411 Fact or Fiction Movies: Week 56

Posted by Matthew Craggs on 12.01.2006

George H. Sirois and Tim O'Sullivan talk Michael Richards, The Simpsons movie, David Arquette, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and both Da Vinci Code and Van Wilder sequels in Week 56 of Movie Fact or Fiction.

Greetings,

Welcome to Week 56 of Movie Fact or Fiction.

This week we have accomplished author, man behind Scene Anatomy 101, and general good guy, George H. Sirois.

His opponent is Tim O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan is a bad, bad man. He runs with a bad crowd and is disrespectful to authority. You stay away from him or your grounded, young lady!


1. Michael Richards' career is over.

George H. Sirois: FICTION. I only say this because we've seen careers die and be reborn so consistently in the industry. Now, this stage of his career? Yeah, it's over, but it was over when he did the God-awful "Michael Richards Show." All this incident did was put his name in the paper one last time before he takes a long-overdue step back into obscurity. If he's smart, he'll wait a while and come back with a dramatic role in a small indie film. That usually does the trick.

Tim O'Sullivan: FACT. But it pretty much was anyway. He may have been the most famous and recognisable figure in 'Seinfeld' but the problem with that is he is the epitome of the "typecast" theory. From what I hear, he has been struggling with everything apart from his bank account since the Seinfeld show's passing in 98, and the events of last week didn't really shock me all that much. You can tell in the blooper reels on the Sein DVDs that he has a temper on him......and the payoff to his lack of anger management courses was a sickening rant of career destruction. The season seven DVD came out in the UK a couple of weeks back, and I can still reminisce on the good times.............but they are over.

Score: 0 for 1

2. The previews for The Simpsons movie are really underwhelming.

George H. Sirois: FICTION. Fox is basically following the same teaser formula that worked so well with South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, and I did get a kick out of Moe stressing that this movie's in 2-D. Do I wish this would have been coming out a few years back when the show was really hitting its creative stride? Of course. But despite its recent slide, I have faith that everyone involved is really working hard to make this the best it can be, and not just an extended episode.

Tim O'Sullivan: FACT. But you're asking the wrong person, Matty. Even if it doesn't make me "cool" or whatever, I honestly don't care for The Simpsons. I honestly think the first two seasons of Family Guy pissed on the majority of what the most famous television show in history has done creatively, and I will be genuinely shocked if this said movie comes close to the quality of the South Park film. Don't get me wrong, The Simpsons has had some great seasons, amazing single episodes, and hilarious characters......but they're moment in the sun has passed in my eyes. The previews look okay, but not noteworthy enough for any excitement from yours truly.

Score: 0 for 2

3. David Arquette's directorial debut The Tripper has received a distribution deal, but odds are it's going to be crap anyway.

George H. Sirois: FICTION. I have to use the ultimate example of why this is fiction, Sofia. Did we look at The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation and think those were crap because she didn't do a good job as Mary in The Godfather Part III? I know I didn't, and it's a good thing since both of them turned out to be quality movies and now she's got an Oscar under her belt as a writer. Who knows how this is going to be for David? He's shown at least a couple times that he has talent as an actor, so I'm curious to see what he can bring to the table as a director.

Tim O'Sullivan: FACT. Unless its 'X-Files the Movie II' or hell, even, 'The Red Shoe Diaries Revealed' (damn that would be a beautiful trainwreck) I couldn't give an ounce of enthusiasm towards this project.

Score: 0 for 3

4. Maggie Gyllenhaal won the best actress award for her performance in "Sherrybaby" at the 17th annual Stockholm International Film Festival. Gyllenhaal is one of the top three young actresses today.

Tim O'Sullivan: FACT. Never really thought of it like that, but I guess she is, yeah. I really like Rachel McAdams and the young girl from 'Little Miss Sunshine' is good, but other than that I can't think of anyone off the top of my head that trumps Jake's namesake. How old is she anyway? What's young? Either way, in films that reeked mediocrity (I'm looking at you 'World Trade Centre' and 'Secretary') she was graceful, classy, and more to the point, a damn fine actress. I concur with your statement Matthew Craggs. Now let's see if Sirois agrees. Sirois.......

George H. Sirois: FACT. FACT. Sirois agrees! When she's in a supporting role (Donnie Darko), she supports very well, and when she's the lead, she carries the movie on her back. I'm a bit more graceful towards "Secretary" than Tim the Enchanter, and the main reason why I enjoyed it as much is because of Maggie. If that role didn't shine the way she made it shine, then the whole movie would have been nothing. The US could learn a little from Sweden, give Maggie more work!

Score: 1 for 4

5. The film sequel to The Da Vinci Code (Actually Angels and Demons with some timeline changes) is a bad idea.

Tim O'Sullivan: FICTION. Nah. Balls with it. Let's ruin all of the fella's novels. No drama. He still gets the wedge in his bank account. He doesn't care. Okay, so the 'Da Vinci Code' was a bit of a damp squib, but the book wasn't great anyway. It wasn't. Howard just played to the text, and if that's how the film turned out, so be it. An 'Angels and Demons' film will rake in the punters' cash and even if its a disappointment it won't be a horrible movie. There are worse ideas floating around than this. Scary Movie 5 springs to mind.

George H. Sirois: FICTION. I'll trust Tim's remarks about Da Vinci since I have yet to see it, but this isn't the first time we've seen timelines shift around for book adaptations. Hell, Paramount turned The Sum of All Fears into a prequel that pre-dated The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games AND Clear and Present Danger. All they care about is the bottom line, and moving forward with Angels and Demons this soon after Da Vinci is a good idea for them since they're striking while the iron's hot.

Score: 2 for 5

6. Van Wilder 2 has a good shot at taking #1 at the box office this weekend.

Tim O'Sullivan: FICTION. I doubt it. It hasn't got Reynolds in it, right? From the brief trailer I saw of it, it looks like a straight-to-DVD sequel that just about made the cut for a big screen release. It will probably be another slog between Happy Feet and Bond at the North American Box Office this weekend.

George H. Sirois: FICTION. Matt, please tell me you didn't write that statement with a straight face. The whole National Lampoon company has been limping along like Gotham City in Batman Begins ever since Van Wilder came out. Its modest success has kept the once-famous Lampoon going and all they've done is churn out direct-to-video flicks that have almost as much humor in them as the boil on the late John Belushi's ass. This one will be lucky to crack the Top 10, much less get in the Top 5. And if it does make it that high, I'll be surprised and ashamed at the same time.

Final Score: 3 for 6

Thanks for stopping by. Make sure you check back next week for more Movie Fact or Fiction.