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

Roger Friedman
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9
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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0
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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0
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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2
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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0
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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0
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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0
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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1
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

 

 

Whoopi Goldberg Producing Film with Julius Nasso, Former “Mob Associate” With Prison Past

Roger Friedman
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0
Whoopi Goldberg Producing Film with Julius Nasso, Former “Mob Associate” With Prison Past

UPDATE: Whoopi Goldberg just called in to say two things. One– she’s happy with the way things are going, and that Julius Nasso is not the same person he was ten years ago. Second– The Christmas Pearl is a wonderful novel, and I should give her the benefit of the doubt. I agree, so I will. Let’s hope it turns out to be a surprise hit. I’ll eat my words!

EARLIER: Julius Nasso is sort of a “Get Shorty” figure with a curious past. He spent a year and a day in prison in 2004 for being an “associate” of the Gambino crime family although he denies strenuously any connection to the Mafia. He’s produced a string of really bad straight to video movie clunkers with a couple of freak exceptions like “Narc” with Ray Liotta in 2002.

On the imdb, he’s listed as executive producer of a 2014 movie called “Nailed,” directed by David O. Russell. Only, “Nailed” was a 2008 project that was never made, is completely dead, and was also supposed to be produced by David Bergstein, an, ahem, “controversial” Hollywood figure to be sure.

Now, somehow, he’s convinced Whoopi Goldberg to go into business with him. He’s also got David Belafonte, son of Harry. They’re about to start shooting what looks like another hopeless loser called “The Christmas Pearl,” co-starring Whoopi, the esteemed Broadway and TV star Judith Ivey, and Jasmine Guy of the 1990s TV show “A Different World.” The screenplay is from Anne Rapp, writer of two of Robert Altman’s lesser movies, “Cookie’s Fortune” and “Dr. T and the Women.” The director, Felix Alcala, is from series TV.

Movie financing is a rough game. Stars will do almost anything to get a movie made. Nasso’s resume proves that. In the last couple of years, he’s produced such gems as “Breakway” with Ethan Hawke and singer Selena Gomez and “Pride of Lions,” directed by 1970s shlockmeister Sidney Furie. (I can’t imagine what this is like, with a cast that includes Bo Svenson, Margot Kidder, and Louis Gossett Jr.)

Why Whoopi, an Oscar winner, is involved with this, is beyond me. The Christmas Pearl is already jewelry that will have to be brought back to the store for credit.

As for Julius Nasso, he’s a nice guy. In the decade since his scandal, he’s stayed out of trouble. I’ve met him. In September 2005, after he was sprung, Nasso gave a fondly recalled gala at his beach front compound on Staten Island. Nasso sent limos and buses to Manhattan to fetch the guests including curious journalists. I remember the tour I got of the house with Victoria Gotti. She was very impressed with his tromp l’oeil bathroom. He was thrilled.

As for The Christmas Pearl: it begins filming July 18th. Who knows? Maybe it will be out in time for Christmas.

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga Duets Coming in Late September, Taped Secret TV Show Last Night

Roger Friedman
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50
Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga Duets Coming in Late September, Taped Secret TV Show Last Night

UPDATE: I’m told that the “Cheek to Cheek” album will be issued on Lady Gaga’s label, Interscope, and not Sony/Columbia, where Tony Bennett has recorded since 1773. That may make this is the first release Tony Bennett has had apart from Columbia Records since the Civil War. But I’m told Sony was gracious about acceding to this request.

From April 2014: http://www.showbiz411.com/2014/04/10/tony-bennett-long-awaited-lady-gaga-duets-album-coming-in-september

Earlier today: All I can tell you is last night Lady Gaga taped a PBS special with Tony Bennett at Rose Hall in the Time Warner Center. Little Steven (Steve van Zandt) and his wife Maureen were there, so was famed writer Gay Talese and his famed book publisher wife Nan. Other guests included Al Roker, plus Gaga’s parents and her grandmothers, plus a room full of people who’d participated in a hush hush lottery.

click here for today’s headlines on Showbiz411

I can tell you something else: we know Tony Bennett can sing and perform like an angel. He is amazing at almost 88 years old. But Gaga can sing like you won’t believe. After people in the biz see this special she will have offers for “A Star is Born,” Broadway shows, you name it. No meat dresses, no gigantic eggs. Her numerous gowns were elegant and gorgeous. She comported herself on stage like a pro. And the voice! Like Ella Fitzgerald. No kidding.

I can’t be more specific yet about the content of the show. It’s too soon. Suffice to say, it reminded me of a classic special from the early 60s when CBS would present sophisticated variety– like Julie Andrews and Harry Belafonte. Gaga’s “Little Monsters” are going to be downloading the Great American Songbook.

PBS says the special, called “Cheek to Cheek,” will air October 24th from 9 to 10pm. It’s based on their “Cheek to Cheek” album, set for September 24th, just in time for the Grammy deadline. We’ll be seeing a lot of that project on the Grammys come February 2015.

The whole “Cheek to Cheek” project will be a game changer for Lady Gaga. For Tony Bennett, it’s just another day at the office. He is brilliant.

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