Nate Bloom blogs about this week's Jews in the News.

 

Cross, a thriller; Paltrow and Chalamet in Jewish Bio-Pic; Burns family; More

 

“Cross” is an original, 8-episode crime thriller series that premieres on Netflix on Nov.14. The title references Alex Cross, the main character in 30 best-selling novels written by James Patterson. Three “Alex Cross” feature films have been made since 1997.

Aldis Hodge plays Cross, an African American police detective. Cross has a Ph.D. in forensic psychology. He’s worked for the Washington DC police department and for the FBI. The Netflix series’ trailer leads us to believe that Cross is seeking a masked, very smart serial killer.

Kaylie Craig, a friend or an ally of Cross, is played by ALONI TAI, 41. I say that Craig is an ally because Tai said that at a Comic Con panel. She told her audience that she wasn’t free to say more—and--Tai made it clear that she couldn’t say if Kaylie is/was related to Kyle Craig, the “most evil” character in the novels.

Tai did say that “You will see [Kaylie] develop in future seasons”.

Tai was born and raised in Israel and she served in the IDF. She’s steadily worked in American TV since 2004, but it’s mostly in recurring or guest roles and its hard to point-out a credit most people would know. “Cross” may be her career breakthrough: Netflix has already renewed “Cross” for a second season.

In a previous column, I noted that TIMOTHEE CHALAMET, 28, had signed to play MARTY REISMAN, 1930-2012, a top pro table tennis player, in an upcoming film entitled “Marty Supreme”.

Well, “People” magazine (Nov.1) caught up with shooting of scenes of the movie in Central Park on Oct. 16. The film’s director is JOSH SAFDIE, 40, and he co-wrote the original screenplay (No release date announced yet).

The scenes that were shot featured Chalamet and co-star GWYNETH PALTROW, 52. I was surprised that she was a co-star. The article didn’t disclose what, exactly, her role is.

Most of the article was about Paltrow and she spoke to “People”. About Chalamet, she said: “Such a wonderful young man. Really, he's very polite, very talented, just so nice to be with. I'm really having a good time with him.”

“People” noted that Paltrow had not taken a film role since 2019 and her Netflix series (“Politician”) ended in 2020. Paltrow told “People” she took time off to run her business (‘Goop’) and help parent her teen children. She told “People” that she and her husband, producer BRAD FALCHUK, 53, are now “empty nesters.”

Paltrow and Falchuck both have two children from their previous marriages (one daughter, and one son). By coincidence, the sons are about the same age, as are the daughters. The sons just left for college and the (respective) daughters are college juniors.  

On Nov. 18 and 19, PBS will show (8-10PM) a four-part biography of Leonardo DaVinci. Ken Burns, 72, the famous documentary maker, is a co-director of “DaVinci” and this is the first time that he made a film about a “not-American” subject.

The co-directors and co-writers of the film are SARAH BURNS, 42, and David McMahon, Sarah’s husband. The couple have made three other documentaries with Ken Burns: “The Central Park Five” (2012), “Jackie Robinson” (2016), and “Muhammad Ali” (2021)

Years ago, I “heard” that Ken Burns and his brother, documentary maker Ric Burns, were both married to Jewish women. Not sure about Ric. But I confirmed that Sarah Burns’ mother, AMY STECHLER, (1955-2022), was Jewish and was married to Ken Burns from 1982-1994.

She worked with Ken on his early films and she was a critical collaborator in many ways. Stechler then turned (c.1985) to painting, and when Sarah and her sister were grown, she made an Emmy-nominated film about Frida Kahlo (2005).

All I know about Sarah’s religious background comes from an old “Forward” article in which Ken Burns said that his children celebrated Jewish and Christian holidays.

”If you watched “L.A. Law” (1985-1994) or “Dharma & Greg” (1997-2002), you know ALAN RACHINS, He died on Nov. 2, age 82. He co-starred as Douglas Brackman, a way-too-stiff partner in "LA Law" and he “deliciously” played Larry Finkelstein, a Jewish, ‘60s hippie/stoner ‘relic’ who is Dharma’s father.

Alan’s widow is JOANNA FRANK, 83. She and Rachins’ seem to have had a good, long marriage and they had one child. I knew that Frank, an actress, had a recurring role as Douglas Brackman’s wife. I didn’t know, until a few days ago, that Frank and Rachins were “really” married and Frank’s brother was (the late) STEVEN BOCHCO, the creator of “LA Law”. He gave Rachins a career-making role. There's some story how a Jewish guy got an Italian sounding name. He wasn't an Italian Jew. As weird as billionaire/tv host Mark Cuban, who is Jewish and not at all Cuban. 

Frank didn’t really find a meaty role after “LA Law” ended. But she had a mensch brother and a mensch husband.