Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama 2022 - Update #94

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

TRAILERS AND TEASERS:

From THR:   New "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" trailer with more Namor and a closer look at a new Black Panther.

From Marvel:  New trailer (5/24/2022) and poster for "Thor: Love & Thunder."

From MovieWeb:   Here is the first teaser trailer for "Thor: Love & Thunder" (4/18/2022).

From YouTube:  The first official trailer for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" (2/13/2022)

From YouTube:  First official trailer for Disney+/Marvel's "Moon Knight."

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

MARVEL NEWS:

WAKANDA FOREVER - From NBCNews:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" actor Tenoch Huerta has been named as one of nine "breakthrough entertainers" of 2022 by the Associated Press.  Huerta plays the character "Namor."

From GeeksofColor:  Actors Tenoch Huerta and Mabel Cadena talk "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," representation and their hopes for a Namor movie in an interview with "Geeks of Color."  Huerta plays "Namor" in the film, while Cadena plays "Namora."

BLADE - From THR:  Yenn Demange, who directed the pilot for HBO's "Lovecraft Country," will reportedly direct Marvel Studios' "Blade" film.  Emmy-nominated writer, Michael Starrbury ("When They See Us"), is reportedly the film's screenwriter.

WAKANDA FOREVER - From Variety:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" leads the domestic box office with an $180 million opening and a $300 million global opening.

From EW:   Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o says that it was a dream come true to speak Spanish in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

From IndieWire:  Director Ryan Coogler says that Warner Bros.' "Aquaman" paved the way for Namor in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

From Variety:  Director Ryan Coogler talks about his future with Marvel and with the world of "Black Panther."  Marvel boss Kevin Feige also talks about Coogler's future.

From Deadline:  "Wakanda Forever" ticket pre-sales are 20 percent behind "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."

IRONHEART - From CBR:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" will lead directly into the Disney+ series, "Ironheart," which act as a sequel to Wakanda Forever, according to writer-producer Nate Moore.

WAKANDA FOREVER - From Inverse:  Director Ryan Coogler talks about what was in the script for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" before the death of star Chadwick Boseman. For one thing, Coogler says it was "Endgame-centric."

WONDER MAN - From Variety:   Emmy-winner Yahya Adbul-Mateen II (HBO's "Watchmen") is reportedly going to play the lead, "Simon Williams/Wonder Man" in Marvel Studios' Disney+ series, "Wonder Man."

VISION QUEST - From Deadline:   The site is reporting that Marvel Studios is developing another "WandaVision" spinoff for Disney+.  "Vision Quest" would focus on the Vision's quest to regain his memory and humanity and will star Paul Bettany.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - From THR:  The teaser trailer for "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special" features a surprise appearance by Kevin Bacon.  The special, which arrives on Disney+ November 25th, will close out "Phase 4" of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

HARRISON FORD - From Deadline:   It is apparently official that Harrison Ford will replace the late William Hurt in the Marvel Cinematic Universe role of "General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross."  He is scheduled to debut in the role in the 2024 film, "Captain America: The New World Order."

BLADE - From THR:   Marvel Studios has delayed the release of its "Blade" film from Nov. 2023 to Sept. 2024 in order to find a director and to develop the screenplay.

WAKANDA FOREVER - From Deadline:   "Black Panther" and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"" director Ryan Coogler says he almost quit "Wakanda Forever" and filmmaking after the death of "Black Panther" star, Chadwick Boseman.

AVENGERS - From Deadline:  "Loki" and "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer, Michael Waldron, will writer "Avengers: Secret Wars."

ARMOR WARS - From Variety:  Marvel Studios' planned Disney+ series, "Armor Wars," is being redeveloped as a movie.  Don Cheadle will remain as the film's leading, playing the character James "Rhodey" Rhodes a.k.a. "War Machine."

BLADE - From Variety:  Bassam Tariq has quit as director of Marvel's planned 2023 "Blade" film.  He will remain as an "executive producer."

WAKANDA FOREVER - From THR:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" will have a running time of two hours and 41 minutes, 26 minutes longer than the original film.  That will make it the second longest Marvel Studios film, behind "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), which was three hours and 1 minute long.

BLACK PANTHER - From Empire:  Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige explains why they did not recast the role of T'Challa/Black Panther in the wake of star Chadwick Boseman's death.  "It just felt like it was much too son to recast."

FANTASTIC FOUR - From Deadline:  Sources tell "Deadline" that Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer are writing Marvel Studios' "Fantastic Four" film, which is scheduled for release late in 2024.

AVENGERS - From Deadline:  Jeff Loveness, who recently wrote "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," will reportedly write "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty," which is due May 2, 2025.

THUNDERBOLTS - From Variety:  At D23, Marvel Studios reveals cast members of its July 2024 film, "Thunderbolts," which include Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, to name a few.

CHADWICK BOSEMAN - From THR:  At Saturday's "Creative Arts Emmy," the late actor Chadwick Boseman posthumously won an Emmy Award.  The late "Black Panther" star won in the "outstanding character voice-over performance" for his role as "Star-Lord T’Challa" in the “What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?” episode of the Disney+ Marvel Studios animated series, "What If...?"  This is Boseman's first Emmy nomination and win.

WONDER MAN - From Deadline:  Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley played a character called "The Mandarin" in "Iron Man 3" (2013), but he turned out to be an actor named "Trevor Slattery," who appeared in "Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." Slattery is slated to return in the Marvel Studios Disney+ series, "Wonder Man."

FANTASTIC FOUR - From THR:  The site is reporting that according to sources, Matt Shakman, the veteran TV director who directed "WandaVision" is in early talks to direct Marvel Studios' "Fantastic Four" film, which is due in late 2024.

MARK RUFFALO - From Variety:  Mark Ruffalo Defends Marvel Output: ‘You Get the Same Version’ of ‘Star Wars’ Every Time, But Not the MCU

AVENGERS - From THR:  The site is reporting that Marvel Studios' "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty" will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who also directed "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."

SDCC - From IGN:  This article has "everything announced at the Marvel Studios San Diego Comic-Con 2022 Panel."

SDCC - From Marvel:  At Comic-Con, "Marvel Studios Animation Panel" reveals four upcoming Disnty+ animated series, "What If...?" (Season 2), "Marvel Zombies," "X-Men 97," and the surprise, "Spider-Man: Freshman Year."  Plus, there was some info on the "I Am Groot" shorts.

From Polygon:  What to expect from Marvel Studios' Saturday, July 23rd Comic-Con panel.

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

BLACK PANTHER - From Deadline:  Actor Daniel Kaluuya won't reprise his "Black Panther" role as "W'Kabi" in the sequel, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

PRIMETIME EMMYS - From Variety:  Marvel Studios series:  "Hawkeye," "Loki," "Moon Knight," and "What If..." pick up multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations.  Eligible shows aired between June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER - From THR:  "Thor: Love and Thunder" director Taika Waititi says that there won't be a "director's cut" of the film because he says that scenes are cut because "they suck."

MS MARVEL - From THR:   "Ms. Marvel" director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy talks about the big twist in the next-to-last episode and about the part the real-world "partition of India" played in recent episodes.

CAPTAIN AMERICA 4 - From THR:  Nigerian-American filmmaker, Julius Onah, will direct "Captain America 4," which will star Anthony Mackie as Captain America.

ECHO - From THR:  Two actors from Netflix/Marvel's "Daredevil" will appear in the Disney+ Marvel Studios series, "Echo."  Charlie Cox ("Matt Murdoch/Daredevil") and Vincent D'Onofrio ("Wilson Fisk/Kingpin") will join the series that is due in 2023.

FUTURE - From THR:  Actor Taron Egerton has met with Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, and Taron wants to be the new Wolverine.

THOR LOVE AND THUNDER - From Variety:  Early reviews and reactions are in for "Thor: Love & Thunder," which is due July 8th.

KEVIN FEIGE - From GamesRadar:  In an interview with "Total Film" magazine, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige says that the fate of "Phase 4" will be revealed in the "coming months."

WONDER MAN - From THR:  Destin Daniel Cretton, the director of "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," and Andrew Guest, a writer-producer of sitcoms "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Community," are developing a TV series based on the Marvel Comics' character, "Wonder Man."

IRONHEART - From Deadline:  The Disney+ Marvel Studios series, "Ironheart," has begun filming and Manny Montana ("Good Girls") has joined the cast a series regular opposite the series star, Dominique Thorne.  

THUNDERBOLTS - From Deadline:  Marvel Studios has chosen Jake Schreier as the director for its top secret "Thunderbolts" movie project.

GotG VOL 3 - From Deadline:  Daniela Melchior, who was a breakout star in director James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad" will have a small role in Gunn's "Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3."

DAREDEVIL - From Variety:  The site is reporting that Marvel Studios is moving forward with a Disney+ "Daredevil" series by hiring Matt Corman and Chris Ord to write and executive produce.

ECHO - From Marvel:  Production has begun on the 2023 Disney+ Marvel Studios series, "Echo."

DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS:

From ComicBook:  Michael Waldron, the writer of "Doctor Strange 2," talks about the future of Stephen Strange.

From Variety:  An article about why "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" should have been rated "R" by the MPA (formerly MPAA) instead of the "PG-13" rating it does have. [I'm not interested in this conversation, but you might be, dear readers.]

From THR:  "Doctor Strange 2" has a $185 million domestic opening weekend and a $450 global opening at the box office.

From Variety:  Every shocking cameo in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."

From Variety:  "Doctor Strange" star Elizabeth Olsen says that fellow Marvel star, Scarlett Johansson ("Black Widow"), taught her how to be a superhero.

From THR:  Actors Benedict Wong ('Wong") and Xochitl Gomez ("America Chavez") discuss their onscreen partnership and off screen friendship in "Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness."

From Marvel:  Marvel.com interviews "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" actress, Xochitl Gomez ("America Chavez").

From ComicBook:  Marvel Studios executive, Victoria Alonso, speaks out about LGBTQ+ character, "America Chavez," from "Doctor Strange" in the wake of the film being banned in some backwards nations.

From WeGotThisCovered:  Actress Xochitl Gomez reveals her shock at being cast as "America Chavez" in the upcoming "Doctor Strange" sequel.

From THR:  Marvel Studios' upcoming blockbuster, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," has been banned in Saudi Arabia.  Speculation is that it is because of the inclusion of an LGBTQ+ character, "America Chavez."

From WeGotThisCovered:  Director Sam Raimi, best known for his "Spider-Man" trilogy and for his "Evil Dead" trilogy, says that "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" has "flavors of horror."

FUTURE - From Variety:  Marvel Studios' "The Marvels" and "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" have switched release dates.  The "Ant-Man" sequel will now move up to Feb. 17, 2023 and "The Marvels" will move back to July 28, 2023.

KEVIN FEIGE - From IGN:   Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige says that Marvel's leadership will have its first retreat in three years in order to plan out the next 10 years of Marvel films.

THOR LOVE & THUNDER - From TheDirect:  Chris Hemsworth kicks off the promotion for "Thor: Love & Thunder" ahead of a trailer release.

DOCTOR STRANGE - From Deadline:  Marvel Studios has released four new images from "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."

NOVA - From Deadline:  The site exclusively reports that Marvel Studios is developing a project involving the character, Nova, with "Moon Knight" writer, Sabir Pirzada.

SECRET INVASION - From ThePlaylist:  "Secret Invasion" star Samuel L. Jackson has apparently confirmed that Don Cheadle as "War Machine" and Martin Freeman as "Everett Ross" will appear in the series.

OBIT - From Deadline:  Oscar-winning actor William Hurt has died at the age of 71.  Hurt played Marvel Cinematic Universe character, Thaddeus Ross, in five films, beginning with "The Incredible Hulk" (2008) and most recently in "Black Widow" (2021).  Hurt won a "Best Actor" Oscar for his performance in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1985).

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL - From THR:  Oscar-winning film composer Michael Giacchino is directing Marvel Studios' untitled Halloween special for Disney+.

DEADPOOL 3 - From Deadline:  Shawn Levy is reportedly in negotiations to direct "Deadpool 3," which reunite him with his "Free Guy" star, Ryan Reynolds.

DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From ComicBook:  Marvel Studios has revealed the "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" covers for "Empire Magazine."

BLACK PANTHER - From Deadline:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" director Ryan Coogler was handcuffed and briefly detained by Atlanta police at a bank on January 7, 2022 after a bank employee mistook his written request for a $12,000 cash withdrawal as a robbery attempt.

THE FUTURE - From GQUK:  British "GQ" takes a look at upcoming Marvel Studios film and TV projects.

BLACK PANTHER - From BlackEnterprise:  The 53rd NAACP Image Awards honored Ruth E. Carter with the Vanguard Award for Costume Design.  This is the first time that the Image Awards have honored a costume designer.  Carter is was Oscar-nominated for her work on "Malcolm X" (1992) and "Amistad" (1997). Carter on an "Best Costume Design" Oscar in 2019 for "Black Panther" (2018), the first African-American to win the award.

BLADE - From Deadline:  The site is reporting that actor Aaron Pierre, who played rapper "Mid-Sized Sedan" in last year's "Old," will co-star in Marvel Studios' "Blade" film with star, Mahershala Ali.

LOKI - From Deadline:   The site is reporting that Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead will direct a six-episode second season of the Disney+/Marvel Studios hit streaming series, "Loki."

SPIDER-MAN - From Deadline:  "Spider-Man: No Way Home" passes "Avatar" at the all-time domestic box office.

MOON KNIGHT - From EmpireOnline:  When it comes to the depiction of brutality in the Disney+/Marvel Studios series, "Moon Knight," Marvel president Kevin Feige says that they did not pull back.

IRONHEART - From Deadline:  Sources say that actor Anthony Ramos ("In the Heights") is set for a key role in the Disney+/Marvel Studios series, "Ironheart," which will star Dominique Thorne as "Riri Williams/Ironheart." His character will reportedly appear in other Marvel productions.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME - From THR:  In an interview about his upcoming film, "Uncharted," and about "Spider-Man: No Way Home," Tom Holland also talks about the scene in "No Way Home" that made him, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire cry.

From THR:  Charlie Cox, who played Matt Murdoch/Daredevil on Netflix/Marvel's "Daredevil," spills the secrets about his return in "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and about a dinner with Andrew Garfield.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - From Deadline:   Writer-director James Gunn says that "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3" will be the last time the current Guardians team is seen.  The film is due May 5, 2023.

DOCTOR STRANGE 2 - From Variety:  Sam Raimi, director of "Doctor Strange in the Madness of the Multiverse," says that "Marvel's been a great team to work with" and "I've been super-supported by the whole Marvel operations..."

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME - From Deadline:  This link will take you to complete and revised final script for "Spider-Man: No Way Home" in PDF form.  The title page reads "Serenity Now."

From Deadline:  Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield unite again to talk about playing Spider-Man and why "No Way Home" was such an emotional experience.

From Variety:  Jon Watts, director of "Spider-Man: No Way Home," talks more secrets about the film in an article that pushed for the film to get Oscar nominations.

MOON KNIGHT - EW:  Gaspard Ulliel, the French actor who was set to star as "Anton Mogart / Midnight Man" in the Disney+ series, "Moon Knight," has died at the age of 37 after "suffering serious brain trauma" following a ski accident.

BLACK PANTHER 2 - From THR:  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is ready to resume film because actress Letitia Wright ("Shuri") has recovered from the injury she suffered on set last August (2021).

From WeGotThisCovered:  Actor Winston Duke has reportedly negotiated a "hefty" pay raise because his "Black Panther" character, "M'Baku," has a much expanded role in the sequel film, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

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

MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE (MCU):

Review: Iron Man (2008)

Review: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Review: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Review: Thor (2011)

Review:  Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Review:  Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

Review: Iron Man 3 (2013)

Review: Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Review:  Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Review: Ant-Man (2015)

Review: Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Review: Doctor Strange (2016)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Review:  Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Review: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Review:  Black Panther (2018)

Review:  Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Review:  Captain Marvel (2019)

Review: Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Review:  Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Review: Black Widow (2021)

Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Review: Eternals (2021)

Review: Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Review: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Review: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

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

Click here for the 2021 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2020 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2019 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2018 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

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

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).

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 1st to 10th, 2022 - Update #20

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

D23 - From TheWrap:  "Indiana Jones 5" trailer brings down the house at D23, Sat., Sept 10th.

From Variety:  At the Disney Legends Award Ceremony at the D23 Expo on Friday, Sept. 9th, the late actor, Chadwick Boseman, was officially named a "Disney Legend."  His brother, Derrick Boseman, gave an emotional acceptance speech.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Former Disney boss, Robert "Bob" Iger, predicts a reckoning for streaming services, the death of linear and satellite TV, and a "smaller and scarred" movie industry.

AMAZON - From THR:  The cast of Prime Video’s "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is united in speaking out about racist threats that  non-white performers from the show have apparently faced.

OBAMAS - From CNN:  Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama's official White House portraits were unveiled during an emotional ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.

SCANDAL - From TheWrap:  If you are interested, the site has a timeline and explanation of the drama behind the upcoming film, "Don't Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde and starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles.

From Variety:  Connected to "Don't Worry Darling," Harry Styles addresses the story that he spit on co-star Chris Pine during an interview.

CELEBRITY - From Variety:  Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence talks motherhood, the Hollywood pay gap, and falling out with her "Republican family" over the fall of "Roe v. Wade."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 9/2 to 9/4/2022 weekend box office is Sony/Marvel Studios' re-release, "Spider-Man: No Way Home," with an estimated take of 6 million dollars.

From Here:  The Negromancer review of "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

From Variety:  "Top Gun: Maverick" has passed "Black Panther" has the fifth-highest grossing film in North America.

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

EMMY AWARDS - From THR:  Creative Arts Emmys: Night 1 (Sat., Sept. 3rd) - A winner's list

From THR:  At Saturday's "Creative Emmy Arts," former President Barack Obama won his first Emmy. It was in the category "Outstand Narration" for "A World of Wonder" episode of "Our Great National Parks."  Obama is the second U.S. President to win an Emmy, but the first to win in a competitive category. Dwight D. Eisenhower won the "Governor's Award" in 1956.

From THR:  The Disney+ live-action/animation hybrid film, "Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers," won the Emmy Award for "outstanding television movie"  during the second night of the 2022 Creative Arts Emmys.

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

MOVIES - From VanityFair:  The site has a Fall 2022 movie preview guide with  "34 Films to Watch Out For"

CELEBRITY - From GQUK:  British comedy and television legend, Lenny Henry, talks about becoming a major player in fantasy streaming series, like Netflix's "The Sandman" and Amazon's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power."

FILM FESTIVALS - From Variety:  At the 79th Venice Film Festival, director Todd Field's "Tar," which stars Cate Blanchett gets a six-minute standing ovation.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  MGM has bought the Miramax film project, "The Beekeeper," from director David Ayer ("Suicide Squad") and starring Jason Statham.  It will begin filming in late September and the entire cast has not been finalized.

OBITS:

From BBC:  The Queen of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II, has died at the age of 96, Thursday, September 8, 2022.  Born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of the House of Windsor, Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning British monarch (70 years and 214 days) and second longest recorded of a monarch of a sovereign nation.  Her son, Charles Philip Arthur George, is now Charles III, King of the United Kingdom and of the Commonwealth realm.

From BBC:  Queen Elizabeth II - a life in pictures.

From TheNewYorkTimes:  American journalist and television anchorman, Bernard Shaw, has died at the age of 82, Wednesday, September 7, 2022.  Shaw was the founding anchor of CNN, being the lead anchor from 1980 until his retirement in March 2001.  Shaw was also a former U.S. Marine who served during the Vietnam War.

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

BRITTNEY GRINER:

From TheDailyBeast:   Legendary NBA bad boy and champion (Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls), Dennis Rodman claims that he has been given permission to go to Russia and help free imprisoned hostage, WNBA star, Brittney Griner.

From Vox:  Vox's Jonathan Guyer talks the Brittney Griner case with Danielle Gilbert, a Dartmouth professor who is writing a book about states and rogue actors that take hostages.

From ESPN:   A Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison Thursday, Aug. 4th.  Griner was arrested Feb. 17 for bringing cannabis into the country and pleaded guilty July 7, though the case continued under Russian law.

From ESPN:  The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

From RSN:  "Will Support From LeBron James, Joe Rogan, Kim Kardashian, and Other Celebrities Help Free Brittney Griner From a Russian Prison?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar via Substack

From ESPN:  Detained WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty on Thursday to bringing hashish oil into Russia, telling a judge that she had done so "inadvertently" while asking the court for mercy.

From CBSSports:  The Brittney Griner situation explained.

From RSN:  According to The Washington Post Editorial Board: "Brittney Griner is a hostage, plain and simple."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from June 26th to 30th, 2022 - Update #18

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Cameron Diaz retired from acting in 2018, but now she is coming out of retirement to star with Jamie Foxx in the Netflix action-comedy, "Back in Action."

JAMES BOND - From Deadline:  "James Bond" producer Barbara Broccoli has revealed that it will be “at least two years“ before the next 007 movie begins filming and that the task of finding an actor to replace Daniel Craig hasn’t begun “because it’s a reinvention of Bond.”

SCANDAL - From Deadline:  The Grammy-winning recording artist, R. Kelly, was sentenced at a Brooklyn, NYC federal court to 30 years on nine counts of sex trafficking and racketeering.

CELEBRITY - From ScreenGeek:  "Jurassic World" star Chris Pratt says that some online commentary about him has made him cry.

CHADWICK BOSEMAN - From RadarOnline:  "Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman died without a will.  His widow, Simone Ledward Boseman, has asked that the late actor's estate be divided evenly betweeen her and Boseman's parents.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  An array of British acting talent will appear in the period thriller, "The Critic," including Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, and Mark Strong, to name a few.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Alex Wagner will take over Rachel Maddow's coveted 9 p.m. spot on MSNBC beginning Aug. 16th.  "The Rachel Maddow Show" is currently only appearing on Monday nights.  The name for Wagner's show is to be determined.

CELEBRITY - From Variety:  Controversial Oscar-nominee Alec Baldwin will interview controversial multiple Oscar winner Woody Allen.  The interview will appear on Instagram live Tues., June 28th at 10:30 a.m. EST.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  As the final numbers role in, "Elvis" is the winner of the 6/24 to 6/26/2022 weekend box office with a take of 31.1 million dollars over 29.6 million dollars for "Top Gun: Maverick."

From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 6/24 to 6/26/2022 weekend box office is thus far a tie, according to early estimates.  New film, Elvis, and former champ, "Top Gun: Maverick," have both grossed 30.5 million dollars.

From TheWrap:  "Top Gun: Maverick" has become the first Tom Cruise movie to surpass the billion dollar mark at the worldwide box office office.

From Variety: The box office is back, and movie theaters are feeling confident.

AWARDS - From Deadline: The winners of at the BET Awards 2022 were announced last night, Sun., June 26th.  "Silk Sonic" (Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak) let all winners.

POLITICS - From YahooHuffPost:  Actor and international movie star, Samuel L. Jackson, rips Supreme Coon ... I mean ... Court Justice Clarence Thomas over his hypocrisy on Roe v. Wade and interracial marriage.

EMMYS - From Deadline:  The winners at the 2022 / 49th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced Fri., June 24th, streaming on Paramount+.  ABC's "General Hospital" won "Outstanding Daytime Drama."

From Deadline:  Mishael Morgan becomes the first Black woman to win win "Outstand Lead Actress" at the Daytime Emmys by winning  "Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama, Actress" at the 49th Daytime Emmy Awards (Fri., June 24th) for her role as "Amanda Sinclair" on "The Young and the Restless."

MOVIES - From BBC:   "'Full Metal Jacket' and Kubrick: The Ultimate Anti-War Films" - a look the anti-war themes in the films of the late director, Stanley Kubrick.

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

ROE V. WADE - From NPR:  The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has overturned "Roe v. Wade."  It's gone, boo.

From TheRoot:  During a re-election really with Donald Trump, Congresswoman Mary Miller said that the overturning of "Roe v. Wade" a "historic victory for white life." [Sometimes, they tell you who they are - Leroy]

From GoogleDocs:  "Roe v. Wade": What you can do.

From RSNNewYorker:  We're not going back to the time before Roe. We're going somewhere worse.

From RSNVanityFair:  Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Stephen Breyer's wrote a withering dissent to the court's conservative majority. Their conclusion: this opinion is "the curtailment of women's rights, and of their status as free and equal citizens."

From Truthout:  Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass) led a group of 20 Black Congresswomen who urged President Biden to to take urgent action to protect abortion rights.

From GuardianUK:  "'Fewer Rights Than Their Grandmothers': Read Three Justices' Searing Abortion Dissent"

UVALDE, TEXAS MASS SHOOTING:

From YahooAP:  An 18-year-old gunman slaughtered 19 children and two teachers on Tues., May 24th, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas.  All 21 victims were in the same 4th grade classroom at Robb Elementary.

From TheDailyBeast:  Texas's top law enforcement official, Department of Public Safety Director Steve McGraw, has said that the school shooter in Uvalde, Texas could have been taken down in three minutes.

From TheDailyBeast:  Police officers responding to last month’s mass shooting at an Uvalde, Texas, elementary school never even tried to open the door to the classroom where young children were trapped with the gunman, according to a new report. 

From Jacobin:  "The Uvalde Massacre has exposed the lies that once justified police militarization" by Branko Marcetic

From Truthout:  We don’t need more evidence that police can’t be trusted.

From Truthout:   44 percent of GOP voters view mass shootings as part of living in “Free Society”

From ABCNews:  Arnulfo Reyes, a teacher who survived the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, calls the local police "cowards" because of slow response to an active shooter at his school, Robb Elementary.  All of 11 students in his class were killed.

From DallasNews:  Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, one of the two teachers killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, has died of a heart attack two days after the murder of his wife.  They had been married for 24 years and had been high school sweethearts.

From Axios:  Texas gubernatorial candidate, Beto O'Rourke, interrupted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's gaslighting press conference on the Uvalde elementary school mass shooting.

From USAToday:  Beto O'Rourke's outburst at Gov. Greg Abbott's Uvalde news conference shows the spine Democrats need.

From BostonGlobe:  Steve Kerr, head coach of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, asks "When are we going to do something?"

From NBCNews:  A Robb Elementary teacher describes "the longest 35 minutes of my life" and the terror she now feels.

From NBCNews:  The Uvalde school district had an extensive safety plan, but 19 children were killed at Robb Elementary anyway.  Even security plans that appear to be up to the latest research-based standards may have gaps and fall short of preventing the worst-case scenario, experts said.

From MSN:  Angeli Rose Gomez, the mother who was handcuffed outside Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, was able to get inside the school and rescue her two children.

From YahooNews:   Daniel Defense, the maker of the rifles used by the Uvalde massacre killer, has used "incendiary ads" in the past, including one in which a toddler holds one of its rifles.

From TheIntercept:  The police aren't obligated to protect anyone NOT in their custody, as the Supreme Court has ruled twice.

From RollingStone:  Right wing lies about the Second Amendment and why they tell them are killing America's childrne.

From Vice:  The law enforcement personnel in Texas that arrived at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas on Tues., May 24th did the opposite of what their own training documentary videos show.

From Vox:  Uvalde police keep changing their story.

From TheDailyBeast:  The families in Uvalde, Texas who lost loved one in the Robb Elementary massacre say that the cops there are "Nothing more than cowards" and that they need to pay for doing nothing while a gunman rampaged through the school last Tues, May 24th.

From TheNewYorker:  Thoughts and prayers, Uvalde, Texas. This is the America that Republicans and the right wing have being thinking about and praying for all these decades.

From ABC:  Sources say that Uvalde police and school district no longer cooperating with Texas probe of shooting of the May 24th massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

From GuardianUK:  Canada plans to freeze all handgun ownership.

From RSNWashPost:  Is it time to show the true horror of mass shooting - in pictures?

From MSN:  Angeli Gomez, the Uvalde mother who rescued her two children from the Robb Elementary shooting massacre, says that a police officer threatened to arrest her if she did not stop telling her story.

From RSNTheAtlantic:  The Uvalde police chose dishonor. Where was there courage?

From RSNWashPost:  Brenda Bell:  I hid from the Texas Tower sniper (Charles Joseph Whitman) in 1966. His successors have found us all.

From RSNTheIntercept:  "AR-15s Were Made to Explode Human Bodies. In Uvalde, the Bodies Belonged to Children" by Murtaza Hussain

From RSNNPR:  The tragic history of police responding too late to active shooters.

From VICE:  There is likely bodycam footage of the school shooting in Uvalde, TX, but the public may never see it.

BLM-BUFFALO:

From ABCNews:  A 18-year-old white MAN shot 13 people, killing 10 at a Buffalo, New York Tops Friendly Markets supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2021.

From RSNAP:  The white male suspect in the Buffalo Tops Supermarket shooting, Payton Gendron, was charged with federal hate crimes on Wed., June 15th and could face the death penalty if convicted.

From Truthout:  The racist attack in Buffalo at the Tops Friendly supermarket was crafted to terrorize us.  We can fight back, and here’s how we fight back.

From WGRZ:  Who are the victims of the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets grocery store shooting. This comes from local station WGRZ Channel 2 and includes video and some victim photos.

From BuffaloNews:  One of the 10 Black murder victims of the Buffalo massacre was Katherine "Kat" Massey.  She was a leader in her community and civil rights activist and advocate for education.

From NewYorkPost:  One of the 10 Black murder victims of the Buffalo massacre was Andre Mackniel. He was at TOPS Supermaket to pick up a birthday cake for his son.

From Truthout:  The racist attack in Buffalo, NY at the Tops supermarket was crafted to terrorize us, so here is how we fight back.

From CNN:  What is known about the 18-year-old MAN, Payton Gendron.

From NPR:  198 mass shooting this year ... so far.

From Truthout:  White supremacist massacre of 10 people in Buffalo, NY shows that the “Alt-Right” ideology leads to murder.

From RollingStone:  Buffalo rampage killing is "Straight Up Racially Motivated Hate Crime."

From InformedComment:  Rene Binet, the originator the "great replacement" was a French Nazi, and he saw all American as "Negroes," an "impure mestizo 'race'."

From WashPost:  Only 22 people saw the live-stream of a white terrorist kill Black shoppers at the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets supermarket, but millions have seen it since...

From GuardianUK:  Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets shooter may have been motivated by "eco-fascism," a focus on overpopulation and environmental degradation.

From RSN:  "What Lessons Have We Learned From the Buffalo Shooting?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

From Truthout:  “Innocent” White People Are Also Complicit in the Anti-Black Murders in Buffalo by George Yancy.

From Truthout:  "Black Lives Matter" cofounder discovered that Alicia Garza has learned that her name is mentioned in the Buffalo Tops supermarket killer's manifesto.

From GuardianUK:   Cornell West says, "Trump isn't out there with a gun, but he's enabled this war against Black people.

From Slate:  From the Tulsa Race Massacre to the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets shootings: the legacy of anti-Black violence.

From Truthout:  After mass shootings, Republicans shield white supremacists from scrutiny

From MSN:  Angeli Gomez, the Uvalde mom who rescued her children from the school shooting at Robb Elementary, says that local police have threatened to have her arrested if she does not stop telling her story.

UKRAINE:

From TheDailyBeast:  Russian soldiers allegedly raped and killed a 1-year-old Ukrainian boy and have reportedly raped or sexually abused children as young as 9 months old.

HATE WATCH:

From NPR:  31 members of the white nationalist Patriot Front arrested near a "Pride Month" event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  They are believed to have been planning to riot held at a local before moving on to rioting downtown.  They were not the only haters trying to sour the "Pride in the Park" event, which included families with children.

From SpokesmanReview:  The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office released the names and photos of all 31 "Patriot Front" members who are suspects in a planned riot at the "Pride Month" event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 23rd to 31st, 2021 - Update #22

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS: 

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  "A Quiet Place Part II" leads the four-day Memorial Day weekend holiday (5/28 to 5/31/2021) box office with an estimated gross of 57 million dollars.

 

From Variety:  The winner of the 5/28 to 5/30/21 weekend box office is "A Quiet Place Part II" with an estimated take of 48 million dollars.  That is also the biggest three-day take of the pandemic era.

-------------------------- 

MEMORIAL DAY - From BusinessInsider:   A soldier who photographed World War II in Europe describes 6 of his photos that reveal the "insanity of war."

TV NEWS/OBIT - From Deadline:  The television and film actor, Joe Lara (58), his wife, diet guru Gwen Shamblin Lara (66), were two of seven people killed in a plane crash near Nashville on Sat. May 29, 2021.  Joe Lara was best known for his starring role in the syndicated TV series, "Tarzan: The Epic Adventures" (1996-97).

MOVIES - From WeGotThisCovered:  Does Universal Pictures really want a "Fast & Furious"/"Jurassic World" spinoff?

MOVIES - From Deadline:   In an interview with the site, Grammy Award-winning electronic music legend, Moby, talks about making a documentary about himself, "Moby Doc."

CHADWICK BOSEMAN - From Variety:  Howard University announced today that the newly re-established college of fine arts, led by Dean Phylicia Rashad, will be named the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts for Chadwick Boseman ("Black Panther"), the late actor and distinguished alumnus.

 

From WashPost:   The renaming of Howard University's newly re-established college of arts and sciences unites Howard and Walt Disney Co.’s executive chairman, Bob Iger, who will spearhead fundraising for an endowment named after Chadwick Boseman, as well as help raise money for the construction of a state-of-the-art building on Howard’s campus. The new building will house the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, the school’s TV station, WHUT, and radio station, WHUR 96.3 FM.

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

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Amazon is reportedly buying movie studio, MGM, for 8.45 billion dollars.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   The CW has announced its 2021-22 Fall television schedule.

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  Universal Pictures will release "The Boss Baby: Family Business," the sequel to DreamWorks Animation's 2017, Oscar-nominated hit, "The Boss Baby," on July 2nd in theaters and streaming on the premium tiers on the "Peacock" streaming service.

MOVIES - From Deadline:   Oscar-nominee Timothee Chalamet to play "Willy Wonda" in an origin story film from Warner Bros. and Roald Dahl Story Co.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   CBS has announced its initial 2021-22 television season lineup and it is full of crime shows.

STREAMING - From BloodyDisgusting:   Hulu has reportedly obtained Spyglass Media's remake of the cult horror classic, "Hellraiser" (1987).  HBO Max is also working on a "Hellraiser" TV series with director David Gordon Green of the "Halloween" remake.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:   The winner of the 5/20 to 5/22/2021 weekend box office is "Spiral: From the Book of Saw" with an estimated take of 4.55 million dollars.

 

From Variety:   The "Saw" film franchise is now a billion-dollar franchise.  “Spiral,” the latest entry in the horror series, earned another $4.5 million in North America and $2.67 million overseas this weekend.  That haul pushed the property to $1,000,799,533 globally across nine films.

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

MOVIES - From Variety:   To coincide with the release of his new film, "Army of the Dead," writer William Earl of Variety ranks director Zack Snyder ("Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice") ten feature films - 10 through 1.

STREAMING - From Deadline:   Sigourney Weaver is to lead a series adaptation of Holly Ringland’s book, "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart," for Amazon.

OBITS:

From Variety:   Noted television actor, Gavin MacLeod, has died at the age of 90, Saturday, May 29, 2021.  MacLeod appeared in the first two seasons of the former ABC sitcom, "McHale's Navy."  He was a series regular on CBS' "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-77), during the entire length of the series.  However, MacLeod was best known as "Captain Merrill Stubing" on ABC's romantic comedy-drama series, "The Love Boat" (1977-86).

From Deadline:  The singer and recording artist, B.J. Thomas, has died at the age of 78, Saturday, May 29, 2021.  His biggest hits were recordings of songs written by others, including "Hooked on a Feeling" (1968), "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (1969), and "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (1975).  Thomas' recording of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" appeared in the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) reached #1 on the "Billboard Hot 100" chart.  It also won the "Best Song" Oscar for the songwriters, Burt Bacharach and Hal David.  Thomas also won five Grammy Awards for his Christian music recordings.

From DeseretNews:   Former NBA player, Mark Eaton, has died at the age of 64, Friday, May 28, 2021.  Eaton played his entire 11 year career (1982-93) with the Utah Jazz.  At the height of 7 feet 4 inches, Eaton was known as a "gentle giant" and as a gentleman.  However, Eaton was a dominant defender winning "NBA Defensive Player of the Year" in 1985 and 1989, and he was either "NBA All-Defensive First Team" or "Second Team" from 1985 to 1989."  He was a 1989 NBA All-Star.

From Deadline:  Musician and former child star, Kevin Clark, has died at the age of 32, Wednesday, May 26, 2021.  At the age of 13, Clark played the drummer, Freddy "Spazzy" McGee, in the 2003 film, "School of Rock."

From BroadwayWorld:  The actor and singer, Samuel E. Wright, has died at the age of 74, Monday, May 24, 2021.  Wright was best known as the voice of "Sebastian the Crab" in Walt Disney's classic animated feature film, "The Littler Mermaid" (1989).  He provided the lead vocals for the film's signature hit song, "Under the Sea," which one the "Best Song" Oscar.  Wright was also an original cast member of Disney's "The Lion King" Broadway musical, playing "Mufasa."  Wright was also a two-time Tony Award nominee.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 25th to 30th, 2021 - Update #17

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

NETFLIX - From Deadline:   In competitive bidding, Netflix closed a deal to acquire U.S. rights to "Gunpowder Milkshake" from STX Films. The female-driven action film is directed by Navot Papushado, and produced by Studiocanal and The Picture Company.

DISNEY - From Deadline: Rick Riordan, the author of the "Percy Jackson" book series, says that the search is underway to find a young actor to play "Percy Jackson" in the Disney+ TV series based on the books.  Actor Logan Lerman played the character in two "Percy Jackson" films for 20th Century Fox.

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  Actress/director Elizabeth Banks is developing an adult animated primetime series, "Bedrock," for Fox.  It would act as a sequel to the 1960s primetime animated television series, "The Flintstones."

OSCARS - From Deadline:  The Oscar ratings turned out to be not quite as bad as initially thought.  Final numbers say 10.4 million viewed - still the all-time lowest.

From Deadline:   The 93rd Academy Awards had the all-time lowest Oscar telecast ratings ever - by a huge margin.  For the first time, the estimated number of viewers was under ten million, specifically 9.85 million. [It was a terrible show, in my estimation - Leroy]

MOVIES - From Deadline:  "Another Round," the Danish film that just won the "Best Foreign Film" Oscar, will get an English-language remake.  It will possibly be a star vehicle for Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   HBO releases a photographic image to announced that it's "Game of Thrones" prequel, "House of the Dragon" has gone into production and will launch in 2022.

MOVIES - From WeGotThisCovered:   There will reportedly be CGI creatures in "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City," the upcoming reboot of the "Resident Evil" film franchise.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  The winner of the 4/23 to 4/25/21 weekend box office is "Mortal Kombat" with an estimated take of 22.5 million dollars. 

 

From BoxOfficeMojo:   "Mortal Kombat" and "Demon Slayer" are a strong one-two punch at the weekend box office.

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

OSCARS - From Deadline:  This page gives a full list of winners, including the "Best Picture" winner, "Nomadland."

From Deadline:  Most memorable Oscar moment:  Once again, multiple-Oscar nominee Glenn Close goes home empty handed, but she steals the show with her knowledge of the song "Da Butt" from Spike Lee's 1988 film, "School Daze," and also by dancing "Da Butt."

From Deadline:  At 83 years of age, Anthony Hopkins becomes the oldest actor to win the "Best Actor" Oscar (for his performance in "The Father").  In a video posted on Instagram, Hopkins expresses gratitude and pays tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman, who many thought would win a posthumous Oscar for his performance in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."

From Variety:   Clayton Davis makes "Variety's" final predictions of winners at the 93rd Academy Awards.

From Negromancer:  Just in case you need them, here are the nominations for the 2021 / 93rd Academy Awards.

MOVIES - From Refinery29:   In an interview, young star Keke Palmer expresses excitement at being cast in Jordan Peele's ("Get Out," "Us') upcoming, secret horror film project.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  Former actor, child actor, singer and musician, Johnny Crawford, has died at the age of 75, Thursday, April 29, 2021.  Crawford was best known as a child actor for his co-starring role in the late ABC Western television series, "The Rifleman" (1958-63).  Crawford played "Mark McCain," the son of "Lucas McCain," played by the series' star, the late Chuck Connors.  Crawford was the brother of child actor Robert L. "Bobby" Crawford, Jr. ("Laramie") and the son of film editor Robert L. Crawford, Sr.  Crawford was also one of the original "Mouseketeers" that appeared on "The Mickey Mouse Club" (1955-59) TV series, although Crawford only appeared in the first season.  Crawford also received a 1959 Emmy nomination for his role on "The Rifleman."

From Deadline:  Philanthropist and former publicist, Anne Douglas, has died at the age of 102, Thursday, April 29, 2021.  Douglas was married to legendary actor Kirk Douglas from 1954 until his death in February 2020.

#28DaysofBlack Review: Heroes Abound in "MARSHALL"

[The year after he first played Marvel Comics superhero, Black Panther, the late Chadwick Boseman played real-life hero, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, early in his career when he was a defense attorney defending oppressed African-Americans.  There is something about playing both Thurgood Marshall and the Black Panther that makes an actor special.  That is why some of us both mourn Boseman's passing and celebrate his work.]

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 15 of 2021 (No. 1753) by Leroy Douresseaux

Marshall (2017)
Running time: 118 minutes (1 hours, 58 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexuality, violence and some strong language
DIRECTOR:  Reginald Hudlin
WRITERS:  Michael Koskoff and Jacob Koskoff
PRODUCERS:  Reginald Hudlin, Jonathan Sanger, and Paula Wagner
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Newton Thomas Sigel (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Tom McArdle
COMPOSER:  Marcus Miller
Academy Award nominee

BIOPIC/DRAMA/HISTORICAL/THRILLER

Starring:  Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens, James Cromwell, Sterling K. Brown, Keesha Sharp, John Magaro, Roger Guenveur Smith, Ahna O'Reilly, Jeremy Bobb, Derrick Baskin, Jeffrey DeMunn, Andra Day, Sophia Bush, Jussie Smollett, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas

Marshall is a 2017 biographical film, period drama, and legal thriller directed by Reginald Hudlin.  The film's lead character is Thurgood Marshall (1908 to 1993), the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.  Marshall the film focuses on one of the first cases of his career, the State of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell, which concerns an African-American chauffeur accused of raping a white woman in 1940.

Marshall opens in 1941.  Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) is an attorney for the “NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund,” which he founded.  Marshall travels the country defending people who are accused of crimes solely because of their race.  Upon his return to his New York office, Marshall finds more work waiting for him.  Walter Francis White (Roger Guenveur Smith), Executive Secretary of the NAACP, sends Marshall to Bridgeport, Connecticut.  There, he will defend Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), a chauffeur accused of rape by his white employer, Eleanor Strubing (Kate Hudson), in a case that has gripped the newspapers.

In Bridgeport, insurance lawyer, Sam Friedman (Josh Gad), is assigned by his brother, Irwin Friedman (John Magaro), to get Marshall admitted to the local bar, against Sam's will.  At the hearing for Spell, Judge Carl Foster (James Cromwell), a friend of the father of prosecutor Lorin Willis (Dan Stevens), agrees to admit Marshall, but forbids Marshall from speaking during the trial, forcing Friedman to be Spell's lead counsel.  Now, Marshall must guide Friedman through the trial via notes, but is this case a lost cause when Thurgood and Sam discover that it is rife with lies – on both sides.

Marshall is technically a biographical film, focusing on a specific period in the life and career of future Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall.  Early in the film, however, it is obvious that director Reginald Hudlin has his mind on making Marshall a film that resembles a 1940s film noir with elements of a legal drama and a crime thriller.  The audience can hear that in Marcus Miller's lovely film score and in the way Hudlin stages the action, uses space, and places the actors.

In one of the film's early moments, when Marshall has his back to the camera and is ironing a shirt, I immediately thought of my favorite actor, Humphrey Bogart, and one of his most famous roles, that of Sam Space in director John Huston's The Maltese Falcon (1941).  From that point, there is hardly a setting in which Marshall's life does not seem to be in danger.  Hudlin races his audience through a movie that seems to be shorter than its almost two hours of run time.  Is Marshall a courtroom drama?  Yes, and it is also a courtroom thriller with a mystery at its center.

I do wish the father-son screenwriting team of Michael Koskoff and Jacob Koskoff had given the script  more depth, as the narrative is mostly style and genre.  There is also a lack of depth in the  characterization, and the characters are a bit shallow.  As hard as actor Sterling K. Brown tries, he can't seem to really draw anything from the well of defendant Joseph Spell's soul.  Spell comes across as more of a stand-in than an actual portrait of a man whose life is on the line.

The very talented Josh Gad is able to give a lot of color to Sam Friedman, playing as a subtly wily man who is able to navigate his way between conflicting sides.  Kate Hudson, mostly known for romantic comedies, shows some serious dramatic chops as the trapped suburban wife and alleged victim, Eleanor Strubing.  As usual, Roger Guenveur Smith is spry, this time as the real-life Walter Francis Wright.

Of course, in the wake of his 2020 death to complications of colon cancer, Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall will be the center of attention in the film, Marshall, going forward.  Despite a lack of characterization in the film's script, Boseman turns Marshall into a relentless paladin, traveling the countryside fighting the forces of white bigotry and racism.  His field of battle is the courtroom, and black men falsely accused because they are black are the people he defends.  Boseman makes me believe that he is a stubborn attorney and hero in an old-fashioned courtroom drama.  He also makes me believe that he is a superhero, almost a year before he became the beloved Black Panther of Disney/Marvel Studios' Oscar-winning film, Black Panther.

Marshall convinces me that Thurgood Marshall was both a heroic lawyer and a superhero.  The film also convinces me that Boseman was the best at bringing the most famous African-American men to life on the big screen.  Plus, Marshall is a really good movie.

8 of 10
A

Monday, February 15, 2021


NOTES:
2018 Academy Awards, USA:  1 nomination: “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Song” (Common and Diane Warren for song “Stand Up for Something”)

2018 Black Reel Awards:  7 nominations: “Outstanding Motion Picture” (Jonathan Sanger, Paula Wagner, and Reginald Hudlin), “Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture” (Chadwick Boseman), “Outstanding Director, Motion Picture” (Reginald Hudlin), “Outstanding Ensemble” (Victoria Thomas-Casting Director), “Outstanding Score” (Marcus Miller-Composer), “Outstanding Original Song” (Andra Day-Performer, Common-Performer, Writer, and Diane Warren-Writer for the song “Stand Up for Something”), and “Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male” (Sterling K. Brown)

2018 Image Awards (NAACP):  5 nominations: “Outstanding Motion Picture,” “Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture” (Chadwick Boseman), “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” (Sterling K. Brown), “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Keesha Sharp), “and  “Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture” (Reginald Hudlin)

The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved.  Contact this blog or site for reprint and 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).

#28DaysofBlack Review: GET ON UP

[The late Chadwick Boseman portrayed four African-American historical figures, three of them as the lead actor.  His performance as James Brown in “Get on Up” is an example of why so many are devastated by his passing and also by the loss of what could have been.]

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 14 of 2021 (No. 1752) by Leroy Douresseaux

Get on Up (2014)
Running time:  139 minutes (2 hours, 19 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sexual content, drug use, some strong language, and violent situations
DIRECTOR:  Tate Taylor
WRITERS:  Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth; from a story by Steven Baigelman and Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth
PRODUCERS:  Brian Grazer, Erica Huggins, Mick Jagger, Victoria Pearman, and Tate Taylor
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Stephen Goldblatt
EDITOR:  Michael McCusker
COMPOSER:  Thomas Newman

BIOPIC/MUSIC/DRAMA

Starring:  Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Jamarion and Jordan Scott, Viola Davis, Lennie James, Fred Melamed, Jamal Batiste, Craig Robinson, Jill Scott, Octavia Spencer, Josh Hopkins, Brandon Mychal Smith, Tika Sumpter, Aunjanue Ellis, Tariq Trotter as Pee Wee Ellis, John Benjamin Hickey, and Allison Janney

Get on Up is a 2014 biographical film and musical drama directed by Tate Taylor.  The film is a fictional depiction of the life of singer, songwriter, recording artist, and concert performer, James Brown (1933-2006).  Get on Up chronicles the rise from extreme poverty of one of the most influential musical performers in history.

Get on Up opens in Augusta, Georgia, the year 1988.  James Brown (Chadwick Boseman), one of the world's most famous recording artists and performers, gets high on mix of marijuana and PCP.   He visits one of his businesses and discovers that someone from a nearby seminar has used his private restroom.  Furious, Brown confronts the seminar attendees while carrying a shotgun, which he accidentally fires into the ceiling.

The film then uses a nonlinear narrative, following James Brown's stream of consciousness, as he recalls events from his life.  We meet young James Brown (Jamarion and Jordan Scott), living in poverty with his mother, Susie Brown (Viola Davis), and abusive father, Joseph “Joe” Brown (Lennie James).  Eventually abandoned by both his parents, young James lives in a brothel run by his Aunt Honey Washington (Octavia Spencer).

Later, James joins “The Flames,” a gospel singing group fronted by his new friend, Bobby Byrd (Nelsan Ellis).  Soon, they become “The Famous Flames” and sing R&B songs, but within a decade James Brown is ready to go solo.  It would not be the last time James is willing to go it alone on the way to becoming one of the most influential singer, songwriters, musicians, producers, dancers, bandleaders, and recording artists of all time.

Director Tate Taylor and screenwriters Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth have fashioned of a story that looks at two sides of James Brown:  his musical talent and performances and his personal and professional relationships.  This allows Get on Up to give audiences what they want – lots of James Brown on stage – and to also tell a behind-the-music-like story of a complicated man.

Get on Up takes its title from a chorus in James Brown's 1970 hit, “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine.”  Brown does indeed “get on up” every time he experiences something personally or professionally that could have brought him down and kept him down.  The thing that I can respect about this film is that it does not only portray Brown as someone who overcomes, but also portrays him as someone who does not appreciate that he was never alone in creating his success.  Late in the film, Brown breaks the fourth wall (one of many times he does this) to tell the audience that he “paid the cost to be the boss.”  However, he did not pay the cost alone, to which wives, girlfriends, lovers, children, band mates, and employees can certainly testify.

Through the impressive work of Get on Up's film editor, Michael McCusker. Tate Taylor jumps around time to show the many faces of this artist who was, in a way, a chameleon as a performer.  We see moments from the years:  1939, 1949, 1955, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1988, and 1993.  This time-shifting of the film's narrative also reveals the many dark times of Brown's life.

Everyone's work would not mean much without a great performer giving a great performance as James Brown, and Chadwick Boseman certainly does that.  Boseman fashions a James Brown that is perfect for the story that Get on Up tells, creating a Brown that is an inspired genius and a dictatorial general.  Boseman nearly buries himself in the role, and I often found myself forgetting that Get on Up is not a documentary and that the James Brown on screen was a portrait not the real man.  However, Boseman's dynamic performance gives us both sides, the public persona known as James Brown, the musical revolution, and the private James Brown, unyielding to family, friends, collaborators, and partners and beset by demons.

There are other good performances.  Viola Davis packs her own power into every scene in which she appears as Brown's mother, and Octavia Spencer's displays the naturalism of her acting that charms her audiences as well as her fellow thespians.  Nelson Ellis offers a rich and layered performance as Brown's longtime collaborator, Bobby Byrd, and twins Jamarion and Jordan Scott damn near steal Get on Up with their performances as young James Brown.

Because of Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing in 2020, Get on Up will largely be remembered for his performance.  That's a shame because Get on Up is a really good film and is one of the best contemporary biographies of an African-American figure and of an icon figure in popular music in recent memory.  So, I'll take both.  Get on Up captures the music and the madness of James Brown, and the film captures a truly great performance by an actor who was becoming great and greater still before he died.

9 of 10
A+

Monday, February 15, 2021


NOTES:
2015 Black Reel Awards:  3 nominations: “Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture” (Chadwick Boseman), :Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture” (Nelsan Ellis), and “Outstanding Ensemble” (Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee)

2015 Image Awards (NAACP):  5 nomination: “Outstanding Motion Picture,” “Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture” (Chadwick Boseman), “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Jill Scott), “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Octavia Spencer), and “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Viola Davis)

The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved.  Contact this blog or site for reprint and 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).