Movie News Monday for January 21, 2013.

Welcome to this week’s edition of “Movie News Monday!” (“MNM!”)!!

What is ‘MNM’ all about?

In case this is your first time here, “Movie News Monday!” (MNM) is the place to visit every Monday for a quick recap of trending entertainment news! I’ve collected info, rumors, etc from all over just for you to keep you updated on movies being released, actors/actresses in roles, dvd releases to keep a lookout for, which movie won in the box office over the weekend, etc! Are you ready for your weekly update? Here it is!

This Just In!!…

#1- “The Weekend Winner.”  Last weekend, Jessica Chastain went toe-to-toe against herself for the #1 box office spot. Mama was one of 3 wide new releases throughout the weekend that went up against the likes of Zero Dark Thirty and Silver Linings Playbook. A rough start for Schwarzenegger’s return with The Last Stand, however, Nice to see Silver Linings Playbook climb up to #3 after last week’s #10 spot.

Here are the weekend’s estimated results for Fri, Jan 18 -Sun, Jan 20:

1. Mama ~$28.1M
2. Zero Dark Thirty ~$17.6M
3. Silver Linings Playbook ~$11.4M
4. Gangster Squad ~$9.1M
5. Broken City ~$9M
6. A Haunted House ~$8.3M
7. Django Unchained ~$8.2M
8. Les Miserables ~$7.8M
9. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ~$6.4M
10. The Last Stand ~$6.3M

*Actuals may vary as earnings are updated much later on Monday afternoons. For updates, visit boxofficemojo.com.

Congrats to Mama (my review will post soon).

What did YOU watch this weekend?

***Did you catch the results of the 3rd Annual Red Web Awards? Click the photo to see who won! Thanks to all who participated!

#2- “Bicyclist’s Biopic” Did you catch Lance Armstrong‘s interview with Oprah last week? Well, the recent scandal surrounding his alleged/confessed doping has caught the attention of filmmaker J.J. Abrams and his movie company Bad Robot. Bad Robot and Paramount have teamed up together once again to tell Armstrong’s story and just bought the rights to Juliet Macur’s book Cycle Of Lies: The Fall Of Lance Armstrong.  This is not the first biopic to have been mentioned in the past for Armstrong. Plans were once in talks by Sony Pictures for an Armstrong film starring Jake Gyllenhaal and written by Gary Ross (The Hunger Games). That project is no longer in the works and I hope that remains the same.

Armstrong was stripped of his numerous titles and awards from championing many bicycle races around the world in numerous prestigious competitions after investigations revealed his use of performance enhancing drugs. His constant denial kept his controversy alive in the eyes of the media and his most recent revelation to Oprah Winfrey has catapulted his story even further. Biopics have been made for less.

Also in the works: A Spike Lee project for a James Brown biopic.

Are you interested in a Lance Armstrong movie?

#3- “It wouldn’t be a SIN without Bruce in“ 2005’s Sin City has its sequel well underway. Led by director Robert Rodriguez, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For has been adding to its star-studded cast continually over the past months. Josh Brolin, Ray Liotta, Juno Temple, Jeremy Piven, Rosario Dawson, Dennis Haysbert, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Chris Meloni, Jamie Chung and more have all signed on for a part of the Frank Miller graphic novel sequel.

Well, today it was announced that Robert Rodriguez has said that Bruce Willis has also joined the project.

…and it’s about time.

A sequel to Sin City needs Bruce Willis in it. He’s in several other sequels this year (Red 2, GI Joe 2, A Good Day to Die Hard) so, why not another? Currently shooting in Austin, Texas, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is scheduled for an October 4, 2013 release in theaters.

Are you ready for more sin?

#4- “Hungry for more meatballs?” Check out these new images for the upcoming colorful sequel to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Entitled Cloud 2: Revenge of the Leftovers, this upcoming sequel features the vocal talent of Anna Faris, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Terry Crews, Will Forte and more.

(Click any photo for a fullscreen slideshow…use the arrow keys to scroll).

Cloudy 2: Revenge of the Leftovers is set to hit theaters this September 27.

Are you hungry for more?

#5- “This Week’s Blu-ray release.” This week, look for the following films on Blu-ray to possibly add to your collection:

End of Watch– One of the films that made my list of “Movies I missed but wanted to see” in 2012, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña star along with Anna Kendrick and more in this police drama of two LAPD officers who fight against some criminal forces that are more than they bargained for. Look for it in your local video stores this week.

Several other films also release this week. Check it out!

Also releasing: The Quiet Man (one of my FAVORITE John Wayne movies), The Paperboy, Searching for Sugar Man and more.

Well, that’s it for this round of “Movie News Monday!”

Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!

–T, The Focused Filmographer

up next: “Time to Vote Tuesday!”