Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for March 23, 2022

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JAN221626 A KINGS VENGEANCE #2 $3.99

SEP211375 ALICE IN LEATHERLAND TP (MR) $17.99

JAN221712 ARMORCLADS #1 (OF 5) CVR A HUTOMO $3.99

JAN221713 ARMORCLADS #1 (OF 5) CVR B MASTRAZZO & ROBERTS $3.99

JAN221714 ARMORCLADS #1 (OF 5) CVR C HUTOMO $3.99

JAN221717 ARMORCLADS #1 (OF 5) CVR F BLANK $3.99

JAN221868 ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM PART 2 GN VOL 02 $14.99

DEC212033 BEHEMOTH S RANKED MONSTER CAT ELF GIRL PET GN VOL 04 (RES) ( $13.00

FEB221329 BELLADONNA MOODY BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

JAN221211 BETTY & VERONICA DECADES 1960S TP $10.99

JAN221215 BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #302 $8.99

JAN221878 BEYOND CLOUDS GN VOL 04 (RES) $12.99

JAN221618 BEYOND THE BEYOND #1 (OF 4) $4.99

JAN221816 BUNGO STRAY DOGS WAN GN VOL 01 (MR) $13.00

SEP211416 CASSIDYS SECRET #3 CVR A FUSO $4.99

SEP211417 CASSIDYS SECRET #3 CVR B FUSO $4.99

JAN221810 CATCH THESE HANDS GN VOL 01 $13.00

JAN221655 COVER OF DARKNESS #3 CVR A HIBLEN (MR) $3.99

JAN221656 COVER OF DARKNESS #3 CVR B MCDANIEL (MR) $3.99

JAN221465 CRAB & SNAIL YR GN VOL 01 INVISIBLE WHALE $7.90

JAN221466 CRAB & SNAIL YR HC GN VOL 01 INVISIBLE WHALE $12.99

FEB221260 CROSSED BADLANDS WRAP 13-18 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221258 CROSSED BADLANDS WRAP 1-6 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221261 CROSSED BADLANDS WRAP 19-24 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221262 CROSSED BADLANDS WRAP 25-30 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221263 CROSSED BADLANDS WRAP 31-36 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221264 CROSSED BADLANDS WRAP 37-42 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221265 CROSSED BADLANDS WRAP 43-48 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221266 CROSSED BADLANDS WRAP 49-54 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221259 CROSSED BADLANDS WRAP 7-12 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

DEC211648 DEAR SOPHIE LOVE SOPHIE GRAPHIC MEMOIR $21.99

NOV212014 DEKOBOKO BITTERSWEET DAYS (MR) $15.99

NOV211369 DF COWBOY BEBOP #1 HAESER SGN RMRK $71.00

FEB221433 DF DC COMICS APRIL SHOWERS 2022 TRIFECTA $33.33

SEP211510 DF HARLEY QUINN #1 HAESER RMRK SGN $79.99

MAR211260 DF HEROES REBORN HAESER SKETCH $89.99

OCT201344 DF JUSTICE LEAGUE ENDLESS WINTER #1 MARZ SGN $29.99

FEB221434 DF MARVEL COMICS APRIL SHOWERS 2022 TRIFECTA $33.33

FEB221435 DF MULTI PUBLISHER APRIL SHOWERS 2022 TRIFECTA $33.33

JUL211625 DF SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HARLOCK #1 HAESER SGN RMRK $77.00

NOV212015 DOUBLE GN VOL 02 $12.99

JAN221913 DUNGEON DIVE AIM FOR DEEPEST LEVEL GN VOL 03 $12.99

NOV211893 EMINENCE IN SHADOW GN VOL 03 $13.00

JAN221199 FLOWER GARDEN GN $12.99

JAN221246 FOURTH MAN #3 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99

NOV211194 FRANKENROCKER AND THE JAILBAIT PUNKS #1 (OF 4) CVR A KOWALCZ $4.99

NOV211195 FRANKENROCKER AND THE JAILBAIT PUNKS #1 (OF 4) CVR B CHURILL $4.99

DEC211426 FREAK SNOW REVENGE IS A DRUG VOL 01 (MR) $14.99

JAN221566 GERONIMO STILTON REPORTER HC VOL 10 BLACKRATS TREASURE $9.99

FEB221332 GYPSY SULTRY BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221331 HELLINA SACRILEGE BAG SET (4CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221970 HIGEHIRO AFTER BEING REJECTED GN VOL 03 $12.95

JAN221248 HOTELL VOL 2 #4 (OF 5) $3.99

DEC211616 HYPERTHICK #3 (OF 3) (MR) $5.99

JAN221869 INFINITE DENDROGRAM OMNIBUS GN VOL 04 $19.99

JAN221660 JOHN CARPENTERS TALES OF SCIENCE FICTION HELL TP $24.99

FEB221335 JUNGLE FANTASY VIXENS IVORY LUSCIOUS SET BAG SET A (5CT) (MR $19.99

FEB221336 JUNGLE FANTASY VIXENS IVORY LUSCIOUS SET BAG SET B (5CT) (MR $19.99

FEB221327 LADY DEATH ART NOUVEAU BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221326 LADY DEATH CRACKLING BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221325 LADY DEATH SEDUCTIVE BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221328 LADY DEATH WICKED QUEEN PRISM BAG SET (3CT) (MR) $19.99

JAN221127 LION & EAGLE #2 CVR A BRADSTREET $7.99

JAN221826 LUST GEASS GN VOL 05 (MR) $13.00

JAN221480 MAKHNO UKRAINIAN FREEDOM FIGHTER (MR) $22.99

SEP211812 MAN WHO SHOT CHRIS KYLE AN AMERICAN LEGEND HC VOL 01 (MR) (C $29.99

JAN221129 MANIAC OF NEW YORK BRONX BURNING #4 CVR A ANDREA MUTTI $4.99

JAN221130 MANIAC OF NEW YORK BRONX BURNING #4 CVR B FRANCAVILLA VAR $4.99

JAN221870 MARGINAL OPERATION GN VOL 09 $14.99

FEB221330 MEDIEVAL LADY DEATH WARRIOR BAG SET (8CT) (MR) $19.99

JAN221862 MIGHT AS WELL CHEAT GN VOL 02 (MR) $13.99

JAN221814 MINAMI NANAMI WANTS TO SHINE GN VOL 01 $13.00

NOV211875 MINT CHOCOLATE GN VOL 05 $13.00

JAN221818 MONSTER WRESTLING INTERSPECIES COMBAT GIRLS GN VOL 04 (MR) ( $13.00

FEB221971 MULTI MIND MAYHEM GN VOL 03 ISEKAI TENSEI SOUDOUKI (MR) $13.95

JAN221156 MY BAD #5 (MR) $3.99

DEC211593 MY BADLY DRAWN LIFE HC $22.99

JAN221932 MY LOVEY DOVEY WIFE IS A STONE COLD KILLER GN VOL 02 (MR) (C $12.99

FEB221972 NEW GATE MANGA GN VOL 09 $11.95

FEB221255 NIGHT LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH WRAP 1-6 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221256 NIGHT LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH WRAP 7-12 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221252 NIGHT LIVING DEAD DEATH VALLEY WRAP 1-5 BAG SET (5CT) (MR) ( $16.99

JAN221282 NINE STONES #8 CVR A SPANO (MR) $3.99

JAN221283 NINE STONES #8 CVR B SPANO (MR) $3.99

DEC211816 NORTH BEND SEASON 2 #3 $3.99

JAN221425 NOW #11 NEW COMICS ANTHOLOGY $12.99

JAN221863 PARALLEL PARADISE GN VOL 09 (MR) $13.99

JAN221628 PENTAGRAM OF HORROR #1 CVR A FONTANILI $5.99

FEB221257 PLAGUE LIVING DEAD ROTTING SET (7CT) (MR) $19.99

OCT211895 RISE OF THE DJINN #3 (OF 3) CVR A PANTALENA $5.99

OCT211896 RISE OF THE DJINN #3 (OF 3) CVR B RIVEIRO $5.99

JAN221654 ROARIN 20S WORLDS FAIR 2ND PTG (MR) $3.99

JAN221815 RUN ON YOUR NEW LEGS GN VOL 01 $15.00

JAN221887 SAINT YOUNG MEN HC GN VOL 08 (MR) $23.99

JAN221648 SECOND PLACE #4 (OF 4) $3.99

DEC211440 SHI NO KAGE #7 (OF 6) CVR A $3.99

DEC212027 SMOKIN PARADE GN VOL 09 (RES) (MR) $13.00

JAN221534 SPEED REPUBLIC #2 CVR A PARASCANDOLO & MONTE $3.99

JAN221535 SPEED REPUBLIC #2 CVR B FABIAN LELAY $3.99

JAN221819 SPLENDID WORK OF MONSTER MAID GN VOL 02 (MR) $15.00

NOV211696 SUICIDE JOCKEYS SEASON 1 (MR) $14.99

JAN221474 SWAMP GOD #4 (OF 6) (RES) (MR) $2.99

JAN221823 SWORD ART ONLINE PROJECT ALICIZATION GN VOL 04 $13.00

NOV211700 TOUCHING EVIL #20 (MR) $3.99

JAN221647 TRASH & CAN IT DISPOSABLE HEROES #3 (OF 4) $3.99

DEC211851 TWIZTID HAUNTED HIGH ONS CURSE OF GREEN BOOK #4 (OF 4) CVR A $3.99

DEC211852 TWIZTID HAUNTED HIGH ONS CURSE OF GREEN BOOK #4 (OF 4) CVR B $3.99

FEB221333 UNHOLY FEMME FATALE 1-5 BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

DEC211427 UNTIL MY KNUCKLES BLEED #2 CVR A SANTOS (MR) $3.99

DEC211428 UNTIL MY KNUCKLES BLEED #2 CVR B SANTOS (MR) $3.99

DEC211429 UNTIL MY KNUCKLES BLEED #2 CVR C SANTOS (MR) $3.99

DEC211430 UNTIL MY KNUCKLES BLEED #2 CVR D SANTOS 5 COPY INCV (MR) $3.99

DEC211431 UNTIL MY KNUCKLES BLEED #2 CVR E SANTOS 10 COPY INCV (MR) $3.99

JAN221276 UNTIL MY KNUCKLES BLEED #3 CVR A SANTOS (MR) $3.99

JAN221277 UNTIL MY KNUCKLES BLEED #3 CVR B SANTOS (MR) $3.99

JAN221278 UNTIL MY KNUCKLES BLEED #3 CVR C SANTOS (MR) $3.99

JUL211353 VAMPIRE MACABRE HALLOWEEN SP ONE SHOT CVR A FELL (MR) $3.99

JUL211354 VAMPIRE MACABRE HALLOWEEN SP ONE SHOT CVR B CHOW (MR) $3.99

JUL211355 VAMPIRE MACABRE HALLOWEEN SP ONE SHOT CVR C SKETCH (MR) $3.99

DEC211434 WATCH DOGS LEGION #4 (OF 4) CVR A MASSAGGIA (MR) $3.99

DEC211435 WATCH DOGS LEGION #4 (OF 4) CVR B MASSAGGIA (MR) $3.99

FEB221334 WEBWITCH WRAP 1-5 BAG SET (5CT) (MR) $19.99

NOV211495 WIZARDS OF MICKEY GN VOL 07 $16.00

FEB221254 WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM WRAP 1-6 BAG SET (6CT) (MR) $19.99

FEB221253 WOLFSKIN VISCOUS SET (5CT) (MR) $16.99

JAN221536 WOLVENHEART #12 CVR A GIRALDO $3.99

JAN221537 WOLVENHEART #12 CVR B GIRALDO $3.99

NOV211894 WOOF WOOF STORY GN VOL 03 PAMPERED POOCH NOT FENRIR $13.00

NOV211897 WORLDS FINEST ASSASSIN REINCARNATED ANOTHER WORLD GN VOL 02 $13.00

JAN221651 YUKI VS PANDA #8 (MR) $3.99

MAGAZINES

JAN221359 COMIC SHOP NEWS (90CT BUNDLE) #1805 $PI

NOV211437 FILMFAX #161 $9.95

JAN221470 HEAVY METAL #315 CVR A JUNG GI (MR) $13.99

JAN221471 HEAVY METAL #315 CVR B JUNG GI (MR) $13.99

FEB221532 NIB FOOD $14.95

SEP218488 TOY-VENTURES MAGAZINE #6 $10.99

BOOKS

JAN221838 DURARARA SH LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 03 $15.00

SEP211853 JOHN SEVERIN TWO-FISTED COMIC BOOK ARTIST HC $39.95

JAN221366 MAX AND THE MIDKNIGHTS ILLUS YA NOVEL HC TOWER OF TIME $13.99

JAN221873 MY FRIENDS LITTLE SISTER HAS IT IN FOR ME LN VOL 03 $14.99

AUG212088 STAR WARS CLONE WARS OFFICIAL COLL ED HC $24.99

JAN221841 STRIKE THE BLOOD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 20 $15.00

JAN221875 TEARMOON EMPIRE LIGHT NOVEL VOL 04 $14.99

JAN221829 WOLF & PARCHMENT LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 06 NEW THEORY $14.00

JAN221839 WORLD STRONGEST REARGUARD LABYRINTH NOVICE NOVEL SC VOL 06 ( $15.00

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DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for March 22, 2022

DC COMICS:

Action Comics #1041 (Cover A Daniel Sampere & Alejandro Sanchez), $4.99
Action Comics #1041 (Cover B Julian Totino Tedesco Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Aquaman Green Arrow Deep Target #6 (Of 7)(Cover A Marco Santucci), $3.99
Aquaman Green Arrow Deep Target #6 (Of 7)(Cover B Fico Ossio Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batman Box Set, $63.00
Batman The Long Halloween Catwoman When In Rome The Deluxe Edition HC, $49.99
Dark Knights Of Steel #4 (Of 12)(2nd Printing Cover A Joshua Middleton), $3.99
Deathstroke Inc. #7 (Cover A Howard Porter), $3.99
Deathstroke Inc. #7 (Cover B Ivan Tao Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Deathstroke Inc. #7 (Cover C Acky Bright Card Stock Variant), AR
Detective Comics #1058 (Cover A Irvin Rodriguez), $4.99
Detective Comics #1058 (Cover B Lee Bermejo Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Detective Comics #1058 (Cover C Jorge Fornes Card Stock Variant), AR
Harley Quinn #13 (Cover A Riley Rossmo), $3.99
Harley Quinn #13 (Cover B Derrick Chew Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Harley Quinn #13 (Cover C Simone Bianchi The Batman Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Harley Quinn #13 (Cover D Mico Suayan Card Stock Variant, AR
Human Target #6 (Of 12)(Cover A Greg Smallwood), $4.99
Human Target #6 (Of 12)(Cover B Jorge Fornes), $4.99
Icon And Rocket Season One #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Taurin Clarke), $3.99
Icon And Rocket Season One #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Doug Braithwaite Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Robin #12 (Cover A Viktor Bogdanovic), $3.99
Robin #12 (Cover B Francis Manapul Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Robin #12 (Cover C Crystal Kung Card Stock Variant), AR
Rogues #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Sam Wolfe Connelly), $6.99
Rogues #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Massimiliano Leomacs), $6.99
Rogues #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Michael Cho), AR
Task Force Z #6 (Cover A Eddy Barrows & Eber Ferreira), $3.99
Task Force Z #6 (Cover B Alexander Lozano Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Task Force Z #6 (Cover C Derrick Chew Card Stock Variant), AR
Teen Titans Academy #13 (Cover A Rafa Sandoval)(War For Earth-3), $3.99
Teen Titans Academy #13 (Cover B Pamela Hoogeboom Card Stock)(War For Earth-3), $4.99
Trial Of The Amazons Wonder Girl #1 (Of 2)(Cover A Joelle Jones), $3.99
Trial Of The Amazons Wonder Girl #1 (Of 2)(Cover B Jeff Dekal Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Wonder Woman Agent Of Peace Volume 2 TP, $19.99

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TRAILER: Netflix's "THE PENTAVERATE" Official Teaser

Michael Myers new Netflix comedy series, "THE PENTAVERATE," debuts May 5, 2022.  Myers will play eight(!) characters and Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons is the series narrator.  The series focuses on a secret society of five men — aka The Pentaverate — that has been working to influence world events for the greater good since the Black Plague of 1347.  A Canadian journalist (Myers) finds himself embroiled in a mission to uncover the truth and just possibly save the world himself.

The official teaser trailer is below:

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 13th to 19th, 2022 - Update #20

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

UKRAINE - From TheAtlantic:  From "The Atlantic":  "I Have a Message for My Russian Friends" by Arnold Schwarzenegger.  The piece includes a story about Arnold's friendship with his childhood idol, Russian weightlifter, Yuri Petrovich Vlasov.

PIXAR - From Variety:  Disney reportedly removed a "same-sex" kiss from its upcoming film, "Lightyear," about the inspiration for "Buzz Lightyear" from "Toy Story."  In the wake of its "Don't Say Gay" controversy, Disney has restored the kiss.

AVATAR - From IGN:  Actress Zoe Saldana says that James Cameron has solved "the underwater motion capture problem" in Avatar 2, which is due in theaters Dec. 16th, 2022.

MOVIES - From IGN:  On a recent podcast, actress Courteney Cox confirms that she is returning for 2023's "Scream 6."

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Netflix has released new art related to its live-action "Resident Evil" TV series.  The series will debut July 14th.

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Amazon and MGM announced that their $8.5 billion merger deal has closed, Thursday morning, March 17, 2022.  There is no news on what the new management structure will be.

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Mike Myers' new Netflix comedy series, "The Pentaverate," has a first-look trailer, first-look photos, and a premiere date, May 5th.

STAR TREK - From Deadline:  Actor Paul Wesley has been cast in the role of "James T. Kirk" (first played by William Shatner) for the second season of the Paramount+ series, "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."  The first season premieres in May.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  "Top Gun: Maverick" will reportedly screen at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, which will take place from May 17th to May 28th.

From Deadline:  Director Baz Luhrmann's splash Elvis Presley biopic, "Elvis," will also make its debut at Cannes.  The film stars Austin Butler as Elvis and Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker.

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek are returning for DreamWorks Animation's "The Last Wish," a sequel to its 2011 hit, "Puss in Boots."

MEDIA - From YahooIndependentUK:   Donald Trump lashes out at Time Warner Cable for dumping his favorite network, the news network, OAN (One America News).

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 3/11 to 3/13/2022 weekend box office is "The Batman" with an estimated take of 66 million dollars.

From Here:  Negromancer's review of "The Batman."

BAFTA - From Deadline:  The 2022 / 75th EE British Academy Film Awards ceremony was held in Lond, Sun., March 13th.  "The Power of the Dog" was named "Best Film" and Jane Campion won "Best Director" for the film.  Will Smith was named "Best Actor."  "Dune" won five awards, dominated the "craft categories."

AWARDS - From Variety:  The Directors Guild of America's 2022 74th annual DGA Awards were held on Sat., March 12th.  Jane Campion won the top prize "Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Film" for directing "The Power of the Dog."  She is the third woman to win the award and the second to have been nominated twice.

AWARDS/ANIMATION - From Variety:  The winners at the 2022 / 49th annual Annie Awards were announced, Sat. Mar. 12th.  Netflix's "The Mitchells vs. the Machines" was named "Best Feature."

DISNEY - From Deadline:  by Nellie Andreeva - Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s toughest test yet: Disney’s “Worst Week” over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ response could lead to “Profound Change”

OBITS:

From YahooSports:  Print, television and radio sports reporter, John Clayton, has died at the age of 67, Friday, March 18, 2022.  Clayton is best known for his stint as an NFL reporter for ESPN from 1995 to 2017.

From NBCNews:  Stage, film, and television actor, William Hurt, has died at the age of 71, Sunday, March 13, 2022.  His film career began with Ken Russell's 1980 flick, "Altered States."  That began an extraordinary run of critical and box office success in the 1980s, including three consecutive "Best Actor" Oscar nominations.  He won for "Kiss of the Spider-Woman" (1985") and was nominated for "Children of a Lesser God" (1986), and for "Broadcast News" (1987).  Most recently, he was known for portraying "Thaddeus Ross" in Marvel Cinematic Universe in five films, beginning with 2008's "The Incredible Hulk.

From Deadline:  Singer and reality television personality, Traci Braxton, has died at the age of 50, Saturday, March 12, 2022.  She was best known for appearing on the We TV reality series, "Braxton Family Values" (2011-20).  She was also a member of the girl-group, "The Braxtons," which initially featured Traci's sister, seven-time Grammy Award winner, Toni Braxton.

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94TH ACADEMY AWARDS:

OSCARS - From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 94th Academy Awards have been announced.  "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 nominations.  The winners will be revealed March 27th.

From Deadline:    With his "Best Actor" nomination for "The Tragedy of Macbeth," Denzel Washington is the most nominated Black actor is Oscar history.  He has been nominated in two acting categories a total of 10 times with two wins total.

From Variety:   With her "Best Director" Oscar nomination for "The Power of the Dog," Jane Campion becomes the first woman nominated twice in that category. She was previously nominated in that category for "The Piano" (1993).

From Variety:  With his three nominations today, Kenneth Branagh of "Belfast" becomes the first person to have been nominated in seven individual categories over his career.

-----------------------

MOVIE AWARDS:

From Variety:  At the 2022 / 27th annual Critics Choice Awards, director Jane Campion's Western film, "The Power of the Dog," is named is named "Best Picture."

From Deadline:  The Visual Effects Society announced the winners at the 2022 / 20th annual VES Awards.  "Dune" and Disney's "Encanto" led with four wins apiece.

From Deadline:  The American Cinema Editors' 72nd Annual ACE Eddie Awards were held, Sat., March 5th.  The top award, "Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic)" went to "King Richard."

From Deadline:  The 2022/ 26th annual Art Directors Guild Awards turns out to be a good party.  "Dune" and "Nightmare Alley" are among the winners.

From Deadline:   The winners at the 2022 / 28th annual SAG Awards. "CODA" wins the top prize, "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture."

From Variety:  Here is a complete list of winners at 2022 / 53rd NAACP Image Awards in the film, television and music categories.  Jennifer Hudson was named "Entertainer of the Year."

From Deadline:   The 2022 / 9th annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards were announced.  The Amazon film, "Coming 2 America" (the sequel to the 1988 film, "Coming to America"), led with three wins.

From Deadline:  The 2022 BAFTA Film Awards nominations have been announced.  "Dune" leads with 11 nominations.  The winners will be announced March 13th.

From Deadline:   The 2022 / 33rd annual Producers Guild of America Awards nominations have been announced.  The winners will be announced Saturday, March 19th.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 74th annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced March 12th.

From COFCA:  The Columbus Film Critics Association name "The Power of the Dog" the "Best Film" of 2021.

From Deadline:  Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," was named the "Best Picture" of 2021 at the 13th annual African American Film Critics Association Awards.  The Western tied with "King Richard" for most wins with four.  Will Smith was named "Best Actor" for "King Richard."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.

From Variety:  The snubs and surprises in the nominations for the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

From Variety:   At the 2022 / 79th Golden Globes, "The Power of the Dog" wins "Best Motion Picture-Drama" and "West Side Story" wins "Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy."

From Variety:  The National Society of Film Critics names the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the best film of 2021.

From AwardsWatch:  The nominations for the 22nd Annual Black Reel Awards were announced a few weeks ago. Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," has a record 20 nominations.  The winners will be announced February 27, 2022.

From AwardsWatch:  The Columbus Film Critics Association announced the nominations for their annual film awards.  Director Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 noms.  The winners will be announced Thurs., Jan. 6th, 2022.

From Deadline:  The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the "Best Picture" of 2021.

From Deadline:  The 2022 / 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards have announced their nominations. "Zola" leads with six nominations. The winners will be announced Sun., March 6, 2022.

From THR:  The 2022 / 79th Golden Globes Awards nominations have been announced.  "Belfast" and "The Power of the Dog" lead with seven nominations each.  Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From GoldDerby:   The 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations have been announced. "Belfast" and "West Side Story" leads with 11 nominations each. Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From Deadline:   The American Film Institute announced the "2021 AFI Awards" Top 10 list, and the list includes "Dune," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," and "West Side Story."

From THR:  Director Aleem Khan's "After Love" tops the 2021 British Independent Film Awards, winning six awards, including "Best Film of 2021."

From Variety:   The New York Film Critics Circle has named the Japanese drama, "Drive My Car," as the "Best Film of 2021."

From Deadline:  The National Board of Review hands director Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" it "Best Film" and "Best Director" awards.  Will Smith picks up the "Best Actor" award for "King Richard."

From THR:  Netflix’s "The Lost Daughter," directed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, dominated the 2021 Gotham Awards in New York on Monday night (Nov. 29th).  The film won in four of the five categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Feature."

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"RUST" ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING DEATH:

From Deadline:  This link will take you to Deadline's Halyna Hutchins page, which articles related to everything about her shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From THR:  Alec Baldwin moves to shield himself from liability in the shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."  In an arbitration demand, he blames others for the death of Halyna Hutchins.

From People:  Alec Baldwin says that certain lawsuits recording the Western film, "Rust," are targeted at "deep-pocket litigants" and that the suits are all about money.

From Deadline:  Matt Hutchins, the husband of Halyna Hutchins, blames Alec Baldwin for Halyna's accidental shooting death on the set of the doomed Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  The family and estate of Halyna Hutchins has filed suit against Alec Baldwin (who accidentally shot Hutchins), a slew of production companies and entities, producers, and key crew members involved in the Western film, "Rust," for her death.

From THR:   A Republican New Mexico legislator, State Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell, on Monday introduced a bill that would require all film set personnel who handle firearms to complete a safety course offered by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.  This is in the wake a cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, being fatally shot on the set of the Western, "Rust," last year by Alec Baldwin with a weapon he says he thought was not loaded with live ammunition.

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin and the other producers of the doomed Western film, "Rust," want a California judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed against them by the script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell.

From Deadline:   Alec Baldwin has finally turned over his cell phone to police for their probe into the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Baldwin's Western film, "Rust," last October in New Mexico.

From Variety:  One of the producers of tragic Western film, Rust, Emily Salveson, pushes tax shelters and hid income.

From THR:  "I let go of the hammer and 'Bang,' the gun goes off" says Alec Baldwin says in his first interview of the moment when a gun he was holding accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin will sit down with ABC's news-reading clown George Stephanopoulos for a one hour special tomorrow night to talk about what happened on the set of the movie "Rust."  It will be Baldwin’s first extensive interview about the shooting.

From Deadline:  Industry veteran, Thall Reed, the father of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the Western, "Rust," may have handed the police a tip on why the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot to death on the set.

From THR:  A search warrant affidavit filed Tuesday for a prop shop sheds light on how alleged live ammunition ended up on the set of the Western film, "Rust," where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in October.

From Deadline:  A month after cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot and killed on the New Mexico set the movie Western, "Rust," by a prop gun “discharged” by Alec Baldwin, those closest to the cinematographer held a private ceremony and interred her ashes at an unknown location.

From Deadline:  Actor Daniel Baldwin defends his brother, Alec Baldwin, in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film, "Rust."  "Someone loaded that gun improperly," Daniel says.

From Deadline:  The newest lawsuit involving the tragic shooting on the set of the Western film, "Rust," has been filed by the film's script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell, against Alec Baldwin, the producers, the production company, armorer Hanna Gutierrez Reed, and others.

From Deadline:  Serge Svetnoy, the gaffer on "Rust," has filed a lawsuit against several parties related to the film, including the production, the financiers, star Alec Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, and first Assistant Director David Halls.

From THR:   In the wake of the tragic accidental shooting on the set of his film, "Rust," Alec Baldwin on Monday took to social media to urge Hollywood to employ a police officer on every film and TV set that uses guns.

From THR:   The budget for "Rust" - Alec Baldwin was set to earn $150,000 as lead actor and $100,000 as producer, while $7,913 was earmarked for armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and $17,500 was set aside for the rental of weapons and $5,000 for rounds.

From Deadline:  Attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the film, "Rust," said that they’re looking into whether a live bullet was placed in a box of dummy rounds with the intent of  “sabotaging the set.”

From THR:   Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the film, "Rust," released a statement through her lawyers.  She says she had “no idea where the live rounds came from” that were recovered by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's during the investigation of the accidental on-set shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.

From Jacobin:  An opinion piece says that cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death on the set of the film, "Rust," was not a freak accident, but was about Alec Baldwin and his fellow producers' cost-cutting decisions.  Baldwin accidentally fired the gun that killed Hutchins.

From Deadline:   Two of executive producers on "Rust," Allen Cheney and Emily Salveson, disavow responsibility for the film's troubled production.

From THR:   Iconic "Ghostbusters" actor Ernie Hudson is reeling from the news of the death of Halyna Hutchins, like the rest of Hollywood. Hudson also appeared in the film, "The Crow," the film in which its star, Brandon Lee, was killed because of an on-set accidental shooting.  He also agrees with the call to ban real guns from movie sets.

From THR:  The Sheriff of Sante Fe County says that his office has recovered three guns and 500 rounds of ammunition from the set of the movie "Rust" where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed.

From Deadline:  Regarding criminal charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust," District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis, "all options are on the table - no one has been ruled out."

From THR:  Does Hollywood Need Guns? Will new regulations lead to an overreactions to a tragedy.

From Deadline:   "Rust" producers have opened an internal investigation into the fatal shooting on the set of the Western film.  They have hired outside lawyers to conduct interviews with the film's production crew.

From Deadline:  "Rust's" AD (assistant director), Dave Halls, has come under scrutiny in the wake of the on-set shooting death of the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The affidavit of Sante Fe Sheriff's Department Detective Joel Cano has been made public. It can be read at "Deadline."  The affidavit was for a search warrant from the property were the Western, "Rust," was being filmed.

From THR:  The production company behind "Rust" has shut the film down until the police investigation into the fatal, on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is through.  The Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office has also revealed a timeline of the shooting.

From Deadline:  The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday night that Alec Baldwin “discharged” a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the movie, "Rust."  As a result, one crew member, director of photography Halyna Hutchins, was killed and director Joel Souza was injured and remains in a local hospital - his condition unknown.

From THR:  "Rust" director, Joel Souza, who was wounded in the accidental on-set shooting, says that he is "gutted" by the death of his cinematographer on the film, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" may have been "recorded" according to detective for Santa Fe Sheriff's Department.

From Deadline:  The production company behind the film, "Rust," will launch an internal safety review after the fatal accident that killed Halyna Hutchins; possible prior gun incidents; and a camera crew walkout.

From CNN:   Crew member yelled "cold gun" as he handed Alec Baldwin prop weapon, court document shows.

From Variety:  Actor Alec Baldwin releases statement on the death of Halyna Hutchins: "There are no words to convey my shock and sadness."

From Variety:  The prop gun that killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on during an on-set accident on Thursday contained a “live single round,” according to an email sent by IATSE Local 44 to its membership.

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Review: "COMING 2 AMERICA" is Simply a Nice Reunion Movie

Coming 2 America (2021) – streaming film
Running time:  110 minutes (1 hour, 50 minutes)
MPA – PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language and drug content
DIRECTOR:  Craig Brewer
WRITERS:  Kenya Barris and David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein; from a story by Justin Kanew and David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein (based on characters created by Eddie Murphy)
PRODUCERS:  Eddie Murphy and Kevin Misher
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Joe “Jody” Williams (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  David S. Clark, Billy Fox, and Debra Neil-Fisher
COMPOSER: Jermaine Stegall
Academy Award nominee

COMEDY/ROMANCE

Starring:  Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Shari Headley, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Wesley Snipes, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Teyana Taylor, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Nomzamo Mbatha, Bella Murphy, Paul Bates, Akiley Love, Rotimi, Louie Anderson, Trevor Noah, and Morgan Freeman

Coming 2 America is a 2021 American comedy film from director Craig Brewer.  It serves as a sequel to the 1998 film, Coming to America.  The film originally streamed on Amazon Prime.  In Coming 2 America, the crowned prince of a prosperous African nation discovers that he has an illegitimate son in America.

Coming 2 America opens in the African nation of Zamunda.  It is the 30th anniversary of the wedding of Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) to Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley).  They have three beautiful daughters:  the eldest, Meeka (KiKi Layne); the middle, Omma (Bella Murphy); and the youngest, Tinashe (Akiley Love).

Akeem is summoned before his dying father, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), and the King's shaman, Baba (Arsenio Hall).  King Jaffe is upset that Akeem never sired a son, and by Zamundan law, only a male can inherit the throne.  However, Baba reveals that Akeem did indeed sire a son in Queens, New York City when he visited the United States over three decades ago (as seen in Coming to America).  In fact, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), Akeem's best friend and aide, knows the circumstances that led to Akeem conceiving a son with a bar patron.

Akeem and Semmi again travel to America where they meet Akeem's “bastard,” a young man named Lavelle Junson (Jermaine Fowler); his mother, Mary Junson (Leslie Jones), the bar patron; and Kareem “Uncle Reem” Junson (Tracy Morgan), Mary's brother and Lavelle's uncle.  Akeem really needs Lavelle to return to Zamunda with him.  He requires a son who can marry the daughter of General Izzi (Wesley Snipes), the leader of Zamunda's neighbor, Nexdoria.  Izzi is a threat to Akeem and Zamunda, unless the two nations can be united by marriage.  Can Lavelle be the heir Akeem needs, and if so, what about Akeem's eldest daughter, Princess Meeka?

Coming to America remains one of my favorite Eddie Murphy films, topped only the fantastic 1983 film, Trading Places.  Coming 2 America is not so much a sequel as it is a film that acts like a sequel to Coming to America.  The new film is more like one of the TV reunion movies of old 1950s and 1960s television series that used to pop up on network television in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.  Like them, Coming 2 America gives us our favorite old characters (at least the ones that are still alive) and some new characters, and sprinkles in some cameos, for instance, Morgan Freeman and his famous voice.

As usual, Ruth E. Carter delivers solid gold with her costume design, and the film's production values are marvelous.  The film has a good song score and soundtrack.  There are a lot of funny scenes in Coming 2 America, but overall, the film's narrative drags.  Most of the film takes place not in America, but in Zamunda, although the scenes that take place in America (Queens, NY) pop and are generally fun.

There is not much else to say other than that I really like Coming 2 America as a reunion movie.  I have been a fan of Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall for decades, and I am always happy to see them.  So, to be honest, I am happy that Coming to America has a sequel, of sorts, in Coming 2 America.

6 of 10
B

Thursday, March 18, 2022


NOTES:
2022 Academy Awards, USA:  1 nomination: “Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling” (Michael Marino, Stacey Morris, and Carla Farmer)

2022 Black Reel Awards:  “Outstanding Costume Design” (Ruth E. Carter)

2022 Image Awards (NAACP):  2 nominations: “Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture” and “Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album” (Eddie Murphy, Craig Brewer, Kevin Misher, Randy Spendlove, Jeffrey Harleston, Brittney Ramsdell for the album “Coming 2 America” – Amazon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Comics Review: "ELVIRA: The Wrath of Con" is a Romp of Fun

ELVIRA: THE WRATH OF CON
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

[There is a new Elvira comic book, Death of Elvira, at Indiegogo.]

STORY: Elvira & David Avallone
SCRIPT: David Avallone
PENCILS: Dave Acosta
INKS: Dave Acosta and Jason Moore (pp. 12-40)
COLORS: Walter Pereyra
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt
COVER: Dave Acosta and Jason Moore with Ryan Lee
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Dave Acosta and Jason Moore; Dave Acosta and Jason Moore with Ryan Lee; Elvira photo cover
56pp., Color, (2021)

Rated Teen+

“The Wrath of Con”

In the early 1980s, actress and model Cassandra Peterson created the “horror hostess character,” known as “Elvira.”  Elvira gradually grew in popularity and eventually became a brand name.  As Elvira, Peterson endorsed many products and became a pitch-woman, appearing in numerous television commercials throughout the 1980s.

Elvira also appeared in comic books, beginning in 1986 with the short-lived series from DC Comics, Elvira's House of Mystery, which ran for eleven issues and one special issue (1987).  Eclipse Comics and Claypool Comics began the long-running Elvira: Mistress of the Dark from 1993 to 2007.  In 2018, Elvira returned to comic books via Dynamite Entertainment in the four-issue comic book miniseries, Elvira Mistress of the Dark, that actually ran for 12 issues.

Since 2021, Dynamite Entertainment has been running crowdfunding campaigns that go towards producing and publishing special issues of its Elvira comic book series.  Elvira: The Wrath of Con is the second crowdfunded Elvira comic book (after Elvira: The Omega Ma'am) and was successfully funded via a “Kickstarter” campaign.  It is written by Elvira (story) and David Avallone (story-script); drawn by Dave Acosta (pencil and inks) and Jason Moore (inks); colored by Walter Pereyra; and lettered by Taylor Esposito.  The Wrath of Con finds Elvira the honored guest at a major pop culture convention, but not everyone attending is happy to see her.

As Elvira: The Wrath of Con opens, the busty title heroine is watching footage from her latest film, "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark: The Omega Ma'am."  Directed by Hanover Utz, the film is an exaggerated and inaccurate retelling of Elvira's struggle against a cult leader, Rick Circe, and his orange zombies (as seen in The Omega Ma'am).  Known as the “Sudsies,” these zombies were people transformed when they ingested the cleaning product, “Doctor Sudsy.”

Although Elvira and her script doctor, Eddie Mezzogiorno, object to Utz's cut of the film, the director is sticking to his vision.  In fact, he has produced a teaser trailer for the film, and he wants Elvira to screen the trailer at the “San Diego Pop Culturama.”  Elvira is the “Guest of Honor” at the convention, where she will be feted during the “Queen of the Cure” event, which will celebrate her curing the “Sudsies” zombie affliction.

Not everyone is in the celebratory mood, and despite foreshadowing and a warning in the form of an homage to the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956).  Will Elvira avoid doom, and will she find the super … hero (“The Soul Survivor”) that she needs?

THE LOWDOWN:  Writer David Avallone and artist Dave Acosta were the original creative dream team of Dynamite's Elvira comic book launch.  The crowdfunded Elvira comic books are a chance for readers to have them together again.

Honestly, Avallone's Elvira scripts would still be comedy gold no matter who drew them.  By “who,” I mean a professional comic book, comics, or graphic novel artist, of course.  The plots don't matter, although Avallone fashions intriguing plots.  These plots allow him to skewer American culture and pop culture.  He is one of the few modern comic book writers that would be worthy of finding a place on the original staff of EC Comics' Mad comic book.

Here, Avallone attacks anti-vaxx, anti-intellectual, Tea Party, conspiracy-obsessed reactionaries with the same razor-sharp humor and disdain Mel Brooks used on Hollywood Western films, corrupt politicians, and racists in his 1974 film, Blazing Saddles.  However, Avallone never forgets to deliver Elvira's trademark charming wit and delightfully droll humor in servings that are as bountiful as the Mistress of the Dark's breasts.

Dave Acosta is the kind of comic book artist who seems to get everything right.  He is a master at cartooning the human face in an impressive array of emotions and expressions.  The most amazing thing about Acosta's work on this series is that every single time he draws Elvira, both her charm and sexiness comes through.  Jokes about her cleavage aside, Acosta conveys Elvira physical attractiveness in her poses and in the way he … exposes her lovely legs when depicting that treasured split in her flowing black dress.

And, dear readers, in order to enjoy such a special, special edition of the Elvira comic book series, you have to support a crowdfunding campaign.  Only the good people who fund it get to enjoy the goodness that is Elvira: The Wrath of Con.  If you missed out, there is a new campaign.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Elvira and of David Avallone's Elvira comic books will want to read Elvira: The Wrath of Con.

[This comic book includes a seven-page “Thank You” section that thanks campaign contributors (of which I am one).]

A+

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


There is a new crowdfunding campaign for a new Elvira comic book, Death of Elvira.  You can visit the campaign here or at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/death-of-elvira-comic-book-does-the-unthinkable#/.


https://twitter.com/DAvallone
https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: "THE FRENCH DISPATCH" is Ultimate Wes Anderson

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 14 of 2022 (No. 1826) by Leroy Douresseaux

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun (2021)
Running time:  107 minutes (1 hour, 47 minutes)
MPA – R for graphic nudity, some sexual references and language
DIRECTOR:  Wes Anderson
WRITERS:  Wes Anderson; from a story by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, and Hugo Guinness
PRODUCERS:  Wes Anderson, Jeremy Dawson, and Steven Rales
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Robert Yeoman (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Andrew Weisblum
COMPOSER:  Alexandre Desplat

COMEDY/DRAMA/ANTHOLOGY with elements of fantasy

Starring:  Jeffrey Wright, Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Lea Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri, Liev Schreiber, Mathieu Amalric, Stephen Park, Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, Winston Ait Hellal, and Owen Wilson and Anjelica Huston

The French Dispatch (full title: The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun) is a 2021 comedy-drama and anthology film from writer-director Wes Anderson.  The film focuses on the French foreign bureau of a Kansas newspaper and the features magazine it produces.

The French Dispatch introduces Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Bill Murray).  When he was a college freshman, he convinces his father, the owner of the newspaper, the “Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun,” to fund his transatlantic trip.  Junior would in turn produce a series of travelogue columns, which would be published for local readers in the Evening Sun's magazine supplement “Sunday Picnic.”  Arthur, Jr. sets up shop in the (fictional) French town of Ennui-sur-Blasé.  Over the next decade, young Arthur assembles a team of the best expatriate journalists of the time.  In 1925, he transforms the Sunday Picnic into the weekly magazine, “The French Dispatch” (something like The New Yorker).

In 1975, fifty years after he left Kansas, Arthur Howitzer, Jr. dies suddenly of a heart attack.  Although it has half a million subscribers in 50 countries, as per his will, The French Dispatch will immediately cease publication following the release of a farewell issue that will feature Arthur's obituary and four articles by magazine's best writers:

In “The Cycling Reporter,” Herbsaint Sazerac (Owen Wilson) gives a sight-seeing tour.  It is “a day in Ennui over the course of 250 years” and demonstrates how much and yet how little has changed in Ennui over time.

In “The Concrete Masterpiece,” J.K.L. Berensen (Tilda Swinton) delivers a lecture at an art gallery.  She details the career of Moses Rosenthaler (Benicio del Toro), a mentally disturbed artist serving a sentence in the Ennui Prison-Asylum for murder and the two most important people in his lives.  The first is Simone (Lea Seydoux), a prison officer who becomes Moses' lover and his muse.  Moses paints a portrait of Simone, and that second important person, Julien Cadazio, an art dealer also serving a sentence for tax evasion, is immediately taken by the painting.  After buying the painting, Cadazio uses it to turn Moses into an international sensation.  However, Moses struggles with inspiration, and his relationship with Simone becomes complicated.

In “Revisions to a Manifesto,” Lucinda Krementz (Frances McDormand) reports on a student protest breaking out in the streets of Ennui, one that soon boils over into the “Chessboard Revolution.”  Krementz fails to maintain “journalistic neutrality” when she falls in love with Zeffirelli (Timothée Chalamet), a college boy who is the self-styled leader of the revolt.  She secretly helps him write his manifesto, but Juliette (Lyna Khoudri), a fellow revolutionary who has some feelings for Zeffirelli, is unimpressed with his manifesto – thus, creating a love triangle.

In “The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner,” Roebuck Wright (Jeffrey Wright) is the guest of a television talk show host (Liev Schreiber).  Wright recounts the story of his attending a private dinner with The Commissaire (Mathieu Amalric) of the Ennui police force.  The meal is prepared by the legendary police officer and chef, Lt. Nescaffier (Stephen Park).  Nescaffier is the creator of a kind of “haute cuisine” specifically designed to be eaten by police officers while they are working.  The dinner is disrupted when the Commissaire's inquisitive and bright son, Gigi (Winston Ait Hellal), is kidnapped and held for ransom by a large gang of criminals, led by a failed musician known as “The Chauffeur” (Edward Norton).

They mourn his death.  Now, the staff of The French Dispatch must put together a final issue with these four stories that Arthur Howitzer Jr. touched in some way?

The French Dispatch has been described as a film that is “a love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth century French city.”  The film presents four of the magazine's stories of the city.  Director Wes Anderson has apparently stated that this film is inspired by his love of the venerable weekly magazine, The New Yorker, and that some of the film's characters and events are based on real-life equivalents from that magazine.  During The French Dispatch's closing credits, there is a dedication to several writers and editors, many of whom wrote for The New Yorker.

To that end, The French Dispatch is a movie that celebrates magazine writers, illustrators, and editors and the stories they tell.  This film is a love letter to stories of local color and of locales written for magazines.  The film demands patience and attention on the part of the audience.  The French Dispatch is a hybrid.  It is an anthology of four main stories and of a few small chapters, although everything connects in the end.  The audience has to follow each of the main stories, paying attention from beginning to the end.  That is where the pay off comes.

In fact, each of the main stories seems like one thing in the beginning, but fully develops over the course of the narrative in something different.  At the end of each, I realized that the story was about wonderful characters living lives both ordinary and extraordinary.  In the extraordinary, Anderson gives us a reason to love what is so ordinary and human about them.

This is brilliant character writing on Anderson's part.  His gift is to make not only the lead and supporting characters fascinating, but he also makes even the characters who say little and the extras seem worth knowing – even when the narrative passes them by.  To that end, I think Roebuck Wright is the character that ties all the characters and stories together.  He is the narrator/writer of “The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner,” the final story.  Both his first meeting and final conversation with Bill Murray's Arthur coalesces the film's theme of expatriate writers, and he begins Arthur's obituary, which also brings together the film's shifts in time.  It would have been nice to see Wright receive a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his work here, but The French Dispatch did not receive any Oscar nominations.

The film's production values:  art direction and production design, costumes, and cinematography all meet the wonderfully inventive and incredibly imaginative standards that audiences have come to expect from Wes Anderson's films.  The French Dispatch looks like no film I have ever seen.  Even Alexandre Desplat's score sounds like something entirely new in film music.  I described Anderson's 2014 film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, as Wes Anderson art for Wes Anderson's art sake.  The French Dispatch is Wes Anderson high art.

9 of 10
A+

Thursday, March 17, 2022


NOTES:
2022 BAFTA Awards:  3 nominations: “Best Costume Design” (Milena Canonero); “Original Score” (Alexandre Desplat), and “Best Production Design” (Adam Stockhausen and Rena DeAngelo)

2022 Black Reel Awards:  1 nomination: “Outstanding Supporting Actor” (Jeffrey Wright)

2021 Cannes Film Festival:  1 nomination: “Palme d'Or” (Wes Anderson)

2022 Golden Globes, USA:  1 nomination: “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (Alexandre Desplat)


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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