The Oscars are turning into one big freaking musical, that’s for sure. First “Chicago” producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron were hired to produce the show. Now Rob Ashford’s coming on as choreographer. Add to that the idea that “Les Miserables” is going to be nominated in, like, every category from Best Picture and Director (Tom Hooper) to all kinds of things for Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway and others in the cast. Then, consider that the Academy has restored the five nominees rule for Best Song. And that Adele — if we’re lucky– will sing “Skyfall” (it had better be nominated for Best Song). Are you following this? The 2013 Academy Awards are going to be like a show stopping Busby Berkeley musical. Who knows? Maybe host Seth MacFarlane can sing, too!
“Skyfall” Director Sam Mendes “Considering” Directing New Two James Bond Films
Exclusive: Sam Mendes, director of the new James Bond movie “Skyfall,” says he’s “considering” directing the next two Bond movies. John Logan is writing a two parter for Bonds 24 and 25. No director has been announced yet but since Mendes and Logan made such a good team it would seem like the director would repeat as well. At last night’s Britannia Awards in Hollywood, our LEAH SYDNEY spoke to Mendes. He told her when she asked about 24 and 25: “I’m considering it. I still need to rest, but I am considering it.” Mendes also said he was “thrilled” that everyone loves “Skyfall” so much, but reiterated: “I loved doing it, but it took two years really. I need a rest now.”
So someone get this man a couch quickly, and some slippers!
The British Academy Of Film And Television Arts ‘Britannia Awards,’ took place at the Beverly Hilton. Hosted by the game and witty Alan Cumming, the awards will be broadcast on BBC America on November 11th.
Winners included Daniel Craig, Daniel Day Lewis, and Trey Parker and Matt Stone of “South Park” and “Book of Mormon” fame.
Power tables abounded. At one table, Harvey Weinstein was sitting in between Quentin Tarantino and Kerry Washington. Amy Pascal coming over to say hit to both. Next table over was Daniel Day Lewis, sitting with his wife Rebecca Miller and Sally Field and Steven Spielberg.
At the table next to them, Daniel Craig with Rachel Weisz, Sam Mendes. Right before the show, Daniel Craig made a beeline to bear hug Daniel Day Lewis, to which Steven then joined. Steven whispered something in Daniel Craig’s ear that cracked up the usually stern faced 007. (Maybe it was: “You can play Andrew Jackson in my next film.”)
When Daniel Craig came back from bathroom he kind of leaped down the stairs, he looked just like James Bond in his natty tux.
Josh Gad presented Trey Parker and Matt Stone with the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy. Before the show Josh told us that he really was ordained as a rabbi for Anne Hathaway’s recent wedding to Adam Schulman. “I had to be to marry Anne and Adam.”
On stage the star of “1600 Penn” on TV and formerly the “Book of Mormom” said that, “Matt and Trey are afraid of nothing and capable of anything. Many love them, some hate them, but no one can deny they are a force of nature and a voice of their generation.”
Trey Parker said, “Coming from the Brits is especially cool because without Monty Python we wouldn’t be here. When we were 8 we thought you guys faked that accent to be funny. It wasn’t till we were 24 and went to London that we realized it was a country. We wouldn’t be here if you were French.”
Roger Corman then gave Quentin his John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing. Roger said of Quentin, “He is unbelievably imaginative, relentless and innovative. I remember being blown away by Reservoir Dogs. I’d like to think of Quentin as my rebel in arms. He has guts, he understands cinema and no on loves motion pictures as much as Quentin.”
Quentin Tarantino said- “Getting this award handed to me by Roger Corman, well it’s iconic to say the least.” Tarantino went on to explain his love for the Brits. “This is my 20th year officially in the business. The Brits consider me one of their own since Reservoir Dogs was a big hit over there first. I thank Sally Menke who is no longer with us, and of course Harvey.”
Harrison Ford presented Daniel Craig with the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year.
Ford: “Daniel Craig is redefining Bond for the 21st century. He’s a complete professional, he brings his good taste and he is a viscerally emotional actor. It’s a rare set of skills to take on an icon like Bond, he makes it his own. “
Judi Dench appeared in a video as Bond’s boss M. She said: “007, I send you my very best wishes with an enormous kiss on the mouth. And tongue.”
Daniel then went up, looked at Harrison and said, “You won’t remember this, you were very drunk, but years ago I told you the reason I wanted to be an actor was to be in a movie with you. ”
Steven Spielberg then introduced Daniel Day Lewis to present him with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film. Spielberg said: “He is included in our pantheon of great actors. He is part our time. Every performance is a command one. Every one of his characters results in incredulous introspection, which is still a mystery to me. He made our 16th President so real to me, that when the experience was over, I felt a terrible loss.”
Godfather of Soul James Brown Will Be Played in Film by Unknown
James Brown, Godfather of Soul, is coming to the movies courtesy of “The Help” director Tate Taylor. But Taylor told our intrepid LEAH SYDNEY that “Mr. Brown”– which is what they should call the movie since that what James liked to be called– some inside scoop that contradicts previous reports. Mr. Brown will be played by an unknown.
Taylor said: “Right now the project is in development. We’re getting the script back from the Butterworth brothers (Jez and John-Henry who recently wrote ‘Fair Game’) and we’re going to hopefully do it next summer.”
Does he have an actor in mind?
Taylor: “That’s my job. Script first. But it will probably be an unknown. It could be anybody. With an iconic role like this, an unknown will probably be the best route. Someone who can become somebody.”
Taylor was at the Samsung Mobile launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note ll at famed designer’s Kelly Wearstler’s Beverly Hills home. Joining him to check out all the cool technology that the phone has to offer were his “Help” Academy Award winning pal Octavia Spencer, Liam Hemsworth, Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Hudgens, Julianne Hough, Luke Wilson, Eliza Dushku, Jaime-Lynn Sigler and Allison Janney.
Lately there’s a Samsung event every few days somewhere, which is why, I guess, the Galaxy SIII has overtaken the iPhone 5.
Brian Grazer and Mick Jagger are producing the James Brown film, by the way, which makes sense. According to Keith Richards, he and Mick learned all their moves from Mr. Brown when Ronnie Spector took them to see him at the Apollo Theater in the early 60s. Brown, who died in 2006, rose from a childhood of poverty and violence to becoming one of the most important and vital black artists in history over his six decade career. Brown himself was involved with Grazer in the earlier development of the project.
Mick Jagger Remembers A Lot More Than We Thought in “Crossfire Hurricane”
I can’t wait to see Bret Morgen’s “Crossfire Hurricane” on a big screen next week. But watching at home on a TV is what most people will do when it airs on HBO on November 15th. And that’s where it probably works best, because “Crossfire Hurricane” is an intimate look at the Rolling Stones on the occasion of their 50th anniversary. Alas, it’s only two hours long, so the film– which seamlessly reviews a lot of archival film, unseen clips and long forgotten home movies with voice overs from the Stones now–stops short in the 1980s.
That’s right, there needs to be a part 2. Much of “Crossfire Hurricane” concentrates on the Stones early days through around 1980, with much emphasis on the band’s rise from R&B roots to rock superstardom to the death of Brian Jones, the tragedy at Altamont and the second burst of success from “Brown Sugar” through “Exile on Main Street.” Morgen barely gets through the exit of Mick Taylor and arrival of Ronnie Wood, and never gets to much about Bill Wyman, his departure, or what came next as the Stones determined to make the twenty year marathon from “Steel Wheels” to today. Whew! “Crossfire” really could be volume 1 of a trilogy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iecBKNWn6hc
What do we learn? A lot. For one thing, Mick Jagger, who’s always said he remembers nothing, has a very good memory. Because Keith’s book proved him an excellent chronicler, we’re not surprised about his recollections. Jagger, who produced the film with his partner Victoria Pearman, comes off as quite lucid, cogent, and spot on. In early clip an interviewer observes that all of the Stones were well educated but pretend not to be interviews. But Jagger, who famously went to the London School of Economics, found himself at a young age on a chat show discussing the rage and desires of the Stones rabid fans. And to say he “got” it is an understatement. The whipping of crowds into a frenzy was not an accident.
“Crossfire” is full of rarities, forgotten bits, and discoveries. It’s completely absorbing. Particularly interesting, at least to me, was the decline of Brian Jones, his firing and death, how it was handled. Also Mick Taylor admitting he left the band, the biggest rock and roll band in the world, to protect himself and his family from Keith Richards’ drug problems.
And there are also great ‘home movies’ of Jagger and Richards writing their first songs together. Unlike John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, they were not composing as teenagers. They were already past their first album of covering blues songs when manager Andrew Loog Oldham told them they had to come up with material. It starts pouring out of the pair organically. While Richards is always thought to be the genius song builder, you see Jagger’s brilliance in the collaboration.
Believe it or not, there’s no gossip in “Crossfire”– drugs, yes, but no kiss and tell, no wives or kids, girlfriends, hookups, etc. Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithfull are footnotes. There’s no time for it because “Crossfire” sticks close to performance, composition and how they’re shaped. It makes you think that after all this time, the difference between the Beatles and the Stones is like film vs. theater. The Stones were and are made for the stage–a theater, stadium or the world. While George Martin directed the Fab Four in little masterpiece recordings, the Stones were more concerned with their live interaction. It’s the reason why 50 years later fans are spending thousands of dollars to see them one more time this winter.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Book Beaten by Everyone from Bruce to Barbra to KISS
“Total Recall,” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s autobiography, is a bust. A couple of weeks ago the Drudge Report noted that the book had sold around 25,000 copies. Things haven’t improved. “Total Recall”– which had a heft advance–was not a book many people wanted to own or to read. It sits at number 566 on amazon.com.
That’s from the overall list of books. Among entertainers’ books, Arnold is number 14. He’s beaten by biographies of Bruce Springsteen and of Barbra Streisand, of books by Ellen DeGeneres and Tina Fey, Chelsea Handler and Mindy Kaling. The Terminator is also being terminated by Jeanne Cooper, star of “The Young and the Restless,” Penny Marshall, Peter Criss of the rock group KISS, Kirstie Alley in her latest attempt at relevancy, and the diaries of Richard Burton.
Poor Arnold. No one wanted to reward him for his terrible behavior, or ratify his actions against Maria Shriver. Certainly not book buyers, who are mostly women. Schwarznegger’s lack of contrition didn’t do much to help, either. How will this affect his return to movies? His bread and butter will come from teenage boys who aren’t going to see him, but to see a video game on the big screen. But if he’s thinking about doing another comedy (god forbid) he might think that over one more time. Or call Mel Gibson.
One More Shot: New Rolling Stones Song Makes Brief Appearance on You Tube
The new single from the Rolling Stones, “One More Shot,” sounds like the Rolling Stones. Why wasn’t this the lead single with the big build up? I don’t know. “Doom and Gloom” sank like a stone. Now we have a record that would have excited the fans. This is the second single from the greatest hits album, “Grrr…” It doesn’t do a lot lyrically, but it’s a great riff. A little undercooked, but better than most you’ll hear right now anywhere.
The record was leaked onto YouTube on Wednesday afternoon, but quickly removed by Universal Music Group. The debut is set for Thursday morning on BBC6 at 9am, meaning 4am New York time.
Meantime, the Stones have released an official “video” for the remastered “Not Fade Away” that will be included on “Grrrr…” Sounds terrific– and playing in our video player on the home page.
Whitney Houston Ironically Titled Unreleased Single: “Never Give Up”
The title of Whitney Houston’s new and final single is “Never Give Up.” It’s an unreleased track from “I Will Always Love You,” a greatest hits package just about to drop from RCA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63G-5FfwfzQ. Jermaine Dupri and Brian Cox produced the track, which was co-written by them with Johnta Austin. It shows off Whitney’s extraordinary vocal power at her height, long before everything fell apart. “I Will Always Love You” has 18 tracks, all hits, from “You Give Good Love” to “I Look to You.” Interestingly, it excludes all the tracks from Whitney’s 2002 album “Just Whitney” — made apart from Clive Davis, and almost completely ignores her last album, I Look to You, including the Alicia Keys song, “Million Dollar Bill.”
‘Silver Linings Playbook’ Getting Big Time Premieres, Oscar Sized Treatment
David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” is about to arrive–are you ready? On Sunday, the film is getting a private fundraising screening here in New York to benefit the LaJolla Playhouse in California. (Note: this doesn’t mean The Weinstein Company’s “Finding Neverland” musical is heading to the fabled theater company for its pre-Broadway tune up. TWC says no– West End, then Broadway.) Then on Monday night “Silver Linings” will get a big Ziegfeld Theater premiere with the director and cast including Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro and Jackie Weaver. And, hopefully, breakout star Chris Tucker.
“Silver Linings” won the audience awards in Toronto and at the Hamptons Film Festival. It is without a doubt a top 5 Oscar pick, and all the actors– maybe especially Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro-are headed for big things. It’s Bradley Cooper’s chance to shine and show that he’s a real actor, and that we must forget about “The ‘A’ Team.” (I really liked him in “Limitless.” Check it out.) DeNiro is sensational. Jennifer Lawrence is a revelation. There aren’t enough superlatives.
Chris Tucker? It’s his first movie apart from the “Rush Hour” series. Seeing him you wonder why he’s waited so long. He’s always been nervous that “Rush Hour” was just a fluke. It wasn’t at all. He’s a most welcome part of this cast. For David O. Russell, “Silver Linings” is another step forward after he hit his stride with “The Fighter.” Fans of “Three Kings” always knew he had it in him, but when “Silver Linings” starts its limited run on November 16th, everyone will get to see his great work advance.
The Civil Wars Have Their Own Civil War, Cancel Tour
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Alfred Hitchcock: Lovable Curmudgeon or Obsessed Whack Job?
Alfred Hitchcock is back, in a big way. He’s the subject of two movies and they are diametrically opposed. He was either the obsessed whack job from “The Girl,” HBO’s excellent film starring Toby Jones as Hitch and Sienna Miller as Tippi Hedren. Or he was the lovable curmudgeon from “Hitchcock,” the Fox Searchlight feature film that’s going to get a lot of awards attention just about now. Of course, the irony will be that since the Golden Globes give awards to TV and films that both movies will be nominated as well as the actors and actresses.
“Hitchcock,” directed by Sacha Gervasi, is a lead pipe cinch for Oscar nominations considering the provenance of the leads. Sir Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren, each past Oscar Best Actor and Actress winners, are right in the zone as Hitch and his long suffering wife Alma. Mirren is absolutely sensational because she–like Imelda Staunton as Alma in “The Girl”– creates a completely fresh character for us because we don’t know anything about her going in. The two Almas, of course, face different problems: in “The Girl” Hitchcock is obsessed with Hedren, and it nearly kills Alma. In the Gervasi film, Mirren gets to portray her as Hitch’s collaborator on “Psycho”– and actually makes Alma out to be the rogue in the couple’s relationship.
Whichever story is true, it doesn’t matter. But it’s instructive to watch Jones vs. Hopkins as the temperamental director. Jones doesn’t much go in for impersonation. He plays Hitch low key and without much affectation. Of course, the story in “The Girl” is more intimate, and circles around Hedren. Hopkins goes for the outsize bigger than life director, a blown up cartoon or parade float who’s comfortable with his celebrity and power. Jones makes Hitch’s fame look like an affliction. They both work, and they could both win Globes. I’m waiting for that photo op.
“Hitchcock” also has superior supporting work from Danny Huston as Hitchcock screenwriter Whitfield Cook, Scarlett Johannson as Janet Leigh, Toni Collette as Hitch’s assistant, and Jessica Biel as Vera Miles.
The AFI screened “Hitchcock” last week in Los Angeles, where the guests included our old pal Robert Forster, the hardest working actor in Hollywood. Our LEAH SYDNEY was there, and spoke to Gervasi, who had just delivered his final print in time for the show.
“We actually just finished the film 20 minutes ago,” Gervais quipped to the crowd. Referring to editor Pamela Martin, he added, “Can we still take notes Pam? If the film seems a little wet, it is.”
Will “Hitchcock” be Fox Searchlight’s this year’s “Crazy Heart”– a sleeper in many categories? Maybe. I do think Mirren gives Jennifer Lawrence (“Silver Linings Playbook”) the most serious competition so far for Best Actress.