LGBTQ news and entertainment
In this short behind-the-scenes film written by Aaron Sorkin, playwright of Broadway’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the play’s cast is ready to welcome audiences back to Broadway. Continue reading “‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ Welcomes Audiences Back To Broadway”
While I’m still planning to see the film, I can admit I haven’t had time lately as I’m swamped in rehearsals for HELLO, DOLLY! here in Florida.
But I was surprised to read how badly Aaron Sorkin’s new flick Steve Jobs, the biopic about the Apple CEO & iPhone father, did at the box office.
Variety reports:
After racking up the year’s best per-screen average in its opening weekend and doing strong business in limited expansion, “Steve Jobs” hit a stumbling block in its national release. It debuted to a measly $7.3 million, only a little more than the $6.7 million that “Jobs,” a critically derided film about the iPhone father with Ashton Kutcher, made in its initial weekend. Going into the weekend, some tracking suggested that the picture would do as much as $19 million.
“We are going to continue to support the film in the markets where it is showing strength and we’re going to continue to do it aggressively and proactively,” said Nick Carpou, Universal’s domestic distribution chief. “The critics are there for it and the buzz in these markets is strong.”
It’s still hard to see how the film turns a profit. The picture cost $30 million to make and at least as much to market. That means that “Steve Jobs” needs to do at least $120 million in order to break even. Given that the film is dialogue-driven and lacks a major star, its foreign prospects seem bleak. It’s almost entirely a domestic play, and so far it’s only made about $10 million.
Variety goes on to consider the comparisons with Sorkin’s film about the creation of Facebook – The Social Network. Interesting to note that timing is everything as that film was released just as Facebook was becoming a part of everyone’s daily life, where the Steve Jobs story has been picked over for years now since his return to Apple and then subsequent death.
I’m a fan of Sorkin’s writing so I’ll still head out to see it.
Has anyone here seen the film? Thoughts?
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| Soon to be former Congressman Aaron Schock |
“What this is really about is that Aaron has been very successful. Aaron is a very hard worker. Aaron is very popular. Aaron is a little different. He wears stylish clothing, and yet he’s not gay…And he’s not married, and he’s not running around with women.
“So, everybody’s throwing up their arms; they can’t figure out Aaron. So, he must crooked, so attack him, bring him down, because he’s doesn’t fit into our picture. He hasn’t done anything to hurt people.”
“Two years from now he’ll be successful… if he’s not in jail.
“If they’re going to convict him on paperwork, then they’re going to convict him. That’s their privilege. They’re out to get him and they’re making issues out of things that really shouldn’t be issues.”
– Dr. Richard Schock, father of Congressman Aaron Schock, who announced his resignation from office Tuesday amid numerous possible ethics violations, speaking to the press about his son who is popular, a little different, likes cool clothes, built a house with a “friend” who’s about the same age, doesn’t run around with women and TOTALLY not gay.
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| Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin |
Academy Award-winner Aaron Sorkin has penned an “obituary” for the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
The two had worked together on 2 film projects in the past (Charlie Wilson’s War, Moneyball) and had connected with each other over their own issues with addiction.
Hoffman once remarked to Sorkin, “If one of us dies of an overdose, probably 10 people who were about to won’t” – meaning that their death might scare someone clean.
Phil Hoffman, this kind, decent, magnificent, thunderous actor, who was never outwardly “right” for any role but who completely dominated the real estate upon which every one of his characters walked, did not die from an overdose of heroin — he died from heroin. We should stop implying that if he’d just taken the proper amount then everything would have been fine.
He didn’t die because he was partying too hard or because he was depressed — he died because he was an addict on a day of the week with a y in it. He’ll have his well-earned legacy — his Willy Loman that belongs on the same shelf with Lee J. Cobb’s and Dustin Hoffman’s, his Jamie Tyrone, his Truman Capote and his Academy Award. Let’s add to that 10 people who were about to die who won’t now.
Read Aaron’s full essay at Time.com
From Maureen Dowd’s column in today’s New York Times, Aaron Sorkin imagines the post-debate coaching session between President Obama and “West Wing” President Josiah Bartlett, while in another room fictional news anchor Will McAvoy hold Jim Lehrer in a wresting hold.
Just an excerpt:
BARTLET They told you to make sure you didn’t seem condescending, right? They told you, “First, do no harm,” and in your case that means don’t appear condescending, and you bought it. ’Cause for the American right, condescension is the worst crime you can commit.
OBAMA What’s your suggestion?
BARTLET Appear condescending. Now it comes naturally to me —
OBAMA I know.
BARTLET It’s a gift, but I’m likable and you’re likable enough. Thirty straight months of job growth — blown off. G.M. showing record profits — unmentioned. “Governor, would you still let Detroit go bankrupt as you urged us to do four years ago?” — unasked. (shouting) I’m talkin’ to you, too, Lehrer!
WILL (in the other room) I got him, sir!
BARTLET All right! (back to OBAMA) And that was quite a display of hard-nosed, fiscal conservatism when he slashed one one-hundredth of 1 percent from the federal budget by canceling “Sesame Street” and “Downton Abbey.” I think we’re halfway home. Mr. President, your prep for the next debate need not consist of anything more than learning to pronounce three words: “Governor, you’re lying.” Let’s replay some of Wednesday night’s more jaw-dropping visits to the Land Where Facts Go to Die. “I don’t have a $5 trillion tax cut. I don’t have a tax cut of a scale you’re talking about.”
OBAMA The Tax Policy Center analysis of your proposal for a 20 percent across-the-board tax cut in all federal income tax rates, eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax, the estate tax and other reductions, says it would be a $5 trillion tax cut.
BARTLET In other words …
OBAMA You’re lying, Governor.
Classic Aaron Sorkin writing addressing the Tea Party movement – point by point.
If you aren’t watching “The Newsroom” you really should. Great show.
On this day after North Carolina voted to write discrimination into their state constitution based, in great part, on “cherry-picking” from the Bible, I felt a need to clear my palate.
Thanks to Martin Sheen’s brilliant delivery, and to Aaron Sorkin for the always “direct to the heart of the matter” language.