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Billie Holiday, Other Legends, Coming to the Apollo Theater as Holograms

Roger Friedman
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Billie Holiday, Other Legends, Coming to the Apollo Theater as Holograms

The Apollo Theater is going to start having daytime shows starring holograms. (Did I just write that?)

Yes, Billie Holiday is first thanks to something called Holograms USA. The Apollo will be the first theater to use this new patented technology, according to a press release.

Of course this means no meet and greets, no opening night parties for the star, no autographs. On the other hand, the Apollo can cut way back on catering for the star. No perk package. The rider will just say, Make sure the air is dust-free.

Will people come to this? Why not? And the Holiday estate gets paid. Jake Wisely, CEO of The Bicycle Music Company, which manages Holiday’s estate, said in the release: “As we continue to celebrate Billie Holiday’s centennial, we are thrilled to partner on this initiative that will help connect contemporary audiences with Lady Day’s music and legacy in a fresh, exciting way.”

Someone tell Audra McDonald she needn’t have bothered to learn all those songs last year.

Me, I like to see people in person. I don’t see dead people. Not yet, anyway.

By the way, this company, Hologram USA, is bringing back Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Patsy Cline, Liberace, and Buddy Holly, as well as dead rapper Big Pun. They also have Andy Kaufman on their website. I knew he wasn’t dead!

Johnny Depp in “Black Mass” Will Be A Big Hit Because of the Exceptional Cast

Roger Friedman
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Johnny Depp in “Black Mass” Will Be A Big Hit Because of the Exceptional Cast

You always see Francine Maisler’s name on movie credits. She cast “Birdman.” This year she has “Steve Jobs.” She also put together the people in “Black Mass.”

If Scott Cooper’s movie about Whitey Bulger is a hit, and it will be, credit Francine. The cast of “Black Mass” following star Johnny Depp is pitch perfect without a mistake. The supporting players do exactly what they’re supposed to– illuminate Depp’s solid, if sometimes ephemeral, performance.

I am talking about Joel Edgerton as bad FBI guy John Connolly, Kevin Bacon as the CBI chief, Corey Stoll as the DA, Jesse Plemons as Bulger’s lackey, David Harbour as Edgerton’s partner, and Rory Cochrane as Bulger’s stooge. Peter Sarsgaard gives the most colorful and fun performance as as a druggie informant. Julianne Nicholson is harrowing as Edgerton’s wife.

The group of them are among the best ensembles ever, very Scorsese like. Indeed, director Scott Cooper has a made a violent but entertaining film that is Scorsese-ish. I guess there’s no getting around that. It’s from the Scorsese School of Gangster Movies. And that isn’t a bad thing.

Depp is the best he’s been in years, maybe since “Finding Neverland.” He’s low key, restrained, embedded in Bulger. His “Pirates” tics, which ran rampant in “The Lone Ranger,” are eradicated. His features are too fine, and his face a little too pretty to be an exact lookalike for Bulger, the psychopathic Boston gangster who killed people remorselessly with his bare hands. But Depp is great at the too-bright eyes shining from a dark skull.

What “Black Mass” doesn’t really explain is why Whitey is a murdering maniac and his brother, Bill, played with the usual panache by Benedict Cumberbatch, is the opposite: pillar of the community, suave, successful politician. All we know is they have a sainted Irish mother who’s also a card shark. Whitey, like most Depp characters, remains an enigma, and a cypher.

Will “Black Mass” bring Depp back to the Oscars. I think so. It’s hard to say. Edgerton is a cinch for Supporting nomination. Watch him toward the end when things start going against Connolly. Edgerton’s face actually collapses as Corey Stoll lays into him. Amazing.

China “Burning Bridges” with Bon Jovi, Cancels Group’s Tour Possibly Over Dalai Lama

Roger Friedman
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China “Burning Bridges” with Bon Jovi, Cancels Group’s Tour Possibly Over Dalai Lama

Jon Bon Jovi and group may be victims of Chinese censorship. China has just cancelled the group’s two shows in Macau scheduled for September 25th and 26th.

The reason appears to be a concert video made years ago in which the Dalai Lama is seen behind the singers on a video screen.

China hates the Dalai Lama, and abhors any support of Tibet.

Bon Jovi is already on the way to Jakarta for a short far East tour before heading to Dubai and Tel Aviv. The Financial Times says AEG Asia is trying to fix things, but who knows? Macau is like the Las Vegas of China. It seems impossible that other western acts who’ve supported the Dalai Lama haven’t played there, but maybe.

Bon Jovi’s latest album, ironically, is called “Burning Bridges.”

Stay tuned…

Lily Tomlin Gets Another Senior, Charlotte Rampling, as Oscar Competition

Roger Friedman
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Lily Tomlin Gets Another Senior, Charlotte Rampling, as Oscar Competition

You know I am crazy about Lily Tomlin in “Grandma.” She’s a solid Oscar contender. She has another “Senior” in the competition, and that’s very good news.

Charlotte Rampling gives an absolute knockout performance in IFC Films’ “45 Years.” She co-stars with legendary British actor Tom Courtenay as a childless couple facing their 45th anniversary with a big secret hanging over their heads. Geraldine James, one of my favorite Brit actresses, is their friend.

I’m going to tell you upfront that no one dies and no one is sick in “45 Years.” My first thought going in was that this was “Amour” or the Julie Christie Alzheimer’s movie “Away from Her.” It is neither. Kate and Jeff are extremely vital people with a subtle issue that eats away at them. The screenplay by director Andrew Haigh based on a short story by David Constantine is fascinating and beautifully turned out. There’s just enough wry humor in it, too, to keep it from getting maudlin.

Rampling is probably best known to American audiences lately from “Dexter.” Hah! She’s worked every year since 1965, when she was 19. Her most famous American movie roles are “The Night Porter” (1974) and Woody Allen’s “Stardust Memories” (1980). Her work is consistently top notch. But this is her best ever performance, capping a very proud career. Hooray for her!

Tom Courtenay is not chopped liver by any means. He will be cited come awards time too. For IFC this is like the elder “Boyhood” in a way. I hope they put some muscle into it. A beautiful study of marriage, of relationships, of wondering if we knew our own lives at all.

Aretha Franklin Doc “Amazing Grace” Removed from Toronto Film Festival, Too

Roger Friedman
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Aretha Franklin Doc “Amazing Grace” Removed from Toronto Film Festival, Too

I told you when this started it would end badly. “Amazing Grace,” the 1972 documentary about Aretha Franklin, has been removed from the Toronto Film Festival. A court order took it out of Telluride. It was cancelled by the Chicago Film Festival. And now it’s over at TIFF.

There are legal and moral reasons abounding here. Aretha’s lawyers have a 2011 settlement signed by Allan Elliot in which he agreed not to release “Amazing Grace” without Franklin’s permission. Then Elliot went around and claimed he found a contract Franklin signed with Warner Music forty years ago. He just wants to release this movie, and Franklin be damned.

But the Colorado judge stopped it. I would guess the legal fees involved in fighting in Toronto are too much. Also, what judge will allow this to go forward without Aretha’s permission?

There’s nothing salacious in the movie. It’s a beautiful work that one day everyone will see. But when Aretha wants us to see it.

Teen Heart throb Ansel Elgort is Aka DJ Ansolo, And Is Releasing a Single

Roger Friedman
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Teen Heart throb Ansel Elgort is Aka DJ Ansolo, And Is Releasing a Single

Ansel Elgort is really the overnight sensation, isn’t he? Now he’s also a record spinner called DJ Ansolo. In real life, not in a movie.

And now DJ Ansolo is releasing a single on Island Records. It’s called “To Life.” They don’t say but I’m pretty sure it’s not the hip hop version of “To Life (L’Chaim)” from “Fiddler on the Roof.” The press release doesn’t say what this single is sampled from, or who sings on it, or what Ansel does. I know that he wears headphones.
The music is called EDM, and I know there’s a cure for that.

Kids, if you’re reading this put on your headphones and listen to this video:

from the press release: Ansolo will embark on an international tour which will kick off September 12th in Las Vegas at Caesars’ Omnia Nightclub.  Other stops will include appearances at major festivals including Electric Zoo in New York on September 5th, TomorrowWorld in Fairburn, GA on September 26th and Ultra Music Festivals throughout Asia (full routing below).

About Ansolo:

Ansel Elgort is an American actor, music producer and DJ under the name “Ansolo.” His first release was on indi dance label Staar Traxx after sending a demo to the label’s email in 2013. His next record was signed by Steve Angello to his highly credited label SIZE records. His music has been played by DJs such as Axwell Ingrosso, Steve Angello, Tiesto, Above and Beyond and Armin Van Buuren. Ansolo has played stages at some of EDM’s most prestigious festivals including ULTRA Music Festival and Electric Zoo.

 

Dates are listed below:

 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH

Las Vegas – OMNIA

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH

Singapore – ULTRA

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH

Taipei – ULTRA

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st

Tokyo – ULTRA

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH

Bali – ULTRA

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH

Fairburn, GA – Tomorrow World

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2nd

Vancouver, BC – Celebrities

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD

Las Vegas, NV – Omnia

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14TH

Amsterdam, NL – Protocol Records ADE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17th

Amsterdam, NL – Red Light ADE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31st

Washington DC – ECHOSTAGE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7th

Las Vegas, NV – Omnia

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20th

Las Vegas, NV – Omnia

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27th

Los Angeles – The Shrine

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28th

Oakland, CA – Fox Theatre

Roger Daltrey Mystery Virus Forces The Who to Cancel First Several Dates of Latest Farewell Tour

Roger Friedman
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Roger Daltrey Mystery Virus Forces The Who to Cancel First Several Dates of Latest Farewell Tour

I always say I won’t get fooled again. But the Who have had many farewell tours over the last 30 or so years. They’ve retired more times than Bernie Williams played his last game with the Yankees, and that’s saying something.

Anyway, now The Who have canceled the first four dates on their fall farewell tour because Roger Daltrey, who is never sick, has a mystery viral infection.

September 14 at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, September 16 at Honda Center in Anaheim, September 19 at Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and September 21 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles–have been postponed.

It must be serious because the group is also skipping The I Heart Radio concert in Vegas on September 18th. That’s for Clear Channel, which owns the rock stations that might still be playing The Who. Of course, the Who– like everyone else– aren’t being paid for their pre-1972 recordings on radio. So “Tommy” and “Who’s Next” and singles like “My Generation” are all being played for free on Clear Channel/I Heart Radio stations. But that’s another story (and a lawsuit).

I love The Who. I watch “CSI” shows just to hear their songs. “Who’s Next” just gets better and better. Let’s hope Roger Daltrey does, too. Unspecified virus? Call Norton, I say.

PS In the old days Keith Moon would have played even if he had a virus. He would have played because he had a virus. We’ve all gotten old…

Amy Schumer, John Oliver Only Entertainers to Make Vanity Fair’s Top 30 New Establishment List

Roger Friedman
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Amy Schumer, John Oliver Only Entertainers to Make Vanity Fair’s Top 30 New Establishment List

Who are the leaders in entertainment from the New Establishment? Vanity Fair put only two in its top 30: Amy Schumer (15) and John Oliver (28).

Otherwise, the top 30 starts with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook fame, who’s on the cover, and you can guess from there. The leaders of Uber, Air bnb, Instagram and so on fill up the list.

Google’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin fell from number 2 to 5.

Marvel’s Kevin Feige is the highest ranking movie exec, at 11. Jason Blum, trained by Harvey and Bob Weinstein, is at number 31. He’s made a bloody fortune producing horror films and occasional art house fare (“Whiplash,” “The Normal Heart”).

After Schumer and Oliver the next actor who comes up on the list is Jessica Alba, at 36. Her Honest Company is worth $200 million. Her husband’s name, by the way, is Cash. Really. Actor Jared Leto is at number 38.

Two glaring omissions: actor Ashton Kutcher, who’s a big investor in all things tech with his partner Jason Goldberg; and director Brett Ratner, who’s now funding almost all of Warner Bros.’ slate with James Packer in RatPac Entertainment. Very odd.

Even odder: Hillary Clinton made a separate list of top 25 entertainment and media types. She’s the lone politician. I guess Vanity Fair finds her entertaining.

The jockeying for position on these lists must be insane. Who’s out, who’s in, etc. must have kept publicists burning up their mobile minutes way into the night.

Sam Smith’s James Bond “Spectre” Song is Called “Writing’s on the Wall”

Roger Friedman
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Sam Smith’s James Bond “Spectre” Song is Called “Writing’s on the Wall”

Sam Smith’s James Bond “Spectre” song is called “Writing’s on the Wall.” It will be released September 25th. Smith was allowed to Tweet the news over night. Now we know why Smith had to lose so much weight this summer– they needed to use his photo in profile. Well, that’s pretty good incentive! Smith wrote the song with partner Jimmy Napier (Jimmy Napes) in 10 minutes. They recorded it last January. So he kept the secret all year, even when he was winning Grammy Awards. The NSA should hire him!

Unlike “Skyfall,” this song doesn’t have the title of the movie in its name. But a few Bond songs have gone in that direction, notably “Nobody Does it Better,” Carly Simon’s huge hit from “The Spy Who Loved Me.” That song does mention the title in its lyrics. Most Bond songs, like “Goldfinger” and “For Your Eyes Only,” use the title of the movie for the song’s as well.

But what would rhyme with “Spectre”? Hector? Nectar? And probably no one wanted Phil Spector to think it was about him.

Martin Milner, Star of “Adam 12,” “Route 66,” and “The Sweet Smell of Success,” Dies

Roger Friedman
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0
Martin Milner, Star of “Adam 12,” “Route 66,” and “The Sweet Smell of Success,” Dies

Marty Milner starred in one of the great movies of all time, “The Sweet Smell of Success,” with Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis. He has passed away at age 83. Milner is fondly remembered as the star of two TV series, “Route 66” and “Adam 12.” He was a real TV pioneer actor, working constantly without a break from the late 1940s until 1997. Rest in peace. If someone knows if he has a star on the Walk of Fame, let me know. He should.

Sweet Smell of Success

Route 66

with Sally Field in “Gidget”

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