Artists don’t always appreciate other artists. Quentin Tarantino was a massive fan of Elvis Presley but not The Beatles. On top of that, he preferred a band that’s often accused of copying The Beatles to The Beatles themselves.
Quentin Tarantino rejected The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and many other rock stars
In the 2022 book Cinema Speculation, Tarantino discussed learning about music history from his friend Floyd. “I was all ears about this firsthand rock ‘n’ roll history, because I wasn’t into ’70s white-boy rock,” he said. “I didn’t give a f*** about Kiss, I didn’t give a f*** about Aerosmith, I didn’t give a f*** about Alice Cooper or Black Sabbath or Jethro Tull. I didn’t own Frampton Comes Alive! I openly rejected that entire culture.
“At 16, I think I heard of Bruce Springsteen, but I’d never heard Bruce Springsteen,” he added.
Quentin Tarantino rejected The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and many other rock stars
In the 2022 book Cinema Speculation, Tarantino discussed learning about music history from his friend Floyd. “I was all ears about this firsthand rock ‘n’ roll history, because I wasn’t into ’70s white-boy rock,” he said. “I didn’t give a f*** about Kiss, I didn’t give a f*** about Aerosmith, I didn’t give a f*** about Alice Cooper or Black Sabbath or Jethro Tull. I didn’t own Frampton Comes Alive! I openly rejected that entire culture.
“At 16, I think I heard of Bruce Springsteen, but I’d never heard Bruce Springsteen,” he added.
- 12/15/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Artists don’t always appreciate other artists. Quentin Tarantino was a massive fan of Elvis Presley but not The Beatles. On top of that, he preferred a band that’s often accused of copying The Beatles to The Beatles themselves.
Quentin Tarantino rejected The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and many other rock stars
In the 2022 book Cinema Speculation, Tarantino discussed learning about music history from his friend Floyd. “I was all ears about this firsthand rock ‘n’ roll history, because I wasn’t into ’70s white-boy rock,” he said. “I didn’t give a f*** about Kiss, I didn’t give a f*** about Aerosmith, I didn’t give a f*** about Alice Cooper or Black Sabbath or Jethro Tull. I didn’t own Frampton Comes Alive! I openly rejected that entire culture.
“At 16, I think I heard of Bruce Springsteen, but I’d never heard Bruce Springsteen,” he added.
Quentin Tarantino rejected The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and many other rock stars
In the 2022 book Cinema Speculation, Tarantino discussed learning about music history from his friend Floyd. “I was all ears about this firsthand rock ‘n’ roll history, because I wasn’t into ’70s white-boy rock,” he said. “I didn’t give a f*** about Kiss, I didn’t give a f*** about Aerosmith, I didn’t give a f*** about Alice Cooper or Black Sabbath or Jethro Tull. I didn’t own Frampton Comes Alive! I openly rejected that entire culture.
“At 16, I think I heard of Bruce Springsteen, but I’d never heard Bruce Springsteen,” he added.
- 12/15/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris, John Boyega in They Cloned TyronePhoto: Netflix
At first glance, They Cloned Tyrone is a silly satire of early ’70s blaxploitation flicks like Super Fly or Willie Dynamite that adds what writer-director Juel Taylor and writer Tony Rettenmaier call a “... dash of Scooby Doo.” Fortunately, the...
At first glance, They Cloned Tyrone is a silly satire of early ’70s blaxploitation flicks like Super Fly or Willie Dynamite that adds what writer-director Juel Taylor and writer Tony Rettenmaier call a “... dash of Scooby Doo.” Fortunately, the...
- 7/21/2023
- by Timothy Cogshell
- avclub.com
Movie soundtracks can elevate ordinary stories, adding depth and resonance to beloved films. The lasting impact of these soundtracks is evident in the instantly recognizable songs that continue to endure. Sometimes, the music becomes a movie’s highlight, compensating for weaker storylines or characters.
Classic movie musicals like West Side Story have stood the test of time, while films like The Bodyguard provided a platform for legendary artists to showcase their talents. The longevity of these soundtracks is often measured by their chart performance, reflecting their profound influence on generations.
The intertwining of music and cinema is a magical combination. The closing notes of The Breakfast Club, the era-defining mix of Dazed and Confused, and the genius of Prince in Purple Rain are just a few examples of the powerful synergy between sound and vision.
It is impossible to imagine certain movies without their iconic musical moments. Radio Raheem‘s...
Classic movie musicals like West Side Story have stood the test of time, while films like The Bodyguard provided a platform for legendary artists to showcase their talents. The longevity of these soundtracks is often measured by their chart performance, reflecting their profound influence on generations.
The intertwining of music and cinema is a magical combination. The closing notes of The Breakfast Club, the era-defining mix of Dazed and Confused, and the genius of Prince in Purple Rain are just a few examples of the powerful synergy between sound and vision.
It is impossible to imagine certain movies without their iconic musical moments. Radio Raheem‘s...
- 5/15/2023
- by Buddy TV
- buddytv.com
“Cinnamon” — the inaugural project filmed under Village Roadshow Pictures’ Black Noir Cinema banner, co-founded by NBA all-star Kevin Garnett — has debuted its first trailer.
Written, directed and executive produced by Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr., the Tubi original film was selected to make its world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival and stars Hailey Kilgore, Damon Wayans, Pam Grier, David Iacono and Jeremie Harris.
The noir thriller follows a struggling small-town gas station attendant and aspiring singer, named Jodi Jackson, whose life is sent into a tailspin after a fatal crime.
As the film’s synopsis explains, “Cinnamon” centers on Jodi, “frustrated and stuck in a dead-end job with her dreams slipping away,” as she meets a young hustler who quickly becomes her fiercely devoted boyfriend (Iacono).
The clip shows the young couple, desperate to start a new life and jumpstart Jodi’s singing career, as they make the fateful decision to commit a crime together.
Written, directed and executive produced by Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr., the Tubi original film was selected to make its world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival and stars Hailey Kilgore, Damon Wayans, Pam Grier, David Iacono and Jeremie Harris.
The noir thriller follows a struggling small-town gas station attendant and aspiring singer, named Jodi Jackson, whose life is sent into a tailspin after a fatal crime.
As the film’s synopsis explains, “Cinnamon” centers on Jodi, “frustrated and stuck in a dead-end job with her dreams slipping away,” as she meets a young hustler who quickly becomes her fiercely devoted boyfriend (Iacono).
The clip shows the young couple, desperate to start a new life and jumpstart Jodi’s singing career, as they make the fateful decision to commit a crime together.
- 4/18/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Trevor Jackson, known for his role as Aaron Jackson, the male lead opposite Yara Shahidi on Freefom’s Grown-ish, has signed with APA for representation.
Jackson’s Aaron Jackson character was introduced as a recurring guest star in mothership ABC series Black-ish. He has been with the spinoff Grown-ish since its launch. The series is now airing its fifth season and has been renewed for Season 6.
The rising actor previously starred as the lead in Sony Pictures’ remake of 1972 blaxploitation cult classic, Superfly alongside the late Michael K. Williams.
Jackson is also an accomplished musical artist and is set for a 26-state tour with fellow APA client Eric Bellinger on his headlining “Obsession Tour“ which kicks off February 2 in Seattle and wraps up in Las Vegas April 1st. Jackson will be supporting his latest EP, “Show Me Diamonds.”
Jackson’s career began with a three-year stint as Young Simba...
Jackson’s Aaron Jackson character was introduced as a recurring guest star in mothership ABC series Black-ish. He has been with the spinoff Grown-ish since its launch. The series is now airing its fifth season and has been renewed for Season 6.
The rising actor previously starred as the lead in Sony Pictures’ remake of 1972 blaxploitation cult classic, Superfly alongside the late Michael K. Williams.
Jackson is also an accomplished musical artist and is set for a 26-state tour with fellow APA client Eric Bellinger on his headlining “Obsession Tour“ which kicks off February 2 in Seattle and wraps up in Las Vegas April 1st. Jackson will be supporting his latest EP, “Show Me Diamonds.”
Jackson’s career began with a three-year stint as Young Simba...
- 1/27/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
There have been many classic movie comedies over the years featuring Black stars, ranging from Eddie Murphy's Coming to America to Whoopi Goldberg's Sister Act. Those films are among the many that resonated with Black audiences even though they were directed by white filmmakers. Despite that, Hollywood has also had a long tradition of Black directors creating movies aimed specifically at Black audiences; trailblazer Oscar Micheaux, in fact, is regarded as the first major Black filmmaker, directing and producing more than 40 so-called "race films" between 1919 and 1948.
These days, as Hollywood executives increasingly come to realize the importance of Black directors telling Black stories, there's been an ever-growing number of Black directors engaging in big-screen filmmaking, a trend that has been evident not just in dramas but in comedies as well. In fact, some of the most beloved comedies with predominantly Black casts featured Black directors at the helm. For the full picture,...
These days, as Hollywood executives increasingly come to realize the importance of Black directors telling Black stories, there's been an ever-growing number of Black directors engaging in big-screen filmmaking, a trend that has been evident not just in dramas but in comedies as well. In fact, some of the most beloved comedies with predominantly Black casts featured Black directors at the helm. For the full picture,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- Slash Film
Image Source: Getty / Jamie McCarthy
50 Cent's evolution from hip-hop icon to TV mastermind might still be a shock to some people, but the transformation has been amazing to witness. His executive-produced "Power" series debuted on Starz in 2014 with a predicted run of only six to seven seasons. But three spinoffs later (along with true-life series "Bmf"), the flagship show has helped certify 50 Cent's reputation as a TV mogul.
"I didn't start to look at the Power universe until after it worked."
Even though "Power" became wildly popular with a passionate fanbase to match, 50 Cent didn't initially see a cinematic universe in its future. "I didn't start to look at the Power universe until after it worked," he tells Popsugar exclusively. "Like season six [of 'Power'], I started talking to Starz about potentially doing the spinoffs and universe out of it. And it worked out with 'Raising Kanan' [taking] us back into the '90s,...
50 Cent's evolution from hip-hop icon to TV mastermind might still be a shock to some people, but the transformation has been amazing to witness. His executive-produced "Power" series debuted on Starz in 2014 with a predicted run of only six to seven seasons. But three spinoffs later (along with true-life series "Bmf"), the flagship show has helped certify 50 Cent's reputation as a TV mogul.
"I didn't start to look at the Power universe until after it worked."
Even though "Power" became wildly popular with a passionate fanbase to match, 50 Cent didn't initially see a cinematic universe in its future. "I didn't start to look at the Power universe until after it worked," he tells Popsugar exclusively. "Like season six [of 'Power'], I started talking to Starz about potentially doing the spinoffs and universe out of it. And it worked out with 'Raising Kanan' [taking] us back into the '90s,...
- 2/3/2022
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
that might have gone as dark as something like “The Wicker Man” or “Wake in Fright.” Diego Fernandez Pujol’s second feature (following “Darwin’s Corner” eight years ago) has been a home-turf theatrical hit, though as an export item its pleasing but modest impact is more likely to attract home-format sales. Remake rights might also prove a viable commodity.
Martin Slipak, whose harried, clean-cut Everyman recalls the likes of Paul Rudd or Ben Stiller here, plays ambitious young white-collar worker Claudio Tapia. Having just “solved” a big claim case for his employer, Santa Marta Insurance Co., the appraiser is rewarded with a remote border town as his own dedicated claims territory. But the retiring agent he’ll replace smirks that this particular assignment is no promotion, and that Claudio “wouldn’t be the first stranger to get his ass kicked there.”
After a long bus ride from Montevideo, he alights in the sleepy burg,...
Martin Slipak, whose harried, clean-cut Everyman recalls the likes of Paul Rudd or Ben Stiller here, plays ambitious young white-collar worker Claudio Tapia. Having just “solved” a big claim case for his employer, Santa Marta Insurance Co., the appraiser is rewarded with a remote border town as his own dedicated claims territory. But the retiring agent he’ll replace smirks that this particular assignment is no promotion, and that Claudio “wouldn’t be the first stranger to get his ass kicked there.”
After a long bus ride from Montevideo, he alights in the sleepy burg,...
- 12/15/2021
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
When Village Roadshow CEO Steve Mosko first met with Kevin Garnett to discuss the basketball star’s pivot to the world of entertainment, the longtime film executive says it was immediately clear that the NBA champion’s Content Cartel production company wasn’t merely a vanity label.
“He just laid out how passionate he was about the business and building his company, and was beyond impressive,” Mosko tells Variety in a phone interview, recounting the lunch meeting. “I knew he just wasn’t another athlete who wanted a production shingle so he could tell his friends he has a production shingle.”
Beyond passion, Garnett came to the table with ideas. As the duo, who were introduced by Garnett’s “Uncut Gems” co-star Adam Sandler, discussed what they loved about cinema, the topic of Blaxploitation films came up.
“[Kevin] looked at me and — it was very heartfelt — he said, ‘Growing up as a kid,...
“He just laid out how passionate he was about the business and building his company, and was beyond impressive,” Mosko tells Variety in a phone interview, recounting the lunch meeting. “I knew he just wasn’t another athlete who wanted a production shingle so he could tell his friends he has a production shingle.”
Beyond passion, Garnett came to the table with ideas. As the duo, who were introduced by Garnett’s “Uncut Gems” co-star Adam Sandler, discussed what they loved about cinema, the topic of Blaxploitation films came up.
“[Kevin] looked at me and — it was very heartfelt — he said, ‘Growing up as a kid,...
- 12/14/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
China Lost and Found: Eight Films by Jia Zhangke
One of the greatest directors to emerge in this young century, Jia Zhangke has captured his native country like few others. The Criterion Channel is now spotlighting his stellar body of work, including the new restoration of his debut Xiao Wu (1997), along with Platform (2000), Unknown Pleasures (2002), The World (2004), Still Life (2006), 24 City (2008), A Touch of Sin (2013), and Mountains May Depart (2015). Also playing is the documentary Jia Zhangke, A Guy from Fenyang from 2014.
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
Irma Vep (Olivier Assayas)
In the quarter-century since its debut, Olivier Assayas’ hilarious, mischievous, altogether unclassifiable Irma Vep stands merrily uninterested in many things contemporary movies are meant to be interested in—not ultra-sophisticated narrative gimmickry...
China Lost and Found: Eight Films by Jia Zhangke
One of the greatest directors to emerge in this young century, Jia Zhangke has captured his native country like few others. The Criterion Channel is now spotlighting his stellar body of work, including the new restoration of his debut Xiao Wu (1997), along with Platform (2000), Unknown Pleasures (2002), The World (2004), Still Life (2006), 24 City (2008), A Touch of Sin (2013), and Mountains May Depart (2015). Also playing is the documentary Jia Zhangke, A Guy from Fenyang from 2014.
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
Irma Vep (Olivier Assayas)
In the quarter-century since its debut, Olivier Assayas’ hilarious, mischievous, altogether unclassifiable Irma Vep stands merrily uninterested in many things contemporary movies are meant to be interested in—not ultra-sophisticated narrative gimmickry...
- 9/3/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Next month’s Criterion Channel selection is here, and as 2021 winds down further cements their status as our single greatest streaming service. Off the top I took note of their eight-film Jia Zhangke retro as well as the streaming premieres of Center Stage and Malni. And, yes, Margaret has been on HBO Max for a while, but we can hope Criterion Channel’s addition—as part of the 63(!)-film “New York Stories”—opens doors to a more deserving home-video treatment.
Aki Kaurismäki’s Finland Trilogy, Bruno Dumont’s Joan of Arc duology, and Criterion’s editions of Irma Vep and Flowers of Shanghai also mark major inclusions—just a few years ago the thought of Hou’s masterpiece streaming in HD was absurd.
I could implore you not to sleep on The Hottest August and Point Blank and Variety and In the Cut or, look, so many Ernst Lubitsch movies,...
Aki Kaurismäki’s Finland Trilogy, Bruno Dumont’s Joan of Arc duology, and Criterion’s editions of Irma Vep and Flowers of Shanghai also mark major inclusions—just a few years ago the thought of Hou’s masterpiece streaming in HD was absurd.
I could implore you not to sleep on The Hottest August and Point Blank and Variety and In the Cut or, look, so many Ernst Lubitsch movies,...
- 8/25/2021
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
A stray thought for Hollywood: Just because Donald Trump is campaigning for free speech—last week, he announced a class-action anti-censorship lawsuit against Twitter, Facebook and Google—doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea.
Free speech, that is. I don’t know about the lawsuit, which will have to reconcile the tech giants’ First Amendment rights and legal protections with a claim that they have abused their immunity by acting as politically one-sided censors.
More heat than light will be shed as the suit works its way through the courts and media mill. But never mind Trump. Freedom of expression is something the movie business should start worrying about, sooner rather than later.
It’s no secret that the movies—like the rest of pop culture—have been operating in an ever-narrower field when it comes to what can be portrayed on-screen, and by whom. Even to identify the...
Free speech, that is. I don’t know about the lawsuit, which will have to reconcile the tech giants’ First Amendment rights and legal protections with a claim that they have abused their immunity by acting as politically one-sided censors.
More heat than light will be shed as the suit works its way through the courts and media mill. But never mind Trump. Freedom of expression is something the movie business should start worrying about, sooner rather than later.
It’s no secret that the movies—like the rest of pop culture—have been operating in an ever-narrower field when it comes to what can be portrayed on-screen, and by whom. Even to identify the...
- 7/11/2021
- by Michael Cieply
- Deadline Film + TV
As Gordon Parks’ blaxploitation classic “Shaft,” released nationwide on July 2, 1971, celebrates its 50th anniversary, a proper revision of its ethos is overdue. An anachronistic “Shaft” that promotes an outmoded 007 brand of masculine toxicity — an obsession with shiny possessions including cars, clothing, guns, and of course, women, while relishing violence as the most innate means to an end — may not quite cut it anymore.
That doesn’t mean the character should be neutered; but a post-Trump, post-George Floyd “Shaft” should intrigue executives in an industry that loves to exploit known IP, especially as it contends with an uncertain, rapidly evolving environment. The world does not need a Black James Bond right now; it needs a “Shaft,” updated to clash head-on with a backdrop that isn’t all that different from the era that led to a proliferation of movies like it.
For years, Idris Elba has had to react to...
That doesn’t mean the character should be neutered; but a post-Trump, post-George Floyd “Shaft” should intrigue executives in an industry that loves to exploit known IP, especially as it contends with an uncertain, rapidly evolving environment. The world does not need a Black James Bond right now; it needs a “Shaft,” updated to clash head-on with a backdrop that isn’t all that different from the era that led to a proliferation of movies like it.
For years, Idris Elba has had to react to...
- 7/4/2021
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Black cinema is too often left out of the conversations that surround award shows and milestone achievements. Still, its impact on popular culture is undeniable — and music is a big part of why that is. From Black Caesar to Black Panther, black film soundtracks have consistently birthed some of the greatest songs of their time, and they’ve been a place for artists from Curtis Mayfield to Kendrick Lamar to deepen and expand their sounds. The songs on this playlist, drawn from films from the 1970s through today, speak to...
- 2/12/2021
- by Kimberly Aleah and Dewayne Gage
- Rollingstone.com
This weekend marks the 49th anniversary of the release of “Shaft.” Released in 1971, it grossed about $90 million in adjusted prices — a huge success, more than 25 times its cost. More importantly, it forced studios to acknowledge the Black audience segment that was long taken for granted.
Hollywood studio filmmaking is 105 years old. But it took more than half of those years for major studios to release a film from a Black director. There were Black directors, but they were too few and far between. And The first Black director was silent filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, whose parents were former slaves. In the sound era, the first Black director was Spencer Williams, an actor best known as Andy of Amos n’ Andy. And while films in the 1960s began to tell Black stories such as “Lilies of the Field” and “A Raisin In the Sun,” they inevitably reflected white perspectives and denied Black...
Hollywood studio filmmaking is 105 years old. But it took more than half of those years for major studios to release a film from a Black director. There were Black directors, but they were too few and far between. And The first Black director was silent filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, whose parents were former slaves. In the sound era, the first Black director was Spencer Williams, an actor best known as Andy of Amos n’ Andy. And while films in the 1960s began to tell Black stories such as “Lilies of the Field” and “A Raisin In the Sun,” they inevitably reflected white perspectives and denied Black...
- 7/5/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
After becoming the first African-American to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design with Black Panther, Ruth E. Carter embarked on her sixth collaboration with Eddie Murphy on Craig Brewer’s biographical comedy, Dolemite Is My Name.
Here, Carter channeled the essence of Rudy Ray Moore, a charismatic self-starter who gained a cult following in the ’70s as a comedian, guerilla film actor and producer, through his creation of the Dolemite character—an eccentric ‘urban dandy,’ who entertained the masses with his karate kicks and iconic, handmade looks, over the course of four films.
Going through 75 different story days over the course of the film, Moore (and his alter ego) subsequently had 75 different looks, so Carter spent a substantial amount of time with Murphy in prep, taking the actor through fittings until he was exhausted. “I could always tell when he was exhausted [because] he got real quiet. But in the onset,...
Here, Carter channeled the essence of Rudy Ray Moore, a charismatic self-starter who gained a cult following in the ’70s as a comedian, guerilla film actor and producer, through his creation of the Dolemite character—an eccentric ‘urban dandy,’ who entertained the masses with his karate kicks and iconic, handmade looks, over the course of four films.
Going through 75 different story days over the course of the film, Moore (and his alter ego) subsequently had 75 different looks, so Carter spent a substantial amount of time with Murphy in prep, taking the actor through fittings until he was exhausted. “I could always tell when he was exhausted [because] he got real quiet. But in the onset,...
- 12/4/2019
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Missy Elliott performed a medley of famous hits at the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday. Her dazzling set included “Throw It Back,” “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It,” “Pass That Dutch,” and “Lose Control.”
Elliott opened her performance with her newest song, “Throw It Back” — a surprising choice given the numerous hits in her back-catalog. But in the context of her medley, Elliott’s latest track took on a new significance: The bass line merged smoothly with the low-end of “The Rain (Super Fly),” her debut single.
Elliott opened her performance with her newest song, “Throw It Back” — a surprising choice given the numerous hits in her back-catalog. But in the context of her medley, Elliott’s latest track took on a new significance: The bass line merged smoothly with the low-end of “The Rain (Super Fly),” her debut single.
- 8/27/2019
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
The son of the legendary Isaac Hayes is upset that there are no original Hayes tracks in the new “Shaft” movie, calling its soundtrack album “a cultural disaster.”
New Line Cinema, which made the movie — starring Samuel L. Jackson, Richard Roundtree and Jessie T. Usher as three generations of the Shaft family — insists that there is Hayes music all over the movie and soundtrack, even if no original tracks were licensed from the Hayes estate.
Isaac Hayes won a Best Song Oscar for his “Shaft” theme, written in 1971 for the original movie with Roundtree as a Harlem private eye. His score was also nominated, won two Grammys and launched an entire genre of blaxploitation movie soundtracks including Curtis Mayfield’s “Super Fly” and Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man.”
Hayes contributed a song to the 1972 sequel, “Shaft’s Big Score,” and re-recorded his original theme for director John Singleton’s 2000 reboot of the series with Jackson.
New Line Cinema, which made the movie — starring Samuel L. Jackson, Richard Roundtree and Jessie T. Usher as three generations of the Shaft family — insists that there is Hayes music all over the movie and soundtrack, even if no original tracks were licensed from the Hayes estate.
Isaac Hayes won a Best Song Oscar for his “Shaft” theme, written in 1971 for the original movie with Roundtree as a Harlem private eye. His score was also nominated, won two Grammys and launched an entire genre of blaxploitation movie soundtracks including Curtis Mayfield’s “Super Fly” and Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man.”
Hayes contributed a song to the 1972 sequel, “Shaft’s Big Score,” and re-recorded his original theme for director John Singleton’s 2000 reboot of the series with Jackson.
- 6/14/2019
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Here They Come, To Save The Day: Jon & Erich Hoeber To Script ‘Mighty Mouse’ For Paramount Animation
Exclusive: Fresh from co-scripting Meg, Jon & Erich Hoeber have been set to script Mighty Mouse for Paramount Animation. Karen Rosenfelt and Robert Cort are producing what will be a hybrid film about the massively muscled mouse.
The character with the catchy theme song made famous by Andy Kaufman was created by Isadore ‘Izzy’ Klein, originally the character was originally Super Fly but morphed to Super Mouse when Terrytoons boss Paul Terry got involved. Ultimately, the Superman parody became Mighty Mouse, with his yellow and orange too-tight outfit. The aerobicized rodent became a TV cartoon staple in the ’50s.
The Hoeber’s previously scripted the Red action films, and they are in post-production on Stx’s My Spy, starring Dave Bautista.
They are repped by Verve and Peikoff Mahan.
The character with the catchy theme song made famous by Andy Kaufman was created by Isadore ‘Izzy’ Klein, originally the character was originally Super Fly but morphed to Super Mouse when Terrytoons boss Paul Terry got involved. Ultimately, the Superman parody became Mighty Mouse, with his yellow and orange too-tight outfit. The aerobicized rodent became a TV cartoon staple in the ’50s.
The Hoeber’s previously scripted the Red action films, and they are in post-production on Stx’s My Spy, starring Dave Bautista.
They are repped by Verve and Peikoff Mahan.
- 4/10/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Top Chef always challenges its contestants to take some diner comfort food like mac 'n' cheese and create an elevated version that pays homage to the original. That’s what’s happening today with the blaxploitation films of the 1970s. Originally, these films — such as Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, Shaft, Super Fly, Trouble Man and Cleopatra Jones — were cheaply made action genre movies featuring well-dressed black protagonists with a badass attitude and kickass fighting skills. Both attitude and fists were aimed at the villainous rich white "honkies" and smarmy black "jive turkeys" who made their fortunes off the backs of ...
- 12/14/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Top Chef always challenges its contestants to take some diner comfort food like mac 'n' cheese and create an elevated version that pays homage to the original. That’s what’s happening today with the blaxploitation films of the 1970s. Originally, these films — such as Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, Shaft, Super Fly, Trouble Man and Cleopatra Jones — were cheaply made action genre movies featuring well-dressed black protagonists with a badass attitude and kickass fighting skills. Both attitude and fists were aimed at the villainous rich white "honkies" and smarmy black "jive turkeys" who made their fortunes off the backs of ...
- 12/14/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 1974 Blaxploitation Classic Willie Dynamite will be available on Blu-ray January 8th from Arrow Video
”The hands-down winner of the all-out best blaxploitation movie of the seventies,” declares author and artist Darius James in That s Blaxploitation! Willie Dynamite may not be as well-known as John Shaft, Sweet Sweetback or Super Fly’s Youngblood Priest, but he certainly deserves to be.
Who is Willie Dynamite? He s the flashiest pimp in New York he drives a personalized purple-and-gold Cadillac and wears some of the most eye-catching outfits ever seen on a cinema screen. He wants to be number one, but with the police, the D.A., fellow pimps and a tough-talking social worker on his tail, can a man as arrogant and amoral as Willie D avoid a downfall?
Willie Dynamite competes with the best of blaxploitation on all levels. Roscoe Orman dominates with his central performance a star turn...
”The hands-down winner of the all-out best blaxploitation movie of the seventies,” declares author and artist Darius James in That s Blaxploitation! Willie Dynamite may not be as well-known as John Shaft, Sweet Sweetback or Super Fly’s Youngblood Priest, but he certainly deserves to be.
Who is Willie Dynamite? He s the flashiest pimp in New York he drives a personalized purple-and-gold Cadillac and wears some of the most eye-catching outfits ever seen on a cinema screen. He wants to be number one, but with the police, the D.A., fellow pimps and a tough-talking social worker on his tail, can a man as arrogant and amoral as Willie D avoid a downfall?
Willie Dynamite competes with the best of blaxploitation on all levels. Roscoe Orman dominates with his central performance a star turn...
- 12/12/2018
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Producer Alan Elliott has been nothing if not dogged in his pursuit of finishing and releasing Sydney Pollack’s 1972 documentary “Amazing Grace.” But until now he has not told the whole story about some of the wrangling that went on behind the scenes in order to get the movie made.
Back in 1972, a year after their massive hit “Woodstock,” Warner Bros. exec Ted Ashley set out to produce another music documentary with the help of Pink Floyd producer Joe Boyd, director of music services at Warner Bros. So Boyd set out to find someone to shoot the Aretha Franklin concert movie in Watts, which required someone who understood how to shoot multiple cameras with sync sound.
Boyd wanted to hire James Signorelli as his director of photography, who shot “Super Fly” and went on to shoot the first 35 years of commercials for “Saturday Night Live,” until Ashley talked up the...
Back in 1972, a year after their massive hit “Woodstock,” Warner Bros. exec Ted Ashley set out to produce another music documentary with the help of Pink Floyd producer Joe Boyd, director of music services at Warner Bros. So Boyd set out to find someone to shoot the Aretha Franklin concert movie in Watts, which required someone who understood how to shoot multiple cameras with sync sound.
Boyd wanted to hire James Signorelli as his director of photography, who shot “Super Fly” and went on to shoot the first 35 years of commercials for “Saturday Night Live,” until Ashley talked up the...
- 12/11/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Producer Alan Elliott has been nothing if not dogged in his pursuit of finishing and releasing Sydney Pollack’s 1972 documentary “Amazing Grace.” But until now he has not told the whole story about some of the wrangling that went on behind the scenes in order to get the movie made.
Back in 1972, a year after their massive hit “Woodstock,” Warner Bros. exec Ted Ashley set out to produce another music documentary with the help of Pink Floyd producer Joe Boyd, director of music services at Warner Bros. So Boyd set out to find someone to shoot the Aretha Franklin concert movie in Watts, which required someone who understood how to shoot multiple cameras with sync sound.
Boyd wanted to hire James Signorelli as his director of photography, who shot “Super Fly” and went on to shoot the first 35 years of commercials for “Saturday Night Live,” until Ashley talked up the...
Back in 1972, a year after their massive hit “Woodstock,” Warner Bros. exec Ted Ashley set out to produce another music documentary with the help of Pink Floyd producer Joe Boyd, director of music services at Warner Bros. So Boyd set out to find someone to shoot the Aretha Franklin concert movie in Watts, which required someone who understood how to shoot multiple cameras with sync sound.
Boyd wanted to hire James Signorelli as his director of photography, who shot “Super Fly” and went on to shoot the first 35 years of commercials for “Saturday Night Live,” until Ashley talked up the...
- 12/11/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Mahershala Ali and John David Washington sat down for a chat for Variety’s Actors on Actors. For more, click here.
Mahershala Ali (“Green Book”) and John David Washington (“BlacKkKlansman”) have catapulted into the awards season conversation with two searing films about race in America. Both movies are based on true stories. Ali, who won the supporting actor Oscar in 2017 for “Moonlight,” portrays Dr. Don Shirley, an acclaimed black pianist embarking on a tour of the Deep South at the height of Jim Crow. Washington, the son of Denzel, plays Ron Stallworth, a black detective tasked with infiltrating the Kkk. Their turns, alternately fiery and funny, have received rave reviews. The two men had an honest and raw conversation about what drew them to the projects.
Mahershala Ali: How did “BlacKkKlansman” come your way?
John David Washington: I got a text message from Spike Lee. Now, I don’t have his number.
Mahershala Ali (“Green Book”) and John David Washington (“BlacKkKlansman”) have catapulted into the awards season conversation with two searing films about race in America. Both movies are based on true stories. Ali, who won the supporting actor Oscar in 2017 for “Moonlight,” portrays Dr. Don Shirley, an acclaimed black pianist embarking on a tour of the Deep South at the height of Jim Crow. Washington, the son of Denzel, plays Ron Stallworth, a black detective tasked with infiltrating the Kkk. Their turns, alternately fiery and funny, have received rave reviews. The two men had an honest and raw conversation about what drew them to the projects.
Mahershala Ali: How did “BlacKkKlansman” come your way?
John David Washington: I got a text message from Spike Lee. Now, I don’t have his number.
- 12/4/2018
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Aretha Franklin, who died on August 16th at age 76, recorded more than 40 full-length albums in her six-decade career. It’s a deep catalog, crowded with indisputable classics and hidden gems. Rolling Stone’s music staff is paying its R.E.S.P.E.C.T.s to the Queen with tributes to our favorite Aretha LPs. Next up: Mosi Reeves on the creative sparks that flew when Aretha met Curtis Mayfield.
When Aretha Franklin’s revelatory Southern soul collaborations with producer Jerry Wexler cooled in the early ’70s, she spent...
When Aretha Franklin’s revelatory Southern soul collaborations with producer Jerry Wexler cooled in the early ’70s, she spent...
- 8/20/2018
- by Mosi Reeves
- Rollingstone.com
Even if you weren't born when Super Fly was released in 1972, there's a good chance you've heard at least part of Curtis Mayfield's Grammy-nominated soundtrack. Because the original score is so iconic, you know whoever would be taking on the soundtrack for the 2018 remake, SuperFly, had his hands full. Great news: Future was in charge, and he knocked it out of the park.
The soundtrack is full of collaborations with artists like Khalid, Miguel, and Lil' Wayne. If you're looking for a new workout playlist, or just want something new to listen to, we've rounded up the entire 13-song soundtrack for you.
Related: Don't Argue With Us - These Are the Best Movie Soundtracks of 2018...
The soundtrack is full of collaborations with artists like Khalid, Miguel, and Lil' Wayne. If you're looking for a new workout playlist, or just want something new to listen to, we've rounded up the entire 13-song soundtrack for you.
Related: Don't Argue With Us - These Are the Best Movie Soundtracks of 2018...
- 6/26/2018
- by Megan duBois
- Popsugar.com
When Sony announced it was making a modern, Atlanta-set version of Super Fly (re-styling it as Superfly), it didn’t come as a surprise. We’re in the midst of a blaxploitation craze. Tons of film and television projects are in development based upon 1970s black action movies – films that were often criticized for their stereotypical […]
The post ‘Superfly’ Review: A Great Cast Deserves Better Than This Entertaining But Extremely Flawed Remake appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Superfly’ Review: A Great Cast Deserves Better Than This Entertaining But Extremely Flawed Remake appeared first on /Film.
- 6/22/2018
- by Trey Mangum
- Slash Film
When Sony Pictures asked Director X to remake 1972 blaxploitation classic “Super Fly,” he had never seen the original. He had also never helmed a studio feature — just a 2015 indie, a Lifetime movie (“Center Stage: On Pointe”), and some of the most memorable music videos of the past 20 years, from Sisqó’s “Thong Song” to Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” viewed more than 1.4 billion times on YouTube.
However, while Director X created visuals for Jay-z, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, and Lil Wayne, “Lethal Weapon” and “Matrix” franchises producer Joel Silver struggled to get his “Super Fly” revamp made. “Joel had the rights, he had a studio that wanted to make it,” Director X told IndieWire. “The studio told him, ‘We don’t want to call it ‘Super Fly,’ and we don’t want it to be about anything that the original movie was about.'”
From that bizarre pronouncement,...
However, while Director X created visuals for Jay-z, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, and Lil Wayne, “Lethal Weapon” and “Matrix” franchises producer Joel Silver struggled to get his “Super Fly” revamp made. “Joel had the rights, he had a studio that wanted to make it,” Director X told IndieWire. “The studio told him, ‘We don’t want to call it ‘Super Fly,’ and we don’t want it to be about anything that the original movie was about.'”
From that bizarre pronouncement,...
- 6/22/2018
- by Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
The opening weekend of “Incredibles 2” was, well, incredible.
The Disney-Pixar movie flew to a record-breaking launch of $180 million in 4,410 locations, easily landing the superhero sequel the best debut of all time for an animated film. That title was previously held by fellow Pixar sequel “Finding Dory,” which bowed with $135 million in 2016. “Incredibles 2” also landed the eighth-biggest domestic opening of all time, and surpassed 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” ($174.6 million) for the best debut for a PG-rated film.
Pixar’s 20th film easily won the weekend over new titles “Tag” and “Superfly,” which premiered with $14.6 million and $8.4 million respectively. However, those releases weren’t enough to grab the No. 2 spot from “Ocean’s 8’s” $19.5 million second weekend.
Overseas, “Incredibles 2” collected $51.5 million, where it has opened in 26% of the international market, for a worldwide start of $231.5 million.
Its predecessor, “The Incredibles,” opened in 2004 with $70.5 million, the second-largest...
The Disney-Pixar movie flew to a record-breaking launch of $180 million in 4,410 locations, easily landing the superhero sequel the best debut of all time for an animated film. That title was previously held by fellow Pixar sequel “Finding Dory,” which bowed with $135 million in 2016. “Incredibles 2” also landed the eighth-biggest domestic opening of all time, and surpassed 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” ($174.6 million) for the best debut for a PG-rated film.
Pixar’s 20th film easily won the weekend over new titles “Tag” and “Superfly,” which premiered with $14.6 million and $8.4 million respectively. However, those releases weren’t enough to grab the No. 2 spot from “Ocean’s 8’s” $19.5 million second weekend.
Overseas, “Incredibles 2” collected $51.5 million, where it has opened in 26% of the international market, for a worldwide start of $231.5 million.
Its predecessor, “The Incredibles,” opened in 2004 with $70.5 million, the second-largest...
- 6/17/2018
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Remaking “Super Fly” was never going to be without its perils. The 1972 film, directed by Gordon Parks Jr., was one of the essential building blocks of the decade’s Blaxploitation movement, and first-time feature helmer Director X surely had his hands full balancing nods to the original while also updating his film for 2018 Atlanta. But however much the film had to live up to, the music was a whole other matter. Featuring songs by Curtis Mayfield – the title track, “Freddie’s Dead” and “Pusherman” chief among them – the original soundtrack to “Super Fly” is among the most canonical works of film music ever released.
While the new “SuperFly” does feature a few key reprises of Mayfield’s tunes, a more modern touch was provided by the prolific rapper Future, who executive produced the remake’s soundtrack. Serving as a new Future release in everything but name, 10 of the album’s...
While the new “SuperFly” does feature a few key reprises of Mayfield’s tunes, a more modern touch was provided by the prolific rapper Future, who executive produced the remake’s soundtrack. Serving as a new Future release in everything but name, 10 of the album’s...
- 6/15/2018
- by Andrew Barker
- Variety Film + TV
With a soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield that permeated pop culture, “Super Fly,” a crime drama directed by Gordon Parks Jr. about a black cocaine dealer, epitomizes the blaxploitation genre that lit up screens in the ’70s.
The remake, set for a June 13 release by Sony Pictures, aims to refresh the vibe. The new “SuperFly” once again follows a dealer who wants one final score before he gets out of the game. In the new version, helmed by Director X, the story takes place in Atlanta instead of Harlem.
Steeped in music videos, Director X was well-positioned to re-create a stylized and updated version of the original tale. To clothe the cast, he brought on costume designer Antoinette Messam.
When Messam and the helmer first spoke about the project late last year, the word “fantasy” was used a lot, says the designer, but she also felt she needed to stay grounded in reality.
The remake, set for a June 13 release by Sony Pictures, aims to refresh the vibe. The new “SuperFly” once again follows a dealer who wants one final score before he gets out of the game. In the new version, helmed by Director X, the story takes place in Atlanta instead of Harlem.
Steeped in music videos, Director X was well-positioned to re-create a stylized and updated version of the original tale. To clothe the cast, he brought on costume designer Antoinette Messam.
When Messam and the helmer first spoke about the project late last year, the word “fantasy” was used a lot, says the designer, but she also felt she needed to stay grounded in reality.
- 6/15/2018
- by Valentina I. Valentini
- Variety Film + TV
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
The Best of Blaxploitation
Funk. Soul. Ultra-hip. This month, FilmStruck is highlighting Blaxploitation cinema, a group of films made specifically for African American audiences in the 1970s just as black filmmakers were finally allowed to make Hollywood features. This collection features pivotal Black icons from unforgettable films such as Shaft, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, Cleopatra Jones and Super Fly, presented alongside a discussion of the history of the genre with Malcolm Mays,...
The Best of Blaxploitation
Funk. Soul. Ultra-hip. This month, FilmStruck is highlighting Blaxploitation cinema, a group of films made specifically for African American audiences in the 1970s just as black filmmakers were finally allowed to make Hollywood features. This collection features pivotal Black icons from unforgettable films such as Shaft, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, Cleopatra Jones and Super Fly, presented alongside a discussion of the history of the genre with Malcolm Mays,...
- 6/15/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Miami — “Superfly” star Trevor Jackson wasn’t sure that he would land the starring role of the latest Hollywood remake.
“I really wanted to be a part of this film,” said Jackson. “I auditioned twice, but I was told I was too young and I didn’t have a big enough name. I was [later] invited to [producer] Joel SIlver’s house, and I was told I got the role.”
Based off of 1972 film “Super Fly” directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., the 2018 feature is about a young successful drug dealer, named Priest (Jackson), who is ready to get out of the game. He lines things up for one final score that could retire him, but things go terribly wrong and now his loved ones are in danger.
Jackson, whose acting credits include ABC’s “grown-ish” and “American Crime,” joined “Superfly” filmmaker Director X and the rest of the cast in Miami Beach,...
“I really wanted to be a part of this film,” said Jackson. “I auditioned twice, but I was told I was too young and I didn’t have a big enough name. I was [later] invited to [producer] Joel SIlver’s house, and I was told I got the role.”
Based off of 1972 film “Super Fly” directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., the 2018 feature is about a young successful drug dealer, named Priest (Jackson), who is ready to get out of the game. He lines things up for one final score that could retire him, but things go terribly wrong and now his loved ones are in danger.
Jackson, whose acting credits include ABC’s “grown-ish” and “American Crime,” joined “Superfly” filmmaker Director X and the rest of the cast in Miami Beach,...
- 6/14/2018
- by Clayton Gutzmore
- Variety Film + TV
Sony’s “Superfly” remake buzzed to $1.2 million at 2,200 North American locations on its opening day on Wednesday.
The studio said the crime drama remains on track to take in $10 million to $12 million over the next five days.
“Superfly” got a two-day head start, debuting ahead of Disney-Pixar’s “Incredibles 2,” which is expected to gross between $125 million and $140 million this weekend when it bows at over 4,400 locations. Warner Bros. and New Line’s R-rated comedy “Tag” is also launching, targeting a release between $12 million and $16 million in more than 3,000 theaters. Both “Incredibles 2” and “Tag” will hold preview screenings on Thursday night.
Music video helmer Director X took the reins on the remake of 1972 blaxploitation classic “Super Fly.”
The new film, which carries a $16 million budget, follows Trevor Jackson as Youngblood Priest — a career criminal who tries to escape the Atlanta drug scene, only to have one bad deal drag him back down.
The studio said the crime drama remains on track to take in $10 million to $12 million over the next five days.
“Superfly” got a two-day head start, debuting ahead of Disney-Pixar’s “Incredibles 2,” which is expected to gross between $125 million and $140 million this weekend when it bows at over 4,400 locations. Warner Bros. and New Line’s R-rated comedy “Tag” is also launching, targeting a release between $12 million and $16 million in more than 3,000 theaters. Both “Incredibles 2” and “Tag” will hold preview screenings on Thursday night.
Music video helmer Director X took the reins on the remake of 1972 blaxploitation classic “Super Fly.”
The new film, which carries a $16 million budget, follows Trevor Jackson as Youngblood Priest — a career criminal who tries to escape the Atlanta drug scene, only to have one bad deal drag him back down.
- 6/14/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Sony and Silver Pictures’ reboot of Superfly opened in 5th place yesterday in its Wednesday debut with an estimated $1.2M at 2,220 earning a B+ CinemaScore, which is the same grade as Screen Gems’ Proud Mary back in January and just below the A-s earned by All Eyez on Me last summer and Paramount’s reboot of Shaft 18 years ago.
Superfly drew 54% females to 46% males who both gave the pic a B+. Eighty-four percent of the audience was over 25 who also gave the move that grade. In regards to female-male ratio, that’s the same make-up of last summer’s All Eyez on Me, while that film pulled in 73% over 25.
Sony launched Superfly on Wednesday in an effort to create some counter-programming traction heading into the weekend which will be largely owned by Disney/Pixar’s all-audience Incredibles 2, which is poised to clear $135M-$150M, potentially setting another animated record opening at the B.
Superfly drew 54% females to 46% males who both gave the pic a B+. Eighty-four percent of the audience was over 25 who also gave the move that grade. In regards to female-male ratio, that’s the same make-up of last summer’s All Eyez on Me, while that film pulled in 73% over 25.
Sony launched Superfly on Wednesday in an effort to create some counter-programming traction heading into the weekend which will be largely owned by Disney/Pixar’s all-audience Incredibles 2, which is poised to clear $135M-$150M, potentially setting another animated record opening at the B.
- 6/14/2018
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Superheroes are back to save the day — and the box office.
“Incredibles 2” will give the North American box office a nice boost this weekend as the Disney and Pixar animated superhero sequel is looking at a broad range between $125 million-$140 million when it bows at over 4,400 locations. A launch near the higher end of that estimate would earn the highly anticipated adventure the best opening weekend ever for an animated film.
That title currently belongs to another Pixar sequel, “Finding Dory.” The followup to 2003’s “Finding Nemo” launched in 2016 with $135 million and went on to pick up $486 million in North America and over $1 billion worldwide.
Like “Finding Dory,” enthusiasm has been strong for the sequel, which comes 14 years after its predecessor, “The Incredibles.” Early reception seems strong, as the film already boasts a 97% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That’s on par with the acclaimed first film’s 97% average.
“Incredibles 2” will give the North American box office a nice boost this weekend as the Disney and Pixar animated superhero sequel is looking at a broad range between $125 million-$140 million when it bows at over 4,400 locations. A launch near the higher end of that estimate would earn the highly anticipated adventure the best opening weekend ever for an animated film.
That title currently belongs to another Pixar sequel, “Finding Dory.” The followup to 2003’s “Finding Nemo” launched in 2016 with $135 million and went on to pick up $486 million in North America and over $1 billion worldwide.
Like “Finding Dory,” enthusiasm has been strong for the sequel, which comes 14 years after its predecessor, “The Incredibles.” Early reception seems strong, as the film already boasts a 97% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That’s on par with the acclaimed first film’s 97% average.
- 6/13/2018
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
If you go back and watch a vintage blaxploitation film like “Super Fly” (1972), it has a time-capsule quality that only enhances the low-rent documentary scuzziness of its atmosphere. The brightly littered Manhattan streets, the cozy squalor of the bars and drug dens, even the cruddiness of the apartments: All fuse into a bombed-out yet strangely liberated mood that lets you know why the hero would choose the life of a cocaine kingpin, because it’s the only way he has to leave behind the racist prison of “a jive job with chump change, day after day.” The atmosphere told the story, and so did Curtis Mayfield’s music (“I’m a pusher man”), and so did Ron O’Neal’s suavely furious performance. In his flattened long hair and wide collars and designer sideburns, he may have looked like a coke-spoon version of D’Artagnan, but his need to claw...
- 6/12/2018
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
It doesn’t matter how smart you are if you’re constantly surrounded by armed stupidity. That’s the wise revelation that launches “SuperFly,” the new remake of the 1972 blaxploitation classic starring Ron O’Neal.
In both versions, a successful coke dealer named Priest decides to pull off one last job before retiring from the drug business, only to find himself in a Chinese finger trap: The harder he tries to get out, the more he’s pulled back in.
Helmed by music video visionary Director X (making his feature debut) and written by Alex Tse (“Watchmen”), “SuperFly” is a delightful surprise: funny, brutal, stylish, and thoughtful. It updates the blaxploitation genre with wit and resonance: Police brutality is an inescapable scourge in Priest’s Atlanta, and our hero dispatches one of his enemies while toppling over a Confederate statue.
Watch Video: Watch 'Superfly' Trailer for 'the Hair,...
In both versions, a successful coke dealer named Priest decides to pull off one last job before retiring from the drug business, only to find himself in a Chinese finger trap: The harder he tries to get out, the more he’s pulled back in.
Helmed by music video visionary Director X (making his feature debut) and written by Alex Tse (“Watchmen”), “SuperFly” is a delightful surprise: funny, brutal, stylish, and thoughtful. It updates the blaxploitation genre with wit and resonance: Police brutality is an inescapable scourge in Priest’s Atlanta, and our hero dispatches one of his enemies while toppling over a Confederate statue.
Watch Video: Watch 'Superfly' Trailer for 'the Hair,...
- 6/12/2018
- by Inkoo Kang
- The Wrap
The 2018 American Black Film Festival will open with the premiere screening of “Superfly” on June 13 at the Fillmore Theater in Miami Beach, Fla., Variety has learned exclusively.
Sony Pictures is opening the title nationwide on the same date to get a two-day jump on Disney and Pixar’s “Incredibles 2.”
“Superfly” is directed by Director X in his feature film debut from Alex Tse’s script. It stars Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lex Scott Davis, and Jennifer Morrison.
The original 1972 “Super Fly” starred Ron O’Neal as a cocaine dealer who is trying to quit the underworld drug business. Directed by Gordon Parks, the $500,000 film was massively profitable with box office of $30 million.
“We are thrilled ‘Superfly’ will be the opening night film at the 2018 Abff,” CEO Jeff Friday said. “For many, the title resonates as a cultural touchstone, not only for the look and style of the film itself,...
Sony Pictures is opening the title nationwide on the same date to get a two-day jump on Disney and Pixar’s “Incredibles 2.”
“Superfly” is directed by Director X in his feature film debut from Alex Tse’s script. It stars Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lex Scott Davis, and Jennifer Morrison.
The original 1972 “Super Fly” starred Ron O’Neal as a cocaine dealer who is trying to quit the underworld drug business. Directed by Gordon Parks, the $500,000 film was massively profitable with box office of $30 million.
“We are thrilled ‘Superfly’ will be the opening night film at the 2018 Abff,” CEO Jeff Friday said. “For many, the title resonates as a cultural touchstone, not only for the look and style of the film itself,...
- 5/29/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, “Superfly” moves up two days, Mick Fleetwood’s grandson gets cast and George Takei receives a film festival honor.
Release Date
Sony Pictures has moved up the opening of its crime thriller “Superfly” by two days to June 13, a Wednesday — giving the title a two-day head start on Disney-Pixar’s “Incredibles 2.”
Sony made the move Friday, a day after early tracking on “Incredibles 2” indicated an opening weekend of at least $140 million in North America. Early tracking for “Superfly” indicated an opening in the $10 million range.
“Superfly” is directed by Director X in his feature film debut and stars Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lex Scott Davis, and Jennifer Morrison. Unaided awareness on “Superfly” is at 4% with total awareness at 42% and “definite interest” at 33%.
The original 1972 “Super Fly” starred Ron O’Neal as a cocaine dealer who is trying...
Release Date
Sony Pictures has moved up the opening of its crime thriller “Superfly” by two days to June 13, a Wednesday — giving the title a two-day head start on Disney-Pixar’s “Incredibles 2.”
Sony made the move Friday, a day after early tracking on “Incredibles 2” indicated an opening weekend of at least $140 million in North America. Early tracking for “Superfly” indicated an opening in the $10 million range.
“Superfly” is directed by Director X in his feature film debut and stars Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lex Scott Davis, and Jennifer Morrison. Unaided awareness on “Superfly” is at 4% with total awareness at 42% and “definite interest” at 33%.
The original 1972 “Super Fly” starred Ron O’Neal as a cocaine dealer who is trying...
- 5/26/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Sony Pictures has released the full trailer for Superfly, which is a remake of the 1972 blaxsploitation film Super Fly. This is a slick-looking remake that actually looks good!
The movie stars Trevor Jackson as Youngblood Priest, Jason Mitchell as Eddie, Lex Scott Davis as Georgia, Andrea Londo as Cynthia, Jacob Ming-Trent as Fat Freddy, and Omar Chapparo as Adalberto.
Superfly – the film that helped define a genre in its characters, look, sound, and feel – is reimagined with Director X, director of legendary music videos, introducing it to a new generation.
The screenplay was written by Alex Tse (Watchmen) and it's being produced by Joel Silver and Hip-hop star Future. Superfly will hit theaters on June 15.
The movie stars Trevor Jackson as Youngblood Priest, Jason Mitchell as Eddie, Lex Scott Davis as Georgia, Andrea Londo as Cynthia, Jacob Ming-Trent as Fat Freddy, and Omar Chapparo as Adalberto.
Superfly – the film that helped define a genre in its characters, look, sound, and feel – is reimagined with Director X, director of legendary music videos, introducing it to a new generation.
The screenplay was written by Alex Tse (Watchmen) and it's being produced by Joel Silver and Hip-hop star Future. Superfly will hit theaters on June 15.
- 5/7/2018
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Best known for the music videos he has made for Drake, Jay-z, and Rihanna, Canada’s Director X — real name Julien Christian Lutz — will debut his first feature this summer, a remake of 1972 blaxploitation classic “Super Fly.” Sony Pictures released the first full-length trailer of his version, “Superfly,” on Friday. “Grown-ish” actor Trevor Jackson assumes the role originated by Ron O’Neal: Youngblood Priest, a cocaine dealer with a knack for martial arts.
Director X shifted the film’s backdrop from Harlem to Atlanta, where shooting commenced this January. The trailer opens with Youngblood, a hustler since age 11, prosperous and taking advantage of the city’s glittering nightlife. A wise mentor named Scatter, supportive best friend, and alluring girlfriend keep him grounded.
Yet those comforts are disrupted when Youngblood finds himself at the center of a shootout plotted by a menacing new crew, clad head-to-toe in white and sent by a Mexican drug lord.
Director X shifted the film’s backdrop from Harlem to Atlanta, where shooting commenced this January. The trailer opens with Youngblood, a hustler since age 11, prosperous and taking advantage of the city’s glittering nightlife. A wise mentor named Scatter, supportive best friend, and alluring girlfriend keep him grounded.
Yet those comforts are disrupted when Youngblood finds himself at the center of a shootout plotted by a menacing new crew, clad head-to-toe in white and sent by a Mexican drug lord.
- 5/4/2018
- by Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
"Welcome to Atlanta - we've got everything you could ever want." Sony Pictures has debuted full-length official trailer for Superfly, following the first teaser trailer from a few months ago. This is a "remake" of the 1972 blaxploitation film Super Fly, about a cocaine dealer Priest who wants to score one more super deal and retire. This reimagining is from Director X (also known as Julien Christian Lutz), and stars Trevor Jackson as Youngblood Priest, this time operating in Atlanta. Superfly also stars Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lex Scott Davis, Andrea Londo, Jennifer Morrison, Rick Ross, Big Boi, and Big Bank Black. This is looking damn good, with some dope footage in the trailer. Michael Kenneth Williams looks awesome, and so does Trevor Jackson as Priest. Watch below. Here's the full-length official trailer for Director X's Superfly, direct from Sony's YouTube: You can still watch the teaser trailer + see the poster for Superfly here,...
- 5/4/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
"Isn't that what the American Dream's all about?" Sony Pictures has released a teaser trailer for Superfly, a "remake" of the 1972 blaxploitation film Super Fly, about a cocaine dealer Priest who wants to score one more super deal and retire. This reimagining is from Director X, and stars Trevor Jackson (of "Grown-ish", "Burning Sands") as Youngblood Priest, this time operating in Atlanta. Not everyone may be familiar with the original, but this seems like a slick film to update for today, and the footage looks great. Superfly also stars Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lex Scott Davis, Andrea Londo, Jennifer Morrison, Rick Ross, Big Boi, and Big Bank Black. Watch the teaser below and tell us your thoughts. Here's the first teaser trailer (+ poster) for Director X's Superfly, in high def on Apple: Superfly – the film that helped define a genre in its characters, look, sound, and feel – is reimagined with Director X,...
- 3/25/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The 1972 blaxploitation classic “Super Fly” has been reimagined into a new feature film, whose first trailer promises to satisfy fans looking for “the hair, the fashion, the women and the cars.” The movie moves from the original’s backdrop of Harlem to Atlanta, and follows one young man (“grown-ish” star Trevor Jackson) as a drug dealer in pursuit of the American Dream. The original followed a cocaine dealer named Priest (Ron O’Neal), looking to score one final deal before retirement. Director X, who has worked with stars like Drake and Rihanna on their music videos, directs the film — which also...
- 3/23/2018
- by Ashley Boucher
- The Wrap
Last week I made my way out of the Facebook forest and decided to take a brief hiatus from the constant barrage of input, positive as well as negative, and try to clear my head a little. I’ve already pretty much abandoned Twitter for the same reasons (How do all you Twitterers have the time to be constantly Tweeting and following other people’s feeds?), but that was never a platform I felt all that comfortable with anyway. But after only a week and change I already feel the Facebook junkie’s craving, and I wonder how much longer I can hold out before I initiate another indulgence of my addiction. The pull of the sense of community that naturally develops is, for better or worse, something I miss— though I have been lurking, I miss taking part in the discussions of posts made by my family and my smartest friends,...
- 1/22/2018
- by Dennis Cozzalio
- Trailers from Hell
Sony Pictures has announced that Director X (a.k.a. Julien Christian) is in talks to helm the remake of the 1972 blaxploitation crime drama Super Fly. Fueled by the smooth grooves of Curtis Mayfield, the original directed by Gordon Parks Jr and starring Ron O'Neil as Priest, Super Fly tells the story of an African American cocaine dealer who attempts to execute one last score before leaving his life of... Read More...
- 12/20/2017
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Director X (aka Julien Christian Lutz) is in talks to direct the remake of the 1972 blaxploitation film Super Fly, which is set up at Sony Pictures. Watchmen scribe Alex Tse is drafting the screenplay, while Joel Silver is producing. We hear Grown-ish star Trevor Jackson is in the mix for the lead role of Youngblood Priest. The studio declined comment. The original film was directed by Gordon Parks Jr. and starred Ron O'Neal as Priest, an African American…...
- 12/20/2017
- Deadline
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