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PEOPLE & ARTSMonday 5 October 2015
Science sells: ‘The Martian’ lands with $55 million debut
JAKE COYLE $45.2 million internationally.
AP Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Open- “Solid performances by
ing just days after NASA
announced findings show- recent space-related films
ing water on Mars, “The
Martian” soaked up mov- like ‘Interstellar’ and ‘Gravi-
iegoers at the box office.
Ridley Scott’s 3-D space ty’ show that ‘geeking-out’
epic touched down in the-
aters with a robust $55 mil- on all things outer space
lion over the weekend, ac-
cording to studio estimates and science related in the
Sunday.
he results again proved movie theater is not only a
moviegoers’ abiding thirst
for space adventures, popular pastime, but has
particularly ones that rely
more on mathematics now made science actu-
than monsters.
The 20th Century Fox re- ally ‘cool,’” said Paul Der-
lease, starring Matt Damon
as an astronaut left for garabedian, senior media
dead on Mars, exceeded
expectations to nearly analyst for box-office firm
rank as the top October
debut ever. The estimated Rentrak.
North American opening
of “The Martian” surpassed Yet October is proving
that of Christopher Nolan’s
“Interstellar” ($47.5 million) especially busy with well-
and virtually equaled the
debut of Alfonso Cuaron’s reviewed studio releases
“Gravity” ($55.8 million).
It’s Scott’s second best seeking broad audiences.
opening behind 2001’s
Another acclaimed 3-D
spectacle, Sony’s “The
This photo released by 20th Century Fox shows Matt Damon in a scene from the film, “The Martian.” Walk,” took a back seat to
Associated Press “The Martian.” Ahead of a
“Hannibal” and Damon’s “The Martian” — more “sci- in release date from Nov. wider opening next week,
second best after 2007’s ence-fact” than science 25 to early October gave Robert Zemeckis’ drama-
“Bourne Ultimatum.” fiction — relishes pragmat- the film a more open path tization of Philippe Petit’s
Made for $108 million, ic scientific problem solving at the box office, where World Trade Center stunt
“The Martian” received and NASA’s spirit of explo- it could play well through took in just $1.6 million on
a publicity boost earlier ration. the month. The film added 448 Imax screens. q
in the week when NASA “What separates this movie
announced it had found — it has the backdrop of
Nonprofit continuesevidence of water on the science — but all of the sci-
surface of Mars — a cos- ence is presented in a way
mically fortuitous tie-in for that’s very approachable
fight against Lucasa movie that celebrates for all,” said Chris Aronson,
NASA ingenuity. Adapted head of distribution for Fox.
Museum in Chicago from the Andy Weir novel, Aronson noted that the shift
Thriller ‘A Line of Blood’ delves CHICAGO (AP) — A non- and last until 2018 if plans
deep into family dynamics profit group has filed an up- for the museum pass the
dated complaint in federal Chicago City Council and
OLINE H. COGDILL This book cover image re- his parents’ infidelities. court as part of its efforts city Plan Commission. The
Associated Press leased by William Morrow The family is upended to keep filmmaker George site is south of Soldier Field
A supposedly tight-knit shows “A Line of Blood,” by when Alex and Max dis- Lucas from building a mu- and north of McCormick
family becomes torn apart Ben McPherson. cover their next-door seum along Lake Michigan Place. The 17-acre site will
after the death of a next- neighbor electrocuted by in Chicago. erase parking lots and add
door neighbor in an in- Associated Press an iron in his bathtub. It Friends of the Parks’ filing 4.5 acres of new parkland
tense debut by author seems to be a clear case Friday focuses on a ground and a 300,000-square-foot
Ben McPherson. “A Line of absences from their rented of suicide, but the police lease agreement that the museum.
Blood” delves deep into house in an economically treat the death as a ho- Chicago Park District has A judge previously ordered
family dynamics for a psy- depressed section of Lon- micide. McPherson’s ele- signed with the Lucas Mu- the group to file an amend-
chological thriller with re- don’s Finsbury Park. The gantly constructed plot re- seum of Narrative Art, the ed complaint because the
alistic twists that builds to a willful Max watches his par- veals the secrets that bind Chicago Tribune reports museum recently released
surprising denouement. ents closely, acutely aware these characters as well (http://trib.in/1PYAsf6 ). The revised plans that include
TV producer Alex Mercer of his father’s temper and as pull them apart. Letters agreement gives the Lucas more green space and a
is quite proud of his “little stashed in hidden boxes, museum a 99-year lease on scaled-back design.
tribe,” which consists of his furtive relationships and the lakefront property for Mayor Rahm Emanuel of-
wife, Millicent Weitzman, even sneaking cigarettes $10. The group also reiter- fered the land along Lake
who is launching a radio during the middle of the ated its argument that the Michigan for the project
show based on her self- night contribute to the situ- museum will ruin the char- to the “Star Wars” creator,
help books, and Max, their ation. Each character has acter of the Lake Michigan who chose to build in Chi-
precocious 11-year-old something to hide, includ- shoreline. cago over San Francisco.
son. They “set clear bound- ing the emotionally fragile “In particular, the ground The mayor has said he be-
aries and applied rules” in Max, whose concerns are lease agreement would lieves the museum will add
their house that “was full of easily dismissed because authorize the construction to other cultural institutions
love.” The couple believes of his age. A personal trag- of a museum that would already in the area, includ-
they are “the classic good- edy already had driven a preclude the use of the ing the Field Museum and
enough parents,” despite wedge between Alex and trust property as free and Shedd Aquarium.
Alex’s uncontrollable rages his “tribe,” even before the open space with access to The Chicago Park District
and Millicent’s frequent neighbor’s death. q the activities on Lake Mich- now has the option to reply
igan,” the filing stated. to Friends of the Parks’ fil-
Construction could be- ing. The next court date in
gin as early as next spring the case in Nov. 10.q
