Why So Stupid?

For the record: The Dark Knight, and Chris Nolan in particular, got robbed.

The New York Times: Benjamin Button Tops Oscar Noms/1.22.09

Batshit Crazy

Wow, just -- wow. I'm marking today's date on my calendar and holding on to this so that it can be passed down to future generations.

Behold, what may be the single dumbest thing ever written:

"There seems to me no question that the Batman film "The Dark Knight," currently breaking every box office record in history, is at some level a paean of praise to the fortitude and moral courage that has been shown by George W. Bush in this time of terror and war. Like W, Batman is vilified and despised for confronting terrorists in the only terms they understand. Like W, Batman sometimes has to push the boundaries of civil rights to deal with an emergency, certain that he will re-establish those boundaries when the emergency is past."

By the way, this isn't a joke (or the Joker); the guy who wrote this is dead serious. I swear I'd try to come up with a more substantial reponse to his piece, but honestly, where to even begin?

Read more of this hilariously mind-boggling crap, if you dare:

(WSJ.com: "What Bush and Batman Have in Common" by Andrew Klavan/7.25.08)

A Better Class of Criminal

There's no need for me to waste too much time echoing all the praise that's already out there.

I'll just say this: Believe the hype -- The Dark Knight is damn near an instant classic of pop art (as well as a shockingly good black-hearted crime drama).

And whatever you've read or heard about Ledger's performance in it, that doesn't even come close to how spectacular he really is.

'Knight, Mamma

So, The Dark Knight finally hits theaters today.

I don't usually pose "am I the only one who thinks..." questions around these parts, but I guess I'm a little too curious about this to let it slide: Does anyone else think that doing product tie-ins for this movie was a really bad idea?

I actually side with Warner Brothers on their belief that changing the promotion for The Dark Knight -- the movie itself -- was unnecessary and would've been against the wishes of Heath Ledger. It made sense to keep advertising the film the same way they would have had he not died back in January.

But come on -- Dominos Pizza ads featuring silly little quips about the Joker? That was stupid to begin with, given the very dark tone of the movie, particularly the psychotic, murderous nature of the Joker character; it'd be like doing McRib commercials mentioning Hannbal Lecter or maybe a Viagra ad with Frank Costello from The Departed. But Ledger died -- and they're turning his final full performance, the one that may very well get him a posthumous Oscar nod, into a punchline to sell pizza?

I get that it's a superhero movie above all, but for once can the greed-hounds at the studio show a little class, subtlety and restraint?

Speaking of subtlety, Mamma Mia also prances into theaters today.

I got dragged to see the Broadway version of this a couple of years back; I can honestly say that it left my ears bleeding and my brain running out of my nose. As I watched it, I kept silently questioning whether I'd been hit by a car on the way to the theater and there was my hell: trapped in a theater, watching awful acting and listening to fucking Abba for all eternity.

On the plus side, at least the women who were either unable or unwilling to pay for that second seat on the plane (the one needed to provide extra room for their extra fat asses) and couldn't make it to New York to see this monstrosity can now giddily dance down the aisles of their local theater. Best of all, they'll be just a few steps away from a concession stand.

Take a chance on this.