Pete Davidson is gearing up to portray punk rock pioneer Joey Ramone in the upcoming biopic “I Slept With Joey Ramone” for Netflix and STXfilms.
The announcement comes on the 20th anniversary of Ramone’s death. The biopic will chronicle the life and times of the legendary musician — born Jeffrey Ross Hyman in 1951 — who cofounded the group in Queens, New York in 1974 and went on to change the sound of rock music by stripping it down to Chuck Berry-level basics (but played twice as fast). The Ramones were arguably the first true punk rock band, and not only helped launch the scene around the downtown venue Cbgb but ignited the British punk scene with performances in the U.K. in 1976. The group disbanded in 1996, but their popularity and influence is vast and undeniable.
Joey died from lymphoma in 2001; the other three founding members of the group, Johnny (John Cummings...
The announcement comes on the 20th anniversary of Ramone’s death. The biopic will chronicle the life and times of the legendary musician — born Jeffrey Ross Hyman in 1951 — who cofounded the group in Queens, New York in 1974 and went on to change the sound of rock music by stripping it down to Chuck Berry-level basics (but played twice as fast). The Ramones were arguably the first true punk rock band, and not only helped launch the scene around the downtown venue Cbgb but ignited the British punk scene with performances in the U.K. in 1976. The group disbanded in 1996, but their popularity and influence is vast and undeniable.
Joey died from lymphoma in 2001; the other three founding members of the group, Johnny (John Cummings...
- 4/15/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Pete Davidson is set to star in I Slept with Joey Ramone, a biopic chronicling the life of the king of punk that is being produced by Netflix and STXfilms. Jason Orley, who directed the SNL star in Hulu’s Big Time Adolescence as well as his Netflix comedy special Pete Davidson: Alive from New York, is directing the pic.
Davidson and Orley penned the screenplay, which is based on the Mickey Leigh memoir of the same name (Leigh is Ramone’s brother). Davidson, Leigh, Rory Rosegarten, and David Spiegelman will serve as executive producers. The project has the cooperation and support of the Estate of Joey Ramone and with the assistance of Rosegarten Films.
Netflix and STX previously teamed on the Netflix series Rise of Empire: Ottoman as well as the film, Work It starring Sabrina Carpenter.
“When you share a bed with someone – and not just a bed,...
Davidson and Orley penned the screenplay, which is based on the Mickey Leigh memoir of the same name (Leigh is Ramone’s brother). Davidson, Leigh, Rory Rosegarten, and David Spiegelman will serve as executive producers. The project has the cooperation and support of the Estate of Joey Ramone and with the assistance of Rosegarten Films.
Netflix and STX previously teamed on the Netflix series Rise of Empire: Ottoman as well as the film, Work It starring Sabrina Carpenter.
“When you share a bed with someone – and not just a bed,...
- 4/15/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Pete Davidson will star as punk rock icon Joey Ramone in a biopic based on the memoir by Ramone’s brother, Mickey Leigh, titled “I Slept With Joey Ramone.”
Davidson will reunite with director Jason Orley for the film that’s being made in partnership between Netflix and STXfilms. Davidson and Orley wrote the treatment based on Leigh’s 2009 book “I Slept With Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir.”
The biopic will chronicle the life of the king of punk and lead singer for The Ramones as told through Leigh’s eyes, and the film will be made with the cooperation of Ramone’s estate and with the assistance of Rosegarten Films.
“When you share a bed with someone — and not just a bed, but a childhood, a family, and a lifetime — you know that person better than anybody else,” Adam Fogelson, chairman of STXfilms, said in a statement. “Mickey Leigh...
Davidson will reunite with director Jason Orley for the film that’s being made in partnership between Netflix and STXfilms. Davidson and Orley wrote the treatment based on Leigh’s 2009 book “I Slept With Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir.”
The biopic will chronicle the life of the king of punk and lead singer for The Ramones as told through Leigh’s eyes, and the film will be made with the cooperation of Ramone’s estate and with the assistance of Rosegarten Films.
“When you share a bed with someone — and not just a bed, but a childhood, a family, and a lifetime — you know that person better than anybody else,” Adam Fogelson, chairman of STXfilms, said in a statement. “Mickey Leigh...
- 4/15/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Comedy Central and MTV networks just announced the nominations for their inaugural Comedy Awards, which will air on April 10. The nominations span 15 categories in TV and film, including best comedy series and film. The best comedy series field includes awards favorites 30 Rock, The Office and Modern Family, along with largely overlooked off-beat comedies It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Eastbound & Down. 30 Rock leads the TV categories with seven noms. The film field is led by Easy A, Cyrus and Kick-Ass with four noms each, including best movie where they will face Get Him to the Greek and The Other Guys. Nominees were selected by the Comedy Awards' Board of Directors that includes James Burrows, Stephen Colbert, Billy Crystal, James Dixon, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Grey, Caroline Hirsch, Martin Lesak, Seth MacFarlane, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, Conan O'Brien, Peter Principato, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, Jay Roach, Chris Rock, Ray Romano, Rory Rosegarten,...
- 2/15/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Comedy Central is creating its own awards show, The Comedy Awards, which will be taped March 26 in New York City. The show will air on April 10 on Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, Nick at Nite, and Vh1. Nominees will be selected by a board of directors, whose members include James Burrows, Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Whoopi Goldberg, Paramount studio chief Brad Grey, Seth MacFarlane, director Adam McKay (The Other Guys), producer Jimmy Miller (Step Brothers), director Jay Roach (Dinner for Schmucks), Ray Romano, Rory Rosegarten (exec producer, Men of a Certain Age), and Phil Rosenthal (exec producer, Everybody Loves Raymond...
- 1/10/2011
- by Margaret Lyons
- EW - Inside TV
hollywoodnews.com: Comedy Central and MTV Networks, both divisions of Viacom (NYSE: Via, Via.B), have tapped New York City to host “The Comedy Awards,” the first-ever multi-network, multi-platform, annual event dedicated to honoring and celebrating the world of comedy, it was announced today by Doug Herzog, president, MTV Networks Entertainment Group. A night for comedy of all kinds, “The Comedy Awards” will be taped at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom on Saturday, March 26 and will premiere on Sunday, April 10, 2011, simultaneously across MTV Networks’ Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, VH1 and Nick At Nite.
Comedy elite including James Burrows, Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Grey, Seth MacFarlane, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, Jay Roach, Ray Romano, Rory Rosegarten, Phil Rosenthal and many more are among the first to join “The Comedy Awards” Board of Directors which will be responsible for selecting the nominees. The winners will be...
Comedy elite including James Burrows, Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Grey, Seth MacFarlane, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, Jay Roach, Ray Romano, Rory Rosegarten, Phil Rosenthal and many more are among the first to join “The Comedy Awards” Board of Directors which will be responsible for selecting the nominees. The winners will be...
- 1/10/2011
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
Viacom's MTV Networks, led by Comedy Central, is starting a new comedy awards franchise, The Comedy Awards. The first annual Comedy Awards show will be held at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom on Saturday, March 26 and will air on Sunday, April 10, 2011, running simultaneously on MTV Networks’ Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, VH1 and Nick At Nite. The show, which will be executive produced by veteran Don Mischer, will recognize "the year's best comedy films, television series and digital content" with awards for writers, directors and actors as well as lifetime achievement honors for "pioneering legends." Nominees will be be selected by The Comedy Awards' board of directors whose founding members include James Burrows, Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Grey, Seth MacFarlane, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, Jay Roach, Ray Romano, Rory Rosegarten, Phil Rosenthal. The winners will be chosen by an invitation-only voting body comprised of 500-...
- 1/10/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Filed under: TV News
Be prepared to laugh on April 10, when five MTV Networks channels air the first-ever Comedy Awards.
MTV Networks and Comedy Central are launching a new award ceremony to honor all things funny. According to the press release, "the year's best comedy actors, films, television series and digital content" will be singled out, and awards will go to writers, directors, actors and "pioneering legends."
The nominees will be hand-picked by a board of directors, which includes James Burrows, Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Grey, Seth MacFarlane, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, Jay Roach, Ray Romano, Rory Rosegarten and Phil Rosenthal, among others.
The ceremony, which will be taped March 26, will air on Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, VH1 and Nick At Nite.
In other TV news ...
o. Speculation about the end of 'Sarah Palin's Alaska' may have been premature. A spokesperson for Tlc said no decision has been made yet.
Be prepared to laugh on April 10, when five MTV Networks channels air the first-ever Comedy Awards.
MTV Networks and Comedy Central are launching a new award ceremony to honor all things funny. According to the press release, "the year's best comedy actors, films, television series and digital content" will be singled out, and awards will go to writers, directors, actors and "pioneering legends."
The nominees will be hand-picked by a board of directors, which includes James Burrows, Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Grey, Seth MacFarlane, Adam McKay, Jimmy Miller, Jay Roach, Ray Romano, Rory Rosegarten and Phil Rosenthal, among others.
The ceremony, which will be taped March 26, will air on Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, VH1 and Nick At Nite.
In other TV news ...
o. Speculation about the end of 'Sarah Palin's Alaska' may have been premature. A spokesperson for Tlc said no decision has been made yet.
- 1/10/2011
- by Jean Bentley
- Aol TV.
HollywoodNews.com: TNT’s hit television series “Men of a Certain Age,” starring Emmy® winner Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), Emmy winner Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street, TNT’s Salem’s Lot) and Golden Globe® winner Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap) will make its DVD debut Nov. 2 with the release of Men of a Certain Age Season 1. The release of the DVD will be followed by the premiere of the second season of Men of a Certain Age onNov. 29 on TNT.
“Men of a Certain Age,” one of the year’s most critically lauded new series, is a wry drama that explores the unique bonds of friendship among three men experiencing the changes and challenges of mid-life. Braugher recently received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance as Owen in the show.
The two-disc DVD set, available for pre-orders July 13 and in retail stores on Nov.
“Men of a Certain Age,” one of the year’s most critically lauded new series, is a wry drama that explores the unique bonds of friendship among three men experiencing the changes and challenges of mid-life. Braugher recently received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance as Owen in the show.
The two-disc DVD set, available for pre-orders July 13 and in retail stores on Nov.
- 7/15/2010
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
One of my favorite new shows of the season, Men of a Certain Age, has been renewed for a second season by TNT. The new series is a sardonic drama that focuses on three long-time friends entering their mid-life. I've been extremely impressed not only by how well the episodes have been writen so far, but also by how superb the acting in the series has been. Romano's neurotic party store owner, a role Romano fits into because, well, he's kind of a neurotic kind of guy himself. And Braugher and Bakula are spot on in their roles. Though I'm not yet to that mid-life stage these three characters are in, I have still found great enjoyment from this series, and a second season is welcomed.
“Men of a Certain Age has been embraced by viewers and critics alike, making our decision to renew an easy one,” said Michael Wright,...
“Men of a Certain Age has been embraced by viewers and critics alike, making our decision to renew an easy one,” said Michael Wright,...
- 1/14/2010
- by Bryan Jones
- TVovermind.com
Halfway through its first season, TNT's Ray Romano freshman dramedy "Men of a Certain Age" has been renewed for a second season with a 10-episode order.
Through its first five episodes, "Men" has averaged 4.4 million viewers. It started off big, drawing 5.4 million viewers for its Dec. 7 launch. The show's ratings dropped off after the premiere until stabilizing around the 3 million-viewer mark with the most recent episodes.
The wry drama starring Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula explores male friendship among three men approaching mid-life.
It was created by Romano and Mike Royce who executive produce with Rory Rosegarten and Cary Hoffman. Through its first five episodes, Men of a Certain Age is averaging 4.4 million viewers. The show's Dec. 7 premiere ranked as ad-supported cable's top new series launch of 2009 among households and adults 25-54.
James Hibberd contributed to this report.
Through its first five episodes, "Men" has averaged 4.4 million viewers. It started off big, drawing 5.4 million viewers for its Dec. 7 launch. The show's ratings dropped off after the premiere until stabilizing around the 3 million-viewer mark with the most recent episodes.
The wry drama starring Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula explores male friendship among three men approaching mid-life.
It was created by Romano and Mike Royce who executive produce with Rory Rosegarten and Cary Hoffman. Through its first five episodes, Men of a Certain Age is averaging 4.4 million viewers. The show's Dec. 7 premiere ranked as ad-supported cable's top new series launch of 2009 among households and adults 25-54.
James Hibberd contributed to this report.
- 1/14/2010
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Newsflash: Middle aged men are in. Now I feel safe admitting I'm over 40. Ray Romano's Men of a Certain Age, a series I personally dismissed as demographically narrow but brilliant, seized the top spot in ad-supported cable premieres this year with a whopping 5.4 million viewers. Now, the segmentation shows what one would reasonably expect: almost half of those viewers fit in the 25-54 age range. Yup, and you can bet that two other statistics aren't going to be discussed, despite the huge overall number: the concentration of males, and the concentration in the upper end of that spread. But really, who cares – middle aged men need TV shows too.
Men of a Certain Age stars Romano, Andre Braugher, and Scott Bakula as a tight knit trio of friends dealing with advancing age and all the typically amusing ways we males tend to resist it. The humor is un-apologetically targeted...
Men of a Certain Age stars Romano, Andre Braugher, and Scott Bakula as a tight knit trio of friends dealing with advancing age and all the typically amusing ways we males tend to resist it. The humor is un-apologetically targeted...
- 12/8/2009
- by Jon Lachonis
- TVovermind.com
The Ramones might've been before my time, their influence extended far enough for future generations to know they were completely synonymous with non-conformity, anti-establishment and zero commercialism. You'd think a bio pic about them would follow the same spirit. But... The yet-unpublished book "I slept with Joey Ramone", co-written by the singer's brother Mickey Leigh, has been picked up by 20th Century for producer Rory Rosegarten...
- 10/5/2009
- by Tony Lang
- JoBlo.com
By the Hollywood Reporter
Fox Searchlight wants to be sedated.
The specialty division is in negotiations to board a project about the life of the Ramones, based on a memoir titled "I Slept With Joey Ramone" by the musician's brother -- and, notably, featuring the band's tunes. The project, which had initially been conceived and come together independently under manager-producer Rory Rosegarten, would get a significant boost with the boarding of the specialty division.
Read more at the Hollywood Reporter.
Fox Searchlight wants to be sedated.
The specialty division is in negotiations to board a project about the life of the Ramones, based on a memoir titled "I Slept With Joey Ramone" by the musician's brother -- and, notably, featuring the band's tunes. The project, which had initially been conceived and come together independently under manager-producer Rory Rosegarten, would get a significant boost with the boarding of the specialty division.
Read more at the Hollywood Reporter.
- 10/1/2009
- by Lew Harris
- The Wrap
A Ramones biopic -- that being a film that sounds inherently cartoonish in the first place -- would be nothing without the band's music and the leeway to find great talent. An independent production based on the book I Slept with Joey Ramone, written by Joey's brother Mickey Leigh and punk chronicler Legs McNeil (to be published this December), has slowly been gaining ground. But now Fox Searchlight is negotiating a buy-in, which could change a lot of things. THR reports the deal, and rightly suggests that Fox Searchlight's clout could give the movie some momentum. Producer Rory Rosegarten has been going it alone for a while, negotiating rights buys for both the book and the music of the Ramones. That's one place where the Fox Searchlight buy-in could get complicated; any studio/distributor is going to be wary of rights deals negotiated by someone else. And if you're telling...
- 10/1/2009
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
It's been 8 years now since Joey Ramone passed away, and 5 years since Johnny Ramone died, so I suppose it's about time someone got around to making a Ramones biopic... right? Well according to the Risky Biz Blog [1], Fox Searchlight is doing exactly that. The indie imprint is currently in negotiations with producer Rory Rosegarten, who owns the big screen rights to the upcoming book I Slept with Joey Ramone, written by Joey's brother Mickey Leigh. Rosegarten also managed to get the rights to use the music of The Ramones, which is pretty key. Fox Searchlight sounds like an ideal place for a project like this to develop as they have always been willing to take chances and have a great way of understanding and marketing to subcultures. However, I'm not so sure about this Rory Rosegarten fellow; he was an executive producer on Everybody Loves Raymond. At any rate, The...
- 10/1/2009
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
A reaction to the extreme popularity of a band that produced music that itself was a reaction to the bloated pop music of the 1970s, the Ramones are headed to the big screen. Fox Searchlight, perhaps drafting behind the upcoming bio-pic of The Runaways, is developing a film based on the memoir I Slept with Joey Ramone, written by Joey's brother, Mickey Leigh and music journalist Legs McNeil. The book is due out this December.
This is not the first time - or the last - that the Ramones will be featured in a movie. There was Rock n' Roll High School back in '79, the 2004 documentary End of the Century, and Howard Stern is currently developing a remake of High School.
There's some interesting behind-the-scenes stuff about this project between Searchlight and producer Rory Rosegarten, who picked up the rights to the story while the book was being written,...
This is not the first time - or the last - that the Ramones will be featured in a movie. There was Rock n' Roll High School back in '79, the 2004 documentary End of the Century, and Howard Stern is currently developing a remake of High School.
There's some interesting behind-the-scenes stuff about this project between Searchlight and producer Rory Rosegarten, who picked up the rights to the story while the book was being written,...
- 10/1/2009
- by Colin Boyd
- GetTheBigPicture.net
TNT has given the greenlight to Ray Romano’s hour-long character drama Men of a Certain Age, report the trades. The series stars Romano alongside Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula, and is focused on three forty-something college buddies who are each coming to terms with a midlife that doesn't live up to their previous expectations. It was created by Romano and Mike Royce (Everybody Loves Raymond), who will serve as show runner. Romano and Royce also hold the title of executive producer, along with Rory Rosegarten and Cary Hoffman. Age marks the third pilot in the past week to be greenlit by TNT, with the network announcing 10-episode orders for the hospital drama Time Heals, starring Jada Pinkett Smith, and the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced cop show The Line, starring Dylan McDermott. While a production start date still hasn’t been set, TNT is targeting a January 2010 premiere.
- 1/13/2009
- by James Cook
- TheMovingPicture.net
The pickup season at TNT continues with a series order for Ray Romano's midlife crisis drama "Men of a Certain Age."
"Men," which marks Romano's first series since the Emmy-winning CBS comedy "Everybody Loves Raymond," has been picked up for 10 episodes to premiere later this year.
Written by Romano and "Raymond" alum Mike Royce, "Men" explores the bonds of male friendship through the eyes of three college buddies -- Joe (Romano), Owen (Andre Braugher) and Terry (Scott Bakula) -- who are in their 40s.
Royce, who will serve as showrunner on the show, is executive producing it with Romano, Rory Rosegarten and Cary Hoffman.
The order for "Men" comes on the heels of two similar 10-episode pickups by TNT last week -- the Jada Pinkett Smith-starring medical drama "Time Heals" and the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced cop drama "The Line" toplined by Dylan McDermott.
"Men," which marks Romano's first series since the Emmy-winning CBS comedy "Everybody Loves Raymond," has been picked up for 10 episodes to premiere later this year.
Written by Romano and "Raymond" alum Mike Royce, "Men" explores the bonds of male friendship through the eyes of three college buddies -- Joe (Romano), Owen (Andre Braugher) and Terry (Scott Bakula) -- who are in their 40s.
Royce, who will serve as showrunner on the show, is executive producing it with Romano, Rory Rosegarten and Cary Hoffman.
The order for "Men" comes on the heels of two similar 10-episode pickups by TNT last week -- the Jada Pinkett Smith-starring medical drama "Time Heals" and the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced cop drama "The Line" toplined by Dylan McDermott.
- 1/12/2009
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Scott Bakula is set to return to series TV to star alongside Ray Romano and Andre Braugher in the TNT drama pilot "Men of a Certain Age."
Bakula, the former "Quantum Leap" star, has been tapped to play Terry Elliott, a struggling actor dating a much younger woman.
"Men" revolves around three college pals in their 40s grappling with middle age.
It represents Romano's first foray into series TV since wrapping "Everybody Loves Raymond" in May 2005.
Romano and Mike Royce wrote "Men of a Certain Age...
Bakula, the former "Quantum Leap" star, has been tapped to play Terry Elliott, a struggling actor dating a much younger woman.
"Men" revolves around three college pals in their 40s grappling with middle age.
It represents Romano's first foray into series TV since wrapping "Everybody Loves Raymond" in May 2005.
Romano and Mike Royce wrote "Men of a Certain Age...
- 7/11/2008
- by Post Wire Services
- NYPost.com
Ray Romano is looking to return to television, this time on the drama side.
The former Everybody Loves Raymond star has reteamed with the show's writer-producer Mike Royce on a drama project, titled Men of a Certain Age, that has gotten a pilot pickup at TNT.
Romano, who will star in the hourlong pilot, wrote the script with Royce. He also will executive produce with Royce, who will serve as showrunner. Romano and Royce's managers -- Rory Rosegarten and Cary Hoffman, respectively -- also are exec producing.
"Men" is described as a character-based project that will take a wry look at what it means to be a guy approaching midlife while also exploring the bonds of male friendship, all through the eyes of three college buddies who are in their 40s.
Romano will play Joe (Romano), a friendly, slightly neurotic, divorced father of two who had dreams of being a pro golfer but instead owns and runs a party store.
The former Everybody Loves Raymond star has reteamed with the show's writer-producer Mike Royce on a drama project, titled Men of a Certain Age, that has gotten a pilot pickup at TNT.
Romano, who will star in the hourlong pilot, wrote the script with Royce. He also will executive produce with Royce, who will serve as showrunner. Romano and Royce's managers -- Rory Rosegarten and Cary Hoffman, respectively -- also are exec producing.
"Men" is described as a character-based project that will take a wry look at what it means to be a guy approaching midlife while also exploring the bonds of male friendship, all through the eyes of three college buddies who are in their 40s.
Romano will play Joe (Romano), a friendly, slightly neurotic, divorced father of two who had dreams of being a pro golfer but instead owns and runs a party store.
- 3/31/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Even when grief is overwhelming, funerals can be absurd gatherings full of awkward drama and unintentionally funny ritual by rote. In the case of Eulogy, writer-director Michael Clancy's feature debut, there's no troublesome sadness to get in the way of the quirk factor. Character eccentricities and off-kilter group dynamics play out with a comic vengeance.
Although this black comedy doesn't always achieve its intended laughs and sometimes pushes too hard for them, at its best it offers droll glimpses of the cosmic abyss that often serves as a family's connective tissue. The terrific ensemble cast finds the right deadpan tone to deliver the dysfunction. The presence of Debra Winger will up the draw for niche theatrical audiences, and Eulogy should enjoy a long afterlife on home video.
Unshowy tech contributions, led by DP Michael Chapman (Raging Bull) and editor Richard Halsey (Rocky), put the actors front and center in this concise comic portrait of a clan numbed by disappointment. Winger plays Alice, the oldest, loudest and angriest of the four Collins siblings, returning home to Rhode Island for the funeral of the father they barely knew (Rip Torn). His passing barely dents their self-centered orbits, and even his widow (Piper Laurie) responds with a vacant impassiveness, notwithstanding a couple of badly misfired suicide attempts.
The unlikely voice of sanity and compassion within the sorry lot is college student Kate (Zooey Deschanel, exuding practicality and emotional translucence). When she's not struggling to write the eulogy her clear-eyed grandmother requested, she's avoiding neighbor Ryan (Jesse Bradford), confused over the romantic turn their lifelong summer friendship has taken.
Kate's father, Dan (Hank Azaria), is an adult-film actor looking through a cannabis haze for his big break, having reached his show business zenith in a peanut butter commercial at age 8. Skip (Ray Romano) is a lawyer of sorts with a most unfortunate mustache, and adolescent twins (Curtis and Keith Garcia) who, when they're not being plain evil, toss around sex-talk swagger as though they've listened to Howard Stern one too many times.
The twins take a sudden interest in the gathering when their feisty aunt Lucy (Kelly Preston) shows up with her easygoing "life partner," Judy (Famke Janssen). This rather forced self-introduction is the first sign that Clancy is going to use the lesbian relationship a bit too insistently. While Alice's three children cower in silence and her husband (Mark Harelik) burbles incoherently, she all but puts Lucy and Judy on trial. By the time they announce their wedding plans, you can only wonder why the brides-to-be would want this variously mean-spirited and clueless bunch at the festivities.
But the utter irrationality of family is Clancy's point. It's no wonder Grandma sees no reason to explain her eagerness to check out. And while her suicide attempts aren't as, well, funny as they're meant to be, they do land her in the inexpert care of a dippy nurse (Glenne Headly, in sweet ditz mode) who turns out to be a crucial figure from Alice's past.
As good as it is to see Winger onscreen, her character is too strident a conception, the explanation for her malice a bit too easy. But to Clancy's credit he doesn't try to tie it all up with a feel-good ending. The dark undercurrents remain as the Collinses bid Dad farewell. The twins are still obnoxious. And Romano's Skip is still sporting that mustache.
EULOGY
Lions Gate Films
A Myriad Pictures presentation in association with Ovation Entertainment, Equity Pictures Medienfonds and S.R.O. Entertainment AF
Credits:
Director-writer: Michael Clancy
Producers: Steven Haft, Richard B. Lewis, Kirk D'Amico
Executive producers: Lucas Foster, Kendall Morgan, Bo Hyde, Rory Rosegarten, Jonas McCord, Shelly Glasser
Director of photography: Michael Chapman
Production designer: Dina Lipton
Music: George S. Clinton
Co-producers: Stefan Jonas, Jeanne Van Cott
Costume designer: Tracy Tynan
Editor: Richard Halsey
Cast:
Daniel Collins: Hank Azaria
Ryan Carmichael: Jesse Bradford
Kate Collins: Zooey Deschanel
Samantha: Glenne Headly
Judy Arnolds: Famke Janssen
Grandma Collins: Piper Laurie
Lucy Collins: Kelly Preston
Skip Collins: Ray Romano
Grandpa Collins: Rip Torn
Alice Collins: Debra Winger
Burt: Mark Harelik
Parson Banke: Rene Auberjonois
MPAA rating: R
Running time -- 85 minutes...
Although this black comedy doesn't always achieve its intended laughs and sometimes pushes too hard for them, at its best it offers droll glimpses of the cosmic abyss that often serves as a family's connective tissue. The terrific ensemble cast finds the right deadpan tone to deliver the dysfunction. The presence of Debra Winger will up the draw for niche theatrical audiences, and Eulogy should enjoy a long afterlife on home video.
Unshowy tech contributions, led by DP Michael Chapman (Raging Bull) and editor Richard Halsey (Rocky), put the actors front and center in this concise comic portrait of a clan numbed by disappointment. Winger plays Alice, the oldest, loudest and angriest of the four Collins siblings, returning home to Rhode Island for the funeral of the father they barely knew (Rip Torn). His passing barely dents their self-centered orbits, and even his widow (Piper Laurie) responds with a vacant impassiveness, notwithstanding a couple of badly misfired suicide attempts.
The unlikely voice of sanity and compassion within the sorry lot is college student Kate (Zooey Deschanel, exuding practicality and emotional translucence). When she's not struggling to write the eulogy her clear-eyed grandmother requested, she's avoiding neighbor Ryan (Jesse Bradford), confused over the romantic turn their lifelong summer friendship has taken.
Kate's father, Dan (Hank Azaria), is an adult-film actor looking through a cannabis haze for his big break, having reached his show business zenith in a peanut butter commercial at age 8. Skip (Ray Romano) is a lawyer of sorts with a most unfortunate mustache, and adolescent twins (Curtis and Keith Garcia) who, when they're not being plain evil, toss around sex-talk swagger as though they've listened to Howard Stern one too many times.
The twins take a sudden interest in the gathering when their feisty aunt Lucy (Kelly Preston) shows up with her easygoing "life partner," Judy (Famke Janssen). This rather forced self-introduction is the first sign that Clancy is going to use the lesbian relationship a bit too insistently. While Alice's three children cower in silence and her husband (Mark Harelik) burbles incoherently, she all but puts Lucy and Judy on trial. By the time they announce their wedding plans, you can only wonder why the brides-to-be would want this variously mean-spirited and clueless bunch at the festivities.
But the utter irrationality of family is Clancy's point. It's no wonder Grandma sees no reason to explain her eagerness to check out. And while her suicide attempts aren't as, well, funny as they're meant to be, they do land her in the inexpert care of a dippy nurse (Glenne Headly, in sweet ditz mode) who turns out to be a crucial figure from Alice's past.
As good as it is to see Winger onscreen, her character is too strident a conception, the explanation for her malice a bit too easy. But to Clancy's credit he doesn't try to tie it all up with a feel-good ending. The dark undercurrents remain as the Collinses bid Dad farewell. The twins are still obnoxious. And Romano's Skip is still sporting that mustache.
EULOGY
Lions Gate Films
A Myriad Pictures presentation in association with Ovation Entertainment, Equity Pictures Medienfonds and S.R.O. Entertainment AF
Credits:
Director-writer: Michael Clancy
Producers: Steven Haft, Richard B. Lewis, Kirk D'Amico
Executive producers: Lucas Foster, Kendall Morgan, Bo Hyde, Rory Rosegarten, Jonas McCord, Shelly Glasser
Director of photography: Michael Chapman
Production designer: Dina Lipton
Music: George S. Clinton
Co-producers: Stefan Jonas, Jeanne Van Cott
Costume designer: Tracy Tynan
Editor: Richard Halsey
Cast:
Daniel Collins: Hank Azaria
Ryan Carmichael: Jesse Bradford
Kate Collins: Zooey Deschanel
Samantha: Glenne Headly
Judy Arnolds: Famke Janssen
Grandma Collins: Piper Laurie
Lucy Collins: Kelly Preston
Skip Collins: Ray Romano
Grandpa Collins: Rip Torn
Alice Collins: Debra Winger
Burt: Mark Harelik
Parson Banke: Rene Auberjonois
MPAA rating: R
Running time -- 85 minutes...
- 10/29/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Burt Reynolds is lighting up the barbecue for New Line Cinema's Grilled. Juliette Lewis is in negotiations to join the comedy. Jason Ensler is directing the Ray Romano-Kevin James feature, which follows a day in the life of two meat salesmen who will stop at nothing to make a sale. Reynolds plays Cookie Goldbluth, a prospect for the two salesman. Lewis would play a character who is ditzy and suicidal. Shooting is scheduled to start July 7 in Los Angeles. Producing the project are Jon Klane, Brad Jenkel, William Tepper, Jeff Sussman and Rory Rosegarten. Tepper wrote the original draft, which was rewritten by Matt Nix. New Line's Toby Emmerich, Cale Boyter and Magnus Kim are overseeing. Reynolds next shoots the Paramount remake The Longest Yard. He starred in the 1974 original. Reynolds is repped by ICM. Lewis' recent credits include Starsky & Hutch Old School and Cold Creek Manor. She is repped by WMA.
- 6/22/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jason Ensler will direct "Grilled", a comedy to star Ray Romano and Kevin James, for New Line Cinema. With writer Matt Nix on board for a rewrite, the project has received the greenlight and is scheduled to shoot next month. "Grilled" follows a day in the life of two meat salesmen who will stop at nothing to make a sale. Producing the project are Jon Klane, Brad Jenkel, William Tepper, Jeff Sussman and Rory Rosegarten. Tepper is also the writer of the original draft. Toby Emmerich, Cale Boyter and Magnus Kim are overseeing the project for the studio.
Opens
Friday, February 20
Welcome to Mooseport joins the ranks of Hollywood movies about politics that are devoid of political content. Offering mild observations about celebrity and the media, the film centers on a popular ex-president's transition from the White House to rustic New England. The script by Tom Schulman (Dead Poets Society, "What About Bob?") is concerned mainly with personal integrity and romantic commitment, subjects he treats with vague generalities. From the first scenes of Mooseport, which unfolds like a sitcom pilot, it's evident where the pieces will fall. When they do, the impact is minor.
Compounding the sense of predictability and Deja Vu is the presence of well-known TV actors portraying the sorts of characters they've perfected on the small screen. Ray Romano, making his onscreen film debut (after a voice role in Ice Age), puts his tentative, low-voltage delivery to effective use in playing a regular guy -- but fans of Everybody Loves Raymond will find more laughs in his weekly series. Film vets Gene Hackman and Marcia Gay Harden lend whatever nuance they can muster, but there's only so much to be done with Schulman's broad-stroke comedy. When the votes are in, the Donald Petrie-helmed film will poll strongest among older audiences, but it won't secure a landslide for Fox.
Hackman plays the very presidentially named Monroe Eagle Cole, a Democrat fresh off two terms with approval ratings through the roof. A smooth operator with a self-deprecating facade, Monroe is essentially decent and driven by ego -- Hackman puts it all across with his customary naturalness. As the first commander-in-chief to be divorced while in office, he's facing tough alimony negotiations with his vindictive ex (Christine Baranski, in what feels like inevitable casting). With his entourage of Secret Service and staff, Monroe sets up camp at his sprawling summer estate in the laid-back burg of Mooseport, Maine.
Before he can choose among big-bucks offers for memoirs and speaking engagements, the village elders enlist him to fill the void left by their deceased mayor. But what was meant to be an unchallenged run for office turns into a close -- and closely watched -- race between the ex-president and a plumber.
The rivalry between Monroe and Handy Harrison (Romano) is less about issues than about jealousy and male posturing -- specifically for the affections of veterinarian Sally (Maura Tierney), Handy's girlfriend of six years. In a tired story line whose outcome is clear, she's increasingly frustrated with his refusal to pop the question and quickly says yes when Monroe asks her out.
Rip Torn, playing Monroe's campaign manager, arrives upon the scene like a much-needed tonic to the bland proceedings. In the film's best sequences, political strategy sessions focus on urgencies like whether the former president should cancel a date, and the broadcast media get mileage out of his rebuffed good-night kiss.
Those bright moments don't compensate for Petrie and Schulman's condescending view of ain't-they-wacky yokels. Costumer Vicki Graef and production designer David Chapman emphasize the cliched divide between the power elite's country chic and the plaid-flannel brigade's down-home clutter.
WELCOME TO MOOSEPORT
20th Century Fox
Mediastream IV/Intermedia
Credits:
Director: Donald Petrie
Screenwriter: Tom Schulman
Producers: Tom Schulman, Basil Iwanyk
Executive producers: Rory Rosegarten, David Coatsworth, Moritz Borman, Doug Richardson
Director of photography: Victor Hammer
Production designer: David Chapman
Music: John Debney
Costume designer: Vicki Graef
Editor: Debra Neil-Fisher
Cast:
Monroe Cole: Gene Hackman
Handy Harrison: Ray Romano
Grace Sutherland: Marcia Gay Harden
Sally Mannis: Maura Tierney
Charlotte Cole: Christine Baranski
Bullard: Fred Savage
Bert Langdon: Rip Torn
Irma: June Squibb
Morris: Wayne Robson
Martha: Jackie Richardson
Mandy: Reagan Pasternak
Reuben: Jim Feather
Harve: Ed Fielding
Running time -- 111 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Friday, February 20
Welcome to Mooseport joins the ranks of Hollywood movies about politics that are devoid of political content. Offering mild observations about celebrity and the media, the film centers on a popular ex-president's transition from the White House to rustic New England. The script by Tom Schulman (Dead Poets Society, "What About Bob?") is concerned mainly with personal integrity and romantic commitment, subjects he treats with vague generalities. From the first scenes of Mooseport, which unfolds like a sitcom pilot, it's evident where the pieces will fall. When they do, the impact is minor.
Compounding the sense of predictability and Deja Vu is the presence of well-known TV actors portraying the sorts of characters they've perfected on the small screen. Ray Romano, making his onscreen film debut (after a voice role in Ice Age), puts his tentative, low-voltage delivery to effective use in playing a regular guy -- but fans of Everybody Loves Raymond will find more laughs in his weekly series. Film vets Gene Hackman and Marcia Gay Harden lend whatever nuance they can muster, but there's only so much to be done with Schulman's broad-stroke comedy. When the votes are in, the Donald Petrie-helmed film will poll strongest among older audiences, but it won't secure a landslide for Fox.
Hackman plays the very presidentially named Monroe Eagle Cole, a Democrat fresh off two terms with approval ratings through the roof. A smooth operator with a self-deprecating facade, Monroe is essentially decent and driven by ego -- Hackman puts it all across with his customary naturalness. As the first commander-in-chief to be divorced while in office, he's facing tough alimony negotiations with his vindictive ex (Christine Baranski, in what feels like inevitable casting). With his entourage of Secret Service and staff, Monroe sets up camp at his sprawling summer estate in the laid-back burg of Mooseport, Maine.
Before he can choose among big-bucks offers for memoirs and speaking engagements, the village elders enlist him to fill the void left by their deceased mayor. But what was meant to be an unchallenged run for office turns into a close -- and closely watched -- race between the ex-president and a plumber.
The rivalry between Monroe and Handy Harrison (Romano) is less about issues than about jealousy and male posturing -- specifically for the affections of veterinarian Sally (Maura Tierney), Handy's girlfriend of six years. In a tired story line whose outcome is clear, she's increasingly frustrated with his refusal to pop the question and quickly says yes when Monroe asks her out.
Rip Torn, playing Monroe's campaign manager, arrives upon the scene like a much-needed tonic to the bland proceedings. In the film's best sequences, political strategy sessions focus on urgencies like whether the former president should cancel a date, and the broadcast media get mileage out of his rebuffed good-night kiss.
Those bright moments don't compensate for Petrie and Schulman's condescending view of ain't-they-wacky yokels. Costumer Vicki Graef and production designer David Chapman emphasize the cliched divide between the power elite's country chic and the plaid-flannel brigade's down-home clutter.
WELCOME TO MOOSEPORT
20th Century Fox
Mediastream IV/Intermedia
Credits:
Director: Donald Petrie
Screenwriter: Tom Schulman
Producers: Tom Schulman, Basil Iwanyk
Executive producers: Rory Rosegarten, David Coatsworth, Moritz Borman, Doug Richardson
Director of photography: Victor Hammer
Production designer: David Chapman
Music: John Debney
Costume designer: Vicki Graef
Editor: Debra Neil-Fisher
Cast:
Monroe Cole: Gene Hackman
Handy Harrison: Ray Romano
Grace Sutherland: Marcia Gay Harden
Sally Mannis: Maura Tierney
Charlotte Cole: Christine Baranski
Bullard: Fred Savage
Bert Langdon: Rip Torn
Irma: June Squibb
Morris: Wayne Robson
Martha: Jackie Richardson
Mandy: Reagan Pasternak
Reuben: Jim Feather
Harve: Ed Fielding
Running time -- 111 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
John Henson will return to television as host and executive producer of his own primetime comedy vehicle on Spike TV. The former host of E!'s Talk Soup will preside over The John Henson Project, a half-hour devoted to guy-centric humor in the irreverent spirit of the male-targeted cable channel. Project, which Henson will produce with his manager, Rory Rosegarten, will premiere at 10 p.m. Jan. 11. The series marks Henson's first steady TV gig since leaving Soup in 1999. Since then he's been attached to starring roles in several pilots that never made it to air, including separate ABC vehicles as host of his own late-night talk show and primetime comedy series.
- 11/13/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.