411 Fact or Fiction Movies/TV: Week 159

Posted by Ben Piper on 01.09.2009

Will Clint Eastwood receive an Oscar nomination for his work in Gran Torino? Will 24 rebound and return to form? Will Bride Wars wind up being shrill and unfunny? 411's Rick Tym and Jason Chamberlain discuss these and other topics in week 159 of 411 Fact or Fiction: Movies/TV!



Greetings! Welcome back yet again to the one 411 article sure to cause great debate and internet unrest, Fact or Fiction! This week we've got Casting Call's Jason Chamberlain matching wits with A Little Push's Rick Tym. Let's see what they have to say…

1. Not only are you stoked about the return of 24, you expect the show to completely bounce back from the previous sub-par season.

Jason Chamberlain: Fiction - I don't watch 24. Please stop sharpening your knives. It's not my fault I don't watch every show on TV, nor is it Ben's! We've got a lot of writers on this site and it's next to impossible to find a different pair each week that has full knowledge of each entertainment property that will be discussed in a given column. So please put the sharp implements away.

Okay, now that I've (hopefully) spared myself a shit kicking in the comments and sucked up to Ben, to the matter at hand.

No I'm not looking forward to the new season of 24, for the aforementioned reason. So from my perspective, here's the more interesting question. Are 24 fans looking forward to the show's return?

Not a lot of shows have the legs to go on, and on, and on, and do it with quality. I'm a Buffy nut, but even I can admit that once the Scooby Gang left high school, the show went downhill. Most shows seem to peak in the first couple seasons and then end up listing to their demise. In fact, some fans prefer to see their show come to a graceful, early end, go out on top as it were, before ever reaching the bottom of the quality barrel. Take Angel, for example. Though there was mass mourning of the show's cancellation, pretty much everyone from the producers to the fans agreed that the show went down swinging, not whimpering. Better to burn out than to fade away, right?

What 24 has going for it, though, is an incredibly unique concept. The format of the show is ingenious, really, and truly lends itself to continued remixes. There are a whole lot of ways one single day can go bad, and endless ways to tell those stories. Endless places to go, easy excuses for jettisoning old characters and locales for new ones. Heck, it's a concept that can outlive Jack Bauer himself, should Keifer ever decide to walk off into the sunset. Come to think of it, I can't think of a show better suited to a long run than 24. And yes, I'm including Law & Order in that statement. For the love of God, somebody cancel that show.

...I'm gonna get a shit kicking for that aren't I?

Rick Tym: Fact. I cannot wait for 24 to start back up this Sunday. I know that the past few seasons have been a bit lackluster—and let's be honest, the TV movie 24: Redemption was weak sauce too. (There you go, Jason my friend. I just redirected that shit-kicking my way to spare you the pain.) The coolest part of said TV movie, other than getting to hear Jack Bauer say "dammit!" after being gone from our screens for oh so many months, was the season seven preview depicting hints of things to come in the year 2009. Jon Voight as a baddie! Soul Patch Tony Almeida looking to exact cold, sweet revenge on the institution he holds responsible for the death of his beloved Michelle Dessler! The mere possibility of Kiefer sneaking the Jack Sack into that courtroom and opening a can of whoop-ass on anyone who dares not rule in his favor! Here's hoping all those exclamation points are not in vain and the time off that resulted from last year's aggravating writer's strike worked in 24's favor. Everyone involved should have come back to the drawing board refreshed and ready to regain the heights once enjoyed by this show, from early seasons' groundbreaking format and storylines (Kim versus the cougar excluded) maintained throughout subsequent years until faltering in the last few. As I told Mr. Piper when he let me know that it was my turn in the Fact or Fiction rotation, "Bring it!!!"

Score: 0 for 1

2. While the trailers and commercials for The Unborn look nifty, you can't help but feel that the end product will not be worth your time.

Jason Chamberlain: Fact. I'm playing with fire this week, cause I don't like horror movies either.

What this movie has going for it is the hot chick from Cloverfield, and Gary Oldman. Even if I think he's slumming it in this flick, there's no denying that where Oldman goes, quality follows. Well, except for Lost In Space. And what's with the title anyway? "The Un-something" seems to be a hip name this month, what with Elizabeth Banks being The Uninvited in a couple weeks.

So yeah, scary kid, wants to be born now, yadda yadda, glass will break, heads will rotate, weird kid will mutter crappy lines, the priest will probably die and the hot chick will survive to scream in another movie. Pass.

Rick Tym: Fiction. First things first: bonus points go to our FoF moderator for use of the word "nifty." Second things second, I likes me some horror. While I refuse to pay my hard-earned to see most scary remakes (and let me take this moment to bitch that I'm more likely to see an American version of Let the Right One In in theaters before the Swedish original...arrgghhhh!) whether they be of the domestic or international flavor, it's always a tad exciting when an original horror endeavor comes to the big screen—because even though I go to see the Saw movies out of some morbid curiosity, we all know those films don't really count anymore. I like the fact that The Unborn has a script courtesy of David S. Goyer and an excellent actor in the form of Gary Oldman. Sure, the old man spider-walking is a blatant rip-off of The Exorcist ("the version you've never even &%#$ing thought about" edition—just kidding, but you know what I mean) but it is creepy. If they can avoid the usual pitfalls that typically accompany the "spooky child who screams like a kitty cat" stereotype rampant in most Americanized J-horror rip-offs, it'll be a nifty little film. (See what I did there?) I'll be catching this in the theater with like-minded fans who want some horror after being subjected to all that holiday fare and Oscar bait.

Score: 0 for 2

3. You'll be tuning in for The Golden Globe Awards.

Jason Chamberlain: Fiction - You're killing me Ben! Killing me!

*deep breath* I don't watch award shows either.

I love movies, I love TV. But I don't necessarily love movie and TV stars. Let's put it this way; the closest I get to a copy of "US Weekly" is in the checkout aisle at the supermarket, and even that is too close for comfort. Handle those things with tongs, people!

No, but really, I have no interest in hoity toity, self important award shows. The Oscar's are the King of such, granted, probably followed by the Emmy's, and in fairness I don't believe I've ever even glimpsed the Globes. So maybe they're not so bad. But to me, celebrities on red carpets, waving to the distant, restrained crowd, talking to ET about the dress they're wearing and how it represents freedom for the children or some shit, that puts me right to sleep. Couldn't care less. And when they get inside, it's usually a bunch of movies I either haven't heard of or wouldn't watch anyway. Not saying they're not fantastically crafted pieces of the art form known as motion picture... they're just not my thing.

Nope, give me the MTV Movie Awards. Usually fun to watch, self aware and everyone dresses down and acknowledges the inherent silliness of the professional dress up that is acting.

Rick Tym: Fact. Jason, Jason, Jason…you're about to be ripped to shreds in the comments section. Even my "weak sauce" deflection about 24: Redemption can no longer save you.

I will be tuning into the Golden Globes. Most claim that the broadcast is a good barometer of what to expect at the Oscars. I would say "decent" instead of "good" but that's just splitting hairs. Truth is, I get amped for awards season, and watch the Oscars like the Superbowl, which has the added bonus of being less depressing since I am a Miami Dolphins fan. (Four interceptions, Pennington??? What the $@#%?) The Globes are a nice precursor to the big dance, and no, I don't count the People's Choice Awards, although if you enjoy them then by all means enjoy the show. Sure, it's not as much of a party as it used to be now that there is a ban on extreme inebriation at the ceremony, but it's always fun to see various Hollywood types in a looser setting than the Oscars, what antics Jack Nicholson may be up to that evening and who is being honored for their efforts in television and film.

Score: 0 for 3

Switch!!!

4. Bride Wars looks shrill and unfunny to you.

Rick Tym: Fiction. Look, I really have no strong opinion on Kate Hudson. The daughter of Goldie Hawn is associated with awesomeness, however, because she was raised (though not sired) by one Snake Plissken. She earned some major critical kudos back in 2001, winning a Golden Globe and scoring an Oscar nomination for her role in Almost Famous, so she's certainly a gifted actress who should be more than capable of comedy—maybe she just hasn't been picking the best films to participate in since then. Here she gets to play off of Anne Hathaway, who by all accounts was blazing in Rachel Getting Married. I think the duo could unite to use their powers for good rather than B-movie evil—sorry, I like Hathaway but she was a dud in Get Smart—and Bride Wars could end up having more comedic (and perhaps dramatic) teeth than people expect.

Jason Chamberlain: Fact. First off, I have to disagree with Rick on two points. One, Kate Hudson was raised by the awesomeness of Jack Burton, not Snake Plissken. Second, Anne Hathaway was far from a dud in Get Smart. That movie is great, and she was one of the best things about it, and I'm not just saying that because she looked good enough to eat in it. Which she did.

As far as Bride Wars goes though, this is one movie that even my Hathaway crush can't convince me to see. As for Kate, I'll risk any credibility I may have by saying I've never seen Almost Famous (which is odd cause I am a Cameron Crowe fan, not to mention a Jason Lee fan...) and I don't think Hudson has ever been a part of a movie I've really enjoyed. Her shrillness in the My Best Friend's Girl trailer certainly detracted from the combined coolness of Dane Cook and Alec Baldwin, that's for sure.

Score: 0 for 4

5. With so many high-profile films vying for award show attention, you're now starting to think that The Dark Knight will not be nominated for Best Picture come Oscar time.

Rick Tym: Fiction. I was going to sing the "You're Wrong" song made famous by Dr. Cox on Scrubs but didn't want to come off as too snarky, so instead I point to Exhibit B: the Producer's Guild of America 2008 Best Picture Nominations. Usually the Producer's Guild nails four out of five of the Academy's Best Picture noms, and they placed The Dark Knight on their ballot. (The other four: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire and Milk.) Furthermore, while The Wrestler is the movie a lot of us rasslin' fans have been waiting for, I don't think that it will sneak into the Best Picture race. The only film that could supplant The Dark Knight on the projected list (which I'm basing on the aforementioned PGA picks) would be Doubt, but in that case the individual parts are better than the sum of the overall movie—Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman kick it thespian style, but the story is a bit lacking. I don't know if The Dark Knight has the legs to actually win the gold statue, but I'm positive its name will be called when the Academy Award nominations are announced on January 22nd.

Jason Chamberlain: Fiction. I'm inclined to say fact just because I have little to no faith in the stuffed shirts that run the Oscars and their ability to recognize a badass film like Dark Knight. That said, in recent years they did give a sweep to Return of the King, and they did nominate Johnny Depp for his awesomeness as Captain Jack, so maybe, just maybe, they'll give DK the credit it deserves.

I'd almost rather see it be slighted, though, than to see it nominated and then lose to some flick like Milk or Frost/Nixon. I'll take Batman/Joker any day! If DK does get recognized, I hope Oscar mans up and does it right, with a best picture WIN, a gold statue for Chris Nolan's directing and one more for Heath Ledger's incredible Joker performance. Let the man go out with a blaze of glory!

Score: 1 for 5

6. Clint Eastwood will earn an Oscar nomination for his performance in Gran Torino.

Rick Tym: Fact. Listen, Clint kicks ass—about that there is no doubt. Even better is when he does it on screen as opposed to real life, and Gran Torino is in the vein of his Dirty Harry Callahan flicks more than anything else he's acted in or directed recently. Seriously, if Dirty Harry was on the racist side, retired in a small neighborhood, had some grandkids, and grew surlier and surlier as he watched some damned immigrants move into his ‘hood, this would be that character. Okay, I'm stretching a bit, but you get the point—here Clint's character has a kick-ass vintage sportster, a kick-ass attitude (he tries to help his young misguided neighbor, even if it's in his own grumpy and opinionated dusty old-dude way) and, apparently, a kick-ass shotgun. (Sorry, I think I giggled a little right there.) Clint can seemingly do no wrong—people love this film. It's been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the Ten Best Films of 2008, and Eastwood won an award for Best Actor from the National Board of Review (as the commercials for the film emphatically state) plus he's up for a Critic's Choice Award and another Best Actor honor from the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association. He even had a hand in the musical piece nominated for a Best Original Song Golden Globe! Clint's name will also be called come Oscar nod time, and I sincerely hope that he gets some Best Actor gold to go with the Best Director and Best Picture statues (along with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award) that adorn his mantle. Still kicking you-know-what at 78, he's certainly earned it.

Jason Chamberlain: Fact.. Haven't seen the flick, but it's a well known fact that Oscar loves Clint Eastwood. From what I'm hearing (from critics and from Rick) he pulls out all the stops in this one and is the most intimidating 78 year old you'd ever want to meet. And since this guy could probably film himself mowing his lawn for two hours and have it be nominated, I think it's fair to say he'll nab one for this.

Final Score: 2 for 6

Bonus Non-Fact or Fiction Question: What was your favorite movie of 2008?

Rick Tym: Without question, The Dark Knight. Readers of A Little Push (cheap plug!) know by now that I am an unabashed, unapologetic fanboy. I remember the theater audience giving Tim Burton's 1989 Batman a standing ovation, but I don't quite recall seeing so many people being moved like they were by Gordon's ending speech as Batman fled the police, choosing to embrace the dark and become a fugitive because of the need of Gotham's citizens to have faith in their white knight, District Attorney Harvey Dent. Sure, the film has its issues (most notable in the third act, but hey, fans finally got to see Bats with white shades in his cowl eyelets just like their favorite comic book memories dictate) but for my money there was no better time to be a fanboy than this past summer, sitting in the theater and watching the Batman film previously only dreamed of by geeks like me. Iron Man was possibly the more fun comic book movie of the summer but The Dark Knight was the more complete work, rising above the level of funnybook adaptation and becoming a serious take on crime, corruption and even the Patriot Act. (Eavesdropping on cell phone calls, anyone?) Not only was Heath Ledger a tour de force as the Joker, complete with maniacal glee and outstanding magic tricks, but all of the supporting cast were simply excellent in their roles; Aaron Eckhardt deserves some critical recognition for his amazing portrayal of Dent, a man who wants nothing more than to clean up the dirty streets of his favorite city, just as Bruce Wayne does. Epic, tragic and damned near heartbreaking, The Dark Knight cemented not only Christopher Nolan's status as an amazing director, but also Batman's legacy as more—much, much more—than a trust fund kid all grown up and gliding amongst Gotham's (and Hong Kong's) cityscape in tights and a cape. Here's hoping that my answer to the Oscar nomination question above holds true, and validation for the oft-underestimated comic book movie genre is shared by everyone at the Kodak Theater on February 22, 2009.

Jason Chamberlain: Well Rick beat me to it, but I've also got to go with The Dark Knight. I'm also an unavowed fan boy for the Bat, and I was anticipating DK ever since Jim Gordan handed Bats the Joker card at the end of Begins.

The big question was, how could they follow up a huge success like Batman Begins? And who in the world could bring the Joker to life in the quasi-realistic universe Nolan had created in the first movie?

When Heath Ledger's name was dropped, I scratched my head. I knew the dude from 10 Things I Hate About You, but that was about it, and he certainly didn't scream "Joker" when I watched that movie. But whatever doubts I had were done away with when I saw the film's trailers, and the now dearly departed actor blew the doors off with an electric performance that stole the movie for me. Every moment the Joker is on screen was a moment when my eyes were glued to his performance.

But as incredible as Ledger was, you could remove him and the movie would still be great, with Bale, Freeman and Caine giving excellent repeat performances and Aaron Eckhart making Harvey Dent/Two Face at once (literally) sympathetic and utterly insane. Best movie of the year, for fan boys and regular movie goers alike.

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And there you go. After a shaky start, Jason and Rick end up finding some common ground in the end. Thanks to them both for taking part. Check back next week for more exciting Fact or Fiction action!
See you then,
-BP