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Sean Bean is the Hitcher this year |
Movie highlights for the year to come
THE highlights of the coming year include the usual number of sequels, remakes and re-releases.
Casablanca has been given a touch up job and is back on the big screens in the spring, while the 20th anniversary of Dirty Dancing is celebrated for those who loved it the first time round, Patrick Swayze will be ‘putting Baby in the corner’ all over again.
Other films we’ve all seen before include the return of Sly Stallone as Rocky, while the brilliant Ealing comedy School For Scoundrels is ‘re-imagined’, this time in America (where else?) with Billy Bob Thornton as the bounder teaching Jon Heder how to win everything at all costs.
The original was with Alistair Sims and Terry Thomas – a hard act to follow. One film that was always haunting was Donald Sutherland’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers – itself a remake of the 1950s film.
The 2007 version is called The Visiting and stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. And while we are talking about scary films being remade, The Hitcher, which starred Rutger Hauer as the man you most wouldn’t like to meet on a lonely road, this time with Sean Bean in the lead role.
In terms of sequels, George Clooney’s uber-smooth crooks get together to target another Vegas casino in Ocean’s 13, while Spiderman III is a welcome addition to the blockbuster schedule. Spidey apparently turns into a wrong ‘un as he battles two foes, Venom and Sandman.
The two Spidey flicks with Tobey Maguire have been excellent, the best superhero films for years. And Harry Potter is also back, with Daniel Radcliffe looking more and more middle aged as he spouts magical nonsense and saves the day with a swish of his wand.
Other serious flicks include Paul Verhoeven’s Black Book, a super thriller about a Jewish singer in Holland at the tail end of World War II. She infiltrates the Nazi regime for the Resistance – and learns about the nature of betrayal and greed as she tries to avenge the deaths of her family.
And another World War II yarn, Days of Glory follows four north African soldiers fighting to rid France of the Reich.
Emilio Estevez, better known for two-bit comedies, has produced a film about the assassination of Bobby Kennedy.
The younger brother of JFK inspired Estevez to imagine what his country would have been like had Bobby lived and won the presidency. British flicks include the adaptation of the Zoe Heller story, Notes On A Scandal.
Starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett, it is set around Hampstead Heath and tells the racy story of a teacher who falls in love with one of her pupils.
And for the youngsters, Luc Besson brings a stylish fantasy called Arthur and The Invisibles.
His children’s films have always been slightly creepy but this one is apparently wholesome, about a little boy who is searching for treasure in order to save his home from evil property developers. And during his quest he unlocks a secret door into the world of the Invisibles. |
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