Archives for : Drama
I got a chance to sit down with Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook), Britt Robertson (Tomorrowland), and Scott Eastwood (Fury) to discuss their latest film, The Longest Ride. We talked about love, how to impress someone you’re dating, sacrifices made in relationships, and the teachers who impacted them.
The Longest Ride opens in theaters April 10th.
Black Sea tells the story of Robinson (Jude Law), a submarine captain who, in order to make good with his former employers, takes a job with a shadowy backer to search the depths of the Black Sea for a submarine rumored to be loaded with gold.
We got a chance to sit down with the Academy Award winning director, Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland), to discuss his latest film.
Besides the fear of being at the bottom of the ocean, these men are also kind of thinking about this money that they are about to find. And some of them aren’t too happy about the fact that they have to do the even split, even though it would still be plenty of money. What do you think it is about money that changes people and makes them act in psychotic ways?
“Yeah I mean; I think the center of this movie is sort of what greed can do to people. And not even so much what money can do to people, ‘cause it’s not sort of anti-money in this film. It’s sort of anti-greed, I suppose. And it’s the idea that, people, instead of realizing when you’ve got enough, it’s like I always want more. I want more and more! And that’s kind of part of human nature. That kind of dark part of human nature, isn’t it? Yeah, it’s the positive and negative of human nature, both present in this extreme circumstance.”
This was probably one of my favorite roles to see Jude Law in as Robinson. I really felt for his character, especially, with him losing his family to his job. Because I think in any work that you do, you can get wrapped up in it and kind of lose sight of the ones you love.
“I think that’s exactly, that’s the sort of central theme I suppose. And it’s a very simple one really of this movie. Is that we all kind of think that our jobs are so important; that we only get respect from other people, because of whether we’re successful in our jobs and all these sort of things. And the pressure that there is to be successful to earn money, but actually when all is said and done; that’s not what’s important about life. And at the end of our lives none of us are going to think, “oh I wish I had spent more time at the office.” We’re going to think, “I wish had spent more time with my family. I wish I loved that person more, and made that relationship work.” Those are the things that you’ve got to think about. And I guess that’s what’s fundamentally at the heart of this movie.”
I mean for me, the moment they entered the water; I was on the edge of my seat. I was just terrified the whole time. So, is there another film for you that has given you that same excitement while watching?
“I mean, I think Gravity has that feeling for me. You know pretty much as soon as the movie starts, and you’re in this precarious situation space walking with Sandra Bullock. You’re terrified. And you’ve got vertigo (laughs), and yeah, I think this is sort of the underwater version of that.”
Yeah, it is. It gave me the same effect actually, because I struggled to breathe in both those films.
“(Laughs) So there’s a good recommendation. If you want to struggle to breathe, go and see this movie!”
Black Sea opens in select theaters January 30.
STARRING Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Noah Emmerich, Keidrich Sellati, Susan Misner, and Holly Taylor
RATED TV-MA
ABOUT
The Americans is a period drama about the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington D.C. shortly after Ronald Reagan is elected President. The arranged marriage of “Philip” and “Elizabeth Jennings”, who have two children – 14-year-old “Paige” and 11-year-old “Henry” who know nothing about their parents’ true identity – grows more passionate and genuine by the day, but is constantly rested by the escalation of the Cold War and the inimate, dangers and darkly funny relationships they must maintain with a network of spies and informants under their control. Thei neighbor, “FBI Agent Stan Beeman” has already come dangerly close to discovering their secret, but was thwarted by “Nina”, his KGB mole and paramour. Torn between his wife “Sandra” and his deepening feelings for Nina, Stan is completely unaware that the beautiful Russian is actually a double agent, reporting on him to the KGB. Philip has been more successful handling his mole within the FBI, “Martha”, his assistant to Stan’s boss, “Special Agent Gaad”. Romancing Martha under the guise of one of his cover identities, an FBI bureaucrat named “Clark”, Philip has secured her unquestioning loyalty… by marrying her. Meanwhile, in the Jennings’ house, Paige has become increasingly suspicious that her parents are hiding something.
Screening Details
Location:
Angelika Film Center & Cafe
5321 E. Mockingbird Ln
Dallas, TX 75206
Date and Time:
January 21, 2015
Arrive before 6pm for a first come, first served pre-reception with FREE Food/Drinks, there will also be a photobooth, an ice bar for vodka tasting, etc. Screening starts @7:45pm
(Have your pass ready to show at the door)
If you thought that Lifetime’s new Whitney Houston biopic, directed by Angela Bassett, would be filled with excitement and thrilling drama; you thought wrong. Whitney is just another unnecessary biopic that reveals no real insight into the singer’s life. This story strictly focuses on Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston’s tumultuous relationship.
The film might as well air on Valentine’s Day as it feels much more like a romance. Up until the last 15 minutes (when the real drama begins), we are forced to endure a painfully cheesy love story about how Bobby Brown was never good enough for “The Whitney Houston.” Oh, but don’t worry, Whitney doesn’t care what her family or anyone else thinks! She loves Bobby. The audience will be constantly reminded of that love through the numerous amounts of times that it is said in the film, and by watching their ridiculous, soap opera styled sex scenes.
From what I have gathered from this biopic, Whitney was already into drugs
before she met Bobby. The two were, apparently, a very happy and cute couple. It wasn’t until Bobby Brown realized Whitney Houston was more famous than him (Duh) that it all went downhill.
For all the Whitney Houston fans out there, the film is not entirely miserable. Though Houston is played by Yaya DaCosta (America’s Next Top Model), her vocals are actually beautifully sung by Deborah Cox. She sings all the favorite hits, “The Greatest Love of All,” “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” “I’m Every Woman,” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Whitney Houston on the left. Yaya DaCosta on the right.
Since America’s Next Top Model, DaCosta is slowly making a name for herself in the Acting Biz by making small appearances in notable films. Whitney is a solid breakout performance for the rising actress. Despite a few overly dramatic moments, DaCosta nails this role. She embodies Whitney “from head to toe,” as Tyra Banks would say. And even though it’s not her vocals in the movie, her movement and expressions would have you believing otherwise. Not to mention the many times DaCosta strikes an uncanny resemblance to the singing sensation.
Even after all my ranting, I still recommend fans to give Whitney a one-time watch. I think you will be pleased with the casting. And if anything, you can turn your viewing into a fun sing-along.
“Whitney” premieres on Lifetime Saturday January 17.
I sat down with Academy Award nominee Bennett Miller (Director) for his latest film, “Foxcatcher.” We discussed the pressure of not wanting to let someone down, the definition of a “real” friend, and more! FOXCATCHER opens Wednesday, November 26 at Cinemark West and Angelika Dallas.
Girl Most Likely was a disappointing, failed attempt at the indie genre for Kristen Wiig. So much so, that my standards were kept low when walking into The Skeleton Twins. But, once again, Wiig’s unsurprising chemistry with another SNL alum creates an on-screen bond that immediately pulls you into their story.
The Skeleton Twins (directed by Craig Johnson, and written by Johnson and Mark Heyman) solely focuses on its two title characters. Bill Hader channels his inner “Stefon” as Milo, the snarky, gay, depressed out-of-work LA actor. He opens the film with an attempted suicide that reunites him and his twin sister Maggie (Wiig), who he hasn’t seen in 10 years. Like her brother, Maggie is also unhappy, but hides her depression behind her marriage to a happy-go-lucky, Luke Wilson, to whom she has had trouble staying faithful. Maggie insists Milo stay with them until she knows he is okay. Milo agrees to come back to New York to live with Maggie for a little while. At this point, the two of them attempt to revisit their past, try to make adjustments to their disturbed selves, and finally realize how important it is for their well-being to have each other in their lives.
What really makes the thematic material in The Skeleton Twins so grasping is that it has such an understanding on a siblings’ connection. Throughout the film it’s referenced that the two had a rough upbringing, which has forced them to rely on one another since childhood. Even though Maggie and Milo are miserable with their lives, their presence together is a silver lining. The two not only share a bond, but also understand each other completely. They make jokes, get high, and even have one of the best scenes this year, a sing-a-long to Starship’s “Nothing Gonna Stop Us Now.”
The Skeleton Twins’ grim tone throughout the film is balanced with its uplifting message of how sometimes the person in your life who completes you can make you realize why life is worth living. There is also enough comic relief through Wiig and Hader’s hilarious, witty banter for you to continuously have a laugh. Watching these two on-screen together is a rare treat no one should miss.
Rating: 4.5/5
The Skeleton Twins opens in select theaters September 19.
Erin Richards (The Quiet Ones) stars in the highly anticipated new drama, Gotham. Set to make its debut on FOX this fall, Richards plays Barbara Kean, who is engaged to a current Comissioner James Gordon. I sat down with Richards to discuss her role, what scene comes to mind when she thinks of Batman, how she lightens her dark days, and much more!
Side note: After watching the Gotham pilot at Comic Con this year, I can guarantee this is the MUST-SEE new series of the year!
Gotham airs September 22 on FOX.
“Gotham” Official Extended Trailer
Be careful who you trust, because the awkward, timid guy who lives in the secluded lighthouse may be someone you want to steer clear from.
A young pop star (Chelsea Kane) looking to recreate herself and her sound on a quiet trip to Maine is caught in a storm, crashes her car, and rescued by a young man (Nolan Funk) who takes her to his secluded lighthouse to recuperate. But she soon discovers that he is not just her rescuer, but a mentally unstable and obsessed fan who believes she is the image created in her videos.
Let’s be honest, we’ve seen this essential plot on Lifetime before. The seemingly good guy turns out to be some psycho freak that won’t let his current obsession go. This time around the recycled premise in #Popfan works in Lifetime’s favor.
Chelsea Kane shed her Disney image fairly quickly after Jonas, so it isn’t as alarming when she flaunts her sultry, strut at the beginning of this film. Kane is the perfect balance of sweet and sexy, making her a fitting damsel in distress. As for her capturer, Nolan Funk, I believe he must have channeled Mark Wahlberg from Fear, because that’s the voice I heard anytime this kid spoke.
This movie is not based on a true story and yes, there will moments of stupidity from the characters that will have you yelling at the screen. But when it comes to Lifetime dramas, I think we can all admit we’re just looking for absurd amusement. #PopFan is a fun and exciting watch.
#PopFan Premieres Saturday, August 23, at 8pm ET/PT on Lifetime.
It’s no surprise that big studio production companies are quickly grabbing hold of the rights to as many young adult novels as they can. The fan base is already there. Give them a “best-seller” and a good looking lead, and you may just have the next Twilight or The Fault in Our Stars.
Tweens are thirsting for romance that they can live vicariously through, and Chloe Grace Moretz’s latest drama will quench every young girl’s desire.
If I Stay is an adaptation of Gayle Forman’s 2009 best-seller. The film centers on Mia Hall (Moretz), a straight-lace, gifted cellist who lives in Oregon with her ultra-hip parents, Kat (Mireille Enos) and Denny (Joshua Leonard), and her little brother, Teddy (Jakob Davies). One day while Mia is practicing in school, Adam (Jamie Blackley), an up-and-coming rock star, passes by and it’s love at first listen. Be warned now, if you’re in theater with any teenage girls, Adam will cause swooning and sighing. The two go through a jagged relationship, proving that classical and rock doesn’t make for a smooth mix.
Priorities shift for Mia when she is invited to audition for Julliard but, her music and Adam become the least of her worries after a horrific car accident has caused her to fall into a coma. Anxious to know the fate of the rest of her family, Mia has an out of body experience. Her spirit roams the hospital halls and she eavesdrops on her loved ones as they try to cope and pray for her to make it through surgery. As her future begins to be uncertain, Mia is faced with a choice. She must decide if the life she’s waking up to is one worth living.
Call me a cheesy romantic, but I enjoyed this film. I am fully aware the one liners, “I see you,” and “why me?” will have plenty of people rolling their eyes. But there are certain qualities in a teenybopper romance that can always salvage the movie. The key element is your lead. Chloe Grace Moretz is a thriving young talent, and since I first saw her in 500 Days of Summer, she has only flourished in her career. Whether it’s a success like Kick-Ass or a flop like Carrie, Moretz masterfully performs in all of her projects.
Of course, what’s love without believability? Moretz and Blackley’s chemistry is hardly that of comparison to Hazel and Gus (The Fault in Our Stars), but it translates well here. Mia and Adam’s relationship isn’t forced, we get to watch them grow as a couple and care for their story, a missing quality from many recent love stories.
There is more to If I Stay than just the romance. The film also touches on how some people in your life don’t necessarily need to be blood related to be your family. If I Stay may pull at your heartstrings and shed some tears, but think of this film as more of a “doesn’t-hurt-to-see” versus a “must-see.”
Rating: 3/5