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Box Office Disney Disaster: New Animated Film “Strange World” Bombs in Previews with Just $800,000

Roger Friedman
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Box Office Disney Disaster: New Animated Film “Strange World” Bombs in Previews with Just $800,000

Most kids had half school days yesterday. They should have piled into theaters to see Disney’s new animated film, “Strange World.”

But they did not come in droves. Instead, “Strange World” made just $800,000 in previews. This does not augur well for Thanksgiving weekend. At that rate, “Strange World” could turn out to Disney’s lowest grossing animated film — family film — in a long, long time.

Just for context: “Lightyear,” considered a Disney bomb earlier this year, had a $5 million preview night and went on to earn $118 million domestically (and $100 million internationally).

A lot of potential audience may be thinking they’ll wait and see “Strange World” on Disney Plus. If that”s the case, theaters are in bigger trouble than anyone thought.

Already smaller films with Oscar potential are heading early to streaming. The much praised “The Banshees of Inisherin” from Disney’s Searchlight Films is going to HBO Max before December is out. This is unheard of. In the past, a movie like “Banshees” would continue playing in a limited number of theaters until awards nominations kicked in and word of mouth helped build interest.

It’s indeed a Strange World.

Spirit Awards Embrace “Everything Everywhere,” Proving It’s Not an Oscar Movie, Other Noms Bewildering

Roger Friedman
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Spirit Awards Embrace “Everything Everywhere,” Proving It’s Not an Oscar Movie, Other Noms Bewildering

The Independent Spirit Awards are becoming less and less relevant. Not among the 2023 nominees is anything from “Cha Cha Real Smooth” or Sony Pictures Classics’ “Living.”

The Spirit Awards instead, embraced “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” a movie the Academy voters don’t really get or understand. It’s perfect at the Spirit Awards, where it will probably clean up. The movie cost $25 million, just $5 million less than the organization’s cut off and $3 million more than the old limit.

The Spirit Awards also showed a lot of enthusiasm for Cate Blanchett and her movie, “Tar,” also at the top end of the budget limitation.

The Spirits also initiated gender-free categories, with 10 each in Lead and Supporting. In Lead , 8 of the 10 are men. In Supporting, the proportions were reversed with most going to men.

The Spirit Awards air on IFC live the day before the Oscars and get smaller ratings than the farm report. They are an indicator of nothing. God bless.

Best Feature
Bones and All
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Our Father, the Devil
Tár
Women Talking

Best Director
Todd Field, Tár
Kogonada, After Yang
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Sarah Polley, Women Talking
Halina Reijn, Bodies Bodies Bodies

Best First Feature
Aftersun
Emily the Criminal
The Inspection
Murina
Palm Trees and Power Lines

Best Lead Performance
Cate Blanchett, Tár
Dale Dickey, A Love Song
Mia Goth, Pearl
Regina Hall, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul
Paul Mescal, Aftersun
Aubrey Plaza, Emily the Criminal
Jeremy Pope, The Inspection
Taylor Russell, Bones and All
Andrea Riseborough, To Leslie
Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Supporting Performance
Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway
Nina Hoss, Tár
Brian d’Arcy James, The Cathedral
Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Trevante Rhodes, Bruiser
Theo Rossi, Emily the Criminal
Mark Rylance, Bones and All
Jonathan Tucker, Palm Trees and Power Lines
Gabrielle Union, The Inspection

Breakthrough Performance
Frankie Corio, Aftersun
Gracija Filipović, Murina
Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Lily McInerny, Palm Trees and Power Lines
Daniel Zolghadri, Funny Pages

Best Screenplay
Lena Dunham, Catherine Called Birdy
Todd Field, Tár
Kogonada, After Yang
Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Sarah Polley, Women Talking

Best First Screenplay
Joel Kim Booster, Fire Island
Jamie Dack, Audrey Findlay, Story by Jamie Dack, Palm Trees and Power Lines
K.D. Dávila, Emergency
Sarah DeLappe, Story by Kristen Roupenian, Bodies Bodies Bodies
John Patton Ford, Emily the Criminal

Best Cinematography
Florian Hoffmeister, Tár
Hélène Louvart, Murina
Gregory Oke, Aftersun
Eliot Rockett, Pearl
Anisia Uzeyman, Neptune Frost

Best Editing
Ricky D’Ambrose, The Cathedral
Dean Fleischer Camp, Nick Paley, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Blair McClendon, Aftersun
Paul Rogers, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Monika Willi, Tár

Robert Altman Award
Women Talking

Best Documentary
A House Made of Splinters
All That Breathes
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
Midwives
Riotsville, U.S.A.

Best International Film
Corsage
Joyland
Leonor Will Never Die
Return to Seoul
Saint Omer

Someone to Watch Award
Adamma Ebo, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul
Nikyatu Jusu, Nanny
Araceli Lemos, Holy Emy

Truer Than Fiction Award
Isabel Castro, Mija
Reid Davenport, I Didn’t See You There
Rebeca Huntt, Beba

John Cassavetes Award
The African Desperate
A Love Song
The Cathedral
Holy Emy
Something in the Dirt

Producers Award
Liz Cardenas
Tory Lenosky
David Grove Churchill Viste

Sunday Ratings: “Walking Dead” Leaves in a Coffin, “Yellowstone” Rules, Stallone Sours, “White Lotus” Drops

Roger Friedman
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Sunday Ratings: “Walking Dead” Leaves in a Coffin, “Yellowstone” Rules, Stallone Sours, “White Lotus” Drops

Sunday night on TV, er cable, was busy busy busy.

Of course, “Yellowstone” hung in there with 8.8 million viewers, down a bit from previous weeks but still much bigger than anything on cable or broadcast TV except for football. The breakdown, by the way, was 8 million on the main Paramount network, and 800,000 on CMT. There are likely zillions more on other non linear platforms that aren’t measured.

“The Walking Dead” series finale pulled a little less than 2.3 million viewers, it exited in a coffin. In the old days, “TWD” had up to 17 million viewers. I don’t know why there are three spin off series coming, the interest in these zombies is over.

“Yellowstone” cousin “Tulsa King” starring Sylvester Stallone is bringing in minor numbers. On the Paramount Network, Stallone had just 3.4 million fans. It’s a little apples and oranges, but that’s less than the whole CBS Sunday night lineup, and he’s a Big Movie Star. It’s 60% less than “Yellowstone,” which is also on cable. Stallone knows the show is not a blockbuster and has already indicated he’s out after one season.

HBO’s “The White Lotus” actually lost viewers in its fourth episode. It’s down to 414,000 on HBO linear. I’ve no doubt there were more on HBO Max. But this entire season is proving to be less interesting or welcoming than the first one. The show’s been renewed for season 3, and hopefully the writers will realize that the entire group of character can’t be off putting. There is no one to root for in this show, no moral center. They are all villains with the exception (so far) of Haley Lu Richardson’s Portia and Jennifer Coolidge’s mainstay, Tanya. (The latter we accept already being from outer space.)

There are two more episodes left in this season. We know there are murders to solve, but before that it’s clear terrible things will happen this week. But they aren’t delicious terrible things, they’re just OMG what now? I am curious to see who gets killed and by whom. I could see Portia just drowning all of them!

Review: Charming “Sam and Kate” is A Left Field Hit with Dustin Hoffman, Sissy Spacek from First Time Director Darren LeGallo

Roger Friedman
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Review: Charming “Sam and Kate” is A Left Field Hit with Dustin Hoffman, Sissy Spacek from First Time Director Darren LeGallo

It’s hard to go wrong on your debut film with the likes of Oscar winners Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek. But it takes more than just stars to get things right. Darren LeGallo does just that with his first directing job.

“Sam and Kate” is a charming low key character study. Its PR hook, I suppose, is that Hoffman and Spacek’s respective son and daughter, who are seasoned actors, play their children in the film and are more than just progeny.

The quadrangle takes place in a small town that seems like it might be near Pittsburgh or somewhere toward Ohio. Sam (Jake Hoffman) is living with and caring for his older father, Bill (Dustin). Sam has had a failure to launch, and is basically marking time. Kate (Schuyler Fisk) lives near her mother, Tina, who turns out to be a sweet secret hoarder. Kate has a few mysteries to why she’s back in town, and we’ll find them out down the road.

No one wears a cape, but all four of these people, says LeGallo, who wrote the script, are heroes. They’ve survived to this point overcoming personal obstacles. Now fate brings them together and it’s not as obvious as you might think. The potential couples don’t just pair off and walk into the sunset. Le Gallo burrows down into their souls and comes up with people who we root for and are eminently watchable.

Hoffman, who hasn’t been on screen much lately. is a good match for Spacek. They are oil and water really, which makes Bill and Tina intriguing people to meet each other. They each give master classes in subtlety and restraint. Jake Hoffman is vivid and fun and just shnooky enough to pull this off. (He looks like a cross between 70s Cat Stevens and Al Pacino as Serpico.) Schuyler Fisk is radiant, I’m not sure why she doesn’t do more on film.

“Sam and Kate” won’t make two hundred million dollars. But it’s a great launch for LeGallo, and a lovely vehicle for the actors. If it’s playing in your town, this is the film you take your parents or grandparents to. They’ll thank you.

Plus, value added: always great to see Henry Thomas, who’s very much an adult and a fine actor. He was, of course, Elliot in “ET.”

Watch the Final Trailer for “Avatar 2” Which Seems Entirely Animated with No Live Action

Roger Friedman
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0
Watch the Final Trailer for “Avatar 2” Which Seems Entirely Animated with No Live Action

I guess I misunderstood: the first “Avatar” had live action people like Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana, and Sam Worthington. Didn’t it? Am I wrong?

The new “Avatar” appears to be entirely animated with the blue people, and no live action. Anyway, here’s the final trailer. I know “Avatar” fans are very excited about this, and the images certainly are astonishingly good.

One thing’s for sure, there are no jokes in this movie. The character seem very very serious.

Is Elon Musk Turning Twitter into My Pillow? Stock Price Drops to All Time Low

Roger Friedman
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0
Is Elon Musk Turning Twitter into My Pillow? Stock Price Drops to All Time Low

Is Elon Musk turning Twitter into My Pillow?

Before Mike Lindell threw in with Donald Trump, he had a company — a silly company but apparently successful selling puffed up marshmallows made from shredded cardboard (that’s what it felt like to me).

Now Elon Musk has gotten all chummy with Trump, Kanye West, and other unsavory types. And his stock price for Tesla is dropping faster than the watermelons David Letterman use to throw from his office in 30 Rock down to the plaza below.

Today, Tesla closed at its lowest price ever –$167.54. This was not just because of the 19th recall in 2022. It’s also because he’s become obsessed with alienating his base customer, offending everyone, and using Twitter as his minute by minute toy. The stock fell 6.84%. In March it got as high as $361. What is going on here? I have no idea. But Tesla is going to be running on AAA batteries soon!

(Watch) Kanye West’s Sad Tour Through Empty Warehouse, Says Running for President in 2024 (to Get Federal Funds)

Roger Friedman
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0
(Watch) Kanye West’s Sad Tour Through Empty Warehouse, Says Running for President in 2024 (to Get Federal Funds)

Kanye West let a videographer from X17 into his mostly empty warehouse yesterday. Watch — the place is empty, there are fewer than a dozen people there sewing or whatever. (I hope they’re being paid and have health benefits.)

There is also very little inventory. Kanye says he’s going to “cut it up” and sell each piece for 20 bucks. This is just blather.

He also says he’s running for president in 2024 and is accompanied by total nutcase Milo Yiannopoulos, one of the most reviled right wing fringe people in existence. Running for president could qualify him for federal funds, which he’ll need by early next year.

The whole video comes off as pathetic and sad. Kanye’s business is over, this is what’s left of it. The rubble.

Musk-a-tears: Tesla Stock Dropping Fast Monday After Massive Recall, Twitter Chaos (UPDATING)

Roger Friedman
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Musk-a-tears: Tesla Stock Dropping Fast Monday After Massive Recall, Twitter Chaos (UPDATING)

Elon Musk has his hands full this morning.

Tesla stock price is dropping fast. It’s trading at an all time low– around $169 — and going fast. It’s down 6% from Friday, and around 10 bucks off from Friday as well.

The reasons are many. First of all, Tesla is having a giant recall — 321,000 cars over rear lights not working. That’s the 19th recall of 2022.

You may also “recall” that over the weekend Musk caused more chaos at Twitter. He reinstated accounts from Donald Trump, Kanye West, and several right wing propagandists. Also, after firing 3,700 people including most of those who keep track of right wing and harmful accounts, I can tell you personally that I’ve had to act like a soccer goalie, catching and then blocking or muting a bunch of Tweets from accounts I don’t want to see. They’re pouring in.

keep updating for stock updates…

Wait! That Wasn’t It! Elton John Still Has Over 60 International Dates Left! You Can Still See Him!

Roger Friedman
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Wait! That Wasn’t It! Elton John Still Has Over 60 International Dates Left! You Can Still See Him!

LOL. We knew Elton John wouldn’t actually retire from touring.

Last night’s show at Dodger Stadium was only his finale in North America.

Elton still has over 60 dates left on his docket for 2023, beginning in January in Australia and ending in July in Sweden.

In between, he’s covering a lot of the UK and Europe. You can check the schedule. This party isn’t over yet, my friends!

So if you’re inclined to get on a plane, there are plenty more opportunities to see last night’s show live abroad this winter and spring. There are many dates in Great Britain including a run at London’s O2 Arena. Sounds good to me!

Elton John Gives Final North American Show from L.A., a Total Triumph of Music and Showmanship

Roger Friedman
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Elton John Gives Final North American Show from L.A., a Total Triumph of Music and Showmanship

Elton John ended 50 years plus of touring with his final North American show at Dodger Stadium. It was a total blast, a triumph of music and showmanship. The end featured a reunion with Kiki Dee on their 1975 hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and his 2021 hit with Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart.”

What other artist has had a career like Elton John? When he wrote “I’m Still Standing” his career was in a lull after a decade of superstardom. Every time he was written off, or thought to out of vogue, he came roaring back. This was especially true when he wrote the songs for “The Lion King,” and had an enduring smash in film and on Broadway.

Tonight’s two and a half hour show was concise, and note perfect, from the first song– “Bennie and the Jets” right through to “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Hearing “Your Song,” Elton’s first with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin never ceases to be surprising and wistful. Seeing Bernie on stage at the end of the show, along with Elton’s husband David Furnish and their two young sons — they’ve gone beyond the yellow brick road.

Bravo!

EARLIER: Elton John’s final ever touring show is going on now live from Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium. He’s already played more than a dozen hits, with another dozen to go including a big finale with “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

So far, the show is a killer, with Elton sounding, rocking, and acting like it’s still 1974 and he’s at the height of his power and popularity. And he’s still got Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper leading the band. Elton is the main artist whose career coincided exactly with my junior high school and high school years. We all started together. His outpouring of songs and albums from 1969 to 1975 was insane. And it’s remained the soundtrack of all our lives.

Keep refreshing…and check it out on Disney Plus. Extremely well produced. I hope they issue a CD soundtrack.

That’s Brandi Carlile singing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”

Here’s the playlist:

Bennie and the Jets, Philadelphia Freedom, I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues, Border Song (with a beautiful dedication to Aretha Franklin, who had a hit with it in 1971), Tiny Dancer, Have Mercy on the Criminal (which gave Davey Johnstone a farewell solo), Rocket Man (ending in a tremendous flourish), Take Me to the Pilot, Someone Saved My Life Tonight. Levon (another rave up ending), Candle in the Wind, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding (Elton changed some of his outfit during the first instrumental part), Burn Down the Mission, Sad Songs (Say so Much), Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (brilliant duet with Brandi Carlile), The Bitch is Back, I’m Still Standing, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (show stopping duet with Kiki Dee), Crocodile Rock, Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, Cold Heart (Dua Lipa), Your Song, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (he introduced Bernie Taupin, and his famiy).

Missing: Daniel, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Country Comfort, The One, Empty Garden, Little Jeannie, Honky Cat. And that’s just for starters.

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