Nate Bloom blogs on this week's Jews in the News

Wolfs; Super-Reviewed Film; Sacks, 2x; More

 

“Wolfs”, a comedy-thriller, opens in theaters on Sept. 20. It starts streaming on Apple+ on Sept. 27. Here’s the premise: George Clooney and Brad Pitt play professional ‘fixers’ who deal with dangerous and chaotic events that “bother” their wealthy clients. These guys don’t normally work together, but they are sent, by their respective employers, to the same murder scene. They are hired to deal with the murder scene and find out “who-done-it”.

AUSTIN ABRAMS, 27, plays a mysterious character only called “The Kid.” An advance review describes “The Kid” as an overly nervous young man who is an unlikely third wheel. His importance to the murder is gradually revealed. The same review says Abrams’ character is the source of much of the film’s humor and Abrams is a very good comedic actor. (Veteran character actor RICHARD KIND, 57, shows up late in the film as “The Kid’s” father).

Abrams’ credits include the TV series “Euphoria” (main cast) and “The Walking Dead”. His film credits include “Paper Towns” (2015) and “Jewtopia” (2012). He grew up in Sarasota, Florida. His parents are both doctors.

“His Three Daughters” opened in a few theaters on Sept. 9 (to qualify for Oscar nominations) and will begin streaming on Netflix on Sept. 20. It was written and directed by AZAZEL JACOBS, 51. His three previous feature films got generally good reviews, but didn’t get released to theaters (“Terri”, “The Lovers”) or only had a very limited release (“French Exit”).

I have been rooting for Jacobs, because his father KEN JACOBS, 91, taught cinema at my university and I took two enlightening classes with him.

Well, I guess my psychic rooting has paid off. Many reviews came in after the limited theater opening and they are all glowing—for Jacobs and for the cast (Washington Post, L.A. Times, Boston Globe, the Hollywood Reporter, and more).

Premise: The “three” are estranged, very different sisters who come together to help their dying father. They are played by Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and NATASHA LYONNE, 43. The Hollywood Reporter said: “The film is free of mopey melodrama that often makes the dying parent/estranged sibling screen subgenre so dire. It’s wry, vivid, and moving in unexpected ways.”

It seems like Jewish actresses have a friend at Sunday Morning, the very good CBS program. On August 18, they profiled CAROL KANE, 72, and, on Sept, 1, they profiled Lyonne. Her profile focused on Lyonne’s multiple talents, which includes directing. (‘Google’ CBS Sunday Morning and you’ll find both video profiles on the home page. Also on Youtube).

“Brilliant Minds” is an NBC series which premieres on Sept. 23 (10PM). It is based on several books by Dr. OLIVER SACKS (1933-2015). This British neurologist wrote engrossing case studies of patients with “interesting” symptoms related to a brain injury or disease.

Sacks’ close relatives included ABBA EBAN, the famous Israeli diplomat; ROBERT AUMUNN, 91, an Israeli-American mathematician who won the Nobel Prize; and JONATHAN LYNN,  81, a film and TV director/writer (“My Cousin Vinny”, and many other hits).

Sacks’ first book (1973), a memoir, became the basis of “Awakenings” (1989), a critical and box-office smash.  Robin Williams played a doctor modeled on Sacks. In the NBC series, the lead character, Dr. Oliver Wolf, is also modeled after Sacks (Wolf was Sacks’ middle name).  Dr. Wolf is played by Zachary Quinto.

The film didn’t disclose or incorporate three things about the “real” Sacks: that he was Jewish, he worked in a Jewish hospital,  and that he was gay. In real life, Sacks got his medical degree from Oxford (1958), but he interned at a San Francisco Jewish hospital. In the early ‘60s, he took a post at a Bronx Jewish hospital. There he pioneered treating long-comatose patients with a new drug (L-Dopa). “Awakenings” was based on the story of this treatment.

Sacks disclosed in 2015 autobiography that he was gay, but had been celibate for a large part of his life. In “Awakenings”, the Sacks’ character is “shy”, but at the film’s end, he and a very supportive nurse (played by JULIE KAVNER) signal that they are about to turn romantic.

I can hope, but I doubt, that Dr. Wolf, the NBC character, will be openly Jewish and/or gay.

Here’s the Jewish winners at the Creative Arts Emmys (Sept. 7/8): Guest actress, Comedy Series: JAMIE LEE CURTIS, “The Bear”; Guest actor, Comedy Series: JON BERENTHAL, “The Bear”; (Male) Performer in Short Comedy or Drama Series: ERIC ANDRE, “The Eric Andre Show”; (Same category) Female Performer: MAYA RUDOLPH, “Big Mouth”; Original Music and Lyrics: BENJ PASEK and Justin Paul, “Only Murders in the Building”. Paul and Pasek got the coveted “EGOT” title with this Emmy (winners of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).