Album Review: Pernice Brothers

By Jake McKim
Daily Cougar Staff

Now that the serious, terrifying threat of Y2K has come and gone without so much as a whimper, the motion picture industry is preparing to release an endless slew of films for the year 2000.

Major distribution companies like Columbia, Universal, Buena Vista, DreamWorks and Warner Bros. have prepared the usual big-name, box office blockbusters along with the smaller, star-in-the-making surprises that will leave people talking, à la The Sixth Sense.

In addition, watch some of the flicks that look interesting on the television ads completely bomb, and some that aren't garnering much attention bring in the big bucks.

Here's a rundown of just a few of the films that the aforementioned companies hope will pack people into the movie theaters all year long.

Columbia Pictures

Hanging Up -- Three sisters -- Eve (Meg Ryan), Georgia (Diane Keaton) and Maddy (Lisa Kudrow) -- deal with love, death and the telephone when they learn that their father (Walter Matthau), after years of wild living, intermittent affection, constant phoning and driving them crazy, is finally threatening to die. Due in theaters Feb. 11.

Center Stage -- A drama with heart and energy that follows the hopes and dreams of a tight-knit group of young dance students as they try to make a name for themselves and become stars in the fiercely competitive world of professional dance. Starring Amanda Schull and Ethan Stiefel. In theaters April 21.

Loser -- A college comedy about trusting yourself, taking a chance and turning your back on the people who take advantage of you.

Nerdy, good-natured Paul Tannek (American Pie 's Jason Biggs) is a square peg in the round hole that is New York University, but when he meets fellow student Dora Diamond (Mena Suvari), he discovers a kindred spirit. Due out this summer.

Universal Pictures

Erin Brokovich -- Julia Roberts stars as the twice-divorced mother of three young children who defies the odds by taking on and defeating a major public utilities company. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Out of Sight ) and produced by Danny DeVito. In theaters March 17.

The Skulls -- Luke McNamara (Joshua Jackson) pays the ultimate sacrifice for fitting in. Once the over-achieving New Haven townie is able to claw his way into an Ivy League college, he is invited to join an elitist secret society known as The Skulls. Due in theaters in April.

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps -- Due out July 28, this sequel to the highly-successful original features the lovable Sherman Klump (Eddie Murphy), who thought he had seen the last of his alter-ego. But Buddy Love is back and is trying to make it on his own. Having done his best to keep Buddy buried in his subconscious, the portly and painfully shy professor is horrified to find him resurfacing in untimely outbursts, and threatening his marriage plans to colleague Denise Gains (Janet Jackson).

Buena Vista Pictures

Mission To Mars -- A dramatic space adventure starring Gary Sinise, Jerry O'Connell and a slew of other actors. When the first manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors. Due out March 10.

Shanghai Noon -- The Wild West meets the Far East in a battle for honor, royalty and a trunk full of gold when acrobatic Imperial Guard Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) comes to America to rescue a beautiful kidnapped Chinese princess (Lucy Liu). In theaters this summer.

Gone In Sixty Seconds -- This adventure is about automobile aficionado Randall "Memphis" Raines, a car thief of legendary proportion. No fancy lock or alarm can stop him; your car could be there, and then suddenly gone in 60 seconds. Due in theaters this summer.

DreamWorks Pictures

Small Time Crooks -- Due out this spring, this film is written and directed by Woody Allen. He also stars in this light romantic comedy that follows the misadventures of an ex-con dishwasher and his wife, a manicurist who dreams of becoming rich by way of a bank robbery in New York City. The all-star ensemble cast includes Hugh Grant, Jon Lovitz, Michael Rapaport and Elaine May.

Gladiator -- Director Ridley Scott brings the glorious battles of the ancient Roman arena back to the big screen. Set against the splendor and barbarity of the Roman Empire in 180 A.D., Gladiator tells an epic story of courage and revenge. Starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen and Richard Harris. Due in May.

What Lies Beneath -- The supernatural thriller stars Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer as a happily married couple whose idyllic life is threatened by mysterious events. Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis should make this a hit at the box office. In theaters in July.

Warner Bros.

The Whole Nine Yards -- This comedy of gleeful misadventure, starring Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry, centers around a dentist living in Montreal whose next door neighbor, Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski (Willis) is a hit man hiding out from a dangerous Chicago crime family. In theaters Feb. 18. 

Chain of Fools -- This film about things going terribly wrong at the worst possible time stars Steve Zahn, Jeff Goldblum, Salma Hayek, David Hyde Pierce and Elijah Wood. Due out Mar. 3.

Romeo Must Die -- Kung Fu and hip-hop meet on the seedy waterfront of Oakland, Calif., when a shaky truce between Asian- and African-American crime disintegrates. Starring Jet Li and recording artists Aaliyah and DMX, look for this one Mar. 24.