Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 1st to 7th, 2024 - UPDATE #10

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

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

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

TELEVISION - From PBS:  Geoff Bennett of PBS interviews Meg James of "The Los Angeles Times" about the Disney/DirectTV carriage dispute.

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:  Director Tim Burton's new film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, earns 12 million dollars in Thursday preview showing.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Fox is cancelling the "9-1-1," spinoff, "9-1-1, Lone Star," at the end of this, it's fifth season, for which there will be 12 episodes.  The original, "9-1-1," moved to ABC and has been renewed for an eighth season.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Peacock has ordered a contemperoary television series adaptation of the 1989 horror-comedy, "The 'Burbs," which starred Tom Hanks and the late Carrie Fisher.  Keke Palmer will star and executive produce. Seth MacFarlane ("Family Guy") is also one of the executive producers.

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Glenn Close's portrayal as the character "Alberta" in Lee Daniel's Netflix film, "Deliverance," has people talking.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/30 to 9/1 Labor Day weekend box office (3-day totals) is Disney/Marvel's Deadpool & Wolverine with an estimated take of 15.2 million dollars.

MOVIES - From THR:  "The Hollywood Reporter" profiles actress Naomi Ackie who is hot right now, including for her turn in Zoe Kravitz's Blink Twice.

NETFLIX - From Variety:  Star couple, Daneel and Jensen Ackles are producing a sequel/reboot of the former The WB/The CW series, "One Tree Hill" (2003-12), for Netflix.

THE APPRENTICE:

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Kinematics, the film financier backed by disgraced former Washington Redskins owner, Dan Snyder, has exited the Donald Trump biopic, "The Apprentice."  James Shani, one of the film's executive producers, has bought Kinematics interest in the film via his Rich Spirit.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  The Donald Trump movie, "The Apprentice," is still headed for a Fall release.  Starring Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Trump's mentor, the late Roy Cohn, the already controversial film is slated for an October 11th release... maybe.

VENICE FILM FESTIVAL:

From THR:  Actor Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult say the both went to a "dark place" for the neo-Nazi crime thriller, "The Order" (based on a true story). The film is due Dec. 2024.

A "Star Wars" Link-o-Rama 2022 by Negromancer - Update #47

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

NEWS AND RUMORS: 

MARVEL COMICS - From BleedingCool:  The site has news on Marvel Comics' 2023 plans for its line of "Star Wars" comic books.

FUTURE - From Deadline:   After he is finished directing "Deadpool 3" and working on the final episodes of Netflix's "Stranger Things," Shawn Levy will reportedly direct a "Star Wars" film for Lucasfilm.

ANDOR - From CBR:  Season 2 of "Star Wars: Andor" begins production Monday, Nov. 21, 2022.

FUTURE - From THR:  Apparently, Damon Lindelof ("Lost," "Watchmen") and rising screenwriting star, Justin Britt-Gibson, are writing a Star Wars movie set after the 2015-19 sequel trilogy.  Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is reportedly set to direct. December 2025 is apparently the earliest date the film would arrive.

EPISODE VI - From SFGate:   The artist Marilee Heyer helped create the look for Princess Leia in "Return of the Jedi," and she wants to finally get credit and recognition.

DARTH VADER - From ScreenRant:  Actor James Earl Jones has apparently retired as the voice of Darth Vader, which has been performing since the original film, "Star Wars" (1977).  He has assigned his voice rights to Lucasfilm and Ukranian A.I. audio company, Respeecher.

ANDOR - From RollingStone:  Showrunner Tony Gilroy and stars Diego Luna and Genevieve O’Reilly tell "Rolling Stone" why the latest Disney+ show, "Star Wars: Andor," paves new ground for the saga.

ROGUE SQUADRON - From TheWrap:  Director Patty Jenkins' "Star Wars" film, "Rogue Squadron," has pulled from Disney's release schedule.  The film was due for Dec. 2023.

TALES OF THE JEDI - From Variety:  D23 Expo reveals the six-episode first season of the new animated Star Wars series, "Tales of the Jedi."  Each episode will be 15 minutes long and will debut October 26th on Disney+.

From TheWrap:  D23 reveals new footage from "The Mandalorian" Season 3 and Baby Yoda/Grogu is back.

THE ACOLYTE - From Deadline:  "Squid Game" star, Lee Jung-jae, will play the male lead in the Disney+ "Star Wars" series, "The Acolyte."

THE LAST JEDI - From IGN:  Director Rian Johnson says he's "even more proud" of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" on its fifth anniversary than he was when it first came out.

JOHN BOYEGA - From Variety:  John Boyea, who plays "Finn" in "Star Wars" Episodes VII to IX, says that he is done with the franchise.

ANDOR - From Deadline:  The "Rogue One" spinoff, "Andor," has a new trailer.  It will debut on Disney+ on Sept. 21st, 2022 with the premiere of the first three episodes.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Star Wars" titles for October 2022 are revealed.

DISNEY+ - From Deadline:  Amandla Stenberg ("The Hate U Give") is reportedly playing the lead the upcoming "Star Wars" streaming series, "The Acolyte."  The Disney+ series will be set during the final days of the "High Republic" era.

COLLECTIBLES - From Gizmodo:  EFX Collectibles is showing off its animatronic Baby Yoda/Grogu.  Article includes a YouTube link.

FANDOM - From Variety:  Actor Simon Pegg says "Star Wars" fandom is the "most toxic at the moment."

STAR WARS - From IndieWire:  "A Nightmare on Elm Street" star, Robert Englund, talks about helping his friend Mark Hamill land an audition for "Star Wars."

SKELETON CREW - From Deadline:  Oscar-nominee Jude Law will headline a Disney+ Star Wars series, entitled "Skeleton Crew."  The series is from "Spider-Man" director, Jon Watts, and writer, Christopher Ford.

OBI-WAN - From ScreenRant:  The "Star Wars" Twitter feed takes on social media racism in defending "Obi-Wan Kenobi" actress, Moses Ingram, who plays the Imperial Inquisitor, "Reva Sevander."

EPISODE V - From THR:  The late Irwin Kershner, the director of "The Empire Strikes Back," had the perfect retort for those who complained about the film's ending. The film opened to U.S. theaters 42 years ago yesterday, May 21st.

OBI-WAN - From VanityFair:   The magazine gets a behind-the-scenes look at three upcoming Disney+ "Star Wars series from Lucasfilm, "Obi-Wan Kenobi," "Andor," and "Ahsoka."

THE ACOLYTE - From WeGotThisCovered:  The site has production and story details and more on "Star Wars: The Acolyte," the Star Wars project from "Russian Doll" co-creator Leslye Headland.

OBI-WAN - From Variety:  The release date of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" has been moved from Wednesday, May 25th to two days later, Friday, May 27th.  However, Disney+ will release the first two episodes that day rather than just release the first episode as planned.

From EW:  Hayden Christensen gives an interview to "Entertainment Weekly" and says that it is a great honor to put the "Darth Vader" suit back on for the new series, "Obi-Wan Kenobi."

THE MANDALORIAN - From THR:  Actor Christopher Lloyd (the "Back to the Future" series) will guest star in the third season of the Disney+ series, "The Mandalorian."  There is currently no release date for the series' return.

OBI-WAN - From THR:  At one point, "Obi-Wan Kenobi's" production was halted and the show was overhauled.  Reportedly, one of the characters that did not make it to the revamped story is Darth Maul.  Ray Park who played the character in "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace," had returned to play the character, but his scenes were reportedly cut.

From Deadline:  Disney has unleashed the first trailer for "Obi-Wan Kenobi."

From EW:  The magazine has exclusive first-look photos from the Disney+ series, "Obi-Wan Kenobi."

From EW:  Get a first look at Ewan McGregor as "Obi-Wan Kenobi" on the April 2022 cover of "Entertainment Weekly," the last print issue of the magazine (after 32 years) before it becomes an all-digital media brand.

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OBITS - From Deadline:  In 1973, Alan Ladd, Jr., then head of 20th Century Fox, signed a deal with George Lucas to write and direct "Star Wars," died at the age of 84, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  A preview of 3 covers and 6 interior pages from Marvel's "Star Wars: The High Republic #15," which is due in comic shops March 2nd, 2022.

THE MANDALORIAN - From StarWars:  Marvel Comics has announced a comic book adaptation of the Disney" series, "The Mandalorian."  The eight issue series will adapt each of the first season's eight episodes.  Rodney Barnes ("Killadelphai") will write and Georges Jeanty will draw.

OBI-WAN KENOBI - From Variety: Legendary film music composer and Oscar-winning "Star Wars" music master, John Williams, is writing the theme music for the Disney+ series, "Obi-Wan Kenobi."

From Variety:  The next Disney+ "Star Wars" series has a premiere date.  "Obi-Wan Kenobi" will premiere May 25th, 2022, which is also the 45th anniversary of the premier of the original "Star Wars" (1977).

AHSOKA - From THR:  Actor Ray Stevenson of the History Channel's "Vikings," has joined the cast of the Disney+/Lucasfilm series, "Ahsoka."

LUKE SKYWALKER - From Esquire:   "The Unbridled and Mildly Horrifying Evolution of CGI Luke Skywalker" by Brady Langmann.  And he has a synthesized voice.

MARVEL COMICS - From StarWars:  "Star Wars: Obi-Wan" is a new five-issue miniseries that will launch in May and is written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Ario Anindito.

From BleedingCool:  The site has a 7-cover; 6-page preview of "Star Wars: Crimson Reign #2," which is due Wed., Feb. 2nd.

From BleedingCool:  The site has a 5-cover, 6-page preview of "Star Wars: The Halcyon Legacy #1," which is due Wed., Feb. 2nd.

From BleedingCool:  The site has a 3-cover, 5-page preview of "Star Wars: The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #4," which is due shops on Wed., Jan. 26th.

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AHSOKA - From THR:  Actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead is joining Rosario Dawson and Hayden Christensen in the budding cast of the Disney+/Lucasfilm series, "Ahsoka."

From THR:  Hayden Christensen will reprise his role of "Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader" in the Disney+/Lucasfilm live-action series, "Ahsoka."

MARVEL COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Here is a look at Marvel Comics' "Star Wars" comic book solicitations for April 2022.

BOBA FETT - From IGN:  "The Book of Boba Fett" star Temuera Morrison talks about filming that "Sarlacc pit scene" from the first episode of the series.

MARVEL COMICS - From BleedingCool:  In March 2022, writer Marc Guggenheim and artist David Messina launch a new ongoing "Star Wars" comic book, "Han Solo & Chewbacca."

EPISODE VI - From Deadline: "Return of the Jedi" is among 25 films that the Library of Congress has added to the "National Film Registry" for 2021.

COMIC BOOK NEWS:

From ComicBook:  A preview of Marvel Comics' "Star Wars: Crimson Reign #4" (April 27th) featuring the Knights of Ren.

From BleedingCool:  Here is a list of "Star Wars" related comic book titles shipping from Marvel in July 2022

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STAR WARS Movie Reviews:

From Negromancer:  "Star Wars"
From Negromancer:  "The Empire Strikes Back"
From Negromancer:  "Return of the Jedi"

From Negromancer:   "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace"

From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: The Force Awakens
From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"

From Negromancer:  "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2008 animated film)
From Negromancer:  "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"
From Negromancer:  "Solo: A Star Wars Story" 

I Reads You "Star Wars Central" comics and graphic novel review page is here.

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

Review: "CAPTAIN MARVEL" Earns Her Name and Her Own Movie

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 4 (of 2019) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Captain Marvel (2019)
Running time:  124 minutes (2 hours, 4 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive language
DIRECTORS:  Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
WRITERS:  Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck, and Geneva Robertson-Dworet; from a story by Nicole Perlman, Meg LeFauve, Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck, and Geneva Robertson-Dworet
PRODUCER:  Kevin Feige
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Ben Davis
EDITORS:  Debbie Berman and Elliot Graham
COMPOSER:  Pinar Toprak

SUPERHERO/SCI-FI/ACTION/THRILLER

Starring:  Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, Annette Bening, Lashana Lynch, Clark Gregg, Rune Temte, Gemma Chan, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Akira Akbar, Algenis Perez Soto, and Stan Lee

Captain Marvel is a 2019 superhero film directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck and produced by Marvel Studios.  The film is based on Marvel Comics characters that first appeared in the comic books Marvel Super-Heroes issues #12 and #13 (Marvel Comics).  Captain Marvel the movie focuses on a young woman with extraordinary powers who is plagued by memory problems even as she serves one side in a galactic war between two alien races.

Captain Marvel opens in 1995 on Hala, the capital planet of the Kree Empire.  The focus is on a young woman named “Vers” (Brie Larson), a member of “Starforce,” a Kree special ops unit.  Starforce leader, Yon-Rogg (Jude Law), leads Vers and the rest of his unit on a rescue mission into the territory of the Skrulls, alien shape-shifters who are the Kree Empire's mortal enemies.

During the mission, Vers is captured, but upon escaping, she finds herself near the planet Earth.  She crash lands in Los Angeles where she finds herself immediately confronted by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., and also by a Skrull unit led by a commander named Talos (Ben Mendelsohn).  Vers, however, has more than S.H.I.E.L.D. and Skrulls to worry her.  Vers is plagued by fragments of memories and by the visions of a woman named Carol Danvers.

Captain Marvel will face inevitable comparisons to 2017's Wonder Woman, the first major film featuring a female comic book superhero in the solo and lead role.  Like Wonder Woman the character, Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, is not a woman willing to allow a man to take the lead or have control over her.  Captain Marvel is an origin story of sorts, but it is not a coming-of-age story, nor does it offer the heroic arc.  Carol Danvers/Vers is a powerful woman striving to “be her best self,” because she is already an able and capable woman, even before she gained great power.

Oscar-winning actress, Brie Larson, captures the woman that is Carol Danvers/Vers with a level of self-confidence that I found off-putting.  Even after years of reading comic book featuring female superheroes, I am still getting used to women who are every bit as confident and self-possessed as the ultra-powerful male superheroes.  Carol Danvers does not need an Obi-Wan, an Alfred Pennyworth, or a Ben Parker.  In Captain Marvel, Larson is helping me get over my male-centric notions of the hero.

Samuel L. Jackson also gives a good performance as Nick Fury.  Since Captain Marvel's story is set a decade before the story in Marvel Studio's first film, Iron Man (2008), we get a younger Fury.  Jackson was digitally “de-aged” to play the younger Fury, but his sarcasm and edgy personality remains.  This film also gives Jackson a chance to show a softer, playful side (thanks to “Goose” the cat).  [Clark Gregg reprises his character, Phil Coulson, and is also de-aged.]  Jackson makes excellent use of his opportunities to be humorous, after all, he does not need to be the bad-ass, because (as I just said) Danvers does not need a sidekick or male helper, even if she does have one or two...

Ben Mendelsohn gives a nuanced turn in two roles, as Talos (a Skrull) and Keller (a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent).  There is something about Mendelsohn that reminds me of Martin Freeman (Black Panther; The Hobbit film series), and I'm always down to be reminded of Martin Freeman.  Also, here, Jude Law makes an art of being shifty and slippery as the Kree, Yon-Rogg.

Captain Marvel is delightfully off-beat and odd.  Perhaps, some of the critics and fans (trolls) who claim that Marvel Studios' films are too alike will be satisfied with a film that is as different as its title character is (but probably not).  I cannot quite put to words why I like Captain Marvel so much, but I can say that I did not want it to end.  I wanted more, much more of Captain Marvel.

A
8 of 10

Saturday, March 9, 2019


The text is copyright © 2019 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 December 24th to 31st, 2017 - Update #27

Support Leroy on Patreon.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 12/29 to 12/31/2017 weekend box office is "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" with an estimated take of $52.4 million.

From THR:  At the "awards box office," Oscar-hopefuls, "The Darkest Hour" and "The Post" show strength.

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COMICS-FILM - From ComicBook:  Actor David Harbour, the star of the "Hellboy" film franchise reboot," says that the film is "a real monster movie."

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MOVIE - From Variety:  See Jude Law as young Dumbledore and Johnny Deep as Grindelwald in photos from the set of "Fantastic Beasts 2."

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MOVIES - From TheVillageVoice:  Ten Movies to Look Forward to in Early 2018.

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CELEBRITY - From BET:  A photo of Oscar-nominated actress Laura Dern (who recently appeared in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi") and former NBA player Baron Davis kissing is hitting up social media.

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STAR WARS - From HuffPost:  Mark Hamill shares his tribute to Carrie Fisher, a year after her death. #CarrieOnForever

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CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  Britain's Prince Harry interviews President Barack Obama.

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BLM - From TheRoot:  Are White Supremacists Infiltrating Law Enforcement?  Includes KRS-One video, "Sound of Da Police."

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TELEVISION - From ShadowandAct:  Viola Davis has produced and is narrating a docu-series about police officer-involved deaths, "Two Sides," that will premiere on TV One, Monday, January 22, 2018.

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CULTURE - From THR:  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: How #MeToo Can Help Right America's Wrongs in 2018.

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TELEVISION - From THR:  The 1990s NBC TV series, "Mad About You" (1992 to 1999), is the latest to have a revival in the works.

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MOVIES- From THR:  Is "Die Hard" a Christmas movie?

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POLITICS - From TheSun:  Will President Trump be angry if President Obama and First Lady Michelle are invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding and he is snubbed?

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CULTURE - From TheRoot:  It's the first day of Kwanza, so here is an article that explains Kwanza.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 12/22 to 12/24/2017 weekend box office is "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" with an estimated take of $68 million.

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COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Screenwriter Max Landis ("Bright," "American Ultra") has been writing comics for the past few years.  Recently, however, DC Comics removed a story Landis has written from its "DC Holiday Special 2017."  Sexual misconduct allegations against Landis (son of director John Landis), have emerged.

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MOVIES - From YahooEntertaiment:  10 best movies of 2017 you probably never heard of.

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MOVIES - From ComicBook:  "Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins helped keep the recasting of Ridley Scott's "All the Money in the World" secret.  After Kevin Spacey was accused of multiple cases of sexual misconduct, Scott wanted to remove him in the role of "J. Paul Getty."  Spacey's scenes were eventually reshot with Christopher Plummer as Getty.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Lionsgate has moved Tyler Perry's "Madea Family Funeral" from August 3, 2018 to an undetermined date in Fall 2018.

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OBITS:

From CNN:  Social justice and anti-police brutality activist, Erica Garner, has died at the age of 27, Saturday, December 30, 2017.  Garner was the eldest daughter of Eric Garner, who was attacked and killed by New York Police officer Daniel Pantaleo, who placed the 43-year-old Garner in a chokehold.

From THR:  Film editor Thomas Stanford has died at the age of 93, Saturday, December 23, 2017.  Stanford won an Oscar for editing "Best Picture" winner, "West Side Story" (1961).

From YahooNews:  Mystery novelist, Sue Grafton, has died at the age of 77, Thursday, December 28, 2017.  Grafton is best known for her "alphabet" mysteries, beginning with "A is for Alibi" and most recently "Y is for Yesterday."

From TheWrap:  The actress Rose Marie has died at the age of 94, Thursday, December 28, 2017.  She was best known for her role on the "The Dick Van Dyke Show," as the quick-witted comedy writer, "Sally Rogers."  She also appeared on "The Doris Day Show" and "Hollywood Squares."

From FOX:  The British actor Alfie Curtis died at the age of 87, Tuesday, December 26, 2017.  Star Wars fans will know him for playing the character "Dr. Evazan" in the original Star Wars, a character who loses his arm after threatening Luke Skywalker.

From THR:  The film editor, Jerry Greenberg, has died at the age of 81, Friday, December 22, 2017.  He won an Oscar for editing the 1971 crime thriller, "The French Connection."  He also earned Oscar nominations for editing "Kramer vs. Kramer" and "Apocalypse Now."

From TheWrap:  Jordan Feldstein, the manager of the band Maroon 5, died at the age of 40, Friday, December 22, 2017.  Feldstein is also the older brother of Oscar-nominated actor, Jonah Hill.

From THR:  Kent Damon, the father of Oscar-winner, Matt Damon, has died at the age of 74, Thursday, December 14, 2017.

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

Support Leroy on Patreon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From TheWrap:  2017 NAACP Image Award nominees announced.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OBITS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 1st to 9th, 2017 - Update #42

Support Leroy on Patreon.

SPORTS - From NYTimes:  Sloane Stephens wins the women's tennis singles title at the 2017 U.S. Open Women.

From HuffPost:  American tennis is alive because of Black women.

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STREAMING - From ArsTechnica:  Disney is pulling its "Star Wars" and Marvel Studios films from Netflix, beginning in 2019.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Spike Lee and Jordan Peele ("Key & Peele") are uniting for the film, "Black Klansman," based on the true story of a Black man who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan.

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BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  "Spider-Man: Homecoming" opens strong in China.

From Fortune:  "Spider-Man: Homecoming" may be the highest grossing straight-reboot film at the worldwide box office.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From THR:  Drew Goodard will write and direct "X-Force," a spin-off from Fox's awful X-Men film franchise.

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STREAMING - From TheWrap:  Christina Ricci's Amazon series, "Z: The Beginning of Everything" has cancelled.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Armie Hammer joins Felicity Jones in the Ruth Bader Ginsburg (a current Supreme Court Justice) biopic, "On the Basis of Sex."

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COMICS-FILM - From THR:  "Suicide Squad 2" finally has a director.  Gavin O'Connor of "The Accountant" (with Ben Affleck) will write and direct the film.

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TELEVISION - Variety:  CBS is developing a TV series based on James Ellroy's classic novel, L.A. Confidential.  The book was previously developed into a critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning 1997 film writer-director Curtis Hanson.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Jude Law joins Elle Fanning and Selena Gomez in a Woody Allen film due next year.

----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity:  A rare photo of Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes, long rumored to be a couple, has surfaced.

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COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap:  In terms of domestic box office, "Wonder Woman" is now one of the top five highest grossing superhero movies of all time.

----------
STREAMING - From Deadline:  Chris Pine to take the lead in Robert F. Kennedy project at Hulu.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Paramount has acquired rights to "authorized prequel" to Bram Stoker's "Dracula," entitled "Dracul."

----------
STAR WARS - From TheWrap:  Colin Trevorrow "steps down" as the director of Star Wars Episode 9.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  "American Horror Story: Cult" - frenzied mess or metaphor for Trump-induced madness.

----------
MOVIES-FILM FESTIVALS - From Variety:  Angelina Jolie gets a standing ovation at the Telluride Film Festival for her new film, "Cambodia."

----------
POLITICS - From NYDailyNews:  The selfish reason Donald Trump has made several film cameos.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From CBR:  15 things wrong with the X-Men film franchise, according to Comic Book Resources.  [Yeah, those movies are a stanky hot mess. - Ed.]

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Luc Besson's "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" was a big disappointment at the box office.  That has cost the deputy CEO of Besson's EuropaCorp is job.

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WGA - From Variety:  The incoming president of the Writers Guild of America, West says that Hollywood writers will have to make a 2020 strike threat to get a decent contract.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The number one film at the 9/1 to 9/3/2017 weekend box office is "The Hitman's Bodyguard" with an estimated total of $10.25 million.  This is the film's third consecutive weekend at the top of the box office.

From Variety:  "Dunkirk" wins the most recent international box office period.

----------
CELEBRITY - From BBC:  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William of Great Britain and his wife, Kate) are expecting a third child.

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MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  A slideshow of the 50 most anticipated films of Fall 2017.

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SPORTS - From BET:  Tennis great Serena Williams has given birth to a baby girl.

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COMICS-FILM - From CBR:  Spike Lee may be involved in a Sony Pictures film based on Marvel Comics character, Nightwatch," who is part of the "Spider-Man" line.

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COMICS-FILM - From ScreenRant:  Cate Blanchett gives the three reasons she wanted to be in "Thor: Ragnarok."

----------
COMICS-FILM - From SideshowToy:  A first look at Evangeline Lilly in costume as "The Wasp" during filming of Marvel's "Ant-Man and the Wasp."

----------
COMICS-FILM - From Variety:  Warner Bros. would love Leo DiCaprio to play the Joker in its "Joker" stand alone film to be directed by Todd Phillips.

-----------
MOVIES - From THR:  "The Crow" reboot, entitled "The Crow Reborn," is not at Sony Pictures.

----------
STREAMING - From Variety:  Netflix teams up with Damien Chazelle ("Best Director Oscar" for "La La Land") for a Paris-set musical series, "The Eddy."

----------
MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  Director Andy Muschietti says that the sequel to "It," the highly-anticipated adaptation of the Stephen King novel, will focus on the 1986 novel's "cosmic dimension."

From CinemaBlend:  Muschietti would like to make a new film adaptation of King's 1983 novel "Pet Semetary," which was previously adapted by director Mary Lambert in 1989.

From TheWrap:  Muschietti talks about the origin of Pennywise the Clown's distinctive look in the new "It."

----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity:  Robert Pattison of "Twilight" fame once lived with Dustin Diamond a.k.a. "Screech" from "Saved by the Bell."

----------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  HBO's limited series, "True Detective," will return for a third season, with Mahershala Ali as its star.  Nic Pizzalatto and Jeremy Saulnier will direct.  No air date announced as of yet.

----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity:  Taylor Swift's friend, the dancer, Todrick Hall, getting trolled over his relationship with Swift and his appearance in her new video.

----------
MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Sam Rockwell in final talks to play George W. Bush in Dick Cheney biopic from director, Adam McKay.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Lily Collins joins Nicholas Hoult in Fox Searchlight and Chernin Entertainment's biopic about J.R.R. Tolkien, the creator of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

OBIT:

From TheWrap:  Blake Heron, former child star, has died at the age of 35, Friday, September 8, 2017.  He was best known for the 1996 film, "Shiloh."

----------
From TheWrap:  Rock musician and recording artist, Walter Becker, has died at the age of 67, Sunday, September 3, 2017.  Becker was the guitarist and co-founder of the rock-jazz fusion band, Steely Dan.

----------
From Variety:   The actor and comedian Shelley Berman has died at the age of 92; Friday, September 1, 2017.  The Grammy Award he won in 1959 for "Best Comedy Performance, Spoken Word," was the first given for a non-musical performance.  In recent years, he played Larry David's father on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," which earned him a 2008 Emmy nomination.

"Fantastic Beasts" Sequel Begins Filming Today, July 3rd

A Thrilling New Adventure in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World is Underway

The Main Cast and Filmmakers from “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” Are Joined by Exciting New Additions to the Ensemble

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography starts today, Monday, July 3, 2017, on an all new adventure set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, the second of five films in the series that began with “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The as-yet-untitled film is being directed by David Yates.

Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”) stars once more as wizarding world magizoologist Newt Scamander; alongside Katherine Waterston as Auror Tina Goldstein; Alison Sudol as her sister, Queenie Goldstein; and Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski, the only No-Maj in the foursome.

Oscar nominee Johnny Depp (the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, “Finding Neverland”), who was revealed as Gellert Grindelwald, stars as the powerful Dark wizard in the film. Oscar nominee Jude Law (“The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “Cold Mountain”) takes on the role of Albus Dumbledore—one of J.K. Rowling’s most beloved characters—decades before he becomes Headmaster at Hogwarts. Credence, whose fate was unknown at the end of the first film, makes a mysterious return, played again by Ezra Miller. Zoë Kravitz plays Leta Lestrange, who was glimpsed in a photo as a woman from Newt’s past; Callum Turner is the famed Theseus Scamander, a war hero and Auror, who also happens to be Newt’s older brother; and Claudia Kim plays a young woman we first meet as a featured attraction at a wizarding circus.

J.K. Rowling wrote the screenplay for the film, which opens in 1927, a few months after Newt helped to unveil and capture the infamous Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. However, as he promised he would, Grindelwald has made a dramatic escape and has been gathering more followers to his cause—elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one who might be able to stop him is the wizard he once called his dearest friend, Albus Dumbledore. But Dumbledore will need help from the wizard who had thwarted Grindelwald once before, his former student Newt Scamander. The adventure reunites Newt with Tina, Queenie and Jacob, but his mission will also test their loyalties as they face new perils in an increasingly dangerous and divided wizarding world.

The film expands the wizarding world, moving from New York to London and on to Paris. There are also some surprising nods to the Harry Potter stories that will delight fans of the books and film series.

The ensemble cast also includes William Nadylam as a wizard named Yusuf Kama; Ingvar Sigurdsson as a bounty hunter named Grimmson; Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Skender, who runs the wizarding circus; and Kevin Guthrie as Abernathy, whom we met as Tina and Queenie’s boss at MACUSA (Magical Congress of the USA).

David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram are producing the film, with Tim Lewis, Neil Blair, Rick Senat and Danny Cohen serving as executive producers.

Collaborating with Yates behind the scenes, the creative teams are led by Oscar-winning director of photography Philippe Rousselot (“A River Runs Through It”); three-time Oscar-winning production designer Stuart Craig (“The English Patient,” “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Gandhi,” the “Harry Potter” films), three-time BAFTA Award-winning editor Mark Day (the last four “Harry Potter” films, “State of Play”), four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Alice in Wonderland”), Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Tim Burke (“Gladiator,” the “Harry Potter” films), and Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Christian Manz (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1”).

The new adventure is being filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, which has been the cinematic home of the Wizarding World since the first “Harry Potter” film.

Slated for release on November 16, 2018, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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Live Theater "Angels in America" and "Obsession" Comes to Movie Theaters This Summer

Academy Award® Nominees Hit Cinemas Nationwide from the NT Live Stage with Andrew Garfield in ‘Angels in America’ and Jude Law in ‘Obsession,’ for Three Days This Summer

Two Hit Stage Productions Light Up the Big Screen in Exclusive Programming from National Theatre Live in May and July

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Love, temptation and fear will captivate moviegoers as Fathom Events, BY Experience and National Theatre Live partner to bring the best of the stage to U.S. cinemas with “NT LIVE: Obsession” on May 11, 2017 and “NT LIVE: Angels in America” on July 20 and 27, 2017 all captured live each day.

    .@FathomEvents News: Jude Law and Andrew Garfield Hit the Big Screen in Obsession and Angels in America from #NTLive

Tickets for “NT LIVE: Obsession” and “NT LIVE: Angels in America” can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 500 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

“Obsession” features Jude Law (“The Young Pope”) in a tale of adultery and crime full of passion and destruction in this one-night event on Thursday, May 11 at 7:00 p.m. local time. Law stars as the handsome, down-on-his-luck Gino in the new stage adaptation of Visconti’s penetrating social drama directed by Tony Award®-winner Ivo van Hove (“Hedda Gabler,” “A View from the Bridge”). Drifter Gino encounters Giuseppe and his much younger, trapped wife Giovanna at their roadside restaurant and petrol station. He and Giovanna are so irresistibly attracted to one another they begin an affair while plotting to murder her husband. But the crime does not unite them in this chilling story where passion can lead only to destruction. Broadcast from the prestigious Barbican Theatre, “Obsession” marks Law’s first London theatre performance in four years.

Andrew Garfield (“Silence,” “Hacksaw Ridge”) stars in “Angels in America,” a story set in New York during the 1980s AIDS crisis in a conservative America, as people fight for their lives. “Angels in America” will be broadcast in two parts; “Part 1: Millennium Approaches” on Thursday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m. local time and “Part 2: Perestroika” on Thursday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. local time. Andrew Garfield plays Prior Walter alongside cast including Denise Gough (“People, Places and Things”), Nathan Lane (“The Producers”), James McArdle (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and Russell Tovey (“The Pass”).

This new staging of Tony Kushner’s multi award-winning two-part play is directed by Olivier® and Tony Award-winning director Marianne Elliott (“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and “War Horse”). “Part One: Millennium Approaches” was first performed at the National Theatre in 1992 and was followed by “Part Two: Perestroika” the following year.

“National Theatre Live continues to make some of the best stage shows with the biggest names accessible to cinema audiences,” Fathom Events Vice President of Programming Kymberli Frueh said. “Theatre fans of all kinds will appreciate these two compelling shows from the ‘best seats in the house’ – at their local movie theater.”


About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event cinema with participating affiliate theaters in all 100 of the top Designated Market Areas®, and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) (known collectively as AC JV, LLC), Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events such as live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, dance and theatre productions like the Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre Live, sporting events like Copa America Centenario, concerts with artists like Michael Bublé, Rush and Mötley Crüe, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics film series and inspirational events such as To Joey With Love and Kirk Cameron’s Revive US. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes and offers unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 896 locations and 1,383 screens in 181 DMAs. For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.

About BY Experience
BY Experience kicked off the digital revolution of live events to movie theaters and other locations globally with David Bowie’s 2003 Reality album launch and since then, over 30 million tickets have been sold worldwide for cinema events BY Experience has distributed globally. Current cinema series credits: Distribution Representative, The Met: Live in HD (Worldwide; since 2006), the UK’s National Theatre Live (Ex-UK; since 2009), Bolshoi Ballet (North America; since 2014). BY Experience has executive produced and/or distributed several diverse programs for cinema including numerous rock concerts, radio programs, fine art exhibits other special content events including national theatrical re-releases of classic and in some cases fully restored films such as “The Breakfast Club” (30th anniversary), “My Fair Lady” (50th), “Oklahoma!” (60th), and “Fantasia” (75th). BY Experience distributes to over 70 countries, to over 3,000 movie screens. www.byexperience.net.

About National Theatre Live
National Theatre Live launched in June 2009 with a broadcast of the National Theatre production of Phèdre with Helen Mirren. The company has since broadcast more than 50 other productions live, from both the National Theatre and from other theatres in the UK. NT Live broadcasts have now been experienced by over 6 million people in over 2,000 venues around the world, including over 700 venues in the UK alone. Past broadcasts from the National Theatre have included Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller; War Horse; Man and Superman with Ralph Fiennes; and most recently Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus. Broadcasts from other UK theatres include Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Coriolanus from the Donmar Warehouse; A View from the Bridge from the Young Vic; Macbeth from the Manchester International Festival; and Hangmen, Skylight, The Audience and No Man’s Land from London’s West End. The biggest single broadcast to date is Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch at the Barbican, which has been seen by over 600,000 people. In 2014 the National Theatre recorded its first production on Broadway, Of Mice and Men with James Franco and Chris O’Dowd, captured at the Longacre Theatre.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 10th to 16th, 2016 - Update #52

Support Leroy on Patreon. 

POLITICS - From TPM:  Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announces Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate.

From RollingStone:  Why Mike Pence is the absolute worse.

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TELEVISION - From MassLive:  Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart reunite to cover the 2016 Republican National Convention.

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COMICS - From IGN:  Do right by the X-Men comics franchise!

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COMICS - From YahooMovies:  New photos of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman - one with Chris Pine.

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SPORTS - From NBA:  Oh, no!  Los Angeles Lakers young stallion, Larry Nance, Jr., suffers a probably hand fracture.

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SPORTS -  From YahooSports:   New England Patriots Super Bowl champion quaterback, Tom Brady, gives up on his "Deflage-gate" lawsuit.

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MOVIES - From TheGuardian:  Chiwetel Ejiofor in talks to join Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix in the film "Mary Magdalene."  Ejiofor would play Peter the Apostle.

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RACE - From YahooTV:   D.L. Hughley rips into FOX News' Megyn Kelly.

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EMMYS - From YahooTV:  "Game of Thrones" leads the 2016 Emmy nominations with 23 nominations.

From YahooTV:  A complete list of 2016 Emmy Award nominations.

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MOVIES - From EW:   First look at Jude Law and Charlie Hunnam in Guy Ritchie's "King Arthur."

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MOVIES - From EW:  See this first look at "Pennywise the Clown" as played by Bill Skarsgard in the latest adaptation of Stephen King's It - due in theaters Sept. 2017.

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RACE - From TheGuardian:  Eve Ensler - It's time for white people to reckon with racism.

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COMICS - From GMAYahooNews:  Marvel kills of Bruce Banner in comic book, "Civil War II #3."

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BLACK LIVES MATTER - From YahooNews:  Even U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), an African-America, has felt the sting of the long arm of the law - both Capitol Police and law enforcement.

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MOVIES - From MovieWeb:  "Saw 8" to beginning shooting in the Fall, likely in Canada.

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COMICS - From BleedingCool:  See Keiynan Lonsdale as "Kid Flash," appearing in the upcoming season of "Flash."

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GAMES - From Deadline:  Who is going to catch the rights to the hot franchise, "Pokemon."

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MOVIES - From EW:  Sigourney Weaver talks about the fate of "Ellen Ripley" in the stalled "Alien" sequel.

HARRY POTTER - From Gamespot:  J.K. Rowling reveals why Uncle Dursley hated Harry Potter.

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TELEVISION - From BuzzFlash:  The time David Letterman called Donald Trump a racist.

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COMICS - From Variety:  FOX, the broadcast network, is entering the Marvel Universe with an "X-Men" action-adventure television series.  It co-produced with Marvel, and FOX is committed to a producing a pilot.  Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg, and Marvel's Jeph Loeb are among executive producers.  Matt Nix is writing.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  The new all-girl "Ghostbusters" has a post-credit scene.

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SPORTS - From YahooStyle:  Serena Williams breaks "tradition" and wears sandals to the Wimbledon champions dinner.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Oscar-winner Javier Bardem to pick up a paycheck from Universal by appearing in its "Frankenstein" reboot.

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MOVIES - From IndieWire:  Ubisoft chief says the movie based on his company's game, "Assassin's Creed," will not make money.

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  NBA legend, champion, and star, Tim Duncan, has announced his retirement.  He won five championships with the San Antonio Spurs, the only team he played for.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  "The Secret Life of Pets" won the 7/8 to 7/10/2016 weekend box office with a $103.17 million estimated opening.  This is the largest domestic opening weekend for an original animated property.

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OBITS - From the BBC:  American journalist Sydney Schanberg has died at the age of 82, Saturday, July 9, 2016.  His work in Cambodia inspired the Oscar-winning film, "The Killing Fields."

MOVIES - From Collider:  First set photo images of Sofia Boutella as the titular monster in the upcoming Tom Cruise reboot of "The Mummy."

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From BleedingCool:  "Child's Play" is returning to home video.

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From IndieWire:  Goldie Hawn will return to movies for the first time since 2002 in an adventure movie with Amy Schumer.

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MUSIC - From IndieWire:  Ray Parker, Jr., who wrote the song "Ghostbusters" for the original film has mixed feelings about the new "Ghostbusters" theme.

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  Serena Williams wins the 2016 Wimbledon Women's Single title - her 7th Wimbledon singles' title.  This is her 22nd Grand Slam singles championship, which ties her with Steffi Graf for the most in professional tennis' "Open era" (which began in 1968).  The all-time women's Grand Slam singles champ is Margaret Court with 24.

From YahooSports:  Later, Serena joined her sister Venus Williams to win the 2016 Wimbledon Women's Doubles Championship - their sixth.

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The Killing of #AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastille and #Dallas:

From Newsone:  The NRA will not defend Black and brown gun owners because they are not the organization's constituency.

From Truthout:  The system that killed Alton Sterling and Philando Castille cannot be reformed.

From RSN:  Beyonce says "respect our lives."

From YahooNews:  Pa. police officer picks up tab of guy who refused to sit next to him and his fellow officers in a diner.

From Clevelanddotcom:  NFL running back, Isaiah Crowell (Cleveland Browns), posted this horrible and violent image against police officers.
From YahooSports:  Now, it will cost Crowell a game check.

From TheIntercept:  Baton Rouge police reponse to #AltonSterling protests is complete militarization.  The world is watching.

From ESPN:  Four cops who were working a WNBA Minnesota Lynx game leave over T-shirts the players wore.

From YahooNews:  This buzzed-about photo from the #AltonSterling protests in Baton Rouge is quite popular and maybe iconic and may one day be legendary.

From CSM:  First use of a robot to kill a suspect in U.S. history.

From RSN:  Marc Ash: I blame the police

From RiverFrontTimes:  A young police officer ambushed during a traffic stop.  There is a Go Fund Me page for him.

From Baton Rouge Advocate:  Baton Rouge police say out-of-towners (i.e. outside-agitators) are making Alton Sterling demonstrations more violent.

From RSN:  The President Is Wrong About Dallas, Wrong About Race

From TheGuardian:  NRA afraid to support some Black gun owners?

From Metro:  London stands with #BlackLivesMatter

From WashPost:  New information on NYPD road-rage killing.

From WashPost:  Let's agree that Rudy Giulani needs to shot dead.

From Truthout:  The problem is over-policing.

From telSUR:  Four Latinos killed by police this week, and America really didn't notice.

TRAILERS-VIDEOS:

From FoxMovies:  The new trailer for Warren Beatty's film, "Rules Don't Apply."

From Facebook:  Idris Elba adds a finishing touch to a "Star Trek Beyond" mural painted on the side of a building in London by artist Jim Vision.

Negromancer New Bits and Bites for the Week of May 17th to 23rd, 2015 - Update #12

NEWS:

From Gawker:  This can't be real - Bill O'Reilly: wife beater.

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From YahooCelebrity:  Josh Duggar, one of Jim Bob and Michelle's 19 kids, has been accused and also investigated for child molestation, including committing those acts against his younger female siblings.

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From Collider:  At Cannes, John Lasseter previews "Finding Dory," "Toy Story 4," and more.

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From Moviesdotcom:  Chris Pratt talks about what movies he will be in going forward and what is bull-crap.

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From TheWrap:  Peter Saarsgard joins Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt in MGM's remake of The Magnificent Seven to be directed by Antoine Fuqua.

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From YahooTV:  Melissa McCarthy addresses sexist critic.

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From Variety:  The winner of the May 15th to 17th, 2015 is Pitch Perfect 2 with an estimated haul of $70.3.  The first film only made $65 million during its entire theatrical run, although the film has been big in its move to home entertainment.  The other new film, Mad Max: Fury Road made an estimated $44.4 million, with Avengers: Age of Ultron finishing third with $38.8, after two weeks at #1.

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From Variety:  Jude Law headed to TV with "The Young Pope," which will air on HBO in America.

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From YahooMovies:  Matthew McConaughey defends Gus Van Sant's "Sea of Trees," at Cannes 2015, where critics are having fun reviling it.


TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  The Maze Runner sequel: The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.


MISC:

From VillageVoice:  A review of Dark Star, a documentary about the late surrealist artist, H.R. Giger.

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From Salon:  Roger Waters responds to Dionne Warwick.

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From YahooNews:  Jay Z and Beyonce put their money where their mouths are.

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From YahooNews: This is probably the closest most will get to seeing a naked Mitt Romeny - shirtless, sweaty, and fight Evander Holyfield.

Review: "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is Stylish and Quirky, of course

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 17 (of 2015) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Running time:  99 minutes (1 hour, 39 minutes)
MPAA – R for language, some sexual content and violence
DIRECTOR:  Wes Anderson
WRITERS:  Wes Anderson; from a story by Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness (inspired by the writings of Stefan Zweig)
PRODUCERS:  Wes Anderson, Jeremy Dawson, Steven Rales, and Scott Rudin
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Robert Yeoman (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Barney Pilling
COMPOSER:  Alexandre Desplat
Academy Award winner

ADVENTURE/COMEDY/DRAMA with elements of fantasy

Starring:  Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jeff Goldblum, Mathieu Amalric, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Lea Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Bob Balaban, and Owen Wilson

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a 2014 comedy-drama and adventure film from writer-director Wes Anderson.  Anderson and Hugo Guinness, who wrote the film's story with Anderson, were inspired by the writings of Austrian, Stefan Sweig (1881-19420, a novelist, playwright, journalist and biographer.  The Grand Budapest Hotel focuses on the adventures of a legendary concierge at a famous hotel and the lobby boy who becomes his trusted sidekick.

The Grand Budapest Hotel opens in the present day, before moving back to 1985.  The film moves back again to the year 1968.  A man, known as “The Author” (Jude Law), travels to the Republic of Zubrowka (a fictional Central European state).  He stays at a remote mountainside hotel in the spa town of Nebelsbad.  The Author discovers that the Grand Budapest Hotel has fallen on hard times.  He meets the owner of the hotel, an elderly gentleman named Zero Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham).  Moustafa tells “The Author” how he came to own the Grand Budapest Hotel.

That takes the story back to the year 1932, during the hotel's glory days.  Monsieur Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes) is the Grand Budapest Hotel's devoted concierge.  He manages the hotel's large staff and sees to the needs of the hotel's wealthy clientele,  Gustave also often has sexual relationships with some of the hotel's elderly female clientele.  One of the aging women who flock to the hotel to enjoy M. Gustave's “exceptional service” is Madame Céline Villeneuve "Madame D" Desgoffe und Taxis a.k.a. “Madame D” (Tilda Swinton).

After Madame D dies, M. Gustave discovers that she has left him something in her will, a highly-sought after painting by Johannes van Hoytl (the younger), entitled, “Boy With Apple.”  M. Gustave also learns that Madame D was murdered and that he is not only the chief suspect, but that he is also caught up in a dispute over a vast family fortune.  M. Gustave is in trouble, but luckily he has hired a most capable and talented new lobby boy, Zero (Tony Revolori).  M Gustave's most trusted friend and protege, Zero, may be the only one who can help a legendary concierge save himself.

I said that Ethan and Joel Coen's 2010 film, True Grit (a remake of the classic John Wayne western), was a movie in which the brothers got to work out and to employ their visual tics, cinematic style, and storytelling techniques on a Western.  It was a good film, but it was truly “a Coen Bros. movie.”

In a similar fashion, The Grand Budapest Hotel is Wes Anderson employing everything that is eccentric, quirky, and unique to his films going back at least a decade.  Embodied in this movie, the Wes Anderson style is wonderful and invigorating and a joy to watch.  Truly, The Grand Budapest Hotel has a striking and an eye-catching visual style.  Anderson's mix of ornate visual environments and eccentric characters with deeply held emotions makes his movies hard to ignore, if you give them half the chance.

Those characters can be a problem, though.  For this film, Anderson easily offers 20 characters worth knowing, but other than M. Gustave and Zero, Anderson uses the others as quirky backdrops or as caricatures upon which he can hang his plot.  Thus, The Grand Budapest Hotel is beautiful, but depth of character is lacking.  The adventure of M. Gustave and Zero plays as if it were something straight out of a beloved children's book.  Much has been made of Ralph Fienne's performance in this film, and it is indeed a good one.  It must be noted that Tony Revolori as Zero is also quite good.  Still, the adventure of the two leads would be better with more interplay from the other characters than the film offers.  Adrien Brody's Dmitri Desgoffe und Taxis is wasted, and Willem Dafoe's J.G. Jopling is not so much a menacing villain as he is a bad guy straight out of Jay Ward Productions.

However, while this movie does not fail to burrow into the imagination, it does not really plant its roots in the viewers' hearts.  It is gorgeous on the surface, but Anderson seems to avoid the deeply emotional ideas he introduces, making The Grand Budapest Hotel an exceptional film, but keeping it from being truly great.  It is Wes Anderson art for Wes Anderson's art sake.

8 of 10
A

Friday, April 10, 2015


NOTES:
2015 Academy Awards, USA:  4 wins: “Best Achievement in Costume Design” (Milena Canonero), “Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling” (Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score” (Alexandre Desplat) and “Best Achievement in Production Design” (Adam Stockhausen-production design and Anna Pinnock-set decoration); 5 nominations: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven M. Rales, and Jeremy Dawson), “Best Achievement in Directing” (Wes Anderson), “Best Achievement in Cinematography” (Robert D. Yeoman), and “Best Achievement in Film Editing” (Barney Pilling), and “Best Writing, Original Screenplay” (Wes Anderson-screenplay/story and Hugo Guinness-story)

2015 BAFTA Awards:  5 wins: “Best Original Music” (Alexandre Desplat), “Best Costume Design” (Milena Canonero), “Best Production Design” (Adam Stockhausen and Anna Pinnock), “Best Original Screenplay” (Wes Anderson), and “Best Make Up & Hair” (Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier); 6 nominations: “Best Film” (Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven M. Rales, and Jeremy Dawson), “Best Leading Actor” (Ralph Fiennes), “Best Cinematography” (Robert D. Yeoman), “Best Editing” (Barney Pilling), “Best Sound” (Wayne Lemmer, Christopher Scarabosio, Pawel Wdowczak), and “David Lean Award for Direction” (Wes Anderson)

2015 Golden Globes, USA:  1 win: “Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical;” 3 nominations: “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Wes Anderson), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical” (Ralph Fiennes), and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Wes Anderson)

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