Following its release on July 16 beginning with Thursday midnight screenings ‘Inception‘ is currently occupying #1 in the US, having grossed $62,785,337 in 3,792 theaters on its opening weekend (average $16,557 per theater). Up until now the movie has grossed $89,470,702 worldwide. This is quite the achievement for an non-sequel auteur action movie with a mysterious plot in the middle of blockbuster summer season! Congratulations!

Box Office Majoy mentions that it was the second highest-grossing debut ever for a sci-fi movie that wasn’t a sequel, remake or adaptation, behind Avatar’s $77 million. Inception’s initial attendance was also higher than similar titles like The Matrix and Minority Report. Also it was apparently the biggest opening of star Leonardo DiCaprio’s career – let alone Marion Cotillard’s even if she’s seen in a supporting role.

Continue to support ‘Inception‘ by seeing it in theaters – according to most critics as well as people who’ve seen it it will definitely be worth your time!

Thank you for not posting spoilers in the comments or in emails to me – ‘Inception‘ is not coming to theatres where I live until July 29.

I’m back from my travels for a few days so I’ll be doing my best to catch up on what’s going on in Marion Cotillard’s world. To begin, some additional HQ pictures of her during the Los Angeles ‘Inception‘ Press Conference in Los Angeles last month. To know what was being said during the Press Conference you can listen to a recording at HollywoodNews.com or read the transcript at Moviesonline.ca.

Due to filming ‘Midnight in Paris‘ Marion didn’t attend the London Press Conference (although she did make it to the world premiere Thursday evening – more on that later). However, she was present during the Press Conference in Paris on Friday ahead of its premiere there on Saturday. You can watch the entire conference with English/French audio on FilmoSphere France’s YouTube Channel. There’s also another cute video from a different angle of Marion & Leonardo singing each other’s praises, edited by and courtesy of Le Parisien.

Gallery:
015 ‘Inception’ Press Conference – Los Angeles, HQ
009 ‘Inception’ Press Conference – Paris, July 9
251 ‘Inception’ Paris Press Conference – 2010 Screencaps

Video:
001 Other Public Appearances > Inception Paris Press Conference

A few hours ago, the press embargo on ‘Inception‘ was lifted and the reviews have been pouring in! And they’re absolutely raving! To get an overview – without getting spoilers – please visit Nolan Fans’ Review Post. Here some Marion quotes I found:

Marion Cotillard, who keeps surprising us with her versatility. She explodes off the screen here – like a vivid flame, flickering in and out.
- Awards Daily

And although she has less screen time than the rest of the cast, Cotillard shines as the film’s cloest thing to a femme fatale. She’s certainly better served here than she was in Public Enemies.
- IGN

The actors certainly give it their all: Cotillard is a presence both sultry and menacing.
- Variety

A terrific Marion Cotillard
- Box Office Magazine

In Inception that loss of control – the scariest thing Nolan can imagine, it seems – is represented in the haunting beauty of Marion Cotillard.
- CHUD

There’s another very good comment about Marion from HitFix.com – but it’s a bit spoiler-ish so I’m putting it below the cut.
Read More

Earlier tonight on Friday, Marion Cotillard along with 7 other actors from the movie together with director Chris Nolan and score composer Hans Zimmer attended a press conference and photo call for ‘Inception‘ at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

015 025 ‘Inception’ Press Conference, June 25, 2010

More ‘Inception‘ promotion material is appearing online. In the new ‘Meet the Characters’ featurette Marion Cotillard as Mal is featured with a line for the first time. I’ve added high quality screencaps of that moment. And those new stills just look gorgeous!

Gallery:
004 Inception – 2010 > Stills
008 Inception – 2010 > Screencaptures > Featurettes

Video:
001 Trailers > Inception

This is just a small update to let you know that Marion Cotillard (and Leonardo DiCaprio) are on the cover of the July issue of Studio Ciné Live. I will add scans as soon as I have the magazine. Also added another ‘Inception‘ still to the gallery.

001 Inception – 2010 > Stills
001 Studio Ciné Live (France) – July

Ahead of the ‘Inception‘ Premiere in Los Angeles on July 13, the movie will have its world premiere in London on July 8. If you’re in the UK you can win tickets on Facebook. According to Associated Press the press junket will be held this week. Thanks Nadine for all the heads up.

Already now the first production still with Marion Cotillard has popped up online and the official Inception Website has been updated with Wallpapers and Production Notes with interesting details about the international filming and technical aspects of creating a movie about dreams.

“His mind is so rich,” Marion Cotillard says, “and that’s one reason Chris is such an extraordinary director and writer. On a movie as imaginative as this, you need a director you can trust—someone to take your hand and share his vision—and I trusted him 100 percent. He really inspired me and gave me the keys I needed.”

MAL – THE SHADE
Mal, played by Marion Cotillard, is the love of Cobb’s life. “Mal is a tricky one to describe because she is a mix of so many things,” the actress says cryptically. “But maybe it’s the kind of thing you don’t describe because different people can have different interpretations.”

“Mal is the essence of the femme fatale,” states Nolan. “Marion brought an exceptionally haunting quality to her performance. What she was able to do with just her eyes and her emotional openness is quite beautiful. And she and Leo together portray an incredibly moving couple. Underneath all of the action, I think ‘Inception’ is very much founded on a love story, and these two actors found the truth of that in a most remarkable way.”

“Leo is such a gifted actor. I have always been a great fan of his work, so it was amazing to work with him,” Cotillard says. “His commitment is total and his intensity is unlimited. You can see it in his eyes. When you share a scene with him, you can trust everything he does because he’s so authentic.”

DiCaprio has equal praise for his co-star. “It was wonderful to act alongside Marion. She can be strong and vulnerable and hopeful and heartbreaking all in the same moment, which was perfect for all the contradictions of her character.”

Emma Thomas: “I especially loved what Jeffrey did with Mal’s costumes, like the gorgeous, flowing gown we first see her in. She is the femme fatale and her wardrobe reflects that.”

• Source: Production Notes found on Official Site

001 Inception – 2010 > Stills
001 Inception – 2010 > Official Wallpaper

A new Behind the Scenes featurette for ‘Inception‘ which has been playing in selected theatres has finally been released online. Be sure to watch it on Yahoo! Movies as there’s a new scene with Marion Cotillard and Leonardo DiCaprio!

There are also 4 new banners (without Marion) on IGN and an article about the movie’s viral marketing strategy over at Screencave.

014 Inception – 2010 > Screencaptures > Featurettes

On the new character posters for ‘Inception‘ each character received a title. Marion Cotillard is ‘The Shade’. Look at the other posters on Empire Online.

There’s apparently also a different version of Marion’s ‘The Shade’ poster around – according to this picture on Twitter (thanks Nadine for the heads up!).

The Japanese ‘Inception‘ trailer – as aired while Ken Watanabe gave an interview on Japanese TV – features an additional glimpse of Marion.

002 Inception – 2010 > Artwork (replaced #4 with HQ version)
004 Inception – 2010 > Trailer

The premiere for ‘Inception‘ will be held Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood (source: Seeing Stars via Nadine).

FYI, extensive Cannes gallery & video updates coming tomorrow evening as real life and especially work keeps me very busy!