Review: Terrific and Amazing "ARMAGEDDON TIME" Doesn't Have Time for Sentimentality

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 15 of 2023 (No. 1904) by Leroy Douresseaux

Armageddon Time (2022)

Running time:  114 minutes (1 hour, 54 minutes)

MPA – R for language and some drug use involving minors

WRITER/DIRECTOR:  James Gray

PRODUCERS:  Marc Butan, James Gray, Anthony Katagas, and Rodrigo Teixeira

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Darius Khondji

EDITOR:  Scott Morris

COMPOSER:  Christopher Spelman

DRAMA

Starring:  Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb, Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Sell, Andrew Polk, Tovah Feldshuh, Marcia Haufrecht, Teddy Coluca, Richard Bekins, Dane West, Landon James Forlenza, John Diehl, and Jessica Chastain

Armageddon Time is a 2022 coming-of-age drama film from writer-director James Gray.  The film is inspired by Gray's childhood experiences growing up in Queens, New York.  Armageddon Time is a coming-of-age story about family and about the American Dream and who can have it.

Armageddon Time opens in Queens, New York City, 1980.  It introduces Paul Graff (Banks Repeta), a Jewish-American boy who is entering sixth grade at Public School (P.S.) 173.  He befriends Johnny (Jaylin Webb), a rebellious African-American classmate.  Johnny was held back a year and gets harsher treatment from their teacher, a white man named Mr. Turkeltaub (Andrew Polk), when they both joke around in class.  Paul is interested in becoming an artist, and he often disassociates from his schoolwork and draws pictures instead.

Paul lives with his somewhat financially stable family of Jewish heritage.  His parents, mother Esther (Anne Hathaway), and father Irving Graff (Jeremy Strong), are well-meaning, but are strict.  His older brother, Ted (Ryan Sell), teases him.  Irving has a temper and is prone to hit his children, especially Paul, who exasperates him.  Esther and Irving discourage Paul's artistic ambitions, but his maternal grandfather, Aaron Rabinowitz (Anthony Hopkins), encourages him.

However, Paul begins to discover the harsh reality of life.  Aaron tells Paul of how his own mother escaped antisemitic persecution and pogroms in Ukraine, eventually landing in London before coming to the United States.  Paul gets into trouble with Johnny and ends up at the private school, Forest Manor Prep School, while Johnny quits school and deals with the foster care officials who are looking for him.  Although Paul lives in a world privilege, he is forced to confront family troubles and a world of inequality and privilege.

I am totally in love with Armageddon Time, although I'm not as in love with its title.  This is also the first film directed by James Gray that I have watched.  The film takes its title from a 1979 single by the British band, “The Clash,” entitled “Armagideon Time.”  It is a cover version of the same song by Jamaican reggae musician, William Williams, that was also released in 1979.  Armageddon Time also includes a few scenes featuring a fictional version of Fred J. Trump, Donald Trump's father, and one scene featuring Maryanne Trump, Donald's sister.  Character actor John Diehl plays Fred, who is a famous businessman and financier/patron of Forest Manor in this film, in all his real-life sleazy glory.

Jessica Chastain is superb in her one scene as Maryanne, who is portrayed in Armageddon Time as a United States Attorney and as one of Forest Manor's most famous alumni.  [In reality, Maryanne Trump was an Assistant United States Attorney in 1980 and would go on to be a United States federal judge from 1983 to 2019.]

James Gray's inclusion of the Trumps, who were part of the world in which Gray grew up, his unflinching desire that Armageddon Time not be nostalgic or sentimental.  Gray presents Paul Graff as a kid who lives inside a bubble – an idealized version of the world.  Paul's estimation of his family's worth and social position are larger and more grand than they really are.  The film's narrative acts not only to wise-up the naive Paul, but to also fill in the gaps of his knowledge of how the world operates – its unfair racial inequality and its propensity to hand out “raw deals.”

If Armageddon Time has a dominant theme, it is that one must survive to have a good life.  If this film has one big fault, it is that Paul's black friend, Johnny, flits through the story as if he were a ghost or a wraith, when it seems obvious that he is very important to the narrative, the plot, and the resolution.

Gray's cast is a big part of why this film really works.  First, Anne Hathaway is so beautiful that even as a harried mother and housewife and worried daughter, she is radiant.  Jeremy Strong is Oscar-worthy as a hard-working, beat-his-kids-asses, Jewish dad.  Ryan Sell strikes the right notes in a small role as Paul's brother, Ted.  Banks Repeta as Paul and Jaylin Webb as Johnny really sell a friendship that, on the surface, seems like it could not, would not, and should not work.  [I think this entire cast would soar even higher if this story were told as television series.]

I would be remiss if I did not mention Anthony Hopkins as Paul's grandfather, Aaron.  This film would not work without him.  Armageddon Time is one of the few coming-of-age films that I have seen that absolutely refuses to be sentimental and is zealously free of nostalgia.  In Aaron, Gray embodies the film's desire to eschew good and evil in favor of depicting survival versus unfairness, inequality, and callousness.  Hopkins conveys in Aaron the good sense that Paul lacks and must learn, which is to figure out when to fit in and when to fight.

I had not heard of Armageddon Time until I was perusing the “Charter on Demand” channel of my Spectrum cable account.  The trailer for this film that Charter was showing was quite convincing, and I felt as if I had to see Armageddon Time because it was made for me.  I hope that James Gray is able to go ahead with plans to direct a semi-sequel to this film, using much of the same cast.  Even if that does not happen, Armageddon Time is a gem, a blunt and genuine coming-of-age story that willingly embraces the truth that growing pains are indeed painful.

9 of 10

A+

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

Monday, March 27, 2023

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from June 16th to 22nd, 2019 - Update #22

Support Leroy on Patreon:

MOVIES - From YahooEW:  Some believe that the movie poster for the 1992 Kevin Costner-Whitney Houston film, "The Bodyguard," is an iconic image.  But Costner says the woman he is holding in the image is not Whitney Houston, but is her body double.

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TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Tyler Perry's first TV series for BET (part of his multi-year content deal with Viacom) is a White House drama called "The Oval."

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COMICS-FILM - From Deadline:  "Transparent" creator, Jill Soloway, will write and direct Millennium Films' "Red Sonja" film, based on the comic book character inspired by a Robert E. Howard (Conan the Barbarian) character.  Soloway is replacing the disgraced Bryan Singer.

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BUSINESS - From Bloomberg:  The toy store chain, Toys "R" Us, is looking to make a come book in the United States for Christmas 2019, by opening six new stores.

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SCANDAL - From YahooNews:  There is a new twist in Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey's sexual assault case - text messages from the alleged victim.

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MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment:  There has reportedly been a stabbing on the Warner Bros. Studios U.K. set of "The Witches."  The film is remake of the previous film version of Roald Dahl's book of the same title.  News is describing the films as "a new Anne Hathaway movie."

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Screen Gems is eyeing a spinoff of its 210 hit film, "Easy A."  They hired Bert Royal, who wrote the first film, to write and direct the new one.

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MOVIES - From TheRinger:  "The Problem With IMDb’s Rating System" by Alyssa Bereznak

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Jermaine Fowler is set to be one of Eddie Murphy's co-stars in the "Coming to America" sequel, "Coming 2 America," which is set to be directed by Craig Brewer ("Hustle & Flow").

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SCANDAL - From TheDailyBeast:  Eight women have come forward to accuse Hollywood screenwriter, Max Landis ("Chronicle," "Bright") of various forms of abuse.

From IndieWire:  An analysis: "Max Landis should have been thrown out of Hollywood years ago."

From IndieWire:  Apparently, director Josh Trank banned Max Landis from the set of "Chronicle," a film Landis wrote and created with Trank.

From IndieWire:  Chloe Grace Moretz says her World War II horror film, "Shadow in the Cloud," has distanced itself from writer Max Landis and has been rewritten without him.

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AWARDS - From Deadline:  If you care, here are the "MTV Movie and TV Awards" winners.  "Avengers: Endgame" named "Best Movie" and "Game of Thrones" named "Best Show."

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MOVIES-TV - From Deadline:  WarnerMedia is reportedly closing in on a "megadeal," worth as much as $500 million, with J.J. Abrams to produce content for them.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  "Hunger Games" author, Suzanne Collins, is working on a "Hunger Games" prequel novel and Lionsgate is in talks to develop it into a film.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 6/14 to 6/16/2019 weekend box office is "Men in Black: International" with an estimated take of 28.5 million dollars.

From Patreon:  Leroy Douresseaux's review of "Men in Black: International."

From Deadline:  "The Dead Don't Die" and "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" lead specialty box office.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Former child actor, Danny Lloyd ("The Shining"), now a college professor, reacta to the trailer for "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to "The Shining."  The trailer includes footage of Lloyd as child playing Danny Torrance in "The Shining," which was directed by the late Stanley Kubrick.

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ANIMATION - From Variety:  This is a piece on Warner Bros.' "Scoob," the upcoming reboot film of the "Scooby-Doo" movie series.  A "work-in-progress" version of the film was shown at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France.

OBITS:

From Variety:  Model and socialite, Gloria Vanderbilt, has died at the age of 95, Monday, June 17, 2019.  Vanderbilt may be best known for three things.  First, she was the subject of a high-profile custody case when she was a minor.  Secondly, as a fashion designer, she introduced a line of popular designer jeans.  Thirdly, she was the mother of CNN television anchor, Anderson Cooper.

From THR:  Legendary Italian filmmaker and director, Franco Zeffirelli, has died at the age of 96, Saturday, June 15, 2019.  Zeffirelli was best known for his lavish film adaptations of the works of William Shakespeare.  The most famous of those was his 1968 film, Romeo and Juliet, which received 4 Oscar nominations (including one for Zeffirelli as best director) and won two.

Robert Zemeckis Begins New Film Adaptation of Dahl's "The Witches"

Robert Zemeckis Works His Magic on the Roald Dahl Classic as Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Witches” Gets Underway

The film stars Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer and—just announced—Stanley Tucci and Chris Rock

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography has begun on “The Witches,” a fantastical adventure from Oscar-winning director Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump”), starring Oscar winners Anne Hathaway (“Les Misérables,” “Ocean’s 8”) and Octavia Spencer (“The Help,” “The Shape of Water”), Oscar nominee Stanley Tucci (“The Hunger Games” films, “The Lovely Bones”), and award-winning comedy legend Chris Rock. Newcomer Jahzir Kadeem Bruno (TV’s “Atlanta”) also stars, alongside Codie-Lei Eastick.

Reimagining Roald Dahl’s beloved story for a modern audience, Zemeckis’s visually innovative “The Witches” tells the darkly humorous and heartwarming tale of a young orphaned boy (Bruno) who, in late 1967, goes to live with his loving Grandma (Spencer) in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. The boy and his grandmother come across some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, so Grandma wisely whisks our young hero away to an opulent seaside resort. Regrettably, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world’s Grand High Witch (Hathaway) has gathered her fellow cronies from around the globe—undercover—to carry out her nefarious plans.

The screenplay is by Guillermo del Toro and Robert Zemeckis & Kenya Barris (upcoming “Shaft”), based on the book by Roald Dahl. Zemeckis also produces, alongside Jack Rapke, Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron and Luke Kelly. Serving as executive producers on the film are Michael Siegel, Gideon Simeloff, Marianne Jenkins and Jackie Levine.

Zemeckis’s behind-the-scenes team includes a roster of his frequent collaborators, including Oscar-nominated director of photography Don Burgess (“Forrest Gump”), production designer Gary Freeman, Editor Jeremiah O’Driscoll, and Oscar-nominated costume designer Joanna Johnston (“Allied,” “Lincoln”).

An Image Movers Production, a Necropia/Experanto Filmoj Production, “The Witches” is filming at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in the UK. It is currently scheduled for theatrical release October 16, 2020 and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 22nd to 31st, 2018 - Update #26

Support Leroy on Patreon:

MOVIES - From Variety:  Malcolm D. Lee is in talks to direct the remake of "Uptown Saturday Night" starring Kevin Hart.

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STREAMING - From ShadowandAct:  LeVar Burton, Laverne Cox, Rosario Dawson Tapped For Jordan Peele's YouTube Anthology Series "Weird City."

From ShadowandAct:  Netflix officially announces Octavia Butler's miniseries about real-life Black hair care mogul, Madame C.J. Walker.  NBA superstar LeBron James is producing the project.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 7/27 to 7/29/2018 weekend box office is "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" with an estimated take of $61.5 million.

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From WeGotThisCovered:  First look at Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson in the "Men in Black" reboot.

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CELEBRITY/BLM - From YahooGMA:  Ving Rhames says Santa Monica police officers pulled their guns on him in his own home.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Netflix has obtained the worldwide rights from Warner Bros. for Andy Serkis' CGI live-action film, "Mowgli," based on "The Jungle Book."  Netflix will release the film on its streaming service worldwide in 2019.

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TELEVISION - From DeadlineTV:  AMC renews "Better Call Saul" for a fifth season.  Season 4 is set to debut August 6, 2018.

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MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  The upcoming new "Halloween" reboot film will change something that was revealed in 1981's "Halloween II" and affected all the films that came afterwards.  Laurie Strode is no long Michael Myers' sister.

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STAR WARS - From BleedingCool:  The cast for "Star Wars Episode IX" is officially announced.  Billy Dee Williams is returning at "Lando Calrissian."

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MOVIES - From ThePlaylist:  Bad boy/genius screenwriter Max Landis might be working on a remake of "Creature from the Black Lagoon," a film which has had rumored remakes for decades.

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BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" opens with $6 million in Thursday night preview showsing.  "Teen Titans Go! to the Movies," the animated film spinoff of the Cartoon Network animated TV series, "Teen Titans Go!," has one million in preview shows.

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STREAMING - From Variety:  Anthony Mackie will take over as the lead in Season 2 of Netflix's "Altered Carbon" from Season 1 star Joel Kinnaman.

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BLM - From YahooLifestyle:   Anne Hathaway goes full manifesto about "White privilege" in the wake of the murder of Nia Wilson.

From YahooLifestyle:  What You Need To Know About The Murder Of Nia Wilson

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STREAMING - From YahooBGR:  Netflix will debut 47 new original movies and shows in August – here’s the full list

TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  The final season of "Game of Thrones" to debut in the first half of 2019.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Pulitzer Prize winning composer and Grammy-winning rapper, Kendrick Lamar, to guest star on Starz's hit series, "Power."

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MOVIES - From BleedingCool: Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson are among new cast for Sony's "Men in Black" reboot.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  The lawsuit brought by the estate of the late playwright, Paul Zindel, against Guillermo del Toro's film, "The Shape of Water," was dismissed with prejudice, which apparently means that it cannot be brought back to court.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  David Leitch, the director of "Deadpool 2" is in talks to direct the remake of the classic Bruce Lee film, "Enter the Dragon."

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MOVIES - From ShadowandAct:  Ocatvia Spencer and Queen Latifah unite for a film on an infamous "passing" divorce case.

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MUSIC - From Variety:  R&B artist R. Kelly responds to the myriad allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct with "I Admit," a new 19-minute song posted to Soundcloud.

From Soundcloud:  Here is R. Kelly's new jam, "I Admit."

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 7/20 to 7/22/2018 weekend box office is "The Equalizer 2" with an estimated take of $35.8 million.

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STREAMING - From BleedingCool:  Seth McFarlane ("Family Guy") and Brannon Braga ("Star Trek") are developing Clive Barker's "Books of Blood" series for Hulu.

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SDCC - From Deadline:  The 2018 Will Eisner Awards for Excellence in Comics

VIDEOS:

From YouTube:  The first official trailer for "Glass," the sequel to M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" and "Split."

From YouTube:  Second official trailer for "The Predator."

From YouTube:  First trailer for Warner Bros./New Line/DC Comics' "Shazam" (due Spring 2019).

From YouTube:  First "Aquaman" trailer.

"Ocean's 8" Surpasses $100 Million in Domestic Box Office

“Ocean’s 8” Hits $100 Million at the Domestic Box Office

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures’ “Ocean’s 8” crossed $100 million at the domestic box office this past weekend. The film now stands as the 10th-highest-grossing film of the year domestically, it was announced today by Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

    “Since its opening, ‘Ocean’s 8’ has been delighting moviegoers, resulting in strong word of mouth that is driving the box office. We congratulate the amazing ensemble cast and the filmmakers, as well as our partners at Village Roadshow, on this success.”

Goldstein stated, “Since its opening, ‘Ocean’s 8’ has been delighting moviegoers, resulting in strong word of mouth that is driving the box office. We congratulate the amazing ensemble cast and the filmmakers, as well as our partners at Village Roadshow, on this success.”

The latest installment of the successful “Ocean’s” franchise, “Ocean’s 8” stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Five years, eight months, 12 days...and counting. That’s how long Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock)—just released from prison—has been concocting the greatest heist of her storied career. She knows what it’s going to take—a team of the best in their field, starting with her former partner-in-crime Lou (Cate Blanchett). Together, they recruit a crew of specialists: jeweler Amita (Kaling); street con Constance (Awkwafina); expert fence Tammy (Paulson); hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna); and fashion designer Rose Weil (Bonham Carter). The target is $150 million in diamonds—diamonds that will adorn the neck of world-famous actress Daphne Kluger (Hathaway), who will be center stage at the event of the year, The Met Gala. Their plan appears rock solid, but it will need to be flawless if the team is to get in and get away—all in plain sight.

“Ocean’s 8” also stars Richard Armitage as Claude Becker, Kluger’s unwitting date at the Gala, and James Corden as John Frazier, an insurance investigator trying to put the pieces together.

Gary Ross (“Seabiscuit,” “The Hunger Games,” “Pleasantville”) directed “Ocean’s 8” from a screenplay he co-wrote with Olivia Milch, original story by Ross. Steven Soderbergh and Susan Ekins produced the film. Michael Tadross, Diana Alvarez, Jesse Ehrman and Bruce Berman served as executive producers, with Milch co-producing.

Ross’s behind-the-scenes team included director of photography Eigil Bryld, production designer Alex DiGerlando, Oscar-nominated editor Juliette Welfling (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”), costume designer Sarah Edwards, and composer Daniel Pemberton. “Ocean’s 8” is based on characters created by George Clayton Johnson & Jack Golden Russell.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Rahway Road production, “Ocean’s 8.” The film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. This film has been rated PG-13.

www.Oceans8movie.com

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 18th to 28th, 2018 - Update #32

Support Leroy on Patreon:

COMICS-FILM - From DenofGeek:  First look at the Zachary Levi's costume in Warner Bros./DC Entertainment's "Shazam: film.

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STREAMING - From Variety:  Netflix plans 700 original series and movies for 2018.

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COMICS-FILM - From BleedingCool:  Significant reshoots for Fox's X-Men spinoff, "The New Mutants."

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CELEBRITY - From Variety:  In a wide-ranging interview, legendary Barbra Streisand talks sexism in Hollywood, the Oscars, and wanting to direct films again.  She also reveals that she has had her dogs cloned.

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OSCARS - From Yahoo:  Oscars so scandalous: leading movies hit with backlash

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CELEBRITY - From Variety:  Kevin Smith tweets that he suffered a heart attack.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 2/23 to 2/25/2018 weekend box office is Marvel Studio's "Black Panther" with an estimated take of $108 million.

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MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  Ryan Coogler explains why he isn't directing "Creed 2," the sequel to his hit film, "Creed."

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MOVIE - From ShadowandAct:  See photographic image of three generations of Shaft from the upcoming film, "Son of Shaft."

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STREAMING - From TVSeriesFinale:  Amazon is developing a TV series based on Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" book series.

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MOVIES - From Vulture:  "The First Great Movie of the Trump Era" By Jada Yuan and Hunter Harris (about Jordan Peele's "Get Out")

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MOVIES - From Collider:   Alex Garland is a hot filmmaker and is currently promoting his second film, "Annihilation."  He began as a noted novelist and revealed that there may be another film adaptation of his debut novel, "The Beach."  There was a 2000 film adaptation from director Danny Boyle and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

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TELEVISION - From TVSeriesFinale:  Walter Goggins will star in CBS's reboot of the Oscar-winning film, "L.A. Confidential."

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CELEBRITY - From GQ:  Whatever happened to actor Brendan Fraser (The Mummy franchise)

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MOVIES - From THR:  "Jurassic World 3" has been scheduled for a 2021 release.

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ANIMATION - From Deadline:  Larry Fishburne is producing an animated TV series based on Marvel Comics' "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur" comic book, which is apparently popular with young readers.

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MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  Jessica Chastain is in talks to star as "Beverly" in the sequel to the smash hit, "It."

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#PARKLANDSHOOTING - From StandardUK:  George and Amal Clooney donate $500,000 to gun control march after Florida shooting.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 2/16 to 2/18/2018 (President's Day) weekend box office is Disney/Marvel's "Black Panther" with an estimated take of $192 million, the fifth largest box office opening to date.

From BleedingCool:  Black Panther's three-day weekend total is actually $201.8 million instead of $192 million.

From Variety:  "Black Panther's four-day President's Day weekend may hit $235 million.

From THR:  All this fuss over a superhero movie? by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

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MOVIES - From CBR:  The "Transformers" film franchise may end as an unresolved film series.  Paramount has reportedly cancelled what was to be the sequel to "Transformers: The Last Knight," which apparently had an open ending. [I didn't see that film.]

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AWARDS - From Variety:  A complete list of winners at the 2018 BAFTAs.  "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" wins two best film awards.

From TheGuardian:  Bafta film awards 2018: Three Billboards triumphs as Time's Up dominates

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MOVIES - From EW:  Anne Hathaway joins Dee Rees ("Mudbound") for an adaptation of Joan Didion's 1996 novel, "The Last Thing He Wanted," a political thriller.

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CRIME-POLITICS - From Justice.gov:   Read Robert S. Mueller III's indictment against 13 individuals (Russians and one American).

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MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  Sylvester Stallone reveals the first poster for "Creed II."

OBITS:

From THR:  Oscar-nominated animator, Bud Luckey, has died at the age of 83, Saturday, February 24, 2018.  An early Pixar employee, Luckey, designed the cowboy "Woody" for the original "Toy Story."  He also created "counting cartoons" for "Seasame Street."  He received an Oscar nominations for his animated short film, "Boundin'."

From Variety:  The India actress, Sridevi Kapoor, has died at the age of 54, Saturday, February 24, 2018.  Best known by her mononym, Sridevi, was the first Bollywood superstar actress.

From TheGuardian:  British actress, Emma Chambers, has died at the age of 53, Wednesday, February 21, 2018.  Chambers was best known for her roles in the British comedy TV series, "The Vicar of Dibley," and in the 1999 film, "Notting Hill," playing "Honey," the sister of Hugh Grant's character.

From YahooNews:  Famed evangelist and ordained Southern Baptist minister and preacher, Billy Graham, has died at the age of 99, Wednesday, February 21, 2018.  Known as "America's Pastor," Graham provided spiritual counsel to every U.S. President from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.  Graham was also a supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and began "racial integration" for his revival and crusades beginning in 1953.  [Of course, he's resting in peace.]

From Deadline:  African filmmaker Idrissa Ouedraogo, has died at the age of 64, Sunday, February 18, 2018.  A native of the West African nation of Burkina Faso, Ouedraogo won the Cannes Jury Prize for his 1990 film, "Tilai."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 11th to 17th, 2016 - Update #34

Support Leroy on Patreon.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  Looks like "Blair Witch" won't keep "Sully" from repeating as weekend box office champ.

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OBIT - From TheWrap:  The author, W.P. Kinsella, has died at the age of 81.  His 1982 novel, "Shoeless Joe," was the basis of director Phil Alden Robinson's 1989, Oscar-nominated film, "Field of Dreams," which starred Kevin Costner.

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OBIT-THEATER - From EW:  Legendary American playwright, Albert Albee, has died at the age of 88, Friday, September 16, 2016.  His best known play is "Who Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

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MOVIE - From GQ:  See Shia LaBeouf as John McEnroe for the film, "McEnroe vs. Borg."

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MOVIE - From Variety:  Classic Western, "High Noon," is being remade, but that remake will be set in the present day.

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MOVIE - From THR:  After a dispute over Tom Cruise's money is resolved, "Mission: Impossible 6" resumes.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Newcomer Cailee Spaeny is the female lead in "Pacific Rim: Maelstrom."

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TELEVISION - From YahooTV:  Remembering NBC's groundbreaking TV movie, "An Early Frost."

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  U.S. soccer National Team member, Megan Rapinoe, still taking a knee during the National Anthem.

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TELEVISION - From TVLine:  Spike Lee's TV version of his debut film, "She's Gotta Have It" gets a 10-episode order from Amazon.

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MOVIES - From BuzzFeed:  Leonardo DiCaprio has a new eco-movie, "Before the Flood."

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Actress - pitch woman Sofia Vergara is getting paid, y'all.

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STAR TREK - From YahooNews:  CBS' upcoming series, "Star Trek Discovery" has been delayed from its announced January 2017 release to May 2017.  I thought this would happen, especially as no casting had been announced.

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COMICS-FILM - From ComicBookMovie:  "Harley Quinn" spin-off from "Suicide Squad" moves forward.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  What the hell is "American Horror Story" Season 6 about?  Try The Wrap's live blog.

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MOVIES - From THR:  A young actress, Storm Reid (12 Years a Slave), is the lead in Ava DuVernay's adaptation of "A Wrinkle in Time."

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MOVIES - From ShadowandAct:  Jordan Peele (of Key & Peele) has finished his directorial debut, which is a straight (not comic) horror film.

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MOVIE - From Deadline:  Anne Hathaway has a sci-fi film, "Colossal," which has been bought by a mystery Chinese buyer.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Conrad Vernon, the co-director of the hit animated film, "Sausage Party," will helm a remake of "The Toxic Avenger."

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Fox Searchlight picks up the much talk-about "Jackie" with Natalie Portman.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Benicio del Toro in talks to star in "Predator" reboot.

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MOVIES - From ScreenRant:  Rock legend Steven Tyler wants to be in "Guardians of the Galaxy 3."

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CELEBRITY - From YahooNews:  "Sully" Sullenberg for president says Clint Eastwood.

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  A player can be penalized for "sexually suggestive" celebrations. That is what happened to to Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers during a Monday Night Football game where the Steelers smashed the Washington Redskins.

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POLITICS - From TheIntercept:  U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee's "No" vote on Sept. 14, 2001 is timeless and remains powerful.

----------
EMMYS - From ShadowandAct:  RuPaul won his first Emmy Award for "Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program" for “RuPaul’s Drag Race" (Logo).  This was announced at Saturday's 2016 Creative Arts Emmys.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 9/9 to 9/11/2016 weekend box office is "Sully" with an estimated take of $35.5 million.

ECO - From DemocracyNow:  The state of North Dakota has issued a warrant for the arrest of journalist Amy Goodman, whose work revealed private security and their dogs attacking protestors of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From Patreon:  I finally posted my review of "Batman v Superman."

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MUSIC - From YahooMusic:   Katy Perry wants Taylor Swift to apologize.

----------
OBIT - From Variety:  Transgender star, Alexis Arquette, has died at the age of 47, Sunday morning, September 11, 2016.  She was the sister of Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette and actor David Arquette.

----------
EMMYS - From Variety:  A complete list of winners at the 2016 Creative Arts Emmys, which "Game of Thrones" led with 7 wins.

----------
FESTIVALS - From TheWrap:  At the 2016 / 73rd Venice Film Festival, the best picture prize goes to director Lav Diaz's "The Woman Who Left."

----------
MOVIES - From IndieWire:  Brad Pitt calls Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" a propaganda film.

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COMICS-FILM - From EW:  Voice actor, Ryan Potter (Big Hero 6) really wants to be Robin, so he made a video for Ben Affleck.

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams perform the song "I See a Victory" from the upcoming film, "Hidden Figures" live at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.

Saturday, Feb. 21st, 2015 is One More Chance to See "Interstellar" in IMAX

LAST CHANCE BEFORE THE OSCARS TO SEE “INTERSTELLAR” IN IMAX®

THE ONE-DAY-ONLY “AN ENCORE OF INTERSTELLAR: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE®” WILL PLAY IN AMC THEATRES® ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21st, 2015

Paramount Pictures, IMAX® Corporation and AMC Theatres are giving fans one last opportunity to see Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award®-nominated film “INTERSTELLAR.” The critically acclaimed film will play in the IMAX® format in select AMC Theatres in the U.S. on Saturday, February 21st, 2015.

The one-day-only “An Encore of Interstellar: The IMAX Experience®” showings will take place at 3:00 p.m. local times at participating AMC Theatres and will feature more than 12 minutes of never-before-seen exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

Moviegoers who purchase a ticket at a participating AMC Theatres box office to see “An Encore of Interstellar: The IMAX Experience®” can receive an additional ticket free. This special offer is only available at participating AMC Theatres box offices; online purchases are not eligible.

Tickets are on sale now. For a list of participating theaters, please visit AMC Theaters here.

“INTERSTELLAR” is nominated for five Academy Awards®: Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing.

The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow and Michael Caine. With our time on Earth coming to an end, a team of explorers undertakes the most important mission in human history; traveling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars.

“INTERSTELLAR” is directed by Christopher Nolan, written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, and produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Lynda Obst.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing.  As of September 30, 2014, there were 880 IMAX theatres (751 commercial multiplexes, 19 commercial destinations and 110 institutions) in 60 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation.  More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com.  You may also connect IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

---------------

"Interstellar" Gets an Early IMAX Release - Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” on Film November 5th, Two Days Before Its Wide Release

Tickets Are Now on Sale

HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that the highly anticipated “INTERSTELLAR” from Christopher Nolan will be released in 70mm IMAX® film, 70mm film and 35mm film formats on Wednesday, November 5th, two days ahead of its nationwide release. The advance showings will play in select theaters in more than 225 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

    “From IMAX to traditional film and digital projection, we are pleased that audiences will have the opportunity to see this awe-inspiring film in a wide variety of formats and we are very excited to be making the film available 2-days early for moviegoers.”

“To see Christopher Nolan’s ‘INTERSTELLAR’ on the big screen is an unforgettable movie going experience,” said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures. “From IMAX to traditional film and digital projection, we are pleased that audiences will have the opportunity to see this awe-inspiring film in a wide variety of formats and we are very excited to be making the film available 2-days early for moviegoers."

“INTERSTELLAR” was shot using a combination of 35mm anamorphic film and 65mm IMAX film to maximize the crispness and clarity of the image and give the audience a truly cinematic and immersive experience. These advance engagements highlight those theaters presenting “INTERSTELLAR” in its native formats.

On Wednesday, November 5th, 2014, “INTERSTELLAR” opens in the following film formats:

- Select IMAX theaters will be offering The IMAX Experience® featuring 15 perf/70mm film projection which combines the brightest, clearest images at almost 10 times the resolution of standard projection formats, with powerful, laser-aligned digital sound and customized theatre geometry to create the world's most immersive movie experience. Select sequences will expand to fill the entire screen and will deliver unprecedented crispness and clarity.

- INTERSTELLAR in the 70mm film format offers brighter, clearer image, with three times the resolution of standard projection formats, using the process of projecting light through celluloid to deliver clear images in rich analog color with state-of-the-art digital sound.

- The 35mm film presentations project light through the 35mm frame to deliver clear, high resolution images with rich analog color combined with state-of-the-art digital sound in most locations.

Tickets for these advance showings on November 5th are available today at https://interstellar.withgoogle.com and at participating theater box offices. Tickets are also available for the nationwide release on Friday, November 7th, 2014, when “INTERSTELLAR” opens in theaters everywhere including its digital engagements:

- IMAX digital projection uses dual projectors with sub-pixel alignment to produce clear, high contrast images with powerful, laser-aligned digital sound and customized theatre geometry, creating the world's most immersive digital movie experience. Select sequences will expand to fill the entire screen.

- The film in 4K digital projection produces a clear, bright, high resolution image with absolute stability and cleanliness, combined with uncompressed digital sound for a powerful movie-going experience.

- Digital projection presents a clear, bright, stable image that never degrades in terms of cleanliness or fidelity and uses uncompressed digital sound for a powerful movie-going experience.

“INTERSTELLAR” stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow and Michael Caine. With our time on Earth coming to an end, a team of explorers undertakes the most important mission in human history; traveling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars. Directed by Christopher Nolan, written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, and produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Lynda Obst.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA) (NASDAQ: VIAB), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

About Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures meets worldwide tastes and demands with a diverse mix of filmed entertainment and is a global leader in the marketing and distribution of feature films. The International Division operates offices in 24 countries and releases films in over 125 international territories, either directly to theaters or in conjunction with partner companies and co-ventures. Internationally, the Studio has been the market leader in six of the last 13 years, having surpassed $1 billion in grosses a total of 15 years, 12 of which were consecutive years, and crossed $2 billion five times, including 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

New "Interstellar" Poster - September 17th, 2014

The end of Earth will not be the end of us.

Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/interstellarmovie
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/Interstellar
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterstellarMovie

#Interstellar

Opens November 7th, 2014

"The Intern" Begins Filming in New York with De Niro and Hathaway

It’s the First Day of Work for “The Intern”

Oscar winners Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway Star Under the Direction of Nancy Meyers

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Academy Award winners Robert De Niro (“Raging Bull,” “Silver Linings Playbook”) and Anne Hathaway (“Les Misérables,” “The Devil Wears Prada”) star together in Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Intern,” which began filming today in New York. Oscar-nominated and award-winning filmmaker Nancy Meyers (“It’s Complicated,” “Something’s Gotta Give,” “Private Benjamin”) is directing the comedy from her own screenplay.

Meyers is also producing the film, together with Scott Rudin and Suzanne Farwell. Celia Costas is serving as executive producer.

The film’s multi-generational cast also features Rene Russo (“Thor”), Andrew Rannells (“Girls”), Adam DeVine (“Pitch Perfect”), Nat Wolff (“The Fault in Our Stars”), Anders Holm (“Workaholics”), Linda Lavin (“Wanderlust”), Zack Pearlman (“The Inbetweeners”), Reid Scott (“Veep”), newcomer Jason Orley, and Christina Scherer (“Living with Uncle Charlie”).

In “The Intern,” De Niro stars as Ben Whittaker, a 70-year-old widower who has discovered that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin (Hathaway).

Meyers’ behind-the-scenes creative team is headed by Oscar-nominated director of photography Stephen Goldblatt (“The Prince of Tides,” “The Help”), Oscar-nominated production designer Kristi Zea (“Revolutionary Road,” “GoodFellas,” “Tower Heist”), Oscar-nominated editor Bob Leighton (“A Few Good Men,” “Now You See Me”) and costume designer Jacqueline Demeterio (“The Other Woman,” “The Big C”).

“The Intern” is being filmed entirely in and around New York City.

Oscar-Winner Anne Hathaway Announced as 2014 Oscar Presenter

Anne Hathaway To Present On Oscar® Sunday

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Oscar winner Anne Hathaway will present at this year’s Oscars®, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, will air on Sunday, March 2, live on ABC.

Hathaway won last year’s Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in “Les Misérables.” She was previously nominated for her leading role in the 2008 film “Rachel Getting Married.” Hathaway, who made her feature film debut in 2001’s “The Princess Diaries,” has starred in films including “Ella Enchanted,” “The Devil Wears Prada” and “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscars, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

Christopher Nolan Begins Shooting "Interstellar"

PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND WARNER BROS. PICTURES ANNOUNCE THE START OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S “INTERSTELLAR”

HOLLYWOOD, CA (August 13, 2013) – Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom, Inc., and Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that principal photography on “INTERSTELLAR” is officially underway in Alberta, Canada. The film will be released in IMAX® and 35mm theaters on November 7, 2014.  Paramount Pictures will distribute domestically, Warner Bros. Pictures internationally.

Directed and co-written by Christopher Nolan (“Inception,” “The Dark Knight” Trilogy), the production will travel the globe and utilize a mixture of 35mm anamorphic and IMAX film photography to bring to the screen a script based on the combination of an original idea by Nolan and an existing script by Jonathan Nolan, originally developed for Paramount Pictures and producer Lynda Obst.  The new script chronicles the adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.

“Interstellar” features a prestigious cast that includes Matthew McConaughey (“Magic Mike,” “Mud”), Academy Award® winner Anne Hathaway (“Les Miserables,” “The Dark Knight Rises”), Academy Award® nominee Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “The Tree of Life”), Bill Irwin (“Rachel Getting Married,” TV’s “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”) Academy Award® nominee John Lithgow (“Terms of Endearment,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”) Academy Award® nominee Casey Affleck (“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” Gone Baby Gone”), David Gyasi (“Cloud Atlas”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Mackenzie Foy (“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 and 2”) Timothée Chalamet (TV’s “Homeland”), Topher Grace (“Spider-Man 3”), David Oyelowo (“Jack Reacher,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), Academy Award® winner Ellen Burstyn (“The Last Picture Show,” “The Exorcist”), and Academy Award® winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules,” “The Dark Knight” Trilogy).

The film is being produced by Academy Award® nominee Emma Thomas (“Inception,” “The Dark Knight” Trilogy) and Lynda Obst (“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “The Siege”).  Renowned theoretical physicist Kip Thorne is consulting on the film as well as serving as executive producer, along with Jake Myers (“Jack Reacher,” “RED,” “RED 2”) and Jordan Goldberg (“Inception,” “The Dark Knight” Trilogy).

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Hoyte van Hoytema (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” “The Fighter”), Academy Award®-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley (“The Dark Knight” Trilogy), Academy Award®-nominated costume designer Mary Zophres (“Gangster Squad,” “True Grit”) Academy Award®-nominated editor Lee Smith “The Dark Knight” Trilogy,” “Elysium,”, Academy Award®-winning composer Hans Zimmer (“The Lion King,” “The Dark Knight” Trilogy), and Academy Award®-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Franklin (“Inception,” “The Dark Knight” Trilogy).
 
Official Site: www.InterstellarMovie.com

About Paramount Pictures Corporation 
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

About Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures meets worldwide tastes and demands with a diverse mix of filmed entertainment and is a global leader in the marketing and distribution of feature films.  The International Division operates offices in 24 countries and releases films in over 125 international territories, either directly to theaters or in conjunction with partner companies and co-ventures.  Internationally, the Studio has been the market leader in six of the last 13 years, having surpassed $1 billion in grosses a total of 15 years, 12 of which were consecutive years, and crossed $2 billion five times, including 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Oscar-Winner Anne Hathaway Returns to the Cast of "Rio 2"

Twentieth Century Fox Animation Announces RIO 2 Casting

Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg and the Rest of the Original Gang Are Back for the Follow-up to the 2011 Animated Hit

An Exciting Lineup of Top Acting and Musical Talents Joins the 'RIO' Family

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The starring voice cast of Twentieth Century Fox's 2011 animated smash RIO is reuniting for the follow-up, RIO 2, and they are joined by a flock of top actors and musical talents new to the franchise, it was announced today by Vanessa Morrison, president of Twentieth Century Fox Animation.

The film is now in production at Blue Sky Studios. Twentieth Century Fox's international rollout begins March 20, 2014, followed by its domestic release on April 11, 2014.

Returning to RIO 2, a world rich with grandeur, character, color and music are Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Jemaine Clement, will.i.am, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto, Jake T. Austin, and Jamie Foxx.

Carlos Saldanha, who was inspired to create RIO based upon his experiences growing up in that city, is back as director, as are producers John C. Donkin and Bruce Anderson.

In RIO 2 we find Blu, Jewel and their three kids living the perfect domesticated life in that magical city. When Jewel decides the kids need to learn to live like real birds, she insists the family venture into the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in with his new neighbors, he worries he may lose Jewel and the kids to the call of the wild.

Joining the RIO 2 team are Oscar® nominee Andy Garcia, Grammy® winner Bruno Mars, Emmy®/Tony® winner Kristin Chenoweth, Oscar®/Emmy®/Tony®/Grammy® winner Rita Moreno, "The Hunger Games'" Amandla Stenberg, singer/actress Rachel Crow, "Looper's" Pierce Gagnon, and "Today" news anchor Natalie Morales.

Brazilian music legend and RIO executive music producer Sergio Mendes returns along with composer John Powell. RIO 2 will feature new Brazilian artists and original music by Janelle Monáe and The Wondaland Arts Society, who also voices a role in the film. Soundtrack will be released on Atlantic Records.

Released worldwide in April 2011, RIO's global box office tally is $486 million. It also was a huge hit on DVD and Blu-ray disc.


About 20th Century Fox Film
One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, 20th Century Fox Film produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of 20th Century Fox Film: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox International Productions, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.

London Film Critics Choose "Amour"

by Leroy Douresseaux

I'm still tying up some loose ends from the 2012 movie award season.  I just remembered that I did not post the result of a critics organization awards ceremony, although I did post its nominations earlier.  So...

The acclaimed Austrian film, Amour, won the "Film of the Year" award for 2012 at the 33rd annual edition of the London Critics' Circle Film Awards.  Amour also earned an "Actress of the Year" award for Emmanuelle Riva and a "Screenwriter of the Year" award for its writer/director, Michael Haneke.  "Director of the Year" went to Ang Lee for Life of Pi.  Lee surprised quite a few people at the Oscars this past Sunday night by winning the best director Oscar for Life of Pi.

The 33rd annual edition London Critics' Circle Film Awards took place on Sunday, January 20, 2013, in a ceremony held at the May Fair Hotel.

33rd London Film Critics’ Circle Awards Winners:

The Sky Movies Award: FILM OF THE YEAR
Amour (Artificial Eye)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
Rust and Bone (StudioCanal)

DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
The Imposter (Picturehouse/Revolver)

The Attenborough Award: BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR - presented by The May Fair Hotel
Berberian Sound Studio (Artificial Eye)

Top 10 Films
1. Amour (Artificial Eye)
2. The Master (Entertainment)
3. Life of Pi (Fox)
4. Argo (Warners)
5. Beasts of the Southern Wild (StudioCanal)
6. Zero Dark Thirty (Universal)
7. Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (New Wave)
8. Django Unchained (Sony)
9. Tabu (New Wave)
10. Rust and Bone (StudioCanal)

The American Airlines Award: DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Ang Lee – Life of Pi (Fox)

ACTOR OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by Spotlight
Joaquin Phoenix – The Master (Entertainment)

ACTRESS OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by Spotlight
Emmanuelle Riva – Amour (Artificial Eye)

SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master (Entertainment)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables (Universal)

BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR - In association with Cameo Productions
Toby Jones – Berberian Sound Studio (Artificial Eye)

BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Andrea Riseborough – Shadow Dancer (Paramount)

YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Tom Holland – The Impossible (eOne)

SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by Distrupol
Michael Haneke – Amour (Artificial Eye)

BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILM-MAKER
Alice Lowe and Steve Oram, writers – Sightseers (StudioCanal)

The Sky 3D Award: TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Life of Pi – Bill Westenhofer, visual effects (Fox)

DILYS POWELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FILM - sponsored by Premier
Helena Bonham Carter

http://www.criticscircle.org.uk/

Anne Hathaway Wins "Best Supporting Actress Oscar"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:

Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables WINNER

Amy Adams for The Master
Sally Field for Lincoln
Helen Hunt for The Sessions
Jacki Weaver for Silver Linings Playbook

Florida Film Critics Fly "Argo"

by Leroy Douresseaux

The Florida Film Critics Circle named Argo the "Best Picture of 2012," and its director, Ben Affleck, as the "Best Director."  Daniel Day-Lewis also received one of his many, many "Best Actor" awards.

The FFCC was founded in 1996 is comprised of writers from various state-based publications 

Complete list of 2012 winners:

Best Picture
"Argo"

Best Director
Ben Affleck, "Argo"

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln"

Best Actress
Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty"

Best Supporting Actor
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Master"

Best Supporting Actress
Anne Hathaway, "Les Misérables"

Best Adapted Screenplay
"Argo"

Best Original Screenplay
"Looper"

Best Art Direction/Production Design
"Anna Karenina"

Best Cinematography
"Skyfall"

Best Visual Effects
"Life of Pi"

Best Animated Film
"Frankenweenie"

Best Foreign Language Film
"The Intouchables" (from France)

Best Documentary
"The Queen of Versailles"

Pauline Kael Breakout Award
Quvenzhané Wallis, "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

"Argo" Wins Best Picture and Director at 2013 BAFTAs

by Leroy Douresseaux

The BAFTA Film Awards are the British equivalent of the American Academy Awards (the Oscars).  At the 2013 BAFTAs, Argo was named the "Best Film of 2012," one of three awards it won, including a "Best Director" trophy for Ben Affleck.  In a surprise, Emmanuelle Riva won the "Leading Actress" prize for her performance in Amour.  In a non-surprise, Daniel Day-Louis won "Leading Actor" for his performance in Lincoln.  Django Unchained won two awards: "Original Screenplay" (Quentin Tarantino) and "Supporting Actor" (Christoph Waltz).

The 66th EE British Academy Film Awards took place on Sunday, February 10, 2013 at London's Royal Opera House.

2013 BAFTA FILM AWARD WINNERS (for the film year 2012):

BEST FILM
ARGO - Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
SKYFALL - Sam Mendes, Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
BART LAYTON (Director), DIMITRI DOGANIS (Producer)- The Imposter

DIRECTOR
ARGO - Ben Affleck

DOCUMENTARY
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN - Malik Bendjelloul, Simon Chinn

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
DJANGO UNCHAINED - Quentin Tarantino

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK - David O. Russell

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
AMOUR - Michael Haneke, Margaret Ménégoz

ANIMATED FILM
BRAVE - Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman

LEADING ACTOR
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS - Lincoln

LEADING ACTRESS
EMMANUELLE RIVA - Amour

SUPPORTING ACTOR
CHRISTOPH WALTZ - Django Unchained

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
ANNE HATHAWAY - Les Misérables

ORIGINAL MUSIC
SKYFALL - Thomas Newman

CINEMATOGRAPHY
LIFE OF PI - Claudio Miranda

EDITING
ARGO - William Goldenberg

PRODUCTION DESIGN
LES MISÉRABLES - Eve Stewart, Anna Lynch-Robinson

COSTUME DESIGN
ANNA KARENINA - Jacqueline Durran

SOUND
LES MISÉRABLES - Simon Hayes, Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Jonathan Allen, Lee Walpole, John Warhurst

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
LIFE OF PI - Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer

MAKE UP & HAIR
LES MISÉRABLES - Lisa Westcott

SHORT ANIMATION
THE MAKING OF LONGBIRD - Will Anderson, Ainslie Henderson

SHORT FILM
SWIMMER - Lynne Ramsay, Peter Carlton, Diarmid Scrimshaw

EE RISING STAR AWARD
Juno Temple

Outstanding Contribution To British Cinema:
Tessa Ross

Houston Film Critics Choose "Argo" as 2012's Best

The Houston Film Critics Society named Argo is "Best Picture of 2012" and the film's director, Ben Affleck, as the "Best Director."  Once again, Prometheus received a "worse picture" notice.  I think the dislike and, quite frankly, hatred has to do with it not being the Alien (1979) movie/prequel some people thought it should be.

The Houston Film Critics Society was founded in 2007. It is a not-for-profit organization of 26 print, broadcast and Internet film critics based in the Greater Metropolitan Houston area.

Houston Film Critics Society 2012 nominees and winners (in bold):

Best Picture:
"Argo" WINNER
"Beasts of the Southern Wild"
"Cloud Atlas"
"Django Unchained"
"Lincoln"
"The Master"
"Les Miserables"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Zero Dark Thirty"

Best Director:
Ben Affleck, "Argo" WINNER
Quentin Tarantino, "Django Unchained"
Steven Spielberg, "Lincoln"
Tom Hooper, "Les Miserables"
Kathryn Bigelow, "Zero Dark Thirty"

Best Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln" WINNER
John Hawkes, "The Sessions"
Hugh Jackman, "Les Miserables"
Joaquin Phoenix, "The Master"
Denzel Washington, "Flight"

Best Actress:
Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook" WINNER
Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty"
Emmanuelle Riva, "Amour"
Quvenzhane Wallis, "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Naomi Watts, "The Impossible"

Best Supporting Actor:
Tommy Lee Jones, "Lincoln" WINNER
Alan Arkin, "Argo"
Javier Bardem, "Skyfall"
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, "The Master"
Matthew McConaughey, "Magic Mike"

Best Supporting Actress:
Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables" WINNER:
Amy Adams, "The Master"
Judi Dench, "Skyfall"
Sally Field, "Lincoln"
Helen Hunt, "The Sessions"

Best Screenplay:
"Lincoln" WINNER
"Argo"
"Looper"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Zero Dark Thirty"

Best Cinematography:
"Skyfall" WINNER
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"The Master"
"Les Miserables"

Best Original Score:
"Cloud Atlas" WINNER
"Beasts of the Southern Wild"
"Hitchcock"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"The Master"
"Skyfall"

Best Foreign Language Film:
"Holy Motors" (France) WINNER
"Amour" (Austria)
"The Intouchables" (France)
"A Royal Affair" (Denmark)
"Rust and Bone" (France/Belgium)

Best Animated Film:
"Wreck-It Ralph" WINNER
"Brave"
"Frankenweenie"
"ParaNorman"
"Rise of the Guardians"

Worst Film of 2012:
"That’s My Boy" WINNER
"Anna Karenina"
"Battleship"
"Prometheus"
"The Three Stooges"

Boston Online Critics Choose "Zero Dark Thirty"

The Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA) named Zero Dark Thirty as the "Best Picture of 2012" and named the film's director, Kathryn Bigelow, as "Best Director."

BOFCA was founded in May 2012. According to the group, BOFCA fosters a community of web-based film critics and provides them with a supportive group of colleagues and a professional platform for their voices to be heard. They collect and link to their reviews every week at a website that also features original content by members, including filmmaker interviews and spotlights on Boston’s vital repertory film scene.

By widening professional membership to writers working in new media, BOFCA aims to encourage more diverse opinions in the field. The Boston Online Film Critics Association has gathered together critics writing for publications that collectively receive over 15 million impressions/page views per month. BOFCA is present on social media year-round with members’ film articles and essays.

Readers interested in how final decisions were made during the 2012 balloting can see the membership’s individual ballots at www.bofca.com.

Full list of 2012 BOFCA winners:

BEST PICTURE:
ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEST DIRECTOR:
Kathryn Bigelow, ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEST ACTOR:
Daniel Day-Lewis, LINCOLN

BEST ACTRESS:
Jessica Chastain, ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Tommy Lee Jones, LINCOLN

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Anne Hathaway, LES MISERABLES

BEST SCREENPLAY:
Tony Kushner, LINCOLN

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
OSLO, AUGUST 31ST (from Norway)

BEST DOCUMENTARY:
HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE

BEST ANIMATED FILM:
PARANORMAN

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Roger Deakins, SKYFALL

BEST EDITING:
William Goldenberg & Dylan Tichenor, ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:
Jonny Greenwood, THE MASTER

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST:
MOONRISE KINGDOM

The Ten Best Films of the Year:
ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

LINCOLN

MOONRISE KINGDOM

DJANGO UNCHAINED

OSLO, AUGUST 31ST

HOLY MOTORS

THE MASTER

ARGO

CLOUD ATLAS