The Weigh in 78

This week in my world…

Any film that has been shown in the United States by midnight on
December 31st is eligible for an academy award. So, with December around the corner, Hollywood studios are lining up films that they think will have a shot at being nominated and may ultimately win an Oscar. This week I wanted to take a look at the films that are being moved up or that are being released in limited venues in order to be eligible for consideration. A few of these films will be mixed in with the occasional holiday “comedy”, horror flick, and generic action movie. Most of these however, will be screened in local art houses. If you get bored with the usual holiday fare, maybe you should dig around to see if one is playing near you. You are bound to hear about them in the coming months.

December 1st:
	The Nativity Story stars Keisha Castle-Hughes (from Whale Rider) and is the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus Christ. Oscar voters love a good period piece, jut maybe not one with religious intonations.

December 8th:
Apocalypto is another Mel Gibson film shot in a dead language. This film will either garner rave reviews or leave people scratching their head. Either way, its distributor has faith that it will raise a few heads.	Breaking and Entering is being called in some circles Crash 2. The film features a list of top notch British actors, including Jude Law, and involves a group of people from different social classes that intersect and have life changing experiences because of it.	The Good German is Steven Soderbergh’s latest film and stars George Clooney and Cate Blanchette as a post-World War II correspondent and his former lover. He is trying to learn about her secret life while she is trying to hide her past and become a new person.

December 15th:
The Pursuit of Happyness is a drama based on the true story of a single father trying to provide a new life for himself and his son. If you think Will Smith is an action hero or comedian, you really should check out the absolutely astounding film Six Degrees of Separation.	Home of the Brave stars Samuel L. Jackson and Jessica Biel and tells the story of three Iraqi war veterans struggling to fit in to their new lives back home. I almost didn’t include this in this article but someone must know something we don’t. Normally a film with these stars would get a wide release but the studios want this film to get Oscar consideration with a limited release.

December 20th:
The Painted Veil is a 1920s period piece starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. An English love story based on a classic novel. Both stars are probably both hoping to get noticed for this one.	Letters from Iwo Jima was originally set for release in February, but after Flags of Our Fathers, the American counter-point to this film, was not a box office success, Paramount Pictures doesn’t seem worried that these films will step on each other’s toes.

Keep an eye out over the next few weeks for these films at your local art house theater because some of them may not make a wide release. Unfortunately, I can’t really vouch for any of these films and most of them will probably be available for review until right before they are released. Maybe I’ll be able to dig something up before they are released.



All the news that is fit to forget (real news, not so real commentary):

In honor of Tom/Kat’s recent marriage we are going to skip the normal news and mocking commentary in favor of something to commemorate their special day. I wanted to share with my readers an opening scene to something I came up with when we first started putting this little website together. It was meant to be an ongoing humor piece that never really went anywhere. I hope you enjoy this little parody.

voiceover on a dark screen:

“This Fall, from the people that brought you ‘227’ and ‘Mama’s Family’, comes a comedy about the ordinary lives of some not so ordinary people. For the first time on network television, the Fox broadcasting network brings you the acting talents of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise in:

"Normal, California"

Katie Holmes sits on a small couch in a small, unassuming living room (not unlike any other living room on any other television show), reading a magazine. A large, muscular man stands behind her, watching her.

Tom Cruise bursts into the room, a big toothy grin on his face, directed at the audience.

“Hi honey, (the crowd goes crazy, large applause), (the smile gets brighter), I’m home. What’s for dinner?”

“I thought we would have a dinner party, invite all our friends, it’ll be fun.”

Tom Cruise looks towards the camera and frowns. (canned laughter)

“What’s the first rule of a level one?”

“(in a monotone cadence) We must distance ourselves from those that do not understand the teachings of the great one, in order to become more enlightened.”

“Now come on honey, go put me together a Boca Burger will ya.”

“Anything for you honey.” (the audience awwwwwwws)

Katie sets the magazine down and walks into the kitchen. The large man follows behind her. Tom Cruise sits on the couch and clicks the remote. Katie leans her head out the kitchen door.

“Honey, does my auditor have to follow me wherever I go?”

“Of course honey, you know you can’t be trusted to be alone on your own at any time.”

“I know, but does he have to follow me everywhere I go?”

(the audience wooooooooooooos). Katie sticks her head back in the kitchen.

The doorbell rings and Katie sticks her head out the kitchen door. “Can you get that hon?”

Tom clicks the remote and walks over to the door. He opens the door and Tom Bosley walks through the door. (the crowd applauds). He is wearing a flannel shirt, slacks and a tool belt.

“Hey hon, it’s our neighbor, Tom.”

“Yeah I invited him over to fix the door to the “conversion room". The lock seemed to be a little wiggly.”

“Good thinking hon, I always wanted to put a bar in there”(big smile toward the audience)(big laughs). He slaps Tom Bosley on the back and they walk towards the back of the stage.

“Don’t worry, this one is on me, I’ve seen what you guys pay for your sessions.”

They both give out a hearty laugh as the scene fades to commercial and the audience applauds.



This weekend at your local multiplex (12/1/2006)

The Nativity Story: Drama
Shoreh Aghdashloo, Keisha-Castle Hughes
Plot: The story of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus Christ.
Buzz: The first film screened at the Vatican to supposedly rave reviews and with this holiday season full of crappy Tim Allen/Danny Devito Christmas retreads, families may find a different sort of film to check out.

Turistas: Horror
Josh Duhamel, Melissa George, Olivia Wilde, Desmond Askew, Beau Garrett, Max Brown, Raul Gutterres
Plot: A group of adventure seeking tourists are stranded in a South American town and soon realize that the quiet coastal village is full of dark secrets.
Buzz: (please come back for review)


This week on DVD (12/28/2006)

Superman Returns
Superman I (se)
Superman II (se)
Superman II (Donner Cut)
Superman III (se)
Superman IV (se)
The Superman Christopher Reeves collection
Superman Ultimate Collectors Set
Supergirl (se)
Clerks II
An Evening with Kevin Smith: Evening Harder
The Ant Bully
See No Evil
Van Wilder (unrated)
Bones (season 1)
Thundercats (season 2/vol2)
Robin Hood: Disney (se)
Jamie Kennedy’s: Blowin’ Up
St Elsewhere (season 1)
Now You Know
7th Heaven (season 3)
Touched By an Angel (season 3)
A Star Is Born
Joan of Arcadia (season 2)
Criminal Minds (season 1)
An Evening w/ Kevin Smith (2pk)
The Usual Suspects (se)
Dane Cook: Vicious Circle



As always, you can send your loving adoration of hate mail to DPlace76@yahoo.com. You can read other random ramblings at http://bigdpimpin.livejournal.com/. Come check out our myspace account at www.myspace.com/stumblebumstudios to keep up with all of the comings and goings of the gang.