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Perception meets reality
Published: 6/25/2007 2:25 PM
Last Modified: 6/25/2007 2:25 PM

Perception can be everything in Hollywood.

Perception in 2006: Steve Carell is hilarious, he can open a movie all by himself (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin made $100 million) and “The Office” has doubled its audience since its first season.

Perception in 2007: Steve Carell is still funny, but he’s the star of one of the most expensive turkeys of all time (“Evan Almighty” cost $175 million to make) and he can’t open a film by himself, as “Evan” had an opening weekend of $32 million, less than half of the $68 million that greeted its Jim Carrey-starring predecessor, “Bruce Almighty,” in 2003.

And to boot: This summer’s R-rated comedy hit “Knocked Up” has already made more money than “40-Year-Old Virgin” and has a guy named Seth Rogen as the star. Perception: It wasn’t Carell, but Judd Apatow, the filmmaker who created both movies, who was the most important ingredient.

But let’s face reality. Carell has several upcoming bankable projects, and while the floundering “Evan” cost an almighty sum to make, project investors know it went to the all-wet CGI special effects and not some Mel Gibson-like salary deposited in Carell’s pocket.

So Carell shouldn’t get the lion’s share of the blame for his new film, and if his next effort stiffs at the box office, he can spread the criticism around to some familiar names.

Who stars in next spring’s animated flick “Horton Hears a Who,” you ask? Jim Carrey as Horton, Steve Carell as the Mayor of Who-ville and Seth Rogen as a VIP Who.

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I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

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