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Drama

This category contains 12 posts

The Manchurian Candidate

Released 2004 Rating 15 in UK Director Jonathan Demme Writer/s Daniel Pyne, Dean Georgaris Starring Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, Meryl Streep Source of story A novel by Richard Condon, the 1962 screenplay by George Axelrod Elevator Pitch Raymond Shaw, a former soldier, is nominated to become vice-president of the USA with the assistance of his … Continue reading

Takers

Released 2010 Rating 12A Director John Luessenhop Writer/s Peter Allen, Gabriel Casseus, Avery Duff Starring Matt Dillon, Idris Elba, Paul Walker Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A bunch of super smart thieves undertake a heist prompted by the return of one of their number from jail, who is in some way involved … Continue reading

The Forger (2015)

Released 2015 Rating 15 Director Philip Martin Writer/s Richard D’Ovidio Starring John Travolta, Christopher Plummer, Tye Sheridan Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch An art forger is legally extracted from prison by a gang leader so that he can paint a copy of a Monet picture which is being exhibited at the Boston … Continue reading

The Theory of Everything (2014)

Released 2014 Rating 12A In UK Director James March Writer/s Anthony McCarten Starring Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, David Thewlis, Source of story Book by Jane Hawking Elevator Pitch Stephen Hawking is a young brilliant theoretical scientist whose life is predicted to be short when he is diagnosed with motor-neurone disease. But he has married a … Continue reading

Florence Foster Jenkins

Released 2016 Rating PG Director Stephen Frears Writer/s Nicholas Martin Starring Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg Source of story Real events Elevator Pitch A New York socialite gives increasingly ambitious operatic performances despite her limited ability as a singer. She is aided by her pianist who alters rhythm and key to suit her, and … Continue reading

The Mechanic

Released 2011 Rating 15 in UK Director Simon West Writer/s Richard Wenk, Lewis John Carlino Starring Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland Source of story A 1972 film of the same name Elevator Pitch A sophisticated assassin whose hits are programmed by a shadowy organisation, is required to carry out the termination of his mentor, … Continue reading

The Godfather: Part II

Released 1974 Rating X (over 18s) in UK Director Francis Ford Coppola Writer/s Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola Starring Al Pacino, Robert De Nero, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton Source of story A development from The Godfather Elevator Pitch We move between the early life of Vito Corleone from his youth in Sicilly to his early … Continue reading

True Crime

Released 1999 Rating 15 in UK Director Clint Eastwood Writer/s Larry Gross, Paul Brickman, Stephen Schiff Starring Clint Eastwood, Isaiah Washington, James Woods, Bernard Hill Source of story A novel by Andrew Klavan Elevator Pitch A veteran reporter who is screwing his immediate boss’s wife, is given the job of covering an execution which is … Continue reading

Café Society

Released 2016 Rating 12A Director Woody Allen Writer/s Woody Allen Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Steve Carell, Blake Lively Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A young New Yorker, fed up with working for his father, makes his way to Hollywood where his uncle is an agent, and is eventually given a job. … Continue reading

The Bourne Ultimatum (Bourne 3)

Released 2007 Rating 12A in UK Director Paul Greengrass Writer/s Tony Gilroy, Scott Z Burns, George Nolfi Starring Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Joan Allen Source of story Book by Robert Ludlum Elevator Pitch Bourne is on the case again when he is named in a Guardian article, requiring him to visit … Continue reading

The Bourne Supremacy (Bourne 2)

Released 2004 Rating 12A in UK Director Paul Greengrass Writer/s Tony Gilroy Starring Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Joan Allen, Brian Cox Source of story Novel by Robert Ludlum (more or less) Elevator Pitch Bourne finds himself a target of a KGB killer, and is forced to come out of hiding once more to attempt to … Continue reading

28 Days

Released 2000 Rating 15 Director Betty Thomas Writer/s Susannah Grant Starring Sandra Bullock, Dominic West, Viggo Mortensen Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch An alcoholic journalist rampages through her sister’s wedding, finally driving the wedding car away and crashing into someone’s front room. As a result she is sentenced either to jail or … Continue reading

Sid & Nancy

Released 1986 (Remastered 2016) Rating 18 in UK Director Alex Cox Writer/s Alex Cox, Abbe Wood Starring Gary Oldman, Cloe Webb, David Hayman Source of story Real events Elevator Pitch At the height of the Sex Pistols fame, the bassist Sid Vicious becomes involved with Nancy Spungen a drug addict, camp follower and occasional sex … Continue reading

Backtrack

Released 2016 Rating 15 in UK Director Michael Petroni Writer/s Michael Petroni Starring Adrian Brody, Sam Neill Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch Two boys leave their bikes on a railway line, apparently causing in the derailment of a train and the deaths of 47 people. They are both traumatised, and one, who … Continue reading

Absolute Power

Released 1997 Rating 15 in UK Director Clint Eastwood Writer/s William Goldman Starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Scott Glen, Richard Jenkins Source of story A book of the same name by David Baldacci Elevator Pitch The US president and the young wife of his principle sponsor are getting together in the … Continue reading

Shoot ‘Em Up

Released 2007 Rating 18 Director Michael Davis Writer/s Michael Davis Starring Clive Owen, Monica Bellucci, Paul Giamatti Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A man delivers a baby in a warehouse, while engaging in a gun battle with men chasing the mother. Thereafter, he and a helpful whore go on the run with … Continue reading

Money Monster

Released 2016 Rating 15 Director Jodie Foster Writer/s Jamie Linden, Alan DiFiore, Jim Kouf Starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O’Connell, Caitriona Balfe Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch Money Monster is a financial TV show and, just as the presenter is getting into his stride, a disgruntled investor with pistol and explosive … Continue reading

The Counsellor (2013)

Released 2013 Rating 18 in UK Director Ridley Scott Writer/s Cormac McCarthy Starring Michael Fassbender, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Brad Pitt Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch In hostile border country a lawyer becomes involved in the financing of a drug smuggling operation, which is using a septic tank wagon to … Continue reading

Seven Pounds

Released 2008 Rating 12A Director Gabriele Muccino Writer/s Grant Nieporte Starring Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A young engineer causes the deaths of seven people including his fiancee due to texting while driving. He is traumatised by guilt and so sets out to change the lives … Continue reading

The Bourne Identity (Bourne 1)

Released 2002 Rating 12A Director Doug Liman Writer/s Tony Gilroy, W.Blake Herron Starring Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox Source of story Loosely based on the book of the same name by Robert Ludlum Elevator Pitch A fishing boat picks up a man from the sea who is injured and suffering from amnesia. … Continue reading

Killer Elite

Released 2011 Rating 15 in UK Director Gary McKendry Writer/s Matt Sherring Starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Nero Source of story A book by (Sir) Ranulph Fiennes called “The Feather Men” perporting to be a true story. Elevator Pitch A retired professional assassin is drawn back into action when his mentor is imprisoned … Continue reading

Whiplash

Released 2014 Rating 15 in UK Director Damien Chazelle Writer/s Damien Chazelle Starring Miles Teller, J.K.Simmons Source of story An original screenplay followed by a short film Elevator Pitch A talented drumming student is recruited for an elite jazz band which has an obsessive and bullying professor, who is apparently keen to find really exceptional … Continue reading

The Sting

Released 1973 Rating A Director George Roy Hill Writer/s David S Ward Starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw Source of story Book, The Big Con by David W Maurer Elevator Pitch For their own reasons a couple of con men decide to swindle a gang boss out of a large sum of money by … Continue reading

Miller’s Crossing

Released 1990 Rating 18 in UK Director Coen Brothers Writer/s Coen Brothers Starring Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch In prohibition era America two rival gang bosses vie for control of the city. The advisor to one forms an ill advised association with his boss’s … Continue reading

Green Room

Released 2016 Rating 18 in UK Director Jeremy Saulnier Writer/s Jeremy Saulnier Starring Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Patrick Stewart Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A punk band in hard times take on a gig at a neo-nazi bar in the remote forests of North West Oregon, but after their performance they accidentally … Continue reading

Flight of the Phoenix

Released 2004 Rating 12A in UK Director John Moore Writer/s Scott Frank, Edward Burns Starring Dennis Quaid, Tyrese Gibson, Giovanni Ribisi, Hugh Laurie Source of story A 1965 film, screenplay by Lukas Heller Elevator Pitch A plane carrying a bunch of oil workers and their boss, back to base after failing to find oil, crashes … Continue reading

The Expatriate

Released 2012 Rating 15 in UK Director Phillip Stölzl Writer/s Arash Amel Starring Aaron Eckart, Olga Kurylenko Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A former CIA man with a role in the security of a Belgian company is forced to go on the run with his estranged daughter when it becomes apparent that … Continue reading

The Family (2013)

Released 2013 Rating 15 in UK Director Luc Besson Writer/s Luc Besson, Michael Caleo Starring Robert De Nero, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones, Dianna Agron, David Belle Source of story A book by Tonino Benacquista Elevator Pitch A mafia boss who has turned state’s evidence is hidden by the FBI with his family in Northern … Continue reading

The Man Who Knew Infinity

Released 2015 Rating 12A Director Matt Brown Writer/s Matt Brown Starring Dev Patel, Jeremy Irons, Toby Jones, Jeremy Northam Source of story A book by Robert Kanigel Elevator Pitch An Indian mathemetician, who appears to be a genius is invited to Cambridge to collaborate with Professor Hardy, but despite his groundbreaking work, the university is … Continue reading

Drop Zone

Released 1994 Rating 15 in UK Director John Badham Writer/s Tony Griffin, Guy Manos, Peter Barsocchini, John Bishop Starring Wesley Snipes, Gary Busey, Yancey Butler Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A gang rescue a prisoner from a Boeing 747 at 40,000 ft, blowing a hole in the side and jumping out. He … Continue reading

Faces in the Crowd

Released 2011 Rating 15 in UK Director Julien Magnet Writer/s Julien Magnet Starring Milla Jovovich, Julian McMahon, David Atrakchi, Marianne Faithful Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A young woman returning home from a night out with friends witnesses a murder taking place, and is chased by the killer. In the resulting struggle … Continue reading

Gone in 60 Seconds

Released 2000 Rating 15 in UK Director Dominic Sena Writer/s H.B.Halicki, Scott Rosenberg Starring Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovani Ribisi, Robert Duvall, Timothy Olyphant, Christopher Ecclestone, Vinnie Jones Source of story A remake of a 1974 film (I had never heard of it) Elevator Pitch A seasoned car thief is drawn out of retirement to … Continue reading

The Tourist

Released 2010 Rating 12A in UK Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Writer/s Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Christopher McQuarrie, Julian Fellows Starring Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A woman who is under surveilance, selects a man at random on a train to be a decoy, … Continue reading

Trumbo

Released 2015 Rating 15 in UK Director Jay Roach Writer/s John McNamara Starring Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Elle Fanning Source of story Real events and book by Bruce Cook Elevator Pitch Screenwriter Dalton Trumbo and nine others are called before Congress to answer allegations that they are members of the communist party. They … Continue reading

The Butler (2013)

Released 2013 Rating 12A in UK Director Lee Daniels Writer/s Danny Strong Starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Redgrave, David Oyelowo, Cuba Gooding Jr, Lenny Kravitz, Robin Williams, John Cusack, Liev Schreiber, Alan Rickman, Jane Fonda. Source of story Inspired by real events and an article by Wil Haygood in the Washington Post … Continue reading

Bond 22: Quantum of Solace

Released 2008 Rating 12A in UK Director Marc Forster Writer/s Paul Haggis, Neil Purvis, Robert Wade Starring Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench, Gemma Arterton, Jeffrey Wright, Rory Kinnear, Tim Pigott-Smith, Source of story A continuation of Casino Royal, title apparently an Ian Fleming short story. Elevator Pitch The secret organisation Quantum has penetrated the … Continue reading

Secret in Their Eyes

Released 2016 Rating 15 in UK Director Billy Ray Writer/s Billy Ray Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Dean Norris Source of story A 2009 Argentinian film of the same name. Elevator Pitch A former FBI officer returns to Los Angeles to tell his former colleagues that he has found the identity of a … Continue reading

The Guard

Released 2011 Rating 15 in UK Director John Michael McDonagh Writer/s John Michael McDonagh Starring Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong, Liam Cunningham Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A country policeman on the west coast of Ireland has his own sense of right and wrong. This involves paying prostitutes and returning a … Continue reading

Waist Deep

Released 2006 Rating 15 in UK Director Vondie Curtis-Hall Writer/s Vondie Curtis-Hall, Darin Scott Starring Tyrese Gibson, Meagan Good Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch A former criminal recently released on probation when his car, with the son in it, is hijacked. The cost of getting the boy back from a fearsome gang … Continue reading

Stolen

Released 2012 Rating 12A in UK Director Simon West Writer/s David Guggenheim Starring Nicolas Cage, Josh Lucas, Malin Akerman, Danny Huston Source of story An original screenplay Elevator Pitch Eight years after a failed bank robbery a criminal gets out of jail, only to find himself having to pursue his former partner, who had has … Continue reading

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