Opening in theaters today:
·”William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet” (Fox). Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio star in the classic tale of ill fated lovers. Directed by Baz Luhrman, of “Strictly Ballroom” fame, the story takes place in the present day, mythical city of Verona Beach and features a soundtrack with new songs by the likes of Garbage, the Butthole Surfers and Des’ree, but retains the Elizabethan dialogue.
·”Everyone Says I Love You” (Miramax). Woody Allen makes a musical comedy, which is set in New York, Venice and Paris, and features Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, Goldie Hawn, Alan Alda and Allen himself.
·”Unhook the Stars” (Miramax). Nick Cassavetes directs his mother, Gena Rowlands, in a tale of a widow who tries to help a messed-up mother next door with her young son. The film also stars Gérard Depardieu as a truck driver who courts Rowlands.
·”Mother Night” (Fine Line). This adaption of Kurt Vonnegut’s novel features Nick Nolte in a tale of avenging Israelis and neo-Nazis in the years after World War II.
·”Palookaville” (Samuel Goldwyn Co.). “Homicide” director Alan Taylor follows three men who seek to solve their unemployment problems by committing the perfect crime.
Opening on Wednesday:
·”Set It Off” (New Line). Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox and Kimberly Elise are four women who escaped life on the streets but now decide to commit a string of bank robberies and strike back at a system that failed them.
In music stores Tuesday:
·”Blend,” BoDeans (Splash/Reprise).
·”Unchained,” Johnny Cash (American).
·”Sunfish Holy Breakfast,” Guided by Voices (Matador).
·”Missile Me,” Guitar Wolf (Matador).
·”Don’t Stop Movin’,” Living Joy (MCA).
·”II,” The Presidents of the United States of America (Columbia).
·”Life’s a 50/50 Gamble,” Trigger tha Gambler (Mercury).
·”Starbright,” Vanessa Williams (Mercury).
·”Bevis & Butthead Do America” (soundtrack), Various Artists (Geffen).
·”New York Undercover” (soundtrack), (MCA).
·”The Mirror Has Two Faces” (soundtrack), Barbra Steisand (Columbia).
·”Evita” (soundtrack), Madonna (Maverick/Warner Bros.).
·”Space Jam” (soundtrack), Various Artists (Atlantic).
·”Mo Thugs Family Scriptures,” Various Artists, featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (Relativity).
—Amy Borer
