Clicky

On TV Envy: VIDEO: Jon Stewart Impersonates Glenn Beck…for Nearly 15 Minutes

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.
Play Video
Close Player   Episode Permalink Comment on this Video Subscribe to this show via iTunes, Miro, or RSS Download for: iPod High Definition

Box Office Breakdown: Wonderful Start for Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Something tells me we’ll be seeing more collaborations between Johnny Depp and Tim Burton soon.

, the latest project from the famous movie-making team, unfolded to a whopping $116 million over the Oscar weekend. Disney’s 3-D adaptation had the best open ever for a non-sequel and the largest debut for any winter release outside of the holiday season. (And we thought Passion of the Christ‘s $83.8 million looked good six years ago.)

Tim Burton’s entry gave the director his best first weekend to date (compared to the $68.5 million Planet of the Apes grossed in 2001). The movie did, though, come in second to Johnny Depp’s personal high. (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men’s Chest raked in $135.6 million in 2006.)

Alice also topped all 3-D openers…including Avatar. (Granted, James Cameron did have a blizzard to contend with at the time.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Wonderful Start for Alice in Wonderland

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Advertisement

The 2010 Academy Awards: Live Commentary

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards

Oscar statues

When you throw in an extra host, add five more Best Picture nominees, take away the Best Song performances and nominate two formerly married directors—what do you get? A night that will surely be talked about.

Although many believe the will end with very few surprises, the possibility of an upset is still too great to ignore. Will the box office champ (Avatar) win Best Film as well? Or will The Hurt Locker - or even Inglourious Basterds - take the prize? Is Jeff Bridges a shoo-in for Best Actor…or could BAFTA winner Colin Firth sneak past him? Will Sandra Bullock have to deliver another acceptance speech, or will Meryl Streep take home her first Oscar since 1983?

To find out if the ceremony ends in a world of Hurt or Up in the Air, stay tuned here for the live results!

Click to continue reading The 2010 Academy Awards: Live Commentary

Read More | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Box Office Breakdown: Cop Out Misses Out

Cop Out

When is a second place finish considered good news? When it’s the biggest debut you’ve had in your career.

Despite recently being kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight and losing out to Shutter Island, Kevin Smith still has something to smile about. His latest directorial project, , opened to $18.2 million over the weekend. That figure surpasses his previous best of $11.1 million for 2001’s Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

And while Bruce Willis has clearly seen better days, he hasn’t in some time. Fortunately, his comedic partnership with Tracy Morgan raised over $3 million more than his last major outing, Surrogates, did last September.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Cop Out Misses Out

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Shutter Island the Weekend’s Top Destination

Shutter Island

Avatar may have finally bested Titanic, but Leonardo DiCaprio still has reason to smile.

, Leo’s latest collaboration with Martin Scorsese, earned $41 million over the past three days—more than twice what it’s nearest competitor pulled in. The gross was not only the actor’s personal best (2002’s Catch Me If You Can earned $30.1 million) but Scorsese’s as well. (The Academy Award winner rang in $26.9 million with 2006’s The Departed.)

Another Oscar-winning helmer, , also had a bit of success at the box office this weekend. The director, who has been at the center of legal drama recently, saw his film The Ghost Writer rake in $183,009 while in limited release. That amount equates to a $45,000 per screen average.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Shutter Island the Weekend’s Top Destination

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Valentine’s Day Has Rosy Four-Day Weekend

Valentine's Day

Despite receiving less than enthusiastic reviews, Valentine’s Day remained the point of attraction for many romance-minded ticket buyers this weekend. Garry Marshall’s romantic comedy wooed audiences over the holiday period while simultaneously breaking records in the process.

Warner Bros.’ ensemble cast combined their efforts to pull in $63.1 million over the past four days ($56.2 million for just the first three). The feature became the highest-grossing film during any President’s or Valentine’s Day frame while also topping the studio’s list of four-day debuts.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Valentine’s Day Has Rosy Four-Day Weekend

Read More | Box Office Mojo

Box Office Breakdown: Dear John Brings Down Avatar

Amanda Seyfried in Dear John

Dear John—And they didn’t think we could do it. Take that, blue people! XOXO, Savannah

After an exhausting seven weeks at #1, found itself in entirely new territory: sitting back at #2. Although the film had broken nearly every record in the history books (and padded another $22.9 million to its domestic total), the 20th Century Fox feature ended its win streak nine weeks shy of E.T.‘s mark.

Taking the lead from James Cameron was the latest weeper from author Nicholas Sparks. - starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried - was the counterprogramming winner during Super Bowl weekend. The romantic drama earned an impressive $30.5 million and came narrowly close to besting the record set during the same sports frame in 2008. (That was when Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour generated $31.1 million.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Dear John Brings Down Avatar

Read More | Box Office Mojo

2010 Academy Award Nominations

Academy Award nominations 2010

After the list of nominees were announced this morning, two movies rose to the top of the pack. Avatar and The Hurt Locker - helmed respectively by James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow - both lead the field with nine nominations each. Thankfully, the formerly married directors still get along.

Even though this will be the first time since 1943 (when Casablanca won) that ten films will go up for Best Film, this year’s list only revealed a handful of surprises. Those who have been following other ceremonies during this awards season saw very little changes in the acting categories.

Here are some of the noteworthy mentions/omissions from today’s nominations:

  • Many had hoped The Hangover, Star Trek and/or (500) Days of Summer would go up for Best Picture. Many were left disappointed.
  • Is this the first time Daniel Day-Lewis wasn’t nominated for simply breathing?
  • Acting queen is up now up for her sweet 16th nomination for her role in Julie & Julia. (I believe I will one day see her 20th.)
  • Speaking of leading women, there will be three newcomers going up against vets Streep and (The Last Station): Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), Carey Mulligan (An Education) and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)—someone who wasn’t even an actress to begin with!
  • Disney/Pixar’s will be double-dipping it this year. The feature has been nominated in both the Best Film and Best Animated Film categories.

Click to continue reading 2010 Academy Award Nominations

Read More | Oscars

In Theaters This Weekend (12/18)

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

  • Avatar (PG-13): starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver (directed by James Cameron)
  • Did You Hear About the Morgans? (PG-13): starring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliot (directed by Marc Lawrence)
  • Crazy Heart* (R): starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell (directed by Scott Cooper)
  • Nine* (PG-13): starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard (directed by Rob Marshall)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend (12/18)


2010 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories:

Precious

On January 17, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will award their choices for the 2009-10 film season. But on January 23, the people who star in those movies will declare their winners at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from this year’s list of film nominees:

  • , Inglourious Basterds, Up in the Air lead the pack with three mentions each.
  • Although Nine received a nomination for Best Ensemble, there were no individuals honored. (Could that be a Daniel Day-Lewis first?)
  • He may have been snubbed by the Golden Globes, but Jeremy Renner is getting his love now. The Hurt Locker star is up for Best Actor category.
  • Since the SAGs don’t differentiate between comedy and drama, Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep and Matt Damon will have to settle for one nom each.

The will air Saturday, Jan. 23 on both TBS and TNT.

(You can find the full list of film nominees after the jump. Click here for the TV nominations.)

Click to continue reading 2010 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)

Read More | Screen Actors Guild Awards

2009 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)

Up in the Air

The 2009-10 awards season kicked into high gear this morning with the official announcement of the nominations. The event - which will be hosted by funnyman Ricky Gervais - will take place just over two weeks before the Academy Award contenders are revealed.

Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from this year’s list of film nominees:

  • leads all film nominations with six. The musical Nine follows with five while Avatar and Inglourious Basterds tied with four.
  • As expected, Meryl Streep has received another two mentions—unfortunately, they are both in the Comedy category (Julie & Julia, It’s Complicated). On the surprising end, Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side, The Proposal) and Matt Damon (Invictus, The Informant) both have two nominations as well—thankfully, in different categories.
  • Talk about drama! An ex-husband and wife will be competing against each other in the Best Director race. (Avatar‘s James Cameron and The Hurt Locker‘s Kathryn Bigelow.)
  • Despite backing from both Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, is not a contender for Best Film. Mo’Nique and Gabourey Sidibe were both recognized for their excellent acting though.

The 67th Golden Globe Awards airs Jan. 17 on NBC.

(You can find the full list of film nominees after the jump. Click here for the TV nominations.)

Click to continue reading 2009 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)

Read More | Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Advertisement