‘King Richard’ Role Generates Oscar Buzz for Will Smith

 

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Will the third time be the charm? That's what Will Smith fans are anxious to find out after rave reviews from the Telluride Film Festival following the debut of his latest effort their Thursday generated early Oscar buzz for the iconic musician turned actor.

Just got out of King Richard which is fantastic. Will Smith is wonderful and coming for that Oscar. The whole cast is great. A really enjoyable watch. #Telluride

— Rebecca Ford (@Beccamford) September 6, 2021

KING RICHARD: Excellent film! A rousing, feel-good crowd-pleaser about the rise of tennis superstars Venus & Serena Williams! Oscar noms for #WillSmith (Lead Actor) & #AunjanueEllis (Supp Actress), maybe Best Pic! Loved from start to finish! @KingRichardFilm #Telluride pic.twitter.com/nvXbtDSA8h

— Scott Mantz (@MovieMantz) September 3, 2021

Don’t remember ever choking up during a movie as much as I did during KING RICHARD. It’s the most amazing story, told so well. I ballboyed for Venus, got to know Mr. Williams, practiced at Macci’s academy—they nailed it all. Will Smith is gonna be hard to beat. The film too. Man! pic.twitter.com/49bUMVT4kh

— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) September 3, 2021

In the movie, "King Richard," the two-time nominee portrays Richard Williams, the father and first coach of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. A press release from Warner Brothers describes the flick as chronicling "the journey of Richard Williams, an undeterred father instrumental in raising two of the most extraordinarily gifted athletes of all time, who will end up changing the sport of tennis forever."

Smith received Academy Awards nominations for his starring roles in two previous biopics, losing to  Denzel Washington ("Training Day")  in 2002 after being nominated for "Ali" and to Forrest Whitaker ("The Last King of Scotland") in 2007 when he got the nod for his work in "The Pursuit of Happyness."

The thespian, who has racked up five Grammys as a musician, may not be a lock to finally hear his name called on acting's biggest stage, but critics have already started pushing him as a frontrunner for best actor— including industry-standard Variety which said of the race for 2022's top award and Smith who it ranked as its No. 1 contender:

Twenty years after Will Smith lost his first Oscar nomination for “Ali” to Denzel Washington for “Training Day,” the two biggest celebrities could battle it out once again, at least based on the early word for “King Richard” and “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”

The movie premieres In Theaters and HBO Max on November 19, but for those seeking an early glimpse of what the buzz is all about watch the trailer below:

Trailer for New Janet Jackson Documentary Promises To Deliver the Truth About The Icon

 

When she was 17, Janet Jackson famously did what people told her, but after a career spanning nearly five decades the iconic singer, songwriter, actress and dancer is firmly in control of every aspect of her career these days. 

With that power comes confidence and the 55-year-old seemed more so than ever Tuesday in the first minute-long teaser trailer for “Janet,” the upcoming documentary celebrating the 40th anniversary of her self-titled debut album.

“Hey u guys. Excited to share the first teaser of my new documentary with u. 😘 #JanetDoc,“ Jackson wrote on the Instagram post sharing the clip, which begins with the artist being praised by fellow female music icons Missy Elliott, Paula Abdul and Mariah Carey. 

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A post shared by Janet Jackson (@janetjackson)

It's the ending narration by Jackson herself, however, that sets the tone for the documentary:

“This is my story, told by me. Not through someone else’s eyes,” she says, “This is the truth. Take it or leave it. Love it or hate it, this is me.”

Five years in the making — the documentary "joins Janet as her family is going through another extremely difficult time, mourning the loss of her father Joseph, the pivotal figure in the Jackson dynasty," according to a press release from the Lifetime and A&E networks which is currently set to air in a two-day, four-hour event will early in 2022.

Iconic Television Star Michael K. Williams Dead at 54

Actor Michael K. Williams, best known for his iconic portrayal of stickup artist Omar Little on the hit

Photograph by Eli Joshua Ade/ Courtesy HBO

crime drama “The Wire,” is dead at the age of 54 according to the New York Post. 

The paper reported that the talented thespian — who had just signed to star in a biopic about two-time world heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman as his trainer and mentor Doc Broadus — was found dead in his Brooklyn penthouse Monday afternoon.

Reportedly drug paraphernalia was found at the scene, suggesting he may have fatally OD’d, possibly from heroin or fentanyl according to the Post’s sources.

“It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy-nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams,” William’s rep Marianna Shafran said in a statement confirming the death. “They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss.”

 

Williams had previously struggled with drugs. In 2016 the actor told the host of NPR’s “Fresh Air” Terry Gross that playing intense characters sometimes takes a psychic toll on him:

 When I wear these characters to the extent that I wear them to, that [energy’s] gotta go somewhere,” he says. “The dark energy of Omar Little, for example, “was a little too close to home.

A five-time Emmy nominee, the Brooklyn, New York, native was also well-known for his role as Chalky White in HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire,” and is a 2021 Emmy Award nominee as best supporting actor for his role in the network’s pandemic hit “Lovecraft Country.”