Clint Eastwood’s “The Mule” made $17.2 million over the weekend with almost no promotion. Will the Academy reward him with nominations? Let’s hope so.

“The Mule” deserves nominations for Best Actor, Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), and Screenplay– at the very least. But Eastwood missed all the early awards groups by turning in his movie at the last minute. So it has no awards momentum. There’s a list of films to choose from, and that’s what’s going on now.

But “The Mule” not only has generated very good reviews, it’s now made money. It did better than its multiple, meaning word of mouth grew after Friday’s opening at $5.7 million. Indeed, the $17.2 million estimate may be low– it could be a total of $18 million when Sunday is fully adjusted.

Clint’s performance alone is worth the price of admission to “The Mule.” He is one sly fox. He’s very funny, self-effacing, and a little meta. But the underpinning of the movie is the sorrow his Earl carries for never being able to live up to his family’s needs. And that sorrow is beautifully expressed in Wiest, who has a scene toward the end that is heartbreaking. I hope the members of the Academy really see this film before Ballots go out in mid January.

by Leah Sydney Music royalty Quincy Jones, 85, well knows about the triumphs and hardships of being a black man in the music business throughout some tumultuous times.  “Q” as his pals call him, held court this week at Ysabel in West Hollywood to celebrate director/writer Peter Farrelly’s crowd and critic pleasing “Green Book,” for a room filled with adoring awards voters as well as co-star Mahershala Ali and the mega talented composer of the film Kris Bowers. 

Based on the true story of an Italian-American bouncer from the Bronx Tony Lip, (Viggo Mortenson) who is hired to drive a world class Black Pianist Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) on a concert tour from Manhattan to the deep South.  Throughout this often perilous journey they encounter racism and frightening danger.  The result is that the duo forged a life long friendship filled with humor  and humanity.  

Quincy explained why “Green Book,” hits so close to home for him.  “I had the pleasure of being acquainted with Don Shirley while I was working as an arranger in New York in the 50’s and he was without question one of America’s greatest pianists…as skilled a musician as Leonard Bernstein or Van Cliburn. So it’s wonderful that his story is finally being told and celebrated.   I did that “chitlin’ circuit” tour through the south when I was with the Lionel Hampton band, and let me tell you…it was no picnic.  And we were a band.”

Quincy continued: “I can’t imagine what it would have been like to do it alone with just a driver.  So Peter, thank you for telling this story of our country’s not so distant history, and capturing on film the ties that can bind us when we spend time listening, talking and living with one another. “Green Book” is a truly special film about friendship and the power of music to bring people together. Mahershala, you did an absolutely fantastic job playing him, and I think yours and Viggo’s performances will go down as one of the great friendships captured on film.”  

King Quincy is right on of course.  Watch for “Green Book,” to keep the cavalcade of awards this spectacular film has already garnered  coming and rightly so.

Warner Bros. was very smart with “Aquaman.” Still not open in the U.S., the DC Universe underwater extravaganza will cross $200 million this weekend– and it’s not even open in the United States.

Rather than risk another box office disaster with a DC Comics movie, WB went the international route. They’ve cleaned up in China and a few other exotic locales before submerging into domestic waters.

“Aquaman” has a tepid 70% on Rotten Tomatoes– initial exultations calmed down quite a bit. So releasing away from snarky Americans was a good idea. Now they can roll into our theaters next week and not worry about what anyone thinks.

Meanwhile, Sony is scoring a $30 mi plus weekend with “Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse.” That’s good because the total budget is $100 million, they have a ways to go. But it’s all going to have a happy ending. This will balance out the sting of Hugh Jackman’s Jason Reitman-directed “The Front Runner” which is dying with $2 mil in receipts no awards action at all. Sony hasn’t had a great year, but Spidey helps.

The teaser trailer for the “Downton Abbey” movie is out today. The theme music has been lushly re-orchestrated into a score for movies. Everything looks great, and just seeing it and hearing it all is a pretty nice holiday gift. If you’re missing the cast, of course, Michelle Dockery has a few things out right now. Jeremy Swift has a good comic supporting role in “Mary Poppins Returns.” Brendan Coyle plays the Earl of Lennox in “Mary, Queen of Scots.” Jo Froggat is everywhere. Hugh Bonneville has the terrific “Paddington” movies. Elizabeth McGovern is in “The Wife” with Glenn Close. Allen Leech has a starring role in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” And so on. The only thing I know about the movie is that it picks up eight months after the series ended. And Lily James, who played cousin Rose who moved to America, isn’t in it. Also, it’s a one shot deal, so in all likelihood Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess’s death will be the big dramatic device, but no one has told me that, it’s just a good guess. Can’t wait til next fall!