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"WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2000-9 + It's Fall movie preview time.... Part One SCREENING ROOM By John Foote With "the Toronto International Film Festival fast approaching (Sept. 7-16), the fall movie season officially kicks off with the beginning of that prestigious cinema celebration. After enduring the wretched movie summer of 2000, the fall is (hope- fully) going to be a blast of fresh air. Seriously, the films of the summer have been brutal, with only The Patriot, The Perfect Storm, and Dinosaur being remotely entertaining. Most of the pic- tures have been high-profile disappoint- ments that have failed not only to entice critics, but the ever-important audience numbers. The fall/winter season is of course for prestige films that the studios hope will move into Oscar consideration come February. 'Though I am a tad skeptical about the crop of films being released in the coming months, I find solace in the fact that things cannot be worse than they already have been in 2000. Among the highlights of the fall season: Jack Nicholson's first film since winning the Oscar in As Good As It Gets (1997); Oscar winner Helen Hunt returns with a vengeance in three high-profile films; Jim Carrey tackles the role of the second most famous Christmas humbug; Kevin Costner mounts a comeback; Sally Field directs; Tom Hanks plays the sur- vivor game in a very real new film, and The Sixth Sense director and stars all have new films coming out. Here's a preview of what to expect, with some inside scoops on what is being said in Hollywood circles. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRIST- MAS .. is easily the most anticipated blockbuster of the season as audiences, critics and studio heads cannot wait to see Jim Carrey as the evil Grinch in Ron Howard's film adaptation of the famous Dr. Seuss story. Making a live-action film of a beloved story and animated picture is risky to say the least because the pos- sibility of failure is enormous, but I am hearing nothing but raves for the picture, Carrey's performance, and the world Howard has created for the film. This could end up being among the year's very best films, and one of the great fantasies of all time. i CAST AWAY ... reunites Tom Hanks with director Robert Zemeckis. The last time this pair worked together the results were Oscars for both, and a film that grossed in excess of $300 million. Remember Forrest Gump (1994)? Word is that Cast Away is astonishing in every way with Hanks delivering the type of perfor- mance that wins Oscars, and Zemeckis creating a film that is a demanding, spiky re-telling of the Robinson Crusoe story. Hanks is a modern man with all the luxu- ries of life stranded on a desert isle, left with only his wits to survive with. The words can't wait to come to mind when discussing this film. CHARLIE'S ANGELS ... the words "Why, God, why?" come immediately to mind in discussing this remake of the TV series that placed emphasis on hair and jiggle. Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu are the new angels, with Bill Murray as Bosley and the original Charlie, John Forsythe, handling the role he made, um, famous. The trailer seems to indicate what to expect: Lots of explosions, kicks, and girls in scanty clothing saving the day. THE 6TH DAY ... seems to me to be the last hope for Arnold Schwarzenegger at the box office. The premise is cloning, and our boy Ah-nold arrives home one day in the not so distant future to find his clone has taken his place in his life. Cool idea, good director and a strong cast should make this a hit, but the failure of End of Days (1999) has rattled confidence in Amold's box office standing. Robert Duvall co-stars. ALMOST FAMOUS ... premiers at the Toronto International Film Festival, yet has been drawing rave reviews from the industry folks who have seen it. Directed and written by Cameron Crowe, his first effort since the Oscar nominated Jerry Maguire (1996), the new film is a charac- ter-driven piece about the rise of a rock and roll band. A cast of up and comers dominates the film, which is said to be something of a cinematic religious experi- ence. An Oscar contender for sure. UNBREAKABLE ... Remember that lit- tle blockbuster from last year, The Sixth Sense (1999)? The one that earned over $200 million and six Academy Award nom- inations? The director-writer of that film, M. Night Shyamalan is back with another supernatural thriller involving a man who finds he has a unique power after a train accident. Bruce Willis again teams with the director, with Samuel L. Jackson co- starring. THE CONTENDER ... is said to be a stunning directorial debut from former film critic Rod Lurie. It's about a U.S. Senator's (Joan AHen) nomination to the role of vice-president, and the sex scan- dal that threatens to destroy her. Joan Allen is among the finest actresses in film today, and here, teamed with Jeff Bridges and Gary Oldman, could finally earn the attention she deserves. Many in the busi- ness are calling this a lock for a best pic- ture nomination. NUMBERS ... Rumours of a troubled set and awkward script have plagued this work since the film was cancelled from opening in the summer. John Travolta stars as a TV weatherman strapped for cash who decides to attempt to rig the state lottery. Directed and written by Nora Ephron, there are conflicting reports about the film; which is odd, because | have met no one who has actually screened the work. Travolta is usually box office gold, but still reeling from the horri- ble reviews of Battlefield Earth. MEN OF HONOR ... Fox 2000 is pre- miering this adventure biography at the Toronto International Film Festival hop- ing to build buzz for the performance of Cuba Gooding Jr, cast as Carl Brashear, the first black diver in the United States Navy. His story is quite incredible because he lost a leg while on a mission, but simply kept going. Robert de Niro is cast as one of his superiors. DON'T MISS OUT! YOU DEFINITELY NEED THIS... if your business is new, moved or for any reason you missed being listed in the Bell Phone Book ..CALL NOW! ONE PRICE ADVERTISING The Port Perry Star presents 2001 SCUGOG AND AREA BIG TYPE SPANSH ERROR 21 Sa BIN [O11] Si od o 1 € S010] Port Perry 985, Blackstock 986 exchanges The Port Perry (905) 985-7383 Published by your local newspaper Star 188 Mary St., Port Perry Call Janet Archer - Account Manager Delivery to homes in December 2000! 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