Review: The Fabulous Lightfoot Brothers Carry "Onward"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 39 of 2021 (No. 1777) by Leroy Douresseaux

Onward (2020)
Running time:  102 minutes (1 hour, 42 minutes)
MPAA –  PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements
DIRECTOR:  Dan Scanlon
WRITERS:  Dan Scanlon, Keith Bunin, and Jason Headley
PRODUCER:  Kori Rae
CINEMATOGRAPHERS:  Sharon Calahan (D.o.P.) and Adam Habib (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Catherine Apple
COMPOSERS: Jeff Danna and Mycheal Danna
Academy Award nominee

ANIMATION/FANTASY/ADVENTURE/COMEDY/DRAMA

Starring:  (voices) Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, Mel Rodriguez, Kyle Bornheimer, Lena Waithe, Ali Wong, Tracey Ullman, Wilmer Valderrama, George Psarras, and John Ratzenberger

Onward is a 2020 computer-animated, comedy-drama, and fantasy film from director Dan Scanlon and is produced by Pixar Animation Studios.  Onward focuses on two elf brothers who embark on a quest to bring their late father back to life for one day.

Onward is set in an urban fantasy world that is inhabited by mythic creatures such as elves, centaurs, and pixies, to name a few.  Once upon a time, magic was common place, but over several millennia, technological advances made magic obsolete and largely discarded.  The story opens on the sixteenth birthday of an elf boy named Ian Lightfoot (Tom Holland), who is shy and struggles with self-confidence.  He has an older brother, Barley (Chris Pratt), an enthusiastic role-playing gamer and fanatic about both the history of the world and about magic.  The boys live with their mother, Laurel Lightfoot (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a widow.

Laurel's late husband and the boys' father, Wilden Lightfoot (Kyle Bornheimer), died shortly before Ian was born.  For Ian's sixteenth birthday, Laurel gives both her boys a gift from Wilden.  The gift is a magical wizard staff, a rare Phoenix gem, and a letter describing a magical spell.  It is a “visitation spell” that can resurrect Wilden for a single day, and while Ian succeeds in casting the spell, he is unable to finish it.  As a result, Ian has summoned the lower half of Wilden's body.  Ian and Barley take their father (such as he is) and embark on a quest to complete the spell.  However, the brothers' quest is more dangerous than they know.  It will take Laurel; her boy friend, Colt Bronco the centaur (Mel Rodriguez); and a legendary figure, The Manticore (Octavia Spencer) to make sure that the brothers' quest to meet their deceased father does not end with them being deceased.

I don't want this review to spoil Onward if you have not yet seen it, dear readers.  I can say that one of the film's main themes is that people are often looking hard for something they already have.  Another theme is that sometimes we blame people for the mistakes we think they are making when it is really our lack of trust in them that leads to trouble.  And of course, the themes of relationships between brothers and of brotherly love dominate this film.

Ian and Barley carry this film, and Onward's off-beat, quest fantasy, role-playing game design and mood/mode keep the film from being just another tale of brotherly love.  In fact, the first forty minutes of the film are quite problematic, but once the film gets to the heart of the matter – Ian and Barley's quest and each brother's reason for the quest – Onward comes alive.  While Onward is not a Pixar classic, it does make strong use of the Pixar's formula of comedy, adventure, heartwarming relationship drama, and an emphasis on getting to the heart of the story.

I would never waste your time telling your that a Pixar film has magnificent animation, great colors, eye-popping environments, and striking graphics and visuals, in general.  I will say, as usual, that the voice performances are good.  I really like that Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Laurel and Octavia Spencer as “The Manticore” actually have important roles in both the drama and the action-adventure, and these two fine actress shine in their supporting roles.  Is it fate or magic that Tom Holland as Ian and Chris Pratt as Barley have … magical screen chemistry?

If not for the first half of the film, I would call Onward a Pixar classic.  As it is, it is still the kind of exceptional film that we expect of Pixar and, except for some missteps, they deliver.  And yes, I did find the world of Onward to be a bit odd, even weird, although Jeff Danna and Mycheal Danna's musical score is pitch perfect for this world.  Still, one of the highest compliments I can give a film is that by the end of it, I still wanted to watch more.  The way that the relationship between Ian and Barley plays out is something worth watching.  So I am recommending Onward.

8 of 10
A

Thursday, June 10, 2021


NOTES:
2021 Academy Awards, USA:  1 nomination: “Best Animated Feature Film” (Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae)

2021 Golden Globes, USA:  1 nomination: “Best Motion Picture - Animated”

2021 BAFTA Awards:  1 nomination: “Best Animated Feature Film” (Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae)


The text is copyright © 2021 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 April 11th to 17th, 2021 - Update #28

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS: 

AWARDS - From Deadline:  The American Cinema Editors have announced the winners at the 2021 / 71st ACE Eddie Awards.  Aaron Sorkin's film, "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (Netflix), won the marquee "Eddie," which is "Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic)."

SCANDAL - From Deadline:  In the wake of an explosive allegations about his abusive behavior that stretches back years, Oscar-winning film producer, Scott Rudin, says that he will "step back" from active involvement in his Broadway productions.

ANIMATION-STREAMING - From Deadline:   The upcoming fourth season of Netflix's animated series, "Castlevania," will be its last.  Netflix is reportedly considering a new series set in the universe of Castlevania with an entirely different cast of characters.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney claps back at screenwriting brothers, James and John Thomas, who are trying to reclaim the rights to their 1984 spec script that became the 1987 20th Century Fox film, "Predator."  Disney owns the property as a result of buying 20th Century Fox.

DISNEY - From BleedingCool:  Actor Mads Mikkelsen has joined the cast of "Indiana Jones 5" in an unknown role. The film is being directed by James Mangold

MOVIES - From ShadowandAct:   The site looks at five underrated Black actresses who deserve more roles: CCH Pounder, Debbi Morgan, Tamara Tunie, Lisa Gay Hamilton, and Lorraine Toussaint.

MOVIES - From Deadline:   Two-time Oscar-winner Renee Zellewegger in the golf comedy, "The Back Nine," the will be directed of Michael Patrick King of "Sex and the City."

BLM - From YahooNYT:   In 2006, an African-American female Buffalo police officer, Cariol Horne, stopped a fellow officer from choking a handcuffed man.  She was eventually fired for this.  Now, a New York state court has vindicated Horne by restoring her back pay and pension.

CULTURE - From HuffPost:  Back in 2015, Dan Price, the CEO of "Gravity Payments" (a credit card processing company), slashed his $1.1 million a year salary to $70,000 per year so that he could pay all his employees $70,000 per year.  Fox News and Fox Business called him a "socialist" and said that his employees would end up on "bread lines."  Six years later, his number of employees has doubled and the payments the company processed has gone from 3.8 billion to 10.2 billion.

MUSIC - From HuffPost:   Mick Jagger of "The Rolling Stones" and Dave Grohl of "Foo Fighters (and formally of "Nirvana") have come together for a new single, "Eazy Sleazy," that takes on conspiracy theories and anti-vaxxers.

MOVIES - From Deadline:   Universal Pictures is making a film that is based on one of the characters from the original "Dracula" novel, "R.M. Renfield," Dracula's henchman.  Chris McKay is in talks to direct and produce.  The film will be produced by Skybound Entertainment, the company belonging to Robert Kirkman, the creator of "The Walking Dead" comic book.

STREAMING-BLM - From Deadline:  The state of Georgia recently passed a slate of Jim Crow laws to keep African-Americans from voting.  Some business have decided not to do business with the state, and that includes Apple's filmmaking division.  It's film, the runaway slave thriller, "Emancipation," will not film in Georgia and may film in Louisiana, where the actual events upon which this film is based, took place.  Antoine Fuqua is directing and Will Smith stars.

STREAMING - From YahooEntertainment:   Superstar actress Melissa McCarthy and her husband, writer-director Ben Falcone wanted to work with Oscar-winning actress, Octavia Spencer.  They created that chance in the Netflix superhero comedy, "Thunder Force," about ordinary women with regular body types as superheroes.

POLICE/SCANDAL - From TheHill:   There is a report that Boston Police kept child sexual abuse allegations against now-former union president, Patrick Rose, Sr., secret.

From NBCBoston10:  This article includes a photo of Patrick Rose, Sr., former Boston police patrolman and Boston Police Union head, who is facing multiple charges of child sexual abuse.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:   The winner of the 4/9 to 4/11/2021 weekend box office is "Godzilla vs. Kong" with an estimated take of 13.4 million dollars.

CELEBRITY - From THR:   Carrie-Anne Moss is returning to "The Matrix" film franchise for next year's "The Matrix 4."  In a recent interview, Moss says she was offered a "grandmother role" the day after she turned 40 years old.

STREAMING - From YahooSports:   Actor Kevin James will play Super Bowl-winning New Orleans Saints coach, Sean Payton, in Netflix's film, "Home Team."  The film will recount the year Payton coached his son's sixth-grade football team.

MOVIES - From YahooAVClub:   Paramount Pictures and Hasbro are moving up the release date for for "Sanke Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins" from October 22nd to July 23rd, 2021.

TELEVISION - From BleedingCool:  This is an update on the USA network and SyFy's "Chuck" series, an reboot/revival of the "Child's Play" film series.

AWARDS - From Deadline:   At the 2021 BAFTAs (British Academy Awards), "Nomadland" wins 4 awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Chloe Zhao) and "Best Actress" (Frances McDormand).

From Deadline:    At the 2021 / 73rd Directors Guild Awards, Chloe Zhao won the top prize for her film, "Nomadland."  She is only the second woman to win the award for "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film."  Kathryn Bigelow was the first when she won for her film, "The Hurt Locker."  This article also includes a complete list of winners.

From Variety:   Spike Lee's "Da 5 Bloods," Christopher Nolan's "Tenet," and David Fincher's "Mank" top the 2021 Art Directors Guild Awards.

MARVEL - From THR:   Marvel Entertainment's new comic book distribution deal - with Penguin Random House Publisher Services - has some comic book stores worried about the future of the market.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  English actress, Helen McCrory, has died at the age of 52, Friday, April 16, 2021, after a battle with cancer.  McCrory is known for appearing in the James Bond film, "Skyfall" (2012), and in the last three "Harry Potter" films.  McCrory may be best remembered for being a member of the main cast of the British period crime drama TV series, "Peaky Blinders."  McCrory had been married to English actor, Damian Lewis, since 2007 and was the mother of two children.

From Variety:  The former actor and stuntman, Felix Silla, has died at the age of 84, Friday, April 16, 2021.  Silla wore the costume to play "Cousin Itt" in the former ABC television series, "The Addams Family" (1964-66).  [The late actor Anthony Magro provided Itt's voice.]   Although two other actors provided the voice, Silla also provided the physical performance (wearing the costume) for "Twiki" in the former NBC TV series, "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" (1979-81).

From APNews:  American investment advisor and convicted fraudster, Bernie Madoff, has died at the age of 82, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in prison at the Federal Medical Center at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina.  Madoff is best known for operating the largest "Ponzi scheme" in world history, which allowed him to steal from the rich and the poor, the famous and the ordinary.  In June 2009, he was sentenced to 150 years in prison.

From IndyStar:  Former professional basketball player and coach, Bobby "Slick" Leonard," has died at the age of 88, Tuesday, April 13, 2021.  He played college basketball for the Indiana University Hossiers and was a member of the 1953 NCAA Tournament championship team.  His seven-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) included stints with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs.  In 1968, Leonard began coaching the Indiana Pacers of the ABA (American Basketball Association), where he coached the team to three ABA titles, 1970, 1972, and 1973.  He continued to coach the Pacers when they joined the NBA in 1976 and remained coach until 1980.

#28DaysofBlack Review: GET ON UP

[The late Chadwick Boseman portrayed four African-American historical figures, three of them as the lead actor.  His performance as James Brown in “Get on Up” is an example of why so many are devastated by his passing and also by the loss of what could have been.]

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 14 of 2021 (No. 1752) by Leroy Douresseaux

Get on Up (2014)
Running time:  139 minutes (2 hours, 19 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sexual content, drug use, some strong language, and violent situations
DIRECTOR:  Tate Taylor
WRITERS:  Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth; from a story by Steven Baigelman and Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth
PRODUCERS:  Brian Grazer, Erica Huggins, Mick Jagger, Victoria Pearman, and Tate Taylor
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Stephen Goldblatt
EDITOR:  Michael McCusker
COMPOSER:  Thomas Newman

BIOPIC/MUSIC/DRAMA

Starring:  Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Jamarion and Jordan Scott, Viola Davis, Lennie James, Fred Melamed, Jamal Batiste, Craig Robinson, Jill Scott, Octavia Spencer, Josh Hopkins, Brandon Mychal Smith, Tika Sumpter, Aunjanue Ellis, Tariq Trotter as Pee Wee Ellis, John Benjamin Hickey, and Allison Janney

Get on Up is a 2014 biographical film and musical drama directed by Tate Taylor.  The film is a fictional depiction of the life of singer, songwriter, recording artist, and concert performer, James Brown (1933-2006).  Get on Up chronicles the rise from extreme poverty of one of the most influential musical performers in history.

Get on Up opens in Augusta, Georgia, the year 1988.  James Brown (Chadwick Boseman), one of the world's most famous recording artists and performers, gets high on mix of marijuana and PCP.   He visits one of his businesses and discovers that someone from a nearby seminar has used his private restroom.  Furious, Brown confronts the seminar attendees while carrying a shotgun, which he accidentally fires into the ceiling.

The film then uses a nonlinear narrative, following James Brown's stream of consciousness, as he recalls events from his life.  We meet young James Brown (Jamarion and Jordan Scott), living in poverty with his mother, Susie Brown (Viola Davis), and abusive father, Joseph “Joe” Brown (Lennie James).  Eventually abandoned by both his parents, young James lives in a brothel run by his Aunt Honey Washington (Octavia Spencer).

Later, James joins “The Flames,” a gospel singing group fronted by his new friend, Bobby Byrd (Nelsan Ellis).  Soon, they become “The Famous Flames” and sing R&B songs, but within a decade James Brown is ready to go solo.  It would not be the last time James is willing to go it alone on the way to becoming one of the most influential singer, songwriters, musicians, producers, dancers, bandleaders, and recording artists of all time.

Director Tate Taylor and screenwriters Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth have fashioned of a story that looks at two sides of James Brown:  his musical talent and performances and his personal and professional relationships.  This allows Get on Up to give audiences what they want – lots of James Brown on stage – and to also tell a behind-the-music-like story of a complicated man.

Get on Up takes its title from a chorus in James Brown's 1970 hit, “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine.”  Brown does indeed “get on up” every time he experiences something personally or professionally that could have brought him down and kept him down.  The thing that I can respect about this film is that it does not only portray Brown as someone who overcomes, but also portrays him as someone who does not appreciate that he was never alone in creating his success.  Late in the film, Brown breaks the fourth wall (one of many times he does this) to tell the audience that he “paid the cost to be the boss.”  However, he did not pay the cost alone, to which wives, girlfriends, lovers, children, band mates, and employees can certainly testify.

Through the impressive work of Get on Up's film editor, Michael McCusker. Tate Taylor jumps around time to show the many faces of this artist who was, in a way, a chameleon as a performer.  We see moments from the years:  1939, 1949, 1955, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1988, and 1993.  This time-shifting of the film's narrative also reveals the many dark times of Brown's life.

Everyone's work would not mean much without a great performer giving a great performance as James Brown, and Chadwick Boseman certainly does that.  Boseman fashions a James Brown that is perfect for the story that Get on Up tells, creating a Brown that is an inspired genius and a dictatorial general.  Boseman nearly buries himself in the role, and I often found myself forgetting that Get on Up is not a documentary and that the James Brown on screen was a portrait not the real man.  However, Boseman's dynamic performance gives us both sides, the public persona known as James Brown, the musical revolution, and the private James Brown, unyielding to family, friends, collaborators, and partners and beset by demons.

There are other good performances.  Viola Davis packs her own power into every scene in which she appears as Brown's mother, and Octavia Spencer's displays the naturalism of her acting that charms her audiences as well as her fellow thespians.  Nelson Ellis offers a rich and layered performance as Brown's longtime collaborator, Bobby Byrd, and twins Jamarion and Jordan Scott damn near steal Get on Up with their performances as young James Brown.

Because of Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing in 2020, Get on Up will largely be remembered for his performance.  That's a shame because Get on Up is a really good film and is one of the best contemporary biographies of an African-American figure and of an icon figure in popular music in recent memory.  So, I'll take both.  Get on Up captures the music and the madness of James Brown, and the film captures a truly great performance by an actor who was becoming great and greater still before he died.

9 of 10
A+

Monday, February 15, 2021


NOTES:
2015 Black Reel Awards:  3 nominations: “Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture” (Chadwick Boseman), :Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture” (Nelsan Ellis), and “Outstanding Ensemble” (Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee)

2015 Image Awards (NAACP):  5 nomination: “Outstanding Motion Picture,” “Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture” (Chadwick Boseman), “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Jill Scott), “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Octavia Spencer), and “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Viola Davis)

The text is copyright © 2021 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 August 9th to 15th, 2020 - Update #24

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:

ANIMATION - From THR:  The Oregon-based animation studio, Laika, has laid off 56 employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the studio says they will be rehired at a future date.  The studios has produced several Oscar-nominated animated films, including "Coraline," "ParaNorman," and "The Missing Link."

MOVIES - From Variety:  Comedian Tig Notaro will replace actor-comedian Chris D'Elia in Zack Snyder's zombie movie, "Army of the Dead."  D'Elia has been recently accused of sexually harassing underage girls.  "Army of the Dead," which has been called a "spiritual sequel" to Snyder 2004 film, "Dawn of the Dead," will undergo reshoots to add Notaro into the film.

ANIMATION-POLITICS - From Deadline:  "The Simpsons'" Marge Simpson hits back at a White House aide who compared Democratic Vice-Presidential pick, Kamala Harris' voice to hers.

TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  The pop culture network, G4, is apparently making a return, and former G4 host, actress Olivia Munn, is reportedly returning as part of the relaunch deal.

AVATAR - From YahooEntertainment:  "Avatar 2," James Cameron's sequel to his mega-hit, "Avatar," will make use of practical set in addition to a massive use of CGI and motion-capture.

STREAMING - From BleedingCool:  Horror label, Blumhouse Productions, is teaming up with Amazon Original Movies to produce eight thematically connected films.  The first four debut in October 2021, with the remaining four coming in 2021.  There are synopses for the first four films.

TELEVISION - From THR:  Seth MacFarlane of "Family Guy" is producing a new TV adaptation of author Herman Wouk's novels "The Winds of War" (1971) and "War and Remembrance" (1978) for Universal Consent Productions.  Both books were previously produced as TV miniseries for ABC.  At the time of its release in 1983, "The Winds of War" was the most watched miniseries of all time.  "War and Remembrance" the miniseries ran from November 1988 to May 1989.

MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment:   Oscar-winnner Octavia Butler talks about being paid what she's worth for film and TV roles.

POLITICS - From BET:   Former Vice President Joe Biden, the 2020 presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States, has chosen California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. The formal nomination will take place during the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention next week. 

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  "SpongeBob SquarePants" is getting a spin-off.  It's the animated TV series, "The Patrick Star Show," and it will feature Patrick hosting his own late-night talk show.  Voice recording on the series has reportedly started.

STREAMING - From Deadline:   Martin Scorsese has signed a first-look deal with Apple.  The Oscar-winning director will base his production banner, Sikelia Productions, at Apple for film and TV series developments.

JAMES BOND - From YahooEntertainment:  Sean Connery voted best James Bond by a fan vote.  [I choose Roger Moore - Leroy.]

MUSIC - From YahooToday:  Twin brothers, Tim and Fred Williams, have gone viral on YouTube with their reaction to Grammy-winning recording artist, Phil Collins' iconic drum fill on his 1981 hit, "In the Air Tonight."

WARNER MEDIA - From Deadline:  Now, the layoffs at WarnerMedia begin in a bid to streamline the company.

From Deadline:  WarnerMedia has undergone some big changes at the very top of the company with a chairman and two executives leaving.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Garth Davis, who directed the 2016 Oscar-nominated drama, "Lion," will direct Jared Leto is Disney's planned third "Tron" film.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Actor Ben Affleck's next effort at directing film will be "The Big Goodbye."  The film will tell the behind-the-scenes story of the making of one of Hollywood's greatest films, "Chinatown" (1974).

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:  The top film for the 8/7 to 8/9/2020 weekend box office is "Tax Collector" (starring Shia LeBeouf) with an estimated take of $317,000.  The movie exhibition marketplace is still being stricken by COVID-19.

ANIMATION - From LATimes:  Black animators demanded change in Hollywood for years.  Now, in the wake of George Floyd's death, they have Hollywood's attention.

DISNEY - From EW:  The documentary film, "Howard," takes a look at the life and work of playwright and lyricist, Howard Ashman, who wrote the lyrics to Alan Menken's music for Disney's animated films, "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast."

OBITS:

From THR:  One of America's all-time great media moguls, Sumner Redstone, has died at the age of 97, Tuesday, August 11, 2020.  He is best known for bringing Viacom, Paramount Pictures, and CBS together to form one media giant.  When CBS and Viacom split, Redstone remained chairman of both companies, although each had its own CEO.

From Deadline:  The actor and singer, Trini Lopez, has died at the age of 83, Tuesday, August 11, 2020 of complications of COVID-19.  His hit songs include the 1963 version of the song, "If I Had a Hammer," and the 1965 version of "Lemon Tree."  His best known role was as one of the "Dirty Dozen" (Pedro Jimenez), in the 1967 film, "The Dirty Dozen."

CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 NEWS:

From CDC:   The Centers for Disease Control has a "COVID Data Tracker."

From YahooNews:  Why does COVID-19 kill some people and hardly affects others?

From YahooNews:  Yahoo has a dedicated page of links updating news about COVID-19.

From Deadline:  The news site "Deadline" has a dedicated page for news about coronavirus and the film, TV, and entertainment industries.

From TheNewYorker:  The venerable magazine has a dedicate COVID-19 page free to all readers.

From YahooNews:  Re: the federal government's response to COVID-19: What if the most important election of our lifetime was the last one - 2016?

From YahooLife:  What is "happy hypoxia?"  And do you have this COVID-19 symptom?

From JuanCole:  Remeber when President Donald went crazy and suggested that we ingest household cleaning supplies and UV light to fight COVID-19.  Here is the video and commentary from Juan Cole.

From TheIntercept:  The federal government has ramped up security and police-related spending in response to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, including issuing contracts for riot gear, disclosures show. The purchase orders include requests for disposable cuffs, gas masks, ballistic helmets, and riot gloves...

From TheAtlantic:  The Coronavirus Was an Emergency Until Trump Found Out Who Was Dying. The pandemic has exposed the bitter terms of our racial contract, which deems certain lives of greater value than others.

From ProPublica:  Hospital's Secret COVID-19 Policy Separated Native American Mothers From Their Newborns

From TheGuardian:  More than 20 million Americans could have contracted COVID-19, experts say.

From RSN/WashPost:  The COVID-19 mutation that has taken over the world.

7/13 - From YahooSports:  Maybe a pandemic means that there will not be college football this fall.

7/13- From YahooNews:  The CDC adds four new symptoms (including nausea and purple or blue lesions on feet and toes) to the list of COVID-19 symptoms.

7/19 - From YahooFinance:  Harvard Public Health professor Dr. Howard Koh says the U.S. "needs to regroup" to find COVID-19.

7/22 - From YahooNews:  A public health employee predicted Florida's coronavirus catastrophe — then she was fired.

7/22 - From YahooLifestyle:  Florida mom loses son, 20, to coronavirus, and then days later, her daughter.

7/23 - From TheWrap:  The site has a list of movie and TV stars, entertainment and sports figures who have tested positive for COVID-19

From YahooEntertainment:  Oscar-winning filmmaker Mel Gibson reveals that he was hospitalized with COVID-19 for a week in April.

From Bloomberg:  Will the COVID-19 pandemic turn Millennials into socialists?

7/27 - From CNN:   Chief of critical care at Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center, Dr. Joseph Costa, passes away due to Covid-19 complications... after treating the hospital's sickest COVID-19 patients.  He was 56 and leaves behind family, including a husband of 28 years.

7/29 - From YahooPolitico:  Rep. Louie Gohmert, the defiant Texas Republican U.S. congressman who refused to wear a mask, has tested positive for COVID-19.

7/30 - From Deadline:  Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") reveals that he had a bout with COVID-19.

7/31 - From YahooEntertainment:  Writer and actress, Lena Dunham, creator of HBO's "Girls, reveals that she contracted COVID-19 and the symptoms she experiences and still experience.

7/30 - From YahooGMA:  In their bid to crackdown on illegal gatherings amid COVID-19, New York authorities break up an alleged sex party.

7/31 - From Slate:  COVID-19 is airborne - for reals!

8/2 - From TheDailyBeast:  In Mississippi, COVID-19 has coroners terrified.

8/6 - From CNN:  Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (Republican) has tested positive for COVID19.

8/6 - From YahooNews:  Testing everyone constantly could stop the spread of COVID-19... according to this article.

8/8 - From YahooNYT:  The coronavirus is new, but your immune system might recognize it.

8/8 - From YahooNBC:  They thought COVID-19 was a hoax, and they almost died from it or are watching family and loved ones suffer with it or die from it.

8/9 - From YahooNews:  The rest of the world is incredulous at the pitiful U.S. response to COVID-19.

8/9 - From YahooAFP:  According to the real-time tally kept by John Hopkins University, the United States has hit 5 million cases of COVID-19.

BLACK LIVES MATTER:

From RSN:   Judge's Blistering Opinion Says Courts Have Placed Police Beyond Accountability

From Billboard:  In an interview will the venerable music publication, legendary country music singer-songwriter and actress, Dolly Parton, expresses support for the "Black Lives Matter" movement.

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.

----------
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.

----------
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).

Robert Zemeckis Begins New Film Adaptation of Dahl's "The Witches"

Robert Zemeckis Works His Magic on the Roald Dahl Classic as Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Witches” Gets Underway

The film stars Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer and—just announced—Stanley Tucci and Chris Rock

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography has begun on “The Witches,” a fantastical adventure from Oscar-winning director Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump”), starring Oscar winners Anne Hathaway (“Les Misérables,” “Ocean’s 8”) and Octavia Spencer (“The Help,” “The Shape of Water”), Oscar nominee Stanley Tucci (“The Hunger Games” films, “The Lovely Bones”), and award-winning comedy legend Chris Rock. Newcomer Jahzir Kadeem Bruno (TV’s “Atlanta”) also stars, alongside Codie-Lei Eastick.

Reimagining Roald Dahl’s beloved story for a modern audience, Zemeckis’s visually innovative “The Witches” tells the darkly humorous and heartwarming tale of a young orphaned boy (Bruno) who, in late 1967, goes to live with his loving Grandma (Spencer) in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. The boy and his grandmother come across some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, so Grandma wisely whisks our young hero away to an opulent seaside resort. Regrettably, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world’s Grand High Witch (Hathaway) has gathered her fellow cronies from around the globe—undercover—to carry out her nefarious plans.

The screenplay is by Guillermo del Toro and Robert Zemeckis & Kenya Barris (upcoming “Shaft”), based on the book by Roald Dahl. Zemeckis also produces, alongside Jack Rapke, Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron and Luke Kelly. Serving as executive producers on the film are Michael Siegel, Gideon Simeloff, Marianne Jenkins and Jackie Levine.

Zemeckis’s behind-the-scenes team includes a roster of his frequent collaborators, including Oscar-nominated director of photography Don Burgess (“Forrest Gump”), production designer Gary Freeman, Editor Jeremiah O’Driscoll, and Oscar-nominated costume designer Joanna Johnston (“Allied,” “Lincoln”).

An Image Movers Production, a Necropia/Experanto Filmoj Production, “The Witches” is filming at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in the UK. It is currently scheduled for theatrical release October 16, 2020 and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

----------------------

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 24th to 31st, 2019 - Update #23

Support Leroy on Patreon:

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 3/29 to 3/31/2019 weekend box office is Walt Disney's live-action remake, "Dumbo" with an estimated take of 45 million dollars.

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MOVIES - From Vulture:  Mark Hamill has confirmed that he is the voice of "Chuck," the killer doll in the 2019 remake of the 1988 film, "Child's Play."

----------
STREAMING - From Deadline:  Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer and two-time Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy are in talks to appear in a superhero film, "Thunder Force," for writer-director Ben Falcone, McCarthy's husband.

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COMICS-FILM - From Deadline:  "X-Men: Dark Phoenix" gets a boost at the convention, WonderCon 2019, when attendees respond enthusiastically to new footage shown to them.

----------
MOVIES - From THR:  Cillian Murphy is in talks to join Emily Blunt in the " A Quiet Place" sequel.

----------
TELEVISION - From THR:  NBC has renewed "Law & Order: SVU" for a 21st season which will make it the longest running live-action TV series in American television history.

----------
MOVIES - From THR:  Tom Hanks is in talks to appear in director Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley film.  Hanks will play Presley's manager, Col. Tom Parker.

----------
ANIMATION - From Newsarama:  Here is a first look at MGM's "The Addams Family," an animated film due October 18, 2019.

----------
AWARDS - From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2019 BAFTA TV Awards and BAFTA TV Craft Awards have been announced.  The TV series, "Killing Eve" and "A Very English Scandal" lead the nominations.  The award winners will be announced Sunday, April 28, 2019.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Jim Jarmusch's zombie movie, "The Dead Don't Die," starring Bill Murray is due June 14, 2019.  This will be Jarmusch's third film with Murray.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Sonequa Martin-Green of "Star Trek: Discovery" (formerly of "The Walking Dead") joins LeBron James in "Space Jam 2."

----------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  Marquis Rodriquez, John Simm, Richard McCabe, John Heffernan, and Dixie Egerickx join the still mysterious "Game of Thrones" prequel.

----------
SCANDAL - From LATimes:  All criminal charges have been dropped against "Empire" actor, Jussie Smollett.

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  Warner Bros. is re-developing the age-less man thriller, "Methusaleh," for Michael B. Jordan.  At one time, the project was seen as a Tom Cruise vehicle with sequel and franchise potential.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  The shocking box office success of "Us" reveals the power of Jordan Peele.

From Deadline:  Jordan Peele talks about being a black auteur and myths of representation in Hollywood.

---------
STREAMING - From Variety:  Apple unveils its new TV streaming service, Apple TV+

From Variety:  Apple unveiled its long-rumored gaming subscription service, "Apple Arcade."  It is the world’s first game subscription service for mobile, desktop and living room, the company said. With a single subscription, you get access to more than 100 new and exclusive games.

From Variety:  Apple also unveils Apple News+.   The $9.99 service gives paying subscribers access to over 300 magazines as well as select newspapers and premium digital news services.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 3/22 to 3/24/2019 weekend box office is Jordan Peele's "Us" with an estimated take of 70.25 million dollars.  This is the second highest debut for a live-action original film (behind "Avatar's" 77 million dollar debut in 2009).

From YahooEntertainment:  "Us" is shatters or approaches box office records.

From Patreon:  A review of "Us" by yours truly (Leroy Douresseaux, boo!)

From YahooEntertainment:  All the Easter eggs, references and hidden meanings we found in Jordan Peele's "Us."

----------
MOVIES - From ELLE:  Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is not the only 2019 film focusing on some aspect of the Tate-LaBianco murders committed by followers of the cult leader Charles Manson.

OBITS:

From RollingStone:  The British singer and musician, Ranking Roger, has died at the age of 56, Tuesday, March 26, 2019.  Roger was best known as the lead singer for the British ska band or "two-tone" band, the Beat (known as the "English Beat" in North America).  He was later a founding member of the band, "General Public."

From Deadline:  TV writer-producer and movie writer-director, Larry Cohen, has died at the age of 77, Saturday, March 23, 2019.  Cohen is best remembered for his cult horror film, "It's Alive."  He created the TV series, "The Invaders" and "Branded."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 10th to 16th, 2019 - Update #19

Support Leroy on Patreon:

MOVIES - From Variety:  Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" gets a November 2020 release date.

----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Chris Rock wild direct comedy pilot, "Saving Kenan," the NBC is developing for Kenan Thompson.

----------
STREAMING - From TheWrap:  Amazon teases its much-anticipated TV series, "The Lord of the Rings," with a map.

----------
MUSIC - From PhillyMag:  Meet the lawyer who sued Led Zeppelin.

----------
AVATAR - From ScreenRant:  James Cameron's "Avatar" sequels to start filming live-action sequences this spring.

----------
STAR TREK - From Newsarama:  Nickelodeon is developing an animated "Star Trek" TV series for children.

----------
STREAMING - From Variety:  Spike Lee's next project is a Vietnam veteran drama film for Netflix.  Chadewick Boseman eyed for a lead role.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Octavia Spencer is joining Anna Hathaway in a new adaption of "The Witches" (from the Roald Dahl book) for Robert Zemeckis.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From Deadline:  Millennium Film has put its "Red Sonja" film project on hold.  It was to be directed by Bryan Singer, who has been hit with multiple child sex-abuse allegations over the last few years.

---------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  Actor Chris Evans, director Antoine Fuqua, and super-producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and producer Mark Vahradian team for "Infinite."

---------
MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  Fox Searchlight releases the first teaser trailer for "Tokien," it biopic of "Lord of the Rings" creator, J.R.R. Tolkien.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From THR:  Warner Bros. has hired David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick to start writing "Aquaman 2."  He co-wrote the first film.

----------
GRAMMYS - From Deadline:  Here is a complete winners list.  Kacey Musgraves wins "Album of the Year" for her album, "Golden Hour."  Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) becomes the first rapper to win "Record of the Year" and "Song of the Year" for his acclaimed song, "This is America."

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:   The winner of the 2/8 to 2/10/2019 weekend box office is "The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part" with an estimated take of $34.4 million.

----------
AWARDS - From TheWrap:  The 2019 BAFTA Award winners have been announced.  "Roma" wins best film and best film not in the English language as well as best director for Alfonso Cuaron (one of four trophies for Cuaron tonight).  "The Favourite" was named best British film.

2019 / 72nd British Academy Awards (BAFTAs) winners list:

BEST FILM
“Roma” *WINNER

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
“The Favourite” *WINNER

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
“Beast,” Michael Pearce (Writer/Director), Lauren Dark (Producer) *WINNER

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
“Roma” *WINNER

DOCUMENTARY
“Free Solo” *WINNER

ANIMATED FILM
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” *WINNER

DIRECTOR
“Roma,” Alfonso Cuarón *WINNER

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“The Favourite,” Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara *WINNER

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“BlacKkKlansman,” Spike Lee, David Rabinowitz, Charlie Wachtel, Kevin Willmott *WINNER

LEADING ACTRESS
Olivia Colman, “The Favourite” *WINNER

LEADING ACTOR
Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody” *WINNER

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Rachel Weisz, “The Favourite” *WINNER

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali, “Green Book” *WINNER

ORIGINAL MUSIC
“A Star Is Born,” Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Lukas Nelson *WINNER

CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Roma,” Alfonso Cuarón *WINNER

EDITING
“Vice” *WINNER

PRODUCTION DESIGN
“The Favourite” *WINNER

COSTUME DESIGN
“The Favourite” *WINNER

MAKE UP & HAIR
“The Favourite” *WINNER

SOUND
“Bohemian Rhapsody” *WINNER

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
“Black Panther” *WINNER

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
“Roughhouse” *WINNER

BRITISH SHORT FILM
“73 Cows” *WINNER

EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
Letitia Wright *WINNER

Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema: Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley

-------------------------------------------------------

GRAMMYS - From CNN:  Top nominees Kendrick Lamar and Drake and also Childish Gambino decline invitations to perform at tonight's 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

----------
STREAMING - From DreadCentral:  Shudder begins production on a "Creepshow" TV series with "The Walking Dead's" Greg Nicotero.

---------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  AMC has announced the cancellations of its TV series, "Into the Badlands" and "The Son."

----------
COMICS-FILM - From HeyUGuys:  The third film in the "Kingsman," series will be a prequel, "Kingsman: The Great Game."  Aaron Taylor-Johnson ("Kick-Ass) and Gemma Arterton ("Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time") are joining the film.

OBIT:

From TheWrap:  Former President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Ron W. Miller, has died at the age of 85, Saturday, February 9, 2019.  Miller was president from 1978 to 1983 and was CEO in from 1983 to 1984.  Miller was married to Walt Disney's daughter, the late Diane Marie Disney, with whom he had seven children.  Miller also served in the U.S. Army and played one season in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 22nd to 31st, 2018 - Update #26

Support Leroy on Patreon:

MOVIES - From Variety:  Malcolm D. Lee is in talks to direct the remake of "Uptown Saturday Night" starring Kevin Hart.

----------
STREAMING - From ShadowandAct:  LeVar Burton, Laverne Cox, Rosario Dawson Tapped For Jordan Peele's YouTube Anthology Series "Weird City."

From ShadowandAct:  Netflix officially announces Octavia Butler's miniseries about real-life Black hair care mogul, Madame C.J. Walker.  NBA superstar LeBron James is producing the project.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 7/27 to 7/29/2018 weekend box office is "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" with an estimated take of $61.5 million.

----------
From WeGotThisCovered:  First look at Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson in the "Men in Black" reboot.

----------
CELEBRITY/BLM - From YahooGMA:  Ving Rhames says Santa Monica police officers pulled their guns on him in his own home.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Netflix has obtained the worldwide rights from Warner Bros. for Andy Serkis' CGI live-action film, "Mowgli," based on "The Jungle Book."  Netflix will release the film on its streaming service worldwide in 2019.

----------
TELEVISION - From DeadlineTV:  AMC renews "Better Call Saul" for a fifth season.  Season 4 is set to debut August 6, 2018.

----------
MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  The upcoming new "Halloween" reboot film will change something that was revealed in 1981's "Halloween II" and affected all the films that came afterwards.  Laurie Strode is no long Michael Myers' sister.

----------
STAR WARS - From BleedingCool:  The cast for "Star Wars Episode IX" is officially announced.  Billy Dee Williams is returning at "Lando Calrissian."

----------
MOVIES - From ThePlaylist:  Bad boy/genius screenwriter Max Landis might be working on a remake of "Creature from the Black Lagoon," a film which has had rumored remakes for decades.

---------
BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" opens with $6 million in Thursday night preview showsing.  "Teen Titans Go! to the Movies," the animated film spinoff of the Cartoon Network animated TV series, "Teen Titans Go!," has one million in preview shows.

----------
STREAMING - From Variety:  Anthony Mackie will take over as the lead in Season 2 of Netflix's "Altered Carbon" from Season 1 star Joel Kinnaman.

----------
BLM - From YahooLifestyle:   Anne Hathaway goes full manifesto about "White privilege" in the wake of the murder of Nia Wilson.

From YahooLifestyle:  What You Need To Know About The Murder Of Nia Wilson

----------
STREAMING - From YahooBGR:  Netflix will debut 47 new original movies and shows in August – here’s the full list

TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  The final season of "Game of Thrones" to debut in the first half of 2019.

----------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Pulitzer Prize winning composer and Grammy-winning rapper, Kendrick Lamar, to guest star on Starz's hit series, "Power."

----------
MOVIES - From BleedingCool: Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson are among new cast for Sony's "Men in Black" reboot.

----------
MOVIES - From Deadline:  The lawsuit brought by the estate of the late playwright, Paul Zindel, against Guillermo del Toro's film, "The Shape of Water," was dismissed with prejudice, which apparently means that it cannot be brought back to court.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  David Leitch, the director of "Deadpool 2" is in talks to direct the remake of the classic Bruce Lee film, "Enter the Dragon."

----------
MOVIES - From ShadowandAct:  Ocatvia Spencer and Queen Latifah unite for a film on an infamous "passing" divorce case.

----------
MUSIC - From Variety:  R&B artist R. Kelly responds to the myriad allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct with "I Admit," a new 19-minute song posted to Soundcloud.

From Soundcloud:  Here is R. Kelly's new jam, "I Admit."

---------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 7/20 to 7/22/2018 weekend box office is "The Equalizer 2" with an estimated take of $35.8 million.

----------
STREAMING - From BleedingCool:  Seth McFarlane ("Family Guy") and Brannon Braga ("Star Trek") are developing Clive Barker's "Books of Blood" series for Hulu.

----------
SDCC - From Deadline:  The 2018 Will Eisner Awards for Excellence in Comics

VIDEOS:

From YouTube:  The first official trailer for "Glass," the sequel to M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" and "Split."

From YouTube:  Second official trailer for "The Predator."

From YouTube:  First trailer for Warner Bros./New Line/DC Comics' "Shazam" (due Spring 2019).

From YouTube:  First "Aquaman" trailer.

2018 Oscars "Best Supporting Actor" - Allison Janney

Actress in a Supporting Role

Allison Janney - I, Tonya - WINNERS

Nominees
Mary J. Blige - Mudbound
Lesley Manville - Phantom Thread
Laurie Metcalf - Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer - The Shape of Water

---------------------------

Viola Davis Wins "Best Supporting Actress" Oscar

Actress in a Supporting Role

Nominees
Viola Davis - Fences - WINNER

Naomie Harris - Moonlight

Nicole Kidman- -Lion

Octavia Spencer - Hidden Figures

Michelle Williams - Manchester by the Sea

2017 SAG Award Winners Announced; "Hidden Figues" Wins "Best Ensemble"

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is an American labor union that represents film and television performers worldwide.  Most people probably know SAG for the various actors’ strikes or for the Screen Actors Guild Award, which SAG uses to honor outstanding performances by its members.  The first SAG Awards ceremony was held in February 1995 (for films released in 1994).

Nominations for the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced on Wednesday, December 14, 2016.  Winners were announced during the Sunday, January 29, 2017 awards ceremony that was simultaneously telecast on TBS and TNT.

The “Ensemble” categories are SAG's equivalent of a “Best Picture” or “Best Television Series” award.

2017 / 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations:

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DENZEL WASHINGTON / Troy Maxson – “FENCES” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
EMMA STONE / Mia – “LA LA LAND” (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
MAHERSHALA ALI / Juan – “MOONLIGHT” (A24)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
VIOLA DAVIS / Rose Maxson – “FENCES” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
HIDDEN FIGURES (20th Century Fox)
MAHERSHALA ALI / Col. Jim Johnson
KEVIN COSTNER / Al Harrison
KIRSTEN DUNST / Vivian Mitchell
TARAJI P. HENSON / Katherine G. Johnson
ALDIS HODGE / Levi Jackson
JANELLE MONÁE / Mary Jackson
JIM PARSONS / Paul Stafford
GLEN POWELL / John Glenn
OCTAVIA SPENCER / Dorothy Vaughan

TELEVISION PROGRAMS

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
BRYAN CRANSTON / President Lyndon B. Johnson – “ALL THE WAY” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
SARAH PAULSON / Marcia Clark – “THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY” (FX Networks)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JOHN LITHGOW / Winston Churchill – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / President Selina Meyer – “VEEP” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:
STRANGER THINGS (Netflix)
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven
CARA BUONO / Karen Wheeler
JOE CHREST / Ted Wheeler
NATALIA DYER / Nancy Wheeler
DAVID HARBOUR / Jim Hopper
CHARLIE HEATON / Jonathan Byers
JOE KEERY / Steve Harrington
GATEN MATARAZZO / Dustin Henderson
CALEB McLAUGHLIN / Lucas Sinclair
MATTHEW MODINE / Dr. Martin Brenner
ROB MORGAN / Officer Powell
JOHN PAUL REYNOLDS / Officer Callahan
WINONA RYDER / Joyce Byers
NOAH SCHNAPP / Will Byers
MARK STEGER / The Monster
FINN WOLFHARD / Mike Wheeler

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series:
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix)
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren
ALAN AISENBERG / Baxter “Gerber” Bayley
DANIELLE BROOKS / Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson
BLAIR BROWN / Judy King
JACKIE CRUZ / Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales
LEA DeLARIA / Big Boo
BETH DOVER / Linda Ferguson
KIMIKO GLENN / Brook Soso
ANNIE GOLDEN / Norma Romano
LAURA GOMEZ / Blanca Flores
DIANE GUERRERO / Maritza Ramos
MICHAEL J. HARNEY / Sam Healy
BRAD WILLIAM HENKE / Desi Piscatella
VICKY JEUDY / Janae Watson
JULIE LAKE / Angie Rice
SELENIS LEYVA / Gloria Mendoza
NATASHA LYONNE / Nicky Nichols
TARYN MANNING / Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett
JAMES McMENAMIN / Charlie “Donuts” Coates
ADRIENNE C. MOORE / Cindy “Black Cindy” Hayes
KATE MULGREW / Galina “Red” Reznikov
EMMA MYLES / Leanne Taylor
MATT PETERS / Joel Luschek
LORI PETTY / Lolly Whitehill
JESSICA PIMENTEL / Maria Ruiz
DASCHA POLANCO / Dayanara “Daya” Diaz
LAURA PREPON / Alex Vause
JOLENE PURDY / Stephanie Hapakuka
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ / Aleida Diaz
NICK SANDOW / Joe Caputo
ABIGAIL SAVAGE / Gina Murphy
TAYLOR SCHILLING / Piper Chapman
CONSTANCE SHULMAN / Erica “Yoga” Jones
DALE SOULES / Frieda Berlin
YAEL STONE / Lorna Morello
LIN TUCCI / Anita DeMarco
SAMIRA WILEY / Poussey Washington

STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“HACKSAW RIDGE” (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
“GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

53rd Annual SAG Life Achievement Award
LILY TOMLIN

------------------------------

Review: "Zootopia" Another Classic from the Disney Utopia

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 13 (of 2016) by Leroy Douresseaux

Zootopia (2016)
Running time:  108 minutes (1 hour, 48 minutes)
MPAA – PG for some thematic elements, rude humor and action
DIRECTORS:  Byron Howard and Rich Moore with Jared Bush
WRITERS:  Jared Bush and Phil Johnston; from a story by Byron Howard, Jared Bush, Rich Moore, Josie Trinidad , Jim Reardon, Phil Johnston, and Jennifer Lee
PRODUCER:  Clark Spencer
EDITORS:  Jeremy Milton and Fabienne Rawley
COMPOSER:  Michael Giacchino

ANIMATION/FANTASY/FAMILY with elements of comedy, crime and mystery

Starring:  (voice) Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, Nate Torrence, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Tommy Chong, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk, Shakira, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, and Maurice LaMarche

Zootopia is a 2016 computer-animated fantasy film from Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS).  Directed by Byron Howard and Richard Moore, the film was originally released to theaters in 3D.  It is the 55th animated feature film in the “Walt Disney Animated Classics” line, with John Lasseter of Pixar being the film's executive producer.  Zootopia follows a rookie bunny cop who unites with a cynical con artist fox to uncover a dark conspiracy.

Zootopia is populated by anthropomorphic mammals (cartoon or fictional animals that walk and talk like humans).  Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a young female rabbit from the rural hamlet of Bunnyburrow.  Her childhood dream was to be a police officer.  She recently moved to the urban utopia of Zootopia where she just became a rookie cop with the Zootopia Police Department.

However, her boss, Chief Bobo (Idris Elba), a cape buffalo, does not believe that a bunny can be a cop; honestly, almost no one believes a little bunny rabbit can make it as a cop.  Chief Bobo assigns Officer Hopps to the traffic division where she becomes a meter maid, handing out parking tickets.  Early in her career, Judy is even tricked by Nicholas P. “Nick” Wilde (Jason Bateman), a cynical red fox who runs various cons and hustles.  Fate brings them together to solve the mystery of missing mammals, and the straight-laced Judy and street-smart Nick make a good team.  However, neither understands the true extant of the conspiracy surrounding this missing persons case.

After Disney formally purchased Pixar (in 2006), the deal essentially united the Oscar-winning computer-animation studio with Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS), there has been a marked improvement in the computer-animated films produced by the WDAS.  The credit for that success often goes to Pixar's John Lasseter who is Chief Creative Officer (CCO) for both units.  Under his watch, Walt Disney Feature Animation has produced such smash hits as Tangled and Wreck-It-Ralph, as well as the Oscar-winning, worldwide, monster hit, Frozen.

I keep thinking that there is nothing left that either Pixar or WDAS can do to surprise me, but Pixar blew my mind with last year's Inside Out.  Now, I am stunned by Zootopia, which is not only fantastic, but is also timely.  Zootopia is an American animated film that is aimed at the broad family audience, yet bluntly addresses issues of prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes.  Zootopia is a film about us, the human race, but especially about the United States of America.

We are Zootopia, that shining city on the hill.  This place of dreams and of hope is filled with people who secretly harbor all manners of assumptions and prejudices about their fellow citizens.  The course of Zootopia's story and of Judy's story is to steer everyone to their better selves.  This could have been yet another animated film full of wise-cracking, eccentric talking animal characters that make the audience laugh, but the creators and filmmakers behind Zootopia wanted more.  The result truly is a film that can be called a “Walt Disney Animated Classic.”

As the lead characters, Judy and Nick, Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman give performances that certainly deserve to be called great.  Goodwin gives Judy so much color and depth, making the bunny cop a character that is bigger than than this movie; Zootopia seems to be a single chapter in the life of a fictional character with much more to say.  Bateman delivers his usual genial, smooth, and droll comedy style onto Nick, but he makes the sly red fox the wise, guiding hand that a young rookie bunny cop needs.

Thoughtful and occasionally brilliant, Zootopia cheats a little in its last act, taking the easy way out so that it can deliver a happy ending. Still, even its action-centered resolution of the conspiracy offers a delightful surprise and sticks to the story's message about the harm of prejudice and the dangers of racism and xenophobia.  Perhaps, live-action films can learn a lesson from the state-of-the-art, computer-animated Zootopia.  Movies can be smart, timely, and deliver a few messages AND also be big, entertaining event films.

9 of 10
A+

Tuesday, June 14, 2016


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

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"12 Years a Slave" Makes Its Basic Cable Premiere on BET Networks

BET Honors Black History Month with 2 New Specials

JAMIE FOXX, ROBERT DOWNEY JR., KERRY WASHINGTON, OCTAVIA SPENCER AND MORE ATTEND “ABFF AWARDS: A CELEBRATION OF HOLLYWOOD” AIRING ON BET AND CENTRIC, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD AT 8P/7C

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tune in Tuesday, February 23, 2016 as BET partners with American Black Film Festival (ABFF) to air “ABFF Awards: A Celebration of Hollywood” at 8P/7C. This first-ever televised award shows tributes film legends and TV’s hottest stars. Hosted by Mike Epps, the two-hour event honors Don Cheadle, Regina King, Ryan Coogler, Diahann Carroll and Will Packer for their achievements in entertainment. Don’t miss special appearances by Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Kerry Washington, Octavia Spencer, Loretta Devine, KeKe Palmer, Anthony Anderson and more!

2014 Best Picture Oscar Winner, “12 Years A Slave,” makes its basic cable premiere on BET Networks to wrap up Black History Month. The movie premieres Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. The film is based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist forever alters his life.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 25th to 31st, 2015 - Update #20

Support Leroy on Patreon.

NEWS:

From Thompson:  Ben Affleck starts filming "Live By Night."

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From TheIntercept:  On the new film, "Truth," and Dan Rather's real-life stumble.

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From Variety:  Rihanna joins Luc Besson's "Valerian."

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From Variety:  Elizabeth Banks will direct "Pitch Perfect 3."

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From Indiewire:  Common is the villain in "John Wick 2."

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From Variety:  Idris Elba and Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer added to the voice cast of Disney's animated "Zootopia."

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From TheWrap:  Danai Gurira (Michonne of "The Walking Dead") wrote a play, "Eclipsed."  It is headed to Broadway with Lupita Nyong'o.

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From TheWrap:  Quentin Tarantino leads NYC really against police brutality.

From TheWrap:  Now New York City's police union want to boycott his films because of his statement “When I see murders, I do not stand by . . . I have to call a murder a murder, and I have to call the murderers the murderers.”

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From BleedingCool:  Re: "The Walking Dead" - is he dead?

From TheWrap:  5 fan theories about Glenn.

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From BoxOfficeMojo:  "The Martian" returns to the #1 spot for the 10/23 to 10/25/2015 weekend box office with an estimated take of $15.9 million.

From YahooMovies:  Four new movies; four flops.

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From SlashFilm:  "Super Troopers 2" has begun filming.

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From EntertaimentWeekly:  NBC will reboot Steve Spielberg's 1980s anthology series, "Amazing Stories," which was originally broadcast on NBC.


COMICS - Books and Films:

From Indiewire:  Terry Gilliam's mixed reaction to "Ant-Man."

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From FlickeringMyth:  "Captain America: Civil War" trailer next week or maybe not.

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From YahooMovies:  Jared Leto's ridiculous take on Joker makes the cover of Empire mag.

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From YahooTV:  Beyonce cosplayed as "Storm" of the X-Men at singer Ciara's 30th birthday party.


TRAILERS and REVIEWS:

From YouTube:  New trailer for "Daddy's Home" with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.  It's really funny; hopeful the movie is, too.

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From ComicBookBin:  This website, for which I write, has a short review of "Spectre" posted by one of the writers who apparently recently saw the film.


HARD NEWS:

From BETNews:  "Office Slam" is fired in South Carolina.

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From YahooPolitics:  It's true.  Somebody had to say it, even if it is Trump.


OBITS:

From CinemaBlend:  The actress Maureen O'Hara has died at the age of 95 (Saturday, October 24, 2015).  The ginger-haired actress was best known for John Ford's 1952 film, "The Quiet Man," in which she co-starred along with friend, John Wayne.  They co-starred together several time, including in one of my favorite film, 1971's "Big Jake."