I’m all in for “Justice League,” coming this fall. It does look like Joss Whedon has fixed up Zack Snyder’s original blueprint– this seems eons better than “Batman vs. Superman.” There’s a lot more bounce here in these clips. Ezra Miller as The Flash is going to be a relief. Maybe they got it all right this time. My heart is always with DC Comics. (Sorry Marvel fans!)
$225 Million “Valerian” Crashes with $17Mil Weekend, Biggest Loss for Most Expensive Indie Film
BOOM! That’s the sound of Luc Besson’s “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.” US Weekend total is $17 million, not even a multiple of Friday’s $6 million. Costing at least $225 million, “Valerian” is a domestic dud.
The only hope for STX Films on the most expensive indie film ever made is people in non English speaking countries not caring about the story or dialogue. This often the case, and dud films– see “The Mummy” — can find audiences who just want the visual flash.
“Valerian” will have to count on China, Russia, South Korea, and other out of the way locales to bail them out.
Meanwhile, “Dunkirk” did a spectacular $50.5 million for the weekend assuring Warner Bros. of a $100 million run–plus plus since they’ll probably re-release when awards season begins in December. Nicely done!
John Heard’s Best Movies Were His First Ones: Joan Micklin Silver’s “Between the Lines” and “Chilly Scenes of Winter”
John Heard made a huge splash in 1977. He co-starred in Joan Micklin Silver’s “Between the Lines.” Two years later he and Mary Beth Hurt starred in Silver’s “Chilly Scenes of Winter.” So it’s funny that he’s being remembered today for the “Home Alone” movies. He was going to be the big romantic comedy star following George Segal. Eventually his career took other turns– “Cutter’s Way” with Jeff Bridges is another of his finest. But before Hollywood swallowed him up, these are the films I think of when I think of John Heard. RIP. PS Someone should really organize Silver’s movies into a proper collection.
RIP: LC Cook, Legendary Gospel and R&B Singer, Younger Brother of Sam Cooke
Charles “LC” Cook, younger brother of late R&B great Sam Cooke, has died at age 85. Cook, who didn’t use the ‘e’ added by Sam to their name, was himself a true legend in gospel and R&B. He sang with his brother on SAR Records, and was a member of the Soul Stirrers, Sam Cooke’s original group. (Sam Cooke was murdered in 1964.)
LC was the fifth of ten children. LC — whom I was lucky enough to meet once– lived in Chicago and had remained a popular and influential member of the greater R&B legacy community. He sang at Lou Rawls’s funeral several years ago, and it was one of the most beautiful moments in music I will always cherish and remember. He counted among life long friends Aretha Franklin and Sam Moore.
LC, god speed. Listen to him here:
Box Office Bonanza as “Dunkirk” Takes in $19.8 Mil Friday Night for a $55 Mil Weekend
Warner Bros. and Chris Nolan can rest easy. “Dunkirk” made $19.8 million last night, aiming for a $55 million weekend. They’ve got a hit, and it’s poised for awards season.
The studio and the director were concerned a few nights ago at the movie’s New York premiere that they have a decent weekend. But frankly, there was no question of it. “Dunkirk” is already hailed as a masterpiece. Nolan, his below the line crew, and actor Mark Rylance are all headed for Oscar nominations.
For mid summer, we’ve got “Baby Driver,” and few other scattered potential nominees, and all of “Dunkirk.” That’s not so bad.
More box office to come…
PS Warner Bros. marketing and publicity are cooking on a high flame. After the “Wonder Woman” campaign and this one, they deserve a week at the beach!
Queen Fans– Even Monica Lewinsky– Are Having a Ball with Anthony Scaramucci’s Name on Twitter: Will He Do the Fandango?
Queen fans are having a ball this afternoon with the name of Donald Trump’s new communications director, Anthony Scaramucci.
am i the only one who sings 'bohemian rhapsody' when they read the new communication guy's name? #scaramouche #youarewelcome4theearworm
— Monica Lewinsky (@MonicaLewinsky) July 21, 2017
Hoping a WH reporter will one day ask: "Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?" 😂
— Richard Roeper (@richardroeper) July 21, 2017
His Italian last name is derived from the Italian scaramouche. Probably every human who listens to the radio and is under 65 has one immediate reference when they hear that word: Queen’s epic classic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Do you know that Scaramouche is a clown in Italian Punch and Judy shows who gets his head knocked off by Punch? Really. Hey, Donald. Do it.
— Rodger Mitchell (@rodgermitchell) July 21, 2017
The lyrics are “Scaramouche/Scaramouche/Will you do the fandango/thunderbolts and lightning/very very frightening/Me.”
Still no mention of the new communications director's Fandango capabilities.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) July 21, 2017
In Italian, a Scaramouche is like a court jester. He’s considered the clown of the Italian comedia della’arte.
There was no greater Scaramouche than Scaramucci’s predecessor, Sean Spicer. Melissa McCarthy did the fandango– a cute little dance for two– on her, to great applause.
Of course the main refrain of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is “nothing really matters/to me.”
We’ll see how that holds up in the coming weeks!
Trump’s Personal Lawyer Quits, Now Sean Spicer Resigns as White House Chaos Explodes
The rats are jumping from Donald Trump’s sinking ship.
Last night his personal lawyer in the Russia investigations, Marc Kasowitz, called it quits.
Now the New York Times is reporting Sean Spicer, the worst presidential spokesman ever, has resigned his post.
Melissa McCarthy is up for an Emmy award for playing “Spicy” on “Saturday Night Live.” It was the single funniest performance on TV in years.
Spicer allowed himself to be a figure of public ridicule thanks to Trump. Late yesterday, Trump put Anthony Scaramucci in charge of communications, basically forcing Spicer out. That’s what Spicer got for his loyalty.
Spicer should write a book if he didn’t sign a non disclosure. He could make millions if he told the truth.
Listen: George Harrison’s Son, Dhani Harrison, to Release First Solo Album in October
Dhani Harrison, George Harrison’s gifted musical son, will release his first solo album in October. Listen to the first track, “All About Waiting” right here:
The album is called “In///Parallel” and will be released October 6th on BMG Records.
Dhani follows Julian Lennon, Sean Lennon, and James McCartney in the Beatles legacy, sons of the Fab Four who’ve released their own albums. Dhani’s already had a solid career as a film score composer having worked on Beautiful Creatures” and “Learning to Drive,” “The Divide,” “Outsiders,” and “Good Girls Revolt.”
With his mother Olivia Harrison he has also been a great keeper of his father’s flame, carefully re-releasing George Harrison’s catalog and participating in or organizing events like “The Concert for George.” A couple of years I took the picture here at Lincoln Center when Dhani played with Paul McCartney at an event honoring Stella McCartney. He referred to Stella as his “big sister.”
The track here sounds terrific. We’re all in for Dhani Harrison!
PS Here’s another potential track for the record. Dhani and Paul Hicks wrote “The Sharp Knife” for the indie movie “Seattle Road”
“Valerian,” Most Expensive Indie Film Ever Made, Set to Flop Big Time Against “Dunkirk”
Luc Besson’s “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” is coming, opening Friday night with a 58 on Rotten Tomatoes– really a 38 if you read the reviews. It cost $225-$250 million. The most expensive indie film ever made, and it’s going to bomb big time.
Bomb is the appropriate word because “Dunkirk,” which will beat it handily is all about real bombs going off during World War II on the beach in France. “Dunkirk” is looming between a 94 and 98 on Rotten Tomatoes. It should be 100.
“Valerian,” bloated indecipherable according critics, will be lucky to clear $18 million for the weekend according to tracking reports. The movie stars a lot of people including Ethan Hawke, who knows from sci fi failures. He met his first wife, Uma Thurman, making “Gattaca,” a disaster.
Pop star Rihanna makes her debut (she’s been in a couple of other films, but this is a role) in “Valerian.” She picked the wrong horse. While Harry Styles shines in “Dunkirk,” Rihanna is headed for airplane viewing.
The budget bloat of the film is added to because STK licensed a Beatles song, “Because” for their trailer. Those songs do not come cheap. “Because” is not on the soundtrack.
O.J. Simpson Parole Approved by Nevada Board Unanimously– Will Get Out of Jail in October
OJ Simpson has been paroled by the Nevada Board of Corrections. He will be released on October 1st despite — well, everything. The Parole Board felt that nine years was enough.
Simpson will now face the real world. For one thing, the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown who have a $31 million civil judgement against him. If Simpson tries to earn a penny, they will be right there.
Simpson will return to Florida, where his home and pension cannot be attached in that judgement.
A lot of people are joking on Twitter that he’ll wind up playing golf with Donald Trump. That would be the biggest PR mistake in history. Simpson is a pariah. No matter what happens, he’s the killer of two people. The other big joke is that now he can return to the search for “the real murderers.”
Let the next chapter begin..,