-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Elevator Pitch Marlo, a mother with two children, one of them “quirky”, has just given birth to a third and is finding life difficult, so welcomes help from her rich brother, who suggests that she will benefit from the services of a “night nanny”; Tully, the nanny, arrives after dark, and magically Marlo’s life is transformed, … Continue reading
Elevator Pitch After receiving medical attention Katniss is tasked with continuing as the symbolic leader of the rebellion against the Capitol, and joins a group of old friends who have the job of following the front line while being filmed for propoganda purposes, but their progress towards the centre is impeded by booby traps, which … Continue reading
Duration 1h 36m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story An original screenplay Director David Lowery Writers/Script David Lowery Starring Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Keith Carradine Elevator Pitch When a couple are chased down by the police after taking part in a robbery in Texas, the female shoots and wounds a policeman for which … Continue reading
Duration 1h 48m Rating (UK) 18 Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script David Grovic, Paul Conway (and an original screenplay “Motel” by James Russo) Additional Info Rebecca Da Costa is an almost unfeasibly tall Brazilian model. I thought she did OK. Director David Grovic Starring John Cusack, Rebecca Da Costa, Robert De Nero, Crispin … Continue reading
Duration 1h 54m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story A novel of the same name by Naomi Alderman Writers/Script Sebastián Lelio, Rebecca Lenkiewicz Additional Info No-one is saying what sort of a Jewish community this is, but more than 20,000 Haradi Jews live in an enclosed community in Stamford Hill, London. Director Sebastián Lelio Starring … Continue reading
Duration 2h 12m Rating A 12 where so far released Source of story Loosely based on the Cervantes story, although essentially a film about film making. Writers/Script Terry Gilliam, Tony Grisoni Additional Info Just for those who have recently arrived from another planet this is a celebrated Terry Gilliam project, famously failing in the past … Continue reading
Duration 1h 53m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Douglas Cook, David Weisberg Additional Info I like to look at the IMDb trivia to see if there is anything interesting that people have uploaded. This film seems to have garnered a mass of what look like press releases, so here’s a … Continue reading
Duration 1h 45m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story A book of the same name by Peter Turner Writers/Script Matt Greenhalgh Additional Info The book was first optioned many years ago and is only the third non-Bond film made by Eon Productions. It bombed at the box office, but I expect they can afford it. … Continue reading
Duration 2h 37m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story Based on real events Writers/Script Mark Boal Additional Info The script writer was offered, and received co-operation from the CIA in the development of the story and, some would say, it shows. Director Kathryn Bigelow Starring Jason Clarke, Reda Kateb, Jessica Chastain, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Ehle, … Continue reading
Duration 1h 55m Rating (UK) 12A Source of story An orignal screenplay Writers/Script Roger Towne, Kurt Wimmer, Mitch Glazer Additional Info Said to be watched by CIA recruits as light entertainment. Director Roger Donaldson Starring Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan, Gabriel Macht Elevator Pitch A group of young men and women are recruited to … Continue reading
Duration 2h 18m Rating (UK) 12A Source of story A book of the same name by maritime author and former US Naval officer Peter Huchthausen (died 2008) Writers/Script Christopher Kyle (story Louis Nowra) Additional Info A real former Russian submarine was used for the film, and at one point another submarine was actually required to … Continue reading
Duration 1h 38m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Jim Agnew, Sean Keller Additional Info You might have seen Pasha D. Lynchikoff in “Big Bang”, he really is a Moscow trained Russian actor, but admirably upped sticks and emigrated to America to further his career. Director Paco Cabezas Starring Nicolas Cage, … Continue reading
Duration 1h 34m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Greta Gerwig Additional Info This film was nominated for numerous awards including five Oscars. I am very pleased for Laurie Metcalf who, at the age of 62, has won a number of “Best Suporting Actress” awards. I have been a fan of … Continue reading
Duration 2h 7m Rating (UK) PG Source of story A book of the same name by Yann Martel Writers/Script David Magee (and previous efforts by almost too many scriptwriters to mention). Additional Info The writer of the book knows a lot about animals but nothing about being on a ship, nor did the scriptwriter or … Continue reading
Duration 1h 51m Rating (UK) X Source of story Actual events in the the real life of these two people – slightly more than “inspired by real events”. Writers/Script David Newman, Robert Benton (and Robert Towne uncredited) Additional Info The production costs are estimated at $2,500,00 and the film grossed more than $50,000,000, a result … Continue reading
Duration 1h 59m Rating (UK) 13 Source of story Earlier Bond films – retaining the characters of 007, M, Q and Miss Moneypenny but little else. Writers/Script Bruce Feirstein Additional Info The car enthusiasts tell us that 17 BMW 7 Series were used in the film, most of them for a set piece in a … Continue reading
Duration 1h 41m Rating (UK) 18 Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Broderick Miller Additional Info This was a made for TV film for HBO. It was apparently reissued in 2004. Director Lewis Teague Starring Rutger Hauer, Mimi Rogers, Joan Chen, James Remar, Stephen Tobolowsky Elevator Pitch The leader of a trio of bank … Continue reading
Duration 1h 46m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Pascal Laugier Additional Info William B. Davis, who is the sherriff, was “the smoking man” in the X-Files. Director Pascal Laugier Starring Jessica Biel, Jodelle Ferland, Stephen McHattie, William B. Davis, Samantha Ferris Elevator Pitch Cold Rock is a former mining town … Continue reading
Duration 1h 36m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story A book of the same name by Jeanne Ryan Writers/Script Jessica Sharzer Additional Info Emma Roberts is the niece of Julia R. Director Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman Starring Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Emily Meade, Miles Heizer, Juliette Lewis, Colson Baker Elevator Pitch When an extrovert high … Continue reading
Duration 1h 53m Rating (UK) 18 Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Ebbe Roe Smith Additional Info Someone posted the scene where the Michael Douglas character asks for “Breakfast” in a burger joint but they had stopped serving it three minutes earlier. It has been watched over 3 milion times. I Want Breakfast Director Joel … Continue reading
Duration 1h 42m Rating (UK) X Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Harry Julius Fink, Rita M. Fink, Dean Riesmer (other versions by Terrence Malick, John Milius plus a story version by Jo Heims) Additional Info This film was in development for years with Frank Sinatra being attached to it for a while. Many … Continue reading
Duration 1h 54m Rating (UK) 12A Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Rian Johnson Additional Info The director has subsequently been employed to write and direct the latest trio of StarWars films. Director Rian Johnson Starring Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane, Maximilian Schell Elevator Pitch A couple of brothers … Continue reading
Duration 1h 49m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story An original screenplay – but based on aspects of the Spanish Civil War Writers/Script Jim Allen Additional Info This film had a very limited release and so was not much reviewed, or generally commented on. Director Ken Loach Starring Ian Hart, Rosana Pastor Elevator Pitch A … Continue reading
Duration 1h 33m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Stephen C. Sepher, Max Adams (story by Stephen C. Sepher) Additional Info Jeffrey Dean Morgan is mostly a TV actor, best known for his role in Grey’s Anatomy. Director Scott Mann Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Robert De Nero, Dave Bautista, Kate Bosworth, … Continue reading
Duration 2h 22m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story A Stephen King novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption”. Writers/Script Frank Darabont Additional Info The Director of Photography was Roger Deakins. He has done some stuff – most recently Blade Runner 2049. Director Frank Darabont Starring Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown, James Whitmore … Continue reading
Duration 1h 47m Rating (UK) 12A Source of story A book of the same name by Paul Torday. Writers/Script Simon Beaufoy Additional Info The book is presented by means of emails, press releases, reports and diary entries. This is quirky and clever, and may have been the reason for its brief celebrity, but it is … Continue reading
Duration 1h 40m Rating (UK) 12A Source of story This outing was inspired by a true story about which little is known, apart from the existance of portrait of a mixed race young woman together with her cousin, commissioned by Lord Mansfield then Lord Chief Justice of England. Writers/Script Misan Sagay (after arbitration, since … Continue reading
Duration 1h 31m Rating (UK) 12A Source of story A book from 1972 Deathwatch by Robb White, who was sufficiently well known in America to be on “This is Your Life” in 1959. He died in 1990. Writers/Script Stephen Susco Additional Info The star of the show is probably the Mercedes G65 6X6 a very … Continue reading
Duration 2h 0m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story Real events – believe it or not Writers/Script Steven Rogers Additional Info Allison Janney, often seen on our TV screens in the sitcom “Mom”, won Best Supporting Actress at the 2018 Oscars, Golden Globes and the BAFTAs. Director Craig Gillespie Starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison … Continue reading
Duration 1h 59m Rating (UK) 12A Source of story The book of the same name by Thomas Hardy Writers/Script David Nicholls Additional Info Apparently the book was intended to shock Victoria readers with veiled sexual references – not really evident in the version, which is the fourth to be brought to the screen. Director Thomas … Continue reading
Duration 1h 39m Rating (USA) R Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Glenn German, Adam Rodgers Additional Info Taissa Farmiga, who plays Edith’s daughter, is actually her much younger sister. Andy Garcia’s daughter, Daniella, is also in it. Nothing like a bit of nepotism – but they are fine. Director Adam Rodgers Starring Andy … Continue reading
Duration 3h (or 2h 40m) Rating (UK) 18 Source of story A book by Jordan Belfort Writers/Script Terence Winter Additional Info Terence Winter scripted many episodes of The Sopranos. I saw this first at a matinee in Madrid. Every seat in the screen was taken. The producers Red Granite Pictures have recently been required to … Continue reading
Duration 2h 8m Rating (UK) 12A Source of story A traditional Japanese folk tale. Writers/Script Chris Morgan, Hossein Amini Additional Info Story by Chris Morgan and Walter Hamadi. The making of this movie is something of a saga itself. The studio execs wanted Keanu Reeves to have more screen time, and the love interest and … Continue reading
Duration 2h 25m Rating (UK) 12 Source of story Loosely based on a 1956 Phillip K. Dick short story. Writers/Script Scott Frank, Jon Cohen Additional Info The story had been optioned in about 1992 and had been through “Development Hell” before Spielberg and Cruise got together to make it happen. Director Steven Spielberg Starring Tom … Continue reading
Duration 2h 12m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story Inspired (it says) by real events and a book Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty by John Pearson. Writers/Script David Scarpa Additional Info In the future this movie may be better known for the fact that, after it … Continue reading
Duration 1h 49m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story A book of the same name by Ron Rash Writers/Script Christopher Kyle Additional Info This movie spent a long time in post production. Because they needed to redo some dialogue, due to aircraft noise, they tried to buy Lawrence out of Hunger Games for one day. … Continue reading
Duration 1h 38m Rating (UK) 12A Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Peter A. Dowling, Billy Ray Additional Info As in many other movies, the IMDb trivia tells us there is a “Wilhelm Scream” featured in this. The reference is to a sound effect used in many films originally recorded by Sheb Wooley in … Continue reading
Duration 1h 50m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story A series of 16 books by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye and possibly a video franchise from 2000. Writers/Script Paul Lalonde, John Patus Additional Info The authors of the books thought it was a good representation of their work. Director Vic Armstrong Starring Nicolas Cage, … Continue reading
Duration 1h 39m Rating (UK) 18 Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Jonathan W. Stokes Additional Info For any Brits who may look at this review, Scott Adkins, who quite looks the part, started off in East Enders and graduated to Holby City before taking off for America. Director Eduardo Rodriguez Starring Scott Adkins, … Continue reading
Duration 1h 11m Rating (UK) 15 Source of story An original screenplay Writers/Script Sally Potter Additional Info Walter Donohue was story editor. All the actors were paid equally for their work, information used to promote equal pay for women in the film industry. I noticed that the appearance of one fox required four “fox wranglers”. … Continue reading
A MOTION PICTURE LIST 