DREAM13Media https://media.dream13.com The Black Movie Database Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:23:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://media.dream13.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cropped-Site-Icon_BMDD-01-32x32.png DREAM13Media https://media.dream13.com 32 32 Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Oscar Win Is Just the Start https://media.dream13.com/davine-joy-randolphs-oscar-win-is-just-the-start/ https://media.dream13.com/davine-joy-randolphs-oscar-win-is-just-the-start/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:53:59 +0000 https://media.dream13.com/?p=266423

Photographs by Matt Sayles

By Clayton Davis | Variety | Photographs by Matt Sayles

It’s the morning after the Oscars, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who was out celebrating her big win as best supporting actress until 5:45 a.m., looks as if she’d fall asleep for the rest of the day if she closed her eyes for a moment. And yet despite her exhaustion she’s still radiant, brimming with excitement about the ways that her life has changed since she scored her role as Mary Lamb, a grieving cafeteria manager, in Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.”

As she sits at a dining room table in a modern Beverly Hills apartment soothing a hoarse voice with cough drops, Randolph declares sleepily, “I’ve got the keys to the castle now!”

It’s a change for the Philadelphia-born actress, who says, “I was taught to make a lot out of very little. It’s exciting to have access to resources and opportunities, especially for a woman of color.”

Randolph burst onto the scene with her breakout role on Broadway as psychic Oda Mae Brown in 2012’s “Ghost: The Musical,” earning a Tony Award nomination and critical raves. That role paved the way for movies such as “Dolemite Is My Name” and “The Lost City,” in which she deftly stole scenes from veterans Eddie Murphy and Sandra Bullock, as well as the Hulu comedy series “Only Murders in the Building,” which found her sharing the screen with her acting idol, Meryl Streep.

Randolph has a way of magnetizing an audience — it’s impossible to look away. That’s certainly the case with “The Holdovers,” which gave the 37-year-old actress the most challenging and rewarding role of her career. The part required her to summon deep reservoirs of pain as she portrayed a mother dealing with the loss of her only son, who was killed in the Vietnam War.

For Payne, there’s one critical scene in “The Holdovers” that fully demonstrates Randolph’s depth as an actress. When Mary, visiting her pregnant sister, ponders giving away her son’s baby clothes, Payne remembers being astonished by “the look on her face.” Randolph wanted to show her character refusing to break down even as she reflects on that early, hopeful time in her life. “She conveys a profound, mournful wistfulness,” Payne says.

But as we sit together on the day after Randolph’s sublime performance was recognized by her peers, the actress is looking ahead to the other great roles she hopes to play.

How are you feeling this morning?

I feel grateful. I feel seen. I feel loved. I feel respected. I feel like the time and work that I’ve put in matters. I feel excited for the future. Growing up as somebody who didn’t have much, imagine when you get a lot: It’s exciting. To have access and to be a woman of color is a very big deal.

You wore your grandmother’s glasses in “The Holdovers.” Why?

Every role that I do, I always leave subliminal love letters to women of color in the details. You can go back and check my résumé — every single role, there’s a connection to someone I know personally, someone in history, a fellow actress. And I love it, because those who know, know. Ultimately what I’m doing is I’m just implanting moments of connection and honesty. And so her glasses were an artifact for me so that if and when I ever got off track or got derailed or lost the connection, the thought of my grandmother and who she was and what she suffered through, those glasses would put me right back.

What was your grandmother like?

She was the matriarch of our family. She was the backbone. She came from the South and endured so much. And when I think of someone who can champion others and be victorious in spite of their own pain, she’s the first person I think of. I knew that she was going to be a guiding light for me in the telling of this story. And that’s a very unique trait: that we, as minorities, can, in the midst of grief and loss and disparity, not only show up for other people, but give and be kind and loving. That really says something about one’s character. We’ve been kicked in the butt so much and so hard that I’m moved to see how much empathy and love we can still possess.

What would your grandmother think about your Oscar win?

She’d be over the moon. No one in my family acts or sings — nothing. There’s no sense of entertainment in my family. Sometimes I feel like an oddball, because I don’t even know where this is coming from. But they’ve always been supportive. They’ve always seen greatness within me and have always nurtured that.

Can you tell me about growing up in Philadelphia?

It was the best. It was exactly what I needed. There’s something very unique about Northeast cities and communities, even in a film like “The Holdovers.” It’s a very distinct culture, behavior, attitude, mannerisms … I love that. They don’t have that anywhere else besides that Northeast pocket. And so whether Boston, New York, Philly, I’m so grateful that I was born and raised and cultivated in a city such as that. I just love the people. They celebrate life and they champion underdogs, and I take great pride in that.

There were antiwar protests taking place outside the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held, so the show ended up starting late. I heard you were stuck in traffic, and your category was up first. What was going through your mind?

I mean, listen, that’s serious business. But it was what I needed to be like, “Life is real.” While we were in that traffic jam, we were seeing homeless people seeking shelter. It was very interesting that I was in a very privileged situation, and yet the world still turns. It was chaotic, but it was good chaos. It actually calmed me down.

To announce the winner of best supporting actress, the Academy brought out all these legendary past winners — Jamie Lee Curtis, Rita Moreno, Mary Steenburgen, Regina King and Lupita Nyong’o. What was that like?

It knocked me out. I was in the front row, in the center. You know how you can sit too close in the movie theater? Everything is even more grand. I was a mess.

You and Lupita went to Yale drama school together, and you started to cry when she was speaking about you. What were you feeling?

It just felt like a very surreal full-circle moment, because I met her as I was becoming an actor. The emotion came because at that point I had already won for myself. I didn’t care whose name they said. I had already won because I was there.

Over time, there have been over 3,300 Oscar statuettes awarded. But you’re only the 19th Black woman to win one.

In any capacity?

Yes. Ten of those came in your category. So that’s 0.005% of all the Oscars. Can you talk about that legacy of Black women in this industry, and how that relates to your grandmother or any of the women you’ve honored in your performances?

Mary is my grandmother. Mary is every woman. To be a woman of color, to be a woman with financial limitations, there’s a hustle, a drive, a diligence that’s like no other. And so I was really adamant about showing the world what it’s like to be in our skin.

And yet at the same time, I wanted it to be something universal, because I didn’t want it to be something that only Black women could understand, or minorities could understand. I wanted everyone to get it. I actually want that for all my work. I don’t want to just do Black movies.

I will always pay tribute to, honor, uplift and be a part of Black storytelling, but I need to infiltrate and get in the spaces where we’re not. I want to be in a Wes Anderson movie just ’cause. I want to be in a David O. Russell movie just ’cause. Coen brothers. I’ve never seen us there. Because that’s when I think we can really bring about educating and creating real change. If we just stay over by ourselves, nothing is going to change.

You’ve been a star of the red carpet this Oscar season. What’s your approach to fashion?

I just like to have fun. And I just want people to know, “Don’t limit yourself. Find what you’re into. Play. Don’t stay stuck with one thing.” You know why I love clothes so much? Because it’s connected to one’s personality and sense of self. You don’t have to be as obsessive about it as I am, but I think it’s a good practice of self-love too, of like, “What colors do I feel good in? And, oh, these are my favorite pair of jeans.” It’s taking a sense of pride in oneself. And I think that’s healthy and good for anybody.

You sat next to J. Lo at Fashion Week in Paris. What did you talk about?

Life, love, prosperity, success. She was starting to talk about her new project that’s just now come out. It looks really dope. I need to check it out.

When you’ve accepted other awards this season, you’ve brought note cards. You didn’t at the Oscars. Why?

For the past two weeks, people have been telling me, “No cards for the Oscars.” They want to see my face. With those other speeches, half of those notes are from different hotel notepads or a napkin.

When you gave your speech, you talked about violating the Academy’s requests by thanking your publicist, Marla Farrell. Why did you do that?

Why would you not? Why? Why? That lady has been by my side since the beginning of my career. She has shown up for me countless times beyond even what a publicist does, and I would not be here without her. She’s beyond talented, and she has a heart of gold. So, yeah, I don’t care. She deserved it.

You also thanked your acting teacher from Yale, Ron Van Lieu. What did he do?

We used to do scenes and text analysis, and we’d do, like, “A Doll’s House.” Everybody got to play Nora, but I’d be the only one in the class playing, what’s her name — Miss Schmidt or whatever? And I’m like, “Why? Who’s choosing this? Who gets to decide what stories I get to tell?” One time I got fed up, and he was like, “Well, who is it that you want to be?” And I realized I don’t want to be anyone; I just want to be myself. And he said, “Great. You know who else is themselves? Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, De Niro. There wasn’t a them before them. So you’re gonna have to have patience and resilience, because you’re essentially forging your own path. There’s no blueprint for you.” So he just understood me.

Not only did you appear in “The Holdovers” last year, but you also played Mahalia Jackson in “Rustin.” What was it like to play these roles?

It was a full year of beautiful characters. And I feel very proud to have played fully realized, textured, complicated, multidimensional characters — women who have wants, needs, desires and drives. Yeah, I’m immensely proud of what this year has become.

Can you tell me the difference between Da’Vine Joy Randolph on Saturday versus the one who won the Oscar on Sunday?

There isn’t one. There’s a trophy in my house now, but I’m not different. You can’t come from Philadelphia and be changed; they won’t let you. This will be who I am. The roles will get better, the money will improve, the lines will get better. I hope to make a legacy and leave an imprint with this career. I hope my work will matter, and it will be something that people of all shapes, sizes, colors, creeds and genders can connect to. But me, and the soul of me, won’t change.

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Michael (2025) https://media.dream13.com/michael-2025/ https://media.dream13.com/michael-2025/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 04:44:21 +0000 https://media.dream13.com/?p=261110

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Writer(s): John Logan

Starring: Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Jaafar Jackson, Joseph David-Jones, Juliano Valdi, Peyton Riley McConville, Jamal Henderson, Rhyan Hill, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Tre’ Horton, Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, Judah Edwards, Jayden Harville, Reid McConville, Kamil Qahar, Taylor Ayala

Synopsis: The story of “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. From his childhood of being the star of the Jackson 5, through times of abuse by his father Joe Jackson. To his hit Thriller, and the purchase of Neverland Valley, into his tragic, and unsuspected death in June 25, 2009.

Release Date: April 18, 2025 (USA) | Length: Unknown | Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Music | MPAA Rating: Unknown | Note(s): Original announcement.

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The Idea of You (2024) https://media.dream13.com/the-idea-of-you-2024/ https://media.dream13.com/the-idea-of-you-2024/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:42:00 +0000 https://media.dream13.com/?p=266393

Director: Michael Showalter

Writer(s): Robinne Lee (book); Michael Showalter, Jennifer Westfeldt

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo, Reid Scott, Perry Mattfeld, Jordan Aaron Hall, Mathilda Gianopoulos, Meg Millidge, Cheech Manohar, Raymond Cham Jr., Jaiden Anthony, Viktor White, Dakota Adan, Roxy Rivera, Graham Norton, Grace Junot, Jon Levine, Demián Castro, Trevor David, Brent Bailey, Chandler Lovelle, Nina Bloomgarden, Hedy Nasser, Luke Pierre Roness, Melanie Kiran, Rashal James, Angela Davis, Lauren Revard, Tiffany Morgan, Dustin Lewis, Tanya Lim, Bethany Brown, Trinity Ansah, Holly A. Morris, Jean-Luc McMurtry, Darryl Fields Jr., Jason Collett, Simone Alston, Tiara Crowe-Jackson, Kesley Bou, Scott Myrick, Shaun Bowman, Elia Coutte, William Matthew Mang, Rick Nehls

Synopsis: Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom, begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter’s trip to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex bails at the last minute, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and there is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn’t long before Hayes’ superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.

Release Date: May 2, 2024 (USA) | Length: 115 min | Genre: Drama | MPAA Rating: Rated R for some language and sexual content. | Note(s): Gabrielle Union and Robinne Lee are producers on this project. Premiered at SXSW on March 16, 2024. Above is the US theatrical release date. I wasn’t able to “identify” the Jaiden Anthony in this film, but he is NOT the footballer. Also wasn’t able to identify Trinity Ansah. I found several Darryl Fields Jr.’s but couldn’t identify which one was in this film.

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The Fall Guy (2024) https://media.dream13.com/the-fall-guy-2024/ https://media.dream13.com/the-fall-guy-2024/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:21:45 +0000 https://media.dream13.com/?p=265302

Director: David Leitch

Writer(s): Drew Pearce; Glen A. Larson (TV show)

Starring: Hannah Waddingham, Emily Blunt, Ryan Gosling, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Teresa Palmer, Lee Majors, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke, Zara Michales, Madeleine Jones, Adam Dunn, Robert McFarlane, Beth Champion, Ben Knight, Jack Doherty, Tim Franklin, Rakel Rose, Tashrif Islam, Nathan Bates, Martin Cohen, Tahlia Crinis, Jonah Erofeyeff, Scott Gladstone, Luisa Mariano, Nova Onas, Shakriya Tarinyawat, Yoji Tatsuta, Charlotte Wood

Synopsis: Colt Seavers is a stuntman who left the business a year earlier to focus on both his physical and mental health. He’s drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie, which is being directed by his ex, goes missing. READ REVIEW

Release Date: May 3, 2024 (USA) | Length: 114 min | Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama | MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for action and violence, drug content and some strong language. | Note(s): Premiered at SXSW on March 12, 2024. Above is the US theatrical release date.

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Venom: The Last Dance (2024) https://media.dream13.com/venom-the-last-dance-2024/ https://media.dream13.com/venom-the-last-dance-2024/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 04:48:27 +0000 https://media.dream13.com/?p=263113

Director: Kelly Marcel

Writer(s): Kelly Marcel, Tom Hardy

Starring: Juno Temple, Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Synopsis: Plot details are unknown other than Hardy is returning as the lethal protector Venom.

Release Date: October. 25, 2024 (USA)| Length: Unknown | Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller | MPAA Rating: Unknown | Note(s): Original announcement. Title changed from Venom 3 to Venom: The Last Dance. Release date moved up from November 8, 2024 to Oct. 25, 2024

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The Gutter (2024) https://media.dream13.com/the-gutter-2024/ https://media.dream13.com/the-gutter-2024/#respond Tue, 12 Mar 2024 05:47:43 +0000 https://media.dream13.com/?p=266419

Director: Isaiah Lester, Yassir Lester

Writer(s): Yassir Lester

Starring: Rell Battle, Adam Brody, D’Arcy Carden, Jay Ellis, Kim Fields, Nelson Franklin, Jackée Harry, Langston Kerman, Monique Lea-Gall, Jay Light, Shameik Moore, Adam Pally, Kourosh Parsapour, Paul Reiser, Susan Sarandon, Paul Scheer, Kathy Wittes

Synopsis: Walt lands work at bowling alley AlleyCatz, he’s pressured to embrace his bowling talent, sparking backlash from detractors seeking to undermine his sudden pro success. READ REVIEW

Release Date: March 12, 2024 (USA) | Length: 89 min | Genre: Comedy | MPAA Rating: Unknown | Note(s): Premiered at SXSW on March 12, 2024. Missing trailer, poster and theatrical release date.

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Road House (2024) https://media.dream13.com/road-house-2024/ https://media.dream13.com/road-house-2024/#respond Sun, 10 Mar 2024 04:40:30 +0000 https://media.dream13.com/?p=266354

Director: Doug Liman

Writer(s): Anthony Bagarozzi, Chuck Mondry; R. Lance Hill, Hilary Henkin (based on the motion picture ‘Road House’)

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, Jessica Williams, Lukas Gage, Billy Magnussen, Darren Barnet, Post Malone, Joaquim de Almeida, Dominique Columbus, Arturo Castro, JD Pardo, Beau Knapp, Hannah Love Lanier, Kevin Carroll, Bob Menery, B.K. Cannon, Travis Van Winkle, CJ Báez, Franklin Romero Jr., Catfish Jean, Chad Guerrero, Craig Ng, Joey Ciotti, Vanessa Gómez Reyes, Ellenike Pichardo, Braian Valerio, Jose Mota Prestol, Candy Santana, Jonathan Hunt, Cannon Smith, Ruairi Rhodes, Omar Patin, Jose A. Diaz, Samuel Sang, Katherine Read, Ty Hemenway, Claudia Peña, Alexander Bellone, Alejandro Bescos, Luis Dominguez, Jay Hieron, Chris Tognoni, Mark Smith, David Warren, Kenny Lorenzetti, Bruce Buffer, Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier, Megan Olivi, Jonathan Kowalsky, Tommy Lentsch, Gregory Connors, Pedro Salamanca, Marcos Sánchez

Synopsis: Ex-UFC fighter Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems. READ REVIEW

Release Date: March 21, 2024 (USA) | Length: 115 min | Genre: Action, Thriller | MPAA Rating: Rated R for violence throughout, pervasive language and some nudity.| Note(s):

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David Alan Grier | The Film That Lit My Fuse https://media.dream13.com/david-alan-grier-the-film-that-lit-my-fuse/ https://media.dream13.com/david-alan-grier-the-film-that-lit-my-fuse/#respond Sat, 09 Mar 2024 12:40:27 +0000 https://media.dream13.com/?p=266378

I couldn’t find an embed to the video. Press image to view video.

By Erik Pedersen| Deadline Hollywood

David Alan Grier’s illustrious and varied career began with big dreams from a youth sitting in front of a television in Michigan and absorbing classic film. Grier next stars in The American Society of Magical Negroes, a sharp satirical comedy fable written and directed by Kobi Libii. He began his career on the stage, playing Brooklyn Dodgers color barrier-breaking second baseman Jackie Robinson in The First. After that Tony-nominated performance, he played James “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls on Broadway and appeared in the film A Soldier’s Story before his career took a decided turn toward comedy. After first working with Keenen Ivory Wayans in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Wayans invited him to join the cast he was putting together for the edgy Fox comedy series In Living Color.

Here, Grier explains how his movie influences helped his career path and shares stories about those In Living Color days, which propelled him and castmates like Jim Carrey and Damon Wayans to stardom.

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Dead Mail (2024) https://media.dream13.com/dead-mail-2024/ https://media.dream13.com/dead-mail-2024/#respond Sat, 09 Mar 2024 11:55:02 +0000 https://media.dream13.com/?p=266371

Director: Joe DeBoer,
Kyle McConaghy

Writer(s): Joe DeBoer
Kyle McConaghy

Starring: Sterling Macer Jr., John Fleck, Susan Priver, Micki Jackson, Tomas Boykin, Nick Heyman, Sean Heyman, Aaron Phifer, Michael Cambridge, Micah Fitzgerald, Sharieff Walters, David Willis, Joseph Lopez, Josh Harp, Shelby Sulak, Alyssa Brayboy, Jackie Green, Shelby Shea, Robin D. Stanton, Phillip-Charlie Daniell, Tom Wade, I. Elijah Baughman, Charlie Call, Michael J. Gwynn, Janay Henry, Ricardo Ortiz-Barreto, Alvin Knight Sr., Arnol Zepeda, Cinnamon McLemore, B.G. Grey, David Gay, Peter Liu, Timothy Gourley, Phil Kaufman, Jeffrey Douglas Lewis, Nicholas Alexander Creznic, James Richard Wilsey, Sharika McGill, Elizabeth Keith, Vincent Bernota

Synopsis: An ominous help note finds its way to a 1980s post office, connecting a dead letter investigator to a kidnapped keyboard technician.

Release Date: March 9, 2024 (USA) | Length: Unknown | Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller | MPAA Rating: Unknown | Note(s): Premiered at  SXSW on March 9, 2024. I wasn’t able to identify Sharika McGill.

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Faces of Death (2024) https://media.dream13.com/faces-of-death-2024/ https://media.dream13.com/faces-of-death-2024/#respond Sat, 09 Mar 2024 05:58:57 +0000 https://media.dream13.com/?p=262918

Director: Daniel Goldhaber

Writer(s): Daniel Goldhaber, Isa Mazzei

Starring: Dacre Montgomery, Josie Totah, Barbie Ferreira, Jermaine Fowler, Charli XCX, JD Evermore, Jared Bankens, Aaron Holliday, Victoria Harris, Tadasay Young, Betsy Borrego, Anne Nichols Brown, Rose Bianca Grue, Mia Naipaul, Kyle Nordby

Synopsis: A woman, employed as a website content moderator, comes across a series of violent videos reproducing death scenes from a film.

Release Date: Unknown | Length: Unknown | Genre: Horror | MPAA Rating: Unknown | Note: Original announcement.

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