On FilmCrunch: Antichrist Lacks Scares, Boasts Biblical Allegory

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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Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Escape to Couples Retreat

Couples Retreat

Depending on how you look at the numbers, the winner this weekend was either or Paranormal Activity.

In the comedy corner, we have a Peter Billingsley-directed film that earned $35.3 million and a first-place finish. The movie - which combined the efforts of Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau and Jason Bateman - pulled in the best numbers for any Columbus Day weekend entry ever. It also gave Vaughn his 2nd best opening behind The Break-Up.

Meanwhile, on the horror front, made a huge splash despite being in limited release. The Blair Witch-esque movie scared up a shocking $49,000 per screen average. It also raked in nearly 500 times more than its budget. (It only cost less than $16,000 to produce.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Escape to Couples Retreat

Read More | Variety

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Box Office Breakdown: No Sluggish Start for Zombieland

Zombieland

Watch out, vampires…there’s still life in the other undead.

Although he was previously known as a director for Jimmy Kimmel Live, Ruben Fleischer now has a new title: box office champ. This past weekend, Ruben saw his first major feature, , attack the competition with a $24.7 million debut. The movie - which only cost approximately $24 million to make - had the highest open for any zombie-themed flick since Dawn of the Dead in 2004.

Meanwhile, another director had an entirely different result with her debut feature. , a roller derby comedy helmed by Drew Barrymore, rolled into 6th place finish with only $4.7 million. (When your film’s been topped by Pixar entries from 10+ years ago, there might have a problem.) Hopefully in a few more weeks, the Ellen Page vehicle will at least cover its $15 million production tab.

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Read More | Variety

In Theaters This Weekend: October 2, 2009

The Invention of Lying

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

  • Capitalism: A Love Story** (R): starring Michael Moore (directed by Michael Moore)
  • The Invention of Lying (PG-13): starring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill (directed by Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson)
  • Toy Story/Toy Story 2 in 3D (G): starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Ratzenberger (directed by John Lasseter)
  • Whip It! (PG-13): starring Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis (directed by Drew Barrymore)
  • Zombieland (R): starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone (directed by Ruben Fleischer)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: October 2, 2009


Will Ferrell Replaces Downey

Will Ferrell to replace Robert Downey Jr. in OobermindWill Ferrell has replaced Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. in Oobermind.

Father of six Brad Pitt and Superbad‘s Jonah Hill have also joined the voice cast of the forthcoming DreamWorks movie, which follows the titular character, an evil criminal mastermind—played by Will—who finds his life becomes dull when he defeats his rival, Brad’s Metro Man.

Jonah will voice Titan, a new superhero created by Oobermind while Tina Fey voices a reporter tracking the crime fighters.

Sherlock Holmes star Robert cited “scheduling conflicts” for his departure from the project, adding fuel to speculation he is to play the role of Lestat—made famous by Tom Cruise in Interview With The Vampire—in a new retelling of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles novels.

Oobermind is scheduled for release in November 2010.


Sarah Marshall Cast and Crew Divulge Upcoming Projects

Apatow announces new projectsGood news for fans of Forgetting Sarah Marshall this week! Although comedic genius Judd Apatow’s latest film, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, failed to perform at the box office last weekend, cast and crew members have already decided that they want to work together again!

Forgetting Sarah Marshall director Nick Stoller is joining Judd Apatow for another comedy starring Jonah Hill (Superbad, Knocked Up) and Russell Brand (Penelope, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), titled Get Him to the Greek. The film follows Hill’s character, who is hired to follow an “out-of-control” British rock star (Brand), his ultimate goal being to get him to play at L.A.‘s Greek Theatre.

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Read More | Entertainment Weekly

Apatow Scores With Sarah Marshall

Jonah Hill and Jason Segel in Forgetting Sarah Marshall

has brought hope to the comedy genre yet again. The Freaks and Geeks creator has teamed up with past co-worker, (SLC Punk, How I Met Your Mother) to bring movie-goers his upcoming eccentric, new generation romantic comedy: .

Written by Segel and helmed by first-time director Nicholas Stoller, the film follows music composer Peter Bretter (Segel), who was dating TV star Sarah Marshall () for five years until she breaks up with him for British rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). At the suggestion of his step-brother (Bill Hader), Bretter escapes to Hawaii in hopes of recovering, only to discover that Marshall came to the same resort with her new boy toy. He then is able to avoid committing suicide thanks to hotel receptionist Rachael (Mila Kunis).  The laughs continue throughout with appearances by the regular Apatow bunch: Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, and more.

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In Theaters This Weekend (2/1)

The Eye, Jessica Alba

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

Box Office Breakdown:  The Brave One Reaches #1

The Brave One

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 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 with , and I don’t.  Even then, that was almost 3 months ago.

, and 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 makes her royal return in Elizabeth: The Golden Years (out October 12th).

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  The Brave One Reaches #1


Box Office Breakdown:  Yuma Ropes Up The Win

Yuma

Audiences went old-school this weekend helping 3:10 to Yuma corral the box office crown.  The well-received film, starring and , marked the second week in a row a classic movie remake landed at #1.  (Previous winner, Halloween slid down a notch this week).

Question now is:  Will the success of Yuma spur an onslaught of Westerns?  Given the lack of any real competition this weekend, it still may be too soon to say.  But any speculation will probably be confirmed when ‘s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford opens on September 21.

A trend that probably won’t be coming back anytime soon?  Brothers-desperately-trying-to-make-a-baby-to-make-their-father-happy-before-he-dies films.  The Brothers Solomon delivered a pathetic $525,000 in its debut weekend.  Granted, it didn’t show in many theaters (only 700)—but I’m guessing there was a reason for that.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Yuma Ropes Up The Win


Box Office Breakdown:  Holiday Comes Early For Halloween

Halloween

Rob Zombie’s remake of the classic film, Halloween, scared up over $30 million this weekend smashing Transporter 2‘s 2005 achievement ($20 million).  Additionally, the horror film’s record gross capped off a successful summer for films overall.  With fifteen movies over the $100 million mark, the movie industry soared past $4 billion domestically.

Unfortunately, Jason Statham’s War did very little to contribute to this landmark achievement.  While he may have been a record-setter two years ago, his latest outing is slowly dropping off the charts.  Meanwhile, the weekend’s other two major openings—Balls of Fury and Death Sentence—fared decently enough to at least make a showing.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Holiday Comes Early For Halloween

Read More | Variety

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