The Detroit Film Critics Society was founded in Spring 2007 and currently consists of a group of 20 Michigan film critics (as December 2013) who write or broadcast in the Detroit area as well as other major cities within a 150-mile radius of the city including Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Flint, Michigan.
The winners of the 2016 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards were announced Monday, December 19, 2016.
2016 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards winners:
BEST PICTURE
LA LA LAND
BEST DIRECTOR
DAMIEN CHAZELLE – LA LA LAND
BEST ACTOR
CASEY AFFLECK – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
BEST ACTRESS
EMMA STONE – LA LA LAND
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
JEFF BRIDGES – HELL OR HIGH WATER
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
VIOLA DAVIS – FENCES
BEST ENSEMBLE
20TH CENTURY WOMEN
BEST BREAKTHROUGH
KELLY FREMON CRAIG – EDGE OF SEVENTEEN – DIRECTOR/WRITER
BEST SCREENPLAY
DAMIEN CHAZELLE – LA LA LAND
BEST DOCUMENTARY
O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA
----------------------
Showing posts with label Emma Stone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emma Stone. Show all posts
Monday, December 26, 2016
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from December 11th to 17th, 2016 - Update #27
Support Leroy on Patreon.
POLITICS - From TheWrap: Ambassardships if you can get A-listers to sing for Trump's inauguration.
----------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap: NBC is developing a TV series based on the 1992 film, "Single White Female." I still have not seen that movie.
----------
CRIME - From YahooNews: On, Thursday, December 15, 2016, Dylann Storm Roof was convicted in federal court 33 counts, including the grisly murder of 9 people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015.
----------
MOVIES - From TheVillageVoice: Alan Scherstuhl reviews "Collateral Beauty," the Will Smith starrer which looks like a mess.
----------
TELEVISION - From Variety: Julia Roberts starring in her first TV series, a miniseries based on the book, "Today Will Be Different."
----------
OBIT - From CNN: Craig Sager, a sideline reporter for Turner Sports, has died at the age of 65, Thursday, December 15, 2016. Sager was known for his colorful and loud suits and ties.
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: Emma Stone is "Cruella" for Disney. Now, it needs a director.
----------
STAR TREK - From TVLine: Sonequa Martin-Green has been announced about CBS' upcoming "Star Trek: Discovery." Martin-Green is currently playing Sasha on "The Walking Dead."
----------
OBIT - From NYDailyNews: Popular TV funny man and actor, Bernard Fox, has died at the age of 89, Wednesday, December 14, 2016. He was known for playing "Dr. Bombay" on the classic fantasy sitcom, "Bewitched." My favorite memories of him are his appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show" as Malcom Merriweather.
----------
OSCARS - From YahooMovies: Jimmy Kimmel reveals that he will be paid $15,000 to host the Oscars.
----------
OBIT - From YahooCelebrity: The actor and singer, Alan Thicke, has died at the age of 69, Tuesday, December 13, 2016. Thicke is best known for two things. First is his role as Dr. Jason Seaver in the ABC sitcom, "Growing Pains." Second is that he is the father of singer-songwriter, Robin Thicke.
From YahooMusic: Robin Thicke remembers his father, the actor Alan Thicke, who died suddenly yesterday.
From YahooCelebrity: Alan Thicke's final moments. Yeah, that sound tawdry.
----------
AWARDS - From THR: "Birth of a Nation" finally gets major awards recognition with the release of the NAACP Image Awards nominations.
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: Ruben Fleischer ("Zombieland") to direct Chris Evans ("Captain America" films) in "Jekyll."
----------
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: Warner preps all-female villains DC Comics movie with director David Ayer and hot actress, Margot Robbie, who played Harley Quinn in Ayer's "Suicide Squad."
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: Margot Robbie is Tonya Harding in "I, Tonya."
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: 2016 "Black List" scripts revealed.
----------
AWARDS - From TheWrap: The 2017 Golden Globe nominations have been revealed.
----------
From YahooTV: Viola Davis offers a powerful speech in accepting the first-ever "#SeeHer" Award at the Critics Choice Awards, Sunday, December 11, 2016.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 12/9 to 12/11/2016 weekend box office is Disney's "Moana" with an estimated take of $18.8 million. This is its third week at #1.
----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooNews: Comedian T.J. Miller hosts Critics Choice Awards 3 days after being arrested.
----------
GENDER - From IndieWire: Which blockbusters passed or failed the Bechdel-Wallace Test?
----------
AWARDS - From THR: The film "Toni Erdman" dominates 2016 European Film Awards.
From Deadline: Full winners list for the 2016 EFAs.
----------
MOVIES - From BleedingCool: Samuel L. Jackson talks politics and Oscar-bait movies at Dubai Film Festival.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: The sequel to "Spider-Man: Homecoming" is slotted for Independence Day weekend 2019. "Bad Boys 4," which was originally slated for this weekend moves up to May 2019.
TRAILERS:
From YouTube: New trailer for the Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn comedy, "Snatched."
From YouTube: First trailer for Christopher Nolan's WWII film, "Dunkirk," which is due Summer 2017.
POLITICS - From TheWrap: Ambassardships if you can get A-listers to sing for Trump's inauguration.
----------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap: NBC is developing a TV series based on the 1992 film, "Single White Female." I still have not seen that movie.
----------
CRIME - From YahooNews: On, Thursday, December 15, 2016, Dylann Storm Roof was convicted in federal court 33 counts, including the grisly murder of 9 people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015.
----------
MOVIES - From TheVillageVoice: Alan Scherstuhl reviews "Collateral Beauty," the Will Smith starrer which looks like a mess.
----------
TELEVISION - From Variety: Julia Roberts starring in her first TV series, a miniseries based on the book, "Today Will Be Different."
----------
OBIT - From CNN: Craig Sager, a sideline reporter for Turner Sports, has died at the age of 65, Thursday, December 15, 2016. Sager was known for his colorful and loud suits and ties.
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: Emma Stone is "Cruella" for Disney. Now, it needs a director.
----------
STAR TREK - From TVLine: Sonequa Martin-Green has been announced about CBS' upcoming "Star Trek: Discovery." Martin-Green is currently playing Sasha on "The Walking Dead."
----------
OBIT - From NYDailyNews: Popular TV funny man and actor, Bernard Fox, has died at the age of 89, Wednesday, December 14, 2016. He was known for playing "Dr. Bombay" on the classic fantasy sitcom, "Bewitched." My favorite memories of him are his appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show" as Malcom Merriweather.
----------
OSCARS - From YahooMovies: Jimmy Kimmel reveals that he will be paid $15,000 to host the Oscars.
----------
OBIT - From YahooCelebrity: The actor and singer, Alan Thicke, has died at the age of 69, Tuesday, December 13, 2016. Thicke is best known for two things. First is his role as Dr. Jason Seaver in the ABC sitcom, "Growing Pains." Second is that he is the father of singer-songwriter, Robin Thicke.
From YahooMusic: Robin Thicke remembers his father, the actor Alan Thicke, who died suddenly yesterday.
From YahooCelebrity: Alan Thicke's final moments. Yeah, that sound tawdry.
----------
AWARDS - From THR: "Birth of a Nation" finally gets major awards recognition with the release of the NAACP Image Awards nominations.
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: Ruben Fleischer ("Zombieland") to direct Chris Evans ("Captain America" films) in "Jekyll."
----------
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: Warner preps all-female villains DC Comics movie with director David Ayer and hot actress, Margot Robbie, who played Harley Quinn in Ayer's "Suicide Squad."
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: Margot Robbie is Tonya Harding in "I, Tonya."
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: 2016 "Black List" scripts revealed.
----------
AWARDS - From TheWrap: The 2017 Golden Globe nominations have been revealed.
----------
From YahooTV: Viola Davis offers a powerful speech in accepting the first-ever "#SeeHer" Award at the Critics Choice Awards, Sunday, December 11, 2016.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 12/9 to 12/11/2016 weekend box office is Disney's "Moana" with an estimated take of $18.8 million. This is its third week at #1.
----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooNews: Comedian T.J. Miller hosts Critics Choice Awards 3 days after being arrested.
----------
GENDER - From IndieWire: Which blockbusters passed or failed the Bechdel-Wallace Test?
----------
AWARDS - From THR: The film "Toni Erdman" dominates 2016 European Film Awards.
From Deadline: Full winners list for the 2016 EFAs.
----------
MOVIES - From BleedingCool: Samuel L. Jackson talks politics and Oscar-bait movies at Dubai Film Festival.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: The sequel to "Spider-Man: Homecoming" is slotted for Independence Day weekend 2019. "Bad Boys 4," which was originally slated for this weekend moves up to May 2019.
TRAILERS:
From YouTube: New trailer for the Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn comedy, "Snatched."
From YouTube: First trailer for Christopher Nolan's WWII film, "Dunkirk," which is due Summer 2017.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from June 26th to 30, 2016 - Update #28
Support Leroy on Patreon.
TELEVISION - From Deadline: Netflix gets the "Lost in Space" remake as a series.
---------------
COMICS - From Kickstarter: Veteran comic book writer-artist and illustrator, Kody Chamberlain, is working on a new comic book project with newcomer Gavin Guidry. It is called "Smut and Jeff," and it has a Kickstarter campaign.
---------------
COMICS - From CBR: - All that teasing from Marvel Comics pays off with a larger "Divided We Stand" image.
---------------
COMICS - From TheCheatSheet: How "Captain America: Civil War" helped Marvel knock out DC Comics movies.
From CBR: "Captain America: Civil War" Blu-ray has many bonus features, including one about the upcoming "Doctor Strange" movie.
--------------
SPORTS - From YahooTV: Is Max Kellerman replacing Skip Bayless on ESPN's "First Take."
---------------
MOVIES - From Variety: He earned an Oscar nomination and won a BAFTA for his supporting role in "Captain Phillips." Now, Barkhad Abdi joins the cast of the "Blade Runner" sequel.
---------------
COMICS - From WeGotThisCovered: First set photos of Tom Holland in his Spider-Man costume during the filming of "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
---------------
CELEBRITY - YahooCelebrity: Leslie Jones becomes another in a long line of celebrity women who have trouble getting designers to dress them for big events, because of their size or shape.
---------------
MOVIES - From CinemaBlend: "Transformers: The Last Knight" (the fifth film) is bringing back another star from the original movies. Tyrese Gibson will return to play his character, Robert Epps. He is joining another returning star, Josh Duhamel as Lt. Col. William Lennox.
---------------
MOVIES - From Variety: Ansel Elgort is in early talks to join Warner Bros.'s "Dungeons & Dragons" movie, which is Rob Letterman (Goosebumps) is set to direct.
-------------
TELEVISION - From Variety: Freida Pinto joins Idris Elba in the Showtime-Sky miniseries, "Guerilla," which is being written and directed by John Ridley.
-------------
CULTURE - From YahooNews: Red Cross pulls poster some consider racist.
---------------
OBITS - From YahooSports: Legendary women's college basketball coach, Pat Summitt, has died at the age of 64 this morning, Tuesday, June 28, 2016. As head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers women basketball team, Summitt won 1098 games, the most for any NCAA Divsion 1 coach, male or female. She also won 8 national championships.
From YahooSports: Former NFL coach, Buddy Ryan, has died at the age of 82. James David "Buddy" Ryan won two Super Bowl championships as an assistant coach. He is most famous for his stint as the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears team that won Super Bowl XX.
---------------
STAR TREK - From CBR: "The Kelvin Timeline" - that's the name of the timeline that was created in the 2009 reboot film, "Star Trek" directed by J.J. Abrams.
---------------
MOVIES - From SlashFilm: Warner Bros.' wants Justin Lin, who directed four "Fast and Furious" films, to direct their long in gestation, live-action adaptation of the manga, "Akira."
---------------
MOVIES - From IndieWire: John Boyega hints at working once again with director Joe Cornish, who directed Boyega in his breakthrough film, the fantastic "Attack the Block."
---------------
MOVIES - From TheGuardian: Oscar-nominee Emma Stone and recent Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander will star in competing Agatha Christie biopics. Vikander's will look at the world famous author's formative years, while Stone's will focus on Christie's "missing 11 days."
---------------
AWARDS - From YahooMusic: Jesse Williams’s Powerful Speech a Highlight of Politically Charged BET Awards.
AWARDS - From YahooMusic: At the 2016 BET Awards, a tribute fit for a Prince.
---------------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 6/24 to 6/26/2016 weekend box office is Pixar's "Finding Dory" with an estimated take of $73.2 million.
From YahooMovies: "Independence Day: Resurgence" clobbered by "Finding Dory."
---------------
MOVIES - From SlashFilm: "Twilight's" Kellan Lutz is in the running for "Masters of the Universe," which is McG is supposed to direct.
---------------
MOVIES - From DenofGeek: A look at Bruce Willis' recent spate of straight-to-DVD movies.
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: Hillary Clinton makes a surprise appearance at NYC Pride Parade.
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: President Obama's approval rating is now the highest it has been since 2011, 56 percent (around the time of the Osama bin Laden raid).
TRAILERS:
From YouTube: The new trailer for "Trolls."
From YouTube: New "Star Trek Beyond" trailer with Rihanna song.
From YouTube: See the second trailer for 20th Century Fox and Scott Free's "Morgan."
TELEVISION - From Deadline: Netflix gets the "Lost in Space" remake as a series.
---------------
COMICS - From Kickstarter: Veteran comic book writer-artist and illustrator, Kody Chamberlain, is working on a new comic book project with newcomer Gavin Guidry. It is called "Smut and Jeff," and it has a Kickstarter campaign.
---------------
COMICS - From CBR: - All that teasing from Marvel Comics pays off with a larger "Divided We Stand" image.
---------------
COMICS - From TheCheatSheet: How "Captain America: Civil War" helped Marvel knock out DC Comics movies.
From CBR: "Captain America: Civil War" Blu-ray has many bonus features, including one about the upcoming "Doctor Strange" movie.
--------------
SPORTS - From YahooTV: Is Max Kellerman replacing Skip Bayless on ESPN's "First Take."
---------------
MOVIES - From Variety: He earned an Oscar nomination and won a BAFTA for his supporting role in "Captain Phillips." Now, Barkhad Abdi joins the cast of the "Blade Runner" sequel.
---------------
COMICS - From WeGotThisCovered: First set photos of Tom Holland in his Spider-Man costume during the filming of "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
---------------
CELEBRITY - YahooCelebrity: Leslie Jones becomes another in a long line of celebrity women who have trouble getting designers to dress them for big events, because of their size or shape.
---------------
MOVIES - From CinemaBlend: "Transformers: The Last Knight" (the fifth film) is bringing back another star from the original movies. Tyrese Gibson will return to play his character, Robert Epps. He is joining another returning star, Josh Duhamel as Lt. Col. William Lennox.
---------------
MOVIES - From Variety: Ansel Elgort is in early talks to join Warner Bros.'s "Dungeons & Dragons" movie, which is Rob Letterman (Goosebumps) is set to direct.
-------------
TELEVISION - From Variety: Freida Pinto joins Idris Elba in the Showtime-Sky miniseries, "Guerilla," which is being written and directed by John Ridley.
-------------
CULTURE - From YahooNews: Red Cross pulls poster some consider racist.
---------------
OBITS - From YahooSports: Legendary women's college basketball coach, Pat Summitt, has died at the age of 64 this morning, Tuesday, June 28, 2016. As head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers women basketball team, Summitt won 1098 games, the most for any NCAA Divsion 1 coach, male or female. She also won 8 national championships.
From YahooSports: Former NFL coach, Buddy Ryan, has died at the age of 82. James David "Buddy" Ryan won two Super Bowl championships as an assistant coach. He is most famous for his stint as the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears team that won Super Bowl XX.
---------------
STAR TREK - From CBR: "The Kelvin Timeline" - that's the name of the timeline that was created in the 2009 reboot film, "Star Trek" directed by J.J. Abrams.
---------------
MOVIES - From SlashFilm: Warner Bros.' wants Justin Lin, who directed four "Fast and Furious" films, to direct their long in gestation, live-action adaptation of the manga, "Akira."
---------------
MOVIES - From IndieWire: John Boyega hints at working once again with director Joe Cornish, who directed Boyega in his breakthrough film, the fantastic "Attack the Block."
---------------
MOVIES - From TheGuardian: Oscar-nominee Emma Stone and recent Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander will star in competing Agatha Christie biopics. Vikander's will look at the world famous author's formative years, while Stone's will focus on Christie's "missing 11 days."
---------------
AWARDS - From YahooMusic: Jesse Williams’s Powerful Speech a Highlight of Politically Charged BET Awards.
AWARDS - From YahooMusic: At the 2016 BET Awards, a tribute fit for a Prince.
---------------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 6/24 to 6/26/2016 weekend box office is Pixar's "Finding Dory" with an estimated take of $73.2 million.
From YahooMovies: "Independence Day: Resurgence" clobbered by "Finding Dory."
---------------
MOVIES - From SlashFilm: "Twilight's" Kellan Lutz is in the running for "Masters of the Universe," which is McG is supposed to direct.
---------------
MOVIES - From DenofGeek: A look at Bruce Willis' recent spate of straight-to-DVD movies.
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: Hillary Clinton makes a surprise appearance at NYC Pride Parade.
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: President Obama's approval rating is now the highest it has been since 2011, 56 percent (around the time of the Osama bin Laden raid).
TRAILERS:
From YouTube: The new trailer for "Trolls."
From YouTube: New "Star Trek Beyond" trailer with Rihanna song.
From YouTube: See the second trailer for 20th Century Fox and Scott Free's "Morgan."
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 20th to 26th, 2016 - Update #33
Support Leroy on Patreon.
BLACK LIVES MATTER - From PopSugar: New York City cop arrest Black mailman because he didn't want them to hit him with their car.
---------------
COMICS - From Forbes: "Batman Vs. Superman" could have a $185 million weekend at the box office.
---------------
POLITICS - From Politico: #CruzSexScandal
POLITICS - From RSN: The coming Republican Party crack-up also needs to occur to the Democratic Party.
---------------
OBITS - From Variety: The writer Earl Hamner, Jr. has died at the age of 92, Thursday, March 24, 2016. He is best known for creating CBS' beloved drama, "The Waltons."
---------------
POLITICS - From Harpers: Richard Nixon started the "war on drugs" in order to wage war on the anti-war left and Black people.
---------------
POLITICS - From RollingStone: The magazine endorses Hillary Clinton for President of the United States, and publisher, Jann S. Wenner explains why.
---------------
OBITS - From Variety: Comedian, actor, writer, and producer, Garry Shandling, has died at the age of 66, Thursday, March 24, 2016.
From YahooCelebrity: Hollywood reacts to the death of Garry Shandling.
From YahooTV: Garry Shandling's most memorable roles.
---------------
OBITS - From YahooSports: Legendary baseball broadcaster, Joe Garagiola, has died at the age of 90, Wednesday, March 23, 2016.
From YouTube: An interview with the late Garagiola, conducted by David Spada.
---------------
COMICS - From iDigitalTimes: Some early reviews are in for "Batman Vs. Superman."
---------------
MOVIES - From Collider: Shane Black talks about his "Predator" reboot.
---------------
CRIME - From HoustonChronicle: Keeping Black people of juries in Wharton County, Texas.
---------------
OBITS - From DeadlineTV: The Emmy-winning actor, Ken Howard, has died at the age of 71, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. He was best known for his role on the CBS television drama series, "The White Shadow" (1978-1981). He was the current president of the actors' union, SAG-AFTRA.
---------------
COMICS - From CinemaBlend: Marvel's "Captain Britain" may get his own television series.
---------------
OBITS - From THR: The actress, Rita Gam, has died at the age of 88, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. She was considered a "glamorous actress" in the 1950s. Gam was also the wife of director Sidney Lumet, and she was a bridesmaid at Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier.
---------------
OBITS - From TheWrap: The rapper, Malik Taylor, has died at the age of 45. He was better known as "Phife Dawg," the founder of the seminal rap group, A Tribe Called Quest."
---------------
POLITICS - From BuzzFlash: Sarah Palin hits far-right hot buttons.
--------------
CULTURE - From TheDailyBeast: Banksy strikes back.
---------------
SPORTS - From YahooSports: Sports broadcaster/sideline reporter, Craig Sager, known for his colorful and odd suits, has said that his doctor has given him 3 to 6 months to live.
---------------
COMICS - BleedingCool: A look at a nice copy of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, worth over $3 million.
---------------
COMICS - BleedingCool: A look at some of Marvel Comics' hot comics for June 2016.
---------------
STAR WARS - From Twitter: See a Star Wars bonus clip featuring Maz Kanata.
---------------
MOVIES - From Variety: Emma Stone to star in film about Rose Marie "Rosemary" Kennedy, "Letters from Rosemary."
----------------
COMICS - From BleedingCool: There will be an all-new and all-different Batman comic book debuting later this year from writer Scott Snyder.
---------------
TELEVISION - From Variety: Ryan Murphy reveals who will be back for the next season of "American Horror Story."
---------------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 3/18 to 3/20/2016 weekend box office is "Zootopia" with an estimated haul of $38 million.
---------------
From MintPressNews: Daniel Ellsberg - top military brass knew in advance that the Vietnam War would fail.
---------------
BLACK LIVES MATTER - From SeattleTimes: Tim McGinty could not do his job and prosecute Cleveland Patrolman Timothy Loehmann and his partner, Frank Garmback, for killing Tamir Rice. So the voters decided that he could not keep his job as Cuyahoga County Prosecutor.
----------------
COMICS - From CBR: Jeremy Renner says he would be "open" to a Hawkeye Netflix series.
---------------
COMICS - From CBR: The writers, artists, and editors behind Marvel Comics's "Civil War II" talk.
---------------
COMICS - From BleedingCool: An overview of news from C2E2 about Marvel's "Civil War II" comic book event.
---------------
COMICS - From BleedingCool: Mike Mignola says he does not know how the film, "Hellboy 3" would end, although that movie seems unlikely to happen.
---------------
STAR WARS - From CheatSheet: The site's weekly Star Wars round-up.
---------------
POLITICS - From TheWrap: Scott Baio ("Happy Days") endorses Donald Trump.
---------------
TRAILERS:
From YouTube: A clip from Richard Linklater's "Everybody Wants Some," entitled "Cologne."
From YouTube: A sneak peak at "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" deleted scenes.
From YouTube: I think this is the first trailer for the "Ben-Hur" remake, which is due August 2016.
BLACK LIVES MATTER - From PopSugar: New York City cop arrest Black mailman because he didn't want them to hit him with their car.
---------------
COMICS - From Forbes: "Batman Vs. Superman" could have a $185 million weekend at the box office.
---------------
POLITICS - From Politico: #CruzSexScandal
POLITICS - From RSN: The coming Republican Party crack-up also needs to occur to the Democratic Party.
---------------
OBITS - From Variety: The writer Earl Hamner, Jr. has died at the age of 92, Thursday, March 24, 2016. He is best known for creating CBS' beloved drama, "The Waltons."
---------------
POLITICS - From Harpers: Richard Nixon started the "war on drugs" in order to wage war on the anti-war left and Black people.
---------------
POLITICS - From RollingStone: The magazine endorses Hillary Clinton for President of the United States, and publisher, Jann S. Wenner explains why.
---------------
OBITS - From Variety: Comedian, actor, writer, and producer, Garry Shandling, has died at the age of 66, Thursday, March 24, 2016.
From YahooCelebrity: Hollywood reacts to the death of Garry Shandling.
From YahooTV: Garry Shandling's most memorable roles.
---------------
OBITS - From YahooSports: Legendary baseball broadcaster, Joe Garagiola, has died at the age of 90, Wednesday, March 23, 2016.
From YouTube: An interview with the late Garagiola, conducted by David Spada.
---------------
COMICS - From iDigitalTimes: Some early reviews are in for "Batman Vs. Superman."
---------------
MOVIES - From Collider: Shane Black talks about his "Predator" reboot.
---------------
CRIME - From HoustonChronicle: Keeping Black people of juries in Wharton County, Texas.
---------------
OBITS - From DeadlineTV: The Emmy-winning actor, Ken Howard, has died at the age of 71, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. He was best known for his role on the CBS television drama series, "The White Shadow" (1978-1981). He was the current president of the actors' union, SAG-AFTRA.
---------------
COMICS - From CinemaBlend: Marvel's "Captain Britain" may get his own television series.
---------------
OBITS - From THR: The actress, Rita Gam, has died at the age of 88, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. She was considered a "glamorous actress" in the 1950s. Gam was also the wife of director Sidney Lumet, and she was a bridesmaid at Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier.
---------------
OBITS - From TheWrap: The rapper, Malik Taylor, has died at the age of 45. He was better known as "Phife Dawg," the founder of the seminal rap group, A Tribe Called Quest."
---------------
POLITICS - From BuzzFlash: Sarah Palin hits far-right hot buttons.
--------------
CULTURE - From TheDailyBeast: Banksy strikes back.
---------------
SPORTS - From YahooSports: Sports broadcaster/sideline reporter, Craig Sager, known for his colorful and odd suits, has said that his doctor has given him 3 to 6 months to live.
---------------
COMICS - BleedingCool: A look at a nice copy of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, worth over $3 million.
---------------
COMICS - BleedingCool: A look at some of Marvel Comics' hot comics for June 2016.
---------------
STAR WARS - From Twitter: See a Star Wars bonus clip featuring Maz Kanata.
---------------
MOVIES - From Variety: Emma Stone to star in film about Rose Marie "Rosemary" Kennedy, "Letters from Rosemary."
----------------
COMICS - From BleedingCool: There will be an all-new and all-different Batman comic book debuting later this year from writer Scott Snyder.
---------------
TELEVISION - From Variety: Ryan Murphy reveals who will be back for the next season of "American Horror Story."
---------------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 3/18 to 3/20/2016 weekend box office is "Zootopia" with an estimated haul of $38 million.
---------------
From MintPressNews: Daniel Ellsberg - top military brass knew in advance that the Vietnam War would fail.
---------------
BLACK LIVES MATTER - From SeattleTimes: Tim McGinty could not do his job and prosecute Cleveland Patrolman Timothy Loehmann and his partner, Frank Garmback, for killing Tamir Rice. So the voters decided that he could not keep his job as Cuyahoga County Prosecutor.
----------------
COMICS - From CBR: Jeremy Renner says he would be "open" to a Hawkeye Netflix series.
---------------
COMICS - From CBR: The writers, artists, and editors behind Marvel Comics's "Civil War II" talk.
---------------
COMICS - From BleedingCool: An overview of news from C2E2 about Marvel's "Civil War II" comic book event.
---------------
COMICS - From BleedingCool: Mike Mignola says he does not know how the film, "Hellboy 3" would end, although that movie seems unlikely to happen.
---------------
STAR WARS - From CheatSheet: The site's weekly Star Wars round-up.
---------------
POLITICS - From TheWrap: Scott Baio ("Happy Days") endorses Donald Trump.
---------------
TRAILERS:
From YouTube: A clip from Richard Linklater's "Everybody Wants Some," entitled "Cologne."
From YouTube: A sneak peak at "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" deleted scenes.
From YouTube: I think this is the first trailer for the "Ben-Hur" remake, which is due August 2016.
Monday, February 1, 2016
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
----------------------
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
----------------------
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Review: As a Character Study, "Birdman" Has Wings
[A version of this review originally appeared on Patreon.]
Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Running time: 119 minutes (1 hour, 59 minutes)
MPAA – R for language throughout, some sexual content and brief violence
DIRECTOR: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
WRITERS: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Armando Bo
PRODUCERS: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, and James W. Skotchdopole
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Emmanuel Lubezki (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione
COMPOSER: Antonio Sanchez (drum score)
Academy Award winner, including “Best Picture”
DRAMA/COMEDY
Starring: Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Zach Galifanakis, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, and Amy Ryan with Lindsay Duncan
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a 2014 drama and black comedy film from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The film focuses on a Hollywood actor, who once starred in a series of popular superhero movies, as he tries to forge a comeback with a Broadway play. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), commonly known as Birdman, won four Oscars, including “Best Picture,” at the 87th Academy Awards (February 22, 2015).
Birdman introduces Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton). He is a washed-up Hollywood actor and former movie star best known for playing the iconic superhero, Birdman, two decades ago in a series of blockbuster films. Riggan hopes to reinvent his career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production. Riggan's play is a loosely based adaptation of “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” a short story written by the late Raymond Carver (and first published in the former literary journal, Antaeus, in 1981).
Unfortunately, Riggan's play is beset by complications. The play is produced by Riggan's best friend and lawyer, Jake (Zach Galifanakis), who is very demanding and high-strung. The film's two actresses are Riggan's girlfriend, Laura (Andrea Riseborough), who claims to be pregnant, and a first-time Broadway actress, Lesley (Naomi Watts), who has a worried mind. Riggan's daughter, Samantha (Emma Stone), a recovering addict, serves as her father's assistant. The other male actor in the play is Mike Shiner (Edward Norton), a brilliant actor who is also volatile, disruptive, and attention-seeking. The biggest complication, however, is the spirit of Birdman, which haunts Riggan with a mocking, critical voice, and that voice wants another Birdman movie.
Taking what the movie gives us, which is a little over one hour and fifty minutes of film narrative, Birdman is an extraordinary character study about the life of a struggling actor in a particular moment in time. This moment in time is a two-week period, of which we only observe in select pieces. People who watch this movie have to take Riggan at face value because the film is vague about whatever happened to Riggan's life prior to the two-week period that it depicts.
This situation helps to make Birdman ambiguous, and I think the director and his co-writers wanted their film to have many ambiguities. Is this film a true black comedy? Is it a drama about domestic and professional failures? Is it real, or surreal, or both (when considering Riggan's powers)? Is the last act and the ending a resolution via rebirth or by closure? Birdman is a complex, different and fascinating work of cinema.
Considering its subject matter, that of a failed movie star in the tailspin of a midlife crisis, it is fairly obvious why the film was so attractive to so many Oscar voters. How many members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which votes on the Oscars, have experienced something similar to Riggan's experiences or how many know they will... eventually. I think that this is a tremendous movie, and I can see why it won the Oscars that it did.
On the other hand, Edward Norton and Emma Stone are good in Birdman, but there is little in their work here, in terms of substance or character portrayal, that says that either one of them gave a top five performance in the respective categories for which they were nominated for Oscars. I also find Michael Keaton a little uneven. He is at his best when he is emoting without dialogue and when he is giving voice to Birdman. When he tries to give voice to anger and frustration, he is over-the-top, in his now trademark manner, familiar to us who remember him as Batman and as Beetlejuice.
Many people seem to think that Keaton was perfect for the role of Riggan Thomson who played a superhero at the height of his career and fame in Hollywood because Keaton played the title role in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) at the height of his film career. Keaton's career seemed to diminish after Batman, gradually though, until he had seemingly disappeared from Hollywood films. The truth is Keaton is a good actor whose full talent has rarely been utilized.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) gives him a chance, and there are moments in which Keaton shines. This film is unique and has many moments of brilliance, in which Alejandro G. Iñárritu shows us that cinematic magic is indeed real. Birdman has it, revealing that drama need not be tied to the ground nor to be framed in notions of stiff realism. Birdman has a sense of wonder and of curiosity, believing that it is as exciting to explore a man's life as it is to explore a faraway magical kingdom or an island full of dinosaurs.
9 of 10
A+
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
NOTES:
2015 Academy Awards, USA: 4 wins: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Lesher, and James W. Skotchdopole), “Best Achievement in Directing” (Alejandro González Iñárritu), “Best Writing, Original Screenplay” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo), and “Best Achievement in Cinematography” (Emmanuel Lubezki); 5 nominations: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role” (Michael Keaton), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Edward Norton), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” (Emma Stone), “Best Achievement in Sound Mixing” (Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño, and Thomas Varga) and “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Aaron Glascock and MartÃn Hernández)
2015 Golden Globes, USA: 2 wins: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical” (Michael Keaton) and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo); 5 nominations: “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Alejandro González Iñárritu), “Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical,” “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Emma Stone), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Edward Norton) and “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (Antonio Sanchez)
2015 BAFTA Awards: 1 win “Best Cinematography” (Emmanuel Lubezki); 9 nominations: “Best Film” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Lesher, and James W. Skotchdopole), “Best Leading Actor” (Michael Keaton), “Best Supporting Actor” (Edward Norton), “Best Supporting Actress” (Emma Stone), “Best Editing” (Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione), “Best Original Music” (Antonio Sanchez), “Best Sound” (Thomas Varga, MartÃn Hernández, Aaron Glascock, Jon Taylor, and Frank A. Montaño), “Best Original Screenplay” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, and Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo), and “David Lean Award for Direction” (Alejandro González Iñárritu)
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from November 15th to 21th, 2015 - Update #33
Support Leroy on Patreon.
NEWS:
From TheDailyBeast: Did you know that Ingrid Bergman was once slut-shamed?
---------------
From THR: Kenneth Branagh will star in and direct a film adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express" for Fox. Branagh will play the novel's detective, Hercule Poirot.
---------------
From Variety: Paramount and Hasbro prepare to make more "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe" movies; plus a "Micronauts" movie.
---------------
From BleedingCool: Peter Jackson admits to winging it on "The Hobbit."
---------------
From BET: World Series and New York Yankees legend found 50 Cent too "urban."
---------------
From YahooCelebrity: Corinne Foxx, the daughter of Jamie Foxx, is Miss Golden Globe 2016.
---------------
From TheWrap: Emma Stone has returned to playing Billie Jean King in the film, "Battle of the Sexes," with Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs.
---------------
From THR: The "Tomb Raider" reboot has a director, Roar Uthaug. I haven't heard of him either.
---------------
From YahooCelebrity: Charlie Sheen announces that he is HIV positive.
---------------
From Ecowatch: Mark Ruffalo on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," talks eco-issues and politics.
---------------
From THR: Someone is remaking Chris Nolan's "Memento." Notice that today is NOT April Fool's Day.
---------------
From TheReelWord: First look at Martin Scorsese's much-anticipated "Silence."
---------------
From TheReelWord: The "Fast & Furious" franchise will include spinoffs and prequels.
---------------
From BleedingCool: The Prometheus sequel keeps shifting names, and it may feature to "Alien" creatures.
---------------
From THR: The Academy (AMPAS) has disqualified the Afghan film, "Utopia" from being considered in the "Best Foreign Language" film race for containing too much English.
---------------
From Variety: Spike Lee finally gets his Oscar - at the 2015 Governors Awards.
---------------
From BoxOfficeMojo: The number one movie at the 11/13 to 11/15/2015 weekend box office is the James Bond film, "Spectre," with an estimated take of $35.4 million.
---------------
From Deadline: The French terrorism-themed film, "Made in France," which was to be released Wednesday, has had that release date cancelled. It will be released at an unknown later date.
HARD NEWS:
From WashingtonPost: My White neighbor...
From ContraCostaTimes: A white-man gets a Rodney King-like beat-down.
From Salon: This is why they hate us...
From Truthout: You can kill your employees, but DO NOT lie to wealthy investors and federal regulators.
From RSN: No "global domination" is not going well.
From WashPost: Missouri State Senator seeks to stop a grad student's dissertation on abortion regulations.
From BBC: A day before the attacks in Paris, ISIS was behind an attack in Beirut, Lebanon that left more than 40 dead.
From teleSUR: Have we forgotten? Do some of us even know?
From BBCBlog: April 2014 attack in Kenya was practically ignored - cause Black lives really don't matter.
---------------
From TheIntercept: Blame CITIZENFOUR for Paris.
COMICS - Films and Books:
From IndieWire: There may be a new "X-Men" in 2018, perhaps with shooting beginning in 2017.
---------------
From BleedingCool: Alan Moore is on Twitter.
---------------
From CinemaBlend: Marvel is working on bringing back Michael Douglas to reprise his role of Hank Pym in "Ant-Man and the Wasp."
---------------
From CinemaBlend: "Doctor Strange" adds martial artist Scott Adkins to its cast.
SPORTS:
From YahooSports: The American League "Cy Young Award" winner is Houston Astros pitcher, Dallas Keuchel.
From YahooSports: The National League "Cy Young Award" winner is Chicago Cubs pitcher, Jake Arrieta.
From ESPN: Your American League "Rookie of the Year" for 2015 is Carlos Correa, shortstop for the Houston Astros.
From ESPN: Your National League "Rookie of the Year" for 2015 is Kris Bryant, third baseman for the Chicago Cubs.
---------------
From ESPN: The Lakers win at Detroit, and Kobe and the team honor the U.S. heroes who stopped a French train attack in August.
---------------
From ESPN: The Jacksonville Jaguars win a road game for the first time in almost 2 years!
NEWS:
From TheDailyBeast: Did you know that Ingrid Bergman was once slut-shamed?
---------------
From THR: Kenneth Branagh will star in and direct a film adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express" for Fox. Branagh will play the novel's detective, Hercule Poirot.
---------------
From Variety: Paramount and Hasbro prepare to make more "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe" movies; plus a "Micronauts" movie.
---------------
From BleedingCool: Peter Jackson admits to winging it on "The Hobbit."
---------------
From BET: World Series and New York Yankees legend found 50 Cent too "urban."
---------------
From YahooCelebrity: Corinne Foxx, the daughter of Jamie Foxx, is Miss Golden Globe 2016.
---------------
From TheWrap: Emma Stone has returned to playing Billie Jean King in the film, "Battle of the Sexes," with Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs.
---------------
From THR: The "Tomb Raider" reboot has a director, Roar Uthaug. I haven't heard of him either.
---------------
From YahooCelebrity: Charlie Sheen announces that he is HIV positive.
---------------
From Ecowatch: Mark Ruffalo on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," talks eco-issues and politics.
---------------
From THR: Someone is remaking Chris Nolan's "Memento." Notice that today is NOT April Fool's Day.
---------------
From TheReelWord: First look at Martin Scorsese's much-anticipated "Silence."
---------------
From TheReelWord: The "Fast & Furious" franchise will include spinoffs and prequels.
---------------
From BleedingCool: The Prometheus sequel keeps shifting names, and it may feature to "Alien" creatures.
---------------
From THR: The Academy (AMPAS) has disqualified the Afghan film, "Utopia" from being considered in the "Best Foreign Language" film race for containing too much English.
---------------
From Variety: Spike Lee finally gets his Oscar - at the 2015 Governors Awards.
---------------
From BoxOfficeMojo: The number one movie at the 11/13 to 11/15/2015 weekend box office is the James Bond film, "Spectre," with an estimated take of $35.4 million.
---------------
From Deadline: The French terrorism-themed film, "Made in France," which was to be released Wednesday, has had that release date cancelled. It will be released at an unknown later date.
HARD NEWS:
From WashingtonPost: My White neighbor...
From ContraCostaTimes: A white-man gets a Rodney King-like beat-down.
From Salon: This is why they hate us...
From Truthout: You can kill your employees, but DO NOT lie to wealthy investors and federal regulators.
From RSN: No "global domination" is not going well.
From WashPost: Missouri State Senator seeks to stop a grad student's dissertation on abortion regulations.
From BBC: A day before the attacks in Paris, ISIS was behind an attack in Beirut, Lebanon that left more than 40 dead.
From teleSUR: Have we forgotten? Do some of us even know?
From BBCBlog: April 2014 attack in Kenya was practically ignored - cause Black lives really don't matter.
---------------
From TheIntercept: Blame CITIZENFOUR for Paris.
COMICS - Films and Books:
From IndieWire: There may be a new "X-Men" in 2018, perhaps with shooting beginning in 2017.
---------------
From BleedingCool: Alan Moore is on Twitter.
---------------
From CinemaBlend: Marvel is working on bringing back Michael Douglas to reprise his role of Hank Pym in "Ant-Man and the Wasp."
---------------
From CinemaBlend: "Doctor Strange" adds martial artist Scott Adkins to its cast.
SPORTS:
From YahooSports: The American League "Cy Young Award" winner is Houston Astros pitcher, Dallas Keuchel.
From YahooSports: The National League "Cy Young Award" winner is Chicago Cubs pitcher, Jake Arrieta.
From ESPN: Your American League "Rookie of the Year" for 2015 is Carlos Correa, shortstop for the Houston Astros.
From ESPN: Your National League "Rookie of the Year" for 2015 is Kris Bryant, third baseman for the Chicago Cubs.
---------------
From ESPN: The Lakers win at Detroit, and Kobe and the team honor the U.S. heroes who stopped a French train attack in August.
---------------
From ESPN: The Jacksonville Jaguars win a road game for the first time in almost 2 years!
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Review: "Magic in the Moonlight" Does Not Cast Much of a Spell
Magic in the Moonlight (2014)
Running time: 97 minutes (1 hour, 37 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for a brief suggestive comment, and smoking throughout
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Woody Allen
PRODUCERS: Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum, and Edward Walson
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Darius Khondji
EDITOR: Alisa Lepselter
COMEDY/ROMANCE
Starring: Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Simon McBurney, Eileen Atkins, Hamish Linklater, Marcia Gay Harden, Jacki Weaver, Jeremy Shamos, Erica Leerhsen, and Catherine McCormack
Magic in the Moonlight is a 2014 period romance and comedy from writer-director, Woody Allen. The film focuses on an Englishman who travels to the south of France, where he becomes smitten with the young woman that he plans to reveal as a fraud.
Magic in the Moonlight opens in Berlin, 1928, where we meet the world famous illusionist, Wei Ling Soo (Colin Firth). Soo is actually the Englishman, Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth), in disguise. After a performance, Stanley receives a visit from his old friend, Howard Burkan (Simon McBurney), a fellow illusionist. Burkan wants Stanley to accompany him to Côte d'Azur where Stanley can make use of the other talent that has made him famous. Stanley can see past and also reveal the tricks of those who claim to have magical or supernatural powers.
In Côte d'Azur, a rich American family, the Catledges, are being taken in by a clairvoyant and mystic named Sophie Baker (Emma Stone). In fact, the son of the family, Brice Catledge (Hamish Linklater), is so in love with Sophie that he wants to marry her. Howard wants Stanley to debunk Sophie as a charlatan mystic. Although he initially thinks that it will be easy to reveal Sophie as a fraud, Stanley soon finds himself smitten with her.
Magic in the Moonlight is not one of the better Woody Allen films. It falls in the class of mediocre, hapless Allen films that have been prevalent since the turn of the century. The casting is not particularly special, and the characters are mostly uninspired. Emma Stone seems out of place as Sophie Baker, but there is not enough of Marcia Gay Harden as Sophie's mother, Mrs. Baker.
Magic in the Moonlight is not well-written, which is disappointing considering that Allen has won three Oscars for his screenwriting. Allen's directing is mostly... well... uninspired. However, the film does spring to life in its last half-hour, and it suddenly seems like a different film. Why? I think that Magic in the Moonlight lacks a true antagonistic relationship, although the film is ostensibly about one, being that Stanley Crawford is trying to prove that Sophie is a fraud. Perhaps, Allen makes them fall in love with each other too soon. Once betrayal is introduced into the narrative, the film has a real conflict and that brings it to life – too late, of course.
I will recommend Magic in the Moonlight to die hard Woody Allen fans who simply have to see each and every one of his films (like me). Beyond that, there is no amount of magic in the moonlight that will make this movie of interest to people who are not fans of Allen.
5 of 10
C+
Thursday, May 28, 2015
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of April 19th to 25th, 2015 - Update #20
NEWS:
From TheVulture: There will be an eighth film in the "Fast & Furious" franchise.
-------------
From SlashFilm: Denzel Washington's The Equalizer is getting a sequel.
--------------
From YahooMovies: First photos from Point Break remake.
--------------
From io9: New "Star Trek" movie may be titled, "Star Trek Beyond."
--------------
From TheWrap: Emma Stone and Steve Carell will play Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in a movie about their (in)famous tennis match.
---------------
From Variety: Meryl Streep has funded a screenwriting lab for women writers over 40.
----------------
From Variety: For the third weekend in a row, Furious 7, wins the weekend box office. The seventh entry in the "Fast & Furious" franchise earned an estimated $29.1 million to top the April 17th to 19th, 2015 weekend.
-----------------
From TheWrap: John Ridley won an Oscar for writing 12 Years a Slave and is the creator of the acclaimed ABC series, "American Crime." Now, he's developing an unnamed Marvel Comics series for ABC.
From TVGuide: So what is John Ridley working on for Marvel? Here's some speculation.
-----------------
COMICS:
From THR: Jared Leto's Joker revealed - with tattoos and metal.
----------------
From CinemaBlend: Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the hot dudes behind the 21 Jump Street movies and The LEGO Movie, are working on an animated Spider-Man film - reported CinemaCon.
----------------
From CinemaBlend: The search for the next Spider-Man is reportedly down to 5 actors.
----------------
From YahooMovies: Joss Whedon praises Edgar Wright's "Ant-Man" screenplay.
-----------------
From BleedingCool: Sony email links may have spurred on Spider-Man's inclusion in "Captain America 3."
----------------
From NerdReactor: New Fantastic Four trailer, now with more Doctor Doom.
-----------------
From NerdReactor: No post-credits seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron... hmm.
-----------------
From YahooTV: Stan Lee throws some shade at DC Comics movies.
------------------
From YouTube: "Batman v. Superman" trailer.
STAR WARS:
From CheatSheet: How to get your Star Wars fix before "The Force Awakens."
------------------
From Variety: The plot of "Star Wars: Rogue One" will apparently focus on a plot to steal the secrets of the Death Star.
TRAILERS:
From YouTube: 20th Century Fox debuts in the new Fantastic Four trailer.
OBITS:
From YahooTV: The actor Sawyer Sweeten has died. Sawyer and his twin brother, Sullivan, starred on "Everybody Loves Raymond." Sawyer played one of the twin brothers, Geoffrey Barone. Sullivan played Michael. They were Ray Barone's twin boys. Sullivan died of a suspected suicide on Thursday, April 23, 2015.
------------------
From the HollywoodReporter: The actor Ben Powers died April 6, 2015. Powers, who was 64, played Keith Anderson, the husband of Thelma, on "Good Times," during the show's final season.
-----------------
From Variety: The actor, Jonathan Crombie, died at the age of 48 on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. He was known for his role on the Canadian "Anne of Green Gables" miniseries, which was first broadcast in the United States in 1986.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Patricia Arquette Wins Best Supporting Actress Oscar
Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
Patricia Arquette in “Boyhood” WINNER
Laura Dern in “Wild”
Keira Knightley in “The Imitation Game”
Emma Stone in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Meryl Streep in “Into the Woods”
Patricia Arquette in “Boyhood” WINNER
Laura Dern in “Wild”
Keira Knightley in “The Imitation Game”
Emma Stone in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Meryl Streep in “Into the Woods”
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Boston Society of Film Critics Choose "Boyhood" as Best Picture of 2014
The Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) was formed in 1981. The group claims that its mission is to make “Boston's unique critical perspective heard on a national and international level by awarding commendations to the best of the year's films and filmmakers and local film theaters and film societies that offer outstanding film programming.” One of the society’s members, Wesley Morris, won 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.
2014 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Winners:
Best Picture - Boyhood
Best Actor - Michael Keaton for Birdman
Best Actress - Marion Cotillard for The Immigrant and Two Days, One Night
Best Supporting Actor - J. K. Simmons for Whiplash
Best Supporting Actress - Emma Stone for Birdman
Best Director - Richard Linklater for Boyhood
Best Screenplay - (TIE)
Best Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki for Birdman
Best Documentary - Citizenfour
Best Foreign-Language Film (awarded in memory of Jay Carr) - Two Days, One Night (Belgium)
Best Animated Film - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) - Sandra Adair for Boyhood
Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) - Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler
Best Ensemble Cast - Boyhood
Best Use of Music in a Film - Inherent Vice
---------------------
2014 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Winners:
Best Picture - Boyhood
Best Actor - Michael Keaton for Birdman
Best Actress - Marion Cotillard for The Immigrant and Two Days, One Night
Best Supporting Actor - J. K. Simmons for Whiplash
Best Supporting Actress - Emma Stone for Birdman
Best Director - Richard Linklater for Boyhood
Best Screenplay - (TIE)
- Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo for Birdman
- Richard Linklater for Boyhood
Best Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki for Birdman
Best Documentary - Citizenfour
Best Foreign-Language Film (awarded in memory of Jay Carr) - Two Days, One Night (Belgium)
Best Animated Film - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) - Sandra Adair for Boyhood
Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) - Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler
Best Ensemble Cast - Boyhood
Best Use of Music in a Film - Inherent Vice
---------------------
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Review: "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" Entangled in Too Many Angles
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Running time: 142 minutes (2 hours, 22 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi/action and violence
DIRECTOR: Marc Webb
WRITERS: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and James Pinkner; from a story by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, James Pinkner, and James Vanderbilt (based upon the Marvel comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)
PRODUCERS: Avi Arad and Matthew Tolmach
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dan Mindel (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Pietro Scalia
COMPOSERS: Hans Zimmer, The Magnificent Six, Johnny Marr, and Pharrell Williams
SUPERHERO/DRAMA/ACTION/ROMANCE
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Sally Field, Dane DeHaan, Felicity Jones, Paul Giamatti, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Marton Csokas, Max Charles, B.J. Novak, Kari Coleman, Michael Massee, and Stan Lee with Chris Cooper and Denis Leary
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a 2014 superhero film and drama from director Marc Webb and stars Andrew Garfield in the title role. It is the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man, the 2012 film that was a reboot of Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man film franchise, and this movie is also the fifth Spider-Man film in the series. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 finds Spider-Man facing a former admirer turned super-villain, while Peter Parker worries that being Spider-Man will endanger his loved ones.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 begins as Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), are about to graduate from high school. Peter is also loving his life as the costumed, crime-fighting superhero, Spider-Man. Peter, however, is currently haunted by the specter of police Captain George Stacy (Denis Leary), Gwen's deceased father. As Capt. Stacy lay dying (in the previous film), Peter promised him to keep Gwen out of his life because of Spider-Man. Peter reluctantly tries to break up with Gwen, but the two teenagers deeply love each other. Peter's attempts simply sow confusion.
Meanwhile, at OsCorp Industries, Peter's former friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns to New York City in time to take over the business of his recently deceased father, Norman Osborn (Chris Cooper). OsCorp's past as a company on the cutting edge of controversial genetic research, however, threatens both Harry and Peter. Also, a new villain, Electro (Jamie Foxx), appears.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 lacks focus, and I think that there are two reasons for that. First, the screenplay wants to be a story of young romance, but the romance and character drama are overwrought. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone give good performances, but Peter and Gwen's relationship is like a car stuck in mud and pointlessly spinning its wheel. The car isn't going anywhere, and until the end, neither is Peter and Gwen's relationship, and then, that is only for tragic affect.
I think the second reason that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 seems muddled is because it is more than just a superhero movie; it is the birth of an expanded universe. Sony, Columbia Pictures' parent, wants to take some of the characters that belong to Marvel Comics' line of Spider-Man comic books and use them to expand their Spider-Man film franchise into a Spider-Man universe. They want something like Marvel Studios' “Marvel Cinematic Universe.” Why have just Spider-Man movies when you can have movies starring Spider-Man adversaries like Venom and the Sinister Six.
Marvel essentially used the 2010 film, Iron Man 2, to expand its universe, and that movie tended to drift and lack focus, but in the end, Iron Man 2 was a good movie. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is meant to expand the Spider-Man universe, but in the end, it is not really a good movie. The character melodrama is at odds with the showy action-fantasy violence that is the Spider-Man vs. Electro subplot. Electro is probably the worse villain yet in the Spider-Man films.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has an engaging visual style, and it is probably at its best when it depicts Spider-Man swinging over New York City, through its canyons and around its buildings and skyscrapers. Even the fight scenes, which seem tacked on to the story, look good, when they focus on Spider-Man. Nothing about Electro looks good. Hopefully, the third installment of The Amazing Spider-Man can be itself, a stand-alone movie that does not have to carry the hopes of Sony's corporate board and accountants.
4 of 10
C
Monday, September 15, 2014
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Sony Pictures Classics to Distribute Woody Allen's "Magic in the Moonlight"
SONY PICTURES CLASSICS ACQUIRES WOODY ALLEN’S NEXT FILM "MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT"
Film marks seventh collaboration with the filmmaker and Sony Classics
Sony Pictures Classics announced that they have acquired all North American rights to Woody Allen’s upcoming film, MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT from Gravier Productions. Like BLUE JASMINE, the film is produced by Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum and Edward Walson. The film was shot by Darius Khondji (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS) with Production Design by Anne Seibel (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS).
Once again, Woody Allen has put together a stellar cast including Eileen Atkins, Colin Firth, Marcia Gay Harden, Hamish Linklater, Simon McBurney, Emma Stone, and Jacki Weaver. MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT is a romantic comedy about an Englishman brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. Personal and professional complications ensue. The film is set in the south of France in the 1920s against a backdrop of wealthy mansions, the Côte d’Azur, jazz joints and fashionable spots for the wealthy of the Jazz Age.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.
Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 31 Academy Awards® (27 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 135 Academy Award® nominations (109 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com/.
Film marks seventh collaboration with the filmmaker and Sony Classics
Sony Pictures Classics announced that they have acquired all North American rights to Woody Allen’s upcoming film, MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT from Gravier Productions. Like BLUE JASMINE, the film is produced by Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum and Edward Walson. The film was shot by Darius Khondji (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS) with Production Design by Anne Seibel (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS).
Once again, Woody Allen has put together a stellar cast including Eileen Atkins, Colin Firth, Marcia Gay Harden, Hamish Linklater, Simon McBurney, Emma Stone, and Jacki Weaver. MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT is a romantic comedy about an Englishman brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. Personal and professional complications ensue. The film is set in the south of France in the 1920s against a backdrop of wealthy mansions, the Côte d’Azur, jazz joints and fashionable spots for the wealthy of the Jazz Age.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.
Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 31 Academy Awards® (27 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 135 Academy Award® nominations (109 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com/.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Review: "The Croods" Like a Full-Length Looney Tunes Movie
The Croods (2013)
Running time: 98 minutes (1 hour, 38 minutes)
MPAA – PG for some scary images action
DIRECTORS: Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders
WRITERS: Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders; from a story by John Cleese and Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders
PRODUCERS: Kristine Belson and Jane Hartwell
EDITOR: Darren T. Holmes
COMPOSER: Alan Silvestri
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Christophe Lautrette
ART DIRECTORS: Paul Duncan and Dominique R. Louis
ANIMATION/FANTASY/ADVENTURE/COMEDY with elements of action and drama
Starring: (voices) Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke, Chris Sanders, and Randy Thom
The Croods is a 2013 computer-animated adventure and comedy film that was theatrically presented in 3D. It was produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The Croods focuses on a caveman family trekking through an unfamiliar, fantastical world with the help of an inventive boy.
The Croods is set in a fictional version of the prehistoric Pliocene era (apparently called “The Croodaceous”). The Croods are a six-member family living in a cave. The father is Grug Crood (Nicolas Cage), who is doggedly protective of his family: wife, Ugga (Catherine Keener); teenage daughter, Eep (Emma Stone); nine-year-old son, Thunk (Clark Duke); ferocious toddler daughter, Sandy (Randy Thom); and Gran (Cloris Leachman), Grug’s mother-in-law and Ugga’s mother.
Grug wants his family to stay in the cave at all times, except when they hunt for food, which is getting harder to find. Grug is also against his family trying new things or making discoveries; “new things” are a threat to survival, he declares. This causes problems between Grug and his rebellious teen daughter, Eep, whose curious nature clashes with her conservative father. Then, Eep meets Guy (Ryan Reynolds), a nomadic cave boy, who is both clever and inventive. Eep is immediately attracted to the boy. Grug hates Guy, but after their cave is destroyed, The Croods find they need Guy, as they travel through an exotic land in search of a new home.
Since the original Madagascar (2005) and Kung Fu Panda (2008), DreamWorks Animation has improved on the technology of computer animation in terms of motion (characters and objects), depiction and creation of environments, picture definition, texture, and range of color. The Croods proves that this animation production company is determined to keep pushing the envelope.
As for the story and characters, The Croods is best when it’s being fast and funny. I have found that some of DreamWorks Animation’s films (and even television episodes) have the zest and style of Warner Bros. Looney Tunes animated shorts. In a way, much of The Croods is an extended series of gags that recall Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Road Runner cartoons.
Pretty much every member of The Croods’ cast seems to be a looney toon, except for the mother, Ugga. For some reason Ugga is practically non-existent; she is like a voice of wisdom, reason, and caution that is repressed and only heard when the film needs to squeeze in a poignant moment between chuckles and yucks. And then, Ugga’s voice seems barely able to be heard above the fray of manic comedy. In fact, Catherine Keener, who gives voice to Ugga, is unable to distinguish herself from the standard female voice. I actually thought that Maya Rudolph was Ugga’s voice. That is shocking when one considers how distinctive a performer Keener is.
But I guess it comes down to this. DreamWorks Animation has mastered the technology of computer animation. They have refined a brand of comedy that ranges from broad to slapstick and from satire to parody. They embrace the crazy concepts they turn into films that are often inventive concerts of explosive visuals. Still, DreamWorks Animation’s films lack the emotional resonance frequently found in movies from Pixar (except for Cars 2, which is straight crap).
The Croods can be viewed as a love triangle involving Grug, Eep, and Guy – mostly with Eep in love with Guy and with Grug hating Guy, mainly for that reason. The performances by the three actors playing these characters are good, but the script really does not delve into this conflict. It is easier to be surface and let comic moments rather than dramatic moments sell this three-way conflict.
That said, going by what is on the screen, The Croods is an exceptional movie, although stronger drama could have made it a truly great film. I love the physicality the filmmakers give the characters. Their wildness and animal-like tendencies (especially the way they move) make them attractive; the way they move, their facial ticks and expressions, and their reactions may it hard to ignore them. The animation has a sense of depth that makes even its fantastic backdrops seem real – such as the cave and surrounding landscape where the Croods live at the beginning of the film. I can use this old standby: The Croods is a visual feast. It falls short of greatness and perfection, but there is nothing like it, and it is quite good, indeed.
8 of 10
A
Thursday, November 07, 2013
The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Review: "Gangster Squad" Ain't Wangsta
Gangster Squad (2013)
Running time: 113 minutes; MPAA – R for strong violence and language
DIRECTOR: Ruben Fleischer
WRITER: Will Beall (based on the book Gangster Squad by Paul Lieberman)
PRODUCERS: Dan Lin, Kevin McCormick, and Michael Tadross
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dion Beebe (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Alan Baumgarten and James Herbert
COMPOSER: Steve Jablonsky
CRIME/ACTION
Starring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Anthony Mackie, Michael Peña, Giovanni Ribisi, Robert Patrick, Nick Nolte, Sullivan Stapleton, Holt McCallany, Mireille Enos, Austin Abrams, and Jon Polito
Gangster Squad is a 2013 action and crime film from director Ruben Fleischer. The film is based on Paul Lieberman’s 2012 book, Gangster Squad: Covert Cops, the Mob, and the Battle for Los Angeles. Gangster Squad the movie follows a secret crew of police officers trying to end mob king Mickey Cohen’s reign over Los Angeles.
The reality is that Gangster Squad the movie is mostly fictional. It takes the Los Angeles Police Department’s real “Gangster Squad unit” and its efforts to protect the city from Mickey Cohen and his gang in the 1940s and 50s and turns it into a fanciful tale of two-fisted cops and one crazy mutha of gangster. But Gangster Squad is a hugely entertaining fanciful tale of cops and robbers.
Gangster Squad opens in Los Angeles, 1949. In post-World War II L.A., gangster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) is the most powerful figure in the California criminal underworld. In fact, Cohen does not intend on letting anyone from “back east,” especially Chicago, interfere with his bid to expand his criminal enterprise across the Western United States.
In the Los Angeles Police Department, Chief Bill Parker (Nick Nolte) wants to end Cohen’s influence over the city, which extends into the police department, the courts, and City Hall. Parker personally chooses Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin), a WWII veteran with a special operations background, to wage guerilla warfare on Cohen. With the help of his reluctant wife, Connie (Mireille Enos), O’Mara recruits fellow officers into his secret squad.
They choose the hard-headed African-American detective, Coleman Harris (Anthony Mackie); wire-tap expert, Conway Keeler (Giovanni Ribisi); and legendary gangster-killer and cowboy-type, Max Kennard (Robert Patrick). Kennard’s Latino partner, Navidad Ramirez (Michael Peña), is not initially picked, but he manages to bargain his way into the squad.
Fellow WWII vet, Sgt. Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), turns down O’Mara’s offer, and focuses his attention on having an affair with Mickey Cohen’s girlfriend, Grace Faraday (Emma Stone). After he witnesses Cohen’s ruthlessness, Wooters joins O’Mara’s “Gangster Squad,” but these lawmen have no idea how truly sadistic Cohen can be when it comes to protecting his empire.
Gangster Squad has Oscar-nomination quality cinematography, art direction-set decoration, costume design, and perhaps, even sound editing. This movie’s cops vs. gangsters story is familiar material and, to some extent, is just retread. But Gangster Squad’s retread sure is entertaining. Somehow, cast, story, and action come together, and it is a combination that is a recognizable, yet tasty cinematic dish.
I rented Gangster Squad through Netflix. Normally, I watch my movie rentals over two days (or maybe even three). However, I couldn’t stop watching this mesmerizing crime/action movie. Gangster Squad is like a cool, color and colorful version of the old television series, “The Untouchables” (1959 to 1963 on ABC).
The performances are good. Sean Penn and Josh Brolin each do interesting takes on deranged, with Nick Nolte throwing in a cup of crazy, here and there. Contrary to what you may have read elsewhere, there is indeed excellent chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in this film. Actually, the supporting characters played by Anthony Mackie, Michael Peña, Giovanni Ribisi, and Robert Patrick are the most interesting in the movie. I think they are what keep Gangster Squad from being just another wanna-be-great, gangster period film.
Inevitably, Gangster Squad will end up on cable television, where it will receive countless repeat plays. I’ll be watching quite a few of those repeats.
7 of 10
B+
Friday, June 07, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Seth MacFarlane and Emma Stone to Announce Oscar Noms
Oscar® Host Seth MacFarlane Joins Emma Stone To Announce Oscar Nominations
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards® will be announced by the show's host, Seth MacFarlane, and actress Emma Stone on Thursday, January 10. This will be the first time since 1972 that an Oscar show host has participated in the nominations announcement.
MacFarlane and Stone will unveil the nominations at a 5:30 a.m. PT news conference at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, where hundreds of media representatives from around the world will be gathered.
Since the first nominations announcement in 1964, the Academy president has been joined by one or more co-announcers at the event. This year the Academy will break with tradition when MacFarlane, who was named Oscar show host in October, joins Stone on Oscar nominations morning. Charlton Heston (1972) was the only other show host to participate in the nominations announcement.
Stone starred in the 2011 Best Picture nominee "The Help" and the summer release "The Amazing Spider-Man." Her other film credits include "Superbad," "Zombieland," "Easy A" and "Crazy, Stupid, Love." Stone will be seen in "Gangster Squad" later this month and in "The Croods," due out in March.
Nominations information for all categories will be distributed to news media in attendance and via the Internet on the official Academy Awards website, www.oscar.com.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards® will be announced by the show's host, Seth MacFarlane, and actress Emma Stone on Thursday, January 10. This will be the first time since 1972 that an Oscar show host has participated in the nominations announcement.
MacFarlane and Stone will unveil the nominations at a 5:30 a.m. PT news conference at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, where hundreds of media representatives from around the world will be gathered.
Since the first nominations announcement in 1964, the Academy president has been joined by one or more co-announcers at the event. This year the Academy will break with tradition when MacFarlane, who was named Oscar show host in October, joins Stone on Oscar nominations morning. Charlton Heston (1972) was the only other show host to participate in the nominations announcement.
Stone starred in the 2011 Best Picture nominee "The Help" and the summer release "The Amazing Spider-Man." Her other film credits include "Superbad," "Zombieland," "Easy A" and "Crazy, Stupid, Love." Stone will be seen in "Gangster Squad" later this month and in "The Croods," due out in March.
Nominations information for all categories will be distributed to news media in attendance and via the Internet on the official Academy Awards website, www.oscar.com.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
"The Amazing Spider-Man" is Amazingly Human
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Running time: 136 minutes (2 hours, 16 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of action and violence
DIRECTOR: Marc Webb
WRITERS: James Vanderbilt, Steve Kloves, and Alvin Sargent; from a story by James Vanderbilt (based upon the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)
PRODUCERS: Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matthew Tolmach
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Schwartzman
EDITORS: Alan Edward Bell, Michael McCusker, and Pietro Scalia
COMPOSER: James Horner
SUPERHERO/DRAMA/SCI-FI/ACTION/ROMANCE
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Irrfan Khan, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Chris Zylka, Max Charles, C. Thomas Howell, Kari Coleman, Barbara Eve Harris, and Stan Lee
The Amazing Spider-Man is a 2012 superhero film and drama from director Marc Webb and starring Andrew Garfield in the title role. This new movie is a reboot of the Spider-Man film franchise, but it is also the fourth Spider-Man film in a decade. And The Amazing Spider-Man is the best Spider-Man movie, yet.
Teenager Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) lives with his Aunt May (Sally Field) and Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and has since his parents, Richard (Campbell Scott) and Mary Parker (Embeth Davidtz) disappeared. Peter is an adolescent loner trying to find his place in life, and he has found a place in high school as the target of jock/bully, Flash Thompson (Chris Zylka). Peter does catch the attention of fellow student, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), a smart and rebellious girl.
Digging through his father’s papers, Peter learns the identity of one of Richard Parker’s old colleagues, fellow scientist Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), who works at OsCorp (apparently a giant biotech firm). It is at OsCorp where Peter is bitten by a strange spider. The bite gives him strange powers and abilities similar to that of a spider, such as the ability to adhere to surfaces and to climb walls. After tragedy strikes, Peter decides to use his powers to fight criminals and help people, so he creates a mask and suit and names himself, “Spider-Man.” New York City does indeed need him, as there is a half-man/half-lizard monster known as “The Lizard” tearing the city apart.
When I heard that Columbia Pictures had hired Marc Webb to direct the Spider-Man movie reboot, I knew that by choosing the director of (500) Days of Summer the studio was going for something different from Sam Raimi’s three Spider-Man films. Webb certainly delivers something shockingly different. The Amazing Spider-Man clearly revisits plotlines from the first film, Spider-Man (2002), but everything about this new movie is from a different perspective.
The Amazing Spider-Man brings Peter Parker’s life into sharper focus. The screenplay, which is credited to James Vanderbilt, Steve Kloves, and Alvin Sargent (although I’m guessing that the majority of what is on screen is the work of Sargent and Kloves), emphasizes a character arc that follows Peter Parker’s journey to find himself. Peter searches for himself by trying to learn about his father. Actually, many of the film’s major characters are either trying to find themselves or find something that is missing in their lives.
All this searching makes The Amazing Spider-Man equally a character drama and a superhero movie – if not more the former than the latter. Make no mistake: there is plenty of superhero fantasy and action in this new movie, but it has such humanity because the story goes after the characters’ souls. The story is always digging at the characters, trying to get inside and discover what makes them tick. What do they want? What are they willing to do to get it? What are they afraid of? Webb gets to the heart of the character drama to the point that character is every bit as engaging, enthralling, and exciting as when Parker puts on the suit and swings over New York City or has a throw-down fight with The Lizard.
There are a number of good performances in The Amazing Spider-Man, but Andrew Garfield stands out, of course. He is magnificent as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Unlike Tobey Maguire’s lovable, sad sack, and put-upon Peter Parker, Garfield’s Parker is a man of masks. He plays the sullen geek while in school, but at home and at work, he has a witty personality. He is also stubborn and strong-willed. Garfield makes it all believable, and he has fashioned his own Peter Parker, independent of Maguire’s Parker, which is also a fine version of Parker/Spider-Man.
As you can tell, the practically life-long Spider-Man fan in me loves The Amazing Spider-Man. Everyone involved took something familiar and created a film that seems like a revelation.
9 of 10
A+
Thursday, July 05, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
IMAX 3D Theatres Have "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Climax Features Expanded Aspect Ratio Designed to Maximize the IMAX Canvas
IMAX Exclusive Early Release in Russia
LOS ANGELES, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX; TSX: IMX) and Columbia Pictures today announced that the highly anticipated 3D action-adventure, The Amazing Spider-Man, will be released in the immersive IMAX® 3D format in 447 IMAX® theatres worldwide. Domestically, the film will launch in IMAX on Tuesday, July 3 - simultaneous with the film's North American wide release - in 307 theatres. The film began its rollout to a total of 140 IMAX theatres internationally on June 27. Additional playdates will be added as pending bookings are confirmed. To date, the Spider-Man motion pictures have generated more than $2.5 billion in worldwide box office receipts. Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3 were also released in IMAX.
The film will benefit from an IMAX exclusive one week early release in the 20 IMAX theatres currently open in Russia beginning Friday, June 29.
Director Marc Webb and the filmmakers have crafted the climactic finale of The Amazing Spider-Man to feature a larger aspect ratio of 1.9:1 versus the traditional 2.39:1 ratio in order to take full advantage of the IMAX canvas and overall experience. This aspect ratio, which is optimized to take advantage of the IMAX screen, will allow audiences to see more of the image and result in a full panorama of the action - allowing audiences to feel as if they were swinging alongside Spider-Man.
The IMAX release of The Amazing Spider-Man has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of An IMAX 3D 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. The film will also be released in 2D and other 3D formats.
About The Amazing Spider-Man:
One of the world's most popular characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man(TM). Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt and Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves from a story by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the film in association with Marvel Entertainment for Columbia Pictures, which will open in theaters everywhere in 3D on July 3, 2012.
The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents' disappearance - leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father's former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors' alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.
http://www.theamazingspiderman.com/
The Amazing Spider-Man has been rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Warner Bros. Gives "Gangster Squad" a September 7th Release Date
“Gangster Squad” to Hit Theaters on September 7
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures announced today that the release date for “Gangster Squad” is September 7, 2012. The announcement was made by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President, Domestic Distribution.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer (“Zombieland”), “Gangster Squad” stars Oscar® nominees Josh Brolin (“Milk,” “True Grit”) and Ryan Gosling (“Half Nelson,” “Blue Valentine”), and Academy Award® winner Sean Penn (“Milk,” “Mystic River”), as well as Oscar® nominee Nick Nolte (“Warrior,” “Affliction”), Emma Stone (“The Help”), Anthony Mackie (upcoming “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”), Giovanni Ribisi (“Avatar”) and Michael Peña (“Tower Heist”).
THE STORY: Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Penn) runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and—if he has his way—every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It’s enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop…except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O’Mara (Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Gosling), who come together to try to tear Cohen’s world apart.
Shot entirely in and around Los Angeles, including in many of the actual locations featured in the story, “Gangster Squad” is a colorful retelling of events surrounding the LAPD’s efforts to take back their nascent city from one of the most dangerous mafia bosses of all time. The screenplay is by Will Beall (TV’s “Castle”), based on the book Gangster Squad by Paul Lieberman. The film is produced by Dan Lin (“Sherlock Holmes”), Kevin McCormick (“The Lucky One”) and Michael Tadross (“Arthur”). The executive producers are Ruben Fleischer, Paul Lieberman and Bruce Berman.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Lin Pictures/Kevin McCormick production, “Gangster Squad.” The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.
http://gangstersquad.warnerbros.com/
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures announced today that the release date for “Gangster Squad” is September 7, 2012. The announcement was made by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President, Domestic Distribution.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer (“Zombieland”), “Gangster Squad” stars Oscar® nominees Josh Brolin (“Milk,” “True Grit”) and Ryan Gosling (“Half Nelson,” “Blue Valentine”), and Academy Award® winner Sean Penn (“Milk,” “Mystic River”), as well as Oscar® nominee Nick Nolte (“Warrior,” “Affliction”), Emma Stone (“The Help”), Anthony Mackie (upcoming “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”), Giovanni Ribisi (“Avatar”) and Michael Peña (“Tower Heist”).
THE STORY: Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Penn) runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and—if he has his way—every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It’s enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop…except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O’Mara (Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Gosling), who come together to try to tear Cohen’s world apart.
Shot entirely in and around Los Angeles, including in many of the actual locations featured in the story, “Gangster Squad” is a colorful retelling of events surrounding the LAPD’s efforts to take back their nascent city from one of the most dangerous mafia bosses of all time. The screenplay is by Will Beall (TV’s “Castle”), based on the book Gangster Squad by Paul Lieberman. The film is produced by Dan Lin (“Sherlock Holmes”), Kevin McCormick (“The Lucky One”) and Michael Tadross (“Arthur”). The executive producers are Ruben Fleischer, Paul Lieberman and Bruce Berman.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Lin Pictures/Kevin McCormick production, “Gangster Squad.” The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.
http://gangstersquad.warnerbros.com/
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