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Why America Went Sour on Sweet Jen and Ben
NY Newsday ^
| August 5, 2003
| James P. Pinkerton
Posted on 08/05/2003 8:24:26 AM PDT by presidio9
Every now and then a movie comes along that's so hyped and so bad - and such a box-office bomb - that it reveals a larger truth about the dynamics of our society.
"Gigli," starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, is such a movie. It cost $54 million to make, and yet it grossed less than $4 million in its premiere weekend - a number that would have to be multiplied by five if the film were destined to make a profit. But "Gigli" is not just a financial failure. It's also providing movie critics with an opportunity to unsheathe their swords and hack not only the film, but also the stars, into small little pieces.
When I checked, the Web site rottentomatoes.com tallied 101 critics; just five gave the movie a positive review. But numerical totals don't always convey rhetorical intensity. So to get the full measure of the fangs biting into "Gigli" - rhymes with "really" - one might consider the venomous words of Newark Star-Ledger critic Stephen Whitty: "'Gigli' is such an utter wreck of a movie you expect to see it lying on its side somewhere in rural Pennsylvania, with a small gang of engineers circling and a wisp of smoke rising from the caboose."
Whenever this much vehemence is aimed at a mere movie, something deeper is going on. Three things, in fact.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: airbrusedbutt; fatisbeautiful; haveatwinkiejenny; jennyfromtheblock; jiggley; jlosgiganticass; startboozingagainben
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1
posted on
08/05/2003 8:24:26 AM PDT
by
presidio9
To: presidio9
Siskel and Ebert gave it two fingers up!
2
posted on
08/05/2003 8:27:00 AM PDT
by
Chad Fairbanks
(So, I'm in the park wondering why frisbees get larger as they get closer when suddenly, it hits me..)
To: presidio9; Texaggie79
It cost $54 million to make, and yet it grossed less than $4 million in its premiere weekend - a number that would have to be multiplied by five if the film were destined to make a profit. Fuzzy math??
To: BrooklynGOP
Journalist Math...
4
posted on
08/05/2003 8:27:57 AM PDT
by
Chad Fairbanks
(So, I'm in the park wondering why frisbees get larger as they get closer when suddenly, it hits me..)
To: BrooklynGOP
They figure that they would need $20M on the first weekend to be on the path to break $54M for its entire run. I don't know if that includes TV, video and foreign distributions.
5
posted on
08/05/2003 8:30:26 AM PDT
by
KarlInOhio
(Paranoia is when you realize that tin foil hats just focus the mind control beams.)
Domestic Box Office is not the only source of revenue. Foreign Box Office, Cable TV, Rental - all will add to the total. If the Domestic Box Office doesn't reach $20 mil, however, there is no way to make it to $54 million even with these sources.
Given that the movie will end up with less than $10 million domestically, however, they will losr money anyway.
To: presidio9
Okay, enough words, time for JLo pix! :)
7
posted on
08/05/2003 8:31:23 AM PDT
by
JohnnyZ
(Bumper sticker: "Keep honking -- I'm reloading")
To: presidio9
Why America Went Sour on Sweet Jen and BenAh...because they have NO TALENT, and couldn't act their collective way out of a wet paperbag?
8
posted on
08/05/2003 8:31:35 AM PDT
by
Puppage
(You may disagree with what I have to say, but I will defend to your death my right to say it)
To: presidio9
Too bad Mystery Science Theater is no longer around. This film is perfect for their parody.
9
posted on
08/05/2003 8:32:21 AM PDT
by
PJ-Comix
(He who laughs last was too dumb to figure out the joke first)
To: presidio9
Ummmmm - lemme guess - because the plot and dialogue sucks?
10
posted on
08/05/2003 8:32:47 AM PDT
by
Chancellor Palpatine
(Killing FR and driving away the base since 2000......)
To: JohnnyZ
Nice beer gut. Why do people find this talentless chubby woman so attractive?
11
posted on
08/05/2003 8:33:04 AM PDT
by
presidio9
(RUN AL, RUN!!!)
To: Chad Fairbanks
Siskel?
To: presidio9
These movie critics have nothing better to do but to worry about the success of a very talented and beautiful actress and singer.
Some people should seriously go get a fricking life.
13
posted on
08/05/2003 8:33:48 AM PDT
by
ServesURight
(FReecerely Yours,)
To: JohnnyZ
Bout time!
Thanks!
14
posted on
08/05/2003 8:33:57 AM PDT
by
WhiteGuy
(Deficit $455,000,000,000 + MY VOTE IS FOR SALE)
To: BrooklynGOP
No, movies tend to drop off about 1/3 of the revenue every week, so if it had made $20 mil in the first week you get $14 mil in week 2, $10 mil week 3, 7 in week 4, 5 in week 5. Which brings it to profitability with maybe 1 week to spare.
Although this summer the drop offs are much more dramatic, and earlier in the year the drop offs were lower. But the rule of thumb is a 1/3 drop per week.
15
posted on
08/05/2003 8:34:19 AM PDT
by
discostu
(the train that won't stop going, no way to slow down)
To: ServesURight
Some people should seriously go get a fricking life. That's good advice. Get going.
16
posted on
08/05/2003 8:35:48 AM PDT
by
presidio9
(RUN AL, RUN!!!)
To: BrooklynGOP
Fuzzy math?? No, fuzzy reading skills. The key word is "destined".
The reporter is speculating (based on experience, presumably) that film needed to make at least 5 times its opening weekend take, or $20 million, in order to have a hope of ever making a profit. That doesn't mean it is profitable in the first weekend.
17
posted on
08/05/2003 8:36:03 AM PDT
by
clamboat
To: Puppage
No talent and overexposted is the reason they failed. No even good press could create excitement. Hollywood will buy them a string of failures until the well runs dry.
18
posted on
08/05/2003 8:36:14 AM PDT
by
bmwcyle
(Here's to Hillary's book sinking like the Clinton 2000 economy)
To: presidio9
As I recall, they each were paid $12,000,000 for this.
Wish my mistakes were as financially rewarding.
To: PJ-Comix
Too bad Mystery Science Theater is no longer around. This film is perfect for their parody.Heh heh that show was soooo funny.
20
posted on
08/05/2003 8:37:20 AM PDT
by
veronica
(http://www.petitiononline.com/KN50711/petition.html - Confirm Daniel Pipes to USIP ......sign this!)
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