Tag Archives: Drama

Apr 10 2021

That Good Night (2017) Movie Review

Director: Eric Styles

Writer: Charles Savage (Screenplay) N.J. Crisp (Play)

Starring: John Hurt, Sofia Helin, Max Brown, Erin Richards, Charles Dance

Plot: Ralph, a once-famous screenwriter, is in his seventies and terminally ill. He has two final missions: to be reconciled to his son, Michael, and, secretly, to ensure he is not a burden to his wife, Anna, as he goes “into that good night”.

Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict: Life and its Importance

Story: That Good Night starts as Ralph (Hurt) a once-famous screenwriter learns that his treatment isn’t going well, he wants to reunite with his estranged son Michael (Brown) before telling his wife Anna (Helin), Ralph has set up everything for when his passes, but his stubborn attitude is only pushing away the relationships he wants to rebuild.

As Ralph tries to figure out a way to end his own suffering, he must learn that his old ways will never leave him being remembered in the right way to the family he will leave behind.

Thoughts on That Good Night

Characters – Ralph is a famous screenwriter, he has lived a selfish life, where he has always looked after himself over anybody, including his own son, he learns his days are numbered which makes him want to reconnect with his son, only he is just as distant as he always was, he must figure out how to make everything right before his time is up. Anna is the wife of Ralph, she has made him happy for years after their own meeting in a hospital years before. Michael is the estranged son that Ralph pushed out of his life, he has created his own life with his own girlfriend and career without his father, he has wanted to let him back in only it hasn’t been as easy as he thought it would be. The Visitor comes to Ralph when he is alone, giving him advice about the situation he finds himself in.

Performances – John Hurt gives one of his final performances here, one that is right up there with one of his best, because it shows how he gives us a character that is facing a life and death situation. Sofia Helin, Max Brown, Erin Richards and Charles Dance all give great performances in the supporting roles in the film.

Story – The story here follows an elderly screenwriter that is facing his own mortality and wants to rebuild the relationship with his distant son, even if he needs to learn to change himself if he is ever going to face a chance to do this. This story does focus on the idea that no matter how much time you have left, you should always try to make up for anything you don’t want to lose in life. We do see this happen slightly too easily considering just how distant it is applied the problems between the two are, though it does make you see just how difficult life can be for everybody in life. It does use a unique way for Ralph to see the light in his life, which is a nice touch to make it seem different to others.

Settings – The film uses the beautiful remote house as the backdrop for the most point showing us just how success can give you a life away from people, reflect the distant in relationship Ralph has with people in general.


Scene of the Movie – Hurt and Dance chat, such great sequences.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – It didn’t feel like the relationship wasn’t a strained as it could be.

Final Thoughts – This is a lovely almost tribute to John Hurt, which reflects the sad truth of his passing, it does show us how life can come to an end and that you will need to get everything you want together before it is too late.

Overall: Lovely tribute to John Hurt.

Apr 4 2021

Taking the Fall (2021) Movie Review

Taking the Fall – Brilliant

Director: Josh Marble

Writer: Steve Hellman (Screenplay)

Starring: Munro Chambers, Katie Gill, Roland Buck III, Avalon Penrose, Jonathan Dylan King, Chris Sturgeon

Plot: Tyler Richards returns from a six year prison sentence to a surprise reunion with his former college friends, only to discover that they’ve nearly all veered off course under the pressure of millennial culture.

Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Taking the Fall starts when Tyler (Chambers) gets released from his 6-year stint in prison, with his best friend Justin (Buck III) and ex-girlfriend Kate (Gill) setting up a welcome home party with the college friends Allison (Penrose), Peter (Sturgeon) and their new partners, Zachary (King) and Michelle (Zimber).

As the party is coming together, Tyler starts to see the differences in the world he has returned to, with his friends all starting their lives, with much of the resentment for lack of visits during his time away.

Thoughts on Taking the Fall

Characters & Performances – Tyler is the young man that took the fall for the group of college friends, he has spent the last 6-years in prison and now he is being thrown a party to celebrate his release. He finds that his friends haven’t lived up to what they had expected, seeing the relationship he once had feel awkward and distant, as he tries to figure out where he is in his own life now after taking the fall for them all. Munro Chambers is brilliant in this leading role, stepping up into the serious role and making his character feel as distant as he needs to. Kate is the ex-girlfriend of Tyler’s she has moved on with her life with a new fiancée despite still having the feelings for Tyler. Justin is the best friend that meets Tyler as he leaves prison, he has help arranged the party for his friend, being the one that remained closest to him during his prison time. Katie Gill and Roland Buck III are both great in these roles, getting their moment to shine in the one-on-one serious moments. The supporting characters do show us how lives haven’t always gone the way planned and tension will always be there between people, with the performances all being great to watch throughout.

Story – The story here follows a young man who is freshly out of prison after a 6-year sentence, where his friends look to throw him a welcome home party, where he gets to see how life might have been the same for him, but outside, things went in a very different direction. This is a story that is set over the one dinner party, which will give Tyler the reflection on how he sees the changes in his friend’s lives, showing how people can change and become chewed up in this world. It will show that people can have such big dreams in life, but could give up on them along the way without even realising it. This is such a wonderful drama that is one of the most interesting eye-opening dramas you will see this year.

Themes – Taking the Fall is a drama and uses the singular location to make the dinner party the big focal point of the film. It shows how the people will look to make the most of the problems in their lives with how they cover them up with the party theme.

 

Taking the Fall is one of the most interesting films of the year, with brilliant performances and eye-opening story.

Pre-Order Taking the Fall here on iTunes for the 9th April release

Mar 31 2021

Roe v. Wade (2021) Movie Review

Director: Cathy Allyn, Nick Loeb

Writer: Cathy Allyn, Nick Loeb, Ken Kushner (Screenplay)

Starring: Jon Voight, Nick Loeb, Robert Davi, Stacey Dash, Jamie Kennedy, Joey Lawrence, Corbin Bernsen

Plot: Dr. Bernard Nathanson and Dr. Mildred Jefferson square off in a national battle in this untold conspiracy that led to the most famous and controversial court case in history.

Runtime: 1 Hour 52 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Roe v. Wade starts as we learn how Dr Bernard Nathanson (Loeb) started to look into the legal right for women to have abortion, turning to Larry Lader (Kennedy) to help take this to court. A case the went in favour of the rights of women, seemingly like an easy cut and dry court case takes a very dramatic turn.

Justice Burger (Voight) wants the case reheard, with a complete justice group, the full 9 instead of 7, trying to make the vote go his way, to turn the right of women away from the legal outcome.

Thoughts on Roe v. Wade

Thoughts – Roe v. Wade is a look at how America was in the middle of a battle between the legal position on whether abortions should be legal in different states, with New York making it legal, the battle to win Texas shows us how the secretive nature of the procedures took over America, while the legal case takes a twist when it comes to how the supreme court is handling it. This is one of the most notorious cases in America justice system that showed us just how corrupt the justice system can become. The one biggest weakness in the film, does come from the pure number of people that are involved in the case, we find ourselves jumping between what feels like endless numbers of characters that are building both sides of the argument. It does feel like we might have got a lot more out of just following one of the two main sides of the story, either the justices battle for control, or the case from just a couple of clear-cut characters. For a case that was so big, it is one story that just doesn’t capture the intensity of a court case, which is one of the most impressive parts of any courtroom dramas. The performances in the film don’t come off as bad in anyway, with nobody looking out of place.

 

Roe v. Wade is a courtroom drama that doesn’t hit the heights it could have.

Mar 26 2021

Minari (2020) Movie Review

Minari – Stunning

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Writer: Lee Isaac Chung (Screenplay)

Starring: Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Youn Yuh-jung, Alan S Kim, Noel Cho, Will Patton, Scott Haze

Plot: A Korean family moves to Arkansas to start a farm in the 1980s.

Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Minari starts when a Korean family, Jacob (Yeun), Monica (Han), Anne (Cho) and little David (Kim) move to Arkansas to give Jacob the land for a garden he desperately wants and letting Monica keep up with the demands on the work, moving at slower pace.

When Grandma Soonja (Yuh-jung) comes to live with the family she offers babysitting options, as she starts to get closer to the nervous David, the youngest member who is worried about his heart condition, while Jacob tries to hold together the American dream.

Thoughts on Minari

Characters & Performances – Jacob is the husband and father looking to chase the American dream for his family, dreaming of having land for a garden, which his hard work has built for him. He has put his family at risk with his choice though, knowing if things don’t go well they might not have much to recover with, as he starts to see the problems add up. Steven Yeun is wonderful in the leading role, showing us the loving father who is so desperate to make this life work. Monica is the wife and mother that has agreed to the move to help her keep up at work, but her main focus is just making sure her David remains healthy no matter what, she isn’t afraid to challenge Jacob’s decisions. Yeri Han does give us a great performance in a role that is the more grounded character of the two parents. Soonja is Grandma who comes to live with the family, she must earn David’s trust, which does take longer than normal, but her patient nature helps build the trust, as she looks to give him the best. Youn Yuh-jung is great with the way she handles the more grown up moments with the adults and the entertaining the grandchildren the next. David is the youngest child who does have a heart condition which is the biggest worry of the parents. He is not that welcoming to his grandma, but learns to enjoy having her around. Alan S Kim is the star of the show here, giving us one of the greatest child star performances. The rest of the supporting cast are brilliant to watch, being one of the best acted movies of the year.

Story – The story here follows a Korean family that are looking to start the American dream in Arkansas one that Jacob has dreamed of for years but his wife Monica is starting to become worried about making a reality. This is a nice and simple drama about chasing the dream of a better life for one’s family, it shows us not just the distance they have travelled, but the hope it has given them. It will show the importance of family and being together in such a difficult movement and best of all it avoids the easy villainous figures trying to hold back the dream, it is only the struggles, not anyone holding them back.

Themes – Minari is a drama showing the family starting a new life in Arkansas, with their beautiful landscapes of the new land, away from everyone else. We do get to look at the importance of family when making big life changes.


MINARI will be available on demand from 2nd April 2021.

 

Minari is a powerful drama that is beautiful to watch.

Mar 25 2021

Making the Day (2021) Movie Review

Making the Day – Brilliant

Director: Michael Canzoniero

Writer: Michael Canzoniero (Screenplay)

Starring: Steven Randazzo, Sondra James, Aubrey Hardwick, Juliette Bennett, Gus Randazzo, Dan Fogler, Natalie Knepp, Timothy Levitch

Plot: A has-been character actor attempts to complete a movie honoring his deceased wife, when divine intervention leads him to a free-spirited actress who just might be his perfect leading lady.

Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Making the Day starts as we meet Nick Fazio (Randazzo) who along with his son Tommy (Randazzo) visiting the grave of their wife and mother, as Nick continues to battle to get his script turned into a movie. The financial side of the script is becoming more difficult turning to different producers hoping to get the move made in his wife memory.

Once Nick gets the funds, he starts looking to make his movie, despite struggling to find the leading role of Lisa that is based on his late wife, until he meets struggling actress Samantha Vanderputten (Bennett), as it could be her big break.

Thoughts on Making the Day

Characters & Performances – Nick Fazio is a has-been character actor whose career supported his family, where he worked with the Hollywood elite. He has always had a dream of making a film about how he met his late wife, he spends most of his time trying to secure financial backing for the film, a challenge which is seeing him take on his connections he has made through the years. He is reaching his limits about getting in made, even if it is the most important part of his life. Steven Randazzo brings his years of experience to the role, where he does give one of the best performances of the year. Samantha Vanderputten is the actress that is struggling to make an impact in New York, getting bit parts here and there, always finding herself being disappointed with what she gets, she has the script fall at her feet and starts doing everything she can to help make this picture, proving she is as determined to get the lead role in a movie, showing the pure dedication required to be part of the industry. Juliette Bennett is wonderful too in her role, showing us just how easily an actress can feel chewed up in the system, but will keep fighting for their own dream. When we dive into the rest of the cast, we get the loyal agent Mike that is always trying to find connections for Nick, knowing what this means to him, we also get the connections that Nick has made through the years, showing us how important making friends in the industry really is and we get the shady figure that has put money in the film that wants it back. The performances from the whole cast are wonderful to watch, each person gives us a performances that feels nature for the conversation and environment.

Story – The story here follows a has-been character actor that is looking to make a movie to honour his late wife, but has been struggling to find the financial support to make this a reality. He does meet a struggling actress that is willing to help him find the money to make this dream a reality, but can he follow her passion to make his dream a reality. This story does give us an important insight into the actors that take on the smaller roles in films, the ones that could make a big impact, but don’t always get the recognition. We see how losing a loved one will bring to life a dream to honour them in a different way and the connections an actor makes could help make their dream a reality. The whole story does give us a look at how difficult making a movie can be without the right financial connections. As is the troubles an actor could face to try and get their break, with the endless amounts of misleading meetings or roles, with the positive motivation being the most important part of chasing the dream.

Themes – Making the Day is a drama about making a movie honour a late relative, we use the New York setting showing us the different locations people might turn for financial backing, with behind the scenes on other movies, looking for the connections to help. The locations help us see how each different person involved in making a film works in to make their part important.

 

Making the Day is one of the most essential films to watch this year, filled with heart, soul and dreams from the people that don’t get the praise they deserve in the film making process.