Get your popcorn ready - that is if you like seeing the rich portrayed as bad guys and getting punished for their indiscretions.
According to CNBC contributor Michael Wolff, a Vanity Fair contributing editor, that's what's in store for movie fans in the upcoming year. On the Dec. 29 "CNBC Reports," Wolff told CNBC Business News managing editor Tyler Mathisen that Hollywood is greenlighting a spate of films featuring Wall Street heavies, and these projects are coming sooner than later.
"I think as fast as possible," Wolff said. "Every script in the business is now recasting itself - rich people are bad people."
CNBC media and entertainment correspondent Julia Boorstin noted one movie was already on the way.
"Michael, I have to say I got a sneak preview of a movie called ‘The International,' which is about the International Bank of Credit or something like this," Boorstin said. "And it's coming out in February from Sony Columbia. And the bad guy is a bank. It's a bank that doesn't want to control money, it wants to control the debt. And when I was sitting in the screening, my jaw dropped because it seemed like it was touching on the issue that is concerning so many of our viewers - the management of debt and what happens if people who control the debt are bad guys."
According to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), that's not quite all "The International" entails. The summary of the movie reports plot elements of money laundering and arms trading with the intention of destabilizing governments -- much different than the bailout culture and the recently acknowledged Bernard Madoff scandal that is plaguing the image of Wall Street.
But Wolff still insisted that the class envy blame game will still be the theme in many motion pictures in 2009. "I think we're going to see this throughout the year," he said. "This is the ... if it is not escapist, it's going to be ‘you're to blame.'"
Wolff's media forecasts should be eyed with some skepticism, however. Earlier in 2008, Wolff told CNBC's "Street Signs" the success of conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh would be coming to an end with the rise of Barack Obama, then a candidate for president.
And Wolff, commenting on the motion picture industry as an expert, also admitted he hadn't seen a single movie during 2008.
"Here it is - in the year 2008, I didn't see one movie," Wolff added. "Not one movie."
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Wall Street: The villan of 2009 Hollywood
December 30, 2008 - 18:13 ET by P. AaronThe Irony: Hollywood looking to rich financiers to underwrite their celluloid tales of corrupt rich financiers.
If comunism is such a great idea, why didn't they put up a picture window instead of an Iron Curtain?
"Barney and Me"
December 30, 2008 - 12:39 ET by nicksmith112Starring Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Franklin Raines....and special guest Barack Obama.
I'm a refugee from the Democratic Party.
n112... LMAO...you said
December 30, 2008 - 13:57 ET by bigtimern112...
LMAO...you said it best!
Let's throw in for a co-star Maxine Waters.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
"The Marc Richie Rich Story"
December 30, 2008 - 14:58 ET by nicksmith112Starring Bill and Hilary Clinton, Denise Rich(wink wink), Eric Holder, Rudy Giuliani.....soundtrack by Dire Straits featuring Oil-for-Food and the chicks are free
I'm a refugee from the Democratic Party.
n112... ROFL...
December 30, 2008 - 15:16 ET by bigtimern112...
ROFL... Delicious.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
"Groundhog Day" Starring
December 30, 2008 - 16:07 ET by nicksmith112"Groundhog Day"
Starring Krazy Kieth Olberloon,Eugene Robinson, Jonathan Alter.
Bush is dumb.
Bush is an evil genius.
Barack has some tight abs.
Bill O'Reilly is the Wort Person in the WORLD!
over and over and over!!!
(No terrorist was harmed or even named in the making of this film)
I'm a refugee from the Democratic Party.
LOL n112... You just have
December 30, 2008 - 16:28 ET by bigtimerLOL n112...
You just have to include "A thrill up my Leg" Matthews in this scenario!
You are really on a roll here friend...I sure thank you for the laughter this morning/afternoon.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
"Liberace/Douglas"
December 30, 2008 - 17:02 ET by nicksmith112Chrissy Matthews will play 70's talk show host Mike Douglas in the indie-film Liberace/Douglas.
You know how Hollywood likes to milk a good thing.
Liberace/Douglas will recreate those magical "Mike Douglas Show" moments of the late 70's.
Mike Douglas: "Lee, how is it possible that a bachelor like yourself has not found a woman and settled down."
(Am I the only person that remembers Mike Douglas asking a pink caped Liberace that exact question??? LOL)
I'm a refugee from the Democratic Party.
OMG Nick...you're killing
December 30, 2008 - 17:06 ET by bigtimerOMG Nick...you're killing me here...
My simple answer is NO.
You aren't the only one here that remembers that. ;-)
Wow...talk about days gone by.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Hollywood hypocrites
December 30, 2008 - 12:42 ET by iveseenitallThose greedy Wall Street guys. Expose them all! Oh, what's the "average" pay per picture for a Hollywood star --$8,000,000/$10,000,000? Hypocrites!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
I'm sure in the Hollywood
December 30, 2008 - 12:43 ET by Chris NormanI'm sure in the Hollywood version, "Bernard Madoff with the Money", Madoff will be remade as an evil Republican bigwig donor...
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
They don't expect to make
December 30, 2008 - 12:54 ET by mattmThey don't expect to make much money this coming year, it appears.
Yeah, if they can just
December 30, 2008 - 13:06 ET by Chris NormanYeah, if they can just combine the anti-buiness theme with the anti-Iraq war and anti-Bush themes, then they could lose even more gobs of money! Hell, even throw in the anti-Nixon theme for good measure!
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Featuring, Chris Dodd,
December 30, 2008 - 12:55 ET by billbFeaturing, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, Charely Rangel and introducing, Franklin Raines.
here's a movie you'll never see in 2009 ...
December 30, 2008 - 13:26 ET by pmohbucka movie depicting the assassination of our president ... unless it involves president bush.
capitalists, conservatives and christians will be fair game for hollywood ... in other words, 2009 will be business as usual
Failed Strategy
December 30, 2008 - 13:52 ET by KarinI don't think it will work. Look at the success of Ironman. Why was this so popular? Tony Stark is the American dream, of being soooo rich and sooooo smart that you can do absolutely anything.
I really don't know what H'wood is thinking here. That because we're going through some tough times we will resent all things monied? I don't think so.
Yeah, those despicable rich.....
December 30, 2008 - 14:02 ET by Pilgrim1949....and as I've heard and read from many commentators over the past year or two, "I've yet to be hired by a poor person."
Let's see, who creates jobs that provide a paycheck? Who enables people to have food, a roof over their head and health care?
Oh, the goverment, of course, that engine of growth (or is it "growing engine"?) that creates all of these wonderful jobs with marvelous salaries and benefits, graciously provided from the money that the government take----er, um--- makes.
I wonder if the Hollywood studios will be included in the "evil rich" corporations?
Yup, when Porcine Airlines makes its first flight!
Paging...
December 30, 2008 - 14:14 ET by StarAZGordon Gecko, call your agent.
Gee, couldn't see this one
December 30, 2008 - 14:45 ET by Indiana JoeGee, couldn't see this one coming. "Rich people are bad people?" This is new?
No wonder I hardly ever go to the theater anymore.
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss..." - The Who
IJ... Ditto...actually it
December 30, 2008 - 15:48 ET by bigtimerIJ...
Ditto...actually it is same ol' same ol'.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I guess that
December 30, 2008 - 15:39 ET by Hanoverfistthere wont be any movies on G-4's "Movies That Dont Suck"next year.
Here's an easy prediction.
December 30, 2008 - 16:00 ET by JerryHere's an easy prediction. Movies will begin portraying Presidents as dashing, heroic figures again.
I don't know about you, but every movie I have seen depicting a President over the past 8 years has portrayed him as a bumbling, hated, idiot. Compare that to the Clinton years, when you had movies like: "The American President", "Independence Day", etc.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Well OK..... guess we can
December 30, 2008 - 17:25 ET by MidAmericaWell OK..... guess we can write off seeing movies in 2009 already. Hollywood is not interested in making money so I hope Bollywood is watching and seeing that there is a market here to make billions if they want to produce entertainment.
I have always liked Clive
December 30, 2008 - 17:36 ET by UtherpendI have always liked Clive Owens and this movie was made well before the Banking mess of 2008.
I am not worried about what that idiot Wolff says about anything, His head is too far up most of Holloywoods a$$ to even see the time of day. Which I find it ironic that someone who covers a lot of movie stars and hollywood elites states he doesn't go to the movies. Isn't that like being a chef and never eating any of your own food?
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you."