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Sahara Desert Sues For Defamation In Movie "Sahara"

A desert can't really sue people, but it seems like everyone else involved in the 2005 movie is bringing suit. Author of the original book Clive Cussler is suing producer Philip Anschutz for denying him the "absolute control" his contract required, which he alleges led to the movie's failure (it took in $122 million, but cost over $240 mil to make); Anschutz is counter-suing, claiming Cussler sabotaged the flick. In efforts to sort out how a box-office winner became a bomb in court, the L.A. Times dug up the film's working budget -- where they discovered the film's stars Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz together cost nearly $1.7 million just in perks -- from his personal chef ($48,893) to her hair stylist ($135,550). That's more than was paid to all the extras combined! And we won't even get into the bribes they paid to the Kingdom of Morocco to shoot the film there (instead of on a sandy soundstage).

After you read the most exciting bunch of numbers since your tax return, book a flight to the real Sahara: At $1,122, that New York-Paris-Casablanca flight we found on Air France will look like a steal. For Marrakech hotel reviews, HotelChatter will start you off right. Here's looking at you, kids.

[Photo: Week in Rewind]