Is there an absence of originality in Hollywood? A spate of movie titles would say sure
Is Hollywood running out of titles or is it just trying to confuse everyone? Judging by a spate of films with similar names this year and next, the answer seems to be both. Consider some examples:
“The price of everything”, “The price of fame”
“Free Solo”, “Solo: A Star Wars Story”
“King of the outlaws”, “King of the philosophers”, “The king”
“Overboard”, “Overlord”
“American Animals”, “We the Animals”, “Social Animals”, “Animal Crackers”, “Eating Animals” (all that’s missing is a 40th anniversary re-release of “National Lampoon’s Animal House”)
“Cold War”, “A Private War”, “Private Life”
“Early Man”, “First Man”
“In search”, “In search of Ingmar Bergman”, “In search of greatness”
“Mary Queen of Scots”, “Mary Poppins Returns”
At this rate, it can be difficult to keep things straight on Oscar night. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway had nothing to do with it. Gone are the days of distinctive, memorable film titles like “Casablanca”, “Jaws”, “The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain” and “Dude, Where’s My Car?”
Instead, we are exposed to a plethora of copycat films including “Dark Crimes”, “Dark Money”, “Dark River”, “Down a Dark Hall”, “The Dark”, “The Darkest Minds” and “In der.” Darkness.”
Unfortunately, it gets worse. More new movies that sound suspiciously like existing movies will be released soon at a theater near you.
First, on the heels of “Black Panther” and “BlacKkKlansman” …
“Black Panther Clansman”
After ingesting a heart-shaped herb, Donald Trump’s first candidate for the African American Supreme Court develops superhuman originalism, an uncanny ability to see each case as if it were happening in 1789.
“There’s something about Mary Poppins, Queen of Scots”
Roy Rivenburg takes a comical look at how studios might mix up their tried and true metaphors when naming films in the future.
(Greg Houston / For the Times)
The story of a magical but ruthless nanny who overthrows Elizabeth I with the help of a chimney sweep wearing a kilt. The bagpipe heavy soundtrack includes “A Spoonful of Sugar (Helps the Haggis Go Down)” and “Supercalifragilistic-Loch-Ness-alidocious”.
“Beautiful boy deleted”
A transgender teen is defined as non-existent by regulations that say a person’s gender is determined at birth by the genitals with which he or she was born.
“A Starship Trooper is Born”
In the distant future, film critics will pull against the 1,000. Remake of “A Star Is Born” in the war. Possible continuation: “Throw ‘Mamma Mia’ off the train.”
“Stirring Crazy Rich Asians”
A wealthy young couple return to the United States from a friend’s wedding in Singapore and are jailed by immigration officials. It comes to comedy.
“Ben Hur is back”
Confusion reigns during the awards season when movie titles mirror each other or use overlapping language. Roy Rivenburg takes a comical look at how studios might mix up their tried and true metaphors when naming films in the future.
(Greg Houston / For the Times)
Julia Roberts plays a suburban mother whose drug addict son comes home on Christmas Eve and hallucinates that he’s a Roman chariot racer.
“The girl in Charlotte’s network”
A Swedish hacker and a gifted spider forge an unusual plan to expose prominent #MeToo perpetrators.
“Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue”
Queen sings Gershwin.
“Hunter Killer Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy who dumped me”
A Russian double agent escapes the United States in a stolen submarine after rigging an election and breaking up with his American girlfriend. Based on novels by John le Carre, James Comey, and Stormy Daniels.
“In search of Ingmar Bergman, Bobby Fischer, Sugar Man, Debra Winger, Et Al”
Filmmakers search unsuccessfully for an uncompromised film title.
kalender@latimes.com
