Will Hollywood Change Lineup Because of Recession?

How will the recession affect the films Hollywood chooses to tell in the coming months? The Hollywood Reporter says a number of film projects in both the indie and studio worlds are gearing up to capitalize on tales of economic woe. "Ugly Betty" has added a recession storyline, Fox has restarted rumors about a "Wall Street" sequel and Baz Lurhmann is moving forward with the tale of "The Great Gatsby." But Los Angeles Times blogger Patrick Goldstein is more skeptical about the cultural commentary, noting that it's difficult for movie studios to react to current events because of how long a film takes to prepare and release. Goldstein says he "won't be surprised" if studios begin greenlighting feel-good stories while times are tough, but adds that "trying to second-guess moviegoer tastes is like trying to time the stock market. Both the movies and the market are driven by irrational forces beyond anyone's control."