'This is it' is it -- No. 1 for weekend
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- "Michael Jackson's This Is It" moonwalked to the No. 1 spot at the U.S. box office during the weekend, raking in $21.3 million in estimated gross receipts.
"Paranormal Activity" slipped to a strong No. 2 at $16.54 million.
All estimates are from Box Office Mojo.
"Law Abiding Citizen" was third with more than $7.3 million; "Couples Retreat" fourth with more than $6.09 million; "Saw VI" fifth with $5.56 million; "Where the Wild Things Are" sixth with more than $5.08 million.
"The Stepfather" was seventh with $3.4 million; "Astro Boy" eighth with more than $3.03 million; and "Amelia" was ninth with $3 million.
"Cirque du Freak" was tenth with more than $2.8 million.
Cage blames business manager for debts
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. film star Nicolas Cage alleges he owes millions of dollars in back taxes because his business manager led him toward "financial ruin."
People.com said Cage, 45, alleges in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles that his business manager Samuel J. Levin "lined his (own) pockets with several million dollars in business management fees while sending Cage down a path toward financial ruin."
The allegations by the "National Treasure" actor come as Cage is selling off his real estate holdings in an attempt to deal with $6.3 million in back taxes.
Cage is also the target of a breach of contract complaint filed by East West Bank, which alleges the Hollywood star has not paid off a $2 million loan.
Cage alleges in his lawsuit against Levin that "he is now forced to sell major assets and investments at a significant loss and is faced with huge tax liabilities because of Levin's incompetence, misrepresentations and recklessness."
People.com said the lawsuit will be the subject of a February 2010 court hearing.
Palin book 'Rogue' expected to do well
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The upcoming release of former Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin's book, "Going Rogue: An American Life," should be met with impressive sales, an expert said.
Mary Matalin, editor-in-chief of Threshold Editions, said the book that earned the former Republican vice presidential candidate an advance as much as $1.25 million is due for release on Nov. 17 in the wake of additional works about the political figure, McClatchy Newspapers reported Sunday.
Matalin said "Rogue" will likely outsell "Sarah from Alaska: The Sudden Rise and Brutal Education of a New Conservative Superstar" by TV reporters Scott Conroy and Shushannah Walshe and "The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried to Bring Down a Rising Star," by Matthew Continetti.
"I'm predicting it's going to be a whopping publishing success, a whopping publishing success," Matalin said. "Why would you want to buy some second-hand account when you get her real version?"
"Sarah from Alaska" is due out in stores Tuesday, while "Persecution" has a Nov. 12 release date.
Tina Andreadis, Palin's publicist, told McClatchy Newspapers that Palin will promote her new book with a major book tour.
Jackman wants to repeat as Sexiest Man
NEW YORK, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Australian actor Hugh Jackman said he would not mind being named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for a second year in a row.
The "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" actor, who earned the sexiest title in 2008, offered his pick for the 2009 winner during a New York appearance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert this week, People.com reported Saturday.
"Me! I want to be the first to have it back to back, buddy," Jackman, 41, said of his sexiest 2009 pick. "That would be fantastic!"
The "X-Men" star did add he would not mind losing out on the sexiest honor since he would be allowed to "be a slob again."
"I thought there were thousands of other guys that deserved it, but it's been a great year. But now the pressure's off," Jackman said Friday. "I can be a slob again."
