Review: "Murder on the Orient Express" 2017 is More Dark Than Cozy

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 6 of 2022 (No. 1818) by Leroy Douresseaux

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Running time:  114 minutes (1 hour, 54 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for violence and thematic elements
DIRECTOR: Kenneth Branagh
WRITER: Michael Green (based on the novel by Agathie Christie)
PRODUCERS:  Kenneth Branagh, Mark Gordon, Judy Hofflund, Simon Kinberg, Michael Schaefer, and Ridley Scott
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Haris Zambarloukos
EDITOR:  Mick Audsley
COMPOSER:  Patrick Doyle

MYSTERY

Starring:  Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Olivia Colman, Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom, Jr., Tom Bateman, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Sergei Polunin, Lucy Boynton, Marwan Kenzari, and Johnny Depp

Murder on the Orient Express is a 2017 mystery film directed by Kenneth Branagh.  It is based on the 1934 novel, Murder on the Orient Express, written by Agatha Christie (1890-1976).  Murder on the Orient Express the movie focuses on a celebrated detective who is recruited to solve a murder that occurs on a train in which he is traveling.

Murder on the Orient Express opens in 1934 and finds renowned Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), in the midst of solving a case in Jerusalem.  When Poirot is ready to return to London, his friend, Bouc (Tom Bateman), the nephew of the director of the luxury Orient Express train service, arranges a berth for him aboard the train.

Poirot boards the train with Bouc and thirteen other passengers.  There is the talkative American widow, Caroline Hubbard (Lauren Bacall).  The English governess, Mary Debenham (Daisy Ridley), and physician, Dr. John Arbuthnot (Leslie Odom, Jr.), seem to be previously acquainted.  Spanish missionary, Pilar Estravado (Penelope Cruz), is prayerful.  American businessman, Edward Ratchett (Johnny Depp), is on a business trip with with his secretary/translator, Hector McQueen (Josh Gad), and his English manservant, Edward Masterman (Derek Jacobi).

There is a Cuban-American car salesman, Biniamino Marquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo).  Elderly Russian Princess Natalia Dragomiroff (Judi Dench) travels with her maid, Hildegarde Schmidt (Olivia Colman).  Hungarian Count Rudolf Andrenyi (Sergei Polunin) and his wife, Elena (Lucy Boynton), are always together.  Austrian university professor, Gerhard Hardman (Willem Dafoe), has theories about different “races” and nationalities.  The train's French conductor, Pierre Michel (Marwan Kenzari), attends to the passengers' numerous needs.

That first night, an avalanche derails the train.  The next morning, Poirot discovers that Edward Ratchett has been murdered and stabbed 12 times.  Poirot and Bouc begin investigating the passengers in order to discover Ratchett's killer, but this case will be quite trying for the esteemed Monsieur Poirot.  He does not lie, and this case may force him to do just that.

The first film adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel, Murder on the Orient Express (1974), was one of only two films adapted from her work that she liked.  [The other was the 1957 film, Witness for the Prosecution, which was based on Christie's 1953 play, The Witness for the Prosecution.]  In the first film, the late actor Albert Finney gives a tremendous performance as Hercule Poirot, one that earned him an Oscar nomination.  The 1974 film is a classic murder mystery film made classier and more artful by its stellar cast of stars from Hollywood films and international cinema.

Murder on the Orient Express 2017 is stylish and modern with plenty of production values created by computers.  Its cast is a mix of established stars, Oscar-winning actors, and up-and-coming talent.  The 2017 film is so stylish that it often comes across as too cold and too determined to be an Oscar-worthy period piece and costume drama.  Kenneth Branagh, as the film's director and as its leading star (playing Hercule Poirot), sometimes seems lost in the technical details of directing his showy, award-winning cast and in creating an eccentric, OCD, smarter-than-everyone-else detective.

However, Murder on the Orient Express 2017 really shows its power in the last thirty minutes of the film.  The 1974 film offered a tidy happy ending.  The 2017 offers a thoroughly messy happy ending that is more befitting of these troubled, modern times.  Branagh and writer Michael Green turn the last act's revelation of whodunit into an edgy, dark exercise.  Truth be told, dammit!  But it will be done so with all the rawness of grief and the bitterness and hatred of revenge.  No one gets out of this resolution unscathed, and the healing will likely leave painful scabs.

I like Murder on the Orient Express 2017.  I like that the ethnicity and national origins of the cast are more diverse than what is in the 1974 film and in the original novel.  I like that it plainly leaves us with the message that murder is murder – no matter how good the intentions are – and that pain will temporarily make killers of those who are not really killers at heart.  I wonder what Agathie Christie would think of this take on Murder on the Orient Express.

I like Murder on the Orient Express 2017 mainly because it decides not to be cozy about the murder mystery.  I hope the follow up to this film, the just released Death on the Nile, is also this aggressive.

7 out of 10
A-

Thursday, February 10, 2022


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

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 24th to 31st, 2021 - Update #25

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 BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 10/29 to 10/31/2021 weekend box office is "Dune" with an estimated take of 15.53 million dollars.

MOVIES - From io9:  Daisy Ridley of Star Wars fame ("Rey Skywalker") returns to science fiction with the upcoming film, "Mind Fall."

TELEVISION - From THR:  Former First Lady Michelle Obama will appear on an episode of the ABC sitcom, "black-ish," on this its eighth and final season.

CELEBRITY - From TheBigIssue:  The veteran actor, Brian Cox, has a biography, "Putting the Rabbit in the Hat," and he has a lot to say about major stars with whom he has worked.

MOVIES - From Variety:  The sequel or second part of the recently released "Dune" has been greenlit by its production company, Legendary Entertainment.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:   The winner of the 10/22 to 10/24/2021 weekend box office is "Dune" with an estimated take of 40.1 million dollars?

From Negromancer:  Here is my review of "Dune" 2021.

From THR:  Wes Anderson’s "The French Dispatch" posted the top opening theater average of the pandemic era.  The Searchlight Pictures movie grossed $1.3 million from 52 cinemas in 14 U.S. markets, or $25,000 per location. 

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MUSIC/POLITICS - From Jacobin:  In an interview with "Jacobin," Michael Stipe, the former lead singer of the band, R.E.M., and film producer, explains why he supported Bernie Sanders.

MOVIES - From THR:   In March 1993, Brandon Lee, son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, was fatally wounded by a prop gun while filming "The Crow."  He was 28.  In the wake of an accidental shooting death on the set of the Western, "Rust," Brandon's sister, Shannon, and members of her family support banning real guns from Hollywood sets.

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"RUST" ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING DEATH:

From Deadline:  This link will take you to Deadline's Halyna Hutchins page, which articles related to everything about her shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From THR:   Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the film, "Rust," released a statement through her lawyers.  She says she had “no idea where the live rounds came from” that were recovered by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's during the investigation of the accidental on-set shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.

From Jacobin:  An opinion piece says that cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death on the set of the film, "Rust," was not a freak accident, but was about Alec Baldwin and his fellow producers' cost-cutting decisions.  Baldwin accidentally fired the gun that killed Hutchins.

From Deadline:   Two of executive producers on "Rust," Allen Cheney and Emily Salveson, disavow responsibility for the film's troubled production.

From THR:   Iconic "Ghostbusters" actor Ernie Hudson is reeling from the news of the death of Halyna Hutchins, like the rest of Hollywood. Hudson also appeared in the film, "The Crow," the film in which its star, Brandon Lee, was killed because of an on-set accidental shooting.  He also agrees with the call to ban real guns from movie sets.

From THR:  The Sheriff of Sante Fe County says that his office has recovered three guns and 500 rounds of ammunition from the set of the movie "Rust" where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed.

From Deadline:  Regarding criminal charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust," District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis, "all options are on the table - no one has been ruled out."

From THR:  Does Hollywood Need Guns? Will new regulations lead to an overreactions to a tragedy.

From Deadline:   "Rust" producers have opened an internal investigation into the fatal shooting on the set of the Western film.  They have hired outside lawyers to conduct interviews with the film's production crew.

From Deadline:  "Rust's" AD (assistant director), Dave Halls, has come under scrutiny in the wake of the on-set shooting death of the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The affidavit of Sante Fe Sheriff's Department Detective Joel Cano has been made public. It can be read at "Deadline."  The affidavit was for a search warrant from the property were the Western, "Rust," was being filmed.

From THR:  The production company behind "Rust" has shut the film down until the police investigation into the fatal, on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is through.  The Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office has also revealed a timeline of the shooting.

From Deadline:  The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday night that Alec Baldwin “discharged” a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the movie, "Rust."  As a result, one crew member, director of photography Halyna Hutchins, was killed and director Joel Souza was injured and remains in a local hospital - his condition unknown.

From THR:  "Rust" director, Joel Souza, who was wounded in the accidental on-set shooting, says that he is "gutted" by the death of his cinematographer on the film, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" may have been "recorded" according to detective for Santa Fe Sheriff's Department.

From Deadline:  The production company behind the film, "Rust," will launch an internal safety review after the fatal accident that killed Halyna Hutchins; possible prior gun incidents; and a camera crew walkout.

From CNN:   Crew member yelled "cold gun" as he handed Alec Baldwin prop weapon, court document shows.

From Variety:  Actor Alec Baldwin releases statement on the death of Halyna Hutchins: "There are no words to convey my shock and sadness."

From Variety:  The prop gun that killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on during an on-set accident on Thursday contained a “live single round,” according to an email sent by IATSE Local 44 to its membership.

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OBITS:

From Deadline:  The Canadian-born American comedian, actor, and satirist, Mort Sahl, has died at the age of 84, Tuesday, October 26, 2021.  Sahl's acerbic comedy and social commentary paved the way for comedians like Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, and George Carlin.  Sahl hosted the first Grammy Awards ceremony in 1959 and also co-hosted the 1959 Academy Awards.  His 1958 album, "Mort Sahl at Sunset" is considered the first stand-up comedy album.

From THR:   Actor James Michael Tyler has died at the age of 59, Sunday, October 24, 2021.  He was best known for his recurring role on NBC's "Friends," where he played "Gunther," the barista at the coffee shop, "Central Perk," a role he played for about 150 episodes.

From THR:  Hollywood storyboard artist, David Negron, Sr., has died at the age of 85, Tuesday, October 12, 2021.  Negron was also a film illustrator and conceptual painter.  Negron did conceptual work on "Raiders of the Lost Art" (1981), "Blade Runner" (1982), and "Jurassic Park" (1993).  He produced storyboards for such films as "Masters of the Universe" (1986), "Ghost" (1990), and "Evolution" (2001).

Review: "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 5 (of 2020) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Running time:  141 minutes (2 hours, 21 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action
DIRECTOR:  J.J. Abrams
WRITERS:  Chris Terrio and J.J. Abrams; from a story by Chris Terrio and J.J. Abrams and Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly (based on characters created by George Lucas)
PRODUCERS:  Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Michelle Rejwan
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Dan Mindel
EDITORS:  Maryann Brandon and Stefan Grube
COMPOSER:  John Williams

SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE/DRAMA

Starring:  Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Anthony Daniels, Ian McDiarmid, Naomi Ackie, Kelly Marie Tran, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Domhnall Gleeson, Billie Lourd, Dominic Monaghan, Warwick Davis, Denis Lawson, and Joonas Suotamo with Carrie Fisher (archive footage)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a 2019 science fiction, fantasy, and action film directed by J.J. Abrams.  It is the ninth movie in the Star Wars film franchise's “Skywalker Saga,” which began with the 1977 Oscar-winning film, Star Wars, created by George Lucas.  Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is also a direct sequel to Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).  In The Rise of Skywalker, the surviving Resistance fighters battles the First Order as the last of the Jedi faces the most powerful of the Dark Side.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker begins one year after the “Battle of Crait” (as seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi).  Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is now “Supreme Leader” of the First Order, and he is vexed by mysterious broadcasts that carry the voice of someone claiming to be “the Emperor.”  Determined to find this “phantom Emperor,” Kylo uses a Sith device called the “Wayfinder,” which leads him to a secret part of the galaxy and the planet, “Exegol.”

There, Kylo discovers a physically impaired Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), the Emperor of the late Galactic Empire, long thought to be dead.  Palpatine reveals that he has been manipulating things behind the scenes, including luring Kylo to the Dark Side.  He wants Kylo to find Rey (Daisy Ridley) and to bring her to him.

Meanwhile, on the world the “Resistance” calls its home, Rey continues her Jedi training under the tutelage of General Leia Organa (archive footage of the late Carrie Fisher).  Thanks to a mole/spy in the First Order, the Resistance has learned of Kylo Ren's discovery.  Now, Rey, Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), BB-8, and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) leave on a mission to find a second Wayfinder, the one for which the late Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) had once searched, one that will lead them to Exegol.

Rey, Finn, and Poe will need the help of old heroes, like Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), and new friends, like Jannah (Naomi Ackie), if they are going to stop the forces of the Dark Side.  Kylo and Palpatine are plotting something called “the Final Order,” which includes a secret armada of the most powerful “Star Destroyers” ever assembled.

Hopefully, I can keep this review from running on too long.  The reviews for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, both formal and commentary from social media, are decidedly mixed.  Some think The Rise of Skywalker is the worst Star Wars movie ever.  Others have called it mediocre or average.  Some don't like one half of it and like the other half.  Some think it is the best Star Wars movie (1) in the sequel trilogy, (2) since the original trilogy (3) or the best Star Wars movie ever.

I think Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the best Star Wars film since the end of the original Star Wars trilogy, Return of the Jedi, which was released in 1983.  I like everything about The Rise of Skywalker.  The directing, the writing, the CGI and the science and technology, the cinematography, editing, film score, costume design, art direction and set decoration, and, of course the acting.

Co-writer-director J.J. Abrams and co-writer Chris Terrio give us a satisfying resolution to the story arcs of both Rey and Kylo Ren.  Finn and Poe Dameron finally get quality screen time that allows the audience to see the best of their characters.  A number of actors who have appeared in Star Wars films over the last four decades-plus lend their voices to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.  Lando Calrissian finally returns, with Billy Dee Williams making a star turn in each of his scenes.  Their are wonderful new characters (Keri Russell's Zorri Bliss) and the delightful return of familiar characters.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker also offers the revival of old plots, and the film contains numerous references to important moments in previous films (including the execution of a feat of power displayed by Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back).  Even the last shot of the movie references an important moment in the original Star Wars film.

I love Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker without reservation...  Well, maybe I think the movie is not long enough, because I could have watched another hour of it.  It is like a dark, but fantastic fairy tale, full of symbolism and magic.  So, you, dear reader, can take my sky-high recommendation with many proverbial grains of salt.  Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is my favorite movie of the year.  It is a fine end to the “Skywalker Saga”... or it is a satisfying goodbye until we see Rey, Finn, Poe, and our favorite Star Wars characters next time.

10 of 10

2020  Academy Awards, USA:  3 nominations: “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Score” (John Williams), “Best Achievement in Visual Effects” (Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach, Dominic Tuohy, and Roger Guyett), and “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Matthew Wood and David Acord)

2020 BAFTA Awards 2020:  3 nominations: “Original Music” (John Williams), “Best Sound” (David Acord, Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio, Stuart Wilson, and Matthew Wood) and “Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects” (Roger Guyett, Paul Kavanagh, Neal Scanlan, and Dominic Tuohy)

Friday, December 20, 2019

Edited Tuesday, March 17, 2020


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved.  Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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"Star Wars: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER" (Episode IX) - A Negromancer Link-O-Rama - Update #63

Support Leroy on Patreon:

REVIEW - From Patreon:  My review of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."

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NEWS:

From Variety:  "The Rise of Skywalker" has the second-best Christmas Day box office ever, grossing 32 million dollars.  The best Christmas Day box office record is held by "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" with 49 million dollar.

From ComicBook:  All the cameos in "The Rise of Skywalker" you might have missed.

From IndieWire:  John Boyega says his character "Finn" was never going to tell "Rey" (played by Daisy Ridley) that he loves her.

From Yahoo:  What was Finn going to tell Rey?  J.J. tells us.

From Variety:  "The Rise of Skywalker" wins its opening weekend at the box office with an estimated gross of $175.5 million.

From YahooNews:  "The Rise of Skywalker" grosses $40 million in the U.S. and Canada during Thursday night preview showings.

From YahooMovies:  Late in "The Rise of Skywalker," two women kiss, marking the first on-screen lesbian kiss in "Star Wars" films.  Of course, some people are bothered... because they wanted Finn and Poe to kiss.

From Variety:  Catch some exclusive behind-the-scenes "The Return of Skywalker" video at Amazon.

From Deadline:  With the help of Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger helped facilitate a dying Star Wars fan's wish to see "The Rise of Skywalker."  The film was shown, via laptop, to a patient at Rowan's Hospice in Hampshire, England, this week.

From YahooGMA:   John Boyega a.k.a. "Finn" admits that it was his copy of "The Rise of Skywalker" script that ended up on eBay.

From Esquire:  Billy Dee Williams Explains What Lando Has Been Up to Since Return of the Jedi

From YahooMoviesUK:  The writers of "The Rise of Skywalker" took notes from "Star Wars" creator, George Lucas.

From Esquire:  The enduring intergalactic cool of Billy Dee Williams.

From ComicBook:  See the "Sith Troopers" in this photographic image in "Empire" magazines.

From TheWrap:  A real script for "The Rise of Skywalker" ended up on eBay after an actor left it under his bed where a cleaner found it.  Lucasfilm and Disney bought it.

From EW:  The magazine interviews "The Rise of Skywalker" director J.J. Abrams.

From YahooMoviesUK:  "The Rise of Skywalker" international poster debuts.

From YahooPeople:   J.J. Abrams says that the trailers of "The Rise of Skywalker" have only scratched the surface of the actual movie.

From Newsarama:  Disney/Lucasfilm has released 12 new characters posters from "The Rise of Skywalker."

From RollingStone:   Lucasfilm president, Kathleen Kennedy, talks about "The Rise of Skywalker" and the future of "Star Wars."

From CBR:  Colin Trevorrow ("Jurassic World") was originally going to direct "Star Wars IX," until he was fired.  However, he will reportedly get a "story by" credit on "The Rise of Skywalker."

From ScreenRant:  Before Carrie Fisher died, Princess Leia was going to the "the Last Jedi" in "The Rise of Skywalker."

From EW:  The site offers: "What we know about Emperor Palpatine — and how he could impact Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"

From Newsarama:  It is apparently official.  The final trailer for "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" will debut during halftime of ESPN's "Monday Night Football" on Monday, Oct. 21st.

From StarWarsNewsNet:  There is a news that the next trailer for "The Rise of Skywalker" will debut Monday, Oct. 21st during the halftime show of "Monday Night Football" on ESPN.  The game will feature the reigning Super Bowl champions New England Patriots at the New York Jets.

From TheWrap:  "The Wrap" says that it's weird that we don't know what "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" is about.

From Newsarama:  A preview of "Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - Allegiance" from Marvel Comics on Oct. 9th.

From Inverse:   New "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" marketing may reveal spoilers.

New YahooMoviesUK:  New art about the "Knights of Ren" revealed.

From Newsarama:  StarWars.com introduces a new character for "The Rise of Skywalker," the tiny alien, "Babu Frik."

From Newsarama:  Disney announces the companies with which it will team up to promote "The Rise of Skywalker."

From EW:  At D23 Expo, Lucasfilm revealed a new poster for "The Rise of Skywalker."  New footage from the film was also revealed, but will still have to wait for the release of a full trailer.

From Inverse:  Apparently, the upcoming book, "Star Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi" reveals that only a "select few" Jedi know the secret of becoming a "Force Ghost."  Could this info have an effect on "The Rise of Skywalker."

From Esquire:  There is a new leak from "The Return of Skywalker" that appears to confirm Rey's origin.

From io9:   In a video for Wired, Daisy Ridley ("Rey") promises "one of the most epic" lightsaber battles in "The Rise of Skywalker."

From CBR:  "Jurassic World" director Colin Trevorrow was once slated to direct Star Wars Episode IX before he was fired.  In a recent interview, actress Daisy Ridley ("Rey") said Trevorrow's plans for the film were very different from what director J.J. Abrams presents in "The Rise of Skywalker."

From StarWars:  "The Rise of Skywalker" will introduce a new stormtrooper, "the Sith Trooper."  Sith Trooper merchandise will be available at next weeks San Diego Comic Con 2019.

From USAToday:  Daisy Ridley promises emotional ending to "Star Wars."

From YahooEntertainment:  Mark Hamill says that he is done with "Star Wars" after "The Rise of Skywalker," in which he will be a "Force ghost."

From VanityFair:  A New "Vanity Fair" article offers a wealth of set photos and images from "The Rise of Skywalker."

From Newsarama:  In a new "Vanity Fair" article, J.J. Abrams talks about going "renegade" in making "The Rise of Skywalker."

From IndieWire:  One of the international titles for "The Rise of Skywalker," specifically Hungarian could provide a hidden clue about the film.

From MakingStarWars:  Rumors say that Harrison Ford might return as Han Solo in "The Rise of Skywalker."

From IndieWire:  J.J Abrams talks about how George Lucas helped with the script for "The Rise of Skywalker."

From YahooMovies:  Apparently the appearance of actor Ian McDiarmid at Star Wars Celebration this weekend in Chicago confirms the return of "Emperor Palpatine" in "The Rise of Skywalker."

From Variety:  Star Wars IX has a title, "The Rise of Skywalker," and a teaser trailer.

From Newsarama:  "The Rise of Skywalker" image gallery.

From Variety:  Here is a first look at Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian in "The Rise of Skywalker."

From MakingStarWars: Star Wars: Episode IX retail poster and character sheets leak revealing names, ships, and more!

From Newsarama:  A possible leak of a poster for Episode IX?

From MakingStarWars:  Disney shareholders meeting yields more Episode IX rumors, including that attendees were shown clips from the film.

From Twitter:  J.J. Abrams announced that "Episode IX" has wrapped photography.

From MovieWeb:  Maybe only director J.J. Abrams knows the title of Episode IX.

From MakingStarWars:  What is the size of Lando Calrissian's role?

From io9:  A Reddit user who claims to be an extra on Episode IX claims that actress Naomi Ackie is playing Lando Calrissian's daughter, "Veranada (Vera) Calrissian.

From BleedingCool:  Anthony Daniels / C-3PO reveals via Twitter than today (Monday, Jan. 28th, 2019) was his last day filming on Episode IX.

From SlashFilm:  In the latest episode of /Film's "Star Wars Bits," they start the year with rumors, including a rumored titled for "Episode IX."  How does "Son of Darkness" sound?

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  First teaser trailer (April 12, 2019).

From YouTube:  "The Rise of Skywalker" footage shown at Disney D23 Expo 2019

From YouTube:  "The Rise of Skywalker" final official trailer - released Monday, October 21, 2019.

From Newsarama:  "The Rise of Skywalker" 30-second teaser, released Tuesday, November 19, 2019.

From EW:  The Knights of Ren assemble in new 30-second footage, released Sunday, November 24, 2019.

From IndieWire:  This 30-second spot emphasizes the conflict between Rey and Kylo Ren with John Williams' "Duel of the Fates" (from the score for "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace) playing in the background.

From ComicBook:   In this clip, General Leia Organa holds a lightsaber - Saturday, November 30, 2019.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from December 1st to 7th, 2019 - Update #27

Support Leroy on Patreon:

AWARDS - From IndieWire:  The National Board of Review has announced its 2019 film awards and name Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" as its "Best Film of 2019."

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DISNEY - From THR:  Disney is developing its first spinoff from its hit, live-action film, "Aladdin."  The Disney+ project would focus on "Prince Anders," the dim-witted royal who wanted to marry Jasmine.  Actor Billy Magnussen, who played the role in the film, would return for the spinoff.

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TELEVISION - From THR:  HBO has picked up Adam McKay's drama about the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers of the professional basketball league, the National Basketball Association (NBA).  McKay is executive producing the series that would focus on the "Showtime" era of the Lakers, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Jason Reitman's "Ghostbusters" film now has a title, "Ghostbusters: Afterlife."  There is also a first poster for the film, which is scheduled for a July 10, 2020 release.  There may also be a first trailer of some sort released Mon. Dec. 9th.

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POLITICS - From TheHill:  Oscar-nominated actor, Mark Ruffalo, endorses Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2020 U.S. presidential race.

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BLM - From YahooNews:  Georgia college student, Tommia Dean, and a representative of Georgia's Department of Administrative Services have signed a settlement that gives Dean $145,000.  Dean, a former Kennesaw State University cheerleader, was disciplined for taking a knee during the national anthem during a September 2017 football game.

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STAR WARS - From YahooGMA:  "Star Wars" actress Daisy Ridley says that she does not take selfies with fans for reasons of privacy.

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CELEBRITY - From TheDailyBeast:   The Egyptian-born, Canadian actor, Mena Massoud, played "Aladdin," in Disney's billion-dollar-grossing live-action remake, "Aladdin."  Massoud says that he has not been able to get an audition since Aladdin debuted in theaters.

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JAMES BOND-TRAILER - From THR:  The first official trailer for the next James Bond movie, "No Time to Die," makes it debut.

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MOVIES - From THR:   20th Century Fox has reportedly hired Wes Ball, the filmmaker behind "The Maze Runner" series, to redevelop the "Planet of the Apes" franchise.  This would be the first historically Fox property to get the redevelopment treatment since the Walt Disney Company acquired Fox.

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AWARDS - From Variety:  The New York Film Critics Circle name "The Irishman" the "best film of 2019."

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SPORTS - From NBA:  Los Angeles Lakers Coach Frank Vogel has been named the "NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month" for game played in October and November 2019.

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JAMES BOND - From Newsarama:  There are new character posters for the next James Bond film, "No Time to Die."  The film is due April 8, 2020.

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COMICS-FILM TRAILER - From EW:  Marvel Studios releases the first official teaser trailer and a poster for its next feature film, "Black Widow," which is set for release, May 1, 2020.

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AWARDS - From Deadline:  The winners of the 2019 IFP "Gotham Awards" were announced last night (Mon., Dec. 2nd).  Noah Baumbach's "Marriage Story" won four awards including for "best feature," "best actor" (Adam Driver), and "best screenplay."

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  Two-time Oscar-winner Alexander Payne is attached to a "re-imagining" of the Oscar-winning Danish film, "Babette's Feast" (1987).

----------
SCANDAL - From Deadline:  The actor's union, SAG-AFTRA, has gotten involved in Gabrielle Union's firing from the reality competition TV series, "America's Got Talent" (NBC)," by launching their on probe.

----------
AWARDS - From Deadline:  The nominations for the 47th / 2020 Annie Awards have been announced.  The Annies are considered the most important honor in the animation film industry... after the Academy Awards, which currently dedicates two Oscars to animated filmmaking.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 11/29 to 12/1/2019 weekend box office is "Frozen 2" with an estimated take of 85.2 million dollars.

From Variety:  "Frozen 2" grossed 123.7 million dollars over the five-day Thanksgiving 2019 weekend.  That is a record for that frame, besting previous record holder, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" (2013), which made 109 million dollars over the five-day period.

----------
MOVIES - From IndependentUK:  2019 seems to be the year directors and stars of film bombs and flops have been apologizing in public for them.  Why?  The article offers a reason.

From TorontoSun:  The "Toronto Sun" suggests 10 films to see this month, in December 2019.

----------
AVATAR - From Deadline:  The "Avatar" sequel marks the end of filming for 2019 with a set photo.

----------
ECO - From Deadline:  Leonardo DiCaprio responds to the ridiculous claims from Jair Bolsonaro, president of Brazil, that the Oscar-winning actor is bankrolling the fires currently raging through the Amazon rain forest.

----------

OBITS:

From Deadline:  Veteran TV and film executive and producer, Leonard Goldberg, has died at the age of 85, Wednesday, December 4, 2019.  He was the former president of 20th Century Fox and Head of Programming at ABC.  Goldberg was an executive producer of such TV series as "Charlie’s Angels" (1976-1981) and "Blue Bloods" (2010 to present).


From Deadline:  The actor, Robert Walker, Jr., has died at the age of 79, Thursday, December 5, 2019.  He was the son of Hollywood stars, Robert Walker (best known for Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train") and Jennifer Jones (who won an Oscar for her performance in "The Song of Bernadette").  Although he made numerous film and TV appearances, Walker is best known for appearing in the "Charlie X," the second episode of the first season of the original "Star Trek" TV series.

From THR:  Television writer Dorothy Catherine Fontana, better known as D.C. Fontana, has died at the age of 80, Monday, December 2, 2019.   Once a secretary, Fontana moved into writing scripts for television in the 1960s.  She is best known for her association with the original "Star Trek" TV series, being credited for writing or co-writing 10 episodes and working as the series "story editor" for the first two seasons.

From Deadline:  Actress Shelley Morrison has died at the age of 83, Sunday, December 1, 2019.  She had a 50-year career in film and television, but Morrison was best known for playing fan-favorite character, "Rosario Salazar," on the NBC television series, "Will & Grace" (1999-2006).

From BBC:  The African-American songwriter and musician, Irving Louis Burgie - better known as Lord Burgess - has died at the age of 95, Friday, November 29, 2019.  Burgess is best known for co-writing a version of the Jamaican folk song, "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)," that Harry Belafonte made famous.  He also wrote eight of the 11 songs on Belafonte's 1956 album, Calypso, which was the first album to sell one million copies.

Star Wars Franchise Stars Launch "Triple Force Friday"

Star Wars Talent Join Forces to Count Down to Triple Force Friday

Fans Around the World Invited to Tune in to Epic Livestream from Pinewood Studios for First Look at New Products for “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” “The Mandalorian” and “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order”

Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano and More to Reveal New Star Wars Products Ahead of Global Launch

GLENDALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Generations of Star Wars talent will came together Thursday, September 26, 2019 for a global livestream event on YouTube kicking off a weeklong countdown to Triple Force Friday when new products inspired by this year’s highly anticipated Star Wars movie, live-action series and gaming launches began hitting shelves worldwide.

On September 26 at 2 p.m. ET, fans around the world tuned in to the Star Wars YouTube page for a livestream event from Pinewood Studios in London where the upcoming theatrical release “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” was filmed (view teaser here). Via live and recorded vignettes, an ensemble of veteran and new Star Wars talent revealed new products that will roll out globally for Triple Force Friday on October 4, 2019, inspired by a trio of upcoming original Star Wars releases:

 1. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”: the highly anticipated final installment of the Skywalker saga, which hits theaters December 20
2.  “The Mandalorian”: The first-ever Star Wars live-action series, which will debut in the U.S. on November 12 exclusively on Disney+, The Walt Disney Company’s new streaming service

3.  “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order”: a brand-new action adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, releasing November 15

Star Wars talent participating in the global reveal will include: Daisy Ridley (‘Rey’); John Boyega (‘Finn’); Oscar Isaac (‘Poe’); Anthony Daniels (‘C-3PO’); Billy Dee Williams (‘Lando Calrissian’); Joonas Suotamo (‘Chewbacca’); Keri Russell (‘Zorii Bliss’); Naomi Ackie (‘Jannah’); Kelly Marie Tran (‘Rose’); Pedro Pascal (‘The Mandalorian’); Gina Carano (‘Cara Dune’ in “The Mandalorian”) and Cameron Monaghan (‘Cal Kestis’ in “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order”). Livestream viewers will also be treated to the worldwide premiere of a new trailer for “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,” along with other special surprises from across the Star Wars galaxy.

Warwick Davis, a prolific actor who’s best known for his roles as ‘Wicket the Ewok’ in “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” and as ‘Willow Ufgood’ in “Willow,” will host the livestream event at Pinewood Studios. In the U.S., fans and influencers will gather for a special viewing party at Lucasfilm’s headquarters in San Francisco.

As well as seeing new characters like ‘Zorii,’ ‘Jannah,’ ‘The Mandalorian,’ ‘Cal Kestis’ and the new droid ‘D-O’ in product form for the first time, fans will get their first look at the wide array of new products that bring the characters to life in new and unexpected ways, spanning toys, apparel and accessories, books, gaming, tech and home goods.

Force Friday is an anticipated event for Star Wars fans worldwide, commemorating merchandise introduced in advance of the episodic saga films. Past iterations, including a live unboxing event that rolled through 15 cities worldwide in 2015 and a global in-store digital scavenger hunt in 2017, brought out fans around the world who shared their experiences.

As always, fans are invited to join the conversation on social using Triple #ForceFriday, as well as to participate in real-world retail celebrations around the globe. Select retailers in major markets around the world, including flagship Disney store locations in the U.S., will open at midnight on October 4, featuring the new range of products from all three properties as well as a selection of limited-edition commemorative products.

Throughout the weekend, retailers including Target and Toys “R” Us Canada will join in to celebrate Triple Force Friday. On October 4, Amazon Treasure Truck will feature a limited-edition product in select cities — sign up for Treasure Truck alerts so you don’t miss out.

Fans in Orlando and Anaheim will be able to experience October 4 midnight shopping at World of Disney at Disney Springs and Downtown Disney. Disney Springs also will feature midnight shopping at The LEGO® Store, along with Star Wars-themed food and beverage offerings and a LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon Master Build Event taking place throughout the weekend.

As new plot points are revealed, additional products will continue to roll out leading up to the theatrical release and beyond. More details and updates about Triple Force Friday are available at StarWars.com.


About Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products brings the magic of The Walt Disney Company’s powerful brands and franchises—including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, ESPN, 20th Century Fox and National Geographic—into the daily lives of families and fans around the world to create magical memories that last a lifetime.

When Walt Disney opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California on July 17, 1955, he created a unique destination built around storytelling and immersive experiences, ushering in a new era of family entertainment. More than sixty years later, Disney has grown into one of the world’s leading providers of family travel and leisure experiences, with iconic businesses including six resort destinations with 12 theme parks and 52 resorts in the United States, Europe and Asia with approximately 160,000 cast members; a top-rated cruise line with four ships and plans for three more to be completed in 2021, 2022, and 2023; a luxurious family beach resort in Hawaii; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Disney’s global consumer products operations include the world’s leading licensing business; one of the world’s largest children’s print publisher; one of the world’s largest licensors of games across platforms; more than 200 Disney store locations around the world; and the shopDisney e-commerce platform.

These experiences are created by Disney Imagineers, the creative force behind experiences found in Disney theme parks, resort hotels, cruise ships and consumer products—including books, games and merchandise.

About Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company's activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.

Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Review: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Earns Love, Draws Ire

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 3 (of 2018) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Running time:  152 minutes (2 hours, 32 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi action and violence
DIRECTOR:  Rian Johnson
WRITER:  Rian Johnson (based on characters created by George Lucas)
PRODUCERS:  Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Steve Yedlin (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Bob Ducsay
COMPOSER:  John Williams
Academy Award nominee

SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE/DRAMA

Starring:  Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, Benicio del Toro, Frank Oz (voice), Billie Lourd, Joonas Suotamo, Amanda Lawrence, Jimmy Vee, and Justin Theroux

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a 2017 science fiction-fantasy action film written and directed by Rian Johnson.  It is the ninth movie in the Star Wars film franchise, which began with the 1977 Oscar-winning film, Star Wars, created by George Lucas.  The Last Jedi is also a direct sequel to Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and the eighth Star Wars “episode” film.  The Last Jedi focuses on a young woman who takes her first steps into the world of the Jedi and tries to unlock the mysteries of The Force and the secrets of the past.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi finds the wannabe galactic rulers, the First Order, and its Supreme Commander Snoke (Andy Serkis), ascendant.  The First Order moves to destroy the main base of its enemy, the Resistance.  General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) struggles to keep the Resistance one step ahead of the First Order.  Heroic Resistance pilot, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac),  leads the charge that gives the Resistance vessels the time they need to jump into hyperspace to escape the First Order.  However, escaping the First Order will not be so easy, and now stormtropper turned Resistance fighter, Finn (John Boyega), and mechanic, Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran), must execute a dangerous mission to allow the Resistance to really escape the First Order.

Meanwhile, budding Jedi, Rey (Daisy Ridley), is on the planet, Ahch-To, where she has found the long-missing Jedi Knight legend, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).  However, Luke refuses to initiate Rey into the ways of the Force and also declares that the Jedi Order must end with him.  Frustrated, Rey also discovers that she has some kind of psychic connection to Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Luke's former student who turned to the Dark Side and now serves Snoke and the Resistance.

I found Star Wars: The Last Jedi to be as entertaining and as well-made as Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  It is quite thrilling at times and kept my on the proverbial edge of my seat hoping our heroes could survive the overwhelming First Order odds against them.  The Last Jedi is not exactly a “non-stop thrill machine,” but it is thrilling.  But neither The Last Jedi nor The Force Awakens are as good as 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars film.

I thought about why I feel that way.  I thought about it, and I think that The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi both suffer because Star Wars creator George Lucas did not have direct hand in making them.

For all the criticism leveled against Lucas by critics and fans over the decades, especially because of the Lucas directed “prequel” films, (Star Wars: Episodes I to III), Lucas is a wildly imaginative and inventive filmmaker and storyteller.  Each prequel film had enough subplots, characters, settings, worlds, ideas, and creatures to power its own film trilogy.  Lucas' weakness (relatively speaking) seems to be in the execution of telling a  film story via screenplay and directing (especially in directing actors).  Visually, Lucas' films seem almost too big for even the biggest movie screens, but that size and scale comes at the cost of the narrative.

The Force Awakens (Episode VII) and The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) are disciplined and narrow in focus, in terms of plot.  The Last Jedi focuses on (1) the struggle of the Resistance to escape destruction at the hands of the First Order and (2) Rey's quest to discover the secrets of the Jedi and the Force.  The Last Jedi is so focused that it looses the sense of wonder that permeates the original Star Wars films.  Instead, The Last Jedi references and remakes scenes from Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983).  Some people complained that The Force Awakens was a kind of remake and reboot of the original Star Wars film, but The Last Jedi does not do that as much.  [Strangely, I find that Rogue One, which is a side story connected to Star Wars 1977, comes across as a fresh, new take on Star Wars, while being true to the work of George Lucas.]

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a Star Wars movie, and I will likely always love all Star Wars movies, to one extent or another.  [Every time one is on TV, I try to watch at least some of it.]  So I love The Last Jedi and will give it a high grade.  However, this final trilogy (Episodes VII to IX) is starting to seem like fan fiction, created by writers and directors who cherry pick ideas from their childhood Star Wars favorite moments.  Maybe the current owner of Star Wars, The Walt Disney Company, and the filmmakers it hires to continue the “Star Wars saga” are really afraid of new ideas or too many new ideas.  Maybe, Disney got the message; the prequel trilogy looked too different from the original trilogy and audiences, at least the vocal part of it, were pissed.  Well, the Disney-produced Star Wars films will suffer for playing it safe.

Let me summarize my thoughts and feelings this way.  If Disney replaced the title, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, with something else, say Alien or Predator, I would give this film a rating of 5 or 6 out of 10 at most.  This 8 out of 10 is the kind of love you show family.

8 of 10
A

Sunday, December 17, 2017
Edited:  Thursday, March 15, 2018

NOTES:
2018 Academy Awards, USA:  4 nominations: “Best Achievement in Visual Effects” (Ben Morris, Michael Mulholland, Neal Scanlan, and Chris Corbould), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Score” (John Williams), “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Matthew Wood and Ren Klyce), and” Best Achievement in Sound Mixing” (Michael Semanick, David Parker, Stuart Wilson, and Ren Klyce)

2018 BAFTA Awards:  2 nominations: “Best Sound” (Ren Klyce, Michael Semanick, Matthew Wood, David Parker, and Stuart Wilson) and “Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects”


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

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 24th to 30th, 2016 - Updated #33

Support Leroy on Patreon.

COMICS - From CBR:   See Batman's costume redesign for the comic books.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Director Seth Grahame-Smith has left Warner Bros.'s film, "The Flash," over "creative differences."

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MOVIES - From DarkHorizons:  After nearly killing their lead in a stupid stunt, Fox puts the final "Maze Runner" film, "The Death Cure" on indefinite hold.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Will Ferrell backs out of playing Reagan.

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  John Krasinski will play the lead in Amazon's "Jack Ryan" series.

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ECO - From RSN:  Bianca Jagger asks, Will the Paris Climate agreement deliver?

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ANIMATION - From Variety:  NBCUniversal to acquire DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion. Chris Meledandri, head of Universal’s Illumination Entertainment animation wing, will oversee operations, but the DreamWorks Animation brand will remain intact as an imprint.

From Variety:  Also, is Chris Meledandri the new John Lasseter (the co-founder of Pixar)?

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MOVIES/BOOKS - From TheTrackingBoard:  People fight over publishing and film rights for a YA book , The Final Six, that hasn't even been written.

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MOVIES - From Collider:  New images from "Alien: Covenant" (Alien 5), which has supposedly started filming.

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COMICS - From TheWrap:  Stephen Merchant joins "Wolverine 3.

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MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) will replace Angelina Jolie as "Lara Croft" in the Tomb Raider film series reboot.

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BLACK LIVES MATTER - From BuzzFlash:  The history of racism and slavery in Washington D.C.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Will Ferrell to play Ronald Reagan.

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COMICS - From YahooMovies:  Marvel Studios releases a statement defending the casting of Tilda Swinton as "The Ancient One" in "Doctor Strange."  The character was originally a Tibetan-type.  The casting does not bother me.  I'm all for color-blind casting, especially when it's that fine-ass Tilda Swinton.

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MUSIC - From YahooNews:  Laolu Senbanjo, the Nigerian artist who did the body art in Beyonce's new visual album, talks.

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COMICS - From YahooMovies:  Spider-Man takes on The Winter Soldier in new "Captain America: Civil War" clip (#10).

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COMICS - From BleedingCool:  The sexual harassment spotlight on DC Comics/Entertainment continues to grow.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Our Star wars heroine, Daisy Ridley, to star in a Holocaust drama, "The Lost Wife."

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MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  Some concept art from "Alien: Covenant" (or Alien 5) reveal the return of a fan favorite character.

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MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  This deleted scene from "A Nightmare on Elm Street" changes the story.

MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  Wesley Snipes sighs a two-picture deal with WWE Studios.

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TELEVISION - From TVLine:  See the 200+ crazy cast from the "Twin Peaks" revival.

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MUSIC - From Vulture:  "Lemonade" shows Beyonce the "brilliant filmmaker."

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COMICS - From Vulture:  Nathan Fillion has been cast as "Simon Williams" (sometimes known as "
Wonder Man") in "Guardians of the Galaxy 2."

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BLACK LIVES MATTER - From YahooNews:  Cleveland settles a lawsuit brought against the city by the family of Tamir Rice, a minor killed by city police officers.

---------------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 4/22 to 4/24/2016 weekend box office is "Jungle Book" with an estimated take of $60.8 million.

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LGBT - From NYTimes:  Finding love again, this time with a man - Former Senator Harris Wofford.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  A catch-up guide to "Game of Thrones."

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MUSIC - From ABCNews:  Beyonce has released a new album, "Lemonade," available for streaming on Tidal.

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COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Rich Johnston knew it - Marvel's proposed Inhumans movie was destined to be done away with.

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ECO - From EcoWatch:  Leonardo DiCaprio on the Paris Agreement.

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TRAILER:

From YouTube:  The final trailer for "X-Men Apocalypse."

From YouTube:  A making of featurette concerning Stephen Frears upcoming "Florence Foster Jenkins" starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant.

Review: Retro "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is Kind of Like a Reboot

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 9 (of 2016) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Running time: 135 minutes (2 hours, 15 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
DIRECTOR:  J.J. Abrams
WRITERS:  Lawrence Kasdan and J.J. Abrams, and Michael Arndt (based on characters created by George Lucas)
PRODUCERS:  J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, and Kathleen Kennedy
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Dan Mindel ASC, BSC (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey
COMPOSER:  John Williams
Academy Award nominee

SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE/DRAMA

Starring:  Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, Oscar Isaac, Peter Mayhew, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Anthony Daniels, Max von Sydow, Greg Grunberg, Ken Leung, Warwick Davis, and Mark Hamill

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a 2015 science fiction-fantasy action film directed by J. J. Abrams.  It is the seventh installment in the Star Wars film series, which began with the 1977 Oscar-winning film, Star Wars, created by George Lucas.  The Force Awakens is set 30 years after the events depicted in Return of the Jedi (1983).  This film follows a desert scavenger, a renegade stormtrooper, and an X-wing fighter pilot as they fight a new enemy, which is personified by a young dark warrior who is strong with the Force.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens approximately 30 years after the Rebel Alliance's defeat of the Galactic Empire and the destruction of the second Death Star.  However, the most famous hero of that battle, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last Jedi, has since disappeared.  The First Order has risen from the remains of the Empire, and is led by the mysterious Supreme Commander Snoke (Andy Serkis), who has two immediate goals.  He wants to destroy the New Republic (which was created by the Rebel Alliance) and its military wing, The Resistance, and will use his super-weapon, Starkiller Base, commanded by General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson), to do so.

To find Skywalker, Snope has tasked Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), a young dark warrior who is strong with the Force.  Ren's search for information about Skywalker's whereabouts has led him to the desert planet, Jakku.  There, Ren has a confrontation with a Resistance pilot, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), which troubles a young First Order stormtrooper, FN-2187 (John Boyega), who is a witness to Dameron's capture.

Meanwhile, an astromech droid, BB-8, escapes into the Jakku night.  BB-8 eventually meets Rey (Daisy Ridley), a young scavenger who will be the key to getting BB-8 and the crucial information he holds to the Resistance.  And legends of the past, Han Solo (Harrison Ford), General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) will help her.

Truthfully, I am in love with the new Star Wars characters, especially Rey and Finn (known by his First Order masters as FN-2187).  I have also found a place in my heart for Poe, Kylo Ren, General Hux, Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong'o), and the actors playing them.  I have added BB-8 to my beloved droid duo of R2-D2 and C-3PO.  I think that Daisy Ridley as Rey and John Boyega as Finn are among the best actors ever to appear in a Star Wars film, and the script allows them to give what may very well be two of the best dramatic performances every given in this franchise.

On the other hand, the movie itself is odd.  I love Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but not unconditionally.  I have to admit that I have mixed emotions because this is the first Star Wars film that George Lucas has not directed (and he directed four of them) or at least guided to fruition.  Thus, a part of me wants to see this film as fan-fiction.

Lucas himself has described Star Wars: The Force Awakens as “retro,” and he is not far from the truth.  Star Wars: The Force Awakens is filled with visuals and a narrative that are similar and practically copy the first Star Wars (also known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope).  At times, The Force Awakens seems like a remake and semi-re-imagining of the original film, or, if you want to be cruel, you can call it a rehash of the best moments from the beginnings of Star Wars.  I would not be surprised if Walt Disney Studios (the new owners of Star Wars) and the filmmakers intended Star Wars: The Force Awakens to be a reboot of the franchise, a fresh start after the much-maligned “prequel films,” but a reboot that is grounded in the original trilogy.

Whatever one might say about the prequel films (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith), they were ambitious.  Star Wars: The Force Awakens merely seeks to entertain and to thrill.  It is escapist entertainment like no other – just as Star Wars was back in 1977.  There was nothing like Star Wars, and its simple story, filled with universal themes, resonated with audiences.  That is true of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  I found myself exhilarated, and I often could not take my eyes off the screen.  I laughed and some scenes even tried to make me cry.

As I edit this, it has been over two weeks since I saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  I have thought about it often, and I put off writing this review.  I have read other reviewers' opinions.  A writer for The Village Voice called it “the third good Star Wars” movie.  I think it is the fourth best Star Wars movie, behind the original three films, and a little ahead of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

I think I need to warm up more to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which might happen after repeated viewings.  Still, I think the future is bright for the new films.  Right now, I'd follow Rey, Finn, Poe, BB-8, and even Kylo Ren anywhere, and my favorite Star Wars character is back.  Regardless of the story, the characters are the ones I have always loved.  I am glad that some of the classic ones are back and that they have brought cool new ones with them.

8 of 10
A

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Edited on Thursday, April  14, 2016

NOTES:
2016 Academy Awards, USA:  5 nominations: “Best Achievement in Film Editing” (Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score” (John Williams), “Best Achievement in Sound Mixing” (Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio, and Stuart Wilson), “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Matthew Wood and David Acord), and Best Achievement in Visual Effects” (Roger Guyett, Pat Tubach, Neal Scanlan, and Chris Corbould)

2016 BAFTA Awards:  1 win: “Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects” (Chris Corbould, Roger Guyett, Paul Kavanagh, and Neal Scanlan); 3 nominations: “Best Production Design” (Rick Carter, Darren Gilford, and Lee Sandales), “Best Original Music” (John Williams), and “Best Sound” (David Acord, Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio, Matthew Wood, and Stuart Wilson)


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Third Wave of 2016 Oscar Presenters Announced; Daisy Ridley Among New Names

STARS TO LIGHT UP OSCAR NIGHT

Six Oscar Winners Join Presenter Line Up

Oscars producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin announced today a third slate of presenters for the 88th Oscars telecast. The Oscars, hosted by Chris Rock, will air live Oscar® Sunday, February 28, 2016 on ABC. 

The presenters, including several Oscar winners, are:

Patricia Arquette

Abraham Attah

Cate Blanchett

Emily Blunt

Louis C.K.

Common

Russell Crowe

Chris Evans

Jennifer Garner

Louis Gossett, Jr.

Michael B. Jordan

Rachel McAdams

Dev Patel

Eddie Redmayne

Daisy Ridley

Sarah Silverman

Sofia Vergara

"Through their work, these artists have shown us the unique, transformative power of cinema,” said Hill and Hudlin. “We are delighted they will be joining us on the Oscars stage this year.”   

The 88th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 28, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.    

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Sony Pictures Classics Obtains "The Eagle Huntress"

THE EAGLE HUNTRESS HAS LANDED AT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

SUNDANCE DOCUMENTARY SEALS DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH SPC FOR NORTH AMERICA, LATIN AMERICA, GERMANY, AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND, SCANDINAVIA AND ASIA

Sundance hit film THE EAGLE HUNTRESS – A FILM BY OTTO BELL has come to rest at Sony Pictures Classics (SPC). A distribution deal was announced today by the film's producers with SPC acquiring distribution rights in North America, Latin America, Germany, Australia/New Zealand, Scandinavia and Asia.

Directed by Otto Bell, and Executive Produced by Academy® Award-nominated director/producer Morgan Spurlock and actress Daisy Ridley ("Star Wars: The Force Awakens"), THE EAGLE HUNTRESS is the spellbinding true story of Aisholpan, a 13-year old Mongolian girl who is striving to become the first female Eagle Hunter in the 2,000 years of male dominated history.

Aisholpan is a real life role model on an epic journey to win victory in a faraway land. Under the tutelage and support of her father and her grandfather, she learns all aspects of this ancient tradition, including taming her very own eaglet and training for the annual Golden Eagle Festival, which involves competing against 70 male Eagle Hunters. She even dreams of hunting in the frozen winters to prove that a girl can do anything a boy can, so long as she's determined.

The film is set amongst the magical Altai Mountains of Northwestern Mongolia - the most remote part of the least populated country on Earth. This little known world is rich in exquisitely preserved tradition, yet spoiled by an ignorance that is perpetuated by this isolation. For far too long, women have been seen as "too fragile" to hunt with an eagle. Aisholpan is out to prove them wrong and change history.

"Without question Sony Pictures Classics is the dream distributor for our film," stated director Bell. "Now audiences around the world can enjoy Aisholpan's story on the big screen. We are all very grateful for SPC's passionate belief in this film."

"This is a spectacular, one of a kind movie. This young girl's true story about her amazing skills with eagles is told in a fresh and exciting way. It will inspire audiences of all ages," said Sony Pictures Classics.

THE EAGLE HUNTRESS had its world premiere last week at the 2016 Sundance to standing ovations and sold out screenings. Aisholpan, together with her father and mother, made the over 6000-mile journey from Mongolia to Park City, Utah to present the film and participate in discussions.

THE EAGLE HUNTRESS is the first feature documentary from director Otto Bell and is produced by Stacey Reiss and Sharon Chang. Daisy Ridley, Morgan Spurlock, Jeremy Chilnick, Marc H. Simon, Dan Cogan, Regina K. Scully, Barbara Dobkin and Susan Maclaury are executive producers in association with Artemis Rising Foundation, Impact Partners, Shine Global and Warrior Poets. The film is edited by Pierre Takal and director of photography is Simon Niblett with the film's theme song written and sung by internationally renowned singer/songwriter SIA.


ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world. Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 32 Academy Awards® (28 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 158 Academy Award® nominations (133 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

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