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NYTimes Desperate: Accepts Full Page Scientology Ad Bashing HBO Doc, Compares to Rolling Stone-UVA

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The New York Times is so desperate for money that it accepted a full page Scientology ad bashing an unseen HBO documentary. The ad compares Alex Gibney’s documentary based on Lawrence Wright’s book “Going Clear” to the the episode involving Rolling Stone and the University of Virginia. In that case, Rolling Stone had to retract its article after admitting they had not spoken to alleged rapists. In this case, the Gibney doc is based on a much respected, thoroughly researched, vetted and awarded book. There is no similarity.

But Scientology has vowed to go on the offensive against the doc, which airs in mid March and will have its premiere in two weeks at the Sundance Film Festival. GibneyAd2-e1421409155315Gibney is also the very respected director of many award winning documentaries. Scientology’s claims against HBO and Gibney have all been refuted. And Scientology uses a quote from Ed Kosner, writing in the Wall Street Journal about Rolling Stone-UVA, that has nothing to do with this situation. I rather think Kosner did a spit take this morning when he saw his name. The former long time editor of New York Magazine and the Daily News would never want his name associated with Scientology.

What Scientology doesn’t seem to realize is they’ve now given 3 or 4 million people news that there is such a documentary. It’s the best advertising HBO could have asked for — for free. I doubt many Scientologists and Xenu worshipers are reading the Times. But plenty of people who bought the book, who’ve heard the stories about the religious cult, are going to tune in now in droves.

Critics Choice Awards 2015: Boyhood Best Picture, Birdman Is Best Ensemble, Other Winners: Julianne, Arquette, LEGO Movie, Keaton, Linklater

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The Critics Choice Awards, voted by the Broadcast Critics, were handed out tonight in Hollywood. I’ve been Tweeting @showbiz411.

So far:

BEST ENSEMBLE– Birdman

YOUNGER ACTOR– Ellar Coltrane, Boyhood

BEST ACTOR IN ACTION MOVIE— Bradley Cooper, American Sniper

BEST ACTRESS IN ACTION MOVIE— Emily Blunt, Edge of Tomorrow– that was cute, husband John Krasinski just surprised her. Very Cute. “I’m terrified I’ll wake up one morning and you’re benching me.” LOL.

BEST ACTION MOVIE— Guardians of the Galaxy

BEST SCORE— Birdman

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE– The LEGO Movie– after not being nominated for an Oscar earlier today. They also have the New York Film Critics.

MVP AWARD— Jessica Chastain, the epitome of grace

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR– JK Simmons, “Whiplash”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS— Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”

BEST SONG — Glory, by Common and John Legend, from “Selma”

GENIUS AWARD— Ron Howard

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST EDITING-– “Birdman”

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY— Michael Keaton for “Birdman”

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY— Jenny Slate, “Birdman”

BEST COMEDY-– “The Grand Budapest Hotel”

BEST DIRECTOR— Richard Linklater. “Boyhood”

BEST ACTRESS— Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”

BEST ACTOR— Michael Keaton, “Birdman”

BEST PICTURE

 

 

 

 

Oscar Snubs: Angelina-Unbroken, Into the Woods, Eastwood, LEGO, So Many More

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The Oscar nominations were cruel this morning. Snubbed: Into the Woods, Unbroken, Clint Eastwood as director of Best Picture nominee American Sniper. The LEGO Movie was ignored. Almost all of “Selma” was tossed out, except for a Best Picture nod that’s meaningless now. Foxcatcher would have had that spot. The Bennett Miller film got everything but Best Picture.

It’s an all white Oscars. No David Oyelowo or Carmen Ejogo. No Ava Duvernay. People will talk about whether this is racism. Or if it’s because Paramount didn’t send out screeners. But how can that be? Everyone knew the movie existed, and should have gotten to the many screenings. A big campaign was conducted against “Selma,” and it worked.

Also out: Jennifer Aniston in “Cake” and Amy Adams in “Big Eyes.”

In: Robert Duvall’s good performance in a bad movie, “The Judge.”

2015 Oscars: Selma Given Token Nom, But It’s Out: Boyhood, Birdman, Imitation Game Sweep

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Selma is out. The Academy didn’t vote for David Oyelowo, it’s shocking. And now Selma is out, and the Oscars are all white.

Unbroken is out, so is Into the Woods. They were the two biggest box office films of this season. Except for Meryl Streep, they are gone. Angelina Jolie’s whole production was tossed. Ridiculous.

Good news though for Foxcatcher– director Bennett Miller, stars Carell and Ruffalo are all in. So is Bradley Cooper for American Sniper, which is right. But Oyelowo’s omission is tragic and inexplicable.

Best Picture
American Sniper – Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan, Producers
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)- Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W. Skotchdopole, Producers
Boyhood – Richard Linklater and Cathleen Sutherland, Producers
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson, Producers
The Imitation Game – Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky and Teddy Schwarzman, Producers
Selma – Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers
The Theory of Everything – Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten, Producers
Whiplash – Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook and David Lancaster, Producers

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Steve Carell in “Foxcatcher”
Bradley Cooper in “American Sniper”
Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Imitation Game”
Michael Keaton in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything”

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Robert Duvall in “The Judge”
Ethan Hawke in “Boyhood”
Edward Norton in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Mark Ruffalo in “Foxcatcher”
J.K. Simmons in “Whiplash”

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Marion Cotillard in “Two Days, One Night”
Felicity Jones in “The Theory of Everything”
Julianne Moore in “Still Alice”
Rosamund Pike in “Gone Girl”
Reese Witherspoon in “Wild”

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Patricia Arquette in “Boyhood”
Laura Dern in “Wild”
Keira Knightley in “The Imitation Game”
Emma Stone in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Meryl Streep in “Into the Woods”

Best animated feature film of the year

“Big Hero 6” Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli
“The Boxtrolls” Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable and Travis Knight
“How to Train Your Dragon 2” Dean DeBlois and Bonnie Arnold
“Song of the Sea” Tomm Moore and Paul Young
“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” Isao Takahata and Yoshiaki Nishimura

Achievement in cinematography

“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Emmanuel Lubezki
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Robert Yeoman
“Ida” Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski
“Mr. Turner” Dick Pope
“Unbroken” Roger Deakins

Achievement in costume design

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Milena Canonero
“Inherent Vice” Mark Bridges
“Into the Woods” Colleen Atwood
“Maleficent” Anna B. Sheppard and Jane Clive
“Mr. Turner” Jacqueline Durran

Achievement in directing

“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu
“Boyhood” Richard Linklater
“Foxcatcher” Bennett Miller
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Wes Anderson
“The Imitation Game” Morten Tyldum

Best documentary feature

“CitizenFour” Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky
“Finding Vivian Maier” John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
“Last Days in Vietnam” Rory Kennedy and Keven McAlester
“The Salt of the Earth” Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and David Rosier
“Virunga” Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara

Best documentary short subject

“Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry
“Joanna” Aneta Kopacz
“Our Curse” Tomasz Sliwinski and Maciej Slesicki
“The Reaper (La Parka)” Gabriel Serra Arguello
“White Earth” J. Christian Jensen

Achievement in film editing

“American Sniper” Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach
“Boyhood” Sandra Adair
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Barney Pilling
“The Imitation Game” William Goldenberg
“Whiplash” Tom Cross

Best foreign language film of the year

“Ida” Poland
“Leviathan” Russia
“Tangerines” Estonia
“Timbuktu” Mauritania
“Wild Tales” Argentina

Achievement in makeup and hairstyling

“Foxcatcher” Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier
“Guardians of the Galaxy” Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Alexandre Desplat
“The Imitation Game” Alexandre Desplat
“Interstellar” Hans Zimmer
“Mr. Turner” Gary Yershon
“The Theory of Everything” Jóhann Jóhannsson

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

“Everything Is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie”
Music and Lyric by Shawn Patterson
“Glory” from “Selma”
Music and Lyric by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn
“Grateful” from “Beyond the Lights”
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from “Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me”
Music and Lyric by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond
“Lost Stars” from “Begin Again”
Music and Lyric by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois

Achievement in production design

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
“The Imitation Game” Production Design: Maria Djurkovic; Set Decoration: Tatiana Macdonald
“Interstellar” Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
“Into the Woods” Production Design: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
“Mr. Turner” Production Design: Suzie Davies; Set Decoration: Charlotte Watts

Best animated short film

“The Bigger Picture” Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees
“The Dam Keeper” Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi
“Feast” Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed
“Me and My Moulton” Torill Kove
“A Single Life” Joris Oprins

Best live action short film

“Aya” Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis
“Boogaloo and Graham” Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney
“Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak)” Hu Wei and Julien Féret
“Parvaneh” Talkhon Hamzavi and Stefan Eichenberger
“The Phone Call” Mat Kirkby and James Lucas

Achievement in sound editing

“American Sniper” Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Martín Hernández and Aaron Glascock
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” Brent Burge and Jason Canovas
“Interstellar” Richard King
“Unbroken” Becky Sullivan and Andrew DeCristofaro

Achievement in sound mixing

“American Sniper” John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and Thomas Varga
“Interstellar” Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker and Mark Weingarten
“Unbroken” Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and David Lee
“Whiplash” Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley

Achievement in visual effects

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Bryan Grill and Dan Sudick
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett and Erik Winquist
“Guardians of the Galaxy” Stephane Ceretti, Nicolas Aithadi, Jonathan Fawkner and Paul Corbould
“Interstellar” Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher
“X-Men: Days of Future Past” Richard Stammers, Lou Pecora, Tim Crosbie and Cameron Waldbauer

Adapted screenplay

“American Sniper” Written by Jason Hall
“The Imitation Game” Written by Graham Moore
“Inherent Vice” Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson
“The Theory of Everything” Screenplay by Anthony McCarten
“Whiplash” Written by Damien Chazelle

Original screenplay

“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo
“Boyhood” Written by Richard Linklater
“Foxcatcher” Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Screenplay by Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness
“Nightcrawler” Written by Dan Gilroy

 

 

 

 

Exclusive: Kelsey Grammer Will Drive Family Cross Country to Be in Broadway Show

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Exclusive: Fraser Crane would never do this: Kelsey Grammer and his family, including wife Kayte and their two little kids are planning their own National Lampoon Vacation. Kelsey and co. are moving to New York so he can co-star with Matthew Morrison in the musical version of “Finding Neverland” on Broadway.

And how will they get there? “I’m looking at RVs right now,” Kelsey told me last night at the Valentino store on Rodeo Drive. The occasion was a book signing by Carlos d’Souza for his new book called “#Carlos’s Places.”

So why the cross country trip? “We’re going to make some stops along the way to see various people,” Kelsey explained. They’re taking a combination northern and southern route.

Also at the Valentino signing: Oscar winner Anne Hathaway and husband Adam Shulman, getting excited about “Song One,” Anne’s new film co-produced by Adam and being released next Friday. The movie has music in it from Jenny Lewis, but Anne doesn’t do the singing. (She’ll be singing again, soon, I hope.)

The charming labor of love is by first time director Kate Barker Froyland and co-stars Mary Steenburgen (who’s been doing a lot of singing herself in the last couple of years.)

Also at Valentino: actress/model Jamie King from “Hart of Dixie” with her husband, director Kyle Newman (“Barely Lethal”) plus Kathy Hilton, looking like a million bucks, naturally. Rodeo Drive is deserted after 6pm, so the whole atmosphere was a little otherworldly. We looked at $5,000 handbags and drank Champagne, and thought about Kelsey driving his rig on Route 66.

“The Interview”– Dead at Box Office– Coming on DVD with 14 More Scenes

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That was fast, wasn’t it? “The Interview” was released to theatres on December 25th. Now it will be out on BluRay February 17th– with 14 more scenes designed to create more faux headlines and provoke North Korea to do — nothing.

“The Interview” made just under $6 million at the box office, and is now just about expired. It’s all over digital platforms so everyone who wants it, has it. Sony says it made about $31 million. But the film had at least a $42 million nut to crack, so who knows how they’ll wind up. Blu Ray is the only way the movie hasn’t been released. Maybe some one wants to own it in very vivid resolution.

And where are the Guardians of Peace? And where is all the outrage? From the minute the movie opened, there wasn’t a peep. No “11th of September” trouble. So much hysteria, for nothing. If this was a pr stunt, it was one of the most brilliantly conceived. Ever.

Next up, should be so-called outrage over “Fifty Shades of Grey.” I can’t wait!

Bill Cosby Tour Tanking as Many Venues Cancel: Foxwoods, Reno Latest

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Bill Cosby’s 22 date tour is tanking. The latest venues to cancel his shows are the Foxwoods casino in northern Connecticut and Silver Legacy in Reno, Nevada. Also cancelled is Worcester, Massachusetts and a gig in South Carolina. Pine Belt Arena in Toms River, New Jersey is also out.

Some theatres are offering refunds, just as the Tarrytown Music Hall did in December. Cosby has two shows booked at the Wilbur Theater in Boston, but I doubt they will stand as is.

Cosby hasn’t done himself any favors. At a gig in Canada he made a joke about his situation — allegations by about 3o or so women that he drugged, raped, or groped them. He has yet to offer a substantial defense or rebuke to the allegations. Especially damning is Cosby’s lack of response to educational institutions cutting ties to him. He reveled in those associations.

There have been few defenses of Cosby by friends, with the notable exception of his co-star of 12 years, Phylicia Rashad.

Razzie Awards: Kirk Cameron Leads Pack, Gibson and Schwarzenegger Also Nominated

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Nominations for the Razzie Awards are out. Kirk Cameron leads the pack with his “Saving Christmas.” Mel Gibson and Arnold Schwarzenegger will vy for Worst Actor from “Expendables 3.” Adam Sandler is also in that race. There must have been some snubs, but anyone was was over looked is probably happy about it.

Worst Picture
Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas
Left Behind
The Legend Of Hercules
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Transformers 4: Age of Extinction

Worst Director
Michael Bay, Transformers 4: Age Of Extinction
Darren Doane, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas
Renny Harlin, The Legend of Hercules
Jonathan Liebesman, Teen-Age Mutant Ninja Turtles
Seth MacFarlane, A Million Ways To Die In The West

Worst Actor
Kirk Cameron, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas
Nicolas Cage, Left Behind
Kellan Lutz, The Legend Of Hercules
Seth MacFarlane, A Million Ways To Die In The West
Adam Sandler, Blended

Worst Actress
Drew Barrymore, Blended
Cameron Diaz, The Other Woman and Sex Tape
Melissa McCarthy, Tammy
Charlize Theron, A Million Ways To Die In The West
Gaia Weiss, The Legend Of Hercules

Worst Supporting Actor
Mel Gibson, Expendables 3
Kelsey Grammer, Expendables 3, Legends Of Oz, Think Like A Man Too and Transformers 4
Shaquille O’Neal, Blended
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Expendables 3
Kiefer Sutherland, Pompeii

Worst Supporting Actress
Cameron Diaz, Annie
Megan Fox, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Nicola Peltz, Transformers 4: Age of Extinction
Susan Sarandon, Tammy
Brigitte Ridenour, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas

Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel
Annie
Atlas Shrugged 3: Who Is John Galt?
The Legend Of Hercules
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Transformers 4: Age Of Extinction

Worst Screen Combo
Any Two Robots, Actors (or Robotic Actors), Transformers 4: Age Of Extinction
Kirk Cameron & His Ego, Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas
Cameron Diaz & Jason Segel, Sex Tape
Kellan Lutz & Either His Abs, His Pecs or His Glutes, The Legend Of Hercules
Seth McFarlane & Charlize Theron, A Million Ways To Die In The West

Worst Screenplay
Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas, Written by Darren Doane and Cheston Hervey
Left Behind, Screenplay by Paul LaLonde and John Patus; Based on the Novel by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
Sex Tape, Screenplay by Kate Angelo and Jason Segel & Nicholas Stoller
Transformers 4: Age of Extinction, Written by Ehren Kruger; Based on Hasbro’s Transformers Action Figures
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Written by Evan Daugherty and Andre Nemec & Josh Applebaum; Based on Characters Created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman

Razzie Redeemer Award
Ben Affleck, From Razzie “Winner” for Gigli to Oscar darling for Argo and Gone Girl
Jennifer Aniston, From 4-time Razzie nominee to SAG award nominee for Cake
Mike Myers, From Razzie “Winner” for Love Guru to Docu Director of Supermensch
Keanu Reeves, From 6-time Razzie nominee to the critically acclaimed John Wick
Kristen Stewart, From 6-time Razzie “Winner” for Twilight to the art house hit Camp X-Ray

Directors Guild Snubs Selma: Boyhood, Birdman, Imitation Game, Sniper, Budapest Are In

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It’s not about race. I think it’s about sex/gender. The DGA snubbed “Selma” and director Ava Duvernay. Well, maybe it’s race and sex. Who knows? But the chances of “Selma” winning the Oscar were just wounded by the DGA, which chose Clint Eastwood, Richard Linklater, Alejandro Innaritu, Morten Tyldum, and Wes Anderson for their 2015 nominees.

No woman, no cry, someone once said.

So that’s it: American Sniper, Boyhood, Birdman, The Imitation Game and The Grand Budapest Hotel are the top 5 movies of the year. Also left out were Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher), James Marsh (Theory of Everything), Angelina Jolie (Unbroken), and this year, Paul Thomas Anderson (Inherent Vice).

Jolie and Duvernay can console themselves. Once Kathryn Bigelow won for “The Hurt Locker,” that was enough. And Steve McQueen won last year. Blacks and women have been rewarded. Now, back to the regular story.

Given this news, Thursday’s Oscar nominations are a lot clearer. It’s unlikely the directors branch of the Academy will be different than DGA voting.

TV Ratings: Golden Globes Show Loses Over 1 Million People as “Boyhood” Wins

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The folks at the Oscars and ABC are looking at the Golden Globe numbers from last night very carefully. Last night’s Globes lost 1 million viewers from 2014–20.87 vs. 19.38. And the key demo wasn’t very good either– 6.5 vs. 5.8.  More numbers will come in from delayed viewing, but most people who watch awards shows watch ’em when they’re happening. There were a lot of choices last night, including football, “Downton Abbey,” the whole CBS schedule, and the return of “he Bachelor.”

Also, as has been mentioned a lot, most of the movies featured were independents. The Hollywood Foreign Press had a good list, but they omitted “Unbroken,” “Interstellar,” and “American Sniper.”And their Best TV Comedy is on amazon.com, not on TV– “Transparent.” What? For people who sit in the front of an actual TV and enjoy regular shows, this had to be mystifying. It was oblique, to say the least.

The big surprise of the night was Prince, but that looked a little staged– like he knew he’d been presenting to John Legend and Common. Of course, the Oscars offer a lot more including six or seven musical numbers, rock stars, and a little more gravity to the whole business. But as I said last week, people at home are growing weary of awards shows. The numbers prove it.