My favorite Negro-American film awards organization (and my favorite film critics awards, for that matter) is The Black Reel Awards. The Black Reel Awards annually honors African-Americans in feature, independent and television film. The awards were launched in 2000, and this is the 12th year the awards will be handed out. The Black Reel Awards are now given out by the Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF).
More 50 film critics from television, radio, print and the Internet comprise the voting members of the Black Reel Awards. Winners were announced on Friday, February 10, 2012 in ceremony held in Washington D.C. The Help dominated this year's awards winning six, including "Best Film."
2012 Black Reel Award Winners:
Theatrical
Outstanding Film – The Help
Outstanding Director – Steve McQueen / Shame
Outstanding Actor – John Boyega / Attack the Block
Outstanding Actress – Viola Davis / The Help
Outstanding Supporting Actor - Don Cheadle / The Guard
Outstanding Supporting Actress – Octavia Spencer / The Help
Outstanding Screenplay, Original or Adapted – Steve McQueen / Shame
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance – Adepero Oduye / Pariah
Outstanding Ensemble – The Help
Outstanding Original Song – “The Living Proof” / Mary J. Blige (The Help)
Outstanding Score – Thomas Newman / The Help
Outstanding Foreign Film – Attack the Block
Outstanding Feature Documentary – Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest / Michael Rapaport
Independent
Outstanding Independent Feature Film – My Last Day Without You / Stefan C. Schaefer
Outstanding Independent Short Film – Wake / Bree Newsome
Outstanding Independent Documentary – Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat By the Door / Christine Acham and Clifford Ward
Television
Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Male – Idris Elba / Luther
Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Female – Taraji P. Henson / Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
Outstanding Television Documentary – Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation / VH1 (Richard Low and Martin Torgoff)
Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Film – Thurgood / HBO (Michael Stevens)
http://blackreelawards.wordpress.com/
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Muddled "Twist of Faith" Still a Timely Documentary
Twist of Faith (2004)
Running time: 87 minutes (1 hour, 27 minutes)
Not rated by the MPAA
DIRECTOR: Kirby Dick
PRODUCER: Eddie Schmidt
EDITOR: Matthew Clark
Academy Award nominee
DOCUMENTARY
Starring: Tony Comes, Wendy Comes, and various
Twist of Faith is a 2004 documentary film from director Kirby Dick. This American documentary film earned a 2005 Oscar nomination for “Best Documentary, Features.” It takes a close look at one of the stories to come out of the 2002 Catholic Church child sexual abuse scandals.
The focus of this film is on Tony Comes who claimed to have been sexually molested by a priest who taught at the Catholic school Comes attended in the 1980’s. Now, a husband, father, and firefighter, Comes discovers that the now ex-priest, whom he claims abused him, lives five houses down the street from the home into which Tony, his wife, Wendy, and his two children have just moved. Tony must suddenly deal with his past, and he chooses to do so publicly. That decision brings pain and embarrassment into his life, causing marital strife and disagreements with the rest of his friends and family. He comes to distrust his Church and faith, especially when the local diocese hires a high-powered law firm to combat his and others’ lawsuits. However, Tony does get to meet and form a bond with five other men who claim to be former victims of the same priest. Much of the film deals with events that occurred in 2003 and 2004.
Twist of Faith’s publicity sold them film as being a documentary about how Tony Comes struggled with the public fallout from him going public with his claims of being sexually abused by a Catholic priest. That would have been a good film, but director Kirby Dick actually focuses on Tony Comes. Dick gave Comes and his wife hand-held cameras that allowed them to directly record their thoughts and feelings. Wendy Comes does just that – talking mostly about what Tony’s situation is doing to their marriage. Tony carries the camera around wherever he goes, so we do get to see him interact with people outside his home – fellow abuse victims, friends, and his mother (including an ugly argument Tony has with her about her continuing support of the church in spite of the wrongs Tony claims the church has done to him). However, it’s all about Tony and not really about public reaction to his personal business made private.
Wendy comes across as sympathetic, a wife trying very hard to help her husband through a bad time. Tony, on the other hand, comes across as being as pathetic as he is sympathetic. I tend to believe that he was molested, but his status as a victim doesn’t change the fact that he comes across as whiny, self-righteous jerk. He is petulant, always lashing out at his wife and mother – so bitter, and immature. He plays the victim to the hilt – a drama queen who would be right at home in some 1930’s or 1940’s era film melodrama. He is the epitome of a type we’ve seen much of since the revelations of Catholic Church sex abuse scandals: a grown-ass, 30-something white man pissing and moaning about the priest that got in his pants. That’s the kind of man who could make someone wonder if he wanted Father So-and-so in his pants.
There are some good moments in the film. Many involve Tony Comes, but many more bad ones also involve him. So anyone who has a bleeding heart for victims – any victims – will find this documentary poignant. Others may find it dull, or even – dare I say – embarrassing.
5 of 10
C+
Monday, March 07, 2006
NOTES:
2005 Academy Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Documentary, Features” (Kirby Dick and Eddie Schmidt)
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"Margin Call" Sure as Heck Ain't Marginal
Margin Call (2011)
Running time: 107 minutes (1 hour, 47 minutes)
MPAA – R for language
WRITER/DIRECTOR: J.C. Chandor
PRODUCERS: Robert Ogden Barnum, Michael Benaroya, Neal Dodson, Joe Jenckes, Corey Moosa, and Zachary Quinto
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Frank G. DeMarco
EDITOR: Pete Beaudreau
COMPOSER: Nathan Larson
Academy Award nominee
DRAMA
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Stanley Tucci, Demi Moore, Aasif Mandvi, and Mary McDonnell
Margin Call is a 2011 ensemble drama written and directed by J.C. Chandor. This independent film takes place over a 36-hour period and is set in an investment firm during the early days of the 2008 financial crisis.
At an unnamed investment firm, a typical morning in 2008 turns atypical with a round of layoffs. One of these fired employees, Eric Dale (Stanley Tucci), passes a USB drive to one of his former subordinates, Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto). While perusing the data on the drive, Sullivan makes a shocking discovery, so he alerts the firm’s trading desk bosses, Sam Rogers (Kevin Spacey) and Will Emerson (Paul Bettany). The news goes to more senior executives, including division head, Jared Cohen (Simon Baker), and finally to CEO John Tuld (Jeremy Irons). How they fix this crisis could damage the firm, to say nothing of the damage done to people and entities outside the firm.
Not only is Zachary Quinto a cast member of Margin Call, but his production company, Before the Door Pictures (owned with fellow Margin Call producers, Neal Dodson and Corey Moosa), is also one of the companies behind this film. Because he produced this movie, I think it means that Quinto may have a good sense for quality screenplays. Margin Call is sharply written, and rather than bogging down the audience in the jargon of mortgage back securities and investment trading, the script looks at the characters, personalities, and people behind the decisions that rock the financial foundations of both our nation and also of the entire world.
Writer/director J.C. Chandor has earned an Oscar nomination for this screenplay, but the more impressive feat is directing this cast. There are three Oscar wins between Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Irons and a lot of superb work on the theatre stage. Stanley Tucci has years of excellent performances behind him, and he deserves an Oscar. The rest of the cast is rock solid.
Chandor gives each actor a chance not only to shine as an individual performer, but also to help bring all the performances together to tell a riveting story. Chandor and his cast turn this character drama into a Wall Street thriller. There are some hiccups in the script, and there are also moments when the performances seem like stiff dialogue reading, but they don’t hurt this excellent film. Overall, Margin Call has a better story and screenplay than Oliver Stone’s Wall Street (1987), although Margin Call doesn’t have a monster performance like what Michael Douglas gives Wall Street. Thus far, however, Margin Call is this new century’s signature film about the callous greedy.
8 of 10
A
NOTES:
2012 Academy Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen” (J.C. Chandor)
Friday, February 10, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
2012 Grammy Awards - Complete Winners List
The Grammy Awards (or Grammys) are given out by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) of the United States. The Grammy is an accolade that recognizes outstanding achievement in the music industry. It is the music industry equivalent to the Academy Awards for film, the Emmy Awards for television, and the Tony Award for stage.
The 54th Grammy Awards were held on February 12, 2012 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS. Adele won six awards including the big three: Album, Record, and Song of the Year.
54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS (2012) – Complete List of Winners:
1. Record of the Year
"Rolling in the Deep" - Adele
2. Album of the Year
"21" - Adele
3. Song of the Year
“Rolling in the Deep” - Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
4. Best New Artist
Bon Iver
5. Best Pop Solo Performance
"Someone Like You" - Adele
6. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
"Body And Soul" -Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
7. Best Pop Instrumental Album
"The Road From Memphis" - Booker T. Jones
8. Best Pop Vocal Album
"21" - Adele
9. Best Dance Recording
"Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites" - Skrillex
10. Best Dance/Electronica Album
"Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites" - Skrillex
11. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
"Duets II" - Tony Bennett & Various Artists
12. Best Rock Performance
"Walk" - Foo Fighters
13. Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
"White Limo" - Foo Fighters
14. Best Rock Song
"Walk" - Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters)
15. Best Rock Album
"Wasting Light" -Foo Fighters
16. Best Alternative Music Album
"Bon Iver" - Bon Iver
17. Best R&B Performance
"Is This Love" - Corinne Bailey Rae
18. Best Traditional R&B Performance
"Fool For You" - Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
19. Best R&B Song
"Fool For You" - Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim, Jack Splash, songwriters (Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona)
20. Best R&B Album
"F.A.M.E." - Chris Brown
21. Best Rap Performance
"Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West
22. Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
"All of the Lights" - Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie
23. Best Rap Song
"All of the Lights," Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
24. Best Rap Album
"My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" - Kanye West
25. Best Country Solo Performance
"Mean" - Taylor Swift
26. Best Country Duo/Group Performance
"Barton Hollow" - The Civil Wars
27. Best Country Song
"Mean" - Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
28. Best Country Album
"Own The Night" - Lady Antebellum
29. Best New Age Album
"What's It All About" - Pat Metheny
30. Best Improvised Jazz Solo
"500 Miles High" - Chick Corea, soloist
31. Best Jazz Vocal Album
"The Mosaic Project" - Terri Lyne Carrington & Various Artists
32. Best Jazz Instrumental Album
"Forever" - Corea, Clarke & White
33. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
"The Good Feeling" - Christian McBride Big Band
34. Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
"Jesus" - Le'Andria Johnson
35. Best Gospel Song
"Hello Fear" - Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)
36. Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
"Blessings" - Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)
37. Best Gospel Album
"Hello Fear" - Kirk Franklin
38. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
"And If Our God Is For Us..." - Chris Tomlin
39. Best Latin Pop, Rock, Or Urban Album
"Drama Y Luz" - Maná
40. Best Regional Mexican Or Tejano Album
"Bicentenario" - Pepe Aguilar
41. Best Banda Or Norteño Album
"Los Tigres Del Norte And Friends" - Los Tigres Del Norte
42. Best Tropical Latin Album
"The Last Mambo" - Cachao
43. Best Americana Album
"Ramble At The Ryman" - Levon Helm
44. Best Bluegrass Album
"Paper Airplane" - Alison Krauss & Union Station
45. Best Blues Album
"Revelator" - Tedeschi Trucks Band
46. Best Folk Album
"Barton Hollow" - The Civil Wars
47. Best Regional Roots Music Album
"Rebirth Of New Orleans" - Rebirth Brass Band
48. Best Reggae Album
"Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life" - Stephen Marley
49. Best World Music Album
"Tassili" - Tinariwen
50. Best Children's Album
"All About Bullies... Big And Small" - (Various Artists); Jim Cravero, Gloria Domina, Kevin Mackie, Steve Pullara & Patrick Robinson, producers
51. Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)
"If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)" - Betty White
52. Best Comedy Album
"Hilarious" - Louis C.K.
53. Best Musical Theater Album
"The Book Of Mormon" - Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells, artists; Anne Garefino, Robert Lopez, Stephen Oremus, Trey Parker, Scott Rudin & Matt Stone, producers; Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)
54. Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
"Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1" (Various Artists); Stewart Lerman, Randall Poster & Kevin Weaver, producers
55. Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
"The King's Speech" - Alexandre Desplat, composer
56. Best Song Written For Visual Media
"I See The Light (From Tangled)" Alan Menken & Glenn Slater, songwriters (Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi)
57. Best Instrumental Composition
"Life In Eleven" - Béla Fleck & Howard Levy, composers (Béla Fleck & The Flecktones); Track from: Rocket Science
58. Best Instrumental Arrangement
"Rhapsody In Blue" - Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band); Track from: That's How We Roll
59. Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
"Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)" - Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett & Queen Latifah); Track from: Duets II
60. Best Recording Package
"Scenes From The Suburbs" - Caroline Robert, art director (Arcade Fire)
61. Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
"The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story" - Dave Bett & Michelle Holme, art directors (Bruce Springsteen)
62. Best Album Notes
"Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s" - Adam Machado, album notes writer (Various Artists)
63. Best Historical Album
"Band On The Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection - Deluxe Edition)" Paul McCartney, compilation producer; Sam Okell & Steve Rooke, mastering engineers (Paul McCartney & Wings)
64. Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
"Paper Airplane" - Neal Cappellino & Mike Shipley, engineers; Brad Blackwood, mastering engineer (Alison Krauss & Union Station)
65. Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Paul Epworth:
1. Call It What You Want (Foster The People) (T)
2. I Would Do Anything For You (Foster The People) (T)
3. I'll Be Waiting (Adele) (T)
4. Life On The Nickel (Foster The People) (T)
5. No One's Gonna Love You (Cee-Lo Green) (S)
6. Rolling In The Deep (Adele) (T)
66. Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
"Cinema (Skrillex Remix)" - Sonny Moore, remixer (Benny Benassi); Track from: Electroman
67. Best Surround Sound Album
"Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (Super Deluxe Edition)" - Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Bill Levenson & Elliot Scheiner, surround producers (Derek & The Dominos)
68. Best Engineered Album, Classical
"Aldridge: Elmer Gantry" - Byeong-Joon Hwang & John Newton, engineers; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer (William Boggs, Keith Phares, Patricia Risley, Vale Rideout, Frank Kelley, Heather Buck, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
69. Producer Of The Year, Classical
Judith Sherman:
1. Adams: Son Of Chamber Symphony; String Quartet (John Adams, St. Lawrence String Quartet & International Contemporary Ensemble)
2. Capricho Latino (Rachel Barton Pine)
3. 85th Birthday Celebration (Claude Frank)
4. Insects & Paper Airplanes - Chamber Music Of Lawrence Dillon (Daedalus Quartet & Benjamin Hochman)
5. Midnight Frolic - The Broadway Theater Music Of Louis A. Hirsch (Rick Benjamin & Paragon Ragtime Orchestra)
6. Notable Women - Trios By Today's Female Composers (Lincoln Trio)
7. The Soviet Experience, Vol. 1 - String Quartets By Dmitri Shostakovich & His Contemporaries (Pacifica Quartet)
8. Speak! (Anthony De Mare)
9. State Of The Art - The American Brass Quintet At 50 (The American Brass Quintet)
10. Steve Reich: WTC 9/11; Mallet Quartet; Dance Patterns (Kronos Quartet, Steve Reich Musicians & So Percussion)
11. Winging It - Piano Music Of John Corigliano (Ursula Oppens)
70. Best Orchestral Performance
"Brahms: Symphony No. 4" - Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
71. Best Opera Recording
"Adams: Doctor Atomic" - Alan Gilbert, conductor; Meredith Arwady, Sasha Cooke, Richard Paul Fink, Gerald Finley, Thomas Glenn & Eric Owens; Jay David Saks, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
72. Best Choral Performance
"Light & Gold" - Eric Whitacre, conductor (Christopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King's Singers, Laudibus, Pavão Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers)
73. Best Small Ensemble Performance
"Mackey: Lonely Motel - Music From Slide" - Rinde Eckert & Steven Mackey; Eighth Blackbird
74. Best Classical Instrumental Solo
"Schwantner: Concerto For Percussion & Orchestra" - Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Christopher Lamb (Nashville Symphony)
75. Best Classical Vocal Solo
"Diva Divo" - Joyce DiDonato (Kazushi Ono; Orchestre De L'Opéra National De Lyon; Choeur De L'Opéra National De Lyon)
76. Best Contemporary Classical Composition
"Aldridge, Robert: Elmer Gantry" - Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein
77. Best Short Form Music Video
"Rolling In The Deep" – Adele; Sam Brown, video director; Hannah Chandler, video producer
78. Best Long Form Music Video
"Foo Fighters: Back And Forth" - Foo Fighters; James Moll, video director; James Moll & Nigel Sinclair, video producers
http://www.grammy.com/
The 54th Grammy Awards were held on February 12, 2012 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS. Adele won six awards including the big three: Album, Record, and Song of the Year.
54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS (2012) – Complete List of Winners:
1. Record of the Year
"Rolling in the Deep" - Adele
2. Album of the Year
"21" - Adele
3. Song of the Year
“Rolling in the Deep” - Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
4. Best New Artist
Bon Iver
5. Best Pop Solo Performance
"Someone Like You" - Adele
6. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
"Body And Soul" -Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
7. Best Pop Instrumental Album
"The Road From Memphis" - Booker T. Jones
8. Best Pop Vocal Album
"21" - Adele
9. Best Dance Recording
"Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites" - Skrillex
10. Best Dance/Electronica Album
"Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites" - Skrillex
11. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
"Duets II" - Tony Bennett & Various Artists
12. Best Rock Performance
"Walk" - Foo Fighters
13. Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
"White Limo" - Foo Fighters
14. Best Rock Song
"Walk" - Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters)
15. Best Rock Album
"Wasting Light" -Foo Fighters
16. Best Alternative Music Album
"Bon Iver" - Bon Iver
17. Best R&B Performance
"Is This Love" - Corinne Bailey Rae
18. Best Traditional R&B Performance
"Fool For You" - Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
19. Best R&B Song
"Fool For You" - Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim, Jack Splash, songwriters (Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona)
20. Best R&B Album
"F.A.M.E." - Chris Brown
21. Best Rap Performance
"Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West
22. Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
"All of the Lights" - Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie
23. Best Rap Song
"All of the Lights," Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
24. Best Rap Album
"My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" - Kanye West
25. Best Country Solo Performance
"Mean" - Taylor Swift
26. Best Country Duo/Group Performance
"Barton Hollow" - The Civil Wars
27. Best Country Song
"Mean" - Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
28. Best Country Album
"Own The Night" - Lady Antebellum
29. Best New Age Album
"What's It All About" - Pat Metheny
30. Best Improvised Jazz Solo
"500 Miles High" - Chick Corea, soloist
31. Best Jazz Vocal Album
"The Mosaic Project" - Terri Lyne Carrington & Various Artists
32. Best Jazz Instrumental Album
"Forever" - Corea, Clarke & White
33. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
"The Good Feeling" - Christian McBride Big Band
34. Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
"Jesus" - Le'Andria Johnson
35. Best Gospel Song
"Hello Fear" - Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)
36. Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
"Blessings" - Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)
37. Best Gospel Album
"Hello Fear" - Kirk Franklin
38. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
"And If Our God Is For Us..." - Chris Tomlin
39. Best Latin Pop, Rock, Or Urban Album
"Drama Y Luz" - Maná
40. Best Regional Mexican Or Tejano Album
"Bicentenario" - Pepe Aguilar
41. Best Banda Or Norteño Album
"Los Tigres Del Norte And Friends" - Los Tigres Del Norte
42. Best Tropical Latin Album
"The Last Mambo" - Cachao
43. Best Americana Album
"Ramble At The Ryman" - Levon Helm
44. Best Bluegrass Album
"Paper Airplane" - Alison Krauss & Union Station
45. Best Blues Album
"Revelator" - Tedeschi Trucks Band
46. Best Folk Album
"Barton Hollow" - The Civil Wars
47. Best Regional Roots Music Album
"Rebirth Of New Orleans" - Rebirth Brass Band
48. Best Reggae Album
"Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life" - Stephen Marley
49. Best World Music Album
"Tassili" - Tinariwen
50. Best Children's Album
"All About Bullies... Big And Small" - (Various Artists); Jim Cravero, Gloria Domina, Kevin Mackie, Steve Pullara & Patrick Robinson, producers
51. Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)
"If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)" - Betty White
52. Best Comedy Album
"Hilarious" - Louis C.K.
53. Best Musical Theater Album
"The Book Of Mormon" - Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells, artists; Anne Garefino, Robert Lopez, Stephen Oremus, Trey Parker, Scott Rudin & Matt Stone, producers; Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)
54. Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
"Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1" (Various Artists); Stewart Lerman, Randall Poster & Kevin Weaver, producers
55. Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
"The King's Speech" - Alexandre Desplat, composer
56. Best Song Written For Visual Media
"I See The Light (From Tangled)" Alan Menken & Glenn Slater, songwriters (Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi)
57. Best Instrumental Composition
"Life In Eleven" - Béla Fleck & Howard Levy, composers (Béla Fleck & The Flecktones); Track from: Rocket Science
58. Best Instrumental Arrangement
"Rhapsody In Blue" - Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band); Track from: That's How We Roll
59. Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
"Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)" - Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett & Queen Latifah); Track from: Duets II
60. Best Recording Package
"Scenes From The Suburbs" - Caroline Robert, art director (Arcade Fire)
61. Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
"The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story" - Dave Bett & Michelle Holme, art directors (Bruce Springsteen)
62. Best Album Notes
"Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s" - Adam Machado, album notes writer (Various Artists)
63. Best Historical Album
"Band On The Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection - Deluxe Edition)" Paul McCartney, compilation producer; Sam Okell & Steve Rooke, mastering engineers (Paul McCartney & Wings)
64. Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
"Paper Airplane" - Neal Cappellino & Mike Shipley, engineers; Brad Blackwood, mastering engineer (Alison Krauss & Union Station)
65. Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Paul Epworth:
1. Call It What You Want (Foster The People) (T)
2. I Would Do Anything For You (Foster The People) (T)
3. I'll Be Waiting (Adele) (T)
4. Life On The Nickel (Foster The People) (T)
5. No One's Gonna Love You (Cee-Lo Green) (S)
6. Rolling In The Deep (Adele) (T)
66. Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
"Cinema (Skrillex Remix)" - Sonny Moore, remixer (Benny Benassi); Track from: Electroman
67. Best Surround Sound Album
"Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (Super Deluxe Edition)" - Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Bill Levenson & Elliot Scheiner, surround producers (Derek & The Dominos)
68. Best Engineered Album, Classical
"Aldridge: Elmer Gantry" - Byeong-Joon Hwang & John Newton, engineers; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer (William Boggs, Keith Phares, Patricia Risley, Vale Rideout, Frank Kelley, Heather Buck, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
69. Producer Of The Year, Classical
Judith Sherman:
1. Adams: Son Of Chamber Symphony; String Quartet (John Adams, St. Lawrence String Quartet & International Contemporary Ensemble)
2. Capricho Latino (Rachel Barton Pine)
3. 85th Birthday Celebration (Claude Frank)
4. Insects & Paper Airplanes - Chamber Music Of Lawrence Dillon (Daedalus Quartet & Benjamin Hochman)
5. Midnight Frolic - The Broadway Theater Music Of Louis A. Hirsch (Rick Benjamin & Paragon Ragtime Orchestra)
6. Notable Women - Trios By Today's Female Composers (Lincoln Trio)
7. The Soviet Experience, Vol. 1 - String Quartets By Dmitri Shostakovich & His Contemporaries (Pacifica Quartet)
8. Speak! (Anthony De Mare)
9. State Of The Art - The American Brass Quintet At 50 (The American Brass Quintet)
10. Steve Reich: WTC 9/11; Mallet Quartet; Dance Patterns (Kronos Quartet, Steve Reich Musicians & So Percussion)
11. Winging It - Piano Music Of John Corigliano (Ursula Oppens)
70. Best Orchestral Performance
"Brahms: Symphony No. 4" - Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
71. Best Opera Recording
"Adams: Doctor Atomic" - Alan Gilbert, conductor; Meredith Arwady, Sasha Cooke, Richard Paul Fink, Gerald Finley, Thomas Glenn & Eric Owens; Jay David Saks, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
72. Best Choral Performance
"Light & Gold" - Eric Whitacre, conductor (Christopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King's Singers, Laudibus, Pavão Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers)
73. Best Small Ensemble Performance
"Mackey: Lonely Motel - Music From Slide" - Rinde Eckert & Steven Mackey; Eighth Blackbird
74. Best Classical Instrumental Solo
"Schwantner: Concerto For Percussion & Orchestra" - Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Christopher Lamb (Nashville Symphony)
75. Best Classical Vocal Solo
"Diva Divo" - Joyce DiDonato (Kazushi Ono; Orchestre De L'Opéra National De Lyon; Choeur De L'Opéra National De Lyon)
76. Best Contemporary Classical Composition
"Aldridge, Robert: Elmer Gantry" - Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein
77. Best Short Form Music Video
"Rolling In The Deep" – Adele; Sam Brown, video director; Hannah Chandler, video producer
78. Best Long Form Music Video
"Foo Fighters: Back And Forth" - Foo Fighters; James Moll, video director; James Moll & Nigel Sinclair, video producers
http://www.grammy.com/
2012 Black Reel Awards Nominations - Complete List
The Black Reel Awards annually honor African-Americans in feature, independent and television film. The awards were launched in 2000, and this is the 12th year the awards will be handed out. The Black Reel Awards are now given out by the Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF).
More 50 film critics from television, radio, print and the Internet comprise the voting members of the Black Reel Awards. 2012 winners were announced on Friday, February 10, 2012 in ceremony held in Washington D.C. I'll have the results soon.
The nominations for the 2012 Black Reel Awards:
Outstanding Film
Pariah
Shame
The Help
Attack the Block
Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Director
Steve McQueen – Shame
Dee Rees – Pariah
Qasim Bashir – Mooz-Lum
Ava DuVernay – I Will Follow
Salim Akil – Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Actor
John Boyega – Attack the Block
Demián Bichir– A Better Life
Laz Alonso – Jumping the Broom
Oliver Litondo – The First Grader
Evan Ross – Mooz-Lum
Outstanding Actress
Viola Davis – The Help
Adepero Oduye – Pariah
Zoe Saldana – Columbiana
Nia Long – Mooz-Lum
Naomie Harris – The First Grader
Outstanding Supporting Actor
Anthony Mackie – The Adjustment Bureau
Don Cheadle – The Guard
Isiah Whitlock Jr. – Cedar Rapids
Laurence Fishburne – Contagion
Mike Epps – Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer – The Help
Maya Rudolph – Bridesmaids
Kim Wayans – Pariah
Pernell Walker – Pariah
Angela Bassett – Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Screenplay, Original or Adapted
Steve McQueen and Abi Morgan – Shame
Qasim Bashir – Mooz-Lum
Dee Rees – Pariah
Ava DuVernay – I Will Follow
Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs – Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance
Octavia Spencer – The Help
Adepero Oduye – Pariah
John Boyega – Attack the Block
Kim Wayans – Pariah
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Larry Crowne
Outstanding Ensemble
Pariah
Attack the Block
The Help
Mooz-Lum
Fast Five
Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Original Song
The Living Proof – Mary J. Blige (The Help)
Walkin’ Blues – Cee-Lo Green featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Footloose)
Furiously Dangerous – Ludacris (Fast Five)
Fly Love – Jamie Foxx (Rio)
My Last Day Without You – Nicole Beharie (My Last Day Without You)
Outstanding Score
Harry Escott – Shame
Steven Price – Attack the Block
Misha Segal – Mooz-Lum
Thomas Newman – The Help
Alex Heffes – The First Grader
Outstanding Foreign Film
Attack the Block
The First Grader
Kinyarwanda
Life, Above All
Viva Riva!
Outstanding Feature Documentary
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey – Constance Marks
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest – Michael Rapaport
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 – Goran Olsson
Undefeated – Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin
The Interrupters – Steve James
Outstanding Independent Feature Film
My Last Day Without You – Stefan C. Schaefer
The Tested – Russell Constanzo
Mamitas – Nicholas Ozeki
Besouro – João Daniel Tikhomiroff
Billy – Winston Washington Moxam
Outstanding Independent Short Film
Fig – Ryan Coogler
Wolf Call – Rob Underhill
Wake – Bree Newsome
The Abyss Boys – Jan-Hendrik Beetge
The Tombs – Jerry Lamonthe
Outstanding Independent Documentary
Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat By the Door – Christine Acham and Clifford Ward
Gang Girl: A Mother’s Journey to Save Her Daughter – Valerie Goodloe
Brown Babies – Regina Griffin
Zero Percent – Tim Skousen
The Manuscripts of Timbuktu – Zola Maseko
Burn: The Evolution of An American City – Harold Jackson III
Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Male
Idris Elba – Luther
Laurence Fishburne – Thurgood
Samuel L. Jackson – The Sunset Limited
Eric Benet – Trinity Goodheart
Mykelti Williamson – Have A Little Faith
Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Female
Taraji P. Henson – Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
Anika Noni Rose – Bag of Bones
Rosario Dawson – Five
Jenifer Lewis – Five
Tracee Ellis Ross – Five
Outstanding Television Documentary
Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation – VH1 (Richard Low and Martin Torgoff)
Pray the Devil Back to Hell – PBS (Gini Reticker)
The Fab Five – ESPN (Jason Hehir)
Black in Latin America – PBS (Henry Louis Gates)
The Latino List – HBO (Timothy Greenfield-Sanders)
Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Film
Thurgood – HBO (Michael Stevens)
Luther – BBC (Katie Swinden)
Five – Lifetime (Nellie Nugiel)
The Sunset Limited – HBO (Barbara A. Hall)
Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story – Lifetime (Harvey Kahn)
More 50 film critics from television, radio, print and the Internet comprise the voting members of the Black Reel Awards. 2012 winners were announced on Friday, February 10, 2012 in ceremony held in Washington D.C. I'll have the results soon.
The nominations for the 2012 Black Reel Awards:
Outstanding Film
Pariah
Shame
The Help
Attack the Block
Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Director
Steve McQueen – Shame
Dee Rees – Pariah
Qasim Bashir – Mooz-Lum
Ava DuVernay – I Will Follow
Salim Akil – Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Actor
John Boyega – Attack the Block
Demián Bichir– A Better Life
Laz Alonso – Jumping the Broom
Oliver Litondo – The First Grader
Evan Ross – Mooz-Lum
Outstanding Actress
Viola Davis – The Help
Adepero Oduye – Pariah
Zoe Saldana – Columbiana
Nia Long – Mooz-Lum
Naomie Harris – The First Grader
Outstanding Supporting Actor
Anthony Mackie – The Adjustment Bureau
Don Cheadle – The Guard
Isiah Whitlock Jr. – Cedar Rapids
Laurence Fishburne – Contagion
Mike Epps – Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer – The Help
Maya Rudolph – Bridesmaids
Kim Wayans – Pariah
Pernell Walker – Pariah
Angela Bassett – Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Screenplay, Original or Adapted
Steve McQueen and Abi Morgan – Shame
Qasim Bashir – Mooz-Lum
Dee Rees – Pariah
Ava DuVernay – I Will Follow
Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs – Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance
Octavia Spencer – The Help
Adepero Oduye – Pariah
John Boyega – Attack the Block
Kim Wayans – Pariah
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Larry Crowne
Outstanding Ensemble
Pariah
Attack the Block
The Help
Mooz-Lum
Fast Five
Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Original Song
The Living Proof – Mary J. Blige (The Help)
Walkin’ Blues – Cee-Lo Green featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Footloose)
Furiously Dangerous – Ludacris (Fast Five)
Fly Love – Jamie Foxx (Rio)
My Last Day Without You – Nicole Beharie (My Last Day Without You)
Outstanding Score
Harry Escott – Shame
Steven Price – Attack the Block
Misha Segal – Mooz-Lum
Thomas Newman – The Help
Alex Heffes – The First Grader
Outstanding Foreign Film
Attack the Block
The First Grader
Kinyarwanda
Life, Above All
Viva Riva!
Outstanding Feature Documentary
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey – Constance Marks
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest – Michael Rapaport
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 – Goran Olsson
Undefeated – Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin
The Interrupters – Steve James
Outstanding Independent Feature Film
My Last Day Without You – Stefan C. Schaefer
The Tested – Russell Constanzo
Mamitas – Nicholas Ozeki
Besouro – João Daniel Tikhomiroff
Billy – Winston Washington Moxam
Outstanding Independent Short Film
Fig – Ryan Coogler
Wolf Call – Rob Underhill
Wake – Bree Newsome
The Abyss Boys – Jan-Hendrik Beetge
The Tombs – Jerry Lamonthe
Outstanding Independent Documentary
Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat By the Door – Christine Acham and Clifford Ward
Gang Girl: A Mother’s Journey to Save Her Daughter – Valerie Goodloe
Brown Babies – Regina Griffin
Zero Percent – Tim Skousen
The Manuscripts of Timbuktu – Zola Maseko
Burn: The Evolution of An American City – Harold Jackson III
Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Male
Idris Elba – Luther
Laurence Fishburne – Thurgood
Samuel L. Jackson – The Sunset Limited
Eric Benet – Trinity Goodheart
Mykelti Williamson – Have A Little Faith
Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Female
Taraji P. Henson – Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
Anika Noni Rose – Bag of Bones
Rosario Dawson – Five
Jenifer Lewis – Five
Tracee Ellis Ross – Five
Outstanding Television Documentary
Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation – VH1 (Richard Low and Martin Torgoff)
Pray the Devil Back to Hell – PBS (Gini Reticker)
The Fab Five – ESPN (Jason Hehir)
Black in Latin America – PBS (Henry Louis Gates)
The Latino List – HBO (Timothy Greenfield-Sanders)
Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Film
Thurgood – HBO (Michael Stevens)
Luther – BBC (Katie Swinden)
Five – Lifetime (Nellie Nugiel)
The Sunset Limited – HBO (Barbara A. Hall)
Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story – Lifetime (Harvey Kahn)
Sunday, February 12, 2012
2012 BAFTAs Name "The Artist" Best Film
The Orange British Academy Film Awards (also known as the BAFTAs) are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is the British counterpart of the Oscars.
The 2012 Orange British Academy Film Awards ceremony was held on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at London's Royal Opera House. To no one's surprise, the black and white, silent film, The Artist, was the big winner, capturing the best film prize and winning in 7 of the 12 categories in which it was nominated.
2012 Orange British Academy Film Awards winners:
BEST FILM
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Thomas Langmann
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
WINNER: TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY - Tomas Alfredson, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo, Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
WINNER: TYRANNOSAUR - Paddy Considine (Director), Diarmid Scrimshaw (Producer)
DIRECTOR
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Michel Hazanavicius
DOCUMENTARY
WINNER: SENNA - Asif Kapadia, James Gay-Rees, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Manish Pandey
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Michel Hazanavicius
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
WINNER: TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY - Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
WINNER: THE SKIN I LIVE IN - Pedro Almodóvar, Agustin Almodóvar
ANIMATED FILM
WINNER: RANGO - Gore Verbinski
LEADING ACTOR
WINNER: JEAN DUJARDIN - The Artist
LEADING ACTRESS
WINNER: MERYL STREEP - The Iron Lady
SUPPORTING ACTOR
WINNER: CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER - Beginners
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
WINNER: OCTAVIA SPENCER - The Help
ORIGINAL MUSIC
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Ludovic Bource
CINEMATOGRAPHY
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Guillaume Schiffman
EDITING
WINNER: SENNA - Gregers Sall, Chris King
PRODUCTION DESIGN
WINNER: HUGO - Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo
COSTUME DESIGN
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Mark Bridges
SOUND
WINNER: HUGO - Philip Stockton, Eugene Gearty, Tom Fleischman, John Midgley
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
WINNER: HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 2 - Tim Burke, John Richardson, Greg Butler, David Vickery
MAKE UP & HAIR
WINNER: THE IRON LADY - Mark Coulier, J. Roy Helland, Marese Langan
SHORT ANIMATION
WINNER: A MORNING STROLL - Grant Orchard, Sue Goffe
SHORT FILM
WINNER: PITCH BLACK HEIST - John Maclean, Gerardine O'Flynn
ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING STAR AWARD
WINNER: ADAM DEACON
ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP
Martin Scorsese
OUTSTANDING BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO CINEMA
John Hurt
The 2012 Orange British Academy Film Awards ceremony was held on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at London's Royal Opera House. To no one's surprise, the black and white, silent film, The Artist, was the big winner, capturing the best film prize and winning in 7 of the 12 categories in which it was nominated.
2012 Orange British Academy Film Awards winners:
BEST FILM
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Thomas Langmann
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
WINNER: TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY - Tomas Alfredson, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo, Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
WINNER: TYRANNOSAUR - Paddy Considine (Director), Diarmid Scrimshaw (Producer)
DIRECTOR
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Michel Hazanavicius
DOCUMENTARY
WINNER: SENNA - Asif Kapadia, James Gay-Rees, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Manish Pandey
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Michel Hazanavicius
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
WINNER: TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY - Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
WINNER: THE SKIN I LIVE IN - Pedro Almodóvar, Agustin Almodóvar
ANIMATED FILM
WINNER: RANGO - Gore Verbinski
LEADING ACTOR
WINNER: JEAN DUJARDIN - The Artist
LEADING ACTRESS
WINNER: MERYL STREEP - The Iron Lady
SUPPORTING ACTOR
WINNER: CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER - Beginners
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
WINNER: OCTAVIA SPENCER - The Help
ORIGINAL MUSIC
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Ludovic Bource
CINEMATOGRAPHY
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Guillaume Schiffman
EDITING
WINNER: SENNA - Gregers Sall, Chris King
PRODUCTION DESIGN
WINNER: HUGO - Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo
COSTUME DESIGN
WINNER: THE ARTIST - Mark Bridges
SOUND
WINNER: HUGO - Philip Stockton, Eugene Gearty, Tom Fleischman, John Midgley
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
WINNER: HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 2 - Tim Burke, John Richardson, Greg Butler, David Vickery
MAKE UP & HAIR
WINNER: THE IRON LADY - Mark Coulier, J. Roy Helland, Marese Langan
SHORT ANIMATION
WINNER: A MORNING STROLL - Grant Orchard, Sue Goffe
SHORT FILM
WINNER: PITCH BLACK HEIST - John Maclean, Gerardine O'Flynn
ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING STAR AWARD
WINNER: ADAM DEACON
ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP
Martin Scorsese
OUTSTANDING BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO CINEMA
John Hurt
A Round of Lost Stars - Peter Breck and Whitney Houston
Coming off the losses of Grammy-winning singer Etta James and Soul Train founder and host, Don Cornelius, comes word of the death of two more people who brought me joy and happiness with their work and performances.
I was not a big fan of Whitney Houston's work in movies, but I am a big fan of her music. Ms. Houston (who was born in 1963) was found dead (at the age of 48) in a room at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, yesterday (Saturday, February 11, 2012). My favorite Whitney Houston album is My Love is Your Love (1998), her last multi-platinum studio album. Ms. Houston was set to appear in a remake of the 1976 film, Sparkle, which is currently slated for an August 2012 release. R.I.P. Whitney.
I've also learned that American actor, Peter Breck, died Monday, February 6, 2012 at the age of 82. I am a big fan of Breck because of his work in the 1960s ABC Western television series, The Big Valley, playing hot-tempered Nick Barkley, the middle son of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck). The handsome, rugged, dark-haired Breck was perfect for the part of Nick, playing a character that is basically the ramrod and de factor boss of the Barkley ranch. Breck also played "Doc Holliday" on six episodes of the ABC Western television series, Maverick. Thanks to MeTV, I can watch Breck at least five times a week on The Big Valley, forever young and strapping. R.I.P. Mr. Breck.
I was not a big fan of Whitney Houston's work in movies, but I am a big fan of her music. Ms. Houston (who was born in 1963) was found dead (at the age of 48) in a room at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, yesterday (Saturday, February 11, 2012). My favorite Whitney Houston album is My Love is Your Love (1998), her last multi-platinum studio album. Ms. Houston was set to appear in a remake of the 1976 film, Sparkle, which is currently slated for an August 2012 release. R.I.P. Whitney.
I've also learned that American actor, Peter Breck, died Monday, February 6, 2012 at the age of 82. I am a big fan of Breck because of his work in the 1960s ABC Western television series, The Big Valley, playing hot-tempered Nick Barkley, the middle son of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck). The handsome, rugged, dark-haired Breck was perfect for the part of Nick, playing a character that is basically the ramrod and de factor boss of the Barkley ranch. Breck also played "Doc Holliday" on six episodes of the ABC Western television series, Maverick. Thanks to MeTV, I can watch Breck at least five times a week on The Big Valley, forever young and strapping. R.I.P. Mr. Breck.
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