TRASH IN MY EYE Reviews: Cillian Murphy

Showing posts with label Cillian Murphy. Show all posts

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Review: "OPPENHEIMER" Runs on the Atomic Power of Its Cast

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 11 of 2025 (No. 2017) by Leroy Douresseaux

Oppenheimer (2023)

Running time: 180 minutes (3 hours)

MPA – R for some sexuality, nudity and language

DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan

WRITER: Christopher Nolan (based on the book by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin)

PRODUCERS: Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Hoyte Van Hoytema (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Jennifer Lame

COMPOSER: Ludwig Goransson

Academy Award Best Picture winner

DRAMA/BIOPIC/HISTORICAL

Starring: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Jason Clarke, Tony Goldwyn, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Conti, Josh Hartnett, Florence Pugh, Matthew Modine, David Dastmalchian, Casey Affleck, James Remar, Rami Malek, and Gary Oldman

Oppenheimer is a 2023 biographical drama and historical film from director Christopher Nolan. The film is based on the 2005 biography, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. The film is a fictional depiction and dramatization of the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist who helped develop the first nuclear weapons during World War II. In Oppenheimer the movie, the most famous man in America looks back on his life as he faces a hearing to determine the fate of his security clearance.

Oppenheimer opens with two important events. In 1954, J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), the man who is sometimes known as “the father of the atomic bomb,” is facing a private security hearing before a Personnel Security Board. The hearing is in regards to the renewal of Oppenheimer's “Q clearance” with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which gives the holder access to “top secret restricted data.” During the hearing, Oppenheimer's loyalty to the United States is questioned and his past affiliation with and ties to communist friends and associates are raised. Oppenheimer's wife, Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer (Emily Blunt), wants Robert to fight such charges more aggressively, but he seems to be concerned about the potential of collateral damage to friends and allies.

Springing forward several years: it is 1959, and Rear Admiral Levi Strauss (Robert Downey, Jr.) is facing a confirmation hearing concerning his nomination to the cabinet of President Dwight D. Eisenhower as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Strauss desperately wants that cabinet position, but his past activities regarding J. Robert Oppenheimer are coming back to complicate matters.

Meanwhile, the film goes back to Oppenheimer's early days as a student overseas in England and Germany and moves to his teaching job at the University of California, Berkeley. There, he meets communists, marries Kitty, and has an intermittent affair with the troubled Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh). Eventually U.S. Army Colonel Leslie Groves (Matt Damon), the director of the Manhattan Project, recruits Oppenheimer to be the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico. There, he will lead a team that is part of a nationwide effort to develop an atomic bomb during World War II before Nazi Germany does. Along the way Oppenheimer makes friends and also makes friends into enemies – all of which will come back to haunt him.

I decided that since tonight (as of this writing) is the ceremony for the 2025 / 97th Academy Awards (March 2, 2025), it is a good time to finally write a review of Oppenheimer, the winner of the “Best Motion Picture of the Year” Oscar at the 96th Academy Awards. I had been putting it off, and, at one point, decided against seeing it. Not long into watching Oppenheimer, I was reminded of director Terrance Malick's 2011 film, The Tree of Life. Like Malick's film, Oppenheimer features a non-linear narrative, and director Christopher Nolan largely succeeds in using the non-linear form to make Oppenheimer a thoroughly engaging film. At times, I think one could call this film a thriller as much as one might call it a drama, historical, or biographical film. I think what really makes this film work is the large number of excellent performances given by Oppenheimer's cast, but the two that stand out are Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Robert Downey, Jr. as Levi Strauss. They both deserved their respective Oscar wins – “Best Actor” for Murphy and “Best Supporting Actor” for Downey.

Like many of the lead characters in Nolan's films, J. Robert Oppenheimer takes on the forces of nature, which includes mankind and its activities. Oppenheimer, also like many of Nolan's heroes, pays a heavy price, and I am convinced because Cillian Murphy, in a career best performance, sells me on the idea that he is a J. Robert Oppenheimer in a constant state of conflict and struggle. Murphy's performance is not so much a tour-de-force as it is the portrayal of the tour-de-force life and times of Oppenheimer. Murphy doesn't impersonate Oppenheimer; he summons a manifestation of the man that brings him to life in a dramatic performance.

As Levi Strauss, Robert Downey Jr. offers an insecure man seemingly made insecure by each subsequent success in his journey of social climbing. It is as if he cannot achieve any victory without attaching to it a perceived slight. Downey performance and Nolan's screenwriting make me wonder why there couldn't be a Levi Strauss biographical film that is also quite engaging.

Christopher Nolan also gets superb production values and creative assistance from his collaborators. The sound, the cinematography, the costumes, the hair and make-up, the visual effects, and Ludwig Goransson supernatural score help Nolan bring this film to the finish line of excellence and of movie award season triumph. It certainly does not feel like a three-hour film, and it nearly has that much narrative because the end credits are short. Oppenheimer is not only superb cinema, but it is also a highly entertaining film that would make for a good movie night or two.

9 of 10

A+

Sunday, March 2, 2025

NOTES:

2024 Academy Awards, USA: 7 wins: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, and Christopher Nolan), “Best Achievement in Directing” (Christopher Nolan), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role” (Cillian Murphy), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Robert Downey Jr.), “Best Achievement in Cinematography” (Hoyte Van Hoytema), “Best Achievement in Film Editing” (Jennifer Lame), and “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Score” (Ludwig Goransson); 6 nominations: “Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling” (Luisa Abel), “Best Sound” (Willie D. Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo, and Kevin O'Connell), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” (Emily Blunt), “Best Adapted Screenplay” (Christopher Nolan), “Best Achievement in Production Design” (Ruth De Jong-production designer and Claire Kaufman-set decorator), and “Best Achievement in Costume Design: (Ellen Mirojnick)

2024 BAFTA Awards: 7 wins: “Best Film” (Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, and Emma Thomas); “Best Director” (Christopher Nolan), “Best Leading Actor” (Cillian Murphy), “Best Supporting Actor” (Robert Downey Jr.), “Best Cinematography” (Hoyte Van Hoytema), “Best Editing” (Jennifer Lame), “Original Score” (Ludwig Göransson); 6 nominations: “Best Screenplay-Adapted” (Christopher Nolan), “Best Supporting Actress” (Emily Blunt), “Best Costume Design” (Ellen Mirojnick), “Best Make Up & Hair” (Luisa Abel, Jaime Leigh McIntosh, Jason Hamer, and Ahou Mofid), “Best Production Design” (Claire Kaufman and Ruth De Jong), “Best Sound” (Richard King, Kevin O'Connell, Gary A. Rizzo, and Willie D. Burton)

2024 Golden Globes, USA: 5 wins: “Best Motion Picture, Drama,” “Best Director, Motion Picture” (Christopher Nolan), “Best Original Score, Motion Picture” (Ludwig Göransson), “Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama” (Cillian Murphy), “Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture” (Robert Downey Jr.); 3 nominations: “Best Screenplay, Motion Picture” (Christopher Nolan) and “Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture” (Emily Blunt), and “Cinematic and Box Office Achievement”

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Saturday, December 7, 2024

Sony Pictures Drops "28 YEARS LATER" Teaser Poster

Sony Pictures has released a teaser poster for 28 Years Later, the follow-up to the zombie apocalypse films, 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007).

28 Years Later is directed by Danny Boyle, who co-wrote the screenplay with Alex Garland. Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy reprises his role from the first film and stars alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Erin Kellyman, and Edvin Ryding.

The film is due June 20, 2025.

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Sony Pictures Drops "28 YEARS LATER" Teaser Trailer

Sony Pictures has released a mysterious teaser trailer for 28 Years Later, the follow-up to the zombie apocalypse films, 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007).

The film is due June 20, 2025. The morse code in the teaser apparently indicates "Tuesday." I've posted the teaser below for your amusement:

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Sunday, March 31, 2024

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 24th to 31st, 2024 - UPDATE #22

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

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

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

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

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

SCANDAL - From Deadline: In a new interview to promote her new memoir, "Rebel Rising," actress and comedian, Rebel Wilson, claims that Oscar-nominated actor, Sacha Baron Cohen, fat-shamed her and sexually harassed her on the set of the 2016 film, "Grimsby." The book is due Tues., April 2nd.

TELEVISION - From Variety: HBO's "Euprhoria" is in trouble after disagreements over scripts for a Season 3.

COMICS - From Deadline: Emmy and Academy Award nominated producer David Permut and filmmaker Oscar Boyson are teaming up with author/filmmaker Mathew Klickstein to bring the San Diego Comic-Con origin story to life for the first time on screen in a new documentary. The doc is based on Klickstein's book, "See You at San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture."

CULTURE - From Haaretz: Oscar-winning and legendary director and producer Steven Spielberg warns about the latest surge of anti-semitism. "The echoes of history are unmistakable," he says.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Actress Katy O'Brian, who caught people's attention in A24's "Love Lies Bleeding," has joined the cast of the eighth "Mission: Impossible" film, which was previously known as "Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part Two."

MOVIES - From Deadline: Timothee Chalamet has delivered big at the box office for Warner Bros. with such smash hit films as "Wonka" and "Dune: Part Two." Now, he has signed a multi-year first-look feature film deal with Warners.

CELEBRITY - From THR: Halle Berry tells First Lady Dr. Jill Biden about the time she thought she had herpes...

AWARDS - From Variety: The Golden Globes will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ another five years beginning with the Jan. 2025 edition of the awards. The deal also puts the American Music Awards at CBS.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Universal has landed the rights to the book, "Blood Runs Coal." They will develop it as an epic mining story for recent "Best Actor" Oscar winner, Cillian Murphy, as a starring and producing vehicle.

MUSIC/SCANDAL - From TMZ: Agents and officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have raided the Beverly Hills and Miami homes of Grammy-winning recording artist, Sean "Diddy" Combs, today, Mon., March 25th. This is apparently in relation to a federal human trafficking investigation.

SCANDAL - From Deadline: Mildly funny Australian comedian and actress, Rebel Wilson, says that Oscar-nominee Sacha Baron Cohen is the "asshole" that she writes about in her book and is also the "asshole" who threaten legal action over her upcoming memoir, "Rebel Rising," which is due April 2nd, 2024.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 3/22 to 3/24/2024 weekend box office is Sony Pictures' Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire with a take of 45.2 million dollars.

From Here: My review of "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire."

MOVIES/TRAILER - From Variety: Warner Bros. Pictures debuts the first trailer for the Beetlejuice sequel, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice."

OBITS:

From Variety: Stage, film, and television actor, Louis Gossett, Jr., has died at the age of died at the age of 87, Friday, March 29, 2024. The prolific actor appeared in more than 200 TV series and films, and was scheduled to appear in another 12 that are upcoming. Gossett won the "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar for the role of "Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley" in "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982). He was an eight-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee, winning for role of "Fiddler" the ABC miniseries, "Roots" (1977). Gossett was a three-time Daytime Emmy Award nominee, winning once for the dual role of "Frank Cosby/Richard" in the Showtime TV movie, "In His Father's Shoes" (1997). He is also best known for such films as "Jaws 3-D" (1983), "Enemy Mine" (1985), the "Iron Eagles" film series (which began in 1986), and "Toy Soldiers" (1991). His notable TV series, including "Good Times," "The Powers of Matthew Star," "Stargate SG-1," "Hap and Leonard," and HBO's "Watchmen."

From Deadline: Hollywood remembers the late Oscar-winning actor, Louis Gossett, Jr., including Taylor Hackford, director of "An Officer and a Gentleman," the film for which Gossett won his Oscar, and also Gossett's "Roots" co-star, LeVar Burton.

From Deadline: Remembering Louis Gossett, Jr.: A career in pictures

From BleedingCool: Writer and executive producer of HBO's "Watchmen" (2019) miniseries, Damon Lindelof, offers a heartfelt tribute to the late Louis Gossett, Jr., who starred in the series as "Will Reeves/Hooded Justice."

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From Variety: American casting director, Dianne Crittenden, has died at the age of 82, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. She is best known as the casting director for George Lucas' monumental film, "Star Wars" (1977). She and her team reportedly watched more than 3500 auditions before she helped choose Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher, the three actors that would form Star Wars iconic trio. In addition to "Star Wars," Crittenden was the casting director of several other "Best Picture" Oscar nominees, including "On Golden Pond" (1981), "Witness" (1985), and "The Thin Red Line" (1998).

From Deadline: Prolific American character actor, M. Emmet Walsh, has died at the age of 88, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. A familiar face, he appeared in over 220 films and television series for which he received a credit. He appeared in such films as "The Jerk" (1979), "Blade Runner" (1982), "Blood Simple" (1984), and "Knives Out" (2019). He TV roles included NBC's "The Doctors," CBS' "All in the Family," and the ABC miniseries, "East of Eden," to name a few.

From Deadline: British-born playwright and film and television writer, David Seidler, has died at the age of 86, Saturday, March 16, 2024. He was best known for writing the screenplay for "Best Picture" Oscar winner, The King's Speech, for which he also won the "Best Original Screenplay" Oscar.

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AWARDS:

From Deadline: The 2024 / 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards came to a close. Grammy-winning recording artist, Usher, won the "Entertainer of the Year." "The Color Purple" continued with wins in the category of "Outstanding Motion Picture," "Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture" (Fantasia Barrino), "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture" (Coleman Domingo), "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture" (Taraji P. Henson). The film also won in five other categories.

From THR: Key award season dates leading up to the 2024 / 96th Academy Awards, which are Sunday, March 10th, 2024.

From Variety: The winners at the 2024 / 96th Academy Awards were announced. "Oppenheimer" took the lead with seven wins, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy), and "Best Supporting Actor" (Robert Downey, Jr.).

From Variety: The nominations for the 2024 / 96th Academy Awards have been announced. "Oppenheimer" leads with 13 nominations, and "Poor Things" follows with 11. The winners will be announced Sun., March 10th, 2024.

From Variety: The Producers Guild of America has announced the winners for the 2024 / 35th Annual Producers Guild Awards. "Oppenheimer" has won the top prize, the "Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures."

From Deadline: The winners at the 2024 / 77th BAFTA Film Awards have been announced. "Oppenheimer" wins seven awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From THR: The Directors Guild of America has announced the winners at the 2024 / 76th DGA Awards. Christopher Nolan won the top category, "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film of 2023," for his work on his blockbuster film, "Oppenheimer."

From Deadline: The winners at the 2024 / 51st Annie Awards have been announced. "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" won six, including "Best Feature." Its predecessor, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" also won six categories, including "Best Feature."

From AwardsWatch: The NAACP has announced the nominees for the 2024 / 55th NAACP Image Awards. By visiting www.naacpimageawards.net, the public can vote to determine the winners of the 55th NAACP Image Awards’ in select categories. Voting closes February 24th at 9:00 p.m. NAACP will also recognize winners in non–televised Image Awards categories March 11–14th, which will stream via naacpimageawards.net. The winners will be revealed during the two–hour LIVE TV special, airing Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET/ PT on BET and CBS.

From THR: The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) has announced the winners at the 28th Art Directors Guild Awards. "Poor Things," "Oppenheimer," and "Saltburn" win top prizes.

From Deadline: The nominations for the 2024 Writers Guild Awards have been announced. The winners will be announced on April 14th, more than a month after the Oscars.

From Variety: The nominations for the 2024 / 77th EE BAFTA Film Awards have been announced. "Oppenheimer" leads with 13 nominations, and "Poor Things" follows with 11 nominations. The winners will be announced Feb. 18th.

From Variety: The Producers Guild of America has announced the nominees for the 2024 / 35th annual Producers Guild Awards. For the first time in the history of the awards, two international films, "Anatomy of a Fall" and "The Zone of Interest," have made been nominated in the PGA's top category, "Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures." The winners will be announced Feb. 25th.

From Variety: The nominees for the 2024 / 51st Annie Awards have been announced. Netflix's "Nimona" leads the features categories with nine nominations. The winners will be announced Sat., Feb. 17th.

From Deadline: The Screen Actors Guild nominations for the 2024 / 30th annual SAG Awards have announced. "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" leads the film side of things with four nominations apiece. The winners will be announced Saturday, Feb. 24th.

From AwardsWatch: The Latino Entertainment Journalists Association has announced the 6th Annual LEJA Awards. "Past Lives" won "Best Picture." Actor Coleman Domingo won "Best Actor" for his role in "Rustin" and "Best Supporting Actor" for his role in "The Color Purple."

From AwardsWatch: The Vancouver Film Critics Circle has announced its 2023 film awards. "Anatomy of a Fall" won "Best Picture."

From Variety: The Directors Guild of America has announced the nominations for the 2024 / 76th DGA Awards. In the top category, "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film of 2023," the nominees are Greta Gerwig for "Barbie," Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer,” Martin Scorsese for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Yorgos Lanthimos for “Poor Things,” and Alexander Payne for “The Holdovers.” The winners will be announced Feb. 10th.

From AwardsWatch: The London Critics Circle announced the winners of its 44th annual film awards. "The Zone of Interest" won three awards, including "Film of the Year" and "Best Director" (Jonathan Glazer).

From AwardsWatch: The Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) has won the 2023 film awards. "Oppenheimer" won six awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy tied with Paul Giamatti for "The Holdovers").

From Variety: The American Cinema Editors has announced the nominees for the 2024 / 74th Annual ACE Eddie Awards. The winners will be announced March 3rd, 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) has named its 2023 film awards. "Oppenheimer" won eight awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: The Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Poor Things" won three awards, including "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The Chicago Indie Critics (CIC) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won seven awards, including "Best Studio Film." Celine Song's "Past Lives" won three, including "Best Independent Film."

From Variety: The Motion Picture Sound Editors has revealed the nominations for the 71st annual MPSE Golden Reel Awards in categories spanning feature film, television, animation, computer entertainment and student productions. The winners will be announced March 3rd.

From AwardsWatch: The Iowa Film Critics Association (IFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. Alexander Payne's "The Holdovers" won four awards, including "Best Picture."

From Variety: The Visual Effects Society has announced the nominations for the 2024 / 22nd Annual VES Awards have been announced. The winners will be announced Feb. 21st.

From AwardsWatch: The North Dakota Film Society (NDFS) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won nine awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch: The Music City Film Critics Association has announces it MCFCA 2023 Film Awards. Oppenheimer won seven awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: The Portland Critics Association (PCA) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won nine awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From Deadline: The African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) announced the 15th annual African-Ameri an Film Critics Awards. "American Fiction" was voted the #1 film and won four awards, including "Best Comedy." Ava DuVernay's "Origin" was voted the #2 film and won three awards, including "Best Drama."

From Deadline: The winners of the 2024 / 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards have been announced. "Oppenheimer" won eight awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: The Hawaii Film Critics Society (HFCS) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Barbie" wins four awards, including "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) has announced the winners of its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won four awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch: The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) revealed the nominees for the "2024 / 38th Annual ASC Awards" with categories in feature film, documentary, television and music video categories. The winners will be announced March 3rd, 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Killers of the Flower Moon" won "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) announced the winners in 21 categories for the 2023 Seattle Film Critics Society Awards. Director Celine Song’s "Past Lives" was named the "Best Picture of 2023."

From AwardsWatch: The Cinema Audio Society (CAS) has announced the nominations for the 60th CAS Awards. The winners will be announced March 2nd.

From AwardsWatch: The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) has announced the nominations for the 28th Art Directors Guild Awards. The winners will be announced Feb. 10th.

From AwardsWatch: The Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) has announced it 2024 ASTRA Film Awards. "Barbie" won eight awards, including "Best Picture.

From AwardsWatch: The Greater Western New York Film Critics Association (GWNYFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Past Lives" was named "Best Picture."

From NSFC: The National Society of Film Critics announce its 58th annual NSFC Awards. "Past Lives" was named "Best Picture of 2023."

From Deadline: The 2024 / 81st Golden Globes Awards ceremony was held Sun. night, Jan. 7th, 2024. "Oppenheimer" won five awards, including "Best Motion Picture-Drama," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), "Best Actor-Drama" (Cillian Murphy), and "Best Supporting Actor-Motion Pictures" (Robert Downey, Jr.). "Poor Things" won "Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy."

From Deadline: NIGHT 2 of the 75th Creative Arts Emmys took place Sun., Jan. 7th, 2024. (Former) President Barack Obama and Keke Palmer were among the winners.

From Deadline: NIGHT 1 of the 75th Creative Arts Emmys took place Sat., Jan. 6th, 2024. HBO's "The Last of Us" lead the night with 8 wins, including wins in both "Guest Actor in a Drama Series" categories: Nick Offerman (Guest Actor) and Storm Reid (Guest Actress).

From AwardsWatch: The 5th annual DiscussingFilm Critics Awards were announced. "Oppenheimer" won eight awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch: The Utah Film Critics Association (UFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Past Lives" won three awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Celine Song).

From AwardsWatch: The Georgia Film Critics Association (GFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Oppenheimer" won seven honors, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch: The San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Oppenheimer" was named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The Columbus Film Critics Association (COFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Killers of the Flower Moon" won six awards including "Best Film" and "Best Director" (Martin Scorsese).

From AwardsWatch: The Costume Designers Guild (Local 892) announced the official nominees list for the 26th CDGA (Costume Designers Guild Awards). The annual CDGA ceremony will take place Wed., Feb. 21st, 2024.

From Variety: The British Academy has unveiled the results of the first round of voting across all 24 categories for the 2024 / 77th BAFTA Film Awards. These results are known as "the longlists." "Barbie," "Killers of the Flower Moon," and "Oppenheimer" all appeared on the longlist of 15 categories. The nominations will be announced Jan. 18th, and the winners will be announced Feb. 18th.

From AwardsWatch: The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Killers of the Flower Moon" won five awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Martin Scorsese), and "Best Actress" (Lily Gladstone).

From AwardsWatch: The Critics Association of Central Florida (CACF) has announced the winners of its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won 10 awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: U.K. Film Critics Association (UKFCA) has announced the winners of its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won three awards: "Best Film," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From Variety: The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild (MUAHS, IATSE Local 706) has announced nominations for the 11th MUAHS Guild Awards. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 led with five mentions in the film categories and ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" led with four in the television categories. The winners will be announced Sunday, February 18, 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The Nevada Film Critics Society has announced its 2023 film awards. "Oppenheimer" won five awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) has announced its 2023 film awards. Hayao's Miyazaki's anime film, "The Boy and the Heron" was named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) has announced its 2023 films awards. "American Fiction" won six awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Cord Jefferson), and Best Actor (Jeffrey Wright).

From AwardsWatch: The San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) has announced its 2023 film awards. Always trying to be difficult, it named "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" the "Best Picture." It named Martin Scorsese "Best Director" for "Killers of the Flower Moon."

From AwardsWatch: The Dublin Film Critics Circle has announced its 2023 film awards. "Past Lives" wins "Best Film" and "Best Director" (Celine Song)"

From AwardsWatch: The North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" wins five awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: The Southeaster Film Critics Association (SEFCA) has announces its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won eight awards including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch: The Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Poor Things" won six awards, including "Best Pictuere," "Best Director" (Yorgos Lanthmos), "Best Actress" (Emma Stone"), and "Best Supporting Actor" (Mark Ruffalo).

From AwardsWatch: The Philadelphia Film Critics Circle (PFCC) has announced it 2023 film awards. "Poor Things" won four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Yorgos Lanthimos), and "Best Actress" (Emma Stone).

From AwardsWatch: The St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) has announced its 2023 awards. "Oppenheimer" won seven awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy)

From AwardsWatch: The Phoenix Film Critics Society (PFCS) has named its 2023 film awards. "Killers of the Flower Moon" wins "Best Picture." Oppenheimer wins six, including "Best Director" for Christopher Nolan.

From AwardsWatch: The Dallas-Ft. Worth Film Critics Association (DFWFCA) has named its 2023 films awards. "The Holdovers" wins "Best Picture." "Oppenheimer" wins four, including "Best Director" for Christopher Nolan.

From AwardsWatch: The Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) have announced their 2023 film awards. "The Zone of Interest" wins "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (for Jonathan Glazer).

From AwardsWatch: The 2023 Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA) awards have been announced. "Killers of the Flower Moon" wins "Best Picture," one of two awards its won. "Oppenheimer" wins five, including a "Best Director" for Christopher Nolan.

From AwardsWatch: The nominations for the 2024 / 24th annual Black Reel Awards have been announced. "The Color Purple" leads with 19 nominations. The winners will be announced Jan. 16th, 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Past Lives" wins "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) have named "Killers of the Flower Moon" the "Best Film" of 2023. Christopher Nolan wins "Best Director" for "Oppenheimer."

From AwardsWatch: The Las Vegas Film Critics Society have named "Oppenheimer" the "Best Picture" of 2023, with the film's director, Christopher Nolan, winning "Best Director."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2023 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards have been announced. "Killers of the Flower Moon" wins "Best Picture," and Christopher Nolan wins "Best Director" for "Oppenheimer."

From THR: The winners at the 2023 / 49th annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards have been announced. The Holocaust historical drama, "The Zone of Interest," wins four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Jonathan Glazer), and "Best Actress" (Sandra Huller).

From Deadline: The nominations for the 2024 / 29th annual Critics Choice Awards have been announced. "Barbie" leads with 18 nominations.

From Deadline: The nominations for the 2024 / 81st annual Golden Globe Awards have been announced. The winners will be announced Jan. 7th, 2024 on CBS and Paramount Plus.

From AwardsWatch: The Las Vegas Film Critics have announced their 2023 LVFC Awards nominations. "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" are the leading vote getters. The winners will be announced Wed., Dec. 13th.

From THR: The winners at the 2023 European Film Awards have been announced. "Anatomy of a Fall" won five awards including for "Best Film," "Best Director" (Justine Triet), and "Best Actress" (Sandra Huller).

From AwardsWatch: The 2023 National Board of Review film honors have been announced. "Killers of the Flower Moon" won "Best Film," "Best Director" (Martin Scorsese), and "Best Actress" (Lily Gladstone).

From AwardsWatch: The American Film Institute (AFI) names its top ten films: American Fiction, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, May December, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Poor Things, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. It also names its top ten television series: Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Beef, Jury Duty, The Last of Us, The Morning Show, Only Murders in the Building, Poker Face, Reservation Dogs, and Succession.

From AwardsWatch: "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" lead the nominations for "Astra Film & Creative Arts Awards," which are put on by the "Hollywood Creative Alliance" (formerly known as the Hollywood Critics Association). The winners will be announced Jan. 6th, 2024 in Los Angeles.

From Deadline: At the 2023 / 26th British Independent Film Awards, director Andrew Haigh's "All of Us Strangers" won seven awards, including "Best British Independent Film."

From Variety: The winners at the 2023 / 89th New York Film Critics Circle Awards have been announced. "Killers of the Flower Moon" (directed by Martin Scorsese) was named "Best Film of 2023." Christopher Nolan won "Best Director" for his film, "Oppenheimer."

From Variety: The winners at the 2023 / 33rd Annual Gotham Awards were announced Mon., Nov. 27th. Writer-director Celine Song's South Korean romantic drama, "Past Lives" won the "Best Feature" award.

BEST PICTURE COUNT:

All of Us Strangers: 1

American Fiction: 2

Anatomy of a Fall: 2

Barbie: 2

The Boy and the Heron: 1

The Color Purple: 1

The Holdovers: 2

Killers of the Flower Moon: 9

Oppenheimer: 24

Past Lives: 9

Poor Things: 4

The Zone of Interest: 3

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Saturday, March 16, 2024

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 10th to 16th, 2024 - UPDATE #12

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

ACADEMY AWARDS - From Variety: "Variety's" Clayton Davis does some predictions for "Oscars 2025."

IMAGE AWARDS - From Deadline: The 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards just announced "Night 3" results. The final night of awards is Saturday, March 16th.

STREAMING/SPORTS - From Deadline: Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery have come together to create a sports streaming service. The service does not yet have a name, but it does have a CEO. It is former Apple and Hulu executive, Pete Distad.

TELEVISION - From Deadline: Starz is adding a prequel series to the universe of its "Power" series. The new series, "Origin," will focus on the early years of Power's main character, "James 'Ghost' St. Patrick" (originally played by Omari Hardwick) and "Thomas 'Tommy' Egan" (originally played by Joseph Sikora).

MOVIES - From THR: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler have joined the cast of Ari Aster's contemporary Western film, "Eddington," which is set to start shooting this week.

MOVIES - From Variety: Christopher Nolan’s final payday for his recent Oscar-winning film, "Oppenheimer," is near $100 million, according to "Variety's" knowledgeable sources. This figure represents a combination of salary, backend compensation, box-office escalators, and a bonus for Nolan's double Academy Awards wins (for "Best Director" and, as a producer, "Best Picture").

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 3/8 to 3/10/2024 weekend box office is Universal/DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda 4" with an estimated take of 58.3 million dollars.

OSCARS - From Variety: The winners at the 2024 / 96th Academy Awards were announced. "Oppenheimer" took the lead with seven wins, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy), and "Best Supporting Actor" (Robert Downey, Jr.).

From THR: The 96th Academy Awards drew 19.5 million viewers, the most for any awards show since 2020.

From TheKyivIndependent: The documentary film, "20 Days in Mariupol," directed by Ukrainian journalist, Mstyslav Chernov, won the Oscar for "Best Documentary Feature" at the 96th Academy Awards on March 10th. Chernov and producers, Michelle Mizner and Raney Aronson-Rath, each received Oscar statuettes.

From Stereogum: Songwriter and hitmaker, Diane Warren, extended her record for most losses in the Oscar category, "Best Original Song." Her most recent nomination, her 15th, was for the song, "The Fire Inside," from the movie, "Flamin' Hot." This time, she last to Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell for "What Was I Made For?" from "Barbie."

From Vox: What director Jonathan Glazer actually said while accepting the "Best International Feature Film" Oscar for his film, "The Zone of Interest."

From THR: What projects are next for this year's Oscar winners and nominees?

From THR: Oscar-recipient Angela Bassett talks about her loss at the 2023 / 95th Academy Awards.

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