Well, here’s a double dose of sadness to go with your late afternoon cup of Red Bull and Mountain Dew. Musical theater composer Marvin Hamlisch died yesterday in Los Angeles after a brief illness, and former Hot Slut of the Day and fashion icon Anna Piaggi died in Milan today. Marvin was was 68 and Anna was 81.
If you find yourself drunkenly singing “The Way We Were” and “Nobody Does It Better” to an empty bottle of gin at the end of a long night, then you can thank Marvin Hamlisch for that. Marvin won a Best Song Oscar for “The Way We Were“ and got another Oscar for writing the score for the movie. Marvin also won an Oscar for writing the musical notes that made up the score for The Sting. But Marvin is probably best known to theater queens like myself for writing the scores for the Broadway musicals A Chorus Line, The Goodbye Girl and Smile. Marvin got himself a Pulitzer and a Tony for A Chorus Line. Marvin is one of only 11 people who won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. AN EGOT! Marvin was working up to his death and recently finished the score for HBO’s Liberace biopic starring Michael Douglas as Roy Orbison as Liberace.
Amy Poehler might think she can work a
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Also in Tuesday morning’s round-up of news briefs, actress Jennifer Lawrence is in negotiations for a hefty paycheck for the second installment of The Hunger Games. Kevin Costner is headed to join a new project. Wayne Wang will direct a basketball tale and big changes at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
Marvin Hamlisch Dies at 68
He composed the scores for over 40 movies, winning three Oscars, four Emmys, a Tony for A Chorus Line and three Golden Globes. Films included The Sting, Sophie’s Choice, Ordinary People and Take the Money and Run, USA Today reports.
Jennifer Lawrence Eyes $10 Million for The Hunger Games Sequel
She reportedly received $500K plus bonuses for the first installment which has grossed $683.8 million worldwide, but she’s in final negotiations to return for Catching Fire in a package that could total around $10M range, THR reports.
Dreamworks to Make Kung Fu Panda 3 in China
DreamWorks Animation and Chinese partners announced plans Tuesday to co-produce the next Kung Fu Panda movie and develop an entertainment district in Shanghai, expanding Hollywood’s fast-growing ties to China, A.P. reports.
Kevin Costner Eyes Kenneth Branaugh’s Three Days to Kill
Costner has been offered the co-lead in the film that will star Chris Pine. He’ll play Ethan Renner, a government assassin who is dying. Before he goes, he is determined to reconcile with his daughter, while taking on one final mission, Deadline reports.
Wayne Wang to Direct Basketball Story Brave Dragons
The story is based on Jim Yardley’s new book about an NBA coach who moves with his wife to a Chinese industrial city to coach one of the worst teams in Chinese basketball, Deadline
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I have a particular fondness for the Oscars’ Best Original Song category. Where else will you find Carly Simon, Eminem, Irene Cara, Marvin Hamlisch, and Keith Carradine together — other than one fantastic revival of Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown? The potential nominees for this year’s award have just been released, an I’m already playing favorites with one criminally twee jam. Pick your favorite after the jump.
First, the nominees:
“The World I Knew” from African Cats
“Lay Your Head Down” from Albert Nobbs
“Star Spangled Man” from Captain America: The First Avenger
“Collision of Worlds” from Cars 2
“Dakkanaga Dugu Dugu” from DAM999
“DAM999 Theme Song” from DAM999
“Mujhe Chod Ke” from DAM999
“Rainbird” from Dirty Girl
“Keep On Walking” from The First Grader
“Where the River Goes” from Footloose
“Hello Hello” from Gnomeo & Juliet
“Love Builds a Garden” from Gnomeo & Juliet
“Bridge of Light” from Happy Feet Two
“The Mighty Sven” from Happy Feet Two
“Never Be Daunted” from happythankyoumoreplease
“Hell and Back” from Hell and Back Again
“The Living Proof” from The Help
“Coeur Volant” from Hugo
“It’s How We Play” from I Don’t Know How She Does It
“When the Heart Dies” from In the Land of Blood and Honey
“Ja Nao Estar” from José and Pilar
“The Keeper” from Machine Gun Preacher
“Life’s a Happy Song” from The Muppets
“Man or Muppet” from The Muppets
“Pictures in My Head” from The Muppets
“Summer Song” from The Music Never Stopped
“Imaginary Friends” from Olive
“Sparkling Day” from One Day
“Taking You with Me” from Our Idiot Brother
“The Greatest Song I Ever Heard” from POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
“Hot Wings” from Rio
“Let Me Take You to…
