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Mitch Albom Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Kevin Smith Will 'Hit Somebody' With Mitch Albom

Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Independent », Music & Musicals », Sports », Scripts », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand »

A hockey movie from Kevin Smith seems like the most natural thing in the world -- so natural, in fact, that this news seems like a nonevent. What is surprising is the source material and writing partner Smith is employing, as he's teaming up with Mitch Albom to film an adaptation of Warren Zevon's song Hit Somebody. If you're a hockey fan, you know the bittersweet song about a Canadian farmboy who desperately wants to play hockey, but is good for nothing but fighting. I've embedded it below so you can check it out and follow along with Smith's ideas.

The film will be set in the 1970s in the final days of old-time hockey, the World Hockey Association, and blood-splattered ice. "The song's been one of my favorites since I heard it and I've always seen this whole movie behind," Smith told MTV News. I got in touch with Mitch because Warren Zevon has passed on and we started talking about it and he was into it and into what I was kind of pitching." While the story will have some comedy, Smith is styling it to be one of his most serious films yet. "I never once thought about winning awards or anything, but that movie I think can do it. If I play my cards right and we get the right people in it, it could be an award-type movie."

He's aiming to start filming in 2010 or 2011, naming it as the "the one I really want to do in a big, bad way." Perhaps this film is that "something else" he was hinting at. I think Smith could really get under the skin of a broken down hockey player, and if there's one person who can rescue the sport from being condemned to Slapshot remakes, it would be him.

Adam Sandler's Co. Buys Mitch Albom Baseball Pitch

Filed under: Comedy », Sports », Sony »

Columnist turned author Mitch Albom is about to add another title to his resumé: that of screenwriter. (OK, he adapted a few of his books for television but I'm talking about screenwriting) According to Variety, Adam Sandler's Happy Madison shingle has bought a baseball-related pitch from the author ... and yes, the project is being set up by Sony as a vehicle for Mr. Sandler. Because he hasn't done enough sports comedies yet. (Nothing against Sandler, but he hasn't made a funny movie since The Wedding Singer, if it's me you're asking.)

Described as a "comedy with emotional elements set in the world of baseball," the as-yet-untitled film will mark the very first collaboration between the author of The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Tuesdays with Morrie and the star of Big Daddy, Little Nicky and Anger Management. Can't wait for those "emotional elements." If Click taught us anything, it's that Sandler and "emotional elements" are a really effective combination. For torture.

So let's take some bets: Who thinks the movie will be about an aging bench-player who gets one last shot at stardom? Or maybe it's about a harried dad who begrudgingly takes a job as his son's little league coach ... only to learn several valuable lessons. Oh, I know! A selfish superstar gets bopped on the head during batting practice and starts being really nice to everyone. Sandler + Albom + Baseball = This stuff writes itself.
 
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