Date: Fri 12-Sep-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Playing-summer-blockbusters

Full Text:

NOW PLAYING: Summer's Blockbusters & Near Misses

By Trey Paul Alexander III

A huge chunk of Hollywood's big-screen gold is garnered between Memorial Day

and Labor Day, and early estimates project 1997's summer was bright for

Tinseltown's honchos: The key 17-week spell is expected to set a new record of

$2.40 billion. Instead of assessing the merits of the top ten films by the

millions they earned or lost, let's examine them on the basis of what ended up

on the screen. The highest grossing movies of summer `97 are (in descending

order):

Men in Black . For the second straight year, Will Smith proved he is a

bonafide, skyrocketing superstar. Last summer he blew away aliens, and the 4th

of July weekend, in Independence Day . This time he crushed aliens (and the

same holiday weekend) by teaming with Tommy Lee Jones in this clever sci-fi

comedy. As two super-cool agents in shades, Smith and Jones exude charisma and

chemistry.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park . This exercise in Sequel-Making 101 could

perhaps be more aptly titled, The Lost World: Steven Spielberg on Cruise

Control . Though chock full of digital dinos and vigorous action sequences,

The Lost World comes up empty and soulless, losing the sense of awe that made

the first film so potent.

Air Force One . A rousing crowd-pleaser, this Harrison Ford vehicle is a

terrific example of what a summer movie should be: expertly crafted,

well-acted and smartly scripted, pushing all the right buttons without

insulting audiences by coming across as another heartless,

filmmaking-by-the-numbers, big-budget production. And for Ford, who has

starred in some of the biggest money-makers of all time, Air Force One

represents the actor's biggest opening weekend ever for a feature vehicle.

My Best Friend's Wedding . The typical, action-adventure filled summer rarely

sports much variety. 1997 was no different, but the occasional departure, such

as this spirited hit, does flash across the sea of big guns and bigger

explosions. Pretty woman Julia Roberts registers in a screwball comedy brave

enough to let its star play anti-heroine and include bizarre, yet charming

musical interludes.

Face/Off . Hong Kong director/action maestro John Woo was finally allowed to

depict his unique vision on American screens after being given little rein on

his first two Hollywood productions ( Hard Target and Broken Arrow ). Woo

unleashed equals a stimulating blend of visual panache and dramatic tension,

as exemplified by the zestful performances of stars John Travolta and Nicolas

Cage.

Batman & Robin . The Caped Crusader, so artfully brooding in the 1989 film -

the first in the series of Gotham City a la Big Screen - is turned into a

credit card-carrying quipmeister in this travesty. Blame should not be placed

upon newcomer George Clooney, or his co-stars, but at the feet of director

Joel Schumacher, whose vision revels in camp and gaudy excess.

Con Air . Also known as The Rock 2 , this overblown flick casts Nicolas Cage

as a heroic convict whose parole flight home is interrupted by the attempted

escape of a dozen of the most dangerous criminals in the country.

Entertaining, for sure, but pretty mindless fare.

Contact . Director Robert ( Forrest Gump ) Zemeckis crafts an exercise for

both the eyes and the mind in the summer's most intelligent Hollywood

production. The superb Jodie Foster plays a dogged scientist searching for

signs of life beyond our solar system.

Hercules . The possibility of a Best Supporting Actor nod for James Woods and

his terrific voice characterization as Hades is clue enough that Disney's 35th

animated feature sports a memorable villain. It also has a distinctive look,

some wry comments on our celebrity culture, and a camouflaged spin on the

"Superman" myth.

George of the Jungle . Though Hercules was expected to be the "go-to" kiddie

flick of the season, it ended up in a near dead heat with this surprisingly

successful take on the `60s cartoon series. Likable star Brendan Fraser, the

former "Encino Man," finds playing dumb is becoming a smart and lucrative

move.