The 30th anniversary of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” will send proceeds to people suffering from Ebola. Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure are back. They even involved Adele’s producer Paul Epworth but they couldn’t get the “Rolling in the Deep” singer to participate. Still, they have Bono, Seal, Sinead O’ Connor, Chris Martin, Angelique Kidjo, One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande, Ellie Goulding and a bunch of UK pop stars. All done in 36 hours and obviously before Bono took his bike spill and Zayn Malik got a stomach virus.
Cumberbitch Alert: Alan Turing Movie “The Imitation Game” Gets the Cover of Time Magazine
The whole story of Morten Tyldum’s “The Imitation Game,” the Oscar buzzed feature about British mathematician Alan Turing, gets the cover of Time magazine this week. This movie also premiered last night to rapturous applause. Benedict Cumberbatch leads a knock out cast into the Oscar race in a film that so far everyone who’s seen it loves. I mean, loves. I will have more in the AM about the film’s premiere Monday night as well as a lunch earlier in the day at the Four Seasons. Suffice to say, Keira Knightley could run for office and win if she wanted to. “The Imitation Game” has the Best Ensemble of any cast this season. At lunch, Walter Isaacson asked her about being the only woman in a big cast of men. Keira replied: “I’m always the only woman, so it was no different than usual.” Lucky guys.
MORE TUESDAY MORNING: Benedict Cumberbatch gets a HUGE Oscar push when he appears later this week on the cover of TIME Magazine with a rare Enigma Machine. The machine had be to be brought down to Los Angeles last week from the Computer History Museum in Mountainview, California. It has has never left the museum, but former TIME editor in chief Walter Isaacson, whose book “The Innovators” includes Turing, made it happen.
The TIME cover was the talk of last night’s star studded premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater and later at Tavern on the Green, where Cumberbatch introduced his fiancee Sophie Hunter. He told me earlier at the Four Seasons lunch: “I’ve found my own Cumber-bitch and I’m going to marry her!” Ben’s legions of female fans are known as Cumber-bitches, or Cumber-babes, as it were. Erudite and soft spoken, Cumberbatch really is the modern Olivier. He’s a perfect pitch man for “The Imitation Game,” too. He can sell the movie and talk about Turing effortlessly. The Academy loves him, too. He’s definitely a front runner for Best Actor.
The lunch also featured Keira, Matthew Goode– who will be joining “Downton Abbey” as Lady Mary’s latest suitor, Charles Dance, Matthew Beard, director Tyldum, Mark Strong, and Allen Leech– the latter of course is Branson on “Downtown Abbey.” Leech has dropped quite a few pounds since I saw him in Toronto in September. He looks about ten years younger. “I had to do it!” he told me. “You should see what they feed us!” We talked about “Downton Abbey” going on to its 6th season. I said it will probably go to a 7th or 8th. “How will we do it?” Leech wondered. “I’d have to age. Maggie Smith keeps joking her character must be 179 years old by now!” He imitated Dame Maggie perfectly.
I ran into another soap opera star at Tavern on the Green– Susan Lucci, with husband Helmut Huber. Susan is a doll, always fun. She climbed out of the Prospect Park debacle of “All My Children” and has two TV shows– “Devious Maids” and her show on the ID channel about criminal re-enactments. She’s a survivor! Also at the party: Bette Midler’s Yale trained actress daughter Sophie von Hasselburg, who’s just finishing a run off Broadway. What a great young lady— really poised, full of personality, very attractive, and head on straight about fame. She’s a star in the making!
REVIEW: Standing Ovation For Oprah Winfrey-Brad Pitt Produced MLK Movie “Selma”
The Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt produced “Selma” received two thunderous standing ovations tonight at its first New York screening. Ava DuVernay’s extraordinary film about Martin Luther King’s history making civil rights March leaps right into the top tier of this year’s Oscar race. David Oyelowo gives the performance of a lifetime as King, defining him on film finally after all these years. Watching “Selma” you really feel like all the plays, movies Tv shows, songs– every theater piece about King– all of it culminates in this film.
I am not kidding when I say they were standing ovations, either. There’s a lump in your throat at the of “Selma,” a movie that wisely takes a a snapshot of King’s life from the moment he wins the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 through the Selma march in 1965. It’s during this time that he successful forces Lyndon Johnson to create and pass the Voters Rights Act. Tom Wilkinson is effortlessly good as a cantankerous LBJ who realizes his legacy could be destroyed by racist Alabama governor George Wallace (a perfectly slimy Tim Roth).
There’s really wonderful supporting work from Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King, Alessandro Nivola as John Doar (who just passed away in real life), both Lorraine Toussaint and Oprah Winfrey, and extended cameos from Martin Sheen and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Cinematographer Bradford Young (who also has “Pawn Sacrifice” and “A Most Violent Year”) gives “Selma” a convincing feel in muted colors that blossom toward the end of the movie. The version we saw last night also featured the theme song, written and recorded by Jay Z and John Legend. It’s a winner.
I met Ava Duvernay about ten years ago. She was Jennifer Hudson’s publicist. But she wanted to be a director. She made a great little indie film called “Middle of Nowhere.” She picked up “Selma” after Lee Daniels post-“The Butler” decided not do it. She’d better thank him in her speeches. Quite an accomplishment. And the movie got the seal of approval from Richard Valeriani, former NBC correspondent, who covered the Selma march. He told me she got it right.
On a related subject, listen to this:
Watch: Giorgio Moroder of Donna Summer, Blondie Fame First Video in 30 Years
Giorgio Moroder is back! His new single– out now on Sony International and RCA — is called “74 is the New 24.” The album, still untitled, comes out next year. All the electronic dance music you love today started with Moroder on Donna Summer’s hits, and Blondie’s “Call Me.” Here’s the first single:
Also Check out Julia Fordham’s new jazz rendition of “Call Me” at www.juliafordham.com
Guess What? One Direction Grows Up– New Album “Four” Is Pure Pop For Now People
Sorry, I borrowed Nick Lowe’s famous album title from the late 70s. But “Four,” the new One Direction album, comes out this morning. Your teenager has already downloaded it. “Four” should be bigger than Taylor Swift’s “1989.” It’s a real pop album, produced with an adult sound for kids. It was a wise move. Do these guys write the songs or play instruments? It doesn’t matter.They have the right people, and they made a great pop record. I’m enjoying listening to it on Spotify this morning. Good for them!
The songs are short and to the point. They all have different co-writers. Teddy Geiger, who should be aa pop star himself, co wrote what will be a massive hit single called “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?” Ed Sheeran co-wrote “18,” which we’ll be hearing constantly on pop radio. I particular liked “Fools Gold,” written by Maureen McDonald aka MoZella. (I guess Carole King would be called C-King if she were writing today.)
“Four” is produced by Julian Bunetta and John Ryan. They will think of this as their own “All That You Can’t Leave Behind,” the U2 album that sounds like 12 hit singles. even in the song “Night Changes” with what sounds like a little tribute to David Bowie, they made lemonade from what could have been lemons. Crazy but true. Not kidding. Over 40, give it a spin. “Four” is fun.
U2 Cancels Week Long Tonight Show Promo Because of Bono Cycling Accident–This Was Marketing Launch of 2015 Tour
Whoops! After the success and debacle of the Apple episode with their new album. U2 was all set to stage a huge comeback this week. They were booked for five shows on Jimmy Fallon to promote “Songs of Innocence” in its deluxe package, releasing tomorrow. But this was also the marketing launch of the 2015 super tour. The Tonight show gig was supposed to whet appetites. Me, I was psyched.
But nope: the Fallon gigs are suspended. Bono, unfortunately, took a spill in Central Park on his bicycle. On the U2 website there is this message:
From Edge, Adam & Larry:
Aretha Franklin Exclusive: Former Biographer Has No Respect For Her in Book Betrayal
No one is reading David Ritz’s unauthorized biography of Aretha Franklin called “Respect.” It sits in the book sales basement at number 6,000 on amazon.com. Why? The public smells a rat. They’re not shelling out good money for junk.
Franklin has every right to be mad. Fifteen years ago David Ritz helped her write an autobiography called “From these Roots.” Franklin had editorial control. In the end, she excised material she didn’t like from that book. Ritz resented it. He obviously planned his revenge.
Now Ritz has scooped up what was on the cutting room floor and made “Respect.” It’s a betrayal and a total violation of trust. You wonder, how could he do it? Does he have no conscience? As a journalist and a lover of R&B, I am horrified. He’s taken advantage of his former access. No one should ever again trust him to do a memoir with them.
And then there’s a question of attribution. Almost everyone he quotes is dead. He offers no proof that he interviewed them. It’s even more unlikely that they said any of this stuff. For instance, Ritz wrote a whole about Ray Charles. But none of the Ray Charles info in “Respect” was in the Ray book. Suddenly a dead Ray Charles has a whole lot of new quotes about Aretha Franklin.
Aretha did tell a Detroit newspaper she was thinking about suing Ritz. It’s not worth it. In the end, no one is reading his book. It’s trash. She told me the other day: “The book is called Respect. And clearly no respect is intended by David Ritz….it is a twisted and distorted attempt to defame–and character assassinate–me, my father and family!!”
Franklin is concerned about Ritz’s suggestion that she’s jealous of other singers. “He suggests as well I was jealous of Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, and Gladys Knight– which is just plain crazy but consider the source!!!!”
I have to say, I was with Aretha when she and Streisand were together last year. It was a love fest. I have the pictures to prove it. She was equally proud of her sisters Carolyn and Erma, who wrote many of her hits. According to Ritz, there was constant festering jealousy among them. Simply not true.
Aretha is also not happy about Ritz’s descriptions of her father or his church. I don’t blame her. She won’t say it, but I will: it’s racist. It’s that simple.
“After 50 years of [my family] being in the public eye … there is no question people know who we were and what we stand for,” Aretha tells me. “Everyone he quotes is deceased and cannot defend themselves. And there blatant lies gospel luminary James Cleveland….and calling the church a sex circus! He’s horribly vindictive.”
So ignore the book. Dig Aretha Franklin’s new album and her single on “Rolling in the Deep.” The Queen of Soul is a national treasure. On December 12 th she’s getting the Billboard Women in Music Award, the latest in a string of awards and citations. David Ritz will be home, counting his remainders.
PS I will tell you that despite the idiosyncrasies of being one of the most famous performers in the world, Aretha Franklin is loyal to her friends and family and vice versa. Her annual New York birthday party goes on for hours every March. Aretha throws it herself, and for her friends. It’s become like a national holiday for her inner circle. After a close read of “Respect,” I’m sorry that Ritz wasted so much time on negativity. There would have been so much to be gained by telling the real story of Aretha’s extraordinary struggle, literally, from her roots.
Review: Hugh Jackman Is the Bait in “The River,”A New Short, Dull Play
During the 85 minute bore of a play called “The River,” I thought about a lot of things. None of them was “The River.” For $175 you can see Hugh Jackman close up for nearly an hour and a half. He wears a tight a dark red t shirt the whole time. I realized something. He’s worked out so much that he has double triceps on each arm. I didn’t even know that was physically possible.
This obviously impressed Ben Brantly, who was so mesmerized by Jackman that he missed the fact “The River” is not a play. During the 85 minutes you get to watch Jackman clean and fillet a trout for dinner. He chops up lots of different things, like an onion and maybe celery. It’s like a segment from the Food Network. He also pouts glasses of wine, sets a table and takes off boaters (high water rubber pants). He also cleans his hands and the table with lemon, to get out the fish smell.
Not much happens in “The River.” There are two dull monologues about fish and fishing. You learn the difference between trout and sea trout. (“There isn’t one.”) There are two actresses, they alternate, you’re not sure for a while if they’re playing the same character. They disappear, another comes in at the end. Someone next to me said, “She must have killed the first two.” If only.
Jackman plays a loner called The Man who brings lots of women to his cabin on the river but won’t commit to them. He actually frightens them. Since he doesn’t have A Name, all he does is talk about and prepare fish. Frankly, you could this at Citarella for free.
There were celebrities in the audience: Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld, Ellen Burstyn, Harvey Keitel and his wife Daphna, and so on. Cindy Adams usually leaves at the intermission but she couldn’t last night because there was no intermission. This was wise. Otherwise people would have fled.
You know a show is bad when the publicist tells you “The producers don’t want press at the party.” This is code for: “They don’t want you asking questions while the reviews are being read.” (To be fair, they did do press in the lobby of theater after the show, I am told.)
Hugh Jackman has nothing to prove to us about being a “serious” actor. We all know he’s incredibly talented. But pick a real play, for god’s sake. “The River” could have easily been titled “Fish in the Dark.” Oh, but that’s taken. Let’s just call it “Les Miserables.”
Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams Neighbors Love Their Music But Not at 5AM (Read This)
LOL. Nile Rodgers is working on his new Chic album for spring 2015. Maybe that’s when he’ll be inducted into the RockHall. Also guess what? He’s using some tapes to add the late great Luther Vandross on background vocals.
The Best Bieber Successor: 16 Year Old Pop Star Shawn Mendes Keeps Kool in Front of 1,000 Screaming Girls at 1st Show Ever
Here’s the deal: Like Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes is from Canada. Unlike Bieber, Mendes is tall (6’1″), good looking, very well spoken, and a pretty competent guitar player. He’s got a great pop voice that falls more on the Ed Sheeran side than on “American Idol.”
Shawn Mendes writes catchy songs, lots of them, and he’s genuine in his disposition. Last night he made his first ever premiere live on stage at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square in front about 1,000 screaming girls and their parents. Shawn took the bare stage with just his guitar, no band, no dancers, just him. He wore a flannel shirt and jeans.
The room was once a grand movie theater where I watched “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Indiana Jones” and “Superman” on a 70 mm screen in the 1970s. On Saturday night it was seething with young girls standing packed like proverbial sardines from the lip of the stage to the back of the room. They often swayed in waves before Mendes came out, chanting his songs.
But get this: Mendes does not have an album out yet. The girls found him on Vine, not even YouTube. He posted six-second snippets of himself singing. The teen world exploded like Krypton just before Superman was shipped out in swaddling clothes. Shawn’s parents are not musical, and had no idea what was happening when fame beckoned. Now he’s signed to Island Records and its guru, David Massey. He’s getting packets of schoolwork from his undoubtedly furious instructors.
His songs are simple and melodic, with hooks. Everyone can sing along, and they do. There’s no yodeling or rap. There’s no Auto Tune or fakery. His voice has already changed, so unlike Bieber he doesn’t sound like Ann Murray. He has a nice full adult throat. He does need a mentor, like John Mayer, or James Taylor’s son Ben Taylor. That would help. He says his influences are Ed Sheeran and Justin Timberlake. But they’re not. They’re really Neil Young and James Taylor. He just has to hear their records.
Well, the girls keep screaming. But Shawn remains at the mic, and calms them down by talking to them. He was so afraid before going on, Massey says. he nearly became ill. You couldn’t see it on stage.
Mendes’ biggest break comes next summer. He will open for ubiquitous man eater Taylor Swift. Let’s hope he can keep his balance. But something tells me by June there will tabloid stories galore. Please god, no.