1. Holy Smoke
Stars Kate Winslet, Harvey Keitel
The Pitch Re-Educating Rita
The Story Teenage Australian traveller Kate Winslet goes to India and joins a religious cult. On hearing the news back in the suburbs, her horrified white trash family trick her into returning home and enlist the help of famed deprogrammer, Harvey Keitel. Secluded in the outback, Winslet soon sees through Keitel's tired routine of disempowering and psychological techniques. The struggle to undermine her spirituality quickly takes second place to a compelling battle of wits between the two protagonists as sexual attraction rears its ugly head.
The Prospects Expect something closer in tone and quality to director Jane Campion's stirring The Piano than her disappointing follow-up, Portrait of a Lady. (Released 15 October)
Stars Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams
The Pitch The thinking moviegoers' ghost story
The Story Suspenseful adult horror film that has terrified and thrilled record audiences in America. Apparently at the top of his profession, psychologist Dr Malcolm Crowe's (Bruce Willis) life is far from perfect. His wife (Olivia Williams) is on the brink of an affair. A traumatic encounter with a psychic former patient, whom he was unable to help, nearly destroys his life and he is determined to aid a young boy who displays similar ESP ability. Turns out his new patient (Haley Joel Osment) has a hotline to the dead, especially those who endured a horrible demise. Willis steps away from his action man image to give a sensitive performance while Osment has already been tipped for an Oscar.
The Prospects It's a movie that repays repeat viewing due to complex plotting and clever hints littered throughout. The final twist will leave audiences stunned. (5 November)
Stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter
The Pitch Raging Bull meets Wall Street
The Story This movie wants to tap into pre-millennium male angst. The Zeitgeist-friendly set-up sees timid corporate wage slave, Edward Norton cast aside his inhibitions on meeting self-styled anarchist, Brad Pitt. The pair get immersed in illegal top-secret 'fight clubs' where similarly dysfunctional males indulge in extreme bare-knuckle fighting. Of course, there's a bizarre love triangle involving Helena Bonham Carter, and a descent into degradation...
The Prospects Reuniting the Seven team of Pitt and director David Fincher obviously seemed like a good idea to everyone involved. The casting is intriguing: Should Pitt and Norton have swapped roles? And can you see Bonham Carter as a jaded, grunge femme fatale? (12 November)
Stars Heather Donahue, Michael C.Williams, Joshua Leonard
The Pitch Little Red Riding Hood revisited
The Story Alongside The Sixth Sense this movie made it the summer of the scare in the States, offering an antidote to the Scream teen school of movies. Three student documentary makers head off to the Maryland woods in search of the fabled, titular phantom. They disappear, but the apparently recovered video camera footage provides a grainy record of their terrible plight. An inspired idea, skilfully executed, Blair Witch has been the surprise US hit of year despite a cast of unknowns and lack of special effects.
The Prospects Word-of-mouth has generated great advance buzz for this chiller. Wildly hyped low budget, (roughly $40,000 and falling) should guarantee must-see status amongst hip movie-goers and spark endless dinner party conversations. (29 October)
5. Election
Stars Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick
The Pitch Fear and Loathing in the classroom
The Story Satire about the bitter rivalry during the election of the high school council president. Narrated by Matthew Broderick, on sabbatical from big-budget no-brainers (Godzilla, Inspector Gadget), it's a teen comedy with adult appeal as a parable for grown-up elections. Broderick is an overly conscientious teacher who decides to thwart the campaign of ambitious student Reese Witherspoon. She believes it's her destiny to win, but Broderick's scams threaten to derail her carefully orchestrated bandwagon and even rouse the apathetic electorate. A dark-hearted treat.
Prospects A companion piece to recent school comedy of over-achievement, Rushmore. Another quirky success which will alleviate 'teen movie fatigue'. (24 September)
6. Felicia's Journey (pictured)
Stars Bob Hoskins, Elaine Cassidy
The Pitch The Odd Couple meets Silence of the Lambs
The Story Canadian director Atom Egoyan's first film set in Britain, based on William Trevor's novel. A naive, pregnant Irish teenager (Elaine Cassidy) flees to the mainland in search of the father. There she befriends Bob Hoskins, a bachelor who pays meticulous attention to culinary matters. Unfortunately, Hoskins is a serial killer with a predilection towards runaway girls. Egoyan casts a veil of menace around suburbia in this deliberately paced film, adeptly creating mood and character.
The Prospects Favourable festival reviews and a scene-stealing performance from Hoskins suggest good things. Egoyan's loyal fan base won't be disappointed with this superior serial killer themed two-header. (8 October)
7. Tarzan
Stars Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Nigel Hawthorne, Glenn Close
The Pitch 'Beauty and the Beastman'
The Story This Disney animated version of the Edgar Rice Burroughs classic tale doesn't take the action back to Britain, probably to restrict kiddie-friendly running time. However, the other major plot elements are present. The orphaned hero, brought up by family of gorrillas, finally questions his parentage on meeting a group of ever-so English explorers. A lively and appealing film, with more intimate scenes than most recent Disney cartoons. Fun for all the family, literally. The stand-out scene near the beginning sees the infant in a perilous encounter with a predatory leopard.
The Prospects Shades The Lion King in the animal kingdom politics. But thrilling visual effects create an incredibly lifelike background and visceral action sequences. (22 October)
8. The Limey
Stars Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, Lesley Ann Warren
The Pitch Out of Sight: Twenty years on
The Story Steven Soderbergh's follow-up to Out of Sight deals with a similar theme: career criminal's disenchantment. Old school London villain heads off to LA to discover the truth behind his estranged daughter's death. Once there he finds he's out of touch and no one understands his accent. A disjointed narrative form and occasional witty asides from fringe players boost the enjoyment factor in this stylish and offbeat thriller. Relatively inexpensive, sandwiched between last year's Clooney-Lopez vehicle and next year's Julia Roberts' drama, Erin Brockovich, The Limey sees Soderbergh playfully revisiting the genre.
The Prospects A sixtysomething thriller may not prove multiplex filler, but the acting and directing is immaculate. Stamp's handsome, Mount Rushmore features perfectly sum up his character's tale. (12 November)
9. Ratcatcher
Stars Bill Eadie, Tommy Flanagan, Mandy Matthews
The Pitch Ken Loach meets the New Wave
The Story An outstanding success at the Edinburgh Film Festival, Lynne Ramsay's debut is set to be one the arthouse hits of the year. Set in working class Glasgow of the Seventies, it follows a young boy (Bill Eadie) who harbours a terrible secret after being involved in a tragic accident. Ratcatcher is less a coming of age drama than a tale of adolescent disaffection and loneliness. The story is reminiscent of Trauffaut's breakthrough, The 400 Blows and first-timer Ramsay is a talent to watch.
The Prospects Likely favourable reviews should help this movie find an appreciative audience, although its uncompromising approach may deter those of a weak disposition. (19 November)
10. Bowfinger
Stars Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Heather Graham
The Pitch The Player meets The Three Stooges
The Story Films about Hollywood are virtually a genre these days, but this effort written by and co-starring Steve Martin is one of the best. Martin is Bowfinger, a sleazy B-movie producer offered the chance of a big budget movie if he can persuade popular action star Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) to headline. He can't. Undeterred, he decides to film Ramsey surreptitiously. Much hilarity ensues as Bowfinger's inept crew of misfits and chancers work towards their big break. Occasionally acerbic, often warm-hearted and consistently funny.
The Prospects Don't be deterred by the leading pair's recent CV; Bowfinger marks a return to form for Murphy and Martin. Recently Murphy has eschewed adult-flavoured comedy for adolescent movies (Dr Dolittle, The Nutty Professor). All should be forgiven after Bowfinger. (22 October)
Best of the rest
The General's Daughter
Director Simon West, Responsible for the Nic Cage action movie Con Air takes on the military with the help of the always bankable John Travolta. The US military extablishment was not at all pleased, refusing inside help. (Released 1 October)
Summer of Sam
Spike Lee revisits the Son of Sam serial killings of New York City 1977 (touching on some punk in the process). John Leguizamo is the errant playboy Vinny who loses his job and wife in an hysterical city. It offers Lee's first all white cast, but typical idiosyncratic style. (Released 19 November)
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Ellen Barking, Denise Richards and Kirsty Allen star in a dark comedy in which the mothers and daughters of a small Minnesota town sink to new depths to secure victory in a beauty contest. (Released 17 September)
American Pie
Four American lads make a pact to lose their virginity by the end of the year. The result is an extreme example of 'gross-out' humour as the boys work their wicked way towards the school prom. (Released 8 October)
