Friday, March 29, 2024

Nirvana Movie: James McAvoy, Scarlett Johansson Still In the Running

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For a few years now there have been rumors that Courtney Love would exec produce a movie about Nirvana. Or at least her life with Kurt Cobain. I saw Courtney last night at Mr. H’s, the lounge in the Soho Mondrian Hotel. She missed the screening of the surprisingly smart satire, “Scream 4,” but made the party.

And another surprise: Courtney looked great. She’s in good shape, fixing up a townhouse in the West Village, making videos underwritten by Prada, and acting a little more serene than usual. Good for her.

I introduced Courtney to “Gossip Girl” star Matthew Settle, and later we wound up chatting with Meryl Streep’s two successful acting daughters, Mamie Gummer and Grace Gummer. Meantime, Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent, strolled through–he’d hosted the screening at the Crosby Street Hotel with “Scream” star David Arquette, who was also in the room and looking as dapper as Fitty. Harvey Weinstein was pleased that “Scream 4” went over so well. (It’s a lot of fun.) “Precious” star Gabby Sidibe held court in the back room.

But back to Courtney: she tells me that the Nirvana film is still a live project, and she still hopes that James McAvoy and Scarlett Johansson will play Kurt and Courtney. David Benioff has a script Courtney likes, apparently. Who will direct and will produce remain the big topics for discussion. I know I want to see this movie!

As for “Scream 4,” it is a scream. Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson went back to the original, and recaptured the wit and satire. Arquette, wife (?) Courtney Cox and Neve Campbell are all back and just fine. Adam Brody has a cameo as a cop, Marley Shelton is very funny also in nitwitted police force, and Hayden Panetierre and Emma Roberts are standouts as are Mary McDonnell, Rory Culkin, and Anthony Andersen. (It’s a well cast film for a horror spoof.)

And yes, the door is left open for Scream 5, 6, and 7. And trust me, they’re coming.

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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