Weekend Adviser

It's shaping up to be a nice spring weekend across the country. The northern Plains look a bit on the cool and wet side, but that's not unusual. Much of the rest of the country should enjoy above average temps with an early taste of summer in some spots.

That means lots of outdoor time, but we wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't note what you'll be missing if you spend all your time outdoors.

Actually, you won't be missing that much at the Cineplex. Of the movies premiering widely this weekend, only "The Soloist" looks interesting. It stars Jamie Foxx as a brilliant but troubled homeless musician and Robert Downey, Jr., as the reporter who befriends him. Check out the movie's official site here: http://www.soloistmovie.com/ and an early, enthusiastic review here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124052480101050043.html

The other movies opening widely this weekend include "Obsessed," a "Fatal Attraction" clone starring Beyonce Knowles and Ali Larter, and "Fighting," which looks like a "Fight Club" derivative. "Fighting" stars Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, and Luis Guzman.

Better to stay home and check out the excellent crop of new DVDs. First, there's "Frost/Nixon," director Ron Howard's fascinating dramatization of celebrity journalist David Frost's interviews with disgraced former President Richard Nixon in 1977. The film garnered five Oscar nominations including one for Best Picture.

"The Wrestler," a redemption drama starring Mickey Rourke as an aging professional wrestler looking to make a comeback, was another Oscar contender. Rourke was nominated for Best Actor and Marisa Tomei nabbed a Best Supporting Actress nomination playing his stripper girlfriend.

Finally, there's "Caprica," a feature-length prequel to the Sci Fi Channel's hit drama "Battlestar Galactica." Set fifty years before the events portrayed in "Battlestar," the movie will serve as a feature-length pilot episode for a new series set to debut on Sci Fi in 2010. "Battlestar" ended its four-season run this spring, but "Caprica" promises to continue the franchise's provocative story-telling. See my take on "Battlestar" and an earlier feature-length movie spawned by the series, "Battlestar Galactica: Razor," here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews/dvd-picks--pans-stocking-stuffers

Except for diehard NFL fans, the TV listings look rather slim this weekend. Showtime has the Vietnam War drama "Rescue Dawn" on Sunday evening, and over on rival HBO, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" continues its delightful run. See my 2007 review of "Rescue Dawn" and a companion documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews/dvd-picks--pans-an-american-hero

For those who can tolerate The Donald, NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" slouches on Sunday evening with Red Carpet mavens Joan and Melissa Rivers, Playmate Brande Roderick, and country-music star Clint Black still in the mix. Which raises the question: Where have all the jocks gone? Four--golfer Natalie Gulbis, androgynous bad boy Dennis Rodman, running back Hershel Walker, and skater Scott Hamilton—started the competition. None remain.

For those aforementioned pro football fanatics, ESPN will be televising the most over-analyzed event in human history: the NFL draft. Try to contain yourself. It'll be all draft, all the time. I don't understand this particular fascination, but millions seem mesmerized by it. Heck, an entire cottage industry has sprouted up around it. Check it out here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft

How anyone can find any residual drama in the actual draft is surprising. Various analysts—real and imagined—have been handicapping the draft for weeks. Just Google "mock NFL draft" and you'll see what I mean. ESPN has enough on its draft webpage—from mock drafts to player profiles, podcasts, and blogs—to keep fans busy for weeks.

And, just think, some of these guys will actually make it.