Best & Worst 2008: Unanswered questions - Los Angeles Times
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Entertainment & Arts

Best & Worst 2008: Unanswered questions

Who will Batman fight next? Now that the identity of the White House's next resident has been decided, Americans can move on to determining the next personnel for another American institution: Batman movies. Christopher Nolan's mega-grossing franchise rehabs, "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" have already used Scarecrow, Ra's al Ghul, the Joker and Two-Face. The conventional wisdom is that the Riddler and Catwoman will pop up in the next movie, and casting gossip has already included Eddie Murphy and Marion Cotillard in those roles. But if Nolan returns one more time, he may be tempted to explore the darker corners of the Dark Knight's lore: Black Mask, Clayface, Ventriloquist and Hush are just a few of the villains who have never been given the live action treatment. After grossing almost $1 billion dollars worldwide, the filmmakers are in the rare position of having high expectations and the freedom to do whatever they want.

Who will Batman fight next?

Now that the identity of the White House‘s next resident has been decided, Americans can move on to determining the next personnel for another American institution: Batman movies. Christopher Nolan‘s mega-grossing franchise rehabs, “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” have already used Scarecrow, Ra’s al Ghul, the Joker and Two-Face. The conventional wisdom is that the Riddler and Catwoman will pop up in the next movie, and casting gossip has already included Eddie Murphy and Marion Cotillard in those roles. But if Nolan returns one more time, he may be tempted to explore the darker corners of the Dark Knight’s lore: Black Mask, Clayface, Ventriloquist and Hush are just a few of the villains who have never been given the live action treatment. After grossing almost $1 billion dollars worldwide, the filmmakers are in the rare position of having high expectations and the freedom to do whatever they want.  (Stephen Vaughan / Associated Press)

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What’s in the future for Batman, Eminem and the “Watchmen”?

Britney Spears

How will Britney Spears screw up so she gets to come back again in 2010?

The year is ending on an up note for the troubled former teen pop star. After a very tragic breakdown and the loss of custody of her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline, she got on the road to recovery, which to the celebrity gossip media meant she lost some weight and got hair extensions. Suddenly, Britney was back like we loved her before with a well-received new album, an intimate MTV special and plans for a major tour in 2009. Now she has nowhere to go but down. Unless she manages to find some way to fall low again. Everyone loves an underdog (like “Slumdog Millionaire”), so if Britney is going to keep this gravy train going for her handlers, she’d better produce some bumps in the road. With 41 dates on her “Circus” tour, there are plenty of chances to fall flat on her face -- and soar ever higher.  (Thomas Kienzle / Associated Press)

Eminem, Marshall Mathers

Will Eminem‘s new album really come out?

The performer Vibe magazine called “the best rapper alive” in 2008 hasn’t released an album of new material since 2004. His greatest hits collection from 2005 was called “Curtain Call,” and there were rumblings that Marshall Mathers would leave the music biz for good. But then came word that he was working with master producer Dr. Dre and a new album, “Relapse,” was promised by the end of 2008. Well, that ain’t happening. Now the album is being promised to us sometime early in 2009. We could indeed see it next year, or it could become the next “Chinese Democracy.” Only Mr. Mathers knows for sure.  (Andrew Medichyni / Associated Press)

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Can ‘ Watchmen’ possibly live up to fans’ expectations?

People have called it the “Citizen Kane” of comic books, and it’s one of the only graphic novels to regularly appear on best books of the 20th century lists. It’s author, Alan Moore, has disavowed any involvement with the film and it’s become the subject of legal action from rival movie studios. So after all the advance buzz and hype and expectation of astronomical box office receipts, can the actual movie version of “Watchmen” ever manage to surprise us, thrill us or even excite us? Or is it possible that this one film will not only satisfy the impossible expectations of the obsessive fan culture, but will also heal our damaged ecosphere, solve Fermat’s last theorem and find time to romance Jennifer Aniston? The answers will be known on March 6.  (Clay Enos / Associated Press)

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