Paramount Pictures’ new movie is “Book Club.” What’s paramount in it is sex. Everyone’s either doing It, remembering It, recovering from It or itching for It.
Andy Garcia didn’t want to explain his character “because that would give the surprise away,” but he didn’t mind explaining the other characters.
“Candice Bergen’s surfing for It online, Jane Fonda’s rekindling an old flame, Mary Steenburgen’s playing a married lady, widowed Diane Keaton meets me on a plane, and we stumble into a relationship.
“I knew some of them from before. I’d briefly met Jane and Candice, and I did ‘Godfather 3’ with Diane.”
This film’s about books, so what’s his favorite one?
“‘The Old Man and the Sea.’ I’ve reread it several times. The story’s compelling. I find it transports me.”
But in this movie’s book club, it’s ladies who only talk sex.
“Listen, this book club’s reading ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’ I saw the film with a regular audience — not just women. Men found it funny, charming, romantic. People identify with romance. Women today are having sex at an advanced age. Others give it up but still want it.”
This is old broads and the he. It sure ain’t “Old Man and the Sea.”
Golfing for cash to open a casino
Mark Wahlberg — who produced “Boardwalk Empire,” which was set in Atlantic City, NJ — was himself in AC.
His new investment’s Ocean Resort Casino and its HQ nightclub there, which opens June 28. Mark wanted to play golf. Impending rain had closed the local course, Galloway. He said he’d risk getting wet if they’d open it for him. They did.
He finished 18 holes, hit two under par and won 20 bucks. Good. Should help. Because the new resort supposedly cost a couple of billion.
Odds & ends
Many wonderful things in the city. At 2018’s Fulbright Awards Dinner, they honored Ambassador Edward Elson for his international efforts promoting global peace … and at the 2nd Ave Deli, it was fans leaving their matzo balls to snap pictures of Judge Judy … A Philip Roth quote I’ll always remember: “Of all the novelists, Kafka was the one most truly original.”
Bits & pieces
Jimmy Fallon, Noel Ashman, Joe Torre, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera at Sony Hall to mark the 20th anniversary of Yankee David Wells’ perfect game. Wells and Fallon both bid for an autographed “SNL” cap, which sold for $12,000.
A friend attended a Hollywood party. A bowl of candy was on a table. She helped herself. Then needed help herself. The candy was laced with marijuana. They play nice out there.
Please try to pay attention
In light of Britain’s happy newlyweds: Jada Pinkett Smith reportedly once said: “I got pregnant, and Will Smith did the right thing. He said, ‘Would you marry me?’ We were in his bedroom” . . .
Now divorced Robin Wright: “Sean Penn and I, dating, had split up like 12 times, and finally I’m the one who proposed. I said, ‘Want to get married?’ He, who lived in a trailer park, just said, ‘Yeah.’”
Georgia tries
Savannah’s looking to be New York lite. Stuffed with moviemakers like Travolta filming. Up to its collard greens in construction, locals hate losing historic status due to new second-rate hotels zapping the old-time charm …
Director Phylicia Rashad’s “Our Lady of 121st Street” at the Signature Theatre drew Ethan Hawke, Billy Crudup, Mark Ruffalo, Kenneth Lonergan. Also Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sienna Miller, Greta Gerwig.
Relaxed after Memorial Day, Dr. Ruth offered this warm moon-June-croon information: “Guys, make your partner feel special. After making love, never yell out, ‘Next!’”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.