HOLLYWOOD - Top Story:
With a tagline that reads "Steal All You Can Steal," it was bound to set off sparks. Miramax's Buffalo Soldiers, a satire about corruption on American military bases, is set to bow in theaters July 25, but its humor is being lost on military representatives and right-wing consumers who have sent complaints about the movie's negative depiction of U.S. Army conduct to Miramax and corporate parent Disney. Helmed by Australian director Gregor Jordan, the film stars Joaquin Phoenix as a wily Army clerk running a profitable sideline in black-market heroin and arms dealing. According to Variety, when Buffalo Soldiers screened at Sundance in January, an audience member was so incensed by Jordan's views on the military during a post-screening Q&A that he threw a bottle at the director, narrowly missing Anna Paquin, one of the film's stars. Miramax acquired the film at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 10, 2001, but held back on the film's release after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Steve Harvey Claims Black Actors Make Less
While promoting his WB fall series Steve Harvey's Big Time, actor-comedian Steve Harvey told TV critics at a meeting of the Television Critics Association that advertisers pay less for programs that attract black audiences--even when the ratings are equal to or better than those of other shows, The Associated Press reports. According to Harvey, advertisers reason that it is easy to reach blacks across the television dial because they are among TV's more trusty customers. Jamie Kellner, WB's chairman and chief executive officer, agreed: "There is a truth in what he's saying, that advertisers are trying to find people that they can't get easily. And they do pay a premium for those people."
Beals Takes Lesbian Role
Jennifer Beals, who rose to fame with the 1983 movie Flashdance, will play a lesbian in the upcoming Showtime television series The L Word. But the straight actress told the Television Critics Association that the question of her sexuality has come up since the show started filming. "What becomes interesting is to think about how easy it is for a heterosexual actress or actor to play someone who is homosexual, how that's somehow permissible, but for a homosexual to be out and portray a homosexual character it becomes sort of much more problematic for an audience to accept." The L Word, which also stars Pam Grier and Mia Kirshner, debuts in January.
Buena Vista's Compay Dead at 95
Cuba's Compay Segundo, the frontman for the Buena Vista Social Club group known for his trademark Panama hat, died Sunday of kidney failure at his home in Miramar, Havana, Reuters reports. He was 95. Segundo, whose real name was Francisco Repilado, won a Grammy Award in 1997 for the album Buena Vista Social Club, which was produced by American guitarist Ry Cooder. The group gained further recognition with the release of German director Wim Wenders' 1999 documentary Buena Vista Social Club. Segundo gave concerts until May this year, when his health deteriorated.
Jazz Luminary Benny Carter Dies
Legendary jazz pioneer and big-band leader Benny Carter died on Saturday at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles at the age 95. According to Reuters, a family friend said Carter had been hospitalized for about two weeks after complaining of bronchitis and fatigue. In a career that spanned seven decades, Carter was one of the first black composers and arrangers to work on mainstream Hollywood films such as Stormy Weather and played with jazz stars such as pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith, Fats Waller, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. He is also credited with launching Ella Fitzgerald's career by introducing her to bandleader Chick Webb. He is survived by his wife, Hilma, a daughter, Joyce Mills, a grandchild and a great grandchild.
Role Call: Schwarzenegger in Big Sir, Diaz and Carrey Reunite
Arnold Schwarzenegger is in negotiations to star in New Line Cinema's family comedy Big Sir. The Terminator star also has the sci-fi remake Westworld on his acting slate and is developing a sequel to Conan the Barbarian, to be produced by Larry and Andy Wachowski ... Cameron Diaz and Jim Carrey, who starred together in 1994's The Mask, will reunite for Columbia Picture's remake of the 1977 comedy Fun With Dick and Jane. Joel and Ethan Coen will rewrite the screenplay for director Barry Sonnenfeld.