Then Clooney started talking about politics, and the film became much more difficult to recommend. Too bad.
Posted on 04/07/2003 7:12:30 PM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
Once more, with feeling.
In an unusual move, Miramax plans to re-release its underperforming "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" Aug. 1.
Distrib said it will try a new approach in marketing the quirky Chuck Barris biopic, with the campaign also serving to hype pic's mid-September bow on homevid.
Helmed by George Clooney and starring Sam Rockwell, "Confessions" rung up less than $16 million after unspooling in January. Underwhelming cume is even padded a bit, as it included substantial coin from sneak previews of "Chicago" that were added to "Confessions' " grosses in many markets.
Pic's negative cost is pegged at about $25 million, though Miramax reduced its exposure through foreign pre-sales.
There will be no shortage of competish during the first sesh in August, however. Wide releases skedded for that frame include Sony's Ben Affleck-Jennifer Lopez drama "Gigli," Disney teen-targeted remake "Freaky Friday" and a second "American Pie" sequel from Universal, dubbed "American Wedding."
(Excerpt) Read more at moviepoopshoot.com ...
Lots of films do worse.
'nough said.
The national headquarters of the United Way, beset by controversy at some local affiliates and wounded by a sour economy, predicted that its members will raise less money than the previous year and said that it expects to announce layoffs at its Alexandria offices next week.
The layoffs would result from a restructuring of the organization undertaken by Brian A. Gallagher, United Way of America's chief executive officer. The veteran United Way executive last year took over the national organization, which operates independently of the local affiliates.
"We're looking at a realignment of the UWA staff," said spokeswoman Ann Andrews.
She said Gallagher has notified the United Way of America's 200 employees in Alexandria that some positions will be eliminated under a restructuring of the organization to be announced next week. Employees will be allowed to apply for any positions created in the reorganization.
Also yesterday, the United Way of America warned that it expects its affiliates -- which raised a collective $3.9 billion in their fall 2001 workplace fundraising drives -- to raise 3 percent to 4 percent less when final tallies of the organizations' 2002 campaigns are compiled in a few weeks.
The news has been particularly grim for the Washington area affiliate. The United Way of the National Capital Area said it expects to have raised about $60 million in the 2002 campaign when all the counting is finished -- about a third less than the $90 million brought in the previous year.
Some major corporate donors deserted the Washington area campaign after revelations of financial improprieties. The organization was compelled to fire its CEO, replace its board and lay off more than a third of its workers.
Also yesterday, the United Way of Central Maryland said its fall fundraising campaign raised $42 million -- $5 million short of its goal. Spokeswoman Carole Baker blamed the local economy and recent corporate mergers and bankruptcies in the Baltimore area.
Results from an internal report on local United Way campaigns show the weakness extends to other cities.
The United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta reported that its fall fundraising total fell 11 percent, to $71.5 million. The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas's fundraising drive also fell about 11 percent, to $45.6 million. And the results of the United Way in Chicago plunged 17.8 percent, to $77 million
The local fundraising declines are bad news for the United Way of America, which depends on dues paid by its local affiliates based on a percentage of their campaign totals.
In the last year, Gallagher has sought to remake the troubled United Way system into less of a pure money raiser and to play more of a leadership role in solving problems in the communities where the local United Way organizations work.
Gallagher has said he wants to take the focus "off the thermometer" -- referring to the ubiquitous thermometer used in workplaces to measure daily fundraising totals.
Yesterday, the organization named 13 new members to its board of governors -- including actor George Clooney and Vanguard Group mutual fund CEO John J. Brennan -- to replace retiring board members.
The last year, observers say, has been the most difficult for the United Way system since the early 1990s, when contributions fell dramatically after then-CEO William Aramony was convicted of stealing $600,000 from the United Way of America.
Eleanor Brilliant, a Rutgers University professor of social work and author of a book on the United Way system, said United Way rivals that are making inroads in large corporate workplaces and recent controversies among local United Ways are partly to blame.
"Their credibility isn't going up, let's put it that way," Brilliant said, "and they're fighting hard to maintain what they have, so they're more vulnerable."
Good one!
Aren't these usually sunday night movies on CBS?
Then Clooney started talking about politics, and the film became much more difficult to recommend. Too bad.
If his choice of material is any indication...he is dead. Career-wise. In a sane world.
Speaking of sane, maybe, just MAYBE, Woody Allen could have done something with it. Thiry years ago. Before all that "professional help".
Could be. But either way, it couldn't happen to a "nicer" guy. ;-)
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