Have you heard of the urban legend "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs?" Dating back to the 1960s, the urban legend talks about a female babysitter watching television -- having put the children to bed upstairs -- when she receives a call from a man asking her to check on the kids. While the babysitter ignores the man's instructions many times, the frequency of the calls unsettles her, prompting her to call the cops. Once the cops arrive, they inform her that the call was coming from inside the house all along — upstairs, to be precise, where the unidentified man had already killed the children.
This grisly myth was the basis for director Bob Clark's 1974 slasher "Black Christmas," where residents of a sorority house have to contend with repeated calls from an unknown man amid an unsettling disappearance among their group. The genre trope of a sinister killer calling...
This grisly myth was the basis for director Bob Clark's 1974 slasher "Black Christmas," where residents of a sorority house have to contend with repeated calls from an unknown man amid an unsettling disappearance among their group. The genre trope of a sinister killer calling...
- 12/22/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Poor Things, The Color Purple and American Fiction.
Leave the World Behind premiere
Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la, Kevin Bacon, Farrah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans and writer-director Sam Esmail walked the carpet at the NYC premiere of their Netflix thriller on Monday.
Ethan Hawke and Julia Roberts Kevin Bacon, Sam Esmail, Ethan Hawke, Julia Roberts, Farrah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans, Mahershala Ali and Myha’la Herrold
American Fiction premiere
Writer-director Cord Jefferson joined stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross and Sterling K. Brown at their film’s Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday.
Cord Jefferson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown, Erika Alexander and Adam Brody
Wish music celebration
The team behind the music of Wish, including star Ariana DeBose, celebrated with an event in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Leave the World Behind premiere
Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la, Kevin Bacon, Farrah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans and writer-director Sam Esmail walked the carpet at the NYC premiere of their Netflix thriller on Monday.
Ethan Hawke and Julia Roberts Kevin Bacon, Sam Esmail, Ethan Hawke, Julia Roberts, Farrah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans, Mahershala Ali and Myha’la Herrold
American Fiction premiere
Writer-director Cord Jefferson joined stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross and Sterling K. Brown at their film’s Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday.
Cord Jefferson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown, Erika Alexander and Adam Brody
Wish music celebration
The team behind the music of Wish, including star Ariana DeBose, celebrated with an event in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
- 12/8/2023
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s the most exciting time of Charles Melton’s career — and he’s spent much of it asleep.
“There’s a lot of gratitude. I also never knew I was capable of taking so many naps in one day,” Melton says. “I’m just sleeping.”
Oh, don’t get him wrong: The past few weeks have seen a whirlwind of promotional work and accolades for the May December actor. The 32-year-old made kimchi for a New York Times profile, did spots on morning shows, humorously fumbled his Gotham Awards trophy,...
“There’s a lot of gratitude. I also never knew I was capable of taking so many naps in one day,” Melton says. “I’m just sleeping.”
Oh, don’t get him wrong: The past few weeks have seen a whirlwind of promotional work and accolades for the May December actor. The 32-year-old made kimchi for a New York Times profile, did spots on morning shows, humorously fumbled his Gotham Awards trophy,...
- 12/6/2023
- by CT Jones
- Rollingstone.com
Jamie Foxx made a surprise appearance at a Critics Choice event on Monday, marking his first public appearance since facing serious health issues earlier this year.
Foxx was honored with the Vanguard Award for his performance in The Burial at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema and Television: Honoring Black, Latino and Aapi Achievements.
“You know, it’s crazy, I couldn’t do that six months ago — I couldn’t actually walk,” Foxx said after taking the stage. He then joked, “I’m not a clone, I’m not a clone. I know a lot of people who was saying I was cloned out there.”
“It feels good to be here. I cherish every single minute now, it’s different,” Foxx continued. “I wouldn’t wish what I went though on my worst enemy because it’s tough when it’s almost over, when you see the tunnel.
Foxx was honored with the Vanguard Award for his performance in The Burial at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema and Television: Honoring Black, Latino and Aapi Achievements.
“You know, it’s crazy, I couldn’t do that six months ago — I couldn’t actually walk,” Foxx said after taking the stage. He then joked, “I’m not a clone, I’m not a clone. I know a lot of people who was saying I was cloned out there.”
“It feels good to be here. I cherish every single minute now, it’s different,” Foxx continued. “I wouldn’t wish what I went though on my worst enemy because it’s tough when it’s almost over, when you see the tunnel.
- 12/5/2023
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Film News
Surprise guest Jamie Foxx took the stage Monday night at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema and Television: Honoring Black, Latino and Aapi Achievements, marking it his first public outing since he was hospitalized for medical complications in April. Foxx, whose attendance was not announced in advance, was there to receive the Vanguard Award for his performance in The Burial.
According to The Hollywood Reporter Foxx made the walk to the stage unassisted. In accepting the honor, the actor made a humorous nod to last summer’s They Cloned Tyrone...
According to The Hollywood Reporter Foxx made the walk to the stage unassisted. In accepting the honor, the actor made a humorous nod to last summer’s They Cloned Tyrone...
- 12/5/2023
- by Carita Rizzo
- Rollingstone.com
Jamie Foxx made a surprise appearance at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema and Television: Honoring Black, Latino and Aapi Achievements on Monday night, taking the stage for his first public outing following his sudden hospitalization in April.
Foxx was honored with the Vanguard Award for his acclaimed performance in “The Burial,” from Amazon’s Prime Video. The Oscar and Grammy winner also starred in Netflix’s “They Cloned Tyrone,” which earned him a Gotham Award nomination last month.
Jurnee Smollett presented the award to her “Burial” co-star, saying he’s a “true vanguard, a pioneer who has broken down barriers and inspired generations of artists like myself to be bold, audacious dreamers.”
“Working with Jamie, I found a generous scene partner I can lean on and trust,” Smollett said on stage. “Even though we were playing rivals battling it out in the courtroom, in him, I found...
Foxx was honored with the Vanguard Award for his acclaimed performance in “The Burial,” from Amazon’s Prime Video. The Oscar and Grammy winner also starred in Netflix’s “They Cloned Tyrone,” which earned him a Gotham Award nomination last month.
Jurnee Smollett presented the award to her “Burial” co-star, saying he’s a “true vanguard, a pioneer who has broken down barriers and inspired generations of artists like myself to be bold, audacious dreamers.”
“Working with Jamie, I found a generous scene partner I can lean on and trust,” Smollett said on stage. “Even though we were playing rivals battling it out in the courtroom, in him, I found...
- 12/5/2023
- by Angelique Jackson, Michaela Zee and Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Raphael Saadiq and U.K. singer Kelli-Leigh have dropped a new holiday single, “Miracle.” The classically overwrought, pop-tinged song was written and recorded for Prime Video’s forthcoming Christmas movie, Candy Cane Lane, which stars Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross.
“The song ‘Miracle’ is about, of course, a miracle,” Saadiq said in a statement. “Once you see the film, you see all these amazing things happening — a little bit of beautiful magic between a family and a mother and father. ‘Miracle’ just comes on and tells that whole story of how a family works.
“The song ‘Miracle’ is about, of course, a miracle,” Saadiq said in a statement. “Once you see the film, you see all these amazing things happening — a little bit of beautiful magic between a family and a mother and father. ‘Miracle’ just comes on and tells that whole story of how a family works.
- 11/27/2023
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
After a decade in the Marvel franchise, Natasha Romanoff is set to finally go solo with next year’s Black Widow. But while it could be interesting to see how the heroine fares without her fellow Avengers by her side, sources close to We Got This Covered have suggested that she won’t be the only McU regular to make an appearance in Cate Shortland’s film.
Apparently, Nat’s old friend and colleague Hawkeye has a small cameo in next year’s release. Specifically, we’re told that he’ll show up in a flashback to the mysterious Budapest mission – an oft-referenced chapter in Black Widow’s backstory that her solo debut looks set to finally explain.
Right now, the details of Clint Barton’s alleged role are still pretty vague, but given Hawkeye’s close connections to both Nat and the Budapest story, it seems like a fitting context for a cameo.
Apparently, Nat’s old friend and colleague Hawkeye has a small cameo in next year’s release. Specifically, we’re told that he’ll show up in a flashback to the mysterious Budapest mission – an oft-referenced chapter in Black Widow’s backstory that her solo debut looks set to finally explain.
Right now, the details of Clint Barton’s alleged role are still pretty vague, but given Hawkeye’s close connections to both Nat and the Budapest story, it seems like a fitting context for a cameo.
- 12/1/2019
- by David Pountain
- We Got This Covered
Scarlett Johansson's "Black Widow" will release in India on April 30, 2020 -- a day before its release in the Us.
Marvel Studios' "Black Widow" will open in India in six languages -- English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.
Also Read:?Scarlett Johansson opens up on her early days in Hollywood
"Over the last few years, Marvel movies have brought about an entertainment revolution in the country. Every superhero from Marvel -- be it Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk and even the newer members like Black Panther, Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel - have become household names. Black Widow is one such character who has been integral to the Marvel journey and has been a fan favourite; especially in India. We have seen Natasha Romanoff as a spy, assassin and an Avenger; but she remains a mystery and fans now want to know her origin story more than ever.
Marvel Studios' "Black Widow" will open in India in six languages -- English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.
Also Read:?Scarlett Johansson opens up on her early days in Hollywood
"Over the last few years, Marvel movies have brought about an entertainment revolution in the country. Every superhero from Marvel -- be it Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk and even the newer members like Black Panther, Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel - have become household names. Black Widow is one such character who has been integral to the Marvel journey and has been a fan favourite; especially in India. We have seen Natasha Romanoff as a spy, assassin and an Avenger; but she remains a mystery and fans now want to know her origin story more than ever.
- 11/29/2019
- GlamSham
Earlier this year, Ruth E. Carter won the costume design Oscar for her superheroic efforts in creating outfits for “Black Panther,” but 2020’s contenders are more likely to reflect the real world. And many of those assist the film’s story by undertaking their own journeys.
In “Queen & Slim,” the titular fugitives spend the entire movie on a cross-country journey, and change significantly along the way. But the alterations Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya’s characters undergo along the way weren’t just on the page — their outfits had to change, too.
“I started off the film with cold grays; for Queen it was white,” recalls first-time feature costume designer Shiona Turini, who collaborated with hip-hop fashion pioneer Dapper Dan for some of her flashy looks. “As they travel to the South and warm up to each other, the costumes are more comfortable, more colorful.”
Such a journey was...
In “Queen & Slim,” the titular fugitives spend the entire movie on a cross-country journey, and change significantly along the way. But the alterations Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya’s characters undergo along the way weren’t just on the page — their outfits had to change, too.
“I started off the film with cold grays; for Queen it was white,” recalls first-time feature costume designer Shiona Turini, who collaborated with hip-hop fashion pioneer Dapper Dan for some of her flashy looks. “As they travel to the South and warm up to each other, the costumes are more comfortable, more colorful.”
Such a journey was...
- 11/27/2019
- by Randee Dawn
- Variety Film + TV
“Don’t worry. Some of the best movies are made by people working together who hate each other’s guts.”
Lana Turner and Kirk Douglas in The Bad And The Beautiful (1952) is available on Blu-ray from Warner Archives. It can be ordered Here
Appearances are everything in Hollywood. So when conniving moviemaker Jonathan Shields realizes few mourners will show up for the funeral of his equally conniving father, he knows what to do: hire extras. Kirk Douglas gives a magnetic, Oscar®-nominated performance as Shields, who turns talent, charisma and ruthlessness into film success, stomping on careers and creating enemies along the way. Vincente Minnelli directs this winner of five Academy Awards® that’s more than a compelling insider’s look at Tinseltown: It’s an opportunity for buffs to guess which real-life stars and moguls inspired the roles played by Douglas, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Best Supporting Actress Gloria Grahame and more.
Lana Turner and Kirk Douglas in The Bad And The Beautiful (1952) is available on Blu-ray from Warner Archives. It can be ordered Here
Appearances are everything in Hollywood. So when conniving moviemaker Jonathan Shields realizes few mourners will show up for the funeral of his equally conniving father, he knows what to do: hire extras. Kirk Douglas gives a magnetic, Oscar®-nominated performance as Shields, who turns talent, charisma and ruthlessness into film success, stomping on careers and creating enemies along the way. Vincente Minnelli directs this winner of five Academy Awards® that’s more than a compelling insider’s look at Tinseltown: It’s an opportunity for buffs to guess which real-life stars and moguls inspired the roles played by Douglas, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Best Supporting Actress Gloria Grahame and more.
- 11/27/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
T-Series' talent Guru Randhawa's latest song, 'Black' is certainly a musical delight for his ardent fans as they get to see their favourite Punjabi singing sensation in a different mood this time!
The highly-anticipated song launched today, showcases Guru's versatility as a singer, mostly known for his peppy chartbusters. As the title suggests, Black, produced by T-Series is in the zone of a sad song.
Composed by Savvy Singh, penned by Bunty Bains and beautifully directed by Harry Singh-Preet Singh in Punjab, in Black his fans can see Guru dealing with heartbreak, where he talks about how fame and glory has no meaning when he has lost his love, played by Krishna Mukherjee.
Says Guru, ??I'm glad to be a part of this as I'm sure many people will be able to relate to this song. Bunty paaji has beautifully worked on the lyrics and composition.
The highly-anticipated song launched today, showcases Guru's versatility as a singer, mostly known for his peppy chartbusters. As the title suggests, Black, produced by T-Series is in the zone of a sad song.
Composed by Savvy Singh, penned by Bunty Bains and beautifully directed by Harry Singh-Preet Singh in Punjab, in Black his fans can see Guru dealing with heartbreak, where he talks about how fame and glory has no meaning when he has lost his love, played by Krishna Mukherjee.
Says Guru, ??I'm glad to be a part of this as I'm sure many people will be able to relate to this song. Bunty paaji has beautifully worked on the lyrics and composition.
- 11/27/2019
- GlamSham
There are so many reasons to be excited for “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” One big one that’s often forgotten amidst them all though is that the event will mark the first time that Black Lightning will crossover with the Arrowverse. Though it’s a DC TV show that airs on The CW, Bl has never previously featured any real interconnectivity with its sister series. But that all changes next month when Cress Williams’ Jefferson Pierce hops over to Earth-1.
What’s more, we can expect a major role for Black Lightning in the five-part extravaganza. Entertainment Weekly has run a piece highlighting this part of the crossover, which sees Ep Marc Guggenheim explain how a role for the hero in “Crisis” was not originally on the cards due to Bl having its production in Atlanta rather than Vancouver. However, once they worked out the logistics of it, he was...
What’s more, we can expect a major role for Black Lightning in the five-part extravaganza. Entertainment Weekly has run a piece highlighting this part of the crossover, which sees Ep Marc Guggenheim explain how a role for the hero in “Crisis” was not originally on the cards due to Bl having its production in Atlanta rather than Vancouver. However, once they worked out the logistics of it, he was...
- 11/27/2019
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
The Oscars don’t usually care for horror movies, and they don’t usually remember movies that opened way back in February, but Jordan Peele overcame both of those factors with his 2017 sleeper hit “Get Out.” So are we underestimating his 2019 sleeper hit “Us,” which also received critical acclaim and was a box office success (more than a quarter of a billion dollars grossed worldwide)? Specifically, I think Lupita Nyong’o could ambush the Best Actress race — with or without her scissors.
Nyong’o was an awards darling for her breakthrough role as the enslaved Patsey in “12 Years a Slave” (2013), which ended up winning her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She has worked steadily since there, both in front of the camera and in voice-over roles, but “Us” is arguably her juiciest acting showcase since that victory.
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Actually, it...
Nyong’o was an awards darling for her breakthrough role as the enslaved Patsey in “12 Years a Slave” (2013), which ended up winning her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She has worked steadily since there, both in front of the camera and in voice-over roles, but “Us” is arguably her juiciest acting showcase since that victory.
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Actually, it...
- 11/26/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Take a look at new images of actress Scarlett Johansson in the latest issue of "Vanity Fair" magazine, in support of Marvel Studios upcoming "Black Widow" solo feature, currently in post-production, opening May 2020:
The Russian spy character 'Black Widow' debuted in "Mystic Comics" #4 (1940), followed 20 years later with 'Natasha Romanoff', the new Black Widow debuting in Marvel Comics' "Tales of Suspense"' #52.
The character's black leather 'modern look' was introduced in "Amazing Spider-Man" #86 (1963).
Black Widow's first solo title was "Amazing Adventures" #1 (1970)...
...and in "Marvel Fanfare" #10 (1982)."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Black Widow"...
"Black Widow" Comic Books...
The Russian spy character 'Black Widow' debuted in "Mystic Comics" #4 (1940), followed 20 years later with 'Natasha Romanoff', the new Black Widow debuting in Marvel Comics' "Tales of Suspense"' #52.
The character's black leather 'modern look' was introduced in "Amazing Spider-Man" #86 (1963).
Black Widow's first solo title was "Amazing Adventures" #1 (1970)...
...and in "Marvel Fanfare" #10 (1982)."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Black Widow"...
"Black Widow" Comic Books...
- 11/26/2019
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Exclusive: CAA has signed award-winning British actor Martin Freeman.
Freeman is renowned for his many roles including Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy as well as CIA agent Everett Ross Marvel’s Black Panther and Captain America: Civil War.
On TV, Freeman played Watson on BBC’s Sherlock of which he counts two supporting actor miniseries/movie noms and one win in 2014. The Aldershot, Hampshire native also counts a 2011 BAFTA supporting actor win for Sherlock. He was also nominated for both a Golden Globe and Emmy in the lead actor miniseries/movie category for his turn as Lester Nygaar in FX’s first season of MGM’s Fargo.
Freeman studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Other notable roles include Tim Canterbury in the UK’s famed version of The Office. Feature credits include Ali G Indahouse, Love Actually, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, The World’s End,...
Freeman is renowned for his many roles including Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy as well as CIA agent Everett Ross Marvel’s Black Panther and Captain America: Civil War.
On TV, Freeman played Watson on BBC’s Sherlock of which he counts two supporting actor miniseries/movie noms and one win in 2014. The Aldershot, Hampshire native also counts a 2011 BAFTA supporting actor win for Sherlock. He was also nominated for both a Golden Globe and Emmy in the lead actor miniseries/movie category for his turn as Lester Nygaar in FX’s first season of MGM’s Fargo.
Freeman studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Other notable roles include Tim Canterbury in the UK’s famed version of The Office. Feature credits include Ali G Indahouse, Love Actually, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, The World’s End,...
- 11/26/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
"The Flash" episode "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three", is directed by David McWhirter, airing December 19, 2019 on The CW:
"...'Pariah' (Tom Cavanagh) enlists 'Black Lightning' (Cress Williams) to help stop the 'Anti-Monitor' (Lamonica Garrett) after 'Flash-90' (John Wesley Shipp) shares what he learned from his battle in 'Elseworlds'. With the help of Black Lightning, 'Barry' (Grant Gustin), 'Cisco' (Carlos Valdes) and 'Killer Frost' (Danielle Panabaker) come up with a plan that could save them all.
"Meanwhile, 'Iris' (Candice Patton) has a heart-to-heart with 'Ryan Choi' (Osric Chau), while 'Oliver' (Stephen Amell) and 'Diggle' (David Ramsey) return to an old familiar stomping ground..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...'Pariah' (Tom Cavanagh) enlists 'Black Lightning' (Cress Williams) to help stop the 'Anti-Monitor' (Lamonica Garrett) after 'Flash-90' (John Wesley Shipp) shares what he learned from his battle in 'Elseworlds'. With the help of Black Lightning, 'Barry' (Grant Gustin), 'Cisco' (Carlos Valdes) and 'Killer Frost' (Danielle Panabaker) come up with a plan that could save them all.
"Meanwhile, 'Iris' (Candice Patton) has a heart-to-heart with 'Ryan Choi' (Osric Chau), while 'Oliver' (Stephen Amell) and 'Diggle' (David Ramsey) return to an old familiar stomping ground..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 11/26/2019
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Black Lightning has joined the ranks of the insurgency. Though, it wasn't in the way we initially expected it to be.
A transport mission was his first task on Black Lightning Season 3 Episode 7. The mission was more to help a family member ensure the safety of a loved one than going against the rule of the Asa.
Though, this one mission finally sparked the change needed for Black Lightning to stand up and fight. The heroes are all on the same side for once. Maybe together they'll take back the town?
Deputy Chief Henderson and Jefferson were never going to see eye-to-eye on how to handle the Asa occupation. They both want the same thing (i.e. a freed Freeland), but their approaches to get there are completely different. One wanted force while the other played the peacekeeper.
This change in their friendship is a sharp shift from the sense...
A transport mission was his first task on Black Lightning Season 3 Episode 7. The mission was more to help a family member ensure the safety of a loved one than going against the rule of the Asa.
Though, this one mission finally sparked the change needed for Black Lightning to stand up and fight. The heroes are all on the same side for once. Maybe together they'll take back the town?
Deputy Chief Henderson and Jefferson were never going to see eye-to-eye on how to handle the Asa occupation. They both want the same thing (i.e. a freed Freeland), but their approaches to get there are completely different. One wanted force while the other played the peacekeeper.
This change in their friendship is a sharp shift from the sense...
- 11/26/2019
- by Justin Carreiro
- TVfanatic
If there was one thing that Avengers: Endgame had enough of, it was characters. At an astonishing three-hour runtime, Marvel’s galactic epic sprawled across the entirety of their cinematic universe, making sure it had incorporated at least one piece from each of their mega franchises.
A great portion of this final assembly took place during the film’s climatic battle against Thanos, as Doctor Strange ushered the lineup of Infinity War‘s vanished heroes back into the modern day. But despite all of these famous names on the screen together, there were some notable exceptions that fans couldn’t help but point out.
That being said, now that the film’s art book, Avengers: Endgame – The Art of the Movie, has hit shelves, some of those concerns have been vanquished, bringing viewers into the minds of its creators and showing exactly how much bigger they were planning to go.
A great portion of this final assembly took place during the film’s climatic battle against Thanos, as Doctor Strange ushered the lineup of Infinity War‘s vanished heroes back into the modern day. But despite all of these famous names on the screen together, there were some notable exceptions that fans couldn’t help but point out.
That being said, now that the film’s art book, Avengers: Endgame – The Art of the Movie, has hit shelves, some of those concerns have been vanquished, bringing viewers into the minds of its creators and showing exactly how much bigger they were planning to go.
- 11/26/2019
- by Luke Parker
- We Got This Covered
The Oscars have traditionally been skittish about rewarding “comic book” movies in the past, to the point that “Black Panther’s” eight-nomination haul last year was seen as a major breakthrough. One category that has been less stubborn about such youth-friendly films is Best Cinematography, particularly when it comes to the property of Batman. Films centering on the Caped Crusader have been acknowledged three times in the cinematography category, with nominations for “Batman Forever” (1995), “Batman Begins” (2005) and “The Dark Knight” (2008). This year, there is another film set in Gotham City hoping to make a big splash at the Oscars, albeit one with Batman / Bruce Wayne relegated to supporting player: “Joker.” Could the divisive supervillain origin story become the latest Gotham film to earn that Best Cinematography kudos at the Oscars?
SEEJust smile: ‘Joker’ makeup team en route to first Oscar nomination thanks to physically transforming Joaquin Phoenix
Members of the...
SEEJust smile: ‘Joker’ makeup team en route to first Oscar nomination thanks to physically transforming Joaquin Phoenix
Members of the...
- 11/25/2019
- by Kevin Jacobsen
- Gold Derby
Kirsten Howard Nov 25, 2019
"You would’ve already had Iron Man 4 if it was any other studio," say the Avengers: Endgame writers.
2013's Iron Man 3 made over $1.2 billion at the box office globally and, save for Black Panther, remains the highest grossing standalone McU movie, so why didn't Marvel press ahead with Iron Man 4, instead of peppering Robert Downey Jr's subsequent appearances as Tony Stark across subsequent Avengers instalments and other franchise hits like Spider-Man: Homecoming and Captain America: Civil War?
In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Avengers: Endgame writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have been looking back on the studio's decision not to pursue a fourth Iron Man movie.
"Whether you like all of the 24 movies or not, the capital that Marvel built up allowed them to do things like make a movie starring a raccoon and a tree, right? You would’ve already had Iron Man...
"You would’ve already had Iron Man 4 if it was any other studio," say the Avengers: Endgame writers.
2013's Iron Man 3 made over $1.2 billion at the box office globally and, save for Black Panther, remains the highest grossing standalone McU movie, so why didn't Marvel press ahead with Iron Man 4, instead of peppering Robert Downey Jr's subsequent appearances as Tony Stark across subsequent Avengers instalments and other franchise hits like Spider-Man: Homecoming and Captain America: Civil War?
In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Avengers: Endgame writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have been looking back on the studio's decision not to pursue a fourth Iron Man movie.
"Whether you like all of the 24 movies or not, the capital that Marvel built up allowed them to do things like make a movie starring a raccoon and a tree, right? You would’ve already had Iron Man...
- 11/25/2019
- Den of Geek
While the female team-up sequence at the climax of Avengers: Endgame served as a tribute to the various women of the Marvel franchise, one notable absentee from the action was the original McU heroine Black Widow, and if you ask concept artist Andy Park, it’s a real shame that she couldn’t be included.
In the new book Avengers: Endgame – The Art of the Movie, Park reflects on the film’s “A-Force” sequence, saying it’s a moment that makes him proud:
“The theme of this whole moment, the idea is something that I can be very proud of—women gathering together and just showing how powerful they are in the McU.”
Park then elaborates on his praise and explains his role in bringing the moment to life:
“And this is just a showcase of ten years of developing these characters from all the movies that we’ve had...
In the new book Avengers: Endgame – The Art of the Movie, Park reflects on the film’s “A-Force” sequence, saying it’s a moment that makes him proud:
“The theme of this whole moment, the idea is something that I can be very proud of—women gathering together and just showing how powerful they are in the McU.”
Park then elaborates on his praise and explains his role in bringing the moment to life:
“And this is just a showcase of ten years of developing these characters from all the movies that we’ve had...
- 11/24/2019
- by David Pountain
- We Got This Covered
It’s the end of the Arrowverse as we know it and fans are feeling pretty excited right about now. “Crisis on Infinite Earths” is just over two weeks away and, at last, we finally have a poster for the biggest DC crossover event to ever hit The CW. And if you think the miniseries can’t possibly be more ambitious than the ones we seen before, think again.
You can check out the poster, which unites every major player in the event, in the gallery below. But first, let’s do a quick roll call, shall we? At the center of the image, we have Batwoman (Ruby Rose), with other series leads Black Lightning (Cress Williams), Green Arrow (Stephen Amell), White Canary (Caity Lotz), the Flash (Grant Gustin) and Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) underneath her.
To the left, there’s Earth-38’s Superman (Tyler Hoechlin), Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch), John...
You can check out the poster, which unites every major player in the event, in the gallery below. But first, let’s do a quick roll call, shall we? At the center of the image, we have Batwoman (Ruby Rose), with other series leads Black Lightning (Cress Williams), Green Arrow (Stephen Amell), White Canary (Caity Lotz), the Flash (Grant Gustin) and Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) underneath her.
To the left, there’s Earth-38’s Superman (Tyler Hoechlin), Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch), John...
- 11/22/2019
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
“Frozen II,” Disney’s follow-up to the pop culture phenomenon “Frozen” from 2013, brought in $8.5 million at the box office in Thursday night previews beginning at 6 p.m. It opens on over 4,300 screens this weekend.
The fall box office is finally set to heat up with the arrival of “Frozen II,” which the studio is projecting for an opening in the $100 million range, with trackers saying it should land between $105-115 million, though it could rise to $130 million if the excitement is as high as some trackers suspect. It opens opposite “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” which stars Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers, and the thriller “21 Bridges” starring Chadwick Boseman, both of which go wide in the last weekend before Thanksgiving.
“Frozen II” already soared past all-time records for animated films in pre-sales on the ticketing site Fandango. So the comp to watch is “Incredibles 2,” which hit a...
The fall box office is finally set to heat up with the arrival of “Frozen II,” which the studio is projecting for an opening in the $100 million range, with trackers saying it should land between $105-115 million, though it could rise to $130 million if the excitement is as high as some trackers suspect. It opens opposite “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” which stars Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers, and the thriller “21 Bridges” starring Chadwick Boseman, both of which go wide in the last weekend before Thanksgiving.
“Frozen II” already soared past all-time records for animated films in pre-sales on the ticketing site Fandango. So the comp to watch is “Incredibles 2,” which hit a...
- 11/22/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
A Crisis is coming – specifically, it’s kicking off on December 8th. The crossover we’ve all been waiting for is finally on the horizon and so The CW is rolling out some official synopses for the five episodes that comprise the event, and they give us our clearest feel yet for how the storyline will develop.
This synopsis for “Part Three” of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” confirms that this is the installment which will cross Black Lightning over to the Arrowverse at last, with Tom Cavanagh’s Pariah being the one to transport him over to Earth-1. What’s more, the description settles a mystery fans have been chewing over for a while: which one of his many characters John Wesley Shipp will play in “Crisis.” It’s Earth-90’s Flash, the role he first portrayed back in 1990.
Black Lightning Joins The Arrowverse In The Third Chapter Of The...
This synopsis for “Part Three” of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” confirms that this is the installment which will cross Black Lightning over to the Arrowverse at last, with Tom Cavanagh’s Pariah being the one to transport him over to Earth-1. What’s more, the description settles a mystery fans have been chewing over for a while: which one of his many characters John Wesley Shipp will play in “Crisis.” It’s Earth-90’s Flash, the role he first portrayed back in 1990.
Black Lightning Joins The Arrowverse In The Third Chapter Of The...
- 11/22/2019
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Stars: Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller, Stephan James, Keith David, Alexander Siddig, Taylor Kitsch, J.K. Simmons, Louis Cancelmi, Victoria Cartagena | Written by Adam Mervis, Matthew Michael Carnahan | Directed by Brian Kirk
Black Panther‘s Chadwick Boseman stars in this New York-set thriller produced by the Russo Brothers. Fast-paced and impressively acted, it’s a pleasingly old-fashioned thriller, providing you can side-step the occasional plot hole.
Directed by TV veteran Brian Kirk, 21 Bridges centres on a drug heist perpetrated by two small-time crooks (Stephan James and Taylor Kitsch) that goes badly wrong, leaving 8 cops dead at the scene. Theorising that the culprits will need to stay in Manhattan to get rid of their drugs, homicide detective Andre Davis (Boseman) is given until 5am to chase them down, with all traffic routes out of the city (i.e. the area within the 21 Bridges of the title) shut down until then.
Davis’ partner in...
Black Panther‘s Chadwick Boseman stars in this New York-set thriller produced by the Russo Brothers. Fast-paced and impressively acted, it’s a pleasingly old-fashioned thriller, providing you can side-step the occasional plot hole.
Directed by TV veteran Brian Kirk, 21 Bridges centres on a drug heist perpetrated by two small-time crooks (Stephan James and Taylor Kitsch) that goes badly wrong, leaving 8 cops dead at the scene. Theorising that the culprits will need to stay in Manhattan to get rid of their drugs, homicide detective Andre Davis (Boseman) is given until 5am to chase them down, with all traffic routes out of the city (i.e. the area within the 21 Bridges of the title) shut down until then.
Davis’ partner in...
- 11/21/2019
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
Coming to Goa is coming home, said a nostalgic Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday, while inaugurating the Indian Panorama section of the 50th edition of the 2019 International Film Festival of India (Iffi).
"Coming to Goa has always been like coming home. My very first film was shot here. And ever since then, I've had many opportunities to work in this wonderful place," Bachchan said at the inaugural ceremony, where a retrospective of his films was being screened as part of the festival's programming.
Also Read:?Amitabh Bachchan pens a heartfelt message about life
Bachchan's first film "Saat Hindustani" was shot in 1969 in Goa, in which he plays the role of one of the seven "satyagrahis", who take on the colonial Portuguese regime to free the coastal state.
The Amitabh Bachchan retrospective opened with his 2009 film "Paa" and among other films which are scheduled to be screened as part of the package...
"Coming to Goa has always been like coming home. My very first film was shot here. And ever since then, I've had many opportunities to work in this wonderful place," Bachchan said at the inaugural ceremony, where a retrospective of his films was being screened as part of the festival's programming.
Also Read:?Amitabh Bachchan pens a heartfelt message about life
Bachchan's first film "Saat Hindustani" was shot in 1969 in Goa, in which he plays the role of one of the seven "satyagrahis", who take on the colonial Portuguese regime to free the coastal state.
The Amitabh Bachchan retrospective opened with his 2009 film "Paa" and among other films which are scheduled to be screened as part of the package...
- 11/21/2019
- GlamSham
Over the last three weeks, we’ve seen the destruction: the box office falling tens of millions of dollars short of 2018, while high-end, high-hopes titles like “Terminator: Dark Fate,” “Doctor Sleep,” and “Charlie’s Angels” crashed and burned. All of that could change this weekend with Disney’s “Frozen II” and Sony’s “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”
A fluke in the calendar means November 22 corresponds with the massive post-Thanksgiving weekend in 2018. That should put this year at a major disadvantage. But the placement of two key films a weekend earlier gives a chance for parity or close, and a strong opening would be a good portent for the all-important holiday season.
For the fourth consecutive year, a Disney Animation Studio release will hit at Thanksgiving with a chance to break out as a major Christmas title as well. In 2013, “Frozen” grossed over $80 million (adjusted) for the weekend, and around $100 million for five days.
A fluke in the calendar means November 22 corresponds with the massive post-Thanksgiving weekend in 2018. That should put this year at a major disadvantage. But the placement of two key films a weekend earlier gives a chance for parity or close, and a strong opening would be a good portent for the all-important holiday season.
For the fourth consecutive year, a Disney Animation Studio release will hit at Thanksgiving with a chance to break out as a major Christmas title as well. In 2013, “Frozen” grossed over $80 million (adjusted) for the weekend, and around $100 million for five days.
- 11/20/2019
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Jack Beresford Nov 20, 2019
Sequels to hit movies are a Hollywood staple. Here are some of the most fascinating would-be follow-ups that never got off the ground...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Sequels, by their very nature, are difficult to get right.
What may have started as a one-off film becomes a bona fide at the box office and suddenly Hollywood comes calling for more of the same. The only problem is that more of the same doesn’t always cut it. Sequels may be an increasingly common by-product of the Hollywood machine, but they don’t always replicate the success of the original.
A good sequel is a delicate balancing act. Repeat too much of what made the original so successful and you end up with something like Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. Veer too much from what made the first film work so well...
Sequels to hit movies are a Hollywood staple. Here are some of the most fascinating would-be follow-ups that never got off the ground...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Sequels, by their very nature, are difficult to get right.
What may have started as a one-off film becomes a bona fide at the box office and suddenly Hollywood comes calling for more of the same. The only problem is that more of the same doesn’t always cut it. Sequels may be an increasingly common by-product of the Hollywood machine, but they don’t always replicate the success of the original.
A good sequel is a delicate balancing act. Repeat too much of what made the original so successful and you end up with something like Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. Veer too much from what made the first film work so well...
- 11/20/2019
- Den of Geek
She has been around in Bollywood for over two decades and has been touted as one of India's finest actresses. Yet, Rani Mukerji admits harbouring doubts, because she believes if there is no self-doubt one cannot move ahead in life.
"It (self-doubt) is part of your being. If you don't have self-doubt you can't move ahead in life. You need to have some degree of insecurity or self-doubt, and you just can't be like you are the king of the world and do whatever comes your way," Rani told Ians.
Also Read:?Rani Mukerji shares an important social message
Questioning yourself is important, stresses the actress.
"You have to have a little sense of questioning to basically try and achieve and keep achieving your goal. That can only happen when you doubt yourself a bit and push yourself harder towards your goal," she said.
Rani made her Bollywood debut with...
"It (self-doubt) is part of your being. If you don't have self-doubt you can't move ahead in life. You need to have some degree of insecurity or self-doubt, and you just can't be like you are the king of the world and do whatever comes your way," Rani told Ians.
Also Read:?Rani Mukerji shares an important social message
Questioning yourself is important, stresses the actress.
"You have to have a little sense of questioning to basically try and achieve and keep achieving your goal. That can only happen when you doubt yourself a bit and push yourself harder towards your goal," she said.
Rani made her Bollywood debut with...
- 11/19/2019
- GlamSham
The game plan for the DC Extended Universe has been a rather rocky one, to say the least, but it seems that it now has a set course for the future. With the recent success of its latest movies, it is likely that the universe will continue to deliver more movies, but its most recently confirmed movie has certainly gotten fans to raise their eyebrows with extreme curiosity. If you can’t remember when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was set to play Black Adam, no one will blame you because that was over a decade ago. Johnson was long rumored to
Why The Black Adam Movie is So Important...
Why The Black Adam Movie is So Important...
- 11/19/2019
- by David Martinez
- TVovermind.com
Prepare for a very different breed of superhero origin story when Marvel’s Black Widow arrives in theaters next year.
At least, that’s according to star Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), who touched base on Black Widow as part of Variety’s Actors on Actors segment. Asked about her experience working within the McU – and opposite an actress of Scarlett Johansson’s stature – Pugh was full of praise, and hailed Black Widow as a “very raw, very painful, and very beautiful” superhero flick that may well catch a few people off-guard.
It’s still a big action film at heart, of course, but Pugh is confident that the actual backstory of one Natasha Romanoff will engender a whole new level of appreciation for Scarlett Johansson’s deadly agent – particularly after her selfless act in this year’s Avengers: Endgame.
I think we’ve made something very raw and very painful...
At least, that’s according to star Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), who touched base on Black Widow as part of Variety’s Actors on Actors segment. Asked about her experience working within the McU – and opposite an actress of Scarlett Johansson’s stature – Pugh was full of praise, and hailed Black Widow as a “very raw, very painful, and very beautiful” superhero flick that may well catch a few people off-guard.
It’s still a big action film at heart, of course, but Pugh is confident that the actual backstory of one Natasha Romanoff will engender a whole new level of appreciation for Scarlett Johansson’s deadly agent – particularly after her selfless act in this year’s Avengers: Endgame.
I think we’ve made something very raw and very painful...
- 11/18/2019
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Exploring what it’s like to be a black cop in conflict, especially in the #BlackLivesMatter era, has become popular fodder for filmmakers. But while it’s an interesting topic to pursue, the films that have dared to do so have been unsatisfying.
“Monsters and Men” struggled with determining a resolution, “Black and Blue” pivoted to a humdrum action saga and now director Brian Kirk’s new film, “21 Bridges,” also struggles to find its voice in the conversation.
Written by Adam Mervis and Matthew Michael Carnahan (“Dark Waters”), the New York City-set “21 Bridges” actually tries, but ultimately fails, to examine issues that extend beyond its heroic policeman Andre Davis (Chadwick Boseman), who’s known among his unit as the go-to officer when you need to take down a cop killer. His father, a respected officer in his own right, was gunned down by thugs when Andre was just a child,...
“Monsters and Men” struggled with determining a resolution, “Black and Blue” pivoted to a humdrum action saga and now director Brian Kirk’s new film, “21 Bridges,” also struggles to find its voice in the conversation.
Written by Adam Mervis and Matthew Michael Carnahan (“Dark Waters”), the New York City-set “21 Bridges” actually tries, but ultimately fails, to examine issues that extend beyond its heroic policeman Andre Davis (Chadwick Boseman), who’s known among his unit as the go-to officer when you need to take down a cop killer. His father, a respected officer in his own right, was gunned down by thugs when Andre was just a child,...
- 11/18/2019
- by Candice Frederick
- The Wrap
The Black List and the Writers Guild of America have partnered with Easterseals — a nonprofit organization which provides resources for individuals with developmental disabilities or other special needs — to create the Disability List, it was announced Thursday night at the Beverly Hilton during the 40th Annual Media Access Awards.
"Inclusion in Hollywood and authenticity in storytelling, starts in the writers' room," said Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, co-CEOs of the Media Access Awards and members of the WGA Writers With Disabilities Committee. "We are honored to work with the Black List to spotlight these incredible ...
"Inclusion in Hollywood and authenticity in storytelling, starts in the writers' room," said Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, co-CEOs of the Media Access Awards and members of the WGA Writers With Disabilities Committee. "We are honored to work with the Black List to spotlight these incredible ...
- 11/15/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The Black List and the Writers Guild of America have partnered with Easterseals — a nonprofit organization which provides resources for individuals with developmental disabilities or other special needs — to create the Disability List, it was announced Thursday night at the Beverly Hilton during the 40th Annual Media Access Awards.
"Inclusion in Hollywood and authenticity in storytelling, starts in the writers' room," said Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, co-CEOs of the Media Access Awards and members of the WGA Writers With Disabilities Committee. "We are honored to work with the Black List to spotlight these incredible ...
"Inclusion in Hollywood and authenticity in storytelling, starts in the writers' room," said Deborah Calla and Allen Rucker, co-CEOs of the Media Access Awards and members of the WGA Writers With Disabilities Committee. "We are honored to work with the Black List to spotlight these incredible ...
- 11/15/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Marvel Comics' "Web Of Black Widow" #1, available September 4, 2019 is written by Jody Houser and illustrated by Stephen Mooney, with covers by Jung-Geun Yoon and Kris Anka:
"...in 'Black Widow' Year One, one of Marvel Comics' longest-running female heroes finally gets her due.
"'Natasha Romanoff' is the deadliest spy in the 'Marvel Universe' and the beating heart of the 'Avengers'.
"But when a mysterious figure starts exploiting her past, the Widow may have to go back to Black -- and off the grid.
"Who can she trust in this web of deceit? And more importantly -- can her friends trust her?..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Black Widow"...
"Black Widow" Comic Books...
"...in 'Black Widow' Year One, one of Marvel Comics' longest-running female heroes finally gets her due.
"'Natasha Romanoff' is the deadliest spy in the 'Marvel Universe' and the beating heart of the 'Avengers'.
"But when a mysterious figure starts exploiting her past, the Widow may have to go back to Black -- and off the grid.
"Who can she trust in this web of deceit? And more importantly -- can her friends trust her?..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Black Widow"...
"Black Widow" Comic Books...
- 8/31/2019
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Many eyes are on Saawariya (Beloved), Sony Pictures' debut Bollywood production opening today worldwide, including in North America.
Sony, a leader in the co-production of Chinese-language films, now means to get involved in producing Indian films. The studio has banked on one of Bollywood's leading filmmakers, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who helmed the assured Black in 2005. He more than delivers the goods -- for Indian audiences, anyway. Saawariya is a lush production featuring fabulous though deliberately artificial sets, an extravagant musical score, 10 new songs and two newcomers with much potential as the story's star-crossed lovers.
The film, which opens on Diwali, India's biggest national holiday, will resonate with Indian audiences everywhere as well as those who delight in Hindi-language commercial cinema. But the film is unlikely to create any meaningful new fan base among those unfamiliar with Bollywood films. For audiences unaccustomed to the format, the film runs too long -- though it is short by Bollywood standards -- and is repetitive, sentimental and cliched.
The story, supposedly based on Dostoevsky's short story White Nights, takes place in a mythical city designed by art director Omung Kumar. Imagine a set for La Boheme with Venitian canals and Mogul architecture. In a nice red-light district, a flamboyant, goodhearted prostitute named Gulab (Bollywood queen Rani Mukherjee) tells the tale of Raj, a singer-musician who is consumed with love even if that love is not returned.
Raj is played by lanky, rubber-legged Ranbir Kapoor, who beguiles with his doleful eyes, delightful clowning and athletic moves. Kapoor is fourth-generation Bollywood royalty. His late grandfather, Raj Kapoor, was the first superstar of Indian cinema, and his dad, Rishi, once a major star, is now a producer. In his feature debut, Kapoor carries off the big emotional moments with the same flair he brings to the musical numbers.
Raj no sooner gets a job as a singer in a nightclub, then spies a girl draped in black, standing alone and crying on a canal bridge. He is instantly smitten with Sakina's haunting beauty. Sonam Kapoor catches Sakina's ever-shifting, enigmatic moods from melancholy to laughter and then despair. She relishes Raj's attention but has already lost her heart to a mysterious stranger, Imaan (Salman Khan), who briefly lodged as his mother's haveli the year before. She waits for his return, forever if necessary, on that bridge.
This more or less static situation goes on for more than two hours, giving an audience time to savor the musical numbers, lavish sets and colorful costumes. Monty Sharma's plush musical score washes over this exotic cityscape where it is always night and love, requited or otherwise, is in the air.
SAAWARIYA
Columbia Pictures
An SLB Films and SPE Films India production
Credits:
Director-producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Screenwriters: Prakahs Kapadia, Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Based on a story by: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Executive producer: Deepak Raai Sharma
Director of photography: Ravi K. Chandran
Production designer: Omung Kumar
Music: Ismail Darbar, Monty Sharma
Costume designers: Rajesh Pratap Singh, Reza Shariffi, Anuradha Vakil
Editor: Bela Leela Sehgal
Cast:
Raj: Ranbir Kapoor
Sakina: Sonam Kapoor
Gulab: Rani Mukherjee
Lillian: Zohra Sehgal
Imaan: Salman Khan
Sakina's mother: Begum Para
Running time -- 138 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Sony, a leader in the co-production of Chinese-language films, now means to get involved in producing Indian films. The studio has banked on one of Bollywood's leading filmmakers, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who helmed the assured Black in 2005. He more than delivers the goods -- for Indian audiences, anyway. Saawariya is a lush production featuring fabulous though deliberately artificial sets, an extravagant musical score, 10 new songs and two newcomers with much potential as the story's star-crossed lovers.
The film, which opens on Diwali, India's biggest national holiday, will resonate with Indian audiences everywhere as well as those who delight in Hindi-language commercial cinema. But the film is unlikely to create any meaningful new fan base among those unfamiliar with Bollywood films. For audiences unaccustomed to the format, the film runs too long -- though it is short by Bollywood standards -- and is repetitive, sentimental and cliched.
The story, supposedly based on Dostoevsky's short story White Nights, takes place in a mythical city designed by art director Omung Kumar. Imagine a set for La Boheme with Venitian canals and Mogul architecture. In a nice red-light district, a flamboyant, goodhearted prostitute named Gulab (Bollywood queen Rani Mukherjee) tells the tale of Raj, a singer-musician who is consumed with love even if that love is not returned.
Raj is played by lanky, rubber-legged Ranbir Kapoor, who beguiles with his doleful eyes, delightful clowning and athletic moves. Kapoor is fourth-generation Bollywood royalty. His late grandfather, Raj Kapoor, was the first superstar of Indian cinema, and his dad, Rishi, once a major star, is now a producer. In his feature debut, Kapoor carries off the big emotional moments with the same flair he brings to the musical numbers.
Raj no sooner gets a job as a singer in a nightclub, then spies a girl draped in black, standing alone and crying on a canal bridge. He is instantly smitten with Sakina's haunting beauty. Sonam Kapoor catches Sakina's ever-shifting, enigmatic moods from melancholy to laughter and then despair. She relishes Raj's attention but has already lost her heart to a mysterious stranger, Imaan (Salman Khan), who briefly lodged as his mother's haveli the year before. She waits for his return, forever if necessary, on that bridge.
This more or less static situation goes on for more than two hours, giving an audience time to savor the musical numbers, lavish sets and colorful costumes. Monty Sharma's plush musical score washes over this exotic cityscape where it is always night and love, requited or otherwise, is in the air.
SAAWARIYA
Columbia Pictures
An SLB Films and SPE Films India production
Credits:
Director-producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Screenwriters: Prakahs Kapadia, Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Based on a story by: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Executive producer: Deepak Raai Sharma
Director of photography: Ravi K. Chandran
Production designer: Omung Kumar
Music: Ismail Darbar, Monty Sharma
Costume designers: Rajesh Pratap Singh, Reza Shariffi, Anuradha Vakil
Editor: Bela Leela Sehgal
Cast:
Raj: Ranbir Kapoor
Sakina: Sonam Kapoor
Gulab: Rani Mukherjee
Lillian: Zohra Sehgal
Imaan: Salman Khan
Sakina's mother: Begum Para
Running time -- 138 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 11/9/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW DELHI -- The seventh annual International Indian Film Academy Awards took place in Dubai on Friday, where the acclaimed Black bagged most trophies, including best picture. Sanjay Leela Bhansali won best director while Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee won nods for best actor and actress, respectively. Inspired by the Helen Keller biopic The Miracle Worker, Black tells the story of a blind girl (Mukherjee) and her relationship with her guide and mentor (Bachchan).
- 6/19/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW DELHI -- The seventh annual International Indian Film Academy Awards took place in Dubai on Friday, where the acclaimed Black bagged most trophies, including best picture. Sanjay Leela Bhansali won best director while Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee won nods for best actor and actress, respectively. Inspired by the Helen Keller biopic The Miracle Worker, Black tells the story of a blind girl (Mukherjee) and her relationship with her guide and mentor (Bachchan).
- 6/19/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW DELHI -- The 51st Filmfare Awards -- India's most established awards show -- was held Saturday in Mumbai as the offbeat Black walked away with 11 awards including best film and best director for Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The awards, organized by Filmfare magazine, featured a special appearance on stage by Will Smith, who gave away the best actress trophy to Rani Mukherjee. Mukherjee plays a blind woman in Black, which explores her relationship with her guide, played by Amitabh Bachchan, who bagged both best actor and the critics award for best actor. Child actress Ayesha Kapoor (who plays Mukherjee's character as a child) won best supporting actress, while Black also took trophies for editing and cinematography. In his acceptance speech, Bhansali dedicated his award to "the deaf and blind whom I will call the warriors of darkness."...
- 2/28/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Indian screen legend Amitabh Bachchan is in a stable condition after being rushed to hospital Monday suffering from stomach pain. The 63-year-old has been ordered to rest by doctors at Leelavati hospital in Mumbai, India, who have diagnosed Bachchan to have an inflammation of the large intestine. He has been placed on a liquid diet and is expected to leave hospital within the next two days. The prolific Bachchan is thought to be the highest paid actor in Bollywood, and has appeared in more than 150 Hindi-language films, including Black, Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar this year alone.
- 11/30/2005
- WENN
Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles
Black represents a major departure -- and major leap forward -- for the Bollywood film industry. Hindi films made in Bombay (or Mumbai as it is now called) invariably and without much imagination revolve around songs, dance numbers and love stories featuring stock characters. Black has none of that. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Devdas) and his fellow producers mean to reach an international audience whose interest in Indian cinema has been sparked by Oscar nominee Lagaan and such non-Bollywood films as Bend It Like Beckham and Monsoon Wedding.
The good news is that Black, which opened in India in mid-February, has become a hit film, demonstrating that Indian audiences themselves are looking for less formulaic and more intelligent local films.
Black initially seems like a lift from The Miracle Worker in its story of a great teacher who is able to connect with and instruct a young deaf, blind and mute girl. One of the givens of Bollywood is its filmmakers' transparent willingness to borrow liberally from Western hit films. But Black moves beyond slavish imitation of Arthur Penn's film in so many ways that it most definitely stands as an original work.
For one thing, the teacher is not a nearly blind young woman but a much older man, full of bluster -- and often full of alcohol, too -- who is grimly determined to "break" this wild child so he can teach her first to behave and then to understand the concept of words and their meanings. The first act does more or less follow the plot arc of the 1962 film: The teacher struggles to gain the young girl's confidence before her parents can ship her off to a mental institution. This culminates in her understanding of the word "water."
Then the film forges ahead to the pupil's years at a university willing to accept her, where her teacher sits by her side in classrooms year after year signing to her the lecturers' words. The film also focuses on the difficulties of the young woman's sister, who resents all the attention received by her older sibling, and misplaced emotions arising from the fact the woman's teacher is of the opposite sex.
The biggest difference, though, comes in a framing device that lets the story be told in flashback from the point where the teacher is himself trapped in a world of blackness. Alzheimer's disease has ravaged his brain. So now it is the pupil who must teach the teacher the meaning of the word "water."
Just as Rain Man turned a handicap into a boxoffice wonder by casting stars Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, so too Black's popularity in India owes much to the casting of Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood's biggest star, as the teacher. Now an older man, Bachchan still commands the screen with authority, though Western audiences might find his acting a bit over the top. The entire movie, for that matter, relies heavily on melodramatic flourishes and a musical score intent on telling viewers what to think and feel at every moment.
The actresses who play the pupil -- Ayesha Kapoor as the young girl and Rani Mukherjee as the older woman -- are truly remarkable in conveying the anguish of a life spent in blackness and the grit and determination it takes to search for the light of education.
The girl's family are well-to-do Anglo-Indians who are Christian and live in a lovely, Raj-influenced home in the northern Indian hill town of Simla. Cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran and art director Omung Kumar turn that house and later the university into things of beauty by using sunlight streaming through windows and pleasing color tones, at times creating a monochromatic look.
BLACK
Applause Entertainment and S.L.B. Films
Credits:
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Writer: Bhavani Iyer
Producers: Sanjay Leela Bhansaali, Anshuman Swami
Executive producers: Gautami Bhatt, Aman Gill
Director of photography: Ravi K. Chandran
Production designer: Omung Kumar
Music: MontySharma
Costumes: Sabyasachi Mukherji
Editor: Bela Segal. Cast: Debraj Sahai: Amitabh Bachchan
Michelle McNally: Rani Mukherjee
Young Michelle: Ayesha Kapoor
Sarah McNally: Nandana Sen
Katherine McNally: Shernaz Patel
Mrs. Nair: Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal
Paul McNally: Vijay Crishna
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 124 minutes...
Black represents a major departure -- and major leap forward -- for the Bollywood film industry. Hindi films made in Bombay (or Mumbai as it is now called) invariably and without much imagination revolve around songs, dance numbers and love stories featuring stock characters. Black has none of that. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Devdas) and his fellow producers mean to reach an international audience whose interest in Indian cinema has been sparked by Oscar nominee Lagaan and such non-Bollywood films as Bend It Like Beckham and Monsoon Wedding.
The good news is that Black, which opened in India in mid-February, has become a hit film, demonstrating that Indian audiences themselves are looking for less formulaic and more intelligent local films.
Black initially seems like a lift from The Miracle Worker in its story of a great teacher who is able to connect with and instruct a young deaf, blind and mute girl. One of the givens of Bollywood is its filmmakers' transparent willingness to borrow liberally from Western hit films. But Black moves beyond slavish imitation of Arthur Penn's film in so many ways that it most definitely stands as an original work.
For one thing, the teacher is not a nearly blind young woman but a much older man, full of bluster -- and often full of alcohol, too -- who is grimly determined to "break" this wild child so he can teach her first to behave and then to understand the concept of words and their meanings. The first act does more or less follow the plot arc of the 1962 film: The teacher struggles to gain the young girl's confidence before her parents can ship her off to a mental institution. This culminates in her understanding of the word "water."
Then the film forges ahead to the pupil's years at a university willing to accept her, where her teacher sits by her side in classrooms year after year signing to her the lecturers' words. The film also focuses on the difficulties of the young woman's sister, who resents all the attention received by her older sibling, and misplaced emotions arising from the fact the woman's teacher is of the opposite sex.
The biggest difference, though, comes in a framing device that lets the story be told in flashback from the point where the teacher is himself trapped in a world of blackness. Alzheimer's disease has ravaged his brain. So now it is the pupil who must teach the teacher the meaning of the word "water."
Just as Rain Man turned a handicap into a boxoffice wonder by casting stars Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, so too Black's popularity in India owes much to the casting of Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood's biggest star, as the teacher. Now an older man, Bachchan still commands the screen with authority, though Western audiences might find his acting a bit over the top. The entire movie, for that matter, relies heavily on melodramatic flourishes and a musical score intent on telling viewers what to think and feel at every moment.
The actresses who play the pupil -- Ayesha Kapoor as the young girl and Rani Mukherjee as the older woman -- are truly remarkable in conveying the anguish of a life spent in blackness and the grit and determination it takes to search for the light of education.
The girl's family are well-to-do Anglo-Indians who are Christian and live in a lovely, Raj-influenced home in the northern Indian hill town of Simla. Cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran and art director Omung Kumar turn that house and later the university into things of beauty by using sunlight streaming through windows and pleasing color tones, at times creating a monochromatic look.
BLACK
Applause Entertainment and S.L.B. Films
Credits:
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Writer: Bhavani Iyer
Producers: Sanjay Leela Bhansaali, Anshuman Swami
Executive producers: Gautami Bhatt, Aman Gill
Director of photography: Ravi K. Chandran
Production designer: Omung Kumar
Music: MontySharma
Costumes: Sabyasachi Mukherji
Editor: Bela Segal. Cast: Debraj Sahai: Amitabh Bachchan
Michelle McNally: Rani Mukherjee
Young Michelle: Ayesha Kapoor
Sarah McNally: Nandana Sen
Katherine McNally: Shernaz Patel
Mrs. Nair: Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal
Paul McNally: Vijay Crishna
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 124 minutes...
- 4/28/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles
Black represents a major departure -- and major leap forward -- for the Bollywood film industry. Hindi films made in Bombay (or Mumbai as it is now called) invariably and without much imagination revolve around songs, dance numbers and love stories featuring stock characters. Black has none of that. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Devdas) and his fellow producers mean to reach an international audience whose interest in Indian cinema has been sparked by Oscar nominee Lagaan and such non-Bollywood films as Bend It Like Beckham and Monsoon Wedding.
The good news is that Black, which opened in India in mid-February, has become a hit film, demonstrating that Indian audiences themselves are looking for less formulaic and more intelligent local films.
Black initially seems like a lift from The Miracle Worker in its story of a great teacher who is able to connect with and instruct a young deaf, blind and mute girl. One of the givens of Bollywood is its filmmakers' transparent willingness to borrow liberally from Western hit films. But Black moves beyond slavish imitation of Arthur Penn's film in so many ways that it most definitely stands as an original work.
For one thing, the teacher is not a nearly blind young woman but a much older man, full of bluster -- and often full of alcohol, too -- who is grimly determined to "break" this wild child so he can teach her first to behave and then to understand the concept of words and their meanings. The first act does more or less follow the plot arc of the 1962 film: The teacher struggles to gain the young girl's confidence before her parents can ship her off to a mental institution. This culminates in her understanding of the word "water."
Then the film forges ahead to the pupil's years at a university willing to accept her, where her teacher sits by her side in classrooms year after year signing to her the lecturers' words. The film also focuses on the difficulties of the young woman's sister, who resents all the attention received by her older sibling, and misplaced emotions arising from the fact the woman's teacher is of the opposite sex.
The biggest difference, though, comes in a framing device that lets the story be told in flashback from the point where the teacher is himself trapped in a world of blackness. Alzheimer's disease has ravaged his brain. So now it is the pupil who must teach the teacher the meaning of the word "water."
Just as Rain Man turned a handicap into a boxoffice wonder by casting stars Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, so too Black's popularity in India owes much to the casting of Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood's biggest star, as the teacher. Now an older man, Bachchan still commands the screen with authority, though Western audiences might find his acting a bit over the top. The entire movie, for that matter, relies heavily on melodramatic flourishes and a musical score intent on telling viewers what to think and feel at every moment.
The actresses who play the pupil -- Ayesha Kapoor as the young girl and Rani Mukherjee as the older woman -- are truly remarkable in conveying the anguish of a life spent in blackness and the grit and determination it takes to search for the light of education.
The girl's family are well-to-do Anglo-Indians who are Christian and live in a lovely, Raj-influenced home in the northern Indian hill town of Simla. Cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran and art director Omung Kumar turn that house and later the university into things of beauty by using sunlight streaming through windows and pleasing color tones, at times creating a monochromatic look.
BLACK
Applause Entertainment and S.L.B. Films
Credits:
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Writer: Bhavani Iyer
Producers: Sanjay Leela Bhansaali, Anshuman Swami
Executive producers: Gautami Bhatt, Aman Gill
Director of photography: Ravi K. Chandran
Production designer: Omung Kumar
Music: MontySharma
Costumes: Sabyasachi Mukherji
Editor: Bela Segal. Cast: Debraj Sahai: Amitabh Bachchan
Michelle McNally: Rani Mukherjee
Young Michelle: Ayesha Kapoor
Sarah McNally: Nandana Sen
Katherine McNally: Shernaz Patel
Mrs. Nair: Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal
Paul McNally: Vijay Crishna
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 124 minutes...
Black represents a major departure -- and major leap forward -- for the Bollywood film industry. Hindi films made in Bombay (or Mumbai as it is now called) invariably and without much imagination revolve around songs, dance numbers and love stories featuring stock characters. Black has none of that. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Devdas) and his fellow producers mean to reach an international audience whose interest in Indian cinema has been sparked by Oscar nominee Lagaan and such non-Bollywood films as Bend It Like Beckham and Monsoon Wedding.
The good news is that Black, which opened in India in mid-February, has become a hit film, demonstrating that Indian audiences themselves are looking for less formulaic and more intelligent local films.
Black initially seems like a lift from The Miracle Worker in its story of a great teacher who is able to connect with and instruct a young deaf, blind and mute girl. One of the givens of Bollywood is its filmmakers' transparent willingness to borrow liberally from Western hit films. But Black moves beyond slavish imitation of Arthur Penn's film in so many ways that it most definitely stands as an original work.
For one thing, the teacher is not a nearly blind young woman but a much older man, full of bluster -- and often full of alcohol, too -- who is grimly determined to "break" this wild child so he can teach her first to behave and then to understand the concept of words and their meanings. The first act does more or less follow the plot arc of the 1962 film: The teacher struggles to gain the young girl's confidence before her parents can ship her off to a mental institution. This culminates in her understanding of the word "water."
Then the film forges ahead to the pupil's years at a university willing to accept her, where her teacher sits by her side in classrooms year after year signing to her the lecturers' words. The film also focuses on the difficulties of the young woman's sister, who resents all the attention received by her older sibling, and misplaced emotions arising from the fact the woman's teacher is of the opposite sex.
The biggest difference, though, comes in a framing device that lets the story be told in flashback from the point where the teacher is himself trapped in a world of blackness. Alzheimer's disease has ravaged his brain. So now it is the pupil who must teach the teacher the meaning of the word "water."
Just as Rain Man turned a handicap into a boxoffice wonder by casting stars Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, so too Black's popularity in India owes much to the casting of Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood's biggest star, as the teacher. Now an older man, Bachchan still commands the screen with authority, though Western audiences might find his acting a bit over the top. The entire movie, for that matter, relies heavily on melodramatic flourishes and a musical score intent on telling viewers what to think and feel at every moment.
The actresses who play the pupil -- Ayesha Kapoor as the young girl and Rani Mukherjee as the older woman -- are truly remarkable in conveying the anguish of a life spent in blackness and the grit and determination it takes to search for the light of education.
The girl's family are well-to-do Anglo-Indians who are Christian and live in a lovely, Raj-influenced home in the northern Indian hill town of Simla. Cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran and art director Omung Kumar turn that house and later the university into things of beauty by using sunlight streaming through windows and pleasing color tones, at times creating a monochromatic look.
BLACK
Applause Entertainment and S.L.B. Films
Credits:
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Writer: Bhavani Iyer
Producers: Sanjay Leela Bhansaali, Anshuman Swami
Executive producers: Gautami Bhatt, Aman Gill
Director of photography: Ravi K. Chandran
Production designer: Omung Kumar
Music: MontySharma
Costumes: Sabyasachi Mukherji
Editor: Bela Segal. Cast: Debraj Sahai: Amitabh Bachchan
Michelle McNally: Rani Mukherjee
Young Michelle: Ayesha Kapoor
Sarah McNally: Nandana Sen
Katherine McNally: Shernaz Patel
Mrs. Nair: Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal
Paul McNally: Vijay Crishna
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 124 minutes...
- 4/27/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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