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BAFTA British Academy Nominations: All White Performers, and Margot Robbie Gets 2 Supporting Actress Nods

Roger Friedman
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BAFTA British Academy Nominations: All White Performers, and Margot Robbie Gets 2 Supporting Actress Nods

The British Academy of Film and TV announced their nominees for BAFTA. Notable exceptions include not one black person, not even their very own Cynthia Erivo as “Harriet.” That’s pretty awful. Erivo is a likely Oscar nominee. But Margot Robbie got two best supporting actress nominations, for “Bombshell” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”

BEST FILM
1917 Pippa Harris, Callum McDougall, Sam Mendes, Jayne-Ann Tenggren
THE IRISHMAN Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Martin Scorsese, Emma Tillinger Koskoff
JOKER Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips, Emma Tillinger Koskoff
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD David Heyman, Shannon McIntosh, Quentin Tarantino
PARASITE Bong Joon-ho, Kwak Sin-ae

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
1917 Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Callum McDougall, Jayne-Ann Tenggren, Krysty Wilson-Cairns
BAIT Mark Jenkin, Kate Byers, Linn Waite
FOR SAMA Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
ROCKETMAN Dexter Fletcher, Adam Bohling, David Furnish, David Reid, Matthew Vaughn, Lee Hall

SORRY WE MISSED YOU Ken Loach, Rebecca O’Brien, Paul Laverty
THE TWO POPES Fernando Meirelles, Jonathan Eirich, Dan Lin, Tracey Seaward, Anthony McCarten

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
BAIT Mark Jenkin (Writer/Director), Kate Byers, Linn Waite (Producers)
FOR SAMA Waad al-Kateab (Director/Producer), Edward Watts (Director)
MAIDEN Alex Holmes (Director)
ONLY YOU Harry Wootliff (Writer/Director)
RETABLO Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio (Writer/Director)*

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
THE FAREWELL Lulu Wang, Daniele Melia
FOR SAMA Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
PAIN AND GLORY Pedro Almodóvar, Agustín Almodóvar
PARASITE Bong Joon-ho
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE Céline Sciamma, Bénédicte Couvreur

DOCUMENTARY
AMERICAN FACTORY Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert
APOLLO 11 Todd Douglas Miller
DIEGO MARADONA Asif Kapadia
FOR SAMA Waad al-Kateab, Edward Watts
THE GREAT HACK Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim

ANIMATED FILM
FROZEN 2 Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Peter Del Vecho
KLAUS Sergio Pablos, Jinko Gotoh
A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON Will Becher, Richard Phelan, Paul Kewley
TOY STORY 4 Josh Cooley, Mark Nielsen

DIRECTOR
1917 Sam Mendes
THE IRISHMAN Martin Scorsese
JOKER Todd Phillips
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD Quentin Tarantino
PARASITE Bong Joon-ho

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
BOOKSMART Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Katie Silberman
KNIVES OUT Rian Johnson
MARRIAGE STORY Noah Baumbach
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD Quentin Tarantino
PARASITE Han Jin Won, Bong Joon-ho,

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
THE IRISHMAN Steven Zaillian
JOJO RABBIT Taika Waititi
JOKER Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
LITTLE WOMEN Greta Gerwig
THE TWO POPES Anthony McCarten

LEADING ACTRESS
JESSIE BUCKLEY Wild Rose
SCARLETT JOHANSSON Marriage Story
SAOIRSE RONAN Little Women
CHARLIZE THERON Bombshell
RENÉE ZELLWEGER Judy

LEADING ACTOR
LEONARDO DICAPRIO Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
ADAM DRIVER Marriage Story
TARON EGERTON Rocketman
JOAQUIN PHOENIX Joker
JONATHAN PRYCE The Two Popes

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
LAURA DERN Marriage Story
SCARLETT JOHANSSON Jojo Rabbit
FLORENCE PUGH Little Women
MARGOT ROBBIE Bombshell
MARGOT ROBBIE Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

SUPPORTING ACTOR
TOM HANKS A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
ANTHONY HOPKINS The Two Popes
AL PACINO The Irishman
JOE PESCI The Irishman
BRAD PITT Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

ORIGINAL SCORE
1917 Thomas Newman
JOJO RABBIT Michael Giacchino
JOKER Hildur Guđnadóttir
LITTLE WOMEN Alexandre Desplat
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER John Williams

CASTING
JOKER Shayna Markowitz
MARRIAGE STORY Douglas Aibel, Francine Maisler
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD Victoria Thomas
THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD Sarah Crowe
THE TWO POPES Nina Gold

CINEMATOGRAPHY
1917 Roger Deakins
THE IRISHMAN Rodrigo Prieto
JOKER Lawrence Sher
LE MANS ’66 Phedon Papamichael
THE LIGHTHOUSE Jarin Blaschke

EDITING
THE IRISHMAN Thelma Schoonmaker
JOJO RABBIT Tom Eagles
JOKER Jeff Groth
(Ford v Ferrari) LE MANS ’66 Andrew Buckland, Michael McCusker
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD Fred Raskin

PRODUCTION DESIGN
1917 Dennis Gassner, Lee Sandales
THE IRISHMAN Bob Shaw, Regina Graves
JOJO RABBIT Ra Vincent, Nora Sopková
JOKER Mark Friedberg, Kris Moran
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD Barbara Ling, Nancy Haigh

COSTUME DESIGN
THE IRISHMAN Christopher Peterson, Sandy Powell
JOJO RABBIT Mayes C. Rubeo
JUDY Jany Temime
LITTLE WOMEN Jacqueline Durran
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD Arianne Phillips

MAKE UP & HAIR
1917 Naomi Donne
BOMBSHELL Vivian Baker, Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan
JOKER Kay Georgiou, Nicki Ledermann
JUDY Jeremy Woodhead
ROCKETMAN Lizzie Yianni Georgiou

SOUND
1917 Scott Millan, Oliver Tarney, Rachael Tate, Mark Taylor, Stuart Wilson
JOKER Tod Maitland, Alan Robert Murray, Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic
LE MANS ’66 David Giammarco, Paul Massey, Steven A. Morrow, Donald Sylvester
ROCKETMAN Matthew Collinge, John Hayes, Mike Prestwood Smith, Danny Sheehan
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER David Acord, Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio, Stuart Wilson, Matthew Wood

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
1917 Greg Butler, Guillaume Rocheron, Dominic Tuohy
AVENGERS: ENDGAME Dan Deleeuw, Dan Sudick
THE IRISHMAN Leandro Estebecorena, Stephane Grabli, Pablo Helman
THE LION KING Andrew R. Jones, Robert Legato, Elliot Newman, Adam Valdez
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Roger Guyett, Paul Kavanagh, Neal Scanlan, Dominic Tuohy

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
GRANDAD WAS A ROMANTIC. Maryam Mohajer
IN HER BOOTS Kathrin Steinbacher
THE MAGIC BOAT Naaman Azhari, Lilia Laurel

BRITISH SHORT FILM
AZAAR Myriam Raja, Nathanael Baring
GOLDFISH Hector Dockrill, Harri Kamalanathan, Benedict Turnbull, Laura Dockrill
KAMALI Sasha Rainbow, Rosalind Croad
LEARNING TO SKATEBOARD IN A WARZONE (IF YOU’RE A GIRL) Carol Dysinger, Elena Andreicheva
THE TRAP Lena Headey, Anthony Fitzgerald

EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
AWKWAFINA
JACK LOWDEN
KAITLYN DEVER
KELVIN HARRISON JR.
MICHEAL WARD

Globes: How Renee Zellweger Almost Missed Her Award, How Jennifer Aniston, Ellen Degeneres Reacted to the Envelope Opening

Roger Friedman
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Globes: How Renee Zellweger Almost Missed Her Award, How Jennifer Aniston, Ellen Degeneres Reacted to the Envelope Opening

Renee Zellweger almost missed getting her Golden Globe last night for the movie, “Judy.”

During the commercial break before the nominees for Best Actress in a Drama were read, Renee got up from her seat and headed up the main aisle. She paused briefly as she hit the first plateau and we spoke. Then she said, “I have to go to the bathroom!” Stars are human, you know.

Just as she continued her trek up the stairs, two of my colleagues said to me, “Roger, where is she going? Her category is next! Go after her!”

And so I did, following Renee up the stairs. But she had disappeared. The soundboard is right across from the Ladies’ room, so I stopped and said to one of the show’s tech people, “You know, Renee Zellweger is in the bathroom. FYI. You don’t want her to miss her call.” Years ago, Christine Lahti did exactly that.

Suddenly Renee emerged, and was startled to see me again. “Renee,” I said, “your category is next. You have to get back to your seat.” Renee is so polite and well comported, she said, “Oh we have plenty of time It’s best actor right now.” I replied, “No, no, no. You’ve got to get back now!” We pushed our way past a thicket of guests and back down the aisle she went.

A few minutes later, her name was announced. I was still standing at the top of the stairs. So were Jennifer Aniston and Ellen Degeneres. When they called “And the Golden Globe goes to…Renee Zellweger!” Aniston literally jumped for joy. She let out a shriek: “It’s Renee!” By that point the whole room was in an uproar.

My companion for the night, the great New York PR maven Norah Lawlor, was right behind me. She got this shot of Aniston and Degeneres that couldn’t better. Sweet joy for a friend.

 

photo c2020 Norah Lawlor, Lawlor Media Group

Golden Globes Ratings Heading to All-Time Low, Hour-by-Hour Drop off After Ricky Gervais Slices Them Up

Roger Friedman
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Golden Globes Ratings Heading to All-Time Low, Hour-by-Hour Drop off After Ricky Gervais Slices Them Up

Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to have Ricky Gervais slice up the Hollywood Foreign Press last night in his Golden Globes monologue.

By the time Ricky had called the HFPA racists, and declared they didn’t know English, the rating started falling. They seem to have been the lowest ever for the Globes on NBC.

The show came out of NFL Football with 26 million in the audience. But in 9 o’clock hour it fell to 17 million, then 14 million, and ended the night with 12 million people holding on. This means that interest declined rapidly as the show progressed.

A big part of this was awarding movies no one has seen. “1917” is barely playing anywhere so far. But it was the big winner. And when it was obvious the Netflix movies weren’t going to win, viewers tuned out.

Also, there was no attempt made to highlight the year’s box office blockbusters. I hope the Oscars take heed: the viewing audience must see stars and nods to the movies they went to and paid good money for. They must be mixed in with the “art” films. The Emmys make this mistake, too. “NCIS” has 12 million viewers a week, but they’re not even mentioned on the Emmys.

Golden Globes Saved “Green Book” Last Year and Sent it to the Oscars, This Year: “1917” Anointed from Obscurity

Roger Friedman
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Golden Globes Saved “Green Book” Last Year and Sent it to the Oscars, This Year: “1917” Anointed from Obscurity

Even with Ricky Gervais straining to attack the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Golden Globes performed their second annual act of movie rescue last night.

Choosing Sam Mendes’s “1917” as Best Picture, and Mendes as Best Director, completely toppled the apple cart that had been the conventional wisdom so far this season. If you followed the critics groups in the major cities, either “The Irishman” or “Parasite” looked like the ultimate winner. “1917” had no buzz or momentum.

But you may recall, I wrote that Mendes’ amazing “one-take” film about World War I was a masterpiece from the first screening. I was surprised that it wasn’t getting more critics’ attention.

But the same thing happened last year with Peter Farrelly’s “Green Book.” None of the critics groups liked it. Everything was “Roma, Roma, Roma.” Then came the Globes, which resurrected Farrelly’s movie, and the path to the Academy Awards was made clear.

Will it happen again? In past years, the Academy zagged after the Globes zigged. The Globes were not a precursor of anything. Indeed, a better bellwether was the Critics Choice Awards, which will air this Sunday on the CW Network. Those awards will influence final Oscar voting. The Academy Awards nominations come on Monday morning. So hold on to your hats!

The Empire Strikes Back: Studios Sweep Golden Globes from Netflix, Snubbing Their Films and Giving Them 1 Major Award

Roger Friedman
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The Empire Strikes Back: Studios Sweep Golden Globes from Netflix, Snubbing Their Films and Giving Them 1 Major Award

Netflix Movies came to the Golden Globes with the best hand ever: four top notch films that could sweep the show and finally put the streaming platform on a par with the studios. Who could beat The Irishman, Marriage Story, Dolemite, and Two Popes?

Who? Why, the  movie studios, aka the Empire. After taking a beating public relations wise, with everyone declaring streaming will kill the box office, Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros, and Columbia Pictures roared back into prominence. They won all the major awards on the movie side of the Globes giving in only to the beloved Laura Dern of “Marriage Story” as best supporting actress.

Otherwise, it was all about the studios. Universal clinched best picture/drama and director for “1917,” Columbia got best picture/comedy and screenplay and best supporting actor for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Warner Bros. took best actor and best score. The outlier was Best actress, which went to an independent movie company.

Netflix also suffered on the TV side. Best drama and limited dramatic series went to HBO, which came back with a vengeance last night. Their party was super cool, too, despite a weird advance attack from the NY Post.  And Amazon, which didn’t want press at any parties and can’t get arrested on the movie side, won Best TV comedy for the now-completed and never to return “Fleabag.” (That’s another story.)

Netflix won’t take this lying down. Particularly with “The Irishman,” it’s rather stunning that Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece got nothing. It will be interesting to see how they regroup. Meanwhile, Oscar ballots must be returned by tomorrow at 5pm Pacific time.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
1917 (Universal Pictures)

BEST ACTRESS – DRAMA
Renee Zellweger, Judy (Roadside Attractions)

BEST ACTOR – DRAMA
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker (Warner Bros. Pictures)

BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Sony Pictures)

BEST ACTRESS – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Awkwafina, The Farewell (A24)

BEST ACTOR – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Taron Egerton, Rocketman (Paramount Pictures)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
Brad Pitt, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Sony Pictures)
>
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Joker (Warner Bros. Pictures)

MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM
Chernobyl (HBO)

BEST ACTRESS – MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM
Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon (FX)

BEST DIRECTOR
Sam Mendes, 1917 (Universal Pictures)

BEST ACTRESS TV SERIES – DRAMA
Olivia Colman, The Crown (Netflix)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – SERIES, MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM
Patricia Arquette, The Act (Hulu)

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
I’m Gonna Love Me Again – Rocketman (Paramount Pictures)

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY
Fleabag (Amazon Prime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE
Laura Dern, Marriage Story (Netflix)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Missing Link (United Artists Releasing)

BEST SCREENPLAY
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Sony Pictures)

BEST ACTOR TV SERIES – DRAMA
Brian Cox, Succession (HBO)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Parasite (Neon)

BEST ACTRESS TV SERIES – COMEDY
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag (Amazon Prime)

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Succession (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – SERIES, MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM
Stellan Skarsgård, Chernobyl (HBO)

BEST ACTOR – MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM
Russell Crowe, The Loudest Voice (Showtime)

BEST ACTOR TV SERIES – COMEDY
Ramy Youssef, Ramy (Hulu)

Will the Golden Globes Finally Get Some Respect? The Once Joked About Awards Show Sent “Green Book” to the Oscars Last Year, Can They Do it Again?

Roger Friedman
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Will the Golden Globes Finally Get Some Respect? The Once Joked About Awards Show Sent “Green Book” to the Oscars Last Year, Can They Do it Again?

We’re just hours away from the Golden Globes on NBC. And maybe for the first time, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will get some respect, and not the jokes that have trailed them for years.

Readers of this column know that in past years I was very critical of the Globes, and I wasn’t alone. Past mistakes plagued the HFPA as it seemed the group was easily swayed by gifts and campaigning. They also didn’t seem to care if movies were bad as long as their stars showed up. Hence, Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp getting nods for a terrible film like “The Tourist” didn’t do much for the HFPA’s legacy.

And while some quibble about the categories that the Globes place movies in (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is a comedy by their measure) the Globes seem to have gotten it right this year. The only real complaint I’ve heard is the inclusion of the usually great Cate Blanchett in Best Actress, Comedy for the incoherent “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?”

Of course the Globes — which consist of around 90 voting  members– did have a number of snubs this year. They were not kind to or didn’t get Clint Eastwood’s “Richard Jewell” or Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women.” They also ignored “Just Mercy.” All three are excellent films, but they are also very American stories. And after all, this is the Hollywood Foreign Press.

Even so, the HFPA kept the Korean blockbuster “Parasite” in foreign film only, even as other awards groups have named it best film of the year. This is to their credit, I think. And they also included “The Farewell” as a foreign film, even though the Oscars aren’t since that film was made by an American company.

Tonight the HFPA will have to withstand jokes from their chosen host, Ricky Gervais, who’s gotten into trouble in the past for lampooning the members of the group who hired him. But the HFPA may be impervious to the criticism at this point, since they feel they’ve grown up.

The big question is whether they will be a bellwether for the Oscars. In past seasons, the Academy has veered away from Globes winners and made other choices. But last year the HFPA gave “Green Book” Best Comedy and resurrected its Oscar chances. Peter Farrelly’s movie wound up winning Best Picture. For once the Globes had to be credited with changing the game. They could be doing that again this year.

EXCLUSIVE Daniel Craig’s Life After Bond: His “Knives Out” Character Benoit Blanc Will Get a Sequel and Maybe More

Roger Friedman
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EXCLUSIVE Daniel Craig’s Life After Bond: His “Knives Out” Character Benoit Blanc Will Get a Sequel and Maybe More

Daniel Craig is riding high as we await his final James Bond movie, “No Time to Die.” After five 007 movies, Craig literally has no time to sleep! He and Oscar winning wife Rachel Weisz were the honored guests last night in Hollywood at Lions Gate’s soiree for their Golden Globe nominees including “Bombshell” and “Knives Out.”

So I learned exclusively that “Knives Out” director Rian Johnson– who’s waiting for his marching orders on new “Star Wars” movies– has been commissioned to write a sequel of sorts to his clever, funny “Knives Out.” Johnson will pen a new story for Craig’s charming Southern detective Benoit Blanc. “It will have all new characters and a crime to solve for Benoit Blanc.”

There’s a possibility for even more Benoit Blanc movies starring Craig. That’s pretty cool for Johnson, who seems to have created a whole new franchise. In Benoit Blanc he’s given Craig an Inspector Clouseau, or Hercule Poirot that he could star in for years to come. The best part: Craig could just grow fat in the role, and never have to work out again!

Craig was a little overwhelmed by all the attention he got at the Chateau party, where Don Johnson, Charlize Theron, Alfre Woodard, director Jay Roach and Bangles rock star wife Susanna Hoffs, and tons of other stars were greeted by company president Jon Feltheimer. (Lions Gate is having a very very good year!)

But our James Bond was so suddenly in a crush of well wishers that Weisz, more stunning than ever, declared wisely: “We’re moving.” She did tell me that the couple has been reveling in raising their 18 month old daughter, Gracie, as each of their careers has soared. Rachel’s next movie is none other than “Black Widow,” the much anticipated Scarlett Johansson Marvel movie that should rock the box office.

But I urge  you to check out a Rachel Weisz movie from several years ago that has so much relevance right now: “The Whistleblower.” A sensational film that had a bad release but great reviews. And it couldn’t be more timely.

Elton John, Leonardo Di Caprio, Adam Driver, Taron Egerton Rock Hollywood’s Annual British Afternoon Tea

Roger Friedman
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Elton John, Leonardo Di Caprio, Adam Driver, Taron Egerton Rock Hollywood’s Annual British Afternoon Tea

For three hours yesterday afternoon no one could move in any direction in the main ballroom at the Four Seasons Hotel in West Hollywood. The stars packed the room as if they were the most well dressed sardines for the annual “tea” for BAFTA, the British equivalent of the Academy Awards.

Most of the stars came through the front doors of the ballroom, and walked a short red carpet for photographers and a few photographers. But there was another entrance to the ballroom that meant going through kitchens and avoiding the hoi polloi.  A door opens toward the back of the ballroom, and voila you’re suddenly a surprise guest.

Such as it was for Leonardo DiCaprio, who emerged from nowhere it seemed, followed by Adam Driver. This created an instant logjam of paparazzi who came flying from all corners of the room to get a picture of the “older” star (Leo) and the newer one (Driver). The two men were eventually persuaded to shake hands and even hug, which threw the throng into a frenzy.

Watching all of this from a few feet away I stood with the even newer, younger star, Taron Egerton, who plays Elton John in “Rocketman” and has a Golden Globe nomination to show for it. He chatted with fans and friends and looked on as Di Caprio and Driver

But Di Caprio and Driver had to move it, so to speak, because bigger things were afoot: Elton John was coming. Yes, the Elton John, Sir Elton and his posse which included husband David Furnish and the great lyricist Bernie Taupin, came pouring through the side door as Leo and Adam were whisked away so the Rock Star of Rock Stars could hold court. Among his audience were songwriter Diane Warren and “Pose” star Billy Porter, as well as a series of journalists (including myself) who beamed as they were granted sit downs. You’ve never seen so many smiles cross the faces of cynical weary scribes.

But back to BAFTA, where mixed in among the cucumber sandwiches and scones with clotted cream I ran into the great Mary Kay Place, who’d just received a text that she’d won Best Actress from the National Society of Film Critics for a very small, wonderful film called “Diane.” She was, to say the least, in shock. She’s also won Best Actress from the LA Film Critics, was nominated for a Gotham Award, and is nominated for a Spirit Award. “I can’t believe how people have embraced that movie,” she said. “It literally cost 47 cents to make.” Mary Kay became famous 45 years ago on TV in “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” and she has never stopped delivering beautiful performances both comedic and dramatic. Her hard work has paid off!

As the news spread through the room she was joined by two long time pals who came to celebrate: Karen Allen of “Indiana Jones” fame (among other great films), Caroline Aaron of “Mrs. Maisel,” and Lisa Edelstein (“House,” etc.) I took their picture. Caroline exclaimed: “You don’t know how long we’ve all been friends!” Well, I do now!

And around the ballroom: Jared Harris introduced me to Tobias Menzies, the new Prince Philip of “The Crown,” Florence Pugh– the sensation of “Little Women” took a spin and was absolutely lovely. Laura Dern, the Michelle Obama of this Oscar campaign, pressed the flesh, and then there was also Robert De Niro, Cynthia Erivo, Greta Gerwig, Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher, Alfre Woodard, Antonio Banderas and Pedro Almodovar, Beanie Feldstein, George MacKay from “1917,” and even Zhao Shuzhen, the great Chinese actress from “The Farewell.”

Antonio Banderas has also been given a slew of Best Actor awards from critics groups across the country for his sublime performance in Pedro Almodovar’s “Pain and Glory” told me that “this is the first film that I’ve been getting such reaction from in my long career.  People are telling me it’s truly affecting their lives, the way they think about the lives they’ve lived and will live.”

 

additional reporting by Leah Sydney

 

 

Leonardo Di Caprio, Laura Dern, Ana de Armas, Jacqueline Bisset Among A Listers At Hollywood Gala for Left Field Hit “Parasite”

Roger Friedman
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Leonardo Di Caprio, Laura Dern, Ana de Armas, Jacqueline Bisset Among A Listers At Hollywood Gala for Left Field Hit “Parasite”

The only place to be last night in Hollywood was the always splashy Sunset Towers for an old fashioned soiree honoring Korean director Bong Joon Ho and the stars of his smash hit, “Parasite.”

The get together was hosted by Oscar winning director Guillermo del Toro, who held court and took pictures with Bong, the man everyone wants to meet this weekend. “Parasite” may be the surprise winner of many Golden Globe awards tomorrow night. del Toro’s co-host was Hollywood’s hottest hostess, actress Colleen Camp, who knows the secret of how to put a room of cool cats together.

Colleen’s guests were the top of the A list starting with Leonardo DiCaprio — with his traditional baseball cap clamped to his head for dear life– and including “Marriage Story” star Laura Dern and her director, Noah Baumbach, “Knives Out” director Rian Johnson and his star, Ana de Armas, as well as “Bombshell” director Jay Roach with his rock star wife Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles.

There were also beloved Hollywood stars like Jacqueline Bisset (who doesn’t age, and doesn’t have plastic surgery), and Piper Laurie. 10 time Oscar nominated songwriter Diane Warren (who’s eyeing her 11th nomination  this week) made the scene, as did Ted Danson and his newly minted songwriter wife, Oscar winner (1980) Mary Steenburgen.

Many who chomped down on the Sunset Towers’ fried chicken, caesar salad, and delectable mini burgers had just seen “Parasite” at an earlier screening and were recovering from the trauma of seeing society upended. How did they like the film? “I loved it!” declared Bisset.

At the other end of Sunset Blvd, at the new– and I mean, built yesterday, stunning– Edition Hotel, more stars turned out for “Harriet” star Cynthia Erivo. Cynthia, whom we know as the sensational Tony winning musical star from “The Color Purple” on Broadway, is the “It Girl” of the year. She’s also playing Aretha Franklin in an 8 episode mini series. Erivo has e-rived!

It was certainly a day of spotting stars around town. Over at the Four Seasons  Hotel bar, a common gathering place, none other than Clint Eastwood held court in the center “living room” with the stars of his “Richard Jewell” including Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, and Paul Walter Hauser. Yes, Clint Eastwood, looking spiffy in a suit and tie.”Richard Jewell” — which should be a Best Picture  nominee at the Oscars– was one of the AFI’s top 10 films of the year.

I did ask Clint about all those photos from the holidays of him and Arnold Schwarzenegger skiing. Were they there together, I asked? “Well, he was there and I was there, and we took some pictures,” Clint said. And Clint was skiing? I asked. I mean, he’s almost 90–ninety– years old. He looked at me like I was crazy. “Of course!” he replied. Like D’uh…

Late last night, as all festivities were drawing to a close, we stopped by the eternally hip Chateau Marmont, where “French actor Louis Garrell— sensational in “Little Women”–hosted a table of pals including the shimmering beauty Lily Rose Depp. “She is very young,” Louie said in a heavily accented French, and Lily– daughter of Johnny Depp– immediately stood and shook my hand and introduced herself. She’s been raised very well!

Left on a table at the Chateau’s intimate dining room was a copy of W Magazine (they’re still in print after Conde Nast sold them for peanuts) that had been printed on oversized newsprint and smelled of cheap chemicals. Poor W! The unwieldy size reminded me of the floppy left wing political newspaper that’s a sight joke on “Mrs. Maisel” this season. But ugh, that smell! The new owners of W should look into glossy paper. 

 

additional reporting by Leah Sydney

 

Pop Tart Justin Bieber Releases New Single, “Yummy,” Marketing Plan Begins Rollout for New Album, Tour

Roger Friedman
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Pop Tart Justin Bieber Releases New Single, “Yummy,” Marketing Plan Begins Rollout for New Album, Tour

As if it were a thing of importance, the marketing for Justin Bieber’s 2020 has begun.

And remember, we’re going to war.

Tonight he’s released his first new solo single off his forthcoming new album. The song is called “Yummy,” because that’s the level of introspection that Bieber commands. Is he born to run? Has he seen fire and rain? Is he telling us what’s going on?

No. He’s got Yummy on his mind. And it tastes good.

Bieber has already launched a “docu-series” on You Tube, also. This is preparing us for his album and tour, which is set for the summer. Personally, I cannot wait. (And won’t.)

Justin didn’t just write these songs himself. He had collaborators, only two: Poo Bear, and Leon Hlabathi. Leon was born in South Africa in 2002, yes, 2002, like, yesterday. Bieber is an old man compared to him. Poo Bear is 41 year old Jason Boyd. His Wikipedia bio says “Boyd was born in Connecticut. He moved with his mother to Atlanta at age 9, after a tornado left them homeless.” (Connecticut tornadoes are extremely rare. The Nutmeg State had 3 in 1989, although no one was killed.)

And so this is “Yummy.” As Justin put it profoundly last week. God has him right where he wants him. (Justin, I’d move two feet to the left, because lightning is coming.)

 

 

 

 

 

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