The
10 Most Anticipated Movies of the Summer
By Disco
Stu - Editor in Chief : 04.22.02
I
go to the movies for the air conditioning
Every
year, the summer inevitably brings about a few things:
hot weather, fine women in skimpy clothing, and highly
anticipated summer films. The summer season usually
makes up a huge portion of the movie industry's
revenue, because most of the blockbuster films open
during this time. Unfortunately, some movies are meant
to fail because there is little to no buzz preceding
the film's opening. Those films don't make the list
here.
I
have researched many sources (the internet, magazines,
newspapers, television) in order to list the 10 most
anticipated movies of the summer. To find out which films do make our list, make
sure to come back everyday since this article will be
updated everyday. We'll give a non-spoiler gist of the
plot, info on the films' source materials, info on the
buzz about the film, and predictions on how it'll do
in the box office. AND, there'll be a "Gene
Shalit-'like" review. In this first day, we bring you the
tenth to the eighth most anticipated movies of the
summer.
| 10.
The Road to Perdition |
 |
|
RELEASE
DATE: July 12
DIRECTOR:
Sam Mendes
STARRING:
Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Paul Newman,
Jude Law, Anthony La Paglia, Daniel Craig,
Stanley Tucci, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alfred
Molina |
THE
SCOOP:
In
Depression-era Chicago, hit man Michael O'Sullivan is
known to friends and enemies alike as the "Angel
of Death". Uncompromising in his work, O'Sullivan
is just as devoted to his private life as an
upstanding husband and father of two young boys. But
when those worlds collide, taking the lives of his
wife and younger son, O'Sullivan and his surviving son
leave their sedate home life behind and embark on a
startling journey of revenge.
SOURCE
MATERIAL:
A
1998 graphic novel of the same name by Max Allan
Collins, a longtime writer for ''Dick Tracy'' comics.
Seems to be right up the same dark, bullet-riddled
alley.
THE
BUZZ:
The
world is ready for another Tom Hanks movie. After
taking a year off from making movies, Hanks returns to
the big screen in an early Oscar contender. With
a great cast and an Academy Award-winning director
(Sam Mendes of American Beauty), Road to Perdition is
set to be yet another classic movie. And Tom Hanks
will show off once more his uncanny ability to win
Oscars.
THE
FINAL WORD:
This
is definitely going to be a big movie. The name Tom
Hanks is all you really need to score at the box
office, but if you add the fact that this'll
undoubtedly receive wide critical acclaim, then you've got yourself a hit.
GENE
SHALIT'S EFFUSIVELY POSITIVE REVIEW:
Tom
Hanks and Paul Newman triumph in this noir epic. If
you ask me, this Road is worth taking!
| 9.
Mr. Deeds |
 |
|
RELEASE
DATE: June 28
DIRECTOR:
Steven Brill
STARRING:
Adam Sandler, Winona Ryder, John Turturro,
Steve Buscemi, Jared Harris, Peter Gallagher |
THE
SCOOP:
Adam
Sandler plays Mr. Longfellow Deeds, a young man from
the small town of Mandrake Falls, New Hampshire who
inherits controlling interest in a massive media
corporation from his deceased uncle. He then starts
injecting his small town values into its various
businesses. Louise 'Babe' Bennett, a New York television tabloid
reporter played by Winona Ryder, is sent in to pose as
an innocent small-town girl and get the goods on
Deeds, but instead ends up falling in love with the
lug. Hilarity ensues.
SOURCE
MATERIAL:
This
is Sandler's tribute to Clarence Buddington Kelland's
short story, Opera Hat, and Frank Capra's classic 1936
film, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, starring Gary Cooper.
THE
BUZZ:
The
concept sounds promising and that's a good thing since
Sandler's last venture, Little Nicky, got generally
bad reviews. But, with Ryder on board, and Sandler's
writing team fleshing out the script, it should be a
good show.
THE
FINAL WORD:
Adam
Sandler has usually brought in big numbers; if Mr.
Deeds gets favorable reviews, then that shouldn't
change this summer.
GENE
SHALIT'S EFFUSIVELY POSITIVE REVIEW:
Adam
Sandler is wonderfully funny and Winona Ryder is as
cute as a button as his love interest. This hilarious
film is wonderful in-Deed!
| 8.
Sum of All Fears |
 |
|
RELEASE
DATE: May 31
DIRECTOR:
Phil Alden Robinson
STARRING:
Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Bridget
Moynahan, James
Cromwell, Liev Schreiber, Alan Bates |
THE
SCOOP:
The
fourth film starring Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan character,
this time Ben Affleck stars in the role made famous by
Harrison Ford. In this installment, European neo-Nazi
terrorists acquire a nuclear device and plan to use it
at the Super Bowl, blaming the attack on Russia in the
hopes of rekindling the Cold War. Luckily, CIA analyst
Jack Ryan is on the case.
SOURCE
MATERIAL:
This
one is based on Tom Clancy's thrill-a-minute novel
about Jack Ryan. Affleck takes over the role after
Alec Baldwin (Hunt for Red October) and Harrison Ford
(Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger) played the
part.
THE
BUZZ:
Affleck
is perfect for the Jack Ryan role and he has big shoes
to fill. But, the general word is that the movie will
be a great thriller. After all, all the Jack Ryan
movies have been so far.
THE
FINAL WORD:
It
won't open big, but Sum of All Fears should end up
with over $100 million by the end of the summer. You
can't beat the team of Affleck, Freeman, Cromwell, and
Clancy: that's an equation for success.
GENE
SHALIT'S EFFUSIVELY POSITIVE REVIEW:
Ben
Affleck truly becomes the new Jack Ryan in this film
and Morgan Freeman is stupendous. How do I add up this
movie? The Sum is great!
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