Bright Young Things
Directed by comedian and actor Stephen Fry, this is an adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s 1930 novel, Vile Bodies, following the antics of a group of fashionable young Londoners at play. The cast is large and interesting, and the movie is likely to be risqué, subversive and fun. With Peter O’Toole and Dan Aykroyd. Opens July 23.
Callas Forever
A fictionalised account of the last days of the tragic opera diva Maria Callas. Starring Fanny Ardant as the singer and Jeremy Irons as her former manager and friend, trying to lure her out of retirement, it is directed by Franco Zeffirelli, who knew and worked with Callas. Being a Zeffirelli picture, it is likely to have great music and scenery — and lots of sentiment. Opens July 2.
Catch That Kid
When her mountaineer father (Sam Robards) is paralysed in a climbing accident, 12-year-old Maddy (Kristen Steward) goes on a mission to steal the cash needed for an operation to help him. Basically a heist movie with the twist that the thieves are 12-year-old kids. Directed by Bart Freundlich, it is a remake of a Danish movie and has been well-received. Opens July 2.
Dawn of the Dead
A re-envisioning of George Romero’s 1978 apocalyptic horror classic, Dawn of the Dead. An unexplained plague has decimated the world’s population, but the victims aren’t dying — instead they are being transformed into zombies desperate to devour the few remaining living. A small group of desperate survivors seek refuge in a large mall. Probably well done but lacking in the macabre humour and social comment of the original. Stars Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames and Mekhi Phifer. Opens July 23.
Fahrenheit 9/11
Having won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, Michael Moore’s scabrous dissection of the links between the presidential Bush family and Saudi oil barons the Bin Ladens is sure to cause controversy. He may go over the top sometimes, but Moore’s flamboyant documentary style is certain to entertain and provoke. Opens July 30.
The Girl Next Door
Eighteen-year-old Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) is a straight-arrow overachiever who has never really lived until he falls for his new neighbour, the beautiful and seemingly innocent Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert). Except she turns out to be a porn star. Can the teen romp picture incorporate some risqué material? Opens July 30.
Hidalgo
Set in 1890, this tells the story of a former Pony Express rider (The Lord of the Rings‘s Viggo Mortensen) who travels to Arabia with his horse, Hidalgo, to compete in the “Ocean of Fire” — a horse race with a prize of $10 000. A swashbuckling adventure romp of a movie, Hidalgo is going as uncomplicated, bold fun. May lack depth. With Omar Sharif in a small role. Opens July 23.
Johnson Family Vacation
The Johnson Family embarks on a cross-country trek to its annual family reunion, with plenty of disasters along the way. The family has Cedric the Entertainer as dad, Vanessa L Williams as mom, Lil’ Bow Wow as the rapper-wannabe son, Solange Knowles as the teenage daughter and Gabby Soleil as the youngest child, whose imaginary dog causes some trouble. Could be fun. Opens July 9.
The Ladykillers
In this madcap comedy (a remake of the 1955 Ealing classic), Tom Hanks plays a fake professor who rents a room from a little old lady, planning to use her home as a base for a criminal scheme. The Coen brothers are sure to make a meal of it, with plenty of oddball humour, though fans of their more original movies may be disappointed. Opens July 2. See Pages 4 and 5.
Knuckleheads on the loose
Laws of Attraction
A romantic comedy starring Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore as two divorce lawyers who fall for each other. The advance word is that despite interesting casting, this one is a dud. Opens July 30.
Mean Girls
Cady Horan (Lindsay Lohan) has grown up in the African bush. Now she’s in the United States, having to learn to survive in a whole new jungle: high school. Directed by Mark S Waters, who also made last year’s version of Freaky Friday, this could be a teen high-school comedy that’s better than most. Opens July 16.
Other Side of the Bed
An off-the-wall Spanish musical from director Emilio MartÃnez Lázaro, about two friends secretly having affairs with each other’s girlfriends. Opens July 16.
Ripley’s Game
The continuing story of “the talented Mr Ripley”, the amoral murderer and career criminal played by Matt Damon in Anthony Minghella’s movie of the Patricia Highsmith novel. Now he’s played by John Malkovich, and Italian director Liliana Cavani (The Night Porter) is at the helm. Now married and living in France, Ripley has to concoct a dastardly plan to save himself from exposure. Opens July 9.
Sonny
The debut directorial outing from Nicolas Cage, Sonny tells the story of a 26-year-old soldier (James Franco) returning to his home town of New Orleans and his previous life as a gigolo. Now keen to go straight, he soon finds it is isn’t going to be that easy. Despite Cage’s good intentions here, he may be advised not to give up the day job. Opens July 30.
Spider-Man II
The sequel to the movie that holds the record for biggest opening gross, much is riding on Spider-Man II. In this outing, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is beset with numerous personal problems while his alter ego Spider-Man confronts the brilliant Dr Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina). Opens July 9.
Caught in a web of steel
The Statement
The story of a Frenchman (Michael Caine) who was involved in the killing of Jews in France during World War II. On the run ever since, he has been protected by various secret Catholic societies. Based in part on a true story, the film boasts an extraordinary cast of British acting talent — besides Caine, who gets better all the time, there is Tilda Swinton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Northam and Alan Bates in his last screen role before he died. Opens July 16.
13 Going on 30
A 13-year-old (Jennifer Garner) wishes she was 30 — and, lo and behold, she wakes up 17 years later, having done some bad stuff in the meantime. May be amusing, but it will not be noted for its profundity on the themes of ageing and personal responsibility. Opens July 30.
Tupac: Resurrection
Gathering home movies and other footage, and with voice-over drawn from his own recordings, this is a portrait of rapper Tupac Shakur, who was shot dead in 1996. Some have called it moving, others manipulative. Opens July 2.
Twisted
Newly promoted police inspector Jessica Shepard (Ashley Judd) is searching for a serial killer, and is shocked to discover that men she has recently slept with are victims. Directed by Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff, The Unbearable Lightness of Being) and starring a great cast (Andy Garcia, Samuel L Jackson), this film looks like it could be a superior thriller. Opens July 2.
Walking Tall
A crime-action movie starring wrestlers The Rock and Johnny Knoxville. The former is a retired soldier who returns to his home town to discover that the latter, his high-school rival, has closed the lumber mill and turned to crime. Should meet the demands of those who want macho chest-thumping. Opens July 16.
The Whole Ten Yards
For this sequel to 2000’s The Whole Nine Yards, Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry return as the retired Mafioso and suburban dentist respectively. The first one was funny, and The Whole Ten Yards at least promises a few laughs. Opens July 16.
Compiled by Dave Chislett. Release dates correct at time of going to press