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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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Academy Makes Changes to Best Song Category

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards

Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson at 2007 Academy Awards

If you’ve ever felt yourself wondering, “How many songs could Beyonce possibly sing during this awards show?” - this news is for you.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has made a change that will go into effect before next year’s ceremony. From this point forward, no one movie will be able to dominate the Academy Awards’ Best Song category. While producers can submit as many tunes as they like, only two songs per film will be allowed for nomination.

Click to continue reading Academy Makes Changes to Best Song Category

Read More | Variety

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Memorable Moments from the Unmemorable Academy Awards

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Celeb News

Jon Stewart, Academy Awards

Last night’s Best Actor categories were as predictable as the Best Actress races were surprising.  Yesterday’s ceremony was also as disappointing as it was routine.

For months now, we’d been hearing about several plans being orchestrated for the .  If the writers’ strike was still in effect, the producers swore the telecast would continue with packages that celebrated Oscar’s 80-year history.  Interestingly enough, even with the scribes back at work, the show was still horribly written and crammed with unnecessary fillers.  (Even I could have penned ‘the always Fantastic…Jessica Alba’.)

As it was, the winners appeared to have been given less time last night to accept their awards than ever.  (Which may or may not have been a good thing.)  But did really need to rush his lovely speech to his mother?  Did the organizers have to reshow the previous awards presentations?  Did the AMPAS President really need to waste time explaining how the selection process is done??

Click to continue reading Memorable Moments from the Unmemorable Academy Awards

Read More | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Vanity Fair’s Hollywood Issue

Since 1995, Vanity Fair has been churning out legendary covers tipping its hat to Hollywood.  And year after year, photographer has been counted on to produce those stunning and memorable images.  Remember the one with Tom Ford and the two nude ladies ( and )?  How about the cover with Uma, Kate and Cate?

This season, the magazine will honor the ‘Fresh Faces of 2008’:

Vanity Fair Cover

Those pictured include: (The Devil Wears Prada), (Enchanted), (The Illusionist), (The Devil Wears Prada), (I Am Legend), (Juno), (Vantage Point), (Fred Claus), (Big Love), and (Ugly Betty).

Make note of these ladies.  Some of their careers will soar, while others will become faded segments of Vanity Fair’s history (e.g. , , , ).

To see a slideshow of all fourteen Annie Leibovitz covers, click here.

Read More | Vanity Fair

Box Office Breakdown: Juno Makes An Impressive Surge

Juno

Come Wednesday morning, the box office chart saw very few changes at the top.  That’s not to say the five-day holiday weekend didn’t have any notable moments at all:

  • Strong word of mouth helped boost last week’s #10, , up five whole spaces.  The movie - already in it’s 4th week - continues to soar despite its fairly limited release.  It’s $15,788 per screen average even topped $14,232.
  • Golden Globes buzz also contributed to the success of seven-time nominee .  Although it only placed 14th overall, the romantic weeper scored a $15,764 average.
  • outmuscled last week’s #2, .  The family-friendly flick traded spots with the blockbuster thanks to its $2.5 million edge.
  • narrowly missed a place in the Top Ten despite its connection to both and .  You heard it right - the talk show host’s touch does not always mean gold.
  • followed up its disappointing debut with another out of tune performance.  The musical satire plummeted five spots all the way down to #13.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Juno Makes An Impressive Surge

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

Box Office Breakdown: Book of Secrets a National Hit

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

This holiday weekend introduced a slew of big-ticket features in our cineplexes.  It also brought us a wide cast of former Oscar-winners competing for our theater dollars.  By Monday, , , , , and Oscar-nominee had all made entries into the Top Ten - but it was who wound up striking gold.

earned $45 million, an increase of $10 million over the 2004 original.  This was the second hit for Cage this year, following the critically-panned Ghost Rider.  In addition to having the weekend’s best gross, Secrets also had the best average of any movie over those three days.  Although ‘s fourth place was respectable (especially for a politically-based film these days), its $3760 per screen take clearly set it apart from this week’s champ.  In contrast, earned an $11,184 average for an impressive 10th place finish.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Book of Secrets a National Hit

Read More | Yahoo!

Amy Adams’ Enchanted Life

Amy AdamsThough I have to admit I was personally shocked, the flick , which offered a meld of cartoon melodrama and live-action sequences which were amazingly even more over-the-top, became one of the biggest stars of the early . , who played the princess, even snagged a jaw-dropping (on my end) . But now Adams isn’t sure where to take her career.

The thirty-three year old film star pondered the definition of success in a recent Newsweek interview, in which she said she has neither children nor a wedding ring. Adams now has two pictures in the works which couldn’t be more different from cartoonish Disney. will show the story of two nuns who grapple with the heady issue of sexual abuse, while features two crime scene cleanup sisters.

Read More | Yahoo! News

Box Office Breakdown: Will Smith a Legend in December

I Am Legend

You have to wonder whether is just a wee bit jealous of his friend’s success…

This weekend, not only smashed the box office debut of Cruise’s , he pounded everything in his path.  - the third adaptation of the 1954 Richard Matheson novel - nearly doubled the take of its nearest competitor while breaking the record for a December release.  Legend’s $77 million debut surpassed the bar set by Oscar-winner .  The final installment in the Lords trilogy brought in $72.6 million back in 2003.

Although was far behind in second place, its $44 million weekend was nothing to sneeze at.  The movie not only exceeded most expectations, it downright embarrassed third place finisher, How could anyone possibly explain freaky-looking chipmunks taking down a large polar bear?  The latter film only added another $8.8 million to its total, putting it a smidge closer to its $180 million budget.  (Granted, it has done better overseas.)

But let’s not be fooled by the large numbers at the top of the charts, the weekend’s most notable turnout was made by #11: .  The comedic charmer earned an impressive $35,686 per screen.  Meanwhile, (which opened in 3566 more theaters) averaged only $21,411.  Take that, Fresh Prince!

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Will Smith a Legend in December

Read More | Yahoo!

2008 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)

Assuming the ongoing doesn’t put a wrench into everyone’s plans, the 65th Annual ceremony is scheduled to air on Sunday, Jan. 13th. (The telecast will come just 9 days prior to the nominations.)

Here are the most notable omissions/additions in this year’s list of film honorees:
Atonement

(Click below for the full list of film nominees; click here for the TV nominations.)

Click to continue reading 2008 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)

Read More | Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Celebrity Double-Take: Amy Adams vs. Isla Fisher

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Celebrity Gossip

Amy AdamsIsla Fisher

UPDATE: Isla Fisher acknowledges the Amy Adams comparisons here.

Here’s my random celebrity question of the day:

Is it just me—or does Enchanted’s (pictured on left) look very much like Wedding Crashers’ (pictured on right)?

(Make sure to check out the other TV and Film Celebrity Double-Takes!)


Box Office Breakdown: The Golden Compass Lacks Luster

Golden Compass

A Narnia-esque adaptation partnered with a holiday release date and an A-list cast should have conjured box office magic for .  Surprisingly, this weekend’s release from brought in barely enough money to cover the film’s catering budget.

Compass, based on Philip Pullman’s children’s series His Dark Materials, was and second disappointing collaboration this year (the first being ).  While it was enough for a first place finish, the $25 million debut was hardly impressive given the film’s $180 million price tag.

In other news, holiday flick remained in third place while the critically-panned bumped up two spaces from last week.  Meanwhile, and did well with their very limited releases.

Be looking for the highly-promoted (and ) to enter next week’s charts.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Golden Compass Lacks Luster

Read More | E! Online

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