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Upcoming Films - Blurbs
« on: Jul 22nd, 2004, 6:51pm » |
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"The Bourne Supremacy" (July 23)
The Story: The former CIA assassin known as Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) continues to make like the Talking Heads song and ask, "How did I get here?" The amnesiac agent must prove his innocence when he's wrongly fingered for murder. Franka Potente, Julia Stiles and Brian Cox all reprise their roles, and Joan Allen joins the cast as an officer trailing Bourne.
The Skinny: "The Bourne Identity" took in more than $200 million worldwide and did bang-up business on video, but for the sequel, original director Doug Liman is gone, replaced by Brit Paul Greengrass ("Bloody Sunday"). Damon, coming off the fused-twin dud "Stuck on You," could really use a hit, but Greengrass has yet to prove his chops at the helm of a big-budget film.
"Collateral" (Aug. 6)
The Story: Taxi driver Max (Jamie Foxx) is in for a bumpy ride when he picks up assassin Vincent (Tom Cruise), who demands to be chauffeured around Los Angeles while he commits murder after murder. Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Dennis Farina and Cruise's close-cropped gray hair co-star.
The Skinny: Cruise, whose "Last Samurai" was overlooked by the Academy and a good portion of his fan base, was smart to take a risk by playing bad, something he hasn't done since he fanged up as Lestat in "Interview with the Vampire." And he's in good hands with Michael Mann, whose last two films, "Ali" and "The Insider," resulted in Best Actor nominations for Will Smith and Russell Crowe, respectively.
"The Village" (July 30)
The Story: M. Night Shyamalan replaces "Signs" creepy cornfields with the creepy foliage of 19th century Pennsylvania. The tiny village of Covington lives in growing fear of the unseen creatures who inhabit the off-limits woods. Scared yet?
The Skinny: Joaquin Phoenix, who looks fetching in a cloak, stars alongside newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of Ron) and seasoned thesps Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt, but top billing goes to writer-director Shyamalan, who, for better or worse, has yet to tire of the supernatural-thriller-with-a-twist-ending genre.
"The Manchurian Candidate" (July 30)
The Story: In this update of John Frankenheimer's 1962 political satire, Denzel Washington (taking over the lead from Frank Sinatra) is a Gulf War veteran trying to piece together a brainwashing conspiracy and assassination plot that involves his politically connected combat buddy (Liev Schreiber).
The Skinny: If ever there was a time to remake "The Manchurian Candidate," now would be it. But will Jonathan Demme's psychological nuances (see "Silence of the Lambs") resonate with the action-oriented summer crowd, some of whom may still be smarting from the director's last film, "The Truth About Charlie," a tepid remake of the wonderful "Charade"? Washington's success with "Man on Fire" bodes well, and we're more than a little curious to see what Meryl Streep does with the deliciously monstrous mommy role that landed Angela Lansbury an Oscar nomination.
"De-Lovely" (July 23)
The Story: Iconic composer Cole Porter (Kevin Kline), the man behind such standards as "Night and Day," "Let's Do It," and the titular number, looks back over his life in this Irwin Winkler-directed production, which focuses on his complicated relationship (he was gay) with his wife and muse, Linda Lee Porter (Ashley Judd). Kline performs several songs, including a duet of "In the Still of the Night" with Judd.
The Skinny: Set to close the Cannes Film Festival on May 22, this musical biopic is already generating Oscar buzz. Whether that will continue through the end of the year is uncertain, but one thing's for sure: The soundtrack is sure to do brisk business, with performances from Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Alanis Morissette, Robbie Williams and Sheryl Crow, all of whom have cameos in the film.
"Open Water" (Aug. 6)
Buzz is quickly building on this low-budget, 80-minute flick, which has been dubbed "The Blair Fish Project." The cautionary tale is based on the true story of a scuba-diving couple stranded in shark-infested waters. Don't watch it without a life preserver.
"She Hate Me" (July 30)
Spike Lee directs this story of fraud and fertility in which biotech exec Jack Armstrong (Anthony Mackie), in desperate need of a job after he turns whistleblower, finds an available position as a sperm donor to baby-craving lesbians.
"A Home at the End of the World" (July 23)
Prestige indie pic, based on the novel by Michael Cunningham ("The Hours"), who also penned the script. It chronicles the complex, decades-long relationship of childhood chums Bobby (Colin Farrell) and Jonathan (Dallas Roberts). Sissy Spacek and Robin Wright Penn co-star. Interesting side note for full-frontal fans out there (and you know who you are): Farrell has a scene in the buff, and as one witness told People magazine, "Colin has nothing to be embarrassed about."
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