The 2001 Fall and Winter Film Preview: Part 2
As we continue to try to get back into our normal routines after the tragedy that struck America a couple of weeks ago, I must now get back to my focus here. Two weeks ago, I began a 2-part preview of the final four months of the year, and looking at what films were to be released, handicapping which ones may be the Oscar contenders for film year 2001. The month of September is now already coming to a close, so only three more months worth of films are left. Probably the three biggest releases of September are all being released this weekend, with Hearts in Atlantis, Don't Say A Word, and the offbeat Zoolander debuting. We already previewed October's films two weeks ago, so this week, it's time to finish up my fall and winter film preview with the months of November and December.
The film industry is of course going to be affected a huge deal by the tragedies that hit the United States, just as any other industry will be. Our popular culture, be it films, television, books, or music, have undoubtedly hit a new turning point, and the film industry is already showing some of the initial aftershocks. In a future article, I may start to examine the potential changes in store. Already, a number of films have been postponed indefinitely or have had to undergo digital tinkering to remove images of the New York skyline with the World Trade Center. Arnold Schwarzenegger's terrorist themed action film Collateral Damage, originally scheduled for an early October release, has now been pulled from release with no idea on when it might be released. The Spiderman previews have been pulled from theaters, because they contain a huge sequence where Spiderman spins a web between the two Twin Towers. So keep in mind that as I go through the major films to be released in November and December that their release dates may be subject to change in our new environment, and may even be pushed into next year. One film that has already been pushed to 2002 which had been scheduled for release in December is the science fiction remake The Time Machine, now being pulled to modify its ending of a New York under attack.
Not only will current and in-the-works films be affected by the new sensibilities to the unbelievable carnage that took place on American soil, but also future film product may be completely different from what people have been used to. We may see less of the violent action blockbuster film, as audiences may no longer wish to see huge explosions when reality has provided us images which no Hollywood movie could duplicate with as much force. We may see audiences looking for more comedies perhaps, or looking for more character driven dramas (which would be a very good thing). We may see audiences wanting more patriotic fare, as opposed to the more cynical views of America and its government which have been released in recent years. A lot depends on what happens in our upcoming war on terrorism and how the mood changes in the country in the months ahead. Films will remain our escape from the reality of the news around us, and it will be interesting to see what changes come to light for the kinds of films we see from now on.
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