Category: Drama
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People Like Us is not quite like us, but it is getting there.
People Like Us – 2012 Director Alex Kurtzman Starring Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jon Favreau, Philip Baker Hall, Michael Hall D’Addario, Mark Duplass Screenplay Roberto Orci, Bobby Cohen, Clayton Townshend There is a scene near the beginning of People Like Us when we find out about the father of Sam (Pine) for the first time.…
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Girl In Progress: It’s all been done
Girl In Progress – 2012 Director Patricia Riggin Starring Eva Mendes, Matthew Modine, Cierra Ramirez, Patricia Arquette, Eugino Derbez, Kendall Cross Screenplay Hiram Martinez “So help me, I will set you on fire, girl.” Above is one of the opening lines between mother Grace (Mendes) and her daughter Ansiedad (Ramirez) in the coming of age flick Girl In Progress.…
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October Baby is a picture of grace within a cracked rear view
October Baby – 2011 Director Andrew and Jon Erwin Starring Rachel Hendrix, Jason Burkey, John Schneider, Jennifer Price, Jasmine Guy, Chris Sligh, Robert Amaya, Shari Rigby, Tracy Miller Screenplay Cecil Stokes, Jon Erwin “This is who you are…” There is a point in October Baby when Hannah (Hendrix) has entered the place where her birth mother works. It…
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Samuel L. Jackson is The Samaritan: Need I say more?
The Samaritan – 2012 Director David Weaver Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Wilkinson, Luke Kirby, Ruth Negga, Gil Bellows, Aaron Poole, Debra Kara Unger Screenplay Weaver and Elan Mastai Iris: “I can’t remember the last time I did something I was proud of.” Foley: “I know what you mean.” Foley (Jackson) is a grifter, who did 25…
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Machine Gun Preacher: A worthy effort about a flawed, good man
Machine Gun Preacher – 2011 Directed by Marc Foster Starring Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Shannon, Kathy Baker, Souléymane Sy Savané, Rhema Marvanne Screenplay by Jason Keller Sam Childers is not an easy man. His path through early life was drugs, booze, prison and then he graduated to armed robbery for more drugs, and then to attempted murder. Around…
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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: British in repose
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – 2012 Director John Madden Starring Dame Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Dame Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Ronald Pickup, Celia Imrie, Dev Patel, Tena Desae Screenplay Ol Parker “Why would you not go out? There’s so much to see. All life is here, Mrs. Ainsle.” The relationship between India and England is…
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Friends with Kids: I’m pretty sure they’re cooler than we are
Friends with Kids – 2012 Written and Directed by Jennifer Westfeldt Starring Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristin Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Chris O’Dowd, Megan Fox, Edward Burns From the moment the camera starts, we are treated to a cover of the book, The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins. That’s life in the big city. You get…
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Darling Companion: Woof.
Darling Companion – 2012 Directed by Lawrence Kasdan Starring Kevin Kline, Diane Keaton, Elisabeth Moss, Sam Shepard, Richard Jenkins, Dianne Wiest, Mark Duplass Written by Lawrence & Meg Kasdan What the hell is this? Lawrence Kasdan at one time, was one of the best talents in Hollywood. The Empire Strikes Back, the better half of Return of the…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 