Answers: Katherine Heigl Quiz

Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:00 am

Thanks to all who answered!

1. Heigl appeared in a film that reportedly only sold 30 tickets, making it officially the biggest money-loser of all time.  What is its title?

“Zyzzyx Road”

2. One of the best-remembered love stories on “Grey’s Anatomy” involved Heigl’s character Izzie?  What was the name of the man she loved?

Denny

3. Heigl was a teenager when she co-starred with Gerard Depardieu in what film?

“My Father the Hero”

4.  Name another character Heigl had a romantic relationship with in “Grey’s Anatomy.”

George

5. Which Heigl movie had her married to a spy?

“Killers”

6.  Which Heigl movie had her attending many weddings?

“27 Dresses”

7.  Her most famous role had her as a television producer who had what life-changing experience?

She got pregnant following a one-night stand in “Knocked Up”

8. She appeared in a horror movie series — which one?

She was in “Bride of Chucky.”

9.  What is the name of the author who created Stephanie Plum?

Janet Evanovich

10. Where are the Stephanie Plum movies set?

Trenton, New Jersey

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Quiz
One for the Money

One for the Money

Posted on January 29, 2012 at 3:27 pm

Someday to be used in film schools as a textbook example of how not to adapt a best-selling novel for the screen, “One for the Money” is mis-cast, mis-scripted, and mis-directed in every category.  Janet Evanovich’s popular series of series of books about lingerie saleswoman-turned bounty hunter Stephanie Plum seemed like a sure bet.  But what’s not a sure bet is an actress who signs on as producer so she can cast herself in what turns out to be a misbegotten vanity project.

Katherine Heigl is a beautiful actress whose greatest attribute is an imperishable freshness.  In the right movie, like “Knocked Up,” that works in her favor. Surrounded by the crudest possible material the contrast she provided gave warmth and romance to the film.  But her range is limited and she is way beyond her capacity as a gritty Jersey girl who once ran over the guy who never called after they had sex on the floor of the bakery where she was working.  Stephanie Plum is not supposed to be perky and adorable.  She’s supposed to be sadder but wiser, determined, and, above all, game.  Director Julie Ann Robinson has more experience with television (“Two Broke Girls,” Heigl’s “Grey’s Anatomy”) and never finds the right rhythm for the material.  It is lumpen and awkward and it telegraphs its surprises.  And just because it is written, directed, and produced by women does not keep it from being sexist, with some unfortunate stereotyped sassy black hookers thrown in for added discomfort.

It is hard to work up the energy to be offended by the stereotypes, though, when one is suffocating from the lethargy induced by the movie’s sluggish pacing and the fog induced by Heigl’s attempts at snappy dialog and a New Jersey accent.

Stephanie is a divorcee (“I had a husband.  I didn’t like it.  I don’t want another one.”) who lost her job selling lingerie and is about to lose her car for failure to keep up the payments.  Her cousin is a bail bondsman who needs someone to help with filing.  She blackmails him into giving it to her and then realizes that the real money is in bounty hunting and that the number one fugitive is Joe Morelli (Jason O’Mara), a cop charged with murder who in one of the movie’s most tiresome contrivances, has a past connection with Stephanie.  Everyone in Trenton has a past connection with Stephanie.

We are then treated to a series of scenes in which Stephanie gets some guidance on bounty hunting from the hunky Ranger (Daniel Sunjata, another “Grey’s Anatomy” transplant) and has a series of cat-and-mouse encounters with Joe (the hunky Jason O’Mara of “Life on Mars”), trading painful quips that are supposed to be flirtatious but thud with a squish like overripe grapefruit.  The mixed messages (Joe may be on the lam and handcuff her, naked, to the shower rod but he brings her coffee in bed) would be annoying if the whole movie was not too lethargic to merit that much attention.

 

(more…)

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Based on a book Crime
A Smile as Big as the Moon — Tonight on ABC

A Smile as Big as the Moon — Tonight on ABC

Posted on January 29, 2012 at 12:48 pm

Watch ABC tonight for the heartwarming “A Smile as Big as the Moon,” with John Corbett as a teacher who brings his special needs students to space camp.  It is based on the real life story of Mike Kersjes, whose book about his experience is A Smile as Big as the Moon: A Special Education Teacher, His Class, and Their Inspiring Journey Through U.S. Space Camp.  He proved that for students facing Tourette’s syndrome, Down’s syndrome, dyslexia, eating disorders, and a variety of emotional problems, the rigors of astronaut training were just another challenge.  Kersjes teaches special needs students in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He focuses on helping his students recognize their strengths.  An article in Scholastic Scope magazine about the Space Camp for gifted and talented students inspired him to begin what has evolved into a non-profit called Space is Special.

Kersjes says, “I believe in teaching kids to challenge themselves, to question the labels that had been thrust upon them.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtElcB8q8m8
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Based on a true story School Television The Real Story
Study Guide for ‘The Grey’

Study Guide for ‘The Grey’

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 1:18 pm

I have a very thoughtful guide for ministries and other study groups who would like to explore the spiritual and religious themes in today’s Liam Neeson release, “The Grey.” If you want a copy, just send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with “Grey” in the subject line and I would be glad to share it with you.

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Spiritual films
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