The Back-Up Plan, part 9 - SPOILERS

[darkstarrising]

Here is the box office charts. It came in 2nd

http://www.imdb.com/chart/

Yeah, but still not bad....to keep things in perspective, that $12.2 million is more than 'Extraordinary Measures' made in three weeks ($11.8 million). As far as CBS films is concerned that's progress and it can only endear Alex to them more. The other number to keep in mind is the production cost - $35 million. Unless it's a blockbuster hit, a movie usually takes a few weeks to show a profit. Some never do. Again, Extraordinary Measures had a production cost of $31 million. They lost a bundle, some of which might get recovered in DVD release.

OK, I may be biased here and overly optimistic, but I still think that word of mouth is going to help BUP - the critics can say what they like and their reviews might keep some folks away, but if people see it and like it, they'll spread the word.

Let's see what the corrected numbers for BUP are on Monday (since not all the Sunday numbers are in yet) and what next week brings.

[PNWgal]

Alex doesn't want to be a rom-com king. He wants to grow as an actor and he wants to keep doing interesting and different things. So I'd be surprised if he did another rom-com right away.

Not trying to be contrary, Alle...

Rom-coms have put guys like Matthew McConaughey on the map - I'll bet no one remembers him in his grittier role of Van Zan in Reign of Fire, but EVERYONE remembers How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days or The Wedding Planner. I wouldn't want to see Alex get locked into a stereotypical role, but if rom-coms keep him working, it wouldn't hurt him to do another one.

As much as I'd like to see Alex take on meatier roles, truth is he's not well-known enough to pick and choose. You mentioned Tom Hanks...but Tom Hanks also did a few movies he'd probably like his fans to forget before he got to Philadelphia (The Burbs, anyone?) Not saying this is a forgettable role, because this gave Alex a chance to shine in front of a whole new audience, but he's still paying his dues.

If I'd never seen Oyster Farmer, I wouldn't have guessed he could do comedy - robbing the fish market with a frozen lobster then eating his mask, proved he can. In BUP, he got to do more of that.

If I hadn't seen Mary Bryant, I wouldn't have known the depth of love and family he could portray, and the pain Will felt as Mary gave herself in order to gain their freedom. In BUP, if you're not moved by the scene when Stan reads to his daughters, check your pulse. You might not have one.

If I hadn't seen Feed, I wouldn't have understood just how well he can play a psychotic who wears the mask of a 'normal' human being when it suits him. In BUP, Stan exhibits a whole range of emotion, from besotted to charming, to bemused, to frightened and ultimately to being a man at peace with the life he now has.

Most Americans aren't aware of the above three movies, but perhaps after BUP, there might be more interest in the big screen roles he's played in the past.

I just wonder what comes next.......

Thanks for this, DSR. I watched Oyster Farmer last night, and I was struck by his depth as an actor even then.

[darkstarrising]

Thanks for this, DSR. I watched Oyster Farmer last night, and I was struck by his depth as an actor even then.

Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised the first time I saw it. Again, there was a range of emotion - caring for his sister, wondering where he was going to get the money to help her recover, angry at the old man when he found out what he'd done with the money, utterly baffled about what to do with the dog.....I still giggle as he watches the channels change as the dog is trying to pass the remote....

[cassysj]

Alex doesn't want to be a rom-com king. He wants to grow as an actor and he wants to keep doing interesting and different things. So I'd be surprised if he did another rom-com right away.

Not trying to be contrary, Alle...

Rom-coms have put guys like Matthew McConaughey on the map - I'll bet no one remembers him in his grittier role of Van Zan in Reign of Fire, but EVERYONE remembers How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days or The Wedding Planner.

I loved Reign Of Fire and I don't remember him at all from it. Will have to rewatch.

[r1015bill]

I'd like to see him in a gritty role one day soon. One where he's not "pretty" at all. ('Cause I'm fighting with Pgal for president of the "Alex is a good actor too!" club.) Something the equivalent of what "Philadelphia" was for Tom Hanks. THAT would show 'em what kind of actor he is. But maybe he needs to do some more commercial stuff first...

I'm on the same wave length as you alle! I was thinking about something independent that's quirky. With his backlog of CBS stuff, he really needs to be different. It could be argued that Vincent was quirky but it was within the context of a popular show so it may not count.

[wpgrace]

I'd like to see him in a gritty role one day soon. One where he's not "pretty" at all. ('Cause I'm fighting with Pgal for president of the "Alex is a good actor too!" club.) Something the equivalent of what "Philadelphia" was for Tom Hanks. THAT would show 'em what kind of actor he is. But maybe he needs to do some more commercial stuff first...

I want into that battle... cos that is also my mantra. Dude can act. Not his fault he's also pretty.
And I'd LOVE to see a gritty role...
OK... melting for the acting AND the pretty. Not MY fault.

And 12 million so far? There's still tonite's take to figure in, so that isn't awful awful awful, is it??

[Fleur de Lisa]

I kind of compare Alex with Matthew McC.---as far as mass appeal: the fact that they are both talented and supremely good looking. The first time I saw Matthew M was in a Time To Kill and I fell in love with him. Not only beautiful to look at, but his acting in that was phenomenal. That is what put him on the map. The buzz after that was incredible. Not only People magazine articles and the like, but the cover of Vanity Fair and how he was going to be the next big thing. After that, I feel like he took a bit of a nosedive with all the subsequent rom-coms. He's definitely been pigeon-holed into that category. So, I completely understand Alex's reticence in doing another romcom right on the heels of BUP. However, he also has to balance what he'd like to do with his career, with what gets offered to him and what pays the bills. It's a tough situation to be in. However, on the plus side, when H50 gets picked up, and if that looks like it could be a steady gig, then he has the luxury to be a bit more choosy with his roles.

And PGal, you had to mention The Burbs, didn't you? I will never live that one down. When we lived in California, Mr Fleur's bro came for a visit and that movie just opened and I insisted we see it. What a mistake that was.

And BUP getting 12 million? That is perfectly acceptable and I believe in line with what the studio expected for their opening week-end.

[redwinter101]

Agree with y'all on the gritty and the pretty and on Alex having lots of choices to make about what comes next. I can't wait to find out.

Of all the comment here, this made me happiest:

And BUP getting 12 million? That is perfectly acceptable and I believe in line with what the studio expected for their opening week-end.

I hadn't seen any comment from the studio on the numbers so I'm delighted to hear this was what they were hoping for/expecting. Was this from Les, Fleur? Cos, bottom line, if he's happy, everyone's happy.

Red

[PNWgal]

And PGal, you had to mention The Burbs, didn't you? I will never live that one down. When we lived in California, Mr Fleur's bro came for a visit and that movie just opened and I insisted we see it. What a mistake that was.

My greatest choice for movie night out with friends was "What Dreams May Come" with Robin Williams. After that, I wasn't allowed to choose the movie when we went out together for YEARS. (Of course, after Brian chose "The Time Machine", he wasn't allowed to pick for awhile, either.)

[redwinter101]

One more thing I just noticed about the premiere outfit - we've covered the suit and the tie - was the gold-tipped collar. Very subtle. And just a little quirky.

Red

[wpgrace]

Agree with y'all on the gritty and the pretty and on Alex having lots of choices to make about what comes next. I can't wait to find out.

Of all the comment here, this made me happiest:

And BUP getting 12 million? That is perfectly acceptable and I believe in line with what the studio expected for their opening week-end.

I hadn't seen any comment from the studio on the numbers so I'm delighted to hear this was what they were hoping for/expecting. Was this from Les, Fleur? Cos, bottom line, if he's happy, everyone's happy.

Red

Wasn't from Les, but some CBS Films exec, whose name OF COURSE I do not recall... and they were actually hoping for 18 million, but said they'd deal ok with 12. I forget which article this was in. At any rate, it oughta be more than 12, no? As there may still be theater goers tonite... so it's not likely to hit 18, but they said they'd accept between 12 and 18. SO still cool enough I think.

The guy ALSO said that JLo movies typically do well, sometimes better, on their second weekend. Which I take to mean the critics never really like em and word of mouth helps em. So talk it up, Sister Girls, make all your friends go.

And yeah, that collar is just icing on the d@mn cake, isn't it??

[redwinter101]

Thanks, Grace.

Red

[darkstarrising]

And PGal, you had to mention The Burbs, didn't you? I will never live that one down. When we lived in California, Mr Fleur's bro came for a visit and that movie just opened and I insisted we see it. What a mistake that was.

My greatest choice for movie night out with friends was "What Dreams May Come" with Robin Williams. After that, I wasn't allowed to choose the movie when we went out together for YEARS. (Of course, after Brian chose "The Time Machine", he wasn't allowed to pick for awhile, either.)

The Guy Pearce version? Bit of trivia for you. They shot that turkey near where we live and my husband and another couple we know were selected as extras for the movie. I declined, seeing as I didn't want to freeze to death. A lot of the shooting occurred during the night time in the middle of February, a pretty cold time of year up here.

[allegrita]

Oh, that collar was wonderful. And so subtle that I didn't notice it when he was walking by, signing autographs. It was more subtle than it looks in that picture. Not flashy... just really cool.

His look, from top to bottom, was perfection that night.

[PNWgal]

The Guy Pearce version? Bit of trivia for you. They shot that turkey near where we live and my husband and another couple we know were selected as extras for the movie. I declined, seeing as I didn't want to freeze to death. A lot of the shooting occurred during the night time in the middle of February, a pretty cold time of year up here.

That's so cool! And yeah, can't blame you for not wanting to freeze to death!