This Week: "For Love Of The Game" comes into theaters in a wide release this weekend, with Kevin Costner looking to add another sports-themed hit to his career after a series of costly flops("The Postman") and hits that were also poorly reviewed and forgettable("Message In A Bottle"'s success earlier this year). Early reviews for "Game" have been at least moderately positive, and sneak previews last weekend have surely caused word of mouth to spread about the new Universal picture. This is also the first "romantic/date" picture that's come into the marketplace in a while, and audiences are certainly looking for something new after the series of "spooky" thrillers that have been released in the past couple of weeks.

"For Love Of The Game"
Intrestingly enough, this appeared in studio briefing Thursday 9/16:
Universal execs have reacted angrily to complaints voiced by Kevin Costner in Newsweek magazine this week that they reedited For Love of the Game (1999) in order to obtain a PG-13 rating at the expense of the film's artistic merit. Universal cochairman Stacey Snider told today's (Wednesday) Los Angeles Times: "Kevin's not the director and it's not fair for him to hijack a $50-million asset. ... I realize this is very much about principle for Kevin, but principle doesn't mean that you never compromise. Our feeling is that we have backed the filmmaker and his name is Sam Raimi, not Kevin Costner." Raimi said that he agreed with Costner that the scenes that were edited are less strong than they were originally, but, he added: "The MPAA wouldn't allow it under any circumstances if we wanted a PG-13. I understand Kevin's feelings. ... But I'm very happy with the film. It's still a very real story about someone who grows as a person and becomes worthy of a woman's love." The Times quoted unnamed industry insiders as saying that Universal's position was "a rare display of backbone by a studio pitted against a major star." Universal claims that only about 10 seconds was trimmed from the film.

The PG-13 rating will certainly help to bring a wider audience to this picture and although Costner may be unhappy with the trims, the PG-13 will likely give the picture a stronger opening this weekend. On the other hand, the 137 minute running time may slightly cut down on showings for the picture. EIther way, look for "Game" to open at a predicted 19.5m this weekend.

"Blue Streak"
The other picture opening this weekend is Martin Lawrence's "Blue Streak". Tristar has been marketing the film very, very well with constant trailers in front of many popular theatrical releases as well as quite a few variations on the TV ad for the movie. Thankfully, Lawrence has recovered from his illness so he should be able to see the kind of success this picture will have this weekend. "Blue Streak" also previewed last weekend to solid turnouts and it should take second place this weekend. Lawrence's pictures have opened well("Life", "Nothing To Lose", etc) have opened very well lately and "Blue Streak" should be no different, opening at about 15.5m this weekend.


Also This Weekend:
"Stigmata" should fall with "Sixth Sense" still doing excellent business in theaters. "Stigmata" is a good film, but it may not get past poor reviews on its second weekend. "Stir Of Echoes" should drop as well, especially being the smaller and less promoted picture of last weekend's two openers. Also still sticking around in the top 10 are "Runaway Bride", "13th Warrior", "Thomas Crown Affair" and others.

Soundtracks:
NEW:
This Weekend's New Soundtracks(Click To Purchase At Reel.com)

1.Blue Streak	2.For Love of the Game

Kevin Costner's Box Office Record

Title	Year	Opening Weekend	Total Gross
Message In A Bottle	1999	18.852m	52.799m
The Postman	1997	6.814m	17.593m
Tin Cup	1996	10.128m	53.854m
Waterworld	1995	?	88.246m
Wyatt Earp	1994	?	25.052m
Robin Hood:Prince Of Thieves	1991	?	165.5m
Dances With Wolves	1990	?	184.208m
Field Of Dreams	1989	?	64.431m
Bull Durham	1988	?	50.888m