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Box Office: “Joker” Prevails at Number 1, Angelina’s “Maleficient” Hangs Tough, Springsteen Doc Popular with His Fans

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Joker” Prevails at Number 1, Angelina’s “Maleficient” Hangs Tough, Springsteen Doc Popular with His Fans

Friday box office:

Bruce Springsteen’s “Western Stars,” is popular with his fans but maybe even they are waiting for a Netflix showing. In 535 theaters on Friday night, “Western Stars” made $185,000. That’s just $345 per screen. In New York and New Jersey, where Bruce’s fan base lives, Fandango didn’t show much in the way of reservations. Maybe there was a big walk up audience at the last minute. After this weekend, “Western Stars” will likely find a better home on streaming services and DVD.

Meanwhile, “Joker” continues to get the last laugh. Still number 1 after 22 days, Todd Phillips’s exegesis on loneliness and violence has racked up $755 million around the world. Joaquin Phoenix will get his Best Actor nomination and life is sweet on the steps of the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. Warner Bros. can celebrate a huge win to offset some other disappointments.

Number 2 is “Malificent,” which you and I will never see. But through last night Angelina Jolie has brought Disney $51 million US and another $118 million internationally. The party isn’t over yet, although it does seem those abroad are appreciating the “Mistress of Evil” more than those at home.

And “Jojo Rabbit”? Look, I don’t like it, but it has a lot of good reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 77.  Last night it kicked up $340,000 in 55 theaters. People are intrigued. So am I.

Michael Jackson’s Son Hosts Charity Fundraiser in Jackson Family’s Original Home, Hayvenhurst, Once in Foreclosure

Roger Friedman
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Michael Jackson’s Son Hosts Charity Fundraiser in Jackson Family’s Original Home, Hayvenhurst, Once in Foreclosure

More than a decade ago, I was constantly writing about the Jacksons family home, Hayvenhurst, in Encino, California, being in foreclosure. Michael had abdicated responsibility for paying the mortgage or the staff after his 2005 trial, and it financially it was a big mess. It was only after he died that his Estate shored up the trouble.

Last night, Michael’s unusually seemingly wonderful son, Prince Michael, hosted a charity event there. Wow, has the vibe changed. Prince’s Heal L.A. charity is very different than the old Heal the World Foundation. It’s actually organized under his alma mater, Loyola Marymount University. There’s no funny business. Prince really seems to have his head on straight. I like the fact that he’s always smiling in photos. Good for him.

Guests included his brother, who calls himself Bigi and we think of as Blanket. Once dangled out a hotel window, Bigi (which is ironic because that’s what they call Berry Gordy– BeeGee) is tall and lanky, the opposite of Prince physically. But what’s nice is that Michael’s three kids including Paris stick together and seem to have a loving, close relationship.

Lots of photos on Instagram. Here are a couple:

 

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Oscars: Taylor Swift Throws Her “Cats” in the Ring with Andrew Lloyd Webber for Best Song with “Beautiful Ghosts”

Roger Friedman
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Oscars: Taylor Swift Throws Her “Cats” in the Ring with Andrew Lloyd Webber for Best Song with “Beautiful Ghosts”

Taylor Swift would like an Oscar, too, you know. That’s why she’s in Tom Hooper’s “Cats,” coming in December. It’s not surprising that she sings the song over the end credits, written with Andrew Lloyd Webber, called “Beautiful Ghosts.” You can hear some of it below in the clip they’ve released promoting the collaboration. Swift will be up for all kinds of Grammys in late January for her “Lover” album. Then she could be up for an Oscar two weeks later at the Academy Awards.

There are a lot of great songs this year from different films, including Diane Warren’s “I’m Standing with You” from the movie “Breakthrough,” two Elton John songs (one from “Rocketman” and one from “The Lion King”), Regina Spektor has a very good song from “Bombshell.”

(Listen) Kanye West’s “Jesus is Coming” is Here, With Kenny G, and Chick-Fil-A, and It Was Worth Waiting For After All

Roger Friedman
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(Listen) Kanye West’s “Jesus is Coming” is Here, With Kenny G, and Chick-Fil-A, and It Was Worth Waiting For After All

Here it is…”Jesus is Coming.” After weeks of delays and then an overnight of delays. And I ‘ve got to say I’m pleasantly surprised. Kanye is not a singer, musician, or preacher. But when he’s in the zone, he’s an excellent producer and impresario. I’m not particularly interested in modern Christian gospel but Kanye has managed to mix and arrange a kind of gospel scrapbook.

Ye’s also very talented at finding samples, and there are plenty in “Jesus is Coming.” They fit together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. So the late great James Cleveland has been repurposed for a new version of his own “God Is.” Yoko Ono finds her way into “Water.” An old record called “Can You Lose By Following God” by Whole Truth is the foundation of “Follow God.” And “Use This Gospel” features Kenny G, of all people, perfectly deployed. For what it is, “Jesus is King” should get an A. Plus we get this terrific singer, Ant Clemons.

But why is Chick-Fil-A plugged so much? Even if it is tongue in cheek. No curse words, either. So “Jesus is Coming” at least can be played without flinching.

Here’s Bruce Springsteen Singing Glen Campbell’s 1975 “Rhinestone Cowboy,” A “Secret” Track on His New Album

Roger Friedman
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Here’s Bruce Springsteen Singing Glen Campbell’s 1975 “Rhinestone Cowboy,” A “Secret” Track on His New Album

Just as I told you, here’s Bruce Springsteen singing “Rhinestone Cowboy,” the so-called secret track from his new album.The song was written by Larry Weiss, who I told you about on September 26th. Glen Campbell has a massive number 1 hit with this song in 1975. How times have changed. That was the same year as “Born to Run.” In that time I’d never have guessed this would happen. But music and tastes keep changing.

 

Lights Up! Harry Styles Books “SNL” November 16th as Host and Musical Guest, Album Likely Day Before

Roger Friedman
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Lights Up! Harry Styles Books “SNL” November 16th as Host and Musical Guest, Album Likely Day Before

Just as I told you a few weeks ago, Harry Styles is about to hit us with his best shot.

Harry was on the cover of Rolling Stone over Labor Day weekend. That was the opening gambit.

Then a couple of weeks ago, he released his “Lights Out” single with no notice. It hasn’t been a big seller, but it was notice that the second album by the One Direction singer was on its way.

Now Harry has booked “Saturday Night Live” for November 16th as guest host and musical guest. The whole show will be about Harry, who we know definitely has acting chops. He’ll sing “Lights Up” and another song from the new album, which I would bet good money is dropping on November 15th, the day before “SNL.”

Sony Music has its hands full this month. Also on the 15th, they’ve got a new Celine Dion album for the leather loafer set. Then they’ve got a potential Adele album or at least a single. At this rate the Adele album may wait til after the new year, maybe for the Grammys, or even April. Why April? There’s a reason, we’ll have wait a little and see.

 

Music News: Kanye West Never Dropped “Jesus is King” Album Last Night, Movie is Out But Not in Any Black Neighborhoods

Roger Friedman
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Music News: Kanye West Never Dropped “Jesus is King” Album Last Night, Movie is Out But Not in Any Black Neighborhoods

 

 

UPDATE (skeptical)


 

Well, well.

Kanye West’s promise to drop (er, release) his new album, “Jesus is King,” last night has not materialized into anything.

“JiK” was supposed to be released a few weeks ago. There was a big ballyhoo, then nada. Then the date was switched to October 25th. Kanye showed a thirty minute movie with the same name on Wednesday in Los Angeles, of gospel singers performing in a art project crater. The album was supposed to follow.

Last night I watched on Twitter while Kanye’s fans had a meltdown. Finally he Tweeted: “To my fans Thank you for being loyal & patient We are specifically fixing mixes on “Everything We Need” “Follow God” & “Water”     We not going to sleep until this album is out!”

That was about 1:30am Pacific time. This is a gospel album, supposedly. “Pet Sounds” didn’t take this long.

Meantime, the short film “Jesus is King” is only playing in IMAX theaters including three in Manhattan. But none of them are in Harlem, where there are a number of gospel churches. It’s the same in Los Angeles, where the movie isn’t playing in black neighborhoods but in Hollywood, Burbank, Woodland Hills, and Universal City. In Chicago, there are no shows in the inner city, and in Detroit, the movie is playing in one theater across from the Henry Ford Museum. (Are there no IMAX theaters in black neighborhoods? That’s pretty bad.)

Tickets for the 35 minute movie are the same price as a regular feature: $12.59, for example, in Skokie, Illinois.

David Byrne’s Joyous “American Utopia” Keeps Making Sense on Broadway As a Hybrid Experimental Musical

Roger Friedman
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David Byrne’s Joyous “American Utopia” Keeps Making Sense on Broadway As a Hybrid Experimental Musical

It wasn’t that long ago that David Byrne, of Talking Heads fame, and Alex Timbers were responsible for the unique landmark musical, “Here Lies Love,” at the Public Theater. It’s still a shame it couldn’t be moved to Broadway or filmed, but the Alex Timbers directed night was historic and memorable.

To make it a little easier on themselves, Byrne and Timbers are back, this time on Broadway, for “David Byrne’s American Utopia.” (Timbers is creative consultant this time, Annie-B Parsons is choreographer and director of musical staging.) This is a hybrid of a Broadway musical, experimental theater, and a rock concert with brilliant choreography and stage setting. I could not have loved it more.

Byrne, you know, is an artist, a genius, let’s face it. The breakthrough music he wrote for Talking Heads between 1977 and 1988 was a substantial meal then. Now it’s a four star event. Those songs– the bulk of this show– were always theatrical. In the early 80s there was always talk of bringing albums like “Remain in Light” and “Fear of Music” to off Broadway.

Starting as a nervous quartet from the Rhode Island School of Design, the quirky foursome had songs like “Psycho Killer” and “Don’t Worry About the Government” that were peppy, catchy, and strange. They were among the early New Wave groups. Seymour Stein signed them to Sire Records, and they were off and running. (I saw them early, early on in Boston, where, like the Cars, Blondie, the Ramones, they overturned pop music.)

In a couple of years, the Heads were performing at Radio City Music Hall with African musicians, stomping through “Life During Wartime” (aka This Ain’t No Disco) and “I Zimbra.” They were magic. I’m looking at their set list from November 2, 1980– 39 years ago– and it’s quite stunning how far ahead Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison were in front of anyone at that moment.

The “American Utopia” songs aren’t a lot different, and their timelessness is no surprise. Even now, Byrne is like Einstein compared to today’s pop purveyors. He’s experimental and commercial, avant garde and populist all at the same time. The ideas of brain connectivity, of humans meeting humans on equal playing fields, on embracing the strange remain or are even more compelling than ever.

Byrne is joined on a spare gray stage by six percussionists, two guitarists, and two background vocalists. Everyone sings, plays, dances, moves. Timbers, with choreographer Annie-B Parson, has built on Byrne’s past performance history, especially the famous Jonathan Demme-directed “Stop Making Sense,” to create a concise narrative. Byrne, now 67, is no longer that geeky string bean I saw at the Rat in Boston in 1977. A tad fleshier, with a thick mop of gray, he twirls and stomps. His voice, always reedy in  Hank Williams way, enforces lush values. He’s also just self-deprecating enough so that we don’t take any of this too seriously.

Of course, the centerpiece is “Once in a Lifetime,” which grabs a standing ovation among those who know it deserves its own Pulitzer Prize. “This is not my beautiful wife!” Byrne preaches. “This is not my beautiful house! My god, What. Have. I. Done???” The song is like Cheever, Updike, Richard Yates, and Styron all rolled into one. Its flipside, “This Must be the Place,” remains one of rock’s most beautiful, melancholy melodies. Knowing he’s in a Broadway house, where there’s a little intimidation, Byrne advises the audience it’s ok to dance to “Burning Down the House.” Last night everyone was relieved to remove invisible seat belts. The funk was just too persuasive.

I’ll see it again if they let me. Don’t miss this. Make a point of it.

PS I owe so much of my music education from 1977 to WBCN  Boston’s Charles Laquidara. I hear he’s in Hawaii now. I awoke one morning to my radio singing a song about buildings and civil servants. It was Charles playing “Don’t Worry About the Government” on the day it came out. A life changing 18 months later I returned to New York, where no station would play this music. Now it’s nostalgia. Thank you, Charles. That song opens “American Utopia.” I thought of you as I hummed along.

 

Robert Downey Jr to Host Bigger Super-Avengers of Rock for Sting’s Rainforest Show: Springsteen, James Taylor, Annie Lennox, John Mellencamp, Ricky Martin

Roger Friedman
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Robert Downey Jr to Host Bigger Super-Avengers of Rock for Sting’s Rainforest Show: Springsteen, James Taylor, Annie Lennox, John Mellencamp, Ricky Martin

As Tony Stark, Robert Downey, Jr only has to wrangle people like Captain America and the Hulk.

For Sting and Trudie Styler’s 18th Rainforest Foundation concert, Downey will emcee a group that could pulverize the Avengers: Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, plus Shaggy, H.E.R., Ricky Martin, Bob Geldof and MJ Rodriguez. That’s quite a line up.

The show is called “We’ll Be Together,” named for a 1987 Sting hit. The date is December 9th at the Beacon Theater. Tickets for the show will be available beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 1st via Ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster Charge by Phone. Tickets will also be available at the Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre box office on November 2nd.

This year’s show is on overdrive talent-wise because the Rainforests have been more damaged and threatened than in recent years. Severe fires, unattended by Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, brought new attention to the urgency to keep the Rainforests protected. Founded in 1989 by Sting and his wife Trudie Styler, the Rainforest Fund aims to protect the world’s rainforests and defend the human rights of the indigenous peoples who live there. “With the Amazon blighted by fire this summer, and a real and growing awareness of climate change, there has never been a more important or more opportune moment to fight to protect our forests,” Styler said in a statement. “All life on earth depends on their survival.”

Gotham Awards Nominees Include “The Farewell,” “Marriage Story,” “Uncut Gems,” “Waves,” and… “Hustlers”????

Roger Friedman
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Gotham Awards Nominees Include “The Farewell,” “Marriage Story,” “Uncut Gems,” “Waves,” and… “Hustlers”????

And so awards season begins, and it’s appropriately weird. The IFP Gotham Awards nominees include three from A24, one from Netflix, and get this: “Hustlers,” the JLo movie. I am not kidding. Three three from A24 are “Uncut Gems,” “Waves,” and “The Farewell.” Someone get that publicist some champagne and caviar.

“Marriage Story,” which should win, comes from Netflix. “Hustlers,” so much not like those four movies it’s hilarious, is from STX Films and has made $100 million. I thought this was an indie film prize, but hey. It was a fun movie and might bring Jennifer Lopez to Cipriani Wall Street, where she will meet people who are not dressed in sequins for bed.

Among the best actress nominees are Mary Kay Place for “Diane” and Alfre Woodard, for “Clemency.” I love Woodard, but it’s time for Mary Kay Place. That is one great performance. If you haven’t seen “Diane,” directed Kent Jones (now former programmer of a local film festival here), check it out.

So, let the games begin!

Best Feature 

 

The Farewell

Lulu Wang, director; Daniele Melia, Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Andrew Miano, Chris Weitz, Jane Zheng, Lulu Wang, Anita Gou, producers (A24)

 

Hustlers

Lorene Scafaria, director; Jessica Elbaum, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Jennifer Lopez, Benny Medina, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, producers (STXfilms)

 

Marriage Story

Noah Baumbach, director; Noah Baumbach, David Heyman, producers (Netflix)

 

Uncut Gems

Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, directors; Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, Sebastian Bear McClard, producers (A24)

 

Waves

Trey Edward Shults, director; James Wilson, Kevin Turen, Trey Edward Shults, producers (A24)

 

 

Best Documentary

 

American Factory

Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert, directors; Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert, Jeff Reichert, Julie Parker Benello, producers (Netflix) 

 

Apollo 11

Todd Douglas Miller, director; Todd Douglas Miller, Thomas Baxley Petersen, Evan Krauss, producers (NEON and CNN Films)

 

The Edge of Democracy

Petra Costa, director; Petra Costa, Tiago Pavan, Joanna Natasegara, Shane Boris, producers (Netflix) 

 

Midnight Traveler

Hassan Fazili, director; Emelie Mahdavian, Su Kim, producers (Oscilloscope Laboratories)

 

One Child Nation

Nanfu Wang, Jialing Zhang, directors; Nanfu Wang, Jialing Zhang, Christoph Jörg, Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, Carolyn Hepburn, producers (Amazon Studios) 

 

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award

Laure De Clermont-Tonnerre for The Mustang (Focus Features)

Kent Jones for Diane (IFC Films)

Joe Talbot for The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)

Olivia Wilde for Booksmart (United Artists Releasing)

Phillip Youmans for Burning Cane (ARRAY Releasing)

 

Best Screenplay

The Farewell, Lulu Wang (A24)

High Flying Bird, Tarell Alvin McCraney (Netflix)

The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Jimmie Fails, Joe Talbot, Rob Richert (A24)

Marriage Story, Noah Baumbach (Netflix)

Midsommar, Ari Aster (A24) 

 

Best Actor

Willem Dafoe in The Lighthouse (A24)

Adam Driver in Marriage Story (Netflix)

Aldis Hodge in Clemency (NEON)

André Holland in High Flying Bird (Netflix)

Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems (A24)

 

Best Actress

Awkwafina in The Farewell (A24)

Elisabeth Moss in Her Smell (Gunpowder & Sky)

Mary Kay Place in Diane (IFC Films)

Florence Pugh in Midsommar (A24)

Alfre Woodard in Clemency (NEON)

 

 

Breakthrough Actor

Julia Fox in Uncut Gems (A24)

Aisling Franciosi in The Nightingale (IFC Films)

Chris Galust in Give Me Liberty (Music Box Films)

Noah Jupe in Honey Boy (Amazon Studios)

Jonathan Majors in The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)

Taylor Russell in Waves (A24) 

 

 

Breakthrough Series – Long Format (over 40 minutes)

 

Chernobyl, Craig Mazin, creator; Craig Mazin, Carolyn Strauss, Jane Featherstone, executive producers (HBO)

 

David Makes Man, Tarell Alvin McCraney, creator; Mike Kelley, Melissa Loy, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Denitria Harris-Lawrence, Michael B. Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, executive producers (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

 

My Brilliant Friend, Saverio Costanzo, creator; Domenico Procacci, Mario Gianani, Guido De Laurentiis, Elena Recchia, Jennifer Schuur, Paolo Sorrentino, executive producers (HBO)

 

Unbelievable, Susannah Grant, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Lisa Cholodenko, Ayelet Waldman & Michael Chabon, Katie Couric, Richard Tofel, Neil Barsky, Robyn Semien, Marie, executive producers (Netflix)

 

When They See Us, Ava DuVernay, creator; Jeff Skoll, Jonathan King, Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, Berry Welsh, Oprah Winfrey, Ava DuVernay, executive producers (Netflix)

 

 

Breakthrough Series – Short Format (under 40 minutes)

 

PEN15, Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, Sam Zvibleman, creators; Anna Konkle, Sam Zvibleman, Debbie Liebling, Gabe Liedman, Marc Provissiero, Brooke Pobjoy, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer, Becky Sloviter, Shelley Zimmerman, Brin Lukens, Jordan Levin, executive producers (Hulu)

 

Ramy, Ramy Youssef, Ari Katcher, Ryan Welch, creators; Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, Ravi Nandan, Bridget Bedard, Ari Katcher, Ryan Welch, executive producers (Hulu)

 

Russian Doll, Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, Amy Poehler, creators; Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, Amy Poehler, Dave Becky, Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns, Allison Silverman, executive producers (Netflix)

 

Tuca & Bertie, Lisa Hanawalt, creator; Lisa Hanawalt, Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Noel Bright, Steven A. Cohen, Tiffany Haddish, Ali Wong, executive producers (Netflix)

 

Undone, Kate Purdy, Raphael Bob-Waksberg, creators; Kate Purdy, Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Noel Bright, Steven A. Cohen, Tommy Pallotta, executive producers (Amazon Prime Video)

 

 

Twenty-six writers, critics and programmers participated in the nomination process. The 

Nominating Committees for the 2019 IFP Gotham Awards were:

 

Nominating Committee for Best Feature, Best Screenplay, and Breakthrough Director:

Justin Chang, Film Critic, Los Angeles Times

Ann Hornaday, Chief Film Critic, The Washington Post

Eric Kohn, Executive Editor & Chief Critic, IndieWire

Joshua Rothkopf, Global Deputy Film Editor, Time Out Media

Alison Willmore, Film Critic, Vulture

 

Nominating Committee for Best Documentary:

Chris Boeckmann, Director of Programming, True/False Film Fest

Ben Fowlie, Executive Director, Points North Institute; Founder, Camden International Film Festival 

Cynthia Fuchs, Contributing Editor, PopMatters; Director Film & Media Studies, George Mason University

Tom Hall, Executive Director, Montclair Film

Caroline Libresco, Curator, Producer, and Strategist

 

Nominating Committee for Best Actor and Best Actress:

David Ehrlich, Senior Film Critic, Indiewire

David Fear, Senior Editor/Critic, Rolling Stone

Tim Grierson, Senior U.S. Critic, Screen Daily; Chief Film Critic, Paste Magazine

Jessica Kiang, Film Critic, Variety, The Playlist, Sight & Sound

Alissa Wilkinson, Film Critic, Vox 

 

Nominating Committee for Breakthrough Actor:

Kate Erbland, Deputy Editor, Film, IndieWire

Jon Frosch, Reviews Editor, The Hollywood Reporter

Odie Henderson, Reviewer, RogerEbert.com

Tomris Laffly, Film Critic, Time Out New York, RogerEbert.com, Variety

David Sims, Staff Writer, Culture, The Atlantic

 

Nominating Committee for Breakthrough Series 

Judy Berman, TV Critic, TIME

Jen Chaney, TV Critic, Vulture

Daniel Fienberg, Chief Television Critic, The Hollywood Reporter 

Caroline Framke, TV Critic, Variety

Alan Sepinwall, Chief TV Critic, Rolling Stone

Brian Tallerico, Editor, RogerEbert.com

 

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