The Hot Button by David Poland

Friday, 16 October 1998

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Remember "The Year of the Woman" a few years back? This is the weekend of the woman. You have the women of Practical Magic (with Aidan Quinn as the token male), the women of Beloved (with Danny Glover as the token male) and Bride of Chucky (with Jennifer Tilly as the token human). What Dreams May Come, with Robin Williams in "the girl's role" and you've got that Holy Man which manages to emasculate both Eddie Murphy and Jeff Goldblum. Thank God we have Rush Hour with Jackie Chan kicking and Chris Tucker squealing... Oops. So much for that.
So, what does that mean for the box office? I think the newcomers will manage to come in one-two-three. The question is, can Sandra and Nicole's familiar star power beat out Oprah's overwhelming marketing power. (As I always try to remind, opening weekends are not about quality, but about buzz and marketing. So, don't think this is about which film I like better.) Mostly, I think the male vote will make the difference, as Saturday night movie dates will likely lean toward the babes on brooms flick. As critic/director Rod Lurie might say, "If a guy agrees to see Beloved, he deserves to get some sex." I'm not quite as much of a sexist on chick flicks, but if I take a woman who doesn't like serious dramas to see the film, I will submit if she so demands it. (Call 1-900-555-DAVE.) I like Practical Magic to be slowed by Beloved, but not defeated, with a $16 million launch. Just behind, the reverse is true, and Beloved should grab about $13 million. While it could do worse, I can't believe that it will do better. It's just too heavy. And in third, with about $12 million, I think Universal's campaign for Bride of Chucky will grab some of the same people who had such a good time with Rush Hour.
The returnees aren't of great interest. Antz should stick around a 25 percent drop to add $11 million to its colony, pushing past the $50 million mark. Rush Hour should take a slightly bigger hit as it ages, losing 40 percent to cuff $6.9 million. Also in the 40 percent range should be What Dreams May Come, in sixth with $6.6 million. From there, we take a slight cliff dive to A Night at the Roxbury, which has probably worn out its welcome and might hit the big 4-5 in fall percentage. Three-point-four million in seventh. In the fight for eighth and ninth, look for Urban Legend and Ronin to continue to lock bumpers. Both fall about 45 percent (Urban suffering more at the hands of Chucky's new wifey) at about $2.6 million. Finally, a battle that could be historic. Even with a 55 percent drop, Holy Man is likely to take 10th with $2.3 million. What's historic about that? Nothing. But it could mark the end of the Top 10 run of There's Something About Mary, which, even with just a 20 percent drop, will gross only $2.2 million. The weekend will likely take the most profitable film of this summer, by far, to $165 million in domestic box office. If it's time to say goodbye (and if it does rise up, it will be gone with next weekend's crop), we, who watch the movie business salute you. Sall-lute!
THE GOOD: The Celebration, winner of a Special Jury Prize at Cannes this year, is beginning its art house run in the U.S. I still haven't seen it, but every single person I have spoken to who has seen it seems to have loved it. It's from the Lars von Trier (Breaking the Waves) collective and it is similarly weird, apparently, but everyone says it's more accessible. This may just be a critics thing. One person mentioned that part of what was cool was that it bent the form so interestingly. That may not be for you, but the buzz is good.
THE BAD: I have to warn you all again about Happiness. I love the movie (THB 10/07). For me, it blows Neil LaBute off the screen and hits the very deepest nerves of the human soul. (And writer/director Todd Solondz answers some of the truly disturbing questions I had and that others have had in my interview, which runs next week.) But, it is a rough, rough movie. I'm not kidding. If you have a connection with issues of sex or sexual molestation, be wary. This is not like Kundun. You might hate that film, but it wasn't going to harm you. This one will get inside of your soul, and I don't mean just critics' souls. (If they have any.) I mean normal people. That's what the film is about. The darkest side of normal people. Feel free to respond, but you should know this is not about judging your ability to "take it." It's not a macho critical test. Rage is a reasonable reaction to this movie. So, you have been warned and encouraged. I'll now return you to your normal, cynical, smart-assed columnist.
THE UGLY: The length of today's column. Sorry. Couldn't help myself.
JUST WONDERING: Is it just me or is Beloved's Thandie Newton amongst the sexiest women on the planet? From her earliest films, there was something intense going on behind those eyes and though her skin is perfect, her body is outrageous and her eyes are piercing, she carries herself with the ease of someone who isn't even aware of the effect her looks have on people.
HAPPY TRAILERS TO YOU: Gotta tell you, I love the Psycho trailer. (For more on that and a sneak peak, click here.) I was holding back my enthusiasm or rage at the film, but I always had a sneaking suspicion that Gus Van Sant would have something extraordinary up his sleeve, and the trailer tells me that he does. I could still be wrong, but there are images of subtext that we never saw in Hitchcock. The attitude is as edgy as anything Van Sant has done. And love him or hate him, Vince Vaughn brings an intensity to Norman Bates that Tony Perkins never had. Probably couldn't have in that time. Norman is definitely a psycho. I will definitely show up at the first screening I can. This remake could be one of the ones worth doing.
BAD AD WATCH: Last week, Marc accused me of being too harsh about the "lesser-known critics" who are quoted before films are released. Perhaps. OK, I'm lying. I don't think I'm being too harsh at all. As I wrote to Marc, I feel that quote whoring isn't just a scam on the viewer, but that it demeans the film to which it is attached. I hate Holy Man, for instance, but I respect that they haven't pushed positive pull-quotes. Same with a great film, Saving Private Ryan, which didn't sell-out to crap reviewers until DreamWorks went for the "second viewing" campaign and headlined Joel Siegel's "I can't wait to se it for a third time!" pull. This week, Practical Magic coughs up Bonnie Churchill, Telenoticias and "Fox-TV" to sell a movie that has a great ad campaign already running. Does that really help? Or does it make you wonder, "Does this movie suck?" E-me.
READER OF THE DAY: Two men on Practical Magic. TMS wrote in: "Maybe its just my male anatomy talking, but I think Practical Magic looks terrible. Yes, it is a chick flick, that we cannot deny, but what really gets me is the dialogue. Example: At one point in the cinematic trailer, Nicole Kidman's character says something like 'Ever stick your arms out and spin and spin? Well that's what falling in love feels like.' Well if that's so, why don't we all just start spinning around right now! It'd be a hell of a lot easier than dating! Stupid lines like this are killing film today. A romance movie with dialogue as bad as Lost in Space is still just as bad. I'd rather be castrated with dental instruments without anesthetic than watch this film. At least castration would be over with quicker."
Of the other side of the testosterone scale, Paulie D wrote: "I saw Practical Magic last night, and I loved it. It's the first time I have really liked Sandra Bullock, and Nicole Kidman is always wonderful. The supporting cast was very good, especially the cute kids. There were flaws and a whole subplot could have been dropped, but I thought the movie was a blast. Very funny. Also, I can't wait to see Pleasantville. It has been getting only rave reviews and plenty of Oscar talk. I found your comments on the film very intriguing, though. I had no idea it was really dark. I knew there would be drama and that it is going to have a message, but I am surprised it is dark. That just makes me want to see it that much more."

E ME: There were some really positive letters about Pleasantville from people who have already seen the movie. I'm going to hang on to them until next week, as the film gets closer to release. And over the weekend, more takes on What Dreams May Come. But I want more! More e-mail I tell you! It's my opportunity to feed on your energy. Kinda vampiric, huh? Tell me about the new releases as you see them, tell me if you are ready for the Halloween gore onslaught that is on its way and tell me if there is something about an estrogen-heavy weekend slate that brings out the animal in every guy or (after reading some of the stuff in today's column) is it just me?