Thursday, December 18, 2025
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Madonna’s “New” Rape Story in Magazine Has Been Told Many Times

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Madonna has written what looks like a book proposal in the new issue of Harper’s Bazaar. In it she reviews her many “struggles,” white washing and rewriting plenty of history. She also describes how she was raped at knifepoint during her first year in New York City. It’s a shocking revelation except for one thing: it’s been revealed before.

Madonna talked about the rape a lot in 1995 when her “Sex” book came out. In the book, she had pictures depicting rape. The story has also been written about in several books including one published in 2001 by Randy Taraborelli. The rape is also discussed at length in another book, called “Like an Icon,” by Lucy O’Brien.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19951207&id=jY0mAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1AoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2449,1134835

Not the rape wasn’t devastating and horrible, but Madonna knows the media better than anyone. By bringing it up again as if it were new she knows it will get attention. In the Harper’s Bazaar piece she ‘s essentially “sampling” her life.

The piece– which really does suggest she’s trying to land a book deal– Madonna also defends her involvement in the Kabbalah cult and in the way she adopted two children from the African country Malawi. She doesn’t mention her failed charity, millions of missing dollars, unrealized promises. etc. She also says she is now funding schools in Islamic countries– without giving any specifics.

Meantime, here’s my piece from this week about how Raising Malawi, Madonna’s African charity, finished 2012 in the red: http://www.showbiz411.com/2013/10/03/exclusive-madonna-malawi-charity-almost-half-a-mil-in-the-red-for-2012

“X Factor” 7th Highest Rated Show Thursday Night As CBS Runs It Over

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Ah, Thursday night: “The X Factor” continues to struggle. Simon Cowell & Co. finished 7th for the night over all. During its own time period, “X Factor” was slaughtered by “The Big Bang Theory” (a whopping 17 million people saw it) and the season premiere of a new comedy called “The Millers” both on CBS.

Indeed, the show NBC ran against “The Millers,” also new, called “Welcome to the Family,” brought in 3 million viewers as opposed to “The Millers” 13.3 million.

Poor “X Factor.” The good news is about a half million more people watched the show on Wednesday and Thursday than they had so far. But 7th place for the night?

Robin Williams sitcom “The Crazy Ones” fell a little bit at 9pm from last week, but it was still pretty strong with 11.76 million viewers. The show is skewing older, though.

Didn’t do so great: the new Sean Hayes show, which was widely panned, called “Sean Saves the World” on NBC; “Glee,” “Parks and Recreation,” which is now shaping up like “Newsradio” or “Just Shoot Me.”

On the CW, a chicken, a parakeet, and a deaf woman in Illinois watched “The Originals.” The parakeet napped for 15 minutes and may not be counted by Nielsen.

 

NYC Round Up: Michael Strahan, Diane Kruger, David Duchovny, Say ‘No’

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IN AN EMPIRE STATE OF MINDDiane Kruger and fiancee Joshua Jackson took a break from filming a pilot for their new TV show The Affair at  Italian eatery Sotto Sopra in Amagansett. The pair dined on pizza, salad and striped sea bass with a group of six friends, including actor Dominic West.

 Bobby Van’s Steak House is Michael Strahan’s new go-to spot for an after work cocktail and steak. Strahan was spotted dining at Bobby Van’s Park Avenue for a casual lunch and dined at Bobby Van’s West 50th Street for dinner at a private event….

Trudie Styler starts performances this weekend in “The Seagull” directed by legendary Max Stafford Clark at the Culture Project, 45 Bleecker Street…

Identity Films’ “Louder Than Words,” starring David Duchovny, Hope Davis, Timothy Hutton and new-comer Olivia Steele Falconer, will premiere at the 21st Annual Hamptons International Film Festival next Friday at the Regal East Hampton Cinema 1 in East Hampton, NY

Steely Dan plays this weekend at the Beacon Theatre, featuring whole albums each night. There is only one Steely Dan. Dig it..http://www.beacontheatre.com/steelydan.

Author and former CNN Correspondent Jill Brooke is quickly becoming the darling of the media for business and political interviews. Her book “The Need To Say No” is already a favorite discussion topic, especially with the government shutdown. Jill had a great interview Thursday morning with Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly on “Good Day Live” on Fox 5….http://tinyurl.com/np9r4ck

…SPOTTED…Celebrity eyebrow stylist Joey Healy and reality TV personality Andy Cohen were seen at No. 8 for the launch party of FourTwoNine magazine on Thursday, September 19, 2013…

 

Will Miley Cyrus Sexy Pics Help “Saturday Night Live” Ratings?

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The Miley Cyrus – Terry Richardson pics are getting a lot of attention. So have Miley’s videos and her VMA appearance. So now the question: will this send “Saturday Night Live” ratings through the roof? Cyrus is hosting and performing tomorrow night. Here’s the promo:

Oh yeah PS: Her album, Bangerz, is released on Tuesday.

Two Time Oscar Winner Jane Fonda Will Receive AFI Lifetime Achievement Award

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Great news: Jane Fonda has been chosen to receive the American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award. The two time Oscar winner will be celebrated by Hollywood on June 5, 2014 in Hollywood. Fonda won Best Actress twice, in 1971 for Klute and 1977 for Coming Home. She’s been nominated seven times altogether, for They Shoot Horses Don’t They, Julia, The China Syndrome, On Golden Pond, and The Morning After.

Before Meryl Streep, Fonda held the unofficial title of the Greatest American Actress. She also won an Emmy for The Dollmaker, and has been nominated for a Tony Award. She was nominated for an Emmy this year for “The Newsroom.”

Jane has also run a highly successful charity in Atlanta designed to prevent teenage pregnancy through education and of course has been a leader in the women’s movement. Her cultural influence cannot be overstated.

She has also an AFI legacy. Her late dad, Henry Fonda, was feted by the AFI in 1978.

And Fonda is still working hard in film: she plays the mother in Shawn Levy’s upcoming “This is Where I Leave You.” Jonathan Tropper, who wrote the novel and the screenplay upon which the film is based, told me the other night that Jane “was the revelation of the film shoot.  He said: “She held her own with a bunch of fast talking comedians” in the cast and “surprised everyone” with her comedy chops.

Frank Sinatra: So “Close” to Mia Farrow He Left Nothing For Her or “Son” In His Will

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Mia Farrow was so close to Frank Sinatra that he left her NOTHING in his will. Not even the slightest mention. And nothing for any of her children including Ronan, who was 11 when Sinatra died. Sinatra left lots of people all kinds of things, but didn’t have a backward glance for Farrow or her son with– yes, I know you don’t like it– Woody Allen. So much for Mia’s ridiculous response in Vanity Fair that Ronan might “possibly” be Sinatra’s son.

And think about it–it would have meant that Mia and Frank reunited 19 years after their disastrous 2 year marriage. And as I noted before, they were probably not in the same place geographically. Mia’s news cycle ends today.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

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FRANCIS ALBERT SINATRA

I, FRANCIS ALBERT SINATRA, also known as FRANK SINATRA, declare this to be my Will and revoke all former Wills and Codicils. I am a resident of Riverside County, California.

CLAUSE FIRST: Marital Status And Family.

I am married to BARBARA SINATRA, who in this Will is referred to as “my Wife.” I was formerly married to NANCY BARBATO SINATRA, to AVA GARDNER SINATRA, and to MIA FARROW SINATRA, and each of said marriages were subsequently dissolved. I have three children, all of whom are the issue of my marriage to NANCY BARBATO SINATRA: NANCY SINATRA LAMBERT, FRANCIS WAYNE SINATRA, and CHRISTINA SINATRA. All of the above-named children are adults. I have never had any other children.

CLAUSE SECOND: Nomination Of Executor; Executor’s Powers.

A. I nominate ELIOT WEISMAN and HARVEY L. SILBERT to act as Co-Executors of this Will. I specifically empower my Co— Executors at any time to designate and appoint any bank or other corporate fiduciary to act as Co—Executor with them, or as Agent on their behalf, and with the further power to change the designation of the said bank or other corporate fiduciary from time to time. If either ELIOT WEISMAN or HARVEY L. SILBERT is unable, unwilling or ceases to act as Co—Executor, I nominate NATHAN S. GOLDEN to act as Co-Executor with the other of them. If two of said three individuals become unable, unwilling or ceases to act as Executor, I nominate CITY NATIONAL BANK, Beverly Hills, California, to act as Co-Executor with the remaining individual, or as sole Executor if all three of said individuals become unable, unwilling, or cease to act hereunder. Whenever the word “Executor” or “Co—Executor” is used in this Will, it shall be deemed to refer to whichever one or more of them is acting from time to time. I direct that no bond shall be required of any Executor or Co—Executor as a condition to qualifying to serve hereunder, whether acting jointly or alone.

B. I authorize my Executor to sell, lease, mortgage or encumber the whole or any part of my estate, with or without notice; to transfer registered securities into street name or to hold them in the name of a nominee, without any liability on the part of my Executor; and at the option and sole discretion of my Executor, to continue to hold, manage and operate any property, business or enterprise that may be an asset of my estate from time to time, whether in corporate, partnership (limited or general) or other form, and whether or not such asset is one in which my Executor is personally interested, the profits or losses therefrom to inure to or be charged against my estate and not my Executor. My Executor shall have absolute discretion as to how much cash, if any, to invest at interest.

C. I authorize my Executor to invest and reinvest funds of my estate, including surplus moneys and the proceeds from the sale of any assets of my estate, in every kind of property, specifically including, but not by way of limitation, corporate or governmental obligations of every kind, securities of any regulated investment trust, and stocks, preferred or common and any common trust fund administered by any corporate fiduciary under this Will.

D. It is my intention that my Executor be permitted to take advantage of all tax savings that the law of any jurisdiction allows, without regard to conflicting interests of those interested in my estate and without making any adjustments among such persons. To that end, I authorize my Executor, in my Executor’s absolute discretion, to take any one or more of the following actions as may appear advisable:

1. To join with my Wife in executing joint income tax returns;

2. To value my gross estate for federal estate tax purposes as of the date of my death or as of the alternative valuation date as allowed for such purposes;

3. To claim as estate or inheritance tax deductions, or both, expenses which would otherwise qualify as income tax deductions;

4. To elect to have gifts by my Wife treated as made one-half by me for federal gift tax purposes; and

5. To make any other elections allowed by the Internal Revenue Code or the tax law of applicable jurisdiction.

E. If at my death I hold any stock purchase warrants, stock subscription or conversion rights, or rights under any stock option plan, I authorize my Executor to exercise any or all of those warrants and rights if my Executor, in my Executor’s discretion, deems such exercise to be in the best interests of my estate and the beneficiaries thereof, and to borrow money for that purpose if my Executor, in my Executor’s discretion, deems it advisable.

F. I authorize my Executor to administer my estate under The California Independent Administration of Estates Act.

G. Upon any preliminary or final distribution of the residue of my estate, my Executor may distribute the residue in undivided interests or in kind, or in money, or partly in any of them at such valuations and according to such method or procedure as my Executor shall determine, including the power to distribute all or part of any particular asset to any beneficiary as my Executor shall determine.

H. All decisions of my Executor made in good faith shall be binding and conclusive on all persons interested in my estate, but shall be subject to such confirmation or Court authority as is required by law.

CLAUSE THIRD: Amount Of Property Disposed Of.

I intend that my Will shall govern the disposition of all property wherever situated that I have the power to will at the time of my death, including both my separate property and my one-half interest in such community property as my Wife and I may own at the time of my death.

CLAUSE FOURTH: Payment Of Debts and Taxes.

I direct my Executor to pay in full any and all lawful debts which may be owing by me at the time of my death, both secured and unsecured, and regardless of when they might otherwise be due and payable, in the following order of priority and from the following sources:

1. My Executor shall first pay and discharge in full from our community assets, including my Wife’s share thereof to the full extent her share is liable for such debts and to the full extent of such community property, any and all debts chargeable to the community estate of myself and my Wife, other than payments in satisfaction of any promissory notes secured by mortgages and/or trust deeds which are a lien on the Rancho Mirage residential real property owned by us.

2. My Executor shall next pay and discharge in full from my share of our community property the full amount of any promissory notes secured by mortgages and/or trust deeds which are a lien on the Rancho Mirage residential real property owned by us, and regardless of whether said real property is owned by us as joint tenants with the right of survivorship, as community property, or as my sole and separate property. If my share of our community property is insufficient to pay said debt in full after payment of our unsecured debts, then any shortfall in payment of this secured debt shall be paid from my separate property. No other debts secured by residential real property in which I have an interest shall be paid in full as a result of my death.

3. I direct that all estate, inheritance or other death taxes occasioned or payable by reason of my death, whether related to the bequests set forth in this will, and whether attributable to property subject to probate administration or not, and all of the expenses of administration of my estate, including but not limited to executor commissions, attorneys fees, court, publication and filing fees, and funeral expenses and expenses of my last illness, if any, shall next be paid from my share of our community property, to the full extent remaining after payment of the debts described in subparagraphs 1 and 2 above. If my share of our community property is insufficient to pay said taxes and expenses, they shall be paid from the residue of my separate property.

CLAUSE FIFTH: Specific Bequests.

I make the following specific bequests from my share of our community property to the extent such remains after payment in full of the items described in CLAUSE FOURTH above, and if my share of our community property shall be insufficient to satisfy these bequests, from my separate property:

A. To my former Wife, NANCY BARBATO SINATRA, if she survives me, the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000). If NANCY BARBATO SINATRA does not survive me, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

B. To DOROTHY IJHLEMANN of North Hollywood, California, if she survives me, the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000). If DOROTHY UHI~EMANN does not survive me, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

C. To ELVINA JOUBERT of Rancho Mirage, California, if she survives me, the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000). If ELVINA JOUBERT does not survive me, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

D. To JILLY RIZZO, if he survives me, the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). If JILLY RIZZO does not survive me, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

E. To my Wife’s SOn, ROBERT OLIVER MARX, if he survives me, the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). If ROBERT OLIVER MARX does not survive me, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

F. To my daughter, CHRISTINA SINATRA, if she survives me, the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000). If CHRISTINA SINATRA does not survive me, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

G. To my son, FRANCIS WAYNE SINATRA, if he survives me, the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000). If FRANCIS WAYNE SINATRA does not survive me, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

H. To my daughter, NANCY SINATRA LAIIBERT, if she survives me, the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000). If NANCY SINATRA LAMBERT does not survive me, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

I. To the Trustees of that certain Trust established by me and my former Wife, NANCY BARBATO SINATRA, by Trust Agreement dated December 13, 1983, for the benefit of the children of NANCY SINATRA LAMBERT, the sum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), to be added to the assets of said trust and allocated equally between the separate trusts being administered thereunder for the benefit of my two grandchildren, ANGELA JENIFER LAMBERT and AMANDA KATHERINE LAMBERT.

J. To my Wife, BARBARA SINATRA, provided that we are married and living together at the time of my death, all of my rights as licensor pursuant to that certain License Agreement dated February 29, 1988 with Sheffield Enterprises, Inc., including my twenty-five percent (25%) royalty thereunder, or in the alternative such shares of Capital Stock of Sheffield Enterprises, Inc. as I may have acquired during my lifetime in exchange for said rights. If my Wife does not survive me or we are not married and living together at the time of my death, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

K. To my Wife, BARBARA SINATRA, provided that we are married and living together at the time of my death, my interest in that certain Master Recording entitled “Trilogy”, and all rights to royalties and future distribution related thereto. If my Wife does not survive me or we are not married and living together at the time of my death, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

L. I give to my children, in undivided interests as tenants in common, upon the principle of representation, my community interest in that certain partnership known as Wilshire—Camden AssociateS, in which I am a limited partner.

M. I hereby forgive any and all loans or indebtedness which may exist at the time of my death, whether in writing or otherwise, which may be owed to me by any of my children.

CLAUSE SIXTH: Confirmation Of Separate and Joint Tenancy Assets.

A. I confirm to my Wife, if she survives me, my interest in the real property situated in Riverside County, California, and commonly known as 70—588 Frank Sinatra Drive, Rancho Mirage, California, including all adjacent guest houses on the grounds thereof, commonly known as 70—200, 70-548, and 70-630 Frank Sinatra Drive, Rancho Mirage, California, which property is held of record by my Wife and I as joint tenants with the right of survivorship.

B. I confirm to my Wife, if she survives me, my interest in the real property situated in Los Angeles County, California, and commonly known as 915 Foothill Road, Beverly Hills, California 90210, which property is held of record by my Wife and I as joint tenants with the right of survivorship.

C. I confirm to my Wife, if she survives me, my interest in the real property situated in Riverside County, California, and commonly known as 1130 Starlight Lane, Rancho Mirage, California, which property is held of record by my Wife and I as joint tenants with the right of survivorship.

D. I confirm to my Wife as her sole and separate property the parcel of real property situated in Riverside County, California, and commonly known as 36928 Pinto Palm Drive, Cathedral City, California.

E. I confirm to my Wife, if she survives me, my interest in the real property situated in Los Angeles County, California, and commonly known as 30966 Broad Beach Road, Malibu, California 90265, subject to all existing encumbrances. If said parcel of real property is not held of record by my Wife and I as joint tenants with the right of survivorship on the date of my death, I give my interest in the said parcel of real property to my Wife, if she survives me and if we are married and living together at the time of my death, and in such event, if my Wife fails to survive me, or we are not married and living together at the time of my death, the above-described real property shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

CLAUSE SEVENTH: Gifts Of Tangible Personal Property

A. I give to my Wife, if she survives me, and we are married and living together at the time of my death, all of the silverware, books, displayed paintings, and household furniture and furnishings located in the homes described in CLAUSE SIXTH above, and xay interest in any policies of insurance covering the foregoing items of personal property. If my Wife fails to survive me or we are not married and living together at the time of my death, the above-described personal property and any policies of insurance covering such personal property shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate.

B. I give all of my jewelry, art objects, clothing, household furniture and furnishings, personal automobiles (except the 1988 Rolls Royce and the 1990 Mercedes which are the separate property of my Wife), train collections, music and recording collections, memorabilia and other tangible articles of a personal nature, and my interest in any such property not otherwise specifically disposed of by this Will or in any other manner, together with any insurance on such property existing at the time of my death, in the following manner;

1. My Executor shall first return to any child of mine any of such items which said child may have given to me;

2. My Executor shall then honor such written contractual commitments, if any, which I may have entered into during my lifetime for delivery of such items of personal property at my death;

3. I give all of my sheet music to my son, FRANK WAYNE SINATRA;

4. Thereafter each of my Wife, if she survives me and we are married and living together at the time of my death, and each of my children who survive me may designate to my Executor any of the aforementioned items of property which that beneficiary ~& desirous of receiving. My Executor shall have all such objects appraised in the manner he deems appropriate, and the appraised value shall be allocated to the requesting beneficiary. My Wife shall be entitled to receive up to a maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total aggregate value of such property, and my children shall be entitled to receive the remaining maximum aggregate value of seventy five percent (75%) of such property, with each of my three children being entitled to receive a maximum of one—third of said remainder, or twenty-five percent (25%) of the total aggregate value of the whole of said property, upon the principle of representation. If my Wife should fail to survive me or we are not married and living together at the time of my death a].]. of said property shall be divided amongst my children. If none of my children or their issue survive me, such property shall be considered as part of the residue of my estate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, my Executor shall have the authority, in my Executor sole and absolute discretion, to distribute any of my personal items and memorabilia to such of my friends and my employeeS as he may deem appropriate.

C. I give to my Wife, if she survives me and we are married and living together on the date of my death, from my share of our community property remaining after the payment and distribution of all amounts and specific bequests hereinabove in this Will set forth, such additional assets, valued at the date of my death, as equals the total sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000); provided, however, that if my share of our community property remaining after the payment and distribution of all amounts and specific bequests herein in this Will set forth, is insufficient to provide my Wife with said total sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000), I give my Wife all of my then remaining community property; Provided, further, if my Wife fails to survive me, or we are not married and living together on the date of my death, this gift shall lapse and shall be considered a part of the residue of my estate.

CLAUSE EIGHTH: Power Of Appointment.

I hold a limited power of appointment conferred upon me by the Somerset Trust established by that certain declaration of trust dated January 1, 1989 in which I am the Trustor, which power is given me pursuant to numbered paragraph 5 on page 8 of said declaration of trust. I hereby exercise said power of appointment by appointing and giving all assets subject to it in equal shares to CHRISTINA SINATRA, FRANK WAYNE SINATRA, and NANCY SINATRA LANBERT, or the issue of any of them who do not survive me, according to the principle of representation, and if any of them should predecease me leaving no issue, to the survivors of them.

CLAUSE NINTH: Gift Of Residue.

A. I give the residue of my community property estate and all of my separate property remaining after giving effect to the foregoing provisions of this Will, in equal shares to CHRISTINA SINATRA, FRANK WAYNE SINATRA, and NANCY SINATRA LAMBERT, or the issue of any of them who survive me, according to the principle of representation, and if any of them should predecease me leaving no issue, to the survivors of them.

B. If none of my issue survive me, I give the residue of my estate to my heirs, according to the laws of succession of the State of California in force at the date of this Will.

Oscar Front Runner Cate Blanchett Comes to New York, Everyone Loves Her

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It’s been a whirlwind two days for Cate Blanchett, Best Actress pro-tem from Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.” On Wednesday night she got a Film Society of Lincoln Center tribute, preceded by a small swanky dinner in the private dining room at Alice Tully Hall with Alec Baldwin, Jim Jarmusch, “Blue Jasmine” producer Letty Aronson, and “ER” star Anthony Edwards (he and Cate and long time pals– who knew?) in attendance.

Yesterday afternoon Peggy Siegal wrangled not one but two Oscar Best Actors–Philip Seymour Hoffman and F. Murray Abraham– to a private lunch at Le Cirque. Newly minted Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale got a toast. Veteran actors like Dana Ivey, Rutanya Alda, Bob Dishy, John Gabriel, as well as Oscar winner Paul Haggis, CNN’s Piers Morgan etc got a chance to meet and greet with the incredibly affable Cate. A surprise guest: Kennedy Center Honors chief George Stevens, Jr.

The Oscar winner for “The Aviator” was seated right between Hoffman and the legendary Liz Smith, who couldn’t have been more pleased. And vice versa.

To dinner Blanchett brought as her date her 11 year old precocious son Dashiell, who looks like a Mini Me of husband, Australian director Andrew Upton. Their two other sons are waiting for her back in London, where Cate is filming “Cinderella.”

“When I tell people I’m doing Cinderella, they stop and look at me. I can see they’re thinking, you’re too old to play Cinderella!” She laughed.

“I play the evil step mother.”

“Blue Jasmine” isn’t Cate’s only movie this year. She has a small role in George Clooney’s big “Monuments Men” coming from Sony in December.

“I can’t wait to see it,” she said. “George has worked so hard on it.”

Of course she’s also in “The Hobbit” sequel “The Desolation of Smaug.”

Blanchett made for a very humorous Q&A following dinner, in Alice Tully Hall, with the festival’s programming director Kent Jones. At one point she recalled being an extra in a movie shot in Egypt way back maybe 20 years ago.  Suddenly a woman stood up and yelled, “And the director is here!” It was one of those odd, awkward public moments.

At lunch today she said, “There were 2000 people on that set and I barely stuck around. It’s not possible that man remembered me.”

Well, Cate has that effect on people.

PS You’ll be happy to know that 11 year old Dash was not interested in visiting any stores while he was here. “I like to read,” he told me, and that rattled off a list of books. This kid is going places!

Affleck, Timberlake: Big Stars, Very Low Score with “Runner Runner”

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It’s not a happy morning for Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake or Fox. “Runner Runner” opens today with an astonishingly low score on Rottentomatoes.com The film has an 11% rating with 54 negative reviews and 7 positive ones. That low a number might be surmounted if the weekend weren’t packed with good films. “Gravity” has a 98%– just about perfect– and could score a $40 million opening. It may do even better than that and deservedly so.

Both “Parkland” and “ACOD” have decent 47, 48s. I really liked “Parkland” but it has nothing behind it– no marketing or publicity, no effort. It’s too bad became James Badge Dale and a number of others are quite good in it. “ACOD” — which I haven’t seen– is actually based on real people. I know some of them. It sounds entertaining.

“Runner Runner” is written by two smart, talented guys– Brian Koppleman and David Levien. They wrote “Rounders” and “Oceans Thirteen,” among other things. They will rise again, certainly. But it sounds like “Runner Runner” is heading to the dustbin.

UPDATE “Glee” Cory Monteith Farewell: Leah Michele Singing Bob Dylan (See Clip)

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UPDATE: An astute reader points out this is Leah Michele singing “Make You Feel My Love” Adele-style. That’s even more of a tear jerker. Good for ratings.

Earlier: “Glee” will say good bye to Cory Monteith and his character Finn next week. By the looks of the clip, it will be a maudlin affair. The music is Adele singing Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” from her 19 album (the one with “Chasing Pavements”). “Glee” is starting to fade in the ratings but this episode is sure to be its big last stand at the top of the charts.

More Wild Miley Cyrus: Hannah Montana is Really Dead Now

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Miley Cyrus’s pictures, taken by artist Terry Richardson, are a hit. I don’t know what the purpose of them is. Miley’s album has already gotten publicity. It will live or die based on the music. We’ve — trust me– forgotten all about Hannah Montana by now. She is dead and buried. I think this may be over the top but maybe there’s more. It’s hard to imagine Billy Ray Cyrus thinking any of this is a good idea. But we give the people what they want. Every artist can’t be classy.

miley 5

america's sweetheart