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      Two Black Women Win Oscar for 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'

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      In what may shape up as a night of firsts, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson became the first Black women to win an Oscar for best hair and makeup for their work on “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”“I want to say thank you to our ancestors who put the work in, were denied, but never gave up,” Neal said. “And I also stand here as Jamika and I break this glass ceiling with so much excitement for the future. Because I can picture Black trans women standing up here and Asian sisters and our Latina sisters and Indigenous women, and I know that one day it won’t be unusual or groundbreaking; it will just be normal.”Neal and Wilson, who were honored for the film’s hairstyles (Sergio Lopez-Rivera was cited for the film’s makeup) were also the first Black women ever nominated in the category. The award was added in 1981 after the 1980 drama “The Elephant Man” was not recognized.The film, adapted from August Wilson’s play and directed by George C. Wolfe, is set during a recording session in 1920s Chicago. It tells the story of Rainey, a pioneering blues singer played by Viola Davis, and her battle to protect her gift from exploitation by a white-owned record label. When Chadwick Boseman’s musician, an ambitious upstart named Levee, wants to play a song his way, a clash of egos ensues.The film is “a powerful and pungent reminder of the necessity of art, of its sometimes terrible costs and of the preciousness of the people, living and dead, with whom we share it,” The New York Times co-chief film critic A.O. Scott wrote in his review. More

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      Daniel Kaluuya Wins Oscar for Best Supporting Actor

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      Daniel Kaluuya won the Academy Award for best supporting actor for his nuanced portrayal of Fred Hampton in “Judas and the Black Messiah,” beating out his co-star, Lakeith Stanfield, who was also nominated in the category.“To chairman Fred Hampton,” Kaluuya said in his acceptance speech. “What a man. How blessed we are that we lived in a lifetime where he existed.”“There’s so much work to do,” Kaluuya added, speaking about Hampton’s legacy. “That’s on everyone in this room.”Kaluuya’s win was far from a surprise. Critics have widely praised his performance of Hampton, an ascendant leader of the Black Panther Party who was killed by the police in 1969. And Kaluuya won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor earlier this awards season.But when Oscar nominations were unveiled last month, Stanfield’s inclusion in the supporting actor category alongside Kaluuya puzzled some Oscars pundits, who thought Stanfield a better fit for the best actor category. As it turned out, it did not ultimately cost Kaluuya, who was considered something of a lock to win the category.Kaluuya previously had earned a best actor Oscar nomination for his turn in the 2017 smash “Get Out.” Sunday marked his first Oscar win.Kaluuya’s rousing call-and-response speeches drive some of the most electric scenes in “Judas and the Black Messiah.” But in an interview with The New York Times, Kaluuya detailed the great lengths he went to in order to understand Hampton and, in so doing, come to capture his idiosyncratic voice and style of speaking. “I gave it everything I had. I gave. I gave. I gave,” he said then.In his review of the film, The New York Times co-chief film critic A.O. Scott acknowledged Kaluuya’s efforts, writing that the actor “finds inflections of Southernness in his voice and manner — undertones of humor and courtliness, an appreciation of the expressive possibilities of language.”“I don’t feel like I’m entitled to anyone’s attention,” Kaluuya told The Times. “I have to offer, or channel, or shape something that’s going to make you want to give it to me.” More

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      Yuh-Jung Youn Nabs Historic Oscar Win for 'Minari'

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      After the Korean actress Yuh-Jung Youn’s delightfully hilarious BAFTA acceptance speech earlier this month, the Academy gave the 73-years-young “Minari” grandmother the chance to deliver another Sunday night when it selected her as its best supporting actress. It is the first time a Korean actress has ever won an acting Oscar.“I don’t believe in competition, how can I win over Glenn Close?” Youn said in her acceptance speech. “Tonight, I have just a little bit luck, I think, maybe. I’m luckier than you. And also maybe it’s American hospitality for the Korean actor. I’m not sure. But anyway, thank you so much.”Youn triumphed as the grandmother in Lee Isaac Chung’s film about a family from South Korea who takes up farming near the Ozarks. The film is named for the leafy green vegetable popular in Korean cooking. Our critic A.O. Scott called it “in its circumspect, gentle way, moving and downright revelatory.” Scott classed Youn as a sly scene-stealer but noted that is “also true of her character, who infuses her daughter’s home with mischief, folk wisdom and mostly unspoken memories of war, poverty and other hardship.”She also thanked her two grown sons, who she said “make me go out and work. … This is the result, because mommy worked so hard.”This was Youn’s first nomination, and, until recent weeks, an invite to speechify on the film industry’s biggest stage was far from a sure thing. One of her biggest foes might have been the 74-year-old Glenn Close, who’s now been nominated eight times without a single statuette (can we give her an honorary Oscar yet?). But after Youn’s SAG Award win and smile-inducing BAFTA speech earlier this month that thanked British voters — whom she labeled “very snobbish” people — for selecting her, the race was hers to lose.She didn’t repeat her BAFTA roast, but she did offer a kindly zinger Sunday night.“As you know, I’m from Korea, and my name is Yuh-Jung Youn — most of European people call me Yuh Youn and some call me Yuh-Jung,” she said. “But tonight, you are all forgiven.” More

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      Neil Marshall Gets Candid Why He Found 'Hellboy' Revamp Process 'Really Miserable'

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      Instagram

      Returned to his horror roots with his new project, ‘The Reckoning’ director opens up about what he learns from taking on a big franchise which ended up becoming a flop in 2019.

      Apr 26, 2021

      AceShowbiz –
      “Hellboy (2019)” revamp director Neil Marshall will think twice about taking on another big franchise after feeling “handcuffed” by the creative process of the 2019 film flop.

      The filmmaker has returned to his horror roots with his new movie, “The Reckoning”, and he made a conscious decision about the kind of project he wanted to pursue after being disappointed with the way things worked out on the comic book reboot, which featured “Stranger Things” star David Harbour as the titular comic book character.

      He told SFX magazine, “I was kind of handcuffed on that film. It was really miserable, because I didn’t get any creative input in the project. And so for this one I deliberately sacrificed having a budget for having complete control over the film. It was rough, but it was a way more satisfying experience. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved out of very little.”

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      “The Reckoning”, based on a historic witch hunt in 1665 England, centers around Grace Haverstock, played by Marshall’s real-life partner and co-writer Charlotte Kirk, who is accused of being a witch after losing her husband in the plague.

      The movie was filmed in Hungary in the summer, and Marshall had a say about it. “I’d imagined filming it in the UK, in winter, and it being kind of rainy and bleak and moody. But of course we ended up shooting it in Hungary in the height of summer,” he first opened up.

      “Certainly the fields and the trees pass for England, and that’s absolutely find, but my worry was the weather. I was thinking, ‘Oh, that’s just not the vibe I want…,’ ” he continued. “So I flipped it on its head. I thought, ‘We’ve got characters riding around on horses, they’ve got big hats and they carry guns.”

      Marshall went on recalling, “And there’s a town, and a corrupt guy ruling the town, and then there are farmsteaders… this is a Western! So why don’t we just take onboard that aesthetic and make it hot and dusty and ‘Once Upon A Time In The West… of England!’ ”

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      'Mortal Kombat' and 'Demon Slayer' Exceed Box Office Expectations With Impressive Debuts

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      HBO Max/Aniplex America

      The live-action adaptation of the popular video game and the big-screen version of the Japanese manga series lead the improving box office with a combined gross of $42 million.

      Apr 26, 2021

      AceShowbiz –
      The movie industry is slowly, but surely rebounding. After “Godzilla Vs. Kong” record-breaking debut gave away a hope of recovery in the business, this time “Mortal Kombat” and “Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train” took the charge to boost the North American box office.

      Both movies exceeded industry’s estimates to lead the chart with an impressive combined gross of approximately $42 million, doubling their pre-opening estimates. The live-action adaptation of the popular video game tops the rank with an estimated $22.5 million opening gross, while the big-screen version of the Japanese manga series trails close behind at No. 2 with an estimated $19.5 million.

      “Mortal Kombat”, which is an R-rated martial arts film, added $27.6 million from international markets, bringing its worldwide cumulative total to $50.1 million. As for the animated dark fantasy period action film, it’s a box-office juggernaut overseas, accumulating $388.2 million internationally for a current global total of $407.7 million.

      “Godzilla Vs. Kong” is forced to step down two ranks to No. 3 after three weeks leading the chart. The epic monster showdown movie added an estimated $4.2 million, bringing its current total domestic gross to $86.6 million.

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      Bob Odenkirk’s “Nobody” also takes the plunge from No. 2 to No. 4 with an estimated addition of $1.9 million to its domestic gross. Meanwhile, “Raya and the Last Dragon” falls one place to round out the top five with approximately $1.7 million.

      The only other newcomer this week is indie film “Together Together”. The R-rated quirkie dramatic comedy debuts at No. 8 with approximately $522,440. All together, the total revenues will come to around $55 million, which is 25 percent better than any weekend since theater closures began last year.

      Next week, a number of movies such as “The Father”, “Promising Young Woman” and “Judas and the Black Messiah” are expected to see a significant surge in their weekly revenues following their Oscar wins on Sunday night, April 25.

      Top 10 of North America Box Office (Apr. 23-25, 2021)

      “Mortal Kombat” – $22.5 million
      “Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train” – $19.5 million
      “Godzilla vs Kong” – $4.2 million
      “Nobody” – $1.9 million
      “Raya and the Last Dragon” – $1.7 million
      “The Unholy” – $1.4 million
      “Tom & Jerry” – $650,000
      “Together Together” – $522,440
      “The Girl Who Believes in Miracles” – $336,957
      “The Courier” – $264,175

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      Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Unveils Ominous First Teaser Trailer

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      [embedded content]

      Courtesy of 20th Century Studios, the first sneak-peek video for the upcoming romantic musical drama has been released during the live broadcast of the 2021 Academy Awards.

      Apr 26, 2021

      AceShowbiz –
      Here’s a new look at Steven Spielberg’s take on “West Side Story”. Courtesy of 20th Century Studios, the first teaser trailer for the upcoming romantic musical drama was released during the live broadcast of the 2021 Academy Awards on Sunday night, April 25.

      The one-and-a-half-minute video opens with ominous-sounding whistling and music, before a version of Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere (There’s a Place for Us)” plays. The scenes show the rivalry between two street gangs, which are in stark contrast to the lively musical performance scenes and the love affair between Tony and Maria, all set to the backdrop of New York City.

      Ansel Elgort plays Tony, while newcomer Rachel Zegler, who is also a YouTube personality, is cast as Maria. Rita Moreno, who starred in the 1961 movie, also stars in the updated version as Valentina. Spielberg directed the flick with the script written by Tony Kushner based on the stageplay of the same title, which in turn is based loosely on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”.

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      At the heart of the story is the rivalry between two warring street gangs, the white Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. The tensions get higher as Tony falls for Maria, the younger sister of the leader of the Sharks, and the two forge a forbidden bond.

      Up-and-comer Ariana DeBose, who stars as Anita, told ET, “The film is a love letter to New York City, celebrating its diversity, celebrating the beauty of the streets, celebrating the possibility that people felt when they came to the city. That’s the thing I really love about it.” She added, “That energy was palpable on set.”

      The production wrapped in September 2019. In a letter to audiences marking the end of the filming, Spielberg wrote, “This has been a journey without precedence: a joyful, stunning, moving, endlessly surprising encounter with the story and score of one of the world’s greatest musicals. We filmed ‘West Side Story’ all over New York, Flatbush to Fort Tryon Park. The city lent us its beauty and its energy, and we drew deeply upon its grand multicultural, multifaceted spirit.”

      The movie was initially scheduled to be released in December 2020, before it’s pushed back nearly a year to December 10 of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The release date will coincide with the 60th anniversary of the release of the original 1961 film.

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      Fans Enraged Over Chadwick Boseman's Upset Loss at 2021 Oscars

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      Netflix

      The late actor was widely expected to win Best Actor at the 93rd annual Academy Awards for his role in ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’, but Anthony Hopkins nabbed the prize instead.

      Apr 26, 2021

      AceShowbiz –
      While Oscar winners may be currently celebrating their victories, some viewers have been left disappointed with the result, particularly the Best Actor win, after watching the Sunday, April 25 live telecast. Leading to the 93rd annual Academy Awards, Chadwick Boseman was widely expected to win in the category following his wins at other major awards, including Golden Globe Awards and SAG Awards, but that didn’t happen tonight.

      Instead, in a surprising twist, Anthony Hopkins nabbed the Best Actor award for his role in “The Father”. While it doesn’t necessarily mean that the veteran actor’s acting was bad in the said movie, the late star’s fans felt like he was being robbed of his supposed first posthumous Oscar.

      Taken aback by the Best Actor win which was announced the last at the televised event, one Twitter user wrote, “anthony was phenomenal. good for him truly. but how are you gonna 1) speed the absolute f**k out of the in memoriam segment and 2) switch up the order of the awards to make your audience think you’re gonna give chadwick some sort of tribute and then just……. not. feels cruel.”

      Another echoed the sentiment, “them pushing best actor till the end just for chadwick not to win was very f**ked up and it feels like they exploited his death for views.” A third sarcastically remarked, “ok rearranging the categories for the first time ever trying to end on best actor in order to honor chadwick and then instead giving the award to hopkins who isn’t even there… actually a really good bit, bravo.”

      Another disappointed fan simply exclaimed, “OMG, Chadwick should have won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Taking issue with the last few last minutes of the show, someone complained, “An absent Anthony Hopkins winning over Chadwick Boseman during a ceremony built to end around a Boseman win while Joaquin Phoenix awkwardly stumbles through it all is…wow. Chaos!”

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      “I might be howling at the wind like Frances McDormand but that was the worst possible way to end this broadcast…,” a sixth user wrote. Another baffled viewer tweeted, “Sorry… what just happened? That has got to be the most shocking last 10 minutes of an Oscars EVER.”

      Not everyone was upset by Boseman’s loss though. Hopkins’ fans thought that his Oscar win was well-deserved, with one pointing out, “anyone who knows someone suffering from dementia will understand just how good Anthony Hopkins performance was. This is his greatest ever acting without doubt.”

      “I saw all the best picture nominees and all the films for best actor and actress. So sad that Chadwick died, but Anthony Hopkins fully deserved his Oscar,” another noted. Someone else added, “Yeah! Anthony Hopkins was fantastic in The Father. Well deserved!”

      The Academy has not responded to the criticism over Boseman’s upset loss. Meanwhile, the Sunday night show celebrated the “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” star during an In Memoriam tribute, which was opened by Angela Bassett. Stevie Wonder’s “As” was played as a montage of late actors and filmmakers like Cicely Tyson, Sean Connery, Kelly Preston and Christopher Plummer was seen on the screen.

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      Tyler Perry Speaks Against Hate in Moving Oscars Speech

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      Special-achievement Oscars are seemingly straightforward. Film industry person gets gold-plated bronze dude for doing notable thing.Beneath the surface, however, more is usually going on than meets the eye.The academy sometimes uses them to right wrongs, as when Debbie Reynolds was awarded one in 2015. She was ostensibly recognized for founding a mental-health charity. But it was also a way for the academy to apologize for ignoring her pleas for help in preserving costumes from Hollywood’s golden age. She also never won a competitive Oscar despite appearing in films for seven decades.Since the #OscarsSoWhite debacles of 2015 and 2016, honorary Oscars have gone to Spike Lee, Cicely Tyson, Jackie Chan, the Indigenous actor Wes Studi and other people of color. Geena Davis was recognized in 2019 for her continuing effort to correct gender inequality in Hollywood.In selecting Tyler Perry to receive a special-achievement Oscar this year, the academy cited a “cultural influence extending far beyond his work as a filmmaker.” Some people saw the academy’s move as a corrective — a tacit apology for looking down its nose all those years at the lowbrow Madea and thus, Perry’s fan base.No matter. Perry spoke movingly in his speech on Sunday night, saying, “When I set out to help someone, it is my intention to do just that. I’m not trying to do anything other than meet somebody at their humanity.”He continued:“My mother taught me to refuse hate. She taught me to refuse blanket judgment. And in this time, and with all of the internet and social media and algorithms and everything that wants us to think a certain way, the 24-hour news cycle, it is my hope that all of us will teach our kids … just refuse hate. Don’t hate anybody.“I refuse to hate someone because they are Mexican or because they are Black or white or LGBTQ. I refuse to hate someone because they are a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they are Asian. I would hope that we would refuse hate.“And I want to take this Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and dedicate it to anyone who wants to stand in the middle, no matter what’s around the walls. Stand in the middle, because that’s where healing happens. That’s where conversation happens. That’s where change happens. It happens in the middle So anyone who wants to meet me in the middle, to refuse hate, to refuse blanket judgment, and to help lift someone’s feet off the ground, this one is for you, too.“God bless you, and thank you, academy. I appreciate it, thank you.”Perry started his entertainment career as a playwright. Since ending his popular “Madea” film series in 2019, Perry has focused on making television shows like “Bruh,” “Sistahs” and “The Oval” for BET. He owns a studio in Atlanta. He is also developing a “Madea” prequel for Showtime called “Mabel” that is set in the 1970s. More