TRASH IN MY EYE Reviews: Quentin Tarantino

Showing posts with label Quentin Tarantino. Show all posts

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 1st to 6th, 2024 - UPDATE #12

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

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

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

BOX OFFICE - From Variety: The winner of the July 4th box office is "Despicable Me 4" with an estimated take of 20.4 million dollars.

CELEBRITY - From EW: Famous actor Kevin Bacon disguised himself as a regular person for a day and discovered that, compared to fame, it sucks.

MOVIES - From THR: "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" director Matt Molloy said he kept turning down offers from super-producer Jerry Bruckheimer until he said yes to the new "Beverly Hills Cop" film.

FILM FESTIVALS - From Deadline: Director Tim Burton's new film, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," will open the 81st Venice Film Festival on Aug. 28th. The film is the sequel to his 1988 Oscar-winning hit, "Beetlejuice."

MOVIES - From WorldofReel: Sony teases that more information will come about Quentin Tarantino's 10th and alleged final film. Earlier this year, it was announced that Tarantino had scrapped his plans to make a movie called "The Movie Critic."

NETFLIX - From THR: Netflix has won the rights to "RIP," a thriller from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's production company. Directed by Joe Carnahan, the film also stars Damon and Affleck.

JAMES BOND - From WorldofReel: Edward Berger ("All Quiet on the Western Front") is the latest name to pop up as a potential director to helm the next James Bond film franchise reboot.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Universal moves tentpole musical, "Wicked" to November 22nd where it will open against Paramount Pictures' "Gladiator II."

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline: Disney/Pixar's "Inside Out 2" has crossed the 1 billion dollar mark (1.014 billion dollars) at the global box office, which is the fastest ever for an animated film.

MOVIES - From Deadline: We are approaching the 50th anniversary of the legendary blockbuster film, Jaws (1975). There are two documentaries about the film, dueling for attention, "Jaws: Making a Splash in Hollywood" and "Jaws @ 50."

OBITS:

From Deadline: American film producer, Jon Landau, has died at the age of 63, Friday, July 5, 2024. Landau was best known for his association with writer-director James Cameron and was the COO of Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment. Landau shared the "Best Picture" Oscar win with Cameron for the 1997 film, "Titanic." He also received "Best Picture" Oscar nominations for "Avatar" (2009) and "Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022).

From Deadline: American screenwriter and director, Robert Towne, has died at the age of 89, Monday, July 1, 2024. He was best known for his work on the 1975 film, Chinatown," for which he was the "Best Original Screenplay" Oscar. He was also nominated for Academy Awards for his work on "The Last Detail" (1974), "Shampoo" (1976), and "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan" (1984). He wrote and directed four films, including "Personal Best" (1982) and "Tequila Sunrise" (1988).

From Deadline: American film editor, producer, and director, Bud S. Smith, has died at the age of 88, Sunday, June 23, 2024. He edited or co-edited such films as "The Karate Kid" (1984), "To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), "Darkman" (1990), and "The Replacements" (2000). He shared two Oscar nominations for his editing work on "The Exorcist" (1973) and "Flashdance" (1983).

Saturday, May 25, 2024

Review: "PULP FICTION" is Still a Wild Child

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 23 of 2024 (No. 1967) by Leroy Douresseaux

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Running time: 154 minutes (2 hours, 34 minutes)

MPAA – R for strong graphic violence and drug use, pervasive strong language and some sexuality

DIRECTOR: Quentin Tarantino

WRITERS: Quentin Tarantino; from stories by Roger Avary and Quentin Tarantino

PRODUCER: Lawrence Bender

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Andrzej Sekula

EDITOR: Sally Menke

Academy Award winner

CRIME/DRAMA

Starring: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Phil LaMarr, Frank Whaley, Paul Calderon, Bronagh Gallagher, Rosanna Arquette, Eric Stoltz, Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Walken, and Harvey Keitel

Pulp Fiction is a 1994 crime film from writer-director Quentin Tarantino. The film follows the lives of an ensemble of characters, including two mob hit men, a boxer, a pair of armed robbers, and a gangster and his wife in a series of intertwined tales of violence and redemption.

Thirty years ago, this month, May 1994, brothers Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the then co-chairmen of Miramax Films, blew into France with the entire cast of Pulp Fiction for the 47th Cannes Film Festival. On or about May 21, 1994, the Weinsteins unveiled Pulp Fiction at a midnight screening. From what I read lo those many years ago, that screening cause a sensation. Pulp Fiction would go on to win the festival's top prize, the “Palme d'Or,” for Tarantino.

I had been putting off seeing Pulp Fiction during its initial release, but it was re-released in the spring of 1995 in the run-up to the 67th Academy Awards (March 27, 1995). Pulp Fiction had been nominated for seven Oscars. A friend encourage me to see it with her, which I think we did a week or so before the Oscars. I'd seen Reservoir Dogs (1992), which I considered to be an exceptional film of that time, but even the uncommon nature of Reservoir Dogs did not prepare me for the demented nature of the audacious art that was (and still is) Pulp Fiction. In preparation for this film, I recently rewatched Tarantino's other early films, Jackie Brown (1997) and Reservoir Dogs.

Told out of chronological order, Pulp Fiction is set in and around Los Angeles. It opens in a diner, where a couple, Pumpkin/Ringo (Tim Roth) and Honey Bunny/Yolanda (Amanda Plummer), decide to pull of an armed robbery. Elsewhere, two hit men, Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent Vega (John Travolta), seek to retrieve a brief case that belongs to their employer, crime boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), from a small group of thieves who tried to double-cross Wallace.

Later, Vega takes Wallace's wife, Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman), out to dinner – by request of Marsellus. They banter. They dance. They deal with an overdose. Also, a palooka boxer, Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis), double-crosses Marsellus. Now, he's on the run, but before the night is done, Butch and Marsellus will find themselves delivered into evil. Finally, Jules meets Pumpkin and Honey Bunny.

Reservoir Dogs is “neo-noir,” which is a modern versions of “Film-Noir,” a term that refers to the stylized Hollywood dramas – especially crime dramas – covering a period from the 1930s to the 1960s. So if Reservoir Dogs is “neo-noir,” Pulp Fiction recalls another vintage American genre of fiction, the storytelling of the pulp magazines and hard-boiled crime novels of the mid-20th century. Tarantino grabs the lurid, exploitative, and sensational, and also the violence and corruption that were featured in some pulps and crime novels and grafts that onto Pulp Fiction's non-linear narrative tale of people living, working, cheating, screwing, and killing in the criminal underground of L.A.

Three decades later, I find that some of the film has not aged will, such as the opening scene at the diner and the early parts of the misadventures of Vincent and Jules. The rest of the film still sparkles with cinematic magic, as Tarantino delights in the myriad elements of both American pop culture and international cinema that he borrows (or steals) for this film. I will say that this film's last act – the diner scene featuring Vincent & Jules and Pumpkin & Honey Bunny – is what keeps Pulp Fiction in place as one of the best films of the 1990s. If I can divide films into increments of a quarter-hour or so, I'd say that Pulp Fiction's last 17 minutes before the end credits form the one of the best sequences of film that I have ever seen.

Seeing it again, I was frozen in place, mesmerized, and riveted by the power of this moment in American cinema. Honestly, Samuel L. Jackson,who was nominated for a “Best Supporting Actor” Oscar for his work in this film, should have won the award based solely on his performance in this last act of Pulp Fiction. And I say that even as I believe that the actor who did win, the late Martin Landau for Tim Burton's Ed Wood, was deserving of the Oscar.

Back in 1994, at the moment Dick Dale & His Del-Tones' 1962 surf rock anthem, “Misirlou,” blasts across the film's soundtrack, Pulp Fiction injected some much needed juice and venom into American cinema, even if some rejected that injection at the time. Someone once described Pulp Fiction as a “succulent guilty pleasure.” I'll still suck on it, and I won't feel guilty about its pleasures.

10 of 10

Saturday, May 25, 2024

NOTES:

1995 Academy Awards, USA: 1 win: “Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen” (Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary); six nominations: “Best Picture” (Lawrence Bender), “Best Actor in a Leading Role” (John Travolta), “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” (Samuel L. Jackson), “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” (Uma Thurman), “Best Director” (Quentin Tarantino), and “Best Film Editing” (Sally Menke)

1995 BAFTA Awards: 2 wins: “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” (Samuel L. Jackson) and “Best Screenplay – Original” (Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary); 7 nominations: “Best Film” (Lawrence Bender), “Best Actor” (John Travolta), “Best Actress” (Uma Thurman), “Best Cinematography” (Andrzej Sekula) “David Lean Award for Direction” (Quentin Tarantino), “Best Editing” (Sally Menke), and “Best Sound” (Stephen Hunter Flick, Ken King, Rick Ash, and Dean A. Zupancic)

1995 Golden Globes, USA: 1 win: “Best Screenplay-Motion Picture: (Quentin Tarantino); 5 nominations: “Best Motion Picture – Drama,” “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Quentin Tarantino), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama” (John Travolta), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Uma Thurman), and “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Samuel L. Jackson)

1994 Cannes Film Festival: 1 win: “Palme d'Or” (Quentin Tarantino)

2013 National Film Preservation Board, USA: National Film Registry

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

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Review: "RESERVOIR DOGS" is Still Running These Mean Streets

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 20 of 2024 (No. 1964) by Leroy Douresseaux

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Running time: 99 minutes (1 hour, 39 minutes)

MPAA – R for strong violence and language

DIRECTOR: Quentin Tarantino

WRITER: Quentin Tarantino

PRODUCER: Lawrence Bender

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Andrzej Sekula

EDITOR: Sally Menke

DRAMA/CRIME

Starring: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Randy Brooks, Kirk Baltz, Edward Bunker, Quentin Tarantino, and (voice) Steven Wright

Reservoir Dogs is a 1992 drama and crime film from writer-director Quentin Tarantino. It is Tarantino's debut film and is the film that brought him to the attention of movie audiences, film critics, and movie studios. Reservoir Dogs focuses on the aftermath of jewelry heist gone wrong as each surviving criminal tries to find out which of his cohorts is a police informant.

Reservoir Dogs opens in a diner and introduces eight gangsters. The boss is Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney), and he and his son, “Nice Guy” Eddie Cabot (Chris Penn), are plotting the heist of jewelry store that has obtained some pricey, fine-cut diamonds. Joe has put together a crew to pull off what seems like a routine robbery, and he has given them nicknames or aliases so that they don't know each other's “Christian names.”

Larry Dimmick (Harvey Keitel) is “Mr. White.” Freddy Newendyke (Tim Roth) is “Mr. Orange.” “Toothpick” Vic Vega (Michael Madsen) is “Mr. Blonde.” The other three are “Mr. Pink” (Steve Buscemi), “Mr. Blue” (Edward Bunker), and “Mr. Brown” (Quentin Tarantino).

However, the heist turns out not to be routine because it was like the cops were waiting for them. Now, two of the six robbers are dead. Four of them are hold-up in a warehouse. One of them is grievously wounded, and one of them has shown up with a young police officer, Marvin Nash (Kirk Baltz), he kidnapped. If they are going to make it out of their current predicament, however, they are going to have to discover which of them ratted the rest out to the police.

This year is the thirtieth anniversary of the original theatrical release of Quentin Tarantino's most famous film, Pulp Fiction. It's also the 30th anniversary of the film's debut at the 47th Cannes Film Festival. Before I take a look at that film in its entirety for the first time in thirty years, I decided to go back and watch Reservoir Dogs in its entirety for the first time in over thirty years.

Over the last few decades, I have seen many films referred to as “neo-noir,” because they are modern versions of “Film-Noir.” This term refers to the stylized Hollywood dramas – especially crime dramas – of the 1930s to the 1960s. The 1940s and 1950s are seen as the classic period of Film-Noir. I believe that Reservoir Dogs is legitimately neo-noir because it recalls two of my favorite Film-Noir classics, John Huston's The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and Stanley Kubrick's The Killing (1956), especially the latter of which Reservoir Dogs borrows several ideas and elements. Early on, it is also clear that the nonlinear narrative that Tarantino uses in Reservoir Dogs is similar to that of Akira Kurosawa's classic period drama, Rashomon (1950).

Reservoir Dogs introduces audiences to what would become Tarantino narrative hallmarks: pop culture references; gory violence, hard-hitting action, nonlinear storytelling, and a heady mixture of songs from the 1960s and 1970s. In this case, the music is introduced by an unseen radio DJ, K-Billy, voiced by comedian and actor, Steven Wright. At the time, however, those didn't feel like hallmarks. They were new, and over thirty years later, they still feel new, not like things that are now director trademarks which in many ways define Tarantino's career and process. Even watching the film now, I see them as clever flourishes from a young director with a lot of potential.

Yes, the dialogue does not always sparkle, but every moment of this film bursts with potential even. That is true even when the nonlinear storytelling reveals that the entire process of the jewelry store heist seems like a thing inadvertently built on a house of holes.

Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and Steve Buscemi provide the strong performances that often keep Reservoir Dogs from seeming like a shallow work of plagiarisms. The bring depth, weight, and substance to ideas that might falter in the hands of lesser talents. Chris Penn and Lawrence Tierney make for a believable father-son duo, and the film's lone Black actor, Randy Brooks, as the police official, Holdaway, dominates every scene in which he appears.

Thirty-two years later, I am now wondering why I haven't watched Reservoir Dogs more often. It, along with Tarantino's next two feature films, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown (1997), form Tarantino's purest filmmaking period. Without the big budgets he would get in his twenty-first century films, he had to be clever about the places he flexed himself, whereas now he can indulge his every whim. His characters were vulnerable and living on the margins as regular people, low-level criminals, and cheap hoods. In his films of the last two decades, the characters are flashy anti-heroes and rebels played by some of Hollywood biggest stars. Reservoir Dogs has not aged well simply because it has not aged. It still feels like a star recently born.

8 of 10

★★★★ out of 4 stars

Thursday, May 2, 2024

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

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 14th to 20th, 2024 - UPDATE #19

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

BUSINESS - From Deadline: Sony Pictures was an acquisition target just eight years ago... according to rumors. Now, comes reports that Sony Pictures Entertainment is in talks with Apollo Global Management to make a move on acquire Paramount Global. Currently Skydance/Redbird Capital is in exclusive talkes with Paramount Global's majority shareholder, National Amusements, about taking control of Paramount.

From THR: Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has expanded his G-United Film and Television Inc empire into Louisiana by opening "G-Unit Studios" in Shreveport. It will be an in-house production facility.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Quentin Tarantino has changed his mind about making his previously announced film, "The Movie Critic," as his 10th and final film. He has moved onto something else... at least for the time being.

MOVIES - From Variety: Actors from the "Scream" film franchise show up to support fired "Scream 7" actress, Melissa Barrera, at the premiere of her new film, "Abigail."

ANIMATION - From Deadline: "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane is partnering, through his Seth MacFarlane Foundation, with Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation to fund the first-ever, curated restoration of historically significant animated shorts from the 1920s to 1940s. Nine animated pics from Max and Dave Fleischer, the founders of Fleischer Studios and the creators of Betty Boop and Koko the Clown, are among the pieces that are being restored.

MOVIES - From SlashFilm: Steven Spielberg says his likely next project is "a UFO film based on his own original idea." David Koepp is reportedly writing the screenplay. Aliens has been a frequent Spielberg theme, from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977) and "E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) to "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008).

MOVIES - From Variety: At 81, Martin Scorsese is still ready to go. He has planned his next two projects. The first is a film about Jesus, who could be played by Andrew Garfield or Miles Teller, and would begin shooting later this year. The second film is a biography of legendary singer and recording artist, Frank Sinatra. The Sinatra pic would star Leonardo DiCaprio as Sinatra and Jennifer Lawrence as his second wife, Ava Gardner.

TELEVISION - From THR: CBS has given a formal series order, "The Gates," which follows the lives of a wealthy African-American family in a posh, gated community. The series, which debuts January 2025, is the first Black soap opera in 35 years.

SPORTS - From NBA: The National Basketball Association (NBA) begins its playoffs today with the first two of three Western Conference "play-in" games tonight. The Eastern Conference play-in games start tomorrow night.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 4/12 to 4/14/2024 weekend box office is A24's "Civil War" with an estimated box office of 25.7 million dollars.

AWARDS - From Deadline: The winners at the 76th Writers Guild of America Awards were announced Sunday night (April 14th). "The Holdovers" written by David Hemingson won "Original Screenplay." The film was directed by Alexander Payne. "American Fiction" written by Nord Jefferson and based on the novel, "Erasure"by Percival Everett. The film was also directed by Jefferson.

From Deadline: At the 76th Writers Guild of America Awards, "The Price is Right" host, Drew Carey explains why he covered the costs of striking writers meals. He said "Everybody [the screenwriters] in this room made some actor a million dollars.

From Variety: The 76th Writers Guild of America Awards are tonight, Sun., April 14th. Actress Niecy Nash-Betts is hosting the Los Angeles end of the ceremony, which will not be broadcast.

From FoxLA11: Here are the nominees for the 76th Writers Guild of America Awards. Oscar winners "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie" lead the film nominees. "Succession" leads the television categories.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Blitz Bazawule, director of the recent version of "The Color Purple," has set up his next film, "Black Samurai," at Warner Bros. The story will follow Yasuke, an African warrior who served under Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga during the Sengoku period of samurai conflict in 16th century Japan.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline: Actress and Grammy-winning recording Fantasia Barrino, has set up an entertainment company, Rock Soul Productions, with live event producer and artist manager, Yvonne McNair. It will be a full-service operation with areas in management, production, and entertainment ventures. Fantasia will be the company's CEO and Yvonne the president.

TELEVISION - From Deadline: Tim Kring is developing "Heroes: Eclipsed," a new incarnation of his former NBC superhero serial drama, "Heroes" (2006-10). Kring also created the follow-up for NBC, "Heroes Reborn" (2015-16).

OBITS:

From THR: The film and television actress, Barbara O. Jones, has died at the age of 82, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Part of the "L.A. Rebellion" movement of black filmmakers in the 1970s, Jones may be best known for her role as the prostitute who returns home, "Yellow Mary" in Julie Dash's Daughters of the Dust (1991). She also starred in Haile Gerima's "Bush Mama" (1979) and as the wife of Muhammad Ali's character in the NBC TV miniseries, "Freedom Road" (1979). Her TV career also included roles in such series as "Wonder Woman" and "Lou Grant."

From Deadline: British special effects artist, Roger Dicken, has died at the age of 84, Sunday, February 18, 2024. He shared an Oscar nomination in the category of "Best Visual Effects" for his work in the 1971 film, "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth." He did freelance work on "2001: A Space Odyssey," for which he did receive a screen credit. Dicken worked on the "chest buster" scene in Ridley Scott's "Alien" (1979). Dicken also worked on such films as "Scars of Dracula" (1970) and "The Hunger" (1980).

AWARDS:

NAACP/BLM - From Deadline: The 2024 / 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards came to a close. Grammy-winning recording artist, Usher, won the "Entertainer of the Year." "The Color Purple" continued with wins in the category of "Outstanding Motion Picture," "Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture" (Fantasia Barrino), "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture" (Coleman Domingo), "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture" (Taraji P. Henson). The film also won in five other categories.

From Variety: The winners at the 2024 / 96th Academy Awards were announced. "Oppenheimer" took the lead with seven wins, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy), and "Best Supporting Actor" (Robert Downey, Jr.).

From Deadline: The winners for the 2024 / 24th annual Black Reel Awards were announced Jan. 16th, 2024. "American Fiction" took home the top honor, "Outstanding Film," one of six trophies it won. "The Color Purple" won nine trophies, the most for a musical in the history of the Black Reel Awards.

From Variety: The nominations for the 2024 / 96th Academy Awards have been announced. "Oppenheimer" leads with 13 nominations, and "Poor Things" follows with 11. The winners will be announced Sun., March 10th, 2024.

From Variety: The Producers Guild of America has announced the winners for the 2024 / 35th Annual Producers Guild Awards. "Oppenheimer" has won the top prize, the "Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures."

From Deadline: The winners at the 2024 / 77th BAFTA Film Awards have been announced. "Oppenheimer" wins seven awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From THR: The Directors Guild of America has announced the winners at the 2024 / 76th DGA Awards. Christopher Nolan won the top category, "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film of 2023," for his work on his blockbuster film, "Oppenheimer."

From Deadline: The winners at the 2024 / 51st Annie Awards have been announced. "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" won six, including "Best Feature." Its predecessor, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" also won six categories, including "Best Feature."

From AwardsWatch: The NAACP has announced the nominees for the 2024 / 55th NAACP Image Awards. By visiting www.naacpimageawards.net, the public can vote to determine the winners of the 55th NAACP Image Awards’ in select categories. Voting closes February 24th at 9:00 p.m. NAACP will also recognize winners in non–televised Image Awards categories March 11–14th, which will stream via naacpimageawards.net. The winners will be revealed during the two–hour LIVE TV special, airing Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET/ PT on BET and CBS.

From THR: The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) has announced the winners at the 28th Art Directors Guild Awards. "Poor Things," "Oppenheimer," and "Saltburn" win top prizes.

From Variety: The nominees for the 2024 / 51st Annie Awards have been announced. Netflix's "Nimona" leads the features categories with nine nominations. The winners will be announced Sat., Feb. 17th.

From AwardsWatch: The Latino Entertainment Journalists Association has announced the 6th Annual LEJA Awards. "Past Lives" won "Best Picture." Actor Coleman Domingo won "Best Actor" for his role in "Rustin" and "Best Supporting Actor" for his role in "The Color Purple."

From AwardsWatch: The Vancouver Film Critics Circle has announced its 2023 film awards. "Anatomy of a Fall" won "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The London Critics Circle announced the winners of its 44th annual film awards. "The Zone of Interest" won three awards, including "Film of the Year" and "Best Director" (Jonathan Glazer).

From AwardsWatch: The Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) has won the 2023 film awards. "Oppenheimer" won six awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy tied with Paul Giamatti for "The Holdovers").

From Variety: The American Cinema Editors has announced the nominees for the 2024 / 74th Annual ACE Eddie Awards. The winners will be announced March 3rd, 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) has named its 2023 film awards. "Oppenheimer" won eight awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: The Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Poor Things" won three awards, including "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The Chicago Indie Critics (CIC) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won seven awards, including "Best Studio Film." Celine Song's "Past Lives" won three, including "Best Independent Film."

From Variety: The Motion Picture Sound Editors has revealed the nominations for the 71st annual MPSE Golden Reel Awards in categories spanning feature film, television, animation, computer entertainment and student productions. The winners will be announced March 3rd.

From AwardsWatch: The Iowa Film Critics Association (IFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. Alexander Payne's "The Holdovers" won four awards, including "Best Picture."

From Variety: The Visual Effects Society has announced the nominations for the 2024 / 22nd Annual VES Awards have been announced. The winners will be announced Feb. 21st.

From AwardsWatch: The North Dakota Film Society (NDFS) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won nine awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch: The Music City Film Critics Association has announces it MCFCA 2023 Film Awards. Oppenheimer won seven awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: The Portland Critics Association (PCA) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won nine awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From Deadline: The African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) announced the 15th annual African-Ameri an Film Critics Awards. "American Fiction" was voted the #1 film and won four awards, including "Best Comedy." Ava DuVernay's "Origin" was voted the #2 film and won three awards, including "Best Drama."

From Deadline: The winners of the 2024 / 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards have been announced. "Oppenheimer" won eight awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: The Hawaii Film Critics Society (HFCS) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Barbie" wins four awards, including "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) has announced the winners of its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won four awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch: The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) revealed the nominees for the "2024 / 38th Annual ASC Awards" with categories in feature film, documentary, television and music video categories. The winners will be announced March 3rd, 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Killers of the Flower Moon" won "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) announced the winners in 21 categories for the 2023 Seattle Film Critics Society Awards. Director Celine Song’s "Past Lives" was named the "Best Picture of 2023."

From AwardsWatch: The Cinema Audio Society (CAS) has announced the nominations for the 60th CAS Awards. The winners will be announced March 2nd.

From AwardsWatch: The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) has announced the nominations for the 28th Art Directors Guild Awards. The winners will be announced Feb. 10th.

From AwardsWatch: The Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) has announced it 2024 ASTRA Film Awards. "Barbie" won eight awards, including "Best Picture.

From AwardsWatch: The Greater Western New York Film Critics Association (GWNYFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Past Lives" was named "Best Picture."

From NSFC: The National Society of Film Critics announce its 58th annual NSFC Awards. "Past Lives" was named "Best Picture of 2023."

From Deadline: The 2024 / 81st Golden Globes Awards ceremony was held Sun. night, Jan. 7th, 2024. "Oppenheimer" won five awards, including "Best Motion Picture-Drama," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), "Best Actor-Drama" (Cillian Murphy), and "Best Supporting Actor-Motion Pictures" (Robert Downey, Jr.). "Poor Things" won "Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy."

From Deadline: NIGHT 2 of the 75th Creative Arts Emmys took place Sun., Jan. 7th, 2024. (Former) President Barack Obama and Keke Palmer were among the winners.

From Deadline: NIGHT 1 of the 75th Creative Arts Emmys took place Sat., Jan. 6th, 2024. HBO's "The Last of Us" lead the night with 8 wins, including wins in both "Guest Actor in a Drama Series" categories: Nick Offerman (Guest Actor) and Storm Reid (Guest Actress).

From AwardsWatch: The 5th annual DiscussingFilm Critics Awards were announced. "Oppenheimer" won eight awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch: The Utah Film Critics Association (UFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Past Lives" won three awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Celine Song).

From AwardsWatch: The Georgia Film Critics Association (GFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Oppenheimer" won seven honors, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch: The San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Oppenheimer" was named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The Columbus Film Critics Association (COFCA) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Killers of the Flower Moon" won six awards including "Best Film" and "Best Director" (Martin Scorsese).

From AwardsWatch: The Costume Designers Guild (Local 892) announced the official nominees list for the 26th CDGA (Costume Designers Guild Awards). The annual CDGA ceremony will take place Wed., Feb. 21st, 2024.

From Variety: The British Academy has unveiled the results of the first round of voting across all 24 categories for the 2024 / 77th BAFTA Film Awards. These results are known as "the longlists." "Barbie," "Killers of the Flower Moon," and "Oppenheimer" all appeared on the longlist of 15 categories. The nominations will be announced Jan. 18th, and the winners will be announced Feb. 18th.

From AwardsWatch: The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Killers of the Flower Moon" won five awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Martin Scorsese), and "Best Actress" (Lily Gladstone).

From AwardsWatch: The Critics Association of Central Florida (CACF) has announced the winners of its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won 10 awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: U.K. Film Critics Association (UKFCA) has announced the winners of its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won three awards: "Best Film," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From Variety: The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild (MUAHS, IATSE Local 706) has announced nominations for the 11th MUAHS Guild Awards. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 led with five mentions in the film categories and ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" led with four in the television categories. The winners will be announced Sunday, February 18, 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The Nevada Film Critics Society has announced its 2023 film awards. "Oppenheimer" won five awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) has announced its 2023 film awards. Hayao's Miyazaki's anime film, "The Boy and the Heron" was named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) has announced its 2023 films awards. "American Fiction" won six awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Cord Jefferson), and Best Actor (Jeffrey Wright).

From AwardsWatch: The San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) has announced its 2023 film awards. Always trying to be difficult, it named "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" the "Best Picture." It named Martin Scorsese "Best Director" for "Killers of the Flower Moon."

From AwardsWatch: The Dublin Film Critics Circle has announced its 2023 film awards. "Past Lives" wins "Best Film" and "Best Director" (Celine Song)"

From AwardsWatch: The North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" wins five awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan).

From AwardsWatch: The Southeaster Film Critics Association (SEFCA) has announces its 2023 films awards. "Oppenheimer" won eight awards including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy).

From AwardsWatch: The Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) has announced its 2023 films awards. "Poor Things" won six awards, including "Best Pictuere," "Best Director" (Yorgos Lanthmos), "Best Actress" (Emma Stone"), and "Best Supporting Actor" (Mark Ruffalo).

From AwardsWatch: The Philadelphia Film Critics Circle (PFCC) has announced it 2023 film awards. "Poor Things" won four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Yorgos Lanthimos), and "Best Actress" (Emma Stone).

From AwardsWatch: The St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) has announced its 2023 awards. "Oppenheimer" won seven awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Christopher Nolan), and "Best Actor" (Cillian Murphy)

From AwardsWatch: The Phoenix Film Critics Society (PFCS) has named its 2023 film awards. "Killers of the Flower Moon" wins "Best Picture." Oppenheimer wins six, including "Best Director" for Christopher Nolan.

From AwardsWatch: The Dallas-Ft. Worth Film Critics Association (DFWFCA) has named its 2023 films awards. "The Holdovers" wins "Best Picture." "Oppenheimer" wins four, including "Best Director" for Christopher Nolan.

From AwardsWatch: The Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) have announced their 2023 film awards. "The Zone of Interest" wins "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (for Jonathan Glazer).

From AwardsWatch: The 2023 Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA) awards have been announced. "Killers of the Flower Moon" wins "Best Picture," one of two awards its won. "Oppenheimer" wins five, including a "Best Director" for Christopher Nolan.

From AwardsWatch: The nominations for the 2024 / 24th annual Black Reel Awards have been announced. "The Color Purple" leads with 19 nominations. The winners will be announced Jan. 16th, 2024.

From AwardsWatch: The Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC) has announced its 2023 film awards. "Past Lives" wins "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch: The New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) have named "Killers of the Flower Moon" the "Best Film" of 2023. Christopher Nolan wins "Best Director" for "Oppenheimer."

From AwardsWatch: The Las Vegas Film Critics Society have named "Oppenheimer" the "Best Picture" of 2023, with the film's director, Christopher Nolan, winning "Best Director."

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2023 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards have been announced. "Killers of the Flower Moon" wins "Best Picture," and Christopher Nolan wins "Best Director" for "Oppenheimer."

From THR: The winners at the 2023 / 49th annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards have been announced. The Holocaust historical drama, "The Zone of Interest," wins four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Jonathan Glazer), and "Best Actress" (Sandra Huller).

From AwardsWatch: The Las Vegas Film Critics have announced their 2023 LVFC Awards nominations. "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" are the leading vote getters. The winners will be announced Wed., Dec. 13th.

From THR: The winners at the 2023 European Film Awards have been announced. "Anatomy of a Fall" won five awards including for "Best Film," "Best Director" (Justine Triet), and "Best Actress" (Sandra Huller).

From AwardsWatch: The 2023 National Board of Review film honors have been announced. "Killers of the Flower Moon" won "Best Film," "Best Director" (Martin Scorsese), and "Best Actress" (Lily Gladstone).

From AwardsWatch: The American Film Institute (AFI) names its top ten films: American Fiction, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, May December, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Poor Things, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. It also names its top ten television series: Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Beef, Jury Duty, The Last of Us, The Morning Show, Only Murders in the Building, Poker Face, Reservation Dogs, and Succession.

From AwardsWatch: "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" lead the nominations for "Astra Film & Creative Arts Awards," which are put on by the "Hollywood Creative Alliance" (formerly known as the Hollywood Critics Association). The winners will be announced Jan. 6th, 2024 in Los Angeles.

From Deadline: At the 2023 / 26th British Independent Film Awards, director Andrew Haigh's "All of Us Strangers" won seven awards, including "Best British Independent Film."

From Variety: The winners at the 2023 / 89th New York Film Critics Circle Awards have been announced. "Killers of the Flower Moon" (directed by Martin Scorsese) was named "Best Film of 2023." Christopher Nolan won "Best Director" for his film, "Oppenheimer."

From Variety: The winners at the 2023 / 33rd Annual Gotham Awards were announced Mon., Nov. 27th. Writer-director Celine Song's South Korean romantic drama, "Past Lives" won the "Best Feature" award.

BEST PICTURE COUNT:

All of Us Strangers: 1

American Fiction: 3

Anatomy of a Fall: 2

Barbie: 2

The Boy and the Heron: 1

The Holdovers: 2

Killers of the Flower Moon: 9

Oppenheimer: 24

Past Lives: 9

Poor Things: 4

The Zone of Interest: 3

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

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from Feb. 1st to 10th, 2024 - Update #28

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From THR: Christian Bale will play Frankenstein in a film directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The Warner Bros. film is set in the 1930s and finds the monster traveling to the 1930s Chicago where a doctor will create a companion for him. Filming begins in the next few weeks.

TELEVISION - From Deadline: Emmy Award-winner Jon Cryer shoots down the possibility of a reboot of his former CBS sitcom, "Two and a Half Men."

ANIMATION - From TheWrap: It seems that Warner Bros. Discovery's plan all along was to kill the live-action/animation hybrid Looney Tunes film, "Coyote vs. Acme."

OSCARS - From THR: The Academy of Motion Pictures Art and Sciences (AMPAS) has announced that it will soon begin annually presenting an Oscar recognizing "achievement in casting." The award, which will first be presented in 2026, will be the first new Oscar introduced since the organization began presenting "best animated feature" in 2002, after announcing its creation in 2001.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Warner Bros. has won the deal for the untitled project from writer-producer-director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan that is based on an original script by Coogler. Coogler and Jordan first made their mark as a team on Fruitvale Station (2013) and later worked together on Creed (2015) and Black Panther (2018).

DISNEY - From Deadline: Taylor Swift's hit concert film, "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" will begin streaming on Disney+ March 15th and will feature five new songs.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Director David Leitch is in early talks to direct the next "Jurassic World" film, which is set to debut in theaters July2, 2025. Leitch is best known for such films as "John Wick" and "Bullet Train."

AMAZON - From Deadline: America Ferrera will make her directorial debut with "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter," which is based on Erika Sanchez's novel. The film was previously set up at Netflix, but is not at Amazon MGM Studios' Orion Pictures.

GRAMMYS - From Variety: The winners at the 2024 / 66th Annual Grammy Awards were announced. The top prize, "Album of the Year," went to "Midnights" by Taylor Swift.

From Deadline: With his daughter, Blue Ivy, at his side, Jay-Z called out the Grammys over Beyonce's lack of an "Album of the Year" award, all while accepting the "Dr. Dre Global Impact Award."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 2/2 to 2/4/2024 weekend box office in Universal Pictures' "Argylle" with an estimated take of 18 million dollars.

BUSINESS - From Afrotech: Actress and writer-producer, Issa Rae, says that she has secured money from investors to open a studio that will create opportunities for creators.

MOVIES - From Collider: Actress Nico Parker will play "Astrid" in the live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation's Oscar-nominated hit, How to Train Your Dragon. However, she believes the film will be its "own film, and its own interpretation."

ANIMATION/TRAILER - From SlashFilm: There is a trailer for "Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin." It debuts on Apple TV+ on Feb. 16th.

MOVIES - From Variety: Jim Carrey will reprise his role as "Dr. Robotnik" in "Sonic the Hedgehog 3." He played the role in "Sonic the Hedgehog" (2020) and "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" (2022).

TELEVISION - From Variety: Actor Sam Waterson is leaving NBC's long-running legal drama, "Law & Order" after 400+ episodes as Assistant D.A. and later District Attorney "Jack McCoy." Waterson's last episode will air Thurs., Feb. 22nd. He joined the series in 1994. Actor Tony Goldwyn will replace him.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Actor and filmmaker, Donnie Yen, will star in "Kung Fu," an adaptation of the former ABC martial arts/Western drama television series, "Kung Fu" (1972-75). David Leitch is set to direct.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Brad Pitt is reunited with Quentin Tarantino for his final film, "The Film Critic," which is due in 2025. Pitt has starred in Inglourious Basterds (2009) and won an Oscar for his performance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

MUSIC/SPORTS - From NewYorkTimes: Fox News demands that Grammy Award-winning superstar, Taylor Swift, stay out of politics as they fear that she will endorse President Joe Biden... again.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Tim Burton is set to direct a re-imagining of the 1958 Warner Bros.'s film, "The Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman," with Gillian Flynn ("Gone Girl") writing the script.

ANIMATION/STREAMING - From ScreenRant: Peacock has announced a direct sequel to the DreamWorks Animation's 2010 film, Megamind. Peacock released a trailer for "Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate," which will begin streaming on Peacock March 1st. Debuting the same day on Peacock is an eight-episode animated series, "Megamind Rules!"

MOVIES - From AwardsWatch: Sony Pictures Classics announced that it has acquired all rights in North America, the Middle East, India, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand to Pedro Almodóvar’s upcoming first English-language feature film, The Room Next Door. Starring Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, and John Turturro and produced by Almodóvar’s El Deseo, the film will begin shooting March (2024) in New York and Madrid.

STREAMING - From Deadline: Apple TV+'s "Ted Lasso" was the most watched streaming original series in 2023, according to Nielsen. However, the most streamed title of the year was USA'S former legal drama, "Suits" (2011-19) with 57.7 billion viewing minutes.

OBITS:

From Variety: Country singer-songwriter and recording artist and actor, Toby Keith, has died at the age of 62, Monday, February 5, 2024. Keith recorded 19 studio albums, many reaching No. 1 on both the "Billboard 200" album chart and Billboard's "Top Country Album" chart. Keith had 20 No. 1 sings on Billboard's "Hot Country Songs" chart, including the most played country song of the 1990s, "Should've Been a Cowboy." Keith was also a seven-time Grammy Award nominee. Keith starred in two films, "Broken Bridges" (2006) and "Beer for My Horses" (2008), which he wrote.

From Variety: Film and television actor and TV director, Carl Weathers, has died at the age of 76, Thursday, February 1, 2024. Weathers is best known for the character, "Apollo Creed," which he first played in the Oscar-winning "Best Picture," "Rocky" (1976), and in "Rocky II" (1979), "Rocky III" (1982), and "Rocky IV" (1985). Other best known appearances include Predator (1987), "Action Jackson" (1988), and "Happy Gilmore" (1996). Weathers directed episodes of several TV series, including CBS' "FBI," NBC's "Chicago Med" and "Law & Order." Weathers directed two episodes of the Disney+ series, "The Mandalorian." Weathers also appeared in 9 episodes of "The Mandalorian" over its three seasons as "Greef Karga," which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in the category of "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series" in 2021. Weathers also played professional football for the NFL's Oakland Raiders and CFL's BC Lions.

From Deadline: Carl Weathers, his career in photos, from "Rocky" to "Predator" and "The Mandalorian."

From LATimes: "Everyone loved him," Sylvester Stallone, Adam Sandler, and other co-star speak on the late actor and director, Carl Weathers.

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

From Deadline: Film and television actor, William O'Connell, has died at the age of 94, Monday, January 15, 2024. O'Connell played the memorable "Star Trek" villain, "Thelev the Andorian," in the second season episode, "Journey to Babel" (Nov. 17th, 1967). He appeared in several films with Clint Eastwood, including "High Plains Drifter" (1972) and "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976). O'Connell was a Korean War veteran who received the "Bronze Star," among other decorations.

AWARDS:

From THR: Key award season dates leading up to the 2024 / 96th Academy Awards, which are Sunday, March 10th, 2024.

From Variety: The nominations for the 2024 / 77th EE BAFTA Film Awards have been announced. "Oppenheimer" leads with 13 nominations, and "Poor Things" follows with 11 nominations. The winners will be announced Feb. 18th.

From Variety: The Producers Guild of America has announced the nominees for the 2024 / 35th annual Producers Guild Awards. For the first time in the history of the awards, two international films, "Anatomy of a Fall" and "The Zone of Interest," have made been nominated in the PGA's top category, "Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures." The winners will be announced Feb. 25th.

From Deadline: The Screen Actors Guild nominations for the 2024 / 30th annual SAG Awards have announced. "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" leads the film side of things with four nominations apiece. The winners will be announced Saturday, Feb. 24th.

From Variety: The Directors Guild of America has announced the nominations for the 2024 / 76th DGA Awards. In the top category, "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film of 2023," the nominees are Greta Gerwig for "Barbie," Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer,” Martin Scorsese for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Yorgos Lanthimos for “Poor Things,” and Alexander Payne for “The Holdovers.” The winners will be announced Feb. 10th.

From AwardsWatch: The London Critics Circle announced the winners of its 44th annual film awards. "The Zone of Interest" won three awards, including "Film of the Year" and "Best Director" (Jonathan Glazer).