Friday, 13 February 1998

WEEKEND PREVIEW
The question of this weekend is whether 14 Academy Award nominations will mean anything to Titanic's box office when it's already doing so well. It can. Look for around a 10 percent rise to bring it back over $25 million. In the second spot, Sphere seems like it has to do some kind of opening business, though the marketing has been pretty late in getting a head of steam. I'm thinking $13 million or so. A 15 percent Oscar jump for Good Will Hunting puts the film in the $8 million range where it will likely battle Adam Sandler's latest, The Wedding Singer, for third place. (Click to read my interview with Adam.) The Borrowers will be fortunate to pass the $5 million mark; after all, how much have you heard about it? Finally, can you all hear that giant sucking sound pulling The Replacement Killers, Blues Brothers 2000 and Great Expectations down the chart? I can and I don't even have an intern.

THE GOOD: The Oscar bump may push As Good As It Gets over the $100 million mark this weekend. And Titanic will leave $350 million in the dust.

THE BAD: Say goodbye to Amistad. The film hit $40 million last weekend and got little help from the Academy. And just when they settled the lawsuit.

THE UGLY: Boogie Nights is still lingering under the $25 million mark.

TWO BAD MOVIES EQUAL: The Replacement Killers + Blues Brothers 2000 = "The Replacement Brothers." Oops. That is Blues Brothers 2000.

TRACKING THE SOUNDS: Titanic isn't the only movie with a hot record. Spice World has the third spot on Billboard, behind Celine Dion and top dog Titanic. Soul Food, surprisingly, continues to linger at 13. And Great Expectations: The Album is at 27 and heading up the charts. If things continue the way they have, the album will hit the Top Five around the same time the film hits the video stores.

JUST WONDERING: Why aren't more people upset about Djimon Hunsou and Rupert Everett not getting Oscar nominations?

READERS OF THE DAY: There was so much Leo mail, I'm running comments from three of you:

Little Jeanne C. wrote: "He deserved the Oscar for What's Eating Gilbert Grape? It's obvious Oscar folk just don't like him."

K. Talafuse wrote: "We believe (Leo) when he tells Rose, 'The best thing that ever happened to me was winning those tickets. It brought me here to you...' Yes, and the movie Titanic made us take more notice of you, Leo. I just wish the Academy had taken the hint and took notice too."

And Gloria G wrote: Pass the word to Leo: he may not have gotten the nod from his peers but he certainly has the nod from his fans and one GRANDMA!

E ME: Looking for strong opinions, folks. E-mail your aggravation away.