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FilmCrunch 063: Ocean’s Thirteen, SiCKO, Live Free or Die Hard, Black Snake Moan

Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep are back with another episode of FilmCrunch - this time we review Michael Moore’s SiCKO, Live Free or Die Hard, Ocean’s Thirteen (in under a minute), and the DVD release of Black Snake Moan.

Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.


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Box Office Breakdown:  Competition Schooled By Hogwarts

Harry Potter

Apparently Daniel Radcliffe can bring in the audiences without having to strip…unless that’s what the female theatergoers were secretly hoping for.

Whatever the reason, a record number of voyeurs helped the Hogwarts clan whip up the biggest 5-day total for a non-holiday release.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’s $140 million beat out Shrek 2’s record set in 2004 ($128 million).  The film is now on track to be the largest Potter installment to date.

As for why the producers of Captivity chose to open amongst all the recent family-fare is beyond me.  And yes, I know that’s why they call it counter-programming.  Ironically, while I would have loved to watch Elisha Cuthbert’s character from 24 (the oh-so annoying Kim) be subjected to torture-porn, I really no desire to see her do anything these days.  Apparently I’m not alone….which is why the only other film widely-released this week opened in 12th place.  Now that’s torture.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Competition Schooled By Hogwarts


Box Office Breakdown: Optimus Is In His Prime

Transformers

We knew that a Michael Bay/ Steven Spielberg venture would be a hit—so what really is there left to say?  Well, did you know that this is Bay’s biggest opening since 2001’s awful Pearl Harbor ($59.1 million)??  Did you know that Shia LeBeouf is the first leading man (he just turned 21, so is a leading man) to have two movies reach the top spot this year?

Moving on…how about that awful showing for License to Wed?  Not that I predicted much for the film—but ouch.  Question is:  which Office actor fared worse in this summer’s box office?  Steve Carell who starred in an obscenely expensive Evan Almighty—a movie that at least managed #1 berth?  Or John Krasinski whose movie clearly looked like a bomb from the get-go but came with low expectations?  That may be something for Dwight Schrute to sort out…

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Optimus Is In His Prime


Box Office Breakdown:  Yippee-Kay-Yay Ratatouille!

Ratatouille

Bruce Willis and Co. may have managed to steer clear of gigantic robots—but they somehow overlooked a group of pesky rats.  Live Free and Die Hard was conveniently positioned one week ahead of this summer’s most anticipated blockbuster…yet squarely in the path of a rodent’s bite.  Nevertheless, the aging John McClane still proved that he can get the job done and earn his keep.

Meanwhile, Ratatouille chewed up the competition with a $47 million dollar debut, although it surprisingly foraged less than most of its Pixar elders (only A Bug’s Life and Toy Story started off lower).  What it did manage to do was help boot Surf’s Up out of the Top 10 leaving room for another Shia LeBeouf feature to transform the landscape in just a matter of days…

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Yippee-Kay-Yay Ratatouille!


Box Office Breakdown:  Almighty Only Does Alrighty

Evan Almighty

Question: When is being the #1 movie just not enough? (Hint:  You have three chances to answer this question correctly).

Answer(s):

  1. When the critics don’t really have anything good to say about you
  2. When you made less than 1/2 of what your predecessor did on opening weekend
  3. When it cost over $175 million just to create you

Apparently having God on your side doesn’t guarantee you heavenly box office numbers.  Evan Almighty, the follow-up to 2003’s Bruce Almighty, failed to bring in a large congregation this past weekend.  Although it did better than the rest of the flock, it’s $32 million take paled in comparison to Bruce’s $68 million opening.  And then there’s that glaring $175 million bill…

Of course, we shouldn’t feel so badly about Steve Carell’s career.  I have a feeling that God is providing for him in other ways.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Almighty Only Does Alrighty


Box Office Breakdown:  Lucky Number 13

Oceans 13

Having exhausted all their sequel choices, theater patrons quickly moved on to the latest offering:  Ocean’s Thirteen.  Despite general indifference for the series’ second movie, Steven Soderbergh and friends faced down the unlucky number and rolled the dice again.  Their gamble paid off well this weekend when they took down Captain Jack Sparrow and his mates

Of course, viewers who crave the comfort of familiarity can still manage to have discerning taste.  Eli Roth’s Hostel: Part II only rounded enough voyeurs to rank a mediocre 6th place.  Here’s to hoping that the era of grisly horror movies is once again over…

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Lucky Number 13


Ocean Causing Box Office Tidal Wave

George Clooney With star power like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Al Pacino, there was no way Ocean’s Thirteen wasn’t going to be a hit. The stars began filming in July 2006, in the cities of Las Vegas and Los Angeles, beginning a tidal wave that’s flooding the box office right now.

The star-studded cast is filled with names that include blonde sexpot Ellen Barkin, funnyman Bernie Mac, and Ocean’s alum Andy Garcia. The summer blockbuster is a second-time sequel, much likes its box office counterpart Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.  The Disney flick was supposed to be the biggest of the summer, featuring not just Johnny Depp but more CGI than you can shake a stick at. But the very bankable power of a Clooney/Pitt/Damon combo just can’t be denied, and now it’s Ocean’s Thirteen that’s shaping up to be the summer’s biggest hit. The flick is, at least, this weekend’s biggest hit.

Click to continue reading Ocean Causing Box Office Tidal Wave

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