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“August: Osage County” Actor Sam Shepard Plays it Cool (and Fun) at Lunchtime Q&A

Roger Friedman
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“August: Osage County” Actor Sam Shepard Plays it Cool (and Fun) at Lunchtime Q&A

Sam Shepard– playwright, actor, etc– does not do publicity. So when he showed up at today’s lunch honoring beloved “August: Osage County” producer Jean Doumanian at Le Cirque, everyone was surprised. Shepard, looking like a dusty cowboy in the city–had the seat of honor next to Liz Smith. They talked Texas all the way through Sirio Maccione’s tasty morsels.

But when it came time for the author of “True West” and “A Lie of the Mind” to participate in a Q&A with his castmates, Shepard was less a cowboy and more of a shadow. He lurked far behind a row of black chair-stools set up for Chris Cooper, Margo Martindale, Juliette Lewis, Julianne Nicholson, Abigail Breslin, and moderator Michael Riedel of the New York Post. A seat was left open for him. Champagne was sent over to him.

But Shepard managed to stay out of the mix. It was all in good fun. The “AOC” crowd was psyched from its SAG Best Ensemble nomination and actor nods for Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.

Juliette Lewis told the crowd, “You’re lucky he even came to lunch.” What did they talk about on set? “Rock and roll, Patti Smith, the West,” joked Lewis. “He’s a cowboy.”

Shepard did stick around through dessert, hanging with Cooper and chatting with actor Bob Dishy. He talked to yours truly about late genius novelist David Foster Wallace, who took his own life at a young age.

Cooper, meantime, told us about having a heart attack eight months ago while he was shooting “Amazing Spider Man 2” in New York. “I’m ok now,” he said. Thank goodness. Cooper is one of our most talented actors and nicest of guys. Everyone loves him. And he’s sublime in “AOC.” One woman at lunch told him: “All the maternal feelings in the movie are expressed by your character.” Cooper blushed. “Why thank you,” he said.

Lunch guests included the famed Elaine May, her producing partner Julian Schlossberg, writer-actor Robert Wuhl, Bob Dishy and Judy Graubart, columnist Richard Cohen, playwright Israel Horovitz, and former network White House correspondent Bob Jamieson.

BFCA, HFPA: Best Song in a Movie? Watch Here Gladys Knight and Lenny Kravitz

Roger Friedman
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BFCA, HFPA: Best Song in a Movie? Watch Here Gladys Knight and Lenny Kravitz

There are a lot of candidates for Best Song in a movie this year. Diane Warren has one, so does U2. They’re each terrific. But I am a Gladys Knight fan. And Gladys has a major song in “The Butler,” written for her by Lenny Kravitz. Here they are performing it on David Letterman. If you’re in #BFCA or #HFPA, remember “You And I Ain’t Nothing No More.” If we’ve got to sit through three hour awards shows, and there’s a chance Gladys Knight can sing on them, let’s do it, kids. Great song. Great performance.

 
Gladys Knight and Lenny Kravitz – You and I Ain… by eidurrasmussen

 

SAG: “The Butler” Surprises, Redford Snubbed, “Hustle” Has a Problem

Roger Friedman
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SAG: “The Butler” Surprises, Redford Snubbed, “Hustle” Has a Problem

The SAG Awards showed a couple of things: first, Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” came roaring back after critics groups forgot it. The movie, released in August, picked up three of the five major SAG Awards: Best Ensemble, Actor, and Supporting Actress– the latter for Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.

I told you in August that Oprah would sweep through Best Supporting Actress at all the awards shows. “The Butler” may shape up as the surprise Oscar nominee. It’s in 1007 theaters right now. Let’s see if today’s news and maybe tomorrow’s don’t bring a new audience into theaters.

Then: “American Hustle” has a problem. Such a great movie, but voters are thinking of it only as an ensemble. Jennifer Lawrence’s flashy work is getting her into the Supporting category. But all four actors should be nominated. Somehow. Amy Adams is spectacular in this movie. Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper are at the top of their games.

And: Robert Redford! No nomination! “All is Lost” couldn’t be a Best Ensemble (although somehow it made it for Best Ensemble Stunt Work.) He’ll be back for the Oscars.

Also snubbed: “Nebraska,” “Her,” “Inside Llewyn Davis.” Surprised by all.

SAG Nominees: The Butler, August Osage County, 12 Years, American Hustle, Dallas Buyers

Roger Friedman
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SAG Nominees: The Butler, August Osage County, 12 Years, American Hustle, Dallas Buyers

Here are the 2014 Screen Actors Guild nominees. Unlike tomorrow’s smorgasbord of Golden Globe nominees, the SAG Awards are pretty accurate indicators of the Academy Awards. Best Ensemble usually translates into Best Picture. Two movies that can’t be in the former category today: “Gravity” and “All is Lost.” Their casts are too small! The SAG Awards air on January 18th at 8pm/5pm on TBS and TNT.

BEST ENSEMBLE:

12 Years A Slave

American Hustle

August: Osage County

Dallas Buyers Club

Lee Daniels’ The Butler

 

BEST ACTOR:

Bruce Dern

Chewitel Ejiofor

Tom Hanks

Matthew McConaughey

Forest Whitaker

 

BEST ACTRESS:

Cate Blanchett

Sandra Bullock

Judi Dench

Meryl Streep

Emma Thompson

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Barkhad Abdi

Daniel Bruhl

Michael Fassbender

James Gandolfini

Jared Leto

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Jennifer Lawrence

Lupita Nyong’o

Julia Roberts

June Squibb

Oprah Winfrey

 

BEST STUNT ENSEMBLE (MOTION PICTURE)

All Is Lost

Rush

The Wolverine

Fast and Furious 6

Lone Survivor

 

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

BRUCE DERN / Woody Grant – “NEBRASKA” (Paramount Pictures)

CHIWETEL EJIOFOR / Solomon Northup – “12 YEARS A SLAVE” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

TOM HANKS / Capt. Richard Phillips – “CAPTAIN PHILLIPS” (Columbia Pictures)

MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY / Ron Woodroof – “DALLAS BUYERS CLUB” (Focus Features)

FOREST WHITAKER / Cecil Gaines – “LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

CATE BLANCHETT / Jasmine – “BLUE JASMINE” (Sony Pictures Classics)

SANDRA BULLOCK / Ryan Stone – “GRAVITY” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

JUDI DENCH / Philomena Lee – “PHILOMENA” (The Weinstein Company)

MERYL STREEP / Violet Weston – “AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY” (The Weinstein Company)

EMMA THOMPSON / P.L. Travers – “SAVING MR. BANKS” (Walt Disney Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

BARKHAD ABDI / Muse – “CAPTAIN PHILLIPS” (Columbia Pictures)

DANIEL BRÜHL / Niki Lauda – “RUSH” (Universal Pictures)

MICHAEL FASSBENDER / Edwin Epps – “12 YEARS A SLAVE” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

JAMES GANDOLFINI / Albert – “ENOUGH SAID” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

JARED LETO / Rayon – “DALLAS BUYERS CLUB” (Focus Features)

 

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Rosalyn Rosenfeld – “AMERICAN HUSTLE” (Columbia Pictures)

LUPITA NYONG’O / Patsey – “12 YEARS A SLAVE” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

JULIA ROBERTS / Barbara Weston – “AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY” (The Weinstein Company)

JUNE SQUIBB / Kate Grant – “NEBRASKA” (Paramount Pictures)

OPRAH WINFREY / Gloria Gaines – “LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER” (The Weinstein Company)

 

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

12 YEARS A SLAVE (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH / Ford

PAUL DANO / Tibeats

GARRET DILLAHUNT / Armsby

CHIWETEL EJIOFOR / Solomon Northup

MICHAEL FASSBENDER / Edwin Epps

PAUL GIAMATTI / Freeman

SCOOT McNAIRY / Brown

LUPITA NYONG’O / Patsey

ADEPERO ODUYE / Eliza

SARAH PAULSON / Mistress Epps

BRAD PITT / Bass

MICHAEL KENNETH WILLIAMS / Robert

ALFRE WOODARD / Mistress Shaw

AMERICAN HUSTLE (Columbia Pictures)

AMY ADAMS / Sydney Prosser

CHRISTIAN BALE / Irving Rosenfeld

LOUIS C.K. / Stoddard Thorsen

BRADLEY COOPER / Richie DiMaso

PAUL HERMAN / Alfonse Simone

JACK HUSTON / Pete Musane

JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Rosalyn Rosenfeld

ALESSANDRO NIVOLA / Federal Prosecutor

MICHAEL PEÑA / Sheik (Agent Hernandez)

JEREMY RENNER / Mayor Carmine Polito

ELISABETH RÖHM / Dolly Polito

SHEA WHIGHAM / Carl Elway

 

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (The Weinstein Company)

ABIGAIL BRESLIN / Jean Fordham

CHRIS COOPER / Charles Aiken

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH / “Little” Charles Aiken

JULIETTE LEWIS / Karen Weston

MARGO MARTINDALE / Mattie Fae Aiken

EWAN McGREGOR / Bill Fordham

DERMOT MULRONEY / Steve

JULIANNE NICHOLSON / Ivy Weston

JULIA ROBERTS / Barbara Weston

SAM SHEPARD / Beverly Weston

MERYL STREEP / Violet Weston

MISTY UPHAM / Johnna

 

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (Focus Features)

JENNIFER GARNER / Dr. Eve Saks

MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY / Ron Woodroof

JARED LETO / Rayon

DENIS O’HARE / Dr. Sevard

DALLAS ROBERTS / David Wayne

STEVE ZAHN / Tucker

 

LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER (The Weinstein Company)

MARIAH CAREY / Hattie Pearl

JOHN CUSACK / Richard Nixon

JANE FONDA / Nancy Reagan

CUBA GOODING, JR. / Carter Wilson

TERRENCE HOWARD / Howard

LENNY KRAVITZ / James Holloway

JAMES MARSDEN / John F. Kennedy

DAVID OYELOWO / Louis Gaines

ALEX PETTYFER / Thomas Westfall

VANESSA REDGRAVE / Annabeth Westfall

ALAN RICKMAN / Ronald Reagan

LIEV SCHREIBER / Lyndon B. Johnson

FOREST WHITAKER / Cecil Gaines

ROBIN WILLIAMS / Dwight D. Eisenhower

OPRAH WINFREY / Gloria Gaines

 

TELEVISION PROGRAMS

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

MATT DAMON / Scott Thorson – “BEHIND THE CANDELABRA” (HBO)

MICHAEL DOUGLAS / Liberace – “BEHIND THE CANDELABRA” (HBO)

JEREMY IRONS / King Henry IV – “THE HOLLOW CROWN” (WNET/Thirteen)

ROB LOWE / John F. Kennedy – “KILLING KENNEDY” (National Geographic Channel)

AL PACINO / Phil Spector – “PHIL SPECTOR” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

ANGELA BASSETT / Coretta Scott King – “BETTY & CORETTA” (Lifetime)

HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Elizabeth Taylor – “BURTON AND TAYLOR” (BBC America)

HOLLY HUNTER / G.J. – “TOP OF THE LAKE” (Sundance Channel)

HELEN MIRREN / Linda Kenney Baden – “PHIL SPECTOR” (HBO)

ELISABETH MOSS / Robin Griffin – “TOP OF THE LAKE” (Sundance Channel)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch “Nucky” Thompson – “BOARDWALK EMPIRE” (HBO)

BRYAN CRANSTON / Walter White – “BREAKING BAD” (AMC)

JEFF DANIELS / Will McAvoy – “THE NEWSROOM” (HBO)

PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister – “GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)

KEVIN SPACEY / Francis Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison – “HOMELAND” (Showtime)

ANNA GUNN / Skyler White – “BREAKING BAD” (AMC)

JESSICA LANGE / Fiona Goode – “AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN” (FX)

MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham – “DOWNTON ABBEY” (PBS)

KERRY WASHINGTON / Olivia Pope – “SCANDAL” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – “30 ROCK” (NBC)

JASON BATEMAN / Michael Bluth – “ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT” (Netflix)

TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)

DON CHEADLE / Martin “Marty” Kaan – “HOUSE OF LIES” (Showtime)

JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper – “THE BIG BANG THEORY” (CBS)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

MAYIM BIALIK / Amy Farrah Fowler – “THE BIG BANG THEORY” (CBS)

JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)

EDIE FALCO / Jackie Peyton – “NURSE JACKIE” (Showtime)

TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – “30 ROCK” (NBC)

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / Vice President Selina Meyer – “VEEP” (HBO)

 

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)

PATRICIA ARQUETTE / Sally Wheet

MARGOT BINGHAM / Daughter Maitland

STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch “Nucky” Thompson

BRIAN GERAGHTY / Agent Warren Knox

STEPHEN GRAHAM / Al Capone

ERIK LA RAY HARVEY / Dunn Purnsley

JACK HUSTON / Richard Harrow

RON LIVINGSTON / Roy Phillips

DOMENICK LOMBARDOZZI / Ralph Capone

GRETCHEN MOL / Gillian Darmody

BEN ROSENFIELD / Willie Thompson

MICHAEL STUHLBARG / Arnold Rothstein

JACOB WARE / Agent Selby

SHEA WHIGHAM / Elias “Eli” Thompson

MICHAEL KENNETH WILLIAMS / “Chalky” White

JEFFREY WRIGHT / Valentin Narcisse

BREAKING BAD (AMC)

MICHAEL BOWEN / Uncle Jack

BETSY BRANDT / Marie Schrader

BRYAN CRANSTON / Walter White

LAVELL CRAWFORD / Huell

TAIT FLETCHER / Lester

LAURA FRASER / Lydia Rodarte-Quale

ANNA GUNN / Skyler White

MATTHEW T. METZLER / Matt

RJ MITTE / Walter White Jr.

DEAN NORRIS / Hank Schrader

BOB ODENKIRK / Saul Goodman

AARON PAUL / Jesse Pinkman

JESSE PLEMONS / Todd

STEVEN MICHAEL QUEZADA / Gomez

KEVIN RANKIN / Kenny

PATRICK SANE / Frankie

 

DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)

HUGH BONNEVILLE / Robert, Earl of Grantham

LAURA CARMICHAEL / Lady Edith Crawley

JIM CARTER / Mr. Carson

BRENDAN COYLE / John Bates

MICHELLE DOCKERY / Lady Mary Crawley

KEVIN DOYLE / Molesley

JESSICA BROWN FINDLAY / Lady Sybil Crawley

SIOBHAN FINNERAN / Sarah O’Brien

JOANNE FROGGATT / Anna Bates

ROB JAMES-COLLIER / Thomas Barrow

ALLEN LEECH / Tom Branson

PHYLLIS LOGAN / Mrs. Hughes

ELIZABETH McGOVERN / Cora, Countess of Grantham

SOPHIE McSHERA / Daisy

MATT MILNE / Alfred

LESLEY NICOL / Mrs. Patmore

AMY NUTTALL / Ethel

DAVID ROBB / Dr. Clarkson

MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham

ED SPELEERS / Jimmy

DAN STEVENS / Matthew Crawley

CARA THEOBOLD / Ivy

PENELOPE WILTON / Isobel Crawley

GAME OF THRONES (HBO)

ALFIE ALLEN / Theon Greyjoy

JOHN BRADLEY / Samwell Tarly

OONA CHAPLIN / Talisa Maegyr

GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE / Brienne of Tarth

EMILIA CLARKE / Daenerys Targaryen

NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU / Jaime Lannister

MACKENZIE CROOK / Orell

CHARLES DANCE / Tywin Lannister

JOE DEMPSIE / Gendry

PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister

NATALIE DORMER / Margaery Tyrell

NATHALIE EMMANUEL / Missandei

MICHELLE FAIRLEY / Lady Catelyn Stark

JACK GLEESON / Joffrey Baratheon

IAIN GLEN / Ser Jorah Mormont

KIT HARINGTON / Jon Snow

LENA HEADEY /Cersei Lannister

ISAAC HEMPSTEAD WRIGHT / Brandon “Bran” Stark

KRISTOFER HIVJU / Tormund Giantsbane

PAUL KAYE / Thoros of Myr

SIBEL KEKILLI / Shae

ROSE LESLIE / Ygritte

RICHARD MADDEN / Robb Stark

RORY McCANN / Sandor “The Hound” Clegane

MICHAEL McELHATTON / Roose Bolton

IAN McELHINNEY / Barristan Selmy

PHILIP McGINLEY / Anguy

HANNAH MURRAY / Gilly

IWAN RHEON / Ramsay Snow

SOPHIE TURNER / Sansa Stark

CARICE VAN HOUTEN / Melisandre

MAISIE WILLIAMS / Arya Stark

HOMELAND (Showtime)

F. MURRAY ABRAHAM / Dar Adal

SARITA CHOUDHURY / Mira Berenson

CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison

RUPERT FRIEND / Peter Quinn

TRACY LETTS / Sen. Andrew Lockhart

DAMIAN LEWIS / Nicholas Brody

MANDY PATINKIN / Saul Berenson

MORGAN SAYLOR / Dana Brody

 

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

30 ROCK (NBC)

SCOTT ADSIT / Pete Hornberger

ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy

KATRINA BOWDEN / Cerie

KEVIN BROWN / Dot Com

GRIZZ CHAPMAN / Grizz

TINA FEY / Liz Lemon

JUDAH FRIEDLANDER / Frank Rossitano

JANE KRAKOWSKI / Jenna Maroney

JOHN LUTZ / Lutz

JAMES MARSDEN / Criss

JACK McBRAYER / Kenneth Parcell

TRACY MORGAN / Tracy Jordan

KEITH POWELL / Toofer

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (Netflix)

WILL ARNETT / George Oscar “G.O.B.” Bluth II

JASON BATEMAN / Michael Bluth

JOHN BEARD / Himself

MICHAEL CERA / George-Michael Bluth

DAVID CROSS / Tobias Fünke

PORTIA DE ROSSI / Lindsay Bluth Fünke

ISLA FISHER / Rebel Alley

TONY HALE / Buster Bluth

RON HOWARD / Narrator/Himself

LIZA MINNELLI / Lucille Austero

ALIA SHAWKAT / Maeby Fünke

JEFFREY TAMBOR / George Bluth, Sr./Oscar Bluth

JESSICA WALTER / Lucille Bluth

HENRY WINKLER / Barry Zuckerkorn

THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)

MAYIM BIALIK / Amy Farrah Fowler

KALEY CUOCO / Penny

JOHNNY GALECKI / Leonard Hofstadter

SIMON HELBERG / Howard Wolowitz

KUNAL NAYYAR / Rajesh Koothrappali

JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper

MELISSA RAUCH / Bernadette Rostenkowski

MODERN FAMILY (ABC)

JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy

TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy

AUBREY ANDERSON EMMONS / Lily Tucker-Pritchett

JESSE TYLER FERGUSON / Mitchell Pritchett

NOLAN GOULD / Luke Dunphy

SARAH HYLAND / Haley Dunphy

ED O’NEILL / Jay Pritchett

RICO RODRIGUEZ / Manny Delgado

ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker

SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett

ARIEL WINTER / Alex Dunphy

VEEP (HBO)

SUFE BRADSHAW / Sue Wilson

ANNA CHLUMSKY / Amy Brookheimer

GARY COLE / Kent Davidson

KEVIN DUNN / Ben Cafferty

TONY HALE / Gary Walsh

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / Vice President Selina Meyer

REID SCOTT / Dan Egan

TIMOTHY SIMONS / Jonah Ryan

MATT WALSH / Mike McLintock

SAG AWARDS® HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

ALL IS LOST (Lionsgate)

FAST & FURIOUS 6 (Universal Pictures)

LONE SURVIVOR (Universal Pictures)

RUSH (Universal Pictures)

THE WOLVERINE (20th Century Fox)

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series

BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)

BREAKING BAD (AMC)

GAME OF THRONES (HBO)

HOMELAND (Showtime)

THE WALKING DEAD (AMC)

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Screen Actors Guild 50th Annual Life Achievement Award

RITA MORENO

Tears for Spears: Britney’s New Album Comes in a Lackluster 5th Behind Duck Dynasty Carols

Roger Friedman
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Tears for Spears: Britney’s New Album Comes in a Lackluster 5th Behind Duck Dynasty Carols

Britney Spears: do she even have a constituency? As the 31 year old former teen queen heads to Vegas, her recording career is on the wane. This week she sold around 108,000 copies of her “Britney Jean” album. That’s considerably less than her peers, such as Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Selena Gomez in their debut sales weeks.

Justin Bieber should watch the Britney saga closely. Spears’s stardom came in her late teens and early twenties. Her mental breakdowns and public spectacles didn’t help. But like most invented pop stars, Spears was not designed for a shelf life of more than five years. The fact that she sold even 100,000 copies this week is pretty good. But sales like that won’t sustain her over the next decade.

“Britney Jean” indeed sold fewer copies than the Duck Dynasty family The Robertsons, singing Christmas carols. (I cannot believe anyone in their right mind is buying or even listening to that.)

Britney will be alright. Even though “Britney Jean” is a non starter, the former pop tart will sell tickets in Vegas. And she’s got her Perfume. At least she made the effort. Way down the charts from number 4, around 20, is Lady Gaga’s scuffed and abandoned “ARTPOP.”

Ben Stiller “Seriously Considering” Sequel to 2001 “Zoolander”

Paula Schwartz
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Ben Stiller “Seriously Considering” Sequel to 2001 “Zoolander”

“Could you do Blue Steel or Magnum?” someone in the audience at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade theater asked Ben Stiller during a Q&A this past weekend. Blue Steel and Magnum are the two special ‘looks’ conveyed by Stiller’s character Derek Zoolander the clueless male model in his classic 2011 comedy.

The Q&A and a Stiller retrospective were tied in to the Christmas release of Stiller’s upcoming take on “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”  The feel-good movie co-starring Kristen Wiig that comes out this month.

Stiller chose “Zoolander,” about a dim-witted model, to be the first film screened in the series. Why did he choose “Zoolander” the moderator asked?

“Because I like it,” Stiller replied slowly.

“Zoolander” had the misfortune of bad timing; it came out 11 days after 9/11 and got some terrible reviews, especially from Roger Ebert who wrote the movie was a prime example of why America is hated in some parts of the world. (Later Stiller said the critic sort of apologized to Stiller and conceded he may have over reacted.)

“Zoolander” went on to become one of Stiller’s most well-loved movies and, Stiller said, has gone on to have a life of its own.

So back to the audience request for Zoolander’s signature look:  cheeks sucked in, eyes open wide and vacant.

“Okay,” Stiller said. “I have to say Blue Steel is the original but Magnum is a little more powerful so I think I’ll go with Magnum.”

Stiller got out of his chair, did the model strut and then sucked in his cheeks.

Of course the running joke in the film is that it takes Zoolander years to perfect a look – he only has two – and both are exactly  the same.

To a question about “Zoolander 2,” Stiller said he “is strongly considering a sequel” and has completed a script with writer-actor Justin Theroux, who played the evil DJ in the 2001 film. “We wrote a script about 2 ½ years ago and we like the script,” he said. “We talked to the studio and the studio’s kind of into it but they were trying to figure out the casting and the budget and all these things and it just sort of didn’t like happen right away.” Stiller added, “I still like the script and I could see doing it, it’s a matter of (it) coming together.”

Stiller does have some reservations. “Making a big broad comedy like ‘Zoolander’ takes a lot of energy. I feel like people who love the movie really love the movie and I want to make sure the movie lives up to that for them, which I think could happen.”

Stiller said he was more self conscious about the character and how it would be received this time around. “I was thinking about that” a lot he said. “If I do this character what if it sucks?” He added, “I don’t close the doors on it but it’s just, it’s not something I would ever want to force because I think the energy that it takes to make a movie like this is you have to be in that moment and just be sort of not thinking about all the other stuff.”

“Inside Llewyn Davis” Star Oscar Isaac Sings Katy Perry Hit with Jimmy Fallon

Roger Friedman
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“Inside Llewyn Davis” Star Oscar Isaac Sings Katy Perry Hit with Jimmy Fallon

Oscar Isaac should get an Oscar nomination for the Coens’ “Inside Llewyn Davis.” Even if he doesn’t, his career has kicked into the big time. It’s about time. Here he is with Jimmy Fallon from last night’s show playing Katy Perry’s “Roar” as a folk song. Cool cool cool. The movie just opened, and goes wide next week. This Saturday Oscar and a cast of folk superstars have a great concert film on Showtime. Don’t miss it.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” Now Boasts Odd Cast of Non Stars and One Oscar Winner

Roger Friedman
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“Fifty Shades of Grey” Now Boasts Odd Cast of Non Stars and One Oscar Winner

I didn’t expect the Royal Shakespeare Company to star in the movie version of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” But still… the cast of the film adapted from the nearly unreadable books by E.L. James has turned out to be astonishingly weird.

For the most part, “Fifty Shades” will come with a large cast nobodies and one Oscar winner. The latter is Marcia Gay Harden, the brilliant American actress who won an Academy Award for her role of Lee Krasner in “Pollock.” You can’t blame her. Harden has mouths to feed. Lately she’s been taking payday roles. But then watch her on “The Newsroom” from last season and see her true talents. Harden is playing the mother of main character Christian Grey.

The only other sort of real actress in the movie is Jennifer Ehle, a fine British actress and daughter of Rosemary Harris. Ehle is also playing someone’s mother.

Dakota Johnson is the female lead. She’s the promising but untested actress daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. “Fifty Shades of Grey” will either be a stepping stone or an albatross.

None of these women are superstars. But compared to the men and the one other woman in the main cast, they might as well be on Mount Rushmore.

Rita Ora is some kind of British celebrity singer who appears on UK competition shows. She’s known for being a celebrity and not a singer.

The men are not exactly Daniel Day Lewis. Lead actor Jamie Dornan is an underwear model. Luke Grimes, Dylan Neal, Max Martini, Victor Rasuk all come from broadcast and syndicated TV. Grimes was in one of the worst movies no one ever saw– “Shit Year,” with Ellen Barkin. They’re probably all nice guys. But stars? Not exactly.

Did no one want to be in this movie? Probably not. It has “Mommie Dearest” written all over it. How can it not become a kitschy cult artifact?

On top of the situation with the actors, here’s a new twist: producer Michael deLuca has taken a job with Sony as the new head of production. By the time “Fifty Shades” hits theaters, deLuca will be long distanced from it and knee deep in Spider Man and James Bond movies. That’s called survival. deLuca doesn’t want to be handcuffed to the outcome of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” I don’t blame him.

Sundance Announces Premieres, Docs: Films By Jake Paltrow, William H. Macy, Anton Corbijn

Roger Friedman
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Sundance Announces Premieres, Docs: Films By Jake Paltrow, William H. Macy, Anton Corbijn

Here’s the main Sundance line up. It’s pretty low key this year. Films by Jake Paltrow, William H. Macy, and Anton Corbijn. Michael Fassbender stars in “Frank.” Docs include Joe Berlinger’s film about Whitey Bulger.

 

PREMIERES

 

A showcase of world premieres of some of the most highly anticipated dramatic films of the coming year. Presented by Entertainment Weekly.

 

 

Calvary / Ireland, United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: John Michael McDonagh) — Calvary is a blackly comedic drama about a priest tormented by his community. Father James is a good man intent on making the world a better place. When his life is threatened one day during confession, he finds he has to battle the dark forces closing in around him. Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran, Marie-Josée Croz.

 

 

Frank / Ireland, United Kingdom (Director: Lenny Abrahamson, Screenwriters: Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan) — Frank is an offbeat comedy about a wannabe musician who finds himself out of his depth when he joins an avant garde rock band led by the enigmatic Frank—a musical genius who hides himself inside a large fake head. Cast: Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy.

 

 

Hits / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: David Cross) — A small town in upstate New York is populated by people who wallow in unrealistic expectations. There, fame, delusion, earnestness, and recklessness meet, shake hands, and disrupt the lives around them. Cast: Meredith Hagner, Matt Walsh, James Adomian, Jake Cherry Derek Waters, Wyatt Cenac.

 

 

I Origins / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Mike Cahill) — A molecular biologist and his lab partner uncover startling evidence that could fundamentally change society as we know it and cause them to question their once-certain beliefs in science and spirituality. Cast: Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Steven Yeun, Archie Panjabi.

 

 

Laggies / U.S.A. (Director: Lynn Shelton, Screenwriter: Andrea Seigel) — Laggies is a coming of age story about a 28-year-old woman stuck in permanent adolescence. Unable to find her career calling, still hanging out with the same friends, and living with her high school boyfriend, Megan must finally navigate her own future when an unexpected marriage proposal sends her into a panic. Cast: Keira Knightley, Sam Rockwell, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ellie Kemper, Jeff Garlin, Mark Webber.

 

 

Little Accidents / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Sara Colangelo) — In a small American coal town living in the shadow of a recent mining accident, the disappearance of a teenage boy draws three people together—a surviving miner, the lonely wife of a mine executive, and a local boy—in a web of secrets. Cast: Elizabeth Banks, Boyd Holbrook, Chloë Sevigny, Jacob Lofland, Josh Lucas.

 

 

Love is Strange / U.S.A. (Director: Ira Sachs, Screenwriters: Ira Sachs, Mauricio Zacharias) — After 39 years together, Ben and George finally tie the knot, but George loses his job as a result, and the newlyweds must sell their New York apartment and live apart, relying on friends and family to make ends meet. Cast: John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei, Darren Burrows, Charlie Tahan, Cheyenne Jackson.

 

 

A Most Wanted Man / Germany, U.S.A. (Director: Anton Corbijn, Screenwriter: Andrew Bovell) — Based on John le Carré’s bestselling book, Anton Corbijn directs this modern-day thriller with Academy Award–winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright, and two-time Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe headlining an ensemble cast. Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe, Robin Wright.

 

 

Nick Offerman: American Ham / U.S.A. (Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Screenwriter: Nick Offerman) — WARNING: MINOR NUDITY AND NOT SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS. This live taping of Nick Offerman’s hilarious one-man show at New York’s historic Town Hall theater features a collection of anecdotes, songs, and woodworking/oral sex techniques. The routine includes Offerman’s 10 tips for living a more prosperous life, so hearken well. Cast: Nick Offerman.

 

 

The One I Love / U.S.A. (Director: Charlie McDowell, Screenwriter: Justin Lader) — Struggling with a marriage on the brink of falling apart, a couple escapes for the weekend in pursuit of their better selves, only to discover an unusual dilemma waiting for them. Cast: Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss, Ted Danson.

 

 

The Raid 2 / Indonesia (Director and screenwriter: Gareth Evans) — Picking up where the first film left off, The Raid 2 follows Rama as he goes undercover and infiltrates the ranks of a ruthless Jakarta crime syndicate in order to protect his family and expose the corruption in his own police force. Cast: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusadewo, Alex Abbad.

 

 

Rudderless / U.S.A. (Director: William H. Macy, Screenwriters: Casey Twenter, Jeff Robison, William H. Macy) — When a grieving father in a downward spiral stumbles upon a box of his deceased son’s original music, he forms a rock ‘n’ roll band, which changes his life. Cast: Billy Crudup, Anton Yelchin, Felicity Huffman, Selena Gomez, Laurence Fishburne, William H. Macy. CLOSING NIGHT FILM

 

 

They Came Together / U.S.A. (Director: David Wain, Screenwriters: Michael Showalter, David Wain) — This subversion/spoof/deconstruction of the romantic comedy genre has a vaguely, but not overtly, Jewish leading man, a klutzy, but adorable, leading lady, and New York City itself as another character in the story. Cast: Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Ed Helms, Cobie Smulders, Max Greenfield, Christopher Meloni.

 

 

The Trip to Italy / United Kingdom (Director: Michael Winterbottom, Screenwriters: Rob Brydon, Steve Coogan, Michael Winterbottom) — Michael Winterbottom reunites Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon for more delectable food, some sharp-elbowed rivalry, and plenty of laughs. Cast: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon.

 

 

The Voices / U.S.A., Germany (Director: Marjane Satrapi, Screenwriter: Michael Perry) — This genre-bending tale centers around Jerry Hickfang, a lovable but disturbed factory worker who yearns for attention from a woman in accounting. When their relationship takes a sudden, murderous turn, Jerry’s evil talking cat and benevolent talking dog lead him down a fantastical path where he ultimately finds salvation. Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick, Jacki Weaver.

 

 

White Bird in a Blizzard / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Gregg Araki) — Based on the acclaimed novel by Laura Kasischke, White Bird in a Blizzard tells the story of Kat Connors, a young woman whose life is turned upside down by the sudden disappearance of her beautiful, enigmatic mother. Cast: Shailene Woodley, Eva Green, Christopher Meloni, Shiloh Fernandez, Gabourey Sidibe, Thomas Jane.

 

 

Young Ones / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jake Paltrow) — When a series of events is set into motion, altering his young life forever, Jerome is forced to make choices that no child should ever have to make. Cast: Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult, Elle Fanning, Kodi Smit-McPhee.

 

 

 

DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES

 

Renowned filmmakers and films about far-reaching subjects comprise this section highlighting our ongoing commitment to documentaries. Each film is a world premiere.

 

 

The Battered Bastards of Baseball / U.S.A. (Directors: Chapman Way, Maclain Way) — Hollywood veteran Bing Russell creates the only independent baseball team in the country—alarming the baseball establishment and sparking the meteoric rise of the 1970s Portland Mavericks.

 

 

Finding Fela / U.S.A. (Director: Alex Gibney) — Fela Anikulapo Kuti created the musical movement Afrobeat and used it as a political forum to oppose the Nigerian dictatorship and advocate for the rights of oppressed people. This is the story of his life, music, and political importance.

 

 

Freedom Summer / U.S.A. (Director: Stanley Nelson) — In the summer of 1964, more than 700 students descended on violent, segregated Mississippi. Defying authorities, they registered voters, created freedom schools, and established the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Fifty years later, eyewitness accounts and never-before-seen archival material tell their story. Not all of them would make it through.

 

 

Happy Valley / U.S.A. (Director: Amir Bar-Lev) — The children of “Happy Valley” were victimized for years, by a key member of the legendary Penn State college football program. But were Jerry Sandusky’s crimes an open secret? With rare access, director Amir Bar-Lev delves beneath the headlines to tell a modern American parable of guilt, redemption, and identity.

 

 

Last Days in Vietnam / U.S.A. (Director: Rory Kennedy) — During the chaotic final weeks of the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese Army closes in on Saigon as the panicked South Vietnamese people desperately attempt to escape. On the ground, American soldiers and diplomats confront a moral quandary: whether to obey White House orders to evacuate only U.S. citizens.

 

 

Life Itself / U.S.A. (Director: Steve James) — Life Itself recounts the surprising and entertaining life of renowned film critic and social commentator Roger Ebert. The film details his early days as a freewheeling bachelor and Pulitzer Prize winner, his famously contentious partnership with Gene Siskel, his life-altering marriage, and his brave and transcendent battle with cancer.

 

 

Mitt / U.S.A. (Director: Greg Whiteley) — A filmmaker is granted unprecedented access to a political candidate and his family as he runs for President.

 

 

 

 

This May Be the Last Time / U.S.A. (Director: Sterlin Harjo) — Filmmaker Sterlin Harjo’s Grandfather disappeared mysteriously in 1962. The community searching for him sang songs of encouragement that were passed down for generations. Harjo explores the origins of these songs as well as the violent history of his people.

 

 

To Be Takei / U.S.A. (Director: Jennifer Kroot) — Over seven decades, actor and activist George Takei journeyed from a World War II internment camp to the helm of the Starship Enterprise, and then to the daily news feeds of five million Facebook fans. Join George and his husband, Brad, on a wacky and profound trek for life, liberty, and love.

 

We Are The Giant / U.S.A., United Kingdom (Director: Greg Barker) — We Are The Giant tells the stories of ordinary individuals who are transformed by the moral and personal challenges they encounter when standing up for what they believe is right. Powerful and tragic, yet inspirational, their struggles for freedom echo across history and offer hope against seemingly impossible odds.

 

WHITEY: United States of America v. James J. Bulger / U.S.A. (Director: Joe Berlinger) — Infamous gangster James “Whitey” Bulger’s relationship with the FBI and Department of Justice allowed him to reign over a criminal empire in Boston for decades. Joe Berlinger’s documentary chronicles Bulger’s recent sensational trial, using it as a springboard to explore allegations of corruption within the highest levels of law enforcement.

Screening Tuesday Night at MoMA: Sting, Bruce, Bono in Unreleased Amnesty International Films

Roger Friedman
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Screening Tuesday Night at MoMA: Sting, Bruce, Bono in Unreleased Amnesty International Films

Back in the 1980s through the 90s Amnesty International hosted amazing concerts with lots of rock stars including Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Bono and Peter Gabriel. Organizer and producer Martin Lewis is screening them Tuesday night at the Museum of Modern Art– even if there’s a blizzard! The show starts at 7pm. Read more about it here: http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/films/1442

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