Unhappy Endings:Big Studios Find Quality Films Too Often Are a Losing Proposition (Hollywood FAILS!)

The Washington Post ^ | May 7, 2003 | Sharon Waxman

[Timesink]

Unhappy Endings
Big Studios Find Quality Films Too Often Are a Losing Proposition

By Sharon Waxman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 7, 2003; Page C01

LOS ANGELES

When Amy Pascal, chairman of Columbia Pictures, gave director Spike Jonze a green light two years ago to make his offbeat film "Adaptation," she also gave him a warning: Don't go over budget, she said, or she'd have to get involved in the production.

Jonze didn't exceed the $20 million budget, and the studio didn't tinker with his vision. But "Adaptation" still ended up costing a small fortune, because Sony (Columbia's parent company) spent another $20 million to market the film. Despite Oscar nominations for screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and stars Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper (who won), the film brought in just $22 million at the U.S. box office.

"I wish it had done better," laments Pascal. "It deserved to find a better audience."

But "Adaptation" is not the only prestigious, critic-pleasing picture from a major Hollywood studio to run into trouble at the box office of late.

[Hildy]

I thought Casino was one of the best films I've ever seen and Sharon Stone was ROBBED of an Oscar. She as brilliant in this movie.

[ArGee]

The problem I see in Hollywood is not in production or acting; it is in the scripts.

I was speaking to that when I mentioned "Man of La Mancha." Nothing wrong with that script.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

It sucked so badly because Loren and O'Toole COULDN'T SING!

So you thought Rex Harrison was singing in My Fair Lady?

Maybe they couldn't act like they were singing and Harrison can, but Harrison can't sing and My Fair Lady was fine.

Hepburn couldn't sing either, but they dubbed her voice. Not Harrison's, though.

I'm going to stand by my original thesis that it's difficult to make a good movie and not everyone with a camera can do it.

Shalom.