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Latest Video: FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed

Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, and Premonition in this episode of FilmCrunch.
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Neil Gaiman's latest bookAnna Karenenina director Joe Wright has found his next project: the film adaptation of cult fantasy author Neil Gaiman's latest novel.

Focus Features and Tom Hanks's Playtone have picked up the rights to turn the text - titled The Ocean at the End of the Lane and hits bookstores this June - into film form. The snyopsis is as follows:

"It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond the world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive: there is primal horror here, and menace unleashed — within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it. His only defense is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duckpond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang."

The subject matter seems like a far departure from Wright, who is known for his period dramas like Pride & Prejudice and Atonement. There is no word yet in regards to casting.

Read More | Vulture

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Daniel Craig as James BondDaniel Craig is different to James Bond in "every way."

The 44-year-old actor insists the suave spy - whom he has portrayed in three movies, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall - has "nothing" to do with him as soon as he stops playing the character.

When asked in what ways he is different to 007, he said, "Every way. Nothing - that man has nothing to do with me. Nothing at all, no."

While Daniel - who is married to Rachel Weisz - admits he has been typecast by a number of people for playing Bond, he has no plans to relinquish the role: "It's working out for me at the moment. So I'll keep at it, and there'll be other stuff to do. When I accepted the job, I knew that it would have a major effect on my career. I mean, people would find it very difficult not to see me as Bond now, which I always knew would happen. But what can I do about it? It was my choice to be Bond. So I've got to get on with it and try to be the best Bond I can."


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A Good Day to Die Hard

This weekend apparently weren't good enough days for Die Hard.

Though the latest installment in the Bruce Willis-fronted Die Hard series debuted at number one this weekend with $25 million, it barely made more than the runner-up (and last week's number one film) Identity Thief, which took in $23.4 million. The Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough romantic vehicle Safe Haven opened to the number three spot with $21.4 million. The animated film Escape from Planet Earth was also a newcomer this weekend, earning $16 million to secure its place at number four while Warm Bodies slipped three spots to number five with $9 million.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Latest ‘Die Hard’ Film Barely Outperforms ‘Identify Thief’

Read More | Box Office Mojo

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Adele at this year's Golden GlobesAdele will perform "Skyfall" at the Oscars next month. The 24-year-old pop star will perform the theme to the latest James Bond movie during the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on February 24.

"It's an honor to be nominated and terrifyingly wonderful to be singing in front of people who have captured my imagination over and over again. It's something I've never experienced and probably only ever will once!" the 24 year-old singer said.

The track, which Adele co-wrote with Paul Epworth, has been nominated for Original Song and is the first Bond theme to get an Oscar nod since "For Your Eyes Only" in 1981. It has already seen success, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song earlier this month.

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, producers of this year's Academy Awards, hailed Adele's "unique artistry." They said, "She is currently one of the most successful recording artists in the world, and we believe her performance of 'Skyfall' will be an exciting Oscar moment."

Click to continue reading Adele to Perform “Skyfall” at the Oscars


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LincolnLincoln leads the Golden Globe 2013 nominations with seven nods. Steven Spielberg's biopic about former President Abraham Lincoln is up for a host of top prizes including Best Drama, Best Director, Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis and Best Screenplay.

Quentin Tarantino's western flick Django Unchained and political drama Argo follow close behind with five nominations each. Critically-acclaimed films Zero Dark Thirty, Les Miserables and Silver Linings Playbook each received four nods.

With three nominations are Life of Pi, dark cult drama The Master and heart-warming British comedy Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. The great Dames of British film, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren, all have acting nods for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Quartet and Hitchcock respectively.

Surprises include Nicole Kidman's Best Supporting Actress nomination for The Paperboy and John Hawkes and Helen Hunt being up for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress for their performances in The Sessions.

Click to continue reading Lincoln Leads Golden Globe Nominations


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Skyfall

After having been kicked down to the number two spot behind The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 for three weeks, the 23rd Bond film, Skyfall, is back on top this week with $11 million.

The animated holiday film Rise of the Guardians jumped up one spot to number two, bringing in $10.5 million while the popular teen vampire/werewolf franchise dropped down two spots to number three with $9.2 million. Lincoln and Life of Pi stayed put at numbers four and five with $9.1 million and $8.3 million respectively.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Skyfall Reclaims Top Spot

Read More | Box Office Mojo

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Daniel Craig on the set of SkyfallDaniel Craig and his Skyfall castmates are in line for six-figure bonuses.

The 44-year-old actor - who played iconic British spy James Bond for the third time - director Sam Mendes and stars Javier Bardem, Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes will receive varying payments on top of their fees following the success of the movie at the global box office, having taken $870 million worldwide to date.

The figures will vary according to individual negotiations with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, but are believed to range from $100,000 to $200,000 each. "It's going to be in the six-figure range for most of them and at the moment the sky's the limit because it hasn't stopped taking money," a source said.

And the stars could be in line for further bonuses as an additional scheme is in place for awards season. Anyone nominated for a BAFTA, Oscar or Golden Globe will receive another payment, with the amount rising if they should win.


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'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2'

Vampire lovers are no match for James Bond and Abraham Lincoln.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 took number one at the box office for a second consecutive week since its debut, raking in $43 million this Thanksgiving weekend. Skyfall and Lincoln stayed put at number two and three with $36 million and $25 million, respectively. Fourth place went to newcomer The Rise of the Guardians, which pulled in $24 million while Ang Lee's latest film, Life of Pi, came in at number five with $22 million for its debut.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: ‘Skyfall,’ ‘Lincoln’ Still Fall Behind ‘Twilight’

Read More | Box Office Mojo

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Daniel Craig as James BondDaniel Craig is the highest-paid James Bond star ever.

The 44-year-old actor - who reprised his role as the iconic British spy for the third time in Skyfall - will earn $50 million to portray the suave secret agent in two more movies, dwarfing the pay cheques received by his predecessors.

Sean Connery was the first actor to play Bond in 1962, earning $15,000 to star in Dr. No. His salary steadily rose, with the average pay for his work on six films in the franchise averaging at $345,000 - around $5 million in today's prices.

George Lazenby earned $540,000 - the equivelent of $730,000 - for his one outing as 007 in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, while Roger Moore brought home an average of $2.2 million, or $10 million today, from his seven films.

The huge contract surpasses the $17 million he earned for Skyfall, which at the time overtook the $16.3 million Pierce Brosnan took home for starring in 2002 Bond movie Die Another Day.


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'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2'

The end of the Twilight franchise saga has arrived, and its fans made sure it went out with a considerable box office take.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 took the number one spot with $141.3 million this weekend, pushing last week's top earner, Skyfall, back to number two with $41.5 million. Lincoln was added to around 1,700 theaters, boosting its sales to $21 million and thus securing the number three spot. Disney's Wreck-It Ralph fell two spots to number four with $18.3 million while Flight also dropped two spots to number five with $8.6 million.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: ‘Twilight Saga’ Ends at the Top

Read More | Box Office Mojo

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