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“Bombshell,” About Roger Ailes’ Misbehavior at Fox News Throws a Monkey Wrench into 2020 Oscar Predictions

Roger Friedman
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“Bombshell,” About Roger Ailes’ Misbehavior at Fox News Throws a Monkey Wrench into 2020 Oscar Predictions

As the Oscar season narrows down, many nominations are coming into focus. I see a lot of lists on Gold Derby and other places, some with spot-on choices and others with longshots longer than Donald Trump asking Nancy Pelosi to replace him in the White House.

Now comes a big monkey wrench into the mix: Jay Roach’s “Bombshell,” all about Roger Ailes’s reign of terror against the women of Fox News. It was screened last week in Los Angeles, and last night in New York for SAG and some press. (The moderator, Lynn Hirschberg, of W Magazine, was a lively relief. Let’s have her some more!) “Bombshell,” from Lions Gate, doesn’t open until December 20th. There’s a review embargo. So this isn’t a review, just an observation.

And another cliche: “Bombshell” upsets the apple cart for the women’s acting categories. Charlize Theron is absolutely going to be Renee Zellweger’s main competition for Best Actress. Theron’s performance as Megyn Kelly is as immersive as Zellweger’s as Judy Garland. If I were Kelly, I’d look in the mirror and make sure I’m still there. Theron is inhabiting her.

“Bombshell” really clouds up the Best Supporting Actress and Actor categories. Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, respectively, as Gretchen Carlson and a fictional Fox employee (a composite of Ailes’ victims) will take two of the five supporting slots. Lithgow, as Ailes, has to be nominated in supporting.

Also, as someone whispered to me last night, “Bombshell” has quite the ensemble. They will be recognized for that.

“Bombshell” will also be occupying slots for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay. The weird thing here is that the movie will beat the Showtime series, “Loudest Voice in the Room,” to awards activity. The Oscars will precede the Emmys by six months.

“Loudest Voice,” which starred Russell Crowe and Naomi Watts, was excellent. But it aired in summer, when viewership is low. A lot of people didn’t see it. The six episodes are wonderful but have a different tone and temperament than a two hour movie. They are different animals.

I’ll tell you more about “Bombshell” when the embargo ends. But as a former Fox victim, I can say I was totally caught up in it. And you will be too. My only question is, how do we feel about these actors playing really awful people? Because the women — despite being sexually harassed — were not forced to deliver, day after day, crazy right wing opinions, Fake News, and so on. That’s something that will be debated. Much as they are all impeccably portrayed, these are real people you cannot congratulate or honor.

 

Sequels: “Maleficent” 5 Years Later Opens 50 Percent Down, “Zombieland” 10 Years Later Better than Ever, “Gemini Man” Collapses

Roger Friedman
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Sequels: “Maleficent” 5 Years Later Opens 50 Percent Down, “Zombieland” 10 Years Later Better than Ever, “Gemini Man” Collapses

In October 2009, the original “Zombieland” had an opening weekend of $24.7 million. Ten years later, its sequel has landed with numbers as good: $26.7 million. Zombies never get old!

By contrast, this weekend we had “Maleficent 2,” five years after the original. The first one had a $70 million weekend. The new one? Just $36 million. Not evil enough for the US. Will still do very well around the globe. But Angelina Jolie might give some thought to doing serious movies in which she has to interact like an actual human with other characters.

Maybe they should have titled it “Femaleficent.” That might have increased audience.

“Downton Abbey” hits $88 million today. I’d love to see the screenplay for number 2. And to hear the conversations with Maggie Smith. The Dowager Countess’s cancer is moving slowly. Or misdiagnosed.

At the same time, “Gemini Man” doubled its problems, taking in just $8.5 million this weekend, two million LESS than predicted. The whole thing is over. Total now is $36 million. Say goodbye at $45 million if lucky. That’s a LOT of money lost. A big write down.

Also news-worthy: Jennifer Lopez has now starred in her first $100 million film as “Hustlers” crosses the mark today. JL0 is headed to the Golden Globes, certainly, in the supporting actress category. But Oscars look like a slim chance now that Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie are filling two spots from “Bombshell.” Annette Bening takes the third for “The Report.” Laura Dern is IN for “Marriage Story.” It’s likely we’ll get two more choices from “Little Women.” But Lopez should be happy with the Globes, which is not exactly chopped liver.

My “Bombshell” review is coming, but in the meantime, Kidman’s subtle work as Gretchen Carlson is really a knockout, and so central to the movie. It was really cool and brave of her to take a supporting role in a movie. But she is a risk taker and a good gambler. Robbie could tip the other way to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” But this work is the best of her very strong career. Wait for the big review to hear about Charlize and John Lithgow.

Box Office: Angelina Jolie’s “Maleficent 2” Has $12.5 Mil Open, Will Smith’s “Gemini Man” Dies Again, “Zombieland” Tap Dances Up A Storm

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: Angelina Jolie’s “Maleficent 2” Has $12.5 Mil Open, Will Smith’s “Gemini Man” Dies Again, “Zombieland” Tap Dances Up A Storm

Friday box office: Angelina Jolie’s “Maleficent 2” or “Mistress of Evil” scared up $12.5 million Friday including the $2.5 mil from Thursday. It’s not a record breaker but people went, and more will flood into today and tomorrow at matinees. Critics hated it, but “M2” is candy corn, it’s not a movie (see Scorsese comments). Angelina has 6 kids and bills to pay, so let’s be kind. She’s got her Oscar, and she’s an ambassador to everything.

Will Smith’s “Gemini Man” is dead again. Someone thought  that this weekend’s total would be $10.5 million, which the very reliable boxofficemojo.com put into their projections. Well, last night Gemini Man took in just $2.3 million, so I don’t know how that’s going to work out unless a sudden mob scene occurs in theaters. “Gemini Man” will be lucky to stir up $7 million, and even then I can’t imagine why–the word of mouth is worse than the reviews.

“Zombieland: Double Tap” actually made a very healthy $10.5 million last night including Thursday previews. The sequel to “Adventures in Zombieland” did a lot better than you might imagine, but zombies are always popular. (Look at the red states for more on that.) So we’ve got a modest hit, and a good airplane movie, or rental when the time comes. I’m psyched. Don’t denigrate this sort of film. It’s what keeps us going!

Hit Her with Your Best Shot: Pat Benatar Leads the Public Vote for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

Roger Friedman
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Hit Her with Your Best Shot: Pat Benatar Leads the Public Vote for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

Well, well.

Just a few days after 16 new possible inductees’ nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we have a leading candidate.

On the RRHOF site, votes have poured in from the public. These votes will be weighed against the nominating committee’s ideas. Then a real ballot will go out to all the members.

So far the highest number of votes has been garnered by 80s rocker Pat Benatar. She’s got 127,695 votes early in the game. Hot on her heels are the Doobie Brothers, Soundgarden, Depeche Mode, and Judas Priest. (If the latter gets in yikes.)

Not doing so well in the vote so far is the late rapper, Notorious BIG. I’m not surprised. He has nothing to do with rock. I can’t imagine why he’s on the list. He has 60,000 votes.

People who do have a lot to do with rock, the MC5, are at the bottom of the voting. Here’s an idea for new RRHall Foundation chairman John Sykes: just wave in a bunch of actual influential rockers and players who will never get in. MC5, J Geils, Chubby Checker, et al. Open the door and let ’em in. Wipe the slate clean. (T. Rex, too.)

Aretha vs Aretha: A Big Mess Looms as MGM Announces Cast for “Respect,” Imagine Readies Genius Mini-Series

Roger Friedman
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Aretha vs Aretha: A Big Mess Looms as MGM Announces Cast for “Respect,” Imagine Readies Genius Mini-Series

Yes, there are two Aretha movie projects. One of them is for the big screen, one of them for the TV. They are happening simultaneously. Why not? This mess is so Aretha, it’s just about perfect.

Today MGM announced the cast for “Respect,” directed by theater director Liesl Tommy and written not by Oscar winner Callie Khouri. Back in May, at the Pulitzer Prize lunch, I was seated next to Tommy and a woman named Tracey Scott Wilson. Tommy introduced her as the writer of “Respect.” This was a surprise since Khouri, famous for “Thelma and Louise,” has always been the credited writer. But Wilson and Tommy have worked before together off Broadway. Wilson’s screen credits are 1 episode of “Fosse/Verson” and 7 of “The Americans.”

Then there’s the “Genius” mini-series from Ron Howard’s Imagine for the History/Discovery channels. Clive Davis is an executive producer of that project, and he said in this space a couple of weeks ago that the scripts are in, and the show is moving forward.

There’s a big irony here about casting Aretha. Cynthia Erivo, Tony winner for “The Color Purple,” is playing the great singer in the mini series. Erivo’s Oscar winner (“Dreamgirls”) co-star from “The Color Purple,” Jennifer Hudson, was hand-picked by Aretha for “Respect.” Hudson has been an artist of Davis’s at J Records, and now at RCA, for years and years.

Aretha, of course, caused this problem. She refused to sign the papers for the movie before she died. How do I know? I asked her. As with her will or lack of one, she left the whole situation to chaos. “Respect” has been set for next August, on what is considered the “black film” release weekend. “Genius” will have to wait now unless they rush it into production. But it will come, the train has left the station.

We don’t have  cast list yet for “Genius,” but we do for “Respect,” which commences shooting November 1st. It’s a little, uh, odd, although I kind of like the idea of Marc Maron as Jerry Wexler. Even though Titus Burgess is very entertaining, he’s an offbeat choice for James Cleveland.

The list provided today indicates some idea of what the screenplay is concentrating on, Aretha’s Atlantic years (there’s no Ahmet Ertegun yet but there will have to be). Having Dinah Washington, Clara Ward, and Revs. Franklin and Cleveland, sounds like this is going to concentrate on Aretha during her Atlantic chart years, with the “Amazing Grace” concert maybe at the end-ish (1972).

What will it be like? The only things certain in this life are death, taxes, and Jennifer Hudson’s voice. JHud will sing herself into the heavens. That part will be insanely good. The rest, we will wait and see.

PS I am imploring all press to stop using photos of Aretha from the last year of her life. She was gravely ill, and looks it. This is not the image she would prefer, I can tell you that.

Here it is, from the press release:

The Franklin family will be played by:

Forest Whitaker (Godfather of Harlem) stars as Reverend CL Franklin. Known as the man with the “Million-Dollar Voice,” Franklin served as the pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin was also the father of the American singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin and her manager early on in her career.

Marlon Wayans (On the Rocks, highly successful Sextuplets, Marlon), stars as Ted White, Aretha’s first husband.

Audra McDonald—the winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and an Emmy—stars as Barbara Franklin, Aretha’s mother.

Saycon Sengbloh (Broadway’s Eclipsed, CW’s In the Dark, ABC’s Scandal) stars as Erma Franklin, Aretha’s eldest sister.

Hailey Kilgore (Broadway’s Once on This Island, NBC’s The Village, Amblin/Apple’s Amazing Stories) stars as Carolyn Franklin, Aretha’s sister.

After a worldwide casting search, the role of young Aretha Franklin will be played by Skye Dakota Turner (Broadway’s Young Anna Mae in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical).

Music legends will be played by:

Mary J. Blige (Mudbound) stars as famed recording artist Dinah Washington. APA reps the multiple Grammy winning, and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated artist.

Heather Headley (Broadway’s Aida) will play Clara Ward, the famed gospel artist and leader of The Famous Ward Sisters.

Tituss Burgess (Dolemite Is My Name, Unbreakable KimmySchmidt) stars as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland, who was known as the “King of Gospel.”

Marc Maron (Joker, GLOW, Sword of Trust) stars as legendary Atlantic Records music producer Jerry Wexler.

Tate Donovan (Rocketman) stars as John Hammond, Columbia Records’ influential music producer.

Broadway Has a Major Hit in “The Sound Inside,” And an Early Tony Nominee for Best Actress in Mary Louise Parker

Roger Friedman
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Broadway Has a Major Hit in “The Sound Inside,” And an Early Tony Nominee for Best Actress in Mary Louise Parker

Sometimes the magic is there, everything works. The play is unexpectedly great, the star has a towering moment, the director bats a thousand with imaginative staging. We don’t get to feel this all the time, so let me blabber for a minute here about Mary Louise Parker in “The Sound Inside,” written by Adam Rapp and directed by David Cromer. There’s also a newcomer in this two-hander, Will Hochman, who suddenly has a theater career at the age of 22.

No one could really tell what was going on with extra long preview time over at Studio 54. Jeffrey Richards and Lincoln Center were renting the theater from the Roundabout to put on “The Sound Inside,” a new play really no one knew anything about. Just the idea of new play these days is like a gift from the heavens. Basically, we’re awash in revivals and non-revivals like “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I mean, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” is coming back again. And again.

But here’s Adam Rapp, with a resume of excellent off Broadway plays, making his debut. Here’s Mary Louise Parker, so good in “Proof” almost 20 years ago, known better for her TV work in “Weeds” and some Broadway shows that garnered good notices for her but just didn’t make it. And then you have David Cromer, acting in and directing 5 hits in a row over the last decade including the Tony winner, “The Band’s Visit.”

Who can say which ingredient was the winner? Mixed together, all the elements of “The Sound Inside” make for an evening in the theater we started to think wouldn’t happen again. Rapp told me his play draws on autobiographical material– his mother died of cancer in 1997. And so Parker’s Bella, a college professor without family but smart and funny, receives her diagnosis. And then she meets a new student, Christopher, also a loner, maybe troubled, but he has a spark. Bella and Christopher’s connection is not what you think it is. Rapp steers clear of every cliche. Their 90 minute saga, without intermission, just keeps taking unexpected and welcome turns.

Hochman reminded me of Jesse Eisenberg when he was starting out, or Alex Sharp (of “Curious Incident” fame). Super articulate and sensitive, he’s not naive, so he’s a good conversational match for Bella, who’s at a crossroads. I’m glad Christopher is there in person. But really Bella could just do the whole thing as a monologue. Parker just has her right in her palm. She’s in the zone, as they say. She gives a stunning spot on performance that will be remembered for a long time to come.

And here’s the real plot twist: this is a limited run. The Roundabout has to go back to its schedule. Parker has already signed on to star in another play this spring. She’ll co-star with David Morse in a revival of “How I Learned to Drive.” Everyone should have this dilemma! I hope she can come back in another run of “Sound Inside” after that. And she’ll have to decide which show to take to the Tony Awards. This one must absolutely be the one.

Note to Tony voters: much as with “Waverly Gallery,” and Elaine May, get in to see this before it closes.

In the audience tonight, lots of cool people including Susan Sarandon, Molly Ringwald, Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz (a former Parker boyfriend), plus BFF Kathy Najimy (who was kvelling), and “Rent” star Anthony Rapp, whose brother is the playwright. Plus Parker and Billy Crudup’s tall, good looking 15 year old son who told me he’s going to get into directing as well as acting. He’s got the genes!

 

Kanye West Releases Trailer for “Jesus is King” Movie, Due in Theaters Next Week, Album is Still AWOL

Roger Friedman
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Kanye West Releases Trailer for “Jesus is King” Movie, Due in Theaters Next Week, Album is Still AWOL

This thing tells us nothing. Here’s the description on the website: “IMAX® is releasing the all new Kanye West film, “JESUS IS KING,” exclusively in IMAX theatres. Filmed in the summer of 2019, “JESUS IS KING” brings Kanye West’s famed Sunday Service to life in the Roden Crater, visionary artist James Turrell’s never-before-seen installation in Arizona’s Painted Desert. This one-of-a-kind experience features songs arranged by West in the gospel tradition along with new music from his forthcoming album “JESUS IS KING” — all presented in the immersive sound and stunning clarity of The IMAX Experience®.”

Will it have a shopping component? Probably. And where is that album? God only knows.

CBS’s New Drew Barrymore Talk Show Threatens Midday Soaps “Young and Restless,” “Bold and Beautiful”

Roger Friedman
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CBS’s New Drew Barrymore Talk Show Threatens Midday Soaps “Young and Restless,” “Bold and Beautiful”

Drew Barrymore may not seem so cute in the fall to her movie fans.

CBS Television has announced it’s picking up her hour long talk show for their afternoon schedule. This means, something has to go.

Right now, CBS programs the hours between 10am and 3pm in New York, and 10 to 2pm in Los Angeles. Right now, the CBS Daytime lineup is solidly booked, from Judge Judy’s “Hot Bench” program in the morning through to her own show in the afternoon. In between, CBS has the game shows “Price is Right” and “Let’s Make a Deal,” plus “The Talk” and “Dr. Phil.” In Los Angeles, they also have “Funny You Should Ask,” which they don’t produce but have renewed for the fall.

CBS should learn the lesson ABC accepted when it canceled “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” to make way for Katie Couric’s talk show several years ago. That ended in tears. The soap fans did not migrate to Katie, and the show was cancelled. Barrymore, who is not a particularly intuitive person when dealing with others, may not grasp the ire of those fans. But they will retaliate.

Still, “Drew” has to go somewhere on the schedule. It doesn’t help that the ratings for “The Young and the Restless” have fallen by a million viewers in two years. This past spring and summer have been brutal, although there does seem to be a little comeback happening now. Soap fans had better start a campaign to save their shows now, before things get any more dire.

And the question is, Do we need another talk show? Like another bank on the corner, talk shows are empty vessels. “Ellen” is fine, and “Live with Kelly and Ryan” has its place. But beyond that, they are all, mercilessly, the same, without much substance. And will Barrymore really want to stick it out for five years or more if her ratings aren’t anemic? The network risks losing a generation of viewers by making a sudden move.

Global Citizen Hires High Powered, Highly Paid Exec to…Raise Money for the Poor? No…Produce More Expensive Rock Concerts? Yes

Roger Friedman
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Global Citizen Hires High Powered, Highly Paid Exec to…Raise Money for the Poor? No…Produce More Expensive Rock Concerts? Yes

People still don’t get it. Global Citizen is about money and rock concerts. It has nothing to do with poverty, charity, or hunger.

This morning this sketchy tax free boondoggle announced they have hired Lee Rolontz as SVP of Broadcast and Events. They didn’t hire her to get money or food to poor people. No, her job is to produce more expensive rock concerts.

Rolontz, with 20 years on her resume at I Heart Radio and Viacom/VH-1, will undoubtedly receive a high six figure salary and an expense account.

She will join an organization that already is paying its top two execs $400,000-plus a year. And claimed total salaries in 2017 of $9 million.

Yet, as I’ve written before, Global Citizen’s only job is to “raise awareness” about poverty and hunger. And to fly rock stars around the world.

It’s nice work, if you can get it.

For Harry Styles, “Lights Up” was a Dim Prospect as Opening Single for New Project, Coming in 3rd This Week

Roger Friedman
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For Harry Styles, “Lights Up” was a Dim Prospect as Opening Single for New Project, Coming in 3rd This Week

Harry Styles released “Lights Out” last week, mid week, with no warning or marketing. The result was a few sales counted before the week ended. But it did go to Number 1 for a minute.

A week later, “Lights Out” has been a dim prospect for Harry, who will release a new album soon. The single is at 23 on the iTunes chart. With sales (including streaming) at 80,000, “Lights Up” will finish third for the week. Its actual sales: 13,000 paid downloads this week, a total of 17,000 counting last week. I liked “Lights Up.” Maybe the next one will do better. But remember– Harry’s singles from his first album were not earthshaking sellers.

The singles chart is a strange place in this generation. Artists drop songs, they go to number 1 for 2 days, then drift away. Few singles stick around for months, making a lasting impression, Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” just passed its 13th month  birthday in the top 5. Now that’s a hit! Another Lizzo track, “Good as Hell,” debuted on March 8, 2016– three and  half years ago! It’s number 6 right now.

Katy Perry dropped a new track on Tuesday night called “Harleys in Hawaii.” There’s also a video. I don’t get it. These are just pedestrian songs. She can — and has done– so much better.

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