By Nate Bloom
Contributing Columnist
“Snow White,” a Disney film, opens on March 21. It largely follows the plot of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937), an animated Disney musical film that was a huge hit.
The new film is live-action. Three actors star: Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) plays Snow White; Israeli actress GAL GADOT, 30, plays the Evil Queen (she’s Snow White’s stepmother and jealous that Snow White is the fairest of them all); and Andrew Burnap, who plays Jonathan, a new character created to give Snow White a love interest.
The seven dwarfs are animated, but with modern technology, their appearance will be very much like a live person. The voices of the dwarfs are provided by actors, and their individual motions are captured and worked into their animated character’s movements.
JASON KRAVITS, 57, a veteran character actor, plays Sneezy, one of the seven dwarfs, and ANDREW BARTH FELDMAN, 22, plays Dopey, a dwarf who doesn’t talk, but makes other sounds. (Feldman also is the film’s narrator).
Feldman was 16 when he starred (2019) in the hit Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen.” In 2022, he got his first big movie film role. He co-starred in “No Hard Feelings,” a dramedy film that did well at the box-office. Jennifer Lawrence co-starred.
The top musical team of BENJ PASEK and Justin Paul, both 39, wrote five new songs for “Snow White.” Four of the most loved songs in the 1937 film are used in the new Snow White (the 1937 songs include “Whistle While You Work” and “Someday My Prince Will Come”)
In the 1937 movie, the Evil Queen didn’t sing. Pasek and Paul wrote a new villain song (“All is Fair”) for the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot). I’m sure that many, like me, are curious how well Gadot can sing. She says her singing voice is different from her speaking voice. I’m curious about that, too.
“Alto Knights” opens in theaters on March 21. Here’s the basic plot: Vito Genovese and Frank Costello are Mafia mob bosses, and Genovese orders a hit (1956) on Costello. Costello survives but is wounded in the attempt and ultimately decides to retire from the Mafia.
Robert DeNiro plays both Genovese and Costello. DEBRA MESSING, 56, co-stars as Costello’s wife.
BOB GLUBERMAN, 57, another veteran character actor, plays VICTOR RIESEL (1913-1995). Riesel was a prominent newspaper journalist who investigated and attacked Mafia take-overs of labor union locals. The movie depicts how the mob got a small-time Jewish hoodlum, ABRAHAM TELVI, to throw acid (1956) into Riesel’s face. Riesel was blinded for life and Telvi was “rubbed-out” a few months after the attack.
“Alto Knights” was written by Nicholas Pileggi, (92 years old!). He is at the top of this field: he was an acclaimed journalist covering the Mob and, later, an honored screenwriter of Mob films (including “Casino” and “The Irishman”).
BARRY LEVINSON, 82, directed the film. He had a string of movie hits from 1982 until 2000 (including “Diner” and “Rain Man”). But he hasn’t had a critical or box-office hit for a long time. Here’s hoping that “Alto Knights” will be a big hit.
“The Studio,” an AppleTV+ comedy series, premieres on Wednesday, March 26. Two episodes streamed on the 26th and the remaining first season episodes (eight) premiere on the following Wednesdays (ends on May 21).
SETH ROGEN, 42, stars as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of the floundering, near-broke Continental Movie Studios. Remick and his team struggle to keep movies alive. Matt and his core team engage in endless battles with difficult actors and writers and with craven corporate overlords.
The series’ strong supporting cast includes Catherine O’Hara, Kathyrn Hahn, and IKE BARINHOLTZ, 47. Almost all the guest stars this season play themselves. They include ZAC EFRON, ZOE KRAVITZ, PETER BERG, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Olivia Wilde, and Charlize Thereon.
The series was created by Rogen and EVAN GOLDBERG, Rogen’s almost lifelong creative partner. The duo co-wrote the first two episodes and the season-end episode.
Because there are two big movies and a big TV series to write about this week, I just couldn’t work in a profile, this week, of Duke University basketball coach JON SCHEYER. Next week, thank you!
Same thing goes for “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light,” a BBC/PBS series, that premieres on Sunday, March 23. A couple Jewish surprises in the cast and behind the scenes. Next week, too.