Nicole Kidman's Flops

I've written before about "Walter Scott's Personality Parade." The bizarre, canned questions and the equally bizarre answers hold a fascination for me.

I've discovered someone else with the same obsession, screenwriter John August. On his blog, in fact, he goes so far as to answer the questions himself.

Today's column has an interesting question about Nicole Kidman--she's been in a bunch of flops lately, so why is she getting $16 million for her latest film? Scott's answer is she had a hit in 2001 with the horror film The Others, and so everyone figures she's worth the loot in a remake of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers

There's some truth to this, but Scott doesn't explain why she's been making this kind of money for her last few films. He would have done better to question the "flop" characterization.

The Hours (2002) was a well-respected film that probably made a small proift and, by the way, won Kidman an Oscar for Best Actress.

Dogville (2003) was a well-received, low-budget art film.

Cold Mountain (2003) was a big-budget, high-profile film that grossed $173 million worldwide.

The Stepford Wives (2004) was a big-budget movie that grossed $60 million domestic. A disappointment, but flop is a bit strong.

The Interpreter (2005) was a big-budget thriller that grossed $150 million worldwide.

Bewitched (2005) was a big-budget comedy that grossed over $60 million domestic, another disappointment that I wouldn't quite call a flop.

Happy Feet (2006), for which she provided her voice, has grossed $355 million worldwide.

Sure, she's also been in straight-out flops since 2001--The Human Stain, Birth and Fur--but the point is the public still likes her. Stepford and Bewitched both opened well, and only failed because they were so awful.

In other words, she's a star. What she needs is a good film.