…and a few good ones, too!

Last week I attended the ShowEast convention in Orlando, and had the privilege of seeing OCEAN’S ELEVEN, right after a luncheon at which George Clooney and Matt Damon introduced an extremely intoxicated Jerry Weintraub, the producer of the film. Just prior to his introduction, a reel of his career highlights was shown that bore a striking resemblance to the trailer for THE KARATE KID. (Unfortunately, OCEAN’S will not increase Mr. Weintraub’s undistinguished track record.) In any event, after extricating himself from his table (and his empty vodka bottle), he stumbled to the podium and proceeded to explain how OCEAN’S is so much “eye candy” and is simply the greatest film since CITIZEN KANE. He then requested of the theatre owners that they plan on keeping OCEAN’S in the biggest screens through December 14th, when VANILLA SKY (Tom Cruise) opens; and through December 21st, when LORD OF THE RINGS, and THE MAJESTIC (Jim Carrey), and KATE AND LEOPOLD (see below) open; and through December 28th, when we (Sony) open ALI (Will Smith), and BLACK HAWK DOWN.

Keep drinking, Jerry.

I will say the movie plays extremely flat. The best roles of the movie are the older guys, Elliott Gould and Carl Reiner, who make the most of their somewhat limited appearances. Yeah, Clooney looks handsome, and Pitt looks pretty. Julia Roberts is completely wasted in a cameo and is party to an incoherent ending, which I won’t spoil for you at this time. The scenery (the Bellagio) is fine… and a great looking vault as well. Just script holes that you can drive a 747 through. There were two auditoriums of about 385 seats each, and the disappointment was unanimous from what I heard in my conversations. My guess is that after Steven Soderbergh’s two Academy nominations last year, the critics are gonna rip this one to shreds.

There are, however, some good pictures coming up:

KATE AND LEOPOLD, with Meg Ryan, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Breckin Meyer, and Bradley Whitford is an absolute gem. The story starts in the early 1900’s with the dedication of the Brooklyn Bridge (still under construction). A Duke (Jackman) happens to notice a strange fellow, Stuart (Schreiber), taking pictures with a tiny camera. Seems Stuart’s found a rip in the space-time continuum and when he goes back to present day, the Duke follows him into the future (to get through the tear in space, you have to jump off a plank from the Bridge).

Meg Ryan is Stuart’s ex-boyfriend, who lives downstairs from him. You can probably write the rest of the script yourself, but it works perfectly. The women are going to LOVE Hugh Jackman (from SWORDFISH and X-MEN)… he’s going to be a big star after this one. It’s coming out on December 21st or so.

40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS is one for the guys. It stars Josh Hartnett (from PEARL HARBOR) and Shannyn Sossamon (the female lead in A KNIGHT’S TALE). The story is about a guy who’s been dumped by the love of his life (6 months ago) and, after going through the woman-a-night club, decides with the help of his brother, a priest, that he will be celibate through the 40 days of Lent. He then meets Sossamon in a laundromat.

I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s VERY funny and should be big. Scheduled for February 1st as of now.

Another great picture, which I would have under no circumstances chosen to see in my local multiplex, is THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. It’s a straight telling of the story, starring James Caviezel (who you’ll recognize, but you won’t remember where you’ve seen him), and Guy Pearce, who starred in the absolute best film of 2001, MOMENTO, and was also in L.A. CONFIDENTIAL.

It’s not like, say, a THREE MUSKETEERS type of film. It’s dark, it’s realistic, it’s wonderfully acted, directed, shot, etc. My only advice is to see it quick, because it won’t be around long. Scheduled to open March 8th as of today.

That’s all for today…

Jay Sands
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