Monthly Archives: October 2018

“Destroyer” Trailer, Movie Clip, and Poster

drama, suspense, thriller, , ,

Directed by Karyn Kusama, Destroyer follows Erin Bell, played by Nicole Kidman, a veteran LAPD detective spinning out of control emotionally and physically while on a dangerous journey to find the murderer and gang leader, Silas, played by Toby Kebbell. Bell’s journey’s purpose is finally to make peace with her tortured past.

“Destroyer is, at its core, a film about confronting your mistakes and making the brave decision to be accountable for your actions. Within the relatable frameworks of crime thriller and cop movie, it’s also an insistent character study, hinging on the wounded but resilient psychic landscape of an LAPD detective named Erin Bell. The criminal underworld she investigates, alongside a storytelling structure that allows for a narrative surprise,” says Kusama.

Kusama’s directing credits include episodic TV series and feature movies The Invitation and Girlfight. The screenplay is written by  Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, who worked together on The Invitation and other projects. 

A pivotal aspect of the movie is Bell’s relationship with her sixteen-year-old daughter, Shelby, played by Jade Pettyjohn, with whom she is estranged. Her clumsy attempts to reach out to Shelby consistently backfire, exacerbating Bell’s overwhelming sense of hopelessness and loss.

The movie clip “I’m Bad” pretty much says it all about Kidman’s character. She believes she is terrible, but what do the other characters in the movie believe she is bad? I want to find out. At this point in the story,  she might realize she is terrible and then become good or better than she was – bad. As I mentioned before, and I might again, I hope the movie storyline includes some high points because it is obvious there are quite a few low points.

The movie seems like a downer, but hopefully, the story has some high points, and the ending is upbeat. So far, the movie trailer doesn’t show any upbeat points.

“The Aftermath” Trailer, Poster, Movie Clip, Featurettes & Cast Interviews

based on a book, drama, historical, romance, ,

Directed by James Kent and based on the book of the same title by Rhidian Brook, The Aftermath follows the lives of three people in a love triangle: Rachel Morgan, played by Kiera Knightly; Lewis Morgan, played by Jason Clarke,  and Stephan Lubert, played by Alexander Skarsgard.

Kent’s credits include several episodic TV shows such as The White Queen and Inside Men. He’s directed a documentary and feature movies as well. Currently, he is in production with Jessica Chastain for the film Seducing Ingrid Bergman.

If you haven’t seen it yet or want to see it again, the movie is available on Blu-ray/DVD or streaming. 

The story takes place during post-World War II. A British colonel and his wife were assigned to live in Hamburg during the post-war reconstruction, but tensions with the Germans who had previously owned the house took a toll on the British couple.

Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse pen the screenplay for The Aftermath. This isn’t the first time these two wrote together. Other movies include Frankie & Alice and Race.

Watching the trailer, I kept thinking this story had a twist. Otherwise, the mundane attitude of “poor me” turns the movie into a wet toast. Yet, I am intrigued and want to read the novel before I see the film because there appear to be many deep-seated thoughts.

Very few movie clips are available to see if the movie does follow the book or what the film is about. I posted some studio interviews that offer insight into the story based on the movie’s three actors.

The first interview is with Keira Knightley, and she reveals that the movie does not follow the book. I think the married couple in the story are without children. Their son is killed during a German air raid in England, and there is no second son like in the book.

Jason Clarke has played so many different roles in movies. He is so much fun to watch. In Serenity, he played an evil and disgusting man. In The Aftermath, he plays Lewis Morgan, who is trying to rebuild Germany and his life.

Alexander Skarsgard explains how the book and the movie are similar and relates the book to his role in the film. Skarsgard stars in another movie posted on Movie Roar called The Hummingbird Project, which is quirky with dark humor and quite different from The Aftermath.

The featurette tells the movie’s story, so there are spoilers, and beware—you watch at your own risk. The film doesn’t follow the book, which is a bit disappointing. I wonder if it will end the same way. I liked the book’s ending.

After the featurette is a movie clip, hopefully, the studios will not block it. They sometimes do block them. I don’t know why. Showing the clips promotes the movie and helps the box office draw. As you can see, eventually, the studio blocked the clip.

The Characters and Story featurette covers everything about the movie. It’s a nice piece because you become familiar with where the story physically takes place and when it takes place.

The next feature encompasses Clarke’s character. He plays a kind and troubled man, and it’s good to see him in this type of role.

It is Knightley’s turn to explain her role. She’s done an excellent job in this movie, making quite an impression.

“Miss Bala” Trailer, Movie Clips, & Interviews

action, drama, , ,

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke and based on a Spanish-language film, Miss Bala follows Gloria, played by Gina Rodriguez, who finds a power she never was aware of before. Her power draws her into a dangerous world of cross-border crime, which is a nebulous term. With that, it makes for an excellent drama as Gloria tries to survive through her cunning, strength, and inventiveness.

Hardwicke cut her directing teeth with the sleeper hit Lords of Dogtown, a movie about skateboarding. Twilight and Red Riding Hood were directed by her as well. Screenwriter Dunnet-Alocer scripted and directed short films before Miss Bala.

Rodriguez starred in Deepwater Horizon and Annihilation, two completely different movies. It good to see her taking on a variety of roles, which includes episodic television including Jane the Virgin and Big Mouth.

The movie also stars Ismael Cruz Córdova and Anthony Mackie. Of late, Mackie walked several red carpet premieres for such movies like The Hate U Give.

These movie clips are intense. I hope the story keeps the viewers’ interest because intensity is not everything in a movie. We need to care about the characters who are in danger and understand why they need to be in a dangerous situation. Not just place the protagonist in harm’s way because the screenwriter and director believe that is a good story. The movie clips are not showing how the story is important to us. It is showing over-the-top acting that doesn’t bring any undercurrents that are visceral. I am thinking Silence of the Lambs or even The Lion King as adequate examples of the protagonist having the purpose to be in harm’s way. One is a mental game and the other is physical death.

The red carpet interview at the movie premiere in LA with director Catherine Hardwicke shows how much energy she gives as she describes each character and actor.

The interviews on the red carpet of Miss Bala premiere are upbeat and fun to watch. Gina Rodriguez is quite a talent and is in quite a bit of movies of late.

“The Possession of Hannah Grace” Trailer and Posters

horror, thriller, , , , ,

Directed by Diederik Van Rooijen, The Possession of Hannah Grace is a horror thriller scripted by Brian Sieve.

The story follows Megan Reed, played by Shay Mitchell, who is working the graveyard shift in the morgue. A new career move for Megan begins a shocking tale caused by an exorcism that spiraled out of control.

Claiming the life of a young woman and months later the dead girl body arrives during Megan’s shift. The disfigured cadaver is not quite dead, though Megan is not aware of the situation until they are locked alone together inside the basement corridors.

Megan experiences horrifying visions and realizes the body may be possessed by a ruthless demonic force.

The second poster is all about Mitchell’s character and her situation of being in the basement corridor, and it’s dark with the demon lurking around to get her.

Mitchell is best known for her role in the TV series Pretty Little Liars and her YouTube Channel.

Van Rooijen is from the Netherlands and directed several films in his country winning a couple of awards. Screenwriter Sieve is best known for writing for TV shows like Teenwolf and Scream. Recently, it was announced Sieve is signed on to script another horror movie called The Exorcism at Lincoln High.

The rest of the cast includes Grey Damon, Kirby Johnson, and Stana Katic.

The movie poster looks a little awkward until I saw the movie trailer. Then, the twisted arm and wrist made sense.

“A Dog’s Way Home” Trailer, Vignette, Movie Clips, and Poster

based on a book, drama, family movies, kid movies, , , , , ,

Directed by Charles Martin Smith and based on the book by W. Bruce Cameron, A Dog’s Way Home narrates the heartfelt and sensitive adventure of Bella. Bella is a dog who embarks on a tremendous 400-mile journey home after she is separated from her greatly loved human, played by Jonah Hauer-King.

If you don’t recognize Charles Martin Smith, you will recognize him in George Lucas’ American Graffiti as Terry “The Toad” fields. Smith considers himself an actor, rightly so, writer and director, both right so as well. He’s worked with Ashley Judd, who also stars in the movie, before when he directed another heartfelt movie called The Dolphin Tale.  Smith also starred in the movies The Untouchables and Never Cry Wolf.

Cameron co-wrote the screenplay with Cathryn Michon, who is also an actress, and wrote the screenplay for A Dog’s Purpose and Cook Off!, which she also co-directed and starred as Sharon Solfest.

The rest of the cast is impressive including Bryce Dallas Howard, Alexandra Shipp, Wes Studi, and Edward James Olmos.

The vignette tells us about the movie.

The movie trailer is adorable. Bring tissues to the movie theater. It looks like a tearjerker.

Ashley Judd is in this movie clip, and she is so much fun to watch. Bella is adorable and so much fun to watch as well. I hope kids will be able to follow the story. It looks like the movie is for kids 7 or older.

The two movie clips are so cool to watch because you can see how much Bella is loved, and how much Bella loves her people. It’s hard to imagine Bella spends about two-thirds of the movie away from her home and loved ones trying to get back home.

Disney’s “Aladdin” Poster and Trailers

action, adventure, classic, family movies, fantasy, remakes, , ,

Directed by Guy Ritchie, Aladdin is the live-action retelling of the 1992 Disney classic movie. Will Smith plays the Genie this time and Billy Magnussen plays Prince Anders.  The teaser trailer is just that a teaser not telling us anything we don’t already know. It’s a remake.

The Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming of the movie are coming our way.  Now, you can watch the movie again or if you haven’t seen it, you get your chance to watch it as many times as you like at home. 

The second trailer proves to be a whole new world for Aladdin. Following the animated version of yesteryear, we see something spectacular and full of wonder.

“The Best of Enemies” Trailer, Interviews & Featurettes

based on a book, drama, true stories, , ,

Adapted from Osha Gray Davidson’s book and directed by Robin Bissell, The Best of Enemies lines up with other racial and civil rights themes movies of late. It is a story that needs to be seen and is a timely drama.

Bissell makes his directorial debut based on producing several successful and influential movies like The Hunger Games, Seabiscuit, and The Free State of Jones.

The stellar cast includes Taraji P. Henson and Oscar winner Sam Rockwell.

Attributed to actual events during the racially-charged summer of 1971 in Durham, North Carolina, the movie follows the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater, played by Henson, an outspoken civil rights activist. C.P. Ellis, played by Rockwell, a local Ku Klux Klan leader,

Ellis reluctantly co-chaired a community summit that dealt with the debate and battle regarding the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina. The improbable events that unfolded and changed Durham as well as the lives of Atwater and Ellis forever.

The movie also stars Anne Heche and Wes Bentley.

The featurette introduces the dramatization of the two people who are in this movie. It is incredible to think that these two people became friends in the Deep South.

The two movie clips show Henson entirely morphed into Atwater. She makes it look so easy. The movie is not box office material, but Henson’s performance is worth an Oscar nomination.

I watched Bissell’s soundbites, and I ended up liking him. He is a smart man who sees the importance of telling a good story about a phenomenal woman.

Henson’s soundbites are different from Bissell’s because she seems unassuming. Yet, she is fantastic as Atwater.

Rockwell and Henson do an interview together, and it’s worth watching because they have so much admiration for each other.

The Ann Atwater featurette tells about the story.

“Pet Sematary” Trailers, Poster, Clips, Interview with Directors & Featurette

based on a book, horror, mystery, remakes, , ,

Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer and based on the influential horror novel by talented and prolific author Stephen King, Pet Sematary follows Dr. Louis Creed, played by Jason Clarke. He and his family relocated from Boston to rural Maine. He and wife, played by Amy Seimetz, have two young children.

They discover an enigmatic burial ground hidden deep in the woods near the family’s new home. A tragedy strikes the family, and Louis turns to his unusual neighbor, Jud Crandall, played by John Lithgow. This sets off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unfathomable evil with horrific consequences.

Such a great cast draws me to this movie.  Jason Clarke other latest movie is Serenity. Kolsch and Widmyer teamed up before directing horror movies. Both come from diverse backgrounds with Widmyer a graduate from Long Island University’s film school.

The second trailer is so scary, but it tells you what happens in the movie. This is a classic by Stephen King, so the studio figures everybody knows the plot. Clarke is so good in this movie, creepy.

The featurette tells us we are in for a true horror movie. I got the jiggers just by watching this featurette.

The interview with both the directors, Kolsch and Widmyer, is full of information about King and his books. They take their knowledge and apply it to the movie. They talk about directing the actors and how they work to develop their characters.

These two guys are funny when they talk about directing cats. Their personalities come out, and they are different, but their rapport is so strong.

“Are you happy mommy?” sends chills up my spine. The movie clip will drive horror and Stephen King fans to the movie theaters.

I totally jumped out of my skin watching the final trailer. This movie is scary and horrific.

“Mid90s” Trailers and Poster

drama, independent, , ,

Written and directed by Jonah Hill, Mid90s follows Stevie, played by Sunny Suljic, who is a thirteen-year-old in 90s-era Los Angeles. He spends his summer navigating between his troubled home life with his brother, played by Lucas Hedges, and a group of new friends that he meets at a Motor Avenue skate shop.

We know Hill for his acting talent in Money Ball and 21 & 22 Jump Street movies.

Mid90s premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Hill teared up over the stand ovation from the audience.  Sunny Suljic also stars in The House with a Clock in its Walls.

“The Upside” Trailer, Movie Clips, & Poster

comedy, drama, true stories, , , , ,

Directed by Neil Burger,  The Upside is a  “heartfelt comedy” about a convict, played by Kevin Hart, is recently paroled. He begins a friendship with a paralyzed billionaire, played by Bryan Cranston. Clearly, the friendship is unusual and unlikely.

Still, the relationship builds and the two men form a union and help each other. The film also stars Nicole Kidman, Aja Naomi King, and Julianna Margulies.

Burger credits include The Illusionist, Divergent, and Limitless.

Inspired by a true story, The Upside is written by Jon Hartmere, based on the hit 2011 French film The Intouchables. All I can imagine is Hart is a not so serious man playing a  serious role.

With his recent roles in Night School and The Secret Life of Pets 2, Hart is taking a chance at drama. That is a good thing because he is talented. We just need to see him stretch a bit with Cranston and Kidman.

Here are three movies clips that show the banter between Hart’s character and Cranston’s character. The whole time I am watching these trailers and movie clips I am thinking how tough it must have been for this man to live like this. It is based on a true story. It’s tough to watch. In the “Identity Theft” movie clip, Aretha Franklin, the queen of soul, is mentioned in their banter. You click on her name to find out why she is so special and talented as a singer.