Hey folks, Harry here… As I do each year, I like to try and give a rundown of the titles that I’m curious about covering here at AICN for the upcoming year. Now what Moriarty, Quint, Father Geek and I are all looking for in regards to these titles is everything you can find. We’re interested in looking at the screenplays, production artwork, behind the scenes photos, official photos, possible interviews, trailers, early reviews based on Test Screenings or any other way you can see the film in question. We’ll do our best to find out things on our own, but this is a two way street – We’re only as good as you guys and gals help us to be. Also if you happen across a film or a project that isn’t on this list that we should be covering… whether it is an independent, a foreign film or a secret project… We do want to know! So look at the list, if you see something you know about email: Harry, Moriarty, Quint, Father Geek and yeah… even that Mr Beaks!!! We look forward to another great year of bringing you the coolest news on film around! Now onto the list:

For A,B,C click here!!!

DADDY DAY CARE (2003) – Directed by Steve Carr. Starring: Eddie Murphy, Anjelica Huston, Lacey Chabert, Parker Posey, Makenzie Vega and Steve Zahn. Film’s about two out of work fathers that decide to stay at home and create a day care… I bet hijinks ensue! Eddie Murphy’s streak will probably continue…

DALLAS AND RUSTY (2003) Directed & Written by Scott Caan. Starring: Scott Caan, Jeff Goldblum, Shawn Hatosy, Kelly Lynch, Heavy D, Marley Shelton, Selma Blair, James Caan and Wink The Dog! Ok, I admit it, I’m up to seeing this one because of Marley Shelton and the fact that she should be my bride. James Caan’s son makes his feature film writing and directing debut… interesting cast – no idea of what this is about…

DANNY DECKCHAIR (2003) Directed & Written by Jeff Balsmeyer. Starring: Rhys Ifans, Miranda Otto, Justine Clarke, Rhys Muldoon. Story about an Australian that gains fame after tying balloons to his deck chair and taking flight. It’s a comedy by a first time feature director. What’s interesting is Jeff Balsmeyer is quite a well received storyboard artist on films like: HEAT, QUIZ SHOW, SCENT OF A WOMAN, MALCOLM X, JUNGLE FEVER, DO THE RIGHT THING, BIG, etc… Be interesting if he can bring his boards to life…

DANNY THE DOG (2004) Directed by Louis Leterrier. Written by Luc Besson and Robert Kamen. Starring: Jet Li and Morgan Freeman. Here’s the second feature film by the director of THE TRANSPORTER, which kick all sorts of ass – if you actually saw the thing. This time he’s got a bigger named cast, but the same support people behind him. Another Disciple of Besson… Definitely keep your eye on this film.

DAREDEVIL (2003) Directed & Written by Mark Steven Johnson. Starring: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Michael Clarke Duncan, Colin Farrell, Jon Favreau, Joe Pantoliano, David Keith, Coolio, Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, Kane Hodder, Joe Quesada. My favorite Wally Wood drawn Superhero is brought to life and frankly the script was exceptional… the best superhero script that’s gone into production… The question marks concern whether or not Mark Steven Johnson can direct this sort of film. Whether or not Ben Affleck doesn’t come across as just being wrong for the part. Lastly if Fox has allowed Mark to keep the integrity of a very tough and smart script. Lots of question marks, hopefully the film will be awesome.

DARKNESS FALLS (2003) Directed by Jonathan Liebesman. Written by John Fasano. Starring: Chaney Kley, Emma Caulfield and a bunch of other folks I’m not familiar with. However, it has Stan Winston creature and the test screenings have been exceptional. Great sounding movie. Had some effects problems, but Revolution brought on Stan Winston and Sony Pictures Imageworks to come in to fix that. Word has it, they’ve done great work. This will be a sleeper hit.

THE DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET (2003) Directed by Kim Longinotto. British Documentary about the practice of female genital mutilation as told through the personal stories of several Kenyan Women. How could you not want to see that?

DEAD MAN’S BLUFF (2003) Directed & Written by Matthew Gunnoe. Starring: William Smith & a bunch of folks ya ain’t ever heard of. Folks, the only reason I’m interested in this is that I’m a dye in the wool fanboy of William “CONAN” Smith! He’s a character actor whom’s every film is required viewing in the Knowles household.

A DECADE UNDER THE INFLUENCE (2003) Directed by Ted Demme & Richard LaGravenese. This documentary is the last work that Ted Demme contributed to before his untimely death last year. He was exceptionally proud and excited about this film. It was examining the decade of the 1970’s as a turning point in the history of American Cinema. It will debut at Sundance this month!

DELIVER US FROM EVA (2003) Directed by Gary Hardwick. Starring: LL Cool J, Gabrielle Union. Film about 4 sisters – one the rules them all… the guys courting 3 of them, hiring a stud to lay and break the shrew. The stud is LL Cool J and the shrew is Gabrielle Union. Could be very goofy.

THE DEVIL’S THROAT (2003) Directed by Mike Figgis. Starring: Dennis Quaid, Sharon Stone, Stephen Dorff, Juliette Lewis, Christopher Plummer. Mike Figgis leaves the experiments behind to shot a thriller about a urban family that moves to the country for peace and quiet only to have the previous owner return from prison demanding his property restored to him.

DICKIE ROBERTS: FORMER CHILD STAR (2003) Directed by Sam Weisman Written by Fred Wolf & David Spade. Starring: David Spade, Craig Bierko, Danny Bonaduce, Jenna Boyd, Dustin Diamond, Ambyr Childers, Corey Feldman, Leif Garrett, Emmanuel Lewis, Jon Lovitz, Mary McCormack, Alyssa Milano, Erin Murphy, Rob Reiner. It is Executive Produced by Adam Sandler. There’s a chance this could be fun – I don’t have much hope of that – as nearly all associated have PHDs in suckology, but for some reason I like the concept of this one.

DIE HARD 4: DIE HARDEST (2004) Directed by John McTiernan. Starring Bruce Willis. One can hope that Bonnie Bedelia and Reginald Vel Johnson can show up again, but I don’t know… Personally I would prefer this movie to be shot and done with quick because frankly the talent involved are far better than to be doing this film. I’d rather see them shooting new material.

DIE MOMMY DIE (2003) Directed by Mark Rucker. Starring: Charles Busch, Natasha Lyonne, Jason Priestley, Philip Baker Hall, Frances Conroy, Stark Sands, Nora Dunn. One of those blank kills blank only to have daughter of blank plot to kill blank. Film is set to debut at Sundance. First time director. We hope for the best.

A DIFFERENT LOYALTY (2003) Directed by Marek Kanievska. Written by Jim Piddock. Starring: Sharon Stone & Rupert Everett has either Husband and Wife or Brother & Sister. Nothing is really known about this project. However, it’d be the first project from Sharon along with THE DEVIL’S THROAT that was really worth paying attention to in a while. She seems to have taken a bit of a break.

DIGITAL JESUS (2003) Directed by ALEX COX – When the director of REPO Man and SID AND NANCY has a new project… we’re interested.

LE DIVORCE (2003) Directed & Written by James Ivory. Starring: Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts, Glenn Close, Stockard Channing, Matthew Modine, Sam Waterston, Leslie Caron Melvil Poupaud, Bebe Neuwirth, Stephen Fry. It has been a decade since the last truly great James Ivory film… There was a time, when every film he made was Oscar gold and I miss those days. This is an amazing cast and amazing source material. Hopefully we’ll see a great film from Mr Ivory again!

DOGVILLE (2003) Directed & Written by Lars Von Trier. Starring: Nicole Kidman, Stellen Skarsgard, Chloe Sevigny, Patricia Clarkson, Jeremy Davies, Philip Baker Hall, Paul Bettany, Lauren Bacall, James Caan, Ben Gazzara and the astonishing Udo Kier!!! Von Trier is a genius, and this time he’s doing something a bit different from his last three triumphs, here he’s shooting exclusively in studio going for that televised theatre look of the seventies… This is one we anxiously await. Till Cannes…

DOWN WITH LOVE (2003) Directed by Peyton Reed. Starring: Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, David Hyde Pierce, Tony Randall. On April 13, 2003 we see Peyton Reed’s last film before he gets behind the camera to helm FANTASTIC FOUR. Will he cast Renee Zellweger as Sue Storm? He’s the director of BRING IT ON – and this time out he’s trying to make a Rock Hudson/Doris Day sex comedy. And I suppose this means no nudity sex film with closed mouth kisses and covers up to the chin. Oh well… No Ewan deformed genitalia in this one.

DREAMCATCHER (2003) Directed by Lawrence Kasdan. Screenplay by William Goldman from the Stephen King Novel. Starring: Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane, Jason Lee, Tom Sizemore, Damian Lewis, Timothy Olyphant, Donnie Wahlberg. There’s snow… which tends to mean this Stephen King adaptation will rule, since most of the Stephen King films with snow tend to be the best ones! Think about it… it’ll scare ya. Word is EXTREMELY GOOD on this film and the trailers are exceptional. Coming March 28th, 2003.

THE DREAMERS (2003) Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. Written by Gilbert Adair. Starring: Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, Eva Green, Jean Pierre Kalfon. Jean Pierre Leaud. The latest film from master filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci tells a story about a young American studying in Paris in 1968, who strikes up a friendship with a French brother and sister during the Paris Student riots of that year. Bertolucci is always of interest.

DUPLEX (2003) Directed by Danny DeVito Written by Larry Doyle & John Hamburg. Starring: Ben Stiller, Drew Barrymore, Eileen Essel, Harvey Fierstein, James Remar, Justin Theroux. A black black black comedy from Danny DeVito about a couple needing to kill a little old lady to get their dream apartment.

EDDIE GRIFFIN: DYS-FUNK-TIONAL FAMILY (2003) Directed by George Gallo & Eddie Griffin. Documentary on comedian Eddie Griffin heading home for a family reunion that includes 2 uncles – one a porn director and one an ex-pimp. Playing at Sundance this year.

ELF (2003) Directed by Jon Favreau. Written by David Berenbaum & Jon Favreau. Starring: Will Ferrell, Ed Asner, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, Mary Steenburgen. Will Ferrell plays a human raised as a Christmas Elf searching for his real family. Ed Asner plays Santa. James Caan the father of an Elf-human played by Will Ferrell. This’ll be classic… Coming November 7th.

EMILE (2003) Directed by Carl Bessai. Starring: Ian McKellen & Deborah Unger And this is why I love Ian McKellen. He plays Magneto and Gandalf. Two gigantic pop-culture icons in films bigger than big, and then he makes this teeny tiny film about a man grown old, trying to reunite with the family he abandoned. Paralyzed by his own betrayal – and fighting rejoining them versus staying cold in his memories and isolation. An Actor’s Film. I can’t wait.

ENVY (2003) Directed by Barry Levinson. Written by Larry David & Steve Adams. Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Christopher Walken, Rachel Weisz, Ving Rhames. In the middle of the summer… July 2003, Barry Levinson is going to be counter programming against the giant super flicks with this crime comedy thingee about best friends and neighbors – Ben Stiller and Jack Black that are equal in all things, when suddenly one of Jack Black’s get rich quick schemes hits jackpot. Well things get batty as hell when Christopher Walken shows up at Ben Stiller’s place with… notions. Great little cast – could be fun as hell. Larry David is a funny as hell writer, Levinson is a very solid director. Let’s keep an eye on this.

ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2003) Directed by Michel Gondry. Written by Charlie Kaufman. Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Wilkinson, Elijah Wood. The latest work of absolute brilliance from greatest writing auteur of our day. His films and screenplays are bliss. Original and not like anything else that has come before or after. True originality. Stare too long and you’ll go blind.

EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING (2003) Directed by Paul Schrader. Written by Caleb Carr, William Wisher Jr and Paul Schrader. Starring: Stellen Skarsgard, Gabriel Mann. We’ve had a look at the script on AICN and it looks fantastic. I’m actually a bit afraid of this movie with Schrader in charge. He’s as mean as you’ll need to be to make this great. This won’t just be a knock off. Coming July 18th, 2003 – That’s confidence in the project Warners!

THE EXPENDABLES (2003) Directed by D. J. Caruso Written by Scott Marshall Smith. Not Yet Cast. Dirty Dozen type story about a group of maximum-security inmates that are given a chance at a way out by volunteering for an impossibly risky and life-threatening mission. If you saw D.J.’s THE SALTON SEA, you should know that this is definitely a director to watch.

FANFAN LA TULIPE (2003) Directed by Gerard Krawczyk. Written by Luc Besson & Jean Cosmos. Remake of the 1952 french film of the same name. Starring: Vincent Perez, Penelope Cruz, Helene de Fougerolles. Story of a peasant wooed into joining the army because a young gypsy girl tells him he’ll acquire glory and the king’s daughter through his service in the 18th Century Army! The original was quite fun, bet this will be too.

THE FANTASTIC FOUR (2004) Directed by Peyton Reed. Written by too many to accurately convey. Could be the greatest film ever… Or at least that’s how I wish for this story to end up… but… one never knows. Still can't believe the director of BRING IT ON is in charge...

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS 2 (2003) Directed by John Singleton. Written by Michael Brandt & Derek Haas. Starring: Paul Walker, Cole Hauser, Tyrese, Eva Mendes, Ludacris, Fabolous, James Remar. Coming June 6th. Following the wrong surviving character from the original we end up in Miami as Paul Walker must go undercover again to prove himself… Mainly interesting for Singleton and Hauser’s involvement.

FEAR ITSELF (2003) Directed by John Polson. Written by Stuart Blumberg. From Gordon Williams’ novel. Starring Edward Norton. A remake of STRAW DOGS… I just don’t see a need to remake this classic.

A FEW GOOD YEARS (2003) Directed by Fred Schepisi. Written by Jesse Wigutow. Starring: Michael Douglas, Bernadette Peters, Kirk Douglas, Rory Culkin. On April 25th, we finally get to see Michael and Kirk make a film together in this wild dysfunctional New York family tale. Personally I’m just excited to see a movie with Bernadette Peters.

FIFTY FIRST KISSES (2003) Directed by Jay Roach. This romantic comedy brought to us by that crazy Austin Powers director. The title intrigues me and Roach amuses me… let’s see who ends up in this film.

THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS (2003) Directed by Jonathan Lynn. Starring Cuba Gooding Jr, Beyonce Knowles, Wanda Williams, Mike Epps, LaTanya Richardson. Cuba’s been on a bad run for quite a while now. This is a musical comedy about a New York Advertising executive that travels to a small Southern town to collect his inheritance but first he must create a gospel choir and lead it to success. Could be fun, but it could suck like the last several Cuba movies. I’m really pulling for him.

FINAL DESTINATION 2 (2003) Directed by David R Ellis. Starring: Ali Larter, A.J. Cook, Tony Todd. Because FINAL DESTINATION wasn’t final, we have another. The trailer actually is pretty entertaining. Ali Larter is hot like a fresh biscuit out of the oven dripping butter and this is Rated R with “some nudity”… shows promise. Heh.

FINDING NEMO (2003) Directed & Written by Andrew Stanton. Starring the voices of: Albert Brooks, Willem Dafoe, Ellen DeGeneres, Austin Pendleton, John Ratzenberger, Geoffrey Rush. The first PIXAR film to be released in a Summer – Mr Beaks saw an early cut and did the typical Pixar drool… Pixar is perfect, so this will be too.

FIRECRACKER (2003) Directed by Steve Balderson. Starring: Dennis Hopper, Debbie Harry, Karen Black, James Russo and… THE ENIGMA!!! Any film that has The Enigma in it is a must see. This is supposed to be a Mystery Thriller type of thing… I just wish that The Enigma was the star.

FLETCH WON (2004) Directed and Written by Kevin Smith. From Gregory McDonald’s Novel. Starring Jason Lee. Yes, your drool is showing.

FLORA PLUM (2004) Directed by Jodie Foster. Starring: Ewan McGregor, Meryl Streep and Claire Danes. Originally set to star Russell Crowe, but he went off and made A BEAUTIFUL MIND instead and commitments stacked up. This ‘carnie’ story has lots of potential. Besides… who doesn’t want to see Ewan play the dogface boy?

FOODFIGHT! (2004) Directed by Lawrence Kasanoff. Old food comes to life and goes to war. Could be the greatest film ever.

A FOREIGN AFFAIR (2003) Directed by Helmut Schleppi. Written by Geert Heetebrij. Starring: David Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson, Emily Mortimer, Larry Pine, Lois Smith. Two brothers need a woman to cook and clean so they go to Russia to find a wife. Any film with Tim Blake Nelson is a must see sort of thing. Playing at Sundance.

FREDDY VS JASON (2003) Directed by Ronny Yu. Starring: Robert Englund, Ken Kirzinger. Eons in coming we finally will have an answer to the question that plagues are nightmares… Who would win… Jason or Freddy?

FURY ROAD (2004) Directed & Written by George Miller. Starring: Mel Gibson, Robert Downey Jr and lots of outbackers that need gas. This could very well be one of the most exciting projects coming in the future. This script – oh how I want this script – to read lines like “I am gravely disappointed. Again you have made me unleash my dogs of war.” Or “Greetings from The Humungus! The Lord Humungus! The Warrior of the Wasteland! The Ayatollah of Rock & Rolla!” MAD MAX 2/THE ROAD WARRIOR is perhaps one of the very few perfect films ever made. George Miller’s direction of BABE: PIG IN THE CITY was sublime. He’s taken his time to craft this script. Mel obviously is excited by what he wrote… otherwise I don’t believe he’d be making this. I just want to see that V8 Interceptor out on the Road again. Greatness I foresee!