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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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Julie & Julia Sparks Cookbook Sales

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Adaptation, Books

Mastering the Art of French CookingFive years after her death, Julia Child is once again making news on film, television…and print.

Thanks to last weekend’s release of , the famed chef’s cookbook has received a boost in popularity. Mastering the Art of French Cooking, originally published in 1961, has now been at or near the top of both Amazon and Barnes and Nobles’ best-seller lists.

In the movie, ’ character, Julie Powell, attempts to create all of Mastering’s 524 recipes. Powell’s year-long journey became the basis for her own book, Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen. (That memoir - since retitled Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously - currently ranks #38 on Amazon.)

Read More | MSNBC

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Getting Into Character: George Clooney in Men Who Stare at Goats

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Adaptation, Drama, Casting

George Clooney

Keep in mind, this mustachioed guy has twice been named People’s “Sexiest Man Alive”...

In Men Who Stare at Goats, plans Lyn Cassidy, a soldier in the Iraq War. The film’s co-producer stars opposite Ewan McGregor, a reporter who learns about a secret army unit comprised of psychic soldiers through George.

Goats - an adaptation of Jon Ronson’s 2004 non-fiction book - also features and Jeff Bridges.

Read More | Just Jared

Ben Affleck Returns to Director’s Chair

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Adaptation, Drama, Casting, Celeb News, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

Ben Affleck will soon be following up his critically-acclaimed work on Gone Baby Gone with another Massachusetts-set drama.

For The Town, Affleck will be wearing three hats at the same time. In addition to directing and acting, the Oscar winner (Good Will Hunting) will make tweaks to a screenplay already started by Peter Craig and Chuck Hogan. (Hogan is the author of the book - Prince of Thieves - on which this movie is based.) Last year, Ben and Aaron Stockard worked on adapting the novel for Gone.

In the Warner Bros. production, Ben will play a career thief who becomes romantically-involved with a bank manager. Unfortunately, an FBI agent hunting the criminal also has his eyes set on the same woman.

Affleck, who is currently filming Mike Judge’s Extract, already has two films scheduled for release next year. He’s Just Not That Into You hits theaters in February while State of Play arrives in April.

Read More | Variety

Twilight Adjusts Start Date

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Adaptation, Drama, Romance, Thrillers, Upcoming Releases

Twilight PosterIf Harry Potter’s calendar shift has you wondering what you’ll be doing on November 21, you’re in luck. Another film adaptation is more than happy to occupy that vacated spot.

Twilight, based on the Stephenie Meyer novel, was originally scheduled to open on December 12. Now, the teen vampire movie will premiere three weeks earlier, giving me less time to stare at the unopened book on my nightstand. This announcement immediately followed Warner Bros.’ decision to move to next summer.

According to Summit Entertainment’s CEO, the studio (supposedly) doesn’t expect to generate the same amount of interest as that teen wizard. “We by no means are trying to fill the shoes of the incredible Potter franchise for 2008, rather we are just looking to bring the fans of Stephenie Meyer’s incredible book series the film as soon possible from a programming perspective,” said Rob Friedman.

Well, it’s probably smart of Summit’s execs not to set their expectations too high. November 21 is also the new date for Bolt, an animated movie starring teen sensation .

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

Body of Lies Trailer

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Adaptation, Drama, Thrillers, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

and director Ridley Scott, collaborators on three movies, have reteamed for a fourth due out this fall. The CIA thriller, Body of Lies, comes just under a year after their last project, American Gangster, debuted.

In this David Ignatius adaptation, co-stars as a a CIA operative (Roger Ferris) on the hunt for a terrorist in Jordan. Crowe plays Ed Hoffman, Leo’s “manipulative” boss.


Body of Lies - penned by Academy Award winner (The Departed) - hits theaters on October 10.


Casting Corner: Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert De Niro

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

Nicolas Cage

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

Ghost Rider‘s may soon getting off the bike and heading behind bars. The actor, last seen in National Treasure, is currently in negotiations to play an inmate serving a life sentence in Scared Straight.

The movie, based on the program that tries to ‘scare’ temporary inmates into leading a clean life, will focus on an incarcerated teen held hostage during a prison riot. Cage, unable to sit back and watch this unfold, will reluctantly come to the kid’s rescue.

Scared - which will be directed by (Halloween) - should begin filming this October.

Click to continue reading Casting Corner: Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert De Niro

Read More | Variety

Catholic League Seeks Boycott of ‘Golden Compass’

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: New Line, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

The Golden CompassHollywood are as ubiquitous to the city as would-be starlets – they’re everywhere, and they’re constantly being forced upon us moviegoers. One of the latest adaptations to make it to theaters is , based on the novel Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman. It’s set for release Dec. 7, but already there are several groups feeling upset with the movie’s mere existence. Fans of the book are unhappy with the changes, but “unhappy” doesn’t begin to describe what the Catholic Church seems to be feeling.

Starring Nicole Kidman among others, The Golden Compass doesn’t have a lot to do with religion. And many think that’s very, very bad.  The Catholic League, an U.S. organization, is urging Christians not to see the movie, and has said that Pullman is “a noted English atheist.” They’re calling the movie an attempt to “bash Christianity and promote atheism. To kids.”  In the book, the Church plays a central role, part of a weird group that’s determined to discover the nature of sin by experimenting on children. In the movie, however, the Church isn’t referenced…at all. Kidman, who is Catholic, won’t even be part of any film that’s anti-religious.

Reviews of the movie have already been released, many singing Nicole’s praises, but fans of the book are disappointed in the differences.  Don’t worry.  - a very diluted version of Northern Lights - won’t step on any toes.

Read More | AOL News

Will Madonna’s Daughter Join Harry Potter?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Adventure, Family, Sequels, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases

Madonna and LourdesHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix isn’t even out on video yet, and already talk has turned to the sixth movie installment for the franchise. Sneak peeks of are already surfacing, and the casting isn’t even complete.

According to the latest Hollywood-goes-to-Britain gossip, daughter, Lourdes, may soon don a witch’s robe; the 11-year-old is reportedly being sought to join the next Harry-themed movie.

Famed pop singer Madonna has made plenty of forays into the acting field herself, and while her roles in movies like The Next Best Thing and Desperately Seeking Susan were roundly bashed by critics, I still say A League of Their Own is a great movie (and she was pretty good in it, too).  Maybe the movie success Madonna once sought will be discovered by Lourdes. Then again, maybe not.

Read More | E! Online

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Narnia Film Delayed

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Disney, Adaptation, Adventure, Family, Sequels, Upcoming Releases

AslanProduction has been delayed on the third Narnia movie installment The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Originally scheduled to hit theatres May 1, 2009, the movie now won’t be released until May 7, 2010. Production was supposed to begin this January, but has now been pushed to next summer. The delay has been attributed to the young stars of the film, as execs are saying it’s very challenging to work out scheduling difficulties. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the second flick in the franchise, was supposed to be released this December. It won’t be out until May.

Read More | Yahoo! News

Bestselling Novels Moving to the Big Screen

Posted by Shannon Bennett Categories: Adaptation, Adventure, Period, Romance, Books

Bestsellers headed for the boxofficeWe’ve come to accept the following as fact - if we enjoy a book, sooner or later, Hollywood will ruin it for us.  Not even chick lit is safe anymore.  Don’t get me wrong, I will be there on opening night for The Jane Austen Book Club, even though that inner librarian impulse is puckering her lips and telling me to reject adaptations outright always.  And we’ll suck it up when we recommend the read to a friend and she says, “Oh, I saw that one!  It was great.” 

However, lately, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by adaptations like The Devil Wears Prada and the most recent Harry Potter film, which, rather than raping the material and leaving it for dead, actually did it justice, and were good films in the same go.  So, maybe Hollywood is shaping up, maybe Jane Austen will smile down on Friday’s theatrical release instead of completing the roll into the next grave that started when Mansfield Park opened.

Regardless, if you want to picture your own characters before their faces become replaced by Evan Rachel Wood and Zac Effron, you’d better get on the following titles, because they’ve been optioned:

Click to continue reading Bestselling Novels Moving to the Big Screen


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