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Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts Actually Do Better With “Larry Crowne” Than Last One

Roger Friedman
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Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts Actually Do Better With “Larry Crowne” Than Last One

“Larry Crowne” is not a great film and it’s not exactly creating a stampede to the box office. On Friday night, Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts only mustered $4 mil at the box office. They’ll be lucky to have $16 mil in the till by Monday night. But it’s not all that bad. For one thing, “Larry Crowne” did better last night than the last Hanks-Roberts combo. “Charlie Wilson’s War” opened to less than $3 million in 2007 on its opening night. It went on to earn $66 million–which I am sure everyone at Universal, and Tom and Gary Goetzman at PlayTone would be thrilled with if it happened.

“Larry Crowne” cost $30 million to make (it looks it) plus probably $10 million for prints, ads, and promotion. It’s not like they took over Times Square or Red Square for opening nights. In the end it will break even. Hanks and Roberts didn’t take their usual paychecks for this, it’s a low budget film. Good reviews would have helped, but there aren’t many. Still, if adults want to see a film this weekend or this month, aside from “Midnight in Paris,” this slow moving comedy is their best bet. (Unless, of course, you can find “Beginners” in your town.)

Tom Hanks will be back later this year with Sandra Bullock in Stephen Daldry‘s “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”– which will be a very strong Oscar contender from Scott Rudin with Warner Bros. and Paramount. So we won’t worry about him.  Julia Roberts won’t be seen again until 2012 in brilliant casting as the Evil Queen in “Snow White.” But Roberts has other things to worry about. Two movies she’s produced still have no distributor. “Jesus Henry Christ” is recent. “Fireflies in the Garden” has never appeared in the  U.S. Hanks, however, is a superstar producer, especially for HBO, from “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific” to the upcoming “Game Change.”

Nicole Brown Simpson Charity 15 Years Later: $66 Remains

Roger Friedman
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Nicole Brown Simpson Charity 15 Years Later: $66 Remains

Fifteen years after it was started, the Nicole Brown Simpson Charitable Foundation is pretty much out of business. According to federal tax filings, the foundation–set up by Nicole’s sister Denise to educate and help abused women–claims $66 in assets. In its 2010 return, the Foundation says it finished the year $2,824 in the red, with nearly $5,000 in expenses. No money was spent on battered or abused women. Whatever was left went to travel, phone, miscellaneous expenses and $2,000 to an unnamed consultant–in the past that was always Denise Brown, sister of the woman O.J. Simpson killed (according to a civil jury) along with her friend Ron Goldman on June 12, 1994. There’s still a website for the Nicole Brown Foundation, but its last events listed took place in March 2010. O.J. Simpson, meanwhile, remains in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping.

“Spider Man” Producer Laura Ziskin Gets Two More Honors

Roger Friedman
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“Spider Man” Producer Laura Ziskin Gets Two More Honors

Not everyone in Hollywood is falling on sidewalks, drunk, in the middle of the night. A lot of charity work is being done by stars:

Before the week ends and the holiday begins, I wanted to note two more tributes to our pal, Laura Ziskin, besides her own memorial service. Laura was honored at a recent Women in Film Lucy + Crystal Awards in Beverly Hills, along with Annette Bening, Katie Holmes and (posthumously) Elizabeth Taylor. In a clip that was shown, Laura– who loved movies–said “Who wouldn’t want to be in the movie business?  Why would you want to do anything else?”

Meanwhile, Naomi Wilding, Liz Taylor’s granddaughter, told our Leah Sydney: “I feel sad that I’m here instead of my grandmother.  I’m only doing this because she’s not here to receive it herself.  As always, I have always been extremely proud of her humanitarian work, therefore I’m extremely proud to stand in for her.  It’s not been that long so it’s difficult.  Yet as I do it from the fullness of my heart. Because I loved her, I love everything she did and I believe in her with every inch of myself.”

Ziskin was also honored at the Prevention 2nd Annual Honors-for her work on behalf of Stand Up 2 Cancer. Also honored was Nancy Davis, who’s worked tirelessly raising money for MS research; she herself has been afflicted with the disease for several years. Bravo Nancy. But it’s no surprise: Nancy’s mom is the elegant and intrepid Barbara Davis, who produces the sensational Carousel of Hope in Los Angeles.

Meantime, Kristin Chenoweth, who recently co-hosted “Regis and Kelly,” told Leah she has a new album coming out on September 13th called “Some Lessons Learned” that’s a collaboration with Diane Warren.  She’s also coming back to Broadway for a revival of “On The Twentieth Century.”  Kristin laughed: “If Broadway will have me back, I’m coming back!”

Bill Irwin Makes It into A Shakespeare Play About…DSK?

Roger Friedman
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Bill Irwin Makes It into A Shakespeare Play About…DSK?

Not many modern stars find their names in a Shakespeare play. It’s usually Henry the fourth and Richard the third. But last night Broadway and film star Bill Irwin got a surprise when he heard not only his name but a shout out during the opening night performance of “Measure for Measure” at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. During a monologue in the second act of this terrific production, actor Carson Elrod–playing the clown, Pompey–strolled through the audience tossing out names of people he supposedly recognized. When he spotted Irwin–famous for his work in “Fool Moon” and dramatic work in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”– Elrod exclaimed, “Bill Irwin! The world’s greatest living clown!” Irwin was shocked since he doesn’t know Elrod.

“Measure for Measure” only plays for the month of July. It also features brilliant work by John Cullum (“Northern Exposure”), Reg Rogers (“The Royal Family”), Lorenzo Pisano, Dakin Matthews, and Danai Gurira, as well as two fine actresses who cut their teeth on soaps–are you listening, networks?–Tonya Pinkins (“All My Children”) and Annie Parrisse (“As the World Turns”)…”Measure for Measure,” by the way, is pretty modern for a play written in 1604. It’s all about sex–lots of non-marital relations occur–and the main antagonist, Angelo (beautifully done by Michael Hayden)– is sort of a Shakespearean version of our currently accused Dominique Strauss Kahn…

“Transformers” A Disappointment But Some Record Is Broken

Roger Friedman
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“Transformers” A Disappointment But Some Record Is Broken

The new “Transformers” didn’t do well on Wednesday. It’s the sixth biggest opening day in history. But it made $37 million, far behind its predecessors on their respective opening days. Still I see that all the trade papers took the bait and pronounced it “the biggest opening day of 2011.” Uh, that’s not saying much. It was also the biggest opening day for a film based on a toy this year. And the biggest opening day for a film featuring Frances McDormand and John Turturro. The whole “broken record” thing has become something of a joke at this point. I will say this, however: last night at the AMC Lincoln Square, there were lines of fan boys and girls waiting to see “Transformers.” The lines snaked up and down the stairs. And fanboys are from all walks of life. Standing next to each were a black kid with sunglasses and headphones, and an Orthodox Jewish kid with tzitzit hanging out of his shirt. Maybe “Transformers” is the movie that brings the world together. POW! But it’s just junk food, and not so good at that. Paramount spent a fortune opening it in Russia, and then taking over Times Square. And Shia LaBeouf got the last laugh on everyone. He got Biggest Opening Day for a Young Buck Movie Star Who Kisses and Tells. Ka-ching!

Anyway, this too shall pass. Paramount has just released a new trailer for “Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol.” As with number 3, it does look like J.J. Abrams has a winner on his hands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0LQnQSrC-g. I love how Tom Wilkinson keeps a straight face. “Your mission, if you choose to accept it.” Indeed.

ABC Announces End Date for “All My Children”

Roger Friedman
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ABC Announces End Date for “All My Children”

ABC has announced that “All My Children” will wrap up on September 23, 2011. There was already an announcement about the end of “One Life to Live” for the third week of January. And don’t be shocked when they issue the death knell for “General Hospital,” to make room for Katie Couric. It’s just a watching and waiting game now, mostly to see how the completely unwanted replacement shows–the dreaded “Chew”–will do once they hit the air. As I’ve said before, the wholesale killing of the soap operas is a huge mistake and one that will resonate for years. Starting in the late fall, ABC daytime will be absent all of its tentpole personalities: Regis Philbin, Susan Lucci, Erika Slezak and the whole “One Life to Live” gang, and, of course, Oprah. That’s a lot of audience loyalty to throw out the window at once. On top of that, “One Life to Live,” which has received little support from ABC over the years. is doing great right now in the ratings. It’s the third highest rated of the six remaining soaps, beating both “General Hospital” and CBS’s “Bold and the Beautiful,” as well as “All My Children.” “OLTL” is doing so well, and building every week, that by its end in January ABC Daytime is going to have a lot of angry viewers to deal with. But Procter & Gamble and CBS got away with killing their shows, so ABC probably figures why not? Meanwhile there are reports–unsubstantiated–that ABC has turned down offers to sell the shows. If that’s true, it’s worse than stupid.

Tom Hanks Sends “Larry Crowne” to College, Gets an “Incomplete”

Roger Friedman
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Tom Hanks Sends “Larry Crowne” to College, Gets an “Incomplete”

What the heck is wrong with “Larry Crowne”? Tom Hanks is a great actor and producer. He also directed a terrific film called “That Thing You Do.” But he isn’t a writer, and it shows in “Larry Crowne.” Nia Vardalos had a great idea with this movie–at 55, a guy who’s never been to college loses his job at a Wal Mart type place and has to take classes at a local community college. He’s divorced, and falls in love with one of his teachers.

That’s the whole idea. There’s nothing else. The idea is a concept, a pitch, to which no one apparently said, “And then what happens?” Because nothing happens. Tom is the guy, Julia Roberts is the teacher. The main character is developed a little. Julia’s teacher, unbelievably named Mercedes–and called “Mercy” by her pals–is an unconvincing drunk with a lout of a husband (the under-utilized Bryan Cranston).

Here’s what else is going on: Larry has black neighbors right out of a sitcom (Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson), and a cute black school friend (Gugu Mbatha Raw). Mercy has a black best friend played by the ever great Pam Grier. And of course, these characters are the soothsayers. They’re the reality check for Larry and Mercy. It’s great that the movie employs so many black actors, but it would be swell if they weren’t all cliches. I’m still not sure what the story was about Cedric’s character–a guy who won $500,000 in the lottery and now holds a permanent tag sale on his front lawn. Taraji is completely wasted. Gugu makes a very strong debut.

“Larry Crowne” is only 99 minutes, but it could run fine at 45. There’s one story, and it’s told slowly as it is. Hanks and Vardalos came up with nothing even remotely interesting for the other characters in Mercy’s classes, or any backstory for Larry or Mercy, and no plot. Also, theirs is a sexless romance. For a midlife sex story, think of Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin in “It’s Complicated.” There’s none of that fun or wit in “Larry Crowne.” There are just innumerable missed opportunities for stories–like Larry never resolving his situation at work or having any thoughts about what’s happened to him. He just does what the script tells him to do.

At the end of the credits you will see “No animals were harmed.” And no stories were told. If Larry wrote this script at the community college I’m afraid he’d get an “Incomplete.”

PS “Larry Crowne” is a family affair. Hanks’s real life actress wife, Rita Wilson, appears in a blonde wig as a banker. I like Rita, and she’s cute in her scenes with Tom. Their son, Chet “Haze” Hanks, makes what I think is his feature film debut as a pizza delivery boy who gets to yell at Julia: “You’re hot!”

Oscar Movies First Half 2011: Woody Allen and Not Much Else

Roger Friedman
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The first half of 2011 is coming to an end, and what do we have for the next Academy Awards? Not much, I’m afraid. The only real contender for a Best Picture nomination is Woody Allen‘s “Midnight in Paris.” The drum beats louder for this film every day, with Woody in contention for Best Director and Screenplay, and acting nominations possible for Owen Wilson and Marion Cotillard (Golden Globes certainly) and Corey Stoll, who plays Ernest Hemingway. Alison Pill is also memorable as Zelda Fitzgerald.

Other than Woody, though, it’s a bleak look back. Terrence Malick’s “Tree of Life” is a mess, although Brad Pitt does very good work. The movie itself is not a Best Picture nominee; it’s incomprehensible. Then there are some miscellaneous acting achievements. Christopher Plummer is a Best Supporting Actor candidate in “Beginners,” a movie that’s been botched in its release. “Beginners” is just terrific, but I’d wager that most people have never heard of it. I also really liked Hiam Abbass in Julian Schnabel’s little seen “Miral.” She should be considered for Supporting Actress.

Mostly though it’s been a sad period in cinematic history. Will things pick up? We have to wait until July 22nd, when “Another Earth” and “Sarah’s Key” will make things more interesting, and July 29th when Dominic Cooper arrives in a spray of bullets and mayhem with “The Devil’s Double.” Until then: read a book.

Transformers, Larry Crowne: Will Bad Reviews Matter This Weekend?

Roger Friedman
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This weekend’s two big movies are “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (the title sounds like it’s missing “side” but maybe Pink Floyd would object) and “Larry Crowne.” They have respectively, 36% and 37% ratings on rottentomatoes.com–very bad reviews, the worst, really. Aside from Tony Scott having too much caffeine or sugar, the New York Times review is not very good. The rest are much worse.

Paramount is wisely just pushing “Transformers” as a product and will just try and make the most money it can over the five day holiday–from today through Monday. Internationally, “Transformers” will do great because it requires no language skills. In the U.S. I’m sure it will break some kind of record that no one cares about–best opening for a semi-coherent movie opening on a Wednesday in June but ending on a Monday in July.

“Larry Crowne” comes next. The affable Tom Hanks and the strident Julia Roberts are said to have no chemistry at all in what has been described by some as “embarrassing” or “like a Nickelodeon film.” But I do trust Tom Hanks. He co-wrote the film with Nia Vardalos, and directed it. It sounds like a straight PG movie, not even PG-13. But this weekend, with “Transformers” uninteresting to anyone over 20, “Larry Crowne” may overcome its saccharine provenance and bring in the adults who’d like to a movie in which nothing explodes.

On the other hand, the winner of the over 20 box office this weekend may be Woody Allen‘s “Midnight in Paris.” With $28.7 million already banked domestically, “Paris” is a big hit. It’s the only film from the first six months of 2011 with Oscar potential. And people love it. They just love it. They haven’t loved a Woody Allen film this much in 25 years. And it had great reviews, and great word of mouth. If “Larry Crowne” doesn’t make it, “Paris” will have been its downfall. And who could have anticipated that? No one. It’s not even in 3D!

 

Mark Ruffalo Hulks Up, Karen Elson Raves On

Roger Friedman
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Mark Ruffalo was in New York last night on a furlough from making “The Avengers” down in New Mexico. Ruffalo and beautiful wife Sunrise came into the city from upstate New York (where they’re still fighting the freaking fracking) to see pal Tara Subkoff’s launch of her Imitation designer line at the Jane Hotel. Later Mark and Sunrise had dinner with Tara and Oscar winning “King’s Speech” director Tom Hooper. (By the way, the new Gitanes restaurant at the Jane Hotel–a former SRO that still by law houses some of its previous long term tenants– is terrific and not expensive.)

Mark is playing the Incredible Hulk and his alter ego David Banner in the Marvel all-star movie that includes Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson. “I’m the first to play both parts,” said Mark, the Hulk and Banner. For the Hulk, he says, it’s all stop-capture animation. He hasn’t seen the work he’s done yet, and his costume isn’t pretty.

“You’ll never see what I’m wearing on screen. But it’s the ugliest thing ever. It’s embarrassing.” The costume is really a technical tool that Ruffalo must wear while shooting his Hulk sequences. The Oscar nominated actor, by the way, says he was a little afraid of Samuel L. Jackson when he met him. “He’s Samuel L. Jackson, for chrrissakes!” said Ruffalo.

Also at the Imitation party, where Subkoff showed off her very cute and Chaplinesque short silent film of a damsel in distress wearing Imitation: supermodel and singer Karen Elson, now ex wife of White Stripes singer-musician Jack White. Even though the pair have parted after six years and two kids, they are still good friends, Karen says. They even recorded a Buddy Holly song together for the just released tribute album, “Rave On.” “We had just separated but it was fine,” Karen said. “Jack may even play on my next album.”

If you missed all this– I know, I did–Karen and Jack recently had a party in Nashville to celebrate their divorce.

You can see Karen’s work–it’s really good– at www.karenelson.com.

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