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UPDATES: RIP Robert Downey Sr., Faye Dunaway Joins Kevin Spacey in B Movie, Bill Condon to Direct Movie Version of “Guys and Dolls”

Roger Friedman
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UPDATES: RIP Robert Downey Sr., Faye Dunaway Joins Kevin Spacey in B Movie, Bill Condon to Direct Movie Version of “Guys and Dolls”

Some movie updates…

Faye Dunaway is joining what you might call a B or C movie featuring Hollywood pariah Kevin Spacey. Franco Nero, the Italian actor and director of bad movies, is behind “The Man Who Drew God.”

The role was supposed to go to Vanessa Redgrave, who is Nero’s wife, but she is too smart to get involved with this nonsense. (Vanessa’s had enough controversy in her life.) We’re always sympathetic to Faye even on her crazier days, but this is a terrible idea. I hope she gets a decent paycheck out of it.

The movie hasn’t been made, they’re selling the rights in Cannes. Will it ever be made? Will we ever see it? Who knows?

GUYS AND DOLLS was made back in 1955  by the other “Mank,” the talented one, brother Joseph. Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons, Vivian Blaine, and Stubby Kaye starred in it, and it’s a classic. Since then there have been numerous Broadway and stage productions.

So it’s time to remake it, I guess. Sony/Tri-Star owns the rights. Bill Condon, who knows what he’s doing from “Chicago” and “Nine” and the live action “Beauty and the Beast,” has tapped as director.

What happens next? Will someone ruin the screenplay by making it woke and PC? Or will they stick to the story? What’s your bet Nicely Nice goes to Kevin Hart? Who will play Nathan Detroit? Leo? Gosling as Sky Masterson? Emily Blunt as Adelaide? We’ll see how this plays out…

CONDOLENCES TO ROBERT DOWNEY JR. His beloved dad, Robert Sr., director of “Putney Swope” and a trailblazer in indie cinema, has died at age 85. He was a lovely guy and a talented filmmaker who influenced many. Condolences to his family and friends, who are many.

 

Cannes 2021, The Morning After: Adam Driver a No-Show for “Annette” Press Conference After Rocky Reception to Opening Night Film

Roger Friedman
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Cannes 2021, The Morning After: Adam Driver a No-Show for “Annette” Press Conference After Rocky Reception to Opening Night Film

Adam Driver? He’s outta here.

The star of Cannes opening night film, “Annette,” skipped town first thing this morning, French time. He didn’t stick around for the press conference that always follows the press screening of a competition film.

Driver is soon to start shooting Noah Baumbach’s new movie in Cleveland. But it’s unlikely he couldn’t have gotten a few days off to promote “Annette.”

Instead, he gave the foreign distributors of “Annette” basically one day in Cannes– for the photocall, the wave from the red carpet, the appearance at the premiere. And then, poof, he was gone.

Reviews called the movie, directed by Leos Carax, basically insane, over the top, wacky, and audacious. This was all code for “bad” and “self-indulgent,” words reviewers don’t use when they are trapped at a film festival for 10 days.

My favorite comments came from some of my colleagues who saw it yesterday and observed that “Annette” was likely not Oscar material, which was code for “are you mad?”

Only 2 of them, David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter and Jonathan Romney of Screen International, were brave enough to give “Annette” a ‘rotten’ sign on Rotten Tomatoes. Sixteen others assigned it a ‘Fresh’ standing even though their reviews indicated otherwise. Wait til “Annette” meets the public next month. Reviewers will be singing a different tune, I think.

 

Britney Spears’ Court Appointed Lawyer Latest to Quit as No One Wants to Be Associated with This Mess

Roger Friedman
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Britney Spears’ Court Appointed Lawyer Latest to Quit as No One Wants to Be Associated with This Mess

The cheese stands alone.

Now Samuel D. Ingham III, court appointed attorney for Britney Spears, has resigned from his position.

This follows yesterday’s exit of Britney’s manager, Larry Rudolph. And Bessemer Trust withdrew last week as co-conservator.

Jamie Spears is the cheese. And the cheese stands alone. Only Jodi Montgomery reportedly says Britney asked her to stay as a conservator.  And she will. But most everyone else is gone now.

In addition to Ingham, Loeb & Loeb, a huge important entertainment law firm, has also filed with the judge to exit the conservatorship.

The publicity has been so bad, and the public outcry so negative, that no one wants to be associated with this thing.

And yet, Jamie Spears still has a few cards to play. He can insist on mental fitness reports and publish the results. Is Britney capable of taking care of herself, of presiding over her own estate without being ripped off by con men?

We may get a better idea at the July 14th hearing.

 

Cannes: Early Reviews for Opening Film Starring Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard Cite Oral Sex Scene, “Bizarre,” “Joyless,” “Insubstantial,” “70 Seconds of Polite Applause”

Roger Friedman
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Cannes: Early Reviews for Opening Film Starring Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard Cite Oral Sex Scene, “Bizarre,” “Joyless,” “Insubstantial,” “70 Seconds of Polite Applause”

And so it begins.

Cannes 2021 opened with Leos Carax’s movie with music, by the cult group Sparks, called “Annette.”

Early reviews describe “Annette” as “bizarre” and “joyless.” Everyone is commenting on a scene in Adam Driver’s character performs oral sex on Marion Cotillard’s character while singing. That’s the highlight, the hook.

“Annette” will open in the US in August. Sounds like a lot of hype, something audacious, perfect to open the Cannes Film Festival. It’s getting everyone’s attention.

Scott Feinberg of the Hollywood Reporter: “Cannes opener ANNETTE is hella out-there… singing mid cunnilingus is the least of it… polite 70-second applause… onwards.” Feinberg added that there were five minutes of applause after the credits and the lights went up. That is considered a tepid response in Cannes.

David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter: ‘The insubstantial narrative can’t support the bold, operatic strokes of the storytelling…there’s also a nagging naiveté, even a silliness to the storytelling that kept bumping me out of the sluggish drama. ”

 read also: amFAR in Cannes Still Up to Their Old Tricks

Variety, on the music from Sparks:  Sondheim schmondheim. Instead of advancing the plot, they pick a groove and stick to it, like a broken record, recycling the same phrase over and over — “We love each other so much” or “You think I care what you think of me?” — until it becomes some kind of tantric mantra.”

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian writes: “Annette is a forthright and declamatory and crazy spectacle, teetering over the cliff edge of its own nervous breakdown, demanding that we feel its pain, feel its pleasure and take it seriously. ”

A Twitter account called @ianamurray wrote: “i thought adam driver doing bo burnham-style stand up and having a horrifying robot baby with marion cotillard was weird but ANNETTE just kept outdoing itself. a true shitpost of a movie. don’t know if i like it yet but i respect the audacity”

Audacity is good.

Screen International writes: “An ungainly, frustrating affair… an audacious folly that comes across as grandiose and joyless.”

I do know that Cotillard exits halfway through the movie. She may have had the right idea.;

Keep refreshing…

Louis Armstrong Died 50 Years Ago Today at Age 69, Left a Legacy of Genius and Love with His Music

Roger Friedman
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Louis Armstrong Died 50 Years Ago Today at Age 69, Left a Legacy of Genius and Love with His Music

Louis Armstrong died of a heart attack 50 years ago today. He was just 69 years old. His death was a shock because he was still at the top of his game. The jazz legend was starring in the movie version of “Hello, Dolly!” where he got to sing his smash hit, the title song, from 1964.

Armstrong wasn’t crazy about the song, but it was such a big hit in ’64 that it held off the Beatles as they made their famous invasion of the charts. The man who’d innovated, influenced and revolutionized music spent seven weeks at number 1 on Billboard with a Broadway show tune. As much as the musical it came from was a hit and raved about, Louis’s record immortalized it.

In 1987, Barry Levinson gave Louis a little unexpected revival by including “What a Wonderful World” in “Good Morning Vietnam.” The record took off like people had never heard it before, even though it was 20 years old. It had never been a hit in the US. It’s since become a classic. You can think Barry. Thank you, Barry.

When I was about 12, the great Nat Hentoff published a terrific little paperback about Armstrong. I still have it somewhere, but it seems to be not only out of print but vanished into thin air. Too bad. He’s mentioned in Hentoff’s “At the Jazz Band Ball,” which you can get on Amazon and must for a great read, also Hentoff’s “Jazz Is.” But that little paperback, I gobbled it up, and started finding Armstrong’s records.

But here’s a link to a bio of Louie, who was raised by a Jewish family. All his influences made him the towering artist he became. We wouldn’t be where we are in American culture without him.

On a personal note, my late friend DA Pennebaker revered Louis Armstrong. They might have met, but I don’t think so. If there is a heaven, the two of them have not stopped talking. Up in the Cosmos, Louie is playing with his band and Penny is trailing around making a documentary about him.

Here’s the bio link.

“A Jewish family Karnofsky, who immigrated from Lithuania to New Orleans, took pity on the 7-year-old boy and brought him to their home.
There he stayed and spent the night in this Jewish family home, where for the first time in his life he was treated with kindness and tenderness.
When he went to bed, Mrs Karnovski sang him Russian lullabies, which he sang with her.
Later he learned to sing and play several Russian and Jewish songs.
Over time, this boy became the adopted son of this family.
Mr. Karnofsky gave him money to buy his first musical instrument, as was the custom in Jewish families.
Later, when he became a professional musician and composer, he used these Jewish melodies in compositions such as St. James’s Hospital and Go Down Moses.
The little boy grew up and wrote a book about this Jewish family, who adopted him in 1907. And proudly spoke Yiddish fluently.
In memory of this family and until the end of his life, he wore the Star of David and said that in this family he learned “to live a real life and determination.”
This little boy’s name was Louis Armstrong.”

Ratings: “The Bachelorette” Wins Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Narrowly Defeats “The Neighborhood”

Roger Friedman
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Ratings: “The Bachelorette” Wins Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Narrowly Defeats “The Neighborhood”

Last night’s Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals pitted the Montreal Canadiens against the Tampa Bay Lighting.

The winner? “The Bachelorette.” ABC’s moronic soap opera scored 3.3 million viewers vs hockey’s 2.56 million on NBC. Puck you, NHL!

“The Bachelorette” is still bringing in low numbers, but now the NHL managed to go lower. CBS’s “The Neighborhood” almost tied the Chris Harrison-less dating game show with 3.02 million.

And this was even with Montreal winning the game, and thwarting Tampa Bay’s chance of winning the Stanley Cup with four games in a row! That drama was less important than which of those numbskulls Katie kissed and bestowed a rose.

Chris Harrison should have gotten tickets to the game and sat where the cameras could see him. Now that would have been a twist worthy of Bachelor Nation!

By the way, the worst show on TV this summer, ABC’s “The Celebrity Dating Game,” which follows “The Bachelorette,” had 1.54 million viewers.

Hello I Must Be Going: Britney Spears’ Longtime Manager Larry Rudolph Quits, Says Performer Wants to Retire from Music Biz

Roger Friedman
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Hello I Must Be Going: Britney Spears’ Longtime Manager Larry Rudolph Quits, Says Performer Wants to Retire from Music Biz

Larry Rudolph is out.

The manager of Britney Spears since 1995(with a four year break from 2004-2008) has resigned his post. He’s made his money, and now he’s under fire since Britney made unsubstantiated claims about him recently in court.

Rudolph says in a letter obtained by Deadline.com that he hasn’t seen Britney in two years, and that he’s recently heard she wants to retire from the music business. She should: she’s made her money, too. Let her have a life. She’s almost 40, and this a graceful way of bowing out of a business for young people. (It’s not like Britney’s going to be recording the Great American Songbook.) Let her live on the memory of her hits.

Rudolph also manages Aerosmith and Steven Tyler, a group that wants to tour and record all the time. They’re crazy, but not this kind of crazy. The manager made a wise move since Britney will have another go at at challenging her conservatorship on July 14th, where she’ll probably accuse him of more dastardly deeds.

Now Jamie Spears, Britney’s dad, is alone other than a business manager. Bessemer Trust withdrew from being appointed co-conservator.

Here’s the letter:

James P. Spears and Jodi Montgomery, as co-executors of the estate of Britney Spears:

It has been over 2 1/2 years since Britney and I last communicated, at which time she informed me she wanted to take an indefinite work hiatus. Earlier today, I became aware that Britney had been voicing her intention to officially retire.

As you know, I have never been a part of the conservatorship nor its operations, so I am not privy to many of these details. I was originally hired at Britney’s request to help manage and assist her with her career. And as her manager, I believe it is in Britney’s best interest for meto resign from her team as my professional services are no longer needed.

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation.

I will always be incredibly proud of what we accomplished over our 25 years together. I wish Britney all the health and happiness in the world, and I’ll be there for her if she ever needs me again, just as I always have been.

Larry Rudolph

Broadway: “Company” Is Coming Sooner Than Expected, Patti Lupone and Pals Start Performances November 15th

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: “Company” Is Coming Sooner Than Expected, Patti Lupone and Pals Start Performances November 15th

Now I know where I’ll be on November 15th.

The Broadway revival of “Company” starring Patti Lupone and Katrina Lenk has moved up its previews and premiere. They’ll start on the 15th and open on December 9th.

They moved the whole thing up by a month because, why not? Broadway is ready. Bruce Springsteen is having a ball, and we’ve been waiting to see this production for 2 years. Stephen Sondheim isn’t getting any younger!

“Company” was in sell-out preview performances when on Thursday, March 12, 2020, the COVID-19 crisis forced the shutdown of all Broadway theaters.

This is the fourth time the Sondheim musical has revived. The original production, which launched a lot of show biz careers, was memorialized in DA Pennebaker’s famed documentary called “Company!” The recording of the score album, which takes place over a few days. shows the cast struggling to get it right. Elaine Stritch’s performance of “Ladies Who Lunch” goes down in history and makes her a star. Rent it or stream it if you can. Then watch John Mulaney and Seth Meyers’ parody of it on “Documentary Now.”

The cast of this “Company” is pretty great, by the way. It includes Matt Doyle as Jamie, three-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald as David,  two-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber as Harry, Tony Award nominee Jennifer Simard as Sarah, Terence Archie as Larry, Grammy Award winner Etai Benson as Paul, Nikki Renée Daniels as Jenny, Claybourne Elder as Andy, Greg Hildreth as Peter, Rashidra Scott as Susan, and Bobby Conte Thornton as P.J.

Marianne Elliot directs, since it’s her West End London version everyone raves about. Then count the days until the Tony Awards.

Exclusive: “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Will Start Shooting Season 5 After A Short Break from Just-Wrapped Season

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Will Start Shooting Season 5 After A Short Break from Just-Wrapped Season

Great news. We’re getting two seasons of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” back to back.

Season 4 just wrapped after a three day shoot at Carnegie Hall. The crew went back to Queens and wrapped up loose ends. Everyone gets a vacation. Star Rachel Brosnahan may get a free trip to the South of France courtesy of amFAR, which is listing her as a celebrity they expect next Friday, July 16th at their pre-Halloween ball, er, AIDS fundraiser (as described here).

But the good news is that I’m told Amazon has already greenlighted ( or is it greenlit?) another season. Sets can stay up, actors can leave for vacay knowing they have jobs to come back to. Season 4 features the main cast as we know them plus Milo Ventimiglia and Kelly Bishop, who appeared on the Palladino’s old series, “Gilmore Girls.”

How much longer will “Mrs. Maisel” go on for? Six, seven seasons? I guess it will all depend on how these two seasons are welcomed by fans. Here’s the problem: they promoted Emmy winner Luke Kirby to a regular. Kirby plays real life comedian Lenny Bruce, who died tragically in 1966. Lenny died  from an overdose of morphine while his New York obscenity conviction was still on appeal. He received a foreclosure notice at his Los Angeles home the same day. THAT can NEVER be part of “Mrs. Maisel,” I don’t think. So they can’t go beyond a certain point.

So far, though, it’s still like 1961 in “Maisel” land. And they can go seasons 5, 6, and 7 without getting near ’66.

Whenever Amazon schedules Season 4 — next winter? — “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” will be most welcome on our TVs, computers, and phones.

PS We can’t wait to see what they shot in Washington Square Park that ended in a public melee!

 

 

RIP Beloved Hollywood Director Richard Donner, 91, Made “Superman” and “Lethal Weapon” Movies

Roger Friedman
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RIP Beloved Hollywood Director Richard Donner, 91, Made “Superman” and “Lethal Weapon” Movies

You can’t say this about a lot of people in Hollywood, but producer-director Richard Donner, known to most as Dick, was really beloved. He has died at the age of 91.

Donner hadn’t made a movie since 2006’s little gem, “16 Blocks,” but he stopped at the top of his game. His list of credits is powerhouse: the original “Superman” Movies with Chris Reeve, the “Lethal Weapon” series, “Goonies,” “The Omen,” and “Scrooged” with Bill Murray, which got terrible reviews but is a fan favorite.

Dick cut his teeth directing classic television. “Kojak,” “Cannon,” “The Wild Wild West,” he directed both “Get Smart” and “The Man from UNCLE” (the former was a parody of the latter), six episodes of “The Twilight Zone,” and dozens more. He even acted in some of the early ones.

He was born Richard Donald Schwartzberg in New York in April 1930, and was married since 1986 to producer director Lauren Shuler Donner. In October 2008, both Lauren  and Dick were honored with Stars next to each other on the Hollywood Blvd Walk of Fame. Dick was charming, loyal and, funny. He will be much missed. Condolences to his family and friends.

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