AFP, LONDON: As widely predicted, Tom Hooper's British film 'The King's Speech' swept the board with seven BAFTAs including best film at Sunday evening's awards ceremony -- but David Fincher grabs the best director award for 'The Social Network'.
Read on to find out how British film's biggest night of the year unfolded in the rarefied surroundings of the Royal Opera House in central London's Covent Garden district ...
1732 GMT: Welcome to our live report of this years frocks and shocks at the BAFTAs, Britain's prestigious warm-up for the Oscars in Los Angeles in two weeks time.
'The King's Speech', with fourteen nominations, is tipped to be this year's big winner while 'Black Swan', a psychological thriller starring Natalie Portman set in New York's ballet world, should also do well -- it's been nominated for 12 gongs.
1742 GMT: My colleague Ruth Holmes is down on the red carpet outside the Royal Opera House and sends me this:
"Red carpet arrivals are under way and the umbrellas are out. It's a typical February BAFTA night - cold and wet. But that hasn't deterred the fans who are already cheering from the sidelines. No famous faces to report yet though."
1750 GMT: More from Ruth braving the rain down on the red carpet:
"Crowds are shouting 'Rupert' ...as the first Harry Potter star Rupert Grint arrives."
1758 GMT: Director of 'The King's Speech' Tom Hooper said the response to the film had been 'extraordinary':
"The thing that's really surprised me is how democratic its reach has been. It's loved by eight-year-olds and by 80-year-olds in all different countries and cultures."
1805 GMT: Andrew Garfield, who's up for two BAFTAs this evening including best supporting actor for 'The Social Network', has arrived on the red strip.
"I feel very proud and privileged to be here," says the British-American rising star.
1811 GMT: Helena Bonham Carter, up for best supporting actress for 'The King's Speech', is next up, wearing a ruffled, floor-length Vivienne Westwood number. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reportedly enjoyed the film in which Bonham Carter plays Queen Elizabeth, the current Queen's late mother:
"She's not been in personal touch," says Bonham Carter. "I just hope I did her mother justice in the film."
1821 GMT: This from Ruth outside the venue in Covent Garden:
"Jesse Eisenberg, who is nominated for best actor for his portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in 'The Social Network', says: 'The whole experience for me has been a really overwhelming thing.
''The King's Speech' is such a wonderful movie so it's just nice to be nominated alongside it,' he says of the competition."
1825 GMT: The directors are arriving now -- Kevin Spacey has appeared along with David Fincher ('The Social Network') and Christopher Nolan ('Inception') Ruth tells me.
1830 GMT: More from Ruth at BAFTA HQ:
"The youngest nominee Hailee Steinfeld of the Coen Brothers' Western remake 'True Grit' has arrived looking elegant in black...
"And here's Samuel L. Jackson, sauntering down the carpet wearing a black cap and trainers with his dinner jacket."
Little bit cheeky...
1833 GMT: ... and tonight's host Jonathan Ross has pitched up. No sign of Colin Firth yet though.
1839 GMT: Brace yourselves ladies -- Colin Firth is now officially on the carpet.
1850 GMT: Floppy-haired film buff and tonight's awards host Jonathan Ross is on the stage in the Royal Opera House venue, Ruth tells me:
"The last 12 months has produced some incredible awards and there's strong competition in all of the categories," he says.
...and then some run-of-the-mill Ross gags! Nothing too controversial. He's not taking his chances after the Ricky Gervais Golden Globes fiasco.
1910 GMT: Jonathan Ross introduces ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney to the stage:
"Some of the best music ever written come from the movies....A Hard Day's Night....Yellow Submarine," the ex-Beatle quips.
"Tonight there are five amazing nominees for original music... And the BAFTA goes to ... 'The King's Speech'."
1915 GMT: Frenchman Alexandre Desplat, collecting the award for best original music, said: "This is a great honour. There are so many movies I've done with Colin Firth that I need to say thank you. He's like a lucky charm now."
1920 GMT: And the best short film BAFTA goes to... 'Until the River Runs Red'.
1923 GMT: English actor and director Paddy Considine is presenting the short film and short animation award.
And the best short animation goes to... 'The Eagleman Stag', a dark comedy written by Michael Please and voiced by British actor David Cann.
1927 GMT: Next up is the award for best editing. And 'The Social Network' picks up what could be a string of BAFTAs this evening.
The film, about Mark Zuckerburg founding of social network site Facebook, is nominated for six BAFTAs in all.
1932 GMT: Hailee Steinfeld, who at 14 is the youngest nominee of the evening for her role in 'True Grit', arrives on stage to announce the hair and make-up award, looking elegant above her age in a bejewelled black dress.
She stumbles over her words: "From period dramas to science fiction epics... make-up and hair are crucial elements to creating perfection.
"And the BAFTA goes to... 'Alice in Wonderland'"
1935 GMT: BAFTA for Film Not In The English Language goes to 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'.
Producer Soren Staermose dedicates the "beautiful statue" to his wife and author Stieg Larsson who wrote the Millennium Trilogy on which the film is based.
"Without him none of us would be here," he says.
He goes on to pay tribute to the leading actress Noomi Rapace, who is nominated in the lead actress category and plays punky computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.
"We all know that Lisbeth Salander is the scariest thing coming out of Sweden since Abba," Staermose says.
1945 GMT: ... and the award for best Costume Design goes to 'Alice in Wonderland' (Colleen Atwood)
Atwood has previously been nominated seven times in this category, winning twice for 'Memoirs of A Geisha' and 'Sleepy Hollow'. This is her eighth collaboration with director Tim Burton.
1955 GMT: This just in from my colleague Ruth Holmes at the Royal Opera House:
"To present the award for best supporting actress is James McAvoy.
The winner is.... Helena Bonham Carter.
'I'm so used to losing it's quite a strange feeling to win,' says Bonham Carter. 'I'm thrilled to be considered in the same category as my fellow supporting actresses...
'My underskirt has got hitched up... it's not a good moment.'
She thanked the royal family ... 'You've done wonders for my career,' she said.
'I have fun and I love it and it's my privilege to keep working in this over-subscribed profession... to make a living by getting dressed up and pretending to be someone else... and getting paid for it... and then get an award for it.'
1958 GMT: Minnie Driver and Sam Driver come on stage to announce the award for Best Production Design.
And the BAFTA goes to... 'Inception'.
2002 GMT: Actor and director Kevin Spacey announces the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer or Producer, which he says "offers a snapshot of the future."
The nominees "prove that small budgets are no hindrance to remarkable invention", he says.
"And the BAFTA goes to... Chris Morris for 'Four Lions'. Chris "couldn't be here tonight," Spacey announces.
2007 GMT: The delectable Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame announces the award for Outstanding British Film.
And the BAFTA goes to... no surprises here: 'The King's Speech.' The first of many this evening?
2018 GMT: More from our reporter Ruth Holmes at the Royal Opera House:
"Director of 'The King's Speech' Tom Hooper said it was "absolutely thrilling to win the award in this room" after picking up the Outstanding British Film.
"He pays tribute to screenwriter David Seidler, who himself suffered with a stammer as a boy.
"Geoffrey Rush gets best supporting actor for his role as Lionel Logan, the king's speech therapist in the same film, but can't be there to collect it."
"For a stutterer and stammerer to be heard is a wonderful thing," says David Seidler, collecting the award.
2022 GMT: British acting pair Rosamund Pike and Dominic Cooper announce the award for Best Original Screenplay.
"The really original story would be if I read out the wrong name," Pike jokes, after fluffing her lines as she struggles with the autocue.
"But I won't do that," she adds quickly before going to open the envelope.
Jonathan Ross leaps in shouting "not yet" and they move onto list the nominations: 'Black Swan', 'The Fighter', 'Inception', 'The Kids are All Right' and 'The King's Speech'. ...and it's another one for 'The King's Speech'!
2030 GMT: British actor Stephen Fry pays tribute to the Harry Potter films which receive an award or Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
Director David Heyman pays tribute to the 6,000 people who have worked on each of the Potter films:
"Over the past decade we've had the privilege of working with some of the finest people working today, in an atmosphere filled with pride but no ego, working on glorious fiction created by Jo Rowling.
"We became a family of sorts, we had an awful lot of fun."
Harry Potter author JK Rowling is equally enthused: "It's very strange to look back after seven films and remember how wary I was of letting anyone put Harry on the screen.
"I kept saying no and it was David Heyman who persuaded me.
"Being involved in these films has been one of the best experiences of my life," she adds.
2040 GMT: Neve Campbell and Nicholas Hoult present the BAFTA for Best Animated Film, which goes to Toy Story 3.
2046 GMT: US fashion designer and film director Tom Ford is joined by French actress Eva Green to present the Rising Star Award, now in its sixth year.
"Star quality is something that can't truly be explained but when a young actor has it... it can be dazzling," says Ford.
Nominated are Gemma Arterton, Andrew Garfied, Tom Hardy, Aaron Johnson and Emma Stone.And the winner is... Tom Hardy... who couldn't be here to collect his award.
Tom Hardy made his name in Stephen Spielberg's World War II series 'Band of Brothers', more recently acted in 'Inception' and is the upcoming star of 'Batman Rises'.
The Rising Star Award is the only one to be voted for by the public.
2052 GMT: Julianne Moore, who is nominated for best actress for her role in 'The Kids Are All Right', announces the best Adapted Screenplay.
And the BAFTA goes to... 'The Social Network'.
2056 GMT: Writer Aaron Sorkin paid tribute to the young actors in 'The Social Network', including Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield who he said would give cinema "some great things for a long time."
Next up, Joel and Ethan Coen's remake of the John Wayne Western 'True Grit' gets its first BAFTA -- for Cinematography.
Hailee Steinfeld, 14, who plays headstrong farmgirl Mattie Ross in the film, collects it as cinematographer Roger Deakins couldn't attend.
"It was truly inspirational working with such industry legends on my first feature film," she says.
2059 GMT: The next award is for Best Director and is presented by British actress Tilda Swinton.
The four nominations are: Danny Boyle, for '127 Hours', Darren Aronofsky for 'Black Swan', Christopher Nolan for 'Inception', Tom Hooper for 'The King's Speech ' and David Fincher for 'The Social Network'.
2101 GMT: And the BAFTA for best director goes to...
David Fincher for 'The Social Network'.
2103 GMT: David Fincher couldn't attend so Andrew Garfield and Jesse Eisenberg collect it in his stead.
Andrew Garfield: "David Fincher would have loved to have been here but he's busy making his next gift for all of us."
Eisenberg says Fincher's films were as "exhilarating" to act in as they are to watch. Fincher is known for his meticulous directing. The first scene alone took 99 takes.
2106 GMT: Next up is leading actress... and the BAFTA goes to:
Natalie Portman for 'Black Swan', a dark look at the world of ballet in New York.
Portman couldn't attend so Gerard Butler presents the award instead to director Darren Aronofsky.
"She's very pregnant so she can't fly," explains Aronofsky of Portman's absence.
"She's by far the most committed, dedicated, focused actor I've ever worked with," he adds.
"She swam a mile a day, trained for hours every day for a year, learned ballet and was in every scene in every shot," he adds.
"She shared her heart and soul and spirit with me and with the world."
2110 GMT: And -- phew, struggling to keep up with this -- it's the BAFTA for leading actor...no surprises here ...
... it's Colin Firth for 'The King's Speech.'!!
2115 GMT: "Consistent with the fact that almost every important turning point in my life has hinged on the banal... the day in which I had my first meeting with [director, Tom] Hooper I had to postpone a ... possibly painful medical appointment," Firth recounts, joking that director Tom Hooper's methods were just as intrusive.
"Perhaps one never truly escapes one's fate," he says.
"He [Hooper] has my eternal gratitude."
2119 GMT: Best film is presented by Hollywood legend Samuel L Jackson...
And the BAFTA goes to...guess what... 'The King's Speech'!!
2122 GMT: And up steps Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter's other half of course, to present the Fellowship award to Christopher Lee, best known for his role as the original Count Dracula.
2135 GMT: "The fellowship is the highest honour the BAFTAs can bestow," Tim Burton says.
Christopher Lee has featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the movie star with the most screen credits to his name, with a repertoire ranging from Sherlock Holmes to Count Dracula...The mummy in 'Frankenstein'...'Triple Nipple' [Scaramanga] in 'Man with the Golden Gun'... Saruman in the 'Lord of the Rings' Trilogy.
He is "the most dedicated actor I've ever worked with," Burton adds.
Lee works with UNICEF and record operas and heavy metal in his spare time and was knighted in 2009. He is 88 years old.
"This is a truly great honour, a great, great honour," Christopher Lee said.
"Two things make it so, the fact that this was voted to me by my peers and secondly that I received it from one of the great directors of our age.
Lee added he was "thankful that he didn't stand in the steps of Stanley Kubrick whose award was posthumous."
Sunday, February 13, 2011
'The King's Speech' wins best film BAFTA
AFP, LONDON: British film "The King's Speech" warmed up for the Oscars Sunday by picking up the coveted BAFTA gong for Best Film while Colin Firth, who plays the film's stammering monarch, collected Best Actor.
The dramatisation of the true-life relationship between King George VI and his speech therapist won seven awards at the ceremony held in central London's Royal Opera House.
Hollywood A-listers Samuel L. Jackson, Jesse Eisenberg and Mickey Rourke watched on as the story of the stammering monarch beat off competition from "The Social Network," "Black Swan," Inception" and "True Grit".
The film is among the favourites to collect the Best Picture award at the Oscars on February 27.
Firth has now claimed the impressive double of BAFTA and Golden Globe for his portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II's father, but will have to wait two weeks to find out if he can complete the set with the biggest prize in showbusiness.
The Queen was reported to have given the royal seal approval to the triumphant film, an endorsement which Firth admitted meant "a very great deal."
Helena Bonham Carter earlier won best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the Queen's mother while Geoffrey Rush walked off with best Supporting Actor for his role as the king's speech therapist.
Natalie Portman claimed the Best Actress award for her performance in "Black Swan."
The dramatisation of the true-life relationship between King George VI and his speech therapist won seven awards at the ceremony held in central London's Royal Opera House.
Hollywood A-listers Samuel L. Jackson, Jesse Eisenberg and Mickey Rourke watched on as the story of the stammering monarch beat off competition from "The Social Network," "Black Swan," Inception" and "True Grit".
The film is among the favourites to collect the Best Picture award at the Oscars on February 27.
Firth has now claimed the impressive double of BAFTA and Golden Globe for his portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II's father, but will have to wait two weeks to find out if he can complete the set with the biggest prize in showbusiness.
The Queen was reported to have given the royal seal approval to the triumphant film, an endorsement which Firth admitted meant "a very great deal."
Helena Bonham Carter earlier won best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the Queen's mother while Geoffrey Rush walked off with best Supporting Actor for his role as the king's speech therapist.
Natalie Portman claimed the Best Actress award for her performance in "Black Swan."
'King's Speech' big winner at British film awards
AP, LONDON: Royal drama "The King's Speech" was crowned the big winner Sunday at Britain's top film awards — a sign that it may reign again at Hollywood's Academy Awards in two weeks' time.
The made-in-England story of King George VI and his struggle to overcome a stutter won seven prizes, including best picture and acting trophies for Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush.
It had to share the crown jewels with Facebook-founding drama "The Social Network, which took three prizes including best director for David Fincher. Mind-bending saga "Inception" also won three trophies.
"The King's Speech" went into the awards as heavy favorite with 14 nominations — an unexpected British triumph that cost a reported 15 million pounds ($24 million) to make and has taken many times that at the global box office.
It beat "The Social Network," "Black Swan," "Inception" and "True Grit" to the best picture prize.
Perfectly timed in a year that sees the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the movie tells the true story of George VI, thrust unexpectedly onto the throne by his elder brother's abdication, and his battle to overcome a stammer with the help of an unconventional speech therapist.
Screenwriter David Seidler said he was astonished that this small film about "two men in a room" had been so popular around the world.
"I don't think it's the fascination with royalty," Seidler said. "I don't think it's the ostrich plumes and the gold braid. I think it's the fact that it's a story about changing your destiny."
The British-American writer, who overcame a childhood stammer and has worked on the screenplay for 30 years, said that "for a stutterer ... to be heard is a wonderful thing."
As expected, Firth won best actor for his portrayal of the reluctant monarch. He has already won a best actor trophy at the Golden Globes and is a favorite for an Oscar.
"I like coming here," said Firth, who won the same prize last year for "A Single Man."
"The King's Speech" also took awards for best British film, original screenplay, original music, supporting actor for Rush's turn as speech therapist Lionel Logue and supporting actress, for Bonham Carter's performance as the Queen Mother Elizabeth.
"I think I should thank the royal family, frankly, because they've done wonders for my career," Bonham Carter said.
Bonham Carter, who also recently played the giant-craniumed Red Queen in husband Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," joked that "I seem to be playing queens with ever-decreasing head sizes."
Natalie Portman won the best actress prize for psychosexual dance thriller "Black Swan," its only win from 12 nominations.
"The Social Network" took directing and editing prizes, as well as an award for Aaron Sorkin's adapted screenplay. "Inception" won prizes for sound, production design and visual effects.
Writer-director Chris Morris took the prize for best British debut for "Four Lions," his comedy about a group of bumbling would-be suicide bombers.
Swedish thriller "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" was named best foreign language film. Producer Soeren Staermose joked that its no-holds-barred heroine, Lisbeth Salander, was "the scariest thing to come out of Sweden since ABBA."
Most of the winners are selected by the votes of 6,000 academy members.
Actor Tom Hardy won the Rising Star Award, decided by public vote.
The awards, known as BAFTAs, are considered a strong indicator of possible Oscars glory. Last year, Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker" won six BAFTAs, including best picture — then repeated the feat at the Oscars.
Sunday's ceremony provided a mix of British style and Hollywood glamour. Stars including Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Neve Campbell, Barbara Hershey and Bonham Carter — in a black Vivienne Westwood dress — braved a blustery London drizzle to walk the red carpet at London's Royal Opera House before the televised show.
Britain's movie industry is facing uncertainty amid an economic slowdown and government funding cuts. "The King's Speech" was partly funded by the U.K. Film Council, a body recently abolished by the country's Conservative-led government.
The ceremony tried to lift the mood and celebrate British success, giving an award to the money-minting "Harry Potter" franchise for outstanding British contribution to cinema.
Christopher Lee, the aristocratic 88-year-old actor who chilled generations as Count Dracula in a series of Hammer Studios horror classics, received a lifetime achievement award.
The made-in-England story of King George VI and his struggle to overcome a stutter won seven prizes, including best picture and acting trophies for Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush.
It had to share the crown jewels with Facebook-founding drama "The Social Network, which took three prizes including best director for David Fincher. Mind-bending saga "Inception" also won three trophies.
"The King's Speech" went into the awards as heavy favorite with 14 nominations — an unexpected British triumph that cost a reported 15 million pounds ($24 million) to make and has taken many times that at the global box office.
It beat "The Social Network," "Black Swan," "Inception" and "True Grit" to the best picture prize.
Perfectly timed in a year that sees the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the movie tells the true story of George VI, thrust unexpectedly onto the throne by his elder brother's abdication, and his battle to overcome a stammer with the help of an unconventional speech therapist.
Screenwriter David Seidler said he was astonished that this small film about "two men in a room" had been so popular around the world.
"I don't think it's the fascination with royalty," Seidler said. "I don't think it's the ostrich plumes and the gold braid. I think it's the fact that it's a story about changing your destiny."
The British-American writer, who overcame a childhood stammer and has worked on the screenplay for 30 years, said that "for a stutterer ... to be heard is a wonderful thing."
As expected, Firth won best actor for his portrayal of the reluctant monarch. He has already won a best actor trophy at the Golden Globes and is a favorite for an Oscar.
"I like coming here," said Firth, who won the same prize last year for "A Single Man."
"The King's Speech" also took awards for best British film, original screenplay, original music, supporting actor for Rush's turn as speech therapist Lionel Logue and supporting actress, for Bonham Carter's performance as the Queen Mother Elizabeth.
"I think I should thank the royal family, frankly, because they've done wonders for my career," Bonham Carter said.
Bonham Carter, who also recently played the giant-craniumed Red Queen in husband Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," joked that "I seem to be playing queens with ever-decreasing head sizes."
Natalie Portman won the best actress prize for psychosexual dance thriller "Black Swan," its only win from 12 nominations.
"The Social Network" took directing and editing prizes, as well as an award for Aaron Sorkin's adapted screenplay. "Inception" won prizes for sound, production design and visual effects.
Writer-director Chris Morris took the prize for best British debut for "Four Lions," his comedy about a group of bumbling would-be suicide bombers.
Swedish thriller "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" was named best foreign language film. Producer Soeren Staermose joked that its no-holds-barred heroine, Lisbeth Salander, was "the scariest thing to come out of Sweden since ABBA."
Most of the winners are selected by the votes of 6,000 academy members.
Actor Tom Hardy won the Rising Star Award, decided by public vote.
The awards, known as BAFTAs, are considered a strong indicator of possible Oscars glory. Last year, Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker" won six BAFTAs, including best picture — then repeated the feat at the Oscars.
Sunday's ceremony provided a mix of British style and Hollywood glamour. Stars including Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Neve Campbell, Barbara Hershey and Bonham Carter — in a black Vivienne Westwood dress — braved a blustery London drizzle to walk the red carpet at London's Royal Opera House before the televised show.
Britain's movie industry is facing uncertainty amid an economic slowdown and government funding cuts. "The King's Speech" was partly funded by the U.K. Film Council, a body recently abolished by the country's Conservative-led government.
The ceremony tried to lift the mood and celebrate British success, giving an award to the money-minting "Harry Potter" franchise for outstanding British contribution to cinema.
Christopher Lee, the aristocratic 88-year-old actor who chilled generations as Count Dracula in a series of Hammer Studios horror classics, received a lifetime achievement award.
Sandler, Aniston barely beat Bieber at box office
AP, LOS ANGELES: Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston are America's box-office sweethearts, but Justin Bieber is the valentine for teens.
The Valentine's Day weekend was a close one as Sandler and Aniston's romantic comedy, "Just Go With It," debuted with $31 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
That was just ahead of the concert documentary "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," which opened a close second with $30.3 million.
Sony's "Just Go With It" and Paramount's "Never Say Never" were close enough that the rankings could change when studios release final numbers Monday.
The teen pop idol's flick exceeded industry expectations and nearly matched the $31.1 million opening of 2008's "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert," the record-holder for music-documentary debuts.
Another love story, Disney's animated adventure "Gnomeo & Juliet," opened solidly at No. 3 with $25.5 million. The movie features the voices of Emily Blunt and James McAvoy in a twist on "Romeo and Juliet" told with garden gnomes.
The weekend's other new wide release, Focus Features' ancient Roman saga "The Eagle," was No. 4 with $8.6 million. The film stars Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell on a quest into the wilds of 2nd century Scotland.
Though Hollywood generally did strong business, revenues still were down compared to the previous year's for the 14th weekend in a row.
Receipts came in at $149 million, off 27 percent from the same weekend a year ago, when "Valentine's Day," "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" and "The Wolfman" combined for debuts totaling nearly $120 million, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.
"We can't catch a break at the box office this year," said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "Ordinarily, this would be a great weekend, but last year, the first quarter was really strong."
"Just Go With It" is a romantic farce featuring Sandler and Aniston as pals posing as a soon-to-be-divorced couple.
The movie maintained Sandler's steady record of box-office hits, pulling in the over-25 crowd, while teen girls flocked to Bieber's film, which gave "Just Go for It" a run for the No. 1 spot.
"It was a bit of a nail-biter," said Rory Bruer, Sony's head of distribution. "But quite frankly, what you could see is that both movies were going to do business. Overall, it was a pretty good movie-going weekend."
While critics hated "Just Go With It," Bieber's "Never Say Never" earned fairly good reviews. But audiences for music documentaries and concert films are tough to track, and even some insiders at Paramount thought the movie might do as little as $10 million over opening weekend, just a third of what it actually delivered.
Adding in ticket sales from preview screenings Wednesday, the movie's domestic total stood at $31 million.
"I've clearly caught the Bieber fever, and I don't think they were looking for me. I don't think I was anywhere near their target audience," said Don Harris, Paramount's executive vice president for distribution. "I caught it when the grosses started coming in."
In limited release, Fox Searchlight's comedy "Cedar Rapids" debuted well with $310,789 in 15 theaters, for a healthy average of $20,719 a cinema.
That compared to an average of $9,746 in 3,105 theaters for "Never Say Never," $8,737 in 3,548 cinemas for "Just Go With It," $8,517 in 2,994 locations for "Gnomeo & Juliet" and $3,741 in 2,296 spots for "The Eagle."
"Cedar Rapids" stars Ed Helms as a naïve insurance salesman who gets some life lessons at a business conference. The movie gradually expands into nationwide release over the next month.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Just Go With It," $31 million.
2. "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," $30.3 million.
3. "Gnomeo & Juliet," $25.5 million.
4. "The Eagle," $8.6 million.
5. "The Roommate," $8.4 million.
6. "The King's Speech," $7.4 million.
7. "No Strings Attached," $5.6 million.
8. "Sanctum," $5.1 million.
9. "True Grit," $3.8 million.
10. "The Green Hornet," $3.6 million.
The Valentine's Day weekend was a close one as Sandler and Aniston's romantic comedy, "Just Go With It," debuted with $31 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
That was just ahead of the concert documentary "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," which opened a close second with $30.3 million.
Sony's "Just Go With It" and Paramount's "Never Say Never" were close enough that the rankings could change when studios release final numbers Monday.
The teen pop idol's flick exceeded industry expectations and nearly matched the $31.1 million opening of 2008's "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert," the record-holder for music-documentary debuts.
Another love story, Disney's animated adventure "Gnomeo & Juliet," opened solidly at No. 3 with $25.5 million. The movie features the voices of Emily Blunt and James McAvoy in a twist on "Romeo and Juliet" told with garden gnomes.
The weekend's other new wide release, Focus Features' ancient Roman saga "The Eagle," was No. 4 with $8.6 million. The film stars Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell on a quest into the wilds of 2nd century Scotland.
Though Hollywood generally did strong business, revenues still were down compared to the previous year's for the 14th weekend in a row.
Receipts came in at $149 million, off 27 percent from the same weekend a year ago, when "Valentine's Day," "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" and "The Wolfman" combined for debuts totaling nearly $120 million, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.
"We can't catch a break at the box office this year," said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "Ordinarily, this would be a great weekend, but last year, the first quarter was really strong."
"Just Go With It" is a romantic farce featuring Sandler and Aniston as pals posing as a soon-to-be-divorced couple.
The movie maintained Sandler's steady record of box-office hits, pulling in the over-25 crowd, while teen girls flocked to Bieber's film, which gave "Just Go for It" a run for the No. 1 spot.
"It was a bit of a nail-biter," said Rory Bruer, Sony's head of distribution. "But quite frankly, what you could see is that both movies were going to do business. Overall, it was a pretty good movie-going weekend."
While critics hated "Just Go With It," Bieber's "Never Say Never" earned fairly good reviews. But audiences for music documentaries and concert films are tough to track, and even some insiders at Paramount thought the movie might do as little as $10 million over opening weekend, just a third of what it actually delivered.
Adding in ticket sales from preview screenings Wednesday, the movie's domestic total stood at $31 million.
"I've clearly caught the Bieber fever, and I don't think they were looking for me. I don't think I was anywhere near their target audience," said Don Harris, Paramount's executive vice president for distribution. "I caught it when the grosses started coming in."
In limited release, Fox Searchlight's comedy "Cedar Rapids" debuted well with $310,789 in 15 theaters, for a healthy average of $20,719 a cinema.
That compared to an average of $9,746 in 3,105 theaters for "Never Say Never," $8,737 in 3,548 cinemas for "Just Go With It," $8,517 in 2,994 locations for "Gnomeo & Juliet" and $3,741 in 2,296 spots for "The Eagle."
"Cedar Rapids" stars Ed Helms as a naïve insurance salesman who gets some life lessons at a business conference. The movie gradually expands into nationwide release over the next month.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Just Go With It," $31 million.
2. "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," $30.3 million.
3. "Gnomeo & Juliet," $25.5 million.
4. "The Eagle," $8.6 million.
5. "The Roommate," $8.4 million.
6. "The King's Speech," $7.4 million.
7. "No Strings Attached," $5.6 million.
8. "Sanctum," $5.1 million.
9. "True Grit," $3.8 million.
10. "The Green Hornet," $3.6 million.
Beckham takes fashion risks — and sees payoff
AP, NEW YORK: Victoria Beckham says, six seasons into her fashion brand, she's a more confident designer and a more confident person, and that allows her to take risks beyond the structured cocktail dresses that gave her cred with a famously finicky industry.
For her Sunday morning New York Fashion Week presentation, she wore one of the loose, cashmere cocoon dresses that she said she found intimidating when she was more of a novice. The swing trapeze dress and a multi-metallic honeycomb in a caftanlike silhouette were also items she added to the collection with a surer hand.
These roomier designs take more work, but they are worth it so women can be fashionable — as well as comfortable, explained Beckham, her hair pulled into a long ponytail. (She announced last month that she and husband David Beckham are expecting their fourth child.)
"I designed this collection before I knew I was pregnant," she said with a laugh to the small crowd of editors, retailers and stylists gathered at her favorite Upper East Side mansion runway venue that allows her to individually greet guests.
A red V-neck tunic dress looked the simplest, she said, but "it was a nightmare!"
Using a palette she described as "desert brights," Beckham offered a teal matte gazar V-neck cocoon that she said was "young red carpet," but the finale gown in the same color and fabric was the one to talk about: It had chiffon-covered resin bits arranged in a mosaic pattern that looked like shards of shattered glass around the neckline.
For the first time, Beckham offered coats, including a red raglan-sleeve coat with a buckle at the collar and a super-chic black coat with knife pleats from hip to hem.
She did several dresses with pleats, too, a look she always wanted to wear but couldn't figure out how to until she started placing them below the hip bone. The best versions were a saffron-yellow crepe dress with a halter neck and the honeycomb gown, also with a halter-neck, that had restrained pleats at the top and fuller ones on the skirt. That look, she said, was her favorite.
Beckham — for business or posterity — has numbered in order each style she makes. The fall collection includes look No. 100, which has the more fitted shape with exposed seams and zippers that are her hallmark but adds the wrap shape that she built this season around.
"The 100th dress is a Victoria Beckham silhouette chosen as the perfect representation of everything the collection set out to achieve at the outset," she said in her notes.
For her Sunday morning New York Fashion Week presentation, she wore one of the loose, cashmere cocoon dresses that she said she found intimidating when she was more of a novice. The swing trapeze dress and a multi-metallic honeycomb in a caftanlike silhouette were also items she added to the collection with a surer hand.
These roomier designs take more work, but they are worth it so women can be fashionable — as well as comfortable, explained Beckham, her hair pulled into a long ponytail. (She announced last month that she and husband David Beckham are expecting their fourth child.)
"I designed this collection before I knew I was pregnant," she said with a laugh to the small crowd of editors, retailers and stylists gathered at her favorite Upper East Side mansion runway venue that allows her to individually greet guests.
A red V-neck tunic dress looked the simplest, she said, but "it was a nightmare!"
Using a palette she described as "desert brights," Beckham offered a teal matte gazar V-neck cocoon that she said was "young red carpet," but the finale gown in the same color and fabric was the one to talk about: It had chiffon-covered resin bits arranged in a mosaic pattern that looked like shards of shattered glass around the neckline.
For the first time, Beckham offered coats, including a red raglan-sleeve coat with a buckle at the collar and a super-chic black coat with knife pleats from hip to hem.
She did several dresses with pleats, too, a look she always wanted to wear but couldn't figure out how to until she started placing them below the hip bone. The best versions were a saffron-yellow crepe dress with a halter neck and the honeycomb gown, also with a halter-neck, that had restrained pleats at the top and fuller ones on the skirt. That look, she said, was her favorite.
Beckham — for business or posterity — has numbered in order each style she makes. The fall collection includes look No. 100, which has the more fitted shape with exposed seams and zippers that are her hallmark but adds the wrap shape that she built this season around.
"The 100th dress is a Victoria Beckham silhouette chosen as the perfect representation of everything the collection set out to achieve at the outset," she said in her notes.
"The King's Speech" royal winner at BAFTA awards
Reuters, LONDON: "The King's Speech," in which Colin Firth plays stammering King George VI, reigned supreme at Britain's BAFTA awards Sunday, picking up seven prizes with just two weeks to go before the Oscars.
The royal biopic, which won awards for best film, best actor and best supporting actor and actress, also leads the field at the Academy Awards with 12 nominations.
It had been nominated for 14 BAFTAs, ahead of ballet drama "Black Swan" and "Inception," starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
"To win best British film and best film at home ... it's a huge thing," director Tom Hooper told reporters.
Hooper said reports that Britain's Queen Elizabeth approved of the film and found it moving were particularly gratifying.
"The fact that it appears to have a seal of approval means a huge amount to me and Colin."
Firth picked up his second BAFTA best actor award in two years after winning the prize for "A Single Man" last year.
"This thing has run away with us all, we're all astonished," he said.
Firth has already won best actor at the Screen Actors Guild awards, the Golden Globes and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards for his portrayal of the current British monarch's father. He is nominated for best actor at the February 27 Oscars.
Firth's co-stars in The King's Speech -- Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush -- won the best supporting actress and actor respectively. Bonham Carter thanked the royal family in her acceptance speech.
The film also won the award for outstanding British film, music and scriptwriter David Seidler picked up the best original screenplay prize.
"Inception" picked up three awards including sound and special visual effects.
David Fincher won the best director award for "The Social Network," which tells the tale of the founding of the Facebook website. The film, which has been one of the most tipped for Oscar glory, also won the award for best adapted screenplay.
Best actor nominee Jesse Eisenberg picked up the award on Fincher's behalf as he was unable to attend due to filming.
HARRY POTTER AWARDED
The BAFTAs tend to lean toward British talent more than the Oscars, and they are a far-from-perfect barometer of what happens at the Academy Awards.
But the scale of the success of "The King's Speech" has been noted by the industry as well as the media.
Natalie Portman won the best actress award for Black Swan, the only award the film picked up out of 12 nominations. The film's director Darren Aronofsky picked up the award for the pregnant actress who did not attend the awards ceremony.
Climbing story "127 Hours" was left empty-handed while Western remake "True Grit" earned the award for cinematography.
Inception actor Tom Hardy won the Orange Rising Star prize, which is decided by the British public unlike the other awards. The best foreign film went to "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" whose Swedish version is an adaptation of Stieg Larsson's best-selling novel.
The Harry Potter films picked up the award for outstanding British contribution.
"It's very strange to look back after seven films and remember how wary I was of letting anyone put Harry on the big screen," Harry Potter author JK Rowling said.
"...Being involved in these films has been one of the best experiences of my life."
Christopher Lee, best known for his role in horror classics, received an Academy Fellowship in honor of a career spanning six decades. The fellowship is BAFTA's highest honor. Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor and Vanessa Redgrave are among the previous recipients.
The royal biopic, which won awards for best film, best actor and best supporting actor and actress, also leads the field at the Academy Awards with 12 nominations.
It had been nominated for 14 BAFTAs, ahead of ballet drama "Black Swan" and "Inception," starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
"To win best British film and best film at home ... it's a huge thing," director Tom Hooper told reporters.
Hooper said reports that Britain's Queen Elizabeth approved of the film and found it moving were particularly gratifying.
"The fact that it appears to have a seal of approval means a huge amount to me and Colin."
Firth picked up his second BAFTA best actor award in two years after winning the prize for "A Single Man" last year.
"This thing has run away with us all, we're all astonished," he said.
Firth has already won best actor at the Screen Actors Guild awards, the Golden Globes and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards for his portrayal of the current British monarch's father. He is nominated for best actor at the February 27 Oscars.
Firth's co-stars in The King's Speech -- Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush -- won the best supporting actress and actor respectively. Bonham Carter thanked the royal family in her acceptance speech.
The film also won the award for outstanding British film, music and scriptwriter David Seidler picked up the best original screenplay prize.
"Inception" picked up three awards including sound and special visual effects.
David Fincher won the best director award for "The Social Network," which tells the tale of the founding of the Facebook website. The film, which has been one of the most tipped for Oscar glory, also won the award for best adapted screenplay.
Best actor nominee Jesse Eisenberg picked up the award on Fincher's behalf as he was unable to attend due to filming.
HARRY POTTER AWARDED
The BAFTAs tend to lean toward British talent more than the Oscars, and they are a far-from-perfect barometer of what happens at the Academy Awards.
But the scale of the success of "The King's Speech" has been noted by the industry as well as the media.
Natalie Portman won the best actress award for Black Swan, the only award the film picked up out of 12 nominations. The film's director Darren Aronofsky picked up the award for the pregnant actress who did not attend the awards ceremony.
Climbing story "127 Hours" was left empty-handed while Western remake "True Grit" earned the award for cinematography.
Inception actor Tom Hardy won the Orange Rising Star prize, which is decided by the British public unlike the other awards. The best foreign film went to "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" whose Swedish version is an adaptation of Stieg Larsson's best-selling novel.
The Harry Potter films picked up the award for outstanding British contribution.
"It's very strange to look back after seven films and remember how wary I was of letting anyone put Harry on the big screen," Harry Potter author JK Rowling said.
"...Being involved in these films has been one of the best experiences of my life."
Christopher Lee, best known for his role in horror classics, received an Academy Fellowship in honor of a career spanning six decades. The fellowship is BAFTA's highest honor. Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor and Vanessa Redgrave are among the previous recipients.
Paul McCartney wins Grammy for "Helter Skelter"
Reuters, LOS ANGELES: Former Beatle Paul McCartney won his first solo Grammy in 39 years on Sunday for a live recording of "Helter Skelter."
McCartney took home the solo rock vocal performance statuette for the 42-year-old Beatles tune, which he dusted off for his 2009 live album "Good Evening New York City."
It marked his 14th Grammy, of which 10 were Beatle-related, spanning 1965 to a reissue project in 1997.
As a solo artist, he last won a Grammy in 1972 for his arrangement of "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey." He followed that with a pair for Wings, his post-Beatles vehicle, in 1975 and 1980.
McCartney, 68, frequently lands Grammy nominations -- 11 since 2005 alone -- but has been bested by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Amy Winehouse and Justin Timberlake.
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were handed out at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
McCartney took home the solo rock vocal performance statuette for the 42-year-old Beatles tune, which he dusted off for his 2009 live album "Good Evening New York City."
It marked his 14th Grammy, of which 10 were Beatle-related, spanning 1965 to a reissue project in 1997.
As a solo artist, he last won a Grammy in 1972 for his arrangement of "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey." He followed that with a pair for Wings, his post-Beatles vehicle, in 1975 and 1980.
McCartney, 68, frequently lands Grammy nominations -- 11 since 2005 alone -- but has been bested by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Amy Winehouse and Justin Timberlake.
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were handed out at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Russell Brand riffs on fame on "Saturday Night Live"
Reuters, LOS ANGELES: Another American domino has fallen for Russell Brand.
The English actor appeared on "Saturday Night Live" on Saturday in his first-ever hosting gig for the U.S. comedic television institution.
In his opening monologue, the funnyman better known as Mr. Katy Perry to some Americans rather than for his own stand-up material or acting roles, riffed on the nature of fame.
"Fame really looses its edge if you have to tell people you have it," he said, referencing his notoriety in the Britain versus his lower profile in the United States.
Critical reaction was mixed for the show.
Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker said of one sketch, "Brand managed an American accent to deliver dialogue that would have required a private detective to locate any punchlines." He called Brand's opening of the show "high-energy" but "low-amusement."
Curiously, Brand's pop singer wife Katy Perry didn't say much on Twitter after his set aired. Perry only gushed before Brand appeared live Saturday on the show, saying, "If you're looking to LAUGH tonight check out my highlarious hubby @rustyrockets HOSTING SNL TONIGHT!!!"
Brand, who recently played a series of well-received surprise shows in small venues in Los Angeles, finished the night off in good cheer.
"I bled for you," the star of the upcoming movie remake of "Arthur" said as the show drew to a close.
The English actor appeared on "Saturday Night Live" on Saturday in his first-ever hosting gig for the U.S. comedic television institution.
In his opening monologue, the funnyman better known as Mr. Katy Perry to some Americans rather than for his own stand-up material or acting roles, riffed on the nature of fame.
"Fame really looses its edge if you have to tell people you have it," he said, referencing his notoriety in the Britain versus his lower profile in the United States.
Critical reaction was mixed for the show.
Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker said of one sketch, "Brand managed an American accent to deliver dialogue that would have required a private detective to locate any punchlines." He called Brand's opening of the show "high-energy" but "low-amusement."
Curiously, Brand's pop singer wife Katy Perry didn't say much on Twitter after his set aired. Perry only gushed before Brand appeared live Saturday on the show, saying, "If you're looking to LAUGH tonight check out my highlarious hubby @rustyrockets HOSTING SNL TONIGHT!!!"
Brand, who recently played a series of well-received surprise shows in small venues in Los Angeles, finished the night off in good cheer.
"I bled for you," the star of the upcoming movie remake of "Arthur" said as the show drew to a close.
1 winless team left in Division I
AP, A look at the only winless team remaining in Division I (through Saturday, Feb. 12):
WINLESS
Centenary (0-27). Last loss: UMKC opened the game on a 9-1 run, led 54-34 at halftime and were up by as many as 33 points in a 91-58 victory over the the Gentlemen, who have three games remaining in the regular season. Next game: Oral Roberts (13-14) on Tuesday.
___
Top-ranked Ohio State (24-1) lost 71-57 at No. 13 Wisconsin on Saturday. The Buckeyes were the last undefeated team in Division I. The last team to finish the season unbeaten was Indiana in 1975-76.
Holloway leads Xavier past Duquesne 71-63
AP, PITTSBURGH: Tu Holloway had 20 points and Dante Jackson tied a career-high with 19 as Xavier beat Duquesne 71-63 on Sunday in a game with first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference on the line.
Jackson, a senior guard, made 7 of 9 field goals, including four 3-pointers, to help Xavier overcome a slow start by leading scorer Holloway and the fact second-leading scorer Mark Lyons fouled out with 11 1/2 minutes to play.
The Musketeers (18-6, 9-1), who controlled the final 11 minutes of the game, have won 10 of 11 and put themselves in good position to win their fifth consecutive regular-season Atlantic 10 Championship.
B.J. Monteiro had 17 points for Duquesne (16-7, 8-2), which has lost two consecutive games after a school-record 8-0 start in conference play.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tu Holloway had 20 points and Dante Jackson tied a career-high with 19 as Xavier beat Duquesne 71-63 on Sunday in a game with first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference on the line.
Jackson, a senior guard, made 7 of 9 field goals, including four 3-pointers, to help Xavier overcome a slow start by leading scorer Holloway and the fact second-leading scorer Mark Lyons fouled out with 11 1/2 minutes to play.
Holloway also had 19 points for the Musketeers (18-6, 9-1), who controlled the final 11 minutes of the game. Xavier has won 10 of 11 and has put itself in good position to win its fifth consecutive regular-season Atlantic 10 Championship.
B.J. Monteiro had 17 points for Duquesne (16-7, 8-2), which has lost two consecutive games after a school-record 8-0 start in conference play.
Jackson, a senior guard, made 7 of 9 field goals, including four 3-pointers, to help Xavier overcome a slow start by leading scorer Holloway and the fact second-leading scorer Mark Lyons fouled out with 11 1/2 minutes to play.
The Musketeers (18-6, 9-1), who controlled the final 11 minutes of the game, have won 10 of 11 and put themselves in good position to win their fifth consecutive regular-season Atlantic 10 Championship.
B.J. Monteiro had 17 points for Duquesne (16-7, 8-2), which has lost two consecutive games after a school-record 8-0 start in conference play.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tu Holloway had 20 points and Dante Jackson tied a career-high with 19 as Xavier beat Duquesne 71-63 on Sunday in a game with first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference on the line.
Jackson, a senior guard, made 7 of 9 field goals, including four 3-pointers, to help Xavier overcome a slow start by leading scorer Holloway and the fact second-leading scorer Mark Lyons fouled out with 11 1/2 minutes to play.
Holloway also had 19 points for the Musketeers (18-6, 9-1), who controlled the final 11 minutes of the game. Xavier has won 10 of 11 and has put itself in good position to win its fifth consecutive regular-season Atlantic 10 Championship.
B.J. Monteiro had 17 points for Duquesne (16-7, 8-2), which has lost two consecutive games after a school-record 8-0 start in conference play.
Fairfield outlasts Saint Peter's 70-69 in overtime
AP, JERSEY CITY, N.J: Derek Needham scored 18 points to lead Fairfield over Saint Peter's 70-69 in overtime on Sunday.
The Stags (20-5, 13-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) led 59-55 after a 3-pointer from Needham with less than 3 minutes remaining in regulation. A layup from Steven Samuels and another from Wesley Jenkins with 18 seconds left tied the score at 59, sending the game into OT.
Fairfield shot 9 of 10 from the free-throw line in overtime (90 percent) and led throughout. The Peacocks (15-11, 10-5) went 1 for 8 from the floor and 8 of 12 from the line in overtime.
Yorel Hawkins added 14 points and Ryan Olander 10 for the Stags, who have won eight of their last nine games and remain in first place in MAAC play.
Jeron Belin scored 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. Nick Leon added 17 points and Ryan Bacon had 16 points and nine rebounds for Saint Peter's.
The Stags (20-5, 13-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) led 59-55 after a 3-pointer from Needham with less than 3 minutes remaining in regulation. A layup from Steven Samuels and another from Wesley Jenkins with 18 seconds left tied the score at 59, sending the game into OT.
Fairfield shot 9 of 10 from the free-throw line in overtime (90 percent) and led throughout. The Peacocks (15-11, 10-5) went 1 for 8 from the floor and 8 of 12 from the line in overtime.
Yorel Hawkins added 14 points and Ryan Olander 10 for the Stags, who have won eight of their last nine games and remain in first place in MAAC play.
Jeron Belin scored 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. Nick Leon added 17 points and Ryan Bacon had 16 points and nine rebounds for Saint Peter's.
Jacksonville defeats South Carolina-Upstate 79-69
AP, SPARTANBURG, S.C: Ayron Hardy scored 15 points and Jacksonville defeated South Carolina-Upstate 79-69 on Sunday.
Hardy was 5-of-8 shooting for the Dolphins (17-8, 11-5 Atlantic Sun Conference), who made 52.8 percent from the field (28 of 53).
Jacksonville was also 73.1 percent from the free-throw line (19 of 26) and scored 19 points off 13 turnovers.
The Dolphins scored the first six points of the game, jumped out to a 13-2 lead on Aloys Cabell's jumper with 12:53 left and led 33-23 at halftime.
The Spartans (4-22, 3-13) shot 7 of 24 from the field in the first half.
Jacksonville pushed its lead to as many as 17, 39-22, on Travis Cohn's layup with 17:43 left in the game.
Delwan Graham added 14 points, Cohn finished with 13 and Cabell had 12 for Jacksonville.
Ricardo Glenn scored 16 points for USC Upstate and Torrey Craig added 14.
Hardy was 5-of-8 shooting for the Dolphins (17-8, 11-5 Atlantic Sun Conference), who made 52.8 percent from the field (28 of 53).
Jacksonville was also 73.1 percent from the free-throw line (19 of 26) and scored 19 points off 13 turnovers.
The Dolphins scored the first six points of the game, jumped out to a 13-2 lead on Aloys Cabell's jumper with 12:53 left and led 33-23 at halftime.
The Spartans (4-22, 3-13) shot 7 of 24 from the field in the first half.
Jacksonville pushed its lead to as many as 17, 39-22, on Travis Cohn's layup with 17:43 left in the game.
Delwan Graham added 14 points, Cohn finished with 13 and Cabell had 12 for Jacksonville.
Ricardo Glenn scored 16 points for USC Upstate and Torrey Craig added 14.
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