later this year or early next year; we'll have to wait until a director and star are definitively nailed down before we know if that schedule will remain in place. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Will Netflix's Price Increase Affect You? Posted: New Netflix customers will have to pay more for the streaming video service in the coming months, with prices expected to rise either $1 or $2 sometime later this year. The company made the announcement Monday while sharing a quarterly earnings report, and noted that a similar price increase implemented in Ireland did not have a negative effect on subscription numbers. Unlimited Netflix streaming currently costs $7.99 per month in the United States. Netflix noted that existing customers would not be affected by the price hike right away, but would eventually have to cough up the extra dough after an unspecified period of time. A statement from the company said that customers in Ireland were grandfathered into their current rates for two years; U.S. members would receive "a generous time period" cushion. "In the U.S. we have greatly improved our content selection since we introduced our streaming plan in 2010 at $7.99 per month," the release said. "Our current view is to do a one or two dollar increase, depending on the country, later this quarter for new members only. ... These changes will enable us to acquire more content and deliver an even better streaming experience." Only time will tell if customers are satisfied with that explanation. [via: Business Insider] Photo by Ryan Anson/AFP/Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

'Mean Girls' Holds Up Pretty Well, Say Today's Teens (VIDEO) Posted: As the 10th anniversary of the release of "Mean Girls" approaches (the film first hit theaters on April 30, 2004), the Fine Brothers, the masterminds behind the Kids React YouTube series, wondered how today's teens view the beloved high school comedy. Unsurprisingly, the Fines discovered that despite none of the interviewees having reached the age of 10 when "Mean Girls" debuted, adolescents still love the film, and its message of being yourself -- and legacy of awesome quotes -- still holds up. All but two of the kids interviewed for the "Teens React to 'Mean Girls'" clip had seen -- and adored -- the movie, and everyone laughed and smiled as they watched the film's original trailer. "Every teenage girl and boy needs to watch this," declared one teen, while another lamented, "It's so sad what happened to [Lindsay Lohan], 'cause she was so pretty." Indeed. One astute teen guy noted that the trailer seemed to aim the movie squarely at the chick flick-loving audience (true), when in reality, "you watch it, and it's like the greatest movie ever." (Also true. We never thought we'd agree so much with a bunch of highschoolers.) Check out the clip and relive your own love for "Mean Girls." But be warned: not even today's teens think "fetch" is going to happen. (Another warning: one 18-year-old's declaration that the movie's 10th anniversary makes her feel old will make you, in turn, feel ancient.) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

'I Thought I Was Too Ugly to Be an Actress,' Says Meryl Streep Posted: Meryl Streep is considered the greatest actress of her generation -- and possibly of all time -- but the Oscar-winning star recently revealed that she used to think she wasn't pretty enough to make it in her chosen profession. Streep made those comments last week after accepting an honorary doctorate degree from Indiana University -- awarded by the Bloomington school for the actress's humanitarian and social justice work -- and told the crowd that she had second-guessed her career path for years. "I think I was probably like every other girl who puts on a princess dress and expects everyone to pay full and total attention. And most of us grow out of that," Streep said. " ... I was always in plays, but I thought it was vain to be an actress. Plus, I thought I was too ugly to be an actress. Glasses weren't fabulous then." Despite feeling self-conscious, Streep still performed, and went on to Yale to study drama in graduate school. But Streep still waffled, and even scheduled a law board exam -- but ended up sleeping through the test. "The rest," the actress said, "is history." Streep revealed several other fascinating anecdotes (after she turned 40, she "was offered three [roles playing] witches in one summer," while this year alone, she received "two of the best scripts [she has] ever gotten") and shared advice for the crowd, including some she could have given herself years ago. "For young women, I would say, don't worry so much about your weight. Girls spend way too much time thinking about that, and there are better things," she said. "For young men, and women, too, what makes you different or weird, that's your strength. Everyone tries to look a cookie-cutter kind of way and actually the people who look different are the ones who get picked up. I used to hate my nose. Now I don't. It's okay." [via Indianapolis Monthly, h/t Vanity Fair] Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Here's a Photo of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker's Brothers on the Set of 'Fast & Furious 7' Posted: After studio Universal announced last week that the brothers of the late Paul Walker will fill in for the actor to help complete work on "Fast and Furious 7," star Vin Diesel has shared the first photo of Caleb and Cody Walker on the film's set. Diesel posted the image on his Facebook page, where he shared an anecdote about his reaction when he first learned of Walker's death last November in a car crash. Diesel wrote that he raced to Walker's parents' house, and shared in a special moment with Walker's father, fostering a strong bond with the family. "After spending time with [Walker's] biological brothers, I must say to the parents, you raised some great kids," Diesel wrote Monday. The photo shows Diesel, with his back to the camera, talking with Caleb (left) and Cody (right) Walker during a recent day of shooting. According to Universal, the men will "complete some remaining action for their brother and fill in small gaps left in production," and CGI will be used to mask any noticeable differences between the brothers' physiques. "Fast and Furious 7," directed by James Wan, is due out on April 10, 2015. [h/t TheWrap] Post by Vin Diesel. Article photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Our 'The Other Woman' Unscripted Is an Ode to Uncontrollable Laughter (VIDEO) Posted: You know that thing that happens when you laugh so hard that your face turns red, you start to tear up, and your body becomes incapable of producing sound? Well, that's what happens to Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, and Kate Upton in the latest episode of Moviefone's Unscripted. In true Unscripted style, the three stars of brand-new comedy "The Other Woman" got together to answer a few fan questions and make up some of their own, while venturing into some pretty provocative territory along the way. Topics discussed include "The Benefits of Self-Waxing," "Pheromones: Nature's Inbreeding Blocker," and "Bathroom Boundaries" -- among many others. At one point, the laughter stops -- and not because things get serious. No, no, no. The ladies just lose it -- utterly, completely, and adorably. "The Other Woman" hits theaters Friday, April 25. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

A Tom Hanks-Led CIA Thriller Could Be Steven Spielberg's Next Movie Posted: Well, another movie has entered the "what-will-Steven-Spielberg-direct-next?" merry-go-round: The Wrap is reporting that Tom Hanks has attached himself to a CIA thriller that Spielberg may end up directing. This project, should it go anywhere, joins "Montezuma," "Robopocalypse," and the just-announced religious drama "The Kidnapping of Eduardo Mortara" in the list of potential Spielberg directorial projects following his sleepy 2012 Oscar winner "Lincoln." The screenplay by Matt Charman, concerns James Donovan (Hanks), "a prominent American attorney enlisted by the CIA during the Cold War to slip behind the Iron Curtain and negotiate the release of Gary Powers, a pilot captured when his U-2 spy plane was shot down over Russia." This would mark the fourth collaboration between the actor and director, after "Saving Private Ryan," "Catch Me If You Can," and, of course, "The Terminal." The Wrap states that the movie will probably not be Spielberg's next movie (that cherished position still belongs to "Robopocalypse"), but it is definitely in the mix. Of course, all of this will be yesterday's news when Disney finally gets bullish about doing another "Indiana Jones," right? Hanks was recently nominated for an Academy Award for his work in "Captain Phillips" and played Walt Disney in the sorely underrated "Saving Mr. Banks." He's currently starring in "A Hologram for the King" for his "Cloud Atlas" director Tom Tykwer and remains one of the few celebrities I'd actually like to have dinner with. Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

A 'Game of Thrones' Fan Made a Beautiful, Interactive Map of Westeros Posted: There is a certain amount of confusion built into watching "Game of Thrones," at least for me. I haven't read the books by "fiction's most notorious serial killer" (to quote Honest Trailers) George R.R. Martin, and who all of the characters are and what their relationship is to each other remains pretty fuzzy. But, of course, like everyone else, I still love the show and cherish the things about it that I can figure out. But even the most hardcore "Game of Thrones" nerd might have trouble describing the geographic location of everything that goes on in the fantasy realms of Westeros. Thankfully, there's a really great map that you can take a look at, that will hopefully satisfy your lusty, dragon-filled curiosity. What's cool about the map, besides the fact that someone actually took time out of their lives to make it, is that you can chart the paths of different characters, thanks to a handy key on the right hand side. Also, you can define things through chapters of the books or episodes of the series, so whether or not you're the literary type or just drawn to the series' copious amounts of full frontal nudity, you'll both be entertained and get your highly sought-after answers. Please hide this from your friends at work, though. You still want them to think you're cool. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The 'True Blood' Final Season Teaser Is Eerily Apocalyptic (VIDEO) Posted: When "True Blood" debuts for its seventh season this summer, it will also be its last: the Southern Gothic vampire show is finally facing the True Death after years of becoming increasingly convoluted and weird (this following the creative shake up of the show just before season six, when Alan Ball left). We will miss you, "True Blood." Sort of. But before we start to mourn Sookie, Eric, Bill, and whoever else is still alive on that show and hasn't yet been turned into some kind of mythological creature, we have a trailer to watch. And by the looks of things, the last season is going to be pretty epic. The brief 35 second clip starts with some narration from Sookie (Anna Paquin), the telepathically gifted waitress who is always falling in love with some fanged hunk. She says that there was an attack perpetrated by some sick vampires (infected with the human-developed Hep-V) and wonders how it could happen. Images flicker by that have some startling real world context, especially given the show's Louisiana setting (a house spray-painted with the words "Pray for Us Sinners Now and at the Hour of Our Death Amen," "Fema Help Us" scrawled on the blacktop), with Sookie questioning how the whole town could start turning on itself. "How could they do such a thing?" she asks. Finally, the teaser ends with Sookie staring out at the street (flanked by Andy, Jason, Sam, and Alcide) and gravely noticing, "There's no one left." Yikes. This season is going to be heavy, doc. The new (and final) season premieres on June 22nd. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

'X-Men: Days of Future Past' Writer Foresees a Fully Connected Marvel Cinematic Universe Posted: Writer/Producer Simon Kinberg has his hands in a lot of pies. In addition to being one of the writers and producers on next month's "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (and the already-announced sequel "X-Men: Apocalypse"), Kinberg has co-written and is producing Fox's big "Fantastic Four" redo, slated for release next year, and is a key player in the new "Star Wars" movies for Disney. So, yes, quite busy. But he's still got time to dream. And dream big. While chatting with Coming Soon over the weekend at Anaheim's WonderCon, Kinberg was asked about the recent revelation that an "X-Men: Days of Future Past" tag was inserted at the end of "Amazing Spider-Man 2," Kinberg spoke about his desire to see the entire superhero franchise come together like a delicious chocolate-and-vanilla swirled ice cream cone. Also, he compared himself to a legendary, slain civil rights leader. "Listen, I would love it. The dream to me - I almost feel like Martin Luther King or somebody. I see a world where everyone is joined together. The dream is, obviously, one day to do a Marvel movie that is with all the Marvel characters or at least a universe where they can dive in and out of one another's films. Because that's the way the comics were created, I think that's the way the movies should actually be," Kinberg told Coming Soon. Kinberg also said that he firmly believes that "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "Amazing Spider-Man 2" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past" will be three of the biggest movies of the summer, and that there's no reason that they shouldn't intermingle since they're clearly not cannibalizing one another at the box office (keep in mind that, in America at least, "Captain America 2" reigned at No. 1 for the third straight weekend). While Kinberg's vision is a wonderful one, it also seems totally unfeasible (even, as Kinberg suggests, the mash-ups start on television and then continue on the big screen). There are just too many personalities and politics involved for that to ever become a reality. Also, the producer of "This Means War" compared himself to Martin Luther King Jr. when discussing comic book movies. Can we just have that marinate for a minute? Photo courtesy Fox This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

You Can Watch Joss Whedon's New Movie, 'In Your Eyes,' Right Now (VIDEO) Posted: When "In Your Eyes," the new supernatural romance written and co-produced by "Avengers" filmmaker Joss Whedon, premiered last night as part of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, it came with a bonus announcement. As Whedon said in a prerecorded message, played at the conclusion of the film's premiere, "This is not just the world premiere, but also its international release date." That's right -- you can grab the movie right now. The film stars Zoe Kazan as a woman living in New Hampshire and Michael Stahl-David (tangentially connected to the Whedon-verse through the "Cloverfield," scripted by Whedon confederate Drew Goddard) as an ex-con in New Mexico, who share a metaphysical connection wherein they can share each others senses. Kazan has called it "Joss Whedon does Nicholas Sparks," although it's much better than that. (I really, really liked it.) You can watch the movie via Vimeo, where $5 will get you a 72-hour viewing window (invite all your friends over for an "In Your Eyes" viewing party and have them dress as their favorite Whedon character!) In an interview with The Wrap, producer Michael Roiff explained the unique release strategy. "Because Joss has such a connection with his fans we figured this was an opportunity to try something we couldn't with other films," Roiff said. Before adding, about the impromptu post-screening announcement: "The whole conversation that led tot his was 'what's the craziest thing we can do? What can we say in the question and answer that would be really different?'" Whedon is currently in the midst of shooting another small art house movie: Disney's superhero-stuffed sequel "The Avengers: Age of Ultron," which will be out next May and certainly redefine what constitutes a blockbuster with the amount of money it will bring in. Watch his Tribeca video below. So... what are you waiting for? Go watch it already! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes': 5 Things We Learned About the Simian Sequel Posted: "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" doesn't open until July 11, but Moviefone was among a few select outlets invited to an exclusive sneak peak of the simian sequel on the Fox lot in Los Angeles. Introducing the footage was Andy Serkis, who stars as lead ape Caesar (via motion capture, of course), just as he did in 2011's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." We saw five clips, including side-by-sides showing the actors' motion capture and their finished characters; a confrontation in the woods between apes and a small band of human survivors; a council scene between the apes as they decide how to respond to the human threat; a tense stand-off after the situation has escalated; a few peaceful moments between the apes and humans; and the trailer shown at CineCon. Here are a few things we learned about the film from Serkis. (Who, incidentally, turns 50 on April 20. Happy Birthday, Andy!) 1. It's set 10 years after "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." The human race has been decimated by the Simian Flu, which they blame on apes, even though it was developed by humans in a lab. The apes have made a peaceful community in the woods while the humans now live in small bands, trying to survive against great odds. "They're having a horrific time. They're dying out," said Serkis. The humans are of two minds: Jason Clarke ("Zero Dark Thirty") wants a peaceful coexistence while Gary Oldman wants to wipe the apes out completely. (Good luck with that, Gary.) 2. Motion capture has gotten even better since "Rise." "WETA has moved on extraordinarily since the last film," Serkis said, noting the improvements in rendering "the skin texturing, the hair texturing, the eyes." He called WETA, which also rendered his performance as Gollum in "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" films, "the world's leading experts in facial performance capture." Since not all of the footage we saw was finished, it became clear that even the horses, which seemed 100 percent real in the completed scenes, were actually CGI. 3. The apes are talking. Serkis explained that the apes now communicate in four different ways: Ape vocalization such as grunting; sign language, which they are teaching to their young; a combination of gesture and sound; and a prototype spoken language. In the clips, we saw Caesar telling humans to "Go," and talking about the apes' building "home, family... future." Serkis said that having the apes begin to talk is "exciting and intense." 4. Caesar is a father. As a new father, Caesar has more reason than ever to protect his tribe, but also a chance to bond with the sympathetic humans (like Keri Russell), who are charmed by the baby ape. There are a few moments of peaceful coexistence between the species, but lasting peace wouldn't make for much of a summer movie, would it? 5. Being anti-ape is never good. The movie isn't called "Rise of The Humans," after all. Expect some big showdowns. "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" hits theaters July 11, 2014. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Box Office: Why Did Johnny Depp's 'Transcendence' Flop? Posted: It's hard to feel sorry for a guy who owns his own island. Still, poor Johnny Depp. His sci-fi thriller "Transcendence" should have been one of the biggest hits of the spring... but then the reviews came in. Pundits lowered their expectations for its debut, from the 30s to between $18 and $25 million. And then, when the smoke cleared this weekend, the $100-million movie opened with just an estimated $11.2 million, debuting in fourth place behind a three-week-old superhero sequel, a two-week-old cartoon sequel, and a Christian-themed movie starring Greg Kinnear. That's gotta hurt. How did "Transcendence" go from sure-thing blockbuster to limping into a fourth-place debut? Here are some reasons, and unlike the ageless Depp, they ain't pretty. Making a brainy blockbuster is harder than it sounds. Remember, it's been just 15 years since the Wachowskis first proved it could be done, with "The Matrix," and even they couldn't keep it up (with their two windy sequels, not to mention the movies they've made since). Still, Christopher Nolan has been pretty consistent at it, with his "Dark Knight" trilogy" and "inception" proving that you can deliver the action spectacle that draws crowds without making them check their brains at the door. So it seemed sensible to think that Nolan's cinematographer, Wally Pfister, could do the same with "Transcendence," his directing debut. Alas, not so; critics give it credit for smarts and striking visuals, but not storytelling or pace, which are what get viewers to the ticket window in the first place. Reviews matter. That's the other issue with the brainy blockbuster. You're generally chasing an older audience, and they do read what the critics say, and they actually base their moviegoing decisions accordingly. Depp's on a downslide. Domestically, at least. Last year's "Lone Ranger" was a colossal dud at the domestic box office, and it followed weak numbers for such Depp vehicles as "Dark Shadows," "The Rum Diary," and "The Tourist." Unless Depp is wearing the Mad Hatter's hat or Capt. Jack Sparrow's eye shadow, he's not a big box office draw in America anymore. Even so, there was only a dab of Depp. He was billed as the movie's main draw, but he's actually not in it very much, once the plot has him upload his consciousness into a computer. And while his supporting cast is made up of fine actors (Paul Bettany, Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara), none but Morgan Freeman has any kind of a ticket-buying following of fans. It was a busy weekend. "Transcendence" was one of four new wide-release movies this weekend. Plus, it had to compete against some still-strong holdovers, notably, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and "Rio 2," both of which pulled in more than $22 million this weekend. Direct competition: Depp vs. Cap. The "Captain America" sequel is one film that has managed to pull off the brainy-blockbuster bid; critics are praising it as a serious and timely political allegory, and when's the last time anyone could say that about a comic-book superhero movie? So it was competing against "Transcendence" not just for older male genre fans but for the food-for-thought viewers as well. Given the film's momentum -- the movie declined just 35 percent from a week ago, a very modest slide for a superhero movie in its third week, to finish in first place with an estimated $26.6 million -- "Cap 2" was going to be the thinking person's blockbuster-of-choice this weekend unless "Transcendence" offered such viewers a much better alternative. Direct competition: Depp vs. God. The biggest success story of the week is "Heaven Is For Real," an inspired-by-real-life drama about a dad (Greg Kinnear) who grapples with issues of faith when his little boy comes back from a near-death experience with an account of the afterlife. The movie, heavily touted to Christian audiences and marketed with group presales to church congregants, opened in third place with an estimated $21.5 million, for a total of $28.5 million since its Wednesday debut. And it's just one of three movies currently in the top 10 that have attracted church audiences and mainstream viewers alike by grappling seriously with big theological issues; the others are "Noah" (No. 9 this week with an estimated $5.0 million, for a four-week total of $93.3 million) and "God's Not Dead" (No. 10 with an estimated $4.8 million, for a five-week total of $48.3 million). All three of these movies are chasing the same older viewers that "Transcendence" is. Plus, it's Easter weekend, so viewers looking for a moviegoing experience that lives up to the name "Transcendence" may be more likely to choose transcendence of the spiritual variety than the technological/metaphysical kind. Again, it's hard to shed any tears for Depp, whose movies still do much better overseas than they do here. "Lone Ranger" earned $171 million, or 66 percent of its grosses, in foreign markets, and already, "Transcendence" has taken in $17.4 million abroad, for 61 percent of its total take. Still, in Depp's homeland, an $11.2 million, fourth-place debut for a $100 million movie that's the latest in a string of stateside flops is not the sign of a healthy career. If he wants to keep making movies besides "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Alice in Wonderland" sequels, he'll have to transcend his recent domestic box office numbers. Photo courtesy Warner Bros. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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