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How has the 2015 box office performed compared to 2014? Read on to find out. Story by Matt Cummings From late 2014, critics and writers were ready to proclaim the 2015 box office as the most successful in history. We too felt a certain sense of destiny, with so many great films arriving throughout the year. We even wrote about it here , here , and here . Then January arrived, and one dud after another came with it, including Blackhat , Mortdecai , The Boy Next Door , and Project Almanac . February was actually worse, with Jupiter Ascending and Seventh Son dropping stinking loads at our door before running off. But within that mire of disaster, we also saw great films, including Paddington and Kingsman: The Secret Service , both of which kept many theaters from turning into mausoleums. You can read our QUARTER 1 REPORT here . As we pass the half-way mark of 2015, it's time to compare this year's box office to 2014, and to determine if everyone was right ab

A disappointing array of score music profligates an otherwise funny film. Review by Matt Cummings If audiences didn't quite respond to January's comedy caper Mortdecai (ok, they frankly hated it), it might have had something to do with Actor Johnny Depp's "Here we go again" approach to the titular character that kept audiences away. While I loved the film's zaniness, I was wondering whether the soundtrack by Composers Mark Ronson and Geoff Zanelli had anything to do with that experience. After listening to it, I can say an emphatic 'no.' The problem here is that the score is more set-up music and less big riffs that help to identify the actors or push the scene further. Take something like Hong Kong : you must go nearly 3 minutes into the 4:25 track before finding anything remotely like a big theme or a connecting melody. Once you get there, it's all 60's schlock and totally fun, but the wait is almost not worth the time. Jo

The numbers are impressive, but what lessons can be learned from them? Story by Matt Cummings As if we didn't know already, the 2015 box office is certainly gearing up to be one of the biggest ever. We pontificated about this in our Big Movie Questions article back in January, but already the numbers are proving we were right to be excited. According to our friends at BoxOfficeMojo, the first 46 days of the 2015 box office have generated $1.45 billion, which represents the biggest start for the industry since 2010's $1.48 billion. That's 11% higher than 2014 and 26% higher than 2013. Moreover, the top 10 releases in 2015 combined to take in over $925m as compared to a paltry $775m for the year prior. Comparing 2015 and 2014 also yielded the following information: Both year's top performers ( Lone Survivor and American Sniper ) were released in their previous years. 2014 had four $100m movies by February 15 ( Lone Survivor , Ride Along , The LEG

This week's episode of Inside the Bucket is online! Revel in the digital mastery! On this fabulous edition Inside the Bucket , Matt and Brandon fill in without SandwichJohn as he continues to battle a bad cold. With no one to defend him, this gives Matt and Brandon plenty of chances to make fun of the big guy, as well as bringing you all freshest news from our website SANDWICHJOHNFILMS.COM . Please check out all the links to the items we covered in today's podcast. Later, the duo break down their choices for Worst Films of 2014 before getting into Rants and Raves. Finally, the guys end their Man Time with a review of Johnny Depp in Mortdecai . We encourage you to participate in our Open Forum Friday, which is your chance to get in our business about running a passion project like our trainwreck. Be warned: Inside the Bucket is an EXPLICIT PODCAST. We tend to say controversial things and cuss just for the heck of it. So, please be careful if you are listening t

The slick caper comedy Mortdecai is the perfect solution to the onslaught of January bores. Review by Matt Cummings In Mortdecai , Johnny Depp plays the titular 'hero' Charlie, a sheltered and privileged art dealer/collector who's forced to join an MI-5 investigation to find a priceless painting and the Nazi account numbers on its back. Charlie would rather sip a fine Sherry than lift a finger, but that's not what is infuriating his wife Johanna (Gweneth Paltrow) it's the new curly mustache he's been cultivating. Soon, both of them are off on an art-heist adventure, courtesy of their friend from MI-5 Martland (Ewan McGregor) who holds unrequited love for Johanna. With the Russians and an international terrorist at his heels, Charlie and his man-servant Jock (Paul Bettany) must root out the painting's location using Chalrie's unique style and rather questionable talents. Critics are killing this one because they think Depp and company hav

Is January the month where films go to die? You decide in our January preview! Story by Matt Cummings After an incredibly busy month of December that saw no less than 12 interesting flicks go for our hard-earned dollars , January arrives with a distinctly "Don't forget about us!" feel. January has usually been the month where films go to die, cast off to the Island of Misfit Toys after entertaining earlier Oct-Dec releases. The reality: most of these will flop, some will linger around like Jay and Silent Bob, while others will make a profit and actually lead in the box office until around March. This year might be a different story, with one of the most anticipated slate of films in recent memory. For now. we're holding to our theory but for now there are a few that could be interesting. Our list includes a talking bear, a computer hacker, a sniper, and the end of Bryan Mills. Welcome to our January 2015 movie preview! January 6 Taken 3 Plot