Review: 2022 Version of "DEATH ON THE NILE" Is Dark and Edgy on the Nile

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 31 of 2022 (No. 1843) by Leroy Douresseaux

Death on the Nile (2022)
Running time:  127 minutes (2 hours, 7 minutes)
MPA – PG-13 for violence, some bloody images, and sexual material
DIRECTOR: Kenneth Branagh
WRITER: Michael Green (based on the novel by Agathie Christie)
PRODUCERS:  Kenneth Branagh, Mark Gordon, Judy Hofflund, Simon Kinberg, Kevin J. Walsh, and Ridley Scott
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Haris Zambarloukos (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Una Ni Dhonghaile
COMPOSER:  Patrick Doyle

MYSTERY

Starring:  Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Letitia Wright, Sophie Okonedo, Emma Mackey, Rose Leslie, Ali Fazal, Rose Leslie, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, and Naveed Kahn

Death on the Nile is a 2022 mystery film directed by Kenneth Branagh.  It is based on the 1937 novel, Death on the Nile, written by Agatha Christie (1890-1976).  In Death on the Nile the movie, Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of a young heiress that occurs on a ship sailing the Nile

Death on the Nile finds famous detective, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), embarking on a luxurious cruise on the Nile River in Egypt.  Poirot is delighted to discover that his friend, Bouc (Tom Bateman), will also be aboard the ship named the “Karnak.”

Also aboard are the newlyweds:  wealthy heiress, Linnet Ridgeway (Gal Gadot), and her husband, Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer).  While in Egypt on their honeymoon, they are being stalked and hounded by Simon's former fiancé, Jacqueline “Jackie” de Bellefort (Emma Mackey), who was also Linnet's close friend.

When Linnet is found shot to death aboard the Karnak, Jackie is the most obvious culprit, but there are others on board who have reason to want Linnet dead.  There is Linnet's maid, Louise Bourget (Rose Leslie), who was bitter because her mistress sabotaged her engagement.  Linnet's attorney and estate trustee, Andrew Katchadourian (Ali Fazal), was stealing from her, although they were cousins.  Linnet's godmother, Maria van Schuyler (Jennifer Saunders), is a socialist who gave away her wealth, but stands to inherit some of Linnet's estate.  Bowers (Dawn French), van Schuyler's nurse, blamed Linnet's father for financially ruining her family.

Salome Otterbourne (Sophie Okonedo), a brassy blues and jazz singer and guitarist, and Rosalie (Letitia Wright), her niece and manager, were once the target of a racist complaint by Linnet.  However, Rosalie became Linnet's friend in boarding school and admits that there are reasons to both hate and love Linnet.  Dr. Windlesham (Russell Brand) was once engaged to Linnet, but she left him for Simon.  Bouc's mother, Euphemia (Annette Bening), resented Linnet for introducing Bouc to Rosalie.

Poirot must uncover the identity of the killer.  He better hurry because the bodies are starting to pile up.

In this new version of Death on the Nile, there is an attention to detail.  The audience can see it in the lighting, the hair and make-up, the costumes, the art direction, the editing, and the score.  This is also to create Hercule Poirot's world of light and much darkness and shadows.  Early in the film, writer Michael Green and director Kenneth Branagh take us to the World War I life of Poirot, tragedy on the battlefield and off sets the stage for what would become the future great detective's world.  Shadowy nightclubs filled with earthy blues and showy jazz music; sumptuous desserts; lavishly appointed night people; sunny paradises; and exotic locales – everything has a dark side.  It does not matter how golden hued anything is; there is darkness.  Even the dark side has a darker side.

All the performances are topnotch; Branagh even gets a showy transformation from comedian Russell Brand, here, being his best PBS Masterpiece self.  Good acting sells Death on the Nile's central theme that envy, greed, lust, and pride will destroy friends and lovers.  They will even lead to murder most foul, of course.

Branagh takes the cynicism of post-war American Film-Noir and pours it all over Dame Agatha Christie's storytelling.  Rarely has such cinematic beauty dressed so much evil and darkness.  The lovely meets the lethal.

Death on the Nile 2022 starts slow and drags for some time.  For a time, it takes Sophie Okonedo lip-syncing Sister Rosetta Tharpe to give the film early heat.  Linnet Ridgeway's murder, however, lights a fire under Death on the Nile as it moves to its ending of triumphant tragedy.  There is no victory in the resolution of this case – only hurt and grief.  Maybe, hurt and grief are the victors.  The viewers are also victors, as Branagh orchestrates another unique and winning take on the cozy, old mysteries of Agatha Christie.

8 out of 10
A
★★★★ out of 4 stars

Saturday, May 14, 2022


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site or blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).

Review: "SORRY TO BOTHER YOU" is Fresh and Audacious

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 7 of 2022 (No. 1819) by Leroy Douresseaux

Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Running time:  112 minutes (1 hour, 52 minutes)
MPAA – R for pervasive language, some strong sexual content, graphic nudity, and drug use
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Boots Riley
PRODUCERS:  Jonathan Duffy, Charles D. King, George Rush, Forest Whitaker, and Kelly Williams
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Doug Emmett (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Terel Gibson
COMPOSERS:  Tune-Yards: Nate Brenner and Merrill Garbus (score); The Coup (soundtrack)

COMEDY/SCIENCE FICTION

Starring:  LaKeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Harwick, Terry Crews, Kate Berlant, Michael X. Sommers, Robert Longstreet, and Danny Glover, Armie Hammer, and Steven Yeun with Rosario Dawson, Forest Whitaker, David Cross, Lily James, and Patton Oswalt

Sorry to Bother You is a 2018 satirical, science fiction, and black comedy film written and directed by Boots Riley.  The film follows a young African-American telemarketer who discovers the key to professional success and personal wealth, which also propels him into a world of corporate conspiracy and greed.

Sorry to Bother You opens in an alternate version of present-day Oakland, California.  Cassius “Cash” Green (LaKeith Stanfield) is a young African-American man who struggles to be gainfully employed.  He and his girlfriend, Detroit (Tessa Thompson), an artist, live with Cash's uncle, Sergio Green (Terry Crews), specifically in Uncle's Sergio's garage.  Cash learns about a job opportunity at the place of employment of his friend, Salvadore a.k.a. “Sal” (Jermaine Fowler).

Sal works as a telemarketer for a company called “RegalView.”  Cash manages to get a job, and his bosses, Johnny (Michael K. Sommers) and Anderson (Robert Longstreet), emphasize that he must “stick to the script” (S.T.T.P) when making sales calls.  He struggles with the job until an older African-American co-worker, Langston (Danny Glover), tells Cash that he must adopt a “white voice” when making sales calls.  After a few misfires, Cash eventually creates his own “white voice” (spoken by actor David Cross), and it works!  Soon, Cash is so good at selling products to the people he calls that his bosses dub him a “Power Caller.”

Meanwhile, Cash's coworker, Squeeze (Steven Yeun), has formed a union, and now, he wants to recruit Cash, Detroit, and Sal as union activists.  However, Cash is finally making some big money for the first time in his life, and when he moves on up to the luxurious Power Caller suite, he does not want to give that up.  When he starts selling for RegalView's main corporate client, WorryFree, Cash is forced to decide between his friends and selling his soul as part of a terrible corporate conspiracy.

Sorry to Bother You is one of those hybrid comedy film that blends dark humor, satire, science fiction, and adventure in a way that comments on the contemporary times in which the film debuted.  Sorry to Bother You reminds me of films like director Terry Gilliam's Brazil (1985) and director Mike Judge's Idiocracy (2006).  Like those films, Sorry to Bother You eviscerates the power elites and the institutions that guide and even control society.

Like Judge's other satirical film, Office Space (1999), Sorry to Bother You perfectly captures the contemporary landscape of working America:  underpaid workers who are like drones; the difficulties of unionizing workplaces; using promotions to separate workers; pitting workers against each other; middle managers who act like overseers; and a narcissistic ownership class that doesn't know and doesn't want to know anything … that does not get them what they want.

In Sorry to Bother You, writer-director Boots Riley offers a bold vision of today with crazy, twisted apt metaphors that relate to now and to the near-future.  My one quibble with the film is that the characters are not quite one-dimensional, but they do lack true depth.  Steven Yeun adds some bump to his rabble rouser, Squeeze, as does Jermaine Fowler with his character, Sal.  However, it seems as if LaKeith Stanfield as Cash and Tessa Thompson as Detroit use their performances to bring their characters to heights to which the film's script does not aspire.  The film is almost over by the time these characters really start to command and shape the direction of the story, which Riley drives using a complex plot, an involved story line, and lots of amazing ideas.

It is a shame that upon its theatrical release audiences did not watch Sorry to Bother You the way they watched big-tent, event pictures.  At one point in the film, one of the characters in Sorry to Bother You says that when people discover a problem that they can't fix, they ignore it.  Sorry to Bother You doesn't offer easy answers, but it does ask that people get involved … and think.  Sorry to Bother You is as entertaining as most superhero movies, and without being preachy, it also asks the people to be heroes against villains and the injustice they perpetuate.  There are many home entertainment options for audiences to discover this wonderful and relevant movie.

8 of 10
A

Wednesday, February 16, 2022


NOTES:
2019 Black Reel Awards:  3 wins: “Outstanding Screenplay” (Boots Riley), “Outstanding Emerging Director” (Boots Riley), and “Outstanding First Screenplay” (Boots Riley); 4 nominations: “Outstanding Actor” (LaKeith Stanfield), “Outstanding Director” (Boots Riley), “Outstanding Ensemble,” and “Outstanding Costume Design” (Deirdra Elizabeth Govan)

2019 Image Awards (NAACP):  2 nominations: “Outstanding Independent Motion Picture” and “Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)” (Boots Riley)

The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

Review: "The Birth of a Nation" Offers a Counter Narrative

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 2 (of 2018) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

The Birth of a Nation (2016)
Running time:  120 minutes; MPAA – R for disturbing violent content, and some brief nudity
DIRECTOR:  Nate Parker
WRITERS:  Nate Parker; from a story by Nate Parker and Jean McGianni Celestin
PRODUCERS:  Nate Parker, Kevin Turen, Jason Michael Berman, Preston L. Holmes, and Aaron L. Gilbert
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Elliot Davis (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Steven Rosenblum
COMPOSER:  Henry Jackman

HISTORY/DRAMA/BIOGRAPHY

Starring:  Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Penelope Ann Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Mark Boone Junior, Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Aja Naomie King, Esther Scott, Roger Guenveur Smith, Gabrielle Union, Tony Espinosa, Jayson Warner Smith, Jason Stuart, and Chiké Okonkwo

The Birth of a Nation is a 2016 historical film and slave drama from director Nate Parker, who has the film's starring role.  A joint American and Canadian production, The Birth of the Nation is a fictional account and dramatization of the Black American slave Nat Turner (October 2, 1800 – November 11, 1831), his life, and the rebellion of slaves and free Blacks that Turner led in Southampton County, Virginia on August 21, 1831.

The Birth of a Nation takes its name from from D.W. Griffith's 1915 silent movie and KKK propaganda film.  In Birth of a Nation 2016, Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher in the antebellum South, orchestrates an uprising.  The film received some of its financing from professional basketball players and NBA stars Michael Finley and Tony Parker.  Among the film's executive producers are Oscar-winning filmmaker, Edward Zwick (Shakespeare in Love), and screenwriter and director David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight and Blade film franchises).

The Birth of a Nation opens in the antebellum South, where Elizabeth Turner (Penelope Ann Miller) teaches a Black child slave, Nat (Tony Espinosa), to read.  Years later, Nat Turner (Nate Parker) is not only a field slave (picking cotton), but he is also a literate slave preacher.  A friend tells Nat's White slave owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), that other White slave owners need something to suppress their Black slaves, whom they believe to be unruly, disobedient, and indignant.  That friend suggests that Nat's preaching, popular with many of the slaves, could earn the financially strained Turner money from owners that want a slave preacher who can preach their slaves into submission.

As he travels with his owner, however, Nat sees countless atrocities committed by White masters against their Black slaves, many of the same that are committed against himself and the slaves at Turner's and other plantations.  Seeing himself as God's chosen instrument of freedom, Nat gathers trusted followers and prepares for a sign to lead a rebellion.

The 21st century has seen a rise in the number of African-Americans and people of color behind the camera in the American film industry.  The result is two great American films about slavery, one being the “Best Picture” Oscar-winner, 12 Years a Slave.  A second is The Birth of a Nation from writer-director Nate Parker.  However, this film was overshadowed by Parker's past (alleged rape charges that led to a trial in which Parker was acquitted – 1999 to 2001).

It is a shame that controversy overshadowed a film that is one of best of the decade, but it is also a truly unique film.  There are many powerful performances in this film:  Parker as Nat Turner, Penelope Ann Miller as Elizabeth Turner; Aunjanue Ellis as Nancy Turner; Aja Naomi King as Cherry Turner; Esther Scott as Bridget Turner; and Colman Domingo as Hark Turner.

For all those fine performances, what makes The Birth of the Nation 2016 unique is that it is like a folk tale or a fairy tale, as much as it is a period drama or biographical film.  Parker and Jean McGianni Celestin, who co-wrote the film's story, seem to approach Nat Turner as both a figure of history and of myth.  African-Americans, Black slaves, and White people (slave owners and otherwise) had and have different interpretations of Turner and his rebellion.

Thus, The Birth of the Nation 2016 clearly demarcates the line between good and evil; kindness and hate; and good and greed.  However, the righteousness of, the success of, and/or the meaning of Nat Turner's actions and his rebellion are left up to interpretation.  One can say the same about this film because it is a bold vision that demands the viewer grapple beyond viewing it as entertainment or as a pastime.  It is a story about the story of our nation, the good ol' U.S. of A, and how one sees the nations will affect how one views this film.

This film is built on powerful visuals that tell the story, more than it is the script that tells the story.  The visuals are not about sensation, but are about narrative.  The Birth of a Nation 2016 is a counter-myth to the story of the United States of America.

9 of 10
A+

Friday, January 5, 2018


NOTES:
2017 Black Reel Awards:  6 nominations: “Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture” (Nate Parker), “Outstanding Director, Motion Picture” (Nate Parker), “Outstanding Screenplay, Motion Picture” (Nate Parker), “Outstanding Ensemble” (Andrea Craven, Craig Fincannon, Lisa Mae Fincannon, Mary Vernieu, and Michelle Wade Byrd), “Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female” (Aja Naomi King), and “Outstanding Score” (Henry Jackman)

2017 Image Awards:  6 nominations:  “Outstanding Motion Picture,” “Outstanding Independent Motion Picture,” “Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture” (Nate Parker), “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Aja Naomi King), “Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture-Film” (Nate Parker), and “Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture-Film” (Nate Parker)


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from November 19th to 25th, 2017 - Update #32

Support Leroy on Patreon.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  "Coco" pushing past "Justice League" at holiday box office.

----------
POLITICS - From WashPost:  The complete list of President Trump and the women accusing him of sexual misconduct. [I think they may have missed some. - Ed.]

----------
FOOD - From NPR:  What The Industry Knew About Sugar's Health Effects, But Didn't Tell Us

----------
MOVIES - From IndieWire:  First footage from "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," features Chris Pratt playing with a baby raptor.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap:  Jude Law will play the male lead in Marvel's "Captain Marvel" opposite Brie Larson as Captain Marvel.  Law's specific role is unknown.

----------
BLM - From Newsweek:  Three years ago a Cleveland police officer killed a Black boy who had a toy gun.  Newsweek takes a look at that toy.

----------
MUSIC - From YahooMusic:  On the 20th anniversary of his passing, here are six songs inspired by the death of INXS lead singer, the late Michael Hutchence.

----------
PIXAR - From THR:  Pixar boss John Lasseter becomes the latest boss man who has to disappear because of his sexually abusive behavior.

----------
AWARDS - From TheWrap:  Producers Guild names its nominees for best nonfiction (or documentary) films of 2017.

From TheWrap:  2017 NAACP Image Award nominees announced.

----------
HOLOCAUST - From YahooNews:  102-year-old Holocaust survivor who thought his entire family died meets nephew he didn't know existed.

-----------
AWARDS - From TheWrap:  2017-18 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations have been announced.

----------
CRIME:  From TheNewYorker:  A former journalist has created "The Serial-Killer Detector."

----------
COMICS-FILM - From YahooEntertainment:  Marvel "Runaways" debuts on the streaming service, Hulu, today.  Yahoo critic Ken Tucker reviews the early episodes of the series.

----------
SCANDAL - From YahooNews:  CBS fires veteran television news host and interviewer Charlie Rose, in the wake of sexual misconduct accusations made against him in a Washington Post article.  Rose was a correspondent for the venerable TV news show, "60 Minutes" and hosted its weekday morning news, "CBS This Morning."

----------
BLM - From YahooNews:  Ex-cop Shannon Kepler, who abandoned his daughter and then shot her African-American boyfriend to death, gets 15 years in prison for the shooting.

----------
SCANDAL - From WashPost:  Exalted television news host and celebrity interviewer, Charlie Rose, has been accused of sexual harassment by eight women.  Rose's various gigs have been suspended or shut down.

----------
MOVIES - From IndieWire:  "Vanity Fair" has plot details about Quentin Tarantino's next film (referred to as "#9").

----------
SCANDAL - From EW:  Armie Hammer called out what he perceives as a double standard in the way eventual Oscar winner Casey Affleck and Nate Parker, whose Oscar hopes were dashed, were treated in the wake of past sexual misconduct against each man being revived.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 11/17 to 11/19/2017 weekend box office is Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment's "Justice League" with an estimated take of $96 million.

From WeGotThisCovered:  "Thor: Ragnarok" rocks past $700 million in worldwide box office.

----------
SCANDAL - From TheGuardian:  Harvey Weinstein had a secret hit list that he was going to use to quash or manage his sex scandal.

----------
CIVIL RIGHTS - From CNN:  Jesse Jackson has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

From YahooNews:  This article looks at the many roles of Rev. Jesse Jackson.  Jackson announced on Friday, Nov. 17th that he has been treated for Parkinson's disease for the past two years.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  "Justice League" opens with $96 million in box office, about $14 million less than forecasts.

From TheWrap:  DC Comics film fans want a release of "Justice League" that is original director Zach Snyder's cut of the film.  Snyder left the film earlier this year after the sudden death of his daughter.  Joss Whedon finished the film, also doing some reshoots.

----------
TERROR - From Alternet:  Area north of Denver, Colorado rocked by terror attack in Walmart.

----------
POLITICS - From ALdotcom:  Said in defense of Alabama U.S. Senate candidate "Judge" Roy Moore, "More women are sexual predators than men."

----------
TELEVISION - From YahooTV:  Highlights from Chance the Rapper hosting "Saturday Night Live," on November 18, 2017.

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  Sony Pictures wins domestic and international distribution rights to next film, his ninth which is due in 2019.

----------
CULTURE - From TheNewYorker:  "How to Get Rich Playing Video Games Online"

OBITS:

From THR:  Former teen idol, recording star, and actor, David Cassidy, has died at the age of 67, Tuesday, November 21, 2017.  Cassidy arose to fame in the early 1970s playing "Keith Partridge" on the ABC series, "The Partridge Family" (1970-74) about a suburban family that doubled as a pop music band.  After the show, Cassidy continued a successful recording career, and was a huge concert draw in the 1970s.  He remained a popular concert attraction later in life.

From the NewEnglandPatriots:  Former NFL wide receiver, Terry Glenn, died at the age of 43, Monday morning, November 20, 2017.  Glenn played his first six seasons with the Patriots and caught Tom Brady's first touchdown pass.  Glenn spent one year with the Green Bay Packers and the last five years of his career with the Dallas Cowboys.

From PEOPLE:  Actress and music legend Della Reese has died at the age of 86, Sunday, November 19, 2017.  Reese was best known for her playing "Tess" on "Touched by an Angel," for which she earned two Emmy Award nominations.  Reese also released several albums and hit songs and was nominated for three Grammy Awards.

From YahooNews:  Notorious cult leader and mass murder, Charles Manson, has died at the age of 83, Sunday, November 19, 2017.  A hippie cult leader, Manson orchestrated the gruesome murder of seven people including actress Sharon Tate, and his ugly mug became the face of evil in America.

From THR:  The actor Earle Hyman has died at the age 91, Friday, November 17, 2017.  The classically trained and admired actor of stage, television, and film may have been best known for playing "Russell Huxtable," the father of Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show."  He was also the voice of "Panthro" on the 1980s animated series, "ThunderCats."

From RollingStone:  Country music singer and songwriter, Mel Tillis, died at the age of 85, Sunday, November 19, 2017.  He was the "CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1976 and he is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

From Deadline:  The actress Ann Wedgeworth has died at the age of 83, Thursday, November 16, 2017.  She was known to generations of TV viewers as the lusty divorce, Lana Shields, in "Three's Company."  She appeared in numerous TV shows, including "Evening Shade" and the soap opera, "The Edge of Night."  Wedgeworth won a Tony Award for her role in "Neil Simon's Chapter Two."

From WashPost:  Edward S. Herman, a media critic and economist, died at the age of 92, Saturday, November 11, 2017.  He co-wrote the book, "Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media" (1988) with scholar and political activist, Noam Chomsky.