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“Arthur” Remake: Box Office Disaster Looms

Roger Friedman
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6
“Arthur” Remake: Box Office Disaster Looms

The remake of “Arthur,” a genial film from the 1980s that had charm brimming over, is headed for disaster. I haven’t been able to see it yet (my fault), but of the 14 reviews posted to RottenTomatoes.com so far, only one has been positive. The other 13 are so bad that “Arthur” is getting a 7% so far. The consensus is that director Jason Winer didn’t know what he was doing, and captured none of the spirit of the original. It sounds like the recent remake of “The Heartbreak Kid.” Whoops!

“Arthur” opens on Friday. The original, directed by the late Steve Gordon some 30 years ago, was a winner. Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud, and Jill Eikenberry were the principal cast–a rich kid, the girl he loved, the girl he was supposed to marry, and his butler. They’re now played by Russell Brand, Greta Gerwig, Helen Mirren, and Jennifer Garner. On paper it sounds grand. But the director, Jason Winer, comes from very clunky TV like “Modern Family” (which to me seems like “Arrested Development” lite) .

This is just a guess, but Dudley Moore was winsome and subtle. He was also small in size, which made him seem vulnerable. Russell Brand, whom I like a lot, is a big guy who doesn’t seem like he need to be taken care of. He is also quite obvious and a little aggressive. A better choice would have been James McEvoy or even Ewan MacGregor. Anyway, what’s done is done. At least we can hope Helen Mirren got a good payday out of it.

Comedy remakes–especially of material that is trickier than it appears–are tough. That “Heartbreak Kid” with Ben Stiller was so bad the people who made it should have arrested. Classics are often a part of their time–and in these cases, even more so. What these two –“HK” and “Arthur” — had in common were they were comedies of manners, and spoofed class warfare. No one seems to know how to do that anymore. I think writers and directors are afraid to suggest that class differences exist anymore. They’re all too politically correct.

“Hangover 2” Trailer Controversy: Brilliant Marketing (Yes) or Real Problem (Ha Ha)?

Roger Friedman
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1
“Hangover 2” Trailer Controversy: Brilliant Marketing (Yes) or Real Problem (Ha Ha)?

Oh, gee. Suddenly, six days after Warner Bros. uploaded a new trailer for “The Hangover 2,” they make a big announcement that the trailer must be pulled from theaters! It’s too controversial. My hat is off to whoever came up with this plan. Thanks to the so called “scandal,” the trailer has been viewed millions of times on YouTube, reposted everywhere, and turned into an event.

Here it is in case you haven’t seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohF5ZO_zOYU I’m reposting it now, advertising for free! Hello, Warner Bros. (I loved the extra bit about telling distributors to “destroy every copy.” Suckers!)

If there’s something in that trailer that couldn’t have been played in a theater before “The Source Code” or any other film, you tell me. In fact, the trailer looks like a trailer for the original “Hangover” and a half dozen other juvenile, crude, teenage movies. But now it’s cause celebre. Good work, Warner Bros. Everyone fell for it. Now the audience is scouring the internet looking for film trailer, and waiting for a more palatable one, which will launch on April 15th. Get the Oscar ready for marketing and advertising.

In the current, “offensive” trailer, the boys travel to “Thigh-land” — as it is called– for a bachelor party. There’s a monkey involved, and a couple of sexual double entendres. There’s nothing here worse than Ben Stiller with white stuff on his ear from “There’s Something About Mary.” But a fake controversy? Maybe Harvey Weinstein is now head of Warner Bros. marketing. It reeks of his genius at making people curious about a film.

Justin vs. Britney? Grammy Awards Drop 31 Categories, Go UniSex

Roger Friedman
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5
Justin vs. Britney? Grammy Awards Drop 31 Categories, Go UniSex

The Grammy Awards are dropping 31 categories from their rosters, going from 109 to 78 different awards. To do this they’re going unisex– no more Best Male or Female anything in pop, rock, R&B, country, etc. For solo performances, men and women will be pitted against each other. Also dropped are the confusing group awards. Now instead of pop or rock performance duo or group etc it’s just Best Rock Performance by a Group, or Pop Performance by a Group and it can be vocal or instrumental, with two, three, eight performers. We’ll see how this all works. It does mean that Bruce Springsteen and Sheryl Crow will wind up vying for the same singing awards. same for Justin Bieber and Britney Spears. It also means that the afternoon cattle call before the televised awards on Grammy day will be about an hour shorter. Gone are Best Hawaiian, Zydeco, and Native American recordings–they’re now all in one award, Best Regional Music. I don’t know what happened to Best Polka Album. Now if only whoever pares down Album of the Year would include those by veteran artists, we’d be ok. Paul Simon’s “So Beautiful or So What” is so far above anything else this year, it would be a shame if it gets relegated to some side category. This past year that’s what happened to Eminem, whose “Recovery” was far more important than Lady Antebellum’s soft sounds– and lost anyway.

Madonna’s Kabbalah Charity Admits to Cayman Island Accounts

Roger Friedman
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5
Madonna’s Kabbalah Charity Admits to Cayman Island Accounts

Spirituality for Kids, Madonna’s Kabbalah charity, now known as Success for Kids, is a different sort of religion. Remember last time we checked their Form 990 federal tax filing, they said they were putting in special word for “whistleblowers.” Then they kicked out Phillippe van den Bossche, who ran that group and their Raising Malawi, and threw him under the bus. Now in their 2009 filing, which only became public in December 2010, there’s a hilarious notation. It’s in Part V (Five), number 4a. The question: “At any time during the calendar year,did the organization have an interest in, or a signature or other authority over, a financial account in a foreign country?” The ‘no’ box is checked off, but on a line that reads “If yes, enter the name of the country”– the words: “Cayman Islands” are written in.

I mean, really, come on. I’ve been reporting on various charities and foundations for more than a dozen years, and I’ve never seen those words before on a Form 990. Of course the Cayman Islands are the place where money is generally stashed outside the purview of the IRS and US government.

In 2009, Madonna gave SFK/Kabbalah Centre/Raising Malawi $2.5 million.

Meanwhile: Madonna’s long time publicist issued a statement yesterday that Madonna is not under investigation by the FBI or IRS, and neither is Success for Kids or Raising Malawi. But let’s read that statement. Not mentioned is a grand jury. I told you that two people have told me they’ve been subpoenaed by a grand jury in Manhattan regarding Raising Malawi and its finances. I will stick with that story. The grand jury is very interested in SFK, now called Success for Kids, and formerly known as Spirituality for Kids. Grand juries meet in secret, and they can take a long time to interview everyone involved. All these Kabbalah Centre related groups have financial issues. Someone is going to have answer the questions about where all the money raised for Raising Malawi’s unbuilt school went–it didn’t just evaporate. And Raising Malawi is a registered charity in the United States of America, not Malawi.

Charlie Sheen Finds Success Ridiculing Ex Wives, Detroit

Roger Friedman
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2
Charlie Sheen Finds Success Ridiculing Ex Wives, Detroit

Charlie Sheen finally figured out how to get an audience on his side. Find scapegoats. In Cleveland on Tuesday night he led a crowd in chanting, alternately, “F–k Detroit” and “F–k that bitch” regarding his ex wife Denise Richards, mother of his young daughters.

In Chicago, two nights ago, Charlie called ex wife Brooke Mueller a “kidnapper bitch.” Otherwise, he’s changed his tune, to wanting his job back on “Two and a Half Men.” His “Violent Torpedoes of Truth” tour has no entertainment value besides all that.

Next stop: Columbus, Ohio. And then Radio City Music Hall in New York. There are still thousands of seats available on StubHub despite his press officer putting out notes that the prices have gone up. Not much. You can still see Sheen in New York for under thirty bucks. Meantime, Sheen is trying to trademark 22 different phrases.

PS Yesterday Sheen’s actor-director brother Emilio Estevez tweeted this message: “Film is an illusion, fame is ephemeral – faith and family are what matter.”

Well put, Emilio.

Charlie Sheen Radio City Shows: Tickets Start at $24

Roger Friedman
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3
Charlie Sheen Radio City Shows: Tickets Start at $24

I told you this more than a week ago, before anyone: there are thousands of tickets going begging for Charlie Sheen’s show around the country. This was before he bombed in Detroit and did little to nothing in Chicago.

I do feel stupid: I bought a pair of regularly priced tickets for Radio City Music Hall. If I’d waited, I could have picked them up starting at $24 on StubHub.com. That reselling service currently has 1200 tickets for Friday night and 1600 for Sunday night at Radio City. They also have over 1500 for Boston, and 280 or so for Atlantic City.

The lowest prices range from $24-$30 if you’re not picky about being upfront for this debacle. The prices will continue to drop too because it’s not like the “show” is going to get better. Sheen is on stage for 70 to 90 minutes. He drops F bombs, curses out an ex wife, rants against the creators of “Two and a Half Men,” and then, incongruously, asks for his job back.

In New York, the truly interesting part will be where he goes after the show, which nightclub or hotel, and how much trouble is caused. You know the damages will be a lot more than $25!

Worse Than “Spider Man”: Elton John’s 2006 Broadway “Lestat”

Roger Friedman
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6
Worse Than “Spider Man”: Elton John’s 2006 Broadway “Lestat”

Elton John has been getting might testy lately. First he went after Billy Joel for his drinking. Then on Saturday Night Live he took a poke at his “Lion King” collaborator Julie Taymor and her “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark.”  He sang a funny parody with the line “Can you smell a bomb tonight?” to the famous “Lion King” song he wrote. 

But Elton has a short memory. Far worse and a bigger bomb than “Spider Man” was his 2006 musical, “Lestat.” Based on “Interview with the Vampire,” this staggeringly awful stinker played 33 previews and 6 actual performances before being shut down–its coffin nailed down tightly. To this day I cannot think of a show this bad. It was beyond. During the intermission of the previews performance I saw, literally everyone left. I had to buy a friend a drink to make him stay with me so I could review the show.

While “Spider Man” is at least filling seats and taking in around $1.3 mil a week–sometimes more–“Lestat” lost its total investment and was put away, never to be heard from again. The show may have flushed as much as $12 million down the drain. And like “Spider Man” there were last minute changes, and lots of nasty gossip. Unlike “Spider Man,” it did not have an overriding vision or framework that could sustain changes.

To wit: “I guess that’s why they called it a flop.”

Charlie Sheen Show Disaster: Will Live Nation Pull the Plug?

Roger Friedman
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0
Charlie Sheen Show Disaster: Will Live Nation Pull the Plug?

Defeat is an option.

Charlie Sheen’s opening night of “Torpedoes of Truth” was a disaster in Detroit. Audience members, according to several reports from news sources and audience members, starting leaving soon after show began at the Fox Theater. Snoop Dogg didn’t show. Appearances by Rob Patterson, and Simon Rex didn’t help. Neither did the fact that Sheen, as I wrote here when this was announced, has no show. He just expected to get up on stage. rant against CBS and Chuck Lorre, and accept accolades. Apparently not only the show end abruptly, but Sheen, I’m told, skipped the $500 plus after show meet and greet. Mostly people were heard demanding their money be returned.

How long before Live Nation pulls the plug? I’d say, not long, because what they don’t want is an avalanche of ticket refund requests and cancellations in every city. Bad publicity in one city is one thing, but tonight is Chicago and by Friday Sheen is supposed to play Radio City Music Hall. And once the plug is pulled, what about Sheen? A drug addict on a high three weeks ago, he is really just a broken guy who needs help ASAP. Maybe he can invoke force majeure and head to rehab. If tonight goes the same the way as Detroit, the party–which really ended about two weeks ago–is over. No tweets or word from Sheen since the debacle, but hundreds from irate fans.

Elvis Costello, Facing 57, Rocks Like It’s 1979

Roger Friedman
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0
Elvis Costello, Facing 57, Rocks Like It’s 1979

Elvis Costello and two Attractions–Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas–with one Imposter, Davey Faragher–put on the hottest, tightest rock show anyone’s seen in a long time on Friday night. To warm up, Costello jumped into the Secret Sisters show at Irving Plaza, did a song, then went to Madison Square Garden to do three numbers opening for The Strokes as a surprise. Then the piece de resistance, the big show at the Gramercy Theater, a former movie house that is really a shithouse of a rock club. It was like old times. Three performances on April Fool’s Day, just like in 1979.

The quartet kicked in right at 11pm, with a floor full of adults standing like sardines as if it were the Ritz circa 1979, and a bunch of less intrepid folk in seats angled upward in what used to be the movie theatre’s balcony. It is a strange place, where dried food is stuck to the seats. It was perfect. Costello and cohorts just whipped into “I Hope You’re Happy Now” and “Uncomplicated” from 1985 like they were slicing down trees with electric saws. “Possession”– 1979-80– with the great verses:

“Now you’re sending me your best wishes/Signed with love and vicious kisses/You lack lust, you’re so lacklustre/Is that all the strength you can muster
Possession”
and
“So I see us lying back to back/My case is closed my case is packed
I’ll get out before the violence/Or the tears or the silence
Possession”

There were almost no breaks during the two hour set, not even for applause. Three songs from “Trust” (1982) made cut for this one off show before Costello and band start a tour that brings them back to New York in late May: “Clubland,” “Luxembourg,” and “New Lace Sleeves” (“good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere”). “Radio Radio”–ever so prescient 30 years ago–was rapturous. “Watching the Detectives,” “So Like Candy,” “Beyond Belief,” “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea,” “Oliver’s Army,” “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding,” “Pump it Up”– were each refreshed and energized by the band’s attack, Steve Nieve’s punctuating keyboards embroidering melodies he knows by heart, and so on. Even the less well known songs–“American Gangster,” “Stella Hurt,” “Monkey to A Man,” “National Ransom” came alive, Special guests were the Secret Sisters, who helped Costello on “Josephine.”

In the audience: Costello’s famous wife, Diana Krall, and Mary Louise Parker, a smattering of friends and family, and some shocked young people raised on Britney, NSync, and Justin Bieber who should heed these words: “Radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools trying to anesthetize the way that we feel.”

A classic night. Send more. We need it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–y_TaofYek&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Elvis Costello Goes Back 32 Years Tonight in NYC

Roger Friedman
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0
Elvis Costello Goes Back 32 Years Tonight in NYC

Tonight, Elvis Costello goes back 32 years and plays a club show  on April Fools Day in New York. He’s supposed to be on stage at the Gramercy Park Theater at 11pm. This is very much what he did in 1979.

If you were in New York City in 1979, you’ll recall it was a great year for music. For the whole year, as an experiment, WPIX FM played New Wave hits mixed with R&B classics 24 hours a day. It was like a dream. The Clash, The Temptations, The Jam, Sam & Dave, Elvis Costello, and so on. There was no rap, no processed American cheese pop. There was no Auto Tune. Disco was very popular: “I Will Survive” was number 1. In New York, New Wave/Power Pop, which had started in the US with the Ramones, then bounced to London, was back and bigger than ever.

On April 1st, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, promoting their third US release, called “Armed Forces,” announced three shows in one night. They would start at the Lone Star Roadhouse on Fifth Avenue and 13th St., where a giant iguana was perched on the roof. Then he’d go to the Bottom Line on West 4th St. and wind up at Great Gildersleeve’s on the Bowery. All three clubs are gone now, thanks to greedy landlords and NYU.

I went to the Bottom Line show. It was spring time weather, almost warm. No rain, snow, sleet or freezing cold temperatures. What I remember most is getting a spot by the stage, and that Joe Jackson–who was really big right then with “Look Sharp,” came in and stood nearby.  The set was a frenzy of hits from Costello’s three albums and the place was packed. I had my colored vinyl copy of “Armed Forces,” also known as “Emotional Fascism.” When the show was over, I remember getting a collectible single–either “My Funny Valentine” or the EP “Live at Hollywood High.” In 1979, this was extremely exciting.

Can 32 years have really passed? Most of New York’s key clubs are gone, pop and rock have nearly disappeared, no one ever came along to succeed the New Wave generation. Music was corporatized–oh it’s too depressing! Maybe Elvis will reproduce the set list from 1979–“Riot Act,” “What’s So Funny,” “Watching the Detectives.” How about “American Squirm”? It’s going to be a great night–if I can just stay awake!

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