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Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad December 17, 2005 Few gems brighten a dark year for film Studios should forget about kids and get back to telling stories By Chris Honore Tidings Correspondent BLOCKBUSTERS " Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith " $380.3 million " War of the Worlds " $234.3 million " Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire " $229 million " The Wedding Crashers " $210 million " Charlie and Chocolate Factory " $205 million " Batman Begins " $205 million Highest Sales Of Home Videos “ The Incredibles ” $332 million “ National Treasure ” $215 million “ Shark’s Tale ” $200 million “ Meet the Fokkers ” $200 million “ Ray ” $176 million Overall, it’s been a dismal year for movies, and eulogies for the industry are already in the works, selling the idea that there’s been a confluence of lame movies and new technologies in 2005 that does not bode well for Hollywood. Some point to the synergistic effect on the moviegoing audience of DVDs, video games, cell phones, the Internet, IM and the ubiquitous iPod. They point out that the historically bankable demographic — tweens and teens and early 20-somethings — suddenly find themselves too busy to head out to the movies in great numbers. If they’re going to watch a movie, better to grab a DVD (one they downloaded and burned on their computer?), turn on the giant HDTV that spans one wall (nicely integrated into what has become an entertainment center) and watch it at home. If it’s a loser, well, no harm no foul. Clearly, industry decision makers have contributed to this response by gradually shortening the time period between when a film is released to the theaters and when it will appear at your local Blockbuster store as a DVD. In other words, why head out to catch a movie when in three months you can stay in and catch the same movie, comfortably ensconced on the sofa, the kitchen mere steps away? So how significant is the fact that Hollywood’s gross revenues are down by 7 percent this year? Are we observing the incremental demise of the mass moviegoing experience? The jury is still out. But probably not. Hollywood is resilient, and like the stock market, its fortunes are cyclical. But perhaps there’s something afoot here that makes 2005 decidedly different. And it isn’t simply that a perfect storm of technology has been forming on the horizon wherein young moviegoers can be all geared up and engaged in a rip tide of multiple forms of entertainment and computer input, therefore concluding that heading out to the movies is not only passe, but also a hassle. It may be that Hollywood, for a number of reasons, is not only off its game this year, but oblivious to the sea changes taking place across an even broader demographic than the tween-to-20 crowd, such as the boomers, who will soon have some serious time on their hands. This year, clearly, has been a disappointment, producing few real gems and a whole lot of junk. And just maybe Hollywood is ready for a course correction. Market imperatives, like the bottom line, have a way of getting the attention of the studio decision-makers. That would be those execs who gave the green light to films like “The Pacifier,” “The Longest Yard,” “Exorcism of Emily,” “Guess Who,” “Herbie Fully Loaded,” “Sin City,” “Monster-in-Law,” “Bewitched,” “Boogeyman,” “Constantine” or “Dukes of Hazzard.” And those titles are just the tip of the iceberg in a very forgettable year. Sure there were some major draws in 2005; however, in order to get audiences into the theaters, it required some serious movie bling, such as “War of the Worlds,” “Batman Begins,” “Revenge of the Sith,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” or “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” All of these movies are best seen on a monster screen with Dolby surround sound making your ears ring. Of course, some nuggets can be found in this year’s pile of granite, and some will surface as the date for Oscar nominations approaches. “Broken Flowers,” “Crash,” “The Constant Gardener,” “Capote,” “March of the Penguins,” “Syriana,” “A History of Violence,” “North Country,” “Match Point,” “Cinderella Man,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “Good Night and Good Luck” should all get some notice. But if you look at these titles, none were films that caused major buzz or became “must see” movies — with the exception of “Penguins,” a documentary no less. Be on the look out, however, for “Brokeback Mountain,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “The Squid and the Whale,” “Mrs. Henderson Presents,” “King Kong,” and “Munich” (which will open in only a few cities before January). So what’s the course correction needed by Hollywood? First, filmmakers should let go of the young demographic. Accept that the kids are, at least for the present, a bit distracted. But new technology has a pretty short shelf life, so they’ll be back. For now, ignore them. They’re way too fickle, anyway. Instead, raise the bar on good writing. Make smaller and smarter films that risk telling stories that, though they may have limited appeal, are first rate in terms of exploring the human condition. The recent “Shopgirl” is a good example; “Ladies in Lavender” is another. Quit romancing computer enhanced special effects. Adopt the mantra, “it’s the story.” Have faith that being implicit and subtle instead of explicit and heavy-handed is a good thing. And if you film wonderful, character-driven stories, believe that they will come. Maybe even the trendy, gnarly, techno-geeky tweens and teens. Or not. WORTH THE TRIP MOVIES: NOW PLAYING A bevy of films will arrive for the holidays and hang around well into the new year. In fact, some have already opened, signalling that the wave of 2005 movies is about to crest. Some of the films will merely spread holiday cheer. Others are offered up by Hollywood as serious contenders for the ultimate prize: Oscar. Lighthearted family fare “ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ” is in Ashland and lighting up the kids (and adults) who have followed the epic journey of Harry in both book and film. “The Goblet of Fire” is episode four, which finds young Harry representing Hogwarts in an intramural sorcery championship. Mike Newell (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”) directed, and all the gang is present and accounted for: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Robbie Coltrane. “ The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ,” opened last weekend. Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media are hoping for a franchise with this richly executed film based on the C.S. Lewis epic fantasy. Andrew Adamson (Shrek) directed. Tilda Swinton portrays the White Witch; Liam Neeson lends his voice to the lion, Aslan. “ Family Stone ” just arrived and is a solid happy holiday offering. Starring Diane Keaton, Sara Jessica Parker, Dermot Mulroney and Rachel MacAdams, it tells the story of Everett Stone, who brings his fiancee home to meet the family Stone. The reception is, well, ambivalent if not a bit hostile. “ Cheaper by the Dozen II ” will be in Ashland just before Christmas. Starring Steve Martin, it’s a sequel to the first “Dozen.” Bonnie Hunt and Piper Perabo costar. “ Fun With Dick and Jane ” arrives Wednesday and stars Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni. This is a remake of the 1977 film about a Middle America couple who hit the financial skids and turn stickup artists. Suddenly they’re living large. “ Rumor Has It ” opens on Christmas Day. It stars Jennifer Aniston as the bride-to-be who discovers that her mother, Shirley MacLaine, may be the role model for Mrs. Robinson in “The Graduate.” Kevin Costner costars. Drama/Musical “ Walk the Line ,” now playing, is one of those films that will step forward and ask to be taken seriously when awards are handed out. It’s about the life and hard times of country singer Johnny Cash, played by Joaquin Phoenix. Reese Witherspoon portrays Cash’s second wife, June Carter. James Mangold directs. “ Rent ” is currently playing in Ashland. It’s a high energy film about New York-East Village young people who sing their way through housing and health crises. It’s an adaptation of the Broadway musical. Directed by Chris Columbus (“Mrs. Doubtfire”) and starring Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel. “ The Producers ” starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick repeating their wildly successful roles in the Broadway production of the same name. Will Ferrell portrays the goose-stepping author of the play, “Spring Time for Hitler.” “ Memoirs of a Geisha ,” coming to Ashland on Friday, is based on the Arthur Golden novel and is finally coming to the screen. In a nutshell, it’s about a poor girl from a fishing village who becomes the most celebrated geisha of the 20th century. Set in Japan, but filled with Chinese actors. Ken Wantanabe is indisputably Japanese. “ Shopgirl ,” starring Steve Martin and Claire Danes, is a sweet drama about a lonely girl, transplanted from Vermont to Los Angeles and the glove counter at Saks Fifth Avenue. She meets two men, one older and one a contemporary and suddenly must decide what direction she wants her life to take. “ Pride and Prejudice .” Jane Austen’s classic tale of love and misunderstanding in class-conscious 18th century England. Beautifully photographed with a strong ensemble of actors led by Keira Knightly, Matthew Macfayden, Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench and Brenda Blethyn. “ Capote ,” sure to be recognized when awards are handed out, features a tour de force performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman as Capote. It focuses on the investigation of the murder of a Kansas farm family which resulted in Capote’s critically acclaimed book, “In Cold Blood.” “ Good Night and Good Luck ,” a powerful examination of Edward R. Murrow’s confrontation with Joseph McCarthy over the tyranny engendered by McCarthy’s blacklisting thousands of Americans as communist sympathizers. Filmed in black and white and starring David Strathairn and George Clooney. Action/Adventure “ King Kong ” is in Ashland and taking no prisoners. Some three hours long, it is billed as a faithful remake and then some of the Merian C. Cooper-Ernest B. Schoedsack classic. Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody star. Directed by Peter Jackson, the genius behind “Lord of the Rings.” “ Aeon Flux ” starring Charlize Theron wearing some interesting outfits, takes place 400 years in the future during a time when disease has wiped out most of the world’s population except for one walled city-state ruled by corrupt scientists. Aeon is an operative for an underground rebellion. “ Syriana ” is currently playing and getting good critics’ comments. A political thriller starring George Clooney, it tracks several characters while exploring the nefarious world of big oil and the companies that seem like governments unto themselves while reaping huge profits. --> Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.