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Toronto Film Fest Opens with A Pair of Winners without Hype: “The Swimmers” and the “Moonlight” Like Drama “The Inspection”

Roger Friedman
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Toronto Film Fest Opens with A Pair of Winners without Hype: “The Swimmers” and the “Moonlight” Like Drama “The Inspection”

After all the crazy hype from Telluride and Venice, it was starting to feel like a strange film season.

But tonight the Toronto Film Festival opened with two winners, beautifully made, consistent films that may bear fruit for real come awards season.

The first one was “The Swimmers,” based on a real life story of two sisters, Syrian immigrants, who make a hugely harrowing escape to Berlin. They are each trained swimmers, one of them Olympics-level, and quite young (teens). This was going to be released by Focus Features, but moved during the pandemic to Netflix.

Directed by Sally El Hosaini, with incredible cinematography from Christopher Ross, “The Swimmers” is partly in English, and partly in Arabic with subtitles but it is not a “foreign film.” The excellent Working Title Productions made it. I really think this film will play to the same audience that loved “CODA.” The whole saga of the sisters’ journey, plus the rousing competition at the Rio Olympics, should be an enormous crowd pleaser. Plus there’s the unusual casting of two Lebanese sisters, actresses, as the Syrian sisters who now live in Berlin.

“The Swimmers” was followed immediately next door at the gorgeous Royal Alexandra Theater by “The Inspection,” written and directed by a male director named Elegance Bratton. Very much in the mode of “Moonlight.” this feature could turn out to be a sensation. It’s Bratton’s real life story as gay Black man whose mother could not accept him. He was going nowhere, homeless, and then joined the Marines to turn his life around. Jeremy Pope, the hot Tony double Tony nominee from “Ain’t Too Proud” and “Choir Boy,” plays Bratton like a star. Boom! There are many standouts here including veteran actor Bokeem Woodbine who nearly steals the film as the sergeant who runs boot camp.

But the real surprise is Gabrielle Union, a great beauty who until now has been relegated to pleasant if ineffectual comedies. She’s also married to NBA star Dwayne Wade. Stripped of make up, Union makes a splash a la Mo’Nique or Mariah Carey did in “Precious.” This woman has been acting since 1993, and yet this will be called her breakthrough. At the Q&A following the movie I asked her how she came to this moment working in a dramatic film. She replied, “No one asked me before.” They will now!

Both movies were met his normal applause, very enthusiastic, lasting a minute or so.

Queen Elizabeth 1926-2022, Beloved Monarch Who Also Reigned in Pop Culture

Roger Friedman
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Queen Elizabeth 1926-2022, Beloved Monarch Who Also Reigned in Pop Culture

Tears and memories this afternoon for Queen Elizabeth II, who has occupied all of our lives. Her own extraordinary life ends at age 96, but she will never be forgotten. Even I got off the plane in Toronto this afternoon and went to the ATM, out came $20 bills with her picture on them. I doubt that will ever change.

Besides the long history of ruling Britain, think of Queen Elizabeth’s place in our culture. One actress– Helen Mirren — has won an Oscar and a Tony for playing her. Claire Foy and Olivia Colman have won awards playing her in “The Crown.” She figures in movies, and plays, and music, from the Beatles’ “Her Majesty” to the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen.”

Her legend only grows. When I was in London the week after Princess Diana died, the Queen did not understand her popularity. She turned a deaf ear, and in the process became momentarily unpopular. But at her death Elizabeth is at her zenith of love and being embraced. She managed to overcome that bump in the road and continue on for another 25 years. She even managed to endure a visit from the Former Guy with aplomb.

It’s going to be a weekend of memories to celebrate this unique woman.

“Rings of Power” Cast Issues Statement About Ridiculous Racist Tweets: “Middle Earth is not all white”

Roger Friedman
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“Rings of Power” Cast Issues Statement About Ridiculous Racist Tweets: “Middle Earth is not all white”

I’ve been hearing about racist social media rants against the new “Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power” and even to “House of the Dragon.” I couldn’t process that people could be so stupid.

First of all, these TV shows are complete fantasy fiction, the characters can be any color, gender, size, whatever. I’m laughing (ruefully) at the idea of someone saying a Westero or a Hobbit couldn’t be played by an actor who’s Black, Chinese, or any other human.

It’s very disappointing that we’ve not made any progress here. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. But these actors, on both shows, are absolutely terrific. They should all be applauded and embraced.

Over on “House of Dragon,” by the way, I am intrigued by the amazing Steve Toussaint and his Lord Corlys. So far, he’s my favorite character. I’m curious to see how his sons play into the story.

Are we really having this discussion in 2022? It’s absurd.

The “Rings of Power” cast has issued a statement about this, supporting everyone.

C

Toronto Film Festival: COVID Always Lurks, But Canada Has a Solution in Steriwave

Roger Friedman
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Toronto Film Festival: COVID Always Lurks, But Canada Has a Solution in Steriwave

As I’m packing for the Toronto Film Festival, COVID is still lurking out there. Canada requires a lot of information on their ArriveCAN app including all history of vaccination.

Starting two years ago I wrote about Steriwave, a light sensitive breakthrough that kills infection in the nose. They’ve had incredible success with their treatments, which are approved in Canada but not in the US. You can read my former stories here.

If any of us starts to feel like COVID is coming on this week, Steriwave is available in Toronto. Check it out. Email luxvitaecanada@gmail.com.

More “Worry”: Chris Pine, Florence Pugh Won’t Be In the Big IMAX Q&A with Rest of Cast Premiere Week

Roger Friedman
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More “Worry”: Chris Pine, Florence Pugh Won’t Be In the Big IMAX Q&A with Rest of Cast Premiere Week

Between the spitting the feuding, who can keep up with “Don’t Worry Darling”?

Now comes word that there will be a big IMAX screening and Q&A on September 19th across the country. Fans can buy tickets to see the movie in advance of its September 23 rd opening. A Q&A will follow via satellite. The press release says Olivia Wilde will be there with cast including Harry Styles.

But guess who’s not participating?

Florence Pugh, natch, she’s busy shooting “Dune Two” and dodging all this stuff like it’s COVID-20.

And Chris Pine, the alleged spittee, who looked zoned out at the Venice press conference, and still hasn’t recovered. Pine has no actual excuse except that he’s not into all this, and who can blame him?

Dave Karger of TCM will be the moderator. You can buy tickets here.

“House of the Dragon” Week 3 Dropped At Least 500K Viewers as Woke Prequel Lacks Sex, Fun, of “Game of Thrones”

Roger Friedman
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“House of the Dragon” Week 3 Dropped At Least 500K Viewers as Woke Prequel Lacks Sex, Fun, of “Game of Thrones”

Week 3 of “House of the Dragon” — I really wish it were called “House of Dragons” — showed a ratings fall off for the HBO blockbuster.

Linear ratings on HBO Prime — the cable channel, not streaming or beaming in from other worlds — fell by at least 500,000 viewers to 1,750,000. That’s over two showings between 9 and 11 pm.

I think a lot of viewers, like me, are starting to tire of the “woke” talk, the utter lack of sex or a sense of humor. “HOD” is all plot, and a lot of violence. Blood is spurting everywhere. But none of the predecessors to the Game of Thrones gang is having any fun. What’s the point?

Fans of “GoT” will tell you that the initial seasons bordered on soft core porn. You can find the clips all over YouTube. The original Westerosians drank and screwed and were pretty hearty. Dragons were not their main concern. They also laughed a lot. Some of the episodes were so scandalous, when they were over, you were left agog. Did they really do that on a TV show?

“HOD” is very tame. It’s about royal succession, and only that as far I can tell. Epsiode 3 had a time jump so we missed the wedding of Viserys to his young bride and the birth of their first child. I thought I’d fallen asleep and missed an episode. Alicent Hightower was already pregnant with her second child! What? And they’ve written Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) as a cypher. She has no interest in the guys around her (or even the girls). It’s hard to root for her when she doesn’t seem to care one way or another about anything.

The saving grace of “HOD” is the production. It’s gorgeous to look at. The production design is subtle and stunning. So we keep watching, hoping something will happen soon.

Today Begins Last Three “Days of our Lives” After 57 Years on Broadcast Television

Roger Friedman
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Today Begins Last Three “Days of our Lives” After 57 Years on Broadcast Television

Today is first of the last three episodes of the 57 year old NBC soap opera “Days of our Lives.” It’s end of an era. On Monday. “Days of our Lives” leaves broadcast TV for Peacock and streaming.

Executive producer Ken Corday, who inherited the program from his parents, said in a recent interview the move to streaming “was baked into” the last two year contract he signed. The Peacock move signals the last part of that contract and likely a a year to wrap up the show completely.

“Days of our Lives” became a midday institution in the mid-60s thanks to that hourglass logo and the haunting theme music. The late MacDonald Carey, who had a big career in prime time (it’s fun to see him now in old black and white shows on MeTV) was the star. Even now there are about a dozen or veteran cast members including Deidre Hall (started in 1976) and Susan Seaforth Hayes (1968). They’ve got two in the cast who’ve really hung in there, too. Bill Hayes is 96 years old, John Aniston is 88. They seem to be on all the time. All of them will be missed.

When “Days” is done there will be three soaps left on TV, none on NBC. NBC always wanted to get rid of the soaps, they used to have a bunch of them. But little by little executives came in with cost-cutting ideas, like more inane talk shows and news updates, cooking segments, and so on. No one could have guessed that all of that would dovetail with the arrival of emergency TV, true life stories so violent or weird that they made soap operas look like kid stuff.

Will the fans go to Peacock? Corday has his actors shilling on social media, pitching $1.99 subscriptions. So far Peacock doesn’t have much of an audience although there’s little original material there, just reruns of old NBC shows. Soon “Days of our Lives” will just be one of those, too, I’m afraid.

The Beatles Coming with “Revolver” Box Set Remixed and Remastered Next Month

Roger Friedman
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The Beatles Coming with “Revolver” Box Set Remixed and Remastered Next Month

The Beatles are running out of 50th anniversary editions so it’s time to go backwards a little and issue special editions.

The next one is very exciting: “Revolver,” the album that preceded “Sgt. Pepper” and flipped the switch for the Fab Four has gotten the remix-remaster treatment. It’s going to sound amazing, you know. Plus we’re getting demo tracks and the additions of “Paperback Writer” and “Rain.”

I guess next up will be “Rubber Soul.”

Here’s a distillation of the press release:

“On October 28, Revolver will be released worldwide in a range of beautifully presented, newly mixed and expanded Special Edition packages by Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe. The Special Edition’s new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes of the album’s opening track “Taxman” make their digital release debuts with today’s announcement and preorder launch.

“The Revolver album’s 14 tracks have been newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell in stereo and Dolby Atmos, and the album’s original mono mix is sourced from its 1966 mono master tape. Revolver’s sweeping new Special Edition follows the universally acclaimed remixed and expanded Special Editions of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (2017), The BEATLES (‘White Album’) (2018), Abbey Road (2019), and Let It Be (2021).

“All the new Revolver releases feature the album’s new stereo mix, sourced directly from the original four-track master tapes. The audio is brought forth in stunning clarity with the help of cutting edge de-mixing technology developed by the award-winning sound team led by Emile de la Rey at Peter Jackson’s WingNut Films Productions Ltd. The physical and digital Super Deluxe collections also feature the album’s original mono mix, 28 early takes from the sessions and three home demos, and a four-track EP with new stereo mixes and remastered original mono mixes for “Paperback Writer” and “Rain”. The album’s new Dolby Atmos mix will be released digitally.”

REVOLVER SPECIAL EDITION

Tracklists

SUPER DELUXE [5CD + 100-page hardbound book in slipcase | digital audio collection]

CD1: Revolver (New stereo mix)

1: Taxman

2: Eleanor Rigby

3: I’m Only Sleeping

4: Love You To

5: Here, There And Everywhere

6: Yellow Submarine

7: She Said She Said

8: Good Day Sunshine

9: And Your Bird Can Sing

10: For No One

11: Doctor Robert

12: I Want To Tell You

13: Got To Get You Into My Life

14: Tomorrow Never Knows

CD2: Sessions One

1: Tomorrow Never Knows (Take 1)

2: Tomorrow Never Knows (Mono mix RM 11)

3: Got To Get You Into My Life (First version) – Take 5

4: Got To Get You Into My Life (Second version) – Unnumbered mix – mono

5: Got To Get You Into My Life (Second version) – Take 8

6: Love You To (Take 1) – mono

7: Love You To (Unnumbered rehearsal) – mono

8: Love You To (Take 7)

9: Paperback Writer (Takes 1 and 2) – Backing track – mono

10: Rain (Take 5 – Actual speed)

11: Rain (Take 5 – Slowed down for master tape)

12: Doctor Robert (Take 7)

13: And Your Bird Can Sing (First version) – Take 2

14: And Your Bird Can Sing (First version) – Take 2 (giggling)

CD3: Sessions Two

1: And Your Bird Can Sing (Second version) – Take 5

2: Taxman (Take 11)

3: I’m Only Sleeping (Rehearsal fragment) – mono

4: I’m Only Sleeping (Take 2) – mono

5: I’m Only Sleeping (Take 5) – mono

6: I’m Only Sleeping (Mono mix RM1)

7: Eleanor Rigby (Speech before Take 2)

8: Eleanor Rigby (Take 2)

9: For No One (Take 10) – Backing track

10: Yellow Submarine (Songwriting work tape – Part 1) – mono

11: Yellow Submarine (Songwriting work tape – Part 2) – mono

12: Yellow Submarine (Take 4 before sound effects)

13: Yellow Submarine (Highlighted sound effects)

14: I Want To Tell You (Speech and Take 4)

15: Here, There And Everywhere (Take 6)

16: She Said She Said (John’s demo) – mono

17: She Said She Said (Take 15) – Backing track rehearsal

CD4: Revolver (Original mono master)

Album tracklist (same as above)

CD5: Revolver EP

1: Paperback Writer (New stereo mix)

2: Rain (New stereo mix)

3: Paperback Writer (Original mono mix remastered)

4: Rain (Original mono mix remastered)

SUPER DELUXE VINYL [limited edition 4LP+7-inch EP + 100-page hardbound book in slipcase]

LP One: Revolver (New stereo mix)

Side 1

1: Taxman

2: Eleanor Rigby

3: I’m Only Sleeping

4: Love You To

5: Here, There And Everywhere

6: Yellow Submarine

7: She Said She Said

Side 2

1: Good Day Sunshine

2: And Your Bird Can Sing

3: For No One

4: Doctor Robert

5: I Want To Tell You

6: Got To Get You Into My Life

7: Tomorrow Never Knows

LP Two: Sessions One

Side 1

1: Tomorrow Never Knows (Take 1)

2: Tomorrow Never Knows (Mono mix RM 11)

3: Got To Get You Into My Life (First version) – Take 5

4: Got To Get You Into My Life (Second version) – Unnumbered mix – mono

5: Got To Get You Into My Life (Second version) – Take 8

6: Love You To (Take 1) – mono

7: Love You To (Unnumbered rehearsal) – mono

Side 2

1: Love You To (Take 7)

2: Paperback Writer (Takes 1 and 2) – Backing track – mono

3: Rain (Take 5 – Actual speed)

4: Rain (Take 5 – Slowed down for master tape)

5: Doctor Robert (Take 7)

6: And Your Bird Can Sing (First version) – Take 2

7: And Your Bird Can Sing (First version) – Take 2 (giggling)

LP Three: Sessions Two

Side 1

1: And Your Bird Can Sing (Second version) – Take 5

2: Taxman (Take 11)

3: I’m Only Sleeping (Rehearsal fragment) – mono

4: I’m Only Sleeping (Take 2) – mono

5: I’m Only Sleeping (Take 5) – mono

6: I’m Only Sleeping (Mono mix RM1)

7: Eleanor Rigby (Speech before Take 2)

8: Eleanor Rigby (Take 2)

Side 2

1: For No One (Take 10) – Backing track

2: Yellow Submarine (Songwriting work tape – Part 1) – mono

3: Yellow Submarine (Songwriting work tape – Part 2) – mono

4: Yellow Submarine (Take 4 before sound effects)

5: Yellow Submarine (Highlighted sound effects)

6: I Want To Tell You (Speech and Take 4)

7: Here, There And Everywhere (Take 6)

8: She Said She Said (John’s demo) – mono

9: She Said She Said (Take 15) – Backing track rehearsal

LP Four: Revolver (Original mono master)

Album tracklist (same as above)

Revolver EP (7-inch vinyl)

Side 1

1: Paperback Writer (New stereo mix)

2: Rain (New stereo mix)

Side 2

1: Paperback Writer (Original mono mix remastered)

2: Rain (Original mono mix remastered)

DELUXE [2CD in digipak with 40-page booklet]

CD 1: Revolver (New stereo mix)

CD 2: Sessions

1: Paperback Writer (New stereo mix)

2: Rain (New stereo mix)

3: Tomorrow Never Knows (Take 1)

4: Got To Get You Into My Life (Early mix)

5: Love You To (Take 7)

6: Doctor Robert (Take 7)

7: And Your Bird Can Sing (First version) Take 2

8: Taxman (Take 11)

9: I’m Only Sleeping (Take 2) – mono

10: Eleanor Rigby (Take 2)

11: For No One (Take 10) – Backing track

12: Yellow Submarine (Take 4 before sound effects)

13: I Want To Tell You (Speech and Take 4)

14: Here, There And Everywhere (Take 6)

15: She Said She Said (Take 15) – Backing track rehearsal

STANDARD [1CD | digital | 1LP vinyl | limited edition 1LP picture disc vinyl]

Revolver (New stereo mix)

Broadway: Can’t Get Away from “Into the Woods,” Hit Revival Extends Again Until January

Roger Friedman
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Broadway: Can’t Get Away from “Into the Woods,” Hit Revival Extends Again Until January

“Into the Woods” to get away– but you can’t get away from “Into the Woods.”

The Sondheim revival says it’s extending its initial limited run one more time — til January 8, 2023. The production has been a critical and financial hit, so why not? The only reason they may one day close is because they’re losing their theater.

New cast members came in this week including Montego Glover, Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus Krysta Rodriguez, Katy Geraghty, Jim Stanek, and Andy Karl. Some of the original cast is still there. And who knows? They say this is the final curtain, but never say never.

Broadway Gets the Star it Wanted as Lea Michele Takes Over “Funny Girl” to Many Standing Ovations

Roger Friedman
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0
Broadway Gets the Star it Wanted as Lea Michele Takes Over “Funny Girl” to Many Standing Ovations

“Funny Girl” 2.0 launched tonight at the August Wilson Theater. Lea Michele, star of “Glee,” took over as Fanny Brice, with Tovah Feldshuh as Fanny’s mother.

The theater was packed, folks, to the gills. And they were primed for success. This was the first performance for these new actors, and Lea Michele’s debut on Broadway. When she appeared on stage there was a roar from the audience the kind you hear at British soccer matches. They gave Lea Michele a standing ovation before she opened her mouth. “Funny Girl” opens with Fanny sitting at her desk looking out at the audience. Lea Michele actually looked terrified for a moment as these people lost their minds.

Luckily, she came though and then some. You can’t review this new version for a couple of weeks because it has to gel. This was really a first preview. But Michele and Feldshuh have rescued a major musical that went through a lot of sturm und drang since it opened last April. That’s not to denigrate the people they replaced. But now, suddenly, “Funny Girl” has it right.

There were four standing ovations altogether, by my count. There would have been more except everyone was getting tired — three hours including intermission, and it’s very humid in New York. The air conditioning was straining to accommodate so many people jammed together.

Quite a few celebrities showed up. “Star Trek” actor Zachary Quinto was to my left. Michelle’s “Glee” creator, Ryan Murphy, was off to the right with actor Jonathon Groff, also from “Glee.” The show’s book writer, Harvey Fierstein, perched in his seat and seemed to be swooning from the all the ways the show has improved. Imagine what it will be like when critics come to pass official judgements. (There was also an unconfirmed sighting of Gov. Kathy Hochul, but that may have been part of the overheated enthusiasm).

What I liked tonight especially is that Ramin Karimloo, who’s been playing Nicky Arnstein from the start, seemed much looser and more engaged. At one point during an exchange on stage between Nicky and Fanny, Karimloo either flubbed a line or almost broke out laughing. It was nice to see him enjoying himself.

For the curtain call, Lea Michele surprised me. Well, the audience surprised her. I think the cast was in shock. But she really deferred to Felshuh, who is already note perfect, and Karimloo, in her bows and thank you’s from the stage. I think Broadway has finally gotten the star it wanted, expected and hoped for. Outside the theater, as Lea Michele exited the stage door, throngs of her fans chanted her name in unison.

You can’t ask for anything more. Bravo!

PS Note to Mayor Eric Adams: we got out at 10pm and not a single restaurant on West 52nd was still open. New York is supposed to be the city that never sleeps. But now it’s just woke but not awake. The whole theater district rolls up their carpets early, much like the rest of the city. It’s time to signal the area is safe, the pandemic is over, and let’s get back to business.

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