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Venice: Julia Roberts in Luca Guadagnino’s Underwhelming “After the Hunt” About a #MeToo Situation Gets Panned by Critics with 46%

Roger Friedman
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Venice: Julia Roberts in Luca Guadagnino’s Underwhelming “After the Hunt” About a #MeToo Situation Gets Panned by Critics with 46%

The new Julia Roberts movie didn’t go over so well today in Venice.

Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt” has been roundly panned by critics, landing it at an unfortunate 46% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Roberts stars along with Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg, Ayo Edibiri, and Chloe Sevigny in what is described as a #Metoo thriller/mystery.

But the main critics in Venice didn’t appreciate it. Neither did Variety or The Hollywood Reporter.

David Rooney said in THR: “It seems almost implausible that the gifted filmmaker who just gave us the sizzling buoyancy of Challengers and the heady intoxication of Queer could deliver something so dour and airless.”

Owen Gleiberman in Variety: “After the Hunt has been made with a fair amount of craft and intrigue, but it’s also a weirdly muddled experience — a tale that’s tense and compelling at times, but dotted with contrivances and too many vague unanswered questions”

“After the Hunt” follows Guadagnino’s “Challengers” from last year, which at least had tennis for a distraction.

This isn’t good news for Amazon/MGM which is in the hunt for Oscar level movies.

But this is what festivals and screenings are for, to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Paul McCartney Doc “Man on the Run” Goes to Amazon as Scooped Here, Premieres This Weekend at Telluride Film Festival

Roger Friedman
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Paul McCartney Doc “Man on the Run” Goes to Amazon as Scooped Here, Premieres This Weekend at Telluride Film Festival

I told you that Amazon was going to snatch the Paul McCartney doc away from Apple.

And so it did, bringing Morgan Neville’s “Man on the Run” to Telluride this weekend.

The movie will open February 25th in theaters and then head to Amazon.

This is the story of Paul post-Beatles with Wings, how he re-established his career and went on to 50 years of hits and fame.

Here’s a link to my original story.

Amazon says: “Man on the Run” is the centerpiece of a comprehensive new partnership among Paul McCartney, Universal Music Group, and Amazon that will unfold over the next year, including the release of exclusive music and merchandise drops for fans from Amazon Music, and one-of-a-kind commentary from McCartney himself. The partnership coincides with the release of his book “Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run,” which will be available on Amazon and Audible November 4, and McCartney’s Got Back tour dates across North America this fall.

Obviously there’ll be a soundtrack to go with the documentary, but in the meantime you listen to and watch “One Hand Clapping” as a good preamble.

Justin Bieber’s “Swag” Album Drops Out of iTunes Top 50 After 8 Tough Weeks, Sold Just 170 Downloads This Week

Roger Friedman
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Justin Bieber’s “Swag” Album Drops Out of iTunes Top 50 After 8 Tough Weeks, Sold Just 170 Downloads This Week

Say goodbye to “Swag.”

Justin Bieber’s latest album has been a dud, dropping out of the iTunes top 50 after just 8 weeks.

“Swag” last week sold just 170 paid downloads. Another 29,000 units came from streaming.

But today, with many new releases, “Swag” is outta here. The single, “Daisies,” lingers in the mid part of the top 100 on iTunes.

“Swag” was dropped without notice in late June. The Bieber team didn’t bother to make CDs or LPs, and had little marketing. Bieber made no promotional appearances, and of course, there was no tour.

Is Bieber washed up at 31? If he ever decides to tour again, he’ll be a greatest hit act. But even that will require marketing to get him into nostalgia realm.

Bruce Springsteen Comes to Bon Jovi’s Aid with Duet on Revived “Forever” Album That Also Includes Lainey Wilson, Other Stars

Roger Friedman
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Bruce Springsteen Comes to Bon Jovi’s Aid with Duet on Revived “Forever” Album That Also Includes Lainey Wilson, Other Stars

When Bon Jovi released its most recent album, it dropped like a rock despite very good songs.

The reason was that Jon Bon Jovi was having vocal issues, couldn’t tour, and there wasn’t much promotion for “Forever.”

Now, as promised, a new “Forever” is coming, turned into a duets album with lots of guest stars.

The biggest name on the new “Forever” is Bruce Springsteen, who sings on “Hollow Man.”

The New Jersey pals sound terrific together, with Bruce giving “Hollow Man” a new lease on life.

It’s bizarre to think, but the two guys are each grandfathers now. My, oh, my.

The new “Forever” comes out October 24th.

BON JOVI: FOREVER (LEGENDARY EDITION) – track listing

1. Red, White, and Jersey

2. Legendary (with James Bay)

3. We Made It Look Easy (with Robbie Williams)

4. Living Proof (with Jelly Roll)

5. Waves (with Jason Isbell)

6. Seeds (with Ryan Tedder)

7. Kiss The Bride (with Billy Falcon)

8. The People’s House (with The War & Treaty)

9. Walls Of Jericho (with Joe Elliott)

10. I Wrote You A Song (with Lainey Wilson)

11. Living In Paradise (with Avril Lavigne)

12. My First Guitar (with Marcus King)

13. Hollow Man (with Bruce Springsteen)

14. We Made It Look Easy / Hicimos Que Pareciera Fácil (with Carin León)

Heidi Gardner Exits “SNL” After Eight Seasons as MVP: Is Lorne Michaels Making Mistakes?

Roger Friedman
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Heidi Gardner Exits “SNL” After Eight Seasons as MVP: Is Lorne Michaels Making Mistakes?

Heidi Gardner is leaving “SNL” after 8 seasons.

Gardner has been a most valuable player on the show’s team, a strong member of the cast who can do anything.

For years she’s also been the “straight woman,” not gender or sexually, but the female lead off of whom quirky types could play their games.

Gardner reached a kind of zenith this past season in the Beavis and Butthead sketch with Mikey Day.

Now she joins a list that includes Michael Longfellow, Emil Wasim, and Devon Walker. Who’s next?

Executive producer Lorne Michaels is rarely off his game. But is he making mistakes with the 51st season? Longfellow, for example, was a strong young part of the team with a promising future.

As for Gardner, she’s been raking it in doing commercials with Dan Levy. She’s got great comedy chops and should be able to use “SNL” as leverage into prime time either on linear, cable, or streaming. She will really be missed.

So who’s next? The guillotine just keeps falling. Michaels must have found a superior group of newbies, that’s for sure.

Broadway Scandal: Investor In Many Hits Pleads Guilty, Sentenced for Stealing COVID Funds, Wife of Ex-Brooklyn Real Estate Mogul

Roger Friedman
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Broadway Scandal: Investor In Many Hits Pleads Guilty, Sentenced for Stealing COVID Funds, Wife of Ex-Brooklyn Real Estate Mogul

EXCLUSIVE: Sue Gilad aka Suzanne Gilad has her name on dozens of Broadway shows.

She’s listed as a “producer,” but she’s an investor, who’s got — or had — her claws in hits like “Moulin Rouge,” “Merrily We Roll Along.”

Now Gilad, wife of sketchy Brooklyn real estate developer Boaz Gilad, has pleaded guilty to stealing $69,000 worth of COVID funds and small business recovery grants by filing falsified records.

Sue Gilad pleaded guilty to second-degree falsifying business records and was sentenced by Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Janet McDonnell on April 28, 2025 to a conditional discharge and ordered to complete 210 hours of community service, proof of which she provided to the court today. The defendant previously reimbursed the State for the funds.

Suzanne Gilad boasts in press clippings about collecting 30 Tony Awards from 17 Broadway shows she’s produced including “Smash,” “Buena Vista Social Club,” “The Outsiders,” and “The Who’s Tommy.”

Her husband, Boaz Gilad, the founder of Brookland Capital, bragged that he was the hottest real estate developer in Brooklyn until reality caught up with him in 2019. From 2017 to 2019 he billed himself as “a pioneering real-estate developer.”

In 2019 — when it seems Brookland ceased to exist — the Real Deal reported that “Gilad developed a reputation as one of the most prolific developers in Brooklyn and a pioneer in raising money on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange…the firm had been facing serious financial difficulties since at least 2018…”

At the time, the Real Deal said, Brookland ‘owed its bondholders $42 million over the next three years and has been looking to sell off several of its properties…”

Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez said in a statement this week, “This defendant took advantage of a public health crisis by falsifying records to secure government aid that was meant to keep struggling small businesses afloat. My office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraud at the expense of programs designed to protect New Yorkers.”

Inspector General Lucy Lang said, “Abuse of scarce state resources — during the pandemic and always — is a crime against both government and New Yorkers in need. Thank you to our partners at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for sharing our commitment to public integrity and to ensuring accountability for those who undermine it.”

The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office said: “The defendant submitted falsified copies of federal business income tax returns on behalf of three companies she controlled: In Fine Company LLC, Custom Broadway LLC and All the Josh Cohens LLC. As a result of the fraudulent applications, the defendant received approximately $69,099 in grant funds, which she then transferred into her personal bank accounts.”

A cursory Google search for Boaz Gilad reveal he’s spent more time in New York courtrooms than Broadway theaters. He’s been both plaintiff and defendant in a number of real estate deals gone bad. His LinkedIn page says he’s currently the host of a podcast called “Unmask:Taking the Mystery Out of Wins and Failures.” He also runs something called Zenith Clubhouse and is a former mortgage broker. In one article, he calls himself an “adjunct professor at NYU,” although I couldn’t find any other reference to that claim.

It’s as if the Gilads thought Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom could have been successes if they listened to them.

There’s scant evidence of the Gilads ever cross-referencing their businesses, although in 2006 they collaborated on a book called “The Real Estate Millionaire: How to Invest in Rental.” Self published, it sells for $46.75 on ebay.

Sue/Suzanne produced many of her shows as a team with someone named Larry Rogowsky, whose own Linkedin page includes a certificate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. The pair’s latest project is a musical based on the much mocked movie, “Burlesque,” playing in London this summer.

Sue Gilad was certainly bold about her business dealings during the pandemic. She was featured in an article about how she as a Broadway producer survived COVID lockdown.

But now, thanks to the Brooklyn DA, we have a much better idea how she did it.

Emma Stone in the Hunt for a 3rd Oscar as “Bugonia” Opens in Venice, Plus George Clooney Getting a B+ in Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly”

Roger Friedman
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Emma Stone in the Hunt for a 3rd Oscar as “Bugonia” Opens in Venice, Plus George Clooney Getting a B+ in Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly”

The Venice Film Festival is off and running with two big stars and potential hit movies.

Emma Stone has made yet another film with Yorgos Lanthimos. Their “Poor Things” got her her second Oscar, and now “Bugonia” seems to be setting her up for another nomination, if not win.

Jesse Plemons co-stars in what is described as another loony, off the wall tale of a kind of pleasant kook who kidnaps the head of a company. He believes she’s an alien and even shaves her head before she wakes up in captivity. From the trailer it doesn’t look like she does much to dissuage him.

Stone’s first Oscar came from “La La Land.” She makes daring choices and they pay off. “Bugona” sounds like big stuff. The first 12 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are all “fresh,” giving the movie a 100% score.

George Clooney did miss all the press for “Jay Kelly,” his Netflix film with Noah Baumbach. But he did return to the Lido for the red carpet premiere and looked swell in his tux with wife Amal on his arm. He had said he was suffering from a sinus condition, but apparently someone found some Claritin in time for the show to go on.

“Jay Kelly” so far as an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, what I’d call a B plus. It’s a very American film that may not play as well in Europe. Clooney plays, basically, himself, a movie star in his twilight years trying to find meaning in his life. There are a lot of enthusiastic reviews, and the mixed ones even sound good. As a Clooney fan, I’m intrigued to say the least.

Surprise! Michael Longfellow Leaving “SNL” as Cast Purge Continues

Roger Friedman
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Surprise! Michael Longfellow Leaving “SNL” as Cast Purge Continues

The “SNL” culling of the cast continues.

Michael Longfellow is out after three seasons. This is a shock as he seemed like a promising newcomer.

Just this week, Bill Carter’s Late Nighter website said that Longfellow was testing for Weekend Update. I guess that didn’t work out.

That makes three cast members out this week. Are there more to come? Hmmmm…

Keep refreshing…

George Clooney Makes Film Premiere After Leaving Venice, Canceling All Film Promotion Including Press Conference

Roger Friedman
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George Clooney Makes Film Premiere After Leaving Venice, Canceling All Film Promotion Including Press Conference
UPDATE: He made it to the red carpet after all. Bravo!

On Tuesday, George Clooney arrived in Venice looking and sounding great. He mugged it up for the paparazzi and looked like he was having a grand time.

By yesterday, he was gone, returned to his villa in Lake Como, a four hour drive away. He canceled all participation in the promotion for his movie, “Jay Kelly,” directed by Noah Baumbach.

The official word: he has a sinus infection. Apparently, there was no cure for this at his five star hotel and there are no doctors in Venice waiting to serve celebrities.

What’s really happening? Who knows? “Jay Kelly” is getting a mixed reaction online, and that may be infecting Clooney’s enthusiasm.

Netflix has high hopes for “Jay Kelly,” and so did all of us. Telluride just announced they’re having the North American premiere this weekend. We’ll have to wait and see if George’s sinuses clear up by then.

Stay tuned…

Telluride Film Fest Launches Ethan Hawke Movies, Springsteen, Clooney, Jodie Foster in French, Plus “Hamnet” and “Hamlet”

Roger Friedman
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Telluride Film Fest Launches Ethan Hawke Movies, Springsteen, Clooney, Jodie Foster in French, Plus “Hamnet” and “Hamlet”

Overheard at my desk: “If I had enough money to go to Telluride, I’d go to Paris.”

The Telluride Film Festival is this weekend, and the movie list is pretty good. It should be considering the cost of going and staying there. They even charge for the press pass.

Anyway, they’ve got a movie by Ethan Hawke and one starring him called “Blue Moon,” which is sensational.

Telluride will also debut the Bruce Springsteen movie, “Deliver Me from Nowhere.” Plus Jodie Foster in the all French “A Private Life,” George Clooney in “Jay Kelly,” as well as “Hamnet” and “Hamlet,” two different films. There’s even a documentary made by Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux!

Looks like fun. But again, for 5,000 minimum I can order groceries this week!

“A Private Life” (d. Rebecca Zlotowski, France, 2025)
“Ask E. Jean” (d. Ivy Meeropol, U.S., 2025)
“Ballad of a Small Player” (d. Edward Berger, Hong Kong/Macau, 2025)
“Blue Moon” (d. Richard Linklater, U.S./Ireland, 2025)
“Bugonia” (d. Yorgos Lanthimos, U.K., 2025)
“Cover-Up” (d. Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus, U.S., 2025)
“Everywhere Man: The Lives and Times of Peter Asher” (d. Dayna Goldfine, Dan Geller, U.S./U.K., 2025)
“Ghost Elephants” (d. Werner Herzog, Angola/Namibia/U.S., 2025)
“H Is for Hawk” (d. Philippa Lowthorpe, U.K./U.S., 2025)
“Hamlet” (d. Aneil Karia, U.K., 2025)
“Hamnet” (d. Chloé Zhao, U.K., 2025)
“Highway 99 a Double Album” (d. Ethan Hawke, U.S., 2025)
“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (d. Mary Bronstein, U.S., 2025)
“It Was Just an Accident” (d. Jafar Panahi, Iran/France/Luxembourg, 2025)
“Jay Kelly” (d. Noah Baumbach, Italy/U.K./U.S., 2025)
“Karl” (d. Nick Hooker, U.K., 2025)
“La Grazia” (d. Paolo Sorrentino, Italy, 2025)
“Lost in the Jungle” (d. Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Juan Camilo Cruz, U.S./Colombia, 2025)
“Lumière, le Cinéma” (d. Thierry Frémaux, France, 2024)
“Man on the Run” (d. Morgan Neville, U.S., 2025)
“Nouvelle Vague” (d. Richard Linklater, France, 2025)
“Pillion” (d. Harry Lighton, U.K., 2025)
“Sentimental Value” (d. Joachim Trier, Norway/France/Denmark/Germany, 2025)
“Shifty” (d. Adam Curtis, U.K., 2025)
“Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere” (d. Scott Cooper, U.S., 2025)
“Summer Tour” (d. Mischa Richter, U.S., 2025)
“The American Revolution” (d. Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, David Schmidt, U.S., 2025)
“The Bend in the River” (d. Robb Moss, U.S., 2025)
“The Cycle of Love” (d. Orlando von Einsiedel, U.K./India/Sweden, 2025)
“The History of Sound” (d. Oliver Hermanus, U.S., 2025)
“The Mastermind” (d. Kelly Reichardt, U.S., 2025)
“The New Yorker at 100” (d. Marshall Curry, U.S., 2025)
“The Reserve” (d. Pablo Pérez Lombardini, Mexico/Qatar, 2025)
“The Secret Agent” (d. Kleber Mendonça Filho, Brazil/France/Netherlands/Germany, 2025)
“This Is Not a Drill” (d. Oren Jacoby, U.S., 2025)
“Tuner” (d. Daniel Roher, U.S./Canada, 2025)
“Urchin” (d. Harris Dickinson, U.K., 2025)

The following short films will screen in the main program:
“Last Days on Lake Trinity” (d. Charlotte Cooley, U.S., 2025)
“Sallie’s Ashes” (d. Brennan Robideaux, U.S., 2025)
“Song of My City” (d. David C. Roberts, U.S., 2025)
“All the Empty Rooms” (d. Joshua Seftel, U.S., 2025)
“All the Walls Came Down” (d. Ondi Timoner, U.S., 2025)

Guest Curator Ezra Edelman’s selection of films:
“All the President’s Men” (d. Alan J. Pakula, U.S., 1976)
“Malcolm X” (d. Spike Lee, U.S., 1992)
“Network” (d. Sidney Lumet, U.S., 1976)
“Rashomon” (d. Akira Kurosawa, Japan, 1950)
“The Insider” (d. Michael Mann, U.S., 1999)

The Backlot:
“All I Had Was Nothingness” (d. Guillaume Ribot, France, 2025)
“Carol & Joy” (d. Nathan Silver, U.S., 2025)
“Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp” (d. Carmen Chaplin, Spain/U.K./Netherlands, 2024)
“Earth to Michael” (d. Nico López-Alegría, ZZ, U.S., 2025)
“Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire” (d. Oren Rudavsky, U.S., 2024)
“King Hamlet” (d. Elvira Lind, U.S./Denmark, 2025)
“Megadoc” (d. Mike Figgis, U.S./U.K., 2025)
“Shooting” (d. Netalie Braun, Israel, 2025)
“The Golden Spurtle” (d. Constantine Costi, U.K./Australia, 2025)
“Their Eyes” (d. Nicolas Gourault, France, 2025)

Special Screenings and Festivities:
“Cave of Forgotten Dreams 3D 2025: Restoration and Recreation” (d. Werner Herzog, France/Canada/U.S./U.K./Germany, 2010)
“Learning to Fly” (d. Max Lowe, U.S./France/Switzerland/Italy/China/Hong Kong, 2025)
“The New Yorker at 100: A Gallery Exhibition”
“Steal This Story, Please!” (d. Carl Dean, Tia Lessin, U.S., 2025)
4K restoration of “The Gold Rush” (d. Charles Chaplin, U.S., 1925)
Festival Poster Signing with Daniel Clowes
Truth Be Told: Journalism and Filmmaking in the 21st Century

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