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Scarlett Johansson, Miles Teller, Adam Driver Bring Out the A Crowd and Long Lines for the Sizzling Opening of the New York Film Festival

Roger Friedman
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Scarlett Johansson, Miles Teller, Adam Driver Bring Out the A Crowd and Long Lines for the Sizzling Opening of the New York Film Festival

Nor’ Easter coming?

New Yorkers don’t care, thanks.

We turned out in droves last night for the opening of the New York Film Festival, which was sizzling. Not only for the premiere screening at Alice Tully Hall, but at all the other screenings last night of James Gray’s “Paper Tiger.”

It didn’t hurt that the movie actually has three big names — especially in New York. They are Scarlett Johansson, Miles Teller, and Adam Driver. They were all there for the premiere, the red carpet, and the Q&A on stage latter with the natty Festival programmer Dennis Lim.

James Gray is a much beloved NY filmmaker whose 1994 debut, “Little Odessa,” caused a sensation. He’s made seven more films since then including the more recent “Armageddon Time,” and this one, set in Brooklyn in the 1980s. It’s a story about a regular family — Teller, Johansson, and their teenage sons — getting sucked into the world of very dangerous Russian mobsters.

“Paper Tiger” is kind of a throwback film. It reminded me of a Sidney Lumet film, which is high praise. Gray felt Alfred Hitchcock’s presence, he said later. But it really feels like something from the days of Playhouse 90, in its intimate portrayal of good people suddenly having their “house” fall in on them. Even Arthur Miller would be impressed.

Scarlett was the only one of the trio to make it to Tavern on the Green for the annual swanky after party. And why not? Her performance is sensational, and she should take bows. She had just flown in from London shooting “The Batman 2,” which she told is “hard work.” We also talked about husband Colin Jost’s Staten Island Ferry comedy club with Pete Davidson.

She said, “I think they should take it all over the place, like to Miami, where they can put on all kinds of things like parties and art exhibits. It’s going to find its purpose.” She unfortunately missed last week’s free comedy show on the ferry because she was stuck in London.

As for Jost and “SNL,” which returns tonight, I told her how impressive it was to see her husband doing more acting on the show playing a hilarious blowhard Pete Hegseth. “He’s loving it,” she said. “He’s surprised by the reaction.”

Some of the other luminaries we ran into included the legendary actress Lois Smith, now 95 and working like crazy! She’s got a new indie movie set for next spring! What a thrill!

A great opening night for the New York Film Festival — buzzier than it’s been in a long time.

Nobody Wanted This: “Hot Rabbi” Adam Brody” Puts Show And Career on Ice with “Genocide” Quote After Saying Nothing About October 7th

Roger Friedman
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Nobody Wanted This: “Hot Rabbi” Adam Brody” Puts Show And Career on Ice with “Genocide” Quote After Saying Nothing About October 7th

Adam Brody plays the “hot rabbi” on Netflix’s “Nobody Wanted This.”

The rabbi he plays falls in love with a shiksa played by “Veronica Mars” star Kristen Bell.

The romantic comedy revived each of their careers, especially Brody’s. He was best known for playing Seth Cohen on “The O.C.” a million years ago.

But now, thanks to Brody’s quote in GQ, the party is over. As “Nobody Wants This” gets ready for its third season premiere on October 22nd, Brody has squandered all of the show’s good will. A lot of that good will was based on Brody being Jewish, fully, even bar mitvahed.

When asked about the Gaza situation in GQ, Brody responded that Israel was committing genocide. Mind you, he has never said a word about what happened on October 7th, when it happened or now.

He said, “Put me down as thinking it’s a genocide. Put me down as wanting a free Palestine. It’s awful that it’s taken so much death and misery, but it does feel like it’s reaching a breaking point that it should have a while ago. I’m hopeful that another administration can really do some good and correct some of these policies that are helping that situation be as awful as it is.”

What Brody and Netflix should fear right now is that their audience, by and large, will turn off further seasons of “Nobody Wanted This.”

The word is spreading quickly. The audience for that show is suburban American Jews, not haters like Hannah Einbeinder or Wallace Shawn (who praised the Nazis yesterday in his own interview). Suburban American Jews are dealing with acts of violence at their synagogues, and heavy security. There was just a shooting in Toronto. I don’t think they will find this amusing or politically accurate.

The actors who drop quotes blithely don’t seem to recognize that “genocide” talk does nothing to destroy Netanyahu (who no one backs) but creates an atmosphere of antisemitism for less educated followers who are only looking for a reason to express hatred. They don’t differentiate between “Israel” and “Jews.” It’s all the same to them.

So now we’ll see what blowback there is for “Nobody Wants This.” Netflix already has trouble keeping viewers beyond its shows first seasons. This will not help.

Smell of “Musk”: Social Media Billionaires Fighting Over Showing Trailer for Controversial Documentary — Here It Is

Roger Friedman
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Smell of “Musk”: Social Media Billionaires Fighting Over Showing Trailer for Controversial Documentary — Here It Is

There’s a lot of Musk in the air right now.

Elon…Musk.

Social media billionaire owners of various platforms have been blocking the trailer from appearing on their sites. So says the Hollywood Reporter.

I don’t think Musk’s Twitter aka X is accepting ads for it, so we’re all posting it anyway.

The Alex Gibney directed doc is said to be “frightening” and “devastating.”

Can’t wait to see it!

The Making of Johnny Depp Comeback Movie “Day Drinker” Termed “A Nightmare,” Violent Trailer Is Almost Completely Unintelligible

Roger Friedman
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The Making of Johnny Depp Comeback Movie “Day Drinker” Termed “A Nightmare,” Violent Trailer Is Almost Completely Unintelligible

For months I’ve been pestered by news from the set of “Day Drinker.”

This is the Johnny Depp comeback movie, directed by Marc Webb, co-starring Madeline Cline and Penelope Cruz.

Then the trailer dropped this week for the March 2027 Lions Gate release.

I’ve played it over and over. Whatever Depp says in the first few lines is unintelligible. You can’t turn on the captions, so the mangled accent will remain a source of secrecy for now.

What I was told was that the making of the movie was “A nightmare” that required lots of extra shooting. Depp was said to be very difficult on set — as if that were a surprise.

Sources say the London reshoots went on and on. There were also many editors who came and went during production.

The trailer looks violent and unpleasant, which begs the question — why would he want this to be comeback vehicle after all of his public scandals and trials with Amber Heard? Wasn’t this time for another “Finding Neverland”? Something charming to remind audiences why they liked him in the first place? He hasn’t been in a decent movie for a decade at this point.

By the time Johnny Depp makes another “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, he’ll be 70 and playing Keith Richards’ part.

Taylor Swift Takes Over Top of iTunes, Spotify, Apple Streaming Charts with 4 New Songs, Rockets Updated “Showgirl” Album to Number 1

Roger Friedman
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Taylor Swift Takes Over Top of iTunes, Spotify, Apple Streaming Charts with 4 New Songs, Rockets Updated “Showgirl” Album to Number 1

Taylor Swift continues to a phenomenon that never stops.

Her four new songs are currently occupying the top of the iTunes and Spotify charts! Also, the Apple Streaming Charts.

That’s how hungry her fans were for new material, even if it’s just unreleased from her most recent album.

“Patient Zero,” “Cleveland,” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon” are taking up the top slot on both charts — so streaming and physical sales.

Plus, the updated “The Life of a Showgirl: Encore” album is number 1 everywhere as well. It would be number 1 on amazon, except that the CD and LP aren’t ready yet.

If the Kansas City Chief beat the Miami Dolphins Sunday afternoon, and Taylor picks several MTV Awards tomorrow night, then I don’t know what will happen. Universes will explode. There will be a new Big Bang!

(Meantime, Neil Young’s superior “Second Song,” is struggling when it should be at the top of the charts. For real music fans, and adults, “Second Song” is a masterpiece.)

Anyway, it’s Taylor’s world, and we just live in it.

To Catch A Movie: Robert Pattinson On the Prowl for $20 Mil Opening Weekend in “PrimeTime,” Brad Pitt and Canine Co-Star Rock in “Beast”

Roger Friedman
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To Catch A Movie: Robert Pattinson On the Prowl for $20 Mil Opening Weekend in “PrimeTime,” Brad Pitt and Canine Co-Star Rock in “Beast”

The number 1 movie this weekend?

An old one: “Avengers: Endgame.” You, too, can marvel at the big numbers for a re-release of the not so final adventure of Tony Stark and pals. Four bonus scenes are bringing fans back to the box office in droves.

Actually, it’s a perfect weather weekend for returning to “Avengers” land.

Meantime, Robert Pattinson is trying to a predator in “PrimeTime.” This movie about Chris Hansen is a little like the Avengers. It’s set up for a $20 million weekend. I haven’t seen it because A24 wants influencers, not reviewers. So far that’s earned them an 87% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an 82% with the audience meter.

Let’s face it. If the real Chris Hansen hadn’t been complaining everywhere, we’d never have heard about this film. Hansen has given it a lot of publicity. He deserves a cut now!

According to reports, Hansen called Primetime “bizarre,” “detached from reality,” and a “fever dream,” and Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of him a “D” grade.

Then he brought every one in for questioning.

Happier to report that the excellent Brad Pitt movie, “Heart of the Beast,” opened to $7.4 million. And look, if Brad and his trusty canine co-star Odin could brave the Alaska wilderness, you can drive two miles over to the theater and see!

 
keep refreshing…

UPDATE Global Citizen Cancels Central Park Show Before New York Deluge, First Time in 14 Years for Sketchy Charity, Offers Refunds For Rain Out

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE Global Citizen Cancels Central Park Show Before New York Deluge, First Time in 14 Years for Sketchy Charity, Offers Refunds For Rain Out

Global Citizen’s annual rock concert for salaries is over.

Rain predictions and maybe hurricane level conditions have forced to cancel the show.

So has the city of New York and parks department.

Also, the stars don’t want to get electrocuted or wind up in a flood.

Now Global Citizen staffers will have to figure out how to justify their six figure salaries, especially Hugh Evans.

Lauryn Hill is relieved. She wasn’t coming on time, anyway.

Flashback: Global Citizen’s Highly Paid Staff Can Read Here About the Last Time a Central Park Concert Got Washed Away — It Wasn’t Pretty

Roger Friedman
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Flashback: Global Citizen’s Highly Paid Staff Can Read Here About the Last Time a Central Park Concert Got Washed Away — It Wasn’t Pretty

Global Citizen is sticking to its plan for tomorrow.

The sketchy charity — whose only beneficiaries are its staff — is still planning to put on a mega concert in Central Park on Saturday.

This is despite such an ominous forecast that the Yankees have already cancelled their game.

Alicia Keys, John Legend, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean are scheduled for the show. You could get thousands of people stuck in the mud and rain, exposed to the elements with no cover.

If there is lightning, the potential for electrifying performances is really heightened.

Plus, there’s little shelter for the acts.

See my story here about the last time this happened. I was there in the middle of a monsoon. The 86th Street transverse flooded like the Nile. What a night!

Exclusive Concert Wrap Up: Clive Davis Pulls Off a Semi-Blockbuster, Anderson Cooper Loses His Mind, Patti Smith Heads to a Steakhouse

AI Singer George (or Greg Paul) Is Selling Christian Music as Scam Posting Fake Videos from “America’s Got Talent,” Gaming iTunes

Roger Friedman
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AI Singer George (or Greg Paul) Is Selling Christian Music as Scam Posting Fake Videos from “America’s Got Talent,” Gaming iTunes

A mysterious AI singer named George Paul — or Greg — is busy gaming YouTube and iTunes.

Paul — who may be from Toronto and whose real name is George Paulkes — is churning out videos of himself singing Christian music on “America’s Got Talent.”

Alas, no such person exists, and certainly has never been a contestant on “AGT.” All the videos Paulkes puts on his YouTube channel cuddling up to Simon Cowell are invented.

Paulkes is also running his scam on iTunes, where his “Jesus is Coming” has faked its way up the chart.

All of this BS is somehow connected to an Armenian named Sargis Poghosyan, who lists himself as “Chief Product Officer at SoftConstruct,” whatever that is. Poghosyan’s AI name is Spalexna, under which he released a tribute to murdered conservative Charlie Kirk. Now Paulkes — under the name George Paul– has a ‘hit’ with Spalexna called “Jesus is Coming.”

To quote Max von Sydow from “Hannah and Her Sisters”: “If Jesus came back and saw what’s going on in his name, he’d never stop throwing up.”

Indeed.

Whoever these “content creators” are, they’re just the latest in a series of scammers to populate the pop charts this year. There’s another one on the charts called Imael Angel, who I’ll tell you about next. The fake singer-performer is also involved with a real club DJ called Hugel.

And they’re all apart from Eddie Dalton, and a bunch of AI recordings from earlier this year made by Dallas Little of South Carolina.
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UPDATE: Vanity Fair Goes MAGA with Cover Features Extolling Sam Altman, Erika Kirk, Larry Ellison, “Donald The Great,” Plus Little Known Star

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE: Vanity Fair Goes MAGA with Cover Features Extolling Sam Altman, Erika Kirk, Larry Ellison, “Donald The Great,” Plus Little Known Star

The October 202 Vanity Fair is a MAGA mess.

Florence Pugh, who is known mostly for a secondary role in Marvel movies, is the star on the cover. Pugh stars now in a streaming TV miniseries adaptation of John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden.”

No offense, but she’s not a name cover newsstand sales, if there is still such a thing. To be fair, it’s a great picture, so that might be a lure.

But the magazine shows its hand with cover lines about five New Establishment names, four of which are MAGA bait no matter what is written in the actual article.

I’m sure Na-hesi Coates is thrilled that his story is labeled “Donald the Great.” (How close are we now to the Melania cover?)

The other three are merry widow Erika Kirk, AI villain Sam Altman, and CBS killer Larry Ellison.

For balance — not really — they toss in California governor Gavin Newsom.

Vanity Fair finds its physical circulation and its website flailing. The turn to MAGA is no surprise, but it comes a little too late. Public opinion is turning against “Donald the Great,” just as Vanity Fair embraces him.

If the magazine is planning a Hollywood issue again for December, maybe they can get Dennis Quaid and Nikki Minaj to pose together.

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