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Colin Farrell-Margot Robbie Romcom “Big Beautiful Journey” Slapped By Reviewers as “Dull,” “Miscalculated,” “Deliberately Slow”

Roger Friedman
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Colin Farrell-Margot Robbie Romcom “Big Beautiful Journey” Slapped By Reviewers as “Dull,” “Miscalculated,” “Deliberately Slow”

There was a big splashy premiere in New York last night for “A Big Beautiful Journey.”

It’s a Sony Pictures release starring two high profile actors, Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell.”

Alas, the reviews are in and it’s pretty much of a disaster. The words “Dull,” “Miscalculated,” and “Deliberately Slow” come up a lot on Rotten Tomatoes, which gives it a 56% Rotten score. Even Pete Hammond on Deadline.com didn’t like it, and he tries to find the best in everything.

South Korean director Kogonada — who’s got two terrific films on his short resume including “Columbus” and “After Yang” — maybe had too big a budget or no script for Robbie and Farrell.

By the way, the supporting cast is all Big Names: Oscar and Tony winner Kevin Kline (didn’t show for the premiere, I guess he knew), Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater, Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Poor Sony. So many flops in one year. “Caught Stealing,” which I liked, was totally blown. The others including “I Know What You Did Last Summer” — all on the heap. They have one big Christmas movie, an action comedy called “Anaconda,” with Jack Black and Paul Rudd. Not promising.

Meantime, Sony Pictures Classics — the quality part of the company — has about a half dozen excellent films coming including “Blue Moon” with possible Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke in the role of his life, “A Private Life,” with Jodie Foster speaking French, and Oscar buzzed “Nuremberg” with Russell Crowe and Rami Malek.

PS Don’t know if Sony loaded the “BBBJ” premiere with influencers the way they did “Caught Stealing.” It didn’t help the latter movie much.

The Beatles Change Course on “Anthology 4,” Will Release Standalone Album as 2 CD, 3 LP Sets As Well as Deluxe Versions

Roger Friedman
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The Beatles Change Course on “Anthology 4,” Will Release Standalone Album as 2 CD, 3 LP Sets As Well as Deluxe Versions

The Beatles made a wise decision today.

They’re going to release Anthology 4 as a stand alone album in configurations of 2CDs and 3 LPs.

That’s in addition to the deluxe box sets currently for sale on Amazon and elsewhere that include remixed, remastered versions of the first 3 Anthology’s plus a book,posters, and pictures.

The new CD set will sell for 31.99, and the LPs will be $99.95.

Fans were clamoring for this because to repurchase the whole package was so expensive — $110 for the 8 CD set with extras, and $375 for a 12 LP set with all the bells and whistles.

The CD box was selling pretty well in advance of release, but the LP box not so much. The latter will be for serious collectors.

Still, I’m very excited for the whole thing including “Anthology 4,” which wraps up the 30 year project and includes Jeff Lynne’s remixes of “Free As a Bird” and “Real Love,” as well as “Now and Then.” The new mix of “Bird” is bright and shiny, with a lot more energy than the original.

The Beatles are still shy a reissue of “Rubber Soul.” There are also a lot of bootleg outtakes. But they’re also coming to the end of what’s possible in reissues, which is daunting. I do think this decision was very prudent. Kudos to Tom Greene, the new head of Apple Records, for responding to fans’ wishes.

Trump Latest Grotesque Move: A $15 Billion Lawsuit Against the NY Times, Paper Says “Will Not Be Deterred by Intimidation Tactics”

Roger Friedman
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Trump Latest Grotesque Move: A $15 Billion Lawsuit Against the NY Times, Paper Says “Will Not Be Deterred by Intimidation Tactics”

You don’t even want to say Donald Trump’s name aloud on a morning when we mourn someone as accomplished as Robert Redford.

The grotesque fascist continues to test the First Amendment and the right to free speech. He says on his social media that he’s filed a $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times. He’s also recently sued the Wall Street Journal, as well as the major television networks.

The Times’ response is below. “The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics,” they declare.

In the cases of the latter, the networks caved and settled. But it’s unlikely the Times or the Journal will do the same. Still, Trump continues to make a mockery of the Constitution, using bullying, dictatorial tactics to shut his critics.

This insane lawsuit and social media post are only part of the freeze Trump is attempting on the right to speak up. Critics of just murdered blogger and right wing activist Charlie Kirk are being denounced and losing jobs in many quarters not just in the media. Two hundred and fifty years of history and law are now threatened by one very mentally ill mad man. And it’s only getting worse.

RIP Robert Redford, Oscar Winner, Actor, Director, Philanthropist, Dedicated Environmentalist, Creator of Sundance Film Festival

Roger Friedman
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RIP Robert Redford, Oscar Winner, Actor, Director, Philanthropist, Dedicated Environmentalist, Creator of Sundance Film Festival

It’s going to be an outpouring love and tributes for Robert Redford today.

The 89 year old star was a legend, and one of the best people ever to come from Hollywood.

He was a philanthropist and activist beyond compare.

But when anyone mentions a handsome man, you hear them say, “He’s no Robert Redford.”

Redford won an Oscar for directing “Ordinary People,” in 1980. He was nominated for just 1 acting Oscar, for “The Sting,” but was nominated again for directing “Quiz Show.” Both “Ordinary People” and “Quiz Show” were also nominated for Best Picture. Redford received an Honorary Oscar in 2002 for his enormous philanthropic word.

Redford’s lack of more nominations because he made everything seem easy. But he was a passionate filmmaker and no one worked harder. His memorable movies include “All the President’s Men,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Way We Were,” “The Sting,” “The Candidate,” “The Great Gatsby,” and many, many more.

What Redford is really remembered for is starting the Sundance Film Festival in Provo, Utah, in 1980. Sundance went on to become one of the world class film festivals, especially for independent films. There’s an irony that his death comes as Sundance is getting ready to leave Park City, Utah for Boulder, Colorado. An era has ended that will never be duplicated.

Redford was already a little frail in the last few years, but the death of his son, Jamie, in October 2020 really sent him into semi-retirement.

My memories of Robert Redford go back a long way. He was the most approachable star, represented for most of his career by the great Lois Smith and then Cindi Berger. Lois was like a “Redford whisperer.” She could get the reluctant star to do promotional activities when no one else could.

I got to know Redford through Sundance, and there will be hundreds — maybe thousands — of people with stories about talking with him in Park City, seeing him pop at screenings and premieres and offering his thoughts on the film business. About 20 years ago, he and were I each maligned in a book about indie films that very people read. Still, when we talked about it, he said, “At least you’re in good company!”

Redford — who everyone called “Bob” — is a symbol for baby boomers and generations who regarded him as the epitome of a Hollywood star. His death is a blow, but what a life he lived. God bless.


Justin Bieber Out of Retirement, Headlining Coachella in April After 4 Years of No Touring, Could Help Sell Flop “Swag” Album

Roger Friedman
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Justin Bieber Out of Retirement, Headlining Coachella in April After 4 Years of No Touring, Could Help Sell Flop “Swag” Album

Justin Bieber is ready to return to music.

Bieber will headline the Coachella Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in Indio, California. This would be his first concert since canceling his tour after playing in Brazil in September 2022.

This might mean that Bieber will be announcing other dates before or after Coachella. Certainly, Coachella isn’t a place you arrive at cold after almost four years’ absence.

Motivation for touring would be money. Even though Bieber’s wife, Hailey, has made a fortune from her cosmetics company, the semi retired pop star has been drained of funds in the last couple of years.

Bieber sold his song catalog for $200 million last year. But he wound up in a legal dispute with former manager Scooter Braun that cost him around $25 million. On top of that, his latest record, “Swag,” has sold a very measly 535,000 copies — or just under — with only 14,000 in paid downloads. The rest is all from streaming. Bieber at this point is running in the red. After “Swag” didn’t really hit, he waited three months and released “Swag II”– new songs plus the original album. So far no single has taken off from the second album.

What a crazy night at Coachella Bieber is topping. It includes David Byrne, The Strokes, and new kid on the block, Sombr.

Would Justin Bieber be a concert draw if a real tour materializes? Yes, definitely, although he would benefit from having an opening act or two. His past mental health issues could be assuaged if the whole night isn’t on his shoulders.

Stay tuned…

Review: “Only Murders in the Building” Is Back to Form in Season 5, Clever as Ever and Laugh Out Loud Funny After Downer Year

Roger Friedman
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Review: “Only Murders in the Building” Is Back to Form in Season 5, Clever as Ever and Laugh Out Loud Funny After Downer Year

Season 4 of “Only Murders in the Building” was so overstuffed with guest stars and characters I really thought it was done.

Remember the original premise of the Steve Martin-Martin Short-Selena Gomez comedy was sort of inspired by Woody Allen’s “Manhattan Murder Mystery.” These three kooky neighbors in a very old, grand Manhattan apartment building were going to solve a murder, start a podcast, and inadvertent career.

The first three seasons were very clever, although each year there was some diminishing of the novel set up. Then came Season 4, with an impossible to follow plot, no real laughs, a trip to Hollywood, real life star actors playing the main trio in a movie about them, Melissa McCarthy, Richard Kind, Griffin Dunne…

Stop, stop, stop!

Well, Steve Martin and co-creator John Hoffman really learned from their mistake. Hulu dropped three episodes last without much fanfare — no press release, no buzz — and just let the cards fall. I finally caught up with the new batch over the weekend and was so pleasantly surprised.

“Only Murders” has revived itself. At the end of season 4, when Short’s Oliver and married Meryl Streep (she’s great but has overstayed her welcome), the trio discovered the Arconia’s seemingly avuncular doorman, Lester, had been killed, shot left to bleed out in the entrance fountain.

As with the previous seasons, the murdered subject lives on through the rest of the episodes in flashbacks, so we’ll be seeing a lot of Lester. Indeed, with episode 2 of season, we see a parade of past victims from the past in a little gem of an episode that tells the origin story of everyone at the Arconia.

There are stars in Season 5, but they seem more judiciously used so far instead of being cudgels. So far, the big get is two time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest as Lester’s widow. But the spotlight — in episode 3 — is a superior Bobby Cannavale as a wisecracking failed mobster who literally gets taken to the cleaners. The very welcome Tea Leoni is his mob moll wife, who’s hired the main trio to find him.

Before episode 3 is over, Beanie Feldstein is introduced as an old friend of Selena Gomez’s droll Mabel. Beanie had a bad time on Broadway in “Funny Girl,” but I’m happy to say she’s back on track. I can’t wait to see more of her.

Just as the 3rd episode ends, another trio enters the picture– Renee Zellweger, Christoph Waltz, and Logan Lerman. They’re billionaires, identified as more dangerous than mobsters, and they will make trouble.

Did I tell you that the trio makes a trip to Staten Island to the home that was used for “The Godfather”? That’s worth everything.

There have already been a lot of clues about Lester’s killer, plus another murder I don’t want to ruin. The difference this season is that so far the writing is sharp, and actually funny. It doesn’t feel like everyone’s going through motions. As long as Hoffman keeps his eye on the ball, and sticks close to the main characters, we’re in for a good mystery.

And PS, I have a feeling Keegan Michael-Key as New York’s oily Mayor Tillman, may be more involved than we know.

Welcome back, “Only Murders.” There’s nothing better than being surprised.

Hugh Jackman’s Radio City Shows This Weekend Lacking Customers at Night, Afternoon Show OK: Result of Tourism Boycott

Roger Friedman
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Hugh Jackman’s Radio City Shows This Weekend Lacking Customers at Night, Afternoon Show OK: Result of Tourism Boycott

Wolverine is having a lot of trouble selling tickets.

Hugh Jackman’s shows this weekend coming up at Radio City Music Hall are a mixed bag.

The evening shows on Friday and Saturday are mostly open, with hundreds of seats available.

The only show that’s sold well is the Saturday matinee at 2pm.

This suggests an older audience will pony up for Hugh, whose tickets are about the same or lower than a Broadway musical.

Either that, or the older people are scared of going to Rockefeller Center — the safest place in the world — when it’s dark outside.

Hugh has done a lot to have value added including appearance by America’s favorite couple, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. Maybe he’ll have some new surprises this weekend.

What’s going on here? Lack of tourists. Just as with Broadway shows, attendance is way off because Canadians won’t come here and foreigners who might be not white are afraid of being hassled, arrested, or deported. 

All thanks to Donald Trump. 

“Hacks” Co-Star Announces End of Series, Wins Emmy Award, Makes Ridiculous Speech, Doesn’t Thank Famous Mother for Nepo Celebrity

Roger Friedman
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“Hacks” Co-Star Announces End of Series, Wins Emmy Award, Makes Ridiculous Speech, Doesn’t Thank Famous Mother for Nepo Celebrity

Lady Gaga coined the term “Fame monster.” This was deeper and more encompassing than we could have guessed.

Case in point: Hannah Einbeinder. You do not know her name unless you watch HBO Max’s formerly funny series, “Hacks.”

Jean Smart — who we know and love for years — is the star, a comic named Deborah Vance who now has a fictional late night talk show.

Einbeinber plays Hannah, the whippersnapper writer Deborah hires, who’s gone from spunky to offensive in four seasons. Looking like a Raggedy Ann doll, Hannah’s story arc has taken her from sympathetic to annoying very quickly.

We never heard of Einbeinder before “Hacks.” It turns out she’s the real life daughter of the beloved Laraine Newman, original cast member of “Saturday Night Live.”

Einbeinder arrived on the Emmys red carpet yesterday and dropped the news that “Hacks” is filming its last season. I hope HBO knew she was going to do that. Smart, too. Did she know?

From there, Einbeinder went on to win her first Emmy, which should have been for seasons 1 or 2? In the just aired season, she was like chalk on a blackboard.

Her acceptance speech? “Fuck ICE! Free Palestine!” After that I’d rather not see a season 5 of “Hacks.” Enough already. Einbeinder went on to dig a deeper hole with the press backstage. She said: “I feel like it is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the State of Israel, because our religion and our culture is such an important and long standing institution that is really separate to this sort of ethno-nationalist state.”

I wish that Laraine Newman had raised a more sensible child, one who realizes that as a Jewish person she should be defending the Israeli people and their arts and culture.

It’s great to denounce Benjamin Netanyahu, who, frankly, should be in jail. But Einbeinder said not a word about the hostages who remain in tunnels after two years, or the ones who were raped or killed. They are not important to her. She thinks she’s somehow above them, they don’t matter.

That’s the fame monster talking.

PS Einbeinder didn’t even thank Newman, her mother, for giving her a nepo life in Los Angeles among the rich and famous. Nice!

Chris Pratt, Televangelist: Seen Praying to Followers on Social Media Video as Career Turns Away from Movies to…?

Roger Friedman
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Chris Pratt, Televangelist: Seen Praying to Followers on Social Media Video as Career Turns Away from Movies to…?

Is Chris Pratt transitioning?

The “Guardians of the Galaxy” star has posted a video of himself looking into the camera and praying, reciting the New Testament.

He’s also squinting like Clint Eastwood for some reason.

Pratt had his movie run with “Guardians” and “Jurassic Park.” Now he’s headed to streaming TV where his talents will no doubt find a receptive home.

Praying on X/Twitter? Preaching about turning off phones and going outside? Even Justin Bieber hasn’t done this yet. Pratt is either angling to become a televangelist, Republican candidate in California, or a job with Mel Gibson.

God help us.

Jeremy Allen White Preps Kitchen for Leaving “The Bear,” Skips Emmys, New “Springsteen Deliver Me From Nowhere” Trailer Drops

Roger Friedman
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Jeremy Allen White Preps Kitchen for Leaving “The Bear,” Skips Emmys, New “Springsteen Deliver Me From Nowhere” Trailer Drops

The Bear has been chased out of the kitchen, onto the porch, and off into the woods.

Last night’s Emmy Awards proved that the very popular watercooler show, “The Bear,” is ready to go out paws up.

Last year, “The Bear” won more Emmy Awards than any other show. But that was in September. As the year went along, to the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes, “The Bear” showed signs of wear and tear.

At last night’s Emmy Awards, “The Bear” won zip. Nothing. Season four was considered not very good, and ended with the main character, Carmie, leaving his restaurant and town for no real reason.

Star Jeremy Allen White actually skipped the Emmys, they say, to go to a friend’s wedding. That was a big “FU” to TV and the Emmys, and a sign that he’s done preparing small bits of food for great amounts of money.

He couldn’t just send a gift?

At the same time, White’s new movie, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” dropped a new trailer. If White is reliably good as the Boss, and the movie is a hit, White will be gone from TV faster than a restaurant inspector on the take.

White, you see, is born to run from the genre that made him an overnight sensation. He’s seeking glory days on a bigger screen. Is that so reasonable? It’s hard to be a saint in the city.

After “Deliver Me,” White puts the spatula down to make “The Social Network 2,” in which he plays a reporter investigating Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Really.

Something tells me Season 5 will be final, The Bear will get padlocked for not paying taxes, and the staff will wind up at Chipotle.

Here’s the new “Deliver Me” trailer.

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