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The passing of a fabled star like Kirk Douglas always prompts obits that are respectful, if not adulatory, replete with a signature photo – Spartacus in Douglas’ case. But now a major re-think is overtaking the obit business. Yes, even death is getting a makeover, as evidenced in several arenas.

A new documentary, Overlooked, analyzing the evolution of obits will shortly emerge from Netflix and the Obamas’ production company Higher Ground. Paramount Television is partnering with the New York Times on a doc about the rituals of obit writing. Revisionist attitudes are also explored in Mobituaries, a witty if snarky new book by Mo Rocca, the CBS commentator.

The “new journalism” of obit writing may be good news for the deceased, but the revisionist trend may also stir political angst. “Men have to accept the fact that, in the new world of diversity, they may become second-class corpses,” confides one veteran...

Some of the biggest names in television paid tribute to “Good Times” star Ja’net Dubois, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 74.

“Oh man!!! Just saw you!,” actress Viola Davis, who appeared in a “Good Times” re-creation as part of the ABC special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” last December, tweeted. “What a pleasure it was to meet you. You shaped so much of the best memories of my childhood! God bless you, Ja’net DuBois! Rip??'”.”

Famed television producer Norman Lear, who worked with Dubois on “Good Times,” made reference to the fact she wrote the theme song to another of his primetime hits, “The Jeffersons,” in his social media post. He wrote, “Ja’Net DuBois was all light and will be missed. I love that she wrote the theme song for her passing, ‘Movin’ on Up.’ #GoodTimes #TheJeffersons.”

Oh man!!! Just saw you! What a...

Esther Scott, whose film, TV and stage career included roles in Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation and John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood, died February 14 in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack, Deadline has confirmed. She was 66.

Scott appeared in dozens of TV series including playing Delma on CW’s Hart of Dixie as well as roles on CBS’ The Help, Fox’s Melrose Place and ABC’s The Geena Davis Show and Sister, Sister among others. Her first role was voicing a character on the mid-1980s animated Star Wars series Ewoks.

Her film credits include Gangster Squad, Transformers, The Pursuit of Happyness, Dreamgirls, 2005’s Fun with Dick and Jane, Austin Powers in Goldmember, The Craft, Don Juan DeMarco and Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt. She memorably played a grandmother who nearly caught Cuba Gooding Jr’s Tre fooling around with her granddaughter in Boyz n the Hood,...

Esther Scott, whose credits include “Boyz N the Hood,” “Hart of Dixie,” “The Help” and “The Geena Davis Show,” has died, Scott’s publicist confirmed to TheWrap. She was 66.

Scott suffered a heart attack on Feb. 11 at her home in Santa Monica, and remained in the hospital until Friday, where she passed away. TMZ was the first to report her death.

Scott’s roles also includes “Encino Man,” “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” “Dreamgirls,” “Pursuit of Happyness” and “The Craft,” and starred on four seasons of the CW’s “Hart of Dixie” as well as on the short-lived series “The Geena Davis Show.” She also appeared in “Melrose Place,” “Full House,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Ellen” and “Sister, Sister.”

Also Read: 'M*A*S*H' Actress Kellye Nakahara Dies at 72

Most recently, Scott starred as Bridget Turner in “The Birth of a Nation,” which was based on the story of Nat Turner, who...

Esther Scott, who appeared in “Boyz N the Hood,” voiced Shodu in the “Ewoks” series and guest starred on dozens of TV series, died Friday in Los Angeles, her representative confirmed. She had suffered a heart attack Tuesday at her Santa Monica home. She was 66.

Born in Queens, N.Y., Scott appeared in at least 73 films and shows beginning in the 1980s. She had recurring roles in “The Geena Davis Show, ” “The Help” TV show and “Hart of Dixie,” and made guest appearances on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Full House,” “Ellen,” “Sister Sister,” “Hart of Dixie” and “The Steve Harvey Show.” In the popular film “Boyz N the Hood,” Scott played the grandmother of Tisha. She voiced the character Shodu in the “Star Wars” animated spin-off “Ewoks.”

Scott was most recently seen as Bridget Turner in “The Birth of a Nation,” based on the story of Nat Turner, who led a...

Actress Esther Scott died after suffering a heart attack, People confirms. She was 66.

Scott, who starred in Boyz n the Hood, Dreamgirls, Pursuit of Happyness and Transformers, had a heart attack at her Santa Monica home on Feb. 11 and remained in the hospital until she died on Friday surrounded by loved ones. TMZ was the first outlet to report on her death.

Along with movie roles in Encino Man, Austin Powers in Goldmember and The Craft, Scott played next-door neighbor Delma Warner on four seasons of The CW’s Hart of Dixie and Gladys on the short-lived series The Geena Davis Show.

Welcome back to the Weekend Warrior, your weekly look at the new movies hitting theaters this weekend, as well as other cool events and things to check out.

This Past Weekend:

Another bad weekend where nothing really popped, which is bad news for a month at the box office where only Clint Eastwood’s Sully exceeded any expectations. Tim Burton’s new film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children came out just below my predictions with $29 million, but the Mark Wahlberg-Peter Berg disaster flick Deepwater Horizon was right around where I predicted with $20.2 million. The comedy Masterminds tanked with just $6.5 million for the weekend to end up in sixth place while Disney’s The Queen of Katwe did slightly better than predicted with $2.5 million.

The first full weekend in October has a good deal of competition from the release of the video game Mafia III to the...

The Birth Of A Nation Fox Searchlight Films Reviewed by: Harvey Karten, CompuServe Film d-based on Rotten Tomatoes Grade: B Director: Nate Parker Written by: Nate Parker, story by Nate Parker & Jean McGianni Celestin Cast: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Mark Boone Jr., Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Aia Naomi King, Esther Scott Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 9/27/16 Opens: October 7, 2016 If you’re wondering how a filmmaker has the nerve to do a sequel to D.W. Griffith’s “The Birth of a Nation,” also known as “The Clansman,” you need not fear. Nate Parker’s film is anything but an apologia for slavery. This “Birth” finds Parker as a [ Read More ]

The post The Birth of a Nation Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Nate Parker’s The Birth Of A Nation tells a story through roars, not whispers. Gut-wrenching social injustice with gory visuals to spare. Steve McQueen previously displayed such gravity in 12 Years A Slave, and Parker’s similar take on arguably the darkest time in American history possesses that same inherent soul-shattering wallop. These are truths in the material, and more importantly, in period dramas of this nature.

Unfortunately, there’s a vast difference between McQueen’s 12 Years A Slave and Parker’s The Birth Of A Nation – technique. McQueen stormed numerous festivals and demanded to be heard, while Parker’s film feels tailor-made for Sundance hype. So many scenes reflect a first-timer’s need to over-stage the slightest conversation, unlike McQueen’s continued ability to strip humanity beyond the rawest raw. Parker delivers tremendous sermons and spotlights a very unique take on slave drama, but disengages audiences by displaying an...

Sundance darling The Birth of a Nation has fast become one of the early dark horses going into this year’s awards circuit – and it’s little wonder why.

Set against the antebellum South, Nate Parker’s creative tour-de-force – Parker wrote, directed, produced and starred in the inspired race drama – revolves around the true story of one Nat Turner, the slave and preacher who famously staged one of the most important uprisings in American history in the Virginia of 1830.

Indeed, early buzz for The Birth of a Nation on the festival circuit ensured Parker’s passion project became the highest sale in Sundance history, and you can get a gist of the drama that awaits in October via the movie’s official synopsis. Taking point as Nat Turner, Parker leads the charge as a “literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat...

All the hard work of writer/producer/director/star Nate Parker seems to have paid off in a big way with The Birth of a Nation, his Sundance sensation that received rave reviews from critics (including Joey) and sold to Fox Searchlight for a staggering $17.5 million. We saw the film's first teaser a little while back, but now the studio has unveiled its first official trailer, and it's a moving, powerful depiction of rebellion against suppression. Parker stars alongside Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Mark Boone Jr., Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Esther Scott, Roger Geunveur Smith, and Gabrielle Union with Penelope Ann Miller and Jackie Earle Haley.

The Birth of a Nation arrives in theaters on October 7.

Set against the antebellum South, The Birth Of A Nation follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer...

Fox Searchlight Pictures has released a brand new trailer for writer, director, producer and star Nate Parker’s powerful slave drama The Birth Of A Nation. The film also stars Armie Hammer, Mark Boone Jr., Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Aja Naomi King, Esther Scott, Roger Guenveur Smith, Gabrielle Union, Penelope Ann Miller, and Jackie Earle Haley.

Set against the backdrop of the antebellum South, The Birth Of A Nation follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer) accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities - against himself and his fellow slaves - Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.

Check out the new trailer and let us know what you think in the comments down below.

Fox Searchlight will release The Birth...

While Free State of Jones is getting a prime summer release date this week, another slave drama, Nate Parker‘s writing-directing debut The Birth of a Nation, will arrive in the heat of the fall awards season. Picked up by Fox Searchlight for a record $17.5 million, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award winner tells the true story of Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. They’ve now released the emotional and fiery full-length trailer, along with a fantastic poster.

I said in my review, “Directed, written, produced by, and starring Nate Parker, the Nat Turner biopic The Birth of a Nation is an unflinching and hopeful call to action where the helmer’s passion can be felt in every frame. By nodding to D. W. Griffith’s controversial, formally groundbreaking 1915 film, Parker is forging a new cinematic history for one of America’s most shameful eras. What’s lacking in aesthetic cohesion,...

If Sundance darling The Birth of a Nation wasn’t already considered an early Oscar contender beforehand, Fox Searchlight’s lucrative and indeed record-breaking deal for Nate Parker’s celebrated slave drama – to the tune of $17.5 million – has fired the period piece into contention going into awards season.

Targeting an opportune release in October, last month brought forth the film’s harrowing first trailer, placing Nate Parker at the forefront of a slave rebellion during the throes of the early 1800s. Drawing attention to that brutal history, Fox Searchlight has premiered am evocative new motion poster for The Birth of a Nation (you can catch the static one below), teasing the beginning of one of the most crucial uprisings in the country’s troubled history.

Standing as the key driving force behind Nation, Nate Parker takes up arms as Nat Turner, a “literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner,...

Fox Searchlight Pictures has released the teaser and motion poster for writer, director, producer and star Nate Parker’s powerful slave drama The Birth Of A Nation. The film also stars Armie Hammer, Mark Boone Jr., Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Aja Naomi King, Esther Scott, Roger Guenveur Smith, Gabrielle Union, Penelope Ann Miller, and Jackie Earle Haley.

Set against the backdrop of the antebellum South, The Birth Of A Nation follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer) accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities - against himself and his fellow slaves - Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.

Check out the motion and teaser poster below and let us know what you think in the comments down below.

Fox Searchlight...

The Birth of a Nation was the biggest movie at Sundance this year. It was one of the most sought after tickets, it got the best reactions from audiences and critics, it won both the audience and Grand Jury prizes, and it was bought by Fox Searchlight for a massive $17.5 million. I saw it at the festival, and it lives up to the hype. Now you can get a peek at it yourself by watching this teaser trailer. I really like this teaser. I think it matches the tone of the film really well, which we know isn’t always the case with movies.

Set against the antebellum South, The Birth of a Nation follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slave. As he witnesses countless atrocities — against...

Since its barnstorming world premiere during this year’s Sundance Film Festival, it’s been onwards and upwards for Nate Parker’s impassioned race drama The Birth of a Nation.

Upon landing a lucrative and record-breaking deal at Fox Searchlight – an eye-watering $17.5 million, no less – the period piece completed the proverbial one-two punch by nailing down an opportune October release window. And now, you can see what all the fuss is about with the film’s powerful first trailer.

Rooted in the throes of the antebellum South, The Birth of a Nation will place Parker the role of Nat Turner, a brave, unflinching rebel who sparked a landmark uprising – one that would go down in the history books as one of the most important in the country’s troubled history.

Written and directed by Parker, the one-man creative army will spearhead said rebellion as “Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher,...

Fox Searchlight Pictures has released the first trailer for director Nate Parker’s The Birth Of A Nation.

Set against the antebellum South, The Birth Of A Nation follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.

In his Sundance Film Festival review, The Hollywood Reporter’s Todd McCarthy says the film, “offers up more than enough in terms of intelligence, insight, historical research and religious nuance to not at all be considered a missed opportunity. Far more of the essentials made it into the film than not; its makers’ dedication and minute attention are constantly felt, and the subject matter is still rare enough onscreen as to be welcome and needed,...

If you were even casually paying attention to the Sundance Film Festival this year, you likely heard the big noise surrounding Nate Parker's "The Birth Of A Nation." Greeted with a rapturous reception in Park City, Fox Searchlight scooped up the movie for staggering $17.5 million, and with an awards-season release date set, the push has begun to turn this one into a big hit. Read More: Sundance Review: 'The Birth Of A Nation' Starring Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, And More Written by Parker, who also stars, with Armie Hammer, Penelope Ann Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Mark Boone Jr., Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Aja Naomi King, Esther Scott, Roger Guenveur Smith, and Gabrielle Union in support, the movie tells the story of a ferocious slave revolt. Here's the official synopsis:  Set against the antebellum South, The Birth Of A Nation follows Nat Turner...

The biggest success story at this year’s Sundance Film Festival — or any festival in history, if we’re talking about the acquisition price — was certainly Nate Parker‘s writing-directing debut The Birth of a Nation. Picked up by Fox Searchlight for a record $17.5 million, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award winner tells the true story of Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. We’ve still got half-a-year to go before it arrives in theaters, but today Fox Searchlight has released the first trailer.

I said in my review, “Directed, written, produced by, and starring Nate Parker, the Nat Turner biopic The Birth of a Nation is an unflinching and hopeful call to action where the helmer’s passion can be felt in every frame. By nodding to D. W. Griffith’s controversial, formally groundbreaking 1915 film, Parker is forging a new cinematic history for one of America’s most shameful eras.

Sundance breakout hit The Birth of a Nation has secured an opportune release date during the thick of awards season – October 7, 2016.

Nate Parker’s impassioned race drama drew the crowds at last month’s film festival, leading to a flurry of activity that resulted in the writer-director inking a record deal with Fox Searchlight – to the tune of $17.5 million – to bring the early awards contender to theaters. Both The Weinstein Company and Netflix had expressed interest in the historical drama prior to the agreement.

Rooted in the 19th century, The Birth of a Nation revolves around Nat Turner, the American-born slave who helped spearhead one of the most successful slave rebellions in the country’s history.

Having written and directed the feature, Parker is also a part of the starry ensemble, which is set to tell that tale of “Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner,...

Nate Parker's slave-rebellion drama "The Birth of a Nation," the most buzzed about film at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, has scored an October 7th nationwide release date from its distributor Fox Searchlight.

That puts the film right in the heart of awards season. Parker wrote, directed and stars in the film about Nat Turner, an American-born slave who led the most successful slave rebellion in American history.

Armie Hammer, Penelope Ann Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Mark Boone Jr., Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Aja Naomi King, Esther Scott, Roger Guenveur Smith and Gabrielle Union also star in the film which Fox ended up paying $17.5 million to secure the worldwide rights to at the festival - the largest sale in Sundance history to date.

That date has it opening against the Ben Affleck-led thriller "The Accountant," the novel adaptation "The Girl on the Train" and the Channing Tatum...

As is so often the case with each passing year, 2016’s Sundance Film Festival ignited a flurry of activity among studios and filmmakers alike, with a number of the major players moving in to acquire the hottest properties in town. And while the likes of Casey Affleck’s Manchester By The Sea and the Ellen Page-starring Tallulah pocketed distribution deals of their own, it was Nate Parker’s boisterous The Birth of a Nation that stole the headlines after securing a lucrative deal with Fox Searchlight to the tune of $17.5 million. That’s the biggest sale in Sundance history, and it didn’t even go to the highest bidder.

Hot on the heels of receiving a standing ovation at the film festival, it’s understood that The Weinstein Company and Netflix had both expressed interest in the feature film – the latter reportedly tabled a $20 million offer – though Parker is...

Recently, CBS delivered the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Extant" episodes 9 and 10 of season 1. Episode 9 is entitled, "Care and Feeding" and episode 10 is entitled, "A Pack of Cards.” It sounds like things will get very interesting and drama-filled as Sparks takes off with Molly's baby and allows it to keep living at a deadly price, and more! In the new episode 9 press release: Sparks is going to flee with Molly's baby. Press release number 2: When Sparks falls under the influence of the vision of his deceased daughter, he will flee with Molly’s baby to a remote location. Now, Yasumoto and Molly is going to have to rely on each other to track down the offspring. Tessa Ferrer will return as Katie Sparks, Alan Sparks’s astronaut daughter. Guest stars will feature: Brad Beyer (Harmon Kryger), Tessa Ferrer (Katie Sparks), Charlie Bewley (Odin), Shree Grace Crooks (Young Katie) and Mrs.

CBS has released both the official press release and promotional photos ahead of The Mentalist’s season 5 premiere, which airs Sunday 30th September. The first episode of the new season is titled ‘The Crimson Ticket’.

Aside from the obviously exciting content (synopsis, photos etc) pay extra attention to the cast list, in particular the returning and debuting guest stars.

See the press release and photos below.

Press Release:

While Jane Tries To Decipher Lorelei’S Connection To Red John, The Cbi Team Is Forced To Partner With The FBI To Solve The Murder Of A Hotel Employee, On The Fifth Season Premiere Of “The Mentalist,” Sunday, Sept. 30

Emmanuelle Chriqui (“Entourage”) Returns as Lorelei Martins, Polly Walker (“Rome”) Guest Stars as Senior FBI Agent Alexa Schultz and Ivan Sergei Guest Stars as FBI Agent Gabe Mancini

Cheat Tweet: Cbi vs. FBI? What brings these teams together? @echriqui returns on the season premiere of #thementalist Sun.

Director/writer: Kent Faulcon.

One of the biggest distributors of film is Mti Home Video and one of several titles that this company is releasing in 2010 is the action thriller Sister's Keeper. Sister's Keeper has been available since June 15th on DVD and this picture was written, directed and starred in by Kent Faulcon (War of the Worlds). Faulcon still manages to avoid the pitfalls of making this film an ego vehicle with the use of some evocative writing, a strong appearance by Eric Roberts ("Fear Itself"), and some intimate interactions between a family, which are natural and unforced.

Sister's Keeper follows an ex-soldier and part-time mercenary named Jacob Tate (Faulcon), who is hired to kill a young woman so that a younger brother can receive a multi-million dollar inheritance. Yet, Tate's conscience and libido intervene and soon this hired gun is fighting off a second equally experienced group of...