February 7, 2003

Another weekend….

The only important story of this weekend is the expansion of Chicago.  I’ll make it simple.  If it grosses more than $11 million, it’s doing exceptionally well in its expansion.  If it does anything less than $7.5 million, it will be a bit of a disappointment.    Anything in between is solid, but not overwhelming. 

WEEKEND GUESSTIMATES

1. Shanghai Knights - 2,753 venues – new - $16 million
2. Lose a Guy in 10 Days - 2923 venues – new - $12.6 million
3. Chicago - 1841 venues – n/a - $10.3 million
4. The Recruit – 2376 venues – off 38 percent - $10.1 million
5. Deliver Us from Eva - 1139 venues - new - $9.8 million
6. Final Destination 2 – 2834 venues – off 53 percent - $7.5 million
7. Kangaroo Jack - 2848 venues - off 36 percent - $5.8 million
8. Biker Boyz – 1766 venues – off 58 percent - $4.2 million
9. About Schmidt - 1236 venues – off 25 percent - $3.9 million
10. LOTR: The Two Towers - 2175 venues - off 35 percent - $3.31 million
11. Darkness Falls – 2456 venues – off 53 percent – $3.298 million
 

NON-TOP TEN OSCAR CONTENDERS
The Hours - 549 venues – off 28 percent – $2.2 million

Gangs of New York - 8912 venues – off 43 percent – $1.3 million

The Pianist - 328 venues – off 15 percent - $976,000

Adaptation - 415 - off 20 percent - $918,000

Antwone Fisher - 422 venues – off 35 percent - $765,000

Frida - 111 venues – off 10 percent - $207,000

Far From Heaven - 134 venues – off 20 percent – $201,000

More of the column later today…

READER OF THE DAY:  NOT CHUCK writes:  “I have to weigh in on this whole Scorsese thing.  First of all, the Oscars are bullshit.  Everyone who isn't in the industry or a starfucker knows this.  The best film almost never wins and in most cases the worst ones do. 

I think we can all agree that the two front runners for best picture are Chicago and The Hours.  So what do we have?  We have a totally visually and conceptually uninteresting musical and a very well intentioned and impressive prestige picture that is also very bland and uninteresting.  Do you want to see Daldry or Marshall win the Oscar?  I sure as hell do not.  I would rather have the Academy make up for it's past mistakes than see one of those hacks win.  If the director of my favorite film of last year won, and I know we disagree here, it would be Spike Lee.  Hell, just like you I would love to see Alexander Payne, Spike Jonze, Steven Soderbergh, Roman Polanski, Peter Jackson or even Spielberg win.  It's not going to happen.  We all know this.  So just give it to Marty.  It will be a nice moment in the telecast and stop us from having to see another stupid Chicago lovefest, or hear all about the high minded intentions of the Hours.  When the day is done, only the pundits and critics will be complaining if Scorsese wins.  It's amazing how worked up we get about something we claim to not care about.”

NOT PARIS HILTON:  “I have to weigh in on this whole Scorsese thing.  First of all, the Oscars are bullshit.  Everyone who isn't in the industry or a starfucker knows this.  The best film almost never wins and in most cases the worst ones do.  I think we can all agree that the two front runners for best picture are Chicago and The Hours.  So what do we have?  We have a totally visually and conceptually uninteresting musical and a very well intentioned and impressive prestige picture that is also very bland and uninteresting.  Do you want to see Daldry or Marshall win the Oscar?  I sure as hell do not.  I would rather have the Academy make up for it's past mistakes than see one of those hacks win.  If the director of my favorite film of last year won, and I know we disagree here, it would be Spike Lee.  Hell, just like you I would love to see Alexander Payne, Spike Jonze, Steven Soderbergh, Roman Polanski, Peter Jackson or even Spielberg win.  It's not going to happen.  We all know this.  So just give it to Marty.  It will be a nice moment in the telecast and stop us from having to see another stupid Chicago lovefest, or hear all about the high minded intentions of the Hours.  When the day is done, only the pundits and critics will be complaining if Scorsese wins.  It's amazing how worked up we get about something we claim to not care about.”

And WP PHONE HOME writes:  “I had dinner at the Grand Havana Room a couple of years back, where I was introduced to Fishburne, who was dining with a group at the next table. He’s just as boisterous in person, with no press around. It kinda makes you feel good to hear him laugh. It put me in good spirits, anyway. I wanted to go sit at their table.”

E ME:  How do you see the weekend to come?