THB Headlines, July 27

Venice, The Dow Falls, Rises & Falls Again, Re-Animator, and some DP/30 history

Tony Dow Dies: ‘Leave It To Beaver” Actor’s Passing Confirmed Following Earlier Confusion

But yesterday… with the smile that we should remember all our beloved figures with…

Jerry Mathers - “He was not only my brother on tv, but in many ways in life as well. Tony leaves an empty place in my heart that won’t be filled. He was always the kindest, most generous, gentle, loving, sincere, and humble man, that it was my honor and privilege to be able to share memories together with for 65 years.

Tony was so grateful for all of the love and support from our fans across the world. My wife Teresa and I send our deepest condolences to his wife Lauren, his family and to all of those who knew and loved him. The world may have lost a star today, but the heavens gained another.”

That has been the biggest news of the last couple days, followed by Venice unsheathing its mighty sword of 23 movies movies that will compete for the Golden Lion. (Note: After the Golden Lion winner was Oscar nominated 3 times in 20 years, the last 5 years have produced 4 Oscar BP nominees and 1 winner, Nomadland.)

Netflix leads the way on the Lido, with half of their awards 8-pack (which may be growing further), all in competition, starting with festival opener Baumbach’s White Noise, Inarritu’s Bardo, Dominick’s Blonde, and Romain Gavrais’ Athena. (Meanwhile, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is set to launch at Toronto. George C Wolfe’s Rustin is undated and the musical of Matilda is set for December 2 on the streamer, with it’s potential premiere date unclear at this point. The streamer has another couple titles still bouncing into place, potentially for this season.)

Also bringing Oscar perdigree to the mix on the canals are A24’s Aronofsky opus, The Whale, Searchlight’s Martin McDonagh film The Banshees of Inisherin, Sony Classics’ sequel The Son, Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All, and the return of Todd Fields with Focus’ Tár. A24 also has The Eternal Daughter from Joanna Hogg and Warners adds Don’t Worry Darling out of competition.

In other words… it’s going to be a cluster f***.

Fewer than half of these movies from awarded, excellent filmmakers are going to come out of Venice and into Telluride/Toronto/NewYork strong. The others will be battered and bruised.

I look forward to seeing every one of these films and would love to indulge the fantasy that everyone can be a winner… but that would be a hard turn from history.

I currently count 9 other titles that are strong going into awards season with legit Best Picture potential. And that doesn’t count the couple realtively unkown underdogs that turn up each season. (Full awards column to come this week.)

One film won’t be in play…

Scorsese editing windows are a notoriously moving target. But one wonders whether, in spite of the spin at all the trades, if Apple has a firm enough grip to land the big fish in the most effective way…
The Dish: Apple Eyes 2023 Cannes Launch For Oscar-Bait Scorsese-DiCaprio-De Niro Film ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’; Don’t Count Out ‘Emancipation’ For 2022

And speaking of Marty…

Please find the below statement on behalf of Martin Scorsese regarding Paul Sorvino’s passing:

“Paul Sorvino was a brilliant actor. He was completely immersed in his craft, and his level of mastery could take your breath away. 

Look at his performance as Louis Fraina in Reds by Warren Beatty. He found a wonderfully expressive voice for his character, and quite a unique body language: urgent, fervent, and impassioned. Watch it back to back with his performance as the televangelist in Oh God by Carl Reiner. At first glance, it seems like a broad comic turn, a send-up of Jimmy Swaggart and Jerry Falwell. But when you really pay attention, you see that Paul is inhabiting the character completely. It’s hilarious but it’s also sobering and disturbing.

Seeing Paul in that role was what convinced me that he was the man to play Paulie Cicero in Goodfellas. I loved working with Paul on that picture. It wasn’t always easy, but that’s never the point to begin with. Paul was tireless—he never settled for less than a deeper emotional truth. I learned a lot from him. I remember one day, I was doing a few takes with him on a scene and it wasn’t quite there. On about the third or fourth take, he said to me, “Come away from the monitor and watch me.” That’s what I did, and I could see it right away. It was a great lesson.

I was really saddened to hear the news of his passing, in part because it was so close to losing Ray Liotta. But it was also the loss of a great, generous soul, and an irreplaceable artist.”

— Martin Scorsese

Weird hybrid of not forgetting and not being serious about why he is here at 65 years of age, having been the most powerful person in animation for years.
John Lasseter’s Second Act

I have both worked with the always-pleasant and professional staff and been frustrated that I have had to press for every single check I have gotten from Palisades in recent years. I feel fortunate to have gotten the Phase II 2022 check that landed earlier this month. They were always the last agency to pay. And I am a small fish in a much bigger pond. Sad for those who lost jobs. Not surprised by the LAT reporting here…
This ad agency received millions from Netflix and abruptly closed. What happened?

New York’s Last Movie Clerk Knows More Than You Do

Meh.
After Absence, Comic-Con Regains Status as Key Studio Marketing Launchpad

All you need to know… won’t bother linking… but meet Dustin…
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty: Destin Daniel Cretton To Direct Marvel Pic

Also… Destin with Brie Larson (and John Gallagher, Jr)… dissing, at the top, her first interview.

And that 38 minute with Brie on the porch, which I think offers a really good sense of her, which is always my goal…

Cherokee Nation Celebrates Opening Of Cherokee Film Studios In Oklahoma

She handled online competition shows… which U decided were not competitive enough
NBCUniversal Alternative Boss Jenny Groom Exits

Jessica Holscott Departing Warner Discovery As Head Of Finance For Studios & Networks Group

The Anti-McConaughey?

Even the best sell out these days…

WSJ: Is Instagram trying too hard to be like Tik Tok? Do you care?