![Robert De Niro](http://im.rediff.com/entertai/2002/dec/09usbo1.jpg)
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Bond drowns De Niro
Analyze That grapples with lacklustre reviews and a second spot at the USBO
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Arthur J Pais
In a lackluster weekend, the James Bond movie Die Another Day shrank the box-office of Analyze That, preventing the comedy from taking the top spot.
Last week's champ Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets was relegated to the third spot.
But there was one new, unqualified success over the weekend. The $5 million drama Empire, revolving around characters in the Bronx, psyched $6.3 million. The film played in less than 900 theatres whereas films like Analyze That were shown in over 2,600 theatres. The film is expected to end with $20 million in North America. While many reviewers were turned off by the film --- The New York Times complained it 'leaves no clichιs unturned' --- some of the major publications liked the film in part.
'A satisfying down-and-dirty melodrama,' said the Entertainment Weekly, while the Los Angles Times praised the performance of John Leguizamo.
The film revolves around Victor Rosa (Leguizamo), who dreams of becoming a multibillionaire like Rockefeller, Carnegie and Bill Gates. But Victor is running a successful 'street pharmaceutical' that peddles a heroin mix he has named Empire. He suddenly finds he could take a big step towards his dream when his beautiful fiancee befriends a classmate with an investment-banker boyfriend named Jack Wimmer.
Victor and Jack connect effortlessly. With Jack's help, Victor begins working to get off the violent Bronx streets. But unknown to him, his new life in the shadows of the financial district is going to be even more complicated and difficult.
While New York publications were not keen on the movie, it got better reception with critics in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The New York Post complained that the movie 'panders to its audience by glorifying drug dealing and violence in all-too-depressingly familiar ways', whereas the San Francisco Chronicle called it 'a gangster movie with a capacity to surprise.'
At least Empire, from first-time director Franc Reyes, received some positive reviews. But Analyze That was luckless. Mauled by the critics, Analyze That was also cold shouldered by audiences who apparently did not find the comedy funny. The film, in which Robert De Niro plays a mobster with psychological problem and Billy Crystal his therapist, grossed an estimated $11.3 million in three days.
A sequel to Analyze This, which opened at $18 million and went on to earn $200 million worldwide, the new film is also directed by Harold Ramis. With Maid In Manhattan, starring Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes opening next week (not to forget Hot Chick, the low budget comedy starring Rob Schneider), Analyze That has to be really lucky to save itself from a big fall.
Meanwhile, Die Another Day grabbed $13 million, taking its total to $120 million. Harry Potter had to be content with $10 million, (raising its total to $213 million). But with the Christmas and New Year weekends around, the two hit movies are poised to make another round of box-office fortune.
The box-office scene will be more animated the coming weekend. The newest installment in the Star Trek series Nemesis is opening on Friday in nearly 3,000 theatres. The romantic comedy Maid In Manhattan could make Jennifer Lopez a star if it turns out to be a big hit.
The first big casualty of the season, the $140 million animated adventure Treasure Planet, inspired by R L Stevenson's novel Treasure Island, is sinking faster than expected. With a $5.7 million weekend gross and a paltry $24 million total, it will have to struggle hard even to reach $50 million. For Walt Disney, which had hoped for a big box-office and at least an Oscar nomination, the movie's failure has made to think of the future of the old-fashioned, handcrafted animation work.
There was also big disappointment for the Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights, which pocketed $5.2 million over the weekend. The comedy, which was laughed at by most reviewers, has grossed $20 million. True, it cost far less than half of Treasure Planet budget. But even then, its box-office performance has brought gloom for producer Sony.
There were speculations that My Big Fat Greek Wedding would still be on the top 10 list but it isnt the case. Two steady hits ended the top 10 list.
Eminem's 8 Mile, which took the high road to $2.6 million (gross $111 million) and The Ring, which with its $2.5 million gross, has accumulated $123 million.