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Despite eight Oscar nominations, "Milk" just barely managed to pass the $25 million mark at the box office last weekend. It's been a bit of a head-scratcher why a movie that has had so much good buzz and came out of the gate on fire in limited release, has not expanded successfully.

AfterElton.com writer Brent Hartinger looks at what might have gone wrong in an article posted on the site today. I'm among the people he interviewed for the piece. I'm in good company - he also interviews Roger Ebert!

Here is a LINK to the story: Why Did "Milk" Go Sour?

Each Wednesday, I write a column for Page 2 of The Daily News on the entertainment business. Sometimes I remember to post it here but most weeks I forget. This week I remembered. I hope you find it interesting.

There's a raging debate going on in Hollywood about whether or not 2008 was a record year when it comes to domestic box office revenue.

The trades are split, with Daily Variety essentially saying, "Close, but no record," and The Hollywood Reporter proclaiming, "It's official: Warners leads way to record '08."

I've worked at both places, so I don't want to take sides. Instead, I'll rely on Paul Dergarabedian, who has been tracking box-office figures for a living since 1993.

Dergarabedian, now president of box office for Hollywood.com, said Tuesday that the overall grosses in the U.S. and Canada added up to $9.63 billion, less than 1 percent shy of the $9.68 billion tallied in 2007.

If you ask me, Hollywood doesn't deserve to claim a record since domestic attendance was down from last year by more than 4 percent. The movie industry had to rely on the average ticket price soaring past $7 for the first time.

Ouch!

I wonder what the heck would have happened had "The Dark Knight" not totally blown away everyone's expectations by raking in $531 million to become the second-highest-grossing movie of all-time. ("Titanic" remains first with $600 million.)

After "Knight," the summer flicks "Iron Man" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" soared past $300 million, and "Hancock," "WALL-E" and "Kung Fu Panda" all managed to cross the $200 million mark.

Other box office bright spots: "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," "Quantum of Solace," "Dr. Suess' Horton Hears a Who!" "Mamma Mia! and "Sex and the City," which round out the top 12.

Brandon Gray, who runs the Web site Box Office Mojo, is not impressed.

"It was an average year, not good or bad," he said. "There were a lot of popular movies and a lot of disappointments. It's not every year you have a movie grossing $530 million. That was an incredible highlight."

There was more expected of "The Incredible Hulk," "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" and Adam Sandler's "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," which performed respectably, but not at blockbuster level (that's Sandler pictured with Lanie Kazan at left). The year was also hurt by the one-year delay of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," a sure-fire hit that was delayed from last summer to this year.

"Potter" guarantees Warner Bros. a big hit, but had it come out in 2008, the studio would have set some gaudy revenue records since it released "Knight" and went on to record the biggest year of any studio in history.

"People who hadn't seen movies in years said, `I'll see this one,"' said Dan Fellman, the studio's longtime president of domestic distribution.

And it's not through yet. Although "Knight" has dominated the DVD market in recent weeks, Warners will re-release it in giant-screen IMAX form on Jan. 23.

If you look at what went on at the box office between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, it is proof that if there are appealing movies in the marketplace, people will leave the DVD player off for the night and head to the theater.

The romantic comedy "Marley and Me," starring Jennifer Aniston, set a Christmas Day record, edging "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," a film starring Aniston's ex-husband, Brad Pitt. Also scoring big and showing strong legs are Adam Sandler's Disney flick "Bedtime Stories" and comeback kid Tom Cruise's Nazi thriller "Valkyrie."

"I think this Christmas, there was more of a variety to see than ever before," Fellman said. "When the economy is hurting like it is now, it tends to boost attendance in our box office, and so this Christmas period was the biggest one of all time."

It still seems like a pity that so many big movies have to all come out at once. For example, films starring Jim Carrey and Will Smith were released the week before Christmas. And if you live in a major market, you also had early access to limited release movies - and Oscar hopefuls - such as "Frost/Nixon," "Gran Torino," "Milk, "Doubt," and "Slumdog Millionaire."

"These are movies that people are raving about and they are creating a lot of goodwill with moviegoers," observed Dergarabedian. "But they're not contributing huge numbers to the bottom line."

Fellman hopes to change that as "Torino," directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, expands on Friday from a mere 84 theaters to 2,800 locations.

Other big-name titles that are being looked at to ensure higher attendance in 2009 are a new "Terminator" movie starring Christian Bale, "Transformers," "Twilight," "X-Men," "Night at the Museum," "Ice Age," and "Pink Panther" sequels, a new "Star Trek" flick and the long-awaited James Cameron movie `Avatar" - his first since "Titanic."

"I'm a firm believer in the movies themselves," said Gray. "If the movies are there, it's all about the content, the stories being told and how well they are marketed."

Still playing in just 311 theaters, the ticket grosses of "Milk" cannot really be compared to such mega-Christmas weekend releases as Jennifer Aniston's "Marley & Me," Brad Pitt's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Adam Sandler's "Bedtime Stories" and even Tom Cruise's "Valkyrie."

All four of thiose films exceeded expectations.

But "Milk" is strong.as it grossed an estimated $1,830,000 Friday throughb Sunday for a to-date gross of $13,597,000. It's per-screen average of $5,884 is still extremely high and fuels optimism as Focus Features expands the release to more theaters in the coming weeks.

"Milk," all but snubbed by the Golden Globes Thursday (only Sean Penn is nominated), had its best weekend at the box office to date. The movie about the life of Harvey Milk, written by Dustin Lance Black and directed by Gus Van Sant, finished in ninth place with estimated ticket sale revenue of $2,636,000.

The film added 229 more theaters to its run (now playing in 328 locations total) resulting in a 43.7 percent increase in business over last weekend. Total gross to date is $7,630,000.

"Milk" continued to impress at the box office in its second weekend of limited release taking in an estimated $1.7 million. The Gus Van Sant-directed movie about the life of Harvey Milk is currently playing in 99 theaters and had a hefty per theater average of $17,076 - that's a 16 percent increase over last weekend with 63 theaters added.

"Milk," which stars Sean Penn in the title role, has now grossed a total of $4.1 million and will have the opportunity to add handsomely to that total this coming weekend when 250 more theaters are added. It is doing its strongest business in the suburbs of New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, according to Daily Variety.

"Milk" could be further helped in its third weekend by the annoucement of the Golden Globe Award nominations early Thursday. I predict nominations for best picture-drama, best director (Van Sant), best actor (Penn) best supporting actor (James Franco, Josh Brolin) and best screenplay (Dustin Lance Black).

Despite playing in just 36 theaters, "Milk" managed to debut in the top 10 of highest-grossing films over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The movie about the life of slain San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk was released the day before the 30th anniversary of his tragic murder at the hands of former Supervisor Dan White.

The Gus Van Sant-directed film starring Sean Penn as Milk grossed an estimated $1,866,079, according to the box office tracking firm Media By Numbers Inc.It's per theater average of $51,836 was far higher than any other film in the marketplace.

"Milk" goes into wide release on Friday. It will be interesting to see if it can become Hollywood's first gay-themed movie since "Brokeback Mountain" to become a mainstream hit.

All of the attention the past three weelks has been on the historic box office performance of "The Dark Knight" with features Heath Ledger's last completed performance. And rightfully so -expecially after the movie managed its third weekend in a row in first place and will pass the $400 million mark in record time.

What has not gotten much ink is the success of the musical "Mamma Mia" starring Meryl Streep. In its third weekend in theaters grossed $13 million and finished in fourth place. It was just a 25 percent drop from last weekend which indicates strong staying power. In 17 days, "Mamma" has grossed $87.9 million.

Meryl has been a movie star for 30 years but her biggest box office hit came just two years ago with the summer release "The Devil Wears Prada" which took in $124.7 million. Amazingly, the only other two films Meryl has appeared in to have grossed more than $100 million are 1979's "Kramer vs. Kramer" and 2004's "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events." Coming close was the classic 1985 film "Out of Africa" ($87 million) which woulf have outgrossed them all at today's ticket prices.

I'm most excited about the success of "Mamma" because it will encourage Hollywood to make more musicals.

Wow!

I had predicted that the Batman sequel "The Dark Knight" would achieve the second or third-highest opening in movie history. Whaddaya know, it did even better by grossing an estimated $155.3 million over the weekend to surpass the record set last year by "Spider-Man 3" ($151.1 million) to achieve the biggest three-day opeing ever.

The movie, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale as Batman, has been getting race reviews and none have been stronger than those for the late Heath Ledger's Joker. It is being hailed as the best performance of Heath's too-short career and is already surrounded by Oscar buzz. I'm seeing the movie this week. Until then, "Brokeback Mountain" remains his career high point.

The terrific musical "Mammia Mia" starring Meryl Streep was a distant but very-respectable second with estimated ticket sales of $27.6 million.

The other day, one of my straight male co-workers came into the newsroom complaining about the "Sex and the City" movie his wife took him to. I wanted to just pummel him and realized there are now three things you should never discuss in order to preserve harmony: politics, religion and "Sex and the City."

Anyway, some people don't like the flick apparently, even fans of the series. I loved it and can't wait for the DVD to come out with all the deleted scenes and other extras. As the movie heads into its third weekend, it has earned a solid $107 million (as of Wednesday) at the box office and should add at least $10 million in the next three days. I think a domestic total of around $140 million is in store when all is said and done. I hope this is a big enough gross to mean there will be a sequel. Maybe Carrie has a baby, Miranda turns into a lesbian, Samantha flies out to the coast for a tryst with naked guy.

the ppssibilities are endless!

Well, so much for those prognosticators who thought "Sex and the City" had limited box office appeal. The movie exceeded expectations with an estimated $55.7 million in ticket sales which almost matches its $65 million production budget.

Here in Palm Springs where I've been on a little holiday, the flick starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis has been a smash. A couple here at La Dolce Vita Resort went Friday night and said they sat between groups of straight women and gay men (the men brought Cosmos in a thermos). They were still so swept up in the spirit of the movie that they made Cosmos for some of us yesterday afternoon at the pool.

Anyway, "Sex" relegated "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" to second place in its second weekend. It grossed an estimated $46 million. But don't cry for Harrison Ford and company, the adventure flick has grossed $216.9 million so far, and that's just domestically.

The poster for "Sex and the City: The Movie" has surfaced and it features Sarah Jessica Parker, solo. Oh sure, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis' NAMES or on the poster but not their picture.

Hmmmmm.

Seems kinda odd since the show really is an ensemble even though Jessica's Carrie Bradshaw is obviously the core. SJP is the biggest star of the four I guess, as far as box office, but just barely. Last year's "Failure to Launch" with Matthew McConaughey was a huge hit but "Smart People," released just a few weeks ago, barely sold a ticket.

It must be a kick to be Patrick Dempsey right now. The star of one of TV's biggest hits ("Grey's Anatomy"), a recent father of twins, and one of the sexiest men alive, also has the number one movie in the country with a $50 million five-day opening for his new movie "Enchanted."

The Disney flick would not be the magical treat that it is without a perfectly cast Amy Adams in the main role of an animated princess who ends up in NYC, lost and alone. Dempsey is so good as the man who helps her find her way. While "Freedom Writers" opposite Hillary Swank was a commercial dude earliert this year, Dempsey had had a big hit for Disney before: he played Reese Witherspoon's fiancee in the 2001 smash "Sweet Home Alabama."

He's good in everything he does...

I need a free day to just sit through three or four movies. But who has the time?
Was glad to get "Lions for Lambs" in this week but still want to see "American Gangster," "We Own the Night," My to-see list includes Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in "American Gangster,""Gone Baby Gone," and "Man From Plains." But if I do manage to make it to the multiplex this weekend, I have a feeling it will be with my niece and nephew to see "The Bee Movie" which they have been buzzing about for weeks.
I look at the prospects of that movie and other new wide releases in my weekly column BOX OFFICE BUZZ which appears on Fridays in the LA Daily News, the Long Beach Press Telegram and the Torrance Daily Breeze.
Check it out!

Well, here's the thing, I haven't had a chance to see any of the new releases with all the Emmy parties etc. But, I still try and handicap this weekend's box office sweepstakes in my weekly LA Daily News column BOX OFFICE BUZZ. The movie I'm most excited about seeing is Brad Pitt's "The Assassination of Jesse James by that Coward John Ford." Try saying the name of that movie five times fast! The flick is playing in just 15 theaters but goes wider next weekend.

I haven't seen Jodie Foster with big hair in ages. I think she looks absolutely smashing here at the premiere in Germany of her new film "The Brave One." The title is lame but in my Box Office Buzz column in today's LA Daily News, I predict it will kick butt this weekend. I'm gonna try and see it Saturday between all the Emmy hoopla. Not many Jodie Foster movies I haven't enjoyed in recent years especially "Flightplan" and "Panic Room."

I just love me a good western.
Today, "3:10 to Yuma" starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe opens then later this month Brad Pitt will be playing Jesse James in a flick with an impossibly long title. Now that summer is over, I preview these and the other fall flicks that I think will do well. Read all about it in my Daily News column BOX OFFICE BUZZ!

ANOTHER picture of Ryan Reynolds? Yes. And I have a very legit reason: this is a scene from Ryan's new movie "The Nines" which is out today. This weekend officially marks the end of the summer box office season where grosses surpassed $4 million for the first time. Read all about it in my Daily News column BOX OFFICE BUZZ.

There are a whole lotta new movies coming out today but the only one I'm even remotely interested in except for "The Nanny Diaries" which I'm gonna catch in Palm Springs (gotta get out of the sun at some point!). Chris Evans happens to have a supporting role... Anywho, click HERE to read my latest Box Office Buzz column in today's L.A. Daily News.

Look, I know that "Invasion" starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig doesn't have a chance in heck of competing with the raunchy teen comedy "Superbad" (which I saw last week, and loved!). But I'd much rather post a picture of the classy Kidman and the delicious Craig than the leads in the other flick. They are funny dudes...and funny lookin too! Nothing wrong withy funny looking, but I prefer eye candy this early in the morning.
Anyway, here is a link to my latest BOX OFFICE BUZZ column which runs Fridays in the L.A. Daily News.

I'm not even going to pretend that "Rush Hour 3" is great filmmaking but if I told you I didn't laugh a lot during it, that would be a lie. It cracked me up even though it was preposterous! And I think it will make gobs of money on opening weekend which I discuss in today's Box Office Buzz column in the Daily News.
Give it a read!
Also out today, in limited release, is the gay-themed "Cut Sleeve Boys" about a pair of gay Chinese guys in London and all that happens to them as they navigate life. I found the movie OK, some of the scenes are quite sexy, and it's probably more worth your time than "Rush Hour 3" which has zippo gay content.

Caught a screening of "The Bourne Ultimatum" earlier this week and loved, loved, loved it! So much action! The chase scenes are terrific, the fight scenes even better and best of all are the cat-and-mouse games Bourne (Matt Damon) plays with the CIA villian (David Straitharn) he is evading. Joan Allen is stellar, as always (remind me, please, why she doesn't have an Oscar but Marisa Tomei does? Oh, nevermind). I discuss the box office prospects of "Bourne" as well as the weekend's other new releases and holdovers in my Daily News column Box Office Buzz.Enjoy!