Ripley's Game

Another odd John Malkovich sighting. Here he plays a grown up Tom Ripley, still murderous after all these years.

Anger Management
Timeline
Shaolin Soccer
Dirty Pretty Things

Likely to be the first 2003 release to gross over $75 million, Anger Management seems like a foolproof hit. Shaolin Soccer is like a companion piece to Beckham, but probably will skew to kids. Dirty Pretty Things is a brilliant Stephen Frears film that won't make a lot of money, but will be tightly embraced by a lot of film lovers. And why isn't there more buzz about Timeline, the first Dick Donner film in five years? He has a great U.K. cast and Paul Walker (can't win them all), but maybe it is a major sleep, still napping.

The Good Thief

A great turn by Nick Nolte in a great remake of Bob La Flambeur by the great Neil Jordan. A lock for lots of Ten Best lists come year end.

A Mighty Wind
Down With Love
Basic

A wide range of pre-Summer start titles. The new Chris Guest film could be anywhere on the map. Down With Love is a 60s style sex romp from Bring It On director Peyton Reed. And John Travolta and Sam Jackson get together for a Royale with cheese for director John McTiernan in the army thriller, Basic.

People I Know
Confidence
Blue Car

Three Sundance movies arrive (one from 2002). People I Know stars Al Pacino as press rep Bobby Zarem. Confidence is the new one from Glengarry Glen Ross director James Foley. And Karen Moncrieff's Blue Car is an interesting look into a young girl's life.

Spellbound

The doc about the spelling bee that everyone seems to love.

SUMMER ARRIVES
X-Men 2

Alan Cumming gets tail. Brian Cox takes his place amongst the flamboyant guys with British accents. They don't want $150 million this time… $200 million or bust.

Daddy Day Care

Eddie Murphy makes a huge comeback. No one writes about it. They like it better when he fails.

In America

Jim Sheridan's lovely, magical tale gets lost in the summer rush. One can only hope that Oscar candidates Samantha Morton and Djimon Hounsou aren't forgotten.

The Matrix Reloaded

You know it. You love it. You can't imagine anything less than $300 million.

Bruce Almighty
Open Range
The Wedding Party

Two movies that seem like Warner Bros. product and one film that actually is. Jim Carrey gets God-like powers for a week and wreaks havoc. Kevin Costner goes back to the west to try to find his audience. And a hyperactive remake of The In-Laws could make Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks box office heroes again as counter programming.

The Italian Job
Finding Nemo

Edward Norton doesn't want to be working for Paramount. Pixar doesn't want to be working for Disney. But while The Italian Job may end up suffering from having too many second-tier names and not enough hype to open big, Finding Nemo looks like the biggest Disney animated hit since Monster's Inc. Quick, get that Pixar deal done!

 

The Fast & The Furious 2
Master & Commander

John Singleton tries to deliver a major action movie… we'll see. Peter Weir stays down under with Russell Crowe in the first big boat movie in a long, long time.

Hollywood Homicide
Rugrats Meet The Wild Thornberrys
Freddy vs. Jason

Harrison Ford meets the rap world and other icons set hook-ups… none of this seems terribly thrilling.

The Hulk

You know it. You love it. You can't imagine anything less than $250 million.

Seabiscuit

He's a meal… he's a legend… he's a prize winning horse… he's glue. It's a great story, but can a non-Hanks drama draw a crowd in the middle of the summer? We'll see.

Charlie's Angels 2: Full Throttle

One of the most expensive sequels in history, Full Throttle will have to blow the $40 million opening of the original right off the map if this one is going to make money. And hey, wouldn't it be novel if it made sense too?