The Big Films of Summer: Picking the Winners
Fri., May 23, 1997
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THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK: This one hits this weekend just in case you've missed the ads, and by all advance accounts it is going to be the one to beat this summer. That's so sad, when the "one" to beat is a sequel. Sigh. Anyway that appears to be the norm this summer. Great preview screenings, and stellar word of mouth. Of course, the best thing about the film will be... no, not the dinos or carnage, but the name of the boat that brings something back. The name? The "Venture," which to us fantasy/adventure nuts is a loving homage to King Kong, which is still the best of the genre.
CON AIR: Warning! Warning! Due to excessive amounts of testosterone spewing forth from the screen, raincoats will be handed out upon admission. Many of you will hate this action thriller, many of you will love it. If you go in with a "Aaaaah, hell" attitude it should work. Clichés, triteness, over-over-the-top action, and Las Vegas. What else should a growing boy want? Seriously though, director Simon West was knocked off the project for a couple of days, then when tempers faded he was brought back on. They wanted The Rock and they got a cartoon of that cartoon. Could be fun, if you let it.
SPEED 2: CRUISE CONTROL: Sigh. That title, I hate that title. Well, we all know Sandra Bullock is in town shooting a film, but this film almost made that not happen. How? Well, a propeller almost took off her head, she almost drowned, and director Jan De Bont almost ran over her with the camera speedboat. Add to that the fact that Jason Patric almost said the long good-bye when his motorcycle went careening off a cliff and you have a film that sounds like it was scary as hell to shoot. Did that fear and energy translate to the screen? Well, my one spy that has seen it says that, "Yawn. De Bont managed to create a film without a single moment for the audience to go `Wow.'" Can you trust that? I don't know. De Bont is a wonderful technician and once he learns to bring heart to his film, he could be creating something quite special. Maybe this will be it, maybe not.
BATMAN & ROBIN: Bigger Codpieces! Nipples on everyone! What? Why should Joel Schumacher have to make Batman serious? As he says, how many 35-year-olds still fret over the violent and tragic loss of their parents? Batman shouldn't be gloomy anymore. What!?! Mr. Schumacher seems to have forgotten what drives this character to put on that costume in the first place. Does that mean the film will suck? Only to the serious Dark Knight lovers. As for the kiddies and camp lovers, this film will work. Sigh. Watch for The Wizard of Oz motif: 1) The Dynamic Duo click their heels together twice and ice skates pop out of their boots; and 2) Arnold as the frustrated Tin Man who's lost his heart's love. Poppycock!
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HERCULES: Well, ya know how Hercules is the bastard son of a midnight affair that Zeus had with a beautiful peasant? Ya know how Hera was so incensed by this infidelity that she swore to destroy Hercules? Well, this is Disney and that stuff was too heavy. Instead, we get James Woods (Hades) attempting (basically) a corporate takeover of Mt. Olympus, but first he has to keep Hercules busy. I have been hearing that this is "much" better than Aladdin, but gospel songs about product endorsements and hero worship sound ummmm... trite? It will be a beautifully animated film that is fun for the whole yadda, yadda, yadda. I want Disney to do a serious action/adventure/fantasy take on a property like this, but with no songs. However, if a formula works.... It should be fun.
MEN IN BLACK: I've seen this one, albeit still missing many effects shots. Will Smith is Will Smith. Tommy Lee Jones is the straight man. And it's a whole bunch of fun. Sonnenfeld knows his quirky stuff, but almost all the best gags are in that damn trailer. The 10-minute "epilogue" ruined the entire film for me, but there is a hope that it is gone. Effects are cool, and for us "government-is-screwing-with-our-sense-of-reality" buffs, the film will be a gasser. Linda Fiorentino is allegedly in this movie, but her character is so one-dimensional that only when the lighting is just so can you see her. A spy on the project says that the addition of Danny Elfman's music and the remaining effects have cured its woes. Hey, what else ya gonna do on the Fourth? I'll be in line for this one.
CONTACT: The one you are waiting for: the original film of the summer. Wonderfully clever and engaging script. This film will change how you view the stars at night. You will see this movie, and then later that night you'll lie in the soft grass staring up into the summer sky. And you will know how insignificant we are, but also how beautiful that is. Zemeckis will deliver this film. Not an effects extravaganza, but an intelligent and compelling story that has some effects (as mind-numbing as they are) that advance the story. What smart big-budget films should be. Not as flashy or sparkly as That-man or Dino World, although it betters them in every sense. You are not prepared for where this film will take you.
MIMIC: The underdog. A little (when did a $25-million-dollar movie become little?) film about giant cockroaches living amongst us. Come on. Stop laughing. I'm serious. Okay, okay, here let me explain. Really strong advance word on this one. Why? Well, Cronos director Guillermo del Toro, for one. If that doesn't excite you, run, don't walk to your local video store and check Cronos out. You'll see, you'll thank me later, but go ahead and scoff for now. Giant cockroaches, indeed. Hmph, you'll see.
CONSPIRACY THEORY: Decent word of mouth, but director Donner rarely takes a chance on doing something daring. Mel Gibson seems to be a sure thing, but my people keep reminding me that this one will remind us of a certain "unmentionable" film with Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte. Lite summer fun, like Donner's last Mel film, Maverick. Conspiracy buffs should love Men in Black more. The power of Mel compels it. However, I suggest the other big film opening on that same day....
AIR FORCE ONE: ...Is that other film. Maybe it's that director's cut of Das Boot talking, but I sure am pulling for this one. Very strong script, in a very capable director's hands, with a very strong cast. Does that make it a "very" good movie? "Neeeeaaaaah, could be!" Word on set is that Wolfgang Petersen began having Das Boot flashbacks while filming in the claustrophobic interior of Air Force One. Will the camera travel from compartment to compartment like in that classic? Will we hear the sound of turbulence and air about us? I sure as hell hope so. If you have a chance to see one film on this particular weekend, see this one, not Conspiracy Theory. A big film for Harrison Ford (it's about time).
COP LAND: The brave experiment. Is the writer-actor responsible for the original Rocky still alive in the clichéd shell of Sylvester Stallone? Yes. An incredible security blanket of great actors envelops Stallone for this one. He gained weight, big deal. I do that all the time, but now he looks human again. A brilliantly cinematic technique will be used for the last taut minutes of this film. You couldn't pry it out of me with a spoon of Blue Bell, so don't try. Perhaps, Threadgill's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie would work though.
SPAWN: New Line Cinema's prayer. A resounding triumph. A comic book film completely loyal to the text and imagery of its creator. Save your money from not seeing Batman & Robin and see this one several times. At one point, it sported a strong script, realized by first-time director and madman Mark Dippé. This film will have the best effects of the summer and a story to raise tears. A film to scream about. A midnight film. Great.
Harry Jay Knowles is a self-proclaimed film geek and collector, who has been garnering a lot of attention of late for his in-the-know film industry website, Ain't It Cool (http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com).
