Maybe red is not the color to have in your movie’s title. “Red Tails,” maybe one of the worst movies ever made, had a strong weekend start after mobilizing its core audience. But on Tuesday, when all the other films in the top 10 went up at the box office, “Red Tails” took a downward spiral. The next few days will determine if the audience is saturated. Word of mouth has to be bad. Meanwhile, at Sundance, Spike Lee’s “Red Hook Summer” was pretty much of a bust. Apparently they should have filmed the Q&A and forgotten the movie. I don’t know what went wrong. Lee has made some wonderful films like “Do the Right the Thing,” “Crooklyn,” “Clockers,” and “Inside Man.” But “Red Hook Summer” — which has an unpleasant secret at the end–was met with great resistanance at Sundance. And then there’s the remake of “Red Dawn.” Remember this? When Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise’s kid, Conor, got a small role in the “Red Dawn,” he was like 14, Now he’s 16, almost 17. The film has a tentative release date of November 2012. I gather the problem is no one who made the film can decide on who the “Reds” are–Chinese, Koreans, Helen Mirren, or Mark Rothko. It’s hard to imagine China invading the US at this point–for what purpose? They make the IPads there, for goodness sake. There must be an app for that. Maybe the Koreans can invade Red Hook using CGI planes. Lesson: red is not the color for 2012.
Tilda Swinton’s Artist Boyfriend Debuts A List Skype Portraits
Former Oscar winner–but not current Oscar nominee Tilda Swinton--is just about one of our most favorite people. Last night she hosted artist boyfriend Sandro Kopp’s first American photo exhibition at the Lehmann Maupin Gallery on Chrystie Street– and it was pretty cool. I’m glad Peggy Siegal scooped us up from an early dinner at Bobby Vans in midtown–after being wowed by a knockout matinee of Audra MacDonald and Norm Lewis in “Porgy and Bess.” “Let’s see what this guy has done,” Peggy said. And away we went, where no less than another Oscar winner, Frances McDormand, and a rock star, Michael Stipe, were already enjoying the Skype manipulated photographs of a mixture of stars and others–including “Chicago” actor John C. Reilly and a large portrait of Tilda, taken while she was sleeping in front of her computer. The pictures are very clever. Fran’s portrait is comic and a little distorted. “All I know is, there was a bottle of wine involved,” declared the forthright Ms. McDormand. Michael Stipe told me that he’s essentially “retired” and figuring out the future. “My band disbanded,” he said of the legendary REM, as if we didn’t know. Kudos to Kopp for a job well done. And Tilda? Not unhappy about not being nominated for Best Actress for “We Need to Talk about Kevin.” “The fact that people are still talking about the film is great. I get to home to Scotland and not worry about it.” She has an Oscar for “Michael Clayton,” by the way.
Ken Starr, Jailed Money Manager: The Original Stories
Here are just a few links to the exclusive stories I broke about Ken Starr, the money manager who swindled his celebrity clients. CNBC and its producers have a lot of nerve–their “American Greed” story on Wednesday night about Starr wouldn’t have been possible without this reporting. It’s funny, too: I remember when Starr was arrested, I called Jane Stanton Hitchcock, whose mother had been ripped off by Starr. Hitchcock refused to get involved in the story. Her case had already been settled with Starr, she’d had restitution, she said, and had turned the case over to the Feds. Her brother, Tim, helped me a lot in the reporting. (He seemed to be absent from the CNBC piece.) What a joke. In the CNBC piece, she’s Jessica Fletcher out to uncover a mystery. And I loved it when it was mentioned casually by one of the talking heads about Starr’s wives, and the money paid out to his wife number 3, and how wife number 4 Diane Passage discovered so much about her marriage and her husband’s prior divorce. I was sitting in her living room when we read the papers together. I published the information in this column. Here are some links. What can you do? And if only CNBC knew who some of the people were who were really ripped off by Starr. But those secrets I agreed to keep a long time ago. Good sleuthing, CNBC.
http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/05/29/lois-lane-settlement-hollywood-money-manager-arrest-scandal
http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/05/31/starr-gave-no-hint-of-trouble-to-clients-day-before-arrest
http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/10/08/how-ken-starrs-wife-learned-she-was-number-4-not-number-3
http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/07/22/ken-starr-jailed-hollywood-money-manager-hidden-treasures
http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/12/16/lawyer-for-ken-starr-hollywood-money-manager-indicted-by-feds
http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/07/05/ken-starr-jailed-celeb-money-manager-gave-ex-wife-750k-a-year
http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/06/11/ken-starr-case-goes-to-59-mil-with-new-hollywood-victims
http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/07/28/ken-starrs-teen-daughters-sneaked-into-bail-hearing-exclusive
Elton John Will Foster the People, Plus Psychics Are Making Oscar Predictions
Elton John‘s annual amazing AIDS Foundation dinner for the Oscars has chosen a special guest rock group to perform for its patrons: Foster the People. That’s show no one wants to miss, believe me. I’m sure Elton will join them on a couple of numbers. The Elton John party is also moving from its tent at the Pacific Design Center across San Vincente Boulevard into a new park and tent — it’s supposed to be quite the structure. Viva Elton John AIDS Foundation. …
…Are stars consulting psychics about Oscar possibilities? If they’re not the publicists probably are. Taking off like a rocket this week is www.oranum.com where live psychics are available 24/7. Boy the internet has changed everything from the days of Dionne Warwick pitching her psychic network on infomercials…With the way things are going, I may try out this service. You never know. I am assured, however, there is no gambling involved. But I’d love to know what the psychics think is going to happen to Don Draper…
Demi Moore Rushed to Rehab, in the Nick of Time
Reports come from TMZ tonight that Demi Moore was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital for substance abuse. She’s likely on her way to rehab. Usually I don’t report on this sort of private matter. But I like Demi a lot. However, when I saw her last week in Los Angeles at a party, we had a long talk. Her appearance and demeanor worried me. She was painfully thin, and wobbly. She had trouble staying focused. No one likes to write about this stuff, or to confront the people in question. I certainly don’t. But I’m relieved to hear that she’s in good hands now. Recently, Demi told an interviewer–I’m paraphrasing–that she didn’t think she could be loved. Imagine that, a woman admired by so many strangers, and yet terribly alone. She told me that night she was looking to make an action adventure movie. I was shocked. She looked like a twig that might break in half. The fact is, Demi Moore — despite her antics with Ashton Kutcher, etc in the tabloids- can be a damn fine actress. She was wonderfully brittle in “Bobby.” In “Another Happy Day,” which came out this last year, she captured the sadness and resilience of a second wife who’d done a great job as a stepmother but got no credit. We can only wish her well, and convey positive thoughts and good vibes for a speedy recovery.
No “Shame” for Oscars, or Hoover, Reitman, Drive, Tattoo or Tintin
The Oscar nominations are in, and there are lots of movies and actors who got left out. Steve McQueen’s “Shame” was totally snubbed, along with actors Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan. Too much sex? The Academy rejected full frontal nudity, that’s for sure. A fascinating film, but depressing–and now set to become a video hit only. Clint Eastwood’s “J Edgar” never caught on at the box office, and now the actors–Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer–are out in the cold as well. “J Edgar” was very well made, but the point of the story was lost–it was not a love story that people wanted to see, but the saga of Hoover’s abuse of power.
Also gone are “Drive”–with Albert Brooks and Ryan Gosling’s terrific work, plus Jason Reitman’s “Young Adult”–simply released at the wrong time. It should have gone to Sundance and worked the festivals. Too edgy for Christmas. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” produced only love for Rooney Mara. And the big shock–that the Academy didn’t want Steven Spielberg’s “Tintin” at all, and chose obscure animated films instead. Wow. Plus, only two nominations for Best Song–that’s going to be a short segment–the songs from “The Help” and “Gnomeo and Juliet” didn’t register at all.
Some congrats–in documentaries to Joe Berlinger’s “Paradise Lost 3” and to Wim Wender’s “Pina.” And in costumes, it’s nice that “Anonymous” got a nod. Even if the movie was loony, it looked great.
Oscar Noms! Artist, Descendants In-Snubs: Clint, Leo, Tintin, Albert Brooks
Best Picture nominees: The Artist, The Help, The Descendants, War Horse, Moneyball, Midnight in Paris, Tree of Life, Hugo, and the big surprise–Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Not nominated: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or Bridesmaids. Other big shocks–Albert Brooks was not nominated for “Drive,” which is s a shame in the Best Supporting Actor category. His spot went to Max von Sydow in “Extremely.” Another big shock — “Tintin” was not nominated for Best Animated Feature. This is actually shocking. Leonardo DiCaprio was not nominated for “J Edgar” in Best Actor–his spot went to Damien Bachir in “A Better Place.” The other actor nominees were George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Jean DuJardin, and Gary Oldman for “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.” The latter film did much better than anyone could have guessed. Best Director went to Michel Hazanavicius, Alexander Payne, Woody Allen, Terrence Malick, and Martin Scorsese. In the end their five films–The Artist, The Descendants, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, and The Help–become the real contestants. No surprises in Best Actress with Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara, and Glenn Close all expected. In Supporting Actress, the only shock was Melissa McCarthy for “Bridesmaids.” Otherwise, Berenice Bejo, Janet McTeer, Octavia Spencer, and Jessica Chastain.
In the end, it’s the movies with the most acting nominations that carry the day. The only exception in this case will be Meryl Streep, for “The Iron Lady.”
Nominees for the 84th Academy Awards
Actor in a Leading Role
Demián Bichir in “A Better Life”
George Clooney in “The Descendants”
Jean Dujardin in “The Artist”
Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”
Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn”
Jonah Hill in “Moneyball”
Nick Nolte in “Warrior”
Christopher Plummer in “Beginners”
Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Actress in a Leading Role
Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis in “The Help”
Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady”
Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn”
Actress in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain in “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer in “The Help”
Animated Feature Film
“A Cat in Paris” Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
“Chico & Rita” Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
“Kung Fu Panda 2” Jennifer Yuh Nelson
“Puss in Boots” Chris Miller
“Rango” Gore Verbinski
Art Direction
“The Artist”
Production Design: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
“Hugo”
Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
“Midnight in Paris”
Production Design: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
“War Horse”
Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
Cinematography
“The Artist” Guillaume Schiffman
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Jeff Cronenweth
“Hugo” Robert Richardson
“The Tree of Life” Emmanuel Lubezki
“War Horse” Janusz Kaminski
Costume Design
“Anonymous” Lisy Christl
“The Artist” Mark Bridges
“Hugo” Sandy Powell
“Jane Eyre” Michael O’Connor
“W.E.” Arianne Phillips
Directing
“The Artist” Michel Hazanavicius
“The Descendants” Alexander Payne
“Hugo” Martin Scorsese
“Midnight in Paris” Woody Allen
“The Tree of Life” Terrence Malick
Documentary (Feature)
“Hell and Back Again”
Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
“If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front”
Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
“Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”
Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
“Pina”
Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
“Undefeated”
TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas
Documentary (Short Subject)
“The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement”
Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
“God Is the Bigger Elvis”
Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
“Incident in New Baghdad”
James Spione
“Saving Face”
Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
“The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”
Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen
Film Editing
“The Artist” Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
“The Descendants” Kevin Tent
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
“Hugo” Thelma Schoonmaker
“Moneyball” Christopher Tellefsen
Foreign Language Film
“Bullhead” Belgium
“Footnote” Israel
“In Darkness” Poland
“Monsieur Lazhar” Canada
“A Separation” Iran
Makeup
“Albert Nobbs”
Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
“The Iron Lady”
Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland
Music (Original Score)
“The Adventures of Tintin” John Williams
“The Artist” Ludovic Bource
“Hugo” Howard Shore
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Alberto Iglesias
“War Horse” John Williams
Music (Original Song)
“Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
“Real in Rio” from “Rio” Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett
Best Picture
“The Artist” Thomas Langmann, Producer
“The Descendants” Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” Scott Rudin, Producer
“The Help” Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
“Hugo” Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
“Midnight in Paris” Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
“Moneyball” Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
“The Tree of Life” Nominees to be determined
“War Horse” Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
Short Film (Animated)
“Dimanche/Sunday” Patrick Doyon
“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
“La Luna” Enrico Casarosa
“A Morning Stroll” Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
“Wild Life” Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby
Short Film (Live Action)
“Pentecost” Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
“Raju” Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
“The Shore” Terry George and Oorlagh George
“Time Freak” Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
“Tuba Atlantic” Hallvar Witzø
Sound Editing
“Drive” Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Ren Klyce
“Hugo” Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
“War Horse” Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom
Sound Mixing
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
“Hugo”
Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
“Moneyball”
Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
“War Horse”
Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson
Visual Effects
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
“Hugo”
Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
“Real Steel”
Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
“The Descendants” Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
“Hugo” Screenplay by John Logan
“The Ides of March” Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
“Moneyball” Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan
Writing (Original Screenplay)
“The Artist” Written by Michel Hazanavicius
“Bridesmaids” Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
“Margin Call” Written by J.C. Chandor
“Midnight in Paris” Written by Woody Allen
“A Separation” Written by Asghar Farhadi
Bingham Ray, Champion of Independent Film, Dies at 57
This is heartbreaking. Bingham Ray, one of the nice guys, a champion of independent film, died today at age 57. He suffered two strokes at Sundance. Bingham guided dozens of indie hits at various studios including his October Films in the 1990s. He worked with the Sundance Institute and the San Francisco Film Society most recently. He also ran United Artists in 2001. To say Bingham was a beloved figure is an understatement. He stood for everything that was good and decent in quality films. It was not an easy task. Big studio chiefs live in mansions in Beverly Hills, have drivers and Rolls Royces. People like Bingham help get made the movies people love and swear by. He will be sorely missed and not forgotten.
The Sundance Institute Issues the following statement:
“It is with great sadness that the Sundance Institute acknowledges the passing of Bingham Ray, cherished independent film executive and most recently Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society. On behalf of the independent film community here in Park City for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and elsewhere, we offer our support and condolences to his family. Bingham’s many contributions to this community and business are indelible, and his legacy will not be soon forgotten. “
Why Sundance 2012 is A Fizzle by All Accounts
I was sorry to miss this year’s Sundance Film Festival–my first absence in eons. But from all reports it’s kind of a fizzle, with most of the films not working out they were expected. So far sources tell me “Abritrage,” Nick Jarecki’s film with Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon has done well. It will probably be the only big studio purchase, based on its names and production values. “Robot and Frank” with Frank Langella is said to be charming but no blockbuster. Joe Berlinger’s “Under African Skies,” about Paul Simon‘s “Graceland” reunion, has nice reviews.
But by and large, this year’s festival seems like it was overstuffed with documentaries and very low on films with any potential sizzle. A Bradley Cooper movie sold to CBS Films. (No one is sure what CBS Films is; they bought a Lasse Hallstrom movie last year that’s never come out.)
The big news from Sundance after the first four crucial days? Tracy Morgan was hospitalized for altitude sickness-not attitude. The very popular and lovely exec Bingham Ray apparently is in another hospital with a stroke. (We are sending you best wishes.) The police shut down a private party hosted by WME.
But otherwise, the main players–Weinstein, Fox Searchlight, Sony Pictures Classics, and Paramount –have been silent. Sundance runs in cycles, so this year may be the low trend. It was bound to happen. Meanwhile, I keep getting endless emails from publicists about parties and gift lounges totally removed from the film festival itself. This has been the problem for years. You know things are bad when blogs are reporting that there are parties to watch the Giants game. Paris Hilton has arrived, which means the film festival is over.
So many films didn’t make Sundance this year–like Terry George‘s very funny Irish comedy, and Larry Kasdan’s comedy with Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline. “Greetings from Tim Buckley” with Penn Badgley also didn’t make it. Paramount should have held “Young Adult” for Sundance, too. Still unscreened is Helen Hunt having sex with a guy (John Hawkes) who’s attached to a dialysis machine. But films featuring Bruce Willis and a few other minor stars are getting panned left and right in the trades. Catherine Zeta Jones failed to make the trip at all.
Today a lot of press will decamp back to L.A. for tomorrow’s Oscar nominations.
I love Sundance. Despite the snow, the $12 cab rides, the art gallery paintings of bears chomping on fish–it’s a great town. The volunteers are the nicest people. But Sundance 2012 doesn’t sound like it’s working out. Really, another Neil Young documentary by Jonathan Demme? Rust doesn’t sleep apparently.
You can’t point fingers. No one is to blame. I heard some good things about Josh Radnor’s “Liberal Arts,” which sounds like it could be this year’s “Garden State.” But without a breakout hit by Monday, Sundance 2012 may be best remembered for Spike Lee’s meltdown and dinner at the Wahso restaurant than anything else.
Spike Lee Premiere Causes Ruckus at Sundance
Spike Lee premiered his “Red Hook Summer” at Sundance on Sunday night and things got a little raucus. Maybe because the Giants were playing San Francisco, Variety reviewer Peter DeBruge reported that the Eccles Theater was 2/3 empty. More Tweets from the audience suggest that “Red Hook” is undercooked, with plot holes galore and a “surprise” ending that doesn’t make sense. There are also many references back to Lee’s seminal film, “Do The Right Thing.” At the Q&A following the screening, Lee wore a Giants jersey, jokingly ordered all Boston fans out of the house. He also ranted about Universal Pictures never having made the sequel to his “Inside Man.” On spy emailed me, “Can’t take another minute of the Spike Lee film.” Oh well. By the time “Red Hook” is tinkered with, it will no doubt be fine. But the auteur knows how to get attention. LA Times reporter Steve Zeitchik tweeted that Spike also ranted, “No one in Hollywood knows anything about black people!” And that, says Zeitchik, was in response to a question from Chris Rock in the audience. All in all, the movie is described as “confusing and polarizing.” Which could also mean “great.”