| |
Summer Movie Preview:
June's gems...
Summer roared in like a little frightened kitten, and before we knew it, Spider-Man became an overnight success and Anakin Skywalker was one step closer to intergalactic domination and losing his virginity. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I'm back - and more jaded than ever. So I say, bring on those summer movies. I'm ready for you, Mr. Lil' Bow Wow (and I don't care if you dropped the moniker, you're still Lil' Bow Wow to me.)
Bad Company
AHEM...
Release Date: June 7
Director: Joel Schumacher (8mm, Batman and Robin)
Cast: Chris Rock, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Garcelle Beauvais, Gabriel Macht, Brooke Smith
Premise: Rock plays dual roles in this movie, twins Kevin and Jake Pope. When Harvard-educated Rock is killed, hustler/bookie/no-good Rock is enlisted into the CIA to take his place. Gaylord Oakes (Hopkins) is the agent who has the daunting task of recruiting and training Rock.
Notes: The movie was pushed back from December 2001 due to the September 11 tragedies.
Christine's Take: Rock may not be much of an awards show host, but on film he is very funny. It will be interesting to see if audiences will buy Hopkins in a comedic role; at any time people will expect him to grow tired of Rock and eat him. It remains to be seen if Hopkins and Rock have the chemistry it takes to pull it off.
Post-Release Verdict: I vaguely remember seeing this film, but I don't think I actually did. Hmm, strange. See DVD details here.Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Release Date: June 7
Director: Callie Khouri (debut, wrote Thelma & Louise and Something to Talk About)
Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Ashley Judd, Maggie Smith, Shirley Knight, Fionnula Flanagan, Sandra Bullock, Ron Eldard, James Garner
Premise: Vivi, Caro, Necie, and Teensy are childhood friends who form the sisterhood of the "Ya-Ya"s. The movie spans from the 1930's to the present day, flashing back to the main characters at different stages of their lives. When Sidda Lee (Bullock) doesn't invite her mother Vivi (Burstyn) to her wedding, the sisterhood steps in to save the troubled relationship.
Notes: The movie, based on a novel of the same name by Rebecca Wells, first premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in May. Judd and Bullock last starred together in A Time to Kill, but in this movie will not appear on-screen together, as Judd plays a younger version of Vivi.
Christine's Take: Sounds very much like a "chick flick," but the relationships within the movie are universal themes that anyone can relate to. I would watch the movie…if I could remember the title.
Post-Release Verdict: Forgettable flick that had lots of potential. Surprisingly, Ashley Judd didn't annoy me as much as I had expected. See DVD details here.Cherish
Release Date: June 7 (limited)
Director: Finn Taylor (Dream with the Fishes)
Cast: Robin Tunney, Tim Blake Nelson, Jason Priestley, Lindsay Crouse, Liz Phair
Premise: Zoe (Tunney) is a lonely 80's rock fanatic who is framed for murder. While under house arrest, she falls for her probation officer (Nelson), unaware that a stalker is closing in on her.
Notes: This movie first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The title comes from a 70's and 80's radio show that Zoe calls frequently.
Christine's Take: The promise of lots of 80's songs had me drooling, and Tunney has always been a fine actor. Watch for Jason Priestley, who plays the object of Zoe's affections.
Post-Release Verdict: One avid reviewer on Amazon named this one of the best films of 2002. A little zealous, but it's worth taking a look. See DVD details here.The Bourne Identity
Release Date: June 7
Director: Doug Liman (Swingers, Go)
Cast: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper
Premise: Damon plays the titular character and finds he is suffering from amnesia and hunted by mysterious men. The theme: Who am I, dammit! Potente plays a woman Damon kidnaps who ultimately helps him.
Notes: Based on a novel of the same title by Robert Ludlum, this is a first of a planned trilogy of Jason Bourne films that Liman will direct (how many times can Bourne have amnesia?). It was also already adapted as a 1988 television show starring Richard Chamberlain. Universal took their time releasing the movie, pushing it back twice to release the Musketeer and Undercover Brother instead. The movie's budget was a reported $60 million, considerably less than most summer blockbusters, and was filmed in Prague, Italy and France. To find out who Bourne is, check out the official site and solve the code.
Christine's Take: I'm not really a fan of Matt Damon's, but the teaser trailers had me curious about the movie. Recommended for those of you who enjoyed Mission: Impossible (1996) and the like. The action sequences look pretty decent too.
Post-Release Verdict: I have not seen this one or its sequel, The Bourne Supremacy (2004), but I've been told that they're fun action flicks. And Matt Damon isn't as half offensive as Ben Affleck. See DVD details here.Scooby-Doo
Release Date: June 14
Director: Raja Gosnell (Big Momma's House, Never Been Kissed)
Cast: Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Rowan Atkinson, Linda Cardellini, Scott Innes
Premise: On Spooky Island, a magical force is being awakened, which will make slaves out of the entire human race! It is up to the Scooby Gang to save the world, yet again. Atkinson plays Spooky Island's theme-park owner, Mondavarious.
Notes: Obviously based on the Saturday morning cartoons, which began with "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" in 1969. Budget was reported at $80-$90 million, no doubt to animate Scooby-Doo the talking dog.
Christine's Take: When was the last time Freddie Prinze, Jr. made a good movie? Maybe I should rephrase that - when was the last time Freddie Prinze, Jr. made a mediocre movie? Hopefully Scooby-Doo will be his big budget comeback. Hit the theatres and check this movie out (I'll be watching if only for Atkinson, a.k.a Mr. Bean). And don't forget the Scooby snacks.
Post-Release Verdict: There is really no great way to say that I did not see this film because it's not my cup of tea. Ditto the sequel. See DVD details here.Windtalkers
Release Date: June 14
Director: John Woo (Face/Off, Mission: Impossible 2, Broken Arrow)
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, Christian Slater, Frances O'Connor, Mark Ruffalo
Premise: During World War II the Navajo language was used for decoding top-secret messages against the Japanese army. Each Navajo soldier was assigned a Marine as a bodyguard, who was instructed to kill the soldier if capture was imminent. Cane is a Marine who is assigned to watch Carl Yahzee (Beach), and the two become friends. Of course, this is when Yahzee gets captured. Slater and Willie play another pair in the same predicament.
Christine's Take: Hmm, Cage in another war movie role. Did anyone see Captain Corelli's Mandolin? Granted, the premise is different, and Penelope Cruz is nowhere in sight to suck the spirit right out of the movie, so this film should be safe. Woo is a talented director who can easily choreograph action sequences and deep character developments all in one breath.
Post-Release Verdict: Years later, I am intrigued by the names attached to this project alone. John Woo has gone from wowing the Asian market to world-wide acclaim. Mark Ruffolo has made more films. And Nicolas Cage is, to a degree, still around. See DVD details here.The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
Release Date: June 14 (limited)
Director: Peter Care (debut, directed R.E.M's "RoadMovie")
Cast: Kieran Culkin, Jena Malone, Jodie Foster, Vincent D'Onofrio, Emile Hirsch, Tyler Long
Premise: A gang of Catholic school eight graders in 1974 Savannah get caught drawing an obscene comic book, "The Atomic Trinity," which depicts priests and nuns having sex. They decide to play a prank on mean, one-legged Sister Assumpta (Foster) that will make them school legends and enable them to recover their comic book.
Notes: This movie premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival and is based on a novel of the same title by Chris Fuhrman. Fuhrman passed away from cancer before the book, his first, was published in 1994. The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys features comic book art by Thomas Fleming and an animation sequence by Todd McFarlane (Spawn).
Christine's Take: Described as a Stand by Me of this generation by the director, Lives of Altar Boys does sound like a melancholy ode to the childhood of yester-year. Catch this movie if you can, as it is in limited release, and will probably go unnoticed until it ends up on video or DVD.
Post-Release Verdict: Although it did poorly at the box office due to its limited release and lack of critical push, The Tomato Meter does give it a 76% fresh rating for trying. See DVD details here.The Emperor's New Clothes
Release Date: June 14 (expands later)
Director: Alan Taylor ("The West Wing," "Sex and the City," "The Sopranos")
Cast: Ian Holm, Iben Hjejle, Tim McInnerny, Hugh Bonneville
Premise: Napoleon (Holm) returns to France to reclaim his throne after defeat and exile, leaving a look-alike (Holm again) in Elba. Along the way, he discovers that France has changed, and falls in love with a melon-selling widow (Hjejle).
Notes: This movie already premiered at the 2001 Locarno Film Festival in Italy. It is based on the 1991 novel, The Death of Napoleon, by Simon Leys. Most people will remember Holm as Bilbo Baggins from Lord of the Rings.
Christine's Take: The premise of the movie is very original - well, original by today's standards. Watch it if you enjoy historical dramedies. Pass if you're planning to watch it for your history exam.
Post-Release Verdict: Still recommended for something out of the ordinary. See DVD details here.Gangster No. 1
Release Date: June 14 (expands later)
Director: Paul McGuigan (The Reckoning, Wicker Park)
Cast: Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany, Saffron Burrows
Premise: Gangster (Bettany) is a petty London thug who betrays his boss (Thewlis) to reach the top. The film begins in 1968 Soho and spans thirty years, where - oops - Thewlis is released from jail and is looking for revenge with a now-older Gangster (McDowell).
Notes: It's been already released in the U.K. on June 9, 2000 (so call all your British friends and ask them if the movie's good). Many will recognize Bettany as the kooky roommate of A Beautiful Mind's Russell Crowe.
Christine's Take: I have a confession to make. I'm not a fan of gangster/mob movies. Isn't McDowell always playing a gangster of some sort? Maybe he needs to get a new agent. Watch for Bettany, an actor who deserves the spotlight. All in all, use your own discretion.
Post-Release Verdict: Gangster No. 1 has received a lot of critical acclaim, and yes, Bettany is a splendid actor to watch. Despite the rave reviews, I couldn't bring myself to rent this, but that doesn't mean you can't. See DVD details here.Juwanna Mann
Release Date: June 21
Director: Jesse Vaughan (debut, previously directed music videos)
Cast: Miguel A. Nunez, Jr., Tommy Davidson, Vivica A. Fox, Ginuwine, Lil' Kim, Kevin Pollak
Premise: Jamal Jeffries (Nunez) is an NBA superstar who gets kicked out of the league because of bad behaviour. So in love is he with the game that he tries out for the WNBA (or maybe he just really likes womens' clothing). As his alter ego, Juwanna Mann, he falls in love with fellow player Fox (...isn't she too short for the WNBA?)
Notes: Nunez, who last appeared in The Nutty Professor II, reportedly showed up to his audition cross-dressed (as Hilary Swank did for her audition in Boys Don't Cry).
Christine's Take: Premise is old, story's been told a million times using different circumstances, and it's time to retire this formula. When was the last time it worked? For Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie, maybe. Eh, watch it if you have nothing else to do or want to see a basketball movie without Lil' Bow Wow.
Post-Release Verdict: Watch Boys Don't Cry instead. See DVD details here.Lilo & Stitch
Release Date: June 21
Director: Chris Sanders, Dean Deblois (debut, Sanders co-wrote Mulan)
Cast: Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Jason Scott Lee, Tia Carrere, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames
Premise: Lilo (Chase) is a little Hawaiian girl with disciplinary problems. She adopts a weird-looking dog, Stitch (Sanders), who turns out to be an alien, arriving here after his spaceship crashes on the way to intergalactic prison. The easiest way to thwart the alien police is to masquerade as a dog.
Notes: Disney decided to bump up Lilo & Stitch from its initial summer 2003 release, giving it the company's biggest boost towards release. See, the little devils, er, Disney executives, were worried about falling box office grosses - although Monsters, Inc. grossed a whopping $253 million, their 2-D Atlantis only bagged $84 million (which is low compared to production costs). Sanders and Deblois had to agree to keep the budget lower than the $150 million usual (for that money, I'll draw you six movies), and had to work at a smaller satellite studio in Florida.
Christine's Take: For the sake of Devils, Inc., er, Disney, I hope this movie does well enough. The cartoon genre isn't what it used to be - everything's being replaced by CGI and special effects. See it if you're under twelve or can pass for under twelve, otherwise, save it for the children.
Post-Release Verdict: I cannot emphasize how much Disney needs a lifeline. The past ten films that this studio has released have been lacklustre when compared to Dreamworks and the like. This is another one that is going straight to the bargain bin, along with its straight-to-video sequel. See DVD details here.Minority Report
Release Date: June 21
Director: Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan, Jurassic Park, E.T.)
Cast: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Peter Stormare, Max Von Sydow
Premise: In 2080 A.D. Washington, crimes can be detected before they're committed. A law enforcement agency employs a panel of judges, three "seers" (Morton among them) who, aided by technology, anticipate homicides. Officer John Anderton (Cruise), a police officer in the Pre-Crimes Division, gets fingered, and starts running. Ed Witwer (Farrell) is the man in charge of finding him.
Notes: Based on a story by Philip K. Dick (Blade Runner, Total Recall), Minority Report was plagued with so many production delays that Matt Damon dropped out of the project and was replaced by Farrell (good move). The title of the movie comes from the decision of the judges, where a majority vote wins and the odd vote out is called the "minority report."
Christine's Take: Don't particularly like Tom Cruise, although I've watched some of his movies (oddly enough, those without Penelope Cruz). This movie didn't receive as much publicity as the other summer movies, but it could still end up a sleeper hit (hopefully not on names alone).
Post-Release Verdict: Steven Spielberg + Tom Cruise + stupid Colin Farrell = zzz (throw in some Scientology controversy for added excitement). See DVD details here.Sunshine State
Release Date: June 21 (expands later)
Director: John Sayles (Lone Star, Limbo, Eight Men Out)
Cast: Angela Bassett, Edie Falco, Miguel Ferrer, Timothy Hutton, Mary Steenburgen
Premise: This movie is about reconciliation with families and changing landscapes in a small Florida town. More specifically, country club developers besiege a small Florida town. Bassett plays a woman who is returning home after a long absence. Falco is a local woman forced to sell the restaurant and motel she inherited.
Notes: Although both stories are interlaced, Bassett and Falco only share one short scene together.
Christine's Take: Sunshine State sounds like a very character-driven movie, and Sayles has proven he has a hand for smart indie films. Unfortunately, this film will probably get lost amidst the summer blockbuster shuffle.
Post-Release Verdict: It did get lost. But fortunately, you can catch it on DVD now. See DVD details here.Hey Arnold! The Movie
Release Date: June 28
Director: Tuck Tucker (debut, animator on The Little Mermaid)
Cast: Spencer Klein, Craig Bartlett, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Christopher Lloyd, Jamil Walker Smith, Paul Sorvino, Dan Castellaneta
Premise: This is a cartoon about an evil industrialist who wants to develop a huge "mall-plex" in Arnold's small hometown. Only a very special document can save the neighbourhood from destruction. Can Arnold and his friends save the 'hood in time? Oh, the suspense, it keeps me up at night.
Notes: This is the feature film version of the popular Nickelodeon animated television show, which started as a short in the late 1980's and developed into a series in 1996. Dan Castellanata, many may know, is the voice of various Simpsons characters, including Homer, Krusty, and Grandpa Simpson.
Christine's Take: Judging from my in-depth analysis of the premise, many can guess that I am not planning to watch this movie, let alone recommend it. But obviously it has its own fan base, with or without me, to get the go-ahead by Paramount.
Post-Release Verdict: Didn't see it. See DVD details here.Mr. Deeds
Release Date: June 28
Director: Steven Brill (Heavyweights, Little Nicky)
Cast: Adam Sandler, Winona Ryder, Steve Buscemi, Peter Gallagher, Jared Harris
Premise: Deeds (Sandler) is from the quaint town of Mandrake Falls, NH. He inherits $40 billion from his deceased uncle, and moves to New York to inject some small town values into those cynical New Yorkers. Babe (Ryder) is a tabloid reporter sent to do an exposé on Deeds, but even she can't resist the Deeds charms.
Notes: The director insists that this is more of homage than a remake of the 1936 comedy, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Premiered on March 7 at ShoWest in Las Vegas.
Christine's Take: It's nice to see Sandler in a movie again. His absence was sadly missed. He's a talented comedic actor who can take a run of the mill movie and make it a blockbuster (except for Little Nicky, but we'll overlook that). Steve Buscemi is terribly underrated as a comedic performer - expect lots of laughs from him. Ryder is not known for comedy, but after her brush with the law, everything with Ryder is just a little bit funnier.
Post-Release Verdict: It was on a couple of months ago and I watched about ten minutes of it before I got terribly bored. Ryder tries, but I just don't think that her coming timing is enough to stand up against Sandler. And the Buscemi cameo is simply a waste of good talent. See DVD details here.Lovely and Amazing
Release Date: June 28 (expands later)
Director: Nicole Holofcener (Walking and Talking, Sex and the City)
Cast: Brenda Blethyn, Jake Gyllenhaal, Catherine Keener, Emily Mortimer, Dermot Mulroney, Raven Goodwin, James LeGros
Premise: Set in L.A., this is an ensemble comedy about a mother (Blethyn) and her three daughters. Michelle (Keener) is a homecoming queen set adrift in a boring marriage. Elizabeth (Mortimer) is an insecure idealist, and adopted eight-year-old Annie (Goodman) is becoming increasingly preoccupied with her looks.
Notes: Holofcener and Keener are very good friends. So good, in fact, that the role was written specifically for Keener. Premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in August 2001.
Christine's Take: Oh come on, by now you should know I always recommend little indie movies about relationships. (And by now I should know that no one ever listens to me.)
Post-Release Verdict: I like Catherine Keener, in what little I've actually seen from her filmography. She's got a great dry wit and she's very unconventionally sexy and confident. It's worth a look. See DVD details here.Pumpkin
Release Date: June 28 (expands later)
Director: Adam Larson Broder, Tony Abrams (debut)
Cast: Christina Ricci, Hank Harris, Brenda Blethyn, Marisa Coughlan, Dominique Swain
Premise: Campus queen Carolyn (Ricci) decides to boost her sorority's reputation by volunteering at the Challenged Games. She meets Pumpkin (Harris), a disabled young man participating in the Games. She falls in love with him, but faces peer pressure from her sorority sisters.
Notes: Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. One production company involved, Speed Queen, is Ricci's own company.
Christine's Take: I just got over Ricci in "Ally McBeal," and here she is back on the big screen. Potential to be a good movie, granted Ricci has the Clueless-esque charm to pull it off. I always thought of Ricci as the poor-man's Kirsten Dunst. Her Hollywood resume would read like a leftover potpourri of Dunst movies, but that's a different conversation altogether. Save this one for the rentals.
Post-Release Verdict: I keep passing by a copy of the DVD at my local Blockbuster, but I can't bring myself to rent it. After all, there are more pressing matters - Vin Diesel movies aren't going to watch themselves! But back to reality, I think the biggest misstep is the cover, which looks so cheap and unappealing and much like a studio still blown up that I eventually gave up trying to see it altogether. See DVD details here.
[ From Men in Black II to Austin Powers III. Part II of our Summer 2002 Movie Preview. ]