Holiday Movie Buzz.A LOOK AT THE MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES COMING DOWN THE PIKE ALREADY overdosing on Bond, Pokemon and the other early holiday releases? Relax, the onslaught has just begun. Between now and the end of the year, there are roughly two dozen releases scheduled to premiere. Here's the rundown on 10 of the most-anticipated upcoming releases. The Green Mile Cast: Tom Hanks Noun 1. Tom Hanks - United States film actor (born in 1956) Hanks, Thomas J. Hanks , Gary Sinise, Patricia Clarkson Patricia Davies Clarkson (born December 29, 1959) is an Academy Award-nominated American actress. Biography Personal life Clarkson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the daughter of Jackie Clarkson (a prominent local New Orleans politician and councilwoman) , Michael Clarke Michael Clarke may refer to:
Writer/Director: Frank Darabont Released by: Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) . Plot line: Hanks plays a Death Row prison guard during the Depression who disses capital punishment capital punishment, imposition of a penalty of death by the state. History Capital punishment was widely applied in ancient times; it can be found (c.1750 B.C.) in the Code of Hammurabi. when his charge, a convicted murderer played by Duncan, exhibits healing powers. Buzz: Darabont's second prison drama adapted from a Stephen King book, and bets are that this one will outperform Darabont's sleeper, "Shawshank Redemption," which only grossed $28 million domestically. Shawshank didn't have two-time Oscar guy Hanks. Insiders predict a best-picture nomination, as well as best-actor nods for Hanks and Duncan, but some who have seen the fantasy-based drama say it has limited appeal. The Talented Mr. Ripley Cast Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law Director: Anthony Minghella Released by: Paramount Plot line: Zelig gone mad? An ambitious con-guy named Ripley is hired to bring back a wealthy schoolmate from Rome, but instead develops a fixation on him and his lavish lifestyle, and manages to take his place. Buzz: Minghella's last flick, "The English Patient," grossed a healthy $78.6 million - and snagged the 1996 Oscar for best picture. How does he top that? Even matching it would be quite a feat, and sure enough, "Ripley" is being touted as a good bet to garner a best-pic nomination, with lots of other Oscar potential. Magnolia Cast: Jason Robards, Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor known for his ability to act in a dramatic or comedic role with ease. Biography Personal life , William H. Macy, Philip Baker Hall Philip Baker Hall (born September 10, 1931) is an American actor. Biography Early life Hall was born in Toledo, Ohio and attended the University of Toledo.[1] He did not have aspirations to be an actor until relatively late in life. and Philip Seymour Hoffman For other persons named Philip Hoffman, see Philip Hoffman (disambiguation). Philip Seymour Hoffman (born July 23, 1967) is an Academy Award-winning American actor. Biography Early life Hoffman was born in Fairport, New York to Gordon S. Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Released by: New Line Cinema Plot line: Valley Boy Anderson takes us to suburbia, weaving tales of dying patriarch Robards nursed by Hoffman, Macy as a former quiz whiz kid, and Cruise as a sleazoid late-night sex advice guru. Buzz: Anderson's last pic, "Boogie Nights," his ode to the porn biz, was critically acclaimed but grossed only $26.4 million. Insiders say this picture should do more respectable numbers, if for no other reason than that its subject matter plays better than porn in Middle America. The Hurricane Cast: Denzel Washington, Vicellous Shannon, Liev Schreiber, Dan Hedaya, John Hannah Director: Norman Jewison Released by: Universal Plot line: Biopic bi·o·pic n. A film or television biography, often with fictionalized episodes. biopic Noun Informal a film based on the life of a famous person [bio(graphical) + pic(ture)] of prizefighter Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, who rots in jail for a crime he didn't do - until a teen-ager and his guardians fight to spring him. Buzz: K.O. the Oscar, say insiders, if Washington, who scored a best supporting actor statuette for "Glory" in 1989, isn't nominated. Insiders say the pic, which opens Dec.25 in selected cities, should slowly build a crowd. Man on the Moon Cast: Jim Carrey, Courtney Love, Danny DeVito Director: Milos Miloš, prince of Serbia Miloš or Milosh (Miloš Obrenović) (both: mĭ`lôsh ōbrĕ`nəvĭch) Foreman Released by: Universal Plot line: Biopic of the enigmatic, sometimes offensive comic Andy Kaufman, who wrestled women, played Latka on "Taxi" and died young of lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. . Buzz: The draw here is more Carrey than Andy, whom insiders say eerily inhabits the live-comic's persona. Snubbed by the Academy last year for "The Truman Show," Carrey will score a best-actor nomination for this one, even though his earlier turn in "Truman" was craftier. Bicentennial bi·cen·ten·ni·al adj. 1. Happening once every 200 years. 2. Lasting for 200 years. 3. Relating to a 200th anniversary. n. A 200th anniversary or its celebration. Also called bicentenary. Man Cast: Robin Williams, Sam Neil, Embeth Davidtz Director: Chris Columbus Released by: Touchstone Plot line: Based on an award-winning story by Isaac Asimov, Williams plays a robot who spends 200 years trying to become human. Buzz: Disney briefly pulled the plug after the budget started heading toward $120 million, but some budget trimming and a cost-sharing deal with Sony put the android An open platform for cellphones from the Open Handset Alliance (OHA). Based on Linux, Android includes a library of Java classes for building mobile applications. Android and GPhone back on his feet for $100 million. The last time Columbus dolled up Williams in a fancy disguise, "Mrs. Doubtfire" grossed a whopping $219 million domestically. Similar formula this time -- Williams in elaborate costume and put into a family situation. And, most likely, similar numbers. The Cradle Will Rock Cast: Hank Azaria, Susan Sarandon, Joan and John Cusack, Cary Elwes. Writer/Director: Tim Robbins Released by: Buena Vista Plot line: Based on a true tale, a 1937 musical about a greedy industrialist gets cancelled by the W.P.A. theater. So Orson Welles and John Houseman move the play to a nearby theater and perform sans scenery, props or costumes. Buzz: Set to open only in L.A. and New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . It's already touted as Oscar bait and that could move it from a niche hit to the mainstream -- a la "Shakespeare in Love," insiders say. Angela's Ashes Cast: Emily Watson, Robert Carlyle, Shane Murray-Corcoran and Joe Breen Director: Alan Parker Released by: Paramount Plot line: Ah, the exquisite misery of it all. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning tome, we follow the dirt poor McCourt family, with depressed Mom and alcoholic Dad, and learn how they and the kids survive the Depression. Buzz: Oscar-worthy performances by Watson, who got Oscar nods for "Breaking the Waves" and "Hilary and Jackie," and Carlyle, who's possibly best known for his turn in "The Full Monty." Should be a respectable art-house hit, but Parker's previous pic, "Evita," did less biz than expected. Girl, Interrupted Cast: Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Whoopi Goldberg and Vanessa Redgrave. Director: James Mangold Released by: Sony Plot line: Based on Susanna Kaysen's 1993 memoir about her two-year stint in a mental ward, Ryder plays the author, with Jolie as an uninhibited uninhibited /un·in·hib·it·ed/ (un?in-hib´i-ted) free from usual constraints; not subject to normal inhibitory mechanisms. fellow patient. Buzz: Jolie's flirtatious flir·ta·tious adj. 1. Given to flirting. 2. Full of playful allure: a flirtatious glance. flir·ta sociopath so·ci·o·path n. A person affected with an antisocial personality disorder. so  ci·o·path sends shivers through our
Oscar handicappers -- creepy, convincing and worthy of a nod. Expect
solid acting chops also from Redgrave and Ryder. The script, though,
could suffer from too many fingerprints. Mangold's previous outing,
the macho "Cop Land," captured a respectable $44 million.
Sweet and Lowdown low·down n. Slang The whole truth: gave us the lowdown on what happened at the party. lowdown low (inf) n he gave me the lowdown on it → Cast: Sean Penn, Samantha Morton and Uma Thurman Director: Woody Allen Released by: Sony Pictures Classics Plot line: True story of Emmet Ray, played by Penn, a 1930s jazz guitarist drawn to crime, and torn between the mute laundress who loves him (Morton), and socialite Thurman. Buzz: Insiders call Morton's turn among the most eloquent of the season, and she nearly upstages Penn and Thurman. With the Academy's love for mutes ("Johnny Belinda" and "The Piano" both won Oscars), she should get a nod if not a statuette. Ditto for Penn, who again explores his dark side. That said, "Sweet" isn't expected to do big numbers. |
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