Roland Emmerich

There’s little good to be found in the box office success of 10,000 B.C. (no. 1) over the weekend, except for the faint waft of an imagined warm summer breeze, the typical weather for a Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) release. Each year, Hollywood’s summer season starts a bit earlier, encroaching on—and sometimes enlivening—the cold, seemingly interminable winter months. Perhaps 10,000 B.C. is Hollywood’s way of clearing its throat, of wiping away in one fell swoop the cynicism and hopelessness of this year’s Oscar contenders and, in turn, harkening the beginning of summer, well before the weather will comply, but in compliance with this city’s shivering movie-goers. Will summer numbers follow?  read more »