Category Archives: drama

“Shine” Trailer, Poster, and Chat with Director Anthony Nardolillo

drama, music, romance, , , , , , ,

Directed by Anthony Nardolillo, Shine is a Puerto Rican dance-themed movie. The dance scenes with an upbeat tempo are the best reason to see the movie. Watch the movie trailer, and you will see what I mean. Wouldn’t you like to dance like that? Or, at least, watch them dance with such freedom.

The story follows two Puerto Rican brothers, Ralphi Matas, played by Jorge Burgos, and Junior, played by Gilbert Saldivar. They are from New York’s Spanish Harlem, where we can find the street’s best Salsa dancers. The brothers are separated after a tragedy only to reunite years later on opposing sides of gentrification, which is restoring and rebuilding a deteriorated development.

Seven years of absence from New York City places Ralphi in a different frame of mind. He is back to develop commercial real estate in his old neighborhood. When he returns, he encounters his estranged brother, Junior, who is following his father’s footsteps. Ramon Matas, played by David Zayas, is now an elite salsa dancer and an unwavering activist opposing gentrification in the neighborhood.

The two brothers are at odds and are not communicating or rationally talking to each other because there is a lot of angst because of the tragedy. So, having to face his past to succeed in the present, Ralphi must confront his boss Linda, played by Alysia Reiner, who is aggressively pursuing the lucrative development deal that brought him back to the city he was born, and this is driving the wedge even further between him and his brother.

But, there is more to the story because on the other side, Josie, played by Kimberli Flores, the hot, gorgeous new owner of their father’s dance studio, reveals she is behind on the mortgage payments. Junior rallies the local dance community to raise funds against all odds to save the dance studio despite his brother’s gentrification efforts.

While the brothers have chosen opposite paths thus far, they are brought back together when Tio Julio, played by Nelson Gonzales, reminds them of the power of family and the importance of their community.

The story is about families being divided, but the dancing is unbelievable.

Nardolillo is best known for his 2007 short film Mano, starring Giancarlo Esposito and Laz Alonso. Nardolillo has also directed several music videos. He is credited as the writer and director of the YouTube sensation music video Chachi Gonzales.

I spoke with Nardolillo late last week, and he talked about certain aspects of the gentrification theme of the movie that was cut out. He also said of the love between the two brothers in the film, “There’s a  unique bond where they could punch out each other. But if someone else tried to punch out the other brother, they’d step up and protect each other,” explains Nardolillo, “The relationship can go from hot to cold – extreme anger to extreme love, which inspired me.”

Nardolillo talked about directing music videos, and I asked if he required any Salsa music videos, “There’s one video, in particular, where I shot Salsa, but everything else is a fusion of hip-hop and modern dance.” clarifies Nardolillo, “I appreciate all forms of dance. I love shooting dance because there’s a need for choreography in the camera work. I look at everything through a rhythmic lens. Even in dramatic scenes, there’s something rhythmic about everything.”

“The Little Stranger” Trailer, Movie Clips, and Posters

based on a book, drama, horror, , ,

I become giddy when I find a horror movie I know I will enjoy and appreciate as a production. Such is the case with The Little Stranger. Based on a bestseller directed by Lenny Abrahamson,  the story follows Dr. Faraday, played by Domhnall Gleeson, the son of a housemaid. He built a life of quiet respectability as a country doctor.

During the long, hot summer of 1948, the doctor is asked to visit a patient at Hundreds Hall, where his mother once worked. The Hall has been home to the Ayres family for more than two centuries. The doctor is surprised to find the home is no longer grandiose but in decline, and its inhabitants, mother, son, and daughter, are haunted by something more ominous than a dying way of life.

He takes on his new patient with no idea how closely and disturbingly the family’s story is about to become entwined with his own.

The featurette clearly explains the story and how the director works with the story.

The movie clip shows how the young doctor wants to climb social status. Perhaps his desire prevents him from seeing the darkness within the family.

Watching this clip is the reason why I want to see this movie. It is suspenseful and horrific in a daunting way.

The movie clips show how Abrahamson keeps the movie centered on the doctor but with undertones of suspense. This is going to be a great horror movie.

“Green Book” Trailer, Movie Clip, Featurettes

drama, true stories, , , , , ,

Directed by Peter Farrelly, Green Book is a road trip movie that follows Tony Lip, played by Viggo Mortensen. Tony is a bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx. He is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley, played by Mahershala Ali. Dr. Shirley is a world-class Black pianist on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South.

Together, they must rely on The Green Book to guide them to the few establishments that were safe for African Americans at the time. Based on a true story, they confronted racism, danger, unexpected humanity, and humor. They are eventually forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey of a lifetime.

I first saw Mortensen in The History of Violence and thought he nailed it as the former hired killer, Tom Stall, now a happily married father who is forced to return to violence to save the life he nurtured and created in a small town. Now, he seems to capture a Bronx bouncer magically and effectively.

Ali recently won an Oscar for his role in Moonlight. The role of Dr. Shirley is much different from that of Juan in Moonlight.

Farrelly made a name for himself by directing two hilarious comedies, Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber.

The featurette is over five minutes long. It goes into great detail about the story. This is a powerful movie and a lesson in dignity.

The featurette tells us about the Green Book itself.

The featurette tells us the story and how it will affect us when we watch it in the movie theaters. The story has impeccable rhythm.

The movie clip is adorable.

The movie trailer seems fitting for a road trip movie.

Watching these two actors work together is authentic entertainment and a lesson in acting. I hope you get a chance to see the movie.

“The Happy Prince” Trailer, Movie Clips, Featurette, and Poster

drama, legend, true stories, ,

Directed by and starring Rupert Everett, The Happy Prince sheds light on the tragic life of Oscar Wilde. Everett is an excellent actor. I sense this direction is just as good. I hope there are enough highs in the movie to appreciate the lows.

Everett also surrounds himself with a delightful and gifted cast, including Colin Firth, Emily Watson, Tom Wilkerson, and Colin Morgan.

The featurette focuses on the actor and directing himself surrounded by very talented people.

The two movie clips show the obvious ostracization Wilde underwent after his arrest for an indecent relationship with another man.

The movie trailer shows the lives Wilde influenced while he was alive. Yet, his signature and wit still rest in our culture.

“What They Had” Trailer, Poster, and Movie Clips

drama, family movies, , , , , ,

Written and directed by Elizabeth Chomko, she is tackling the filmmaking process for the first time with What They Had. The movie focuses on a family in a critical situation.

Bridget, played by Hilary Swank, returns home to Chicago because her brother, played by Michael Shannon, insists and demands she deal with her ailing mother, played by Blythe Danner. Her brother also tells her she needs to return because her father, played by Robert Forster, is reluctant to let go of their life together.

Other cast members include Taissa Farmiga and Josh Lucas.

These two movie clips show Bridget’s relationship with her father and her frustration with deciding if she made the right choices in her life.

Michael Shannon’s acting talents are unique in this movie clip. He is so real and in the moment. No wonder he holds Oscar nominations.

“Indivisible” Trailer, Poster, and Featurette

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

Co-written and directed by David G. Evans, Indivisible is a faith-based movie about a true story of Army Chaplain Darren Turner, played by Justin Bruening, and his wife Heather, played by Sarah Drew. The couple is strong with a faith-filled marriage. They follow their calling, which is serving God, family, and country.

Fresh from seminary and basic training, Chaplain Turner and his family arrive at Fort Stewart. Yet before the Turners can even unpack their new house, Darren is deployed to Iraq. Heather is left taking care of their three young children alone … as well as serving the families of the other deployed soldiers.

Despite a desire to stay connected with their loved ones, the harsh realities of war take a daily toll over the course of the Battalion’s extended deployment. Meanwhile back home, babies are born, kids keep growing and nerves are frayed with every late-night knock on the door.

With deeply etched battle scars, the soldiers’ long-awaited homecoming is much different than any of their families anticipate. Carrying burdens the other can’t comprehend, the Turners must decide if they’re willing to face one more battle. That battle is fought to save their marriage.

All in all, faith-based movies have their purpose and need for people to be reminded of the higher power of God or whatever one wants to call it. We must not forget our religious beliefs and our beliefs in ourselves and our family.

Cheryl McKay and Peter White also contributed to the screenplay. Evans other directing credits include The Grace Card.

“Peterloo” Poster & Trailer

drama, true stories, , , , , , ,

Directed by Mike Leigh, Peterloo is a true story about victimizing the British subjects who were peacefully demonstrating for democratic reform. Though they were demanding democracy for the common people, it was a peaceful gathering of 80,000 people. The government-supported cavalry charged into the crowd. Turning into one of the bloodiest episodes in British history, known as the Peterloo Massacre of 1819.

Mike Leigh is a respected director who has been nominated for an Oscar for screenwriting and directing Vera Drake and Secret & Lies. He was also nominated for an Oscar for his screenwriting talents including Happy-Go-Lucky, Another Year, and Topsy-Turvy.

The movie trailer shows the pastoral and gentle life of the British subjects who are also starving to death. The monarchy and government are oblivious to their plight.  The peaceful demonstration needed to be heard but rather turned into a historical tragedy. 

“Homecoming” Teaser Trailer

drama, mystery, thriller, , , , , ,

Directed by Sam Esmail, I am excited about this Prime Video Series. Homecoming is a mind-bending psychological thriller. The story focuses on Heidi Bergman, played by Julia Roberts. She is a caseworker at the Homecoming Transitional Support Center, a Geist Group facility helping soldiers transition back to civilian life. Walter Cruz, played by Stephan James. He is one of these soldiers, eager to begin the next phase of his life. Overseeing Heidi and the facility is Colin Belfast, played by Bobby Cannavale. He is an ambitious company man whose manic behavior puts demands on questionable motives.

Four years later, Heidi has started a new life, living with her mother, played by Sissy Spacek. Heidi is working as a small-town waitress, when a Department of Defense auditor, played by Shea Whigham, comes to her with questions about why she left the Homecoming facility. Heidi begins to realize that there’s a whole other story behind the story she’s been telling herself.

The cast also includes Jeremy Allen White, Alex Karpovsky, Dermot Mulroney, among others. Here is a very short teaser trailer.

“Boy Erased” Trailer, Movie Clips, Featurette & Poster

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

Directed by Joel Edgerton, Boy Erased is based on a memoir of a teenage boy whose parents encouraged him to attend a gay-deprogramming through a Christian-sponsored program. 

The movie stars some hefty actors like Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe and Oscar-nominated Lucas Hedges. Openly gay singer and songwriter Troye Sivan plays one attendee of the church-sponsored program.  In the trailer, Sivan appears to keep up with the other talented actors, and I am happy for him. 

The movie isn’t about being gay and accepting homosexuality. It’s about accepting your child or people.  Parents can mold their children into being what they want to be. I know it is cliche,  but parents have to accept who their children are and love them unconditionally.

This isn’t an anti-religion movie because, truly, it is about loving and caring for people and letting people be who they are.

Edgerton is an actor, and this is the fifth movie he’s directed.   He also wrote the screenplay based on Garrard Conley’s book Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family.

The featurette shows how much Edgerton is respected for directing this movie.

These two movie clips pretty much say what the movie is all about. Great acting, watch the clips and you will see what I mean.

The movie clip shows Troye Sivan playing a boy at the church-sponsored program.

The movie trailer tells the story and the frustration the boy and parents went through and the outcome we will find out when we watch the movie.

“Unbroken: Path to Redemption” Trailer, Movie Clips, Switchfoot Featurette, & Poster

based on a book, drama, sequels, , ,

Directed by Harold Cronk, Unbroken: Path to Redemption follows Louis Zamperini, played by Samuel Hunt, as he returns home after undergoing a plane crash, weeks of floating on a makeshift raft in the Pacific, and then years of torture as a prisoner of war.

Angelina Jolie directed Unbroken, a movie about Zamperini’s hardship before returning home. The Coen brothers wrote the script for Unbroken.

They based the movie on Laura Hillenbrand’s bestselling book of the same name. The story begins where the popular movie Unbroken concludes. Still, Zamperini’s story must be told because nightmares of his torment haunted him. Zamperini does not see himself as a hero.

He battles with anger and alcohol abuse. He senses an obligation to go on the Army tour and raise money for War Bonds. Instead, he spends more time in bars than selling War Bonds.  

They sent Zamperini to the beaches of Miami for some R&R. He meets Cynthia, played by Merritt Patterson, a young woman who captures his eye—and his heart. They marry and move to Los Angeles.

Nothing goes well with the Zamperini’s marriage and they are heading for a divorce when Cynthia attends Billy Graham’s 1949 Los Angeles Crusade where she finds faith in God and a renewed commitment to her marriage and her husband. Now, her most fervent prayer is for God to help her husband. She prays he finds peace and forgiveness. His grandson, Will Graham, plays Graham.

The screenplay is co-written by Richard Friedenberg and Ken Hixon. Cronk has directed several other faith-based movies. The cast rounds out with David Sakurai and Gary Cole.

The movie clips below are really good. I am impressed.

The movie clip is intense, and it’s like the viewer is right there with him.

The featurette offers details about the making or Switchfoot and the creation of this song “You Found Me” for the movie.

The movie trailer tells the story, and it is easy to guess how it ends if you saw the first movie directed by Jolie.