Which film follies were not just dramatically anemic, but memorably cash-poor as well? In alphabetical order, as detailed by Variety:— All the King's Men ($7 million domestic gross versus a $55 million production budget, and despite an all-star cast)— Sharon Stone's Basic Instinct 2 ($5 million versus $70 mil)— Flushed Away ($61 mil versus $150 mil, though I cannot imagine it's any worse an animated film than Happy Feet, which my sons and I barely endured on Sunday afternoon. Subtle message that kids' film has.)— Flyboys ($13 mil versus $60 mil)— Hugh Jackman's The Fountain ($9 mil versus $53 mil)— Freedomland ($12 mil, despite a cast that included Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore and Edie Falco)— Russell Crowe's A Good Year ($7 mil, hampered by misguided marketing)— Lady in the Water ($42 mil versus $75 mil and a slew of critical barbs aimed at M. Night Shyamalan)— Poseidon ($60 mil versus $160 mil)— The Wicker Man (a $23 mil take ...
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As Happy Feet ($37.9 million) and Casino Royale ($31 million) retained their No. 1 and 2 spots atop the weekend box office, Denzel Washington's Déjà Vu (a film whose premise I still do not understand) debuted in third place with $20.8 million. Rounding out the top five were Deck the Halls (opening with $12 mil) and Borat ($10.4 mil). Among other debuts, Hugh Jackman's The Fountain came up rather dry, with a paltry $3.7 million, while Jack did't even crack the Top 10.
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