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Paul McCartney was in the eye of the storm, Beatlemania, in 1964 when his group took over the world.
Now it seems he’s found a treasure trove of photos he took on a 35mm camera when it all happened. A book is coming called “Eyes of the Storm” on June 13th, five days before Sir Paul’s 81st birthday.
The photos were taken in six cities: New York, Washington, London, Liverpool, Miami, and Paris. There are 275 pictures. The book will have an introduction by Paul, plus essays by Jill Lepore and Nicholas Cullinan.
Paul is following the lead of his bandmate, Ringo Starr, who’s published several tomes of pictures, postcards and other Beatles memorabilia.
No price yet for the book. But Paul’s two volume “The Lyrics” sold for $150 last year and was a best seller.
The Academy got smart this year, and took the message.
Best Picture nominees were divided among box office blockbusters and art house films.
In the past, few blockbusters have made the cut. The reasoning was the money they brought in was the reward.
Nominating “Top Gun Maverick” and “Avatar The Way of Water” ensures a viewing audience for the March 12th show on ABC. Uniquely, they are each sequels, and one made more than a decade or two after the original film.
Both films made more than $600 million apiece in the US alone, and a billion plus worldwide.
“Elvis,” also a huge hit, is in the mix of Best Picture.
The rest of the films had minimal box office, but even the Oscar telecast viewing audience understands they are the ones to beat starting with “The Fabelmans” and “TAR.”
Some major surprises: the last minute pitch by powerhouse agency CAA for client Andrea Riseborough pulled off a nomination for a movie few have seen called “To Leslie”
this resulted in no nominations for lead Black actresses Viola Davis and Danielle Deadwyler…
“The Whale” was shut out of Best Picture despite a massive, tireless campaign. The movie scored Best Actor and Supporting Actress nods…
Besides Deadwyler, “Till” was completely snubbed…
No female directors, only 2 Black actors out of 20…
Netflix had its key successes with foreign films “Bardo” and “All Quiet on the Western Front”
Diane Warren received her 14th nomination, for the song “Applause” after garnering a Lifetime Achievement Award this season after 13 strikeouts…
Best Supporting Actress- Angela Bassett, Hong Chau, Kerry Condon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu
Best Supporting Actor– Brendan Gleeson, Brian Tyree Henry, Judd Hirsch, Barry Keoghan, Ke Huy Quan
Best Adapted Screenplay — All Quiet on the Western Front, Glass Onion, Living, Top Gun Maverick, Women Talking
Best Original Screenplay — Banshees of Inisherin, Everything Everywhere., Fabelmans, TAR, Triangle of Sadness
Original Song— Applause, Hold My Hand, Lift Me Up, Naatu Naatu, This is a Life
Documentary — All that Breathes, All the Beauty, Fire of Love, House Made of Splinters, Navalny
Intl Film — All Quiet, Argentina, Close, EO, The Quiet Girl
Animated — Pinocchio, Marcel the Shell, Puss in Boots, Sea Beast, Turning Red
Editing– Banshees, Elvis, EEAAO, TAR, Top Gu Maverick
Cinematography — All Q, Bardo, Elvis, Empire of Light, TAR
Score — All Q, Avatar, The Batman, Black Panther, Top Gun Maverick
Best Actor — Austin Butler, Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser, Paul Mescal, Bill Nighy
Best Actress– Cate Blanchett, Ana de Armas, Andrea Riseborough., Michelle Williams, Michelle Yeoh
Directing– Martin McDonagh, Daniels,. Steven Spielberg, Todd Field, Ruben Ostland
Best Picture — All Q, Avatar, Banshees, Elvis, EEAA0, The Fabelmans, TAR, Top Gun Maverick, Triangle, Women Talking
Jerry Blavat died this week at age 82. He battled myasthenia gravis, a neuro muscular disorder that is a cruel disease.
Jerry was Philadelphia’s music diplomat, an international celebrity, deejay, and TV personality. Everyone in the music business knew him and loved him. He was indefatigable, a total music cheerleader. We were not close pals, but I admired him. He was always there to root for people. I remember how much he liked Phoebe Snow back in the day, and he was also a fan of my film, “Only the Strong Survive.”
“The definition of the word mensch is Jerry Blavat,” says my friend Joyce Moore. She knew him a long time but not even as long as her famous husband, Sam Moore, of Sam & Dave. It was Jerry who stood down the infamous Morris Levy, owner of Roulette Records, when the duo wanted to break their contract and move to Atlantic Records. Blavat, Sam recalls, marched them into a Miami club and secured Levy’s reluctant agreement.
Everyone in rock and roll has a Blavat story. He simply loved the music, loved the business. On radio he was nicknamed “The Geater with the Heater.” He literally made groups like the Four Seasons and the Isley Brothers, was instrumental in the careers of Todd Rundgren and Daryl Hall, and everyone from Philadelphia International. If there’s Mt. Rushmore of disc jockeys, with Cousin Bruce, Alan Freed, Murray the K, and Wolfman Jack, Jerry Blavat is there with them.
Eight years ago, in 2015, actor Michael J. Fox had holes drilled in his head to stop the shaking from Parkinson’s Disease. The surgery was so dangerous and experimental that it’s not even mentioned in Davis Guggenheim’s extraordinary documentary about Fox, called “Still,” now at the Sundance Film Festival.
Maybe the drilling worked. It must have since Fox, unbelievably, is still there. But he is not “Still.” He can’t remain still. On camera the 61 year old star of “Back to the Future” and numerous movies and TV series, looks like a wreck. He has suffered without complaining since his rare diagnosis in 1990. Even with Guggenheim’s cameras rolling, Fox won’t admit he’s in severe pain. Why not, the director asks? “You didn’t bring it up,” Fox replies.
This documentary will debut on Apple TV Plus. I implore you to watch it, and not. You will be in tears for much of it, as Guggenheim tracks Fox’s rocket like trajectory from “Family Ties” to “Back to the Future” and up, up, up, only to crash with his diagnosis. and keep it quiet for seven stunning years as he married, became a father, and kept working, working, working. He also became an alcoholic, trying to hide the pain with constant drinking.
Luckily, Fox had made a brilliant choice in a wife early on with actress Tracy Pollan. Mother of his four children, Pollan has soldiered her way through this journey. We see her but don’t hear a lot from her, which is too bad since she could certainly write a book. She herself had a blossoming career when she married Fox, and has mostly given it up to be devoted wife and mother. You’ll learn in the film how much Fox appreciates her.
Fox gives Guggenheim access into his home and therapy just enough so we get the idea. We are not there during perilous moments. We just hear about Fox falling down, breaking bones, and so on. Anyone who’s had a family member or friend with Parkinson’s will watch this film agog that Fox is even still alive at this point, that his family still has a sense of humor and that they’re not all drinking. Living with Parkinson’s is no sitcom. Like MS or ALS, it’s bent on total destruction. Somehow this family is making it. I have no doubt this film received a standing ovation at Sundance. You’ll do the same in your living room.
In November Fox was given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar, by the Academy at the Governor’s Awards. It’s hoped he’ll be featured on camera at the Oscars in March to accept the award in person. His speech is below. Ironically, next year, “Still” may be up for an Oscar itself.
Lisa Marie Presley received a classy send off memorial today at Graceland.
The big surprise speaker was Sarah Ferguson aka “Fergie,” Duchess of York and ex wife of Prince Andrew. Who knew she and Lisa Marie called each other “sissie” as in sister? Fergie mentions her late mother in law, aka Queen Elizabeth, so we’ve got the UK royalty invoked at Memphis royalty.
Jerry Schilling, who’s been with the Presleys since the 60s, gives a touching tribute as well. Axl Rose, of Guns n Roses, speaks without notes, then sits at the piano and sings “November Rain.” We’ve never seen him without long hair and a bandana. He’s wearing a wool overcoat and regular scarf. That alone is memorable.
Lisa Marie’s mother, Priscilla, no doubt still in shock, read off her phone a very sweet note from one of the 14 year old twins. She observer her mother died of heartbreak. Lisa never got over her son’s suicide last year.
Finally, eldest daughter Riley Keough’s husband, reads a touching note from his wife. He also reveals they have a daughter. No one knew that. Keough is a respected actress and now will take charge of her mother’s estate
The whole memorial was put together by Lisa Marie and Priscilla’s business partner, Joel Weinshanker, who himself seems genuinely shaken. It’s unclear if his partner, Shaquille O’Neal, made the trip.
You can watch the whole thing here. Rest in peace.
Amazing as it seems, “Avatar 2” is about to hit another milestone. The James Cameron sequel will cross $600 million tomorrow. Either there’s nothing to see, or people are bored, or they’re going back over and over to figure the whole thing out. Anyway. This is The Way of Water. It flows.
Marc Forster’s “Man Called Otto” starring Tom Hanks is a bona fide hit. They’re up to $35 million. Who’d a thunk it? Hanks as a grumpy curmudgeon has hit a note with the audience. It’s a little like “Forrest Gump” as a senior citizen. Did I think it would strike a nerve? No. But Tom’s actress wife Rita Wilson has turned out to be a very wise producer. After all, she brought us the “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” movies. There’s another one coming soon. Plus, Rita wrote and sang the song in “Otto.” Good deal.
Another hit: Searchlight’s “The Menu” coming close to $40 million shortly. Very quietly done, under the radar, but the movie has caught on like crazy. A satisfying meal!
I think we all wondered what was next for Daisy Ridley. She burst on the scene as Rey, the heroine of the final three “Star Wars” movies. Smart and beautiful, yes. But what about acting?
Now we know thanks to a quirky little character study that’s playing at the Sundance Film Festival. “Sometimes I Think About Dying” takes place in a small, unattractive town on the Oregon coast. Fran works in an office much like “The Office.” She’s like the Ellie Kemper character, only deeply depressed. Everyone around her is having fun just living. But Fran is nearly comatose. She comes and goes from her apartment and has no discernible life.
Into the office comes Robert, who’s loud, gregarious, twice divorced, a total opposite played by Canadian actor Dave Merheje. But he likes Fran right away, and tries to draw her out. Will it work? Yes we’ve seen this kind of thing before, but it’s all in the execution. Director Rachel Lambert does a lovely job fleshing out the characters, and the production benefits from stunning cinematography by Dustin Lane. (I want a print of the darkened boats in the marina– gorgeous.)
In the first 15 minutes sometimes I felt like dying, the movie is so slow to establish a pace for Fran. But hang in there– the pay offs come, and they’re worth it. If the Spirit Awards really existed, this would be a perfect film for them to celebrate. Let’s hope this fares better than “To Leslie,” this year’s slip through the crack indie film.
The end has come for “NCIS Los Angeles,” one of many shows on network TV still playing and you had no idea.
It will live on in the zombie world of syndication, where most procedurals go. Will it turn into a “Law & Order” phenom? Only time will tell.
“NCIS LA” has been om for fourteen years. 14! CBS changed regimes so many times that no one remembered what was going on. The show was a boon for LL Cool J, who got to host the Grammys many times and turned the whole run into a Kennedy Center honor (also on CBS). LL Cool J’s success may have been the show’s great accomplishment.
Declining ratings were the cause of death. “NCIS LA” had long been under 5 million viewers a week. Sandwiched into the January 9th three way “NCIS” special, the show finished third to the classic edition “NCIS” and “NCIS Hawai’i.”
And what happened to Oscar winner Linda Hunt aka Hetty, the head of the NCIS in Los Angeles? She vanished from the show a couple of years ago. Any time there was a question of her return, the show’s EP just bluffed and said she expected her back, But that was never going to happen, and now — unless there’s some miracle or fudging — it’s not likely. We can only hope that Hunt, who is 77, is safe and comfortable and living her best life.
PS The most memorable on “NCIS LA” character, Owen Granger, was played by the late Miguel Ferrer, who died in 2017 from cancer. A breakout star from “Twin Peaks,” Ferrer gave “LA” edge. He and Hunt were terrific together. Ferrer was also the son of Rosemary Clooney and Jose Ferrer, two Hollywood greats, and the first cousin of George Clooney.
