Posted on 01/02/2006 4:03:35 AM PST by Liz
The "Rumor" mill grinds on. With Warner's romantic comedy "Rumor Has It..." taking in just $7 million in its opening frame, second-guessing quickly ramped up. Not that Warners execs should have been surprised: Tracking data on the project -- which Rob Reiner took over directing just 10 days into shooting when tyro helmer Ted Griffin was fired -- showed the pic wasn't likely to wow.
Griffin, who penned the screenplay, might be glad he got the boot. Not so happy might be Reiner-- who hasn't seen a hit in some time, and who lately has been preoccupied by politics and his universal preschool initiative -- and Section Eight which produced the pic for Warners.
Critics lambasted Reiner for applying a shallow gloss to what was, at its heart, a quirky, indie-like script. One even quipped that Reiner directed "between naps." But some blame might rightly rest with Griffin, who decided to give the pic a mainstream feel in casting Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner and Shirley MacLaine.
Mark Ruffalo was the only "indie" guy in the bunch. You'd never guess from the utterly mainstream marketing and poster that the film picks up where "The Graduate" left off. Instead, you might think Aniston had landed a new post-"Friends" TV show.
Pic was to be released last April, but was pushed to December because it wasn't ready. But in opting for a Christmas Day berth as counterprogramming, Warners put the film into competition with seven other wide releases.With that kind of jostling, it's no wonder this "Rumor" never got started.
But you can watch Seinfeld over and over and it's as funny as the first time. That cast was magic.
>Plot Outline: An American solider injured in Iraq is called back into action before he's fully recovered, prompting his father to kidnap his son in order to save his life.<
You have got to be kidding. Never let 'truth' get in the way of a good Bush-bashing.
Maybe Kostner can do a TVLand special about has-been romnatic leads reduced to doing cable.
Or maybe he can snag an infomercial doing the Oreck Challenge.
Can't STAND Jennifer Aniston. I'm glad her movie career is tanking. She should have realized what she had...a husband who wanted a woman who appreciated family. That was not Jennifer, and he realized that and set off to be with a woman who realized that having a family is more important than fame.
Aniston mentions how musicians in the Eighties had something to be pissed off about, with Reagan in the White House. I ask her what she thinks of Bush. She vents about him in detail, eloquently, but off the record. She says she doesn't want to come off like another actor blathering about politics. On the record, she'll only say, "Bush is a fucking idiot," and flip him a double-bird....This quote is from a Rolling Stone interview.
Just one more Hollywood idiot I don't need to bother to spend money to see.
Understatement of the century. It's the other Hepburn, Katherine actually, that Aniston is trying to emulate, however. And Katherine Hepburn starred in what is arguably the greatest romantic comedy ever made, Bringing Up Baby, with Cary Grant. Though Aniston has tried drama (The Good Girl - I thought she so-so in that) she is known for comedy, schtick, etc. But she never lets you forget that you are watching a performance by an actress, whereas even the mannered Hepburn created a character very unlike herself in Bringing Up Baby.
But ultimtely the director chooses the cast, so Reiner, whose career is spotty, takes the fall.
"We'd [Brad Pitt and her] pass her [Jenna Bush] in the hall, and Brad would say, 'Heyyyy, Jenna, wanna beer? I got one in the truck!'"
That could potentially be kinda funny. Depending on the tone of voice and how you said it etc.
Afgter all... As if Hollyweird types don't imbibe?
Watta leech---I guess he's gotta earn a few bucks to pay for his stash---he's certainly not earning making movies.
The enormous successes of The Passion of the Christ and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe should have taught the movie industry that catering to more mainstream and more conservative movie audiences will make lots of money for everyone involved, but NO! (in the late John Belushi's voice), the movie industry cranks out Left-leaning movies that end up being a big moneyloser for both the studio and movie theater chains. 
Way back and several lifetimes ago, starting when she was Charlemagne's lover, LOL!
Pu-leeze. The blood drinking Jolie isn't mother of the year either. She has cut off her father, who is a wonderful man (and tremendous supporter of Israel and Chabad) - supposedly because he cheated in her mother, yet Angelina had no problem carrying on with Pitt while he was married to Aniston. Suffice it to say that I know people who know all three of them and none of them are candidates for sainthood. :)
TA few weeks ago, the SciFi channel ran what must have been Aniston's first movie. Forget the title and plot. Teenagers hounded by monsters, that's it in a nutshell. Our Jennifer had long, flowing brown hair and not many lines. Fully dressed, too.
Sidebar: Some years ago, my middle son (17), dated a school classmate. Nice girl, but typical of the age...clueless. As a doting mom, I saw little to recommend her, and one day as the happy couple pulled up in MY CAR and headed for the house, I snarled to my older son, "My God, I don't understand what he sees in her!" My older son said, "For heaven's sake, Mom. Look at her!" Well, they were the size of soccer balls, barely contained in a rugby shirt with gaping buttons. That's when I knew I'd lost the war.
From recent accounts, Jolie might well be pregnant, and Pitt has adopted her kids, adding his name, hyphenated, to theirs.
"Section Eight-----taken direct from an insane asylum wing."
I thought it was govt subsidized housing?
I stand corrected!!!
If you don't think so, go rent The Apartment. A classic. She could also sing and dance. And she's far from empty-headed. She's a very shrewd business woman. She has some wacky ideas for sure, but she has talent and brains too.
Aniston wants to have it both ways, to come off as 'Ms. Movie Star, I offend no one'...and as yet another potty-mouthed actress mouthing Liberal filth to garner more favor with Hollywood elite. She must think flyover country doesn't read Rolling Stone.
The govt honcho running the program formerly worked in an asylum.
Typical. :) "I have never seen or read about a Rob Reiner film but I know he's a lousy writer, producer and director." So much spewing based on so little knowledge.
If nothing else, Reiner directed the brilliant spoof, This Is Spinal Tap.
Hilarious, and the benchmark for all films of the same genre that follow.
Reiner took over this film 10 days into filming. Apparently, there were at least some people who knew it would be a bomb. It was supposed to be a quirky indepent film, but Reiner's turned it into a shmaltzy Hollywood clunker. Can't say I'm upset. I actually thought the plot was interesting..until I heard Kevin Costner was in it. Can't stand him. And I don't like Aniston either. So, why go?
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