Month: January 2006 (Page 5 of 22)

DVD shuffle: 01/24/05

January 23, 2006 /

Out on DVD this week:

1) Flightplan – RENT: For how well this film did at the box office, I have to say that I was expecting a whole lot more. Still, it’s theatrical success is hardly worth contesting, so I’ll leave it up to you to decide.

2) The Fog – PASS: Never got a chance to see this remake of the classic 70’s horror film, and quite frankly, I never will. The casting of YA Superman doesn’t help the case either, but fans of Maggie Grace jonesing for some wet T-shirt action may very well be compelled to pick this one up.

3) The Aristocrats – RENT: A documentary about the dirtiest joke ever told, “The Aristocrats” is more of a secret handshake between comics than a film for the Average Joe. Still, despite it’s utter lack of comedy, it would be difficult to suggest never seeing this movie. It’s certainly worth seeing once, but that’s it.

Also out this week is a reissue of the sci-fi cult film “Repo Man,” as well as the gen-Y drama “Thumbsucker.”

Movie DVDs, Movies, Reviews

Oscars put “Syriana” screenplay in wrong category

January 23, 2006 /

When he’s not busy making twelve-year-old girls cry, George Clooney may well be fuming over the Academy’s classification of his film “Syriana” as an original screenplay rather than an adaptation. The move may jeopardize “Syriana”’s chances for a screenplay nomination, since Warner Brothers touted the film as an adaptation in its “For Your Consideration” campaign, and ballots inadvertently cast in the wrong category cannot be corrected in the film’s favor.

Could this be a right-wing conspiracy led by the hard-line geezers who still control much of the Academy’s activity? Is this a political commentary, or a true oversight? If “Syriana” is missing from the screenplay nominees to be announced January 31, controversy will surely rage.

But of course, all this assumes that anyone wants to nominate “Syriana” for an Oscar in either screenplay category…which may be wishful thinking.

Movies, News

Too much diversity?

January 23, 2006 /

Is there such a thing?

Two recent premieres got me thinking – if every show maxes out diversity, aren’t they just homogeneous?

Case #1

During the premiere of “Emily Reasons Why Not” (and what turned out to also be the series finale, a rare feat indeed), Heather Graham sat in a living room with two friends, a woman (who looked to be mixed race) and a black guy. (Note: I’m told that using the term “black” is okay again.) Heather’s character, Emily, is complaining about her love life. The girlfriend chimes in and, as the black guy is about to speak for the first time, I pause the recording and say to my wife, “I predict that, by the end of this guy’s first sentence, we will know he’s gay.” I push play and the guy makes a wisecrack to the effect that he “can’t choose the right guy.”

Case #2

On the premiere of “Love Monkey” (which shows promise, by the way) white lead character Tom has three friends: 1) his white brother-in-law 2) a white former pro athlete and 3) a rich black man. By the end of the show, we discover the former pro athlete is actually gay.

Now, I have no problem with diversity on television. America is a diverse country and television is beginning to represent that. My question is: when is enough enough? If you have ten shows about single people navigating the dating scene, and all of them have casts like the ones I described, aren’t they just homogeneous?

TV, TV Comedies, TV Dramas

NBC cancels “The West Wing”

January 23, 2006 /

After a seven-year run, NBC has axed “The West Wing.” The show has been quite compelling this season, alternating between Jed Bartlett’s final year in office and the ongoing campaign to replace him. The series was set up nicely to transition to a new President, with either Democrat Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) or Republican Arnold Vinnick (Alan Alda) taking over the lead role.

The cancellation leaves me scratching my head. I’m not sure how “Commander In Chief” can survive while “The West Wing” cannot. Don’t get me wrong, “Chief” is decent, but it isn’t on the same level as “The West Wing.”

News, TV, TV Dramas

George Clooney likes to make little girls cry

January 23, 2006 /

Following Clooney’s off-color joke at the Golden Globes last week, the father of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff has pulled out a powerful weapon: his granddaughter’s tears.

Blithely overlooking his son’s confession, guilty plea, and subsequent conviction on three felony counts, Papa Abramoff published a letter to Clooney in a Palm Springs newspaper in which he attempted to shame the actor for attempting to destroy the younger Abramoff’s name and family, and for sending Jack’s 12-year-old daughter into “a fit of tears.”

Granted, I’m no 12-year-old…but if I were, I have to think that having George Clooney poke fun at my dad on television would be slightly less mortifying than having my grandfather tell the whole world that Dr. Ross’ dirty joke made me cry.

Actors, News

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2026 Premium Hollywood

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑