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RIP A Double Blow to Hollywood, the Arts: Actor/Playwright Sam Shepard, French Actress Jeanne Moreau

Roger Friedman
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RIP A Double Blow to Hollywood, the Arts: Actor/Playwright Sam Shepard, French Actress Jeanne Moreau

A sad day for Hollywood, movies, the arts in general: Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Sam Shepard, who was also a movie star and the husband  of Jessica Lange, has died at a 73. In Paris, French actress Jeanne Moreau has also died, at age 89. She was one married to Hollywood director William Friedkin.

Shepard was a unique combination of actor and playwright, and excellent at both vocations. His plays like “Buried Child,” “True West,” “Fool for Love,” and “A Lie of the Mind” were off Broadway staples, and launched dozens of acting careers. Some of the material was obtuse and difficult, some of it was accessible and took right off. No matter: it was clear that Shepard was in a league of his own. His Pulitzer was for “Buried Child” in 1979.

Movies: what a career. The first time a lot of us saw him was in Terrence Malick’s1 1978 masterpiece, “Days of Heaven.” Then he had an enviable run through the 80s with “Frances” (where he met Lange), “”Resurrection,” “Raggedy Man,” “The Right Stuff,” “Country,”and cinched his career as a romantic leading man with Diane Keaton in “Baby Boom.” He never stopped working after that. I was lucky to spend a lot of time with him more recently when he was in the movie of “August: Osage County.” He was quite lovely and brilliant.

Shephard and Lange separated (not sure if they were divorced) but he was devoted to her. They each showed up at the others’ events right up to the end. He and Lange at one point lived in Virginia near Sissy Spacek and Jack Fisk, and they were all great friends while they raised their kids. It was a nice counterpoint to a Hollywood life that they all eschewed.

Before all this Hollywood hoopla, Shepard was part of a great scene of artists and writers in downtown New York including Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe. He’s sort of the hero of Smith’s memoir, :Just Kids,” although he told me in 2015 that he’d never read it. Instead he read the sequel. Sam also told me he was working on an autobiography. Here’s hoping he finished it before his untimely death from ALS.

More on Jeanne Moreau later. She was a superstar.

Rolling Stones Won’t Be Outdone by Beatles “Sgt Pepper” Box: Anniversary Edition “Satanic Majesties Request” on the Way

Roger Friedman
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Rolling Stones Won’t Be Outdone by Beatles “Sgt Pepper” Box: Anniversary Edition “Satanic Majesties Request” on the Way

The Rolling Stones won’t be outdone by the Beatles’ spectacular 50th anniversary edition box set of “Sgt. Pepper.” No no no. They will get satisfaction as other albums were released in 1967, you know.

So that brings us to the 50th anniversary version of “Their Satanic Majesties Request,” which featured “She’s a Rainbow” and was considered a breakthrough album for the Stones. It will be reissued by ABKCO thusly: “limited edition deluxe double vinyl/double hybrid Super Audio CD (compatible with all CD players) package on September 22. The set contains both the stereo and mono versions of every song, all newly remastered by Bob Ludwig. Their Satanic Majesties Request – 50th Anniversary Special Edition will include Michael Cooper’s original 3-D lenticular cover photograph, featuring the band in peak psychedelic regalia. ”

Lenticular.

You could say it comes in versions everywhere.

Shia La Beouf Tennis Movie “Borg/McEnroe” to Open Toronto Film Festival: Will There Be a Tiff at TIFF?

Roger Friedman
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Shia La Beouf Tennis Movie “Borg/McEnroe” to Open Toronto Film Festival: Will There Be a Tiff at TIFF?

Is Toronto ready for Shia LaBeouf? Let’s hope so. His movie, “Borg/McEnroe,” will open the Toronto Film Festival on September 7th. Directed by Janus Metz and written by Ronnie Sandahl, the film stars LaBeouf, Sverrir Gudnason and Stellan Skarsgård.

La Beouf plays hot headed tennis star John McEnroe, who will undoubtedly be on hand for the opening as well. Everyone will need flack jackets even the flacks!

The film is being released by Neon, the company that didn’t have a name when it distributed Michael Moore’s “What Happens Next” two years ago. They’re up and running now, with Tom Quinn and Tim League lining up a few new interesting releases for the near future. “Borg/McEnroe” won’t be out to the public til next year.

Is it safe letting LaBeouf loose on Toronto? He usually chalks up an arrest or a fluff up with the press or both wherever he goes. Will there be a tiff at TIFF? We’ll see…

Exclusive: “Roseanne” Revival Will Feature “Gender Creative” 9 Year Old Son of Darlene and David

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: “Roseanne” Revival Will Feature “Gender Creative” 9 Year Old Son of Darlene and David

EXCLUSIVE The “Roseanne” reboot is under way, with new characters being added– the children of Darlene (Sarah Gilbert) and David (Johnny Galecki).

I’m told they will have two kids– a son and a daughter. The daughter, named Harris, is supposed to be 14 or 15 years old and aspirational and upwardly mobile– she’s determined to do better than her parents but she’s not snotty about it, says a source. “She has a big heart.”

More controversial will be a casting call for Darlene and David’s son, named Mark, who will be named for daughter Becky’s late husband. In real life, the actor who played Mark–daughter Becky’s boyfriend, then husband– on the original show, Glenn Quinn, died in 2002 from an opioid overdose.

But there’s a twist. The new 9 year old Mark will be “gender creative.” According to my spies, the casting call asks for a kid who can play “sensitive and effeminate” and “displays qualities of both young female and male traits.”

This would be a first for network TV as the “Roseanne” reboot is on ABC and not cable– Showtime or HBO. “Roseanne” was known for its groundbreaking material when it originally aired, notably a lesbian kiss between Roseanne and Mariel Hemingway. There was a huge uproar at the time, but that episode– like all “controversial” episodes of TV shows– airs in syndication without a peep of protest.

A gender fluid child, however, will likely get a lot of attention– for its bravery in telling what seems like a more common story in recent years and from the usual detractors. The “Roseanne” reboot is obviously out to give a jolt to what is a fairly snoozy sitcom world.

Mark would not be TV’s first gender fluid person, however. That distinction goes to actor Asia Kate Dillon, playing Taylor on Showtime’s “Billions.” I’m actually still completely perplexed how “Billions” was ignored by the Emmys, Dillon especially. But that’s for another day.

Goodbye to John Morris, the Only Friend I Ever Had Who Turned 100, and an International Legend

Roger Friedman
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Goodbye to John Morris, the Only Friend I Ever Had Who Turned 100, and an International Legend

I’ve put off this piece for about a day. But John Morris, the only friend I ever had who made it to 100, has passed away. He’s the most famous photo editor ever in journalism having worked at the New York Times, The Washington Post, Life magazine, and National Geographic. John sort of invented the whole thing at a place you wouldn’t think of– Ladies Home Journal. He was there when Robert Capa started the famed Magnum Photo agency. John was there in the room when Robert Kennedy was killed. You can read a brilliant history here. On Saturday the New York Times devoted an entire page to him.

When I asked him last year about Olivia deHavilland, who lives in Paris had just turned 100 herself– did he know her? He answered, “Of course, we have drinks.” Let’s put it this way– when we first met 31 years ago, he was not that impressed about all our various connections to the Picasso family. He’d met Pablo Picasso and all the characters — long gone– who could fill a John Richardson book.

John had three wives, and three marriages of 20 years apiece. His last wife, Tana Hoban, was a very successful children’s book author and photographer. She was the sister of novelist Russell Hoban and one of the most delightful people I’ve known– a real twinkle in her eye always. They moved to Paris and I met them in their first apartment on the Ile Saint-Louis through my friend, the food writer and cookbook author Martha Shulman, in 1986. Friendships were ignited and they never ended. Later John and Tana moved to a Soho style loft in the Marais right off the Place des Vosges. They were regulars at Chez Janou. They were stars.

When Tana became ill a few years ago, John– who was well into his 80s–drove back and forth to her suburban nursing home. He was as devoted as if they’d been married all their lives. He continued to work on his photos, lecturing, and publishing. John and Tana were very involved in Democratic politics as ex-pats and hosted countless meetings at their place against Reagan, both Bushes, and so on. John was vehemently against Trump. His  online newsletters (which he composed, he picked up IOS fast) were treasured gifts.

For someone who rounded 90, John was incredibly busy and active. When I’d get to Paris, usually on the way to the Cannes Film Festival, he was making plans or just returning from a trip. After Tana died, he acquired a lovely lady friend who was “much younger,” John joked– she was a young thing of 84. With his silky white hair and his appetite for adventure, John was like the Indiana Jones of photography. Plus, he had all those great stories of heroics from the newsroom to the front line. And believe me, when he was in New York, it was hard to get on his dance card because so many editors in chief around town wanted to see him.

John only became ill really for the first time last fall as his 100th birthday approached. It seemed hard to believe this life force was going to come to an end. It didn’t right away, but really, what else could he do? He’d done it all. I can’t believe when I go to Paris this fall he won’t be there. It’s the end of an era for his family, his followers, his editors, and for his friends. But he will remain distinct in our lives forever and he will be missed — as will Tana– sorely. I’ll visit Chez Janou to raise a glass of red wine and say goodbye.

“Twin Peaks” Continues to Mystify: Sherilyn Fenn Returns for No Reason, Star Kyle MacLachlan Misses Episode

Roger Friedman
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“Twin Peaks” Continues to Mystify: Sherilyn Fenn Returns for No Reason, Star Kyle MacLachlan Misses Episode

I am literally hate watching “Twin Peaks: The Return” hoping something will happen. So far, nothing has happened. Outside of that surreal cinematic experiment in Episode 8, “Twin Peaks” seems like it might be a long running prank that David Lynch is playing on Showtime. The executives must be out of their minds. Last Sunday they had 219,000 viewers. On Tuesday we’ll if there were more than 8 people watching tonight’s episode.

Tonight: Part 12 of 18. No appearance by Kyle MacLachlan, the star of the show, star billed as Agent Dale Cooper and Dougie Jones, a semi-catatonic who might be Cooper but no one knows. Or cares. He barely makes a sound or emits emotion unless stimulated by coffee or cherry pie, Agent Cooper’s favorite things 25 years ago. He’s married to a cunning idiot played by Naomi Watts, has a kid, and works for Don Murray, who is 88 years old in real life. We should all look so good at 78.

“Twin Peaks” is mostly filler. It has more filler than a non Kosher hot dog. Scenes are long for no reason, there are incredible pauses. They’re supposed to be meaningful. They are not. Something seems like it might be happening, and then doesn’t. Sometimes conversations take place between people you’ve never seen before, or about people you’ve never heard of. There’s no continuity.

Director David Lynch is still playing G man Gordon Cole. He continues to make Cole a running deaf joke. I don’t care, but I don’t know why either. Cole wears large hearing aids, can’t hear a thing, hears the wrong thing. and is like Mr. Magoo. In Part 11 he witnessed a lot of extra-terrestrial things in the desert. In Part 12, he explained to a new FBI agent that they’re part of a team hunting E.T’s. They are the “X Files.” “Twin Peaks ” has become the “X Files,” kind of. (In Episode 8 there were direct references.) The “Twin Peaks” team doesn’t know what they’re doing, so they moved into UFOS and aliens.

Tonight we saw more of the old “Twin Peaks” characters than we have since the beginning: Sarah Palmer, Det. Hawk, Nadine Hurley, Richard and Jerry Horne. None of it made any sense or went anywhere. Robert Forster returned as Sheriff Frank Truman, brother of original character Sheriff Harry Truman, who was played by Michael Ontkean in the original series. Ontkean is retired (in Hawaii) so Lynch thought this up. Harry was referred to tonight as “kicking something.” It’s a waste of time. Forster is so good, though, you don’t mind.

Also tonight we finally saw Audrey Horne, played by Sherilyn Fenn. It took 12 episodes. Audrey was the slutty sweetheart of “Twin Peaks,” a high school girl obsessed with Agent Cooper. Audrey is likely the mother of a sinister young man who’s killed a child with his truck and brutalized his grandmother. But when Audrey finally arrived, this was not addressed. Instead she spent an interminable scene yelling at Charlie, the man she apparently married since we last saw her 25 years ago. He is put upon and odd looking, a typical Lynch character. We gather he’s rich. But their appearance meant nothing, went nowhere, was about nothing, and just pfffed to a close.

The episode sort of faded out, with a conversation between two young women who have nothing to do with anything. Then Lynch, as usual, filled up the empty space with music. I turned to “Game of Thrones” with enough time to see the stunning revelation that Diana Rigg’s Olenna Tyrell, Queen of Thorns, killed the Lannister baby. She revealed it after she drank poison delivered by Jamie Lannister. It was quite an ending.

(PS If you’re young, go back and see the real “Avengers” starring Diana Rigg and Patrick McNee.)

I’m sure David Lynch thinks “Game of Thrones” is contrived and silly because it has a plot and moves forward (it’s fantasy, but so is “Twin Peaks”). Three months in to “The Return” he might give it a try.

Kudos as usual to Laura Dern and Miguel Ferrer.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s St. Tropez Bash Made $15 Mil Less Than Last Year, Even with Madonna, Sean Penn, and Lenny Kravitz as Attractions

Roger Friedman
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Leonardo DiCaprio’s St. Tropez Bash Made $15 Mil Less Than Last Year, Even with Madonna, Sean Penn, and Lenny Kravitz as Attractions

This past week, Leonardo DiCaprio’s St. Tropez bash for his personal foundation raised $30 million according to the group’s announcement. That’s $15 million less than last year’s $45 million.

This is even though Madonna performed for the Euro crowd, as did Lenny Kravitz. Sean Penn, Jennifer Lawrence, and Tobey Maguire were among the guests. Models were shipped in from the factories where they are made in heaven and other planets. They were built to Leo’s specifications.

Wednesday night’s bash in St. Tropez for the Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation had some noticeable differences from last year:  the “step and repeat” backdrops that in past years featured the very private Julius Baer bank of Switzerland and Chopard Jewelry simply read “Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.” Julius Baer is still presumably the sponsor. But last year –as I reported exclusively– they were fined $547 million by the US government in 2016. DiCaprio obviously doesn’t want that public association.

Leo and his foundation have come under a lot of scrutiny in the last year. The foundation doesn’t file a form 990 and has no transparency whatsoever– have been part of the investigation into missing public funds from Malaysia that were used to make “The Wolf of Wall Street” among other things.

Earlier this year, DiCaprio had to return very expensive art work and jewelry that he said was donated by the Malyasians under investigation (including the stepson the country’s president). Those items, his reps said, were supposed to be auctioned off at the St. Tropez event. I guess without them, the night’s till was substantially down.

There were plenty of items for sale anyway. Most remain available. According to the website for the live art auction conducted by Simon dePury, 17 pieces of art sold that night. But about 100 pieces remain unsold. Similarly 9 “unique items and experiences” remain without bids.

So these numbers– $45 million, $30 million– don’t make much sense. The most successful charities in the world, with celebs, models, etc, are happy to take in $4 million tops for an evening like this.  But we’ll never know the real numbers because the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation hides under an umbrella group in California and doesn’t offer any documentation of its income or expenses. Because of that we will never know how much Leonardo’s foundation– which boasts a big staff of executives–paid to bring the models and the celebs to St. Tropez, house them, etc.

Meantime, Julius Baer bank– which handles Leo’s money and the foundation’s– has announced they are moving their wealthy European clients from Germany to Luxembourg. Why? They say it’s because of Brexit. But it’s also for more secrecy for all their clients.

In other Julius Baer news, last month one of their former bankers pleaded guilty</a> in the ongoing investigation of money laundering and FIFA, the international soccer organization.

“Dunkirk” Vanquishes “The Emoji Movie” at Strong Box Office, but “Valerian” Is Seriously Dead

Roger Friedman
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“Dunkirk” Vanquishes “The Emoji Movie” at Strong Box Office, but “Valerian” Is Seriously Dead

Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” crossed the $100 million line domestically today. It’s number 1 for the second weekend and has $234 million total worldwide. Warner Bros. has its second huge hit of the season following “Wonder Woman.” Also, two great publicity campaigns. What else do you want? Everything from here on out for “Dunkirk” is gravy. And the Oscars, Globes, Critics Choice for Director, Script, Best Supporting Actor, Cinematography, Editing, Score, etc plus Best Picture– nominations will rain down on them in the fall.

“The Emoji Movie” is number 2, a third for Sony this summer following “Spider Man: Homecoming” and the wonderful “Baby Driver.” The emoji at Sony is Happy Face, maybe with a champagne bottle.

You know it’s a good weekend when the fourth slot is an $18 million weekend — for “Atomic Blond” from the new Focus. All hail Charlize Theron.

“Girls Trip” is huge. It cost $19 million and has made $65 million. And it isn’t nice to see Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Larenz Tate and Regina Hall all in a hit?

Disaster: “Valerian” has made $30 million. It cost $200 million. So that’s that. Europa Corp. paid the bill, STX suffered the consequences. Luc Besson, I don’t get it. He’s one of a handful of directors who gets away with it.

Scene & Herd: Quincy Jones is Rocking Vegas This Weekend with Skylar Grey, Demi Lovato, DNCE

Roger Friedman
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Scene & Herd: Quincy Jones is Rocking Vegas This Weekend with Skylar Grey, Demi Lovato, DNCE

Quincy Jones— fresh off his $9.4 million win from the Michael Jackson estate— is on a roll. He’s having a grand weekend in Las Vegas debuting his new headphones from JBL with lots of celebs. Over the weekend he’s entertaining Skylar Grey, Demi Lovato, DNCE and a bunch more famous names at a JBL Fest at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

I mean, this is the life! He’s 84. But you know, Q produces amazing headphones for JBL-Harman Kardan. He has a pair for $1500 (AKG) and now a pair for under $200 bucks )JBL) that feature his voice giving instructions about how to adjust them. Amazing! People whose names you may know (but I have never typed before) are out there for the party including Kate Upton, Kendra Wilkinson, Damian Lillard, and Morgan Stewart.

I have a long held philosophy that whatever Q says is good for me. Ditto when he puts his name on musical equipment. Keep on rocking, Quincy!

Meanwhile, this week in NY…

Taste of Hope Cancer charity tossed an all star mid summer bash with Broadway as its theme. MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell and philanthropist Jean Shafiroff joined the legendary Brenda Vaccaro and a group of Broadway greats including Geneva Carr, Richard Kind, Derek Klena, Clarke Thorell, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, David Alan Basche, Alysia Reiner. They dined on really tasty dishes from Chef Michael Ferraro from Delicatessen and Chef Julian Medina from Toloache. The party took place at a swanky $6 million triplex for sale from Halstead Properties in Hell’s Kitchen that comes with its own garage and a garden… 

Where is everyone eating, going?

In Southampton: Jada Pinkett Smith was at 75 main, celebrating her Haute Living magazine cover. Actress Lorna Luft also spotted at 75 Main in Southampton, NY also at another table was comedian David Steinberg. Joy Behar was there, too. (Frankly 75 Main is the spot in Southampton, perfect for celeb spotting)

On Central Park South:” Dr. Phil was spotted at Bobby Vans having lunch.  Actor Gianni Russo also eating at Bobby Vans, as well as business icon Iris Apfel and  “Bond Girl” Rachel Grant; all at separate tables.

Keifer Sutherland, Dr. Oz, May Pang all reported dining– on different occasions– at Il Gattopardo on West 54th St.– on the famous Veal Milanese…

Famed event planner Lawrence Scott produced the 12th Annual Feinstein Institute Summer featuring Pitbull at Old Westbury Gardens

Brooke Shields spotted at Union Cantina in Southampton, NY

Wall Street wiz John Paulson celebrating his wife’s birthday at Kozu in Southampton, NY with 20 friends.

Elsewhere in the Hamptons: Yes, everyone goes to Nick and Toni’s, it’s my home away from home. But a little further out, in Amagansett, Alec Baldwin holds forth at Sotta Sopra and he’s not alone. “Mad Men” star John Slattery and wife Talia Balsam also love the Sotta. This is one of those hidden gems before you mosey on out to Montauk…

 

 

Box Office Bounce Back as Top 10 Films Score Big Weekend, Good Reviews, Happy Audiences

Roger Friedman
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Box Office Bounce Back as Top 10 Films Score Big Weekend, Good Reviews, Happy Audiences

Hollywood has good news for a change. The top 11 box office movies did bang up business on Friday night and point to a very good weekend. Not only that, the films are pretty good, well reviewed (with an exception) and offer a lot of diversity.

Maybe it’s just an accident. But a happy one.

“The Emoji Movie” beat “Dunkirk” last night, but each of them still did very well with $10 million and $8 million respectively.

More importantly, there’s a lot of quality in the top 10 today– which is rare for summer. “Dunkirk,” “Baby Driver,” “Atomic Blonde,” “Spider Man,” “Wonder Woman,” “Girls Trip,” “Despicable Me 3,” “War for the Planet of the Apes”– are all top notch with some Oscar bound. “Girls Trip” has already earned $51 million. It was made for $19 million. With an 88 score on Rotten Tomatoes, the comedy is a success on many levels.

Then at number 11, we have “The Big Sick,” another terrific comedy. And in limited release, Kathryn Bigelow’s searing “Detroit” scored big numbers at its 20 locations. Each of these films is also headed to awards season with tons of potential.

The only exception might be “Valerian,” which is a bust in the US but plays much better in places like Germany, where no one knows what the characters are saying.

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