Forget Kim Jong Un. Seth Rogen and James Franco’s comedy “The Interview” has far more shocking revelations than anything about North Korea. Rapper Eminem and actor Rob Lowe appear in hilarious cameos as guests — playing themselves– of Franco’s celebrity interviewer Dave Skylark.

Lowe reveals on Skylark’s show that he’s actually bald. He removes a wig and shows off a few strands of dark hair. Skylark tells him, “It’s not so bad.”

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But it’s Eminem that gets all the laughs. Skylark asks him about his numerous homophobic lyrics and remarks. Eminem explains: “That’s because I’m gay. I like men. I can’t believe people didn’t pick up on that.” Marshall Mathers says it all with a straight face, matter of factly  with a priceless deadpan delivery.

That’s what “The Interview” is all about. It’s completely silly and as far removed from reality as it could be. Yes, Kim Jong Un is presumably killed when a train explodes. But it’s a comic moment after 90 minutes of Randall Park playing a genteel and somewhat loveable Korean dictator. In fact, when he does presumably die, a lot of the film does, too. North Koreans are probably not gifted in nuance. But somehow Kim Jong Un comes off as sympathetic, not menacing.

I hope Eminem wasn’t expected a marketing push from “The Interview.” The movie is likely being postponed. Maybe forever.

That’s a wrap on “The Interview.” It will likely be pulled from its December 25th release and held until next year. Landmark Theaters put the kibosh on Thursday’s New York premiere following Carmike Theatres cancelling their run in 284 theatres. I told you the School of Visual Arts cancelled its free screening for Tuesday night. It’s only a few hours until Sony announces “The Interview” will come back one day when all this passes.

Fox had to do this last year when Ben Stiller’s comedy “Neighborwood Watch” by accident came too close to the Trayvon Martin story in real life. The movie was retitled “The Watch” and bombed months later.

So the villains, so to speak, have won. Sony can’t take the chance of any trouble on Christmas Day. Whoever is hacking and threatening them knows this.

Hindsight is 20/20 but you do wonder why, when trouble was first brewing months ago, they didn’t just change the ending of “The Interview” so Kim Jong Un wasn’t assassinated. He’s such a likeable character for most of the movie, he could have moved to Hollywood with Franco and Rogen. Oh well. Too late now.

The march to the Oscars is filled with disappointment. There are about 15 men who could be nominated for Best Actor. Only 5 will make it. What do we do?
On Monday at a luncheon for Clint Eastwood and “American Sniper”– at the Four Seasons– I asked Bradley Cooper about his outstanding performances in “Sniper” and on Broadway as “The Elephant Man.” He put it to me bluntly: “This is all I’ve got, this is the best I can do.”

And it’s pretty good, his best. Not only is he killing it– the play just extended its run right through Oscar Sunday February 22nd. But he also rates an Oscar nomination as Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in “Sniper.” Eastwood’s meticulous and analytical direction tells the Kyle family story with grace and sensitivity. Cooper and Sienna Miller are outstanding as Chris and wife Tea.

At lunch, Tea Kyle joined a panel that included Eastwood and the cast, moderated by Anderson Cooper. This young widow is remarkably literate and vocal. Once you’ve met her, you understand “American Sniper.”

So far the Golden Globes and the Broadcast Critics haven’t had a lot of love for “Sniper.” I think this is so wrong. It may be in part to the fact that the National Board of Review over-pandered to it. But Cooper gives a great performance. He told us that playing Kyle –which required beefing up and changing his body– was a “science experiment.”

Cooper, an Actors Studio grad, totally absorbed being Kyle. It’s instructive to remember that this movie is based on Kyle’s book, “American Sniper.” The screenplay was written before Kyle was murdered by a SEAL who’d returned with mental issues. Kyle’s death was not what caused the book and movie to be made–it was his life as a family man who returned home after four tours of duty to be with his family.

Meantime, it was grand to catch up with Clint. An amazing 84 years old, he’s had two movies this year. So now what? “Skiing with my family,” he said, giving me his trademark squint. “I need a break, don’t you think?” Yes, sir!

See Garland Jeffreys’ special New Year’s Eve show at Joe’s Pub!

http://www.publictheater.org/reserve/index.aspx?performanceNumber=26196&SiteTheme=JoesPub