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Sunday, April 6, 2025
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Ryan Gosling Made New Film Without a Net, Literally

Roger Friedman
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Ryan Gosling Made New Film Without a Net, Literally

The Weinstein Company didn’t make any announcements last night about getting back the Miramax name or library. The deal is still being hashed out by the lawyers.

But Harvey Weinstein made a bigger statement when “Blue Valentine,” the Derek Cianfrance drama Harvey bought at Sundance, premiered in the Directors Fortnight.

As I wrote in January, “Blue Valentine” is a brilliant dissection of a young married couple’s history and romance. Stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams do exceptional work. They will be nominated for Oscars and heaped with praise. Cianfrance has taken a conventional saga of love and loss and reinvented it. “Blue Valentine” is just spectacular.

It was so interesting to see the film five months later. Cianfrance has done some trimming; eight minutes are now gone. The result is that Williams’s Cindy is more sympathetic, and the roles are now more balanced. Gosling’s Dean is still a happy go lucky but often inarticulate lover. His pursuit of Cindy seems noble and courtly. But now Cindy’s story has been fleshed out, and her motivations are explained. Williams takes a giant leap forward in her career.

It was also interesting to watch the post-screening eruption. All the magazines now want Gosling and Williams for covers. They are going to be hot this winter, as “Blue Valentine” sails through the awards season.

By the way, there’s an amazing scene that Cianfrance shot on the Manhattan Bridge in New York. He sent the pair up there but without scripts. Williams knew something about her character and had to tell Gosling. Gosling was only told not to come down off the bridge until he’d gotten the secret out of her character. Williams’s Cindy couldn’t bring herself to spit it out, so Gosling starts climbing over the side of the bridge. There’s no stunt double or net. Ryan told me at Sundance, “Jamie Patricof [the producer] was freaking out. There goes one of my stars!”

But it’s that kind of daring that makes “Blue Valentine” exciting and immediate. You fgel all the way through that there’s no net, and anything can happen to these people. And it does.

NBCs New Shows Look Frighteningly Bad and Possibly Racist

Roger Friedman
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5

You can see a bunch of clips from NBC’s fall line up at www.defamer.com. I can’t bear to transfer the clips over here.

Here’s the bottom line: they look just beyond awful. The network cancelled “Law & Order,” and put thousands of New Yorkers out of work, for this tripe.

For one thing, the shows feature almost exclusively young, attractive white people. Multi-cultural is obviously not a term that’s come into play in Burbank.

Second, “Outsourced,” about a white guy who goes to India, looks pretty damned racist. “Northern Exposure” it’s not. And India is really Burbank. I felt so sorry for the Indian American actors in the clip. It’s all jokes at their expense.

“Friends with Benefits” and “Perfect Couples” should be cancelled now. Why wait? Just more thirtysomething white people, whining, playing Charades, drinking white wine in the suburbs. Why didn’t they just call it “White Whine”? Black people should just not watch NBC. I guess they don’t anyway, unelss it’s to see Tracey Morgan.

Only “Harry’s Law,” with Kathy Bates, has potential. Of course, it’s from David E. Kelly. Ben Chaplin is in the trailer, which is a good sign. And Bates gets to use the word “asshole.” Ooh. Very cutting edge. I think she’s playing Denny Crane from “Boston Legal.” But ok, why not?

Why do viewers prefer HBO and Showtime, F/X, TNT, etc? Because some actual thought goes into the creation of their shows. NBC has totally jettisoned the 10pm Thursday slot that once belonged to “ER,” “Hill Street Blues” and “LA Law” to some crappy “Sex and the City” meets “Love, American Style.”

And then there’s the whole deal with Jerry Seinfeld. “The Marriage Ref,” which I liked and I know that actually viewers liked, may not return if at all until sometime in 2011. I know that Seinfeld and co. expected to come back in the fall, like a real show, since they saved NBC after “The Jay Leno Show” got pulled.

The network needed 10pm programming, and Jerry came through with A list guests like Madonna, Larry David, and Gwyneth Paltrow. If I were Jerry, I’d be pissed. And you know what? Those “Marriage Ref” shows are going to wind up being video classics one day. I hope Jerry owns them and not NBC. Those clips of the stars are going to be valuable.

Here in Cannes it’s funny to read all these “breaking news” alerts from the network schedule announcements like they mean something. They mean nothing. Almost all the shows look just pathetic; most of them will be cancelled soon after their second or third episode. Real creativity is dead at the networks. Why would anyone watch this crap when Edie Falco is so sublime in “Nurse Jackie,” Jason Schwarzman and Ted Danson make “Bored to Death” a treat, and Debra Winger is coming to “In Treatment”?

The answer is: they won’t.

Gordon Gekko’s Blue Star Jets: Art Imitates Life

Roger Friedman
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Talk about a product plug. Remember Blue Star Jets from the original “Wall Street”?

In the new “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” Charlie Sheen’s Bud Fox tells Michael Douglas’s Gordon Gekko he made fortune with the company. There is much discussion of the fabled private airline.

It turns out there is real Blue Star Jets, a company named for and inspired by the fictitious firm. You can read about them and owner Todd Rome at www.bluestarjets.com.

Who made the connection? It was a chance meeting in 2009 at the Waverly Inn, where Blue Star publicist Norah Lawlor ran into director Oliver Stone. He was just about to start prepping “WS2.” Lawlor told him there was now a real company named for the original. Stone went wild. The result was not only the Blue Star story resurrected in the film, but the real Blue Star also flew Stone and others from the film as needed.

Art imitates life, and we always love that!

Image: PRphotos.com

Lindsay Lohan Hits Cannes (Duck!)

Roger Friedman
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5

Around 8pm on Monday night, when no one was looking, even the paparazzi were out of it: famed international tabloid gossip princess Lindsay Lohan descended on the Hotel Martinez in Cannes. She had a posse, a bunch of young people who didn’t know it but looked like they were imitating “A Hard Day’s Night.”

Lohan is on her way to the World Music Awards in Monaco, where she’s a favorite annual guest. A few years ago she did me a big favor when the WMA’s were in London. She was my stringer while Michael Jackson was there for his presentation. Lindsay did a great job, too!

Where will La Lohan land next? And will someone on the Croisette give her a job? She’s hard to recognize, sporting jet black dyed hair. I miss the red Lindsay.

Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins Together Again

Roger Friedman
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Morgan Freeman must not have been satisfied to co-star with one heavyweight, Jack Nicholson, in a box office hit.

Seeing that “The Bucket List” attracted droves of audiences, Freeman now will make a film with Sir Anthony Hopkins. Details are still being worked out.

The pair did appear together years ago in Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad,” which was more of an ensemble piece. This time, it’s a star vehicle. Maybe they’ll call it “Driving Hannibal Lecter.” Just kidding! But I am told this is a comedy, and a not a brooding drama, a “Dead Poets Society” but featuring college professors… 

Stay tuned for more details…

Image: PRphotos.com

Ellen, Barkin’ Up Wrong Tree in “Sh!t Year”

Roger Friedman
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2

Ellen Barkin either lost a bet or she’s being blackmailed. Either way, her presence in “Shit Year” at the Cannes Directors Fortnight is puzzling.

Cam Archer’s movie isn’t really even a movie. It’s a self indulgent raft ride into outer space, in which improvisation and meaningless yabbering take the place of movie making. I actually started to think during the interminable hour spent in the theater that “Cam Archer” might be a pseudonym for “Yoko Ono.” Looking at a fly would have been more fun.

Barkin is rockin’ the body of a teenager. She’s also smart as a whip. She can be proud of films like “Sea of Love” and “Diner.” She took some time off to raise kids and be Mrs. Ronald Perelman. Her choices now that she’s returning to acting have to be wiser.

In “Shit Year” –which doesn’t have a linear plot or a cinematographer–Barkin (I think) has an ill fated affair with a young from the Abercrombie and Fitch catalog. It doesn’t work out so she retires (she plays an actress) to the country, where she walks around in overcoats and army boots. She has nonsensical conversations with a neighbor (Melora Walters) until the audience gets up leaves in frustration. Luke Grimes, who annoyingly almost killed the TV show “Brothers & Sisters”–plays the mannequin. Archer/Ono shoots beautiful Barkin in harsh light.

Where is that Neuralyzer from “Men in Black” when you need it?

Oh yeah, PS: the title. Are they kidding?

Image: PRphotos.com

Salma Hayek Wants “Ugly Betty” Broadway Musical

Roger Friedman
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2

I am happy to report that Oscar nominee Salma Hayek (“Frida”) is ready for her return to film.

Hayek has been mostly AWOL since having baby Valentina two years ago with husband Francois Pinault.

But she’s been back in force here at Cannes as Pinault–handsome. blonde, blue eyed– has been underwriting  few events as the head of Gucci (and just a few other famous brands). Gucci sponsored Vanity Fair’s Saturday night soiree at the Hotel du Cap’s splendiferous Eden Roc restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean.

Pinault, in fact, told me over the weekend that he will continue the Alexander McQueen fashion line as a tribute to the late designer.

But it’s Hayek who people want to know about. In fact, there was such a crush on the red carpet one night that Hayek was pushed up against me. The top of this reporter’s hand was slashed by accident by Hayek’s bracelet. There was some blood and now a long scab.

“You should tattoo Salma’s name over the scar,” Pinault joked. Well, Cannes is war, we all know that!

As for Hayek: she’d like to see a Broadway musical of “UglyBetty,” the now cancelled beloved sitcom she brought from Mexico and produced on ABC. Hayek did lament the cancellation. “ABC just kept moving it around. No one knew what night it was on!” She praised one “Betty” star who’s already on Broadway–Vanessa Williams, who stars in “Sondheim on Sondheim.” “She’s ready!” Salma said.

Hayek next appears in two comedies, each with a connection to Adam Sandler— “Grown Ups.” in which she co-stars with Sandler. And another, “Here Comes the Boom,” in which she plays the love interest of unlikely movie star Kevin James. a Sandler crony. Only in Hollywood could Kevin James get Salma Hayek!

Meanwhile, the Vanity Fair party was its usual knockout. There were three major directors–Martin Scorsese (whose film restoration foundation was honored), Oliver Stone, and Pedro Almodovar. Vanity Fair parties reverberate with stars, and so it was everyone from Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony to Frank Langella, Meg Ryan, Josh Brolin, Diane Lane, Simon Pegg and Kate Beckinsale to Julie Taymor, Pharrell Williams, Harvey Weinstein, Ellen Barkin, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Benicio del Toro (who now likes to be called “Benny” by his friends). Michael Douglas opted to stay on the yacht of friends, which was too bad. He missed a good time. And no Mick Jagger, despite the presence of his consigliere, auto heir and road manager Johnny Pigozzi.

Image: PRphotos.com

Jessica Biel Having a Nervous Breakdown

Roger Friedman
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Jessica Biel must be in “Seventh Heaven.” The word from Broadway is that she will costar in the Lincoln Center musical of Pedro Almodovar’s “Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.”

Oscar Isaac, of “Robin Hood,” will play the Antonio Banderas part from the movie, sources say.

Each of the actors was in workshops of the musical.

Biel has been drifting, trying to get her career in gear. But it turns out she can sing and dance. Almodovar is said to be thrilled with her. Maybe Justin Timberlake has been giving her pointers!

Image: PRphotos.com

Overture Films Is “Over” at Starz Media

Roger Friedman
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4

It’s the end of the line for Overture Films at Starz Media.

Sources tell me that the plucky indie company will be shut down by Starz if a deal isn’t made to sell it soon.

This is especially bad news for the nice guys who run it–Chris McGurk and Danny Rossett. It’s also disconcerting because Overture houses Anchor Bay, the subsidiary about to release the very good “Solitary Man” this coming Friday.

If “Solitary Man” collapses because of Overture’s craziness, it would be a terrible shame. This well written and directed comedy-drama has wonderful performances from Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, and Danny DeVito.

But Overture itself has really hosted a list of bad and nearly unreleasable films, from “Brooklyn’s Finest” to “Mad Money.” Their most recent release was “The Crazies.” The only decent release in the bunch was “The Visitor,” from Tom McCarthy and featuring an Oscar nominated Richard Jenkins.

Overture’s situation leaves in doubt the fate of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s “Jack Goes Boating,” Robert DeNiro in “Stone,” and Matt Reeves’ “Let Me In.” I suppose they will all find homes.

With the major change at Apparition this week, and this news, the indie world continues to be a desperate place.

Image: PRphotos.com

$2 Mil: Fox Spent on “Wall Street” in Cannes

Roger Friedman
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3

Coming to Cannes with a film isn’t cheap. If you want to do it the right way, you’d better come with cash.

Or the profits from “Avatar.”

Sources tell me that 20th Century Fox has spent upwards of $2 million to promote “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” here this weekend.

That includes flying over Fox chiefs Tom Rothman and Jim Gianapolous (and presumably their families–who were all here), plus the cast starting with Michael Douglas, Josh Brolin (and presumably wife Diane Lane), Shia LaBeouf, Frank Langella, Carey Mulligan, and of course Oliver Stone–plus al the publicists, marketing and sales people, etc. 

And this is just the beginning. “WS2” doesn’t open until the fall. It will have premieres in New York and LA, and around the world. Stone may make some edit changes before then, which will necesitate critics seeing the movie again. And then there will awards promotion. Douglas, Stone, and Langella should all be in the mix. Also, the score of songs from David Byrne and Brian Eno.

But $2 mil just in Cannes? An insider notes that Fox chose to do all its publicity from the lavish and pricey Hotel duCap, a half hour away from Cannes. “They could have saved a lot of money doing all that stuff in town, at one of the hotels,” sniffs an observer.

Yes, but then life wouldn’t imitate art.  And Fox wouldn’t be able to spend all that “Avatar” money!

Is it worth it? The old aadage “You’ve got to spend money to make money” may apply. “WS2” should be a hit in the fall.

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