Saturday, December 20, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 1684

Kennedy Center Honors Uproar as Beloved Producer George Stevens Jr. Is Ousted After 37 Years

Roger Friedman
-
0
Kennedy Center Honors Uproar as Beloved Producer George Stevens Jr. Is Ousted After 37 Years

The Kennedy Center Honors aren’t really known for scandals. But last night during the taping of this year’s edition–honoring Sting, Tom Hanks, Lily Tomlin, Patricia McBride and Al Green– we got a doozy. Speaking to the audience at the beginning of the second act following intermission, famed producer George Stevens Jr. sent out a shockwave. He announced that after 37 years he’d been ousted by the new management. This was his final show. It was a complete surprise to almost all of his staff and to everyone in the audience.

Stevens is a beloved figure in Hollywood and Washington. Last year he received a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award. He is the original and only producer of the Kennedy Center Honors, a show that’s won many Emmy Awards and has stood out as a last beacon of light for the arts and culture as show business has become eroded by fake awards shows and the like. His son, Michael, who has produced the show with him for years, was expected to take over one day soon.

But it’s not to be. And the situation is not only a shock this morning at the Kennedy Center but all over Washington. I am told that Stevens has been negotiating quietly with Kennedy Center president David Rubenstein, who run the Carlyle Group, the largest hedge fund maybe in the world. Sources say Rubenstein just wanted to “clean house” and bring in his own producer who would make the KCH glitzier, “more like the Grammy Awards.” Stevens, I am told, has been given two weeks to clear out of his offices. There is also an issue over a royalty on the show as Stevens created it. Sources say Rubenstein is even fighting that.

The irony of course is that last night’s show, which will be broadcast on CBS on December 30th, was one of the best if maybe not the best. It was packed with stars, lots of showstopping classic musical highlights, and the usual impeccable production. After the show I ran into Rubenstein at the post- dinner, where he was busy going from table to table doing spin on what had just happened. He told me he had no idea that Stevens was going to make his announcement — which was tearful and emotional– the way he did. I asked Rubenstein why he was replacing Stevens and who would be his successor. He responded just that “it was time” and he’d be talking to new producers. But people I spoke to suggested that he already had a replacement.

More to come…

 

Kennedy Center Honors: Springsteen Toasts Sting, Surprise Performers Gather in DC

Roger Friedman
-
0
Kennedy Center Honors: Springsteen Toasts Sting, Surprise Performers Gather in DC

The annual Kennedy Center honors are underway in Washington DC where Sting, Lily Tomlin, Tom Hanks, Al Green and Patricia McBride will be celebrated tonight in a big ceremony and concert. Last night, the five honorees received their awards and medals of honor at an ultra exclusive dinner at the State Department, hosted by opera legend Jessye Norman. Bruce Springsteen evidently gave a spectacular speech about long time friend Sting. Kennedy Center Honors impresario George Stevens Jr toasted Hanks. Green received his kudos from legendary Soul Man Sam Moore. Lily Tomlin was saluted by Bill Irwin. There were also remarks by Kennedy Center honchos David Rubenstein and Deborah Rutter.

Meantime, using social media to break the unofficial surprise, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars let it out that they’d be at the show tonight. Springsteen (with wife Patti Scialfa) and Moore have been seen around the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the show’s headquarters. There are rumors about Jennifer Hudson as well as Earth, Wind and Fire performing. Melanie Griffith is also said to be in DC. She co-starred with Sting in “Stormy Monday,” a lost gem of a film circa 1980s. Jane Fonda was spotted around the hotel, too. She would be there for Lily Tomlin, her “9 to 5” co-star.

The Kennedy Center Honors airs December 30th on CBS.

Box Office: “St. Vincent,” Bill Murray Stealth Comedy, Crosses $40 Mil Line

Roger Friedman
-
0
Box Office: “St. Vincent,” Bill Murray Stealth Comedy, Crosses $40 Mil Line

Well, well. Yes, “Mockingjay” is number 1 again. Who cares? The big news is that “St. Vincent” will cross the $40 million line this weekend. Bill Murray’s beautiful performance leads a big cast including Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts, through a very likeable, smart comedy.

When we saw this in Toronto, I had plenty of predictions of Murray for an Oscar, etc. Snark bloggers (‘the pajama people,” a friend of mine calls them) tried to wreck it. But “St. Vincent” is very appealing, and obviously audiences love it. I don’t see why Theodore Melfi’s sweet, sweet film won’t get a Golden Globe in comedy/musical. It’s also right on the for SAG Best Ensemble.

Don’t count Bill Murray out either. Right now the Oscar race for Best Actor is volatile. The two Brits– Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne– are in. David Oyelowo has to be third, for “Selma.” Fourth place could be Steve Carell, so good in “Foxcatcher.” And then? Michael Keaton? Maybe. Bradley Cooper is exceptional in “American Sniper.” And then there’s Murray. He has a lot of good will, and box office numbers on his side.

Elaine Kaufman Has Been Gone Four Years, Her Customers Still Wander New York

Roger Friedman
-
0
Elaine Kaufman Has Been Gone Four Years, Her Customers Still Wander New York

I should have written about this three days ago, but it’s been a crazy week. Elaine Kaufman died on December 3, 2010. Four years have passed, and her friends, who were her family, have wandered like a lost tribe ever since. Elaine’s restaurant closed the following May thanks to the bad management and inattention of the woman who inherited it all. Since then the building was sold, and I’m told now it’s being flipped again. Millions have been made by other, and Elaine is gone. It’s a tragedy. And the people who really were the survivors know the real story.

Every night around 11 pm , as evening soirees wind down, I say the same thing out loud: “Let’s go to Elaine’s.” It’s said with a sigh, and I know about a dozen other people who think the same thing. Elaine didn’t come in to the restaurant until around 9pm, and when she was well and in her hey day she stayed until closing around 2am. Elaine’s was designed as a late night spot where actors and writers and police chiefs and mobsters could come in after their adventures were over and share stories.

Elaine’s was not digital. One of the big moments most nights was getting “the paper” before it was printed– whether it was the Times, Post, or News. Someone would always have an early copy, a Xerox of the front page before it hit the stands. Smart phones didn’t exist. Maybe someone would struggle to find information on one of those dark blue early Blackberrys. But really, everything was about “the paper” and maybe the 10pm news on Channel 5. What was going to happen tomorrow? We knew it in Elaine’s before anyone else did.

And the going at 11pm. You went because Elaine was there. You had no idea who else would be there. Just Elaine, sitting along the front row of tables. When you got there she was already in the middle of something great. You’d greet her, bowing down, a peck on the cheek and her usual greeting– “Where have you been?” which was not an inquiry about your health but a warning that she knew you’d eaten somewhere else two nights ago and some one had seen it and reported it back.

“Well, there was a dinner at _________ and we had to go,” I’d say. “Yeah, yeah,” said Elaine, rolling her eyes. “And now you’re back.” Because we always came back, and we were so happy to see her. “Listen,” she’d say, “DabneyColeman/Alan King/Jackie Collins/Marisa Berenson/Peter Maas”– one of them– “is back there. Go say hello.”

Her eyes, very wide and accentuated by those big round tortoise shell glasses, showed her excitement, and she was already gesturing– her right arm swung from the elbow backwards as if to say Go, go go. And you’d be plopped down with Bobby Zarem entertaining this week’s movie star, or Neil Travis regaling us with his scoop of the day, or Catherine Deneuve or Michael Caine or Phil Spector (don’t ask). And say these words: “Elaine told me to come over here.” A chair was made open immediately. And down you’d sit.

Anyway, Elaine, on Thanksgiving we had a bottle of Chateau Simard in your honor and a toast. We have no place to go at 11pm except home, which is so boring and you would hate it. Sometimes we go to Bar Centrale after theater and see a few people. But no restaurateur would ever really allow the shenanigans of jumping from table to table, coming and going, no reservations, staying for hours, total anarchy. Only you. And we miss you. A lot.

See Cher, with Her Original Face, Make Her Acting Debut at Robert Altman Festival

Roger Friedman
-
0
See Cher, with Her Original Face, Make Her Acting Debut at Robert Altman Festival

Robert Altman, one of the top tier great American film director and auteurs, is now having a massive retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art. It kicked off last night with his 1982 adaptation of “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.” Altman directed the play on Broadway nefore filming with with Sandy Dennis and Karen Black in main roles. He added then newcomers Cher and Kathy Bates. The festival goes on through January with loads of Altman gold from “MASH” to “The Player,” “Short Cuts,” “The Long Goodbye,” “McCabe and Mrs. Miller,” “A Wedding,” all the films plus all the shorts and Altman’s TV work on shows like “Bonanza” and “Combat!”

On December 19th, MoMA will show “Nashville,” Altman’s masterwork, after a book signing with his widow, the amazing Kathryn Reed Altman. She’s signing a new book made just for this show and I can’t wait to buy a copy. In January MoMA will finish up with Ron Mann’s excellent documentary, called “Altman,” which Epix broadcast last summer.

Last night was like old home week for Altman regulars starting with actor Keith Carradine, star of “Nashville,” as well as the equally amazing Lee Grant, record producer Russ Titelman, photographer Carol Friedman, Sony Pictures’ Michael Barker and famed agent/manager Johnnie Planco.

Watching “Jimmy Dean” was like a master class. It’s not among the Altman “A” pictures. But it’s really stunning to see how he moves the camera, works with light and darkness, and fades back and forth from past to present and back.  You also see how he takes this sort of dreamy story and reworks it so it becomes at one point all-engrossing.

Karen Black and Sandy Dennis turn in two of their finest performances. And Cher is remarkable– here she is with her original face and teeth. She’s sensational– real and right in the moment.  She went from there to “Silkwood,” “Mask.,” and “Moonstruck” and an Oscar. Altman saw what she had in her.

If you want to find me from December 17th to the end of the year, check MoMA’s schedule.

Grammy Mistakes: No Gaga ARTPOP, Aretha, Bruce, JHUD, Mariah — and Haim Was a New Artist Last Year

Roger Friedman
-
0
Grammy Mistakes: No Gaga ARTPOP, Aretha, Bruce, JHUD, Mariah — and Haim Was a New Artist Last Year

Ever since I can remember–and that’s a long time now– the Grammys have been a head scratcher. They omit stuff that should be there, they include nominations for things you’ve never heard of. The wrong people win all the time. The really good music outlasts things that are celebrated on Grammy night. You may love Outkast, but that album and single were the end of a short career. “Hey Ya” sounds like a novelty song now. Does anyone listen to that album?

Today’s Grammys snubbed Aretha Franklin’s “Divas” album and her great recording of “Rolling in the Deep.” They also skipped Bruce Springsteen’s “High Hopes” and Jennifer Hudson’s “JHUD” album. (Jennifer got a single nom for a duet with R Kelly.) They also just completely dissed Mariah Carey’s “Elusive Chanteuse” album which got very good reviews. Of course, the great Leon Russell album released last April was ignored. I’m sure there were more– Leonard Cohen, Broken Bells, and two albums from Prince, plus Tom Petty. And no Lady Gaga “ARTPOP”.

As well, a female group called Haim is up for Best New Artist.  Their official album was released on September 30, 2013. This means they were eligible for last February’s award, not this one. Also, they’ve been around for a while. They are not New artists.

No worries: Miss Aretha will receive a special Billboard Icon award next Friday, December 12th. It’s the first time they’ve given it. And of course, Aretha has 18 Grammy awards already.

Patty Smyth and Scandal Back after 30 Years with Anniversary Show!

Roger Friedman
-
0
Patty Smyth and Scandal Back after 30 Years with Anniversary Show!

Remember “The Warrior”? Patty Smyth and Scandal’s biggest hit came 30 years ago. Now they’re reuniting for their first show in a very long time on December 13th at the Cutting Room here in New York. Amazing. Patty is also Mrs. John McEnroe and has raised three kids and three stepkids. She’s one of the nicest people I run into, and still a rock chick first and foremost. I always ask here, when are you going to get back on stage? And now we have the answer!

UPDATED Grammy Nominees Announced: Sam Smith, U2, Gaga-Bennett,Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor Among Them

Roger Friedman
-
0
UPDATED Grammy Nominees Announced: Sam Smith, U2, Gaga-Bennett,Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor Among Them

The great thing about the Grammys is that they can have whatever number of nominees they want in each category. So there are six nominees for the Pop album but just five for R&B. No one knows why! Anyway, the Grammy nominees are being announced all day at different times in different ways so that potential nominees will have to spend the entire day on Xanax. It’s a not a game that’s much fun because it entails looking around on Twitter to figure out what’s going on.
Best Album will be announced live tonight at 10pmon CBS during the Grammy Christmas special, on which there will be an explanation for snubbing several deserving recordings.
Album of the Year

Beck – Morning Phase

Beyoncé – Beyoncé

Ed Sheeran – X

Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour

Pharrell Williams – GIRL
Record of the Year

Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”

Sia – “Chandelier”

Sam Smith – “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)”

Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”

Meghan Trainor – “All About That Bass”
Song of the Year

Meghan Trainor – “All About That Bass”

Hozier – “Take Me To Church”

Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”

Sia – “Chandelier”

Sam Smith – “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)”
Best New Artist

Bastille

Iggy Azalea

Brandy Clark

HAIM

Sam Smith
Best Pop Solo Performance

John Legend – “All of Me” (Live Version)

Sia – “Chandelier”

Sam Smith – “Stay With Me”

Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”

Pharrell – “Happy”
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX – “Fancy”

Coldplay – “A Sky Full of Stars”

A Great Big World feat. Christina Aguilera – “Say Something”

Jessie J feat. Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj – “Bang Bang”

Katy Perry feat. Juicy J – “Dark Horse”
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett – Cheek to Cheek

Annie Lennox – Nostalgia

Barry Manilow – Night Songs

Johnny Mathis – Sending You A Little Christmas

Barbra Streisand – Partners
Best Pop Vocal Album

Coldplay – Ghost Stories

Miley Cyrus – Bangerz

Ariana Grande – My Everything

Katy Perry – Prism

Ed Sheeran – X

Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour
Best Dance Recording

Basement Jaxx – “Never Say Never”

Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne – “Rather Be”

Disclosure feat. Mary J. Blige “F For You”

Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones – “I Got U”

Zhu – “Faded”
Best Dance/Electronic Album

Aphex Twin – Syro

Deadmau5 – While (1 < 2)

Little Dragon – Nabuma Rubberband

Röyksopp & Robyn – Do It Again

Mat Zo – Damage Control
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Mindi Abair – Wild Heart

Gerald Albright – Slam Dunk

Nathan East – Nathan East

Jeff Lorber, Chuck Loeb & Everette Harp – Jazz Funk Soul

Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer – Bass & Mandolin
Best Rock Performance

Ryan Adams – “Gimme Something Good”

Arctic Monkeys – “Do I Wanna Know?”

Beck – “Blue Moon”

The Black Keys – “Fever”

Jack White – “Lazaretto”
Best Metal Performance

Anthrax – “Neon Nights”

Mastodon – “High Road”

Mötorhead – “Heartbreaker”

Slipknot – “The Negative One”

Tenacious D – “The Last In Line”
Best Rock Song

Jack White – “Lazaretto”

The Black Keys – “Fever”

Paramore – “Ain’t It Fun”

Beck – “Blue Moon”

Ryan Adams – “Gimme Something Good”
Best Rock Album

Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams

The Black Keys – Turn Blue

U2 – Songs of Innocence

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye

Beck – Morning Phase
Best Alternative Music Album

Arcade Fire – Reflektor

Alt J – This is All Yours

Cage the Elephant – Melophobia

St. Vincent – St. Vincent

Jack White – Lazaretto
Best R&B Performance

Beyoncé feat. Jay Z – “Drunk In Love”

Chris Brown feat. Usher, Rick Ross – “New Flame”

Jennifer Hudson feat. R. Kelly – “It’s Your World”

Ledisi – “Like This”

Usher – “Good Kisser”
Best Traditional R&B Performance

Marsha Ambrosius & Anthony Hamilton – “As”

Kem – “Nobody”

Angie Fisher – “I.R.S.”

Robert Glasper Experiment – “Jesus Children”

Antonique Smith – “Hold Up Wait a Minute (Woo Woo)”
Best R&B Song

Beyoncé feat. Jay Z – “Drunk In Love”

Usher – “Good Kisser”

Chris Brown feat. Usher, Rick Ross – “New Flame”

Luke James feat. Rick Ross – “Options (The Wolfjames Version)”

Jhene Aiko – “The Worst”
Best Urban Contemporary Album

Jhene Aiko – Sail Out

Beyoncé – Beyoncé

Chris Brown – X

Mali Music – Mali Is

Pharrell Williams – G.I.R.L.
Best R&B Album

Bernhoft – Islander

Aloe Blacc – Lift Your Spirits

Toni Braxton & Babyface – Love, Marriage, and Divorce

Robert Glasper Experiment – Black Radio 2

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – Give The People What They Want
Best Rap Performance

Childish Gambino – “3005”

Drake – “0-100/ The Catchup

Eminem – “Rap God”

Kendrick Lamar – “i”

Lecrae – “All I Need Is You”
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Common feat. Jhene Aiko – “Blak Majik”

Eminem feat. Rihanna – “The Monster”

ILoveMakonnen feat. Drake – “Tuesday”

Schoolboy Q feat. BJ The Chicago Kid – “Studio”

Kanye West feat. Charlie Wilson – “Bound 2″
Best Rap Song

Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”

Kanye West – “Bound 2″

Kendrick Lamar – “i”

Wiz Khalifa – “We Dem Boyz”

Drake – “0 to 100/The Catch Up”
Best Rap Album

Iggy Azalea – The New Classic

Childish Gambino – Because the Internet

Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 2

Schoolboy Q – Oxymoron

Wiz Khalifa – Blacc Hollywood

Common – Nobody’s Smiling
Best Country Solo Performance

Eric Church – “Give Me Back My Hometown”

Hunter Hayes – “Invisible”

Miranda Lambert – “Automatic”

Carrie Underwood – “Something in the Water”

Keith Urban – “Cop Car”
Best Country Duo/Group Performance

The Band Perry – “Gentle On My Mind”

Miranda Lambert feat. Carrie Underwood – “Somethin’ Bad”

Little Big Town – “Day Drinking”

Tim McGraw feat. Faith Hill – “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s”

Keith Urban feat. Eric Church – “Raise ‘Em Up”
Best Country Song

Miranda Lambert – “Automatic”

Kenny Chesney – “American Kids”

Eric Church – “Give Me Back My Hometown”

Glen Campbell – “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”

Tim McGraw feat. Faith Hill – “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
Best Country Album

Dierks Bentley – Riser

Eric Church – The Outsiders

Brandy Clark – 12 Stories

Miranda Lambert – Platinum

Lee Ann Womack – The Way I’m Livin’
Best American Roots Performance

Gregg Allman & Taj Mahal – “Statesboro Blues”

Rosanne Cash – “A Feather’s Not a Bird”

Billy Childs feat. Alison Krauss & Jerry Douglas – “And When I Die”

Keb Mo feat. the California Feet Warmers – “The Old Me Better”

Nickel Creek – “Destination”
Best American Roots Song

Rosanne Cash – “A Feather’s Not a Bird”

Jesse Winchester – “Just So Much”

The Del McCoury Band – “The New York Trains”

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers feat. Edie Brickell – “Pretty Little One”

John Hiatt – “Terms of My Surrender”
Best Americana Album

Rosanne Cash – The River & The Thread

John Hiatt – Terms Of My Surrender

Keb’ Mo’ – Bluesamericana

Nickel Creek – A Dotted Line

Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
Best Folk Album

Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas & Rob Ickes – Three Bells

Alice Gerrard – Follow the Music

Eliza Gilkyson – The Nocturne Diaries

Old Crow Medicine Show – Remedy

Jesse Winchester – A Reasonable Amount of Trouble
Best Reggae Album

Ziggy Marley – Fly Rasta

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry – Back on the Controls

Sean Paul – Full Frequency

Shaggy – Out of Many, One Music

Sly & Robbie & Spicy Chocolate – The Reggae Power

Soja – Amid the Noise and the Haste
Best Spoken Word

James Franco – Actor’s Anonymous

Jimmy Carter – A Call To Action

John Waters – John Waters Hitchhikes Across America

Joan Rivers – Diary of a Mad Diva

Elizabeth Warren – A Fighting Chance

Gloria Gaynor – We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration, and the Power of Song
Best Comedy Album

“Weird Al” Yankovic – Mandatory Fun

Jim Gaffigan – Obsessed

Louis C.K. – Oh My God

Patton Oswalt – Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time

Sarah Silverman – We Are Miracles
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

American Hustle

Frozen

Get On Up: The James Brown Story

Guardians of the Galaxy

The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Frozen

Gone Girl

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Gravity

Saving Mr. Banks
Best Song Written for Visual Media

Tegan and Sara feat. the Lonely Island – “Everything is Awesome!!!”

Ed Sheeran – “I See Fire”

Glen Campbell – “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”

Idina Menzel – “Let It Go”

Scarlett Johansson & Joaquin Phoenix – “The Moon Song”
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Paul Epworth

John Hill

Jay Joyce

Greg Kurstin

Max Martin
Best Music Video

Arcade Fire – “We Exist”

DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down For What”

Sia – “Chandelier”

Pharrell Williams – “Happy”

Woodkid feat. Max Richter – “The Golden Age”
Best Music Film

Beyonce & Jay Z: On the Run Tour

Ghost Stories

20 Feet from Stardom

Metallica Through the Never

The Truth About Love Tour: Live from Melbourne

Exodus $150 Mil Movie: Bad Reviews Pouring In As Moses Gets His Staff Cut, Doesn’t Part Red Sea

Roger Friedman
-
0
Exodus $150 Mil Movie: Bad Reviews Pouring In As Moses Gets His Staff Cut, Doesn’t Part Red Sea

Luckily, 20th Century Fox has already had a very good year– 8 movies that crossed the $100 million mark. They are currently Number 1 in market share. So a set back won’t hurt them. But Ridley Scott’s “Exodus: Gods and Kings” is shaping up as a potential bust.

So far “Exodus”—already criticized for casting all white actors–is scoring 53% 50%  now 43% on Rotten Tomatoes. And that’s being kind. Several of the reviews listed as “fresh” are mostly rotten. And more are coming in every day.

Meantime, the nearly three hour extravaganza has more problems than just white actors playing Egyptians. From all reports, Moses (Christian Bale) doesn’t part the red sea and doesn’t have a staff. Well, his only staff is in the back office cutting checks. (Parumppum!)

Don’t count on foreign audiences picking up the slack. On the imdb message board people who’ve already seen “Exodus” in South Korea have been underwhelmed. Fox will use an old trick and open the movie in 20 countries before American reviewers can really savage it. Sometimes that works.

Meantime, this Sunday’s New York premiere may be a signal. It’s being held at the Brooklyn Museum, which is in faraway Brooklyn. It’s also happening at the same time as Bradley Cooper opens in “The Elephant Man” on Broadway in Manhattan. If Moses can’t part the Red Sea, how’s he going to get people over the East River?

Movie News Exclusives: Matt Damon Project with Alexander Payne, Bruce Willis, Norman Mailer’s Sons Make a Movie

Roger Friedman
-
0
Movie News Exclusives: Matt Damon Project with Alexander Payne, Bruce Willis, Norman Mailer’s Sons Make a Movie

EXCLUSIVES (Please attribute with backlinks)

I’m hearing that Alexander Payne is re-teaming with frequent collaborator Jim Taylor on a new film. Payne and Taylor wrote “About Schmidt,” “Sideways.” “Election”  and “Citizen Ruth” together. Taylor also produced “The Descendants ” with Payne. Their new project is said to be original, not an adaptation. Matt Damon may be signing for the lead. Potential producer is Megan Ellison and Annapurna. All these names in one place and I want to see the movie already! Let’s see how this develops…

Bruce Willis— isn’t it funny, but I kind of miss him. Anyway, he may be starring in “Wake,” directed by John Pogue of “US Marshalls” fame. Producers are Michael Benaroya and David Alpert. Willis is also in the upcoming “Rock the Kasbah,” the next Barry Levinson movie after “The Humbling.” If you’re interested, Bruce starred in one of Barry’s best movies, a personal favorite of mine called “Bandits.” It’s a lost gem…

…the sons of the late and legendary writer Norman Mailer are getting together for a film project. Michael Mailer, who has a long film resume, will produce and direct an original script called “Blind,” by his brother John Buffalo Mailer. It’s described as a romance between a blind, bitter novelist and a woman assigned to read to him thanks to a community service sentence. The Mailer boys are half brothers and two of Norman Mailer’s nine children…

 

1...1,6831,6841,685...2,324Page 1,684 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com