All posts by Kenna

“Beirut” Poster, Featurette,Trailer, and Clip

action, drama, thriller,

Directed by Brad Anderson and written by Tony Gilroy, Beirut follows a former US diplomat Mason Skiles, played by Jon Hamm, CIA operatives Sandy Crowder and Donald Gaines, played by Rosamund Pike and Dean Norris. Caught in the crossfires of civil war, they must send the former U.S. diplomat to Beirut to negotiate for the life of a friend he left behind.

The first part of the story takes place in 1972, where Skiles, his wife and hopefully to adopted 13-year old Lebanese orphan, played by Yoau Saian Rosenberg are having a cocktail party in there home. Mason’s best friend, CIA Agent Cal Riley, played by Mark Pellegrino, arrives and seconds later terrorists attack the party with tragic results.

Ten years later and now an alcoholic working as a mediator for labor disputes in Boston, Mason gets approached by a stranger in a bar. He hands him a passport, cash, and a plane ticket along with an urgent invitation from mutual “friends” that he travel to Beirut. Grudgingly, Mason arrives in Beirut only to find that the formerly picturesque city on the sea has become a violence-ridden warzone. Mason soon discovers the real reason he’s been called back. CIA and Embassy officials Donald Gaines, Gary Ruzak, played by Shea Whigham, and Ambassador Frank Whalen, played by Larry Pine explain that terrorists have kidnapped a CIA agent. The offer Mason a mission. He negotiates a swap for the release of terrorist leader Abu Rajal, played by Hicham Ouraqa, believed to be imprisoned by Israeli secret police, in exchange for the American. The story unfolds with intrigue and competing agendas.

Under the helm of Anderson is a tight spring action thriller
You might recognize Gilroy’s name as the writer behind Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Before the Star Wars franchise was resurrected, he formulated his fictional script around facts on the ground including the 1984 kidnapping of CIA Station Chief William Buckley. “For me, that was very much the model for what would happen if a high-level CIA officer were kidnapped,” Gilroy says. “Buckley’s body actually turned up just as I was finishing the script and there was a lot of reporting about that case that I drew on. It was all very garish and gothic and horrifying and dramatic.”

Beirut’s central character prefigured the flawed heroes that would later anchor some of Gilroy’s best-known works. “Mason was the beginning of my fascination with characters in need of redemption, which is also true for Jason Bourne and Michael Clayton,” Gilroy says. “With Beirut, I was interested in writing about people trapped inside a political situation, while at the same time Mason is forced to confront his past and his own weakness.”
After Gilroy finished his script in 1992, numerous A-list actors and directors circled the project, known at the time as High Wire Act. It was just too hot to handle because of the authenticity of the story.

Anderson says related to the script as a great story that was well written. “I was very taken by the world of Tony’s story. I frankly didn’t know very much about Beirut, so for me, it was more the character elements that drew me in. I was fascinated with Mason as this tortured soul who’s trying to redeem himself by saving his friend. That’s a very classic dramatic sensibility.”

The featurette, trailer and clip offer an excellent idea of how good this movie is put together.

“Traffik” Trailer, Clips, and Poster

horror, thriller

Written and directed by Deon Taylor, Traffik follows Brea, played by Paula Patton, and John, played by Omar Epps They are taking a romantic weekend in the mountains and run into some major trouble.

The thriller spends most of the time in an isolated and remote estate, but the couple is dumbfounded by the arrival of two friends, Darren, played by Laz Alonso, and Malia, played by Roselyn Sanchez.

Just when the weekend starts to get back on track, a violent biker gang turns up and begins to torment them. The foursome is forced to fight for their lives against the gang who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.

The Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming are available now. This movie is a horror movie in its own right.  In other words, it is intense and scary.

The movie clip shows their endearing relationship.

The movie clip shows how dangerous the story is getting.

We have a nice car chase.

This movie makes it clear that these two couples had no plans but to have fun.

Watching the trailer, the movie seems more of a horror movie than a thriller with the gruesome-looking female at their door. There is a kind of haunting undertone to the overall trailer.

Silly Spotlight on the Special “Show Dogs” Trailers

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

Directed by Raja Gosnell, Show Dogs follows a bunch of talking dogs. The original screenplay comes from Max Botkin.

Gosnell directed other kids’ movies like Scooby-Doo, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and The Smurfs. He even worked with Chris Columbus as editor of the movies Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and Mrs. Doubtfire.

The story takes place where humankind and sentient dogs co-exist. A macho but forlorn Rottweiler police dog named Max, voiced by Ludacris, goes undercover as a groomed show dog in an elevated dog show with his human partner Frank, played by Will Arnett. Together, they try to prevent a disaster during the dog show. The movie also stars Natasha Lyonne, Jordin Sparks, Gabriel Iglesias, Shaquille O’Neal, Omar Chaparro, and Stanley Tucci.

The movie is streaming and available on Blu-ray and DVD. The film is perfect for all kinds of dog lovers.

Here is another trailer that looks like tons of fun for the kids.

If you or your kids like watching talking dogs, then see this movie. Watch the trailer and see if you like watching talking dogs.

“Tomb Raider” Trailers and Clip

adventure, remakes, , , ,

Directed by Roar Uthaug, Tomb Raider follows the story scripted by Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Alastair Siddons. Overall, it adheres to the 2013 video game by Crystal Dynamics.

The production is technically a reboot or remake, depending on how you want to view it. A remake is such a sour word these days. Viewing the trailers and clips reinforces my hope for an even better movie than its predecessor.

The movie follows the heroine Lara Croft, played by Oscar winner Alicia Vikander, on her first expedition. Her goal is to complete her father’s research and uncover ancient secrets capable of clearing her name as a suspect in the murder of Werner Von Croy, her former mentor. The film also stars Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, Nick Frost, and Kristin Scott Thomas. With such a strong cast, I will bet the movie is fantastic.

The clip and trailers are fun to watch. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Mr. Rogers: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

documentary, ,

Directed by Oscar-winner Morgan Neville, the documentary about the life and work of Fred Rogers called Won’t You Be My Neighbor? captures an in-depth look at America’s favorite neighbor.

According to the storyline, the movie follows a man we all thought we knew as we watched him on television. They promote the documentary as an emotional and moving film that takes you beyond zip-up cardigans and the land of make-believe and into the heart of a creative genius who inspired generations of children with compassion and limitless imagination.

Neville won an Oscar for his documentary 20 Feet from Stardom. The movie focuses on talented people who harmonize with the biggest music bands.

Focus Features Chairman Peter Kujawski commented on Neville’s work. “Morgan once again avoids making a traditional bio-doc and instead takes us behind the curtain to see how Fred Rogers navigated the cultural and social issues of the second half of the twentieth century with his own brand of forward-thinking, compassionate wisdom far beyond his time. Mister Rogers makes us all want to be better people, and we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of telling his story today.”

“The Fred Rogers I discovered making this film is at once comfortably familiar and completely surprising. I believe Mister Rogers is the kind of voice we need to hear right now,” said director Morgan Neville. “I am thrilled to work with Focus Features on taking this film out into the world, along with my collaborators at Impact Partners and Independent Lens.”

“This is Morgan’s fourth film with Independent Lens, following our Emmy Award-winning collaboration on Best of Enemies,” said Independent Lens Executive Producer Lois Vossen. “His beautiful new film shows us just how cool Mister Rogers was and how relevant and vital his voice is right now.”

Morgan Neville, Caryn Capotosto, and Nicholas Ma produced Won’t You Be My Neighbor? The movie trailer and clips from the documentary show a movie all generations will want to see because Mr. Rogers will continue to be an inspiration.

The below trailer offers more clips of Mr. Rogers working on his show and about his life.

The movie trailer shows many clips (some black & white) of Fred Rogers working on his television show.

Fred Rogers is a true inspiration for public television.

“Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot” Trailers and Poster

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

Gus Van Sant directed Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot and brought us notable movies like To Die For, Milk and The Sea of Trees.

Based on a true story, the movie follows Joaquin Phoenix, a Van Sant alumni, as he performs John Callahan’s lust for life with a quirky knack for off-color jokes and an obvious drinking problem.

The tragedy begins with an all-night bender and ends in a catastrophic car accident. John wakes up using a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

The movie is about his journey back from rock bottom. His honesty and wicked humor turn out to be his saving grace. He builds friends with an oddball AA group while discovering that love is not beyond his reach. He develops a talent for drawing irreverent and sometimes shocking cartoons that bring him notoriety. 

Amazon Studios produced the movie, which means I am a Prime member and will see it as soon as it leaves the movie theaters. I look forward to peaking at the acting chops of some fine actors in this movie, including Rooney Mara, Jack Black, and Jonah Hill.

Here is a second trailer with a soundtrack that is like The Beatles.

Check out the trailer and notice Jack Black and Jonah Hill take severe turns in this poignant story.

Perspective on Survival “Tully” Trailers and Clips

drama,

Directed by Jason Reitman, who brought you Juno and Young Adult, Tully follows Marlo, a housewife of three, played by Charlize Theron. Her brother gifts her a nighttime nanny named Tully, played by Mackenzie Davis. Marlo is initially uncertain about the extravagance, and she forms a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young Tully.

The trailer is touching and honest, but they have released not very much information about the movie except this trailer.

I laughed when I saw this clip. Not because it was funny but because of the way Theron delivered her lines. A true breastfeeding mother who tries to make the best of it.

Here is a poignant movie clip about the tough time that Theron’s character or all mothers go through.

The second trailer differs a little from the first trailer. We get to see the husband and more of the children.

“No Solicitors” Trailer and Poster

horror

Written and directed by John Callas, No Solicitors is a creepy, campy horror movie with a thread of political satire. It was a Fright Night and Scare-A-Con Film Festival Winner.

The movie follows Lewis Cutterman, played by Eric Roberts. He is a well-respected brain surgeon who is happily married with two beautiful children and runs the family business. They seem like model citizens within the community.

An invitation to dinner greets a typical visit to their home by a real estate agent. The except dinner takes a macabre turn when the solicitor finds herself drugged by the family.

Gradually, she wakes up. The solicitor soon discovers that the kid’s family business is to farm out their internal organs to needy patients.

Callas fills the movie with eye candy and silly, offbeat humor. My husband was a solicitor, and I understand the need to make a living. But solicitors can be annoying. No Solicitors put a new creepiness to door-to-door salespeople.

Faith-based “I Can Only Imagine” Trailer and Clips

drama, family movies, true stories, , , , , , , , ,

Co-directed by Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin, I Can Only Imagine follows a true story based on a song by possibly the most popular faith-based song ever played on Christian radio – I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe. 

The story follows Bart Millard, who the lead singer of the Christian band MercyMe. His relationship with his troubled father played to the core by Dennis Quaid. I saw a dynamic clip of Quaid playing an emotionally torqued father. I encourage you to see the movie, just to Quaid, amazing.

The message in the movie, which is totally Christian, nobody is ever too far from God’s love — for too far from an eternal home in Heaven.

Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming are happening. If you are faith-based movie watcher or not, it’s worth seeing. The Blu-ray/DVD trailer is way better than the movie theater trailer.

The movie also stars Cloris Leachman, Trace Adkins, Michael Finley, Priscilla Shire, and Madeline Carroll.

“Blockers” Green & Red Band Trailers, Poster

comedy, , , , ,

Directed by Kay Cannon, Blockers follow three parents who discover their daughters’ pact to lose their virginity at prom. The parents launch a covert one-night operation to stop the teens from sealing the deal. Leslie Mann (The Other Woman, This Is 40), Ike Barinholtz (Neighbors, Suicide Squad) and John Cena (Trainwreck, Sisters) star in Blockers, the directorial debut of Kay Cannon. She is the writer of the Pitch Perfect series.

The poster is wacky and makes me wonder which are the kids. Parents seem more like kids, while the kids seem more like adults.

The movie is streaming and the Blu-ray and DVD are available. You might want to watch it if you haven’t seen it yet. Like I said, the movie is pretty wacky. You will need to be in the mode for such vulgar wackiness.

Here are a couple of movie clips. One is from the trailer and the other is unique and stands on its own but looks like it just got blocked. Hopefully, it will be unblocked soon. It is a good movie clip that moves the story along well.