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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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Johnny Depp to Get $35 Million for Pirates 4

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Disney, Action, Adventure, Family, Period, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

Jack Sparrow collects his booty

While studio execs at Disney may forge ahead without Johnny Depp for the fifth and sixth Pirates of the Caribbean films, they’ll definitely be paying a hefty amount to have him in the latest sequel of the franchise.

Reportedly commanding a minimum of $35 million, Depp would shoot to the top of the highest-paid actors list, placing him above the likes of Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and Mel Gibson, who ask for around $30 million (Depp received $25 million for the last Pirates sequel).

Yes, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies have dominated at the box office; however, higher-ups usually aren’t known to shell out $35 million paychecks, so what gives?

Click to continue reading Johnny Depp to Get $35 Million for Pirates 4

Read More | Telegraph

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Preview of New York, I Love You

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Drama, Romance, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

New York, I Love You

Last year, I had the pleasure of watching Paris, je t’aime (“Paris, I Love You”), a wonderful collaboration of work from 21 international directors. The movie was comprised of 18 separate short stories; each tale using a different district of Paris as its backdrop. While the city was not always front and center, it’s character was always felt.

Now one of Paris’ producers will be giving NYC its share of the spotlight. (As if didn’t already do that.) Next spring, a large ensemble of actors - including Kevin Bacon, Ethan Hawke, Rachel Bilson, Orlando Bloom and Natalie Portman (also in Paris) - will be sprinkled over New York, I Love You‘s 12 short stories. The segments will be told from the city’s 5 different boroughs.

Catch a preview of the new movie after the jump.

Click to continue reading Preview of New York, I Love You


Casting Corner: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Ashton Kutcher, Orlando Bloom

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Adaptation, Drama, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

Steve Carell

Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:

Two of ‘s Thursday night stars will soon be joining forces for a big-screen comedy.

Actors (The Office) and Tina Fey (30 Rock) are both lined up to star in Date Night, a film for 20th Century Fox.

The comedians will play a married couple who end up with more than just a “dinner and a movie” on their regular date night. The movie will be helmed by Shawn Levy, the same man currently directing Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian.

Production on Date Night should begin sometime next year.

Click to continue reading Casting Corner: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Ashton Kutcher, Orlando Bloom

Read More | Variety

Orlando Bloom Set for New Trilogy

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Adaptation, Adventure, Casting, Upcoming Releases

Prince of PersiaAlthough his relationship with Kate Bosworth flamed out, I don’t know that anyone can accuse of being afraid of commitment.

According to the New York Post, the actor is now set to star in in his third trilogy.  Bloom will follow up his work in The Lord of the Rings and the franchises with Prince of Persia.  Orlando reportedly beat out rising stud to play the title character in this video game adaptation. 

Interestingly enough, not only is Persia another Disney creation, it’s being produced by Bloom’s old Pirates boss:  Jerry Bruckheimer.  I guess the guy really likes familiarity!

Read More | New York Post

Couples With The Worst On-Screen Chemistry

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Lucasfilm Ltd., Casting, Lists

Star WarsChemistry, schmemistry.  If you know people are going to be watching your movie anyway—does it really matter?  Whaddya say, ?

Film advertising company Pearl & Dean polled 3,000 British moviegoers to see which couples they felt had the worst on-screen chemistry.  Based on the results, it’s hard to say whether or not those opinions had any affect on the eventual box office receipts.  While I completely agree that Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen fizzled as secret-lovers, I don’t know that the movie’s storyline (or final numbers) could have improved with a different twosome.

Take a look at the poll results and see what you think.  Which couples would you add to this list?  Three pairings that come to my mind:  / Nick Nolte (I Love Trouble), Julia Roberts/ Brad Pitt (The Mexican) and Julia Roberts/ John Cusack (America’s Sweethearts).

  1. Natalie Portman & Hayden Christensen - Stars Wars: Episode II
  2. Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck - Gigli
  3. Keira Knightley & Orlando Bloom -
  4. Madonna & Adriano Giannini - Swept Away
  5. Catherine Zeta-Jones & Sean Connery - Entrapment
  6. Andie MacDowell & Hugh Grant - Four Weddings and a Funeral
  7. Kate Beckinsale & Ben Affleck - Pearl Harbor
  8. & - Eyes Wide Shut
  9. & -
  10. & - Titanic

FilmCrunch 062: Shrek the Third, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, The Good German

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Period, Romance, Sequels, Thrillers, DVD Reviews, Full Episodes, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts


Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review the Third, Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, and the DVD release of The Good German. Plus, Neil goes into detail of his celebrity run-in while working at a high-end Seattle restaurant.

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.


Box Office Breakdown:  Almighty Only Does Alrighty

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Political, Religious, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Evan Almighty

Question: When is being the #1 movie just not enough? (Hint:  You have three chances to answer this question correctly).

Answer(s):

  1. When the critics don’t really have anything good to say about you
  2. When you made less than 1/2 of what your predecessor did on opening weekend
  3. When it cost over $175 million just to create you

Apparently having God on your side doesn’t guarantee you heavenly box office numbers.  Evan Almighty, the follow-up to 2003’s Bruce Almighty, failed to bring in a large congregation this past weekend.  Although it did better than the rest of the flock, it’s $32 million take paled in comparison to Bruce’s $68 million opening.  And then there’s that glaring $175 million bill…

Of course, we shouldn’t feel so badly about Steve Carell’s career.  I have a feeling that God is providing for him in other ways.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Almighty Only Does Alrighty


Box Office Breakdown:  Silver Surfer Scores the Gold

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories:

Silver Surfer

Like Ocean’s Thirteen, critics rated Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer better than its predecessor.  And like Ocean’s, Fantastic found its way on top of the ever-revolving box office heap.  With help from a more family-friendly rating (down from PG-13 to a PG), the superhero clan raked in $2 million more in its opening weekend than its 2005 turnout.

But it takes more than just a PG to win viewers over—it apparently takes Jessica Alba in a skin-tight outfit…and the prim and proper Nancy Drew had to learn that the hard way.  The latest incarnation of the beloved character only placed 7th despite the numerous times Julia Roberts’ name had been dropped these past few weeks.  BTW—I feel incredibly bad that daddy Eric Roberts has been continuously trumped by his more famous sister.  Emma is HIS daughter after all.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Silver Surfer Scores the Gold


Box Office Breakdown:  Lucky Number 13

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Touchstone, Universal, Warner Independant Films, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Independent, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Oceans 13

Having exhausted all their sequel choices, theater patrons quickly moved on to the latest offering:  Ocean’s Thirteen.  Despite general indifference for the series’ second movie, Steven Soderbergh and friends faced down the unlucky number and rolled the dice again.  Their gamble paid off well this weekend when they took down Captain Jack Sparrow and his mates

Of course, viewers who crave the comfort of familiarity can still manage to have discerning taste.  Eli Roth’s Hostel: Part II only rounded enough voyeurs to rank a mediocre 6th place.  Here’s to hoping that the era of grisly horror movies is once again over…

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Lucky Number 13


Box Office Breakdown:  Knocked Up Delivers A Winner

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Lionsgate, Picturehouse, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Knocked Up

Viewers in dire need of some raunch helped make Knocked Up a strong 2nd this weekend.

Katherine Heigl’s stomach bumped past several family-friendly sequels of late and brought a fresh dose of adults-only fun into the box office.  Although it didn’t surpass the strong swashbucklers in Pirates, Knocked has already grossed enough money to cover its entire production budget.  Something few other movies on this list could probably say.  With strong word of mouth, director Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin) may soon be adding another summer sleeper to his bedpost.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Knocked Up Delivers A Winner


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