Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 21st to 31st, 2022 - Update #21

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MUSIC - From RollingStone:  Actor, musician, and businessman, Micky Dolenz, is best remembered as a member of pop-rock band, "The Monkeez."  Now, the only surviving member, Dolenz has filed a lawsuit against the FBI to force the law enforcement agency to turn over a file kept on the band during the era of FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Lil Rel Howery, and Teyonah Parris will star in the holiday comedy, "Dashing Through the Snow," with Tim Story directing.  The film is scheduled for Disney+ for the 2023 holiday season.

STAR TREK - From THR:  "WandaVision" director Matt Shakman has dropped out of directing Paramount Pictures fourth "Star Trek" reboot film ... perhaps, because "Fantastic Four" is in his future.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/26 to 8/28/2022 weekend box office is Sony Pictures' "The Invitation" with an estimated take of 7 million dollars.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  "Zatima" is a new series from Tyler Perry Studios and BET+.  A spinoff of the series, "Sistas," it will premiere Sept. 29th, and has also added six new cast members.

NETFLIX - From THR:  Netflix's "Resident Evil" live-action series has been cancelled after one season.  It was the first live-action TV series in the "Resident Evil" franchise.

CELEBRITY - From Variety: "Archetypes," the new podcast from Princess Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, has claimed the No. 1 podcast position on Spotify’s charts in six markets worldwide, including the United States and the United Kingdom.  For the time being, “Archetypes” is currently more popular than “The Joe Rogan Experience,” which in the U.S. is consistently the most-listened-to podcast on Spotify.

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Francis Lawrence will direct and Michael Green will write a film adaptation of the video game, "BioShock," for Netflix.

STREAMING - From Fangoria:  Hulu has released a teaser trailer for the film "Hellraiser," a reboot of Clive Barker's 1987 film of the same name.  The films begins streaming on Hulu October 7th.

TELEVISION - From Today:  On Thursday, September 22nd, 2022, "Law & Order," "Law & Order: SVU," and "Law & Order: Organized Crime" will come together in a three-hour, three-series crossover event - on NBC, of course.

MOVIES - From Variety:  "Halloween Ends," the latest installment in the long-running "Halloween" franchise, will have a simultaneous release in theaters and through the streaming service, "Peacock," on Oct. 14th.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Director Matt Reeves ("The Batman") has signed multi-year first-look deal with Warner Bros., and he has also re-up his deal TV deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Cathy Yan, director of "Birds of Prey," will direct and executive produce a live-action adaptation of Yasutaka Tsutsui's novel, "Paprika," for Amazon.

NETFLIX - From Variety:  Netflix has just released a first look image from director Rian Johnson's "Glass Onion," the sequel to "Knives Out" (2019).  Starring Daniel Craig, the film will debut on Netflix Dec. 23rd, 2022 and will be released to select theaters on a still to be announced date.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/19 to 8/21/2022 weekend box office is Sony/Crunchyroll's "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" with an estimated take of 20.1 million dollars.

SCANDAL - From EW:  Gary Busey has been arrested on four charges: two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, one count of attempted criminal sexual contact, and one count of harassment.  Busey has reportedly been taken into custody due to an incident that occurred in Cherry Hill, N.J., when he was visiting for "Monster-Mania Con" at the suburb's Doubletree Hotel from August 12th to 14th, 2022.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  The family of the late actor, Bill Paxton, has settled their lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of Los Angeles and the surgeon who performed heart surgery on him. Paxton died of a stroke February 25, 2017 eleven days after heart surgery.

OBITS:

From TheDisInsider:  Disney/Pixar animator, art director, storyboard artist, and writer-director, Ralph Eggleston, has died at the age of 56, Monday, August 29, 2022.  Eggleston won an Oscar for his animated short film, "For the Birds" (2000).  Eggleston was responsible for the art direction, production design, and colors of many Pixar films, including the first two "Toy Story" films, "The Incredibles" (2004), and "Inside Out" (2015), to name a few.

From Deadline:  British-Canadian film director and animator, Gerald Potterton, has died at the age of 91, Tuesday, August 23, 2022.  Potterton was best known for directing the cult animated feature film, "Heavy Metal" (1981), and for his work on "The Beatles" 1968 animated film, "Yellow Submarine."  Potterton was also twice nominated for an Academy Award for his work on animated short films.

From ESPN:  Former NFL quarterback, Len Dawson, has died at the age of 87, Wednesday, August 24, 2022.  Dawson led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl IV (Jan. 11th, 1970) over the Minnesota Vikings, 23-7.  He is a member of the "Pro Football Hall of Fame" (Class of 1987).  He also had a 33-year career as a broadcast analyst.

From Variety:  The retired actress Virginia Patton Moss has died at the age of 97, Thursday, August 18, 2022.  She acted under the name of Virginia Patton, and had a brief career in films during the 1940s before retiring from acting to focus on her family with husband, Cruise W. Moss.  Moss was also the last surviving adult actor to appear in Frank Capra's classic 1946 film, "It's a Wonderful Life."

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BRITTNEY GRINER:

From TheDailyBeast:   Legendary NBA bad boy and champion (Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls), Dennis Rodman claims that he has been given permission to go to Russia and help free imprisoned hostage, WNBA star, Brittney Griner.

From Vox:  Vox's Jonathan Guyer talks the Brittney Griner case with Danielle Gilbert, a Dartmouth professor who is writing a book about states and rogue actors that take hostages.

From ESPN:   A Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison Thursday, Aug. 4th.  Griner was arrested Feb. 17 for bringing cannabis into the country and pleaded guilty July 7, though the case continued under Russian law.

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."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 13th to 19th, 2019 - Update #27

Support Leroy on Patreon:

TELEVISION - From Variety:  One of the pilots that NBC has ordered is a comedy, "Saving Kenan," starring "Saturday Night Live" veteran, Kenan Thompson."

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PIXAR - From Deadline:  Two-time Oscar-winner, Lee Unkrich ("Toy Story 3," "Coco") is leaving Pixar.

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STREAMING - From Deadline:  Netflix and Shawn Levy are rebooting the true crime/paranormal TV series, "Unsolved Mysteries."  The original series ran for 14 seasons between 1987 and 2010, and the late Robert Stack is the host most associated with the series.

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CELEBRITY - From HuffPost:  Arnold Schwarzenegger's bodybuilding son, Joseph Baena, recreates his father's iconic 1976 bodybuilding pose.

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BOX OFFICE - Newsarama:  The winner of the Wednesday, January 16, 2019 daily box office is "Dragon Ball Super: Broly" with an take of just over $7 million.

From BoxOfficeMojo:  The box office chart for Wednesday, January 16, 2019, the day "Dragon Ball Super: Broly."

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COMICS-FILM - From Newsarama:  Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson challenges Chris Hemsworth to a Marvel Studios/"Fast & Furious" crossover film.

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MUSIC - From Variety:  Sony Music has parted ways with controversial R&B recording artist, R. Kelly, who has been dogged by sexual misconduct allegations for the past two decades plus.  Kelly's catalog/back list will remain with Sony/RCA.

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OSCARS - From Variety:  Kristopher Tapley offers his final Oscar nominations predictions ahead of the Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019 announced of the nominations for the 91st Academy Awards.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  The J.R.R. Tolkien biographical film, "Tolkien," is set for release May 10, 2019.  Nicholas Hoult will play Tolkien, the creator of "The Lord of the Rings."

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Lionsgate and Hasbro's film based on the game, "Monopoly," will star Kevin Hart and be directed by Tim Story, who directed Hart in the "Ride Along" films.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  The race to win J.J. Abrams and his "Bad Robot" company may be close to an end.

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MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  Jason Reitman reportedly will direct the next installment of the "Ghostbusters" franchise, this one set in the "original universe" of the 1983 and 1989 films.

From Newsarama:  Jason Reitman's "secret Ghostbusters" project already has a teaser trailer.  Reitman's father, Ivan Reitman, who directed the original 1980s "Ghostbusters" films, will produce the new film (which is set for 2020), which is apparently set in the "original universe" of films.

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AWARDS - From Variety:  2019 USC Libraries Scripter Award nominations have been announced.  "Black Panther" is one of the nominees.

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TECH - From Wired:  MacKenzie Bezos and the Myth of the Lone Genius Founder

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MOVIES - From THR:  Jon Bernthal ("The Punisher") and Vera Farmiga ("The Conjuring") joins "The Sopranos" prequel, "The Many Saints of Newark."

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MOVIES - From ThePlaylist:  Director David Cronenberg is prepping a sequel to his most excellent 2007 film, "Eastern Promises," with star Viggo Mortensen returning.

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TELEVISION - From Deadline:  HBO is rebooting the classic TV series, "Perry Mason," and have tapped Matthew Rhys ("The Americans") to play Mason.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Liza Minnelli giver a rare endorsement of the biographical musical about her mother, Judy Garland, entitled "Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz."  Of course you know that Garland was Minnelli's mother.

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STAR TREK - From Deadline:   "Star Trek: Discovery's" Philippa Georgiou (played by actor Michelle Yeoh) is getting her own "Star Trek" TV spin-off.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 1/11 to 1/13/2019 weekend box office is "The Upside" with an estimated box office haul of $19.59 million.

From Variety:  "Bumblebee" leads the international box office with a $35.6 million.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  HBO announces that April 14, 2019 will be the premiere date for first episode of the eighth and final season of "Game of Thrones."

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AWARDS - From Variety:  The winners of the 24th annual Critics Choice Awards have been announced.  "Roma" wins "best picture" and "best director" awards.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Craig Brewer ("Hustle & Flow") is set to direct Eddie Murphy in "Coming to America 2,"  Brewer just completed "Dolemite is My Name," which also stars Murphy.

OBITS:

From Variety:  Tony Mendez, the CIA officer portrayed by Ben Affleck in the Oscar-winning best picture, "Argo," has died at the age of 78, Saturday, January 19, 2019.

From People:  Iconic Broadway star, Carol Channing, has died at the age of 97, Tuesday, January 15, 2019.  Channing is known for her role in iconic Broadway musicals, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Hello, Dolly!" (for which she won a Tony Award).  She received an Oscar nomination for her role in the film, "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

From Variety:  Filmmaker and choreographer, Jo Andres, died at the age of 64, Monday, January 7, 2019.  Andres, who was married to acclaimed actor Steve Buscemi for 31 years, choreographed actor Stanley Tucci's directorial effort, "The Imposters" (1998) and directed the film, "Black Kites" (1996).

Filming Resumes on New "Shaft" Film

New Line Cinema’s All-New “Shaft” Continues Production

Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher and Richard Roundtree star as three generations of John Shaft, under the direction of Tim Story

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following a brief holiday hiatus, principal photography resumed this week on New Line Cinema’s “Shaft,” the newest chapter in the film franchise featuring the coolest private eye on any New York City block. Tim Story (the “Ride Along” and “Think Like a Man” franchises) directs this all-new take on a legend, starring Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson (“Pulp Fiction,” “Kong: Skull Island”), Jessie T. Usher (TV’s “Survivor’s Remorse,” “Almost Christmas”), Alexandra Shipp (“Straight Outta Compton,” “X-Men: Apocalypse”), Regina Hall (“Girls Trip,” “Barbershop: The Next Cut”), Cliff “Method Man” Smith (“Keanu,” “Train Wreck”), and Richard Roundtree, the original John Shaft. John Davis (upcoming “Game Night,” “Joy”) produces under his Davis Entertainment banner.

He may be a cyber security expert with a degree from MIT, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death, JJ—aka John Shaft Jr. (Usher)—will need an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft (Jackson) agrees to help his progeny navigate Harlem’s heroin-infested underbelly. And while JJ’s own FBI analyst’s badge may clash with his dad’s trademark leather duster, there’s no denying family. Besides, Shaft’s got an agenda of his own, and a score to settle that’s professional and personal.

Story directs from a screenplay by Kenya Barris (“Girls Trip,” TV’s “Black-ish”) and Alex Barnow (TV’s “The Goldbergs”). Barris also produces the film, with Ira Napoliello and Marc S. Fischer serving as executive producers.

A New Line Cinema production, “Shaft” is set for release on June 14, 2019. It will be distributed in theaters in North America by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and internationally by Netflix.

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"Think Like a Man" a Frothy Battle of the Sexes

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 72 (of 2012) by Leroy Douresseaux


Think Like a Man (2012)
Running time: 122 minutes (2 hours, 2 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sexual content, some crude humor, and brief drug use
DIRECTOR: Tim Story
WRITERS: Keith Merryman and David A. Newman (based on the book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey)
PRODUCER: William Packer
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Larry Blanford
EDITOR: Peter S. Elliot
COMPOSER: Christopher Lennertz

ROMANCE/COMEDY

Starring: Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Gabrielle Union, La La Anthony, Chris Brown, Wendy Williams, Sherri Shepherd, Caleel Harris, Arielle Kebbel, Steve Harvey, Tony Rock, and Luenell with Matt Barnes, Shannon Brown, Rasual Butler, Darren Collison, Lisa Leslie, and Metta World Peace

Think Like a Man is a 2012 ensemble romantic comedy from director Tim Story (Fantastic Four). The film is based on comedian and actor Steve Harvey’s 2009 advice book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. The film follows four male friends who conspire to turn the tables on the women in their lives when they discover that their ladies have been using Steve Harvey’s relationship advice against them.

Cedric (Kevin Hart), Dominic (Michael Ealy), Zeke (Romany Malco), Michael (Terrence J), Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara), and Bennett (Gary Owen) are friends who like to get together and talk about their relationships with women. Cedric is going through a divorce, and Bennett is happily married. Jeremy’s relationship with his longtime girlfriend, Kristen (Gabrielle Union), is frayed, although he doesn’t seem to notice it. Dominic uses deception to begin a relationship with Lauren (Taraji P. Henson), a successful businesswoman.

Zeke meets Mya (Meagan Good), a young woman who has just decided that before she has sex with a new boyfriend, he has to wait 90 days. Zeke, however, always wants to “hit it” right away. Michael begins a relationship with Candace (Regina Hall), a single mother, but Michael is a mama’s boy, and that creates strife in the new relationship.

However, Kristen, Lauren, Mya, and Candace decide to take the advice of Steve Harvey (playing himself) as presented in his book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, to help them get the upper hand in their relationships. When the guys discover what their ladies are doing, they decide to get familiar with the same book. Game on!

The first thing I want to say is that Kevin Hart is a pure scene-stealer. Hart not only plays a character, Cedric, but he is also the film’s narrator. As the narrator, he practically owns half this movie. He’s good; he’s funny.

The other half of the ownership goes to director Tim Story. I think that Story’s talent as a director is largely untapped. His two Fantastic Four films for 20th Century Fox were underserved by uneven screenwriting. Story shows his skills in Think Like a Man, because there are so many characters and so many actors playing them that the director has to get a handle on them. Handle them Story does, which is quite a feat, as there are way too many characters in this movie. Still, Story gives every actor the opportunity to make the most of his or her character, and most of the actors take advantage of the opportunities. That is why Think Like a Man movie works.

Think Like a Man is a frothy, romantic comedy, and it has the same cinematic bubbles and fizz to tickle the nose that movie audiences find in frivolous romantic comedies featuring predominately white casts. Tim Story delivers the same feel-good charm which directors of those other films do, but with a way-too large cast.

Think Like a Man may be the best romantic comedy starring a predominately African-American cast to date. It’s sweet and filled with empty calories, but they feel good going down. They’re so good that you might want more… later.

7 of 10
B+

Saturday, September 08, 2012

Review: "Fantastic Four" is Fantastic for the Entire Family

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 109 (of 2005) by Leroy Douresseaux

Fantastic Four (2005)
Running time: 106 minutes (1 hour, 46 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of intense action and some suggestive content
DIRECTOR: Tim Story
WRITERS: Michael France and Mark Frost (based upon the Marvel Comics characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCERS: Avi Arad, Michael Barnathan, and Bernd Eichinger
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Oliver Wood
EDITOR: William Hoy
COMPOSER: John Ottman

SUPERHERO/ACTION/SCI-FI/ADVENTURE with elements of comedy

Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Hamish Linklater, Kerry Washington, and Stan Lee

Marvel Comics longest running comic book series is the Fantastic Four, subtitled “The World’s Greatest Comic Book Magazine,” but Spider-Man is Marvel’s best known characters, while the X-Men are the most popular characters in North American comic book publishing; both the Spider-Man and the X-Men are also successful film franchises. However, there has been a nearly ten-year struggle to bring the Fantastic Four to the screen, and now, it’s finally happened. Fresh off Barbershop (2002) and the Queen Latifah vehicle, Taxi (2004), director Tim Story wows audiences with the Fantastic Four, the long-awaited silver screen appearance of Marvel’s first family, and unlike some other comic book to film adaptations (Sin City to name one), Fantastic Four is a joy ride for kids.

Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), financially strapped scientific genius, has an important experiment that requires his use orbital space lab of his long-time rival, the jealous and grudge-holding Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon). Von Doom insists on accompanying Richards to the station. Also aboard the station for the research mission is Reed’s ex-girlfriend, Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), who now works for Von Doom, Sue’s brother, hot shot pilot Johnny Storm (Chris Evans), and Reed’s long-time friend, Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis), who more or less is Reed’s bodyguard. However, something goes wrong, and all five of them are exposed to an intense band of radiation that transforms their DNA and their bodies. Reed suddenly can stretch any part of his anatomy. Sue can turn invisible and create an invisible force field. Johnny can turn his body into living flame. Ben becomes a monster with a rock-like body. Victor’s skin eventually turns metallic and can absorb electricity.

After their powers become public, Johnny gives his compatriots names: Reed is Mr. Fantastic; Sue is the Invisible Girl; Ben is The Thing; and Johnny is the Human Torch. Together, they become known as the Fantastic Four, and though Reed, Sue, and Ben would like to be cured of their powers and new found physical gifts (or curses), they must band together as a quartet to save New York City from Victor, who becomes the super villain, Dr. Doom, a man bent on destroying the Fantastic Four and ruling the world.

The Incredibles was kind of an update or riff off the Fantastic Four, which is as much superhero action/adventure and fantasy fun as The Incredibles was, although FF is not nearly as well written and directed as the Pixar computer-animated hit. Still the emphasis is on fun. The Human Torch’s firepower is constantly on display, as he blazes across the sky like a pretty Christmas light with a rocket engine on it. Also, the Thing’s physical appearance and his monstrous strength are perfect for youngsters looking for vicarious wish fulfillment, because the brute wrecks, squashes, smashes, and breaks a lot during the course of the film. And I can’t forget that Mr. Fantastic’s stretching powers will cause a giggle or two, and they certainly made my eyes widen on a few occasions. The Fantastic Four comic book never made the Invisible Woman’s powers look as good as they do on the big screen.

The acting is good. Ioan Gruffudd is thoughtful and straight-laced as the serious and contemplative Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic. He’s not the infinitely intelligent leader that he is in the comic, and sometimes he comes across in the film as a bit too befuddled. Still, he’s more human and likeable here; I get the feeling that the filmmakers either didn’t know quite what to do with him or they didn’t like the character enough to make him the big boss he is in the comics.

For all her acting woes, Jessica Alba is a little spitfire as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman who keeps the boys in line. She’s a heroine for today; she doesn’t consider herself to be a second-class citizen. Yes, she’s boy crazy about Reed, but she’ll speak her mind to him. Even better, she won’t back down one bit in a fierce battle. Her screen chemistry with Gruffudd gets better as the film goes along, although it’s limp at first. I figure the relationship between the two characters will be tinkered with in any potential sequel, giving the actors more with which to work.

Michael Chiklis gives a surprisingly good turn as The Thing; even under the heavy and very thick suit he has to wear to portray the Thing, he gives the character a range of emotions and the air of the tragic, misunderstood monster. Chiklis plays the Thing as a heavily burdened man whose life is suddenly destroyed by his transformation into a monster. Sometimes the down-on-life bit gets too thick, but Chiklis still gives a good performance under all that makeup and costume, and his portrayal of Ben Grimm the human is pure action movie hero. It would be good to see more of that Ben Grimm in the Thing and less “woe is me” in a sequel.

The Thing is my number two favorite character in the film after Chris Evans’ hilarious and energetic ball of fire, Johnny Storm, the Human Torch. Evans is superb comic relief for the film; his antics, handsomeness, and cockiness is the much-needed smoke and mirrors for this film. Sometimes Johnny’s comic clowning around hides some serious flaws in this film, but he’s still fun to watch. Evans really seems to enjoy the role (as does the rest of the cast), and that comes across in the performance and entertainment value of the film.

The costumes, sets, makeup effects, and special effects are very good – not as good as Star Wars or War of the Worlds, but good enough to bring the Fantastic Four to life in a fashion that couldn’t have been done cost-effectively a decade ago or at all 15 to 20 years ago. The Human Torch’s special effects are quite simply great, and the Thing’s suit makes him look like a real, living, breathing monster. The Fantastic Four’s blue one-piece costumes are quite nice and look like they belong on comic book heroes, which makes them three times better than most of the Batsuits in the Batman film franchise.

The script, by Michael France (The Hulk and The Punisher) and Mark Frost, co-creator of the cult TV series, “Twin Peaks,” is weak; it’s mostly story-driven, rather than relying on a plot. That’s not a problem. What is the problem is that the hero/villain conflict takes too long to get going. We know early on that Victor Von Doom (nicely played by “Nip/Tuck’s” Julian McMahon as an anal, self-centered, egomaniac) is the bad guy, but the film is nearly over by the time he really tussles with the Fantastic Four. Also, the script seems to emphasize action and effects over character, and that’s a shame because the characters have so much potential. The Incredibles, the film that is so close to the FF, got a lot of mileage out of playing up individual characters and their quirks. In the end, it’s director Tim Story’s ability to weave action and comedy as he did so well in Taxi (2004) that glosses over the clunk in the script.

Combine high quality sci-fi/fantasy production values with a cast that believes in their characters and enthusiastically brings them to life and you have the makings of a very good film. The final product is a superhero movie that is more for the kids than Batman Begins (the youngsters that I saw this flick with were totally into the film), and Fantastic Four recaptures what it felt like to read a great adventure comic. There aren’t many of those around anymore, but thankfully this new Fantastic Four movie will make up for what today’s juvenile and “tween” readers can no longer get. Nothing says that better than seeing Ben Grimm, the Thing in action and the Human Torch blazing across the city sky like a flaming rocket.

7 of 10
B+

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Review: "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" Does Not Rise Much

TRASH IN MY EYES No. 97 (of 2007) by Leroy Douresseaux

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
Running time: 92 minutes (1 hour, 32 minutes)
MPAA – PG for sequences of action violence, some mild language, and innuendo
DIRECTOR: Tim Story
WRITERS: Don Payne and Mark Frost; from a story John Turman and Mark Frost (based upon the characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby)
PRODUCERS: Avi Arad, Bernd Eichinger, and Ralph Winter
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Larry Blanford (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Peter S. Elliot, William Hoy, and Michael McCusker
COMPOSER: John Ottman

SCI-FI/SUPERHERO/ACTION/ADVENTURE/FAMILY

Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Andre Braugher, Laurence Fishburne (voice), Beau Garrett, and Doug Jones

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, like it predecessor, the 2005 surprise hit, Fantastic Four, is a superhero blockbuster aimed squarely at younger children. That sets this franchise apart from most superhero films, which while ostensibly family films, tend to skew older with darker stories.

As the film begins, the members of the dysfunctional family known as the Fantastic Four have their hands full. Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd) and Susan Storm/Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba) are getting married, but Sue can’t keep Reed’s mind off his work and on wedding planning. Meanwhile, Ben Grimm/The Thing (Michael Chiklis) has found peace and love in his relationship with the blind artist, Alicia Masters (Kerry Washington). And Johnny Storm/The Human Torch (Chris Evans)? Well, Johnny just wants to market the FF as a brand that attracts sponsors, advertisers, and media willing to pay for exclusive access to the team.

The nuptials are interrupted by the arrival on Earth of an enigmatic being that Reed dubs The Silver Surfer. The Surfer is actually an intergalactic herald for a planet devouring being called Galactus. As the Surfer races on his board around the world wreaking havoc, the Fantastic Four must unravel the mystery of the Surfer and confront their mortal enemy Victor Von Doom a.k.a. Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon, who is terrible in this role), as he returns claiming to want to help defeat the Surfer. All of this puts stress on the delicate bonds of this fragile family called the Fantastic Four.

Director Tim Story’s second film attempt at the Fantastic Four is harmless fun, but it’s also vapid. It’s entertaining, but mostly empty. Lacking a good script (although the main plot is fun), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is the kind of dumb, silly, and simple-minded entertainment that many people think of when they do think of comics. This isn’t bad, but FF: TROTSS just lacks the kind of epic scope and widescreen sensibilities that the original comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby had.

There are few good thinks about this film. Chris Evans plays Johnny Storm as a skirt-chasing, smart ass, and his presence just makes the Fantastic Four films better. To create the Silver Surfer, Doug Jones provides the physical acting, and Laurence Fishburne gives voice to the Silver Surfer. CGI finishes the work, and we have a cool looking, scene-stealing character. Every moment the Surfer is on screen the movie suddenly doesn’t seem like a slightly awkward, self-consciously clumsy kids’ flick. So adults beware; this is a mild amusement, but it’s even better for the young viewers.

5 of 10
B-

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Review: Characters Save Creaky "Barbershop"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 14 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

Barbershop (2002)
Running time: 102 minutes (1 hour, 42 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for language, sexual content and brief drug references
DIRECTOR: Tim Story
WRITERS: Mark Brown, Don D. Scott, and Marshall Todd, from a story by Mark Brown
PRODUCERS: Mark Brown, Robert Teitel, and George Tillman Jr.
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tom Priestley (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: John Carter
COMPOSER: Terence Blanchard

COMEDY/DRAMA

Starring: Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Troy Garity, Michael Ealy, Leonard Earl Howze, Lahmard Tate, Jazsmin Lewis, Tom Wright, Jason Winston, DeRay Davis, and Keith David

Barbershop, a recent co-production by Ice Cube’s film production company Cube Vision and State Street Pictures, is another in a recent spurt of so-called urban audience movies, i.e. movies for black people. However, the light-on-plot film was a huge hit that drew in a broad cross section of viewers, so even white folks can be entertained by film’s with little or no story as long as the characters are funny and engaging, as they definitely are in Barbershop.

Calvin Palmer (Ice Cube) is a barber like his father and grandfather before him, but Calvin has bigger dreams. He inherited his late father’s shop, but Calvin has also saddled himself with debt from a number of failed business ventures. Looking for cash to help him with his latest start up, he sells his barbershop to a loan shark, Lester Wallace (the wonderful, but seldom seen Keith David). After he takes that big step, he comes to regret his decision when he realizes that Wallace is going to turn the shop into a ho house. That really hurts because his father’s business always meant a lot to the local community.

I can forgive the weakness of the film’s plots (and subplots) because it is rich in funny and endearing characters. To be of quality, a film doesn’t have to have great characters, a great setting, and a great story; the finest and most artful films do. A good film can be strong and entertaining with just one of those elements. Barbershop holds our attention because the characters are so damned funny. The acting isn’t always tight, but the cast really gets into their characters and give a good show. In an odd way you can forgive Barbershop a lot of faults because you know that you’re always going to get another hilarious scene with these great characters.

Out of all the actors, Anthony Anderson captured my attention just as he has in Romeo Must Die, Big Momma’s House, and Life among others. He’s funny, hilarious in fact, in the tradition of portly funny men. Ice Cube is nowhere near being a good actor, but he has an excellent sense in choosing film projects that will appeal to a broad audience, whether it’s popular trash like Anaconda, a sleeper hit like Friday, or a daring filmmaking choice like Three Kings. He’s a movie star.

Barbershop is a good comedy with many funny characters. It’s warm and homespun like Soul Food, with a good down home message about family and having sense of community, at its heart. Besides who could miss a film when Cedric the Entertainer is really on his game as a funny man and an actor, especially since you get to hear him say “F*ck Jesse Jackson.”

5 of 10
B-

NOTES:
2003 Black Reel Awards: 6 nominations: “Best Film” (Robert Teitel, George Tillman Jr.), “Best Film Soundtrack, “Theatrical - Best Actor” (Ice Cube), “Theatrical - Best Director” (Tim Story), “Theatrical - Best Screenplay-Original or Adapted” (Mark Brown and Don D. Scott), “Theatrical - Best Supporting Actor” (Cedric the Entertainer)

2003 Image Awards: 5 nominations: “Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture” (Ice Cube), “Outstanding Motion Picture,” “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” (Anthony Anderson), “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” (Cedric the Entertainer), and “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Eve)

Review: Queen Latifah Makes "Taxi" a Winner

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 34 (of 2005) by Leroy Douresseaux

Taxi (2004)
Running time: 97 minutes (1 hour, 37 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for language, sensuality, and brief violence
DIRECTOR: Tim Story
WRITERS: Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon, and Jim Kouf (based upon an earlier screenplay by Luc Besson)
PRODUCER: Luc Besson
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Vance Burberry
EDITOR: Stuart Levy

ACTION/COMEDY with elements of crime and a thriller

Starring: Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon, Henry Simmons, Jennifer Esposito, Gisele Bundchen, Ana Cristina De Oliveira, Ingrid Vandebosch, Magali Amadei, Ann-Margaret, and Christian Kane with Jeff Gordon

Belle (Queen Latifah), a mouthy and feisty New York City cab driver with a souped up cab, helps Washburn (Jimmy Fallon), an inept and green cop, solve a series of bank hold ups committed by a band of female Brazilian bank robbers, led by the sexy Vanessa (Gisele Bundchen), who is as good at driving at super high speeds through NYC traffic as Belle is.

The first scene of Taxi, an American version of the French series created by Luc Besson (creator of The Fifth Element, who also produces this version), features a NYC bike messenger flying through and over the streets and landmarks of the city in a manner that would mark him as super human. It was like something out of a video game or a James Bond movie. When the biker reaches the office where he works, he slips off his helmet to reveal that he is Queen Latifah. A slim stunt rider can’t pass for someone as… pleasantly plumb as the Queen. But the Queen and her co-star, Jimmy Fallon, have it going on.

Taxi is a cheesy, thrill ride, a funny action comedy that has more laughs than it has moments that stretch belief, and it has lots of moments that cross over into fantasy. Still, the important thing in terms of entertainment is to make a funny movie. No, the cop/FBI angle, as it is in Taxi, wouldn’t work in the real world, but here it works to lots of laughs. And the car races and chase scenes may not be The Fast and the Furious, but they’re 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Queen Latifah and Fallon have great screen chemistry. You can really believe that her Belle hates Fallon’s Washburn, but there’s truth in both their characters. You can buy their characters and the progression of their relationship as the film progresses. It’s dumb, but funny. The Queen is a talented and funny screen comedienne, and Fallon’s shtick works here. He’s not the macho action star; he’s more sweet, charming and vulnerable, but what keeps him from being a chump is that his Washburn is perseveres. No matter what knocks him down, he’s subtly relentless and machine like in his quest to be an effective cop. You can respect this soft guy who is not so soft after all. He’s got grit and determination. So you may not have wanted to buy a ticket to see Taxi, but if you have a sense of humor, this thrilling, action-paced comedy is worth a rental.

7 of 10
B+

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