Sunday, December 21, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 1920

“Argo” Moment: Screenwriter Almost Meets Real Canadian Ambassador Who Saved Hostages

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Argo” Moment: Screenwriter Almost Meets Real Canadian Ambassador Who Saved Hostages

The HBO “Phil Spector” premiere was pretty cool and lavish, with A list guests like Keith Richards and Patti Hansen mixing it up with star Al Pacino, producer Barry Levinson, Christine Baranski, “Game Change” screenwriter Danny Strong, “Sopranos” creator David Chase, Aida Turturro, “Girls” star Allison Williams, James Lipton, Regis and Joy Philbin, Joy Behar, RCA Records chief Tom Corson, both New York State film commissioner Pat Kaufman and City chief Katherine Oliver. Plus, hidden in the back of post-screening dinner at the delish Porter House restaurant were “Glee” man Ryan Murphy and Julia Roberts’s husband, Danny Moder.

The screening and the dinner were so booming that Oscar winning “Argo” screenwriter Chris Terrio only found out toward the end of dinner that NY Post gossipeuse Cindy Adams’s “date” for the evening was former Canadian ambassador to Iran Kenneth Taylor. Yes, that Ken Taylor, who was responsible for the American hostages stuck in the Canadian embassy to leave for the US undetected– the “Argo” story.

When we told Terrio that Taylor was in the room, some distance away, he demurred. “It might be a little weird, especially in a public place,” said Terrio, who didn’t want to cause a scene. Apparently Taylor and “Argo” author Tony Mendez have different takes on what went down in Iran in 1979. Terrio didn’t want to get in the middle of it. Ah, but a missed opportunity!

You know movies and reality don’t mix. When I asked Pacino if he thought Spector might see the movie in prison, he replied: “I hope not. I don’t think they get HBO.” But Spector should be happy. He’s never seemed more understandable, in a crazy way.

Meanwhile: David Mamet, who wrote and directed “Phil Spector,” has bronchitis and couldn’t make the premiere. But what a great film he and Levinson and the cast have made. Pacino is a triumph as Spector during his first trial for allegedly murdering actress Lana Clarkson. Even though I am personally convinced that Spector killed Clarkson– and a jury was too– Pacino brings a sympathy to Spector that sheds some light on his enigmatic, crazy life. This isn’t to say that it’s not sympathetic to Clarkson. But this movie tells the story of how the defense brought their case.

In that light, Helen Mirren is equally great as Linda Baden, the lawyer who got Spector a hung jury for his first trial. (Baden was there with husbamd Michael Baden, the famous medical examiner.) Originally Bette Midler was supposed to play Baden. But she dropped out. and Mirren stepped in. Midler looks more like Baden, but Mirren as usual inhabits the character. She and Pacino have an essential rapport that keeps the movie–described as an imagined drama about the lawyer-client friendship and the trial–in place. Mamet’s screenplay is also so rich and textured, it’s like a stage drama at times– in the best way.

PS Levinson spent a chunk of dinner chatting with Chase. Barry is getting ready to shoot his “Whitey Bulger” movie with Johnny Depp. He’s also looking forward to his delayed but getting in shape musical of “Diner” coming to Broadway for 2014.

Also — across the street at the Hudson Hotel, the great indie movie “The Sapphires” got a splendid kick off. More on that…

Exclusive: Rolling Stones Will Play 2 Nights in Hyde Park, plus Glastonbury

Roger Friedman
-
3
Exclusive: Rolling Stones Will Play 2 Nights in Hyde Park, plus Glastonbury

The Rolling Stones did so well with their New York shows, you can expect them back to work shortly. I can tell you exclusively that the Stones will play two shows in London’s Hyde Park. The likely dates are July 6th and July 13th. (I guess it will take one week to clean up between shows.) The Stones are also confirmed for 18 U.S. arenas. The tour is supposed to start on the West Coast, maybe in Vancouver.

And: the rumors about Glastonbury are apparently true as well. My sources say it’s a go. The festival runs June 26 to the 30th.

In the East, Philadelphia has been set. The big question mark is New York: whether to wrap it all up in Madison Square Garden or at MetLife (formerly Giants) Stadium. It would seem appropriate for the final US Rolling Stones shows to be at MSG. It’s just all about the money. Australian Paul Dainty is promoting the arenas for Richard Branson and Virgin Live. AEG Live has the London shows.

The next questions will be guest stars, opening acts, etc. And ticket prices should be absolutely off the wall.

Bette Davis Is Back, Drinking and Smoking Off Broadway, in “The Lying Lesson”

Roger Friedman
-
1
Bette Davis Is Back, Drinking and Smoking Off Broadway, in “The Lying Lesson”

Tonight Craig Lucas’s “The Lying Lesson” opens off Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company on West 20th St.– and Bette Davis is back. In this play, it’s the early 1980s, Ronald Reagan is president, and Bette Davis has come to Maine to buy a house. This is imagined history because Davis and husband Gary Merrill did own a house in Maine from 1953 to 1960. And Bette was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. But in “The Lying Lesson” it seems like she’s returning to the place of nostalgic summers. And she runs across a young girl who may or may not be telling her the truth while Bette awaits closing on the house.

Carol Kane, who was once Miss Davis’s New York neighbor, plays the great Hollywood star. Making what constitutes an official stage debut above the title is Mickey Sumner as Minnie, the local girl who is hiding a lot. The play is two hours and at times a little uneven, although Lucas has fun with Davis’s past rivalries, especially the one with Joan Crawford.

But this is not an exaggerated impersonation. Carol Kane — Oscar nominee, Emmy winner– is too smart to walk around declaiming “What a dump” or “fasten your seatbelts.” There’s none of that. I always think of Carol Kane is a wacky, wicked comic actress. But she plays Bette Davis as a human being, very nuanced, and altogether likeable. She’s no monster here. Of course, she’s older, too. But Kane gives her three dimensions, and it’s very refreshing. Even if you’re too young to know Bette Davis (and some in the audience were last night) Kane invests enough to make Davis a new character.

Sumner will quickly shake her back story–she’s the daughter of Sting and Trudie Styler. But there’s no nepotism here or whatever. I’ve been watching her grow off Broadway into an accomplished actress. Everyone will see how good she is come April in Noah Baumbach’s “Frances Ha.” With her Maine accent and shlubby clothes, Sumner melts right into Minnie. There’s no awkwardness or self-consciousness. It’s very edifying to watch her. I do think Mickey Sumner is following in the wake of Lily Rabe. We’re going to see more and more of her very quickly. She’s got ‘it.’ And she holds her own with Kane. For a first timer, that’s no small feat.

Last night Anjelica Huston and Amy Irving were each in the audience. “The Lying Lesson” isn’t perfect but it’s going to be one of those hard to get tickets after its official opening tonight.

Steven Spielberg Turned Down TWICE as Director of James Bond Films: “They Wouldn’t Let Me in the Front Door”

Roger Friedman
-
0
Steven Spielberg Turned Down TWICE as Director of James Bond Films: “They Wouldn’t Let Me in the Front Door”

Steven Spielberg was turned down twice by Albert “Cubby” Broccoli as a director for the James Bond series. The first was right after “Jaws,” and the second time was after “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”  Basically, Spielberg recounts in the video below, Broccoli told him he wasn’t good enough. “No matter how successful I was, he wouldn’t let me in the front door,” Spielberg tells famed Indian interview Amitabh Bachchan,

Spielberg is in India promoting “Lincoln.” He sat for an interview with Amitabh Bachchan in which he discussed future plans including a movie to be shot on the Pakistan border, plus news about the next “Tintin” movie. He also talks about the making of his first film, “Duel.” Spielberg still has to make “Robopocalypse” when the script is ready. A fascinating interview with one of our best directors. It’s a funny coincidence that Spielberg lost Best Director this year to Ang Lee, who directed the Indian “Life of Pi.” And now he’s the talk of India. Small world!

“Dallas” Farewell to Larry Hagman Scores High for TNT

Roger Friedman
-
1

The farewell, funeral episode for J.R. Ewing on “Dallas” was a big hit last night. “JR’s Masterpiece” brought in 3.56 million viewers and a 0.9 in the 18-49 age range demo. That’s a major leap from the prior two weeks, which were an average of 2.5 million. On regular TV those numbers wouldn’t be so great, but on cable, it’s a hit.

Can “Dallas” survive going forward without J.R./Larry Hagman? It does seem like TNT tried to lure Victoria Principal back as Pam Ewing, which would have been the ratings coup of all time. But Principal and “Dallas” always had a bad relationship. Principal must have asked for a fortune. In the end, she issued a statement saying she wouldn’t return.

The “Dallas” producers must have thought they’d make their deal with her before the funeral episode aired, because they allude to Pam Ewing being alive somewhere. Whoops! Principal is no easy customer. It’s too bad she won’t do it. Life is too short for this nonsense.

Meantime, much as shows like “Dallas” never get Emmy awards, I do think Linda Gray merits one for her work in this episode. Her funeral speech was brilliant. It was good as anything from HBO or Showtime.

Billy Joel Lets A Vanderbilt Student Back Him on Piano on “New York State of Mind”

Roger Friedman
-
0

Here’s a cool video: at Vanderbilt University Billy Joel stopped in to do one of his master classes. He wound up letting Michael Pollack, a student and aspiring star, come up on stage and back him on piano on “New York State of Mind.” The kid is from Long Island, and told Billy he’d played with Richie Cannata in the past. Billy does these classes all the time. He’s turned into quite the lecturer/teacher. And this time it really worked out well! This year by the way marks 20 since “River of Dreams,” Billy’s last album. Isn’t it time for something new? Please?

Motown Legend Berry Gordy Getting Pioneer Award from Songwriters Hall of Fame

Roger Friedman
-
0
Motown Legend Berry Gordy Getting Pioneer Award from Songwriters Hall of Fame

Berry Gordy, the legend behind Motown, will be getting the Pioneer Award this June from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The SHOF dinner- a coveted ticket–comes just a couple of days after the Tony Awards, where Gordy might snag a couple of statues for his “Motown” musical opening on Broadway in mid April.  Gordy follows the late Woody Guthrie as the second recipient of the newish Pioneer Award. This year’s inductees into the SHOF are Tony Hatch, Mick Jones & Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Holly Knight, JD Souther,  and Steven Tyler & Joe Perry of Aerosmith. The dinner takes place June 13th at the Marriott Marquis.

Baz Luhrmann’s 3D “Great Gatsby” With DiCaprio Will Open Cannes

Roger Friedman
-
0
Baz Luhrmann’s 3D “Great Gatsby” With DiCaprio Will Open Cannes

The red carpet on opening night in Cannes this year is a potential blockbuster, and so perfectly appropriate: Australian director Baz Luhrmann’s 3D rendering of “The Great Gatsby.” Luhrmann’s take on the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and Tobey Maguire. Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, and Joel Edgerton co-star.

The Cannes announcement also says that rapper entrepreneur Jay Z will be at opening night. Okay, why not? Apparently, Jay Z and a group called The Bullits, as well as Prince and Lady Gaga, have songs on the new Gatsby soundtrack. (Roll over, Cole Porter.) And Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan is coming as well.

“Gatsby” is appropriate because Fitzgerald wrote some of the book in nearby St. Raphael. This is also the second 3D movie to open the festival and the first live action. Animated “Up” in 2009 was in 3D.

This is a highly anticipated movie. “Gatsby” was supposed to be ready for Christmas 2012, but missed its date thanks to the 3D work. Warners has a lot riding on it. Luhrmann never fails to entertain, so this will be hot stuff. Cannes opens  on May 15th.

“Dallas”: JR Is Killed, Sue Ellen Falls off the Wagon, Deborah Shelton Is Alive

Roger Friedman
-
0
“Dallas”: JR Is Killed, Sue Ellen Falls off the Wagon, Deborah Shelton Is Alive

So much in the TNT reboot of “Dallas” Monday night: as Larry Hagman has passed away, J. R. Ewing died for real in mysterious circumstances in Mexico. Sue Ellen fell off the wagon after 20 or more years of sobriety.With Victoria Principal long gone as Pam, “Dallas” has more and more become Sue Ellen’s show. This is also due to Linda Grey looking like a million bucks and being considerably younger than Hagman.

Deborah Shelton, who was so hot as J.R.’s mistress and Sue Ellen’s underwear model in the mid to late 80s, returned from the vapors of TV heaven. So did Cathy Podewell, who also vanished after playing J.R.’s wife for a short time toward the end of the serial’s original run. Other returnees were Ted Shackelford as Gary Ewing (maybe Joan van Ark couldn’t make a deal), Charlene Tilton as Lucy, and Steve Kanaly as Ray Krebs. Of course, my favorite TV character of all time, Cliff Barnes, made an ass of himself thanks to the brilliant Ken Kercheval.

The new “Dallas” is not very good or interesting. There’s no humor, and the show is subject to plot and to camera effects, and a soundtrack. Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy rise above it because they know what to do. The young actors are slaves to the misery of the drab writing. For example: JR has two other children besides John Ross. Wouldn’t they have shown up at his funeral? And the wake was held in something called the Dallas Petroleum Club. Huh? It’s the Cattleman’s Club, producers. Or the Oil Barons’.

The nicest touch of the night was the reworked theme music and the nice pic of Larry Hagman. Also, Gray’s monologue at J.R.’s grave was lovely. Now, let this be the last season. This should have been the final episode. “Dallas” was Larry Hagman. Without him, it’s just an echo.

Justin Timberlake’s “20/20 Experience” : 1 Hour, 10 Long Songs, Tribute to 70s Soul

Roger Friedman
-
1
Justin Timberlake’s “20/20 Experience” : 1 Hour, 10 Long Songs, Tribute to 70s Soul

Justin Timberlake’s “20/20 Experience” is already number 1 on iTunes and no one has heard it. (It’s number one on amazon.com, for just $7 bucks.) The album will be released a week from Tuesday. Timberlake was featured on an all-star “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend, and appears all week on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”

Six years after his second album, Timberlake sounds great. He moves great. His instrument playing is questionable. But he’s an accomplished showman. And he’s made the best new Michael Jackson we could hope to have. Timberlake was born in Memphis, but trust me, this album has nothing to do with the gritty soul from that fabled city. It owes more to Gamble and Huff’s silky Philly sounds and pastichesof  everything Timberlake has ever heard on the radio.

But did it really take eight — eight– writers to writer “Suit and Tie”? That’s seven plus Jay Z, who threw in the rap. Eight? Really?This is why: “Suit and Tie” is “borrowed” itself, from Sly Slick & Wicked’s mid 70s’ groove “Sho Nuff (You Really Love Him):

And then there’s the proportionate length of th ealbum. “20/20” lasts a staggering one hour and ten minutes but only includes 10 songs– that’s bloat, no way ’round it. How much homage can you write before it starts repeating itself? So “20/20” can only go so far.

Eight of the ten tracks last seven or eight minutes, and believe me, they are not “Hey Jude.” “Suit and Tie,” at 5:26, is an exercise in brevity. There is no conceivable reason why “Mirrors” should clock in at 8:05. It’s not like Timberlake is Eric Clapton or Carlos Santana, great instrumentalists who work would extend the length of a record. It’s just filler. Cut these songs in half and you’d get great little singles.

Timberlake and his myriad producers/writers were smart though: they made a whole album out of the song “What Goes Around Comes Around,’ the best track from “FutureSounds/LoveSongs.”  But they weren’t perfect. “Spaceship” sounds like a remake of one of Timberlake’s comedy songs with Andy Samberg, with a very Stylistics-“Betcha By Golly Wow” ending.

The “20/20 Experience” reminds me of an album from a Canadian group called Klaatu, back in 1977. A rumor went out that it was really the Beatles, under an assumed name. For a few days, it seemed like it could really be the Beatles. “The 20/20 Experience” sounds like Michael Jackson in that way. But it also borrows heavily from every other classic R&B trope you could think of, from the Bee Gees to Sly and the Family Stone to Quincy Jones and the Brothers Johnson.

It’s as if the many producers involved fed all the greatest moments from soul music circa 1968 to 1975 into one of those big ol computers on “Get Smart.” And the computer spit out “The 20/20 Experience.” As I write this, scientists are working in the lab trying to decode the DNA of “Strawberry Bubblegum.” Sly Stone is the father, and the Brothers Johnson are the mothers. Or brothers.

Hey: this works for everyone in 2013. It’s not stealing, exactly. It’s heavy influence. Bruno Mars “re-created” Sting in his hit “Locked in Heaven.” For people my age, it’s like hearing Madame Tussaud’s come alive. For newcomers to music, it will sound fresh as a daisy. But listening to “20/20” I felt a little like an archeologist.

And it does. Justin sports a lot of rhythm. And a wonderful falsetto. It’s also clear from his TV appearances that he’s smart and fast, a gifted mimic who picks up everything quickly. So he’s processed this sound he knows, and obviously loves. There’s nothing new in what he’s doing, and you learn nothing about him at all from listening to the songs. He’s merely a vessel, and a gifted re-imaginer. He’s very much like Madonna. Like her, he has excellent ear and exacting taste.

A hit? No doubt. And the tour with Jay Z will be a hit? Lots of Grammys next January 2014? It boggles the mind. After hearing Frank Ocean or Miguel or D’Angelo, or Anthony Hamilton, it’s hard to believe anyone would call this authentic soul. But it’s pop and it’s fun, and at this stage in the decline of the Empire, we have to be grateful for what we can get.

 

 

1...1,9191,9201,921...2,324Page 1,920 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com