Gary Winick, a popular presence in the New York indie film scene, died on Sunday at age 49. Shaggy haired and always smiling and upbeat, Gary had been battling brain cancer. I met Gary in 2002 when he directed a terrific indie film, “Tadpole,” starring John Ritter, Sigourney Weaver, Bebe Neuwirth, and introduced Aaron Stanford and Kate Mara. “Tadpole” must be on DVD or on a service like Netflix, it’s worth seeing now. Ritter, who died tragically not long after, really loved being in it. Gary was part of InDiGent films, which was really independent and trying to do interesting things in film. But to make money he also made some studio films like “Letters to Juliet” with Amanda Seyfried, and “Charlotte’s Web.” More importantly, Gary was a producer on many very fine indie titles including the wonderful “Lonesome Jim” with Casey Affleck and Liv Tyler, and “Pieces of April” with Patricia Clarkson and Katie Holmes. He was a lovely guy and will really be missed.
REM, Red Hot Chili Peppers Stick with Warner Music
Hey–even though I criticize Warner Music all the time, I have to be fair–some artists are sticking with them to the bitter end. Over the weekend I ran into two of their biggest group’s leaders–Michael Stipe of REM and Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers. REM is getting ready for a big release in April. It’s part of their famous $80 million advance from the mid 90s when the old Warner Music was going through an upheaval. You know, I love REM. Michael Stipe, sporting a bushy beard, told me the new music stays with WMG–“that’s where our catalog is,” he reminded me. Stipe says he’s making a bunch of short videos with famous artists and filmmakers to along with all the new songs. Some of the new music was heard at James Franco’s art opening with Gus van Sant. Meanwhile, Kiedis says the Peppers are recording now, and hoping for a late summer release. WMG has two opportunities here if they have any interest in staying alive. How about a little marketing? And I do not mean groceries.
James Franco File: No “Oz” Yet, No Lindsay Photo Shoot, And No Spliffs
Where did James Franco go after the Oscars? Was he stoned during the show? Did he really participate in a sexy photo shoot with Lindsay Lohan? New York. And no, no, and no. As I wrote in an earlier post, Franco took the 10:40 flight from LA to NYC last night so he could write a paper and get back to school. He wound up missing all of the Oscar festivities. Remember, he did the c0-hosting gig as a favor to producer Bruce Cohen. So much for that. James told me he also is not doing a sexy photo book with Lindsay Lohan.
“Yeah, right,” Franco emailed me. “I’m also doing a sports book with Obama.” He was also not stoned during the show as Gawker insisted. When Franco smiles, especially into bright stage lights, he squints. He is a squinter. It’s absolutely bewildering how the media can make a jump from a movie role, as Franco’s was in “Pineapple Express,” and land it that he would actually be getting high before hosting the Oscars. This is a guy who doesn’t even drink. Unbelievable! One more thing: Franco will probably star in the Sam Raimi prequel to “The Wizard of Oz.” But I am advised that all the reports over the weekend are premature. There is no deal yet, and, my sources–not Franco–say it’s far from a done deal. “There is a lot to be worked out.”
I did think that Franco and especially Anne Hathaway did an exceptional job given its parameters. Frankly, the Academy simply refuses to give the public what it wants–a comedian. They want Billy Crystal. Indeed, I would suggest they secure Jimmy Fallon now for next year. But bringing in actors is always going to be a problem, especially people who have pre-existing schedules. They were lucky with Hathaway; she was free. Franco was busy with school and other projects. He made it work. They each deserve kudos.
Vanity Fair Oscar Party: Tarantino Quizzes Jane Fonda, Who Meets Paul Haggis
Vanity Fair’s annual splashy Oscar party got the cold shoulders last night: they had to tent in the backyard of the Sunset Towers Hotel and even that didn’t completely help keep out the frigid night. One young starlet said, “Why is it so cold in here?” and then spotted the huge open space between the two party rooms. She answered her own question: “Because we’re basically outside.” But still the stars and the hot kids came, from all the Oscar winners and nominees (only one missing: Christian Bale, who wasn’t seen again after the show) to famous artists, comedians, and media types. On the official guest list, clues were delivered like messages from a pyramid wall. For example, Anderson Cooper’s companion for the evening was someone named Benjamin Masiani. The whole guest list will follow this story but I will stick to just the people here I saw and talked to like Josh Brolin, who is the wisest and funniest man of his generation in Hollywood. “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner and his wife toured the party with Aimee Mann and husband Michael Penn. Jane Fonda and Richard Perry — Jane after two performances of her play “33 Variations”– made the rounds.Jane met director Paul Haggis, and they hit it off immediately. Then Jane came across Quentin Tarantino and they had a disagreement about a film she was sure she was in. It was “Period of Adjustment” with Tony Franciosa and Jim Hutton. “It was the only comedy Tennessee Williams ever wrote,” Jane said. Quentin got mad at me for using the IMDB. Quentin’s pal, Eli Roth, told me he’d just that minute arrived home from three months in China shooting a martial arts movie with Russell Crowe. Richard Perry, by the way, just returned from New York where the Floyd Mutrux musical he’s been supervising for the last couple of years, “Baby It’s You,” opens at the end of April and looks like a hit. Peter Fonda was there, too, with girlfriend, Parky. What else? When I first stepped into the square tented area, it was choked full of people, mostly big stars. Larry David was in one corner, Sacha Baron Cohen was in another. I missed Madonna, but the photographers told me she came just for a photo op and left so she could set up her annual party for people who will never win Oscars. Liv Tyler, looking smashing, arrived with her dad, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith-no “American Idol” fame. Kerry Washington and I talked about the upcoming Sidney Poitier tribute at Lincoln Center. And there were the stars of tomorrow, too: Anthony Mackie, Benjamin Walker, and the latter’s fiancee Mamie Gummer, the talented daughter of Meryl Streep. No one does it like Vanity Fair, particularly when they cater In N Out burgers. Very comforting on a cold night!
VANITY FAIR OSCAR PARTY
Hosted by Vanity Fair Editor Graydon Carter
February 27, 2010
Oscar Winners in Attendance
Best Director: Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech)
Best Actor: Colin Firth (The King’s Speech)
Best Actress: Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Documentary Feature: Charles Ferguson (Inside Job)
Original Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network)
Adapted Screenplay: David Seidler (The King’s Speech)
Costume Design: Colleen Atwood (Alice in Wonderland)
Best Documentary Short: Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon (Strangers No More)
Live Action Short Film: Luke Matheny
Animated Short Film: Shaun Tan (The Lost Thing)
Best Animated Feature: Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3)
Cinematography: Wally Pfister (Inception)
Best Foreign Language Film: Suzanne Bier (In A Better World)
Makeup: Rick Baker and Dave Elsey (Wolfman)
Art Direction: Robert Stromberg and Karen O’Hara (Alice in Wonderland)
Music (Original Score): Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network)
Sound Editing: Richard King (Inception)
Visual Effects: Andrew Lockley (Inception)
Special Academy Awards, Honorary Recipients
Mr. & Mrs. Francis Ford Coppola
Actor
Ms. Amy Adams & Mr. Darren Legallo
Ms. Dianna Agron
Ms. Elizabeth Banks & Mr. Max Handleman
Ms. Ellen Barkin
Mr. Jason Bateman & Ms. Amanda Anka
Ms. Kate Beckinsale
Ms. Jessica Biel
Mr. Russell Brand
Mr. Adrien Brody
Mr. Josh Brolin
Ms. Joy Bryant
Ms. Sandra Bullock
Mr. Gerard Butler
Ms. Helena Bonham Carter & Mr. Tim Burton
Mr. Sacha Baron Cohen & Ms. Isla Fisher
Mr. Chris Colfer
Ms. Joan Collins & Mr. Percy Gibson
Ms. Lily Collins
Ms. Abbie Cornish
Mr. Chace Crawford
Mr. & Mrs. Billy Crystal
Ms. Claire Danes & Mr. Hugh Dancy
Mr. Larry David
Ms. Rosario Dawson
Ms. Zooey Deschanel
Ms. Cameron Diaz
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Downey, Jr.
Ms. Vera Farmiga & Mr. Renn Hawkey
Mr. Ralph Fiennes
Mr. Colin Firth & Mrs. Livia Giuggioli
Ms. Jane Fonda & Mr. Richard Perry
Mr. Peter Fonda & Ms. Parky Devogelaere
Mr. Jamie Foxx
Mr. Brendan Fraser
Mr. Andrew Garfield
Mr. Willie Garson
Ms. Selena Gomez
Ms. Ginnifer Goodwin
Ms. Mamie Gummer
Mr. Jake Gyllenhaal
Mr. Michael C. Hall
Mr. George Hamilton
Mr. Jon Hamm & Ms. Jennifer Westfeldt
Mr. Armie Hammer & Ms. Elizabeth Chambers
Mr. Colin Hanks
Mr. Tom Hanks / Ms. Rita Wilson
Ms. Anne Hathaway
Mr. Garrett Hedlund
Mr. Chris Hemsworth & Ms. Elsa Pataky
Ms. Bryce Dallas Howard & Mr. Seth Gabel
Ms. Jennifer Hudson
Ms. Anjelica Huston
Mr. Max Irons
Mr. Hugh Jackman & Ms. Deborra-Lee Furness
Ms. Scarlett Johansson
Mr. Joe Jonas
Ms. Rashida Jones
Ms. Anna Kendrick
Mr. Jude Law
Ms. Jennifer Lawrence
Ms. Melissa Leo
Ms. Juliette Lewis
Mr. & Mrs. Delroy Lindo
Mr. & Mrs. Rob Lowe
Mr. Josh Lucas
Ms. Jane Lynch
Ms. Kelly Lynch
Mr. Anthony Mackie
Mr. Steve Martin & Ms. Anne Stringfield
Mr. & Mrs. Matthew McConaughey
Ms. Eva Mendes
Ms. Lea Michele
Mr. Matthew Morrison
Mr. Dermot Mulroney
Ms. Catherine O`Hara & Mr. Bo Welch
Ms. Anna Paquin & Mr. Stephen Moyer
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Poitier
Ms. Natalie Portman & Mr. Benjamin Millepied
Mr. Jeremy Renner
Ms. Emma Roberts
Ms. Anika Noni Rose
Mr. Eli Roth
Mr. Paul Rudd & Ms. Julie Yaeger
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Ruffalo
Ms. Zoe Saldana
Ms. Naomi Watts
Ms. Amanda Seyfried
Mr. Martin Short
Mr. Kevin Spacey
Mr. David Spade
Mr. Jason Statham
Ms. Hailee Steinfeld
Ms. Emma Stone
Ms. Hilary Swank & Mr. John Campisi
Jessica Szohr
Ms. Charlize Theron
Ms. Marisa Tomei
Ms. Liv Tyler
Ms. Gabrielle Union
Ms. Brenda Vaccaro & Mr. Guy Hector
Ms. Sofia Vergara
Mr. Eli Wallach & Ms. Anne Jackson
Ms. Kerry Washington
Ms. Mia Wasikowska
Ms. Jacki Weaver & Mr. Sean Taylor
Mr. & Mrs. Forest Whitaker
Ms. Michelle Williams
Ms. Reese Witherspoon & Mr. Jim Toth
Arts
Mr. Francesco Clemente
Mr. Paul Fortune
Mr. Larry Gagosian
Mr. Michael Govan & Ms. Katherine Ross
Mr. Nicholas Haslam
Mr. Tobias Meyer & Mr. Mark Fletcher
Ms. Ingrid Sischy & Ms. Sandy Brant
Mr. Richard Prince
Mr. & Mrs. Ed Ruscha
Mr. Francesco Vezzoli
Business
Mr. & Mrs. Jake Bloom
Mr. Jack Calhoun & Mr. Trent Norris
Mr. Robert A. Daly & Ms. Carole Bayer Sager
Mr. John Demsey
Mr. Barry Diller
Mr. & Mrs. Eric Eisner
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Freston
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Gelfond
Mr. Mike Moritz & Ms. Harriet Heyman
Mr. Vivi Nevo
Ms. Gwyneth Paltrow
Mr. Mario Palumbo & Mr. Stefan Gargiulo
Mr. Jay Penske
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Pincus
Mr. Brian Roberts
Mr. Russell Simmons
Sir Howard Stringer & Dr. Jennifer Patterson
Ms. Nadja Swarovski
Mr. & Mrs. John Sykes
Mr. & Mrs. Donald Trump
Mr. Philipp Wolff
Comedians
Mr. & Mrs. Eric Idle
Mr. Jimmy Kimmel
Mr. & Mrs. Don Rickles
Mr. David Steinberg
Ms. Sarah Silverman
Condé Nast
Mr. & Mrs. John W. Bellando
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Sauerberg, Jr.
Director
Mr. Darren Aronofsky
Ms. Kathryn Bigelow
Mr. Danny Boyle
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Bruckheimer
Mr. Joel Coen
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Corman
Mr. Alfonso Cuaron
Mr. & Mrs. Pete Docter
Mr. Richard Donner & Mrs. Lauren Shuler Donner
Mr. Charles Ferguson
Mr. Stephen Gaghan & Ms. Minnie Mortimer
Ms. Debra Granik & Mr. Jonathan Scheur
Mr. Paul Haggis
Ms. Karen Harley
Mr. Tom Hooper
Mr. & Mrs. Ron Howard
Ms. Rory Kennedy
Mr. David O`Russell
Mr. Brett Ratner
Mr. John Singleton
Mr. & Mrs. Oliver Stone
Mr. Quentin Tarantino
Fashion
Ms. Tory Burch & Mr. Lyor Cohen
Mr. Tom Ford & Mr. Richard Buckley
Ms. Diane von Furstenberg
Mr. Valentino Garavani
Mr. Giancarlo Giammetti
Mr. & Mrs. Reinaldo Herrera
Ms. Donna Karan
Mrs. Tamara Mellon
Ms. Kate Mulleavy
Ms. Laura Mulleavy
Ms. Rachel Roy
Ms. L`Wren Scott
Mr. Jason Wu
Film – Creative
Mr. Michael Arndt
Mr. Simon Beaufoy
Mr. A. Scott Berg & Mr. Kevin McCormick
Mr. Stuart Blumberg
Mr. & Mrs. Alexandre Desplat
Mr. Mitch Glazer
Mr. Akiva Goldsman
Mr. John Goldwyn
Mr. Andres Heinz
Mr. Sebastian Junger & Ms. Daniela Petrova
Ms. Fran Lebowitz
Mr. Walter Mirisch
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Silver
Mr. Aaron Sorkin
Mr. Matt Weiner
Mr. Chris Weitz & Mrs. Mercedes Martinez
Restaurant & Hoteliers
Mr. Tom Colicchio
Mr. Jeff Klein
Mr. Peter Morton
Mr. Jamie Oliver
Ms. Alice Waters
Literary
Mr. Robbie Baitz
Ms. Jackie Collins
Mr. Dave Eggers & Ms. Vendela Vida
Ms. Robyn Todd
Media
Mr. Kurt Andersen & Ms. Anne Kreamer
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Bart
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Burke
Mr. Andy Cohen
Mr. Anderson Cooper & Mr. Benjamin Maisani
Mr. & Mrs. Philippe Dauman
Ms. Arianna Huffington
Mr. Ryan Kavanaugh
Ms. Gayle King
Mr. & Mrs. Andy Lack
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Maffei
Mr. Bill Maher
Mr. Piers Morgan & Ms. Celia Walden
Mr. & Mrs. Rupert Murdoch
Ms. Sue Naegle
Mr. Lawrence O`Donnell
Ms. Desiree Rogers
Mr. Norman Pearlstine & Mrs. Jane Elizabeth Boon
Mr. Sumner Redstone
Mr. Paul Steiger & Mrs. Wendy Brandes
Music
Mr. Justin Bieber
Mr. & Mrs. Leslie Bricusse
Mr. Jon Brion
Mr. T-Bone Burnett & Ms. Callie Khouri
Ms. Suzanne de Passe
Mr. George Drakoulias
Mr. Cee Lo Green
Mr. Curtis `50 Cent` Jackson
Sir Mick Jagger
Sir Elton John & Mr. David Furnish
Ms. k.d. Lang
Madonna & Lourdes
Ms. Aimee Mann & Mr. Michael Penn
Mr. & Mrs. Trent Reznor
Mr. Bruce Roberts
Mr. Atticus Ross & Ms. Claudia Sarne
Mr. Rick Rubin
Ms. Taylor swift
Mr. Justin Timberlake
Mr. Steven Tyler
Mr. Rufus Wainwright
Model
Ms. Brooklyn Decker
Ms. Selita Ebanks
Ms. Elaine Irwin
Photographers
Mr. Jonathan Becker
Mr. Russell James
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Jean Roy
Mr. Steven Meisel
Mr. Phil Stern
Mr. Art Streiber & Ms. Glynis Costin
Mr. Bruce Weber & Nan Bush
Producer
Mr. & Mrs. J J Abrams
Ms. Darla K. Anderson & Ms. Kori Rae
Mr. Judd Apatow & Ms. Leslie Mann
Mr. Lawrence Bender
Ms. Dana Brunetti
Mr. Iain Canning
Mr. Bruce Cohen
Mr. & Mrs. Michael De Luca
Mr. Sandy Gallin
Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Goldberg
Mr. Samuel Goldwyn, Jr.
Mr. Brian Grazer & Ms. Chosan Nguyen
Mr. David Hoberman & Mr. Todd Lieberman
Mr. Dan Jinks
Mr. Mike Judge
Mr. Laurence Mark
Mr. Seth McFarlane
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Medavoy
Mr. Brian Oliver
Ms. Mary Parent & Mr. Javier Chapa
Mr. Brett Ratner
Ms. Anne Rosellini & Mr. Eric Hedbloom
Mr. & Mrs. George Schlatter
Mr. Josh Schwartz
Ms. Jennifer Todd
Ms. Suzanne Todd
Mr. Gareth Unwin & Ms. Rosie Ellis
Mr. & Mrs. Irwin Winkler
Representative – Agent
Mr. Dan Aloni
Mr. Jeffrey Berg
Mr. Jim Berkus
Ms. Boaty Boatwright
Ms. Carol Bodie
Mr. John Burnham
Mr. & Mrs. Ari Emanuel
Mr. Charles Finch
Mr. & Mrs. David Gersh
Mr. Kevin Huvane
Mr. Bryan Lourd & Mr. Bruce Bozzi
Ms. Elyse Scherz
Mr. Jeremy Zimmer
Society
Mrs. Wallis Annenberg & Kris Levine
Ms. Fabiola Beracasa
Mrs. Betsy Bloomingdale
Mrs. Barbara Davis
Ms. Vanessa Getty
Ms. Alexandra Kotur
Mr. Jean Pigozzi
Julianna Smoot
Mrs. Lynn Wyatt
Sports
Mr. Mike Fisher
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Jones
Mr. Shaun White
Ms. Serena Williams
Studio
Mr. Chris Albrecht & Ms. Montana Cody
Mr. Michael Barker
Mr. Tom Bernard
Mr. & Mrs. Jon Feltheimer
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Gianopulos
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Gilula
Mr. Brad Grey & Ms. Cassandra Huysentruyt
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Katzenberg
Ms. Donna Langley & Mr. Ramin Shamshiri
Mr. & Mrs. John Lasseter
Mr. & Mrs. Ron Meyer
Mr. Leslie Moonves & Ms. Julie Chen
Mr. Jeff Robinov
Mr. Rich Ross
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Rothman
Ms. Stacey Sher & Mr. Kerry Brown
Mr. Chip Sullivan
Mr. Tucker Tooley
Mr. Harvey Weinstein & Ms. Georgina Chapman
Mr. Jerry Weintraub & Ms. Susan Ekins
Tech
Mr. Jeff Bezos
Mr. Jack Dorsey
Mr. & Mrs. Elon Musk
Mr. Sean Parker
Mr. Christopher Poole
Mr. & Mrs. Eric Schmidt
Mr. & Mrs. Terry Semel
Mr. Peter Thiel
Bryce Dallas Howard To Direct First Feature Film
Exclusive: With all the Oscar stories and people swirling around this weekend, I did run into one of my favorite people, Bryce Dallas Howard, the talented and beautiful daughter of director Ron Howard. Coincidentally I’d seen Ron at lunch one day last week at the Grill on the Alley in Beverly Hills. But Ron–who’s prepping Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower,” didn’t tell me Bryce’s news; she did. Bryce is getting ready to direct her first feature and follow in her dad’s steps. T
he film, called “The Originals,” was written with her writing partner Dane Charbonneau. Previous reports suggested Ron might direct the film but they were inaccurate.
Bryce told me: “It’s like a “Breakfast Club” for my generation.” Bryce turns 30 next week, so she’ll be inviting some actors her age to be in the film which, of course, will be distributed by Imagine/Universal. Any actors in mind? “So far, I wrote a part for Zoe Saldana. But there are so many good choices out there.” Bryce is not giving up acting. She’s in the “Twilight” film series, but keep an eye out for her in “The Help” coming in April. The buzz is very strong.
Exclusive: Charlie Sheen’s Publicist Stan Rosenfield Fires Star
Stan Rosenfield, a beloved and honorable press agent, is quitting Charlie Sheen this morning. Rosenfield has worked for Sheen for eight years, masterfully guiding him through his divorces from both Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller. Stan –whose other clients include Robert DeNiro, George Clooney, and Kelsey Grammer–has also had to deal with Sheen’s public misbehavior over the years. But the last couple of weeks spelled the end of their relationship. Sheen has run wild, ignoring Rosenfield and booking TV and radio interviews without him. As I wrote last week. Stan–a new grandfather–was on a plane from LA to NY for Kelsey Grammer’s wedding when Sheen went ballistic and took on CBS. By the time the plane landed, “Two and a Half Men” was cancelled and Sheen was labeled an anti-Semite. Sheen can blast CBS, Chuck Lorre, and anyone else, by the way. But Hollywood knows and loves Rosenfield.
Meantime, Sheen’s public nervous breakdown continues. It hasn’t helped that plenty of people have decided to exploit him and enable him. ABC News, The Today Show, and of course, TMZ are complicit in the exploitation of this sad men with sunken eyes ranting incoherently. The Today Show interview with Jeff Rossen is particularly painful. The TMZ interview, conducted at Sheen’s fake baronial Hollywood palace, is a total embarrassment. And Sheen rants on and on about “violent love” and :”violent hate.” He’s advocating drug use, attacking AA, and creating a miserable legacy for his four small children and his adult daughter.
BTW, and this is funny: Rosenfield sent out a short statement about quitting. TMZ described as something sent just to them. It was sent to everyone. And Rosenfield didn’t quit because of the TMZ interview. He happened to text Sheen his resignation not knowing that the former TV star was doing his live interview.
Billy Crystal Oscar Cameo: “I Did Three Hours Prep for a Minute and a Half”
Billy Crystal turned up with his family at the Governors Ball following the Oscars and got star treatment. In the 1930s themed nightclub setting, Crystal was seated right among the nominees. He told me thought James Franco and Anne Hathaway were just great, and that they well represented young Hollywood. Billy, who would be a welcome host next year or any year, said his little cameo in the middle of the show still required a lot of work. “I prepped for three hours a minute and a half on screen,” Billy said “But it was worth it.” We love him. Next year, Academy, Billy please…
The Governor’s Ball should have been called “Meet the Parents”: Tom Hooper’s mum and dad, Helena Bonham Carter’s mum, the Franco and Hathaway families. Anne Hathaway’s mom, a stage musical actress, only found out she was going to be on the show at 1am on Sunday. Mitzi Verne, James Franco’s spunky grandmother, had a few hours’ more notice, by the way. David O. Russell’s dad was sales director at Simon & Schuster for Simon & Schuster for about 30 years. We reminisced about publishing; he worked with Carly Simon’s dad, the founder of the company. He told me that David’s mom didn’t speak to him for three years after “Spanking the Monkey,” Russell’s first film, about a mother -son fling…
A lot of people stayed late at the Governor’s Ball and never made it anywhere else. Warren Beatty and Annette Bening made it their only after show stop. Warren got into a heavy looking discourse with James Schamus, Annette was busy discussing the magnificent jewelry she’d borrowed with two friends. Meanwhile Natalie Portman and her family held court very low profile away and to the side of the main action. Sony’s Sir Howard Stringer commanded “The Social Network table where Justin Timberlake was fighting a cold. Later I saw JT with Jessica Biel at the Vantiy Fair party. Sir Howard nixed the idea that Sony had some how given up on “The Social Network.” “We really wanted to win,” he said wistffully. “But the Academy is older, and many of them may not have known what Facebook was.”
Sidney Lumet: Thinking of A Film Great Who Never Won an Oscar
When Steven Spielberg mentioned on last night’s Oscar show a few great movies that never won the Academy Award, I got to thinking about Sidney Lumet–especially because his one time mother in law Lena Horne was honored in a tribute during the show. Lumet received an honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in 2005.
At 86, he is now facing some health issues; Â I couldn’t help but think of his towering contribution to the film canon when Spielberg was talking. As recently as four years ago, Lumet made a shocking masterpiece called “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.” The film would have been an Oscar contender except for the fact that its distributor had no money and failed to follow through at all. It was heartbreaking. Under Lumet’s guidance, “Devil” actors Philip Seymour Hofffman, Ethan Hawke and Marisa Tomei gave Oscar calibre performances. But the whole thing remains a hidden classic.
Lumet’s better known gems are just that: “Serpico,” “Q&A,” “Prince of the City,” and “Night in Manhattan” are the blueprints for any director who wants to make a police procedural with New York verisimilitude. “Daniel,” “Running on Empty,” and “Dog Day Afternoon” have the feel of cultural landmarks. “Fail Safe” was the first and still the scariest of all doomsday movies, with Henry Fonda’s voice still ringing in your ears long after the film is over. It was Lumet who found Michael Jackson’s film presence in “The Wiz” and brought it to life for the first time.
And then there are two films I think of together: “Network” and “12 Angry Men.” In his excellent speech last night, Aaron Sorkin referenced Paddy Chayefsky’s screenplay for “Network.” Lumet turned Howard Beale and “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore” into transcenders of the gestalt. And think of it: “Network,” with all its cynicism and anger, came just as Richard Nixon was forced from office. Howard Beale, sweating in his trench coat, spoke for everyone.
And did I mention that Lumet is a great guy, one of the most beloved New York figures, and father of Jenny, much awarded screenrwiter of “Rachel Getting Married”? She told me the other night that she and director Jonathan Demme were working on a new film, and that Sidney had helped fix a problem in the second act of the script.
This is a ‘get well’ card, Sidney, and know that film lovers would be bereft without your amazing work.
Oscar Exclusive: Penelope Cruz Names Baby; James Franco in NYC
Here are a few notes from last night’s Oscars. More will be coming this afternoon. Exclusive: Penelope Cruz says that her baby son with husband Javier Bardem is named Leonardo. I don’t think it’s for DiCaprio. “He is so beautiful,” Penelope told just as the Oscar show ended; she and Javier were among those meeting and greeting after the show, in the Kodak Theater just below the stage. Penelope says she’s not going back to work any time soon…James Franco was back in NY and heading for New Haven by 7am eastern time. He took the 10:40pm flight from LA, right from the Kodak Theater. He had to get back to class…Michelle Williams did battle a cold or virus all day yesterday. “I’ve been in bed five days and all I feel like doing is sleeping,” she told me. “I did everything to make this day good.” Her bff Busy Phillips was one of her guests…Sandra Bullock, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner and Kevin Huvane hung out in the little bar by the stage, where everyone complained that there was no TV. (There used to be.)Â Ruffalo also got into a big talk with “Animal Kingdom” nominee Jacki Weaver… “Inception” director Chris Nolan got a Champagne toast from his friends and family…”Restrepo” filmmaker Sebastian Junger also hung out…so did Wendi Murdoch…Anne Hathaway sang with the deejay at the Chateau Marmont for the Weinstein Company after party…
Calling the Oscars a “Snorefest” Will Get You Punished
Michael Fleming worked at Variety as a highly regarded reporter for 20 years. He’s always covered the Academy Awards. He doesn’t much like even going to parties, but he does it. Now his new boss, Nikki Finke, has made a big mistake. And the result is that Fleming will not be at the Kodak today.
Finke managed to get press credentials for Fleming pulled by the Academy. Why? She not only printed the entire list of the planned Oscar broadcast, but she then labeled it a “snorefest.” The story got picked up on the Drudge Report, which is like skywriting it all over the world and putting up billboards in every major city.
Finke finked out on the Oscars. It makes no sense–why does she want to destroy the main event of the business she covers? Yes, she is vicious and angry all the time, makes fun of people on her blog, calls them names. That isn’t “power.” That’s just making noise. Loud, obnxious nose. It’s also not journalism. There was no “scoop” in printing the entire rundown of the show. What’s the point? But even worse was her mocking of the show. FiInke pisses all over everything, then says she’s surprised no one likes her.
The sad part is that Fleming, a most likeable guy, has been drawn into her misery. I will miss seeing him at the Kodak Theater (although he’ll go to after parties). But it’s disheartening certainly for Fleming, who’s a real journalist, to miss the most important event of the year for the industry he covers.
Meantime, Finke hasn’t had such a good week. HBO wisesly cancelled plans for a show loosely based on her. And she sent a “cease and desist” letter to Sharon Waxman at The Wrap.com. Waxman used to crib from my Fox News column all the time. Now Finke is claiming she steals from her. It’s funny, because Finke’s other people often help themselves to stories from this column and others. Her London guy, Tim Adler, is a major recycler of what he’s read in the UK papers.