Review: Phoenix is the Man in Woody Allen's "IRRATIONAL MAN"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 51 of 2023 (No. 1940) by Leroy Douresseaux

Irrational Man (2015)

Running time:  95 minutes (1 hour, 35 minutes)

MPAA –  R for some language and sexual content

WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Woody Allen

PRODUCERS:  Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum, and Edward Walson

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Darius Khondji

EDITOR:  Alisa Lepselter

COMEDY/DRAMA/MYSTERY/ROMANCE

Starring:  Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Parker Posey, Joe Stapleton, Nancy Carroll, Betsy Aidem, Ethan Phillips, Jamie Blackley, Nancy Giles, and Tom Kemp

Irrational Man is a 2015 comedy-drama, romance, and mystery film written and directed by Woody Allen.  The film focuses on a college professor who finds the will to live after committing the act of murder and the young student who falls deeply in love with him.

Philosophy professor Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix) arrives in Newport, Rhode Island with some acclaim.  He joins the faculty of (fictional) Braylin College where he will teach “ethical strategies.”  Abe is depressed, is experiencing an existential crisis, and sees no meaning in his life.  He drinks excessively and considers suicide.

Despite his tormented state, Abe catches the attention of two women.  The first is chemistry professor, Rita Richards (Parker Posey), and the second is Jill Pollard (Emma Stone), one of his students.  Each is crazy about him in her own way.  Abe's relationship with the two really goes nowhere … at first.

Abe hatches the idea of murdering Judge Thomas Augustus Spangler (Tom Kemp), an unethical family court judge who is plotting to take the custody of her children away from a woman.  Plotting and committing murder has given Abe's life a sense of purpose that he has not felt in ages.  For various reasons, however, both Rita and Jill suspect Abe of Judge Spangler's murder.

Coup de chance, the film Woody Allen says will likely be his final directorial effort, was released in France in September (2023).  Because of the controversies surrounding Allen the last few decades, especially the last five years, the film may not get a U.S. theatrical release.  In anticipation of seeing Coup de chance, I have decided to watch the recent Woody Allen films that I missed, beginning with the most recent that I had not seen, Irrational Man.

Some of Woody Allen's films have previously focused on a lead character who is involved in murder or commits murder.  Examples include Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) and Match Point (2005).  Having murder as subplot gives Allen's films an edge they don't normally have.  Irrational Man seems to drift with no purpose until Abe Lucas actually commits murder, and suddenly this film seems like a totally different movie from what it was during its first half.  Frankly, Irrational Man seems to be asleep for at least half its runtime.

I find myself entirely sympathetic with Phoenix's Abe Lucas.  Of course, I would feel differently if this were a real murder victim that was friends or family to me.  As it is, I find myself really liking the post-crime Abe Lucas, and I found his later, darker turn to be a bit alluring.

Phoenix gives life to a character that Allen does not develop very well.  As the narrative moves towards its conclusion, Phoenix makes Abe feel richer, and the character might have improved even more with a longer runtime, more because of what Phoenix would do rather than what Allen would not.  Emma Stone is whiny and unlikable as Jill Pollard, but Parker Posey makes the best of horny Rita Richards.  I wish Rita had more screen time.

Irrational Man is strictly for Woody Allen fans, although Phoenix is the one who saves this film and uplifts it.  So Joaquin Phoenix fans may find something in Irrational Man to like, also.

6 of 10

B

★★★ out of 4 stars

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

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

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

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).

Review: "LA LA LAND" Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda Been Great

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 40 of 2022 (No. 1852) by Leroy Douresseaux

La La Land (2016)
Running time:  128 minutes (2 hours, 8 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for some language
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Damien Chazelle
PRODUCERS:  Fred Berger, Gary Gilbert, Jordan Horowitz, and Marc Platt
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Linus Sandgren (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Tom Cross
COMPOSER:  Justin Hurwitz
SONGS: Justin Hurwitz and Pasek & Paul; Justin Hurwitz, John Legend, Marius de Vries and Angelique Cinelu
Academy Award winner

MUSICAL/DRAMA

Starring:  Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons, and John Legend

La La Land is a 2016 romantic film and musical drama written and directed by Damien Chazelle.  The film focuses on a struggling jazz pianist and an aspiring actress who fall in love while navigating their career paths in Los Angeles.

La La Land opens in Los Angeles, California.  While stuck in a typical L.A. traffic, aspiring actress, Mia Dolan (Emma Stone), has a moment of road rage directed at Sebastian “Seb” Wilder (Ryan Gosling), a struggling jazz pianist.  Mia has a hard day of work at her coffee shop job, and her subsequent audition goes awry.  Sebastian is fired from a gig at a restaurant after he slips in some jazz improvisation despite the owner's (J.K. Simmons) warning to only play traditional Christmas music.  Attracted to the Seb's music, Mia walks into the restaurant and witnesses the firing.  She tries to compliment his music, but Seb rudely walks past her.

Eventually, Fate brings them together at a party.  Soon, they are sharing their dreams and start becoming a couple.  Both have to reconcile their aspirations for the future, however, and as their career paths veer, can they stay a couple?

La La Land almost won the Academy Award for “Best Picture,” but didn't.  La La Land could have been a great film, but it really isn't.  The film's leads, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, are fine actors, and they are true movie stars.  [I don't see anything in Stone's performance here that is worthy of the “Best Actress” Oscar she won.]  The camera seems to love them, and they look great on the big screen – as the sayings go – but as hard as they try, their characters are limp.  Stone's Mia has potential, but remains surprisingly vapid, except for a few moments.  Sebastian is pretentious and insufferable, although he is intriguing.

The material that makes up this film's screenplay, written by Damien Chazelle, is a shallow interpretation of the musicals of “old Hollywood” (also known as the “Golden Age of Hollywood”).  Chazelle may be a fan of such old musicals, but his love cannot recreate the genuine spirit and aesthetic of them.  If you, dear readers, are familiar with classic Hollywood musicals, you will recognize that this film ties to be old-fashioned, but comes across as a pretender.

The film's score is quite good, and it has one great song “City of Stars” (which keeps playing in my head).  Most of the rest of the songs are technically proficient, but are exceedingly dull.  There is one more decent song (can't remember which one) and a catchy tune, “Catch a Fire,” co-written and performed by John Legend.

Still, La La Land has moments of brilliance.  Mia and Sebastian's meeting on a bench at Griffith Park is filled with movie magic, and the film's final moment recalls the semi-tragic mood of Casablanca.  The production values are terrific, including the Oscar-winning art direction and set decoration, and the Oscar-winning cinematography is some of the prettiest I have seen in the last decade.  Even the Oscar-nominated costume design is worthy of a win.

I can see why Barry Jenkins' Moonlight wowed enough voters to win the Oscar for “Best Picture” of 2016 over La La Land.  Moonlight is a fascinating character study, while La La Land is flashy cinematic bauble with caricatures.  It is technically proficient, but every good moment is met by a flat and dull moment.  La La Land is the film that could have been great, and should have been great, but ended up being just very good.

7 of 10
B+
★★★½ out of 4 stars


NOTES:
2017 Academy Awards, USA:  6 wins: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” (Emma Stone), “Best Achievement in Directing” (Damien Chazelle), “Best Achievement in Cinematography” (Linus Sandgren), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Score” (Justin Hurwitz), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Song” (Justin Hurwitz-music and Benj Pasek-lyrics and Justin Paul-lyrics for the song, “City of Stars”), and “Best Achievement in Production Design” (David Wasco for production design and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco for set decoration); 8 nominations: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, and Marc Platt), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role” (Ryan Gosling), “Best Original Screenplay” (Damien Chazelle), “Best Achievement in Film Editing” (Tom Cross), “Best Achievement in Costume Design” (Mary Zophres), “Best Achievement in Sound Mixing” (Andy Nelson, Ai-Ling Lee, and Steven Morrow), “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Ai-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou), and “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Song” (Justin Hurwitz-music and Benj Pasek-lyrics and Justin Paul-lyrics for the song, “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)”)

2017 BAFTA Awards:  5 wins: “Best Film” (Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, and Marc Platt), “Best Leading Actress” (Emma Stone), “Best Cinematography” (Linus Sandgren), “Original Music” (Justin Hurwitz), and “David Lean Award for Direction” (Damien Chazelle); 6 nominations: “Best Leading Actor” (Ryan Gosling), “Best Screenplay-Original” (Damien Chazelle), “Best Editing” (Tom Cross), “Best Production Design” (Sandy Reynolds-Wasco and David Wasco), “Best Costume Design” (Mary Zophres), and “Best Sound” (Mildred Iatrou, Ai-Ling Lee, Steven Morrow, and Andy Nelson)

2017 Golden Globes, USA:  7 wins: “Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy,” “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Ryan Gosling), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Emma Stone), “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Damien Chazelle), “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Damien Chazelle), “Best Original Song-Motion Picture” (Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul for the song: “City of Stars”), and “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (Justin Hurwitz)

Saturday, July 2, 2022


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved.  Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 8th to 14th, 2021 - Update #23

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS: 

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:   Disney/20th Century Studios "Free Guy," starring Ryan Reynolds, looks to lead the weekend box office.

TELEVISION - From IndieWire:  In an interview, actor Jonathan Majors talks about the "jarring" end of HBO's "Lovecraft Country."

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Oscar-winner Emma Stone signs a deal to star in a sequel to Disney's recent hit, "Cruella."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   FX chairman John Landgraf would like TV super-producer Ryan Murphy to return to 20th Century Television and Disney from his current perch at Netflix.

MOVIES - From Deadline:   Gina Carano's first project since getting fired from the Disney+ series, "The Mandalorian," is an untitled revenge thriller.  Eric Red ("The Hitcher") has written the script for the film, which is based on his novel "White Knuckle."  Carano will star in the film and will be one of the film's producers.

MUSIC - From Afrotech:   Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton has made millions of dollars in songwriting royalties from the late Whitney Houston's 1992 remake of Parton's 1974 song, "I Will Always Love You."  Parton revealed that she has invested some of that money in the African-American community of Nashville, TN.

CELEBRITY - From YahooTelegraphy:  Oscar-nominated actress, Debra Winger, talks about how the MeToo movement has gone too far and about why she really left Hollywood in the early 1990s.

TELEVISION - From Variety:  There is a second teaser and a full trailer for FX's "Impeachment: American Crime Story," which debuts Sept 7th.  The series focuses on the scandal involving President Bill Clinton and the intern Monica Lewinsky.

CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertainment:   Oscar-winner Quentin Tarantino says that the has stuck to a childhood promise not to never give a "penny" to his mother.

From YahooEntertainment:  His mother, Connie Zastoupil, has something else to say.

MOVIES - From IndieWire:   Recent Oscar-winner Chloe Zhao has raved about director Denis Villeneuve's upcoming sci-fi epic, "Dune."  But how many people will see it in movie theaters.

TELEVISION - From TVInsider:   Seth McFarlane says the third season of his sci-fi comedy TV series, "The Orville," has wrapped and will debut on Hulu.

SPORTS/TELEVISION - From Deadline:   According to early numbers, NBC suffered an all-time viewership low in its broadcast of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (a.k.a. "the Games of the XXXII Olympiad").  Still, an average of 15.5 million in today's numbers is actually good.  NBC has broadcast the Summer Olympics since 1988 Seoul Korea Olympics.

MOVIES - From IGN:   Actor Idris Elba will provide the voice for the character, "Knuckles," in the sequel to the "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie.

NETFLIX - From Variety:  Netflix is developing "Wednesday Addams," a TV series based on "The Addams Family" television series and on Charles Addams' series of cartoons in "The New Yorker" magazine.   Actor Luis Guzman has been cast as "Gomez Addams."

From Variety:  Oscar-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones will play Morticia Addams in Netflix's series, "Wednesday Addams."  Jenny Ortega has been previously announced as Wednesday.

ANIMATION - From YahooEntertainment:   Voice actor Jeff Bergman talks about the responsibility in voicing classic animated cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny and Yogi Bear.

SCANDAL - From Deadline:   Actor Joel Kinnaman has obtained a restraining order against a former sex partner, Swedish model Gabriella Magnusson.  According to Kinnaman, Magnusson has threatened to accuse him of raping her.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:   The winner of the 8/6 to 8/8/2021 weekend box office is "The Suicide Squad" with an estimated take of 26.5 million dollars.

MOVIE REVIEW - From Negromancer:   Here is my review of "The Suicide Squad."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   Actor Kapil Talwalkar ("Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist") will be a series regular on NBC's upcoming sequel to "Night Court" (1984-92), its long-running courtroom comedy.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  Former child star, Jane Withers, has died at the age of 95, Saturday, August 7, 2021.  She was one of the most popular child stars of the 1930s and early 1940s, and she was the only child star to complete a seven-year contract.  Her breakthrough role came as a supporting actor next to Shirley Temple in the film, "Bright Eyes" (1934).   Withers retired at 21 in 1947, but returned to screen and television work in 1955.

From Deadline:   The actress, Markie Post, has died at the age of 70, Saturday, August 7, 2021, after a nearly four-year battle with cancer.  Post was best known for playing the role of "Christine Sullivan" on NBC's former courtroom comedy, "Night Court," becoming a series regular in its third season.  Post was also the star (with John Ritter) of CBS' late sitcom, "Hearts Afire" (1992-95).  In recent years, Post had a recurring role on NBC's police drama, "Chicago P.D."

From Deadline:  Former costars and colleagues remember Markie Post ("The Fall Guy," "Night Court,") who died on Saturday at the age of 70.

TRAILERS:

From THR:  There is a trailer for Nicolas Cage's upcoming film, "Prisoners of the Ghostland," which arrives Sept. 17th at theaters, on digital, and video-on-demand.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 14th to 20th, 2021 - Update #29

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS: 

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Edgar Wright ("Baby Driver") will co-write and direct a new film adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 novel, "The Running Man" (published under the pen name Richard Bachman).  It will not be a remake of the 1987 film adaptation of the novel, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Thanks to various sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, Hollywood power house, Brett Ratner, has not directed a film since 2014's Hercules.  He is ready to make his comeback with a biopic of disgraced musical act, "Milli Vanilli." 

DISNEY - From YahooEntertainment:   Disney's new animated film, "Raya and the Last Dragon" introduces the first Southeast Asian Disney princess and heroine.

TELEVISION - From BleedingCool:  AMC and streaming service Shudder are developing a horror anthology series that showcases horror stories from Black directors and writers.

AWARDS - From Deadline: The nominations for the 2021 / 21st annual Black Reel Awards have been announced.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  CBS has cancelled its long-running sitcom, "Mom," after eight seasons.  The finale is set for May 6th, 2021.

From Deadline:  CBS is ending "NCIS: New Orleans" after seven seasons.  The series finale will end May 16th, 2021.

TRAILER - From YouTube:   This is the first  "official restricted trailer" for the "Mortal Kombat" reboot, which arrives on HBO Max April 16, 2021.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  Ashley Judd is sharing photos and details about her recent African misadventure, which included shattering her leg in a jungle in the Congo last week.

MOVIES - From Variety:   Oscar-winning will produce and star in a film about Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman.  Oscar-winning screenwriter, John Ridley, will write and direct the film.

STREAMING - From ShadowandAct:   Netflix's Kevin Hart-Wesley Snipes drama series, "True Story," adds Lauren London, Will Catlett and more new cast.

MOVIES - From Deadline:   Keke Palmer will star in director Jordan Peele's next film.  Little is known about the film, and Oscar-nominated actor, Daniel Kaluuya, is in negotiations to also star in the film.

MOVIES - From IndieWire:   Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese takes aim at streaming’s lack of curation and core: "cinema Is being devalued by content."

AWARDS - From Deadline:   The nominations for the 2021 / 73rd annaul Writers Guild of America Awards have been announced.

DISNEY - From Vulture:   Disney unveils new "Cruella" poster featuring Emma Stone.

POLITICS - From Truthout:  An alarming revelation from a Republican senator, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, on Wednesday night suggests that former President Donald Trump continued to incite his mob of loyalists during the Capitol breach on January 6 even after learning that his then-vice president, Mike Pence's life was in danger.

MOVIES - From CBR:  As Zack Snyder awaits the release of his new film, "Zack Snyder's Justice League," he talks about developing a faithful adaptation of the King Arthur legend.

DISNEY - From THR:   Digital TV Research says that the streaming service, Disney+, will have more subscribers in 2026 than Netflix's streaming service.  However, it says that Disney+ will only have more subscribers than Netflix in only one country - India.

MUSIC - From CNN:   Rapper Nicki Minaj's father, 64-year-old Robert Maraj, dies in hit-and-run that occurred in Mineola, Long Island, police say.

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:   The winner of the 2/12 to 2/14/2021 weekend box office is "Croods: A New Age" with an estimated take of 2.66 million dollars.  The film, from DreamWorks Animation, was originally a Thanksgiving 2020 release.

From Variety:   The Chinese New Year led to a record-breaking holiday weekend at the Chinese box office - 775 million dollars.  "Detective Chinatown 3" lead the way with a record 424 million dollar debut.

From Deadline:  Director Nate Parker's "American Skin" becomes distributor, Vertical Entertainment's highest grossing PVOD (premium video on demand) release.

From Deadline:   "The Mauritanian," "The World To Come," and "Willy’s Wonderland" battle at the specialty box office.

CRIME - From YahooNews:  Attacks on older Asians stoke fear as Lunar New Year begins

CULTURE - From CNN:  People reflect on losing parents to the QAnon conspiracy.

COMICS TO MOVIES - DC CINEMA - From YouTube:   There is a new trailer (Sun., Feb. 14th) for the film now known as "Zack Snyder's Justice League."

MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment:   This year is the 30th anniversary of the release of the eventual "Best Picture" Oscar winner, "Silence of the Lambs."  Star Jodie Foster admits in a new interview that she was afraid of co-star Anthony Hopkins, who played the infamous "Hannibal Lecter."

MUSIC - From Variety:   In the wake of accusations of sexism and misogyny against Justin Timberlake regarding his treatment of former girlfriend Britney Spears, and the “wardrobe malfunction” with Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl in 2004, he has apologized to both women in an Instagram post.

OBITS:

From Deadline:   Stage, film, and television actor, Christopher Pennock, has died at the age of 76, Friday, February 12, 2021.  He is best know for playing "Gabriel Collins" on the final season of the former ABC soap opera, "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971).  Pennock also appeared in numerous other daytime and primetime soap operas, including "General Hospital," "The Young and the Restless," and "Knots Landing," to name a few.

From YahooSports:   Former NFL player, Vincent Jackson, has died at the age of 38, Monday, February 15, 2021.  He was found dead in a hotel in Brandon, a suburb of Tampa, Florida.  He played 12 years in the NFL as a wide receiver, first for the San Diego Chargers (2005-2011) and then, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-2016).  He was a three-time Pro Bowl player (2009-2011).

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 25th to 31st, 2019 - Update #26

Support Leroy on Patreon:

POLITICS - From TheIntercept:  The Best Movie Ever Made About the Truth Behind the Iraq War Is “Official Secrets” says "The Intercept."

----------
BOX OFFICE - From YahooEntertainment:  Yahoo takes a look at the Summer 2019 box office winners and losers.

----------
POLITICS - From RSN:  "The Only Way to Take Our Country Back Is One Person at a Time" by Jane Fonda.

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  Dennis Quaid and Madalen Mills joins Queen Latifah in the film adaptation of the children's book, "The Tiger Rising."

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  James Cameron talks about returning to "Terminator," the franchise he created in the new film, "Terminator: Dark Fate."

---------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Anthony Michael Hall will appear in the 2020 film, "Halloween Kills."  He will portray "Tommy Doyle," who was one of the two children Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) was babysitting in the original "Halloween."

------------
CELEBRITY/SCANDAL - From YahooEntertainment:  Apparently, the late and legendary actor, Marlon Brando, one confronted his close friend, Michael Jackson, about child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson.  Now, a podcast is claiming that it has obtained audio of an interview that Brando allegedly gave to the Los Angeles District Attorney Office about those allegations.

----------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Oscar-nominated actress Naomi Harris ("Moonlight") star in the miniseries, "The Third Day," for HBO-Sky.

----------
MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey is now a "professor practice" in the Department of Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas, Austin.

----------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  An employee at Old Navy’s Philadelphia store accused the company of purposefully sidelining people of color during a taping of Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” saying white employees were bused in from other stores for the day of the shoot.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Himesh Patel ("Yesterday") has joined Chris Nolan's much-anticipated 2020 film, "Tenet."

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  In Europe, film festivals are screening films from directors beset by #MeToo problems like Roman Polanski and Nate Parker.  In the U.S. and Canada, festivals have steered clear of those directors.

----------
STREAMING - From Deadline:  Netflix will release Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" to theaters November 1, 2019 and will begin streaming it November 27th.

From Deadline:  Netflix has announced both the theatrical and streaming release dates for its award-contending Fall films, including "Dolemite is My Name" and "Marriage Story."

----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Viola Davis will portray First Lady Michelle Obama in a one-hour drama, "First Ladies," that Showtime has on fast-track development.  Davis will also be one of the executive producers on the project.

----------
AWARDS - From Indiewire:  If you care, this link is to a list of the winners at last night's 2019 MTV Video Music Awards (the VMA's).  The night's top award, "Video of the Year," went to Taylor Swift for "You Need to Calm Down."

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 8/23 to 8/25/2019 weekend box office is "Angel Has Fallen" with an estimated take of 21.25 million dollars.

From Variety:  In international box office news, "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" has a 102 million dollar debut in China.

---------
DISNEY - From Indiewire:  Using information gleaned at the D23 Expo, the writer of this article talks about 9 potential monster hit films upcoming from Disney.

----------
MOVIES - From Indiewire:  John Carpenter doesn't expect the "Halloween" franchise to end anytime soon.  “As long as there’s money in this, I wouldn’t count on an ending,” [Hell, I expect at least one more reboot of the series in the next decade. - Leroy]

----------
PIXAR - From Variety:  At D23 Expo, Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey were announced as the leads in the upcoming Pixar animated film, "Soul."  The film is set for June 19, 2020.

----------
DISNEY - From BlackFilm:  Janelle Monae is creating new music for Disney's live-action remake of "Lady and the Tramp."

----------
STREAMING - From Variety:  There is news on the "Breaking Bad" movie based on the AMC TV series.  it will be released on Netflix October 11, 2019.  It will be titled "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie."  It was star multiple Emmy winner Aaron Paul.

----------
DISNEY - From From YahooHufffPost:  Here is a first look at Oscar-winner Emma Stone as Cruella de Vil in the film, "Cruella," which will not debut until May 28, 2021.

OBITS:

From THR:  The actress Valerie Harper has died at the age of 80, Friday, August 30, 2019.  Harper is best known for playing the character, Rhoda Morgenstern, for which she won four Emmys.  She first played the character on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" for 92 episodes from 1970 to 1977, and she played the character in a spinoff series, "Rhoda," from 1974 to 1978.

From Deadline:  Television writer, Gordon Bressack, has died at the age of 68, Friday, August 30, 2019.  Bressack was best known for his work as a writer for animated television series.  He won three Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on "Animaniacs," "Pinky and the Brain," and "Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain."  Bressack was also a playwright.

From Variety:  Film magazine writer and documentary filmmaker, Andrew Horn, died at the age of 66, Saturday, August 24, 2019.  He wrote for "Variety," among other publications, and his documentary films includes one on 1980s rock band, Twisted Sister, entitled "We are Twisted F--cking Sister."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from November 12th to 18th, 2017 - Update #39

Support Leroy on Patreon.

CELEBRITY - From ETCanada:  Musician and former "Partridge Family" star, David Cassidy, has been hospitalized with organ failure.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap:  Box office for "Justice League" looks to be less than forecasted.

----------
MOVIES - From THR:  Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis joins director Malcolm D. Lee for the film adaptation of "I Almost Forgot About You."

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali will star in and executive produce the crime thriller, "Burn."

From TheWrap:  "Selma" star, Carmen Ejogo, joins Mahershala Ali in Season 3 of HBO's "True Crime.

----------
TERMINATOR - From Variety:  Screenwriter Billy Ray ("Captain Phillips") joins the writing room of the upcoming "Terminator" film.

----------
BUSINESS - From Variety:  Comcast expresses interest in buying parts of 21st Century Fox, a week after news comes that Disney was in brief talks with Fox.  Verizon is apparently also interested.

-----------
SCANDAL - From TheDailyMail:  Back in 1988, a 16-year-old girl filed a police reported accusing Sylvester Stallone and his bodyguard of sexually misconduct.

From YahooEntertainmentET:  Stallone says the incident never happened.

----------
CELEBRITY - From THR:  Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone, both Oscar winners, are working on a secret project together.

----------
TELEVISION - From YahooEntertainment:  The seventh and final season of "Veep" has been postponed as star Julia Louis-Dreyfus is battling breast cancer.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From THR:  James Franco in talks to join Fox's "X-Men" universe as "Multiple Man" in a self-titled film.

----------
HARRY POTTER - From Variety:  Here is the first cast photo from "Fantastic Beasts 2."

----------
SCANDAL - From YahooGMA:  Terry Crews finally names the Hollywood player who groped him in February 2016.

---------
MOVIES - From Variety:  "Girls Trip" scene stealer, Tiffany Haddish is hot.  She became the first African-American stand-up comic to host, "Saturday Night Live" in its history (WTF!).  Now, she has landed lead roles in two film.

----------
MOVIES - From THR:  Taraji P. Henson to star in a female take on the 2000 hit film, "What Women Want," which was directed by Nancy Myers and starred Mel Gibson.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From ThePlaylist:  15 to 20 percent of Justice League is from Joss Whedon reshoots.

----------
SPORTS/BLM - From ThePlayersTribune:  Stephen Curry pens "The Noise," about peaceful protests, Veterans Day, and accusing protesters of being against the military.

---------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Zendaya will star in and produce the thriller, "A White Lie," playing the first African-American woman to graduate from Vassar College.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From ComicBook:  Wonder Woman Gal Gadot does not want Brett Ratner (via his company RatPac-Dune Entertainment) involved with "Wonder Woman 2" because of sexual misconduct accusations against him... at least that what the Internet is reporting.

From LATimes:  Because of an issue of timing, Gadot's alleged demands may be moot.  Warner Bros.'s "Wonder Woman 2" is due in 2019, and Brett Ratner's arrangement with Warner Bros. will expire in 2018.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From Variety:  Sony Pictures is developing a film based on Spider-Man antagonist, Morbius, the Living Vampire.

----------
MOVIES - From ScreenRant:  Co-writer Danny McBride confirms the timeline and other information concerning the 2018 reboot of John Carpenter's horror film classic, "Halloween."

----------
STREAMING - From Deadline:  Amazon sets "The Lord of the Rings" TV series with a multi-season commitment.  The series will apparently be a prequel to "The Fellowship of the Ring."

----------
SOCIAL - From GQ:  "GQ" names blacklisted NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, "Citizen of the Year."

From FoxNews:  And Fox News is so bitter about that honor for Kaepernick.

----------
JAMES BOND - From Deadline:  MGM and Annapurna to unite to distribute the next James Bond, which will star Daniel Craig.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From Deadline:  The cast is set for "Deadly Class," the TV series from Syfy that is based on the comic book series published by Image Comics.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 11/10 to 11/12/2017 weekend box office is "Thor: Ragnarok" with an estimated haul of $56.6 million.

----------
SPORTS - From YahooSports:  Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard, Lonzo Ball, became the youngest NBA player to record a statistical "triple-double."  At the age of 20 years and 20 days old, he beat the previous recorder holder, LeBron James by five days.

From YahooSports:  Lonzo really don't give a...

From LakerNation:  And LeVar Ball is handling the China situation.

----------
STAR TREK - From YahooEntertainment:   George Takei says that he is "shocked and bewildered" by the sexual assault acclaim against him by a former model and actor.

SCANDAL - From TheSun:  "Smallville" actress Allison Mack is involved in some kind of "sinister sex cult."

OBITS:

From YahooGMA:  Malcolm Young, guitarist and co-founder of legendary rock band, AC/DC, has died at the age of 64.  Malcolm founded the band with his brother, guitarist Angus Young, in 1973.  Malcolm had been suffering from dementia for several years.

From MLB:  Former Major League Baseball player and coach, Bobby Doerr, has died at the age of 99, Monday, November 13, 2017.  Doerr played 14 seasons for the Boston Red Sox and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and its only member to live to 99 years old.  He played for the Red Sox from 1937 to 1951, but missed the 1945 season for military service.

From TheWrap:  Legendary newspaper gossip columnist, Liz Smith, has died at the age of 94, Sunday, November 12, 2017.  Her column ran for more than three decades and she was credited with helping to bring forth the era of celebrity journalism.

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  The first official trailer for the film, "Rampage," starring Dwayne Johnson and is due April 2018.

From YouTube:  First official trailer for "The Strangers: Prey at Night," the sequel to "The Strangers" and which is due March 2018.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 19th to 31st, 2017 - Update #42

Support Leroy on Patreon.

MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  Creepy trailer for "It" (based on the Stephen King novel) breaks viewing records.  The movie drops September 8, 2017.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Liam Neeson is looking to play classic literary private detective, "Philip Marlowe," created by Raymond Chandler.

----------
STAR TREK - From Variety:  Rainn Wilson will play "Harry Mudd" in the new series, "Star Trek: Discovery."  Mudd is a character from the original "Star Trek."

----------
DISNEY - From Variety:  Beyonce is director Jon Favreau's top choice to voice Nala in his live-action remake of "The Lion King."

----------
COMICS-FILM - From Variety:  Joss Whedon is nearing a deal to write, direct, and produce a "Batgirl" movie.

----------
MANGA-FILM - From IndieWire:  Jordan Peele, fresh off his smash hit, "Get Out," is being courted by Warner Bros. to direct is live-action version of the legendary manga and anime, "Akira."  Warners has considered so many directors for this long, long-in-development project that Peele is not event he first African-American director to be considered.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From SlashFilm:  Aaron Sorkin has said that he is going to take meetings with both Marvel Studios and Warner Bros/DC Comics films about possibly making a film based on a Marvel or DC Comics property.

---------
MUSIC - From YahooMusic:  Three months after his death, George Michael was laid to rest in a private funeral.

----------
ANIMATION - From THR:  The name of the "Wreck-it Ralph" sequel is "Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it Ralph 2."  The film is due March 9, 2018.

----------
OBITS - From Variety:  Darlene Cates, who played the mother in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," died at the age of 69, Sunday, March 26, 2017.

---------
MOVIES - From TheWrap:  The sequel to "Terminator: Genisys" has been removed from Paramount Pictures' release schedule... to no one's surprise.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  "Nasty Women," a female-driven remake of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," has a director.

---------
GEORGE LUCAS - From YahooNews:  The George Lucas Family Foundation gives $10 million to the University of Southern California (Lucas' alma mater) to help the School of Cinematic Arts expand its student diversity.

----------
TELEVISION - From TVLine:  Amazon Studios has greenlit a TV series from Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins ("Moonlight") about the "Underground Railroad."

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Fox is developing a movie musical, "Atlantis," based on the life of Grammy-winning recording artist, Pharell Williams.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  First look at the new Lara Croft/Tomb Raider.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  Disney's live-action "Beauty and the Beast" wins the 3/24 to 3/26/2017 weekend box office with an estimated take of $88.3 million dollars.

----------
BLM - From TheRoot:  Cops still killing Black people in the age of President Pussy-Grabber.

----------
LGBTQ - From ProPublica:  Trump appoints anti-transgender bigot to be in charge of protecting the civil rights of all patients.

----------
MUSIC - From THR:  Snoop Dogg to induct the late Tupac Shukar into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the April 7th, 2017 ceremony in Brooklyn.

----------
OBIT - From THR:  Film producer, Richard A. Roth, has died at the age of 76, Friday, March 17, 2017.  Roth is probably best known for producing the beloved 1971 film, "Summer of '42" (one of my all-time favorite movies). [There is another producer named Richard Roth, who produced "Julia" and "Blue Velvet," among others.]

----------
OBIT - From THR:  Jean Rouverol, one of the Hollywood screenwriters blacklisted in the 1950s, has died at the age of 100, Friday, March 24, 2017.  She was also a novelist, television writer and actress.  For years, she lived with Cliff Carpenter, another performer who had been blacklisted.

----------
POLITICS - From TheHill:  Michael Moore says that now is not the time to gloat over Trump and the GOP's failed attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity:  The late Carrie Fisher and her mother, the late Debbie Reynolds, were honored at a public memorial.

From RollingStone:  The Fisher/Reynolds public memorial is available for viewing

----------
LABOR - From Variety:  Negotiations between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Pictures & Television Producers are going badly.

----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity:  Amber Heard has said that she was told that coming out as "bisexual" would hurt her film and TV career.

----------
OBIT - From Variety:  Among comic book fans, he earned the description "legendary."  Painter, illustrator, and comic book artist, Bernie "Berni" Wrightson, died at the age of 68, Sunday, March 19, 2017.  He was one of the co-creators of the character, "Swamp Thing."

----------
CELEBRITY - YahooNews:  Oscar-winning actress and screenwriter, Emma Thompson, says that she once turned down an offer from Donald Trump to stay in Trump Towers.

----------
MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  Jay-Z and Weinstein Company are planning a movie and documentary about Trayvon Martin.

----------
OSCARS - From YahooMovies:  Ryan Gosling tells why he giggled over the Oscar snub when the film in which he starred, "La La Land," was revealed not to be the best picture Oscar winner because "Moonlight" was the true winner.

----------
MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  Amy Schumer has dropped out of the "Barbie" movie.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From Variety:  Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon is apparently in the lead to play the character "Cable" in "Deadpool."

----------
MOVIES - From ThePlaylist:  Ivan Reitman still wants to do more "Ghostbusters" movies.  The below expected box office numbers of Paul Feig's all-female "Ghostbusters" from last year means that it won't have a sequel.

---------
OBIT - From TheWrap:  Chuck Barris, the host of "The Gong Show," has died at the age of 87, Tuesday, March 21, 2017.

---------
BLM - From TheRoot:  Everything we think we know about the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO may be wrong; even his killer admits that.

----------
BREAKING NEWS - From YahooNews:  Man shot outside of the United Kingdom's Parliament building complex.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From YahooTV:  Roy Thomas, who co-created the Marvel Comics character, Iron Fist," does not want to hear about whitewashing.  Marvel/Netflix has just released an "Iron Fist" TV series.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Emma Stone's Billie Jean King's biopic, "Battle of the Sexes," is due late September 2017 for the awards season.  Steve Carell will play King's "nemesis," Bobby Riggs.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 3/17 to 3/19/2017 weekend box office is Disney's live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast" with a gross of over $174 million, a record for a March opening weekend.

----------
OBIT - From NYTimes:  Rock 'n' Roll icon, founder, godfather, and one of the music's most influential artists, Chuck Berry, died Saturday, March 18, 2017 at the age of 90.

From RollingStone:   Why Chuck Berry Is Even Greater Than You Think.

----------
OBIT - From NYDailyNews:  Legendary New York Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin died Sunday, March 19, 2017 at the age of 88.

TRAILERS:

From FoxMovies:  A trailer for Fox/Blue Sky's animated "Ferdinand."

Emma Stone Wins "Best Actress" Oscar

Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees
Isabelle Huppert - Elle

Ruth Negga- Loving

Natalie Portman - Jackie

Emma Stone - La La Land - WINNER

Meryl Streep - Florence Foster Jenkins

British Academy Names "La La Land" Best Film of 2016 - Complete Winners List

The British Academy Film Awards (also known as the BAFTAs) are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). They are the British counterpart of the Oscars.

Previously known as the Orange British Academy Film Awards, they are now known as the EE British Academy Film Awards.  The British telecommunications company, EE, replaces Orange as the title sponsor of the awards.

The 70th EE British Academy Film Awards ceremony took place Sunday, February 12, 2017 at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The ceremony was hosted by Stephen Fry and was broadcast exclusively on BBC One and BBC One HD. The ceremony was also broadcast in all major territories around the world.

2017 / 70th BAFTA Film Award winners (for the year in film 2016):

BEST FILM
LA LA LAND Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, Marc Platt

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
I, DANIEL BLAKE Ken Loach, Rebecca O'Brien, Paul Laverty

DIRECTOR
LA LA LAND Damien Chazelle

LEADING ACTOR
CASEY AFFLECK Manchester by the Sea

LEADING ACTRESS
EMMA STONE La La Land

SUPPORTING ACTOR
DEV PATEL Lion

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
VIOLA DAVIS Fences

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
Under the Shadow: BABAK ANVARI (Writer/Director), EMILY LEO, OLIVER ROSKILL, LUCAN TOH (Producers)

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
SON OF SAUL László Nemes, Gábor Sipos

DOCUMENTARY
13th Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Howard Barish

ANIMATED FILM
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS Travis Knight

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA Kenneth Lonergan

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
LION Luke Davies

ORIGINAL MUSIC
LA LA LAND Justin Hurwitz

CINEMATOGRAPHY
LA LA LAND Linus Sandgren

EDITING
HACKSAW RIDGE John Gilbert

PRODUCTION DESIGN
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM Stuart Craig, Anna Pinnock

COSTUME DESIGN
JACKIE Madeline Fontaine

MAKE UP & HAIR
FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS J. Roy Helland, Daniel Phillips

SOUND
ARRIVAL Sylvain Bellemare, Claude La Haye, Bernard Gariépy Strobl

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
THE JUNGLE BOOK Robert Legato, Dan Lemmon, Andrew R. Jones, Adam Valdez

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
A LOVE STORY Khaled Gad, Anushka Kishani Naanayakkara, Elena Ruscombe-King

BRITISH SHORT FILM
HOME Shpat Deda, Afolabi Kuti, Daniel Mulloy, Scott O’Donnell

EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
TOM HOLLAND

OUTSTANDING BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO CINEMA (previously announced)
Curzon

BAFTA FELLOWSHIP (previously announced)
Mel Brooks

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

2017 SAG Award Winners Announced; "Hidden Figues" Wins "Best Ensemble"

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is an American labor union that represents film and television performers worldwide.  Most people probably know SAG for the various actors’ strikes or for the Screen Actors Guild Award, which SAG uses to honor outstanding performances by its members.  The first SAG Awards ceremony was held in February 1995 (for films released in 1994).

Nominations for the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced on Wednesday, December 14, 2016.  Winners were announced during the Sunday, January 29, 2017 awards ceremony that was simultaneously telecast on TBS and TNT.

The “Ensemble” categories are SAG's equivalent of a “Best Picture” or “Best Television Series” award.

2017 / 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations:

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DENZEL WASHINGTON / Troy Maxson – “FENCES” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
EMMA STONE / Mia – “LA LA LAND” (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
MAHERSHALA ALI / Juan – “MOONLIGHT” (A24)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
VIOLA DAVIS / Rose Maxson – “FENCES” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
HIDDEN FIGURES (20th Century Fox)
MAHERSHALA ALI / Col. Jim Johnson
KEVIN COSTNER / Al Harrison
KIRSTEN DUNST / Vivian Mitchell
TARAJI P. HENSON / Katherine G. Johnson
ALDIS HODGE / Levi Jackson
JANELLE MONÁE / Mary Jackson
JIM PARSONS / Paul Stafford
GLEN POWELL / John Glenn
OCTAVIA SPENCER / Dorothy Vaughan

TELEVISION PROGRAMS

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
BRYAN CRANSTON / President Lyndon B. Johnson – “ALL THE WAY” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
SARAH PAULSON / Marcia Clark – “THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY” (FX Networks)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JOHN LITHGOW / Winston Churchill – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / President Selina Meyer – “VEEP” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:
STRANGER THINGS (Netflix)
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven
CARA BUONO / Karen Wheeler
JOE CHREST / Ted Wheeler
NATALIA DYER / Nancy Wheeler
DAVID HARBOUR / Jim Hopper
CHARLIE HEATON / Jonathan Byers
JOE KEERY / Steve Harrington
GATEN MATARAZZO / Dustin Henderson
CALEB McLAUGHLIN / Lucas Sinclair
MATTHEW MODINE / Dr. Martin Brenner
ROB MORGAN / Officer Powell
JOHN PAUL REYNOLDS / Officer Callahan
WINONA RYDER / Joyce Byers
NOAH SCHNAPP / Will Byers
MARK STEGER / The Monster
FINN WOLFHARD / Mike Wheeler

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series:
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix)
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren
ALAN AISENBERG / Baxter “Gerber” Bayley
DANIELLE BROOKS / Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson
BLAIR BROWN / Judy King
JACKIE CRUZ / Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales
LEA DeLARIA / Big Boo
BETH DOVER / Linda Ferguson
KIMIKO GLENN / Brook Soso
ANNIE GOLDEN / Norma Romano
LAURA GOMEZ / Blanca Flores
DIANE GUERRERO / Maritza Ramos
MICHAEL J. HARNEY / Sam Healy
BRAD WILLIAM HENKE / Desi Piscatella
VICKY JEUDY / Janae Watson
JULIE LAKE / Angie Rice
SELENIS LEYVA / Gloria Mendoza
NATASHA LYONNE / Nicky Nichols
TARYN MANNING / Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett
JAMES McMENAMIN / Charlie “Donuts” Coates
ADRIENNE C. MOORE / Cindy “Black Cindy” Hayes
KATE MULGREW / Galina “Red” Reznikov
EMMA MYLES / Leanne Taylor
MATT PETERS / Joel Luschek
LORI PETTY / Lolly Whitehill
JESSICA PIMENTEL / Maria Ruiz
DASCHA POLANCO / Dayanara “Daya” Diaz
LAURA PREPON / Alex Vause
JOLENE PURDY / Stephanie Hapakuka
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ / Aleida Diaz
NICK SANDOW / Joe Caputo
ABIGAIL SAVAGE / Gina Murphy
TAYLOR SCHILLING / Piper Chapman
CONSTANCE SHULMAN / Erica “Yoga” Jones
DALE SOULES / Frieda Berlin
YAEL STONE / Lorna Morello
LIN TUCCI / Anita DeMarco
SAMIRA WILEY / Poussey Washington

STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“HACKSAW RIDGE” (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
“GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

53rd Annual SAG Life Achievement Award
LILY TOMLIN

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

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 8th to 14th, 2017 - Update #19

Support Leroy on Patreon.

COMICS-FILM - From ThePlaylist:  Hugh Jackman and James Mangold share tidbits from the making of "Logan."

----------
AWARDS - From THR:  With his nod for "Achievement in First-Time Feature Film," Nate Parker and "Birth of a Nation" earn their first major Hollywood film award nomination.

----------
OBIT - From IndieWire:  The author and filmmaker, William Peter Blatty, has died at the age of 89, Thursday, January 12, 2017.  His most famous work is the best-selling and legendary novel, The Exorcist.  It was adapted into a hugely popular and legendary film (by director William Friedkin), and Blatty won an Oscar for writing the screenplay adaptation of his novel.

----------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  Remember this controversy from awhile back:  actor Joseph Fiennes was supposed to portray pop music icon Michael Jackson in an episode of the Brit TV series, "Urban Myths?"  We apparently, the episode was filmed but will not be aired by European pay TV company, Sky.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From THR:  Davis S. Goyer and Justin Rhodes will write Warner's "Green Lantern Corps" movie.  The film will feature both popular DC Comics Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart.

----------
TELEVISION - From IndieWire:  Fresh off his Golden Globe win for "Atlanta," Donald Glover signs large overall developmental deal with FX, but "Atlanta" is not coming back until 2018.

----------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  FX has renewed "American Horror Story" for an additional two seasons, which would take it through Season 9.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies:  Emmy-winner Peter Dinklage ("Game of Thrones") may join Marvel's "Avengers" films as fan-favorite character, "Pip."

----------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  The third season of John Ridley's critically-acclaimed series, "American Crime" (ABC), will focus on immigration.

----------
MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  Natalie Portman reveals that Ashton Kutcher was paid three times what she was for their 2011 film, "No Strings Attached."

----------
STAR WARS - From YahooMovies:  The one-billion dollar Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has a home - Los Angeles.

----------
AWARDS - From YahooCelebrity:  Meryl Streep earns her 15th BAFTA nomination - in the wake of being called overrated by President-elect Donald Trump.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  With the release of the final weekend box office numbers, we learn that the winner of the 1/6 to 1/8/2017 weekend is "Hidden Figures" with a tally of $22.8 million, that is about of $700,00 "Rogue One's" final.

From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 1/6 to 1/8/2017 weekend box office is "Rogue One" with an estimated take of $21.97 million.  However, "Hidden Figures" is a close second with $21.8 million, and the release of actual totals may change which film holds the top spot.

----------
CELEBRITY -From YahooCelebrity:  The cause of actress Debbie Reynolds's death is released, while her daughter Carrie Fisher's cause death is described as inconclusive.

----------
TELEVISION - From IndieWire:  The release date for David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" revival miniseries is May 21, 2017 at 9 p.m. on Showtime.

----------
MOVIES - From ThePlaylist:  J.J. Abrams says he will avoid remakes and reboots after being involved in such films via Star Wars, Star Trek, Mission:Impossible, and "Westworld" for TV.

----------
AWARDS - From TheWrap:  At the 2017 Golden Globes, "La La Land" wins a record 7 Globes.

From CNN:  Meryl Streep criticizes President-elect Trump in her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes - without even mentioning Clownstick's name.

From LATimes:  Watch the video and read the transcript of Meryl Streep's Golden Globe speech.

From YahooCelebrity:  Apparently, Tom Hiddleston had to apologize for his acceptance speech.

----------
COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Entertainment's reclusive CEO Isaac Perlmutter looks like a cheap hood gangster in this photo with President-elect Fuckface Von Clownstick.

From BleedingCool:  Now, Ike may play a role in the Clownstick administration.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Another Sundance film has been bought before its festival debut.  A24 has bought "A Ghost Story" directed by David Lowery (who directed Disney's remake, "Pete's Dragon") and stars Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara.

----------
COMICS-ANIMATION - From EW:  There is a vague teaser for "Marvel's Spider-Man," Disney XD's upcoming Spider-Man animated series, which will replace "Ultimate Spider-Man."

From BleedingCool:  Matt Ryan played DC Comics' "John Constantine" in the short-lived NBC series, "Constantine."  He is reportedly returning to the role for an animated series.

----------
CULTURE - From YahooBeauty:  Why men have body issues now more than ever - the muscular, superhero body.

----------
AWARDS:  From Variety:   At the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) International Awards "La La Land" wins two awards, "Best Picture" and "Best Actress" (Emma Stone).

2017 Golden Globes Name "La La Land" and "Moonlight" Best Motion Pictures of 2016

The Golden Globe Award is a movie accolade bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).  The award recognizes excellence in both film and television.  The annual awards ceremony is a major part of the film industry’s award season.

The 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards nominations were announced on Monday, December 12, 2016.  The 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony was held Sunday, January 8, 2017.  The show was hosted by Jimmy Fallon, host of “The Tonight Show.”  The ceremony aired on NBC, beginning at 8:00 (EST) and 5:00 (PST).

2017 / 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards winners:

FILM:

Best Motion Picture – Drama:
“Moonlight”

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy:
“La La Land”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama:
Casey Affleck – “Manchester by the Sea”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama:
Isabelle Huppert – “Elle”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy:
Ryan Gosling – “La La Land”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy:
Emma Stone – “La La Land”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:
Aaron Taylor-Johnson – “Nocturnal Animals”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:
Viola Davis – “Fences”

Best Director – Motion Picture:
Damien Chazelle – “La La Land”

Best Screenplay:
“La La Land”

Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language:
“Elle” – France

Best Motion Picture – Animated:
“Zootopia”

Best Original Song – Motion Picture:
“City of Stars” – “La La Land”

Best Original Score – Motion Picture:
Justin Hurwitz – “La La Land”


TELEVISION:

Best Television Series – Drama:
“The Crown”

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy:
“Atlanta”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama:
Billy Bob Thornton – “Goliath”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama:
Claire Foy – “The Crown”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy:
Donald Glover – “Atlanta”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy:
Tracee Ellis Ross – “Black-ish”

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Tom Hiddleston – “The Night Manager”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Sarah Paulson – “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Olivia Colman – “The Night Manager”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Hugh Laurie – “The Night Manager”

CECIL B. DEMILLE AWARD: Meryl Streep

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

Utah Film Critics Association Names "La La Land" Best Picture of 2016

The Utah Film Critics Association is an organization of cinema journalists affiliated with publications, broadcasting stations, and online media based in the state of Utah. The group meets every December to votr on the Utah Film Critics Association Awards.

2016 Utah Film Critics Association Awards – winners and runner-ups:

Best Picture: La La Land

Runner-up: Moonlight

Best Director: Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

Runner-up: Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Best Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Runner-up: Joel Edgerton, Loving

Best Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land

Runner-up: Ruth Negga, Loving

Supporting Actor: (TIE) Mahershala Ali, Moonlight; John Goodman, 10 Cloverfield Lan

Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences

Runners-up: Naomie Harris, Moonlight and Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

Adapted Screenplay: Barry Jenkins and Tarell McCraney, Moonlight

Runner -up: Eric Heisserer, Arrival

Original Screenplay: Taylor Sheridan, Hell or High Water

Runner-up: Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

Non-English Language Film: The Handmaiden

Runners-up: Elle and Toni Erdmann (tie)

Animated Feature: Kubo and the Two Strings

Runners-up: Moana and Zootopia (tie)

Documentary Feature: Cameraperson

Runner -up: Weiner

Original Score: La La Land

Runner -up: Arrival

Cinematography: Linus Sandgren, La La Land

Runner -up: Bradford Young, Arrival

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

North Carolina Film Critics Name "La La Land" Best Narrative Film of 2016

The North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA) was formed by Kenneth R. Morefield in 2012 to promote film journalism in North Carolina. It is comprised of film journalists who either live in North Carolina or write for outlets that serve readers in this state. The NCFCA votes annually on awards for achievements in film.

The winners of the 5th NCFCA Awards were announced at the NCFCA site on Monday, January 2, 2017. The nominees were announced Tuesday, December 27, 2016.

2016 / 5th NCFCA Award winners:

BEST NARRATIVE FILM

La La Land

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM

O.J.: Made in America

BEST ANIMATED FILM

Zootopia

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

The Handmaiden

BEST DIRECTOR

Damien Chazelle — La La Land

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Linus Sandgren — La La Land

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS

Doctor Strange

BEST ACTOR

Casey Affleck — Manchester by the Sea

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Jeff Bridges — Hell or High Water

BEST ACTRESS

Emma Stone — La La Land

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Viola Davis — Fences

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Taylor Sheridan — Hell or High Water

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Eric Heisserer — Arrival

KEN HANKE MEMORIAL TAR HEEL AWARD - (To an artist or film with a special connection to North Carolina.)

Jeff Nichols

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

 

Phoenix Film Critics Society Name "La La Land" Best Picture of 2016

The Phoenix Film Critics Society is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, self-funded, independent organization consisting of professional film critics and film journalists in Arizona.

2016 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards were announced December 20, 2016.

2016 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards winners:

BEST PICTURE

La La Land

BEST DIRECTOR

Damien Chazelle – La La Land

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Casey Affleck – Manchester By The Sea

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Emma Stone – La La Land

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Jeff Bridges – Hell or High Water

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Viola Davis – Fences

BEST ENSEMBLE ACTING

Hell or High Water

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Hell or High Water

BEST SCREENPLAY ADAPTED FROM OTHER MATERIAL

Hacksaw Ridge

THE OVERLOOKED FILM OF THE YEAR

Sing Street

BEST ANIMATED FILM

Zootopia

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Elle – Belgium, France, Germany

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Gleason

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

La La Land – City Of Stars

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

La La Land

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

La La Land

BEST FILM EDITING

Hacksaw Ridge

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

La La Land

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Doctor Strange

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE

Anya Taylor-Joy – The Witch

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A YOUTH

Alex R. Hibbert – Moonlight

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