Film critic Dan Dunn previews upcoming holiday films
THE MOVIE: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Nov.18)
THE STARS: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Ron Weasley, Michael Gambon, Rupert Grint
THE DIRECTOR: Mike Newell
THE SKINNY: The universe’s most celebrated orphan wizard is back and poised to square off again against the evil Lord Voldemort. In what many industry observers and diehard fans of the series have deemed a big gamble, Warner Brothers has entrusted this installment of its magical cash cow to director Mike Newell of “Mona Lisa Smile” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral” fame.
THE DRAW: Alfonso Cuaron, who directed last year’s “Prisoner of Azkaban,” was also considered a risky choice, and it paid off handsomely, Hogwarts and all. Plus, there’s no quitting on Harry now.
THE VERDICT: The studio is praying the fourth time will be a charm for this struggling franchise … OK, kidding! If anything, the Warner Bees hope there are no injuries when a gazillion Potter loyalists stampede the box office on opening weekend.
THE MOVIE: The Ice Harvest (Nov.r 23)
THE STARS: John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen, Randy Quaid, Oliver Platt
THE DIRECTOR: Harold Ramis
THE SKINNY: Cusack and Billy Bob star as a couple of sleazy lawyers from Wichita who rip off a mob boss played by Quaid in the year’s first (and only) Christmas heist movie.
THE DRAW: The cast is first rate, and a friend of a friend who knows a guy whose cousin worked on the movie told me this may be the best thing Ramis has wrought since his criminally underrated “Groundhog Day.”
A82,THE VERDICT: In a holiday season filled with the usual assortment of overly earnest Oscar contenders, this black comedy may have the last laugh.
THE MOVIE: Syriana (Nov. 25)
THE STARS: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Amanda Peet
THE DIRECTOR: Stephen Gaghan
THE SKINNY: Based on events involving real-life CIA spook Robert Baer’s (Clooney) dogged pursuit of terrorists in the Middle East, and the bureaucratic mischief in Washington that threatened the operation.
THE DRAW: Be the first person on your block to see an overly earnest Oscar contender. Plus, we had a look at the script and there’s plenty of politician-hatin’ going on in there … and who doesn’t enjoy bashing pols these days?
THE VERDICT: Gaghan penned the Academy Award-winning script for “Traffic,” so this is clearly his area of expertise. Clooney is said to be in Best Actor form here.
THE MOVIE: Aeon Flux (Dec. 2)
THE STARS: Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Marton Csokas, Sophie Okonedo, Jonny Lee Miller
THE DIRECTOR: Karyn Kusama
THE SKINNY: Theron and McDormand play a pair of intrepid Minnesota mine workers who take on the misogynistic establishment … wait, that’s “North Country.” Here, they dress up in curve-hugging bodysuits and catch flies with their eyelashes in an adaptation of MTV’s bizarro cartoon.
THE DRAW: Theron’s wardrobe. From the looks of the trailer, this could be the best action flick of the year.
THE VERDICT: Kusama was at the helm of “Girlfight,” and that movie kicked tuchis. We’re betting this one does too.
THE MOVIE: The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Dec. 9)
THE STARS: Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, Peter Pevensie
THE DIRECTOR: Andrew Adamson (“Shrek II”)
THE SKINNY: Based on C.S. Lewis’s classic novel about four World War II Brit kids who are transported to a fantastical land populated by witches and deities and cute talking animals.
THE DRAW: The title is very cool, isn’t it? Sounds sophisticated and stuff. Tilda Swinton should make for a fine White Witch, and the mega-budgeted film promises to be a technical marvel.
THE VERDICT: If the hype is to be believed, “Narnia” could be a bigger box office draw than young Mr. Potter.
THE MOVIE: Memoirs of a Geisha (Dec. 9)
THE STARS: Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh, Li Gong
THE DIRECTOR: Rob Marshall
THE SKINNY: Based on Arthur Golden’s international bestseller about a World War II era girl from a poor fishing village who grows up to become Japan’s most renowned geisha.
THE DRAW: It’s director Rob Marshall’s first film since his 2002 hit debut, “Chicago.” The female leads are spectacular. No subtitles.
THE VERDICT: At this time of year, great book usually equals darn good movie.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 4, 2005. Read the original PDF.