Weekend, 15-16 July 2000

THE BAD: How far away from Charlie's Angels is Cameron Diaz backing? Have you noticed that none of the stories about on-set problems include her? Have you noticed that she's said absolutely nothing to the press about any of this? And now, the Hollywood Reporter reports that Diaz is getting a $15 million payday for a new untitled film. Yet reports had her getting an $18 million payday on Charlie's Angels. Hmmm…

THE UGLY: What is the latest tempest in a teapot? Scary Movie is now being held up, along with Shaft, as a milestone in the history of directors who are black. What a load of tenderheaded crap! Scary Movie was sold on the basis of Carmen Electra running in her underwear, spoofs of horror movies and the box office draw of the Wayans Brothers in a comedy. The idea that the box office was effected in any way by the fact that a black man directed the movie is not only stupid, but I would suggest that it is racist. Keenen Ivory Wayans can deliver a successful comedy. Great. So can Dennis Dugan. So, let's see Wayans direct the next Adam Sandler comedy and Dugan do Scary Movie 2. Do you know how the box office will change? It won't. On Shaft, John Singleton purposefully set out to make a very commercial movie. On some levels he succeeded. Great. When does he get a shot at a Jack Ryan movie for Paramount? Do you get what I'm writing? The coincidence that two films directed by black men did business in one summer means NOTHING! When is F. Gary Gray going to work again? Is Kasi Lemmons going to be offered a Meg Ryan movie? Who's handing Carl Franklin the blank check?

Wanna talk black movie stars? Denzel Washington has worked with two black directors (Spike Lee and Carl Franklin) in the last 20 films he's made. Eddie Murphy's career includes four black directors, Robert Townsend (Raw), Reggie Hudlin (Boomerang), Thomas Carter (Metro) and himself (Harlem Nights). Martin Lawrence's movie career started with ALL black directors (Spike Lee, Reggie Hudlin, Doug McHenry & George Jackson and Hudlin again), but since Boomerang, he's been the only black director on a set of his. Will Smith has never worked with a black director on a movie. Wesley Snipes started with a lot of young black directors, but in his last 20 films, only Maya Angelou made the cut. And don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming these actors. It's Hollywood. And it isn't over because Scary Movie opened.

RADIO RADIO: Bryan Singer, director of X-Men, will be in studio with George and me on Saturday, 11am pst on KABC-790 in L.A. and via the Web @ kabc.com.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY: The American Cinematheque here in Los Angeles is holding the G-Fest 2000 this weekend. What's G-Fest? I'll give you a hint. He's big, green and the last time he arrived on the shores he was directed by the German who gave Mel Gibson a musket. Yes, Godzilla is in town and he's pissed. And he's bringing friends, form Ultraman to Mothra to King Ghidorah. For more info, go to the Web site.

BAD AD WATCH: Chicken Run is "Magical Entertainment for All Ages," according to Roger Ebert & Joyce Kulhawik. The Kid is "The Year's Most Magical Film," according to Quotin' Jim Sveda. Meanwhile, the L.A. Times' Kevin "The Pushover" Thomas hits a trio of indies, all of which happen to be in a cluster in Thursday's L.A. Times. Trixie is "Funny, Inspired & Sophisticated." Shower is "Beguiling And Poignant!" And Sunshine is "Monument… A Stirring Epic!" I obviously need a new thesaurus for my column.

READER OF THE DAY: Big Head Ed writes: "'What body part would you like to see broken to keep what actor from doing his or her "job"?' How about Robin Williams HEALS his funny bone! Between Bicentennial Man, Jakob the Liar, Patch Adams (ugh!...), Flubber, Father's Day (UGH!...), Jack, Jumanji, Nine Months, Being Human (UGH!!!!!.....) and Mrs. Doubtfire, it sure sounds like he could use it!"

And this from Bruuuuce: "No, there's no actor worth wishing a broken limb upon. You usually have 4-6 other major characters to support a story, and there's often plenty of great visuals and music to make up for one bad actor. The only actor who really keeps me away from movies is Adam Sandler, and I simply don't go to his movies. Other people seem to like them, and fortunately, I don't date them. Not a problem. No, better to ask what director we would wish to go blind, or what writer we would wish to lose his hands. A writer or director can do much more damage to a movie than a single actor."

E ME: How hard does X mark your spot?