Monday, February 9, 2015
Brad Pitt and Robert Zemeckis Team-up for Untitled Romantic Thriller
BRAD PITT TO STAR AND ROBERT ZEMECKIS TO DIRECT A SWEEPING ROMANTIC THRILLER FROM WRITER STEVE KNIGHT, TO BE PRODUCED BY GRAHAM KING FOR PARAMOUNT PICTURES, GK FILMS AND NEW REGENCY
Paramount Pictures, GK Films and New Regency today announced that Brad Pitt will star, and Robert Zemeckis (“FLIGHT,” “FORREST GUMP”) will direct, an original story by Steve Knight (“THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY,” “DIRTY PRETTY THINGS”) to be produced by Graham King (“RANGO,” “THE DEPARTED”), who developed the project, alongside Zemeckis and Steve Starkey (“FLIGHT,” “REAL STEEL”).
The epic story will be produced through King’s GK Films banner with Jack Rapke (“FLIGHT,” “REAL STEEL”), Knight, Patrick McCormick (“BLACK MASS”) and Denis O’Sullivan (“THE 5thWAVE,” THE YOUNG VICTORIA”) serving as executive producers.
Zemeckis’ credits at Paramount Pictures include the 1994 blockbuster “FORREST GUMP,” for which he won the Academy Award® for Best Director. The groundbreaking film grossed $677 million worldwide and won six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for star Tom Hanks. In 2012, the studio and Zemeckis partnered on the critically-lauded, live-action thriller “FLIGHT,” which starred Denzel Washington and received two Academy Award nominations. Presently, Zemeckis is in post-production on “THE WALK,” starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, slated for an October 2015 release.
King and Knight are also partnered on the action-thriller “THE RED CIRCLE,” a remake of the classic French film “LE CERCLE ROUGE” reset in Hong Kong. Knight wrote the script and King is producing under GK Films.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
About GK Films
GK Films is one of the most foremost creative forces in both major motion pictures and independent features. Helmed by Academy Award-winning producer, Graham King, the company has produced or executive produced more than 45 films, grossing $1.4 billion at the domestic box office, and over $3.3 billion worldwide. Also heralded by critics and film groups, GK Films’ projects have been nominated for 61 Academy Awards, 38 Golden Globe Awards, and 52 British Academy Film Awards. Forthcoming projects include the film adaptation of the hit YA novel THE 5TH WAVE starring Chloe Grace Moretz, the UNTITLED FREDDIE MERCURY STORY, a remake of the classic French film THE RED CIRCLE and the highly anticipated franchise reboot of TOMB RAIDER. Recent GK Films’ projects include WORLD WAR Z, ARGO, HUGO, RANGO, IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY and THE TOWN. King won a Best Picture Oscar as a producer on Martin Scorsese’s 2006 crime drama, THE DEPARTED.
About New Regency
Founded in 1991 by renowned producer Arnon Milchan, New Regency is actively engaged in entertaining the world. The company has produced some of the most successful and critically-acclaimed films of all time with over 125 films and more than 50 television series in the company’s vast library, including 2014 Academy Award®-winning Best Picture, “12 Years A Slave.” New Regency is also dedicated to continuing to foster its unparalleled filmmaker relationships and today boasts partnerships with most acclaimed and sought-after creative forces in the industry.
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BAFTAs Name "Boyhood" Best Film of 2014 - Complete List of Winners
The 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). They are the British counterpart of the Oscars.
Previously known as the Orange British Academy Film Awards, they are now known as the EE British Academy Film Awards. The British telecommunications company, EE, replaces Orange as the title sponsor of the awards.
The 68th EE British Academy Film Awards took place on Sunday, February 8, 2015 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. The ceremony was hosted by Stephen Fry and was broadcast exclusively on BBC One and BBC One HD, preceded by a red carpet show on BBC Three. The ceremony was also broadcast in all major territories around the world.
2015 / 68th BAFTA Film Award winners (for the year in film 2014):
Best Film
Richard Linklater and Cathleen Sutherland - "Boyhood"
Best Director
Richard Linklater - "Boyhood"
Best Actor In A Leading Role
Eddie Redmayne - "The Theory Of Everything"
Best Actress In A Leading Role
Julianne Moore - "Still Alice"
Best Actor In A Supporting Role
J.K. Simmons - "Whiplash"
Best Actress In A Supporting Role
Patricia Arquette - "Boyhood"
Best Original Screenplay
Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness - "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best Adapted Screenplay
Anthony McCarten - "The Theory Of Everything"
Outstanding British Film
James Marsh, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten - "Theory Of Everything"
Best Documentary
Laura Poitras - "Citizenfour"
Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer
Stephen Beresford, David Livingstone - "Pride"
Best Film Not In The English Language
Pawel Pawlikowski, Eric Abraham, Piotr Dzieciol, Ewa Puszczynska - "Ida"
Best Animated Film
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller - "The Lego Movie"
Best Original Music
Alexandre Desplat - "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki - "Birdman"
Best Editing
Tom Cross - "Whiplash"
Best Production Design
Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock - "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best Costume Design
Milena Canonero - "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best Makeup and Hair
Frances Hannon - "The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Sound
Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann - "Whiplash"
Best Special Visual Effects
Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter - "Interstellar"
Best Short Film
Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka - "Boogaloo And Graham"
Best Short Animation
Brian J. Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney - "The Bigger Picture"
*EE Rising Star Award:
Jack O'Connell
*The EE Rising Star Award is an audience award voted for by the British public and presented to an actor or actress who has demonstrated exceptional talent and promise.
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Previously known as the Orange British Academy Film Awards, they are now known as the EE British Academy Film Awards. The British telecommunications company, EE, replaces Orange as the title sponsor of the awards.
The 68th EE British Academy Film Awards took place on Sunday, February 8, 2015 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. The ceremony was hosted by Stephen Fry and was broadcast exclusively on BBC One and BBC One HD, preceded by a red carpet show on BBC Three. The ceremony was also broadcast in all major territories around the world.
2015 / 68th BAFTA Film Award winners (for the year in film 2014):
Best Film
Richard Linklater and Cathleen Sutherland - "Boyhood"
Best Director
Richard Linklater - "Boyhood"
Best Actor In A Leading Role
Eddie Redmayne - "The Theory Of Everything"
Best Actress In A Leading Role
Julianne Moore - "Still Alice"
Best Actor In A Supporting Role
J.K. Simmons - "Whiplash"
Best Actress In A Supporting Role
Patricia Arquette - "Boyhood"
Best Original Screenplay
Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness - "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best Adapted Screenplay
Anthony McCarten - "The Theory Of Everything"
Outstanding British Film
James Marsh, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten - "Theory Of Everything"
Best Documentary
Laura Poitras - "Citizenfour"
Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer
Stephen Beresford, David Livingstone - "Pride"
Best Film Not In The English Language
Pawel Pawlikowski, Eric Abraham, Piotr Dzieciol, Ewa Puszczynska - "Ida"
Best Animated Film
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller - "The Lego Movie"
Best Original Music
Alexandre Desplat - "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki - "Birdman"
Best Editing
Tom Cross - "Whiplash"
Best Production Design
Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock - "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best Costume Design
Milena Canonero - "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best Makeup and Hair
Frances Hannon - "The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Sound
Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann - "Whiplash"
Best Special Visual Effects
Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter - "Interstellar"
Best Short Film
Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka - "Boogaloo And Graham"
Best Short Animation
Brian J. Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney - "The Bigger Picture"
*EE Rising Star Award:
Jack O'Connell
*The EE Rising Star Award is an audience award voted for by the British public and presented to an actor or actress who has demonstrated exceptional talent and promise.
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Sunday, February 8, 2015
"Birdman" and Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu Top 2015 Directors Guild Awards
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is the entertainment labor union that represents film and television directors. The DGA gives out the Directors Guild of America Award each year to honor outstanding achievement.
The DGA Award winners were announced at the 67th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
2015 / 67th DGA Award Winners for the year 2014:
FEATURE FILM:
ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Mr. Iñárritu’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: James W. Skotchdopole, Robert Graf
First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
Second Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
Second Second Assistant Director: Catherine Feeny
Location Manager: Joaquin Prange
This is Mr. Iñárritu’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category for Babel in 2006. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for “Best Job” (Proctor and Gamble) in 2012.
DRAMATIC TELEVISION SERIES
LESLI LINKA GLATTER
Homeland, “From A to B and Back Again”
(Showtime)
Ms. Glatter’s Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Managers: Angela Phillips, Michael Klick
• First Assistant Director: Nick Heckstall Smith
• Second Assistant Director: Wendy Bledsoe
This is Ms. Glatter’s fifth DGA Award nomination. She previously won in this category in 2009 for Mad Men, “Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency.” She was also nominated in 2013 and 2012 for Homeland episodes “The Star” and “Q & A,” as well as in 1990 for Twin Peaks, “Episode 32006.”
COMEDY TELEVISION SERIES
JILL SOLOWAY
Transparent, “Best New Girl”
(Amazon Prime)
Ms. Soloway’s Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Victor Hsu
• First Assistant Director: Bill Purple
• Second Assistant Director: Allan Monteiro Fortes
This is Ms. Soloway’s first DGA Award nomination.
MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND MINI SERIES
LISA CHOLODENKO
Olive Kitteridge
(HBO)
Ms. Cholodenko’s Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: David Coatsworth
• First Assistant Director: Jesse Nye
• Second Assistant Director: Mark Constance
• Second Second Assistant Director: Elizabeth MacSwan
This is Ms. Cholodenko’s first DGA Award nomination.
DOCUMENTARY
LAURA POITRAS
Citizenfour
RADiUS
Praxis Films
Participant Media
HBO Documentary Films
Bertha Foundation | BRITDOC Circle | Channel 4
Norddeutscher Rundfunk NDR
Bayerischer Rundfunk BR
Deutscher Filmförderfonds
This is Ms. Poitras’s first DGA Award nomination.
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS
GLENN WEISS
The 68th Annual Tony Awards
(CBS)
Mr. Weiss’s Directorial Team:
• Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Stefani Cohen, Ricky Kirshner
• Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Arthur Lewis, Jeffrey M. Markowitz, Joey Meade, Seth Mellman, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Annette Powlis, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider
This is Mr. Weiss’s twelfth DGA Award nomination. He is also nominated this year for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series, together with Rob Ashford, for Peter Pan Live! He previously won the DGA Award in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 for the 61st, 64th, 65th, 66th and 67th Annual Tony Awards. He was also nominated in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008 for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards.
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
DAVE DIOMEDI
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, “Episode #1″
(NBC)
Mr. Diomedi’s Directorial Team:
• Associate Director: Maureen Smith
• Stage Managers: Nicka Tolmasoff, Mike Kilkenny
This is Mr. Diomedi’s second DGA Award nomination. He was nominated in this category last year for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, “#799.”
REALITY PROGRAMS
ANTHONY B. SACCO
The Chair, “The Test”
(Starz)
This is Mr. Sacco’s third DGA Award nomination. He previously won in this category in 2006 for Treasure Hunters, “Episode #101” and was nominated in 2007 for Project Runway, “Fashion Giant #403.”
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
JONATHAN JUDGE
100 Things To Do Before High School, “Pilot”
(Nickelodeon)
Mr. Judge’s Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Debra Spidell
• First Assistant Director: Julian Petrillo
• Second Assistant Director: Katey Wheelhouse
• Second Second Assistant Director: Ceci Mak
This is Mr. Judge’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2013 for Swindle and in 2012 for Camp Fred.
COMMERCIALS
NICOLAI FUGLSIG
(MJZ)
Sapeurs, Guinness AMV BBDO
• First Assistant Director: Bob Wilkins
Waiting, FEMA Deutsch NY
• First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
• Second Assistant Director: Rafa Sanz
This is Mr. Fuglsig’s second DGA Award nomination. He previously won in this category in 2007 for Tipping Point (Guinness), It’s Magic (JC Penney), and TJourney (Motorola)
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The DGA Award winners were announced at the 67th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
2015 / 67th DGA Award Winners for the year 2014:
FEATURE FILM:
ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Mr. Iñárritu’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: James W. Skotchdopole, Robert Graf
First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
Second Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
Second Second Assistant Director: Catherine Feeny
Location Manager: Joaquin Prange
This is Mr. Iñárritu’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category for Babel in 2006. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for “Best Job” (Proctor and Gamble) in 2012.
DRAMATIC TELEVISION SERIES
LESLI LINKA GLATTER
Homeland, “From A to B and Back Again”
(Showtime)
Ms. Glatter’s Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Managers: Angela Phillips, Michael Klick
• First Assistant Director: Nick Heckstall Smith
• Second Assistant Director: Wendy Bledsoe
This is Ms. Glatter’s fifth DGA Award nomination. She previously won in this category in 2009 for Mad Men, “Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency.” She was also nominated in 2013 and 2012 for Homeland episodes “The Star” and “Q & A,” as well as in 1990 for Twin Peaks, “Episode 32006.”
COMEDY TELEVISION SERIES
JILL SOLOWAY
Transparent, “Best New Girl”
(Amazon Prime)
Ms. Soloway’s Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Victor Hsu
• First Assistant Director: Bill Purple
• Second Assistant Director: Allan Monteiro Fortes
This is Ms. Soloway’s first DGA Award nomination.
MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND MINI SERIES
LISA CHOLODENKO
Olive Kitteridge
(HBO)
Ms. Cholodenko’s Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: David Coatsworth
• First Assistant Director: Jesse Nye
• Second Assistant Director: Mark Constance
• Second Second Assistant Director: Elizabeth MacSwan
This is Ms. Cholodenko’s first DGA Award nomination.
DOCUMENTARY
LAURA POITRAS
Citizenfour
RADiUS
Praxis Films
Participant Media
HBO Documentary Films
Bertha Foundation | BRITDOC Circle | Channel 4
Norddeutscher Rundfunk NDR
Bayerischer Rundfunk BR
Deutscher Filmförderfonds
This is Ms. Poitras’s first DGA Award nomination.
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS
GLENN WEISS
The 68th Annual Tony Awards
(CBS)
Mr. Weiss’s Directorial Team:
• Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Stefani Cohen, Ricky Kirshner
• Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Arthur Lewis, Jeffrey M. Markowitz, Joey Meade, Seth Mellman, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Annette Powlis, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider
This is Mr. Weiss’s twelfth DGA Award nomination. He is also nominated this year for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series, together with Rob Ashford, for Peter Pan Live! He previously won the DGA Award in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 for the 61st, 64th, 65th, 66th and 67th Annual Tony Awards. He was also nominated in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008 for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards.
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
DAVE DIOMEDI
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, “Episode #1″
(NBC)
Mr. Diomedi’s Directorial Team:
• Associate Director: Maureen Smith
• Stage Managers: Nicka Tolmasoff, Mike Kilkenny
This is Mr. Diomedi’s second DGA Award nomination. He was nominated in this category last year for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, “#799.”
REALITY PROGRAMS
ANTHONY B. SACCO
The Chair, “The Test”
(Starz)
This is Mr. Sacco’s third DGA Award nomination. He previously won in this category in 2006 for Treasure Hunters, “Episode #101” and was nominated in 2007 for Project Runway, “Fashion Giant #403.”
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
JONATHAN JUDGE
100 Things To Do Before High School, “Pilot”
(Nickelodeon)
Mr. Judge’s Directorial Team:
• Unit Production Manager: Debra Spidell
• First Assistant Director: Julian Petrillo
• Second Assistant Director: Katey Wheelhouse
• Second Second Assistant Director: Ceci Mak
This is Mr. Judge’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2013 for Swindle and in 2012 for Camp Fred.
COMMERCIALS
NICOLAI FUGLSIG
(MJZ)
Sapeurs, Guinness AMV BBDO
• First Assistant Director: Bob Wilkins
Waiting, FEMA Deutsch NY
• First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
• Second Assistant Director: Rafa Sanz
This is Mr. Fuglsig’s second DGA Award nomination. He previously won in this category in 2007 for Tipping Point (Guinness), It’s Magic (JC Penney), and TJourney (Motorola)
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The Grammys Announces All-Star Line-up of Presenters for 57th Annual Grammy Awards
The Biggest Stars Join Music's Biggest Night® as Presenters Line up for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®
Dierks Bentley, James Corden, Miley Cyrus, Josh Duhamel, Jamie Foxx, Barry Gibb, Dave Grohl, Jennifer Hudson, Enrique Iglesias, Nick Jonas, Anna Kendrick, Shia LaBeouf, Katharine McPhee, Nicki Minaj, Gwyneth Paltrow, Pentatonix, Smokey Robinson, Nile Rodgers, Gina Rodriguez, Ryan Seacrest, Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, Keith Urban, The Weeknd, And Stevie Wonder Are Set To Present On The 57th GRAMMY Awards
LL COOL J Returns To Host Music's Biggest Night® Airing Live On CBS, Feb. 8, 2015
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A diverse, all-star lineup of celebrities will take the stage as presenters for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. This year's presenters – which include GRAMMY® nominees, previous winners and stars from film and TV – are: GRAMMY nominee Dierks Bentley; actor and late night TV host James Corden; current nominee Miley Cyrus; actor Josh Duhamel; Academy Award® and GRAMMY winner Jamie Foxx; nine-time GRAMMY winner Barry Gibb; 15-time GRAMMY winner Dave Grohl; Academy Award and GRAMMY winner and current nominee Jennifer Hudson; four-time Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY winner Enrique Iglesias; singer Nick Jonas; actress Anna Kendrick; actor Shia LaBeouf; actress Katharine McPhee; current nominee Nicki Minaj; Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow; current nominees Pentatonix; GRAMMY winner Smokey Robinson; three-time GRAMMY winner Nile Rodgers; Golden Globe® winner Gina Rodriguez; Emmy®-winning TV/radio host and producer Ryan Seacrest; seven-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Taylor Swift; current nominee Meghan Trainor; four-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Keith Urban; GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and 25-time GRAMMY winner Stevie Wonder; and singer The Weeknd. Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J returns as host. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Music's Biggest Night® will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
Previously announced performers are GRAMMY-winning band AC/DC; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Beck; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Tony Bennett; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Mary J. Blige; nominee Eric Church; nominee Brandy Clark; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Common; nominee Ariana Grande; GRAMMY winner Herbie Hancock; nominee Hozier; nominee Jessie J; GRAMMY winner Tom Jones; 20-time Latin GRAMMY winner and current nominee Juanes; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Lady Gaga; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Miranda Lambert; internationally acclaimed pianist and GRAMMY Cultural Ambassador To China Lang Lang; GRAMMY winner and current nominee John Legend; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Annie Lennox; GRAMMY winner Adam Levine; the legendary Jeff Lynne's ELO; GRAMMY winner Madonna; GRAMMY winner Paul McCartney; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Chris Martin; GRAMMY winner John Mayer; nominee Katy Perry; GRAMMY winner Questlove; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Rihanna; nominee Ed Sheeran; nominee Sia; nominee Sam Smith; GRAMMY winner Gwen Stefani; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Usher; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Kanye West; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Pharrell Williams; and GRAMMY winner Dwight Yoakam.
The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy® is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.
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Dierks Bentley, James Corden, Miley Cyrus, Josh Duhamel, Jamie Foxx, Barry Gibb, Dave Grohl, Jennifer Hudson, Enrique Iglesias, Nick Jonas, Anna Kendrick, Shia LaBeouf, Katharine McPhee, Nicki Minaj, Gwyneth Paltrow, Pentatonix, Smokey Robinson, Nile Rodgers, Gina Rodriguez, Ryan Seacrest, Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, Keith Urban, The Weeknd, And Stevie Wonder Are Set To Present On The 57th GRAMMY Awards
LL COOL J Returns To Host Music's Biggest Night® Airing Live On CBS, Feb. 8, 2015
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A diverse, all-star lineup of celebrities will take the stage as presenters for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. This year's presenters – which include GRAMMY® nominees, previous winners and stars from film and TV – are: GRAMMY nominee Dierks Bentley; actor and late night TV host James Corden; current nominee Miley Cyrus; actor Josh Duhamel; Academy Award® and GRAMMY winner Jamie Foxx; nine-time GRAMMY winner Barry Gibb; 15-time GRAMMY winner Dave Grohl; Academy Award and GRAMMY winner and current nominee Jennifer Hudson; four-time Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY winner Enrique Iglesias; singer Nick Jonas; actress Anna Kendrick; actor Shia LaBeouf; actress Katharine McPhee; current nominee Nicki Minaj; Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow; current nominees Pentatonix; GRAMMY winner Smokey Robinson; three-time GRAMMY winner Nile Rodgers; Golden Globe® winner Gina Rodriguez; Emmy®-winning TV/radio host and producer Ryan Seacrest; seven-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Taylor Swift; current nominee Meghan Trainor; four-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Keith Urban; GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and 25-time GRAMMY winner Stevie Wonder; and singer The Weeknd. Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J returns as host. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Music's Biggest Night® will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
Previously announced performers are GRAMMY-winning band AC/DC; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Beck; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Tony Bennett; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Mary J. Blige; nominee Eric Church; nominee Brandy Clark; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Common; nominee Ariana Grande; GRAMMY winner Herbie Hancock; nominee Hozier; nominee Jessie J; GRAMMY winner Tom Jones; 20-time Latin GRAMMY winner and current nominee Juanes; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Lady Gaga; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Miranda Lambert; internationally acclaimed pianist and GRAMMY Cultural Ambassador To China Lang Lang; GRAMMY winner and current nominee John Legend; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Annie Lennox; GRAMMY winner Adam Levine; the legendary Jeff Lynne's ELO; GRAMMY winner Madonna; GRAMMY winner Paul McCartney; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Chris Martin; GRAMMY winner John Mayer; nominee Katy Perry; GRAMMY winner Questlove; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Rihanna; nominee Ed Sheeran; nominee Sia; nominee Sam Smith; GRAMMY winner Gwen Stefani; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Usher; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Kanye West; GRAMMY winner and current nominee Pharrell Williams; and GRAMMY winner Dwight Yoakam.
The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy® is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.
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Saturday, February 7, 2015
"Selma," "black-ish" Dominate 2015 NAACP Image Awards - Complete Winners List
The NAACP Image Award is an award bestowed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The award honors outstanding achievements by people of color in film, television, music, and literature. The awards are voted on by members of the NAACP.
The nominations for the 46th NAACP Image Awards were announced with the categories divided into eight groups: Television, Recording (Music), Literary (Books), Motion Picture, Documentary (film and television), Writing (for film and television), Directing (for film and television), and Animated/CGI (for film and television).
The 2015 NAACP Image Awards were presented Friday, February 6, 2015.
2015 / 46TH NAACP Image Awards winners:
TELEVISION
Outstanding Comedy Series
• "black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
• Anthony Anderson - "'black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
• Tracee Ellis Ross - "black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
• Laurence Fishburne - "black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
• Yara Shahidi - "black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Drama Series
• "How to Get Away with Murder" (ABC)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
• Shemar Moore - "Criminal Minds" (CBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
• Viola Davis - "How to Get Away with Murder" (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• Joe Morton - "Scandal" (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
• Khandi Alexander - "Scandal" (ABC)
Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• "The Trip to Bountiful" (Lifetime Networks)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• Blair Underwood - "The Trip to Bountiful" (Lifetime Networks)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• Cicely Tyson - "The Trip to Bountiful" (Lifetime Networks)
Outstanding News/ Information - (Series or Special)
• "Unsung" (TV One)
Outstanding Talk Series
• "Steve Harvey" (Syndicated)
Outstanding Reality Series
• "Iyanla: Fix My Life" (OWN)
Outstanding Variety Series or Special
• "Oprah's Master Class" (OWN)
Outstanding Children’s Program
• "Doc McStuffins" (Disney Junior)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Youth/ Children’s Program - (Series or Special)
• Fatima Ptacek - "Dora and Friends: Into The City!" (Nickelodeon)
Outstanding Host in a Talk, Reality, News/ Information or Variety
• Steve Harvey - "Steve Harvey" (Syndicated)
RECORDING
Outstanding New Artist
• 3 Winans Brothers (BMG)
Outstanding Male Artist
• Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Female Artist
• Beyoncé (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
• "Stay with Me" - Sam Smith feat. Mary J Blige (Capitol)
Outstanding Jazz Album
• "My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke" - Al Jarreau (Concord)
Outstanding Gospel Album - (Traditional or Contemporary)
• "Where My Heart Belongs" - Gladys Knight (Shadow Mountain Records)
Outstanding Music Video
• "You & I (Nobody in the World)" - John Legend (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Song
• "We Are Here" - Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
Outstanding Album
• "Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics" - Aretha Franklin (RCA Records)
LITERATURE
Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction
• "A Wanted Woman" - Eric Jerome Dickey (Penguin Random House)
Outstanding Literary Work - Non-Fiction
• "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption" - Bryan Stevenson (Spiegel & Grau)
Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author
• "Forty Acres" - Dwayne Alexander Smith (Atria Books)
Outstanding Literary Work - Biography/ Auto-Biography
• "Breaking Ground: My Life in Medicine" - Louis Sullivan with David Chanoff (University of Georgia Press)
Outstanding Literary Work - Instructional
• "Promises Kept: Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life" - Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson, Hilary Beard (Spiegel & Grau)
Outstanding Literary Work - Poetry
• "Citizen: An American Lyric" - Claudia Rankine (Graywolf Press)
Outstanding Literary Work - Children
• "Dork Diaries 8: Tales From A Note-So-Happily Ever After" - Rachel Renee Russell with Nikki Russell and Erin Russell (Simon & Schuster)
Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens
• "Brown Girl Dreaming" - Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books)
MOTION PICTURE
Outstanding Motion Picture
• "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
• David Oyelowo - "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
• Taraji P. Henson - "No Good Deed" (Screen Gems)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
• Common - "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
• Carmen Ejogo - "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
• "Belle" (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)
DOCUMENTARY
Outstanding Documentary - (Film)
• "Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People" (Chimpanzee Productions, Inc.)
Outstanding Documentary - (Television)
• "Bad Boys" (ESPN)
WRITING
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
• Sara Hess - "Orange is the New Black" - It Was the Change (Netflix)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
• Erika Green Swafford - "How to Get Away with Murder" - Let's Get To Scooping (ABC)
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie
• Shernold Edwards - "A Day Late and a Dollar Short" (Lifetime Networks)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
• Misan Sagay - "Belle" (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)
DIRECTING
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
• Ken Whittingham - "Parks and Recreation" - Prom (NBC)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
• Carl Franklin - "House of Cards" - Chapter 14 (Netflix)
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie
• Reggie Bythewood - "Gun Hill" (BET)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
• Antoine Fuqua - "The Equalizer" (Columbia Pictures)
ANIMATED/CGI
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - (Television or Film)
• Loretta Devine - "Doc McStuffins" (Disney Junior)
----------------------
The nominations for the 46th NAACP Image Awards were announced with the categories divided into eight groups: Television, Recording (Music), Literary (Books), Motion Picture, Documentary (film and television), Writing (for film and television), Directing (for film and television), and Animated/CGI (for film and television).
The 2015 NAACP Image Awards were presented Friday, February 6, 2015.
Entertainer of the Year: Taraji P.
Henson
NAACP President’s Award: Spike Lee
2015 / 46TH NAACP Image Awards winners:
TELEVISION
Outstanding Comedy Series
• "black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
• Anthony Anderson - "'black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
• Tracee Ellis Ross - "black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
• Laurence Fishburne - "black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
• Yara Shahidi - "black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Drama Series
• "How to Get Away with Murder" (ABC)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
• Shemar Moore - "Criminal Minds" (CBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
• Viola Davis - "How to Get Away with Murder" (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• Joe Morton - "Scandal" (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
• Khandi Alexander - "Scandal" (ABC)
Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• "The Trip to Bountiful" (Lifetime Networks)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• Blair Underwood - "The Trip to Bountiful" (Lifetime Networks)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• Cicely Tyson - "The Trip to Bountiful" (Lifetime Networks)
Outstanding News/ Information - (Series or Special)
• "Unsung" (TV One)
Outstanding Talk Series
• "Steve Harvey" (Syndicated)
Outstanding Reality Series
• "Iyanla: Fix My Life" (OWN)
Outstanding Variety Series or Special
• "Oprah's Master Class" (OWN)
Outstanding Children’s Program
• "Doc McStuffins" (Disney Junior)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth in a Youth/ Children’s Program - (Series or Special)
• Fatima Ptacek - "Dora and Friends: Into The City!" (Nickelodeon)
Outstanding Host in a Talk, Reality, News/ Information or Variety
• Steve Harvey - "Steve Harvey" (Syndicated)
RECORDING
Outstanding New Artist
• 3 Winans Brothers (BMG)
Outstanding Male Artist
• Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Female Artist
• Beyoncé (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
• "Stay with Me" - Sam Smith feat. Mary J Blige (Capitol)
Outstanding Jazz Album
• "My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke" - Al Jarreau (Concord)
Outstanding Gospel Album - (Traditional or Contemporary)
• "Where My Heart Belongs" - Gladys Knight (Shadow Mountain Records)
Outstanding Music Video
• "You & I (Nobody in the World)" - John Legend (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Song
• "We Are Here" - Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
Outstanding Album
• "Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics" - Aretha Franklin (RCA Records)
LITERATURE
Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction
• "A Wanted Woman" - Eric Jerome Dickey (Penguin Random House)
Outstanding Literary Work - Non-Fiction
• "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption" - Bryan Stevenson (Spiegel & Grau)
Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author
• "Forty Acres" - Dwayne Alexander Smith (Atria Books)
Outstanding Literary Work - Biography/ Auto-Biography
• "Breaking Ground: My Life in Medicine" - Louis Sullivan with David Chanoff (University of Georgia Press)
Outstanding Literary Work - Instructional
• "Promises Kept: Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life" - Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson, Hilary Beard (Spiegel & Grau)
Outstanding Literary Work - Poetry
• "Citizen: An American Lyric" - Claudia Rankine (Graywolf Press)
Outstanding Literary Work - Children
• "Dork Diaries 8: Tales From A Note-So-Happily Ever After" - Rachel Renee Russell with Nikki Russell and Erin Russell (Simon & Schuster)
Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens
• "Brown Girl Dreaming" - Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books)
MOTION PICTURE
Outstanding Motion Picture
• "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
• David Oyelowo - "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
• Taraji P. Henson - "No Good Deed" (Screen Gems)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
• Common - "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
• Carmen Ejogo - "Selma" (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
• "Belle" (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)
DOCUMENTARY
Outstanding Documentary - (Film)
• "Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People" (Chimpanzee Productions, Inc.)
Outstanding Documentary - (Television)
• "Bad Boys" (ESPN)
WRITING
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
• Sara Hess - "Orange is the New Black" - It Was the Change (Netflix)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
• Erika Green Swafford - "How to Get Away with Murder" - Let's Get To Scooping (ABC)
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie
• Shernold Edwards - "A Day Late and a Dollar Short" (Lifetime Networks)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
• Misan Sagay - "Belle" (Fox Searchlight Pictures/ DJ Films)
DIRECTING
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
• Ken Whittingham - "Parks and Recreation" - Prom (NBC)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
• Carl Franklin - "House of Cards" - Chapter 14 (Netflix)
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie
• Reggie Bythewood - "Gun Hill" (BET)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
• Antoine Fuqua - "The Equalizer" (Columbia Pictures)
ANIMATED/CGI
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - (Television or Film)
• Loretta Devine - "Doc McStuffins" (Disney Junior)
----------------------
Review: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Reboot is Actually Good
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
Running time: 101 minutes (1 hour, 41 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
DIRECTOR: Jonathan Liebesman
WRITERS: Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Evan Daugherty (based on characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird)
PRODUCERS: Michael Bay, Ian Bryce, Andrew Form , Bradley Fuller, Scott Mednick, and Galen Walker
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Luis Carvalho (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Joel Negron and Glen Scantlebury
COMPOSER: Brian Tyler
MARTIAL ARTS/FANTASY/ACTION with elements of comedy
Starring: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fichtner, Tohoru Masamune, Whoopi Goldberg, Minae Noji, Abby Elliot, Pete Ploszek, Danny Woodburn, and the voices of Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, Johnny Knoxville, and Tony Shalhoub
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 2014 martial arts fantasy and action film from director Jonathan Liebesman. The film is based on the media franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also known as the “Ninja Turtles” or by the abbreviation, “TMNT”), which began with a black and white comic book created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and first published in 1984.
This recent film is also a reboot of the TMNT film franchise, which began with a 1990 film and its two sequels (released by New Line Cinema). Warner Bros. Pictures released a computer-animated TMNT film, also entitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2007. The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie focuses on a group of mutated turtle warriors that emerge from the shadows to protect their home, New York City, and the TV reporter who helps them.
The film introduces April O'Neil (Megan Fox), a television news reporter at station Channel 6. She has been researching a gang called the “Foot Clan,” but few people take her or her investigation seriously. April's cameraman, Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett), humors her, but would rather date April than believe in her as a serious reporter. April's boss, Bernadette Thompson (Whoopi Goldberg), tolerates the young reporter's ambitions, but is deliberately oblivious of April's findings.
April tracks members the Foot Clan and witnesses their attack on a subway station. There, April meets a group of vigilantes determined to foil the clan. Much to her shock, however, they are four teenage mutant ninja turtles: Raphael (Alan Ritchson), Michelangelo (Noel Fisher), Donatello (Jeremy Howard), and Leonardo (Pete Ploszek and Johnny Knoxville). They introduce April to their mentor and surrogate father, Splinter (Tony Shalhoub), a mutated, anthropomorphic rat who is a master of the ninja arts. April also gets caught up in Splinter and the turtles' war against the Foot Clan's leader, The Shredder (Tohoru Masamune), who has a connection to April's past.
Michael Bay and his production company, Platinum Dunes, are two of the entities behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014. Bay, who has dedicated his efforts as a film director to the Transformers movie franchise for the last decade, has also restarted many movie franchises through remakes and reboots. Thankfully, this new Ninja Turtles movie is not like Bay's Transformers films or like some of his horror movie reboots.
Many of the sound effects in this movie sound like sound effects in Transformers movies. However, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 director, Jonathan Liebesman, keeps the Michael Bay touches to a minimum. Using the work of writers Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Evan Daugherty, Liebesman makes a straight-forward movie. It manages to be cute (as when the Turtles bang out a hip hop beat with nunchucks and beat-boxing). The film also manages to offer well-staged martial arts fights and the kind of explosive action sequences that the original film could not. The film also hits some nice notes about the bonds of family and friendship. This movie has the kind of story and action that makes it serious-minded enough to appeal to older audiences while entertaining younger viewers.
I know that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 got a lot of bad, poor, and mixed reviews, but these critics and reviewers probably take either themselves or this movie too seriously (or both). For a good time, however, invite these Turtles over, and, of course, enjoy this movie with pizza.
6 of 10
B
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Review: Original Teenage Mutanta Ninja Turtles Film is Still Fun
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Running time: 93 minutes (1 hour, 33 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Steve Barron
WRITERS: Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck; from a story by Bobby Herbeck (based on characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird)
PRODUCERS: David Chan, Kim Dawson, and Simon Fields
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Fenner (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: William D. Gordean, Sally Menke, and James R. Symons
COMPOSER: John Du Prez
MARTIAL ARTS/FANTASY/ACTION/COMEDY
Starring: Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, Jay Patterson, Michael Turney, Raymond Serra, Sam Rockwell, James Saito, Toshishiro Obata, David Forman, Leif Tilden, Michelan Sisti, and the voices of Corey Feldman, Josh Pais, Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, David McCharen, Michael McConnohie, and Kevin Clash
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 1990 martial arts fantasy and action-comedy film from director Steve Barron. The film is based on the media franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also known as the “Ninja Turtles” or by the abbreviation, “TMNT”), which began with a black and white comic book created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and first published in 1984. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the film focuses on a quartet of anthropomorphic ninja turtles and a TV news reporter, as they battle a ninja criminal gang.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles opens in New York City (late 80s or early 90s). The city is in the midst of a crime wave of pick-pockets, burglaries, and general thievery. Rumors abound that the thieves are mostly young children and teenagers, perhaps connected to something called the “Foot Clan,” which apparently originated in Japan. This is according to April O'Neil (Judith Hoag), a television news reporter at station WTRL – Channel 3.
In fact, O'Neil comes across some of these very same thieves ransacking a news van, and they promptly attack her. A mysterious band of warrior rescues April, introducing her to a world under the streets and in the sewers of the city. April's rescuers are four anthropomorphic turtles; these mutated, man-turtles walk and talk, and, like other teenagers, they love pizza. They are also ninja warriors, according to their mentor and surrogate father, Splinter (Kevin Clash), a mutated, anthropomorphic rat who is also a master of the ninja arts.
Now, April and these four teenaged mutant ninja turtles: Raphael (Josh Pais), Michelangelo (Robbie Rist), Donatello (Corey Feldman) and Leonardo (Brian Tochi) unite to unravel the secrets of the city's crime wave. Street vigilante, Casey Jones (Elias Koteas), joins them, but will all of them be enough to stop The Foot and its leader, The Shredder.
1990s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was the first movie in a franchise that would yield a total of three films. Years later, Warner Bros. Pictures would release a computer-animated TMNT film, also entitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007), which I still have not seen. In fact, I had not seen a TMNT movie since the second film, which was released in 1991.
With the release of Paramount Picture's reboot of the franchise, also entitled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, earlier this past summer (2014), I decided to revisit the 1990 film. I vaguely remember liking it then. I was surprised to find that I actually liked it after recently watching it again.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 is quaint, but irresistibly cute and likeable. Everything about is 1980s cheesy: the sets, the clothes, the music, the attitude, and the Turtles' dialogue. It's as if every teen movie, good or bad, was strained of its slang and lingo to create the dialogue for these teenage mutant ninja turtles. The entire movie also looks like it was shot in the ghostly, abandoned sets of 1980s break-dancing movies.
Still, if you like the Ninja Turtles, it is hard not to like this movie. Back in 1990, I did like the Ninja Turtles, so I liked their hit movie debut. A quarter-century later, I find that I still like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990. I might even find myself watching it again.
5 of 10
B-
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
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