Centuries ago, back in the ark, lawyer Arthur Liman, Reagan’s Iran-Contra hearings consigliere, told me his son looked to work in films. Yeah, yeah, I said.
That was then. Now grown-up producer/director Doug Liman makes Tom Cruise films, did “The Bourne Identity,” etc., etc., and at a Cinema Society event said his new thing’s the YouTube Red series “Impulse.”
“Listen, I’m a New Yorker who makes projects in Hollywood. My schooling was Dalton, Fieldston and Riverdale. A client gave my father, my hero — I’ve even made a movie about him — a camera after winning a case. He had no use for it so, age 8, I got this camera.
“My parents supported my dream. My father wouldn’t invest in their projects, but he had smart clients. A friend of his financed my first film, ‘Swingers.’ About single unemployed actors, it got four stars and developed a cult following.
“This new series I chose to do for TV. TV’s more open to taking big chances.”
Its subject doesn’t seem right for a good boy brought up nice. It’s about a high school girl played by Maddie Hasson, who’s assaulted sexually. It’s sci-fi. Superpower genetics. She’s teleported (whatever that is) and blaah blaah.
“One scene set in Tokyo’s subway we faked. We made it here.”
Fake something? Who would believe such a thing?
“My [upcoming] ‘Chaos Walking’ is an action-adventure.”
A sci-fi dystopian universe where thoughts are heard — is what it is. So this being the week of the Tonys, I asked where’s he keep his awards.
“I lose things. So I don’t keep them around. My friends have them.”
Please try to pay attention
Comes now an app for split ends. Not hair. Blackbook Divorce, ex-wife Betsy Cox’s concierge company, will help find you a therapist, money manager, new home — help with everything but the alimony. Just letting you know . . .
Here’s another shtick. To stay super, supermodel Carol Alt works something called CORE 46, a device that crunches, purees, juliennes and fries abs into submission. “In my 50s, I needed to save my body. Four minutes, three times a week while I watch morning news, I do my Core 46 crunch.” Her commercial with those shriveled ribs hits later this year . . .
Another. Attention Cosby, Harvey, Brett, Charlie, Matt, C.K., Dustin, Batali, O’Reilly: New club the Spur in Southampton offers a “Dirty Mind Detox.” It’s “an interactive discussion on destructive thought patterns.” The all-female panel includes a trainer, a wellness guru, a health coach and “vibrational” advocate — all of which sounds like what got these guys in trouble in the first place.
Helping’s in the genes
Wyclef Jean’s whole family helps Haiti. For 10 years, his sister, Melky, held her charity in New York. This year, Miami. Even Omarosa showed.
Melky says: “I’ve seen our refugees jump off boats in Miami so I thought time to bring it here.”
She’s raised over half a million dollars for Haitian children.
Rare matchup
The NY County Committee consists of state committeemen and women. Each assembly district has one of each.
Elected every two years, this is their election year and an interesting primary’s scratching up on the UES: The committeewoman challenger is 29.
Her family’s in New Jersey politics and running to be district leaders in that foreign state.
The incumbent’s been state committeewoman over 25 years. She’s in her 80s. Both are active in political clubs.
May the best fighter win.
Nordic scientist: Women with big hips and big butts — Kardashian/Jennifer types — live long healthy lives. Unlike the men who grab hold of those parts.
Only in the Arctic, kids, only in the Arctic.