|
|
On the subject of 2002’s summer films: There are special-effects actioners like The Scorpion King and Spider-Man and then there are those break-out films that mix commercial sensibilities with intelligent storytelling and credible performances. Personally, we think you need both. It wouldn’t be summer without popcorn entertainment and a healthy dose of action sequels featuring Men in Black and C.I.A. hero Jack Ryan, this time starring youthful Ben Affleck. Still, a summertime slate that features adult-oriented films from Christopher Nolan, M. Night Shyamalan and Sam Mendes makes the blockbuster season a lot more exciting.
Insomnia — Robin Williams plays a bad guy in the follow-up effort from Christopher Nolan, writer/ director of Memento. Set in Alaska, Al Pacino plays a detective hot on the killer’s trail. Or is he? It seems his bout of insomnia is playing games with his detective skills. Hilary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry) is the local cop at his side. This one looks like a real brainy thriller.
People are saying Insomnia‘s trailer shows too much. But we bet Nolan has more surprises in store. (May 24)
Minority Report — After audiences’ lukewarm reception to last summer’s Steven Spielberg-Stanley Kubrick collaboration A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, Spielberg goes back to his bread-and-butter: a snappy sci-fi thriller built for the general public. As if to punctuate how consumer-friendly Minority Report is, he also casts Tom Cruise in the lead role. Set in the near future, Minority Report follows an agent (Cruise) who arrests people before they commit a crime. The tables are turned when he is accused of a future crime and must fight to maintain his innocence. Expect Spielberg’s deft story-telling, and remember that really good directors seem to draw the best out of Cruise. (June 21)
Hey Arnold! The Movie — Who needs the latest in computer-generated animation and celebrity voices when you have characters like the Hey Arnold! gang joining forces to save the community? Once upon a time, cartoons were flat and hokey-looking and full of bright, primary colors and cool music. Arnold’s football head will no doubt look just great on the big screen to both young kids and their parents (and older brothers who aren’t too cool for such old school charms). (June 28)
Road to Perdition — As far as we can see, the only thing working against this strangely un-summer film is Tom Hanks’ bad mustache. Based on a 1998 graphic novel, Road to Perdition follows a 1930s Chicago hit-man (Hanks) on his trail of revenge. Directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty), Perdition has all the pedigree of a big summer film (star cast, big name director, wide appeal) without all the cheeky, kiddy hang-ups. Word is, this is a straight-up adult morality play. With Mendes behind the camera, one can only guess that there will be more shades of gray than black-and-white resolutions. (July 12)
K-19: The Widowmaker — Harrison Ford tests his accent skills as Soviet nuclear submarine captain, Aleksei Vostrikov; Liam Neeson plays Vostrikov’s executive officer. Kathryn Bigelow directs these engaging leads in a Cold War story. A Soviet submarine faces the possibility of a nuclear meltdown while on patrol. Vostrikov needs to decide whether to do what’s right for his men or what’s right for Mother Russia. Whatever happens could jump-start a nuclear war. Either way, the film looks like a smart alternative to teen-oriented actioners. (July 19)
Austin Powers in Goldmember — The one character worthy of countless sequels is Mike Myers’ time-warped secret agent Austin Powers. Powers is back with a new Girl Friday, Foxxy Cleopatra (played by Destiny’s Child singer Beyoncé Knowles). All of Myers multiple characters make return appearances. Jay Roach, director of the first two Austin Powers films, returns to the directing chair. The film’s gag-heavy plot revolves around Powers’ larger-than-life dad, played by larger-than-life actor Michael Caine. (July 26)
Full Frontal — Steven Soderbergh offers a thematic sequel to sex, lies, and videotape with something old (Erin Brokovich’s Julia Roberts), something new (Blair Underwood in a starring role), something borrowed (David Duchovny) and something blue (the subject matter, if it dares to match the exposure hinted at in the title). Soderbergh has made quite a name for himself since the sex revolution swept the indie world. Will Full Frontal be full throttle? (Aug. 2)
Signs — Director M. Night Shyamalan is touched by the taut, storytelling spirit of Alfred Hitchcock. Let’s hope he’ll never break free. Signs finds him comfortably teamed with Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix as they investigate mysterious crop sculptures in rural Pennsylvania and their hidden meanings. Apparently Bruce Willis was just too freaked out for another long day’s journey with Night. (Aug. 2)
XXX — If the next James Bond was 20 years younger, he might resemble somebody like Xander “XXX” Cage, an extreme sports athlete recruited by the U.S. government to go undercover and infiltrate a Russian crime ring. Hyper personality Vin Diesel plays Cage. Samuel L. Jackson is the government agent who makes him a spy kid. Italian actress Asia Argento plays the femme fatale. The man behind the camera is Rob Cohen, who previously directed Diesel in the drag racing hit, The Fast and the Furious. This outing looks every bit as speedy. (Aug. 2)
Simone — The smartest looking drama this summer belongs to filmmaker Andrew Niccol (screenwriter for The Truman Show and the director of Gattaca). Al Pacino is a flailing Hollywood director desperate for a box-office hit. Simone is the artificial actress who looks to make his wishes come true. Created by a computer programmer (Elias Koteas), Simone — short for Simulation One — might also be too good to be true. Niccol’s film is already benefiting from some clever advance buzz. Does a computer-generated actress play Simone, or does a flesh-and-blood person play the role? Either way, Niccol’s film looks dazzling. (Aug. 16)
This article appears in May 22-28, 2002.