Richard Donner

Even a blind hog, or so they say, finds a truffle now and then. So could it be that Jerry Fletcher, conspiracy theorist extraordinaire, has actually stumbled on the truth? Fletcher is a New York City cabdriver who unnerves his passengers and everyone else in earshot with the crackpot ideas that go into his newsletter, circulation all of five.

(Un)finished business "Exorcist: The Beginning" takes possession of theaters today after a rewrite, recast, reshoot by a different director (Renny Harlin) than an earlier finished version (Paul Schrader). Harlin stepped in after the late John Frankenheimer dropped out because of his health. Another high-profile project based on an idea that sprang from "The Graduate" recently replaced director Ted Griffin with Rob Reiner.

In Hollywood, nothing much gets done the last few weeks of December. Ordinarily, if Christmas and New Year's fall on a Monday or Friday, executives take a three-day weekend. If the holidays fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, make it a four-day weekend. But as the holidays fall on a Wednesday this year, hey, there's no point in coming to work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. And that's for two weeks. So, if they're not at the studio, where is everybody?

Will Irish eyes be smiling when a crop of Irish-American-themed pictures arrive at movie theaters in the next year or so? A handful of titles that touch on NYC dockside gangs and Irish Republican Army gun-running are currently in development or preproduction, not necessarily casting those of Irish ancestry in the most positive light. First up is Orion's "State of Grace," to film in June, with Sean Penn as an undercover cop infiltrating Irish gangs of NYC's Hell's Kitchen. Dennis McIntire wrote the script, which Phil Joanou directs.

The Fabulous Baker Boys (Gladden/Mirage). Shooting in L.A. Ivory-tinkling lounge musicians Jeff Bridges and bro' Beau perform the title roles with Michelle Pfeiffer tagging along for the fun. Director/screenwriter Steve Kloves. Distributor Fox. Summer release. Lethal Weapon 2 (Silver). Shooting in L.A. Richard Donner directs wacko cop/title character Mel Gibson and cautious partner Danny Glover in this sequel set three years later.