2006 - A Much Further Future Look

Not a lot to discuss almost a quarter way through 2005, even though pre-production and production must surely be underway for a number of movies. Most of the films so far are animated films or comic book/superheros, fantasy sequels - not a lot of originality. With the number of comic-based movies coming out, it will be interesting to see what effect, if any, Sin City's particular presentation has on any of them.


May 19, 2006 - The Da Vinci Code. A mystery-thriller - can such a genre really capture critical acclaim, a combination Passion of the Christ and the Bourne Supremacy?

July 21, 2006 - Lady in the Water. A possible Shyamalan make or break movie that will determine if his original success revealed a creative master or a lucky idea. With his The Village, a mixed success (though some have lauded its intentions), there isn't a clear cut opinion on his continued creative talent I would think.

Fall 2006 - Truth, Justice and the American Way, a biopic of actor George Reeves of Superman fame. A possible Cinderella Man (2005) formula. Has promise.

2006 Release - Rendezvous with Rama. If actually made and distributed, it would be a significant accomplishment and widely anticipated science fiction movie, based on a reputable writer Arthur C. Clarke (of 2001 fame).

In short, 2006 is looking pretty bleak at this time, maybe foretelling the economy and national elections.

One film I am eagerly anticipating is Roland Emmerich's Soul of the Age which dramatizes the life of Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxord who many feel is the true author of the Shakespeare canon.

This is Emmerich's first attempt at serious drama and can be the catalyst toward acceptance of Oxford as Shakespeare, though it probably will receive the JFK treatment from the establsihment media. I know that Emmerich strongly believes in the Oxfordian theory and as one who is deeply interested in the Shakespeare authorship question, this is one I look forward to.

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Originally posted by Howard Schumann
One film I am eagerly anticipating is Roland Emmerich's Soul of the Age which dramatizes the life of Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxord who many feel is the true author of the Shakespeare canon.

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Sounds interesting, but is it going to really be breaking new ground on this issue? I know it's an issue that's been covered by books in some detail in the past. It is somewhat difficult to believe that one person alone could have produced so many works of genius, but will this film be anything more than just another "Shakespeare in Love"?

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Originally posted by JustaFied


Sounds interesting, but is it going to really be breaking new ground on this issue? I know it's an issue that's been covered by books in some detail in the past. It is somewhat difficult to believe that one person alone could have produced so many works of genius, but will this film be anything more than just another "Shakespeare in Love"?

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Hopefully it will be more. After all, there has never been a film before connecting Oxford's life to Shakespeare. Emmerich has said that he wants to shed his reputation for making special-effects blockbusters by shooting "more difficult, socially relevant" films.

Soul of the Age will be a political thriller set in Elizabethan England that explores the controversial theory that William Shakespeare was not the author of his famous plays.

"I am convinced that the William Shakespeare we know was a fraud," Emmerich said, "that he almost certainly did not write the Shakespeare plays." He plans to begin shooting "Soul" in England in the fall with an all-British cast.

"This will be a chance for me to show people I can work with actors, that I can direct drama," he said.

Emmerich said he will use substantial special effects in the film -- including re-creating the entire city of London in the 17th century.

I can't wait.

Soul of the Age to be acceptable and distinguisable from Shakespeare in Love must shed any doubt of romantic comedy and become a serious dramatic piece that penetrates in realistic terms the veils of mystery and obscurity that surrounds Shakepeare. Whether or not another Passion of the Christ approach using the actual language of the times would bring in or turn off the audience will be a risk that Emmerich will have to ponder deeply.

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Originally posted by tabuno
Soul of the Age to be acceptable and distinguisable from Shakespeare in Love must shed any doubt of romantic comedy and become a serious dramatic piece that penetrates in realistic terms the veils of mystery and obscurity that surrounds Shakepeare. Whether or not another Passion of the Christ approach using the actual language of the times would bring in or turn off the audience will be a risk that Emmerich will have to ponder deeply.

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Shakespeare in Love is speculative fiction based upon zero evidence. Hopefully Soul of the Age will be a drama based on the actual evidence of Oxford's life and his biographical connection to the plays and sonnets.

So far 2006 is shaping up with large gaps in the movie schedule in January, February, March, April (half way through 2005) with only a serious effort at a Pink Panther (remake) on tap, a bunch of remakes in May Mission Impossible (if it really gets filmed) and The Posidon Adventure, and X-Men 3 as well as the much talked about The Da Vinci Code (that may be all talked out by the pre-publicity that its been getting more than a year before its release), another Superman movie (that will attempt a Batman Begins repeat that in itself doesn't bode well), and Cars (another animated feature that still just doesn't have the same magical aura as 2005 much less 2004), Pirates of the Carribbean 2, and then Lady in the Water (July 2006) that will really provide some indication of M. Night Shyamalan's ability to repeat his initial few successes (it's all on the table this time), another new comic superhero effort in August with Ghost Rider.

2006 is more and more looking dismal with no really blockbuster movies and nothing compellingly interesting that must been seen except of course The Da Vinci Code mostly because of the controversy. This may be the worst year yet and a death knell for some movie studios, a much needed shake up is on the horizon...the industry is in real bad shape with few if any original works in post-production.

2006 is more and more looking dismal with no really blockbuster movies and nothing compellingly interesting

I know Hollywood is a major player but aren't you glad there's a whole world of cinema out there, there's always that hidden gem to be discovered and treasured.

Cheers Trev.

Almost every year, there are movies that seem to slip under the microscope to either become run away sleepers or if not run away, personal movie favorites. So I would assume 2006 will not be any different even though it looks like that overall it will be a terrible year for the industry with no end in sight. My personal favorite sleeper movies include:

Dogville (2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Connie and Carla (2004)
The Company (2003)
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
The Cooler (2003)
Calendar Girls (2003)
Fear and Trembling (2003)
Holes (2003)
Lost in Translation (2003)
Pieces of April (2003)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
One Hour Photo (2002)
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Stranded (2002)
Whale Rider (2002)
Mostly Martha (2001)
Spirited Away (2001)
Almost Famous (2000)
Being John Malkovich (2000)
High Fidelity (2000)
House of Mirth (2000)
Memento (2000)
The Widow of Saint-Pierre (2000)
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Galaxy Quest (1999)
The Iron Giant (1999)
The Cidar House Rules (1999)
Afterlife (1998)
The Truman Show (1998)
Sliding Doors (1998)
Run, Lola, Run (1998)
My Giant (1998)
2 Days in the Valley (1996)
Fly Away Home (1996)
Twelve Monkeys (1996)
The Joy Luck Club (1996)
The Secret of Roan Inish (1995)
The Secret Garden (1993)
The Big Blue (1988)
The Name of the Rose (1986)
Nomads (1986)
Brazil (1985)
Ghostbusters (1984)
Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
Wavelength (1983)
Blade Runner (1982)
Tootsie (1982)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
THX-1138 (1971)

This movie is timed to hit the audiences in the fall of 2007, a time when serious movies come out and is well placed for Oscar consideration. Unlike "Beyond the Sea" that came out earlier in 2005 about Bobby Darin, this new bio-pic about George Reeves who played Superman on television from 1952 to 1957 has a number of compelling human interest elements that could make it a hit. There is the superhero aspect, the mystery-angle aspect, A-list star aspect of Ben Affleck, Andrien Brody, and Diane Lane that offer to make this movie a sleeper. The uncertainty of a director remains a weak link.

It's unknown at this point whether this movie will actually get moving. Based on Philip Pullman novels, it has the dubious distinction of having to be slated after Naria comes out later this year. Can another girl fantasy tale really fly high? A fascinating conceptual fantasy movie but like Kingdom of Heaven and Troy/Alexander...timing is sometimes a key element between success and failure.

This all-star cast of voices has special written all over it as the animation suprise of next year set to be released November 2, 2007 regarding a story about a graduate bee and a florist.

Whew!!! The 2006 movie season seems to be getting ready for an adequate, if not great season, with late year blockbusters still be to announced.

There are fortunately for the industry the hoped for blockbusters lined up (all sequels):

Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction (March 31).
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (March 31).
Mission Impossible 3 (May 5).
Poseidon (May 12).
X-Men 3 (May 26).
Superman Returns (June 30).
Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man’s Chest (July 7).
Casino Royale (November 17).

Absent earlier predictions include: Truth, Justice and the American Way, a biopic of actor George Reeves of Superman fame and Rendezvous with Rama.

Some of the more promising movies include:

The Gathering (January 6). Presenting a possibly intelligent and possibly substantive, qualitatively creepy look at a religious horror/thriller.

Nanny McPhee (January 27). An upscale version of Mary Poppins without the music.

Eight Below (February 17). A decent, if not, dazzling Antarctica survival stories involving sled dogs.

Running Scared (February 24). A sleeper action drama of a mobster who must recover a gun used in a mob-hit.

Goal! The Dream Begins (March 3). A soccer movie and a intimate look at a transplanted soccer player released during the year of the world soccer championships - may get a big bounce.

V For Vendetta (March 17). Another attempt at last year’s Sin City.

Inside Man (March 24). A hostage drama with named actors and Spike Lee as director.

A Scanner Darkly (March 31). Another Phillip K. Dick inspired science fiction movie involving an undercover cop fighting the losing war on drugs that boasts a strong cast.

Lucky You (April 7). A high stakes poker game movie directed by Curtis Hanson (Wonder Boys and L.A. Confidential).

American Dreamz (April 14). An offbeat comedy drama involving show business and politics starring Hugh Grant and Dennis Quaid.

The Sentinel (April 21). An action thriller with Michael Douglas, a blackmailed secret service agent trying to clear his name and prevent an attack on the President.

The Da Vinci Code (May 19). The long awaited movie version of the best seller mystery book starring Tom Hanks, directed by Ron Howard.
Over The Hedge (May 19). A big Dream Works animation movie about suburbia.

The Omen 666 (June 9). An attempt at a quality remake of the 1976 horror movie.

Car (June 9). Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar’s big production animation about cars.

A Home Prairie Companion (June 9). A fictionalized version of the award-winning show directed by Robert Altman and starring a all-star cast.

Pathfinder (June 16). A pre-Columbus, fictionalized account of a Norseman’s to carve of peace between American Indians and his kinfolk.

Click (June 23). A time-jumping comedy drama starring Adams Sandler.

The Devil Wears Prada (June 30). A comedy drama about high-style magazine industry.

A bunch of comedies scheduled for July 14.

Lady in the Water (July 21). Another M. Night Shyamalan’s attempt to bring back the magic that his Village (2004) didn’t quite have.

Miami Vice (July 28). A risky movie version of the 1980s television version directed by the same televison and now movie director Michael Man. A more serious, hard-hitting drama could make this movie a real hit.

The Ant Bully (August 4). Warner Brother’s attempt at their big-production, all-star animation movie about ants.

Untitled: World Trade Center Project (August 11). Can director Oliver Stone even pull it off in time?

Yankee Irving (August 25). A sleeper animation movie about a young boy and baseball originally developed by the late Christopher Reeve.

Gridiron Gang (September 15). Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson’s attempt at serious acting as a probation officer trying to create a champion high school football team from teenage inmates (based on a true story).

Running with Scissors (September 22). A strong cast leads his comedy drama about a look back at a man who’s mother had serious issues.

Children of Men (September 29). A strong cast and a credible director (Alfonso Cuaron) present a science fiction movie about the tenuous human race about to face extinction.

Marie Antoinette (October 13). Sophia Coppola directs Kirsten Dunst as a young Marie Antoinette who became Queen of France.

Stranger than Fiction (November 10). An off-beat comedy about a man who begins to hear his live being narrated and he seeks to save his life when he hears he is about to die directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland and Monster’s Ball).

Happy Feet (November 17). A fusion of animation and musical for the family in the heart of Antarctica (An Ice Age with music) with a strong cast of stars put together by Warner Brothers.

Charlotte’s Web (December 20). A serious attempt to bring the beloved book to the big screen using live action and animation with one of the best and strongest cast of voices this year.

The Good Shepherd (December 22). A dark dramatic thriller about one man’s ascent and sacrifice in the early days of the Central Intelligence Agency, a possible Academy Award nominee.