Monthly Archives: June 2019

“Heavy Wave” Trailer and Poster

action, adventure, biography, documentary, historical, sports, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Directed by Michael Oblowitz, Heavy Wave arrives at the movie theaters as a Fathom Event, so audiences have limited time to see this movie. The movie explores why surfing is so dangerous and why people like the Fletchers tackle the heavy waves worldwide.

I viewed the movie and interviewed Nathan Fletcher and Oblowitz, though I barely spoke with the director. I am mesmerized by the sheer extreme sport of surfing. I flooded Fletcher with questions about surfing.

The documentary follows the lives of several surfers. It’s a culture, a way of life that few get to adventure. Some pass away while living their dream of surfing the big one. I spoke with Fletcher about the spiritual aspect of surfing because it’s mentioned in the movie a lot. “You go to the water, and you see the sun, magnificent ocean, you’re right there. Then you get to see the fish and the birds and all the beauty…, obviously swells come from across the world, these magnificent pulses of energy, and you go out there, and you ride them. So, if that’s not spiritual…, or somehow connected to the water, and then you’re waiting for a wave, all of a sudden, your mind is somewhere else. And you’re totally in the moment because you’re totally concentrating on what’s happening right there.”

Watch the trailer and see how dangerous and unbelievably surreal surfing the heavy waves can be.

“Sword of Trust” Poster and Trailer

comedy, , , , , ,

Co-written and directed by Lynn Shelton, Sword of Trust is a riotously funny, improv-based story about Cynthia, played by Jillian Bell, and Mary, played by Michaela Watkins, show up to collect Cynthia’s inheritance from her deceased grandfather.

The sole item she received is an antique sword that her grandfather believed to be proof that the South won the Civil War. Cynthia and Mary attempt to unload the object to a curmudgeonly pawnshop owner Mel, played by Marc Maron, and his man-child sidekick Nathaniel, played by Jon Bass.

Mel and Nathaniel discover there’s a black market for the relic. They reluctantly join forces to sell this rarefied ‘prover item’ to the highest bidder. The adventure that ensues takes the four of them on a wild journey into the depths of conspiracy theory and Southern disillusionment.

Maron also wrote and performed the music for the movie, and Mike O’Brien co-wrote the script with Shelton.

Also starring in the movie are Toby Huss and Dan Bakkedahl. Jillian Bell is busy these days and stars in the Sundance audience favorite Brittney Runs a Marathon.

“Maiden” Poster, Trailer & Clips

documentary, true stories,

Directed by Alex Holmes, Maiden is a documentary about the story of Tracy Edwards, a 24-year-old cook on charter boats who became the skipper of the first-ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989.

Alex Holmes is a documentarian. He’s produced and directed many documentaries, including Dunkirk, The Ice King, and Hunting the KGB Killers.

Seeing a movie about women competing against men in a man’s sport is enthralling.

The following movie clips tell a bit about the story, and it is a fantastic story about women achieving the unexpected.

The following movie clips transform the concept of sailing around the world with a crew of dedicated women. The crux of the journey is that this is the first women’s crew to join this sport. Sure, it is daunting but liberating.

“Brittany Runs a Marathon” Posters, Clips & Trailer

comedy, drama, independent, true stories, ,

Written and directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo and winner of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award, Brittany Runs a Marathon follows an unusually poignant portrait of a young woman, played by Jillian Bell, uncovering her long-buried potential.

Brittany Forgler is everybody’s best friend ― except maybe her own. At 27, her hard-partying ways, chronic underemployment, and toxic relationships are catching up with her, but when she stops by a new doctor’s office to try to score some Adderall, she gets slapped with a prescription she never wanted: Get healthy. Too broke for a gym and too proud to ask for help, Brit is at a loss, until her seemingly together neighbor Catherine pushes her to lace up her Converse sneakers and run one sweaty block. The next day, she runs two. And soon, after finishing her first mile, she sets an almost unthinkable goal: running in the New York City Marathon.

The movie is the winner of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award.

The rest of the cast includes Michaela Watkins, Micah Stock, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Alice Lee, and Lil Rel Howery.

This movie could be the next sleeper hit.

Colaizzo won the Helen Hayes award for his playwrighting talent, and now, he is making his screenwriting and directorial debut with a slice of life movie. Brittany Runs a Marathon reminds me of Richard Curtis or Cameron Crowe storytelling.

The three movie clips show Brittany’s attitude before she starts changing her life around and getting in shape. The first clip is obscure, and its purpose of the scene is unconvincing.

The last clip is in the trailer but shows how Brittany managed to get by in life by lying. The doctor is smart and sits her on a path of redemption and a healthier lifestyle.

“Ad Astra” Posters, Trailers, Clips & Featurette

action, adventure, drama, science fiction, , , ,

Co-written and directed by James Gray, Ad Astra follows Astronaut Roy McBride, played by Brad Pitt, who travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father, Tommy Lee Jones.

Brad Pitt plays an astronaut in search of his father.
An interview with Brad Pitt at the NASA premiere in Washington, D.C.

His and the space program’s reasons are more than finding his missing father. He is sent to unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet. His journey will uncover secrets that challenge the nature of human existence and our place in the cosmos.

The trailer, with tearing music, sets up a thriller, magical story about coming to terms with our concepts of the mysteries of the universe.

The movie is streaming and is available on Blu-ray and DVD.

Gray’s directing credits are impressive in genres like The Immigrant, The Lost City of Z, and Two Lovers. Ethan Gross co-wrote the screenplay with Gray, and it appears they have worked together on most of Gray’s movies, receiving “special thanks” for some. Gross also writes for the episodic Fringe.

The cast includes Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler and Donald Sutherland.

The second trailer shows a decadent society, and whether the location is on Earth or another planet appears unclear. I am sensing a thriller and mystery of a secret society is at play.

As a symbolic gesture, the studio released the featurette on the 50th anniversary of man landing on the moon. The featurette shows more clips and gives us insight into the movie.

The IMAX trailer says very little about the movie in general. The prior trailers tell more about the movie – espionage or government secrets. Having phenomenal visuals is cool, but the film will be worth watching if the ending is impressive and not wasted time.

The sneak peek shows how fantastic the movie will be with all the CGI and good guys against the bad guys, including a moon rover chase.

The following movie clip shows a grave, solemn side to the story. I am guessing this clip is where the movie heads toward the third act, where more action will occur.

The following clip, “Lima Project,” is astoundingly intense. Pitt knows how to show the intensity and use the camera to communicate the undertones of discovering that his father is still alive.

“Ford v Ferrari” Posters, Clips, Featurettes, and Trailers

based on a book, drama, , , , , , , ,

Directed by James Mangold, Ford v Ferrari comes from a true story of the remarkable Shelby car from car designer Carroll Shelby, played by Matt Damon, and the fearless British-born driver Ken Miles, played by Christian Bale. 

Watch Ford v Ferrari with Christain Bale and Matt Damon

The movie is now available on Amazon, so that you can watch it in your living room.

The two men take on corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company and take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.

Any racecar aficionado who followed racecar driving knows this story. It is an intense and fun story to see on the movie screen. The rest of the cast includes Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Remo Girone, and Ray McKinnon. I am sure you recognize Balfe, the star of Starz’s popular series Outlander.

Letts, who plays Ford II, stars in quite a few movies as a supporting role, but in The Lovers, he stars with Debra Winger as a lost, married couple, which plays like a dry comedy. 

The second trailer is different from the first but tells the same story. The characters are angry and are ready to fight each other.

The movie clip seems ridiculous and nonsensical. I am looking forward to seeing better scenes that make more sense.

The featurette shows an interview with Bale and Damon with cuts to the movie’s intensity.

The following movie clip is beautiful.

The following clip tells it all. Why did Ford back the Shelby car for the Le Mans?

The following featurette talks about the friendship between Miles and Shelby.