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New “Thor” Movie Starts Tonight With Meh Reviews Compared to Last One: Will it Matter?

Roger Friedman
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New “Thor” Movie Starts Tonight With Meh Reviews Compared to Last One: Will it Matter?

In 2017, critics fell in love with “Thor: Ragnarok.” The third “Thor” movie from Marvel got a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and went on to become a blockbuster.

Tonight, the new “Thor” installment, “Love and Thunder,” also directed by Taika Waititi, has previews before opening officially tomorrow. Reviewers are lukewarm, giving it 69% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The reviewers are largely unimpressed. They’re saying it’s a redo of the last movie, and kind of a hot mess. But will it matter? Probably not. Disney publicity has been in hyper drive for weeks. They’ve planted stories of so many different kinds in so many places, you can’t escape “revelations” from Chris Hemsworth or Natalie Portman on every subject.

There’s an overall feeling that Thor, the former Norse God, has become a witless bumbling fool. Waititi has turned him into a wise cracking Deadpool. And where is Loki?

The Rolling Stone review: “A collision of competing tones, subplots, conceptual big swings and chaos masquerading as pathos, this new addition to the Asgardian-gods-and-monsters corner of Marvel Cinematic Universe is a holy mess.”

Check back tomorrow. My guess is fans will flock to it, anyway. It’s rare that a Marvel Universe film isn’t embraced enthusiastically and seen over and over on opening weekend.

Broadway: “Almost Famous” Musical Is Almost Here from “MJ” Team This October

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: “Almost Famous” Musical Is Almost Here from “MJ” Team This October

Penny Lane is coming to Broadway.

Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous,” the musical, has a theater, a start date, and an opening night.

“Almost Famous” will move into the Bernard Jacobs Theater on West 45th St, taking over from “Company.” Previews being on Monday, October 3rd ahead of an official opening on Thursday, November 3rd.

Lia Vollack, who’s made such a success of the Michael Jackson musical, “MJ,” is producing. Her Tony winning husband, Derek McLane, is doing the sets.
Almost Famous has music and lyrics by Tony, Grammy, Emmy and Pulitzer Prize Award winner Tom Kitt, direction by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Jeremy Herrin, and choreography by Sarah O’Gleby.

The production will star Chris Wood, Tony Award nominee Anika Larsen, Solea Pfeiffer, Drew Gehling, Rob Colletti, and introducing Casey Likes. The company will also include Matt Bittner, Chad Burris, Gerard Canonico, Julia Cassandra, Brandon Contreras, Jakeim Hart, Van Hughes, Jana Djenne Jackson, Katie Ladner, Danny Lindgren, Erica Mansfield, Alisa Melendez, Emily Schultheis, Daniel Sovich, Libby Winters, and Matthew C. Yee.

“Almost Famous” is one of my favorite movies of all time. I’m crossing my fingers for a big hit on stage!

Netflix Holding Reviews of $200 Million “Gray Man” Until Very Last Minute Next Week

Roger Friedman
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Netflix Holding Reviews of $200 Million “Gray Man” Until Very Last Minute Next Week

How bad is “The Gray Man”?

Netflix is obviously concerned. They’re holding reviews until 9am on Thursday, July 14th, the same day that performances begin in preview in limited release.

“The Gray Man” — directed by “Avengers” helmers Anthony and Joe Russo — cost $200 million, the most Netflix has spent on one of its own films. Starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, the thriller has been a mystery itself from production through its upcoming release. We told you last year that reshoots and chaos put the ending budget up to at least $220 milllion or more.

Netflix will release “The Gray Man” in a few theaters officially on Friday, July 15th for one week, then turn it over to the streaming platform, where it will sink or swim without box office information. After laying off 450 people in the last few months, the company was hoping for a hit. But they’ll have to rely on “Stranger Things, Season 4,” which is an enormous success for them on the platform. If they put the last chapter of Season 4 in theaters for a week, it would sell out.

Meantime, the social media embargo for “Gray Man” lifts on July 10th at 8pm eastern after review press see the film on both coasts. We’ll get a good idea then why reviews are being curtailed until Thursday morning.

The Trailer is Here for David O. Russell’s All Star “Amsterdam” with Margot Robbie, Robert DeNiro, Taylor Swift, John David Washington

Roger Friedman
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The Trailer is Here for David O. Russell’s All Star “Amsterdam” with Margot Robbie, Robert DeNiro, Taylor Swift, John David Washington

David O. Russell’s “Amsterdam” is coming in November. It stars only Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Alessandro Nivola, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Taylor Swift, Zoe Saldaña, Rami Malek, and Robert De Niro.

Russell kept the title and plot secret for a long time, and even the cast was a mystery. Will this be his big Oscar movie? It has the feel of a screwball comedy, it’s obviously a period piece. After “Silver Linings Playbook” and all his other hits, I’m psyched for this one!

“Hollywood” Murders Feature Nobodies Nobody’s Ever Heard Of, The Underbelly of Tinsel Town

Roger Friedman
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“Hollywood” Murders Feature Nobodies Nobody’s Ever Heard Of, The Underbelly of Tinsel Town

The New York Post this morning– and other lemmings– are screaming on their front pages about grisly Hollywood murders of models.

The murders happened. But the alleged murders have nothing to do with the film or TV business. They represent the underbelly of Tinsel Town.

“Producer” David Pearce has produced nothing of any interest or value. He has no credits and no one’s heard of him. He’s just one of those guys you see at parties, lounge lizards who are not involved in the day to day business of Hollywood.

The Post is excited about an “actor” named Brandt Osborn. But he has no credits either. His real name, or his stage name, is Bobby Delfrati. He’s from Staten Island, of course. His four IMDB credits include a non speaking role on Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie.” He was arrested by LAPD on the set of “NCIS Los Angeles,” although it’s unclear what he was doing there. Maybe working the craft food table.

A third person arrested in conjunction with the alleged murder of models and so on is named Mike Ansbach. He’s a camera operator on reality shows like “Shark Tank” (that credit was 11 years ago). He’s also listed as an associate producer for films called “Nice Pants” and “Brides of Satan.” I don’t remember any of these titles on the AFI Best Films list.

All these guys are accused of murder, rape, assault, involving drugs. They’re lowlifes. They’re mot even the Billionaire Boys Club. They’re penny ante at best.

“Hollywood Monsters”? Their only connection to Hollywood is maybe illegally parking there.

Carlos Santana Is Human! Collapses On Michigan Stage from Dehydration, Taken to Hospital

Roger Friedman
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Carlos Santana Is Human! Collapses On Michigan Stage from Dehydration, Taken to Hospital

Oy vey!

Carlos Santana, whose many hits include “Oye Como Va,” is recovering from heat, exhaustion and dehydration in a Michigan hospital. He collapsed onstage at Pine Knob last night twenty minutes into his set and was rushed to the hospital.

Santana posted on Facebook:
“to one and all
thank you for your precious prayers
Cindy and I we are good just taking it easy
forgot to eat and drink water
so i dehydrated and passed out
blessings and miracles to you all”

Carlos is 74 years young, and an Energizer bunny onstage and off. The amount of energy that it takes to do what he does is incalculable. His blistering guitar work. not to mention running his huge band, requires sustenance and support.

Santana will take a few days off before returning to his tour.

Hardcore Michael Jackson Fans Win Small Victory from Estate: Disputed Songs Removed from Streaming

Roger Friedman
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Hardcore Michael Jackson Fans Win Small Victory from Estate: Disputed Songs Removed from Streaming

Back in 2010, I was the first to hear an album of songs Michael Jackson sang vocals on, written by family friend Eddie Cascio and his friend James Porte. It was a year after Michael’s death, and the idea that Michael had recorded in the Cascio’s basement in 2007 was an exciting find.

But the hardcore Michael Jackson fans never accepted the songs. Even as the Estate put three of the songs on Michael’s posthumous self named album, the fans boycotted the release. They claimed the vocals were created by a Jackson impersonator, which simply wasn’t the case. To my mind, they poisoned a perfectly good record that Michael intended for his family friends to profit from. The “MIchael” album didn’t sell well, and the fans — a small but vocal group– continue to carp about the songs.

Today the Estate removed the offending songs from all streaming platforms. I’m told this was not because they are fake in any way, but because they want to concentrate on the positive. “MJ the Michael Jackson Musical” is a hit, there will be a West End version with Tony winning star Myles Frost, and a national tour. There’s also a Jackson biopic in the works written by John Logan and set for distribution by Lions Gate. So why rock the boat?

The songs– “Breaking News,” “Keep Your Head Up,” and “Monster” — will remain on the physical CD because they’re already made and you can’t undo that. They are not fake vocals. A forensic musicologist confirmed it. I always knew it. Jackson went to the Cascio’s home in New Jersey in 2007 and stayed there for several weeks. He was happy to add his vocals, really. He loved the Cascios, something the fans don’t seem to get. He knew he was giving them a gift.

So that’s the “breaking news.” Maybe one day all of the tracks will be released as Michael wished.

Box Office: “Elvis” Is a Hit, Crosses $76 Mil Mark in 12 Days, Sends Albums Up the Charts

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “Elvis” Is a Hit, Crosses $76 Mil Mark in 12 Days, Sends Albums Up the Charts

Well, well.

There’s still an audience for Elvis Presley, and it’s a big one.

Warner Bros. is celebrating today. Over the weekend, Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” crossed the $76 million mark and could be headed to $100 million.

For the studio that has lived on DC Comics movies, this is a nice result. “Elvis” is not part of a ‘universe.’ It’s a standalone movie, a biopic with music, and a film aimed at adults. A lot of people said ahead of time that no one remembered Presley, that young people wouldn’t be interested.

But the naysayers were wrong, The movie has even sent Presley’s records up the charts. The movie soundtrack is number 8 on iTunes, and three different greatest hit collections are in the top 100.

Austin Butler is electric on screen, and the audience has responded. Tom Hanks is having his first hit in some time. Bravo!

Broadway: “Company” Gets Mid-Show Standing Ovations, “American Buffalo” A Gem

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: “Company” Gets Mid-Show Standing Ovations, “American Buffalo” A Gem

I caught up again with two Broadway shows this weekend. “Company,” which won Best Musical Revival, is set to close at the end of this month. “American Buffalo” will shutter at the end of this week.

Why “Company” is closing is beyond me. A packed performance on Saturday was not the usual matinee. It was full of young people, and lots of POC. There were two standing ovations– one for Patti Lupone when she finished “Ladies Who Lunch” and another for Katrina Lenk for “Being Alive.”

Lupone won the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Lenk has been ignored by awards groups which is weird since she won Best Actress for “The Band’s Visit” not long ago. I was there on opening night last winter and appreciated her performance. But something has changed. Lenk has grown in the role. If Tony voters had seen her this weekend, she’d have won. She’s playing the central character Bobbi, who used to be a man in previous productions. Lenk is in almost every scene. She even sits and watches Lupone destroy the theater with “Ladies.” She is dazzling.

Lupone is not the only scene stealer in “Company.” Matt Doyle, who also won a Tony, nearly walks off with the show in the patter song, “Getting Married Today.” (Sondheim fans will notice this song reappears in a different form in “Sweeney Todd” as do some other rogue elements.) Marianne Elliot’s direction, which also won a Tony, is maybe the best here with the famous trick refrigerator filling in as an actual character. Kudos also to Jennifer Simard.

Everything about this production of “Company” will be memorable for time to come. It looked pretty sold out to me. See it before it closes…

SAM ROCKWELL. He lost the Tony to British actor Simon Russell Beale from “The Lehman Trilogy.” But when you see him “American Buffalo.” as Teach, it’s a star turn. The slicked back hair, aviator sunglasses, mismatched “cool” clothes, and the swagger: Teach was a part Rockwell was born to play. Laurence Fishburne does the heavy lifting as the straight man to Teach’s insanity, sometimes a thankless job, but he pulls it off with aplomb. Darren Criss is an essential part of the triangle in David Mamet’s famed play. This might be the best production I’ve seen since the Al Pacino staging in 1983. (Yes, I was there.) Just a few days left. And PS the junk shop set is worth the price of admission!

Only Wives in the Building: Yes, That Was Anne Stringfield, aka Mrs. Steve Martin, Knitting with Tina Fey

Roger Friedman
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Only Wives in the Building: Yes, That Was Anne Stringfield, aka Mrs. Steve Martin, Knitting with Tina Fey

We told you last year that Tina Fey has always joked about her resemblance to Steve Martin’s wife, Anne Stringfield.

Last fall, Stringfield put in a cameo on “Only Murders in the Building” and we told you about it.

Well, there was again in Episode 1 of Season 2 which dropped last Tuesday on Hulu. Episodes 3 and 4 drop Tuesday (or maybe tonight, after midnight).

That’s Stringfield continuing to play a knitting minion of Fey’s Cinda, the podcaster trying to get the best of Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Cinda creepily is accompanied by women and assistants who look just like her. It’s an inside joke.

Last week’s episodes featured, among others, the legendary Shirley MacLaine, and Michael Rapaport, There are more cameos coming. Who killed Bunny? We have a ways to go yet.

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