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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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Box Office Breakdown: That Was It for Paranormal Activity

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Biopics, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Period, Remakes, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Michael Jackson's This Is It

Based on the numbers from the past week, it looks like This Is It should remain in theaters longer than two weeks. Oh wait - it will.

Since opening late Tuesday night, the concert film has generated a total of $34.4 million domestically - $23.2 million just over the weekend - and approximately $101 worldwide. Although Michael Jackson technically didn’t beat the opener for Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour (that entry earned more over 5 days), had the best international debut ever for any concert film.

Sony’s win meant a short victory for . After a steady climb, and only 1 week at the top, the horror film slipped down to second place. Of course, the word-of-mouth hit has nothing to complain about. Not only has the movie grossed $84.6 million to date, it also had the best per screen average of any Top 10 charter.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: That Was It for Paranormal Activity

Read More | Variety

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In Theaters This Weekend: October 23, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: IFC Films, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Universal, Adventure, Animation, Biopics, Documentary, Drama, Family, Foreign, Foreign Language, Horror, Independent, Period, Sequels, Comedy, Lists, New Releases

Amelia

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

  • Amelia (PG): starring Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor (directed by Mira Nair)
  • Astro Boy (PG): starring Nicolas Cage, Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell (directed by David Bowers)
  • Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant (PG-13): starring John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Josh Hutcherson (directed by Paul Weitz)
  • Saw VI (R): starring Costas Mandylor, Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith (directed by Kevin Greutert)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: October 23, 2009


Getting Into Character: Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Fox Searchlight, Biopics, Drama, Casting, Upcoming Releases

Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart

‘s next film will have the Oscar-winner soaring out of the ring and into the air.

In Fox Searchlight’s Amelia, Swank plays famed aviator Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. The pilot - along with a navigator - mysteriously vanished in 1937 after attempting a flight around the world.

The biopic, based on screenplay by Ronald Bass (Rain Man), also stars as publisher George Putnam (Amelia’s husband) and Ewan McGregor as Gene Vidal (Earhart’s lover).

Amelia, directed by Mira Nair (Vanity Fair), is scheduled for an October 23 release.

Read More | People

This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: March 10, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Miramax, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Music, Period, Sequels, Comedy, Home Entertainment

Here are some of the options available this Tuesday:

Milk DVD

Five Lovable Big Screen Couples

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Adaptation, Musicals, Romance, Comedy, Casting

Grease - Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

Love is in air in February - or at least, it’s all over the entertainment industry. Retailers vie for our money, love-soaked television episodes hope for big ratings. The sappier the better, because doesn’t romance put everyone in a spending mood? In Hollywood, love stories are popular all year ‘round - but which lovable big screen couples continue to endure when other romances seems to fade? Some leading ladies and big screen hunks seem to have more chemistry than the average pair, and we love to watch them fall in love again and again.

Let’s look back at five lovable big screen couples, and see what happens when pretend romance is done right.

Olivia Newton-John and - They were both in their twenties when they filmed Grease, but they were the perfect High School couple. The enduring tale of bad-boy-falls-for-good-girl is perhaps best represented with rollicking music and 50s-era fashion - or at least, it’s more enjoyable that way. It’s all thanks to Sandy and Danny, who are so very lovable together.

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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: January 20, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Musicals, Romance, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Home Entertainment

Here are some of the options available this Tuesday:

Max Payne

Box Office Breakdown: Max Payne Outvotes W for #1

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Political, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis in Max Payne

Even though was the host of last Saturday’s SNL, it was Mark Wahlberg - a minor player on that same show - who ended up on top.

This past weekend, finally managed to do what no other movie has done yet: take Beverly Hills Chihuahua down. The video game adaptation earned $17.6 million putting nearly $6 million between itself and the family flick.

Surprisingly, a whole Oprah show dedicated to couldn’t provide that star-studded cast enough buzz. Despite a $10.5 million take, the drama still placed behind the four-legged film. (Bee did, though, earn more per theater than any Top Ten entry.) Meanwhile, Oliver Stone’s latest project did a respectable job for a politically-themed movie. W. also raked in $10.5 million this weekend, narrowly missing third place.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Max Payne Outvotes W for #1

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Chihuahua Refuses to Kneel Down

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Miramax, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Period, Religious, Romance, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio in Body of Lies

Put a couple of Oscar-nominees in a Middle East-based film and what do you get? Answer: Third place.

Despite the star-wattage in Ridley Scott’s new CIA movie, failed to meet expectations this weekend. The Russell Crowe/Leonardo DiCaprio thriller pulled in a surprising $12.9 million for Warner Bros. That turnout is especially low given the film’s reported $100 million budget.

On the flip side, an entry with a relatively small price tag did better than Lies this week. , Sony Screen Gem’s horror contribution, earned $14.2 million and a second place finish. In just three days, the film has already surpassed its $12 million production costs.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Chihuahua Refuses to Kneel Down

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Beverly Hills Chihuahua is Weekend’s Top Dog

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, FOCUS, Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Independent, Political, Religious, Romance, Satire, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

On a weekend with seven new wide releases, it was that emerged as Best in Show. The film, one of the few family-oriented titles currently being offered, earned nearly $30 million over the past three days. That amount was enough to easily surpass Eagle Eye, last week’s #1. The talking-dogs feature also gave Disney its best October opening thus far.

Of the other new entries in the Top Ten, one was religion-centric while the other had political overtones. (Could this be an election year?) Coming in at #10 was , the documentary from Bill Maher. Although the movie was only offered in limited release, it pulled in $6,792 per theater. That was the second highest average amongst the chart toppers. Meanwhile, An American Carol, a right-wing satirical comedy, found itself in 9th place.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Beverly Hills Chihuahua is Weekend’s Top Dog

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Eagle Eye Soars to #1

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, FOCUS, Disney, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Animation, Drama, Family, Period, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Eagle Eye

Despite mixed reviews for his latest film, Shia LaBeouf once again proved he has box office appeal. , a film from Disturbia‘s D.J. Caruso, earned $29.2 million over the past three days and the #1 spot. Even a Friday night presidential debate couldn’t stop the thriller from putting nearly $16 million between itself and Nights in Rodanthe, this weekend’s #2. Although Nights - the third pairing for Diane Lane and Richard Gere - took in $13.4 million, the romantic drama did almost $1 million less than 2002’s Unfaithful.

- a faith-based film starring Kirk Cameron - surprised many with its 4th place finish. Although it was only available in 839 theaters, the movie had an impressive $8111 per screen average. Meanwhile, two films outside the Top Ten boasted averages over the $10,000 mark. The Duchess (ranked #13) pulled in $10,238 per theater while Ed Harris’ Appaloosa (#35) did slightly better with $10,469.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Eagle Eye Soars to #1

Read More | Variety

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