Category Archives: drama

“Where’d You Go, Bernadette?” Trailers, Featurette, and Posters

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

I decided to place the second poster above the first poster because it illustrates the movie better.

Co-written and directed by Richard Linklater, Where’d You Go, Bernadette? focuses on 
15-year-old Bee, played by Emma Nelson, after her stressed-out mother, played by Cate Blanchett, disappears.  Bee does everything in her power to track her down, discovering her mother’s troubled past in the process.

The movie is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming sites. It’s a fun movie to watch about family, being a mother, and coming to terms with destiny.

Holly Gent and Vince Palmo co-wrote the screenplay based on the book of the same name by Maria Semple. Linklater’s credits include writing and producing. His last well-known movie is Boyhood. 

Blanchett is a stick of dynamite, an award-winning actress, and Bernadette is another explosive role for her to play.  A talented cast surrounds her, including Judy Greer, Kristen Wiig, Laurence Fishbourne, and Billy Crudup.

The second trailer draws you in and includes how much fun the movie is to watch. Blanchett is coming from so many levels as Bernadette. It is delightful to watch. Mothers who put their careers aside for marriage and family will find companionship.

I am adding Blanchett’s soundbites concerning the movie because any mother and daughter can relate to this movie.

Watching the featurette compels me to read the book. I agree with the director. Bernadette is not crazy; the world is crazy.

“The Mustang” Trailer, Interviews & Movie Clips

drama, true stories, , ,

Co-written and directed by  Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, The Mustang is based on a true story about convicts working with wild mustangs as a rehabilitation process. 

Robert Redford is the executive producer, and the movie is hanging with the Sundance Film Festival shingle.  The movie follows a convict named Roman Coleman, played by 
Matthias Schoenaerts. In solitary confinement for 12 years, he’s a basket case.  He takes on a wild mustang that is as crazy as he is. 

Somehow, he ends up in a rehab program where convicts take care of mustangs.  By watching the trailer, Coleman changes into a better person because of this program.

The program is known for rehabbing inmates with a recidivism rate of zero percent. Any program like that is worth knowing. An article here talks about another program Criminon where inmates regain their self-respect, very similar to what happens in The Mustang.

The Mustang is about rebuilding your life after making some terrible and stupid mistakes. Coleman’s daughter, played by Gideon Adlon, comes to visit him in prison.  He needs to confront the issues that plague their obviously troubled relationship.

Bruce Dern and Connie Britton also star. Dern appears to play the guy who oversees the mustang ranch. 

The movie clips show some fine-acting chops. The first clip shows the before, and the second clip shows the after. The story is heart-wrenching, and it is hard to imagine what this man went through to get to the other side and gain his self-respect back.


Clermont-Tonnerre talks about directing the movie and the story. The true story that influences the movie is fascinating.

Robert Redford talks about working with Clermont-Tonnerre when she was at Sundance. Redford was her mentor, and they became good friends. He talks about the movie and his love for horses.

“Fighting With My Family” Trailer, Clips, Interviews with Paige

drama, true stories, , , , ,

Written and directed by Stephen Merchant, Fighting With My Family is based on a true story. The movie follows WWE Superstar Paige, played by Florence Plugh, whose family is tight-knit about wrestling. 

Paige and her brother Zak, played by Jack Lowden, are ecstatic when they get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try out for WWE.

Paige earns a spot, and her brother didn’t win a place. She begins the competitive training program and leaves her family. She faces the new, cut-throat world alone.

Paige’s journey pushes her to dig deep, fight for her family, and ultimately prove to the world that what makes her different is the very thing that can make her a star.

Merchant is best known for his work as a screenwriter for television. He wrote quite a bit for the popular series The Office. 

The casting includes Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Vince Vaughn, and Dwayne Johnson. 

The two movie clips give a feel for what to expect from the movie. Comedy is one of them because I don’t believe “The Rock” is like he is portrayed in the film. Unless I am wrong, which I am known to be from time to time.

The extended movie clip is no longer available. It showed how a WWE celebrity made it into the arena and became famous. From what I see, so far, I like it. The pace is a bit slow, but it’s funny. The movie is now available on Blu-ray/DVD or streaming. If you are a WWE fan, you need to see this movie or see it again.

Paige shares moments when she first met Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. She talks about WWE and her family and how that relates to the movie.

The second interview with Paige is at The Sundance Film Festival screening. She is more down-to-earth and seems more relaxed and approachable. Her endearing persona shines through to us, though the interview is much shorter.

“The Underdog Story” featurette shows a great movie. We get the jokes, the angst, and the competition.

Here is the final trailer, and it is a bit raunchy but funny.

Here is another clip of the famous phone call to Paige’s family. It shows how crazy her family gets sometimes.

“All is True” Trailer & Poster

classic, comedy, drama, ,

Directed by Kenneth Branagh and written by Ben Elton, All is True is a take on the life of Shakespeare during his golden years. We are honored with a chance to take a good look at the final days of William Shakespeare. The movie presupposes the renowned playwright’s last days as Shakespeare.

There is not much written, yet, about the movie but it appears to be a frolic and comedy of errors.  I am sure innuendos and slight references to Shakespeare’s great work will be presented.

By watching the trailer, it appears the great scribbler dealt with some demons relating to his past transgressions.  His wife is aware of them in her own right and speaks of their relationship as it has evolved. I am curious though about his relationship with his daughter. The movie hits at something, but I am not sure what to make of it yet.  Also, I am not sure this is based on any real facts about Shakespeare’s final days. Hence, the title is sarcasm?

Branagh has directed Shakespeare movies before and even played some characters on stage and in the movies.  Elton is also an actor and starred in Branagh’s Much to Ado About Nothing.

The cast is stellar including Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, and Kathryn Wilder

“Breakthrough” Trailer, Clips, Featurette, Interviews & Poster

drama, faith-based, true stories, , , , , ,

 Breakthrough is based on the inspirational true story of one mother’s unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds. It’s a story that is so hard to believe but it is true.

When Joyce Smith’s, played by Chrissy Metz, adopted son John, played by Marcel Ruiz, falls through an icy Missouri lake, all hope seems lost. But as John lies lifeless, Joyce refuses to give up. Her steadfast belief inspires those around her to continue to pray for John’s recovery, even in the face of every case history and scientific prediction.

According to IMDB, when he was 14, Smith drowned in Lake St. Louis and was dead for nearly an hour. According to reports at the time, CPR was performed 27 minutes to no avail. Then the youth’s mother, Joyce Smith, entered the room, praying loudly. Suddenly, there was a pulse, and Smith came around.

Dawson is known better as an actress on Broadway and television.

The screenplay is by Grant Nieporte, who wrote Seven Pounds, from Joyce Smith’s own book of the same name. A faith-based story that is so enthralling, and a reminder that faith and love can create a mountain of hope, and sometimes even a miracle.

The rest of the cast includes Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter, Sam Trammell, and Dennis Haysbert.

 

The Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming are available. The packing shows the son, John, hugging his mother, who saved his life by praying and bringing the community together in prayer.

The featurette interviews the true boy who was dead for at least 45 minutes and came back to life on the community praying. The movie is truly a faith-based story that all religions draw a celebration of the spirit.


The movie clip is amazing. This is a story about the will to live through religious means. An amazing story is a true miracle.

The following movie clips tell us more about the movie, a true story, and a faith-based production. The movie’s focus is the miracle of John Smith surviving an accident that clearly should have killed him.

The importance of the supreme being, divinity or God is the message. You can’t discount stories like this one as happenstance. Something more powerful happened in the lake, in the hospital, and in the community that saved this boy’s life.

The three interviews posted include the producer and director, Chrissey Mitz, Marcel Ruiz, and John Smith. Smith is the boy who lived after falling through the ice and being on life support when the mother and the community prayed for him to survive.

“Backtrace” Trailer and Poster

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

Directed by Brian A. Miller,  writing about movies with a low-budget and former box office draw actors is an interesting proposition. Sylvester Stallone and Matthew Modine are legends in their own right. Yet, I ponder the worth of producing a movie that, most likely will go straight to On Demand, Blu-ray, and DVD.

Backtrace follows MacDonald, played by Modine, after suffering a brain injury from a bank heist gone wrong.  He develops amnesia and is put into a prison psychiatric ward, any psychiatric ward needs to be closed down,  The system doesn’t work.

Following his seventh year in an evaluation, he is coerced by an inmate, played by Ryan Guzman,  and a doctor,  played by Meadow Williams, to break out of prison. After breaking out they coerce him into taking an injection of serum that forces him to relive the life he’s forgotten.

MacDonald must now elude a local detective, played by Sylvester Stallone, a toughened FBI agent, played by Christopher McDonald, and the drug’s dangerous side effects in order to recover the stolen money all while confronting his past.

Modine is best known for the current Netflix hit – Stranger Things.  Stallone is making a name for himself in the Creed movies.

https://youtu.be/plApWYTb21U

“American Hangman” Trailer and Poster

drama, thriller, ,

Written and directed by Wilson Coneybeare, American Hangman is a thriller starring Donald Sutherland and Vincent Kartheiser.

The story is focused on a relentlessly ticking clock and a rapidly approaching deadline and verdict. A kidnapping, broadcast live on social media, turns into the trial of a judge, played by Sutherland, who presided over a botched criminal case.

This time, however, the audience gets to play judge and jury, deciding if the judge himself gets to live or die.

Coneybeare is best known for writing episodic television in the early 2000s.

It is a low-budget movie, and the screenplay is written with that in mind. The story is centered on three locations – elementary sets. Watch the trailer, and you will see what I mean.

“Stan & Ollie” Trailer, Movie Clips, Featurettes & Poster

comedy, drama, true stories, , ,

Directed by Jon S. Baird,  Stan & Ollie follows Laurel and Hardy, played by John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan.  Some consider them the world’s most famous comedy duo.

The two comedians take a stab at reigniting their film careers as they embark on what becomes their swan song – a grueling theatre tour during post-war Britain.

Baird is best known for directing episodic television.  The screenplay is by Jeff Pope who also wrote for many episodic television shows and the movie  Philomena,  which he won BAFTA Best Adapted Screenplay 2015 with Steve Coogan.

Watch the trailer and if you are familiar with the comedy duo, then you will see some great acting, and it’s uncanny how both actors look like Laurel and Hardy.

The movie also stars Stephanie Hyam and Shirley Henderson.

Watching the following movie clips and featurette, I honestly say these Reilly and Coogan created Laurel and Hardy. Sure, the make-up and hair designers along with the costumes and set designs are instrumental as well. 

Watching Laurel and Hardy’s wives play off each other is fun. I hope the rhythm of the scenes performs better within the movie. 

In the featurette, Reilly mentions how much Laurel and Hardy loved each other, so he and Coogan became friends and truly love each. They remain good friends to this day. 

The featurette about Stan and Ollie’s relationship covers more than what went on between them. It is about the relationship they have without culture at large. They are an iconic comedy team forever embedded in our minds.

“Mary, Queen of Scots” Trailers, Featurettes

based on a book, drama, true stories, ,

Directed by Josie Rourke, Mary, Queen of Scots, is based on the book by John Guy called “Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart”. Mary Stuart’s, played by Saoirse Ronan, attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England, played by Margot Robbie. Stuart finds herself condemned to years of imprisonment before facing execution.

The second trailer shows how fierce each woman gets over winning the throne.  I posted some behind the scene clips on My YouTube Channel. The clips show details in the costumes, amazing.

Watch the trailer and clips. You will see some fine acting.

Mary, Queen of Scots appears to be Rourke’s first movie, but her theatrical experience is quite extensive. She is the Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse, and her productions have transferred to Broadway, the West-End and won Olivier Awards.

The two featurettes are put together showing how the two women interrelated with each other and their times. Rourke shares the difference between the two queens while Ronan talks about Mary Stuart as a dynamic woman. Robbie talks about how the two women were influenced by men who influenced and ruled the culture at the time.

“The Intruder” Trailers, Clips & Posters

drama, suspense, thriller, , ,

Directed by Deon Taylor,  The Intruder follows a young married couple, played by Michael Ealy and Meagan Good. They buy their dream house in the Napa Valley.

They found the perfect home to start a family and live happily together. But, the former homeowner, played by Dennis Quaid, is a bit strange. He continues to infiltrate their lives. It becomes obvious he is out to do some wacky stuff to the couple.

The screenplay is written by David Loughery, who wrote Lakeview Terrace and Tom and Huck. Taylor holds many directing credits, including Traffik and Meet the Blacks.

Dennis Quaid looks pretty creepy in this next trailer. I like how he transforms – becoming more and more deranged.

The second poster is pretty simple and shows the couple in danger and distress over Quaid’s presence.

The movie clip is called “He’s Cutting Our Grass” but should be called “It’s Hard to Let Go.” Quaid is doing an excellent job of being creepy.

This is looking intense, and having an intruder like Quaid is nerve-wracking. It is hard to communicate with people like this because they have an agenda. His agenda is to get them both.