Category Archives: drama

“Honey Boy” Posters and Trailers

biography, drama, , ,

Biography projects can be touchy because the screenwriter, Shia LaBeouf, takes a subjective look at his own traumatic experiences.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Alma Har’el, Honey Boy journeys the life of the young actor’s mean-spirited childhood, including his fledging adult years.

He struggles to reconcile with his father, played by LaBeouf, and deal with his mental health, fictionalizing his ascent to stardom and subsequent crash-landing into rehab and recovery.

Noah Jupe plays the young actor, with Lucas Hedges playing the older version of Otis Lort.

Har’el navigates the different stages in LaBeouf’s frenetic career. LaBeouf takes on the therapeutic challenge of playing a version of his father, an ex-rodeo clown and a felon.

Enter dancer-singer FKA Twigs makes her feature-film debut, playing neighbor and kindred spirit to the younger Otis while living in their garden-court motel home.

Har’el’s feature narrative debut is a one-of-a-kind collaboration between filmmaker and subject, exploring art as medicine and imagination as hope through the life and times of a talented, traumatized performer who dares to go in search of himself.

The trailer shows hardline misery, though Jupe is hardcore and shows committed acting skills.

Learning about LaBeouf’s traumatized childhood and knowing he worked for Disney studios in Even Stevens, what role did the studios play in helping him overcome, clearly, a bad upbringing?

In the red band trailer, I don’t see any difference from the “regular” movie trailer.

“1917” Trailers, Featurettes, Clips & Poster

drama, war, , , , , ,

Co-written and directed by Sam Mendes 1917, it is an epic drama during the most intense period of World War I. Krysty Wilson-Cairns co-wrote the screenplay with Mendes. They focused on the story based on his singular vision of telling the story of two young British soldiers, Schofield, played by George MacKay, and Blake, played by Dean-Charles Chapman, who are given a seemingly impossible mission. That is what you see happening in the first trailer with Colin Firth as a British commander giving their task.

In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message to stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers—Blake’s brother among them.

When I first saw the title, I thought the movie was about the 1917 revolution in Russia. Any world history fan will tell you that was a significant point. So, it bears in mind that a lot happened in Europe that year.

The movie also stars Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, and Benedict Cumberbatch. Mendes won an Oscar for American Beauty and directed two James Bond movies, Skyfall and Spectre.

Mendes takes filmmaking to a new level with continuous shots and storytelling through the countryside without using the exact locations. The featurette shows incredible production value.

After watching the featurette, I view the second trailer differently. The cinematography stands out as one character in the movie.

Three more movie clips are below, and watch the camera keeps rolling; They shot everything in one long take.

The extended featurette sets us up for a rocket ride of a movie.

Two more clips show how the scenes in the movie are continuously one shot.

The following trailer proves we will not get bored watching this movie.

“Harriet” Posters, Clips, Featurettes & Trailer

biography, drama, , , , ,
The movie tells the true story of Harriet Tubman.

Co-written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, Harriet follows a story based on the inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter. Harriet Tubman, played by Cynthia Erivo, is one of America’s genuine heroes.

Erivo is a talented singer and starred in the movie Widows, directed by Steve McQueen.

Harriet escaped from slavery and fought slavery by helping to free other slaves. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of enslaved people and changed the course of history.

Lemmons’ directing credits include Eve’s Bayou, and she is also an actress. The story is by Gregory Allen Howard, and he contributed to the screenplay.

The following two clips show a well-acted movie with exciting talent.

The following two featurettes describe Harriet as having superpowers like a superhero. Fascinating, and I wonder if that is true or just folklore.

The following two movie clips are scenes in the trailers and featurettes. The settings seem extended and offer more than what was in the trailers and featurettes.

“Jojo Rabbit” Trailers, Clips and Posters

drama, war, , , , ,

Co-written and directed by Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit brings humor and pathos to his World War II satire. The story follows a lonely German boy named Jojo, played by Roman Griffin Davis.

Jojo’s view of the world is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother, played by Scarlett Johansson, is hiding a young Jewish girl, played by Thomasin McKenzie, in their attic.

Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler, played by the director – Waititi, Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.

Waititi is best known for directing Thor: Ragnarok and Hunt for Wilderpeople. Christine Leunens co-wrote the screenplay with Waititi.

Sam Rockwell and Rebel Wilson also star in the movie.

The second trailer is funny. I know it’s not a good idea to joke about the Nazis and the Holocaust, but it is entertaining and hilarious.

The movie clip shows how much Davis and Johansson look alike, mother and son.

The following clip shows the ultra-silliness of the movie. Davis is so charming as the boy with an active imagination.

The following clip might be blocked, but it is funny, and I hope you can see it.

I like the following clip because it is so funny with great timing.

The featurette is thorough and discusses all aspects of the movie.

The movie looks like a lot of fun to watch. I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback about the comedy.

The following two featurettes are about Editing and Production Design. They are for those who love to learn more about the film and its production value. Watching the featurette on editing, you can see how much Griffin looks like Johansson.

In the next featurette, I love how they explain the use of colors and the camera. It is such a gorgeous-looking film.

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” Trailer, Clips, Featurettes & Posters

based on a book, biography, drama, true stories, , ,
Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers is perfect casting.

Only Tom Hanks can play Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Watch the trailer, and tears will form. The kindness and generosity of Hanks are distinguished to portray one of the most well-known icons in children’s television.

Directed by Marielle Heller, who brings emotional rhythm to movies like Can You Ever Forgive Me? – nurturing Oscar-nominated performances from Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant.

The studio calls this movie “a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism,” based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod.

After a jaded magazine writer, Junod, played by Matthew Rhys, is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America’s most beloved neighbor.

Inspired by the article “Can You Say. . . Hero?” by Tom Junod, Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster turned the story into a screenplay. Both writers worked together on the episodic show Transparency and the movie Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.

The rest of the exceptional cast includes Susan Kelechi Watson and Chris Cooper.

The featurette is a deserving message about a man who wanted people to be happy with themselves. It was okay to have feelings.

After viewing this featurette, all I want to do is see the movie.

I hope this movie changes people’s hearts, and they see the good in everyone.

Watching Tom Hanks in the next three clips is a treasure. He is such a fine actor and makes the movie believable.

“Top Gun: Maverick” Posters, Images, Featurettes & Trailers

adventure, drama, sequels, , , , ,
Tom Cruise is Maverick.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Tom Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick storyline is hush-hush, right now. But, watch the trailer, and you’ll get a gest of what is happening. All I can say is it looks like the same formula as the first Top Gun. We are fortunate to have Cruise introduce the first trailer to us at San Diego ComicCon.

Tom Cruise plays Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick from Paramount Pictures, Skydance, and Jerry Bruckheimer Films.
Tom Cruise plays Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick from Paramount Pictures, Skydance, and Jerry Bruckheimer Films.

The movie trailer says it all. The movie formula fits the original movie storyline.

The featurette takes you to another realm. Fantastic footage captured for IMAX theaters.

The Superbowl ad narration tells us there is a conflict going on between Maverick and Goose’s son. Ad narration tells us there is a conflict going on between Maverick and Goose’s son. The cuts and shots of the top guns are incredible.

“Hustlers” Trailers, Clips, and Posters

drama, , ,
The story was published in the New York Magazine

Written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, Hustlers comes from an article published in the New York Magazine entitled “The Hustlers at Scores” written by Jessica Pressler.

Scafaria is also an actress and writes more than she directs. She won a screenplay award for scripting The Meddler.

The poster shows the actresses and their characters.

If you read Scafaria’s article, you get a good idea of the story. The magazine published the article in 2015. It tells the story of a handful of strippers who went after some wealthy men as a revenge tactic but truthfully just wanted their money.

The movie clip shows pole dancing moves anyone girl can do.

The second trailer is short and doesn’t say more about the movie compared to the first trailer.

Three more clips show us how the story plays out. Some heartfelt moments to completely screw these shysters and take all their money.

Promising and Exciting “The King’s Man” Trailers, Clips

action, drama, , , , , , , , ,

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, The King’s Man unfolds a story with a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds. They gather, plotting a war to wipe out millions. Then, one man must race against time to stop them.

The movie is about the discovery of the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency.  

A stellar cast, but they are not all shown in the poster.

Vaughn contributed to the screenplay with five other writers. Vaughn directed the first two Kingsman movies.

The movie has an impressive cast, including Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, and Harris Dickinson.

The second trailer is not as riveting as I’d like it. The story happens during the first World War, and the music sounds contemporary and harsh. Matthew Goode also stars in the movie, but there are no images of him in the trailer or poster. But, it explains why he had such a small part in Downton Abbey.

The next trailer shows a funny, wild, and crazy movie that is pure entertainment.

Nice piece to remind us about the movie.

“Bennett’s War” Poster, Clips & Trailer

drama, sports, , ,

Written and directed by Alex Ranarivelo, Bennett’s War follows Marshall Bennett, played by Michael Roark. He is a young soldier with the Army Motorcycle Unit who survives an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in combat overseas and medically discharged with a broken back and leg. He dispatched back to the U.S.

He arrives and finds out his dad, Cal Bennett, played by Trace Adkins, is behind on the family farm’s mortgage. The family may lose the farm.

Despite his physical condition, Marshall pledges to help his family as a motocross racer. Allison Paige plays Sophie Bennett, Marshall’s concerned wife, and Ali Afshar plays Cyrus, Marshall’s mentor. Trace Adkins is predominately known for being CMA Award-winning music singer, and he starred in Deepwater Horizon with Mark Walhberg.

The “Race” clip is awesome to watch because you get to see some honest dirt bike racing.

The next clip, “I Think I’ll Race” is worth watching because the scene between these two actors is tight and paced well.

“After the Wedding” Trailer, Clip & Poster

drama, ,

Co-written and directed by Bart Freundlich, After the Wedding follows the manager, Isabel, played by Michelle Wiliams, of an orphanage in Kolkata, who travels to New York to meet a benefactor, Theresa, played by Julianne Moore. Freundlich co-wrote the screenplay with Susanne Bier and Anders Thomas Jensen.

Freundlich and Moore are a real-life married couple with two children. They are working together on this film about a marriage that is about to implode.

Watching the trailer, Theresa’s husband has a past with Isabel, and it didn’t end on friendly terms. There is a young boy from the orphanage who is somehow involved in this triangle.

The next clip is intense, and the acting is superb with ingenious casting.

I am not quite sure where this movie is going. Watching the movie clips, we can see that Theresa and her husband appear to be happy together with their daughter getting married.

Something happened in the past between her husband and Isabel.

Some guys can be real jerks.