It’s been almost four years since Frank Ocean released his album Blonde, and visual album Endless. Since 2016, Frank has released an array of singles, and we may be getting a new one sometime soon.
Last year, Frank launched a preorder for a 7″ vinyl edition of an unreleased Acra remix featuring Skepta, called “Little Demon.” Those who purchased the 7″ received an email from Blonded.co this morning, that “Little Demon” will no longer be on the record. Instead, fans will be receiving another “new, unreleased Frank Ocean song.”
The email didn’t provide any further information as to what the song is, or when the 7″ will be shipped. We can only hope that the song will be released some time soon.
Image via @TeamFrankDaily on Twitter.
The new single will follow a number of singles that Frank released in tandem with his PrEP+ club nights during 2019, including “DHL” and “In my Room.” Frank will be headlining Coachella this April along with Travis Scott and Rage Against the Machine.
No other story has impacted recent social culture to the length as the Harvey Weinstein case has. The former movie producer responsible for releasing movies such as Pulp Fiction, and The King’s Speech was found guilty on multiple counts of sexual misconduct.
by KENA BETANCUR GETTY IMAGE
The story first made waves back in 2017 when The New York Times and The New Yorker reported on multiple acts of sexual misconduct, including rape allegations against Harvey Weinstein. These allegations did not only affect Weinstein, but it also put into light the wider issue of powerful men in media, business, and politics abusing their power through sexual misconduct. This wave of allegation would lead to the creations of the #ME TOO movement.
The first reported allegation dates back to 2015 when Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez reported to the New York Police Department (NYPD) detectives that Weinstein groped her during a business meeting at his office. Other celebrities such as Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan would recall their encounters with Weinstein. However, they would not call him by name. It wasn’t until October 2017, when the articles were published with a story about Judd publicly accusing Weinstein of propositioning her in 1997. After the article posted, other women started coming forward with their stories accusing Weinstein of multiple counts of sexual misconduct, resulting in an astonishing 80 different allegations spreading through multiple years. After a few failed lawsuits, Weinstein was arrested on May 25, 2018, on multiple cases of first and third-degree rape for one victim and first-degree criminal sex act.
by BRITTAINY NEWMAN/THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX
During this time Harvey Weinstein was taken out of his position as head of The Weinstein Company. Celebrities such as George Clooney, Jenifer Lawrance, and even Hilary Clinton condemned his actions.
On February 24, 2020, Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of two felonies, criminal assault, and rape in the third degree, but acquitted of rape in the first degree. While there are still other cases pending against Weinstein, this does mark an important step forward.
The fall of Weinstein has a long reach across different platforms. With other celebrities speaking out against their sexual accusers. One of the highest-profile cases was Kevin Spacey’s sexual allegations resulting in the end of Spacey’s career after it was discovered that he sexually abused younger male actors. As divisive as it has been, the #ME TOO is one of the most important social movements of the last five years. The strength that it took to speak out against a corrupt system and the people that control it. This accomplishment was honored as the “Silent Breakers,” were announced as 2017 New York Times People of the Year.
Another high profile case influenced by the rise of the #ME TOO movement was the chargers brought up against Jeffrey Epstein. The former financier was arrest back in 2019, over allegations of sex trafficking. Despite the evidence against him, it was the call for social change that allowed the investigation against him to continue and overall find him guilty.
#Me Too is more than just a trending topic, but it also serves as a way to fight against an oppressing system. A place where people abuse by men who believe themselves to be untouchable can speak out and let their voices be heard.
As Stephanie Zacharek, Eliana Dockterman, and Haley Sweetland Edwards wrote in their New York Times Article, ” Like the “problem that has no name,” the disquieting malaise of frustration and repression among postwar wives and homemakers identified by Betty Friedan more than 50 years ago, this moment is born of a very real and potent sense of unrest. Yet it doesn’t have a leader, or a single, unifying tenet. The hashtag #MeToo (swiftly adapted into #BalanceTonPorc, #YoTambien, #Ana_kaman and many others), which to date has provided an umbrella of solidarity for millions of people to come forward with their stories, is part of the picture, but not all of it. “
Variety has reported that despite the multiple setbacks, the next installment of the Dark Universe The Bride of Frankenstein is still on the works. Back in 2017, the Dark Universe was officially announced (if you don’t consider The Wolfman, Dracula Untold, and IFrankenstein) with the now-iconic image of all the leading actors standing next to each other. As soon as the announcement was made the Dark Universe was instantly killed after The Mummy 2017 didn’t just bomb, but it was considered the worst movie of the year. This failure was enough to put a holt on the entire Dark Universe.
Universal Studios
Universal recently changed the way they’re tackling their movie properties, giving them a more director-driven cost-efficient style, akin to how DCU started to handle their movies after the release of Justice League. The first movie scheduled to release with this mentality is The Invisible Man, directed by Leigh Whannell. A modern take on the classic story Elisabeth Moss plays Cecilia Kass, a woman stuck in an abusive relationship. After escaping, she starts to feel that she is being hunted by her ex, despite being dead. The movie has a 9 million dollar budget and is expected to $20 million. So, where does that leave Bride of Frankenstein?
With future movies receiving small budgets, but more creative freedom, even with the right team, the studio might not be able to afford Angelina Jolie (who was cast to play the role before Universal pulled the breaks on the Dark Universe). To be honest, it would be for the best to recast Jolie, nothing against her. Universal doesn’t seem to be seeking big-name performers to gather interest. Instead, Universal seems more interested in cost-efficient movies. On the bright side, that means more creative freedom. In the end, I rather see a low budget masterpiece than whatever The Mummy 2017 was.
Wes Anderson is one of the most unique voices in cinema. I could say that and call it a day. The 50-year-old director has created some of the most melancholy movies ever with The Royal Tenenbaums, and one of my personal favorites, The Grand Budapest Hotel. His movies have gathered such a large following that whenever a new movie is announced it is met with anticipation.
The last movie that Wes Anderson release was 2018’s Isle of Dogs, a stop motion film harkening back to his last animated effort 2009’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. Despite the success of both films, fans have been anticipated the next live-action Anderson film.
Yesterday Wes Anderson revealed the poster for his next film named, The FrenchDispatch.
Today the official trailer for the French Dispatch went live giving us a clear idea of what the movie is about.
The French Dispatch is about Arthur played by Bill Murray, a man that turned a travel log into a newspaper titled The French Dispatch. The movie revolves around the publishing of a memorial edition highlighting the three best stories from the last decade: an artist sentenced to life imprisonment, student riots, and a kidnapping resolved by a chef. The French Dispatch itself was inspired by the real-life The New Yorker, which Anderson has admitted to being an avid reader since he was very young.
Joining Bill Murray is an amazing cast with, Timothee Chalamet, Benicio del Toro, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, and Owen Wilson. The French Dispatch is set to release on July 24, 2020.
Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey is off to a bad start, despite the great receptions the movie is struggling in the box office. However, that doesn’t seem to stop DC’s plans moving forward. After Marvel distant themselves from James Gunn do to the resurfacing of old tweets, DC used this opportunity to hire Gunn for Suicide Squad 2. Despite getting rehired by Disney, James Gunn is still set to direct Suicide Squad 2.
Featuring most of the returning cast (no news on Jared Leto’s Joker). James Gunn is bringing his same magic from Guardians of the Galaxy to Suicide Squad 2. With the release of Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey,DC Movie News twitter showed off new footage of Suicide Squad 2 now filming.
The biggest thing that stands out is Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn sporting a new look. The red and black hair is the perfect callback to the character’s original look.
Cats has gathered a cult status as of late, the movie is not good by any stretch of the imagination. The movie, based on the long-running play, has gained criticism for being, well, a hard movie to watch. From the odd choices in editing to the nightmare faces CGI into a cat body. Cats was even nominated for 9 Razzie Awards, the fun parody awards honoring the worst of the year. With such a bad reputation and pretty much becoming the laughing stock of the media, Cats never expected to pop up in the Oscars.
However, during the 2020 Academy Awards, Rebel Wilson and James Corden arrive wearing full cats outfits harkening back to the hilarious/ awkward moment during the 2010 Oscars, where Ben Stiller announced the winner for best makeup dress as a Navi from the film Avatar. In a fun jab as the visual disaster that was Cats Rebel Wilson and James Corden announce the winner for Best Visual Effects. The joke was not meant to offend anyone. However, one group did take offense, The Visual Effect Society. In a statement made about the award show this is what they said:
“Last night, in presenting the Academy Award for Outstanding Visual Effects, the producers chose to make visual effects the punchline, and suggested that bad VFX were to blame for the poor performance of the movie Cats,” the Visual Effects Society statement reads. “The best visual effects in the world will not compensate for a story told badly.”
It continues, “On a night that is all about honoring the work of talented artists, it is immensely disappointing that the Academy made visual effects the butt of a joke. It demeaned the global community of expert VFX practitioners doing outstanding, challenging, and visually stunning work to achieve the filmmakers’ vision.”
It is no secret that the making of Cats was a nightmare for everyone involved, even the director Tom Hooper admitted that the movie was finished a day before it premiered. Cats was reported to be so unfinished that the movie started to recive ‘a patch,’ for later release hoping to fix many of its issues.
MPC (Motion Picture Co.), the studio that worked on film shut down its Vancouver studio, laying off more than 300 VFX workers. Before the shutdown, the studio had also contributed to Ad Astra,Life of Pi, Disney’s CGI remake of The Lion King, and the redesign of Sonic the Hedgehog for the upcoming movie. Yves McCrae a visual artist who worked on the also tweeted out his displeasure.
Hey guys I haven't watched all of the Oscars but I assume these two were really classy and thanked me for working 80 hour weeks right up until I was laid off and the studio closed, right? https://t.co/dolAwK2xbr
It is important to point out that the winner of Best Visual Effect was 1917 directed by Sam Mendes with visual effects credited to Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler, and Dominic Tuohy.
