Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 7th to 13th, 2016 - Update #40

Support Leroy on Patreon.

OBITS - From YahooPolitics:  Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has died, today, Saturday, February 13, 2016, at the age of 79.

---------------
MOVIES - From Variety:  French actor, Tahar Rahim, joins Harrison Ford and Anthony Hopkins in "Official Secrets."
 
--------------
MOVIES - From DenofGeek:  Release dates for... God help me... Transformers 5, 6, and 7.

---------------
TELEVISION - From TVLine: FOX has ordered a pilot for a series based on the "Lethal Weapon" movies.  Damon Wayans Sr. to star..

---------------
MOVIES - From WeGotThisCovered:  The proposed horror film, Death House, which will unite legendary horror characters like Freddie Krueger, is described as "The Expendables or horror."  It is apparently a go.

---------------
POLITICS - From RollingStone:  The magazine lists 19 great moments from the 2/11/2016 debate between Hilary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

From WashPost:  Annotated transcript of debate.

---------------
TELEVISION - From CBSNews:  A few hints about new "Star Trek" series, set to debut in 2017.

---------------
COMICS - From CinemaBlend:  Deadpool movie writers really wish they could use the Hulk.

---------------
COMICS - From Movieweb:  Rumor has it that in "Thor 3", the villain Hela (Cate Blanchett) will kill off a major character.

---------------
BLACK LIVES MATTER - From The New York DailyNews:  Trayvon Martin would have been 21 years-old on Friday, February 5, 2016.

---------------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Michael De Luca and Scott Suber come on board as producers of the "Battlestar Galactica" movie.

---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews:  Mrs. Beetlejuice - Carly Fiorina - suspsends presidential campagin.

---------------
BLACK LIVES MATTER - From RSN:  Texas police kill a naked black man.

---------------
OBITS - From TheWrap:  Former child actor, Tommy Kelly, died on January 25, 2016 at the age of 90.  Kelly was best known for playing the title role in the 1938 version of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."  He also appeared in a number of films including "Gone with the Wind."

---------------
MOVIES - From THR:  Johnny Depp is headlining Universal's reboot of "The Invisible Man."  Supposedly, Tom Cruise is signed to "The Mummy" reboot!

---------------
MOVIES - From RSN:  Michael Moore was in intensive care in NYC.

---------------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Thank you, God.  Charlize Theron in talks to join "Fast 8" as a villain.

---------------
WEBCOMICS - From CBB:  New Johnny Bullet - Episode 60.

From CBB:  Johnny Bullet in French - Episode 60.

From CBB:  Constant, Chp. 2 Pg. 4.

---------------
OSCAR - From Deadline:  The 2016 Oscars Nominees Luncheon photos.

---------------
ECO - From EcoWatch:  Mark Ruffalo:  "We're heading towards a national water crisis."

---------------
SPORTS - From the New York DailyNews:  Former NFL player, Bill Romanowski, makes sure that there is no doubt that he is a racist.

---------------
AWARDS - From ScreenDaily:  John Boyega and Eddie Redmayne lead BAFTA buzz ahead of awards on February 14th, 2016.

---------------
TV - From YahooTV:  "X-Files" recap - "Back in the Day is Now."

---------------
COMICS - From YouTube:  "Captain America: Civil War" Super Bowl spot.

---------------
OBITS - From Vulture:  Daniel Gerson, a Pixar screenwriter, died on Saturday, February 6, 2016 after a battle with brain cancer.  Gerson co-wrote Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University, and was apparently working on "Cars 3."

---------------
TRAILERS - From YouTube:  New trailer for "Mie & Dave Need Wedding Dates," which looks really good.

----------------
TRAILERS - From YouTube:  "X-Men: Apocalypse" the Super Bowl trailer.

TRAILERS - From YouTube:  "Independent Day: Resurgence" Super Bowl trailer.

----------------
POLITICS - From Yahoo:  Professional black people hater and firemen killer, Rudy Giuliani, whines about Beyonce's performance at Super Bowl 50.

---------------
BLACK LIVES MATTER - From Truthout:  Why are black girls and women dying in jails? Genocide, that's why.

---------------
HISTORY - From RSN:  Sirhan Sirhan is coming up for parole.

---------------
MOVIES:  From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the Super Bowl Weekend box office (7/5 to 7/7/2016) is "Kung Fu Panda 3" with an estimated take of $21 million.

---------------
CULTURE:  From Vulture:  How Richard Pryor marks the beginning of the modern comedy era.

---------------
MUSIC - From Vulture:  Beyonce dominates Super Bowl 50 halftime show... that Coldplay was head-lining.

MUSIC - From Vulture:  See Beyonce's "Formation" video.

MUSIC - From Vulture:  A guide to "Formation" music video.

---------------
MOVIES - From Vulture:  There was a controlled explosion of a bus in London for an upcoming Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan and apparently the locals were still surprised, although there was supposedly advance warning.

---------------
COMICS - From YahooTV:  Deadpool movie review - It's "the world's most violent and vulgar Bugs Bunny cartoon.

---------------
From Deadline:  2016 Directors Guild Awards announced; Alejandro G. Iñárritu repeats as outstanding director of a feature film with his win for "The Revenant." Last year, he won for directing "Birdman."

---------------
ANIMATION - From TheWrap: Here are your 43rd Annie Awards winners.

First Slate of Presenters Announced for 2016 Oscars Ceremony

THE ACADEMY ANNOUNCES FIRST SLATE OF PRESENTERS AND PERFORMERS FOR 88TH OSCARS

Oscars producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin announced today the first slate of presenters for the 88th Oscars telecast. The Oscars, hosted by Chris Rock, will air live Oscar® Sunday, February 28, on ABC. 

The presenters and performers, including past Oscar winners and nominees, are:

     Benicio Del Toro
     Tina Fey
     Whoopi Goldberg
     Ryan Gosling
     Kevin Hart
     Lady Gaga
     Sam Smith
     Charlize Theron
     Jacob Tremblay
     The Weeknd
     Pharrell Williams

“Each of these artists brings a wonderfully distinctive element to the Oscars stage,” said Hill and Hudlin. “Together they represent the many thrilling ways stories can be shared about the human experience, and we’re honored they will be part of the celebration.”

The 88th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide

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

Kansas City Film Critics Name "Mad Max: Fury Road" Best Picture of 2015

Founded in 1967, The Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) says that it is the "second oldest professional film critics" association in the United States" (behind the New York Film Critics Circle).  The organization is composed of media film critics in the Kansas City metropolitan area.  The KCFCC’s awards are named for the group’s founder, James Loutzenhiser, who died in November 2001.

On December 21, 2015, the Kansas City Film Critics Circle announced the winners of its 49th annual awards.

2015 / 49th KCFCC Annual Awards:

BEST PICTURE: Mad Max: Fury Road

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR: George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST ACTOR: Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant

BEST ACTRESS: Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Michael Shannon – 99 Homes

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Alicia Vikander – Ex Machina

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy – Spotlight

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Charles Randolph and Adam McKay – The Big Short

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: Inside Out

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Phoenix (Germany)

BEST DOCUMENTARY: Amy

VINCE KOEHLER AWARD FOR BEST SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY or HORROR FILM: Ex Machina

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

2015 EDA Awards Announced; "Spotlight" Named Best Film of 2015

According the organization’s website, The Alliance of Women Film Journalists, Inc. (AWFJ), was founded in 2006.  The membership is made up of “highly qualified professional female movie critics, reporters and feature writers working in print, broadcast and online media.”  Its state purpose is to “support work by and about women - both in front of and behind the cameras - through intra-group promotional activities, outreach programs and by presenting the annual EDA Awards in recognition of outstanding accomplishments (the best and worst) by and about women in the movies.”

AWFJ BEST OF AWARDS: These awards are presented to women and/or men without gender consideration.”

EDA Award winners were announced on January 12, 2016.

2015 EDA Awards winners:

Best Film
SPOTLIGHT

Best Director (Female or Male)
Tom McCarthy for SPOTLIGHT

Best Screenplay, Original
SPOTLIGHT – Josh Singer, Tom McCarthy

Best Screenplay, Adapted
CAROL – Phyllis Nagy

Best Documentary
AMY – Asif Kapadia

Best Animated Film
INSIDE OUT – Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen

Best Actress
Charlotte Rampling in 45 YEARS

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Kristen Stewart in CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA

Best Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio in THE REVENANT

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Paul Dano in LOVE & MERCY

Best Ensemble Cast (tie)
SPOTLIGHT
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

Best Editing
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD – Margaret Sixel

Best Cinematography
CAROL – Edward Lachman

Best Film Music Or Score
THE HATEFUL EIGHT – Ennio Morricone

Best Non-English-Language Film
Son of Saul – Laszlo Nemes (Hungary)

EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS (These awards honor WOMEN only.)

Best Woman Director
Marielle Heller for DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL

Best Woman Screenwriter
Emma Donoghue for ROOM

Best Female Action Star
Charlize Theron for MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Best Breakthrough Performance
Alicia Vikander for EX MACHINA, TESTAMENT OF YOUTH and THE DANISH GIRL

Female Icon of the Year (presented to a woman whose work in film and/or in life made a difference)
Chantal Ackerman – In Memoriam, for being a great filmmaker and an inspiration.

EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS

Best Depiction Of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction (Tie)
ANOMALISA
CAROL

Actress Defying Age and Ageism (Tie)
Charlotte Rampling
Lily Tomlin

Most Egregious Age Difference Between The Lead Character and The Love Interest
DANNY COLLINS – Al Pacino (born 1940) and Katarina Cas (born 1976)

Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent
Emma Stone for ALOHA

Movie You Wanted To Love, But Just Couldn’t
THE DANISH GIRL

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

2016 Critics Choice Awards Announced; "Spotlight" Named Best Picture of 2015

The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) is the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada.  It represents almost 300 television, radio and online critics. For additional information about the BFCA and their memberships, visit www.criticschoice.com.

The winners for the 21st Critics’ Choice Awards were announced Sunday, January 17, 2016.

The 2016 / 21st Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards – winners (for the year in film, 2015):

BEST PICTURE: Spotlight

BEST DIRECTOR: George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST ACTOR: Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant

BEST ACTRESS: Brie Larson – Room

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Sylvester Stallone – Creed

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS: Jacob Tremblay – Room

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE: Spotlight

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy – Spotlight

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Charles Randolph and Adam McKay – The Big Short

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: The Revenant – Emmanuel Lubezki

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: Mad Max: Fury Road – Colin Gibson

BEST EDITING: Mad Max: Fury Road – Margaret Sixel

BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Mad Max: Fury Road – Jenny Beavan

BEST HAIR & MAKEUP: Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: Inside Out

BEST ACTION MOVIE: Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE: Tom Hardy – Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE: Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST COMEDY: The Big Short

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY: Christian Bale – The Big Short

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY: Amy Schumer – Trainwreck

BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE: Ex Machina

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Son of Saul (Hungary)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Amy

BEST SONG: Furious 7 – “See You Again”

BEST SCORE: The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone

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

Review: "Mad Max: Fury Road" is the Real Fast and Furious

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 48 (of 2015) by Leroy Douresseaux

[A version of this review originally appeared on Patreon.]

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Running time:  120 minutes (2 hours)
MPAA – R for intense sequences of violence throughout, and for disturbing images
DIRECTOR:  George Miller
WRITERS:  George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, and Nico Lathouris
PRODUCERS:  George Miller, Doug Mitchell, and PJ Voeten
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  John Seale
EDITORS:  Margaret Sixel
COMPOSER:  Junkie XL (Tom Holkenborg)

ACTION/SCI-FI/THRILLER

Starring:  Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Josh Helman, Nathan Jones, Zoë Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, and Courtney Eaton

Mad Max: Fury Road is a 2015 post-apocalyptic action film from director George Miller.  Written by Miller, Brendan McCarthy, and Nico Lathouris, Fury Road is the fourth film in the Mad Max film franchise, which began with the 1979 Australian film, Mad Max.  Actor Tom Hardy replaces actor Mel Gibson as the title character; Gibson portrayed Max in the franchise's first three movies.  Mad Max: Fury Road follows a warrior who escapes with a group of female prisoners and takes them on a search for her homeland, with the aid of a drifter named Max.

Mad Max: Fury Road is set some years after a nuclear holocaust has left civilization collapsed and the world a desert wasteland.  One oasis is The Citadel, which is ruled over by the tyrannical Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), who has an army of “War Boys” to carry out his orders.  Early in the story, Joe sends one of his lieutenants, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), in an armored truck to collect gasoline.  After she goes off-route, Joe realizes that Furiosa has escaped with his five wives:  Angharad (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), Capable (Riley Keough), Cheedo (Courtney Eaton), The Dag (Abbey Lee), and Toast (Zoë Kravitz).

Immortan Joe leads his entire army in pursuit of Furiosa and her armored truck, a “war rig.”  A sick War Boy named, Nux (Nicholas Hoult), seeks to make his name stopping Furiosa.  But the fate of Furiosa and her fellow escapees may rest in the hands of a drifter recently caught by the War Boys, the former “Road Warrior,” Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy).

If Mad Max: Fury Road is not the best genre film of the year, it is one of the best and sits near the top.  Compared to its summer action movie competitors, Fury Road features relatively little use of CGI and other computer-generated special effects.  What is even more surprising is that the hero of Fury Road is really a female character, Charlize Theron's Imperator Furiosa.  Tom Hardy's Max is, at best, a partner, if not a kind of sidekick.

The Furiosa-Max dynamic allows Miller and his co-writers to drive this film with themes of survival and redemption, rather than with male-centered, goal-oriented themes like revenge or the pursuit of something (like gas and guns).  Thus, Fury Road seems more hopeful than the other films in this franchise, which were about the desperation to survive.  In fact, this film's thoughtful approach to both character and to the drama of the big “Fury Road” chase, allows even an ostensible villain, Nux the War Boy, to have an arc of redemption.

I could talk more about the performances, the characters, and the drama, which are all good, but I would rather talk about the action.  Mad Max: Fury Road is a whirling dervish of action sequences and scenes.  I see, at least, a best editing Oscar nomination in Fury Road's future, and some love from whatever awards that are given for the men and women who perform stunt work in movies.  The road races and vehicle pursuits surpass even the amazing chases in 1981's Mad Max 2 (known as The Road Warrior for its 1982 U.S. release).  The action is so good that it makes Fury Road seem like one long action scene, which it most certainly is not.

Mad Max: Fury Road is one of those films that has to be seen to be believed.  I don't think I can convey in a review how awesome an action movie it is and how surprisingly good a post-apocalyptic drama it also is.  Director George Miller proves once and for all that he is one of the great film directors and that he only gets better with age.

9 of 10
A+

Tuesday, October 6, 2015


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

"Mad Max: Fury Road" Crosses $300 Million Mark in Worldwide Box Office

George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” Continues Its Worldwide Ride, Crossing $300 Million

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ “Mad Max: Fury Road” is continuing to draw moviegoers around the globe, now surpassing $300 million at the worldwide box office. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

    “‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ has proven to be a hit with followers of the original films while also creating a new generation of fans. Congratulations to George Miller, Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and everyone else involved in the film on this ongoing success.”

Directed, written and produced by George Miller, the feature marks the filmmaker’s return to the post-apocalyptic landscape of his iconic Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky. Domestically, “Mad Max: Fury Road” has held firm at the box office since its opening, earning $125.1 million to date.

The widely praised film is also still pulling in big crowds overseas, so far taking in an estimated $177 million at the international box office for a worldwide total of more than $302 million and counting.

In making the announcement, Fellman said, “‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ has proven to be a hit with followers of the original films while also creating a new generation of fans. Congratulations to George Miller, Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and everyone else involved in the film on this ongoing success.”

Kwan Vandenberg stated, “Word of mouth remains strong worldwide as the film continues to gain both first time and repeat viewers. Together with our partners at Village Roadshow Pictures, we are thrilled by the response of critics and audiences, who have made ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ one of the most acclaimed and talked-about films of the year.”

From director George Miller, originator of the post-apocalyptic genre and mastermind behind the legendary “Mad Max” franchise, comes “Mad Max: Fury Road,” a return to the world of the Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky.

Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by Imperator Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) stars in the title role in “Mad Max: Fury Road”—the fourth in the franchise’s history. Oscar winner Charlize Theron (“Monster,” “Prometheus”) stars as Imperator Furiosa. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Nux; Hugh Keays-Byrne (“Mad Max,” “Sleeping Beauty”) as Immortan Joe; Josh Helman (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Slit; Nathan Jones (“Conan the Barbarian”) as Rictus Erectus; collectively known as The Wives, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”) is The Splendid Angharad, Riley Keough (“Magic Mike”) is Capable, Zoë Kravitz (“Divergent”) plays Toast the Knowing, Abbey Lee is The Dag, and Courtney Eaton is Cheedo the Fragile. Also featured in the movie are John Howard, Richard Carter, singer/songwriter/performer iOTA, Angus Sampson, Jennifer Hagan, Megan Gale, Melissa Jaffer, Melita Jurisic, Gillian Jones and Joy Smithers.

Oscar-winning filmmaker George Miller (“Happy Feet”) directed the film from a screenplay he wrote with Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris. Miller also produced the film, along with longtime producing partner, Oscar nominee Doug Mitchell (“Babe”, “Happy Feet”), and PJ Voeten. Iain Smith, Chris deFaria, Courtenay Valenti, Graham Burke, Bruce Berman and Steven Mnuchin served as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team included Oscar-winning director of photography John Seale (“The English Patient”), production designer Colin Gibson (“Babe”), editor Margaret Sixel (“Happy Feet”), Oscar-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan (“A Room with a View”), second unit director and stunt coordinator Guy Norris (“Australia”), and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt (“Knowing”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Kennedy Miller Mitchell production, a George Miller film, “Mad Max: Fury Road.” The film is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. This film has been rated R for intense sequences of violence throughout, and for disturbing images.

madmaxmovie.com

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

"Mad Max: Fury Road" Drives Past $109.4 Million in Worldwide Box Office

George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” Roars to a $109.4 Million Worldwide Opening With a Global Day-and-Date Release
Film is the #1 new release at the worldwide box office “Mad Max: Fury Road” gives George Miller his biggest opening ever and is already the top-grossing “Mad Max” film

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Riding on rave reviews and huge anticipation around the globe, Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ “Mad Max: Fury Road” thundered at the worldwide box office with an opening weekend of more than $109.4 million, making it the #1 new release at the global box office. It is also the biggest opening ever for director George Miller and is already the highest grossing of all the “Mad Max” films. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

    “It’s truly gratifying to see the fantastic critical reaction translate to such strong numbers at the box office. George Miller’s edge-of-your-seat, action-packed experience is a must-see big-screen visual stunner that is luring both diehard followers and new fans around the world.”
George Miller’s return to the world of “Mad Max” was a major draw overseas, where it earned an aggregate estimated $65 million in 68 territories on 16,900 screens. It was #1 at the box office in almost 40 territories, including Australia, the birthplace of the post-apocalyptic anti-hero, as well as such key markets as France, Russia, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Korea, all of Scandinavia, and many more.

On the domestic front, “Mad Max: Fury Road” had an excellent opening of more than $44.4 million at 3,702 locations.

In making the announcement, Fellman said, “George Miller, together with his extraordinary cast, led by Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, and fellow filmmakers, has created a movie-going experience that critics agree is not to be missed, as evidenced by the 98% ‘Fresh’ score on Rotten Tomatoes—resulting in the biggest opening weekend ever for an R-rated actioner so well-reviewed. Word of mouth is already tremendous and should drive box office returns well into summer.”

Kwan Vandenberg stated, “It’s truly gratifying to see the fantastic critical reaction translate to such strong numbers at the box office. George Miller’s edge-of-your-seat, action-packed experience is a must-see big-screen visual stunner that is luring both diehard followers and new fans around the world.”

Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, said, “Anticipation began with our early campaign, which offered just a taste of the world inhabited by George Miller’s unique characters. Triumphant premieres in Los Angeles and at the Cannes Film Festival further fueled the social media buzz surrounding ‘Fury Road,’ which, combined with phenomenal reviews, turned the release into a global event.”

Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, added, “The success of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ is a testament to the commitment of George Miller and his team to deliver something moviegoers have never seen before. George’s vision not only lives up to the legacy of his pioneering ‘Mad Max’ films but expands upon that legacy for a new generation. We thank our partners at Village Roadshow and, together with them, congratulate everyone involved in the film.”

From director George Miller, originator of the post-apocalyptic genre and mastermind behind the legendary “Mad Max” franchise, comes “Mad Max: Fury Road,” a return to the world of the Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky.

Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by Imperator Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) stars in the title role in “Mad Max: Fury Road”—the fourth in the franchise’s history. Oscar winner Charlize Theron (“Monster,” “Prometheus”) stars as Imperator Furiosa. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Nux; Hugh Keays-Byrne (“Mad Max,” “Sleeping Beauty”) as Immortan Joe; Josh Helman (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Slit; Nathan Jones (“Conan the Barbarian”) as Rictus Erectus; collectively known as The Wives, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”) is The Splendid Angharad, Riley Keough (“Magic Mike”) is Capable, Zoë Kravitz (“Divergent”) plays Toast the Knowing, Abbey Lee is The Dag, and Courtney Eaton is Cheedo the Fragile. Also featured in the movie are John Howard, Richard Carter, singer/songwriter/performer iOTA, Angus Sampson, Jennifer Hagan, Megan Gale, Melissa Jaffer, Melita Jurisic, Gillian Jones and Joy Smithers.

Oscar-winning filmmaker George Miller (“Happy Feet”) directed the film from a screenplay he wrote with Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris. Miller also produced the film, along with longtime producing partner, Oscar nominee Doug Mitchell (“Babe”, “Happy Feet”), and PJ Voeten. Iain Smith, Chris deFaria, Courtenay Valenti, Graham Burke, Bruce Berman and Steven Mnuchin served as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team included Oscar-winning director of photography John Seale (“The English Patient”), production designer Colin Gibson (“Babe”), editor Margaret Sixel (“Happy Feet”), Oscar-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan (“A Room with a View”), second unit director and stunt coordinator Guy Norris (“Australia”), and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt (“Knowing”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Kennedy Miller Mitchell production, a George Miller film, “Mad Max: Fury Road.” The film is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures. This film has been rated R for intense sequences of violence throughout, and for disturbing images.

madmaxmovie.com

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

"Mad Max: Fury Road" Drives into International IMAX Theatres, May 13th

Warner Bros. Pictures And Village Roadshow Pictures' Mad Max: Fury Road To Charge Into Select Overseas IMAX® Theatres Starting May 13

LOS ANGELES /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX), Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures announced that director George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX® 3D format and released into IMAX® theatres in select international territories starting May 13, 2015.

Mad Max: Fury Road, which stars Tom Hardy in the title role and Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron as the Imperator, Furiosa, will be released in approximately 25 overseas IMAX markets.

The IMAX® 3D release of Mad Max: Fury Road will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.


About Mad Max: Fury Road:
From director George Miller, originator of the post-apocalyptic genre and mastermind behind the legendary Mad Max franchise, comes Mad Max: Fury Road, a return to the world of the Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky.

Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises) stars in the title role in Mad Max: Fury Road -- the fourth in the franchise's history. Oscar winner Charlize Theron (Monster, Prometheus) stars as the Imperator, Furiosa. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: Days of Future Past) as Nux; Hugh Keays-Byrne (Mad Max, Sleeping Beauty) as Immortan Joe; Nathan Jones (Conan the Barbarian) as Rictus Erectus; Josh Helman (X-Men: Days of Future Past) as Slit; collectively known as The Wives, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (Transformers: Dark of the Moon) is Splendid, Riley Keough (Magic Mike) is Capable, Zoe Kravitz (Divergent) plays Toast, Abbey Lee is The Dag, and Courtney Eaton is Fragile. Also featured in the movie are John Howard, Richard Carter, singer/songwriter/performer iOTA, Angus Sampson, Jennifer Hagan, Megan Gale, Melissa Jaffer, Melita Jurisic, Gillian Jones and Joy Smithers.

Oscar-winning filmmaker George Miller (Happy Feet) is directing the film from a screenplay he wrote with Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris. Miller is also producing the film, along with longtime producing partner, Oscar nominee Doug Mitchell (Babe, Happy Feet), and P.J. Voeten. Iain Smith, Graham Burke and Bruce Berman serve as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-winning director of photography John Seale (The English Patient), production designer Colin Gibson (Babe), editor Margaret Sixel (Happy Feet), Oscar-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan (A Room with a View), action unit director and stunt coordinator Guy Norris (Australia), and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt (Knowing).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Kennedy Miller Mitchell production, a George Miller film, "Mad Max: Fury Road." The film is scheduled for worldwide release beginning May 15, 2015, and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

For more information about Mad Max: Fury Road, visit the official website at www.madmaxmovie.com/.


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 March 31, 2015, there were 943 IMAX theatres (820 commercial multiplexes, 18 commercial destinations and 105 institutions) in 63 countries.

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

This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in IMAX's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

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

"Mad Max: Fury Road" Trailer Debuts

Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures Present Worldwide Satellite Trailer Debut -- MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJnMQG9ev8

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From director George Miller, originator of the post-apocalyptic genre and mastermind behind the legendary “Mad Max” franchise, comes “Mad Max: Fury Road,” a return to the world of the Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky.

Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) stars in the title role in “Mad Max: Fury Road”—the fourth in the franchise’s history. Oscar winner Charlize Theron (“Monster,” “Prometheus”) stars as the Imperator, Furiosa. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Nux; Hugh Keays-Byrne (“Mad Max,” “Sleeping Beauty”) as Immortan Joe; Nathan Jones (“Conan the Barbarian”) as Rictus Erectus; Josh Helman (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Slit; collectively known as The Wives, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”) is Splendid, Riley Keough (“Magic Mike”) is Capable, Zoë Kravitz (“Divergent”) plays Toast, Abbey Lee is The Dag, and Courtney Eaton is Fragile. Also featured in the movie are John Howard, Richard Carter, singer/songwriter/performer iOTA, Angus Sampson, Jennifer Hagan, Megan Gale, Melissa Jaffer, Melita Jurisic, Gillian Jones and Joy Smithers.

Oscar-winning filmmaker George Miller (“Happy Feet”) is directing the film from a screenplay he wrote with Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris. Miller is also producing the film, along with longtime producing partner, Oscar nominee Doug Mitchell (“Babe”, “Happy Feet”), and P.J. Voeten. Iain Smith, Graham Burke and Bruce Berman serve as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-winning director of photography John Seale (“The English Patient”), production designer Colin Gibson (“Babe”), editor Margaret Sixel (“Happy Feet”), Oscar-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan (“A Room with a View”), second unit director/supervising stunt coordinator Guy Norris (“Australia”), and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt (“Knowing”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Kennedy Miller Mitchell production, a George Miller film, “Mad Max: Fury Road.” The film is scheduled for release on May 15, 2015, and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

The film has been rated R by the MPAA for intense sequences of violence throughout, and for disturbing images.

www.madmaxmovie.com
https://www.facebook.com/MadMaxMovie
https://twitter.com/madmaxmovie
#MadMax

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

"Mad Max: Fury Road" Trailer Arrives Wed. December 10th, 2014

Worldwide Satellite Trailer Debut Mad Max: Fury Road

From director George Miller, originator of the post-apocalyptic genre and mastermind behind the legendary “Mad Max” franchise, comes “Mad Max: Fury Road,” a return to the world of the Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky.

Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) stars in the title role in “Mad Max: Fury Road”—the fourth in the franchise’s history. Oscar winner Charlize Theron (“Monster,” “Prometheus”) stars as the Imperator, Furiosa. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Nux; Hugh Keays-Byrne (“Mad Max,” “Sleeping Beauty”) as Immortan Joe; Nathan Jones (“Conan the Barbarian”) as Rictus Erectus; Josh Helman (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Slit; collectively known as The Wives, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”) is Splendid, Riley Keough (“Magic Mike”) is Capable, Zoë Kravitz (“Divergent”) plays Toast, Abbey Lee is The Dag, and Courtney Eaton is Fragile. Also featured in the movie are John Howard, Richard Carter, singer/ songwriter/performer iOTA, Angus Sampson, Jennifer Hagan, Megan Gale, Melissa Jaffer, Melita Jurisic, Gillian Jones and Joy Smithers.

Oscar-winning filmmaker George Miller (“Happy Feet”) is directing the film from a screenplay he wrote with Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris. Miller is also producing the film, along with longtime producing partner, Oscar nominee Doug Mitchell (“Babe”, “Happy Feet”), and P.J. Voeten. Iain Smith, Graham Burke and Bruce Berman serve as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-winning director of photography John Seale (“The English Patient”), production designer Colin Gibson (“Babe”), editor Margaret Sixel (“Happy Feet”), Oscar-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan (“A Room with a View”), action unit director and stunt coordinator Guy Norris (“Australia”), and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt (“Knowing”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Kennedy Miller Mitchell production, a George Miller film, “Mad Max: Fury Road.” The film is scheduled for release on May 15, 2015, and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

www.madmaxmovie.com
https://www.facebook.com/MadMaxMovie
https://twitter.com/madmaxmovie
#MadMax

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

Negromancer News Bits and Bites for July 27 to August 2, 2014 - Update #14

NEWS:

From RadarOnline:  Friends are supposedly warning Charlize Theron against marrying fellow actor, Sean Penn.

------------------
From BusinessInsider:  Woody Allen won't cast black actors in his movies?  The famed actor responds.

-------------------
From UPI:  Emma Stone joins Joaquin Phoenix for Woody Allen's next film, an untitled murder mystery set on a college campus.

--------------------
From TheVillageVoice:  A review of the James Brown biopic, Get on Up.

----------------------
From CinemaBlend:  Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight" gets a teaser poster; plus, more info on the film.

----------------------
From Yahoo:  7 new Avengers photos from the "Age of Ultron."

-----------------------
From Deadline:  Quentin Tarantino is moving ahead with his planned Western film, "The Hateful Eight."

------------------------
From YahooGMA:  Freddie Prinze, Jr. on working with Kiefer Sutherland.  The former thinks the latter is unprofessional.

-------------------------
From THR:  Lucy, starring Scarlett Johannson, leads the July 25th to 27th, 2014 weekend box office.


COMIC BOOKS - Movies, TV, and Comics:

From BusinessInsider:  Tom Hiddleston's email to Joss Whedon about Whedon's script for Marvel's The Avengers.

-----------------------
From TheVillageVoice:  A "slight praise" review of Guardians of the Galaxy.

-----------------------
From YahooFinance:  Guardians of the Galaxy's end-credits scene leaked; it apparently features Howard the Duck and The Collector (Benecio del Toro).

-----------------------
From CinemaBlend:  Stereotyping almost derailed "Guardians of the Galaxy."

------------------------
From CinemaBlend:  Wesley Snipes wants "Blade 4."

LEROY SAYS: Although the original films were produced by New Line Cinema, the rights have reverted to Marvel.  I don't know if Blade is even on Marvel's radar.  I think if they relaunch that they will go with a new actor playing the character.  I want Snipes, of course, but I just have this feeling that Marvel will go in a different direction.

------------------------
From CinemaBlend:  Purported photos from set of "Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice."

-------------------------
From Stack:  "Avengers 2's" Quicksilver will be different from X-Men: Days of Future Past's Quicksilver.

-------------------------
From THR:  Here are the details about Marvel Comics' new Star Wars comic books, as the company takes over the license.  Dark Horse Comics previously held the license for about 23 years or so.


TRAILERS:

Official trailer for new Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.

--------
Official trailer for new SpongeBob SquarePants movie.

---------
New trailer for Chris Nolan's Interstellar.

---------
New trailer for The Maze Runner.


OBITS:

From Variety:  Make-up maestro, Dick Smith, has died at the age of 92.  He won an Oscar (with Paul LeBlanc) for his work on Best Picture winner, Amadeus (1984).  His other work includes The Godfather, The Exorcist, Scanners, and Death Becomes Her.  If you wonder why Smith only won one Oscar, the Academy Award for Makeup was not created until 1981.  Rick Baker, who has won an Oscar seven of the 11 times he has been nominated, was a protege of Smith's.  Negromancer sends condolences to Smith's family and friends.


MISC.

From Politico:  Nick Hanauer says the pitchforks are coming.  Remember, he had an insane economic plan?

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

Review: "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion" a Nice Ode to 1940s Era Films

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 255 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)
Running time:  103 minutes (1 hour, 43 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for some sexual content
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Woody Allen
PRODUCER:  Letty Aronson
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Zhao Fei
EDITOR:  Alisa Lepselter

COMEDY/CRIME/MYSTERY/ROMANCE

Starring:  Woody Allen, Helen Hunt, Dan Aykroyd, Brian Markinson, Elizabeth Berkley, Wallace Shawn, Charlize Theron, David Ogden Stiers, and Carol Bayeux

The subject of this movie review is The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, a 2001 romance, crime-comedy and mystery film from writer-director Woody Allen.  The film follows an insurance investigator and an efficiency expert, both hypnotized into stealing jewels by a crooked hypnotist using a jade scorpion.

New York City – 1940:  C.W. Briggs (Woody Allen) is the top insurance investigator for North Coast Casualty and Fidelity of New York, and he is his boss, Chris Magruder’s (Dan Aykroyd) go-to-guy when it comes to solving the thefts of high value items that North Coast is insuring.  C.W. has also been sparring with the company’s latest hire, Betty Ann Fitzgerald (Helen Hunt), an efficiency expert with an eye on putting C.W. in his place.

At a dinner party, a crooked hypnotist named Voltan (David Ogden Stiers) uses a jeweled charm, the Jade Scorpion, to hypnotize C.W. and Betty Ann.  Soon, the combative co-workers are babbling like love struck kids.  Their colleagues think this is some kind of clever hypnosis gag, so no one realizes that Voltan has placed C.W. and Betty Ann under a post-hypnotic suggestion.  Voltan controls C.W. and makes the insurance investigator use his professional skills and inside information to steal a fortune in jewels from two prominent families that have insured their treasure with North Coast.  With the police after him for the robberies, will C.W. ever get a clue that he’s a hypnotized dupe?

The Curse of the Jade Scorpion is Woody Allen’s delightful ode to movies from the 1940’s, like his delightful 1987 movie, Radio Days, was.  Jade is a nod to the light mystery films of the 40’s, but here, this material isn’t particularly strong, although the acting is quite good and gives the movie a sense of earnest fun.  The entire cast seems up to recreating both the style and ambience of 40’s era movies and the characters in them, and that’s a credit to Allen’s direction.

Helen Hunt is spicy as Betty Ann Fitzgerald, and she makes an excellent foil for Allen’s C.W. Briggs, who is the typical wisecracking character Allen plays in his comedies.  Charlize Theron glams it up to create the sexy, bold, and randy Laura Kensington, a character with an unfortunately too small part because she gives this flick a much-needed kick in the rear every time she’s on screen.  Brian Markinson, Elizabeth Berkley, and Wallace Shawn also add the right touches to their parts and add flavor to this film.

The Curse of the Jade Scorpion isn’t great Allen, nor is it anywhere nearly as good as Radio Days.  It’s a minor, but good Allen flick that will entertain Allen fans to one extent or another.

6 of 10
B

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Updated:  Monday, May 19, 2014

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Review: "The Italian Job" Remake Quite Slick

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 174 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Italian Job (2003)
Running time: 111 minutes (1 hour, 51 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for violence and some language
DIRECTOR: F. Gary Gray
WRITERS: Donna Powers and Wayne Powers (based on the 1969 screenplay by Troy Kennedy-Martin)
PRODUCER: Donald De Line
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Wally Pfister (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Richard Francis-Bruce and Christopher Rouse
COMPOSER: John Powell
Black Reel Award winner

ACTION/CRIME with elements of a thriller

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Donald Sutherland, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def, Franky G, Gawtti, and Shawn Fanning

The subject of this movie review is The Italian Job, a 2003 heist film from director F. Gary Gray. It is a remake of the 1969 film, The Italian Job, which starred Michael Caine and was directed by Peter Collinson.

The current version is quite entertaining, but a bit on the sedate side. Perhaps, the filmmakers mistook a low-key approach and a low wattage use of pyrotechnics as being cerebral. It’s not necessarily slow, but TIJ is an action movie meant for the kind of people who prefer action crime thrillers like Out of Sight and Ronin. Because I really liked those two films, I heartily recommend this one.

Career thief John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) and his protégé Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) plan a successful heist of $35 million in gold in Venice, Italy. One of their crew, the slick and violent Steve (Edward Norton), however betrays them, kills Bridger, and steals the gold. Croker tracks Steve to Los Angeles where he’s living it up. Seeking revenge and the return of the gold, he convinces Bridger’s daughter Stella (Charlize Theron), a legitimate, professional safe cracker, to join him and his crew on a mission against Steve. The team plans to pull of the heist of their lives by creating L.A. largest traffic jam ever.

Director F. Gary Gray (Friday, Set it Off) might not stand head and shoulders above the current large group of technically talented film helmsman, but he has found his niche by producing entertaining and occasionally masterful crime thrillers. As laid back as The Italian Job seems, Gray gives each scene some special twist or essence that kept me watching. I was never bored, and I really enjoyed the film. Maybe Gray playing down loud explosions and kinetic editing is a good thing. He can certainly direct excellent helicopter/car chases, and he makes good use of a diverse cast of character actors, a pretty lead actress, and a solid leading man in Mark Wahlberg.

6 of 10
B

NOTES:
2004 Black Reel Awards: 1 win: “Film: Best Director” (F. Gary Gray); 2 nominations: “Best Film” (Donald De Line) and “Film: Best Supporting Actor” (Mos Def)

"Prometheus" is One of 2012's Best Films

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 83 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux


Prometheus (2012)
Running time: 124 minutes (2 hours, 4 minutes)
MPAA – R for sci-fi violence including some intense images, and brief language
DIRECTOR: Ridley Scott
WRITERS: Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof (based on elements created by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett)
PRODUCERS: David Giler, Walter Hill, and Ridley Scott
COMPOSER: Marc Streitenfeld
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dariusz Wolski (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Pietro Scalia
COMPOSER: Marc Streitenfeld

SCI-FI/ACTION/MYSTERY

Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Logan Marshall-Green, Sean Harris, Rafe Spall, and Benedict Wong

Prometheus is a 2012 science fiction film from director Ridley Scott. The film is related to Ridley Scott’s 1979 film, Alien, and is not quite a prequel to the movie, at least according to Scott. I think that it is one of the year’s best films, thus far.

Prometheus is mainly set near the end of the 21st century. In 2089, archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) discover a star map, one similar to others they have found at archaeological digs of other ancient sites. They interpret these maps as an invitation from the beings that created humanity, which the two call the “Engineers.”

They convince Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce), the elderly and dying CEO of Weyland Corporation, to fund a space-going, scientific exploration vessel, Prometheus, so that they can follow the star map to a distant moon. Prometheus and her crew of 17 arrive at the moon, LV-223, where they find an artificial structure. What awaits them inside is a mystery that spans time and space and a terrifying battle to save the human race.

By the point in the film where Prometheus arrived at its destination, I was sure that Prometheus the movie was Ridley Scott’s attempt at making his own 2001: A Space Odyssey, the famous Stanley Kubrick science fiction film. This film has a sense of wonder, so much so that it seems to celebrate the human urge to explore and to discover. The screenplay, which is brimming with interesting ideas and intriguing notions, offers a counter-balance to Scott’s urge to explore. That is the idea that people do the things they do simply because they can, and that asking why may be irrelevant.

The film is beautiful. Its visual aesthetic design mixes the slick holographic cool of James Cameron’s Avatar with touches of H.R. Giger’s “biomechanoid” style which defined the film, Alien. There are also a number of good performances. As Meredith Vickers, Charlize Theron does menace in a way more bracing than in her Oscar-winning performance in Monster, and Idris Elba steals scenes as Janek, the captain of the Prometheus. However, Michael Fassbinder as the android, David, is fantastic. He is mesmerizing, intimidating, and even sexy.

Prometheus is thoughtful, always playing around with ideas or a thesis or two; even when the film turns on the action and the thrills, it’s still thinking. It does no damage to the original Alien film, but Scott and collaborators have the makings for a new, genuine science fiction franchise.

9 of 10
A+

Friday, November 09, 2012

Review: "Snow White and the Huntsman" is a Fractured Fairy Tale

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 78 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
Running time: 127 minutes (2 hour, 7 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sensuality
DIRECTOR: Rupert Sanders
WRITERS: Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock, and Hossein Amini; from a screen story by Evan Daugherty
PRODUCERS: Sam Mercer, Palak Patel, and Joe Roth
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Greig Fraser
EDITORS: Conrad Buff IV and Neil Smith
COMPOSER: James Newton Howard

FANTASY/DRAMA/ACTION

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Sam Claflin, Sam Spruell, Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, Toby Jones, Johnny Harris, Brian Gleeson, Vincent Regan, and Noah Huntley

Snow White and the Huntsman is a 2012 action fantasy film starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, and Charlize Theron. The film re-imagines (a word I’m starting to hate) the German fairy tale “Snow White” as an epic fantasy.

The film opens in the Kingdom of Tabor, where King Magnus and Queen Eleanor welcome a baby daughter they name Snow White. Sometime after Eleanor dies, Magnus marries the mysterious Ravenna (Charlize Theron), who turns out to be a powerful sorceress. After usurping the throne, Ravenna imprisons Snow White (Raffey Cassidy) in the north tower of the castle. With her brother, Finn (Sam Spruell), at her side, Ravenna rules over the kingdom, while draining the youth from young maidens in order to maintain her own youthful appearance.

After coming of age, Snow White (Kristen Stewart) escapes into the Dark Forest. Ravenna orders Eric (Chris Hemsworth), a huntsman, to find Snow White, but Snow White’s destiny may prove to be bigger than any one person’s plans for her.

I discovered that Snow White and the Huntsman is the first feature film directed by Rupert Sanders, which may explain why the movie’s narrative develops in fits and starts. Sometimes, Snow White and the Huntsman is overly serious, and sometimes, it is painfully dull. It’s as if Sanders wants to treat some of the movie as if it were Lord of the Rings (which it is not). When he’s not trying to do his own version of director Peter Jackson, Sanders is trying to create some character drama and that’s mostly awkward.

First, let me say that I am a fan of Kristen Stewart. I think Stewart is perfect for Sanders, because, as an actress, she is overly serious. In practically any movie in which she appears, Stewart will spend part of that film kind of hunched over, like a dog waiting to be smacked across the head with a newspaper even when she does something good (like rescue Timmy from a well). I could be nice and say that her acting is decent, although she delivers dialogue with all the stiffness of a graduate of the Keanu Reeves School of Acting. Her big speech scenes in the last act of Snow White and the Huntsman are not inspiring and are, in fact, dry as dust.

Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron try, and Theron really tries, but the script seems unsure about what it should be – action movie or fantasy drama… or Evil Queen movie? The script isn’t even sure who the lead character is, and I’m not sure Sanders knew which characters should be the focus and when they should be. This movie should have been titled “Sometimes Snow White and sometimes the Huntsman and sometimes the Queen.”

I’m being critical because this movie and its story/concept have so much potential, and there are times when Snow White and the Huntsman seems like it is going to be an exceptional fantasy film. A clunky opening act and its occasional meandering are what keep Snow White and the Huntsman average rather than special.

5 of 10
B-

Sunday, October 14, 2012

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

Review: "Hancock" Fails to Be Special (Happy B'day, Will Smith)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 31 (of 2008) by Leroy Douresseaux

Hancock (2008)
Running time: 92 minutes (1 hour, 32 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language
DIRECTOR: Peter Berg
WRITERS: Vy Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan
PRODUCERS: Akiva Goldsman, James Lassiter, Michael Mann, and Will Smith
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tobias A. Schliessler
EDITOR: Colby Parker, Jr. and Paul Rubell
COMPOSER: John Powell

SUPERHERO/ACTION/COMEDY/DRAMA

Starring: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Jae Head, Eddie Marsan, David Mattey, Maetrix Fitten, Thomas Lennon, Johnny Galecki, and Darrell Foster

The subject of this movie review is Hancock, a 2006 superhero film starring Will Smith in the title role. Directed by Peter Berg, the film is part action movie, comedy, and drama, as well as part superhero fantasy.

Will Smith’s new film, Hancock, is a special effects-heavy movie about a superhero who is a drunken, dangerously careless jerk. Instead of looking shiny and futuristic in a fancy costume, he looks like a skid row bum in thrift store rags, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. When the story presents this hero’s very public disasters and later his public struggles to be a good guy, this film is quite good, but sadly, it’s not always that good.

John Hancock (Will Smith) is the only superhero on the planet. He lives and works in Los Angeles, and boy, is everywhere else very happy that L.A. is stuck with him. If great power comes with great responsibility, Hancock ain’t buying that notion. He’s edgy, sarcastic, and prone to abusing civilians. His well-intentioned heroics get the job done saving lives and stopping criminals, but the same heroics always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake.

Los Angelinos have finally had enough. As far as they are concerned, if Hancock can’t do the job right (i.e. without causing millions of dollars in damages every time he plays hero), he needs to go away. But Hancock isn't the kind of man who cares what other people think; then, one day he saves the life of struggling PR executive Ray Embrey (Jason Batman). Grateful to be alive, Ray chooses to see his savior not as a menace, but as conflicted and misunderstood, so Ray convinces Hancock to let him embark on an image makeover of the hero. Hancock even sits down to a decent meal with Ray’s wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), and young son, Aaron (Jae Head). Hancock’s biggest obstacle, however, may be submitting to a prison sentence and finally facing both his demons and his past.

Peter Berg’s quasi-superhero film, Hancock, is at its best when the film presents Hancock fighting the war inside his head out in public. He’s adrift – doesn’t know who he is or remember from where he came. His life is a mess, so he’s messy on the job – literally tearing apart the city’s infrastructure and terrorizing the citizens. Watching those disasters are actually fun.

As fun as the action sequences and Hancock’s confrontations with the public are, the focus only on Hancock’s mental problems is not. It seems that somewhere along the line of developing this project, the filmmakers missed the point that watching Hancock interact with the public is great. When the film focuses on John Hancock’s origin (no spoilers here!) or features him alone, drinking and sulking about, it becomes a morose drama.

This great concept doesn’t exactly fail because of the shaky execution, but Hancock is a strange movie because half of it is a fun, high-concept superhero flick and the other half is a depressed superhero drama. It’s bizarre a situation. Will Smith is so good at creating this mentally, emotionally, and spiritually troubled super human that he also creates a somewhat unsatisfying hero that makes for a movie that is sometimes … well, unsatisfying.

Luckily Jason Bateman (who doesn’t make a bad move in this performance), as Ray Embrey, is so good at understanding what a movie needs at particular moment in the story. It’s the right facial expression, the perfect quip, or the best time to be serious. This movie is victorious when Smith’s Hancock and Bateman’s Embrey are onscreen together. Too bad Hancock doesn’t stick with that simple, yet highly entertaining formula.

6 of 10
B

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

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

Review: Star and Director Go Strong in "Monster" (Happy B'day, Charlize Theron)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 89 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

Monster (2003)
Running time: 109 minutes (1 hour, 49 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong violence and sexual content, and for pervasive language
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Patty Jenkins
PRODUCERS: Mark Damon, Donald Kushner, Clark Peterson, Charlize Theron, and Brad Wyman
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Steven Bernstein (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Arthur Coburn and Jane Kurson
COMPOSER: BT
Academy Award winner

DRAMA/ROMANCE/CRIME with elements of a thriller

Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen, Annie Corley, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Brett Rice, Kaitlin Riley, Cree Ivey, and Rus Blackwell

Charlize Theron won the “Best Actress in a Leading Role” Oscar® for her performance in the film, Monster. Directed by indie filmmaker Petty Jenkins, Monster is a biopic about Aileen Carol Wuornos (Charlize Theron), a highway prostitute whom the state of Florida executed in 2002 for murdering several men.

An abused child who had become a prostitute and pregnant by the time she was 13, Wuornos left her home in Michigan and moved to Florida where she continued to hook, servicing mainly truck drivers. After being beaten and raped by a client, she goes on a killing spree, killing any “John” she believed would rape her. The film focuses on the nine-month period from 1989 to 1990 when Aileen began murdering her clientele and also began a disturbing and peculiar romance with a woman named Shelby (Christina Ricci), a closet lesbian from a strict, religious family.

The film is brutal and unflinching, and ultimately hard to watch. It has very little entertainment value, similar to a film like Nil by Mouth, but not as bad as Oprah Winfrey’s Beloved. It’s great filmmaking, but ultimately “too real.” Tragic stories are fine, but such tales, that are too much like an exact copy of something from everyday life, are unpleasing. In the end, that’s what keeps Monster from being one of those “best ever” films.

One reason to definitely not miss this film is Ms. Theron’s virtuoso performance as Aileen. It’s one of the best film performances I’ve ever seen; in fact, I’d have to go back to Meryl Streep in Sophie’s Choice to find something so complex, so layered, so deep. Ms. Theron literally becomes someone else, totally alien to her public persona and prior performances. As good as Ms. Ricci is, Ms. Theron (an actress in whom I had very little interest) is a supernova, and though Monster isn’t one of the greatest, her performance is.

8 of 10
A

NOTES:
2004 Academy Awards: 1 win: “Best Actress in a Leading Role” (Charlize Theron)

2005 BAFTA Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” (Charlize Theron)

2004 Golden Globes: 1 win: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama” (Charlize Theron)

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

Review: Top Notch Performances are "The Cider House Rules"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 141 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Cider House Rules (1999)
Running time:  126 minutes (2 hours, 6 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexuality, nudity, substance abuse and some violence
DIRECTOR: Lasse Halstrom
WRITER: John Irving (based upon his novel)
PRODUCER: Richard N. Gladstein
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Oliver Stapleton (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Lisa Zeno Churgin
Academy Award winner

DRAMA

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Michael Caine, Charlize Theron, Delroy Lindo, Paul Rudd, Jane Alexander, Kathy Baker, Erykah Badu, Kieran Culkin, Kate Nelligan, Heavy D, and J.K. Simmons

Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire) has lived all his live in an orphanage. His de facto father, the orphanage’s lone physician and director, Dr. Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine), has trained Homer to be a doctor, learning the same things that Dr. Larch needed to be effective at the orphanage. One day, the compassionate young man decides to leave his home to see the world after meeting Candy Kendall, an unmarried, pregnant young woman (Charlize Theron), and her boyfriend, Lt. Wally Worthington (Paul Rudd). Wally gets Homer a job picking apples in his mother’s orchard with a crew of itinerant workers. Here, he meets the crew chief Mr. Arthur Rose (Delroy Lindo) and his daughter Rose Rose (singer Eryka Badu), which leads him to make the most important decisions of his young life.

Directed by Lasse Halstrom, The Cider House Rules is quite simply a beautiful, well crafted, and superbly acted film. It tugs at all the heartstrings, but the film does so by honestly dealing with emotions and decisions with which the audience can identify. More than anything, it is about making choices and sometimes having to make them when the obvious direction goes against personal beliefs. John Irving adapted his novel of the same title for the screen, and the story readily embraces the idea that a person can do something that makes life better for someone other than himself, even at the cost of personal satisfaction. This could have resulted in a film that was very dry and turned off the audience, but the director and writer weave the situation with such sincerity, grace, wit, and charm that we can’t help but see their view.

The cast is key to this because each actor helps to make his character sympathetic. When the audience sympathizes they will be open to a particular character’s ideas even if it’s counter to what they believe. And The Cider House Rules, which deals with issues of reproductive freedom, adoption, incest, rape, abortion, infidelity, certainly needs likeable characters to make the film enjoyable and not just tolerable.

Maguire is a very good actor; a pleasant young fellow with boyish good looks, he can win the viewer over. He literally carries this film on his back. He does have a kind of facial tick, something like a slight smirk, that seems to pop up at inopportune moments, but otherwise, he endows his characters with a young everyman sort of charm that is both winning and well done.

Seemingly the hardest working actor in the Western world, Michael Caine turns in one of the best performances of his career and earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role. While Homer’s life seems destined to mimic Dr. Larch’s, Caine’s turn as the doctor sets the philosophical agenda for this film, and he’s more than up to the challenge.

The Cider House Rules is a very good film, and is certainly a high achievement in the pantheon of film rudely called tearjerkers. More than just another weepy, it stands out as an attempt at really conveying something about the human condition, while still being very entertaining.

8 of 10
A

NOTES:
2000 Academy Awards: 2 wins: “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” (Michael Caine) and “Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published” (John Irving); 5 nominations: “Best Picture” (Richard N. Gladstein), “Best Art Direction-Set Decoration” (David Gropman-art director and Beth A. Rubino-set decorator), “Best Director” (Lasse Hallström), “Best Editing” (Lisa Zeno Churgin) and “Best Music, Original Score” (Rachel Portman)

2000 BAFTA Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Michael Caine

2000 Black Reel Awards: 1 win: “Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress” (Erykah Badu); 1 nomination: “Theatrical - Best Supporting Actor” (Delroy Lindo)

2000 Golden Globes: 2 nominations: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Michael Caine) and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (John Irving)

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

Juno's Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody Reteam on "Young Adult"

Press release:

PARAMOUNT ACQUIRES WORLDWIDE RIGHTS TO REITMAN AND CODY’S “YOUNG ADULT”

The film begins principal photography in NY this month

HOLLYWOOD, CA (October 7, 2010) – Paramount Pictures has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Mandate Pictures’ YOUNG ADULT from Academy Award®-nominated director Jason Reitman and Academy Award®-winning writer Diablo Cody. Academy-Award® winning actress Charlize Theron (“Monster,” “The Road”) stars alongside Golden Globe nominee Patrick Wilson (Angels in America, the upcoming “Morning Glory”) and Patton Oswalt (“Ratatouille”).

The movie will be produced by Academy-Award® nominated producers Lianne Halfon and Russell Smith of Mr. Mudd Productions, Mason Novick, Diablo Cody, Jason Reitman through his film banner Right of Way Films and Denver & Delilah Films. Nathan Kahane, John Malkovich, Helen Estabrook and Steven Rales will executive produce. Mary Lee, Kelli Konop, Brian Bell and Beth Kono will co-produce. Paramount’s David Beaubaire, will run point for the studio.

YOUNG ADULT marks the second collaboration for these filmmakers. Reitman, Mr. Mudd, Mandate, Novick and Cody had an enormously successful partnership on JUNO. The film, directed by Reitman and written by Cody, garnered a host of accolades, including an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay and three Academy Award® nominations for Best Motion Picture (Lianne Halfon, Mason Novick and Russell Smith, Producers), Best Actress, and Best Director. The $227 million box-office and critical sensation was released by Fox Searchlight in late 2007.

The film also marks the third collaboration for Reitman and Paramount. The studio released his Academy-Award® nominated “Up in the Air” last year. Earning over $160 million world-wide, the movie earned six Academy-Award® nominations, and five Golden Globe nominations, with Reitman taking home the Golden Globe for Best Adapted Screenplay. Reitman next produces the upcoming Paramount Pictures film “Jeff Who Lives At Home,” starring Jason Segel and Ed Helms, and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass, to be released in 2011.

“We immediately jumped at the chance to work with Jason again,” said Paramount Film Group President Adam Goodman. “He’s one of the most talented filmmakers working today and look forward to this next collaboration.”

Dan Freedman, SVP of Business and Legal Affairs, negotiated all deals for Mandate Pictures.


ABOUT PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group, and Worldwide Television Distribution.

ABOUT MANDATE PICTURES
Mandate Pictures is a multifaceted film production and financing company with a distinguished reputation and proven track record of success and profitability. Acquired by Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) in 2007, Mandate continues to operate as an independent brand delivering acclaimed commercial and independent films worldwide. Under President Nathan Kahane, Mandate has carved out a unique position in the film industry, having the creative autonomy and capital to finance, develop, package and produce theatrical films such as the Academy Award®-nominated film, JUNO, directed by Jason Reitman, written by Diablo Cody and starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. Mandate’s most recent film THE SWITCH, starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, was released by Miramax Films on August 20, 2010; upcoming films include an untitled comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen, which will be distributed by Summit Entertainment in 2011.