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“War Horse” Comes to Broadway, Pulls Our Strings

Roger Friedman
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“War Horse” Comes to Broadway, Pulls Our Strings

Michael Morpurgo‘s “War Horse” comes to Broadway tonight so highly marketed that the hype is almost scarier than World War I. A monster hit in London, and a movie to be released directed by Steven Spielberg, “War Horse” has numerous YouTube videos and other materials ready to shock and awe us. Some of it is correct, and some of it is not.

At Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, “War Horse” is a stunning spectacle, a theatrical experience like nothing else. It is very Cirque du Soleil. I can’t remember a play I’ve seen with a full musical score, singers, special effects in sound and lighting that just knock you out. If no one ever spoke in “War Horse” you’d get the message: war is hell. Animals are our friends.

And there are the horses. The Handspring Puppet Company is the Mummenshanz of 2011. They bring these wild horses to life in a way no one’s ever seen on stage or in film. You see, “War Horse” is the story of Timmy and Lassie, or rather, Albert and Joey. It’s the beginning of WWI in Britain. Albert has trained Joey, a semi-racehorse, brought him up on his parents’ poor farm. But then war beckons, and Joey is drafted into service. Soon, Albert follows, determined to bring Joey home. Through the horse’s eyes we see the grim horrors of the war in France.

While Albert, who is just a teen, goes on his adventure, Joey is ultimately rescued by a German soldier who recognizes he’s not just an average horse. This buys Albert time to find Joey, because as the war dwindles down the horse is in poor health. On top of that, Albert is temporarily blinded.

Aside from the visual and audio, some terrific performances by Peter Hermann as the German soldier, Seth Numrich as Albert, Alyssa Bresnahan as Albert’s mum, and Boris McGiver as his sad Dad. The 35 member ensemble is excellent. But nothing prepares you for the beauty of the horses, or how the Handspring Company makes them come to life. It’s extraordinary.

However: The Tony Award goes to the Best Play, not the best theatrical attraction, so I wonder what will happen with “War Horse.” The play is very simple, and nearly as textured or wrought as “Good People.” It may not matter; “War Horse” is galloping toward us even as we speak. Somehow, it has to win all the awards just to satisfy the sound and fury that’s preceded it.

ABC Daytime: Now the Audience Replaces the Actors

Roger Friedman
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ABC Daytime: Now the Audience Replaces the Actors

In the end, Agnes Nixon lives to see her work extinguished by ABC. She’s like the last victim of daytime TV. ABC announced today they’d take the low road and knock off both “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” ABC Daytime’s Brian Frons took the cue from CBS and Procter & Gamble, which snuffed “As the World Turns” and “Guiding Light” in the last two years.

The era of the soap opera is just about over. Only four shows will remain–“Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” on CBS, “Days of our Lives,” and “General Hospital” on ABC. It’s all being replaced by talk and scripted “reality,” cheap to produce, more inane to watch than a soap, with no redeeming qualities.

The day will come pretty soon when the entire audience will have replaced the actors who were on TV–it’s like breaking the fourth wall entirely. Why watch the show when you can be the show? Fifty years of brand loyalties are being thrown out, too, because the shows that are coming–about cooking and lifestyle–are interchangeable. They’ll be canceled quickly, new ones will take their places, over and over.

The writing was on the wall when ABC announced the end of SoapNet, their cable rerun operation. The network knew then that daytime was about to be scrapped. Moving “All My Children” to Los Angeles and destabilizing the show was the way to erode the audience–just the way CBS hollowed out “Guiding Light” by moving it outdoors into the snow, ice, rain and no studios. Whoever gives these people management advice deserves a gold star.

The silver lining? People will watch less TV in the afternoon. They’ll work, and if they don’t have work they’ll find other things to do. No one watches “The Talk” on CBS, and no one will watch any of this stuff, too. It’s just blather to fill time.

Mel Gibson-Jodie Foster “Beaver” Showing in Cannes Out of Competition

Roger Friedman
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Mel Gibson-Jodie Foster “Beaver” Showing in Cannes Out of Competition

Jodie Foster‘s “The Beaver” starring Mel Gibson will be shown out of competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. It’s one of four films to be shown that way, including Rob Marshall‘s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and two non English language films.

This should be some controversy as Gibson–Public Enemy No. 1 in Hollywood–goes for his biggest attempt at a comeback. The Summit release opens in the US on May 20th, so the Cannes publicity is sure to help what could have been a disastrous opening weekend. This has to have been a very difficult decision for the festival’s programmer, Thierry Fremaux. But at least it’s out of competition–in a strange twist, Robert DeNiro is this year’s head of the jury. DeNiro would be sympathetic to old friend Foster, who starred with him when she was a child in “Taxi Driver.”

On the other hand, DeNiro left the production of Gibson’s last movie, “Edge of Darkness,” two days into work. He had gone on record then against Gibson’s anti-Semitic remarks and other scandals–preceding Gibson’s next scandal, with girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

The rest of the news from Cannes this morning was expected: all the films I mentioned yesterday, including Pedro Almodovar‘s “The Skin I Live In,” are in competition. Some other interesting choices include: Lynne Ramsay’s “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” with Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly; Paolo Sorrentino’s “This Must Be the Place,” with Sean Penn and Frances McDormand (based on my favorite Talking Heads song); Lars von Trier’s “Melancholia,” with Kirsten Dunst and Kiefer Sutherland; and Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive” starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, and Bryan Cranston.

In the Director’s Fortnight, aka Un Certain Regard, only one film from the Sundance Film Festival made the cut: Sean Durkin’s very well done “Martha Marcy May Marlene” with breakout star Elizabeth Olsen, sister of the twins Mary Kate and Ashley.

Cannes Update: Pedro, Woody, van Sant, Pirates, Malick Will Make All Star Festival!

Roger Friedman
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Cannes Update: Pedro, Woody, van Sant, Pirates, Malick Will Make All Star Festival!

UPDATE 6:15am–All the films below were confirmed, including the Almodovar. Big surprise! Jodie Foster’s “The Beaver” will be shown.

The official Cannes announcement doesn’t come until tomorrow morning, but a lot of the Cannes Film Festival is shaping up very nicely. With Robert DeNiro heading up the jury, the list of films so far is excellent. I can confirm that Pedro Almodovar is coming with a thriller, “The Skin I Live In,” starring Antonio Banderas as a plastic surgeon avenging the death of his daughter.

Earlier today the Festival announced Gus van Sant‘s “Restless” will open Un Certain Regard (formerly the Directors’ Fortnight) starring Mia Wasikowska, Schuyler Fisk (the talented daughter of Sissy Spacek and Jack Fisk), and Dennis Hopper’s son, Henry Hopper. (His mother is Katherine LaNasa, Hopper’s third wife.) We’re also going to have Woody Allen‘s “Midnight in Paris” as the Cannes-opener, the latest episode of “The Pirates of the Caribbean,” and Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” with Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, and maybe Sean’s gf, Scarlett Johansson.

Jack Fisk, Schuyler’s dad, is also Malick’s long time production designer, so you can start to imagine the list of celebs on the Croisette this year. Also, Carla Bruni appears in Woody Allen’s film, so it could mean French president Sarkozy will be on the red carpet opening night. Sacre Bleu! Add those names to Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush— and that’s just a start.

Newsweek’s Owner, Sidney Harman, Dies at 92

Roger Friedman
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Sidney Harman, the founder of Harman Kardon, and more recently the owner of Newsweek, died yesterday at age 92. When he bought Newsweek last year for $1, he said he was going to live forever. Apparently three weeks ago he was diagnosed with leukemia. Soon after he bought Newsweek, he went into negotiations with Barry Diller and Tina Brown to merge operations with The Daily Beast. The talks fell apart but later came back together. The merger became complete a few weeks ago. Did Harman know he had leukemia way back then? Or was he just prescient? And what happens now to Newsweek? The revived magazine had six pages of ads this week. It will now be up to Diller, whose IAC underwrites this whole operation, and Harman’s estate–including his wife, Jane, former Democratic congresswoman from California–to figure out what happens next. Apart from the whole News/Beast thing, Harman Kardon was really an important player in high fidelity. They made great equipment in the era before Sony and Panasonic, up there with Marantz and other great small outfits. For that, Sidney Harman will be missed.

Katie Couric Admits Talk of Syndication with Matt Lauer on “Today”

Roger Friedman
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1
Katie Couric Admits Talk of Syndication with Matt Lauer on “Today”

Katie Couric really came clean this morning on the “Today” show with Matt Lauer this morning. She discussed at length with him what her future will be like after anchoring the “Evening News” on CBS. “I don’t have any regrets, I love doing the Evening News,” Couric told Lauer. But she also talked with him at length about the “criticism” she faced early on.

And you could tell, she’s had enough. She told Matt that she’d like some more “wiggle room” to show off her “personality” by doing a syndicated talk show. It was a bold move in her various negotiations as she elaborated her various interests. Would her show be like Oprah’s or Ellen’s? “You know I’m a good dancer,” she replied, referring to Ellen DeGeneres. So it does that Katie has made her mind up, and all that remains is which offer for syndicated TV she will take.

Interestingly, Katie divulged all this to Lauer, her good friend. She also told him that Barbara Walters was like “pow pow pow” trying to get information from her on “The View,” but Couric didn’t comply. With Lauer, this was all planned, and scripted out to a ‘t’. For Katie, though, this was as close to an announcement as we’ll get for now: she’s done with anchoring the news, and looks pretty psyched about a looming deal.

Boston: Charlie Sheen Reaches Point of Diminishing Returns

Roger Friedman
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1
Boston: Charlie Sheen Reaches Point of Diminishing Returns

Charlie Sheen’s Boston show? A bust, by all accounts. The Boston Globe headline: “On Stage, Charlie Sheen Has Nothing to Say.” People left in droves, after Twittering during show that they’d gotten cheap tickets on StubHub. Some said it was “boring.” Pauly D from “Jersey Shore” showed up. After he left, Charlie–according to audience members– said “I don’t watch his show.” Otherwise, it was more of the same: trolls, warlocks, and Charlie begging for his job back on “Two and A Half Men.”

Here’s the countdown: end of tour is May 3rd. CBS will announce fall schedule ten days later or thereabouts. Last year the announcement came on May 19th. Sheen still has 14 more shows, ending in Seattle. (There’s no Los Angeles stop, they’re keeping him out of CBS and Warner Bros.’ backyard.) Sheen will have little time to hurry back home, and somehow recant everything he’s said and done, apologize profusely to Les Moonves and Warner Bros. and maybe even Chuck Lorre.

In the meantime: Last night’s best story comes from Rich Shertenlieb, a local sports radio guy, who got Charlie to come on his radio show after the debacle. But before the show, Rich Tweeted that he bought a pair of regular priced tickets in the second row a half hour before the show. He also Tweeted that a security guard told him he could bring a few friends up front with him.

The audience booed, according to reports, or just yawned. Everyone is “over” Charlie Sheen. He is the motherf**cker with the hat. How can continuing this be anything but a big negative for Charlie or the audience? And the show is far from sold out. During the day, Charlie’s Tweet master sends out messages offering free tickets to the show. Yikes.

 

 

Nirvana Movie: James McAvoy, Scarlett Johansson Still In the Running

Roger Friedman
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Nirvana Movie: James McAvoy, Scarlett Johansson Still In the Running

For a few years now there have been rumors that Courtney Love would exec produce a movie about Nirvana. Or at least her life with Kurt Cobain. I saw Courtney last night at Mr. H’s, the lounge in the Soho Mondrian Hotel. She missed the screening of the surprisingly smart satire, “Scream 4,” but made the party.

And another surprise: Courtney looked great. She’s in good shape, fixing up a townhouse in the West Village, making videos underwritten by Prada, and acting a little more serene than usual. Good for her.

I introduced Courtney to “Gossip Girl” star Matthew Settle, and later we wound up chatting with Meryl Streep’s two successful acting daughters, Mamie Gummer and Grace Gummer. Meantime, Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent, strolled through–he’d hosted the screening at the Crosby Street Hotel with “Scream” star David Arquette, who was also in the room and looking as dapper as Fitty. Harvey Weinstein was pleased that “Scream 4” went over so well. (It’s a lot of fun.) “Precious” star Gabby Sidibe held court in the back room.

But back to Courtney: she tells me that the Nirvana film is still a live project, and she still hopes that James McAvoy and Scarlett Johansson will play Kurt and Courtney. David Benioff has a script Courtney likes, apparently. Who will direct and will produce remain the big topics for discussion. I know I want to see this movie!

As for “Scream 4,” it is a scream. Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson went back to the original, and recaptured the wit and satire. Arquette, wife (?) Courtney Cox and Neve Campbell are all back and just fine. Adam Brody has a cameo as a cop, Marley Shelton is very funny also in nitwitted police force, and Hayden Panetierre and Emma Roberts are standouts as are Mary McDonnell, Rory Culkin, and Anthony Andersen. (It’s a well cast film for a horror spoof.)

And yes, the door is left open for Scream 5, 6, and 7. And trust me, they’re coming.

 

John Travolta and Lindsay Lohan In One Really Violent Film: Can’t Wait

Roger Friedman
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1
John Travolta and Lindsay Lohan In One Really Violent Film: Can’t Wait

There was a press conference today in mid town Manhattan announcing the reality of a new movie called “Gottis: Three Generations.” John Travolta will play Satan himself, violent killer and crime lord John Gotti. Lindsay Lohan is signing on to play Victoria Gotti, John’s daughter. The movie will be produced by Marc Fiore, whose only other film — a throwaway comedy — had a budget of $500,000. His company is called Fiore Films.

The budget for “Gotti” is not known, but Travolta is famous for perk packages that run into the tens of millions: private chefs, gifts every Monday, those sorts of things. Sylvester Stallone has long been rumored to be involved with this. “Gotti” is now a project so tacky and awful that it must be made. There’s no going back. It already sounds like the kind of thing you see in the market at Cannes, with lots of weird screenings and presales in weird countries.

Still to be cast are John Gotti, Jr. and the rest of this wacky, lovable clan. I say lovable because Fiore told the press conference audience that he felt the love from this family. By the way, Joe Pesci is going to be in “Gotti,” playing Angelo Ruggiero, whose claim to fame–besides of course murdering–is that he brought the Mafia into the world of drug dealing.

Flip Cameras Go the Way of the Pet Rock

Roger Friedman
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1
Flip Cameras Go the Way of the Pet Rock

It seems just like yesterday that Rosie O’Donnell was freaking out about the Flip video camera on “The View.” Then celebrities were lining up at Jeffrey Katzenberg’s “The Night Before”party on an Oscar weekend to get their Flips in different colors. I met the owner of Pure Digital on a line at that party in the Beverly Hills Hotel. He had a wide smile. Then he sold his company to Cisco Digital, which makes routers for the internet. Today, Cisco announced it’s closing down Flip. It’s all over. Just like that. It seems that people are making videos from their IPhones and smart phones, and from digital cameras like Lumix (which takes better video than it does still pictures). No one needs the Flip anymore. This is really sad. Like the pet rock, the hula hoop, and the beeper, Flip is going into culture heaven. What will people do who still own one (like me)? Cisco says Flip support will continue for as long as people need it. Sniff!  PS I also have something called a Sony Blogger, and I have no idea what to do with it, either.

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