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This
is the first word of a new section here at
movie-page.com. In F.R.I.E.D., which stands for Film
Related Informative Entertainment Drivel, I’ll talk
about my opinions on current films, movie news, older
movies, video picks, even reader e-mail. F.R.I.E.D. will
be updated bi-weekly.
In this the very first edition of F.R.I.E.D., I’m
going to take a look at what is on the slate this fall
for theaters. I’ll give you my thoughts on what
looks rad and what looks bad.
 Fall
1999 PREVIEW- Part 1: September and October
Autumn
is my favorite season. I know I’m in the minority
here, but I stand by my belief. The Fall is so relaxing.
The weather isn’t too hot, and isn’t to cold
(with the proper sweater). The scenery is almost
mythical. The tacky greens and pinks of summer become the
lush browns and oranges of fall. School is going back
into session and in a way this gives students a new
chance to prove themselves. Halloween, the best holiday
of the year is just around the corner. And then
there’s the movies. Gone are the disappointing
blockbusters of summer. In come the Oscar-hopeful indies,
the smart A-list actor pairings, the clever thrillers,
the offbeat comedies. How can you not love the fall.
The fall movies season, however, encompasses not only the
films released in September and October, but also those
that come out in the holiday season of November and
December. But what I’m gonna talk about today is
only the very quiet, relaxed movie months of September
and October. The fall season really heats up in November
but that’ll be a different edition.
 Here are the movies I
am most looking forward to:
Double
Jeopardy
(September 24th)- This thriller hasn’t exactly had
the best buzz over the past few months, but it’s
effective trailer displays a very intriguing plot. A
woman (Ashley Judd) is convicted of murdering her
husband, who’s body was never found. As usual, in
these types of movies, she did not commit the crime. In
prison she learns that her husband is not dead and in
fact set her up so that he could start a new life with
his mistress, who adopted her son. In prison she also
learns of Double Jeopardy, a law which states you cannot
be charged for the exact same crime twice. Since she was
already convicted of killing her husband she could not be
charged again. So, once out of prison she decides
to… well, you get the point. Also starring is Tommy
Lee Jones as an officer of the law out to catch her.
Hopefully, this will be as interesting as the trailer,
which looks very exiting.
Three
Kings
(October 1st)- Early reports call this
action/comedy/drama “breathtaking”,
“deeply moving” and “riveting”. Well
that’s pretty high praise for a film starring George
Clooney, Marky Marc, and Ice Cube, three actors not quite
known for making offbeat sleepers. The trailer interested
me and since the film is by the director of one of my
favorite comedies of the 90’s (Flirting with
Disaster), well that’s just the kicker. I’m a
little in the dark about the plot but it appears to be
about 3 soldiers in the 1992 gulf war who find a few
cases of Iraqi gold. I’ll give you more info as soon
as I get it.
Fight
Club
(October 15th)- Brad Pitt has made a few pretty lousy
movies lately but word has it he’s turned all that
around with his newest ego-fest Fight Club. Directed by
the awesome David Fincher (Se7en, The Game), it’s
the story of a secret society in which a bunch of rich
boys beat the shit out of each other. Fox has been using
a clever ad campaign with tongue in cheek posters (see
side) and a wicked website. Judging by the
amazing trailer this is gonna be one off-beat flick.
Edward Norton co-stars, so how could it be bad.
The
Story of Us
(October 15th)- I’m not usually one for
“romantic comedies” but the trailer for this
A-list love story spellbinded me. Bruce Wills and
Michelle Phiffer in a film directed by the great Rob
Reiner (The Princess Bride). Great cast! Excellent crew!
It’s about a married couple that must decide what to
do with their 15 year marriage. Now, that’s not a
very original plot, but judging by the trailer it’s
going to be a funny, emotional ride.
Princess
Mononoke
(October 29th)- Anime fans rejoice! The US release of
Japan’s former highest grossing film (before
Titanic) is soon. It looks as if this Miramax-distributed
cartoon will deliver the goods. Voices by Gillian
Anderson, Billy Bob Thorton, Claire Danes, and others
“Americanize” this Japanese film.
The
Messenger: Joan of Arc
(November 5th)- This is Director Luc Besson’s follow
up to his soon to be classic Sci-Fi, the Fifth Element
(one of my personal faves). Being both French and an
acclaimed director, he is the perfect candidate to adapt
Joan of Arc to the big screen. With the help of his
ex-wife, actress/model Milla Jovovich as the legendary
title character, Besson will no doubt create a stylish,
exciting film. Hopefully, he will infuse it with the same
passion he put into his last movies. This has high, high
potential.
Here are some movies
that MIGHT be pretty good:
For
Love of The Game
(September 17th)- Anybody else think this might sound
better as For THE Love of The Game? Well personally
I’m not a baseball movie fan, nor am I a Kevin
Costner fan. I can’t stand the guy! But Field of
Dreams was pretty good and it’s directed by the mad
genius Sam Raimi (I’m pretty sure this is a more
conventional effort than usual for him) so it might be
worth a look.
Jacob
the Liar
(September 24th)- The trailer didn’t impress me and
this, Robin William’s latest, looks like a Life is
Beautiful rip-off. But early reviews for the holocaust
fable have been great so maybe it’ll turn out to be
an even better movie than Begnini’s opus.
Superstar
(October 9th)- Here we go again. Another SNL skit makes
it to the big screen. This may surprise many of you, but
I quite enjoyed last years Night At the Roxbury starring
those head-bopping brothers. Superstar is the story of
Mary Catharine Gallagar, a strangely shy schoolgirl. On
SNL she’s a very funny character and she just might
have the depth to fill an hour and a half with her
heartwarming, hilarious antics.
Bringing
Out The Dead
(October 22nd)- It stars Nicholas Cage (ugh), but
it’s directed by Martin Scorceses (yaaay). It’s
been getting bad test screening reviews (ugh) but the
trailer makes it look mind-blowing (yaaay). Well this
could either be an atrocity or a miss-understood
masterpiece. It’s about an Ambulance driver (Cage)
trying to make it through the night without going insane
from the horrors around him. The trailer points to the
use of tons of black comedy.
The
House on Haunted Hill
(October 29th)- I love haunted house movies but this
summer’s The Haunting was a big disappointment.
Hopefully this ghostly tale starring Geoffrey Rush and
Famke Jaansen will be better, even with a much lower
budget. Once the trailer’s released we’ll have
a clearer view of what we are in store for.
Here are some movies
that probably WON’T be very good:
Blue
Streak
(September 17th)- I hate Martin Lawrence and the trailers
made me gag. This looks like it’s trying to cash in
on Rush Hours early fall success last year. Reviews have
been dismal so don’t expect anything better than
pure crap.
Adventures
of Elmo in Grouchland
(October 1st)- Elmo Sucks!
Drive
Me Crazy
(October 1st)- Now THIS is what I call a rip-off.
It’s basically a remake of last years surprise hit
She’s All That. Maybe not quite but judging by the
ad it all looks very familiar. The best thing about this
movie is the title song by Brittany Spears. And
that’s not saying much at all. Unfortunately this
teen-flick doesn’t appear to be able to answer the
age-old question: “Why is Melissa Joan Hart
famous?”
Bats
(October 22nd)- It’s a horror movie about Bats that
stars Lou Gossett Jr. Nuff Said!
All in all it’s a pretty promising early fall.
Sometime in the next few weeks I’ll preview November
and December which looks even better.
Next week I’ll be back with a sophomore edition
about some great, recent movies that just didn’t
seem to find an audience. I’ll also answer some e-mail
questions and give you my pre-Oscar season top ten.
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