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Tom Hanks in Road To Perdition
Gangsters eat talking mouse
Stuart Little 2 falls behind Tom Hank's Road To Perdition

Arthur J Pais

The gangsters led by Tom Hanks ate up the talking mouse, while Harrison Ford's submarine remained firmly torpedoed.

The official US box-office figures now show that Road To Perdition, the critically acclaimed gangster drama looking deep into wages of sin, led the competition by a few thousands, relegating the talking mouse saga, Stuart Little 2, to second position.

Estimates on Sunday had put Road To Perdition, which was No 2 the previous weekend, at the second position again, trailing the Stuart Little 2 by a few thousand dollars.

The final figures now tell another story.

While Road To Perdition grossed $15.4 million, with $47.3 million in just ten days, Stuart Little 2, grossed $15.1 million. It was shown in more than 3,255 theatres. The theatre count for Road To Perdition was 2,159.

Sony/Columbia Executives are apparently disappointed at the poor opening of their Stuart Little 2, with Michael J Fox providing the title character's voice and Nathan Lane being equally terrific as the pugnacious cat.

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But they are hoping the film, which generally received upbeat reviews, will do solid midweek business because the schools are closed for summer holidays, and generate good income.

The original Stuart Little opened for about $15 million late December 1999 and went on to become one of the solid hits of the year, earning about $140 million in America and over $160 million abroad. But it was released in less than 2,000 theatres in America and tickets then cost about $1.50 less than the $10 price in New York and Los Angeles. Across the nation too, tickets cost about 15 per cent more today.

What is scary for Stuart Little 2 is that several kiddie movies, including The Country Bears from Disney and Spy Kids 2 from a division of Miramax are waiting in line. And Lilo And Stitch, a Disney movie in its fifth week, is still attracting big numbers. It grossed $5 million last weekend in 2,127 theatres, its grossing reaching $128.4 million.

A still from Stuart Little 2 Yet Stuart Little 2 does indeed have a prayer --- with possibly a stronger performance abroad and a good sale from video and DVD stores --- big question mark hangs on K-19: The Widowmaker. The Harrison Ford film, which has fine performances by Ford and Liam Neeson and some very good suspenseful scenes, opened to a watery box-office.

The Cold War submarine drama debuted at No 4 with $12.8 million in about 2,900 movies houses, trailing Men In Black II, which earned $14.6 million on its way to a $200 million final gross.

"Americans are not very thrilled seeing movies celebrating their own heroes," says an informed friend, pointing out that most patriotic films like The Castle released after 9/11 have done either poor business or have an also-ran status.

"Why should they care for a Cold War drama, which is about 40 year old, celebrating Russian men of honour?"

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