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Danny Boyle and Alex Garland have reunited for “28 Years Later” and critics are eating it up.
Opening tomorrow night, “28 Years Later” — the sequel to “28 Days Later” — looks like it will be big.
On Rotten Tomatoes the critics score is a stunning 95%.
The AP says: “an unusually soulful coming-of-age movie considering the number of spinal cords that get ripped right out of bodies.”
Time Out: “Boyle reinvents the zombie movie as a bloody pop-art installation.”
Not everyone is in agreement. There are three or four ”rotten” reviews, and some “fresh” that are mixed. But for the most part, “28 Years Later” should be a hit this weekend.
Boyle is the beloved, award winning director “Slumdog Millionaire,” as well as “127 Hours,” “Yesterday,” “Trainspotting,”
Jodie Comer, potential new James Bond Aaron Taylor Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell star in this one.
Brad Pitt’s “F1” got a big publicity boost this week in New York.
Apple and Warner Bros took over Times Square on Monday with a big red carpet featuring Pitt and the cast, not to mention real F1 drivers and race cars.
We all saw it on TV. That was followed by a huge Radio City screening. Influencers were out in force, and then took to social media like bees to honey. They all loved it. Sources tell me the movie reminded them of Robert Redford in “The Natural.” That sounds promising.
On Rotten Tomatoes the reviewers right now is 87%. But even the fresh reviews include misgivings about the plot. Mostly, everyone likes the racing — and, of course, Brad is a Movie Star.
The biggest problem now is selling tickets. “F1” opens on Thursday, June 26th in previews, and IMAX theaters in the big markets are very well sold already.
But by Saturday, June 28th, there are plenty of tickets to be found in Standard and Dolby theaters. Of course, IMAX is the place for “F1” undoubtedly, but the regular theaters have to fill up, too. So far they’re not popping. But maybe by the time people can concentrate on that weekend, tickets will take off.
Kathryn Bigelow directed the Oscar winner “The Hurt Locker,” the movie that established a lot of careers including Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie.
She’s back this October with “A House of Dynamite,” starring Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, with Greta Lee, and Jason Clarke. Kaitlyn Dever and Renee Elise Goldberry are also featured.
Netflix releases on October 24th, preceded by a theatrical release of some kind. Noah Oppenheim wrote the script which is described thusly: “When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the
United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and
how to respond.”
No trailer yet, but we’ll put this at the top of our list. Bigelow also directed the excellent “Zero Dark Thirty” and one of my faves, “Blue Steel.”
The numbers are in for the first Broadway post- Tony Awards.
The total dropped over $6.5 million because on the afternoon of the Tonys, both “Othello” and “Good Night and Good Luck” closed up shop.
Charging $900 a ticket didn’t get either show a Tony Award, but the participants cashed out big time. Denzel Washington and George Clooney made coin and left town happy.
On the other hand, post-Tony effect was strong for a couple of shows. “Hamilton,” now 10 years old, jumped back over $2 million for the week based on its amazing anniversary performance on the Tony Awards.
Newly minted Best Musical “Maybe Happy Ending” had its best week, with $1.2 million. Best Play, “Purpose,” also had its best week selling out 95% of its tickets. The Pulitzer Prize didn’t hurt either.
A big winner from the Tonys is “Just in Time,” the Bobby Darin musical starring Jonathan Groff. The star’s performance on the show drove ticket sales to 103% of capacity.
The kooky “Oh Mary” also jumped to its highest week so far. Cole Escola, looking a cross between Amy Adams and Bernadette Peters — and a little Red Riding Hood — was certainly the most off beat character on the Tonys. People are flocking to the comedy to see him/them/someone play Mary Todd Lincoln like you’ve never seen her before!
The first post-Tony entry on Broadway is “Hacks” star Jean Smart in a one woman play called “Call Me Izzy.” Smart got great reviews in a low key opening last week. Sales are so-so which means you can get tickets at the TKTS booths. It’s a short run, so hurry!
I first reported about a Bruce Springsteen movie about the album, “Nebraska,” in January 2023.
Look how far that’s come. Now Scott Cooper’s “Deliver Me from Nowhere” is getting ready for fall release.
Jeremy Allen White, who became a sensation in “The Bear,” plays the Boss. Can he pull it off?
The rest of the cast includes Jeremy Strong as Springsteen’s long-time confidant and manager, Jon Landau; Paul Walter Hauser as guitar tech Mike Batlan; Stephen Graham as Springsteen’s father, Doug; Odessa Young as love interest, Faye; Gaby Hoffman as Springsteen’s mom, Adele; Marc Maron as Chuck Plotkin; and David Krumholtz as Columbia executive, Al Teller.
The trailer is below. Release date is October 24th.
Today — June 18th — was the birthday of my great friend, Richard Perry. He died this past Christmas Eve after battling an insidious form of Parkinson’s Disease for a decade.
Today is also Paul McCartney’s birthday, he and Richard were born on the same day, something Richard liked to brag about. Over the years they became friends and collaborators as well, which Richard was very proud of.
It was Richard who brought Paul and Lind McCartney to sing on a Carly Simon record in 1971. Then Richard produced the incredibly successful Ringo Starr’s “Ringo!” album the following year, which also included John Lennon and George Harrison. It wasn’t a Beatles “reunion” exactly, but two years after the group’s devastating break up it was considered a miracle.
I was a teenager when Richard found lightning in a bottle three times– with Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, and Harry Nilsson. Seemingly overnight he became the hottest producer in the business, and this was a short time after he’d a hit with Barbra Streisand on her only rock single, “Stoney End.”
The result was that Richard was catapulted into the top echelon of hip Hollywood hangs, rubbing shoulders with Warren and Jack, dating beautiful actresses and singers, hosting exclusive parties at his unique house above Sunset Plaza. And through that time, his successes kept piling up, reviving the Pointer Sisters, giving Leo Sayer monster hits. What a time!
He loved doo wop music, and loved to sing deep bass with a Kenny Vance’s Planotones. (For his 60th birthday he performed with them at Elaine’s.) He named his record label Planet Records. He drew on that love when he produced Art Garfunkel’s best album, “Breakaway,” which included the best cover ever of the Flamingos’ “I Only Have Eyes for You.”
I ran into Richard in the summer of 2000 at Nick and Toni’s in the Hamptons. After dinner we all went back to the house his friends, Joe Allen and Annette Tapert, were renting. Richard played us a tape of an album he was working on with Rod Stewart of classic American songs. No one heard it yet, he said. We knew instantly he had a hit. That tape launched five albums, huge hits thanks to Clive Davis.
There were great times at his house when I visited LA, and when he came to New York it always involved something fun. In 2009, he re-met Jane Fonda, and they kindled a big romance that was a Love Story. They were each over 70 by that point, which gave everyone hope for the future.
As Richard needed more care, he and Jane went to live in separate places. His friends found him in his new home near the Four Seasons Hotel, and there was a lot of music. Jane was still part of the picture, but Richard’s worsening condition required a lot of attention. He spent a lot of time writing his memoir, “Cloud Nine,” a must read for anyone in the music business.
There was no one who had a stronger desire to live. In the spring of 2021 he became gravely ill. Things didn’t look good, but with help from friends and great doctors, he pulled through. At the low point, we even asked him if he wanted to keep going, to which he replied, “Of course I do.” What were we, nuts?
Of course, it helped that he had Carly Simon singing to him over the phone from Martha’s Vineyard. Jane brought the Pointer Sisters to his hospital room to sing “Slow Hand,” one of their Richard-produced hits. Clive Davis called often. That was all better than medicine.
Richard’s legacy remains unshaken. On the wall in his library, he had dozens of gold records, singles and albums, to remind him of that. It was kind of amazing. I always asked him, when we listened to his music, what was the secret formula? A Richard Perry record has a unique sound, even the rock records. The vocals are forward, set against a lush cushion. There’s a heavy presence of classic music. Each record produced an emotion. You can hear it on Nilsson’s “Without You.” It’s almost as if you’re drawn in immediately and can’t get out until the singer finishes the song. It’s so pleasing you want to hear it again.
What was his favorite of all his hits? Some days it was “You’re So Vain.” He loved an album he made with Ray Charles. “Without You” was often cited. He’d made a record with Motown’s Martha Reeves that he adored, and so on.
Richard’s friends, of course, really miss him. He had birthday parties right up through his last year. If I was in New York, I’d call in and always send chocolate. (I used to bring chocolate cake over from movie events at the Four Seasons.) His close friend, Daphna Keitel, Harvey’s wife, helped arrange everything. In the last year she took over his care with grace and affection.
So happy birthday, Richard. I guess what they say is true, you’re out of pain. But how I know he would love to have a party today, with music and Champagne and lots of toasts. We’ll all be raising a glass to him today.
Sad to say, E. Jean Carroll may have exhausted interest in her win over Donald Trump.
Carroll published a new book today called “Not My Type,” going over her trials with Trump. She won a total of $88.5 million from Trump in court over sexual abuse and then defamation of character.
Trump has appealed the judgment and lost each time. He just recently lost an appeal last week.
Carroll has already published a book about the case and MeToo called “What Do We Need Men For?” The new book is a surprise publication, announced only last week.
Carroll and the book received features in New York and the New York Times. But by and large there’s been no publicity. I asked her twice on TWitter to send a PDF and got no response.
I have a feeling I’m not alone. The book opened at 582,000 today on amazon, basically non existent. It’s worked its way up 2,726. But it’s been bungled, like so many books, with a lack of marketing. Even though Carroll was certainly vindicated, the story at this point may seem old. Even she’s admitted on social media, “Not My Type” has no revelations or surprises.
Carroll hasn’t collected a penny from Trump and may not ever. But according to New York Magazine, she’s done estate planning and set up a foundation just in case the funds are released. Knowing Trump, she will probably have to follow him into the afterlife, and that could be tricky since they will be different sections.
The Motion Picture Academy has announced its honorary awards for 2025.
Tom Cruise, who’s never won an Oscar, will get a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy in November at the Governor’s Awards.
Cruise has been nominated for two Oscars over the four decades he’s been working in Hollywood. He probably deserves this one for saving Hollywood two years ago with “Top Gun Maverick.” Right now, he’s starring in “Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning.”
Also getting Oscars are superstar country singer Dolly Parton, plus dance maven Debbie Allen, and designer Wynn Thomas.
The ceremony will take place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 16. I think Ovation Hollywood is what used to be called several other things including Hollywood & Highland. Very confusing.
Dolly Parton will get the Jean Hershholt Humanitarian Award for her incredible philanthropy. You can bet Jane Fonda will be the presenter, with Lily Tomlin on hand, too.
Allen choreographed seven Oscars telecasts, previously has been the recipient of the National Medal of Arts, a Kennedy Center Honor and many other major prizes. She’s also a champion of arts education. Plus, Allen counts two Tony nominations, five Emmy Awards, and a a Governors Award from the TV Academy in 2021.
Thomas has worked on almost every Spike Lee movie as a designer, to to mention dozens of other hit films by directors like Barry Levinson, Ron Howard, and Robert De Niro.
This year’s choices are celebrity heavy with Cruise, Parton, and Allen all better known than many of the honorees in the past. There are plenty of people who are still waiting including Glenn Close, Harrison Ford, and so on.
Of course, Tom Cruise will be a magnet for ticket sales for the Governors Awards. But anyone who’s suffered through Cruise winning other awards will remember that his speeches are painfully robotic, and no one who’s worked with him can share any funny anecdotes. Still, he deserves the award.
Recording Academy president Harvey Mason, Jr. and ultra successful producer Ben Winston were serenaded by superstars at a private luncheon here in New York.
Entertainment came from Coldplay’s Chris Martin, and breakout star Leon Thomas. Chris brought along son Moses, and evidently they were seen walking from the event when it was over.
Mason and Winston were toasted by all the grand poobahs of the record industry for their philanthropy and a job well done.
Alas, there are no photos or videos from the event. I’m told it was so hush hush that the guests were made to tape over the camera on their phones — just like at the San Vicente Bungalows in Los Angeles. No pictures. And no social media, either. My spy says there were signs on each table warning everyone to stay off Instagram, Facebook, etc.
Me? I went to vote for mayor, etc downtown. And then I went to Gracie Mansion for the annual Made in NY cocktail party honoring several celebs including the hilarious Tracy Morgan and the terrific director Darren Aronofsky.
My friend, Pat Swinney Kaufman, put on a great show celebrating filmmakers from New York who make their films here. And even though skies threatened the outdoor event, and it was pretty cold, Made in NY is always a warm reminder of New York as the movie hub of the universe. Everyone wants to film here –and especially on my block!
And no, I didn’t wear the I Voted Early sticker I was given, just to keep things calm!
What a night for Paul Simon last night in New York!
The famed singer songwriter is on his “Quiet Celebration” tour, coming out of self imposed retirement in 2018 after claiming hearing losses had done him in.
Quite the contrary: Simon, 82, is in great form even if his voice has lost some of its texture. The power and intent are there, and the voice grows and opens as the evening goes on. (One celebrity in the audience: Whoopi Goldberg, solo, third row center.)
It was a moving experience to see Simon live again after he promised his touring career was over. I first saw him in 1975 at DAR Constitution Hall in New York when “Still Crazy After All These Years” had just been released. An astonishing 50 years later, he’s still presenting a new album — “Seven Psalms” — as a 30 minute opening act.
As he sang last night in “The Cool Cool River”: “I believe in the future.” He sure does.
“Seven Psalms” is an introspective piece punctuated by a complex yet melodic composition brought to life by Simon’s extraordinary 8 piece ensemble. This includes two guitarists, a keyboard player, drummer, two violinists and a flutist each of whom elevate his sound.
It is a ‘quiet celebration.’ Simon has wisely turned even his numerous legacy hits into jazz, folk, and blues. There’s no rock, which is probably due to the hearing issue. The arrangement are delicate, very finely woven, while Simon himself sits for most of the show. Listen, after 60 years of entertaining us, he can do whatever is best for him.
“Cool Cool River” is one of two songs in the show from “The Rhythm of the Saints,” and for me, the centerpiece. Simon — a master lyricist, one of the very finest — is impassioned when he sings these lines:
I believe in the future We shall suffer no more Maybe not in my lifetime But in yours, I feel sure
It’s not easy to be optimistic in these times, but that’s the direction Simon has taken in this tour. No political rants or even asides. Even thought I wished he’d sung “American Tune,” the 1973 song about alienation, I see why he didn’t. This is a show that offers hope.
The 13 songs in part 2 of the show are, as Simon described them, hits and deep tracks. Among the former: “Homeward Bound,” “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,” “Graceland,” “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” and “The Boxer.” The latter — which some consider his best song — defines Simon at this moment as the defiant survivor. The show ends with Simon, solo on guitar, with a very punchy “Sound of Silence” delivered with warmth and confidence.
Was it a historic night? Maybe. We might not see this again. Simon’s singer wife Edie Brickell joined him on two songs. Simon told a few stories, including one about how he came to write “Renee and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War.” He also noodled around with the acoustic intros to a few old songs like “Hazy Shade of Winter,” just as a nod to their existence. His jubilation at the end you can see in the picture I took. “A Quiet Celebration” is a victory.
Shout to the band: Mark Stewart, Caleb Burhans, Jamey Haddad, Gyan Riley, Mick Rossi, Andy Snitzer, Nancy Stagnitta,Eugene Friesen, and Steve Gadd/Matt Chamberlin alternating on drums.
