Moonlight Takes Over Gotham

The IFP Gotham Awards were handed out at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City last night, and A24’s Moonlight was off to a good award-season start, taking home Best Feature and Best Screenplay to go with its previously announced special jury ensemble award. Casey Affleck won Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea, and Isabelle Huppert took Best Actress for Elle besting out award doyens Natalie Portman and Annette Bening. Check out the full list of winners below.

Here is the complete list of winners at the 26th annual Gotham Awards:

BEST FEATURE

Moonlight
Barry Jenkins, director; Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, producers (A24)

BEST ACTOR

Casey Affleck
Manchester by the Sea (Amazon Studios)

BEST ACTRESS

Isabelle Huppert
Elle (Sony Pictures Classics)

SPECIAL GOTHAM JURY AWARD

Cast Of Moonlight
(A24)

BEST DOCUMENTARY

O.J.: Made in America
Ezra Edelman, director; Caroline Waterlow, Ezra Edelman, Tamara Rosenberg, Nina Krstic, Deirdre Fenton, Erin Leyden, producers (ESPN Films)

BINGHAM RAY BREAKTHROUGH DIRECTOR AWARD

Trey Edward Shults
Krisha (A24)

BREAKTHROUGH ACTOR

Anya Taylor-Joy
The Witch (A24)

BEST SCREENPLAY

Moonlight
Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; Screenplay by Barry Jenkins (A24)

BREAKTHROUGH SERIES – LONGFORM

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Rachel Bloom & Aline Brosh McKenna, creators; Marc Webb, Rachel Bloom, Aline Brosh McKenna, Erin Ehrlich, executive producers (The CW)

BREAKTHROUGH SERIES – SHORTFORM

Her Story
Jen Richards and Laura Zak, creators (herstoryshow.com)

AFI FILM FESTIVAL: LIVE CARGO

AFI, like many festivals worldwide, wholeheartedly support their alumni and this year is no different!

AFI alum Logan Sandler makes his directorial debut with LIVE CARGO.  Sandler along with Director of Photography Daniella Nowitz  frame its Bahamian location with lots of imagery masked mostly in Black and White.  Watching a black and white film forces the audience to use their imagination while watching this cinematic piece of yumminess.

The most fascinating thing about this film is its opening of a young Nadine and Lewis, who have just lost their child.  The close-ups on their faces as they experience this loss is uncomfortable to watch and it should be.  That one moment sets the tone for the rest of the film.

The underwater scenes are simply majestic to witness and the masterful way in which simmering tensions, stalled aspirations and dark secrets lurk around every corner make it hard to turn away from this unique piece of festival cinema.

LIVE CARGO was one of many films featured at the 2016 AFI Film Festival and it made it premiere this Spring at the Tribeca Film Festival.

MISS SLOANE

With the topsy-turvy, emotional election Americans have just experience, the release of Miss Sloane is right on time.  Not to mention, that this is the performance for which Jessica Chastain will be most remembered for.

As whip-smart, ruthless lobbyist Elizabeth Sloane, Chastain masters and delivers rapid fire dialogue notably associated with celebrated television writer Aaron Sorkin.  Sloane’s commitment to taking anyone and everyone down, including herself makes for an extremely interesting roller-coaster ride with an ending that smacks you in the face like a ton of bricks!! It’s all done with such an alarming speed, that if one is not paying attention,  you might miss a clue or two.

Director John Madden has outdone himself on this one assembling one of the most fabulous onscreen cast this awards season.  The twists and turns are dizzying, yet yummy and fascinating thanks to the brilliant writing skills of John Perera.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw can literally inhabit any type of character in any type of setting with a childlike vulnerability that is beautifully endearing to watch. However, it is layered with a quiet internal strength that took me from having empathy to having admiration

Jessica Chastain as Miss Sloane

Allison Pill , Sam Waterston, John Lithgow and the rest of this cast are stellar!  They not only compliment each other, but are the perfect support for Jessica Chastain.  Miss Sloane gives you an up close view at just how far a lobbyist will go to get what they want.Now in limited release in select cities, Miss Sloane can be seen nationwide TODAY.

LION

I don’t know about you, but one of my greatest fears growing up is that I would somehow become separated from my parents and never see them again.

As a little girl in Hawaiit, on a typical grocery day, my Mom let go of my hand to grab something off a shelf.  By the time she turned around to put it in the cart I was gone.  As my parents frantically searched throughout the store, my Dad saw a woman in the parking lot with me in tow heading toward her car.

I don’t have to tell you,  My Daddy lost his mind.  He proceeded to verbally go off on this woman, snatched me away from her and headed back inside the store.  Needless to say, my parents were mortified that at the blink  of an eye I was almost never to be seen or heard from again.

Little did I know on the other side of the world, Saroo (Dev Patel), out on a night excursion with his brother Guduu (Abhishek Bharate), becomes separated and spends more than 22 years away from his family before reconnecting.

In Lion, five-year-old Saroo (Sunny Pawar) gets lost on a train traveling away from his home and family ending up thousands of miles away, in chaotic Kolkata, India. Somehow he survives living on the streets before ending up in an orphanage that’s not exactly a safe haven. Adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham), Saroo finds love and security growing up in Hobart. As an adult,  his emotional need and hope of ever finding his lost mother and brother are becoming nearly flashback memories. But, a chance meeting with some fellow Indians reawakens his buried yearning. Armed with only a handful of memories and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, Saroo sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home in India.

As if I weren’t already a fan of Dev Patel from Slumdog Millionaire and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, his performance in “Lion” has made me a “superfan”.  It’s always a thin line when one  portray’s a character based on a real person that is still living and breathing!  I can tell you that Patel is crushing his performance so hard you forget he’s sharing a screen with Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman.  We will most certainly be hearing alot from him this awards season.

Kudos to Garth Davis for keeping the Indian culture authentic by using actors from this country to communicate this amazing story. At the Q&A following the AFI Film Festival Screening, a few little known facts were revealed by Saroo and Nicole Kidman. First, the actor that plays Young Saroo doesn’t speak English…at all, which is unbelievable.  This kid (Sunny Pawar) is adorable and absolutely astonishing.  The depths of emotion and vulnerability he displays hasn’t been seen since such child actors like Dakota Fanning and Haley Joel Osment.

Saroo was misprouncing the name of his town, which resulted in his not being found for nearly two years after being separated from his brother, Guduu.  Guduu, by the way, didn’t abadon Saroo, but got hit by a train on his way back to scoop him up.

Watiting in the lobby, I ran into Saroo.  He is such a charming, put-together young man with manners and respect for others that sorely lack in today’s digital age society.

Lion is the type of film that proves one truly has to pay attention to those “gut feelings”  we so often ignore and that as Lin Manuel Miranda says “Love is Love Is Love”.  It will make your heart swell and give you faith back in humanity.

Lion can be seen nationwide by The Weinstein Company TODAY.

MOANA→

Disney is on a roll for 2016!!  Disney Animated Studios has bragging rights to Frozen (the highest grossest animated film of all time),  Zootopia in the #2 spot and Moana is well on its way to melting Frozens's record.

Moana (Auli‘i Cravalho) tells the story of a young Hawaiian girl who is searching for a demigod (Maui played by Dwayne Johnson), who once he is found, the two embark upon a journey to save her island and her people from impending destruction. Auli'l's voice is absolutely amazing and "The Rock" surprised me with his vocal prowess on "Your Welcome".

It was so nice to see Disney add another ethnic Princess to their stable twice in one year (Elena from Avalor was introduced to the Disney Channel earlier).  The photography is absolutely stunning and so life-like that one forgets that you are watching an animated feature.

The diverse and dynamic team behind the film’s inspired music includes Tony®- and Grammy®-winning lyricist/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who’s behind Broadway’s Pulitzer Prize-winning and multiple Tony-winning “Hamilton” and the Tony-winning “In the Heights,” and is a 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award recipient. Three-time Grammy®-winning composer Mark Mancina created memorable scores for films like “Speed,” “Tarzan” and the Oscar®-winning “Training Day,” and also co-wrote songs, produced and arranged the score for Broadway’s musical production of “The Lion King.” Opetaia Foa‘i, the founder and lead singer of Te Vaka, is a winner of numerous world music awards, including the Senior Pacific Artist award for his contribution to Pacific music. Miranda is well on his way to becoming an EGOT  (Emmy-Grammy-Oscar-Tony) member before the end of 2017!!!

Click HERE for how the cast and crew felt about working with WATER

Kudos Disney  and directors Ron Clements & John Musker for really working it out on the diversity front for 2016!  Of course, this shouldn't be a surprise since this same team brought us Princess & The Frog and Aladdin.  We won't have to guess who all the little girls will want to be for Halloween 2017...lol.

Of course, No Disney film would be complete wthout villains (the Coconuts) and the loyal best friend (The Rooster and the Baby Pig).  Of course, my favorite was Grandma Tala (Rachel House).  She is sugar and spice with everything naughty and nice:).

Moana is a great film for the adults and the kiddies and an even greater flick to check out during the holiday season!!!

If you are not convinced...maybe these clips will convince you to run to the theatre NOW!

Click HERE for MOANA Trailer

DON'T LOOK DOWN

I have to admit, didn't know much about Richard Branson other than the fact he owned Virgin America Airlines or how he came to acquire that except for an interview I saw on The Oprah Show some years back.  Neither did I recognize he was  the dude who signed major rock stars ranging from the Sex Pistols to the Rolling Stones, making Virgin Records the biggest independent labels in the world.  To date, there are more than 100 Virgin companies worldwide, employing approximately 60,000 people in over 50 countries.  Can you say over-acheiver...lol??

After screening Don't Look Down, I surmised Richard Branson is fascinating.  He's a ridiculously rich man, who wants nothing more than to be an explorer and get credit for those accomplishments.  To say that he is a daredevil or one who takes great risks is an understatement.

Were his thrilling desires really work the risks?  Branson has challenged himself with many record-breaking adventures, including the fastest ever Atlantic Ocean crossing, series of hot air balloon adventures and kite surfing across the English Channel.

Daniel Gordon’s documentary Don’t Look Down, which screened at Tribeca,  centered on Branson’s daredevil balloon flights across the Atlantic and the Pacific.  In regards to the Atlantic trip, Branson says, “Six tried before us. Five had died,” and what “could go wrong, went wrong on that flight.”

Don't Look Down will give you a bird's-eye view of this dramatic untold story straight from his collaborators, family, never seen archival footage from inside the hot air balloon capsule and the most intimate thoughts on all of this from Branson himself.

The capsule footage is fascinating, as you learn that although being in a hot air balloon may look like a beautiful and etherial it made me personally never want to attempt that adventure ever in life!

What is even more fascinating is the fact that his collaborators on this adventure Don Cameron has a heart of gold and nerves of steel, which made him the perfect dude to be thousands of feet in the air with Richard Branson.

“We shouldn’t be here to tell the tale, but it tells for a gripping film,” says Branson. Submarine Entertainment is handling both U.S. and foreign sales for Don’t Look Down.

13th

The 13th Amendment.  What do we really know about it other than it was part of the constitution that kicked slavery to the curb.  It declared that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime  whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

Leave it to director Ava Duvernay to break it all the way down to make a case out of the fact that slavery hasn't really been abolished.  In fact, it's actually evolved into our current system of mass incarceration.  A system,  in which many prisons are run by major corporations (Walmart and Victoria's Secret)  for profit.  Prisoners  are paid a pittance for their labor. Twelve cents an hours to be exact.

In a year that has seen a black life murdered or jailed at a rapid rate, a movement incited by people of all races speaking out on the injustices called #BlackLivesMatter and year in film that began with the hashtag #oscarssowhite, 13th brings to the forefront a much need conversation about mass incarceration of people of color.

From Jim Crow laws to Nixon's "war on drugs" to Bill Clinton's "three strikes" legislation, mass incarceration is a real issue and one that sorely needs investigating and discussing.  In 1970, there were 200,000 prisoners and today the numbers are staggering toward more than 2 million.  Did you know that while the America has more than just 5% of the world's population, we have more than 25% of the world's population in prisoners?  It is a proven fact that one in three prisoners are black men and more than 60% of the people in the prison system are people of color.

Interviewing scholars and activists ranging from Angela Davis to rapper/Oscar winner Common, the film trots out images of lynchings, cellphone videos of police abuse and footage from the  1815 D.W. Griffith film "The Birth of a Nation".  That film alone glorified the Klu Klux Klan and was screened with pride at the White House for then President Woodrow Wilson. I know ...right??!!

13th couldn't  be more timely in an election year where we have candidates speaking of building walls, politicians pushing for criminal justice reform and reducing the prison population - particularly of non-violent offenders.  As if Hillary Clinton doesn't have enough on her plate with those damn emails, the film openly criticizes Bill and Hillary for supporting the 1990's crime bill that has led to a massive increase of the prison population today.  A bill in which those both now realize was a fatally flawed mistake for our country.

A pivotal, yet chilling moment for me was some footage of a recent Trump rally - where angry white people with black protestors are shown against archival clips of civil rights protestors.  All the while listening to Donald Trump say, "In the good old days...they would be carried out on stretchers."

I'm not gonna lie.  Watching these types of projects makes me feel some kind of way. Mostly angry, hurt and left with a massive desire to make difference.  Obviously, there is strength in numbers.  Each one teach and tell one.  So, today I have taught you more than you probably wanted to know about the 13th amendment through the lens of brilliant director Ava Duvernay.  The rest is literally up to you to keep the conversation going until a change is made.

13th can be streamed NOW via Netflix.

Click HERE for 13th Trailer

DOCTOR STRANGE

Benedict Cumberbatch is exchanging those serious Oscar nominated roles like Alan Turing in The Imitation Game and the BBC's Sherlock for  neurosurgeon turned sorcerer in Marvel's Doctor Strange.

This latest Marvel installment may be just what the franchise needs to reinvigorate itself.  I spent a majority of this film with my mouth dropped from witnessing  the most amazingly eye-twisting visual special effects I have ever seen.  They were simply marvelous, yet mind-bending to watch.

Of course, I would be remiss in not addressing the controversy that has swirled around the casting of Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, a role depicted in the comic as one of Asian descent.

While the studio, the writers, director Scott Derrickson and even Swinton herself have spoken out about the upcoming changes in the film, it continues to be a topic of discussion among many. 

In a recent interview with Out, the actress once again addresses the controversy surrounding her character and states that the Ancient One was never written as a Tibetan man, as portrayed in the comics.

“There is little for me to add except to say that anyone speaking up for a greater accuracy in the representation of the diversity of the world we live in has me right beside them,” she says. “As someone who has worked from the beginning as an artist within a queer aesthetic, the urgency of that voice is always going to be welcome.”

It goes without saying that clearly the Asian community is sick of exclusion, as are people of color, Latinos and Native Americans.  Who can forget not too long ago the casting of Jennifer Lawrence as Catniss in The Hunger Games franchise, when in the book Catniss is Native American.  One of these days, Hollywood will get it right.

Anywhoo, back to Doctor Strange.  I loved it!  The cinematic aesthetic is off the charts thanks to Ben Davis and Scott Derrickson.  The action keeps you engaged to the point when the film is over...you are totally not ready for it to end.

Both McAdams and Cumberbatch reached into their lighter side to make Christine and Stephen engaging, charming and comedic without being over the top.  It was wonderful to see Chiwetel Ejiofor cross over to the dark side (smelling a sequel) and watch him leap into his superhero lane making a departure from his more serious work as well.  Controversy aside, Tilda Swinton is fantastic as The Ancient One.  Kinda hate that she...oops don't want it spoil it for you guys:)

However, the real star of this film was the "cloak of levitation".  It truly was a character all unto itself without skipping a beat.

Marvel really out did itself on this one.  The credits for the digital crew and special effects listed at least more than 100 people for everything ranging from CGI to Sound.  Bravo!  Can't wait for the sequel!!

Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange opens in theaters Friday, November 4th!

Click HERE to watch the trailer

LOVING

Three  years ago,  a Cheerios commercial featuring a mixed race couple and their daughter aired nationwide.  What the ad agency, the actors nor Proctor & Gamble could have never predicted was the outlandish response.

Thousands of consumers flooded P&G with complaints over the spot. It single-handedly generated such a strong racist backlash on YouTube that the comments section had to be closed.  The ad had received more than 1,600 likes and more than 500 dislikes.

On the Cheerio's Facebook page many commented that they found the commercial “disgusting” and that it made them “want to vomit.” Other hateful comment expressed shock that a black father would stay with his family.  However, on the flip side, many took to Facebook to express their appreciation for Cheerios’ decision to feature a mixed-race family.

Shocking?  Not really given the current climate in our country.

In 1958, however, it was unlawful to be married and of mixed race.  A fact that Mildred and Richard Loving knew all too well.  It was their Supreme Court case "Loving v. Virginia" that changed the trajectory of mixed race couples forever making it perfectly legal to love and marry anyone of any race you prefer.  Clearly, it took the State of Virginia nearly 10 years to actually live up to its moniker, "Virginia is for Lovers".

Mildred and Richard showed America that love has no color line and that they would do whatever it took to keep their family together.  In spite of being jailed.  In spite of being betrayed.  In spite of fear.  In spite of  hate.  These two "human beings" fought to live the life they wanted on the own terms using the law to make that dream a reality.

Every performance in this film is absolutely extraordinary.  However, Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton are giving performances that are simply powerful and heart-wrenching.  They both giving meaning to the phrase "quiet fire" and their chemistry is undeniable.  It takes a lot of technical strength as an actor to effectively convey an emotion or thought with little to no dialogue.  Negga and Edgerton are masterful at it and both deserve to have their work recognized this awards season.

Adam Stone's photography of the Virginian countryside is absolutely breathtaking. Knowing that Martin Scorsese was originally attached peaked my curiosity, as I am a huge fan of  his work with The Age of Innocence.  Though, I must say Jeff Nichols turned out to be a perfect match for this story and its execution.

Based in part on the 2011 Nancy Buirski documentary, "The Loving Story", LOVING is a very moving story that will make you look at life and the human race just a little bit differently. At the end of the day, we all bleed red no matter what our ethnicity is.  LOVING opens in select theatres  on November 4th.

TROLLS

Let me tell you something, Trolls had me singing and feeling happier than I had in months!!!  A smile stayed on my face for hours after I left the theatre.!!!

Who knew that those little weird looking dolls would be able to elevate such a human emotion,  Trolls, the latest animated creation by Dreamworks is delightful and  are as adorable as a brand  puppy.

Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Erica Rivinoja and Thomas Dam created dialogue that is current and will resonate with viewers of all ages, creeds and colors.  I literally laughed out loud!  They even had choreography and were truly getting down with the best of them!

Justin TImberlake is doing double duty as the voice of Branch, while providing a score that literally will make you dance out of your seat!  With music ranging from everything to Simon & Garfunkel to Earth, Wind & Fire, you will be ready to rock it out from the first note to the last.

Trolls is a great family outing and a sorely needed pick me up for when life gets to be just a little too serious!  Do you have to look for happiness outside of yourself or within?  Let the Trolls take you and the kids out and rock out!

Watch the trailer HERE

MOONLIGHT

Have you ever seen a coming of age story that emulates Brokeback Mountain in the hood?  Well, that is exactly what the film MOONLIGHT is giving us.

MOONLIGHT absolutely glows while sharing the dysfunctional home life of "Little" in the Miami "War on Drugs" era and his struggle to figure out who he is and what his place is to be as adult in this conflicted world he exists in.

Alex R. Hibbert is exceptionally complex as Little and physically is very reminiscent of a young 50 cent.  However, the other actors that portray "Little" are all so riveting that no matter what scene you are watching, one is riveted by their performances.

Mahershala Ali is having one hell of a year!  Right off of his Recurring role in the Netflix hit, House of Cards, Ali has several features that have been released this year including Free State of Jones with Matthew McConaughey, the indie darling Kicks and now as crack dealer Juan. Ali has truly cornered the market on the bad guy, but in Moonlight he shows that even bad guys have a heart.  His scenes teaching "Little" to swim will warm and break your heart all at once.

mahershala ali in moonlight

In her film debut,  recording artist turned actress Janelle Monae appears very comfortable in front of the lens.  If this performance is any indication of what we are in store for when Hidden Figures is released (along with Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer), she may very well see herself on numerous red carpet leading to some well-deserved Oscar buzz.

janelle-monae in moonlight

Andre' Holland as Little's best friend from childhood, Kevin is sexy,..period.  Holland gives Kevin just the right amount of vulnerability to match Hibbert in some very  touching scenes.  We learn that even the men who pretend to be the hardest dudes out there need love and a gentle touch every once in a while.

Andre holland in moonlight

The one person who your mind can't forget after leaving the theatre is Naomi Harris.  As Little's crack-addicted Mom, Paula, you just want to reach up to the screen and shake some sense into her.  What mother loves that rock more than her own flesh and blood?  One of her most prolific scenes is while she is in rehab expressing her remorse for his upbringing while begging him to get off the streets.  Absolutely...heartbreaking.

naomie harris in moonlight

Moonlight can be seen in a theatre near you as of October 21st.