Tag Archives: Rooney Mara

Action, Crime, Drama

NIGHTMARE ALLEY (2021): New Trailer Starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Rooney Mara, Willem Dafoe…

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Nightmare Alley (2021), Rooney Mara, Searchlight Pictures
Nightmare Alley (2021), Rooney Mara, Searchlight Pictures

New action/crime/drama Nightmare Alley is director Guillermo del Toro’s latest audio-visual feast.

Starring Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette and Willem Dafoe, the story follows an ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people. Little did he know that the psychiatrist he’s just hooked up with is far more dangerous than he is.

When big hitters like Cooper and Blanchett are involved, one pays attention. And as I often do, I watched the above trailer before reading the synopsis.

Considering how much is going on in just over a minute and a half of this trailer, plus Dafoe’s character’s non-stop dialogue, which I still haven’t really listened to yet, it’s no wonder I had some trouble keeping up. That’s probably part of the reason I wasn’t sure about just how appealing this movie is to me initially. That of course changed as soon as I learned about the ‘manipulation face/off.’

Now I have to watch to see just how intense it’s all going to get. And for the great colours and beautiful lighting, of course.

Tim Blake Nelson, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, Clifton Collins Jr., Troy James, David Hewlett, Holt McCallany, Paul Anderson and David Strathairn also star.

Nightmare Alley Release Dates: December 17th, 2021 (US); January 21st, 2022 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Biography, Drama

DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT (2018): New Trailer From Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Jack Black, Rooney Mara…

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Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018),Joaquin Phoenix
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (2018),Joaquin Phoenix

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot is the new Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting (1997) co-written and directed movie/biography about John Callahan, a young man who became paralysed after a car accident at age 21, and turned to drawing as a form of therapy.

Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Jack Black and Rooney Mara star…

This one looks like an impressive Phoenix performance. I’m excited to see what Jack Black and Jonah Hill bring to the film; two comedy men who are equally good in dramatic roles.

Having not heard of John Callahan until now, maybe this film will treat us to some great drawings. Lastly, I just noticed that the three main male actors all have ‘J’ names. Random useless fact. That’s all.

Beth Ditto and Udo Kier also star.

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot release Dates: May 11th, 2018 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama

MARY MAGDALENE (2018): New Trailer From Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Chiwetel Ejiofor…

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Mary Magdalene (2018), Rooney Mara
Mary Magdalene (2018), Rooney Mara

Set in the first century C.E, Mary Magdalene is a new drama about controversial biblical character, friend and follower of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene.

Garth Davis directs while Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix and Chiwetel Ejiofor star…

I don’t know that Phoenix as Jesus Christ feels like a perfect casting instinctually. However, I’m very open to be proven wrong, especially since Phoenix is quite the talent.

Also, not that this movie will be as brutal as Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ (2004) –  but I kind of don’t want to sign up to witness all that violence again. It’s a tough one since I want to watch the story of Mary Magdalene. Sadly, there’s just no telling her story without Jesus, particularly because she’s with him till the very unfortunate end.

Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Ariane Labed, Ryan Corr, Tahar Rahim and Lubna Azabal also star.

Mary Maggalene Release Dates: March 16th, 2018 (UK); March 30th, 2018 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, Mystery, No Spoiler Reviews

THE DISCOVERY (2017): The Thing I Liked…

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The Discovery (2017), Rooney Mara
The Discovery (2017), Rooney Mara

As you may have heard and read by now, The Discovery, the latest film from Robert Redford, Jason Segel and Rooney Mara has a rather memorable first five minutes – and it’s true.

Written/directed by Justin Lader and Charlie McDowell respectively; the team who brought us the rather good ‘The One I Love (2014); The Discovery is a drama/mystery set two years after it’s scientifically proven that there is indeed an afterlife. 

In addition to the opening scene, I enjoyed some of the discussion about what happens in the afterlife – particularly the exploration of whether it’s actually real.

There are one or two more unexpected things that take place later on in the film. Things that had me surprised in a good way. Nevertheless, I feel that had it not been for the good opening scene, there would be much less to say about The Discovery. Reason being, most of the film is more ‘OK-ish’ than great.

I say, tune in for the first five minutes, and if you’re curious enough, continue on.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

CAROL (2015): The Thing I Liked…

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Carol (2015), Cate Blanchett
Carol (2015), Cate Blanchett

Set in New York in the 1950s, Carol is a story of the romantic love between an aspiring photographer and an older woman.

Directed by Todd Haynes and starring Cate Blanchett plus Rooney Mara, I enjoyed Carol quite a bit, thanks to the musical score, makeup, the look of 1950s New York and the costume design.

Carol has some well-executed tense moments, especially considering the forbidden and often unspoken nature of the love between Blanchett and Mara’s characters. I admit to finding myself feeling a little detached from the story, something I blame on the film taking too long to reveal the true cause/nature of the tensions between Carol and her husband.

I detached phase eventually ended, particularly as the feminist theme was more apparent. By which point, I felt terribly sorry for Carol and Therese, given their circumstances and society at the time.

Watch Carol for the story, because it’s beautiful, and you never know, you may be enlightened to some things. You may also be inspired to try harder with your personal style after looking at the memorable attire worn by the key characters. I was certainly inspired. That is, until the next morning when I awoke and remembered my to-do list and priorities.  

Happy Film Loving,

G