In Defense of Nicole Kidman...

No star has faced more wrongheaded attacks over the last few years than Nicole Kidman. For years, she's been chased by the label of 'box office poison', and further cries for her to be tarred and feathered have arisen after the expensive and artsy period picture Australia somehow didn't equal its $130 million budget at the domestic box office (shocker!). The label makes no sense when you look at the facts.

The biggest problem with Nicole Kidman's PR-problems (to the extent to which they concern her at all) is that journalists and pundits lump her artsy movies (Fur, Birth, The Human Stain, etc) with her more commercial choices (The Golden Compass, Bewitched, The Interpreter, etc). Of course Fur wasn't going to make $50 million. Birth, a dark, quiet drama about a woman who believes that her dead husband has been reincarnated in the form of a very young boy, was certainly not made with blockbuster dollars in mind. That would be like saying that Tom Cruise's 90s hot streak ended with Eyes Wide Shut and Magnolia, which 'only' made about about $60 million and $28 million respectively in domestic theaters after a solid 8 years of straight $100 million performers.

The other issue is that said people don't realize that a star's job is to open a movie, not make the movie into a long-range hit. Kidman's purely commercial films over the last few years usually opened to a bit over $20 million (Bewitched, The Golden Compass, The Stepford Wives, The Interpreter). They all had mixed to negative reviews but none of them absolutely collapsed in the long run anyway. Their final grosses are anywhere from $60 million to $72 million. Ladies and gents, in this day and age, anything over a 3x multiplier for the opening weekend-to-final gross ratio is considered having legs. Australia opened over a super-crowded Thanksgiving weekend, which it was forced into when Quantum of Solace took over its original and more optimal November 14th release date (another aftershock of Warner Bros's Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince date change). It opened to a decent $14.5 million and has so far tripled its opening weekend gross. If it can make it to $60 million (possible, but not probable), it will have quadrupled its opening weekend numbers, which is a rare feat in any season.

It is not Kidman's responsibility that Australia cost $130 million, and it sure as hell isn't Nicole Kidman's fault that The Golden Compass cost $180 million (although should we give her equal credit for the $300 million that The Golden Compass made overseas?). And this goes for any actor in question. Unless they are producers and/or somehow contributed to cost overruns, actors are not responsible for the budgets of their films. Kidman would have given the same performance and pulled in the same opening weekend no matter what Australia cost. Is she more to blame because director Baz Luhrmann spent $130 million instead of $60 million?

We don't know how much she was paid for said films, I can guess that it wasn't her normal asking fee (if I'm wrong about that, well, that's what the comments section is for). So if we look at it objectively, we'll notice that at $47 million thus far, the film will make about as much in the US as Moulin Rouge and has already out grossed The Hours ($41 million). Heck, most of Kidman's pure commercial ventures have averaged between $50-70 million, which is just fine if they aren't costing more than $100 million. Not counting Batman Forever or Happy Feat, her highest grossing films were Cold Mountain and The Others, which made $97 and $96 million respectively. So why did anyone expect Australia to magically gross a third more than any Kidman-headlined film has ever grossed before?

Nicole Kidman does not star in blockbusters and thus her films should not be held to blockbuster standards. In fact, she is a rare actress of her fame who fills her career with challenging, artistically worthwhile endeavors as opposed to trying to make money through various overtly commercial ventures. Not all of these artistic gambles are good movies, but she should be applauded for trying to use her star power to make interesting films. Instead she is criticized by unknowing pundits and gossip rags who expect every Nicole Kidman art house project to make Batman Forever level numbers.

And finally, how do we not cry some form of latent sexism when Kidman gets blamed for Australia's failure while Hugh Jackman gets to host the Oscars and emerges completely unscathed? I like Jackman a lot as an actor, and I find his choices interesting (The Prestige, The Fountain, etc), but why was he not equally tarred and feathered when Australia allegedly flopped? Was he labeled 'box-office poison' when The Fountain flopped last Thanksgiving? Was Brad Pitt labeled 'box office poison' after such artsy films as Seven Years In Tibet or Snatch? And how come Daniel Craig didn't get ripped to shreds over the domestic failures of The Invasion and The Golden Compass (he co-starred with Kidman in both)?

As for the article at Reuters that is linked above? Um... Crocodile Dundee's last movie only made $25 million, and it opened to less than $8 million. I bet no one ever calls him 'box office poison'.

Scott Mendelson

Comments

[carrieanna]

A good actor will take risks. I think Nicole Kidman has proven that she's willing to venture outside of the mainstream Hollywood box. Anyone who doubts her should check out her 2003 Dogville. It's a difficult movie to watch in places (rather disturbing plot) but her chops are apparent.

[zezedip]

I couldn't agree more. I am sick of critics bad mouthing Nicole. We all have our own tastes. What makes one's opinion more right than other's. What an egocentric manner of viewing. Like all other major actors she has made successful films and not so, If Nicole is not your cup of tea why bother watching movies she is in.
So she squirmed in her seat. Most of us would if we were 25 feet tall on a screen making love with another man while sitting next to our spouse, father of our child and in front of millions.
People just can't take someone being happy. Is not that when all this trash talk started; after her perfect wedding, pregnancy, baby and unwillingness to let the press paste pictures of her child all over the universe. I admire her and Keith for protecting their baby from the press.
Nicole Kidman is talented, confident, intelligent, beautiful, rich, has beautiful children and a talented, gracious hunk of a husband, what more could a girl want. I'd take it all in a heartbeat.
As far as her using Botox; anyone with any intelligence knows that our culture is heavy into youth and beauty. You have to keep it as long as you can. She is no fool.

[Phoebe917]

the first time i saw her, in "Dead Calm", i was hooked. same for that crazy-*ss , Billy Zane.

[HLL]

Finally, someone who is writing about Nicole Kidman accurately.

I've never understood the disparaging remarks about her Box Office, which, taken for their worldwide grosses, are in the hundreds of millions:

Australia $129,728,329
The Golden Compass $372,234,864
Bewitched $131,426,169
The Interpreter $162,944,923
Cold Mountain $173,013,509
The Hours $108,846,072
Moulin Rouge! $179,213,434

None of the above figures include DVD sales and rentals which typically add anywhere from $20 to $40 million.

I loved Australia. I thought it was wonderful and the audience I saw it with thought so too. The cast were great: Nicole, Hugh, the little boy and his grandfather. The scenery was amazing. The cattle stampede was heart stopping. All good.

The recent article of Nicole saying she cringed when she saw the film is typical of many actors who can't watch their work. Her nerves are no reflection on her great gifts and box office clout.

She is a fine actress and can pull in money with the best of them.

[Huffingposter]

Well, looks like Ms. Kidman disagrees with your premise:

Miss Kidman, who attended the premiere with country singer husband Keith Urban, said: 'I can't look at this movie and be proud of what I've done.

'I sat there and I looked at Keith and went "Am I any good in this movie?"

'But I thought Brandon Walters (an 11-year-old Aboriginal boy) and Hugh Jackman were wonderful.

'It's just impossible for me to connect to it emotionally at all."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1110262/I-squirmed-seat-says-Nicole-Kidman-reveals-embarrassment-performance-Australia-epic.html

[Scott Mendelson - Huffpost Blogger]

The article also said (and this is a key point, a clear case of burying the lead) that she never watches herself onscreen as its very uncomfortable for her to do so. Johnny Depp (and I'm sure many other actors) feel the same way. Me? I love watching myself and reading my own work (its part of why I do this), but I don't pass judgment on anyone who can't watch themselves up on a giant screen without getting squeamish.

[BlackJAC]

And once again we prove that people see movies for plot rather than casting. I remember one ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY sidebar that stated Dakota Fanning was a powerful actress by virtue of all the event movies she'd done like MAN ON FIRE and WAR OF THE WORLDS.

[macb]

Well said,perfect!!I am so glad to read this.I am looking forward to Ms.Kidman's best work.She will grow and amaze us all for years to come...

[MyGuyO]

Miss Kidman is a beautiful and delicate woman. Her star shines.
I loved her in ~Australia~ and most of her other pictures. Besides she got to co-star opposite that hunk of an actor, Hugh Jackman. Wow!

[bobkat]

I loved Australia, and except for the wacky, over-the-top first 20 minutes thought Kidman and Co. were just fine and the storylines (especially involving the little boy) quite moving. Can't really understand why everyone gives her such a bad rap... it's one thing to dislike a performance but why do folks seem so vicious toward her? It's great to finally read an article that allows her some well-deserved props... thanks.

[Figerre]

Fantastic analysis! Nicole Kidman is the Meryl Streep of her generation - she is going to age well. Just think - she survived the Tom Cruise crap - and remains a serious, interesting actress. As for Australia - watch for the DVD sales!

[ReasonablySpeaking]

Perhaps said "lumping" is the cause of Nicole Kidman's PR problems, but she has made her own choices regarding the films and product endorsements she accepts. So too has she chosen to substantially and persistently elevate the value of her beauty over her mastery of the craft of acting*, thereby affecting the quality and potential commercial success of her films. The day an actor can magically project his or her intentions and emotions into the mind of the viewer is the day that Kidman's *acting* problems will begin to turn around - never mind her PR problems. Until such movie magic is possible, she might consider the damage she herself has brought to bear on her artistic reputation by choosing the illusion of ageless perfection over the physical ability to *visibly* express the sometimes "ugly" range of human emotions.

*THE HOURS being a notable exception

[jbar24]

well put

[violimo]

I suspect it's got a lot more to do with her turning 40, the magic age to start the punching bag free for all. No-one complained over her Chanel ads, but once the botox bullshit stories happened it was open slather.Watch out Scarlett, Natalie, enjoy the accolades while it lasts.

[lwaxanatroi]

Just last night I watched "Margot at the Wedding." Kidman was mesmerizing as a borderline narcisstic personality--but then the carpers on this site would probably accuse her of just playing herself. The article is about Kidman as actress, so why do so many posters feel compelled to discuss her personal life, as if they had a clue who she was in reality? Judge what's on the screen; that's all your movie ticket entitles you to do.

[jalowe1957]

As I recall, Katherine Hepburn found the perfect antidote for box-office poison: "The Philadelphia Story."

Now if Nicole can find it within herself to find the perfect antidote...

[Promise]

I think Nicole Kidman is an unusually talented actress. She has made some films that I didn't care for but she is always interesting to watch. I don't know her personally but she seems to be a decent person. I don't understand the recent spate of hatred she has attracted, either.