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YESTERDAY'S POLL
What was the most DISAPPOINTING movie of 2008?
Indiana Jones 4 - 35% The Love Guru - 20% Quantum of Solace - 15% The Dark Knight - 8% Burn After Reading - 7% W - 5% WALL-E - 4% Synecdoche, New York - 2% Top Write In VOTE: X-Files
Meryl Streep has accused film executives of overlooking female moviegoers while narrowing their target to young males.
In an interview with the website Collider.com, Streep said that Universal Studios executives were surprised by the enormous box-office success of Mamma Mia! in which she stars. "Why were they surprised?" she asked rhetorically."Because they're all men! Not that there is anything wrong with it. It just puts certain blinders on."
The film, which has earned $567 million at the worldwide box office, ranks second only to The Dark Knight ($996 million) among the top-grossing movies of the year.
Streep told Collider that the success was "very gratifying" to her "because it's so hard to get enough financing" for films of that sort. "I mean, the budget for that musical would have fit into the props budget for any Matrix film or, you know, Hellboy." Hellboy II, also released by Universal this year, grossed $152 million worldwide. "[Mamma Mia!] so outdid Hellboy at the box office," Streep remarked, "and you just can't get [Universal executives] to understand this. It will pay you back."
Asked about a possible sequel to Mamma Mia!, Streep shot back, "Now! Now! Now!" and added that "of course" she would be interested in reprising her role.
'MUSIC BIZ TAKES AIM AT YOUTUBE
As much as the music biz needs the Internet to spread the word about bands and recordings, there remains a tension between the two that suggests they have yet to create a level playing field for doing business together.
When Warner Music Group ordered YouTube to remove videos from its artists this past weekend, it served as a reminder that copyright holders not only want payment for their wares but control over promotional activities as well. Since day one, the major labels have struggled with sites that promote fan activity. And the difference in attitudes regarding content and compensation certainly drove a wedge between the music and online sides when Warner Music and AOL were still under the same Time Warner umbrella.
After months of negotiations, the talks broke down last week and Warner informed YouTube that its videos need to be removed from the site. (Translation: T.I., Metallica, Madonna and Kid Rock have to be removed now, and maybe we'll get around to pulling down those who don't sell as much -- k.d. lang and Pat Metheny for example. )
YouTube is still in talks with the other majors as all of the big four signed deals more than two years ago to receive a payment each time one of their videos is streamed. The labels also share in the advertising revenue generated by the site.
CLASSIC FILMS
BY GENRE
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Nothing Like the Holidays
Yes man
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Australia
Quantum of Solace
Milk
Four Christmases
Twilight
Bolt
