Hey folks, Harry here with a little 2001 Sneak Peek at the year ahead. This is also where I officially say we're really looking to hear from folks like yourself about these films, along with all other future cinema to help figure out.... what deserves our money, and what doesn't. A guide if you will. Of course this list does not reflect the films that will come out of SUNDANCE, CANNES or TORONTO... which will inevitably be great films... like the film DONNIE DARKO which will be screening at Sundance, but who's script rules! So... For now, take a look... I have a few comments after some of the titles... just instinct and informed opinions.... But here ya go.... Mail your info about any of these and other films to Harry@aintitcool.com

January 5

CHOCOLAT - Miramax

Sweet magical tale wanting desperately to recapture the magic of LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE

January 12

ANTI-TRUST - MGM

It's like HACKERS but mixed with THE PELICAN BRIEF

BEFORE NIGHT FALLS - Fine Line

Reportedly a waste of time

DOUBLE TAKE - Disney

Couldn't drag me into the theater for this one... it's that Schlitz Malt Liquior line... ugh

EXTREME FORCE - Phaedra

Sounds Van Dammey

FINDING FORRESTER - Sony

Apparently not as obvious as its trailers make ya think

HEAD OVER HEELS - Universal

Pass on it

KNOCKAROUND GUYS - New Line

Haven't heard a thing about it

O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU - Disney

BRILLIANCE!!! GO A HUNDRED TIMES!!!!

SAVE THE LAST DANCE - Paramount

Ho hum

STATE & MAIN - Fine Line

Mamet and a cast to die for... of course you're going

TRAFFIC - USA Films

And the winner for Best Picture is.... Traffic?

January 19

THE AMATI GIRLS - Providence

cricket cricket... hello?

GET OVER IT - Miramax

A sharp abdominal pain followed by bloody stool

THE GIFT - Paramount Classics

A superbly crafted haunting tale... slowly paced by wonderful creepy moments. Keanu and Giovanni are actually very very good. Amazing.

THE PLEDGE - Warner Brothers

I want to see this one badly... Sean Penn directing Nicholson? Oh yeah baby!

SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE - Lion's Gate

You can not go wrong with this wonderful film. The winner for best supporting actor goes to... Willem Dafoe...

SNATCH - Sony

Guy Ritchie's best film yet... More coherent and more fun... A joy.

SOUL SURVIVORS - Artisan

No buzz on this one

January 26

THE FAITHLESS - IDP

No Buzz

SUGAR AND SPICE - New Line

Evil Cheerleader Bankrobbing Chicks? I'm so there.

THE WEDDING PLANNER - Sony

UGH

February 2

15 MINUTES - New Line

The trailers have been interesting, but the film hasn't had much word on it.

SAY IT ISN'T SO - Fox

Saw the trailer which fell completely flat for me.

VALENTINE - Warner Brothers

This trailer was kitschy fun

THE WIDOW OF SAINT-PIERRE - Lion's Gate

No word yet

February 9

HANNIBAL - MGM

The first absolute must see film of 2001. The preview screenings went through the roof... Could be an absolutely brilliant film.

SERIES 7: THE CONTENDERS - USA Films

Don't know much about this one

February 14

THE PRICE OF MILK - Lot 47 - NY/LA

I'm seeing this soon, but it comes from New Zealand and is reportedly pretty good.

February 16

COMPANY MAN - Paramount Classics

Haven't heard a thing

DOWN TO EARTH - Paramount

Zippo

THE GIFT - Paramount Classics - wider

See above comments

SAVING SILVERMAN - Sony

This trailer is actually pretty damn funny. Jack Black is fucking funny. I want to see this bad.

RECESS: SCHOOL'S OUT - Disney

Um, not for all the money in the world

SWEET NOVEMBER - Warner Brothers

Haven't heard anything

February 23

ENEMY AT THE GATES - Paramount

2nd MUST SEE movie of 2001! Weird stylistic choices being reported... the trailer has just hit theaters, but I haven't seen it yet. Could be wonderful... could miss

ORIGINAL SIN - MGM

Pass

3,000 MILES TO GRACELAND - Warner Brothers

I've heard this Costner / Russell film blows and rules... we'll have to wait and see for sure

March 2

THE MEXICAN - Dreamworks

Excellent test screening reports.... a very strong script, and Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts are both on rolls right now. Could be a big hit.

SEE SPOT RUN - Warner Brothers

Or don't.

March 9

THE DISH - Warner Brothers

This film has extremely good word of mouth on it. Don't miss it.

EXTREME DAYS - Providence

Um... riiiiiight.

JOE DIRT - Sony

Not to save a life... Run from the theater now!

SONGCATCHER - Lion's Gate

Supposed to be quite good.

SQUELCH - Fox

John Dahl's latest.... I'm there.

March 16

EXIT WOUNDS - Warner Brothers

Oh... how Joel Silver sounding.

ONE NIGHT AT McCOOL'S - USA

I've heard good things about Michael Douglas' produced film. We should hear more.

TOWN & COUNTRY - New Line

I want to see this NOW

March 23

THE BROTHERS - Sony

Haven't heard a peep

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS - Universal

The trailer made me laugh hard. Vin Diesel in a hot rod flick with a title crying for 1950's Poster art!

SUMMER CATCH - Warner Brothers

Uh huh... so ya release it in March.

March 30

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - Fox

I've heard so-so things about this one.

BLOW - New Line

The word on this film is EXTREMELY STRONG. Could be the really big break out film for Ted Demme. With Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp and Pee Wee.... I'm SO there.

CENTER OF THE WORLD - Artisan

I don't care for this movie.

SPY KIDS - Miramax/Dimension

The movie will make more money than you can imagine. The first pure Robert Rodriguez movie since DESPERADO... and Miramax and Dimension like it so much, they've already greenlit the sequel which is in Pre-Production right now. With the McDonald's tie in... expect really big box office.

TAILOR OF PANAMA - Sony

It is directed by John Boorman.... that's all I need to hear... Based on John Le Carre' spy novel and features Pierce Brosnan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Gleeson, Geoffrey Rush and more... Could be quite something. We'll wait and see.

April 6

BETTER THAN SEX - IDP

Some how I doubt that

JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS - Universal

It's the MOD SQUAD of 2001.... ugh

JUST VISITING - Disney

Ok

PLUTO NASH - Warner Brothers

Every still I see looks like the worst film ever.

April 11

CHOPPER - limited release - First Look

An extremely brutal film from Australia that has extremely positive buzz. Supposed to frighten the hell out of ya.

MAYBE BABY - USA Films

Don't know a thing

MONKEYBONE - Fox

I'm in it, but the word is that it sucks... How could that be?

POKEMON 3 - Warner Brothers

No way in hell.... Keep your children away... go see MONKEY BONE instead

April 13

BRIDGET JONES' DIARY - Miramax

Hellllooooooooooo?

THE GOLDEN BOWL - Lion's Gate

zippo

ROCK STAR - Warner Brothers

Apparently pretty good, and on a weekend like this one... it should do well.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE - New Line

No word

April 20

FREDDY GOT FINGERED - Fox

Be afraid.

April 27

DRIVEN - Warner Brothers

Stallone written... Harlan directed.... whoa

WAKING UP IN RENO - Miramax

Heard zip

May 4

HAPPY CAMPERS - New Line

Nada

THE HEIST - Warner Brothers

Pretty clever script, great cast... Frank Oz direction... should be cool

THE NEW GUY - Sony

First REVOLUTION film... shot in Austin. Not interested

MAY 11

FAST FOOD, FAST WOMEN - Lot 47 - limited

I know nothing about this one

THE MUMMY RETURNS - Universal

SUMMER BEGINS FOR REAL! The scriptment was everything and the kitchen sink, paced like a looney tune ride. The trailer communicates this... and we also see if the Rock is worth a shit on screen.

May 18

ROLLERBALL - MGM

Once a great script, then transformed into a really really piss poor excuse for a script. McTiernan will inevitably shoot great action, but the design of the uniforms, bikes and world looks hideious.

AMERICAN OUTLAWS - Warner Brothers

No interest at all

BREAD AND ROSES - Lion's Gate

Haven't heard a thing

CHEATERS - New Line

Moriarty tells me that I should be interested... I think he did.

SHREK - Dreamworks

I can not wait to see this.

May 25

CATS AND DOGS - Warner Brothers

Could be really big if it works... teaser trailer is quite funny

PEARL HARBOR - Disney

You hate Michael Bay.... I don't. The script was quite good, the cast is strong, and Disney spent all da money on it. Could be the film that gains Michael Bay the respect from the people that love to hate him. Or they could remain close minded.

June 1

A KNIGHT'S TALE aka IN SHINING ARMOR - Sony

Early test screenings report that some love it and hate it. It will be very interesting to see how it all comes together.

MOULIN ROUGE - Fox

The rebirth of the musical? Baz is the cat's pajamas... I'm there.

UNTITLED WOODY ALLEN FILM - DreamWorks

It is Woody.... ya have to go.

June 8

ANNIVERSARY PARTY - Fine Line

No Word

DOCTOR DOLITTLE 2 - Fox

Funny trailer, but wouldn't it be cooler if they titled it.... Doctor Dolittle More?

HOUSE OF A 1000 CORPSES - Universal

Moved from February to Summer... could be a good sign.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HAROLD SMITH? - USA Films

I don't know either

June 15

ATLANTIS - Disney

Disney allegedly cut the budget on the film multiple times and got rid of some epic moments... the test screenings have been a mix of wonder and disappointment. I really do hope they pull this off though, it is important that this new direction work for Disney and the animated film in general.

HIGHWAY - New Line

Haven't heard much of anything

SWORDFISH - Warner Brothers

Reportedly going very very well.

TOMB RAIDER - Paramount

Moriarty likes the script... Jolie looks hot, but the trailer didn't quite do it for me. Though shooting in Angkor Watt and the fictional underground area should make us go ew and ah... Simon West though.... we'll see.

June 22

ANIMAL - Sony

Rob Schneider... RUN SCREAMING FROM THE THEATER

June 29

A.I. - Warner Brothers

The great hope for Spielberg. Is this the film to finally do it for Steven? He returns to Science Fiction... returns to his Pinnochio themes for the first time since EMPIRE OF THE SUN.... Will it be greatness? Or pretension? Let's pray.

WINDTALKERS - MGM

John Woo directs this World War II film starring Nick Cage and the fantastic Adam Beach! Wonderful script... Woo does WWII... could be something wonderful

July 4

SCARY MOVIE 2

A completely necessary endeavor.... NOT

July 6

KISS OF THE DRAGON - Fox

Luc Besson.... Jet Li..... attendence required.

THE VERTICAL RAY OF THE SUN - SPC

Haven't heard much

July 13

EVOLUTION - DreamWorks

Teaser trailer was kinda clever.... the script has potential.... but does Ivan Reitman? Word has it that the sets are amazing. Let's see...

FINAL FANTASY - Sony

Beautiful Animation.... but is there a story... do the characters have character.... Let's hope it has the whole package.

July 18

JURASSIC PARK 3 - Universal

Will Joe Johnston make the JURASSIC PARK movie that Spielberg couldn't make? One that is tougher.... scarier and more fierce? I have faith.

July 20

THE PRINCESS DIARIES - Disney

Julie Andrews teaches a young teenage girl how to be a princess.... Oh joy, sounds like the creation of a sorority.

RUSH HOUR 2 - New Line

Brett Ratner and the whole crew return... Will it kick our ass? The first one was fun, but a little lacking in the action department. Let's hope this one fixes the problems the first had.

July 27

AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS - Sony

Directed by one of the more powerful studio guys around, who also directed REVENGE OF THE NERDS 2: NERDS IN PARADISE, and starring... ummmm... everybody in a film industry story. Sounds... um... Did I mention it was written by Billy Crystal? Well, gosh...

PLANET OF THE APES - Fox

Dude... it's Tim Burton and Rick Baker... From the screenwriter of CASTAWAY.... and those pics that Coming Attractions have nabbed rule. One of the most anticipated summer films in my book

THE SPY GAME - Universal

Shot around the world, starring Brad Pitt and Robert Redford... directed by Tony Scott.... Can it possibly go wrong? Let's hope not.

August 3

BUBBLE BOY - Disney

Bartender from FROM DUSK TILL DAWN and a dying bubble boy.... It'll rule! heheheh

THE ONE - Sony

Nothing known

OSMOSIS JONES - Warner Brothers

Warner's possible last animated film... The studio heads are not animation fans... if this doesn't perform well, then dark times may be ahead for Warner Feature Animation. Farrelly's are involved, and the film's script was quite funny. The design has been... weird, but hey... hopefully it is cool.

SLEEPING DICTIONARY - Fine Line

Movies with SLEEPING in the title are often snoozers

August 10

COLLATERAL DAMAGE - Warner Brothers

Arnold has now been relegated to the tail end of Summer.... where Van Damme and Seagal once reigned in hell. Come on big guy... get your career together again!

JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK - Miramax

Would it not rule completely if Kevin Smith kicked the box office balls of Arnie with this New Jersey Epic? Gather around in a circle my friends... hold hands.... chant after me.... "Snootchie bootchies snoogans fingercuffs"

SERENDIPITY - Miramax

Possibly another great John Cusack relationship film.... from the brilliant director of THE MIGHTY and FUNNY BONES and starring the chick from PEARL HARBOR.... PLEASE RULE!

August 17

ANGEL EYES - Warner Brothers

It has Jennifer Lopez, so Roger Ebert will give it at least 3 and a half stars. You'll see.

JASON X - New Line

Test screening surprised everyone... reportedly a great deal of fun. How is that possible? We'll see.

August 24

40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS - Miramax

A Josh Hartnett romantic thing... sounds like an 80's Romantic angst film...

September 14

CITY BY THE SEA - Warner Brothers

A heavy duty drama starring Robert Deniro as a cop with a murderous son played by James Franco. The problem is Michael Caton-Jones has never pulled off a complete feature yet.

September 21

TRAINING DAY - Warner Brothers

Director of the epicly disappointing THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS directs Denzel and Ethan Hawke... Need to hear more to even begin to be interested

October 5

QUEEN OF THE DAMNED - Warner Brothers

Script sucked... casting isn't great... set pics look lazy... But other than that... it could still be good.

October 12

JUWANNA MAN - Warner Brothers

Dear god, this sounds like one of the worst movies ever... Basketball star is kicked out of NBA, so he poses as a woman and joins the WNBA.... Make the pain end now please mommy.

October 19

HEARTS OF ATLANTIS - Warner Brothers

A William Goldman adaptation of Stephen King.... Scott Hicks directed... interesting... we'll follow this closely

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY - rerelease - Warner Brothers

Um... why isn't this opening nation wide the first week of 2001?

October 26

BONES - New Line

Snoop Doggy Dog brings a new face to horror. Let's hope it's a memorable one.

13 GHOSTS - Warner Brothers

I have no hope for this.... I hated the HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL remake like you wouldn't believe... perhaps they'll get this one right, but right now... I have doubts.

RESIDENT EVIL -

My least favorite director working in film today has shat out a new log for me to smell... oh joy.... ROMERO.... WHERE ARE YOU???

November 2

THE SALTON SEA

Moriarty is a big fan of this movie and has already seen it. Says it is the return to greatness for Val Kilmer... and strangely shares themes with the other film opening today.

THE ROAD TO PERDITION - Dreamworks

Sam Mendes' 2nd directorial effort from a David Self script starring Tom Hanks as a hitman out for revenge against Al Capone played by Tom Sizemore... based on a comic... could be GREAT!

K-19 - Kathryn Bigelow film

A gigantic Russian Sub film starring Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson... Could be fantastic. Bigelow is a very competent filmmaker that has been very very near a breakthrough film for years now... this could be it. Also, this should be the first film to really push Harrison Ford as an actor in the last 15 years or so... I'm so there.

November 16

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE - Warner Brothers

One of the most anticipated films of 2001... a billion children and adults await and pray that Chris Columbus nails it.

November 21

THE AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE - limited Warner Brothers

Shot in Prague and starring an amazing cast (Hillary Swank, Christopher Walken... and on and on and on) the film is noted as having the official 'BEAUTY' look of Hillary Swank.... Can't wait to see.

BLACK HAWK DOWN - Revolution Films

Ridley Scott directs this adaptation from a brilliant novel.... Cast is just now coming together, but reportedly the screenplay deviates and makes up a lot of history. We'll see...

ALSO COMING IN NOVEMBER

MONSTERS, INC

Pixar's latest work of genius gets unwrapped. I have recently heard from spies that Steve Buscemi's chameleon character is an absolute classic. Stay tuned, and never ever underestimate the pure genius that is PIXAR!!!

THE SANTA CLAUSE 2

We haven't heard too much about this one, but the first film was actually much more fun than it had any right being. But did it need a sequel? Ah, that's the question... next November, I guess we'll see!

December 7

OCEANS ELEVEN - Warner Brothers

The movie will rule with a mighty fist.

December 14

THE TIME MACHINE - Dreamworks

I hope they do it well, but I have severe trepidations after reading a draft of the script that had a robot helping the time traveler against the super-intelligent morlocks... ugh.

December 19

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS - New Line

Can it possibly live up to expectations? Yes, and it will surpass them as well.

December 21

THE BIJOU - Warner Brothers

A wonderful little story by Frank Darabont, who has been known not to suck too hard.

December 25

CHARLOTTE GRAY - Warner Brothers

Anything at all with Cate Blanchett is a must see.

GANGS OF NEW YORK - Miramax

A brilliant script... brought to life by Martin Scorsese in what will be his largest film ever made by him... A huge story. With sights unlike anything captured on film before, if they follow the script. Could be one of the great films.

A BEAUTIFUL MIND - Universal

Ron Howard directs Russell Crowe in what will surely be an Oscar bid performance as a schizophrenic Nobel Prize winner. Powerful material... if Ron can hold back on the sugar.

Now that the main list is over, let me clue in on some films that as of yet I have not seen a release date.

Primary of these is FROM HELL - This is, second to FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, the 2nd most anticipated film of 2001. The script was a killer... The sets are amazing, and the cast is extremely solid. The directors? The Hughes Brothers, I feel, are set to really leave a mark with this film. At one point I was hearing that it was scheduled for Spring Release... then I once heard it was aimed at May... but never any official schedules. I don't know when it is coming, only that when it arrives, I will be there.

Then there is VANILLA SKY, the latest from Cameron Crowe. Often claimed to be the most mysterious film this side of A.I. filming at the moment, but is also touted as being a remake of a Spanish film entitled ABRE LOS OJOS (OPEN YOUR EYES). Re-Teaming Tom Cruise and Crowe... We'll see.

Next we have: The Coen Brothers' Untitled Barber Project... their first Black & White film.... starring Billy Bob Thornton as a tough as nails Barber in some weird ass film noir space alien thing. Ahem... Again, I'm so there.

There is also Guillermo Del Toro's THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE, which will be in all Spanish. Rumor has it that it will probably show at Cannes, where Guillermo's CRONOS played... but I have also heard it will open in Spain before then. Guillermo will begin shooting BLADE II soon, so this film has to be nearly complete right now.

David Fincher gets into 2001 with the David Koepp script, THE PANIC ROOM... AND Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman return to the screen with Nick Cage in ADAPTATION which should be an absolute BRILLIANT film! Otherwise, I'll cry.

Also... there is a chance that the films beginning production in the next 2-3 months will also be being considered for the FALL lineup... like Quentin Tarantino's KILL BILL.... Paul Thomas Anderson's Untitled Adam Sandler Feature.... Will Michael Mann have his ALI finished by year's end? If so, look for that to be a majorly interesting film, can Will Smith capture the persona that electrified a world? He's charming, but that charming?

Like I said before... if you hear or see anything about any of these films... or any others that are the type to make you sit up and go.... COOL over, let me know. There is alot of coolness coming this year... Perhaps we here in the US will finally be treated to TAXI and TAXI 2... Will Oshi's AVALON be picked up for US distribution? What will come out of SUNDANCE and TELLURIDE and CANNES and TORONTO? If you've heard a whisper of coolness or a shout of excitement... let me know!