FilmCrunch 066: Rescue Dawn, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Astronaut Farmer
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: MGM, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Period, Sequels, Comedy, DVD Reviews, Full Episodes, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts
Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep are back with more FilmCrunch video goodness, this time focusing on the theatrical releases of Rescue Dawn and the DVD release of The Astronaut Farmer. Veronica also checks in with her review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This episode kicks off with Veronica and Neil naming what they chose as their most inspirational movies.
Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.
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Box Office Breakdown: The Rock Upsets The Heartbreak Kid
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Drama, Family, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases
Despite what you may have learned in school, Ben Stiller + The Farrelly Brothers does not necessarily equal box office gold.
The team behind There’s Something About Mary took a backseat to last weekend’s winner: The Game Plan. The Heartbreak Kid, a remake of the 1972 Neil Simon comedy, raked in only $14 million. While Mary did open with a smaller gross back in 1998 ($13.7M), it’s doubtful this critically-panned movie will become another sleeper hit for the trio. Thankfully co-star Michelle Monaghan will have the upcoming Gone Baby Gone to wash this disappointment away.
The only other new entries into the Top 10 included the fantasy flick, The Seeker ($3.7M), and the J.Lo-produced dance film, Feel the Noise ($3.1M). Meanwhile, the well-reviewed Michael Clayton pulled impressive numbers in limited release ($46,000 per screen). Expect the George Clooney vehicle to open wide this weekend.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Rock Upsets The Heartbreak Kid
Box Office Breakdown: The Game Plan Scores the Win
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Lionsgate, New Line, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Drama, Horror, Independent, Musicals, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases
The execs at Disney must be loving themselves this week. Not only are are they attached to one of hottest concert tours of the year, they have just taken a surprise win at the box office. Although many had predicted good things for the terrorism thriller, The Kingdom, a simple father/daughter bonding film moved theatergoers this weekend.
At $22.9 million, The Game Plan took in almost $6 million more than the Jamie Foxx/Jennifer Garner vehicle. The movie about a football player who meets the daughter he never knew he had (how exactly is that a Disney storyline?) gave “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson his second best opening (behind 2002’s The Scorpion King).
Meanwhile, Julie Taymor’s Across the Universe made its first entry into the Top 10. After several weeks in limited release, the musical—which uses 33 Beatles songs to tell its story—will expand into more theaters come October 12th.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Game Plan Scores the Win
Box Office Breakdown: Resident Evil Fights Off Competition
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Lionsgate, New Line, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adventure, Drama, Family, Horror, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases
Between the cheesy trailer and a cast that includes Ashanti—I never would have predicted much for Resident Evil: Extinction. But given the success of ‘three-quels’ this year, I’m not sure why I was surprised. Extinction nearly doubled the the box office take of it’s nearest competitor (Good Luck Chuck) and had the biggest debut of any Resident Evil installment.
But the real winner this weekend may be Sean Penn’s Into the Wild. The film, based on the Jon Krakauer novel, earned over $51,000 per screen—one of the best averages ever for a movie in limited release. Given the full-hour coverage on Oprah last week, Wild will probably be able to build on its impressive debut. (The film goes nationwide on October 5th.)
Eastern Promises also turned out some promising numbers after its wide release. The film took in nearly $6 million in its second week (though it still underperformed the last David Cronenberg/Viggo Mortensen movie, A History of Violence). I’m hoping word-of-mouth about the fully-naked Mortensen fight scene (did I grab your attention?) will give this film the lasting power it deserves.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Resident Evil Fights Off Competition
Box Office Breakdown: The Brave One Reaches #1
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Lionsgate, New Line, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Independent, Period, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases
The Brave One took in nearly $15 million in its debut, making it the #1 film of this past weekend. Although some may consider the gross disappointing for a Jodie Foster film, I choose to think of it as a feat for women.
I decided to do a little research today and came away with some very unsettling news. Since FilmCrunch started reporting Box Office numbers in mid-January, no female-led movie has reached the top of the pack. That’s unless you count Knocked Up with Katherine Heigl, and I don’t. Even then, that was almost 3 months ago.
Kyra Sedgwick, Glenn Close and Mary-Louise Parker made a stand for strong female roles during Sunday’s Emmys—and maybe it’s time that someone finally spoke up for women in film. Until then, I’ll be counting the days until Cate Blanchett makes her royal return in Elizabeth: The Golden Years (out October 12th).
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Brave One Reaches #1
In Theaters This Weekend (9/14)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Magnolia, New Line, Picturehouse, Sony, Warner Bros, Warner Independant Films, Action, Drama, Independent, Music, Musicals, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases
If you need a little help planning your weekend, here are a few possible suggestions:
- The Brave One (R): starring Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews (directed by Neil Jordan)
- Dragon Wars (PG-13): starring Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks, Robert Forster (directed by Hyung-rae Shim)
- Mr. Woodcock (PG-13): starring Seann William Scott, Billy Bob Thornton, Susan Sarandon (directed by Craig Gillespie)
Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend (9/14)
Halle Berry Expecting First Child
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip
After months of endless speculation, Halle Berry has exclusively confirmed to Access Hollywood that she is now indeed pregnant. The child, who will surely rival Shiloh Jolie-Pitt for the most beautiful baby title, will be the first for the actress and her model boyfriend, Gabriel Aubry. The couple has been together for two years.
It’s reported that plans for a new movie, Tulia, had to be scrapped because Berry, 41, is already three-months along. The film would have reunited Halle with her Monster’s Ball co-star, Billy Bob Thornton.
Read More 
| Access Hollywood
FilmCrunch 010: School for Scoundrels Review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Weinstein Company, Comedy, New Releases, Short FilmCrunch, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts
In this episode, Neil Estep and Veronica Santiago hit you with their theatrical review of School for Scoundrels.
A hapless meter reader (Jon Heder) signs up for a confidence-building course to acquire the self-assurance he needs to win the hand of his dream girl (Jacinda Barrett). But the class turns out to be a bust when it becomes apparent that the teacher (played by Billy Bob Thornton) has designs on the same woman. Michael Clarke Duncan co-stars in director Todd Phillips’s remake of the 1960 British comedy.
Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.
FilmCrunch 007: School for Scoundrels, Take The Lead, The Science of Sleep
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: New Line, Weinstein Company, Drama, Music, Romance, Comedy, DVD Reviews, Full Episodes, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts
Neil Estep and Veronica Santiago are back with another full episode of FilmCrunch. In this one, we take a look at the theatrical release of School for Scoundrels, starring Billy Bob Thornton, and Michel Gondry’s Science of Sleep. We also hit you with a review of the DVD release of Take the Lead, which stars Antonio Banderas.
Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.
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