Hollywood star Will Smith will soon be seen essaying the role of crime boss Nicky Barnes in "The Council".
Peter Landesman, who wrote and directed Smith's 2015 sports drama "Concussion", is on board to pen the script.
Also Read:?Happy Birthday Will Smith: Funny videos he shared
Smith is also producing the project with James Lassiter for Westbrook Inc.'s Overbrook Entertainment along with Jackson Pictures' Matt Jackson and Jason Essex for Anonymous Nobodies, reports variety.com.
The Netflix thriller revolves around a crime syndicate consisting of seven African-American men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early 1980s with the goal of establishing a self-sufficient and self-policing African American city-state, funded by revolutionising the drug game. It explores the relationship between Barnes and a rising protege.
The real-life Barnes partnered with the Italian-American mafia on international drug distribution until his arrest in 1978. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and...
Peter Landesman, who wrote and directed Smith's 2015 sports drama "Concussion", is on board to pen the script.
Also Read:?Happy Birthday Will Smith: Funny videos he shared
Smith is also producing the project with James Lassiter for Westbrook Inc.'s Overbrook Entertainment along with Jackson Pictures' Matt Jackson and Jason Essex for Anonymous Nobodies, reports variety.com.
The Netflix thriller revolves around a crime syndicate consisting of seven African-American men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early 1980s with the goal of establishing a self-sufficient and self-policing African American city-state, funded by revolutionising the drug game. It explores the relationship between Barnes and a rising protege.
The real-life Barnes partnered with the Italian-American mafia on international drug distribution until his arrest in 1978. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and...
- 9/25/2019
- GlamSham
![Will Smith at an event for Seven Pounds (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTczMzk1MjU1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDk2MzAyMg@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR2,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Will Smith at an event for Seven Pounds (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTczMzk1MjU1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDk2MzAyMg@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR2,0,140,207_.jpg)
Will Smith will star as crime boss Nicky Barnes in the Netflix drama “The Council.”
The thriller centers on a crime syndicate consisting of seven African-American men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early 80s with the goal of establishing a self-sufficient and self-policing African American city-state, funded by revolutionizing the drug game. It explores the Shakespearean court intrigue in the council between Barnes and a rising protege.
The real-life Barnes partnered with the Italian-American Mafia on international drug distribution until his arrest in 1978. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and became a federal informant under the witness protection program. Barnes died in 2012 but his death did not become known until this year. He was portrayed by Cuba Gooding, Jr., in Ridley Scott’s 2007 film “American Gangster,” which starred Denzel Washington.
Peter Landesman, who wrote and directed Smith’s 2015 sports drama “Concussion,” is penning the script for “The Council.
The thriller centers on a crime syndicate consisting of seven African-American men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early 80s with the goal of establishing a self-sufficient and self-policing African American city-state, funded by revolutionizing the drug game. It explores the Shakespearean court intrigue in the council between Barnes and a rising protege.
The real-life Barnes partnered with the Italian-American Mafia on international drug distribution until his arrest in 1978. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and became a federal informant under the witness protection program. Barnes died in 2012 but his death did not become known until this year. He was portrayed by Cuba Gooding, Jr., in Ridley Scott’s 2007 film “American Gangster,” which starred Denzel Washington.
Peter Landesman, who wrote and directed Smith’s 2015 sports drama “Concussion,” is penning the script for “The Council.
- 9/24/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
![Will Smith at an event for Seven Pounds (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTczMzk1MjU1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDk2MzAyMg@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR2,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Will Smith at an event for Seven Pounds (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTczMzk1MjU1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDk2MzAyMg@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR2,0,140,207_.jpg)
Will Smith has signed on to star in and produce Netflix’s upcoming film “The Council,” the fact-based story of of Nicky Barnes, who led a New York City crime syndicate that ruled Harlem in the ’70s and ’80s. While Barnes has been a secondary character in films before, the new film will be the first to focus squarely on the man and his criminal enterprise. The screenplay was written by journalist and veteran of the biopic genre Peter Landesman. He wrote and directed 2015’s “Concussion,” which stars Smith as a doctor who fights against the NFL over his research on traumatic brain injury, the 2013 post-Kennedy-assassination tale “Parkland,” and Watergate drama “Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House.”
Per the film’s official synopsis, “‘The Council’ is the never-before told story of a crime syndicate consisting of seven African-American men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early 80s.
Per the film’s official synopsis, “‘The Council’ is the never-before told story of a crime syndicate consisting of seven African-American men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early 80s.
- 9/24/2019
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
![Will Smith at an event for Seven Pounds (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTczMzk1MjU1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDk2MzAyMg@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR2,0,140,207_.jpg)
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Will Smith will take on the role of New York City crime boss Nicky Barnes in his next Netflix film, The Council. The project will re-team Smith with Concussion helmer Peter Landesman, who wrote the screenplay and will direct The Council. Smith and partner James Lassiter are producing the pic for Westbrook Inc.’s Overbrook Entertainment along with Jackson Pictures’ Matt Jackson and Jason Essex for Anonymous Nobodies.
Landesman’s script tells the never-before-told story of a crime syndicate consisting of seven African-American men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early 80s. No ordinary crime syndicate – the men dreamed of a self-sufficient and self-policing African American city-state, funded by revolutionizing the drug game. The movie centers on the Shakespearean court intrigue between The Council’s king, Nicky Barnes, dubbed “Mr. Untouchable” by the New York Times, and all the different members as one unlikely rising protégé emerges.
Barnes, born Leroy Nicholas Barnes,...
Landesman’s script tells the never-before-told story of a crime syndicate consisting of seven African-American men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early 80s. No ordinary crime syndicate – the men dreamed of a self-sufficient and self-policing African American city-state, funded by revolutionizing the drug game. The movie centers on the Shakespearean court intrigue between The Council’s king, Nicky Barnes, dubbed “Mr. Untouchable” by the New York Times, and all the different members as one unlikely rising protégé emerges.
Barnes, born Leroy Nicholas Barnes,...
- 9/24/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
![Will Smith at an event for Seven Pounds (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTczMzk1MjU1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDk2MzAyMg@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR2,0,140,207_.jpg)
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Will Smith is trading in his family-friendly aura and big blockbuster stardom to portray American crime boss Nicky Barnes in a biopic for Netflix called “The Council.”
Peter Landesman is writing the script for the film, which tells the untold story of a crime syndicate consisting of the seven black men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early ’80s.
This crime syndicate, as spelled out in the film’s logline, was made up of men who dreamed of a self-sufficient and self-policing African American city-state, funded by revolutionizing the drug game.
Also Read: 'Bad Boys for Life:' Will Smith and Martin Lawrence Ride or Die 'One Last Time' in First Trailer (Video)
“The Council” will center on the syndicate’s head, Nicky Barnes, who was dubbed by the New York Times as “Mr. Untouchable.” The film will focus on the Shakespearean court intrigue between Barnes and all...
Peter Landesman is writing the script for the film, which tells the untold story of a crime syndicate consisting of the seven black men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early ’80s.
This crime syndicate, as spelled out in the film’s logline, was made up of men who dreamed of a self-sufficient and self-policing African American city-state, funded by revolutionizing the drug game.
Also Read: 'Bad Boys for Life:' Will Smith and Martin Lawrence Ride or Die 'One Last Time' in First Trailer (Video)
“The Council” will center on the syndicate’s head, Nicky Barnes, who was dubbed by the New York Times as “Mr. Untouchable.” The film will focus on the Shakespearean court intrigue between Barnes and all...
- 9/24/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
![Will Smith at an event for Seven Pounds (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTczMzk1MjU1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDk2MzAyMg@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR2,0,140,207_.jpg)
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Will Smith, just weeks away from opening his sci-fi action movie Gemini Man, is heading back to Netflix.
The actor has signed on to star in and produce The Council, a crime biopic written by Peter Landesman. The two previously worked together when Smith starred in Concussion, the 2015 drama Landesman wrote and directed.
Smith will produce with James Lassiter, his partner at Overbrook Entertainment, now under the umbrella of Smith’s Westbrook Inc. Also producing are Matt Jackson via Jackson Pictures and Jason Essex for Anonymous Nobodies.
The Council aims to tell the story of an organized crime syndicate run by seven black ...
The actor has signed on to star in and produce The Council, a crime biopic written by Peter Landesman. The two previously worked together when Smith starred in Concussion, the 2015 drama Landesman wrote and directed.
Smith will produce with James Lassiter, his partner at Overbrook Entertainment, now under the umbrella of Smith’s Westbrook Inc. Also producing are Matt Jackson via Jackson Pictures and Jason Essex for Anonymous Nobodies.
The Council aims to tell the story of an organized crime syndicate run by seven black ...
- 9/24/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
![Will Smith at an event for Seven Pounds (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTczMzk1MjU1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDk2MzAyMg@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR2,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Will Smith at an event for Seven Pounds (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTczMzk1MjU1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDk2MzAyMg@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR2,0,140,207_.jpg)
Will Smith, just weeks away from opening his sci-fi action movie Gemini Man, is heading back to Netflix.
The actor has signed on to star in and produce The Council, a crime biopic written by Peter Landesman. The two previously worked together when Smith starred in Concussion, the 2015 drama Landesman wrote and directed.
Smith will produce with James Lassiter, his partner at Overbrook Entertainment, now under the umbrella of Smith’s Westbrook Inc. Also producing are Matt Jackson via Jackson Pictures and Jason Essex for Anonymous Nobodies.
The Council aims to tell the story of an organized crime syndicate run by seven black ...
The actor has signed on to star in and produce The Council, a crime biopic written by Peter Landesman. The two previously worked together when Smith starred in Concussion, the 2015 drama Landesman wrote and directed.
Smith will produce with James Lassiter, his partner at Overbrook Entertainment, now under the umbrella of Smith’s Westbrook Inc. Also producing are Matt Jackson via Jackson Pictures and Jason Essex for Anonymous Nobodies.
The Council aims to tell the story of an organized crime syndicate run by seven black ...
- 9/24/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Emma Westenberg is set to direct her first studio feature, which is set up at MGM. Westenberg, who directed the music video for Janelle Monáe’s song, Pynk, will helm Buffalo Flats, a film that is set around the vibrant world of NYC underground pop-up clubs. Molly’s Game and End of Watch producer Matt Jackson is attached to produce the project via his Jackson Pictures banner alongside Jason Essex, who co-wrote the script with Lamont Magee and Cory Tynan.
It tells the story of a former tap prodigy who is forced to confront his stage past after meeting a tenacious law school-bound dancer at his grandmother’s studio.
Dave Scott, the choreographer behind films like You Got Served, Stop The Yard, and some of the Step Up movies, will serve as choreographer and co-producer for Buffalo Flats. The pic will showcase Hoofin’, a form of hip hop tap dance.
It tells the story of a former tap prodigy who is forced to confront his stage past after meeting a tenacious law school-bound dancer at his grandmother’s studio.
Dave Scott, the choreographer behind films like You Got Served, Stop The Yard, and some of the Step Up movies, will serve as choreographer and co-producer for Buffalo Flats. The pic will showcase Hoofin’, a form of hip hop tap dance.
- 6/18/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple.com got their hands on a brand new trailer for the upcoming film “Downloading Nancy” directed by Johan Renck. “Downloading Nancy” stars Maria Bello, Jason Patric, Rufus Sewell and Amy Benneman. The film is directed by Johan Renck, Christopher Doyle is the director of photography and the screenplay was penned by Pamela Cuming and Lee Ross. Igor Kovacevich, David Moore, Cole Payne and Jason Essex are the producers. Click Here to watch the trailer and while your at it, be sure to check out the website here. Synopsis: When Albert Stockwell (Rufus Sewell, Dark City, Illuminata) comes home from work one day, he finds a note [...]...
- 4/22/2009
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
- #74. Downloading Nancy Director: Johan RenckWriters: Pamela Cuming and Lee Ross Producers: Jason Essex, Igor Kovacevich, David D. Moore, Stephen Onda and Cole Payne Distributor: Currently Seeking Distribution The Gist: The film centers on Nancy, an unhappy wife who, instead of committing suicide, meets a man over the Internet and hires him to kill her. Problems arise when they form a relationship. Fact: Renck - a commercials and music video helmer makes his directorial debut on this project. See It: Premise sounds delicious. Stylistically this may be interesting as well. Christopher Doyle is the Dop. Release Date/Status?: Sundance selection will most likely find a way into movie theaters before the year's end. ...
- 1/29/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
![Johan Renck at an event for Downloading Nancy (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTc1ODAwNDIxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjc2MTc1MQ@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR6,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Johan Renck at an event for Downloading Nancy (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTc1ODAwNDIxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjc2MTc1MQ@@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR6,0,140,207_.jpg)
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- As a first time feature director, Johan Renck fails to appreciate the difference between risk-taking and recklessness. In Downloading Nancy, the Swedish video and commercial director seeks artistic adventure but winds up with pointless self-indulgence. While bravely tossing aside all commercial considerations to trace the final days of an irredeemably damaged and suicidal woman through self-mutilation, sado-masochism and violent death, Renck nevertheless wallows on the surface of this sad events rather than probe for meaning. The "Inspired by True Events" tagline doesn't let him off the hook: An artist is challenged by true events to re-think and re-examine them, not simply repeat them.
Maria Bello, abused in childhood by an uncle with grievous results to both body and soul, is trapped in a loveless marriage to a cold-hearted bastard, played with slimy excess by Rufus Sewell. Her only relief is self-mutilation. His only relief is putting golf balls in the basement.
She meets a fellow pain addict on the Internet. She proposes they meet, get a few kinks out of their system and then she will pay him to kill her.
The man, played by Jason Patric with swarthy ambivalence, agrees. Only he likes the kinks he shares with her, grows highly attached emotionally and has qualms about fulfilling his promise.
These events run parallel with events before and after their fateful encounter: Scenes from a pathetic marriage play out in counterpoint to the wife spilling her marital woes to shrink Amy Brenneman. The latter sequences exist solely to provide backstory. Otherwise, they represent the most fruitless therapy scenes in cinema.
Meanwhile, after the Internet chat-room buddies have met, Patric's character turns up for no reason at the husband's house. Sensing whom the guy must be, the husband attacks him with a golf club, ties him up and then learns the awful truth about his sham marriage -- although none of this should surprise him.
Pamela Cuming and Lee H. Ross' script belabors the obvious, indulges in the mire of human self-destruction, but shows little interest in getting past shocks to examine the intolerable human pain behind such acts. The actors gamely struggle to find some truth here, but their director lets them down: Renck sees nothing other than True Events to exploit.
This has to be the ugliest film ever shot by that remarkable cameraman Christopher Doyle. Admittedly, the sets looks crummy, especially those that supposedly representing a fine house in suburbia, and exteriors are improbably desolate. But the drab, virtually colorless lighting and unimaginative camera angles create a relentless visual monotony that threaten to inflict nearly as much pain on viewers as the characters do on themselves.
DOWNLOADING NANCY
Tule River Films
Credits:
Director: Johan Renck
Writers: Pamela Cuming, Lee H. Ross
Producers: David Moore, Igor Kovacevich, Jason Essex, Cole Payne
Director of photography: Christopher Doyle
Production designer: Lauri Faggioni
Music: Kristen Linder
Costume designer: Demise Ostholm
Editor: Johan Soderberg
Cast:
Nancy: Maria Bello
Louis: Jason Patric
Albert: Rufus Sewell
Carol: Amy Brenneman
Running time -- 101 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARK CITY -- As a first time feature director, Johan Renck fails to appreciate the difference between risk-taking and recklessness. In Downloading Nancy, the Swedish video and commercial director seeks artistic adventure but winds up with pointless self-indulgence. While bravely tossing aside all commercial considerations to trace the final days of an irredeemably damaged and suicidal woman through self-mutilation, sado-masochism and violent death, Renck nevertheless wallows on the surface of this sad events rather than probe for meaning. The "Inspired by True Events" tagline doesn't let him off the hook: An artist is challenged by true events to re-think and re-examine them, not simply repeat them.
Maria Bello, abused in childhood by an uncle with grievous results to both body and soul, is trapped in a loveless marriage to a cold-hearted bastard, played with slimy excess by Rufus Sewell. Her only relief is self-mutilation. His only relief is putting golf balls in the basement.
She meets a fellow pain addict on the Internet. She proposes they meet, get a few kinks out of their system and then she will pay him to kill her.
The man, played by Jason Patric with swarthy ambivalence, agrees. Only he likes the kinks he shares with her, grows highly attached emotionally and has qualms about fulfilling his promise.
These events run parallel with events before and after their fateful encounter: Scenes from a pathetic marriage play out in counterpoint to the wife spilling her marital woes to shrink Amy Brenneman. The latter sequences exist solely to provide backstory. Otherwise, they represent the most fruitless therapy scenes in cinema.
Meanwhile, after the Internet chat-room buddies have met, Patric's character turns up for no reason at the husband's house. Sensing whom the guy must be, the husband attacks him with a golf club, ties him up and then learns the awful truth about his sham marriage -- although none of this should surprise him.
Pamela Cuming and Lee H. Ross' script belabors the obvious, indulges in the mire of human self-destruction, but shows little interest in getting past shocks to examine the intolerable human pain behind such acts. The actors gamely struggle to find some truth here, but their director lets them down: Renck sees nothing other than True Events to exploit.
This has to be the ugliest film ever shot by that remarkable cameraman Christopher Doyle. Admittedly, the sets looks crummy, especially those that supposedly representing a fine house in suburbia, and exteriors are improbably desolate. But the drab, virtually colorless lighting and unimaginative camera angles create a relentless visual monotony that threaten to inflict nearly as much pain on viewers as the characters do on themselves.
DOWNLOADING NANCY
Tule River Films
Credits:
Director: Johan Renck
Writers: Pamela Cuming, Lee H. Ross
Producers: David Moore, Igor Kovacevich, Jason Essex, Cole Payne
Director of photography: Christopher Doyle
Production designer: Lauri Faggioni
Music: Kristen Linder
Costume designer: Demise Ostholm
Editor: Johan Soderberg
Cast:
Nancy: Maria Bello
Louis: Jason Patric
Albert: Rufus Sewell
Carol: Amy Brenneman
Running time -- 101 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/22/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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