Welcome to October 2018. 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.
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Monday, October 1, 2018
VIZ Media Drops "Juni Taisen: Zodiac War" October 2nd
New Series Based On The Hit Novel That Depicts 12 Supernatural Fighters Locked In A Deadly Battle Debuts Next Month
San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, announces the launch of the grisly battle royale manga series, JUNI TAISEN: ZODIAC WAR, on October 2nd, 2018.
The series depicts the exploits of 12 supernatural fighters embroiled in a tense fight to the death and is based on the hit Japanese light novel by the prolific multi-genre author NISIOISIN. The novel was also adapted into an anime of the same name.
JUNI TAISEN: ZODIAC WAR is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and features story and artwork by Akira Akatsuki and character designs by Hikaru Nakamura. The series will be published in print under the Shonen Jump imprint with an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN, and will include a full-color fold-out poster. JUNI TAISEN: ZODIAC WAR also launches digitally on October 2nd via viz.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as on the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and Google Play stores. Future English editions of the 4-volume series will be published on a quarterly basis.
Every 12 years, 12 fighters take the form of the Chinese zodiac and engage in a battle royale. With their strength and mysterious powers, they fight to the death and the sole survivor is granted the ultimate prize – any wish.
“The JUNI TAISEN: ZODIAC WAR manga brings author NISIOISIN’s novel to life with graphic depiction of the intense battles,” says Marlene First, Editor. “A thrilling adventure and a merciless battle for survival awaits!”
The JUNI TAISEN: ZODIAC WAR novel is also available in English in both print and digital editions published by VIZ Media.
In 2002, author NISIOISIN’s novel, The Beheading Cycle, won the 23rd Mephisto Prize and became his debut publication. His other notable works include the Zaregoto series, the Monogatari series, the Densetsu series, and the Bōkyaku Tantei series. NISIOISIN also wrote the manga tie-in novel, Death Note: Another Note. As a manga writer, he has appeared in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine with his series Medaka Box and his Ōgiri series of one-shot manga stories have been featured in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump, Jump Square, Weekly Young Jump, and Bessatsu Margaret.
Born 1984, illustrator Hikaru Nakamura made her debut in 2001 with her manga Kairi no Sue in the Monthly Gangan Wing magazine. Her other works include Arakawa Under the Bridge, published in Young Gangan, and 2009 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize winner Saint Young Men, published in Monthly Morning Two. She previously collaborated with NISIOISIN for his Ōgiri series with “The One Wish I Really Want to Come True, and the Ninety-Nine Others I Don’t So Much.”
Born 1977, Akira Akatsuki made his manga debut in 2003 with Z-XL Dai in Akamaru Jump. He later published a number of one shots, such as Angel Agent, Contractor M&Y and Little Brave Pukateriosu, in Jump the Revolution!, Weekly Shonen Jump and Akamaru Jump, respectively. His most notable work and first major collaboration with NISIOISIN, Medaka Box, premiered in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2009 and concluded in 2013. He published two more one shots, Toshokan Kyuuseishu Kurabu (Library Savior Club) and Musume Iri-Hako (The Girl in the Box), the latter of which was another collaboration with Nisioisin, before starting work on Juni Taisen: Zodiac War in 2017 on Jump+.
For additional information on JUNI TAISEN: ZODIAC WAR and other titles published by VIZ Media, please visit viz.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.
Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at viz.com.
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Sunday, September 30, 2018
VIZ Media Drops "Ao Haru Ride" Oct. 2nd
From the Creator of STROBE EDGE Comes a New Popular Romance Series Debuting Early This Fall
San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, announces the launch of a new shojo manga series about high school romance with the debut of AO HARU RIDE on October 2nd, 2018.
The series, by creator Io Sakisaka, is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will be published in print and digital editions under the Shojo Beat imprint. Volume 1 will carry a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN The series also launches digitally on October 2nd via viz.com and the VIZ Manga App, and will be available from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and Google Play stores. Future volumes of AO HARU RIDE will be published by VIZ Media on a bimonthly basis.
In AO HARU RIDE, Futaba Yoshioka thought all boys were loud and obnoxious until she met Kou Tanaka in junior high. But as soon as she realized she really liked him, he had already moved away because of family issues. Now, in high school, Kou has reappeared, but is he still the same boy she fell in love with?
“AO HARU RIDE has been one of the most requested series by avid North American shojo manga readers,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Senior Editor. “We are very excited to give fans the opportunity to collect this beautiful and enchanting series about first- and second - love.”
Manga creator Io Sakisaka made her professional debut with Sakura, Chiru. Her works also include Call My Name, Gate of Planet, and Blue. STROBE EDGE, her previous work, is also published by VIZ Media (rated ‘T’ for Teens). AO HARU RIDE was adapted into an anime series in 2014.
For additional information on AO HARU RIDE and other manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit viz.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.
Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at viz.com.
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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 23rd to 30th, 2018 - Update #20
Support Leroy on Patreon:
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 9/28 to 9/30/2018 weekend box office is "Night School," with an estimated take of $28 million.
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: Gal Gadot joins Fox's remake of "Death on the Nile," based on Agatha Christie's novel.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: Apparently, there will be a second "Deadpool" movie this year. "Deadpool 2" was released this past May. The new film will open December 21st according to a still developing story.
----------
CELEBRITY - From TheWrap: Comedian Wanda Sykes was booed during a stand-up comedy show for making anti-President Trump jokes.
----------
SPORTS-CRIME - From ESPN: Louisiana State University (LSU) college basketball player, Wayde Sims, was killed in a shooting outside a restaurant near Southern University of Baton Rouge. A junior from Baton Rouge, Sims was shot about 12:25 a.m. CST and died at a local hospital.
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TELEVISION - From Variety: MTV announced that rapper Li'l Yachty will star in "How High 2," a TV sequel to the 2001 theatrical feature, "How High," which stars Method Man and Redman. [I am a fan of the original. - Editor]
----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertainment: Bill Cosby was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in state prison for the sexual assault of Andrea Constand. Judge Steven T. O'Neill also ruled Cosby a "sexually violent predator" and fined him $25,000.
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Mel Gibson will co-write and direct a remake of Sam Peckinpah's classic 1969 Western, "The Wild Bunch."
----------
COMICS-FILM - From YahooPeople: See Joaquin Phoenix in action as "The Joker," in a new set photo.
----------
STREAMING - From Newsarama: Here is the first photo of the "Star Trek" slash Captain Picard revival.
----------
STREAMING - From Variety: Zoe Kravitz will star in a TV series, "High Fidelity," which will be inspired by Nick Hornby's 1995 novel, "High Fidelity" and the 2000 Touchstone film adapted from the novel (and starring John Cusack).
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TELEVISION - From Collider: The great Robert Englund will play "Freddy Krueger" ("A Nightmare on Elm Street"), the character for which he is most (in)famous, for an episode of the ABC sitcom, "The Goldbergs." Englund will reprise Krueger for the series' Halloween episode.
----------
TELEVSION - From TVLine: Halle Berry and Lena Waithe has executive producers of BET's adaptation of Eddie Murphy's 1992 film, "Boomerang." The TV series will be a continuation rather than a reboot.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 9/21 to 9/23/2018 weekend box office is "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" with an estimated haul of $26.85 million.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: Todd Phillips reveals a photo image of Zazie Beetz's from his film, "Joker," starring Joaquin Phoenix.
----------
MEDICINE-BLM - From MotherJones: Black Patients Miss Out On Promising Cancer Drugs. Black people and Native Americans are underrepresented in clinical trials of new drugs, even when the treatment targets a type of cancer that disproportionately affects them.
----------
HISTORY - From YahooFinance: 100 years ago the United States fought its deadliest battle ever, "the Meuse-Argonne offensive of 1918." The U.S. victory there helped bring an end to World War I, but the cost was 26,000 Americans killed and tens of thousands wounded.
----------
STREAMING - From Variety: Jordan Peele ("Get Out") will host and narrate the CBS' revival of "The Twilight Zone" for its streaming service CBS All Access.
----------
CULTURE-BLM - From Vox: Living while black; campaigning while Black.
TRAILER:
From CNET: First trailer for "X-Men: Dark Phoenix," which is due February 14, 2018.
OBITS:
From RollingStone: Vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, Marty Balin, has died at the age of 73, Thursday, September 27, 2018. In 1965, Balin founded the psychedelic rock band, Jefferson Airplane, with guitarist, the late Paul Kantner (2016), in San Francisco.
From StarWars: The film producer, Gary Kurtz, has died at the age of 78, September 23, 2018. Kurtz is best known for his association with George Lucas, producing Lucas' directorial efforts, "American Graffiti" (1973) and "Star Wars" (1977). Kurtz produced "The Empire Strikes Back," but parted ways with Lucas. Kurtz earned "Best Picture" Oscar nominations for producing "American Graffiti" and "Star Wars."
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 9/28 to 9/30/2018 weekend box office is "Night School," with an estimated take of $28 million.
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: Gal Gadot joins Fox's remake of "Death on the Nile," based on Agatha Christie's novel.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: Apparently, there will be a second "Deadpool" movie this year. "Deadpool 2" was released this past May. The new film will open December 21st according to a still developing story.
----------
CELEBRITY - From TheWrap: Comedian Wanda Sykes was booed during a stand-up comedy show for making anti-President Trump jokes.
----------
SPORTS-CRIME - From ESPN: Louisiana State University (LSU) college basketball player, Wayde Sims, was killed in a shooting outside a restaurant near Southern University of Baton Rouge. A junior from Baton Rouge, Sims was shot about 12:25 a.m. CST and died at a local hospital.
----------
TELEVISION - From Variety: MTV announced that rapper Li'l Yachty will star in "How High 2," a TV sequel to the 2001 theatrical feature, "How High," which stars Method Man and Redman. [I am a fan of the original. - Editor]
----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertainment: Bill Cosby was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in state prison for the sexual assault of Andrea Constand. Judge Steven T. O'Neill also ruled Cosby a "sexually violent predator" and fined him $25,000.
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Mel Gibson will co-write and direct a remake of Sam Peckinpah's classic 1969 Western, "The Wild Bunch."
----------
COMICS-FILM - From YahooPeople: See Joaquin Phoenix in action as "The Joker," in a new set photo.
----------
STREAMING - From Newsarama: Here is the first photo of the "Star Trek" slash Captain Picard revival.
----------
STREAMING - From Variety: Zoe Kravitz will star in a TV series, "High Fidelity," which will be inspired by Nick Hornby's 1995 novel, "High Fidelity" and the 2000 Touchstone film adapted from the novel (and starring John Cusack).
----------
TELEVISION - From Collider: The great Robert Englund will play "Freddy Krueger" ("A Nightmare on Elm Street"), the character for which he is most (in)famous, for an episode of the ABC sitcom, "The Goldbergs." Englund will reprise Krueger for the series' Halloween episode.
----------
TELEVSION - From TVLine: Halle Berry and Lena Waithe has executive producers of BET's adaptation of Eddie Murphy's 1992 film, "Boomerang." The TV series will be a continuation rather than a reboot.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 9/21 to 9/23/2018 weekend box office is "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" with an estimated haul of $26.85 million.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: Todd Phillips reveals a photo image of Zazie Beetz's from his film, "Joker," starring Joaquin Phoenix.
----------
MEDICINE-BLM - From MotherJones: Black Patients Miss Out On Promising Cancer Drugs. Black people and Native Americans are underrepresented in clinical trials of new drugs, even when the treatment targets a type of cancer that disproportionately affects them.
----------
HISTORY - From YahooFinance: 100 years ago the United States fought its deadliest battle ever, "the Meuse-Argonne offensive of 1918." The U.S. victory there helped bring an end to World War I, but the cost was 26,000 Americans killed and tens of thousands wounded.
----------
STREAMING - From Variety: Jordan Peele ("Get Out") will host and narrate the CBS' revival of "The Twilight Zone" for its streaming service CBS All Access.
----------
CULTURE-BLM - From Vox: Living while black; campaigning while Black.
TRAILER:
From CNET: First trailer for "X-Men: Dark Phoenix," which is due February 14, 2018.
OBITS:
From RollingStone: Vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, Marty Balin, has died at the age of 73, Thursday, September 27, 2018. In 1965, Balin founded the psychedelic rock band, Jefferson Airplane, with guitarist, the late Paul Kantner (2016), in San Francisco.
From StarWars: The film producer, Gary Kurtz, has died at the age of 78, September 23, 2018. Kurtz is best known for his association with George Lucas, producing Lucas' directorial efforts, "American Graffiti" (1973) and "Star Wars" (1977). Kurtz produced "The Empire Strikes Back," but parted ways with Lucas. Kurtz earned "Best Picture" Oscar nominations for producing "American Graffiti" and "Star Wars."
Thursday, September 27, 2018
"The Nun" Attacks Another Worldwide Box Office Milestone - $300 Million
“The Nun” is a Holy Terror at the Box Office, Crossing $300 Million Worldwide
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Line Cinema’s horror thriller “The Nun” crossed another milestone, surpassing $300 million at the global box office, it was announced today by Ron Sanders, Warner Bros.’ President of Worldwide Theatrical Distribution and Home Entertainment.
“This success further demonstrates the extraordinary scope and appeal of James Wan’s “Conjuring”
Through Tuesday, the film has taken in an estimated $102.4 million domestically. It has also been #1 at the international box office for three consecutive weekends, taking in an estimated $199.7 million, for a worldwide total of $302.1 million and counting.
It continues to generate strong returns in Latin America and Mexico as well as the U.S. Hispanic markets, where the popularity of star Demian Bichir is a major draw. In addition, “The Nun” just opened at the top of the box office in a number of markets, including France, Italy, Russia and Korea. It currently ranks as the highest-grossing horror film of all time in twelve markets, including Indonesia, Brazil, Romania and UAE; the biggest-grossing film in the “Conjuring” universe in more than 30 markets; and the highest-grossing Warner Bros. Pictures release for the year in 26 markets, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Romania, Poland and Sweden. The combined gross for the “Conjuring” universe—the top-grossing horror franchise in cinema history—now stands at more than $1.5 billion.
In making the announcement, Sanders said, “This success further demonstrates the extraordinary scope and appeal of James Wan’s “Conjuring” universe. We again want to congratulate director Corin Hardy and the cast, led by Demian Bichir and Taissa Farmiga, and all the talented people who worked on the film who love to scare audiences and do it so well.”
From director Corin Hardy (“The Hallow”) comes “The Nun,” exploring another dark corner of “The Conjuring” universe. The terrifying film delves into the shocking origin of the demonic Nun Valak, who first made her evil presence known in “The Conjuring 2.” The film is produced by James Wan (“The Conjuring” films, upcoming “Aquaman”) and Peter Safran (“The Conjuring” franchise).
When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together they uncover the order’s unholy secret. Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of a nun, as the abbey becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the damned.
“The Nun” stars Oscar nominee Demian Bichir (“A Better Life”) as Father Burke, Taissa Farmiga (TV’s “American Horror Story”) as Sister Irene, and Jonas Bloquet (“Elle”) as local villager Frenchie. The cast also includes Charlotte Hope (TV’s “Game of Thrones”) as the abbey’s Sister Victoria, Ingrid Bisu (“Toni Erdmann”) as Sister Oana, and Bonnie Aarons, reprising her role from “The Conjuring 2” as the title character.
Hardy directed “The Nun” from a screenplay by Gary Dauberman (“IT,” the “Annabelle” films), story by James Wan & Dauberman. Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Dauberman, Michael Clear and Todd Williams served as executive producers.
Joining Hardy behind the scenes are director of photography Maxime Alexandre (“The Voices,” “Annabelle: Creation”), production designer Jennifer Spence (“Annabelle: Creation,” “Lights Out,” the “Insidious” films), editors Michel Aller (“Lights Out,” “Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension”) and Ken Blackwell (“Ouija,” “Friday the 13th”), and costume designer Sharon Gilham (TV’s “Black Mirror”). The music is by Abel Korzeniowski (“Nocturnal Animals”).
New Line Cinema presents an Atomic Monster / Safran Company production, “The Nun.” The film is being distributed in theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film has been rated R for terror, violence, and disturbing/bloody images.
thenunmovie.com
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BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Line Cinema’s horror thriller “The Nun” crossed another milestone, surpassing $300 million at the global box office, it was announced today by Ron Sanders, Warner Bros.’ President of Worldwide Theatrical Distribution and Home Entertainment.
“This success further demonstrates the extraordinary scope and appeal of James Wan’s “Conjuring”
Through Tuesday, the film has taken in an estimated $102.4 million domestically. It has also been #1 at the international box office for three consecutive weekends, taking in an estimated $199.7 million, for a worldwide total of $302.1 million and counting.
It continues to generate strong returns in Latin America and Mexico as well as the U.S. Hispanic markets, where the popularity of star Demian Bichir is a major draw. In addition, “The Nun” just opened at the top of the box office in a number of markets, including France, Italy, Russia and Korea. It currently ranks as the highest-grossing horror film of all time in twelve markets, including Indonesia, Brazil, Romania and UAE; the biggest-grossing film in the “Conjuring” universe in more than 30 markets; and the highest-grossing Warner Bros. Pictures release for the year in 26 markets, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Romania, Poland and Sweden. The combined gross for the “Conjuring” universe—the top-grossing horror franchise in cinema history—now stands at more than $1.5 billion.
In making the announcement, Sanders said, “This success further demonstrates the extraordinary scope and appeal of James Wan’s “Conjuring” universe. We again want to congratulate director Corin Hardy and the cast, led by Demian Bichir and Taissa Farmiga, and all the talented people who worked on the film who love to scare audiences and do it so well.”
From director Corin Hardy (“The Hallow”) comes “The Nun,” exploring another dark corner of “The Conjuring” universe. The terrifying film delves into the shocking origin of the demonic Nun Valak, who first made her evil presence known in “The Conjuring 2.” The film is produced by James Wan (“The Conjuring” films, upcoming “Aquaman”) and Peter Safran (“The Conjuring” franchise).
When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together they uncover the order’s unholy secret. Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of a nun, as the abbey becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the damned.
“The Nun” stars Oscar nominee Demian Bichir (“A Better Life”) as Father Burke, Taissa Farmiga (TV’s “American Horror Story”) as Sister Irene, and Jonas Bloquet (“Elle”) as local villager Frenchie. The cast also includes Charlotte Hope (TV’s “Game of Thrones”) as the abbey’s Sister Victoria, Ingrid Bisu (“Toni Erdmann”) as Sister Oana, and Bonnie Aarons, reprising her role from “The Conjuring 2” as the title character.
Hardy directed “The Nun” from a screenplay by Gary Dauberman (“IT,” the “Annabelle” films), story by James Wan & Dauberman. Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Dauberman, Michael Clear and Todd Williams served as executive producers.
Joining Hardy behind the scenes are director of photography Maxime Alexandre (“The Voices,” “Annabelle: Creation”), production designer Jennifer Spence (“Annabelle: Creation,” “Lights Out,” the “Insidious” films), editors Michel Aller (“Lights Out,” “Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension”) and Ken Blackwell (“Ouija,” “Friday the 13th”), and costume designer Sharon Gilham (TV’s “Black Mirror”). The music is by Abel Korzeniowski (“Nocturnal Animals”).
New Line Cinema presents an Atomic Monster / Safran Company production, “The Nun.” The film is being distributed in theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film has been rated R for terror, violence, and disturbing/bloody images.
thenunmovie.com
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"Widows," "Green Book" to Screen at Austin Film Festival 2018
Austin Film Festival Announces Full Film and Conference Schedule
Slate Includes Centerpiece Film Ben is Back, Widows, Green Book, Friends from College Season 2 Premiere, Wildlife
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing the writers’ contributions to film, television, and new media, announced today the full schedule of films and panels for the 25th Anniversary festival, this October 25-November 1, 2018. AFF’s feature film slate includes 23 World, North American, and US Premieres, a robust retrospective series, and highly anticipated marquee titles, including Steve McQueen’s and Gillian Flynn’s modern-day thriller Widows, Peter Farrelly’s dramedy period piece Green Book starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen, Mike Leigh’s period piece Peterloo, Mickey Rourke-starring boxing drama Tiger, Paul Dano’s Wildlife starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan, and Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges family drama Ben is Back bowing as AFF’s Centerpiece selection, with writer/director Peter Hedges in attendance.
AFF also announced its 2018 television program. Included this year is comedy series Friends From College, launching on Netflix in 2019. Creators Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller will present a special preview screening of the Season 2 premiere episode. Creator Justin Marks and executive producer Jordan Horowitz will also be on hand at the Festival to present the season 2 premiere of their espionage spy thriller Counterpart, starring Academy Award® winner J.K. Simmons, premiering on Starz later this year.
AFF’s retrospective series will feature Tony Gilroy presenting his 1995 film Dolores Claiborne based on Stephen King’s novel, Graham Yost presenting his 1994 action classic Speed, and writer Mick Garris in attendance for a special Halloween presentation of Hocus Pocus.
Other World Premieres include The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova, F/11 and Be There, The Amaranth, A Girl Named C, and Waiting for the Miracle to Come.
The full Film and Conference schedule can be found at www.austinfilmfestival.com.
ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL:
Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. AFF is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department and the Texas Commission on the Arts. All attendees and events are based on permitting schedules and are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice.
------------------------
Slate Includes Centerpiece Film Ben is Back, Widows, Green Book, Friends from College Season 2 Premiere, Wildlife
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing the writers’ contributions to film, television, and new media, announced today the full schedule of films and panels for the 25th Anniversary festival, this October 25-November 1, 2018. AFF’s feature film slate includes 23 World, North American, and US Premieres, a robust retrospective series, and highly anticipated marquee titles, including Steve McQueen’s and Gillian Flynn’s modern-day thriller Widows, Peter Farrelly’s dramedy period piece Green Book starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen, Mike Leigh’s period piece Peterloo, Mickey Rourke-starring boxing drama Tiger, Paul Dano’s Wildlife starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan, and Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges family drama Ben is Back bowing as AFF’s Centerpiece selection, with writer/director Peter Hedges in attendance.
AFF also announced its 2018 television program. Included this year is comedy series Friends From College, launching on Netflix in 2019. Creators Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller will present a special preview screening of the Season 2 premiere episode. Creator Justin Marks and executive producer Jordan Horowitz will also be on hand at the Festival to present the season 2 premiere of their espionage spy thriller Counterpart, starring Academy Award® winner J.K. Simmons, premiering on Starz later this year.
AFF’s retrospective series will feature Tony Gilroy presenting his 1995 film Dolores Claiborne based on Stephen King’s novel, Graham Yost presenting his 1994 action classic Speed, and writer Mick Garris in attendance for a special Halloween presentation of Hocus Pocus.
Other World Premieres include The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova, F/11 and Be There, The Amaranth, A Girl Named C, and Waiting for the Miracle to Come.
The full Film and Conference schedule can be found at www.austinfilmfestival.com.
ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL:
Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. AFF is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department and the Texas Commission on the Arts. All attendees and events are based on permitting schedules and are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice.
------------------------
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Review: "Solo: A Star Wars Story" is Pure Classic Era
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Running time: 135 minutes (2 hours, 15 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action/violence
DIRECTOR: Ron Howard
WRITERS: Jonathan Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan; based on the characters created by George Lucas)
PRODUCERS: Simon Emanuel (p.g.a.) and Kathleen Kennedy (p.g.a.)
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Bradford Young (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Pietro Scalia
COMPOSER: John Powell (and adaptation)
SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Joonas Suotamo, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Paul Bettany, Clint Howard, Erin Kellyman, Anthony Daniels, and Warwick Davis and the voices of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jon Favreau, and Linda Hunt
Solo: A Star Wars Story is a 2018 science fiction and fantasy film from director Ron Howard. It is the tenth live-action film in the Star Wars film franchise, and it is the second anthology or “stand-alone” film (meaning that it is not part of the “Skywalkers saga”), following 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The film focuses on a younger version of classic Star Wars character, Han Solo, and tells the story of how he got his start as a space pirate and smuggler.
Solo: A Star Wars Story opens on the shipbuilding world of Corellia. There we meet a young "scrumrat" and aspiring pilot named Han (Alden Ehrenreich) and his lover, Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke), who both long to escape the clutches of the local criminal gangs and to leave the planet for new lives. However, only Han manages to escape, and he joins the Imperial Navy of the Galactic Empire as a flight cadet.
Three years later, Han is serving as an infantryman during a battle on the planet Mimban. There, he encounters a gang of criminals posing as Imperial officers, led by Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson). Han and his new friend, Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), a Wookie with whom he just became acquainted, bribe their way onto Beckett's crew. Han and Chewbacca's first heist with Beckett, however, leads him into dangerous places. Han meets a murderous crime lord, Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany); discovers a smooth-talking and rising young smuggler, Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover); enters a new heist that could make or break his future; and reunites with a figure from his past.
Much about Solo: A Star Wars Story feels contrived and shoved in, as if the filmmakers and storytellers are trying to reveal the origins of everything Star Wars fans know about the Han Solo. From his name to his personality, very little if anything is not covered. Still, one can make an argument that much about the original Star Wars (1977) is contrived.
What is important is that Solo: A Star Wars Story feels like classic era Star Wars films (1977 to 1983). Like the other anthology film, Rogue One, Solo: A Star Wars Story is infused with the spirit of adventure of the original films. Solo is partly a Western, like the original Stars Wars. Solo is a far-flung space opera and interstellar fantasy like the original trilogy. Part of the reason that Solo feels so classic Star Wars is that one of the film's two screenwriters, Lawrence Kasdan, wrote two of the original trilogy films, and his son, Jonathan, is the co-screenwriter here. Solo director Ron Howard should have directed a Star Wars film a long time ago, as far as I am concerned. He has previously worked with Star Wars creator, George Lucas, on the fantasy film, Willow (1988). So Howard was fated for a Star Wars film, and I am glad it is Solo.
As for the characters, Alden Ehrenreich is good as young Han Solo. Ehrenreich tries to capture the spirit of the performance of the original Han Solo actor, Harrison Ford, but Ehrenreich plays young Han, not as a fully grown man, but as someone still evolving. Donald Glover is excellent, superb, and great as young Lando Calrissian (who was originally played by Billy Dee Williams). Solo is not a big enough movie for two personalities like young Han and young Lando, so Lando needs his own movie. And new Chewbacca actor, Joonas Suotama, is good, but it is hard to mess up playing Chewbacca.
If this review makes it seem that I am much more pleased with Solo: A Star Wars Story than I am about the most recent other Star Wars film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I unequivocally am. Solo is a real movie all on its own – beginning, middle, and end. While it may not add much to the fictional mythology of the Star Wars franchise, Solo: A Star Wars Story gets it right by looking, feeling, and acting like classic Star Wars.
8 of 10
A
Friday, May 25, 2018
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