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Is it the real thing
Or only a tease?
Is it the summer wind
Or merely a breeze?
Taking it one movie at a time: It appears that fans are drifting back
to the big screen. Slowly.
Box office revenues are up 5% over a year ago. And Hollywood’s love
affairs with sequels, as well, continue to make positive headlines
(when not in Cruise control).
Profitability, however, is taking hits. Soaring production costs,
shrinking operational budgets, DVD’s, entertainment systems, video
games, the Internet, and skyrocketing ticket prices are all
 impacting the playing field. The industry’s accepted barometer for a
blockbuster is $100 million,
yet, fewer movies reach that benchmark. Even in 2005, when numbers
were worrying everybody, 19 pictures still made the cut, which is more
then double for this year, to date.
True, the “Pirates of the Caribbean II ” had the biggest opening in
Hollywood history, racking up $132 million in the first three days.
So, no one’s walking the plank on that one.
And “X-Men, the Last Stand” the final movie in the trilogy, stormed to
the largest Memorial Day weekend in history. Other ballyhooed big
budget flicks, “The Da Vinci Code,”
and “Poseidon” broke no national records.
A few franchises made comebacks.” Superman” returned with an unknown
former soap actor suiting up. Damien, the demonic, greeted a new
generation of “Omen” horror fans. And we welcomed a devil wearing
Prada.
I counted close to 75 hot weather films scheduled for release when the
season began, dominated by the usual suspects, 24 comedies and19
dramas.
Cinema summer is arguably Hollywood’s most challenging season. The
formula is déjà vu. Unleash a slew of big films across the age divide
with something for everybody. Kids, teen-agers, the young at heart,
flicks for chicks, adults, and the not quite grown ups. Make sure air
conditioning is always working. And the concession stand doesn’t run
out of popcorn. It’s been a summer crowded with animated features,
“Over the Hedge” and Pixar’s along-awaited “Cars “ led a parade of
family-oriented features.
The frat pack gang scrounged for laughs with popcorn comedies geared
to the teen and 20’s crowd. Vince Vaughan and Jennifer Anniston (“The
Break Up”) Lindsay Lohan (“Just My Luck”). Adam Sandler (“Click”).
Would you believe “Grandma’s Boy” is now considered one of the most
bankable stars?
 Based on media consensus (but personally unscreened) here’s a capsule
look at the rest of the summer, an avid moviegoer’s view from outside,
the box-office. Primary information thanks to both the New York Times
and the LA Times.
The Ant Bully (animation). Tom Hanks produced, with voices of Meryl
Streep, Nicholas Cage, Julia Roberts, Paul Giamatti. Ten year old boy
enjoys destroying ant hills in his front yard. Ants fight back after
youngster floods their colony. The kid is shrunk to insect size to
stand trial. Shrunk I.
The Night Listener (thriller). Robin Williams Late night radio host’s
on-air relationship with troubled boy and adoptive mother. Not a
remake of “Play Misty for Me”, though Williams’ character (like Clint
Eastwood) discovers he’s in for more than he thought. Stay tuned.
Talladega Nights: the Ballad of Ricky Bobby (comedy) Will Ferrell,
NASCAR car-racer whose career is skidding on the curves, fends off
challenge from a rival French hot shot. If “Anchorman” was any
indication, this one could be Goofy on wheels.
The Descent (horror). Six girlfriends exploring a cave in Appalachia
find themselves trapped by subhuman creatures, a strange breed of
bloodthirsty predators. Friendships quickly deteriorate. The real
“fear factor” is among themselves.
 World Trade Center (drama). Nicholas Cage. Oliver Stone’s fact-based
9/11 heroism, centering on true story of two Port Authority cops
trapped under the rubble of the Twin Towers, the last to be pulled
alive from the debris. Thankfully, no conspiracy theories.
Accepted Justin Long. Lewis Black, an academically challenged high
school senior is rejected by eight different colleges. Decides to
create a bogus university he can attend. Sure fire BS degree, Bachelor
of Scam.
Material Girls (comedy). Siblings Hillary and Haylie Duff Cosmetic
heiresses lose inheritance, and find their world in disarray. Inspired
by Madonna hit song. We’ve lived thru all this on cable.
Factotum (drama). Matt Dillon, Marisa Tomei. Two destructive souls in
a relationship Dillon, as jack-of-all trades, lives from job to job,
fighting off temptations of booze, women and the whole city of Los
Angeles. Here’s a guy who couldn’t care less about the American dream.
The Illusionist (thriller). Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti Murder in
1909 Vienna, master magician falls in love with a woman engaged to the
Crown Prince. Uses his powers and to win hand of fair damsel.
Sleight-of-hand trickery.
Clerks II. Updated version of 1994 talkfest. Grease jockeys at a fast
food joint, now entering their 30’s, wake up to the hassles of
adulthood. City slackers.
 Snakes on a Plane (action). Samuel L. Jackson. Prisoner being
transported on plane by U.S. Marshall releases 400 deadly reptiles.
Unfasten your seat belts. Surely a Scream Works production.
Idlewild. Andre Benjamin, Anwan Patton, Ving Rhames Terrence Howard,
Patti LaBelle, Ben Vereen, Cicely Tyson Only musical of the summer.
Friends run a southern speakeasy ( Idlewild) in the l930s. Gangsters
are out to takeover the club. Hip-hop stars in what were once patented
Cosby and Belafonte roles.
How to Eat Fried Worms (drama). Luke Benwald, Tom Cavanaugh Fifth
grader accepts monstrous dare. An 11-year-old boy finds himself eating
worms, a lot of them. Guess what’s coming for dinner.
Invincible (sports drama). Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear. Part-time
bartender in Philadelphia and full-time Eagles fan, as walk-on, and
against all odds makes NFL team. This eagle has landed. Wildest dream
come true.
Beerfest. Two American brothers and a team of beer chug-a-luggers
travel to Germany determined to out drink a team of locals. Over and
under the table. Gridlock in the men’s room.
Scoop (comedy). Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson Dateline: London.
Visiting American journalism student investigates a series of murders
and falls in love with a dashing Englishman No, not Hugh Grant.
Writer-director Woody Allen’s latest. Two winners in a row?
I Could Never Be Your Woman (comedy). Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd
Mother falls for younger man; teen-age daughter falls in love for
first time. Tracey Ullman plays an acerbic Mother Nature who’s always
meddling. Feeding time for romantics.
As the days dwindle down, and release dates grow shorter, there’s no
sign of a runaway hit, no obvious blockbuster with a large pre-sold
audience. Late-runners may face 11th-hour changes, even after a final,
“that’s a wrap.” and preview audiences fill out those reaction cards.
Too often egos get in the way, when studio heads have decided they
know best what moviegoers really want. Samuel Goldwyn, rarely
deterred, would ask fans after an opening “ tell me how you loved my
picture?” On the other hand, a disappointed Goldwyn would say with a
shrug, “they stayed away in droves.”
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Gene Farinet, an award winning veteran newsman, spent much of his long
career at NBC News as a writer and producer working with Frank McGee,
Ed Newman, John Chancellor and Tom Brokaw, covering space, politics
and special projects everywhere in the world.
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