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Robert Kennedy Spews Hateful Not Just Crazy Conspiracy About COVID Being Invited to Spare the Jews and Chinese

Roger Friedman
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Robert Kennedy Spews Hateful Not Just Crazy Conspiracy About COVID Being Invited to Spare the Jews and Chinese

Don’t minimize or normalize Robert Kennedy Jr for being crazy or stupid or a conspiracy theorist. Below is a video made by the NY Post at a dinner Kennedy was at here in New York this week. Earlier the Post reported that the dinner had broken into arguments and farting, in a spectacular piece of reporting.

This video was probably made without Kennedy’s knowledge by his hosts, people he should not have associated with in the the first place. But he is running a campaign lacking advice or sanity and deserves what he got. He says COVID was develped to attack Caucasians and Blacks, and spare the Jews and Chinese. He’s racist, antisemitic, and disgusting.

Of course, Kennedy is squealing like a pig now on Twitter claiming the mainstream media is twisting his remarks. The only thing twisting is his father, in his grave, because this guy is ruining RFK and JFK’s legacies.

Politics asidem Kennedy is a bad guy. His late wife was trying to tell us something when she hanged herself in their barn. Years ago I was at a fundraiser for his family charity that involved actors reading bits about “Speaking Truth to Power.” Afterwards, I found out Kennedy was having a long term affair with one of the actresses. The people who knew were appalled and didn’t know to handle it. His wife committed suicide not long after.

Too Much, Too Soon for Tom Cruise After “Top Gun Maverick”? New “Mission Impossible” Has Soft Box Office

Roger Friedman
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Too Much, Too Soon for Tom Cruise After “Top Gun Maverick”? New “Mission Impossible” Has Soft Box Office

Is there such a thing as too much Tom Cruise?

Just last year, “Top Gun Maverick” broke box office records and was credit for saving movie theaters.

Now comes “Mission Impossible 7” and the box office is…soft. The total take from Tuesday through Sunday will be $71 million, not much more than “MI 6” made in 2018 over just four days.

The expectation was for another record breaker, with Cruise doing his own stunts, and tens of millions spent on promotion with international premieres. Cruise has been everywhere, albeit saying the same thing all the time, but still, he’s been pressing the flesh like a presidential candidate.

But last night’s take was just $16.5 million, well below where a real knockout hit should be. While $71 million is nothing to sneeze at, it’s going to take international box office to make “MI 7” a smash. It also pulls into question its sequel, which is shot and ready for release next year. If the fans aren’t crazy about this one, how will they react to the follow up?

This is a surprising turn events. You’d think with the heat people would want to hit the movie theaters anyway. Plus “Dead Reckoning” has a high review score, and audience score. But maybe “Mission Impossible” is just a static audience since this is so similar to the last one.

SUNDAY———–

Box Office: Mission Impossible Lower Than 2018 Installment As Audiences Turn Off Summer Movies, Aging Stars

John Cusack Says Actress Sister Joan Worked Five Seasons on Showtime’s “Shameless,” Won an Emmy, But Left Because of Gender Pay Disparity

Roger Friedman
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John Cusack Says Actress Sister Joan Worked Five Seasons on Showtime’s “Shameless,” Won an Emmy, But Left Because of Gender Pay Disparity

Joan Cusack is a beloved actress who’s appeared in countless movies to much acclaim.

Her brother, actor John Cusack — who is properly vocal on Twitter — revealed today that Joan left the Showtime hit, “Shameless,” after five seasons because she was being paid “1/7th of the male lead” — probably William H. Macy. (John doesn’t name Joan, but it’s pretty obvious.)

 

Joan Cusack was nominated for Emmys for the first four seasons as Sheila, then won in her fifth year. And then she was gone. Sheila was written out, never to be heard from again. This was no doubt her punishment for asking for more money.

Each time Cusack was nominated, and the year she won, it was under “Guest Actor,” not main cast. So she was paid a small guest actor fee for each appearance. Unlike the current Emmy rules, from 2011-2015 Cusack was in 8 episodes for seasons 1 and 2, 12 for season 3. 8 again for season 4. just 3 in her final season. That’s crappy treatment.

On the same show, Emmy Rossum — who had been full time from the beginning — left after 9 seasons because she was paid far less than Macy, her co-star.

But this kind of treatment for TV actresses is common. Marisa Ramirez has been on CBS’s Tom Selleck show, “Blue Bloods,” for 10 years and isn’t even featured in the opening credits. The same is true for another actress on the show, Vanessa Ray, also there for a decade and not in the opening credits. Shocking. (You can only wonder what happened to Amy Carlson when her 7 year contract ended and her character was killed off screen.)

Joan Cusack should be a HUGE star. Since her Emmy, 8 years. she’s worked but not like she should have. This is part of what the SAG AFTRA strike is about. (PS Maybe one day we’ll hear Ellen Barkin’s reason for getting cut as the lead after three seasons of killing it in “Animal Kingdom.”)

Singer Rufus Wainwright Turns 50 with Montauk Blow Out Show Including Jimmy Fallon, Katie Couric, Laurie Anderson, Liev Schreiber

Regina Weinreich
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Singer Rufus Wainwright Turns 50 with Montauk Blow Out Show Including Jimmy Fallon, Katie Couric, Laurie Anderson, Liev Schreiber

On the brink of 50, legendary Rufus Wainwright’s music genre is hard to pin down. But one thing’s certain: he’s got lots of friends, family, and fans, all in full display at his birthday concert bash last night to benefit Montauk’s historic lighthouse, now turned 227 years old. Maintaining this edifice takes more than a village, and from the looks of the sloped grounds outside, everyone was pitching in.

The same could be said of the performances, featuring Tig Notaro, Katie Couric, Jimmy Fallon, Jenni Muldaur, Laurie Anderson, Chris Stills, Chaim Tannenbaum, G. E. Smith, Wainwright sisters Martha and Lucy, daughter Viva, and more. Hosting or just hanging around for the first-rate music were Liev Schreiber, Ross Bleckner, Bruce Weber and Nan Bush, Peggy Siegal, Christie Brinkley and Cynthia Nixon. Many spirits hung around too: many of Rufus’ mom Kate McGarrigle’s songs were sung, Laurie Anderson performed a song by Lou Reed about how to see in the dark.

Wainwright started off the generous three-hour concert with Irving Berlin’s “How Much Do I Love You?” Who knew that Berlin actually spent time in Montauk? Wainwright does the American songbook, folk, jazz, rock with ease. Everyone waits to hear Rufus’ cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” which he dedicated to the artist Eric Freeman who recently died and who is scheduled to have an exhibition at Guild Hall in the coming year. After a duet on Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon,” Rufus congratulated Chris Stills on his marriage to Stacy. They had just flown in from the Vineyard for the occasion. I am still not over G. E. Smith’s guitar solo on “Memory Motel.” And Amber Martin led everyone in a rousing version of Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.”

Paul Simon, who like Rufus, has a long history in Montauk, could not attend, but was remembered anyway. Back in the day, his were the chops behind a series of yearly concerts near the lighthouse at the ranch with the likes of The Eagles and James Brown. For ambiance, the East End’s landscape was extraordinary under the night sky it was “the end!” but just of Long Island. Not for nothing, the night was called, “50 is not the end.”

That came later at Ruschmeyer’s where the party, shared with his husband Jorn Weibrodt, continued with cake.

photos 2023 by Regina Weinreich for Showbiz411.com

Venice Film Festival Could Have Latest from Controversial Directors Roman Polanski and Woody Allen (Exclusive)

Roger Friedman
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Venice Film Festival Could Have Latest from Controversial Directors Roman Polanski and Woody Allen (Exclusive)

We already know Woody Allen’s excellent “Coup de Chance” is headed to the Venice Film Festival. I’ve seen it, it’s terrific, and should be a jolt to the festival.

Woody is “controversial,” of course, but whatever…let’s not get into it.

Now I’m told Venice is eyeing a new film by another controversial director, Roman Polanski.

Last year Polanski shot a new movie called “The Palace,” is Gstaad, Switzerland. The film stars legendary French actress Fanny Ardant, plus the likes of Mickey Rourke and John Cleese, of all people. Pawel Edelman is the cinematographer — he was nominated for an Oscar for Polanski’s “The Pianist,” they’ve worked together a lot. Music from Oscar winning composer Alexandre Desplat. So they’re not fooling around.

The log line: “A drama set on New Year’s Eve 1999 in a luxurious Swiss hotel where the lives of hotel workers and various guests get intertwined.”

Polanski can’t go to Italy without fear of being arrested, of course. It’s interesting that he made the film in Switzerland without any trouble. A few years ago he was detained there and couldn’t return to France or even Poland. Finally the situation was resolved but it really became an international incident.

Woody, of course, is welcome everywhere. Will he go to Venice? It’s unclear at his age if he needs all that tsuris.

“Coup de Chance” has distribution set up in other countries. I hope it gets a chance in the US. Audiences will really love it.

Actors Strike Doesn’t Include Commercials — Look for Big Names To Start Seeking Out Brand Affiliations: Brad Pitt for Buick?

Roger Friedman
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Actors Strike Doesn’t Include Commercials — Look for Big Names To Start Seeking Out Brand Affiliations: Brad Pitt for Buick?

The SAG AFTRA strike has stopped everything in Hollywood in its tracks.

Well, not everything.

Actors can still do commercials and soap operas.

We may soon see an upsurge of famous faces pitching soap, cars, vacuums, and so on. Of course there are already plenty of A listers in the game. Brian Cox is kind of non stop with McDonald’s and other things.

But the situation may get more out of control as top names go looking for brand affiliations. Brad Pitt for Buick? Meryl Streep for Tide? Anything’s possible! After all Ben Affleck and JLo are already with Dunkin Donuts.

This is because a separate SAG contract was negotiated last year for news shows, talk shows, serials (soap operas), variety, reality, game shows, sports and promotional announcements. So the morning news shows are safe, as are some talk shows, and even “Saturday Night Live.”

The problem with the latter is that while “SNL” actors could technically appear on the show, they’d have no scripts since the WGA is on strike, too. The cast members who aren’t in the WGA could improvise, but NBC would be hitting the censor button every 7 seconds.

As for soaps, the actors must adhere to their contracts. They can picket but they have to show up to work. Unfortunately, the shows are now being written by scabs. Soap fans have already noticed their favorite characters saying and doing odd things. (Not like they weren’t before, lol.) Still, if soaps didn’t make sense before, they won’t now!

And John Oliver? He could just sit quietly in front of a camera and have dramatic readings. But with the WGA strike he, like all the late night hosts, can’t write anything.

Box Office: New “Mission Impossible” Won’t Set Any Records, Set for Opening Weekend Same as Previous Installment

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: New “Mission Impossible” Won’t Set Any Records, Set for Opening Weekend Same as Previous Installment

The good news is, “Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One” is a hit.

The bad news, it’s not going to set any box office records.

“DR P1” is on track for the same opening as the last chapter, “Fallout,” in 2018. That one made $61 million in its opening weekend.

The new one will, too, although its “weekend” runs from Tuesday – Sunday with some Monday previews thrown in, too.

Hey, it could be worse, as they say.

But I’m a little surprised since “DR P1” has had enough hype for 15 movies. Plus, it’s very good, a terrific action film.

Still, “Mission Impossible” is now a nearly 30 year old series, based on a TV series from the 1960s and early 70s. That it has a core audience is very impressive. But it also shows Tom Cruise doesn’t really have to risk like and limb. The same fans are coming back regardless of his derring-do.

A week from now, the headline will be “Barbie Accomplishes Impossible Mission: Knocks Tom Cruise Off the Top.”


“Barbie” will be called “a model movie.” And “Oppenheimer Isn’t a Bomb” will follow.

I‘m here all week — try the veal!

Actors Strike Will Spell the End of New York “Oppenheimer” Premiere Next Monday with Stars and Writers on Picket Line

Roger Friedman
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Actors Strike Will Spell the End of New York “Oppenheimer” Premiere Next Monday with Stars and Writers on Picket Line

Universal Pictures is planning a big splashy premiere for Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” next Monday in New York. Everyone is looking forward to this multiple Oscar contender.

The party after the screening is set for the Museum of Natural History. Everyone loves standing under the blue whale and having canapes.

But now that may be impossible. Last night in London. the “Oppenheimer” premiere was moved up by an hour because the studio worried a strike would be called before their red carpet was finished.

If the SAG AFTRA strike is called today, then the blue whale may be very lonely on Monday night. No one’s crossing a picket line even if the movie is considered “da bomb.”

Of course, the premiere could proceed. But none of its stars will show up– no Matt Damon or Robert Downey Jr or Emily Blunt or Oppenheimer himself, Cillian Murphy. Nolan could come, I suppose, but likely won’t as it wouldn’t be a good look.

So stay tuned…

Hollywood Strike Will Upend Toronto, Telluride, Venice, New York Film Festivals with No Stars Promoting Films

Roger Friedman
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Hollywood Strike Will Upend Toronto, Telluride, Venice, New York Film Festivals with No Stars Promoting Films

I was smart to buy the airline insurance for my Air Canada ticket to Toronto on September 7th.

If the SAG strike goes through today — and it looks certain — the Toronto Film Festival may be toast. So, too, Telluride and Venice (as pointed out by Variety).

The three festivals run back to back from the end of August through mid September. But with no stars able to promote films. the festivals are all in trouble.

There’s only a two week gap between the end of the Toronto Fest — we call it TIFF — and New York’s Film Festival in Lincoln Center.

The bookers for these festivals must be losing their minds. They’ve spent all year competing for titles, trying to get North American or US “debuts” or better still, worldwide.

Venice has already set up a lot of its offerings including Luca Guadgnino’s “Challengers” and Woody Allen’s “Coup de Chance.”

Toronto has booked the World Premiere of Ladj Ly’s new “Les Indésirables,” the filmmaker’s follow up to his extraordinary “Les Miserables.”

Telluride doesn’t announce its choices until everyone who’s spent $5,000 is on the road to the remote location can’t turn back.

New York Film Festival should definitely include Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Ethan Coen’s “Drive Away Dolls.”

But none of this can happen if SAG is still on strike. It may even be problematic if SAG settles but the Writers Guild doesn’t. It won’t be possible, with hotels and flights, to just rebook all the festivals. And yet the AMPTP doesn’t care. They’re willing to squeeze the unions, thinking they’ll win. But everyone is going to lose

Box Office: “Mission Impossible” 2nd Day $8.5 Mil Brings Midweek Total to $15 Mil Gearing Up for Weekend

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Mission Impossible” 2nd Day $8.5 Mil Brings Midweek Total to $15 Mil Gearing Up for Weekend

“Mission Impossible 7” is posting a $15.5 million “opening day,” which really means $7 million from Tuesday previews, $8.5 million Wednesday.

Of course, that’s pretty good but it’s hard to say what happens next. “Dead Reckoning” should really start to take off tonight, and build over the regular weekend. So far most of its draw is at IMAX showings rather than stodgy old normal ones. But I saw it on one of those, and it’s still as exciting.

The other big news is that crowdfunded Christian film “Sounds of Freedom” is continuing to do well from its free tickets. The movie is being questioned about its subject now, human trafficking. But Angel Studios is heavily promoting its Pay it Forward campaign as audience can obtain free ducats through the website.

Meantime, “Indiana Jones” is fading a little, and “The Flash” is pretty much gone.

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