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Box Office Update: Hugh Jackman’s “Reminiscence” is a $60 Mil Write Off, “Respect” Fails to Launch, “Suicide Squad” Commits to Title

Roger Friedman
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Box Office Update: Hugh Jackman’s “Reminiscence” is a $60 Mil Write Off, “Respect” Fails to Launch, “Suicide Squad” Commits to Title

Not an easy time of it for summer films unless you were The Rock.

“F9,” the latest Fast and Furious movie, is coming up on $700 million worldwide. Mindless entertainment, lots of fun, meaningless as far as cinema goes, a theme park at a time when we needed one. “F 10” is on the way, and so is “F 11.”

The only current movie anyone wants to see is “Free Guy,” from 20th Century Fox, with Ryan Reynolds. A total hit, headed for $100 million.

Otherwise, the box office has sad stories.

Hugh Jackman’s “Reminiscence” lost all its money, debuting with $2 million. It cost at least $68 million. No one knew about it, no one cared. Maybe Warner’s thinks HBO Max will save it. Maybe it will. But at the theaters, there were only empty seats.

Warner’s also watched “The Suicide Squad” commit suicide. I loved it, but the comics fans shunned it and so did the public. They’ve got $50 million in the bank on $200 mil budget. Sorry to say there will be more sequels. My hope is that “The Suicide Squad” will become a cult hit on video.

One sketchy note: Sean Penn’s “Flag Day” played in 24 theaters and made $40,750. The flag will lowered at half-mast. If “Flag Day” goes wide it’s only to lose money. I do hope to see it one day. MGM has no publicity department, they blew this one and “Respect.” James Bond is going to walk around with a sandwich board come October.

A24’s “The Green Knight” even had a streaming day this week. It’s very well reviewed, but that didn’t matter. Weekend box office was $971,825. They will close their theater run under $18 million. A beheading for all involved.

These films deserved better. But the pandemic has curtailed theater going, accounting for at least 20% lower numbers even for the iffy movies. People would have sampled them had they wanted to be in theaters. MGM’s other problem was not going to VOD, especially with “Respect.” But Jennifer Hudson is still leading the Best Actress race.

 

Partial Recall: Hugh Jackman Sci Fi Thriller “Reminiscence” DOA at Box Office with Just $700K Opening Night

Roger Friedman
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Partial Recall: Hugh Jackman Sci Fi Thriller “Reminiscence” DOA at Box Office with Just $700K Opening Night

You win some, you lose some.

With his latest film, “Reminiscence,” Hugh Jackman will learn to forget how bad the box office was opening night: just $700,000 for this Warner Bros. sci fi thriller that no one knew about it anyway.

Co-starring Rebecca Ferguson, who’s trying to do films besides “Mission Impossible,” the $68 million dollar “Westworld” type fantasy met with apathy last night in theaters.

“Reminiscence” was written and directed by Lisa Joy, who actually does the same for HBO’s “Westworld” TV series. It’s also available on HBO Max where it might find an audience. But there’s none in person.

I hate to say this but it’s not good news for Warner Bros. “The Suicide Squad” and “In the Heights” were severe disappointments. But “Dune” and “The Many Saints of Newark” are coming, and they should right the ship.

For Hugh Jackman, he’s got “The Music Man” coming to Broadway in December, all sold out forever, a Tony Award is in the offing.

Clive Davis NYC Blockbuster Show Will Start with a Gershwin First and Feature a Jennifer Hudson First, Each Featuring the NY Philharmonic

Roger Friedman
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Clive Davis NYC Blockbuster Show Will Start with a Gershwin First and Feature a Jennifer Hudson First, Each Featuring the NY Philharmonic

EXCLUSIVE George Gershwin wrote the 14 minute instrumental “Rhapsody in Blue” in 1924. Always a classical and jazz favorite, the music defines New York. Woody Allen’s movie, “Manhattan,” turned it into a hit record.

Saturday night at 5pm the New York Philharmonic- the entire orchestra, not just a piece of them– will open Clive Davis’s Welcome Back NYC mega concert by doing something never allowed before: they will bookend a medley of the most famous songs about New York with “Rhapsody.” They will open with the first two minutes and end the medley with the final, resounding section of Gershwin’s classic.

When orchestras play “Rhapsody” they agree only to play it in its entirety. This is the first time it’s been broken into pieces. Davis himself had to call the Gershwin Estate, explain the situation, and get their approval. The person who told me this last night was wide-eyed. He couldn’t believe the Gershwins agreed. But no one says no to Clive Davis.

Sandwiched in between the two “Rhapsody” pieces will be Kander & Ebb’s “New York, New York”; the “New York, New York” from “On the Town” (the Bronx is up and the Battery’s down) and Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind.” People who’ve heard the whole thing say there isn’t a dry eye in the house when this is all played.

Some other Concert gossip: Jennifer Hudson will perform something special that she’s done before maybe once, in a tribute to Aretha Franklin, with the Philharmonic. Cynthia Erivo, who also played Aretha Franklin this year in the “Genius” mini-series, will be singing a non Aretha song. There will not be “dueling Aretha’s.” As Cynthia said to me yesterday, “Certainly not dueling!” She and JHud are friends.

The five hour show will end with a Paul Simon song. I won’t tell you what it is, but it’s meaningful to Clive, who shepherded Simon & Garfunkel through their groundbreaking five year career in the Sixties. Don’t worry, Bruce Springsteen is fine with this. Always a mensch, he’s deferring to his elder.

The show runs from 5pm to 10pm and ends sharply when the clock strikes 10. It’s going to be five jam packed hours!

Exclusive: Stars Rehearsing for Clive Davis Mega Concert in Central Park, COVID Restrictions Strictly Enforced

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Stars Rehearsing for Clive Davis Mega Concert in Central Park, COVID Restrictions Strictly Enforced

I wandered into Central Park this afternoon to pick up my press badge for Clive Davis’s mega concert set for tomorrow, to welcome back New York from the pandemic.

I chose a fortuitous moment, as did a few parkgoers who clamored around the perimeter of the Sheep Meadow close enough to see the stage. We got a dose each of Elvis Costello, Barry Manilow, and Maluma rehearsing for the show. (I missed the Killers, who were next, but I had to go!)

Just the three acts I saw were special enough that the whole thing tomorrow is going to be off the hook. I did see the legendary Rickey Minor on stage leading the large band through music from these diverse artists, and getting it all right. And loud, baby!

Manilow ran through some of his best known hits. When he started “Copabana,” nearly everyone near or below the stage started dancing. It was pretty fun. They’d already been warmed up by Maluma, who I’d never seen in person before. This guy can sing. And when he started, it was like bees to honey. People around the park came out of the woodwork singing along with him. Wild.

Elvis Costello was my focus. Despite the intense humidity, I waited for him to knock out two big rockers with Minor’s band. Fans will not be disappointed, but I won’t give away his selections. The crowd will love it.

Just as I was leaving, The Killers emerged on the lazy Susan roundtable stage. What I figured out is that one act is playing and another is on deck, so the show will be nonstop hits. Bathroom breaks may be hard to come by.

The show — which could be four hours– is free and there isn’t a bad place to plop a beach towel. Plus the weather gurus insist we’ll be okay.

Who else is on the bill? Uh, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Wyclef Jean, Jennifer Hudson, Santana, Rob Thomas, Patti Smith and so on and so on.

So brace yourselves. Of course you can see it on CNN, but there’s nothing like being there. Hearing live music waft over the Park is like magic.

PS You know Clive Davis is 89 years young. He’s had more events this year than anyone– and kept us busier than any junior people in the music biz! Bravo!

Also, COVID rules are strictly enforced. Everyone there was very serious about masks, vaxxes, etc. I’ve never seen such meticulousness. Thank you to all involved!

Mike Richards Out: “Jeopardy!” Should Alternate Between Ken Jennings and LeVar Burton

Roger Friedman
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Mike Richards Out: “Jeopardy!” Should Alternate Between Ken Jennings and LeVar Burton

Mike Richards is out at Jeopardy. No one is surprised. The staff didn’t like him, neither did the viewers. After all the revelations, Sony TV should completely remove him.

So now what? More guest hosts? No thank you. That’s enough. Let Ok en Jennings and LeVar Burton a alternate two weeks at a time. The fans want them. Sony TV has to grow up now and end this saga.

What a mess. Alex Trebek and Merv Griffin would be horrified at the incompetence.

25 Years Later, Aaliyah’s Classic Album, “One in A Million,” Shoots to Number 1 Again, Finally Streaming

Roger Friedman
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25 Years Later, Aaliyah’s Classic Album, “One in A Million,” Shoots to Number 1 Again, Finally Streaming

Next Friday, August 27th, is the 25th anniversary of Aaliyah’s classic album, “One in a Million.”

Today the iconic album has shot to number 1 on iTunes as it’s re-released. This is also the the first day it’s been available on streaming services.

“One in a Million” was lost in a tug of war between Aaliyah’s estate and her manager, Barry Hankerson. But a deal’s been cut, at least for the moment, to honor the anniversary.

In a weird coincidence of the universe, R Kelly is also on trial in Chicago. When Aaliyah was a teenager he married her. She was under age but finally, famously, got away from him. She died on August 25, 2001 in an airplane crash, at age 22.

Peter Gallagher, a Real Actor, Joins “Grey’s Anatomy” In Storyline with Kate Burton, Maybe as Meredith’s Real Father (?)

Roger Friedman
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Peter Gallagher, a Real Actor, Joins “Grey’s Anatomy” In Storyline with Kate Burton, Maybe as Meredith’s Real Father (?)

“Grey’s Anatomy” is very strange, but the one bright spot was always Kate Burton. The award winning actress daughter of Richard Burton played Meredith Grey’s mother, Dr. Ellis Grey, at the beginning of the series. Her character was killed off at the end of Season 3.

Fifteen years later, Ellis Grey is coming back. Come on, it’s a soap opera! They do this all the time on daytime. Anyway, “Grey’s” has hired another ‘real actor’, Peter Gallagher, for the storyline. He’ll play Dr. Alan Hamilton, maybe Ellis’s lover in the past, maybe Meredith’s real father. Gallagher is 66, Burton is 64, Pompeo is 51. It works on TV.

Gallagher is one of those great journeyman actors who should be a bigger star than he is. He has a 1986 Tony nomination for “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.” He’s been much in demand over the decades, known for Mike Nichols’s “The Real Thing” by Tom Stoppard among other plays. His other credits include “Guys and Dolls,” “On the Twentieth Century,” a long run in “Noises Off,” and so on.

On TV, Gallagher is currently in the 7th season of “Grace and Frankie” with Jane Fonda et al. He had a great run on “Law & Order SVU” in recent years.

Meredith Grey had a father, Thatcher, played by Jeff Perry, who went on to wild success on “Scandal.” (He was married in real life to Laurie Metcalf and is father of “Young Sheldon” actress Zoe Perry.) Thatcher was not liked, left the show for a long time, then was brought back and killed off a couple of years ago on “Grey’s.” Since all of Meredith’s romantic partners are dead or gone, her parents and half-sister are gone, she has no family. So why not give her a father?

Note: if Gallagher’s Hamilton had an affair with Ellis Grey and is Meredith’s father, then Lexie, her dead half-sister by Thatcher, is no longer related to her. And Hamilton’s family would bring new characters to the 18 year old show. This is classic soap opera storytelling, you know.

Box Office: After Middling Success of “Respect,” MGM Keeps Sean Penn’s “Flag Day” to Just 24 Theater Opening

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: After Middling Success of “Respect,” MGM Keeps Sean Penn’s “Flag Day” to Just 24 Theater Opening

MGM’s lion is taking it easy waiting for the Amazon deal to close.

They’re giving Sean Penn’s “Flag Day” the smallest release of any major film this year, just 24 theaters for opening weekend.

We haven’t seen such a small opening release in quite a while. The trend during the pandemic era has been wide releases that grab as much money and attention as possible right away.

But “Flag Day” is problematic. It’s only at around 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. There are only 34 reviews so far, which isn’t a lot. MGM has really kept the film from wide reviews. I would have paid to see it tonight but it’s not playing anywhere near me!

But the studio may be gun shy. Their current release, “Respect,” isn’t going great. On Wednesday night, “Respect” made only $715K. The total since last Thursday is a little over $11 million. It remains in wide release.

So maybe the idea is to see if “Flag Day” percolates and catches on. If not, we can only hope they’ll move it to streaming fast.

New York Film Festival Pulls Out the Big Guns: “Dune,” Joaquin Phoenix, Maggie Gyllenhaal, “French Dispatch”

Roger Friedman
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New York Film Festival Pulls Out the Big Guns: “Dune,” Joaquin Phoenix, Maggie Gyllenhaal, “French Dispatch”

The New York Film Festival has pulled out the big guns for its Spotlight films. I’m most excited about Mike Mills’s “C’mon, C’mon,” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gaby Hoffman. Mills’s “20th Century Women” is one of my favorite films, as are “Thumbsucker” and “Beginners.” I can’t wait!

The festival has also added the new “Dune,” directed by Denis Villeneuve, plus Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch,” both of which I feel like I’ve already seen at this point!

Also: Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directing debut, “The Lost Daughter,” starring Jessie Buckley, Ed Harris, Dakota Johnson, Paul Mescal, Alba Rohrwacher, and (of course) Peter Sarsgaard.

Plus: Sean Baker’s “Red Rocket,” Joanna Hogg’s “The Souvenir,” Marco Bellocchio’s “Marx Can Wait,” and several more.

Solid list. Let’s hope most of it can happen in person!

 

Country Shocker: Amazon Prime Picks Up ACM Awards Exclusively for Streaming After CBS Balks at Price

Roger Friedman
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Country Shocker: Amazon Prime Picks Up ACM Awards Exclusively for Streaming After CBS Balks at Price

Well, this is different.

The ACM Academy of Country Music Awards are moving to amazon Prime for exclusive streaming.

CBS balked at the price for another showing, and Dick Clark Productions walked away thinking they’d snag another network. They didn’t.

Will country fans go for streaming in big numbers? We’ll see.

“We’re excited to continue to expand our content offerings for Prime Video customers by being the exclusive home for the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2022 and honoring the best in country music,” said Vernon Sanders, co-head of television, Amazon Studios. “Reaching this milestone with our partners at the Academy of Country Music and MRC as the first major awards show to be livestreamed speaks to our dedication and commitment to continue to both entertain and innovate for our audience.”

The 57th edition of the ACMs will air on Amazon sometime next year.

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