A cinema in Illinois is refusing to screen Stomp the Yard as a result of violence breaking out following a screening of Black Christmas a few weeks ago that was allegedly between some black patrons. Not only is Black Christmas a horror film with no principal (if any at all) characters who are black, but the owner of the chain refers to his African American customers as "that crowd". He also think he can just wait a few weeks "until interest dies down".

In one of the biggest news stories of today, football (soccer as it should be called if you don't want to get punted by most Americans) megastar David Beckham has signed with MLS' L.A. Galaxy in a five-year deal. Will this raise the profile of pro soccer in the States? I hope so...I'm tired of Digital Cable/Satellite being the only place you can reliably watch matches.

Meryl Streep is headlining the film of the ABBA-scored musical Mamma Mia!. I was never too interested in the musical because it sounded like the main character of Muriel's Wedding (as played by Toni Collette) came up with it while on a wicked drug trip.

Alan Cumming is off the market.

CHUD's Devin Faraci gets Peter Bart and good. That's what happens when you diss new media and your old media writers rip off someone else's story to the point of paraphrasing it down to the humor. As a result, it reads like a snootier, less-witty Devin instead of whoever the drone is who wrote Variety's "version" of the story.

The unstoppable machine that is CHUD's Devin Faraci has just posted a very interesting piece on We Are Marshall director McG.

The AP's David Germain with a sharp, to-the-point piece on the road back to the ring for Stallone's Rocky Balboa.

The AP's Christy Lemire has posted her list of 2006's best and worst in film. Lemire stands out in two respects: one, her review of Wong Kar-Wai's 2046 (one of the very best movies I saw that year) was one of the most even-handed I read, and two, she's one of the easiest journalists on the eye at unshaven male-friendly film festivals. I agree on some of the points in her gimmicky list, but some of it bugs me enough to write about it. To be precise, nobody takes a cheap shot at Rocky Balboa. "Most ill-advised reprise of an iconic role: Tie between Sharon Stone, "Basic Instinct 2," and Sylvester Stallone, "Rocky Balboa." Has Christy seen Rocky Balboa yet, or is she dismissing it out of hand as many have, sight-unseen? She lists Sly as tied with...yeesh Sharon "Basic Instinct 2" Stone for "Most ill-advised reprise of an iconic role". Are we calling Sharon's vagina iconic, really? Just as big and tough and inspiring as Balboa? I don't think so. I believe in Rocky and Stallone. Will Smith might have edged him in the "rebuilding your life" publicity department this year, but I'd bet money RB pays off just as well in a slightly different way than Happyness. "Best sex scene: The entire opening sequence of "Shortbus" _ because they're really doing it." Haven't seen it yet, but this reminds me that onscreen, non-simulated sex is all the rage these days. It's the new shaky-cam. Then again, multiple actors over the years have been quoted saying a lot more real sex exists on film than has been reported openly. "Biggest waste of Scarlett Johansson: "A Good Woman." So, Home Alone 3's Scarlett Johansson is the next Bacall/Hepburn/de Havilland? I worry about the implication that she's the next great thing. "Best excuse for a good cry: "Lassie" I just yesterday recommended a woman get this movie, sight unseen, for $20 at Target instead of a double feature of Sky High and The Pacifier for a total of $20. Any publicists wanna send me a screener so I can actually watch it, endorse it, and spread the good word? Kudos for putting a mention of this in here, Ms. Lemire. "Guy with the most movies: Hugh Jackman ("X-Men: The Last Stand," "Scoop," "The Prestige," "Flushed Away," "The Fountain," "Happy Feet")." Let's give Jackman a rousing notice for bucking the trend and doing a pile of excellent movies and excellent individual performances. I refer to The Prestige, The Fountain, and Happy Feet as whole movies, and all of the above listed for strong performances. Take a look at her whole list, which is commentary and cheap shot snarking more than hard-hitting journalism. You'll see tons more of these from today through around Oscar time. As for my list, I've got a lot of movies to see before I compile a Best of 2006. I'll add Year in the Rearview featurettes as they come...

Reader Jose Hernandez fixes an error in my post from last Thursday: "If i remember correctly, recently, Soderbergh was nominated for best director for Traffic and Erin Brockovich at the same time, he won for Traffic, and sure that it has happened in the past.". Good point. I can't believe I forgot that. Regardless of the fact that it could theoretically happen, I still don't see double noms for Eastwood and DiCaprio come OscarTime.

Circuit City has a deal this week catering to their "urban consumer demographic". If you buy any of the DVDs specially-priced at $7.49 you get a Dreamgirls lithograph. All titles are listed after the jump, but in short...a bunch of movies featuring black folks plus Minority Report, A Night at the Roxbury, Saturday Night Fever, School of Rock, and American Beauty. Who makes these decisions? $7.49 each: (Circuit City Exclusive: Receive a Free limited edition Dreamgirls lithograph with purchase of any of these DVD listed in this section. Dreamgirls opens in theaters nationwide on Christmas Day. Lithograph available while supplies last. Minimum 50 per store) The Fighting Temptations Lady Sings The Blues The Warriors: Ultimate Director’s Cut A Night At The Roxbury Coach Carter Save The Last Dance: Special Collector’s Edition Saturday Night Fever School Of Rock The Manchurian Candidate (2004) The Original Kings Of Comedy The Honeymooners (2005) Minority Report American Beauty Coming To America Eddie Murphy: RAW A Vampire In Brooklyn Twisted Biker Boyz Collateral Jay-Z: Fade To Black

CORRECTION found here.Both Eastwood and DiCaprio are nominated twice in respective categories (Director and Actor). This smacks of the HFCA looking for more press. Oops, I just took the bait. Oh well. In the process, they're watering down their Oscar prognostication myth, where their nominees are intended to look like presumptive nods at the big show next year. The Academy doesn't allow duplicate nominees in their categories, and it's widely accepted Eastwood is in for Iwo Jima and Dicaprio or Depahhhted

The inimitable Peter Boyle has passed on.

Katie Couric is falling far behind in the ratings. Brian Williams-hosted NBC Nightly News is now a free video podcast available the same evening...did I mention for free? Keith Olbermann is cementing himself as our Murrow-inspired straight shooting, ok-with-having-an-opinion news man.

Continental and United merger would create largest domestic airline. Does this mean they'll ret-con the name of the movie in future home video releases?

With the flurry of critcs' awards that have come out in the last week or so, everyone's getting more firm on their Oscar nomination shortlists, so here's where I think Best Picture sits at the moment. I'll come up with a comprehensive list I'll post periodically over the next couple weeks for other categories. On to Best Picture... I see it as a crowded field now when it seemed very different a month or so ago. Only four movies are locks, by my estimation: Dreamgirls, The Departed, United 93, and Letters from Iwo Jima. Past that, it's up in the air. I hesitate on Letters... a bit, if only for the acting branch of Academy voters throwing more support behind a home team-acted pic. It's the only one listed above that might get bounced. As for slot 5... I think The Queen is less certain as #5 due to the surge in support of The Departed, Letters..., and ...Sunshine, not originally considered certain contenders. Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen may be more likely to be recognized for their performances than the movie as a Best Pic. The fifth slot will almost certainly be one of the following, listed in order of perceived probability: The Queen Babel Little Miss Sunshine Little Children It behooves me to note that I have not seen any of the above films. Did I mean that as a slight critique on people getting personal about what gets nominated based on personal preference? No, certainly not....

Just officially announced today, the great Alan Rickman is to play the lecherous Judge Turpin in Tim Burton's Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. A wonderful choice.

Good guy Austinite filmmaker Bryan Poyser (The Cassidy Kids, Dear Pillow) has been announced as the new Director of Artist Services for the Austin FIlm Society. The lion's share of his time will be devoted to helping independent Texas filmmakers like himself get funded so they can make indie films in what is, in my estimation, one of the few places you still see them made: the Lone Star State.

Based on what I've read since it was announced, and especially the wonderful Q&A Harry has conducted with Sly from AICN readers' emails, Rocky Balboa could open to big box office due to a fresh take on a revered character (Casino Royale, anyone?). He's a man I respect as an artist and good guy overall. Leno namechecked the movie the other night, and Roger Ebert he's not, but he went out of his way to pimp the movie. I may be headed for a heaping plate of crow, but a Best Pic nod might happen to everyone's surprise.

Seven years in prison is what our legal system thinks is fit punishment for illegally recording movies in a private screening room. In Florida, that's about three years shy of what you get for drawing a firearm on someone.

From IMdB by way of Consumerist, Regal is taking a proactive stance on ensuring the Regal Experience by providing elder patrons with a button-push system to report cell phone usage, rowdiness, uncomfortable temperature, and lackluster projection. Why not just give people a stick?