West Virginia downs San Diego St., wins Las Vegas Invitational - College Basketball Highlights
Its officially March and the madness has begun. The West Virginia basketball team was able to narrowly escape Oklahoma after watching an 11 point lead slip away in the final six minutes, defeating the Sooners 69-67.
The Mountaineers dreams of a Big 12 title looked all but over until Jaysean Paige nailed a 16 foot jump shot to give WVU a one point lead with 13 seconds to go. Buddy Hield would miss a layup on the other end and forced OU to foul with just under two seconds to play. Jonathan Holton split his pair of free throws and then near magic happened. Hield caught the inbounds pass, dribbled to half-court and sunk what appeared to be a game winning buzzer beater to give OU the victory. After further review, the shot was still in his hand as the horn sounded and elation from the West Virginia side ensued.
Mar 11, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jevon Carter (2) shoots a jump shot as Oklahoma Sooners forward Khadeem Lattin (12) defends in the second half during the Big 12 Conference tournament at Sprint Center. West Virginia won 69-67. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Jevon Carter carried most of the offensive load for the Mountaineers. He came out of the gates scorching hot, knocking down five three pointers in the first half and shooting 6-9 for the game from behind the arc. Paige wasnt his normal self offensively, finishing with 10 points on 3-10 shooting, but he still showed why he was the Big 12s Sixth Man of the Year by knocking down the eventual game winner.
Another scorer who didnt look like himself was Hield. After coming off his 39 point performance the night before, he was held to six points for the game. This was the first time all season he was under ten points for the game and it was the first time it had happened since late February of last season when he scored eight against Texas Tech.
The victory now gives the Mountaineers a chance at the Big 12 title with only Kansas standing in their way. The two teams split during the regular season, each winning on their home floor. The game is in Kansas City, so KU will have a substantially larger fan base, but it wont be anything like Allen Fieldhouse.
Perry Ellis has been his usual self throughout the tournament thus far. Hes recorded over 20 points in both games while shooting well over 50% from the field. Holton, who did not play in the WVU loss to KU, will most likely be assigned to the task of shutting him down once he checks into the game.
Devonte Graham has also been playing well of late for the Jayhawks. The sophomore has been scoring in double figures, five out of his last six games, providing a consistent scoring threat from the guard position.
Regardless of the outcome, both these teams are locks for the tournament, with Kansas being a one seed if not the top overall seed. West Virginia will probably be either a two or a three, with a slight chance of jumping to a one depending on how all the other games play out.
Once it became clear that the Cleveland Browns planned to part ways with QB Johnny Manziel -- a move that became official Friday -- many pointed to the Dallas Cowboys as a team that might have interest in him.
But even the Cowboys are keeping their distance from the former first-round pick. A source told The Dallas Morning News that the team will not even consider Manziel "until he gets his life back in order."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was enamored with Manziel prior to the 2014 draft and reportedly wanted to take him with the 16th overall pick. However, he was persuaded not to do so, and Dallas instead drafted offensive lineman Zack Martin.
Manziel"s off-field behavior remains a serious concern, as his partying has affected his development, has resulted in a rehab stint and could land him in serious legal trouble. A grand jury will decide whether Manziel will face charges for an alleged domestic violence incident with his ex-girlfriend in January.
The Cowboys haven"t always avoided players with troubled pasts in recent years but are doing so in this case.From The Dallas Morning News report:
Jerry Jones clearly has an affinity for Manziel. He has shown an inclination during his time as Cowboys owner to minimize the negatives of a player in his desire to hit it big.
But Manziel finds himself in such a downward spiral over these past three months it"s hard for Jones or anyone else to see the potential reward through the risk.
Jones has expressed a desire to acquire or draft a young QB to learn under Tony Romo, who is recovering from yet another procedure on his troublesome left collarbone.
But Manziel apparently won"t be that QB.
In his two NFL seasons, Manziel has played 15 games (eight starts) and thrown for 1,625 yards and seven touchdowns. He has thrown seven interception and completed only 57 percent of his passes. He also has 259 rushing yards and a rushing TD.
Reading of a love letter from Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan
Hillary Clinton apologized Friday after gay-rights and AIDS activists assailed her for saying Nancy Reagan helped start a "national conversation" about AIDS in the 1980s, when protesters were struggling to get more federal help in fighting the disease.
Clinton, one of two contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination, made her initial comments in an interview with MSNBC during its coverage of Nancy Reagan"s funeral.
Soon after the interview aired, MSNBC"s Twitter feed was flooded with comments accusing Clinton of misrepresenting history and insulting the 1980s activists who pressured elected officials to step up the response to AIDS. Clinton soon apologized.
"While the Reagans were strong advocates for stem cell research and finding a cure for Alzheimer"s disease, I misspoke about their record on HIV and AIDS. For that, I am sorry," Clinton said on her Twitter account.
Many activists remain bitter at Ronald Reagan and his administration for what they view as a devastatingly slow response to AIDS. Though initial reports of the disease surfaced in 1981, President Reagan did not make his first public speech about it until 1987, by which time it had killed more than 20,000 Americans.
In her MSNBC interview, Clinton was complimentary to both Reagans with regard to their stance on AIDS.
"It may be hard for your viewers to remember how difficult it was for people to talk about HIV/AIDS back in the 1980s. And because of both President and Mrs. Reagan, in particular Mrs. Reagan, we started a national conversation, when before nobody would talk about it," she said."Nobody wanted to do anything about it.
"And, you know, that too is something that I really appreciate with her very effective low-key advocacy, but it penetrated the public conscience and people began to say, hey, we have to do something about this too," added Clinton.
Peter Staley, a veteran AIDS activist based in New York, tweeted that Clinton"s remarks were "the most offensive thing possible 4 my generation of LGBT Americans."
Clinton, in her race against Bernie Sanders, has received extensive support from LGBT advocacy groups and donors. The Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBT rights group, has endorsed her, incurring some criticism from Sanders supporters who say his record on LGBT rights is strong.
The president of the Human Rights Campaign, Chad Griffin, issued a brief statement Friday that avoided any criticism of Clinton.
"While I respect her advocacy in other areas including stem cell and Parkinson"s research, Nancy Reagan was, sadly, no hero in the fight against HIV," Griffin said.
Tanya Domi, a New York-based LGBT activist and staunch Clinton supporter, was relieved by the candidate"s speedy apology.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Hillary Clinton is very tired and committed a gaffe," Domi said on Facebook. "At the same time, keep in mind the Clinton Global Initiative"s work on HIV/AIDS has saved millions of people"s lives. Millions. But she made a mistake and quickly corrected herself. That is good enough for me."
UConn Women"s Basketball vs. East Carolina Highlights - AAC Tournament
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) Mike Francesa and a caller got into a heated exchange Wednesday over the WFAN hosts feelings about UConn mens basketball team.
Ed from Guilford, Connecticut, said Francesa harbored disdain for the Connecticut Huskies. Francesa insistedthat wasnt the case, that he was only calling UConn fans who want to see coach Kevin Ollie fired spoiled.
Francesa, however, did say he doesnt believe UConn will ever experience another run like it did under former coach Jim Calhoun again.
Georgetown hasnt been Georgetown since John Thompson left the original John Thompson. They havent been the same, Francesa said. St. Johns hasnt been the same since (Lou) Carnesecca retired. Sometimes its about the coach. And what UConn did with Calhoun was through the moon. It was outrageously good.
1998 NCAA Basketball Regional Final - Kentucky vs Duke
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Rounding up the latest bracketologies from around the net.
The college basketball regular season is over as conference tournaments begin all around the nation.
That means the seedings for the NCAA Tournament are just about set as league tournaments usually don"t dramatically affect seeds outside of those automatic-qualifiers. However, history has shown that winning a conference tournament can boost a team"s seeding by a few spots, not to mention being the difference in leagues where multiple teams are vying for No. 1 seeds.
As for the Kentucky Wildcats, they"re pretty much set on being a 4 or 5 seed in the tournament, regardless of what they do in the SEC Tournament. In order to get a 3 seed, they"ll need to win their league tournament and have other teams ahead of them on the seed line suffer slip-ups this week.
ESPN"s Joe Lunardi has the Cats going out West as the 4 seed with No. 1 seed North Carolina in the West Region. The potential for a 4/5 matchup with California is there if the Cats win their first game. Both the Bears and Tar Heel are very strong on the boards and in the paint, an area where UK has struggled mightily at times this season.
Cal ranks 21st in the nation in rebounds per game (40.3) while UNC ranks ninth (41.5). Not to mention the Heels just out-rebounded Duke by a 64-29 margin. No. 2 Oklahoma is also in this region, which makes this essentially this year"s region of death if this comes to pass.
CBS Sports" Jerry Palm has the Cats getting a slightly more favorable region in the Midwest, but has UK falling to a 5 seed. Purdue comes in as the 4 seed, which is maybe the worst potential 4/5 matchup for UK. The Boilermakers have one of the best frontcourts in America withVince Edwards,A.J. Hammons and former UK targetCaleb Swanigan. This region also has Kansas as the 1 seed and Xavier as the 2 seed.
Shelby Mast of USA Today Sports has UKin the friendliest region of any recent bracketology, putting the Cats as a 3 seed in the South Region with Virginia being the 1 seed. A potential 3/6 matchup with Purdue looms, but Xavier makes this region as a 2 seed while Virginia comes in as the 1 seed.
SB Nation"s Chris Dobbertean puts the Cats in the East Region with Purdue as the 5 seed and Villanova as the 1 seed and North Carolina as the 2 seed.
The guys atBracket Matrix, who round up what every website and national outlet projects, has Kentucky registering an average of 4.00, meaning they"re pretty comfortably getting projected as a 4-seed. That number is down from the 3.84 average seeding UK got last week as it continues to look like the 4 seed is what the Cats are getting.
That is, unless some of those teams seeded ahead of them lose early in their respective conference tournaments this week.
Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III throws a pass while warming up during Texans training camp with the Washington Redskins at the Bon Secours Training Center on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Richmond, Va. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle ) less Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III throws a pass while warming up during Texans training camp with the Washington Redskins at the Bon Secours Training Center on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in ... more Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff Robert Griffin III, WashingtonOnce a franchise savior and 2012 Rookie of the Year, he was buried by coach Jay Gruden and was only active for one game this season. The former Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor has much to prove and figures to be motivated. But whether he can regain his rookie form and avoid injuries is another thing. Still, it could be a low-risk, high-reward move. less Robert Griffin III, WashingtonOnce a franchise savior and 2012 Rookie of the Year, he was buried by coach Jay Gruden and was only active for one game this season. The former Heisman Trophy winner from ... more Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle LOSER: Kirk CousinsThe Washington quarterback certainly didnt do anything to quiet the calls for the return of Robert Griffin III or Colt McCoy. Cousins was 21 for 31 for 196 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two interceptions. That runs his updated tally of interceptions to 17 in 10 starts. less LOSER: Kirk CousinsThe Washington quarterback certainly didnt do anything to quiet the calls for the return of Robert Griffin III or Colt McCoy. Cousins was 21 for 31 for 196 yards and a touchdown, but ... more Photo: Patrick Semansky, Associated Press 27. Robert Griffin III, Redskins Perhaps the former Baylor star was too good too soon. Thanks to injuries and ineffectiveness, he"s hardly flashed anything resembling his rookie form the past two years, and his relationship with coach Jay Gruden has been rocky to say the least. less 27. Robert Griffin III, Redskins Perhaps the former Baylor star was too good too soon. Thanks to injuries and ineffectiveness, he"s hardly flashed anything resembling his rookie form the past two years, and his ... more Photo: Alex Brandon, Associated Press
Quarterback Robert Griffin III is examined after fumbling in Thursday night"s game against the Lions. He suffered a concussion and hurt his right shoulder.
Quarterback Robert Griffin III is examined after fumbling in Thursday night"s game against the Lions. He suffered a concussion and hurt his right shoulder.
Photo: Matt Hazlett, Stringer Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) stands with his niece Jania Griffin following practice during Washington Redskins training camp with the Houston Texans at the Bon Secours Training Center on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Richmond, Va. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle ) less Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) stands with his niece Jania Griffin following practice during Washington Redskins training camp with the Houston Texans at the Bon Secours Training Center ... more Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle
El quarterback de Cleveland, Johnny Manziel, pasa en un partido contra Arizona el domingo, 1 de noviembre de 2015, en Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
El quarterback de Cleveland, Johnny Manziel, pasa en un partido contra Arizona el domingo, 1 de noviembre de 2015, en Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Johnny Manziel was in danger of having the Browns give up on him after two seasons even before his latest off-field incident came to light.
Johnny Manziel was in danger of having the Browns give up on him after two seasons even before his latest off-field incident came to light.
Photo: David Richard, FRE
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel walks into the locker room after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel walks into the locker room after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Photo: David Richard, FRE Johnny Manziel, Cleveland
Given Manziel"s litany of off-field issues, it seems highly unlikely the next Browns coach and/or GM will want to tie his fortunes to the troubled former Texas A&M star. And given that his trade value figures to be highly low, he could be had for peanuts. But it"s unlikely the Texans will want to take a chance on another unreliable QB after the saga of Ryan Mallett and his alarm clock. less Johnny Manziel, ClevelandGiven Manziel"s litany of off-field issues, it seems highly unlikely the next Browns coach and/or GM will want to tie his fortunes to the troubled former Texas A&M star. And given ... more Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle HOUSTON, TX- SEPTEMBER 07: Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin #10 III looks up at the scoreboard while playing against the Houston Texans on September 7, 2014 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) less HOUSTON, TX- SEPTEMBER 07: Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin #10 III looks up at the scoreboard while playing against the Houston Texans on September 7, 2014 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. ... more Photo: Thomas B. Shea, Stringer
Heisman winners Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III face uncertain NFL futures
They were once Texas legends. They were celebrated Heisman Trophy winners who mesmerized with their strong arms and lightning-quick legs.
Now, Johnny Manziel and Robert Griffin III have suffered mighty falls in the NFL after their respective star turns at Texas A&M and Baylor. They"ve gone from being coveted celebrity athletes to joining the ranks of the unemployed.
Once celebrated to no longer being tolerated, Manziel was officially cut by the Cleveland Browns on Friday.
Manziel"s future employment prospects will be a thorny field for him to navigate. NFL teams understandably will be wary about signing him and giving him a chance to resurrect his career.
"I"d like to thank the Browns for the opportunity they gave me. Nearly two years ago, we all hoped that we were building what could be a championship team for Cleveland," Manziel said in a statement. "I will always remember the support I received from the organization, my teammates and especially the fans."
The future for Griffin is comparatively much brighter than Manziel"s. He visited with the New York Jets on Friday.
Manziel is a small, mobile, dual-threat quarterback who has flashed potential on the field. Off the field, Manziel is a disaster.
He has multiple known substance-abuse issues that prompted him to spend two months in an inpatient treatment facility last year. He remains under investigation for an alleged domestic violence incident in Dallas involving his former girlfriend Colleen Crowley, a Houston native and Texas Christian student. Manziel allegedly ruptured her left eardrum, the second time he has been alleged to have hit Crowley. The case is being presented to a grand jury for potential charges.
Meanwhile, the NFL is investigating Manziel under its personal-conduct policy. So, a suspension could be in the offing.
Manziel"s woes pile up
Manziel"s sobriety and mental health are in serious question. He threatened to kill Crowley and himself, according to her affidavit to law enforcement authorities. And his father, Paul, has expressed frustration that Manziel refuses to go back to a rehab facility.
Manziel"s rocky two-year tenure with the Browns only lasted this long because the Browns didn"t want to cut him earlier due to salary-cap implications.
Manziel, who signed a four-year, $8.254 million rookie contract in 2014 after being drafted with the 22nd pick of the first round, is unlikely to be claimed off waivers.
As much as Manziel has embarrassed the Browns off the field, including chugging champagne atop a swan float at an Austin nightclub and skipping or being late for team activities, his on-field performance hasn"t been sterling. He has gone 2-6 as a starter in two NFL seasons, passing for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions for a pedestrian 74.4 passer rating.
His NFL future is uncertain as most teams will be hesitant to bring this kind of baggage into their locker room. Once known as Johnny Football in College Station, Manziel has been Johnny Drama in the NFL.
Griffin was cut by Washington after a rough couple of seasons since being named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Griffin clashed with Mike Shanahan and Kyle Shanahan about his role in the offense. He spent this past year backing up Kirk Cousins.
As a rookie, Griffin passed for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. For his career, Griffin has passed for 8,087 yards, 40 touchdowns and 23 interceptions for a 90.6 passer rating.
However, Griffin is widely viewed as damaged goods in NFL circles. Without his trademark mobility, Griffin isn"t enough of a pocket passer to lead a franchise. He also has drawn criticism for his ego and diva tendencies.
What"s known about Griffin, who appears sincerely humbled by his decline in status, is that he seems ready for a fresh start and would embrace another chance in a different NFL city.
Backup role?
At some point, Griffin is sure to resurface as long as he"s healthy and ready to accept being a backup.
Whether Manziel plays in the NFL again, though, is very much in doubt because of his pattern of misconduct.
Even while being investigated by Dallas police, Manziel continues his hard-partying ways with plenty of evidence on social media from Miami to Las Vegas that he hasn"t changed. The logical conclusion for any rational NFL franchise to reach is that Manziel isn"t a safe bet to invest in for a second act of a mercurial career.
BORAT Premieres the New Trailer for “The Brothers Grimsby”
4TH WRITETHRU, 8AM Saturday:Refresh for updatesZootopia is showing more muscle than originally expected, so much so that its now cutting into10 Cloverfield Lanes business, $51M to $24.7M. Thetotal B.O.for the Disney original animated filmswells to $143M through 10 days, pacing 52% ahead of Frozenover the same period.This puts Paramount/Bad Robots spinoffat the lower end of its opening weekend projections.
The bright side here is that 10 Cloverfield Laneisnt expected to play like a horror film with shrinking tickets sales over three-days; rather the pics business is expected to spike by at least 5% on Saturday after making $9M on Friday. This despite the fact that CinemaScore crowds graded10 Cloverfield Lanelike a horror film with a B-, which beats the first chapters C grade. J.J. Abrams has mentioned in interviews that the title wasnt revealed until January. Thats when Paramount unveiled its enticing teaser campaign of John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher, Jr. residing in a bunker during a time when the alien monsters ruled the earth. The studio dropped a second trailer during the Super Bowl. Abrams has also said in interviews that 10 Cloverfield Laneis more akin to an anthology in theTwilight Zonesense of the word, versus being a sequel. Sixty-one percent males stopped by10 Cloverfield Lanewith 68% over 25. Fifty-five percent came out because it was a sci-fi thriller.
Meanwhile, Sony/Village Roadshow/LStarsThe Brothers Grimsbyis Sacha Baron Cohens lowest opening at the box office ever with $3.3M at 2,235 in eighth place, a complete dud with an estimated production cost of$35M-$37M (though we hear the budget was north $80M when Paramount passed). Oy. Audiences didnt entirely hate the R-rated comedywith a B+ CinemaScore overall and an A- among under 25ers. But, man, where were they? At Foxs Deadpool, of course,which is sitting there like a cat with a canary in its mouth, still bagging cash with a strong $10.4M fifth weekend in third place and a running domestic total of $327.7M.
Focus Features Christ childhood titleThe Young Messiahreceived the best grade of the wide entries with an A-, but its estimated opening is nothing miraculous at $3.7M-$3.8M. Like most faith-based movies, older females was the core crowd here at 57% women, 91% over 25. Focus shelled out a minimum guarantee for the film, however, Young Messiahwas financed by Ocean Blue Entertainment, which slashed the films production budgetfrom $40M to an estimated $18.5M. In regards to throwing stones at this films ticket sales, we have to consider thatYoung Messiahis in 1,154 theater less thanRisens first weekend. In addition, this Lent season in particular has been flooded with faith-based product, and despite any assumption that the audience just eats up whatever is placed in front of them, the fact is these parish busloads have become more discerning about whats placed in front of them. In addition, word is the faith-based are saving their money for next weekends Sony Affirm follow-upMiracles From Heaven,which is scheduled to hit 3,000-plus engagements.
LionsgatesThe Perfect Matchdidnt officially register on CinemaScores radar since it was playing in less than 1,000 theaters, but the African American comedy is also coming in under expectations with an estimated $3.7M-$3.8M FSS, fighting withYoung Messiahfor sixth place.
****Brothers Grimsby what happened here?****
Observing from their perch outside the studio walls, rival distribution chiefs believe that Sony dumped Brothers Grimsbyin the market, however, Sony tried to nurture this along the way with release date changes and testing.Grimsbyoriginated at Paramount in December 2013 withClash of the Titansdirector Louis Leterrier attached before Sonys previous administration acquired the title in February 2014 with an original release date of July 31, 2015. Test screenings for this Baron Cohen raunch romp started early and audiences werent kind during every bump along the way. Grimsbywasnt the witty satire they loved inBorat.Whats telling here, and explains is a lot, is that Baron Cohens core audience has grown significantly older since The Dictator. That film played to an under-25 audience of 56% versusBrothers Grimsbywhich skewed 72% over 25.Sony screened to50 campuses across the country and Brothers Grimsbyjust didnt penetrate with younger audiences.Also less guys turned out forBrothers Grimsby overDictator, 52% to 65%.Forty percent of Friday nights audience came out for Baron Cohen (vs.Dictators 47%).
Additionally, it felt like the marketing campaign didnt have a long enough lead time. Arguably, Brothers Grimsbydidnt really land in the public consciousness until Baron Cohen appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live with his too-crude-for-broadcast clip all ofone month ago. Compare this to Paramounts runway forThe Dictatorin 2012. Even though that R-rated comedy had a May 16 release, Baron Cohen started an awesome uproar at the Oscars that year with his General Aladeen alter ego and his supposed boycott by the Academy. More headlines were heard around the world as the General dumped Kim Jong Ils ashes on Ryan Seacrest, and was kicked off the red carpet. In addition, Paramount also had aDictatoradult game app. This resulted in athird place opening for Dictatorwith $17.4M (final $60M) in the wake ofThe Avengersthird weekend, and UniversalsBattleship. Twothings you can never knock Baron Cohen for: Hes a master of guerrilla theater PR and hes a tireless promoter. Even onBrothers Grimsby, I hear Baron Cohen was a studios dream when it came to star collaborators. During the college tour ofBrothers Grimsby,he mingled with students in New York, Boston and Austin. As is typical for Baron Cohen, he did some interviews in character as Nobby. Even handcuffed himself to Matt Lauer.
Downsides to Brothers Grimsbys marketing efforts is that the one sheets and billboards looked like rip offs on Adam McKaysThe Other Guysand even SonysSpectre.The title is so British, its alienating to U.S. auds, and Mark Strong as second banana to Baron Cohen isnt known for his marquee power. The conceit of the movie looks funny, but on a mass consumption basis, theres a been-there-done-that to the elements, criticized one studio marketing executive who has handled Baron Cohen vehicles in the past. According to iSpot, Sony shelled out $7.7M this weekend forBrothers GrimsbyTV spots, while Paramount spent $16.3M for10 Cloverfield Laneads.
That said, what was clever about Sonys online/social media campaign was how it built off the audience reaction gimmick that began onJimmy Kimmel Live(4.1M YouTube views).Sony just kept hitting this joke in its viral marketing. They posted video reactions to the elephant scene from pastors and rabbis (1M YouTube views), fashion model Cara Delevingne (439K), the Kardashians (420K on Kims Instagram, 255K on Kourtneys), Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron on the set ofBaywatch(371K Instagram likes), Pharrell (48K likes) and The Lonely Island guys (8K likes). In total, two dozen social media influencers participated.
But still, why did 20th Century FoxsBoratwork as an overnight success with a $26.4M opening at 837 theaters (a $32K per theater, global take of $262M) and everything else just gradually slid downhill for Baron Cohens comedic solo vehicles? Borat succeeded because it was a stroke of genius that was never seen before, said one studio executive. It was shock theater. It was horribly offensive, rightfully funny to most. Then cameBrunowhich opened to No. 1 in July 2009 to a decent $30.6M, but petered out to a 2x multiple at the domestic B.O. with $60M.
Added the same executive, Brunowas more of the same shtick. Even though it was a different character, he wasnt nearly as charming as Borat, and his effeminate bent was off-putting to audiences. There was a meanness to Bruno that wasnt as far reaching. In Borat, Baron Cohenwas an equal-opportunist in his insulting. Then when he started doing the scripted material like The Dictator, it was as though it was the same guy.
Some rival distribution chiefsthink that Baron Cohens dirty sense of humor has grown too long-in-the-tooth for the big screen. Still, you cant take away the fact that hes a brilliant, multi-talented actor who continues to be in demand by auteurs for his sublime acting chops. Baron Cohen next appears in James BobinsAlice Through the Looking Glassas Time. Talking to Deadline during his press tour forLes Miserables,Baron Cohen spoke about the hurdles in pulling off docu-comedies like Boratin this day and age, and why he changed to script-driven material likeDictatorandBrothers Grimsby:The problem is it is definitely challenging, especially now with Twitter and Facebook. Its very, very hard to get away with, he said. You dont just want to interview some doorman at a hotel; you want to interview the incredibly wealthy guests at the penthouse, high-ranking politicians or people who are threatening.
RelatedOSCARS Q&A: Sacha Baron Cohen
The top 10 films as of late late Friday night per industry estimates for weekend of March 11-13:
Hello, My Name Is Doris(RSA), 4 theaters/ $22K Fri. / 3-day cume:$69K/PTA: $17K/Wk 1
City of Gold(IFC), 4 theaters/ $16k Fri. / 3-day cume:$50k/PTA: $12k/Wk 1
2ND UPDATE, 12:12PM Zootopiaand10 Cloverfield Laneare the two top travel destinations for moviegoers this weekend. Disneys animated film is looking to collect in the high $40M range, while Paramount/Bad Robots thriller is looking at $32M. Both titles respective Friday hauls are currently $500K apart, $12M to $11.5M. The box office business theory never gets old: matinees will continually be a family titles best friend.
On social, Relish Mix reports that#10CloverfieldLane led the run-up to opening with 2K combined hashtags across Twitter and Instagram. The social media monitor notices that the conversation has been positive for the movie with mentions of producer J.J. Abrams as well as predictions on what the monster might look like. Other fans are curious as to what might lie outside the bunker. The good word of mouth counters any hurdle of the casts low wattage on social media. Nonethless, star Mary Elizabeth Winstead leads the charge with 663K social followers across Twitter, Instagram and an unofficial Facebook page. In addition, the endorsements by Chris Hardwick and Amy Schumer have been shared across Twitter. Trailers have pulled in 20.9M YouTube views, while the Super Bowl teaser counts 11.3M views on the films Facebook page.
Meanwhile, Gramercy/Focus FeaturesLondon Has Fallenis looking at a second weekend between $10M-$12M. This would raise its 10-day cume to $38M-$40M. Meanwhile, Lionsgates romantic comedyThe Perfect Matchat 925 venues looks to be beating the rest of the wide release competition with a FSS of $5M, pegging ahead of Focus Features Young Messiahwith an estimated $3.75M and Sony/Village Roadshow/LStar Capitals Sacha Baron Cohen comedyThe Brothers Grimsbyat$3.5M (ouch). Typically when it comes to an R-rated comedy at this time of year, matinees are null. Its during the wee hours of the night that the prime twentysomething demo comes out.
1ST UPDATE, 8AM:Paramount reports that Bad Robots10 Cloverfield Lanerang up $1.8M at 2,500 theaters. Pic is expected to move to 3,391 locations today with a projected FSS between $25M-$30M. 10 Cloverfield Lanes Thursdaybeats the $1.5M preview night cash ofSuper 8which went on to open to $35.5M. In addition, it outstrips the $1.02M Thursday night grossed by Universals horror thrillerThe Visit,which opened to $25.4M back in September. 10 Cloverfield Laneis a spinoff to 2008s monster movieCloverfield,which was an MLK holiday hit with a $40M opening and final cume of $80M.Currently,10 Cloverfield Laneis charting a 91% fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating, and its something clever to behold. Itsnot just some Godzilla-like sequel. John Goodman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead are receiving high praise for their respective portrayals of an apocalypse fanatic and a car accident victim in rural Louisiana.
Outside of previews, among regularly ranked films, DisneysZootopiaranked first on Thursday with $3.88M taking its first weeks cume to $92.6M. Many expectZootopiato hold No. 1 again with a $38M-$45M second frame.
Focus FeaturesThe Young Messiahtook in $475K last night at 1,300 locations. Industry projections are at $7M-$8M for this faith-based title which follows a year in the childhood of Jesus Christ. In spreading the word about The Young Messiah, directorCyrus Nowrasteh spoke at a number of religious conferences including the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, Tenn. Producer Chris Columbus, director of the first twoHarry Potterfilms, has also been banging the drum for the movie in TV and radio interviews, including an appearance onThe Today Show.Theres also been a number of local premieres for the movie hosted by churches, local faith leaders and community groups around the country.
Sony/Village Roadshow/L Star CapitalsThe Brothers Grimsbygot the short end of the stick last night with $235K at 1,937 theaters. Heres hoping that the10 Cloverfield Lanecrowd finds this hysterical R-rated comedy after getting their fill of J.J. Abrams- sci-fi spinoff production.The Brothers Grimsbyis expected to make $7M-$8M this weekend. Currently,Brothers Grimsbyhas a 43% Rotten Tomatoes score, but then again, its quite hard for critics to swallow gross out films and this one has more than its fair share of an elephant co-starring in it. The British action comedy, directed by Louis Leterrier, has already logged more than $7M at the overseas box office.
Also in play this weekend among wide entries is Lionsgates African American romantic comedyThe Perfect Matchwhich is projected to post a FSS between $5M-$6M.
