THE INVISIBLE
Hollywood Pictures

A whodunit, to be solved by the victim. Based on the Swedish film, DEN OSYNLIGE (2002) directed by Joel Bergvall and Simon Sandquist (who are now reportedly working on Sarah Michelle Gellar's ADDICTED), and written by Mick Davis from Mats Wahl's novel, this version is again written by Davis with an assist from Christine Roum. The film's director is David S. Goyer, who wrote, executive-produced and directed the television series THRESHOLD (2005-6), along with helming the BLADE movie series, so this is a genre he's got a handle on.

While there's speculation about why he didn't write this film, Goyer trusted the original writer (and Roum)to carry his successful film into the English remake. Goyer also wrote and is directing THE DARK KNIGHT with the very talented Christian Bale slipping on Batman's cloak for a film due to be released in 2008.

Justin Chatwin, who played "Robbie" in THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005) remake, here plays a young man who has to solve his own murder, perhaps re-gaining his life in the process. The main problem he faces is that, because he's dead, there's no direct way to communicate with other people. As a famous comedian once wrote, it puts a terrific crimp into his day. The film also stars Margarita Levieva, an actor born in what is now St. Petersburg, Russia, who played "Marcy Collins" in the 2006 television series VANISHED, and the almost-always-relegated-to-thankless roles Marcia Gay Harden, who most recently was seen as "Edith Irving" in the acclaimed film HOAX (2007) with Richard Gere and the Ed Harris's film POLLOCK (2000), for which she won a much-deserved Oscar.

With so much going for it, one hopes its attributes won't become invisible on the screen.

NEXT
Paramount Pictures

A man who can see two minutes into the future, which may be enough time to save a city from a terrorist attack.

The film was adapted by Gary Goldman, Jonathan Hensleigh, and Paul Bernbaum from Philip K.Dick's story THE GOLDEN MAN (1954), which seems to be an entirely different story, so you wonder why they cite it at all. From the future world of the mutants being hunted and destroyed with malice by the non-mutants, we now are left with one mutant (minus his golden skin as in the original story) named Cris Johnson, (Nicolas Cage, who was GHOST RIDER earlier this year), a Vegas magician who uses his gift to gamble. After being pursued by the FBI, he's drafted by an FBI agent, played by Julianne Moore (who was recently seen in CHILDREN OF MEN) who forcibly recruits him to use his ability to change the flow of events to help her prevent a terrorist bombing. Jennifer Biel, who played "Mary Camden" in 132 episodes of television's 7TH HEAVEN, plays the romantic interest.

Director Lee Tamahori underwent his own personal drama last year, when he was arrested for attempting to prostitute himself to what turned out to be undercover cops. Tamahori was dressed as a woman at the time. Charges were later dropped in return for probation and community service, but, what can you say, the man likes drama.

Fans of Dick are dubious about this film, but this time traveling film might be worthwhile. Give me two minutes and I'll let you know.

KICKIN' IT OLD SKOOL
Yari Film Group

After hurting himself in a break-dancing accident, a young man, played by Jamie Kennedy, emerges from a twenty year coma ready to resume life as a 12-year-old, which includes rejuvenating his old dance group, who aren't twelve any more.

The film was written by Trace Slobotkin (who's apparently big in the reality show business) and Josh Siegal, who was a writer on 2007's critically praised THE KNIGHTS OF PROSPERITY television series, as well as episodes of THE UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE (1998) and an episode of MONK. No major studio would produce this film, so it was left to Yari, which produced THE ILLUSIONIST (2006), to gamely leap into the fray. They turned to relative newcomer Harvey Glazer to direct. That, my friends, is all I know about him. He may be fabulous but who knows. Good luck.

Jamie Kennedy, who is the voice of "Spazz" in DINOTOPIA: QUEST FOR THE RUBY SUNSTONE (2005) and "Randy Meeks" in the SCREAM series, can probably play a 12-year-old as well as any adult. He also wrote a book called WANNABE: A HOLLYWOOD EXPERIMENT where he detailed his attempts to better his career by masquerading as his own agent.

Maria Menounos, she of Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood fame, also appears in the film, along with guest appearances (as themselves) by David Hasselhoff and Emmanuel Lewis.

Seems like light-hearted entertainment, but the trailer wasn't that exciting. I leave it to you. If you're a Jamie Kennedy fan, any film he's in may be just your cup of tea. Other folks may want to let break-dancing fade from their memories and take up the tango instead.

THE CONDEMNED
Lions Gate Films

What to say about a film that stars "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, of wrestling's WWE and WWF fame?

Yeah.

Though Austin appeared in a film called HUO YUAN (2006), which translates into FEARLESS, as Hercules O'Brien, as well as in a few episodes of NASH BRIDGES (1999-2000), not much is known about his acting prowess. But exactly what he's being called on to do in this film, I don't know. However, he is one of the most popular WWE wrestlers, so the audience may still love him in this outing.

Playing "Joe Conrad" who's imprisoned in Central America awaiting execution, Austin is basically sold to an ambitious TV producer with a Deathmatch/RUNNING MAN-kind of show, where a group of people fight and the best man lives.

Others in the cast include Vinnie Jones who played "Cain Marko/Juggernaut" in X-MEN 2: THE LAST STAND (2006) and Nathan Jones, a former Australian contender for the World Strongman title who was sidelined for injury.

Writer and director Scott Wiper co-wrote the screenplay with Rob Hedden, who wrote CLOCKSTOPPERS (2002) several episodes of MACGYVER. Wiper himself won the Frank Capra Prize for Best Student Film (Wesleylan University) for THE RETURN OF WES LAUREN (1992), where he also played "Pooser." He also wrote, directed and produced CAPTAIN JACK, about a fry-cook superhero who, complete with cape, protects his small town from evil. He also played "Ripley" in PEARL HARBOR (2001).

Only audiences can say whether THE CONDEMNED lives or dies at the box office.