Robin Williams has set his next project, The Interpreter. The light-hearted comedy about a schlub who interprets rather than translates in tense international negotiations might as well be called Flubber 2, following his expected hit Thanksgiving release. Ironically, when Robin was in negotiations to play The Riddler in Batman Forever four years ago, I asked him why he wanted the part. He said, “If I don’t play a bad guy soon, I’m going to become f***ing Fred MacMurray!” No word on whether the Double Indemnity remake is on his “To Do” list.
The Full Monty will be the first late-summer release to go all the way to profitability. Even though the film’s gross has just hit $6 million, it should pass $15 million in the next two or three weeks, putting the film into the black considering a $3 million production cost and an estimated $8 million P&A (Prints & Advertising) budget. On the flip side, G.I. Jane, September’s top drawer (with silk stocking in it?), is in its fourth week with a $39 million total, making it a poor bet to even match its production costs in domestic box office, though it will certainly be profitable in the long worldwide run. Naked fat guys everywhere rejoice!
Speaking of G.I. Jane, what was with the men in short shorts and hairless legs? Despite Moore’s pointedly feminine physique, Ridley Scott‘s vision of the S.E.A.L.S was more about beefcake than a Chippendale’s video.
You think it’s easy to be in the movie business? MGM, formerly the lion of Hollywood, has been singing in red ink for the last five years to the tune of $1.7 billion. Yes, billion with a B. Even last year, with The Birdcage and Goldeneye on the release list, MGM dropped $90.5 million. Fortunately, studio chief Frank Mancuso has taken home almost $30 million in salary and stock in that same five years. Makes Michael Eisner‘s paycheck look pretty reasonable, huh?
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