Showing posts with label Illumination Entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illumination Entertainment. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 19th to 25th, 2026 - UPDATE #7

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

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

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NEWS:

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Universal Pictures’ upcoming "Miami Vice" movie officially has its Tubbs and Crockett as Oscar-winner Michael B. Jordan and Oscar-nominee Austin Butler are set to star.  The film also has an official title, "Miami Vice ’85."  Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the film will be shot for IMAX and is set to debut on August 6, 2027.  The film explores the glamour and corruption of mid-1980s Miami, and it is inspired by the pilot episode and the first season of "Miami Vice."

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Paramount TV has a hot property in a television series based on Oscar-nominated writer-director James Mangold's breakthrough film, "Cop Land" (1997).

MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  Because of scheduling, "Top Gun: Maverick" director Joseph Kosinski cannot to direct the planned third film in the franchise.  The search is on for a new director.

CELEBRITY - From APNewsEddie Murphy received the American Film Institute (AFI) "Lifetime Achievement Award." His acceptance speech draws a standing ovation.

From EW:  Eddie Murphy's costar in DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek" films, Mike Myers, dresses in full Shrek character makeup at the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony in honor to order Murphy.
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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 4/17 to 4/19/2026 weekend box office is Universal/Illumination Entertainment's "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" with an estimated take of 35 million dollars.

OBIT:

From Variety:  American film and television actor and film producer, Patrick Muldoon, has died at the age of 57, Sunday, April 19, 2026.  He was best known for his TV work, which included the former NBC daytime soap opeara, "Days of Our Lives;" and a recurring role on the former Fox primetime soap, "Melrose Place."  Muldoon also appeared in a number of TV movies.  His best known film roles were in the films, "Starship Troopers" (1997) and "Stigmata" (1999).

From Deadline:  American film and television actor and voice performer, Rif Hutton, has died at the age of 73, Saturday, April 18, 2026.  Hutton was best known for his roles on the former ABC medical sitcom, "Doogie Howser, M.D.," and former legal drama, "JAG."  Hutton also provided the voices for the "walkers" in multiple episodes of AMC's "The Walking Dead" and its spin-off series.  Hutton was also a voice performer in multiple animated feature films, including "Shrek" (2001), "Madagascar" (2005), "The Princess and the Frog" (2009), "ParaNorman" (2012), and "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018).


Saturday, April 18, 2026

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 12th to 18th, 2026 - UPDATE #6

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

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

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NEWS:

MOVIES - From THR:  David Harbour will join actor Noah Centineo in the latest "Rambo" film, "John Rambo."  Centineo will play John Rambo.  Harbour will apparently play "Major Trautman," Rambo's commanding officer, a role originated by the late Richard Crenna in the film, "First Blood" (1982).

AMAZON - From DeadlineAmazon MGM Studios is developing a live-action remake of the 1992 animated film, "FernGully: The Last Rainforest."  Marielle Heller is set to direct the film from her own script.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Over 1000 Hollywood figures sign an open letter opposing the merger of Skydance Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.  The signees include J.J. Abrams, Glenn Close, Bryan Cranston, Jane Fonda, Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, Kristen Stewart, and Ben Stiller, to name a few.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 4/10 to 4/12/2026 weekend box office is Universal/Illumination Entertainment's "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" with an estimated take of 69 million dollars.

STREAMING - From FangoriaHBO's popular horror anthology series, "Tales from the Crypt" (1989-96) is finally coming to streaming.  The service, "Shudder," will carry all seven seasons, beginning May 1st, 2026.

OBITS:

From THR:  Canadian television creator, writer, and puppeteer, Sid Krofft, has died at the age of 96, Friday, April 10, 2026.  With his younger brother, the late Marty Krofft (1937-2023), Sid formed the production company, Sid and Marty Krofft Pictures, through which they made numerous children's television and variety programs.  The best known were "H.R. Pufnstuf" (1969), "The Banana Splits" (1968-70), "Lidsville" (1971), "Sigmund the Sea Monsters" (1973-75), and "Land of the Lost" (1974-76), to name a few.  In 2018, both brothers received an "Lifetime Achievement" Emmy Award.  Previously, Sid shared three Daytime Emmy Award nominations with his brother and their collaborators.

From THR:  The stage, film, and television actor, Carl W. Crudup, has died at the age of 79, January 10, 2026 after a battle with prostate cancer it was recently reported.  Over a five decade career, Crudup appeared in such TV series as PBS's "Great Performances," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "The Rockford Files," "ER," and Marvel's "Agent Carter," to name a few.


Saturday, April 11, 2026

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 1st to 11th, 2026 - UPDATE #13

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

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

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NEWS:

DISNEY - From WSJ:  New Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro's opening salvo is to layoff at least 1000 employees.

From WorldofReel:  The fallout of Pixar's cancelled animated film, "Be Fri," has come to include word that executives were concerned that the story would emphasize (shudder, gasp, choke)... "girl power!"

MOVIES - From THRCinema United, the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, confirmed the formation of a "Filmmaker Leadership Council" that will provide “meaningful support” for theatrical exhibition of movies. It will be led by blockbuster veteran, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Oscar winning producer, Emma Thomas. as chair and vice chair respectively.  Rounding out the council will be Oscar winners Ryan Coogler and Brad Bird, and Oscar nominees Jason Reitman and Celine Song.

SCANDAL - From VarietyJeff Shell has exited his role as president of Paramount Skydance due to a controversy.  He stepped down as CEO of NBCUniversal in 2023 because of an inappropriate relationship.

MOVIES - From WorldofReelHBO Max has begun show "Alien 3: The Assembly Cut."  This is a 2 hour and 25 minute-version of director David Fincher's 1992 "Alien" sequel, "Alien 3."  It is 31 minutes longer that the original release.  Fincher chose not be involved with the new release.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 4/3 to 4/5/2026 weekend box office is Universal/Illumination's "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" with an estimated take of $130.94 million dollars.

STREAMING - From WorldofReel:  Disgraced movie star, Jonathan Majors, was injured on the set of a film for "The Daily Wire," and the Wire's response is "we don't negotiate with terrorists."

DISNEY+ - From VarietyDisney+ has greenlit an "Animorphs" television series.  It is in early development and is executive produced by Ryan Coogler through Proximity Media. Writer Bayan Wolcott is penning the scripts. The project is an adaptation of the 1996-2001 Scholastic books series by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant.  The books focused on kids who fight the parasitic "Yeerks" invading Earth.  The series blended action, body horror, and moral depth over its 54 volumes that sold over 35 million copies.

APPLE - From WorldofReelDavid E. Kelly is adapting Tom Wolfe's 1987, "The Bonfire of the Vanities" for Apple TV+Matt Reeves ("The Batman") is set to direct the series.  The novel was previously adapted in to film by director Brian De Palma. Starring Tom Hanks and released in 1990, the movie was and still is considered a disaster.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Sisters Lilla and Nora Zuckerman are writing "Scream 8."  They were recently showrunner for Peacock's streaming series, "Poker Face."

MOVIES - From Variety: Sony Pictures is developing a biopic about famed CBS anchor and journalist, the late Walter Cronkite. The film will be an adaptation of Douglas Brinkley's 2012 biography, "Cronkite."

BUSINESS - From VarietyJ.J. Abrams is downsizing his production company, "Bad Robot," and is moving it from Los Angeles to New York.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  The critically-acclaimed and hit horror film, "Weapons," will get a prequel film.  Entitled "Gladys," it will focus on Weapons' villain, "Aunt Gladys," who was portrayed by Amy Madigan, who, in turn, was a "Best Supporting Actress" Oscar for her performance.  Zach Cregger, creator of "Weapons," will write the screenplay with Zach Shields. There is no word as to whether or not Cregger will direct, "Gladys."

TELEVISION - From EWHBO's teen drama, "Euphoria," returns April 12, 2026, but it won't be about teens...


Saturday, July 20, 2024

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 14th to 20th, 2024 - UPDATE #15

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

NETFLIX - From YahooFinance:  Netflix says that it will phase out its $11.99 ad-free plan.

CELEBRITY - From VarietyDonald Glover brings an end to his musical persona, "Childish Gambino," with a new album, "Bando Stone and the New World," and perhaps, a film and world tour.

EMMYS - From Variety:  The nominations for the 76th / 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced.  FX's "Shogun" leads the drama categories with 25 nominations and its series, "The Bear," leads the comedy categories with 23.  The winners will be announced Sunday, Sept. 15th in a ceremony broadcast on ABC.

MOVIES - From DeadlineMichael Mann says that he hopes to start film "Heat 2" by the end of this year or the beginning of next year (2025). He won't discuss the cast, although there are rumors about Adam Driver and Austin Butler.

AMAZON - From Variety:  Oscar-winner Colin Firth has joined Amazon Prime Video's "Young Sherlock."  Based on Andy Lane's series of novels, the Amazon production will star Hero Fiennes Tiffin.

BUSINESS - From THR:  Another day, another round of layoffs at Warner Bros. Discovery, across all divisions.

HULU - From DeadlineHalle Berry has reportedly exited Ryan Murphy's Hulu legal drama, "All's Fair," starring Kim Kardashian.

TELEVISION - From DeadlineCBS has announced the Fall 2024 premiere dates for its returning and new TV series.  The first series arrives on Wednesday, September 18th with the Season 47 premier of "Survivor" and and the last two arrive Sunday, October 27th with the Season 2 premier of "Tracker" and the Season 5 premiere of "The Equalizer."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 7/12 to 7/14/2024 weekend box office is Universal/Illumination's "Despicable Me 4" with an estimated take of 44.65 million dollars.

From YahooEntertainmentNeon's release, "Longlegs," is a surprise #2 at this weekend's box office.  But is the film cursed by star Nicolas Cage's creepy performance?

MOVIES - From Deadline Zoe Kravitz's talks about why her directorial debut, "Blink Twice," is no longer entitled "Pussy Island."

TELEVISION - From DeadlineHBO has released a first-look image of Emily Watson as "Valya Harkonnen" from the television series, "Dune: Prophecy."  The series is due this fall.

OBITS:

From Variety:  American comedian, actor, and recording artist, Bob Newhart, has died at the age of 94, Thursday, July 18, 2024.  Newhart came to prominence with the release of an album of comedic monologues, entitled "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart."  That LP and its follow-up, "The Button-Mind Strikes Back!," won Newhart his three Grammy Awards.  As an actor, he would be best known for two former CBS sitcoms, "The Bob Newhart Show" (1972-78) and "Newhart" (1982-90).  He would win his sole Primetime Emmy Award for a guest role on the former CBS sitcom, "The Big Bang Theory."

From Deadline:  Tributes pour in for iconic deadpan comedian, Bob Newhart, who died yesterday (Thurs., July 18th) at the age of 84
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From Deadline:  Film and television actor, James B. Sikking, has died at the age of 90, Saturday, July 13, 2024. Sikking was best known for the role "Lt. Howard Hunter" on the former NBC police drama, "Hill Street Blues" (1981-86), a role for which he was once nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.  He also played "Doogie Howser's" dad, "David," on the former ABC sitcom, "Doogie Howser M.D."  He also appeared in such films as "Ordinary People" (1980), "Outland" (1981), "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984), to name a few.

From Variety:  American film and television actress, Shannen Doherty, has died at the age of 53, Saturday, July 13, 2024 after a long battle with breast cancer beginning with her 2015 diagnosis.  She first gained prominence playing the role of "bad girl," "Brenda Walsh," during the first four seasons of the former Fox teen soap, "Beverly Hills, 90210." She also starred as the witch, "Prue Halliwell," on the first three seasons of The WB series, "Charmed."  She appeared in a number of films, including "Heathers" (1988) and "Mallrats" (1995).


Saturday, July 13, 2024

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 7th to 13th, 2024 - UPDATE #15

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

SCANDAL - From Deadline:  Today (Fri., July 12th) in New Mexico, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer has dismissed the involuntary manslaughter trial against Alec Baldwin. Baldwin has been charged in the 2021 accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."  Judge Sommer accused the state of repeatedly failing to disclose key evidence to Baldwin's defense team.  The trial was dismissed without prejudice meaning it cannot be refiled.  The already-convicted armorer on the film, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed could also be released from prison.

From DeadlineAlec Baldwin racks up a win early in his trial on involuntary manslaughter charges.  Baldwin is being tried for the shooting death of cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, in 2021 on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

POLITICS - From TheNewYorkTimes:  George Clooney says that he loves President Joe Biden, but that Biden has got to go... with friends like this...

STREAMING - From VarietyHalle Berry and Glenn Close is joining Ryan Murphy's Hulu legal drama, "All's Fair," which will star Kim Kardashian.  Berry and Close will join Kardashian as executive producers.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 7/5 to 7/7/2024 weekend box office is Universal/Illumination's "Despicable Me 4" with an estimated take of 75 million dollars.

BUSINESS - From VarietyDavid Ellison meets the press in the way of his company, Skydance Media, gobbling up Paramount Global.

From DeadlineDavid Ellison's Skydance Media and its backers are taking over Paramount Global with an 8 billion dollar investment.  Ellison will be chairman and CEO of the merged companies, and the deal is expected to be closed by mid-2025.

From Deadline:  A special committee of Paramount Global board members has given a key approval vote to Skydance Media's bid to gain the controlling share of National Amusements Inc., the parent company of Paramount.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joseph Kosinki talk about next summer's blockbuster film, "F1," starring Brad Pitt.

From WorldofReel:  There is a first poster for director Joseph Kosinski's "F1," which stars Brad Pitt. The film is due Summer 2025. Kosinski directed the megahit, "Top Gun: Maverick."

OBITS:

From Variety:  American television fitness guru and personality and author, Richard Simmons, has died at the age of 76, Saturday, July 13, 2024.  Simmons was best known for his extensive line of self-help books and videos related to exercise and weight-loss.  His best known series is probably the "Sweatin' to the Oldies," initially released on videocassette.  He gained fame as a fitness guru after opening his exercise studio, "The Anatomy Asylum," in 1974.  By the late 70s and into the early 1980s, he began consistently appearing on television.  From 1980-84, he hosted "The Richard Simmons Show," which was nominated for seven Daytime Emmy Awards and won four.  After the series ended, Simmons continued to make numerous TV and public appearances.  Beginning in 2014, Simmons largely became a recluse.

From THR:  American film and television actress and TV producer, Shelley Duvall, has died at the age of 75, Thursday, July 11, 2024.  Early on in her career, Duvall was the protege of director, Robert Altman, who discovered her, and she appeared in several of his films, including "Brewster's McCloud" (1970) and "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" (1971), and "Nashville" (1975).  Known for playing eccentric roles, she starred in "Popeye" (1980), the adaptation of the famed newspaper comics strip and animated cartoon series.  Duvall's most famous role may be that of the tormented wife, "Wendy Torrance," opposite Jack Nicholson's "Jack Torrance" in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" (1980).  As a producer she earned two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work on children's programming.

From Variety:  The magazine's Owen Gleiberman writes a remembrance of actress Shelley Duvall, who died Thurs., July 11th.
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From Deadline:  American actor and voice artist and former child star, Benji Gregory, has died at the age of 46, Thursday, June 13, 2024.  Gregory is best known for the role of "Brian Tanner" on the former NBC sitcom, "Alf" (1986-90). Gregory also performed voice roles on such animated series as "Pound Puppies" and the "Back to the Future" animated series.
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From Deadline:  American film producer, Jon Landau, has died at the age of 63, Friday, July 5, 2024.  Landau was best known for his association with writer-director James Cameron and was the COO of Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment.  Landau shared the "Best Picture" Oscar win with Cameron for the 1997 film, "Titanic."  He also received "Best Picture" Oscar nominations for "Avatar" (2009) and "Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022).

From Deadline:  In mourning the death of his close friend and collaborator, Jon Landau, James Cameron says "a part of myself has been torn away."

From Deadline:  Hollywood is shocked by the death of Oscar-winning producer Jon Landau ("Titanic), and they salute his vision, achievements, and kindness.


Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Review: "DESPICABLE ME 2" Will Make Kids Happy, Happy, Happy...

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 27 of 2024 (No. 1971) by Leroy Douresseaux

Despicable Me 2 (2013)
Running time:  98 minutes (1 hour, 38 minutes)
MPAA – PG for rude humor and mild action
DIRECTORS:  Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud
WRITERS:  Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul
PRODUCERS:  Janet Healy and Chris Meledandri
EDITOR:  Gregory Perler
COMPOSERS:  Heitor Pereira (score) and Pharrell Williams (songs)
Academy Award nominee

ANIMATION/FANTASY and ACTION/COMEDY/FAMILY

Starring:  (voice) Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher Russell Brand, Benjamin Bratt, Moises Arias, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan, Pierre Coffin, and Chris Renaud

Despicable Me 2 is a 2013 computer-animated action-fantasy and comedy film directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud.  The film is produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is a direct sequel to the 2010 film, Despicable Me.  Despicable Me 2 finds bad guy-tuned-dad guy, Gru, recruited by a secret organization to discover who stole a deadly chemical.

Despicable Me 2 finds Gru (Steve Carell), formerly the world’s number one super-villain, settled into his role as the adopted father of the three orphan girls:  Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Elsie Fisher).  All is not well at home, however.  Gru is trying to get his “jams and jellies” business to succeed, while one of his female neighbors tries to set him up on a blind date.  Also, Gru's longtime gadget man, Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand), quits so that he can take a job that will allow him to be a bad guy again.

But Gru's old life comes calling when the Anti-Villain League (AVL) demands that he help them discover who stole the dangerous transmutation serum, “PX-41.”  They appoint AVL agent, Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig), as his partner.  The two set up in a fake business, a bakery named “Bake My Day,” in Paradise Mall, a shopping mall near Gru's home.  As for the thief of the serum, Gru has a suspect in mind, a former super-villain who supposedly died in a volcano, but AVL doesn't believe him.  Meanwhile, someone is stealing some of Gru's little helpers, the Minions.

I really liked the original Despicable Me, but when Despicable Me 2 arrived back in 2013, I decided not to see it because... well, because the first was enough.  I'd gotten all the cuteness of  Margo, Edith, and Agnes that I needed, and I had gotten the best of Gru's character arc and transformation from villain to father.

However, I was shocked to find that I really liked the first full-length trailer for the upcoming Despicable 4 (2024).  So I decided to watch Despicable Me 2 for the first time, and I was right the first time.  The first film was really enough for me.  The girls are still cute, but there is less of them so that there can be more screen time for Gru's burgeoning relationship with Lucy Wilde.  I'm only kinda interested in that.  Gru's character arc in this film isn't as engaging as it was in the first film.  Clearly, the Minions needed more screen time than they got here, although they do play a pivotal part in the villain's wacky plot.  In fact, two years after the release of this film, the Minions got their own movie, 2015's Minions.

Despicable Me 2 isn't bad, but the film's storytellers play it safe rather than advance the elements that made the first film a surprise hit.  It earned two Oscar nominations, one for Pharrell Williams' song, “Happy,” which was practically ubiquitous from July 2013 to well into 2014.  I'm just not sure how invested I can be in this franchise, although the fourth film has sort of captured my interest.  It is really in the last twenty minutes of the film before the end credits that Despicable Me 2 really comes to life.  That's okay for me, but I'm sure family audiences will find it more than okay.

6 of 10
B
★★★ out of 4 stars

Tuesday, July 2, 2024


NOTES:
2014 Academy Awards, USA:  2 nominations: “Best Animated Feature Film of the Year” (Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin, Christopher Meledandri) and “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song” (Pharrell Williams-music and lyrics for the song, “Happy”)

2013 BAFTA Children's Awards:  1 win: “BAFTA Kids Vote – Feature Film”

2014 BAFTA Awards:  1 nomination: “Best Animated Film” (Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin)

2013 Golden Globes, USA:  1 nomination: “Best Animated Feature Film”

2014 Black Reel Awards:  1 nomination: “Outstanding Song” (Pharrell Williams-Performer & Writer for the song “Happy”)


The text is copyright © 2024 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Saturday, May 6, 2023

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 1st to 6th, 2023 - Update #17

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

STRIKE - From Deadline:  The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is on strike.

From Deadline:  Disney, HBO/HBO Max, and CBS have sent letters to showrunners (the TV equivalent of film directors) instructing them to return to work, inspite of the writer's strike.

From Deadline:  The WGA's chief negotiator, Ellen Stutzman, talks about the state of the writers' strike, including the lack of engagement on the part of the strike's other party, AMPTP.

From Deadline:  What went wrong between the WGA and AMPTP? What could they not agree on that led to a strike?

From Deadline:  The site explains the WGA strike: the issues, the stakes, movies and TV shows affected, and how long it might last.

SCANDAL - From the AP:  The Labor Department has fined McDonald's restaurant franchisees in Louisville, Kentucky, a total $212,000 for illegally employing children.  That includes two 10-year-olds who were not paid for their labor.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  Oscar-winning actor and performer, Jamie Foxx, breaks silence for the first time since his hospitalization after a "medical emergency."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Paramount Network's drama, "Yellowstone," will end after its upcoming fifth season.  It will be replaced by a follow-up series starring Matthew McConaughey.

From ETOnline:  Star Kevin Costner will not return to Paramount Network's television series, "Yellowstone," past this currently filming fifth season.

TONY AWARDS - From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 76th Annual Tony Awards have been announced.  The musical "Some Like It Hot" leads with 13 nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, June 11th at 8pm Eastern on CBS.

ANIMATION - From DeadlineJ. Michael Straczynski, the creator of the TV series, "Babylon 5," has announced that more information about the release date of the "Babylon 5" animated film is coming in a week.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  In a first look, Oscar-nominated actor, Austin Butler ("Elvis") is bald and without eyebrows as the villain, Reyd-Rautha, in "Dune: Part Two."

OSCARS - From Deadline:  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday its “most significant overhaul” of the campaign promotional regulation and awards rules for the upcoming 96th Oscars.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Fox had opted not to renew its highest-rated scripted drama, "9-1-1," after its current sixth season, which has its season finale May 15th.  However, the series will move to ABC for the 2023-24 season, its seventh season.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 4/28 to 4/30/2023 weekend box office is Universal/Illumination Entertainment's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" with an estimated take of 40 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Actor Ioan Gruffudd (2005's "Fantastic Four," and "San Andreas") has been added to Sony Pictures' "Bad Boys 4."

OBITS:

From Variety:  Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and folk singer, Gordon Lightfoot, has died at the age of 84, May 1, 2023.  He had a number one hit in the U.S. with the 1974 single, "Sundown."  He also had huge success on the U.S. "Adult Contemporary" charts with such songs as "If You Could Read My Mind" (1970), "Carefree" (1974), and "Rainy Day People" (1975), among others.  His songs were covered by such artists as Elvis Presley, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young, to name a few.

From Variety:  Film and television editor, John Gordon Wright, has died at the age of 79, Thursday, April 20, 2023.  Wright was nominated for the "Best Editing" Oscar twice, for "The Hunt for Red October" (1990) and "Speed" (1994).  He won a Primetime Emmy Award for editing the 1991 CBS television film, "Sarah, Plain and Tall."  He edited two films for director Mel Gibson, "The Passion of the Christ" (2004) and "Apocalypto" (2006).  He also edited "X-Men" (2000) and Marvel Studios' "The Incredible Hulk" (2008).


Sunday, April 30, 2023

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 23rd to 30th, 2023 - Update #20

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

CELEBRITY - From THR:  Actor Michael J. Fox, 61, tells Jane Pauley of "CBS Sunday Morning" that his battle with Parkinson's disease gets tougher every day. Fox says, "I'm not going to be 80."

STRIKE - From Deadline:  The site explains the WGA strike: the issues, the stakes, movies and TV shows affected, and how long it might last.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Director David Borenstein talks about his new documentary film, ""Can't Feel Nothing," which explores the connections between Internet use and emotional disorders.

TELEVISION - From TheNewYorker:  "Why are TV writers so miserable?" by Michael Schulman.

SPORTS/CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  Hollywood icon and Oscar-winning actor, Jack Nicholson, attended his first Los Angeles Lakers game since October 2021.  He attended Friday, April 28th's Memphis Grizzles vs. Lakers' Game 6 in this first round of the NBA playoffs.  The Lakers won the game 125-85 and won the series 4 games to 2.

CINEMACON/ANIMATION - From Deadline:  At CinemaCon 2023, Paramount Pictures announces its first "Transformers" animated film, "Transformers One." This isn't the first Transformers animated film. "The Transformers: The Movie" was released to theaters in 1986.

CELEBRITY - From THR:  This profile of 79-year-old actress Valerie Perrine, includes information on her caretaker and on an appeal for financial assistance.

CINEMACON - From BloodyDisgusting:  At CinemaCon, the audience was treated to footage of "The Exorcist: Believer," the first in a new trilogy set in the world of 1973 film, "The Exorcist."  Ellen Burstyn reprises her iconic role as "Chris MacNeil," the mother of a daughter possessed by a demon.

MOVIES - From ScreenTime:  Actress Dakota Fanning talks about reunited with Denzel Washington for the first time since 2004's "Man on Fire." The two will appear together in "The Equalizer 3."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The shape of things to come: Of the 13-member series-regular cast of CBS’ comedy "Bob❤️Abishola," only the two leads, Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku, will remain series regulars next season. The others can recur in as few as five episodes in Season 5.

DISNEY - From DeadlineThe Walt Disney Company has sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

POLITICS/TELEVISION - From CNN:  Fox News has parted ways with its most popular host, Tucker Carlson.

From RollingStone:  Fox News executives have in their possession a dossier of alleged dirt on Tucker Carlson should he attack the network in the wake of his departure, eight sources at the network and close to it have told "Rolling Stone" magazine.

From CNN:  CNN has parted ways with its most whatever host, Don Lemon.

MOVIES - From People:  Oscar-nominated actress, Terry Moore, reflects on her relationship with ex-husband and eccentric billionaire, Howard Hughes.  Moore is one of the last living performers of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and she is still working.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 4/21 to 4/23/2023 weekend box office is Universal Pictures/Illumination Entertainment's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" with an estimated take of 58.2 million dollars.

MUSIC/LGBTQ+ - From Deadline:  The state of Tennessee may have a law banning drag performances, but during her concert in Knoxville, TN, Grammy-winner Lizzo invited several drag performers on stage with her to perform.

STREAMING - From Variety:  Actor Bruce Campbell has joined Peacock's upcoming "Satanic Panic" drama, "Hysteria!"

OBITS:

From Variety:  Politician and television personality, Jerry Springer, has died at the age of 79, Thursday, April 27, 2023.  He was the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio for one year in the 1970s.  However, Springer is known for his long-running daytime talk show, "Jerry Spring" (1991-2018).  At the height of the show's popularity, it was a cultural touchstone, and in 1998, it was more popular "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

From Deadline:  American singer, actor, activist, and Civil Rights icon, Harry Belafonte, has died at the age of 96, Tuesday, April 26, 2023.  The child of Jamaican-born parents, Belafonte was among the most successful Caribbean-American music stars and recording artists of all time.  A three-time Grammy Award winner, he helped popularize Calypso music with international audiences.  As an actor, he was one of the first Black leading men in Hollywood and starred in such films as "Carmen Jones" (1954), "Island in the Sun" (1957), and "Buck and the Preacher" (1972), to name a few. Belafonte also won an Emmy Award, a Tony Award, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

From Deadline:  "Harry Belafonte: A Career in Photos."


Saturday, April 15, 2023

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 9th to 15th, 2023 - Update #11

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From DeadlineNicholas Hoult and Toni Collette have joined Clint Eastwood's next film, "Juror #2."

STREAMING - From VarietyHBO Max has officially announced it has officially ordered a "Harry Potter" television series.  The cast will be entirely new.

From Deadline:  There is more information on HBO Max's recently announced "Harry Potter" TV series, including that its debut is set for 2025-26.

From VarietyChuck Lorre is developing a second spinoff of his former CBS hit TV series, "The Big Bang Theory" for HBO Max (soon to be known simply as "Max").  The first spinoff, "Young Sheldon," is currenly airing on CBS.

CELEBRITY - From Variety:  Jamie Foxx has been hospitalized in Atlanta following a “medical complication” his family revealed late Wednesday evening.

From CNN:  Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx remains hospitalized in Atlanta (possibly due to a stroke), while his current film, "Back in Action," is expected to wrap production within the week.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Emmy Award-winning actress. Julie Bowen, ("Modern Family") will star in Peacock’s "satanic panic," coming-of-age thriller, "Hysteria!"

NETFLIX/ANIMATION - From DeadlineNetflix has approved an animated series set in the world of its hit series, "Stranger Things."  The series currently does not have a title.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 4/7 to 4/9/2023 Easter weekend box office is Universal/Illumination Entertainment's "Super Mario Bros. Movie" with an estimated take of 146.3 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Director James Mangold says that Timothée Chalamet, the star of his upcoming biopic of the legendary singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan, will be doing his own singing.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  The actress Elizabeth Hubbard has died at the age of 89, Saturday, April 8, 2023.  She was best known for her roles in two daytime soap opera television series.  She was "Dr. Althea Davis" in former NBC series, "The Doctors," and also "Lucinda Walsh" in the former CBS series, "As the World Turns."  She won a Daytime Emmy Award for "The Doctors." From 1986-1999, she was nominated for lead actress Daytime Emmy eight times for "As the World Turns."  She won an additional Daytime Emmy in 1976 for her role in the daytime TV movie, "First Ladies Diaries: Edith Wilson."  Her final Daytime Emmy nomination was for her role in the YouTube daytime soap opera, "Anacostia."

From Variety:  The film and television actor, Michael Lerner, has died at the age of 81, Saturday, April 8, 2023.  Lerner appeared in numerous films, including "Eight Men Out" (1988), "Elf" (2003), and "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (2014).  He received a "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar nomination for his role in the Coen Bros.'s 1991 film, "Barton Fink." Lerner was also a recurring character on the former NBC drama, "Hill Street Blues" and the former ABC/UPN sitcom, "Clueless," to name a few.


Saturday, July 9, 2022

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 1st to 9th, 2022 - Update #17

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

BREAKING NEWS - From ABC:  Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated by a gunman during a campaign speech Friday in Nara, Japan.

STAR TREK - From THR:  In the final episode of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" Season 1, actor Paul Wesley debuts as "Captain James T. Kirk," the iconic character most famously played by the iconic actor, William Shatner.

LEGAL - From Deadline:  Oscar-nominee, Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat"), has won an appeal in the lawsuit brought against him by failed Alabama U.S. senatorial candidate and accused sexual predator, Roy Moore.

CRIME - From TMZ:  Eric Holder, Jr. has been found guilty of 1st-degree murder for shooting rapper Nipsey Hussle to death in 2019.  He was also found guilty of five other charges.

MOVIES - From VarietyWoody Allen has said that his next film will be a French-language project, shot in Paris with a local cast.  He just needs to get the financing set.

MOVIES - From DeadlineJames Cameron's film series, "Avatar," will apparently be comprised of five films, but Cameron recently said that he might not direct the fourth and firth films.

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:  "Minions: The Rise of Gru" had a four-day July 4th holiday weekend total of 125.1 million dollars at the domestic box office.

From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 7/1 to 7/3/2022 weekend box office is "Minions: The Rise of Gru" with an estimated take of 108.5 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Writer-director Jordan Peele has revealed a viral website, Jupiterclaim.com, that ties into his upcoming film, "Nope" (July 22nd).

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  CBS cancelled its "Magnum P.I." reboot after four seasons. Now, NBC has rescued the series ordering a fifth and sixth season, 10 episodes each season for a total of 20.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  The original "Buzz Lightyear," Tim Allen, speaks about the new "Lightyear" film.

TELEVISION - From ShadowandAct:  "In Living Color" veteran, Tommy Davidson, talks about how the demoralizing experience he had trying to develop a TV series based on Eddie Murphy's 1988 hit, "Coming to America."

OBITS:

From Variety:  The actor and comedian, Larry Storch, has died at the age of  99, Friday, July 8, 2022.  He was best known for playing "Corporal Randolph Agam" in the former ABC sitcom, "F Troop" (1965-67).  He reunited with his "F Troop" cast mate, Forrest Tucker, for the 1975 CBS Saturday morning children's series, "The Ghost Busters."  For Warner Bros. animation, Storch performed voice on numerous animated series, including "Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales," The Pink Panther," and "The Brady Kids," to name a few.

From Deadline:  The actor Tony Sirico has died at the age of 79, Friday, July 8, 2022.  Sirico was best known for playing "Paulie Walnuts" on the former HBO television series, "The Sopranos."  He also appeared in several Woody Allen films, including "Bullets Over Broadway," "Mighty Aphrodite," and "Celebrity," to name a few. 

From Variety:  The film and television actor, James Caan, has died at the age of 82, Wednesday, July 6th, 2022.  He was best known for the role of the hot-headed "Sonny Corleone" in "The Godfather" (1972), for which he received an Oscar nomination.  He also appeared in the famous television movie, "Brian's Song" (1970), which earned him an Emmy nomination.  Other notable film roles include "Rollerball" (1975), "Thief" (1981), "Gardens of Stone" (1987), and "Misery" (1990), to name a few.

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BRITTNEY GRINER:

From ESPN:  Detained WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty on Thursday to bringing hashish oil into Russia, telling a judge that she had done so "inadvertently" while asking the court for mercy.

From CBSSports:  The Brittney Griner situation explained.

From RSN:  According to The Washington Post Editorial Board: "Brittney Griner is a hostage, plain and simple.

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ROE V. WADE - From NPR:  The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has overturned "Roe v. Wade."  It's gone, boo.

From TheRoot:  During a re-election really with Donald Trump, Congresswoman Mary Miller said that the overturning of "Roe v. Wade" a "historic victory for white life." [Sometimes, they tell you who they are - Leroy]

From GoogleDocs:  "Roe v. Wade": What you can do.

From RSNNewYorker:  We're not going back to the time before Roe. We're going somewhere worse.

From RSNVanityFair:  Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Stephen Breyer's wrote a withering dissent to the court's conservative majority. Their conclusion: this opinion is "the curtailment of women's rights, and of their status as free and equal citizens."

From Truthout:  Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass) led a group of 20 Black Congresswomen who urged President Biden to to take urgent action to protect abortion rights.

From GuardianUK:  "'Fewer Rights Than Their Grandmothers': Read Three Justices' Searing Abortion Dissent"

UVALDE, TEXAS MASS SHOOTING:

From YahooAP:  An 18-year-old gunman slaughtered 19 children and two teachers on Tues., May 24th, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas.  All 21 victims were in the same 4th grade classroom at Robb Elementary.

From TheDailyBeast:  Texas's top law enforcement official, Department of Public Safety Director Steve McGraw, has said that the school shooter in Uvalde, Texas could have been taken down in three minutes.

From TheDailyBeast:  Police officers responding to last month’s mass shooting at an Uvalde, Texas, elementary school never even tried to open the door to the classroom where young children were trapped with the gunman, according to a new report. 

From Jacobin:  "The Uvalde Massacre has exposed the lies that once justified police militarization" by Branko Marcetic

From Truthout:  We don’t need more evidence that police can’t be trusted.

From Truthout:   44 percent of GOP voters view mass shootings as part of living in “Free Society”

From ABCNews:  Arnulfo Reyes, a teacher who survived the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, calls the local police "cowards" because of slow response to an active shooter at his school, Robb Elementary.  All of 11 students in his class were killed.

From DallasNews:  Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, one of the two teachers killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, has died of a heart attack two days after the murder of his wife.  They had been married for 24 years and had been high school sweethearts.

From Axios:  Texas gubernatorial candidate, Beto O'Rourke, interrupted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's gaslighting press conference on the Uvalde elementary school mass shooting.

From USAToday:  Beto O'Rourke's outburst at Gov. Greg Abbott's Uvalde news conference shows the spine Democrats need.

From BostonGlobe:  Steve Kerr, head coach of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, asks "When are we going to do something?"

From NBCNews:  A Robb Elementary teacher describes "the longest 35 minutes of my life" and the terror she now feels.

From NBCNews:  The Uvalde school district had an extensive safety plan, but 19 children were killed at Robb Elementary anyway.  Even security plans that appear to be up to the latest research-based standards may have gaps and fall short of preventing the worst-case scenario, experts said.

From MSN:  Angeli Rose Gomez, the mother who was handcuffed outside Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, was able to get inside the school and rescue her two children.

From YahooNews:   Daniel Defense, the maker of the rifles used by the Uvalde massacre killer, has used "incendiary ads" in the past, including one in which a toddler holds one of its rifles.

From TheIntercept:  The police aren't obligated to protect anyone NOT in their custody, as the Supreme Court has ruled twice.

From RollingStone:  Right wing lies about the Second Amendment and why they tell them are killing America's childrne.

From Vice:  The law enforcement personnel in Texas that arrived at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas on Tues., May 24th did the opposite of what their own training documentary videos show.

From Vox:  Uvalde police keep changing their story.

From TheDailyBeast:  The families in Uvalde, Texas who lost loved one in the Robb Elementary massacre say that the cops there are "Nothing more than cowards" and that they need to pay for doing nothing while a gunman rampaged through the school last Tues, May 24th.

From TheNewYorker:  Thoughts and prayers, Uvalde, Texas. This is the America that Republicans and the right wing have being thinking about and praying for all these decades.

From ABC:  Sources say that Uvalde police and school district no longer cooperating with Texas probe of shooting of the May 24th massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

From GuardianUK:  Canada plans to freeze all handgun ownership.

From RSNWashPost:  Is it time to show the true horror of mass shooting - in pictures?

From MSN:  Angeli Gomez, the Uvalde mother who rescued her two children from the Robb Elementary shooting massacre, says that a police officer threatened to arrest her if she did not stop telling her story.

From RSNTheAtlantic:  The Uvalde police chose dishonor. Where was there courage?

From RSNWashPost:  Brenda Bell:  I hid from the Texas Tower sniper (Charles Joseph Whitman) in 1966. His successors have found us all.

From RSNTheIntercept:  "AR-15s Were Made to Explode Human Bodies. In Uvalde, the Bodies Belonged to Children" by Murtaza Hussain

From RSNNPR:  The tragic history of police responding too late to active shooters.

From VICE:  There is likely bodycam footage of the school shooting in Uvalde, TX, but the public may never see it.

BLM-BUFFALO:

From ABCNews:  A 18-year-old white MAN shot 13 people, killing 10 at a Buffalo, New York Tops Friendly Markets supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2021.

From RSNAP:  The white male suspect in the Buffalo Tops Supermarket shooting, Payton Gendron, was charged with federal hate crimes on Wed., June 15th and could face the death penalty if convicted.

From Truthout:  The racist attack in Buffalo at the Tops Friendly supermarket was crafted to terrorize us.  We can fight back, and here’s how we fight back.

From WGRZ:  Who are the victims of the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets grocery store shooting. This comes from local station WGRZ Channel 2 and includes video and some victim photos.

From BuffaloNews:  One of the 10 Black murder victims of the Buffalo massacre was Katherine "Kat" Massey.  She was a leader in her community and civil rights activist and advocate for education.

From NewYorkPost:  One of the 10 Black murder victims of the Buffalo massacre was Andre Mackniel. He was at TOPS Supermaket to pick up a birthday cake for his son.

From Truthout:  The racist attack in Buffalo, NY at the Tops supermarket was crafted to terrorize us, so here is how we fight back.

From CNN:  What is known about the 18-year-old MAN, Payton Gendron.

From NPR:  198 mass shooting this year ... so far.

From Truthout:  White supremacist massacre of 10 people in Buffalo, NY shows that the “Alt-Right” ideology leads to murder.

From RollingStone:  Buffalo rampage killing is "Straight Up Racially Motivated Hate Crime."

From InformedComment:  Rene Binet, the originator the "great replacement" was a French Nazi, and he saw all American as "Negroes," an "impure mestizo 'race'."

From WashPost:  Only 22 people saw the live-stream of a white terrorist kill Black shoppers at the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets supermarket, but millions have seen it since...

From GuardianUK:  Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets shooter may have been motivated by "eco-fascism," a focus on overpopulation and environmental degradation.

From RSN:  "What Lessons Have We Learned From the Buffalo Shooting?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

From Truthout:  “Innocent” White People Are Also Complicit in the Anti-Black Murders in Buffalo by George Yancy.

From Truthout:  "Black Lives Matter" cofounder discovered that Alicia Garza has learned that her name is mentioned in the Buffalo Tops supermarket killer's manifesto.

From GuardianUK:   Cornell West says, "Trump isn't out there with a gun, but he's enabled this war against Black people.

From Slate:  From the Tulsa Race Massacre to the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets shootings: the legacy of anti-Black violence.

From Truthout:  After mass shootings, Republicans shield white supremacists from scrutiny

From MSN:  Angeli Gomez, the Uvalde mom who rescued her children from the school shooting at Robb Elementary, says that local police have threatened to have her arrested if she does not stop telling her story.

UKRAINE:

From TheDailyBeast:  Russian soldiers allegedly raped and killed a 1-year-old Ukrainian boy and have reportedly raped or sexually abused children as young as 9 months old.

HATE WATCH:

From NPR:  31 members of the white nationalist Patriot Front arrested near a "Pride Month" event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  They are believed to have been planning to riot held at a local before moving on to rioting downtown.  They were not the only haters trying to sour the "Pride in the Park" event, which included families with children.

From SpokesmanReview:  The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office released the names and photos of all 31 "Patriot Front" members who are suspects in a planned riot at the "Pride Month" event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.



Thursday, April 21, 2022

TRAILER: "MINIONS: The Rise of Gru" Official Trailer Has Arrived

July 1st, 2022 will see the release of MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU, the sequel to the 2015 box office smash, Minions.  The Rise of Gru is set after the events of the first film and finds 12-year-old Gru and the Minions on the run from a group of super-villains (led by Taraji P. Henson) that Gru wanted to join.  The official trailer arrived Wednesday, March 30th and can be seen below:

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Saturday, April 9, 2022

Review: "SING 2" is Full of Feel-Good Magic

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 21 of 2022 (No. 1833) by Leroy Douresseaux

Sing 2 (2021)
Running time:  110 minutes (1 hour, 50 minutes)
MPA – PG for some rude material and mild peril/violence
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Garth Jennings
PRODUCERS:  Janet Healy and Chris Meledandri
EDITOR:  Gregory Perler
COMPOSER:  Joby Talbot

ANIMATION/FANTASY/MUSICAL AND FAMILY/COMEDY

Starring:  (voices) Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Nick Kroll, Jennifer Saunders, Garth Jennings, Chelsea Peretti, Bobby Cannavale, Nick Offerman, Adam Buxton, Eric Andre, Halsey, Letitia Wright, Bono, Pharrell Williams, Julia Davis, Peter Serafinowicz, and Wes Anderson and Spike Jonze

Sing 2 is a 2021 computer-animated, jukebox musical comedy film written and directed by Garth Jennings and produced by Illumination Entertainment.  It is a sequel to the 2016 animated film, Sing.  In Sing 2, the Moon Theater crew must persuade a media mogul and a reclusive rock star to believe in their new show.

Sing 2 opens some time after the events depicted in Sing.  Buster Moon the koala (Matthew McConaughey) and the rebuilt “Moon Theater” are thriving.  His latest goal is to impress Suki (Chelsea Peretti), a talent scout from Crystal Entertainment in Redshore City, but Suki is definitely not impressed with the stars of the theater.  So Buster leads his troupe:  Rosita (Reese Witherspoon), a housewife and mother of 25 piglets; Gunter (Nick Kroll), the exuberant pig performer who wants to dance as much as he wants to sing; Ash (Scarlett Johansson), the punk-rock porcupine and singer; Johnny (Taron Egerton), the teenage gorilla singer, and Meena (Tori Kelly), the shy teenage elephant singer, to their destiny in Redshore.

Once there, they infiltrate Crystal Tower Theater in order to get an audience with Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale), a white wolf and media mogul, but Crystal brushes them off.  Desperate, Buster starts making promises to Crystal.  The first is that he and his troupe can stage a massive space-themed musical, “Out of This World.”  Secondly, Buster says that he can get reclusive rock legend, Clay Calloway (Bono), to be part of his show.

The problem is that Calloway has not been seen in over fifteen years since his wife died.  Buster sends his secretary, Miss Crawly (Garth Jennings), to find him.  After Miss Crawly fails spectacularly, Buster's show is in trouble and his life is on the line with Jimmy Crystal.  Is there anyway or anyone that can save “Out of This World?”

I recently watched the original film, Sing, for the first time.  I found that all the obstacles that Buster and his troupe face in the original were all over the place and overkill, and I did not think that Matthew McConaughey's voice performance amounted to much.  McConaughey is better in Sing 2, but not great.  The conflict and obstacles that Buster and the Moon Theater troupe face are singularly focused or directly related to putting on their sci-fi show, “Out of This World.”

In Sing 2, I find the returning characters to be likable or more likable, perhaps, because I am now more familiar with then.  There are also some excellent new characters.  I hope Letitia Wright's Nooshy, a lynx and a street dancer who teaches Johnny to dance, returns if there is another film in the series.  Porsha Crystal (Halsey), Jimmy's daughter, actually grows as a character in the film.  Bobby Cannavale has a fine old time with his performance as Jimmy Crystal, and noted film director, Spike Jonze, is excellent as Jerry the cat, Jimmy's loyal and groveling assistant.  As Clay Calloway, Bono (of the legendary rock band, U2) doesn't sound like Bono, and his performance is mostly flat.

The film's big musical finale, the actual performance of “Out of This World,” is sweet and lovely, although it is a little over the top.  It is an excellent show-stopper, and serves as a nice send off for Buster Moon and his troupe – on to better things.  I hope that there is a third film in the series.  Watching the endearing Sing 2 reminded me of why I really love watching animated films, especially computer-animated films.  They are the warm cup of cocoa in my life as a movie lover.

7 of 10
A-

Saturday, April 9, 2022


NOTES:
2022 Image Awards (NAACP):  1 win: “Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance-Motion Picture” (Letitia Wright); 2 nominations: “Outstanding Animated Motion Picture” (Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance-Motion Picture” (Eric André)


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

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Friday, April 8, 2022

Review: "SING" is Animated by Pop Music Hits

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 20 of 2022 (No. 1832) by Leroy Douresseaux

Sing (2016)
Running time:  108 minutes (1 hour, 48 minutes)
MPAA – PG for some rude humor and mild peril
DIRECTOR:  Garth Jennings with Christophe Lourdelet
WRITER:  Garth Jennings
PRODUCERS:  Janet Healy and Chris Meledandri
EDITOR:  Gregory Perler
COMPOSER:  Joby Talbot

ANIMATION/FANTASY/MUSICAL AND FAMILY/COMEDY

Starring:  Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Jennifer Saunders, Garth Jennings, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Kroll, Leslie Jones, Rhea Perlman, Beck Bennett, Jay Pharoah, Nick Offerman, Laraine Newman, Wes Anderson, and Jennifer Hudson

Sing is a 2016 computer-animated, jukebox musical comedy film written and directed by Garth Jennings and produced by Illumination Entertainment.  The film focuses on a struggling theater owner who holds a singing competition to save his theater.

Sing is set in a city (Calatonia) inhabited by anthropomorphic (humanoid) animals.  The film introduces Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey), a koala who owns the “Moon Theater.”  The theater is struggling, and Judith (Rhea Perlman), a brown llama who represents Buster's bank, is threatening the theater with foreclosure.  In a bid to get people interested in the theater, Buster decides to hold a singing competition with a prize of $1,000 going to the winner.  However, Buster's secretary, Miss Crawly (Garth Jennings), an elderly iguana, accidentally creates a typo that adds two extra zeros to the prize money.  The misprinted fliers for the competition, which declare a $100,000 prize, are also accidentally blown all over the city.

Soon, animals are lined up in front of the theater for the competition's open audition, but Buster only chooses a select few to participate in the singing competition.  There is Rosita (Reese Witherspoon), a housewife and mother of 25 piglets.  She is paired with another pig, Gunter (Nick Kroll), an exuberant performer who wants to dance as much as he sings.  Ash (Scarlett Johansson) is a punk-rock porcupine and singer who is trying to find her voice as a songwriter.

Johnny (Taron Egerton) is a singer and teenage gorilla, but he is also reluctantly part of his father, Big Daddy's (Peter Serafinowicz) gang of thieves.  Mike (Seth MacFarlane) is a white mouse who is a street musician and singer of swing music.  Meena (Tori Kelly), a teenage elephant, could be a contestant, but she has terrible stage fright.  Can Buster and his friend, Eddie Noodleman (John C. Reilly), a sheep, bring everyone together and save the theater before financial doom sinks them all?

The Hollywood film industry, sometimes called a “dream factory,” has consistently been pedaling fantasies in which plucky underdogs overcome obstacles in order to achieve something positive, which provides the audience with a happy ending.  Some films pile trials and tribulations, errors, failures, and misfortune upon the hero and supporting characters so much so that it often strains credulity.  The idea seems to be that the more the underdog has to overcome, the greater the pay off for the audience when the underdog wins in the end.

That is Sing in the proverbial movie nutshell.  I found it rather tiresome.  Poor old Buster Moon suffers so much failure, most of it brought upon him by his own actions, that it made Buster less sympathetic to me.  Buster is a plucky theater owner.  He is also such a con artist that it is hard to imagine him as much more than a loser, which is what most people would call him.  It did not help that I found Matthew McConaughey all wrong as the voice of Buster.

For me, there are a couple of things that enhance Sing.  First is Seth MacFarlane, who is best known for the Fox Network's long-running, prime time animated television sitcom, “Family Guy.”  Initially, I did not recognize his voice as Mike the white mouse, but when I did, it made sense to me.  MacFarlane is a genius at voice acting in both live-action and animated productions.  He can sing the heck out of big band and swing music standards, and as Mike, he steals most of the scenes in which the character appears.  Seth certainly makes a case for a Mike solo movie.

Second, I also initially did not realize that Scarlett Johansson was the voice of Ash, the punk-rock porcupine.  Johansson gives a voice performance full of texture, emotion, and personality, and when Ash sings, Johansson kills it.  [Johannson has released one solo album and an album recorded with Pete Yorn].  I spent most of movie wanting for her to be back on screen.  I'm one vote for an Ash movie.

Finally, the third thing that saves this film is the last 20 minutes.  Most of Sing's characters are caricatures and character types, as pleasant as they may be.  However, all the characters (except Buster) shine in the film's riveting, song-filled final 20 minutes.  This rousing songfest even offers a thrilling jail break and a crazy car chase.  I avoided Sing for years, and I am not really interested in singing competitions, in general.  I only really watched it because I am going to watch and review its recent sequel, Sing 2.  However, MacFarlane, Johansson, and the show-stopping finale made me glad I watched Sing.  I like animated movies – even the ones that are not Pixar-great.

6 of 10
B

Saturday, April 2, 2022


NOTES:
2017 Golden Globes, USA:  2 nominations: “Best Original Song - Motion Picture” (Ryan Tedder, Stevie Wonder, and Francis and the Lights for the song, “Faith”) and “Best Motion Picture – Animated”


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

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Sunday, December 2, 2018

25 Movies Seek an "Animated Feature Film" Oscar Nod at 91st Academy Awards

25 ANIMATED FEATURES SUBMITTED FOR 2018 OSCAR RACE

Twenty-five features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 91st Academy Awards.

The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:

“Ana y Bruno”
“Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch”
“Early Man”
“Fireworks”
“Have a Nice Day”
“Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation”
“Incredibles 2”
“Isle of Dogs”
“The Laws of the Universe – Part I”
“Liz and the Blue Bird”
“Lu over the Wall”
“MFKZ”
“Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms”
“Mirai”
“The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl”
“On Happiness Road”
“Ralph Breaks the Internet”
“Ruben Brandt, Collector”
“Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero”
“Sherlock Gnomes”
“Smallfoot”
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
“Tall Tales”
“Teen Titans Go! To the Movies”
“Tito and the Birds”

Several of the films have not yet had their required Los Angeles qualifying run.  Submitted features must fulfill the theatrical release requirements and comply with all of the category’s other qualifying rules before they can advance in the voting process.  Sixteen or more films must qualify for the maximum of five nominees to be voted.

Films submitted in the Animated Feature Film category also qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture.

Nominations for the 91st Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.

The 91st Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network.  The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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Sunday, February 11, 2018

Illumination and Nintendo Developing "Super Mario Bros." Animated Film

Illumination and Nintendo Begin Development on Animated Film Based on the World of Super Mario Bros.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Illumination announced a partnership to develop an animated film based on the immersive world of Super Mario Bros.

The project will be produced by Chris Meledandri, Founder and CEO of Illumination, and Shigeru Miyamoto, Representative Director, Fellow of Nintendo.

The film will be co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo and distributed theatrically worldwide by Universal.


About Illumination
Illumination, founded by Academy Award® nominee Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the entertainment industry’s leading producers of event-animated films. The company’s franchises include two of the top-four animated films of all time, and its iconic, beloved brands—infused with memorable and distinct characters, global appeal and cultural relevance—have grossed more than $5.7 billion worldwide.

Illumination was recently honored by Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative companies.

Illumination, which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures, has garnered an extraordinary number of franchise successes for a studio only a decade old. As the creator of the hugely successful world of Despicable Me, which was recently crowned the top-grossing box-office animated franchise globally, Illumination has evolved the Despicable Me series to include Minions, the second-highest-grossing animated film of all time and the most profitable film in Universal’s history, as well as the Academy Award ®-nominated Despicable Me 2 and summer 2017’s Despicable Me 3, which crossed $1 billion at the global box office to become the fourth-highest-grossing animated film of all time.

With successful mobile games, consumer products and social/digital media, Illumination’s franchises—populated with characters that are as comedic as they are heartfelt and authentic—translate far beyond the theater. “Minion Rush” is the 5th most downloaded mobile game of all time, while Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, has newly been joined by the wildly popular Minion Park at Universal Studios Japan…where the Minions are the No. 1 licensed characters.

Illumination’s upcoming films—featuring creative contributors from an unparalleled collection of writers, artists, voice talent and musicians—include Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch in November 2018, The Secret Life of Pets 2 in June 2019, Minions 2 in July 2020, and Sing 2 in December 2020.

About Nintendo
The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Nintendo Switch™ system and the Nintendo 3DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.5 billion video games and more than 710 million hardware units globally, including Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS™ family of systems. Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™, Wii and Wii U™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™.

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