Category Archives: movies

How to Fund Your Film With Product Placements

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After reading this article, you’ll become more aware of product placement in films and TV shows. You’ll also learn how to use product placement to help fund your next film.

“Stranger Things” scene with KFC. It’s finger-lickin’ good. Source: JokerMan

Examples of Product Placement in Movies

Product placement is an excellent resource to fund your movie and offset the negative costs of the production. Some say product placement can cover or replace 50-60% of a film’s budget. It’s a big business and a smart way to cover certain production costs. Yet, there are logistics to deal with and corporations and representatives that need to convince you that your film is worthy of its product placement.

Product placement involves props, vehicles, set dressing, and wardrobe donated or loaned to production for on-air use. For example, it could be as simple as a shot of a familiar airline logo. Even when an airline jet takes off, or a billboard or banner promotes a brand-name product, the effect can be pretty noticeable. You might have spotted a box of Cheerios at a breakfast scene—When Harry Met Sally, where Sally microwaves Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Stranger Things nabbed $27 million in product placements, from KFC to Cola to Eggo Waffles to Gap.

Product Placement in Film: A Huge Business

The process seems easy for a brand to pay for, loan to, or even donate to a film production. That is not the case. It is a huge business. What the manufacturers decide to pay, loan, or donate for valuable exposure is determined when they or their representatives evaluate the script, cast, and director of the project. It takes just as much, if not more, work as procuring funding for a film. Still, it gets done and is worth the effort and time. A filmmaker can cover transportation or meal costs by agreeing to product placement.

The late Paul Newman is ready to race in one of the many Budweiser cars he raced. Source: Lola

Paul Newman and Tom Cruise

Anyone can think of the last film they saw and notice the product placement in that movie. The late Paul Newman was known for drinking Budweiser beer in his films. Budweiser also supported his car racing. The Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One film was all too obvious, with the chase involving a tiny yellow Fiat car in Rome. But who didn’t want a cute Fiat after that scene? The James Bond franchise has fancy cars, designer clothes, and Heineken sipping. The list of product placements is long, dating back to 1910.

Product Integration in Film

Product integration is another term used around the industry for product placement. The term denotes products and services incorporated into the film and used, consumed, worn or mentioned by the main characters. The Barbie movie is an obvious example of product integration. The film’s focus is the Barbie doll, which is mentioned in press junket interviews and on social media.

Major studios and production companies have product placement departments. Producers can hire companies or promotional agencies to help manufacturers place their products in films. Filmmakers seeking funding or donations should find companies and agencies, do research and be prepared to negotiate.

Once a product placement is assigned to a film project, a wise filmmaker assigns an individual to coordinate and supervise the entire process, ensuring the brand is correctly represented in the film.

Brands or Companies Get Exposure

It is impressive what these product placement agencies can do. They include online services that partner with products and productions. They even specialize in helping new brands or companies get their first exposure secured in films. As a filmmaker, it is your job to use your imagination and ingenuity to choose the types of brands or products you can place in your movie. That requires a scene breakdown of where each scene takes place and which brands or products appear in it. For example, the kitchen scene means food, cooking ware, food products, etc.

For the most part, independent films with producers, property masters, transportation coordinators, department heads, and costume supervisors usually handle their own product placement. That way, they avoid having the overhead of paying a salary or fee to someone else. Still, the filmmaker and producer ensure they maintain their product placement agreements or contracts. The best way to hold and control product placement is to keep the number of people responsible on your crew to a minimum. The filmmaker must consult any agreement or contract for product and service placement with the production executive, producer, and production attorney.

Ethan Coen’s “Drive Away Dolls” is subtly featured in this barroom scene. Source: Kenna McHugh

Product Placement Regulations

Because product placement is so popular and widely used in the film industry, a filmmaker will discover more regulations regarding it than they ever imagined. It’s not just about placing a banner. Because of laws governing the financing of such commodities and the possibility of payola—bribing someone to use their influence or position to promote a specific product or interest—the film industry is more open to product placement than the television industry. The television industry must disclose its product placement at the end of the episode as a “promotional consideration.”

With that, a filmmaker needs to set their standards or policies on how they want to approach product placement for their movie. The filmmaker avoids outlandish bribes or unreasonable requests by having guidelines. The idea is to maintain a realistic storyline without jeopardizing the integrity of the film. Thus, avoid placing or accentuating products that appear to be advertising or sponsorship. Some standard rules of thumb are that production personnel, cast and so forth may not accept gifts from companies that want their products used in the film. Thus, no one associated with the production can endorse or refer that a specific talent will promote a brand or product in a movie.

Sample Letter Requesting Product Placement in a Short Film

When you have a product that stands out in the storyline, it’s best to write a letter for permission to use the product in the film. Source: Kenna McHugh

The Bottom Line

Again, the filmmaker needs to put on his thinking cap and consider his storyline and overall movie genre. Take a marketing perspective and imagine what products would do well in his film. There are companies out there that want to integrate their products into a variety of entertainment media. They will probably get involved if the movie is a high-profile project with some very talented and up-and-coming movie stars.

Top “Fifty Shades of Grey” Trilogy Movie Scenes

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With film clips available, you can pick your favorite scene in the movie.

The movie scenes between Christian and Anastasia in Fifty Shades of Grey are hot. Let’s take a look.

Fifty Shades of Grey Started as a Blog

The story is about two people who fall in love and share a dangerous relationship. Christian and Anastasia endure an erotic bond that Christian dominates. Anastasia is overwhelmed by it all and tries to end the relationship.

In the second book, Fifty Shades Darker, we find out why Christian still enjoys inflicting pain on his women. He struggles with his demons, but Ana loves him and confronts his anger.

She’s even bold enough to confront the other women in his past.

In the third book, Fifty Shades Freed, they become married, and Ana gains more independence while Christian struggles with letting her be free.

The three movies based on the books were released in theaters on Valentine’s Day to capture the romantic spirit of the holiday. I’m delighted to share some of my favorite movie clips.

If you’ve seen these films, you know how intense these scenes can get.

Before we start on the hottest scenes from the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, let’s talk about the best trailer.

Best Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy Movie Trailer

Fifty Shades Darker is the second film in the trilogy. The trailer for this movie is by far the best of all three. The music and editing cuts indicate all the qualities that made the book series highly successful.

9 Hottest Scenes from the Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy

E.L. James wrote Fifty Shades of Grey as a blog while at work. And readers loved it, so she wrote more and published the first book. It became a whopping success, so she wrote another book. The second book was a huge success, and the story became a trilogy.

Now, the three bestsellers are movies. The box office draw for each film was tremendous. Let’s look at some of the hottest scenes from the movies.

“I don’t know whether to worship at your feet or spank the living shit out of you.” E.L. James, “Fifty Shades of Grey”

Two Hottest Scenes Fifty Shades of Grey

These two scenes show how closely the trilogy’s first film followed the book. Though one clip is seven minutes long, it’s worth watching.

3. Anastasia Takes Charge

This clip shows how Anastasia is no longer the naive young woman she was in the first movie, Fifty Shades of Grey.

Here we see her willing to banter with Christian and have a little fun.

“I wasn’t aware we were fighting. I thought we were communicating.” E.L. James, “Fifty Shades Darker”

4. The Vanilla Relationship

I’m impressed with Jamie Dornan. His acting is believable as a struggling Christina who doesn’t want to lose the only woman he ever truly loved.

Still, this is a silly scene, done differently, and more appealing for people who find it hard to believe in such a relationship.

5. “He Let’s You Call Him by His Name”

I remember reading this scene in the book. I thought the writing told the story well, and it kept me glued to the pages.

Christian ruined the girl, showing the adverse effects a dominating relationship can cause. This storyline also shows how strong and caring Ana is and how she wouldn’t put up with such domination from Christian.

6. “Get Your Hands Off My Husband”

I like this scene because it is refreshing to see Ana tell this woman, “Get your hands off my husband.”

I remember reading this part in the third book and thinking, “Boy, Anastasia sure has grown into a strong woman.” And I wondered if Christian was still faithful to his wife.

7. “Oh, I Am So Sorry”

This scene sold the third movie, Fifty Shades Darker. The actors feel more comfortable around each other and are having fun.

This scene is too sweet for my taste. I don’t remember it being in the book, and the screenplay is by Niall Leonard. Leonard is married to E.L. James, and they have two children.

8. “Would You Change Your Name for Me?”

The movie clip is a good scene because it shows the fans how their relationship has grown into a give-and-take.

I scratch your back. You scratch my back. Ana needs to prove herself, and Christian is giving her the opportunity. But at what cost?

“God, I’m a lucky son of a bitch.” – Christian Grey from E.L. James “Fifty Shades Freed”

9. Dornan’s Naked Back

This movie clip shows us the old Christian. He surprises her but places a mask on her face. It seems romantic, but different when Ana initiates a romantic interlude.

There is tension in the scene – foreboding. With that, I sure do like all these movie clips showing Jamie Dornan’s naked back. His back is in perfect shape. Don’t you think?

I hope you have enjoyed my favorite scenes from all three Fifty Shades of Grey movies.

Please feel free to comment and tell me which ones are your favorites.

Check out all three films at Amazon.


Photo

With film clips available, you can pick your favorite scene in the movie.
With film clips available, you can pick your favorite scene in the movie.

Text

Started as a Blog, Three Books, Then Three Movies

The story is about two people who fall in love and share a dangerous relationship. Christian and Anastasia endure an erotic bond that Christian dominates. Anastasia is overwhelmed by it all and tries to end the relationship.

In the second book, Fifty Shades Darker, we find out why Christian still enjoys inflicting pain on his women. He struggles with his demons, but Ana loves him and confronts his anger.

She’s even bold enough to confront the other women in his past.

In the third book, Fifty Shades Freed, they become married, and Ana gains more independence while Christian struggles with letting her be free.

The three movies based on the books were released in theaters on Valentine’s Day to capture the romantic spirit of the holiday. I’m delighted to share some of my favorite movie clips.

If you’ve seen these films, you know how intense these scenes can get.

Text

Best “Fifty Shades of Grey” Trilogy Movie Trailer

Before we start on the hottest scenes from the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, let’s talk about the best trailer.

Fifty Shades Darker is the second film in the trilogy. The trailer for this movie is by far the best of all three. The music and editing cuts indicate all the qualities that made the book series highly successful.

Text

9 Hottest Scenes from the “Fifty Shades of Grey” Trilogy

E.L. James wrote Fifty Shades of Grey as a blog while at work. And readers loved it, so she wrote more and published the first book. It became a whopping success, so she wrote another book. The second book was a huge success, and the story became a trilogy.

Now, the three bestsellers are movies. The box office draw for each film was tremendous. Let’s look at some of the hottest scenes from the movies.

Text

1. and 2. Hottest Scenes “Fifty Shades of Grey”

These two scenes show how closely the trilogy’s first film followed the book. Though one clip is seven minutes long, it’s worth watching.

Video

Video

Text

3. Anastasia Takes Charge

This clip shows how Anastasia is no longer the naive young woman she was in the first movie, Fifty Shades of Grey.

Here we see her willing to banter with Christian and have a little fun.

Photo

Callout

“I don’t know whether to worship at your feet or spank the living shit out of you.”— E.L. James,

Text

4. The Vanilla Relationship

I watch this scene, and I’m impressed with Jamie Dornan. His acting is believable as a struggling Christina who doesn’t want to lose the only woman he ever truly loved.

Still, this is a silly scene, done differently, and more appealing for people who find it hard to believe in such a relationship.

Text

5. “He Let’s You Call Him by His Name”

I remember reading this scene in the book. I thought the writing told the story well, and it kept me glued to the pages.

Christian ruined the girl, showing the adverse effects a dominating relationship can cause. This storyline also shows how strong and caring Ana is and how she wouldn’t put up with such domination from Christian.

Callout

“I wasn’t aware we were fighting. I thought we were communicating.”— E.L. James,

Photo

Text

6. “Get Your Hands Off My Husband”

I like this scene because it is refreshing to see Ana tell this woman, “Get your hands off my husband.”

I remember reading this part in the third book and thinking, “Boy, Anastasia sure has grown into a strong woman.” And I wondered if Christian was still faithful to his wife.

Text

7. “Oh, I Am So Sorry”

This scene sold the third movie, Fifty Shades Darker. The actors feel more comfortable around each other and are having fun.

This scene is too sweet for my taste. I don’t remember it being in the book, and the screenplay is by Niall Leonard. Leonard is married to E.L. James, and they have two children.

Text

8. “Would You Change Your Name for Me?”

The movie clip is a good scene because it shows the fans how their relationship has grown into a give-and-take.

I scratch your back. You scratch my back. Ana needs to prove herself, and Christian is giving her the opportunity. But at what cost?

Photo

Callout

“God, I’m a lucky son of a bitch.” – Christian Grey— E.L. James,

Text

9. Dornan’s Naked Back

This movie clip shows us the old Christian. He surprises her but places a mask on her face. It seems romantic, but different when Ana initiates a romantic interlude.

There is tension in the scene – foreboding. With that, I sure do like all these movie clips showing Jamie Dornan’s naked back. His back is in perfect shape. Don’t you think?

Text

I hope you have enjoyed my favorite scenes from all three Fifty Shades of Grey movies.

Please feel free to comment and tell me which ones are your favorites.

Amazon

Fifty Shades of Grey / Fifty Shades Darker / Fifty Shades Freed (3-Movie Collection)

Fifty Shades of Grey / Fifty Shades Darker / Fifty Shades Freed (3-Movie Collection)

 Buy Now

Poll

Which movie in the trilogy do you like the best?

  • Fifty Shades of Grey
  • Fifty Shades Darker
  • Fifty Shades Freer

See results

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Making of “Fifty Shades Freed” Behind The Scenes

You get to see what the production crew and actors do while shooting on location in the South of France. Does it break the fantasy story by seeing how the film is made?

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“Fifty Shades Darker” and “Freed” With Jack Hyde

Another final treat is the featurette about Jack Hyde’s character in the last two Fifty Shades of Grey films.

Did any of you like the scenes with Jack Hyde? The story is about Ana and Christian, but Jack arrives and plays the villain. He is gorgeous.

The costume designer talks about his looks and how she dressed him for the movie. Watch the movie clip, and see if you thought some of his scenes were at the same level as Ana and Christian’s.

The scene when Jack grabs Ana is scary but hot.

Amazon

Another “Fifty Shades” Movie?

Is there a fourth Fifty Shades movie? From the looks of it, probably not. E.L. James wrote three books since the Grey, Darker and Freed trilogy.

They tell the same story from Christian’s perspective, not Ana’s. It works in literature but not in film since it’s the same story.

The trilogy has Ana telling the story, and the reader knows the story from her perspective, not Christian’s. But in the film, we see Christian and Ana objectively, so it’s like seeing both views. Making a movie from Christian’s perspective is unlike the Fifty Shades movies. It’s like making the same movie again.

Doran has even said he doesn’t see himself playing Grey anymore because he’s too old.

Marcia Gay Harden, who played Christian’s adoptive mother, won’t mind returning for another go at being a Grey.

Christian Tells His Story by E.L. James

In Fifty Shades as told by Christian Grey, read the trilogy from Grey’s prespective. He’s dominant in all ways. Ana, innocent and timid, seems to understand him completely—beyond his career and rich lifestyle to his dispassionate, damaged emotions. But Christian is aware that a relationship with Ana will be a challenge, and they will face unforeseen problems. When their combined power seems unbeatable, adversity, evil, and destiny turn Ana and Christian’s worst nightmares real.

Film Career: Professional Set Painter

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What is a set painter?

Set Painter Jobs

If you are a professional painter and want to expand your career, consider being a set painter for the film industry. This article explains how you can become a set painter on a movie production.

Being a set painter is not being a painter of army paint sets. Though young and old kids enjoy the hobby of painting a whole regiment of army paint battlefields set, this is a real job on a film set design.

When hired, you arrive with your paint supplies ready to paint the set or stand by if they need a quick touch-up while filming a scene.

If you are a professional painter or like to paint houses, buildings, and fences, and want to expand your career, consider being a set painter for the film industry.

You meet talented people from all over the world. The pay and benefits are exceptional, and you work in a very creative environment. You’ll meet movie stars!

Runaway Productions Create Local Film Production

“Runaway productions” is a term used to describe films produced outside of Hollywood on location. The film industry coined these words because productions often move away from Hollywood to make more money. It is not profitable for Hollywood, but it is excellent for you to live outside Hollywood and get a job in film production as a set painter.

Certain cities, like Seattle or San Francisco, invite runaway productions to film in their area because they want the money. Some, including states, offer credit or tax incentives, like Massachusetts or Georgia, to save film production money.

Build your contacts—use business cards—to procure more work after the film wraps.

Cold Call Film Offices

How Do You Get Hired onto a Film Set?

Pull out your yellow pages phone book and call film commission offices to see if they can add you to their list of set painters available for work. The idea is to get a set painter job on a film production that comes to town or within a 100-mile radius. Work on the production to start developing your resume, including film credit.

Start as a set painter on a film as a non-union member. Build your contacts—use business cards—to procure more work after the movie wraps.

You might get a gig as the head painter or standby painter.

Become the Lead Painter

Discover how quickly you will advance to another production. You might even get a gig as the head painter or standby painter. The secret to doing this is getting to know the production designer of each job you get in film production. Say something like, and mean it, “I want to work with you again.” It can escalate from there.

Carve a little niche for yourself as the only painter in a 100-mile radius who works for films, television, and commercials.

Work Within a 100-mile Radius

Establish yourself as the lead painter in this 100-mile radius. That way, your reputation leads you to more work. One production designer will tell another production designer, who will tell another, and well, you do the math—that’s a lot of painting gigs.

Remember that word of mouth is the best impression of whether or not you work in this industry.

Keep in mind that word of mouth is the best impression on whether you work or not in this industry.

Painter’s Success Story

Steve is a scenic artist and head painter who paints movie sets. He makes the wood look like metal. Metal looks like wood, the old look new, and so on.

In the movie production of Don Juan Demarco, the crew painted the whole town while Steve put moss in the fountains and used dark green auto paint on the water.

How did Steve get his first job? He told a carpenter he worked with, who was going on to a TV series production, to call him if they needed any painters. They did, and he went to work in the paint department.

Steve studied art in high school and worked as a construction draftsman and illustrator in the Army. He then attended the Art Institute of Chicago for a year. For over fifteen years, he has designed and painted television sets.

He joined Seattle IA Local 15. However, the union was not doing what the members needed to find work in the film industry, so Steve pitched in and helped form Local 488, a local union for studio mechanics. After he moved to L.A., he joined 729 local painters but kept his membership in Local 488.

How Much are Union Fees?

Fees vary by the location of each local union in each city. The LA Local 729 is the best union to contact for more information.

Steve says working in films is a team project. If you get the reputation of being hard to work with or self-centered, the word gets around. Dealing with high pressure, tight deadlines, and last-minute changes is essential.

“But, those in my position, a seasoned set painter, at my level get jobs on our own.”

Film Production in Various Cities

Steve says the union has helped him get work by being a member. “But those in my position, a seasoned set painter, at my level get jobs on our own.”

In addition to Seattle and Portland, Steve worked on features in Minneapolis, Memphis, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, Hong Kong, and Twin Falls.

Of course, he always worked on shows in Hollywood, even before moving to Los Angeles, the heartland of moviemaking.

Being a makeup artist

How to Be a Successful Makeup Artist

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Renae Goodhew is one of the most in-demand VFX and makeup sorcerers in Hollywood. Horror is her specialty.

Being a makeup artist in the industry gives you a chance to live your dreams. Hear how the pros built their careers working in film.

Makeup Artists on Movie Sets

I know some talented makeup artists in the industry, some in San Francisco and others in Hollywood. Being a makeup artist can be a fun and challenging job.

The hardest part is establishing yourself in the industry. You start at the bottom and work your way up to the top. If you appreciate working with people intimately and helping them look their best for the camera and fans, you will do fine.

But you must be willing to work hard and be on your feet all day. You will most likely be one of the last people to leave the set. The job is yours if you can handle its responsibilities.

Once you have your foot in the door with steady and well-paid work, you can keep it glamorous by setting up appointments with celebrities before red carpets, interviews, and the like. Or you can work on a film set. Whatever you desire.

Whatever you choose as a makeup artist, you must keep your integrity and never bank on your profession. Keep your cards to your chest and your nose clean. You will succeed far more than your dreams could imagine.

Makeup artists enjoy themshelves and know they are taking a step in the right direction.

Reana Goodhew Makeup Artist: Independent Horror

Reana Goodhew’s credits include One, a Lance Henriksen horror movie; a horror movie with Eric Roberts called 7 Deadly Sins; William Baldwin and Bill Moseley in Minutes to Midnight; Tony Todd, Bill Moseley, and Kane Hodder in Harrison Smith’s Death House. She also worked on the “555” video by Jimmy Eat World.

“I’m a huge horror fan. The first horror film I saw was The Exorcist, with Dick Smith’s makeup. From there, I fell in love with all the Hellraiser movies, Halloween, and so forth.”

Goodhew talks about becoming a professional makeup artist in Hollywood. “I like the challenge of creating good horror makeup. Making something horrifying look truly believable is a challenge,” she exclaims.

She also enjoys working in horror because “you’re able to create things aside from application makeups.” She is talking about creating body parts, wounds, dead bodies, fake heads, and so forth.

“I definitely get to use my artistic background to create and color, which I enjoy,” adds Goodhew.

She has been working as a special effects makeup artist for seven years. Her background comes from art in painting and sculpting, but she attended the Cinema Makeup School.

Creating Body Parts, Wounds, Fake Heads, and Dead Bodies

The advice Goodhew gives to those who want to work in Hollywood:

“Work hard, be persistent, and always keep pushing yourself. As an artist, we never stop learning or growing in our career. Always try to build on your skills, even when you’re not working on a job. Not everyone will have the same path pursuing makeup as a career. There are so many options. Ultimately find your path and go with it.”

See the Echoes of Fear trailer below to see some of Goodhew’s creature work.

Laura’s Stage Jobs

Laura lived in Los Angeles and worked at a cosmetic counter when she got involved in doing makeup on performers for school plays.

While putting makeup on the performers, she studied and learned various stage makeup techniques, and eventually knew how to apply all types of makeup on a performer.

In the process, she discovered how much she liked doing makeup and flourished in her career.

Makeup artist can live in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York

Makeup Artist Movie Jobs

Deciding that she wanted to make this her career in films, Laura got in touch with some major studios.

However, they wouldn’t hire her because she wasn’t a union member and needed a job to be in the union.

The common problem for most novices in film careers is that you need the experience to get a job, but you can’t get experience unless you have a job.

Laura decided to contact several independent movie companies because independent films often have agreements with the union that they don’t have to hire union members.

With some persistence, she talked her way into a job on a biker movie as a makeup assistant, helping the makeup artist do whatever she wanted her to do.

Another essential point to breaking into the film business is to do whatever the production needs to help get the movie made. You have to be willing to work hard and be ready to serve your immediate boss.

Oscar Winner Joe Harlow Sets the Tone

The remake of Hellboy revamped the character and makeup design with Oscar-winning Joe Harlow set the tone for the crew to create a new Hellboy character.

In a press junket interview, Harlow talked about designing the look of Hellboy and imagine how much work went into creating the comic book anti-hero.

Lucas Godfrey’s Special Effects Makeup for Hell Fest

In an interview with Lucas Godfrey, who did special effects makeup for the horror movie Hell Fest and The Walking Dead series, talks about his experience with special effects makeup during the production of Hell Fest.

Watching these types of interviews helps you understand what these people do and who they are. The more you know about them and their credits, the more chances you have of recognizing them and their work.

Nothing impresses an artist more than someone truly recognizing them for their work in films.

Reese Witherspoon looks dazzling because of her talented makeup artists.

One Way to Get Started as a Makeup Artist

Laura’s advice for those who want to do special effects makeup is to get a job selling cosmetics.

“Once you learn the basics,” she says, “you can offer to do makeup for school and community theaters or talk to your friends into letting you practice on them.

The important thing,” she asserts, “is to practice your craft.”

Depending on the production, makeup artists on a film set make roughly $40–$50 an hour. They make $73,250 to $88,200 or more a year.

Working With Sir Anthony Hopkins and Anne Hathaway

Makeup and hair designer Nana Fisher worked with Sir Anthony Hopkins on Armageddon Time. In an interview, Fisher discussed working with the actor and their steps to show his character’s health decline.

Fisher talks about the skin color choices, such as yellow, green and grey.

In another interview, Fisher talked about matching the hair colors of the family. She talks about working with Anne Hathaway.

Makeup Artists Salaries

All in all, you can live your dream and become a makeup artist in any field. Laura entered a fabulous field that is rewarding artistically as well as financially. The same thing can happen if you learn your craft and start finding jobs.

13 Popular Movies to Stream Anywhere

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Hit movies to stream anywhere.

Check out these movies, as they surprised audiences and remain worth watching even today.

Sleeper hit movies demonstrate that any filmmaker can create a low-budget movie that becomes a box office success. Tentpole or high-budget movies are not always a shoo-in because, for the most part, they are rehashed stories that producers don’t have to gamble on or question the outcome. Circling back to sleeper hits is a treasure when the public flocks to the movie houses and celebrates a surprising success.

Sleeper Hit

A “sleeper hit” is a surprise smash hit movie that the film industry didn’t expect to succeed at the box office. Let’s take a look at some films worth mentioning, renting, or streaming because they’re sleeper hits.

Best Movie You’ve Ever Seen

Why would you want to see a sleeper hit movie? The same reason you’d like to see a film is that it is the best movie you have ever seen. We’re not talking tentpole movies with large marketing schemes. These are movies made on a low budget without special effects. The story is believable, and the acting is top-notch. Usually, the director is relatively new to the industry. Go down my list of sleeper hits, and discern whether or not they deserve the “sleeper hit” nod.

1. “Happy Death Day”

Must see horror movie you can stream.

When I heard about Happy Death Day and saw the trailer, I predicted that horror fans would flock to the movie theaters to see this movie. Watching the trailer, it appears to be a super-entertaining yet horrific movie, with a plot similar to Groundhog Day.

Apparently, the producers didn’t expect the movie to be a real success, but it was, and now they are releasing a sequel, Happy Death Day 2U, with the same director and cast.

2. “Don’t Breathe”

Don’t Breathe was never considered the best new horror movie and was projected to gross under $14 million. The minuscule amount was fine with the producers because it cost $9 million to produce. It became a sleeper hit, as the movie, a low-budget horror film, grossed over $89 million in North America alone. In other markets around the world, it brought in $67.9 million – the end of the summer box office hit.

Produced by Sam Raimi, known for directing the earlier Spider-Man movies starring Toby Maguire, the movie’s director, Fede Alvarez, is now working on a sequel.

The horror movie follows a blind man who is mugged by three teenagers but turns the tables on them in a hurry. The rest of the story is about how the blind man terrorizes the teenagers. Stephen Lang plays the blind man, and he will look familiar because he’s had a long and fruitful career as a strong character actor.

3. “Lady Bird”

Lady Bird is about my hometown. Greta Gerwig’s film takes place in Sacramento, where she grew up and attended high school. Yes, it is very cool to see the landmarks of my city in such a poignant film. The story itself is endearing, regardless of where you live, whether in Los Angeles or Scottsdale, because it resonates deeply, making it a sleeper hit.

The teenage girl is trying to become who she truly is while contending with the craziness of life in High School and a mother-daughter relationship that is both push and pull.

Although the movie initially received accolades at festivals, the industry and public were captivated by the realistic, heart-pounding drama of a typical high school girl, played brilliantly by Saoirse Ronan.

4. “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, directed by Ang Lee and earning $1 million with 44 screens in eight days, focuses on two women, both competent fighters, who follow different paths toward a violent and blistering showdown with a dynamic ending.

Nobody expected a martial arts movie with strong heroines to succeed at the box office using hardly any marketing efforts and, let alone, win four Oscars.

5. “District 9”

Peter Jackson produced District 9, and its budget was 30 million. The science-fiction movie recouped its investment and earned $ 7 million in its first weekend of release.

The story takes place in South Africa, where extraterrestrial refugees have been stranded for 28 years. One man figures out how to tap into their technology, and the government is not too happy about it.

6. “Bring It On”

Kirsten Dunst starred in Bring It On when she was a teenager. The cheerleading movie earned $70 million. It’s about a very upbeat cheerleader navigating the politics of being the best cheerleader. The sleeper hit movie has several sequels that never match the original. Now a Broadway musical.

If you’ve never seen the movie, I recommend it because cheerleading as the backdrop shows how competitive it can be.

7. “Superbad”

Emma Stone starred in this movie with Michael Cera, Ed Helms, and Jonah Hill. Superbad is a teenage movie about getting alcohol as an underage boy and scoring with chicks.

Produced by Judd Apatow, he was virtually unknown, but it didn’t last for long. Over a summer weekend in 2007, Superbad became a household word and a must-see movie.

8. “Little Miss Sunshine”

Released in seven theaters, Little Miss Sunshine became a sleeper hit movie. It took off and generated half a million dollars in its first week, bringing its total to 200 million, with numerous Academy Award nominations and wins. It’s a feel-good movie with lots of laughs.

9. “Memento”

Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece, which follows Leonard, played by Guy Pearce, features generous notes throughout the movie to aid his short-term memory loss at every moment.

The low-budget movie catapulted into a sleeper hit, earning more than $25 million at the box office and garnering two Academy Award nominations. Memento even scored big time in the DVD release, selling over a million copies.

10. “Napoleon Dynamite”

Napoleon Dynamite is a cult movie with a huge fan base of followers who quote the movie’s snarky dialogue.

The story is quirky, with small-town characters adding to the funny banter. The movie grossed $44.5 million during its summer release, despite being limited to a select number of theaters.

11. “Paranormal Activity”

Paranormal Activity is a filmmaker’s fairytale. The movie only cost $15,000 to make and grossed $100 million. It quickly became a super hit, with sequels to follow. People do walk out of the movie theater before it’s over, not because the movie was bad, but because it was too scary.

12. “The Blair Witch Project”

In 1999, another low-budget sleeper hit was The Blair Witch Project. The movie’s beginning is promising, but it gradually deteriorates. Still, the public came out in droves, and the cheesy but scary movie made millions.

I mentally berated myself for paying to see this movie, as it was so bad. It just got worse and worse until the end was flat. I am still amazed it made so much money at the box office.

13. “47 Meters Down”

Stranger Things season 1 and 2 star Matthew Modine is one of the locals in 47 Meters Down. He represents the force behind the two women’s horror.

Director Johannes Roberts mentioned in the production notes for his sequel, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, that he was surprised by the film’s box office success.

The low-budget underwater thriller follows Lisa and Kate in a protective cage, who come face-to-face with the Great Whites. The cage snaps apart from the boat, and they find themselves diving to the bottom depths of the ocean floor.

Out of radio range and getting themselves exposed to the ferocious sharks, their oxygen stores were quickly diminishing.

Low-budget Movies

Sleeper hit movies show filmmakers can create a low-budget movie that becomes a box office success. A tent-pole or high-budget movie is not always a hit movie because, mostly, they rehash stories. Producers feel they don’t have to gamble on them or question the outcome. Circling back to sleeper hits is a treasure when the public flocks to the movie houses and celebrates a surprising success.

“Texas Chain Saw Massacre” in 4K Remastered

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Dark Sky Films releases the long-awaited UHD release of the 1974 horror classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, the groundbreaking thriller that has often been imitated but has yet to equal. The film arrives in the 4K restored version, complemented by a frightening array of bonus materials.

Directed by Tobe Hooper, Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a classic horror film released in 1974. The film follows a group of friends, played by Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, William Vail and Teri McMinn, on a road trip through rural Texas. They stumble upon a family of cannibalistic psychopaths. 

The film has a low-budget, gritty style and extreme gore and violence, which boosted its popularity since we’ve had horror films like The Blair Witch Project, Friday the 13th, Halloween and Night of the Living Dead. 

The group of friends intends to visit an old family homestead. On their journey, they pick up a hitchhiker who manifests strange behavior. The stranger eventually turns on them, attacking them, which leads to a harrowing chase through the Texas countryside. 

They arrive at a farmhouse and meet cannibalistic killers, including the iconic Leatherface with a mask of human skin and a wielding chainsaw. Michael Myers copied the masking technique so beautifully on Halloween. 

The horror film was controversial during its release because of its graphic violence, which doesn’t compare to Coen Bros. films or the SAW franchise. Subsequently, the Texas Chain Saw Massacre shines as a cult classic and the most influential horror movie of the genre. 

It generated many sequels and remakes, influencing countless horror films that tried to deem worthy. 

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre arrives in deluxe 4K UHD and 4K UHD Steelbook editions, each containing a bonus disc containing a wealth of supplemental materials. 

Disc 1 holds the 4K UHD feature film and four commentary tracks:

  • Writer-producer-director Tobe Hooper, actor Gunnar Hansen and cinematographer Daniel Pearl
  • Actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger and Paul A. Partain, with production designer Robert Burns
  • Tobe Hooper solo
  • Daniel Pearl, editor J. Larry Carroll and sound recordist Ted Nicolaou 

Disc 2, a Blu-ray, contains the new, never-before-seen feature-length documentary The Legacy of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and several featurettes. These include “The Cinefamily Presents FRIEDKIN/HOOPER,” a conversation about the film between Tobe Hooper and The Exorcist director William Friedkin; “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth”; “Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw”; a tour of the TCSM house with Gunnar Hansen; “Off the Hook with Teri McMinn”; and “The Business of Chain Saw: An Interview with Production Manager Ron Bozman.”

The generous package I enjoy the most. It has deleted scenes and outtakes, a blooper reel, trailers, vintage TV and radio spots, and much more to thrill fans, old and new.

“Respect” Dazzles, Celebrating Aretha Franklin

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Respect is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.

“Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you’re doing. If you’re not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it.”
— Aretha Franklin

Vocal powerhouse and Oscar and Grammy awards winner Jennifer Hudson stars as legendary singer Aretha Franklin in a true story about the “Queen of Soul.” Respect focuses on Franklin’s formative years, in which director Liesl Tommy says that it “contained things the general public doesn’t know about her.”

Watching her journey to become the brilliant musician with Franklin’s original songs, sung by Hudson, was profound to witness. From the beginning, we see a young woman with the most incredible voice in the world. But something was amiss. She needed to find her own voice.

In the film’s production notes, Tommy stated he felt strongly about “showing a meaningful experience of a young Black girl’s childhood.”

I found it interesting that Franklin came from a wealthy family, dominating the film primarily through her father and sisters.

Tommy related to that aspect of Franklin’s life, “As a little girl myself who grew up listening to people talk around the dinner table about fighting for freedom for themselves and for future generations, I know firsthand that it affects your life forever. It’s who you are. Aretha understood that, and it’s what made her art activism. When you talk about the “Queen of Soul,” her church was her activism.”

The movie reminds us of listening to Aretha Franklin. The emotion she sang with and deep feelings she conveyed — she spoke to us. Tommy describes it well, “Millions of people have a beautiful voice, but she channeled her emotions into her music in a way that no one else could.”

R_07374_RC Actor Jennifer Hudson and director Liesl Tommy on the set of RESPECT A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

The movie tells us who she was and her history of protest music. We see Franklin heal herself through her music. You can feel the depth of who she was as a being, though there is complexity and depth based on her relationships.

As we all know, Aretha Franklin’s voice is the best, most powerful, and culturally significant voice of all time. In the movie, we hear hit songs: “Respect,” “Natural Woman,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and “Think,” to name a few. They are classics that defined the resistance and resilience of Black people during the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Power Movement, and the Women’s Movement — and still resonate today at the moment in time where the world is in crisis and need of soulfulness.

The movie shows Franklin being a child music prodigy who grew up with great privilege in a household in Detroit that understood the importance of social protest, racial justice, and community organizing centered squarely in the foundation of the Black church — faith, service, and self-actualization. Respect shows us Franklin’s challenge in navigating and overcoming grief that would become the artistic inspiration. In return, she created musical masterpieces that saved lives and moved culture.

Respect establishes that she was a musical genius when she was a child. You discover she had all those albums that did not become hits at Columbia Records. The movie begins at the church and ends in the church with the journey in between. Tommy tells the story of a woman with the most incredible voice in the world but still doesn’t know what her voice is. “And that was the story that I felt like I wanted to tell, and that was what ended up being the center of the film, the spine of the film.”

Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington in RESPECT A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

Jennifer Hudson’s portrayal of Aretha Franklin is believable. She sings the icon’s songs herself, which is fantastic but not surprising. Hudson has a powerful voice. But she is not Franklin. She is a depiction of her.

Interestingly, Hudson was Franklin’s opening act one time. “After American Idol, Aretha Franklin was doing a show in Maryville, Indiana, and I wanted to open for her. Everyone knew she did not allow singers to open for her instead of starting her shows with a comedian. And, then, she approved of me to open for her. So, that was a dream, as are the many moments I shared with her.”

Marlon Wayans stars as Ted White and Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in RESPECT A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

Nabbing that gig as an opening act, as Hudson says, “I find especially now; she has been a huge guide for the structure and spirit of my career.”

Franklin’s niece, Sabrina Garrett Owens, was very close to her Auntie Aretha. And very proud to see Jennifer Hudson take on the role of her aunt. “A lot of it has to do with the similarities between the two [Aretha and Jennifer]. They both grew up in church. They both had that gospel sound to their voices. Jennifer has a wide range, the same as Aretha did. I see a lot of similarities in their style.”

The story begins with her childhood, her father, played brilliantly by Forest Whitaker. Affected by his wife’s death, he anoints Franklin at a young age to be a gospel star and be different and better than the rest.

Knowing that the movie producers, Scott Bernstein and Harvey Mason, Jr. talked with Aretha Franklin on the phone about her story, so she could gauge it as her legacy is astonishing. “So, we knew we were going to end at the ‘Amazing Grace’ live album recording. The spine of the story would be a movie about a father and daughter relationship. And, that gave us a focus to tell the period of her rise, and the origin story of her becoming the ‘Queen of Soul.”’

Written for the screen by Tracey Scott Wilson, the story captures that significant time in Franklin’s life, the sixties and seventies, establishing her relationship with her father, and she meets her first husband. Then, she broke up with her father, her church and had to find her own faith.

She meets Ted White, played by Marlon Wayans. They marry. He manages her career during the early days of her Atlantic Records. “She went from singing standards to, you know, gospel to, okay, let’s go take you into becoming the R&B queen or just the queen period, Aretha Franklin,” according to Wayans. “So he changed the way she dressed and changed her, changed the venues she was playing and changed the record company. He was a catalyst in Aretha’s life.”

Jennifer Hudson shares a different perspective. “The biggest impact on Aretha’s life was her father. I think he is what pushed her towards her legacy and helped her own her gift. There have been times when she didn’t necessarily feel like singing, but it was a calling. He reminded her of that often, and I think that she became like the symbolic first lady of the church in a way. It helped lead Aretha to her ministry and music, one reason why she became so experienced and impactful at the height of the Civil Rights Movement.”

The rest of the talented cast includes Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess and Mary J. Blige.

Blu-ray and DVD Bonus Features:

The Making of Respect: Explore the unique telling of this Aretha Franklin story, what the project meant to all involved and how music played a pivotal role in crafting this film.

Becoming Aretha: Take a behind-the-scenes look at Jennifer Hudson’s incredible transformation into the “Queen of Soul” including her commitment to the character, her connection with the late singer, and why inhabiting the legendary artist felt more like destiny than anything else.

Capturing a Legacy: A celebration of director Liesl Tommy’s artistry and professionalism as the cast and crew express their appreciation and admiration for her and her process.

From Muscle Shoals: Sit down with the cast, crew and some of the original musicians that recorded with Aretha at Muscle Shoals to learn about this crucial time period in Aretha’s life and how it helped propel her evolution.

Exploring the Design of Respect: Production designer Ina Mayhew and costume designer Clint Ramos discuss the research they conducted in order to create the beautiful sets in the film as well as the various custom-made wardrobes that span three decades of style.

“Stillwater” Fine Direction Leads to Solid Performances

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Tom McCarthy, director of Oscar-winner Spotlight, began working on Stillwater about ten years before he went into production. He intended to make a thriller set in an indistinct European port city. After one visit to Marseille, McCarthy knew he had found his port. “The layers and textures of the city were undeniably cinematic, and the confluence of cultures and the pace of the seaside metropolis felt like the perfect canvas for the film.”

But, the first draft wasn’t the movie he wanted to make. He felt it lacked dimension, humanity and a point of view. McCarthy felt drawn to the Mediterranean noir genre of writers like Andrea Camilleri, Massimo Carlotto and Jean-Claude Izzo, notably Izzo’s Marseille Trilogy. “Those novels all account for the life around the crime pushing beyond the genre. Ultimately, I wanted my film to do the same.” 

McCarthy set the script down, picked it back up about seven years later, and gave it a fresh read. He liked the setup, but his previous concerns remained. “It still wasn’t a script I was prepared to direct.”

And so, he reached out to French writing team Thomas Bidegain and Noé Debré and sent them the draft. “We had a very awkward zoom call where they carefully laid out a few fundamental flaws in the approach to the script,” says McCarthy.

He flew to Paris, spent a week in a room together with his co-writers, reimagining the movie, which was the beginning of an eighteen-month writing process, which began in the fall of 2016. Reflecting, McCarthy saw the world had changed drastically. “The United States had taken an alarming turn towards populism, and Americans were becoming increasingly alienated not only from each other but also from the rest of the world.”

Matt Damon’s character, Bill, journeys abroad, as he desperately tries to navigate a new culture, language, and justice system to save his only daughter. 

Underlining this story was McCarthy’s fascination with the details of the 2007 Amanda Knox case, where an American student living in Italy was arrested and charged with the murder of her roommate. She was convicted and sentenced to a lengthy prison term, although she maintained her innocence. 

Matt Damon stars as “Bill” in director Tom McCarthy’s STILLWATER, a Focus Features release.
Credit Jessica Forde / Focus Features

“What was exciting about reimagining the script in the context was the opportunity to subvert expectations of Bill — both as the quintessential ‘American hero’ and protagonist of this story, as well as an outsider entering a community that views him in a certain light.”

Many moments throughout the film, the story reveals Bill as a flawed man who, despite his best efforts, can’t escape his past. As a man from Stillwater, Oklahoma, we see the sternness or solidness of not revealing too much, holding in anger and other emotions just on the surface. 

McCarthy starts the movie five years after the prison sentence of his daughter, Allison, played by Abigail Breslin. It’s his umpteenth visit to Marseille, and we see the unraveling of his flaws, forgetting keepsakes for his daughter, discounting his ignorance.

However, during this visit, there is a revelation of fresh evidence that might prove her innocence, thus setting her free and back to America. At this point in the movie, we examine more closely the notion of America’s moral authority in a country and a world where nationalism was on the rise. 

McCarthy could have easily followed what audiences, who are conditioned to expect the hero to stop at nothing to protect his family or what he thinks is right. If the movie were a pure thriller, we would applaud Bill’s relentless pursuit of that aim. 

But McCarthy examines the personal consequences of Bill pursuing his singular aim. He ultimately gets what he wants, but at what price? What does he sacrifice, and how does that kind of thinking play out in our world today? 

He befriends an eight-year-old Maya, played authentically by Lilou Siauvaud. Then he meets her mother, Virginie, played by Camille Cottin. Virginie immediately helps him, which keeps the movie on edge. More and more of Bill’s flaws come to view. We find out that he was never there for his daughter, who lived most of her time with her aunt. Yet, we discover Virginie has a bleeding heart. She saves lost souls, like Bill. Maya becomes Bill’s companion or a second chance to be a good father. The threesome flourishes with Bill, staying in Marseille, hoping to help his daughter. 

(Camille Cottin as “Virginie”, Matt Damon as “Bill” and Lilou Siauvaud as “Maya” in director Tom McCarthy’s STILLWATER, a Focus Features release. Credit Jessica Forde / Focus Features

Marseille has a considerable impact on the film, going deep into the city, from the stunning Calanques to the massive Velodrome to the old prison in Les Baumettes. The credit goes to production designer Phil Messina, providing a Marseille canvas intimately and authentically. 

Though Marseille is the film’s primary setting, Bill’s past in Oklahoma also plays an essential role in the story and his character development. “We tried to reflect the impact these two places — Marseille and Oklahoma — have on Bill and Allison through the brilliant cinematography of Masa Takayanagi,” says McCarthy

The film starts in Oklahoma shooting with Anamorphic lenses, which enhances the solitude and isolation of Bill, using a shallower depth of field and a wider field of view. Then, Bill steps off the plane in Marseille. However, the camera moves. “It has the kinetic, spontaneous, grittiness of Marseille, which translated to a handheld for much of Marseille,” explains McCarthy. 

Then, when we return to Oklahoma at the end of the movie, McCarthy uses spherical lenses with us as if Bill brought something back with him from Marseille. “But our camera became static once again, indicating that Oklahoma, the place, has not changed, just Bill and Allison. 

McCarthy shot the film’s last scene with handheld to capture both the sense of intimacy and immediacy. Also, the method deepens the emotional connection to Marseille, a city that continues to haunt them.  

The casting of Damon as the central performance anchors Stillwater. It felt like Bill took a profound journey for all its complexities and ambiguities. Breslin holds her own, not playing a glamorous role, though McCarthy gives her some light moments with Maya. 

Stillwater doesn’t have a happy ending, but a determined finish that falls on Bill’s shoulders, where he says something like, “You’re my daughter.” And, later, he repeats his daughter’s phrase from an early conversation, “Life is brutal.”

Despite flaws or immorality, we still love our children and will always stand by them.

I wanted a different ending, a happy ending, but McCarthy’s ending makes sense because each scene seamlessly leads to this moment. 

McCarthy explains the film is about human nature. “What dictates the decisions we make, and how morality can be corrupted by one’s past, society and love of family. It speaks to what we perceive to be our moral imperative. It’s a story of liberation that addresses the shackles of shame and guilt that keep us rooted in one place. It’s a film that addresses our longing to be loved and needed.” 

The Stillwater Blu-ray/DVD and Digital download combo pack includes:

BONUS FEATURES: 

An Alchemy of Viewpoints – The cast of Stillwater discusses their characters and the research that went into portraying them authentically.          

An American in Marseille: The Locations of Stillwater—Much of the authenticity that comes across in Stillwater is because of the dedication of filming on location. Hear from the cast and filmmakers on what it was like filming in places such as the streets of Marseille and the Calanques along the coast.    

With Curiosity & Compassion: Director Tom McCarthy – Cast and filmmakers discuss the thought and interest that goes into director Tom McCarthy’s stories and how he uses his natural curiosity about real-life interactions to guide his filmmaking style. 

“The Sound of Silence” Discovers High-Fidelity of Existence

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Directed by Michael Tyburski, The Sound of Silence impinges into a symphony of almost undetectable sounds that make up a moment of silence.

The story follows Peter Lucian, played by Peter Sarsgaard. He’s determined to catalogue all of the undetectable sounds. Through his job as a New York City “house tuner,” the hyper-methodical Peter works meticulously to diagnose the discordant ambient noises —produced by everything from wind patterns to humming electrical appliances — adversely affecting his clients’ moods. It’s an intriguing premise to speculate or theorize, and I have heard of the government creating “silent sounds” to influence people without being aware of the sound. 

When Peter takes on the challenging case of Ellen, played by Rashida Jones, a lonely woman plagued by chronic exhaustion, Peter discovers the mysteries of the soul, maybe even more significant than the mysteries of sound. 

The film is a quietly moving portrait of a harmony-obsessed man learning to embrace the dissonances of human emotion. Sarsgaard has a huge list of impressive credits, such as Jarhead, Shattered Glass, Education and a couple of episodic shows: Dopesick and Interrogation. ​

Jones is the daughter of Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton. She’s starred in Parks & Recreation, The Social Network and several voiceovers: Spies in Disguise, Klaus and Duncanville TV series.  

“Woman of War” Humorous Fight Against Climate Change

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Written and directed by Benedikt Erlingsson, Woman of War follows Halla, played by Halldóra Geirharðsdótti, who seems mild-mannered and friendly to her neighbors. On the contrary, she is a vigilante against the aluminum industry. At night, she crusades to destroy the polluters and causes of climate change.

The newspapers report the vandalism calling her plight as “The Woman of the Mountain.” Halla is scathing mad using a vicious, yet effective, tirade against the Iceland aluminum industry. Her campaign keeps her functioning “normal” but jeopardizes her dream.

A dream of becoming a mother to an orphaned girl from Ukraine, Halla ups the ante, becoming more daring with her antics to stop the aluminum company. She finds herself fighting against time as she questions whether her second life as a notorious eco-terrorist is worth the sacrifice of her impending motherhood.

Filmed with the vivid backdrop of hills in Reykjavik, Iceland, the movie marks another collaboration with Erlingsson and Geirharðsdótti’s long working relationship. I admire Erlingsson’s ability to infuse drama and comedy while Geirharðsdótti’s knack for subtle points of humor drew me into the story. Her vicious tenacity and heart could have gone overboard but pulled back just in time with the introduction of fabled motherhood and discovering what it signifies to be a hero.

Geirharðsdótti carries the story of Halla, a 50-year-old independent woman with a quiet routine, though she leads a double life as a passionate environmental activist. The humor is subtle but effective as the drama builds, and she becomes bolder and bolder from petty vandalism to outright industrial sabotage. She triumphs pausing the negotiations between the Icelandic government and the corporation building a new aluminum smelter in her region.

The story shifts when Halla receives an unexpected letter confirming the adoption of a child. A little girl who waits for her in Ukraine. As Halla prepares to abandon her role as saboteur and savior of the Highlands to fulfill her dream of becoming a mother, she decides to plot one final attack to deliver the aluminum industry a crippling blow.

The final attack is suspenseful because “What if she gets caught?” Her goal to be a mother is no longer achievable. All her efforts are in vain, yet her crusade is for the children like her adopted daughter—securing a livable planet for the generations to come.

Watching the movie until the end is worth it, though there are subtitles. DVDs are available in the States with streaming available on the usual outlets.