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15 years ago - September 15, 2000

Bait
Director Antoine Fuqua’s second film has writing credits from a Seinfeld producer and Proof of Life writer Tony Gilroy. Jamie Foxx stars as a convict used as bait in a criminal investigation by a Treasury agent played by David Morse in this action flick. Foxx had his theatrical breakthrough the previous year with Any Given Sunday. Unfortunately, Bait was a critical and financial bomb. Bait opened at #2 behind last week’s holdover The Watcher with $5.4 million on 2,352 screens. Made for over $50 million, it eventually left theaters with only $15 million. But not to worry, pretty much everyone involved managed to shake it off.

Almost Famous
This is the 15th anniversary of Cameron Crowe at his peak (arguments for Say Anything... aside). A semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama, Almost Famous tells the story of a teenage writer (Patrick Fugit) for Rolling Stone who goes on tour with a rock band in the early ‘70s. Kate Hudson has her breakthrough role as groupie Penny Lane, and the cast includes Billy Crudup, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Noah Taylor, Frances McDormand, Jason Lee, Jimmy Fallon, Jay Baruchel, Rainn Wilson, Zooey Deschanel, and Anna Paquin. Critics and audiences loved it for its characters and tone. The movie earned Oscar nominations for Hudson, McDormand, the editors (who won the American Cinema Editors award), and a win for Cameron Crowe’s screenplay. He was also nominated by the Directors Guild of America, and the movie was nominated by the Producers Guild of America (blame Chocolat for squeezing Almost Famous out of the Best Picture category at the Oscars). The compilation soundtrack won a Grammy. Almost Famous opened in limited release at #8 on 131 screens with a big $17,669 per screen average. It expanded to wide release the following week, peaking at #3 in the box office. Its $32 million domestic gross was a little more than half its production budget, but who’s counting? This is a classic modern American film.

Duets
This ensemble musical drama stars Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Giamatti and Andre Braugher, and Scott Speedman and Maria Bello as karaoke singers on a road trip to a big contest. Gwyneth’s father Bruce Paltrow directed the film, his last before his death in 2002. At the end of this movie’s theatrical run, Gwyneth’s next release in November was Bounce alongside her high-profile ex, Ben Affleck. Duets was not a recommendation by critics and was a financial failure, but I have a soft spot for it. Paltrow's songs Bette Davis Eyes and Cruisin’ were hits on the Australian music charts, and Braugher brings great dramatic weight. Give it a look if you haven’t seen it. Duets opened in limited release at #10 with $2 million on 581 screens and eventually grossed $4.7 million.

20 years ago - September 15, 1995

Clockers
Based on the novel by Richard Price, Spike Lee’s crime drama stars Mekhi Phifer in his first film as a drug dealer. Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Delroy Lindo, and Regina Taylor costar. Reviews were good, and the Bruce Hornsby/Chaka Khan song “Love Me Still” was nominated for a Grammy. Clockers opened at #2 behind last week’s holdover To Wong Foo… with $4.4 million on 1,208 screens and went on to gross $13 million in the U.S.

Hackers
Out with the old generation of WarGames and Weird Science pranksters and in with the new generation of serious computer snoops! Johnny Lee Miller and Angelina Jolie star as hip and competent teen hackers who uncover corporate corruption in this thriller. Hackers was preceded by Sandra Bullock’s The Net in July. Microsoft had just released Windows 95 and Internet Explorer 1.0 in August to compete with Netscape, so you can imagine the high public awareness but still nascent familiarity with the internet. Movies like this must have kept a few people from venturing into the virtual world. Critics were less interested in the actors than the subject and the pacing and visuals. Hackers opened at #4 behind holdover Dangerous Minds with $3.1 million on 1,812 screens and eventually grossed $7.5 million. Did you know the personal side of this movie? Miller and Jolie were married six months later, later divorcing in early 1999.

Angus
First-timer Charlie Talbert stars in this teen trouble comedy along with Jurassic Park teen actress Ariana Richards, and James Van Der Beek in his first film role. Kathy Bates and George C. Scott costar. The movie was notable to critics for its treatment of teen obesity, self-esteem, and bullying. Angus opened at #8 with $1.9 million on 1,154 screens and eventually grossed $4.8 million.

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