
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 3, 1995                   TAG: 9502030044
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BLOCKBUSTERS?

Without a certain hit of "Jurassic" proportions, it looks like movies in the first half of 1995 will be the usual mix of a few intriguing possibilities, lots of well-worn formulas and several dubious ventures. Here's a quick preview of upcoming theatrical releases, and some quasi-fearless predictions:

Sarah Jessica Parker stars in "Miami Rhapsody," an intelligent romantic comedy from David Frankel, creator of the short-lived TV cult hit, "Grapevine." "Slacker" director Richard Linklater turns to romance, too, with "Before Sunrise," starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy. Both look to be early sleepers.

Animation will be strongly represented. Disney weighs in with the musical, "Pocahontas," and "The Goofy Movie." (The word is already out that the studio's computer-created Christmas release, "Toy Story," with the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, is their best in years.) "The Pebble and the Penguin" is another animated musical with the voices of Martin Short and James Belushi.

In the ever-popular Cute Critters department, we have "Babe, the Gallant Pig" who thinks he's a sheepdog; "Fluke," about a man reincarnated as a dog; and "Born To Be Wild" about a boy and a sign-language speaking gorilla.

Costume dramas continue to be hot. Liam Neesom and Mel Gibson are men in kilts in "Rob Roy" and "Braveheart" respectively. Demi Moore tries her hand at Hester Prynne in " `A' The Scarlet Letter." Anyone who can accept that questionable casting probably won't have any trouble with Nick Nolte as "Jefferson in Paris." Sure to be controversial in these parts, it co-stars Thandie Newton (from ``Flirting") as Sally Hemmings.

Two detectives move from the page to the screen this summer. Alec Baldwin may not fit the image most readers have of James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux, but he's starring in director Phil Joanou's version of the dark and violent "Heaven's Prisoners." On the other hand, Denzel Washington is an obvious choice for Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlings in "Devil in a Blue Dress," particularly with Carl Franklin (``One False Move") directing and Ice Cube as Mosley's unforgettable Mouse.

Washington shares top billing with Gene Hackman in the big-budget submarine thriller "Crimson Tide," directed by Tony Bill. Kevin Costner is also aquatically inclined in the s-f thriller "Waterworld," reported to have cost a whopping $150 million.

Hollywood's long-standing love affair with the comics continues with Sylvester Stallone as "Judge Dredd," Lori Petty as "Tank Girl," an unnamed special effect as the friendly ghost "Casper," and Val Kilmer taking over the cape-and-cowl duties from Michael Keaton in "Batman Forever."

After the disappointing reception that met "Wyatt Earp" last summer, Westerns are less popular this year. Sharon Stone is a gunfighter in Sam Raimi's "The Quick and the Dead," Patrick Swayze is Pecos Bill in "Tall Tales," and Jeff Bridges is "Wild Bill" Hickok. But the big news on the Western front is the restoration of Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece, "The Wild Bunch," complete with 10 minutes that were cut before its 1969 release. Until now, that version has been available only on videocassette.

For mainstream entertainment, box office success is usually a matter of putting a big-name star in the right part. This summer, the studios are banking on Michelle Pfeiffer as a Marine turned high school English teacher in "My Posse Don't Do Homework"; Harrison Ford as the male lead opposite Julia Ormond in a remake of "Sabrina"; Sean Connery as a law professor and Laurence Fishburne as a tough cop in "Just Cause"; Geena Davis buckling her swashes on "Cutthroat Island"; and Dustin Hoffman saving the world from a virus in "Outbreak."

And now for five fearless (gulp) predictions.

Ron Howard's fact-based space adventure, "Apollo 13," with Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinese and Ed Harris will be a big hit.

"Circle of Friends," a teen comedy-drama based on Maeve Binchy's novel and set in Dublin will be a sleeper.

Michael Crichton's touch is still golden, and "Congo" will do big business.

Casting Samuel Jackson with a rebounding Bruce Willis will push "Die Hard With a Vengeance" over the top.

The second half of the year will be better than the first.

by CNB