"Barbie" Heads to IMAX Screens for Special Event Sept 22nd

 

Think Pink! Tickets Go On Sale Today for “Barbie” as the Year’s #1 Film Heads to IMAX® for 7 Days Only

Audiences who get tickets for the limited engagement beginning September 22 will also see a special address from history-making director Greta Gerwig, along with all-new footage selected just for the IMAX experience

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tickets are on sale now for the limited one-week run of “Barbie” in IMAX®, beginning September 22, 2023 on IMAX screens across North America and in select international markets. The announcement was made today by Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution, and Andrew Cripps, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

As a special treat for IMAX audiences only, a special greeting from director Greta Gerwig will play before the film, and exclusive post-credit footage, selected by Gerwig, will follow. The announcement was made today by Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution, and Andrew Cripps, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Goldstein and Cripps said, “We really wanted to super-serve all the fans out there who made this the Summer of ‘Barbie’ in every way imaginable, and we couldn’t think of a better way than to serve up the biggest film of 2023 and the biggest Warner Bros. film of all time on the biggest, most experiential screens around. Thanks to our terrific partners at IMAX and our incredible director, Greta Gerwig, we went a step further and are offering audiences an added incentive with this special post-credits footage. We encourage moviegoers everywhere, whether they’ve seen ‘Barbie’ or not, to see it in IMAX for a can’t-miss moment in film history.”

To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken.

From Oscar-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig (“Little Women,” “Lady Bird”) comes “Barbie,” starring Oscar nominees Margot Robbie (“Bombshell,” “I, Tonya”) and Ryan Gosling (“La La Land,” “Half Nelson”) as Barbie and Ken, alongside America Ferrera (“End of Watch,” the “How to Train Your Dragon” films), Kate McKinnon (“Bombshell,” “Yesterday”), Issa Rae (“The Photograph,” HBO’s “Insecure”), Rhea Perlman (“I’ll See You in My Dreams,” “Matilda”), and Will Ferrell (the “Anchorman” films, “Talladega Nights”). The film also stars Michael Cera (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” “Juno”), Ariana Greenblatt (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “65”), Ana Cruz Kayne (“Little Women”), Emma Mackey (“Emily,” “Sex Education”), Hari Nef (“Assassination Nation,” “Transparent”), Alexandra Shipp (the “X-Men” films), Kingsley Ben-Adir (“One Night in Miami,” “Peaky Blinders”), Simu Liu (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”), Ncuti Gatwa (“Sex Education”), Scott Evans (“Grace and Frankie”), Jamie Demetriou (“Cruella”), Connor Swindells (“Sex Education,” “Emma.”), Sharon Rooney (“Dumbo,” “Jerk”), Nicola Coughlan (“Bridgerton,” “Derry Girls”), Ritu Arya (“The Umbrella Academy”), Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Dua Lipa and Oscar-winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”).

Gerwig directed “Barbie” from a screenplay by Gerwig & Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story,” “The Squid and the Whale”), based on Barbie by Mattel. The film’s producers are Oscar nominees David Heyman (“Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood,” “Marriage Story,” “Gravity”), Margot Robbie (“Birds of Prey,” “Promising Young Woman,” “I, Tonya”), Tom Ackerley (“Promising Young Woman,” “I, Tonya”) and Robbie Brenner (“Dallas Buyers Club”), with Gerwig, Baumbach, Ynon Kreiz, Richard Dickson, Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich and Cate Adams serving as executive producers.

Gerwig’s creative team behind the camera included Oscar-nominated director of photography Rodrigo Prieto (“The Irishman,” “Silence,” “Brokeback Mountain”), Oscar-nominated production designer Sarah Greenwood (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Anna Karenina”), Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran (“Little Women,” “Anna Karenina”), editor Nick Houy (“Little Women,” “Lady Bird”), visual effects supervisor Glen Pratt (“Paddington 2,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and music supervisor George Drakoulias (“White Noise,” “Marriage Story”), with a score by Oscar winners Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt (“A Star Is Born”), who also contributed to numerous songs on the film’s soundtrack. The soundtrack includes an impressive roster of today’s hottest music artists, including Lizzo, Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice with Aqua, Charli XCX, KAROL G feat. Aldo Ranks, Tame Impala, Dominic Fike, HAIM, The Kid LAROI, Khalid, PinkPantheress, GAYLE, Ava Max, FIFTY FIFTY and more.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a Heyday Films Production, a LuckyChap Entertainment Production, an NB/GG Pictures Production, a Mattel Production, “Barbie.” The film is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 1st to 8th, 2023 - Update #19

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Damson Idris, star of FX's "Snowfall," has been chosen to co-star with Brad Pitt in Apple Studios, Joseph Kosinki, and Jerry Bruckheimer's F1 racing movie.

STAR WARS - From THR:  Disney announces new "Star Wars" films, including one starring Daisy Ridley and directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

MOVIES - From THR:  The film critics at "The Hollywood Reporter" pick the "50 Best Films of the 21st Century (So Far)."

SCANDAL - From Deadline:  Irving Cartagena, the drug dealer who sold actor Michael K. Williams the drugs that killed him in 2021, has pleaded guilty to “one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl analogue, fentanyl, and heroin.”  He will serve a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Emmy-winner Donald Glover has revealed that Malia Obama, the elder daughter of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, is developing a short film via  his production company, "Gilga."

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney+ has unveiled "Pauline," a German original about a teenager who falls in love with the devil from the team behind Netflix’s "How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)."

TRUMP - From Truthout:  Today, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, former President Donald Trump was formally arraigned by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in New York City, making him the first former president to be indicted in United States history.

From ManhattanDA:  Read the full indictment of Donald J. Trump in PDF form from the Manhanttan District Attorney's website.

From Truthout:  Former President Donald Trump and his ratchet campaign are leveraging misinformation and anti-Jewish conspiracy theories to turn the media circus around his indictment in New York into a cash cow. 

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Warner Bros. has unleashed "Barbie" movie posters.  The Greta Gerwig-directed film stars Margot Robbie as "Barbie" and Ryan Gosling as "Ken" and is due July 21, 2023.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Recent Oscar-nominee, Austin Butler ("Elvis"), will play crime boss, "Danny Ryan," in Sony 3000 Pictures' film adaptation of Don Winslow's 2022 novel, "City on Fire."

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Director Michael Mann is considering "Heat 2," as his next film. It would be a sequel to his 1995 classic, "Heat."  Mann is currently in post-production on his current film, "Ferrari," which stars Adam Driver, the possible lead in "Heat 2"

DISNEY - From Variety:  Disney is set to make a live-action remake of its 2016 animated film, "Moana."  Dwayne Johnson, who made the announcement and performed a voice role in the original, is set to return for the remake.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 3/31 to 4/2/2023 weekend box office is Paramount Pictures' "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" with an estimated gross of 38.5 million dollars.

From Variety:  "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" opens with 33 millions dollars at the international box office.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The BBC is cancelling its hit comedy, "Ghosts," after its upcoming fifth season.  The series was remade as CBS' hit comedy, "Ghosts."

OBITS:

From Variety:  Japanese composer and record producer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, has died at the age of 71, Tuesday, March 28, 2023.  He won an Oscar with David Byrne and Cong Su for composing the music for the film, "The Last Emperor" (1987). His film music also won him a two Golden Globes, a BAFTA, and a Grammy Award.  He also composed the music for such films as "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence," "The Sheltering Sky" (1990), "Little Buddha" (1993), and "The Revenant" (2015).  With his band, "Yellow Magic Orchestra," he was a pioneer in several electronic music genres.

From THR:  Television producer, N'Neka Garland, has died at the age of 49, Monday, March 27, 2023.  She was best known for her 22-year association with the daytime TV soap opera, "General Hospital."  She began as an assistant to veteran producer, Jill Farren Phelps, but she eventually worked her way up to series producer.  In 2021, she shared a Daytime Emmy award win for "Outstanding Drama Series," after being nominated in that category the previous two years.  Garland was also the half-sister of the late hip-hop and rap legend, Tupac Shakur.

From THR:  Animator and animation filmmaker, Leo D. Sullivan, has died at the age of 82, Saturday, March 25, 2023.  Sullivan was a groundbreaking African-American animator and a pioneer in Black animation.  Sullivan also was a writer, producer, director, layout artist and storyboard artist at studios including Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros., Filmation, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, DIC Entertainment and Marvel Productions.  He worked on TV series featuring such characters as Scooby-Doo, Fat Albert, and the Animanicas, to name a few.  Sullivan also helped animated the original locomotive and graphics for the syndicated music series, "Soul Train."  Sullivan co-founded the first Black-owned animation production company, Vignette Films.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 24th to 31st, 2022 - Update #18

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 7/29 to 7/31/2022 weekend box office is "DC League of Super-Pets" with an estimated domestic take of 23 million dollars.

SCANDAL - From Deadline:  Oscar-winner Will Smith releases new video in which he apologizes to Chris Rock for slapping him during this year's Oscars telecast.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  HBO Max is pulling back on live-action kids and family programming.  Thus, it will not review the 1980's coming-of-age comedy, "The Gordita Chronicles" for a second season.

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Alfonso Cuaron are among the people behind "Jane," a film about the family life of the one of the 20th century's greatest and most influential authors, Philip K. Dick, who works inspired the "Blade Runner" films.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  MGM is developing "Drago," a spin-off of the "Creed" film series.  Robert Lawton is writing.

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Netflix, Anthony & Joe Russo, and star Ryan Gosling are already plotting a sequel to "The Gray Man," the recently released streaming film that may have set some streaming records.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Writer, producer, and comic book creator, Rodney Barnes, has extended his overall deal with HBO for another three years and will continue to develop, write and produce under his "Rodney Barnes Productions" banner.  Barnes most recently co-wrote 9 of the 10 episodes of HBO'S prestige miniseries, "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty," and executive produced it.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 7/22 to 7/24/2022 weekend box office is director Jordan Peele's "Nope" with an estimated take of 44 million dollars.

From Here:  Negromancer's review of "Nope."

SDCC/MARVEL STUDIOS - From Variety:  Finally, there is a trailer for and some details about Disney/Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," which is due in theaters, November 11, 2022.

From IGN:  This article has "everything announced at the Marvel Studios San Diego Comic-Con 2022 Panel."

OBITS:

From NYTimes:  Former professional basketball player and NBA legend, Bill Russell, has died at the age of 88, Sunday, July 31, 2022.  He played for the Boston Celtics from 1956-69, the team that drafted him.  Russell was an 11-time NBA champion (including 2 when he was a player-coach), 5-time league MVP, 2-time NCAA champ (University of San Francisco), Olympic gold medalist (1956 Melbourne Games).  He was the first Black head coach of any North American pro sports team (Celtics, 1966-69), and he received Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011

From Variety:  Actress, singer, dancer, icon, and role model, Nichelle Nichols, has died at the age of 89, Saturday night, July 30, 2022.  Nichols was best known for playing communications officer, "Uhura," on the original "Star Trek" (1966-69) television series.  Uhura was a groundbreaking role for African-American actresses.  From 1977 until 2015, Nichols volunteered her time to promote NASA's programs, and to recruit diverse astronauts, including women and ethnic minorities.

From Deadline:  Stage, film, and television actress, Mary Alice, has died Wednesday, July 27, 2022.  Her age has been reported as being from 80 to 86, depending upon her actual date of birth.  Her best known film roles were as "Effie" in the 1976 film, "Sparkle," and as "The Oracle" in 2003's "The Matrix Revolutions."  She won a Tony Award for playing "Rose" in the play, "Fences" (1987-88).  Among her best known television roles were on the former NBC TV series, "A Different World" and on NBC's "I'll Fly Away," for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award.

From Deadline:  Former child star and television actor and director, Tony Dow, has died at the age of 77, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, following a battle with cancer.  Dow was best known for the role of "Wally Cleaver," the older brother of "Theodore 'Beaver' Cleaver," in the former CBS/ABC series, "Leave it to Beaver" (1957-63).  He reprised the role in the series "The New Leave it to Beaver" (The Disney Channel, 1984-85; Superstation WTBS, 1986-89).

From Deadline:  Film and television actor, Paul Sorvino, has died at the age of 83, Monday, July 25, 2022.  The prolific Sorvino appeared in many notable films, including "Reds" (1981), "Goodfellas" (1990), "The Rocketeer" (1991), and "Nixon" (1995), to name a few.  He also appeared in the early seasons of NBC's "Law & Order" and had a role on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."  Sorvino was the father of a son, Michael Sorvino, and of an Oscar-winning actress, Mira Sorvino.

From BBC:  English film, television, and theatre actor, David Warner, has died at the age of 80, Sunday, July 24, 2022.  He appeared in two "Star Trek" films and in the TV series, "Star Trek: The Next Generation."  A prolific actor, he appeared in many notable and popular films, including "Straw Dogs" (1971), "The Omen" (1976), "Titanic" (1987), and "Mary Poppins Returns" (2018).  An English Jew, Warner was Emmy-nominated for his role in the 1978 NBC miniseries, "Holocaust" and won an Emmy for his role in the 1981 ABC miniseries, "Masada."

From THR:  Film director, writer, and producer, Bob Rafelson, has died at the age of 89, Saturday, July 23, 2022.  He is best known for his work with actor, Jack Nicholson, having collaborated with him on seven films.  He directed Nicholson on "Head" (1968) and "Five Easy Pieces" (1970) and produced "Easy Rider," in which Nicholson was a supporting actor.  Rafelson was also one of the creators of the pop group, "The Monkees" and of the TV series that featured them.  He won a Primetime Emmy for his work on "The Monkees" (1966-68) TV series, and was nominated for two Oscars for his work on "Five Easy Pieces."

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BRITTNEY GRINER:

From ESPN:  The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

From RSN:  "Will Support From LeBron James, Joe Rogan, Kim Kardashian, and Other Celebrities Help Free Brittney Griner From a Russian Prison?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar via Substack

From ESPN:  Detained WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty on Thursday to bringing hashish oil into Russia, telling a judge that she had done so "inadvertently" while asking the court for mercy.

From CBSSports:  The Brittney Griner situation explained.

From RSN:  According to The Washington Post Editorial Board: "Brittney Griner is a hostage, plain and simple.

UVALDE, TEXAS MASS SHOOTING:

From YahooAP:  An 18-year-old gunman slaughtered 19 children and two teachers on Tues., May 24th, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas.  All 21 victims were in the same 4th grade classroom at Robb Elementary.

From TexasTribune:  The Texas House of Representatives has released its "Robb Elementary Investigative Committee Report," concerning the massacre of 19 children at two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. They found that the "systematic failures" went far beyond the local police.

From RSN:  At a school board meeting, parents in Uvalde Texas demanded better school security and also demanded that Uvalde schools police Chief Pete Arredondo be fired.

From TheDailyBeast:  Texas's top law enforcement official, Department of Public Safety Director Steve McGraw, has said that the school shooter in Uvalde, Texas could have been taken down in three minutes.

From TheDailyBeast:  Police officers responding to last month’s mass shooting at an Uvalde, Texas, elementary school never even tried to open the door to the classroom where young children were trapped with the gunman, according to a new report. 

From Jacobin:  "The Uvalde Massacre has exposed the lies that once justified police militarization" by Branko Marcetic

From Truthout:  We don’t need more evidence that police can’t be trusted.

From Truthout:   44 percent of GOP voters view mass shootings as part of living in “Free Society”

From ABCNews:  Arnulfo Reyes, a teacher who survived the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, calls the local police "cowards" because of slow response to an active shooter at his school, Robb Elementary.  All of 11 students in his class were killed.

From DallasNews:  Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, one of the two teachers killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, has died of a heart attack two days after the murder of his wife.  They had been married for 24 years and had been high school sweethearts.

From Axios:  Texas gubernatorial candidate, Beto O'Rourke, interrupted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's gaslighting press conference on the Uvalde elementary school mass shooting.

From USAToday:  Beto O'Rourke's outburst at Gov. Greg Abbott's Uvalde news conference shows the spine Democrats need.

From BostonGlobe:  Steve Kerr, head coach of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, asks "When are we going to do something?"

From NBCNews:  A Robb Elementary teacher describes "the longest 35 minutes of my life" and the terror she now feels.

From NBCNews:  The Uvalde school district had an extensive safety plan, but 19 children were killed at Robb Elementary anyway.  Even security plans that appear to be up to the latest research-based standards may have gaps and fall short of preventing the worst-case scenario, experts said.

From MSN:  Angeli Rose Gomez, the mother who was handcuffed outside Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, was able to get inside the school and rescue her two children.

From YahooNews:   Daniel Defense, the maker of the rifles used by the Uvalde massacre killer, has used "incendiary ads" in the past, including one in which a toddler holds one of its rifles.

From TheIntercept:  The police aren't obligated to protect anyone NOT in their custody, as the Supreme Court has ruled twice.

From RollingStone:  Right wing lies about the Second Amendment and why they tell them are killing America's childrne.

From Vice:  The law enforcement personnel in Texas that arrived at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas on Tues., May 24th did the opposite of what their own training documentary videos show.

From Vox:  Uvalde police keep changing their story.

From TheDailyBeast:  The families in Uvalde, Texas who lost loved one in the Robb Elementary massacre say that the cops there are "Nothing more than cowards" and that they need to pay for doing nothing while a gunman rampaged through the school last Tues, May 24th.

From TheNewYorker:  Thoughts and prayers, Uvalde, Texas. This is the America that Republicans and the right wing have being thinking about and praying for all these decades.

From ABC:  Sources say that Uvalde police and school district no longer cooperating with Texas probe of shooting of the May 24th massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

From GuardianUK:  Canada plans to freeze all handgun ownership.

From RSNWashPost:  Is it time to show the true horror of mass shooting - in pictures?

From MSN:  Angeli Gomez, the Uvalde mother who rescued her two children from the Robb Elementary shooting massacre, says that a police officer threatened to arrest her if she did not stop telling her story.

From RSNTheAtlantic:  The Uvalde police chose dishonor. Where was there courage?

From RSNWashPost:  Brenda Bell:  I hid from the Texas Tower sniper (Charles Joseph Whitman) in 1966. His successors have found us all.

From RSNTheIntercept:  "AR-15s Were Made to Explode Human Bodies. In Uvalde, the Bodies Belonged to Children" by Murtaza Hussain

From RSNNPR:  The tragic history of police responding too late to active shooters.

From VICE:  There is likely bodycam footage of the school shooting in Uvalde, TX, but the public may never see it.

Review: "LA LA LAND" Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda Been Great

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 40 of 2022 (No. 1852) by Leroy Douresseaux

La La Land (2016)
Running time:  128 minutes (2 hours, 8 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for some language
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Damien Chazelle
PRODUCERS:  Fred Berger, Gary Gilbert, Jordan Horowitz, and Marc Platt
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Linus Sandgren (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Tom Cross
COMPOSER:  Justin Hurwitz
SONGS: Justin Hurwitz and Pasek & Paul; Justin Hurwitz, John Legend, Marius de Vries and Angelique Cinelu
Academy Award winner

MUSICAL/DRAMA

Starring:  Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons, and John Legend

La La Land is a 2016 romantic film and musical drama written and directed by Damien Chazelle.  The film focuses on a struggling jazz pianist and an aspiring actress who fall in love while navigating their career paths in Los Angeles.

La La Land opens in Los Angeles, California.  While stuck in a typical L.A. traffic, aspiring actress, Mia Dolan (Emma Stone), has a moment of road rage directed at Sebastian “Seb” Wilder (Ryan Gosling), a struggling jazz pianist.  Mia has a hard day of work at her coffee shop job, and her subsequent audition goes awry.  Sebastian is fired from a gig at a restaurant after he slips in some jazz improvisation despite the owner's (J.K. Simmons) warning to only play traditional Christmas music.  Attracted to the Seb's music, Mia walks into the restaurant and witnesses the firing.  She tries to compliment his music, but Seb rudely walks past her.

Eventually, Fate brings them together at a party.  Soon, they are sharing their dreams and start becoming a couple.  Both have to reconcile their aspirations for the future, however, and as their career paths veer, can they stay a couple?

La La Land almost won the Academy Award for “Best Picture,” but didn't.  La La Land could have been a great film, but it really isn't.  The film's leads, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, are fine actors, and they are true movie stars.  [I don't see anything in Stone's performance here that is worthy of the “Best Actress” Oscar she won.]  The camera seems to love them, and they look great on the big screen – as the sayings go – but as hard as they try, their characters are limp.  Stone's Mia has potential, but remains surprisingly vapid, except for a few moments.  Sebastian is pretentious and insufferable, although he is intriguing.

The material that makes up this film's screenplay, written by Damien Chazelle, is a shallow interpretation of the musicals of “old Hollywood” (also known as the “Golden Age of Hollywood”).  Chazelle may be a fan of such old musicals, but his love cannot recreate the genuine spirit and aesthetic of them.  If you, dear readers, are familiar with classic Hollywood musicals, you will recognize that this film ties to be old-fashioned, but comes across as a pretender.

The film's score is quite good, and it has one great song “City of Stars” (which keeps playing in my head).  Most of the rest of the songs are technically proficient, but are exceedingly dull.  There is one more decent song (can't remember which one) and a catchy tune, “Catch a Fire,” co-written and performed by John Legend.

Still, La La Land has moments of brilliance.  Mia and Sebastian's meeting on a bench at Griffith Park is filled with movie magic, and the film's final moment recalls the semi-tragic mood of Casablanca.  The production values are terrific, including the Oscar-winning art direction and set decoration, and the Oscar-winning cinematography is some of the prettiest I have seen in the last decade.  Even the Oscar-nominated costume design is worthy of a win.

I can see why Barry Jenkins' Moonlight wowed enough voters to win the Oscar for “Best Picture” of 2016 over La La Land.  Moonlight is a fascinating character study, while La La Land is flashy cinematic bauble with caricatures.  It is technically proficient, but every good moment is met by a flat and dull moment.  La La Land is the film that could have been great, and should have been great, but ended up being just very good.

7 of 10
B+
★★★½ out of 4 stars


NOTES:
2017 Academy Awards, USA:  6 wins: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” (Emma Stone), “Best Achievement in Directing” (Damien Chazelle), “Best Achievement in Cinematography” (Linus Sandgren), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Score” (Justin Hurwitz), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Song” (Justin Hurwitz-music and Benj Pasek-lyrics and Justin Paul-lyrics for the song, “City of Stars”), and “Best Achievement in Production Design” (David Wasco for production design and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco for set decoration); 8 nominations: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, and Marc Platt), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role” (Ryan Gosling), “Best Original Screenplay” (Damien Chazelle), “Best Achievement in Film Editing” (Tom Cross), “Best Achievement in Costume Design” (Mary Zophres), “Best Achievement in Sound Mixing” (Andy Nelson, Ai-Ling Lee, and Steven Morrow), “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Ai-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou), and “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Song” (Justin Hurwitz-music and Benj Pasek-lyrics and Justin Paul-lyrics for the song, “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)”)

2017 BAFTA Awards:  5 wins: “Best Film” (Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, and Marc Platt), “Best Leading Actress” (Emma Stone), “Best Cinematography” (Linus Sandgren), “Original Music” (Justin Hurwitz), and “David Lean Award for Direction” (Damien Chazelle); 6 nominations: “Best Leading Actor” (Ryan Gosling), “Best Screenplay-Original” (Damien Chazelle), “Best Editing” (Tom Cross), “Best Production Design” (Sandy Reynolds-Wasco and David Wasco), “Best Costume Design” (Mary Zophres), and “Best Sound” (Mildred Iatrou, Ai-Ling Lee, Steven Morrow, and Andy Nelson)

2017 Golden Globes, USA:  7 wins: “Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy,” “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Ryan Gosling), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Emma Stone), “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Damien Chazelle), “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Damien Chazelle), “Best Original Song-Motion Picture” (Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul for the song: “City of Stars”), and “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (Justin Hurwitz)

Saturday, July 2, 2022


The text is copyright © 2022 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 July 12th to 18th, 2020 - Update #20

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:

NETFLIX - From Variety:  Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling are set to star in "The Gray Man," a 200 million dollar thriller from Netflix.  "Avengers" filmmakers, brother Joe and Anthony Russo, will direct from a script by Joe and “Endgame” screenwriters. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.  The goal is to create a franchise and create a universe from that.

COMIC BOOKS - From USAToday:  A-list actor Keanu Reeves is now a superstar comic book creator.  He is writing "BRZRKR," which Alessandro Vitti will drawn and BOOM! Studios will publish.  This article has some preview art from the series.

TELEVISION - From ShadowandAct:  NBC has set "Home Sweet Home," an unscripted "social experiment" series from filmmaker Ava DuVernay and Warner Bros. TV.

POLITICS - From MotherJones:  Senator Jeff Sessions political career goes out in a blaze Ku Klux Klan glory.

CELEBRITY - From VanityFair:  Oscar and Emmy-winning actress Viola Davis is the cover feature on the new issue of "Vanity Fair."  For the first time in the venerable magazine's history, an African-American photographer photographs an African-American cover subject (Viola Davis).

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Fox New personality Tucker Carlson expressed some fury on the Mon., July 13th edition of his show, "Tucker Carlson Tonight."  Carlson is angry that people are happy that his head writer, the African-American-hating, LGBTQ-hating, woman-hating Blake Neff, resigned from the show after Neff's penchant for anonymously posting his hate online was revealed by CNN.

BREAKING NEWS - From TMZ:  The body of former "Glee" actress, Naya Rivera, has reportedly been found and removed from Lake Piru in Ventura County, California.  She had been missing since a Wed, July 8th boat outing with her four-year old son.

From YahooNews:  Naya Rivera "Mustered Enough Energy: to Get Son on Boat but 'Not Enough to Save Herself': says Police
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STAR TREK - From Deadline:  There is key art and a trailer for the animated comedy "Star Trek: Lower Decks."  The series debuts August 6, 2020 on the streaming service, CBS All Access.

TELEVISION - From EW:  Matthew Cherry is turning his Oscar-winning animated short film, "Hair Love," into "Young Love," a 12-episode animate series for HBO Max.

LITERATURE - From Deadline:  Stephen King’s latest bestselling four novella collection, "If It Bleeds," has quickly garnered three option deals.  A fourth option needs some extra deal-making because it involves a preexisting character htat just starred in an HBO series adaptation.

OBITS:

From CNNPolitics:  Iconic American Civil Rights Movement leader, Congresmman John Lewis (D-Georgia), has died at the age of 80, Friday, July 17, 2020.  Lewis was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and he was one of the "Big Six" leaders of the groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington.  Lewis played many key roles in the movement, including being one of the original 1961 Freedom Riders.

From CNN:  Iconic American Civil Rights Movement leader and minister, C.T. Vivian, has died at the age of 95, Friday, July 17, 2020.  Among the many important things he did and in which he participated, the images of him being beaten by Alabama sheriff, Jim Clark, helped galvanize wider support for the Civil Rights movement.  In 1961, Vivian also participated in the "Freedom Rides."

From THR:  The TV and film actress, Galyn Gorg, has died at the age of 55, Tuesday, July 14, 2020. George appeared in a number of TV series as a star and as a guest star, including "Twin Peaks," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, "Star Trek: Voyager" and "M.A.N.T.I.S," to name a few.  She has memorable supporting role in the 1990 film, "RoboCop 2" as "Angie" an ambitious bad girl addicted to the drug "Nuke."

From THR:  Roboticist, electrical engineer, and TV personality, Grant Imahara, has died at the age of 49, Monday, July 13, 2020.  Imahara was known for TV series, "MythBusters" and "White Rabbit Project."  He also worked for Lucasfilm for over a decade.

From Deadline:  The body of actress, model and singer, Naya Rivera, has been found.  She has died at the age of 33.  Rivera began her television acting career on the short-lived series, "The Royal Family" (1991-92, CBS).  Rivera was best known for the role of "Santana Lopez" on the FOX TV series, "Glee" (2009-15).  The "Deadline" link connects to the site's page dedicated to articles about Naya Rivera.

From Deadline:  The film and TV actress Kelly Preston has died at the age of 57, Sunday, July 12, 2020.  She was best known for her roles in such films as "Twins" (1988) and "Jerry Maguire" (1996).  Preston was also married to Oscar-nominated actor, John Travolta.

BLACK LIVES MATTER NEWS:

From RSN:  The four corners of police violence

From TheIntercept:  Black Lives Matter Wants to End Police Brutality. History Suggests It Will Go Much Further.

From YahooNews:  "The Confederacy of California": life in the valley where Robert Fuller was found hanged

From CNN:  Colorado police officers involved in the death of Elijah McClain reassigned for safety reasons.

From Truthout: " Three North Carolina Police Fired for Racist Rants, Threats to Kill Black People" - and what they said is crazy and scary

From Truthout: Bryant Gumbel Gives Powerful Commentary on the 'Black Tax,' the 'Added Burden' of Being Black

From YahooEntertainment:  Oscar-nominated songwriter and Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Ray Parker, Jr., may be best known for writing the theme to the film, "Ghostbusters," but when he was a teenager, Parker was beaten by Detroit police officers.

From RSNewYorker:  Jelani Cobb: An American Spring of Reckoning.

From NBCNews:  Baton Rouge, LA activist, Gary Chambers, makes an impassioned speech about changing the name of Robert E. Lee High School in Baton Rouge.

From YahooNews:  Racial violence and a pandemic: How the Red Summer of 1919 relates to 2020

From DemocracyNow:   Fear Grows of Modern-Day Lynchings as Five People of Color Are Found Hanged

From NYPost:  Caramel, Indiana Catholic priest suspended for comparing Black Lives Matters activists to maggots.

From NBCNews:   NYPD is disbanding a unit that is the 'last chapter' of stop-and-frisk

From YahooLifestyle:  A history of the "Karen."


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 NPR:  A sad milestone: over 100,000 American have died due to COVID-19.

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 Truthout:  Trump Moves to End Federal Support for Testing Sites Amid Record COVID Spikes

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.

7/15 - From Truthout:  Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) becomes the first governor known to test positive for COVID-19, a pandemic he initially treated with skepticim.

7/16 - From YahooInsider:  This California woman's actions inside a Starbucks concerning wearing masks is indicative of a particular side of the American character.

7/17 - From YahooNews:  A 37-year-old U.S. Army veteran who went viral for not wanting to wear a mask... has died of complications of COVID-19.


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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from June 1st to 6th, 2020 - Update #26

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

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 NPR:  A sad milestone: over 100,000 American have died due to COVID-19.

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 YahooEntertainment:  In the ongoing saga of Broadway star Nick Cordero's battle against coronavirus/COVID-19, his wife, Amanda Kloots, has been told to say goodbye to him.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:

SPORTS - From YahooNews:  PGA pro (Justin Riegel, 38) dies in on-course accident; here's how you can help his family

MOVIES - From DigitalSpy:  Director Ridley Scott teases a new film in his "Alien" franchise.

RACE-SPORTS - From People:  Retired NFL tight end Martellus Bennett says that the NFL is racist and is build on the back of black athletes.

BLM-CELEBRITY - From IndieWire:  Jordan Peele, Edgar Wright, and Guillermo del Toro are among the directors supporting actor John Boyega ("Star Wars") in the wake of his June 3rd "Black Lives Matter" speech in London.  He'll have work as an actor.

BLM-MOVIES - From IndieWire: 10 films to watch in support of Black Liberation

CELEBRITY - From YahooDS:  The autopsy of "Twilight" actor, Gregory Tyree Boyce, has been made public.  Boyce and his girlfriend, Natalie Adepoju, were found dead in their apartment back around May 18th.  Their deaths were ruled accidental.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Filmmaker Jamal Trulove, breakout star of "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," talks about George Floyd, his new docu-series, and spending six years in prison after the police framed him for murder.

MOVIES - From GamesRadar:  Ryan Gosling is set to play the lead in a remake/reboot of the "Universal Monsters" classic, "The Wolfman."

TELEVISION - From YahooNews:   Leonardo DiCaprio’s Big Middle Finger to the Confederacy - with the History Channel series, "Grant."

BLACK AMERICA AND COVID-19 - Crisis or... :

GEORGE FLOYD:

From YahooEntertainment:  Spike Lee has released a new short film that connects the dots from his iconic film, "Do The Right Thing" to the police killings of Eric Garner and George Floyd.

From NBCNews:  (5/26) - A Minneapolis black man, George Floyd, dies after pleading with a police officer that he could not breathe.

From BET: - George Floyd died of asphyxiation says autopsy.

From Medium:  President Barack Obama tells young people "How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change."

From YahooNews:  (6/4) - The officer who stood by as George Floyd died is Asian American. We need to talk about that.

From YahooInsider:  (6/3) - Teens on TikTok are exposing a generational rift between (white) parents and their kids over how they treat Black Lives Matter protests

From YahooNews: (6/3) - A group of three young African-American protestors, calling itself "Concerned Citizens," are attempting to link the George Floyd protests to a list of demands.

From YahooNews:   Obama praises George Floyd protests and sees hope for police reform, racial progress

From YahooLife:  "Star Wars" star John Boyega joins a "Black Lives Matter" demonstration in Hyde Park, London.

From YahooEntertainment:  Grammy-winner Billie Eilish goes after "white privilege" with a vengeance in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

From USAToday:  Journalists blinded, injured, arrested covering George Floyd protests nationwide

From YahooAustralia:  Photojournalist Linda Tirado permanently blinded after being shot by a police rubber bullet during George Floyd protests.

From BET:  Filmmaker Ava DuVernay gives a check to President Donald's daughter, Ivanka, for the "First Daughter's" Bible-verse tweet in regards to the George Floyd protests.

From YahooNews:  ‘We’re sick of it’: Anger over police killings shatters US

From YahooNews:  A Tennessee police chief had a message for fellow law enforcement: turn in your badge if 'you don't have an issue' with George Floyd's death

From NPR:  A decade of watching Black people die.

From YahooEntertainment:  African-American actor, Kendrick Sampson ("Insecure"), was hit by rubber bullets and batons by Los Angeles Police Department officers while attending a peaceful protest in L.A.

From YahooLifestyle:  Should the police officer who killed George Floyd be forgiven so quickly, if at all.  Welcome to "toxic black forgiveness."

From CNN:  Demonstrators in Europe rally to support #GeorgeFloyd protestors in the United States.

From YahooSports:   It is a big frickin' deal when a white NFL quarterback speaks out about the murder of George Floyd and the African-American community, even if that QB is an incoming rookie - in this case, Joe Burrows of the Cincinnati Bengals.

From YahooUSAToday:  "Qualified immunity" allows police officers to act like laws don't apply to them... because they don't.

From YahooABC:  The wife of Minneapolis police office, Derek Michael Chauvin, who killed George Floyd, says she is filing for divorce.

From NBCNews:  The phrase, "When the looting starts, the shooting starts," that Trump has twice used on Twitter has its origins in one of the darkest periods of American history.

From YahooSports:  Prominent sports figures react to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and remind people of why former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick protested by taking a knee before his games.

From CBSNews:  Because COVID-19 isn't killing Black people fast enough to satisfy some... Video shows Minneapolis cop with knee on neck of motionless, moaning man who later died.

From CNN:  The four police officers involved in the death of George Floyd have been fired.  That includes Officer Derek Chauvin who kneeled on Floyd's neck.

From TheDailyBeast:  Ira Toles, a black man, recounts how Minneapolis police office, Derek Chauvin, who killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck, tried to kill him in 2008.  He still bears the scars of Chauvin's violence.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 17th to 23rd, 2020 - Update #20

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

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 YahooNYT:  (5/21) - Maybe, President Donald really did miss the intelligence warnings about COVID-19 during briefings... because he has a short attention span.

From RSN:  (5/22) - Robert Reich's talks about "A Tale of Two Pandemics," one for the wealthy and one for the black, brown, indigenous, and essential.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  ABC is renews 13 of its current series and cancels five.

TRAILER - From RollingStone:  You can watch the second trailer for Christopher Nolan's upcoming film, "Tenet." The film, which stars John David Washington, is due July 17th release (we hope).

DAYTIME EMMYS - From THR:  The nominations for the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced June 26th, 2020 during a two-hour special on CBS.

SPORTS - From THR:  In the wake of its 10-part Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls docu-series, "The Last Dance," ESPN has announced a Tom Brady 9-part docu-series, "Man in the Arena."

CELEBRITY-CRIME - From YahooEntertainment:  Actress Lori Loughlin ("Full House") and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, will plead guilty to charges related to the "college admissions scandal."  Both are facing at least a few months in prison.

COMICS TO FILM - From THR:  Zack Snyder talks about HBO Max's 2021 release of his version of the superhero film, "Justice League," which he did not get to finish before its original release back in 2017.  Director Joss Whedon completed the film.  The article contains details about the film's production and what could and may be done to finish the "Zack Snyder" cut.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Producers Michael Bay and Adam Goodman are teaming up on the pandemic thriller, "Songbird," which will shoot in Los Angeles while the city is in lock down.  Beginning production in five weeks, it may be the first film to shoot in the city.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Actor David Arquette will reprise his role as "Sheriff Dewey Riley" from the original "Scream" films for the "Scream" reboot.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Christopher Nolan would like his upcoming film, "Tenet," to revive movie theaters out its COVID-19 slumber.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Lily Wachowski, co-creator of "The Matrix," was not at all happy the Elon Musk and Ivana Trump were referencing the line "Take the red pill" from the film.

STREAMING - From Variety:  Netflix debuts the first trailer for Spike Lee's film, "Da 5 Bloods."

MOVIES - From THR:  Oscar-winners Phil Lord and Chris Miller are teaming with Oscar-nominee Ryan Gosling for the film, "Project Hail Mary," for MGM and based on the upcoming novel by the author of "The Martian."

STREAMING - Deadline:  The streaming service, CBS All Access, has announced its third "Star Trek" series (following "Star Trek: Discovery" and "Star Trek: Picard").  It is entitled "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," and will focus on Spock, Pike, and Number One, and will take place in the years before the original "Star Trek" TV series, in which Spock served under Capt. James T. Kirk.

OBITS:

From ESPN:  Former NBA All-Star player and coach, Jerry Sloan, has died at the age of 78, Friday, May 22, 2020.  As a pro basketball player, Sloan was drafted by the NBA's old Baltimore Bullets in 1965, but he was best known for his decade-long tenure with the Chicago Bulls.  He was considered one of the Bulls' greatest players.  Sloan coached the Utah Jazz from 1988 to 2011, and coached the Jazz to the NBA Championship Finals in 1997 and in 1998, where they lost both times to Michel Jordan's Bulls.  As a college basketball player, Sloan lead the University of Evansville men's basketball team to consecutive "Division II" national titles.

From Deadline:  The actor Gregory Tyree Boyce has died at the age of 30.  He was best known for his small but pivotal role in the first film in the "Twilight Saga," 2008's "Twilight."

From Variety:  The actor and former child star, Ken Osmond, has died at the age of 76, Monday, May 18, 2020.  Osmond was best known for portraying infamous teen character, "Eddie Haskell," on the classic TV series, "Leave It to Beaver" (1957-1963).  Osmond reprised the role for the syndicated revival series, "The New Leave It to Beaver"/"Still the Beaver" (1984-1989).  Osmond was also a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department from 1970 to 1988.

From Deadline:  Film writer, producer, and director, Lynn Shelton, has died at the age of 54, Friday, May 15, 2020.  A leading light in 21st century American independent cinema, Shelton was best known for her films, "Humpday" (2009) and "Your Sister's Sister" (2011).  She was in a relationship with actor Marc Maron, who appeared in her 2019, "Sword of Trust."

From Deadline:  Miss America 1971 and former First Lady of Kentucky (1979-1983), Phyllis George, has died at the age of 70, Thursday, May 14, 2020.  George was married to one-time governor of Kentucky, John Y. Brown, Jr.  For many, however, George is best remembered as a pioneering NFL sportscaster.  She was a sports analyst for CBS from 1975 to 1983, including a stint on CBS' "The NFL Today."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 22nd to 31st, 2020 - Update #32

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

Support Leroy on Patreon:

CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 and Hollywood and Beyond:

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 YahooSports:  The 2020 Tokyo Olympics has been moved to 2021 due to COVID-19 and will take place form July 23, 2021 to August 8, 2021

From Variety:  Grammy Award-winner and country music recording artist, Joe Diffe, has died of COVID-19-related complications.  Diffe was known for his string of 1990s country song hits, including "Pickup Man" and "John Deere Green."  Diffe was 61.

From CBSNews:  CBS has announced that former CBS executive and journalist, Maria Mercader, has died of COVID-related complications.

From YahooSports:  Former NFL wide receiver (Denver Broncos) and collegiate football and track and field star (LSU), Orlando McDaniel, has died of COVID-19.

From NYDailyNews:  The Fox Business News network has parted ways with Trish Regan, host of "Trish Regan Primetime."  Regan was one reportedly one of Fox's most aggressive coronavirus conspiracy theorists.

From YahooNews:  The prime minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, has tested positive for COVID-19.

From TheDailyBeast:  Iconic rapper, Scarface, of the iconic rap group, "Geto Boys," says that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

From YahooEntertainment:  Veteran character actor, Mark Blum (the TV series "You"), has died at the age of 69 from complications of COVID-19.

From YahooEntertainment:  Josh Wallwork, a 45-year-old crew member on NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," has died from COVID-19-related complications.

From YahooNews:   Britain's Prince Charles has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

From YahooSports:  Pro basketball player, Karl-Anthony Towns (the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves) has revealed that his mother has been placed in a medically induced coma because of "lung problems" due to COVID-19.

From Deadline:  Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally has died of complications due to COVID-19.

From Variety:  David Bryan, the keyboardist for and founding member of the Grammy-winning rock band, "Bon Jovi," has tested positive for COVID-19.  Bryan is also a Tony Award-winning composer for his work on the musical, "Memphis" (2003).

From BleacherReport:  Thursday morning (March 19th), NFL coach, Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints, told ESPN that he had tested positive for COVID-19.  He gave NBC Sports' Peter King an update on his condition.

From NiagaraGazette:  Oscar-winning film producer and newly minted convict, Harvey Weinstein, is one of two prisoners at Wende Correctional Facility in Western New York state who has tested positive COVID-19.

From THR:  Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo has said that he has tested positive for COVID-16.

From YahooNews:  Senator Rand Paul, Republican from Kentucky, becomes the first known U.S. senator to test positive for COVID-19.

MOVIE NEWS:

From Deadline:  MGM is all over the film rights to the science fiction novel, "The Hail Mary," from author Andy Weir ("The Martian").  Ryan Gosling is set to star in and produce the film.

From Variety:  Sony will give its recent smash hit, "Bad Boys for Life," an early digital release, March 31st, with a Blu-ray/DVD release of April 21st.

From Variety:  Woody Allen's memoir, "Apropos of Nothing," was released today (Monday, March 23rd) by a new publisher, Arcade Publishing, with little fanfare.  The books previous publisher, Hachette Book Group, after some of its employees staged a walkout.

TELEVISION NEWS:

From Deadline:   The U.S. Supreme Court sides with Comcast over Byron Allen in Allen's lawsuit against the cable gaint.  In a unanimous decision, the court send the case back to a lower court where Allen must prove "but for."  According to the courts ruling, “a plaintiff must initially plead and ultimately prove that, but for race, it would not have suffered the loss of a legally protected right.”

STREAMING NEWS:

From Variety:  Netflix and director Ava DuVernay have won a dismissal of a defamation lawsuit brought against them over their "Central Park Five" TV series, "When They See Us."

From YahooEntertainment:  Oscar-nominated actor Jonah Hill says that no one has seen his best performance ever, in a film entitled "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot."

OBITS:

From NBCNews:  Civil Rights icon and leader, Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, has died at the age of 98, Friday, March 27, 2020.  Lowery founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. Martin Luther King.  A dean of the Civil Rights movement, Rev. Lowery delivered the benediction at the President Barack Obama's inaugaration in 2009, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama later that same year.

From SoapOperaDigest:  The soap opera actor, John Callahan, has died at the age of 66, Saturday, March 28, 2020.  He appeared in several daytime soaps, but is best known for the role of "Edmund Grey" on "All My Children" (ABC) from 1992 to 2005

From THR:  Harlem Globetrotters legend, Fred "Curly" Neal, has died at the age of 77, Thursday, March 26, 2020.  Neal, known as a wizard of dribbling the basketball, was a member of the Globetrotters during their "golden age" in the 1970s and 1980s.  With the Globetrotters, Neal appeared on several TV series.  Curly was animated character in two Globetrotter Saturday morning cartoon series, as well as appearing on three episodes of animated "The New Scooby-Doo Movies."

From Variety:  Writer-director, Stuart Gordon, has died at the age of 72, Tuesday, March 24, 2020.  Gordon's best known films were "Re-Animator" (1985) and "From Beyond" (1985), which were both adapted from stories by the great horror writer, H.P. Lovecraft.  Gordon was one of the creators of Disney's "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" franchise, and he was also a writer and director of live theatre.

From THR:  Playwright Terrence McNally has died at the age of 81, March 24, 2020.  McNally won four Tony Awards and also a Tony Lifetime Achievement Award.  He is known for writing plays such as "Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune" (1982), "Love! Valour! Compassion!" (1994), and "Master Class" (1995).  His work in musical theatre includes "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1992) and "Ragtime" (1996).

From Variety:  The singer and musician, Eric Weissberg, has died at the age of 80, Sunday, March 22, 2020.  Weissberg was best known as a banjo player, and his most commercially successful recording was his banjo solo in "Dueling Banjos," which was used as the theme of the infamous 1972 film, "Deliverance."

From CNN:  Pop and country music singer and actor, Kenny Rogers, has died at the age of 81, Friday, March 20, 2020.  He was one of the best-selling recording artists and his career spanned several genres.  Hew was a three-time Grammy Award winner and had numerous hits, including his signature song, "The Gambler" (1978).  The song inspired a series of hit films starring Rogers, beginning with 1980s' "Kenny Rogers as The Gambler."

From RollingStone:  Rob Sheffield lists what he thinks are the late Kenny Rogers' best moments, with video links included.

Warner Bros. Pictures Brings Its Biggest Films and Stars to San Diego Comic-Con 2017

Warner Bros. Pictures Gets Ready to Run the Gamut at Comic-Con International: San Diego

The Studio takes to Hall H with highlights from its roster of highly anticipated upcoming films, including DC’s “Justice League” and “Aquaman,” “Blade Runner 2049,” and “Ready Player One”

Outside the Hall and throughout the convention, fans will find activities and activations for “Annabelle: Creation,” “IT,” “The LEGO® NINJAGO® Movie” and “Blade Runner 2049,” plus talent signings in the Warner Bros. and DC booths

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures brings some of its biggest films and brightest stars to this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego. The announcement was made by Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, who stated, “Every year we look forward to Comic-Con and every year we—along with our wonderful actors and filmmakers—eagerly share our enthusiasm for the upcoming Warner Bros. slate. Coming off the success we’re enjoying with ‘Wonder Woman,’ we are more excited than ever to interact with the fans, thank them for their ongoing support, and give them a taste of the incredible films we have for them in the coming months and into 2018.”

On Saturday, July 22, 2017, beginning at 11:30 a.m., Warner Bros. will light up Hall H with a presentation showcasing some of its eagerly awaited upcoming releases, with exclusive footage and revealing conversations, helmed by master of ceremonies Chris Hardwick.

The lineup includes:

    Director Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One,” based on the hugely popular Ernest Cline novel, with stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke and T.J. Miller, author/co-screenwriter Cline, co-screenwriter Zak Penn, and Spielberg on the panel;
    The long-awaited “Blade Runner 2049,” Alcon Entertainment’s sequel to the cult classic takes us 30 more years into the future, with stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, as well as Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Lennie James and Mackenzie Davis, writers Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, and the film’s director, Denis Villeneuve;
    And the greatest Super Heroes of the DC universe, united for the first time on the big screen, with stars Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher talking all things “Justice League,” as well as an early look at director James Wan’s “Aquaman.”

In addition to the Hall H presentation, Warner Bros. will host several activities and activations throughout the convention and around the town. Starting things off on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, the Studio will frighten fans with a screening of “Annabelle: Creation,” the newest feature in New Line Cinema’s “Conjuring” horror-verse, which debuted out of the Los Angeles Film Festival with a score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The screening will take place at the Westfield Horton Plaza and will be followed by a Q&A with director David F. Sandberg and stars Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman, Lulu Wilson and Anthony LaPaglia.

Keeping the scares going strong, on Thursday the 20th and through the weekend, brave fans can hop on the creepiest school bus in town: an “IT”-inspired virtual reality installation that will have them skipping school for the foreseeable future. The bus and FLOAT: A Cinematic VR Experience will be located at the Interactive Zone across from Petco Park—no badge required.

On Thursday evening, attend a panel for “The LEGO® NINJAGO® Movie” in the convention hall’s room 6A, with stars Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Abbi Jacobson, Olivia Munn, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Peña and Zach Woods and producer Dan Lin. Attendees will receive an exclusive, movie-themed giveaway. And for an hour each day during the convention, fans looking for a good stretch before standing in their next line can head to the lawn at the Omni Hotel to participate in “NINJOGA,” a tai chi/yoga-like workout for the ninja in everyone. The class begins at 10 a.m., Thursday through Sunday.

Also launching on Thursday, and open through Sunday, is the Blade Runner 2049 Experience, an immense, immersive and interactive multimedia installation that replicates the film’s environment. It will be positioned outside of the Convention proper in the Gaslamp Quarter—no badge necessary.

And finally, following the Hall H presentation on Saturday, fans can hit the convention floor for talent signings in the Warner Bros. and DC booths, starting at approximately 12:15 p.m.


About “Ready Player One”
From filmmaker Steven Spielberg comes the science fiction action adventure “Ready Player One,” based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name, which has become a worldwide phenomenon. The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But the people have found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday. When Halliday dies, he leaves his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS, sparking a contest that grips the entire world. When an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts decides to join the contest, he is hurled into a breakneck, reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of mystery, discovery and danger. Spielberg directed the film from a screenplay by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline. The film was produced by Spielberg, Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger and Dan Farah; with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Chris DeFaria and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers. It stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn and T.J. Miller, with Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance. Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment present, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, an Amblin Production, a De Line Pictures Production, a Steven Spielberg Film, “Ready Player One.” Slated for release on March 30, 2018, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

About “Blade Runner 2049”
From director Denis Villeneuve comes Alcon Entertainment’s science fiction thriller “Blade Runner 2049,” the much-anticipated sequel to the acclaimed sci-fi film “Blade Runner.” Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. The film stars Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, and Lennie James, with Dave Bautista and Jared Leto. The film was produced by Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson and Bud Yorkin and Cynthia Yorkin. Ridley Scott, who directed the first “Blade Runner,” served as an executive producer, together with Tim Gamble, Frank Giustra, Yale Badick, Val Hill, and Bill Carraro. Villeneuve directed the film from a screenplay by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, story by Fancher, based on characters from the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. Opening on October 6, 2017, in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX, “Blade Runner 2049” is a presentation of Alcon Entertainment and will be distributed domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and internationally by Sony Pictures Entertainment. www.bladerunnermovie.com

About “Aquaman”
Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure “Aquaman” is helmed by James Wan and stars Jason Momoa in the title role, returning to the character he plays in this fall’s “Justice League.” The film also stars Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Temuera Morrison, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, with Patrick Wilson, and Nicole Kidman. The film is being produced by Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Rob Cowan, Jon Berg and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers. An icon for over 75 years, Aquaman is known by fans of DC Comics as the ruler of Atlantis but committed to protecting the entire globe, both land and sea. Currently set for a 2018 release, the film is based on characters from DC.

About “Justice League”
From Warner Bros. Pictures comes “Justice League,” directed by Zack Snyder and starring Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, and Ray Fisher as the famed lineup of DC Super Heroes. Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions. The “Justice League” screenplay is by Chris Terrio, story by Zack Snyder & Chris Terrio, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film’s producers are Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Jon Berg and Geoff Johns, with executive producers Jim Rowe, Wesley Coller, Curtis Kanemoto, Chris Terrio and Ben Affleck. The film is set for release in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX on November 17, 2017. justiceleaguethemovie.com

About “Annabelle: Creation”
From New Line Cinema comes “Annabelle: Creation,” with David F. Sandberg directing. The new film is once again being produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, who previously partnered on “The Conjuring” hit movies. Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a doll maker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home. They soon become the target of the doll maker’s possessed creation, Annabelle. Sandberg directs from a screenplay by Gary Dauberman. The film stars Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman, Lulu Wilson, Philippa Coulthard, Grace Fulton, Lou Lou Safran, Samara Lee, Tayler Buck, with Anthony LaPaglia and Miranda Otto. Serving as executive producers on “Annabelle: Creation” are Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter and Hans Ritter. New Line Cinema presents, an Atomic Monster/Safran Company production, “Annabelle: Creation.” Slated for release August 11, 2017, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. www.annabellemovie.com

About “IT”
New Line Cinema’s horror thriller “IT” is based on the hugely popular Stephen King novel of the same name, which has been terrifying readers for decades. When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries. “IT” stars Bill Skarsgård as the story’s central villain, Pennywise, alongside Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Nicholas Hamilton and Jackson Robert Scott. Andy Muschietti directed “IT” from a screenplay by Chase Palmer & Cary Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman. Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Seth Grahame-Smith, David Katzenberg and Barbara Muschietti are the producers, with Dave Neustadter, Walter Hamada, Richard Brener, Toby Emmerich, Marty P. Ewing, Doug Davison, Jon Silk and Niija Kuykendall serving as executive producers. New Line Cinema presents a Vertigo Entertainment/Lin Pictures/Katzsmith Production, “IT.” Slated for release on September 8, 2017, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Entertainment Company. www.Itthemove.com

About “The LEGO NINJAGO Movie”
A new animated adventure in Warner Bros. Pictures’ LEGO® franchise, “The LEGO NINJAGO® Movie” stars Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Fred Armisen, Abbi Jacobson, Olivia Munn, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Peña, Zach Woods, and the legendary Jackie Chan. In this big-screen NINJAGO adventure, the battle for NINJAGO City calls to action young Master Builder Lloyd, aka the Green Ninja, along with his friends, who are all secret ninja warriors. Led by Master Wu, as wise-cracking as he is wise, they must defeat evil warlord Garmadon, The Worst Guy Ever, who also happens to be Lloyd’s dad. Pitting mech against mech and father against son, the epic showdown will test this fierce but undisciplined team of modern-day ninjas who must learn to check their egos and pull together to unleash their inner power of Spinjitzu. The film is directed by Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher and Bob Logan. The screenplay is by Bob Logan & Paul Fisher & William Wheeler & Tom Wheeler and Jared Stern & John Whittington, story by Hilary Winston & Bob Logan & Paul Fisher & William Wheeler & Tom Wheeler and Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman, based on LEGO Construction Toys. It is produced by Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Chris McKay, Maryann Garger, and Roy Lee. The executive producers are Jill Wilfert, Keith Malone, and Seth Grahame-Smith, with John Powers Middleton serving as co-producer. The film is slated to open on September 22, 2017, in both 3D and 2D. From Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Animation Group, in association with LEGO System A/S, a Lin Pictures/Lord Miller/Vertigo Entertainment Production, “The LEGO NINJAGO Movie” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. www.legoninjagomovie.com

LEGO, the LEGO logo, NINJAGO, the minifigure and the brick and knob configuration are trademarks of The LEGO Group. ©2017 The LEGO Group. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

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