Category: Show Biz

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SUMMER’S GREAT EXPECTATIONS? …

Memorial Day weekend formally is the start of the summer film season. We’re talking movie theater flicks, titles you watch in a bona fide theater, not streaming stuff on TV.

Some thoughts:

* Sequels prevail. Studios know one hit deserves another.

* Animated films will find their niche. Turns out adults like cartoons as much as kids.

* Action-adventure titles soar. Add a famous name, you’re likely to get a blockbuster, especially if Marvel is in the mix.

The bottom-line wonderment: With a lot of potential movie faves on the screens, will the seats in the theaters finally get filled like those pre-pandemic days, to break the inevitable COVID-era habit of staying home and watching streamed titles on TV, and resume the practice of buying tickets at the box office, pay absurd snack bar prices, and actually return to the habit of watching movies where they were made to be seen, on those large screen and mega-loud sound system?

Here are 10 summer films I won’t miss, and you shouldn’t either.

Tom Cruise as Maverick in “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Here’s what I’m eager to see, with my soda and kaki mochi combined with popcorn:

1 –‘Top Gun: Maverick’

It’s been more than 30 years, when a young actor named Tom Cruise, portrayed a cocky, ace pilot named Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, in “Top Gun,” and became a Hollywood hottie and hotshot. This flick was supposed to premiere two years ago, but has been delayed – yeah, COVID – till this summer, so Maverick may rule the year…if lightning strikes again. MilesTeller, Jennifer Connelly, and John Hamm co-star. Opens today (May 27).

Dinosaurs will roam the world in “Jurassic World Dominion.”

2 –‘Jurassic World Dominion’

Dino-mite. Can’t deny it; The roaring historic dinosaurs always scare up the audiences, and this time dinos are everywhere, not just in the forests. No fretting, familiar actors are back – Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Lauren Dern, Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt. Colin Trevorrow directs the Steven Spielberg franchise… The dinos steal the show, lurching, sneering, roaring, and. boy, speed-racing all over the place, with humans trying to find the perfect balance on Earth. Opens June 10.

Buzz Lightyear in “Lightyear.”

3 –‘Lightyear’

Pixar-Disney’s most famous space traveler, Buzz Lightyear, jumps into sci-fi heavens, and has a kinda a leap in time-traveling, in this prequel that supposedly leads into his “Toy Story” turf. Could be the summer’s biggest family-aimed animation adventure. Voices matter, so for the record, Chris Evans has replaced Tim Allen. Also voicing: Taika Waititi, James Brolin, and Keke Palmer. Opens June 17.

Austin

4 –‘Elvis’

A newcomer, Austin Butler, portrays America’s favorite “Hound Dog,” Elvis Presley, and yes, he has moments where there’s a whole lotta shakin’ going on. Butler’s not a proven box office figure, and the trailers show he can do the Presley gyrations and lip-curling in those beaded and sequined jumpsuits. The heavyweights who can make this a hit are huge entertainment names: Oscar-winner Tom Hanks plays a chubby Col. Tom Parker, whose viewpoint on the Elvis phenom is the thrust of the movie, directed by Baz Luhrmann, of “Moulin Rouge” and “The Great Gatsby” fame. Opens June 24.

5 –‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’

Who doesn’t like the Minions, those quirky yellow figures oozing with individual charm? This project, from 2020, also was a victim of the pandemic, finally seeing screen life. This sequel marks the return of voicer Steve Carell, as the young Gru from “Despicable Me,” who gets help from his Minion to learn to become the franchise’s top villain. Other voices: Taraji P. Hansen and Michelle Yeoh. Opens July 1.

6 –‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

Chris Hemsworth in “Thor: Love and Thunder”

Because of its success from 2017’s “Thor: Ragnarok,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings back the giddy and funny superhero (Chris Hemsworth) in “Thor: Love and Thunder.” When he was in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” Hemsworth was overweight. He’s trim again…and cannot peacefully retire. Taika Waititi directs, with Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, and Natalie Portman aboard. Opens July 8.

7 –‘Where the Crawdads Sing’

This drama might be a sleeper, based on the best-selling novel of the same name, set in the marshlands of North Carolina.  Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kya, a self-raised girl who becomes a prime suspect in a murder case. Directed by Olivia Newman. Opens July 15.

8 – ‘Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris’

Lesley Manville is a widowed cleaning woman in 1950s London, who falls for the haute couture of Paree – notably a particular Dior dress she sorely wants – and makes an impact on the House of Dior. Isabelle Huppert, Jason Isaacs, and Rose Williams co-star. Opens July 15.

Brad Pitt in “Bullet Train.”

9 — ‘Bullet Train’

One of the stars of this action comedy, based on a Japanese novel, is the titular Bullet Train of Japan, the immaculate and dependable people-mover, including Brad Pitt, playing a likeable hit man on his pre-retirement assignment, who boards this train, only to discover four other assassins are aboard with their own assignments. Awkward. This looks to be an entertaining action comedy. Director David Leitch’s earlier credits include “Deadpool 2” and “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.” Opens Aug. 5.

10 – ‘Samaritan’

 Described as a superhero thriller adventure, “Samaritan” stars Sylvester Stallone as Stanley Kominski. The film is based on Mythos Comics characters, about a youth, portrayed by Javon Walton, who understands that a famous superhero who went missing 20 years ago, following an epic battle, who supposedly now leads a different life and living next door to him. Opens Aug. 26.

Surely, many other summer movies are awaiting crowds; I don’t particularly enjoy horror pics or mushy rom-coms, so obviously, these titles weren’t considered here. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

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WHEN TV KNOWS TO PULL A SHOW

You’ve got to respect and applaud a network procedural to yank an episode because of what’s transpiring in real life.

With the most recent gunman killing innocent school youngsters at a Texas elementary school today, CBS –which was to air a finale of “FBI” tonight (May 24) — has yanked the episode from viewing because it contains an issue of a firearms heist and airing it might be insensitive with the tragedy playing out on live TV news shows as the number of deaths mount, in real time. CBS was right to pull the “FBI” episode.

Jeremy Sisto

According to a show biz website, TheWrap, the potentially inflammatory episode involves the son of Jeremy Sisto’s character, Jubal Valentine, and his reluctance to share data with ties to a massive gun heist about a fellow classmate involved with firearms. The son is portrayed by Caleb Reese Paul.

No date has yet been announced when the episode might air. The other two “FBI” series: “FBI: Most Wanted” and “FBI: International,” will air as scheduled.

TV dramas infrequently yank shows after real-life tragedy, but also take cues using real life episodes from news headlines to create fictional plots. …

Aloha, Jackie

Karen Keawehawaii and ‘ohana bid a fond aloha to her hubby, John “Jackie” Farias, in services Sunday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. He died last April 25.

Jackie Farias

In true Hawaiian spirit, there was mele and hula galore, and touching ‘ohana memories shared by daughters Tracie, Staci, Winona and Melody, with mo‘opuna Puna, Haweo and Acacia also taking the mike.

The menu for after-services fellowship “was dictated by Jackie’s favorites,” said Keawehawaii. “Sweet-sour spareribs and laulau.”
The big hit was the take-home mini-carrot cakes, based on Jackie’s Christmastime recipe, with daughter Staci, aka Kalani, spearheading the “Carrot Cake Challenge” by creating 410 take-home “favors,” Kalani is the lone Farias soul who loves to be in the kitchen, and obviously was the one who spearheaded the bake fest, with some kokua from mo‘opuna Pi‘ikea and Ka‘onohi.

“My only involvement was taste-testing,” said Keawehawaii, adding that the services wouldn’t be complete without the carrot cakes. …

Names ‘n’ places

Dan

The “Dan Del Negro Trio Plays Swingin’ Jazz, Beautiful Ballads, Hot Latin, and Full-out Funk” is the theme of a jazzfest at 6 p.m. Friday at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace.

The Del Negro Trio features Del Negro on piano, Dean Taba on bass and Noel Okimoto on drums; it appeared last month to enthusiastic crowds, hence the return visit.

Tickets: $59, includes a supper before the show. Visit:
www.tix.com/ticket-sales/musicatmedicis/5142/event/1269047…

Out Maui way, Eric Gilliom’s one-man show, “White Hawaiian,” is set for a trio of gigs at ProArts Theater in Kihei. The playdates: July 8, 9 and 10, Aug. 12, 13 and 14, and Sept. 16, 17 and 18.

Tickets: (808) 463-6550, www.proartsmaui.com

And that’s Show Biz. …

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A TITLE SPONSOR FOR UKE FEST

A few changes are forthcoming, when the 52nd Annual Ukulele Festival – a summertime attraction and destination for locals and visitors alike – unfolds at 7 p.m. July 17 as a virtual event.

New: a title sponsor, Tony Group Autoplex, will strum in this year, making the event possible. Thus, the annual event will be formally known as the Tony Group Autoplex Annual Ukulele Festival.

Unchanged: Through retired, Roy and Kathy Sakuma, co-founders of the world’s largest and most popular uke activity, are returning to jump-start this year’s attraction with plans to keep alive the spirit of the festival’s success.

The Sakumas earlier retired as co-founders of the ukulele festival, when another couple expressed interest in keeping the fest alive, but clearly, the deal fell through, reasons unexplained.

So Sakuma will be aboard, hosting the event along with Hawaii’s most famous and versatile uke man, Jake Shimabukuro.

What’s also new: a free virtual ukulele workshop on July 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hawaii time, a week ahead of the virtual festival.

Roy and Kathy Sakuma, back in the uke saddle.

The Sakumas continue their year-round work to train and instruct ukulele students at their Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios. “That’s what I enjoy most – working with the young kids who want to learn to play the ukulele,” said Roy Sakuma, who, in recent years, returned to host in-person classes himself, becoming part of his studio’s teaching staff. And yes, the kids love him. “It’s so much fun…like the old days,” said Roy.

Jake Shimabukuro

“We wholeheartedly would like to thank all of the ‘ukulele manufacturers, performers, entertainers, international groups, students, sponsors, volunteers, and the entire community of residents and visitors who came out to Kapi‘olani Park year after year to support the festival,” the Sakumas said in a joint statement.

“The ukulele, so small and seemingly ordinary, touches lives in extraordinary ways, and we will continue to spread the joy of the ukulele,” said Kathy.

Shimabukuro, who earned his chops as an early learner, now serves on the board of directors of the Ukulele Festival Hawaii. “It is because of Roy and Kathy’s work that the ‘ukulele is embraced and enjoyed worldwide today with other ukulele festivals throughout the world, and I salute them for their efforts,” said Shimabukuro. …

A Lightbulb Concerto

Streetlight Cadence, the acoustic group from Hawaii, have a reputation of thinking and playing outside the box, which make ‘em truly refreshing.

Ensconced in a room at Sunset Beach in Pupukea recently, the band had a couple of hours to kill following a concert, so they decided to create something special, and impromptu, and recorded a beaut and posted it online.

Streetlight Cadence, with lone “ghost” light, in impromptu video filming at Pupukea.

If the footage — promptly dubbed “A Lightbulb Concerto” –seems unusually dark, clearly it’s intentional: a simple “ghost light,” that single-bulb lamp traditionally left on overnight, a common practice on a Broadway stage, provided the illumination, as Jonathan Franklin performed on violin, Brian Webb on cello, and Ben Chai on banjo, with friend Clara Stegall guesting on guitar . No word on the whereabouts of Jesse Shiroma, the group’s accordionist, but  maybe he was the cameraman?  Looks and sounds like a winnah! …

Friday filler

So who and what will replace  Jay Hernandez and the “Magnum P.I.” crew on Friday nights this fall, on CBS? Taking over the slot: Max  Thieriot, from “SWAT Team,” heading up an inmates-and-firefighter drama, “Fire Country,” tucked in between “SWAT Team” and “Blue Bloods.” ….

And that’s Show Biz. …

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LOOKS LIKE IT’S MOMOA, THE MERRIER

Seems like Hawaii’s keiki o ka ‘aina Jason Momoa is all over the movie map.

The Honolulu native, who is part Hawaiian, will write, star in and executive-produce a straight-to-series, “Chief of War,” for Apple TV+.

The eight-episode project will deal with the colonization of Hawaii, from an indigenous viewpoint, with production likely to begin in the late summer or fall this year.

A general plot outline has not been mentioned, nor cast details revealed yet, but according to Variety, “Chief of War” is a creation of Momoa, and will be produced by Endeavor Content and Chernin Entertainment. Doug Jung will be showrunner, with negotiations under way for Justin Chon (“Blue Bayou”) to direct the first two episodes.

Jason Momoa

The producing team also includes Thomas Pa‘a Sibbett, Francis Lawrence, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Erik Holmberg.

With its island-roots orientation, hope Momoa can encourage his film-making partners to hire more locals, and some with secondary roles, to truly make this a “made-in-Hawaii” success.

Further, Momoa’s schedule includes:

  • Momoa’s Apple TV series, “See,” in which he portrays Baba Voss. The unique show, still streaming episodes, is set in the distant future where a deadly virus has decimated and impacted humans, who are blind or with low vision. Voss has twins born centuries later – with eyesight.
  • A  spec project entitled “Shots! Shots! Shots!,” a Universal Pictures acquisition which will star Momoa. It’s described as a family-centric adventure-comedy flick, with Momoa one of the exec producers, along with his partner, Jeff Fierson. Details are lacking, but among the Hollywood names attached to the project are Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich. Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows wrote the spec script.

Momoa, in disguise.
  • Momoa now is in Italy, filming “Fast & Furious 10,” the Vin Diesel franchise (also known as “Fast X,” in which he’s playing a villain. In an online post, Momoa says, “Gonna be fun; I get to play the bad guy, which I haven’t gotten to do for awhile. A very flamboyant bad boy. A little panache.” To minimize getting recognized, Momoa has fashioned his own disguise – sun glasses shielding his eyes and face, plus a scarf around his head, a la the pic he posted himself.
  • His sequel to “Aquaman” is in the can, and that project, dubbed “Aquaman and the Lost Frontier,” will be on screens in March 2023. FYI, the sequel features Amber Heard, Johnny Depp’s ex now engaged in court battles with the actor; she’s blaming media coverage that her role of Mera, intended as a three-flick project, is being downplayed because of the she-said, he-said court fight.

Smooth as silk

That Silk Sonic name is absolutely perfect for Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, whose vocal strokes of rhythm and blues and funk and soul have never been better.

Bruno Mars, appearing in his Silk Sonic video.

And the silky and smooth harmonies, demonstrated by Mars and .Paak, have once again boosted the emblematic, retro and reflective aura of the smooth soul grooves of the ‘60s and ‘70s. “Love’s Train” is choo-choo charming, a cover of Con Funk Shun’s 1989 recording that Silk Sonic now owns, thanks to the group’s performance of the tune on the recent Billboard Awards show.

From costumes with bell bottoms and choreography reminiscent of all those soul dudes of the past, the delivery of “Love Train” was as good as it comes. “Love’s Train” currently tops Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay Chart, and is destined to emerge as another No.1 hit for Mars and .Paak. Silk Sonic is a nominee in the BET Awards 2022 show airing June 26 on BET-TV. …

Casey comes to bat in ‘Chicago Fire’ finale

Jesse Spencer

For the finale of NBC’s “Chicago Fire” on Wednesday, Jesse Spencer – firefighter Matt Casey on the show – will return to attend the wedding of Taylor Kinney (Severide) and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo).

Thus, the windup one of TV’s favorite series will be somewhat sentimental; in the context of the show, Casey exited the show last October to relocate to Oregon to help the Darden’s (a firefighter buddy who was previously killed in action) sons complete high school in three years.

But he’s also making good on his promise to support his Firehouse 51 buddies when they get hitched – and a permanent homecoming is not in the cards since the three-year commitment is not yet over. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

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LARRIN HAS A RARE WAIKIKI GIG

Note: this column has been updated; Jay Larrin’s show times were incorrect in earlier postings.

Jay Larrin, tapped as a Lifetime Achievement Award inductee by the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts earlier this year, will make a rare concert appearance at Na Kupuna Nights May 28 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Waikiki.

Larrin, a singer, pianist, composer and poet, will be the featured entertainer, in an event produced by the Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society, celebrating Na Kupuna of Mele Hawaii. He also is a seasoned Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, known for a body of work that includes “The Snows of Maunakea,” “The Ko’olaus Are Sleeping,” “Molokai Lullaby”  and “Little Lei Lady.”

Jay Larrin

The event also will feature Halehaku Seabury and Bryan Tolentino, singers and ukulele artists, who also are previous Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners.

There are daytime and nighttime components for the event, celebrating island music, food and arts and crafts.

The schedule:

  • 3 to 8 p.m. – E Ku’ai Kakou, “We Shop,” with Hawaiian inspired vendors.
  • 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. – Kani Ka Pila, with Kuuipo Kumukahi, at the rooftop breeze way.
  • 5:30 p.m. – Doors open for dinner, with a 6 p.m. opening protocol.
Halehaku Seabury, Bryan Tolentino
  • 6:15 p.m. – Dinner service, featuring Hawaiian food.
  • 6:15 p.m. – Performance by Halehaku Seabury and Bryan Tolentino.
  • 7 to 7:30 p.m. – Raffle drawing and a silent auction.
  • 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. —  Jay Larrin performance on piano.

Tickets: $79, includes concert, dinner and parking; visit www.hawaiianmusicperpetuationsociety.com  …

‘Sunshine’ postponed again

For the third time in as many years, “The Sunshine Boys,” featuring Joe Moore and Pat Sajak, has been postponed again until June 2023, due to the enduring pandemic crisis that will elevate some protocols, like face masking and crowd controls, in the weeks ahead.

The show has been on the summer slate at the Hawaii Theatre throughout the prevailing health concerns; it was to run from June 16 through June 26 this year. Clearly, the development of another rescheduling is a whirl of misfortune, yet again.

“With COVID cases rising for eight consecutive weeks and the Health Department predicting the numbers will continue to rise for an undermined amount of time before they go down, we felt the only responsible and sensible thing to do in the interest of public safety was to postpone,” said Moore, veteran KHON-2 news anchor, who has regularly staged theatrical productions co-starring his one-time Army buddy, Sajak, the longtime host of “Wheel of Fortune.”

Joe Moore, Pat Sajak

“Big disappoint for all of us,” said Moore about pushing back the Neil Simon comedy for another year. “Three strikes and we’re out,” he shared in an email, and Moore was to announce the postponement in the 6 p.m. newcast on Channel 2 today (May 19).

“We’ll try to get out from under the cloud of COVID or whatever new virus might emerge,” he said. The uncertainty of restrictions of attendance numbers of large groups also was factor in the postponement.

Moore also revealed that the Hawaii Theatre had $50,000 worth of tickets sold a month before the “Sunshine” launching, when the decision was made earlier this morning to wait another year. “It wasn’t ticket sales I was worried about, it was the safety of theater-goers with so much COVID in the community,” said Moore.

Thus, it was the right call to postpone now, to enable ticket holders to plan ahead and also avoid possible COVID infections when huge numbers are in the same space amid the uncertainty of the virus.

Those with tickets for the scheduled June playdates may hold onto their tickets for next year’s performance, or accept a Hawaii Theatre gift card to enjoy another show.

“It’s been a tough time for the non-profit theater and folks’ support now is more important than ever,” said Moore.

The rescheduling for 2023 means another year of long-distance phone rehearsals and Zoom sessions for Moore and Sajak, which has become a routine for the two buddies in the past, and another delay is, indeed, frustrating.

The theater’s website, www.hawaiitheatre.com, should provide other specifics, though had not been updated to reflect the postponement yet when we checked midday. …

And that’s Show Biz. …