Tag: viola davis

Paramount Pictures Announces Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, Lashana Lynch, Chiwetel Ejiofor And Regina King Joining The Cast For Gina Prince-Bythewood’S CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE

Viola Davis and director Gina Prince-Bythewood on the set of THE WOMAN KING. Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Paramount Pictures today announced the principal cast of the feature film, Children of Blood and Bone. Leading the action fantasy film are Thuso Mbedu (The Woman King) as Zelie; Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give) as Amari; Damson Idris (“Snowfall”) as Inan; and Tosin Cole (“Supacell”) as Tzain.

The movie, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood (THE WOMAN KING, THE OLD GUARD), is based on the #1 New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Tomi Adeyemi.

The movie releases January 15th, 2027 in IMAX.

Also confirmed are Academy Award® winner Viola Davis (The Woman King, G20) as Mama Agba; Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) as Admiral Kaea; Idris Elba (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw) as Lekan; Lashana Lynch (Bob Marley: One Love) as Jumoke; and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) as King Saran.

In negotiations are Academy Award® winner Regina King (Shirley) as Queen Nehanda; Diaana Babnicova (Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot) as Folake; and Bukky Bakray (Rocks) as Binta.

Forthcoming will be additional castings from an open casting call for actors living in Nigeria.

Production is set to begin filming in South Africa in the coming weeks.

Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill Entertainment, together with Karen Rosenfelt of Sunswept Entertainment – the filmmaking team behind the Twilight series – will produce, alongside Matt Jackson of Jackson Pictures. Adeyemi and Reggie Rock Bythewood will executive produce. Adeyemi and Prince-Bythewood co-wrote the script.

Paramount Pictures President & CEO Brian Robbins, along with Motion Picture Group Presidents Daria Cercek and Mike Ireland, acquired the rights to the trilogy in a highly competitive bidding war.

Tomi Adeyemi – Credit Caroline Fiss

Said Prince-Bythewood, “I am so honored and excited to bring Tomi’s Children of Blood and Bone and the vibrant world of Orisha to life. Our incredible ensemble reflects the whole of the diaspora. This is where our magic lies.”

In Children of Blood and Bone, in an African fantasy kingdom, a young woman goes on a quest to reclaim the magic that was violently stolen from her people. She and her brother ally with the daughter and son of the king to fight back against his brutal rule.

The book series has become an instant classic, with the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy spending a combined 175 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list, including four weeks at #1 on the Young Adult Hardcover list for Children of Blood and Bone; five weeks at #1 on the Young Adult Hardcover list for Children of Virtue and Vengeance; and one week at #1 on the Children’s & Young Adult Series list for Children of Anguish and Anarchy. In total, the series has sold almost three million copies worldwide and garnered critical acclaim, with Children of Blood and Bone being featured as a Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time; a New York Times Notable Children’s Book; and a Kirkus Prize Finalist, among other distinctions.

Photo Credits: Chwietel Ejiofor – Credit Sarah Dunn, Cynthia Erivo – Credit Mark Seliger, Idris Elba – Credit Alex Piper, Lashana Lynch – Credit Richard Phibbs, Regina King – Credit Tym Shutchai Buacharern for Criterion

KUNG FU PANDA 4 – Review

Since we’re nearly into Spring Break season for students, the studios are gearing up to release some sequels (usually a Summer staple). I suppose you could consider last weekend’s DUNE: PART TWO a sequel, though it’s really the conclusion of the original story. Ah, but this weekend’s big studio release is the latest entry in a “tentpole”, a franchise that’s now a teenager (sweet sixteen). Plus it’s an “all-ages” series with a”PG” rating that parents are always searching for (he’s been MIA at the multiplex for eight years now). It’s not from the “Mouse House”, but rather their biggest animation rival for a time. And this was the character they created that truly worked for me (I’m not a fan of the look of the big green ogre’s exploits). Watch out, and hold on to your snacks, as Master Po is back, and hungry as always, in KUNG FU PANDA 4. Skadoosh!!

This new adventure begins with a “call back” of sorts when some hard-working mineral minors are menaced by an old foe who should be chilling in the afterlife. Cut from the prologue to the happy patrons of the noodle shop run by Mr. Ping (voice of James Hong) and Li Shan (Bryan Cranston) who are thrilled to meet the Dragon Warrior himself, Po (Jack Black). But the festivities are cut short by a surprise visit from Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). It seems that it’s time for Po to step up into the role of the spiritual leader of the valley creating the need for a new DW. Auditions are held, but Po isn’t quite ready to decide. Things get more complicated when he stops a skilled “sneak thief, a fox named Zhen (Awkwafina) from looting the Jade Museum. After she’s handed over to the jailer, those miners, from the opening scene, arrive to beg for help. Po is baffled that an old foe is back until Zhen mentions that this is the work of the shape-shifting master criminal The Chameleon (Viola Davis). Naturally, Zhen can lead Po right to her. The fox is put into his custody and soon the duo are on the way to her hometown, the bustling Juniper City. Along the way, they must hire a boat to take them across the vast sea. Unfortunately, the captain of such a vessel, is at a truly dangerous “dive bar”, the “Happy Rabbit”. But the danger really kicks (get it) in J.C. as they earn the wrath of the local police while trying to enlist the aid of Zhen’s old cohorts in the “Den of Thieves”. And with Ping and Li only a few hours behind him, can Po keep them all out of danger and defeat the devious, cunning Chameleon, or will his new temporary partner (the “Furious Five” are all battling evil elsewhere) pull a “fast one” on the lovable ursine?

So how can an actor be so energetic in a role he’s been “voicing” since 2008? Answer me that, Mr. Black! Perhaps that’s a big part of the near-universal appeal of the panda named Po. But it’s not all “hollerin’ and whoopin’ it up”, as Black shows us the sweet side of the bear, even giving us a touch of the caring teacher. That’s especially the case in his scenes with Zhen, whose streetwise, fast-talkin’ delivery comes from the very busy Awkwafina (this is her second Dreamworks character). Her wisecracks and “burns” keep pace with the fox’s manic slapstick, although we get some dramatic shading in the big finale. And the two are a terrific team, almost matched by Hong and Cranston as the two bickering but united “daddies”, an animalized “odd couple”. Well, there’s a third papa if you consider Hoffman’s Shifu who is still a perfect peeved straight man, er…red panda, to the exasperating Po. The story also benefits from a couple of inspired new voice actors. Ke Huy Quan is quite engaging as Zhen’s former “father figure” Han, the armadillo-like (a Sunda pangolin to be precise) who rolls about the underground lair of the underworld. It’s been said that a great villain reflects on the hero, and Davis is a treat as the regal, silky, sneering Chameleon who imbues venom into every command and taunt.

Making this sprawling action/fantasy yarn proved to be a task for two terrific directors, Stephanie Stine and Mike Mitchell, who deliver the comedy and the pathos with equal aplomb. The staging of the stunt setpieces is truly amazing, defying gravity and using it as another threat, as in the big brawl in the pub teetering on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea (one character even asks, “Who thought this was a good location?”). The directing duo also guided an army of tremendous artisans in the look of the environments (Juniper City dazzles above and below ground) and the design of the new characters from shifty alligators to snarling wolves and even a trio of sadistic bunnies (shades of that white rabbit that bedeviled those Holy grail seekers). I was especially impressed by the constant flow of Juniper City foot (well paw and claw) traffic. The artistry is enhanced by a clever script that sports a few wild twists and a big finale that salutes the previous big-screen epics. Sure, some will be missing the “Furious Five”, but those returning characters and the new friends and enemies more than “take up the slack”. If desired this is a great send-off for the series, even as the end credits hint at a possible new direction(s). If we return to the Valley of Peace, audiences will be “pleased as Po” if they’re as well done (ala Ping’s noodles) as KUNG FU PANDA 4.

3 Out of 4

KUNG FU PANDA 4 is now playing in theatres everywhere

Win A Family 4-Pack Of Passes To The St. Louis Advance Screening Of KUNG FU PANDA 4

THIS SPRING, AWESOMENESS RETURNS!  JACK BLACK IS BACK IN DREAMWORKS ANIMATION’S KUNG FU PANDA 4.  RATED PG.  IN THEATERS MARCH 8TH

https://www.kungfupandatickets.com/

The special screening is 7PM on Tuesday, March 5th at Galleria 6 Cinemas (6PM Suggested Arrival) . 

Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed.

10 winners will receive 4 passes to the screening.

GET YOUR PASSES HERE: http://gofobo.com/IwIIA76314

After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. That poses a couple of obvious problems.

First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position. Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm. So, Po’s going to need some help.

He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Golden Globe winner Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.

The film features the voice talent of returning stars Academy Award® winner Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master, Shifu; James Hong (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Po’s adoptive father, Mr. Ping; Academy Award® nominee Bryan Cranston as Po’s birth father, Li, and Emmy Award nominee Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Shifu’s former student and arch-nemesis. Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) joins the ensemble as a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by Mike Mitchell (DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, Shrek Forever After) and produced by Rebecca Huntley (DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys). The film’s co-director is Stephanie Ma Stine (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power). In 2008, the Academy Award®-nominated 2008 inaugural chapter, Kung Fu Panda, became DreamWorks Animation’s highest-grossing original animated film and launched a franchise that has earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box-office.

Watch The Brand New Trailer For KUNG FU PANDA 4

This spring, for the first time in almost a decade, comedy icon Jack Black returns to his role as Po, the world’s most unlikely kung fu master, with a hilarious, butt-kicking new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s beloved action-comedy franchise: Kung Fu Panda 4.

Check out the brand new trailer.

After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace.

That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position.

Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.

So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Golden Globe winner Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.

The filmfeatures the voice talent of returning stars Academy Award® winner Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master, Shifu; James Hong (Everything Everywhere All at Once)as Po’s adoptive father, Mr. Ping; Academy Award® nominee Bryan Cranston as Po’s birth father, Li, and Emmy Award nominee Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Shifu’s former student and arch-nemesis. Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) joins the ensemble as a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by Mike Mitchell (DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, Shrek Forever After) and produced by Rebecca Huntley (DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys). The film’s co-director is Stephanie Ma Stine (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power). In 2008, the Academy Award®-nominated 2008 inaugural chapter, Kung Fu Panda, became DreamWorks Animation’s highest-grossing original animated film and launched a franchise that has earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box-office.

(from left) Po (Jack Black) and Zhen (Awkwafina) in Kung Fu Panda 4 directed by Mike Mitchell.
© 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

(from left) The Chameleon (Viola Davis), (right) Tai Lung (Ian McShane) in Kung Fu Panda 4 directed by Mike Mitchell.

THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES – Review

So what’s one of the biggest complaints about modern movies (aside from pricey concession snacks)? Much of the grumbling concerns the many sequels to successful films, often leading to a franchise. Last week we had THE MARVELS and there’s another TROLLS romp bouncing into the multiplex this weekend. In a bit of convoluted logic, many studio execs may think, “If you’re sick of sequels, how about a prequel, instead?”. Yes, it’s semantics but it’s a way of bringing in fans of the original while not having to pay the big salaries of those older pricier casts. Now, we’ve got that “master candy maker” waiting in the wings to spruce his chocolate factory right before Christmas, and for Thanksgiving, we’re going back to that dreary dystopian future of a quartet of flicks we thought had concluded eight years ago. But since the author of its source books took a look back at its history, we’ll now get to see if “the odds” are still in their favor (Lionsgate Films) with THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES.

As the story begins we’re back on the mean streets of the Capitol of Panem as two children search for food. Dodging dangerous wild dogs they make it back to the squalid apartment they share with their Grandma’am (Fionnula Flanagan). Flash ahead seven or so years and the young boy, Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) gets ready for his high school graduation. He’s hoping he’ll be awarded the Plynth award which would take care of the expenses for Grandma’am and his older cousin Tigris (Hunter Schafer). But he’s in for a shock at the ceremony when Dean Highbottom (Peter Dinklage) announces that to get this cash prize, he and his classmates will have to be “mentors” to the winning “tributes” competing for survival in the televised tenth-annual Hunger Games. Oh, and the mentors can increase their chances by coming up with new ideas (the ratings are slipping) to head game maker Dr. Gaul (Viola Davis). Soon Snow meets his assigned pair of tributes, one of whom is the beautiful, but defiant songbird from impoverished District 12, Lucy Gray Baird (Rachael Zeglar). She expresses her rebellious nature by crooning ballads that may earn her viewer support, but does she have the killer drive to eliminate her violent rivals? And what happens when the venue arena is nearly destroyed by undercover rebels? Will the crafty Snow find a way to give Gray the needed “edge”, especially as their emotional bond becomes more intense?

Handling the most pivotal role in the film, the character with the strongest connection to that original trilogy of books (stretched to four movies) is relative big-screen newcomer Blyth. We know “Corie’s” future, so Blyth must subtly give us a bit of behavioral foreshadowing. He appears noble, and we’re rooting for his budding romance, but there’s that “ultimate fate” that Blyth conveys well. It helps that he has chemistry with the Gray character, given spunk and song by Zeglar in a big switch from the sweet Maria in the recent WEST SIDE STORY remake. Early on she shows us that Lucy doesn’t have that murderous instinct, and must rely on rallying the masses with her music. Zeglar displays that panic in combat, but is in complete control as she becomes a country crooning crusader, reminding us of many “Nashville belles” like Patsy Cline. As for the “game bosses”, Davis channels a bit of her Amanda Waller persona from the DC “movie verse” (supposedly she’ll survive the recent “purge”) as the cruel devious, mad-scientist Gaul, sporting a single blue eye to make her more “alien”. Dinklage is a sneering sod as the equally cruel and deceitful academic, chugging tiny tubes of booze as he weaves his web of evil. The story’s only real comic relief role is deftly handled by Jason Schwartzman as the smarmy unctuous host of the televised global death match, weatherman/magician “Lucky Flickerman”, an obnoxiously flamboyant phony. The superb character actor Burn Gorman shows up in the film’s last half as a strict military man, but he’s given little to do other than to hover ominously over Snow and Gray.

To offer another connection to the previous quartet of films, their original director Frances Lawrence returns to helm the screenplay adaptation by Michaels Lesslie and Arndt of the Suzanne Collins novel. Once again he creates the look and feel of a grim, soul-crushing future world with desaturated colors as clouds drift over the double sword-wielding statue at the center of Panem. And that may be part of the many problems in that we’ve seen it already, four times over. While the original “opened up the story” by having the skirmishes occur in the more pleasant countryside, this one’s “game” is played in an empty concrete arena filled with slabs of stone and dark hallways. Then, when we believe a “conclusion” has happened, the film jumps ahaead to a new setting for a “B” plot that feels more like an entirely new tale. And it’s not nearly as interesting making it seem as though it will never really finish. The final “epilogue” has so many “future jumps” and foreshadowing (and a subplot that’s left unresolved) that the casual viewer will feel hopelessly lost and unsatisfied after such a long investment of time. Perhaps it would’ve worked more coherently as a streaming app miniseries. This certainly won’t gain any new followers of the franchise as only the hardcore fans will embrace the rambling, uninvolving THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES.

One Out of Four

THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES is now playing in theaters everywhere

Win Passes To The St. Louis Advance Screening Of THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES

Experience the story of THE HUNGER GAMES – 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem.

Opening in theaters only November 17, 2023, THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES is the fifth installment in the franchise. It is directed by Francis Lawrence, who returns to, and expands upon, this incredible world after directing The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 and 2. The film is shepherded by franchise producer Nina Jacobson, who produces for Color Force along with Brad Simpson.

This installment brings together an all-new cast in Tom Blyth (“Billy the Kid”), Golden Globe® winner Rachel Zegler (2022, Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy, West Side Story), four-time Emmy® winner Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”), Hunter Schafer (“Euphoria”), Josh Andrés Rivera (West Side Story), Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore), and Academy Award® winner Viola Davis (2016, Best Supporting Actress, Fences).

PG-13 for strong violent content and disturbing material                                                             

https://hungergames.movie/

The Advance Screening is 7PM, on Tuesday, November 14th at Marcus Ronnie’s Cine.

Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed.

ENTER AT THE LINK:  http://www.lionsgatescreenings.com/OGDet71308

Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow and Viola Davis as Dr Volumnia Gaul in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Photo Credit: Murray Close

AIR – Review

Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in AIR Photo: COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

Wow, the last few weeks at the multiplex could almost be summed up in a slight twist on the title of the signature tune of the movie’s most popular singing cowboy, “We’re Back in the 80s Again”. Who’d have thought that the “go-go” decade would be such fertile ground for current filmmakers? Now, there was music with SPINNING GOLD (though much of it covers the late 70s), and the toy/game trifecta of D&D, the Mario Bros., and TETRIS. Well, this new release concerns a big fashion item, though it has similar themes to that last film. Like that story, its main focus isn’t the “product”, but the hustling guy (like Henk) who will risk everything for a “piece of the pie” (as in that 80s TV sitcom). So, here’s an “inspired by true events” modern fable of an “average Joe” whose big dreams could, at any second, evaporate into thin AIR.

The “Joe” in question is actually nicknamed Sonny, Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), who is the high school basketball scout for Nike in 1984. This was the era of the big athlete star endorsement “war” in the footwear industry. At that time Nike, headquartered in Washington state, was a force in running shoes, but lagged far behind Converse and Addidas in basketball shoes (barely in the double-digit market share). Back at “home base”, Sonny attends a frustrating strategy meeting led by frazzled marketing director Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman). With the top 4 NBA future stars scooped up, the remaining prospects are bleak. Late that evening at his modest pad, Sonny pops in several VHS tapes full of college highlights which convince him that the “star of tomorrow” is Michael Jordan. He’s in that elite four, but Rob insists that Addidas has him almost locked up. Sonny then goes to former Olympic basketball coach George Raveling (Marlon Wayans) for insight into MJ, then confers with co-worker exec Howard White (Chris Tucker) for further advice. Unfortunately Sonny’s boss, Nike head Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) doesn’t share his dream and refuses to increase his quarter-million dollar signing budget. Plus MJ’s cutthroat agent David Falk (Chris Messina) jeers at their meager offer and won’t grant Nike access to his client. But then Sonny does a “Hail Mary” and travels out to North Carolina, to the Jordan home for a brief face-to-face “sit-down” with the family matriarch, Michaels’s mama Deloris (Viola Davis). When word leaks out Sonny’s Nike pals and Falk are horrified at his hubris. But it works, and the Jordans agree to a meeting in only a few days. It’s “crunch time”, so Sonny, Rob, and design leader Peter Moore (Matthew Maher) make Nike HQ their weekend home to create a “sales pitch” and most importantly, come up with the shoe that will bear the superstar’s name, the Air Jordan. But will all their hours of sweat be for naught after the shoe giants meet with the family?

Add Sonny to the growing list of affable movie everymen played with charm and charisma by the dependable Damon. he gets us rooting for this underdog from the start, even as we watch his “lifeforce” leave his body during a soul-draining staff meeting. His Sonny formulates his goal and Damon, despite his extra “heft” will push through every obstacle, and we’re riding by his side. And how great is it having him back sharing scenes with his BFF and Oscar-winning screenwriting partner, Affleck? It may seem like he’s not putting much into playing Mr. Nike. but Ben conveys the mogul’s spacy, often detached, Zen mantra spewing “big boss”. Still, the passion explodes, showing that Affleck can be quite intimidating if you “poke the bear”, which Sonny frequently does. But he’s an ocean of calm compared to the manic “rageaholic” unleashed by Messina as the vitriolic furious Falk. He’s a take-no-prisoners ultra-caffeinated spin on Jeremy Piven’s Ari Gold on “Entourage”. Also solid is Bateman, who tweaks his usual snarky “attitude-dude” to make Rob a real partner to Sonny, though he doesn’t hesitate in putting his pal back on the right track. The film’s real MVP is Davis as the steely head of the Jordan household and financial future. She is surprisingly friendly to Sonny but is quick to silence him when she detects a hint of BS in his bravado. The scene late in the third act, in which she phones Sonny and tells him “how it will be” is almost a master class in acting (her FENCES Oscar could be getting a sister next year). Wayans scores in a wonderful scene with Damon, while Tucker shows us that his engaging motor-mouthed persona is missed (he’s been away for seven years).

In addition to his work as the Nike head “honcho”, Affleck makes a most welcome return to the director’s chair. Sure, we all know the outcome of all the wheeling and dealing, but he is still able to wring suspense from this modern-day shoe saga. Credit must also go to screenwriter Alex Convery’s witty, sharp script that really gives each great actor a moment or two to truly “shine”.Right from the superb 80s montage, Affleck takes us back nearly 40s years with authentic fashion, vehicles, and a splendid pop soundtrack. And what a smart move to keep the great Michael a peripheral character, much like Spielberg not showing us Bruce the shark until the JAWS hunt. But perhaps it was a “nod” to classic Hollywood films that would show the president (or the holy figures in religious films) only with shots from the back or closeups of his hands. It really adds to the drama and the mythic stature of MJ and the whole legend. As I said, we know the history, but Affleck and the cast make us really care about the people. And in the era of noisy franchise blockbusters, well it’s truly a breath of fresh AIR.

3.5 Out of 4

AIR is now playing in theatres everywhere and is streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video

Win Passes To The St. Louis Advance Screening Of AIR – In Theaters April 5

From award-winning director Ben Affleck, AIR reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.

AIR features an all-star cast, including Matt Damon as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, and Julius Tennon as James Jordan.

AIR reunites Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, marking the first time Affleck has directed his longtime friend and collaborator.

Amazon Studios will release AIR exclusively in theaters globally on Wednesday, April 5th 

The Advance Screening is on Tuesday, April 4th, 7pm at AMC Esquire 7.

The screening will be filled on a first come first served basis, so we encourage you to arrive early. Seats will not be guaranteed. Rated R.

Enter at the link below.

http://amazonscreenings.com/main/sweepstakes/WAMGair

Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in AIR Photo: COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC
Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in AIR Photo: ANA CARBALLOSA © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon And Viola Davis Star In Big Gam Spot For AIR – The Story Of Michael Jordan And Nike’s Air Jordan

Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in AIR Photo: COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

From award-winning director Ben Affleck, AIR reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time. 

Check out the brand new AIR spot from the Big Game and see the movie courtside April 5.

AIR features an all-star cast, including Matt Damon as maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight, and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, and Julius Tennon as James Jordan.

AIR reunites Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, marking the first time Affleck has directed his longtime friend and collaborator. 

Viola Davis plays Deloris Jordan, Michael’s mother, who was a fierce advocate for her son, was instrumental in negotiating this unprecedented deal, and was committed to ensuring her son’s legacy. 

AIR will be distributed by Amazon Studios exclusively In Theaters April 5, 2023.

Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in AIR Photo: COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC
Chris Tucker as Howard White in AIR Photo: COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC
Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in AIR Photo: ANA CARBALLOSA © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

THE WOMAN KING – Review

Four years ago, Hollywood was rocked by the surprise success of BLACK PANTHER. Mind you, since it was from Marvel Studios, execs had an inkling that it wouldn’t lose money, but few that it would go on to be one of the top ten box office champs of all time, though the TOP GUN sequel recently took it down a peg. Naturally, fans of it have been clamoring for a sequel which is still several weeks away. Well, this week’s big release may please them, and perhaps make them even more engaged. That’s because it’s more anchored in reality than Wakanda since it adheres somewhat closely (yes a few “liberties” are taken) to actual events and history. But like the earlier film, it deals with tribal royalty, but this ruler isn’t the story’s main focus. Rather, it looks at his most trusted aide and advisor, which inspired her unofficial moniker of THE WOMAN KING.

This saga begins on a night in South Africa in 1823. A band of Oyo slavers have “broken camp”, but they won’t slumber. It seems that they have been surrounded by the Agojie, an elite army of female warriors from the kingdom of Dahomey. Their commander, Nanisca (Viola Davis) leads the attack, slaying several of the Oyo, sending others into the night, and leading their slave cargo back to the center of Dahomey. When they arrive, Nansica reports directly to King Ghezo (John Boyega), before her squad marches back to their enclosed area, away from the royal quarters. In another part of the village, a spirited young woman, Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) rejects another arranged marriage, lashing out at her potential husband. Nawi’s frustrated father escorts her to the gate of the Agojie fortress. She enters and is offered a chance to be part of the group after Nanisca explains that they will live apart from the village, never take a husband, and never bear children. Nawi begins her training under the watchful eyes of the tough trainer Izogie (Lashana Lynch) and Nanisca’s main aide and confidant Amenza (Shelia Atim). Nanisca tries to offer opinions to her King but is often thwarted by the most ambitious of his wives. A retaliatory attack from Oyo is imminent, They’re much more powerful since they’ve aligned with European slave traders that provide them with horses and rifles. When Nawi encounters a sympathetic “foreigner”, the half-Dahomey Malik (Jordan Bolger) in the jungle, she learns of an upcoming sneak attack by the Oyos and their allies that would cut them off from the trade ports. Will she get the word to Nanisca in time to mount a counterattack and retain their independence while stopping the horrors of the slave trade?

In the title role, Davis is truly fierce as the tough, determined leader of her army. We can easily see how she inspires them to face any challenge and follow her anywhere. But her Nansica is not an all-powerful super-heroine. In her quiet, private moments we see that life has taken its toll on her as she trains not only her body but her scarred psyche. We also see her flex her persuasive skills as she tries to “earn her king’s ear”. As Gehzo, Boyega has the lofty air about him as he tempers those in his favor with a strict code of decorum, wanting us to see that he welcomes advice, but adamant that he will have the final word. Mbedu brings youthful energy and enthusiasm to the often impulsive Nawi, annoying her elders as they recall their own past “pig-headedness”.Lynch is just the perfect guiding force for her as Izogie, who also has a zest for life as she relishes a swig from her hidden flax of the “foreign elixirs”. Almost equal to Davis’ ferocity is Atim as her trusted cohort and warm friend Izogie who doesn’t hesitate in taking the..air out of Nansica’s sails.


Director Gina Prince-Blythwood doubles down on her skills as an action director, easily matching the tone of her previous effort, THE OLD GUARD, while grounding the flashy stuntwork in the harsh reality of South Africa. The screenplay by Dana Stevens from her story with Maria Bello (yes, the actress/director) mixes the battles with behind-the-throne politics and amplifies the terrors of slavery when it’s facilitated by fellow countrymen. Unfortunately the big “set pieces” are separated by long stretches of training montages and exchanges between the “baddies”. Then there’s the clumsy “shoe-horned” romance between Nawi and Malik that feels contrived and truncated, especially during the final act (smoother editing was needed). Speaking of cutting, much of the violence in the big battle scenes feel muted, with broadswords causing little gore, perhaps to achieve a more “all-ages friendly” PG-13 rating (didn’t work). The same for the relationship between Nansica and Izogie, as the finished film seems skittish about making them more than supportive warrior pals. Despite these reservations, this is a “worthy watch’ due to Davis and the peek at tribal history and everyday life in a brutal world. And that world of Dahomey is a vibrant, interesting one thanks to the Agojie led by THE WOMAN KING.

3 out of 4

THE WOMAN KING is now playing in theatres everywhere