Release Date:11/3/21; Netflix Genre:Drama/Western Rating:NR Director:Jeymes Samuel Studio(s): Netflix, Overbrook Entertainment
Cast: Jonathan Majors as Nat Love; Idris Elba as Rufus Buck; Zazie Beetz as Stagecoach Mary; Lakeith Stanfield as Cherokee Bill; Delroy Lindo as Bass Reeves; Regina King as Trudy Smith; Danielle Deadwyler as Cuffee; Edi Gathegi as Bill Pickett; RJ Cyler as Jim Beckwourth; Deon Cole as Wiley Escoe.
Story:Executive produced by Jay Z, The Harder They Fall begins when outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison. He rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge. Those riding with him include his former love Stagecoach Mary (Zazie Beetz), his right-and-left hand men – hot-tempered Bill Pickett (Edi Gathegi), fast drawing Jim Beckwourth (R.J. Cyler) and a surprising adversary-turned-ally. Rufus Buck has his own fearsome crew, including “Treacherous” Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield), and they are not a group that knows how to lose. Sources: movieweb. IMDB.
Release Date: 4/2/21; Netflix (Original Release – 9/13/20) Genre: Drama/Based On A True Story Rating: R Director: Ricky Staub Studio(s): Green Door Pictures, Lee Daniels Entertainment, Neighborhood Film Co., Tucker Tooley Entertainment; Netflix Running Time: 111 mins.
Story:In this drama inspired by the real-life Fletcher Street Stables, 15-year-old Cole is taken to live with his estranged father Harp in North Philadelphia. There he discovers the city’s vibrant urban cowboy subculture, which has existed for more than 100 years providing a safe haven for the neighborhood despite the surrounding poverty, violence, and encroachment of gentrification. Source: IMDB; Shadow and Act.
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: September 12, 2014 Genre: Drama/Thriller Rating: Not Available Running Time: Not Available Studio: Screen Gems (Sony) Director: Sam Miller Cast: Idris Elba (Colin), Taraji P. Henson (Terri), Henry Simmons
Story: Terri is a devoted wife and mother, living an ideal suburban life in Atlanta when Colin, a charming but dangerous escaped convict, shows up at her door claiming car trouble. Terri offers her phone to help him but soon learns that no good deed goes unpunished as she finds herself fighting for survival when he invades her home and terrorizes her family. (Source: IMDB).
Black Cinema Connection 