31st FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED
$75,000 IN GRANTS TO BE AWARDED TO FILMMAKERS
SPIRIT AWARDS TO BE BROADCAST LIVE EXCLUSIVELY ON IFC, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016 2:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm ET
LOS ANGELES – Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the LA Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA, announced nominations for the 2016 Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at W Hollywood, with actors John Boyega and Elizabeth Olsen presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight, and Tangerine.
“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”
Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman who was known for creating extraordinary ensemble casts.
“Spotlight is a remarkable film that excels on every level, but the Nominating Committee thought it was especially deserving of the Robert Altman Award,” said Welsh. “The film is beautifully cast with every member of the ensemble working together to tell the story of the Boston Globe investigating allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church.”
Winners will be announced at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 27, 2016. The awards ceremony will be held as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, in a new location this year just north of the Santa Monica Pier. The show will broadcast live exclusively on IFC at 2:00 pm PT/ 5:00 pm ET.
Winners of the Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants will be highlighted during the awards ceremony and announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Filmmaker Grants and Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 9, 2016, at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.
The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees selected nominees from 362 submissions this year and applied the following guidelines in determining the nominations: uniqueness of vision, original and provocative subject matter, economy of means (with particular attention paid to total production cost and individual compensation) and percentage of financing from independent sources. The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees are comprised of writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, actors, critics, casting directors, film festival programmers and other working film professionals.
In addition to celebrating the broad spectrum of independent filmmaking, the Spirit Awards is also the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs, which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and promote diversity in the industry. To learn more about table sales, attendance and donations please contact jmurby@filmindependent.org or 310.432.1253.
The 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award winners will be announced at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 27, 2016. The awards ceremony will be held as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, in a new location this year just north of the Santa Monica Pier. The show will broadcast live exclusively on IFC at 2:00 pm PT/ 5:00 pm ET.
-----------------
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Gotham Awards Names "Spotlight" as the "Best Feature" of 2015
Honoring independent films, the Gotham Awards are the first major awards of the film awards season. The Gotham Awards are presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), an organization which helps independent filmmakers by connected artists with resources at all stages of film development and distribution.
This year, the 2015 Gotham Awards kicks off the 2015-16 season. The Gotham Awards ceremony was held on Monday, November 30, 2015 at Cipriani Wall Street.
The 2015 IFP Gotham Independent Film Award winners:
Best Feature
Spotlight
Tom McCarthy, director; Michael Sugar, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Blye Pagan Faust, producers (Open Road Films)
Best Documentary
The Look of Silence
Joshua Oppenheimer, director; Signe Byrge Sørensen, producer (Drafthouse Films)
Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award
Jonas Carpignano for Mediterranea (Sundance Selects)
Best Screenplay
Spotlight, Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer (Open Road Films)
Best Actor*
Paul Dano in Love & Mercy (Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, and River Road Entertainment)
Best Actress*
Bel Powley in The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Sony Pictures Classics)
Breakthrough Actor
Mya Taylor in Tangerine (Magnolia Pictures)
* The 2015 Best Actor/Best Actress nominating panel also voted to award a special “Gotham Jury Award” jointly to Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, and Brian d’Arcy James for their ensemble work in Spotlight. (Open Road Films).
Spotlight on Women Directors ‘Live the Dream’ Grant
For the sixth consecutive year, IFP is proud present the euphoria Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Directors ‘Live the Dream’ grant, a $25,000 cash award for an alumna of IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs or IFP’s Screen Forward Lab. In 2015, Screen Forward Lab directors have been included in this opportunity for the first time. This grant aims to further the careers of emerging women directors by supporting the completion, distribution and audience engagement strategies of their first feature film or episodic series. The nominees are:
Chanelle Aponte Pearson, director, 195 Lewis - WINNER
Gotham Independent Film Audience Award
IFP members will determine the 7th Annual Gotham Independent Film Audience Award with nominees comprised of the 14 nominated films in the Best Feature, Best Documentary, and Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award categories. All IFP current, active members at the Individual Level and above will be eligible to vote. Voting will take place online from November 18th at 12:01 AM EST and conclude on November 25th at 5:00 PM EST. In addition, IFP will be scheduling screenings of the nominated films for IFP members in the theater at the Made in NY Media Center by IFP in Brooklyn. These screenings will take place from November 4-11. The winner of the Audience Award will be announced at the Gotham Awards Ceremony on November 30, 2015.
Tangerine
Sean Baker, director; Darren Dean, Shih-Ching Tsou, Marcus Cox & Karrie Cox, producers (Magnolia Pictures) - WINNER
Gotham Appreciation Award
A Gothams Appreciation Award is given to Ellen Cotter for her contribution to theatrical distribution, including leadership of the Angelika Film Centers.
Breakthrough Series – Longform :
A continuing or limited series with episodes running 30 minutes or longer.
Mr. Robot, Sam Esmail, creator (USA Network) (WINNER)
Breakthrough Series – Shortform:
A continuing or limited-series new digital media programming comprising five or more episodes with the majority under 20 minutes.
Shugs and Fats, Nadia Manzoor and Radhika Vaz, creators (ShugsandFats.TV) (WINNER)
Gotham Tributes
The Gotham Independent Film Awards, selected by distinguished juries and presented in New York City, the home of independent film, are the first honors of the film awards season. This public showcase honors the filmmaking community, expands the audience for independent films, and supports the work that IFP does behind the scenes throughout the year to bring such films to fruition.
The "Film Tribute Awards" went to Steve Golin; Todd Haynes; Helen Mirren; and Robert Redford
--------------------
This year, the 2015 Gotham Awards kicks off the 2015-16 season. The Gotham Awards ceremony was held on Monday, November 30, 2015 at Cipriani Wall Street.
The 2015 IFP Gotham Independent Film Award winners:
Best Feature
Spotlight
Tom McCarthy, director; Michael Sugar, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Blye Pagan Faust, producers (Open Road Films)
Best Documentary
The Look of Silence
Joshua Oppenheimer, director; Signe Byrge Sørensen, producer (Drafthouse Films)
Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award
Jonas Carpignano for Mediterranea (Sundance Selects)
Best Screenplay
Spotlight, Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer (Open Road Films)
Best Actor*
Paul Dano in Love & Mercy (Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, and River Road Entertainment)
Best Actress*
Bel Powley in The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Sony Pictures Classics)
Breakthrough Actor
Mya Taylor in Tangerine (Magnolia Pictures)
* The 2015 Best Actor/Best Actress nominating panel also voted to award a special “Gotham Jury Award” jointly to Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, and Brian d’Arcy James for their ensemble work in Spotlight. (Open Road Films).
Spotlight on Women Directors ‘Live the Dream’ Grant
For the sixth consecutive year, IFP is proud present the euphoria Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Directors ‘Live the Dream’ grant, a $25,000 cash award for an alumna of IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs or IFP’s Screen Forward Lab. In 2015, Screen Forward Lab directors have been included in this opportunity for the first time. This grant aims to further the careers of emerging women directors by supporting the completion, distribution and audience engagement strategies of their first feature film or episodic series. The nominees are:
Chanelle Aponte Pearson, director, 195 Lewis - WINNER
Gotham Independent Film Audience Award
IFP members will determine the 7th Annual Gotham Independent Film Audience Award with nominees comprised of the 14 nominated films in the Best Feature, Best Documentary, and Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award categories. All IFP current, active members at the Individual Level and above will be eligible to vote. Voting will take place online from November 18th at 12:01 AM EST and conclude on November 25th at 5:00 PM EST. In addition, IFP will be scheduling screenings of the nominated films for IFP members in the theater at the Made in NY Media Center by IFP in Brooklyn. These screenings will take place from November 4-11. The winner of the Audience Award will be announced at the Gotham Awards Ceremony on November 30, 2015.
Tangerine
Sean Baker, director; Darren Dean, Shih-Ching Tsou, Marcus Cox & Karrie Cox, producers (Magnolia Pictures) - WINNER
Gotham Appreciation Award
A Gothams Appreciation Award is given to Ellen Cotter for her contribution to theatrical distribution, including leadership of the Angelika Film Centers.
Breakthrough Series – Longform :
A continuing or limited series with episodes running 30 minutes or longer.
Mr. Robot, Sam Esmail, creator (USA Network) (WINNER)
Breakthrough Series – Shortform:
A continuing or limited-series new digital media programming comprising five or more episodes with the majority under 20 minutes.
Shugs and Fats, Nadia Manzoor and Radhika Vaz, creators (ShugsandFats.TV) (WINNER)
Gotham Tributes
The Gotham Independent Film Awards, selected by distinguished juries and presented in New York City, the home of independent film, are the first honors of the film awards season. This public showcase honors the filmmaking community, expands the audience for independent films, and supports the work that IFP does behind the scenes throughout the year to bring such films to fruition.
The "Film Tribute Awards" went to Steve Golin; Todd Haynes; Helen Mirren; and Robert Redford
--------------------
Negromancer's Christmas Wish - 2015
My Christmas wish is that you all stay well so that you can keep visiting this blog. Welcome to Negromancer 2.0. This is the rebirth of Negromancer, the former movie review website as a new movie review and movie news site.
Support me on Patreon.
All images and text appearing on this blog are © copyright and/or trademark their respective owners.
Support me on Patreon.
All images and text appearing on this blog are © copyright and/or trademark their respective owners.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Japanese Fantasy Novel, "The Gates of Sorrow," Due Summer 2016
VIZ MEDIA’S HAIKASORU LITERARY IMPRINT ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF MIYUKI MIYABE’S DARK FANTASY NOVEL THE GATE OF SORROWS
Award Winning Celebrated Author Of BRAVE STORY And ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST Returns With A Captivating Supernatural Crime Thriller Set To Debut In Print And Digitally Next Summer
San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint has announced the acquisition of the North American publishing rights to Japanese author Miyuki Miyabe’s fantastic dark fantasy, THE GATE OF SORROWS. The novel is Miyabe’s eighth and will be released by Haikasoru in both print and digital editions in the Summer of 2016.
Miyuki Miyabe is a popular and widely acclaimed author who has published works across a variety of genres ranging from sci-fi, historical fiction and mystery to young adult thrillers and social commentary. The Haikasoru imprint has released several of Miyabe’s works including BRAVE STORY, THE BOOK OF HEROES, ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST, and APPARITIONS: GHOSTS OF OLD EDO. THE GATE OF SORROWS is a sequel to THE BOOK OF HEROES but can be read as a standalone work that features the same setting but an entirely new cast of characters.
In THE GATE OF SORROWS, a series of murders shocks Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward, but Shigenori, a retired police detective, is instead obsessed with a gargoyle that seems to move. College freshman Kotaro launches a web-based investigation of the killer, and comes to find that answers may lie within an abandoned building in the center of Japan’s busiest neighborhood, and beyond the gate of sorrows. In this New Adult sequel to Miyabe’s The Book of Heroes, you will meet monsters from other worlds and ordinary horrors that surpass even supernatural threats.
“Miyuki Miyabe's newest work is a captivating novel that bridges the gap between the author’s young adult works such as BRAVE STORY and THE BOOK OF HEROES and her popular mainstream thrillers,” says Masumi Washington, Haikasoru’s Editor-in-Chief. “We look forward to announcing additional information about this 2016 release and to new and veteran Haikasoru readers discovering this exciting new work by one of Japan’s most celebrated contemporary authors.”
Author Miyuki Miyabe's first novel was published in 1987, and since then she has become one of Japan's most popular and best-selling authors. In 2007, Miyabe's novel, BRAVE STORY (also published North America by Haikasoru), notably won the Batchelder Award for Best Children's Book in Translation from the American Library Association. Her fantasy novels ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST and BRAVE STORY are also available from VIZ Media’s Haikasoru imprint. APPARITIONS: THE GHOSTS OF OLD EDO is her newest book to be translated into English.
For more information on THE GATE OF SORROWS, other Miyuki Miyabe releases and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit www.haikasoru.com.
For more information on other titles available from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.
-----------------------
Award Winning Celebrated Author Of BRAVE STORY And ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST Returns With A Captivating Supernatural Crime Thriller Set To Debut In Print And Digitally Next Summer
San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint has announced the acquisition of the North American publishing rights to Japanese author Miyuki Miyabe’s fantastic dark fantasy, THE GATE OF SORROWS. The novel is Miyabe’s eighth and will be released by Haikasoru in both print and digital editions in the Summer of 2016.
Miyuki Miyabe is a popular and widely acclaimed author who has published works across a variety of genres ranging from sci-fi, historical fiction and mystery to young adult thrillers and social commentary. The Haikasoru imprint has released several of Miyabe’s works including BRAVE STORY, THE BOOK OF HEROES, ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST, and APPARITIONS: GHOSTS OF OLD EDO. THE GATE OF SORROWS is a sequel to THE BOOK OF HEROES but can be read as a standalone work that features the same setting but an entirely new cast of characters.
In THE GATE OF SORROWS, a series of murders shocks Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward, but Shigenori, a retired police detective, is instead obsessed with a gargoyle that seems to move. College freshman Kotaro launches a web-based investigation of the killer, and comes to find that answers may lie within an abandoned building in the center of Japan’s busiest neighborhood, and beyond the gate of sorrows. In this New Adult sequel to Miyabe’s The Book of Heroes, you will meet monsters from other worlds and ordinary horrors that surpass even supernatural threats.
“Miyuki Miyabe's newest work is a captivating novel that bridges the gap between the author’s young adult works such as BRAVE STORY and THE BOOK OF HEROES and her popular mainstream thrillers,” says Masumi Washington, Haikasoru’s Editor-in-Chief. “We look forward to announcing additional information about this 2016 release and to new and veteran Haikasoru readers discovering this exciting new work by one of Japan’s most celebrated contemporary authors.”
Author Miyuki Miyabe's first novel was published in 1987, and since then she has become one of Japan's most popular and best-selling authors. In 2007, Miyabe's novel, BRAVE STORY (also published North America by Haikasoru), notably won the Batchelder Award for Best Children's Book in Translation from the American Library Association. Her fantasy novels ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST and BRAVE STORY are also available from VIZ Media’s Haikasoru imprint. APPARITIONS: THE GHOSTS OF OLD EDO is her newest book to be translated into English.
For more information on THE GATE OF SORROWS, other Miyuki Miyabe releases and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit www.haikasoru.com.
For more information on other titles available from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.
-----------------------
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from November 22th to 30th, 2015 - Update #35
Support Leroy on Patreon.
NEWS:
From BoxOfficeMojo: The 2015 Thanksgiving weekend box office champ is "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" with an estimated take of $51.6 million.
---------------
From YahooMovies: Inside Pixar's tech evolution.
---------------
From YahooTV: 35 years of "Bosom Buddies"
---------------
From Deadline: This time "Peter Hammond's Notes" concern the award season.
---------------
From Deadline: Lionsgate and Alex Proyas release statements concerning the all-white casting of "Gods of Egypt."
---------------
From Adele: 12 mind-blowing facts about Adele's smash hit album 25
.
---------------
From Variety: Roman Polanski will not be extradited to the United States from Poland to face sex crime charges.
---------------
From LATimes: Stars talk about the appeal of made-for-TV Christmas movies.
---------------
From YahooMusic: Sole copy of Wu-Tang album, "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin," sells for at least one million dollars. The owner cannot, an unnamed American collector, cannot be released for 88 years.
---------------
From GuardianUK: Garrison Keillor is retiring.
---------------
From Fox: "War of the Planet of the Apes" contest announces.
---------------
From Time: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the special effect of Hollywood diversity.
---------------
From Slate: See Adele prank some fans/impersonators.
From Variety: Chiwetel Ejiofor will be honored at the British Independent Film Awards on Dec. 6, 2015, where he will receive the "Richard Harris Award," which recognizes an outstanding contribution to British film by an actor.
---------------
From IndieWire: Universal apparently financed Angelina Jolie's vanity film, "By the Sea," so that she would agree to "Wanted 2" (why, Lord, why?) and a "Bride of Frankenstein" remake/re-imagining.
---------------
From TheReelWord: Netflix is reportedly behind a new "Lost in Space" television series.
---------------
From TheReelWord: Vin Diesel announces a new "Riddick" film and television series set in the "Riddick" universe.
---------------
From YahooMusic: Adele talks about the song "Hello" and its importance to her new album, "25."
---------------
From HitFix: "Toy Story" is 20 years old, and it is as wonderful as ever.
---------------
From BoxOfficeMojo: The #1 movie at the 11/20 to 11/22/2015 weekend box office is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 with an estimated haul of $101 million.
---------------
From CinemaBlend: Brad Pitt is involved in a new sci-fi film.
HARD NEWS:
From RSN: Native Hawaiians rise.
From InformedConsent: White terrorism and abortion clinics.
---------------
From RollingStone: Matt Taibbi: America is too dumb for TV News.
---------------
From TalkingPointsMemo: President's state on Planned Parenthood shooting.
---------------
From WashPost: Anne Frank and her family were immigrants who were turned away.
---------------
From TheVox: Perfect response to the black-on-black crime meme.
---------------
From Outlook: John Cusack talks to Arundhati Roy.
---------------
From Slate: The shooting of Laquan McDonald in Chicago... the video.
---------------
From Slate: Go John Bel!
---------------
From RollingStone: Yeah, what the hell is going on with Ben Carson?
---------------
From ThinkProgress: Donald Trump retweets racist lies; media cowers before calling him a liar and a racists.
---------------
From YahooFinance: McDonald's is lowering prices, including bringing back more $1 menu items.
COMICS - Films and Books:
From YahooNews: "The Green Lantern Corps." movie might be a Lethal Weapon-styled buddy movie.
---------------
From CNET: More details on Doctor Strange film.
From YahooMovies: You can get Joker's "Suicide Squad" car.
---------------
From Negromancer: The first issue of "The Dark Knight III" is in comic book stores today.
---------------
From Slate: On Netflix's "Jessica Jones" and its relation to "Gamergate."
---------------
From CinemaBlend: Remember George Miller (Mad Max) had planned to direct a Justice League movie (Justice League: Mortal)? It was cancelled, but here is a look at that film's Wonder Woman (Megan Gale).
STAR WARS:
From YahooMovies: Katherine Timpf had to play with Roger Ailes' "little space nerd stick" to get a job at Fox.
TRAILER:
From YouTube: First trailer for a creepy upcoming movie, "The Other Side of the Door."
MISC:
From GoodHousekeeping: An amazing story about an adopted young woman who discovered that her biological father was a deceased 9/11 hero.
NEWS:
From BoxOfficeMojo: The 2015 Thanksgiving weekend box office champ is "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" with an estimated take of $51.6 million.
---------------
From YahooMovies: Inside Pixar's tech evolution.
---------------
From YahooTV: 35 years of "Bosom Buddies"
---------------
From Deadline: This time "Peter Hammond's Notes" concern the award season.
---------------
From Deadline: Lionsgate and Alex Proyas release statements concerning the all-white casting of "Gods of Egypt."
---------------
From Adele: 12 mind-blowing facts about Adele's smash hit album 25
.---------------
From Variety: Roman Polanski will not be extradited to the United States from Poland to face sex crime charges.
---------------
From LATimes: Stars talk about the appeal of made-for-TV Christmas movies.
---------------
From YahooMusic: Sole copy of Wu-Tang album, "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin," sells for at least one million dollars. The owner cannot, an unnamed American collector, cannot be released for 88 years.
---------------
From GuardianUK: Garrison Keillor is retiring.
---------------
From Fox: "War of the Planet of the Apes" contest announces.
---------------
From Time: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the special effect of Hollywood diversity.
---------------
From Slate: See Adele prank some fans/impersonators.
From Variety: Chiwetel Ejiofor will be honored at the British Independent Film Awards on Dec. 6, 2015, where he will receive the "Richard Harris Award," which recognizes an outstanding contribution to British film by an actor.
---------------
From IndieWire: Universal apparently financed Angelina Jolie's vanity film, "By the Sea," so that she would agree to "Wanted 2" (why, Lord, why?) and a "Bride of Frankenstein" remake/re-imagining.
---------------
From TheReelWord: Netflix is reportedly behind a new "Lost in Space" television series.
---------------
From TheReelWord: Vin Diesel announces a new "Riddick" film and television series set in the "Riddick" universe.
---------------
From YahooMusic: Adele talks about the song "Hello" and its importance to her new album, "25."
---------------
From HitFix: "Toy Story" is 20 years old, and it is as wonderful as ever.
---------------
From BoxOfficeMojo: The #1 movie at the 11/20 to 11/22/2015 weekend box office is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 with an estimated haul of $101 million.
---------------
From CinemaBlend: Brad Pitt is involved in a new sci-fi film.
HARD NEWS:
From RSN: Native Hawaiians rise.
From InformedConsent: White terrorism and abortion clinics.
---------------
From RollingStone: Matt Taibbi: America is too dumb for TV News.
---------------
From TalkingPointsMemo: President's state on Planned Parenthood shooting.
---------------
From WashPost: Anne Frank and her family were immigrants who were turned away.
---------------
From TheVox: Perfect response to the black-on-black crime meme.
---------------
From Outlook: John Cusack talks to Arundhati Roy.
---------------
From Slate: The shooting of Laquan McDonald in Chicago... the video.
---------------
From Slate: Go John Bel!
---------------
From RollingStone: Yeah, what the hell is going on with Ben Carson?
---------------
From ThinkProgress: Donald Trump retweets racist lies; media cowers before calling him a liar and a racists.
---------------
From YahooFinance: McDonald's is lowering prices, including bringing back more $1 menu items.
COMICS - Films and Books:
From YahooNews: "The Green Lantern Corps." movie might be a Lethal Weapon-styled buddy movie.
---------------
From CNET: More details on Doctor Strange film.
From YahooMovies: You can get Joker's "Suicide Squad" car.
---------------
From Negromancer: The first issue of "The Dark Knight III" is in comic book stores today.
---------------
From Slate: On Netflix's "Jessica Jones" and its relation to "Gamergate."
---------------
From CinemaBlend: Remember George Miller (Mad Max) had planned to direct a Justice League movie (Justice League: Mortal)? It was cancelled, but here is a look at that film's Wonder Woman (Megan Gale).
STAR WARS:
From YahooMovies: Katherine Timpf had to play with Roger Ailes' "little space nerd stick" to get a job at Fox.
TRAILER:
From YouTube: First trailer for a creepy upcoming movie, "The Other Side of the Door."
MISC:
From GoodHousekeeping: An amazing story about an adopted young woman who discovered that her biological father was a deceased 9/11 hero.
Review: As a Character Study, "Birdman" Has Wings
[A version of this review originally appeared on Patreon.]
Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Running time: 119 minutes (1 hour, 59 minutes)
MPAA – R for language throughout, some sexual content and brief violence
DIRECTOR: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
WRITERS: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Armando Bo
PRODUCERS: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, and James W. Skotchdopole
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Emmanuel Lubezki (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione
COMPOSER: Antonio Sanchez (drum score)
Academy Award winner, including “Best Picture”
DRAMA/COMEDY
Starring: Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Zach Galifanakis, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, and Amy Ryan with Lindsay Duncan
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a 2014 drama and black comedy film from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The film focuses on a Hollywood actor, who once starred in a series of popular superhero movies, as he tries to forge a comeback with a Broadway play. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), commonly known as Birdman, won four Oscars, including “Best Picture,” at the 87th Academy Awards (February 22, 2015).
Birdman introduces Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton). He is a washed-up Hollywood actor and former movie star best known for playing the iconic superhero, Birdman, two decades ago in a series of blockbuster films. Riggan hopes to reinvent his career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production. Riggan's play is a loosely based adaptation of “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” a short story written by the late Raymond Carver (and first published in the former literary journal, Antaeus, in 1981).
Unfortunately, Riggan's play is beset by complications. The play is produced by Riggan's best friend and lawyer, Jake (Zach Galifanakis), who is very demanding and high-strung. The film's two actresses are Riggan's girlfriend, Laura (Andrea Riseborough), who claims to be pregnant, and a first-time Broadway actress, Lesley (Naomi Watts), who has a worried mind. Riggan's daughter, Samantha (Emma Stone), a recovering addict, serves as her father's assistant. The other male actor in the play is Mike Shiner (Edward Norton), a brilliant actor who is also volatile, disruptive, and attention-seeking. The biggest complication, however, is the spirit of Birdman, which haunts Riggan with a mocking, critical voice, and that voice wants another Birdman movie.
Taking what the movie gives us, which is a little over one hour and fifty minutes of film narrative, Birdman is an extraordinary character study about the life of a struggling actor in a particular moment in time. This moment in time is a two-week period, of which we only observe in select pieces. People who watch this movie have to take Riggan at face value because the film is vague about whatever happened to Riggan's life prior to the two-week period that it depicts.
This situation helps to make Birdman ambiguous, and I think the director and his co-writers wanted their film to have many ambiguities. Is this film a true black comedy? Is it a drama about domestic and professional failures? Is it real, or surreal, or both (when considering Riggan's powers)? Is the last act and the ending a resolution via rebirth or by closure? Birdman is a complex, different and fascinating work of cinema.
Considering its subject matter, that of a failed movie star in the tailspin of a midlife crisis, it is fairly obvious why the film was so attractive to so many Oscar voters. How many members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which votes on the Oscars, have experienced something similar to Riggan's experiences or how many know they will... eventually. I think that this is a tremendous movie, and I can see why it won the Oscars that it did.
On the other hand, Edward Norton and Emma Stone are good in Birdman, but there is little in their work here, in terms of substance or character portrayal, that says that either one of them gave a top five performance in the respective categories for which they were nominated for Oscars. I also find Michael Keaton a little uneven. He is at his best when he is emoting without dialogue and when he is giving voice to Birdman. When he tries to give voice to anger and frustration, he is over-the-top, in his now trademark manner, familiar to us who remember him as Batman and as Beetlejuice.
Many people seem to think that Keaton was perfect for the role of Riggan Thomson who played a superhero at the height of his career and fame in Hollywood because Keaton played the title role in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) at the height of his film career. Keaton's career seemed to diminish after Batman, gradually though, until he had seemingly disappeared from Hollywood films. The truth is Keaton is a good actor whose full talent has rarely been utilized.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) gives him a chance, and there are moments in which Keaton shines. This film is unique and has many moments of brilliance, in which Alejandro G. Iñárritu shows us that cinematic magic is indeed real. Birdman has it, revealing that drama need not be tied to the ground nor to be framed in notions of stiff realism. Birdman has a sense of wonder and of curiosity, believing that it is as exciting to explore a man's life as it is to explore a faraway magical kingdom or an island full of dinosaurs.
9 of 10
A+
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
NOTES:
2015 Academy Awards, USA: 4 wins: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Lesher, and James W. Skotchdopole), “Best Achievement in Directing” (Alejandro González Iñárritu), “Best Writing, Original Screenplay” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo), and “Best Achievement in Cinematography” (Emmanuel Lubezki); 5 nominations: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role” (Michael Keaton), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Edward Norton), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” (Emma Stone), “Best Achievement in Sound Mixing” (Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño, and Thomas Varga) and “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Aaron Glascock and MartÃn Hernández)
2015 Golden Globes, USA: 2 wins: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical” (Michael Keaton) and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo); 5 nominations: “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Alejandro González Iñárritu), “Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical,” “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Emma Stone), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Edward Norton) and “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (Antonio Sanchez)
2015 BAFTA Awards: 1 win “Best Cinematography” (Emmanuel Lubezki); 9 nominations: “Best Film” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Lesher, and James W. Skotchdopole), “Best Leading Actor” (Michael Keaton), “Best Supporting Actor” (Edward Norton), “Best Supporting Actress” (Emma Stone), “Best Editing” (Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione), “Best Original Music” (Antonio Sanchez), “Best Sound” (Thomas Varga, MartÃn Hernández, Aaron Glascock, Jon Taylor, and Frank A. Montaño), “Best Original Screenplay” (Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, and Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo), and “David Lean Award for Direction” (Alejandro González Iñárritu)
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
"Black Science" Hardcover Due February 2016
EARLY BONUS CONTENT FROM BLACK SCIENCE DELUXE HARDCOVER EDITION, VOL. 1 REVEALED
The glorious oversized hardcover will hit shelves this February 2016 and feature tantalizing extra material
New York Times bestselling writer Rick Remender (DEADLY CLASS, LOW, TOKYO GHOST) and Matteo Scalera tease a few pages from the forthcoming BLACK SCIENCE DELUXE HARDCOVER EDITION, VOL. 1, set to hit stores February 2016.
This premiere hardcover edition will collect the first three story arcs of the beloved, pulp science fiction world-hopping adventure and feature an array of tantalizing extra material for fans to enjoy.
BLACK SCIENCE follows Grant McKay, former member of the Anarchist League of Scientists, who has finally done the impossible; he has deciphered “Black Science” and punched through the barriers of reality. However, what lies beyond the veil is not epiphany, but chaos.
Now Grant and his team are lost, living ghosts shipwrecked on an infinite ocean of alien worlds, barreling through the long-forgotten, ancient, and unimaginable dark realms. The only way is forward. The only question is how far are they willing to go—and how much can they endure—to get home again?
“This hardcover commemorates the three-year anniversary of when we started production on the book,” said Remender. “Everyone involved has worked tremendously hard to make this prestige hardcover edition a must-have for fans of the book and new readers. It's wall-to-wall with extras and all that lush art by Matteo Scalera, one of the most talented guys in comics. When you see Matteo's work at this size you'll be blown away.”
BLACK SCIENCE DELUXE HARDCOVER EDITION, VOL. 1 (ISBN: 978-1-63215-493-4) hits comic book stores on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016 and bookstores on Tuesday, February 9th, 2016 and will be available for $49.99. It can be ordered by retailers from Diamond Book Distributors with Diamond Code SEP150588. It can be pre-ordered now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
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The glorious oversized hardcover will hit shelves this February 2016 and feature tantalizing extra material
New York Times bestselling writer Rick Remender (DEADLY CLASS, LOW, TOKYO GHOST) and Matteo Scalera tease a few pages from the forthcoming BLACK SCIENCE DELUXE HARDCOVER EDITION, VOL. 1, set to hit stores February 2016.
This premiere hardcover edition will collect the first three story arcs of the beloved, pulp science fiction world-hopping adventure and feature an array of tantalizing extra material for fans to enjoy.
BLACK SCIENCE follows Grant McKay, former member of the Anarchist League of Scientists, who has finally done the impossible; he has deciphered “Black Science” and punched through the barriers of reality. However, what lies beyond the veil is not epiphany, but chaos.
Now Grant and his team are lost, living ghosts shipwrecked on an infinite ocean of alien worlds, barreling through the long-forgotten, ancient, and unimaginable dark realms. The only way is forward. The only question is how far are they willing to go—and how much can they endure—to get home again?
“This hardcover commemorates the three-year anniversary of when we started production on the book,” said Remender. “Everyone involved has worked tremendously hard to make this prestige hardcover edition a must-have for fans of the book and new readers. It's wall-to-wall with extras and all that lush art by Matteo Scalera, one of the most talented guys in comics. When you see Matteo's work at this size you'll be blown away.”
BLACK SCIENCE DELUXE HARDCOVER EDITION, VOL. 1 (ISBN: 978-1-63215-493-4) hits comic book stores on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016 and bookstores on Tuesday, February 9th, 2016 and will be available for $49.99. It can be ordered by retailers from Diamond Book Distributors with Diamond Code SEP150588. It can be pre-ordered now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
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