Hollywood Digest

POTTER MOVIE MAY SIGNAL TREND

Immediately following the events of 9/11 a lot of critics of Hollywood wondered whether Tinseltown was creating a climate of "acceptable violence." After all, use your TV's remote to scan the movie channels and you will discover it's difficult to find a movie without someone with a gun in their hand, a woman being ravaged or someone shouting obscenities.

Critics say that Hollywood has stripped rural kids of the right to have an identity. Go anywhere in the world, even a pizza joint on Malta, and you see young people trying to be Americans -- at least trying to be the Americans they see in the movies.

Well, with the coming of the Harry Potter film and such other family oriented movies as "Shrek" and the new "Rings" movie, maybe producers are finding out that it's not a sissy thing to make a movie that grandma can watch along side the rest of the family.

Writing in USA Today, Scott Bowles says that it's easy to see why moviemakers have "rediscovered" the family market -- there's money to be made. Ironically, many Christian movie critics have long pointed out that even G-rated movies make back their production costs. It would seem that with producers' ability to enlist digital artists in providing ways to show everything, everything is being shown.

MORE ON POTTER'S PROFITS

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" continues to lead the box office, going into this weekend with a gross, so far, of more than $90 million. It's funny how Warner Bros. executives were far too conservative in their estimates of the initial box office take, as if they actually feared that no one would go to see this "near perfect" movie.

In second place is "Monsters, Inc.," which, according to movies.com, is still selling tickets at the rate of $22 million a weekend. Then follow "Shallow Hall," "Domestic Disturbance," "The Heist," "The One," "P-PAX," "The Wash" and "Life as a House."

By the way, even tough "Shrek" is out on video, it's still being show in more than 160 theaters. It's still grossing over $65,000 a weekend and is in 38th place this week.

"Fat Girl" is the 50th highest-grossing film, taking in about $19,000 this past week; it's only playing, though, at five theaters.

PATRIOTIC MONTAGE SOON IN THEATERS

Coming soon to a theater near you, a three-minute blockbuster of a montage of Hollywood's best patriotic moments. It's a cross between the much-loved montage of clips from the history of movies so often seen on AMC and a kind of mini version of "That's Entertainment."

A cadre of Hollywood production groups and unions joined forces to put the short film together. Called "The Spirit of America," published reports indicate that it will contain more than 130 clips, everything from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," with "Everyman" Jimmy Stewart, to last summer's "The Patriot," will Mel Gibson.

Theaters will have the option of showing it anywhere they wish during a night's movie agenda. Miramax says it will save it until last ... presumably for those who don't stay and read the credits.

Too bad more people don't read credits. To paraphrase Kermit the Frog in the "Great Muppet Caper:" "Those people (listed on the screen) have families."

SISSY SPACEK SCORES IN 'BEDROOM'

Critics, including United Press International's veteran Hollywood reporter Vernon Scott, are saying that Sissy Spacek should win the Oscar for her work in the new movie "In the Bedroom."

It's been showing on the so-called festival circuit; that fact has given it great early press and word of mouth before it enters the regular theater circuit. Many critics have given it four-out-of-four stars.

The movie is rated R, largely because of violence and language.

JAGGER PROVES HOLLYWOOD DOES IT BEST

If you have enough money you can do about anything. Maybe that's what Mick Jagger realized when he wanted to make a film about himself. According to some who saw Thursday night's broadcast of "Being Mick" -- shown on ABC -- it might have been better had the rock icon "left the driving to Hollywood."

Among those less than thrilled, but somewhat fascinated, with the film is reviewer Kevin McDonough, writing for United Features. He says that the movie is "shapeless, meandering, self-involved and self-promoting."

But, let's face it, Jagger is a musician and creator of musical images; he's a home-movie maker.

In the film Jagger admits that it's stupid to still act 17, but he says he doesn't want to act like a retiree either.

DAVID MILCH SIGNS FOR ALIEN-DRAMA-COMEDY

The people at UPN say they have signed David Milch as co-creator of an as-of-yet-untitled project that is described as an "alien-human, drama-comedy." It would be an hour-long action series and center on a young hustler who befriends an alien. Well, this is the 21st Century and ... why not?

Plans are to have this human-alien "odd couple" travel around the States, getting into trouble. Where are Martin Milner and George Maharis when you need them?

It would appear that UPN is trying to cash in on the success of other offbeat shows, such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Enterprise" in looking for drama and less comedy, though the pilot is said to be funny as well. If the project clicks and casting can be arranged, it could air as early as next fall.