Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFor your fall viewing pleasure
We preview this season's potential box office hits
By Tim Goessling
Posted: 9/20/07, 11:10 PM EST Section: Splice
"American Gangster" - Remember how big "The Departed" was last year? This could be as big. Russell Crowe, fresh off his masterful work in "3:10 to Yuma," shares the screen with fellow superstar Denzel Washington. The story is based off the life of Frank Vincent, an African-American gangster who smuggled drugs in the 1970s. With director Ridley Scott ("Gladiator"), producer Brian Grazer ("A Beautiful Mind") and Jay-Z doing a companion album, this is the movie of the fall season.
"I'm Not There" - While not a big budget epic, this movie is epic in terms of imaginations. This flick about Bob Dylan features seven characters in various time periods playing the legend in a variety of different roles. The cast list is incredible, including Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. In terms of creativity, it can't be beat.
"The Golden Compass" - The fate of New Line Cinema rests in the hopes and dreams of this movie. They hope it will be the next "Lord of the Rings" - not the next "Aragon." The ingredients in this fantastical brew contain the usual witches, talking animals and assorted magic. The concoction even is spiked with some "Lost"-esque polar bears. It has a strong cast with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, but the real stars here are the computer generated polar bears (who fight one another). Although Frodo and the gang will be a tough task to emulate, they weren't going up against polar bears. It's something to think about.
"I am Legend" - After teaching us all how to find our dreams in last years "Pursuit of Happyness," Will Smith is back to teach us how to…kill vampires (kind of - the movie is referring to them as "The Infected.") This adaptation of the short story by horror writer Robert Matheson finds the popular actor as the last man left in New York City, which has been taken over by virus-infected mutants (AKA vampires). While the premise sounds far-fetched, the original source material seems like a fresh take on a tired genre.
"Walk Hard" - This film looks to continue producer Judd Apatow's ("Knocked Up," "Superbad") streak as the current funny man in Hollywood. The story is a mock biography of a musician named Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly). Just like biopics "Ray" and "Walk the Line," it chronicles his childhood, his rise to power, his fall and his rebirth - in a hilarious fashion.
"I'm Not There" - While not a big budget epic, this movie is epic in terms of imaginations. This flick about Bob Dylan features seven characters in various time periods playing the legend in a variety of different roles. The cast list is incredible, including Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. In terms of creativity, it can't be beat.
"The Golden Compass" - The fate of New Line Cinema rests in the hopes and dreams of this movie. They hope it will be the next "Lord of the Rings" - not the next "Aragon." The ingredients in this fantastical brew contain the usual witches, talking animals and assorted magic. The concoction even is spiked with some "Lost"-esque polar bears. It has a strong cast with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, but the real stars here are the computer generated polar bears (who fight one another). Although Frodo and the gang will be a tough task to emulate, they weren't going up against polar bears. It's something to think about.
"I am Legend" - After teaching us all how to find our dreams in last years "Pursuit of Happyness," Will Smith is back to teach us how to…kill vampires (kind of - the movie is referring to them as "The Infected.") This adaptation of the short story by horror writer Robert Matheson finds the popular actor as the last man left in New York City, which has been taken over by virus-infected mutants (AKA vampires). While the premise sounds far-fetched, the original source material seems like a fresh take on a tired genre.
"Walk Hard" - This film looks to continue producer Judd Apatow's ("Knocked Up," "Superbad") streak as the current funny man in Hollywood. The story is a mock biography of a musician named Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly). Just like biopics "Ray" and "Walk the Line," it chronicles his childhood, his rise to power, his fall and his rebirth - in a hilarious fashion.
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