All posts by Kenna

“Jungle Cruise” Poster and Trailer

adventure, children movies, family movies, kid movies, ,

I went on the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland when I was a youngster. It was my favorite ride at the time because it was so mellow. I am sure Jaume Collet-Serra is not creating such a laid-back movie.

Jungle Cruise stars Emily Blunt as Lily Houghton and Dwayne Johnson as Frank. Disney Studios describes the movie based on the theme park ride. A small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles, but with a supernatural element.

Glenn Ficarra, Michael Green, and John Requa scripted the movie. The movie also stars Jesse Plemons and Paul Giamatti.

The last line in the trailer delivered by Blunt, “This is real,” says it all.

“The Turning” Poster and Trailer

horror, , ,

Directed by Floria Sigismondi, The Turning tells the story involving more than 100 years of a profoundly haunting tale passed down to terrify audiences.

The movie begins at a perplexing estate in the Maine countryside, where newly appointed nanny Kate, played by MacKenzie Davis, is charged with the care of two disturbed orphans, Flora and Miles, played by Brooklynn Prince and Finn Wolfhard. Soon enough, she learns that both the children and the house are withholding dark secrets, and things may not be as they seem.

Inspired by Henry James’ landmark novel, the haunted-house thriller is a spellbinding tale written for the screen by Chad and Carey Hayes. Davis’ acting talents include Tully and Terminator: Dark Fate. Wolfhard’s talents began with Stranger Things. Brooklynn Prince is a newcomer while Joely Richardson starred in Red Sparrow and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

The soundtrack is a bit off, but the movie looks scary enough for horror fans.

“Frankie” Posters, Trailer & Clips

drama, , , ,

Directed by Ira Sachs, Frankie follows a family on a vacation where all activities are focused on Frankie, played by Isabelle Huppert.

Three generations try an come to terms with a life-changing experience during one day of a vacation in Sintra, Portugal, a historic town known for its dense gardens and fairy-tale villas and palaces.

The movie also stars Brendan Gleeson, Marisa Tome, Sennia Nanua,  Greg Kinnear, and Ariyon Bakare.

The next clip is so sweet and innocent, but there are undercurrents. Kinnear is so cute. I love his smile.

“The Gentlemen” Posters and Trailers Wild, Crazy Story

action, comedy, , , , , ,

Written and directed by Guy Ritchie, The Gentlemen is a star-studded sophisticated action-comedy. The movie follows American Mickey Pearson, who is an expat, played by Matthew McConaughey, who built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. 

The movie is streaming Amazon and is available in Blu-ray and DVD formats.

When word gets out that he’s looking to cash out of the business forever, it triggers plots, schemes, bribery, and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.
The all-star ensemble cast includes Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant.

The movie trailer shows random acts of killing and silliness. I hope the audience will be able to follow the story.

The second trailer shows how crazy and ridiculous the movie plays out. If you watch the trailer, you will not know anything about the story. The dragon analogy doesn’t make sense.

The featurette shows a cast and crew having a bloody good time.

“The Rhythm Section” Lavishly Suspenseful Trailer and Poster

based on a book, thriller, ,
Blake Lively, with short hair, is a novelty.

Directed by Reed Morano, The Rhythm Section follows Stephanie Patrick, played by Blake Lively. She is an ordinary woman on a path of self-destruction after the tragedy of her family’s death in a plane crash. 

When Stephanie discovers that the crash was not an accident, she enters a dark, complex world to seek revenge on those responsible and find her redemption. Based on the novel by Mark Burnell, who created a series of books based on the character Stephanie Patrick. Burnell also wrote the screenplay for the movie. 

Morano is an Emmy-winning director for The Handmaid’s Tale and a talented cinematographer. The Rhythm Section also stars Jude Law and Sterling K. Brown.

The movie trailer looks legit, and it’s exciting to see Lively get a movie of this caliber. Lively also starred in A Simple Favor with Anne Kendrick. I highly recommend A Simple Favor. Lively’s part is smaller, but it’s a good movie.

The movie clip is an intense car chase that keeps you on the edge of your proverbial seat.

The next trailer, designed for social media platforms, I don’t see much of a difference.

The next two featurettes lack enough information to tell you about the story, which is crucial to making this movie entertaining, and not just another female action movie.

The two movie clips show how Lively’s character is withdrawn but emerging and calculating.

“Dark Waters” Poster, Clips and Trailer

drama, true stories, , , , , , ,

Directed by Todd Haynes, Dark Waters, motivated by a harrowing true story of a determined attorney, played by Mark Ruffalo, uncovers a dark secret that connects a growing number of unexplained deaths due to one of the world’s largest corporations – Dupont. 

In unearthing the corruption, he risks everything—his future, family, and life—to expose the truth. Haynes’s directing credits include Wonderstruck, the Mildred Pierce Mini-series, and Far From Heaven. 

Based on an article by Nathaniel Rich, Matthew Michael Carnahan wrote the first screenplay, which was finalized by Mario Correa.

The rest of the cast is impressive, including Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Camp, Victor Garber, Mare Winningham, William Jackson Harper, and Bill Pullman.

One of the two following clips is decent. The other one doesn’t say much of the story, but we see some excellent acting by Tim Robbins.

This clip crescendos into a massive scene at a public function. Victor Garber holds his own with Mark Ruffalo.

“En Brazos De Un Asesino” Poster and Trailer

based on a book, foreign movie, thriller
The movie is in Spanish with English subtitles.

Directed by Matias Moltrasio, En Brazos De Un Asesino follows Victor, played by William Levy. He is smooth-talking, seductive, eye candy for the ladies and a cold-blooded assassin who kills for money. 

When he arrives at the home of an unmerciful drug lord to collect payment for his recent assassination, he encounters the gorgeous Sarai, played by Alicia Sanz. She spent the last nine years forced to be with the drug lord.

Victor leaves the drug lord’s compound, and Sarai seizes her chance at freedom by hiding out in Victor’s car. But things don’t go as planned, and instead of being transported back to her home, she finds herself free from one dangerous man only to be caught in the clutches of another.

While on the run from the vengeful drug lord and his brutal henchmen, Victor’s conscience catches up with him as he risks all he stands for to protect his captive.

In the end, the power Sarai unknowingly holds over Victor, and their undeniable attraction, places her right in the arms of a killer.

The thriller, based on the book “Killing Sarai,” by J.A. Redmerski, also stars Adrian Lastra, Roberto Sosa, Ettore D’Alessandro and Jean Jean.

“Countdown” Trailer and Posters

horror

Written and directed by Justin Dec, Countdown is a horror movie that follows a nurse, played by Anne Winters, who downloads an app that claims to predict the moment a person will die.

It tells her she only has three days to live. With the clock ticking and a figure haunting her, she must find a way to save her life before time runs out.

Elizabeth Lail and Charlie McDermott also star in this funny but horrific movie.

The movie trailer is intense, and horror fans get their blood pumped.

The next two clips are scary and creepy. But, I am not sure if the dude is for real. In the last clip, he doesn’t seem all that concerned about his countdown.

“The Warrior Queen of Jhansi” Trailer, Clip & Poster

action, adventure, biography, , , , ,

Co-written by Swati Bhise, Devika Bhise, and Olivia Emden, with Swati Bhise also directing, The Warrior Queen of Jhansi tells the true story of the legendary Rani of Jhansi, played by Devika Bhise, a feminist icon in India and a fearless freedom fighter. Rani means Queen. 

In 1857 India, this 24-year-old General led her people into battle against the British Empire, earning the reputation of Joan of Arc of the East.  This real-life Wonder Woman’s insurrection shifted the balance of power in the region and set the demise of the notorious British East India Company and the beginning of the British Raj under Queen Victoria, played by Jodhi May.

The rest of the impressive cast includes Rupert Everett, Nathaniel Parker, Ben Lamb, and Derek Jacobi.

It’s hard to imagine this culture allowed women to fight in battles. How did it change to what it is today?

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” Poster and Trailer

drama, foreign movie, romance

Written and directed by Céline Sciamma, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is a French movie with English subtitles that won Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival 2019. 

he movie takes place during the end of the eighteenth century on an isolated island in Brittany. A female painter named Marianne, played by Noémie Merlant, is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman named Heloise, played by Adèle Haenel.

Marianne is secretly painting Heloise’s portrait, and they gradually fall in love with each other.