By Pete Hammond

HollywoodNews.com: It was a week for setting records on wide release and specialty fronts as the Cannes Film Festival (where I’ve been the last two weeks) ended but two of its big premiere titles exploded at the domestic and international boxoffice. Disney’s fourth go-round with Pirates of the Caribbean was on the weak side domestically with about $90 million and the studio apparently was hoping for at least a tad more than $100 million. Poor Mickey , right? Not really since the business is basically international now and this Rob Marshall-directed sequel with Johnny Depp back in his signature role as Captain Jack chalked up the best ever international bow not only for those Pirates but just about everyone else with $256 million adding up to a stunning worldwide total of $346 in just three days. There has been four years instead of the usual two between Pirates sequels and the delay may have affected stateside enthusiasm for the series. Still $90 million smackeroos is a bountiful treasure by any measure. The filmmakers told me they had to find a way to reinvent the series since the storyline between Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley had been played out in the poorly reviewed second and third chapters. Now they have been jettisoned in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides replaced by new characters including Penelope Cruz as a con lady pirate with a past emotional involvement with Jack Sparrow and Ian McShane as the legendary Blackbeard. Chicago director Rob Marshall brings almost a rhythmic quality to the swordplay and action scenes that makes this version move along with more verve than the previous two. Of course Depp is the secret weapon and he never disappoints in the role that brought him a SAG award for Best Actor and an Oscar nomination. Plus he seems to be enjoying himself and even suggests that another sequel should be set on the actual Disneyland ride itself and the characters can just go around and around. He’s kidding. I think. Disney , new chief Rich Ross and producer Jerry Bruckheimer really need this one to work and based on its opening its right in line to become the biggest selling Pirates yet thanks to the rest of the world. It’s B+ Cinemascore rating also indicates fairly good word of mouth ahead even if critics balked giving it a low Rotten Tomatoes score.

Almost equally impressive, albeit on a smaller scale, Universal’s raunchy female bonding comedy dropped only 20% from its first weekend scoring a stellar $21 million for nearly $60 million after just 10 days. Excellent. It even passed Thor, leader for the last two weekends proving there is some serious girl power at work here. With the guys coming back next weekend for The Hangover 2 it will be very interesting to see the match up. Sure they will come out swinging but who’s gonna have the real staying power in this summer boxoffice fight? When all is said and done watch out for Bridesmaids.

And whoa, watch out for Woody Allen too who scored the best opening of his career and the best for Sony Pictures Classics – ever. His charming Midnight In Paris scored a brilliant $578,905 for a way over –performing $96,468 per screen average. That’s bigger than anything all last year including The King’s Speech and it is the biggest per screen haul since Precious in 2010 – and it was just $8000 shy of that mark. Parisians have always loved Woody. He’s as big as Jerry Lewis there and it was a smash opening night affair in Cannes too. The attendant publicity really paid off and Woody, whose box office track record is on and off is back ON in a big way. Of course its still only six theatres and they are on both coasts but this could really take off based on great word of mouth. The less said the better about the plot. It’s just a lot of fun to see the twists and turns in the life of Owen Wilson , a true romantic lost in old Paris reveries.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (** out of 4)
No one – not Johnny Depp; not producer Jerry Bruckheimer; not Walt Disney, himself – would have predicted that we’d be discussing a fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean” film when the studio gambled on a big-budget summer tentpole film based on a theme park ride.

The film easily could have sunk to the bottom of the box office like a treasure chest filled with doubloons. Instead, “Pirates” surfed on the tides of some inspired lunacy and earned boatloads of cash, even scoring Depp his first Oscar nomination for his gonzo portrayal of perennial drunk Capt. Jack Sparrow.

Sequels followed, and audiences continued to flock, even as the stories grew more convoluted and the effects overpowered the once-original characters. But this franchise, now sailing into its eighth year, clearly has a dedicated fan base, and it’s for them (and only them) that “On Stranger Tides” has been created.

It’s no secret that Depp modeled his Sparrow after legendary rocker and rumored pirate Keith Richards. The Rolling Stones rocker even cameos once again as Sparrow’s deceitful pirate pop. So it makes sense that the “Pirates” franchise now resembles a Rolling Stones concert in the year 2011. People show up expecting to hear the same old hits they’ve enjoyed for years, and the men on stage (or on the screen) are happy to play to the crowd without giving them any surprises. That’s “Tides.”

That’s “On Stranger Tides” in a nutshell. The band is back together – primarily Depp, Geoffrey Rush (as Barbossa), and the pirate-based costume and sets – but the rock-n-roll anarchy has faded away. The newcomers don’t amount to much more than session musicians asked to keep the same beats that drove the previous three films. While on a quest for the Fountain of Youth, Sparrow (Depp) encounters Blackbeard (Ian McShane) and his lovely but lethal daughter, Angelica (Penelope Cruz). Their goal is to reach the fountain before a rival team of Spanish explorers, or else … well, or else nothing, really, but that doesn’t matter.

Along the way, newcomer Rob Marshall tosses in the requisite pirate tricks – prison breaks, sword fights, mutiny on the bounty — in an effort to keep the whole thing afloat. Making Depp the focal point of the adventure is a mistake; he’s much better lingering in the background where he can pick and choose his spots. But “Tides” masks its predictability with mermaids and zombies, which will have fans of the franchise shouting, “Yo ho!” This is one of those rare examples where dedicated “Pirates” freaks can add a full star to my rating and it wouldn’t change a thing.

Also opening:
Shane Dax Taylor’s “Bloodworth” (** out of 4 stars) continues to open in theaters, featuring the great Kris Kristofferson in a role that’s one part Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart” and two parts every character from a Flannery O’Connor short story or William Faulkner novel. And like O’Connor’s work, “Bloodworth” comes together like a compilation of dark, backwoods scenes. When a film’s supporting cast includes Val Kilmer, Dwight Yoakam, and Frances Conroy, it’s worth a look (even with Hilary Duff as the daughter of a wayward prostitute). But don’t expect coherence from “Bloodworth,” just plenty of mood and Southern atmosphere.

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Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz were just a few of the film’s stars on hand for Saturday’s celebration (the film opens in the States on May 20). So far, reviews on the film from working media have been mixed — a colleague who saw the picture told me it’s Depp’s show, and if you live for Jack Sparrow, you’ll like it more than most.

But will Depp return to the franchise for a fifth adventure and beyond?

“If the people get tired of it or something, that’s when it stops, I think,” the actor told reporters attending a Cannes news conference. “If people want it, I’m there.”

In “On Stranger Tides,” directed by Rob Marshall, Sparrow (Depp) reteams with Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) on a quest for the Fountain of Youth. They are opposed by the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

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Photo courtesy of PRPhotos.com.

Marshall and John DeLuca have officially signed on to the Warner Bros. planned remake of “The Thin Man.” The duo will produce, while Marshall will direct.

And here’s the kicker: Johnny Depp is attached to star in the project.

Says Marshall , “John and I are overjoyed at the idea of working with Johnny again, especially on such a classy and classic project. We are also thrilled to be partnering this time with such wonderful producers as Christi Dembroski and Kevin McCormick , and we are looking forward to working with Warner Bros. to create a reinvention of a beloved story.”

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But it isn’t just talk. “Pirates” screenwriter Terry Rossio already has turned in a script for a fifth film to Disney, and the studio reportedly has approached “Tides” director Rob Marshall about returning to the franchise for another voyage, THR reports.

So “Pirates 5” is a go, right? Well, not so fast. There wouln’t be any “Pirates” franchise without Johnny Depp in the lead role of Capt. Jack Sparrow, and the actor, according to the report, might want to put a little distance between the installments to keep them feeling special to the “Pirates” team and its fans.

“It boils down to story, script and filmmaker,” Depp told THR. “It’s not something where I would say, ‘Let’s shoot it next month to get it out by Christmas 2012.’ We should hold off for a bit. They should be special, just like they are special to me.”

That’s sweet that Depp thinks it boils down to story and script. Truthfully, it boils down to box office, and if crowds come out to support “Stranger Tides,” and are clamoring for more Jack Sparrow, you can bank on Disney opening the vault for Depp to keep this franchise afloat.

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By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

HollywoodNews.com: Yes, there are a lot of “Dancing With the Stars” fans missing popular pro Derek Hough this season. However, “He is off to Canada to film a movie, ‘Cobu 3D.’ He’s starring. He’s dancing and acting,” notes Julie McDonald of the dance romance in which Hough’s leading lady is Asian star BoA. “He wants to do other things, and this is a wonderful opportunity for him.”

Hough is among the elite group of dance talents represented by McDonald’s MSA agency — so she knows. The former dancer (whose own career was cut short by injury) has more than 20 years’ experience in working with dancers, stage director and choreographers, including “So You Think You Can Dance” choreography faves Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo. Tabitha and Napoleon happen to be choreographing “Cobu,” in addition to assignments like Fox’s “Mobbed” and “The Kids Choice Awards,” plus the new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie, “Chipwrecked.”

“People’s careers are extending longer and longer in dance,” McDonald observes, “but those who want to have even longer careers have to expand. Some go into choreography, some into acting. Then you see a lot of choreographers going into producing and directing, like Kenny Ortega, Adam Shankman and Rob Marshall.”

McDonald adds that today, with mass exposure including social networking making dance stars into household names, there are even more opportunities for branching out. “Dancers are often trendsetters. A lot of them are into fashion and design. Tabitha has a store,” she notes.

The explosion of dance and musical show popularity in recent years has made things both easier and more difficult for McDonald, a pioneer in exclusively representing terpsichorean types. The business, she notes, has become much more complicated — and crowded. “There are a lot more people out there calling themselves choreographers.”

Still, there’s obviously demand for the cream of the corps. In a sampling of McDonald’s clients, Swany (Mark Swanhart) is the choreographer for Celine Dion’s new Vegas show and Gilles Papain is their video designer. Sonya Tayeh is directing and choreographing Miley Cyrus’s new tour. Marguerite Derricks is choreographing Broadway’s Wonderland, and Jamie King is directing the forthcoming Michael Jackson Cirque du Soliel show with Travis Payne choreographing. That show is so huge, in fact, McDonald says that multiple choreographers are contributing their talents.

To read more from this article go to Beck/Smith Hollywood.

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By Pat Ryder
HollywoodNews.com: Oscar®-winning actress Penélope Cruz received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today, Apr. 1, in front of the El Capitan Theatre, 6834 Hollywood Boulevard.

According to an EPK.TV press release, the star was bestowed in anticipation of Cruz’s upcoming film, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” which is expected to be released in theaters on May 20, 2011. Johnny Depp, Rob Marshall, Jerry Bruckheimer and Cruz’s husband Javier Bardem were to make appearances at today’s dedication.

Cruz has appeared in more than 40 films since her debut in the 1992 Spanish film “Jamon, Jamon.” She is the first actress from Spain to be nominated and to win an Oscar. Cruz was nominated for her roles in “Volver” and “Nine,” and won for her role as María Elena in 2008′s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

Cruz married fellow actor and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” co-star Bardem in 2010, and gave birth to their first son on January 22, 2011.

Congratulations to Penélope on her star on the Walk of Fame!

Image by PR Photo

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We’ve seen trailers, teaser clips, set visits, and more. Today, two new one-sheets featuring Johnny Depp in full Capt. Jack Sparrow mode hit the Web. We’ve got them below.

There also was some amazing “Pirates” concept art floating around the Internet the other day, which showed director Rob Marshall’s idea for the mermaid creatures Sparrow and his crew will face as they seek out the Fountain of Youth.

I’m still waiting for that blow-out scene in a piece of “Pirates” advertising that really hooks me for this sequel. I do like the one-sheets a lot. We’re just biding time, waiting to see if Depp can deliver another smash.

“Pirates of the Carinnean: On Stranger Tides” opens on May 20 in Disney Digital 3D.

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HollywoodNews.com: After months of anticipation, we are finally getting our first look at the new “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” movie that is slated to hit theaters on May 20, 2011.

The film is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and is being directed by Rob Marshall. In the new photo we see Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz wading through the waters of the jungle. We can’t wait for this blockbuster to come around next year.

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HitFix broke the news this morning that Disney “has begun quietly telling cast and crew to set aside a major block of time in the very near future so they can shoot ‘Pirates 5’ and ‘Pirates 6’” back to back.

Drew McWeeny assumes the studio’s happy with Rob Marshall’s “On Stranger Tides,” and will follow the production model established in the first trilogy of filming parts two and three of the second trilogy at the same time and releasing them separately. He explains that the intense production schedule seemed to burn out original director Gore Verbinski, but acknowledged that it’s the most financially viable way for Disney to turn a profit on three more “Pirates” pictures.

So when all is said and done, we will have six “Pirates” films in the collection. Who would have imagined this franchise would be the one that defines Depp, as he no doubt will be associated with Sparrow for the duration of his career.

It’s unclear when Disney plans to lens these additional “Pirates” sequels, or if Marshall will stay on to direct. For now, we know “On Stranger Tides” opens on May 20, 2011. I wonder if it will end with a cliffhanger, or any sort of tease as to which direction parts 5 and 6 will head?

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