Celebrity Gossip
Go ahead and get ‘Obsessed’
“There are two kinds of women: those who want power in the world, and those who want power in bed.” So said Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
This was a rare candid remark from Jackie. Though naturally she never specified what kind of woman she was.
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I must comment on the weekend’s top-performing movie— “Obsessed”—starring Beyonce Knowles. I won’t say, “Ignore the critics because it’s really a work of art ... or ‘flawed’ but ‘interesting!’ ”
Just ignore the critics because this is brainless, manipulative, popcorn- munching, crowd-pleasing moviemaking at its best. If you go with the proper mind-set—it’s a thriller about an obsessed woman —you may be halfway to suspension of disbelief, because how many times now have we seen this plot? (Aside from the most famous incarnation, “Fatal Attraction,” it’s the basis of every other Lifetime film. And there are plenty of “Obsessed Men” movies also. I just watched one the other day on cable —“The Juror,” with Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore.)
I suppose the real questions are how does Beyonce look?How does Beyonce act? And how good is the Big Fight between Beyonce and her female nemesis Ali Larter?
Beyonce looks fabulous! Beyonce can act, but doesn’t have to bother to do that here. Acting would only get in the way. The fight is just terrific—hilarious, viciously hurled insults and some real-looking tussling between the ladies.
Oh, the put-upon man-in-the-middle is Idris Elba. He looks fabulous too!
This is a well-produced trip down the memory lane of every other big-screen and TV tale of unrequited lust, crazy office politics, sexual harassment, lies, cynical cops, mistrusting spouses, etc. I’ve spent my money on worse.
And it was worth the price of admission just for the audience reaction. Lots of participation, catcalling, cheers and hisses. The crowd knew that it wasn’t any great shakes as a movie, but everybody seemed satisfied.
And, that’s entertainment!
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Went up to the highly private and expensive Core Club on East 55th Street the other night to celebrate the 40th birthday of my pal, Renee Zellweger. There she was in a little sleeveless nothing dress with silver Roman-sandled high heels that were contraptions on entraption one could hardly move in. Renee is very with it!
Vogue’s Billy Norwich and I spent a happy arrival time with the Times most famous couple, Frank Rich and Alex Witchell, before the birthday girl appeared. We dished politics as people younger than our grandchildren filed into the joint. I had a good visit with Marty Richards who produced Renee in her Oscar-winning movie hit “Chicago.” And another one with Dan Abrams, but it was so noisy I couldn’t ask if he and Renee were “an item?”
“Hey, Tex,” I said to Renee when I finally found her in the muddle. “Hi, Tex,” she said right back. “I want you to watch your weight!” I said, kidding of course. “Gotcha!” said the birthday girl who looks as if she’d had only lettuce leaves for days.
Many more happy ones, Renee, you’re a very lovely human being. If there were only more like you in Hollywood, but then, you’re NOT of Hollywood.
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Spring arrived in New York over last weekend as full-blown summer. But what’s not to like about this city when jonquils and tulips start sprouting and the tulip trees down Park Avenue all turn pink? Although the New York Public Library is swathed in scaffolding, it is so artfully applied that the grand old place looks simply divine fronted by all its colorful flowers. It takes your breath away! And so do the potholes in the streets.
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