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Michael Brown’s Parents Hit NY Morning Shows: No One from Ferguson Has Ever Apologized

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Michael Brown’s parents hit the Today show this morning, and CBS Morning News. Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, told Gayle King and Charlie Rose that no one– meaning the mayor, the chief of police or any official in Ferguson, has ever offered an apology or condolence for the death of their son. “No no nothing,” said McSpadden. “We’ve just been disrespected all the way around,” said Michael Brown Sr. In fairness, Police Chief Jackson did post a video apologizing to the Browns in September.

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Leon Russell Band Instruments Stolen, But So Was His “Lost” 2014 Comeback Album

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Leon Russell did have band instruments stolen from his bus yesterday while on tour. But that’s not the worst thing that happened to the 72 year old rock legend this year.

Did you know that Russell released a new album this year? Think about it for a minute. You did not know that. That’s because Universal Music , which released “Life Journey” back on April 1st, let the collection sink like a stone without a trace. The album never charted. There are no reviews for it or mentions in the New York Times or Los Angeles Times. Rolling Stone at least reviewed it, giving the album a tiny nod with three-and-a-half stars.

To make matters more perplexing “Life’s Journey” had a star producer– Tommy LiPuma– and a star engineer– Al Schmitt. Sources say it cost around $250,000 to make, for Capitol-EMI, before that company was merged into Universal.

Originally, the album had planned for Decca (also part of Universal) after Russell’s collaboration on the excellent album “The Union” with Elton John. But the word was that David Foster, who’d come in and taken over Decca, didn’t want to do it.

So the album foundered, finally finding a home, so to speak, on Universal’s sort of miscellaneous catalog reissue area. UMe, as it’s known, is for the Beatles, Neil Diamond, and ABBA. Not only do they not release new records, they also do not list Leon Russell as a current artist. Indeed, Russell isn’t listed on the entire Universal Music Group website.

What a shame. “Life’s Journey” is beautifully executed, with trademark raspy swamp vocals, rolling piano, and an unmistakable Southern drawl. I’ve listened to it on Spotify since realizing it existed, and I will try and get a physical copy too.  There are a couple of original songs (“Big Lips”) and several knockout covers like an upbeat rockin’ version of  “Fever.” This is real music. How tragic that this is what’s happened to the dying record business. This record was killed on purpose, while the top 40 crap we know too much about is served up hourly.

 Here’s one of my all time Leon Russell tracks:

PS Jerry Lee Lewis has a new album,out, too– called “Rock and Roll Time.” Someone’s keeping it a better secret than anything at the NSA. Also very very good.
Look at the artists on this track list. And the record companies were interested only in Iggy Hydrangea.
1. Rock & Roll Time (with Doyle Bramhall II and Jon Brion)

2. Little Queenie (with Keith Richards and Ron Wood)

3. Stepchild (with Daniel Lanois and Doyle Bramhall II)

4. Sick and Tired (with Jon Brion)

5. Bright Lights, Big City (with Neil Young and Ivan Neville)

6. Folsom City Blues (with Robbie Robertson and Nils Lofgren)

7. Keep Me In Mind (with Jon Brion)

8. Mississippi Kid (with Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II)

9. Blues Like Midnight (with Robbie Robertson)

10. Here Comes that Rainbow Again (with Shelby Lynne)

11. Promised Land (with Doyle Bramhall II)

Pop Charts: 130K One Direction Fans Abandon Ship as “Four” Sales Disappoint

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Even top popsters are having trouble selling CDs. One Direction sold 401,000 copies of their new album, called “Four.” Hey– anyone would take that number. But “Four” sold 130,000 fewer copies than last year’s “Midnight Memories.”

That’s a lot of ex-fans , despite what I thought wasn’t a bad album. But One Direction is starting to fray, as boy bands do when their fans starting aging out. his could also be the same problem for the movie franchise of “The Hunger Games,” which opened to around $30 million less in box office receipts this weekend than their last installment. It could be that this last iteration of teen pop boom is coming to an end. This is what happened to Nsync and the Backstreet Boys, and even to Britney Spears.

The new kids on the block? A group called Five Seconds of Summer, or 5SOS. They opened for One Direction this past summer on tour. Meantime, the real test for 1D will be next week and the week after. But you know what? I had WPLJ on most of yesterday, and didn’t hear One Direction at all. Just Taylor Swift, endlessly.

Garth Brooks Cancels NY Album, Tour Publicity Because of Ferguson

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Country superstar Garth Brooks has decided to cancel or postpone publicity for his new album and tour because of the incident in Ferguson. He sent an email that reads: “We landed in NY last night to the news of the civil unrest that was going on in our nation. To spend the day promoting our stuff like nothing was wrong, seemed distasteful to me. I will gladly reschedule any or all appearances the networks will allow. Love one another…g”

Spirit Award Nominees Include 4 Possible Oscar Pictures: Boyhood,Birdman,Selma,Whiplash

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The nominees for the Independent Spirit Awards are out. Four of the five Best Features could be Academy Award nominees for Best Picture– Whiplash, Boyhood, Birdman, and Selma. Their 5th nominee is Love is Strange. Very odd that The Imitation Game isn’t included, but that’s really an Oscar movie. Boyhood director Richard Linklater is hugely popular at the Spirit Awards. But I do think Ava DuVernay and Selma are going to rock that tent in February.

 

2015 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS

BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole

Boyhood Producers: Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, Cathleen Sutherland

Love is Strange Producers: Lucas Joaquin, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, Jay Van Hoy

Selma Producers: Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey

Whiplash Producers: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster, Michael Litvak

BEST DIRECTOR

Damien Chazelle Whiplash

Ava DuVernay Selma

Alejandro G. Iñárritu Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Richard Linklater Boyhood

David Zellner Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter

BEST SCREENPLAY

Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski Big Eyes

J.C. Chandor A Most Violent Year

Dan Gilroy Nightcrawler

Jim Jarmusch Only Lovers Left Alive

Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias Love is Strange

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night Director: Ana Lily Amirpour Producers: Justin Begnaud, Sina Sayyah

Dear White People Director/Producer: Justin Simien Producers: Effie T. Brown, Ann Le, Julia Lebedev, Angel Lopez, Lena Waithe

Nightcrawler Director: Dan Gilroy Producers: Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Lancaster, Michel Litvak

Obvious Child Director: Gillian Robespierre Producer: Elisabeth Holm

She’s Lost Control Director/Producer: Anja Marquardt Producers: Mollye Asher, Kiara C. Jones

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

Desiree Akhavan Appropriate Behavior

Sara Colangelo Little Accidents

Justin Lader The One I Love

Anja Marquardt She’s Lost Control

Justin Simien Dear White People

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.

Blue Ruin Writer/Director: Jeremy Saulnier Producers: Richard Peete, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani

It Felt Like Love Writer/Director/Producer: Eliza Hittman Producers: Shrihari Sathe, Laura Wagner

Land Ho! Writers/Directors: Aaron Katz & Martha Stephens Producers: Christina Jennings, Mynette Louie, Sara Murphy

Man From Reno Writer/Director: Dave Boyle Writers: Joel Clark, Michael Lerman Producer: Ko Mori

Test Writer/Director/Producer: Chris Mason Johnson Producer: Chris Martin

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Marion Cotillard The Immigrant

Rinko Kikuchi Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter

Julianne Moore Still Alice

Jenny Slate Obvious Child

Tilda Swinton Only Lovers Left Alive

BEST MALE LEAD

André Benjamin Jimi: All Is By My Side

Jake Gyllenhaal Nightcrawler

Michael Keaton Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

John Lithgow Love is Strange

David Oyelowo Selma

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Patricia Arquette Boyhood

Jessica Chastain A Most Violent Year

Carmen Ejogo Selma

Andrea Suarez Paz Stand Clear of the Closing Doors

Emma Stone Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Riz Ahmed Nightcrawler

Ethan Hawke Boyhood

Alfred Molina Love is Strange

Edward Norton Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

J.K. Simmons Whiplash

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Darius Khondji The Immigrant

Emmanuel Lubezki Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Sean Porter It Felt Like Love

Lyle Vincent A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

Bradford Young Selma

BEST EDITING

Sandra Adair Boyhood

Tom Cross Whiplash

John Gilroy Nightcrawler

Ron Patane A Most Violent Year

Adam Wingard The Guest

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)

20,000 Days on Earth Directors: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Producers: Dan Bowen, James Wilson

CITIZENFOUR Director/Producer: Laura Poitras Producers: Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky

Stray Dog Director: Debra Granik Producer: Anne Rosellini

The Salt of the Earth Directors: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and Wim Wenders Producer: David Rosier

Virunga Director/Producer: Orlando von Einsiedel Producer: Joanna Natasegara

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)

Force Majeure (Sweden) Director: Ruben Östlund

Ida (Poland) Director: Pawel Pawlikowski

Leviathan (Russia) Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev

Mommy (Canada) Director: Xavier Dolan

Norte, the End of History (Philippines) Director: Lav Diaz

Under the Skin (United Kingdom) Director: Jonathan Glazer

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – (Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)

Inherent Vice Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Casting Director: Cassandra Kulukundis Ensemble Cast: Josh Brolin, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio Del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Michael Kenneth Williams, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon

SPECIAL DISTINCTION AWARD

Foxcatcher Director/Producer: Bennett Miller Producers: Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik Writers: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman Actors: Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum

18th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 18th annual Producers Award, sponsored by Piaget, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget.

Chad Burris Elisabeth Holm Chris Ohlson

21st ANNUAL KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 21st annual Someone to Watch Award, sponsored by Kiehl’s Since 1851, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Kiehl’s Since 1851.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night Director: Ana Lily Amirpour

H. Directors: Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia

The Retrieval Director: Chris Eska

20th ANNUAL LENSCRAFTERS TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 20th annual Truer Than Fiction Award, sponsored by LensCrafters is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by LensCrafters.

Approaching the Elephant Director: Amanda Rose Wilder

Evolution of a Criminal Director: Darius Clark Monroe

The Kill Team Director: Dan Krauss

The Last Season Director: Sara Dosa

BY DISTRIBUTOR

Distributor Nominations

#
A24

A Most Violent Year, Best Editing

A Most Violent Year, Best Screenplay

A Most Violent Year, Best Supporting Female

Obvious Child, Best Female Lead

Obvious Child, Best First Feature

Under the Skin, Best International Film
6
Amplify

Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter, Best Director

Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter, Best Female Lead

Little Accidents, Best First Screenplay
3
The Cinema Guild Norte, The End of History, Best International Film 1
Drafthouse Films 20,000 Days on Earth, Best Documentary 1
Fox Searchlight Pictures Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Cinematography

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Director

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Feature

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Male Lead

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Supporting Female

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Best Supporting Male
6
Gravitas Ventures Appropriate Behavior, Best First Screenplay 1
IFC Films Boyhood, Best Director

Boyhood, Best Editing

Boyhood, Best Feature

Boyhood, Best Supporting Female

Boyhood, Best Supporting Male
5
Kino Lorber A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Best Cinematography

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Best First Feature

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
3
Magnolia Pictures Force Majeure, Best International Film 1
Monument Releasing She’s Lost Control, Best First Feature

She’s Lost Control, Best First Screenplay
2
Music Box Films Ida, Best International Film 1
Netflix Virunga, Best Documentary 1
Open Road Films

Nightcrawler, Best Editing

Nightcrawler, Best First Feature

Nightcrawler, Best Male Lead

Nightcrawler, Best Screenplay

Nightcrawler, Best Supporting Male
5
Oscilloscope Pictures Stand Clear of the Closing Doors, Best Supporting Female

The Kill Team, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award
2
Paramount Pictures Selma, Best Cinematography

Selma, Best Director

Selma, Best Feature

Selma, Best Male Lead

Selma, Best Supporting Female
5
Picturehouse The Guest, Best Editing 1
RADiUS-TWC Blue Ruin, John Cassavetes Award

The One I Love, Best First Screenplay
2
RADiUS-TWC / HBO Documentary Films / Participant Media CITIZENFOUR, Best Documentary

1
Roadside Attractions Mommy, Best International Film

1
Roadside Attractions/ Lionsgate Dear White People, Best First Feature

Dear White People, Best First Feature
2
Sony Pictures Classics

Foxcatcher, Special Distinction Award

Land Ho!, John Cassavetes Award

Leviathan, Best International Film

Love is Strange, Best Feature

Love is Strange, Best Male Lead

Love is Strange, Best Screenplay

Love is Strange, Best Supporting Male

Only Lovers Left Alive, Best Female Lead

Only Lovers Left Alive, Best Screenplay

The Salt of the Earth, Best Documentary

Still Alice, Best Female Lead

Whiplash, Best Director

Whiplash, Best Editing

Whiplash, Best Feature

Whiplash, Best Supporting Male
15
The Weinstein Company Big Eyes, Best Screenplay

The Immigrant, Best Cinematography

The Immigrant, Best Female Lead
3
Variance Films It Felt Like Love, Best Cinematography

It Felt Like Love, John Cassavetes Award

The Retrieval, Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
3
Variance Films / Wolfe Video Test, John Cassavetes Award 1
Warner Bros. Inherent Vice, Robert Altman Award 1
XLrator Media Jimi: All Is By My Side, Best Male Lead 1
No Distributor Approaching the Elephant, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award

Evolution of a Criminal, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award

H., Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award

The Last Season, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award

Man From Reno, John Cassavetes Award

Stray Dog, Best Documentary
6
46 FILMS NOMINATED

FILM TITLE CATEGORIES #
20,000 Days on Earth Best Documentary 1
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

Best Cinematography

Best First Feature

Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
3
A Most Violent Year Best Editing Best Screenplay Best Supporting Female 3
Approaching the Elephant LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
Appropriate Behavior Best First Screenplay 1
Big Eyes Best Screenplay 1
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Best Cinematography

Best Director

Best Feature

Best Male Lead

Best Supporting Female

Best Supporting Male
6
Blue Ruin John Cassavetes Award 1
Boyhood Best Director

Best Editing

Best Feature

Best Supporting Female

Best Supporting Male
5
CITIZENFOUR Best Documentary 1
Dear White People Best First Feature

Best First Screenplay
2
Evolution of a Criminal

LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
Force Majeure Best International Film 1
Foxcatcher Special Distinction 1
H. Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award 1
Ida Best International Film 1
Inherent Vice Robert Altman Award 1
It Felt Like Love Best Cinematography

John Cassavetes Award
2
Jimi: All Is By My Side Best Male Lead 1
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter Best Director

Best Female Lead
2
Land Ho! John Cassavetes Award 1
Leviathan Best International Film 1
Little Accidents Best First Screenplay 1
Love is Strang Best Feature

Best Male Lead

Best Screenplay

Best Supporting Male
4
Man From Reno John Cassavetes Award 1
Mommy Best International Film 1
Nightcrawler Best Editing

Best First Feature

Best Male Lead

Best Screenplay

Best Supporting Male
5
Norte, The End of History Best International Film 1
Obvious Child Best Female Lead

Best First Feature
2
Only Lovers Left Alive Best Female Lead

Best Screenplay
2
Selma Best Cinematography

Best Director

Best Feature

Best Male Lead

Best Supporting Female
5
She’s Lost Control Best First Feature

Best First Screenplay
2
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors Best Supporting Female 1
Still Alice Best Female Lead 1
Stray Dog Best Documentary 1
Test John Cassavetes Award 1
The Guest Best Editing 1
The Immigrant Best Cinematography

Best Female Lead
2
The Kill Team LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
The Last Season LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
The One I Love Best First Screenplay 1
The Retrieval Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award 1
The Salt of the Earth Best Documentary 1
Under the Skin Best International Film 1
Virunga Best Documentary 1
Whiplash Best Director

Best Editing

Best Feature

Best Supporting Male

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2014/11/25/6564606/30th-film-independent-spirit-awards.html#storylink=cpy

Taylor Swift, One Direction Can’t Save American Music Awards: Ratings Down 16% from Last Year

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All the really awful, commercial pop stars couldn’t save the really awful, commercial American Music Awards from a ratings disaster on Sunday night. The interminable display of greed and low class second tier tabloid fashion finished 16% down from last year’s ratings.

All the performers– none of which will now be allowed to perform on February’s Grammy show–were not enough to help beat shows like CBS’s “Madame Secretary” or “60 Minutes” and especially football on NBC. “The Good Wife” was a close second.

The ratings were pretty bad in total viewers– just 11.55 million– but the key demo stunk, too. Of that 11.5 mil, only 3.8 mil were between 18 and 49 years old. It must have been a big homework night.

Interesting that the TV audience smelled “crass” with these awards. Not a single real moment, everything is calculated and scripted. There are no actual musicians involved, either. The AMAs are the West World of music. On to the Grammys in February!

Taylor Swift – Blank Space (Live at American… by uploaderdisney

Ferguson: Police Officer Darren Wilson NOT Indicted by Grand Jury over Michael Brown Murder

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The grand jury says no probable cause to file any charges. Not a surprise. Darren Wilson goes free. There can still be a civil lawsuit. There can also be a federal indictment. But there probably won’t be. Let’s hope the disappointment in Ferguson expresses itself peacefully.

“Hunger Game: Mockingjay” Box Office Was Less Than Originally Thought, Stock Price Down

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Even the initial reports were wrong. “Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” did less well than previously thought. The total according to boxofficemojo.com came to just $121.9 million. That’s about a million dollars less than the $123 million Lionsgate thought it had made from Friday to Sunday. And it’s way off the opening weekend one year ago for “Catching Fire,” at over $150 million.

Meanwhile, Lionsgate stock finished the day at $33.10. That’s a bit down from Friday, which was way off from the previous day. The stock was down to 31.71 at one point in the day. All eyes will be on the box office over Thanksgiving week to see how “Mockingjay” holds up.

Jennifer Lawrence Goes Top 5 on iTunes! Listen to Her Sing “The Hanging Tree” from “Hunger Games Mockingjay”

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UPDATE: This track has hit number 4 on iTunes. Jennifer Lawrence goes top 5! She’s doing better than any of the pop stars on the “Mockingjay” soundtrack. Oh Lorde!

She’s pretty good. J-Law can do anything! Not exactly Keira Knightley singing from “Begin Again,” but not bad!

Oscars: Best Actress Is Not Such a “Slim” Category This Year, But Don’t Encourage Impossibles

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I’m a little worried this morning about the Oscars, Best Actress in particular. The worry is that we’re headed into a real life version of Christopher Guest’s satire “For Your Consideration.” I’m reading some columns by well meaning writers who are encouraging impossible nominees. Please, stop it now before a lot of hearts are broken.

There is a small group of realistic candidates for Best Actress. Last night, Emily Blunt jumped into the pool with “Into the Woods.” She’s just great. Blunt joins Julianne Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Gugu Mbatha Raw, and Felicity Jones as a leading contender. Amy Adams is a dark horse for “Big Eyes.”  I would have put Patricia Arquette in lead for “Boyhood.” She carries the movie; IFC should fix that.

But listen to me. I am the biggest Jennifer Aniston fan in the world. I think she’s got delicious comic timing. (She’s also not bad to look at.) But “Cake” is not going to take her into the Oscar race. Neither will their very good performances do it for Rosamund Pike in “Gone Girl” nor Shailene Woodley for “The Fault in our Stars.” They are all talented and will be in awards races in the future. Maybe The Golden Globes this year– likely.

I think it’s wrong to make these women think Oscar nominations are really possible. It’s only fun for the legions of “Oscar prognosticators.”

Everyone in a current movie should watch the Guest movie this weekend. It’s a really equalizer. Once you see Catherine O’Hara come down her driveway with that new face lift, reality sets in fast!