This is a first. Sort of by accident we know in advance some of the costs of a huge blockbuster failure of a movie. “Winter’s Tale,” starring Colin Farrell, opens tomorrow to an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. (That comes out to 37 negative reviews, 3 positive.) It’s just a huge, stunning failure of a big studio film. “Winter’s Tale” is well acted, and it looks great. But it’s impossible to understand, even for someone like yours truly who read Mark Helprin’s wonderful novel thirty years ago.

Now, thanks to a press release from the Motion Picture Association of America, we know a little bit about what “Winter’s Tale” cost to produce. The press release concerns what “Winter’s Tale” spent on shooting in New York– and believe me, we are happy they shot the movie here.

The film is set in 1930s New York–except for when Russell Crowe, dressed in period costume, says: “Shit happens.” That’s when you know this Avika Goldsman-directed-written-produced vehicle is out of whack.

(I did hear that Julian Fellowes considered letting Lord Grantham say that on “Downton Abbey” but changed his mind at last minute. Instead, Robert told Cora she had “the shizzle.”)

Back to the money: According to the MPAA, “Winter’s Tale” key costs were:

–$41,465,577 in total local community expenditures. This includes hotels, car rentals, catering,
hardware, dry cleaning*, local wages rental fees, permit fees, and other expenses

–$26,998,940 in wages paid to local New York residents

Those numbers don’t include all the ‘above-the line’ talent– Will Smith (who I’m sure didn’t do this for free, and should never ever have been put in this film). Goldsman himself as a triple threat, Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly (each Oscar winners), William Hurt, the rest of the cast, producers’ fees, etc. And then there’s the promotional costs, prints, travel and expenses, etc.

There’s also tons of special effects, the entire production design, and a flying horse (they don’t come cheap.)

“Winter’s Tale” looks like a minimum $125 million write off.

This is a “tale” of the big studio dichotomy. Warner Bros. had two gems this year in “Gravity” and “Her.” But they also continue to let bloat like “Winter’s Tale” get through the system. They had it last year with “Jack and the Giant Slayer.” But other studios, obviously, have this too– see “Lone Ranger,” “After Earth,” etc.

*PS I can sympathize with the dry cleaning bill.

EXCLUSIVE: Good news! Warren Beatty is finally moving forward with his untitled “Howard Hughes” movie. What we do know is that a production office is in full swing at New Regency, the company making the film with Beatty. New Regency is newly hot these days with the arrival of Brad Pitt’s production company, and a major credit for “12 Years a Slave.” They’ve also got the next Cameron Crowe film, and Ben Affleck’s “Gone Girl.”

I put quotes around Howard Hughes’s name because it’s unclear whether the title character, to be played by Beatty, is still the infamously reclusive billionaire movie producer/aviator/raconteur/enigma. I’ve heard that Beatty, who’s written the screenplay himself, may have abandoned the idea of using Hughes, and decided to create his own character rather than deal with Hughes’s biographical baggage. That much remains in the air.

Right now the imdb calls the Beatty film “The Rules Don’t Apply.” There’s also a cast list that includes everyone from Jack Nicholson to Alec Baldwin. But sources say that “nothing on the imdb” is correct. The movie supposedly recounts a romance Hughes had with a young actress in his later years. Ironically, Beatty himself is now a few years older than Hughes was when he died at age 71. Of course, Beatty looks ten times younger than Hughes did even then.

Beatty is maybe the smartest guy in Hollywood, with a sharp eye and excellent taste. He’s an Oscar winner for “Reds,” and has on his resume many great films from “Shampoo” to “Bugsy” to “Heaven Can Wait” and “Dick Tracy” and “Bulworth.”  Some other projects, like “Love Affair” and “Town and Country” did not fare as well. But a new Warren Beatty film is reason for excitement. And we need a little buzz in this, the worst month for movies ever it seems!