“In the Grey” and “Magic Hour” open on May 15. The “Grey” official premise: “In the Grey follows a covert team of elite operatives who live in the global shadows, as comfortable wielding power and influence as they are automatic weapons and high explosives. When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.”
JAKE GYLLENHAAL, 45, co-stars as Bronco, a leader of the elite team. He shares the leadership with Sid. Sid is played by Henry Cavill, a British actor who played Superman in three movies. I don’t think Cavill will bring anything interesting to his role. He was better than the other actors who played Superman after Christopher Reeve’s death. But he was “no Reeve” and he was “no David Corenswet.” CORENSWET was a smash as Superman in the 2025 Superman movie.
Gyllenhaal, unlike Cavill, is able to be a great physical tough guy, but he also lets you know he is seriously thinking about what he’s doing. Check out “Road House” (2024), a re-make of the 1989 hit action film. Enough plot changes were made to make the film fresh and Gyllenhaal was very good as a top-notch action fighter who is sensitive and smart.
“Magic Hour” is a four-character film. The premise: “A couple escape to the desert to navigate their relationship.” DAVEED DIGGS, 45, and Katie Ashelton play the couple (Charlie and Erin). BRAD GARRETT, 65, plays Erin’s friend and Susan Sullivan (“Dharma & Greg”) plays Erin’s elderly mother. Garrett is best known as the police officer brother of Ray Romano in “Everybody Loves Raymond,” a hit sitcom.
Katie Ashelton is not a well-known actress. She produced “Magic Hour” and she co-wrote it. Her husband, Mark Duplass, was her co-writer. I have watched several movies he’s written (he also acts) and they are always ok, with some good moments, but never more than that. He’s written 15 movies, and only one made a profit.
As I have written before, Diggs is the son of a (not Jewish) African-American and a white, Jewish mother. He identifies as an African-American Jew. Five years ago, he wrote a very cool musical video for Disney. It is called “Puppy for Hanukkah.” A charming young boy sings about his wish for a puppy. Several boys, all Jewish, of different races, join in the song. Diggs’ singing voice comes out of the young boy’s mouth. Diggs wrote the song and its rap style makes it hard for many to catch all the words.
Well, just put in “Puppy Hanukkah lyrics” in the Youtube search box and you’ll get to the “official” Disney video and several other “Puppy” videos with the lyrics. In the last 5 years, 2.3 million people have watched the Disney video and another 500,000 have watched the “official” with lyrics video.
Also, on Youtube, you’ll easily find “All You Fascists Bound to Lose.” A month ago, BETTE MIDLER, 80, was in the first of two video versions of this song. In the first, she isn’t on camera, but she explains that the song was written by Woody Guthrie. She says some lyrics have been added. Frankly, these new lyrics attack the Trump administration’s actions. (She sings after her explanation).
Two weeks ago, Midler sang the same song. But she was in front of the camera as she sung. As I write this, the first video got 250,000 views and the second video got 600,00 viewers.
Just last week, I spoke with a Jewish friend who was going to Hawaii. I said, “Did you know that Bette Midler was born and raised in Hawaii?” Like most people, she was very surprised. Then I told her that the Governor of Hawaii is JOSH GREEN, 56. He is a medical doctor. He was the Lieutenant Governor when Covid hit. He led the state’s good response. Hawaii’s Medical Association named him “Physician of the Year.”
Right after this same discussion I realized that (present) Jewish Governors go coast-to-coast (I am kvelling): JOSH SHAPIRO, 52, Pennsylvania; JOSH STEIN, 59, North Carolina; MATT MEYER, 55, Delaware; J.D. PRITZKER, 62, Illinois; JARED POLIS, 51, Colorado and Green.
Footnote: Last week I said I would write about EBON MOSS-BACHRACH and JON BERNTHAL co-starring in “Dog Day Afternoon,” a Broadway play based on the hit 1975 film. I also noted that these two actors have important roles on “The Bear,” a hit Hulu series. Well, a lot of news about “The Bear” broke this week and more may come soon. So, next week I’ll cover the play and the Bear news.
