“The past isn’t dead — it’s never even the past,” once wrote Tennessee Williams. His words were meant to illustrate the manner in which we are often held down and held back by the weight of all the grudges and regrets we can’t individually leave behind, yet the phrase also serves as a suitable encapsulation […]
The post Blu-ray Review: Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Blu-ray Review: Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 5/4/2022
- by Brent Simon
- ShockYa
As we limp into the third year of the pandemic, placating platitudes like “nothing is ever set in stone” continue to be the order of the day, as does tremendous flexibility when it comes to something relatively minor like, oh, when your next favorite movie is coming out. Despite the unpredictability of 2020 and 2021, female filmmakers continue to make great strides, from winning the top awards at the majority of last year’s biggest festivals, notching only the second woman to win the Best Director Oscar (Chloé Zhao for “Nomadland”), and churning out big-time box office hits.
While it’s still unclear if 2022 will provide a bounceback for the box office and its rising (and established) women talents, there are some positive indicators. According to the latest study from the Celluloid Ceiling, the longest-running and most comprehensive study of women’s employment in film, women directors were up overall in 2020. Women...
While it’s still unclear if 2022 will provide a bounceback for the box office and its rising (and established) women talents, there are some positive indicators. According to the latest study from the Celluloid Ceiling, the longest-running and most comprehensive study of women’s employment in film, women directors were up overall in 2020. Women...
- 3/11/2022
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Sherri Shepherd wasn’t a nominee at the 13th Aafca Awards on Wednesday night, but she certainly had the look of a winner.
Shepherd was on hand at the annual awards show — which celebrates the best in film each year — to present the best actress award to her “Chi-town sister” Jennifer Hudson, who the organization’s near-100 members honored for playing Aretha Franklin in “Respect.”
“I’m so in awe of her, that she has reinvented herself but she’s still singing those soulful gospel songs, then she’s pop, then she can get in there and act her butt off and did an amazing job in ‘Respect,’” Shepherd told Variety about Hudson on the red carpet outside the Sls Hotel in Beverly Hills. “Now the girl’s got her own talk show — welcome to the block, sis! — so, it’s very, very exciting to support her in this manner.
Shepherd was on hand at the annual awards show — which celebrates the best in film each year — to present the best actress award to her “Chi-town sister” Jennifer Hudson, who the organization’s near-100 members honored for playing Aretha Franklin in “Respect.”
“I’m so in awe of her, that she has reinvented herself but she’s still singing those soulful gospel songs, then she’s pop, then she can get in there and act her butt off and did an amazing job in ‘Respect,’” Shepherd told Variety about Hudson on the red carpet outside the Sls Hotel in Beverly Hills. “Now the girl’s got her own talk show — welcome to the block, sis! — so, it’s very, very exciting to support her in this manner.
- 3/4/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Will Smith won Best Actor for King Richard
This year's African American Film Critics Association (Aafca) awards were dominated by two big hitters, with The Harder They Fall and King Richard taking four prizes apiece. The former won Best Picture and Best Director, while Reinaldo Marcus Green took the Best Emerging Director award for the latter.
Those award winners in full:-
Best Picture: The Harder They Fall
Best Director: Jeymes Samuel, The Harder They Fall
Best Screenplay: Adam McKay, Don’t Look Up
Best Actor: Will Smith, King Richard
Best Actress: Jennifer Hudson, Respect
Best Supporting Actor: Corey Hawkins, The Tragedy Of Macbeth
Best Supporting Actress: Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Breakout Actor: Saniyya Sidney, King Richard
Best Ensemble: The Harder They Fall
Emerging Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green, King Richard
Best Music: Jeymes Samuel, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z, The Harder They Fall
Best Independent Feature: Who We Are
Best Documentary: Summer Of Soul...
This year's African American Film Critics Association (Aafca) awards were dominated by two big hitters, with The Harder They Fall and King Richard taking four prizes apiece. The former won Best Picture and Best Director, while Reinaldo Marcus Green took the Best Emerging Director award for the latter.
Those award winners in full:-
Best Picture: The Harder They Fall
Best Director: Jeymes Samuel, The Harder They Fall
Best Screenplay: Adam McKay, Don’t Look Up
Best Actor: Will Smith, King Richard
Best Actress: Jennifer Hudson, Respect
Best Supporting Actor: Corey Hawkins, The Tragedy Of Macbeth
Best Supporting Actress: Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Breakout Actor: Saniyya Sidney, King Richard
Best Ensemble: The Harder They Fall
Emerging Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green, King Richard
Best Music: Jeymes Samuel, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z, The Harder They Fall
Best Independent Feature: Who We Are
Best Documentary: Summer Of Soul...
- 3/3/2022
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
For the first time in two years, the African American Film Critics Association (Aafca) will present their annual award ceremony honoring the best in film as an in-person event, after pivoting to a virtual production amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 13th Aafca Awards will be held on March 2 at the Sls Hotel in Los Angeles, with a limited capacity audience and other health and safety protocols in place.
“It’s exciting and it’s a little nerve-wracking because, with Covid, it’s a day-to-day thing in terms of the transmission rates and the number of diagnoses,” Aafca president and co-founder Gil Robertson tells Variety. “But we’re hopeful, prayerful and confident that the numbers will remain at an acceptable level to allow us to present a very nice and classy show.”
Ultimately, it’s a return to form for the organization, established in 2003 with the mission to amplify Black voices...
The 13th Aafca Awards will be held on March 2 at the Sls Hotel in Los Angeles, with a limited capacity audience and other health and safety protocols in place.
“It’s exciting and it’s a little nerve-wracking because, with Covid, it’s a day-to-day thing in terms of the transmission rates and the number of diagnoses,” Aafca president and co-founder Gil Robertson tells Variety. “But we’re hopeful, prayerful and confident that the numbers will remain at an acceptable level to allow us to present a very nice and classy show.”
Ultimately, it’s a return to form for the organization, established in 2003 with the mission to amplify Black voices...
- 3/2/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Neon’s The Worst Person In the World racked up a few bests this weekend with a cume of $135,042 at four NY/LA theaters for a popping per screen average of $33,768.
The poignant comedy from Norway by Joachim Trier that premiered at Cannes (star Renate Reinsve took Best Actress) has great word of mouth. It’s shortlisted for Best International Film as Oscar nods loom and scored two BAFTA nominations, Best Foreign Language Film and Actress for Reinsve.
Experiencing the film “in a cinema with an audience was one of the best times I’ve had all year. Seeing packed theaters in NY and LA felt so good, and was a true signifier for the return of the platform release and our specialty box office. I couldn’t be more pleased to see the heartfelt embrace for this film and independent cinema overall,” Neon distribution chief Elissa Federoff said Sunday.
The poignant comedy from Norway by Joachim Trier that premiered at Cannes (star Renate Reinsve took Best Actress) has great word of mouth. It’s shortlisted for Best International Film as Oscar nods loom and scored two BAFTA nominations, Best Foreign Language Film and Actress for Reinsve.
Experiencing the film “in a cinema with an audience was one of the best times I’ve had all year. Seeing packed theaters in NY and LA felt so good, and was a true signifier for the return of the platform release and our specialty box office. I couldn’t be more pleased to see the heartfelt embrace for this film and independent cinema overall,” Neon distribution chief Elissa Federoff said Sunday.
- 2/6/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Critically acclaimed specialty holdovers continued to plant their flags in theaters as awards season advances and Oscar nominations loom — and on a weekend with few new releases, most not reporting grosses today.
Among the bigger indies, United Artists Releasing’s Licorice Pizza by Paul Thomas Anderson grossed an estimated $683k in week nine from 772 runs (Fri. $207k; Sat. $288k; Sun. $187k est.). That’s a PSA of $885 and total cume of $10.7 million.
Focus Features said Belfast is at $7.5 million domestic and $10.1 million worldwide after garnering another $30k in the U.S. on 63 screens and seeing a strong $3.1 million open in the U.K./Ireland. Earlier this month, the Kenneth Branagh film received 14 nods on the BAFTA long list.
Sony Pictures Classics’ Penelope-Cruz-starrer Parallel Mothers from Pedro Almodovar, in week five, reports $170.4k on 111 screens (up from 50 last week) for a per screen average of 1,535 and a cume of $611,713.
Also from SPC,...
Among the bigger indies, United Artists Releasing’s Licorice Pizza by Paul Thomas Anderson grossed an estimated $683k in week nine from 772 runs (Fri. $207k; Sat. $288k; Sun. $187k est.). That’s a PSA of $885 and total cume of $10.7 million.
Focus Features said Belfast is at $7.5 million domestic and $10.1 million worldwide after garnering another $30k in the U.S. on 63 screens and seeing a strong $3.1 million open in the U.K./Ireland. Earlier this month, the Kenneth Branagh film received 14 nods on the BAFTA long list.
Sony Pictures Classics’ Penelope-Cruz-starrer Parallel Mothers from Pedro Almodovar, in week five, reports $170.4k on 111 screens (up from 50 last week) for a per screen average of 1,535 and a cume of $611,713.
Also from SPC,...
- 1/23/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Best news first: After an elevated holiday weekend, only one film in the top 10 dropped more than 30 percent. “Scream” (Paramount) fell 59 percent in its second weekend, par for the second stanza for a horror film. That was enough to allow “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (Sony), off 30 percent with $14.1 million, to return to the top spot in its sixth week.
The Marvel marvel is at $721 million domestic and just under $1.7 billion worldwide. That North American number is almost $500 million better than “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” a gap never before seen between the top two films of the last two years.
All of the holds were aided by the absence of competition. Two new wide releases stemmed from producers who hoped that the lack of new product could represent an opportunity, but they failed to attract much interest. “Redeeming Love” (Universal service deal), a faith-based 19th-century child trafficking story,...
The Marvel marvel is at $721 million domestic and just under $1.7 billion worldwide. That North American number is almost $500 million better than “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” a gap never before seen between the top two films of the last two years.
All of the holds were aided by the absence of competition. Two new wide releases stemmed from producers who hoped that the lack of new product could represent an opportunity, but they failed to attract much interest. “Redeeming Love” (Universal service deal), a faith-based 19th-century child trafficking story,...
- 1/23/2022
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Mexico’s Oscar-shortlisted Prayers For the Stolen directed by Tatiana Huezo won the Fipresci Prize for Best International Feature Film at the Palm Springs Film Festival, which revealed its juried winners Wednesday despite being forced to cancel its 2022 edition.
The festival, which had been scheduled to run January 6-17 before being scrapped amid the latest Covid surge, is considered a must-stop for International Feature Oscar contenders, with 36 of the 93 official submissions this year slated for the lineup.
The Fipresci jury also awarded Asghar Farhadi’s Iranian Oscar hopeful A Hero two prizes, for Farhadi’s screenplay and best actor for Amir Jadidi. It won three prizes overall, also taking a Mozaik Bridging the Borders Award.
Agathe Roussell, the star of France’s Palme d’Or winner Titane, was named best actress by Fipresci jurors.
Huezo’s Prayers for the Stolen, which was released by Netflix in theaters and on the streaming platform in November,...
The festival, which had been scheduled to run January 6-17 before being scrapped amid the latest Covid surge, is considered a must-stop for International Feature Oscar contenders, with 36 of the 93 official submissions this year slated for the lineup.
The Fipresci jury also awarded Asghar Farhadi’s Iranian Oscar hopeful A Hero two prizes, for Farhadi’s screenplay and best actor for Amir Jadidi. It won three prizes overall, also taking a Mozaik Bridging the Borders Award.
Agathe Roussell, the star of France’s Palme d’Or winner Titane, was named best actress by Fipresci jurors.
Huezo’s Prayers for the Stolen, which was released by Netflix in theaters and on the streaming platform in November,...
- 1/19/2022
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Harder They Fall” won top honors at this year’s African American Film Critics Association (Aafca) awards, taking home the prize for best picture. The Netflix western led the field alongside Warner Bros.’ “King Richard,” with both releases netting four awards across all categories.
Along with best picture, “The Harder They Fall” also won awards in best director for Jeymes Samuel; best music for Samuel, Kid Cudi and Jay-Z; and best ensemble. Meanwhile, “King Richard” landed wins in best actor for Will Smith, best supporting actress for Aunjanue Ellis, breakout actor for Saniyya Sidney and emerging director for Reinaldo Marcus Green.
Other major wins from the awards boy included Jennifer Hudson in “Respect” for best actress, Corey Hawkins in “The Tragedy of Macbeth” for best supporting actor and “Don’t Look Up” for best screenplay. The winners will be honored at the group’s 13th annual awards ceremony on March...
Along with best picture, “The Harder They Fall” also won awards in best director for Jeymes Samuel; best music for Samuel, Kid Cudi and Jay-Z; and best ensemble. Meanwhile, “King Richard” landed wins in best actor for Will Smith, best supporting actress for Aunjanue Ellis, breakout actor for Saniyya Sidney and emerging director for Reinaldo Marcus Green.
Other major wins from the awards boy included Jennifer Hudson in “Respect” for best actress, Corey Hawkins in “The Tragedy of Macbeth” for best supporting actor and “Don’t Look Up” for best screenplay. The winners will be honored at the group’s 13th annual awards ceremony on March...
- 1/17/2022
- by Jackson Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Will Smith of King Richard and Jennifer Hudson of Respect re among the winners of the 13th annual African American Film Critics Association Awards. Winners will be feted on March 2 in Los Angeles. The Harder They Fall matched King Richard‘s four wins including best film, best ensemble, best music and best director for Jeymes Samuel.
Smith was honored as the Aafca’s best actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard. The film, which tells the story of Venus and Serena Williams’ father, also earned nods for Aunjanue Ellis (best supporting actress), Saniyya Sidney (breakout actor); and Reinaldo Marcus Green (emerging director).
The Western The Harder They Fall follows an outlaw who reunites his old gang after his enemy is released from prison. It stars Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beats, Lakeith Stanfield, and Edi Gathegi.
“It’s been a fantastic year for film,” said...
Smith was honored as the Aafca’s best actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard. The film, which tells the story of Venus and Serena Williams’ father, also earned nods for Aunjanue Ellis (best supporting actress), Saniyya Sidney (breakout actor); and Reinaldo Marcus Green (emerging director).
The Western The Harder They Fall follows an outlaw who reunites his old gang after his enemy is released from prison. It stars Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beats, Lakeith Stanfield, and Edi Gathegi.
“It’s been a fantastic year for film,” said...
- 1/17/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Belle is set to top $2 million Thurs.-Mon. on 1,326 screens, according to distributor Gkids. With Saturday’s actuals, it said, the gross surpassed $1.2M, making it director Mamoru Hosoda’s highest grossing film in the U.S. That was previously 2018’s Mirai with $812K.
Hosoda’s (The Boy and the Beast) latest film with Studio Chizu was also his first to screen in Imax and a hit in Japan when it was released last summer.
Gkids director of distribution Chance Huskey said Belle also stands as the top grossing original anime film — meaning not affiliated with a TV franchise as most are — since 2020’s Weathering With You made $8M. Gkids distributed Mirai and Weathering with You. Belle is by far its widest U.S. Huskey said its performing best on the West Coast, the East may be getting dinged by weather.
This is a musical film seeing lots of organic engagement on TikTok and Twitter,...
Hosoda’s (The Boy and the Beast) latest film with Studio Chizu was also his first to screen in Imax and a hit in Japan when it was released last summer.
Gkids director of distribution Chance Huskey said Belle also stands as the top grossing original anime film — meaning not affiliated with a TV franchise as most are — since 2020’s Weathering With You made $8M. Gkids distributed Mirai and Weathering with You. Belle is by far its widest U.S. Huskey said its performing best on the West Coast, the East may be getting dinged by weather.
This is a musical film seeing lots of organic engagement on TikTok and Twitter,...
- 1/16/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Never underestimate people’s ability to rationalize. To paraphrase Joan Didion’s “The White Album,” our minds find ways to make sense of the nonsensical, not merely as stories but in order to move forward. It’s human nature, or as close to an understanding thereof that I can muster. Our capacity to rationalize is how we get up in the morning. It’s how the adulterer looks himself in the mirror, how the victim moves on from his trauma, how we as a country — how “we the people” — reconcile within ourselves a past we aren’t necessarily ready or willing to reconcile with publicly.
Jeffery Robinson has spent the past decade attempting to deprogram his fellow Americans. A civil rights advocate and deputy legal director for the ACLU, he has traveled the country giving an earnest, essential lecture about the United States’ complicated history of white supremacy — a history that many reject outright,...
Jeffery Robinson has spent the past decade attempting to deprogram his fellow Americans. A civil rights advocate and deputy legal director for the ACLU, he has traveled the country giving an earnest, essential lecture about the United States’ complicated history of white supremacy — a history that many reject outright,...
- 1/14/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
"Once again, we are at a tipping point." Sony Classics has debuted an official trailer for a provocative new documentary called Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America, an intensely sobering look at the very racist history of America. (Not to be confused with Luca Guadagnino's series We Are Who We Are from last year.) This initially premiered at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year, and stopped by many other fests including Hot Docs, AFI Fest, and the Seattle, Milwaukee, Woodstock, & Philadelphia Film Festivals. Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, criminal defense / civil rights lawyer Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America (the times we're in now). As important and necessary as it is to have this conversation, I just don't know if it will make a difference anymore.
- 12/12/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Ahead of its Jan. 14 release, Sony Pictures Classic has released the first trailer for “Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America.”
The documentary is directed by Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler. Interweaving lectures, personal anecdotes, interviews and shocking revelations, criminal defense and civil rights lawyer Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.
The story is anchored by Robinson’s 2018 presentation at NYC’s historic Town Hall Theater, with the directors capturing Robinson’s meetings with Black change-makers and eyewitnesses to history. From a hanging tree in Charleston, S.C., to a walking tour of the origins of slavery in colonial New York, to the site of a 1947 lynching in rural Alabama, the film brings history to life, exploring the enduring legacy of white supremacy and our collective responsibility to overcome it.
The...
The documentary is directed by Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler. Interweaving lectures, personal anecdotes, interviews and shocking revelations, criminal defense and civil rights lawyer Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.
The story is anchored by Robinson’s 2018 presentation at NYC’s historic Town Hall Theater, with the directors capturing Robinson’s meetings with Black change-makers and eyewitnesses to history. From a hanging tree in Charleston, S.C., to a walking tour of the origins of slavery in colonial New York, to the site of a 1947 lynching in rural Alabama, the film brings history to life, exploring the enduring legacy of white supremacy and our collective responsibility to overcome it.
The...
- 12/10/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
There has been no better time than now for documentaries to educate and create a platform that enhances dialogue. Two years into the pandemic, documentarians have led the helm in starting conversations for viewers to learn and explore the lives of people and social constructs while audiences are still in their own pandemic bubbles.
At Variety’s FYC Fest Documentary Day, keynote speakers who have directed documentaries that have pushed the conversations forward, including Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s “Summer of Soul,” Emily and Sarah Kunstler’s “Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America” and Samatha Stark’s “Framing Britney Spears,” spoke about their process of digging deep into their documentary subject, the renewed recognition of the media content and what conversations they hope to inspire.
Making A Documentary Requires Finding the Right Timing
“I met Amin when I was 15,” Jonas Poher Rasmussen said, referring to the Afghan refugee...
At Variety’s FYC Fest Documentary Day, keynote speakers who have directed documentaries that have pushed the conversations forward, including Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s “Summer of Soul,” Emily and Sarah Kunstler’s “Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America” and Samatha Stark’s “Framing Britney Spears,” spoke about their process of digging deep into their documentary subject, the renewed recognition of the media content and what conversations they hope to inspire.
Making A Documentary Requires Finding the Right Timing
“I met Amin when I was 15,” Jonas Poher Rasmussen said, referring to the Afghan refugee...
- 12/9/2021
- by Jennifer Yuma, Selome Hailu and Katie Song
- Variety Film + TV
The African American Film Critics Association (Aafca) has selected “The Harder They Fall” as the No. 1 film on their annual top 10 list.
Written and directed by Jeymes Samuel and produced by Jay-Z, the big-budget Netflix western sees Idris Elba, Regina King, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz and Lakeith Stanfield portray historical Black figures Rufus Buck, Nat Love, Trudy Smith, Stagecoach Mary and Cherokee Bill, respectively.
“Although our top film, ‘The Harder They Fall’ from Netflix is a fictionalized Western,” said Aafca president and co-founder Gil Robertson. “It introduced the world to an incredible array of real-life Black cowboys and cowgirls who helped to transform the West, prompting many to discover the prominent role Black people played in that storied chapter of American history that has been a Hollywood go-to genre.”
In chronological order, the other nine movies on Aafca’s top ten list are “King Richard,” “Respect,” “The Tragedy of Macbeth,...
Written and directed by Jeymes Samuel and produced by Jay-Z, the big-budget Netflix western sees Idris Elba, Regina King, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz and Lakeith Stanfield portray historical Black figures Rufus Buck, Nat Love, Trudy Smith, Stagecoach Mary and Cherokee Bill, respectively.
“Although our top film, ‘The Harder They Fall’ from Netflix is a fictionalized Western,” said Aafca president and co-founder Gil Robertson. “It introduced the world to an incredible array of real-life Black cowboys and cowgirls who helped to transform the West, prompting many to discover the prominent role Black people played in that storied chapter of American history that has been a Hollywood go-to genre.”
In chronological order, the other nine movies on Aafca’s top ten list are “King Richard,” “Respect,” “The Tragedy of Macbeth,...
- 12/8/2021
- by Jennifer Yuma
- Variety Film + TV
The African American Film Critics Association said Wednesday that it has selected Netflix’s Western The Harder They Fall as its film of the year. It leads a Top 10 list that also includes King Richard, Respect, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Passing, Belfast, Who We Are, House of Gucci, The Power of the Dog and West Side Story.
The Aafca will reveal winners of the 13th annual Aafca Awards on January 17, 2022 in 15 competitive film categories, with an in-person ceremony set for March 2 in Los Angeles.
The Harder They Fall, directed and co-written by Jeymes Samuel and which premiered at this year’s London Film Festival, hit about 600 theaters in October before its debut on the streamer November 3. It was No. 1 across all streamers the week of its debut, according to Nielsen.
The ensemble case includes Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, R.J. Cyler, Damon Wayans Jr.,...
The Aafca will reveal winners of the 13th annual Aafca Awards on January 17, 2022 in 15 competitive film categories, with an in-person ceremony set for March 2 in Los Angeles.
The Harder They Fall, directed and co-written by Jeymes Samuel and which premiered at this year’s London Film Festival, hit about 600 theaters in October before its debut on the streamer November 3. It was No. 1 across all streamers the week of its debut, according to Nielsen.
The ensemble case includes Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, R.J. Cyler, Damon Wayans Jr.,...
- 12/8/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Jeffrey Robinson, the central figure of Sony Pictures Classics’ Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America, says that despite a long-held belief across the nation that America has been a post-racial society, only now is the country being forced to reckon with that false narrative.
Joined by filmmakers Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler, Robinson, a former ACLU deputy legal director whose bracing presentation on anti-Black racism and white supremacy forms the core of the film, said during Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary awards-season event that the reality of America’s racial mythology is only now being examined in a meaningful way.
“The South may have lost the Civil War, but they won the peace,” Robinson said, “by creating this narrative that allows us to think…any disparities that you see in our country are based on Blacks just not working hard enough, whites being more industrious. And those...
Joined by filmmakers Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler, Robinson, a former ACLU deputy legal director whose bracing presentation on anti-Black racism and white supremacy forms the core of the film, said during Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary awards-season event that the reality of America’s racial mythology is only now being examined in a meaningful way.
“The South may have lost the Civil War, but they won the peace,” Robinson said, “by creating this narrative that allows us to think…any disparities that you see in our country are based on Blacks just not working hard enough, whites being more industrious. And those...
- 11/21/2021
- by Scott Huver
- Deadline Film + TV
So have we seen everything yet?
AFI Fest, which just wrapped in Los Angeles, is the final prominent film festival to unveil a handful of awards hopefuls.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut, “Tick, Tick … Boom!,” from Netflix, premiered to strong reviews and plenty of Oscar buzz. As part of a banner year for Miranda that includes involvement in three other projects — “Encanto,” “In the Heights” and “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” — Miranda successfully stages a movie adaptation of a lesser-known, autobiographical musical from “Rent” composer Jonathan Larson. The film will most likely earn a second lead actor Oscar nomination for Andrew Garfield (after “Hacksaw Ridge”) for playing Larson, in a role that requires quite a bit of singing.
In fact, Garfield may emerge as a formidable challenger to Will Smith for “King Richard,” where he plays Richard Williams, the father of tennis champs Venus and Serena.
AFI Fest, which just wrapped in Los Angeles, is the final prominent film festival to unveil a handful of awards hopefuls.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut, “Tick, Tick … Boom!,” from Netflix, premiered to strong reviews and plenty of Oscar buzz. As part of a banner year for Miranda that includes involvement in three other projects — “Encanto,” “In the Heights” and “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” — Miranda successfully stages a movie adaptation of a lesser-known, autobiographical musical from “Rent” composer Jonathan Larson. The film will most likely earn a second lead actor Oscar nomination for Andrew Garfield (after “Hacksaw Ridge”) for playing Larson, in a role that requires quite a bit of singing.
In fact, Garfield may emerge as a formidable challenger to Will Smith for “King Richard,” where he plays Richard Williams, the father of tennis champs Venus and Serena.
- 11/19/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
“In 2011 my wife and I became the parents of our nephew, who was living in Queens, New York,” explains Jeff Robinson, the writer and subject of the documentary, “Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America.” “His mother died… so our nephew Matthew moved from Queens, New York to Seattle, Washington and my wife and I did not have children. I was a criminal defense lawyer coming out of law school, so I had been working on racial justice issues for most of my career. Having a young, Black man in my home who was 13 years old and walking out into the world terrified me.” Watch the full video chat with Jeff and the film’s co-directors, Emily and Sarah Kunstler, above.
Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.
Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.
- 11/10/2021
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
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