Four Beatles Bio-Pics Coming: Will They Be Fab?

Greg Mitchell is the author of more than a dozen books (see link) and now writer/director of three award-winning films aired via PBS, including “Atomic Cover-up” and “Memorial Day Massacre” which are still up at PBS.org. Before all that, he was a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy. »»»You can still subscribe to this newsletter for free.«««

Just posting a collection of short takes today.

#1: First, breaking news: Sony has hired Sam Mendes to direct not one but four Beatles bio-pics, tracing each member’s life and the career of the Beatles—and their breakup—from the four different perspectives. Given all that has emerged to date (a veritable avalanche), one might guess that the Ringo flick might prove to be more new and interesting. The four boys, or their families/estates, have agreed to the project.

Coincidental or not, this move comes on the heels of the surprising success of the Bob Marley bio-pic and other box office musical wins, not to mention the Peter Jackson series and reworked John Lennon song.

Now, let the casting begin. Your suggestions in Comments.

For now, let’s enjoy Ringo with his solo hit “Photograph,” here at all-star tribute to bandmate George.

And if you’ve never seen the recent Paul-John live “duet” on “I’ve Got a Feeling.”

#2 Here’s to you, Ms. Robinson: Would like to direct some of you in the direction of Marilynne Robinson, our greatest living American novelist, in my view. The New York Times has posted a new Q & A interview with her by their ace Sunday Magazine prober, David Marchese, a week before it appears in print. It’s not his or her finest hour but well worth reading—loved her comments on the wisdom that can come with age (and thus backing Joe Biden)—although not nearly as much as her five novels: starting with “Housekeeping,” and then her linked quartet, “Gilead,” “Home,” “Lila” and “Jack” (my favorites of those four being the first two named).

In the interview she also discusses what happened after her famous 2015 sitdowns with President Obama. They remained in close touch via letter but then she stopped writing, and the possible explanation is fascinating. Her chats with Obama are behind the pay wall at The New York Review of Books, but here is a summary from The Guardian (one) along with audio. Another report on their talk by Ezra Klein called it “the most revealing interview of his Presidency.

Old reliable John Oliver returned to HBO this week and has a terrific program on Supreme Court corruption, with a focus on Clarence Thomas, ending with a hilarious segment when he offers $1 million of his own money—plus a new RV luxury cruiser—to Thomas if would quit the court in the next 30 days.

But more amazing, to me, is that Oliver continues to show more courage than his fellow latenight hosts and various CNN and MSNBS hosts who fail to not just take a stand but barely (or never) mention the Israel-Gaza carnage. (I’m a big fan of Stephen Colbert, for example, but crickets so far from him.) Oliver returned to the subject on Sunday and in just 90 seconds offered a stronger, more passionate and more accurate commentary than most other hosts—who also inevitably “balance” any brief critiques. Oliver even cites the 28,000 dead Palestinians, “mainly women and children.” And his track record on this goes back at least three years. Plus here’s his notable full segment three months ago, which I’ve posted previously and includes a quick history.