Category Archives: historical

Firebrand with Jude Law and Alicia Vikander

“Firebrand” Trailer, Clips and Images

based on a book, biography, British, drama, historical, true stories, , , ,

Karim Aïnouz directed Firebrand, based on a screenplay by Jessica Ashworth and Henrietta Ashworth from the 2013 novel Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle. 

The story is about the royal relationship in blood-soaked Tudor England. Twice married, accomplished, and educated, Katherine Parr, played by Alicia Vikander. She reluctantly agrees to become the sixth wife of the tyrannical King Henry VIII, played by Jude Law. 

Katherine’s decision to marry Henry carries immense personal risk, considering the fate of her predecessors, who were either divorced, beheaded, or dead. Her situation becomes even more perilous when Henry appoints her as regent, the nation’s ruler, during his absence for overseas battles, setting her on a treacherous path. 

Amidst Henry’s court’s political intrigue, Katherine’s sympathies for the radical Protestant beliefs that have taken root in the kingdom become a cause for suspicion. The courtiers, fearing the threat to their power, conspire against her and sow seeds of doubt about her loyalty to the increasingly ailing and paranoid king. 

Once Henry returns to England, his courtiers convince him to turn his fury on the nation’s radicals, including Katherine’s childhood friend Anne Askew, played by Erin Doherty. Anne becomes one of the many people convicted of treason and burned at the stake. 

Horrified and privately grieving, Katherine finds herself under ever-increasing scrutiny and suspicion. Knowing that even a whisper of scandal might lead to her downfall, Katherine must unleash her own scheme to fight for survival. 

Other supporting cast include Eddie Marsan, Simon Russell Beale and Sam Riley.

Aïnouz is an award-winning director and screenwriter. Firebrand is his first British/American film. 

“The Dead Don’t Hurt” Trailers, Poster and Images

drama, historical, western, ,

Viggo Mortensen’s new Western feature, The Dead Don’t Hurt, written and directed by Mortensen, blends the action, grit, and thrills of the American West with a captivating story of two pioneers embarking on a life journey fraught with obstacles. 

Hopefully, Mortensen sets this film apart with his unique storytelling, keeping the audience on the edge. 

The story depicts the conflict between revenge and forgiveness and offers a unique female-forward perspective, adding depth and complexity. 

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Vicky Krieps received the Tribute Performer Award. 

The story begins with star-crossed lovers on the western U.S. frontier in the 1860s. Krieps plays Vivienne Le Coudy, a fiercely independent woman who embarks on a relationship with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen, played by Mortensen. 

After meeting Olsen in San Francisco, she agrees to travel to his home near Elk Flats, Nevada, where they start a life together. The outbreak of the civil war separates them when Olsen makes a fateful decision to fight for the Union. Vivienne must fend for herself in a place controlled by corrupt Mayor Rudolph Schiller, played by Danny Huston, and his evil business partner, powerful rancher Alfred Jeffries, played by Garret Dillahunt. Alfred’s violent, wayward son, Weston, played by Solly McLeod, aggressively pursues Vivienne, who is determined to resist his unwanted advances. 

Olsen returns from the war. He and Vivienne must confront and make peace with the person each has become. It’s a portrait of a passionate woman determined to stand up for herself in an unforgiving world dominated by ruthless men.

Scorsese and DiCaprio “Killers of the Flower Moon”

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

Martin Scorsese co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth and directed Killers of the Flower Moon based on David Grann’s best-selling book.

The film follows Ernest Burkhard, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and Mollie Kyle, played by Lily Gladstone, in an improbable romance. At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the wealthiest people in the world overnight.

The wealth of these Native Americans attracted white interlopers. They manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as possible before committing murder.

The movie also stars Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons.

“Sisu” Trailer, Clips, Images and Poster

action, drama, foreign movie, historical, true stories, war

Directed by Jalmari Helander, Sisu takes place during the final desperate days of WWII in northern Finland. A solitary prospector, played by Jorma Tommila, crosses paths with Nazis on a scorched-earth retreat. The Nazis steal his gold and soon discover they have just tangled with no ordinary miner.

I am not sure what these young ladies are about in the movie. They look tough.

There is no direct translation for the Finnish word “Sisu,” but this legendary ex-commando embodies what Sisu means. He’s a white-knuckled form of courage and incredible determination in the face of overwhelming odds.

And no matter what the Nazis throw at him, the one-person death squad goes to outrageous lengths to get his gold back.

He will if it means killing every Nazi in his path.

“Argentina, 1985” Trailer, Clips, Images and Poster

drama, foreign movie, historical, on Amazon

Santiago Mitre directs Argentina, 1985, inspired by a true story. The film follows public prosecutors Julio Strassera and Luis Moreno Ocampo, who dared to investigate and prosecute Argentina’s bloodiest military dictatorship in 1985. 

Undeterred by the military’s still considerable influence within their fragile new democracy, Strassera and Moreno Ocampo assembled a young legal team of unlikely heroes for their David-vs-Goliath battle. 

Under constant threat to themselves and their families, they raced against time to bring justice to the victims of the military junta, a government led by a group of military leaders. 

The film stars Ricardo Darin and Peter Lanzani.

Chazelle’s “Babylon,” 1920s Hollywood, Trailers and Poster

comedy, drama, historical, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Damien Chazelle, who directed Whiplash, La La Land, now brings us another side of Hollywood, Babylon.

Margot Robbie plays Nellie LaRoy in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

It’s an original epic set in 1920s Los Angeles led by Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Diego Calva, including an ensemble cast: Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li and Jean Smart.

Jovan Adepo plays Sidney Palmer in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.

“TILL” Trailer, Featurette, Images, Movie Clips and Posters

drama, historical, true stories, , , ,

Written by Michael Reilly, Keith Beauchamp and Chinonye Chukwu, with Chukwu directing, TILL is a profoundly emotional and cinematic film about the true story of Mamie Till Mobley’s, played by Danielle Deadwyler, relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, played by Jalyn Hall.

In 1955, they brutally lynched Till while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.

(L to R) Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till Bradley and Whoopi Goldberg as Alma Carthan in TILL, directed by Chinonye Chukwu, released by Orion Pictures. Credit: Lynsey Weatherspoon / Orion Pictures © 2022 ORION PICTURES RELEASING LLC. All Rights Reserved.

In Mamie’s poignant grief journey that eventually turned to action, the film shows the universal power of a mother’s ability to change the world.

Also starring in the film are Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, and Whoopi Goldberg.

“The Outfit” Gripping Thriller

historical, suspense, thriller, , , , ,

Written and directed by Graham Moore, the Oscar-winning writer of The Imitation Game, The Outfit is a gripping thriller that follows an expert tailor, Mark Rylance. He must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night.

Zoey Deutch (left) stars as “Mable” and Mark Rylance (right) stars as “Leonard” in director Graham Moore’s THE OUTFIT, a Focus Features release. Courtesy of Nick Wall / Focus Features.

Also starring in the movie are Dylan O’Brien, Zoey Deutch, Johnny Flynn, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Simon Russell Beale.

“The Northman” Epic Tale with Powerful Cast

adventure, drama, historical, , , , ,

Directed by Robert Eggers, who wrote the screenplay with Sjon, The Northman follows a Viking prince, Amleth, played by Alexander Skarsgard. Amleth’s mission is to revenge his father’s murder, which becomes his journey from a child to an adult.

Nicole Kidman stars as Queen Gudrún in director Robert Eggers’ Viking epic THE NORTHMAN, a Focus Features release.
Credit: Aiden Monaghan / © 2021 Focus Features, LLC

The movie takes place in Iceland during the turn of the tenth century.

Young Prince Amleth, played by Oscar Novak, is on the cusp of becoming a man when his father, played by Ethan Hawke, is brutally murdered by his uncle, Claes Bang, who kidnaps the boy’s mother, played by Nicole Kidman. Fleeing his island kingdom by boat, the child vows revenge.

Two decades later, Amleth, played by Alexander Skarsgard, is a Viking berserker raiding Slavic villages, where a seeress, played by Bjork, reminds him of his vow to avenge his father, save his mother, and kill his uncle.

Traveling on a slave ship to Iceland, Amleth infiltrates his uncle’s farm with the help of Olga, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, an enslaved Slavic woman — and sets out to honor his vow.

Eggers also directed The Witch, Anya Taylor-Joy’s first movie, The Lighthouse, comes an immersive Viking epic featuring an ensemble cast including Willem Dafoe.

“This is a big, muscular adventure, grander in scale than his previous films,” says Willem Dafoe, who co-starred in The Lighthouse and played the court jester Heimir the Fool in The Northman. “But Robert approaches it with the same kind of detail, creating sets, props and even shots that are made with such precision and care that the pretending on the part of the audience becomes effortless. Inside each shot of this movie, there is a rhythm and a story and a dynamic that’s beautiful on its own. Everything’s there on (the) screen; you don’t simply enter Eggers’ worlds — you get folded into them.”

“The Last Duel” Brings Damon and Affleck Back Together With Ridley Scott

adventure, based on a book, drama, historical, Uncategorized, ,

Directed by Ridley Scott, The Last Duel follows a true story about France’s last sanctioned trial by combat. The story originates from Eric Jager’s book of the same title.

In 1386, Jean de Carrouges, a knight, played by Matt Damon, and Jacques Le Gris, a squire, played by Adam Driver came to blows to the death after Marguerite, the knight’s wife, played by Jodie Comer, accuses Le Gris of raping her, which he denies.

Watch the trailer, and you’ll see Affleck playing Count Pierre d’Alencon, donning blond hair.

If Marguerite’s husband dies, she ends up burning at stake for perjury. The winner of the duel ends up as divine providence.

According to the New York Times article, the movie forms into three chapters based on a video interview with the three writers of the movie version, Damon, Affleck and Nicole Holofcener: Carrouges story, Le Gris story and Marguerite story. The men, according to Damon, took fastidious notes while women did not because they had no public respect nor held any kind of power. Holofcener wrote Marguerite’s perspective, made of whole cloth, the book lacked the wife’s perspective.