Arnold Schwarzenegger is taking a beating at the box office. And it’s not from robot or android or massively muscled rival. Petite red headed Jessica Chastain, star of “Mama,” is thrashing Arnold’s “Last Stand.” The horror film starring the Oscar nominated actress from “Zero Day Thirty” has done more than four times the box office business of Arnold’s return to the screen. In the same six day period, “Mama” has made over $34 million. “The Last Stand” has done about $8.3 million. It does seem like poetic justice that Schwarzenegger, notoriously not nice to women, is meeting his match from a serious, gifted actress. By the looks of things, “The Last Stand” will fade after this weekend, while “Mama” and “Zero Dark Thirty” will continue to rule the box office. Plus, Chastain is still doing swell on Broadway in “The Heiress.” Good for her!
“Django” Action Figures Sell for Thousands on Web Despite eBay Ban
I broke the story on Tuesday that you could buy the banned “Django Unchained” action figures on eBay for thousands of dollars. This morning eBay pulled all of the “Django” dolls auctions. But you can still find the action figures all over the internet thanks to Google. Bonanza.com is offering a 5 piece set for $1000. ToyWhiz.com sells the individual pieces for $209.00 apiece.
Here’s the original story from January 22: http://www.showbiz411.com/2013/01/22/updated-django-dolls-pulled-from-stores-sell-for-thousands-on-black-market
Meantime amazon.com is offering three pages of possibilities to buy all the dolls. One outfit is selling a collection for $6,999. Crazy, huh? And really offensive. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B009I6S6Y4/ref=dp_olp_0/179-7415620-5419422?ie=UTF8&condition=all
Big Reveal on “The Office”: Comedy Takes a Page from “Real World,” Other Reality Shows
I’m glad I happened to be home and saw “The Office.” To be honest, I’ve missed a lot of the post-Steve Carell era. But “The Office” is coming to an end soon, and tonight they had a big reveal. Remember when I told you a few weeks ago that the fake documentary was going to be seen at last? Tonight, right at the end of the show, “The Office” stole a page from shows like “The Real World” in which a reality show player makes contact with the film crew. Pam burst into tears after a fight with Jim over the phone. And suddenly the camera man who’d been recording Pam (for nine years?) stepped into the frame and comforted her. He told his fellow crew mates to turn off their cameras– for the first time.
The actor was not a nobody. He was Chris Diamantopolous, who most famously played Moe in the remake of “The Three Stooges.” The cameras went off, and the show ended. What does this mean? Is the camera guy going to come between Jim and Pam, the show’s romantic center? (Doubtful.) Also, tonight’s show marked the second (I think) appearance of Ben Silverman, who was the original executive producer of “The Office” and briefly–and badly–ran NBC programming before selling his TV production company to Elisabeth Murdoch. He has a new company, Electus, funded by Barry Diller.
So “The Office” begins it story arc to bring the show to an end. Carell has said he’s not coming back for the finale, which is just fine. The remaining gang is very capable. And the opening bit about Dwight being sent on a goose chase that Jim devised years ago but forget about was pretty funny.
Oscars Will Toast Last 10 Years of Musicals–Jennifer Hudson, Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep Could Be Singing
UPDATE: The Academy just sent out a press release confirming the story. So nice. Everybody wins. It’s going to be a very good show. The tribute will be to Movie Musicals of the Last Decade– starting with “Chicago” and including “Hairspray,” “Mamma Mia,” “Enchanted,” and –hmmm??– the failed “Rock of Ages.” But also “Sweeney Todd,” “Dreamgirls,” etc. Could mean Jennifer Hudson, Johnny Depp, and even– yes– Tom Cruise. Why not? Bring him on! (What will they do about the “South Park” musicals? Fun!)
Earlier: I told you right at the start that with producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan we’d be getting a big musical Oscars. The award winning producers of “Chicago” and “Hairspray” were chosen because of their strengths. They’ve already gotten Adele to sing “Skyfall”–and maybe more. Baz Bamigboye, writing in the UK Daily Mail Friday morning, reports that Meron and Zadan are planning a tribute to movie musicals.
They are said to want Meryl Streep and John Travolta (not sure why) plus Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, nominated from this year’s “Les Miserables,” as well as their co-star Samantha Barks. “Les Miz” might not win the Oscar but it’s going to be featured heavily on that show.
http://tinyurl.com/azp3ysm
They’ve already got Rob Ashford to help them with the choreography. But there are plenty of others including Amy Adams, who’s a phenomenal singer. And why not re-stage the dance number from “Silver Linings Playbook” with Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence? Or the dancing from “The Artist” since Jean DuJardin is coming back to present Best Actress this year? The possibilities are endless!
“Star Wars” New Director, J.J. Abrams, Started Career with Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg
Wunderkind J.J. Abrams is the new director of “Star Wars.” It makes sense. One of his first big film assignments was writing “Regarding Henry,” starring Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford. So we know Ford will be in the mix. (I already know that Carrie Fisher is in, from sources close to the actress.) Even before “Regarding Henry,” Abrams worked for Steven Spielberg cataloging his archives.
So it all makes sense that the guy who brought us “Alias” and “Lost” and revived both “Mission: Impossible” and “Star Trek” would finally get a shot at the series that inspired him in the first place. But Abrams did tell Empire Magazine last month that he’d turned “Star Wars” down. A friend of his told me: “It wasn’t about the money. He doesn’t need any money. But he loves magic, and Star Wars was his first love.”
More to come, but it does seem like “Star Wars” is in good hands.
“Koch” Premiere Will Be a Reunion of Every New York Politician Living (and Dead)
This is going to be wild. I never write about movie premieres before they happen. But the one set for next week for “Koch,” the documentary about Ed Koch, is going to be a memorable one. Look at the list that follows. I hope someone films this. How can any of these people stay away? It’s too crazy. Each guest will get a rubber bat and a water pistol. Seriously. Two names I don’t see here: Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg. Also, no mention of Bess Meyerson. But still…Maybe they’ll crash…
2013 Mayoral candidates: Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, Former MTA Chairman Joe Llohta, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Former NYC Controller Bill Thompson.
2013 Public Advocate candidates: City Councilwoman Letitia James, Reshma Saujani, State Senator Daniel Squadron.
2013 Controller candidate: Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.
Appearing in the film: Rev. Calvin Butts, Koch Chief of Staff Diane Coffey, Former Bronx Borough President Freddy Ferrer, Koch senior adviser John LoCicero, Former State Controller Carl McCall.
Also attending: Former Park Commissioner Gordon Davis, Former Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, Rep. Nita Lowey, Former MTA Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch.
Invited: Governor Andrew Cuomo, Former Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Grace Meng, Former NYC Controller Harrison Goldin, Former Governor Mario Cuomo, Rep. Yvette Clark.
Barry Manilow Felled by Flu– Postpones Broadway Opening Tonight and All Weekend Shows
Poor Barry Manilow. He’s missed the first two previews of his Broadway debut. And now he’s cancelled tonight’s opening and all the weekend shows. He’s got a bad case of the flu. It really knocked him out, apparently. And you know Barry does not have stage fright. He’s been sick as a dog for days. His last appearance as on “Katie.” Hmmm…Maybe that was it! Just kidding. A statement from the publicist: MANILOW ON BROADWAY will resume performances on Tuesday, January 29. It turns out the only thing worse than hell and high water is bronchitis.  Barry is deeply sorry to disappoint his fans and is doing everything he can to ensure a speedy recovery.”
Oscar Gold: “Zero Dark Thirty” Director Kathryn Bigelow on Cover of Time
This is like hitting Oscar gold with one sweep: “Zero Dark Thirty” director Kathryn Bigelow has made the cover of Time. Pretty cool. No personal stuff, just all about the film and little of her history. (So still no mention of what the status is of her relationship with screenwriter Mark Boal. Oh well, this isn’t People, after all!) Old friend Willem Dafoe tells writer Jessica Winter:
“Kathryn then is the same Kathryn now,” Dafoe says. “She’s attracted to something instinctively, and then she researches it, and her research becomes an adventure. In the late ’70s there was a lot of interest in rockabilly and appreciation of ’50s outlaw culture, so she would go to clubs to scout people for their look and style, and worry about coaxing a performance out of them later. She was so interested in the slang and the idiom and the ritual of that world, which wasn’t really of her own experience. And she’s still interested in learning the language and rituals of hidden worlds. Just look at her titles–Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty. It’s like coded language and she’s cracking the code.” (Zero Dark Thirty’s title is a tweak of “oh-dark-thirty,” a military term for half past midnight.)
It’s over at www.time.com
New Coen Brothers’ Film “Inside Llewyn Davis” With Oscar Isaac, John Goodman (Trailer)
“Inside Llewyn Davis” is the new Coen Brothers’ movie. It has no distributor yet, although their last few films have been with Focus/Universal. The film takes place circa 1960 in Greenwich Village, the folk scene. Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and John Goodman star. If this film isn’t great, I will be very disappointed. But I do think it already that Barton Fink feeling to it. Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lajRQtj3gs
Scientology Sued Over Never-Opened ‘Money Pit’ $100 Million Building in Florida
In the end Scientology will be taken down over money. Interesting, huh? A wealthy couple from Irvine, California are suing the Church of Scientology and its leader David Miscavige for fraud. Long time members of the cult, Luis and Rocio Garcia filed in federal court in Tampa, Florida. They say they’ve invested in something Scientology calls the “Super Power Building” in Clearwater, Florida that was begun in 1998 and has never opened. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Power_Building
The Garcias have found a high powered Tampa attorney, Theodore Babbitt, who’s already held a press conference down there and started up a P.R. machine.
The story– with a video you should watch– appears in today’s Tampa Tribune. http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/couples-lawsuit-accuses-church-of-scientology-of-fraud-deception/1271893
Scientology, of course, denies all the accusations. But the lawsuit comes at a propitious moment, as Lawrence Wright’s book, “Going Clear,” is a bestseller and sheds new light on the religious cult that has been accused of all kinds of things from fraud to brainwashing to torture. All of the last year has been a bad time for Scientology. Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie “The Master” depicted a fictitious version of the cult’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard and his Cause– a cult that walked and talked like Scientology.
The group was hurt earlier last year when Tom Cruise’s wife, actress Katie Holmes, managed to “escape” from their marriage to New York. Holmes managed to get the quickest Hollywood divorce ever– it took two weeks and Cruise signed on the dotted line. But during those two weeks, Scientology was blamed for the break up. Ex Scientologists came out of the woodwork. Cruise, it’s thought, acquiesced quickly rather than expose the group to more investigation.
Another book, due shortly, is from Miscavige’s niece, Jenna Miscavige Hill, who publicly left the organization and has since been very vocal about its inner workings.
This week, Kim Masters, one of my favorite colleagues in the Hollywood press, wrote a great piece about her own experiences dealing with Scientology. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tom-cruise-scientology-why-media-414256.
I’ve had my own encounters with this scary group– that’s for another time. For now, the Garcias, they say, are just the beginning as Babbitt courageously takes on more cases down in Tampa.