Category Archives: drama

Watch the informer, great story.

“The Informer” Trailer and Poster – Revolutionary and Monumental

based on a book, drama, ,
Take a look at this poster, so cool.

Based on a book by Börge Hellström and directed by Andrea Di Stefano, The Informer follows an honorably discharged Special Ops soldier, played by Joel Kinnaman. Pete Koslow’s world turns upside-down when he is jailed after a fight to protect his wife, played by Ana de Armas.

He’s given a chance for early release by becoming an informant for the FBI agents, played by Rosamund Pike and Clive Owen. He uses his covert skills in an operation to take down The General. I believe, played by Sam Spruell. He is the most powerful crime boss in New York.

An FBI sting meant to finally earn Koslow his freedom results in the death of an undercover NYPD cop. Koslow was caught in the crossfire between the mob and the FBI.

The General insists Koslow takes the heat and sends him back to prison to spearhead a drug operation from inside, and the FBI affirms that going back to jail to do The General’s bidding is the only way for Koslow to keep his deal with them alive.

Caught in a world of impossible choices, Koslow must return to prison, where he formulates a plan to escape the clutches of three of New York City’s most influential organizations –the mob, the NYPD and the FBI –to save himself and his family.

Di Stefano is best known as an actor. He also directed Escobar: Paradise Lost  and Last Night of Amore.

Play hard wheelchair basketball for recognition

Wheelchair Basketball Struggles for Survival in “Rebound”

documentary, drama, sports, true stories,

Directed by Shaina Allen, Rebound follows the Miami Heat Wheels and their quest for their first-ever National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Championship.

Allen helms a story that offers an insider’s look at the struggling wheelchair basketball team following a defeat at the national championships. Each player pushes their way physically, mentally and emotionally through each season. They play hard even though they receive no recognition or resources from mainstream sports. Money plays a factor in their game because without it they might not win the national title.

“Never Look Away” Tormented Story of Oppression in Europe

drama, foreign movie

Written and directed by award-winner Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Never Look Away is a foreign film that won two awards at the Venice Film Festival 2018. 

The movie follows young artist Kurt Barnert, played by Tom Schilling. Barnet fled from East Germany to West Germany. Yet, he is still tormented by his childhood experiences as a boy during the Nazi years and the GDR-regime. The German Democratic Republic began in 1949 and ended in 1990. The period when the eastern portion of Germany was part of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War period with the Berlin Wall in existence.

He meets a student named Ellie, played by Paula Beer. He is positive he has met the love of his life. He begins an artist journey creating paintings that mirror not only his fate but also the traumas of an entire generation.

The next three movie clips are long but tell the story or at least part of the story. The oppression these Europeans experienced is appalling. Even though the movie fills with abuse, the colorful scenery and well-defined sets indicate hope for the people.

“On the Basis of Sex” Trailer, Movie Clips & Poster

drama, true stories, , , ,

Directed by Mimi Leder and written by her nephew, Daniel Stiepleman. On the Basis of Sex follows the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, played by Felicity Jones, and her struggles for equal rights. Her life as a wife and mother, whose husband, played by Armie Hammer, entirely supported her.

The first movie clip shows what is going on during the time of Ginsburg’s career and family life. It hits heartstrings because we know her daughter is telling the truth.

Watch all the movie clips and trailer because this is a dynamite movie.

The second clip shows us how Ginsburg started to formulate her process of getting equal rights for all sexes.

The movie follows Ginsburg, and we discover what she overcame to become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

I am excited to see Leder directing a movie. I admire her work and hope to see more films directed by her.

The movie clip shows how strong and straightforward Ruth Bader Ginsburg confronted human rights.

This movie clip says it all.

The movie also stars Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston, and Kathy Bates.

After seeing a movie clip blocked by the studio, so I can’t show it to you, I am convinced Felicity Jones makes this movie strong. The trial or other issues in the film are just part of the story, but this is about Ginsburg. She is a fantastic person and is lucky Jones plays her in the movie.

“Capernaum” Trailer and Posters

drama, foreign movie, independent, ,

Directed by Nadine Labaki, Capernaum is a unique story about a young boy named Zain, played by Zain Al Rafeea. Zain is a Lebanese boy, and he sues his parents for the “crime” of giving him life.

Capernaum means Chaos, which offers some insight into the movie’s theme.

The second poster shows Zain with the toddler, walking away from the camera this time—an interesting choice. The perspective is effective in showing a future for the two boys. All in all, this movie hits my heartstrings, a beautifully filmed story.

The movie focuses on Zain as he journeys from a gutsy, streetwise child to a hardened 12-year-old “adult” fleeing his negligent parents, surviving through his wits on the streets, taking care of Ethiopian refugee Rahil, played by Yordanos Shiferaw and her baby son Yonas.

Zain is jailed for a violent crime, and finally, seeking justice in a courtroom, he sues his parents.

The movie won three Cannes Film Festival 2018 awards.  Labaki took home the Jury Prize, Prix de la citoyenneté, and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury.

“Cold War” Trailers & Movie Clips

drama, foreign movie, romance, ,

Written and directed by Pawel Pawlikowski, Cold War is a passionate love story between a man, played by Tomasz Kot, and a woman, played by Joanna Kulig, who meet in the ruins of post-war Poland. With vastly different backgrounds and temperaments, they are fatefully mismatched and yet condemned to each other. Set against the background of the Cold War in 1950s Poland, Berlin, Yugoslavia and Paris, it’s the tale of a couple separated by politics, character flaws and unfortunate twists of fate — an impossible love story in impossible times.

Pawel Pawlikowski earned the Best Director award for Cold War at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Pawlikowski’s previous film, Ida, won the Oscar and BAFTA foreign-language film awards as well as five European Film Awards. His other feature credits include My Summer of Love and Last Resort.

The movie trailer depicts the mood of the love story and the touching and poignant moments of each character.

Cold War didn’t nab a Golden Globe nomination, which is hard to believe.  The movie clip shows so much in such a simple scene.  The looks and pauses of each actress tell us undercurrents. 

https://youtu.be/clQvRWR2ByY

The second trailer is fantastic and all the awards Cold War won, amazing. I love this film and look forward to seeing it.

Cold War received Oscar nominations including Best Foreign Film, Best Director, and Cinematography . Watch the above trailers and the understanding of the nominations is clear. The movie is intense and unforgiving. “Collaborating with director Paweł Pawlikowski on Cold War has been an incredible experience and honor. I am greatly humbled by this recognition from the Academy. Thank you to Amazon Studios for supporting this film and thank you to the audiences around the world that have seen and embraced Cold War,”  Lukasz Zal, Cinematography.

Three movie clips show how the movie flows as the relationship becomes strained and undeniably tragic. The camera work by Zal is worthy of his Oscar-nomination. The seamless images show a hard life in the spontaneity of the woman who wants to be free, communicated in with very little dialogue.

https://youtu.be/jRhU6a5198g

Kulig sings beautifully in this poignant moment. The shot is set in a time of longing and hope.

https://youtu.be/2F3gk_08rt4

This movie clips shows the strength behind the woman.

https://youtu.be/9SnegvaXYXM

“Nobody’s Fool” Trailer Criminal Sister with Online Relationship

comedy, drama, , , , , ,

Written and directed by Tyler Perry, Nobody’s Fool appears to deliver a message only Perry can pull off without being too preachy.  The movie follows two sisters, played by Tiffany Haddish and Tika Sumpter.  One sister is released from jail and reunites with her sister as they become roommates.

She soon discovers that her sister is in an online relationship with a man who may not be what he seems. As the story unfolds, we find out how the two sisters resolve their differences while finding out more about the guy online.

Whoopi Goldberg also stars as their mother with Courtney Henggeler, Missi Pyle, and Omari Hardwick, also starring.

The movie shows the situation and some laughs regarding the case between the two sisters.

“Vox Lux” Trailers and Poster

drama, music, , ,

Written and directed by Brady Corbet, Vox Lux seems to be a convoluted story about a  pop star, played by Natalie Portman.

The real story begins in 1999 when teenage sisters Celeste, played by Raffey Cassidy, and Eleanor, Stacy Martin, survive a seismic, violent tragedy.

The sisters compose and perform a song about their experience, making something lovely and cathartic out of catastrophe – while also catapulting Celeste to stardom. Now it’s 2017, and the 31-year-old Celeste, which is now played by Portman, is a mother to a teenage daughter of her own and struggling to navigate a career fraught with scandals when another act of terrifying violence demands her attention. Jude Law plays her husband, and I am not quite sure if this movie has some comedy elements based on the movie trailer.

Corbet is an actor who is getting his feet wet as a director.  He acts more in movies than writing and directing.  With big names like Portman and Law, he may shine on this feature film.  I look forward to seeing movie clips and interviews with the director and actors.

The trailers take the movie to a whole new angle or level.  We see more of the relationships between all the characters. I am wondering if this movie is in flashbacks – not linear. The second trailer tells us more about the story – caustic and funny.

The movie trailer shows sharp cuts and quick shots.  I am reminded of  Oscar winner Birdman starring Michael Keaton.  The chaotic life of a pop star instead of the chaotic life an actor.

“Cold Pursuit” Trailers, Movie Clip & Poster

action, drama, remakes, suspense, , ,

Directed by Hans Petter Moland, Cold Pursuit follows a snowplow driver, played by Liam Neeson. He seeks revenge against drug dealers because they killed his son.

The movie is based on the 2014 Norwegian film In Order of Disappearance, which Moland also directed. Stellan Skarsgard of the Mamma Mia franchise played Neeson’s role.

The screenplay is by Frank Baldwin. His screenwriting credits are limited, but he scripted a movie that is in pre-production called The Godmother.

The Cold Pursuit also stars Laura Dern, Emmy Rossum, and Tom Bateman.

The trailer tells the story, and the music is upbeat and adds irony to the situation.

The clip “Things We Do” shows the underlying humor of the story. Neeson is in dark colors and a parka, while the other guy is in shorts and light colors. The serene snow-covered mountains in the background for the master shot are incongruous with the tension of Neeson’s character.

The Blu-ray/DVD and streaming of the movie is not happening. The trailer is fun and shows how the film is a comedy. The serious side is losing a son, but his father gets revenge.

Getting revenge is when the movie gets funny. Watch the trailer and see for yourself. It’s funny.

“Twilight 10th Anniversary” Trailer and Poster

based on a book, classic, drama, fantasy, re-release, romance,

We all know the story, right?

The franchised started off with the first installment directed by Catherine Hardwicke. Twilight is based on a series of novels by Stephenie Meyer. Bella Swan, Kristen Stewart, doesn’t expect much when she moves to the small town of Forks, Washington until she meets the mysterious and handsome Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson. Cullen is a boy hiding a dark secret.  He’s a vampire. As their worlds and hearts collide, Edward must battle the bloodlust raging inside him as well as a small group of undead that would make Bella their prey.

All five of the Blu-ray Combo Packs feature new unique box art designs from renowned illustrator Justin Erikson, who brings to life the epic saga with his distinct illustrations. The entire collection includes hours of special features including deleted scenes, character featurettes, cast interviews, music videos and more. For additional value, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn – Part 1 also include both the Theatrical and the Extended versions of the film. Each of The Twilight Saga Blu-ray Combo Packs will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.99.

I admit I never read the books nor seen the movies but I know of the Twilight craze.  Careers were launch from this franchise, and the fan-based is strong. With that, enjoy the tenth-anniversary trailer.