Roman Polanski’s “The Ghost Writer” opened in four theaters this past weekend, sold them all out, and is headed for 10 more this Friday.

Mel Gibson’s “Edge of Darkness” is entering its twilight phase in theaters after making just $40 million domestically. It cost $80 mil (production budget) plus another $20 mil (promotion, etc). “Edge” hasn’t been a huge hit overseas, either, with just $5 million from the U.K., where it started as a miniseries.

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Elton John: In yesterday’s Parade magazine, he says Jesus was gay. That got the world’s attention, didn’t it?

His Parade interview is incredibly candid.

The actual quote is “I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems. On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don’t know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East — you’re as good as dead.”

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It’s been a terrific tour Down Under for Matchbox Twenty star Rob Thomas. He’s had sold out dates and lots of press and airplay.

But the other night, in a Melbourne hotel, his band really had a hit. A total stranger popped out of the woodwork and punched guitar player Frankie Romano in the face. For no reason. Is it really the wonderful land of Oz?

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It looks like famed director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio are having their biggest weekend opening ever.

“Shutter Island,” with the star power of Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, and Mark Ruffalo, is set for a $37.3 million weekend.

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Roman Polanski’s “The Ghost Writer” opens today in New York and Los Angeles, a little suddenly, it feels, after its debut at the Berlin Film Festival.

Like Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island,” which also opens today, Polanski’s film is very much in the style of Alfred Hitchcock. It’s a highly stylized thriller with some great performances and riveting business even when the plot feels a tad predictable.

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Just in case you were wondering: U2’s The Edge (aka Dave Evans) says the Broadway musical  “Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark” is on.

The $45 million musical has been in limbo for a while as new financing was found to replace old.

But Edge says a meeting took place yesterday with all the principals, including director Julie Taymor. New producer Michael Cohl is getting everything in place. The wheels are turning.

Says Edge: “It will open before the end of the year.”

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“Tower Heist,” Brett Ratner’s next film, is going full speed ahead at Universal. I’m told that Noah Baumbach has just been signed to polish up the screenplay originally written by Ted Griffin.

I wrote about this film when it first got off the ground a couple of years ago. Back then it was envisioned as a black “Ocean’s Eleven,” with Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock being talked about as the leads. (Indeed, Griffin wrote “Oceans.”)

But time does a funny thing to movie projects. “Tower Heist” now looks like it will star Ben Stiller overseeing a cast of guys that could be all colors — maybe even blue, considering recent events in film land.

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Leonardo DiCaprio is still to set to play Frank Sinatra for Martin Scorsese. But he’s probably not going to sing.

“With those records?” Scorsese asked me, his voice rising, at the premiere last night for his new DiCaprio collaboration, “Shutter Island.” “Frank will do the singing. But we’re waiting for a finished script.”

So while he’s waiting, Scorsese’s next film will likely take a break from DiCaprio. “The Invention of Huge Cabret” is lighter fare for Scorsese, about a 12-year-old boy who lives in Paris and meets famous French silent film director and magician George Méliès.

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Could Quentin Tarantino’s self described “masterpiece” be the upset winner at the Academy Awards?

Suddenly, the “Inglourious Basterds” are surfing a tidal wave to the March 7 ceremonies at the Kodak Theater.

“Basterds” won the SAG Award for best ensemble cast. Screen Actors Guild voters make up the majority of the Academy. “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Crash,” “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,” Chicago” and “No Country for Old Men” all went from the SAG Award to the Oscar for best picture. Think back to when “Crash” beat “Brokeback Mountain.” SAG has proven to be a an accurate weather vane.

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I’m happy to announce that the Songwriters Hall of  Fame has announced its honorees for this June. (Full disclosure: I’m on the nominating committee.)

This year’s group includes Jackie DeShannon, Leonard Cohen, all the guys from Earth Wind and Fire, plus Johnny Mandel and David Foster. All the choices are good, although yes — several of us — are campaigning every year for Elvis Costello, Ray Davies of the Kinks and a few others. Everyone on the committee has favorites, but it doesn’t matter. Names are put to a group vote. And thus, we have the 2010 crop.

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