411 Fact or Fiction Movies: Week 95
Posted by Ben Piper on 09.28.2007
Will In The Valley of Elah be a major Oscar contender? Is Jessica Biel a good choice to play Wonder Woman in Justice League? Will Dirty Sexy Money be this years guilty pleasure breakout hit? 411's Tony Farinella and Bryan Kristopowitz debate these and other topics in week 95 of Fact or Fiction: Movies.
Que Pasta! Welcome everyone once again to another thrilling installment of Fact or Fiction Movies. This week we have 411 stalwarts Tony Farinella and Bryan Kristopowitz matching wits and arguments about the entertainment topics of the day. Let's see what they have up their sleeves, shall we?
1. NBC's The Bionic Woman won't survive to see a second season.
Tony Farinella: Fiction. Truthfully, I haven't had a chance to check out this show yet, so I can't say if it's any good or not. That said, comic books are very, very popular. No matter how bad a comic book movie or show is, there's always an audience for it. Plus, it's Bionic WOMAN. People will tune in to see a hot girl in a hot outfit. From what I've read in researching my answer, the show is still working out a lot of the kinks and trying to find its rhythm. I wouldn't be shocked if the show is one and done, but I think we need to see how this season unfolds before we write it off. Personally, I have no interest in watching the show. I just can't get into the superhero world. I need real people, by god!
Bryan Kristopowitz: Fiction. I'm going to say "fiction" here because the show hasn't actually been on real TV yet (as of me writing this). Now, ask me next week sometime I can give a better, more definitive answer. I think the show could last at least a season. Miguel Ferrer is in it, and he's always cool (he pretty much held up Crossing Jordan for six years). And since NBC is doing this whole "every new show on our network is in some way a science fiction show," the "Heroes" audience could very well show up for this. We'll just have to wait and see.
Score: 1 for 1
2. You'd be interested in watching a softcore sex movie directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Tony Farinella: Fact. Wow. I'm not even sure how to answer this question, to be honest with you. It just seems like a fine line to walk with this whole softcore sex movie project. Will it be NC-17? How far will he go? What will we discover about QT? In the end, I'm a QT fan through and through, even though I hated Death Proof. Also, it's something different. I just wonder if it will be released in theaters. I mean, I don't want to sit next to anyone at the cinema who's pulling a Pee Wee Herman, ya know? I like my space at the movies. No, not Myspace.com. But I'll go into this movie with an open mind. I just have a lot of questions about how this whole thing will unfold. After Grindhouse flopped at the box office, I wonder how much pull QT has left. I just wonder what studio is going to support this project. It seems risky, and Hollywood likes to keep it safe these days. If the film does get released, I want to be on the press tour and interview QT about this flick. My questions will be tame, so he has nothing to worry about.
Bryan Kristopowitz: Fact. One of the things soft core porn sex movies are noted for is inane conversation and pointless plot hooha in between the sex scenes. One of the things Quentin Tarantino is noted for is dialogue (you know, talking about stuff). So, if you combine the two genres (and Tarantino is his own genre) what do you get? Probably something like Death Proof but with sex scenes in it. It'd be interesting to see where it went.
Score: 2 for 2
3. Fox's Tuesday line-up of Bones & House will consistently win that night in the ratings.
Tony Farinella: Fact. I'm not a big fan of either show, but House is extremely popular and has a loyal following. All of my friends watch House and rave about it. Personally, I don't get what's so great about it. What's funny about a cranky doctor with a cane? All he does is yell and scream at people in a sarcastic tone. It gets old rather quickly. As far as Bones, I think the show is a little too pleased with itself. The show is full of random jokes, and it seems to take away from their job at times. It's basically like a fart in church. It's awkward and unpleasant. Even with all of my negativity, the shows are popular. And it doesn't matter what I think, it matters what the public thinks. Needless to say, the public digs the cranky doctor and the comical bone people. Plus, Tuesday is a rather boring night for TV. It's not as competitive as Monday or Friday. Tuesday seems like the perfect day for both shows. I'll stick to George Lopez reruns.
Bryan Kristopowitz: Fiction. I watch both shows, enjoy both shows, and can't wait to see where each show goes this season. House is going to win its timeslot every week, and will likely help Fox win the night most weeks. While Bones has a sizeable following, it's not as big as the following of the great CBS show NCIS. NCIS will likely win every week at 8pm until American Idol shows up. So it'll be a toss up in terms of which ratings powerhouse gets the bigger rating every week. May the best show win.
Score: 2 for 3
Switch!!!
4. Jessica Biel would be a fine choice to play Wonder Woman in the proposed Justice League movie.
Bryan Kristopowitz: Fiction. I'm not particularly enthused about this movie at all, even with George Miller in the director's chair. Regardless of the movie's eventual tone, while it may be fun to look at Ms. Biel in the Wonder Woman get up (I'm going to spare everyone the obligatory "she can tie me up with the golden lasso anytime" remark. Well, I'm not going to dwell on it), I don't think she's a good enough actress in either a serious movie or a somewhat funny movie. I'm just not buying it.
Tony Farinella: Fact. She can tie me up with the golden lasso anytime. I mean, oops. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Really, though, she can. I really like Jessica Biel, but she's having a hard time finding good work in Hollywood. If this film turns out to be any good, she'll be an icon to superhero fans all over the world. And even if the film stinks, she'll look amazing in the outfit. Rachel Bilson looked pretty good in the same outfit during Season Two of The O.C. Yes, I need to get out more. Back to that lasso ....
Score: 2 for 4
5. In the Valley of Elah will be a major Oscar contender.
Bryan Kristopowitz: Fact. It probably won't win anything major, but I don't see anything else bumping it off the potential list. Every time Paul Haggis makes a movie, unless it's a big franchise thing, will always be considered an Oscar contender, even if it's awful. He's Paul Haggis.
Tony Farinella: Fiction. I think Paul Haggis is becoming a victim of over-exposure. I loved The Last Kiss, but the film was panned by a lot of critics. Plus, a ton of great movies are coming out in the next couple of months. I think it will get lost in the shuffle and be forgotten about when the Oscars roll around. Wow. We are talking about the Oscars already? Where did the time go?
Score:2 for 5
6. ABC's Dirty Sexy Money will be the guilty pleasure breakout hit of this TV season.
Bryan Kristopowitz: Fact. I'd have to say that it's a possibility. It all really depends on how big the audience is for the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice. If Private Practice hits big, the new Donald Sutherland show has a chance. I can see that happening. But, much like Fox's Bones will have to contend with CBS on Tuesdays, ABC is going to have to contend with the CBS show on Wednesdays at 10, CSI: New York. It will be interesting. Don needs a hit.
Tony Farinella: Fiction. I've seen a couple of promos on ABC about this show, and I'm just really not feeling it. It's always nice to see Donald Sutherland on TV, but the storyline just seems too familiar and too predictable. Samaire Armstrong is great, though, and I'm glad to see her back on television. She deserves it. Overall, this show doesn't look too promising. I just don't think it's all that entertaining to watch rich people and their petty problems. It's always more interesting to watch real people who have to overcome real issues and real problems. This show looks like it's suffering from identity crisis. Is it a comedy? Is it a drama? It is satire? What's going on?
Final Score: 2 for 6
Wow. Tony and Bryan provide the biggest gulf of disagreement in some time here in this column. I guess that they'll just agree to disagree. That's it for this installment, check back next week for more Fact or Fiction: Movies.
