Exclusive: David Oyelowo says he wants to use his star power to make more films in Africa and help boost the continent’s movie-making prowess. But he assures “there’s not going to be a cultural colonialism” insisting that the move has got to “benefit people on the ground.”
The actor met with Deadline during a break from rehearsals and previews of a new production of Shakespeare’s blistering and bloodthirsty play Coriolanus at London’s National Theatre with the Lawmen: Bass Reeves actor playing the titular role of the noble, patrician, war hero Caius Martius Coriolanus, who discovers to his cost that heroics on the battlefield do not readily equip him for the vicious blood sports of politics in Ancient Rome. The powerful play, directed by Olivier Award winner Lyndsey Turner, has its official opening night on September 24.
Oyelowo, who was born in Oxford, England to Nigerian parents, is...
The actor met with Deadline during a break from rehearsals and previews of a new production of Shakespeare’s blistering and bloodthirsty play Coriolanus at London’s National Theatre with the Lawmen: Bass Reeves actor playing the titular role of the noble, patrician, war hero Caius Martius Coriolanus, who discovers to his cost that heroics on the battlefield do not readily equip him for the vicious blood sports of politics in Ancient Rome. The powerful play, directed by Olivier Award winner Lyndsey Turner, has its official opening night on September 24.
Oyelowo, who was born in Oxford, England to Nigerian parents, is...
- 9/14/2024
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
If you, too, were on the edge of your seat while binge-watching Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, you’re not alone. Based on the 1983 Walter Tevis book of the same name (which takes its title from a popular move), the limited-run series about fictional chess prodigy Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor Joy) set viewership records to the tune of 62 million households in its first 28 days, says the streaming service. The coming-of-age story follows orphaned Harmon as she rises through the ranks in the Sixties and Seventies, proving to be (spoiler alert!
- 12/18/2020
- by Danielle Directo-Meston
- Rollingstone.com
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, an actor who appeared in Disney’s biographical drama “Queen of Katwe,” has died, according to BBC and the Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor. She was 15.
Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 and seemed to recover a year later. However, in 2019, another tumor was found. “Queen of Katwe” director Mira Nair helped organize efforts to fund Waligwa’s treatment during filming, according to BBC.
The young actor played a girl named Gloria in “Queen of Katwe.” She was a close friend of main character Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), and taught her how to play chess. The film told the real-life story of Mutesi who is one of Uganda’s most successful chess players. She won three Ugandan Women’s Junior Championship and has represented the country at four international chess olympiads.
Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo also starred in the film. They played Mutesi’s mother and chess teacher.
Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 and seemed to recover a year later. However, in 2019, another tumor was found. “Queen of Katwe” director Mira Nair helped organize efforts to fund Waligwa’s treatment during filming, according to BBC.
The young actor played a girl named Gloria in “Queen of Katwe.” She was a close friend of main character Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), and taught her how to play chess. The film told the real-life story of Mutesi who is one of Uganda’s most successful chess players. She won three Ugandan Women’s Junior Championship and has represented the country at four international chess olympiads.
Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo also starred in the film. They played Mutesi’s mother and chess teacher.
- 2/16/2020
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Home audiences will cheer for Disney’s Queen of Katwe, which has earned widespread critical acclaim. Based on the vibrant true story of a young girl (Madina Nalwanga) from the streets of Uganda whose world changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion. It is a remarkable story of perseverance against all odds that will leave viewers feeling humbled and inspired. According to director Mira Nair, “The triumph of the human spirit is not to weep for what we don’t have but to focus on what we do have and allow that to take us to a place we never imagined possible.” Disney’s heartwarming and triumphant tale arrives home on Digital HD on Jan.
- 1/17/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Alicia Keys has contributed songs to dozens of soundtracks including “The Great Gatsby,” “Muscle Shoals,” “Quantum of Solace” and “Drumline.” But Mira Nair’s “Queen of Katwe,” which features a Keys original, “Back to Life,” was a different kind of project.
Keys first discovered the true story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (portrayed by Madina Nalwanga in her debut) “by a little twist of fate” in 2011, when Tim Crothers’ remarkable feature story on the budding prodigy was published by Espn’s magazine (a year later, Crothers published the book “The Queen of Katwe,” on which Nair’s film is based).
Producing partner Jeff Robinson gave the article to Keys, in hopes that they could develop it under their Big Pita, Little Pita Productions banner. While that didn’t ultimately pan out, Keys could never quite shake Mutesi’s story.
Read More: Why ‘Hidden Figures’ Is...
Keys first discovered the true story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (portrayed by Madina Nalwanga in her debut) “by a little twist of fate” in 2011, when Tim Crothers’ remarkable feature story on the budding prodigy was published by Espn’s magazine (a year later, Crothers published the book “The Queen of Katwe,” on which Nair’s film is based).
Producing partner Jeff Robinson gave the article to Keys, in hopes that they could develop it under their Big Pita, Little Pita Productions banner. While that didn’t ultimately pan out, Keys could never quite shake Mutesi’s story.
Read More: Why ‘Hidden Figures’ Is...
- 1/12/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Mark Harrison Jan 6, 2017
Viola Davis, John Goodman, Bryce Dallas Howard and more, in our rundown of 2016's underrated movie acting work.
This article contains minor spoilers for Pete's Dragon, Suicide Squad and Warcraft: The Beginning.
Nobody is likely to look back on 2016 fondly, whether because of global political instability, celebrity deaths or the rejection of Boaty McBoatface as a suitable name for a research vessel. In the world of film, we note that a lot of the contenders in this year's awards season haven't even been released in UK cinemas yet, and it was hardly a banner year for blockbuster cinema either.
On the plus side, there were some exemplary smaller films, of the kind that awards bodies tend to overlook, released in the last 12 months. Without any apparent genre contenders, like The Martian or Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, this is a year in which performers are more likely...
Viola Davis, John Goodman, Bryce Dallas Howard and more, in our rundown of 2016's underrated movie acting work.
This article contains minor spoilers for Pete's Dragon, Suicide Squad and Warcraft: The Beginning.
Nobody is likely to look back on 2016 fondly, whether because of global political instability, celebrity deaths or the rejection of Boaty McBoatface as a suitable name for a research vessel. In the world of film, we note that a lot of the contenders in this year's awards season haven't even been released in UK cinemas yet, and it was hardly a banner year for blockbuster cinema either.
On the plus side, there were some exemplary smaller films, of the kind that awards bodies tend to overlook, released in the last 12 months. Without any apparent genre contenders, like The Martian or Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, this is a year in which performers are more likely...
- 1/4/2017
- Den of Geek
The Girl on the Train, Ouija: Origin of Evil and more top our list of movies to watch at home in JanuaryThe Girl on the Train, Ouija: Origin of Evil and more top our list of movies to watch at home in JanuaryGarrett McCormick1/3/2017 3:24:00 Pm
The holidays are over and whether it is work or school, it’s time to get back to our responsibilities – Begin holiday withdrawal.
But let’s be honest, it’s never too early to take another break! Cineplex Store is releasing new movies this month, so you can venture your way back to that comfy couch and binge watch our new releases.
Check out some of Cineplex Store’s new January releases below: The Girl on the Train - Available January 3
Who didn’t talk about The Girl on the Train last year?
Based on the psychological thriller novel written by Paula Hawkins,...
The holidays are over and whether it is work or school, it’s time to get back to our responsibilities – Begin holiday withdrawal.
But let’s be honest, it’s never too early to take another break! Cineplex Store is releasing new movies this month, so you can venture your way back to that comfy couch and binge watch our new releases.
Check out some of Cineplex Store’s new January releases below: The Girl on the Train - Available January 3
Who didn’t talk about The Girl on the Train last year?
Based on the psychological thriller novel written by Paula Hawkins,...
- 1/3/2017
- by Garrett McCormick
- Cineplex
2016 would be remembered for throwing forward no new remarkable talent that hit us straight in the eyes. Indeed, the most promising newcomer of the year was 9-year old Madina Nalwanga who played the real-life chess champ Fiona Mutesi in Mira Nair’s The Queen Of Katwe. 2016 was the year when child performers made far more powerful debuts than the adults.Read More
The post 10 Male newcomers of 2016 appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
The post 10 Male newcomers of 2016 appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
- 12/31/2016
- by Subhash K. Jha
- BollywoodHungama
And the winners are…
Awfj Best Of Awards
These awards are presented to women and/or men without gender consideration.
Best Film: Moonlight
Best Director: Barry Jenkins – Moonlight
Best Screenplay, Original: Manchester by the Sea – Kenneth Lonergan
Best Screenplay, Adapted: Moonlight – Barry Jenkins
Best Documentary: 13th – Ava DuVernay
Best Animated Film: Zootopia – Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush
Best Actress: Ruth Negga – Loving
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Viola Davis – Fences
Best Actor: Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
Best Ensemble Cast – Casting Director: Moonlight – Yesi Ramirez
Best Cinematography: Moonlight – James Laxton
Best Editing: Moonlight – Joi McMillon and Nat Sanders
Best Non-English-Language Film: The Handmaiden – Chan-Wook Park, South Korea
Eda Female Focus Awards
These awards honor women only.
Best Woman Director: Ava DuVernay – 13th
Best Woman Screenwriter: Kelly Reichardt – Certain Women
Best Animated Female: Judy in Zootopia – Ginnifer Goodwin And...
Awfj Best Of Awards
These awards are presented to women and/or men without gender consideration.
Best Film: Moonlight
Best Director: Barry Jenkins – Moonlight
Best Screenplay, Original: Manchester by the Sea – Kenneth Lonergan
Best Screenplay, Adapted: Moonlight – Barry Jenkins
Best Documentary: 13th – Ava DuVernay
Best Animated Film: Zootopia – Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush
Best Actress: Ruth Negga – Loving
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Viola Davis – Fences
Best Actor: Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
Best Ensemble Cast – Casting Director: Moonlight – Yesi Ramirez
Best Cinematography: Moonlight – James Laxton
Best Editing: Moonlight – Joi McMillon and Nat Sanders
Best Non-English-Language Film: The Handmaiden – Chan-Wook Park, South Korea
Eda Female Focus Awards
These awards honor women only.
Best Woman Director: Ava DuVernay – 13th
Best Woman Screenwriter: Kelly Reichardt – Certain Women
Best Animated Female: Judy in Zootopia – Ginnifer Goodwin And...
- 12/22/2016
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists have announced the nominees for the 2016 Awfj Eda Awards.
In their 10th annual awards season, the 25 categories are divided into three sections, the Best Of Awards, Female Focus Awards and Eda Special Mention Awards.
Andrea Arnold, Ava DuVernay, Rebecca Miller, Mira Nair and Lorene Scafaria were among the filmmakers nominated in this year’s awards.
Nominees in each category are determined by Awfj members who submit nominating ballots. There are currently 76 voting Awfj members.
The winners will be announced on December 21.
2016 Awfj Eda Awards Nominees
Awfj Best Of Awards
These awards are presented to women and/or men without gender consideration.
Best Film
Arrival
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Best Director
Damien Chazelle – La La Land
Barry Jenkins – Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea
David Mackenzie – Hell or High Water
Denis Villeneuve – Arrival
Best Screenplay, Original...
In their 10th annual awards season, the 25 categories are divided into three sections, the Best Of Awards, Female Focus Awards and Eda Special Mention Awards.
Andrea Arnold, Ava DuVernay, Rebecca Miller, Mira Nair and Lorene Scafaria were among the filmmakers nominated in this year’s awards.
Nominees in each category are determined by Awfj members who submit nominating ballots. There are currently 76 voting Awfj members.
The winners will be announced on December 21.
2016 Awfj Eda Awards Nominees
Awfj Best Of Awards
These awards are presented to women and/or men without gender consideration.
Best Film
Arrival
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Best Director
Damien Chazelle – La La Land
Barry Jenkins – Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea
David Mackenzie – Hell or High Water
Denis Villeneuve – Arrival
Best Screenplay, Original...
- 12/16/2016
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Last night, the Broadcast Film Critics Association (or Bfca) had their annual awards ceremony, known as the Critics Choice Awards. It’s a star studded event that sort of continues the growing of the awards season. In just a few minutes, the Golden Globe nominations will be announced (look for that in my next piece), which will in turn lead to a bigger event, but at least for this past Sunday night, Bfca had the floor. They spread the love out to a small degree, but for the most part, they had a clear favorite. Yes, the Critics Choice Awards more or less continued the presumed coronation of one contender in particular… Leading the way was Damien Chazelle’s La La Land, which took home eight awards overall, including Best Picture, Best Director for Chazelle, and Best Original Screenplay for Chazelle as well (in a tie with Kenneth Lonergan for...
- 12/12/2016
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
I am a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (Bfca), which means I vote for the 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards. The winners will be revealed live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on A&E on Sunday, December 11 at 8Pm Et/ 5Pm Pt. T.J. Miller will return as the show’s host.
Here are my official choices. They have been bolded and italicized.
Best Picture
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Lion
Loving
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Sully
Best Actor
Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
Joel Edgerton – Loving
Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling – La La Land
Tom Hanks – Sully
Denzel Washington – Fences
Best Actress
Amy Adams – Arrival
Annette Bening – 20th Century Women
Isabelle Huppert – Elle
Ruth Negga – Loving
Natalie Portman – Jackie
Emma Stone – La La Land
Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
Jeff Bridges – Hell or High Water
Ben Foster...
Here are my official choices. They have been bolded and italicized.
Best Picture
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Lion
Loving
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Sully
Best Actor
Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
Joel Edgerton – Loving
Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling – La La Land
Tom Hanks – Sully
Denzel Washington – Fences
Best Actress
Amy Adams – Arrival
Annette Bening – 20th Century Women
Isabelle Huppert – Elle
Ruth Negga – Loving
Natalie Portman – Jackie
Emma Stone – La La Land
Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
Jeff Bridges – Hell or High Water
Ben Foster...
- 12/8/2016
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
Image via the Critics' Choice Awards
Goodbye, 2016, hello, awards season! Man, what a year it’s been! A year with a lot of highs and a lot of lows. But like clockwork, just prior to the New Years bell ringing, members of various different groups sit down and vote on some of the standouts of the year in terms of film achievement. Just this past Monday, The Annie Awards released their big nominations for the year, and now, the Critics’ Choice Awards have done the same!
Read: Annie Awards 2017: Zootopia And Kubo Top This Year's Nominations!
As expected, coming out of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, the Ryan Gosling/Emma Stone vehicle La La Land is at the top of the nominations list with 12 nominations.Tied for second are the amazing sci-fi film Arrival, and the hard-hitting drama film, Moonlight, who each have 10 nominations.
One of the...
Goodbye, 2016, hello, awards season! Man, what a year it’s been! A year with a lot of highs and a lot of lows. But like clockwork, just prior to the New Years bell ringing, members of various different groups sit down and vote on some of the standouts of the year in terms of film achievement. Just this past Monday, The Annie Awards released their big nominations for the year, and now, the Critics’ Choice Awards have done the same!
Read: Annie Awards 2017: Zootopia And Kubo Top This Year's Nominations!
As expected, coming out of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, the Ryan Gosling/Emma Stone vehicle La La Land is at the top of the nominations list with 12 nominations.Tied for second are the amazing sci-fi film Arrival, and the hard-hitting drama film, Moonlight, who each have 10 nominations.
One of the...
- 12/1/2016
- by Joseph Medina
- LRMonline.com
Arrival Gallery 1 of 38
Click to skip More From The Web
The 2016 Critics’ Choice Awards nominations are in and, somewhat unsurprisingly, Damien Chazelle’s old-timey musical La La Land has emerged as an early frontrunner.
It bagged 12 nominations in total, including nods in some of the more prestigious categories – Best Picture, Ryan Gosling for Best Actor, Emma Stone for Best Actress, Chazelle for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. It’s an impressive haul for the Oscar-tipped drama, and one that will surely strengthen its status as the one candidate to beat as the weeks wear on.
Elsewhere, other films to score big in the list of nominations include acclaimed sci-fi Arrival and Fences, Denzel Washington’s adaptation that sees him in the role of a former baseball star struggling to find meaning in 1950s Pittsburgh.
Due to take place on December 11, the Critics’ Choice Awards will get underway on A...
Click to skip More From The Web
The 2016 Critics’ Choice Awards nominations are in and, somewhat unsurprisingly, Damien Chazelle’s old-timey musical La La Land has emerged as an early frontrunner.
It bagged 12 nominations in total, including nods in some of the more prestigious categories – Best Picture, Ryan Gosling for Best Actor, Emma Stone for Best Actress, Chazelle for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. It’s an impressive haul for the Oscar-tipped drama, and one that will surely strengthen its status as the one candidate to beat as the weeks wear on.
Elsewhere, other films to score big in the list of nominations include acclaimed sci-fi Arrival and Fences, Denzel Washington’s adaptation that sees him in the role of a former baseball star struggling to find meaning in 1950s Pittsburgh.
Due to take place on December 11, the Critics’ Choice Awards will get underway on A...
- 12/1/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
The Broadcast Film Critics Association (of which I'm a proud member) has revealed the nominations for the 22nd Critics' Choice Awards! And I'm loving that my favorite film of the year, "La La Land," led the pack with 12 nominations including Best Picture. "Moonlight" and "Arrival" followed with 10 noms each. The three films will compete with "Fences," "Hacksaw Ridge," "Hell or High Water," "Lion," "Loving," "Manchester by the Sea," and "Sully" for the Best Picture trophy. Winners will be announced live on A&E on Sunday, December 11th and I will be there!
Before I give you the nominations, how cool is it that August Wilson, who wrote the play "Fences" that Denzel Washington faithfully adapted, received a Best Adapted Screenplay nod? The best part? The great playwright has been gone for 11 years! Kudos to Washington for handling Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece with love!
Here's the complete nominations list of...
Before I give you the nominations, how cool is it that August Wilson, who wrote the play "Fences" that Denzel Washington faithfully adapted, received a Best Adapted Screenplay nod? The best part? The great playwright has been gone for 11 years! Kudos to Washington for handling Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece with love!
Here's the complete nominations list of...
- 12/1/2016
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
La La Land is dancing its way to Oscar gold!
The Critics’ Choice Awards nominations were announced on Thursday, and the Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone-led musical topped the list with a whopping 12 nods, including best picture, best actor, best actress, best director (Damien Chazelle), and two nominations for best song.
Gosling also scored a second Best Actor nomination for his turn in The Nice Guys.
Moonlight and Arrival trailed close behind, tying for second place with 10 nominations each. Other early Oscar contenders like Manchester By the Sea and Jackie were also singled out.
Marvel films also came out on top,...
The Critics’ Choice Awards nominations were announced on Thursday, and the Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone-led musical topped the list with a whopping 12 nods, including best picture, best actor, best actress, best director (Damien Chazelle), and two nominations for best song.
Gosling also scored a second Best Actor nomination for his turn in The Nice Guys.
Moonlight and Arrival trailed close behind, tying for second place with 10 nominations each. Other early Oscar contenders like Manchester By the Sea and Jackie were also singled out.
Marvel films also came out on top,...
- 12/1/2016
- by jodiguglielmi
- PEOPLE.com
The Critics Choice Awards have gone gaga for “La La Land.”
Damien Chazelle’s big-hearted Hollywood musical leads the pack of nominations this year, pulling in an enviable 12 nods, including Best Picture, Ryan Gosling for Best Actor, Emma Stone for Best Actress, Chazelle for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, Linus Sandgren for Best Cinematography, David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco for Best Production Design, Tom Cross for Best Editing, Mary Zophres for Best Costume Design, Two Best Song Nominations for “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” and “City of Stars,” and Justin Hurwitz for Best Score.
Read More: Gotham Awards 2016: Complete Winners List
That’s something to sing about for the perceived Oscar frontrunner, which now heads into December with a major boost.
This morning’s nomination announcement also heaped big love on “Arrival” and “Moonlight,” with ten nominations each, putting both films in the running for Best Picture, Best Director,...
Damien Chazelle’s big-hearted Hollywood musical leads the pack of nominations this year, pulling in an enviable 12 nods, including Best Picture, Ryan Gosling for Best Actor, Emma Stone for Best Actress, Chazelle for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, Linus Sandgren for Best Cinematography, David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco for Best Production Design, Tom Cross for Best Editing, Mary Zophres for Best Costume Design, Two Best Song Nominations for “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” and “City of Stars,” and Justin Hurwitz for Best Score.
Read More: Gotham Awards 2016: Complete Winners List
That’s something to sing about for the perceived Oscar frontrunner, which now heads into December with a major boost.
This morning’s nomination announcement also heaped big love on “Arrival” and “Moonlight,” with ten nominations each, putting both films in the running for Best Picture, Best Director,...
- 12/1/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Damien Chazelle’s lavish musical La La Land topped the list with a whopping 12 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Director, and two separate nominations for Best Song. (Gosling also scored a second nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy for The Nice Guys.)
Moonlight and Arrival tied for second place with 10 nods apiece, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay — Moonlight for original screenplay, Arrival for adapted.
Other big nominees include awards season favorites like Manchester by the Sea, Fences, and Jackie, while Captain America: Civil War, Deadpool, and Doctor Strange...
Moonlight and Arrival tied for second place with 10 nods apiece, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay — Moonlight for original screenplay, Arrival for adapted.
Other big nominees include awards season favorites like Manchester by the Sea, Fences, and Jackie, while Captain America: Civil War, Deadpool, and Doctor Strange...
- 12/1/2016
- by Stephanie Petit
- PEOPLE.com
Each year one of our awards traditions is to help fellow Bfca members choose more wisely when it comes to the "Young Performer" category by sharing an eligibility list. The lazy nominations each year prove that help is needed. Here's the thing: it can be difficult to even think of who is eligible when you're filling out a ballot because you don't get a list of choices and it's not a category people campaign for or one that the internet talks about. So we solve that problem right here. Our other belief, which is why we do this, is that if you actually pay attention there are enough worthy performances each year to divvy this category up into male and female as the other acting categories are divvied up. But, yes, you have to be paying attention beyond 5 or 6 movies and leading roles to notice the truly special work.
Ballots...
Ballots...
- 11/17/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
This Friday, November 4, Alicia Keys will be releasing her sixth studio album, “Here.” Ahead of its launch, the Grammy Award winner has shared her short film titled “The Gospel,” which features unreleased tracks from her upcoming LP.
The 23-minute video, which can be watched exclusively on Tidal, is directed by A.V. Rockwell and premiered earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival. The short is set in Key’s hometown of New York City and takes on police brutality.
Get ready for @AliciaKeys’ album Here w/her visual prelude The Gospel, on Tidal now. #AliciaIsHERE #TIDALXAliciaKeys https://t.co/1FDndHgrcb pic.twitter.com/xFAo4hyQZk
— Tidal (@TIDALHiFi) November 1, 2016
Read More: Listen to Alicia Keys Sing the Ballad She Wrote for ‘Queen of Katwe’
“Here” is Key’s followup to 2012’s “Girl on Fire” and is executive produced by her husband Swiss Beatz. Fans have previously heard the tracks “In Common,...
The 23-minute video, which can be watched exclusively on Tidal, is directed by A.V. Rockwell and premiered earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival. The short is set in Key’s hometown of New York City and takes on police brutality.
Get ready for @AliciaKeys’ album Here w/her visual prelude The Gospel, on Tidal now. #AliciaIsHERE #TIDALXAliciaKeys https://t.co/1FDndHgrcb pic.twitter.com/xFAo4hyQZk
— Tidal (@TIDALHiFi) November 1, 2016
Read More: Listen to Alicia Keys Sing the Ballad She Wrote for ‘Queen of Katwe’
“Here” is Key’s followup to 2012’s “Girl on Fire” and is executive produced by her husband Swiss Beatz. Fans have previously heard the tracks “In Common,...
- 11/1/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o and Madina Nalwanga lead the cast of a real gem of a movie. Here's our review of Queen Of Katwe...
For a film that's competing with lots of big new releases in UK cinemas this week, there has been rather too much emphasis on how radical Queen Of Katwe is for a Disney film. Adapted from Tim Crothers' 2012 article The Queen Of Katwe: A Story Of Life, Chess and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream Of Becoming A Grandmaster, Mira Nair's winsome sports underdog movie just happens to be set entirely in Uganda.
In the titular Kampala slum, selfless youth ministry coach Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) introduces chess to the local kids by offering free food at his classes. One pupil in particular, Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), proves to be a natural and Robert encourages her to pursue her passion to an international level over a number of years,...
For a film that's competing with lots of big new releases in UK cinemas this week, there has been rather too much emphasis on how radical Queen Of Katwe is for a Disney film. Adapted from Tim Crothers' 2012 article The Queen Of Katwe: A Story Of Life, Chess and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream Of Becoming A Grandmaster, Mira Nair's winsome sports underdog movie just happens to be set entirely in Uganda.
In the titular Kampala slum, selfless youth ministry coach Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) introduces chess to the local kids by offering free food at his classes. One pupil in particular, Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), proves to be a natural and Robert encourages her to pursue her passion to an international level over a number of years,...
- 10/25/2016
- Den of Geek
Disney’s rags-to-riches tale of a Ugandan chess champion will leave you with a lump in your throat
Here’s a mainstream movie set in Africa that’s not about conflict zones, has an entirely black speaking cast, and is centred on the intellectual achievements of a female protagonist – this makes Queen of Katwe an altogether radical anomaly, yet it couldn’t be more multiplex-friendly. It’s the true story of Ugandan chess champion Phiona Mutesi, tracing her triumphant progress from hard knocks in an impoverished district of Kampala. Newcomer Madina Nalwanga has a rueful, quiet appeal as Phiona, Lupita Nyong’o is affecting as the tough mother keeping an embattled family together, and David Oyelowo is warm and slyly charismatic as the committed coach who guides Phiona and a group of other kids – a terrifically winning young ensemble cast – through struggles against poverty, self-doubt and snobbery.
Related: Lupita Nyong...
Here’s a mainstream movie set in Africa that’s not about conflict zones, has an entirely black speaking cast, and is centred on the intellectual achievements of a female protagonist – this makes Queen of Katwe an altogether radical anomaly, yet it couldn’t be more multiplex-friendly. It’s the true story of Ugandan chess champion Phiona Mutesi, tracing her triumphant progress from hard knocks in an impoverished district of Kampala. Newcomer Madina Nalwanga has a rueful, quiet appeal as Phiona, Lupita Nyong’o is affecting as the tough mother keeping an embattled family together, and David Oyelowo is warm and slyly charismatic as the committed coach who guides Phiona and a group of other kids – a terrifically winning young ensemble cast – through struggles against poverty, self-doubt and snobbery.
Related: Lupita Nyong...
- 10/23/2016
- by Jonathan Romney
- The Guardian - Film News
Mira Nair’s sweet movie, based on the real Ugandan chess champ Phiona Mutesi (well played by Madina Nalwanga) doesn’t exactly stretch Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo, but it’s hard to dislike
Here is a likable, sweet-natured film from Disney that sticks pretty closely to the inspirational underdog template: kid from poor background has a Bend-It-Like-Billy-Elliot gift which could be a way out of the ghetto; charismatic coach persuades proud-yet-suspicious parent to let them have a go, kid becomes a success, dips into a crisis, and comes out of it for a happy ending.
Related: Chess queen of Africa
Continue reading...
Here is a likable, sweet-natured film from Disney that sticks pretty closely to the inspirational underdog template: kid from poor background has a Bend-It-Like-Billy-Elliot gift which could be a way out of the ghetto; charismatic coach persuades proud-yet-suspicious parent to let them have a go, kid becomes a success, dips into a crisis, and comes out of it for a happy ending.
Related: Chess queen of Africa
Continue reading...
- 10/20/2016
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
★★★★☆ Even those with a limited knowledge of the game of chess will know that the queen rules the roost. Making an astonishing acting debut, the strongest piece of Mira Nair's joyous Queen of Katwe is Madina Nalwanga. Playing Ugandan prodigy Phiona Mutesi, the charming newcomer lights up the screen from first to last with a radiant smile and extraordinarily mature performance. Her embodiment of a girl plucked from the slums of Kampala and catapulted to international fame by tactical mastery of a game of strategy is classic Disney fare but this story of triumph over adversity aims right for the heartstrings and gives them a good plucking.
- 10/19/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Queen Of Katwe
Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo,
Directed by Mira Nair
Rating: **** ½
There she is, the maze-selling girl from the slums of Africa who becomes a chess champ, thanks to the indefatigable encouragement and support of her upright coach.
We’ve seen this story in countless motivational films including the recent grossly underrated Budhia Singh Born To Run. Well, if littleBudhia could run the marathon, wise and thoughtful Phiona is no less wedded to her own gamely bliss. Chess, as it happens to be. Her story is told here with a crackling transparency and a disarming sincerity verging on didacticism.
The poetry, if you will, pores out of the prosaic. The desperate rhythms of poverty are almost identical in every culture. Queen Of Katwe could be a story waiting to be told from the slum of Dharavi. No matter what the definition of poverty and squalor...
Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo,
Directed by Mira Nair
Rating: **** ½
There she is, the maze-selling girl from the slums of Africa who becomes a chess champ, thanks to the indefatigable encouragement and support of her upright coach.
We’ve seen this story in countless motivational films including the recent grossly underrated Budhia Singh Born To Run. Well, if littleBudhia could run the marathon, wise and thoughtful Phiona is no less wedded to her own gamely bliss. Chess, as it happens to be. Her story is told here with a crackling transparency and a disarming sincerity verging on didacticism.
The poetry, if you will, pores out of the prosaic. The desperate rhythms of poverty are almost identical in every culture. Queen Of Katwe could be a story waiting to be told from the slum of Dharavi. No matter what the definition of poverty and squalor...
- 10/9/2016
- by Subhash K Jha
- Bollyspice
From creating fictional stories to keep audiences enthralled, scriptwriters and filmmakers are increasingly turning to real life heroes and pathbreakers to make movies upon. 2016 sees a plethora of movies that are based on real world people who have shaken the world with their remarkable achievements from humble beginnings. And why not, the world is filled with inspirational stories of actual incredible human beings who have done the unthinkable!
1. Mira Nair’s Queen of Katwe
Disney’s “Queen of Katwe” is based on the vibrant true story of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from the streets of Kampala, Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess by soccer coach and former missionary Robert Katende, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an International chess champion.
1. Mira Nair’s Queen of Katwe
Disney’s “Queen of Katwe” is based on the vibrant true story of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from the streets of Kampala, Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess by soccer coach and former missionary Robert Katende, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an International chess champion.
- 10/5/2016
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Twenty-eight years ago, we discovered the world of street children within the harsh, raw, underbelly of Delhi. Yet, it was a life these children had chosen in preference to home and family – which had obviously become entirely intolerable.
There is so much missing from the lives of these children – food, security, health, education and love. All these, we urged ourselves that they needed and had a right to – a secure space to sleep, to play, and to dream. This realization paved the way for creation of Salaam Baalak Trust (Sbt). The Trust was established in December 1988, with the proceeds from the film Salaam Bombay – directed by Mira Nair.
Sbt has over the years successfully worked with over 73000 (till 2016) children restoring a significant portion back to their own families.
As part of the ongoing fund raising efforts Salaam Baalak Trust is proud to associate with Disney’s Queen of Katwe; releasing...
There is so much missing from the lives of these children – food, security, health, education and love. All these, we urged ourselves that they needed and had a right to – a secure space to sleep, to play, and to dream. This realization paved the way for creation of Salaam Baalak Trust (Sbt). The Trust was established in December 1988, with the proceeds from the film Salaam Bombay – directed by Mira Nair.
Sbt has over the years successfully worked with over 73000 (till 2016) children restoring a significant portion back to their own families.
As part of the ongoing fund raising efforts Salaam Baalak Trust is proud to associate with Disney’s Queen of Katwe; releasing...
- 10/4/2016
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Plot: The true story of Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), a young girl from the slums of Uganda, who becomes a master chess player under the guidance of her coach (David Oyelowo), while her mother (Lupita Nyong’o) struggles to find the bare necessities the family needs to survive. Review: As far as movies about chess go, Queen Of Katwe is definitely up there with something like Searching For Bobby Fisher.... Read More...
- 9/29/2016
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Phiona Mutesi was simply searching for food when she stumbled upon Robert Katende teaching chess in her Uganda village - but what she found was a new life. "I never believed that this time would come," Mutesi tells People. "I feel like I'm dreaming." Disney's Queen of Katwe portrays the life of Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), a young girl living in the Uganda slum of Katwe who discovers her uncanny talent for chess and rises to become one her nation's top players with the help of her coach, Robert Katende (David Oyelowo). Katende says when he first brought the game of...
- 9/29/2016
- by Jodi Guglielmi
- PEOPLE.com
Phiona Mutesi was simply searching for food when she stumbled upon Robert Katende teaching chess in her Uganda village - but what she found was a new life. "I never believed that this time would come," Mutesi tells People. "I feel like I'm dreaming." Disney's Queen of Katwe portrays the life of Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), a young girl living in the Uganda slum of Katwe who discovers her uncanny talent for chess and rises to become one her nation's top players with the help of her coach, Robert Katende (David Oyelowo). Katende says when he first brought the game of...
- 9/29/2016
- by Jodi Guglielmi
- PEOPLE.com
by Eric Blume
Usually adjectives like “inspirational” and “crowd-pleasing” make most serious moviegoers want to go running straight for the hills, and indeed the trailer for Disney’s Queen of Katwe made me shudder. This true story of a poor Ugandan girl (played here by newcomer Madina Nalwanga) who becomes a candidate master at chess has all the markers of the usual Disney underdog story, and you expect all the typical manipulation that comes with it.
But most films aren’t directed by Mira Nair, and she turns Queen of Katwe into something rare: a true story that plays authentically and simply. Nair shot this film in the actual slums of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, and her love for the place, the people, and the culture is unmistakable...
Usually adjectives like “inspirational” and “crowd-pleasing” make most serious moviegoers want to go running straight for the hills, and indeed the trailer for Disney’s Queen of Katwe made me shudder. This true story of a poor Ugandan girl (played here by newcomer Madina Nalwanga) who becomes a candidate master at chess has all the markers of the usual Disney underdog story, and you expect all the typical manipulation that comes with it.
But most films aren’t directed by Mira Nair, and she turns Queen of Katwe into something rare: a true story that plays authentically and simply. Nair shot this film in the actual slums of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, and her love for the place, the people, and the culture is unmistakable...
- 9/28/2016
- by Eric Blume
- FilmExperience
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:
While the new movies reigned at the box office this past weekend, both Antoine Fuqua’s The Magnificent Seven (Sony) and the animated Storks (Warner Bros.) didn’t fare nearly as well as our projections, both falling short by about $10 million. The Magnificent Seven, starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt, fared decently with $34.7million, which is about the average for Washington’s films, but the fourth highest opening for a Western after last year’s The Revenant, the animated Rango, and Cowboys and Aliens. Storks’ $21.3 million opening wasn’t great compared to other animated September releases with Sony still holding the September opening record with Hotel Transylvania 2, but it should continue to do well with no other animated movies opening for another month.
This Past Weekend:
While the new movies reigned at the box office this past weekend, both Antoine Fuqua’s The Magnificent Seven (Sony) and the animated Storks (Warner Bros.) didn’t fare nearly as well as our projections, both falling short by about $10 million. The Magnificent Seven, starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt, fared decently with $34.7million, which is about the average for Washington’s films, but the fourth highest opening for a Western after last year’s The Revenant, the animated Rango, and Cowboys and Aliens. Storks’ $21.3 million opening wasn’t great compared to other animated September releases with Sony still holding the September opening record with Hotel Transylvania 2, but it should continue to do well with no other animated movies opening for another month.
- 9/28/2016
- by Edward Douglas
- LRMonline.com
It wasn't quite the weekend we forecasted on Thursday afternoon as Sony's The Magnificent Seven remake and WB's animated Storks both fell short of Mojo's lofty expectations. The weekend overall didn't look much better as the top twelve failed to combine for $100 million for the fifth weekend in a row and the weekend itself was down 25% compared to the same weekend last year. At the top, Sony and MGM's The Magnificent Seven turned in an estimated $35 million opening from 3,674 theaters, just a few thousand behind the opening of Sully two weeks ago and just ahead of Denzel Washington's The Equalizer from 2014, which was also directed by Antoine Fuqua. It's tough to say exactly where this one will go from here as Westerns aren't your typical blockbuster for the modern era and films such as The Lone Ranger and Django Unchained began their runs on Wednesday and Tuesday respectively. One...
- 9/25/2016
- by Brad Brevet <[email protected]>
- Box Office Mojo
So, what studio is bringing sports fans and movie goers together? None other than the “house of mouse”, the Disney studios! Multiplexes have been bombarded by their releases this year, many from their “specialty subdivisions” like Disney/Pixar (Finding Dory) and Disney/Marvel (Captain America: Civil War) with a potential blockbuster from Disney/Lucasfilm (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) arriving in a couple of months. They’ve still got the Touchstone Pictures imprint for the more adult-subject films, while the Walt Disney Studios imprint has mainly been used for their non-Emoryville-made animated features like Frozen and this year’s Zootopia, Jungle Book, and Pete’S Dragon. But over the last decade or so, after snapping up the Espn basic cable TV channel, they’ve been releasing several true-life sports stories squarely aimed at family audiences, usually rated PG. Two years ago it was the baseball saga Million Dollar Arm,...
- 9/22/2016
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Hollywood regularly churns out underdog sports movies, but rarely do modern entries in the genre work as well as Queen of Katwe, a true story that centers on a non-traditional subject (a Ugandan girl) and a non-traditional game (chess). Like this year's Eddie the Eagle (side note: holy crap, Eddie the Eagle came out this year?! I would have pegged it as a 2014 or 2015 film for sure), the film leans heavily on the formulaic aspects of its genre, but it's so enjoyable to watch these actors and these characters, it hardly matters that you know every major beat before it happens.
Life is difficult for Phiona (Madina Nalwanga), who toils alongside her single mother (Lupita Nyong'o) to help keep their family fed. One day, she follows her brother after work and discovers The Pioneers, a chess club of local children led by coach Robert Katende (David Oyelowo). Despite being uneducated,...
Life is difficult for Phiona (Madina Nalwanga), who toils alongside her single mother (Lupita Nyong'o) to help keep their family fed. One day, she follows her brother after work and discovers The Pioneers, a chess club of local children led by coach Robert Katende (David Oyelowo). Despite being uneducated,...
- 9/22/2016
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
Inspirational can be a dirty word at the movies, suggesting fake uplift and sugary excess. There's none of that in Queen of Katwe, the true story of a preteen chess prodigy from Uganda whose skill and backbone took her out of the village slums and onto a world stage. Directed by the great Mira Nair (Salaam Bombay, Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake), from a script by William Wheeler, the film – laced with grit and grace – hits you like a shot in the heart. Nair catches the thrum of real life without...
- 9/22/2016
- Rollingstone.com
Queen Of Katwe is a Million Dollar Arm clone by way of chess and David Oyelowo instead of baseball and Jon Hamm, right down to similar strengths and weaknesses. Both films tell of underprivileged children being given the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to the salvation of competition, guided by the dedication of an influential mentor/coach. Disney proves once again that no one finds young talent like they do (Madina Nalwanga), storytelling beats walk a predictable path and our hearts are warmed. It doesn’t get better than a sunny true story, and director Mira Nair plans her moves with enough strategy so as not to waste Phiona Mutesi’s championship rise. It’s surely not the rawest, most provocative human tale, but a sweet coming-of-age survival story nonetheless.
It’s debut actress Madina Nalwanga who plays Uganda’s most unlikely chess champion, Katwe’s own Phiona Mutesi. Not...
It’s debut actress Madina Nalwanga who plays Uganda’s most unlikely chess champion, Katwe’s own Phiona Mutesi. Not...
- 9/22/2016
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
We all know what a heartwarming Disney sports drama feels like. Glossy, sentimental, going for rousing win moments. When Ugandan-Belizean Disney executive VP production Tendo Nagenda read Tim Crothers’ 2013 Espn magazine feature about Phiona Mutesi, a chess master who rose up from selling corn in the Kampala, Uganda slum of Katwe, he knew he’d found the right story. But he knew that if it was going to resonate, this couldn’t be soft-focus or glib. He had to find a director with the sensibility to keep it real.
For that, he approached veteran New York filmmaker Mira Nair, who has also lived in the Ugandan capital of Kampala for 27 years. He invited himself to tea, and she jumped on board.
They developed “Queen of Katwe” (September 23) with writer William Wheeler. Nair finally met Mutesi when she was in New York to play against Kasperov, she told me in our interview.
For that, he approached veteran New York filmmaker Mira Nair, who has also lived in the Ugandan capital of Kampala for 27 years. He invited himself to tea, and she jumped on board.
They developed “Queen of Katwe” (September 23) with writer William Wheeler. Nair finally met Mutesi when she was in New York to play against Kasperov, she told me in our interview.
- 9/22/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
We all know what a heartwarming Disney sports drama feels like. Glossy, sentimental, going for rousing win moments. When Ugandan-Belizean Disney executive VP production Tendo Nagenda read Tim Crothers’ 2013 Espn magazine feature about Phiona Mutesi, a chess master who rose up from selling corn in the Kampala, Uganda slum of Katwe, he knew he’d found the right story. But he knew that if it was going to resonate, this couldn’t be soft-focus or glib. He had to find a director with the sensibility to keep it real.
For that, he approached veteran New York filmmaker Mira Nair, who has also lived in the Ugandan capital of Kampala for 27 years. He invited himself to tea, and she jumped on board.
They developed “Queen of Katwe” (September 23) with writer William Wheeler. Nair finally met Mutesi when she was in New York to play against Kasperov, she told me in our interview.
For that, he approached veteran New York filmmaker Mira Nair, who has also lived in the Ugandan capital of Kampala for 27 years. He invited himself to tea, and she jumped on board.
They developed “Queen of Katwe” (September 23) with writer William Wheeler. Nair finally met Mutesi when she was in New York to play against Kasperov, she told me in our interview.
- 9/22/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
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:
Yikes. What a terrible weekend we just had, not only for the new movies released but also for the Weekend Warrior’s predictions. Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks’ Sully won its second weekend in a row with just under $22 million, but as far as the new movies, neither Lionsgate’s Blair Witch nor Universal’s Bridget Jones’s Baby did very well, putting the last nail in the coffin (hopefully) for sequels/remakes trying to play upon nostalgia that just isn’t there. (Good luck to the Rings movie opening next month!) Blair Witch ended up with $9.6 million to take second place and both Bridget Jones’s Baby and Oliver Stone’s Snowden ended up with around $8 million, so...
This Past Weekend:
Yikes. What a terrible weekend we just had, not only for the new movies released but also for the Weekend Warrior’s predictions. Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks’ Sully won its second weekend in a row with just under $22 million, but as far as the new movies, neither Lionsgate’s Blair Witch nor Universal’s Bridget Jones’s Baby did very well, putting the last nail in the coffin (hopefully) for sequels/remakes trying to play upon nostalgia that just isn’t there. (Good luck to the Rings movie opening next month!) Blair Witch ended up with $9.6 million to take second place and both Bridget Jones’s Baby and Oliver Stone’s Snowden ended up with around $8 million, so...
- 9/21/2016
- by Edward Douglas
- LRMonline.com
Nominally a sports triumph movie, Queen of Katwe is not your typical Disney princess fairytale. But look closer and you’ll notice that the studio has managed to magically mix its two signature genres into an endearing rags-to-riches quasi-fairy tale. “Sometimes the place you are used to is not the place you belong,” the coach explains to his rising chess player. But, for the House of Mouse, straight-forward inspirational stories are precisely where it is meant to be, and where it most easily triumphs.
Fiona, portrayed by newcomer Madina Nalwanga, is an impoverished young girl, living in Ugandan slums. Her life is in for a big change after she encounters coach Katende (David Oyelowo) and discovers her natural chess skills. Refreshingly, as has been a recent trend, there is no knight in shining armor prince meant to save Phiona. She only has herself and her resolve. But the other elements...
Fiona, portrayed by newcomer Madina Nalwanga, is an impoverished young girl, living in Ugandan slums. Her life is in for a big change after she encounters coach Katende (David Oyelowo) and discovers her natural chess skills. Refreshingly, as has been a recent trend, there is no knight in shining armor prince meant to save Phiona. She only has herself and her resolve. But the other elements...
- 9/12/2016
- by J Don Birnam
- LRMonline.com
Disney’s latest live action feature is The Queen of Katwe; a traditionalist, endearingly conventional tale from multiple BAFTA nominee Mira Nair, bearing similarities to other sporting underdog tales such as Cool Runnings, while also based on an inspiring true story. Madina Nalwanga plays Phiona Mutesi, who lives with her mother (Lupita Nyong’o) and family […]
The post Tiff 2016: The Queen of Katwe Review appeared first on HeyUGuys.
The post Tiff 2016: The Queen of Katwe Review appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 9/12/2016
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
There’s nothing surprising or adventurous about Mira Nair’s “Queen of Katwe,” a sincere and sensitive dramatization of a 10-year-old Ugandan girl who became a world-renowned chess champion. Despite some of the harsher elements of the impoverished backdrop where Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) grows up, Nair has made exactly the kind of feel-good tale of triumphant spirit entailed by the material. As Mutesi, Nalwanga delivers a serious, credible performance in which her intelligence outweighs the limited resources of her immediate surroundings; she’s complimented by a jubilant David Oyelowo as passionate coach Robert Katende and a ferocious Lupia Nyong’o as Phiona’s conflicted mother Nakku Harriet. Their perseverance unites the underprivileged community and sets the stage for a celebratory finale.
So why does “Queen of Katwe,” written by William Wheeler from journalist Tim Crothers’ book, feel so unsatisfying? The Disney-produced story simply lacks any genuine sense of urgency.
So why does “Queen of Katwe,” written by William Wheeler from journalist Tim Crothers’ book, feel so unsatisfying? The Disney-produced story simply lacks any genuine sense of urgency.
- 9/11/2016
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Lupita Nyong'o brought two very special dates to the premiere of her film Queen of Katwe at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday: her boyfriend, GQ Style fashion editor Mobolaji Dawodu and his beautiful daughter, Omolara Dawodu. While the pair has yet to make their red carpet debut as a couple, Mobolaji joined the actress inside Roy Thomson Hall, where they partied the night away, dancing with Lupita's costars, Madina Nalwanga and David Oyelowo. Lupita and Mobolaji are just one of the many new romances that have bloomed this year. Related Stories:32 Times Lupita Nyong'o Was a Perfect Human Being...
- 9/11/2016
- by Monica Sisavat
- Popsugar.com
The stars of “Queen of Katwe”, including David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, Madina Nalwanga, Martin Kabanza, will be joined by the real-life inspirations behind the characters – Robert Katende, Phiona Mutesi – at the premiere at Roy Thomson Hall Saturday night. The film is based on the uplifting true story of Mutesi, a young girl from […]...
- 9/10/2016
- by Chandra Price
- ET Canada
Cineplex Magazine's top picks for the Toronto International Film Festival GuideCineplex Magazine's top picks for the Toronto International Film Festival GuideCineplex Magazine9/6/2016 2:43:00 Pm
Coming to Toronto to line up for hours with like-minded cinephiles and be the first to catch some of the year’s biggest and best movies? Great. Prefer to wait for those great flicks to come to a theatre near you? Just as good. Here are our top choices for this year’s Tiff, which fills Toronto’s streets with movie mayhem from September 8th to 18th
The Magnificent Seven
Director: Antoine Fuqua (Training Day)
Stars: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt
Hollywood loves Westerns, as long as they’re set in today’s world — No Country for Old Men, Winter’s Bone. But now it’s time for an old-fashioned shoot ’em up. This reimagining of the classic 1960 Western of the same name stars Denzel Washington...
Coming to Toronto to line up for hours with like-minded cinephiles and be the first to catch some of the year’s biggest and best movies? Great. Prefer to wait for those great flicks to come to a theatre near you? Just as good. Here are our top choices for this year’s Tiff, which fills Toronto’s streets with movie mayhem from September 8th to 18th
The Magnificent Seven
Director: Antoine Fuqua (Training Day)
Stars: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt
Hollywood loves Westerns, as long as they’re set in today’s world — No Country for Old Men, Winter’s Bone. But now it’s time for an old-fashioned shoot ’em up. This reimagining of the classic 1960 Western of the same name stars Denzel Washington...
- 9/6/2016
- by Cineplex Magazine
- Cineplex
Alicia Keys talks about writing a song for Queen of Katwe in a new featuretteAlicia Keys talks about writing a song for Queen of Katwe in a new featuretteAmanda Wood9/2/2016 10:14:00 Am
Alicia Keys fans rejoice: she’s got a new song to share with the world, and she wrote it for the new movie Queen of Katwe.
Queen of Katwe tells the true story of Phiona, a young Ugandan girl who becomes a chess champion with help from her tenacious mother and teacher. Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo star, which means we’ll be the first in line to see this. Newcomer Madina Nalwanga plays our heroine, and she looks like one to watch.
Check out this featurette of songstress Alicia Keys discussing her involvement with the film, and why she felt so inspired to write a song. Queen of Katwe hits Cineplex theatres September 30th.
Click...
Alicia Keys fans rejoice: she’s got a new song to share with the world, and she wrote it for the new movie Queen of Katwe.
Queen of Katwe tells the true story of Phiona, a young Ugandan girl who becomes a chess champion with help from her tenacious mother and teacher. Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo star, which means we’ll be the first in line to see this. Newcomer Madina Nalwanga plays our heroine, and she looks like one to watch.
Check out this featurette of songstress Alicia Keys discussing her involvement with the film, and why she felt so inspired to write a song. Queen of Katwe hits Cineplex theatres September 30th.
Click...
- 9/2/2016
- by Amanda Wood
- Cineplex
The Toronto International Film Festival, starting next week, sees the debut of more than its fair share of awards-worthy films. One of these is certain to be Mira Nair's true tale Queen of Katwe, which stars Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o as the mother of Ugandan-corn-seller-turned-chess-prodigy Phiona Mutesi (newcomer Madina Nalwanga) and David Oyelowo (whom many thought was Oscar-snubbed for 2014's Selma) as the girl's mentor. The movie premieres at Tiff on September 10, will...
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- 9/1/2016
- by [email protected]
- Fandango
Sully, Deepwater Horizon, and Storks top our What to Watch Guide for SeptemberSully, Deepwater Horizon, and Storks top our What to Watch Guide for SeptemberAmanda Wood9/1/2016 10:00:00 Am
September might mean cooler weather and kids heading back to school, but it also means something else: tons of cool movies to look forward to in theatres.
We know September is a busy month, so we’ve put together another one of our handy What to Watch guides to help you figure out what to see at the theatre when you want to kick back and relax with a good movie.
With the end of the summer comes the end of the CGI-heavy blockbusters, so we’ve got quite a bit of variety on this list: animated, drama, comedy, sequels, adaptations… we’ve got it all this September.
Check out the list below!
The Light Between Oceans
Release Date: September 2nd
For fans of: Australia,...
September might mean cooler weather and kids heading back to school, but it also means something else: tons of cool movies to look forward to in theatres.
We know September is a busy month, so we’ve put together another one of our handy What to Watch guides to help you figure out what to see at the theatre when you want to kick back and relax with a good movie.
With the end of the summer comes the end of the CGI-heavy blockbusters, so we’ve got quite a bit of variety on this list: animated, drama, comedy, sequels, adaptations… we’ve got it all this September.
Check out the list below!
The Light Between Oceans
Release Date: September 2nd
For fans of: Australia,...
- 9/1/2016
- by Amanda Wood
- Cineplex
When Mira Nair's Queen Of Katwe, about the Ugandan child chess phenom Phiona Mutesi, has its gala world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 10, some viewers in the spacious Roy Thomson Hall might be in for a surprise: As it turns out, they will be watching a movie about a girl for whom love of chess was inextricably bound with her Christian faith. That's barely in Disney's trailer for the film, in which Mutesi is played by newcomer Madina Nalwanga, while…...
- 8/31/2016
- Deadline
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