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Brit Crix Say Only 6 Films Since 2000 Make Top 100 American Movies of all Time

Roger Friedman
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Brit Crix Say Only 6 Films Since 2000 Make Top 100 American Movies of all Time

Ah, the British film critics? What do they know? Sixty two of them chose what they think are the top 100 American films of all time. “Citizen Kane” and “The Godfather” were numbers 1 and 2. Only 6 came from thge last 14 years. Most are classics that always make the top 100 lists. Five of the six are weird choices, too, like “Mulholland Drive” and “Tree of Life.” “The Dark Knight”? Huh? “Memento” is much better. “Grey Gardens” was a documentary and I think the only one on the list. “Heavens Gate”? Unwatchable even now. And where is “Fantasia”? “Airplane”? “Hannah and Her Sisters” or “Midnight in Paris”? Plenty missing. “Reds.” “Ordinary People.” “Klute.” “All the Presidents Men.” “Serpico.” You get the idea. “Harold and Maude.” “Shampoo.” “Being There.”
And where the hell is “Unforgiven”?

from the BBC website:
The 100 greatest American films

100. Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder, 1951)
99. 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen, 2013)
98. Heaven’s Gate (Michael Cimino, 1980)
97. Gone With the Wind (Victor Fleming, 1939)
96. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008)
95. Duck Soup (Leo McCarey, 1933)
94. 25th Hour (Spike Lee, 2002)
93. Mean Streets (Martin Scorsese, 1973)
92. The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, 1955)
91. ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982)
90. Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979)
89. In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950)
88. West Side Story (Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, 1961)
87. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)
86. The Lion King (Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, 1994)
85. Night of the Living Dead (George A Romero, 1968)
84. Deliverance (John Boorman, 1972)
83. Bringing Up Baby (Howard Hawks, 1938)
82. Raiders of the Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg, 1981)
81. Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991)
80. Meet Me in St Louis (Vincente Minnelli, 1944)
79. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick, 2011)
78. Schindler’s List (Steven Spielberg, 1993)
77. Stagecoach (John Ford, 1939)
76. The Empire Strikes Back (Irvin Kershner, 1980)
75. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Steven Spielberg, 1977)
74. Forrest Gump (Robert Zemeckis, 1994)
73. Network (Sidney Lumet, 1976)
72. The Shanghai Gesture (Josef von Sternberg, 1941)
71. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
70. The Band Wagon (Vincente Minnelli, 1953)
69. Koyaanisqatsi (Godfrey Reggio, 1982)
68. Notorious (Alfred Hitchcock, 1946)
67. Modern Times (Charlie Chaplin, 1936)
66. Red River (Howard Hawks, 1948)
65. The Right Stuff (Philip Kaufman, 1965)
64. Johnny Guitar (Nicholas Ray, 1954)
63. Love Streams (John Cassavetes, 1984)
62. The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
61. Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick, 1999)
60. Blue Velvet (David Lynch, 1986)
59. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Miloš Forman, 1975)
58. The Shop Around the Corner (Ernst Lubitsch, 1940)
57. Crimes and Misdemeanors (Woody Allen, 1989)
56. Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis, 1985)
55. The Graduate (Mike Nichols, 1967)
54. Sunset Boulevard (Billy Wilder, 1950)
53. Grey Gardens (Albert and David Maysles, Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer, 1975)
52. The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah, 1969)
51. Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958)
50. His Girl Friday (Howard Hawks, 1940)
49. Days of Heaven (Terrence Malick, 1978)
48. A Place in the Sun (George Stevens, 1951)
47. Marnie (Alfred Hitchcock, 1964)
46. It’s a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, 1946)
45. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford, 1962)
44. Sherlock Jr (Buster Keaton, 1924)
43. Letter from an Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls, 1948)
42. Dr Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
41. Rio Bravo (Howard Hawks, 1959)
40. Meshes of the Afternoon (Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid, 1943)
39. The Birth of a Nation (DW Griffith, 1915)
38. Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975)
37. Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk, 1959)
36. Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977)
35. Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder, 1944)
34. The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939)
33. The Conversation (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)
32. The Lady Eve (Preston Sturges, 1941)
31. A Woman Under the Influence (John Cassavetes, 1974)
30. Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959)
29. Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980)
28. Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
27. Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick, 1975)
26. Killer of Sheep (Charles Burnett, 1978)
25. Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989)
24. The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960)
23. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
22. Greed (Erich von Stroheim, 1924)
21. Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)
20. Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990)
19. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976)
18. City Lights (Charlie Chaplin, 1931)
17. The Gold Rush (Charlie Chaplin, 1925)
16. McCabe & Mrs Miller (Robert Altman, 1971)
15. The Best Years of Our Lives (William Wyler, 1946)
14. Nashville (Robert Altman, 1975)
13. North by Northwest (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959)
12. Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974)
11. The Magnificent Ambersons (Orson Welles, 1942)
10. The Godfather Part II (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)
9. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942)
8. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
7. Singin’ in the Rain (Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, 1952)
6. Sunrise (FW Murnau, 1927)
5. The Searchers (John Ford, 1956)
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
3. Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958)
2. The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)
1. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941)

Marvel: “Gambit” Movie with Channing Tatum Looks a Go for October Start Date

Roger Friedman
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Marvel: “Gambit” Movie with Channing Tatum Looks a Go for October Start Date

UPDATE THURS JULY 30: “Gambit” was supposed to start shooting in October. Since I wrote this on July 21st, there are reports that Channing Tatum’s deal may be in trouble. It’s a high stakes chess game. Plus Fox is all upset that I’ve reported the names of the characters, who all sound quite pedestrian. So we’ll keep an eye on this and see if “Gambit,” another comic book movie, takes off.

JULY 21: Another Marvel movie is getting ready to start filming this fall. That would be “Gambit,” starring Channing Tatum as Remy LeBeau aka Gambit and directed by Rupert Wyatt. Yesterday I was sent a casting call for a movie called “Chess,” from 20th Century Fox. It took a little reconnoitering to figure out it was “Gambit,” shooting in New Orleans. All the roles are noted to include deals for sequels. I guess Gambit will supplant Wolverine as the new go to guy in Fox’s Marvel universe. PS Taylor Kitsch played Gambit in X Men: Origins.

Jay Z, Eminem, 50 Cent All in One Room for Premiere of Excellent “Southpaw”

Roger Friedman
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Jay Z, Eminem, 50 Cent All in One Room for Premiere of Excellent “Southpaw”

This probably couldn’t have happened ten years ago: Jay Z, Eminem, and 50 Cent all in one small movie theater sitting near each other. But that’s what did happen last night at AMC Lincoln Square for the star studded premiere of “Southpaw” starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Throw in Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and that’s what you call a hip hop audience par excellence.

Also at the premiere were Jake’s sister Maggie Gyllenhaal and her actor husband Peter Sarsgaard. I also ran into Tony winner Alex Sharp from “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime,” as well as Rosie Perez, “Girls” star Zosia Mamet, and actor boyfriend Evan Jongkeit.

Director Antoine Fuqua sent a video from the set of his new movie “The Magnificent Seven.” But Jake was there, along with Rachel McAdams. Naomie Harris, and child star Oona Laurence.

Also MIA was Forest Whitaker, who plays Jake’s boxing coach. “Southpaw” is about a left handed boxer named Billy Hope who’s down for the count in a big way but attempts a resurgence with Whitaker’s help. The performances are just wonderful, giving the movie a lot of heart and soul that overcomes some old cliches. Gyllenhaal and Whitaker will get awards buzz this fall in a big way.

Rosie Perez told me she does not feel gypped by “The View.” Even though she’s leaving the show after one season, she has not regrets. I am bitter for her, but that’s my problem!

I was also introduced to ultra- marathoner Scott Jurek and his beautiful wife Jenny by Sarsgaard. Over the weekend, Jurek completed a record breaking 46 day run of the Appalachian trail. And the Appalachians, living up to their reputation, rewarded him with tickets for public drinking, littering and hiking with an oversized group. You can’t make this up. Good grief.

Anyway, “Southpaw” has all marks of a hit and a big entertainment. It’s a little different for the Weinstein Company, something of a big studio movie for them. The film is dedicated to late composer James Horner, who died tragically last month piloting his private plane.

More on “Southpaw” later today. I couldn’t get downtown to the after party at Jay Z’s 40/40 club, but I do hope Jake was allowed to eat something other than a protein shake and a celery stalk.

Sony Leaks: Adam Sandler’s Jet Setting, Office Expenses Cost Movie Studio And “Stresses Out” Executive

Roger Friedman
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Sony Leaks: Adam Sandler’s Jet Setting, Office Expenses Cost Movie Studio And “Stresses Out” Executive

This week we get another Adam Sandler movie, “Pixels.” Insiders say it’s not good (actually word from last week’s screening was worse, I’m being kind.) Sandler’s continuing decline at the box office has sent him to Netflix for a four picture deal. The first one, “The Ridiculous Six,” sounds like it’s a parody of Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight.” We’ll see how that works out.

Sandler’s expenses at Sony, home of “Pixels” and his other projects, continue to climb however. In the emails from the Wikileaks Sony hack, there are some eye opening conversations about Sandler’s rising costs.

In one, titled “Sandler Jet Fund,” one exec says he’s “stressed out” about the money Sandler is spending on flying around on Sony jets:
Fwd: Sandler jet fund

This is stressing me out.
I don’t know how to solve so you don’t have to go to ML without creating some kind of new fund on Pixels or something.
Let’s put our heads together later today and figure it out with Sandy.

That email was in response to this one:

Adam had $168,500. he took a trip LA/NY/FL/LA over Thanksgiving that cost $69K, so he had $99,500 left.

now there’s a NY trip planned for Dec. 12 – 15 for about $55K.

then there’s another trip planned to HI for Dec. 23 – 31 for about $68K.

his $99,500 minus the HI trip for $68K leaves him $31,500.

if he & Amy [Pascal] share the cost of the NY trip ($27,500 each), then he’d have $4K left.

Sony execs also hoped the Netflix deal would mean having a partner to fund Sandler’s offices on their lot:
ML/AP: further to yesterday’s meeting, of the $2M annually we are incurring for happy madison’s oh, approximately $750K is for office space and office expenses. I’ve spoken with WME, and given Sarandos’ certainty re: the 4 pics being produced AS WELL AS the fact that pic #1 may very-well be the “Riddiculous Six” western project, the rights to which we still control, I just might be able to get Netflix to pick up $1M of the $2M oh (500k has already been offered, so I’m trying to get another 500k).

If I can get $1M/yr from Netflix, then we’re really just covering approx 250k in salary contribution since the other 750k is essentially a cost that would be incurred with or without Sandler occupying the Garland space he presently occupies.

I will keep you updated.

Here’s a clip from the short film upon which “Pixels” is based:

PIXELS / The short film from ONE MORE on Vimeo.

Buddy Buie, 74, Wrote “Spooky,” “Stormy,” “So Into You,” Many Pop Classics

Roger Friedman
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Buddy Buie, 74, Wrote “Spooky,” “Stormy,” “So Into You,” Many Pop Classics

So sorry to hear that Buddy Buie has died at age 74. He wrote all those classic hits for Dennis Yost and the Classics IV— “Spooky,” “Stormy,” “Traces,” as well as the Atlanta Rhythm Section’s “So Into You” and other hits. I interviewed Buddy a few years ago when John Legend turned “Spooky” into his “Save Room.” I thought Buddy would be upset, but he was thrilled to get the money. Rest in peace, Buddy!

Paul Newman Foundation President Nearly Doubled Salary in Four Years

Roger Friedman
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Paul Newman Foundation President Nearly Doubled Salary in Four Years

Robert Forrester, CEO of Newman’s Own, Paul Newman’s charitable foundation, has nearly doubled his salary in the last four years. In 2010, the Foundation reported that Forrester earned $185,000. In 2013, Forrester took in $295,000. He’s gotten substantial raises ever since the 2010 filing– the first year he started reporting his salary as an individual line item on the Foundation’s Form 990. Up til then, for five years, he was lumping it in with entire Newmans Own staff, which was a little weird, to say the least.

This is all of interest because Vanity Fair’s Mark Seal has an excellent story this month about Newmans Own and complaints from Paul Newman’s daughter Susan about Forrester. Seal does a great job but for some reason he didn’t look into the actual numbers filed by Newmans Own in his story. I did.

Susan Newman may have a very solid complaint after all. Since her father’s death in 2008, Forrester has increased his own take, brought in other highly paid staffers, and even transitioned his accountant into a top paying salaried position at the Foundation. Total salaries of the top Newmans Own staff were listed at $1.4 million for 2013-almost three times what they were in 2009. Paul Newman, who wanted all the money from salad dressing and other products, to go to charity– would be shocked. And I can see why Susan Newman might be wondering what’s going on.

The continually increasing compensation for Newmans Own top staff also doesn’t look good in light of Forrester– according to Seal– closing the California rehab center named for Newman’s son Scott. That was the project closest to Paul Newman’s heart. Forrester, according to Seal, “defunded” the Center and it closed in 2013 after almost 30 years.

There’s certainly a lot of wonky looking accounting in the Newmans Own reports. In 2013, there’s an add on at the end that Forrester has been leasing office space to Newmans Own worth $30,000. The note says Newmans Own isn’t paying rent on it. That space may be in Farmington, Connecticut, far from Westport, where Newmans is headquartered. But Farmington is the address Forrester uses, as well as the accountant who went on staff, Robert Haggett. Haggett was paid $185,000 for what’s listed as 20 hours a week work. Forrester, for his $300,000, only lists a 30 hour work week.

Newmans Own nevertheless gives away millions of dollars to charity every year. But the Newman family certainly isn’t getting any of it, so don’t worry. And Seal carefully sidesteps the reason Joanne Woodward, Newman’s widow and famed, beloved actress doesn’t comment on the situation. Due to illness, she is unable to. She has no idea what’s going on.

I don’t know what will happen because of Seal’s story or my information that I’ve added here. But it does seem like it’s worth an internal investigation.

Box Office: Trainwreck Hits Sweet Spot, Outdoes Itself; “Ant” Falls Short

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: Trainwreck Hits Sweet Spot, Outdoes Itself; “Ant” Falls Short

The real story this weekend wasn’t that “Ant Man” fell short of $60 million– it did $58 million and probably a little less.

The story is that “Trainwreck” made $30 million and maybe a little more. Judd Apatow and Amy Schumer hit the sweet spot for comedies, and raked it in. The movie built on word of mouth and continues to. Plus, Schumer and Apatow keep doing publicity well after the movie opens. They are persistent. And it’s paid off handsomely. “Trainwreck” is turning into a big hit, a la “Bridesmaids.” I have no idea what Schumer would do as a follow up– “Trainwreck” is basically her story– but it almost doesn’t matter.

Kudos to Bill Hader, who’s getting lost in the PR mix. He’s made a nice transition from “SNL” to comedy leading man.

“Ant Man” did fine– who doesn’t want to make $58 million? So it’s a little less than big Marvel movies. Maybe it’s also a little smarter, or funnier. The second “Ant Man” will be much bigger, and everyone will Marvel at that. And now at least Paul Rudd can eat something.

Woody Allen’s “Irrational Man” averaged over $37K in five theaters. He’s off to a good start. If Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix do some publicity this week and next, they might be rewarded with decent box office and some awards buzz later in the year. Parker Posey needs a Supporting Actress campaign. She is excellent in this film.

Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch Still for Sale, No Mention of Pop Star’s Name in Listing

Roger Friedman
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Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch Still for Sale, No Mention of Pop Star’s Name in Listing

Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch went on sale at the end of May for $100 million. That was widely reported. But now that it’s called Sycamore Valley Ranch, Sotheby’s makes no mention of the property’s history. Jackson’s name and all references to Neverland have been scrubbed. It’s now just a big property with lots of extras, but of course no zoo or carnival rides or movie theater. You’d think the Neverland mystique would help sell the property. But Sotheby’s obviously thinks it’s better not to mention it.
http://www.sothebyshomes.com/Santa-Ynez-Real-Estate/sales/0113927

Cee Lo Green Is Back with New Single “Robin Williams” and Unusual Video That Will Mess You Up

Roger Friedman
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Cee Lo Green Is Back with New Single “Robin Williams” and Unusual Video That Will Mess You Up

Cee Lo is back! I love him, actually. His new single is called “Robin Williams,” which is a little daring. It’s all about heroes we’ve lost to unknown pain. (It’s accompanied by a video that’s called interactive. But be careful of it. I had problems with it.) But the song is very interesting. A nice tribute to Robin and shout outs to others who we loved but couldn’t make it.

these videos are safe

Mission Impossible? Tom Cruise Film Isn’t Finished Yet, Won’t Be Til Next Week

Roger Friedman
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Mission Impossible? Tom Cruise Film Isn’t Finished Yet, Won’t Be Til Next Week

The folks who saw “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation” last night in LA and NY didn’t see a finished film. I’m told that Christopher McQuarrie allowed a version to be shown missing a finished scene. The scene shows Tom Cruise underwater holding his breath.

“The special effects aren’t finished yet,” says a source. “They’ll be done right before the movie premieres next Thursday in Vienna.”

It’s not surprising, considering that “Rogue Nation” is opening five months early. It was originally on Paramount’s schedule for Christmas Day. But the studio wanted to get it out of the way of the new Star Wars and James Bond movies.

Meanwhile, Variety reports that advance tracking for “Rogue Nation” is “soft.” They’re now saying it could have a $40 million opening weekend on July 31st. That would be a huge disappointment for Paramount. But Cruise has never been a big opener, and his movies — with the exception of the “Mission Impossible” franchise– usually struggle to hit $100 million total.

Compounding his problems is that as time goes by, Cruise is better known as a nut who belongs to Scientology than as a movie star. The average 20 year old was around 10 when Cruise was jumping on Oprah’s couch and fighting with Matt Lauer. Plus, HBO’s “Going Clear” documentary paints him as sort of crazy.

But Cruise works his magic at premieres, especially in Europe. He still sells like crazy in foreign countries, particularly South Korea and Russia, where Scientology isn’t a big deal. They just want movie stars. And once people hear the “Mission Impossible” theme music, that’s usually a positive trigger.

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