Category Archives: drama

“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. 

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.

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

This movie clips shows the strength behind the woman.

“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.

 

“Escape Room” Trailer, Featurette, & Poster

drama, suspense, thriller, , , , ,

Screenplay by Bragi Schut and Maria Melnik with the story by Schut and directed by Adam Robitel, Escape Room is a psychological thriller that follows six strangers. Each one finds themselves in circumstances beyond their control. They must use their wits to find the clues or die.

The ensemble cast includes Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Deborah Ann Woll, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine, Nik Dodani,  and Yorick van Wageningen.

Robitel directed a horror movie called The Taking of Deborah Logan, which won him an iHorror Award for Best Direct Release Film.  Schut scripted Season of the Witch and episodic TV shows while Melnik scripted episodic TV shows from Black Sails to American Gods.

The interview with Jay Ellis and Deborah Ann Woll explains the story behind the movie. It appears to have a tinge of horror.  Also, there are brick and mortar places called Escape Rooms, and they are fun as a group outing.  

The featurette explains the movie and compares the story to a real escape room.

From Obsession to Ultimate Willpower “Tiger” Trailer

action, drama, sports, true stories, , ,

Directed by Alister Grierson, Tiger comes to us from the true story of Pardeep Nagra, played by Prem Singh, a practicing Sikh man banned from the sport of boxing due to his religious beliefs.

Tiger follows Pardeep’s journey as he, with the support of his coach and mentor, played by Mickey Rourke, does what any strong American would do, fight back.

The backlash is a result of racial profiling, stereotypical threats, and the daily pressure to change, even from his loved ones who got caught amid the crossfire.

Consequently, his two biggest battles will remain forever connected to his legacy—one in the courtroom and the other in the ring.

Some Fight For The Glory, Others Fight For Their Rights.

“Destroyer” Trailer, Movie Clip, and Poster

drama, suspense, thriller, , ,

Directed by Karyn Kusama, Destroyer follows Erin Bell, played by Nicole Kidman, a veteran LAPD detective spinning out of control emotionally and physically while on a dangerous journey to find the murderer and gang leader, Silas, played by Toby Kebbell. Bell’s journey’s purpose is finally to make peace with her tortured past.

“Destroyer is, at its core, a film about confronting your mistakes and making the brave decision to be accountable for your actions. Within the relatable frameworks of crime thriller and cop movie, it’s also an insistent character study, hinging on the wounded but resilient psychic landscape of an LAPD detective named Erin Bell. The criminal underworld she investigates, alongside a storytelling structure that allows for a narrative surprise,” says Kusama.

Kusama’s directing credits include episodic TV series and feature movies The Invitation and Girlfight. The screenplay is written by  Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, who worked together on The Invitation and other projects. 

A pivotal aspect of the movie is Bell’s relationship with her sixteen-year-old daughter, Shelby, played by Jade Pettyjohn, with whom she is estranged. Her clumsy attempts to reach out to Shelby consistently backfire, exacerbating Bell’s overwhelming sense of hopelessness and loss.

The movie clip “I’m Bad” pretty much says it all about Kidman’s character. She believes she is terrible, but what do the other characters in the movie believe she is bad? I want to find out. At this point in the story,  she might realize she is terrible and then become good or better than she was – bad. As I mentioned before, and I might again, I hope the movie storyline includes some high points because it is obvious there are quite a few low points.

The movie seems like a downer, but hopefully, the story has some high points, and the ending is upbeat. So far, the movie trailer doesn’t show any upbeat points.

“The Aftermath” Trailer, Poster, Movie Clip, Featurettes & Cast Interviews

based on a book, drama, historical, romance, ,

Directed by James Kent and based on the book of the same title by Rhidian Brook, The Aftermath follows the lives of three people in a love triangle: Rachel Morgan, played by Kiera Knightly; Lewis Morgan, played by Jason Clarke,  and Stephan Lubert, played by Alexander Skarsgard.

Kent’s credits include several episodic TV shows such as The White Queen and Inside Men. He’s directed a documentary and feature movies as well. Currently, he is in production with Jessica Chastain for the film Seducing Ingrid Bergman.

If you haven’t seen it yet or want to see it again, the movie is available on Blu-ray/DVD or streaming. 

The story takes place during post-World War II. A British colonel and his wife were assigned to live in Hamburg during the post-war reconstruction, but tensions with the Germans who had previously owned the house took a toll on the British couple.

Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse pen the screenplay for The Aftermath. This isn’t the first time these two wrote together. Other movies include Frankie & Alice and Race.

Watching the trailer, I kept thinking this story had a twist. Otherwise, the mundane attitude of “poor me” turns the movie into a wet toast. Yet, I am intrigued and want to read the novel before I see the film because there appear to be many deep-seated thoughts.

Very few movie clips are available to see if the movie does follow the book or what the film is about. I posted some studio interviews that offer insight into the story based on the movie’s three actors.

The first interview is with Keira Knightley, and she reveals that the movie does not follow the book. I think the married couple in the story are without children. Their son is killed during a German air raid in England, and there is no second son like in the book.

Jason Clarke has played so many different roles in movies. He is so much fun to watch. In Serenity, he played an evil and disgusting man. In The Aftermath, he plays Lewis Morgan, who is trying to rebuild Germany and his life.

Alexander Skarsgard explains how the book and the movie are similar and relates the book to his role in the film. Skarsgard stars in another movie posted on Movie Roar called The Hummingbird Project, which is quirky with dark humor and quite different from The Aftermath.

The featurette tells the movie’s story, so there are spoilers, and beware—you watch at your own risk. The film doesn’t follow the book, which is a bit disappointing. I wonder if it will end the same way. I liked the book’s ending.

After the featurette is a movie clip, hopefully, the studios will not block it. They sometimes do block them. I don’t know why. Showing the clips promotes the movie and helps the box office draw. As you can see, eventually, the studio blocked the clip.

The Characters and Story featurette covers everything about the movie. It’s a nice piece because you become familiar with where the story physically takes place and when it takes place.

The next feature encompasses Clarke’s character. He plays a kind and troubled man, and it’s good to see him in this type of role.

It is Knightley’s turn to explain her role. She’s done an excellent job in this movie, making quite an impression.

“Miss Bala” Trailer, Movie Clips, & Interviews

action, drama, , ,

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke and based on a Spanish-language film, Miss Bala follows Gloria, played by Gina Rodriguez, who finds a power she never was aware of before. Her power draws her into a dangerous world of cross-border crime, which is a nebulous term. With that, it makes for an excellent drama as Gloria tries to survive through her cunning, strength, and inventiveness.

Hardwicke cut her directing teeth with the sleeper hit Lords of Dogtown, a movie about skateboarding. Twilight and Red Riding Hood were directed by her as well. Screenwriter Dunnet-Alocer scripted and directed short films before Miss Bala.

Rodriguez starred in Deepwater Horizon and Annihilation, two completely different movies. It good to see her taking on a variety of roles, which includes episodic television including Jane the Virgin and Big Mouth.

The movie also stars Ismael Cruz Córdova and Anthony Mackie. Of late, Mackie walked several red carpet premieres for such movies like The Hate U Give.

These movie clips are intense. I hope the story keeps the viewers’ interest because intensity is not everything in a movie. We need to care about the characters who are in danger and understand why they need to be in a dangerous situation. Not just place the protagonist in harm’s way because the screenwriter and director believe that is a good story. The movie clips are not showing how the story is important to us. It is showing over-the-top acting that doesn’t bring any undercurrents that are visceral. I am thinking Silence of the Lambs or even The Lion King as adequate examples of the protagonist having the purpose to be in harm’s way. One is a mental game and the other is physical death.

The red carpet interview at the movie premiere in LA with director Catherine Hardwicke shows how much energy she gives as she describes each character and actor.

The interviews on the red carpet of Miss Bala premiere are upbeat and fun to watch. Gina Rodriguez is quite a talent and is in quite a bit of movies of late.