The Couch Potato Report - December 16th, 2006
This week The Couch Potato Report shines the spotlight on a joyeux noel, the end of silence, a beerfest, Robin Hood, Miami vice and more!
There are many films and programs that people watch every year at Christmas. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS and SCROOGED are just five examples, but I could easily make the list a dozen titles long.
Now, there is a new film for you to watch every December, its called JOYEUX NOEL.
On December 24, 1914 a spontaneous, unscheduled, and unapproved truce took place between German, French and Scottish soldiers along the front lines during the first World War.
The soldiers exchanged cigarettes, food and alcohol, played soccer, and allowed the removal and burial of dead soldiers from no mans land.
JOYEUX NOEL is a French-made film with subtitles that is a fictionalized account of this truce.
I think that JOYEUX NOEL is a wonderful film and it will be a film I watch every year with the other Holiday themed movies I enjoy, but before you think the whole film is warm and fuzzy, it does take place during war, and the film does begin with the brutal realities of same.
But as night falls on Christmas Eve, the fighting stops and the best part of the movie begins, and that good stuff includes music.
JOYEUX NOEL is a beautiful film and i fyou are looking for a new classic to enjoy this holiday season, search it out.
And if you are looking for a quite, odd, yet somehow interesting Canadian film try and find THE END OF SILENCE.
THE END OF SILENCE is an interesting, slow moving story about a Russian ballerina and her new relationship with an antiques salesman...and his ex-wife.
Canadian singer Sarah Harmer plays the ex-wife, and she does a decent acting job.
Decent is also the word I would use to describe the whole film - it isn't great, it isn't horrible, it isn't good, it isn't bad...it is decent.
It is a movie about what isn't said and what happens in the silent space between words.
THE END OF SILENCE isn't anywhere near one of the best films of the year, but I still enjoyed it.
THE END OF SILENCE uses good acting and writing to tell it's story, our next film eschews both of those things. Instead, it uses beer
As we move now into a brief recap of some other films that came out over the past few weeks, I start with BEERFEST, the latest film from the Broken Lizard comedy troupe and the people who gave us SUPER TROOPERS.
In BEERFEST two brothers travel to Germany for Oktoberfest, only to stumble upon a secret, centuries-old competition described as a "Fight Club" with beer games.
If you like movies that are very funny at times, and not funny at all at other times, than this sophmoric movie is for you. Otherwise, ignore it.
As a fan of the eighties TV series MIAMI VICE I couldn't ignore the fact that there was a movie version of the series released to theatres this year.
And now that movie is a DVD with a different version of the film that played in theatres.
MIAMI VICE, the show and the movie, are about Sonny Crocket and Ricardo Tubbs, two undercover cops in Miami.
I loved and love the TV series and when I saw the film version of MIAMI VICE in theatres I have to admit I didn't care for it.
But the version of the movie that appears on DVD is much better, and very reminicent of the series that spawned it.
If you have enjoyed the movies HEAT and COLLATERAL, two other movies directed by Michael Mann, then I think you'll enjoy the DVD version of MIAMI VICE, starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx as Crocket and Tubbs.
Another movie that came out while I was away is Walt Disney's classic animated version of ROBIN HOOD
Walt Disney's version of ROBIN HOOD came out when I was 5, and everytime I watch it I feel that old again, and I like that feeling.
Plus, this new MOST WANTED EDITION has a newly restored picture, so it it looks and sounds better than ever.
Now, the final movie I have for you is PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST.
I had planned to offer my thoughts and opinions on this second film in the theatrical series about Captain Jack Sparrow, William Turner and Elizabeth Swann, but on the first day it was released it sold almost 5 million DVDs.
Then, in it's first week of release, it sold over 10 and a half million copies, making it the biggest home video debut of any new release this year.
DEAD MAN'S CHEST is now poised to become the number one live-action DVD of all time, an honour that currently belongs to the original PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN that went on to sell more than 18 million units.
So, with all of the attention and sales that it is garnering, why do I bother telling you about the film? I mean, does it really need any attention at all from me?
Well, normally I wouldn't bother, but I just enjoyed the darn film so much, I felt like sharing.
Plus, it gives me another opportunity to tell my favourite pirate joke of all time:
What is a pirates favourite letter of the alphabet? Arrrrrrrrrrr!!
Ah, I love that Joke!
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAN MAN'S CHEST, ROBIN HOOD - THE MOST WANTED EDITION, MIAMI VICE and BEERFEST are all available on now on DVD, along with the enjoyable Canadian movie THE END OF SILENCE and the new Holiday classic JOYEUX NOEL.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
I will discuss the two highest grossing Canadian films of all time BON COP BAD COP and PORKY'S because they are both new on DVD and I'll also tell you about a television show called KENNY VS SPENNY that I just couldn't stop watching, even when I really wanted to!!
I'm Dan Reynish. I'll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next time on The Couch!
CRTC changing radio content rules
OTTAWA (CP) — The CRTC says it’s going to make commercial radio stations air more Canadian jazz, blues and concert music.
The federal regulator also says it’s going to almost double the amount of money it collects from radio stations to support Canadian talent.
The ruling says the requirement for broadcasting jazz and blues will rise to 25 per cent of the broadcast week from 10 per cent.
The requirement to air Canadian concert music will rise to 20 per cent from 10 per cent.
The levies for the support of Canadian talent had been based on the size of the market served by each station, but now the commission plans to vary the levies according to revenues.
Stations at the low end will pay a flat $500 and the biggest money makers will pay a flat $1,000 plus 0.5 per cent of over revenues over $1.25 million.
Dragon, spider menace Will Smith at box office
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Two high-profile family films and an adult drama starring Will Smith will duke it out for the top spot at the weekend box office.
Most industry observers agree that "Eragon," "Charlotte's Web" and Smith's "The Pursuit of Happyness" will each end up in the $20 million range, but in which order is anyone's guess.
Fox's "Eragon" is tracking best with the Fandango crowd, but that's to be expected; the film about a magical dragon is attracting the "Lord of the Rings" set that is more likely to use the Internet to buy its tickets, according to the movie-ticketing site. Surprisingly, a lot of women are buying advance tickets, Fandango said.
From first-time director Stefen Fangmeier, "Eragon" is based on the novel by Christopher Paolini, who wrote the story at age 15 and originally self-published it on the Internet. The PG film stars newcomer Ed Speleers as Eragon, a boy who stumbles upon a dragon's egg and discovers that he's the one person who can defend his home against an evil king. Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and Djimon Hounsou co-star.
Smith is a proven commodity at the box office. The rapper-turned-actor has opened his past four films north of $40 million. But it's not clear if he can do it with "Happyness." His previous movies have been high-grossing comedies ("Hitch"), action movies ("I, Robot") or a combination of the two ("Bad Boys II," "Men in Black II"). His dramatic turns, however, have not fared as well at the boxoffice; "Ali," for example, opened to $14.7 million in 2001.
This time around, Smith plays a struggling salesman who takes custody of his son as he embraces a life-changing professional endeavor. "Happyness" is likely to have a bigger bow than the Muhammad Ali biopic, but getting into the stratosphere of "Hitch" box office isn't a guarantee. The film has been tracking well with audiences and could be the big winner of the weekend, depending on which audience group has more free time. "Happyness" also should get an added boost from Thursday's Golden Globe nomination for Smith. "Happyness" is directed by Italian helmer Gabriele Muccino and co-stars Thandie Newton and Smith's son Jaden Christopher Syre Smith.
Based on the E.B. White novel, the live-action/computer-animated "Web" is set to bow better than "Stuart Little," the White adaptation that opened to $15 million for Columbia Pictures in 1999. Starring Dakota Fanning and the voice talent of Julia Roberts and Steve Buscemi, the Paramount release was directed by Gary Winick.
Paramount also opens its Oscar contender "Dreamgirls" in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. The PG-13 film, which received five Golden Globe nominations Thursday, stars Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson. Bill Condon ("Kinsey") directed the musical, which has received very strong early reviews. The film expands nationally Christmas Day.
Warner Bros. Pictures opens the Steven Soderbergh-directed "The Good German" in five theaters in Los Angeles, New York and Toronto. The black-and-white R-rated movie stars George Clooney as a journalist in postwar Berlin who is drawn into a murder investigation involving his former mistress and his driver, played respectively by Cate Blanchett and Tobey Maguire.
Who's won what leading up to the Oscars
The Oscars are almost as much about momentum as the films themselves.
Here's a list of what honours the top movies have won (so far) this awards season:
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
Best documentary: Los Angeles Film Critics Association, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Online
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BABEL
Best picture: Golden Globe nomination
Best supporting actor, Brad Pitt: Golden Globe nomination
Best supporting actress, Rinko Kikuchi: Golden Globe nomination
Best supporting actress, Adriana Barraza: Golden Globe nomination
Best director, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu: Golden Globe nomination
Best screenplay, Guillermo Arriaga: Golden Globe nomination
Top 10 lists: American Film Institute, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Online
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BLOOD DIAMOND
Best actor, Leonardo DiCaprio: Golden Globe nomination
Best supporting actor, Djimon Hounsou: National Board of Review
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THE DEPARTED
Best picture: Golden Globe nomination, Boston Society of Film Critics
Best actor, Leonardo DiCaprio: Golden Globe nomination
Best supporting actor, Jack Nicholson: Golden Globe nomination
Best supporting actor, Mark Wahlberg: Golden Globe nomination, Boston Society of Film Critics
Best director, Martin Scorsese: Golden Globe nomination, Boston Society of Film Critics, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Circle
Best screenplay, William Monahan: Golden Globe nomination, Boston Society of Film Critics
Top 10 lists: National Board of Review
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THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Best picture: Golden Globe nomination
Best actress, Meryl Streep: Golden Globe nomination
Top 10 lists: American Film Institute, National Board of Review
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DREAMGIRLS
Best picture: Golden Globe nomination
Best actress, Beyonce Knowles: Golden Globe nomination
Best supporting actress, Jennifer Hudson: Golden Globe nomination, New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online
Best supporting actor, Eddie Murphy: Golden Globe nomination
Top 10 lists: American Film Institute
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FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Best supporting actress, Catherine O'Hara: National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Online
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HALF NELSON
Best supporting actress, Shareeka Epps: Boston Society of Film Critics
Best first film: New York Film Critics Circle
Best new filmmaker, Ryan Fleck: Boston Society of Film Critics
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HAPPY FEET
Best animated feature: Golden Globe nomination, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online
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THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
Best actor, Forest Whitaker: Golden Globe nomination, Boston Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online
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LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
Best picture: Los Angeles Film Critics Association, National Board of Review
Best foreign film: Golden Globe nomination
Best director, Clint Eastwood: Golden Globe nomination
Top 10 lists: American Film Institute
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LITTLE CHILDREN
Best picture: Golden Globe nomination
Best actress, Kate Winslet: Golden Globe nomination
Best screenplay, Todd Field and Tom Perrotta: Golden Globe nomination
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LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Best picture: Golden Globe nomination
Best actress, Toni Collette: Golden Globe nomination
Top 10 lists: American Film Institute, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Online
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THE QUEEN
Best picture: Golden Globe nomination, New York Film Critics Online
Best actress, Helen Mirren: Golden Globe nomination, Boston Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online
Best supporting actor, Michael Sheen: Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Online
Best director, Stephen Frears: Golden Globe nomination, New York Film Critics Online
Best screenplay, Peter Morgan: Golden Globe nomination, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online
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UNITED 93
Best picture: New York Film Critics Circle
Best director, Paul Greengrass: Los Angeles Film Critics Association
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VOLVER
Best actress, Penelope Cruz: Golden Globe nomination
Best foreign language film: Golden Globe nomination, National Board of Review
Top 10 lists: New York Film Critics Online