Amazon Announces Season Two of "Hand of God" for March 10th

Season Two of Amazon Original Series Hand of God Launches Exclusively on Prime Video on March 10, 2017

All ten episodes of season two will be available globally on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories later this year

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Season two of the Amazon Original Series, Hand of God, will premiere on Prime Video on March 10, 2017. Prime members will be able to stream the series exclusively via the Amazon Prime Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, mobile devices and online at Amazon.com/handofgod. Members can also download the series to mobile devices for offline viewing at no additional cost to their membership. Hand of God will be a global release and available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video for members to watch via the Prime Video app for popular smart TVs, Fire TV, Fire Tablets and Android and iOS phones and tablets. The show will also be available later this year on PrimeVideo.com for Prime Video members in more than 200 countries and territories.

    “I love the show!!! Could not stop watching, can't wait for season two.”

Created and written by Ben Watkins (Burn Notice), Hand of God returns with Golden Globe winner Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy), starring as Judge Pernell Harris. The hard-living, law-bending king of San Vicente, “Judge Maximum” has finally hit bottom as he faces trial for the murder of a cop. While his visions and the ghost of his son will slowly lead Pernell through a conspiracy that is bigger than he could have imagined, they will threaten his relationship with his wife and everything he holds dear. This season, Judge Maximum must fight on two fronts—to restore his sanity and gain his freedom.

Hand of God also stars Dana Delany (Body of Proof) as the Judge’s estranged wife Crystal Harris, who is on a mission to secure her son’s legacy, Andre Royo (The Wire) as the gregarious, smart-yet-slick mayor Robert ‘Bobo’ Boston, Garret Dillahunt (Justified) as KD, the born-again sociopath whose violent tendencies are exploited by Pernell, Emayatzy Corinealdi (Roots) as Pernell’s former call girl and confidante Tessie, Alona Tal (Supernatural) as Pernell’s grieving daughter-in-law Jocelyn Harris, Julian Morris (Pretty Little Liars) as the morally questionable preacher Paul Curtis, and Elizabeth McLaughlin (Betrayal) as the preacher’s sultry girlfriend, Alicia.

This season the all-star cast is joined by Linda Gray (Dallas), Nia Long (The Best Man) and Brian Baumgartner (The Office).

Season one has an average customer rating of 4.3. Here’s what customers have been saying:

•     “This was fantastic.”
•     “This is an intriguing, well thought out, extremely well written and well produced show.”
•     “It had me hooked from the first scene.”
•     “This show truly keeps you guessing the entire time. Beautiful written, acted, and directed.”
•     “Great. I watched every show in three days. Can't wait for next season.”
•     “I love the show!!! Could not stop watching, can't wait for season two.”
•     “This show was so entertaining, I couldn't stop watching it. Love it.”

“We are excited to give Prime members the answers to the mysteries of Hand of God season one,” said Joe Lewis, Head of Comedy and Drama, Amazon Studios. “We are hopeful that this final chapter will be a satisfying one for fans of the series.”

Watkins, Marc Forster (World War Z), Perlman, Brian Wilkins (All I See is You) and Craig Siebels (Burn Notice) are Executive Producers of Hand of God, and Jillian Kugler (World War Z) is co-Executive Producer.

Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Amazon Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.


About Amazon Video
Amazon Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch, and how to watch it. Amazon Video is the only service that provides all of the following:

•     Prime Video: Thousands of movies and TV shows, including popular licensed content plus critically-acclaimed and award-winning Amazon Original Series and Movies from Amazon Studios like Transparent, The Man in the High Castle, Love & Friendship and kids series Tumble Leaf, available for unlimited streaming as part of an Amazon Prime membership. Prime Video is also now available to customers in more than 200 countries and territories around the globe at www.primevideo.com.
•     Amazon Channels: Over 100 video subscriptions to networks like HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, PBS KIDS, Acorn TV and more, available to Amazon Prime members as add-ons to their membership – to view the full list of channels available, visit www.amazon.com/channels
•     Rent or Own: Hundreds of thousands of titles, including new-release movies and current TV shows available for on-demand rental or purchase for all Amazon customers
•     Instant Access: Instantly watch anytime, anywhere through the Amazon Video app on TVs, mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, and Fire tablets, or online. For a list of all compatible devices visit www.amazon.com/howtostream
•     Premium Features: Top features like 4K Ultra HD, High Dynamic Range (HDR) and mobile downloads for offline viewing of select content

In addition to Prime Video, the Prime membership includes unlimited fast free shipping options across all categories available on Amazon, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, secure photo storage with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, unlimited access to a digital audiobook catalogue with Audible Channels for Prime, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, early access to select Lightning Deals, exclusive access and discounts to select items, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more visit: www.amazon.com/prime.

About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about.

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Jason Momao Sailing to Salt Lake Comic Con FanX 2017

The King of Atlantis Is Rising from the Depths for Salt Lake Comic Con FanX™

Justice League is scheduled for release November 17, 2017; Aquaman for 2018

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Salt Lake Comic Con (http://saltlakecomiccon.com/) announced that the King of Atlantis, Jason Momoa, will be a guest at Salt Lake Comic Con FanXperience 2017 (FanX™) on March 17-18, 2017.

    Jason Momoa attends Salt Lake Comic Con #FanX17. www.SaltLakeComicCon.com/guests/

Momoa is an actor, director, writer and producer. He is a fan favorite for his roles as Khal Drogo in HBO’s Game of Thrones, Ronon Dex in Stargate Atlantis and Conan in Conan the Barbarian.

He also made his debut in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice as Aquaman and will star as Aquaman in the new Justice League movie that is scheduled for release on November 17, 2017. In Justice League, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg unite to save the world from Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons; Justice League is one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year.

In addition to Justice League, Momoa will star in a standalone Aquaman movie in 2018 and is currently starring in Frontier for Netflix.

“Jason has had some incredible roles in some of the biggest movies and TV series over the last couple of years,” said Dan Farr, Salt Lake Comic Con Founder and Show Producer. “We’re excited that he has chosen to come to FanX and know that he will appeal to a wide range of fan interests from Justice League to Game of Thrones. We’re certain he will be a huge hit with our fans.”

FanX 2017 will provide fans with a more intimate, fun, family-oriented and affordable FanXperience. FanX organizers have added a number of new features including special Cosplay activities and contests, Kidcon, hundreds of vendors, exclusive features like the Sword Experience, Tattoo Pavilion, and the official Stan Lee merchandise and collectible booth that is accompanying Stan Lee for his last Salt Lake City appearance.

“In a recent Facebook poll, our fans picked Jason over his fellow Justice League superheros including Henry Cavill (Superman) and Ben Affleck (Batman),” said Bryan Brandenburg, Salt Lake Comic Con Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer. “With the upcoming releases of Justice League later this year and Aquaman in 2018 Jason will be a huge draw with our fans. What’s just as exciting is that Jason is rounding out a terrific celebrity lineup for our show. Salt Lake Comic Con FanX 2017 is really shaping up as our best FanXperience ever.”

FanX 2017 takes place Friday, March 17–Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Shipping deadline was February 15, at 11:59 p.m. MST. For more information about FanX 2017 or to purchase tickets now, visit http://www.saltlakecomiccon.com/.


ABOUT SALT LAKE COMIC CON:
Salt Lake Comic Con is organized by Dan Farr Productions, in partnership with ABC4/CW30 of the Nexstar Broadcasting Group. This most attended convention in the history of Utah was co-founded by Dan Farr and Bryan Brandenburg and is presented by Subaru of America. Dan Farr Productions is an event and marketing group devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium celebrities and brands in the pop culture arena. Dan Farr Productions is dedicated to producing spectacular celebrations of popular culture that lead the market in providing exceptional and rewarding experiences for our consumers, fans, celebrity guests, vendors and partners. Find out more at: www.SaltLakeComicCon.com, www.abc4.com/.

Salt Lake Comic Con
http://www.saltlakecomiccon.com
Salt Lake Comic Con Tickets
http://saltlakecomiccon.com/tickets/
Salt Lake Comic Con FanXperiences
http://saltlakecomiccon.com/fanxperiences/
Salt Lake Comic Con Master Guest Schedule
http://saltlakecomiccon.com/guests/

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Viola Davis, Lee Daniels Common Join "BET Presents the ABFF Honors"

Viola Davis, Lee Daniels, Common, Maxwell, Omari Hardwick, Morris Chestnut and Dionne Farris among Big Names to Take the Stage During the 2017 “BET Presents the American Black Film Festival Honors”

Actress and Director Regina Hall to Host Annual Ceremony

Awards Show Tapes Friday, February 17 in Los Angeles and will air on BET and Centric Wednesday, February 22 at 8:00PM ET

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BET Networks and American Black Film Festival (ABFF)’s “BET Presents the American Black Film Festival Honors” is thrilled to announce that Viola Davis, Lee Daniels, Common, Morris Chestnut and Omari Hardwick are confirmed to present during the annual ceremony taping in Los Angeles on Friday, February 17th, 2017. Also set to take the stage are Maxwell and Dionne Farris, who will woo the audience with sultry performances. ABFF Honors' mission is to celebrate Black culture by honoring individuals, movies and television shows that have had a significant impact on American entertainment. “BET Presents the American Black Film Festival Honors” airs on BET and Centric on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017 at 8:00PM ET.

Hosted by actress and director Regina Hall, “BET Presents the American Black Film Festival Honors” is proud to celebrate some of Hollywood’s most iconic artists. As previously announced, the show will honor actor and director Denzel Washington with the “Hollywood Legacy Award;” writer, producer and actress Issa Rae with the “Rising Star Award,” film director and producer F. Gary Gray with the “Excellence in the Arts Award” and actor and singer, Terrence Howard with the “Excellence in the Arts Award.” In addition, there will be a special appearance by some of Young Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Jay Ellis (Insecure, The Game), Kofi Siriboe (Queen Sugar), Alexandra Shipp (X-Men: Apocalypse, Straight Outta Compton) and Kylie Bunbury (Pitch).

“BET Presents the American Black Film Festival Honors” is sure to be a highlight of the Hollywood Awards season and Black History Month. The event is executive produced by ABFF Ventures founder Jeff Friday, Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones for de Passe Jones Entertainment, Jesse Collins for Jesse Collins Entertainment, and Connie Orlando, Stephen G. Hill and Debra Lee for BET Networks.

The 2017 ABFF Honors sponsors are AT&T, Cadillac and Prudential Financial Inc. (Red Carpet Partners) and Hennessy (Official Spirit Partner).

For more information about the 2017 ABFF Honors, log on to www.ABFFHonors.com. Also, follow us on our social media platforms:

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: @ABFFHonors
Instagram: @AmericanBlackFilmFestival
Facebook: American Black Film Festival
YouTube: American Black Film Festival
Website: http://www.bet.com/shows/abff-honors.html


ABOUT ABFF
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. It supports emerging artists to foster a wider range of images, stories and storytellers represented in the entertainment industry. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Today, the ABFF is recognized as the preeminent pipeline to new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content targeted to upscale African American audiences.

For additional information about the festival, visit www.ABFF.com.

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Documentary About the Life of "Andre the Giant" Headed to HBO

"ANDRE THE GIANT” to Debut on HBO

NEW YORK & STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HBO Sports, WWE® (NYSE:WWE) and the Bill Simmons Media Group will produce ANDRE THE GIANT, a documentary film examining the life and career of one of the most beloved legends in WWE history, it was announced today by Kevin Dunn, WWE Executive Producer, and Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports. The ambitious and wide-ranging documentary film will explore Andre’s upbringing in France, his celebrated career in WWE and his forays in the entertainment world.

    “I will always value our friendship, and I am proud to tell the story of the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’.”

“For more than 20 years, Andre the Giant’s larger than life personality and unique charisma captured the imagination of fans around the world,” said WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. “I will always value our friendship, and I am proud to tell the story of the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’.”

Bill Simmons, who joined HBO in the summer of 2015 and founded The Ringer, will serve as an executive producer of the film. “Going back to 2007 and 2008 when I was creating and developing ‘30 for 30’ for ESPN, Andre’s story rode the top of every single sports documentary wish list I ever made,” said Simmons. “We always hear about unicorns these days – Andre was the ultimate unicorn. He’s a true legend. Everyone who ever crossed paths with him has an Andre story – and usually four or five. I’m delighted to join forces with Jason Hehir and WWE so we can capture Andre’s amazing story once and for all.”

Emmy®-Award winning director and producer Jason Hehir will serve as the film’s director. HBO Sports and WWE are partnering for the first time ever on this full-length signature presentation, which will combine never-before-seen footage and revealing interviews for a comprehensive and intimate portrait of one of WWE’s most beloved, yet largely unknown figures. Interviews will include WWE Superstars, sports and entertainment executives, athletes, media, family, friends and associates.

André René Roussimoff was born in 1946 in Grenoble, France. Early in his teenage years, he exhibited signs of gigantism, rapidly growing to more than seven feet, though he was not diagnosed with acromegaly until his twenties. He began his training in Paris at 17 and eventually became known in wrestling circuits around the world, including Europe, Australia and Africa. In 1970, Roussimoff made his Japanese debut, which put him on the radar of Vince McMahon Sr., founder of what is now known as World Wrestling Entertainment.

In 1973, Andre joined the organization where McMahon Sr. famously billed him as Andre the Giant. Andre’s unique voice and athletic prowess, coupled with his more than 500-pound, seven-foot, four-inch frame, made him an unforgettable attraction.

During his ascension to the top of the ranks, Andre engaged in memorable matches with Killer Khan, Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy and compiled an undefeated streak that lasted for the better part of a decade. In 1987, Andre hit the pinnacle of his career during his rivalry with Hulk Hogan, one of the biggest stars in WWE and pop culture history. As a new villain, Andre squared off with Hogan at WrestleMania® III at the Silverdome in Michigan, and in one of the most memorable moments in history, Hogan body-slammed Andre to retain the championship in front of 93,173 fans.

While wrestling’s fan base continued to grow, Roussimoff’s health began to decline. Despite his health issues, the “Eighth Wonder of the World” remained at the forefront during the company’s golden era. Following WrestleMania III, Andre took on other WWE Legends such as Jake “The Snake” Roberts™, “Macho Man” Randy Savage™ and The Ultimate Warrior® and participated in numerous marquee events until 1991. Andre became the first-ever inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1993.

Roussimoff’s larger-than-life personality also allowed him to pursue a career in acting. He appeared in television sitcoms and films during the ‘70s and ‘80s, often playing himself or some variation of a human giant, and is remembered for his role as Fezzik in Rob Reiner’s classic “The Princess Bride.”

Outside the ring, Andre Roussimoff was a gentle giant. The subject of stares and ridicule for his size throughout his life, he was a self-declared introvert. On Jan. 27, 1993, Andre Roussimoff succumbed to his gigantism and died of congestive heart failure. And while WWE has had a memorable cast of larger-than-life stars during the two decades since his passing, Andre the Giant is still remembered as one of the greatest.


About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE:WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide in 25 languages. WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 over-the-top premium network that includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library, is currently available in more than 180 countries. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE (NYSE:WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

About HBO Sports
Over the past three decades, HBO Sports has earned a reputation as one of sports television’s most prolific storytellers. From compelling documentaries to unscripted reality programming to world championship boxing to magazine-style studio shows, HBO Sports has been a trailblazer. The department has earned 11 prestigious George F. Peabody Awards for production excellence in long-form programming and introduced a host of innovations and enhancements to increase subscriber satisfaction. Since 1991, HBO Sports has also earned 128 Sports Emmy® Awards and has been recognized with three duPont-Columbia University awards for excellence in broadcast journalism.

About Bill Simmons Media Group
Bill Simmons Media Group was founded in 2015 and immediately launched the multimedia company The Ringer. The Ringer is comprised of a website (theringer.com), Newsletter, Podcast Network, Social Media network, and scripted and non-scripted video production. The Ringer and HBO have collaborated on various productions including After The Thrones, Any Given Wednesday and now the Andre the Giant project. Eric Weinberger is the President of The Ringer and was formerly the Executive Producer at NFL Media. Bill Simmons received three Sports Emmy® Awards and a Creative Arts Emmy while serving for six years (2009-15) as an executive producer of original film productions under ESPN’s Peabody-Award-winning “30 for 30” banner. Simmons was a co-creator of the “30 for 30” series.

About Jason Hehir
Accomplished film director Jason Hehir, who spent seven years at HBO Sports (2001-08) before launching his career as an independent director, will direct the Andre the Giant project. Hehir was a member of the HBO Sports production team that captured Emmy® Award recognition for the groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise. Hehir’s film credits include “The Fab Five,” “Down in the Valley,” “Jose Canseco: Last Shot,” “Bernie and Ernie” and “The ’85 Bears.”

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"Hunter x Hunter" Blu-ray/DVD Set Two Due End of February 2017

VIZ MEDIA EXPANDS HUNTER X HUNTER ANIME HOME MEDIA COLLECTION WITH THE RELEASE OF SET 2 ON BLU-RAY AND DVD

Catch The Latest Episodes Of The Action-Packed HUNTER X HUNTER Anime Series On New Blu-ray and DVD Sets

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, expands the home media library for the HUNTER X HUNTER anime series with the release of HUNTER X HUNTER Set 2 on February 28th, 2017.

The latest edition of the action-driven series will be released as DVD and Blu-ray sets that each contain 13 episodes (Episodes 14 to 26). The HUNTER X HUNTER Set 2 Blu-ray will carry an MSRP of $29.98 U.S. / $34.99 CAN; the HUNTER X HUNTER Set 2 DVD edition will carry an MSRP of $24.98 U.S. / $29.99 CAN.

The two-disc Blu-ray set includes uncut English dubbed as well as Japanese subtitled dialogue options along with series trailers and clean opening and ending segments. Special bonus content and premiums exclusive to the Blu-ray edition includes a digital art gallery and three full-color HUNTER X HUNTER postcards.

In the Fourth Phase of the Hunter Exam the participants must steal ID badges from each other—and anyone without enough badges at the end of one week fails! It will take trickery, unexpected alliances, and careful negotiations for Gon and his friends to succeed. In the Final Phase, the remaining Hunter candidates are matched up for one-on-one battles—but the only way to win this fight is to lose! After the exam, Gon discovers that Killua has gone back home, so he and his friends head to the Republic of Padokea to find him.

The HUNTER X HUNTER anime series reboots the popular HUNTER X HUNTER manga originally created by Yoshihiro Togashi. The anime adventure is broadcast in North America on Adult Swim’s Toonami and was produced by the famed animation studio, MADHOUSE. The fresh English voice cast includes the talented Erica Mendez as Gon Freecss, Cristina Vee as Killua Zoldyck, Keith Silverstein as Hisoka, and Erika Harlacher as Kurapika.

In the original HUNTER X HUNTER manga series, which is also published by VIZ Media (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens), Hunters are a special breed, dedicated to tracking down treasures, magical beasts, and even other people. But such pursuits require a license, and less than one in a hundred thousand can pass the grueling qualification exam. Those who do pass gain access to restricted areas, amazing stores of information, and the right to call themselves Hunters.

For more information on HUNTER X HUNTER or other anime and manga titles available from VIZ Media, please visit VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at VIZ.com.

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48th NAACP Image Awards Announced; Dwayne Johnson Named Entertainer of the Year

The NAACP Image Award an award bestowed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The award honors outstanding achievements by people of color in film, television, music, and literature. The awards are voted on by members of the NAACP.

The NAACP held its 48th annual Image Awards ceremony, which celebrate the accomplishments of people of color in Television, Recording (Music), Literary (Books), Motion Picture, Documentary (film and television), Writing (for film and television), Directing (for film and television), and Animated/CGI (for film and television). Winners were announced Saturday, February 11, 2017 during a ceremony airing live on TV One at 9PM EST. Actor Anthony Anderson was the cermony's host.

2017 / 48th NAACP Image Awards winners:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

MOTION PICTURE

Outstanding Motion Picture

• “Hidden Figures” (20th Century Fox)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture – (Film)

• Barry Jenkins – “Moonlight” (A24)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)

• Barry Jenkins “Moonlight” (A24)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

• Denzel Washington – “Fences” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

• Taraji P. Henson – “Hidden Figures” (20th Century Fox)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

• Mahershala Ali – “Moonlight” (A24)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

• Viola Davis – “Fences” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

• “Moonlight” (A24)

Outstanding Documentary – (Film)

• “13th” (Netflix)

ANIMATED/CGI

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – (Television or Film)

• Idris Elba – “The Jungle Book” (Walt Disney Studios)

TELEVISION

Outstanding Comedy Series

• “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

• Anthony Anderson – “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

• Tracee Ellis Ross – “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Laurence Fishburne – “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Tichina Arnold – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)

Outstanding Drama Series

• “Queen Sugar” (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

• Sterling K. Brown – “This Is Us” (NBC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

• Taraji P. Henson – “Empire” (FOX)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Jussie Smollett – “Empire” (FOX)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Naturi Naughton – “Power” (Starz)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

• “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (FX)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

• Courtney B. Vance – “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (FX)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

• Regina King – “American Crime” (ABC)

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

• Donald Glover – “Atlanta” – Value (FX)

Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series

• John Singleton – “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story: The Race Card” – (FX)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)

• Rick Famuyiwa – “Confirmation” – (HBO)

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

• Kenya Barris – “black-ish” – Hope (ABC)

Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series

• Ava DuVernay – “Queen Sugar” – First Things First (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture – (Television)

• Charles Murray – “Roots (Night 3)” (History)

Outstanding Documentary – (Television)

• “Roots: A New Vision” (History)

Outstanding News / Information – (Series or Special)

• “BET Love and Happiness White House Special” (BET)

Outstanding Talk Series

• “Steve Harvey” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series

• “Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)

• “2016 Black Girls Rock” (BET)

Outstanding Children’s Program

• “An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win” (Amazon)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-series)

• Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

• Roland S. Martin – “NewsOne Now with Roland S. Martin” (TV One)

RECORDING

Outstanding New Artist

• Chance the Rapper (Chance the Rapper)

Outstanding Male Artist

• Maxwell (Columbia)

Outstanding Female Artist

• Beyoncé (Columbia Record/Parkwood Entertainment)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration

• “Freedom” – Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar (Columbia Record/Parkwood Entertainment)

Outstanding Jazz Album

• “Latin America Songbook” – Edward Simon (Sunnyside)

Outstanding Gospel Album – (Traditional or Contemporary)

• “One Way” – Tamela Mann (Tillymann, Inc.)

Outstanding Music Video

• “Formation” – Beyoncé (Columbia Record/Parkwood Entertainment)

Outstanding Song – Traditional

• “I See Victory” – Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams (I Am Other/Columbia)

Outstanding Song – Contemporary

• “Freedom” – Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar (Columbia Record/Parkwood Entertainment)

Outstanding Album

• “Lemonade” – Beyoncé (Columbia Record/Parkwood Entertainment)

LITERATURE

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

• “The Book of Harlan” – Bernice L. McFadden (Akashic Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction

• “Hidden Figures” – Margot Lee Shetterly (HarperCollins Publishers / William Morrow)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

• “Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” – Trevor Noah (Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Auto-Biography

• “Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” – Trevor Noah (Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

• “The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage” – Daymond John (Author), Daniel Paisner (With), (Crown Business / The Crown Publishing Group)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

• “Collected Poems: 1974 — 2004″ – Rita Dove (W. W. Norton & Company)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

• “Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas” – Gwendolyn Hooks (Author), Colin Bootman (Illustrator), (Lee & Low Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

• “As Brave As You” – Jason Reynolds (Simon & Schuster (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books))

The Jackie Robinson Sports Award:

LeBron James

The Chairman's Award:

Charles J. Ogletree Jr.

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Review: "Doctor Strange" Shows Potential for Future Strange Movies

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 3 (of 2017) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Doctor Strange (2016)
Running time:  115 minutes (1 hour, 55 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action throughout, and an intense crash sequence
DIRECTOR:  Scott Derrickson
WRITERS:  Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson, and C. Robert Cargill (based on the comic books created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee)
PRODUCER:  Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Ben David (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Sabrina Plisco and Wyatt Smith
COMPOSER:  Michael Giacchino
Academy Award nominee

SUPERHERO/FANTASY/ACTION

Starring:  Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, and Stan Lee

Doctor Strange is a 2016 superhero and fantasy film directed by Scott Derrickson and produced by Marvel Studios.  The film focuses on the Marvel Comics character, Doctor Strange, who first appeared in Strange Tales #10 (cover dated: July 1963) and who was created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee.  Doctor Strange the movie focuses on a former neurosurgeon whose journey of healing takes him into the fantastic world of the magic and mysticism.

Doctor Strange introduces Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), an acclaimed neurosurgeon and scientist and also an arrogant and conceited  person.  After being in a terrible car accident, Strange discovers that his hands are damaged and rendered useless in performing the delicate surgical procedures for which he is celebrated.  He obsessively searches for a surgery that will make his hands like they were before, but when he cannot, he turns bitter, even rejecting his co-worker and former lover, Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams).

Strange learns of a place called “Kamar-Taj” in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he can be cured.  What he discovers is The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) and sorcerers like Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor).  They introduce him to other dimensions, to the astral plane, and to the mystic arts, but there is a darker side to this that Strange will be forced to confront.

The cast of Doctor Strange includes three actors with at least one Academy Award nomination and also one winner (Tilda Swinton).  Oscar-nominated Chiwetel Ejiofor appeared in the Oscar-winning “Best Picture,” 12 Years a Slave, and Oscar-nominated Rachel McAdams appeared in this previous year's “Best Picture” Oscar-winnner, Spotlight.  Mads Mikkelsen (who plays this film's villain, Kaecilius) has appeared in at least two films that were nominated for foreign-language film Academy Awards.

Doctor Strange needs that acting pedigree because its screenplay is soft and a little weak.  Cumberbatch and company go beyond merely making the best of the screenplay.  They create character drama, conflict, and tension where it is weak or where there is none in the story.  But we know what people are wondering about... the superhero action.

The filmmakers could have taken the material from Marvel Comics Doctor Strange comic books and made something crazy, and they did not play it safe and did indeed make something crazy.  Doctor Strange takes the visual effects of Christopher Nolan's 2010 film, Inception, with its shifting buildings and hallways and turns it into something far more nutty.

Every inch of floor, wall, street, bridge, building, structure – everything, y'all, is flipped, shifted, twisted, melted, divided, and sometimes broken.  The world of Doctor Strange is like Rubik's cube undergoing an earthquake; Salvador Dali on purple drank, and ice cream cone turned into ice cream dots.  Well, you have to see it for yourself, and you should see Doctor Strange.

Doctor Strange is Marvel's weirdest movie; it is the outsider making not only its own corner in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also its own shifting realities.  Director Scott Derrickson is known for making low-budget horror films like Insidious.  He proves that he can play in the bigger sandbox that is Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures.  Doctor Strange is not perfect, but it tries to be as “out there” as a Marvel movie can be and still be part of a universe that includes the Avengers, Iron Man, and Captain America movies.  There is so much going on in Doctor Strange that I need to see it again.

7 of 10
B+

Sunday, November 6, 2016

NOTES:
2017 Academy Awards, USA:  1 nominations: “Best Achievement in Visual Effects” (Stephane Ceretti, Richard Bluff, Vincent Cirelli, and Paul Corbould)

2017 BAFTA Awards:  3 nominations: “Best Production Design” (John Bush and Charles Wood), “Best Make Up/Hair” (Jeremy Woodhead), and “Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects” (Richard Bluff, Stephane Ceretti, Paul Corbould, and Jonathan Fawkner)


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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