Settlement Reached In The OC Diocese Sex Abuse Case; Mayoral Debate Recap; Sports Doping Scandal; Possible Special Election Next Year; FilmWeek
Settlement Reached In The OC Diocese Sex Abuse Case
Thursday night the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange agreed to pay out in excess of $85 million to settle claims by 87 people who said they were abused by priests and other church employees in Orange County. The specific sum was not disclose but it is likely that the record settlement will influence the amount paid in other pending abuse cases in Los Angeles and elsewhere. Larry Mantle talks about the settlement with KPCC OC reporter Rob Schmitz.
Mayoral Debate Recap
KPCC Reporter Frank Stoltze talks with Larry Mantle about last night’s mayoral debate.
Sports Doping Scandal
Larry Mantle talks with Elliott Almond, Olympics reporter for the San Jose Mercury News about the latest grand jury testimony that was leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle regarding the BALCO case.
Possible Special Election Next Year
Governor Schwarzenegger is considering calling for a special election next year. The election would circumvent the democrat-controlled legislature and let California voters decide directly on a number of his reforms. One of them could result in the redrawing of California’s legislative districts. Larry Mantle talks with political scientist Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about the governor’s tatics, possible motives, and about how redistricting could effect the balance of power in Sacramento. He also speaks with Assembly Minorty Leader Kevin McCarthy, who may be introducing his own redistricting bill on Monday, and former Assembly Budget Committee Chair Darrel Steinberg.
FilmWeek
Larry Mantle and critics Peter Rainer of New York Magazine, Lael Loewenstein of Variety and Charles Solomon, animation critic for amazon.com discuss this week's new film releases, including Closer, House of Flying Daggers, Brother to Brother, Notre Musique, and This Girl's Life.
Peter shares his experiences of both The Toronto International Film Festival and the World Film Festival in Montreal. The critics give their recommendations for holiday gifts.
Charles Solomon's Animation Suggestions:
ANIME
1. Azumanga Daioh--The Animation Vols. 1-6
Untroubled by robots, monsters or magical powers, the girls in Ms. Yukari's class pursue their daily routines in this popular girl's series. Like "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" or "Seinfeld," it's the ordinariness of the situations that makes the series appealing.
2. Dokkoida!? Vols. 1 and 2
Broke college student Suzuo accents a job wearing Toys of the World's new transformer belt, assuming it's a game promotion. But when a mad scientist attacks, Suzuo finds he's become a monster-battling super-hero in this nutty parody. Suzuo's battle-cry is "For the good of humanity--and rent money!"
3. Fruits Basket Box Set
Sixteen-year-old orphan Tohru joins the wealthy Sohma family household and discovers the family curse: when embraced by a member of the opposite sex, the Sohmas turn into animals from the Chinese zodiac. Tohru wins everyone's heart by cooking, cleaning, and helping with emotional problems.
4. Gravitation
Yaoi or shounen-ai, gay-themed romances created by women for female audiences, are rapidly gaining adherents in America, and "Gravitation" is one of the most popular. Aspiring rock singer Shuichi shifts from frantic klutz to fawning puppy dog to charismatic performer as he tries to win the heart of icy writer Eiri Yuki.
5. .hack//Sign--Complete Collection
Handsomely designed and skillfully directed, ".hack//Sign" stands out as an example of a computer game that's been successfully transformed into an animated program. The series follows the adventures of Tsukasa, a powerful player who finds himself lost in a cyber-realm threatened by the mysterious Key of the Twilight.
6. Inu-Yasha Season Set #1
Kagome, a normal 15-year-old girl, finds herself in the feudal past, pursuing the shards of an enchanted jewel with the title character, who is half-human and half-demon. Rumiko Takashi, the creator of "Ranma 1/2," once again blends off-beat characters, comedy and adventure into a winning tale.
7. Neon Genesis Evangelion: Directors' Cut--Resurrection (Episodes 21-23) and Genesis Reborn (Episodes 24-26)
Director Hideo Anno returns once again to the controversial ending of his watershed blend of science fiction, Jungian mythology and religious symbolism, restoring entire scenes that clarify some story points. These two discs are must-haves for fans of the series.
8. Rurouni Kenshin--Legend of Kyoto Set
At the end of the civil wars that culminated in the Meiji restoration of 1868, assassin Kenshin Himura took an oath never to kill again. Ten years later, he must choose between keeping that oath and preventing a rebellion that would cause the deaths of thousands. The drama and violence are played against the broad comedy of the regular cast of friends, a combination that's made "Rurouni Kenshin" ("Kenshin the Wanderer") one of the best-loved anime series of all time.
9. Tokyo Godfathers
Satoshi Kon's off-beat third feature is completely unlike American animation in style and subject-matter. Three homeless people, flamboyant ex-drag entertainer Hana, alcoholic Gin and sullen runaway Miyuki, find an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve and set out to find her parents.
10. S-Cry-Ed--The Complete Collection
What distinguishes "s-CRY-ed" from formulaic series pitting mutant good guys against military-industrial cabal flunkies is the relationship between defiant anti-hero Ryuho and straight-laced ex-cop Kazuma. Despite their mutual respect and grudging affection, they can't resist trying to beat the sushi out of each other. The unexpected plot twists keep the audience slightly off-balance.
11. Yu Yu Hakusho--The Spirit Detective Set
When thug-in-the-making Yusuke is killed saving a child from a speeding car, he's given another chance at life as a "spirit detective," tracking down evil spirits prowling the human world. Sometimes called "Poltergeist Report," "Yu Yu Hakusho" enjoys an enthusiastic following in the US.
12. Wolf's Rain Vols. 1-4
The heroes of this dark, post-apocalyptic fantasy are quartet of shape-shifting boys who turn into wolves but aren't conventional werewolves. Their quest to find "Paradise," takes them through a world that includes ruined high-tech cities, curses and alchemy.
AMERICAN ANIMATION 1. Iron Giant Special Edition
One of the best and best-loved animated features of recent years gets the red carpet treatment from Warner Bros.--albeit belatedly. The deleted scenes and director's commentaries can only increase viewers' pleasure in this exceptional film by Brad Bird, the writer-director of Pixar's "The Incredibles."
2. Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 2
The cartoons in this collection seem to have been chosen haphazardly, with selections ranging from such genuine rarities as "Sinkin' in the Bathtub" (1930), the first Looney Tune, to the classics "Show Biz Bugs," "What's Opera, Doc," and "One Froggy Evening." The Warners shorts rank among the treasures of American animation and American comedy, and 60-plus cartoons, transferred from good prints make "Looney Tunes" a delight.
3. Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary Edition)
This special edition of Walt Disney's beloved live action/animation classic is loaded with extras, including behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Glynnis Johns, Richard Sherman et al. A real bonus is a new short cartoon based on a "Mary Poppins" that wasn't incorporated into the feature. Julie Andrews radiates charm as a modern version of the redoubtable nanny, and the drawn animation recalls the pre-digital era at the Disney Studio.
4. Samurai Jack: Season 1
The combination of flattened, angular graphics, limited animation and bold colors made "Samurai Jack" an instant hit when it debuted in 2001. Jack's relentless battle against the evil Aku evokes and spoofs the conventions of anime and Western live-action, and provides more exciting storytelling than many big-budget features.
5. Shrek 2
The highest grossing animated feature of all time is an obvious gift choice--but it sold more than 12 million copies its first weekend, so you might want to make sure the people on your list don't already have it…
6. Walt Disney Treasures--On the Front Lines (1943) (2 discs)
Some of the shorts in this exceptional collection haven't screened in more than 60 years ago; others were never shown to the general public. From Donald Duck's surreal and hilarious nightmare of working on a Nazi assembly line in "Der Fuehrer's Face" to the grim didacticism of "Victory Through Air Power," "On the Front Lines" offers fascinating viewing for anyone interested in the history of animation, the Disney Studio or America during WW II.
Peter Rainer's Suggestions:
Books:
1. Open Wide: How Hollywood Box-Office Became A National Obsession (Miramax Books) by Dade Hayes and Jonathan Bing.
An entertaining look at how Hollywood hews the bottom line. We'll overlook the fact that the publisher is, uh, Miramax Books.
2. The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film (Knopf)
Novelist Michael Ondaatje (English Patient) interviews the great editor Walter Murch (Julia, Apocalypse Now, English Patient) about his craft. A must-read for all movie students.
DVDS
1. Before Sunset (Warner)
Richard Linklater's sequel to Before Sunrise is my favorite film of 2004. Stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.
2. W.C. FIelds Comedy Collection (Universal)
The cream of Fields from 1933-40, in lustrous black and white prints -- The Bank Dick. My Little Chickadee (with Mae West), International House (with Burns and Allen and many others), You Can't Cheat an Honest Man (well, actually, you can!) and It's A GIft, which has my vote for one of the funniest films ever made.
3. The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection -- 1929-33 (Universal)
The Brothers Marx in Animal Crackers, Horse Feathers (the funniest campus comedy ever made), Monkey Business, and Duck Soup, their greatest ever. (And, as war satire, timelier than ever -- Hail Fredonia!)