Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Marvel Comics Shipping from Diamond Distributors for September 30, 2020

MARVEL COMICS

JUL200672    AVENGERS #36    $3.99
JUL200673    AVENGERS #36 ALEX ROSS GHOST RIDER TIMELESS VAR    $3.99
JUN209039    AVENGERS #36 GURIHIRU HEROES AT HOME VAR    $3.99
JUL208872    AVENGERS #36 PICHELLI FORTNITE VAR    $3.99
MAR201112    CONAN CHRONICLES EPIC COLLECTION TP HORRORS BENEATH STONES    $44.99
JUL200695    DAREDEVIL BY CHIP ZDARSKY TP VOL 04 END OF HELL    $15.99
DEC190976    DITKO IS STRANGE KING-SIZE HC    $100.00
FEB200968    FALCON & WINTER SOLDIER #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
JUL200668    FANTASTIC FOUR #24 ALEX ROSS HUMAN TORCH TIMELESS VAR EMP    $3.99
JUL200669    FANTASTIC FOUR #24 ALEX ROSS INVISIBLE WOMAN TIMELESS VAR EM    $3.99
JUL200670    FANTASTIC FOUR #24 ALEX ROSS MISTER FANTASTIC TIMELESS VAR    $3.99
JUL200671    FANTASTIC FOUR #24 ALEX ROSS THING TIMELESS VAR    $3.99
JUL208876    FANTASTIC FOUR #24 CAMUNCOLI FORTNITE VAR    $3.99
JUL200667    FANTASTIC FOUR #24 FORTNITE STORY    $3.99
MAR200904    GIANT SIZE X-MEN TRIBUTE WEIN COCKRUM #1    $5.99
MAR200907    GIANT SIZE X-MEN TRIBUTE WEIN COCKRUM #1 HIDDEN GEM VAR    $5.99
MAR200905    GIANT SIZE X-MEN TRIBUTE WEIN COCKRUM #1 MOORE VAR    $5.99
FEB200977    IMMORTAL HULK THRESHING PLACE #1    $4.99
FEB200978    IMMORTAL HULK THRESHING PLACE #1 BENNETT VAR    $4.99
JAN201034    MARVEL CLASSICS COMICS OMNIBUS HC    $150.00
MAR200942    MARVEL ZOMBIES RESURRECTION #2 (OF 4)    $3.99
MAR200943    MARVEL ZOMBIES RESURRECTION #2 (OF 4) LAND VAR    $3.99
MAR200944    MARVEL ZOMBIES RESURRECTION #2 (OF 4) SCOTT VAR    $3.99
MAR200963    MARVELS X #5 (OF 6)    $4.99
FEB200981    SAVAGE AVENGERS #12    $3.99
JUL208880    SAVAGE AVENGERS #12 KUBERT FORTNITE VAR    $3.99
APR208873    SAVAGE AVENGERS #12 YU VAR    $3.99
APR200837    SHANG-CHI #1 (OF 5)    $3.99
JUL208939    SHANG-CHI #1 (OF 5) BARTEL VAR    $3.99
APR200843    SHANG-CHI #1 (OF 5) HIDDEN GEM VAR    $3.99
APR200839    SHANG-CHI #1 (OF 5) INHYUK LEE VAR    $3.99
JUL208941    SHANG-CHI #1 (OF 5) JACINTO VAR    $3.99
APR200841    SHANG-CHI #1 (OF 5) RON LIM VAR    $3.99
JUL208937    SHANG-CHI #1 (OF 5) RUAN VAR    $3.99
JUL208940    SHANG-CHI #1 (OF 5) SU VAR    $3.99
JUL200704    SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE GN TP SECRET THING    $12.99
APR201056    STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #4    $3.99
JUL208884    STRANGE ACADEMY #1 4TH PTG VAR    $4.99
MAR200939    STRANGE ACADEMY #3    $3.99
MAR200940    STRANGE ACADEMY #3 ADAMS CHARACTER SPOTLIGHT VAR    $3.99
JUL200665    STRANGE ACADEMY #3 ALEX ROSS DOCTOR STRANGE TIMELESS VAR    $3.99
FEB201037    VENOM REX MARVEL SELECT HC    $24.99
JUL200592    X-FACTOR #4 ALEX ROSS ANGEL TIMELESS VAR XOS    $4.99
JUL200591    X-FACTOR #4 SILVA VAR XOS    $4.99
JUL200590    X-FACTOR #4 XOS    $4.99
MAR201118    X-MEN AVENGERS ONSLAUGHT TP VOL 02    $39.99


Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for September 30, 2020

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUL201719    ACCA 13 TERRITORY INSPECTION DEPT PS GN VOL 01    $15.00
MAR201999    AGGRETSUKO HC VOL 01 METAL TO THE MAX    $11.99
JUL201390    ANGELA DELLA MORTE VOL 2 #1 (RES)    $3.95
AUG201881    AO HARU RIDE MANGA GN VOL 13    $9.99
JUL200996    ARTEMIS & ASSASSIN #5    $3.99
JUL200945    BATVARK PENIS ONE SHOT    $4.00
APR208412    BATVARK XXXXX ONE SHOT    $4.00
JUL201059    BEST OF ARCHIE CHRISTMAS CLASSICS TP    $9.99
APR201534    BIG NATE STAYS CLASSY TP    $14.99
JUL201102    BIGS AND TINY #3 (MR)    $3.99
JUL201623    BLOOD ON TRACKS GN VOL 02 (RES) (MR)    $12.95
APR201979    BRINA THE CAT GN VOL 02 CITY CAT    $9.99
APR201980    BRINA THE CAT HC GN VOL 02 CITY CAT    $14.99
JUL209247    BRONX HEROES IN TRUMPLAND GN    $11.95
JUL201174    CARMEN SANDIEGO GN VOL 03 CHASING PAPER CAPER    $10.99
JUL201175    CARMEN SANDIEGO HC GN VOL 03 CHASING PAPER CAPER    $21.99
JUL201633    CASTE HEAVEN GN VOL 03 (MR)    $12.99
AUG201364    CASTLE IN THE STARS HC GN VOL 04 FRENCHMAN ON MARS    $19.99
AUG201873    CHAINSAW MAN GN VOL 01    $9.99
SEP191549    CINEMA PURGATORIO COMP STORY BOX SET    $39.99
JUN201184    COMPLETE PENULTIMATE QUEST GN    $25.00
JUN201493    CREATURE GIRLS HANDS ON FIELD JOURNAL WORLD GN VOL 04 (MR) (    $13.99
APR201861    DARK TOWER DRAWING OF THREE HC TP VOL 04 BITTER MEDICINE (MR    $26.99
JUL201226    DEADPOOL COMEBACK CREATOR HC    $16.99
AUG201899    DEMON PRINCE OF MOMOCHI HOUSE GN VOL 16    $9.99
AUG201874    DEMON SLAYER KIMETSU NO YAIBA GN VOL 17    $9.99
JUL201209    DRAGON PRINCE GN #1 THROUGH MOON    $12.99
JAN201501    GOLD DIGGER #275    $3.99
JUL201012    GOON #12 CVR A POWELL (RES)    $3.99
JUL201013    GOON #12 JOHNSON CARDSTOCK VAR CVR (RES)    $5.99
APR202035    GREAT GATSBY GN    $20.00
APR202036    GREAT GATSBY HC GN    $30.00
JUL201014    GRUMBLE MEMPHIS & BEYOND THE INFINITE #3 (OF 5) (RES)    $3.99
JAN201902    GUDETAMA HC ADULTING FOR THE LAZY    $9.99
AUG201880    INCURABLE CASE OF LOVE GN VOL 05 (MR)    $9.99
JUL201314    INVADER ZIM BEST OF WORLD DOMINATION TP (RES)    $9.99
JUL201410    JOHN CARPENTER STORM KIDS HYPERBREED TP    $17.99
JUL201412    JOHN CARPENTERS TALES FOR A HALLOWEENIGHT TP VOL 06 (MR)    $24.99
JUL201413    JOHN CARPENTERS TALES SCIFI VORTEX 2 #4 (MR)    $3.99
AUG201877    JUJUTSU KAISEN GN VOL 06    $9.99
JUN201488    KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD OMNIBUS GN VOL 02    $24.95
JUL201624    KINOS JOURNEY BEAUTIFUL WORLD GN VOL 06 (RES)    $12.95
AUG201367    LAST PICK GN VOL 03 (OF 3) RISE UP    $17.99
AUG201368    LAST PICK HC GN VOL 03 (OF 3) RISE UP    $26.99
AUG201492    LON CHANEY SPEAKS GN    $25.00
JUL201797    MADE IN ABYSS ANTHOLOGY GN    $12.99
JUL201616    MAGATSUKI GN VOL 11-13 (RES)    $24.99
JUL201407    MARIE & WORRYWART GN    $5.00
APR201914    MONSTER ALLERGY GN VOL 04 MONSTER TAMERS MANUAL    $10.99
AUG201887    MORIARTY THE PATRIOT GN VOL 01    $9.99
AUG201079    MTSYRY OCTOBRIANA 1976 ONE SHOT (MR)    $10.00
AUG201875    MY HERO ACADEMIA GN VOL 25    $9.99
AUG201962    NEW GATE MANGA GN VOL 03    $11.95
AUG201369    NICO BRAVO & CELLAR DWELLERS SC GN    $14.99
APR191390    OFFBEATS TP    $19.99
FEB201492    OFFWORLD SCI FI DOUBLE FEATURE #3 (MR)    $3.99
AUG201876    ONE PUNCH MAN GN VOL 21    $9.99
JAN201504    PLANET COMICS #2 CVR A SHANNON    $3.99
JAN201505    PLANET COMICS #2 CVR B HUTCHINSON    $9.99
JUN201010    POSSESSED #2 (OF 2)    $7.99
AUG201882    PRINCE FREYA GN VOL 03    $9.99
JUL191546    PUNCHLINE TP VOL 02 BEST FRENEMIES    $19.99
JUL201087    RESISTANCE #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
AUG201879    REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA AFTER THE REVOLUTION GN    $12.99
JUL201318    ROGUE PLANET #5 (MR)    $3.99
MAR202133    SHERLOCK SCANDAL IN BELGRAVIA TP    $12.99
JUL201397    SHIVER BUREAU GN    $19.99
APR202000    SHOW ME HISTORY GN SUSAN B ANTHONY    $12.99
APR202001    SHOW ME HISTORY GN WALT DISNEY MAGICAL INNOVATOR    $12.99
JUL201307    SPACE BATTLE LUNCHTIME TP VOL 03 A DISH BEST SERVED COLD    $14.99
JUN201068    STAR WARS CLONE WARS #1 MORECI SGN    $19.77
JUL201576    TALES OF TERROR QUARTERLY HELLFIRE #1 CVR A VIGONTE (MR)    $8.99
JUL201577    TALES OF TERROR QUARTERLY HELLFIRE #1 CVR B VITORINO (MR)    $8.99
JUL201578    TALES OF TERROR QUARTERLY HELLFIRE #1 CVR C KROME (MR)    $8.99
JUL201398    TINKERS OF WASTELAND GN    $16.99
JUL201748    TRIAGE X GN VOL 20 (MR)    $14.00
JUL201020    VICTOR CROWLEY HATCHET HALLOWEEN TALES II CVR A MARTINEZ (MR    $3.99
JUL201021    VICTOR CROWLEY HATCHET HALLOWEEN TALES II CVR B CARVED BONK    $4.99
JUL201022    VICTOR CROWLEY HATCHET HALLOWEEN TALES II CVR C RACY WOLFER    $9.99
JUL208674    VLAD DRACUL #1 (OF 3) 2ND PTG    $6.99
JUL208673    VLAD DRACUL #2 (OF 3) 2ND PTG    $6.99
AUG201896    WE NEVER LEARN GN VOL 12    $9.99
APR191391    WILLIAM THE LAST TP VOL 02 FIGHT AND FLIGHT    $19.99
JUL201064    WORLD OF ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #103    $7.99
JUL201091    YEAR ZERO #5    $3.99
AUG201883    YONA OF THE DAWN GN VOL 26    $9.99

MAGAZINES

AUG201610    AMAZING FIGURE MODELER #70    $10.00
AUG201515    CARTOONS MAGAZINE #29    $6.99
JUL201131    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1728  (RES)    $PI
AUG201728    CREEPS ANNUAL #3 2021 SPOOKTACULAR (MR)    $9.95
JUL201288    SCARY MONSTERS MAGAZINE #118 (RES)    $9.95
JUN201383    STAR WARS MANDALORIAN ART COLL ED HC VOL 01 (RES)    $19.99
JUN201384    STAR WARS MANDALORIAN ART COLL NEWSSTAND ED #1 (RES)    $12.99
JUN201385    STAR WARS MANDALORIAN ART COLL PX ED #1 (RES)    $12.99

BOOKS

APR201730    ARCHIE ANDREWS WHERE ARE YOU SEEK AND FIND BOOK    $4.99
JUL201181    BAD GIRLS ART OF MARCELO TROM SC (MR)    $19.95
AUG201288    DISNEY VILLAINS ESSENTIAL GUIDE REVISED ED HC    $12.99
AUG201532    ELF POP CLASSIC ILLUS STORYBOOK HC    $18.99
JUL201751    LAST CRUSADE RISE NEW WORLD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 04    $15.00
AUG201289    LEGO MINIFIGURE HANDBOOK    $14.99
APR202098    NIGHT TRAIN MMPB    $14.95
AUG201293    POKEMON VISUAL COMPANION 3RD ED    $14.99
AUG201963    REPRISE OF THE SPEAR HERO LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 02    $13.95
JUL201255    STAR WARS BATTLE STATIONS MAKE OWN AT-AT BOOK & MODEL HC    $11.99
JUL201256    STAR WARS LAST JEDI BOOK & MODEL HC    $11.99
JUL201258    STAR WARS SMUGGLERS STARSHIP ACTIVITY BOOK & MODEL HC    $11.99


Monday, September 28, 2020

DC Comics New Releases from Lunar/UCS Distributors for September 29, 2020

DC COMICS:

Batman Detective Comics Volume 3 Greetings From Gotham TP, $17.99
Batman Knight Out HC, $39.99
Batman Superman Annual #1, $4.99
Batman The Joker War Zone #1 (Cover A Ben Oliver), $5.99
Batman The Joker War Zone #1 (Cover B Derrick Chew Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman Three Jokers #2 (Of 3) Playing Cards, AR
Batman Three Jokers #2 (Of 3)(Cover A Jason Fabok), $6.99
Batman Three Jokers #2 (Of 3)(Cover B Jason Fabok Batgirl Variant), $6.99
Batman Three Jokers #2 (Of 3)(Cover C Jason Fabok Yellow Variant), AR
Batman Three Jokers #2 (Of 3)(Cover D Jason Fabok Black & White Variant), AR
Batman Three Jokers #2 (Of 3)(Cover E Jason Fabok Joker Behind Bars Variant), AR
Batman Three Jokers #2 (Of 3)(Cover F Jason Fabok Death In The Family Top Hat And Monocle Variant), AR
Batman Three Jokers #2 (Of 3)(Cover G Jason Fabok Joker Applying Makeup Variant), AR
Dark Nights Death Metal Multiverse’s End #1 (Cover A Michael Golden), $5.99
Dark Nights Death Metal Multiverse’s End #1 (Cover B Arthur Adams), AR
DC Connect Checklist Poster #4, AR
Harley Quinn And The Birds Of Prey #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Amanda Conner), $5.99
Harley Quinn And The Birds Of Prey #3 (Of 4)(Cover B Ian MacDonald), AR
John Constantine Hellblazer #10, $3.99
John Constantine Hellblazer Volume 1 Marks Of Woe TP, $19.99
Justice League Annual #2, $4.99
Legion Of Super-Heroes #9 (Cover A Ryan Sook), $3.99
Legion Of Super-Heroes #9 (Cover B Andre Araujo), AR
Low Low Woods HC, $24.99
Red Hood Outlaw #49 (Cover A Dan Mora), $3.99
Red Hood Outlaw #49 (Cover B Philip Tan), AR
Wonder Woman #763 (Cover A David Marquez), $4.99
Wonder Woman #763 (Cover B Joshua Middleton Card Stock Variant), AR
Wonder Woman 1984 #1 (Cover A Nicola Scott), $3.99
Wonder Woman 1984 #1 (Cover B Robin Eisenberg Rooster Teeth Variant), AR


Eva Husson's "Mothering Sunday" Goes to Sony Pictures Classics

Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Eva Husson’s Mothering Sunday

Starring Odessa Young, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Olivia Colman and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù

NEW YORK – Sony Pictures Classics announced that they have acquired all rights in North America, Latin America, India, Pan Asia (excluding Japan), the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Turkey, and airlines and ships worldwide to MOTHERING SUNDAY directed by Eva Husson and starring Odessa Young, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Olivia Colman and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù. The film is written by Alice Birch, who adapted the screenplay from Graham Swift’s critically acclaimed and best-selling novel of the same name.

The film is produced by Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley of Number 9 Films and will feature costume design from three-time Academy Award® winner and fifteen-time nominee Sandy Powell, hair and make-up design from BAFTA winner Nadia Stacey, production design from BAFTA TV nominee Helen Scott, cinematography by BIFA nominee Jamie Ramsay, and edited by Emilie Orsini. Principal photography began in the U.K. this week. Lionsgate UK has acquired the UK distribution rights and is planning a theatrical release in 2021.

The film has been developed with support from Film4 and the BFI awarding National Lottery funding, with financing from Film4, BFI and Lipsync.

MOTHERING SUNDAY centers on March 30, 1924 in Beechwood, England. Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young), a maid in the Niven household, has the day off to celebrate Mothering Sunday while Mr. and Mrs. Niven (Colin Firth and Olivia Colman) attend a lunch to celebrate the engagement of their neighbor’s only remaining son, Paul (Josh O’Connor). Although Jane rejoices at her freedom on an unseasonably hot, beautiful spring day, she has no mother to go to—and for almost seven years she has, joyfully and without shame, been Paul’s lover. Like the Nivens, Paul belongs to England’s old money aristocracy, whereas Jane was orphaned at birth. With the house conveniently empty, they can finally meet in Paul’s bedroom for the first time. Today will be their last as lovers. It is also the day that will mark the beginning of Jane’s transformation.

“In Cannes 2018 Eva Husson brought us Girls of the Sun, a movie with such ferocious energy we knew at once we were in the presence of a major new filmmaker. Her energy coupled with the dramatic conflict between romance and Britain’s class system as beautifully written in the screenplay by Alice Birch based on the provocative novel by Graham Swift promises to be an amazing movie,” said Sony Pictures Classics. “We are excited to be releasing this rich, modern yet still classical movie and to be working once again with our friends Liz and Stephen and the folks at Rocket Science.”

“We are thrilled to be on the brink of shooting MOTHERING SUNDAY during this most unusual time, and we are excited that Eva Husson will be directing our stellar cast, from Alice Birch’s superb adaptation of Graham Swift’s novel,” said Karlsen and Woolley of Number 9 Films. “We are fortunate and blessed to be working with an incredible team, and we are equally delighted to be partnered again with the Sony Pictures Classics crew. Our relationship with Michael, Tom and Dylan spans nearly four decades and they are undoubtedly the perfect US promoters, marketers and distributors for what we all hope will be a beautiful movie. Thank you Rocket Science, Film4 and BFI for their crucial contribution to making this collaboration happen.” 



ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS:
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992—which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world. Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 39 Academy Awards® (35 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 175 Academy Award® nominations (149 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT:  
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit  http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html

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


Thursday, September 24, 2020

Sony Pictures Classics Announces Roger Mitchell's "The Duke"

Sony Pictures Classics Acquires The Duke

NEW YORK – Sony Pictures Classics announced that they have acquired all rights in the U.S., Latin America, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe (Ex. Poland, the Czech Republic and the former Yugoslavia), Russia/CIS, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, South Africa, South East Asia (Ex. Japan and China) and India to THE DUKE, following its critically acclaimed World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill) from a script by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman, the dramedy stars Oscar winners Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren.

THE DUKE is set in 1961 when Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver, stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.  It was the first (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery’s history. Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government agreed to provide television for free to the elderly. What happened next became the stuff of legend.  Only 50 years later did the full story emerge – a startling revelation of how a good man set out to change the world and in so doing saved his son and his marriage.

A Pathé, Ingenious Media and Screen Yorkshire presentation of a Neon Films Production, THE DUKE is produced by Nicky Bentham and executive produced by Cameron McCracken and Jenny Borgars for Pathé, Andrea Scarso for Ingenious Media, Hugo Heppell for Screen Yorkshire, Peter Scarf and Christopher Bunton.



ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS:
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992—which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.  Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 39 Academy Awards® (35 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 175 Academy Award® nominations (149 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.  

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT:
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries.  For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com

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


Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Review: "Chi-raq" Dares to Be Truly Different

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 17 (of 2020) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Chi-Raq (2015)
Running time: 127 minutes (2 hours, 7 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong sexual content including dialogue, nudity, language, some violence and drug use
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR:  Spike Lee
WRITERS:  Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott (based on the play by Aristophanes)
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Matthew Libatique
EDITOR:  Ryan Denmark and Hye Mee Na
COMPOSER:  Terence Blanchard

DRAMA/MUSICAL/POLITICS

Starring:  Nick Cannon, Teyonah Parris, Wesley Snipes, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, John Cusack, Jennifer Hudson, David Patrick Kelly, D.B. Sweeney, Dave Chappelle, Steve Harris, Harry Lennix, Irma P. Hall, Thomas J. Byrd, Roger Guenveur Smith, and La La Anthony

Chi-Raq is satirical political drama and musical from director Spike Lee.  Set in Chicago, Chi-Raq uses the classical Greek comedy play, Lysistrata (written by Aristophanes), as the basis for a story about the gang violence that is plagues real-world Chicago.  In Chi-Raq, a woman leads a group of like-minded females to challenge the on-going violence in Chicago's Southside.

Lysistrata (Teyonah Parris) dates Demetrius “Chi-Raq” Dupree (Nick Cannon), leader of the Spartans gang (who wear purple).  He is in the middle of an on-going war against the rival gang, the Trojans (who wear orange), lead by Cyclops (Wesley Snipes), who orders a hit on Chi-Raq during a Spartan music concert.

After Chi-Raq (presumably) kills a child with a stray bullet during a shootout, Lysistrata finds herself having to examine her part in the ongoing violence in Chicago's Southside.  Lysistrata organizes a group of women who are associated with male gang members and encourages them to withhold sex from their men until they stop the violence.  Lysistrata's movement challenges the nature of race, sex, and violence in the United States of America, and it begins to spread around the world.  However, as more people go without sex, the movement raises tensions in all of Chicago.

Chi-Raq is another bold stroke of idiosyncratic Spike Lee art.  Lee was Kanye West before Kanye West.  Stubborn and independent from the beginning, Lee remains that way.  Chi-Raq is everything it seems:  political satire, social satire, farce, comedy, Negro spiritual, racial drama, soulful musical, and even a cry in the wilderness to Black folks in America.  “Stop killing ourselves!” Lee screams via his art.  If only it were that simple.

Chi-Raq is film art, beautiful, poignant, brash, colorful – all of it embodied by the full-throated, shameless narration of Samuel L. Jackson's refreshing Dolmedes.  In the end, hopefully, Chi-Raq can be more than art.  Can it initiate social change.  Well, the problems that it depicts and tackles are complicated and ingrained in ways that would have us throw up our hands in surrender if we took time to really think about those problems.

I can hope for the best, but in the meantime, I can appreciate a filmmaker who really deserves to be called a “visionary,” Spike Lee.  Chi-Raq is a testament to his imagination.

9 of 10
A+

Friday, September 2, 2016


NOTES:
2016 Black Reel Awards:  1 win: “Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture” (Teyonah Parris); 6 nominations: “Outstanding Motion Picture” (Spike Lee), “Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture” (Angela Bassett), “Outstanding Director, Motion Picture” (Spike Lee), “Outstanding Ensemble” (Kim Coleman-Casting Director), “Outstanding Score” (Terence Blanchard), and “Outstanding Original or Adapted Screenplay, Motion Picture” (Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott)

2016 Image Awards:  4 nominations: “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture” (Teyonah Parris), “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Angela Bassett), “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Jennifer Hudson), and “Outstanding Independent Motion Picture”


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Tuesday, September 22, 2020

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