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Best Supporting Actor: Hemingway, Borat, a Dog, and Albert Brooks Are Circling

Roger Friedman
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Best Supporting Actor: Hemingway, Borat, a Dog, and Albert Brooks Are Circling

What’s happening with the Best Supporting Actor category this year? For one thing, a Jack Russell terrier–yes, a dog–gives the most consistent and memorable performance. Uggie, from “The Artist,” would win if I and PETA could say anything about it. By the time this weekend is over, Uggie will have signed with CAA and be hanging with Leo, Brad, and George at popular Hollywood watering holes. It won’t be long before, like “Zelig” and Justin Bieber, he’ll be named in a paternity suit. Uggie is a superstar. The Academy may balk at nominating him simply because the horse in “War Horse” may then ask to toss his name in the hat.

Aside from Uggie, there are many human choices for Best Supporting Actor. Corey Stoll, as Hemingway, in “Midnight in Paris,” is a find. Albert Brooks just about steals “Drive” from Ryan Gosling and the very good Bryan Cranston. Sacha Baron Cohen, aka Borat, simply lights up “Hugo.” Kenneth Branagh does some of his best work ever in “My Week with Marilyn.” And there are more. Both actors from “Carnage”–John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz. James Badge Dale in “Shame.”  And Jim Broadbent is outstanding as Denis Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.”

There are more to add to the list. But that’s a good start. And really, Academy voters, the dog gets a write in.

Why Tom Cruise-Denzel Washington “Matarese Circle” Won’t Happen

Roger Friedman
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1
Why Tom Cruise-Denzel Washington “Matarese Circle” Won’t Happen

Whatever happened to the planned film of Robert Ludlum‘s “The Matarese Circle”? Back in the day (as they say), “Matarese” was a much bigger book than Ludlum’s “Bourne Identity.” But famed director David Cronenberg recently explained to our LEAH SYDNEY:  I was working on “The Matarese Circle,” the novel by Robert Ludlum, which was going to star Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise, before MGM went belly up. So I don’t think that’s going to happen now.  Tom still likes the idea though. “

Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method” opens today– a spectacular if smallish film with knockout performances from Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender–this year’s ‘it’ guy-and Cronenberg favorite Viggo Mortensen. It’s Cronenberg’s latest gem, following such recent modern classics as “Eastern Promises” and “A History of Violence.” Academy Award and Tony winner Christopher Hampton wrote the screenplay, about Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and one of their famous patients. Howard Shore adapted the magnificent score.

Cronenberg’s “Matarese” problem is typical of is iconic career.He’s not a studio player. “I never managed to do that. I’ve flirted with that for many years, but it’s never worked out.  I’ve talked to directors who have had a lot of fun with that, and some have had hellish experiences. The things that interest me seem not to be the things big studios are not interested in. Could be as simple as that.”

He does garner a lot of controversy. Cronenberg said: “I don’t think I’m controversial, even though that is somewhat of my public persona.  That’s just my movies, that’s not me.  You can’t confuse the two. I’m very non controversial.  I know I’m considered a cult director, but my last few movies have been somewhat mainstream.  “Cosmopolis” is not mainstream though. I don’t worry about those categories frankly.  I do the films that I’m intrigued by.  Categorization doesn’t help me decide.”

How did he choose this story? “For me it’s normal, it’s coming full circle.The first movie I ever made, which was a seven minute short called, “Transfer, ‘ was about a psychiatrist and a patient In my film, “The Brood,” the late Oliver Reed played a psychotherapist of a very different kind. It’s a fascinating relationship, between an analyst and a patient. I’ve also done costume period pieces, “Spider,”  “Naked Lunch,” “M Butterfly,’ so it just does not feel not that differently for me. ”

 

Hear Oscar Gossip and Predictions In Latest Podcast

Roger Friedman
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0
Hear Oscar Gossip and Predictions In Latest Podcast

Scott Feinberg, who does awards reporting for the Hollywood Reporter, called me up the other day for a podcast interview. Feinberg has been interviewing all the various Oscar prognosticators about this season, what we think will happen. The link has just gone up on his website at http://scottfeinberg.com/feinberg-friends-scott-showbiz411s-roger-friedman-on-awards-race. It’s a lot of fun, and worth checking out if you get the chance.

“The Artist” Scores Higher Than “Social Network” or “King’s Speech”

Roger Friedman
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0
“The Artist” Scores Higher Than “Social Network” or “King’s Speech”

Wednesday brings the release of “The Artist,” the most satisfying and unusual film of 2011. Michel Hazanaivicius’s black and white homage to silent films is hilarious and poignant. It features, I think, the potential Oscar nominees: Best Actor for Jean Du Jardin, Best Supporting Actress for Berenice Bejo, and Best Supporting Actor for Uggie the Dog.

A dog? Yes! I see no reason why Uggie cannot be nominated and win, frankly. His work on “The Artist” is superb. More audience members will exit theaters talking about him than about any other supporting actor this season. Plus, the director says he was easy to work with. “It’s all a matter of sausage,” says Hazanavicius. Certainly, Uggie could get Golden Globe and National Board of Review citings. And unlike Ricky Gervais, he won’t bite the hand that feeds him.

“The Artist” also has a 97% ranking on rottentomatoes.com. This is just about the highest rating of the year. It’s higher than either “The Social Network” or “The King’s Speech.” It’s also a movie built for publicity stunts. This week, Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughters hosted a screening in Hollywood. How long before the descendants of Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton also show their approval? “The Artist” is full of riffs on silent films, recalling all the old masters. At the same time, Hazanavicius creates new iconic moments–and you’ll see them.

When we saw “The Artist” in Cannes last spring, everyone wanted to know who the main actors were–they are French and unknown to us. DuJardin is the star of a popular French TV comedy with his wife. Bejo is well known in movies and married to Hazanacius. All of them are studying English quickly, getting ready to meet Americans. They are a wordly, sexy, fun bunch. By the time they start picking up gold trophies, I think they will be well versed.

“The Artist.” I predict will become the must-see movie of this season very quickly. And then everyone can start guessing which movies it’s riffing on. (Hint: there’s a lot of “Citizen Kane.”)

ABC Prepares “General Hospital” for Its End By Killing Off Main Character

Roger Friedman
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288
ABC Prepares “General Hospital” for Its End By Killing Off Main Character

ABC Daytime is just about over. They announced today that they’re writing out a major “General Hospital” character. Kimberly McCullough, 33,  has been on the show on and off since 1985, starting as a child.McCullough’s character, Robin Scorpio, became infected with HIV in the late 1980s from her boyfriend. Now it seems “GH” will likely kill her off from AIDS–and this should make everyone everywhere pretty angry since AIDS deaths have been reduced greatly over the years. The Robin character was a symbol of hope.

McCullough joins Jonathan Jackson, another young actor with a long history on the show, heading for the exits. “General Hospital” is only weeks away from its cancellation notice, as it will be replaced by Katie Couric‘s talk show in September 2012. ABC has successfully destroyed its fifty year history of soaps in the afternoon, loyal viewers, and consistency. “All My Children” is gone. “One Life to Live,” which has had a big resurgence this year, ends on January 13, 2012.

Congratulations to Brian Frons, the ABC exec who over saw the dismantling. He masterfully figured out ways to drive fans from the shows in order to lower their ratings, and kill them. The good news is, whoever’s left watching ABC daytime will know how to cook a chicken and how to execute a wine reduction. This is valuable information.

The question now is where Prospect Park Productions–run by Jeff Kwatinetz and Rich Frank–will ever be able to bring any of the ABC soaps to the internet as promised and planned. Recent reports indicate that they don’t have the funding to pull it off. “All My Children” star Susan Lucci says no one from Prospect Park has contacted her since September 8th. It may be that Prospect Park never had the money to back up their plans.

Travolta “Gotti” Movie Gets New Producer to Look for Dough

Roger Friedman
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1
Travolta “Gotti” Movie Gets New Producer to Look for Dough

The long aborning movie about John Gotti, starring John Travolta, is still in financial turmoil. There are some new twists and turns, however. “Gotti” producer Marc Fiore, aka Marco Fiore, has apparently decided to take a new secondary role in the film’s financing. He’s turning over his lead position to film and record producer Ted Field, heir to the Marshall Field department stores and the man who gave us the original Interscope Records. Field was running Radar Pictures. Field’s said to be worth about $1 billion, which means he’s been able to take losses on such flops as “All About Steve,” “Twelve,” “The Invention of Lying” and other films that fell short of awards buzz like the dreadful but profitable “Bad Teacher.”

Field is a nice guy, though, and could possibly raise the money to resurrect “Gotti” from its current state of rigid morbidity. As I reported exclusively here, Fiore–an ex-con–has not had much luck getting “Gotti” together. And Fiore has other problems. He’s still being sued by actor Joe Pesci over a promised role. But even worse: he ran afoul of the man he named exec producer, one Salvatore Carpanzano, whom Fiore billed as a “successful international businessman.” Carpanzano’s financial backers committed to “Gotti.” But there are said to be a trail of significant snags that have embittered the players. Of course, there’s still the issue of Fiore’s other backer, Irish Sinn Fein backer Fay Devlin. There’s still enmity among all the players. Field will have his hands full, that’s for sure.

read also: http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/10/05/john-travolta-gotti-movie-on-hold-after-all

Scorsese’s “Hugo” Could Be Huge Since Changes Made

Roger Friedman
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0
Scorsese’s “Hugo” Could Be Huge Since Changes Made

Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” had its official premiere last night, and there’s good news. After a mixed response to the work in progress version at the New York Film Festival, the finished “Hugo” is pretty great. Scorsese and his Oscar winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker went in and really worked on the picture. They got a more nimble, accessible film. Starring Sir Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Mortimer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Chloe Moretz and Asa Butterfield (who seems to have grown about a foot since filming), “Hugo” is a 3D treat, a real extravaganza that tells a great story and incorporates Scorsese’s love of film history and preservation.

For families, “Hugo” is a Thanksgiving weekend must. But it’s also for smart adults and kids who want to see masterful storytelling. Plus, Howard Shore’s score is out of this world. Paramount loves it. They threw Scorsese a major New York premiere at the Ziegfeld, with a party following at the Metropolitan Club. Besides the principals, Vera Farmiga, Steve Buscemi, Patricia Clarkson, Courtney Love, Montego Glover, Alessandro Nivola, Julie Taymor and Elliot Goldenthal, and James Toback were just a few of Scorsese’s pals who came out to support him.

Not only that: Scorsese’s middle daughter, Domenica, was there with her husband of one week. They got married last week in Chicago, where Scorsese proudly gave the bride away. Time has flown!

Meanwhile, Sacha Baron Cohen, who’ll always be “Borat” in my heart, nearly steals “Hugo” with his charming and snappy scenes with Emily Mortimer. Some of it is very funny. Cohen admitted that he ad-libbed quite a few of his lines, rewriting them with one of his co-writers. Cohen is finishing up his own film, “The Dictator,” and a cameo role in Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained.” Is there a Borat reunion on his mind? Cohen would only say, “People really miss Borat.” I did tell him that Borat’s aide de camp, Azamat, aka actor Ken Davitian, has a small part in the great new film, “The Artist.” “Oh yes, Azamat,” Cohen said, as if Borat really missed him.

PS “Hugo” is all about French filmmaker Georges Melies’ early silent films. See our video box below for Melies’ famous “A Trip to the Moon.”

 

Doris Day, Bruce Springsteen, Cole Porter Added to Grammy Hall of Fame

Roger Friedman
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0

Doris Day got her third hit single inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame today–“Que Sera Sera” follows “Sentimental Journey” and “Secret Love.” Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” album gets in as does the score to Cole Porter’s immortal “Anything Goes” and albums by the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, and Tina Turner among others. Why? Who knows? It’s all random. Every year it’s like a random shuffle of hits. Also in this year are Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and Grandmaster Flash.

 

ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN
FOLK MUSIC
Various Artists
Folkways (1952)
Folk (Album)

“ANYTHING GOES”
Cole Porter
(Cole Porter)
His Master’s Voice (1934)
Pop (Single)

BORN IN THE U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Columbia (1984)
Rock (Album)

“DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS”
Gene Autry
(June Hershey & Don Swander)
Decca (1942)
Country (Single)

DÉJÀ VU
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Atlantic (1970)
Rock (Album)

EXILE ON MAIN ST.
The Rolling Stones
Rolling Stones/Atlantic (1972)
Rock (Album)

“FIXIN’ TO DIE”
Bukka White
(Bukka White)
Okeh (1940)
Blues (Single)

FOGGY MOUNTAIN JAMBOREE
Lester Flatt And Earl Scruggs
Columbia (1957)
Bluegrass (Album)

GRACELAND
Paul Simon
Warner Bros. (1986)
Pop (Album)

HERB ALPERT PRESENTS SERGIO MENDES & BRASIL ’66
Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66
A&M (1966)
Pop (Album)

“HOW LONG, HOW LONG BLUES”
Leroy Carr
(Leroy Carr)
Vocalion (1928)
Blues (Single)

“I HAVE A DREAM”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Freedom March On Washington
20th Century Fox (1963)
Spoken Word (Track)

I STARTED OUT AS A CHILD
Bill Cosby
Warner Bros. (1964)
Comedy (Album)

“I WILL SURVIVE”
Gloria Gaynor
(Freddie Perren & Dino Fekaris)
Polydor (1978)
Disco (Single)

“KASSIE JONES”
Furry Lewis
(Walter “Furry” Lewis)
Victor (1928)
Blues (Single)

“KEY TO THE HIGHWAY”
Big Bill Broonzy
(Big Bill Broonzy & Charles Segar)
Okeh (1941)
Blues (Single)

“THE MESSAGE”
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Featuring Melle Mel And Duke Bootee
(Jiggs Chase, Melvin Glover, Sylvia Robinson & Edward Fletcher)
Sugar Hill (1982)
Rap (Single)

MEXICANTOS
Los Panchos
Coda (1945)
Latin (Album)

“PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND”
Mahalia Jackson
(Thomas A. Dorsey)
Columbia (1956)
Gospel (Single)

“QUE SERA, SERA (WHATEVER WILL BE, WILL BE)”
Doris Day
(Jay Livingston & Ray Evans)
Columbia (1956)
Pop (Single)

ROY HARRIS SYMPHONY NO. 3
Serge Koussevitzky, cond.
Boston Symphony Orchestra
RCA Victor (1940)
Classical (Album)

SANTANA
Santana
Columbia (1969)
Rock (Album)

ST. LOUIS WOMAN
Original Broadway Cast
Capitol (1946)
Musical Show (Album)

“WASTED DAYS AND WASTED NIGHTS”
Freddy Fender
(Freddy Fender & Wayne Duncan)
ABC-Dot (1975)
Country (Single)

“WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT”
Tina Turner
(Terry Britten & Graham Lyle)
Capitol (1984)
Pop (Single)

Exclusive: NY Film Critics Date Change to Tues Nov 29th

Roger Friedman
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0
Exclusive: NY Film Critics Date Change to Tues Nov 29th

Exclusive: The New York Film Critics Circle is putting off its vote by one day. They’re moving to November 29th from November 28th. The reason is to make sure every film that’s possibly eligible has been seen by everyone. Originally the NYFCC was set to vote on Monday. Either way, they beat the less serious National Board of Review, the Golden Globes and other groups. Some films, like Stephen Daldry’s “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” have been stragglers this awards season. Complicating that is the Thanksgiving holiday.

VH-1 Soul Divas Ignores Legacy Artists for…Kelly Clarkson?

Roger Friedman
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10
VH-1 Soul Divas Ignores Legacy Artists for…Kelly Clarkson?

VH-1 has just announced all of its acts for its “Soul Divas” show– and there is perhaps one actual Soul Diva–Chaka Khan.

The show, which will air in mid December, shows VH-1’s utter ignorance of real soul, frankly. Here’s who’s not on the show: Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, Patti Labelle (or Nona Hendryx or Sarah Dash), Valerie Simpson, Kim Weston, Freda Payne, Martha Reeves, Carla Thomas, Ann Peebles, Brenda Holloway, Fontana Bass, Brenda Russell, Oleta Adams, the Emotions, Marilyn McCoo, Betty Wright, Cissy Houston–even Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey– or any other women from the classic era of soul.

On the male side: Sam Moore, Al Green, Eddie Floyd, Mack Rice, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, or anyone connected to original Motown or Stax.

The scheduled group includes Kelly Clarkson, who’s really a country and pop singer. Also: Erykah Badu, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Boyz II Men, Estelle, Marsha Ambrosius and Travie McCoy in addition to Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott, someone named Jessie J. and the famed soul group–ha ha– Florence and the Machine.

All the aforementioned people? I guess they’re old. Who needs ’em? (Anyway, they’d better give Sharon Jones a real segment.)

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