Category Archives: drama

“Flower” Trailer, Movie Clips, Poster

comedy, drama, ,

Co-written and directed by Max Winkler, Flower follows Erica Vandross, played by Zoey Deutch. Co-writer and produced by Matt Spicer the original screenplay was written by Alex McAulay, whose first novel Bad Girls was published in 2005.

Erica is a 17-year old daughter of a single mother Laurie, played by Kathryn Hahn. Her mother’s new boyfriend, played by Time Heidecker lives with them in San Fernando Valley.

Bob’s son Luke, played by Joey Morgan, arrives after rehab to live with the family. This throws a monkey wrench into Eric’s somewhat crazy life and now she is totally overwhelmed.

So, the story begins with Luke and Erica’s sidekicks Kala, played by Dylan Gelula, and Claudine, played by Maya Eshet, hanging out together. Erica decides to expose a dark secret of high-school teacher Will, played by Adam Scott, with results she wasn’t anticipating. Erica and her friends are growing up in unexpected and unpredictable ways.

Deutch mentioned during a red-carpet interview that they shot the movie in 16 days. Indicating its low-budget push to get the movie made.

Deutch is building her career starring in notable movies such as Why Him?, Before I Fall, and Everybody Wants Some.

The movie trailer and clips show Deutch is in every scene. Her sidekicks are off the beaten path but she seems “normal.”  Is that how real friends are in High School?

“Final Portrait” Trailer, Movie Clips, Poster

drama, true stories, ,

Written and directed by Stanley Tucci, Final Portrait centers on world-renowned Swiss painter and sculptor Alberto Giacometti, played by Geoffrey Rush. The movie takes place in 1964, when James Lord, played by Armie Hammer, is on a short trip to Paris. Lord is an  American writer and art lover. His friend, Giacometti, asks him to sit for a portrait. The process, Giacometti assures Lord, will take only a day. Flattered and captivated, Lord agrees.

The offbeat friendship twists and bends along through the eyes of the Lord. He learns about beauty, frustration, perceptiveness and the chaotic process of creating art. The story is about defining a genius and a friendship between two completely different men. Still, they bond in creativity.

Tucci is a well-known actor in such films as The Hunger Games movies, Julie & Julia, and Spotlight. He has directed memorable films like Big Night, The Imposter, and Blind Date. Hammer starred recently in Call Me By Your Name and has other credits like The Social Network and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

The trailer and clips reveal a great movie and an excellent character study of an artistic genius.

“The Seagull” Trailer and Poster

classic, drama, , ,
Based on the play of the same name by Anton Chekhov, written for the screen by Stephen Karam, and directed by Michael Mayer, The Seagull is a pure classic. The story is an actor’s dream to play one of the characters of the poignant and crucifying Russian play, which was first on stage in 1896. 
The cast is brilliant with four very strong actresses including  Saoirse Ronan, Annette Bening, Elizabeth Moss, and Mare Winningham.
The movie follows an aging actress named Irina Arkadina, played by Annette Benning, who spends her summers visiting with her brother Pjotr Nikolayevich Sorin, played by Brian Dennehy, and her son Konstantin, played by Billy Howle, on a country estate.

On one occasion, she brings Trigorin, a successful novelist, played by Corey Stoll, with her. Nina, played by Saoirse Ronan, a free and innocent girl on a neighboring estate, falls in love with Trigorin.

As Trigorin lightly consumes and then rejects Nina, so the actress, Arkadina, all her life has consumed and rejected her son, who loves Nina. The victims are destroyed while the sophisticates continue on their way.

If you are familiar with Chekov’s play, you know the ending of the four-act play. I doubt the movie will be as long.

The movie trailer is very good and shows the conflict between the Nina, Irina, Trigorin, and Konstantin. The supporting cast, such as Elizabeth Moss, appears to offer comic relief. Moss’ last line in the trailer is an awesome delivery.

“Midnight Sun” Poster, Trailer, Movie Clips, and Featurette

drama, music, romance,

Directed by Scott Speer and based on the based on the screenplay Taiyô no Uta by Eric Kirsten, Midnight Sun follows a 17-year-old girl, played by Bella Thorne, who suffers from a condition that prevents her from being able to be out in the sunlight.

She meets a good-looking guy, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, and they fall in love. She has to tell him about her condition. It isn’t easy, but it’s a teary-eyed romance.

I am not quite sure what is happening in this movie clip. It does establish some history and the dorky friend.

A simple featurette repeats information from the trailer and movie clips.

The trailer pretty much tells the story.

Get a Perspective and Soar With “First Man” Trailers

based on a book, drama, legend, , , ,

Directed by Damien Chazelle, who brought six-time Oscar winner La La Land to the screen, and star Ryan Gosling reteam the true story, First Man. It’s the first time Chazelle has tackled a movie based on a book. The movie follows the captivating story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon.

Like the book, First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, by James R. Hansen, the movie focuses on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969.

Nicole Perlman wrote the first screenplay, and now by Josh Singer, who is familiar with writing true stories earning an Oscar win for Spotlight, the story delves into the sacrifices and the cost—on Armstrong and the nation—of one of the most dangerous missions in history.

The intensity of this scene speaks for the situation.

All the interviews regarding First Man that I’ve posted on YouTube, whether an actor, director, producer or consultant, they talk about the movie immerses the audience into the film. The movie clip where Armstrong crashes the lunar training vehicle shows you exactly how the production company pulled that off – you feel like you are right there with Armstrong.

The featurette talks about Armstrong’s walking on the moon. Fantastic stuff.

I am excited about the casting with Claire Foy, playing Armstrong’s wife, Kyle Chandler, and Jason Clarke.

The below movie trailer arrived a couple of days after the first one. Both are similar yet share the intensity helmed by Chazelle.

The impressive sound, direction, and the cast are intense and influential.

The movie is streaming and Blu-ray/DVD is available. The credits include Steven Spielberg as a producer. The movie is riveting at best. Now is the chance to see it if you haven’t seen it yet, or you can view it again.

“Lean on Pete” Trailer, Movie Clips, and Poster

based on a book, drama, , , ,

Written for the screen and directed by Andrew Haigh, Lean on Pete is based on the book of the same title by Willy Vlautin. The movie follows a teenage boy, played by Charlie Plummer, who makes friends with an aging quarter horse, named Lean on Pete while working at a racetrack. They hit the road together when the horse is intended for the slaughterhouse.

Together they take an epic journey across the modern frontier – an American odyssey. The boy and horse are profoundly bonded.  The movie studies themes of loneliness and finding a connection in unexpected places.

The movie includes a stellar cast with Steve Buscemi, Chole Sevigny, Travis Fimmel, and Steve Zahn.

I am curious, though, how each act plays out in the movie. It is clear that the journey is the second act.  The second act is the toughest to write and seems to be the bulk of the story.

This clip shows a buddy relationship and an old, worn out relationship.

This clip shows that something is going down and it is not good for the horse.

The movie trailer offers a clear understanding of what the movie is about.

“The Rider” Trailer, Movie Clips, and Poster

drama, independent, worth renting

Written and directed by Chloé Zhao, The Rider is a simple but poignant movie about cowboys who sustained injuries in the rodeo.  At the Cannes, The Rider won the Art Cinema Award and several other festival awards from around the world.  The movie has several Independent Spirit Award nominations as well.

The movie follows a young cowboy, played by Brady Jandreau, after suffering a near-fatal head injury. He undertakes a search for new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.

Other cast includes Wayne Blackburn, Lilly Blackburn, Cat Clifford, and Lane Scott.

Another movie clip shows what is like to be in a rodeo.  The clip is out of context, and I have a feeling the scene is supposed to be intense with the young cowboy getting back on the horse after a near fatal head injury from riding in a rodeo.

The movie clip reveals why the movie is winning so many awards on the festival circuit.

The movie trailer is heartwrenching because clearly, the movie is a downer and there are poignant scenes of how dangerous rodeoing can be for a cowboy.

 

The Last Movie Star Trailer, Movie Clips, and Poster

drama

Written and directed by Adam Rifkin, The Last Movie Star follows an aging movie star Vic Edwards, played by Burt Reynolds.  The aging movie star is forced to face the fact that he is a has-been and his days are numbered.  Sure the movie is about faded fame, but when you get to the meat of the story, it’s about growing old gracefully.  Something we all will face eventually.

The movie trailer has some grit to it. I feel uncomfortable watching Reynolds play a fading movie star.  Sure, there are some laughs but they are not comforting.

The movie clip is in the trailers but nothing like watching Chevy Chase and Burt Reynolds working together.

The final trailer appears to tells the whole story.  Chevy Chase is great in this movie with Burt Reynolds.

 

This movie clip is so tough to watch. I know it is supposed to be funny but it is too truthful.

This is a bittersweet movie clip. Burt Reynolds seems to hold his own in this quirky movie.

 

 

“Chappaquiddick” Trailers, Clips, and Posters

drama, true stories, , , ,

Directed by John Curran, Chappaquiddick follows Ted Kennedy, played by Jason Clarke,  who destroys his life and political career when he is involved in a fatal 1969 car accident that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne, played by Kate Mara.

The fatal accident occurred two days before Apollo 11 walk on the moon and became one of the top scandals of the 1970s.

Ed Helms also stars. I am looking forward to seeing him step out of comedy and into this serious role.

The movie received two nominations. One with Golden Trailers Best Drama and the other screenplay from the Miami Film Festival brings me to the conclusion that the script is watch makes the movie.  Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan honed a screenplay worth producing. 

The Blu-ray/DVD movie trailer is so much better than the trailers promoting the release of the movie. This trailer shows what the story is about and what happened to Mary Jo Kopechne that fateful night. The story unfolds like a chess game.

I watched the movie with my husband.  We found the movie to be slow and depressing.  The acting is great. Ed Helms played the role as Kennedy’s cousin brilliantly.  Jason Clarke is just as good. But, such a sad occurrence is what made it so hard for us to watch.  Kennedy still ended up being a Senator for most his life.

The movie clip shows how Ted Kennedy completely lost all responsibility for what he did.

The final trailer says it all. The true story is hard to stomach because it so hard to understand how anyone could be so stupid and negligent.

The movie clips show how unready and unprofessional Kennedy’s staff handled Ted Kennedy’s mess up.  Ed Helms performance is stellar.

This clip is awfully dark and the sound quality is not that great.

Chappaquiddick is a tragic story full of conflicting testimonies and odd behavior by Ted Kennedy and his friends.

“Hereditary” Trailers and Posters

drama, horror, mystery, , , ,

Written and directed by Ari Aster, Hereditary follows a family’s aftermath of when the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away. The daughter, played by Toni Collette, begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The whole family gets involved in uncovering the mystery. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited.

Making his feature debut, writer-director Ari Aster unleashes a nightmare vision of a domestic breakdown. The movie is about a familial tragedy that is ominous and deeply disquieting and pushing the horror movie into chilling new terrain with its shattering portrait of heritage gone to hell.

The Blu-ray and DVD are available with streaming happening as well.  Now is the time to watch the horror movie because, if you are a fan of horror, you don’t want to miss it.  This is one creepy and horrific movie that any horror fan will slit their gums to see.

The below Blu-ray/DVD trailer is far better than any of the theatrical trailers.  I am impressed, to say the least.

The movie also stars Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, and Milly Shapiro. Shapiro plays the creepy daughter.  Watch her in the movie trailer and you will see how creepy she is, which is horrifically entertaining.