A battle for the ages — Godzilla vs. Bryan Cranston
“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.
MOVIES
Big release: Godzilla ( May 16) Big picture: How will the monster fare against a one- time monstrous drug dealer? Bryan Cranston ( Breaking Bad) headlines this remake alongside a strong cast, including Elizabeth Olsen and Juliette Binoche. The movie’s scenes of big- city devastation are by now familiar to lovers of the disaster genre, although it’s comforting to know the Statue of Liberty would only lose an arm and bruise a cheek if she went up against Godzilla ( she’s a tough lady). This 3- D reimagining of Godzilla is also about humanity getting its comeuppance. He is the ultimate “natural disaster.” Forecast: You had me at “Bryan Cranston versus giant lizard.” In fact, I would have made that the film’s title. Maybe Godzilla can land a new public service gig like Smokey Bear: “Only you can prevent climate change ... and me.” Honourable mention: Million Dollar Arm
Brought to you by Disney, this one takes its playbook from a combination of Slumdog Millionaire, Major League and Jerry Maguire. Jon Hamm takes time away from playing a scheming adman to play J. B., a scheming sports agent. In this biographical, family friendly sports drama, J. B. travels to India with a truly wacky scheme — to find baseball’s next ace pitcher on the cricket pitch. Sure enough, he discovers two young, rural boys who might have what takes to be the next Cy Young, but they’ll have to come to America and learn how to play baseball first — likely during various cheesy, orchestra- scored montages! Of course, they’ll also teach J. B. that life isn’t all about money and career success.
TV
Big event: Riot ( May 13, FOX) Big picture: It’s Whose Line is it Anyway? meets American Gladiator. Hosted by Australian comic Rove McManus, this Steve Carell- produced competition pits comedians and other celebs against one another in improv challenges on a shifting, slanted stage. Special guest competitors include Carell himself, Jason Alexander and Canada’s Tom Green.
Forecast: A stage where flailing comics literally fall flat! The Muppets’ Statler and Waldorf will be in heaven. ( Riot is Fozzie Bear’s own personal hell.)
MUSIC
Big releases: Michael Jackson ( Xscape, May 13); The Black Keys ( Turn Blue, May 13)
Big picture: How should you feel about a hodgepodge of unreleased Michael Jackson material ( 19831989) delivered to us by a hodgepodge of producers, and featuring cameos by the likes of Justin Timberlake and Mary J. Blige? If your answer is “like I need a shower,” you’re on my wavelength. Disco-pop track Love Never Felt So Good, co- written by Canadian Paul Anka shortly after the release of Thriller, reminds us of Michael’s old magic. But this album feels like its finishing up unfinished business the King of Pop never wanted finished.
Forecast: Xscape offers no moonwalk; it feels more like a calculated walk to the bank.