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Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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Tom Cruise Knight and Day: Beaten to a Pulp By Adam Sandler

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Tom Cruise had a bad Friday, the third day of release for “Knight and Day.” The film made $6.35 million, versus over $14.5 million for Adam Ssndler’s “Grown Ups.” The former film took three days to make a little less than what the latter did in one night.

Cruise was never a huge box office draw on his own. His biggest hits, “The Firm,” “Rain Man,” and “A Few Good Men,” were ensemble pieces with talented supporting casts and well thought out, well executed scripts.

Films like “Vanilla Sky” and “The Last Samurai” were not good, and not blockbusters. They averaged $100 million domestically, but cost a lot, too.

Cruise’s big films were always the franchise entries: the Mission Impossible series, the Bruckheimer films.”Eyes Wide Shut” was a financial disaster. Steven Spielberg batted .500 with him–“Minority Report” did about $135, “War of the Worlds” about $235 million.

In his long resume, only “Jerry Maguire” stands out as an artistic and commercial achievement with $152 million and a Cruise Oscar nom. It’s Cruise’s best film, hands down. His other Best Actor Oscar nomination was for “Born on the Fourth of July.” It brought in only took in $79 mil.

“Knight and Day” may crawl out of the weekend with around $22 million for five days. That number pays Cruise’s salary. This is a $100 million film, so this daunting result is considered trouble. Will it make Paramount reconsider “Mission: Impossible 4”? I don’t think so. But for that project to work, the movie cannot be a star vehicle. Paramount should revert to the real “MI” premise of a team working together. Get a great cast of newer actors and one hot old timer, and surround Tom so that the film is not dependent on him. Otherwise, the mission may very well be impossible.

Michael Jackson Doc Draws 5000 to Press Preview in Japan

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“Michael Jackson: Inside the Private World” is a hit in Japan.

On Thursday night, 5000 people showed up for a press preview that accommodated only 200 people at a venue behind the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tokyo. A Japanese singer appeared and sang “Human Nature.” The town, apparently, went wild.

Since then, the film, which was licensed to Japan by Jackson partner Marc Schaffel, has sold out all its shows. It’s expected to take in between $5-$8 million.

The Jackson estate has settled its issues with the distribution company, and all is well for an uninterrupted release. Both Schaffel and Debbie Rowe, mother of Michael’s two eldest kids, were there for the premiere. On Wednesday, Rowe was the guest of a Buddhist temple where a special tour and ceremony were set up for her.

The two hour movie includes a lot of intimate behind the scenes stuff with Jackson and his family, and at Neverland, It also features Japanese fans talking about Michael. It will be edited down to a more manageable 90 minutes when it’s sold in other countries.

Woody Allen Picks His Best Films–And He’s Kinda Right

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Woody Allen has picked his six best films for a British newspaper.

They are: “Purple Rose of Cairo,” “Match Point,” “Bullets Over Broadway,” “Zelig,” “Husbands and Wives,” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

Is he wrong or right? I’d rank them a different way, and start with a different film: “Hannah and Her Sisters” is Woody’s masterpiece from the 1980s, a great summing up of “Annie Hall,” “Manhattan,” “Interiors,” and all the films that come in between 1977 and 1986. For me “Hannah and Her Sisters” is the touchstone.

(Don’t knock “Interiors,” either. Maureen Stapleton, Geraldine Page, and E.G. Marshall are outstanding.)

Woody is right about “Zelig.” It’s a masterpiece. The idea of a Zelig, a person who’s kind of everywhere and exists in a vacuum, has been adopted into the culture. Plus, “Zelig” very cannily addresses the idea of a publicly created celebrity and we will tear that person down eventually. Woody was prescient.

There is some debate about “Match Point” vs. “Crimes and Misdemeanors.” The latter is crude in its execution, and still shocks. Are they really going through with this murder? “Match Point” is more refined, which maybe is why Woody likes it so much. I do, too. The same themes were repeated in the less good, “Cassandra’s Dream.”

He is also correct about “Bullets Over Broadway,” but shouldn’t forget its companion piece, “Radio Days.” Dianne Wiest is sensational in each. I would put into this category “Broadway Danny Rose,” which is a little gem that shouldn’t be considered a throwaway. (The stuttering ventriloquist is worth the whole movie.) Quite the opposite. And it’s Mia Farrow‘s best work, which probably Woody doesn’t want to think about.

“Vicki Cristina Barcelona” is quite rightly on the best list, as is “Purple Rose of Cairo.” The latter breaks the fourth wall and brings characters off a screen into “reality.” It is oft-copied. So is “Everyone Says I Love You,” in which characters broke into song. Watch that film again. It’s another one that was derided, then imitated frequently. It’s full of good madcap stuff, too, including a hockey game in the foyer of a Park Avenue townhouse.

What did Woody leave out? “Alice,” is kind of a lost jewel, and works even more in light of the recent Wall Street excesses. He dismisses his early comic work in “Bananas,” “Love and Death,” and “Sleeper.” And there’s no discounting when we really fell in love with him, over “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan.”

Woody has enormous CV that also includes his segment of “New York Stories,” films like “Small Time Crooks” and “Whatever Works.” There’s also fondness for “Shadows and Fog,” which is really a short story, and “Stardust Memories” (which makes mention of his “earlier, funnier comedies.”)

I have a personal thing for “Manhattan Murder Mystery,” by the way, because it’s the last one with Diane Keaton. Alan Alda is quite funny in it. The ones I can’t really watch again: “Curse of the Jade Scorpion,” “Sweet and Lowdown,” “September,” “Another Woman.”

Woody picked “Husbands and Wives,” which I detested for its shaky camera work and plot line that seemed to warn Mia Farrow about the approaching scandal. The one that still fascinates me: “Deconstructing Harry,” which is as much of a send up of Philip Roth as “Zelig” was of Warren Beatty and “Reds.”

So is Woody right? What are your favorites of his films?

Cindy Adams May Be Back “In a Month” at Her Post

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I’ve received so many emails from fans of famed gossip columnist Cindy Adams. It should make her feel much better!

This week I spoke with Cindy’s office. Her assistant says she’s home, recovering–presumably from anemia or some other sticky malady–and will return to her column “probably” next month.

Cindy’s last column was on May 20th.

No doubt when Cindy does reappear in the New York Post, her first column will be a humorous one about what happened to her. Cindy’s first person columns are always a stitch, and even a better read than her regular gossip round ups.

So get better, Cindy. Frankly, it’s hot out, you’re not missing anything. All the celebs will put their scandals and sorrows on hold until you get back. Or else!

See you at Patsy’s!

Michael Jackson Parents, Kids, LaToya and 2 Brothers Skip Memorial

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Michael Jackson had a private memorial service today at Forest Lawn Glendale.

His parents didn’t show, neither did his kids. Sister LaToya was absent, according to guests, as well as brothers Marlon and Jackie. Sister Rebbie was also not seen. La Toya was in town. She even made money from a bunch of pr appearances this week connected to the anniversary.

Jermaine, Randy, Tito and Janet were there, however. So was former manager and publicist Raymone Bain. There were 60 guests in all, and no celebrities, not even Macaulay Culkin.

Jackie Jackson was recently put on the estate’s payroll. So his absence is strange.

More to come…

Tom Cruise Flick Has Biggest Day-to-Day Drop at Box Office

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Tom Cruise is not having a good week. “Knight and Day” dropped 8.7% from Wednesday to Thursday, its second day of release. That’s the biggest single drop in top 10– and all the other movies have been out for a week or more.

Something is turning people off to “K&D” in a big way. It did only $3.4 million on Thursday, which means a long, hot weekend is beckoning.

At the same time, for example, “Toy Story 3” dropped only 3%, “Karate Kid” 5.9%, and “Shrek 1000” was up 10%. Even relative dogs like “Sex and the City 2,” “Get Him to the Greek,” and “Killers” were up a little. Of all things, “Robin Hood” was even up 14%!

Today brings Adam Sandler and co. in “Grown Ups.” You know it’s awful, but theaters are air conditioned, babies need to be sitted, and pop corn with a little butter is always a good snack. It’s going to push “K&D” down the list. The only bright spot may be foreign ticket sales. “K&D” was filmed so people in Spain and other non English speaking countries would get a kick out of seeing their locales on the screen. Also, incoherence isn’t an issue with subtitles. So Cruise may make some of his dough back there.

And no one will ask why the main characters are named Knight and Day!

Oscars Invite Precious Actresses, Bono, The Edge, Adam Sandler, Tony Soprano to Join Academy

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Guess who gets to vote this winter in the Oscars? A whole bunch of new, interesting, talented people. Every year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invites in a new group to participate in the Oscar process. This new round will replace some beloved voters who’ve departed, and some who let their dogs and housekeepers decide the Best Picture.

In music, Bono and The Edge from U2 are in, thanks to scores they’ve written for “Gangs of New York” and “In the Name of the Father.”

In the acting category, the Academy has asked the following: “Precious” actresses Mo’Nique–who thumbed her nose at the Oscars all last season, and first timer Gabourey Sidibe; Adam Sandler, who’s a lot of fun but unlikely ever to receive the gold statue; plus last year’s winner Christoph Waltz, nominees Jeremy Renner, Vera Farmiga, Saorise Ronan, Anna Kendrick, and Carey Mulligan.Also on the list is James Gandolfini, Shaun Toub, and, the affable Ryan Reynolds.

There are some nice less glitzy additions, too: Peter Riegert, who’s such a good character actor; the really wonderful LaTonya Richardson (Mrs. Samuel L. Jackson, too); Sam Robards, son of Lauren Bacall and Jason Robards; droll Miguel Ferrer; and past nominee Peter Saarsgard. Zoe Saldana is also joining, but as herself, not her avatar.

On the documentary list: my pal Frazer Pennebaker, who runs the show for Pennebaker Hegedus Films; Davis Guggenheim, Osar winning director of “An Inconvenient Truth;” “Super Size Me” creator Morgan Spurlock; and Nancy Baker, who made the excellent “Born into Brothels.”

New directors include two Oscar nominees from this year: Lee Daniels of “Precious” and Lone Scherfig, of “An Education.”

The new writers comprise Geoffrey Fletcher, “Precious,” Tom McCarthy, “The Visitor” and “The Station Agent,” the duo from “District 9,” novelist Nick Hornby, the duo from “Star Trek.” and Oscar winner Mark Boal, from “The Hurt Locker.”

Folks, many DVDs, invites, and cocktails are coming your way. Don’t squander them!

Michael Jackson Criminal Lawyer Will NOT Contest Will

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It’s June 25th, and the Michael Jackson stories will go crazy today.

Top of the list: that someone will try and overturn Michael Jackson’s will. Yes, the rumor is that some group of Jackson outsiders have claimed an announcement scheduled for tomorrow. The word was that Jackson’s will would be contested by Thomas Mesereau, who represented Michael in his criminal case in 2005, and Dennis Hawk, a lawyer who works with Tohme Tohme, Jackson’s short time manager, would lead the charge.

“Not true,” Mesereau tells me adamantly. “I haven’t been aproached and I have nothing to do with it.” Mesereau–who generally stays out of the limelight and often represents wrongly accused defendants down in Alabama pro bono–was shocked when I told him the rumor. He knows Hawk, by the way, but that’s the extent of it.

Leonard Rowe, the disreputable concert promoter, has told everyone he thinks Jackson’s will is sketchy. But in a year’s time, no proof has been offered by anyone that the 2002 will is anything but legal and binding.

Meantime, Joseph Jackson–ever on the prowl to make money–has filed a wrongful death suit against Dr. Conrad Murray. Brian Oxman, who’s had many problems with the California Bar Association and never really knew Michael Jackson, is representing him. Oxman was Randy Jackson’s lawyer when Jackson divorced his wife, after she left him for his brother, Jermaine.

The wrongful death suit doesn’t have much new in it, except for the assertion that Dr. Murray “solicited” business from Michael Jackson in Las Vegas in 2006. This would seem impossible since Jackson did not return to the United States –from June 2005– until the last few days of December for James Brown’s funeral. In Augusta, Georgia.

In other news, TMZ finally took us up on our lead, and identified Lowell Henry in their photo. They say he’s a “Jackson family financial adviser.” Too funny.

Michael Jackson Saga Gets Famed Film Name in Mix

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We can add one more name to the never ending saga of Michael Jackson, and it’s a famous Hollywood moniker: Wolper.

It turns out that in his quest to monetize his purchase of all that Jackson memorabilia, Toronto online entrepreneur Howard Mann has enlisted Mark and Michael Wolper, the sons of famed television and movie producer David Wolper.

Even though no deal has been struck officially, Michael Wolper told me yesterday that he and his brother are exploring ways to help Mann use the rights he think he’s gained through the purchase of a warehouse of Jackson family possessions. Mann is certain that he now has various rights because he possesses documents, recordings, and videos.

Mann, however, may be in for some fight from Michael Jackson’s estate. It’s more than likely that Jackson’s executors will counter that they control his likeness and image.

Nevertheless, Michael Wolper says the main ideas being discussed right now are Michael Jackson and Jackson family biopics.

In case you don’t know, David Wolper, now 82, is a titan in TV, especially. His credits include “Roots,” “The Thorn Birds,” and “North and South.” He won the honorary Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, from the Academy in 1985.

Michael Jackson’s Sister Rebbie Gets Dissed By Family

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You don’t hear too much about Michael Jackson‘s eldest sibling, Rebbie (Maureen) Jackson. She was smart: she got married young and got away from the Jackson family as soon as possible. Apparently, they’ve held it against her all these years.

I am told by sources that Rebbie, now 60, is constantly dissed and used by her family, from the early days right up to this week. In fact, she traveled this week from Las Vegas, where she lives with her husband, to the Los Angeles area to an interview with the UK newspaper, The Sun.

The paper offered her $75,000, and Rebbie, who has done little to cash in on her family’s fame, accepted. She did the interview, and then waited, a friend says, for the paper to call to get her bank information. The call never came. Instead, today The Sun is featuring LaToya Jackson on its website and in the paper. Says a source: “Joe Jackson heard about Rebbie’s interview. He got La Toya to do it, and replaced Rebbie.” The older sister is said to be very upset and rightly so.

According to those who know her, the mild mannered, loyal Rebbie is one of the few Jacksons to turn down offers since Michael died a year ago today. She declined $650,000 from News of the World just five days after Michael’s death. As a performer herself, she’s managed to make a career for herself in Las Vegas. But I am told that both her parents went to a Las Vegas hotel owner and scotched a deal for Rebbie to have her own showcase. “The parents told the hotel owner why did he want just Rebbie when they could offer him a better deal?” In the end, no one got the work.

Last year, after Michael died, my source insists that the Jacksons asked Rebbie to come take care of Michael’s kids. “She stayed for three months until she realized they just did it to keep her from working in Vegas. They never intended for her to actually be involved.” Since then, little has been heard from Rebbie in regard to Michael’s kids or the family.

Interestingly, Rebbie was the last Jackson sibling who Michael ever worked with professionally. He helped her with a single hit, “Centipede,” in the early 90s. In 1998, he helped her with a single and video called “Faithfully Yours.”