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Cannes 2013: Very American Choices for Spielberg’s Jury Include Soderbergh, Franco, Payne, Coens

Roger Friedman
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Cannes 2013: Very American Choices for Spielberg’s Jury Include Soderbergh, Franco, Payne, Coens

The Cannes line up for 2013 is out. It’s unusually American, which may reflect Steven Spielberg’s appointment as head of the jury. It’s a very good list. I told you already that James Toback, the Coen Bros. Steven Soderbergh, Sofia Coppola, and Roman Polanski were all in the mix. The most interesting choice is James Franco’s adaptation of William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying.” This is a passion project that Franco worked very hard on. The Faulkner estate took great care setting it up with Franco, too. This year’s Cannes will bring a crowd of Hollywood stars to the Croissette too including Ryan Gosling, Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, etc. Plus Jerry Lewis, beloved in France, will make his acting comeback in “Max Rose.” And there’s a big celebration of India. Plus the opening night movie “The Great Gatsby.”

CANNES COMPETITION LINEUP

Nicolas Winding Refn Only God Forgives

Alexander Payne Nebraska

Steven Soderbergh Beyond the Candelabra

Asghar Farhadi The Past

Francois Ozon Jeune et Jolie

James Gray The Immigrant

Roman Polanski Venus in Fur

Arnaud Desplechin Jimmy P. (Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian)

Joel and Ethan Coen Inside Llewyn Davis

Arnaud Despallieres Michael Kohlhaas

Amat Escalante Heli

Mahamat-Saleh Haroun Grisgris

Jia Zhangke A Touch of Sin (Tian Zhu Ding)

Takashi Miike Shield of Straw (Wara No Tate)

Kore-Eda Hirokazu Like Father, Like Son (Soshite Chichi Ni Naru)

Abdellatif Kechiche La Vie d’Adele

Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi Un Chateau en Italie

Alex Van Warmerdam Borgman

Paolo Sorrentino The Great Beauty

 

UN CERTAIN REGARD SIDEBAR LINEUP

Alain Guiraudie L’Inconnu do Lac

Valeria Golino Miele

Flora Lau Bends 

James Franco As I Lay Dying

Rithy Panh L’Image Manquante

Diego Quemada-Diez La Jaula de Oro

Mohammad Rasolouf Anonymous

Claire Denis Les Salauds 

Ryan Coogler Fruitvale Station 

Hany Abu-Assad Omar

Adolfo Alix Jr. Death March

Sofia Coppola The Bling Ring 

Rebecca Zlotowski Grand Central

Chloe Robichaud Sarah Prefere La Course

Lav Diaz Norte, Hangganan Ng Kasaysayan

 

OUT OF COMPETITION

Guillaume Canet Blood Ties

J.C. Chandor All is Lost  

 

MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS

Johnnie To Blind Detective

Amit Kumar Monsoon Shootout  

 

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Taisia Igumentseva Otdat Konci

James Toback Seduced and Abandoned

Roman Polanski Weekend of a Champion

Roberto Minervini Stop the Pounding Heart

Stephen Frears Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight 

 

JERRY LEWIS TRIBUTE

Daniel Noah Max Rose  

 

GALA SCREENING, TRIBUTE TO INDIA

Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee Bombay Talkies

New Broadway Play Makes Last Minute Changes Because of Boston– Deletes Bomb Reference

Roger Friedman
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1
New Broadway Play Makes Last Minute Changes Because of Boston– Deletes Bomb Reference

Playwright Richard Greenberg had an unenviable problem yesterday. Just as his excellent new play “The Assembled Parties” was about to debut, he had to change a bit of it because of the tragedies in Boston. Sources tell me that originally, one character unseen but talked about is said to have the ability to “build a bomb from scratch.” That had to be changed to “make fire with her own hands.” And a reference to Boston was changed to Cambridge at the same time, so no one would be offended.

These are minor changes to a play that got raves last night as it opened under the direction of Lynne Meadow at Manhattan Theatre Club. I dare say that the play, the director and the cast– starting Judith Light, Jessica Hecht and Jeremy Shamos–are in line for lots of awards. “The Assembled Parties” is disarming, moving, funny and sad. But mostly, it’s so stunning its way that it may throw the Best Play contest at the Tonys into its own race– with Nora Ephron’s “Lucky Guy” and Christopher Durang’s “Vanya Sonia Masha and Spike” getting an expected nudge.

There was an unexpected guest in the audience, too: Valerie Harper came from Los Angeles with husband Tony Cacciotti. Rarely has there been a more welcome sighting of a celebrity. Valerie looks incredibly well despite her health situation; to be honest, Tony looked tired. Valerie said, “We haven’t been getting back to people because everyone is offering a cure.” Her resilience and determination are amazing.

“Assembled Parties” is a story of survival too. It spans 20 years in the life of a Jewish family in New York. The people on stage are not unlike those in the audience. But Greenberg peels back layers to find new stories, emotions, and relationships. Light and Hecht are sisters-in-law whose lives seem very set and positive, and full of hope in 1981. By 2001, things have changed considerably, and we see an entire arc played out. Sham0s–who in real life is the grandson of the late game show TV king Mark Goodson–plays a loyal family friend with incredible empathy.

So– a nice surprise, on all accounts. Light and Hecht are really superb, and they make “Assembled Parties” much more than it seems at the outset. We’ll see them all in June at the Tonys.

Exclusive: Paris Jackson Signed by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Hollywood Manager

Roger Friedman
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8
Exclusive: Paris Jackson Signed by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Hollywood Manager

Exclusive: I’m told that Paris Jackson the precocious teenage daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, is going Hollywood. Sources say she’s signed with Rick Yorn, the very respected manager of Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, and Martin Scorese, among others. Paris did tell a British newspaper that she wants to be a doctor one day. But it’s also obvious she has thoughts about an entertainment career.

With over 1 million Twitter followers, and a basically sunny disposition, Paris has a lot of potential. Her brother, Prince, has already booked a few gigs via aunt LaToya Jackson. But Paris was persuaded to go a more professional route. There’s a lot going on with Paris anyway. She and Prince are in depositions for their wrongful death civil suit against AEG Live.

Last year, it was basically Paris who sounded the alarm that something up was with her grandmother and legal guardian, Katherine Jackson. It was because of Paris that Mrs. Jackson was returned home, and the Jackson siblings backed off trying to get her money.

And I told you a couple of weeks ago that she and Debbie Rowe are getting closer. I’m told that Paris has even had an overnight at Debbie’s horse ranch in the California desert. So this an all good news report.

Calls to Rick Yorn weren’t returned. But if there’s a further statement I’ll add it. Keep refreshing…

Bobby Cannavale, Richard Kind Score in Revived Broadway Play Maybe about Clark Gable

Roger Friedman
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1
Bobby Cannavale, Richard Kind Score in Revived Broadway Play Maybe about Clark Gable

Hollywood buffs and old time gossips should take notice: Clifford Odets’ “The Big Knife,” which opened on Broadway last night after 65 years of dormancy, is a veiled look at a salacious moment in the life of Clark Gable. The play was produced once, in 1948, and never revived. Now Bobby Cannavale is a movie star with a load of secrets, and Richard Kind is the studio head who has enough nasty information to ruin him. In real life, Cannavale is playing a closely imagined version of Clark Gable, and Kind is Louis B. Mayer. Maybe.

What we do know: in 1945, Gable had a car accident in Brentwood, just past Beverly Hills. He crashed his car into a tree. That was the official story. But Hollywood press agents were (and still are) notorious for covering up scandals. And in this case, many people believed– and so did the tabloids of the time–that Gable had been involved in a hit and run that killed a girl.

Odets obviously knew the story, and the rumors. In “The Big Knife,” produced three years later, Mayer — Kind’s character– has helped cover up the crime. He’s sent a studio flack to jail who takes the rap for the girl’s death. Now he’s using this information to blackmail Gable–here, Cannavale as Charlie Castle– to sign a 14 year contract with the studio. Castle’s wife doesn’t want it. And then a witness to the accident turns up. And things turn ugly.

Did Gable do it? Who knows? But his life was full of secrets– including his illegitimate daughter with fellow star Loretta Young. Odets, a playwright, worked in Hollywood in the 40s as a successful screenwriter. But he was bitter. And then in the early 50s his life was destroyed by the Hollywood blacklist and HUAC. He died in 1963 at the age of 57.

“The Big Knife” slices through Hollywood’s studio system, and it’s rough. Cannavale is superb as Castle, a golden boy who’s made a lot of bad choices. Richard Kind unexpectedly–because he’s known for comedy– steals his scenes as he menaces these people to keep the studio moving forward. Kind will get a Tony nomination and maybe even win. He should. The whole cast is excellent.

A swell premiere party followed the opening last night at the Red Eye Grill, one that Odets would have loved (or actually hated). I ran into a lot of New York actors including Tovah Feldshuh, Tony Lo Bianco and Richard Schiff. David Schwimmer and Trudie Styler added some Hollywood type glamor to the evening. And there was a lot of blood-red steak, and a lot of big knives. Only Walter Winchell was missing, to finish us all off.

 

Katie Holmes May Be Going to Cannes, Too

Roger Friedman
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1
Katie Holmes May Be Going to Cannes, Too

As we await word on Thursday for the Cannes Film Festival selections, there is a film that may make the cut. It still has no title, but Christian Camargo has directed a modern day version of “The Seagull” starring Katie Holmes, William Hurt, Jean Reno. Both Mark Rylance and his daughter Juliet are in it–she’s married to Camargo, whose mother, Victoria Wyndham, played Rachel Cory on “Another World” for most of its 35 years on NBC. Got that? (And Juliet was born when Mark Rylance was only 19, got that? Talk about a soap opera!) Christian Camargo, who’s 42, is justontheverge of being a big deal, is considered an accomplished theater actor and up and coming director. If this untitled film is ready for Cannes, it will be quite a feather in his cap. If it’s not ready yet, look for it to emerge in Venice or Toronto. Either way, this will be a big deal for Katie Holmes, who’s looking to re-start the film career she more or less abandoned to marry Tom Cruise.

On the Town: Springsteen Applauds the Rascals; DeNiro, Sienna Miller Launch Tribeca Film Fest

Roger Friedman
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0
On the Town: Springsteen Applauds the Rascals; DeNiro, Sienna Miller Launch Tribeca Film Fest

It was a busy night in New York. Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa came out to support Steve and Maureen van Zandt, who produced the Rascals show on Broadway. “Sopranos” creator David Chase and his wife Denise were also there, as was Vincent Pastore and long ago Springsteen manager Mike Appel, as well as Bruce’s current managers Jon Landau and Barbara Carr (current like since 1977). The Rascals’ “Once Upon a Dream” plays until May 5th at the Richard Rodgers Theater. After the show, everyone went over to Sardi’s, where Bruce hailed Little Steven as an “entrepreneur.” Rascal Eddie Brigati praised van Zandt for his passion. “Anyone could have tried this but only Steven could have pulled it off. Back in the day we had no one. We didn’t even have a bass player. We did everything on our own. That’s how we got into trouble.” Indeed. Music producer Joe Mardin, son of the late Arif, who produced the Rascals great hits, stopped by to say hi, too…

…Earlier in the night, Vanity Fair kicked off the Tribeca Film Festival with their annual cocktail party at the State Superior Court in Foley Square. Graydon and Anna Carter hosted along with Ronald Perelman and Robert DeNiro, and Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff.  Peggy Siegal brought “Great Gatsby” director Baz Luhrmann– his first outing since “locking” the film ten days ago. “I’ve been working on the soundtrack,” he told me. “Wait til you hear Fergie, Beyoncé and Jay Z.” Plus, it turns out that Bryan Ferry sings jazz all the way through the movie.

Some other guests–whom I was knocked out to meet– were Charles Sturridge and his wife, Phoebe Nicholls. He wrote and directed the all time great mini-series, “Brideshead Revisited” in 1981. Nicholls played Cordelia. They are married, and their 28 year old son, Tom Sturridge, is a famous young British actor now on Broadway with Alec Baldwin in “Orphans.” He is also engaged to Sienna Miller, and they have a nine month old daughter. So they are all here for “Orphans.” Sienna is glowing, and now she’s part of two amazing families.

Also at Vanity Fair: lots of movers and shakers in the media biz, from New York Times editor in chief Jill Abramson to Norm Pearlstine who runs Bloomberg News to Sir Howard Stringer, Gayle King, Charlie Rose, Wendi Deng Murdoch, Perri Peltz, Drew Nieporent, Tory Burch, Whoopi Goldberg. Sir Howard is upbeat about his impending retirement from running Sony, especially since I told him I bought a new Vaio laptop over the weekend. He told me: “For my retirement, the Sony owners sent me a big James Bond box filled with bobble-heads of all the Sony executives. When you touch each one, they have a recording saying nice things about me.” Of course they do! We’re going to miss Sir Howard. A lot.

No Antiques Road Show: Auction of a Few Vanderbilt Trinkets Yields $1.5 Million

Roger Friedman
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0

You can dig around in your basement and at flea markets for an “Antiques Road Show” find all you like. But you won’t come up with anything like the few jazzy items owned by the late Consuelo Vanderbilt Earl. “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt’s great great granddaughter died two years ago at the age of 107. Yesterday Doyle’s auctioned off a few of her trinkets and came up with $1.5 million.

Among the items: A Cartier “Mystery” clock that fetched $515,000. Description: “8 day mechanical movement, the rectangular rock crystal case with rounded pediment outlined in gold bead decoration, enclosing a white enamel chapter ring with gold Roman numerals spaced by gold florets, the inner rim set continuously with rose-cut diamonds, with rose-cut diamond-set hands, set within a white enamel frame applied with a gold laurel leaf motif, edged completely cartier.mystery.clockwith fine gold decoration, the reverse with similar motif, all surmounted on a rectangular black onyx base with molded edges, case signed Cartier. N.Y.”

A second Cartier clock, made of gold, diamonds and lapis: $220,000. An Art Deco bangle, also Cartier, made of rock crystal, diamonds, and platinum: $81,000. More affordable perhaps: Art Deco Black Enamel and Diamond Cigarette Lighter, Cartier, Paris–priced to sell at $34,375.

Consuelo was married four times, once to her cousin’s ex husband. She outlived the Commodore Hotel on Vanderbilt Avenue (now the Trump Grand Hyatt) over Grand Central. http://www.doylenewyork.com/content/more.asp?id=267

She would undoubtedly have been a Belieber.

PBS This Week: Don’t Miss the Memphis Soul Stars Sam Moore, Mavis Staples, and…Justin Timberlake!

Roger Friedman
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1
PBS This Week: Don’t Miss the Memphis Soul Stars Sam Moore, Mavis Staples, and…Justin Timberlake!

PBS isn’t doing much to promote their “Memphis Soul” show tonight– so let me do it. It’s running at 8pm on most PBS channels. (WNET is hiding it on their website. I don’t know why.) There are classic performances on this show– Sam Moore singing “Soul Man” and “When Something is Wrong with My Baby,” Mavis Staples doing “I’ll Take You There,” Eddie Floyd– “Knock on Wood,” and Justin Timberlake very convincing on “Dock of the Bay.” Booker T. Jones is the musical director. It should be a great edited version of the live show which was streamed from the White House on April 9th.

 

Watch In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul on PBS. See more from In Performance at The White House.

Ozzy Osbourne: “For the last year and a half I’ve been drinking and taking drugs”

Roger Friedman
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0

Rumors of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne splitting or living separately have been rampant in the last couple of weeks. Now Ozzy has posted this admission on Facebook:

“For the last year and a half I have been drinking and taking drugs. I was in a very dark place and was an asshole to the people I love most, my family. However, I am happy to say that I am now 44 days sober.
Just to set the record straight, Sharon and I are not divorcing. I’m just trying to be a better person.
I would like to apologize to Sharon, my family, my friends and my band mates for my insane behavior during this period………and my fans.
God Bless,
Ozzy”

This guy is going to be 65 in December, if he lives that long. Is this unbelievable or what? Sharon’s had her health battles in the last couple of years, the son, Jack, was diagnosed with MS. Is there no point at which you just grow up? 65?

Cannes: Steven Spielberg Will Lead Jury From His Yacht, Polanski Film A Possibility, Short Films Announced

Roger Friedman
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Cannes: Steven Spielberg Will Lead Jury From His Yacht, Polanski Film A Possibility, Short Films Announced

Here are some exclusive updates on Cannes 2013: Sources say Steven Spielberg‘s yacht has left Ft. Lauderdale and set sea for the Cote d’Azur. I’m told Spielberg will run the Cannes jury from the yacht, possibly screening films there instead of attending public screenings. I hope he does come to some of the screenings at the Palais. When Robert DeNiro was chief judge he was spotted constantly, and it gave the Festival a buzz.

The Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reported last month that the Seven Seas is “at 282 feet long, it would soar 28 stories tall if set on end. Its cost: $200 million. It boasts luxury amenities for 12 guests, with a crew of 26. There is a large master stateroom with a study and private deck, a helipad, indoor cinema and an infinity pool with a 15-foot glass wall that converts to a movie screen so the director and his guests can take in a film while swimming.” …

…Roman Polanski was in Cannes last year for a tribute. But it’s been a while since he had a film in the festival. That may change today. Cannes chief Thierry Fremaux is screening Polanski’s take on the Broadway play “Venus in Fur” which stars Matthieu Almaric and Mrs. Polanski– Emmanuelle Seigner. The film is in French and would be Part 3 of Polanski’s “confinement series”– in “The Ghost Writer” everyone was stuck in that house on Martha’s Vineyard, then in “God Carnage” it was an apartment in Brooklyn. “Venus in Fur” takes place in a rehearsal studio.

SHORT FILMS IN COMPETITION

 

Ali  ASGARI

BISHTAR AZ DO SAAT

(MORE THAN TWO HOURS)

 

Iran

15’

Mohammed  ABOU NASSER, Ahmad ABOU NASSER

 

CONDOM LEAD

 

Palestine Jordan

14’

Gudmundur Arnar GUDMUNDSSON

HVALFJORDUR

(WHALE VALLEY)

 

Iceland Denmark

15’

SASAKI Omoi

INSEKI TO IMPOTENCE

(THE METEORITE AND IMPOTENCE)

 

Japan

10’

Gilles COULIER

MONT BLANC

 

Belgium

14’

Elzbieta BENKOWSKA

OLENA

 

Poland

14’

Annarita ZAMBRANO

OPHELIA

 

France

15’

MOON Byounggon

SAFE

 

 

South Korea

13’

Adriano VALERIO

37°4 S

 

France

11’

 

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