411 Fact or Fiction Movies: Week 97

Posted by Ben Piper on 10.12.2007

Are there too many police procedurals on TV? Is The Family Guy overrated? Are people looking forward to Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's next film collaboration? 411's Leonard Heyhurst and Cory Schibler debate these and other topics in week 97 of Fact or Fiction: Movies!



Howdy y'all! Yes it's that time of the week again, time for us to take in some Fact or Fiction action. This week, Movie Zone editor Leonard Heyhurst matches wits and opinions with 411 newbie and all around swell guy Cory Schibler. Let's get this bad boy started.

1) There are far too many police procedurals on TV.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fact-They are dying out a bit with the Law & Order and CSI juggernauts finally looking to be in their death throes. The new trend in television is quirky, sci-fi tinged dramas like Heroes and Lost. Television is cyclical. A new show will hit a big. Copycat shows will bomb big time. Another similar styled, but different enough show will hit big. Everyone jumps on the bandwagon with a dozen or so series in the same vein or genre. They wind up killing each other. The flagship shows peter out. A new hit comes along to start the cycle over again. The police procedural is on the down slope of the curve. Looking at all the new fall shows prove this. Actually the next step is for a mysterious and quirky sci-fi tinged show that is also a police procedural. We kind of have that with Moonlight this year and the failed Raines last season.

Cory Schibler: Fiction- Speaking solely for myself, there are not enough. Or rather, not enough good ones. I love these types of shows. It might be because I am a Psychology major, but I love seeing crimes being analyzed. I also love the new quirky sci-fi like shows like Heroes. In combination, I think that it is fantastic. Unfortunately it didn't stick around, but I thought Raines was a fantastic show. I also enjoy Moonlight immensely, but I think that is because of my love of vampires and vampiritic folklore that has been severely missing since Whedon's masterpieces left the air.

Score: 0 for 1

2. Michael Clayton will be a sure Oscar contender for Best Picture as well as Best Actor for George Clooney.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fact-Michael Clayton currently has an 88% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- on Yahoo Movies. It was also nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Oscar buzz for it is strong right now, but it's early in the year. We have to see what kind of legs it has when the other Oscar contenders weigh in. It also remains to be seen what movies Warner Brothers will back for awards season, but Clooney has done good by them in the past. Movies with the subject matter and feel of Clayton have also done well in the past with the Academy, such as The Verdict and A Civil Action. This type of drama hasn't got into the Oscar mix in awhile, so that could bode well. Right now I would say it's definite, but check back with me after the first of the year.

Cory Schibler: Fact- Clooney can be gold when he is on his game. I thought that he was fantastic in the Ocean movies, and was always a bright spot on ER regardless of the quality of the episode. As far as the Oscar worthiness of the movie, I haven't seen it but it looks really good and I am anxious to see it. So I'll say that come Oscar time, Clooney and the film will be getting a nomination.

Score: 1 for 2

3. Moving Friday Night Lights to Friday night was a good move by NBC.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction-Maybe it makes good marketing for the name match, but Fridays has traditionally been a dead time for television. I don't think there has been a major hit show on Fridays since Dallas. Deal or No Deal is fading as a lead in and Las Vegas after it has always been just a placeholder series. It's doubtful Tom Selleck replacing James Caan will offer a ratings boost. FNL does have a good shot at winning its time slot by going against new shows Moonlight and Women's Murder Club that appeal to niche markets. However, who is more likely to be home on Friday nights watching television between middle aged women, sci-fi and horror nerds or young adults? Not to mention that a portion of people who would watch a show about high school football are out watching and playing high school football when the series is on. The biggest problem with the series is that it hasn't projected a clear image to consumers as it what type of show it really is, so potential target viewers doesn't know to watch it. Being a critical darling is the only thing that saved it from the axe last year as the series didn't even crack the top 100. The dead zone of Friday does give it a chance to hang around, but a jump up to at least the top 80 will be needed to keep it around for a third season and I don't know if that potential exists on Fridays. I say ditch Deal of No Deal on Wednesdays, move Bionic Woman to 8 pm and put FNL after that.

Cory Schibler: Fiction- A critical success is saved despite low ratings and they move it to ratings purgatory? How does this make any sense? I'll let you readers know that I absolutely love this show and was deathly afraid that it would be cancelled. I don't understand the reason for moving the show, but I am very thankful it has returned. However, FNL is designed to appeal to small-town football fans, who will all be at FOOTBALL GAMES on Friday night. Stupid move by NBC. Still not as bad as cancelling Studio 60, but close.

Score: 2 for 3

Switch!!!

4. You're not interested in seeing the new Burton/Depp collaboration Sweeney Todd.

Cory Schibler: Fiction- Edward Scissorhands. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. These are the reasons that this is fiction. Johnny Depp is one of the best actors out there, and has wowed me with almost every performance I've seen of him. Burton, to put it simply, is one of the best directors of the modern error. Add to the fact that this is an adaptation of Sweeney Todd, which is a fantastic play, and I'm there.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction- I believe that it will totally flop in the mainstream and with critics, but that doesn't mean I don't want to see it. I think Cory overrates Depp and Burton greatly, but I do enjoy their films together and am a huge fan of Ed Wood. I see this harking back to the mood, style and look of Edward Scissorhands. The subject matter will turn off many. The real sticking point is this being a musical featuring non-musical actors and a non-musical director. I expect this to be a car crash, yet a highly entertaining one. It's also not much a Christmas film and would probably do better if released this time of year. In short, I do want to see it in that fascinating car crash kind of way.

Score: 3 for 4

5. Family Guy is overrated.

Cory Schibler: Fiction- I can't help but say fiction considering my position here at 411. Not to mention the fact that Family Guy is not overrated because Family Guy is frickin' hilarious. The Star Wars parody was one of the funniest things I've watched in a while, and was loads funnier than The Simpsons premiere. That being said, I think many people think Family Guy is overrated because everyone wants to compare it to The Simpsons. You cannot do that because they are not the same. Stop comparing the two and Family Guy will no longer be considered overrated it will be seen as what it is: funny.

Leonard Heyhurst:Fiction- If I remember correctly, in a long ago edition of Fact or Fiction I predicted that the new first run episodes of Family Guy would suck and flop. I was dead wrong then and I might be again. Family Guy has settled into a nice groove of knowing exactly what it is, knowing what its audience is and catering to them. Those who don't like the show never will, so why bother with them? I think the series is past people comparing it to The Simpsons as Cory states. Most of the people I know who are fans of one are fans of the other and realize their differences and that's why they like it. It's those who don't like or watch either show who group them together. South Park nailed Family Guy in its arrogance and randomness and if that eclipses the show then it could alienate viewers. It's not out of the question, but it hasn't happened yet.

Score:4 for 5

6. You haven't been impressed with the previews and commercials for We Own The Night.

Cory Schibler: Fiction- Like I said in the movies roundtable, this has Marky Mark and Joaquin Phoenix so I am there. Not to mention, ROBERT DUVALL! Seriously though, I have been stoked for this movie since I saw the first trailer and I can't wait to get to the theatre this week to see this movie.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction- It might look like a B-grade rip off of the The Departed, but that movie ruled. The cast is solid with Wahlberg and Phoenix both looking to have characters they can really sink their teeth into. Robert Duvall is always good. This is only director James Gray's third film, but his first two speak to him being the man to helm such a throwback noir with inter-family relations. And the real kicker is that Eva Mendes is naked. I'm guessing that's not overrated.

Final Score: 5 for 6

There you have it. Leonard and Cory and in near perfect agreement about a great many things. Check back next week for another installment of Fact or Fiction: Movies.