Negromancer News Bits and Bites from November 1st to 8th, 2025 - UPDATE #8

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

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TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS:

MOVIES - From Variety:  Woody Allen is now planning to make his next movie in Madrid. The 89-year-old director has secured €1.5 million ($1.7 million) from the Madrid Regional Government, according to the Spanish outlet El Pais.  He likely also has other financial backers for the film.  The film, which is currently untitled, is due Summer 2026.

SPORTS/SCANDAL - From ESPN:  In the wake of facing criminal charges for his attack on a truck driver in Indianapolis, former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) has been let go as an analyst for Fox Sports.  Fox has hired from New Orleans Saints quarterback and Super Bowl champion, Drew Brees, to replace Sanchez.

NETFLIX/ANIMATION - From Variety:  Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation have announced "KPop Demon Hunters 2," a sequel to the smash hit, "KPop Demon Hunters," but it won't arrive until... 2029.

MOVIES - From THR:  Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz will return to the Universal's turn-of-the-20th century "The Mummy" franchise.  The film will be a sequel to "The Mummy" (1999) and "The Mummy Returns" (2001).  It will ignore the 2008 film, "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," which saw Fraser return to the franchise with Weisz.  The directorial team, "Radio Silence" ("Ready or Not," 2022's "Scream" and  2023's "Scream 6"), are set to direct the new film.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 10/31 to 11/2/2025 weekend box office is Paramount's "Regretting You" with an estimated take of 8.1 million dollars.

SPORTS - From ESPN:  The Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 5-4 in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.  Dodger's pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named the 2025 World Series MVP. The Dodgers are now back-to-back World Series Champions, having also won the title in 2024.  It is also the Dodgers third World Series title in five years having won the title in 2020.  The Dodgers are also the first team to repeat as World Series champs since the New York Yankees did it in 2000 after winning the 1998 and 1999 World Series.

TELEVISION - From Variety:  "American Horror Story" (FX) co-creator Ryan Murphy has announced the cast for American Horror Story Season 13.  Returning stars are Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, and Leslie Grossman, many reprising roles from the 2013 AHS Coven season.  Jessica Lange makes her first AHS appearance since 2018's Apocalypse.  Ariana Grande joins as a lead in her second collaboration with Murphy after "Scream Queens" (FX). The witch-centric AHS 13 storyline revives Coven elements and is set to premiere on Halloween 2026.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  American film and television actress, Diane Ladd, has died at the age of 89, Monday, November 3, 2025.  She is best known for her work in such films as "Chinatown" (1974), "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1974), and "Wild at Heart" (1990).  Ladd was the mother of Oscar-winning actress, Laura Dern (the daughter of Ladd's ex-husband, Bruce Dern), and mother and daughter appeared together in a few films, including "Wild at Heart" and "Rambling Rose" (1991).  Ladd received three "Best Supporting Actress" nominations for her work in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," Wild at Heart," and "Rambling Rose."  Ladd received three Primetime Emmy nominations for her TV work on such series as ""Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," "Grace Under Fire" and "Touched by an Angel."

From Deadline:  Polish born, Israeli-American cinematographer, Adam Greenberg, had died at the age of 88, Thursday, October 30, 2025.  He was best known for his work with director James Cameron on "The Terminator" (1984) and "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" (1991).  He was also the cinematographer on such films as "Near Dark" (1987), "Three Men and a Baby" (1987), "Ghost" (1990), and "Sister Act" (1992), to name a few.  He was nominated for the "Best Cinematography" Oscar for his work on "Terminator 2: Judgement Day."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 1st to 10th, 2016 - Update #39

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MOVIES - From Variety:  At the Toronto International Film Festival, "Birth of a Nation" debuts with a standing ovation, in spite of the ongoing controversy about its director.  Cause it's time to move on.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Natalie Portman as First Lady Jackie Kennedy is all the buzz at Toronto.

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GREED - From Money:  5300 Wells Fargo employees fired in massive fake account scam against customers.

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  Vin Diesel developing a "first responders" drama for NBC.

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MOVIES - From TheVillageVoice:  Charles Burnett's "To Sleep with Anger" reawakens.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Meryl Streep and J.J. Abrams come together for the TV project, "The Nix."

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Universal and Focus Features wins the rights to Paul Thomas Anderson's next film, which will reunite him with Daniel Day-Lewis.

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ECO - From EcoWatch:  Leonardo DiCaprio and three stars from the "Justice League" movie, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher, join the protest against the "Dakota Access" pipeline.

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OBIT - From Variety:  The drag icon, "The Lady Chablis" has died Thursday, September 8, 2016.  She appeared in John Berendt's bestselling novel, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" and also in Clint Eastwood's 1997 film adaptation of the novel.  Her age is unknown.

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MOVIES - From HitFix:  Apparently, "The Crow" reboot is moving forward, maybe with Jason Momoa in the lead.  I think the whole thing is a bad idea.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Johnny Depp to headline a thriller about the murders of rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling in talks to join "A Wrinkle in Time," to be directed by Ava DuVernay.

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TELEVISION - From RSN:  Fox News has settled with Gretchen Carlson in her sexual harassment suit against super-predator Roger Ailes.

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OBIT - From Variety:  The prolific TV director, Leslie H. Martinson, has died at the age of 101, Saturday, September 3, 2016.  He directed over 100 episodes of various TV series, but he is best known for directing the 1966 film, "Batman: The Movie."

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COMICS-FILM - From BleedingCool:  Set photos from "Spider-Man: Homecoming" may reveal the villain, "The Shocker."

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COMICS-FILM - From ETCanada:  Chadwick Boseman says "Black Panther" to be grittier than other Marvel movies.

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OBIT - From Variety:  The actor Hugh O'Brian has died at the age of 91, Monday, September 5, 2016.  He was best known for playing the lead in the popular ABC Western television series, "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955-61).

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CULTURE - From TheDailyBeast:  Nativists/racists attack Chobani for hiring Muslim refugees.

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DA LORD - From NPR:  Mother Teresa is now a saint.

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TELEVISION - From HitFix:  A look at the Ava DuVernay-created, Oprah Winfrey produced family drama, "Queen Sugar."

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JAMES BOND - From Indiewire:  Sony reportedly throws big money at Daniel Craig to return as James Bond for two more films, while the studio and Bond bosses prepare a transition for a younger, longer term successor.

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TELEVISION -  From EW:  Get a first look at "Ghost Rider" from "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

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OBIT - From YahooMusic:  Jerry Heller once managed seminal rap group, N.W.A.  He died at the age of 75 on Friday, September 2, 2016.  Heller's attorney says the N.W.A. biopic, "Straight Outta Compton," caused Heller's death.

From Uproxx:  Jerry Heller, of Ruthless Records and N.W.A., has died.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the three-day Labor Day 2016 weekend (9/2 to 9/4/2016) is "Don't Breathe" with an estimated take of $15.7 million.  The four-day weekend result will be released tomorrow.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Clint Eastwood's biopic, "Sully," gets a standing ovation at the Telluride Film Festival.  Eastwood had a relatively tough time getting it made.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson gives first look at his "Jumanji" character, "The Smoldering Dr. Bravestone."

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MOVIES - From YahooCelebrity:  Gabby Sidibe's has lot a LOT of weight.

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MOVIES - From SlashFilm:  Why didn't the "Saints Row" film happen?

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CULTURE - From TheGuardian:  Comedian and actor Leslie Jones continues to face intense racism.

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OBIT - From TheAVClub:  The actor Jon Polito has died at the age of 65, Thursday, September 1, 2016.  He had a long and prolific career.  He played cops and was a favorite of the Coen Brothers, appearing in "Miller's Crossing" and "The Big Lebowski" to name a few.

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SPORTS - From RSN:  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on those who insult Colin Kaepernick.

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SPORTS - From YahooNews:  When college football player, Travis Rudolph, sat at a lunchroom table with a lonely autistic boy named Bo Paske, it started a sensation.

From YahooSports:  Bo said it was like sitting on rainbows.

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MOVIES - From YahooNews:  For its DVD release, Paul Feig's all-female Ghostbusters reboot gets a new title, "Ghostbusters: Answer the Call."

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MEDIA - From YahooFinance:  Disney is a diversified media empire and is more than just Mickey Mouse, of course.

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COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics is currently producing four comic books that re-imagine various characters from classic Hanna-Barbera animated television series.  "The Jetsons" will be getting the re-imagination treatment.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Fox Searchlight and Nate Parker will hold a press conference at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival for "The Birth of a Nation." Parker continues to deal with the controversy concerning a rape allegation from 17 (!) years ago.

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SPORTS - From YahooTV:  NFL executives and front office people boldly proclaim how much the hate Colin Kaepernick, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, for not standing for the National Anthem.  But they do so by keeping their names off the record.  Both the NFL officials and the reporter and his media outlet are cowards.

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  First trailer for "Underworld: Blood Wars." 'Bout time.

From YouTube:  "Morgan" opens today.  See her go from beautiful child to killer.

From YouTube:  "Kubo and the Two Strings" offers a time-lapse clip from the making of the film.

Full List of Stars Appearing at 2014 Oscar Ceremony Released

Stars Come Out to Celebrate On Oscar® Sunday

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron today announced the complete slate of stars who will present Oscars at the ceremony. The Oscars®, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, will air on Oscar Sunday, March 2, live on ABC.

The presenters, including several past Oscar winners and nominees, will be:

Amy Adams
Kristen Bell
Jessica Biel
Jim Carrey
Glenn Close
Bradley Cooper
Penélope Cruz
Benedict Cumberbatch
Viola Davis
Daniel Day-Lewis
Robert De Niro
Zac Efron
Sally Field
Harrison Ford
Jamie Foxx
Andrew Garfield
Jennifer Garner
Whoopi Goldberg
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Anne Hathaway
Goldie Hawn
Chris Hemsworth
Kate Hudson
Samuel L. Jackson
Angelina Jolie
Michael B. Jordan
Anna Kendrick
Jennifer Lawrence
Matthew McConaughey
Ewan McGregor
Bill Murray
Kim Novak
Tyler Perry
Brad Pitt
Sidney Poitier
Gabourey Sidibe
Will Smith
Kevin Spacey
Jason Sudeikis
Channing Tatum
Charlize Theron
John Travolta
Christoph Waltz
Kerry Washington
Emma Watson
Naomi Watts

“We are very excited that the Hollywood community will be turning out in force for Sunday’s Oscar ceremony,” said Zadan and Meron.  “We sought to include a tremendous diversity of stars to represent not only this year’s nominees, but the legacy of the motion picture business as well.”

For a full gallery of Oscar presenters, visit www.oscar.com.

Review: "Tower Heist" Captures Classic Eddie Murphy

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 92 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

Tower Heist (2011)
Running time: 104 minutes (1 hour, 44 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for language and sexual content
DIRECTOR: Brett Ratner
WRITERS: Ted Griffin and Jeff Nathanson; from a story by Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, and Ted Griffin
PRODUCERS: Brian Grazer, Eddie Murphy, and Kim Roth
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dante Spinotti
EDITOR: Mark Helfrich
COMPOSER: Christophe Beck

COMEDY/CRIME with elements of a thriller

Starring: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Stephen Henderson, Judd Hirsch, Téa Leoni, Michael Peña, Gabourey Sidibe, Nina Arianda, Marcia Jean Kurtz, and Juan Carlos Hernandez

Tower Heist is a 2011 crime comedy from director Brett Ratner (the Rush Hour franchise). The film follows the misadventures of a gang of working stiffs who plot to rob a Wall Street tycoon who stole their pensions. Tower Heist is a comic caper that lives up to the comedy part, and the film’s actors deliver on their characters, especially Eddie Murphy who returns to the kind of character that made him popular in the 1980s.

Tower Heist focuses on Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller), the building manager of The Tower, a high-rise luxury apartment complex in New York City’s Columbus Circle (Manhattan). The residents are wealthy and are used to being catered to, and the building’s security is no joke. Still, Josh has everything under control until the Tower’s most noteworthy tenant, wealthy businessman, Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), is arrested by the FBI for running a Ponzi scheme. It was Kovacs who suggested that Shaw invest the Tower employees’ pension fund, and now that money is also apparently gone.

When FBI agent Claire Denham (Téa Leoni) tells him that Shaw may get away with his crimes, Josh decides to get revenge on Shaw by breaking into his apartment to steal from him. He gathers fellow coworkers: his brother-in-law, Charlie Gibbs (Casey Affleck); a bankrupt Wall Street investor, Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick); bellhop Enrique Dev’reaux (Michael Peña), and Jamaican-born maid, Odessa Montero (Gabourey Sidibe) as his crew. Josh knows, however, that his crew needs a real criminal, so he recruits his neighbor, a petty crook named Slide (Eddie Murphy), to assist them in the robbery. But as determined as they are, things keep getting in their way.

Tower Heist is not really a heist film like the edgier The Italian Job (either version) or the cool and clever Ocean’s Eleven (2001) and its sequels. Tower Heist is comic fluff – successful comic fluff, but still fluff, and its concepts, ideas, and set pieces are utter fantasy. Things happen in this movie that are so unbelievable that they are often funny; it’s ridiculous stuff, but quite amusing.

The real treasures in Tower Heist are the actors and their characters. The story that is Tower Heist is Josh Kovacs’ story, and Ben Stiller, who has been a successful leading man in big screen comedies for well over a decade, is funny. However, Stiller gives the film a surprising dramatic heft by giving Kovacs a dark and melancholy side that simmers right alongside this movie’s humor – even if many viewers may not see it.

Eddie Murphy, in his role as Slide, has done what many critics (and some fans) have been demanding for over two decades – return to playing the wiseass who makes being rude, confrontational, and streetwise a gold standard. This kind of character, in one form or another, appeared in early Murphy films like 48 Hrs., Trading Places, and Beverly Hills Cop and at various time during Murphy’s tenure on “Saturday Night Live” (1980-84), yet in this film, that kind of character still seems fresh. The reason for this may be that Murphy plays Slide as a genuine criminal, a confrontational person who may appear comical, but who is actually an opportunistic career criminal and felon that is dangerous and untrustworthy. Slide is a real hood rat and is good for the film’s conflict and tension. He makes you believe that this heist has a better than 50% chance of going really bad.

There are other good supporting performances: Téa Leoni (who should have had a larger role), Matthew Broderick, and Alan Alda (who makes Arthur Shaw seem like a really nasty piece of work). I’ll also give credit for Tower Heist’s success as a comedy to both director Brett Ratner and editor Mark Helfrich. Ratner allows the actors room to play their characters for strong (if not maximum) effect. Helfrich composes a film that makes sure the comic moments are really funny and turns the heist sequence into a surprising thriller. I’d like to be a snob about this sometimes shallow and fluffy movie, but I really enjoyed Tower Heist. So why front?

7 of 10
A-

Sunday, November 06, 2011