THE GOSSIP'S IN ON MEL GIBSON'S NEW MOVIE

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THE WEB GOSSIP

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The guy or girl that writes this column is a very big industry insider who wishes to remain anonymous, but wants to write about all the headlines happening in Hollywood and the Music Industry.
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Mel Gibson

MAD MEL: Mel‘s back in a supremely entertaining thriller-revenge movie called Edge of Darkness. Let’s get it out of the way and say that despite the tabloid headlines Gibson’s made over the past five years (and, no, I won't go into them!) let’s put all that behind us and focus on what a truly entertaining movie presence he’s been … and, still is. This riveting new movie is based on a BBC miniseries that has been developed by director Martin Campbell and producer Graham King (The Departed). In short, Gibson’s daughter is killed at the beginning of the movie and although everyone immediately assumes that Gibson’s Tom Craven was the intended target, as Gibson peels back the layers, he discovers that it was indeed his daughter who was the target. The brilliant Ray Winstone, whose character’s name is Darius Jedburgh, is just brilliant. Almost as good a villain as the marvelous Christopher Waltz from Inglorious Basterds, who’s been winning award after award this year. The movie showcases Gibson at his best. His line readings are terrific and though at times, I took exception to his Boston-accent (sort of an Australia via Boston); his total commitment to the role wings you over. It sort of reminded me of the brilliant China Syndrome (1979) movie all those years ago. It’ll be interesting to see the reaction to this movie … its good, no question about that, but the fires that Gibson set are in some ways still burning. I’ve spoken to people who say they’d never go to see this movie … good or bad. I would hope that the forgiveness with which America likes to bestow so frequently is at work here as well. The movie is that good.

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Jay Leno

CO CO UPDATE: I watched Conan’s final NBC show and though at times it was pretty funny with guests Tom Hanks and Steve Carell … it didn’t blow me away. It was almost as if Conan finally realized that’d despite his $40 million plus payday … it was over. I know Max Weinberg, and while there’s no question he’ll land on his feet (maybe go back to that other gig with some guy named Springsteen), that was the final show. Sorry to see it end so poorly for everyone concerned. Jay Leno goes on Oprah today to begin to rehabilitate his PR-face … and, chin. Remember when Letterman didn’t get the Tonight Show … it went to Jay: It was documented by several people that Leno allegedly hid in a closet where he overheard crucial inside information that gave him a leg up in the negotiations … amazing! I never much cared for Leno’s schick and now … well, what can I add. A sad chapter for TV no doubt.

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Tommy Mottola

TAKING A TOMMY: Anyone out there remember Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band from the late-70s? The band featured August Darnell (who'd go onto too much success with his terrific Kid Creole And The Coconuts entourage); Stoney Browder, who was August’s brother, and the terrific Sugar Coated Andy Hernandez, who later reemerged as Coatimundi. The group also featured lead singer Corey Daye, who was brash as well as beautiful. She ended up having several hit records as a solo artist as well. Their signature song, “Cherchez LaFemme/Se Si Bon” was a hit song in 1976 and contained the unforgettable line ‘Tommy Mottola … he lives on the road.’ Mottola at that time was their fledging manager. He went on to much success handling Kid Creole, Hall & Oates, John Mellencamp, and even for a time, Carly Simon. He married Mariah Carey and rose to the top of the music industry food chain as the president of Columbia Records. Michael Jackson labeled him a racist and he ventured into serious mayhem with the likes of George Michael. He left Columbia, left Mariah, married singer Thalia and tried to re-start Neil Bogart’s legendary Casablanca Records via a deal with Doug Morris and Universal Records … where their first release was an album by Lindsay Lohan! Tommy actually started out as a singer and released several recordings … one, which even became a hit. I know Tommy and despite several (and, I do mean more than several) rather hair raising stories I’ve heard about him in the last 25 years … I don’t have a bad word to say about him! Tommy has, much to my surprise, emerged as either ‘the next judge on American Idol,’ or, as ‘the new judge on X Factor.’ First: Tommy is certainly uniquely qualified for sure. He’s done this all his life … been in the music business all his life and certainly has my vote. I was surprised to see all the posts, good and bad, on Nikki Finke’s Hollywood Deadline column about his possible ascension to either of these roles. In my book, Mr. Mottola would do a fine job! MARK LINDSAY: We had a terrific chat with Mark Lindsay yesterday, he being the former lead singer of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Rather than rush the interview, we'll properly unfold it come Monday. Lindsay in fact will be here in NYC at Town Hall on March 19. Terrific talk … great interview. Lindsay is of course, part of the current Teen Idols 2 tour, with Micky Dolenz and Peter Noone. Check out his website.

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James Cameron

TOP BLUE DOG: The numbers are in. Avatar has earned $1.859 billion in worldwide revenue in just 39 days. Monday, it officially eclipsed James Cameron’s other movie Titanic, set in 1998. No one really thought the record could be broken, but Avatar’s higher 3D ticket prices not adjusted for inflation made it all happen. Insiders predict that the worldwide revenue will reach $2 billion after next week’s Oscar nominations and the March 7 Academy Awards. About the only thing from that movie that hasn't really broken big, is the ending Leona Lewis (“I See You”) song. Strange too, as it was very well done I've seen Avatar and marveled along with everyone else. It is indeed, a new barrier broken.

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James Taylor

TROUBADOUR TOUR: Singers James Taylor and Carole King are embarking on their Troubadour tour in the next month. The tour inspired by their stint last year at the infamous Troubadour club in L.A., should be a watershed moment for the burgeoning singer/songwriter revival currently occurring. Both artists are standouts in the field, are making a bold statement indeed with this tour. I saw them last week on the Today Show and David Letterman and they looked and sounded terrific. They’ll be back by the iconic L.A. group, The Section. And, yes, I got my tickets for their show at the Garden. OSCAR DEAREST: The Oscar nominations will be read next Tuesday, February 2nd, by Academy proxy Tom Sherak and Oscar-nominated actress Anne Hathaway. They'll unveil all 24 categories at a 5:30AM PST news conference. This is THE movie event of the year and nabbing a nomination, and, even an award, can make or break a career. The show itself will be presented on Sunday, March 7, at the Kodak Theatre in L.A. PAPERBACK WRITER: Congrats to our Times Square Gossip favorite Mark Bego as his own memoir, Paperback Writer is set to be released in the Spring. We'll have a more detailed report as the release nears, but suffice to say, it is a rocking and rolling look back at his celebrity-oriented career. From Melanie to Mary Wilson to Randy Jones, Michael Jackson and Madonna, they're all there. A great read!

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Aretha Franklin

JAZZ FEST IN NEW ORLEANS: Joining the likes of Simon & Garfunkel and Pearl Jam at this year’s New Orleans JazzFest (April 23-May 2) are: Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, The Neville Brothers, Lionel Richie, Anita Baker, Allman Brothers Band, My Morning Jacket, Widespread Panic, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Gipsy Kings, Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes, The Black Crowes, Jonny Lang, and, Allen Toussaint. This will be the 41st edition of the series.
Photos By: Sara De Boer/Walter McBride/RD/Kabik/Retna