Latest news with #BillyJoel:AndSoItGoes'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Inside Lucy Liu's 7-Year Journey to ‘Rosemead': ‘Gut-Wrenching From a Cellular Level'
Lucy Liu has been in Rosemead for years. No, she hasn't taken up residence in the SoCal city – but the community within L.A. County's San Gabriel Valley has left an indelible mark on the actor as both the setting and title of her latest film, 'Rosemead,' a passion project that's taken hold of her for over seven years. The film (which was actually produced largely in New York) dramatizes the tragic true story revealed in a 2017 Los Angeles Times article by Frank Shyong about a terminally ill mother and her schizophrenic teenage son. More from Variety 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' Review: The Tribeca Festival Opens with a Luscious Longform Documentary That Captures Just the Way He Is 'Twelve Moons' Debuts First-Look Clip Ahead of Tribeca Premiere, Director Victoria Franco Speaks About Societal Pressures on Women (EXCLUSIVE) 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' Directors Share Inspirational Message From Ailing Singer: 'He Will Be Back' 'I don't know that anyone really would believe it if it wasn't a true story,' Liu, who also serves as a producer, tells Variety over Zoom ahead of the 'Rosemead' world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on Friday. 'It resonates with me because we're missing this. We don't have this story. And I think a lot of the time, people are very excited about action movies, or how wealthy Asians are – but we don't have a story that talks about our community in a more realistic manner.' It wasn't an easy journey bringing the film to the big screen over the last seven years (which 'felt like 100 years,' Liu quips with a laugh). 'I really think that the reason why it's taken so long is because it's not a sexy idea,' she says. 'What people want is, 'What's going to bring in the money? What's going to go viral?' What's important to me, and has always been important to me, is a true story about something that's dramatic and emotional. This story resonates on a universal level.' Many words come to mind when thinking of Liu's impressive career spanning four decades: badass, trailblazing, charismatic, alluring. But the world has never seen her quite like this. In 'Rosemead,' the actor lays it all bare in a tour-de-force performance as Irene, a cancer-stricken mother grappling with her own mortality as her 17-year-old son, Joe, begins experiencing the delusions and paranoia associated with schizophrenia. Overwhelming fears about Joe's well-being after her terminal diagnosis ultimately lead Irene to take drastic measures (which we wouldn't dare spoil). 'It feels like there's a responsibility behind playing that character to make sure that people don't tune out,' Liu says. 'She has to be seen in a light that is coming from love. I just don't want people to think that she's a monster.' To tap into Irene, a soft-spoken, widowed business owner, Liu drew inspiration from her own family and Chinese-American community. 'I really borrowed from relatives and family members in my own life: physicalities, the way the slang would be, and the customs, the culture, the sequestering of what really happened because of the 'saving face' culture,' she says. That notion of 'saving face' is crucial to understanding 'Rosemead.' When acquaintances learn that Joe is taking medication to treat his condition, they're quick to pass judgment on Irene as a mother. Each time Irene is confronted with Joe's worsening mental health, she refuses to meaningfully engage with those trying to help, be it a kind-hearted psychologist or concerned friends at school. 'The story is something that, in our community, especially, is not projected as a positive conversation. 'Oh, this person's on medication? There must be something really wrong with them.' It's not something that's embraced or supported,' she says with a sigh. But that idea of projecting only the positives and concealing one's struggles isn't unique to the Chinese community, Liu says. 'It's kind of what social media is in some ways globally now: 'Look at my great life! Look how shiny everything is!' But the reality is, there's a lot going on behind the scenes that nobody's talking about.' Getting that behind-the-scenes look at how schizophrenia affects Joe, and pushing back on the assumptions made about those who suffer from the disorder, was of paramount importance to Liu as a producer. She recalls staple-gunning audition pamphlets during a broad search for the right actor before finally discovering newcomer Lawrence Shou, who expertly tackles the challenging character in his first-ever film role. 'There was something incredibly special about his choices, and I think that he's really a great talent. He did an excellent job with a very difficult subject matter,' Liu says, beaming with pride. Joe's episodes in 'Rosemead' are characterized by whispered thoughts, hallucinations and chaotic drawings of spiders and other dark imagery – all of which frighten Irene, despite reassurance from Joe's doctor that he will not become violent. 'We really wanted to make sure that we were truthful to what that is. People who have schizophrenia might have these discussions and these obsessions, but they don't act on them. They don't have that violence factor. That's the stigma: 'They're going to be the ones that are going to pull the trigger,'' Liu says. 'The reality is something quite different. And when you're afraid of something, that's when you step away, when you really should be stepping in.' It's her greatest hope that a film like 'Rosemead' will encourage viewers to speak more openly about mental health, to prevent a tragedy like Irene's. 'If it's not talked about or understood, that lack of education creates these extreme results,' she says. 'There are so many people struggling. Statistically, we know that it's teenage Asian American boys that are committing suicide. That's the highest rate. That is something to be that we need to be terrified by, so that we can actually act on it, and we can support our community and have this out there so that people know that they shouldn't feel alone.' 'Rosemead' will surely stick with audiences long after credits roll, but the film's most profound impact was perhaps on Liu herself, who's had trouble shaking Irene's story after all these years. 'It was so gut-wrenching from a cellular level that I haven't actually done anything since then, because it was just so intense,' she says of the transformative role. 'I really needed to take a break after that and just reset, because I think it did something for me, on a much deeper level than I thought it would. It changed me.' Best of Variety 'Blue Velvet,' 'Chinatown' and 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' Arrive on 4K in June All the Godzilla Movies Ranked 'House of the Dragon': Every Character and What You Need to Know About the 'Game of Thrones' Prequel
New Straits Times
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Documentary reveals Billy Joel attempted suicide twice in the past
NEW YORK CITY: American singer Billy Joel "at one point wanted to end it all," according to the documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes.' The new film, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival in New York City last week, revisits some of the singer's struggles, including two suicide attempts that followed an affair with his bandmate's wife, People magazine reports. The first part of the documentary recounts how Joel was in the band Attila with his best friend, Jon Small. Joel eventually moved in with Small, his wife, Elizabeth Weber, and their son. Weber reportedly states in the film that there was a "slow burn" between her and Joel. Joel admitted he "felt very, very guilty" about their subsequent affair. It ended in a fight, and the band split after he confessed to Small that he was in love with Weber. "They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Joel told the filmmakers. "I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset." After Weber left, Joel said he spiralled into drinking, became homeless, and was "depressed, I think to the point of almost being psychotic." He recalled thinking, "That's it. I don't want to live anymore. I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all." His sister, Judy Molinari, then a medical assistant, gave him sleeping pills, all of which Joel took. He ended up in the hospital in a coma for days. "I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was lying there white as a sheet," she said in the film. "I thought that I'd killed him." During his second suicide attempt, Joel said he drank a bottle of cleaning fluid. Ironically, it was Small who took him to the hospital. "Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life," Joel said. He sought help, which Joel credits with helping him channel his emotions into the music that brought him success. Years later, Joel and Weber reconnected and were married from 1973 to 1982. She continues to admire him and has been supportive as the superstar musician recently cancelled tour dates to seek treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition affecting the brain. "He's worked so hard all of his life," she told E! News at the premiere. "I've never known anybody who worked harder than he did in all those years we were together and working together." 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' is set to air on HBO next month.
Daily Record
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Billy Joel says 'I'm not dying' after cancelling tour due to brain condition
The music legend's Murrayfield Stadium gig was due to take place on June 6, but was cancelled along with the rest of Joel's tour due to his health. Billy Joel was forced to cancel his entire 2025 tour, having been diagnosed with a brain disorder known as normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The star was due to take the stage at Murrayfield Stadium on June 6, a gig which had previously been postponed to give him time to recover from surgery. The 'Uptown Girl' singer has been diagnosed with NPH, which is a condition that causes a build-up of fluid in the brain. The 76-year-old's team shared a statement with fans on May 23, apologising for the cancellation of his tour. It said that his brain condition"has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance.' And the singer added: "I am sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience and thank you for understanding.' However, since then the star has been quiet, and was notably absent from the screening of his new documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' last Wednesday, June 4, at Tribeca Film Festival. Despite his absence, he relayed a message to the crowd through the film's co-director, Susan Lacy. 'We know Billy wishes he were here tonight, and he asked us to convey that to you all. "In fact, he said, 'Getting old sucks, but it's preferable to getting cremated,'' Lacy told the audience, reported Deadline. He also assured his fans that 'he will be back.' The two founders of Tribeca Film Festival- Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal- also acknowledged Joel's health condition and absence. Rosenthal said: 'Billy wanted to be with us tonight, but as you may have heard, he's dealing with a health issue and had to postpone his performances, including this one tonight. "We know you will join us in wishing him a speedy recovery.' De Niro added: 'He's our piano man, a wonderful, integral part of the heartbeat of our city. "Tonight, we get to see the man behind the music and behind the legend. You're in for a real treat.' According to outlet NJ, radio host Howard Stern recently had a conversation with Billy Joel, in which the star urged him to let fans know that he 'is not dying'. During a recent episode of The Howard Stern Show on Sirius XM, Stern discussed a recent dinner he had with Joel. Stern said: 'He does have issues. But he said to me- so I'm not saying anything crazy- 'Yeah, you can tell people: I'm not dying.' He wants people to know that. "He's got to deal with some medical stuff. But he was delightful. We had a great time with the wives. Billy's doing okay.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
New York Post
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Billy Joel reveals he tried to ‘end it all' with two suicide attempts after affair with best friend's wife
He was an angry young man. In his new documentary, 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' — which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday night – the piano man, 76, opened up about a dark time in his past. When he was in his early 20s, Joel was in a band called Attila with his then-best friend, Jon Small. 10 Billy Joel and wife Elizabeth Weber circa 1981 in New York City. Getty Images During that time, Joel fell in love with Elizabeth Weber, who was Small's then-wife. Joel attempted suicide over the affair – twice. 'I was just in a lot of pain .. so I just thought I'd end it all,' he said on-screen. 10 Billy Joel performs on stage at the MCG on 10th December 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. WireImage After surviving, he quipped, 'You can't even do yourself in.' The 'Uptown Girl' singer has previously revealed his suicide attempt as early as 1990, but he went into more detail in the documentary. 'Bill and I spent a lot of time together,' Elizabeth shared in the doc. Small recalled that Joel told him, 'I'm in love with your wife.' 10 Billy Joel and drummer Jon Small of the rock band 'Attila' pose for a portrait in 1970. Michael Ochs Archives 'I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker,' Joel said. The 'Vienna' singer added, 'I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset.' In the fallout, Attila broke up, their friendship ended for a long time, and Joel had a downward spiral. 10 Elizabeth Weber and Sean Weber-Small attend the 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' Opening Night Premiere at Beacon Theatre on June 04, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images for Tribeca Festival 10 Billy Joel with Elizabeth Weber in 1979. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 'I had no place to live. I was sleeping in laundromats and I was depressed I think to the point of almost being psychotic,' he said. The 'Only the Good Die Young' singer added, 'So I figured, 'That's it. I don't want to live anymore.' I was just in a lot of pain and it was sort of like why hang out, tomorrow is going to be just like today is and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all.' His sister, Judy Molinari, was working as a medical assistant at the time and gave him sleeping pills. 10 Billy Joel attends MSG Entertainment and Billy Joel special franchise announcement at Chase Square at Madison Square Garden on June 01, 2023 in New York City. Getty Images 'Billy decided that he was going to take all of them… he was in a coma for days and days and days,' she said in the documentary. She emotionally recalled, 'I went to go see him in the hospital, and he was laying there white as a sheet. I thought that I'd killed him.' The 'We Didn't Start The Fire' hitmaker said that he was 'very selfish' at the time. 10 Billy Joel with his wife Alexis Roderick and daughters Della Rose Joel and Remy Anne Joel attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. FilmMagic 10 Billy Joel, at home in front of some of his gold discs, New York City, 25th January 1978. Getty Images He recalled waking up in the hospital thinking he wanted to do it again — but this time 'right.' The next time, he drank a bottle of 'lemon Pledge,' Molinari said. Small took him to the hospital, which ultimately caused the two men to mend fences. 10 Billy Joel circa 1969. Redferns 'Even though our friendship was blowing up, Jon saved my life,' Joel said. Small explained, 'He never really said anything to me, the only practical answer I can give as to why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much. Eventually I forgave him.' Following his suicide attempts, Joel got back together with Weber, who went on to become his manager. They were married from 1973 to 1982. She was the first of his four wives. His other exes include Christie Brinkley, Katie Lee, and his current wife, Alexis Roderick, whom he married in 2015. 10 Billy Joel appears on SiriusXM with John Mayer at SiriusXM Studios on October 11, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images for SiriusXM Meanwhile, Small took the high road after Weber inspired Joel's 1971 debut, 'Cold Spring Harbor.' 'You could tell from the lyrics that he was really in love with Elizabeth,' Small said of songs such as 'She's Got a Way.' The music legend was absent from his big night after revealing his shocking brain disorder diagnosis two weeks ago. However, Weber was in attendance. The two-part documentary will premiere on HBO and HBO Max at an unannounced date later this summer. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy Joel's ex-wife Elizabeth Weber speaks out after his brain disorder diagnosis
Billy Joel's first ex-wife, Elizabeth Weber, has broken her silence following the iconic musician's shocking brain disorder diagnosis. The 'Uptown Girl' hitmaker, who was married to Weber from 1973 to 1982, revealed last month that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. Following the diagnosis, Weber reflected on the pair's ill-fated marriage — saying that she always knew the so-called Piano Man would become a star. 'He's worked so hard all of his life,' Weber told E! News at the Tribeca Festival premiere of 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' in NYC on Wednesday. 'I've never known anybody who worked harder than he did in all those years we were together and working together.' While the 5-time Grammy winner, 76, wasn't in attendance at the glitzy premiere, his wife Alexis Roderick Joel, 43, was there in his place. 'I just want him to be restored to good health so he can enjoy his life and his wife and his children. He earned that,' Weber said of her ex-husband. 'The restoration of his good health is all I really care about.' Although their union crumbled after just seven years, Weber told the outlet that she still admires his work deeply, to the point where she finds it difficult to choose a favorite track. 'There's too many of them, and they're all marvelous,' she said. 'Someone can be in the audience and look at him and say, 'That could be me.'' 'Not everybody can be an unnamed pianist who sings, but everyone thinks that they could do that or be that,' she added. The 'New York State of Mind' musician canceled all his tour dates through next year after he announced his diagnosis. The rare disorder, which reportedly affects about 0.2% of people between the ages of 70 and 80, occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up inside the skull, presses on the brain and disrupts cognitive functioning. 'Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH),' the 'Only the Good Die Young' crooner's team said in a lengthy Instagram announcement on May 23. 'This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,' it continued. 'Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.' 'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience,' his team added, 'and thank you for understanding.' Following the news, his wife Alexis broke her silence on the diagnosis, thanking fans for the 'outpouring of love and support.' 'We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Bill is beloved by so many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world. We are hopeful for his recovery. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.' Earlier this week, Howard Stern shared a positive update on his longtime pal's well-being. During an episode of SiriusXM's 'The Howard Stern Show' Tuesday, the 71-year-old shock jock insisted that the crooner is 'not dying.' 'I saw Billy Joel two weeks ago,' he told co-host Robin Quivers. 'We had dinner together.' 'Yeah, he does have issues,' Stern continued. 'But he said, 'Yeah, you can tell people, you know, I'm not dying.' You know, he wants people to know that. He just, he's gotta deal with some medical stuff, but he was delightful.'
