Though his newest film is dying a fast death at the box office and an impending legal battle ensues for the one before it, Denzel Washington is still on top of his game.The two-time Academy Award winner and star of films such as 'Glory' and 'Training Day,' was voted No. 1 as the favorite movie star in this year's Harris Poll -- a nationwide tally of 1,114 American adults surveyed online last month by Harris Interactive.'I Am Legend' star Will Smith made the list at No. 5 with his 2007 film, while Tom Hanks (No. 2), Johnny Depp (No. 3) and Julia Roberts (No. 4) rounded out the top five.
However, Washington, who may or may not be up for an Oscar Award -- for his work in the recently released Oprah Winfrey-produced drama 'The Great Debaters' and/or the Ridley Scott-directed 'American Gangster' -- is in the midst of a legal drama for the latter film, and experiencing disappointing ticket sales for the former.
To date, the masterfully executed period drama 'The Great Debaters,' which he also directed, has amassed a disappointing $26.4 million at the box-office. Distributed and marketed by The Weinstein Co., the film debuted with a paltry $6.3 million.
Black Enterprise magazine's website stated that the film's "box office fate may have more to do with its overall subject matter than Denzel and Oprah's entertainment muscle," noting the turnout for other black period dramas of yore (John Singleton's 'Rosewood,' Winfrey's ambitious adaptation of Toni Morrison's best-seller 'Beloved' and Smith's Academy Award nominated turn in 'Ali').
'Debaters'' failure can also be attributed to a shoddy publicity campaign.
While the film was heavily saturated in mainstream media outlets before its release, a "grassroots" marketing initiative (involving the film's young stars doing school tours) didn't attempt to take form until post-release.
Furthermore, Washington – as a last ditch effort – was offered up to media outlets, including Blackvoices.com, well after the fact the movie underperformed at the box-office.
Rule No. 1 in movie marketing: Know your audience. Rule No.2: Respect your audience's media.
Movie studios (and their in-house employees and independent vendors) too oftentimes think that public relations geared towards the black community is limited to placements in Ebony and Jet magazines, respectively.
Uh, no! It's 2008.
That's lazy and antiquated thinking.
But if they think that works, so be it.
Unfortunately, many times a great product winds up being the real casualty.
In addition, on Jan. 4, the movie studio publicists-loving daily New York City tabloid, The New York Post reported that the inspirational movie – marketed as a true story about a championship black debate team at Wiley College (circa 1930) -- was "full of historical inaccuracies," quoting a knowledgeable source.
Blacks were not truly considered part of college debating circles until after World War II, the Post noted. "And no Harvard administrator would have ever referred to the university as an all-white college since it had long been integrated," added the source.
Isn't that something?
And while Washington's other flick, 'American Gangster' performed extremely well at the box office – grossing a whopping $130 million since opening in November – the three-hour epic has become a centerpiece of a legal battle.
According to published reports, a group of retired federal drug enforcement agents sued NBC Universal ('Gangster's' distributor) this week, saying the movie falsely portrayed them as villains in the story of a Harlem heroin trafficker named Frank Lucas.
"If they had said, 'This is based on a false story,' it would have been a lot better," he quipped.
The suit, filed in federal court in Manhattan on Jan. 17, claims that 'Gangster' defamed hundreds of DEA agents and New York City police officers; the class-action suit – filed on behalf of over 400 agents who worked in the city between 1973 and 1985 – asks for at least $50 million in punitive damages.
Washington's next film, 'Taking of the Pelham' – co-starring John Travolta – pits a transit cop against a group of hijackers who take over a subway train in order to rake in a hefty ransom.
Currently in production, the film – fortunately for Washington – is not based on a true story. It's set to start shooting sometime this spring.
Comments: (98)
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By: ChinaMartinique on 1/23/2008 7:39PM
I agree with whomever said the movie was not marketed properly. If memory serves me correctly, it seems as though A.G. received more advertising around here than T.G.D's did. It could have been due to the fact of drugs being stored in G.I.'s coffins and Pope and Fort Bragg are less than 10 miles away. From what I observed around this part of the world, T.G.D's was given less than thorough promotion or media blitz or whatever the heck they call it.
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By: Jacky\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ on 1/23/2008 11:51PM
Denzel,
I admire you so much..I haven't seen your latest movie "The Great Debaters". I plan to see it real soon.. Being a Professional it's often hard for us to have time to settle down and watch a movie at the theater..I sometimes wait till it come to DVD then purchase it to watch over and over again. I have all your movie flicks and enjoy watching them when I around the house on the weekend. I enjoy movies and a candle light dinner. One of my favorite things to do. I know you have a lot of admirers. Please continue to make great movies. I hope God continue to Bless you and your family. Keep up the great acting..You're truly Blessed to have such wonderful talent..My son swear he's your look alike.. He did have a chance to play a small part in a movie here in Florida..He was praised by his Denzel looks when he was selected to do the part..Be Blessed.
Jacky'
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By: Elizabeth on 1/24/2008 7:57AM
We as a black race do not support movies with intergrity. We do not take our children to see them. If it is a gangsta or self grading it will be seen. I often see "white people" in attendance when I go to see black movies of substance!
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By: Fontella Jones on 1/24/2008 8:00AM
Mr. Washington is an icon to black young adults, especially black men across the U. S. He has far exceeded himself as an actor and a black symbol to all who have been graced to see his movies. He is a great husband, father and mentor to the African American race. I salute Mr. Washington and say "do your thing."
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By: Dona on 1/24/2008 8:04AM
I think there is a plot out there to destroy his name. Both his recent movies were great, but unlike all the other movies out there, his movies were out on the street before release, and was a perfect copie. Someone has access to his movies in the studio and are making money off of them before he has a chance to show it in the theaters. Also keep in mind that people may go see his movie but have tickets to another. Have people ever heard of movie hopping.
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By: JAZZMAN11 on 1/24/2008 8:31AM
Yes "The Great Debaters" stretched the truth by having Harvard stand in for UCLA in that final debate. Yes what's called "creative licence" in the film industry was applied to this film as it is applied to many, many films. What has not been publicized is the fact that Denzel gave a million dollars to the real Wiley University so that the debate team could start up again. As was mentioned in the article, The Great Debaters was a "...masterfully executed period drama..." But what's most important is the message that this movie brought to its audience as far as raising young people to use critical thinking as a weapon and maintaining our dignity under pressure. As far as the suit against American Gangster,all I have to say,does the name Serpico mean anything? If not, I suggest that you rent the Al Pacino movie of the same name.It's easy enough to try to sue American Gangster since Denzel's movie is 35 years after the fact. I don't remember any suits being wielded against the producers of "Serpico" since at that time, it was a considered a contemporary piece, filmed around the same time as the police corruption it talked about in NYC. That entire film was about corruption in the NYC Police Department. The present suit against "American Gangster" is bullshit, pure and simple. If folks think that there is no corruption in the NYC Police system, here's another name for you, former Police Commissioner BERNARD KERICK. And after that if you still believe that there is no corruption in the police department, then you will just love purchasing my river front property in the Sahara Desert.
The case for "The Great Debaters" isn't over yet. There are still the DVD sales. There is still a great opportunity to market this movie to the parents, schools and our children.
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By: Rachel Wallace on 1/24/2008 8:40AM
I was really disappointed at the turn out for The Great Debaters. Yes, there were several historical inaccuracies, but the message was clear. I agree that there was a general lack of publicity. Sure, Oprah and Denzel did their thing in spreading the word about the movie, but what did the studio do? What did organizations of color do? We all need to take our share of the blame for this not being a blockbuster movie. Denzell Washington is a fantastic actor and person. I honestly believe that there are a few more Oscars in his future. He, and many of his contemporaries, are to be praised for the excellent job that they are doing.
A fan
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By: Alexander on 1/24/2008 8:46AM
The Great Debater is based on a true story. My family reigns from Marshall, Texas and Wiley College. The writer of this article should realize that this is a black news site and stop reporting derogatory information on our role models.( Maybe you should be employed at a conservative caucasian newspaper.)
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By: Gloria on 1/25/2008 9:02AM
Denzel is a fantastic actor and excellent role model; the declining ticket sales are two-fold: our unwillingness to purchase movie tickets for the current retail price and our need for immediate gratification by purchasing boot-leg movies which diminish the profitability of great movies like the Great Debaters and American Gangsters. I enjoyed both movies in the movie theatre. As far as historical inaccuracies vs. historical accuracies are concern, movies are a balance of written historical records (which may not always sync-up) and verbal recounts of individuals involved in the scenario or historians. When both are blended together create and engaging story for the audience. Conspired inaccuracies result in lawsuits and it is ludicrous to believe Oprah, Denzel,and Forest are suspect. It is more the cause that the actual personas were not aware of their representations and impact(American Gangsters). Debate teams were not foreign to Black Colleges, they were not widely known but they did exists in their own circles, the Great Debaters is a wonderful tribute of truth that acknowledges the contribution of our people by singling out Wiley and their impact on mainstream colleges and universities. Well done!!! Oprah, Forest, and Denzel and others who recognize our need to know and act on that need...I appreciate it.
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By: JAZZMAN11 on 1/24/2008 9:05AM
#29, who is supplying you with these statistics? WHITE FOLKS of course. DUH!! Why would they want to make themselves look bad in these obviously "scientifically accurate" findings? Creative licence is not only practiced in the film industry my friend. Ninety percent of all of the inventions that THE WORLD enjoys as neccessities were invented by BLACK FOLKS. Don't take my word for it. Check the patent office.
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