| MIRAMAX-IMIZED |
Updated: 12/12/00 MIRAMAX-IMIZED By DADE HAYES Blend of art, mainstream pix pumps profit Miramax's high-wire act of bridging mainstream and arthouse entertainment grew more perilous but also more profitable in 2000, co-chairman Harvey Weinstein asserted Tuesday. In a wide-ranging interview with Daily Variety, Weinstein said the company's profits hit record levels this year thanks to strong box-office returns on "Scary Movie," "Scream 3" and "The Legend of Drunken Master," plus 1999 leftovers "The Cider House Rules" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley." And the year's not over, of course. "Chocolat" and "All the Pretty Horses" are still in the wings, and both have strong chances with critics and Oscar voters. The hits of 2000 and the financial muscle of genre banner Dimension Films has left the Disney-owned minimajor open to charges that it has departed from its artistic roots and from the acquisitions game. Skeptics point to Miramax's commitment to big-budget, quasi-studio productions such "Gangs of New York" and "Four Feathers" as well as the addition of Talk magazine, Talk Miramax books, a music label and TV production to the fold. But Weinstein retains a voracious appetite for quality product of any stripe, viewing these new offshoots as nothing less than synergistic refinements. He will be on the prowl at January's Sundance Film Festival after being sidelined by illness during last year's fest. Even though acquisitions are no longer the top priority, especially amid such adverse arthouse market conditions, count on Weinstein to be part of most bidding wars. While giving due respect to brother Bob Weinstein, architect of Dimension's success, Harvey Weinstein also stressed the important role of foreign-lingo pics such as "Butterfly," which grossed $2.1 million in the U.S. last summer. Miramax not only is one of the few believers in the shrinking U.S. market for foreign-lingo pics -- it actually strives to produce such films, the next being "Malena," helmed by Giuseppe Tornatore. Strong feelings on strike Movie production is one thing, but if you really want to reveal Weinstein's contrarian streak, simply mention the increasingly common corporate view of the upcoming strikes as a money-saver. "To suggest that a strike is good for this business is pure arrogance," he said. "I will fight desperately against a strike. I will do anything to bring the two sides together." While next year's film landscape remains riddled with questions, Miramax already is placing its bets on several high-profile pics, among them "Bridget Jones' Diary," "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" (a co-venture with Universal), and "Gangs," which could be ready by year-end. Dimension, meanwhile, is readying a "Scary Movie" sequel as well as Antonio Banderas starrer "Spy Kids." "Serendipity," a John Cusack starrer set for national summer release, aims to pick up where fall's modestly successful "Bounce" left off. "'Bounce' showed me that we could make mainstream movies in our own way," Weinstein said. Alluding to the plot, he added, "We took a love story and threw a plane crash in as a challenge." The Gwyneth Paltrow-Ben Affleck romance will likely finish its U.S. run with a respectable $40 million. |
| Back to GONY Links || Interviews/Articles Main || Home |