Category Archives: Drama

Drama

AFTER LOVE (2020): New Trailer Starring Joanna Scanlan, Nathalie Richard, Nasser Memarzia, Talid Ariss…

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From writer/director Aleem Khan; After Love is an award-winning drama that stars Joanna Scanlan, Nathalie Richard, Nasser Memarzia. and Talid Ariss.

The story follows Mary (Scanlan) who finds herself a widow after the unexpected death of her husband. As if that wasn’t enough, a day after he’s laid to rest, Mary discovers a secret that simply can’t be left alone.

What a nightmare predicament.

This well-edited trailer certainly has me curious about how the story will unfold. I wonder if the ending will be surprising and shocking. I’m sure I’ll be happy as long as it’s good, believable and satisfying. Still, a part of me wants to at least be surprised, if not fully shocked. I should probably stop projecting my expectations and just let the story wash over. Yes, that’s what I’ll (try to) do.

Because of the 2020 UK release date, Scanlan has already won a British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) for her portrayal of Mary. I’m therefore quite certain that at the very least, After Love will be fully believable and moving.

Is your imagination also working overtime to imagine how this might play out?

Nisha Chadha, Sudha Bhuchar, Elijah Braik, Seema Morar and Aaron Chawla also star.

After Love Release Dates: January 20th, 2023 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

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Comedy, Drama

YOUR PLACE OR MINE (2023): New Trailer From Reese Witherspoon, Jesse Williams, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Chao…

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Two long-distance best friends change each other’s lives when she decides to pursue a lifelong dream and he volunteers to keep an eye on her teenage son.

Directed by Aline Brosh McKenna; Reese Witherspoon, Jesse Williams, Zoe Chao and Ashton Kutcher’s latest movie is a a drama/romance.

Also starring Steve Zahn, Wesley Kimmel and Rachel Bloom, Your Place or Mine is about two long-distance best friends (Debbie and Peter) whose lives change after Debbie decides to pursue a lifelong dream and Peter volunteers to keep an eye on her teenage son.

I’m so happy to see Resse in something light-hearted and fun. I’m also not mad at the involvement of Williams and Kutcher either.

I love the colours in this trailer. It has LA and New York looking mighty inviting. Yes, it looks quite predictable, but I just want to spend some screen time with these actors and their characters.

How intrigued are you this Your Place or Mine?

Steve Zahn, Tig Notaro, Griffin Matthews and Shiri Appleby also star.

Your Place or Mine Release Dates: February 10th, 2023 (UK & UK), Netflix…

Happy Film Loving

G

Biography, Drama, History

OPPENHEIMER (2023): New Trailer From Christopher Nolan, Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Florence Pugh…

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Christopher Nolan’s latest film stars Cillian Murphy, Rami Malek, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Florence Pugh.

Biography/historical drama Oppenheimer is the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer. Specifically the part he played in the development of the atomic bomb.

My all-time favourite movie trailer happens to be for a Christopher Nolan Film. As such, it’s unsurprising that the long-awaited full trailer for his latest work also has me excited to the point I was moved to yelp joyfully as it played.

All my joyful yelping and excitement aside, brilliant and certainly chilling are two words that seem fitting regarding the energy and dialogue present in this trailer. And since Murphy is an actor who always delivers in his performances; if the transformation in his eyes is anything to go by, I can hardly wait to be moved in all the ways I’m bound to be.

Of course, there’s also the stunning cinematography courtesy of Hoyte van Hoytema, who most recently worked on Nope (2022), Tenet (2020) and, Dunkirk (2017).

Robert Downey Jr., Gary Oldman, James Remar, Casey Affleck, Jack Quaid, David Krumholtz, Benny Safdie, Michael Angarano, Josh Hartnett and Kenneth Branagh also star

Oppenheimer Release Dates: July 21st, 2023 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

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Comedy, Drama

MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE (2022): New Trailer Starring Salma Hayek, Channing Tatum, Caitlin Gerard…

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It’s been nearly eight years since the second Magic Mike movie, Magic Mike XXL (2015) and 11 years since Magic Mike (2012). This time the original director Steven Soderbergh is back with Channing Tatum for Magic Mike’s Last Dance.

Also starring Salma Hayek and Caitlin Gerard; we catch up with Mike following a business deal that went bust. Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Hayek) who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse.

I’m not quite sure how worthwhile I’ll feel this third instalment of the Magic Mike films is by the end. But I do love Salma Hayek, impressive dance moves, the London setting, and how fun this all looks. Plus, what a great way to promote Magic Mike Live, which has existed in London for some years now.

So, fans of Tatum, Hayek, Soderbergh, dance and London; are you intrigued?

Gavin Spokes, Christie-Leigh Emby, Nas Ganev, Ayub Khan-Din, Christie-Leigh Emby, Barbara Ryan and Daniel Llaca also star.

Magic Mike’s Last Dance Release Dates: February 10th, 2023 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Comedy, Drama

A MAN CALLED OTTO (2022): New Trailer From Tom Hanks, Kailey Hyman, Rachel Keller, Alessandra Perez, Christiana Montoya…

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Directed by Marc Forster; Tom Hanks, Alessandra Perez, Christiana Montoya, Kailey Hyman and Rachel Keller are the stars of A Man Called Otto. A comedy/drama about a grumpy widower who finally meets his match when he gets new neighbours.

Isn’t this just the type of Tom Hanks movie we’ve been waiting for?

I’m certainly ready for all the inevitable heartwarming goodness coming our way, especially during the festive season.

Grumpy Otto is clearly due to learn some important lessons, and I’m more than happy to watch him thaw as he does so.

Now, only if the thawing of all grumpy neighbours was as guaranteed as that of Otto. We can all dream, can’t we?

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Cameron Britton, Mike Birbiglia, Mariana Treviño, Lavel Schley, Elle Chapman, Kelly Lamor Wilson, Josefine Lindegaard, Juanita Jennings, on Donahue, Kirk Kelly, Phil Nardozzi, and Spenser Granese also star.

A Man Callo Otto Release Dates: January 6th 2023 (UK); January 13th, 2023 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

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Comedy, Drama, History

BABYLON (2022): New Trailer Starring Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Samara Weaving, Tobey Mcquire, Olivia Wilde…

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Lal La land (2016) and Whiplash (2014) director Damien Chazelle’s latest film is set in early Hollywood and stars Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Samara Weaving, Tobey Mcquire and Olivia Wilde.

Babylon is a historical comedy/drama that follows the rise and fall of multiple characters, as a result of outsized ambition and outrageous excess.

Even though this trailer was released back in September 2022, I hadn’t featured it sooner because it reminded me a little too much of Hail, Caesar!, a 2015 movie also set during the earlier Hollywood years. And as excited as I was for the film, it turned out to be quite a major disappointment.

Babylon‘s filmmaking team is what has me most interested; more so than the themes. And now that September is long gone, I’ve gotten over the Hail, Caesar! issue a little more, which means I’ll probably give Babylon a fair chance.

How about you? What are your thoughts on this trailer? Are you also curious about how Pitt’s character compares to his turn as the undeniably cool Cliff Booth in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?

Jean Smart, Eric Roberts, Lukas Haas, Jeff Garlin, Spike Jonze, Phoebe Tonkin, Katherine Waterston, Max Minghella, Todd Giebenhain, Chloe Fineman, Jennifer Grant, Rhian Rees and Flea also star.

Babylon Release Dates: December 23rd, 2022 (US); January 20th, 2022 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Adventure, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

BLACK PANTHER – WAKANDA FOREVER (2022): The Things I Liked…

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Black Panther - Wakanda Forever (2022), Letitia Wright, Marvel Entertainment
Black Panther – Wakanda Forever (2022), Letitia Wright, Marvel Entertainment

I knew I would cry while watching the latest Black Panther movie. And flow those tears certainly did. Not too much, mind you. I couldn’t have my vision obstructed while a stunning visual spectacle was happening before me.

Director Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther – Wakanda Forever is a very engaging story with memorable performances. My favourite is delivered unsurprisingly, by Angela Basset (Queen Ramonda). Especially during the confrontation with Dana Gurira’s Okoye. I loved the framing, costume and camera work in those moments! So much so that I will be replaying that scene repeatedly once the movie is available on Disney+.

I love how the Black Panther films have been a welcome reminder of what is possible when all the elements that make a movie very entertaining come together beautifully. The dialogue, costume, music and cinematography combined for a truly memorable experience.

I admit that there was a point in the film where I became aware it was still playing, meaning the movie could have benefited from slightly tighter editing towards the end. Nevertheless, in addition to Coogler’s film being highly engaging and as epic as hoped, Black Panther – Wakanda Forever is simultaneously a perfect additional opportunity for fans to bid farewell to the man who so impressively represented when he donned the suit for Black Panther (2018). The images of Chadwick Boseman shining in the role are some of the most moving moments for me, especially towards the end. 

If you’re yet to do so, watch Black Panther – Wakanda Forever. You’ll most likely be glad you did.

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Horror, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

NANNY (2022): The Things I Liked…

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Nanny (2022), Anna Diop, Prime Video
Nanny (2022), Anna Diop, Prime Video

Sometimes you watch a movie that tells its story so refreshingly well, that you want to talk to someone about it immediately. You want to discuss the parts that thrilled, delighted and surprised you. But then you remember that you watched the movie all by yourself, which means that unless you want to strike up a conversation with the stranger next to you once the movie is over, you can’t. You also remember that you write spoiler-free movie reviews; meaning you still can’t mention the most fun specific details.

Written/directed by Nikyatu Jusu; the film in question that proved to be a rather pleasant surprise is Nanny; a drama/horror/thriller starring Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Sinqua Walls and Leslie Uggams.

Nanny tells the story of Aisha, a Senegalese immigrant who takes care of the child of an Upper East Side American family. As Aisha goes about her days working and trying to piece together a life of her own in New York City, she starts having some not-so-easily explainable experiences.

I’ve mentioned a few times before that I don’t typically watch scary movies, particularly since a peaceful nightmare-free sleep is one of my favourite things. The great news here is that Nanny is more creepy than scary. It features well-executed special effects that I appreciated, even more, when the impressive reveal at the end came to light. There are beautiful shots, great lighting and a generally well-structured story to enjoy. One that hints perfectly at what is to come, but without spoiling the very worth-it ending.

I say give Nanny a chance and let the story surprise you. Though not perfect, mostly because of the rushed last five minutes, it’s certainly in the top two of my favourite movies I watched at the BFI London Film Festival this October.

Nanny Release Dates: 23rd November 2022 (Limited theatre release, US); 25th November 2022 (Limited cinema release, UK); Amazon Prime Video release, 16th December 2022 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

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