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Toronto Film Fest: All the Best Actor Nominees Are Here

Roger Friedman
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Toronto Film Fest: All the Best Actor Nominees Are Here

It’s weird to think, but it does seem like all the Best Actor nominees may already be at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival. And even weirder considering that George Clooney, who is sublime in Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” has also directed Ryan Gosling to a potential nomination in “The Ides of March.” That would make the first time a director was nominated as an actor in someone else’s film, but directed another actor also to a nomination.

Clooney and Gosling are not alone here. Jean DuJardin in the unique and clever “The Artist” is also on the Oscar short list. That makes three. Add in the fourth potential name, Brad Pitt, who could actually win the gold statue for his breakout work in “Moneyball.” Pitt is so good as real life Oakland A’s manager Billy Bean, it’s astonishing. “Moneyball” opens soon, and it’a homerun for Pitt and director Bennett Miller. It’s the best baseball movie since “Field of Dreams” or “The Natural.” It’s breathtaking, and Pitt finally transcends himself, his star persona, and everything else that encumbers him.

So that’s four of five. Who else? Ewan MacGregor is superb in Lasse Hallstrom’s “Salmon Fishing in Yemen,” although the film was just shown last night for the first time to thunderous applause. It has no American distributor yet, but my guess is someone will snap it up for the Oscar season. It’s a huge hit waiting to happen. MacGregor and Emily Blunt are charming, but not lightweight by any means. The Simon Beaufoy script makes the difference.

And  the crazy thing is that all of these people–Clooney, Gosling, MacGregor, Blunt– all hit the Toronto edition of Soho House last night around midnight. They convened with Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt, Bryan Cranston, Alexander Skarsgard, Evan Rachel Wood, Jimmy Kimmel, Rachel Griffiths, Paul Giamatti, Eddie Redmayne, directors Alexander Payne, Paul Haggis, and Nicholas Refn Winding, and so, not to mention CAA superagents Kevin Huvane and Bryan Lourd, plus a panoply of producers, agents, and managers.

Soho House, even at 2am, was so stuffed with A listers that no one on the second floor could move through the scrum. That is, except for George Clooney, who brough new galpal Stacey Kiebler, and worked the room like a man running for president. Clooney is unfailingly charming and polite, gracious to a fault, and ready to chat on any subject. God bless him.

More on all these folks and more still in the next from Toronto this morning. Suffice to say, we’ve been hit with an avalanche of good films and great performances. I am still excited about “Moneyball,” “The Ides of March,” “The Descendants,” and “The Artist,” as well as “A Dangerous Method.” Hey wait: these could be all the Best Picture nominees too! Yikes!

Toronto ’11: Clooney, Pitt, Hamm All in One Night

Roger Friedman
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Toronto ’11: Clooney, Pitt, Hamm All in One Night

Tonight in Toronto, believe it or not, three competing premieres. The schedule here is a little rough this year. Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Jon Hamm are in, respectively, “Money Ball,” “The Ides of March” (which Clooney directed), and “Friends with Kids” (directed by Jennifer Westfeldt, Hamm’s significant other). What a night! And there are plenty of other things going on, including the Toronto premiere of “The Artist,” a shoo in Oscar nominee for Best Picture. So many people came out of “The Artist” press and industry screenings today raving about this clever, unique film.

Also today: David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method,” is a knockout of an intimate film about the friendship between Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortenson) and Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender). Keira Knightley is their muse and Jung’s lover, Sabrina. Cronenberg simply gets better and better, never failing to make an important, memorable film. Mortenson is well known to all, but here he’s very much in his head and without the usual physicality. All three actors turn in astonishingly precise and beautifully wrought performances. I hope this film gets right kind of release. Howard Shore, by the way, has written a gorgeous, Oscar worthy score–which is no surprise!

Bono: Other Musicians Emulate Our “Ecstatic Music”

Roger Friedman
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Bono: Other Musicians Emulate Our “Ecstatic Music”

So: Bono and the Edge attended last night’s Toronto premiere of “From the Sky Down,” the Davis Guggenheim film about the band U2. The film will run on Showtime. After the screening, I asked Bono why so many songs on the radio — like the new Coldplay and recent Linkin Park–sounded so much like U2. He didn’t respond about specific records–no feuds, please–but did say: “I think Edge has created a sound of ‘ecstatic music’ that you do here more. It’s his patented sound. But people respond to it.”

That was so diplomatic! Bono and Edge were joined by their astute manager Paul McGuiness.But conspicuously absent were Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton. The given reason was that they were spending time with their families. But Guggenheim’s actress wife Elisabeth Shue was there to be supportive, and so were the present rockers’ wives.

And what of the film? The group let Guggenheim have unprecedented access into their creative process. The result is that–especially in the second half–we get to see how they wrote two classics, “One,” and “Mysterious Way.” We also learn a lot about how they almost split in 1991 while making the album “Achtung Baby.” U2 has now been in business for a shocking 36 years. “From the Sky Down” gives an unusual glimpse into why they’ve managed to make it so long.

 

TIFF ’11 Rocks: U2 Here, McCartney Absent, Franco Switching

Roger Friedman
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TIFF ’11 Rocks: U2 Here, McCartney Absent, Franco Switching

The Toronto International Film Festival begins tonight with a gala for director Davis Guggenheim and his U2 documentary, “From the Sky Down.” The security at Roy Thomson Hall is tight, tight, tight. “The green room is closed tonight,” says an insider. Well, if this premiere is like the one for “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark,” there will be a very curtained off area for the subjects of Guggenheim’s movie at the after party. But U2 are not the only rockers in town with a film. Pearl Jam is here with Cameron Crowe and their 20th anniversary film, “Pearl Jam 20.” And Neil Young has his third film made by Jonathan Demme– I guess Demme really loves Neil Young! Stay tuned…

One rocker who won’t be here is Paul McCartney. Even though his “The Love You Make” documentary is getting a premiere on Friday night with director Albert Maysles, McCartney is reportedly back in the UK putting his wedding plans together. McCartney and fiancee Nancy Shevell could very well be tying the knot in the next couple of weeks, I’m told. The Beatle premieres his ballet with the New York City Ballet on September 22nd. Maybe he’ll be a married man by then…

James Franco Toronto news: I’m told that Franco’s scheduled “talk with director Gus van Sant, which includes showing his latest van Sant centric project, is getting moved from Saturday to Sunday. The reason is that Franco is shooting in Detroit. Just as well: Saturday here is going to be booked wall to wall with activities anyway.

 

‘Big Chill’ for Channing Tatum New “Big Chill” Movie

Roger Friedman
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It’s rough out there for indie filmmakers. Take the people behind “Ten Year,” a much anticipated film coming to the Toronto Film Festival this week. “Ten Year”– sort of a modern “Big Chill” type reunion film– has a movie star, Channing Tatum, and a talented cast including Kate Mara, Justin Long, Anthony Mackie, Rosario Dawson, and Oscar Isaac. Even though 28 year old Eric Gores, son of billionaire Alec Gores, is listed as a producer, the budget is tight for Toronto. A memo was sent to the cast this week that reads thusly:

“Dear all,
Just a clarification – and this goes for everyone including Channing – no one is getting car service TO their flight to and from Toronto. Anything in Toronto TEN YEAR will handle which includes airport to hotel, hotel to dinner, dinner to premiere, premiere to hotel, hotel to return flight.
This is our standard deal for TIFF. We will not reimburse for cars outside of CANADA.
Please feel free to give me a call with any questions and concerns?
Thank you!”

I’m told the cast is also flying coach to Toronto. (Well, they’ll be in good company. So am I, on one of American Airline’s flying MRIs.) Ah, the glamorous life!

 

Mary Tyler Moore Gets SAG Lifetime Achievement Award

Roger Friedman
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Everyone loves Mary Tyler Moore, so it’s no shock: the beloved TV star will receive the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award this January. Mary, of course, has many Emmy awards and nominations for her own show and of course “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” and a 1981 Oscar nomination for “Ordinary People.” (She lost to Sissy Spacek, for “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”) It’s great that Mary’s getting the SAG award, although I did think that this award was more for character actors, long time vets who’d never actually gotten an award. For example, Mary’s cast mates on her old show, Betty White and Ed Asner, got the SAG in the last few years. But what the heck–Mary deserves all good things…

…Other awards news from yesterday: Warren Beatty is getting a Lifetime Achievement Award from BAFTA/LA on November 30th. Warren is getting ready to launch his Howard Hughes movie, and is allegedly casting it now. One of Hollywood’s smartest guys, Beatty has an Oscar for Best Director of “Reds,” and many other accolades…

Alicia Keys Broadway Play Sets Cast With Stars from “ER” and “Psych”

Roger Friedman
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Alicia Keys Broadway Play Sets Cast With Stars from “ER” and “Psych”

Alicia Keys is producing a Broadway play. Why not? She’s conquered pop music, that’s for sure. The play, “Stick Fly,” will star Ruben Santiago Hudson, Mekhi Phifer (“ER”), Tracie Thoms, and Dule Hill (from the show “Psych”). Lydia Diamond wrote the play, which will be directed by Kenny Leon. Santiago-Hudson is one of the best actors of his generation, so this is particularly exciting. That Alicia has gotten involved in this also shows how interesting her career has become. The lead producers are Nelle Nugent, Alicia Keys, Samuel Nappi, Reuben Cannon, Sharon A. Carr/Patricia Klausner, Huntington Theatre Company, Dan Frishwasser, Charles Salameno in association with Joseph Sirola & Eric Falkenstein. “Stick Fly” opens December 8th at the intimate Cort Theater on West 48th St.

Meryl Streep, Yo Yo Ma, Neil Diamond Get Kennedy Center Honors

Roger Friedman
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The Kennedy Center Honors have been announced, and they’re a nice little group this year. Meryl Streep, Yo Yo Ma, Neil Diamond, singer Barbara Cook, and jazz musician Sonny Rollins are getting the nods. Streep was long overdue at this point. She may be headed to an Oscar nomination again with “Iron Lady” so December is a great time–right before the Critics Choice, Golden Globe and other awards nominations. Neil Diamond is finally getting his due — he was just inducted into the Rock Hall, etc. The others are all serious artists. I do wish that the Kennedy Center would honor writers and fine artists, but that may be too high falutin’ for them.

Jane Fonda: Hot Movie Goes to Toronto, Book Hits Top of Best Seller List

Roger Friedman
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0

Jane Fonda has gotten the last laugh on QVC. This week her book, “Prime Time,” hits number 2 on the New York Times Best Seller list of hardcover tomes on advice. Remember when QVC dropped her at the last minute? Now “Prime Time” is a huge hit and Fonda is hard at work on the sequel. She’s still making appearances for it though. Watch her “Charlie Rose” interview on YouTube, it’s fascinating.

Meanwhile, Fonda is heading to Toronto next week for the premiere of her new film, “Peace, Love and Misunderstanding.” Distributors are lining up to see this Bruce Bereford directed family saga that co-stars Catherine Keener, Kyle Maclachlan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Elizabeth Olsen–the latter is hot right now from her upcoming “Martha May Marcy Marlene.”

Fonda plays Grace, a hippie, pot smoking mom who is reunited with her adult daughter (Keener) and her kids after Maclachlan leaves them. Fonda’s role is hilarious and just right for her. She tells me: “Catherine’s character shows up with her kids. They haven’t spoken in 2o years since my character got caught selling pot at her wedding.” Fonda’s Grace is her daughter’s polar opposite, too. “She sleeps with all the good looking guys in town!” Jane told me.

“Peace, Love, and Misunderstanding” has quite a pedigree coming into Toronto, too: Beresford’s many films include the award winning “Tender Mercies.” “Crimes of the Heart,” “Breaker Morant,” and “Driving Miss Daisy.” He’s been nominated for two Oscars and four Palm D’Or at Cannes. Fonda only has two Oscars and countless nominations.

But: “This is NOT my comeback!” Jane says. “That was ‘Monster in Law.” This is just a movie I’m very proud of. We had a great time making it, too. I like movies that are upbeat, and about love and happiness.”

P.S. If you order “Prime Time” electronically, through amazon or ITunes, it comes with a bunch of digital extras including 50 photos and videos not included with the hardcover. Very cool.

Adele Gets Huge Sales Boost from VMA Appearance

Roger Friedman
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Adele is just having the best year any pop star could. Her appearance on last week’s MTV Video Music Awards was a resounding success. She came out and sang, simply, “Someone Like You” with a piano accompaniment. The result? She sold upwards of 150,000 more copies of her “21” album and finished at number 3. So easy when you’re talented! Beyonce and Lady Gaga got small bumps from their appearances, and Beyonce got a baby bump. All of Lady Gaga’s theatrics didn’t amount to much saleswise. Adele had the clearer message. The number 1 album for the week was Lil Wayne‘s “Tha Carter IV.” It sold a staggering 800,000 or more units. (And really, who cares? Wayne, fresh out of jail, is still rapping about being high.) Number 2 is the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album from Warner Music. Len Blavatnik must be thrilled to see the Warner name on the charts after paying so much money for it. He was probably wondering about that. Kanye West and Jay Z are hanging in at number 4, but with quickly diminishing returns. But really, 2011 is all about Adele. We could have the Grammys now and get it over with.

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