MW

a
called for, but the presence of "Titanic's"
DiCaprio is the key sell. This could draw
multiple demos, including younger auds—
male and female— aided by its PC-13 rating
(for sequences of violence and some sensuality/nudity)
and older moviegoers pulled in by
the tale's classic nature. Held from 2/20.
Goodbye, Lover
In this black comedy/thriller, family members
scheme to Inherit a $4 million insurance
policy. PatriciaArquetteC'Flirting With Disaster")
stars as the wife of one brother and
mistress to another. Ellen DeCeneres ("Mr.
Wrong") co-stars as a detective suspecting
murder. Dermot Mulroney ("My Best Friend's
Wedding"), Don Johnson and Mary-Louise
Parker co-star. Roland Joffe ("The Scarlet Letter")
directs; Ron Peer scripts; Arnon
Milchan'sdaughterAlexandra, who heads the
more indie-oriented Regency Vision, produces
with Patrick McDarrah, Joel Roodman
and Chris Daniel. (Warner Bros., 3/13)
Exploitips: The coming-out episode of
DeCeneres' TV series "Ellen" probably raised
her profile with moviegoers, or at least replaced
memories of "Mr. Wrong. " joffe's last
credit was the derided "Scarlet Letter, " but his
older hits (e.g., "The Killing Fields") are of the
wrong genre. So go with the gals— Arquette
and DeCeneres— and target distaff clientele.
The Butcher Boy
In a small Irish town in the early 1960s, a
young boy (Eamonn Owens) with an alcoholic
father ("Michael Collins'" Stephen Rea)
and a manic-depressive mother (Aisling
O'Sullivan) but one good friend (Alan Boyle)
has his life turn for the worse when he loses
all three. Neil Jordan (also "Michael Collins")
directs and produces, and he scripts with
Patrick McCabe. (Warner Bros., 3/13 NY/
LA/Tor, 3/27 ltd, 4/10 exp)
Exploitips: In a four-star review (Sept. '97
issue), our Calway fest critic quotably called
Jordan's 1 0th film— held from a fall release —
"an extraordinary piece of cinema.... INlot
only are the performances stunning; so is
Jordan's direction, of the caliber that says
'Oscar. '" The R rating (for language and violence)
makes this one for adult audiences, in
"Michael Collins" ($ 1 1 million) numbers.
The Big One
Roger Moore (whose "Roger & Me" memorably
zinge^d corporate America) took along
a camera crew on his 1 996 book tour. In this
resulting documentary, Moore's city stops
provide fodder for more corporate satire. Garrison
Keillor and Studs Terkel make appearances.
Michael Moore directs and scripts;
Kathleen Gylnn produces. (Miramax, 3/1 3)
Exploitips: in a 3 l/2-star review (upcoming
issue), our Toronto critic calls this a "satirical
indictment of late 20th century
capitalism," finding Moore's "patchworkquilt
approach" energetic ifnot always coherent.
(Note: The movie is video pumped to 35
mm.) Expect "Roger" fans, if in fewer number.
Hush
In this thriller, new wife Helen ("Great
Expectations'" Gwyneth Paltrow) moves with
her husband ("That Thing You Do!'s"
Johnathan Schaech) to an apparently perfect
country estate called Kilronan. But discord
and danger lurk there in the form of his possessive
mother ("A Thousand Acres'" Jessica
Lange). Jonathan Darby directs, and he scripts
with Michael Cristofer; Douglas Wick produces
for Red Wagon. (TriStar, 3/1 3 wide)
Exploitips: Aka "Kilronan" and "Bloodline,"
"Hush" plays the woman-in-jeopardy
card that's palatable to both genders, so
TriStar's planned 1 ,500-screen bow seems
appropriate for a programmer. But, in the
wake of "Scream" and "Scream 2," this domestic
thriller could feel underpowered, so
emphasize the chills and the perils to interest
the likely twentysomething crowd.
One Man's Hero
Based on a true story, this drama tells the
story of the St. Patrick's Brigade, an Irish-
American artillery battalion that defected to
fight for Mexico in the Mexican-American
war of the 1 840s. Tom Berenger and Daniela
Romo star. In a change of pace. Lance Hool
("McHale's Navy") directs, and he produces
with Bill MacDonald ("Sliver"); the late Milton
S. Gelman wrote the script. (MGM, 3/1 3)
Exploitips: A pickup to plump the Lion's
slate, "One Man's Hero" has the makings of
a marginal performer, just as Berenger's period
piece "Last of the Dogmen" was for the
defunct Savoy. To hype this on its crowded
weekend, emphasize the war (if not the defection)
aspect to arouse male sympathies.
B. Monkey
In this drama, a wild beauty of the London
streets (Italian starlet Asia Argento, of "Queen
Margot") becomes the object of passion of a
middle-class schoolteacher ("I Shot Andy
Warhol's" Jared Harris, son of Richard). "Michael
Collins'" Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and
Rupert Everett ("My Best Friend's Wedding")
co-star. Michael Radford ("II Postino") directs
the $10.5 million project; Andrew Davies
adapts his novel with Michael Thomas; Stephen
Woolley ("Michael Collins") and Colin
Vaines produce. (Miramax, 3/1 3 NY/LA, 3/20
exp top 20, 3/27 exp top 40)
Exploitips: At least the moves from several
1997 slots and a Feb. '98 date distances this
from the Feb. '96 eruption when long-on-theproject
filmmaker Michael Caton-Jones exited—
and called Miramax's explanation "a
farrago of lies. " In any case, the R-rated "B.
Monkey" now faces a bevy of specialized
competition, including two entries from
Miramax itself and two studio films ('The
Butcher Boy" and "The Man in the Iron
Mask") that could draw away arthousers and
young hip mainstreamers. The Radford name,
thanks to "II Postino's"$75 million worldwide
gross, lends this a marketable cachet, though
the rating (for strong sexuality, language, violence
and drug content) might dissuade the
olderpatrons that made "II Postino" a success.
Suicide Kings
In this black comedy, four collegians nab a
retired mobster (Christopher Walken) to help
them. Denis Leary ("Wide Awake"), Jay Mohr
("Picture Perfect"), Henry Thomas ("Legends
of the Fall") and Sean Patrick Flanery ("Powder")
also star. Peter O'Fallon directs; Wayne
Rice and Cina Goldman script; Rice produces
with Morrie Eisenman. (Live, 3/1 3)
Exploitips: Our Toronto critic (Oct. '97
issue) gave this three stars, citing Walken's
energetic turn and narrative twists. Held from
several dates; rated R for strong violence and
language, and for some nudity and drug use.
The Mighty
In this comedy/drama, two outcasts—
giant, slow-witted boy, and a sickly but superintelligent
child—team to face life. Sharon
Stone, Kieran Culkin, Gillian Anderson (TV's
"The X-Files"), Harry Dean Stanton and Gena
Rowlands star. Peter Chelsom (the success
d'estime "Funny Bones") directs; Charles
Leavitt ("Sunchaser") adapts Rodman
Philbrick's novel "Freak the Mighty"; Simon
Fields and Jane Startz produce. (Miramax,
3/1 3 NY/LA, 3/20 exp top 40, 3/27 wide)
Exploitips: One critic called "Funny
Bones" "extraordinarily strange, "and this one
might avoid the ordinary also, despite a comforting
PC-13 rating (for elements of violence
and peril). From the days of its disastrous
launch of I993's "Into the West," Miramax
has wanted to establish a family label; even
more than with Miramax's "Wide Awake,"
the question here seems to be whether the
distributor wants to pull children to stories
about children or adults to stories about children.
Held from Dec/Jan. dates.
MARCH 20
Primary Colors
Mike Nichols helms this adaptation of
Newsweek columnist Joe Klein's satiric bestseller
about a Southern presidential hopeful
(John Travolta) and his pushy wife ("The Winter
Guest's" Emma Thompson)—who bear
similarities to current White Housers. Billy
Bob Thornton ("Sling Blade"), Kathy Bates,
Adrian Lester and Moira Tierney co-star.
Elaine May scripts. (Universal, 3/20 wide)
Exploitips: This could be the month's highest-profile
release, due in equal measure to
the real-life Washington connection and to
the Hollywood teaming of Travolta and
Thompson. Exhibitors can help by reminding
moviegoers of the fun they had at Nichols'
"The Birdcage, " which although also a winter
release was a major hit at the boxoffice.
The Object of My Affection
In this romantic comedy/drama, a social
worker ("Picture Perfect's" Jennifer Aniston)
who rents a room to a gay teacher ("Clueless'"