TRASH IN MY EYE Reviews: Amazon

Showing posts with label Amazon. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Review: Prime Video's "G20" Showcases Viola Davis and Black Excellence

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 16 of 2025 (No. 2022) by Leroy Douresseaux

G20 (2025)

Running time: 108 minutes (1 hour, 48 minutes)

MPA – R for violence throughout

DIRECTOR: Patricia Riggen

WRITERS: Caitlin Parrish & Erica Weiss and Logan Miller & Noah Miller; from a story by Logan Miller & Noah Miller

PRODUCERS: Viola Davis, Andrew Lazar, and Julius Tennon

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Checco Varese (D.o.P.)

EDITORS: Doc Crotzer and Emma E. Hickox

COMPOSER: Joseph Trapanese

ACTION/THRILLER

Starring: Viola Davis, Anthony Anderson, Ramon Rodriguez, Marsai Martin, Christopher Farrar, Antony Starr, Douglas Hodge, Elizabeth Marvel, Sabrina Impacciatore, MeeWha Alana Lee, John Hoogenakker, Julius Tennon, Theo Bongani Ndyalvane, Noxolo Diamini, and Clark Gregg

SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW:

-- I would call G20 a standard straight-to-streaming action movie, but Viola Davis makes this fast food hamburger almost seem like “USDA Prime Beef.”

-- G20 is hugely enjoyable, and it will keep you glued to your seats, dear readers, from beginning to end

--Yeah, I liked it enough to hope for a sequel

G20 is a 2025 action-thriller from director Patricia Riggen and starring Viola Davis, who is also one of the film's producers. The film is an Amazon “Prime Video Original” and debuted on the Prime Video streaming service, Thursday, April 10, 2025. In G20, the African-American female President of the United States battles a gang of white cryptocurrency terrorists after they take over the G20 summit she is hosting in South Africa.

G20 opens in Budapest, Hungary. There, former Australian Special Forces Corporal Edward Rutledge (Antony Starr) and his mercenaries are stalking a young woman. They are determined to acquire a $70 million cryptocurrency wallet in her possession.

Meanwhile, at the White House in Washington D.C., U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Viola Davis) is having some family melodrama. She may be President of the United States and an Army veteran of the Iraq War, but she is publicly embarrassed by the rebellious antics of her daughter, Serena (Marsai Martin), who has recently escaped from the White House without the Secret Service noticing.

President Sutton and her husband, the “First Gentleman” Derek (Anthony Anderson), decide that it is wisest to bring Serena and her brother, their son Demetrius (Christopher Farrar), with them to Capetown, South Africa for the G20 Summit of world leaders. However, waiting for them at the heavily fortified Grand Diamot hotel is Corporal Rutledge and his team of terrorists, ready to seize control of the summit and bring down the world economy as we know it. Soon, it will be up to President Sutton, Derek, Serena, Demetrius, and Special Agent Manny Ruiz (Ramon Rodriguez) to save themselves and the Summit's attendees and to stop Rutledge and his diabolical plot to burn down the world as we know it.

During the last year or so, I have seen a few star-studded, streaming original action movies, such as Prime Video's Role Play (2024) and Netflix's The Union (2024) and the recent Back in Action (2025). I have avoided most streaming action movies, but I have noticed something about the ones I have seen. They are a family and friends affair. Husbands and wives, children, and friends come together to stop the high-tech bad guys. In a way, they are like the 2004 kiddie action flick, Catch That Kid, which you probably don't remember starred a pre-Twilight Kristen Stewart.

Anyway, G20 has lots of violent gun play, and I would dare to guess that more characters were killed in it than in most spy and espionage movies. That's because G20 is a kind of hybrid military-themed movie about terrorism, except that the lead is a Black female President of the United States. She is the star and she does the most killing, and while her Black husband and their two Black children also fight the bad guys, only she uses firearms and military-style weapons to kill the bad guys.

I found G20 thoroughly enjoyable, and I enjoyed watching Viola Davis' President Sutton kill the bad guys. She is one of the few actresses that could take President Sutton and make her both a solid dramatic character and a heavy weight action hero. I also like that the most of film's biggest heroes are black and brown people. Viola Davis, Anthony Anderson, Ramon Rodriguez, Marsai Martin, Christopher Farrar, Theo Bongani Ndyalvane and Noxolo Diamini show out for real. Douglas Hodge, Sabrina Impacciatore, and MeeWha Alana Lee also do the damn thing. Even Antony Starr deftly chews up the screen as the overheated villain, Corporal Rutledge.

Amazon MGM Studios, I want a sequel. I heartily recommend G20 for its pure entertainment value and for making a violent, R-rated action movie seem like family entertainment. This is one time that I can say that a direct-to-streaming action movie is as good as most of the flashy action movies that get theatrical releases. Best of all, G20 lets Viola David act like an O.G.

B+

7 of 10

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

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

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

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Review: Tyler Perry's "DUPLICITY" - Come On, Man

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 14 of 2025 (No. 2020) by Leroy Douresseaux

Tyler Perry's Duplicity (2025)

Running time: 109 minutes (1 hour, 49 minutes)

MPA – R for language and violence

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Tyler Perry

PRODUCERS: Tyler Perry, Angi Bones, and Will Areu

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Corey Burmester (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Larry Sexton

COMPOSERS: JimiJame$ and Wow Jones

DRAMA/THRILLER/CRIME

Starring: Kat Graham, Meagan Tandy, Tyler Lepley, RonReaco Lee, Joshua Adeyeye, Nick Barrotta, Jimi Stanton, Shannon LaNier, Kim Steele, Betty Mitchell, Angela Halili, and Kearia Schroeder

SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW:

-- Tyler Perry's Duplicity is for Tyler Perry's hardcore fans

-- The last 20 minutes of “Duplicity” are by far the best, but they are also filled with implausible and crazy crap, too

Tyler Perry's Duplicity is a 2025 drama and crime thriller from writer-director Tyler Perry. The film is an Amazon “Prime Original,” and it began streaming on the service April 20, 2025. Duplicity finds a high-powered attorney taking on her most personal case when she attempts to find the truth behind the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black man by a White police officer.

Duplicity opens in Atlanta, Georgia and introduces the high-powered female attorney, Marley Wells (Kat Graham). Her best friend is Fela Blackburn (Meagan Tandy), a co-anchor for the television station, Channel 3's “Early for Us” morning TV show. One day, while jogging, Fela's husband, Rodney (Joshua Adeyeye), is shot and killed by a white rookie police officer, Caleb Kaine (Jimi Stanton).

Marley becomes the grieving widow, Fela's attorney, and suddenly she is taking on the city in a wrongful death civil suit. Marley's boyfriend, Tony (Tyler Lepley), a private investigator and disgraced former police officer, helps her investigate the case. Fela's Channel 3 colleagues – Shannon Markus (Shannon LaNeir), her co-anchor, and Sam (Nick Barrotta), the station's chief investigator – also volunteer their services for Marley's investigation.

The fatal police shooting of Rodney becomes a hot-button political issue and protests and violent riots erupt. The case seems to be going in Marley and Fela's favor, but Marley is soon forced to stop ignoring the troubling signs and unanswered questions that surround the shooting.

I thought that Mea Culpa, a “Netflix Original” film released in February 2024, was likely Tyler Perry's craziest non-Madea film to date, being even wackier than his 2013 film, Temptations: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. However, Perry's 2024 Amazon Prime Video drama-thriller, Divorce in the Black, released mere months after Mea Culpa, is Perry's craziest non-Medea film, at least of the ones I have seen. Perry's latest Prime Video film is not quite as crazy as Divorce in the Black, but neither is a good film (although I would say that Divorce in the Black is a little better than Duplicity).

Duplicity is simply an empty film, and I think the reason is the screenwriting. Watching this film, I got the idea that Tyler Perry wasn't trying very hard, either as a director or writer, and especially not as a writer. One of the reasons the performances seem so listless is that the actors really don't have much with which to work in terms of story or character. Also, Duplicity really is not a police shooting movie, nor a “Black Lives Matter” movie, nor even social commentary, for that matter (despite some flatly delivered “commentary” at the end). I can't say much more than that.

The last 20 minutes of the Duplicity are by far the most watchable, but even those minutes are filled with implausible and frankly inadvertently comical moments. However, I must admit that there is a particular set of violent acts in the last act that are cathartic. Ultimately, Tyler Perry's Duplicity is for Tyler Perry's biggest fans – alone.

3 of 10

D+

★½ out of 4 stars

Saturday, April 5, 2025

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

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

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Review: "THE BEEKEEPER" Swarms with Vicarious Vigilante Fun

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 13 of 2025 (No. 2019) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Beekeeper (2024)

Running time: 105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)

MPA – R for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexual references and drug use.

DIRECTOR: David Ayer

WRITER: Kurt Wimmer

PRODUCERS: David Ayer, Jason Statham, Bill Block, Chris Long, and Kurt Wimmer

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Gabriel Beristain (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Geoffrey O'Brien

COMPOSERS: Jared Michael Fry and David Sardy

ACTION/CRIME

Starring: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, David Witts, Michael Epp, Taylor James, Jemma Redgrave, Minnie Driver, Don Gilet, Dan Li, Derek Siow, and Phylicia Rashad

The Beekeeper is a 2024 American vigilante action-thriller from director David Ayer and writer Kurt Wimmer. Starring Jason Statham, the film follows an assassin who sets out for revenge after his kindhearted landlady falls victim to a phishing scam.

The Beekeeper opens in rural Massachusetts. There, Adam Clay (Jason Statham) is a quiet beekeeper who rents land and barn space from retired school teacher, Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad). The two have a warm relationship. Eloise also manages a children's charity and watches over her retirement funds. However, Eloise falls victim to a phishing and hacking scam operated by a call center, “United Data Group.” The lead hacker, Boyd Garnett (David Witts), tricks Eloise into giving him access to her computer, whereupon he drains it of all her life savings and of the two million dollars she manages for the charity. Eloise is devastated and tragedy strikes.

In response, Adam sets out on a mission of revenge. He heads to Boston to confront Derek Danforth (Josh Hutcherson), the owner of “Nine Star United,” the company behind United Data Group. Danforth, however, is very well connected, so well connected that it is impossible to imagine. Soon, Adam Clay is taking on the FBI Boston field office, S.W.A.T., and hired mercenaries. How can one man take on all that? Well, Adam Clay, the beekeeper, is also an former assassin and operative of the type known as a “Beekeeper.”

If you enjoyed the 2014 Denzel Washington revenge vehicle, The Equalizer, and its sequels, and the 2014 Keanu Reeves revenge vehicle, John Wick, and its sequels, you will likely enjoy The Beekeeper. First, it's one of the better movies from the filmography of director David Ayer (Suicide Squad). Secondly, it is one of the better movies written by Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium).

Third, it's Jason Statham, and if you are a fan of his (and I am), then The Beekeeper shows that he has not lost his sting... his punch... his kick... or his firearm and bladed weapon skills. Plus, the allegorical and symbolic nature of Adam Clay as both a beekeeper and as a “Beekeeper” are quite clever and genuinely connected. I don't want to say more because I find this movie's plot and plot points easy to spoil, but I can say that it is a blast to watch. Even if you are not the biggest Statham fans, dear readers, I believe that you will enjoy – to some extent – this tightly composed and cheerfully violent movie. I can say that anyone who gets in the way of Statham's Adam Clay – good guy or bad guy – is put in a world of pain.

The rest of the performances are okay. The other characters are merely there to be acted upon by Adam Clay. Still, Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune) and Oscar-nominee Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) are sadly wasted in this film. I really only watched The Beekeeper in preparation for Statham's new film with David Ayer (as of this writing), the ridiculously titled, A Working Man, which I may or may not see during its theatrical release. Still, I am glad that I stopped putting off seeing The Beekeeper because it is a hugely entertaining action movie. It floats like a butterfly and stings like a demonic bee.

7 of 10

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Thursday, March 27, 2025

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

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

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 16th to 22nd, 2025 - UPDATE #10

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

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

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

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

NEWS:

MOVIES - From THR: There is a new "film package" that will with Martin Scorsese as the director. It is a star-studded crime movie set in Hawaii. The film would star Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt, and it would feature a script by journalist and author Nick Bilton. The untitled movie is fact-based and would be in the mold of Scorsese’s "Goodfellas" and "The Departed." It would center on a mob boss vying for control of the Hawaiian islands in the 1960s and 1970s

AMAZON - From Variety: Amazon MGM Studios is set to take creative control of the "James Bond" franchise from its long-time guardians at EON Productions, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, although latter will maintain their ownership stake in the James Bond franchise.

From Variety: Amazon co-founder and overlord, Jeff Bezos, asks his followers on the social media app, "X" (formerly "Twitter"), who should succeed Daniel Craig as "James Bond," in the wake of Amazon MGM Studios taking creative control of the "James Bond" franchise.

From Variety: In the wake of Amazon MGM Studios taking creative control of the "James Bond" franchise, the most recent actor to play Bond, Daniel Craig, salutes the franchise's previous creative bosses, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

MOVIES - From Variety: Universal Pictures has released a first look at Matt Damon as, "Odysseus," the lead in Christopher Nolan's 2026 film, "The Odyssey" (July 17th, 2026).

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 2/14 to 2/16/2025 weekend box office is Disney/Marvel Studios' Captain America: Brave New World with an estimated take of 88.5 million dollars.

AWARDS - From Variety: The nominations for the 2025 / 78th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) have been announced. "Conclave" won "Best Film" and "Outstanding British Film."

MOVIES - From Deadline: Warner Bros. has chosen writer Potsy Poncifoli to write its sequel to the 1985 film, "The Goonies."

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

MOVIE AWARDS:

From Variety: The nominations for the 2025 / 78th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) have been announced. "Conclave" won "Best Film" and "Outstanding British Film."

From Deadline: The winners at the 2025 / 36th Producers Guild of America Awards have been announced. "Anora" wins the awards' top prize, "The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures."

From Deadline: The winners at the 2025 / 77th Annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced. Sean Baker and his team won the top prize, "Theatrical Feature Film," for his film "Anora."

From THR: The winners for the 2025 / 82nd Annual Golden Globes have been announced. "Emilia Perez" won "Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy" and "Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language." "The Brutalist" won "Best Motion Picture - Drama." "Wicked" won in the new category, "Cinematic and Box Office Achievement." "Flow" won "Best Motion Picture - Animated."

From AMPAS: The nominations for the 2025 / 97th Academy Awards have been announced the winners will be announced Sunday, March 2, 2025.

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2025 / 25th Vancouver Film Critics Circle (VFCC) Awards have been announced. "Anora" won "Best Picture" and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 7th Annual Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (LEJA) Film Awards have been announced. "Sing Sing" won "Best Picture" and "Best Actor" (Colman Domingo).

From AwardsWatch: GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics has announced the winners of its Dorian Film Awards. "The Substance" has won five awards including "Film of the Year," "Film Performance of the Year" (Demi Moore), and "Film Director of the Year" (Coralie Fargeat).

From THR: The nominations for the 2025 / 36th Producers Guild of America Awards have been announced. The winners will be announced Sat. Feb. 8th.

From BBC: The nominations for the 2025 / 78th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) have been announced. "Conclave" leads with 12 nominations. The winners will be Sunday, Feb. 16th, 2025.

From Deadline: The nominations for the 2025 / 77th Annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced. In the awards' marquee category, "Theatrical Feature Film," the nominees are Jacques Audiard ("Emilia Perez"), Sean Baker ("Anora"), Edward Berger ("Conclave"), Brady Corbet ("The Brutalist"), and James Mangold ("A Complete Unknown"). The winners will be announced February 8th.

From EW: The Screen Actors Guild has cancelled the 2025 / 31st SAG Awards nominations announcement live-stream because of the current wildfires sweeing through the Los Angeles area. The nominations will be announced Thursday morning, January 9th via press release and on SAG Awards website. The SAG Award ceremony will be hired Feb. 23rd.

From AwardsWatch: The nominations for the 2025 / 56th Annual NAACP Image Awards have been announced. Netflix's "The Piano Lesson" leads with 14 nominations. The winners will be announced February 21st and 22nd.

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2025 / 22nd Annual International Cinephile Society (ICS) Awards have been announced. "All We Imagine as Light" has won "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Payal Kapadia), and "Best Ensemble."

From Deadline: The winners at the 2025 / 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards have been announced. "Anora" wins "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2025 / 45th London Critics Circle Film Awards were announced. "The Brutalist" was named "Film of the Year."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) Awards have been announced. "Anora" was named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The International Press Academy has announced the winners at the 2025 / 29th Satellite Awards in Motion Pictures and Television. "The Brutalist" won "Motion Picture, Drama" and "Anora" won "Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) Awards have been announced. "Dune: Part Two" has been named "Best Film."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Pittsburgh Film Critics Association (PFCA) Awards have been announced. This is the association inaugural awards announcement. "The Substance" was named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Chicago Independent Critics (CIC) Awards have been announced. "The Substance" has won seven awards, including "Best Indepent Film," "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat), and "Best Actress" (Demi Moore). "Dune: Part Two" won "Best Studio Film."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC) Awards have been announced. "Emilia Perez" wins "Best Movie About Women." Coralie Fargeat's "The Substance" wins "Best Movie By a Woman" (directing)

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the annual Portland Critics Association (PCA) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" won in 10 of the 13 categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Brady Corbet), and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 North Dakota Film Society (NDFS) Awards have been announced. "Anora" won five awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Hawaii Film Critics Society (HFCS) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" took four awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Utah Film Critics Association (UFCA) Awards have been announced. "The Wild Robot" won two awards - "Best Picture" and "Best Animated Feature."

From AwardsWatch: The winners of the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has taken five awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Brady Corbet), and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Music City Film Critics Association (MCFCA) Awards have been announced. "Dune: Part Two" has won four awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Denis Villeneuve).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Georgia Film Critics Association (GFCA) Awards have been announced. "Anora" won four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch: The winners of the 2024 Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) EDA Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has won "Best Film."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Awards have been announced. "Anora" won five awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) Awards have been announced. "The Substance" has won six awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat), and "Best Actress" (Demi Moore).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Greater Western New York Film Critics Association (GWNYFCA) Awards have been announced. "Challengers" has won "Best Film" and "Best Director" (Luca Guadagnino).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 DiscussingFilm's Global Film Critics Awards have been announced. "Nickel Boys" won "Best Picture."

From EW: The nominations for the 2025 / 82nd Annual Golden Globes have been announced. "Emilia Perez" leads with 10 nominations. The winners will be announced January 5, 2025 on CBS and Paramount+.

From THR: The winners at the 2025 National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) Awards have been announced. "Nickel Boys" has won the award for "Best Picture" of 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) Awards have been announced. "Conclave" won five awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Edward Berger), and "Best Actor" (Ralph Fiennes).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA) Awards have been announced. "Conclave" has won three awards, including "Best Narrative Film."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Columbia Film Critics Association (COFCA) Awards have been announced. "The Substance" has won four awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat), and "Best Actress" (Demi Moore),

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 29th Capri, Hollywood-International Film Festival Awards have been announced. "Emilia Perez" won six awards, including "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Critics Association of Central Florda (CACF) Awards have been announced. "Anora" has been named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 UK Film Critics Association (UKFCA) Awards have been announced. "Dune: Part Two" won "Film of the Year" and "Best Director" (Denis Villeneuve).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Awards have been announced. "Anora" has won four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Online Association of Female Film Critics (OAFFC) Awards have been announced. "The Substance" won six awards, including "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat). and "Best Leading Performance" (Demi Moore). "The Substance" shared the "Best Film" honor with "Anora."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Philadelphia Film Critics Circle (PFCCA) Awards have been announced. "Anora" won six awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Awards have announced. "The Beast" has won "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Bertrand Bonello).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Nevada Film Critics Society (NFCS) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has taken six awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Brady Corbet), and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) Awards have been announced. "The Zone of Interest" was named "Best Film" and its director, Jonathan Glazer, won "Best Director." Although the film was released in Dublin this year, it was eligible for the Academy Awards in 2023.

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critic Association (DFWFCA) Awards have been announced. "Anora" has won three awards: "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch: The winners of the 2024 Southeastern Film Critics Associations (SFCA) Awards have been announced. "Anora" has been named "Best Film."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Iowa Film Critics Association (IFCA) Awards have been announced. "Anora" won three awards: "Best Film," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Awards have been announced. "The Substance" has won "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat)

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Awards have been announced. "The Substance" has been named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Phoenix Film Critics Society (PFCS) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has been named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The winners of the 2024 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Awards. "The Substance" has won six awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat), and "Best Leading Performance" (Demi Moore), and "Best Supporting Performance" (Margaret Qualley).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) Awards have been announced. "Nickel Boys" has won "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (RaMell Ross)

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Awards have been announced. "Dune: Part Two" has won three awards, including "Film" and "Best Director" (Denis Villeneuve).

From AwardsWatch: The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has announced the nominations in the category of "Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures." The winners at the 2025 / 39th Annual Producers Guild Awards will be announced Saturday, February 8, 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards have been announced. "Anora" has been named "Best Film."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has taken five awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Brady Corbet), and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Awards have been announced. "Dune: Part Two" has won six awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Denis Villeneuve).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Awards have been announced. "Nickel Boys" has won "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (RaMell Ross). "Sing Sing" has won "Best Actor" (Colman Domingo) and "Best Supporting Actor" (Clarence Maclin).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has been named "Best Picture." The films four total wins including for "Best Director" (Brady Corbet) and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Chicago Film Critics (CFC) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has won "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The winners of the 2024 San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Awards have been announced. "Sing Sing" won "Best Picture," won of three awards it received.

From AwardsWatch: The winners of the 2024 Michigan Movie Critics Guild (MMCG) Awards have been announced. "Anora" was named "Best Picture," one of its four wins.

From AwardsWatch: The winners of the 2024 Atlanta Film Critics Circle Awards have been announced. "Anora" was named "Best Film," one of four awards it won.

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Washington Area Film Critics Association Awards have been announced. "Wicked" has won the award for "Best Feature."

From AwardsWatch: The winners of the 49th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards have been announced. "Anora" was named "Best Picture." Marianne Jean-Baptiste (for "Hard Truths") became the first Black woman to win a lead performance honor in the groups history.

From AwardsWatch: The winners for the 2024 / 27th British Independent Film Awards have been announced. The Irish film, "Kneecap," wins "Best British Independent Film."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) have been announced. "Anora" wins "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison), and "Best Original Screenplay."

From AFI: The American Film Institute has named its top ten films and television series. Among the films honored are "Dune: Part Two," "Nickel Boys," and "Wicked."

From THR: The winners at the 2024 / 37th European Film Awards have been announced. "Emilia Perez" wins the award for "European Film." It also won the directing (Jacques Audiard), writing (Audiard), and actress (Karla Sofia Gascon) honors.

From NBR: The National Board of Review has named its 2024 film honorees. "Wicked" wins "Best Film" and "Best Director" (for John M. Chu).

From Deadline: The nominations for the 2025 / 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced. Cannes 2024 Palme d'Or winner, "Anora," and "I Saw the TV Glow" each lead with six nominations apiece. The winners will be announced Saturday, February 22, 2025.

From Deadline: The winners of the 2024 / 90th New York Film Critics Circle Awards have been announced. Director Brady Corbet's three-hour epic, "The Brutalist," has won "Best Film" and its star, Adrian Brody, has won "Best Actor."

From Variety: The winners at the 2024 / 34th Gotham Awards have been announced. Writer-director Aaron Schimberg's "A Different Man" has won the "Best Feature" award.

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

From Deadline: The nominations for the 2024 / 27th British Independent Film Awards have been announced. The Irish film, "Kneecap," leads with 14 nominations. The winners will be announced Sunday, December 8, 2024.

BEST PICTURE WINNER COUNT:

From AwardsWatch: This link will take you, dear readers, to "AwardWatch's" article, "Who Won What? - The 2024/2025 Film Award Precursor Guide."

"All We Imagine as Light": 1 win (International Cinephile Society)

"Anora": 18 wins (Atlanta Film Critics Circle; Austin Film Critics Association; Boston Society of Film Critics; CACF; Critics Choice Awards; DFWFCA; DGA; Georgia Film Critics Association; IFCA; LAFCA; Michigan Movie Critics Guild; North Dakota Film Society; OAFFC; NTFCA; Philadelphia Film Critics Circle; Satellite Awards; SFBAFCC; SFCA)

"The Beast": 1 win (Florida Film Critics Circle)

"The Brutalist": 13 wins (AWFJ; BOFCA; Chicago Film Critics; Golden Globes-Drama; HFCS; London Critics Circle; MNFCA; Nevada Film Critics Society; NYFCC; Phoenix Critics Circle; Phoenix Film Critics Circle; Portland Critics Association; Satellite Awards)

"Challengers": 1 win (GWNYFCA)

"Conclave": 2 wins (North Carolina Film Critics Association; Oklahoma Film Critics Circle)

"A Different Man": 1 win (Gotham Awards)

"Dune: Part Two" - 6 wins (Chicago Independent Critics; LVFCS; Music City Film Critics Associations; St.LFCA; UKFCA)

"Emilia Perez": 4 wins (Capri, Denver Film Critics Society; Hollywood-International Film Festival Awards; European Film Awards; Golden Globes-Comedy or Musical; WFCC)

"Kneecap": 1 win (British Independent Film Awards)

"Nickel Boys": 4 wins (AAFCA; DiscussingFilm; National Society of Film Critics; TFCA)

"Sing Sing": 2 wins (LEJA Film Awards; San Diego Film Critics Society)

"The Substance": 10 wins (Chicago Independent Critics; COFCA; Dorian Awards; Indiana Film Journalists Association; KCFCC; NYFCO; OAFFC; Pittsburgh Film Critics Association; Seattle Film Critics Society; WFCC)

"Wicked": 2 wins (National Board of Review; WAFCA)

"The Wild Robot": 1 win (Utah Film Critics Association)

----

Friday, January 10, 2025

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 1st to 11th, 2025 - UPDATE #26

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

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

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

NEWS:

AWARDS - From Deadline: The nominations for the 2025 / 77th Annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced. In the awards' marquee category, "Theatrical Feature Film," the nominees are Jacques Audiard ("Emilia Perez"), Sean Baker ("Anora"), Edward Berger ("Conclave"), Brady Corbet ("The Brutalist"), and James Mangold ("A Complete Unknown"). The winners will be announced February 8th.

CRIME - From LATimes: There are new details in the shooting death of actor Johnny Wactor ("General Hospital," "Siberia"). The 37-year-old actor died after being shot in the chest May 25, 2024 by one of three thieves who were stealing the catalytic converter from his 2013 Toyota Prius. At least two of the people involved are members of a South Los Angeles street gang. One of the thieves reportedly shouted, "No!," before his accomplice shot Wactor, whose funeral was held in June 2024 in his hometown of Summerville, South Carolina.

DISNEY - From USAToday: The result of FuboTV's lawsuit against Disney/Fox/Warner Bros. Discovery over their planned sports streaming service, "Venu Sports," is that Disney will merge "Hulu + Live" service with FuboTV. Disney will own 70 percent of the new service, and the merger will be finalized in the next 12 to 18 months.

GOLDEN GLOBES - From THR: The winners for the 2025 / 82nd Annual Golden Globes have been announced. "Emilia Perez" won "Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy" and "Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language." "The Brutalist" won "Best Motion Picture - Drama." "Wicked" won in the new category, "Cinematic and Box Office Achievement." "Flow" won "Best Motion Picture - Animated."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 1/3 to 1/5/2025 weekend box office is Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King" with a take of 23.8 million dollars.

CELEBRITY - From APNews: Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and Emmy-winner Michael J. Fox were among 19 people who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the nation's highest civilian honor) from President Joe Biden today (Sat., Jan. 4th) in a White House Ceremony.

AMAZON - From AwardsWatch: Amazon Prime Video is set to debut Viola Davis' next film, the action-thriller, "G20," on April 20th.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel: Hot off his new film, "Nosferatu," Robert Eggers is set to direct a reboot/sequel to Jim Henson's 1986 film, "Labyrinth."

OBITS:

From Deadline: British cinematographer, Roger Pratt, has died at the age of 77, December 2024. Pratt received a "Best Cinematography" Oscar nomination for "The End of the Affair" (1999). Pratt was also the cinematographer for two "Harry Potter" films and for three films by Terry Gilliam, beginning with "Brazil" (1985). His other work includes "Batman" (1989), "Chocolat" (2000), and "Troy" (2004), to name a few.

From Deadline: American singer, songwriter, and musician, Wayne Osmond, has died at the age of 73, Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Along with his brothers: Alan, Merrill, and Jay, he co-founded "The Osmonds," later known as "the Osmond Brothers." He was active from 1962 to 2019. His television appearances include "Donny & Marie" (1976-79), his siblings, Donny and Marie Osmond's ABC variety series.

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

BLAKE LIVELY:

From Deadline: Justin Baldoni, in the middle of legal issues with his "It Ends With Us" co-star, Blake Lively, has added a new front to the war with a strike against Lively's husband, superstar actor and producer Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni says that in Reynolds' recent worldwide hit, "Deadpool & Wolverine," the character, "Nicepool," is based upon him.

From NBCNews: NBC News has a rundown on the events surrounding Blake Lively's civil rights complaint against her "It Ends With Us" co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.

From Variety: "That bitch lied on me!" Bryan Freedman, a lawyer for "It Ends With Us" star and director, Justin Baldoni, and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, fired back at the film's lead actress, Blake Lively’s civil rights complaint against Baldoni in a statement. He called it “shameful” and full of “categorically false accusations.”

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

BOWL SCHEDULE - From YahooSports: Here is your 2024-2024 college football bowl schedule with games, matchups, times, and dates. Most of the games are on ESPN.

It begins with the "Cricket Celebration Bowl" on Saturday, December 14th featuring Jackson State vs South Carolina State at Noon EST on ABC.

The first round of the "College Football Playoff" begins Friday, December 20th with Indiana at Notre Dame at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN.

It all climaxes January 20th, 2025 with the "College Football Playoff National Championship" on ESPN.

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

MOVIE AWARDS:

From AwardsWatch: The winners of the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has taken five awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Brady Corbet), and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 George Film Critics Association (GFCA) Awards have been announced. "Anora" won four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch: The winners of the 2024 Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) EDA Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has won "Best Film."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 DiscussingFilm's Global Film Critics Awards have been announced. "Nickel Boys" won "Best Picture."

From THR: The winners at the 2025 National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) Awards have been announced. "Nickel Boys" has won the award for "Best Picture" of 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA) Awards have been announced. "Conclave" has won three awards, including "Best Narrative Film."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 29th Capri, Hollywood-International Film Festival Awards have been announced. "Emilia Perez" won six awards, including "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Critics Association of Central Florda (CACF) Awards have been announced. "Anora" has been named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Awards have announced. "The Beast" has won "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Bertrand Bonello).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 Nevada Film Critics Society (NFCS) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has taken six awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Brady Corbet), and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody).