By Sarah Weller
Just when you thought The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was the best movie you’d ever seen, 2002 has ended, and it’s time to break into a whole new year of movies. Though it will be a year full of comic book stories and more sequels (and sequels to sequels) than new ideas, 2003 still has what it takes to be a big year in the box office. While many of this year’s films, including X-Men 2 and Kangaroo Jack, were left out of the running because of personal disinterest, these ten names are mere glimpses of what is sure to be a mixture of excitement, fulfillment and some disappointment this year in film. In no particular order…
1. Daredevil, February 14
Forget the fact that Ben Affleck is playing the title role; this has some potential to be one of the best films of 2003. Based on the comic by the same name, Daredevil is the story of Matt Murdoch, a blind man whose other senses have risen to superhuman levels, thus giving him the ability to fight crime during the night while playing a lawyer by day. With a great supporting cast, including Jennifer Garner (TV’s Alias) as Electra, Michael Clarke Duncan as the crime lord Kingpin, and Colin Farrell as the ever-so-evil but sexy villain Bullseye, this movie should live up to its hype.
2. Bruce Almighty, May 23
Jim Carrey makes his comeback in a role fit only for someone with his comic wit. Carrey plays Bruce, a news reporter who has the worst day of his life and takes it out on God, only to have him appear in human form and offer him his power for a day. This is a movie sure to be full of laughs, as we can all only imagine what a character played by funnyman Carrey will do with the power of God. Also starring Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman.
3. The Matrix Reloaded, May 15
Fans have waited almost four years for this second chapter of The Matrix trilogy. However, now that Neo (Keanu Reeves) knows he is The One, there will surely be many more action-packed scenes and much more excitement than the original (or at least we would hope so after this long). While attempting to save the human race from the Machine Army, Neo, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) discover more about the Matrix itself and how vital Neo is to their possible victory.
4. Phone Booth, March 14
Previously shelved from its November 2002 release because of its subject in relation to the D.C. sniper attacks, Phone Booth is finally being freed from its prison. Colin Farrell reteams with Tigerland director Joel Schumacher in this film about Stuart Shepherd (Farrell), a man who answers a ringing pay phone only to be placed at the mercy of a shooter (Kiefer Sutherland) who will kill him if he hangs up the phone. With a talented director and noteworthy cast, Phone Booth could be a contender for the biggest thriller of this year. Also starring Katie Holmes, Ray Liotta, Radha Mitchell, and Forrest Whitaker.
5. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, July 2
Same old story: John Connor is being pursued by two Terminators sent from the future (no matter how far it goes, they are still from the future) because of his knowledge of a top-secret mission. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back as the T-800, but is he bad or good in this movie? Of course he is good, because the T-X (played by newcomer Kristanna Loken) is a very bad chick. Though not directed by original Terminator mastermind James Cameron and starring only one member of the original cast, T3 will probably still hold top box office honors for the July 4th weekend.
6. The Life of David Gale, February 21
Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey is possibly looking at his next nomination in the title role of this suspenseful film about a man on death row for a crime he claims he did not commit. All of the facts point to guilty, but some things just don’t fit, especially the fact that Gale was a well-respected family man and longtime activist against the death penalty. It is up to a news reporter (Kate Winslet) to piece together the evidence of the crime and attempt to save Gale’s life before it is too late.
7. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, December
As the concluding chapter in the extremely successful LOTR series, Return of the King is rumored to be the best of the three. Again, we follow hobbits Sam and Frodo on their quest to take the Ring of Power to the center of Mordor to destroy it, but not without the company of Gollum, the devious creature that audiences know cannot be trusted. Anyone who’s read the books knows what’s to come, and some additional storylines have been inserted so everyone can still say “The book was better.”
8. 25th Hour, in theaters now
Can you change your life in one day? In the newest film from acclaimed director Spike Lee, Hour is this year’s answer to 8 Mile. Edward Norton plays Monty Brogan, your average everyday guy, except that he’s a drug dealer who is about to go to prison for seven years. In his final hours, Monty must decide who to spend his time with and try to figure out who turned him in. The movie follows Brogan’s last day of freedom and asks its viewers, “What would you do?” Norton stars alongside Red Dragon costar Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rosario Dawson and Barry Pepper.
9. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, in selected theaters now
Welcome to George Clooney’s directorial debut, depicting the “true” story behind former television game show host Chuck Barris’s secret life as a CIA “covert operative.” Much like Denzel Washington’s first directing effort, Antwone Fisher, Clooney chose to star in this film along with Drew Barrymore, Ocean’s Eleven costar Julia Roberts, and Sam Rockwell, who plays the mysterious Barris.
10. The Recruit, January 31
When you are the up-and-coming actor of the week in Hollywood, it seems as though you have more movies released in a year than Liza Minnelli has ex-husbands. Thus, Colin Farrell stars in his third film this year as CIA trainee James Clayton, under the supervision and superb veteran acting of Al Pacino. Just when Clayton is ready to “wash out” of his CIA training, his boss gives him the ultimate assignment because, of course, he is the smartest in his class. Even with the backbone of a tolerable cast, The Recruit could disappoint because of its all-too-familiar CIA-movie scenario, which revolves around what sounds more like an old X-Files notion: trust no one.
