Shekhar Kapur on Directing ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’

Shekhar Kapur is an acclaimed Indian filmmaker whose credits range from directing The Bandit Queen to the Elizabeth films starring Cate Blanchett. He is now finally directing a rom-com, What’s Love Got to Do With It, starring Shazad Latif, Lily James, Shabana Azmi, Jeff Mirza, Asim Chaudry, Emma Thompson, and more in a heartwarming funny time that highlights Pakistani and Muslim culture in a refreshing way for western audiences.

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New Red-Band Trailer for ‘The King’s Man’

Whoo! This December is looking to be one for the records folks! In addition to the extraordinary-looking Spider-Man: No Way Home, WB announced a new Matrix film for the holidays as well, entitled The Matrix Resurrections. However, not to be outdone, 20th Century Studios is also releasing a minor bazooka of its own — the long delayed The King’s Man!

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New Special Look at ‘The King’s Man’ Debuts

Ever wonder about how the top-secret British intelligence organization known as Kingsman came to be? This December, wonder no longer! Long before the days of Harry, Eggsy, and Merlin, the world was plagued by the worst evil masterminds and tyrants. And in that chaos, an agency rose to the occasion to stop them all! This is the story of The King’s Man!

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‘Timewasters’ Creator Daniel Lawrence Taylor on His New Series and Time-Traveling While Black

When you think of time-traveling films or television series, the first ones you think of mainly consist of white casts. If someone asked you to name a predominantly black, indigenous or people of color (BIPOC) led time-traveling series, it may take a little bit to come up with one, if any. Thankfully, that’s where IMDbTV’s Timewasters comes in to change the game

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NOC Interview: Faith Omole of ‘We Are Lady Parts’

Nida Manzoor’s We Are Lady Parts, a British series featuring a punk rock band of all Muslim women of color, premiered here in the US on NBC’s Peacock streaming service! It’s a landmark in Muslim representation for so many viewers worldwide, who haven’t been able to see themselves represented on screen like this in such a subversive, yet bold, way like this before.

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British Romantic Comedy Series ‘Starstruck’ Coming to HBO Max

Have you ever had a dream that you met a famous hot actor and instantly become inseparable?

Well, in the new HBO Max series Starstruck, Jessie (played by comedian Rose Matafeo), a millennial living in East London juggling two dead end jobs and navigating the awkward morning-after-the-night-before when she discovers the complications of accidentally sleeping with famous movie star Tom (Nikesh Patel). What she thought would become an amusing anecdote soon turns into something more, as the couple realize they can’t keep away from each other. The ensemble cast also includes Sindhu Vee, Emma Sidi, and Minnie Driver.

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Grab Your Baseball Caps: ‘Attack The Block 2’ is Official

Before he was briefly wielding Luke’s lightsaber, or taking down entire fleets of Stormtroopers, John Boyega was part of a little project called Attack the Block. “Little” of course being a massive understatement. Though it took a minute, Attack the Block became a smash success, developing a cult following thanks to its clever blend of science fiction horror and comedy. That, and its incredible cast that included John Boyega, Jodie Whitaker, and Nick Frost.

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Sharlene Whyte Talks About the Significance of ‘Small Axe’ and Her Role in ‘Education’

Amazon Prime Video has released the official trailer for Education, the fifth and final film in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology series. Small Axe premiered with Mangrove starring Letitia Wright and Shaun Parkes on November 20, followed by Lovers Rock on November 27 featuring Micheal Ward and Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn.

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NOC Interview: ‘Small Axe’ Star Kenyah Sandy Talks About His Lead Role

Legendary director Steve McQueen’s Small Axe is an anthology series comprised of five original films set from the late 1960s to the mid 1980s that tell personal stories from London’s West Indian community, whose lives have been shaped by their own force of will despite rampant racism and discrimination. The title is derived from the African proverb, “If you are the big tree, we are the small axe.” 

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NOC Interview: ‘Small Axe’ Star Sheyi Cole Talks ‘Alex Wheatle’

With his bold and multifaceted Small Axe anthology, Steve McQueen has made the films of the moment. Three of the five films — Lovers Rock, Mangrove, and Red, White and Blue — have premiered to a great reception at the NYFF. The films capture vividly the lives of London’s West Indian community in the 1970s and ’80s and their force of will against systemic racism and discrimination. “I dedicate these films to George Floyd, and all the other black people that have been murdered, seen or unseen, because of who they are, in the U.S., U.K. and elsewhere,” the director said in May. 

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‘The Walking Dead’ Star Lennie James Talks New Show ‘Save Me Too’

Peacock’s new gripping drama series, Save Me Too, premieres today and I had the opportunity to sit down with executive producer and star,  Lennie James (Fear the Walking DeadThe Walking Dead, and Colombiana). The show is the second season of the award-winning thriller Save Me, which is currently streaming on Peacock as well. Lennie created, wrote, and stars in the star-studded British series. The show won the Best Writer for a Drama series and Best Drama Series awards at the 2019 RTS Awards and was nominated for a BAFTA for the Outstanding Drama Series Award.

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NOC Review: ‘Last Christmas’ Did Not Give Its Heart

Last Christmas really tried.

It really did.

It had the makings of a cute, cheesy Christmas romantic comedy. The film stars Emilia Clarke as a 20-something Londoner who lost her moral way after a life-changing surgery and Henry Golding as the man who helps her find her way back. It had the perfect cheesy formula and all perfectly wrapped during Christmas. The film even had a great supporting cast with Michelle Yeoh and Emma Thompson.

What many were hoping for a story similar to Love Actually (which Thompson also starred in) ended up with an awkward coming-of-age Brexit Christmas story.

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Chasing Dreams and Springsteen with ‘Blinded by the Light’ Star Viveik Kalra and Author Sarfraz Manzoor

Recently, The Nerds of Color was honored to be able to interview some of the cast and filmmakers of Blinded by the Light, an excellent movie about how music can inspire us to chase our dreams and overcome the hardships of growing up. To countdown to the movie’s release on August 16, we are releasing a series of interviews chronicling what the dedicated filmmakers behind the film had to say about culture, music, racism, and dreams. To conclude this series, we had the privilege of sitting down with the film’s star, Viveik Kalra (Javed in the film) and real-life inspiration and journalist, Sarfraz Manzoor, to discuss all things about the film and culture. Here’s what they had to say:

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Seeing the Light with ‘Blinded by the Light’ Director Gurinder Chadha

Recently, The Nerds of Color was honored to be able to interview some of the cast and the director of Blinded by the Light, an excellent movie about how music can inspire us to chase our dreams and overcome the hardships of growing up. To countdown to the movie’s release on August 16, we’ll be releasing a series of interviews throughout the week chronicling what the dedicated filmmakers behind the film had to say about culture, music, racism, and dreams. To continue this series, we had the privilege of sitting down with acclaimed director, Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham) to discuss the film and the power of dreams. Here’s what she had to say:

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Taking on the “Badlands” with ‘Blinded by the Light’ Star Aaron Phagura

In a summer of legendary musician-inspired stories (e.g. Rocketman and Yesterday) Blinded by the Light, the new film from Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha, genuinely separates itself from the pack. This is a film that’s, not only about  legendary music (in this case Bruce Springsteen’s music), but also speaks directly about how the power of music can provide encouragement for chasing ones dreams and promote acceptance within conservative cultures. Recently, The Nerds of Color was honored to be able to interview some of the cast and the director of the film. Thus, to countdown to the movie’s release on August 16, we’ll be releasing a series of interviews throughout the week chronicling what the dedicated filmmakers behind the film had to say about culture, music, racism, and dreams.

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NOC Review: Oh, I Believe in ‘Yesterday’

The latest from the team that brought you Four Weddings and a FuneralBridget Jones’ Diary, and Love Actually hits theaters this Friday. Will audiences long for Yesterday the same way they swooned for those films? We’re here with the full review!

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David Harewood on Being the Martian Manhunter

On a new Hard NOC Life, we’re joined by Supergirl star David Harewood! But first, Keith takes a minute to tell the origin story of the WICOMICON Pop-Up in Baltimore over the weekend.

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Art Imitates Life: The Powerful Message of V for Vendetta

This month makes nine years since the release of the V for Vendetta film directed by James McTeigue, and, 27 years since the graphic novel was released by DC Comics in 1988. This November will also mark the 410th anniversary of Guy Fawkes Night in Great Britain. I thought I would honor these anniversaries by discussing the reasons for the creation, and powerful message, of V for Vendetta, which has been a staple of freedom and justice in the comic community since its publication.

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