Having seen the preview for “The Man” at least seven times, I have to say that the news that it is going to be shown to Katrina refugees at the Astrodome hurts me inside. Dateline Hollywood, which Ben Fritz of Spinsanity fame co-edits, gets it right in a very funny satire:

ASTRODOME REFUGEES ENDURE SCREENING OF “THE MAN”
FEMA blames local authorities for airing of buddy comedy

Houston — Hurricane refugees staying at the Houston Astrodome said they had reached the limits of their tolerance for tragedy Friday when New Line Cinema arranged for a special benefit screening of new buddy comedy “The Man.”

Tens of thousands lined up outside the Astrodome begging for earplugs, blindfolds, or buses to take them away from the trauma. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff blamed the screening on local disaster management authorities, while Houston and Texas officials said the federal government is responsible for the selection of entertainment in FEMA-declared emergency zones.

Many critics have noted that authorities had several days of advance warning to prepare for the arrival of “The Man,” a buddy comedy starring Samuel L. Jackson and Eugene Levy that received 84% negative reviews according to RottenTomatoes.com. Producer Robert N. Fried first warned that he was preparing a showing at the Astrodome on September 7 at the film’s premiere.

But whether due to bureaucratic bungling or simple lack of compassion for refugees at the stadium, authorities were unable to stop “The Man” or provide those in attendance with basic supplies to ride out the 83-minute screening.