Review: "SilverScreen Blog" Says Stick with "DIGGER" - Once You've Started

"SilverScreen Blog" is a WordPress blog where you, dear readers, will frequently find reviews of the latest movies. Here is a recent review:

DIGGER (2026)

In a mansion, extravagantly furnished, lives Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise). He’s an oil tycoon, which explains the large accumulation of wealth. Wearing silk pajamas, he answers a call from the safety officer at his company’s oil field in Greenland. Continuous extraction has released bubbles of methane, causing an explosion that results in a gargantuan ice shelf breaking off. The ice shelf, named ‘Judy’, is on a collision course with the Norwegian coast. Digger colludes with the United States President (John Goodman) and his cabal, attempting to manipulate the truth of the situation and dig their way out.

There’s two twists in the runtime: one a little into the proceedings, the other later on. Avoid any spoilers. Though you may be aware of the polarising response the film has received. I recognise why people didn’t warm to it but I dig Iñárritu’s experimental filmmaking technique...

Continue reading at SilverScreen Blog.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 23rd to 31st, 2026 - UPDATE #14

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:  Jason Momoa, Tenoch Huerta, Adria Arjona, and Kiefer Sutherland join star Miles Teller in Black Label Media's thriller, "Copperhead."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/28 to 8/30/2026 weekend box office is Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios' "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with an estimated take of 22.2 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Anne Hathaway is joining Tom Cruise for "Days of Thunder 2," the sequel to the 1990 film, "Days of Thunder."  The film is currently set for a Summer 2028 release.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney+ has greenlighted "Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu."  It is a new stop-motion series that is part of a new global distribution deal between The Pokémon Company International and Disney.  The new series is created by the animation studio, Aardman Animations ("Wallace & Gromit"), and will debut on Disney XD and stream exclusively on Disney+ in 2027.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Ridley Scott's new film, "The Dog Stars," is out this week. One of his next projects may be a third film in his "Alien" prequel series, which began with "Prometheus" (2012) and continued with "Alien: Covenant" (2017).

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Actor Dan Stevens has been picked to headline Amazon MGM Studios' Prime Video series, "Robocop," based on the 1987 film, "Robocop."

MOVIES - From THR:  Warner Bros. is developing a live-action film based on the classic Hanna-Barbera animation franchise, "The Flintstones."  Ryan Gosling is a producer on the project.  Universal Pictures released a live-action film, "The Flintstones," in 1994 and its sequel, "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas" (2000).

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/21 to 8/23/2926 weekend box office is Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios' "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with an estimated take of 39 million dollars.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  Woody Allen will begin shooting his next film in Madrid on October 5, 2026.  The financing deal dictates that the name "Madrid" must be in the title.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  American film and television actor, Samuel Monroe, Jr., has died at the age of 52, Wednesday, August 26, 2026, after battle meningitis and pneumonia.  Monroe was best known for his roles in such films as "Menace II Society"(1992), "Tales from the Hood" (1995), and "Set It Off" (1996). He appeared in such TV series, "Out All Night," "NYPD Blue," and "Black Jesus."

From THR:  Canadian voice actor, Peter Cullen, has died at the age of 85, Wednesday, August 26, 2026.  Cullen's six decade career saw him provide voice performances film film, television, and video games.  However, Cullen was best known for providing the voice for the "Tranformers" character, "Optimus Prime," across "Transformers" media, beginning with "The Transformers" 1984-87 animated syndicated television series.  Cullen would also voice Optimus Prime in 1986's "The Transformers: The Movie" and Paramount's eight-film series, that began with 2007's "Transformers," to name a few.  In 2023, Cullen received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the "Children's and Family Emmy Awards."

From Variety:  The English stage, film, and television actor and singer, Tim Curry, has died at the age of 80, Tuesday, August 25, 2026.  Curry is best known for the role of "Dr Frank N Furter" in the 1973 West End musical, "The Rocky Horror Show," and in the 1975 film adaptation, which became a cult and midnight movie sensation.  Curry's other notable film roles including "Legend," Clue," "Oscar," Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," and "Congo," to name a few.  Curry appeared in numerous TV series, miniseries, and movies, including "Wiseguys," "It," "Roseanne," and "Will & Grace," to name a few.  Curry won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991.

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From RollingStone:  American singer-songwriter, recording artist, and actress, Dolly Parton, has died at the age of 80, Tuesday, August 25, 2026.  Called the "Queen of Country," Parton released almost 70 albums, including solo works; duets with her former partner, Porter Wagoner; collaborations; live albums; and soundtracks.  She wrote over 3000 songs, including the 1973 song, "I Will Always Love You," which became a massive hit for the late Whitney Houston in 1992.  Other hit songs included "Coat of Many Colors" (1971), "Jolene" (1973), "9 to 5" (1980).  She had 25 #1 singles on "Billboard Magazine's" country music chart.

As an actress, Dolly appeared in multiple films, including "9 to 5" (1980), "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982), "Steal Magnolias" (1989), and "Joyful Noise" (2012), to name a few.  She made guest appearances on such television series as Disney's "Hannah Montana," "Reba" and "Grace & Frankie," in addition to twice having her own variety show "Dolly!" (1976-77) and "Dolly" (1987-88).

Dolly Parton was nominated 50 times at the Grammy Awards, winning 10 competitive awards and the 2011 "Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award."  She was twice nominated for the "Best Original Song" Oscar, and she received the Academy's "Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award."  Parton was nominated four times at the "Primetime Emmy Awards," sharing a win in 2021 in the category of "Outstanding Television Movie" for Netflix's "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square."

Parton was also an author, businesswoman, and philanthropist.  Among her ventures was the theme park, "Dollywood."

From YahooEntertainment:  Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, and tributes pour in from around the world.

From Billboard:  According to "Billboard Magazine," Dolly Parton had a brief battle with cancer before she died.

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From Deadline:  American actress and singer, Shelly Fabares, has died at the age of 82, Saturday, August 22, 2026.  She was best known for the role of "Christine Armstrong" on ABC's former sports sitcom, "Coach" (1989-97).  However, Fabares was also a child actor of the former ABC domestic sitcom, "The Donna Reed Show" (1958-66), playing the daughter, "Mary Stone."  Fabares was Elvis Presley's leading lady in the 1965 film, "Girl Happy."  She also appeared in two more of Presley's films, "Spinout" (1966) and "Clambake" (1967).  She also had a "Billboard Hot 100" #1 hit with the single, "Johnny Angel" (February 1962).  Fabares received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work on "Coach."  Fabares had been married to actor Mike Farrell, best known for his role on the former CBS sitcom, "M*A*S*H," since 1984.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 1st to 9th, 2026 - UPDATE #10

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:

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  NBC‘s "pilot season" is over. Four of the network’s eight pilots are going to series.  They are the dramas, "The Rockford Files," starring David Boreanaz, and "Line of Fire," starring Peter Krause.  Also going to series are the comedies "Sunset P.I." (single-camera), starring Jake Johnson, and "Newlyweds" (multi-camera), starring Téa Leoni and Tim Daly.  All four come from NBC sibling studio, Universal Television. The four that did not make it are "Key Witness," "What the Dead Know," "Puzzled," and "Jill & Ginger."

BUSINESS - From Variety:  Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo says that many actors are against the Paramount-Skydance/Warner Bros. Discovery merger, but don't want to make their objections public because of the fear of being blacklisted.

AMAZON - From Deadline:  The hot rumor is that Amazon Prime will reboot NBC's former reality TV series, "The Apprentice" (2004-17), which was hosted by Donald Trump for the first 14 of its 15 seasons.  The reboot would have (wait for it) Donald Trump, Jr. as the host.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 5/1 to 5/3/2026 weekend box office is 20th Century Studios' "The Devil Wears Prada 2" with an estimated take of 77 million dollars.

SAG - From Deadline:  The actors' unions, SAG-AFTRA, have reached a tentative four-year deal with the Hollywood studios to avoid an actors strike.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  After the difficulties of the two-part "Mission: Impossible" film franchise finale, Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie are taking a break from each other. So McQuarrie won't be involved with "Top Gun 3"... reportedly.

DOCUMENTARY - From Variety:  Five hours of never-before-heard Princess Diana recordings will be the basis of a new documentary series, entitled "Diana: The Unheard Truth."  It is set to launch August 31, 2027, the 30th anniversary of her murder.

MUSIC - From THR:  Writer Leena Tailor of "The Hollywood Reporter" tells us "How the Backstreet Boys Helped Breathe New Life Into “Dying” Vegas with Multimillion-Dollar Sphere Residency"

OBITS:

From CNN:   American businessman, media mogul, television producer, and philanthropist, Ted Turner, has died at the 87, Wednesday, April 6, 2026.  In June 1980, he launched "Cable News Network" (CNN), the first 24-hour cable news channel.  He also launched WTBS (or "TBS"), the first national "superstation."  Turner would go on to create such cable networks as "TNT," Turner Classic Movies" (TCM), and "Cartoon Network."  During his ownership of the "Atlanta Braves" Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, the team won the 1995 World Series.  These are just a few of his accomplishments.

From THR:  American film and television actor and professional football player, Beau Starr, has died at the age of 81, Friday, April 24, 2026.  Starr may be best known for playing "Sheriff Ben Meeker" in "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers" (1988) and "Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers" (1989).  His other notable film appearances includes roles in films such as "Goodfellas" (1980), "Hoodlum" (1997), and "Cinderella Man" (2005).  He was a main character in the Canadian crime comedy-drama series, "Due South" (1994-1999).  Starr also appeared in numerous TV series and movies, including "Hill Street Blues," "The A-Team," "Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter" (1991), "Murder, She Wrote," and "Cagney & Lacey: True Convictions" (1996), to name a few.  As a pro football player, Starr spent three years on the NFL's New York Jets taxi squad, and he played for two seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

From Deadline:  American actress and boxing referee, Gwen Farrell, has died at the age of 93, Thursday, April 30, 2026.  Farrell played recurring nurse roles in 26 episodes of the former CBS sitcom, "M*A*S*H" (1972-83), over the course of the series' 11-year run, including in the series finale in 1983.  In 1979, Farrell became the first female licensed boxing referee.  On June  5, 1988, she became the first woman to officiate a world title fight - the "junior-middleweight" bout between Pedro Ortega and Luis “Yory Boy” Campas in Tijuana, Mexico.  In 1993, she worked on "ESPN Top Rank Boxing."  Farrell was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the California Boxing Hall of Fame.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from November 16th to 22nd, 2025 - UPDATE #8

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 Variety:  Over the course of about two hours, Michael B. Jordan relived his 25 years as an actor while accepting the 39th American Cinematheque Award, presented to him by his longtime collaborator, Ryan Coogler, on Thursday night (Nov. 20th).  “Nobody warns you how crazy this is to see your whole career flash before your eyes,” Jordan said, wiping tears away.  It had been an emotional day for Jordan, who spent the morning (Nov. 20th) saluting his friend, the late Chadwick Boseman. The “Black Panther” star, who died in 2020, received a posthumous star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Jordan's own "Walk of Fame" star was unveiled in 2023.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Director and Oscar-winning screenwriter, Taika Waititi, has signed a first-look deal with 20th TV, FX, and Hulu.

AMAZON - From Variety:  Amazon is officially moving forward with a new “Stargate” TV series.  The new project hails from Martin Gero, who began his career in the original “Stargate” TV franchise.  Now, Gero will act as writer, executive producer, and showrunner.  The series will be produced by Amazon MGM Studios and air on Prime Video.  Among the new series' executive producers are Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, who co-wrote the original film which Emmerich directed. Brad Wright and Joe Mallozzi, longtime creative leaders within the “Stargate” universe, will serve as consulting producers.

MOVIES - From MSN:  According to reports, Saudi Arabia's Sovereign Wealth Fund may be pursuing a bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

From MSN:  How Warner Bros. Pictures lost the rights to the "The Matrix" and "Ocean's 11" sequels to Alcon Entertainment.

OSCARS - From Variety:   The Academy held its 16th Annual Governors Awards ceremony on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The recipients had been announced on June 17, 2025.  Receiving the "Academy Honorary Award" (recipient  receives an Oscar statuette) were Debbie Allen, Tom Cruise, and Wynn Thomas.

Debbie Allen:  Actress, dancer, and choreographer (among many things), Allen has also won five Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards.  A film director and producer, Allen has provided choreography for numerous films and television programs.

Tom Cruise:  Cruise, an actor and film producer, has previously been nominated three times for an acting Oscar and once as a film producer ("Top Gun: Maverick).  Cruise gave an emotional speech, saying, "Making films is who I am."

Wynn Thomas:  An American film production designer (scenographer), Thomas began his career on Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have It" (1986) and collaborated with Lee on other films such as "Do The Right Thing" (1989), "Malcolm X" (1992), and "Inside Man" (2006).  Thomas has also worked on such films as "The Five Heartbeats" (1991), "Cinderella Man" (2005), and "Hidden Figures" (2016).  Thomas has to date not received a nomination for a competitive Academy Award, although he is a two-time winner of "Art Directors Guild Awards."

Dolly Parton also received the "Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award," but was unable to attend the ceremony.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 11/14 to 11/16/2025 weekend box office is Lionsgate's "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" with an estimated take of 21.3 million dollars.

TELEVISION/POLITICS - From EW:  There is a new front in the President Trump's demands that NBC/Universal fire/cancel Seth Meyers, host of NBC's "Late Night" talk show.

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MOVIE AWARDS 2025-26:

From Deadline:  Last week (Oct. 14th), the European Film Academy shortlisted the 67 films were available to receive nominations for the 38th European Film Awards, taking place on January 17, 2026.  The shortlist included 44 feature films, 15 documentary films, and eight animated feature films.  Among the list of feature films were "Bugonia" and "Sound of Falling."  The nominations are scheduled to be announced today (Oct. 18th).

From THR:  The nominations for the 2025 / 35th Annual Gotham Films Awards have been announced.  Director Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" tops the list of nominees with a record six nominations, including "Best Feature" and "Best Director" for Anderson.  The winners will be announced December 1, 2025.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from June 15th to 21st, 2025 - UPDATE #14

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:  Oscar-winning director, Danny Boyle, gives a career spanning interview about his career and about his new film, "28 Years Later."

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  A collection of memorabilia from the late director, David Lynch, earns 4.25 million dollars at auction.

TELEVISION - From Variety:  Fine-ass actor Jason Isaacs talks about pay equity on the HBO series, "The White Lotus." Each actor makes $40000 per episode.

NETFLIX - From Variety:  Oscar-winner Katherine Bigelow has a new film, "A House of Dynamite."  It will have a brief theatrical run before streaming exclusively globally on Netflix Oct. 24th, 2025.

OSCARS - From THR:  The board of governors for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has announced that Tom Cruise will received an "Honorary Oscar."  The other recipients of that honor this year are actress/producer/choreographer Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas.  Dolly Parton will receive the "Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award."  These honors will be bestowed at the 16th annual "Governors Awards.

BUSINESS - From Variety:  Warner Bros. Discover boss, David Zaslav will see his pay decrease (such as it is) in the wake of the proposed split of WBD into two separate companies.  Zaslav will see a significant reduction in his target annual compensation, including lowered his annual cash compensation opportunity, and reorientation of the total pay mix toward long-term incentives.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline: Veteran actor Al Pacino met the newly elected pontiff, Leo XIV, at the Vatican on Monday (June 16th).  Pacino met the Pope alongside Andrea Iervolino, the Italian producer behind "Maserati: The Brothers," a biopic about Italy’s legendary Maserati family that stars Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, and Andy Garcia. 

OSCARS - From Variety:  Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, wants the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to present Disney CEO Bob Iger with an "Honorary Oscar." Not everyone is enamored with that idea.

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Carla Gugino is the latest to join Brad Pitt in Netflix's "The Adventures of Cliff Booth."  The film will be directed by David Fincher and it is written by Quentin Tarantino as a follow-up to his Oscar-winning film, "Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood."  Cliff Booth, the sidekick of Leonardo DiCaprio's "Rick Dalton" in the 2019 film, is now a Hollywood fixer in the Netflix film.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 6/13 to 6/15/2025 weekend box office is Universal Studios/DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon" with an estimated take of 83.7 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Famed director Steven Spielberg has filmed a new, special introduction to his landmark 1975 film “Jaws,” which will air over three hours on Friday, June 20th, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC — the exact 50th anniversary date of when it was released. The NBC screening and Spielberg’s introduction are just some of the plans NBCUniversal has to mark the anniversary.

OBITS:

From THR:  American film, television, and stage actress, Lynn Hamilton, has died at the age of 95, Thursday, June 19, 2025.  Hamilton was best known for the recurring role of "Donna Harris," the girlfriend and later fiance of "Fred G. Sanford" on the former NBC sitcom, "Sandford and Son" (1972-77).  From 1973 to 1981, she also had the recurring role of "Verdie Foster" on the CBS drama, "The Waltons."  Hamilton also had main roles on two early 1990s soap opera series, "Dangerous Women" and "Generations."  Her film roles included appearances in such noted Black films as "Buck and the Preacher" (1972) and "Lady Sings the Blues" (1972).

From Variety:  American chef and television personality, Anne Burrell, has died at the age of 55, Tuesday, June 17, 2025.  Burrell was best known for her association with the "Food Network" cable network.  She debuted on the network by serving as the sous chef of Mario Batali during his six-season run on "Iron Chef America: The Series"  Burrell's first Food Network series was "Secrets of a Restaurant Chef" (2008-12) as its "presenter."  She cohosted on "Worst Cooks in America" from 2010-2024.  She also cohosted "Chefs Wanted with Anne Burrell" (2012-13).  In 2011, Burrell received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in the category of "Outstanding Lifestyle/Culinary Host" for her work on "Secrets of a Restaurant Chef."

From Deadline:  Television screenwriter and producer, Terry Louise Fisher, has died at the age of 79, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.  Fisher was a producer and writer on the former CBS crime drama, "Cagney & Lacey."  Her best known work as the former NBC legal drama, "L.A. Law" (1986-94), that she co-created with super-producer, Steven Bochco."  Fisher and Bochco also co-created the former ABC drama-comedy, "Hooperman" (1987-89), which starred the late John Ritter.  She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award seven times and won three:  "Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series" once (for "L.A. Law") and "Outstanding Drama Series" twice (once each for "Cagney & Lacey" and "L.A. Law").

From Deadline:  Film, television, and stage actor, Harris Yulin, has died at the age of 87, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.  In film, he was best known for roles in such films as "Scarface" (1983), "Clear and Present Danger" (1994), and "Training Day."  He played the obstinate "Judge Stephen Wexler" who has to be rescued by the Ghostbusters in "Ghostbusters II" (1989).  He was a recurring or guest star in such series as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "24," and "Ozark," to name a few.  He received an "Outstanding Guest Actor in Comedy Series" Primetime Emmy nomination for his role in a 1996 episode of the former NBC sitcom, "Frasier."

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Review: "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING" is a Long Goodbye

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 23 of 2025 (No. 2029) by Leroy Douresseaux

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)

Running time: 169 minutes (2 hours, 49 minutes)

MPA – PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and action, bloody images, and brief language

DIRECTOR:  Christopher McQuarrie

WRITERS:  Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen (based upon the television series created by Bruce Geller)

PRODUCERS: Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Fraser Taggart (D.o.P.)

EDITOR:  Eddie Hamilton

COMPOSERS:  Max Aruj and Alfie Godfey

ACTION/ADVENTURE/SPY/THRILLER

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman, Rolf Saxon, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Charles Parnell, Mark Gatiss, and Henry Czerny and Angela Bassett

SUMMARY OF REVIEW:

-- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a Mission: Impossible film, and fans of the franchise will like it to one extent or another

-- However, even as a fan, I find it to be too long and not as good as the previous film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

-- I think that the possibility of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning being Tom Cruise's final Mission: Impossible film (at least as a lead) added to my desire to like it more than I probably should

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a 2025 action-thriller and espionage film directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise.  It is the eighth film in the Mission: Impossible film series which began with the 1996 film, Mission: Impossible, and is based on the American television series, “Mission: Impossible” (CBS, 1966-73), that was created by Bruce Geller.  This film is also a direct sequel to 2013's Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.  In The Final Reckoning, Ethan Hunt learns that our lives are the sum of our choices as he and his IMF team race to stop an assassin from gaining control of a rogue AI that wants to destroy humanity.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning opens in the wake of the events depicted in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.  The IMF (Impossible Mission Force) has failed to put an end to the machinations of either “The Entity,” the most powerful ever AI (artificial intelligence), or the assassin, Gabriel (Esai Morales), who wants to control The Entity.  The Entity is plotting global nuclear annihilation against humanity.

IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) turns himself over to authorities and is brought before President of the United States Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett), who was once the Director of the CIA.  He asks her for the resources to find the sunken advanced Russian submarine, the “Sevastopol.”  There, he hopes to obtain the “the Rabbit's Foot,” the core module that contains the original source code for The Entity.  IMF computer technician, Luther Stickwell (Ving Rhames), has created malware in the form of a kind of flash drive that when inserted into the core module will help imprison The Entity where it can no longer be a threat to humanity.

President Sloane gives Ethan permission to act independently, and he brings together a new ragtag IMF team that includes technical field agent, Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg); a professional thief, Grace (Hayley Atwell), a French assassin, Paris (Pom Klementieff), a U.S. intelligence agent, Theo Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis); CIA agent William Donloe (Rolf Saxon); and Rolf's wife, Tapeesa (Lucy Tulugarjuk).  Ethan and his IMF team head to South Africa for an epic showdown while the world's nuclear powers await nuclear Armageddon.

I divide the six Mission: Impossible movies into two trilogies.  Mission: Impossible (1996), Mission: Impossible 2 (2000), and Mission: Impossible III (2006) make up the first trilogy.  Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011),  Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), and Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) form the second trilogy.  Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning are, for the time being, the two-part conclusion to Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible franchise.

And let's be honest, unlike the original “Mission: Impossible” TV series, which was an ensemble espionage drama, the Mission: Impossible films are a Tom Cruise vehicle / espionage action movies.  The Final Reckoning is all about Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt.  Heck, the theme of this film is that Ethan's life is the sum of his choices.  Yes, the other characters all get their moment or, in some cases, moments to shine, but this film is about Tom/Ethan.

Like Dead Reckoning Part One, The Final Reckoning is a non-stop thrill machine full of heart-pounding races, chases, standoffs, last-second escapes, and near death experiences with Tom Cruise running more than he ever has.  I initially balked at Dead Reckoning's runtime of two hours and forty-three minutes, but the film didn't feel that long.  The Final Reckoning feels too long at two hours and forty-nine minutes.

I don't really have anything else to say.  Like all the previous films, The Final Reckoning is a perpetual thrill-machine.  If it were any other film, I'd give it a grade of “B.”  However, I am a sucker for both Tom Cruise and for his Mission: Impossible films, which I still, for the most part, re-watch.  I will watch Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning again – many times, so it gets a preferential grade.

7 of 10

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

The text is copyright © 2025 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 18th to 24th, 2025 - UPDATE #11

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.

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

NEWS:

CANNES 2025:

From Variety:  Iranian director, Jafar Panahi, won the top prize at the 2025 / 78th Cannes Film Festival, the "Palme d'Or," for his film, "It Was Just an Accident."  This is the sixth consecutive year that U.S. distributor, Neon, has the distribution rights to the "Palme d'Or" winner.

From Deadline:  Oscar-winner Denzel Washington arrived at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 for the premiere of his collaboration with director, Spike Lee, the upcoming film, "Highest 2 Lowest."  There, he was surprised with an "Honorary Palme d'Or."

MOVIES - From Deadline:  There are updates on the third "Downton Abbey" feature film.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Prime Video will not be renewing its fantasy series, "The Wheel of Time" for a fourth season. This announcement comes over a month after the Season 3 finale debuted April 17th, 2025.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Andrew Koji, Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo, and Roman Reigns are in talks to star in Legendary Entertainment’s live-action "Street Fighter" movie, based on the Capcom video games, sources tell Deadline.  There have been three previous live-action "Street Fighter" films, including the infamous 1994 movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   Shemar Moore addressed the fact that he is the only actor from CBS' recently ended series, "S.W.A.T." (2017-25), that will be moving over to the new series, "S.W.A.T. Exiles." Moore says, "I'm the quarterback."

SCANDAL -  From Deadline: Stunt performer, Casey Michaels, was working on the final season of "Game of Thrones" when she shattered her left ankle performing a stunt she argues was not designed competently by the coordinators on-set.  Her career ended, Michaels sued HBO, claiming she had been robbed of a promising career.  HBO eventually paid her $9.3 million, including legal costs, as part of a settlement in 2023, with the company’s lawyers apologizing. Michaels has given an interview to "Deadline" because she believes her experience exposes everything that’s wrong with her profession.

DISNEY/ANIMATION - From ComicBook:  The Cartoon Network's former animated series, "The Amazing World of Gumball," is returning in a new animated series, "The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball."  It will debut on Disney+ and Hulu later this year and on Cartoon Network internationally.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 5/16 to 5/18/2025 weekend box office is Warner Bros./New Line Cinema's "Final Destination: Bloodlines" with an estimated take of 51 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  A new Tom Cruise project with director Doug Liman and costar Ana De Armas looks to be pricey.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  American television producer and director, Jeff Margolis, has died at the age of 78, Friday, May 23, 2025.  He was a prolific producer and/or director of numerous award shows, live events, specials, and variety show.  His career as a TV director began in the mid-70s and including directing two episodes of the former CBS variety series, "Tony Orlando and Dawn."  Margolis was nominated for eight "Primetime Emmy Awards," and won twice: "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special" for "Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration" and "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Music or Variety Program" for "The 67th Annual Academy Awards."

From Deadline:  American film and television actor, George Wendt, has died at the age of 76, Tuesday, May 20, 2025.  Wendt was best known for the role of "Norm Peterson" on the former NBC sitcom, "Cheers" (1982-93).  He was nominated six times in the Primetime Emmy Awards category, "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series."  Wendt's passing reportedly coincides with the 32nd anniversary of the "Cheers" finale episode.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 11th to 17th, 2025 - 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.

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

NEWS:

CANNES 2025 (May 13th to the 24th, 2025):

From Variety:  Kristen Stewart gets a standing ovation after the screening of her directorial debut, "The Chronology of Water, " starring Imogen Poots.

From Variety:  Oscar-winner, Halle Berry, a member of the Cannes 2025 jury spoke at the jury press conference. She addressed James Bond and her character, "Jinx," from the 2002 Bond film, "Die Another Day."  Berry said a spinoff movie featuring Jinx should have happened already.

From Variety:  Tom Cruise is telling the story of how his sister, Cass, forced him to meet actor Dustin Hoffman, which led to the two stars making the 1988 Oscar-winning film, "Rain Man."  Cruise's latest film, "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" will debut at Cannes 2025.

From Variety:  Director Eli Roth's upcoming film, "Ice Cream Man," which he calls his "most terrifying and insane" film yet, is now fully financed. The film will be looking for buyers at Cannes 2025.

From Variety:  Two-time Oscar-winner, Kevin Spacey, is continuing to try to rebuild his career, which was broken by several accusations of sexual harassment and sexual abuse.  Spacey has joined the cast of director Matt Routledge's "The Awakening."  The film will be looking for buyers at Cannes 2025 (May 13th to the 24th, 2025).

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NETFLIX - From THR:  Robert Pattison will join Denzel Washington and Daisy Edgar-Jones in director Fernando Meirelles heist movie, "Here Comes the Flood." The script is written by Simon Kinberg.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  After two years under the name of simply, "Max," the streaming service will return to its original launch name, "HBO Max," sometimes this summer.

TELEVISION - From Variety:  NBC has given a series order to "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins," starring Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe.  Some of Morgan's "30 Rock" alum are also involved in the series.

TELEVISION/SPORTS - From YahooSports:  Michael Jordan, a six-time NBA champion  and a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, will join NBC Sports’ coverage of the NBA as a special contributor in October 2025, when the NBA returns to NBC and makes its Peacock debut.  Jordan won his six titles with the Chicago Bulls.

STREAMING - From Variety:  Peacock has just released a first look image at his upcoming Fall 2025 series, "The Paper," a spinoff of NBC's former sitcom, "The Office."  The mockumentary sitcom and workplace comedy takes a look at a dying Midwestern newspaper and its staff of volunteer reporters.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 5/9 to 5/11/2025 weekend box office is Disney/Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts with an estimated take of 33.1 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Oscar-winner Mikey Madison ("Anora") will co-star with Kirsten Dunst in “Reptilia.” The thriller tells the story of a dental hygienist who is seduced by a mysterious mermaid into the dark and wet underworld of Florida’s exotic animal trade.  Alejandro Landes Echavarria will direct from a script he co-wrote.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  American actor, Jon Don Baker, has died at the age of 89, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.  Baker was known as "tough guy" character actor.  His most famous role was that of real-life Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser in the 1973 film, "Walking Tall."  Baker also appeared in three James Bond films, "The Living Daylights" (1987), "Goldeneye" (1995), and "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1999).

From Deadline:  American screenwriter and director, Robert Benton, has died at the age of 92, Sunday, May 11, 2025.  Benton won the "Best Director" and "Best Adapted Screenplay" Oscars for his work on the 1979 divorce/child custody drama, "Kramer vs. Kramer."  He would later win another Academy Award, this time for "Best Original Screenplay" for his film, "Places in the Heart" (1984).  He also received four other Oscar nominations.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from Nov. 1st to 9th, 2024 - UPDATE #14

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.

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

NEWS:

MOVIES - From Deadline:  "Gladiator II" director Ridley Scott and star Paul Mescal will reunited in the film, "The Dog Stars." The film is due to start filming next spring.

GRAMMYS - Deadline:  The nominations for the 2025 / 67th annual Grammy Awards have been announced.  Beyonce leads the pack with 11 nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, February 2, 2025.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 11/1 to 11/3/2024 weekend box office is Sony Picture's "Venom: The Last Dance" with an estimated take of 26.1 million dollars.

From Deadline:  Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer speaks on the box office bomb that was the "Borderlands" movie.  "Everything that could go wrong did go wrong."

MOVIES - From Variety:  Actress-producer Eva Longoria reveals that she has made over 12 million dollars off her 6 million dollar investment in the 2014 film, "John Wick."  She says that she is still getting checks off the film a decade after her six million dollar investment saved the film from being cancelled. She says her only regret is not investing in the "John Wick" sequels.

MOVIES - From ScreenRant:  The site offers a first-look at actor Billy Zane as legendary actor Marlon Brando in the biopic, "Waltzing with Brando."

MOVIES/CELEBRITY - From THR:  Tom Cruise is very busy, including developing a sequel to his 1990 racing movie, "Days of Thunder."  Meanwhile, he and Paramount have some disagreements about "Mission: Impossible 8," which apparently has cost... 400 million dollars.

MOVIES - From THR:  Oscar-nominee William H. Macy has joined star Glen Powell in Edgar Wright's new film version of the Stephen King/Richard Bachman's novel, "The Running Man."

POLITICS/STREAMING - From YahooEntertainment:  Democratic politician and activist, Stacey Abrams told Yahoo Entertainment that she finds the argument that pop stars should stick to music “extraordinarily reductive.” Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are among the pop stars getting political. "We shouldn't expect entertainers to shut up and sing," Abrams says.  Abrams and actress and activist, Selena Gomez, have produced a new documentary, "Louder: The Soundtrack of Change" (now streaming on Max), that shows how female musicians have been involved in the fight for equal rights across generations.

OBITS:

From Variety:  American film and television actor and voice performer, Tony Todd, has died at the age of 69, Wednesday, November 6, 2024.  He was best known for playing the title role in the original "Candyman" films (1992 to 1999, and a cameo in the 2021 film) and in the "Final Destination" film franchise. Todd also appeared in such films as "Platoon" (1986), the 1990 version of "Night of the Living Dead," and "Wishmaster" (1997), to name a few.  His best known TV work was as "Kurn," the brother of series regular "Lt. Worf," on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" over four episodes.  Todd was also a prolific voice actor whose work appeared in numerous video games and in animated films and TV featuring DC Comics' characters.

From Deadline:  American singer and recording artist, Tyka Nelson, has died at the age of 64, Monday, November 4, 2024.  Nelson was the late recording artist Prince's only full sibling.  Nelson released four studio albums from 1988 to 2011 and had a Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 1988 with "Marc Anthony's Song."

From Variety:  American record producer, recording artist, songwriter, bandleader, and film and television composer, Quincy Jones, has died at the age of 91, Sunday, November 3, 2024.  Jones may be best known for producing Michael Jackson's three most successful studio albums, "Off the Wall" (1979), "Thriller" (1982), and "Bad" (1987).  He provided the musical score for numerous films, including "In the Heat of the Night" (1967), "The Italian Job," and "The Color Purple" (1985), to name a few. He also provided the theme for the TV series, "Hey Landlord" and "Sanford and Son."  Jones received 80 Grammy Award nominations and won 28 of them.  He won an Primetime Emmy Award for his work on the ABC miniseries, "Roots."  He won a Tony Award for the revival of the musical, "The Color Purple." Jones was nominated seven times for the Academy Award and received the "Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award."

From Deadline:  Entertainment industry tributes continue to pour in for legendary producer and recording artist, Quincy Jones.

From Variety:  "Variety" offers the 15 best examples of recording artists sampling the late Quincy Jones' music. The list includes Kanye West, The Weeknd, and Harry Styles.

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From THR:  American television actor, Alan Rachins, has died at the age of 82, Saturday, November 2, 2024.  Rachins was best known for playing attorney Douglas Brachman, Jr. on the former NBC legal drama, "L.A. Law" (1986-94) and for playing "Larry," Dharma's hippie father, on the former ABC sitcom, "Dharma & Greg" (1997-2002).  He also appeared in the notorious 1995 film, "Showgirls."  For his work on "L.A. Law," Rachins received a 1988 Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

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MOVIE AWARDS:

From Deadline:  The 2024 / 34th Gotham Awards kick off the 2024-25 movie awards season by announcing its nominations for achievement in film.  Director Sean Baker's "Anora," which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, leads with four nominations.  The winners will be announced Monday, December 2, 2024.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 21st to 31st, 2024 - UPDATE #19

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:

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Layoffs at Disney Entertainment Television have begun with 140 people let go. National Geographic lost 60 employees - 13 percent of its staff.

TELEVISION - From Variety:  NBC expects to surpass 1.25 billion dollars in advertising sales from its broadcast of the Paris Olympics. It previously reached 1.25 billion in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

MOVIES - From BBC:  The site looks at the "10 best films to watch in August," from Alien Romulus to "The Crow."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 7/26 to 7/28/2024 weekend box office is Disney/Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine with an estimated take of 205 million dollars.

From Variety:   Deadpool vs. Wolverine had a 96 million dollar opening day (Fri., July 26th). It's the largest for an R-rated film and the sixth largest of all time.

From THR:  Disney/Pixar's "Inside Out 2" has now surpassed Disney's "Frozen II" as the all-time highest grossing animated film at the global box office.  It's 1.462 billion dollars passed the "Frozen" sequel's 1.451 billion dollars. 

STAR TREK - From Deadline:  Akiva Goldsman says that "Star Trek" might be staged as a musical.

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Amazon MGM Studios has confirmed that it has hired former Netflix Chairman of Film and former Vice Chairman of Universal, Scott Stuber, to revive the "United Artists" label for them.  Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner also tried to revive United Artists about 16 years ago.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Apple Original Films has won the auction for the rights to adapt author Jonathan Tropper's short story, "The Corsair Code." Tropper will adapt the story, which is attached to actor Chris Hemsworth.

TELEVISION - From Variety:  AMC and AMC+'s "The Terror" Season 3 rounds out its cast with CCH Pounder, Judith Light, and Stephen Root.

POLITICS - Variety:  Hollywood donors feel tremendous enthusiasm for Democratic Presidential candidate, Vice-President Kamala Harris.

From THR:  Netflix's Reed donates $7 million dollars to VP Kamala Harris' election campaign.

FILM FESTIVALS - From Deadline:  The full lineup of films for the 81st Venice Film Festival have been announced, and among the big names is "Joker: Folie a Deux."  The festival runs from August 28th to September 7th, 2024.

From Deadline:  The 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival announced its full lineup of "Galas 2024" and "Special Presentations 2024," and which amounts to 63 films from 25 countries.  Many include films are from celebrated directors and star some of the biggest names in domestic and international cinema.  TIFF 2024 runs September 5th to 15th, 2024.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Recent Oscar winner Brendan Fraser ("The Whale") will portray Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower in Working Title and Studiocanal‘s upcoming D-Day movie, "Pressure."

AMAZON - From Deadline:   Amazon Prime Video has taken another big leap into the UK film and TV industry by acquiring Bray Film Studios, the 70-year-old studios where "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is filmed.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 7/19 to 7/21/2024 weekend box office is Universal's "Twisters" with an estimated take of 80.5 million dollars.

POLITICS - From Variety:  President Joe Biden has ended his re-election bid.

From TheAtlantic or RSN:  Just in cast you'd forgotten J.D. Vance's critique, "Opioid of the Masses," of his now running mate, Donald Trump, here are two sources where you can enjoy it.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the release of "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999), director Stanley Kubrick's final film.  The film starred Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, who were married at the time of the film's production and release.  Recently, Kidman talked about how Kubrick found inspiration in the marriage for his film.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Paramount+ has cancelled "Halo," its video game adaptation, after two seasons.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from Jan. 7th to 13th, 2024 - Update #31

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From THR:  Word is that Top Cruise: Maverick co-writer Ehren Kruger has started working on a third installment of the Top Gun film franchise.  "Maverick" director Joseph Kosinski is likely to return for the third film, which would reunited Tom Cruise with co-stars Miles Teller and Glen Powell.

MOVIES - From THR:  David Gordon Green directed the recent, "The Exorcist: Believer," the first film in the rebooted "The Exorcist" trilogy.  Now, comes news that Green will not direct the next film, "The Exorcist: Deceiver," which has also lost its April 18th, 2025 release date.

MOVIES/MUSIC - From THR:  The Michael Jackson biopic, "Michael," is scheduled to be released globally to movie theaters April 18, 2025.  Michael's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will star as the music icon.

STAR TREK - From Deadline:  Toby Haynes (Disney+'s "Andor) will direct and Seth Grahame-Smith will write a new "Star Trek" film.  It will be separate from the main Chris Pine-led series that began with 2009's Star Trek.  A fourth film in that series is still in development.

MOVIES - From THR:  Oscar-winning director, Danny Boyle, and writer Alex Garland are reunited for "28 Years Later," the long-awaited follow-up to the sci-fi/horror movie hit, 28 Days Later, and its sequel, 28 Weeks Later.  "28 Years Later" will also kick off a new trilogy.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn will join Regina Hall in a new film from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza). The film will begin shooting this year for Warner Bros.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Tom Cruise has a strategic partnership deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. He will develop and produce original and franchise theatrical titles in which he will also star.  It is not an exclusive deal, as Cruise is still working on "Mission: Impossible 8" with Paramount a shot-in-space movie with director Doug Liman for Universal.

MOVIES - From EW:  "Purple Rain," the 1984 Oscar-winning music drama starring the late Grammy winner, Prince, is being adapted into a Broadway musical.  The musical will feature Prince's music, and the book will be written by Brandon Jacob-Jenkins.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 1/5 to 1/7/2023 weekend box office is Warner Bros.'s "Wonka" with an estimated 14.4 million dollars.

EMMYS - From Deadline:  20-year-old actress Storm Reid has won her first Emmy Award.  During Night #1 at the Creative Arts Emmys, Reid snagged "Guest Actress in a Drama Series" for her role as "Riley Abel" on HBO's "The Last of Us." Reid has appeared in such films as A Wrinkle in Time (2018) and The Suicide Squad (2021).

From Blavity:  Over 41 years after her first television series appearance (on NBC's former drama, "Fame"), actress Jasmine Guy earned her first Emmy nomination a few months ago.  Last night (Sat., Jan. 6th), Jasmine won her first Emmy "Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series" for "The Chronicles of Jessica Wu." Guy is best known for playing the character "Whitley Gilbert-Wayne" on the former NBC sitcom, "A Different World" (1987-93).

From Deadline:  Five-time Emmy nominee, actress Judith Light, has finally won her first Emmy Award, "Guest Actress in a Comedy Series" for streamer Peacock's "Poker Face."  It was also Peacock's first Emmy win.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  "Shout! Studios" has taken exclusive worldwide rights to Jim Henson’s beloved fantasy adventure movies, The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986).  This is part of a new multi-year distribution alliance with The Jim Henson Company that began Jan. 1st, 2024.  Under the deal, Shout! holds rights to the titles in regards to streaming, video-on-demand, broadcast, digital download, and all packaged media, as well as limited non-theatrical rights, according to "Deadline."

AWARDS:

From THR:  Key award season dates leading up to the 2024 / 96th Academy Awards, which are Sunday, March 10th, 2024.

From Variety:  The Producers Guild of America has announced the nominees for the 2024 / 35th annual Producers Guild Awards.  For the first time in the history of the awards, two international films, "Anatomy of a Fall" and "The Zone of Interest," have made been nominated in the PGA's top category, "Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures." The winners will be announced Feb. 25th.

From Variety:   The nominees for the 2024 / 51st Annie Awards have been announced.  Netflix's "Nimona" leads the features categories with nine nominations.  The winners will be announced Sat., Feb. 17th.

From Deadline:  The Screen Actors Guild nominations for the 2024 / 30th annual SAG Awards have announced. "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" leads the film side of things with four nominations apiece.  The winners will be announced Saturday, Feb. 24th.

From Variety:  The Directors Guild of America has announced the nominations for the 2024 / 76th DGA Awards.  In the top category, "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film of 2023," the nominees are Greta Gerwig for "Barbie," Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer,” Martin Scorsese for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Yorgos Lanthimos for “Poor Things,” and Alexander Payne for “The Holdovers.”  The winners will be announced Feb. 10th.

From AwardsWatch:  The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) revealed the nominees for the "2024 / 38th Annual ASC Awards" with categories in feature film, documentary, television and music video categories.  The winners will be announced March 3rd, 2024.

From AwardsWatch:  The Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards.  "Killers of the Flower Moon" won "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  The Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) announced the winners in 21 categories for the 2023 Seattle Film Critics Society Awards.  Director Celine Song’s "Past Lives" was named the "Best Picture of 2023."

From AwardsWatch:  The Cinema Audio Society (CAS) has announced the nominations for the 60th CAS Awards.  The winners will be announced March 2nd.

From AwardsWatch:  The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) has announced the nominations for the 28th Art Directors Guild Awards. The winners will be announced Feb. 10th.

From AwardsWatch:  The Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) has announced it 2024 ASTRA Film Awards.  "Barbie" won eight awards, including "Best Picture.

From AwardsWatch:  The Greater Western New York Film Critics Association (GWNYFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards.  "Past Lives" was named "Best Picture."

From NSFC:  The National Society of Film Critics announce its 58th annual NSFC Awards.  "Past Lives" was named "Best Picture of 2023."

From Deadline:  The 2024 / 81st Golden Globes Awards ceremony was held Sun. night, Jan. 7th, 2024.  "Oppenheimer" won five awards, including "Best Motion Picture-Drama," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), "Best Actor-Drama" (Cillian Murphy), and "Best Supporting Actor-Motion Pictures" (Robert Downey, Jr.). "Poor Things" won "Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy."

From Deadline:  NIGHT 2 of the 75th Creative Arts Emmys took place Sun., Jan. 7th, 2024.  (Former) President Barack Obama and Keke Palmer were among the winners.

From Deadline:  NIGHT 1 of the 75th Creative Arts Emmys took place Sat., Jan. 6th, 2024.  HBO's "The Last of Us" lead the night with 8 wins, including wins in both "Guest Actor in a Drama Series" categories: Nick Offerman (Guest Actor) and Storm Reid (Guest Actress).

From AwardsWatch:  The 5th annual DiscussingFilm Critics Awards were announced.  "Oppenheimer" won eight awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch:   The Utah Film Critics Association (UFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Past Lives" won three awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Celine Song).

From AwardsWatch:  The Georgia Film Critics Association (GFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards.  "Oppenheimer" won seven honors, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch:  The San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) has announced its 2023 film awards.  "Oppenheimer" was named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  The Columbus Film Critics Association (COFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards.  "Killers of the Flower Moon" won six awards including "Best Film" and "Best Director" (Martin Scorsese).

From AwardsWatch:  The Costume Designers Guild (Local 892) announced the official nominees list for the 26th CDGA (Costume Designers Guild Awards). The annual CDGA ceremony will take place Wed., Feb. 21st, 2024.

From Variety:   The British Academy has unveiled the results of the first round of voting across all 24 categories for the 2024 / 77th BAFTA Film Awards.  These results are known as "the longlists."  "Barbie," "Killers of the Flower Moon," and "Oppenheimer" all appeared on the longlist of 15 categories.  The nominations will be announced Jan. 18th, and the winners will be announced Feb. 18th.

From AwardsWatch:  The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) has announced its 2023 film awards.  "Killers of the Flower Moon" won five awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Martin Scorsese), and "Best Actress" (Lily Gladstone).

From AwardsWatch:  The Critics Association of Central Florida (CACF) has announced the winners of its 2023 films awards.  "Oppenheimer" won 10 awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan). 

From AwardsWatch:  U.K. Film Critics Association (UKFCA) has announced the winners of its 2023 films awards.  "Oppenheimer" won three awards: "Best Film," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From Variety: The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild (MUAHS, IATSE Local 706) has announced nominations for the 11th MUAHS Guild Awards. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 led with five mentions in the film categories and ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" led with four in the television categories. The winners will be announced Sunday, February 18, 2024.

From AwardsWatch:  The Nevada Film Critics Society has announced its 2023 film awards.  "Oppenheimer" won five awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch:  Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) has announced its 2023 film awards.  Hayao's Miyazaki's anime film, "The Boy and the Heron" was named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) has announced its 2023 films awards.  "American Fiction" won six awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Cord Jefferson), and Best Actor (Jeffrey Wright).

From AwardsWatch:  The San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) has announced its 2023 film awards.  Always trying to be difficult, it named "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" the "Best Picture."  It named Martin Scorsese "Best Director" for "Killers of the Flower Moon."

From AwardsWatch:  The Dublin Film Critics Circle has announced its 2023 film awards.  "Past Lives" wins "Best Film" and "Best Director" (Celine Song)"

From AwardsWatch:  The North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) has announced its 2023 films awards.  "Oppenheimer" wins five awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch:  The Southeaster Film Critics Association (SEFCA) has announces its 2023 films awards.  "Oppenheimer" won eight awards including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch:  The Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) has announced its 2023 films awards.  "Poor Things" won six awards, including "Best Pictuere," "Best Director" (Yorgos Lanthmos), "Best Actress" (Emma Stone"), and "Best Supporting Actor" (Mark Ruffalo).

From AwardsWatch:  The Philadelphia Film Critics Circle (PFCC) has announced it 2023 film awards.  "Poor Things" won four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Yorgos Lanthimos), and "Best Actress" (Emma Stone).

From AwardsWatch:  The St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) has announced its 2023 awards.  "Oppenheimer" won seven awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy)

From AwardsWatch:  The Phoenix Film Critics Society (PFCS) has named its 2023 film awards.  "Killers of the Flower Moon" wins "Best Picture."  Oppenheimer wins six, including "Best Director" for Christopher Nolan.

From AwardsWatch:  The Dallas-Ft. Worth Film Critics Association (DFWFCA) has named its 2023 films awards.  "The Holdovers" wins "Best Picture."  "Oppenheimer" wins four, including "Best Director" for Christopher Nolan.

From AwardsWatch:  The Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) have announced their 2023 film awards.  "The Zone of Interest" wins "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (for Jonathan Glazer).

From AwardsWatch:  The 2023 Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA) awards have been announced.  "Killers of the Flower Moon" wins "Best Picture," one of two awards its won.  "Oppenheimer" wins five, including a "Best Director" for Christopher Nolan.

From AwardsWatch:  The nominations for the 2024 / 24th annual Black Reel Awards have been announced.  "The Color Purple" leads with 19 nominations.  The winners will be announced Jan. 16th, 2024.

From AwardsWatch:  The Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC) has announced its 2023 film awards.  "Past Lives" wins "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  The New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) have named "Killers of the Flower Moon" the "Best Film" of 2023.  Christopher Nolan wins "Best Director" for "Oppenheimer."

From AwardsWatch:  The Las Vegas Film Critics Society have named "Oppenheimer" the "Best Picture" of 2023, with the film's director, Christopher Nolan, winning "Best Director."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2023 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards have been announced.  "Killers of the Flower Moon" wins "Best Picture," and Christopher Nolan wins "Best Director" for "Oppenheimer."

From THR:   The winners at the 2023 / 49th annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards have been announced.  The Holocaust historical drama, "The Zone of Interest," wins four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Jonathan Glazer), and "Best Actress" (Sandra Huller).

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2024 / 29th annual Critics Choice Awards have been announced. "Barbie" leads with 18 nominations.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2024 / 81st annual Golden Globe Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced Jan. 7th, 2024 on CBS and Paramount Plus.

From AwardsWatch:  The Las Vegas Film Critics have announced their 2023 LVFC Awards nominations.  "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" are the leading vote getters.  The winners will be announced Wed., Dec. 13th.

From THR:  The winners at the 2023 European Film Awards have been announced.  "Anatomy of a Fall" won five awards including for "Best Film," "Best Director" (Justine Triet), and "Best Actress" (Sandra Huller).

From AwardsWatch:  The 2023 National Board of Review film honors have been announced.  "Killers of the Flower Moon" won "Best Film," "Best Director" (Martin Scorsese), and "Best Actress" (Lily Gladstone).

From AwardsWatch:  The American Film Institute (AFI) names its top ten films: American Fiction, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, May December, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Poor Things, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.  It also names its top ten television series: Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Beef, Jury Duty, The Last of Us, The Morning Show, Only Murders in the Building, Poker Face, Reservation Dogs, and Succession.

From AwardsWatch:  "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" lead the nominations for "Astra Film & Creative Arts Awards," which are put on by the "Hollywood Creative Alliance" (formerly known as the Hollywood Critics Association).  The winners will be announced Jan. 6th, 2024 in Los Angeles.

From Deadline:  At the 2023 / 26th British Independent Film Awards, director Andrew Haigh's "All of Us Strangers" won seven awards, including "Best British Independent Film."

From Variety:  The winners at the 2023 / 89th New York Film Critics Circle Awards have been announced.  "Killers of the Flower Moon" (directed by Martin Scorsese) was named "Best Film of 2023."  Christopher Nolan won "Best Director" for his film, "Oppenheimer."

From Variety:  The winners at the 2023 / 33rd Annual Gotham Awards were announced Mon., Nov. 27th.  Writer-director Celine Song's South Korean romantic drama, "Past Lives" won the "Best Feature" award.

BEST PICTURE COUNT:

All of Us Strangers: 1

American Fiction: 1

Barbie: 1

The Boy and the Heron: 1

The Holdovers: 1

Killers of the Flower Moon: 9

Oppenheimer: 11

Past Lives: 7

Poor Things: 3

The Zone of Interest: 2

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