The Hot Button by David Poland

Friday, 15 May 1998

WEEKEND PREVIEW
Last week's No. 1 goes up against the man who has a deep impact on more women over the age of 35 than perhaps anyone else. Yes, it's Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer vs. surprise smash Deep Impact. Normally, I would expect Deep Impact to drop by 50 percent or more, but in reality, the word-of-mouth is much better than I expected it to be. Look for a mere 40 percent drop to $25 million. I think that will be just enough to pass up Sundance Bob, whose latest film should manage between $18 and $23 million. In third, another newcomer. One that I would have projected as a fifth or sixth place film, but because there aren't any holdovers besides Deep Impact that should generate more than $3.5 million (that would be for City of Angels and fourth place). So, it's the musical Quest For Camelot in third with a $7 million opening stanza. In fifth place, I'll bet on the last hurrah in the top five for Titanic ($2.5 million).
The second five should lead with He Got Game ($2.2 million). Woo should hold up in a relatively limited run, tying with Paulie for the seven/eight slot with about $1.7 million each. Look for Les Misérables in ninth with $1.5 million and The Object of My Affection closing out the Top 10 with about $1.3 million. As you probably know, Bulworth opens on only two screens this week before going wide next week opposite you-know-who. Overall, fertile spawning grounds for a certain lizard whom you might have heard something about in recent days.
THE GOOD: Start preparing for The Last Days of Disco. If you liked Metropolitan or Barcelona, you'll love this one. If not, you'll hate it. And if you haven't seen either of the specialty films, rent one soon. The film, being sold as kind of a disco sex romp, is not that. It's a chatty bit of pure Walt Stillman-ism as affected as Woody Allen or David Mamet. He's a new voice in cinema, so like him or hate him, you should check him out yourself.
THE BAD: Variety reports the red-lipped goddess of adolescence, Rose McGowan, is now reading lines off notes on other actors' clothes while shooting her latest, Jawbreaker. When Brando does it, it's kind of quirky and cute. When Rose does it, I can't think of one reason why a director would let her get away with it! Well, maybe one reason. I wonder if Rose's b'friend Marilyn Manson is the jealous type.
THE UGLY: Plump Fiction hits theaters in selected areas. Unless you are staying up on weekend night to watch USA's Up All Night, this one is a pass, pass, pass.
TWO MOVIES EQUAL ONE BAD MOVIE: Paulie + He Got Game = He Got Paulie. Denzel Washington gets a special furlough from prison to convince the talking parrot he grew up with, Paulie, to work for the WB as a replacement for Michigan J. Frog, who now won't shut up. Paulie, angry at Denzel for trying to talk him into doing TV (he's a features-only kind of bird!), refuses the job. In his rage, Paulie adds, "And the Knicks suck!" causing director Spike Lee to stop the production, kill and eat the bird and rewrite the film as a basketball movie.
JUST WONDERING: Am I the only one who is just now catching on to Chloë Sevigny? When roughcut made her one of the 30 Under 30, I was not so sure. But her performances in Palmetto, The Last Days of Disco (coming soon) and even Trees Lounge, which I recently caught on cable, have absolutely charmed me. She is young, and she is sexy, but it's not just that. There is a calm about her that gives her real screen presence. Interesting.
BAD AD WATCH: Jay Carr of The Boston Globe had this quote pulled for Artemisia: "A triumph of committed workmanship!" Is that really a compliment? Seems rather backhanded to me. Kind of like, "He worked really hard on it and it doesn't suck really bad!"
READER OF THE DAY: Amy T. wrote: "Congratulations on reminding readers that opinions are just that, opinions. I think people often forget that! As an agent, writers often disagree with my comments or suggestions, but it still all boils down to one thing -- OPINIONS." (If you don't know what Amy is talking about, check out Wednesday's rant).

E ME: The weekend is here. Tell me what you think of the weekend flicks.