Top Gun: Maverick box-office projections are sky high; Eminem is among those on the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis; Nightbitch, soon to be a movie starring Amy Adams, is great. Plus: What “sport stacking” is. All in today’s Movie News Rundown.
But First: The just-announced soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis includes everyone from Eminem to Stevie Nicks to Doja Cat to Stevie Nicks — and also some Elvis Presley tunes. Margeaux Sippell has this list of participating artists, and a snippet of the Eminem and CeeLo Green collaboration “The King and I.”
Maverick Box Office Projections: Top Gun: Maverick could yield the biggest opening of Tom Cruise’s four-decade career, The Hollywood Reporter says. Based on early tracking, the sequel “is easily headed for the biggest opening of Tom Cruise’s career at the domestic box office, with a four-day gross of at least $92 million,” the site reports. Deadline notes that its global take is likely to be in the neighborhood of $180 million. That this could be a breakthrough for movies in general since most of the box-office recovery has been fueled by Marvel movies.
May I Editorialize? I agree totally with Caleb Hammond’s positive mini-review of Top Gun: Maverick. MovieMaker publisher Deirdre McCarrick and I saw a press screening Monday and agreed it’s a 10 out of 10. It has stakes and sweep, makes you feel like you’re inside of a jet cockpit, and expands the story of 1986’s Top Gun without relying on nostalgia. I know Oscar voters sometimes frown on popcorn movies and sequels, but they should seriously consider this as a Best Picture nominee. Cruise, 59, was right to take his time in getting the sequel made, and absolutely right to delay its release during pandemic lockdowns: You should absolutely see it in a theater.
Today in Johnny Depp and Amber Heard News: Hahaha no, we’ve completely checked out.
Don’t Pay People to Review Your Movies: Yesterday I got an email from a website offering to review movies for money. Filmmakers, please don’t ever fall for this. No legitimate news outlet will charge you for a review. The best way to get your film reviewed is to make a great movie with a great hook.
Number 11 on the Call Sheet: Taylor Sheridan is the creator of Yellowstone, the biggest show on television, as well as two spinoffs. And he owes it all to one insult. Deadline quotes Sheridan saying that he started making scripts because when he was acting on Sons of Anarchy and asked for a raise, “this jerk business affairs attorney goes, ‘He probably deserves to make more, but we’re not going to pay him more, because guess what? He’s not worth more. There are 50 of him. He is 11 on the call sheet. That’s what that guy is and that’s all he’s ever going to be.’” What a great lesson in turning rejection into inspiration.
Book Recommendation: I started reading Rachel Yoder’s novel Nightbitch — about a mom who thinks she’s turning into a dog — when I learned Amy Adams will star in a new film adaptation for Hulu, to be directed by Marielle Heller. I’m halfway through and it’s quote enjoyable: mysterious, insightful and darkly funny. I would normally think something built largely around the protagonist’s inner thoughts wouldn’t translate to the screen, but Yoder and Heller are collaborators on the script, so I’m hopeful.
NYAFF: The New York Asian Film Festival will kick off its 20th edition with the international premiere of the Thai romantic comedy Fast & Feel Love, directed by Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit. Additionally, the director will be joined at Lincoln Center on opening night with lead actress, Urassaya “Yaya” Sperbund, who will be honored with the festival’s Screen International Rising Star award. You can visit the NYAFF website to learn more about the festival, which runs from July 15-28.
Sport Stacking: Fast & Feel Love is about a competitive sport stacker. Do you know what that is? Neither did I before watching the trailer for the film. Here it is:
Main image: Eminem as Elvis in Jailhouse Rock mode in the video for “We Made You” in 2009.
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