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Ice Cube Decries Hip Hop of Today: “It started its downward spiral in 1993”

Roger Friedman
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Ice Cube Decries Hip Hop of Today: “It started its downward spiral in 1993”

Ice Cube– O’Shea Jackson (now senior) — was a pioneer in hip hop. He’s a producer of “Straight Outta Compton,” a movie I believe must be nominated for Best Picture by the Academy Awards. (Globes missed this one.)

SAG has nominated the film for Best Ensemble, so there was a lunchtime celebration on Wednesday at the Chevalier restaurant on West 53rd St. Ice Cube, his actor son O’Shea Jr., and “Compton” director F. Gary Gray were all present, as were a few celebs like Cuba Gooding Jr. and Gayle King, among others.

I asked Ice Cube what he thought of hip hop today. He answered first, with a laugh: “It’s airight.” And that got a laugh. But then he said more seriously:

“To me hip hop started its downward spiral around 1993. To me it’s all about escapism rap now. Cars, and jewelry and women. That’s the topic. It used to be the topic was about how to make the world a better place, and how to understand the world around us. Now it’s just all about fantasy, clubs and cars, excess. It has no substance.”

Who does he like?

“I love the Roots still. Kendrick (Lamar) is dope. J Cole. They have a point of view other than saying We’re going to party tonight.”

Willie Geist, moderating a panel (and doing a pretty good rap imitation himself) cut in: “Tell us the truth. Who sucks the most?”

Gray, by the way, told me one of his secrets of making that unique ensemble cast come together: before they shot the movie, he had them record a version of the “Straight outta Compton” album. The whole cast. And some days he– Gray– didn’t bother showing up, so the cast formed ties to each other in their “frustration” with him. Interesting directors’ trick– and it worked beautifully.

Golden Globes Movie Noms: Carol, Mad Max, Revenant, Room, Spotlight, Snub Tarantino, Depp, Tina and Amy, Spielberg, Compton

Roger Friedman
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Golden Globes Movie Noms: Carol, Mad Max, Revenant, Room, Spotlight, Snub Tarantino, Depp, Tina and Amy, Spielberg, Compton

The Golden Globes snubbed Tina Fey and Amy Poelher’s “Sisters” even though the pair have hosted their show the last few years. They also snubbed Johnny Depp and Quentin Tarantino. “The Hateful Eight” scored a screenplay nod and one for best supporting actress for Jennifer Jason Leigh, but not Best Picture, Director or any of the male actors. That’s a disappointment.

20th Century Fox was the big winner. All three of their Oscar films– The Martian, Joy, and The Revenant scored Best Picture nominations. Stacey Snider is running that place, and it shows. She’s really brilliant.

The HFPA didn’t have much use for Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies or F Gary Gray’s Straight outta Compton. They didn’t really like Brooklyn either.

Drama nominations: Carol, Mad Max, Revenant, Room and Spotlight.

Full list coming. And yes there is weird stuff. And almost nothing for broadcast networks or cable. A lot for Amazon and streaming services in TV categories…

Best Motion Picture, Drama
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs

Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Will Smith, Concussion

Best Director – Motion Picture
Todd Haynes, Carol
Alejandro Iñárritu, The Revenant
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
George Miller, Mad Max
Ridley Scott, The Martian

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Rooney Mara, Carol
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Jane Fonda, Youth
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Helen Mirren, Trumbo
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Best TV Series, Comedy
Casual
Mozart in the Jungle
Orange Is the New Black
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Veep

Best TV Movie or Limited-Series
American Crime
American Horror Story: Hotel
Fargo
Flesh and Bone
Wolf Hall

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Emma Donoghue, Room
Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer, Spotlight
Charles Randolph, Adam McKay, The Big Short
Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight

Best Animated Feature Film
Anomalisa

The Good Dinosaur

Inside Out

The Peanuts Movie
Shaun the Sheep Movie

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited-Series, or TV Movie
Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Regina King, American Crime
Judith Light, Transparent
Maura Tierney, The Affair

Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex Girlfriend
Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens
Julia Louis Dreyfus, Veep
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Lilly Tomlin, Grace & Frankie

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited-Series or TV Movie
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall
Ben Mendelson, Bloodline
Tobias Menzies, Outlander
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot

Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“Love Me Like You Do” 50 Shades of Grey
“One Kind of Love” Love and Mercy
“See You Again” Furious 7
“Simple Song No. 3” Youth
“Writing’s on the Wall” Spectre

Golden Globes: TV Actress Nod to Lady Gaga, Best Screenplay to Room, Spotlight, Steve Jobs, Big Short, Hateful 8

Roger Friedman
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Golden Globes: TV Actress Nod to Lady Gaga, Best Screenplay to Room, Spotlight, Steve Jobs, Big Short, Hateful 8

Here’s the first group of Golden Globes nominations this morning. Keep refreshing…

Best Actor in a Limited-Series or TV Movie
includes Idris Elba, Oscar Isaac, David Oyelowo, Mark Rylance, Patrick Wilson

· Best Original Score – Motion Picture

· Best Foreign Language Film

· Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited-Series, or TV Movie
Uzo Aduba. Joanne Froggett, Regina King, Maura Tierney

· Best TV Series, Comedy
Casual, Mozert in the Jungle, Orange is the New black, Silicon Valley, Transparent, Veep

· Best Animated Feature Film
Anamaolisa, Peanuts, Inside Out

· Best Actress in a Limited-Series or TV Movie
Lady Gaga, Queen Latifah, Felicity Huffman, Sarah Hay, Kirsten Dunst

· Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited-Series or TV Movie
Allen Cumming, Damien Lewis, Ben Mendelson, Tobias Menze, Christian Slater

· Best Original Song – Motion Picture
Love Me Like You Do, One Kind of Love, See You Again, Simple Song Number 3, Writings on the Wall

· Best TV Movie or Limited-Series
American Crime, American Hotel, Fargo, Flesh and Bone, Wolf Hall

· Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy
Rachel Bloom, Jamie Lee Curtis, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Lily Tomlin,

· Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Room, Spotlight, Big Short, Aaron Sorkin, Quentin Tarantino

Jennifer Lawrence Has A Knockout Sinatra Duet on “Joy” Soundtrack that Also Features Brittany Howard, Stones, Cream, Latin Jazz

Roger Friedman
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Jennifer Lawrence Has A Knockout Sinatra Duet on “Joy” Soundtrack that Also Features Brittany Howard, Stones, Cream, Latin Jazz

You do know that Jennifer Lawrence sings. She’s done it twice in “The Hunger Games,” and even got a small hit out of it with “The Hanging Tree.” But now, now she performs Nancy and Frank Sinatra’s famous duet with Edgar Ramirez in “Joy.” It’s on the ABKCO soundtrack coming out December 18th (digital) and January 8 (you know, real).

David O. Russell worked with Susan Jacobs again to come up with a hit CD that outdoes their “American Hustle.” The movie is filled with cool music including Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard (my new favorite person for 2015) on Cream’s “I Feel Free.”

There’s also an excellent use of the Stones’ “Stray Cat Blues.” Plus Edgar Ramirez sings a Latin jazz version of “Mama told Me (Not to Come)” with Ray de la Paz and The Pedrito Martinez Group.

Tracklist:

1) “I Feel Free” – Cream
2) “Joy Romantic Theme” (score)
3) “Aguas de Marzo” – Edgar Ramirez
4) “The Sidewinder” – Lee Morgan
5) “I Want to Be Happy” – Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Webb and His Orchestra
6) “In the Bleak Mid-Winter – Thomas Bullard, Choir of King’s College, Benjamin Bayl, and Stephen Cleobury
7) “Notre Pere, Op. 14” – Salzburg Bach Choir/Alois Glasser
8) “Mama Told Me Not to Come” – Edgar Ramirez, Ray de la Paz & The Peditro Martinez Band
9) “Something Stupid” – Jennifer Lawrence & Edgar Ramirez
10) “To Love Somebody” – Bee Gees
11) “I Am in Love” (score)
12) “Mop Drawing” (score)
13) “Racing in the Street” (score
14) “Sleigh Ride” – The Ronettes
15) “Stray Cat Blues” – The Rolling Stones
16) “Texas” (score)
17) “Markham” (score)
18) “A House With Love In It” – Nat King Cole
19) “Joy Theme” (score)
20) “I Feel Free” – Brittany Howard
21) “I Feel Free” (Bonus Track) – Brittany Howard

Aretha Franklin Wows Seth Meyers “Late Late Show” After Kennedy Center Triumph

Roger Friedman
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Aretha Franklin Wows Seth Meyers “Late Late Show” After Kennedy Center Triumph

Aretha Franklin is on a roll. Over the weekend she stole the whole Kennedy Center honors from all the inductees, performing Carole King and Gerry Goffin’s “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman.”

King and Goffin wrote the 1968 hit at the urging of Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler. He came up with the title and gave it to the hit songwriters. That’s why he got a songwriting credit and some royalties.

Aretha told me last night at Seth Meyers’ show: “Jerry Wexler bought me that song almost 50 years ago. And it still stands up!” She ain’t kidding.

View More: U.S. News|Live News|More News Videos

Last night the Queen of Soul took the stage on The Late Late Show with Seth Meyers, and blew away the audience with her version of “I Will Survive.”

Afterwards, Ms. Franklin took posse to Gallagher’s Steak House. She needed to replenish after all that exercise!

Tonight, Aretha makes a rare appearance at the opening of “The Color Purple” on Broadway. She’s eyeing Jennifer Hudson to play her in a biopic.

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Adele Sales Slowing Down? On Track for 500K This Week Ending Today

Roger Friedman
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Adele Sales Slowing Down? On Track for 500K This Week Ending Today

Today is the last day of the sales week in the record biz. Adele is at 319,617 copies of “25” with 80% of the total counted by hitsdailydouble.

Will she hit 5 million by midnight? So far Adele is over 4 million and counting. There was some expectation she would sell 750 K this week. But at this point, that’s a lot. There has to be a cooling off week and this is probably it.

Next week, on Monday the 14th, NBC airs her Radio City Special. That should push sales back through the roof for the remaining two weeks of 2015. “25” may still hit 7 million copies depending on reaction to the special. I haven’t seen it yet, but Lorne Michaels produced it. From what we saw live in Radio City, this should be a huge ratings getter.

Meantime. Ms Adkins holds the #1 position on the iTunes albums and singles charts. On amazon she holds down 1, 4, 7, and 19 on the physical CD and vinyl chart. The LP, selling at $22.99, is number 4 on the overall amazon chart! I just hope it’s mastered better than the CD I bought from Target, which was full of distortion.

Exclusive: Official Marvin Gaye Biopic from “Compton” Director F. Gary Gray

Roger Friedman
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Exclusive: Official Marvin Gaye Biopic from “Compton” Director F. Gary Gray

Marvin Gaye is finally getting the big screen treatment. And this time it’s official. I hear that
“Straight Outta Compton” director F. Gary Gray has made a deal with longtime Motown impresaria and award winning producer Suzanne dePasse as well as Motown founder Berry Gordy. Gaye’s family is said to be involved as well. 

There have been past attempts to make a Marvin Gaye film.  But without music rights it was impossible. Julien Temple was going to direct “Sexual Healing” with Jesse L. Martin but it beer happened.

Gordy and dePasse’s involvement bodes well for the project.  More to come…P.S.no title yet but my choice would be How Sweet it Is. 

SAG Nominees: Beasts, Big Short, Spotlight, Straight outta Compton, Trumbo, Snub Tarantino, Honor 8 Year Old

Roger Friedman
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SAG Nominees: Beasts, Big Short, Spotlight, Straight outta Compton, Trumbo, Snub Tarantino, Honor 8 Year Old

You always knew Andrea from “Beverly Hills 90210” would be introducing the SAG Awards. Art becomes life.

SAG just snubbed Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight,” passed over Jennifer Lawrence in “Joy” and gave little joy to a lot of people who we thought they’d nominate this morning. These are the weirdest nominations I have ever seen.

Big surprises: a TV Nod for Nicole Kidman in “Grace of Monaco.” This was released as a movie, then retracted sort of, released on Lifetime. (I agree that Kidman was excellent in a bad movie.) A movie nom for Sarah Silverman’s dramatic role in “I Smile Back.” Shocks.

Big endorsement for “Trumbo” and Bryan Cranston. Big. A nomination for Helen Mirren in “Woman in Gold.”

But snubs: no acting prizes for “Spotlight” other than ensemble. No Keaton or Ruffalo. But Rachel McAdams got in for Supporting Actress. I think the supporting thing for all the men in “Spotlight” confuses everyone.

A nomination for an 8 year old, Jacob Tremblay, from “Room.”

Best Ensemble (Motion Picture)
“Beasts of No Nation”
“The Big Short”
“Spotlight”
“Straight Outta Compton”
“Trumbo”

Best Actor (Motion Picture)
Bryan Cranston, “Trumbo”
Johnny Depp, “Black Mass”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant”
Michael Fassbender, “Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, “The Danish Girl”

Best Actress (Motion Picture)
Cate Blanchett, “Carol”
Brie Larson, “Room”
Helen Mirren, “Woman in Gold”
Saoirse Ronan, “Brooklyn”
Sarah Silverman, “I Smile Back”

Best Supporting Actor (Motion Picture)
Christian Bale, “The Big Short”
Idris Elba, “Beasts of No Nation”
Mark Rylance, “Bridge of Spies”
Michael Shannon, “99 Homes”
Jacob Tremblay, “Room”

Best Supporting Actress (Motion Picture)
Rooney Mara, “Carol”
Rachel McAdams, “Spotlight”
Helen Mirren, “Trumbo”
Alicia Vikander, “The Danish Girl”

Best Ensemble (Drama Series)
“Downton Abbey”
“Game of Thrones”
“Homeland”
“House of Cards”
“Mad Men”

Best Ensemble (Comedy Series)
“The Big Bang Theory”
“Key & Peele”
“Modern Family”
“Orange Is the New Black”
“Transparent”
“Veep”

Best Actor (Drama Series)
Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
Rami Malek, “Mr. Robot”
Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”
Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”

Best Actress (Drama Series)
Claire Danes, “Homeland”
Viola Davis, “How to Get Away with Murder”
Julianna Marguiles, “The Good Wife”
Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey”
Robin Wright, “House of Cards”

Best Actor (Comedy Series)
Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”
Louis C.K., “Louie”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory
Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent”

Best Actress (Comedy Series)
Uzo Aduba, “Orange Is the New Black”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Ellie Kemper, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”

Best Actor (Miniseries/TV Movie)
Idris Elba, “Luther”
Ben Kingsley, “Tut”
Ray Liotta, “Texas Rising”
Bill Murray, “A Very Murray Christmas”
Mark Rylance, “Wolf Hall”

Best Actress (Miniseries/TV Movie)
Nicole Kidman, “Grace of Monaco”
Queen Latifah, “Bessie”
Christina Ricci, “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles”
Susan Sarandon, “The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe”
Kristen Wiig, “The Spoils Before Dying”

Best Stunt Ensemble (Motion Picture)
“Everest”
“Furious 7”
“Jurassic World”
“Mad Max: Fury Road”
“Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation”

Stunt Ensemble (Comedy or Drama Series)
“The Blacklist”
“Game of Thrones”
“Homeland”
“Marvel’s Daredevil”
“The Walking Dead”

Comedy Ensemble: Big Bang Theory, Key and Peele, Modern Family, Orange is the New Black, Transparent, Veep

Drama Ensemble: Downton, Game of Thrones, Honeland, House of Cards, Mad Men

Chrsitian Bale, Idris Elba, Mark Rylance, Michael Shannon, Jacob Tremblay

Best Actress: Cate, Brie, Helen Mirren, Saorise Ronan, Sarah Silverman

Best Actor: Bryan Cranston, Depp, Leo, Michael Fassbender, Eddie Redmayne

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Not Hosting Golden Globes, But They’ll Likely Be There Anyway with “Sisters”

Roger Friedman
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Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Not Hosting Golden Globes, But They’ll Likely Be There Anyway with “Sisters”

No, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler won’t be hosting the Golden Globes this year. But with any luck they will be there anyway, with “Sisters.” Their comedy written by Paula Pell and directed by Jason Moore premiered last night at the Ziegfeld, with a swellish party at the Museum of Modern Art.

Raunchy, hilarious, “Sisters” is a cousin of Amy Schumer’s “Trainwreck” and should be in the running for Best Comedy both at the Globes and the Critics Choice Awards. The movie should get an award just for opening on the same day as “Star Wars.” But Universal is convinced women will flock to “Sisters,” as well as people– ahem– my age, or over 30, who don’t need to see “Star Wars” right away.

I think they’re right.

Amy and Tina are like the Abbott and Costello, Hope and Cosby, Martin and Lewis of the modern era. They just work together beautifully. Pell wrote for “SNL” for 20 years, waiting for her turn to script a feature film. The movie also features Bobby Moynihan, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Chris Parnell, Kate McKinnon all “SNL” people in various roles large and small.

At the party some other pals showed up like Seth Meyers and Fred Armisen, with actress Natasha Lyonne.

“Sisters” has other heavy hitters including two time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest and James Brolin as Fey and Poehler’s sexed up parents, and John Leguizamo as a sleazy friend from high school. Ike Barinholtz makes a strong impression as a love interest for Poehler.

“Sisters” is a great movie about nothing really. Yes, there’s a plot involving the sale of the family home and the parents’ urging the sisters to grow up. But it’s really all a pretense to stage an extended party, an “Animal House” for adults.

There is no heavy point. It’s just fun, and it works because the writing is snappy and sophisticated (even when it’s really raunchy). The women are having a ball, and no one is talking down to the audience. “Sisters” is terrific counter-programming for the leaden march of Oscar films. I’d see it in between “Carol” and “The Revenant” and maybe once more again after that.

Broadway: NY Times Critic Jumps the Gun, Raves About “Color Purple” Two Days Early

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: NY Times Critic Jumps the Gun, Raves About “Color Purple” Two Days Early

Whoops. We don’t have to wait til Thursday night to see what Ben Brantley thinks about the “revival” of “The Color Purple” on Broadway.

This is what he wrote today in his round up of the best of 2015:

“A makeover made in heaven. The director John Doyle has slimmed down, toned up and retailored a show that seemed leaden and garish in its original Broadway incarnation 10 years ago. This musical version of Alice Walker’s celebrated novel now blazes as a triumph of elemental, emotional storytelling, with the bonus of a star-making performance from Cynthia Erivo and blissful support from Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks.”

Everything should be so easy. Pop the champagne corks. The opening night– this Thursday–is going to be one wild celebration.

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