EVELYN BARGE
A&E Editor
With the end of summer comes a rush of films competing for Oscar nominations and big box office numbers. Below are some highlights of the upcoming fall movie season.
SEPTEMBER 16
“Everything is Illuminated”
Liev Schreiber’s directorial debut, “Everything is Illuminated,” is the screen adaptation of author Jonathan Safran Foer’s best-selling novel. Elijah Wood stars as main character Jonathan, who makes a journey halfway around the world to the Ukraine to uncover his roots and find the village where his father grew up. As a young Jewish-American, Jonathan hopes to find the woman who saved his grandfather during World War II.
The film promises a moving musical score by Paul Cantelon and touching cinematography that blend neatly into quirky, scenic surroundings.
Downside: Schreiber’s direction may prove to be a letdown. “Everything is Illuminated” is the actor-turned-director’s first major film release. Not known for acting in notable movies, let’s hope Schreiber’s performance record doesn’t indicate anything about his upcoming directing skills.
SEPTEMBER 23
“Corpse Bride”
This long-awaited Tim Burton film marks his first feature-length, stop-motion animation release since “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” “Corpse Bride” will likely be a strong representation of Burton’s craftsmanship. Johnny Depp lends his voice to main character Victor Van Dort, a young man arranged to marry Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson). Van Dort accidentally places the wedding ring on the finger of a woman’s skeletal remains and finds himself betrothed to a ghost. Expect to find a love story hidden amidst Burton’s trademark oddity and ghoulishness.
Downside: Most moviegoers will erroneously look for consistency between the narratives of “Corpse Bride” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The only similarity between these films is their animated style. Viewers will do well to avoid putting “Corpse Bride” into a sharply defined box. Burton’s magical creativity works best on an open mind.
SEPTEMBER 30
“Oliver Twist”
Roman Polanski directs a new screen adaptation of the classic Dickens tale about an orphan on the streets of London who joins a household of boys trained as thieves for their master. Don’t expect a rehashing of Disney’s animated “Oliver Twist” — Polanski’s version is rated PG-13 for disturbing images. These harsher thematic elements will mirror Dickens’ original work but won’t make it an enjoyable film for the younger kiddies. Ben Kingsley stars as the troublesome Fagin, with newcomer Barney Clark as Oliver.
Downside: It’s hard to understand why acclaimed director Polanski would take on such tremendously overused material as “Oliver Twist.” Film remakes and re-remakes may currently be en vogue at every major Hollywood studio, but it breaks dramatically with Polanski’s typical originality to jump on that bandwagon. Still, moviegoers can trust that Polanski will offer a novel take on an old classic.
OCTOBER 7
“Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit”
Wallace and his loyal dog Gromit have finally set out to conquer the big screen. In the first full-length feature film to feature these clay animated characters, Wallace and Gromit hope to discover the culprit behind a garden sabotage going on in their village. With the annual giant vegetable growing contest at stake, the two friends must decipher the mystery and catch the veggie-ravaging beast. The “Wallace & Gromit” series has already attracted a loyal fan base over the years as straight-to-video short films, and creator/director Nick Park has stayed true to his original conception of eccentric humor and touching storylines.
Downside: Part of the charm of “Wallace & Gromit” has been its relative obscurity. Only in-the-know fans have been privileged enough to experience the comedy. As with any mainstream breakout, these lovable characters may lose some of their mystique in an effort to please a broad viewership.
OCTOBER 14
Elizabethtown
Written and directed by Academy Award-winner Cameron Crowe, “Elizabethtown” is a story of unforeseen romance starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst as two unlikely lovers. Bloom’s character journeys to his father’s hometown in Kentucky to attend his funeral. Typical of Crowe’s tender romantic visions, “Elizabethtown” is about finding love when it is least expected. Also typical of Crowe’s directorial vision, “Elizabethtown” features a strong script and soundtrack. Viewers can expect at least a few memorable scenes amidst the sentimentality.
Downside: While romantic love may be a big hit with moviegoers and Crowe’s favorite film topic, his big-screen representations tend to be highly unrealistic and sappy. “Elizabethtown” clocks in at more than two hours, guaranteeing enough over-romanticizing and melodrama to last a lifetime (or at least until next year).
OCTOBER 21
Shopgirl
Actor Steve Martin makes his return from the dark side of such bad films as “Cheaper by the Dozen” and “Bringing Down the House” with this often-dramatic romantic comedy. Adapted from a novella written by Martin, the film follows a disenchanted sales girl and aspiring artist named Mirabelle who sells gloves and accessories at a department store. Ray Porter, a wealthy divorcee played by Martin, and Jeremy Kraft, a struggling musician played by Jason Schwartzman, are the two men in her life. With these very different suitors competing for her affections, Mirabelle must make a choice between them.
Downside: An inexperienced director (Anand Tucker) will be the downfall of this film. Having only one other feature film under his belt, it is unlikely that Tucker will be able to gracefully handle the narrative intricacies of a romantic comedy packed with a heavy dose of drama.
NOVEMBER 4
Jarhead
From the critically acclaimed director of “American Beauty” comes the story of former Marine Anthony Swofford’s pre-Desert Storm experiences in Saudi Arabia and fighting in Kuwait. Based on Swofford’s best-selling 2003 book, this film promises a revealing glimpse into the life of a soldier caught up in desert warfare. Swofford and his fellow marines fight a mental battle against the intolerable heat and 100-pound supply sacks with sardonic humor and caustic realism. At the same time, they face dangerous combat against an invisible enemy for a cause they can’t fully understand. This gritty combat film is an honest, stark reflection that may have profound reverberations in a nation still at war.
Downside: Audiences may be quick to judge this film based on political affiliations or current affairs. Sure to inspire debate among viewers, “Jarhead” should be allowed to stand on its own merit while also providing a context for rational discussion of modern implications. Otherwise, the film may be pigeonholed from the start.
NOVEMBER 18
Walk the Line
“Walk the Line” is a chronicle of the late country music legend Johnny Cash’s life starring Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as his wife June Carter. The film follows Cash’s life from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame in Memphis, where he recorded alongside dozens of musical superstars including Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. Phoenix’s performance has been hailed as extraordinary — he sings and plays the guitar in an authentic Johnny Cash style.
Downside: Pre-release publicity claims “Walk the Line” is planted firmly in reality, and the studios maintain that even Cash’s demons are portrayed honestly. But, as with most biopics, audiences will likely get the sugarcoated, watered-down version. Those looking for a more realistic portrayal might have a better shot in the biography section of the local bookstore.
09-15-2005
