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Box Office: Johnny Depp’s Bad Movies Catch Up to Him as “Black Mass” Has Rocky Start

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: Johnny Depp’s Bad Movies Catch Up to Him as “Black Mass” Has Rocky Start

You can only make so many bad movies before the movie audience gives up on you. Such may be the case for Johnny Depp. His new film, “Black Mass,” well regarded, directed by Scott Cooper with a terrific supporting cast, had a rocky launch last night at the box office. The gangster movie about Whitey Bulger took in just $8.8 million. Original estimates of a $30 million weekend seem overly enthusiastic now, with $25-$27 million more realistic.

That’s not good. “Black Mass” was being trumpeted as an Oscar candidate. A lot of money has been spent on promotion.

This was supposed to be Depp’s comeback from a run of miserable films. They include the huge disaster, “The Lone Ranger,” and the mild disaster “Mortdecai.” Aside from “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, Depp hasn’t had anything resembling a hit in a long long time.

Earlier this week, Depp appeared at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of “Black Mass” looking bloated and uncomfortable. He’s clearly aiming to follow the path of the late Marlon Brando, and you wonder why. Brando was not a role model for anything except self indulgence. Depp would do a lot better to shake that idea off and come back to Earth immediately.

That said, “Black Mass” is very entertaining and well worth seeing this weekend. Joel Edgerton and Julianne Nicholson are among the stellar players in it. Cooper did a great job. Forget comparisons to Scorsese or anyone else. Just enjoy it for what it is.

Broadway: “Finding Neverland” Snags Terrific Terrence Mann, Kelsey Grammer Still MIA

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: “Finding Neverland” Snags Terrific Terrence Mann, Kelsey Grammer Still MIA

First the good news. Broadway’s “Finding Neverland” still going strong with Matthew Morrison, has snagged the great Terrence Mann to play Charles Frohman and Captain Hook. Terry starts on September 29th, succeeding Anthony Warlow, was who equally terrific in the role.

Mann is coming off a Tony nomination for “Pippin,” also directed by Diane Paulus. His credits list is long and storied. Everyone loves him. And he’s married to Charlotte d’Amboise. He and Matt Morrison will be a wonderful team.

But what the heck happened with Kelsey Grammer? He started the show in March, was there on opening night in April, and left in late June. He said he was coming back in September, but that never materialized. He just left the show– which was quite good in. And he hasn’t turned up on TV or anywhere else since then. He’s not ill– his photo has popped up from time to time and he looks fine. Did he just miss California?

Eliot Sumner (Daughter of Sting & Trudie Styler) Rocks NYC Show, Readies 1st Album

Roger Friedman
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Eliot Sumner (Daughter of Sting & Trudie Styler) Rocks NYC Show, Readies 1st Album

Soon Eliot Sumner (known to her friends and family as Coco) will not be modified as “daughter of Sting and Trudie Styler.” She’s a gifted and unique songwriter and performer, a sincerely seething rocker in the manner  of Chrissie Hynde, with a gravelly voice that recalls Kim Carnes, Marianne Faithfull and Rod Stewart.

Sumner rocked the Lower East Side Pianos bar on Wednesday night with the kind of set every beginning rock would give their studded bracelets for. Yes, mom and dad stood through the show, but so did a lot of young people who didn’t see them and didn’t know what was going on. What was going on? We were seeing the launch of a rock star.

Now Eliot is putting out her first album, come January, on Cherry Tree/Interscope. She already has an EP out with a bunch of tracks that are spot on catchy. Like her dad, Eliot plays a mean bass, and you can hear it throughout her numbers. Her band is tight, too; your feet start moving to the music the minute they take off.

She still has a few dates- posted below. Meantime, I love the song “After Dark.” Four songs are on iTunes. You can pre-order the album, called “Information,” now.

9/18       Philadelphia, PA @ MilkBoy *
9/19       Hamden, CT @ The Space *
9/20       Allston, MA @ Great Scott *
9/22       Toronto, ONT @ The Drake Hotel *
9/23       Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom *
9/24       Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall *
9/25       St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club*

Darlene Love 1st Solo Album Ever: Steve van Zandt Brings Springsteen, Costello. Joan Jett, All Star Songwriters

Roger Friedman
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Darlene Love 1st Solo Album Ever: Steve van Zandt Brings Springsteen, Costello. Joan Jett, All Star Songwriters

Darlene Love is in the Rock and Roll hall of Fame (2011- better late than never), and she’s revered as a pop pioneer. But guess what? She never made a solo album— until now. How is that possible? She had lots of singles, a few under her own name, but mostly as The Crystals and other Phil Spector “groups.” Phil didn’t want her to become a solo star name.

Now Little Steve van Zandt has finally made “Introducing Darlene Love,” with all new songs by a murderer’s row of star songwriters– Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Linda Perry, Joan Jett, Michael des Barres, Jimmy Webb, and legends Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

The album is out today, and it’s like an audio valentine to Darlene’s fans and fans of all great pop and rock music. van Zandt’s clear love for Darlene is unmistakable. He’s put her trademark vocals front and center in every song (except the bombastic “Who Under Heaven” by Webb, which would have been better off without an orchestral break– it’s otherwise very catchy).

The songs are crafted just for Darlene, as is the production. New songs from Costello and Springsteen are a delight. van Zandt himself — a terrific songwriter– contributes two stellar numbers. And Walter Hawkins’s classic gospel song “Marvelous” is the thrilling capper. “Sweet Freedom” by Mann and Weil is absolute perfection. And I’m really digging a re-think of “River Deep Mountain High” as an added bonus. I could listen to her belt that out all day!

Darlene starred in the Oscar winning doc “20 Feet from Stardom,” but now she is the star at last. What a lovely thing. Kudos to van Zandt and company, but even more to Darlene.

Barbra Streisand Agrees to Direct Episode of James Brolin’s New TV Series for Next Spring

Roger Friedman
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Barbra Streisand Agrees to Direct Episode of James Brolin’s New TV Series for Next Spring

EXCLUSIVE Barbra Streisand must be very happy husband James Brolin is out of the house all day working on a new TV series.

Sources tell me that Streisand recently paid a set visit to Brolin’s highly touted new CBS sitcom “Life in Pieces.” The show stars Brolin as the patriarch of an eccentric family. Two time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest his wife, and among their kids are the very talented Colin Hanks, Zoe Lister Jones and Thomas Sadoski.

When Streisand appeared, producers of the show gently suggested that she might direct an episode. Streisand surprised them with her answer. She said she would do it, but only after the series gets picked up for its “back nine,” or the second half of its season through the spring.

Blackmail? Les Moonves, are you listening?

She may have to fulfill her promise. “Life in Pieces” is going to be a hit, and CBS is likely to run a full season order. The show debuts this coming Monday.

Streisand could use the work. She hasn’t directed a film since “The Mirror Has Two Faces” in 1996. She’s never directed TV (god forbid) or appeared on any series except “Saturday Night Live.” She’d be a great character on “The Big Bang Theory,” though.

PS I’m told that Brolin is much loved on the set of the show, is “very funny” and “out there,” the younger members of the cast all love him and Wiest. Weist, who’s really a movie and theater actress, didn’t have much fun on her last TV show, “Law & Order,” years ago. But she’s also getting high marks from the crew. “Life in Pieces” — fingers crossed, hopefully CBS will let it settle in.

The Who Cancel Entire US Tour: Roger Daltrey Has Viral Meningitis

Roger Friedman
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The Who Cancel Entire US Tour: Roger Daltrey Has Viral Meningitis

Roger Daltrey’s viral meningitis causes cancellation of entire tour by The Who this fall. They will reschedule for next spring. Ironic since Daltrey is the one always fit and never took drugs or did anything untoward. Let’s send him prayers and good wishes.

Daltrey says in a statement: “We are very sorry to disappoint our fans in this way. For the last four weeks, I have been in and out of the hospital and have been diagnosed with viral Meningitis. I am now on the mend and feeling a lot better but I am going to need a considerable time to recover. The doctors tell me I will make a complete recovery, but that I should not do any touring this year.”

The Who had cancelled just a few dates prior to this citing Daltrey’s “mystery virus.” Who’s Next? Hopefully, no one.

(Watch Video) Lady Gaga Oscar Song “Till it Happens to You” Hits iTunes for Charity

Roger Friedman
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(Watch Video) Lady Gaga Oscar Song “Till it Happens to You” Hits iTunes for Charity

Lady Gaga’s song “Till It Happens to You” hits iTunes at midnight and the song– which I told you about sometime ago– will earn money for charity.

The song written by Diane Warren comes from the Kirby Dick documentary “The Hunting Ground” about campus rape. Gaga and Warren, as performer and writer, should make it to the Oscars. And because it was released before Sept 30, “Til it Happens to You” could be at the Grammys as well.

gaga itunesWarren has been nominated six times for the Oscar has never won. This is her year. This song is her “Glory.” Gaga produced and performed  beautifully.

Mission Impossible: To Get “Rogue Nation” to $200 Million, 2-for-1 Sale on Tickets

Roger Friedman
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Mission Impossible: To Get “Rogue Nation” to $200 Million, 2-for-1 Sale on Tickets

Oh what to do! Pretty much everyone has seen “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.” The movie’s been a huge hit. As of today, it’s at $188 million.

But that still leaves $12 million to the magic mark of $200 million. What to do?? How to get Tom Cruise that magic number?

Great idea: Paramount is offering a 2 for 1 sale. Starting Friday and going through next Thursday, the 24th, you can get two tickets for the price of one at most major theaters.

This is a smart move. Next week Yom Kippur knocks out at least 24 hours of movie going. This way, Paramount juices interest, and gets a shot closer to $200 million. Movie studios like to reach those nice round numbers. But Rogue Nation is still a skip away, and soon theaters will give it the boot for new movies.

Is it an impossible mission? Let’s see.

Keith Richards Says New Stones Album Next Year, Also He Prefers the “Roll” to the “Rock”

Roger Friedman
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Keith Richards Says New Stones Album Next Year, Also He Prefers the “Roll” to the “Rock”

Keith Richards says there will be a new Rolling Stones album next year. The issue came up in an interview for his new album “Cross Eyed Heart” and the accompanying Netflix film and DVD “Under the Influence.” They are released this week.

The album is wonderful by the way, full of blues and guts. It’s all real and heartfelt. There’s one song on it, called “Lover’s Pen,” that is absolutely remarkable. I hope every smart music fan takes a chance on it. I’m also crazy about “Heartstopper,” “Blues in the Morning,” and “Something for Nothing.”

The movie, directed by Morgan Neville, shows Keith at his most charming. There’s a lot of talk about how the Rolling Stones came to be, and what they mean in the larger picture. You do get the feeling that Keith is kind of an unheralded genius. His reputation as a musician has been obscured by his publicity as a druggie and outlaw. But here he is, still alive, kicking, funny and more thoughtful than ever.

He prefers the “roll” he says, to “the rock.” He’s a blues man. The Stones, he points out, are based on two albums– the Best of Muddy Waters and the Best of Chuck Berry. He and Mick met over those two albums. The movie also shows his great friendship with Buddy Guy. There’s footage of Keith with all of them.

So what if there’s a new Stones album? Keith is the musical heart of the Stones. “Crosseyed Heart” is kind of an essential throw back lesson. And for fun, go back and read his book.

The Beatles: Unreleased Videos Coming November 6th as Part of Restored Greatest Hits

Roger Friedman
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The Beatles: Unreleased Videos Coming November 6th as Part of Restored Greatest Hits
Apple’s Jeff Jones is constantly thinking of new ways to repurpose the Beatles catalog. His new project? A re-release of the Beatles “1” album, 27 number 1 hits along with previously unreleased videos made of the songs from back in the day. The 27 numbers will also be in surround sound 5.1 for the first time. You know you’ll buy it. I’ll buy it. I want it now. There’s also a big color booklet involved. Paul and Ringo did new audio commentary. Here’s a description of the videos. Now we just wait for “Let it Be,” the movie.

BEATLES 1 DVD

DISC ONE

  • 1. LOVE ME DO
    Newly edited clip, featuring material from BBC TV’s The Mersey Sound, with performance footage filmed on 27 August 1963 at the Little Theatre, Southport.
  • 2. FROM ME TO YOU
    A live performance at the 1963 Royal Variety Show, filmed at The Prince Of Wales Theatre, London, on 4 November 1963.
  • 3. SHE LOVES YOU
    A live performance from the Swedish Television show Drop In, recorded on 30 October 1963 during a short Scandinavian tour.
  • 4. I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND
    From the Granada TV programme Late Scene Extra filmed on 25 November 1963.
  • 5. CAN’T BUY ME LOVE
    First broadcast in the TV show Around The Beatles, filmed on 28 April 1964 and broadcast the following month. It features a different audio track to that of hit single, recorded by The Beatles on 19 April 1964.
  • 6. A HARD DAY’S NIGHT
    Live performance at the Palais des Sports, Paris on 20 June 1965, while on a short European tour.
  • 7. I FEEL FINE
    Filmed at Twickenham Film Studios on 23 November 1965. One of ten films shot that day to satisfy global TV demand for broadcast material to accompany The Beatles’ hit records.
  • 8. EIGHT DAYS A WEEK
    A brand new clip edited from material filmed at the Shea Stadium concert in New York City on 15 August 1965, during which the band performed twelve songs, but ‘Eight Days A Week’ was not among them. The clip says so much about the band’s frenetic lifestyle in 1965, at the height of Beatlemania.
  • 9. TICKET TO RIDE
    Filmed at Twickenham Film Studios on 23 November 1965.
  • 10. HELP!
    The less frequently seen clip of those filmed at Twickenham Film Studios on 23 November 1965.
  • 11. YESTERDAY
    Paul performing on The Ed Sullivan Show, videotaped in New York City on 14 August 1965 and broadcast the following month, the day before the single was released in America.
  • 12. DAY TRIPPER
    Three versions of this clip were filmed at Twickenham Film Studios on 23 November 1965. This is version 2, in which all of the group are wearing polo neck sweaters, except for Paul, who wears a black shirt.
  • 13. WE CAN WORK IT OUT
    There were three versions of the ‘We Can Work It Out’ video filmed atat Twickenham Film Studios on 23 November 1965. This is version 2 in which all four Beatles are wearing black polo neck sweaters.
  • 14. PAPERBACK WRITER
    Filmed in 35mm, and in colour, in Chiswick Park, West London, by director Michael Lindsay-Hogg.
  • 15. YELLOW SUBMARINE
    This clip is newly created from original Yellow Submarine footage.
  • 16. ELEANOR RIGBY
    This clip is taken directly from the Yellow Submarine movie.
  • 17. PENNY LANE
    A ground-breaking clip by Swedish director Peter Goldmann that captures The Beatles in Stratford, London, and at Knole Park in Kent, with additional material shot in Liverpool.
  • 18. ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
    Filmed in Studio One at Abbey Road, on 25 June 1967, and beamed around the globe as a part of the TV programme Our World. This colourised version was created for The Beatles Anthology TV programme in 1995.
  • 19. HELLO, GOODBYE
    London’s Saville Theatre was the location for this promo film, shot on 10 November 1967; The Beatles wear their Sgt. Pepper outfits.
  • 20. LADY MADONNA
    Just prior to leaving for India, The Beatles met up in Studio Three at Abbey Road, on 11 February 1968. They were filmed while recording ‘Hey Bulldog’.
  • 21. HEY JUDE
    Filmed at Twickenham Film Studios on 4 September, for broadcast on David Frost’s TV show, Frost On Sunday. The introduction by David Frost is different from that on disc 2.
  • 22. GET BACK
    The promo clip made available at the time of the original release of the single featured performances from the Apple rooftop synched to the record. This new clip has been rebuilt to replicate the original but with improved picture quality.
  • 23. THE BALLAD OF JOHN AND YOKO
    This original promo clip features outtakes from the Let It Be movie, with other private footage shot in Amsterdam, London, Paris and Vienna.
  • 24. SOMETHING
    The video features George and Pattie, John and Yoko, Paul and Linda, and Ringo and Maureen. and was filmed at locations in Berkshire, Surrey, and the Mull of Kintyre.
  • 25. COME TOGETHER
    The clip was created in 2000 by Melon Dezign for the launch of thebeatles.com and the original Beatles 1 album.
  • 26. LET IT BE
    A 1970 promo clip was made available to support the release of the single and it was different to the one featured in the Let It Be movie; this clip has been rebuilt from the original footage.
  • 27. THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD
    This clip is taken straight from the Let It Be movie.

DISC TWO

  • 1. TWIST AND SHOUT
    From the Granada Television programme Scene At 6.30, which was videotaped on 14 August 1963.
  • 2. BABY IT’S YOU
    One of two clips used to promote the single taken from the 1995 Live At The BBC album. The clip is enhanced by the inclusion of unique colour footage of The Beatles filmed outside the BBC’s Paris Studio on Lower Regent Street, London.
  • 3. WORDS OF LOVE
    When On Air – Live At The BBC Volume 2 was released in 2013, it included ‘Words Of Love’, a Buddy Holly composition that the band recorded for radio. This new clip is a mix of existing footage and innovative animation.
  • 4. PLEASE PLEASE ME
    A live performance videotaped on 9 February for The Ed Sullivan Show, which was screened on 23 February 1964.
  • 5. I FEEL FINE
    Filmed at Twickenham Film Studios on 23 November 1965, this clip shows The Beatles eating fish and chips during their lunch break.
  • 6. DAY TRIPPER
    From the TV special The Music Of Lennon & McCartney that first broadcast in mid-December 1965.
  • 7. DAY TRIPPER
    Filmed at Twickenham Film Studios on 23 November 1965, with the group wearing their Shea Stadium Jackets with the ‘Nehru’ collars.
  • 8. WE CAN WORK IT OUT
    Filmed at Twickenham Film Studios on 23 November 1965 – showing The Beatles wearing the Shea Stadium jackets.
  • 9. PAPERBACK WRITER
    Shot on videotape at Abbey Road, on 19 May 1966, this studio version is prefaced by a short introduction by Ringo. It was broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show in America.
  • 10. RAIN
    ‘Rain’, the B-side of ‘Paperback Writer’, was filmed in colour at Chiswick House, West London, on 20 May 1966.
  • 11. RAIN
    This black and white clip is a new edit from several takes of ‘Rain’ videotaped at Abbey Road on 19 May 1966.
  • 12. STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER
    Directed by Peter Goldmann and with newly restored footage, this was filmed at Knole Park, Kent on 30 and 31 January 1967.
  • 13. WITHIN YOU WITHOUT YOU/TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS
    The merging of these two tracks, one from Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the other from Revolver, was created for The Beatles Love show by Cirque du Soleil, which opened in June 2006 in Las Vegas. This video was created to promote the Love album released later that year.
  • 14. A DAY IN THE LIFE
    Filmed in Studio One at Abbey Road on 10 February 1967, this includes classical musicians, who were asked to wear evening dress, fake noses and funny hats for the recording session.
  • 15. HELLO, GOODBYE
    This clip is another shot at London’s Saville Theatre on 10 November 1967; The Beatles wear their ‘street clothes’.
  • 16. HELLO, GOODBYE
    This third version was also shot at London’s Saville Theatre on 10 November 1967; it includes elements from the first two films but with additional footage unique to this edit.
  • 17. HEY BULLDOG
    The original footage from a 1968 shoot for the ‘Lady Madonna’ promo film was unearthed in the mid-1990s. It was revealed that The Beatles were recording ‘Hey Bulldog’ and is an edit done to promote the reissue of the Yellow Submarine movie in 1999.
  • 18. HEY JUDE
    This is an edit of the two other takes filmed on 4 September 1968 for the Frost On Sunday TV show. This has a different David Frost intro to the clip on disc 1.
  • 19. REVOLUTION
    One of two versions, this was shot the same day as ‘Hey Jude’. John’s lead vocal is completely live, as are most of Paul and George’s backing vocals. The instrumentation, including Nicky Hopkins’ electric piano, is from the master tape.
  • 20. GET BACK
    This clip was assembled in 2003 to support the release of the album Let It Be…Naked and utilises studio footage from the famous Get Back/Let It Be sessions.
  • 21. DON’T LET ME DOWN
    This was the B-side of ‘Get Back’ and this clip is a composite of two live performances from the Apple rooftop in 1969. It was made available to support the release of Let It Be…Naked in 2003.
  • 22. FREE AS A BIRD
    The 1995 video is a work of art by director Joe Pytka, who used the concept of a bird’s-eye view to pay homage to many Beatles songs and images.
  • 23. REAL LOVE
    This video directed by Geoff Wonfor and ex-10cc and leading pop promo-maker Kevin Godley, this video was made in 1996 to support the release of the single.
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