TVSquad

I've always had a bizarre fascination with the politics of war, So I was a bit embarrassed when reading about HBO's Into the Storm, premiering this Sunday at 8 pm Eastern, to find that it was a sequel to a 2002 HBO film. I tracked down The Gathering Storm and started watching it yesterday and was blown away by how perfectly Albert Finney captured Winston Churchill. I love Vanessa Redgrave as his oh so patient wife. It's just a fantastic film looking at the state of England and Churchill leading into World War II.

Now I'm ready for this long-delayed continuation, as we see Churchill from the heights of power during WWII to his waning years. But I'm not sure how difficult a transition it's going to be with these key roles recast. It's no knock against Brendan Gleeson (Winston Churchill) or Janet McTeer (Clemmie Churchill). I've just so fallen in love with Finney and Redgrave in those roles, I worry that I'll be comparing their performances rather than enjoying the film.

We all have tremendous respect for you, Frost/Nixon writer Peter Morgan (yes, that is what I call him when we're hanging out drinking espressos and doing the crosswords), but do you really think the Clinton story America is just dying to see dramatized is the relationship between former president Bill and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair? Unless "The Special Relationship," as they're calling it, involves a special blue suit Mr. Blair kept for no explainable reason without cleaning it, I think there's better Clinton dramatics to be had.

Even if you don't go with the most sensational stories, there is a certain historic Presidential campaign. Hell, tell both stories from her perspective, that should be fun. Casting, should HBO greenlight the film, has Dennis Quaid playing Bill, Julianne Moore taking on the current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Michael Sheen (who played Frost in the aforementioned Frost/Nixon) playing Tony Blair. This would be his third film appearance as Blair, which makes you wonder if more people think Blair looks like Sheen than Blair.

In what may be the biggest foray of an entertainer into politics since Governor Schwarzenegger and President Reagan, William Shatner is eyeing the office of Canada's Prime Minister. The odds are that this idea he put forth in a letter will never gestate into truth, but wouldn't it be cool if it did? Canada would be led by Captain Kirk. Talk about major bragging rights. I know I'd be jealous.

I love that he declined the role of Governor General in Canada because he feels he'd be a better Prime Minister. It's typical Shatner to only want the top spot. That's what made him such an iconic starship captain.

Seriously, it's not a bad idea. Boston Legal is done. Chris Pine is taking over the role that made him famous. Priceline.com can only film so many commercials. The man has a lot of spare time on his hands. I say go for it.

Christopher Guest has agreed to direct the pilot for The Thick of It, a comedy being created for ABC by Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz. The show is being adapted for an American audience from the popular British comedy by the same name. In Britain, it was about a member of Parliament who had to deal with inept politicians, a prime minister and other silly minions. I can only guess that the American version will take place in Congress?

According to his IMDB bio, Guest hasn't done much directing for television lately. He seems to stick to the "mockumentary" (he hates that word) movie genre that's heavy on improv, such as Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman.