Nile Rodgers was commissioned by George Michael to reimagine a song Rodgers says “George said he never got quite right.” The result is the new “Fantasy” which was released this morning in the UK. It will be included in a documentary Michael had almost finished before his death. Rodgers was the last celebrity to be interviewed for the film, ironically.
Honorary Oscars to Donald Sutherland, Charles Burnett. Agnes Varda, But No Doris Day
Once again, Doris Day didn’t make the cut. But a lot of good people will receive Governors’ Awards aka Lifetime Achievement Oscars this year.
The Motion Picture Academy chose writer-director Charles Burnett, cinematographer Owen Roizman, actor Donald Sutherland and director Agnès Varda.
From the official release:
This year’s Governors Awards reflect the breadth of international, independent and mainstream filmmaking, and are tributes to four great artists whose work embodies the diversity of our shared humanity,” said Academy President John Bailey.
Born in Mississippi and raised in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, Burnett is an independent filmmaker whose work has been praised for its portrayal of the African-American experience. He wrote, directed, produced, photographed and edited his first feature film, “Killer of Sheep,” in 1977. His other features include “My Brother’s Wedding,” “To Sleep with Anger,” “The Glass Shield” and “Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation.” Burnett also has made several documentaries including “America Becoming” and “Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property,” and such short films as “The Horse” and “When It Rains.”
Roizman earned five Oscar nominations for his work on “The French Connection” (1971), “The Exorcist” (1973), “Network” (1976), “Tootsie” (1982) and “Wyatt Earp” (1994). He began his career shooting television commercials before making his debut feature film, “Stop,” in 1970. His other notable credits include “The Heartbreak Kid,” “Three Days of the Condor,” “Absence of Malice,” “True Confessions,” “The Addams Family” and “Grand Canyon.” Roizman represented the Cinematographers Branch on the Academy’s Board of Governors from 2002 to 2011.
With more than 140 film credits spanning six decades, Canadian-born Sutherland began his career with small roles in British and Italian films before his breakthrough in “The Dirty Dozen” (1967). Since then he has starred in such varied films as “M*A*S*H,” “Klute,” “Don’t Look Now,” “The Day of the Locust,” “1900,” “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” “Ordinary People,” “Cold Mountain,” “The Italian Job,” “Pride & Prejudice” and “The Hunger Games” series.
Belgian-born Varda has been called the mother of the French New Wave. Her first feature, “La Pointe Courte” (1956) – which she wrote and directed with no formal training – is considered to be the film that inspired the movement. Varda has experimented with all forms of filmmaking from shorts to documentaries to narrative feature films during her more than 60-year career, including such works as the New Wave classic “Cleo from 5 to 7,” “Le Bonheur,” “One Sings, the Other Doesn’t,” “Vagabond,” “Jacquot,” “The Gleaners and I,” her autobiographical documentary “The Beaches of Agnès,” and her most recent work, “Faces Places.”
The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”
Ratings: “Twin Peaks” Ends with Indifference or Worse as Two Hour Finale Audience Trails Off
“Twin Peaks: The Return” ended with an indifferent audience on Sunday night. The first hour had 254,000 viewers. The second hour dropped to 240,000. I’m sure as most people wondered what the heck was going on they headed for the so called exits. When it was clear the second hour would not be anything more than a long drive on dark road, the party was over.
It’s pretty clear “Twin Peaks” will not be returning again. Audrey Horne will forever be screaming into that mirror from Part 16. Sherilyn Fenn must be pissed. Apparently singer Julee Cruise is, for real. David Lynch didn’t use her to until the very end of 18 hours, and then cut her off. Not very nice considering the useless group of musicians who appeared as filler every week.
There were some beautiful moments during this run, certainly lots of great cinematography. And Episode 8 was an unusual, mesmerizing special thing. But none of it added up to anything at all, and most of it was just a cryptic message that was impossible to understand. I’ll bet most of the actors, who didn’t know where their piece would fit in, feel gypped.
Sting to be Honored by the Smithsonian Museum on Friday, Will Donate Beloved Hit Making Fender Stratocaster
Sting will be honored in Washington DC at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History this coming Friday night (September 8th 2017). The evening will highlight his musical and philanthropic contributions to American culture.
At a special donation ceremony Sting will donate to the museum his iconic 1980s Fender Stratocaster guitar on which he wrote many of his Police hits and which played a crucial role in the start of both his solo career and his activism.
It was with that guitar that Sting made his first-ever solo performances at a benefit show for the human rights organization Amnesty International. His now-legendary set at “The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball” in London in September 1981 – documented in the album and movie of the same name – was the springboard for his eventual solo career.
Equally important it marked the beginning of his lifelong social and political activism. Sting has continued his support of Amnesty International to this day, and has been involved in multiple philanthropic causes – most notably the acclaimed Rainforest Foundation – which he started with his wife Trudie Styler in 1989 and which has become one of the world’s most respected non-governmental organizations.
Following the ceremony he will take part in a discussion moderated by Dan Rather about how he has combined his music with his social and political activism. The panel includes composer J. Ralph who collaborated with Sting on the Academy Award-nominated song “The Empty Chair” from the film “Jim: The James Foley Story”. The evening will include a special acoustic performance of the song by Sting.
In being asked to donate an iconic artifact to the Smithsonian that would relate to both his music career – and to his philanthropy – Sting decided to donate his black Fender Stratocaster guitar from the 1980s which he played on stage at a crucial turning point in his career.
Sting recently explained his decision to his old friend Martin Lewis – who back in 1981 recruited Sting to perform for Amnesty and who produced the show, album and movie:
“I’ve decided to give them my Fender Strat from the eighties, the one I used on ‘The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball’. There are a number of reasons why I think this is the right choice… I wrote a lot of my hits on that guitar (“Message in a Bottle” for one). That performance marked the beginning of my move to a solo career (thank you for that!) It also marked my long-standing and continuing association with Amnesty International.”
Lewis commented: “I know first-hand from my own experiences that Sting’s participation in ‘The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball’ was an inspiration to numerous other musicians who subsequently supported Amnesty International and stepped up their own social and political activism.”
(Preview) Mariah Carey Doubles Down on Christmas with Animated Feature Holiday Video for Hit Song
Mariah Carey hasn’t had a real hit in a long time. So she’s doubling down on what is arguably her biggest hit, “All I Want for Christmas.” This perennial record has blossomed into a full length animated feature video that drops in November for the holidays. Mariah narrates, and Henry Winkler is one of the voices. This is a smart move by Mariah and her manager Stella. If they’re lucky and it’s good, “All I Want” will become like “Grandma Was Run Over by a Reindeer” and “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” to become a tradition.
Here’s the first look at my brand-new animated film, Mariah Carey’s "All I Want For Christmas Is You"! #ALLIWANTMOVIE @AllIWantMovie pic.twitter.com/eOk0tTz89V
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) September 6, 2017
Read the Beautiful Letter to Steely Dan’s Walter Becker from His Daughter Sayan: “We had one hell of a ride”
Steely Dan’s Walter Becker, who passed away over the weekend, would be proud of his daughter Sayan. She’s posted a beautiful letter to her late dad on www.walterbecker.com. Just beautiful. Go to the site to see a great photo she’s posted, too.
You loved music more than anyone I know. You’re always there bobbing your head to each beat, doing a little dance here and there, or sitting over there with your big head phones on and swaying back and forth. I could see it, your dissecting the song — listening in closely for each beat , for each musical instrument — you know, whatever you musicians do. But I get it.
Every road trip without fail came The Pit Stop at some guitar store. Heck, dad, I keep telling you why don’t you just own your own store? Five hours go by as I sit watching you fiddle with a guitar here and there…yet you never end up buying one. I understand though; it was your fun place, like an arcade; playing all you can, and as loud as you can. Your candy shop.
Dad you’re kinda funny; sometimes I may not understand the meaning behind your witty highly intelligent comments or jokes, but for you to smile and make everyone — or even thousands all at once — smile and laugh, then yeah you got something going for you pops… I get it. Your presence makes everyone’s day a little brighter. I love you for that.
Coast to coast. How is it that you know so many facts about every state or country we visit? We would walk through Central Park Zoo and just randomly point out some little thing… and here it comes, some long historical fact about it. Dad, it’s a seal for crying out loud! It amazes me how intelligent you are.
“Dad, I like that we understand one another”
“Sa-girl, we are soul mates”
“Dad I love you to the moon and back”
“Girly face I love you more than that, to the next galaxy”
“Wow, that’s far!”
“Well it’s true”
“…Thanks dad”
… for your love for music, your fatherly advice and devotion, your knowledge about the world and your blindingly sharp sense of humor … for all that, and more.
We had one hell of a ride. You are my world, my soulmate, my father, that I love so much.
It’s true your love is shining from the next galaxy. I could see it now; you got a whole galaxy of guitars to look at. Rock on dad, rock on until your heart is content.
I hear you.
I get you.
-Your only Pulama Ama Lama.
Broadway: Tony Winner Bernadette Peters Tapped to Succeed Bette Midler in “Hello, Dolly!”
This is Part 2 to my story from this morning. Bernadette Peters is taking over as the title character in “Hello, Dolly!” when Bette Midler leaves on January 14th.
Good for producer Scott Rudin. Peters is the consummate performer. She’ll be a terrific Dolly Levi. It’s unclear whether David Hyde Pierce is sticking around as Horace vanderGelder, but I bet he is. He and Peters will make a good pairing.
With Peters in, at least prices will come down. She said in a statement: Ms. Peters said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to continue in the tradition of the incomparable Bette Midler, Carol Channing, and all of the other wonderful actresses who have played Dolly Levi, and I look forward to joining this wonderful company at the Shubert.”
Also unclear– what happens to Donna Murphy, so good and such a soldier filling in for Bette on Tuesdays and all this and matinees and days when the Divine Miss M isn’t around.
Hollywood: Colin Trevorrow Ousted from “Star Wars IX” After “Book of Henry” Box Office Debacle
What a turn of events: Colin Trevorrow has been ousted as director of “Star Wars IX.” Disney announced it as Trevorrow’s decision…
But Trevorrow’s massive box office debacle with “The Book of Henry” set this in motion. It didn’t matter that Trevorrow had a huge success with “Jurassic World” and will probably have another one with the sequel. “Henry” got terrible reviews and made just $4 million at the box office. Suddenly, Trevorrow went from favored guy to whipping dog.
In Hollywood, you’re only as good as your last movie. It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.
So who will direct “IX”? Who knows? Maybe Ron Howard. Why not?
Review: In “Home Again,” Reese Witherspoon is Rich, Privileged and Less than 1 Percent Self-Aware
At the recent premiere of Reese Witherspoon’s “Home Again,” (released September 8th) at the DGA in LA, Reese was on full display with her trademark Southern belle charm. “I hope y’all like the movie,” she chimed. Reese is always appealing, but this film is clueless, sexist and at mostly just down right offensive. Sorry Reese, nothing to like here.
“Home Again” is written and directed by thirty-year-old Hallie Meyers-Shyer, daughter of filmmaker Nancy Meyers (also a producer on this film) who directed and co-wrote Private Benjamin, Father of the Bride, It’s Complicated and more, many with her husband at the time Charles Shyer. The Shyers’ success reveals itself in many of their films with their luxurious houses and their Cadillac problems. Unfortunately their daughter, while showing talent in an occasionally witty script and well-paced film, falls into the same trap.
Reese plays Alice Kinney, a spoiled housewife, trying to make it in the world with her ‘hobbies,’ having recently moved back to her native LA from Manhattan. Alice’s marriage to music executive husband (Michael Sheen) is falling apart. Alice happens to be the daughter of a deceased famous filmmaker (isn’t everyone?) Hence she moves back into a glorious home, with her two perfect adorable daughters and her doting mother, played by the wonderful Candice Bergen (who has the best zingers in the movie) popping in and out.
Reese and her equally bored privilege friends whoop it up at a swanky nightclub for her 40th birthday, meeting a trio of young aspiring filmmakers played with charm by Pico Alexander, Nat Wolff and Jon Rudnitsky. She starts an affair with one of them (Alexander and there is zero chemistry there). She lets them live in her home and care for her kids, as well as fix her computer. Let’s add that the storyline is sexist because how dare Alice sleep with a younger man! Really? How often, meaning always, do men in movies and in real life do that?
All through this Alice is just oh so confused. “I’m terrified,” cries Reese in front of a mirror. Really? What are you terrified of, Alice? Your life is perfect, your world of yoga parties and designer clothes, a home with a guesthouse, pool and outside barbecue with a table always set for a banquet, money pouring everywhere, healthy happy kids and you not earning a dime. Well, not entirely. Alice tries to be an interior designer, after her friends say she should because ‘hey why not?’ And her client, (her only client FYI) also a fellow spoiled entitled woman, played by Lake Bell, (who has a daughter named Gwyneth, so inside chic) is just so mean to her. Boo hoo, lets bring out the violins. As if it’s the first time poor Alice is in the big bad world we all have to live in.
We get that this is about her journey and a crossroads in her life. But Hallie Meyers-Shyer would have better served her obvious talent off to not go to what she and her family knows, the privileged life. Alice can do anything she wants, her so called journey is from A to B. She has a kind of freedom that most people just don’t have. So it’s virtually impossible to root or feel anything for any of these characters. Even the filmmakers have such rapid success that is just too unbelievable. No struggle. The recent “Patti Cakes,” is the opposite. An overweight girl from a poor town in Jersey. That film is truly endearing. This film is the opposite. You don’t care about the characters at all. This film is tone deaf to any kind of reality, not one African American or Asian with one quick exception. “Home Again,” is offensive entitlement of the worst kind.