Review: "THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER" is Full of Love and Thunder

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 42 of 2022 (No. 1854) by Leroy Douresseaux

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Running time:  119 minutes (1 hour, 59 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language, some suggestive material and partial nudity
DIRECTOR:  Taika Waititi
WRITERS: Taiki Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson; from a story by Taika Waititi (based on the Marvel Comics)
PRODUCERS:  Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Barry Idoine (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Peter S. Elliot, Tim Roche, Matthew Schmidt, and Jennifer Vecchiarello
COMPOSERS:  Michael Giacchino and Nami Melumad

SUPERHERO/FANTASY/ACTION and COMEDY/DRAMA

Starring:  Chris Hemsworth, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Taika Waititi (voice) Jaimie Alexander, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel (voice), Bradley Cooper (voice), Kieron L. Dyer, Idris Elba, Brett Goldstein, and Russell Crowe and Natalie Portman

Thor: Love and Thunder is a 2022 superhero fantasy and action-comedy directed by Taika Waititi and produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.  It is the fourth film in Marvel's Thor film series, which began with Thor (2011).  Thor is a Marvel Comics character that first appeared in the comic book, Journey into Mystery #83 (cover dated: August 1962), and is based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name.  In Love and Thunder, Thor reunites with his ex-girlfriend to fight a being who plans to make the gods extinct.

Thor: Love and Thunder finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth), using his second enchanted hammer, “Stormbreaker,” is fighting the bad guys of the galaxy with the Guardians of the Galaxy:  Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), and Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper).  Thor is at a crossroads in his life and is unsure of what to do next.

Back on Earth, Thor's ex-girlfriend, the astrophysicist Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), is battling stage four cancer.  Seeking medical treatment, Jane travels to New Asgard.  There, she has a strange encounter with Thor's broken hammer, Mjolnir.

Meanwhile, Thor has answered a distress signal from one of Asgard's warriors, Sif (Jaimie Alexander).  She warns him of Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), a being who possesses the god-killing weapon, “the Necrosword.”  When Gorr attacks New Asgard, Thor returns to join the battle.  Much to his shock, he discovers that Mjolnir has reforged and bonded with Jane Foster, transforming her into another Thor.

Now, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), King of Asgard, and Korg (voice of Taika Waititi), the rocky Kronan warrior, join Thor and Thor on a journey to fight Gorr.  But are they enough to fight a being that has already killed many gods?

The last year's worth of Marvel Studios films, five including Thor: Love and Thunder, have been different, even offbeat, much to the chagrin of some critics and fans.  People complained that Marvel's films were too much alike, and now that the studio has given us five films that are quite different from the first 11 years of films, they still aren't happy.

Anyway, I want to make it clear that there is plenty of “thunder” in Thor: Love and Thunder.  Director Taika Waititi offers some action set pieces that are either unusual or have an unusual angle to them.  As Gorr, Christian Bale gives a multi-layered performance full of pathos, humor, and maniacal glee.  It is a seemingly effortless performance from one of the best actors of the last quarter-century.  So, this superhero movie has a great villain, one who can match both Thors and is genuinely vengeful, a vengeance grounded in love.

Still, Waititi wants Thor to be something really different.  The films trades in themes of love, death, and change.  Thor Odinson and Jane Foster-Thor are both in crisis.  The Odinson is having a sort of mid-life crisis.  If he is no longer the rascally young heir to the throne of Asgard or the Avenger's lightning, thunder, and muscle, then, what is he?  Jane Foster is facing an existential crisis; her cancer is really terminal.  Should she quietly accept her fate or should she go out with a bang and some thunder as Thor, fighting their enemy to death, if need be?

Thor: Love and Thunder is a perfect film for this time.  It chooses love over despair.  It is a post-breakup movie in which Thor and Jane Foster find their way back to one another.  Although death is an end, it can also mean change, and that is what can be in store for Thor and Thor and for King Valkyrie, Korg, and a few other characters.

I love what director Taika Waititi has created in his two Thor films, this and the earlier Thor: Ragnarok (2017).  Thor: Love and Thunder finds the humor in every situation, even the dark and dangerous ones, which might put off some of its audience.  However, I like that Thor: Love and Thunder is a film made of joy, color, and wonder that travels across the galaxy and into different realms.  But no matter where it goes, Thor: Love and Thunder full of thunderous sounds and furious love.

[This film as two scenes that occur during the credits, one in the middle and one at the end.]

8 of 10
A
★★★★ out of 4 stars

Friday, July 8, 2022


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

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TRAILER: The First Official Teaser Trailer for "THOR: Love and Thunder" is Here

The first official teaser for Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER has arrived.  The film reportedly finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced — a quest for inner peace.  However, his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods.  To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi), and ex-girlfriend, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who — to Thor’s surprise — inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. 

Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.

Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER stars Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman and Christian Bale. Directed by Taika Waititi. In theaters July 8, 2022.

The teaser trailer is below:

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 7th to 13th, 2021 - Update #29

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS: 

CELEBRITY - From WeGotThisCovered:  After securing his place as a box office star, actor Robert Downey, Jr. is reportedly now focused on winning an Oscar.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Netflix's password sharing crackdown may be beneficial to the company in the long term.

MOVIES - From THR:  Warner Bros. has released a series of six posters for director Jon M. Chu's "In the Heights," the musical film adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Disney Channel has ordered "Descendants: The Royal Wedding," an animated special set to premiere this summer.  The special will also pay memory to late cast member Cameron Boyce, who appeared as "Carlos." Boyce died in July 2019 of epilepsy at the age of 20.

MOVIES/COVID-19 - From Deadline:  Los Angeles County officials say that movie theaters can reopen Monday (March 15th), because the county has met COVID requirements.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Netflix makes a worldwide rights deal for actor Dev Patel's directorial debut, "Monkey Man," which recently completed filming.

From Deadline:  Netflix had a hit with the sci-fi/horror film, "Bird Box," starring Julia Roberts.  The streamer is planning "local language" spinoffs of the film.  The first will be a Spanish-language spinoff of Bird Box.

CULTURE - From Jacobin:  Actor and activist Danny Glover talks about the struggle of workers in Alabama to organize a union at Amazon.

MUSIC - From RollingStone:   Grammy-winning recording artist, The Weeknd, says he is finished with the Grammy Awards because of the awards' "secret committees" (expert committees).

CULTURE - From BuzzFeed:   Actress Katie Leung, who played "Cho Chang" in the Harry Potter film series, says that she faced online racist attacks after her casting in the series was announced.  Leung also says that the film's publicist told her to deny that she was experiencing racist attacks.

MOVIES - From RSNNewYorker:  "The New Yorker's" Vinson Cunningham interviews Spike Lee.

STREAMING - From Deadline:   Oscar winners, Natalie Portman and Lupita Nyong'o, are set to star in the television limited series, "Lady in the Lake," for Apple TV+

BLACK FILM - From Deadline:   The African-American Film Critics Association has named "Judas and the Black Messiah" the best film of 2020.

BAFTA - From THR:   The 2021 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) nominations have been announced, featuring a more diverse group of nominees since last year's #BAFTAsSoWhite controversy.  The winners will be announced over two days April 10th and 11th.

AWARDS - From Variety:  The nominees for the 2021 Directors Guild Awards have been announced with some history made.  The winners will be announced Saturday, April 10th.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   The CW has found the leads for its live-action pilot, "The Powerpuff Girls."  They are Chloe Bennet (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Dove Cameron (Descendants) and Yana Perrault (Jagged Little Pill).

MOVIE - From Deadline:   Steven Spielberg is developing a film that is based on his boyhood.  Multiple Oscar-nominee Michelle Williams will play a character based on Spielberg's mother.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Actor Josh Holloway has snagged the lead in LaToya Morgan and J.J. Abrams 1970s Southwest crime series, "Duster."  This is reunion as Holloway was one of the leads in Abram's Emmy-winning his series, "Lost" (ABC).

HARRY & MEGHAN - From YahooLife:  Meghan’s racism claims come as no surprise to Black Britons.

MEDIA - From FastCompany:  The site and magazine offer a profile on NBA superstar LeBron James and super-agent Maverick Carter's media company, The SpringHill Company.

AWARDS - From Deadline:  The nominees for the 2021 / 32nd annual Producers Guild Awards have been announced.  Winners will be announced at a virtual show on March 24th.

From Variety:    "Judas and the Black Messiah" becomes the first film with an all-black producing team (Shaka King, Ryan Coogler, and Charles D. King) to be nominated by the Producers Guild Awards.

From Deadline:  The winners at the 2021 /26th annual Critics Choice Awards have been announced.  "Nomadland" wins best picture, and "The Crown" wins best TV drama series.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2021 48th annual Annie Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced at a virtual show on April 16, 2021.

HARRY & MEGHAN - From YahooEntertainment:   11 bombshells from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.

From BET:  5 revelations you might have missed during Meghan Markle’s bombshell CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey 

From BET:  Tyler Perry played a part in helping Harry & Meghan escape the royal Red Lectroids.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:   The winner of the 3/5 to 3/7/2021 weekend box office is Disney's "Raya and the Last Dragon" with an estimated take of 8.6 million dollars.

From Deadline:  Film industry worries about "Raya and the Last Dragon's" sluggish opening weekend at the North American box office.

OSCARS - From NoFilmSchool:   Watch 10 Animated Short Films on the Shortlist for the 2021 Academy Awards.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 26th to 31st, 2019 - Update #22

Support Leroy on Patreon:

MOVIES - From THR:  Elton John among those angry that Russian film distributors will edit sex scenes out of the Elton John biopic, "Rocketman."

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  Trevor Noah of "The Daily Show" draws attention with a billboard that makes a joke about recent best picture Oscar winner, "Green Book."

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COMICS-FILM - From Deadline:  Apparently, it is NOW official that Robert Pattison will be the new Batman/Bruce Wayne for the upcoming "The Batman."

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MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment:  Octavia Spencer and "Ma" propel the momentum of "Black-led" horror films.

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BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:  "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" earns $6.3 million in Thursday night preview shows.

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PIXAR - From Deadline:  Pixar's "Toy Story 4" tracking for a potential $200 million opening weekend.

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ANIMATION - From TheWrap:  Arnold Schwarzenegger will star in and co-produce an animated preschool series based on Stan Lee's "Superhero Kindergarten."

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COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap:  Comic book writer, Tom King, and Oscar-nominee Ava DuVerany will write the screenplay for DuVerany's adaption of DC Comics and Jack Kirby's "New Gods" comic book series.

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CELEBRITY - From BET:  Halle Berry surprises to African-American reporters on the red carpet for "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum."

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 5/24 to 5/26/2019 weekend box office is Disney's live-action remake, "Aladdin," with an estimated take of 86.1 million dollars.

From Deadline:  Deadline's regularly updated article on the Memorial Day holiday weekend box office, with an emphasis on the performance of Disney's "Aladdin."

From USAToday:  "Aladdin" rakes in 207.1 million dollars at the global box office.

From Patreon:  This is my (Leroy Douresseaux) movie review of "Aladdin."

From THR:  "John Wick: Chapter 3" is now the "John Wick" series top earner with 181 million dollars in global box office.

----------
POLITICS - From HuffPost:   Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is a Democratic presidential candidate, says that the late Sen. John McCain cited the names of dictators during the President Trump's inaugural address.

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TELEVISION - From AVClub:  How the ’80s Twilight Zone honored and extended Rod Serling’s legacy

----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Former "CBS Evening News" anchorman, Scott Pelley," says he was fired from CBS in 2017 for constantly complaining about "a hostile environment."

----------
CELEBRITY - From EOnline:  Multiple Grammy Award nominee, Moby, started a controversy with Oscar winner and multiple Oscar nominee, actress Natalie Portman.  This article tells all.

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CANNES - From THR:  At Cannes 2019, Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" wins the Palme d'Or (the top prize).  Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" did not win any prizes.

VIDEOS-TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  Here is the first official trailer (5/30/2019) for "Rambo V: Last Blood," the fifth installment in the "Rambo" film series.  The film is due September 2019.

From YouTube:  Here is the first teaser trailer (5/30/2019) for Netflix's TV series, "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance."  The series debuts August 30, 2019.

OBITS:

From BleacherReport:  Former Major League Baseball player, Bill Buckner, has died at the age of 69, Monday, May 27, 2019.  Buckner has a 22 year career and was known for being a first baseman, although he did play some as an outfielder.  He was known for his part in an infamous incident during Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

From Deadline:  Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1977) NFL quarterback, Bart Starr, has died at the age of 85, Sunday, May 26, 2019.  Starr was the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971.  He led the Packers to five NFL championships, including wins in the first two Super Bowls (I in 1967 and II in 1968).  Starr remains the only starting quarterback to win three consecutive NFL championships (1965 through 1967 seasons).

Emma Stone Wins "Best Actress" Oscar

Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees
Isabelle Huppert - Elle

Ruth Negga- Loving

Natalie Portman - Jackie

Emma Stone - La La Land - WINNER

Meryl Streep - Florence Foster Jenkins

Seattle Film Critics Society Name "Moonlight" Best Picture of 2016

Established in 2016, the Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) says that it is dedicated to supporting local productions and festivals, enhancing public education, awareness, and appreciation of cinema, and strengthening the bonds of critical dialogue as it pertains to the cinematic arts. The group seeks to highlight the best films produced each year–both by the major studios and independent filmmakers–and share our love of cinema with Seattle-area residents.  The group is made of a robust network of film critics and reviewers in Seattle and surrounding areas of Washington State. The society is represented by members in print, radio, television and online mediums.

The nominations for the 2016 SFCS Awards were announced Wednesday, December 21, 2016.  The winners were announced Thursday, January 5, 2017.

2016 SFCS Award winners:

Best Picture
Winner – Moonlight
Runner Up – Elle

Best Actress
Winner – Isabelle Huppert – Elle
Runner Up – (TIE) Amy Adams – Arrival; Natalie Portman – Jackie (TIE)

Best Actor
Winner – Casey Affleck – Manchester By The Sea
Runner Up – Denzel Washington – Fences

Best Supporting Actress
Winner – Viola Davis – Fences
Runners Up – (TIE) Lily Gladstone – Certain Women; Naomie Harris – Moonlight (TIE)

Best Supporting Actor
Winner – Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
Runner Up – John Goodman – 10 Cloverfield Lane

Best Director
Winner – Barry Jenkins – Moonlight
Runner Up – Damien Chazelle – La La Land

Best Screenplay
Winner – Barry Jenkins & Tarell Alvin McCraney – Moonlight
Runner Up – Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester By The Sea

Best Documentary Film
Winner – OJ: Made In America
Runner Up – 13TH

Best Foreign Language Film
Winner – Elle
Runner Up – The Handmaiden

Best Animated Film
Winner Up – Zootopia
Runner Up – Kubo & The Two Strings

Best Ensemble
Winner – Moonlight
Runner Up – Fences

Best Cinematography
Winner – Arrival
Runner Up – La La Land

Best Costume Design
Winner – The Handmaiden
Runner Up – Love & Friendship

Best Film Editing
Winner – Moonlight
Runner Up – Arrival

Best Original Score
Winner – Johann Johannsson – Arrival
Runner Up – Justin Hurwitz – La La Land

Best Production Design
Winner – The Handmaiden
Runner Up – La La Land

Best Visual Effects
Winners – (TIE) Arrival; Doctor Strang

Best Youth Performance
Winner – Anya Taylor-Joy – The Witch
Runner Up – (TIE) Royalty Hightower – The Fits; Sunny Pawar – Lion (TIE)

Best Villain
Winner – Howard Stambler in 10 Cloverfield Lane
Runner Up – Black Phillip in The Witch

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Online Film Critics Society Name "Moonlight" Best Picture of 2016; Complete Winners List

Founded in 1997, the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) describes itself as “the largest, most respected organization for critics whose work appears primarily on the Internet.”  The OFCS says that it has been the key force in establishing and raising the standards for Internet-based film journalism.  Its membership consists of film reviewers, journalists and scholars based in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Asia/Pacific Rim region.  The Online Film Critics Society currently consists of 254 members with writers representing 22 countries across the globe.

The 20th Online Film Critics Society Awards nominations were announced on Tuesday, December 27, 2016.  The winners were announced Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

2016 / 20th OFCS Award winners:

Best Picture
Moonlight

Best Animated Feature
Kubo and the Two Strings

Best Director
Barry Jenkins – Moonlight

Best Actor
Casey Affleck – Manchester By the Sea

Best Actress
Natalie Portman – Jackie

Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali – Moonlight

Best Supporting Actress
Naomie Harris – Moonlight

Best Original Screenplay
Hell or High Water – Taylor Sheridan

Best Adapted Screenplay
Arrival – Eric Heisserer, Ted Chiang

Best Editing
La La Land – Tom Cross

Best Cinematography
La La Land – Linus Sandgren

Best Film Not in the English Language
The Handmaiden – South Korea

Best Documentary
O.J.: Made in America

Best Non-U.S. Release
After the Storm
The Death of Louis XIV
The Girl With All the Gifts
Graduation
Nocturma
Personal Shopper
A Quiet Passion
Staying Vertical
The Unknown Girl
Yourself and Yours

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St. Louis Film Critics Name "La La Land" Best Film of 2016

The St. Louis Film Critics is an association of professional film critics operating in metropolitan St. Louis and adjoining areas of Missouri and Illinois.  Founded in late 2004, the group’s goals (according to the website) are to serve the interests of local film critics, and to promote an appreciation for cinema both as an art form and for its societal, cultural and historical context and impact.

The eligibility requirements for a SLFC Award, according to the group’s website:  a film must have been shown in the greater St. Louis area in a theater or at a film festival or series, or made available to SLFC members by screening or screener during the past year. Films opening in limited run elsewhere for Oscar qualification but which will open in the St. Louis area early in the next year are eligible.

2016 StLFCA Annual Award winners:

BEST FILM
Winner: La La Land
Runners-up: Hell or High Water and Manchester by the Sea (tie)

BEST DIRECTOR
Winner: Damien Chazelle – La La Land
Runners-up: Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea andDenis Villeneuve – Arrival (tie)

BEST ACTOR
Winner: Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
Runner-up: Joel Edgerton – Loving

BEST ACTRESS
Winner: Isabelle Huppert – Elle
Runner-up: Natalie Portman – Jackie

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner: Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
Runner-up: Lucas Hedges – Manchester by the Sea

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner: Viola Davis – Fences
Runner-up: Michelle Williams – Manchester by the Sea

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Winner: Hell or High Water – Taylor Sheridan
Runner-up: Manchester by the Sea – Kenneth Lonergan

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Winner: Love and Friendship – Whit Stillman (Screenplay); Jane Austen (Novel)
Runner-up: Arrival – Eric Heisserer (Screenplay); Ted Chiang (Short Story)

BEST EDITING
Winner: Jackie – Sebastián Sepúlveda
Runners-up: Hacksaw Ridge – John Gilbert and La La Land – Tom Cross

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Winner: La La Land – Linus Sandgren
Runner-up: Moonlight – James Laxton

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Winner: The Handmaiden – Seong-hie Ryu
Runners-up: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Stuart Craig and James Hambidge; Jackie – Jean Rabasse and La La Land – David Wasco (three-way tie)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Winner: The Jungle Book
Runner-up: Doctor Strange

BEST MUSIC SCORE
Winner: La La Land – Justin Herwitz
Runner-up: Jackie – Mica Levi

BEST SOUNDTRACK
Winner: Sing Street
Runner-up: La La Land

BEST SONG
Winner: “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” – La La Land
Runner-up: “City of Stars” – La La Land

BEST ACTION FILM
Winner: Captain America: Civil War
Runner-up: Doctor Strange

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Winner: Zootopia
Runner-up: Kubo and the Two Strings

BEST COMEDY
Winner: Hail, Caesar!
Runner-up: Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Winner: I Am Not Your Negro
Runner-up: Weiner

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Winner: Elle
Runner-up: The Handmaiden

BEST HORROR / SCIENCE-FICTION FILM
Winner: The Witch
Runner-up: Arrival

BEST SCENE
Winner: La La Land – Opening dance number, “Another Day of Sun”
Runner-up: Hail, Caesar! – “Would that it were so simple.”

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Washington DC Film Critics Name "La La Land" Best Film of 2016

Founded in 2002, The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) is comprised of professional DC-based film critics with affiliations in television, radio, print and the internet. As of 2013, WAFCA has grown to include 58 dedicated members from the District, Maryland and Virginia.

The 2016 WAFCA Awards were announced Monday, December 5, 2016.

The 2016 WAFCA Award winners:

Best Film:
La La Land

Best Director:
Damien Chazelle (La La Land)

Best Actor:
Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)

Best Actress:
Natalie Portman (Jackie)

Best Supporting Actor:
Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)

Best Supporting Actress:
Viola Davis (Fences)

Best Acting Ensemble:
Hell or High Water

Best Youth Performance:
Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea)

Best Voice Performance:
Liam Neeson (A Monster Calls)

Best Motion Capture Performance:
Mark Rylance (The BFG)

Best Original Screenplay:
Damien Chazelle (La La Land)

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Eric Heisserer, Based on the Story "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang (Arrival)

Best Animated Feature:
Kubo and the Two Strings

Best Documentary:
13th

Best Foreign Language Film:
Elle

Best Production Design:
Production Designer: David Wasco; Set Decorator: Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, SDSA (La La Land)

Best Cinematography:
Linus Sandgren, SFS (La La Land)

Best Editing:
Tom Cross, ACE (La La Land)

Best Original Score:
Justin Hurwitz (La La Land)

The Joe Barber Award for Best Portrayal of Washington, DC:
Jackie


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Las Vegas Film Critics Name "La La Land" Best Picture of 2016

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) is a non-profit organization that describes itself as “progressive” and “dedicated to the advancement and preservation of film.”  The LVFCS membership is comprised of “select” print, television and internet film critics in the Las Vegas area. The LVFCS presents its "Sierra" awards each year for the best in film, including The William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named for the late Academy Award winning actor.

2016 Sierra Award winners were announced Friday, December 16, 2016.

2016 Sierra Award winners:

Best Picture
La La Land

Best Actor
Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea

Best Actress
Natalie Portman – Jackie

Best Supporting Actor
Michael Shannon – Nocturnal Animals

Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis – Fences

Best Director
La La Land

Best Adapted Screenplay
Nocturnal Animals

Best Original Screenplay
La La Land

Best Cinematography
La La Land

Best Film Editing
Moonlight

Best Score
La La Land

Best Song
“City of Stars” – La La Land

Best Action Film
Captain America: Civil War

Best Documentary
O.J.: Made in America

Best Animated Film
Kubo and the Two Strings

Best Foreign Language Film
The Handmaiden

Best Costumes
The Witch

Best Art Direction
La La Land

Best Visual Effects
The Jungle Book

Best Comedy
The Nice Guys

Best Horror/Sci-Fi
The Witch

Best Family Film
The Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Best Ensemble
Hidden Figures

Breakout Filmmaker
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

Youth in Film
Lucas Hedges – Manchester by the Sea

William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award
Kirk Douglas

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Phoenix Critics Circle Names "Moonlight" Best Picture of 2016

The Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC) is separate from the Phoenix Film Critics Society.  The PCC says that it is dedicated to promoting both the larger film industry and our local film community. The group describes it members as writers, reviewers, and cinema historians moving the conversation forward, through print, broadcast, and online media both within Arizona and nationwide.

The 2016 Phoenix Critics Cirlce Award winners were announced Saturday, December 17th, 2016.

2016 Phoenix Critics Circle Award winners:

BEST PICTURE
Moonlight

BEST COMEDY FILM
Hunt for the Wilderpeople

BEST SCIENCE FICTION FILM
Arrival

BEST HORROR FILM
The Witch

BEST MYSTERY OR THRILLER FILM
Hell or High Water

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Kubo and the Two Strings

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Handmaiden (South Korea)

BEST DOCUMENTARY
O.J.: Made in America

BEST ACTOR
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

BEST ACTRESS
Natalie Portman, Jackie

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis, Fences

BEST DIRECTOR (tie)
Damian Chazelle, La La Land
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

BEST SCREENPLAY
Efthimis Filippou, Yorgos Lanthimos, The Lobster

BEST SCORE
Justin Hurwitz, La La Land

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Kansas City Film Critics Circle Names "Manchester by the Sea" Best Film of 2016

Founded in 1967, The Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) says that it is the "second oldest professional film critics" association in the United States" (behind the New York Film Critics Circle).  The organization is composed of media film critics in the Kansas City metropolitan area.  The KCFCC’s awards are named for the group’s founder, James Loutzenhiser, who died in November 2001.

2016 / 50th KCFCC Annual Awards:

Best Film: Manchester by the Sea

Robert Altman Award for Best Director: Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea)

Best Actor: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)

Best Actress: Natalie Portman (Jackie)

Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis (Fences) & Naomie Harris (Moonlight)

Best Supporting Actor: Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water)

Best Adapted Screenplay: Arrival

Best Original Screenplay: Hell or High Water

Best Foreign Language Film: The Handmaiden (South Korea)

Best Documentary: O.J.: Made in America

Best Animated Film: Zootopia

The Vince Koehler Award for Best SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Film: Arrival

Tom Poe Award for Best LGBT Film: Moonlight

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2016 Critics' Choice Movie Awards Name "La La Land" Best Picture of 2016

The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) is the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada.  It represents almost 300 television, radio and online critics. For additional information about the BFCA and their memberships, visit www.criticschoice.com.

The winners of the 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards were revealed at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.  The award ceremony was hosted by T.J. Miller and aired on A&E.

The 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Movie Award winners (for the year in film, 2016):

BEST PICTURE
La La Land

BEST ACTOR
Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea

BEST ACTRESS
Natalie Portman – Jackie

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali – Moonlight

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis – Fences

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Lucas Hedges – Manchester by the Sea

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Moonlight

BEST DIRECTOR
Damien Chazelle – La La Land

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - Tie
Damien Chazelle – La La Land
Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Eric Heisserer – Arrival

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Linus Sandgren – La La Land

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
La La Land – David Wasco, Sandy Reynolds-Wasco

BEST EDITING
Tom Cross – La La Land

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Madeline Fontaine – Jackie

BEST HAIR & MAKEUP
Jackie

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The Jungle Book

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Zootopia

BEST ACTION MOVIE
Hacksaw Ridge

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Margot Robbie – Suicide Squad

BEST COMEDY
Deadpool

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Meryl Streep – Florence Foster Jenkins

BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
Arrival

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Elle (France, Germany, Belguim)

BEST SONG
City of Stars – La La Land

BEST SCORE
Justin Hurwitz – La La Land

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 11th to 17th, 2016 - Update #34

Support Leroy on Patreon.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  Looks like "Blair Witch" won't keep "Sully" from repeating as weekend box office champ.

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OBIT - From TheWrap:  The author, W.P. Kinsella, has died at the age of 81.  His 1982 novel, "Shoeless Joe," was the basis of director Phil Alden Robinson's 1989, Oscar-nominated film, "Field of Dreams," which starred Kevin Costner.

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OBIT-THEATER - From EW:  Legendary American playwright, Albert Albee, has died at the age of 88, Friday, September 16, 2016.  His best known play is "Who Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

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MOVIE - From GQ:  See Shia LaBeouf as John McEnroe for the film, "McEnroe vs. Borg."

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MOVIE - From Variety:  Classic Western, "High Noon," is being remade, but that remake will be set in the present day.

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MOVIE - From THR:  After a dispute over Tom Cruise's money is resolved, "Mission: Impossible 6" resumes.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Newcomer Cailee Spaeny is the female lead in "Pacific Rim: Maelstrom."

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TELEVISION - From YahooTV:  Remembering NBC's groundbreaking TV movie, "An Early Frost."

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  U.S. soccer National Team member, Megan Rapinoe, still taking a knee during the National Anthem.

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TELEVISION - From TVLine:  Spike Lee's TV version of his debut film, "She's Gotta Have It" gets a 10-episode order from Amazon.

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MOVIES - From BuzzFeed:  Leonardo DiCaprio has a new eco-movie, "Before the Flood."

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Actress - pitch woman Sofia Vergara is getting paid, y'all.

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STAR TREK - From YahooNews:  CBS' upcoming series, "Star Trek Discovery" has been delayed from its announced January 2017 release to May 2017.  I thought this would happen, especially as no casting had been announced.

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COMICS-FILM - From ComicBookMovie:  "Harley Quinn" spin-off from "Suicide Squad" moves forward.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  What the hell is "American Horror Story" Season 6 about?  Try The Wrap's live blog.

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MOVIES - From THR:  A young actress, Storm Reid (12 Years a Slave), is the lead in Ava DuVernay's adaptation of "A Wrinkle in Time."

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MOVIES - From ShadowandAct:  Jordan Peele (of Key & Peele) has finished his directorial debut, which is a straight (not comic) horror film.

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MOVIE - From Deadline:  Anne Hathaway has a sci-fi film, "Colossal," which has been bought by a mystery Chinese buyer.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Conrad Vernon, the co-director of the hit animated film, "Sausage Party," will helm a remake of "The Toxic Avenger."

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Fox Searchlight picks up the much talk-about "Jackie" with Natalie Portman.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Benicio del Toro in talks to star in "Predator" reboot.

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MOVIES - From ScreenRant:  Rock legend Steven Tyler wants to be in "Guardians of the Galaxy 3."

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CELEBRITY - From YahooNews:  "Sully" Sullenberg for president says Clint Eastwood.

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  A player can be penalized for "sexually suggestive" celebrations. That is what happened to to Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers during a Monday Night Football game where the Steelers smashed the Washington Redskins.

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POLITICS - From TheIntercept:  U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee's "No" vote on Sept. 14, 2001 is timeless and remains powerful.

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EMMYS - From ShadowandAct:  RuPaul won his first Emmy Award for "Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program" for “RuPaul’s Drag Race" (Logo).  This was announced at Saturday's 2016 Creative Arts Emmys.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 9/9 to 9/11/2016 weekend box office is "Sully" with an estimated take of $35.5 million.

ECO - From DemocracyNow:  The state of North Dakota has issued a warrant for the arrest of journalist Amy Goodman, whose work revealed private security and their dogs attacking protestors of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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COMICS-FILM - From Patreon:  I finally posted my review of "Batman v Superman."

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MUSIC - From YahooMusic:   Katy Perry wants Taylor Swift to apologize.

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OBIT - From Variety:  Transgender star, Alexis Arquette, has died at the age of 47, Sunday morning, September 11, 2016.  She was the sister of Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette and actor David Arquette.

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EMMYS - From Variety:  A complete list of winners at the 2016 Creative Arts Emmys, which "Game of Thrones" led with 7 wins.

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FESTIVALS - From TheWrap:  At the 2016 / 73rd Venice Film Festival, the best picture prize goes to director Lav Diaz's "The Woman Who Left."

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MOVIES - From IndieWire:  Brad Pitt calls Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" a propaganda film.

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COMICS-FILM - From EW:  Voice actor, Ryan Potter (Big Hero 6) really wants to be Robin, so he made a video for Ben Affleck.

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams perform the song "I See a Victory" from the upcoming film, "Hidden Figures" live at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 14th to 20th, 2016 - Update #42

Support Leroy on Patreon.

MOVIES - From USWeekly:  Natalie Portman says the late Lauren Bacall did not like her.

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MOVIES - From TheGuardian:  Joseph Goebbels 105-year-old former secretary still playing dumb in the documentary, "A German Life."

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CRIME - From TheGuardian:  Police Will Be Required to Report Officer-Involved Deaths Under New US System.

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ECO - From RSN:  Politicians in Louisiana finally try to hold oil companies accountable for what they have done to the coast and marshes of the state.

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TELEVISION - From YahooCelebrity:  Steven Bochco, the creator of the seminal televisions series, "NYPD Blue," has a new memoir, "Truth is a Total Defense."  He details the antics of David Caruso, who was ostensibly the lead actor and star of the series, who left the series four episodes into the second season.

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COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies:  Zendaya is playing a character named "Michlle" or "M.J." in "Spider-Man: Homecoming."

From EW:  "Guardians of the Galaxy" director James Gunn addresses the fake controversy over Zendaya's casting as "M.J."

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OBIT - From Variety:  The actor Jack Riley has died at the age of 80, Friday, August 19, 2016.  He was known for his work on "The Bob Newhart Show" and for providing the voice of "Stu Pickles" on the "Rugrats" animated series.

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COMICS-FILM - From Variety:  Vin Diesel confirms that the Guardians of the Galaxy will be in "Avengers: Infinity War."

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FILM - From Variety:  Ben Affleck is in talks with fox to star in and to direct a remake of "Witness for the Prosecution."

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COMICS-FILM - From WeGotThisCovered:  In "Spider-Man: Homeing," Bokeem Woodbine is apparently playing the villain, "The Shocker."

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MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" (a "Harry Potter" spinoff) adds Zoe Kravitz.  She has a small role in the first film, but may have a bigger role in the sequel (due in 2018)/

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MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  Jared Leto joins "Blade Runner" sequel.

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OBAMA - From YahooNews:  Louisiana newspaper, The Advocate, is demanding that President Obama end his vacation at Martha's Vineyard and visit Louisiana because of the devastating flooding.  The Advocate never endorsed President Obama, and he never got more than 40 percent of the vote in La.  So call McCain and Romney.  By the way, I escaped the devastation and only have minor home issues, but in my area, some people did get it bad.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Will Ferrell and John C.. Reilly, the star duo of the film, "Step Brothers," reunited from a comic take on Sherlock Holmes in "Holmes & Watson."

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Leslie Odom, Jr. in talks to join Kenneth Branagh's "Murder on the Orient Express."  Odom won a Tony Award for "Best Actor" in his role as Aaron Burr in the smash musical, "Hamilton."

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OBIT - From TheWrap:  The film director, Arthur Hiller, has dies at the age of 92, Wednesday, August 17, 2016.  Hiller's best known film was "Love Story," and he was the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1993 to 1997.

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COMICS-TV - From EOnline:  Josh Schwartz, the man behind the hit TV shows, "Gossip Girl" and "The O.C.," will develop the Marvel Comic book, Runaways, as a TV series for Hulu.  Stephanie Savage, also of "Gossip Girl," will join him in the development.

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OBIT-POLITICS - From People:  The political pundit and TV host, John McLaughlin, has died at the age of 89, Tuesday, August 16, 2016.  He was the host of the "The McLaughlin Group," a political round table show on PBS, for 34 years.

----------
POLITICS - From RSN: Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Moore says:  "Trump Is Self-Sabotaging His Campaign Because He Never Really Wanted the Job in the First Place"

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  Another victory by Sweden's women soccer team at the Olympics basically says "F'you!" to U.S. soccer whiner, Hope Solo.

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MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  Kevin Bacon would not mind being Freddy Krueger.

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COMICS-FILM - From SFGate:  First look at "Spider-Man: Homecoming" poster.

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CULTURE - From Breitbart:  When he says "Dangerous Faggot Tour," he means "Clownish Cocksucker Tour."

----------
MOVIES - From THR:  The Nate Parker "rape case" from 17 years ago is now a new controversy.  The alleged victim's family says "...we are dubious of the underlying motivations that bring this to present light after 17 years, and we will not take part in stoking its coals..."  This smells like a hit on a strong Oscar contender from a Black filmmaker or about a Black historical figure, similar to hate campaigns against films like "Selma" and "The Hurricane."

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MOVIES - From EntertainmentWeekly:  Behold Pennywise the Clown's costume from next year's film, "It," based on the Stephen King novel.  I'm still not buying this dude as scary, and I was indeed scared of Pennywise when I read the original novel about 30 years ago.

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HEALTH - From IBT:  Is the Cure for Alzheimer's Already on the Market?

----------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  Amazon has greenlit a 10-episode "Jack Ryan" series, starring John Krasinski as Jack Ryan.  This is a "reinvention" of the character created by late author, Tom Clancy.  Krasinski would be the fifth actor to play the character on the big and small screen.

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MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  A new image from the film version of Stephen King's "It," featuring the character "Richie Tozier."  The film is due in theaters September 2017.

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MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  Production has begin in Canada on Guillermo del Toro's next film, "The Shape of Water," his follow-up to "Crimson Peak."

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore" has been cancelled, and its last episode will air, Thursday, August 18, 2016.  I'm so bitter right now.

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OBIT - From Variety:  The actor Fyvush Finkel has died at the age of 93, Sunday, August 14, 2016.  He was best known for his roles on the TV series, "Picket Fences" (for which he won an Emmy) and "Boston Public."

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CULTURE - From WashPost:  White Christian America is dying.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The #1 film at the 8/12 to 8/14/2016 weekend box office is "Suicide Squad" with an estimated take of $43.7 million.

From Variety:  The R-rated, animated comedy, "Sausage Party," has a strong debut, while "Suicide Squad" wins the weekend box office, although its gross plunged 67 percent from its debut last week.

From Variety:  "Suicide Squad" leads the international box office.

----------
SPORTS - From YahooSports:  Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt, makes history by becoming the first man to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100 meter race.

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HISTORY - From PopularMechanics:  Bones found on a mountaintop in Greece may confirm that ancient Greeks practiced ritualistic cannibalism.

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CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity:  Kevin Hart got married this weekend.

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OBIT - From Deadline:  The actor Kenny Baker has died at the age of 81 (although some reports are listing him at 82 or 83).  The 3-foot, 8-inch actor is best known for playing R2-D2 in six Star Wars movies.  Baker also appeared in "The Elephant Man," "Time Bandits," and "The Goonies."

From Variety:  Hollywood remembers Kenny Baker.

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COMICS-FILM - From IndieWire:  Tilda Swinton says that "Doctor Strange" movie comes from " a very diverse place."

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SPORTS - From USAToday:  At the Rio Olympics, Michael Phelps ends his career with 23rd gold medal.


TRAILERS:

From FoxMovies:  The new (first?) trailer for the historical drama, "Hidden Figures," about the African-American women mathematicians and engineers at NASA during the Space Race.  The film is due in January 2017 and stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae.

From YouTube:  New one-minute "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" spot, entitled "Followed."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites for August 23rd to August 31st, 2015 - Update #16

Support Leroy on Patreon.

NEWS:

From THR:  Famed film writer/director, Wes Craven, has died of brain cancer, Sunday, August 30, 2015.

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From BoxOfficeMojo:  "Straight Outta Compton" is the #1 movie at the box office for the 8/28 to 8/30/15 weekend.  This is the film's third consecutive week at #1.

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From DigitalSpy:  Tid bits on "Jurassic World" sequel.

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From CinemaBlend:  Woody Allen replaces Bruce Willis with Steve Carell.

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From Deadline:  Lee Daniels' Richard Pryor biopic is apparently a go with a list of hot stars.

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From YahooMovies:  Six actors who sabotaged their own careers.

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From Variety:  Amazon preps TV series based on "Galaxy Quest."

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From InformedComment and IReadsYou:  Natalie Portman on genocide.

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From SlashFilm:  Vin Diesel confirms xXx sequel to start filming in December.

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From BoxOfficeMojo:  "Straight Outta Compton" wins the 8/21 to 8/23/15 weekend box office with an estimated take of $26.8 million dollars.

---------------
From Variety:  Universal and Disney dominate Summer 2015 box office, leaving not much for the other studios.


COMICS - Films and Books:

From CinemaBlend:  Guardians of the Galaxy spinoffs.

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From Variety:  In an exclusive story, Variety is reporting that Marvel is courting Mads Mikkelsen to play a villain in Doctor Strange.

---------------
From SlashFilm:  The "Blade" film franchise may be revived, but focus on Blade's daughter, Fallon Grey.  Grey is supposed to be the lead in an upcoming Blade comic book revival from Marvel Comics.


REVIEWS:

From VillageVoice:  A review of "Z for Zachariah" by Stephanie Zacharek.


OBITS:

From ESPN:  Former NBA basketball player, Darryl Dawkins, died Thursday, August 27, 2015.  Known as "Chocolate Thunder," Dawkins is remembered for his backboard-shattering dunks and also for the naming of the dunks.  I thought that he was so cool and that he remained cool in retirement.  Negromancer sends condolences to his family.  R.I.P. Mr. Dawkins.

Review: "Thor: The Dark World" Improves on First Movie

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 80 (of 2013) by Leroy Douresseaux

Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Running time:  112 minutes (1 hour, 52 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content
DIRECTOR:  Alan Taylor
WRITERS: Christopher L. Yost, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely; from a story by Don Payne and Robert Rodat (based on the comic book and characters created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCERS:  Kevin Feige p.g.a
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Kramer Morgenthau (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Dan Lebental and Wyatt Smith
COMPOSER:  Brian Tyler

SUPERHERO/ACTION/FANTASY/DRAMA

Starring:  Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Eccleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Kat Dennings, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jaimie Alexander, Zachary Levi, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Jonathan Howard, Chris O’Dowd, Clive Russell, Alice Krige, Stan Lee, and Rene Russo with (no screen credit) Chris Evans and Benecio Del Toro

Thor: The Dark World is a 2013 superhero movie from Marvel Studios.  It is a sequel to the 2011 film, Thor, and follows the 2012 film, Marvel’s The Avengers.  Thor is a Marvel Comics character that first appeared in the comic book, Journey into Mystery #83 (cover dated August 1962).  Created by artist Jack Kirby and writers (and siblings) Stan Lee and Larry Leiber, Thor is based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name.

In Thor: The Dark World, Thor finds himself facing a powerful enemy and is forced to embark on a perilous journey to the enemy’s ruined home world.  After The Avengers, I consider Thor: The Dark World to be the best film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which currently includes eight films).  Like The Avengers, The Dark World is filled with the kind of big action scenes and battles between super-powered beings that are true to the spirit of superhero comic books.

Thor: The Dark World begins with a story.  Once upon a time (eons ago, in fact), Bor, the father of Odin (Anthony Hopkins), clashed with and defeated the Dark Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), who sought to destroy the universe by using a weapon known as the Aether.  Now, Malekith is back.  He plans to use Aether during an upcoming event called the Convergence, a rare alignment of the Nine Realms, to destroy this universe.

Malekith and his Dark Elves prove to be quite successful at attacking Asgard, home of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the Norse gods.  Thor is forced to seek the help of his imprisoned brother and enemy, Loki (Tom Hiddleston).  Meanwhile, astrophysicist Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Thor’s love interest, accidentally makes herself the object of Malekith’s attention.  With time running out, Thor and his allies are forced to make their last stand against Malekith in London, England.

Some 30 years ago, Stephen King, in an interview he gave to Time Magazine or Newsweek, compared his novels to either the “Big Mac” or McDonald’s menu items in general.  Marvel Studio’s films are meant to be pleasing like popular fast foot items, such as the “Big Mac,” but they are not necessarily some fast food product meant for quick consumption.  Marvel certainly wants to entertain, but high-stakes movie production means that you have to do more than create disposable entertainment.

Marvel uses modern movie technology, especially computer-generated imagery, to create worlds, creatures, and battles that, once upon a time, could only have been visualized in superhero comic books.  Thor’s battles with Malekith are a fanboy delight of ballet and destruction, but not in that overdone, desperate way that The Man of Steel did super-powered battles.  Thor: The Dark World left me wanting more battles.

Another thing that Thor: The Dark World does well is personal conflict.  There is not a moment when Thor and Loki’s rivalry and abhorrence for one another do not feel real.  Loki’s lust for revenge, his dishonesty, and the fact that it is hard to tell if he has any good feelings for anyone are the things that make the discord in the House of Odin as riveting as hot soap opera melodrama.  Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki give good, convincing performances that help the Thor-Loki feud and union carry this movie to its meat-and-potatoes final act – the big battle between Thor and Malekith.

Kudos to Natalie Portman and the filmmakers for making Jane Foster a real character in this film, that is necessary to the resolution, instead of being another action movie female appendage.  Of course, Anthony Hopkins throws it down for real, being a great actor, and giving this pop movie concoction the same effort he would to a “serious art movie” or stage drama.  Thor: The Dark World is successful in ways that the Marvel Studios movies, which focus on a single character, have not quite been since the first Iron Man movie back in 2008.  I hope the next Thor or Marvel movie is like Thor: The Dark World.

7 of 10
A-

Monday, December 02, 2013


The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

"V for Vendetta" Surprisingly Both Safe and Edgy

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 91 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux


V for Vendetta (2006)
Running time: 132 minutes (2 hours, 12 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong violence and some language
DIRECTORS: James McTeigue
WRITERS: The Wachowski Brothers (based upon the DC/Vertigo graphic novel illustrated by David Lloyd)
PRODUCERS: Joel Silver, Grant Hill, and Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Adrian Biddle
EDITOR: Martin Walsh
COMPOSER: Dario Marianelli

SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/DRAMA/THRILLER

Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith, and Rupert Graves

The subject of this movie review is V for Vendetta, a 2006 dystopian film and science fiction thriller directed by James McTeigue. The film is produced by the team behind The Matrix, producer Joel Silver and the brothers, Andy and Larry Wachowski, who also wrote this film’s screenplay. This movie is based on the comic book, V for Vendetta, which was written by Alan Moore and drawn by David Lloyd.

In a futuristic Britain ruled by a totalitarian government, represented by Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt), a terrorist freedom fighter who calls himself “V” (Hugo Weaving) begins his campaign to wake up his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and throw off the yoke of oppression by blowing up a landmark building. As incomparably charismatic as he is ferociously skilled in the arts of combat and deception, V has secretly obtained a seemingly inexhaustible supply of explosives, hacked his way into the government’s information network (BTN – British Television Network), and built a well-supplied infrastructure that allows him to move and do as he pleases.

V also dresses in black combat gear wrapped in a flowing dark cloak. Best of all, he wears a sweetly creepy Guy Fawkes mask. V encounters Evey (Natalie Portman), a young woman whose parents were killed by the government, and though she at first resists, Evey becomes an unlikely ally in V’s final plot to bring down a cruel, corrupt, and ultimately evil government.

[Guy Fawkes was part of “The Gunpowder Plot,” a Catholic plan to overthrow the English Parliament in 1605. Fawkes was hanged for planting explosives in the Parliament buildings. London revelers celebrate “Guy Fawkes Day” on November 5th and wear stylized masks of Fawke’s mustachioed and bearded face.]

V for Vendetta is the latest comic book to get a big screen adaptation. In the original comic book series (eventually collected in book form – a graphic novel – by DC Comics), which was written by Alan Moore and drawn by David Lloyd, V represented anarchy and the British government was fascist. Written in the 1980’s, the government of V for Vendetta was a stand-in for the government of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In the film, the British government is more totalitarian, but retains a dash of fascism. However, the movie version of the character V is more about democracy and government by the people – a government that answers directly to the ordinary, everyday person – and uses terror and bombings to destabilize the deceitful government. By showing the government for what it is – evil and corrupt – V hopes to make the people rise up. The V of the comic book wanted to put an end to all governments in favor of anarchy, which is a political theory that believes the highest attainment of humanity is not to be free, unhindered by any kind of outside repression or control.

This film adaptation of V for Vendetta is written and co-produced by The Wachowski Brothers (Andy and Larry), creators of The Matrix. They maintained the comic book’s London setting, but instead of British government is just a stand-in for the administration of President George W. Bush. The viewer doesn’t need to be politically astute to catch the allusions. In fact, of the film’s sub-plot turns on a horrific terrorist attack that happens in the movie’s history (or back story). The terrorists use a biological weapon that causes the death of 100,000 people – this is clearly a nod at 9/11. In fact, The Wachowskis’ script goes so far to suggest that the terrorists who launched the attack were actually high government officials who used the fear and aftermath of the attack to take control of the country. Conspiracy theorists also believe that 9/11 was orchestrated by the Bush Administration to launch foreign wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as use fear of terror to strengthen its power at home.

Alan Moore, who has seen two of his other comic books/graphic novels – The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and From Hell, turned into films that were not faithful to his comics, was livid about the changes the Wachowskis made to his work and demanded that his name be removed from the project.

The movie itself is very much like a comic book, but that isn’t meant in the pejorative sense. V for Vendetta the movie is full of the kind wild and crazy ideas that comics from the 1940’s and 60’s were so good at introducing. This is all played at with a pop culture sensitivity. Directed by John McTeigue (the “first assistant director” on all three Matrix films and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, among others), V is impressionistic and is meant to hit the audience’s heart by playing with its emotions; that is done by showing the government and its agents committing senseless acts of barbaric cruelty, not only against loyal citizens, but against anyone who is different of thinks differently (freethinkers, homosexuals, protesters, etc.). V speaks of ideas and words, and that’s how the film appeals to the intellect. It’s always giving the viewer something to think about between the cool looking scenes of fighting and of storm troopers, shock troops, and police knocking down doors and knocking heads. It can make you wonder about how much the government lies and tries to manipulate. For added fun, there is even a Bill O’Reilly-like big mouth hollering about faith and unity.

The key to enjoying V for Vendetta is V himself. The other characters are alright, but it’s clear that neither the Wachowskis nor the director love them as much as they love V. In fact, Natalie Portman may be a really fine actress – even a great stage actress, as some say – but her Evey pales next to V, even though she does some good work here and has some scenes that allow her to press her serious actress button real hard.

Played by Hugo Weaving (the evil agent, Mr. Smith, in The Matrix films), V is like Batman in a music video version of George Orwell’s novel, 1984. Although we hear Weaving’s voice, he is always in costume and we never see his face (or body, for that matter). Moving gracefully, sometimes subtle, and sometimes with stylized exaggeration, Weaving shows us how truly cool it looks to wear a costume with a cape and a mask and be the mystery man in the shadows fighting tyranny and oppression. Weaving’s voice and movements turn the Guy Fawkes mask that V wears into an enchanted jester’s face that mocks fear, apathy, and weakness. Weaving’s V makes you want to stand up, be strong, and cast off the chains of oppression and the net of ignorance. Underneath that mask and beneath that costume is a spirit, an essence of a free mind and a free ass.

And though, the V for Vendetta film is sometimes shaky with a narrative that goes all over the place, and though it is a movie with more ideas than it can handle, this movie is bold and audacious. It is a dangerous comic book brought to life as a series of bold and explosive “View Master” reels. It is as sly as it is clumsy, and it is as daring in its ideas as it is confused. V for Vendetta plays it safe, but only a little, while criticizing (our) government, but it gets in enough digs to make us think.

7 of 10
B+

Friday, April 28, 2006

Review: "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" Retains Its Innocence"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 31 (of 2002) by Leroy Douresseaux

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Running time: 136 minutes (2 hours, 16 minutes)
MPAA – PG for sci-fi action/violence
WRITER/DIRECTOR: George Lucas
PRODUCER: Rick McCallum
CINEMATOGRAPHER: David Tattersall (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Ben Burtt and Paul Martin Smith
COMPOSER: John Williams
Academy Award nominee

SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE with elements of a thriller

Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Pernilla August, (voice) Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Oliver Ford Davies, Hugh Quarshie, (voice) Ahmed Best, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Terrence Stamp, Brian Blessed, Andrew Secombe, Ray Park, (voice) Lewis Macleod, Steven Spiers, Silas Carson, Ralph Brown, and Samuel L. Jackson

The 1999 film, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, is the fourth release in the Star Wars film franchise. It is also the first film in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, a series of three movies in which the stories take place before the events depicted in the original Star Wars trilogy: Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983). The Phantom Menace has been recently re-released as a 3D feature.

Back in 1999, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was highly-anticipated release, and although it was a tremendous success at the box office, the movie received mixed reviews from professional film critics and reviewers. The Phantom Menace received criticism from Star Wars fandom, some of it intense. However, I am a fan of The Phantom Menace, and it is my favorite of the three prequel films. My feelings about it are similar to a statement that Ewan McGregor, who starred in the film, made, and that is that The Phantom Menace is just a little fairy tale about a group of people running from one side of the galaxy to the other, having adventures. And I like going along with them on these adventures.

Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) are two Jedi Knights who must help Queen Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) save her planet Naboo from the Trade Federation, which is determined to take it. Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best) is a Naboo outcast who joins the Jedi on their quest. After the group escapes from a Trade Federation-controlled Naboo, they land on the planet Tatooine, where they meet Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), a boy with the potential to be a powerful Jedi. Dark forces, however, hunt them in the guise of Darth Maul (Ray Park), an apprentice of the Sith, the Jedi’s ancient enemies.

Directed by George Lucas, The Phantom Menace is the first of three prequels to the original Star Wars movies (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi). Lucas doesn’t give his cast the room to stretch their characters, and his dialogue is mostly wooden and awkward. It is often painfully obvious in how unpolished both the acting and the writing is. Neeson has the most room to roam, but McGregor’s talent is sadly wasted. The driest performance has to be that of Lloyd as the young Anakin Skywalker, he his moments. Jar Jar Binks is a computer-generated character, and while Best does excellent work in creating a unique voice for the character, Jar Jar is an annoying character.

Other than that, TPM is a blast. In a way, it is like a fairy tale in which the cast runs from one hot spot to another, barely staying ahead of the bad guys. In the pod race sequence that occurs in the middle of the film, one can see Lucas’s ability to craft scenes of breath taking intensity that match the best car chases and chase scenes with the flair of the movie serials of Hollywood’s bygone era. Maul’s attack on Qui-Gon and, later, the final battle between the two Jedi and the Sith apprentice are exciting and beautifully staged. In fact, the action sequences are so good that they make up for TPM’s duller moments.

Although it doesn’t recall the excitement of Star Wars or have the dramatic impact of The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is fun. It doesn’t try to be quality filmmaking so much as it dares to be quality, lightweight entertainment. And at that, it is very good.

7 of 10
A-

NOTES:
2000 Academy Awards: 3 nominations: “Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing” (Ben Burtt and Tom Bellfort), “Best Effects, Visual Effects” (John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, and Rob Coleman), and “Best Sound” (Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Shawn Murphy, and John Midgley)

2000 BAFTA Awards: 2 nominations: “Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects” (John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, and Rob Coleman) and “Best Sound” (Ben Burtt, Tom Bellfort, John Midgley, Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, and Shawn Murphy)

2000 Razzie Awards: 1 win: “Worst Supporting Actor” (Ahmed Best, the voice of Jar-Jar Binks); 6 nominations: “Worst Picture” (20th Century-Fox), “Worst Director” (George Lucas), “Worst Screen Couple” (Jake Lloyd and Natalie Portman), “Worst Screenplay” (George Lucas), “Worst Supporting Actor” (Jake Lloyd), and “Worst Supporting Actress” (Sofia Coppola)

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Review: Strong Quartet Leads Us "Closer" (Happy B'day, Natalie Portman)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 46 (of 2005) by Leroy Douresseaux

Closer (2004)
Running time: 104 minutes (1 hour, 44 minutes)
MPAA – R for sequences of graphic sexual dialogue, nudity/sexuality, and language
DIRECTOR: Mike Nichols
WRITER: Patrick Marber (based upon his play)
PRODUCERS: Cary Brokaw, John Calley, and Mike Nichols
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stephen Goldblatt
EDITOR: John Bloom
Academy Award nominee

DRAMA with elements of romance

Starring: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Clive Owens

Mike Nichols directed the extraordinary Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, an adaptation of a stage drama, which earned Nichols an Oscar nom for direction. He won an Emmy in 2004 for directing another acclaimed stage play, Angels in America, this time for television. Nichols again guides a play to the silver screen with Closer, from Patrick Marber’s play.

The film focuses on four casual strangers, their chance meetings, instant attractions, and casual betrayals. Daniel (Jude Laws), a newspaper obituary writer, spies Alice (Natalie Portman), a waif who is also a stripper, in the streets of London. He falls for her. Later, Dan is instantly attracted to and falls in love with Anna (Julia Roberts), an American photographer and divorcee living in London. However, Dan inadvertently connects Anna with Larry (Clive Owens), a dermatologists, who falls deeply in love with Anna. The rest of the film follows this kind of love quadrangle and the emotional fallout from the betrayals these four commit against one another.

Closer is strictly an adult drama, and a damn fine one, at that. The language is frank, sexually explicit, profane, and straight razor sharp, and the characters certainly apply the blade to their relationships and lovers. Nichols, as he usually does, quietly allows the drama of the script to come to the surface and gives his actors the chance to bring some truth to the fiction, and boy, do they. Sometimes, it seems that some things in human sexual and personal relationships shouldn’t be onscreen, and I certainly thought that some of the drama in Closer went too far. Still, that doesn’t seem bad when it’s a skilled filmmaker doing it. Anyway, this is a formal and stylized version of the brutality that can result from deeply intimate relationships that are wrecked on the rocks of betrayal and infidelity, so it’s not too discomforting.

Although I consider the script to be the champion of this film, the cast is quite good in making this so riveting a drama when it could have struck a note as phony. Jude Law, Clive Owen, and Natalie Portman are especially potent. Natalie Portman makes another star turn, as if she hasn’t already done that, and we get to see how beautiful and how super duper fine her body is. What a knockout ass she has! Owen reeks of danger, aggression, wildness, vitality, and virility. Law is smooth and charming, and creates a three-dimensional portrait of self-obsession and romantic neurosis. Julia Roberts is good, but is the least of the four actors. She stands out a few times in the middle of the film, but overall, she seems determined not to stand out or chewy up the scenery. She supposedly likes to do ensemble work because she doesn’t want to always carry a film or stand out in front of everyone. Here, that attitude not to steal the spotlight hurts the film a little and her performance a lot.

9 of 10
A+

NOTES:
2005 Academy Awards: 2 nominations: “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” (Clive Owen) and “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” (Natalie Portman)

2005 BAFTA Awards: 1 win “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Clive Owen); 2 nominations: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” (Natalie Portman) and “Best Screenplay – Adapted” (Patrick Marber)

2005 Golden Globes: 2 wins: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Clive Owen) and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Natalie Portman); 3 nominations: “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Mike Nichols), “Best Motion Picture – Drama,” and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Patrick Marber)

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