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Sam Shepard Joins Michael C. Hall in Indie Film “Cold in July”

Roger Friedman
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Sam Shepard Joins Michael C. Hall in Indie Film “Cold in July”

Now that “Dexter” is over for Michael C. Hall, he’s busy getting into films. His next one is an indie  called “Cold in July.” Based on a novel by Joe R. Landsale, “Cold In July” is sort of a “Cape Fear.” Hall plays a family man who shoots an intruder in his home. Then the dead intruder’s ex con father shows up. Sources say that playwright and popular actor Sam Shepard has signed on for the role of Ben Russell. Jim Mickle is directing from his own script with Nick Damici…NO word yet on who will play Hall’s wife…

…Stephen Dorff is in New York to film “Oliver’s Deal” for producer Christine Vachon and first time director Barney Elliot. His co-stars are Alberto Ammann and Carlos Bardem, older brother of Oscar winner Javier and brother in law of Penelope Cruz. The movie shoots briefly in New York before heading for Peru and Macchu Picchu. Carlos has a long resume in Spanish film and is also a well known poet. He was also in a 2011 movie called “Americano” which we all missed but maybe should review: Salma Hayek plays a very convincing stripper named Lola.

Dorff, by the way, just had a bunch of celeb friends up to his house in Malibu, I’m told, for a marathon viewing of “Breaking Bad.” They took in eight episodes in a row…Now, that’s binge viewing!…

 

Carl Reiner, 91 Year Old Legend: RIPD “Possibly Worst Movie Ever Made”

Roger Friedman
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Carl Reiner, 91 Year Old Legend: RIPD “Possibly Worst Movie Ever Made”

On Twitter, everyone’s got an opinion about the movies. But some have more weight than over. Carl Reiner, 91, is the legend behind “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” director of “The Jerk” with Steve Martin, writer of Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows”–well, you get the picture. He hated this weekend’s “RIPD” so much, he actually Tweeted: “RIPD”: R.I.P. Possibly the very worst movie ever made. I say possibly because I have not seen every movie made.”

Reiner had been looking forward to seeing the Ryan Reynolds-Jeff Bridges tweak of “Men in Black”– possibly because he read none of the bad buzz online. He’d said before going: “Against my better judgment I’m going to see RIPD tonite and hope to find my pre judging to be unnecessarily judgmental..Willl report.” After his review Tweet ran, Reiner responded: “Reaction to my RIPD comments will allow me to sleep well in the knowledge that today I have done a bit of Good Samaritanizing.”

“RIPD” was directed by Robert Schwentke.

Reiner has gained 33,000 followers on Twitter in a short time– which surprises him. He’s been touting the iBook reissue and updating of his memoir, “I Remember Me.” On the Twitter account he’s had other movie reviews. For example, he really like “The Way Way Back” and “The Heat.” He likes the classics: “Mel [Brooks] & I saw a film with Louise Reiner & wondered when she died. Google says: Born1910 & is now 103. Gives us codgers something to shoot for!”

He likes his own movies: “Man With Two Brains” with Steve Martin popped up on TV last nite & I laughed so hard, one would think I had nothing to do with it. And today, “The Jerk” popped on! I watched the first ten minutes and decided I’d tape it for later viewing….it was that promising.”

He also gives helpful tips for Tweeting: “When typing, to relieve neck & back pain: Put 2 large books under computer base, which gets your chin up, eyes forward & shoulders back.”

He also likes fried quail eggs, braised short ribs, and a good tongue sandwich.

Reiner’s movie Tweets should only go on and on. And he can count me in his army of 33,000.

 

“The Newsroom” Gets Cranky About Bloggers, OWS, and Adds Grace Gummer

Roger Friedman
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“The Newsroom” Gets Cranky About Bloggers, OWS, and Adds Grace Gummer

“The Newsroom” plowed into his second episode of Season 2 with a couple of agendas. Mostly Aaron Sorkin, who did write “The Social Network,” wandered more fully into the internet. Blogging, to be specific. And I’ve just a great Twitter conversation with Emily Nussbaum of The New Yorker.

This is what I came away with: Sorkin has put YouTube and blogging at the heart of Maggie  and Don’s breakup, and Maggies romantic problems. She was caught on video, and the video was posted. She found the blogger, tracked her down to a Queens laundromat, made a deal, and was screwed. The blogger, who writes fan fiction about “Sex and the City” (still, after all these years) was depicted as combative, dumb, and representative of her generation.

Meantime, Charlie insists that one of the news shows runs a Twitter feed on a zipper along the bottom of the screen during a news show. And Emily Mortimer’s MacKenzie mocks Neal (Dev Patel) for trying to cover Occupy Wall Street, which is growing exponentially thanks to YouTube and social media.

Meanwhile, Gerry and the Genoa story are proceeding, that’s the main story of the season. It’s unclear whether it holds water yet.

Nussbaum says on Twitter: “Newsroom’s Astoria scene is there to dramatize that classic Sorkin theme: icky not-famous pajama people are stupid, cruel nothing-burgers.”

That’s dead on. Last week, Jane Fonda’s Leona described bloggers as “pajama people.” maybe my favorite line of the summer. I regret that I agreed with all of this as it was spoken. It’s generational, as Aaron Sorkin are close in age. But Nussbaum has a point, and this is why “The Newsroom”  feels more like “Lou Grant” than something from 2013. I keep waiting for Mason Adams as editor Charlie Hume to walk in and have it out with Lou and his staff.

But the good news: Grace Gummer joined the show tonight as a correspondent for a rival network. She is sleekly wonderful. I hope she and Jim hook up, and we see a lot more of her. Also Chris Chalk is getting more to do. (his character’s name is Gary Cooper!) You know the Africa trip will be a tragic disaster. Olivia Munn is the breakout actor of the first two episodes. I’d like to see more of Tom Sadoski and Jane Fonda (crossed fingers).

Even if you hate the show (which was poked fun at tonight), Jeff Daniels is doing an amazing job. Will McAvoy is not easy. Daniels is superb.

Hollywood’s Real Horror Story: Big Budget Flops Echo Spielberg, Lucas Prediction

Roger Friedman
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Hollywood’s Real Horror Story: Big Budget Flops Echo Spielberg, Lucas Prediction

A few weeks ago, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas said this would happen: multiple big studio flops each costing $150 million and up. This weekend brought us “RIPD” tanking completely, with a three day take of $12.7 million. The movie cost at least $150 million. “Red 2” did $18.5 million. Bruce Willis does not come cheap, and Helen Mirren gets a nice payday since her Oscar. Plus a strong ‘B’ cast and lots of special effects. “Red 2” is a fizzle. “Only God Forgives” with Ryan Gosling only played in 78 theaters. Still, it made about half as much as indie “Fruitvale Station,” which was in half as many theaters (34).

Get the picture?

This is Hollywood’s horror story of summer 2013. And the irony is that an actual horror movie, “The Conjuring,” took in a whopping $41 million. It cost around $25 million. Warner Bros., smarting from big failures like “Gangster Squad,” “Jack the Giant Slayer” and “Pacific Rim” (each in the $200-$250 mil range), took a page from Paramount’s “Paranormal Activity” playbook, and it worked.

Of course, WB has “Man of Steel” to boast about. Superman saved them again.

But we can’t forget “The Lone Ranger” and “After Earth,” big big bombs. Next comes “Elysium,” much rooted for at this point, the last chance to save the summer. For Sony, the next “Spiderman” can’t come fast enough.

Spielberg and Lucas warned us about this in June. Speaking at the opening of a media center, they caused a firestorm by predicting that a handful of failures costing $250 million would cause major changes in Hollywood. Also, charging more for 3D when the actual number of audience goers is less is not going to save the bottom line. This brutal summer isn’t over yet. There will be reverberations well into the rest of the year.

Who Should Play Batman in the New Superman-Batman Movie?

Roger Friedman
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Who Should Play Batman in the New Superman-Batman Movie?

Warner Bros. announced at Comic Con tonight that the next “Man of Steel” movie won’t be a sequel. Instead, they’ve wisely decided — with “The Dark Knight” trilogy behind them– do a “Superman” meets “Batman” movie. Henry Cavill will continue as Superman. But Batman is another story. Christian Bale is done after the three Christopher Nolan movies. So who should play Batman aka Bruce Wayne? Remember, this film will come out in summer 2015, two years from now. Go to our poll and vote from those choices, or send me your ideas.

“Man of Steel” director Zack Snyder and writer David Goyer will repeat from “Man of Steel”— and this time maybe there will be a third act and not just a massive battle sequence. Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, and Diane Lane have signed on. Adams and Fishburne played Lois Lane and Perry White in “Man of Steel.” Diane Lane may be Bruce Wayne’s new squeeze– correction– she will return as Ma Kent.

Two heroes require multiple villains and some shrewd plotting back and forth from Metropolis to Gotham City. I like the idea of Clark and Lois investigating Bruce Wayne’s businesses. That could be a neat starting off point.

When I was a kid, Superman, Batman, and Spider Man comics cost 12 cents. If anyone had suggested that four decades later multimillions hinged on these guys, I would have laughed my head off. They were just comic book characters! I just wish they hadn’t ruined the Green Lantern.

Meantime, Comic Con has really become Promo Weekend for almost all of TV and all the action, comic, thriller and miscellaneous movies, sequels, and merchandising for Hollywood. The interviews with TV stars about their characters and the story lines of TV shows are hilariously earnest. It’s sort of like the anti-Cannes Film Festival.

Here’s the press release from Warner Bros.:

On the heels of the worldwide success of Man of Steel, director Zack Snyder is bringing together the two greatest Super Heroes of all time — Batman and Superman — for the first time on the big screen. The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution,Warner Bros. Pictures.

The current hit, Man of Steel, has taken in more than $630 million at the worldwide box office to date, and climbing. Along with its star, Henry Cavill, the upcoming film brings back Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane. The new Batman has yet to be cast.

Snyder is co-writing the story with David S. Goyer, who will then pen the screenplay. Production is expected to begin in 2014, with an anticipated release date in Summer 2015.

Silverman stated, “Zack Snyder is an incredibly talented filmmaker, but beyond that, he’s a fan first and he utterly gets this genre. We could not think of anyone better suited to the task of bringing these iconic Super Heroes to the screen in his own way.” Kroll added, “We are thrilled to be back in business with Zack and his team on this next movie. The success of Man of Steel is a wonderful testament to the love and support that both fans and new audiences, worldwide, have for these characters. We are very excited to see what Zack has in store for all of us.”

“Glee”: Cory Monteith’s Finn Character Will Be Killed Off

Roger Friedman
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“Glee”: Cory Monteith’s Finn Character Will Be Killed Off

The word from Comic Con: Cory Monteith’s “Glee” character will be killed off in the third episode of the new season. Show creator Ryan Murphy will start the new season with a two part Beatles tribute (which must make the folks at Sony/ATV Music Publishing very happy as they enter the Beatles’ 50th anniversary year in America).

Monteith (and presumably Lea Michele) will be written out of those shows. Then in episode 3, Finn will die. There will be a tribute to him and to Monteith. Then the show will go on hiatus so Murphy can decide what to do without Finn, and what will happen to Lea Michele’s Rachel if she stays with the show.

Murphy gave a lot of interviews at Comic Con, and this much can be gleaned: he conducted an intervention with Murphy in March, which is what sent the actor to rehab. So everyone at “Glee” knew what was up, and Murphy, I think with unusual compassion, tried to get Monteith the help he needed.

When Monteith returned from rehab, he voiced fears to Murphy that his drug addiction and rehab would cause him to be fired. Murphy says he reassured him that he would not. The rest, we know.

Monteith’s death is a tragedy, but “Glee” would have gone on without him whether or not Murphy and Michele wanted it to or not. “Glee” is a business, and it supports hundreds of people. Fox needs it, the producers need more episodes for syndication, and all the other actors and crew have contracts.

I do expect Murphy will handle Finn’s — and Monteith’s — death with great sensitivity. And has he’s indicated in all his interviews, it may be a catharsis for the audience as well.

Box Office: Low Budget Horror Film Slays Ryan Reynolds, Bruce Willis, Kristen Wiig

Roger Friedman
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0
Box Office: Low Budget Horror Film Slays Ryan Reynolds, Bruce Willis, Kristen Wiig

Low budget film “The Conjuring” ripped the competition last night at the box office. The horror film took in over $17 million and slaughtered Ryan Reynolds “RIPD,” Bruce Willis in “Red 2,” and Kristen Wiig in “Girl Most Likely.” The latter did so poorly gave no figures for Friday night. But the other two did (and maybe they shouldn’t have). “RIPD” is RIP, ironically. It took in $4.8 million with a possible $12 million weekend. Goodnight! And “Red 2” didn’t do much better: $6.34 million. If they make $18 mil for the weekend, they’ll be happy. Paradoxically, Adam Sandler’s awful “Grown Ups 2” hangs in there in the top 5. And there are three sequels in the top 10. More details on Sunday morning…

Helen Thomas, Famed UPI Reporter, Dead at 92, Said Jews “Should Go Back to Poland and Germany”

Roger Friedman
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Helen Thomas, Famed UPI Reporter, Dead at 92, Said Jews “Should Go Back to Poland and Germany”

Helen Thomas, famous for being the bulldog of the White House press corps for UPI, has died at age 92. Thomas sadly destroyed her own long and stellar career in 2010 when she was videotaped by the 17 year old son of a rabbi on a visit to the White House. She told the boy that the Jews should get out of Israel and “go back to Poland and Germany.” It was Thomas’s Paula Deen moment. In an instant she had revealed something to the world that no one had known about it. The rabbi’s son posted the video, and Thomas was forced from her job, ruined.

http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/06/05/helen-thomas-self-destruction-rabbi-has-more-on-tape

 

And now it’s her epitaph: brave journalist was secret anti-Semite. But let’s rewind. Because before the incident with the rabbi’s son, Thomas was known as the one journalist sitting in White House press conferences who would ask the hard questions. If there was anti-Semitic subtext when it came to Israel, it went right over the heads of people watching TV at home. It didn’t seem to matter whether the president was Democrat or Republican. So for that, she should be remembered, and we are grateful.

This other stuff: it’s bad. And it’s interesting that, as with Paula Deen or Mel Gibson and some others, one day it just comes out. And then the game is over.

Read the NY Times full obit here: http://tinyurl.com/lxdt746

 

 

The Butler: Harvey Weinstein ” Wins”, Plays Warners and MPAA Like a Fiddle

Roger Friedman
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The Butler: Harvey Weinstein ” Wins”, Plays Warners and MPAA Like a Fiddle

It’s all over. “The Butler” will now be called “Lee Daniels’ The Butler.” Harvey Weinstein lost his battle with the MPAA tonight. Warner Bros. kept him from using the title “The Butler” at the MPAA hearing in Los Angeles. Warner Bros. also handed Weinstein $50 million worth of free publicity over the August 12th release. WB played right into Harvey’s hands.

Now the entire world knows about “The Butler.” They will all be waiting on lines for popcorn, telling each other, “Did you hear about the title?” Harvey is totally a genius. It’s maybe the funniest story ever. He should send everyone at Warner Bros.’ free passes for opening weekend. Now “Lee Daniels’ The Butler”– which is what they knew they’d call the movie in the first place– will roll out with altered marketing materials– as if they weren’t all ready to go with that stuff anyway.

TWC pays the MPAA $400,000 in fines– a drop in the bucket. It’s just hilarious. My favorite thing was TWC getting the girl from “Bully,” whose name is Butler, to start a petition. I mean, the real father of modern public relations, Edward Bernays, the nephew of Sigmund Freud. would be so damn impressed.

Historic Copy of Oskar Schindler’s List: Steven Spielberg Probably Not Bidding

Roger Friedman
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Historic Copy of Oskar Schindler’s List: Steven Spielberg Probably Not Bidding

There’s been a lot of attention all day today to the historic copy of Oskar Schindler’s famous list of Jews he protected during the Holocaust. Four copies of the list exist– two in Israel at Yad Vashem and one in Washington DC at the Holocaust Museum. I spoke tonight to Gary Zimet, the famous auctioneer who’s handling the sale on ebay.

I asked first about Steven Spielberg, who won Oscars for making the movie “Schindler’s List”– one of the great classics of all time. Zimet says, “I talked to Spielberg about it a while ago. He would have bought it and donated it to Yad VAshem. But they have two of the four originals. I doubt he will bid on it.”

There are plenty of likely bidders who can buy the list and donate it a museum or archive in the U.S.– from Edgar Bronfman Sr. to Ronald Perelman to the Lauder family and so on. The starting bid of $3 million is small compared to what some American billionaires spend on art or houses or private planes.

But Zimet cautioned: “I’d be surprised if anyone bids before five minutes before the auction closes.” That would July 18th at 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern. In the last minutes there should be a flurry of activity. Whoever gets the list will own a rare historical document, that’s for sure. And I’m sure the Jewish Museum in New York would love to accept it as a donation. Just sayin’…

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