FIFE3. [Future] Feature Films: Upcoming Films That I Am Most Looking Forward To: Archived
Submitted by dgeiser13 on Thu, 12/06/2001 - 08:11
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- Abandon (2002) [October 18th, 2002] ~ Directed and Written by Stephen Gaghan (Traffic) with Cinematography by Matthew Libatique (Requiem for a Dream) this "little" thriller about a college student investigating the disappearance of her boyfriend is just the type of film that when done right can be quite satisfying.
- About Schmidt (2002) [December 13th, 2002] ~ The creative team behind the Oscar-nominated (for Adapted Screenplay) Election (1999), Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, return to the big screen with Jack Nicholson and strong supporting players, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney and Kathy Bates, in tow. This could be wickedly funny.
- Adaptation (2002) [December 6th, 2002] ~ From the duo that brought you Being John Malkovich, Spike Jonze (The Director) and Charlie Kaufman (The Writer) tell the story of a screenwriter named Charlie Kaufman (played by Nicolas Cage) who attempts to adapt Susan Orlean's (Meryl Streep) novel the Orchid Thief into a screenplay. In the movie within this movie called The Orchid Thief the (incredibly underrated) actor Chris Cooper plays John Laroche, a plant dealer who clones and sells rare orchids to collectors. I look forward to the web of twisted frames of reference which worked so well in Malkovich.
- Auto Focus (2002) [October 18th, 2002] ~ Paul Schrader (Writer of Taxi Driver) directs a biographical film on Bob Crane (Hogan on Hogan's Heroes) based on the book by his son Bob Crane, Jr. Apparently Mr. Crane led a very seedy life off-screen, i.e. sex and drugs (I can't vouch for rock'n'roll), and his life ended when he was mysteriously murdered. It has some outstanding players including Greg Kinnear (as Crane) and Willem Dafoe. If you've never a Schrader-directed film you should try one. He usually picks interesting subject matter.
- Below (2002) [October 11th 2002] ~ Supernatual doings in a submarine. Co-written by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream), directed by David Twohy (Pitch Black) with Rushmore's Olivia Williams. Me likes the sounds of this.
- The Bourne Identity (2002) [June 14th, 2002] ~ Let's see if director Doug Liman (Swingers, Go) can continue his streak with this adaptation of Robert Ludlum's 1980 novel. Some of my favorite actors working today, Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Clive Owen, Chris Cooper, Julia Stiles and Brian Cox, are fleshing out the roles.
- Catch Me If You Can (2002) [December 25h, 2002] ~ Steven Spielberg directs Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio in his first non-science fiction feature film since Saving Private Ryan (1998). Everything thing about this movie sounds top-notch but I'm a little concerned that the screenwriter, Jeff Nathanson, was also responsible for Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997). Shiver. Let's just assume Spielberg wouldn't put his name on complete crap.
- Chicago (2002) [December 27th, 2002]
- Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) [December 27th, 2002] ~ Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich) rears his quirky head in this adaptation of Gong Show host Chuck Barris' "biography" of his life as a TV personality and CIA hitman as the directorial debut of George Clooney. Clooney and lead Sam Rockwell (one of my favorite actors) have spent some quality time around good directors so I'm not worried about an amateurish production and the source material sounds like incredibly delicious film fodder. This could be the big holiday comedy hit next Thanksgiving.
- Das Experiment (2001) [September 20th, 2002]
- Femme Fatale (2002) [November 6th, 2002]
- Frida (2002) [October 25th, 2002]
- Gangs of New York (2002) [December 20th, 2002]
- Harvard Man (2001) [October 29th 2002 (Video Premiere)] ~ Based on the strength of Jeffrey Well's write-up and my opinion of Jeffrey's opinion, Hardvard Man has vaulted onto this list. I don't think I've ever seen LSD properly done in a movie.
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) [December 19th, 2001]
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) [December 18th, 2002]
- Minority Report (2002) [June 21st, 2002] ~ I was only "sort of" looking forward to the next Spielberg opus, maybe because of my letdown with A.I., until I saw the full-length preview in the theater. I must admit it blew me away. If the movie is 3/4's as good as the goosebumps this preview gave me it will be one hell of a movie. The effects look incredible and a Philip K. Dick-sourced movie can usually be counted on to deliver the goods.
- Moonlight Mile (2002) [October 4th, 2002]
- Novocaine (2001) [November 16th, 2001] ~ Steve Martin's last semi-serious role (The Spanish Prisoner) really impressed me and I think he does a better job of choosing his off-the-beaten-path projects then his mainstream beaten-to-death projects. Throw Helena Bonham Carter and Laura Dern into the mix with direction by David Atkins, writer of a cult-classic (Arizona Dream), and this could really hit the mark. Plus the trailer for it looks really good.
- Ocean's Eleven (2001) [December 7th, 2001] ~ Remaking a Rat Pack movie is a brilliant idea and I can't think of a better director (Steven Soderbergh) and lead (George Clooney). Out of Sight was great and this film has another brilliant ensemble cast.
- The Panic Room (2002) [March 8th, 2002] ~ David Fincher's first film since Fight Club. Written by David Koepp (Apartment Zero, Jurassic Park, Stir of Echoes amongst others), Cinematography by Darius Khondji (Delicatessen, Se7en, The City of Lost Children amongst others) and some incredibly inspired casting: Jodie Foster as our heroine and Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto and Dwight Yoakam (remember how creepy he was in Sling Blade?) as the bad guys.
- Pinocchio (2002) [December 25th, 2002]
- Punch-Drunk Love (2002) [October 11th 2002]
- Red Dragon (2002) [October 4th, 2002]
- The Road to Perdition (2001) [July 12th, 2002] ~ Sam Mendes' (American Beauty) sophomore effort, based on a Graphic Novel (how cool!), with Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and a couple of my favorite actors (Jude Law and Alfred Molina) along for the ride. This film screams Oscar but it could turn out to be just very good film noir.
- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) [December 14th, 2001] ~ I love Wes Anderson's first 2 films, Bottle Rocket and Rushmore. For his new film he has kept Owen Wilson as his co-writer and expanded into a bigger cast while retaining that small story feel and adding a little drama into the mix. Highly anticipated.
- The Rules of Attraction (2002) [October 11th 2002]
- Secretary (2002) [September 20th, 2002]
- Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi (2001) (aka Spirited Away) [September 27th, 2002]
- Solaris (2002) [November 27th, 2002] ~ Director Steven Soderbergh attempts to redeem himself for the craptastic (by previous standards) Ocean's Eleven by kicking off the upcoming Clooneyfication of the cineplex (when added with Confessions of A Dangerous Mind (2002) [December 27th, 2002] and Intolerable Cruelty (2003) [April 11th, 2003]). Supposedly the original Stanislaw Lem novel and the first Russian version Solyaris (1972) were good. James Cameron produces.
- Spider-Man (2002) [May 3rd, 2002] ~ I've been a huge fan of Sam's for over 10 years now since my first viewing of Evil Dead 2. He's always had a great visual (and comic book) style and I know he will work wonders now that he has a real budget. This is the film that he was born to make and I'm very happy that he's finally gotten his chance at a blockbuster.
- The Truth About Charlie (2002) [October 25th 2002]
- Vanilla Sky (2001) [December 14th, 2001] ~ Alejandro Amenebar (The Others) is 3 for 3 in my book. Vanilla Sky is based on his 2nd film Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes) which I've seen so I already know the whole plot of the movie. That doesn't mean I'm not very interested in seeing Cameron Crowe's take on the whole thing. I'm guessing this film will have great acting and great visuals. I already know it has a mind-blowing ending.
