the buzz log
Buzz Multiplex: All About Dahl
Doomsday thrills may be gripping moviegoers, but the stealth hit may come from the animated limited release "Fantastic Mr. Fox," a "rascally" caper about a fox who settles down but can't reform his thieving ways.
"Fox" is catching praise and Web attention for its throwback stop-motion artistry and its pedigree. The voice cast features George Clooney and Meryl Streep, and director Wes Anderson ("The Royal Tenenbaums") based his first animated film on a book by the late children's author Roald Dahl.
The match-up of Anderson's surreal quirk and Dahl's dark-flavored impishness has restored the director's cred. Unlike the disappointment felt by many fans of "Where the Wild Things Are," book lovers are pleased with adaptation's "existential heft." Critics are talking Oscar about the sly "Fox" doing well in a "record" year for animation: Colorful competition includes Pixar's "Up" and "Disney's A Christmas Carol."
But the online love's all for Dahl: Web fans have pushed his searches on Yahoo! up 89%. And the man, who died in 1990, deserves the attention.
Bullied Child, Adventurous Adult
Among the many books Dahl wrote, one was an autobiography that told of his troubled childhood and adventurous youth. His father died when Dahl was three, leaving his mother to raise six kids. Beatings and bullying were common at his school. Maybe eager to leave home far behind, Doahl worked for Shell Oil in an African jungle before becoming a fighter pilot during World War II. He almost died after being mistakenly directed into a no-man's land.
Big Screen Books
No surprise that kind of living lent a dark undertone to his writings, whether for kids or adults. The new movie's triggering sentimental queries for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (+26%) and "Matilda," both adapted into cinematic favorites (even if Dahl distanced himself from the film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"). Other works that got the celluloid treatment: "James and the Giant Peach, "James and the Giant Peach, "Danny the Champion of the World," "The Witches," and the adult short-story, "The Smoker" (snagged by Quentin Tarantino for the ill-received "Four Rooms").
The Bond Connection
If children's books, housewife-crime tales and freaky ghost stories weren't enough, Dahl didn't do badly with screenplay adaptions either, including "You Only Live Twice" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."
Still Giving
His fearless nature didn't end during the war: He helped create the Dahl-Wade-Till valve, which drained fluid from the brain and let people, like his son Theo, live without being hooked up to a machine. The altruism came from personal tragedies, including his own blood disorder, his first wife's triple strokes while pregnant, and his son's brain-damage from an accident.
In addition to a museum, playful websites, and awards, his name also lives on in a nonprofit foundation that offers assistance to "young people with brain and blood problems." Classic Dahl.
The Buzz Around Gabourey Sidibe: Wonderfully 'Precious'
"Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" has broken some theatrical records—and in no small thanks to newcomer lead Gabourey Sidibe.
The Sundance Festival favorite had been building massive buzz on the Web and off. New York audiences talked up the film, directed by Lee Daniels (the man behind "Monster's Ball") and produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. Opening weekend searches were coming from about two-thirds of the nation, led by Southern states.
All this has translated into a box-office record for a film opening in under 50 theaters: Playing on only 18 screens, "Precious" pulled in $1.8 million for the opening weekend. That works out to a staggering $104,025 per theater, which slips the drama into the top 15 per-theater-averages of all time. (Only a mere $5,460 kept it from cracking the Top 10 slot, currently occupied by "Brokeback Mountain.")
The clamor has rippled even more online: Search numbers have leapt up 525%, putting the drama into the top 600 searches on Yahoo! in the past seven days.
Much attention has been focused on the cast, and now even more people are turning their eyes (and focusing their searches on) Sidibe—her Web profile's up about 480%. Here's a look at the Hollywood neophyte who might be making a date with Oscar one day soon.
Odds Against
Stepping into the lead role, Sidibe had to take on some monumental tasks, besides just holding her own in a standout cast that includes mega-stars like Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey, and Lenny Kravitz.
The 26-year-old had to play an abused, obese 16-year-old convincingly. She had to be good enough to satisfy fans of a 1996 literary classic. And, she had to portray a character, Precious Jones, who weighs in at more than 300 pounds in an industry that tends to slim down its leading ladies.
Turning on the Charm...and the Talent
It turned out that Sidibe, a psychology student and receptionist, couldn't have been more perfect for the role. The New York native wasn't unfamiliar with bright lights, hanging out at the performances of her gospel-singer mom. But that hard lifestyle of constantly trying to get gigs was exactly why Sidibe aimed for a steady desk job. Her best friend convinced her to audition, and so Sidibe competed with 1,000 others testing for the part.
As The New York Times puts it, "she blew everyone away." The director fell in love ("with all my soul"). Since then, others have fallen in line. She has already received one prestigious award. Rolling Stones critic Peter Travers calls her "glorious," and her talk-show appearances literally leave people cheering.
Far From Precious
While she was Brooklyn-born and Harlem-raised, Sidibe's similarities to the character Precious ends there. Sidibe is one of six kids, and her mother Alice Tan Ridley is a loving teacher as well as a gospel singer—known by NYC locals as the godmother of soul of the Times Square subway station. To understand the horribly abused Precious, the college student fell into familiar academic mode and delved into research about abuse. Given all the Oscar talk around her performance, Sidibe's studying more than paid off.
Level-Headed Grownup
In a Huffington Post interview, Sidibe said she felt "immense responsibility" to do Precious justice, and that her confidence came from her age (24, when she auditioned): "I know Precious because I know who I am." Sidibe keeps it real. She also said that a role model doesn't come "because I'm in a movie. My first responsibility is to my family and to myself."
Fame isn't over yet, although Sidibe understands that her background and build, atypical for Hollywood, mean people make snap judgments. “I think people look at me and don’t expect much," she told an Indiewire reporter, "even though, I expect a whole lot." In her new career as an actor, Sidibe sees her new life as "an office job...and my office happens to be a red carpet or a room full of interviewers." Now that's a grownup attitude.
Buzz Multiplex Charts: Better Based on Fiction Than Fact
Top Three Movies of the Week, as ranked by Yahoo! searches
1. "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" (R, limited release). A film adaptation of the 1996 award-winning novel took 13 years, so little wonder that pent-up anticipation has exploded online. The searches have been phenomenal, partly helped by the directorial creds (Lee Daniels produced "Monster's Ball") and an eclectic cast (Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz). Plaudits are already being loaded on star Gabourey Sidibe, who takes on the unspeakable role of horribly abused, obese 16 year old. Despite the R rating, expect the females to queue up (they make up 77% of searches) where they can.
2. "The Fourth Kind" (PG-13). Milla Jovovich has carved a niche of sorts in vanquishing 15th-century English colonialists, corporate-created zombies, and the occasional evil police force. Who better (well, besides the recently departed guv) to lead a "fact-based" drama about UFOs mixing it up with Alaskans. The film has hoax written all over it, but viral marketing helps it snag the No. 2 slot (and inspire searches like "nome alaska abductions" and "alien abduction"). Now let's see if the 13-44 year olds crowd will actually pay for a ticket. Except in Alaska: The movie's evidently not showing there.
3. "The Men Who Stare At Goats" (R). Even more fact-based than Nome abductions, the spoof checks out elite psychics practicing their skills on behalf of military intelligence (so to speak). Ewan McGregor plays the reporter checking out mind-reading warrior George Clooney. Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges add to the over-40 powerhouse crew (well, McGregor's 38). Quirky title aside, the critics aren't just mostly unimpressed—they're making bleating noises. Well, at least fainting goats are getting some online love.
Buzz Multiplex Charts: Aviatrix vs. the Freaks
The culture wars are on in the Buzz Multiplex. Will the box office fall to torturous horror or vampire interns? Or will the fearless flying female uplift ticket sales? Turns out this may be a weekend when each generation gets its own outing. Who doesn't make the top 3: The boy superhero with the cowlick.
Top Three Movies of the Week, as ranked by Yahoo! searches
1. "Amelia" (PG). Director Mira Nair, known for smaller films, landed the mega-biopic assignment of aviatrix Amelia Earheart...but some critics don't think the story ever quite took off. The allure of Amelia is strong, but mostly among people ages 35 on up, which might not bode well for big box-office receipts. Star Hilary Swank might make the difference.
2. "Saw VI" (R). A sickening indulgence, or a covert way to teach Roman numerals? Unlike "Amelia," the under-30 set is all over inventive ways to off victims in modern-day villainous occupations. Expect a "Saw" DVD marathon weekend, given the online nostalgia. This ranks as the teen-boys-sneaking-in-or-get-cool-older-brother-as-"guardian" movie of the week.
3. "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" (PG-13). Comedy + bloodsuckers + circus freaks = child-friendly, if not teen-frenzy inducing. And we didn't even mention the Salma Hayek as Bearded Lady factor. Adapted from the book series, the tale of a teenager who joins the freakiest circus on earth gets the love from the under-18 crowd.
Buzz Multiplex Charts: Wild Things, Evil Stepdads and Criminal Minds
So far autumn in the Buzz Multiplex has been all about the deliciously undead, paranormal bumps in the night, and now creepy male masterminds out to dominate the world or a domestic household. The big Buzz exception belongs to a children's literary classic. Check out what could pack the moviehouse this weekend.
Top Three Movies of the Week, as ranked by Yahoo! searches
1. "Where the Wild Things Are" (PG). The critics are mostly wild for the 1963 Maurice Sendak children's book. The expected kiddie audience makes up only 9% of the searches, as nostalgic teens through adults make up the bulk of lookups. Also on the rise: plans to dress up in a "Wild Things" costume and buying the literary classic.
2. "Law Abiding Citizen" (R). Shades of '80s entertainment, with a double machismo dose of Gerard Butler (atoning for his disastrous romantic comedy) and Jamie Foxx (reminding the masses of his uber-talents). Both men pull in about equal buzz, and each boast more searches than the movie itself. Audiences will lean male (60%), but there are a quite a few ladies ready for a tale of hunk vs. hunk.
3. "The Stepfather" (PG-13). Wicked stepmothers get more than their fair share, so now the evil stepdad steps up. TV familiars make up the cast, with Dylan Walsh as the new poppa, Sela Ward the clueless mom, Penn Badgley as the suspicious teen, and Amber Heard as the supportive girlfriend. More females (55%) lean towards family domestic horrors...Must be all that fairy-tale indoctrination.
top movers
| Rank | Subject | 1-Day Move |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worst Airports For Delays 2009 | Breakout! |
| 2 | How To Survive A Recession | Breakout! |
| 3 | Ice Cream Calorie Counter | Breakout! |
| 4 | Jayson Williams | Breakout! |
| 5 | Alexandra Kerry | Breakout! |
| 6 | Chaz Bono | 10707% |
| 7 | Kelly Osbourne | 3298% |
| 8 | Jennifer Hudson | 3218% |
| 9 | Nicole Richie | 2075% |
| 10 | Thierry Henry | 1125% |
top leaders
| Rank | Subject | Move | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Friday | +413 | 1016 |
| 2 | Elizabeth Lambert | -677 | 263 |
| 3 | NFL | +66 | 235 |
| 4 | New Moon | +74 | 213 |
| 5 | Bing | +83 | 209 |
| 6 | Kelly Osbourne | +193 | 199 |
| 7 | Hulu | +7 | 139 |
| 8 | Nicole Richie | +124 | 130 |
what's the buzz?
A subject's buzz score is the percentage of Yahoo! users searching for that subject on a given day, multiplied by a constant to make the number easier to read. Weekly leaders are the subjects with the greatest average buzz score for a given week.
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