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Pop: One Direction May Be Launching Its Own Timberlake in Niall Horan

Roger Friedman
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Pop: One Direction May Be Launching Its Own Timberlake in Niall Horan

No one is going to accuse One Direction of being heavy, expressing much personal opinion or exhibiting a lot of focus. So when one member of the boy band, Zayn Malik, Tweeted “Free Palestine,” there were waves of shock.

At MetLife Stadium on Tuesday night, Zayn seemed a little cowed, and pretty tentative in the second show in a row at the venue– pretty much sold out to the rafters with girls, girls, shrieking girls. My nieces, age 14, were among them.

Let’s just say, between the endless actual fireworks, confetti, and prancing up and down a cat walk, One Direction managed to entertain its audience. All the girls loved them, while the parents and adults sat patiently and looked at their phones. One middle aged guy sported huge ear covering headphones. I don’t know what he was listening to but it wasn’t One Direction.

There are five guys in One Direction, a group cobbled together by Simon Cowell in the UK from one of his “X Factor” shows and turned into a modern Monkees. Well, not so much as they don’t have the songs or the records. One Direction has yet to produce anything as profound as “I’m Not Your Stepping Stone” or “Pleasant Valley Sunday.”

Their ostensible leader, Harry Styles, is a nice guy whom I’ve met before. He is channeling Johnny Depp via Keith Richards and has the Rock Star look– lanky, with wild hair pent up in a turban. He even he has a devilish twinkle in his eye. After seeing the group in person, though, I’d say their potential break out star is Nial Horan. He plays the guitar, sings very well, writes songs, and actually behaves like the group’s leader. Interesting.

Otherwise, One Direction is dependent on several real musicians who stay on the stage and play the songs while the guys bounce around the stadium.  The songs are static and not very interesting except for a couple of AM pop hits like “What Makes You Beautiful” and “Story of My Life.” The problem is that One Direction is a little adrift– since they are not musicians, they can only pretend to be a “band” for so long. Then reality kicks in– what are they? And unlike The Backstreet Boys or NSync, they don’t dance– there’s no choreography. They just lope about.

They also talk waaaay too much. There’s a lot of unnecessary yakking. Members of the group talked incessantly about “how amazing” the audience was, how “grateful” the group was to be at MetLife Stadium, and prattled on about the Super Bowl, an event that took place six months ago.

Of course, I am not the target audience for One Direction. The girls– all twenty thousand of them– loved the show. I suspect One Direction is at its peak right now. Their next album will go through the roof. And you know what? That’s fine. They provide a kind of harmless, neutered fun that doesn’t hurt anyone.

Anyway, let’s keep on eye on Niall. He may be the Timberlake here, or even Ed Sheeran. He needs to do a solo album. Until then, One Direction might want to think about who they are and what they’re saying on stage. Or learn to cover “Maybe I’m Amazed” and “Amazing Grace.”

Another sort of boy band, Five Seconds of Summer, opened for One Direction. They actually play their instruments and act more like a circa 1982 New Wave power pop sort of MTV group.  If they can find the right songs, they may last longer than five seconds.

PS Live Nation produced the show. They sent a bunch of young people to MetLife to organize the evening, and they were all top notch despite the blistering afternoon heat.

UPDATE EXCLUSIVE Larry David Changes Title of Broadway Play From “Shiva” to “Fish in the Dark”

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE EXCLUSIVE Larry David Changes Title of Broadway Play From “Shiva” to “Fish in the Dark”

UPDATE THURS AUG 7: The play is called “Fish in the Dark” now. I guess no one knew what ‘shiva’ meant, but that was the title. Patrick Healy of the NY Times, a real piece of work, managed to throw this site a link only by way of saying something nasty. Vulture of NY Magazine credited the story to the Times. And contrary to Healy, Larry David did tell me last January, when I broke the story, that Jerry Seinfeld might be involved in some way. The Times has plagiarism problems already reported elsewhere. Obviously, no one is paying attention to what’s going on there.

EARLIER:

I told you in January, exclusively, that Larry David told me he’d written a play intended for Broadway. He told me then that Jerry Seinfeld might be involved, either as an actor or producer. That story, I see now, really got picked up, often without credit.

So here goes the next chapter. Now I’m told that Larry’s play is called “Shiva,” as in sitting shiva (pronounced shih-vah for those of you who aren’t sure).  Larry wasn’t going to star in it, but now he is, as the producer– Scott Rudin–has convinced him otherwise.

Larry David, Scott Rudin, comedy, Broadway. This is called “a sure thing.” I don’t know if Jerry is still involved. Seinfeld has his own projects, including his wonderful “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” and something he’s doing with buddy Colin Quinn.

Meantime, Rudin’s “Book of Mormon” continues to top the Broadway box office. His revival of “A Raisin in the Sun” with Denzel Washington was the hit of this past spring season, winning Tony Awards for the production and actress Sophie Okonedo.

PS Suddenly, sitting shiva— the Jewish period of mourning after a funeral– is becoming popular as a subject. Shawn Levy’s upcoming movie “There is Where I Leave You” with Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and Jane Fonda also uses it as a dramatic conceit. And Larry himself has used it a lot in “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” I say it’s okay as long as there’s a lot of lox and decent bagels.

 

Exclusive: Elton John, David Furnish Producing HBO Pilot with “True Blood” Creator Alan Ball

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Elton John, David Furnish Producing HBO Pilot with “True Blood” Creator Alan Ball

The word is that HBO is bringing two gigantic forces together. I’m hearing that Sir Elton John and partner (really, husband) David Furnish are going to produce a pilot with “True Blood” creator Alan Ball. Wow.

The show would be called “Virtuoso” and centers around young musicians in an elite academy in Vienna circa 1790. The academy is run by our old friend from “Amadeus,” Mozart’s nemesis Antonio Salieri. There’s lots of music, ruffled shirts and sex of all kinds. There are probably a lot of candelabras set on ornate pianos, too. Knowing ball, a whole universe will be set up for the musicians, the teachers, and the wealthy music patrons of Vienna. Sounds like there might be a lot of private recitals and lessons, as well.

Right now a search is on for young, good looking men and women who can play the piano and other instruments. (See, kids, this is why you should be practicing instead of playing video games.)

It’s interesting that Sir Elton and David Furnish, who’ve had great success with Broadway and with Disney, are being wooed into HBO. The cable network is also in a deal now with Mick Jagger’s company for a series about rock music in the ’70s with “Boardwalk Empire” writer Terry Winter.

 

 

Oprah, Spielberg Help Helen Mirren, Lasse Hallstrom Celebrate “Journey” Opening

Roger Friedman
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Oprah, Spielberg Help Helen Mirren, Lasse Hallstrom Celebrate “Journey” Opening

Lasse Hallstrom is one of our very best directors, and a great guy. His credits include early hits What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and My Life as a Dog. Then he had  back to back Oscar nominations for The Cider House Rules and Chocolat. He has such lovely gems as Hoax with Richard Gere; Casanova with Heath Ledger and Sienna Miller; and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.

Last night, no less than Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg helped Lasse (and his gorgeous actress wife Lena Olin) launch the latest Hallstrom classic, called The One Hundred Foot Journey starring the remarkable Helen Mirren and Indian star Om Puri at the Ziegfeld. A swanky dinner followed at Graydon Carter’s Monkey Bar where Mirren — who came with her famed director husband Taylor Hackford– held court. Disney-Dreamworks outdid itself.

Both Winfrey and Spielberg are executive producers on this much needed confection of a film that traces an Indian family’s move to a French village, where they open a unique restaurant 100 feet from a 1 star Michelin French legend. The latter is owned by Oscar winner Mirren, who captivates even when she’s playing haughty and a little mean.

There is also a central romance between two very talented young (and attractive) people– played by Manish Dayal and Charlotte Le Bon. Keep your eye on these two– they’re each stars in the making.

And Om Puri, who is a superstar in India– rent his 1999 film East is East and see what all the fuss is about.

I did get a chance to talk to Oprah, who was with Stedman Graham, her long time beau. We talked about her Oscar nomination for The Butler. I still think she should have won. But the category was incredibly tight. “Who did win?” Oprah said out loud, and then we both chimed in: “Lupita.” Winfrey said: “Look at her, she’s a phenomenon.” Oprah is not at all upset about losing. By the way, she looks great.

But no one looks better than Lasse and Lena. He’s 68, she’s 59. They’re Swedish, tall, gorgeous, and look a decade younger than their ages. (Helen Mirren, who’s not Swedish, is no slouch.) The One Hundred Foot Journey is clever funny, and smart. As with Hallstrom movies, it’s deceptively sweet. But it’s actually a very deft balancing act between light and dark.

As he did with the marvelous Chocolat, Hallstrom quickly involves us in  families living in a village apart from the rest of the world. All of his people are incredibly endearing. Not only that, but foodies, fans of shows like Top Chef, will be falling over themselves to see Journey a couple of times. Caution: you will leave the theater very hungry and ready for a big, sexy meal.

The One Hundred Foot  Journey is a total enjoyment. It’s also Disney’s second hit in a row after the quite different Guardians of the Galaxy.

 

 

Rock Hall Gets Burned For Removing Famed DJ’s Ashes From Exhibit

Roger Friedman
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Rock Hall Gets Burned For Removing Famed DJ’s Ashes From Exhibit

Alan Freed– I’m sorry, but even though he coined the phrase “rock and roll,” this famed dee jay was also at the center of pop music’s first big payola scandal circa 1960. Alan Freed took bribes from everyone to play records on his influential radio shows. Payola cuts both ways. The good way is that it gets records on the radio that might be overlooked. Of course, on the bad side, it’s illegal.

Freed was from Cleveland. So when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame wanted to build its museum, that’s the city they chose. They turned Freed into an icon, jettisoned the payola scandal, and made him a pioneer instead.  Okay, why not?

Now the Rock Hall has asked Alan’s son Lance Freed, who runs Rondor Music– a big music catalog- to come and get the ashes. They need to make room for Beyonce’s tutu or something. No one ever accused the Rock Hall of being smart, so this story reverberates.

When I heard it this morning, my first thought was, Alan Freed would have horse traded or bribed to keep the ashes in their exhibit case. No whining. Cash.

Henry Stone, who’s 92, was one of the most corrupt people ever in the record biz. Like Freed– and a lot of others– Stone often stuck his name on a songwriting credit to get a royalty he didn’t deserve. Stone wrote in his autobiography a couple of years ago about Alan Freed (who died in 1965 at age 44):

“Alan Freed saw me and called me in, and in those days you had to pay him $1000-$5000 to get a record played…And I always had a good relationship with him. All the other guys looked around like…”Motherfucker. What the hell, man?” All these powers sittin’ there and Henry Stone walks in and Alan Freed goes like this, waves his hand, and says “C’mon in,” and he takes my record and puts it right on. “Mexico Bound,” pa pa padda pa. It wasn’t that big, but it was a doo wop and he put it right on the air. For nothin’.

So people can say what they want about Alan Freed, but as far as I’m concerned he was a pretty good guy. Actually, I know for a fact, ’cause Leonard Chess told me himself that they put Freed’s name down on “Goodnight My Love” by the Moonglows as a songwriter. Leonard was very close with Alan Freed, and helped him to get into NYC from Cleveland.

Songwriter credit is an old perk, but Allen Freed never had nothing to do with writing “Good Night My Love.”

Two great books to read if you want to know who all these people were, and how we got here– Stone’s book “The Stone Cold Truth,” and Tommy James’s memoir about Morris Levy, Roulette Records and the Shondells. This is when ‘number 1 with a bullet’ really meant something!

Kevin Costner’s Hot “Comeback” Film Could Be Oscar Bait, Gets Early Look in Hamptons, Dares to Use the “N” Word

Roger Friedman
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Kevin Costner’s Hot “Comeback” Film Could Be Oscar Bait, Gets Early Look in Hamptons, Dares to Use the “N” Word

A little update, addendum: I do think “Black and White” is one of the best written movies I’ve seen in a long time. It’s sure to raise a ruckus, though. Costner’s Elliot inadvertently blurts out the “N” word and it comes back to haunt him in this very level look at race, language and what constitutes family in 2014. There’s an explanation offered later, which covers Elliot. But there will be a lot of discussion about this when “Black and White” hits theaters.  The debate should be thoughtful, and hopefully, not incendiary.

Earlier: I don’t think anyone quite understands how Mike Binder’s very effective drama, “Black and White,” screened in East Hampton last night. It wasn’t until after the screening was announced that “Black and White” was named by the Toronto Film Festival as a gala premiere film. But the Lions Gate release was shown last night, and it’s very, very good, especially for stars Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, two past Oscar winners, and our pal Anthony Mackie.

I’ve known Mike since he was a stand up comic in L.A. in the 80s. But he rapidly turned into an excellent filmmaker with a sharp eye. His well wrought original movies include “Reign Over Me” with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle,  “Man About Town” with Ben Affleck, and “The Upside of Anger” with Costner. He also helmed a terrific but short lived HBO series called “The Mind of the Married Man.”

Now Binder has taken a chapter from his own life and reworked it into a story of a young grandfather (Costner) whose wife dies suddenly. The man then must defend custody of the couple’s 7 year old granddaughter, who is black, and precocious, and who they’ve been taking care of since their daughter died in childbirth. The little girl’s biological father’s family (the grandmother on that side is Octavia Spencer, who’s a knock out in this movie) wants custody. In addition to Spencer, Anthony Mackie is solid as usual as Spencer’s attorney brother.

Costner’s Elliot, who’s well to do, a lawyer himself with means, is hampered by the fact that he’s a functioning alcoholic. He hires a brilliant college kid (“Falling Skies” star Mpho Koahoto is a scene stealer) to be his driver and the girl’s tutor.

Costner is always great when he’s playing a flawed lovable loser who must get his act together. Elliot is sort of a perfect grown up adult version of guys he’s played before. It’s a nice turn on Binder’s part that Elliot isn’t suddenly saddled with the kid–he’s been raising her with his wife, only now the wife is suddenly gone. He dreams about her (Jennifer Ehle, a little young for grandma status I think) as he drinks his way through the custody mess.

What’s so special about “Black and White”? Coincidentally, I wrote about this the other day– this is a movie about race, that confronts the subject realistically but even-handedly. There are no villains. And the movie is a triumph of integrating black and white actors in a very grounded story. Mackie and Spencer are already stars. The film introduces young Jillian Estell as Eloise, the 7 year old, and Andre Holland, who’s terrific as Reggie, her father. Check out a musical cameo by Costner’s 28 year old singer songwriter daughter Lily.

So “Black and White” heads to Toronto under the aegis of LionsGate, which will hopefully get behind it. (Right now, the film is technically with the useless Roadside Attractions.) Binder has produced a very nice piece of work here.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” Shatters August Opening Weekend Records

Roger Friedman
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“Guardians of the Galaxy” Shatters August Opening Weekend Records

Before this weekend, the biggest opening weekend in the month of August ever was for “The Bourne Ultimatum” in 2007. That number was $69,283,690.

But now “Galaxy of the Guardians” has shattered that record with a $94 million opening from Friday through today. Marvel-ous!!! “Guardians” even has a nice $66 mil internationally, with lots more to come. The future is limitless. And something tells me the Marvel insta-classic will hold right through Labor Day and the return to school. Disney’s Alan Horn should be very very happy.

Plus, the soundtrack, as I told you, is a big big hit.

Keep refreshing for more box office updates this morning…

 

Hollywood Has Plenty of Black Actors Waiting to be Stars: Trade Paper is Wrong

Roger Friedman
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Hollywood Has Plenty of Black Actors Waiting to be Stars: Trade Paper is Wrong

The Hollywood Reporter is so wrong. They say “Hollywood is struggling to find black stars.” So idiotic. The actors are there. They simply aren’t given the chance. When they have been, the actors have hit home runs. But the opportunities aren’t there, especially when a role could be– and should be– color blind.

Anthony Mackie, so gifted, made the transition when he appeared in “Captain America.” That’s a step in the right direction. He’s 35, in the same age group as Leo, Ben, Matt Damon, McConaughey, etc.  He should have an Oscar already.

So far, Chadwick Boseman has been able to star in two films, “42” and “Get on Up,” each time as a black icon. There should be more for him out there.

But what about Derek Luke, who should have broken through already? And Michael Ealy? Need an action star? Chiwetel Ejiofor is more than just “12 Years a Slave.” So is Idris Elba more than Mandela.

That THR article is so wrong headed. What about: Terrence Howard? Why has Cuba Gooding Jr. been relegated to second tier roles? He’s great! Broadway has a major star in Norm Foster, who could be a dramatic star in movies if someone wrote a part for him.

PS THR managed to leave out — among Established Black Stars — Samuel L. Jackson and Forest Whitaker. Are you kidding? Those guys are uber-stars, incredibly talented.

And I didn’t mention David Oyelowo, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Harold Perrineau, Nate Parker, Giancarlo Esposito, Taye Diggs, Chris Rock, and Djimon Honsou— who has a couple of Oscar nominations and could have more if the work was there. Shemar Moore is still shuttling between prime time and soap operas. He should be an action star. And there’s a whole level of middle aged guys who look great and have made careers but could be bigger: Mario van Peebles, Kristoff St. John, and so on.

On the female side, don’t get me started about Viola Davis not having an Oscar, and having to do series TV. That’s for another column altogether. She’s in the same league as Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close and Jessica Chastain. Octavia Spencer at least has her Oscar. But why not Sanaa Lathan? Condola Rashad? (again, another column!)

Hello THR, let’s address the real problem: count up the black execs who can greenlight a film. Then call me.

’70s Hits at Number 1 on iTunes Thanks to “Guardians” Awesome Soundtrack

Roger Friedman
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’70s Hits at Number 1 on iTunes Thanks to “Guardians” Awesome Soundtrack

The 70s are back, and they’re– well, we’re– number 1 on iTunes. This is thanks to the “Guardians of the Galaxy” soundtrack titled “Awesome Mixtape, Vol. 1.”

In the movie, Chris Pratt’s late mom leaves him two cassettes full of music. It’s all the good stuff from before music turned sour. The album shot to number 1 today on iTunes, where it will probably stick around for a bit as the movie has a record breaking weekend.

The songs are “Hooked on A Feeling” by Blue Swede (kids, check out BJ Thomas’s original, too) plus “I’m Not in Love” by 10cc, “Spirit in the Sky,” a notorious one off hit by Norman Greenbaum, “I Want You Back” from the Jackson 5, “Cherrybomb” by the Runaways (featuring Joan Jett) and one of Motown’s all time standards, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

Stay tuned, because there will likely be a Volume 2, either soon, or when the film goes to DVD for Christmas.

 

Marvel: Howard the Duck Returns, for a Second, As “Guardians” Readies for Record

Roger Friedman
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Marvel: Howard the Duck Returns, for a Second, As “Guardians” Readies for Record

No, Howard the Duck is not back. Not really. Marvel’s answer to Disney’s Donald Duck makes a cameo appearance in the end credits sequence of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The press was not shown this cut, but word seeped out quickly. New York Magazine’s Vulture put up a clip, and was quickly admonished to take it down. Marvel fans went into a frenzy. What could this mean?

It means…nothing. It’s just a clever riposte at the end of a very clever movie. There will be no Howard the Duck movie in the future. The only existing Howard the Duck movie was one of the great — colossal– failures of the 1980s. At the time, it cost an enormous $37 million (really probably $50 million). In the US it took in only $16 million.

And the whole thing was a George Lucas production, the only real complete failure on Lucas’s intra-stellar resume. “Howard” was directed by Lucas’s protege Willard Huyck. The screenplay was by Huyck and Gloria Katz, who’d worked on almost everything in the Lucas-Spielberg pantheon. But this was not meant to be. At the time, “Howard” was a very sore joke in Hollywood.

But bravo to the “Guardians” team. Howard sipping Champagne is a snappy end note. “Guardians” is going to go through the roof this weekend. Howard’s appearance is a reminder of what Marvel was, long ago, in another universe.

 

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