Holiday Movie Preview 1998
by Stephen Thompson
November 25th, 1998
The holiday movie season, the six-week stretch from late November through the beginning of the new year, promises to be especially strange in 1998. Traditionally, it's a time reserved for serious, dramatic films with thought-provoking plots, films meant to stir up talk of Academy Awards, or at least People's Choice Awards. The surprise 1996 hit Scream changed all that, clearing the way for summer-style mayhem with a postmodern twist. What's more, as the millennium approaches, Hollywood's thoughts turn to spiritual matters, particularly during this, the holiest time of year. So what does Christmas 1998 have in store? By the looks of things, a fusion: a combination of the serious plots of years past, the postmodern, self-referential twists of years present, and a new, seasonally appropriate, Bible-derived spiritual awareness for the future. Even Hollywood types know that they, like the rest of us, must one day answer to The Big Film Critic In The Sky. But how to sort through this tangled mess? With the indispensable A.V. Club Guide To Holiday Films, of course.
Babe: Pig In The CitySerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: In this sequel to the beloved, Academy Award-nominated Babe, Babe the gallant pig journeys to the city, where he engages in some antics, some of which will hopefully involve a lovable monkey and/or Academy Award nominee James Cromwell, reprising his role as a laconic farmer.
Postmodern Twist: Director George Miller (Mad Max, The Road Warrior) has cunningly turned a lovable, relatively low-budget sleeper film into a crass, gargantuan (the budget is rumored to be around $80 million) merchandising machine.
What The Bible Says: Mosaic law restricts the consumption of swine, considering them unclean beasts, which may be part of the reason Babe's predecessors don't fare well in the Bible. Their most notable appearance comes in Matthew 8:31-32, in which Jesus casts a group of devils into a herd of swine, causing them to "[run] violently down a steep place into the sea, and [perish] in the waters." But Babe is no ordinary pig, and if his selfless, spunky attitude carries over into this sequel, he'll continue to serve as a moral exemplar.
A Bug's LifeSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: An independent-thinking ant (Dave Foley) leads a group of nutty misfit bugs into battle against some villainous grasshoppers. The second animated-bug movie of the season—and the second-ever feature film from Pixar Animation Studios, which brought you Toy Story—features the voice work of such acclaimed superstars as Phyllis Diller, John Ratzenberger, and Edie McClurg. If nothing else, the animation looks amazing.
Postmodern Twist: In yet another case of Hollywood cannibalizing itself in bizarre and unspeakably expensive ways, the story behind A Bug's Life has as much to do with its competition (DreamWorks' recent blockbuster Antz) as its plot, script, or animation.
What The Bible Says: Learning lessons from our insect friends is an ancient custom, as indicated by Proverbs 6:6, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise."
A Civil ActionSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: John Travolta is a small-time lawyer who becomes embroiled in a convoluted case of legal-thriller proportions. Robert Duvall, John Lithgow, and William H. Macy also star.
Postmodern Twist: John Grisham is in no way involved.
What The Bible Says: Lawyers and scribes challenged and conspired against Jesus frequently. They have, however, proven useful to Scientologists.
The FacultySerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: Unlike many recent films, which have shied away from examining important issues facing young people, The Faculty addresses a number of problems kids face every day: peer pressure, drugs and alcohol, and the presence of evil aliens occupying the bodies of seemingly wholesome educators. Directed by Robert Rodriguez (Desperado) from a screenplay by Kevin Williamson (Scream), The Faculty dares cover this taboo subject. Teen heartthrob Usher, making his frequently shirtless screen debut, joins the perpetually mournful-looking Elijah Wood as students pitted against a faculty that includes Piper Laurie and Jon Stewart.
Postmodern Twist: It would be wrong to expect anything postmodern or self-referential about frightmaster Williamson's screenplay.
What The Bible Says: On the subject of false teachers, the Bible is clear. "But the teacher, which shall presume to speak a word in my name which I have not commended him to speak, even that teacher shall die." (Deuteronomy 18:20)
Jack FrostSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: Michael Keaton, star of TV's Working Stiffs, appears in Jack Frost as a jazz musician who dies and is reincarnated as the title character, an intelligent snowman. In the process, he learns how to be a better father. At the helm is Troy Miller, who has directed many episodes of HBO's hilarious Mr. Show.
Postmodern Twist: The makers of Jack Frost have cleverly co-opted a popular cultural figure for their own commercial purposes, not unlike such renowned postmodernists as Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons.
What The Bible Says: There may be a Biblical pattern to Jack Frost's tale of death, resurrection, and redemption.
Mighty Joe YoungSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: In this remake of the 1949 film, itself somewhat of a gentler remake of King Kong, a large, good-hearted ape raised from birth with Charlize Theron is brought to the big city by unscrupulous businessmen. Problems ensue.
Postmodern Twist: A remake of a quasi-remake is fairly postmodern to begin with, but so is the fact that this big-budget Disney extravaganza has been sitting on the shelf long enough that it might already appear dated when it comes out.
What The Bible Says: 1 Kings 10:22 ("...once in three years came the navy of Tharshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes") indicates no strict prohibitions against the trafficking of apes, but it's doubtful that this applies to an ape as kind as Mighty Joe Young.
Patch AdamsSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: Robin Williams is Hunter "Patch" Adams, a lovably manic medical student who upsets stodgy authority figures with his non-traditional approach to medicine. But, believe it or not, he gets the job done. Directed by Tom Shadyac, who directed Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and written by Steve Oedekerk, who wrote and directed Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.
Postmodern Twist: Like Leslie Nielsen in the Police Squad! TV series, Williams is cast against type as a misfit manchild totally unlike the misfit manchildren he played in Flubber, Toys, and Jack.
What The Bible Says: "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands," admonishes Psalm 100:1. And who's better at provoking joyful noises than America's top funnyman?
Playing By HeartSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: Playing By Heart was originally titled Dancing About Architecture, a title that was changed for two reasons: because it sounds similar to another Christmastime release, Dancing At Lughnasa, and because Dancing About Architecture is a stupid fucking thing to name a movie. In Playing By Heart, Jay Mohr, Jon Stewart, and Sean Connery look for love and romance, although probably not with each other. Willard Carroll (producer of The Monkey Prince) directs.
Postmodern Twist: Ironically, a project best known for its colorful and unusual title is being released with the most generic moniker imaginable, although the filmmakers do deserve credit for not naming their film after a popular song.
What The Bible Says: 1 Chronicles 28:9 states, "the Lord searcheth all hearts." Wait too long, however, and you might be searching the theaters for this Heart in vain, reduced to such drastic measures as attempting to dance about architecture on your own.
The Prince Of EgyptSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: Refusing to water down their story with wise-cracking dragons or adorable raccoon sidekicks, DreamWorks again takes on Disney's animation department, this time with the PG-rated story of Moses. A sweeping epic, reports indicate that The Prince Of Egypt is surprisingly dark, complete with terrifying locust attacks and an appearance by the Angel Of Death.
Postmodern Twist: Don't expect product placements or comic relief, but The Prince Of Egypt's three (three!) soundtracks provide plenty of horrific, cross-promoted product available for purchase. Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston's duet, "When You Believe," is so insipid and saccharine, it's hard to even fathom.
What The Bible Says: The Bible is rumored to contain some information on
Moses.
Serious, Thought-Provoking Plot: In this remake of the classic Hitchcock film, Anne Heche takes over the Janet Leigh role as an employee who absconds with her employer's money before meeting a grisly fate at the Bates Motel. Director Gus Van Sant has taken one step beyond the usual task of remaking a film; he's reportedly copied it shot for shot and line for line. Why remains to be seen in this secrecy-shrouded project.
Postmodern Twist: If Van Sant's gimmick doesn't work, it could give postmodern twists a bad name, which may be the ultimate postmodern twist. Think about it.
What The Bible Says: On the subject of murder, both the Bible and Psycho are clear: Murder has consequences well beyond the initial act. Following his murder of Abel, God informs Cain: "When thou tillest the ground it shall not henceforth yield unto thee" (Genesis 4:12). Similarly, in Psycho, Norman Bates' twisted desires and murderous actions have grievous effects on himself, his family, and those around him.
RingmasterSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: Jerry Springer hosts a talk show on which an amusing cavalcade of white trash fights, cusses, and occasionally engages in lewd acts of nakedness. Ringmaster is a dramatization of what goes into the making of an episode involving bizarre love triangles, a process that allows Springer to ruminate on his show's controversial success.
Postmodern Twist: It's a strictly fictional movie, starring Jerry Springer as a guy named Jerry who hosts a smutty daytime talk show called The Jerry Show. How postmodern is that?
What The Bible Says: "The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." (Proverbs 15:2)
A Simple PlanSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: Three men, two of them brothers, discover a crashed plane and an unfathomable amount of cash, which they decide to keep for themselves. Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, The Quick And The Dead) directs.
Postmodern Twist: Possible appearance of banditos declaring that they don't need no stinking badges could point to the film's most obvious source.
What The Bible Says: "The love of money is the root of all evil," 1 Timothy 6:10 famously advises. This also seems to be the message of A Simple Plan, which shows how money corrupts friendships and pits loved one against loved one, a timely message during a time of year in which we are taught to measure love by the size of one's gifts.
Star Trek: InsurrectionSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: After a couple of intense outings, the Star Trek crew takes things a bit easier. In a plot that seems straight out of the original '60s series, the crew travels to a planet equipped with a fountain of youth while in search of prissy robot Brent Spiner.
Postmodern Twist: Rumors have Paramount's top scientists actually attempting to create a fountain-of-youth-style apparatus to prevent the Next Generation cast's future films from developing the creepy, moribund feel of the original group's later work.
What The Bible Says: "His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth." (Job 33:25)
StepmomSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: Julia Roberts plays the title character, a young woman who becomes a stepmom to a photogenic brood. She must follow in the footsteps of the clan's biological mother (Susan Sarandon), who is, of course, dying of cancer.
Postmodern Twist: In a throwback to constructivist ideas about the relationship between art and labor, Stepmom was allegedly written by six people, one of whom is uncredited.
What The Bible Says: Ephesians 6:1 reads, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right," which seems an overly simple statement in these confusing modern times. This no doubt provided the impetus for Stepmom, the handiwork of Home Alone director Chris Columbus.
The Thin Red LineSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: Seemingly every male actor over the age of 14—including such heavyweights as John Travolta, Nick Nolte, George Clooney, and Gary Oldman—stars in reclusive director Terrence Malick's (Badlands, Days Of Heaven) long-awaited adaptation of James Jones' semi-autobiographical novel about the battle of Guadalcanal during World War II.
Postmodern Twist: In most years, the Hollywood comeback of a brilliant recluse like Malick would be a big deal. His return this year, however, has been largely overshadowed by the impending return of an even bigger, even more reclusive genius, Eyes Wide Shut director Stanley Kubrick.
What The Bible Says: According to both Matthew 24:6 and Mark 13:7, "ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars." This year you'll hear rumors alright—rumors of Oscar nominations for war films!
You've Got MailSerious, Thought-Provoking Plot: Writer/ director Nora Ephron (Sleepless In Seattle), superstar everyman Tom Hanks (Sleepless In Seattle), and dewy-eyed sprite Meg Ryan (Sleepless In Seattle) team up in a romantic comedy unlike any ever made before. Hanks and Ryan are competing bookstore owners who hate each other, but, thanks to the anonymity of e-mail, they've established an on-line romance without knowing each other's identity. Could they wind up falling in love anyway?
Postmodern Twist: With its technology-driven plot, You've Got Mail is that rarest of breeds: an honest-to-goodness romantic comedy for the '90s. It's about fucking time.
What The Bible Says: Genesis 29 details the no doubt humorously protracted and difficult courtship of Jacob and Rachel, which reports indicate may be the next project for Ephron, Hanks, and Ryan.