How Well Do You Know: Rain Man
The story of two brothers: one selfish-money hungry, the other in a world of his own. Raymond and Charlie Babbitt come together in a road trip that neither will ever forget. Together they discover the true meaning of brotherly love. You may know that maple syrup has to be on the table before you order, but how well do you know Rain Man?
How Well Do You Know: The Departed
The Departed tells of a cop infiltrating criminals and a criminal infiltrating the cops. Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning crime saga deals with identity, deceit, paranoia and loyalty. You may think that it's odd when a call comes in front your dead boss's cell phone, but how well do you know The Departed?
Weekend Wrap-Up
With the long Presidents' Day weekend in the rear-view mirror, this late-February weekend was set up to fail at the box office.
2011 Oscar Blog
We said many, many things during the Oscar. Click here to feel the love.
How Well Do You Know: Not an Oscar Winner III
Each year before the Oscars, we take a look those nominees that won an Academy Awards, and those that came up short. For each category listed, we will give you four options. Can you spot the option that was denied Oscar glory? How well do you know Not an Oscar Winner?
This is So Last Week: 2/18/11-2/24/11
This week: Sexting, a news-making haircut, political decisions and an American Outlaw. Here's our pop culture recap quiz for the 8th week in 2011. How well do you know the last seven days in entertainment and celebrity trivia?
Weekend Forecast
Looks like studios only had a couple weeks' worth of solid films to release in early 2011, with this weekend's slate reverting back to the doldrums we saw in January.
This Weekend, Watch This
A BOP columnist once recommended a cheesy Nic Cage flick as the movie to watch that weekend. *Once.*
Oscar Predictions
Which nominations do we see as metaphysical locks to win? About which categories do we have something less than complete agreement? Here are the BOP staff predictions for the Oscars.
How Well Do You Know: Justified, S02E03: The I Of The Storm
This week Raylan finds himself chasing after a load of missing Oxycontin, Dewey Crow reappears and decides to play dress-up and Boyd decides to have a little heart-to-heart-to-road with a new associate. You may know the difference between a fake Marshal and a real Marshal, but how well do you know Justified, The I Of The Storm?
How Well Do You Know: 2011 Oscar Nominees
You've considered pedigrees, entered multiple office Oscar pools and cursed the Academy for not appreciating Christopher Nolan more. As the 2011 Oscars approach, it's time to test your knowledge about the various nominees. You may know your Lionel Logue from your Rooster Cogburn, but how well do you know the 2011 Oscar Nominees?
How Well Do You Know: Seinfeld: The Shower Head
In "The Shower Head," Jerry, Kramer and Newman are forced to make adjustments when their apartment shower heads get replaced. Meanwhile, high opium content in her urine has Elaine failing an important drug test. How well do you know Seinfeld: The Shower Head?
Best of Best Picture
BOP staffers rank the 2011 nominees for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
In Contention
So, friends, it’s come to this. We are now less than a week away from the 83rd annual Academy Awards.
Are You With Us?
Bubble Boy stars Gyllenhaal as Jimmy Livingston, a boy born without immunities, forced to live in a bubble, for even a single germ can kill him.
Survivor Recap
Previously on Survivor: we had one of, if not THE, best first episodes and first Tribal Councils ever.
How Well Do You Know: Million Dollar Baby
What does it take to be a champion? Maggie Fitzgerald is about to find out, as she tries to beat all the odds and achieves what everybody else tells her is impossible. Maggie seeks out the toughest trainer around - a man who is looking for forgiveness. Go 26 rounds to see how well you know Million Dollar Baby.
How Well Do You Know: The Simpsons: Bart on the Road
Armed with a fake ID and a wad of cash, Bart, Milhouse, Martin and Nelson take a road trip – and not to a county fair, not to a Europe fair, but a World's fair -- the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee! The Hungarians have built a giant motorized Rubik's cube, and the fair's symbol is the SunSphere, which sits atop a 266-foot tall steel shaft. What’s inside? An information desk! How Well Do You Know The Simpsons: Bart on the Road?
Movie Review: Cedar Rapids
Most comedies these days abide by the notion that if something is more outrageous and implausible then it must also be funnier. That’s not necessarily the case, and Cedar Rapids is proof of that.
Comics Weekly
Iron Man 2.0 hits the shelves. I guess we all should have seen that coming.
Viking Night: Darkman
Once upon a time, there was a talented young director who wanted to make a superhero movie. But nobody with the power to make it happen was willing to trust him with an existing property.
Make An Argument
Sure, we aren’t too far removed from it, but the finale to ER still sticks with me two years later.
How Well Do You Know: Academy Awards V
If history has taught us anything, it's that the HWDYK audience loves to be assailed with Oscar trivia in the week before the Academy Awards. This year, we're trying something new. We'll point you to a Best Picture winner and ask you if you can identify which of the film's other nominations took home the Oscar. Wake your friends and call your neighbors, it's once again time to prove how well you know the Academy Awards.
Movie Review: Paul
Clive (Nick Frost) and Graeme (Simon Pegg) are a couple of British science fiction nerds who embark upon a transcontinental road trip to visit sites associated with extraterrestrial activity.
Review: Just Go With It
Adam Sandler has so many hits under his belt he must have carte blanche over his projects. So why doesn’t he choose to make one that’s less stupid than Just Go With It?
Watch Instantly
While Vijay was on vacation over the past couple of months, Netflix picked up another 3 million customers. So, our potential reader base is exploding.
How to Spend $20
This week: An undertaker makes money from the living, Edie Falco pops pills and Chris Nolan’s first classic celebrates 10 years.
Monday Morning Quarterback
Liam Neeson is action packed, I Am Number Four is disappointing, and Big Momma makes us sad for humanity. We discuss it all in MMQB.
Overpaid Jerks: 2/14/11-2/20/11
This week: College basketball upsets galore, All-Star hijinx,
the Daytona 500 and outdoor hockey. Here's our sports quiz for the 8th week of 2011.
Classic Movie Review
The life and times of Walt Disney are truly fascinating, even if most of us have already concocted the man’s life in our heads thanks to plenty of help from the media.
The Amazing Race Recap
It’s time for CBS to unleash another batch of hurried Americans on the world with the next installment of the Amazing Race - this time with a nifty subtitle: Unfinished Business.
How Well Do You Know: Mystic River
A good murder mystery film is hard to find, but 2003's Mystic River really hits the mark. Directed by Clint Eastwood, Mystic River is the story about washing away the past and struggling to find forgiveness. You may know it's probably not a good idea to write your name in wet cement, but how well do you know, Mystic River?
Top Chef All-Stars Recap
One of the best Quickfires ever takes place in this episode. Truly.
Amazing Race Pre-Game
Welcome back to the Amazing Race, friends. We are in store for a whole lot of familiarity with its second All-Star edition.
Weekend Wrap-Up
This is just what we need to solve the box office blues – a nice long weekend in the middle of February.
How Well Do You Know: Driving Miss Daisy
Driving Miss Daisy is the touching story of a unlikely friendship that spans more than 20 years. This 1989 multiple Academy Award-winning movie shows the simplicity of great story telling. You may need a driver to take you to the Piggly Wiggly - or maybe you can drive yourself to the store - but how well do you know Driving Miss Daisy?
Friday Box Office Analysis
This week's new films include a movie that looks a lot like a surprise blockbuster from two years ago, a young-adult targeted flick and a sequel that very few people wanted.
How Well Do You Know: Parks and Recreation, S03E05: Media Blitz
Leslie, Tom and Ben do their best to drum up support for the Harvest Festival. Actually, only 2/3rds of that is true. Meanwhile, Andy tries a latch-ditch attempt to win April back. You may like to call Perd Hapley "Turd Crapley," but how well do you know Parks and Recreation: Media Blitz?
Watch for further quizzes on Parks and Recreation: Season 3 within a few days following each new episode
How Well Do You Know: Justified, S02E02: The Life Inside
This week on Justified; Raylan has to transport a pregnant prisoner to the doctor, which does not exactly go according to plan, Boyd gets drunk, and Winona gets to hear about Raylan's day. You may know how to properly cuff yourself, but How Well Do You Know Justified, The Life Inside?
Watch for further quizzes on Justified: Season 2 within a few days following each new episode
This is So Last Week: 2/11/11-2/17/11
This week: Eggs, wings and other Grammy nonsense. Plus: meet your new Wonder Woman, fear your computer overlords and hail to the new record holders. Here's our pop culture recap quiz for the 7th week in 2011. How well do you know the last seven days in entertainment and celebrity trivia?
2011 Calvin Awards
It's that time of year again! Welcome to the 2011 Calvins, where BOP celebrates the best in cinema and assorted other pop culture categories.
Weekend Forecast
While February box office has come a long way in ten years, studios are still reluctant to throw their top shelf projects out in the dead of winter.
This Weekend, Watch This
In which Curt's hopes that I am Number Four is based on a Sesame Street skit are quickly dashed.
Things I Learned from Movie X
I'm not going to lie to you; The Last Airbender is a truly terrible film.
How Well Do You Know: National Lampoon's Vacation
Family man Clark Griswold decides to take the wife and kids on vacation, driving them cross-country to visit a popular theme park. What happens as a result is a disaster of epic proportions. Chevy Chase starred in a slew of unforgettable 1980's comedies, and Vacation is no exception - it's a must-see for all fans of comedy. You may know that Hamburger Helper does just fine by itself, but how well do you know National Lampoon's Vacation?
How Well Do You Know: Seinfeld: The Maid
Jerry sleeps with her maid. Kramer's girlfriend moves away. George aspires to become T-Bone. Elaine descends into telephone hell. You may go willy-nilly into a situation so obviously fraught with potential complications, but how well do you know Seinfeld: The Maid?
Chapter Two
Red Riding 1980 is now the focus of today's Chapter Two.
Mythology
Perhaps the most relevant of the new wave of comedies from a zeitgeist perspective also happens to be the best show on TV according to BOP - Modern Family.
Survivor Recap
Now, just one season removed from HvV, Rob and Russell are back to settle the score once and for all!
How Well Do You Know: Movie Franchise Screenshots II
In this quiz, you'll see screencaps from a film representing a well-known film franchise. Asking you which series of films the shot represents would be too easy. Instead, you'll have to identify which specific film the shot is from. This may be a lot harder than you think at first. Or maybe a lot easier. We'll have to see. How well do you know Movie Franchise Screenshots?
How Well Do You Know: The Simpsons: Mother Simpson
After faking his own death, Homer is reunited with his long-lost mother, who he thought was dead, and who abandoned him 27 years ago. Why she left in the first place remains a mystery. Maybe Homer was just a horrible son and no mother would want him. How Well Do You Know The Simpsons: Mother Simpson?
Comics Weekly
Aquaman's Aqua family is under Aqua attack. PS: Aqua.
Viking Night: 12 Monkeys
Show me a time travel movie and most of the time, I’ll show you a piece of lazy storytelling filled with boring characters and dull clichés.
Interview: Survivor Spoilers Guy
Fresh from having his lawsuit dropped by CBS, missyae chats with BOP about how he became the internet's most dangerous spoiler.
What Went Wrong
This will contain spoilers, so if you haven’t seen Hulk already… well, you’re probably not going to anyway.
How Well Do You Know: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Dr Evil invents a “time machine” and travels back to the 1960s, and Austin must follow him to prevent him from changing the future and rendering Austin shagless! It’s vitally important, as he has just met someone who is Shagwell by name and shag-very-well by reputation. In the spirit of the Austin Powers movies, this quiz will recycle as many questions as possible from the last Austin Powers quiz. How Well Do You Know Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me?
Monday Morning Quarterback
How strange is Black Swan in terms of $100 million blockbusters? That's today's debate.
How to Spend $20
This week: Denzel Washington slows a freight train, Woody Allen shoots another one in London and a ‘70s classic undergoes the Blu-ray treatment.
In Contention
This past Sunday, the BAFTAs, the British version of the Oscars, were announced, and there were few surprises here.
Overpaid Jerks: 2/7/11-2/13/11
This week: Streaks end, hockey players brawl, and undefeated team falls and a coach displays virtue. Here's our sports quiz for the 7th week of 2011.
Most Romantic Movies
With the arrival of Valentine's Day, BOP recalls our 50 favorite romantic movies.
Are You With Us?
Big Trouble is the latest assignment.
TiVoPlex
From the obscure to the obscurest to the merely overlooked or underappreciated; they all have a home in the TiVoPlex!
How Well Do You Know: Romantic Movie Pairs II
For this quiz, we'll give you the names of characters from romantic movies, along with a detail or two about their relationship. Given this sparse information, can you identify the movie in which the pair appears? You may know your Rick and Ilsa from your Edward and Vivian, but how well do you know Romantic Movie Pairs?
How Well Do You Know: An Affair to Remember
An Affair to Remember tells the story of a couple - both engaged to others - who meet, quickly realize they are meant to be together, and deal with rejection, heartbreak and the rest of real life while trying to find their way back to each other. Hopeless romantics can't help but root for Terry McKay and Nickie Ferrante, hoping they'll find each other again after tragedy strikes. You may know the significance of the Empire State Building, but how well do you know An Affair to Remember?
Weekend Wrap-Up
The box finally was able to breathe a sigh of relief this weekend, as fortunes turned back to the positive.
How Well Do You Know: Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee's 2005 drama about a complicated 20-year relationship between a ranch hand and a rodeo cowboy, was adapted from the Annie Proulx short story of the same name. The tragic love story won 3 Oscars (director, adapted screenplay and score) and was nominated for a total of 71 awards. How well do you know Brokeback Mountain?
How Well Do You Know: Parks and Recreation, S03E04: Ron & Tammy: Part Two
Pure evil returns to Parks and Recreation in the form of Ron's ex-wife Tammy. You may cackle wildly after throwing Glen - I mean Tom - across the room into a book shelf, but how well do you know Parks and Recreation: Ron & Tammy: Part Two?
Watch for further quizzes on Parks and Recreation: Season 3 within a few days following each new episode
This is So Last Week: 2/4/11-2/10/11
This week: Scarlett makes an odd choice, a media king makes Tweet, and directors make for retirement. Here's our pop culture recap quiz for the 6th week in 2011. How well do you know the last seven days in entertainment and celebrity trivia?
How Well Do You Know: Justified, S02E01: The Moonshine War
Picking up exactly where it left off, with U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) watching as his sometimes friend, sometimes enemy Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) ran after the woman who tried to kill them, FX's Justified returned with a vengeance, quickly tying up most of the threads hanging from Season 1's finale before sending Raylan and Rachel (Erica Tazel) off to Harlan County in search of a sex offender and introducing a whole new clan of miscreants in the form of the nefarious Bennetts. You may know your poisoned moonshine from your apple pie, but how well do you know Justified, The Moonshine War?
Weekend Forecast
The floodgates open this pre-Valentine's Day weekend at the box office, with four new films and a whole bunch of star power finding its way to multiplexes.
This Weekend, Watch This
I'll save you the hassle of researching every movie, by comparing the new releases for each weekend in this column. Then, I'll tell you which movie to watch.
How Well Do You Know: Seinfeld: The English Patient
In The English Patient, Elaine lets anyone who cares to hear how much she dislikes The English Patient. Meanwhile, Jerry finds himself in an unfortunate circumstance when a very old man (guest star Lloyd Bridges) challenges Jerry to lift some very heavy things. How well do you know Seinfeld: The English Patient?
How Well Do You Know: Jerry Maguire
Jerry Maguire made a permanent impression on the pop culture lexicon ("Show me the money", "You complete me" and of course "You had me at hello.") A sports agent with a guilty conscience writes a mission statement that forever changes his life. So who's coming with me to take this quiz? You may have shoplifted some pootie yourself, but how well do you know Jerry Maguire?
Guilty Pleasures
Taken by itself, the remake of Psycho is bad, unnecessary, and could even be insulting.
Movie Review: Sanctum
Movies like Sanctum would be so much more effective if the characters inhabiting them were real and believable.
Top Chef All-Stars Recap
Tonight’s episode begins at roughly the same point where the last one ended.
How Well Do You Know: The Simpsons: Lisa the Iconoclast
Lisa learns that there is more to Jebediah Springfield`s life than history records. He had not always been known as Jebediah Springfield. Until 1796, he was Hans Sprungfeld, murderous pirate, and the half-wits of this town shall never learn the truth! Ha-ha-ha-ha- ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! How Well Do You Know The Simpsons: Lisa the Iconoclast?
How Well Do You Know: Ghost
Ghost was the 1990 romantic hit that captivated audiences everywhere. This blockbuster proves: 1) true love never dies and 2)karma is a bitch. You may have thought taking up pottery would get you more action (it didn't, did it....not at all) but how well do you know Ghost?
Comics Weekly
This week, a new Cinderella from Fables series begins. A national holiday should be declared.
Review: Company Men
Men (and women, I assume) often develop a direct relationship between their job and their self-worth.
Make An Argument
I did get around to seeing a quality horror movie within the past week that deserves at least thoughtful consideration on your respective movie cues.
How Well Do You Know: It's Complicated
It's Complicated deals with a long-divorced couple who suddenly find themselves in an affair with each other. Alec Baldwin and Meryl Streep shine in roles that seem tailor-written for them. You may wonder if it's necessary to always say no before you say yes, but how well do you know It's Complicated?
How to Spend $20
This week: Paranormal Activity demonizes Halloween, Katherine Heigl acts cute and Wes Craven drops a bomb.
In Contention
Emotion or thought? The heart or the mind? This is what we’re left with at this year’s Oscars.
Viking Night: The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek and Star Wars are a lot like cousins who aren’t really a lot alike but suffer from similar problems because they share the same environment.
Overpaid Jerks: 1/31/11-2/6/11
This week: Post season awards, forgotten lyrics, a record-tying loss and a goalie fight. Here comes our sports quiz for the 6th week of 2011.
How Well Do You Know: Sports Night, S01E07: Dear Louise...
In Dear Louise, Dan suffers from Emergency Writer's Block, and Natalie comes up with some creative solutions. Meanwhile, Isaac frets about his daughter's suitor, and Casey goes head-to-head with Gordon. You may like getting giant blue drinks for $2, but how well do you know Sports Night: Dear Louise?
TiVoPlex
Tivo made Super Bowl Sunday a 24 hour viewing event for BOP. God, we're sick of Doritos and beer.
Classic Review: Rio Bravo
I don’t get the allure of John Wayne.
Top Chef All Stars Recap
Good news, everyone! Marcel was eliminated last week due to two #FoamFail incidents. Also, he had that minor beef with the entirety of his team that led him to getting the Stonewall Jackson treatment.
Monday Morning Quarterback
It was Super Bowl Sunday this weekend. What movie did you go see? (It's okay to answer none.)
How Well Do You Know: Moonstruck
Moonstruck tells the story of an unlucky-in-love Brooklyn widow, her safe but incompatible fiance, and his volatile estranged brother. Cher, not just a scantily-clad singer by this point, won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance as Loretta, and Nicolas Cage continued his hot acting streak as moody brother Ronny, back in the days when his performances weren't totally phoned in. You may think you know the answer to Rose Castorini's burning question, but how well do you know Moonstruck?
Weekend Wrap-Up
The release of any form of interesting movie seems to have ground to a standstill, and when that happens, any new kind of filmed dredge tends to float to the top of the box office.
How Well Do You Know: Dear John
Dear John, yet another in a long list of Nicholas Sparks film adaptations, tells the story of a couple who meet and fall in love in just 2 short weeks. Their love and relationship is put to the test over the years by various factors, including long distance, military obligations, and family. Will they survive, or will real life get in the way? You may know all about mules, but how well do you know Dear John?
How Well Do You Know: Parks and Recreation S03E03: Time Capsule
Leslie's plans to construct a Pawnee time capsule. When an unlikely contribution is suggested, all hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, Andy and Tom get romantic advice from unlikely sources. You may be able to describe each Twilight film shot for shot, but how well do you know Parks and Recreation: Time Capsule?
Watch for further quizzes on Parks and Recreation: Season 3 within a few days following each new episode
This is So Last Week: 1/28/11-2/3/11
This week in celebrity and entertainment news featured the SAG Awards, a new movie hero, a crowded cover and a band, disbanded. Plus: someone had a rather unique view on Sarah Palin. Here's our pop culture recap quiz for the 5th week in 2011.
Weekend Forecast
What does it look like when Hollywood gives up on a weekend? Kind of like this one, actually.
This Weekend, Watch This
On paper, _____ is barely the movie to watch this weekend.
February Forecast
After the confusingly slow January, we enter a veritable smorgasbord of content in 2/11.
How Well Do You Know: Sports Movies: Opponents in The Big Game
Sports movies often culminate in The Big Game, where the character of the film's central athlete or team is put to the ultimate test. We're going to test your knowledge of opponents in The Big Game, be they worthy rivals or villainous arch-nemeses. You may know your Clubber Lang from your David Sims, but how well do you know Sports Movies: Opponents in The Big Game?
How Well Do You Know: Seinfeld: The Glasses
George's glasses? Stolen! Elaine? Bit by a dog! Jerry's girlfriend? Possibly unfaithful! You may or may not be terrified of little Snowball, but how well do you know Seinfeld: The Glasses?
What Went Wrong
How did The Golden Compass go wrong? Let us count the ways...
Mythology
Coinciding almost perfectly with The Super Bowl, Friday Night Lights, ends its fifth and final season on Direct TV next Wednesday.
Chapter Two
I watched all three movie adaptations of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy - for the first time each - on my desktop Mac this past week.
Things I Learned from Movie X
The year was 1998, and Will Smith was the hottest star on Earth.
How Well Do You Know: While You Were Sleeping
What do you get when you cross a lonely woman, her comatose crush, his suspicious brother, and their warm, loving family? While You Were Sleeping - one of 1995's biggest box office hits - was one of that year's films (along with Speed) that helped shoot Sandra Bullock into stardom. You may know all about wanting a stamp in your passport, but how well do you know While You Were Sleeping?
How Well Do You Know: Glee Cast Member Trivia
During its short run, Glee has built up a dynamic cast, pulling together young up-and-comers and established veterans. Do you think you know all about the people behind the characters? Biographical information, awards, collaborations...we're about to test your Glee cast acumen. You may know your Naya Rivera from your Jenna Ushkowitz, but how well do you know your Glee Cast Member Trivia?
How Well Do You Know: The Simpsons: Homer the Vigilante
Frustrated with impotence in the face of a master criminal, Homer forms a vigilante group so he can commit crimes of his own, and chug beers. How Well Do You Know The Simpsons: Homer the Vigilante?
Comics Weekly
Comics are life.
Director Spotlight
Marc Forster’s rise to the top of his profession is filled with inspired stories that draw professional admiration.
Oscar Power Rankings
Power rankings for Best Picture and Best Director are updated.
Book vs. Movie
While Baglio was still researching The Rite, film producers Tripp Vinson and Beau Flynn heard about the project.
How Well Do You Know: Celebrity Eyes 2
You see them staring back at you from the pages of a tabloid, winking at you on the movie screen, hypnotizing you into buying products you don't need, glaring at you as restraining order paperwork is filed. Most celebrities have distinctive faces, but can you ID the star just by their eyes? How well do you know celebrity eyes?
Monday Morning Quarterback
How to Spend $20
This week: Two new releases that sit squarely on my to-see list. And one… well… one that isn’t.
Viking Night
This week's Viking Night is devoted to perhaps the greatest movie of all-time: Flash Gordon.
In Contention
What a snoozefest the Oscars are going to be this year. Let’s figure out why.