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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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First Look: Mel Gibson Seeks Revenge in Edge of Darkness

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


“I’m the guy with nothing to lose.” When a man already facing a pricey divorce battle tells you that, you better watch out.

In , Mel Gibson plays a Boston detective who tries to uncover the conspiracy behind his daughter’s murder. The film, which was directed by Casino Royale‘s Martin Campbell, is Gibson’s first major role since 2002’s Signs.

The Warner Bros. thriller will open on January 29, 2010.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Casting Corner: Anton Yelchin, Michelle Monaghan and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, MGM, New Line, Warner Bros, Action, Animation, Drama, Family, Musicals, Remakes, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

Michelle MonaghanAnton Yelchin

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

Michelle Monaghan: The Made of Honor actress is going to be kept waiting in Due Date, a Todd Phillips-directed comedy. Michelle has been cast as the pregnant wife eager for her husband (Robert Downey Jr.) to make it home. Unfortunately, the dad-to-be is accompanied by Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) during his hurried journey home. The film is still in pre-production.

Click to continue reading Casting Corner: Anton Yelchin, Michelle Monaghan and More


This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: September 1, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Biopics, Drama, Foreign, Foreign Language, Period, Sports, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, Lists

State of PlayHere are some of the options available this Tuesday:

  • Braveheart: Blu-ray
  • Bring It On: Fight to the Finish: DVD, Blu-ray
  • The Girl Next Door: Blu-ray
  • Gladiator: Blu-ray
  • High Crimes: Blu-ray
  • M*A*S*H: Blu-ray
  • Monster: Blu-ray
  • Sin Nombre: DVD
  • State of Play: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Sugar: DVD, Blu-ray
  • Tennessee: DVD

Make sure to also check out the TV-on-DVD options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

Casting Corner: Jodie Foster, Zooey Deschanel and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: New Line, Universal, Adaptation, Drama, Period, Romance, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip

Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster

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

Jodie Foster: The actress will reteam with her Maverick costar later this fall for a quirky comedy. Mel Gibson has been cast as depressed man who treats his beaver hand puppet like a real person. Foster will play his wife, the other real person in his life. Jodie will also helm The Beaver, her first directorial project since 1995’s Home for the Holidays.

Click to continue reading Casting Corner: Jodie Foster, Zooey Deschanel and More


Mel Gibson Unveils Trailer for The Colonel

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Trailers


On last night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, two of Hollywood’s biggest questions were finally answered:

1. Does Tom Cruise have a cat?
Answer revealed here.

2. Why has Mel Gibson been sporting that hideous Colonel Sanders mustache?
Because he’s starring in the movie called The Colonel. See the new trailer above.

Read More | Jimmy Kimmel Live

Mel Gibson Ordered to Participate in Q&A

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Drama, Foreign Language, Religious, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip

Mel Gibson

In response to a lawsuit filed by writer Benedict Fitzgerald, a judge has ordered movie mogul Mel Gibson to answer specific questions about expenses for his hit saga .

Fitzgerald claims Gibson underpaid him for his work. The claim is that writer payments were lowered for Gibson-related expenses, a contractual violation. The screenwriter’s lawyer says Gibson spent large sums for personal reasons while filming in Italy, including $78,000 on a chiropractor bill.

Gibson has been ordered to appear for a deposition by mid-January to answer questions regarding the film. So far, his lawyer is unavailable for comment.

Read More | MSNBC

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

Mel Gibson Plans Acting Return

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Adaptation, Drama, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases

Mel GibsonAfter spending some time under the radar, is apparently ready to make a return to acting.

Although Gibson has definitely been busy over the last several years, his primary focus has been on directorial work (, The Passion of the Christ).  It’s actually been some time since Mel has placed himself in front of the camera.  His last major motion pictures hit theaters back in 2002 (Signs, We Were Soldiers).

I’m sure the calculated time off also had something to do with the actor’s brush with the law.  If he could manage to keep out of the limelight, people would eventually forget those anti-Semitic remarks.  Right?

Click to continue reading Mel Gibson Plans Acting Return

Read More | Variety

Will Owen Wilson’s Troubles Make ‘Darjeeling’ Hard To Watch?

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Fox Searchlight, Independent, Comedy, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

Darjeeling Limited

While at the theaters this weekend, I caught my first glimpse of The Darjeeling Limited trailer. The movie from Wes Anderson (the Royal Tenenbaums) centers around three brothers who try and bond during a train trip through India.

I’m not one who would typically turn away from a movie based on events in the news—I still watched Apocalypto despite Mel Gibson’s anti-Semitic remarks—but I must admit I squirmed a bit watching Darjeeling.  This was the film Owen Wilson was scheduled to promote around the time of his suicide attempt.

Again, I realize Owen’s personal issues should not affect my opinion of what could otherwise be a good movie.  But how could I not be distracted if I tried to sit through this film?  I’d have to stare at a character whose face is bandaged up! (Yes, I realize that’s not the part of his body I should be concerned with).  But in just that short segment, I found myself feeling very uncomfortable and sad every time he came on screen.  I felt like a voyeur studying the moments before he hit bottom.

I’m not saying I won’t watch Darjeeling—I’m just admitting that Wilson’s troubles could color my decision.  Tell me—am I being ridiculous?  Should I be making an extra effort to watch this film as a show of support?  Or am I not alone in feeling this way?

The movie, also starring Jason Schwartzman and Adrien Brody, opens in limited release on September 29.


Apocalypto DVD Review

Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Buena Vista, Touchstone, Action, Adventure, Drama, Foreign Language, Period, Thrillers, New Releases, DVD Reviews

Apocalypto PosterMel Gibson’s epic film about the decline of the Mayan civilization in 16th century South America was released on DVD last week.  The story begins when a small but productive Mayan village comes under attack by a local tribe desperate to save itself from ecological demise by appeasing the gods with human sacrifice.  While the movie displays the unique architecture, weaponry, and overall culture of these indigenous peoples, it also narrows to focus on the remarkable story of a brave warrior, captured and tortured but determined to return to his village and family.

Apocalypto is co-written and directed by Mel Gibson, co-written by Farhad Safinia, and stars Rudy Youngblood and Dalia Hernández.  Rated R

The film was generally received well by critics but has been disputed by anthropologists and archaeologists who claim it’s filled with historical inaccuracy; many believe it also depicts the Mayan people negatively as much more violent a civilization than is historically evident.  Gibson and Safinia, however, claim to have studied Maya extensively before making the film.  All controversy aside, the film is nothing short of amazing, placing you in inconceivable peril and holding you there until you feel you’ve become a part of it.  Be sure to check out FilmCrunch’s Apocalypto Video Review.

The DVD features don’t really support a film of such magnitude:

  • Subtitles in English (both standard and for the hearing impaired), Spanish, and French
  • Commentary by Mel Gibson and Farhad Safinia
  • Becoming Mayan: Creating Apocalypto
  • Deleted Scene

Most of the features are fairly standard, though the single deleted scene, which is completely unnecessary on this release, is embarrassingly trivial and feels like a thoughtless tack-on.  The commentary is relatively illuminating and, even if you’ve grown to despise him, Gibson succeeds at keeping it informative and fun.  The real draw, however, is the behind-the-scenes featurette.  Clocking in at 25 minutes, this mini-documentary chronicles the creation of the film from concept to creation, including make-up, costumes, weapons, and locations.  While the segment satisfied most of my curiosity, there were some elements that would’ve given me a bit more to appreciate – maybe some concept art, design and construction of the Mayan temples, cast interviews/screentests, special effects, etc.  Overall, the DVD release of Apocalypto is a standard but solid one that will leave some perfectly satisfied and others wanting more.  Let’s hope there’s a special edition on the horizon.


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