Hollywood briefs
The man who played drums on the U.S.-released version of the Beatles’ song “Love Me Do” died this week.
Andy White, 85, had a stroke last Thursday and died on Monday, Thea White, his wife, said.
She said she was thankful that her husband didn’t suffer long and was grateful for a long marriage.
“God was good to us. He gave us 42 wonderful years together,” she said.
Andy White, originally from Scotland, played drums when the Beatles recorded “Love Me Do” for a third time in 1962. Ringo Starr played the tambourine but had been the drummer for the single that was released later in Europe.
The song was originally recorded during the Beatles audition for record label EMI with Pete Best on drums.
According to Rolling Stone, White was paid £5 for three hours of work and received no royalties.
“Love Me Do” was the Beatles first single. The song went to No. 1 when it was released in the United States in 1964. The B side was “P.S. I Love You.”
White is one of the musicians referred to as a “Fifth Beatle.” The list includes White, Best, Jimmie Nicol, Stuart Sutcliffe, Billy Preston and others.
While he still lived in England, White often was a session drummer for EMI at the Abbey Road Studios.
He reportedly was the drummer on Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual.”
★★★★★
First look at Wonder Woman
Actress Gal Gadot stoked anticipation for the upcoming Wonder Woman film by tweeting a photo of herself in costume as the title character.
The Warner Bros. film is slated for release in 2017.
Almost 75 years in the making … #WonderWoman is underway,” Gadot tweeted along with the photo showing her superhero alter ego in a dark cloak.
The Patty Jenkins-directed film will also star Chris Pine as Captain Steve Trevor, as well as Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Ewen Bremner, Said Taghmaoui, Elena Anaya and Lucy Davis, according to a press release issued by Warner Bros.
Wonder Woman will be filmed on location in the UK, France and Italy, the studio said.
Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman character will debut in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, set for release in March.
★★★★★
David Beckham ‘Sexiest Man Alive’
People magazine has chosen David Beckham, a former athlete, a father, model and husband, as this year’s Sexiest Man Alive. The announcement was made Tuesday on Jimmy Kimmel Live along with the unveiling of the magazine’s cover that has the handsome former football star on it.
Beckham appeared on the late-night show via video wearing a mask and with his voice slightly altered as audience members asked questions in an attempt to guess his identity.
It’s the best moment of my career,” Beckham said, grinning. “I can’t believe it.”
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the title, which is both eagerly awaited and debated by fans.
Beckham, 40, is described as “a global superstar, devoted husband and down-to-earth dad of four” as well as a “humble British heartthrob” by the magazine. He and his wife, former Spice Girl and now fashion mogul Victoria Beckham, are the parents of four children and one of Hollywood’s power couples.
Despite decades of superstardom and scores of fans that he sends into frenzy, Beckham told People, “I never feel that I’m an attractive, sexy person.”
“I mean I like to wear nice clothes and nice suits and look and feel good, but I don’t ever think of myself that way,” he said.
★★★★★
Mockinjay 2
A bit disappointing, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 was a slow boil for a finale. In fact, I had to keep my eyes open until the climax when Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) aimed her arrow not at President Snow (Donald Sutherland) but at President Alma Colin (Julianne Moore) who takes over Panem after the rebel’s victory.
I must admit I am not a fan of the novel so I was a bit disinterested in what Katniss was up to, and also the romance between her and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), her onetime rival in the Hunger Games, blossomed too late for us to empathize with. Though, quite predictably they end up with each other.
Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hensworth) is sidelined and is mentioned only in the narration towards the end as one ends up as a high-ranking officer in the liberated Panem.
According to Box Office Mojo, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 opened $20 million below Part 1, but with an estimated opening weekend of $101 million it becomes the fifth 2015 release to open above the century mark.
It’s tough to call a film that opens north of $100 million a flop (because it’s not), but “disappointing” seems appropriate given the lofty heights previous installments reached. Theories as to what happened are easy enough to conjure up and most likely they all played some kind of role in why this fourth installment in what, effectively, is a three- film franchise couldn’t even match the opening of its predecessor. In its favor, Mockingjay 2 opened an hour earlier on Thursday night than Part 1, it had Jennifer Lawrence as its star and it was the finale in a franchise that has now grossed more than $2.5 billion worldwide. Heading into the weekend there was something of a palpable question mark concerning how well it would do.
In the Philippines, fans of the franchise are also expressing disappointment. Perhaps, they were anticipating for non-stop action scenes with Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. The only surprise they get is the fight scenes in a tunnel with murk and some unidentifiable creatures. (Are they half-fish half-humans lurking the dark recesses of the tunnel?) We never know, but they feast the rebels they overpower during the fight.