Historian doesn't buy 'Apocalypto'
Watching all those heads roll in Mel Gibson's gory epic "Apocalypto," William Fash couldn't help himself: He had to laugh. It's not that the director of Harvard's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology takes any pleasure in decapitation, Fash just found the whole thing laughable. "There are so many layers of inaccuracies," says Fash, who took 30 of his students to see the film. "When we tell the story of Alexander the Great, we get at least some of it right, but Mel's version of the Mayan civilization -- one of the world's great civilizations -- is totally wrong." The errors are too numerous to list here, but, as an example, Fash says he flinched while he watched Mel's Mayans run through the jungle. "They're portrayed as hunters and gatherers, and they never were," he says. "They were extremely sophisticated agriculturists." If all this seems like historical nitpicking, it isn't. (Fash is one of many scholars who've skewered "Apocalypto" for its inaccuracies.) "It's condescending of Mel to make money at the expense of a living culture," said Fash. "There are six million Mayan speakers out there, and it'd be too bad if Mel insulted an entire civilization and nobody was bothered by it."
Salem reads ‘Charlotte’s Web’
Walden Media has hit on a unique way to hype its latest feature, "Charlotte's Web." The movie production company, which has offices in Boston and LA, is trying to set a Guinness world record today for the "most people reading aloud simultaneously in multiple locations." Who knew? Ostensibly intended to promote the new movie starring Dakota Fanning, organizers also hope the read-athon will introduce the E.B. White classic to new fans. We're told Salem's taking the event quite seriously, with Mayor Kimberly Driscoll calling on the entire town to participate in today's attempt.
Choice nods for DiCaprio, ‘Departed’
There could be a strong Boston accent at the Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 12 when undercover cop Leonardo DiCaprio from "The Departed" goes against DiCaprio the drug smuggler in "Blood Diamond." Representing 200 television, radio, and online critics, the Broadcast Film Critics Association bills itself as the largest such organization in North America. In recent years, trade publications noted yesterday, the association's choices have become a harbinger of what will happen when the Oscar nominations are announced next month. The broadcast film critics gave seven nods to the Boston-set thriller "The Departed," including ones for best picture , Boston-based screenwriter William Monahan, Jack Nicholson in the supporting actor category, and Martin Scorsese for his direction . Other films receiving seven nominations include "Babel," "Little Miss Sunshine," and "Dreamgirls." Belmont author Tom Perrotta and director Todd Field are nominated for their screenplay of Perrotta's bestseller "Little Children." And Ben Affleck is nominated in the supporting actor category for his portrayal of TV Superman George Reeves in "Hollywoodland."
Tipper Gore was in town yesterday to launch her fine art photography collection that will be sold exclusively through Mitchell Gold stores. A portion of the proceeds are going to The Climate Project, founded by Tipper and Al Gore. Before heading to a kickoff event at Mitchell Gold's Back Bay store, Tipper stopped into Avanti so stylist Patrice Vinci could tend to her tresses.
Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown lead his teammates and other athletes through several games of bingo at Gillette Stadium on Monday night to raise money for Children's Hospital Boston and Celebrities for Charity Foundation. . . . After having dinner at Anthony's Pier 4 on Monday night, actress Victoria Rowell was waiting for her hired car to take her over to Logan. But when co-owner Anthony Athanas Jr. spotted the stunning actress and activist waiting, he drove Rowell to the airport himself. . . . West Newbury's Peter Guralnick and Newton-based writer Frank-John Hadley will receive "Keeping the Blues Alive" awards from the Blues Foundation. The two are among 21 individuals and groups being recognized by the nonprofit Blues Foundation. Guralnick, author of a highly acclaimed bio of Elvis Presley, was chosen by the Memphis-based organization as its honoree in the literature category. Hadley, who has written about blues and jazz for several publications, will be honored at the February ceremony in the journalism category.
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