Friday, 5 March 1999

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Normally, I start on Fridays with a look at the new weekend films before going into the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. But this weekend's new releases fit the G, B and U categories too well not to use them.

THE GOOD: Analyze This is good. The question for some people is going to be, "How good?" I don't expect many (there is always someone) to hate this film, but I'm not sure that everyone is going to rush back for a second viewing either. Particularly with "The Sopranos" running on HBO. That said, this is not "The Sopranos," for better and worse. "The Sopranos" is a realistic dramatic comedy. Analyze This is a comedy, first and last. Billy Crystal plays the straight man to both Robert De Niro and Lisa Kudrow and turns in what is easily his best performance since City Slickers. De Niro is a wonderful comedian, even if he plays his character a little too broadly for my tastes a couple of times in the film. And Lisa Kudrow is Lisa Kudrow, period, exclamation point. You will leave the theater feeling about her almost exactly the same as you feel going in. There's nothing wrong with that, but this is not an important turn for her. I know that Warner Bros. would rather have some great quote here, but I leave you with this: You will like this movie. Some of you will love it. But whoever you are, you will like it. It's a sure bet.

THE BAD: The Corruptor. 'Nuff said.

THE UGLY: Cruel Intentions is a movie loaded with the most beautiful people doing the most horrendous things they can think of. In order to make that anything but ugly, one has to have a sophistication that puts it all in perspective. Teen-agers, forgive me, are not known for their sophistication. I love Dangerous Liaisons. I love Valmont. I look for more than this one offers.

On the holdover front, 8MM should hold up pretty well. Despite a tough critical reception and many people who were sickened by the film, the buzz of actual moviegoers seems to be pretty good. Is that good enough to keep the top slot? Payback will not be in the top slot, but I expect it to pass the $70 million mark. The Other Sister and Message in a Bottle have performed pretty well during the week, so keep an eye on them, too. Shakespeare in Love, My Favorite Martian, October Sky and She's All That are the other films that have legit shots at the Top 10. It's a quick au revoir to 200 Cigarettes and Blast from the Past is on its way out and seems unlikely to hit the $30 million mark.

THE CHAT: The chats are coming fast and furious next week as I head to Las Vegas. But we are programming on the run, so you are going to have to do some work here keeping up. Right now, the first chat up is on Monday with Wing Commander director and co-writer Chris Roberts. So, for all of you who are playing the game between Web surfs or just want to know what makes Freddie Prinze Jr. and the rest of the stars of the movie tick, come on by at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT. Only on roughcut.com. Only from Yahoo! Chat.

JUST WONDERING: Have any of you actually heeded my advice and become regular readers of Andrew Sarris of The New York Observer? They've finally made it easier to link to him. This week he hits Cruel Intentions, 8MM, 20 Dates and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. And he does it so beautifully. I don't always agree with him, but the guy is one of the few great critics left. Do yourself a favor and bookmark him.

QUOTE WHORING USA: For Analyze This: "It's not 'The Sopranos,' damn it!" "Robert De Niro is Mafia-riffic!" "I got your two thumbs right here! No. Really. They're in this little box."

HAPPY TRAILERS TO YOU: OK, kids, no happy trailers today. I just haven't had a chance to get to the movies. But there is someone here in Atlanta (Stop 273 on The Hot Button World Tour) who tells me that she/he feels that 10 Things I Hate About You looks like "da bomb," that Idle Hands looks "horrible" and that Monica Potter is a Julia Roberts body double in The Very Thought Of You (formerly Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence.) (Question from me -- why use a classic Nat King Cole song title for your film if you aren't going to use the song to promote the movie? It's kind of a sucky title on its own, isn't it?)

BAD AD WATCH: You know, these non-coast newspapers have about one-tenth as many ads as L.A. and NYC papers. So, I am limited to Jeanne Wolf's comment on The Other Sister: "You'll Laugh, You'll Cry, You'll Cheer." I'll vomit.

READERS OF THE DAY: BK Lounge wrote: "I think Pia Zadora, Sally Kirkland and Elke Sommer should be cast as a trio of bad actin', bad ass 'evil' angels hell-bent on destroying our fearless triumvirate of Drew (or Daisy as she's known to her close pals -- HEY! that could be her code name!), Yasmine Bleeth (aka "Busty") and Laura Leighton (Sydney from 'Melrose Place' -- she's the smart one!) who round out the cast. My lyncean suggestion for the voice of Charlie is Bob Barker, and, as his right-hand man Bosley, Harvey Fierstein. P.S. Susan Anton and Maud Adams make small but important cameo appearances as themselves, either playing mothers of the angels or the women that dote on Charlie. All in all, I'd pay good money to see this thing made!"

Rank Frank wrote in: "For the above film, I assume that Drew 'I can't believe she hasn't overdosed yet' Barrymore will play the Farrah part. (How about a Farrah cameo as Drew's mom?) For the rest, I go with Winona Ryder as Kate Jackson and Academy Award-winner Mira 'I need a hit fast or I go to TV like Joan Cusack' Sorvino as Jaclyn Smith. Bosley?? Tom Arnold, of course. Charlie?? Robin Williams, for a sh---load of money so he can do Charlie as a bunch of voices. Starsky and Hutch?? Why Matt and Ben of course. They just do so much together."

And on a bit more serious note, Doveplan wrote: "On Monday, Julia Roberts made history with a $20 million dollar paycheck for the fact-based drama Erin Brockovich, which will begin filming in May with the wonderful Steven Soderbergh directing. Surprisingly, there has been little press on this fact and has been treated like it's no big deal. I see it as a big deal, though. She is the first actress in history to do this and even though it might of been expected after Roberts earned $17 million for her upcoming romantic comedy Runaway Bride, it is still something that I think needs to be mentioned since there had always seemed to be a glass ceiling for women. With this paycheck you can no longer say this. Also, I think this is as big as winning an Academy Award because she is the first and, with this paycheck, she is finally considered a top draw like Cruise, Ford, Williams, Hanks, Gibson, DiCaprio, Carrey etc. I don't know -- am I wrong Dave?"

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E ME: Well? Is Dove wrong?