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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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Paolo Sorrentino and Sean Penn

Sean Penn takes "inspiration" from director Paolo Sorrentino. The Milk actor plays Irish ex-rockstar Cheyenne in Sorrentino's new drama This Must Be The Place and has been inspired by his directing style, which he finds particularly engaging:

"He had very clear ideas of the physicality in terms of the visual, the look of the character. It's an unusual kind of plan, to work with a director like this. So many of the things that he gives the actors that are in our domain to create, you will always have a challenge waiting for you. He provides so much of it, you might as well listen. I think, to me, it's very fair to say that he is one of the very few film masters going right now. Somebody who's going to make cinema for a long time, in a way that will inspire us. So as an actor, you are also an appreciator of him, and you try to take a lot of inspiration from him."

Click to continue reading Sean Penn’s Inspirational Director


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The Lorax

When up against a full-length animated adaptation of a Dr. Seuss classic, Project X didn't stand a chance in its debut.

The Lorax -- which features the A-list voices of Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, and Danny Devito -- took in $70.7 million at the box office this weekend, well over the $20.8 earned by the high school party comedy. The Navy Seal action flick Act of Valor was bumped down to two slots to #3 with $13.7 million while the Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds spy thriller Safe House stayed put at #4 with $7.2 million. Not too far behind #4 was Tyler Perry's Good Deeds, which earned $7 million.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Lorax Settles at the Top

Read More | Box Office Mojo

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Gerard Butler and Ralph Fiennes in Coriolanus

Ralph Fiennes felt a lot of pressure making Coriolanus. The 49-year-old actor makes his directorial debut with the Shakespearean adaptation and admits it was hard to juggle helming the project and also acting in it.

"There were days when I thought, 'I haven't got the right performance that I should be giving, but I haven't got time, and I have to move on.' And then, the pressure on the head - Got to move on! And even if you think, 'f**k, f**k, f**k' you can't afford to show it."

Click to continue reading Ralph Fiennes’ Filmmaking Pressure


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Kate Beckinsale in Underworld Awakening

Vampire films are still proving to be winning box office material, as Underworld Awakening raked in $25.3 million this past weekend, bumping Kate Beckinsale's other film, Contraband, from its number 1 spot.

Not too far behind was the Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Terrence Howard WWII film, Red Tails, which debuted at number 2 for $18.7 million. Last week's top film, Contraband, was bumped down to number 3 with $12 million while Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close jumped from 36th last week to the number 4 spot -- thanks to the addition of more than 2,000 screens. Lastly, the 3D version of Beauty and the Beast, which came in second last week, secured the number 5 spot with $8.8 million.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Underworld Takes Over Box Office

Read More | Box Office Mojo

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Madonna at the Golden Globe AwardsMadonna wrote a film because she was lonely. The 53-year-old star's fascination with Wallis Simpson - the subject of her new movie W.E. - stemmed from her interest in English history, which she began to research when she first moved to London with former husband Guy Ritchie.

"When I moved to England after I got married, I really didn't have any friends. I didn't know anybody. I found myself in a strange world and I decided that I was going to find out about the history and culture. So I started studying English history and reading about the monarchy. When I got to Edward VIII, I was transfixed by the idea that a man would give up such a powerful position for love. I started reading books about Wallis Simpson, and I found a lot of them to be really negative and one-dimensional. When women have some kind of power, and we don't understand them, we diminish them."

Madonna related to Wallis a lot and thinks that made her the right person to direct the film: "I think I had an insight into her character that possibly other directors wouldn't have, because I know what it's like to be reduced to a sound bite."


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Madonna on the set of W.E.Madonna asked ex-husband Guy Ritchie for "technical advice about cameras" while shooting W.E..

The singer-turned-director was married to filmmaker Guy Ritchie for just short of eight years, and she admits she was keen to talk to him and pick his brain to make sure her directorial debut was as good as it possibly could be: "I gave the screenplay to Guy and shared the concepts and the stories and the ideas with him because he was interested in it from a historical point of view. Guy would give me technical advice about cameras or using digital versus film or one cinematographer being better than another - just technical things."

Despite the film not yet being released, Madonna - who is currently dating a dancer more than half her age - claims she has already begun considering ideas for future movies. "I'm thinking about possible subjects, but I am a hopeless romantic, so I'm sure that romance and love will be a part of the story."


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Kim Cattrall as Samantha JonesSex and the City star Kim Cattrall is unsure if the series has a future.

While the 54-year-old actress - who played man-eating PR executive Samantha Jones in six TV seasons and two movies of the romantic comedy alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis - would "love" to return for a third film, she is unsure if there is a possibility it could continue any further.

"I don't know if it will happen. I really, really have no idea. I love playing Samantha Jones. I would love playing Samantha Jones again, but I don't know if I will."

Although she would jump at the chance to step into Samantha's shoes again, Kim recently revealed she wants people to remember that she had a career before the character of Samantha: "I loved working on Sex and The City. It's a dream job and a great character to play. But before Sex and The City I was a working actress and hopefully I will be until I can't talk or move."


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Scream 4 poster

We’ve got details on the opening scene of Scream 4 -- including which two TV actresses are going to get bloody within the first few minutes. Drew Barrymore famously starred in Scream’s first opening sequence, and the first death is a much-coveted position for the upcoming sequel.

Which pretty little starlets nabbed the gig? We just gave you a clue -- follow the jump to get the entire spoiler…

Click to continue reading Scream 4: Who Dies First?

Read More | Perez Hilton

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The Rite

may not currently be up for an Oscar, but it does have an Oscar winner – and a box office win.

Anthony Hopkins’ first wide release since The Wolfman cut from its top spot this past weekend. The film, which debuted during (another) East Coast weather event, managed to shovel up $14.8 million in ticket sales.

, featuring action star Jason Statham, also found a place in the Top Ten. The film – a remake of a Charles Bronson movie – opened in third place with $11.4 million.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Rite Exorcises a Win

Read More | Box Office Mojo

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"Someone set up an appointment for a groomer today! I had a grooming before I came over here, which means I got makeup and hair. It took about five minutes -- I probably needed more -- but I've never had that at Sundance...I feel like I was in a dog show. Like, grooming?"

-- Actor Paul Rudd, who was at Sundance promoting his latest film My Idiot Brother, comments on the perks of being a bigger star.

(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)

Read More | E!

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