HOLLYWOOD: DOOM, GLOOM AND A GLIMMER OF HOPE

Recently, I reported on a True Believer (Idiot/Moron) who believed that Hollywood is a PR arm of the American government and consequently, films like Roland Emmerich’s Doomsday epic 2012 was released to prepare the public for the End of Days.

True Believers (Idiots/Morons) aside, Hollywood does have a couple of Doomsday movies coming out this year (surprise, surprise).

The first one is 4:44 Last Day on Earth directed by Abel Ferrara and starring craggy-faced Willem Defoe and Paz da la Huerta. The film is “a look at what would happen if everyone knew the world was ending." It is not a comedy.

While all I have seen of the film is a trailer, it appears to be a look at the possible craziness that might ensue if everyone in the world knew exactly when life on earth would end. 4:44 Last Day on Earth premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2011and will be out in limited release March 23.

Another End of Days movie starring Steve Carell and Kiera Knightley opens June 22. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is the tale of Dodge (Carell) whose wife splits when it is announced that a killer asteroid will impact earth in three weeks. Seeking a little happiness in his final days, Dodge hooks up with Penny (Knightley) and promises to help her get to her family before the end. With the Talking Heads’ “We’re on a Road to Nowhere” as the movie’s soundtrack centerpiece, it is a comedy.

And finally, if you have any teenagers around, you’ve probably heard of The Hunger Games, a series of books that are immensely popular. The Hunger Games movie, set to open soon, comes from Lionsgate which has teamed up with the United Nations World Food Programme and Feeding America to launch a video public service announcement and a new Website (wfp.org/hungergames) aimed at addressing hunger, the world’s most solvable problem. 

The new video spot features the movie’s stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth and advocates for fans to help end hunger.

It’s a effort that is so much better than fretting about Doomsday….not!