The American Society of Magical Negroes, written, directed, and produced by Kobi Libii with Julia Lebedev, Eddie Vaisman, and Angel Lopez, is a satirical comedy. The satirical comedy premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2024 and earned Kobi a spot on Variety’s 10 Directors To Watch.
Los Angeles, CA – Amidst the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, the British Consulate General became the epicenter of star-studded elegance as Oscar nominees and industry luminaries gathered for an enchanting reception celebrating the UK’s influence in film and television. Hosted by His Majesty’s Consul General Emily Cloke in collaboration with the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland Campaign, the event served as a dazzling prelude to the 96th Academy Awards.
“Sorry, my mom said I can’t go,” I used to say to avoid hanging out with someone I didn’t want to.
On Sunday, at its highly anticipated US premiere, Dolby Atmos technology transported viewers directly onto Arrakis, the desert planet of Dennis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two.” The latest installment in the iconic trilogy was an alluring experience from start to finish, and with Dolby and its beyond surround-sound and immersive visuals, it was very easy to feel like you had drifted right into the film. But for many premiere guests, the experience doesn’t end in the theater, and “Dune: Part Two” was no exception.
A serious marital dilemma is set in the background of the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz, celebrating the beginning of spring.
Out There: A National Parks Story, a documentary and love song to the United States’ national parks system, had its inaugural New York screening at The Explorer’s Club on the Upper East Side this past Thursday.
“Sometimes when the laws are unjust, the just have to be outlaws.” – Mario Van Peebles
When it comes to Denis Villeneuve’s films, and especially his takes on Frank Herbert’s cult-classic “Dune” series, one thing is for certain: they must be experienced in theaters. His 2021 film “Dune: Part One,” and it’s following continuation, “Dune: Part Two” (which will make it’s highly anticipated theatrical release on March 1st) are visual and audial masterpieces that transport viewers onto the desert planet of Arrakis, and there’s no better way to experience that than on the big screen.
When viewing a film like “Dune: Part Two,” where viewers are taken on a journey of such epic proportions, how to view it is key. Last night, the highly-anticipated (and star-studded) US Premiere of the film was presented in Dolby Atmos, a stunning technology that ensures sound can be precisely placed anywhere in a room, even overhead, creating an immersive soundscape that sounds more like real life. It’s a leap forward from surround sound that allows viewers to experience multi-dimensional audio with incredible clarity that brings them deeper into the story. For a film like this, Dolby Atmos creates a revolutionary new experience that makes it feel as if you are standing right beside Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atradies, or Zendaya’s Chani.
So what does this mean for viewers come March 1st? “Dune” fans can experience the film with the stunning visuals of Dolby Vision and the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos when the film releases. One of the best ways to experience a film with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos is by watching a film at your local Dolby Cinema, which offers guests the best movie-going experience. It unlocks the emotional impact of every film, allowing you to see subtle details and ultra-vivid colors (courtesy of Dolby Vision) and hear sounds come alive all around you (thanks to Dolby Atmos). On top of that, Dolby Cinema also features spacious recliners with clear sight lines. Once you experience films in Dolby Cinema, you won’t want to experience movies any other way afterwards.
NYC, NY – 1/1/00 – Dune Part Two U.S. Premiere
.
– PICTURED: Rebecca Ferguson, Denis Villeneuve and Tanya Lapointe
– PHOTO by: Dave Allocca / StarPix
– Location: Lincoln Center Plaza
Herbert’s iconic novel was split into two parts for Villeneuve’s film saga. Where we left off in the first installment, Paul has just joined Chani and the Fremen on their journey in hopes of bringing peace to Arrakis. The latest installment follows his journey of embracing his fate as the Muad’Dib and avenging the enemies that destroyed his family. Plagued by visions of a detrimental reality, he must choose between fate and love, a near impossible choice. It’s an epic tale of wonder, hope and revenge that must be seen to be believed.
The film, which is currently the number one rated movie of all time on IMDB, is jam packed with new and returning stars, including Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (“Wonka,” “Call Me by Your Name”), Zendaya (“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Malcolm & Marie,” “Euphoria”), Rebecca Ferguson (“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning”), Oscar nominee Josh Brolin (“Avengers: End Game,” “Milk”), Oscar nominee Austin Butler (“Elvis,” “Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood”), Oscar nominee Florence Pugh (“Black Widow,” “Little Women”), Dave Bautista (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “Thor: Love and Thunder”), Oscar winner Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter,” “Hairspray”), Léa Seydoux (the “James Bond” franchise and “Crimes of the Future”), Souheila Yacoub (“The Braves,” “Climax”), with Stellan Skarsgård (the “Mamma Mia!” films, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”), with Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (“45 Years,” “Assassin’s Creed”), and Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Being the Ricardos”).
The orange carpet, reminiscent of the stunning hues of Arrakis (best-seen in a Dolby Theater!) was graced with appearances by Chalamet, Zendaya, Ferguson, Brolin, Butler, Pugh, Bautista, Walken, Seydoux, Yacoub, Skarsgård, Rampling, and Bardem, along with filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, producers Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and composer Hans Zimmer.
So what can you look forward to with Dolby on release day? Premium, immersive sound like you’ve never experienced before. With Dolby Atmos, you’ll feel transported into the world of Arrakis, as you’ll be placed right in the middle of the action and ultimately connect more deeply to the characters and emotions on screen. So be prepared to sit on the edge of your seat during high-stakes action sequences, as you may notice the sound of an Ornithopter flying overhead or hear the movements of a nearby sandworm.
Find your nearest Dolby theater here!
Grab your tissues and some treats because we have the most PAWsome movie to tell you about! Arthur the King is based on the true story of Mikael Lindnord (played by Mark Wahlberg) and a stray that he named Arthur. In the movie, the two bond over meatballs, Arthur becomes smitten, and the pair race through the Dominican Republic together. In real life, Lindnord raced across Ecuador with the mutt. The movie explores how a “ruff” lookin’ pup unites a team of people pushing their limits.
(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Lionsgate)
Excitingly, Arthur the King has partnered with Best Friends Animal Society to bring attention to dog adoption.
The Knockturnal enjoyed a private screening of Arthur the King with Mikael Lindnord… AND surprise appearances by Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, the “Arthur” pup, and more at Westfield Century City AMC in Los Angeles!
Set up outside the movie theater was an official Arthur the King PAWty with bites, beverages, epic photo booths, a climbing wall, a pup adoption center, and a K9 playpen! A DJ blasted Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch’s iconic single “Good Vibrations” while calligraphers created custom paw print art for animal lovers.
(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Lionsgate)
Along the green carpet… DOG HAIR? Don’t care! Pup-arazzi caught Mikael Lindnord using a lent roller down Simu Liu’s top after Simu posed for several photos with his adopted canine, Chopa! Simu met Chopa on the set of Arthur the King. (Chopa was a background mutt. No autographs, please.) Simu, who plays adrenaline influencer “Leo” in the film, tells The Knockturnal’s Kinsey Schofield that the international adoption process was difficult and he would like to improve travel protocols. (Listen to him explain in the interview above.)
Raise the woof! Arthur the King hits theaters March 15th!
Kinsey Schofield is a contributor to The Knockturnal and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Director and documentary legend Sheila Nevins has been nominated for an Oscar for her newest project, and it is easy to see why.
The ABC’s of Book Banning is a short film documentary about book censorship in schools in America. Many of the books that have been censored – meaning banned, restricted or challenged – deal with themes of race, sexuality, gender, and women empowerment.
Nevins, along with Trish Adelsic, didn’t simply tell stories of how the ban is affecting children – they showed us. The film utilizes real life accounts of children impacted by the book ban, along with snippets of authors reading their censored books. These kids, many of them quite young, have a level of intelligence that is hard to comprehend at their ages. Not only that, their capacity for empathy and compassion for those who are different from them makes the future seem a bit brighter.
The film is heartbreaking. These kids are confused and they are angry and Nevins does an amazing job at utilizing these kids feeling in a very persuasive way. The film also features Grace Linn, a 100 year old woman, who is standing in front of a school board, protesting the ban. Her speech is incredibly passionate and shows that the book censorship is not just affecting kids. It affects everyone.
There isn’t much to say except that the film is simply powerful and beautiful evidence to Nevins’ storytelling abilities. Amplifying children’s voices and showcasing excerpts from many of the censored books is an amazing way to bring awareness to the problems of censorship. The film is a protest and it is a compelling one.