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Broadway: James Bond Producer Brings All Star “Love Letters” With Alan Alda, Anjelica Huston, Candice Bergen,

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: James Bond Producer Brings All Star “Love Letters” With Alan Alda, Anjelica Huston, Candice Bergen,

Broadway is about to get a big star jolt from A.R. Gurney’s chestnut, “Love Letters.” James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and her theater producer husband Fred Zollo will stage an all star roundabout in the two hander beginning in September. The stars are Alan Alda, Brian Dennehy and Mia Farrow,  Candice Bergen, Carol Burnett, Anjelica Huston, Stacy Keach, Diana Rigg and Martin Sheen. Not bad! Plus, the very talented Greg Mosher is directing. And lighting is by our old pal,  Tony winner Peter Kaczorowski. Hot ticket!

PS But someone had better do something about Times Square quick or no one’s going to any Broadway shows. The place is overrun, it’s filthy, there’s tons of weird unnecessary construction. Get rid of the pedestrian mall. It’s so ironic– the seediness is returning all on its own!

Here’s the cast schedule:

Saturday, September 13, 2014, through Friday, October 10, 2014

Brian Dennehy & Mia Farrow

Saturday, October 11, 2014, through Friday, November 7, 2014

Carol Burnett & Brian Dennehy

Saturday, November 8, 2014 through Friday, December 5, 2014

Alan Alda & Candice Bergen

Saturday, December 6, 2014, through Friday, January 9, 2015

Stacy Keach & Diana Rigg

Saturday, January 10, 2015, through Sunday, February 1, 2015

Anjelica Huston & Martin Sheen

Woody Allen: Quintessential New Yorker Doesn’t Like Bagels, Won’t Eat Hot Dogs or Deli Food

Roger Friedman
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Woody Allen: Quintessential New Yorker Doesn’t Like Bagels, Won’t Eat Hot Dogs or Deli Food

I don’t often get to plug myself but here goes. This week’s New York Observer carries a cover story written by yours truly, an exclusive interview with four time Oscar winner– and multiple nominee– Woody Allen. Observer editor Ken Kurson asked me to interview Woody and the great writer-director obliged, with no limitations. I was particularly interested in what Woody’s life is like now with two teenage daughters, ages 15 and 14, and wife Soon Yi. (For the Mia Farrow story, you can Google the whole ordeal til the cows come home.)

Most enlightening was Woody, at 78, with two kids in the house on iPhones. They listen to Katy Perry, Rihanna, and “something called One Direction,” he told me. Woody himself has an iPhone on which his assistant has downloaded 120 great jazz songs. Otherwise, the phone is used just for calls. He doesn’t go on the internet, doesn’t email, and has only just learned to text courtesy of his “Magic in the Moonlight” star Emma Stone.

A fun part of the interview was Woody explaining to me how he makes the best chocolate malteds ever, even “they’ll kill you.” And guess what? The quintessential New Yorker doesn’t like bagels, hasn’t had a hot dog in 15 years or a corned beef sandwich in 25 years. That’s why, he says, he still weighs the same as he did in 1969. In fact, he’s constantly trying to gain weight and drinks two beers a day to that end!

I was also interested in talking to Woody about his movies. He’s made 45 features since 1977. Many of them are considered classics. I asked him to pick his favorites. You’ll see the list. He doesn’t include Manhattan, one of his greats. And he’s hesitant to include Annie Hall, his Oscar winner. He does talk about all his cinematographers, and praises Cate Blanchett for “Blue Jasmine.”

Anyway, it’s Woody in a rare moment of quiet and introspection.

Confirmed: Michael Jackson’s Neverland Will Be Sold By Note Holder Colony Capital

Roger Friedman
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Confirmed: Michael Jackson’s Neverland Will Be Sold By Note Holder Colony Capital
EXCLUSIVE I’ve confirmed that Michael Jackson’s long ago abandoned Neverland Ranch is finally being sold. Colony Capital, which holds the note on the property, now known as Sycamore Valley Ranch, really has no choice. Neverland cannot be converted into a museum because of zoning laws in Santa Barbara County and in the town of Los Olivos. They will market and sell the property, although no sale has taken place yet.
The place was left high and dry by Michael Jackson in June 2005 after his acquittal on charges of child molestation and conspiracy. He never returned. Colony saved Neverland from foreclosure when they became Jackson’s partners. Before they intervened, Neverland was frittered away. Michael let the staff go without salaries for weeks on end. He did nothing to maintain it and had no interest in it. So let’s not romanticize the situation. When he left after the trial he said he wasn’t going back, and he didn’t.
Neverland was dismantled a long time ago, with all the rides and animals sold off to various entities. The contents of the home went into storage, and much of that has been sold. You can’t go back in time, kids. It’s sad, but it’s all over.
The property is currently appraised at around $30 million.

Here’s the statement from the Michael Jackson estate:

We are saddened at the prospect of the sale of Neverland which, under the agreement negotiated during Michael’s lifetime, Colony has the right to sell. The Estate will maintain Michael’s family home in Encino, including its iconic recording studio there. We continue to build upon Michael’s legacy as an artistic genius and humanitarian through his music and new projects such as the Michael Jackson ONE show in Las Vegas. We hope and trust that any new owners of Neverland will respect the historical importance and special nature of this wonderful property. Michael’s memory lives on in the hearts of his fans worldwide.

 

Tarantino’s “Hateful Eight” Already Has A Poster (Here it Is)

Roger Friedman
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Tarantino’s “Hateful Eight” Already Has A Poster (Here it Is)

Quentin Tarantino’s “Hateful Eight” already has a poster. Here it is, courtesy of Vulture/New York magazine. It’s very cool, but it won’t be the last poster. I reported exclusively in May that “Hateful Eight” would start up in November. A poster indicates that movement is at hand. So nice to be excited about something good for a change!

hateful eight poster

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Is Yet Another Success to Marvel At

Roger Friedman
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Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Is Yet Another Success to Marvel At

Marvel really knows what it’s doing making films. Who could have ever guessed that they would just keep getting it right, movie after movie, adapting their beloved comics?

On Friday “Guardians of the Galaxy” will extend their hitting streak. Owing a lot to the original “Star Wars” movies, “GG” is a hoot, very witty, full of smart stuff so that while 12 year olds are captivated by the 3D special effects– they’re very good– parents will get a kick out of the film.

The big surprise is that Chris Pratt, of “Parks and Recreation” fame, fits right into the wise cracking mold of Harrison Ford. Pratt leads a pretty impressive cast, too, that has extended cameos from heavyweights like Glenn Close, among others. Keep your eye on the screen and you’ll see both Marvel creator Stan Lee and movie star Josh Brolin skip across the screen.

But then there’s Pratt’s central gang. Zoe Saldana as the tough talking heroine, Vin Diesel as a magic tree, David Bautista as a strong man, and Bradley Cooper– yes, Bradley Cooper– as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, the live animated leader of this pack who owes more to Morey Amsterdam than he does to Yoda. I will offer that this might be Cooper’s best role ever.

And look at that gang– they owe more to “The Wizard of Oz” than to “Star Wars.” Such is the genius of James Gunn and Nicole Perlman’s script that the main characters bond quickly as a family as they skip across the yellow brick road, er, galaxy.

It doesn’t hurt that pop music from the 1970s is its own subplot here. From the Runaways to “Ooh Child”– you’ve got to see Chris Pratt’s dance off–to a Motown finale (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Jackson 5), this is the kind of goofy take on comics and sci- fi that launches a cult. And sequels.

One more thing: somehow this movie connects itself up to “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.” I won’t give it away. But Kevin and Kyra should be fairly amused.

Expect huge box office this weekend.

 

Pop Charts: Aussie Boy Band 5 Seconds of Summer Has Huge Debut at Number 1

Roger Friedman
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Pop Charts: Aussie Boy Band 5 Seconds of Summer Has Huge Debut at Number 1

Ever hear of 5 Seconds of Summer? They’re a boy band from Australia. They land this week at number 1 on the pop album charts with 253,000 copies sold of their self titled debut. That’s a whopping SEVEN times more than the number 2 this week, the “Frozen” soundtrack. Weird AL dropped to number 3 from last week’s number 1.

5 Seconds of Summer has been on tour opening for One Direction. They’re sort of the NSync to the latter group’s Backstreet Boys. The group played the Today show’s summer concert series on July 22nd, which no doubt helped.

Otherwise, absolutely nothing is happening on the charts. They are static. When something breaks through, it’s like water in the desert. 5 Seconds of Summer is signed to Capitol, part of Universal Music. They don’t compare to another Capitol band from long ago, the Beatles, but at least they made a dent in the charts. Think of it — two weeks ago Sia sold only 52,000 copies to be number 1.

Watch Red Band Trailer for Frank Miller’s “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For”

Roger Friedman
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Watch Red Band Trailer for Frank Miller’s “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For”

Talk about pulp fiction! Cool trailer for Sin City. Not for the young or the faint of heart!

Forrest Gump Getting 20th Anniversary IMAX Release in September

Roger Friedman
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Forrest Gump Getting 20th Anniversary IMAX Release in September

I told you this last October: 1994 Best Picture “Forrest Gump” is getting a big 20th anniversary release. The Robert Zemeckis Tom Hanks starrer will hit IMAX theaters on September 5th for one week. We’ll see how those chocolates in the box have held up, won’t we? “Forrest Gump” was a huge hit back in the day. Hanks won his second Oscar for Best Actor, having just won the year before for “Philadelphia.”  Gary Sinise was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Eccentric Hyatt Hotels Heir Is Really Re-Shooting His Whole $100 Mil Jazz Movie

Roger Friedman
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Eccentric Hyatt Hotels Heir Is Really Re-Shooting His Whole $100 Mil Jazz Movie

Dan Pritzker is really going for it. He scrapped an entire $100 million movie, all shot, starring Anthony Mackie as obscure jazz musician Buddy Bolden.

As I was the first to report, Pritzker decided to re-shoot the whole shooting match. Cost be damned. Pritzker is heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune.

He cast Gary Carr, the singer from “Downton Abbey,” a mostly unknown, to play Bolden. He’s also hired Nelsan Ellis, from “True Blood” and the new James Brown movie, “Get on Up.”

I’m told today Pritzker sent out a casting notice for Buddy Bolden’s wife and mother in law. That may surprise Milauna Jackson, who was hired to play Nora Bolden. The new shoot will commence this fall in Chicago.

Led Zeppelin Pulls Out the Big Guns: Reissues of “Stairway to Heaven” Album and “Houses of the Holy”

Roger Friedman
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Led Zeppelin Pulls Out the Big Guns: Reissues of “Stairway to Heaven” Album and “Houses of the Holy”

Led Zeppelin may not want to tour or get back together, but they know how to make money. For their reissue series they’re pulling out the big guns this fall: “Led Zeppelin IV” and “Houses of the Holy.”

The Zep already put out their first three albums all dolled up with extra unreleased tracks, remastered, with serious art work. Those three sold like crazy and all made the album charts.

But now– these two will do even better. “IV” includes Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Rock & Roll,  Going to California, and Misty Mountain Hop. “Houses of the Holy” has The Rain Song, D’yer Mak’er, Over the Hills and Far Away, The Song Remains the Same, and Dancing Days. Aside from “Immigrant Song” and “Kashmir,” those are Led Zeppelin’s biggest hits.

Circle October 27th. Jimmy Page supervised all the remastering. Here’s the tracklist:

Led Zeppelin IV

Track Listing

1.   “Black Dog”

2.   “Rock And Roll”

3.   “The Battle of Evermore”

4.   “Stairway To Heaven”

5.   “Misty Mountain Hop”

6.   “Four Sticks”

7.   “Going To California”

8.   “When The Levee Breaks”

Companion Audio Disc

1.   “Black Dog” – Basic Track With Guitar Overdubs

2.   “Rock And Roll” – Alternate Mix

3.   “The Battle Of Evermore” – Mandolin/Guitar Mix From Headley Grange

4.   “Stairway To Heaven” – Sunset Sound Mix

5.   “Misty Mountain Hop” – Alternate Mix

6.   “Four Sticks” – Alternate Mix

7.   “Going To California” – Mandolin/Guitar Mix

8.   “When The Levee Breaks” – Alternate UK Mix

Houses of the Holy

Track Listing

1.              “The Song Remains The Same”

2.              “The Rain Song”

3.              “Over The Hills And Far Away”

4.              “The Crunge”

5.              “Dancing Days”

6.              “D’yer Mak’er”

7.              “No Quarter”

8.              “The Ocean”

Companion Audio Disc

1.   “The Song Remains The Same” – Guitar Overdub Reference Mix

2.   “The Rain Song” – Mix Minus Piano

3.   “Over The Hills And Far Away” – Guitar Mix Backing Track

4.   “The Crunge” – Rough Mix – Keys Up

5.   “Dancing Days” – Rough Mix With Vocal

6.   “No Quarter” – Rough Mix With JPJ Keyboard Overdubs – No Vocal

7.   “The Ocean” – Working Mix

 

 

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