The 2009 Academy Awards: Live Commentary
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,
After a year away from live Oscars coverage, I’m thrilled to be back for the 2009 Academy Awards.
Even though Dark Knight‘s snub will probably keep a number of viewers away (how many can honestly say they’ve seen The Reader?), I’m eagerly anticipating several moments from this evening’s broadcast.
Will Heath Ledger’s family bring the house to tears? Is Mickey Rourke going to make the producers wince? Will the cameras pan to Brangelina after Jennifer Aniston’s presentation? Are Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron really (really?) going to do a song and dance number?
To find out if this will be the year of the Slumdog or the underdog, stay tuned here for the live results!
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Fey, Downey and Stiller All Circling Master Mind
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Animation, Family, Comedy, Casting,
Two of 2008’s hottest actors may be collaborating on one of DreamWorks’ funniest projects yet.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Oscar-nominee Robert Downey Jr. and Emmy winner Tina Fey are currently in talks for Master Mind. Ben Stiller, Robert’s Tropic Thunder costar, is reportedly in discussions for a part as well.
The comedy - from the studio’s animated division - will put a spin on your typical superhero films. Mind will focus on a villain who is need of a purpose after accidentally offing his main archenemy.
Master Mind is scheduled for a November 5, 2010 release.
Read More | The Hollywood Reporter
Casting Corner: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Ashton Kutcher, Orlando Bloom
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Adaptation, Drama, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,
Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:
Two of NBC‘s Thursday night stars will soon be joining forces for a big-screen comedy.
Actors Steve Carell (The Office) and Tina Fey (30 Rock) are both lined up to star in Date Night, a film for 20th Century Fox.
The comedians will play a married couple who end up with more than just a “dinner and a movie” on their regular date night. The movie will be helmed by Shawn Levy, the same man currently directing Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian.
Production on Date Night should begin sometime next year.
Click to continue reading Casting Corner: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Ashton Kutcher, Orlando Bloom
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Kung Fu Panda Fights Off Competition
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Family, Horror, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists,
Theatergoers in need of more family-friendly fare pushed Kung Fu Panda to the top of the charts this past weekend. The comedy - and its $60.2 million take - was the third best animated opener for DreamWorks Animation (behind the first two Shrek films) and the 8th of all time (just ahead of Cars). Panda was also the first time a Jack Black film debuted at #1.
Meanwhile, another laugher was raking in impressive numbers of its own. You Don’t Mess With the Zohan - the latest production from Adam Sandler - grossed $38.5 million to take second place. Zohan‘s total falls in line with the rest of Sandler’s films from the past 10 years. Since 1998, the actor’s comedic projects have all seen $30+ million opens. (Last year’s I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry took in $34.2 million.)
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Kung Fu Panda Fights Off Competition
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Raise Their Glasses to Sex and the City
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Thanks to a mob of high-heeled women, the big-screen adaptation of Sex and the City took in nearly $57 million over the past three days. Pretty impressive considering the film was expected to land somewhere in the $25-$35 million range. But Carrie and Company did just more than score first place, their hard work put them into the record books:
- Sex and the City had the best opening weekend for an R-rated comedy.
- The film’s debut topped any live-action adaptation of a TV show. (The original Mission Impossible raked in $45 million.)
- SATC‘s premiere surpassed all romantic comedies including Hitch ($43.1 million) and Knocked Up ($30.7 million).
- It was the fifth best showing for any R-rated movie ever.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Raise Their Glasses to Sex and the City
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Prince Caspian Crowned the Winner
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Independent, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Although it failed to reach expectations, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was still mighty enough to take down Robert Downey Jr. this past weekend. The Disney sequel pulled in over $55 million dollars and earned itself a first place finish. Unfortunately, the film’s gross was slightly disappointing given the first installment’s take; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe opened at $65.6 million back in 2005.
In other adaptation news, Warner Bros.’ Speed Racer continued to fall behind in the race. The colorful adventure slipped another notch into fourth, right behind What Happens in Vegas. Meanwhile, Iron Man‘s $31.8 million total pushed the film past the $200 million range.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Prince Caspian Crowned the Winner
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Ashton Kutcher Drives Past Speed Racer
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Family, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Books, Lists, New Releases,
Despite arresting visuals and a $120 million budget, the Wachowski brothers were unable to bring Speed Racer to life. The Warner Bros. movie - which many had already predicted would fall behind Iron Man - did even worse than originally thought. At one point, it was believed the anime adaptation would debut in 2nd place. Unfortunately, the final box office numbers placed the PG film in third.
Meanwhile, What Happens in Vegas became the second wedding-themed entry in the recent Top Ten. The comedy, starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher, replaced Made of Honor as the go to ‘chick flick’ of the week. The movie grossed $20.1 million, a slim $1.6 million more than Speed.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Ashton Kutcher Drives Past Speed Racer
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Iron Man Strikes Gold
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Horror, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Where exactly can the summer box office go from here?
This past weekend, Iron Man blasted into theaters in a big way. The comic book adaptation raked in a whopping $102 million putting an $87 million difference between itself and its nearest competitor. The PG-13 film officially became the 10th best opener of all time and had the second best premiere for any non-sequel. (Spider-Man grossed $114.8 million back in 2002.)
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Iron Man Strikes Gold
Variety
Box Office Breakdown: Women Rule with Baby Mama
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Although 30 Rock still struggles to compete on Thursdays, Tina Fey’s Baby Mama had no problem topping the competition. The film, co-starring Amy Poehler, earned $17.4 million and made a showing for women everywhere. When’s the last time a movie with two female leads debuted at #1?
Interestingly enough, Mama‘s screen average ($6845) was outdone by another female-centric movie: The She Found Me. The movie that was directed and written by star Helen Hunt earned $8066 per screen this weekend. Fairly impressive considering Found, also featuring Bette Midler, opened in 44th place.
Friday’s other big entry - Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay - came in second place with a $14.9 million take. Surprisingly, that gross nearly equals what the original film raked in during it’s total run.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Women Rule with Baby Mama
Variety
In Theaters This Weekend (4/25)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, MGM, New Line, Sony, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,
Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:
- Baby Mama (PG-13): starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear (directed by Michael McCullers)
- Deception (R): starring Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Michelle Williams (directed by Marcel Langenegger)
- Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanemo Bay (R): starring John Cho, Kal Penn Rob Corddry (directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg)
- Deal* (PG-13): starring Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison, Shannon Elizabeth (directed by Gil Cates Jr.)
- Rogue* (R): starring Radha Mitchell, Michael Vartan, Sam Worthington (directed by Greg Mclean)
Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend (4/25)
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