Category Archives: true stories

“QUEENSPIN” True Story of Scamming Coupons for Millions

comedy, true stories, , , , ,

Co-directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly and inspired by a true story, QUEENPINS is an outrageous comedy. The story is about a bored and frustrated suburban homemaker, Connie, played by Kristen Bell, and her best pal JoJo, played by Kirby Howell-Baptiste—a vlogger with dreams who turn a hobby into a multi-million dollar counterfeit coupon caper. 

Paul Walter Hauser as Ken Miller and Vince Vaughn as Simon Kilmurry in QUEENPINS. Credit: Courtesy STX Films

After firing off a letter to the conglomerate behind a box of cereal gone stale and receiving an apology along with dozens of freebies, the duo hatches an illegal coupon club scheme that scams millions from mega-corporations and delivers deals to legions of fellow coupon clippers. 

This poster is like the first one, but the release dates are new.
A common occurrence with the pandemic.

On the trail to total coupon dominance, a hapless Loss Prevention Officer, played Paul Walter Hauser, from the local supermarket chain joins forces with a determined U.S. Postal Inspector, played by Vince Vaughn, in hot pursuit of these newly-minted “Queenpins” of pink collar crime.

The Courier

“The Courier” Confidential Challenge Easily Competitive

thriller, true stories, , ,

Written by Tom O’Connor and directed by Dominic Cooke, The Courier is a true-life spy thriller. The story of an unassuming British businessman, Greville Wynne, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history.

At the behest of the UK’s MI-6 and a CIA operative, played by Rachel Brosnahan, he forms a covert, dangerous partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky, played by Merab Ninidze, to provide crucial intelligence needed to prevent a nuclear confrontation and defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The movie also stars Jessie Buckley.

silk road

“Silk Road” Unparalleled High Tech Fortune Ends in a Zinger

crime, drama, thriller, true stories, , , , , , , , ,
Silk Road

Written and directed Tiller Russell for the Rolling Stone article by David Kushner based on a true story, Silk Road is a crime thriller. The story follows the rise and fall of Silk Road, the infamous darknet site that sent a seismic shock through the World Wide Web.

Young, idealistic, and driven to succeed, Ross Ulbricht, played by Nick Robinson, creates the Internet’s first unregulated marketplace — Silk Road.

But when it becomes a multimillion-dollar pipeline for illicit drugs, Ross places himself on a collision course with Rick Bowden, played by Jason Clarke, a disreputable and dangerously unpredictable DEA agent, who will use any means necessary to take him down.

The rest of the cast includes Katie Aselton, Jimmi Simpson, Daniel David Stewart, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Lexi Rabe, Will Ropp, Paul Walter Hauser, and Alexandra Shipp.

The Mauritanian

“The Mauritanian” Trailers, Featurettes and Clips

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

Directed by Kevin Macdonald and based on the N.Y. Times best-selling memoir “Guantánamo Diary” by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, The Mauritanian inspired the true story of Slahi’s fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years.

Alone and afraid, Slahi, played by Tahar Rahim, finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander, played by Jodie Foster, and her associate Teri Duncan, played by Shailene Woodley, who battles the U.S. government in a fight for justice.

The movie is now on Amazon, or you can get the Blu-ray for your library. The cast is strong, and the story is heart-wrenchingly true.

It’s the test of their commitment to the law and their client at every turn. Their controversial advocacy and evidence uncovered by a formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, uncover shocking truths and ultimately prove that no one can lock up the human spirit.

The rest of the cast includes Zachary Levi and Saamer Usmani.

“Boogie” Amazing Journey of Professional Basketball Player

drama, legend, sports, true stories, , , , , , , ,

Written and directed by writer, producer and restauranteur Eddie Huang, Boogie is his directorial debut.

The coming-of-age story of Alfred “Boogie” Chin, played by Taylor Takahashi, a basketball phenom living in Queens, New York, who dreams of one day playing in the NBA.

While his parents pressure him to focus on earning a scholarship to an elite college, Boogie must navigate a new girlfriend, played by Taylour Paige, high school, on-court rivals and the burden of expectation.

The rest of the cast includes Pamelyn Chee, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Mike Moh, Dave East, Perry Yung, Alexa Mareka, and Pop Smoke.

Our Friend

“Our Friend” Remarkable Advice in an Unusual Surprise

drama, true stories, , , ,
Our Friend

Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Our Friend tackles cancer in an unusual vein of how it not only affects the family but a close friend who steps in to help — based on a true story.

The film tells an inspiring and extraordinary true story of the Teague family—journalist Matt, played by Casey Affleck, his vibrant wife Nicole, played by Dakota Johnson, and their two adolescent daughters, played by Violet McGraw and Isabella Kai. The true story follows how their lives become upended by Nicole’s heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal cancer.

As Matt’s responsibilities as caretaker and parent become increasingly overwhelming, the couple’s best friend, Dane Faucheux, played by Jason Segel, offers to come and help. As Dane puts his life on hold to stay with his friends, the impact of this life-altering decision proves greater and more profound than anyone could have imagined.

Nazi-occupied Croatian Ustasha regime “Dara of Jasenovac”

biography, drama, foreign movie, historical, true stories,
Dara of Jasenovac

Written by Natasa Drakulic and directed by Predrag Antonijevic, Dara of Jasenovac follows a little girl named Dara, played by Biljana Cekic, during the Holocaust in the Balkans to the infamous extermination camp complex Jasenovac — coined as Balkan’s Auschwitz. The story takes place in the Nazi-occupied Croatian Ustasha regime “NDH” in former Yugoslavia during WWII. They are told through the eyes of Dara, who the Nazis sent as a child during the Holocaust, ruled by sadistic camp commander Maks Luburic until the liberation. It is the first modern WWII movie that takes place in or shows the NDH-era camp.

It begins during the summer of 1942 when the family of twelve-year-old Dara is taken away and separated into two concentration camps. She witnessed all the horrors of the Ustashe regime. After they kill her brother and mother, she tries to save her younger brother’s life, hoping that her father is still alive.

Probably one of the most overlooked parts of history, Germans do not run Jasenovac, but the fascist Ustase runs the complex. He brutally murdered Jews, Serbs and Roma people, which included many women and children. As unspeakable atrocities unfold, Dara must summon tremendous courage to protect her infant brother from a terrible fate. At the same time, she safeguards her own survival and plots a precarious path toward freedom. The movie is the Serbian selection for the Academy Awards for Best International Feature.

The movie has English subtitles, and the rest of the talented cast includes Vuk Kostic, Natasa Ninkovic, and Nikolina Jelisavac.

Ulitmate “Judas and the Black Messiah” a Monumental True Story

biography, drama, true stories,

Directed by Shaka King, Judas and the Black Messiah follows Fred Hampton, played by Daniel Kaluuya, who is the Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party. His fateful betrayal by FBI informant William O’Neal, played by LaKeith Stanfield, is a predictable and sad story of one individual’s goal to help others.

Only the trailer is available without images or poster. As soon as they become available, I will post them.

All My Life

True Story Captures “All My Life” as an Amazing Story

drama, romance, true stories, , ,

Based on a true story and directed by Marc Meyers, All My Life follows a powerful love story that moved an entire nation. A true story about a journey of an engaged couple who make the hard decision to speed up their wedding in the wake of a devastating discovery. 

Jennifer Carter, played by Jessica Rothe, and Solomon Chau, played by Harry Shum Jr., are a sweet, fun-loving, newly engaged couple whose entire life seems ahead of them. But when Sol is diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in December, their plans for a summer wedding become impossible. 

In a race against time, Jenn and Sol’s friends and family launch an online fundraiser to help the couple create their dream wedding in just two weeks. They unleash an outpouring of generosity and attention from people worldwide who want to celebrate the power of love with them. 

Through it all, Jenn and Sol’s commitment to each other only deepens, becoming a heartwarming reminder that the strength of genuine love knows no limits. 

The rest of the cast includes Kyle Allen, Chrissie Fit, Jay Pharoah, Marielle Scott, and Keala Settle.

2 Hearts

Based on a True Story, “2 Hearts” Rewards Challenge

drama, romance, true stories, ,
2 Hearts

Directed by Lance Hool and co-written by Veronica Hool and Robin U. Russin, 2 Hearts follows two couples. Their future unfolds in different decades and different places, but a hidden connection will bring them together in a way no one could have predicted. 

Based on a true story that inspires, 2 Hearts is a romantic journey that celebrates life, love, and generosity of spirit, and challenges audiences to believe miracles are possible.

The cast includes Jacob Elordi, Radha Mitchell, and Tiera Skovbye.

I am not sure where this story is going but I hope it’s not too syrupy, sweet.

The featurette tells us a bit about the story but not all of it. It looks like a tearjerker.