Tag: Octavia Spencer

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Watch The Wonderful Duo Of Melissa McCarthy And Octavia Spencer In Trailer For ‘Thunder Force’

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Netflix just dropped the first trailer for what looks like a ridiculously fun film titled Thunder Force, starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer.

In the film, the two stars play best friends with newly acquired superpowers.

The trailer sees Lydia (McCarthy) reunite with her childhood best friend, Emily Stanton (Spencer), a successful scientist that has created technology that grants ordinary people superpowers. After being told not to touch anything, McCarthy accidentally takes the only formula for super strength, unwillingly creating the first real-life superhero team. 

When a new villain known as ‘The King’ (Bobby Cannavale) arrives in town, it’s up to the Thunder Force to step up and save Chicago from the wretches of evil

Sounds pretty damn entertaining, right? The superhero comedy was directed by Ben Falcone, who has worked with McCarthy several times before.

The film is expected to drop on the streaming giant on April 9, and you can bet it’s going to make a huge splash.

Check out the trailer below…

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Octavia Spencer Reveals She Has Plans To Buy Out Mississippi Screening Of ‘Black Panther’ For Underserved Communities

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Octavia Spencer is one of my favorite people in Hollywood. Not only does she seem to kill it every single time she’s on screen, but she’s also a lovely person off screen. Back when Hidden Figures was released, she bought out screenings of the film in low-income neighborhoods in Los Angeles to make sure those that could not afford were able to see the inspiring story.

And now she’s doing the same thing with Black Panther. The Academy Award-winning actress went on her Instagram account to announce her plans to buy out a movie theater in Mississippi, so that those in underserved communities could watch it.

Check out her post below…

The film opens on February 16, so she doesn’t have that much time to work out the details. We know she’ll do it, though. We will update this post once she puts out more information.

By the way, if you missed our post from yesterday, be sure to check it out. The critics are saying some extremely nice things about this movie.

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Jessica Chastain And Octavia Spencer Will Team Up To Star In Road Trip Comedy

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The last time Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer were on the big screen together was back in 2011 for The Help. That movie did very well at the box office and with critics, and now they’re hoping their next film together has the same success.

According to the report, the script for this road trip comedy resulted in a bidding war between Paramount, Universal and Fox. Universal put in the highest bid and now holds the rights.

The project is still untitled and plot details are hard to find, but it’s being compared to the 1987 classic Planes, Trains And Automobiles. Both Spencer and Chastain will play women trying to get home in time for the holidays.

So basically, Chastain and Spencer will most likely be playing two complete opposites who are forced to join together to make it home to their respective families. It will be interesting to see Chastain try her hand at comedy. I’m assuming she’ll be playing more of the straight man, but that’s also the role Spencer typically plays, so we’ll see what happens.

We will keep you posted as more information about this film is released. For now, keep it on your radar.

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You Gotta Watch The Red Band Trailer For ‘The Shape Of Water’ Starring Sally Hawkins And Octavia Spencer

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Guillermo del Toro’s latest film, The Shape of Water, has a chance to be one of the best films of 2017. It’s already receiving great reviews from critics around the world, and it won the Best Picture award at the Venice Film Festival.

There is a lot happening in this red band trailer, but don’t worry about spoilers. It’s constructed in a way that leaves you feeling more confused than anything else. It’s hard to put the pieces together, unless you really study this trailer.

As mentioned in the title, Sally Hawkins and Octavia Spencer star in this fantasy/drama/love story. It’s set to hit theaters December 8, 2017, and you’ll probably want to watch it ’cause it’s most likely going to be nominated for some awards. You don’t want to be that person at the Oscar party who hasn’t watched any of the films nominated.

Check out the official synopsis and trailer below…

“From master story teller, Guillermo del Toro, comes THE SHAPE OF WATER – an other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment.” 

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The First Trailer For Guillermo Del Toro’s Merman Fairy Tale ‘The Shape Of Water’ Has Arrived, Check It Out Inside!

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Guillermo del Toro is one of the best filmmakers in Hollywood right now. Sadly, we did not get a feature film from the director in 2016. The last time he was in theaters was in 2015 with his horror drama Crimson Peak.

Thankfully, he’s coming back this year. His new film, The Shape of Water will be released in December, and it promises to be one of his most intriguing films ever.

The film is set in 1963, and it features Sally Hawkins playing a mute woman named Elisa. Her character is described as a “lonely janitor” trapped in a life of silence. But her life changes forever when she befriends an aquatic man in a tank played by Doug Jones.

Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, and Richard Jenkins co-star in the movie. The trailer looks great. I’m already hooked. It’s just a shame we still have to wait 5 months to watch it.

You can check out the official synopsis and trailer below…

“From master story teller Guillermo del Toro, comes THE SHAPE OF WATER – an other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg and Doug Jones.”

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Movie Review: Zootopia – Earns Every Bit of the Critics Praise

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It’s very rare that you see a movie that manages to universally please critics the way the Zootopia has. I have to say I’m a bit surprised, as Disney’s latest effort earned its praise.

Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), a bunny, grows up on a carrot farm with her conventional parents and 225 bunny brothers and sisters. Showing large reserves of empathy and kindness, she springs into action when a bully turns aggressive in a schoolyard. Judy’s mother and father are taken aback when she decides to leave for the city to become a cop. At the police academy, this tiny rookie has trouble with physical prowess exercises but through her immense will power and wit eventually graduates at the top of her class. Eager to hit the streets and do her law-and-order thing, Judy is disappointed when Bogo (Idris Elba), police chief, orders her to hand out parking tickets. Still wanting to prove that she is better than any other rookie on the force, she writes 200 tickets before noon. Eventually, Judy gets the chance to shine when she’s allowed to investigate the mystery of a missing otter, with the help of conniving fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman).

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The unique storyline is both adorable and complex enough to create something new and fresh. This is not a premise I’ve seen before, that I can say for sure. Despite that, it works. It’s clever and cute and smart enough for adults to enjoy too.

The message is subtle, especially for a Disney film, in that it makes Judy’s abilities not about her strength or athleticism but instead her cleverness and determination. It’s a good message for kids that they don’t try to nail us over the head with.

Of course, it’s Disney so the computer generated animation is flawlessly executed and adorable. In that department, Disney rarely strikes out. It’s worth seeing in 3D, as it’s a good looking film with lots of creative and imaginative scenery.

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The creativity comes into play with the creation of Zootopia, the mammal centric city where predatory instincts are gone and animals live like humans. You can see a spark of Disney’s old school imaginative style in this film.

Also, it’s smart enough for adults to enjoy too. The screenplay writers threw in a few clever quips just for mom and dad, making this an animated feature that the whole family can enjoy.

This is a clear hit and a clear winner for Disney. This animated film has the intelligence to keep adults audiences watching, with all the same appeal of Disney for the kids, so they can also cash in on the merchandising. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a film starring a bunny came out so close to Easter.

But Disney’s goal of world domination through movie revenues aside, this is a fantastic film that is sure to be fun for the whole family. I’d call this one an absolutely worth the watch, regardless  if you have children or not.

WE GIVE IT: 4.5 STARS!

four and a half stars

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Movie Review: Black or White (2015) – A realistic portrayal of a custody battle

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Usually, I’m not a big one for parental custody movies. I might be the one person on the face of the earth that didn’t like War of the Roses or Losing Isaiah. But I think in this case, I’m willing to make an exception, simply due to my deep, abiding love for Kevin Costner.

This is a parental custody movie with a twist. Successful attorney Elliot Anderson (Kevin Costner) is a new widower who has just lost his wife in a car crash. Complicating matters is the fact that he has been raising his bi-racial granddaughter Eloise ever since her mother, his daughter, died in child birth. Conflict abounds when Rowena (Octavia Spencer) insists that custody be granted to Eloise’s father, her drug addicted son Reggie (Andre Holland). Elliot isn’t interested, especially seeing he blames Reggie for the death of his daughter. This starts a family feud that leads to a knock down drag out custody battle.

One thing I really, really like about this movie is no one is an outright villain. Elliot is stubborn and unable to forgive. Rowena wants to be part of her granddaughter’s life, but refuses to see what a mess her son is and how dangerous that could be for Eloise. Reggie is a crack addict that Elliot just can’t forgive, even though he faces his own addiction problems himself. This is a realistic portrayal of a custody battle. Both sides have their strong points and no one person is an evil villain. Despite the title, this argument is not one that is black or white.

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Another thing I liked was that the movie didn’t strictly focus on the racial difference. They weren’t ignored, but they weren’t the central part of the story. Instead, the story was based on each family thinking they could provide a better home for little Eloise. Race was mentioned, but unlike in Losing Isaiah, they didn’t make it the central focus of the argument. Instead, it showed both the good and the bad of each side of the family. Elliot might have been a privileged man, but his home was huge and empty and he used booze to mask his problems. Rowena offered a huge family and community, but she also lived in a rough neighborhood where the pampered Eloise wouldn’t necessarily feel comfortable, and she turned a blind eye to her son’s very serious problems, likely enabling him even more.

Eloise was actually portrayed like a little kid. She didn’t spew ‘wise beyond her years’ wisdom and life lessons at every turn. Instead, she was a happy little girl who was genuinely enjoying the attention she got from all sides of her family. It was easy to see why the families each wanted custody of her.

All in all, I think it was very well done. It was hardly perfect, and some of the additions seemed unnecessary. Like the math tutor who’s some kind of super genius…and also lost his entire family when his village was attacked in his home land. I get that they wanted to put in a positive portrayal of a person who lived in poverty, but the tutor was a bit too on the nose. They might as well have given him wings and a halo.

Costner’s depiction of an alcoholic wasn’t particularly good either. That could have used some work. But in general, this was a good movie and might possibly be the first custody battle movie that I actually liked.

WE GAVE IT: 4 Stars – Watch the Official Trailer and Official Movie Poster below!

4 stars

 

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Kevin Costner And Octavia Spencer Battle For Custody In First ‘Black or White’ Trailer

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This might make some of you feel old, but Kevin Costner is now old enough to play a grandfather. The 59-year-old actor plays a grandfather fighting to keep his granddaughter Eloise, played by Jillian Estell. The brilliant Octavia Spencer co-stars in the film. She will be playing Eloise’s paternal grandmother.

Black or White was written and directed by Mike Binder. As we mentioned above, the film centers around a racially-charged custody battle between Costner and Spencer. The trailer shows the strong bond between Costner’s character and his granddaughter; however, it also shows his struggles as he is suddenly left to care for her by himself after his wife dies.

And that’s when the girl’s paternal grandmother (Spencer) steps in to seek custody, resulting in a nasty legal battle. It certainly looks like an interesting film. Some of the early reviews are claiming the movie is “phenomenal.”

You can check it out in theater near you January 30, 2015.

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Movie Review: Get on Up (2014)) – An Excellent Portrayal of a man who Really can’t be Replicated.

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I’m a fan of director Tate Taylor, as well as of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. So when I learned that Taylor was directing an epic based on the musician’s life, I was excited. Luckily, I can say that I wasn’t disappointed.

Chadwick Boseman plays James Brown in Get on Up and gives us a complete, unflinching look inside the career and the amazing life story of James Brown. It takes us from his impoverished childhood, all the way to his rise to fame as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Boseman is supported by some amazing actors in this epic, including Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Nelsan Ellis, Lennie James, Tika Sumpter, Jill Scott and Dan Aykroyd.

What usually bothers me about movies based on musicians’ lives is that rarely can a director strike the right balance. Either they portray the musician as a monster, or they sugarcoat them until they are as squeaky clean as Justin Bieber’s image used to be.

This movie strikes the right balance between the two. It starts off with James Brown exploding into one of his well known fits of ego and anger, but slowly the real character of Brown starts to unravel. The story is told by frequent flashbacks, mixed with a bit of linear story-telling.

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I think the timeline is really what makes this movie brilliant. Moments of huge success in Brown’s life are immediately compared to scenes of baseness and horror. You don’t just see the things Brown did wrong. You start to understand what made him the way he was.

Get on Up is a movie based on contrast, and is aptly named. You might see Brown fail on occasional, but he always returns to triumph.

I don’t know how realistic any of this was or if they stuck to the true story of James Brown’s life, but they seem to have captured him as a character. If there was one thing James Brown was, it was intense, and this is an intense movie. Taylor was the ideal person to direct this movie, as he seems to enjoy playing with contrasts and this movie is all contrast.

Of course, the movie doesn’t skimp on the music and there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy many of Brown’s most iconic songs.

I was extremely impressed with Boseman, who seemed to have the majority of the icon’s moves and mannerisms down. Though he didn’t have Brown’s frantic energy, I doubt anyone could replicate that. All in all, he created an excellent portrayal of a man who really can’t be replicated.

Sometimes the back and forth can get a bit confusing, but I think the back and forth was a necessary part of the movie. Watching this story in a linear format might make it difficult to stay with, as Brown really had a harsh upbringing and viewed all at once, that might be a bit of a downer.

This was yet another excellent film by Tate Taylor and the best I’ve seen Boseman since his stint as Jackie Robinson in 42. If you’re interested in the life of the legend James Brown, then this movie is absolutely worth the watch.

WE GAVE IT: 4.5  Stars: Official Movie Trailer and Movie Poster Below

four and a half stars

 

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New James Brown Biopic “Get on Up”, Releases new Trailer and Movie Poster

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This movie is packing a lot of star power. The lead of James Brown is played by Chadwick Boseman who we’ve seen as Jackie Robinson in “42” and recently in “Draft Day”. Boseman is talented and there is no doubt that he can pull of the role as the Godfather of soul.

What will make or break this movie is the story lines. There are several in James Brown’s life so how many they focus on and which ones to highlight will be the question. The screenplay was written by Jez Butterworth and Steven Baigelman who have no recent mainstream blockbusters to their credit so if this does well it will be a huge win for the duo.   However the film will be directed by “The Help’s” Tate Taylor who we know can direct black actors.

If Tate Taylor is not enough Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Nelsan Ellis, Lennie James, Tika Sumpter, Jill Scott, and Dan Aykroyd will be bringing up the rear in an all star supporting cast. Combining that cast with a soundtrack full of James Brown classics will at least get some asses in the theaters this summer. The film is due to be released on August 1st.

Watch the Official Trailer and get see the movie poster below.

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