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"The Good Shepherd", directed by Robert De Niro, will arrive in theaters next year
October 23, 2005
The big beef with Hollywood this year, and in fact for the last few years, has been the dearth of movies for adults amid the stream of teen movies arriving in theaters, most if not all lacking in substance and hardly threatening audiences with big ideas.
That's now changing. The new thing at box offices: movies of social and political commentary. After years in the desert of no ideas, Hollywood is now daring to challenge mainstream thought with a series of movies that raise questions about the war in Iraq, political complacency at home, the downtrodden, and the use and abuse of power in Washington.
Already in theaters is the George Clooney-directed "Good Night, and Good Luck," a political drama set in the McCarthy era 50 years ago. The movie came out in limited release about three weeks ago and is now climbing the charts, though it has yet to break into the top 10.
Though set in the past, "Good Night" addresses issues with undeniable parallels in present times in its dramatization of the showdown between the legendary CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow and Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy and his crusade to root out communists in government and Hollywood. (Ed won, Joe lost.)
Clooney is fully mindful of the comparisons it raises. "A film like this can get you in a bit of trouble," he told reporters at the Venice Film Festival. "My goal is not to attack the administration. My goal is to raise a debate."
Also out, and new this weekend, is "North Country," starring Charlize Theron as a factory worker who rises up against sexual harassment at the plant, based on an actual legal case and reminiscent of "Silkwood" of the early '80s. The movie debuted at No. 5 at the box office for the weekend.
All this is reminiscent of Hollywood during the Vietnam War era, a period noted for politically pointed movies, such as "The Deer Hunter," "Apocalypse Now" and "Coming Home," but also the rise of young directors and actors who in those few years forever changed American movie-making. But while those figures remained prominent, the number of controversial movies in wide release diminished in the years that followed, with the lone exception of films from Oliver Stone, such as "JFK."
Why the big change? Credit the war in Iraq and an increasingly polarized nation, the red versus blue America, with little tinting in between. Take away the sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, and it's a mood incredibly similar to the late 60s.
Kevin Maher, writing in the London Times, points to a string of films that will explore sensitive political issues. Soon to be released is a Sam Mendes’ movie based on "Jarhead," a book by Anthony Swofford, which examines the chaos of Desert Storm and the madness of war. Another movie due out this year, called "Syriana" and starring Clooney, has underlying messages about terrorism as well as America’s role in the oil-producing Middle East.
Then sometime next year "The Good Shepherd," directed by Robert De Niro, will arrive in theaters with the promise of revealing the untold history of the CIA. Also coming: David Ayer’s "Harsh Times," about a man’s attempts to readjust to life at home and put the horrors of war behind him after serving in the Gulf War.
The question facing Hollywood is whether these message movies will do any better than the teen fare, which has been disappointing. For that reason, how well "Good Night" does at the box office will be watched closely.
Meanwhile, "Doom," the computer game-based movie starring The Rock, opened at No. 1 at the box office over the weekend, bringing in almost $15.4 million. "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story" opened at No. 2 with $9.3 million in ticket sales, while "North Country" opened with about $6.5 million and finished No. 5.
In video rentals, new releases "Amityville Horror" and "Interpreter" were Nos. 1-2 on Billboard’s video rentals chart for the week ended Oct. 16, sliding the rest of the top eight down two notches.
In music, Alicia Keys’ "Unplugged" was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the week ended Oct. 16, its first week in release. Other new releases on the chart included Gary Allan’s "Tough All Over" and Ricky Martin’s "Life."
James Frey kept his impressive streak intact for yet another week, with his book "A Million Little Pieces" No. 1 on The New York Times’ nonfiction paperback bestsellers list for the week ended Oct. 15 and USA Today’s book chart for the week ended Oct. 16 for the fourth straight week.
Source: medialifemagazine
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