Sunday, May 07, 2000
Stars shine on summer theater screens
By Margaret A. McGurk
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Big-name, big-budget movies may dominate the summer box office, but there is always a chance for a surprise from the ranks of lesser-hyped films. Following are some interesting titles slated for the next few months. They all have the potential to win viewers with specialized tastes, and any one could prove to be a sleeper hit. (Release dates are subject to change.)
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle — Live-action villains Robert De Niro, Jason Alexander and Rene Russo clash with animated moose and squirrel. June 30.
Battlefield Earth — John Travolta and Forest Whitaker play 10-foot-tall aliens; Barry Pepper is their human mascot. Based on a novel by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. TBA
Bedazzled — Brendan Fraser makes deal with the devil, a k a Elizabeth Hurley. TBA
The Big Kauhna — Kevin Spacey talks up a storm with Danny Devito and Peter Facinelli. May 19.
Big Momma's House — Martin Lawrence channels both Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams as an FBI agent posing as a grandma to protect Nia Long from a fugitive. June 2.
Blood Simple — The influential 1984 thriller by Joel and Ethan Coen gets a retrospective release. July 7.
Cecil B. Demented — In John Waters' latest comedy, wannabe filmmakers kidnap Melanie Griffith for their movie. TBA.
Center Stage — Young dancers battle for love and success. Friday.
Coyote Ugly — Aspiring singer finds notoriety as a naughty barmaid at New York nightclub. Aug. 4.
The Crew — Richard Dreyfuss and Burt Reynolds play ex-mobsters scheming to save their retirement hotel. Aug. 25.
Fantasia 2000 — Released earlier in Imax format for big-city runs, Disney's updated classic hits regular theaters after school is out. June 16.
Godzilla 2000 — Relax; this is the old-fashioned, cheesy Japanese monster we all know and love. Aug. 11.
Gone in 60 Seconds — Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie co-star as car thieves who, um, steal cars. June 9.
Girlfight — This Sundance Film Festival favorite follows an unhappy young woman who works out her demons in the boxing ring. TBA.
Hamlet — Ethan Hawke takes his turn as the gloomy Dane, in a modern-day Manhattan setting. TBA
The Imposter — The ever-watchable Gary Sinise plays a scientist suspected of being an alien. TBA.
Jesus' Son — Billy Crudup shines in a road flick about a heroin addict and his offbeat encounters. TBA.
The Legend of Bagger Vance — Matt Damon plays a golfing phenom who owes his success to a talented caddy (Will Smith). Robert Redford directs. Aug. 4.
Loser — Jason Biggs (American Pie) and Mena Suvari (American Beauty) make some American magic for director Amy Heckerling. TBA.
Love's Labour's Lost — Kenneth Branagh directing Shakespeare always makes for a reliable treat. TBA.
Mad About Mambo — Keri Russell (Felicity) hits the silver screen as a competitive dancer from a posh Irish school. July 21.
Navy Diver — Cuba Gooding Jr. plays a real-life hero who made military history. Aug. 4.
Pokemon II — Does anyone remember what the first one was about? July 21.
The Replacements — Keanu Reeves hits the gridiron for coach Gene Hackman as a has-been recruited to play ball during an NFL strike. Aug. 25.
Road Trip — Funnymen Breckin Meyer and Tom Green talk dirty en route from Ithaca, N.Y., to Austin, Texas. TBA
Shanghai Noon — Jackie Chan reportedly achieves high hilarity as a Chinese martial artist searching the Old West for a stolen princess. May 26.
Scary Movie — Keenen Ivory Wayans spoofs all things horror, with brother Marlon and Carmen Electra in tow. June 7.
Small Time Crooks — Woody Allen and Tracey Ullman turn to bank robbery. May 19.
Space Cowboys — Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, James Garner and Donald Sutherland play retired pilots called on to help out during a satellite crisis. Aug. 4.
Steal This Movie! — Vincent D'Onofrio, Janeane Garofalo and Jeanne Tripplehorn star in the story of proto-Yippie Abbie Hoffman. How groovy is that? TBA.
Texas Rangers — Dylan McDermott and James Van Der Beek battle outlaws in Texas in 1875. Aug. 25.
Town & Country — Goldie Hawn, Warren Beatty, Gary Shandling and Diane Keaton star in this oft-delayed romantic comedy. Aug. 25.
Up at the Villa — Kristen Scott Thomas, Sean Penn and the Tuscan countryside star in this pre-WWII romance. May 19.
What Lies Beneath — Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer co-star in a ghost story from director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump). July 21.
Ex-minister, selling a dream draws investors, investigators
RADEL: All's right again: Fountain's back
Residents rave over renovation
Abortion ruling may affect Ky.
Bets, celebs, class, crass
Bush-Voinovich ticket? Just maybe
Pornography battle shifts
KIESEWETTER: Drew Carey sings praises of 'Geppetto'
A.M. REPORT
America's best illustrators at Art Institute
Bengals quiet on drink issue
Census oversights irritate many in disabled community
'Cinderella' introduces new audience to ballet
Clergy, rescuers honor tradition
DEMALINE: Playwright Athol Fugard at UC this fall
Get to it
DAUGHERTY: Head of hair ain't what it used to be
Ky. awaits abortion decision
Mason schools may add offerings
New street closings listed
Painter picks 'Dandelion Swine'
Patrol pedals emergency aid
Preservationists find they must take on tough battles
PULFER: Shopping 101
SAMPLES: Chaperones monitor safety at post-prom events
Stars shine on summer theater screens
Theater review
They intend to walk the world
UC biologist takes survey of plant life
Underground Railroad site gets grant
BRONSON: No heroes
CROWLEY: Kentucky politics
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
