411 Fact or Fiction Movies: Week 89

Posted by Ben Piper on 08.18.2007

Will Superbad surpass Knocked Up at the box office? Is Peter Jackson the only right choice to helm The Hobbit? Is Carson Daly an untalented tool? 411's George H. Sirois & Will Helm debate these topics and more in week 89 of Fact or Fiction: Movies...

Hello everyone. I'm going to be honest in stating that I'm slightly behind schedule this week, so let's skip the light and witty banter and get right into the meat of this thing. This go round finds George H. Sirois and Will Helm debating the topics of the day.

1. Superbad will do better business at the box office than it's sister production Knocked Up did.

George H.Sirois: Fiction. It will do well, but considering it's coming in at the tail end of summer, it won't match the $100+ that Knocked Up did. I think of Superbad as the younger sibling of Knocked Up, considering its origins, and if it does well enough for the right people to take notice, look for Seth to get another writing gig for a movie opening earlier next summer.

Will Helm: Fiction. As much as it pains me to say it, I'll go "Fiction" on this one, only because of the limited-audience scope as compared to Knocked Up. The earlier film, while coming from what is largely an offshoot of the "Frat Pack" school of comedy, was a heartfelt romance as well as a comedy that could appeal to a much larger pool of viewers. Superbad - which I can't wait for, by the way - is reminiscent of the old, '80s "tit-coms" - yes, that's a technical term - which any child of '80s HBO probably remembers fondly. As such, Superbad will make some dough because it will be good - I trust anything from the Apatow/Rogen camp - but it won't quite outshine Knocked Up.

Score: 1 for 1

2. Casting Triple H as Marvel's Thor would be a really bad idea.

George H. Sirois: Fiction. Come on, just look at the guy! He's got the charisma, he's obviously got the build, and he's cut his teeth already in the film business. Considering how over-the-top the character of Thor would be - he is a god, after all - I don't see any problems that a few extra acting lessons wouldn't fix.

Will Helm: Fiction. In some strange way, I actually want this to happen and be a success. Why? Because then Triple H would be spared further injuries from wrestling due to becoming a neophyte movie star. He's definitely got the physique and unbridled charisma - though maybe not on the level of Dwayne Johnson or John Cena - and I'll even go a little further and say that he can probably act well enough for the role. Thor, as a fairly straight-laced character, needs charisma to be successful, and that's Triple H's forte. Conveniently, he even knows how to swing a big hammer.

Score: 2 for 2

3. Peter Jackson is the only right choice to helm the big screen adaptation of The Hobbit.

George H. Sirois: Fact, to a point. I'd adjust that statement a bit and say Peter Jackson is the only right choice RIGHT NOW to helm a big-screen adaptation of The Hobbit. Any other choice would automatically be compared non-favorably to Jackson's LOTR trilogy, and with good reason. If New Line is confident that they are ready to go full-speed-ahead with this film, then yes, getting Jackson onboard would be most welcomed by the fans.

Will Helm: Fiction. I know this sounds wacky and crazy, but Peter Jackson isn't the only epic filmmaker out there. While he may have blown away everyone's expectations with LOTR, there are other directors - some even outside the box - out there who could bring a new vision to the "prequel" to that trilogy. For example, Robert Rodriguez has done the Spy Kids films and that, in addition to his digital-background experience, could serve as a résumé for a lighter tome like The Hobbit. On the same note, a neglected talent like Kerry Conran (Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow) could step up to the plate and knock one out the park. Though Jackson may have the clout and legacy to earn him the job, he isn't the only option.

Score: 2 for 3

Switch!!!

4. CBS made a mistake by casting Joe Mantegna instead of Harvey Keitel for the new lead of their hit show Criminal Minds.

Will Helm: Fiction. Let me preface this by saying - as anyone who follows my "Fact or Fiction" history will know - that I don't watch Criminal Minds. That being said, I think that Joe Mantegna is a fine hand to have around as he can easily toe the line between likable and gritty. Keitel, in addition to being more associated with film than television, usually leans too far to the latter side of that equation, which may put off some viewers. As well, others may see Keitel moving to the small screen as a step down and a point of ridicule for the show, while Mantegna doesn't have that connotation. He's Fat Tony, after all.

George H. Sirois: Fiction. Just like my esteemed colleague Mr. Helm said, I don't watch Criminal Minds either. I see nothing wrong with either choice for leading man, but I would say that if I had my druthers, I would still pick Mantegna since Keitel has a tendency to come off as a bit more of a supporting player. Granted, he's had his share of leading man roles, but when you look at him in, say, Bad Lieutenant, he was this close to pushing it over the top. Mantegna has his explosive moments as well, but he can play it much more subdued and well-rounded. I think he'll be just fine.

Score: 3 for 4

5. Carson Daly is an untalented tool.

Will Helm: Fiction. Why in the world am I saying "Fiction"? Well, it's because Carson Daly isn't untalented. He's proven through the years that he can introduce music videos and have vapid, uninteresting interviews with various celebrities. That has to count for something, right? Unfortunately for him, he is a tool - and sometimes I think he knows it - and that epithet will follow him wherever he goes. Eh . . . as long as he's not in the running to take over Late Night; he's probably the only choice worse than Jimmy Fallon. I'm sure even I could think of someone better.

George H. Sirois: Fiction. The man can interview the Backstreet Boys like it's nobody's business! And that's pretty much all I got for him. That alone pushes him over the line between talented and untalented. I don't think Will has anything to worry about with a run at late night since the guy already had a show AFTER late night that went nowhere. (The basic rule is that you have to do well in your timeslot before they move you up a notch.) But now Will's got me wondering; who would be a better choice than Jimmy Fallon? Guess it's just a matter of knowing where to look…

Score: 4 for 5

6. You think The Invasion is just another pointless Body Snatchers remake.

Will Helm: Fact. At this point, Invasion of the Body Snatchers has been remade so much that people are going to forget which is the original. After all, there isn't just the 1956 version, there's also the like-titled 1978 version, as well as the Abel Ferrara-directed remake from 1993, cleverly titled Body Snatchers. I guess, since that was used, the filmmakers decided to use The Invasion just to seem different. Nope; it's still a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and, even though it might seem important with Nicole Kidman, James Bond, and a bunch of people with accents, it's still needless and going to suck.

George H. Sirois: Fact! FACT! A THOUSAND TIMES FACT! I just discussed this in my UBS Evening Movie News yesterday, so I'll re-iterate. This is the 4th rendition of the same film. Why do they insist on re-making the same movie so many times when it was perfectly creepy the first time around? I just don't get it…

Final Score: 5 for 6

Damn! One away from a reverse no-hitter yet again. And how can these two say "fiction" with regards to Carson Daly?!… Anywho, that's it for this week. Check back next week for more Fact or Fiction Movies!