fan-fare
Bullock lauds friends with “integrity,” says didn’t skip adoption line
Sep 1st
In her first television interview after her marriage breakup that played out for the world to see, Sandra Bullock told morning chat program the Today show about calling a school in New Orleans (”Um, Hi, it’s Sandra Bullock”) to donate money, her love of public education, her passion for New Orleans and her adopted baby boy.
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No, she didn’t talk directly about how she felt about ex-husband James James. But among all the baby talk in the very safe interview (we wonder what ground rules were established for what could or could not be asked) — mostly about how she calls her New Orleans-born boy her “little Cajun cookie” — she did offer up that hey, unlike the public perception of other celebrities who skip lines by adopting overseas or paying larger fees, America’s favorite girl-next-door did not skip the queue.
“I did not circumvent. I wanted to do everything exactly the same way everyone else did. It was nice to have someone say ‘I think you are a fit parent’ which is what I heard,” she told Matt Lauer. “I got blessed, I got lucky.”
Besides being “blessed, ” and “lucky”, she offered this little gem on life when asked about her adoption — “Everything works out the way the universe wants it to work out.”
If that seems remarkably positive for a year of as many lows as highs, Bullock only had her friends to thank on keeping her privacy – “human beings exist that have integrity that know how to keep their mouth shut. That know the bigger picture, that don’t sell out their friends,” she said. “I was blessed with the same friends I’ve had since before things got really special for me and blessed in life.”
Again, she’s blessed. There was no sorrow, no complaints – just typical Bullock laughter. And only when Lauer suggested she had become a “hero” for New Orleans, a few modest teary eyes. “Wow…It’s random acts of kindness,” she responded. “She’s delicious” the Today host commented when the interview finished. With America now backing her more than ever, any early bets on Bullock’s next movie being a hit? Or, her next Oscar?
Mad Men, Modern Family win top Emmys as fresh faces abound
Aug 30th
The Emmys got off to a fun start at 5 p.m. local time with organizers getting six of the comedy categories out of the way at the outset. But first: the requisite intro, which is sure to mortify Bruce Springsteen’s stoic fans.
5:05 p.m. Jimmy Fallon does Bruce Springsteen in a Glee-style version of “Born to Run.” He grabs Jane Lynch’s breasts, as she sings “Strap your hands across my engines.” A few minutes later, he ditches the Boss-style blue jeans and white-T for a tuxedo, and gets in the first Conan joke, asking “what can possibly go wrong?” when he relates how NBC asked him to host a late-night show. Camera pans to O’Brien, whose late version of “The Tonight Show” is nominated for best variety, music or comedy series.
5:12 p.m. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY: ERIC STONESTREET (MODERN FAMILY). Tears are streaming down the cheeks of his on-screen partner and fellow nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Stonestreet takes the stage to deliver a heartfelt paean to the entertainment industry in general and his co-workers specifically. “All I wanted to be was clown in the circus when I was a kid growing up,” says the portly actor, who only plays gay on the screen.
5:21 p.m. BEST WRITING, COMEDY “MODERN FAMILY.” Two-for-two for TV’s hottest comedy, as co-creators STEVEN LEVITAN and CHRISTOPHER LLOYD take the prize for writing the pilot. Star Ed O’Neill’s mouth is open in wonderment.
5:25 p.m. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: JANE LYNCH (GLEE). “This is outlandish,” she says, thanking her parents from the south side of Chicago. “I rarely identify myself as anything – I’m Buddhist in that way, although I’m not a Buddhist … they do seem like a very calm people – but I am an actor.” She thanks her wife, Laura.
5:33 p.m. BEST DIRECTING: “GLEE.” The fourth nomination and first win for series creator Ryan Murphy. “Glee is about the importance of arts education, so I would like to dedicate this to all my teachers who taught me to sing and finger paint,” he says.
5:38 pm., LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY: JIM PARSONS (THE BIG BANG THEORY). It’s shaping up as the year of the newbies, as Parsons gets the award on his second attempt, ending fellow nominee Alec Baldwin’s two-year winning streak. Addressing the show’s writers: “Thank you for stories that are so worth working on, and God bless you for giving me a character to work on. I feel so lucky to be working at all, but to get to work on this character is really beyond fortunate.”
5:44 p.m. Presenter Neil Patrick Harris thanks the TV Academy for allowing a gay man to host the event two years in a row. Insert reaction shot from Fallon.
5:45 p.m., LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY: EDIE FALCO (NURSE JACKIE) “I’m not funny,” she says, accepting her fourth Emmy (the first three being for The Sopranos). Her new show certainly seems short on laughs.
5:50 p.m. BEST REALITY PROGRAM: TOP CHEF. The amazing six-year run of “The Amazing Race” is over.
6:02 p.m. BEST WRITING, DRAMA: MAD MEN. Creator MATTHEW WEINER shares the spotlight with co-writer ERIN LEVY, who says she really has to thank her boss. “You do,” he replies. Weiner and Kater Gordon, another former writer’s assistant, shared the award last year — and she exited the show shortly afterwards.
6:04 p.m. SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA: AARON PAUL (BREAKING BAD). First Emmy win and second Emmy win for two-time winner Bryan Cranston’s sidekick. “I love you, brother. You have no idea,” he says to a tearful Cranston.
6:11 p.m. SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA: ARCHIE PANJABI ( THE GOOD WIFE). ”This is just amazing for my career,” says the British actress, who plays the wily investigator in the new legal drama.
6:13 p.m. LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA: BRYAN CRANSTON (BREAKING BAD). Finally, a familiar face. The third consecutive win for the actor, who says to his wife and daughter: “I love you more than baseball,” drawing a demused reaction from the latter after she asks her mother to repeat the line. To his writers: “It feels like all I have to do is hold on tight and you’ll take us where we need to go.”
6:23 p.m. BEST DIRECTING, DRAMA: DEXTER (STEVE SHILL). The Brit directed the season finale of “Dexter,” the one where John Lithgow murders Dexter’s wife.
6:33 p.m. LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA: KYRA SEDGWICK (THE CLOSER). A veteran newcomer. Sedgwick’s first Emmy win after four previous nominations for the cop show.
6:40 p.m. WRITING FOR MUSIC, VARIETY OR COMEDY SPECIAL: The 63RD ANNUAL TONY AWARDS. Award goes to DAVE BOONE, who gives shout-outs to Jay Leno and Billy Crystal. (Paul Greenberg, also wins for special material).
6:46 p.m. As usual, Ricky Gervais is the highlight of the show, lamenting the lack of alcohol at the ceremony. “What’s the worst they think could happen? … Really, are we all going to go mental and smack someone’s head? There’s no one scary here, really. I’ve seen people here cry when they break a fingernail … There’s no tough guys. No Russell Crowe. He woudn’t be seen dead here. It’s TV. Or Christian Bale … Mel Gibson? I’m not gonna have a go at him. He’s been through a lot. Not as much as the Jews.” And with that, he sends waiters into the crowd with trays of beer, courtesy of his “Office” syndication money.
6:50 p.m. DIRECTING FOR MUSIC, VARIETY OR COMEDY SPECIAL: VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES OPENING CEREMONY. The award goes to BUCKY GUNTS, whose name delights Gervais.
6:51 p.m. VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SPECIAL: THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART. Conan didn’t win. Stewart did not show up. It’s only the show’s eighth win in this category, after all.
7:02 p.m. GEORGE CLOONEY gets the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. Betty White struggles to get out of her seat during the standing ovation. He’s only 49? Yes, according to imdb.com. He bemoans Hollywood’s (and his own) failings for moving on from a crisis after a few months. “Here’’s hoping that some very bright person right here in the room or at home watching can help find a way to keep the spotlight burning on these heartbreaking situations that continue to be heartbreaking long after the cameras go away. That’d be an impressive accomplishment.”
7:08 p.m. SUPPORTING ACTRESS, MINISERIES/MOVIE: JULIA ORMOND (TEMPLE GRANDIN). The British actress thanks HBO for “trusting and understanding that there is an audience for a chick flick with bulls’ balls.” (we think that’s what she said)
7:15 p.m. SUPPORTING ACTOR, MINISERIES/MOVIE: DAVID STRATHAIRN (TEMPLE GRANDIN). Another Emmy first-timer. Coincidentally, the award was presented by the show’s star, Claire Danes. The real Temple Grandin gets up (twice) to wave to the crowd.
7:18 p.m. Jewel sings the In Memoriam section. Who did they miss out? Dennis Hopper got the loudest applause, followed by Rue McClanahan and Dixie Carter.
7:26 p.m. WRITING FOR MINISERIES/MOVIE: ADAM MAZER (YOU DON’T KNOW JACK). Best bad-taste joke of the night: “Jack Kevorkian, I’m so grateful you’re my friend, but I’m ever more grateful that you’re not my physician.”
7:28 p.m. LEAD ACTRESS, MINISERIES/MOVIE: CLAIRE DANES (TEMPLE GRANDIN). First win, second nomination. Temple gets up for a third time. The resemblance between the two is staggering.
7:36 p.m. DIRECTING, MINISERIES/MOVIE: MICK JACKSON (TEMPLE GRANDIN). Third nomination, first win. HBO’s under-the-radar movie is killing “The Pacific.”
7:38 p.m. LEAD ACTOR, MINISERIES/MOVIE: AL PACINO (YOU DON’T KNOW JACK). His second Emmy, following Angels in America. Is he smaller than Anna Paquin? A special shout-out to Jack Kevorkian, who stands up for some applause. “You’re all right, Jack.” He also names his hair and makeup guys. His lengthy speech is not interrupted by the orchestra.
7:46 p.m. BEST MINISERIES/MOVIE: THE PACIFIC. Tough race, only one other nominee: Return to Cranford.
7:48 p.m. BEST MADE FOR TV MOVIE: TEMPLE GRANDIN. Temple Grandin takes the stage.
7:51 p.m.-ish BEST DRAMA: MAD MEN. 3 out of 3 for AMC’s Madison Avenue drama.
7:58 p.m.-ish BEST COMEDY: MODERN FAMILY. Thus ends the three-year reign of “30 Rock.” And millions of Gleeks will be seriously disappointed. Maybe next year Ed O’Neill will get a nomination.
Rookie shows, fresh faces dominate early Emmy awards
Aug 30th
The Emmys got off to a fun start at 5 p.m. local time with organizers getting six of the comedy categories out of the way at the outset. But first: the requisite intro, which is sure to mortify Bruce Springsteen’s stoic fans.
5:05 p.m. Jimmy Fallon does Bruce Springsteen in a Glee-style version of “Born to Run.” He grabs Jane Lynch’s breasts, as she sings “Strap your hands across my engines.” A few minutes later, he ditches the Boss-style blue jeans and white-T for a tuxedo, and gets in the first Conan joke, asking “what can possibly go wrong?” when he relates how NBC asked him to host a late-night show. Camera pans to O’Brien, whose late version of “The Tonight Show” is nominated for best variety, music or comedy series.
5:12 p.m. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY: ERIC STONESTREET (MODERN FAMILY). Tears are streaming down the cheeks of his on-screen partner and fellow nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Stonestreet takes the stage to deliver a heartfelt paean to the entertainment industry in general and his co-workers specifically. “All I wanted to be was clown in the circus when I was a kid growing up,” says the portly actor, who only plays gay on the screen.
5:21 p.m. BEST WRITING, COMEDY “MODERN FAMILY.” Two-for-two for TV’s hottest comedy, as co-creators STEVEN LEVITAN and CHRISTOPHER LLOYD take the prize for writing the pilot. Star Ed O’Neill’s mouth is open in wonderment.
5:25 p.m. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: JANE LYNCH (GLEE). “This is outlandish,” she says, thanking her parents from the south side of Chicago. “I rarely identify myself as anything – I’m Buddhist in that way, although I’m not a Buddhist … they do seem like a very calm people – but I am an actor.” She thanks her wife, Laura.
5:33 p.m. BEST DIRECTING: “GLEE.” The fourth nomination and first win for series creator Ryan Murphy. “Glee is about the importance of arts in education, so I would like to dedicate this to all my teachers who taught me to sing and finger paint,” he says.
5:38 pm., LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY: JIM PARSONS (THE BIG BANG THEORY). It’s shaping up as the year of the newbies, as Parsons gets the award on his second attempt, ending fellow nominee Alec Baldwin’s two-year winning streak. Addressing the show’s writers: “Thank you for stories that are so worth working on, and God bless you for giving me a character to work on. I feel so lucky to be working at all, but to get to work on this character is really beyond fortunate.”
5:44 p.m. Presenter Neil Patrick Harris thanks the TV Academy for allowing a gay man to host the event two years in a row. Insert reaction shot from Fallon.
5:45 p.m., LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY: EDIE FALCO (NURSE JACKIE) “I’m not funny,” she says, accepting her fourth Emmy (the first three being for The Sopranos). Her new show certainly seems short on laughs.
5:50 p.m. BEST REALITY PROGRAM: TOP CHEF. The amazing seven-year run of “The Amazing Race” is over.
6:02 p.m. BEST WRITING, DRAMA: MAD MEN. Creator MATTHEW WEINER shares the spotlight with co-writer ERIN LEVY, who says she really has to thank her boss. “You do,” he replies. Weiner and Kater Gordon, another former writer’s assistant, shared the award last year — and she exited the show shortly afterwards.
6:04 p.m. SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA: AARON PAUL (BREAKING BAD). First Emmy win and second Emmy win for two-time winner Bryan Cranston’s sidekick. “I love you, brother. You have no idea,” he says to a tearful Cranston.
6:11 p.m. SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA: ARCHIE PANJABI ( THE GOOD WIFE). ”This is just amazing for my career,” says the British actress, who plays the wily investigator in the new legal drama.
6:13 p.m. LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA: BRYAN CRANSTON (BREAKING BAD). Finally, a familiar face. The third consecutive win for the actor, who says to his wife and daughter: “I love you more than baseball,” drawing a demused reaction from the latter after she asks her mother to repeat the line. To his writers: “It feels like all I have to do is hold on tight and you’ll take us where we need to go.”
6:23 p.m. BEST DIRECTING, DRAMA: DEXTER (STEVE SHILL). The Brit directed the season finale of “Dexter,” the one where John Lithgow murders Dexter’s wife.
Prog Rock Redux
Aug 27th
It has been around 35 years since Punk burst onto the rock scene and drove the complex, shoe-staring indulgence that is prog rock into seeming oblivion with no more than three, probably untuned chords. Signs are, though, that prog may be on the way back.
First, mainstream media has started to get all retrospective about it — a sure sign of resurgence. The BBC ”celebrated” prog — or progressive rock, to give it its proper name — with a nostalgic documentary at the end of 2008. It has been repeated and triggered coverage of the genre elsewhere. The Guardian recently pointed to prog’s new, growing fan base.
Second, some of the old prog kings are out and about. Emerson, Lake and Palmer, a kind of prog super-group, got together again for a reunion concert earlier in summer. Roger Waters, of the original Pink Floyd, is playing The Wall, a prog rock masterpiece, on tour. Rick Wakeman (left), once the be-caped keyboard wizard of Yes, has never stopped and is planning to present his 1974 classic “Journey to the Centre of the Earth” in Australia and South America next year.
But the main driver for a return of prog rock probably comes from contemporary music. Groups such as Iceland’s Sigur Ros, France’s Air, Britain’s Radiohead and perhaps even the highly popular Muse all have strong elements of the old, discredited music in them.
Chatting to Reuters before a recent gig, Wakeman said a lot of groups like these break the rules of rock music, which by his definition is one of the core elements of prog.
“There are a lot of bands around that have taken a bit of prog rock,” he said. “Radiohead always said they had nothing to do with prog, but they have.”
Heidi Montag — trapped by her own body
Aug 26th
Less than a year after having her breasts enlarged to X-rated proportions (along with a further 11 astounding cosmetic procedures at the same time), reality TV starlet Heidi Montag is finding out the downside of a G-sized bust.
For one thing, she can’t hug her four dogs (it hurts too much), and then there are the clothing limitations (not much in the way of off-the-peg outfits that size). Not to mention the fact that they get in the way of regular w
ork-outs and that she feels “trapped in my own body”, according to Life & Style magazine.
Oh, and all those plastic surgeries also ruined her short-lived marriage to her “The Hills” co-star Spencer Pratt.
Heidi tells Life & Style magazine she is now looking for a plastic surgeon in South America (?) to remove the super-sized implants and bring her down to a smaller D cup. Or a double D.
Alas for Heidi, the celebrity plastic surgeon who remodeled her body in November died in a car crash last week.
Let’s hope the implants are easier to get rid off than the pesky Pratt, her soon to be divorced, fame-hungry husband, who has been kicking up a media frenzy with claims that he has a sex tape of Heidi that he would like to sell for several millions of dollars.
Alas for the couple known as Speidi, the pair were spotted getting up close and personal in Costa Rica just about the same time as they were supposedly fighting over the alleged sex tape.
“I’m desperate to go back to normal,” Heidi is quoted as telling Life & Style in a cover story.
(She was talking about the breast implants.)
UK’s X Factor gets off to rocky start
Aug 26th
The X Factor, one of Britain’s most-watched television programmes, has got off to a rocky start this year with its integrity called into question after it came to light that some contestants’ performances had been enhanced using computer software. A spokesman for the show, a pillar of ITV1’s annual scheduling, admitted that post-production work was sometimes necessary due to the number of microphones used during filming. But he also told British media that judges make their decisions during the audition stages based on what they hear live, and that later shows are all genuinely live.
The revelations have prompted negative media comment and online complaints from some fans, although few people expect them to have too much of an impact on viewing figures. The first episode of this year’s series was watched by 11.1 million people, up from last year’s figure of 9.9 million.
Making matters worse, the show’s producers issued a statement on Wednesday explaining why Shirlena Johnson, who sang an oddball version of Duffy’s “Mercy”, was kicked off the talent show aired on ITV1.
“It has been decided by both Shirlena’s GP (doctor) and The X Factor’s own medical experts that it is in Shirlena’s best interests for her not to continue in the competition. The welfare of our contestants is of paramount importance to us — Shirlena was informed of the decision in person by the show executives in the presence of a psychologist.”
It appears the show, which is masterminded by music mogul Simon Cowell, wants to avoid the kind of negative publicity that surrounded the mental condition of Susan Boyle, a contestant in another Cowell project “Britain’s Got Talent” who was admitted to a clinic for emotional exhaustion after surprisingly losing the final last year. Mind you, Cowell presumably made a princely sum from the Scottish singer, whose debut album stormed charts around the world and was one of the top-selling records globally.
Sean Connery turns 80, acting days “over”
Aug 25th
Suave Scot Sean Connery turns 80 today and tells a newspaper that his acting days are over.
The landmark anniversary has prompted a general outpouring of love and appreciation in the media for a man best known for his portrayal of super sleuth James Bond. His six official outings as 007 established him as the definitive Bond in many people’s eyes, including his closest rival for the title, Roger Moore.
“I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to Sean for having been the best Bond and really launching the Bond phenomenon,” Moore, 82, told the Scottish edition of the Sun tabloid. “And an even bigger thank you for having left after Diamonds (”Diamonds Are Forever”), leaving me the chance to don the tuxedo, pack a Walther PPK, and
romance many beautiful Bond ladies.”
Connery, an Oscar winner for his turn in “The Untouchables”, has been laying low at a time when he was likely to be hounded by the press even more than usual. He did speak to Scotland’s Daily Record, however, from his home in the Bahamas.
“I don’t think I’ll ever act again. I have so many wonderful memories but those days are over,” he was quoted as saying.
One newspaper went so far as to print 80 tidbits about the actor, beginning with the fact that his first bed was the bottom drawer of the family wardrobe and ending with: “In 1993 he appeared on U.S. TV to deny news agency reports that he was dead.”
Martin Scorsese shifts from film to fragrance
Aug 25th
Martin Scorsese has gone from “Shutter Island” to “Bleu de Chanel,” following in the footsteps of Baz Luhrmann and Jean-Pierre Jeunet to shoot a Rolling Stones-fueled commercial for the French fashion house.
The 60-second film, featuring French actor Gaspard Ulliel (”Young Hannibal”), kicks off the first major men’s advertising campaign and fragrance launch for Chanel since 2004. The campaign is due to be launched in September, with Chanel undoubtedly hoping the A-list ad gets plenty of social-media play.
Ulliel stars as Hector, a rebellious young actor who has been catapulted into fame but refuses to conform to the lifestyle expectations imposed on him by his new-found stardom. The advertisement takes place during a press conference held by the actor but is intercut with various images of his past and the relationships he had. His memories lead up to the precise moment in which he finds himself.
Scorsese once again taps into the Rolling Stones catalog, this time digging up a real oldie, the band’s raucous 1965 cover of the Larry Williams shouter ”She Said Yeah.” Many of Scorsese’s films, including “Casino,” “Goodfellas,” “The Fan” and his Oscar-winner “The Departed,” used Stones tunes, and Scorsese shot the band’s 2008 concert film “Shine a Light.”
It isn’t Scorsese’s first foray into advertising: even big directors have bills to pay between movies. He has previously been involved in advertising campaigns for Freixenet wines, American Express and AT&T. Chanel previously commissioned ads for Chanel No. 5, with Jeunet shooting his “Amelie” starlet Audrey Tautou and Luhrmann reuniting with his “Moulin Rouge” actress Nicole Kidman.
Is Steven Tyler right fit for “American Idol”?
Aug 20th
Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler looks to be on his way to join “American Idol” in what would be the first bona fide rock star judge on the show’s panel.
But is Tyler, 62, the right fit for a show aimed squarely at middle America? And if Tyler is in place, as widely reported, can the “Idol” judging panel carry a second major artist if rumors about country star Shania Twain, or Jennifer Lopez, or even Jessica Simpson turn out to be correct?
Tyler may be a rock god, but does he have anything useful, or witty, or coherent, to say to the aspiring “American Idols”?
And rock stars usually bring plenty of baggage after decades on the road — in Tyler’s case a history of prescription drug addiction, drama, and an uncanny ability to fall off the stage.
How long would Tyler sign up to be on “Idol”? And would his new job mean another long hiatus (or even the end) of touring and new albums for Aerosmith?
One thing is clear. Paula Abdul he is not. Nor Ellen. And if there’s one person who can withstand all the expected negative comparisons to Simon Cowell, it’s probably Tyler.
Tyler may be ready for “American Idol” but is America ready for Steven Tyler on prime-time TV twice a week for five months?
Joaquin Phoenix says “I’m Still Here”
Aug 18th
But is he all there? Really all there.
He quit a golden Hollywood career because he was bored. He thought movies weren’t interesting anymore. He didn’t have anything else to learn. And today, Joaquin Phoenix has re-emerged in the trailer of a new “documentary” called “I’m Still Here” that is directed by his brother-in-law Casey Affleck. The documentary tells about Phoenix’s supposed attempts at a transition to a career in hip hop. We wrote about it here and here. Surely, we think, it’s more mockumentary, something on the order of “This is Spinal Tap” that sends up the entertainment industry. Tellingly, it was “written and produced” by both Affleck and Phoenix. Then again, who are we to say he’s lying just because what he has done seems so odd. One never really knows, and “odd” is rather normal in Hollywood. You can watch the trailer — and judge it — for yourself below.
In interviews, despite a bizarre, mumbling shaggy-haired appearance on David Letterman that baffled many, Joaquin Phoenix coherently insisted to all in promoting his last film in 2008, “Two Lovers,” that he was indeed quitting acting (he still has no more movies announced). And yes, absolutely and convincingly, he said he was pursuing a career in hip hop. And yes, there was Affleck right on hand to tape all media interviews with Phoenix. (Note: we politely said “no” to being taped for a possible spoof, much to Affleck’s annoyance.)
The slick new trailer for “I’m Still Here”, which seems to suggest the movie is no slouch in the usually low-budget “doc” arena, shows Phoenix the actor going from Hollywood photo shoots, red carpets, limos and jets to a pot-bellied (no 50 cent abs for him) singer backstage and hip hop wannabe onstage. The trailer is accompanied by a dramatic score and voiceover that compares him to “a mountain top water drop” who doesn’t “belong to this valley, this river”.
It gets funnier — or darker, depending on your point-of-view. Affleck is now facing claims of sexual harassment from two women, one from the cinematographer and one from a producer who worked on the film.
If a full-fledged “Spinal Tap”-like spoof is in the cards, it’s been a worthy performance by all, from some of America’s top actors — Affleck and Phoenix — right down to the distributor, Magnolia Pictures, whose spokesman told us “it is not a mockumentary by any means.” The company called it “a portrait of an artist at a crossroads.” Soon all will be revealed. It is showing at the Venice film festival and opens in the United States on September 10.