The ShowBuzz Weekly Forecast
It's been more than 10 years since Norman Mailer has published a new book, and the one that's coming out this week is a doozy, as it reportedly traces Hitler's family back three generations.
If you're more of a "music type," you're probably going to want to see what John Mellencamp is singing about now.
But for pure celebrity watching, it's going to be pretty interesting to see whose new movie does better at the box office, Ben Affleck or Jennifer Garner.
In a way, it's nice to know that there are certain challenges that we'll never have to face in our marriages. Your spouse may hog the covers or never wash the dishes. But at least you don't have to worry about your partner outshining you at the box office.
MOVIES
Ben Affleck plays a mob assassin in "Smokin' Aces," one of many characters who cross the FBI in its efforts to protect canary Jeremy Piven, who plays a magician by the name of Buddy "Aces" Israel. Andy Garcia is also in the cast, which includes Alicia Keys, of all people, also playing an assassin.
Jennifer Garner's movie is less splashy, a drama called "Catch and Release." She is dealing with the sudden death of her husband, who unfortunately left some secrets behind. Her co-stars are Timothy Olyphant and Juliette Lewis. (It seems like real ancient history, but before Angelina, Jennifer or Gwyneth, Lewis was Brad Pitt's love.)
Facing far more fantastical problems is the heroine of "Blood and Chocolate," a female werewolf who is caught between her love for a human and the strict code that rules werewolf society. Agnes Bruckner and Hugh Dancy are the stars.
If you've had it with drama and are going for pure stuff and nonsense, you probably won't do much better than "Epic Movie," brought to us by two of the same people who brought us "Scary Movie." This time, they are targeting recent big hit movies. See if you can guess which ones: Four orphans stumble upon a magic wardrobe while touring a chocolate factory and they are mysteriously moved to a wondrous land of fantasy, where they meet colorful pirates and wizards. Don't even ask where each of the orphans came from. We're running out of italics.
The Academy Award nominations will be announced Tuesday morning, Jan. 23, which means you'll probably be reading even more about people like Helen Mirren, Forest Whitaker and Clint Eastwood. The winners will be announced with the usual fanfare and high fashion Feb. 25.
TV
Catch the escapees of "Prison Break," who, since the Fox drama's premiere last season, have labored mightily to bust out of jail and stay free. Now, after a two-month hiatus, their saga resumes for this season's final nine episodes. When last seen, brothers Michael (Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln (Dominic Purcell) had been recaptured and were being returned to Fox River State Penitentiary. But then FBI agent Paul Kellerman shot fellow agent Alex Mahone and vowed to help the brothers take down President Caroline Reynolds, who is responsible for the conspiracy that originally landed Michael and Lincoln in prison. What will happen to them, as well as their fellow escapees? "Prison Break" returns Monday at 8 p.m. on Fox.
The estimated 50 million to 80 million evangelical Christians living in America today are a formidable force in its culture and democracy. But just who are they? What do they believe? And how do they live their faith?
To find out, filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi hit the road. Her yearlong cross-country trek led to encounters with leaders of the evangelical community including recently disgraced Pastor Ted Haggard and superstar TV minister Joel Osteen, whose Houston arena holds a flock of 16,000.
Pelosi also found evangelical faith reflected in the Christian Wrestling Federation, among Cruisers for Christ (a car club), and by fans of Brad Stine, "America's Christian Comedian," who packs churches with his act. Premiering Thursday at 9 p.m. on HBO, "Friends of God: A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi" is the latest from a filmmaker whose first work, "Journeys with George," covered 18 months on the campaign trail with future president George W. Bush. She is the daughter of California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who earlier this month became the nation's first woman Speaker of the House.
MUSIC
It's his first release with all-new material in more than five years, so fans of John Mellencamp will be drinking in the sounds of "Freedom's Road." It's his way to take a definite point of view, and so he does here, even dueting with Joan Baez on a number called "Jim Crow." Don't look for soft edges, but let's face it: If that is what you're looking for, you're barking up the wrong singer if you're looking at Mellencamp.
The 49th Grammy Awards will air live Feb. 11 on CBS, and if you want to get your sounds straight before the big night, here's some good news: "2007 Grammy Nominees" is the name of a CD that's out this week. Top nominee Mary J. Blige is represented with "Be Without You," and Christina Aguilera ("Ain't No Other Man") and Pink ("Stupid Girls") are there, too, among 19 others. (Even Paul McCartney shows up with "Jenny Wren.")
BOOKS
In "The Castle in the Forest," Norman Mailer writes about Hitler in fictional form, taking the opportunity to imagine a journey into a madman's psyche. Publishers Weekly calls it a "chilling fictional chronicle of Hitler's boyhood," told from the viewpoint of a devil named Dieter, who has been assigned to keep the boy going on the path of evil. It has been more than a decade since Mailer has published a book.
"White Lies" is Jayne Ann Krentz's latest offering in her Arcane Society series. (Sometimes, Krentz writes under the name Amanda Quick.) The Arcane Society is a hush-hush group of parasensitives — for instance, Clare Lancaster, who has the uncanny ability to know if someone is lying to her or not. This talent comes in handy when her half-sister, Elizabeth, claims that her husband has murder on his mind. Things get more complicated when Elizabeth's husband gets killed himself.
The main character in "Travels in the Scriptorium" by Paul Auster is unusual in that he simply cannot remember anything about his own life. Of course, he is anxious to figure out who he is. But there are even more strange circumstances in his present existence, like the camera in the ceiling that's taking his picture every second,
THEATER
The Manhattan Theatre Club is reviving the play "Translations" by Brian Friel, co-produced with McCarter Theatre Center. With a cast including Niall Buggy, David Costabile and Geraldine Hughes, it has its Broadway debut at the Biltmore Theatre on Thursday, Jan. 25.
Off-Broadway, "Adrift in Macao," a sly musical by Christopher Durang and Peter Melnick, begins New York previews on Tuesday, Jan. 23. The cast includes Alan Campbell (who played the "William Holden part" in Broadway's "Sunset Boulevard" opposite Glenn Close), Michele Ragusa, Orville Mendoza, Jonathan Rayson, Rachel deBenedet and Elisa Van Duyne.
DVDs
Oh joy! "Saw III" is out in an unrated widescreen edition. This franchise always tops the box office on its opening weekends, so there is undoubtedly a following for Jigsaw, the sadistic maniac who kidnaps people and subjects them to gory and brutal torture.
Not your cup of tea? Then clear your palate with the wholesome goodness of "The Waltons." The entire fourth season is out on DVD, set in 1936, as John-Boy gets a job as a real movie writer and Mary Ellen tries to get into nursing school. But although Jigsaw is nowhere to be seen, the Waltons do face certain challenges of their own, like a fire that forces them from their home.
"Sherrybaby" is one of those small movies that you might not have seen at your local multiplex, but it's available for home viewing now. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays the title character, a woman who comes home after serving three years in prison. As a recovering drug addict who is trying to establish a relationship with her young daughter while battling family conflicts, Gyllenhaal gives a powerful performance.
Another one you might have missed is "This Film Is Not Yet Rated." It's Kirby Dick's documentary about the American movie ratings board, and anyone who wants to know exactly how ratings are applied to the movies they see will not be disappointed.