Boxoffice-April.2001

Exploitips: According to Luhrmann,
"Moulin Rouge" (unrelated to the 1 952 lohn
Huston movie or the other four movies by
the same name) is the third in a cinematic
trilogy, "Strictly Ballroom" and "Romeo +
Juliet" being the first two installments. Book
these as midnight features in the weeks leading
up to his latest release. "Moulin Rouge"
» ill mature contemporary music— that may
include spoken words to a melody a la
Luhrmann's "Everybody's Free to Wear
Sunscreen"— in a historic setting and other
anachronisms. It is also reportedly loosely
based on the Orpheus in the Underworld
myth. Luhrmann's album "Something for
Everybody, " the Orpheus text and literature
on the Moulin Rouge, a popular Parisian
nightclub (think this century's Studio 54),
are among the many tie-ins you could have
on display in the lobby during this release.
Finally, dress your employees in the
Bohemian style of the last turn of the century.
Fox delayed the release of "Moulin
Rouge" from its original holiday timeframe
to give Luhrmann more time in post.
Texas Rangers
James Van Der Beek ("Varsity Blues") and
Dylan McDermott (TV's "The Practice") lassoed
the leads in this historical Western about
a ragtag posse of cowboys who band together
atter the Civil War to clean up the West.
Rachael Leigh Cook ("Josie and the
Pussycats"), Ashton Kutcher ("Dude, Where's
My Car?"), Robert Patrick (TV's "X-Files"),
Randy Travis ("Black Dog") and Usher
Raymond ("Light It Up") round off the cast.
Steve Miner ("Lake Placid") directs a script by
John Milius ("Clear and Present Danger") and
Ehren Kruger ("Scream 3"); Alan Greisman
("Fletch Lives") and Frank Price ("Circle of
Friends") produce. (Miramax, 5/4)
Exploitips: In a role for which he was paid
$200,000, Van Der Beek led "Varsity Blues"
to an unexpected $50-plus million, and his
hot-ticket status resurrected "Texas Rangers"
from development hell. The pic had originally
been set up years ago at Columbia, where
it was expected to be the last film by director
Sam Peckinpah. It then moved to Savoy
Pictures, where it was intended to be the startup's
first big picture in 1993. Once Van Der
Beek was attached (this time for a low sevenfigure
sum), though, interest in the script resurfaced,
and Dimension Films picked it up. But
upon completion, the pic has been sitting on
the shelf for over a year. Promote this Western
by dressing your staff up in boots, chaps and
spurs and offering discounts to patrons who
do likewise. See BOXOFFICE's interview with
Van Der Beek in the April 2000 issue.
The Heist
David Mamet ("State and
Main") writes and directs
this crime drama about a
crew of highly skilled thieves
who follow their leader on
one last big heist, hoping to
receive the money owed
them from a previous robbery.
Gene Hackman
Danny De Vito
("Breakers"),
("Drowning Mona"), Delroy
Lindo ("Cone in 60
Seconds"), Sam Rockwel
("Charlie's Angels") and
Mamet regulars Ricky Jay
and Rebecca Pidgeon star.
Art Linson ("Fight Club"), Elie Samaha
("3,000 Miles to Craceland") and Andrew
Stevens ("The Caveman's Valentine")
produce.
(Warner Bros., 5/4)
Exploitips: After dabbling in other genres—period
drama "Winslow Boy" and
industry satire "State and Main"—Mamet's
"The Heist" marks a return for the writerdirector
to his earlier heist movies, "House
of Games" and "Glengarry Glen Ross."
"The Heist" will likely play to a similar
niche audience, so program an afternoon
retrospective of his work the weekend of
this pic's release.
The Mummy Returns
Brendan Fraser reunites with co-stars
Rachel Weisz and John Hannah and
writer-director Stephen Sommers for this
action-adventure sequel set 10 years after
the original. It is 1935, and adventurer
Rick O'Connell (Fraser) and Evelyn
(Weisz) have gotten married and settled
down in London to raise their nine-yearold
boy. Entombed at the British Museum,
the mummy Imhotep resurrects, walking
the earth once more in a quest to achieve
immortality. But the worst is yet to come:
Anck-su-Namun, Imhotep's love, has also
risen and is after the O'Connells' boy
because she believes he is the key to reincarnating
the Egyptian Cod Isis. Wrestler
The Rock and newcomer Freddie Boath
join "Mummy" veterans Oded Fehr,
Arnold Vosloo and Patricia Velasquez.
"The Mummy's" James Jacks and Sean
Daniel produce. (Universal, 5/4)
Exploitips: Opening a week before
"Star Wars: Episode I— The Phantom
Menace, "
"The Mummy" took the industry
by surprise when it bowed with a
record-breaking opening gross of $43 million,
going on to earn more than $414
million worldwide. Invite local wrestling
fans to see WWF poster boy
The Rock in his first major
film role, offering dollar discounts
to those wearing
Rock merchandise. Two
weeks after "The Mummy
Returns'" release, the WWF
has a pay-per-view event
i
scheduled. Using digital in
ema technology, dedicate
an auditorium to this broadi
ast mm h like I .muni'*
Players has done to great
success in Canada—following
ii up with a screening of
The Mummy Returns." See
\i foi s Studio page 22.
A Question of Faith
Written and directed by Tim Disney (yes,
that Disney), "A Question of Faith" is
set in
a monastery in California wine country.
When one of the brothers experiences a
miracle, the monks must grapple with the
conflicts between faith and reason. Bernard
Hill ("Titanic"), Paul Guilfoyle ("Random
Hearts"), Daniel Von Bargen ("Disney's The
Kid"), Naveen Andrews ("The English
Patient") and Joe Spano star. Bill Haney produces.
(First Look, 5/4)
Exploitips: Nominated for the Grand Jury
Prize at Sundance last year,
Disney, who is
Walt's grandnephew and Roy's son, specifically
didn't want his family name to play a
role in the production of the indie, citing
the associations— both positive and negative—attached
to the brand name.
Tortilla Soup
Hector Elizondo ("Runaway Bride") stars
in this English-language remake of Ang
Lee's "Eat Drink Man Woman" transplanted
to the Latino community in Los Angeles. A
master chef and the father of three unmarried
women, his character has lost his sense
of taste but not his zest for life,
attracting the
attention of an attractive grandmother in his
neighborhood. Raquel Welch co-stars.
Maria Ripoll ("Twice Upon a Yesterday")
directs a script by Vera Blasi ("Woman on
Top"); John Bard Manulis ("The Basketball
Diaries") produces. (IDP, 5/4 ltd)
Exploitips: "Tortilla Soup" is a co-production
with Starzi Encore Entertainment,
which will premiere it on cable after a theatrical
run. "Eat Drink Man Woman" is
known for its elaborate tantalizing feasts.
Collaborate with a local Mexican-American
chef to sell dinner-and-a-movie packages
that include a multi-course meal either onsite
or at a nearby restaurant. Altemath el)
add tortilla soup to the concession menu.
Fast Food, Fast
Set in a Manhattan coffee shop, this
romantic comedy follows the twists and
turns in the love lives of the diner's patrons
and world-weary waitress on the eve of her
35th birthday. Anna Thomson, Jamie Harris
and Louise Lasser star. Israeli helmei \m«.s
Kollek writes and directs; Hengameh
Panahi produces. (Lot 47, 5/4)
Exploitips: Lot 47 picked up 'Fast Food,
Fast Women and three others including
'Chunhyang after Cannes at which BOX-
OFFICE gave three stars in the Septembei
it
2000 issue saying "( harming well-acted
and tauth made 'Fast Food, Fasl Women
nevertheless seems like slightl) fluff) fare.