Clint Catches The Bouquet?

The first regular size weekend of '09 at the movies brings 2 high profilers, 2 award contenders going wide, and a relationship flick ...

Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway battle to win Bride Wars (reviews); The Unborn (reviews) tries to scare audiences; while Clint Eastwood's award favorite Gran Torino (reviews) goes wide as does Stephen Daldry's period drama The Reader (reviews)--While Bill Duke helms the family drama Not Easily Broken (reviews)...



Dave McNary and Pamela McClintock of Variety:

Films jockeying for awards attention take center stage at the domestic box office this weekend, with Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" forecast to grab the crown as it opens nationwide after a boffo limited run.

"Torino," from Warner Bros. is expected to beat out the more commercial "Bride Wars," which Fox opens in 3,226 theaters. The female-skewing comedy, starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson, should turn in a strong performance.

The race could be close, however. And don't count out Fox's holdover holiday hit "Marley & Me," which could give "Torino" and "Bride Wars" a run. Through Wednesday, "Marley's" domestic cume was $111.1 milllion.

Weekend's other wide opener is Rogue Pictures/Universal's "The Unborn," directed by David S. Goyer; Universal releases it at 2,356 runs. Sony opens urban faith-based title "Not Easily Broken" in 724 runs.

The kudos race will heat up substantially with Sunday night's Golden Globes ceremony, followed on Jan. 22 by Oscar noms.

Specialty distributors and studios can see significant gains at the box office when bestowed with best picture and acting Golden Globe wins and Oscar noms.

Nominations alone can equal increased B.O. business. Hollywood is happily welcoming the return of the Golden Globes ceremony this year, after last year's truncated event due to the WGA strike...

Joshua Rich of EW:

The new year is already nine days old, but this weekend truly begins the 2009 box office schedule, with a full slate of freshman flicks on tap...

Next Week Paul Blart: Mall Cop is on the beat, Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin open the Hotel For Dogs, and things get really scary when the first remake of the year My Bloody Valentine 3D opens...SHUDDER!!