Big Valley Comes To Big Screen – HSX

Another really strong day yesterday has me 30 spots away from cracking the top 9,000.  Meanwhile, the ads all over HSX still say that Cantor Exchange, where players get to use real money to pick movie stocks, is due out of beta April 20.

Another clean sweep through the Learn and Earn questions although I debated on the last question.  I hadn’t seen Arachnophobia so when asked for John Goodman’s profession in the film, I was torn between mayor and exterminator.  I picked bug man for the win.  I was less lucky with the Box Office Battle, only getting 3 correct, although I did nail the Jar-Jar Binks influence driving Star Wars: Attack of the Clones box office draw lower than Fellowship of the Ring.

From yesterday’s results, Oliver Stone’s South of the Border, a documentary about Hugo Chavez, got crushed 13% in its IPO so I dump out of the position with the release date fast approaching.  Criminal Empire for Dummies with a strong cast also dipped on its IPO, but only 3%, so I’m going to hold half my opening position until we know more.

Checking my options, I’m pleased to see that Chris Columbus’ The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy continues falling.   I think it would be a fine film to watch, but it won’t do big box office because too many Americans don’t fully understand JFK, much less his brother.  There’s no cast and no distribution so I swap out the short for some cash and short it again at $8.06.

I’ve also been following Standing Ovation down the tubes since its IPO.  I had hoped it would have fallen lower than $1.47, but I’m bored with it and not into penny stocks so I’m swapping that one out too.  The two sentences about this tweener pop-rock film due in July are more press than I’ve already seen it get from the mainstream.  I dump the position, but I’m just cashing out.

I also cash out Hong Kong flick Vengeance, which didn’t fall as much as I expected, but at least covered commissions.

There are 5 IPOs today.  I’m intrigued by a film adaptation of the old television show The Big Valley.  This one has Susan Sarandon, Billy Bob Thornton and Ryan Phillippe, and I think it’s worth a flier at $16.  I blow past a documentary called Exit Through The Gift Shop and some horrible looking piece of faux Victorian horror with Jason Patric called The Black Waters of Echo’s Pond.

One IPO intrigues me.  Albert Nobbs is a period piece set in 19th century Ireland and seems roughly the plot of Boys Don’t Cry.  A cinematographer and inexperienced director who has worked on multiple HBO dramas is helming the show, which includes Glenn Close, Orlando Bloom, Amanda Seyfried and Michael Gambon.  I have to go with this one, even at $15.

Finally, Dustin Hoffman gets to adapt the play Quartet for the big screen.  This cast is also strong with Hoffman directing Maggie Smith and Albert Finney.  Quartet is a film I want to see, but not own in Hollywood Stock Exchange so I pass it by.