SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ never nails the right tone

Actress Roma Downey poses with her husband Mark Burnett (right), daughter Reilly Marie Anspaugh (cen- ter), and stepsons Cameron Burnett (left) and James Burnett (second left), at her Hollywood Walk of Fame star presentation ceremony, August 11, 2016 in This image Hollywood, California. — AFP released by Paramount Pictures shows ‘Angel’ Roma Downey as St Clair Bayfield, left, and gets Hollywood as Florence Foster Jenkins in, “Florence Foster Walk of Fame star Jenkins.”— AP ilmmaker Roma Downey accepted a star on Hollywood’s ive Meryl Streep her due: She’s Streep, of course, fills her character ’s Ritz Carlton, where Jenkins Walk of Fame Thursday, declaring it a great day for the mastered drama and comedy, with emotion, humanity and need, but lived. The filmmakers seem pretty FIrish and thanking America for the opportunities it Gmusicals and various accents. In director and writer pleased with how they made locations offered immigrants like her. The devoutly religious actress- her latest film, the multiple Oscar-win- Nicholas Martin haven’t decided whether thousands of miles from New York into turned- producer, best known for her long-running role as ner has even crushed an unexpected their movie is slapstick or tragedy. And the backdrop for an American story. Monica the angel on CBS’s “Touched by an Angel,” was dedi- skill - singing very poorly indeed. As the they frustratingly haven’t answered the cated a spot on the famous thoroughfare next to husband title character in “Florence Foster riddle of Jenkins - did she really go to her Populist statement Mark Burnett’s star. “This is a great day, a great day for the Irish. Jenkins ,” Streep has been asked to war- grave blissfully unaware that she was tru- “Florence Foster Jenkins” thrashes Twenty-five years ago I came to America from Ireland looking ble operettas like a duck being strangled ly terrible or was she somehow in on the about for a central theme - loyalty ver- for a dream. I came with a heart full of hope. The American by a garrote. What comes out of her joke? There are clues for both interpreta- sus ambition, passion versus skill, truth dream meant to me freedom and opportunity,” she said. mouth is well beyond an “American tions in the film. versus happiness - but never lands on “And like many immigrants before me this great country Idol” “pitchy.” With a cipher as its heroine, the script one. Unlike the recent French film has offered me the opportunity to make my dreams come It’s ludicrous and grotesque and very naturally turns to explore the people who “Marguerite” that was drawn from true.” The 56-year-old is preparing for the release next week of funny. (A soundtrack is available in case helped create her illusion, led by a mar- Jenkins’ story and satirized class privi- period epic “Ben-Hur,” which she and Burnett are executive you need the worst ever possible holi- velous Hugh Grant as Jenkins’ endearing lege, this one wants to say simply that producing. Cast members including Jack Huston, Toby day gift.) husband. Grant is unshakable and charm- it’s OK if sheer desire - and gobs of cash - Kebbell and Rodrigo Santoro turned up to support her. “This is Inspired by the true story of the ing in his wife’s defense but shows chinks make your dreams come true, even an important film, and I hope that you’ll all go and see it. tune-challenged American socialite, the in his armor when she insists on playing without talent or sweat. Because not only is it a great action adventure movie, it is a film is almost as tone deaf as its heroine. , perhaps a ruse too far. That it uses a wealthy heiress to make film that holds deep in its heart a message of peace, justice, It champions artificiality in an era of The film also includes great turns by such a populist statement is somehow reconciliation and forgiveness,” she said. authenticity and seems sympathetic to Simon Helberg of “The Big Bang fitting in this election year when a real “And if there was ever a time more in our world that we the clueless bubble that vast amounts Theory,” who plays Jenkins’ conflicted estate billionaire who has never held needed this message, it’s now, more than ever.” Born in Derry, of money can create. piano accompanist, and Nina Arianda, public office is running for president of Northern Ireland, Downey has picked up multiple Emmy and Jenkins is often celebrated as the who initially recognizes that the the United States. Golden Globe nominations for “Touched by an Angel,” which worst opera singer ever, an unlikely empress has no clothes but inexplicably Well, at least we don’t have to hear ran from 1994-2003 and co-starred her husband, also 56. She musical star who emerged in the 1940s, switches to be her biggest cheerleader. him sing. “Florence Foster Jenkins,” a first became known to American audiences for her portrayal despite her lack of talent. The film Adding to the film’s lack of authenticity Paramount Pictures, Pathe and BBC Films of first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the 1991 NBC depicts her as willfully self-delusional to is the slight-of-hands in its settings, with release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion miniseries “A Woman Named Jackie.” A devout Catholic with a her own failings as her husband pays off London’s Hammersmith Apollo standing Picture Association of America for “brief master’s degree in spiritual psychology, she received a pro- critics and hires compliant audiences to in for Carnegie Hall and the city’s Park suggestive material.” Running time: 110 ducing Emmy in 2013 for outstanding miniseries or movie for clap politely while she screeches. Lane Hotel supposed to mimic minutes. Two stars out of four. — AP History’s “The Bible,” in which she also portrayed Jesus’ moth- er Mary. Downey’s other producing credits include the minis- eries “ADThe Bible Continues” and “The Dovekeepers.” She is president of LightWorkers Media, the faith and family division Here’s what Jamie Dornan of MGM. In a speech peppered with references to her faith, she recalled starting out as a coat check girl in a plush restau- really thinks of social media rant on the Upper West Side of New York. — AP

on’t look for Jamie Dornan on social horrible people become,” Dornan said. media. He’s had it. Specifically, he’s “People start to say disgusting things about Dhad it with hate-mongering trolls he’s your family, about your children. What’s the encountered despite a hyper fan base for point?” On the “Fifty Shades” front, which “Fifty Shades” and “The Fall.” “To be honest, I includes back-to-back filming of the steamy was very inactive on it in the last year,” he said trilogy’s last two installments, Dornan is enjoy- during a recent round of interviews for two ing the prospect of life post-Christian Grey. upcoming films, “Anthropoid” and “The 9th “It’s satisfying to put an end to any job, I think, Life of Louis Drax.” “To delete my Instagram ... I and to do two back to back, I think there’s an had to email my publicist to get the password. element of relief that the work is done and Twitter I used to have a bit of fun with back in you’re happy with it,” he said. And, yes, his Photo shows actor Jamie the day but I think I’ve tweeted twice in the wife, Amelia Warner, spent some time on the Dornan poses for a last year,” Dornan said. The reality of living life “Fifty Shades” sets. “Yeah, a couple of times on portrait to promote his out loud on social media looks like this from choice days,” Dornan said. “There were some film, “Anthropoid” in his perspective: days where it probably doesn’t make a lot of Actress Roma Downey poses on her star on the Hollywood New York. — AP “The more public interest in you, the more sense for her to be hanging around.” — AP Walk of Fame.