Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 1st to 6th, 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:

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Drew Barrymore has said that her frequent co-star, Adam Sandler, has written the screenplay for "Happy Gilmore 2," a sequel to one of his most popular films.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Actor Raymond Lee, star of NBC's "Quantum Leap," reboot announced via "Instagram" that the NBC has cancelled the series after two seasons.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Writer-producer-director-star Dev Patel talks about how important Oscar-winner Jordan Peele was in getting his debut feature, "Monkey Man," into theaters.

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Netflix has revealed the cast of "Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black."  The new 16-episode, hour-long drama series is coming to the streamer as a result of a previously announced creative partnership between Netflix and Tyler Perry.  The deal calls for Perry will write, direct, and produce feature films and series under a multi-year first-look deal.  Cast members include Taylor Polidore Williams, Amber Reign Smith, Crystle Stewart, Ricco Ross, Debbi Morgan, and Richard Lawson, to name a few.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Emmy-winning actress, Gillian Anderson, won't say "No" to appearing in Ryan Coogler's planned reboot of Fox's former sci-fi drama, "The X-Files."  Anderson played FBI Agent Dana Scully in the series, which ran from 1993 to 2002 and again from 2016-18.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Bob Iger thug life is still a thing.  Disney has succeeded in barring Nelson Peltz from its board of directors as shareholders at the company’s hotly anticipated annual meeting today voted in its slate of 12 nominees, fending off outsiders. It was a months-long bitter and costly fight.  Neither Pletz nor anyone from his Trian Group or Blackwells landed anyone on the board.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Warner Bros. is returning to "the Matrix" for a fourth sequel.  "Matrix 5" will be written and directed by Drew Goddard.  Lana Wachowski, the co-creator of the franchise and the director of the fourth film, "The Matrix: Resurrections," will be an executive producer on this film.  No word yet on what actor will be returning.

STAGE - From Deadline:  The Jamie Lloyd Company announced the full cast for the upcoming West End production of Romeo & Juliet.  They confrimed that newcomer Francesca Amewudah-Rivers confirmed as Juliet opposite Tom Holland as Romeo.  "Romeo & Juliet" opens at the Duke of York’s Theatre on Thursday, May 23, 2024, with previews from Saturday, May 11, and runs until Saturday, August 3.

MUSIC/MOVIES - From TheRoot:  Inspired by Beyonce's smash hit new country album, "Cowboy Carter," "The Root" has a list of must see Black Western films.  The list includes a couple of Idris Elba films, "The Harder They Fall" and "Concrete Cowboy."

SCANDAL - From THR:  The estate of the late, legendary comedian, George Carlin, has settled a lawsuit it brought against the makers of a podcast that used generative AI to impersonate the late stand-up comic's voice and style for an unauthorized special.

TELEVISION - From Variety:  Chris Carter, the creator of Fox's former sci-fi drama, "The X-Files," talks about the reboot being shepherded by Ryan Coogler ("Black Panther").  Also, he mentions that original series star, Gillian Anderson ("Dana Scully") did not have enough "sex appeal" for Fox executives.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Oscar-nominee Benedict Cumberbatch and Oscar-winner Olivia Colman will star in director Jay Roach's reimagining of the 1989 film, "The War of the Roses."  The original was directed by Danny DeVito and starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Emmy-winner Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives") joins Paramount+'s "Criminal Minds: Evolution" Season Two.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  The winner of the 3/29 to 3/31/2024 weekend box office is Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment's "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" with an estimated take of 80 million dollars.

From Variety:  "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" had an opening weekend of RMB317 (the equivalent of 44.6 million dollars) in mainland China, between Friday and Sunday (March 29th-31st).  Thus far, it is the biggest opening of any Hollywood film in China this year.

From Here:  A review of "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" by Leroy Douresseaux.

OBITS:

From Variety:  American actor, writer, and comedian, Joe Flaherty, has died at the age of 82, Monday, April 1, 2024.  A prolific actor, he was best known for his roles on the Canadian sketch comedy series, "Second City Television" ("SCTV"), and on the former NBC sitcom, "Freaks and Geeks."  As a writer, he shared nine Primetime Emmy nominations for his work on SCTV, winning twice.

From THR:  American film, television, and stage actress, Barbara Rush, has died at the age of 97, Sunday, March 31, 2024.  She appeared in over one hundred films, TV series, and TV movies.  Her best known film appearances include "It Came From Outer Space" (1953), "Magnificent Obsession" (1954), "The Young Philadelphians" (1959), and "Robin and the 7 Hoods" (1964), to name a few.  She appeared in such TV series as ABC'S "Peyton's Place" and "All My Children," NBC's "Flamingo Road," and The WB's "7th Heaven," to name a few.  In 1954, Rush won the "Golden Globe Award" for "New Star of the Year - Actress."

From THR:  American visual effects artist, Tim McGovern, has died at the age of 68, Saturday, March 30, 2024.  He won the "Special Achievement Academy Award" for his work on "Total Recall," sharing the win with Eric Brevig, Rob Bottin, and Alex Funke.  A digital effects pioneer, McGovern was also a founding member of Sony Picture ImageWorks, where he worked on such films as "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" (2015) and "Dunkirk" (2017).  His other credits include "Last Action Hero" (1993), "As Good as It Gets" (1997), and "Shazam: Fury of the Gods" (2023).

From THR:  American film and television writer and producer and TV director, Norman Steinberg, has died at the age of 83, Saturday, March 15, 2024.  Steinberg is best known for co-writing Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" (1974) and Richard Benjamin's "My Favorite Year" (1982), which starred Peter O'Toole.  He won a Primetime Emmy Awards for cowriting an episode of the former NBC variety series, "The Flip Wilson Show."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 13th to 19th, 2023 - Update #14

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From Variety:  Michael Cera talks about how he was cast in director Greta Gerwig's "Barbie."

STREAMING - From Deadline:  For the fourth week in a row, the former USA Network legal drama, "Suits" (2011-19), leads the streaming charts, according to tracking service, Nielsen.  The series, which also featured Meghan Markle a.k.a. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on its first seven seasons, also continues to set Nielsen records and currently streams on both Netflix and Peacock.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  "American Horror Story: Delicate" will launch Wednesday, Sept. 30th on FX.  It's spinoff, "American Horror Stories," will launch a four-episode event on Hulu, starting Oct. 26th.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Director Greta Gerwig's comedy, "Barbie," starring Margot Robbie, has now grossed 537.5 million dollars at the domestic box office. That makes it the highest-grossing domestic release in Warner Bros.'s history, surpassing the 536 million dollars "The Dark Knight" grossed in 2008.

From Variety:  Some people wonder why its so hard to hear some dialogue in "Oppenheimer."  Well, director Christopher Nolan refuses to "record ADR."

SCANDAL - From Variety:  Actor-producer Alec Baldwin may once again face manslaughter charges related to the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Film financier, TSG, is suing Disney for what it claims are unpaid profits from films in which it co-financed with Disney.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Tom Hanks was so concerned for Austin Butler’s mental health after his starring role in "Elvis" that he offered Butler a next role (starring in Apple TV+'s "Masters of the Air") immediately to prevent "emotional whiplash."  Hanks co-starred in the 2022 Elvis Presley biopic with Butler as Elvis' manager, Col. Tom Parker.

NETFLIX - From Variety:  Netflix has released the first official trailer for "Maestro."  Bradley Cooper directs and stars in the film about late conductor Leonard Bernstein's 25-year marriage to Felicia Montealegre.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Margot Robbie is the star and producer of Summer 2023's biggest hit, "Barbie."  Now, Robbie could make as much as 50 million dollars in salary and bonuses.

CELEBRITY/ECO - From THR:  A new species of snake discovered in Peru, South America has been named in honor of Hollywood icon, Harrison Ford.  The snake is called "Tachymenoides harrisonfordi."

SPORTS/MOVIES - From ESPN:  Former NFL player, Michael Oher, was the subject of the 2009 Oscar-winning film, "The Blind Side." Now, he's suing the real-life couple, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, because they lied to him and stole from him.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/11 to 8/13/2023 weekend box office is Warner Bros.'s "Barbie" with an estimated take of 33.7 million dollars.

NETFLIX - From Variety:  Adam Sandler's daughters, Sunny and Sadie, have joined their father in the Netflix film, "You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah." Netflix has released a trailer for the film, which is due August 25th.

OBITS:

From THR:  American music executive, business, and film producer, Clarence Avant, has died at the age of 92, Sunday, August 13, 2023.  Nicknamed "the Godfather of Black Music," he was a manager, advisor, mentor, and behind-the-scenes force in so many music deals.  He was the manager of jazz legend, Sarah Vaugh.  Avant brokered the sale of Stax Records and co-promoted the late Michael Jackson's first solo world tour, "Bad."  Avant advised countless music producers, executives, and recording artists, including Quincy Jones, David Geffen, Irving Azoff, Jay Z, Pharrell Williams, and Queen Latifah, to name a few.

From Deadline:  The American rapper and recording artist, Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff, has died at the age of 50, Sunday, August 13, 2023.  He was best known for his collaboration with rapper/producer, Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley.  The two formed the rap duo, "Timbaland & Magoo," which released three albums, including the platinum certified, "Welcome to Our World" (1997).  Magoo also made guest appearances and collaborated with several other recording artists, including Bubba Sparxxx, Ginuwine, and Missy Elliot.  He also recorded on Timbaland's solo projects.

WRITERS/ACTORS STRIKE:

From Deadline:  Writers Guild (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) will resume strike talks today, Fri., Aug. 11th.

From Deadline:  Meeting for the first time in more than three months, the Writers Guild and the AMPTP on Friday failed to reach an agreement to resume contract negotiations. The Writers Strike will go on indefinitely.

From Deadline:  Hollywood’s superstars are answering the call from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, donating $1 million or more each to help their fellow performers during the ongoing actors and writers strikes.  Among the big donors are Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, and Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.

From Deadline:  If you are interested, here is a list of the film and TV productions SAG-AFTRA has granted waivers to continue filming.

From Variety:  International superstar, Dwayne Johnson, makes a seven-figure contribution to the "SAG-AFTRA Foundation Relief Fund." Foundation president, actor Courtney B. Vance, says the amount will remain confidential.

From Variety:  Why haven't A-list stars joined the SAG-AFTRA picket line?, asks "Variety."

From Deadline:  Author George R.R. Martin, whose works were the basis for HBO's "Game of Thrones," says the strikes will be long and bitter.

From THR:  Production works at Warner Bros. Animation (66) and at Cartoon Network (22) have gone public with their attempt to unionize via The Animation Guild.

From Variety:  Halted film productions due to the writers and actors strikes are costing each Hollywood studio at least 600,000 dollars per week.

From Variety:  Said at a strike meeting: “Without a transformative change in SAG-AFTRA’s current contract with the AMPTP, the acting profession will no longer be an option for future generations of performers, and actors already working in the industry will need to pursue other careers in order to survive.”

From Deadline:  If you are a "social media influencer" who is NOT  a member of SAG-AFTRA, you can be barred from future membership for promoting a film or television series during the actors' strike.

From Variety:  The SAG/AFTRA strike begins in New York and Los Angeles.  Hollywood actors began striking today, Fri., July 14th.

From Deadline:  The site has the video of the powerful strike speech given by SAG-AFTRA president, Fran Drescher, the actress best known for CBS' former sitcom, "The Nanny."

From Deadline:  Concerning the Hollywood writers strike (via the WGA), the Hollywood Studios (as represented by the AMPTP) is to let the writers go broke before resuming talks deep into the Fall.

From Deadline: SAG-AFTRA is already preparing strike picket signs in case the actors' strike begins next week.

From Deadline:  WGA is picketing the New York City filming location of the 12th series of FX's "American Horror Story" (entitled "Delicate") after series co-creator Ryan Murphy threaten litigation against an east coast strike captain.

From THR:  TV super-producer, Ryan Murphy, in a letter from his attorney to the leadership of the Writers Guild of America, threatened litigation against Warren Leight, an East Coast strike captain and Strike Rules Compliance Committee member who has subsequently forfeited those positions.

From Deadline:  The Hollywood studios via the AMPTP has given Canadian actors a new contract, including a 5 percent raise.

From Deadline:  Writers Strike puts the spotlight back on the challenge from writers for animation productions to be covered by the WGA.

From THR:  Studios won't give writers better pay, and now, are laying off janitors.

From Deadline:  The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has reached a tentative new three-year deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). So what does the Writers Guild (WGA), currently on strike and negotiating with the AMPTP, think of that deal.

From Deadline:  Netflix shareholders declined to support the 2023 pay packages of top executives during a non-binding vote at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Thursday.  The vote won't prevent these execs from getting their loot (an total of $166 million), but this is a rare public rebuke.  The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has urged shareholders to vote "No" because the pay was "inappropriate" at this time.

From Deadline:  Warner Bros Discovery chief David Zaslav gave the commencement address at Boston University. There he was met with jeers and also chants of "pay your writers" from picketers and from some in the audience.

From Deadline:   President Joe Biden speaks on the Writers Guild of America strike.

From Deadline:  Retaliation! The studios have starting informing writer-producers who have "overall" and "first-look" deals that such deals are being suspended.

From Deadline:  Retaliation!  Prolific HBO creator, David Simon, who is best known for "The Wire," is one of the many writers who have had their overall deals suspended the studios due to the WGA strike.  Simon has been with HBO for 25 years.

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

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

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

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

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

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Review: UNCUT GEMS Offers Surprising Performances from Its Cast

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 28 of 2021 (No. 1766) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Uncut Gems (2019)
Running time:  135 minutes (2 hours, 15 minutes)
MPAA – R for pervasive strong language, violence, some sexual content and brief drug use
DIRECTORS:  Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie
WRITERS: Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie & Benny Safdie
PRODUCERS:  Sebastian Bear-McClard (p.g.a.), Eli Bush (p.g.a.), and Scott Rudin (p.g.a.)
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Darius Khondji (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Ronald Bronstein and Benny Safdie
COMPOSER:  Daniel Lopatin

DRAMA

Starring:  Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Eric Bogosian, Judd Hirsch, Keith William Richards, Tommy Kominik, Jonathan Aranbayev, Noa Fisher, Jacob Igielski, and Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd)

Uncut Gems is a 2019 crime drama film from directors Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie.  Director Martin Scorsese is one of the film's executive producers.  Uncut Gems focuses on a fast-talking New York City jeweler and gambling addict who risks everything in hope of staying afloat and alive.

Uncut Gems opens in 2010 in the Welo mine in Ethiopia where Ethiopian Jewish miners retrieve a rare black opal from the mine.  The story moves to 2012 where we meet Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), who runs KMH, a jewelry store in New York City's Diamond District.  A fast-talking businessman, Howard is also a gambling addict, and he is struggling to pay off his gambling debts, which include the $100,000 he owes his brother-in-law, Arno Moradian (Eric Bogosian), a loan shark.

Howard's personal life is also in shambles, as he is estranged from his wife, Dinah Ratner (Idina Menzel).  Dinah insists on sticking to their plan of getting a divorce after Passover.  Meanwhile, Howard's relationship with his girlfriend, Julia De Fiore (Julia Fox), a KMH employee, is also up-and-down.  Still, Howard believes that all will be well when he gets that rare black opal that the Ethiopian miners found.

Things start to fall apart when Demany (Lakeith Stanfield), an intermediary who recruits clients for Howard, introduces him to NBA player, Kevin Garnett (Kevin Garnett), of the Boston Celtics.  Suddenly, holding onto and selling the opal takes on a life-or-death significance.

Audiences may pull for Adam Sandler's Howard Ratner and even root for him simply because he is the lead character in Uncut Jewels, but the truth is that Ratner is worthy of pity more than he is of sympathy.  He has a terrible case of “problem with immediate gratification.”  He is a gambling addict, and one gets the idea that he is addicted to seeking his own satisfaction.  He is vain, venal, narcissistic, and self-absorbed, and he tells lies the way people breathe air.  However, this all leads to a last act of the film when the pity that one might feel towards the pathetic Howard turns to sympathy.

Sandler gives one of the best performances of his career, and although many commentators thought that he deserved an Oscar nomination for his performance in Uncut Gems (which he did not get), he had a better character arc in 2005's The Longest Yard.  Still, Sandler proves in Uncut Gems that he can deliver a surprising performance that can even shock audiences.

However, I find the most fascinating character in this film to be Uncut Gem's version of the real-life former professional basketball player, Kevin Garnett.  Garnett fashions a version of himself that is more complex, darker, and more nuanced than the player people know from his long career in the National Basketball Association (NBA), which lasted 21 seasons from 1995 to 2016.  I could watch an entire film featuring this Garnett.

Overall, the Safdie Brothers deliver in Uncut Gems a crime drama like no other, and with screenwriter Ronald Bronstein, they offer a cast of interesting, even off-the-beaten path characters.  Actress Idina Menzel is known for her big smile and her ability to belt out a song, but here, she takes the script's Dinah Ratner and makes her a salty woman who is utterly disinterested in her wayward husband, Howard's conceited charisma.  Menzel's Dinah would set it off before she'd let it go.

The usual impeccable Lakeith Stanfield is impeccable – as usual, and I wish there was more of his Demany.  Abel Tesfaye, better known as the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, The Weeknd, goes meta to turn in a delightfully edgy and smutty version of himself.

I don't know if I would recommend this film to fans of Adam Sandler's comedies, especially the raunchy and juvenile ones.  Still, the Safdies and Sandler create something so different that I think movie audiences that like to take a dare sometimes will find a dark jewel of a movie in Uncut Gems.

7 of 10
A-

Wednesday, March 17, 2021


The text is copyright © 2021 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 March 15th to 21st, 2020 - Update #21

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 and Hollywood and Beyond:

From Deadline:  The news site "Deadline" has a dedicated page for news about coronavirus and the film, TV, and entertainment industries.

From TheNewYorker:  The venerable magazine has a dedicate COVID-19 page free to all readers.

From Deadline:  Writing for "The Washington Post," director Christopher Nolan said movie theaters need our help due to losses via COVID-19.

From YahooSports:  Several more National Basketball Association (NBA) players have tested positive for COVID-19, including two unknown members of the Los Angeles Lakers and three members of the Philadelphia 76ers.  So the NBA league office is directed teams to close their practice facilities.

From YahooCelebrity:  Actor Daniel Dae Kim ("Lost," "Hawaii Five-O") announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19

From NBCNews:  Hollywood power couple, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, leave an Australian hospital and return to their Aussie home for home quarantine as they recover from COVID-19.

From Deadline:  NBA star Kevin Durant is one of four members of the Brooklyn Nets who has tested positive for COVID-19.

From Variety:  Disney has pulled Marvel Studios' "Black Widow" from its May 2020 release date due to COVID19 concerns.  The new release date is unknown.

From Variety:  Some North American movie theaters have closed or have reduced seating capacity because of COVID-19.  So Universal Pictures will make some of its movies available on-demand as soon as Friday, March 20th, including "The Hunt" and "The Invisible Man."  DreamWorks Animations's "Trolls World Tour" will arrive April 10th.

From THR:  Actor Idris Elba says he has tested positive for COVID-19.

From YahooEntertainment:  Actress and former "Bond girl," Olga Kurylenko, has tested positive for COVID-19.  Olga appeared in the 2008 James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace."

From Deadline:  Director Baz Lurhmann and his family head into quarantine after one of the actors in his Elvis Presley biopic, Tom Hanks, tests positive for COVID-19.

From RSN:  6 quick about poverty and COVID-19 in the United States.

From YouTube:  In this video announcement, Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies (TCM) announces that the 2020 TCM Classic Film Festival has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:   The winner of the 3/13 to 3/15/20 weekend box office is Pixar's "Onward" with an estimated take of 10.5 million dollars.

From Variety:  The box office in North America craters due to COVID-19 fears.  Tickets sales are an estimated 55.3 million dollars for the weekend.  That is the lowest since a weekend in mid-September 2000 grossed 54.5 million dollars.

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MOVIES NEWS:

From Deadline:  Jamie Foxx has signed on to direct a faith-based film, entitled "When We Pray."

From YahooEntertainment:  Cast and crew of "The Hunt" talk about the time President Trump attacked their movie.

From WallStreetJournal:  Five tips to finding a good Adam Sandler movie.


TELEVISION NEWS:

From Deadline:  Quibi is reviving the Comedy Central series, "Reno 911!"

OBITS:

From THR:  The actor, Lyle Waggoner, has died at the age of 84, Tuesday, March 17, 2020.  He is best known for playing "Steve Trevor" on ABC's "Wonder Woman" (1976-77).  When the series moved to CBS and became known as "The New Adventures of Wonder Woman" (1977-79), Waggoner portrayed Steve Trevor, Jr.  Waggoner was also a cast member on "The Carol Burnett Show" from 1976 to 1974.

From CBSSports:  Former world champion boxer, Roger Mayweather, has died at the age of 58, Wednesday, March 17, 2020.  Mayweather was also an accomplished boxing trainer and he was the uncle of boxing champion and superstar, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

From THR:  The film and television actor, Stuart Whitman, has died at the age of 92, Monday, March 16, 2020.  His best known films include "The Comancheros" (1961), "The Longest Day" (1962), "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines" (1965), and "The Mark" (1961), for which he received a best actor Oscar nomination.  His best known TV role was probably as "Marshal Jim Crown" in CBS's "Cimarron Strip" (1967-68).

From YahooEntertainment:  The actor Lorenzo Brino, a child star on the TV series, "7th Heaven" (1996 to 2007, TheWB, TheCW), died in a car accident last Monday, March 9th, 2020.  He was 21.  Brino played the character "Sam Camden," and was a series regular from Seasons 6 to 10, and was featured actor in Season 5.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 1st to 8th, 2020 - Update #30

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

REVIEW - From Patreon:  My "Birds of Prey" review.

AWARDS - From Deadline:  The winners at the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards were announced.  "The Farewell" was named "Best Feature" of 2019.

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CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertainment:  Former talk show host, David Letterman, says that Quentin Tarantino once threatened to kill him.

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TELEVISION - From THR:  The recently completed seventh season of "Ray Donovan" is the last for the series.  Showtime has cancelled the crime drama, which stars Liev Schreiber.

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MOVIES - From IndieWire:  "The Matrix 4" begins filming.  This article has photos from the set, and Keanu's "Neo" seems different from the Neo of the original trilogy.

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DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney has signed a deal with Grammy-winning recording artist, Bruno Mars, in which Mars would produce and star in a music-driven film.

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TRAILER - From Variety:  The first trailer for the upcoming "Saw" reboot film, "Spiral," debuts.  The film, which stars Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, is due May 15, 2020.

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ANIMATION - From Deadline:  Warner Bros. Animation commits to its first major producer deal.  The signee is "Family Guy" writer-producer, Wellesley Wild.

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MOVIES - From Newsarama:  Actor Henry Golding has posted a photo from his upcoming film, "Snake Eyes" (G.I. Joe Origins), which is due Oct. 23rd.

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CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  Actress Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills 90210," "Charmed") revealed that she has received a Stage 4 diagnosis after her breast cancer had been in remission.

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TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Tyler Perry has confirmed that he is reviving his former TBS TV series, "House of Payne" (2007-2012) for BET with the original cast.  Perry also has a greenlight from BET for a new series, "Tyler Perry's Assisted Living."

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  Director Antoine Fuqua and actor Chris Pratt, who worked together on the remake of "The Magnificent Seven," to develop a TV series, "The Terminal List."

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STREAMING - From Deadline:  Tyler Perry revealed that 26 million people watched the first weekend of his Netflix film, "A Fall from Grace."  Netflix later confirmed the numbers for the thriller which stars Crystal Fox and Mehcad Brooks.

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DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney's streaming service, Disney+, apparently has 26.5 million subscribers.

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DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney apparently paid $75 million for the global movie rights to the Tony Award-winning musical, "Hamilton."  The film is apparently due Fall 2021.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 1/31 to 2/2/2020 weekend box office is "Bad Boys for Life" with an estimated take of 17.7 million dollars.  This is the film's third straight weekend atop the box office.

From PasteMagazine:  The box office for the opening weekend of the thriller, "The Rhythm Section," is an estimated 2.8 million dollars.  That is the worst debut ever for a film that opens on 3,000 or more screens.

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TELEVISION - From YahooEntertainment:  The third season of Fox's "The Masked Singer" opens with a shocker.

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SUPER BOWL - From YahooSports:  The Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 to win Super Bowl LIV.  Patrick Mahomes named the MVP of the game.

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BRITISH ACADEMY - From Deadline:   "1917" won the "Best Film" award at the 2020 BAFTA Film Awards, one of the seven awards it won to lead the night, which included a "Best Director" for Sam Mendes.  Joaquin Phoenix won the "Best Actor" award, one of three awards for "Joker."

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AWARDS - From Deadline:  "Parasite" and "JoJo Rabbit" lead the 2020 / 72nd Writers Guild Awards.

From Deadline:  "Parasite," "Once Upon a Time... in America," and "Avengers: Endgame" top the  the Art Directors Guild's 2020 / 24th annual ADG Awards.

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  Lamar Jackson, the quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, is the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP).  He is the second unanimous winner in NFL history, following Tom Brady's unanimous winner in 2010.

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DISNEY - From THR:  100 years ago, the late great Walt Disney got his first animation job.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Oscar-winner Spike Lee will direct a film version of Oscar-winner David Byrne's "American Utopia" stage show.

---------
STREAMING - From Deadline:  Adam Sandler re-signs with Netflix for four more films.  In the first deal, Sandler starred in five films and in his first stand-up comedy special in 22 years.  He also produced two films for the streamer.

OBITS:

From THR:  An icon of Hollywood's "Golden Age" and giant of American cinema, Kirk Douglas, has died at the age of 103, Wednesday, February 5, 2020.  Douglas appeared in numerous great films:  "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1954), "Paths of Glory" (1957), and "Spartacus" (1960), to name a few.  He received best actor Oscar nominations for "Champion" (1949), "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1951), and "Lust for Life" (1956).  Kirk Douglas was the father of Oscar-winning actor, Michael Douglas.

From THR:  The actor Robert Conrad has died at the age of 84, Saturday, February 8, 2020.  Conrad was best known for the numerous television series in which he starred.  His most beloved TV series may be "The Wild Wild West" (CBS, 1965-69), but others may prefer "Baa Baa Black Sheep" (NBC, 1976-78).

From THR:  The actor, Orson Bean, has died at the age of 91, Friday, February 7, 2020.  He made over 200 appearances on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson and appeared on many game shows from the 1960s to the 1980s.  He voiced "Bilbo Baggins" in the 1977 animated film version of "The Hobbit."  Many will remember Bean as the story owner, "Loren Bray," on "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman."

From Variety:  Television writer, director, and producer, Gene Reynolds, has died at the age of 96, Monday, February 3, 2020.  Reynolds co-created the "MASH" TV series (CBS, 1972-73) with Larry Gelbart, and he was one of the creators of the "Lou Grant" TV series (CBS, 1977-82).  He was a six-time Emmy Award winner.

From CNN:  American author and novelist, Mary Higgins Clark, has died at the age of 92, January 31, 2020.  Called the "Queen of Suspense," Clark wrote over 50 books and each was a bestseller.  Her 1977 novel, "A Stranger is Watching," was adapted into a 1982 film.  Her 1980 novel, "The Cradle Will Fall," was the first of many of her novels that were adapted for television.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from December 15th to 21st, 2019 - Update #30

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

MOVIES - From YahooHuffPost:  Eddie Murphy still regrets turning down the lead role in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"

----------
POLITICS - From WashPost:  Rep. Matt Shea, a Washington state GOP state legislator, has been found to have participated in a act of domestic terrorism.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From THR:  At the Chinese box office, "The Rise of Skywalker" is being beaten by local blockbusters.

----------
STREAMING - From Variety:  Hulu's planned TV series based on novelist Anne Rice's "Vampire Chronicles" book series (which begins with "Interview with a Vampire") is not happening.  The rights are being shopped around... at a high price.

----------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  Epix is producing a TV series based on Stephen King's short story, "Jerusalem's Lot."  Adrien Brody is set to star.

----------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  A jury has award 8.6 million dollars to the parents of John Bernecker, the stuntman who died in July 2017 during the filming of a stunt for "The Walking Dead."

----------
TRAILER - From SlashFilm:  Here is the first official trailer for Christopher Nolan's next mind-bending film, "Tenet," with a breakdown of the contents of the trailer by the article's writer.  "Tenet" opens July 17, 2020.

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  Focus Features will distribute Paul Thomas Anderson's next film, an untitled high school film set in the 1970s.  Anderson's previous film was the Oscar-nominated, "The Phantom Thread."

---------
MOVIES - From Esquire:  Adam Sandler, getting rave reviews and Oscar buzz for his film, "Uncut Gems," says he got a phone call from Oscar-winning actor, Daniel Day-Lewis, who praised Sandler for his performance in the film.

----------
TELEVISION - From YahooEntertainment:  Comedian/talk show host Wayne Brady is the winner of Fox's competition reality show, "The Masked Singer" Season Two.

----------
ANIMATION - From Variety:  Dave Green will direct the animation/live-action hybrid, "Wile E. Coyote" movie, "Coyote vs Acme."

----------
MOVIES- From EW:  The site has an exclusive first look at Christopher Nolan's secret film project, "Tenet," starring John David Washington and Robert Pattinson.

----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The CW is looking to reboot its former TV series, "The Game," which it debuted in 2006 and cancelled in 2009.  BET revived the series, where it ran from from 2011 to 2015.

----------
STREAMING - From Deadline:  Morfydd Clark has been cast as a young "Galadriel" in Amazon's "The Lord of the Rings."  Galadriel is the character played by Cate Blanchett in Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" film trilogy.

-----------
MOVIES - From EW:  Here, is a first look, some images from the third "Bill & Ted" film, "Bill & Ted Face the Music."  The film, starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, is due August 21, 2020.

----------
POLITICS - From TheWhiteHouse:  Well... President Trump to Speaker Pelosi.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions have tapped Keith Thomas to direct their "Firestarter" remake.  Both the 1984 original film (which starred a 9-year-old Drew Barrymore) and the reboot are based on Stephen King's 1980 novel of the same name.

----------
MOVIES - From ScreenRant:  David Ayer ("Suicide Squad") will direct Warner Bros' remake of "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), the classic World War II action film.

----------
DISNEY+ - From Variety:  Disney+ is in early development of a TV series based on the 1989 Tom Hanks' man-dog buddy comedy, "Turner & Hooch."

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  Viola Davis are among the actors added to Sandra Bullock's Netflix drama about life after incarceration.

----------
STAR TREK - From Variety:  The streaming service, CBS All Access, has renewed "Star Trek: Picard" for a second season, although the first season has not yet debuted.

----------
MOVIES - From IndieWire:  Quentin Tarantino is apparently leaving his R-rated "Star Trek" behind, and if he makes one more film, it will be "smaller."

----------
SCANDAL - From THR:  Disgraced movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein, says that he is a "forgotten man," meaning people have forgotten the great things that he has done in the American movie business.  Harvey is scheduled to go to trial in January 2020 for charges of rape, predatory sexual assault and criminal sexual act against two women.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 12/13 to 12/15/2019 weekend box office is "Jumanji: The Next Level" with an estimated take of 60.1 million dollars.

From Variety:  "Frozen II" becomes the sixth Disney movie to reach one billion dollars in global box office in 2019.

From Variety: The Emilia Clarke-Henry Golding holiday film, "Last Christmas," has now grossed the 100 million dollar mark in global box office.

From Forbes:  New box office release, "Richard Jewell" and "Black Christmas," fail in their box office debuts.

From Patreon:  My "Queen & Slim" review.

----------
CELEBRITY - From BleedingCool:  Did you know actor Samuel L. Jackson's voice can be your Amazon "Alexa" voice.

----------
SPORTS - From CBSSports:  The 2019 Heisman Trophy winner as the best player in college football is Joe Burrows, quarterback for the #1 ranked LSU Tigers.  Burrows, the second Louisiana State University football player to win the Heisman, won the award by the largest margin in the history of Heisman voting.  His 2608 points were 1846 points higher than the second place finisher, Jalen Hurts, QB of the Oklahoma Sooners.

----------
MOVIES - From Vulture:  Yes, what is the best Adam Sandler movie?

Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of June 14th to 20th, 2015 - Updated #13

Support this writer on Patreon.

NEWS:

From CinemaBlend:  Vin Diesel as "Kojack" apparently is happening.

---------------
From Vulture:  First look at leads from Ghostbusters reboot.

---------------
From YahooMovies:  The Blind Side hurt Michael Oher's NFL career?

---------------
From YahooStyle:  Yeah, there are several things "wrong" with this photo.

---------------
From YahooMovies:  Season 5 finale of "Game of Thrones" killed it.

---------------
From Deadline:  Box office updates this morning say that Jurassic World passed Marvel's The Avengers for the highest 3-day weekend box office gross - with $208 to $210 million haul.

---------------
From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the June 12th to 14th, 2015 box office is Jurassic World, with an estimated take of $204.6 million.  That is the biggest June opening weekend ever, the biggest opening weekend of the year (ahead of Avengers: Age of Ultron's $191.2 million last month), and the second largest opening weekend ever (behind Marvel's The Avengers $207.4 million in May 2012).

---------------
From HuffingtonPost: "A Suite Life of Zack & Cody" mini-reunion" because they stars, twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse, graduated from New York University.  I love that show.


COMICS - Films and Books:

From YahooMovies:  A history of the ill-fated proposed Batman films leading up to Chris Nolan's Batman Begins in 2005.


TRAILERS and REVIEWS:

From Apple:  New Peanuts trailer.

From DreamWorks:  New Kung Fu Panda 3 trailer.

From TheVillageVoice:  Amy Nicholson reviews Inside Out.


OBITS:

From YahooMovies:  Kirk Kerkorian has died.  A Hollywood wheeler-dealer, he is best known for his association with MGM and United Artists.

---------------
From Deadline:  Film producer Robert Chartoff died Wednesday, June 10, 2015.  Along with his partner, Irwin Winkler, he won the best picture Oscar for producing Rocky.

Review: "Top Five" is Chris Rock's Woody Allen Thing

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 15 (of 2015) by Leroy Douresseaux

Top Five (2014)
Running time:  102 minutes (1 hour, 42 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong sexual content, nudity, crude humor, language throughout and some drug
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Chris Rock
PRODUCERS:  Eli Bush, Barry Diller, and Scott Rudin
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Manuel Alberto Claro
EDITOR:  Anne McCabe
COMPOSERS:  Ludwig Göransson and Ahmir-Khalib “Questlove” Thompson
Black Reel Award winner

COMEDY/DRAMA/ROMANCE   

Starring:  Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, J.B. Smoove, Gabrielle Union, Romany Malco, Cedric the Entertainer, Ben Vereen, Sherri Shepherd, Jay Pharoah, Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, Hassan Johnson, Tichina Arnold, Luis Guzman, Kevin Hart, Olga Merediz, Laurissa Romain, Miriam Colon, Charlie Rose, Bruce Bruce, Taraji P. Henson, Gabourey Sidibe, Whoopi Goldberg, Adam Sandler, DMX, Jim Norton, and Jerry Seinfeld

Top Five is a 2014 comedy-drama and romance from writer-director Chris Rock.  Rock stars as a comedian who is trying to make it as a serious actor, while his fiancée is turning their upcoming wedding into a reality-television event.  Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Jay-Z, is a co-producer on this film.

Top Five focuses on Andre Allen (Chris Rock).  He had a successful career as a stand-up comedian, and later became a box office star with his hit movie franchise, Hammy The Bear, which yielded three films.  Now, Allen is trying to become a serious actor with a new film, Uprize, in which he portrays Dutty Boukman, a prominent figure in the Haitian Revolution.

Allen is also engaged to marry reality-TV star, Erica Long (Gabrielle Union).  The wedding planning, the bachelor party, the wedding itself, and even the honeymoon are going to be reality-television programming on the cable network, Bravo.  While dealing with the headache of a big wedding, Allen is also busy promoting Uprize, so he grudgingly agrees to a probing interview with The New York Times.  Allen is surprised to find himself opening up to Times reporter, Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson), but Brown isn't quite being upfront about her intentions.

In Top Five, Chris Rock has delivered a film that recalls the films of Woody Allen.  Like Allen, Rock uses comedy to probe the inner recesses of the lead character's mind, faults, shortcomings, and foibles.  Also like Allen, Rock uses romance to bring together two conflicted people, whose motivations and yearnings are similar to one another, but are also in conflict with one another.

The drama comes into Top Five because, even with the crazy scenarios and embarrassing moments and revelations, the story takes everything seriously.  The sublime and the ridiculous cannot exist without each other, and stupidity does not absolve one of being honest with oneself.

Rock delivers a solid performance, and he only plays himself half the time in the film.  Rosario Dawson shows both dramatic and romance-comedy chops.  Wow, she is good, and I can't help but think that if she were a white girl that she would have headlined big-time romantic comedies ages ago.  Katherine Heigl and Kate Hudson aren't better than Dawson.

J.B. Smoove is smooth, and Cedric the Entertainer kills it and then some in a cameo role.  Whoopi Goldberg, Adam Sandler, and Jerry Seinfeld appear together near the end of the film and are a treat, especially Seinfeld, who is a riot.  In fact, a number of comic actors and comedians (including Tracy Morgan) make cameo appearances or have bit parts in this movie, and they do their best to make Top Five a must-see movie.

The Hollywood trade press is reporting that producer Scott Rudin wants Chris Rock to quickly make a non-sequel follow-up to Top Five, bringing back some of the cast of this film.  This movie is going to be a hard act to follow.  Top Five is Rock's best directorial effort to date, and it is one of the best films of 2014.  Rock should have received an Oscar nomination for Top Five's screenplay.

9 of 10
A+

Saturday, April 11, 2015

NOTES:
2015 Black Reel Awards:  1 win: “Outstanding Screenplay (Original or Adapted), Motion Picture” (Chris Rock);  6 nominations: “Outstanding Motion Picture” (Scott Rudin and Eli Bush), “Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture” (Chris Rock), “Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture” (Rosario Dawson), “Outstanding Director, Motion Picture” (Chris Rock), “Outstanding Ensemble” (Victoria Thomas), and “Outstanding Original Song (Ahmir-Khalib Thompson-performer and writer and Eliza Colby-performer and writer for the song, “It Ain't Easy”)

2015 Image Awards:  2 nominations: “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” (Cedric the Entertainer) and “Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture” (Chris Rock)


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Mel Brooks Give Voice to "Vlad" in "Hotel Transylvania 2"

Comic Legend Mel Brooks To Voice Dracula’s Father In HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2

Sony Pictures Releasing International Also Casting Beloved Local Celebrities For The Voice Of Vlad

Sony Pictures Animation today announced the casting of Oscar®-, Tony-, Grammy- and Emmy-winning writer, director, performer, composer and producer Mel Brooks in the sequel to the 2012 worldwide hit, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2. Brooks has been cast in the role of Vlad, the ancient, undead and incredibly grumpy father to Dracula (Adam Sandler). Dracula, Mavis, Jonathan and all of their monster friends are back in the brand new comedy adventure: when the old-old-old-fashioned vampire Vlad arrives at the hotel for an impromptu family get-together, Hotel Transylvania is in for a comic collision of supernatural old-school and modern day cool.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 is slated for a September 25, 2015 release, and is being directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, produced by Michelle Murdocca, executive-produced by Sandler, Allen Covert,and Ben Waisbren, and written by Robert Smigel.

Brooks – who takes on the role 40 years after helming the horror-comedy classic Young Frankenstein – said, "I’m having a wonderful time with the character Vlad. He’s been around for eons and he’s a pretty crabby guy. Basically, he reminds me of me."

Brooks isn’t the only icon who will be voicing Vlad, as Sony Pictures Releasing International is securing the talents of additional high-profile stars around the world to voice the ancient one for the non-English versions of the film. So far, these regional Vlads include: France’s Michel Galabru, the esteemed 92-year-old actor who has appeared in more than 200 films; Japan’s Junji Inagawa, whose voice is instantly recognizable as the "go to" narrator of horror films, radio programs and DVDs; Holland’s Bram Van Der Vlugt, who, for decades, was the most requested Dutch TV/film "Sinterklaas" (Saint Nicholas); and Belgium’s Jacques Vermeire, the well-known Flemish performer with decades of memorable comic television and feature film performances.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ANIMATION
Sony Pictures Animation produces a variety of animated and family entertainment for audiences around the world. The studio is following its worldwide comedy hits—the 2012 monster hit comedy Hotel Transylvania, the hybrid live action/animated blockbusters The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2, and the mouth-watering Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movies—with the family comedies Hotel Transylvania 2scheduled in September 2015 and Untitled Smurfs Movie in August 2016. Sony Pictures Animation also released a critically acclaimed, brand new mini-movie on DVD and television last Fall, The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow. The studio, in conjunction with Aardman Animations, has produced two critically acclaimed feature films: the CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas; and the Academy Award® nominated stop-frame animated high-seas adventure, The Pirates! Band of Misfits. In 2007, Surf's Up also received an Academy Award®: nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. The division, whose first feature film Open Season led to a very successful movie franchise, turned 10 in 2012. Sony Pictures Animation is an operating unit of Sony Pictures Digital Productions

Website: http://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SONYPicturesAnimation
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sonyanimation
Tumblr: http://sonyanimation.tumblr.com/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SonyAnimation

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

Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of September 28th to October 4th, 2014 - Update #14

NEWS:

From EntertainmentWeekly:  Thandie Newton and Melissa George added to NBC's "The Slap."

----------------
From YahooTV:  Ben Affleck spars with Bill Maher over Islam.

----------------
From YahooCelebrity:  A rare photo of Vince Vaughn and his wife, Kyla Webber, out in public.

-----------------
From TheHollywoodReporter:  Leo won't play Steve Jobs.

-----------------
From EntertainmentWeekly:  Adam Sandler to produce four movies exclusively for Netflix.

-----------------
From EntertainmentWeekly:  A nearly 100-year-old, silent film version of Sherlock Holmes was found in France a few weeks ago.

-----------------
From YahooTV:  The accident that nearly killed Tracy Morgan... is his fault, says Wal-Mart.

------------------
From YahooCelebrity:  George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin make their marriage official.

-------------------
From TheWrap:  Denzel Washington's new film, The Equalizer (directed by Antoine Fuqua), debuted at #1 at the box office for the weekend of September 26 to 28, 2014 with an estimated take of $35 million dollars.  This contiues Washington's string of solid openings.

From TheWrap:  5 Reasons why Washington's The Equalizer exploded at the box office.

------------------
From the Examiner:  A short article about Chris Nolan's highly-anticipated film, Interstellar.

-------------------
From CinemaBlend:  New set photos from Interstellar.

-------------------
From the Examiner:  Ridley Scott being vague about "Prometheus 2" and "Blade Runner 2."

-------------------
From YahooTV:  See the Chris Pratt "Saturday Night Live Sketch" about Marvel movies.


COMIC BOOKS - Movies and Books:

From TheHollywoodReporter:  Joaquin Phoenix has apparently bowed out of negotiations about playing Doctor Strange for Marvel.

-----------------
From YahooStyle:  A Batman t-shirt that is available at Wal-Mart is raising all kinds of hell.

------------------
From CinemaBlend:  "Agent Carter" is ABC's television spinoff of the Captain America film franchise.  Dominic Cooper, who played Howard Stark (Tony Stark/Iron Man's father), is the first Captain America film, will reprise his Howard Stark role on the series.  At this point, it is unsure if Cooper will appear in a guest spot or in a recurring role.

-------------------
From Vulture: The fantastic Miles Teller says that the "Fantastic Four" reboot (due June 2015) will be a much more realistic Fantastic Four.

-------------------
From the Examiner:  Rumors about "Avengers 3" being split into 2 movies.


STAR WARS:

From YahooNews:  New Episode 7 rumors about characters and plot details.

------------------
From YahooMovies:  Who is the best Star Wars villain.

------------------
From YahooMovies:  Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher reunite in Los Angeles.  See Hamill's shaggy beard.


INTERVIEWS:

From the WSJ:  Marvel's Jason Aaron tells the Wall Street Journal why he made Thor a woman.


TRAILERS:

From 20th Century Fox:  The debut trailer for Tak3n.

From 20th Century Fox:  New Exodus: Gode & Kings trailer.

New Trailer and Poster for Jason Reitman's "Men, Women, and Children"

Watch the new trailer for Jason Reitman's MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN:
http://www.mtv.com/news/1934090/men-women-children-trailer-ansel-elgort/

Share your thoughts and reactions to the trailer with the Whisper App using #MWC

Synopsis:  MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN follows the story of a group of high school teenagers and their parents as they attempt to navigate the many ways the internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image, and their love lives. The film attempts to stare down social issues such as video game culture, anorexia, infidelity, fame hunting, and the proliferation of illicit material on the internet. As each character and each relationship is tested, we are shown the variety of roads people choose - some tragic, some hopeful - as it becomes clear that no one is immune to this enormous social change that has come through our phones, our tablets, and our computers.

Official site: http://www.menwomenchildrenmovie.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/MWCmovie
Twitter: Twitter.com/MWCmovie
Instagram: Instagram.com/MWCmovie

#MWC

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

Teaser Trailer for Jason Reitman's "Men, Women and Children" Released

Discover how little you know about the people you know.

Watch the teaser trailer for Jason Reitman's MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN

http://www.menwomenchildrenmovie.com

Share your thoughts and reactions to the trailer with the Whisper App using #MWC

Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ansel Elgort, Jennifer Garner, Judy Greer, Dean Norris, Adam Sandler
Based on the Novel by Chad Kultgen
Screenplay by Jason Reitman & Erin Cressida Wilson
Directed by Jason Reitman

Synopsis:
MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN follows the story of a group of high school teenagers and their parents as they attempt to navigate the many ways the internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image, and their love lives. The film attempts to stare down social issues such as video game culture, anorexia, infidelity, fame hunting, and the proliferation of illicit material on the internet. As each character and each relationship is tested, we are shown the variety of roads people choose - some tragic, some hopeful - as it becomes clear that no one is immune to this enormous social change that has come through our phones, our tablets, and our computers.

About Whisper:
Whisper is the best place to express yourself online. Connect with likeminded individuals, and discover the unseen world around you. With Whisper, you’re free to anonymously share your thoughts with the world, and build lasting, meaningful relationships in a community built around trust and honesty.

MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN will make its world premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival

#MWC
Official site: http://www.menwomenchildrenmovie.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/MWCmovie
Twitter: Twitter.com/MWCmovie
Instagram: Instagram.com/MWCmovie

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

Peter Dinklage Joins Chris Columbus' "Pixels"

SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT SLATES "PIXELS" FOR SUMMER 2015

Principal Photography Begins in June on Iconic Video Game Action Comedy Starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad, directed by Chris Columbus

Michelle Monaghan and Peter Dinklage have joined Adam Sandler, Kevin James, and Josh Gad in the cast of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Pixels, which will be directed by Chris Columbus and released in the Summer of 2015. Principal photography will begin in June of this year on the Happy Madison/1492 Pictures production, which was written by Tim Herlihy and Timothy Dowling, based on the short film directed by Patrick Jean and produced by One More Production. Pixels will be produced by Happy Madison’s Adam Sandler and Allen Covert, and 1492 Pictures’ Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe. Executive producers are Barry Bernardi, Jack Giarraputo, Tim Herlihy, Heather Parry and Seth Gordon.

In the film, when aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper has to call on his childhood best friend, ’80s video game champion Jules Brenner, now a home theater installer, to lead a team of old-school arcaders to defeat the aliens and save the planet.

Columbus and the studio are working with many of the 1980s’ most iconic videogame brands in an effort to bring together on the big screen the characters from the decade’s quintessential games. "By combining the visceral power of 80’s arcade games with state-of-the-art visual effects, Pixels will take the audience to a place they’ve never been before," stated Columbus.

Commenting on the announcement, Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures said, "Working together, Adam Sandler and Chris Columbus have created a story that will deliver truly unique action, comedy and special effects, and bring back beloved arcade game characters in a delightfully original manner. Pixels is the perfect showcase for Adam's brand of all-audience comedy."

About Sony Pictures:
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., 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. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com

2014 Razzie Award Nominations - Complete List

by Leroy Douresseaux

The 34th Annual Razzie Awards are tonight.

The Golden Raspberry Award or, as it is best known, the Razzie Award, is basically the opposite of the Academy Awards (the Oscars).  This award honors the worst achievements in film in a calendar year, as determined by the paid membership of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation.

Unlike the Oscars, BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and other awards, black and African-American performers and filmmakers are well represented in the Razzies.  Razzie voters seem to have a particular hatred for Tyler Perry.  That is why I often think of the Razzies as nothing more than a hater fest for jealous bitches and envious ho’s.  I hear charges of nepotism concerning Will Smith and his son, Jaden, around the movie After Earth.  Nepotism in Hollywood:  is that a new thing?  Really?

The nominations for 34th Annual Razzie Awards were announced weeks ago.  The winners of the 2014 Razzie Awards will be announced, Saturday, March 1, 2014, one day before the Academy Awards ceremony (or “Oscar eve”).  This is the traditional date for the Razzies, although the 32nd awards ceremony was held on April Fool’s Day.

2014 / 34th Annual Razzie Awards nominations (for the year in film, 2013):

WORST PICTURE
After Earth
Grown Ups 2
The Lone Ranger
A Madea Christmas
Movie 43

WORST ACTOR
Johnny Depp: The Lone Ranger
Ashton Kutcher: Jobs
Adam Sandler: Grown Ups 2
Jaden Smith: After Earth
Sylvester Stallone: Bullet To The Head, Escape Plan, Grudge Match

WORST ACTRESS
Halle Berry: Movie 43, The Call
Selena Gomez: Getaway
Lindsay Lohan: The Canyons
Tyler Perry: A Madea Christmas
Naomi Watts: Diana, Movie 43

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lady Gaga: Machete Kills
Salma Hayek: Grown Ups 2
Katherine Heigl: The Big Wedding
Kim Kardashian: Tyler Perry’s Temptation
Lindsay Lohan: In-App-Propriate Comedy, Scary Movie 5

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Chris Brown: Battle Of The Year
Larry the Cable Guy: A Madea Christmas
Taylor Lautner: Grown Ups 2
Will Smith: After Earth
Nick Swardson: A Haunted House, Grown Ups 2

WORST DIRECTOR
The 13 People Who Directed Movie 43
Dennis Dugan: Grown Ups 2
Tyler Perry: A Madea Christmas, Temptation
M. Night Shyamalan: After Earth
Gore Verbinski: The Lone Ranger

WORST SCREEN COMBO
The Entire Cast of Groan-Ups, Too
The Entire Cast of Movie 43
Lindsay Lohan & Charlie Sheen: Scary Movie 5
Tyler Perry & EITHER Larry the Cable Guy OR That Worn-Out Wig & Dress: A Madea Christmas
Jaden Smith & Will Smith on Planet Nepotism: After Earth

WORST SCREENPLAY
After Earth: Screenplay by Gary Whitta and M. Night Shyamalan, Story by Will Smith
Grown Ups 2: Written by Fred Wolfe & Adam Sandler & Tim Herlihy
The Lone Ranger: Screen Story & Screenplay by Ted Elliott, Justin Haythe & Terry Rosso
A Madea Christmas: Written by Tyler Perry
Movie 43: Written by 19 “Screenwriters”

WORST REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL
Grown Ups 2
Hangover III
The Lone Ranger
Scary Movie 5
Smurfs 2

http://www.razzies.com/

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

Review: "50 First Dates" Surprisingly Works (Happy B'day, Adam Sandler)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 24 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

50 First Dates (2004)
Running time:  99 minutes (1 hour, 39 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for appeal for crude sexual humor and drug references
DIRECTOR:  Peter Segal
WRITER:  George Wing
PRODUCERS:  Jack Giarraputo, Steve Golin, Nancy Juvonen
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Jack Green (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Jeff Gourson
COMPOSER:  Teddy Castellucci

COMEDY/ROMANCE

Starring:  Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider, Sean Astin, Lusia Strus, Dan Aykroyd, Amy Hill, Blake Clark, Nephi Pomaikai Brown, and Allen Covert

The subject of this movie review is 50 First Dates, a 2004 romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.  The film focuses on a man, who is afraid of commitment, and the girl of his dreams, who has short-term memory loss and wakes up every morning not remembering who he is.

The reunion of The Wedding Singer co-stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore sounds like a great idea, which it is, but even better than a great idea is when the movie reunion turns out to be such a charming and hilarious romantic comedy.  Although I initially had some misgivings about it, 50 First Dates is not only flat out hilarious, it’s also a very good romantic comedy.  50 First Dates' faults are few or are minor, but it definitely felt too long.

Lothario Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) is a serial dater, loving and leaving a legion of women and assorted lovers in the wake of whirlwind, weekend romances.  He finally believes he’s find that special lady when he experiences love at first sight.  However, Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), the object of his affection, suffers from short-term memory loss (like the protagonist in Memento) as the result of a car accident a year earlier.  Every day she awakens with no memory of anything she’s learned in the time since her accident.  After gaining the grudging approval of Lucy’s father, Marlin (Blake Clark), and brother, Doug (Sean Astin), Henry concocts a plan to remind Lucy of his love for her as the first thing she discovers when she awakens each morning, but for how long will she go along with the plan?

Director Peter Segal helmed Sandler’s 2003 smash, Anger Management, which is a harder belly laugh film.  Here, Segal smartly focuses on the leads to create and sustain the star-crossed romance, and he makes the best and most appropriate use of the supporting characters.  He lets the comic relief provide silly laughs and the more “mature” characters make just enough intensity to create what little dramatic conflict and tension 50 First Dates needs.  George Wing’s script is an exercise in sustaining laughs long enough to keep the audience chuckling and not looking behind the curtain to see the credibility gaffes until the film is over and they’ve reached the parking.

For all his detractors, Sandler is truly a talented comedian, and he has become a very accomplished comic actor.  His deadpan, sarcastic, neo-slob characters are endearing and charming, and the only viewers who truly dislike simply just want to dislike him.  Drew Barrymore is quite attractive, and, in spite of her beauty, she has an everyman, make that every woman quality, which endears her characters to the audience.  Sandler and Ms. Barrymore make a winning screen pair, and hopefully they won’t wait too long before giving us another fine film.

7 of 10
B+

Updated:  Monday, September 09, 2013

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