Tag Archives: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Drama, History, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (2020): The Things I Liked…

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The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Eddie Redmayne, Netflix
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Eddie Redmayne, Netflix

Master of great dialogue Aaron Sorkin is the writer and director of new historical drama/thriller The Trial of the Chicago 7. 

Set around the 1968 uprising at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois and focused on the seven people on trial for various charges at the time, I found Sorkin’s story adequately engaging. 

Starring Eddie Redmayne, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II to name just a few, I enjoyed the dialogue – as expected. I mean Sorkin did, after all, write the words in one of my favourite screenplays, The Social Network (2010). Even though I didn’t find the dialogue quite as scintillating as Sorkin’s Mark Zuckerberg movie, I certainly wouldn’t call it bad. For there are moments that delighted, several of which take place in the courtroom. 

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch. Sacha Baron Cohen
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch. Sacha Baron Cohen

Sorkin’s movie starts with an editing style that felt disruptive because it wasn’t as easy to keep track of timelines as I’d have liked. Luckily, things do eventually settle into a better rhythm, after which I enjoyed The Trial of the Chicago 7 as a brilliantly performed tale, especially by Redmayne, Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Rylance.

In addition to the engaging and dramatic courtroom scenes, you’ll enjoy watching the evolution of the relationship between the seven-plus men on trial. Sorkin’s is going to break your heart as it puts up a mirror to some of America’s ills, especially when you realise how very little seems to have changed where racial injustice and abuse of power is concerned. Yet, I wouldn’t say that The Trial of the Chicago 7 will leave you hopeless. 

In addition to the earlier editing and the dialogue being good bur not as scintillating as the words in The Social Network, the only other thing that didn’t stand out in the best way is Sacha Baron Cohen’s American accent. It’s also not the worst I’ve ever heard, so give Sorkin’s film a chance if you’re curious. You’ll likely become an even bigger fan of Redmayne while also finding that Abdul-Mateen II is now on your radar, in case he wasn’t already. 

Happy Film Loving 

G

Drama, History, Thriller

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (2020): New Aaron Sorking Movie Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eddie Redmayne, Alex Sharp, Sacha Baron Cohen…

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The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Eddie Redmayne, Netflix
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Eddie Redmayne, Netflix

Read my spoiler-free movie review of The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020).

Written/directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a new historical thriller about 7 people on trial for various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Alex Sharp and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are among the key cast.

I can’t deny how happy I was to see Redmayne’s face on screen again. He’s one of my favourites, along with Baron Cohen

It’s going to be emotional but I’m quite sure it’ll be worth it because of the fantastic cast and that magic that Sorkin does so well with words.

Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance, Ben Shenkman, J.C. MacKenzie, Frank Langella and Noah Robbins also star.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 Release Date: October 16th, 2020 (US)/ Netflix…

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi

PROJECT POWER (2020): The Things I Liked…

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Project Power (2020), Jamie Foxx, Netflix

I had fun watching the down-to-earth take on the human-with-superpowers story that is Project Power. Particular highlights being the fun special effects and good performances, especially by Jamie Foxx and Dominique Fishback.

Centred around a pill that gives its users unpredictable superpowers for five minutes, the first thirty or so minutes of Project Power. is watchable. But it’s once Foxx and Fishback’s characters meet that I sat up and started to pay attention. From that point on the fun continued until the not entirely expected nature of the conclusion.

As someone who has long tired of the traditional superhero movie stories, I welcomed the difference this one offered. So much so that the use of some familiar tropes barely bothered me. I was too busy having fun watching this particular story unfold.

Watch Project Power for a different take on the humans with superpowers story. I’m convinced that there are elements that will likely surprise you, in a good way.

Happy Film Loving

G

Biography, Drama, Thriller

SNOWDEN (2016): New Trailer From Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Shailene Woodley

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When I first saw the teaser trailer for writer / director Oliver Stone’s new film about Edward Snowden, I was disappointed that it didn’t reveal a little more than the films title – Snowden and a few facts about the protagonist…

Teaser trailer

However, I watched the teaser again some weeks later and was reminded that just because I wanted more footage there and then, doesn’t necessarily mean that I should have had it. Instead of being mad at the tease, my imagination did overtime as I began to picture all sorts of dramatic scenes. Scenes with dialogue as engaging as the brilliant as screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s words in The Social Network  Would’t that be fantastic?

Even if Snowden turns out to be nothing like The Social Network, all that really matters is that it’s good. Just as well then that the below trailer looks mighty promising.

Trailer 1

Trailer 2

Snowden Release Dates: September 16th, 2016 (US)…

Happy Film Loving 🙂

G

Comedy

THE NIGHT BEFORE (2015): New Comedy Starring Seth Rogen & Joseph Gordon-Levitt

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The Night Before (2015), Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie
The Night Before (2015), Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie

The latest trailer for Seth Rogen’s new film, The Night Before is here.

Directed by Jonathan Levine, starring Seth Rogen, Antony mackie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lizzy Kaplan and Jillian Bell; of course it’s a comedy and I already can’t wait!

I’m just glad that as far as I can tell from the trailer, I can’t see any reason why Sony would have to pull out of releasing this one (fingers crossed).

Release Date (s): November 2oth, 2015 (UK), December 4th, 2015 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving  🙂

G

Biography, Drama

THE WALK (2015): New Trailer In Which Joseph Gordon-Levitt Is Philippe Petitte…

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THE WALK (2015), Joseph Gordon-Levitt
THE WALK (2015), Joseph Gordon-Levitt

The trailer is out for The Walk, the new Robert Zemeckis directed film based on French High-Wire artist Philippe Petit. 

The international cast is led by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and includes Ben Kingsley,  Charlotte Le Bon, James Badge Dale, Ben Schwartz...

What appears to lie ahead is an exciting risk taking adventure. Though I’m not quite sure yet whether I’ll be able to completely suspend my disbelief when it comes to the French accent.

Still, somehow the story of a man who chooses to walk on a wire from great heights and without any safety precautions is probably interesting enough to convince me. That is of course unless I opt for the 2008 documentary, Man on Wire instead.

Happy Film Loving

G

No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi, Thriller

INCEPTION (2010): Only If Other Films Would Stay Away From The Music

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Inception (2010), Leonardo DiCaprio
Inception (2010), Leonardo DiCaprio

Part of what makes Christopher Nolan’s Inception (2010) so very good, is Hans Zimmer’s brilliant musical score.

Unfortunately, since the the film’s release, seemingly far lesser movies keep using it. I say ‘seemingly far lesser’ because I can’t actually see myself ever watching any of the offending titles.

I admit, I’m probably too attached to the original film and music, but all the trailers I’ve seen that use the Inception score really don’t look very promising. If they did, I wouldn’t be writing this.

You only have to watch the following Airborne (2012) trailer to see and understand.

Eeewwww indeed! To help get that gross Airborne taste out of your mouth, here are two fantastic Inception trailers…

Inception Trailer 1

Inception Trailer 2

Happy Film Loving 🙂

G