Welcome to the weekend. Historically, the month of January is fairly weak when it comes to new releases. Not so for 2001. This weekend, critically acclaimed Traffic moves into wide release, as does Miramax’s Oscar long-shot Chocolat. I’ll be catching both films next week. I was eagerly anticipating Traffic, but I have been warned by trusted film fans that although it is good, it’s not even close to being great.

Isaac B. starts off today’s column. He has a bone to pick with distributors who don’t let the masses see the 2000 Oscar hopefuls until 2001...

"Because it’s now 2001, I’ll soon be able to see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Traffic, and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? as they head into wide release. I’ve heard great things about them. I’ll probably enjoy them all. And I hope to hell they don’t get a single Oscar nod. The reason why is because I am sick and tired of having to wait until the year after to see the best movies of the year before. The idea of holding back possible award-winning films until quite literally the last minute so they can gain extra cash from the free publicity is insulting to the people who actually pay to see these movies, and far less effective than the studios think. Yes, it’s true that Academy voters (and people in general) have a hard time remembering films that came out in the spring. But if you wait until the last week of December, no one gets to see it and then there’s nothing to remember. Surely a better idea would be a fall release that would create not only critical but public praise as well. Lord knows it didn’t hurt American Beauty and The Sixth Sense. Besides, if a spring release is such a kiss of death, why are Gladiator and Erin Brockovich considered serious contenders? I’ll tell you why. It’s because the people who saw them loved them and are still talking about them today. The only thing people are saying about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is "well, I hear it’s good." Not exactly a ringing endorsement. I’m not trying to bad-mouth or put down the people who made Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Traffic, or Oh Brother. I just don’t see why I should bother rooting for films I’m apparently not worthy of seeing." -- Isaac B.

I have to disagree with Isaac B. on one point. Sometimes waiting until after an awards season to release a film is beneficial. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon introduces a new genre to American audiences -- the martial arts romantic drama. Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? is a Coen Brothers comedy -- a genre unto itself. In my opinion, both of these films need more than good reviews to get mass audiences to see them. Seems like every movie gets a good review from somebody these days. Golden Globe nominations, Oscar nominations, and major critics awards do influence people. I think both Oh Brother and CTHD will benefit from the manner in which they are released. But I’m perfectly willing to hear arguments to the contrary. Send me an e-mail with your thoughts. Does it bother you that many of the critically acclaimed films of 2000 don’t make it to a theater near you until 2001?

Another reason Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon needs more than good reviews to be embraced by the masses -- it is subtitled. Americans aren’t thrilled by the fact that they’ll need to read the movie they are watching. If they are going to exert that kind of energy, they want to know the movie they’ll be reading is something special. A Golden Globe or Oscar nomination or win implies that this is the case. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a huge fan of CTHD. I think everyone should see it. Ben S. has devised an easy and fun way for Americans to practice reading subtitles so they will have a more enjoyable experience...

"A quick comment about subtitles -- almost all televisions these days have the technology for captioning. Turn it on, and watch whatever you want. After a week or two, you will have become so practiced at watching and reading simultaneously that you won’t even realize you’re doing it. Caveat emptor: Some companies are better -- much better -- than others at captioning. Occasionally, especially during live newscasts and so forth, the captioning can become hopelessly muddled. On the other hand, it’s amusing to read captioning to catch last-minute changes in dialogue. This happens with The Simpsons and other animated shows all the time. Scripts are sent out to be captioned far in advance, and rarely are last-minute changes in dialogue reflected in the captioning. It’s hysterical, and sometimes depressing, to read what Bart and Homer were supposed to have said before Uncle Rupert (Murdoch) brought out the scissors. I remember in particular a Simpsons Super Bowl episode that made a crack about the Catholic church that the ex-Mrs. Murdoch allegedly demanded be excised. The spoken dialogue reflected the cut, but the captioned dialogue did not, and still doesn’t, even after multiple syndicated repeats." -- Benjamin Scuglia

See? Reading can be fun. And informative. Take Ben’s advice. Read along with your favorite shows. Prepare for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. You’ll be glad you did. Unless, of course, you agree with our next Civilian Voice, Paul D. Paul has submitted his Worst of 2000 list. CTHD isn’t on that list, but it certainly won’t be making his Top Ten either...

"The Worst Ten list is way too easy to come up with. For starters, there are two Jerry Bruckheimer films: Gone in 60 Seconds and Coyote Ugly. Plus Autumn in New York, Charlie’s Angels, Where the Heart Is, Pay It Forward, Drowning Mona, and Isn’t She Great (good year, Bette), Vertical Limit, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, Boys and Girls, The Skulls, The Next Best Thing, Reindeer Games, and Hanging Up. I know that’s more than ten, but there were a lot of bad movies this year. The most overrated movies of the year are Billy Elliot and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The most underrated are Way of the Gun and Wonderland." -- Paul Doro

Speaking of Jerry Bruckheimer, what do you folks think of the Pearl Harbor trailer? I, for one, am already over it. It looks too much like, well, a movie. Glossy Kodak moments, beautiful people, kids being so darn cute, a shot of the American flag riddled with bullets. I’m sure people are going to eat this up. It’ll probably be the next Titanic. But it just doesn’t feel the least bit authentic. Anyone else feel the same?

Finally, Shawn F. gives us his New Year’s resolution...

"My movie resolution for 2001 is this: To be as unmerciful as possible on film in general. If we don’t get vicious with Hollywood and tell them that what they are making isn’t worth our time and money, then we can just count on more garbage like Mission to Mars, The Grinch, and Coyote Ugly filling up the multiplexes." -- Shawn Fitzgerald Cambridge, Massachusetts

What’s your movie resolution for 2001? How about contributing your thoughts on movies to a certain Internet column on a weekly basis? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. What resolutions do you wish Hollywood would make in the coming year? I’m hoping for speedy WGA and SAG contract negotiations myself. And what do you think of this weekend’s new releases -- Chocolat and Traffic? Send in your reviews for Tuesday’s edition. What are your box-office predictions for fare aimed at more youthful audiences -- the upcoming AntiTrust and Save the Last Dance? Send me an e-mail, won’t you?

 

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