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Box Office: Blue Valentine as “Avatar 2” Crosses $600 Mil, “Otto” Is a Grumpy Hit

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: Blue Valentine as “Avatar 2” Crosses $600 Mil, “Otto” Is a Grumpy Hit

Amazing as it seems, “Avatar 2” is about to hit another milestone. The James Cameron sequel will cross $600 million tomorrow. Either there’s nothing to see, or people are bored, or they’re going back over and over to figure the whole thing out. Anyway. This is The Way of Water. It flows.

Marc Forster’s “Man Called Otto” starring Tom Hanks is a bona fide hit. They’re up to $35 million. Who’d a thunk it? Hanks as a grumpy curmudgeon has hit a note with the audience. It’s a little like “Forrest Gump” as a senior citizen. Did I think it would strike a nerve? No. But Tom’s actress wife Rita Wilson has turned out to be a very wise producer. After all, she brought us the “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” movies. There’s another one coming soon. Plus, Rita wrote and sang the song in “Otto.” Good deal.

Another hit: Searchlight’s “The Menu” coming close to $40 million shortly. Very quietly done, under the radar, but the movie has caught on like crazy. A satisfying meal!

Sundance Review: Daisy Ridley is More than Star Wars’ Rey in Quiet, Quirky Character Study

Roger Friedman
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Sundance Review: Daisy Ridley is More than Star Wars’ Rey in Quiet, Quirky Character Study

I think we all wondered what was next for Daisy Ridley. She burst on the scene as Rey, the heroine of the final three “Star Wars” movies. Smart and beautiful, yes. But what about acting?

Now we know thanks to a quirky little character study that’s playing at the Sundance Film Festival. “Sometimes I Think About Dying” takes place in a small, unattractive town on the Oregon coast. Fran works in an office much like “The Office.” She’s like the Ellie Kemper character, only deeply depressed. Everyone around her is having fun just living. But Fran is nearly comatose. She comes and goes from her apartment and has no discernible life.

Into the office comes Robert, who’s loud, gregarious, twice divorced, a total opposite played by Canadian actor Dave Merheje. But he likes Fran right away, and tries to draw her out. Will it work? Yes we’ve seen this kind of thing before, but it’s all in the execution. Director Rachel Lambert does a lovely job fleshing out the characters, and the production benefits from stunning cinematography by Dustin Lane. (I want a print of the darkened boats in the marina– gorgeous.)

In the first 15 minutes sometimes I felt like dying, the movie is so slow to establish a pace for Fran. But hang in there– the pay offs come, and they’re worth it. If the Spirit Awards really existed, this would be a perfect film for them to celebrate. Let’s hope this fares better than “To Leslie,” this year’s slip through the crack indie film.

The End Has Come for “NCIS Los Angeles” After 14 Seasons Without Any Word About Beloved Actress Linda Hunt

Roger Friedman
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The End Has Come for “NCIS Los Angeles” After 14 Seasons Without Any Word About Beloved Actress Linda Hunt

The end has come for “NCIS Los Angeles,” one of many shows on network TV still playing and you had no idea.

It will live on in the zombie world of syndication, where most procedurals go. Will it turn into a “Law & Order” phenom? Only time will tell.

“NCIS LA” has been om for fourteen years. 14! CBS changed regimes so many times that no one remembered what was going on. The show was a boon for LL Cool J, who got to host the Grammys many times and turned the whole run into a Kennedy Center honor (also on CBS). LL Cool J’s success may have been the show’s great accomplishment.

Declining ratings were the cause of death. “NCIS LA” had long been under 5 million viewers a week. Sandwiched into the January 9th three way “NCIS” special, the show finished third to the classic edition “NCIS” and “NCIS Hawai’i.”

And what happened to Oscar winner Linda Hunt aka Hetty, the head of the NCIS in Los Angeles? She vanished from the show a couple of years ago. Any time there was a question of her return, the show’s EP just bluffed and said she expected her back, But that was never going to happen, and now — unless there’s some miracle or fudging — it’s not likely. We can only hope that Hunt, who is 77, is safe and comfortable and living her best life.

PS The most memorable on “NCIS LA” character, Owen Granger, was played by the late Miguel Ferrer, who died in 2017 from cancer. A breakout star from “Twin Peaks,” Ferrer gave “LA” edge. He and Hunt were terrific together. Ferrer was also the son of Rosemary Clooney and Jose Ferrer, two Hollywood greats, and the first cousin of George Clooney.

Miley Cyrus Sets a Spotify Record for Streaming with “Flowers,” Eyes 400K in Sales, Inspires Diane Keaton Dance Video

Roger Friedman
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Miley Cyrus Sets a Spotify Record for Streaming with “Flowers,” Eyes 400K in Sales, Inspires Diane Keaton Dance Video

Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers” is a monster hit single. And you know what’s great about it? It’s a real song. Two people wrote it (with Miley, ‘natch). It’s so catchy it’s got poeple dancing around to it on social media, like Diane Keaton. (See below.)

“Flowers” set a Spotify record this week with 40 Million streams — the biggest number ever for one track in a week. Hitdailydouble.com says total sales including streaming should be in the 400,000 ballpark for week 1. That includes 75,000 in downloads.

People are playing “Flowers” over and over. It’s one of those earwig songs. Sony/Columbia should be thrilled. The album comes March 10th, it’s called “Endless Summer Vacation” which sounds like a combination of the Beach Boys and the Go Gos. It that’s the sound of the album, and there are more songs like “Flowers,” then hallelujah, Miley’s back!

Sundance Film Festival Opens for First Time Since 2020, Without Founder Robert Redford

Roger Friedman
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Sundance Film Festival Opens for First Time Since 2020, Without Founder Robert Redford

The Sundance Film Festival re-opened on Thursday, for the first time 2020. Sundance is located in Park City, Utah, and was the brainchild of Oscar winning actor-director-producer Robert Redford. He created it in the early 80s literally from nothing.

But this year, for the first time, there was no sign of Redford on opening night. He was there in January 2020, but he hasn’t been seen much in the last couple of years. Redford experienced a crushing blow in October when his son, Jamie, tragically died of cancer. He was 58.

Redford is 86 years old, which seems unbelievable to us and probably to him. His screen presence was always the epitome of youth. One of the thrills over the years at Sundance was seeing Redford at the opening of each festival. He would appear at the Eccles Theater at the 6pm screening and give a talk, often about politics or the environment, always very liberal and right minded. They were always brilliant and set the tone for the rest of the festival.

That ship may have sailed now. In all the reports from opening night I see no mention of him. Also, on social media many people seem surprised to discover that he created Sundance at all. There should really be mandatory reading of the history of the Festival so everyone knows his massive accomplishment.

Here’s hoping Redford is at home, comfortable and warm, staying away from crowds, and reveling in the knowledge Sundance continues as a tribute to him.

I am doing the festival virtually this year, seeing films online. My first reviews will appear beginning tomorrow.

Here’s the All Star Song “Gonna Be You” Sung by Dolly Parton, Cyndi Lauper, Belinda Carlisle, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry, Written by Diane Warren

Roger Friedman
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Here’s the All Star Song “Gonna Be You” Sung by Dolly Parton, Cyndi Lauper, Belinda Carlisle, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry, Written by Diane Warren

Last night, the stars of “80 for Brady” hit the Jimmy Kimmel show, and they were hilarious. Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno killed it, and looked amazing. They’re the new Golden Girls!

Today Diane Warren’s specially written song for the movie, called “Gonna Be You.” is out. It’s sung by no less than Dolly Parton, Cyndi Lauper, Belinda Carlisle, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry.

I think this whole project is going to be a big hit, and a perfect antidote to winter blues. And PS, Warren will win the Oscar for Best Song in 2024. Can you imagine all these women appearing on the Dolby Theater stage? Wow!

And here’s Kimmel:

The Great Judy Collins Says David Crosby’s “Radio” Is Maybe His Best Song, She’d Already Recorded It

Roger Friedman
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The Great Judy Collins Says David Crosby’s “Radio” Is Maybe His Best Song, She’d Already Recorded It

Legendary singer and songwriter Judy Collins called in this morning from her sold out symphony tour about David Crosby. She’s performing with a huge orchestra, doing her famous “Wildflowers” in its entirety plus several of her hits. “It’s been an amazing experience,” she tells me. Collins comes to New York’s Town Hall on February 24th.

Judy told me she’s stunned by the death of David Crosby, whom she’s known for five decades. “It’s funny,” she said, “I’ve been trying to get in touch with him for weeks. I recorded his new song, Radio. Do you know it? I think it might be the best thing he’s ever written. I haven’t released it yet. I was hoping he’d add vocals to it.”

The idea of these two voices on a record together — think of the harmonies — is delicious. But sadly it won’t happen now.

Judy adds, “Nothing prepares you for all these losses.”

The great songbird continues her tour, but will take a break to come to the Grammys on February 5th. Her album of all original songs, “Spellbound,” is up for Best Folk Album. Plus, she never misses Clive Davis’s party, where she usually runs into her old pal, Joni Mitchell. They’ll have a lot to talk about this year.

Lisa Marie’s Death Could Be a Boon to Nearly Defunct Elvis Presley Non-Profit Foundations

Roger Friedman
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Lisa Marie’s Death Could Be a Boon to Nearly Defunct Elvis Presley Non-Profit Foundations

The website for Graceland — and all the publicity surrounding Lisa Marie Presley’s death — is suggesting donations to the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation in her memory.

Over the years there have been several Presley non profits. But as of today, there are only two and they don’t have much money on hand.

One of them is called the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation. It has just $105K in net assets and is located in Memphis. The other is called the Presley Charitable Foundation located in Woodland Hills, California. It has just $92,671 according to federal tax filing.

Very little information is available for the latter foundation. Over three years, from 2017 to 2019, it made one donation, of $10,000, to the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy fund called Walking Strong of Woodland Hills, CA.

The former foundation located in Memphis, Elvis’s adopted hometown, distributed $13,450 in 2019 to a smattering of local charities. In his heyday, Elvis used to spend more than that on sequins.

Much has been made of Lisa Marie’s perilous financial situation, and it’s true. She squandered a $100 million fortune and bad investments and advice, and Scientology. Not much is left except the Graceland business, which also supports her mother, Priscilla Presley. The busines should be booming right now thanks to morbid interest in Lisa Marie’s death and the current “Elvis” movie. A special VIP tour is being offered now throuhg the end of February for $195.

You can read my 2017 story about Lisa Marie and the two foundations by clicking here.

Manhattan Losing Second and Last Downtown Cineplex as Regal Closes Union Square

Roger Friedman
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Manhattan Losing Second and Last Downtown Cineplex as Regal Closes Union Square

First they came for the record stores, then the book stores. Now the movie theaters are going to be eliminated, and fast.

Regal Cinemas, filing for bankruptcy, is closing the Union Square Theater on East 13th St. This follows the shuttering of the Cinepolis, aka Chelsea Odeon Cineplex, over on West 23rd St. And that’s it aside from the small Village East, and Kips Bay Cinema. Anomalies now.

Regal is shuttering a bunch of theaters across the country including some in LA and Boston.

The party is over, my friends. More and more theaters will be closing this year as streaming, digital, Netflix, etc kills off the experience of seeing movies in public. New York is a desert at night aside from Times Square.

People are home. New York is the city that sleeps. This is quite different than the night life of my youth, which was so much fun and culturally important. We saw all the groups, hung out at all the clubs, met all the people we know now. We couldn’t have done that in our living rooms, and we wouldn’t have wanted to.

Live music will be the next to go, I guess. You can just stream a concert onto your phone. No parking, no babysitters, no headaches. No life.

Stephen Stills on David Crosby’s Passing: “I Was Happy to Be At Peace with Him” Grace Slick Speaks: “He Saved My Life”

Roger Friedman
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Stephen Stills on David Crosby’s Passing: “I Was Happy to Be At Peace with Him” Grace Slick Speaks: “He Saved My Life”

David Crosby’s bandmate Stephen Stills has sent this message. Again, they were friends for about 55 years.

“I read a quote in this morning’s paper attributed to compose Gustav Mahler that stopped me for a moment:

“Death has, on placid cat’s paws, entered the room.”

I shoulda known something was up.

David and I butted heads a lot over time, but they were mostly glancing blows, yet still left us numb skulls..

I was happy to be at peace with him.

He was without question a giant of a musician, and his harmonic sensibilities were nothing short of genius.

The glue that held us together as our vocals soared, like Icarus, towards the sun.

I am deeply saddened at his passing and shall miss him beyond measure.”

Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane Tweeted below. The Airplane recorded “Wooden Ships” before CSN existed.

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