New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet

Fresh off the blistering failure of Rollerball, director John McTiernan follows up with a film that will feature John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in their first film together since their famous pairing in Pulp Fiction. Travolta will play a DEA agent who is asked to investigate the disappearance of a legendary Army Ranger drill instructor (Jackson) and his cadets during exercises at a Panama basic training camp, where things seem to have gone very badly.

The story is from a script from debut screenwriter James Vanderbilt, who also has Helldorado currently in production. The screenplay was actually the subject of a rather intense bidding war, and was originally intended for release in spring of 2001. At that time, Catherine Keener was in talks to star as the DEA agent and Benicio Del Toro was being discussed for the drill instructor role, with Lee Tamahori (Along Came a Spider) slated to direct. The casting is decidedly different, but the star power is certainly stronger (even though Travolta’s star has dimmed somewhat in recent years).

Once marketing begins, Columbia/Sony will almost certainly play up the Pulp Fiction angle, even though the two films have absolutely nothing to do with one another (and it seems doubtful that Travolta and Jackson will even share much screen time). At this point, there’s not much else to set this film apart from any number of similarly-themed tales; however, it does boast a fine group of supporting performers along with the enthralling screen presence of Jackson. Military suspense thrillers are a tough sell, but the casting and action sequences could go a long way toward making this a film that audiences will be excited to see. (Kim Hollis/BOP)

Vital statistics for Basic Main Cast John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson Supporting Cast Connie Nielsen, Giovanni Ribisi, Taye Diggs, Timothy Daly, Harry Connick Jr. Director John McTiernan Screenwriter James Vanderbilt Distributor Columbia Pictures Rating R Running Time 98 minutes Screen Count 2,876 Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture

Comparison films for Basic
Title	Date	Opening	Adjusted Opening	Screens	PSA	Adj PSA	Total BO	Adjusted Total	Mult
Black Hawk Down	1/18/02	33.63	34.96	3101	10844.00	10844.0	108.58	112.89	3.17
General's Daughter, The	6/18/99	22.33	26.61	2856	7819.00	8927.2	102.68	122.36	4.60
Swordfish	6/8/01	18.14	19.36	2678	6776.00	6955.9	69.72	74.41	3.84
Changing Lanes	4/12/02	17.13	17.81	2613	6716.00	6716.0	66.79	69.44	3.90
Broken Arrow	2/9/96	15.58	21.25	2388	6524.00	8560.9	70.65	96.38	4.53
Rules of Engagement	4/7/00	15.01	16.79	3155	4758.00	5119.9	61.32	68.59	4.09
Domestic Disturbance	11/2/01	14.03	14.97	2910	4822.00	4950.0	45.21	48.25	3.22
Enemy at the Gates	3/16/01	13.81	14.73	1509	9152.00	9395.0	51.40	54.85	3.72