| Archives of Nolan's Pop Culture Review | ||
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 LA FLORIDIANA Summary of My Fall TV Show Picks by William Moriaty | ||
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE REVIEW "Rent" by Mike Smith | ||
MIKE'S RANT Happy Thanksgiving....Ironic, Isn't It....No Survivors....I'm Sorry....Beatles Remembered....You Can't Hold On Too Long....Passing On....Next Year....Jaws: The Story, Part 43 by Mike Smith | ||
Established A.D. 2000, March 19. Now in our sixth calendar year!
Number 296 (Vol. 6, No. 47). This edition is for the week of November 21--27, 2005.
Thanksgiving (mostly)
Before I launch into this week's diatribes, I want to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving. I hope this finds you and yours well.
This has been one of the crappiest years on record for me, so it comes as a challenge trying to find things to be thankful about, but there are a few things. After two major projects tanked disastrously and my health went to sh*t, somewhere around the beginning of Fall things started to brighten...slightly. The website is still doing pretty well, I managed to get some great press, and Tampa managed to stay out of all the hurricane's way. For those things I am grateful.
SEX SELLS As of this writing, the jury hasn't yet decided the fate of Joseph Smith who raped and killed 11-year-old Carlie Brucia. He will either be sent to prison for life or executed.
The Vatican just announced they are discriminating against known homosexual priests(!) saying they will not be allowed to minister. Exceptions are made for those who have been "recovered"(!) for more than three years.
NEW ORLEANS THE FUTURE FOR ME Although it seems like there's lots of bad news this week (hell, this year), our mission at PCR has never been more important. I'm working on some design modifications to the homepage I'm quite excited about, and you can look forward to a more multi-media-intensive experience when you visit in 2006!
WAL-MART DOCTOR'S VISIT?
ALREADY IN THEATRES
DECEMBER 2
DECEMBER 9
DECEMBER 14
DECEMBER 16
DECEMBER 21
DECEMBER 23
DECEMBER 25
Nationally, we're still mired in Iraq with no end in sight. Capital Hill has been ablaze with mounting dissent about the war, and nasty in-fighting has resulted (Murtha vs Schmidt comes to mind). Scandal is rampant (CIA leak, etc. etc.). Gas prices that were out of control have rolled back....for now. It took parading Big Oil before Congress and a threat of windfall profits tax for that to happen, though.
In Tampa, a school teacher, Debra Lafave, convicted of having sex with one of her students (has there been any other year when that's being reported as regularly as this year?) was sentenced only to three years of community control. Reason? "She's too pretty to go to prison," according to her lawyer who won the motion. Outrage? You bet!
New Orleans is still recovering from Katrina and the rebuilding is going very slowly---apparently there are still communication breakdowns hampering the efforts.
On a personal note, the health problems that landed me in the hospital in August are slooooowly relinquising their control over me, and I'm back to walking with a cane, at least temporarily. This is why some issues of PCR have seemed a little lean recently---my whole energy is consumed in pain management. My recovery is predicted to accelerate, but then again, it was before.
In Couch Potato, PCR #290, Vinnie Blesi sarcastically mentioned getting health care at Wal-Mart. Unfortuantely, it is no joke and is really happening.
A dark day for health care, my friends.
MIKE SMITH'S HOLIDAY FILM PREVIEW by Michael A. Smith
The holidays are upon us and soon the air will be filled with the smells of turkey roasting and ham baking. And, as is always the case, Hollywood wants us to experience the smells of popcorn popping as well, holding out some of their best films as year end presents for faithful film goers. Here is a list of the films to watch for between now and New Years day. Some synopsis information courtesy of the Internet Movie Data Base. Please note that the release date given my change at the whim of the film companies.
OSCAR CHANCES: The special effects and the incredible Patrick Doyle/John Williams musical score should be shoo ins come nomination time.
OSCAR CHANCES: Stars Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon are guaranteed locks. The film may follow last year's Best Picture nominee, "Ray," into the ring for the big prize.
OSCAR CHANCES: Could follow "Chicago" with nominations as Best Picture and Best Director for Chris Columbus. The performances all top notch all around, but if I were looking for standouts I'd give Supporting nods to Jesse L. Martin, Anthony Rapp and Idina Menzel.
OSCAR CHANCES: Writer/Director Stephen Gaghan won an Oscar for his script of "Traffic," so it's possible he could be recognized here. Clooney always gives a good performance, as does co-stars Matt Damon and Chris Cooper, who won the Supporting award two years ago for "Adaptation."
OSCAR CHANCES: None that I see.
OSCAR CHANCES: Na da, though Theron and McDormand could both be nominated for their work earlier this year in "North Country."
OSCAR CHANCES: Huffman, who won an Emmy earlier this year for her work on "Desperate Housewives," is getting lots of buzz as a possible Best Actress nominee.
OSCAR CHANCES: Gyllenhaal is already getting award attention for "Jarhead," so another great performance certainly can't hurt his chances. Director Ang Lee was a nominee for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and screenwriter Larry McMurtry, whose novels include "Lonesome Dove" and "Terms of Endearment," was a nominee for his adaptation of his book, "The Last Picture Show."
OSCAR CHANCES: The animals shown in the coming attraction are incredibly rendered. Should be recognized for it's visual effects.
OSCAR CHANCES: Good for both Marshall and the film. Though Marshall took some flack from the Japanese community by casting Chinese actresses Ziyi Zhang and Michelle Yeoh in Japanese roles, both are getting positive notices. John Williams, with five Oscars and over 40 nominations to his credit, turned down the chance to score "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (though his themes are still heard) so that he could compose the music for this film.
OSCAR CHANCES: With the last "Rings" film still fresh in the Academy's mind, "Kong" could earn multiple nominations, most notably visual effects. Andy Serkis, who played the evil Gollum in the "Rings" films, is credited for his work in creating the actions and movements of Kong. The 1976 remake won the visual effects award causing many members of that branch of the academy to resign when it was discovered that 90% of "Kong" was makeup artist Rick Baker in a suit.
OSCAR CHANCES: Nope.
OSCAR CHANCES: Like "Rent," this film could become another "Chicago" and bring home a bushel of nominations. Depending on the competition, Broderick could follow in Gene Wilder's footsteps and snag a Supporting Actor nod.
OSCAR CHANCES: About as many as the first film got...0.
OSCAR CHANCES: Without Ed McMahon, who co-starred in the original, not a chance.
OSCAR CHANCES: As the most successful director in the history of film, almost everything Spielberg does has a chance. Like his Oscar winning "Schindler's List," Spielberg waited until he felt he was able to do this story justice. Picture and director nominations should be forthcoming.
OSCAR CHANCES: Only the one for bad taste.
OSCAR CHANCES: The Woodman has been nominated 20 times for an Oscar and has three statues on his mantle already. Look for a nod for the script and, given his success with directing actresses to Oscars (Diane Keaton, Diane Wiest, Mira Sorvino) possibly one for Scarlett Johansson, who was robbed of one for "Lost in Translation."
OSCAR CHANCES: Because of his reclusive nature (this is only his fifth film in an almost 40 year career) , Malick is worshipped as a god among fellow filmmakers. "The Thin Red Line" earned Malick Oscar nods for directing and writing, though I must admit I was lost the minute Jim Caviezel started talking about "the fish in the trees."
OSCAR CHANCES: MacLaine is having a great year, with this film following her work in "In Her Shoes." If this film gets anything in the form of a nomination, I hope it's for director Rob Reiner, who has been passed over far too many times.
