Tag: Spike Lee
-
‘I Told You So’ Review — A Visually Stunning Drama
The concept of separate but intertwining narratives isn’t a new one. From Oscar-winning films like Crash and Babel to holiday classics like Love Actually and Valentine’s Day, filmmakers have used the technique of interconnected stories for ages — some more effectively than others. The idea of tensions running high during a heatwave is a classic…
-
‘American Fiction’ Pushes Theatrical Release to December
After winning Toronto International Film Festival’s people’s choice award, “American Fiction” has pushed back its limited release to Dec. 15 and will expand in theaters on Dec. 22.MGM announced Wednesday that Cord Jefferson’s feature directorial debut, which was originally set for a Nov. 3 limited opening and would expand on Nov. 10 and 17, has…
-
Film Academy Announces Student Academy Award Winners
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Friday the winners of its 50th annual Student Academy Awards.The 14 winners were chosen from a total of 2,443 entries from 720 colleges and universities around the world. Those who take home trophies at the student awards are eligible to compete at the following Oscars…
-
Talking Heads Concert Film ‘Stop Making Sense’ Becomes Imax’s Highest-Grossing Live Event
Jonathan Demme’s classic Talking Heads concert film “Stop Making Sense” returned to theaters for its 40th anniversary and became Imax’s highest-grossing live event. The film earned $640,839 and sold out 25 screens across 165 Imax locations in North America, according to the company.All things considered, this is a pretty niche record within Imax. The previous…
-
Spike Lee Blasts Critics at TIFF Tribute Awards for Initially Suggesting ‘Do the Right Thing’ Would Incite Riots
Spike Lee blasted critics who suggested that “Do The Right Thing” would spark riots when it opened in 1989, while honoring one of the reviewers who came to the film’s defense. The remarks came as Lee received the Ebert Director Award, named for the late film critic Roger Ebert, at the Toronto International Film Festival…
-
Michael Imperioli Asked a Witch to Help Get Spike Lee’s ‘Summer of Sam’ Greenlit
Michael Imperioli enlisted a little supernatural help a la “Bewitched” to get “Summer of Sam” greenlit.The “Sopranos” star co-wrote the script for the film based on real-life serial killer David Berkowitz Aka the Son of Sam, who terrorized New York in 1977. “Summer of Sam” was co-written and directed by Spike Lee, with both Imperioli…
-
Ron Cephas Jones, Who Played William Hill In This Is Us, Has Died At 66
Ron Cephas Jones, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his role as William Hill in NBC’s critically-acclaimed drama “This Is Us,” has died at the age of 66. The news was confirmed by a representative for the actor, who released a statement to People attributing the “beloved and award-winning” actor’s death to “a long-standing pulmonary…
-
TIFF, Spike Lee, Talking Heads unite for 40th anniversary screening of ‘Stop Making Sense’
A4 to release 4K restored version in September.TIFF will host a 40th anniversary screening of a 4K restored version of Jonathan Demme’s acclaimed Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense on September 11.Spike Lee will join band members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison for a live-streamed Q&a after the screening at…
-
Samuel L. Jackson Details Spike Lee Feud Over ‘Malcolm X’ Casting
Samuel L. Jackson is detailing his 1992 falling out with Spike Lee that took more 20 years to rebuild.Jackson, in a wide-ranging interview with Vulture, shared that the creative split from Lee was due to a “Malcolm X” salary dispute which ultimately led Jackson to turn down the role of Baines in the historical epic.…
-
‘The League’ Review: The Negro Leagues Finally Get Their Due in Moving Baseball Documentary
There’s no shortage of great movies about baseball, but there is a severe lack of films about the Negro leagues. The fifth inning of Ken Burns’ expansive “Baseball” covers them with admirable reverence, but feature-length projects — whether narrative or documentary — are vanishingly rare. “The League” is therefore something close to required viewing for…