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Roman Polanski has been sent a message by the Cesar Awards, aka the French Oscars.
The controversial director can be nominated for or win a Cesar in the future but he won’t be allowed to attend the ceremony.
The group has officially banned anyone “indicted or convicted for sexual violence.” That means even if they stood trial and were acquitted, I guess.
This would exclude Woody Allen, who has never been arrested, indicted, or convicted of anything. Woody’s new movie, set in Paris and all French, will be released next year.
The Cesars say: “By respect for victims (even alleged ones in the case of an indictment or a non-definitive sentence) it has been decided to not highlight people who are either indicted or sentenced for acts of violence, notably sexual or sexist violence. Also prohibited from attending the upcoming César ceremony are “people who are currently facing a pending sentence for such acts.”
Polanski, some feel, was railroaded in 1977 by a corrupt Los Angeles judge. He was arrested for sex with a minor in 1977 and pleaded not guilty. He was placed on probation after accepted a plea bargain which included dismissal of the five more serious charges in exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. When Polanski learned the judge was going to arrest and imprison him anyway, he fled the US.
In 2020, Polanski won Best Director at the Cesars for his film, “An Officer and a Spy.” Protests ensued and the Cesar administration was ousted. This new edict is the result.
Again, Woody has never been indicted, arrested, convicted of anything, not even a parking ticket. So if his new film is good, it will be eligible for awards and he can come pick them up, (It’s doubtful he will since he never attends awards shows.)
Apparently, according to the tabloids, Lorenzo Lamas’s 23 year old daughter is dating Leonardo Di Caprio, who is 48.
Lamas has been married five times, each time to a younger woman. He’s 64. His new fiancee is 37, which is old by his standards.
Lamas is okay with the kid dating Leo. Why not? He’s rich and successful. And powerful, The daughter, Victoria, a model, could get an acting career out of it if nothing else.
Lorenzo told the NY Post: “She’s very smitten. I told her to treat the relationship like a holiday — just enjoy it as much as you can for as long as it lasts. And if it lasts for more than a typical holiday, great. But if not, then just guard your heart, you know? Because she’s very young.”
At least Lorenzo, an actor on “Falcon Crest” in the 1980s, isn’t a hypocrite! His mother, actress Arlene Dahl, was married six times. The last husband was 18 years her junior. His father, Fernando Lamas (brilliantly lampooned by Billy Crystal on “SNL”) was only married three times. Dahl was his second wife. His third was famous movie swimmer Esther Williams.
The Lamas’s — or Lamases — like marriage that’s for sure! They must get bored easily!
Judging by the recent “Harry and Meghan” six part documentary, we know he’s just getting started.
Harry has sat down with Anderson Cooper for a big interview on “60 Minutes” set to air this coming Sunday, January 8th. His book, “Spare,” hits stores two days later.
Harry will be “unsparing” with Cooper, who probably pitched his own celebrity family past to get the interview. (Cooper’s mother was Gloria Vanderbilt, look it up.)
What could be in this book that we don’t already know? And do we care? My favorite part of the Netflix doc was when Harry suggested he could walk away from royal money and get a job. What kind of job would that be, exactly?
UK tabloids say “Spare” will address Harry’s frustrations about not being king-to-be and living in brother William’s shadow. Isn’t this what happened to Princess Margaret with Queen Elizabeth? And to Andrew with Charles? Does no one sit down and explain this early in the game? I mean, we all knew it a long time ago!
“60 Minutes” will have a massive ratings intro for Harry from the NFL game next Sunday. Should be an entertaining hour.
CNN recently announced it was killing all its original programming including its terrific documentary division. Seeing “Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over” debut tonight as part of the final season made clear that David Zaslav is making a big mistake. This kind of film is exactly what helps give CNN value added, and class.
“Don’t Make Me Over” debuted at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2021 and almsot got lost because of the pandemic. Directed by Dave Wooley and David Heilbroner, the film is long overdue. Dionne Warwick is a national treasure, a legendary singer and AIDS activist who has long been outspoken and forthright. Her work with Burt Bacharach and Hal David on dozens of classic songs still resonates today. Then she had a rare second career with Clive Davis, producing even more hits. (The only hit not mentioned in the film is “Then Came You,” with the Spinners, still heard daily around the world.)
Recently, Dionne discovered Twitter, and owned it. She even asked for a meeting with Elon Musk. This resulted in “Saturday Night Live” sending her up in a sketch with Ego Nwodim called “The Dionne Warwick Show.” Lorne Michaels should really have her on to sing, ratings would go through the roof.
Dionne comes from a famous music family. Her late mother and Cissy Houston were sisters, making Dionne and Whitney Houston first cousins. Cissy and Dionne’s mother were part of a family group called the Drinkard Singers which also included Dionne’s talented sister, Dee Dee Warwick. Cissy went off to sing with Aretha Franklin, Dionne became a star on her own, even Dee Dee had hits in the 60s. There was no denying this family. Their talent is magical– and hard earned.
The documentary is very well done, cutting between some older unseen interviews, newer pieces, and concert footage. Burt Bacharach, who is 94, is heavily featured in a recent interview (his lyric writer, the great Hal David, sadly passed a few years ago). Burt and Dionne didn’t always get along, but they reached dizzying heights together. After a falling out, they had a rapproachement. (Believe it or not, neither of them has a Kennedy Center honor. They should be inducted together, immediately.)
Also featured in the film are Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Clive Davis, Alicia Keys,Barry Gibb, Quincy Jones, and many people from the music business who were there along the way as Dionne took off in the 60s and never looked back. The directors have done a skillful job of weaving together archival footage with clips, photos, and so on. More importantly, we learn some interesting things including how Marlene Dietrich took Dionne under her wing and turned her into a fashionista in Paris. We also hear some upsetting stories about Dionne fighting racism on the road and elsewhere, including how Dionne’s European record company put a picture of a blonde, blue eyed girl on her first record jacket there instead of showing that she was Black. You better believe Dionne set them straight!
The film also details how Warwick got Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager‘s “That’s What Friends Are For” turned into a money making anthem for AIDS fundraising. Bravo! Plus, there’s a Dionne Warwick Institute in East Orange, New Jersey teaching leadership to students. And these are just layers of Dionne that people don’t know about, like calling a meeting at her home with Snoop Dogg and other rappers to get them to stop using misogynistic lyrics. Snoop is interviewed about it, too.
CNN doesn’t realize what a service they performed tonight showing this film– they must keep doing this. There are no politics in documentaries like “Don’t Make Me Over.” It’s history, biography, arts; and culture. And if they’re not going to advance those things in this kind of forum, 24 news otherwise has no context.
There are so many jazz categories in the Grammy voting this year. But one stands out, and that’s in Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. There’s an album in there that I love call “Center Stage” from a WDR Big Band conducted By Michael Abene featuring Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, and Ronnie Cuber. Listen to this, just great!
Rolling Stone is looking for clicks this morning, issuing their list of the 200 best singers of all time.
It’s ludicrous, don’t waste your time.
Of course, I agree Aretha Franklin is number 1 just as she was in 2010, the last time they pulled this stunt.
But the 200 singers doesn’t include a raft of people who can actually sing. and have been praised for it. It includes a bunch of performers who are talented musicians but screech like hoot owls. I don’t think Rolling Stone understands what singing really means.
They’ve got Frank Sinatra at number 19, and Barbra Streisand at 147. So start there.
The editors have leaned heavily on R&B but have omitted three of the greatest soul singers of all time: Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, Marvin Junior of the Dells and — my god — Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops. It’s just not a list without them. How about Ben E. King? Jerry Butler? Mary Wells?
I think they leave names off just to make people click on the list and write angry emails. Don’t bother. But real singers like Phoebe Snow and Sting aren’t there. Elvis Costello is missing, so are Crosby, Stills, & Nash— aren’t they known for their singing? (But Neil Young is?) Ann or Nancy Wilson from Heart?
How about a great female voice of folk: Judy Collins? (Joan Baez is buried way down at the end!) Did I miss Cher, Jackson Browne, and James Taylor? Let me know if I did. Johnny Mathis? Nat King Cole? Natalie Cole? Harry Nilsson? Dionne Warwick? Roberta Flack?
Tony Fucking Bennett??????Celine Dion!
OK, so please don’t click there. No link. Nothing, Just ignore!
Last night, New Year’s Eve, every single movie in the top 10 was down from the previous night except one: “The Fabelmans.”
The Steven Spielberg dramedy was UP 25% from Friday night. More smart people on New Year’s Eve decided they wanted to see this wonderful film.
Everything else including “Avatar 2,” “Black Panther 2,” and “Puss in Boots” was down around the same average amount: 25 percent.
“The Fabelmans” is available on VOD Amazon Prime, etc for $19.99. But it’s also still hanging in there at theaters, waiting for awards — Critics Choice Jan 15 Golden Globes Jan 10, and then Oscar nominations January 24th. It’s my favorite movie of the year.
The biggest drop last night from Friday was “Violent Night” — 31%. I guess New Year’s revelers didn’t want to be scared!
Terrible way to start the new year with news of another death.
Anita Pointer, who founded the Pointer Sisters with her real sisters June, Bonnie, and Ruth, has died at age 74.
Her publicist says she was surrounded by family, but does not give a cause of death.
Here’s the family statement: “While we are deeply saddened by the loss of Anita, we are comforted in knowing she is now with her daughter, Jada and her sisters June & Bonnie and at peace. She was the one that kept all of us close and together for so long. Her love of our family will live on in each of us. Please respect our privacy during this period of grief and loss. Heaven is a more loving beautiful place with Anita there.”
The Pointer Sisters hit it big in the early 70s with hits like “Yes We Can Can” and “Betcha Got A Chick on the Side.” They were R&B favorites.
But then they hooked up with star producer Richard Perry and their lives changed. Beginning with a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Fire,” the Pointers had hit after hit with “Jump,” “I’m So Excited,” “Slow Hand,” “Automatic,” “Dare Me,” “He’s So Shy,” “Neutron Dance,” and so on. They were atop the music industry for a full decade after that.
What a shame. I loved the Pointer Sisters so much in the mid 80s, they were the perfect combination of R&B, funk, and disco. And they could sing like crazy! Condolences to Anita’s family and friends.
ABC is turning over all of tomorrow basically to Barbara Walters. That’s as it should be, I guess. She filled their hours over decades with celebrity specials and exclusive interviews.
Sunday night from 8 to 10pm there’s a two hour special featuring all of her greatest hits. There are interviews with all of the ABC News people including, and this should be good, Diane Sawyer. Barbara was incredibly competitive with Sawyer, often demanding that she get first crack at big name interviews. Sawyer’s no slouch, so they really went mano a mano.
All day tomorrow as well on ABCNews.com there will be highlights from Walters on “The View.” Barbara had a unique deal on “The View.” She co-owned it with the network. When they forced her out in 2013 they had to buy her out also. She lost control of the show after steering it from day one when she invented it.
And then of course when “The View” returns live next week, we’ll see rending of garments, and so on from Whoopi and Joy — I don’t think the others even knew Barbara — and maybe we’ll see some of the other former hosts show up. Barbara didn’t have much use for Elizabeth Hasselbeck or Debbie Matenopolous, but I’ve no doubt Walters is their personal hero now.
Sorry to be cynical, but the after glow today is a little blinding considering what really went on. Let’s see how long this love fest lasts.
Today, right now as you read this, “Avatar 2” is crossing the $400 million line domestically. In other day it will overtake “Black Panther 2” as it steams ahead on its blue path. These are not Best Picture movies, they are landmarks. They’re spectacles, and their outsized earnings are the reward. They will each get craft nominations galore, which they richly deserve.
Another very entertaining film is also bringing in audiences: “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” The take after 8 days is just over $12 million. There seems to be a steadily building business here. The upbeat take on Whitney Houston’s life still has an incredibly strong 92 on Rotten Tomatoes audience meter. The fans love it!
In the mix: the very overhyped “The Whale” starring Brendan Fraser heading to $5 million today after 22 days in release. This is not a New Year’s Eve movie, it’s a big downer, so WARNING. Wait til tomorrow. You won’t want to have dinner after you’ve seen it.
“A Man Called Otto” starring Tom Hanks opened last night to $23,000 in four theaters. Also not a New Year’s Eve movie as Otto spends two hours trying to kill himself. Hanks is always spot on, but this isn’t a way to celebrate the changing of the calendar. Again, wait til tomorrow. Try “The Fabelmans,” “Banshees,” or “The Menu.”
And if you’ve got three hours, “Babylon” is still babbling on, but it won’t be for much longer. The gorgeous mess of a movie will see theater numbers cut on Thursday most certainly. So this is a good time to see it on the big screen.
