Filmstars Don’t Die In Liverpool (2017), Annette Bening, Jamie Bell
Directed by Paul McGuigan; set in 1979 and starring Jamie Bell, Annette Bening, plus Vanessa Redgrave, Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool is the story of a romance between a young actor and a Hollywood leading lady.
All I needed to be convinced to watch this was to see Bening’s name and face. She is one of my ‘acting queens,’ thanks to her brilliant performance in a true favourite of mine, American Beauty (1999).
Danny Collinsis a well told story of a less than ideal father/son relationship.
This is of course not all that the movie is about, but it’s the part that appealed to me the most. The film is moving, engaging and for want of a better phrase, a relaxing watch, thanks to the well-played characters and the healthy sprinklings of humour.
Danny Collins (2015), Bobby Cannavale, Jennifer Garner
Directed by Dan Fogelman of Crazy Stupid Love (2011), Bobby Cannavale’s part as the ‘abandoned son’ of a rockstar father is one of my favourites of his roles. Al Pacino is, as always very watchable, as is Christopher Plummer and my dear ‘Lady Bening’. That’s Annette Bening, just to be clear. I also appreciated Jennifer Garner’s performance as the ‘very good wife.’
Since Pacino is a musician in this role, is the music any good..?, you may wonder. It’s by no means a key reason for tuning in; though it isn’t completely terrible either.
Watch Danny Collins for the charm, humour, the story of a difficult father/son relationship and that of an ageing rocker on a mission to change his life for the better.
20th Century Women (not Fox – as I thought at first glance), is the latest comedy/ drama starring Annette Bening, Elle Fanning and Alia Shawkat.
Written/directed by Mike Mills, the film looks at love and freedom as explored by three women in 1970s Southern California.
Annette Bening, the main, if not only reason I’d watch this movie, is an actor I’ve appreciated since American Beauty (1999). I’m hoping that that love only grows after this film – especially since I’m not exactly in love with this trailer at present. Though, that may change tomorrow. There’s always a chance.
Additional cast includes Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup and Laura Wiggins.
Set in Hollywood in 1958, Rules Don’t Apply focuses on the relationship between three key characters working in Hollywood. Namely, an aspiring actress, her driver and the eccentric billionaire that employs them.
Alden Ehrenreich, Lilly Collins and Warren Beatty play the main roles. Beatty is also the film’s writer/director.
After finding that I didn’t quite enjoy the last movie I saw about Hollywood in the 1950s (Hail, Caesar! (2015), as much as I hoped I would, I’m not sure how this is going to turn out. Though, Annette Bening is one of my favourite actresses, thanks to American Beauty (1999). So, I guess we’ll see.
Annette Bening, Alec Baldwin and Chace Crawford also feature.
Annette Bening, Al Pacino, Christopher Plummer, Bobby Cannavale… It’s hard not to adore all of them – and unsurprisingly, they star in some of the best films ever made.
Today, however, it’s all about Danny Collins (2015). And as per the following trailer, the signs for a good experience are good.
