UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News

'Marley' still top dog

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- In a rarity, the top seven movies in U.S. theaters, led by "Marley and Me," remained the same this weekend, Box Office Mojo said Sunday.

"Marley" pulled in an estimated $24.05 million for a 2-week total of $106.51 million, followed by "Bedtime Stories" at $20.32 million, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" at $18.4 million, "Valkyrie" at $14.04 million, "Yes Man" at $13.85 million, "Seven Pounds" at $10 million and "The Tale of Despereaux" at $7.02 million.

"Doubt" moved up from No. 10 to No. 8 with an estimated $5.03 million in gate receipts, followed by "The Day the Earth Stood Still" with $4.85 million.

"Slumdog Millionaire," which moved up from 13th place with $4.77 million, pushed "Twilight" out of the top tier.

The first week of 2009 brought no new movies to the Top 10.

Movie critics tab 'Bashir' as best picture

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. movie critics say the animated documentary "Waltz with Bashir" was the best film of 2008, giving it a National Society of Film Critics award.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday the movie from Ari Folman details the Israeli director's struggles with repressed memories that date back to his experience in the 1982 Lebanon War.

Folman's documentary has already received kudos from both the Israeli Film Academy and the Los Angeles Critics Association, along with a Golden Globe nomination for best foreign film.

Meanwhile, the critics group tabbed Mike Leigh as best director for his movie "Happy-Go-Lucky," which also earned Leigh a best screenplay honor.

The comedy also helped Sally Hawkins win a 2008 best actress award and Eddie Marsan earn best supporting actor honors.

Sean Penn was given a best actor award by the critics association for his performance in the drama "Milk," while German actress Hanna Schygulla took the best supporting actress award for "The Edge of Heaven."

The Times said "Man on Wire" was named the top non-fiction movie of 2008.

MuzikMafia members enjoy outcast role

NASHVILLE, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- MuzikMafia co-founder Jon Nicholson says the 7-year-old country Nashville band enjoys being seen as a collection of outcasts.

Nicholson said while the group's members have sold more than 10 million albums altogether, they have never felt fully welcomed by the mainstream music industry since forming in 2001, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Sunday.

But Nicholson maintains that lack of acceptance actually helps the country music group and its expanding member list.

"I think we probably like to feel that way," Nicholson said. "That's what feeds our creative energy."

After being formed by Nicholson, Kenny Alphin, John Rich and Cory Gierman, MuzikMafia's ranks have swelled under the addition of 12 new artists.

Nicholson told The Tennessean such additions, like the group's outcast status, only serve to improve the musical efforts of MuzikMafia.

"The Mafia's always been that perfect opportunity, where you get 20 different artists up on stage at one time, and 20-30 different musicians up on stage," he told the newspaper. "At some point, it becomes the ultimate jam."

Many Broadway shows facing final curtain

NEW YORK, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- More than a dozen of New York's Broadway plays and musicals have announced they will stop all showings by the end of January.

The New York Times reported Sunday that among the closing productions, which represent nearly half of all current Broadway showings, are a rendition of "Hairspray" and a performance of the musical "Spring Awakening."

Final curtains also will fall this month on "Young Frankenstein," "13" and "Boeing-Boeing."

The closings will be emotional last connections for theater fans and family members of production stars who show up to cheer on their favorite Broadway performers.

The Times said other potential audience members for the final performances include former cast members who return to witness the closing of their former play or musical.

Tony Award winners Marissa Jaret Winokur and Harvey Fierstein have already revisited their former "Hairspray" stomping grounds to bid adieu to the production, the newspaper said.