Review: Netflix's "ATLAS" Has Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Booty

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 54 of 2024 (No. 1998) by Leroy Douresseaux

Atlas (2024)

Running time: 118 minutes (1 hour, 58 minutes)

MPA – PG-13 for strong sci-fi violence, action, bloody images and strong language

DIRECTOR:  Brad Peyton

WRITERS:  Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite

PRODUCERS:  Greg Berlanti, Jeff Fierson, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Joby Harold, Brad Peyton, Sarah Schechter, Tory Tunnell, Benny Medina, and Jennifer Lopez

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  John Schwartzman (D.o.P.)

EDITOR:  Bob Ducsay

COMPOSER:  Andrew Lockington

SCI-FI/ACTION/THRILLER

Starring:  Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Abraham Popoola, Lana Parrilla, Mark Strong, Briella Guiza, Adia Smith-Eriksson, and Gregory James Cohan (voice)

SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW:

--Atlas is a Jennifer Lopez movie, but science fiction does not fit her

--The movie is average and filled with ridiculous ideas, but the action-violence of the last act is good enough to somewhat justify the time you spent watching this, dear readers

Atlas is a 2024 American action-thriller and science fiction film from director Brad Peyton.  Atlas is a “Netflix Original” and debuted on the Netflix streaming service May 24, 2024.  Atlas pits a counter-terrorism analyst against a rogue artificial intelligence (“A.I.” or “AI”) which believes that the only way to save the Earth and humanity is to destroy most of humanity.

Atlas opens on October 2, 2043.  AI humanoid robots are at war with humanity, and they are led by the AI terrorist, Harlan (Simu Liu).  By the end of the conflict, three million people are dead.  This leads human military forces to create the International Coalition of Nations (ICN).  After a string of ICN victories, Harlan and his AI robots are forced to flee into outer space.

Twenty-eight years later, renewed AI-led terrorist attacks force the ICN to begin searching for Harlan's whereabouts.  The ICN has created a fleet of mecha known as “ARCs.”  These are giant robotic suits of armor worn by humans who “sync” with the AI that operate the ARCs.  The ICN seeks help from Atlas Maru Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez), a woman whose mother, Val Shepherd (Lana Parrilla), designed Harlan.  Atlas has a deep distrust of all artificial intelligence.  In a confrontation with Casca Vix (Andrew Popoola), one of Harlan's lieutenants, Atlas learns that Harlan has a base on GR-39, a planet in the Andromeda Galaxy.

The ICN sends a battalion of ARCs, the Fourth Rangers Battalion, which is led by the taciturn Colonel Elias Banks (Sterling K. Brown), on a mission to GR-39, aboard the space ship “ the Dhiib.”  Atlas insists on accompanying the mission because she says no one knows Harlan better than her.  The mission is to capture Harlan and to bring him back to Earth.  However, what neither Atlas nor the ICN knows is just exactly what Harlan knows about the mission and about Atlas.  Now, to save humanity, Atlas must rely on the thing that she hates most, an AI, one named “Smith” (Gregory James Cohan).

Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite's screenplay for Atlas is a hodge-podge of ideas that are similar to what audiences will find in such films as The Terminator (1984), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), I, Robot (2004), and Pacific Rim (2013).  If properly developed, these ideas could have made a fine film instead of the mediocre film, which Atlas is.

The problem with Atlas is Jennifer Lopez.  Atlas is a science fiction film, and it is also a Jennifer Lopez vehicle, although she is woefully miscast here.  Science fiction is not her genre, and she really doesn't seem to have an understanding of what a character like Atlas Maru Shepherd could be.  That may be the fault of director Brad Peyton, who specializes in mediocre to average sci-fi/fantasy genre films like 2018's Rampage.  Lopez plays Atlas as petulant and as way too narrow minded to be some kind of expert on science and technological matters.  Truthfully, Atlas would be grieving and guilt-ridden, which I think would make her introspective.  Lopez plays Atlas as a brat who really needs the guidance of others, even the AI she hates so much.

Atlas is saved by the action-violence of its last act, and by the appearance of Harlan, played by actor Simu Liu.  Best known for playing the title character in Disney/Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, here, Liu is deliciously cold-blooded and ruthless as Harlan, and I wish there were more of him in this film.  But, alas, we get what we get.  Atlas is average entertainment, and you, dear readers, can be entertained if you ignore its improbable scenario.  If you are patient enough, Jennifer Lopez's fine, round posterior even makes a cameo, perfectly bound in a pair of tights.  If Atlas has a “cherry on top,” it's that fine bee-hind.

 

5 of 10

C+

★★½ out of 4 stars

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

The text is copyright © 2024 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site or blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: DreamWorks "ANTZ" Can Still Dance

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 11 of 2024 (No. 1955) by Leroy Douresseaux

Antz (1998)

Running time:  83 minutes (1 hour, 23 minutes)

MPAA – PG for mild language and menacing action

DIRECTORS:  Eric Darnell and Tim Johnson

WRITERS:  Todd Alcott and Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz

PRODUCERS:  Brad Lewis, Kenneth Nakada, Aron Warner, and Patty Wooton

EDITOR:  Stan Webb

COMPOSERS:  Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell

ANIMATION/FANTASY/ADVENTURE/COMEDY

Starring:  (voices):  Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Sylvester Stallone, Anne Bancroft, Danny Glover, Jennifer Lopez, Paul Mazursky, Grant Shaud, John Mahoney, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtain, and Christopher Walken

Antz is a 1998 computer-animated adventure comedy film from directors Eric Darnell and Tim Johnson.  It was produced by DreamWorks Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Pacific Data Images and released by DreamWorks Pictures.  Antz was also DreamWorks Animation's debut film.  The movie focuses on a neurotic ant who bucks the system of his ant colony in order to pursue an ant princess, which sends them both on a perilous journey.

Antz opens in an ant colony, the home of a race of anthropomorphic ants (walk and talk like humans).  The focus is on Z (Woody Allen), an anxious and neurotic worker ant who chafes at the state of conformity in the colony. While at the local bar one night, Z has a chance encounter with the Queen Ant's daughter, Princess Bala (Sharon Stone), and he falls in love with her.  Z doesn't know that Bala is struggling with her suffocating royal life, although her mother, the Queen Aunt (Anne Bancroft), is the ruler of the colony.  Bala also has misgivings about her planned marriage to General Mandible (Gene Hackman), the cunning and arrogant leader of the colony's ant military.

Z wants to see more of Bala, but as a worker ant, he can't get near her.  He convinces Corporal Weaver (Sylvester Stallone), a soldier ant, to switch places with him.  This causes a series of events that finds Z and Princess Bala on a perilous journey outside the colony.  Meanwhile, General Mandible uses this turn of events to serve his own plans.

I am about to watch DreamWorks Animation's most recent release, Orion and the Dark, which was animated by the French production company, Mikros Animation.  So I decided that it was time to finish my review of DreamWorks' first animated feature film, Antz.

Early in Antz, I was not impressed by the CGI-animation.  It looks stiff and not imaginative, but as the film progresses, especially once the story leaves the colony, Antz begins to show some visual inventiveness.  The film's technical prowess improves as the story demands more complicated and involved action set pieces.

I like the voice cast, which I would call stellar; nine members of Antz's voice cast have won or been nominated for an Oscar – some several times.  However, I'm not that crazy about Woody Allen as the lead character, Z.  It's not that he doesn't do a good job; he does, but Allen is playing a character type that is familiar from his own films, such Hollywood Ending (2002) and Scoop (2006).  At times, Woody doing Woody doesn't really serve this film well.  As much as I like Sharon Stone, I can think of other actresses who could have given a better performance as Princess Bala.  I can say, however, that Gene Hackman is convincingly menacing as General Mandible.

So I'm glad that I finally watched Antz.  2023 was the 25th anniversary of its initial wide theatrical release (specifically October 2, 1998).  It is not as good as even recent DreamWorks Animation productions like The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.  Still, Antz is what kicked off a line of fine animated feature films.

6 of 10

B

★★★ out of 4 stars

Thursday, February 15, 2024

NOTES:

1999 BAFTA Awards:  1 nomination: “Best Special Effects” (Ken Bielenberg, Philippe Gluckman, John Bell, and Kendal Cronkhite

The text is copyright © 2024 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 6th to 12th, 2022 - Update #22

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   Bill Lawrence, the showrunner behind the hit TV series, "Ted Lasso," has just signed a 100 million dollar deal with Warner Bros. TV Group. Here, is the story behind the deal.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Fox Network has made a "script-to-series" commitment for "End of Watch," a TV series based on David Ayers' 2012 film, "End of Watch."

AMAZON - From VanityFair:  Here are several photographic images from Amazon's series, "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power."

TRAILER - From ETCanada:  The first official trailer for "Jurassic World: Dominion" is here.

SPORTS - From YahooSports:  Comedian and TV host turned media mogul, Byron Allen, wants to buy the NFL's Denver Broncos, which are currently up for sale.

BUSINESS - From Variety:  An array of movie, gaming, merchandising, and live event rights to "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" are up for sale because the Saul Zaentz Co. had decided to sell them.

MUSIC - From Variety:  Snopp Dogg has acquired his old record label, "Death Row Records."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The cause of actor-comedian Bob Saget's death has been revealed to be due to head trauma.  Saget was found unresponsive in an Orlando, Florida hotel on Jan. 9th, early this year.

NETFLIX - From THR:  Director Zack Snyder is re-teaming with his "Justice League" star, Ray Fisher, for the two-part Netflix film, "Rebel Moon," which will be shot back-to-back.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Universal Pictures has provided a first look at Oscar-winner Jordan Peele's upcoming film, "Nope."  The full trailer release will apparently happen during on "Super Bowl Sunday."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   Actress and TV personality Sherri Shepherd, a former co-host on ABC's "The View," is reportedly near a deal to become the permanent host of "The Wendy Williams Show."

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OSCARS - From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 94th Academy Awards have been announced.  "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 nominations.  The winners will be revealed March 27th.

From Deadline:    With his "Best Actor" nomination for "The Tragedy of Macbeth," Denzel Washington is the most nominated Black actor is Oscar history.  He has been nominated in two acting categories a total of 10 times with two wins total.

From Variety:   With her "Best Director" Oscar nomination for "The Power of the Dog," Jane Campion becomes the first woman nominated twice in that category. She was previously nominated in that category for "The Piano" (1993).

From Variety:  With his three nominations today, Kenneth Branagh of "Belfast" becomes the first person to have been nominated in seven individual categories over his career.

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COMIC BOOKS - From HorrorNewsNetwork:  Zombie Love Studios founder and comic book writer Rodney Barnes is teaming up with rapper/actor Snoop Dogg to produce a new horror anthology comic book, "Tales from the Crip," that is said to be “in the tradition of the classic EC Comics of old.”

CELEBRITY - From RollingStone:  Jennifer Lopez is "Rolling Stone's" March 2022 cover star, and she talks about how she broke all the rules to get to the top.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 2/4 to 2/6/2022 weekend box office is "Jackass Forever" with an estimated take of 23.5 million dollar opening.

PARAMOUNT+ - From Deadline:   Six fan favorite cast members:  Joe Mantegna, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler, and Paget Brewster, have agreed to come back to the Paramount+ revival of "Criminal Minds," subject to closing their deals and availability.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Famed television mega-producers, David E. Kelley ("The Practice") and J.J. Abrams ("Lost") are teaming up for a limited series adaptation of author Scott Turow's 1987 novel, "Presumed Innocent." The popular novel was previously adapted into a 1990 film starring Harrison Ford.

OBITS:

From Variety:  Pioneering visual effects artist and inventor, Douglas Trumbull, has died at the age of 79, Tuesday, February 7, 2022.  Trumbull was one of the mastermind behind some of the audacious science fiction films of all time, including "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968), "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977), and "Blade Runner" (1982).  He also directed two landmark visual effects films, "Silent Running" (1972) and "Brainstorm" (1983).  He was nominated for three Oscars for his work on "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979), and "Blade Runner."  He did win a "Scientific and Engineering Award" and the "Gordon E. Sawyer Award" Academy Awards.

From Deadline:  Pioneering visual effects and mass media artist, Robert Blalack, has died at the age of Wednesday, February 2, 2022.  He was one of the founders of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).  He won a "Best Visual Effects" Oscar for his work on "Star Wars" (1977) and a Primetime Emmy for his work on ABC's television film, "The Day After" (1983).  Blalack also created and produced special effects for such films as "Altered States" (1980) and "Robocop" (1987).

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AWARDS:

From Deadline:  The 2022 BAFTA Film Awards nominations have been announced.  "Dune" leads with 11 nominations.  The winners will be announced March 13th.

From Deadline:   The 2022 / 33rd annual Producers Guild of America Awards nominations have been announced.  The winners will be announced Saturday, March 19th.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 74th annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced March 12th.

From COFCA:  The Columbus Film Critics Association name "The Power of the Dog" the "Best Film" of 2021.

From Deadline:  Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," was named the "Best Picture" of 2021 at the 13th annual African American Film Critics Association Awards.  The Western tied with "King Richard" for most wins with four.  Will Smith was named "Best Actor" for "King Richard."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.

From Variety:  The snubs and surprises in the nominations for the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

From Variety:   At the 2022 / 79th Golden Globes, "The Power of the Dog" wins "Best Motion Picture-Drama" and "West Side Story" wins "Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy."

From Variety:  The National Society of Film Critics names the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the best film of 2021.

From AwardsWatch:  The nominations for the 22nd Annual Black Reel Awards were announced a few weeks ago. Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," has a record 20 nominations.  The winners will be announced February 27, 2022.

From AwardsWatch:  The Columbus Film Critics Association announced the nominations for their annual film awards.  Director Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 noms.  The winners will be announced Thurs., Jan. 6th, 2022.

From Deadline:  The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the "Best Picture" of 2021.

From Deadline:  The 2022 / 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards have announced their nominations. "Zola" leads with six nominations. The winners will be announced Sun., March 6, 2022.

From THR:  The 2022 / 79th Golden Globes Awards nominations have been announced.  "Belfast" and "The Power of the Dog" lead with seven nominations each.  Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From GoldDerby:   The 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations have been announced. "Belfast" and "West Side Story" leads with 11 nominations each. Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From Deadline:   The American Film Institute announced the "2021 AFI Awards" Top 10 list, and the list includes "Dune," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," and "West Side Story."

From THR:  Director Aleem Khan's "After Love" tops the 2021 British Independent Film Awards, winning six awards, including "Best Film of 2021."

From Variety:   The New York Film Critics Circle has named the Japanese drama, "Drive My Car," as the "Best Film of 2021."

From Deadline:  The National Board of Review hands director Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" it "Best Film" and "Best Director" awards.  Will Smith picks up the "Best Actor" award for "King Richard."

From THR:  Netflix’s "The Lost Daughter," directed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, dominated the 2021 Gotham Awards in New York on Monday night (Nov. 29th).  The film won in four of the five categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Feature."

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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:   A Republican New Mexico legislator, State Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell, on Monday introduced a bill that would require all film set personnel who handle firearms to complete a safety course offered by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.  This is in the wake a cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, being fatally shot on the set of the Western, "Rust," last year by Alec Baldwin with a weapon he says he thought was not loaded with live ammunition.

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin and the other producers of the doomed Western film, "Rust," want a California judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed against them by the script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell.

From Deadline:   Alec Baldwin has finally turned over his cell phone to police for their probe into the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Baldwin's Western film, "Rust," last October in New Mexico.

From Variety:  One of the producers of tragic Western film, Rust, Emily Salveson, pushes tax shelters and hid income.

From THR:  "I let go of the hammer and 'Bang,' the gun goes off" says Alec Baldwin says in his first interview of the moment when a gun he was holding accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin will sit down with ABC's news-reading clown George Stephanopoulos for a one hour special tomorrow night to talk about what happened on the set of the movie "Rust."  It will be Baldwin’s first extensive interview about the shooting.

From Deadline:  Industry veteran, Thall Reed, the father of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the Western, "Rust," may have handed the police a tip on why the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot to death on the set.

From THR:  A search warrant affidavit filed Tuesday for a prop shop sheds light on how alleged live ammunition ended up on the set of the Western film, "Rust," where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in October.

From Deadline:  A month after cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot and killed on the New Mexico set the movie Western, "Rust," by a prop gun “discharged” by Alec Baldwin, those closest to the cinematographer held a private ceremony and interred her ashes at an unknown location.

From Deadline:  Actor Daniel Baldwin defends his brother, Alec Baldwin, in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film, "Rust."  "Someone loaded that gun improperly," Daniel says.

From Deadline:  The newest lawsuit involving the tragic shooting on the set of the Western film, "Rust," has been filed by the film's script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell, against Alec Baldwin, the producers, the production company, armorer Hanna Gutierrez Reed, and others.

From Deadline:  Serge Svetnoy, the gaffer on "Rust," has filed a lawsuit against several parties related to the film, including the production, the financiers, star Alec Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, and first Assistant Director David Halls.

From THR:   In the wake of the tragic accidental shooting on the set of his film, "Rust," Alec Baldwin on Monday took to social media to urge Hollywood to employ a police officer on every film and TV set that uses guns.

From THR:   The budget for "Rust" - Alec Baldwin was set to earn $150,000 as lead actor and $100,000 as producer, while $7,913 was earmarked for armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and $17,500 was set aside for the rental of weapons and $5,000 for rounds.

From Deadline:  Attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the film, "Rust," said that they’re looking into whether a live bullet was placed in a box of dummy rounds with the intent of  “sabotaging the set.”

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.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 12th to 18th, 2020 - Update #23

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

AWARDS - From Deadline:   Bong Joon-Ho's "Parasite" tops the 70th annual ACE Eddie Awards, which are awarded b the American Cinema Editors

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DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney is dumping the word "Fox" from the names 20th Century Fox (which will become 20th Century Studios) and Fox Search Pictures (which will be Searchlight Pictures).

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  HBO's "Game of Thrones" prequel, "House of the Dragons," will likely premiere in 2022.

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STREAMING - From Deadline:  Netflix has been accused of funneling its international profits to tax havens while also seeking tax relief in the United Kingdom.

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STREAMING - From Deadline:   Amazon sets the regular cast for its "Lord of the Rings" TV series.

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JAMES BOND - From YahooMusic:  Grammy-nominated teen recording sensation, Billie Eilish, has recorded the movie theme for the next James Bond film, "No Time to Die."  At 18-years-old, she is the youngest ever to do so.  The previous record holder was then 22-year-old Sheena Easton who recorded the theme for 1981's "For Your Eyes Only."

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TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The CW has given series pickups to two reboots of popular 1990s TV series, "Superman & Lois" and "Walker," a re-imagining of "Walker Texas Ranger" starring Jared Padalecki of "Supernatural."

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SPORTS - From ESPN:  The LSU Tigers won the2019 national college football championship Mon., Jan. 13th, 2020 by winning the "CFP National Championship " game 42-25 over the Clemson Tigers.

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OSCARS - From Variety:  The 2020 / 92nd Oscar nominations have been announced.  Winners will be announced Feb. 9, 2020.

From Deadline:  One of the "best documentary feature" nominees is "American Factory" which is presented by President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama.

From Variety:  Opinion: "5 Reasons Why Jennifer Lopez’s Oscar Snub Is Bad for the Academy Awards"

From YahooEntertainment:  A list of Oscar snubs (Lupita N'yongo for "Us") and surprises (Scarlett Johnasson becomes 12th actor nominated in both lead, for "Marriage Story," and supporting acting, for "JoJo Rabbit") categories.

From LATimes:  Tom Hanks earns his first Oscar nod since 2001 with his best supporting actor nomination for "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood."

From YahooEntertainment:  I was not one of those people who thought that Jennifer Lopez would really get an Oscar nomination for a role in the film, "Hustlers," which I have not yet seen.  I think Lopez herself had the feeling that it was not happening.

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CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertainment:  In an Sunday night (Jan. 12th) on CBS' "60 Minutes," Joaquin Phoenix talks about the intrusion of the media when he was grieving for his brother, the late River Phoenix, who died of a drug overdose in 1993.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 1/10 to 1/12/2020 weekend box office is director Sam Mendes' "1917" with an estimated take 36.5 million dollars.

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  CBS has ordered a TV series that follows FBI agent, "Clarice Starling," after the events depicted in the film, "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991).  Entitled, "Clarice," the series will open in 1993.

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AWARDS - From Variety:   The winners of the 25th Critics Choice Awards were announced Sun., Jan. 12, 2020.  "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" was named best picture of 2019.

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TELEVISION - From THR:  Syfy has picked up a TV series starring horror movie icon and doll, "Chucky," from the character's creator, Don Mancini.

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DISNEY - From THR:  Megan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and the wife of British royal, Prince Harry, has signed a voice-over deal with Disney for an unspecified project.

OBITS:

From TheMirror:  The British author, Christopher Tolkien, has died at the age of 95, Wednesday, January 15, 2020.  Tolkien was the third son of legendary author, J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."  Christopher completed and/or edited most of his father's posthumous work.

From WWE:  WWE Hall of Fame professional wrestler, Rocky "Soul Man" Johnson, has died at the age of 75, Wednesday, January 15, 2020.  He wrestled for the "National Wrestling Alliance" and "World Wrestling Federation" from 1964 to 1985.  He is also known as the father of football player turned wrestler turned actor, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

From YahooEntertainment:  Actor, director, and acting coach, Stan Kirsch, died at the age of 51, Saturday, January 11, 2020.  He was best known for his role of the syndicated TV series, "Highlander."  The cause of Kirsch's death was suicide.

From Variety:  Noted British film ant TV producer, Tony Garnett, has died at the age of 83, Sunday, January 12, 2020.  He is best known for founding the production company, World Productions, and for his 13-year association with acclaimed filmmaker, Ken Loach.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 22nd to 30th, 2019 - Update #30

Support Leroy on Patreon:

BOX OFFCE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 9/27 to 9/29/19 weekend box office is the animated film, "Abominable," with an estimated take of 20.85 million dollars.

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MOVIES - From Truthout:  A new documentary film, "PUSH," chronicles the urban housing crisis that has been growing since the 2008 financial crash.

----------
POLITICS - From DNYUZ:  Concerning Fox News, "Fuck 'em!" declared Oscar-winning actor Robert DeNiro in a CNN interview.

From YahooLifestyle:  This article has video clips of Mr. DeNiro's "Fuck 'em" declaration.

----------
JAMES BOND - From YahooMovies:  See first photo of Lashana Lynch as the new 007 on the set of the upcoming James Bond film, "No Time to Die."

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MARVEL STUDIOS - From BleedingCool:  When Disney ordered Ike Perlmutter to stop blocking "Black Panther" and "Captain Marvel."

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STREAMING - From ShadowandAct:  Breakout Broadway star, Jeremy Pope, will have a lead role in "Hollywood," the new series from TV super-producer Ryan Murphy and Netflix.

From TheWrap:  Emmy-winning actor Jim Parsons is among seven new cast members announced for Ryan Murphy's "Hollywood" series for Netflix.

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CELEBRITY - From ShadowandAct: Oscar-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson has signed a deal with Amazon to become the first celebrity voice option for the voice of Alexa, the company's digitally enhanced assistant device.

----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez and Grammy-winning recording artist Shakira will headline the halftime show at "Super Bowl LIV."  The game is set for Feb. 2, 2020 and will be broadcast on Fox.

----------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  Andrea Reiher gives readers a recap of "American Horror Story: 1984" Episode 2 ("Mr. Jingles).

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  "News of the World," the historical drama starring Tom Hanks and directed by Paul Greengrass will be released December 25, 2020.

----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick is joining MGM to produce a sequel to their beloved ABC TV drama, "Thirtysomething" (1987-1991), which won the Primetime Emmy for "Best Drama Series" in 1988.  Multiple networks are interested, including ABC.

----------
CULTURE - From YahooMoney:  This map shows the richest person in each state.

----------
BUSINESS - From THR:  How much of a market is left for (stagnant) satellite TV service, DirectTV?

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  The star trio of the original "Jurassic Park," Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, and Sam Neill, are returning for "Jurassic World 3."  The film is due June 21, 2021.

----------
STREAMING - From Deadline:  Will Smith will portray real-life crime boss, Nicky Barnes, in the film, "The Council," for Netflix.

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  Word is that Warner Bros. is rebooting its 1991 gangster film, "New Jack City," with "Snowfall" (FX) actor, Malcolm M. Mays writing.

----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The latest classic TV series about to be rebooted is the late CBS series, "Walker, Texas Ranger," which starred Chuck Norris.  Actor Jared Padalecki, formerly of The CW's "Supernatural" is set to star and executive produce.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 9/20 to 9/22/2019 weekend box office is "Downton Abbey" with an estimated take of 31 million dollars.

----------
EMMYS - From Deadline:  The estimated 6.9 million viewers who watched the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards broadcast is the smallest audience ever for an Emmy Awards show.

From TheWrap:  Here is a complete list of winners at last night's 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.

From TheWrap:  Tonight, Sun., Sept. 22nd is the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.  "The Wrap" offers this complete list of the categories and nominees in each category that are in play tonight.

From FanSided:  Here is a printable list of the nominees in the major categories at tonight's 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.

----------
DISNEY - From THR:  Disney CEO Bob Iger explains why Disney walked away from acquiring Twitter in 2017.

----------
MOVIES - From THR:  The late actor R. Lee Emery played the drill sergeant in Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket."  "The Hollywood Reporter" offers the story of actor Tim Colceri, who was originally slated to play the role.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Director Ang Lee talks about his latest film, "Gemini Man," including de-aging the film's star, Will Smith.

OBITS:

From NPR:  Opera singer Jessye Norman has died at the age of 74, Monday, September 30, 2019.  Norman was a four-time Grammy winner and also received the "Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2006.  She also received the "2009 National Medal of Arts" in 2010 from President Barack Obama.  A "dramatic soprano," Norman was one of the leading figures in opera at a time when there were far fewer African-American opera singers than there are now.

From Deadline:  The actor Robert Garrison died at the age of 59, Friday, September 27, 2019.  Garrison is best remembered for playing the character, "Tommy," in "The Karate Kid" (1984) and its sequel, "The Karate Kid 2" (1986).

From TheWrap:  The actor Sid Haig has died at the age of 80, Saturday, September 21, 2019.  In a career that began in the early 1960s, Haig appeared in over 50 films and in hundreds of episodes of television series.  He had become a horror movie icon thanks to his appearance in Rob Zombie's "Firefly family" films.  In the 1970s, Haig appeared in several blaxploitation films, including Jack Hill's "Coffy" and "Foxy Brown."

From StarTrek:  The actor Aron Eisenberg has died at the age of 50, Saturday, September 21, 2019.  He was best known for playing the character, "Nog," on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" for 47 episodes (according to IMDb).

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 8th to 14th, 2019 - Update #24

Support Leroy on Patreon:

COMICS-FILM - From ShadowandAct:  Rihanna addresses rumors that she is being considered to play Poison Ivy in Matt Reeves "The Batman."  Still in development, the film would star Robert Pattison as Batman.

----------
DISNEY - From Variety:  Walt Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger has stepped down from Apple's board of directors as Disney and Apple launch competing streaming services.

---------
MOVIES - From THR:  Why J.J. Abrams and his wife Katie McGrath said yes to WarnerMedia and no to Apple, although Apple offered them $500 million for an exclusive deal, where WarnerMedia offered $250 million.

----------
ANIMATION - From YahooEntertainment:  Longtime voice actor, Frank Welker, talks about being the voice of Fred Jones for 50 years on today, September 13th, the 50th anniversary of "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!"

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SCANDAL - From Deadline:  Emmy-winning actress Felicity Huffman has been sentenced to two weeks/14 days in jail for in the infamous college admissions scandal.  She will have to self-report to Bureau of Prisons officials on October 25 to begin serving her time in a California facility.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  This season on an episode of her hit ABC series, "Black-ish," Tracee Ellis Ross will reunite with Jill Marie Jones, Persia White and Golden Brooks, her three co-stars from the UPN/The CW series, "Girlfriends" (2000-2008).

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MOVIES - From Newsarama:  A brand new "Jurassic World" short film will debut Sunday, September 15, 2019 on cable network, FX.

----------
MOVIES - From THR:   J.J. Abrams and his wife, Katie McGrath, through their company, Bad Robot, have signed an overall film, TV, game, and digital production deal with WarnerMedia.

----------
AVATAR - From Deadline:   What does James Cameron feel now that "Avengers: Endgame" has passed his 2009 film, "Avatar," as the all-time box office champ?  He feels "relief" and he explains why.

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  Viacom is in the lead to obtain the the portion of the Miramax film library that is up for sale.  beIN Media Group owns the 700-title library and wants to sell 30 percent to 50 percent, while maintaining a controlling stake.  Lionsgate has withdrawn its bid.

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STREAMING - From ShadowandAct:  Whoopi Goldberg will join CBS All Access' new adaptation of Stephen King's classic novel, "The Stand."  A miniseries for the streaming service, it will run for 10 episodes.  Stephen King will write the final episode of the series, which will take the story beyond what was in the original novel.

From BleedingCool:  This article includes lots of information on "The Stand," and its includes the video of Whoopi announcing her casting on "The View," Wednesday morning, Sept. 11, 2019.  Stephen King was a guest on that episode.

----------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  Two-time Emmy Award winner, Uzo Aduba, will join FX's "Fargo" Season 4, which will feature Chris Rock.

----------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Jennifer Lopez is reportedly in talks to headline 2020 Super Bowl halftime show.

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TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Actor John C. Reilly will play owner Jerry Buss in HBO's pilot about the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA.  He replaces Michael Shannon.

----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline:  TV super-producer David E. Kelley and Jack Bender are developing Stephen King's new novel, "The Institute" as a limited series.

----------
TELEVISION - From BleedingCool: Dan Curtis TV series, "Dark Shadows" (1966-71), is being revived a fourth time.  "Dark Shadows: Reincarnation" is being developed for The CW.  Previously, there was a 12-episode run in 1991 for NBC, an unaired 2004 pilot, and a 2012 film from director Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp.

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  The John Travolta-Nicolas Cage film, Face/Off, (directed by John Woo), is being remade...

----------
MOVIES - From YahooPeople:  "Crazy Rich Asians" director John M. Chu says he supports the film's co-writer, Adele Lim, who quit the sequel over a pay disparity dispute.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 9/6 to 9/8/2019 weekend box office is "It: Chapter Two" with an estimated box office take of 91 million.

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MOVIES-STREAMING - From YahooAP:  Eddie Murphy is getting some of the best reviews of his career in "Dolemite is My Name."

From YahooMovies:  Thirty-three years after his movie, "The Golden Child," Eddie Murphy has reunited with Jasmine L. Reate.  She played the boy ("the Golden Child") that Murphy's character, Chandler Jarrell) had to save.

----------
STREAMING - From Variety:   Netflix has officially announced that Gillian Anderson ("The X-Files") is joining the fourth season of Netflix's "The Crown" as Margaret Thatcher.  This news had been circulating since early in the year, but Netflix would not confirm it until now.

OBITS:

From YahooMusic:   The rock 'n' roll singer, songwriter, and musician, Eddie Money, has died at the age of 70, Friday, September 13, 2019.  From 1978 to 1991, he had several Top 40 hits, including such hooky rock standards as "Two Tickets to Paradise" and "Baby Hold On."

From Deadline:  The stage, film, and television actor John Wesley has died at the age of 72, Sunday, September 8, 2019.  He has over 100 TV and film credits, including appearances on TV series like "In the Heat of the Night," "Martin," and "Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad."  Wesley was a Vietnam veteran having served in the United States Army.

Academy Announces First Round of Presenters for 91st Oscars

ROUND ONE: STARS LINE UP FOR THE OSCARS

Awkwafina, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, Brie Larson, Jennifer Lopez, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Amandla Stenberg, Charlize Theron, Tessa Thompson, Constance Wu

Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic to Perform During the “In Memoriam” Segment

Oscar® producer Donna Gigliotti, and co-producer and director Glenn Weiss, announced the first round of presenters for the 91st Academy Awards®. The show will honor the incredible slate of nominees – from blockbusters to independent films – and embrace the diversity of the global movie-going audience. The Oscars® airs live on the ABC Television Network, February 24, 2019 and will be broadcast in more than 225 countries and territories.

“The Oscar nominees have generated tremendous worldwide attention through their captivating stories, achievements and performances,” said Gigliotti and Weiss. “We want to give the public an opportunity to once again experience the moments that have moved us all. It is a celebration of our universal love of movies.”

The producers will continue to announce talent joining the show in the coming weeks, and, as previously announced, the show will feature musical performances of the five Original Song nominees.

“From blockbuster hits to intimate tales of the human spirit, the movies we celebrate at the Oscars connect us in a way that is both moving and powerful,” said Karey Burke, President, ABC Entertainment. “Donna and Glenn will deliver a tribute worthy of the talent that will present and receive Oscar gold, and I’m so proud that ABC is home to this monumental night.”

“The Oscars is the most-watched live entertainment event of the year,” said Academy president John Bailey. “The show connects us with the power and history of the movies as it reconnects home audiences with their favorite films and stars.”

“This is an important moment in Oscar history,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “This year’s show maintains Oscar traditions, and is also evolving to reflect our global audience.”

The 91st Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 8:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. PST.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 1st to 5th, 2019 - Update #17

Support Leroy on Patreon:

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:  "Aquaman" has grossed $649.3 million in international box office.  That surpasses "The Dark Knight Rises" $636.8 million in international box office to make "Aquaman" the highest grossing Warner Bros./DC Comics film at the international box office.

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TELEVISION - From RollingStone:  Burke Ramsey has settled his $750 million lawsuit against CBS.  Burke is the brother of the late JonBenet Ramsey, whose infamous 1996 murder remains unsolved.  A CBS docuseries, "The Case of: JonBenet," posed a theory that Burke killed his sister.

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MOVIES - From SlashFilm:  "Bumblebee" worked to separate itself from Michael Bay's "Transformers" films.

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  Kimberley A. Martin conducts a long sit-down interview with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Troy Aikman.  Aikman is a Super Bowl champion, a member of the NFL Hall of Fame, and a long-time member of Fox Sport's top NFL broadcasting team.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From Variety:  The CW orders a "Batwoman" pilot starring Ruby Rose.

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OSCARS - From Variety:  Kevin Hart says that he is evaluating his decision not to host the 91st Academy Awards ceremony.

----------
CRIME - From Deadline:  The LAPD has arrested a home-burglary suspect, Benjamin Eitan Ackerman, who targeted more than a dozen celebrities – including music recording artists, Usher and Adam Lambert – recovering more than 2,000 stolen items that included artwork, jewelry, handbags, expensive wines and other high-end valuables worth millions of dollars.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Looks like Warner Bros. will win the rights to the film library of RatPac Dune, its former co-financing partner.

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AWARDS - From Deadline:  Halle Berry, Chadwick Boseman, and Dick van Dyke among presenters at the 2019 Golden Globes.

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MUSIC-SCANDAL - From DetroitFreePress:  Starting Thursday, the Lifetime network will devote six hours and three consecutive nights to "Surviving R. Kelly," a docu-series chronicling the long-running allegations that music superstar R. Kelly has sexually and physically abused women and young girls.  The series is spear headed by Detroit native, Dream Hampton.

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STREAMING - From Deadline:  Netflix has ordered a coming-of-age series based on Charles Forsman mini-comics, "I'm Not Okay With This," which Fantagraphics Books has published in book form.

From TheVerge:  Netflix says that over 45 million people watched its original film "Bird Box," starring Julia Roberts, during the first seven days it streamed.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Verizon follows Comcast in dropping Jennifer Lopez's Fuse Network.

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STREAMING - For TheWrap:  Netflix pulls an episode of "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj" from Saudi Arabia after the Saudi government objects to some of the episode's content.

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OBAMA - From SlashFilm:  President Barack Obama names his favorite movies of 2018.

OBITS:

From Variety:  Comedian, writer, and actor, Bob Einstein, has died at the age of 76, Wednesday, January 2, 2019.  Einstein was best known for the character, "Super Dave Osborne," an accident prone stuntman and daredevil.  As Super Dave, Einstein appeared as a guest and as a star of numerous talks shows, variety series, and TV specials.  Einstein was the brother of actor and filmmaker, Albert Brooks (whose birth surname is "Einstein").

From Variety:  The musician and Grammy-winning recording artist, Daryl Dragon, has died at the age of 76, Wednesday, January 2, 2019.  Dragon was best known as "The Captain" in the musical act, "The Captain and Tennille."

From TheWrap:  Pro-wrestling personality, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, has died at the age of 76, Wednesday, January 2, 2019.  Okerlund was known for interviewing pro wrestlers belonging to the WWE and WCW, beginning in 1984 with the WWE.  He sang the National Anthem at the first "Wrestlemania" back in 1985.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Eddie Murphy Among Presents at 87th Oscars

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, Jennifer Lopez, Chloë Grace Moretz, Eddie Murphy and Margot Robbie to Present At 87th Oscars®

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, Jennifer Lopez, Chloë Grace Moretz, Eddie Murphy and Margot Robbie will be presenters at this year’s Oscars, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will air on Sunday, February 22, 2015 live on ABC.

Ejiofor received his first Oscar® nomination last year for his lead performance in “12 Years a Slave.” He previously appeared in such features as “Salt” (2010), “American Gangster” (2007), “Children of Men” (2006) and “Dirty Pretty Things” (2003). His upcoming films include “Z for Zachariah” and “Triple Nine.”

Evans made his directorial debut in Toronto this year with “Before We Go.”  He starred in 2014’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” reprising the role of the patriotic superhero he played in “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011) and “Marvel’s The Avengers” (2012). His other film credits include “Snowpiercer” (2014), “Puncture” (2011), “Sunshine” (2007) and “Fantastic Four” (2005). He will appear next in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

Johnson will star in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” which opens this month. She’s appeared in such hits as “The Five-Year Engagement,” “21 Jump Street” and “The Social Network.” Johnson will next be seen in the upcoming films “A Bigger Splash” and “Black Mass.”

Lopez can currently be seen in the thriller “The Boy Next Door.” Her other feature credits include “An Unfinished Life” (2005), “Monster in Law” (2005), “The Wedding Planner” (2001) and “Out of Sight” (1998). She stars opposite Viola Davis in “Lila & Eve,” which premiered last month at the Sundance Film Festival and she will voice ‘Lucy’ in the upcoming animated film “Home.”

Moretz most recently starred in “Dark Shadows” (2012), “The Equalizer” (2014) and “If I Stay” (2014). She previously appeared in such features as “Carrie” (2013), “Hugo” (2011), “Kick-Ass” (2010) and “Let Me In” (2010).   She will next appear in “The Fifth Wave.”

Murphy received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role in the 2006 film “Dreamgirls.” He has starred in such features as “Bowfinger” (1999), “The Nutty Professor” (1996), “Coming to America” (1988), “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984) and “48 Hrs.” (1982), and has lent his voice talents to all four of the “Shrek” animated features to date. He will next be seen in the independent drama “Cook.”

Robbie is best known for her breakout role in “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013) and can next be seen starring in Warner Bros' “Focus.” She is currently in production on Paramount's “Untitled Tina Fey Project." Her upcoming films include “Z for Zachariah,” “Tarzan" and “Suicide Squad."

The 87th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars, produced by Zadan and Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

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Review: "Ice Age: Continental Drift" - Same Old, Same Good

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 7 (of 2013) by Leroy Douresseaux


Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
Running time: 88 minutes (1 hour, 28 minutes)
MPAA – PG for mild rude humor and action/peril
DIRECTORS: Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeier
WRITERS: Michael Berg and Jason Fuchs; from a story by Michael Berg and Lori Forte
PRODUCERS: Lori Forte and John C. Donkin
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Renato Falcão
EDITORS: James Palumbo and David Ian Salter with Christopher Campbell
COMPOSER: John Powell

ANIMATION/COMEDY/ADVENTURE and FAMILY/FANTASY

Starring: (voices) Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Peter Dinklage, Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, Wanda Sykes, Alan Tudyk, Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Josh Gad, Nick Frost, Aziz Ansari, Nicki Minaj, Heather Morris, Joy Behar, with Queen Latifah and Chris Wedge

The subject of this movie review is Ice Age: Continental Drift, a 2012 computer-animated film from Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox. This comedy-adventure movie is the fourth film in the Ice Age series. Continental Drift follows the original Ice Age trio of Manny, Diego, and Sid after they are separated from the rest of the herd.

As Ice Age: Continental Drift begins, the herd is living in peace in the vast land they call home. Manfred “Manny” the mammoth (Ray Romano) is at odds with his teenage daughter, Peaches (Keke Palmer), with mother, Ellie (Queen Latifah), caught in the middle. Family strife isn’t the only rumbling in the land. The continents are dividing, and an earthquake separates Manny, Sid the giant sloth (John Leguizamo), and Diego the saber-toothed tiger (Denis Leary) from Ellie and the rest of the herd.

Lost at sea, Manny, Sid, and Diego begin an epic journey to reunite with the herd, their family. Standing in their way are a vicious primate, Captain Gutt (Peter Dinklage), and his band of pirates, who sale the seas using a floating iceberg as their ship. Meanwhile, the prehistoric squirrel/rat, Scrat (Chris Wedge), continues to chase that acorn.

I expected Ice Age: Continental Drift to be more of the same when it comes to the Ice Age franchise, but that is not a bad thing, anyway. The Ice Age films have been entertaining, if not great, because the franchise’s shtick is both funny and familiar. Each Ice Age film is basically a prehistoric, domestic situation comedy featuring talking animals, and the situation always involves some adventurous mission.

Still, Continental Drift offers its own inventive high points: icebergs as pirate ships, a group of tricky sirens, and Scrat’s treasure hunt come to mind. Captain Gutt and his pirates are, in my estimation, the series’ scariest villains to date, with Peter Dinklage giving a wonderful, layered voice performance. The film actually has a number of good voice performances. Wanda Sykes delivers her funniest voiceover as Sid’s Granny, and Jennifer Lopez is just shockingly good as Shira, a saber-toothed tiger and one of Gutt’s crew.

Continental Drift underutilizes some characters, such as Louis the mole hog (Josh Gad), Peaches’ love-interest-of-sorts. Sometimes, the film is too laid back, but overall Ice Age: Continental Drift is quite good. I found myself laughing at and with the characters, and ultimately, I cared enough to cheer them on.

7 of 10
B+

Friday, January 25, 2013

"Ice Age 4" Cast Members Revealed

Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios Announce ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT Casting

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios today announced the voice cast for ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT, the fourth entry in Blue Sky’s blockbuster franchise, which has grossed over $4 billion in all media.

RAY ROMANO is back as Manny, the woolly mammoth and the herd’s “Big Daddy”; QUEEN LATIFAH returns as Ellie -- Manny’s significant other; DENIS LEARY rejoins the herd as the saber-toothed tiger Diego; JOHN LEGUIZAMO is at it again as the terminally goofy sloth, Sid; and SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT and JOSH PECK reprise possums Crash & Eddie.

Joining the ever-growing Ice Age family for Continental Drift is a stellar lineup, including JEREMY RENNER, an Academy Award nominee for The Hurt Locker and The Town (and whose upcoming films include Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and The Bourne Legacy), who portrays Gutt, a self-styled master of the high seas who’s determined to make Manny, Sid and Diego part of his crew; WANDA SYKES as Sid’s stowaway Granny, who causes all sorts of problems for our heroes; AZIZ ANSARI as Squint, a prehistoric rabbit who fancies himself a tough guy; actress-pop music star KEKE PALMER as Peaches, Manny and Ellie’s headstrong teenage daughter; hip hop sensation DRAKE as Ethan, a handsome young woolly mammoth who has his eye on Peaches – and JENNIFER LOPEZ as Shira, a sabre-toothed tigress who melts Diego’s heart.

Also taking on starring roles are HEATHER MORRIS, JOY BEHAR, NICKI MINAJ, JOSH GAD, ALAN TUDYK, NICK FROST, KUNAL NAYYAR, ALAIN CHABAT and JB SMOOVE.

Also returning is Scrat (again voiced by CHRIS WEDGE), who in the first Ice Age emerged as a movie icon. In ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT, Scrat’s nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he’s been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences -- a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid. In the wake of these earth-shattering upheavals, Sid reunites with his long lost family, and the gang encounters a ragtag menagerie of colorful new characters determined to stop them from returning home.

ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT is directed by Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeier, and produced by Lori Forte and John Donkin.

Twentieth Century Fox releases the animated comedy event, in 3D, on July 13, 2012.


About Fox Filmed Entertainment
One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox International, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.

Review: 2001 Oscar Nominee "The Cell" Finds Power in Vincent D'Onofrio

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 175 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Cell (2000)
Running time: 107 minutes (1 hour, 47 minutes)
MPAA – R for bizarre violence and sexual images, nudity, and language
DIRECTOR: Tarsem Singh
WRITER: Mark Protosevich
PRODUCERS: Julie Caro and Eric McLeod
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Paul Laufer
EDITORS: Robert Duffy and Paul Rubell
Academy Award nominee

THRILLER/SCI-FI/HORROR

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Vince Vaughn, Vincent D’Onofrio, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Dylan Baker, Jake Weber, James Gammon, Colton James, and Jake Thomas

I never liked music video director Tarsem’s video for rock band R.E.M.’s fondly remembered single, “Losing My Religion,” – pretentious video for a pretentious song. However, I have a little more tolerance for Tarsem Singh (his full name) because of his movie, The Cell. In the film, science can send one person’s consciousness into the mind of another person. That scenario allows Tarsem to create wonderfully colorful and bizarre images that would make for a nice music video, but that also work in the context of a film narrative.

Carl Rudolph Stargher (Vincent D’Onofrio) is a serial killer, but before he can kill his latest victim, he has a seizure related to schizophrenia that puts him in a coma from which he will not recover. FBI Agent Peter Novak (Vince Vaughn) knows from studying the evidence in Carl’s house that they have less than two days to find the latest victim before she drowns in a cell (or chamber) Carl has rigged to flood via a time release device. But where is the cell?

Enter pyschotherapist Catherine Dean (Jennifer Lopez). She is the only person with experience entering the mind of another human being, so Agent Novak convinces her to journey into Stargher’s mind to communicate with him in hopes that he will reveal the whereabouts of his latest victim to Catherine. However, Catherine has never entered the mind of someone she hadn’t studied. When she enters Stargher’s mind, Catherine finds a world of revulsion and hyper bizarre images. Before long she meets Stargher’s idealized version of himself, a powerful, cross-dressing, behemoth emperor of a strange land, who captures and traps Catherine in his mind.

No doubt, The Cell was released in hopes of attracting the same audience that liked the mind-bending trip of The Matrix’s shifting realities. The Cell isn’t anywhere nearly as good as The Matrix, but it’s a convincing thriller; Tarsem also creates a real sense that the clock is ticking while they search for Stargher’s latest victim. The bizarre landscapes and visuals within Stargher’s mind are intriguing and, with a few exceptions, both visually striking and appealing.

Sometimes, it all seems a little silly, but the journey into Stargher’s mind and the Stargher character are the entire film. Jennifer Lopez’s acting is quite bad in this film; she shows no emotion or life for that matter. There is little or nothing there; she’s an empty vessel. Vince Vaughn is just as bad, if not worse. He’s not acting; he’s pretending and doing a bad job of it.

Vincent D’Onofrio, who always seems willing to put himself through the contortions of makeup or to jump through emotional hoops, gives the performance that saves this film. He has a great film presence, especially when he plays the heavy or plays a bad guy. There’s an air of menace about him, or better yet, he always looks like he’s about to go postal. So everything that is scary and thrilling about this movie goes through him, and luckily Tarsem just happened to notice that.

5 of 10
C+

NOTES:
2001 Academy Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Makeup” (Michèle Burke and Edouard F. Henriques)

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Razzie Worst Picture Winner? "Gigli" is Not that Bad

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 120 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux

Gigli (2003)
Running time: 121 minutes (2 hours, 1 minute)
MPAA – R for sexual content, pervasive language and brief strong violence
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Martin Brest
PRODUCERS: Martin Brest and Casey Silver
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Robert Elswit
EDITOR: Julie Monroe and Billy Weber
Razzie Award winner

CRIME/DRAMA/ROMANCE

Starring: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bartha, Lenny Venito, Christopher Walken, Al Pacino, and Lanie Kazan

A little more than half way through the year 2003, Martin Brest's (Beverly Hills Cop, Scent of a Woman) Gigli may be the worst reviewed movie of the year, but it is by no means the worst movie I’ve seen this year. Thus far, that would be the dreadful Legally Blonde sequel. Gigli is entertaining and has enough raunchy comedy that I would recommend it to anyone who can stomach something like Pulp Fiction or it’s Baby Gap version, Go. Anyone who is a fan of Affleck or Ms. Lopez shouldn’t miss this for the world. It’s not a matter of the film being that bad, considering that many people will give anything a shot, especially once a movie is on home video, Gigli pretty much runs with the pack in terms of quality (or lack thereof).

Larry Gigli (Ben Affleck) is a lowly thug with a penchant for delivering the pain when his mob boss Louis (Lenny Venito) demands it. He’s assigned to kidnap Brian (Justin Bartha), the mentally retarded brother of powerful federal prosecutor. Louis doesn’t trust Gigli not to screw up the job, so he sends in Ricki (Jennifer Lopez), another contract specialist, to watch over Larry. After some initial hard feelings, Larry falls for Ricki, but when she promptly informs him that she is gay, Gigli realizes that it may be a hard road to travel before he gets in her drawers.

More than anything, I think Gigli’s problems lie in Martin Brest’s script. I don’t at all mind the lewd and crude humor and scenes or the idiosyncratic characters. What I do mind is that Brest’s assumes that all the odd bits should make up for what is essentially a lightweight tale of star-crossed lovers and offbeat characters. In a sense, Gigli and Ricki should easily fall in love – after a period of struggling to accept each other’s oddities, of course. Instead the love story simply stumbles around its own plot twists: Ricki’s gay; she might be interested in men; she thinks Gigli’s in the closet; she really likes him, but she’s just not ready for a man.

Granted that there might be real life situations like this, but drama, art, and fiction should give the audience the payoff that real life will not. Even a love story about two polar opposites is supposed to deliver on the fact that this mismatched pair will eventually match up. Now, one of those “complex, art, awards season” films might get away with keeping the nothing-in-common lovers apart, but Gigli is, regardless of Brest’s intentions, throwaway entertainment. After all, a smart intelligent, Academy Award-genre film doesn’t rely on a mentally handicapped man singing rude rap songs or saying things like, “when my penis sneezes” for laughs.

Gigli wants to be a crime drama, but it’s only superficially so. There is some and crime and some drama, but it’s almost a movie without a genre. What saves Gigli are the often-hilarious lines and scenes, even the goofy ones like, “when my penis sneezes,” or “I tell my penis ‘God bless you’ when it sneezes.” I even enjoyed Ben and Jen playing twister with this crooked love story. Ben ably rises above the material to give a very good performance, only falling short when the script utterly fails him. Jen’s character is a crock, but she tries in spite of her limitations as an actress. Lanie Kazan (in a really low down and common role), Christopher Walken and Al Pacino make the most of their cameos, and Lenny Venito and Justin Bartha give solid supporting performances.

I’d see this again, because I like it in spite of the handicapped script. When it’s funny, it’s outrageous and as raw as anything Richard Pryor or Eddie Murphy could deliver in their best days. And at the oddest moments, Gigli is sad, sweet, charming, and endearing. In a season of disposable action movies, Gigli is the odd man out, and worth seeing – either in the theatre or at home.

5 of 10
C+

NOTES:
2004 Razzie Award: 6 wins: “Worst Actor” (Ben Affleck), “Worst Actress” (Jennifer Lopez), “Worst Director” (Martin Brest), “Worst Picture” (Columbia and Revolution), “Worst Screen Couple” (Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez), “Worst Screenplay” (Martin Brest); 3 nominations: “Worst Supporting Actor” (Al Pacino), “Worst Supporting Actor” (Christopher Walken) and “Worst Supporting Actress” Lainie Kazan)