The ShowBuzz Weekly Forecast
If Christmas Day has a runway, we're on it. In this last week before the holiday, calendars fill up way too quickly and the to-do lists are dancing in our heads (not sugarplums).
But life goes on, and there are new movies coming out, and new music in the stores, and even some good new things on the TV.
So put your feet up for five minutes. (Oh, come on. Five minutes, you have.) And let's check this list once or twice, shall we?
MOVIES
In "Rocky Balboa", many years after his first burst of fame, former heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) returns to the ring, encouraged by a computer program that predicts that he can win against reigning champ Mason "The Line" Dixon. Doesn't he know by now that no computer can compare to determination and the human spirit? Along for the ride are Burt Young (Paulie) and, of course, Adrian (Talia Shire).
"Letters From Iwo Jima" is the second half of Clint Eastwood's two-part look at World War II. It depicts the war from the Japanese perspective. The first half, "Flags of Our Fathers," released Oct. 20, told the story from the point of view of American soldiers.Photos: 'Rocky Balboa' Hollywood Premiere
We haven't seen Ben Stiller in a starring role for close to two years. He's coming back in "Night at the Museum," as a security guard at New York's Museum of Natural History. Some very supernatural things happen when an ancient curse brings the displays to life. Also featured are Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney.
In "We Are Marshall," Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox star as coaches in an inspirational story of what happens in a small West Virginia town when its university football team is almost completely wiped out in a single plane crash.
And why even try to resist a movie that was directed by Robert De Niro, with a story that has characters played by Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie getting married? It's called "The Good Shepherd" and it's about the early history of the CIA.
TV
An ordinary family man named Robert Harlan gets fired from his job. A bit later he gets the news that his death is imminent. In between, he sees his fondest dream come true. But, while he's chasing it, he abandons what really means the most to him: his wife and little girl.
It's all part of "A Perfect Day," TNT's holiday film of loss and recovery.
Rob Lowe stars as Harlan, who after losing his job as an ad salesman picks up the writing project he has puttered with for years: a bittersweet tale based on his wife's experience saying goodbye to her dying father.
After plenty of rejections, Harlan lands an agent for his book (which he has titled "A Perfect Day") and soon it gets published.
But then things turn sour. Harlan is gone constantly, on the road promoting the book, which becomes a huge best-seller while he becomes estranged from his family.
Meanwhile, a strange man named Michael keeps popping up in city after city, giving Harlan dire warnings: "Let me spell it out for you ... you don't got much time."
When Christmas Eve arrives, he is finally back at home but banished to the guest room, where, alone, he is haunted by nightmares of mortality.
By the film's end, Harlan will learn an important lesson of course but it comes with a clever twist. Paget Brewster co-stars as Harlan's wife and Christopher Lloyd is the mysterious Michael. "A Perfect Day" premieres Monday, Dec. 18, at 8 p.m. EST.
Other shows this week to look out for:
"This show is all about snap judgments," declares Penn Jillette, host of NBC's "Identity," a new game show where "half a million dollars is riding on a person's ability to size up people at a moment's notice." Strip away the dramatic lighting and portentous music, the concept is delightfully simple: Each contestant confronts a dozen strangers and, judging from their appearances, matches them, one by one, with a dozen listed "identities": kidney donor, sushi chef, break dancer, etc. With each match, the winnings escalate, up to half-a-mil for all dozen pegged correctly. Jillette (the big, gravelly voiced magician-comedian who has long been teamed with the small, mute Teller) is a capable emcee, and the game implores each viewer to play along. To establish a prominent identity of its own, "Identity" will air all week Monday through Friday at 8 p.m.
As 2 billion Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas, CNN investigates the tumultuous early years of Christianity from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to the conversion of Constantine, the Roman emperor who first legalized Christianity in 313 A.D. This two-hour documentary, "After Jesus The First Christians," examines how they originally spread their message, despite infighting as well as widespread persecution by Rome. CNN examined archaeological evidence and consulted with authorities to answer numerous questions, including maybe the biggest one: How did Jesus and his followers triumph over Roman persecution to establish a worldwide faith? The special premieres Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Dec. 23, Sundance Channel airs an all-day tribute to the incomparable director Robert Altman, who died last month at age 81. It begins at 1 p.m. with "Tanner on Tanner," the 2004 TV series Altman created with Garry Trudeau ("Doonesbury"), starring Michael Murphy and Cynthia Nixon. At 3 p.m., Elliott Gould stars in the 1973 film "The Long Goodbye," based on Raymond Chandler's classic L.A. thriller. At 5 p.m., the 1990 film "Vincent and Theo" marks a departure from the ironic ensemble dramas for which Altman is best known, in this intimate look at the post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh (Tim Roth) and his long relationship with his art-gallery manager brother Theo (Paul Rhys). Finally, at 7:30 p.m., "The Player" (1992) is a shrewdly funny murder mystery set in Hollywood: Tim Robbins stars as a studio exec who kills a writer he believes is threatening him. The film is populated with dozens of cameos by the likes of Anjelica Huston, Burt Reynolds, Lyle Lovett, John Cusack and Gary Busey.
MUSIC
Julio Iglesias is out with a collection called "Romantic Classics," which is a little like Santa Claus releasing a CD called "Fun Toys." (Let's face it. "Romantic" is what Iglesias does.) On this release you can hear him sing such old reliables as "This Guy's In Love With You" and "Always On My Mind."
In a totally different genre, we have Nas with "Hip Hop Is Dead," with explicit lyrics but also with messages that might surprise you. (For one thing, there is a track claiming that money is quite the opposite of everything.)
Finally, there is a new Neil Young album titled "Living With War: Raw," which is exactly what the title indicates: "Living With War" without all the studio tricks and the choirs. It's a limited edition.
BOOKS
"How To See Yourself As You Really Are" offers advice and insight by the Dalai Lama. He starts from the premise that we each possess the ability to achieve happiness and a meaningful life, but the key to realizing that goal is self-knowledge.
And, appropriately enough, the day after Christmas, a new book will be out from Bob Greene, the guy who helped Oprah Winfrey get into shape. This one is titled "The Best Life Diet."
THEATER
It's time for the second part of "The Coast of Utopia" by Tom Stoppard at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater. This time, it's "Shipwreck," opening Thursday, Dec. 21. Still to come is "Salvage," but not until Feb. 15, 2007.
It already opened but worth a mention is the national tour of the musical "Annie," which has landed for the holiday season at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. The critics liked Kathie Lee Gifford well enough as the evil Miss Hannigan, but they really liked Conrad John Schuck as Daddy Warbucks, and with a chorus of cute and feisty little girls, it's hard to flop.
DVDs
We're betting this is one that many people missed in the theaters (always meaning to get around to it): "Little Miss Sunshine" is out this week on DVD, featuring a van full of dysfunctional family members including Greg Kinnear, Toni Colette and Steve Carell. The extras include four alternate endings.
"The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season" also becomes available this week, with more adventures from Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, and the whole kit and caboodle of beloved hangers-on. Among those providing commentary are Dan Castellaneta (Homer) and series creator Matt Groening.
And, finally, in "Invincible," Mark Wahlberg stars as a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles football team. After losing his wife and his job, he decided to try out for the team, and lo and behold! Dreams come true.