arts&life

celebrity jews

NATE BLOOM
COLUMNIST

AT THE MOVIES

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Opening Friday, June 9: The Mummy
is the newest entry in the procession
of Mummy movies that have come out
since the 1930s. This time, though, the
mummy is a woman. She was unjustly
mummified in ancient Egypt and awak-
ens in our time in a very bad mood
indeed and proceeds to wreak havoc on
mere mortals. Attempting to stop her is
Nick Morton (Tom Cruise). The film was
directed by Alex Kurtzman, 43. He’s
written or co-written several hits, includ-
ing Star Trek (2009). He co-wrote the
story for The Mummy that others turned
into a screenplay. His story co-writer was
Jenny Lumet, 50, the daughter of the
late great director Sydney Lumet.
Rachel Weisz, 47, plays the title
role in My Cousin Rachel, based on a
novel of the same name by Daphne du
Maurier (Rebecca). A young man comes
to suspect foul play when his rich former
guardian, a cousin of his, marries Rachel,
a mutual cousin of both, and dies shortly
thereafter. However, he quickly falls in
love with Rachel when he meets her. Is
she a murderer who is planning to kill
him, too? By the way, there was a 1952
film of the same name starring Olivia
DeHavilland, now 100, as Rachel. It’s
amazing that 65 years later she’s alive to
see a re-make of her film.

Weisz

From left: Carl Reiner, George Shapiro, Mel
Brooks, Norman Lear

TV CATCH UP

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42

June 8 • 2017

jn

On May 30, Netflix began streaming a
new stand-up special starring Sarah
Silverman, 46. On A Speck of Dust, she
takes up many topics ranging from the
silly (the odd habits of squirrels) to the
intense (abortion).
On June 5, HBO premiered a docu-
mentary, If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat
Breakfast. Comedy legend Carl Reiner,
96, is the main interviewer, tracking
down celebs in their 90s and wondering
why they are still thriving. Interviewees
include Norman Lear, 94, Kirk Douglas,
100, Betty White, 95, and, of course,
Reiner’s best friend, Mel Brooks, 90.
Reiner also talks to two remarkably fit
“regular” folks.
The original Showtime series, I’m
Dying Up Here, premiered on June 4.
The first episode is free to view on the
Showtime website. It’s the 1970s and
the action centers around a Hollywood
comedy club, Goldie’s, which is modeled
a great deal after the Comedy Store,
which was founded by Mitzi Shore, now
86 (and the mother of Pauly Shore, 49).
Like Shore, Goldie (Melissa Leo) rules
her club with an iron hand. She doesn’t

Graynor

pay comics anything, but she has a great
eye for talent and brings comics along
from playing her cellar — and when
she thinks they’re ready — to the club’s
main stage. The pay off is experience and
Goldie’s sway with talent bookers who
can turn an unknown into a star over-
night with the right TV booking (like The
Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson).
Goldie, we learn early on, is the grand-
daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Two
Jewish comedians are prominent char-
acters: Eddie, a ballsy comic from Boston
(Michael Angarano) and Cassie Felder
(Ari Graynor, 34), a funny Jewish woman
from a small Texas town. Felder’s char-
acter is largely modeled after comedian
Elayne Boosler, now 64.
I think Graynor is a great talent who
may have finally found the right vehicle
to turn her into a star. By the way, the
comedians hang out at Canter’s (Jewish)
Deli, an L.A. showbiz institution for
decades. •

