By Nate Bloom
Contributing Columnist
Catch-Up Item: “Etoile” premiered on April 24 on Amazon Prime. The first season is eight episodes with new episodes streaming weekly on Tuesdays. Official premise: “An ambitious gambit to save their storied institutions, two world-renowned ballet companies in New York City and Paris swap their most talented stars.” Luke Kirby (who played LENNY BRUCE in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), plays the American company head and CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG, 53, plays the head of the French company.
“Etoile” was created by Daniel Palladino and his wife, AMY SHERMAN-PALLADINO, 59 (She created “Mrs. Maisel”).
Gainsbourg, who has won many awards for her acting, is the daughter of SERGE GAINSBOURG (1928-91), a famous French singer/songwriter. Her mother was Jane Birkin, a famous actress and singer. Charlotte’s partner since 1991 is YVAN ATTAL, 60. They have three children. He’s a well-known French actor, scriptwriter and director. He’s been very active in fighting antisemitism in France. Recently, Charlotte publicly advocated legally defining anti-Zionism as antisemitism. France has laws against overt antisemitism (speech, writing, etc.).
“Thunderbolts” opens in theaters on May 2. It is a new entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here’s the premise: A group of antiheroes are caught in a deadly trap by Valentina Alegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss) and are forced into a dangerous mission that could grant them redemption if they unite as a team.
There are nine antiheroes: the most famous are Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan and WYATT RUSSELL, 38. Russell is the son of GOLDIE HAWN, 79, and Kurt Russell. Goldie’s mother was Jewish and she was raised Jewish. Wyatt was a minor league pro hockey player when he was contacted by a Jewish journalist I know. He asked Wyatt how he identified — Wyatt said “Jewish.”
Thunderbolts was directed by JAKE SCHREIER, 43. He has an interesting father and an interesting career. Thunderbolts is only the third feature film he’s directed. His first two made money and got good reviews (“Paper Towns,” 2015, and “Robot and Frank,” 2012). But he, I guess, didn’t get features he wanted to direct and he chose to direct music videos for top stars and to direct some TV episodes.
His parents are both Jewish: Dr. HERBERT SCHREIER, 85, and JUDITH STACEY, 82 (she kept her previous name). Dr. Schreier is a top psychiatrist for children and adolescents. He has been practicing for 57 years(!). He’s a resident at a prestigious Northern California children’s hospital.
“Rust,” a Western film that opens in theaters on the 2nd, is famous or infamous as the film that is associated with the death of the movie’s cinematographer and the wounding of the director. Alec Baldwin, the film’s star and co-producer, pulled the trigger on a prop gun that had a live round in it, killing the cinematographer. Baldwin was charged with a crime, but the judge threw out the charges.
Baldwin plays Harland Rust, an elderly outlaw. Harland comes out of hiding (1880) to rescue his 13-year-old nephew, Lucas, after he is sentenced to be hung for an accidental killing. Rust rescues Luke, but a fierce bounty hunter is on their trail. FRANCES FISHER, 72, has a pretty big role as Lucas’ grand-aunt.
Fisher’s father was Jewish and her mother was not. It is hard to find out more about her Jewish background. Clint Eastwood was her romantic partner from 1990-95. She had a biggish role in “Unforgiven” (1994), a great Western starring Eastwood, and he directed it too.
“Mid-90’s” begins streaming on Netflix on May 1. JONAH HILL, now 41, wrote and directed this 2018 comedy about a 13-year-old dealing with a new group of friends he met at a skate shop in 1990’s Los Angeles.
This film was made for less than $2 million and it did earn $9 million in theaters. But I don’t remember it, or the good reviews it got. It’s new to me. Maybe, you?
On May 2, the first season of “Bad Boy,” an Israeli drama series begins streaming on Netflix. It is about a comedian who recounts how his wit kept him alive inside a brutal juvenile detention facility.
