Release Date: 2/16/15 (Made-for-TV) Genre: Drama Rating: Not Available Director: Clement Virgo Studios: Conquering Lion Pictures, Out of Africa Entertainment
Cast: Aunjanue Ellis (Aminata Diallo), Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Sam Fraunces), Ben Chaplin (Captain John Clarkson), Louis Gossett, Jr. (Daddy Moses), Greg Bryk (Robertson Appleby), Jane Alexander (Maria Witherspoon), Allan Hawco (Solomon Lindo), Rick Roberts (General Washington), Lyriq Bent (Chekura Tiano), Stephan James (Cummings Shackspear).
Details: According to Shadow and Act, the novel’s synopsis reads: abducted as an 11-year-old child from her village in West Africa and forced to walk for months to the sea in a coffle—a string of slaves— Aminata Diallo is sent to live as a slave in South Carolina. But years later, she forges her way to freedom, serving the British in the Revolutionary War and registering her name in the historic “Book of Negroes.” This book, an actual document, provides a short but immensely revealing record of freed Loyalist slaves who requested permission to leave the US for resettlement in Nova Scotia, only to find that the haven they sought was steeped in an oppression all of its own.
Aunjanue Ellis stars as Aminata Diallo, while Cuba Gooding Jr. and Lou Gossett, Jr. play Sam Fraunces and Daddy Moses respectively. Gooding’s Fraunces is a freed slave from Jamaica who runs his namesake tavern (Fraunces Tavern), participates in several historical events, and later moves to Mount Vernon to run George Washington’s household. Daddy Moses is Moses ‘Daddy’ Wilkinson or Old Moses, an African American slave, and Methodist preacher in Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone. Though blind and crippled, Wilkinson led a band of runaway slaves to freedom in 1776. Also Lyriq Bent is playing Chekura, who, as a young boy, made the crossing with Aminata when she was sold into slavery, is separated from her, and later reunites with her when they are adults, and have a child together.
The adaptation of the novel will be a 6-hour TV mini-series which will air on BET Networks in the U.S. in February 2015 and CBC in Canada on January 7, 2015.
Release Date: 10/16/15 (In Theaters-Limited; Netflix) Genre:Drama/War Rating: Unknown Studio(s): Red Crown Productions, Participant Media, Distributors Focus Features Director: Cary Fukunaga
Cast: Idris Elba (Commandant), Opeyemi Fagbohungbe (Sergeant Gaz), Abraham Attah (Agu), Richard Pepple (Father Friday).
Story: Set against the backdrop of a civil war in an unnamed West African nation, Beasts of No Nation tells the story of a young boy named Agu. Having joined a group of guerrilla fighters, Agu slowly loses touch with his life before the war, which encompasses his friends, family and religion. Beasts of No Nation adapts Uzodinma Iweala’s eponymous novel for the big-screen. Source(s): Moviepilot, IMDB.
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Update: On 7/7/15 Variety wrote, that Netflix will roll out a batch of new movies this year, including Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation. With a ripped-from-the-headlines plot about child soldiers, “Beasts of No Nation” is looking to generate awards heat, scoring a key Oscar contender berth on October 16, 2015. It set off a bidding war that saw Netflix shell out $12 million for the rights.
The film debuts worldwide on Netflix, in all territories where the Internet platform is available, and on the same day in whichever U.S. theaters will play it. U.S. film distribution company Bleecker Street will partner with Netflix to distribute the film to theaters, but most major exhibitors will not play the film because it is being released simultaneously on the streaming service. Source: Variety.
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On 3/5/15 the movie news site Joblo.com reported theater chains to boycott Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation. Earlier in the week Netflix purchased the rights to Beasts of No Nation for $12 million and announced intentions to release the film theatrically as well as on their streaming service on the same day. Theater exhibitors stated that was a “violation” of the usual 90-day window that customarily separates a film’s theatrical debut from its arrival on home entertainment. AMC, Cinemark, Regal and Carmike, declared they will not screen the film. However there is still hope the film will make it to the big screen in select independent and art-house cinemas.
Update: On 6/27/14 Deadline featured an exclusive “First Look Photo: Idris Elba In Cary Fukunaga’s Beasts Of No Nation” (photo above). Deadline reported, Cary Fukunaga directs Golden Globe nominee, Idris Elba in the child-soldier drama adapted by Fukunaga from Uzodinma Iweala’s novel. Elba, who also is producing, stars as Commandant, whose guerrilla group young Agu is forced to join when civil war tears his family apart and militants kill his father. Fukunaga is also directing and shooting the film in Ghana. Producers are Amy Kaufman for Primary Productions, Daniela Taplin Lundberg & Riva Marker for Red Crown Productions, Cary Fukunaga for his Parliament of Owls, Idris Elba and Daniel Crown. Executive Producers are Participant Media and New Balloon Investments. Source(s): Deadline, IMDB, Photo Source: Deadline.com.
Release Date: January 9, 2015 Genre: Drama/Biography Rating: Unknown Studio: Paramount Pictures, Cloud Eight Films, Celador Films,
Harpo Films, Pathe, Plan B Entertainment, Lee Daniels Entertainment Director: Ava DuVernay
Cast: David Oyelowo (Martin Luther King, Jr.), Oprah Winfrey (Annie Lee Cooper), Carmen Ejogo (Coretta Scott King), Lorraine Toussaint (Amelia Boynton), Giovanni Ribisi (Lee C. White), Tim Roth (George Wallace), Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Fred Gray), Common (James Bevel), Tom Wilkinson (President Lyndon B. Johnson), Tessa Thompson (Diane Nash), Dylan Baker (J. Edgar Hoover), Wendell Pierce (Reverend Hosea Williams), Niecy Nash (Richie Jean Jackson), Lakeith Stanfield (Jimmie Lee Jackson).
Story: The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Source(s): AFI Fest.
Release Date: 1/15/16 Genre: Comedy/Action Rating: PG-13 Studio: Cube Vision/Rainforest Films/Universal Pictures Director: Tim Story Cast: Kevin Hart (Ben Barber), Ice Cube (James Payton), Tika Sumpter (Angela Payton), Benjamin Bratt (Pope), Sherri Shepherd (Cori), T.I. (Tony David), Nadine Velazquez (Tasha), Olivia Munn (Maya Cruz), Tyrese Gibson (D.J.).
Story: As his wedding day approaches, Ben heads to Miami with his soon-to-be brother-in-law James to bring down a drug dealer who’s supplying the dealers of Atlanta with product. Source: IMDB.
Release Date: 1/17/20 Directors:Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah Genre: Action Rating: R
Studio(s): 2.0 Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Platinum Dunes
Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, Paola Nunez, Kate Del Castillo,, Nicky Jam, Joe Pantoliano.
Story: Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett must face off against a mother-and-son pair of drug lords who wreak vengeful havoc on their city. Source: IMDB.
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Update 5/10/18: According to Shadow & Act, Sony has announced the movie will be released Martin Luther King weekend 2020 on January 17. A plot summary has also surfaced via That Hashtag Show: The film will see Lawrence’s character, Marcus Burnett, working as a private eye after a falling out with Smith’s Mike Lowery, who is going through a midlife crisis as a bachelor who finally wants to mature, all while dealing with a new, young and cocky partner who is loyal to Lowery but that loyalty is not reciprocated, and finds a bond with Burnett when he returns to the fray. Lowery and Burnett are brought together again when a lean, mean, skilled, Albanian mercenary with a vendetta puts a death order on Lowery and Burnett for the death of his brother. Now the two must work together once again to bring him down. Source: Shadow & Act; Photo Source: MovieWeb.
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Update 9/1/17: Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is optimistic about Bad Boys 3 since the project just received a new writer. Titled Bad Boys for Life, the sequel has been talked about since the release of the first sequel 14 years ago. The project has been in varying stages of development, with Will Smith recently stating that it was “very, very, very close.” But the movie recently lost its release date and its director, leading many, including co-star Martin Lawrence, to believe the movie is dead and not ever going to happen. Now, Jerry Bruckheimer is claiming that there is still life left in the project. In an interview with Yahoo Movies, the producer stated that a new writer has lifted his spirits about Bad Boys 3 actually happening. Now this isn’t exactly a confirmation that the movie is on the fast track, but it most certainly lets us know that Bad Boys 3 isn’t down for the count just yet. A new writer is promising and proves that the studio is putting effort into finally making the movie happen. Source: Movieweb.
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Update 8/11/16: According to Variety Bad Boys 3 has been pushed back to early 2018. The threequel will now hit theaters January 2, 2018, according to Sony. The movie’s official title also has been revealed: Bad Boys for Life. Sony insiders add there will be additional casting. There had been some question as to whether Smith would return to the franchise, but he made it clear earlier this year that he would indeed reteam with Lawrence.
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Update:Movies.com reported on Aug. 14, 2015 that two new Bad Boys sequels are heading to theaters in 2017 and 2019. But will either Will Smith or Martin Lawrence return as the titular rule-breaking police detectives? It’s not clear. Reportedly, Smith will be involved in some capacity, but that could be limited to serving as a producer and not as a star; his deal is not finalized.
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Update: On 6/9/15 Deadline wrote, Sony Pictures has been building up its franchises quickly, and Bad Boys 3 is looking like a strong possibility to get going. Safe House scribe David Guggenheim wrote a strong draft that now has Joe Carnahan in early talks to do a quick pass to possibly direct. This is moving quickly as the studio wants to have the movie for Will Smith to consider as his next slot after Suicide Squad.
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Details: Columbia Pictures is developing a third installment of the Bad Boys franchise. The studio hopes to have a script that would reunite director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The first Bad Boys was released in 1995 and grossed $66 million domestically and $141 million worldwide. The 2003 sequel grossed $138 million domestically and $273 million worldwide. As reported by Worst Previews in December 2013, Sony Pictures has signed David Guggenheim (Safe House) to write the script for a third Bad Boys installment. Michael Bay, who directed the first two films, is not currently involved with the third movie. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are in talks to return as Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett. Source(s): Comingsoon.net, IMDB, Worst Previews.
Release Date: March 8, 2014 (Made-for-TV; Lifetime Network) Genre: Drama Rating: Not Available Studio: Ostar Productions/Lifetime Television Director: Michael Wilson Cast: Cicely Tyson (Mrs. Watts), Vanessa Williams (Jessie Mae Watts), Blair Underwood (Ludie Watts), Clancy Brown (Sheriff) Keke Palmer (Thelma).
Story: As reported on January 6, 2014 by Broadway World, The Trip to Bountiful is a television adaptation of American playwright and screenwriter Horton Foote’s Tony nominated play. Set during the final years of the Jim Crow South, the film follows one woman’s quest to reconnect with her past in order to ensure her family’s future.
In The Trip to Bountiful, Carrie Watts (Tyson, who was awarded with a Tony for her role in the Broadway revival), begrudgingly lives with her busy, overprotective son, Ludie (Underwood) and pretentious daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae (Williams). No longer able to drive and forbidden to travel alone, she wishes for freedom from the confines of the house and begs her son to take her on a visit to her hometown of Bountiful. When he refuses, Mrs. Watts is undeterred and makes an escape to the local bus station, where she befriends Thelma (Palmer), a young woman traveling home. When Ludie and Jessie Mae discover she is gone, they call in law enforcement to help, but Mrs. Watts is one step ahead of them and convinces the local sheriff to help her on her journey home to Bountiful. (Source(s): Broadway World).
Release Date: 2/16/15 (Made-for-TV)
Black Cinema Connection 