By Nate Bloom
Contributing Columnist
Last week, I had an item about “Between the Temples,” a critically acclaimed film that opened in theaters on August 23. I noted that CAROL KANE, 72, co-stars in the film. She plays a widow who takes bat mitzvah lessons from a much younger, widowed cantor (JASON SCHWARTZMAN, 44). They eventually enter into an unlikely romantic relationship.
In my column, I wrote that Kane received an Oscar nomination for her performance as a pious, immigrant Jewish wife (c. 1895) in “Hester Street” (1975). Well, after I wrote this item, Kane was profiled on CBS Sunday News (Aug. 11) and you can view this profile on the CBS News site or on Youtube.
In the CBS profile, Kane’s “very spry” 97-year-old-mother briefly talked about Carol and Carol talked about her “funny voice,” and the varied work she’s done (stage musicals, “Star Trek,” etc.). “Between the Temples” was discussed, as was her Oscar nominated role.
Sunday Morning fun fact: Kane learned to speak Yiddish for “Hester Street” — and, as I said last week, you can watch “Hester Street” on Tubi, a free channel/app.
“The English Teacher” is a comedy series that premieres on FX/Hulu on Sept. 2 (10 p.m.). It focuses on Evan, an Austin, Texas teacher who often finds himself at the center of just about everything in his school.
JORDAN FIRSTMAN, 33, has a large role as Malcolm, Evan’s former boyfriend. Firstman, who is gay, broke through as a well-known comedian when he posted very popular, funny skits on social media during the pandemic.
“The Perfect Couple” is a mystery/drama series that premieres on Netflix on Sept. 5. Premise: Anna (Eve Hewson) is about to marry into the rich Newbury family, against the wishes of Greer Newbury, the family’s matriarch (Nicole Kidman). Then a dead body washes up on a nearby beach and everyone is a suspect. LIEV SCHREIBER, 56, co-stars as Tag Newbury, Greer’s husband.
“1992” is an action-filled drama that opens in theaters on August 30. It is set in Los Angeles right after riots broke out following the acquittal of several police officers who severely beat Rodney King.
As the film opens, Mercer (Tyrese Gibson) is trying to mend problems with his young son. Across town, a father and son (Ray Liotta and Scott Eastwood) are planning a perilous heist at Mercer’s workplace.
ARIEL VROMEN, 51, directed the film and co-wrote its screenplay. SASCHA PENN, 40ish, wrote the film’s story and co-wrote the screenplay.
Vromen is a native Israeli. He left Israel after his military service was completed. He settled in New York City in 1999 and went to film school. A wealthy fan of a Vromen student film gave him $900K to make a feature film (“RX,” 2005).
“RX” got pretty bad reviews and hardly got shown. He proceeded to make three more action feature films that tanked (made no money, bad reviews). In 2018, he helmed “The Angel,” an Israeli spy thriller set during the Six-Day War. It was sent straight to Netflix. Reviews were so/so. Israeli actor ORI PFEFFER, 49, played the head of the Mossad in “The Angel” and he has a smallish role (“Murphy”) in “1992.”
I’m mystified why Vromen got another directing gig. But I wish him mazel. Every now and again a director makes a good film after several flops.
“City of Dreams,” which opens on Aug. 30, is a Mexican-American production. It follows Jesús, a young Mexican boy whose dreams are shattered when he’s trafficked across the border and sold to a sweatshop making fast fashion in downtown Los Angeles. His only solace is Elena, a girl who was also sold into slavery.
SAMM LEVINE, 42, has a supporting role as Nazarian, the co-owner of the factory. Levine started out as a kind of hot young actor. However, since about age 30, he has only had smallish film roles and TV guest shots.
He was discovered at age 12. LISA KUDROW saw him doing stand-up comedy at a bar mitzvah and she advised him to audition in nearby Manhattan. In 1999, he was cast in “Freaks and Geeks,” a sitcom set in a middle-class suburb. Critics loved it and viewers didn’t. The series launched many big careers (SETH ROGEN, JAMES FRANCO, JASON SEGAL), but Levine wasn’t launched. He’s had one juicy role: a Jewish soldier during WWII in the hit film “Inglourious Basterds” (2009).