Patrick Stoner welcomes
your questions about movies and the people who make them. Send your
questions to
pstoner@whyy.org.
Here's the current question and answer...
Q: Has the summer film glut finally come to an end?
A: Hardly.
Here are just a few that will generate controversy and enthusiasm:
There will be others, but this ought to keep you from feeling that summer's ended too soon.
- TRAINSPOTTING -- the second highest-grossing British film in England of all time. It's highly controversial, with its protagonists being heroin addicts and thieves, but it's also one of the most original and intriguing movies of the '90s.
- SURVIVING PICASSO -- the newest Merchant Ivory film starring Anthony Hopkins in what should be an Oscar-nominated performance. He brings Picasso alive in all of his ego, charisma and vulnerability.
- SHE'S THE ONE -- the post-Sundance film from Eddie Burns. Once again, he explores the intricate relationship of brothers and the even more complex intermingling of the sexes.
- BASQUIAT -- the turbulent and short life of the black modern artist who became Andy Warhol's friend and famous for much more than 15 minutes. It's revealing and not always complimentary look at the innermost clique of the art world is as fascinating as the effect it has on one young talent is disturbing.
- TIN CUP -- Kevin Costner's return to films with a sports basis, with BULL DURHAM'S director, Ron Shelton. After a number of movies in which he was out of place (ROBIN HOOD, WYATT EARP) or out of control (WATERWORLD), the charming Costner is back on screen.
- FEELING MINNESOTA -- sort of Tarantino Lite. Keanu Reeves is a loner who steals his brother's wife -- not normally a sympathetic act, but part of a complicated, violent plot involving small town hoods, lonely losers, and a lot of brotherly fist fights.
- CHAIN REACTION -- Reeves again, this time as an idealistic young scientist who finds the secret to fusion (that means free, clean, unlimited energy for all). Naturally, everybody with any power wants to find him, frame him, or crunch him. It's sort of Hitchcock Hip.
- SUPERCOP -- the most successful filmmaker in the world (who, it might surprise you to know, is named Jackie Chan) takes on the underworld with flying feet and hands. The underworld is overmatched, but what makes this film fascinating is that all of the stunts -- by both Chan and his beautiful costar -- are spectacular and performed by them.
- JACK -- with Robin Williams as a boy who ages many years for each actual year of life. Only Williams could make the improbable and deeply sentimental plot watchable.
- MATILDA -- Danny DeVito's tale of a little girl with remarkable gifts, both intellectual and magical. It's overdone but has a Monty Pythonesque quality that is intriguing and the most original villain of any recent film.
- THE FAN -- De Niro stalks again! What more do you need?
- EMMA -- The best of the year. I said it before, and I'll say it again: This latest cinematic adaptation of a Jane Austen novel is the best film I've seen so far.