Since 2004 is now officially behind us it is time to set the sights for 2005. 2005 has all the makings of a banner year as far as films go. So I figured with one of my first post of 2005 I would give you a little run down of some of the big movies that will hit your local megaplex (and art house theater) this year.
Constantine (Feb. 18) - Feature film debut of talented music video director Francis Lawrence based on the comic book series "Hellblazer". Don't let the comic book roots fool you though, this one is a lot more "Blade" than it is "Daredevil" or any of the other recent lackluster comic book movies. So if Lawrence can avoid the all style no substance problems of many of his music video to film predecessors, this one could really go places. The trailer and cast are impressive, and I'm betting this is the first hit movie of the new year.
Be Cool (Mar. 4) - Much awaited sequel to "Get Shorty" sees Travolta's Chili Palmer bring his wise guy antics to the music industry . F. Gary Gray is the new director and plenty of talented actors are back on board. I have my reservations about this one though. It has a chance but my guess is it ends up going the way of Oceans 12 and so many other sequels and never quite lives up to the original.
The Ring 2 (Mar. 18) - Speaking of much awaited sequels. This is a pretty big one too. This follow up the smash hit "The Ring" should be just as big a hit. Lets face it, everyone loves a good scare.
Sin City (Apr. 1) - Combine Frank Miller's hit graphic novel series with the innovative Robert Rodriguez and as good a cast as has ever been put together and you have a recipe for a real winner. The trailer is great and the I would be very surprised if the film was even better.
An Unfinished Life (Spring) - Lasse Hallstrom helms this 2004 Oscar bait pushed back into 2005 by Miramax. Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman are enough to make me see it, but is this the movie that proves Jennifer Lopez can be a serious actress? I'm sold on the movie, but not necessarily on JLo.
Proof (Spring) - Another of the 2004 Miramax Oscar bait pushed back a year.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (May 6) - Based on a very popular book by Douglas Adams. I don't know a lot about this film but have been told by people who do that it could go either way. I'm rooting for it, anything with Mos Def in it can't be all bad.
Kingdom of Heaven (May 6) - An epic directed by the man who does epics better than anyone these days, the great Ridley Scott. If that alone isn't enough to make you want to see this, see your local psychiatrist. Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons, and Ed Norton all star. Run don't walk to your local theater.
Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith (May 19) - Nothing I can really say here that hasn't been said already. The last installment (for now) of the most recent Star Wars trilogy in which we finally see Anakin become Darth Vader. Here's hoping this one is better than the last two.
Cinderella Man (June 3) - Russell Crowe and Ron Howard reteam for this period piece about a down on his luck boxer who gets a second chance at success and in doing so becomes a fan favorite toward the end of the great depression. Sounds a bit like "Seabiscuit" in a ring, but Crowe is always worth the price of admission.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (June 10) - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie play married assassins out to kill each other. Directed by Doug Liman who directed the Bourne Identity. How could this be anything but glorious?
Batman Begins (June 17) - One of the movies that have had the internet chat rooms buzzing for about 6 months now. It certainly looks to have potential, but I am taking a wait and see approach on this one. Christian Bale should make for an effective brooding Batman. Here's hoping Christopher Nolan has a better big budget outing here than his first, the disappointing "Insomnia". But he did direct "Memento", which is one of the great mind-screw movies ever made. Also can't wait to see Ken Watanabe in his first movie since "The Last Samurai" made him a star. Has the making s of a great film, but who knows about the Batman movie curse.
Fun With Dick and Jane (June 24) - I do not know a whole lot about this film other than that it is a comedy starring Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni. That is certainly enough to peak my interest.
War of the Worlds (June 29) - I have a bad feeling about this one. I hope it is great, and it certainly has a chance to be. But, if somehow this one turns out only average, expect people to really get upset about it. This is another one of those movies that there is really no need to make...again. With Spielberg behind the camera and Tom Cruise and Tim Robbins in front of it, average ain't going to cut it here. I'm rooting for you Steven.
Fantastic Four (July 1) - While I am not particularly looking forward to another random comic book movie, I feel I have to mention it as it will likely make a boat load of money. As an avid fan of "The Shield", I can't wait to see Michael Chiklis on the big screen. That and the fact that finally a black director is getting a budget to match his talent might be enough to get into the theater.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (July 15) - Tim Burton directing another remake with Johnny Depp playing the character that Wilder made famous. Everything about this just reeks of a bad idea. The originals tone is so odd, that it seems next to impossible to remake anywhere near the original. That said, I will defiantly be in line to see it on day one. Either to see a great remake or a complete disaster.
Elizabethtown (July 29) - Another movie I know little about other than Cameron Crowe is directing and Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst are starring. While Orlando Bloom hasn't proven he can do anything but wear tights and shoot a crossbow, If anyone can make him a leading man it is Cameron Crowe. I see every Cameron Crowe movie religiously, so I am obviously excited for this one.
Brokeback Mountain (Summer) - Ang Lee directing a movie about 2 cowboys who fall in love. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal play the cowboys. This movie sounds like an Oscar bait movie so releasing it in the summer is a bit of an odd move if you ask me. Maybe the studio is banking on it being a blockbuster like "Titanic", where horny teenaged girls lined up around the block to see Leo. Imagine how long the line would have been if he was kissing Heath Ledger.
Lords of Dogtown (Summer) - This is defiantly one of the movies I am most looking forward to. I really enjoyed the documentary "Dogtown and Z Boys" which the film is based on. I also can't wait to see what Catherine Hardwick can do as a follow up to her under-appreciated first film "Thirteen". I would see it just because she is directing it, but the cast is also loaded with young actors on the verge of stardom. Emile Hirsh, Heath Ledger, Johnny Knoxville, Jeremy Renner, Eddie Cahill, and Nikki Reed make this one of those casts that people may look back on in 10 years like they do with "Dazed and Confused", "The Outsiders", and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and marvel at all the actors who became household names.
A Scanner Darkly (Sept. 16) - Richard Linklater is the man without a genre. This time he tries his hand at science fiction with an adaptation of Phillip K. Dick. Linklater, Keanu Reeves, and Phillip K. Dick just don't seem to go together if you ask me, but Linklater hasn't let me down yet. Hopefully it goes better than a lot of the recent adaptations of famous sci-fi works.
Land of the Living Dead (Oct. 21) - George A. Romero's long awaited 4th "Living Dead" film takes place in a fortified city where the rich live in a high rise skyscraper. I know little else about this film, but it doesn't really matter, because it had me at Romero.
The New World (Nov. 9) - The ridiculously talented filmmaker Terrence Malick is back again, and he didn't even take his usual 15 year break in between films. This is the story of Pocahontas and John Smith, and how they fell in love. I'm betting it will be slightly different than Disney's take on the story. I just hope it is better than Malick's last film, the overhyped mess that was "The Thin Red Line".
Jarhead (Nov. 11) - This one has Oscar written all over it. The third film by Sam Mendes, who is a big time 2 for 2 after directing "American Beauty" and "The Road to Perdition". This time he is back with a film set in the first Gulf War. The cast is loaded as you might expect with Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Peter Sarsgaard, Lucas Black, Sam Rockwell, and 2004's break out star Jamie Foxx. This is my early bet for the best picture of 2005.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Nov. 18) - Personally I'm so sick of Harry Potter movies it's not even funny, but it will certainly make a billion dollars so I went ahead and threw it on the list. Mike Newell becomes the third director in 4 films for the Potter series that just won't go away. How old is Harry now? Like 30?
The Brothers Grimm (Nov. 23) - I know very little about this film, but what I do know sounds damn good. Terry Gilliam directs and Heath Ledger and Matt Damon star as the brothers. "Brokeback Mountain", "Lords of Dogtown" and this may make Heath Ledger this years Jude Law (who was in roughly 35 films in 2004).
Syriana (Fall) - Another of the late in the year films I know very little about. George Clooney plays a pudgy, bearded CIA agent in the Middle East. That's pretty much the extent of what I know. Don't tell me you aren't more than a little excited about seeing a movie with a pudgy, bearded Clooney. Liar.
Memoirs of a Geisha (Dec. 9) - Rob Marshall of "Chicago" fame directs this adaptation of the hugely popular book. This could finally be the movie to make foreign born Zhang Ziyi a big American star, or it could be the movie that proves Marshall should stick to musicals.
King Kong (Dec. 14) - Peter Jackson's follow up to the Lord of the Rings trilogy has bomb written all over it. He is of course remaking a movie no one is clamoring to see remade. Sounds a bit like when another FX heavy flavor of the week director decided to remake "Godzilla" a few years back. How did that turn out? Either way, it should be pretty to look at.
The Chronicles of Narnia (Dec. 25) - It appears "Lord of the Rings" has paved the way for every young adult fantasy novel to become a film. So it then makes perfect sense that the best of the LOTR knockoffs would be first up for filmdom. Could be cool, could be cheesy. Either way, the nerds who wear shirts with dragons on them will once again be out in full force at your local theater.
