“A-List Stars Flailing at the Box Office”
This summer has a Dickensian feel to it:
The best of times, the worst of times.
The best?
Record-setting box office.
The worst?
This.
The spring and summer box office has murdered megawatt stars like Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Eddie Murphy, John Travolta, Russell Crowe, Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell.
A-list movie stars have long been measured by their ability to fill theaters on opening weekend. But never have so many failed to deliver, resulting in some rare soul-searching by motion picture studios about why the old formula isn’t working — and a great deal of anxiety among stars (and agents) about the potential vaporization of their $20 million paychecks.
“The cratering of films with big stars is astounding,” said Peter Guber, the former chairman of Sony Pictures who is now a producer and industry elder statesman. “These supertalented people are failing to aggregate a large audience, and everybody is looking for answers.”
For those of you who failed to pry your butt cheeks off your barcolounger…
And drag your weary body to the local multiplex…
Missing said Big Movie Stars…
Here’s a reminder of what movies you missed:
Mr. Ferrell bombed in “Land of the Lost,” a $100 million comedy that sold only $49 million in tickets in North America. Ms. Roberts missed with “Duplicity,” a $60 million thriller that attracted $40.6 million. “Angels & Demons” (Mr. Hanks) was soft. The same for “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” (Mr. Washington and Mr. Travolta). “Imagine That,” starring Mr. Murphy, was such a disaster that Paramount Pictures had to take a write-down. Mr. Sandler? His “Funny People” limped out of the gate and then collapsed.
Hey, it’s a trend:
At the start of the decade, summer still belonged to names: Cruise (“Mission Impossible II”), Crowe (“Gladiator”) and Clooney (“The Perfect Storm”) were the top three in 2000. But the three biggest films of this summer season, a crucial period from May 1 to Labor Day that typically accounts for 40 percent of annual ticket sales, have been “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Up” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”
The biggest names attached to those films: Shia LaBoeuf, Ed Asner and Daniel Radcliffe.
You know what?
I didn’t see Land of the Lost.
I didn’t see Duplicity.
I didn’t see Angels & Demons.
I didn’t see The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.
I didn’t see Imagine That.
But I did see Up.
I did see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
I did see District 9.
So I guess I’m part of the problem…
Or the solution.
I don’t even know!
Has there ever been a more confusing…
Stupid…
Crazy…
Weird…
Damn…
Time…
In the movie business?
I mean who are we supposed to be rooting for in this battle:
This month, a salary spat between Mr. [Denzel] Washington and 20th Century Fox broke into public view. Variety reported — and it was confirmed by two people with knowledge of the details — that Fox wanted to pay the actor about $16 million to appear in “Unstoppable,” a thriller about a runaway train. Mr. Washington, who normally makes $20 million a picture, said no. Fox also sought pay cuts from producers, other actors and the director.
Several days later the studio and star came to an agreement, but it involved Mr. Washington’s giving up millions of dollars in upfront payment.
We sure as hell aren’t supposed to be rooting for the movie studios…
Because they’re the ones doing all these remakes…
Pre-branded movies of Monopoly, Lego, and 3D Viewmaster.
But if they don’t make money…
They make even less movies…
Which means even less of a chance to have any good movies.
And since I’m a union guy, I should be rooting for Denzel Washington…
Besides I’ve dug the dude since the days he was on “St. Elsewhere” on NBC.
So I guess I should feel sorry for him for only getting $17 or $18M…
Instead of his $20M quote.
But damn, man…
He’s making a movie about a runaway train!
$18M for an ‘homage’ to Speed?!?!
In all honesty, I’m asking you GITS readers…
What is your take on the movie business as of today?
Do you love it?
Hate it?
Is it getting better?
Worse?
As always, I’ll still cling to the most basic belief I have:
That if you write a great script…
Hwood will make that movie.
But some times…
My grip on that…
Feels like it’s getting mighty weak…
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