Archive for the ‘Drama’ Category

The Escapist

Monday, January 21st, 2008

All Genres:
Crime, Drama, Thriller

Release Year: 2008

Country: UK | Ireland

Runtime: 102 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: 5 Men. 4 Walls. 1 Plan.

 

Writers: Daniel Hardy (writer) Rupert Wyatt (writer)

 

Cast: Brian Cox … Frank Perry
Damian Lewis … Rizza
Joseph Fiennes … Lenny Drake
Seu Jorge … Viv Batista
Liam Cunningham … Brodie
Dominic Cooper … Lacey
Steven Mackintosh … Tony
Ned Dennehy … Jumpy Con
Vinnie McCabe … Sam (as Vincent McCabe)
Jack Walsh … Sikes
Frank O'Sullivan … Hedges
Stephen Farrelly … Two Ton
Domhnall O'Donoghue … Mary
George Seremba … Stan
Eleanor McLynn … Frank's Daughter

 

Plot: Frank Perry is an institutionalized convict fourteen years into a life sentence without parole. When his estranged daughter falls ill…

 

Awards: 2 wins & 4 nominations

Be Kind Rewind

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama

Release Year: 2008

Country: UK | USA

Runtime: 102 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: You name it, we shoot it

 

Cast: Jack Black … Jerry Gerber
Mos Def … Mike
Danny Glover … Elroy Fletcher
Mia Farrow … Miss Falewicz
Melonie Diaz … Alma
Irv Gooch … Wilson
Chandler Parker … Craig
Arjay Smith … Manny
Quinton Aaron … Q
Gio Perez … Randy
Basia Rosas … Andrea
Tomasz Soltys … Carl
Marcus Carl Franklin … Kid #1
Blake Hightower … Kid #2
Amir Ali Said … Kid #3

 

Plot: A man whose brain becomes magnetized unintentionally destroys every tape in his friend’s video store. In order to satisfy the store’s most loyal renter, an aging woman with signs of dementia, the two men set out to remake the lost films.

 

Awards: 2 nominations

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

All Genres:
Adventure, Comedy, Drama

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime: 95 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Sometimes life leads you to the most mysterious places.

 

Cast: Jon Foster … Art Bechstein
Peter Sarsgaard … Cleveland Arning
Sienna Miller … Jane Bellwether
Nick Nolte … Joe Bechstein
Mena Suvari … Phlox Lombardi
Omid Abtahi … Mohammed
Keith Michael Gregory … Keith
Don Wadsworth … Class Instructor
Christian Hand … Punk Rock Bathroom Patron
Jarid Faubel … Mohawk Man
Tim Hartman … Restaurant Manager
Seth Adams … Feldman
Jocelyn Wrzosek … Townie
Patrick Jordan … Phlox's New Boyfriend
Stephen Liska … Jimmy Breezy

 

Plot: Based on Michael Chabon’s novel, the film chronicles the defining summer of a recent college graduate who crosses his gangster father and explores love, sexuality, and the enigmas surrounding his life and his city.

 

Awards: 1 nomination

Phoebe in Wonderland

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

All Genres:
Drama, Family, Fantasy

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime: 96 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Dare to dream your life.

 

Cast: Felicity Huffman … Hillary Lichten
Elle Fanning … Phoebe Lichten
Patricia Clarkson … Miss Dodger
Bill Pullman … Peter Lichten
Bailee Madison … Olivia Lichten
Campbell Scott … Principal Davis
Ian Colletti … Jamie
Caitlin Sanchez … Monica / White Queen (credit only)
Mackenzie Milone … Sally
Austin Williams … Tommy rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tessa Albertson … Alice
Max Baker … 2nd Teacher / King of Hearts
Maya N. Blake … Debby
Conor Carroll … Jeremy
Maddie Corman … First teacher / White rabbit
Connor Douglas … Richie
Teala Dunn … Jenny
Peter Gerety … Dr. Miles / Humpty Dumpty
Tyler Hanes … Prince
Madhur Jaffrey … Miss Reiter
Cindy Joo … Sara
Danielle Kotch … 2 and 3 year old Phoebe
Gracie Lawrence … Julie
Alicia Nakhjavan … Ellen / White Rabbit
Michael Nostrand … Colleague 2
Marquis Rodriguez … Martin
Ron Simons … Colleague
April Yvette Thompson … Colleague
Miranda Wilkins … Janet

 

Plot: Confounded by her clashes with the seemingly rule-obsessed world, a little girl seeks enlightenment from her unconventional drama teacher.

 

Awards: 3 nominations

Quid Pro Quo

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

All Genres:
Drama, Thriller

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime: USA:82 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: A strange new American dream.

 

Cast: Nick Stahl … Isaac Knott
Rachel Black … Janice Musslewhite
Jessica Hecht … Edie
Jacob Pitts … Hugh
Ashlie Atkinson … Candy
Jamie McShane … Man on Sidewalk
Pablo Schreiber … Brooster
Jeane Fournier … Charlene Coke
Carmela Marner … A Female Wannabe
Phil LaMarr … Wannabe Group Leader
Matthew Carey … A Male Wannabe
Ben Siegler … Man with Trachea Tube
Michal Sinnott … Isaac's Mom
Joshua Leonard … Isaac's Dad
Vera Farmiga … Fiona

 

Plot: A semi-paralyzed radio reporter is sent out to investigate a story that leads him into an odd subculture and on a journey of disturbing self-realization.

Ballast

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

All Genres:
Drama

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime: USA:96 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline:

 

Cast: Micheal J. Smith Sr. … Lawrence
JimMyron Ross … James
Tarra Riggs … Marlee
Johnny McPhail … John
Ventress Bonner … Teen
Jimez Alexander … Teen
Jean Paul Guillory … Teen
Marcus Alexander … Teen
Marquice Alexander … Teen
Lawrence Jackson … Teen
Jeremy Jordan … Paramedic
Steve Cabell … Paramedic
Samuel Dobbins … Ambulance Driver
Neil Pettigrew … Dispatcher (voice)
Sanjib Shrestha … Dr. Shrestha

 

Plot: A drama set in the Mississippi delta, where one man’s suicide affects three people’s lives. add synopsis

 

Awards: 10 wins & 14 nominations

What Just Happened

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime: 104 min

Languages: English | Hebrew | French

Director:

Tagline: In Hollywood, everybody can hear you scream.

 

Cast: Robert De Niro … Ben
Sean Penn … Himself
Catherine Keener … Lou Tarnow
Bruce Willis … Actor
John Turturro … Dick Bell
Robin Wright Penn … Kelly
Stanley Tucci … Scott Solomon
Kristen Stewart … Zoe
Michael Wincott … Jeremy Brunell
Jason Kravits … Pollster (as Jason Kravitz)
Mark Ivanir … Johnny
Remy K. Selma … Jimmy (as Remy Selma)
Christopher Evan Welch … Studio Marketing Guy
Lily Rabe … Dawn
Sam Levinson … Carl

 

Plot: Two weeks in the life of a fading Hollywood producer who’s having a rough time trying to get his new picture made.

Sunshine Cleaning

Friday, January 18th, 2008

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime: 91 min | Germany:102 min (European Film Market)

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: life's a messy business.

 

Cast: Amy Adams … Rose Lorkowski
Emily Blunt … Norah Lorkowski
Alan Arkin … Joe Lorkowski
Jason Spevack … Oscar Lorkowski
Steve Zahn … Mac
Mary Lynn Rajskub … Lynn
Clifton Collins Jr. … Winston
Eric Christian Olsen … Randy
Paul Dooley … Sherm
Kevin Chapman … Carl
Judith Jones … Paula Datzman-Mead
Amy Redford … Heather
Christopher Dempsey … Gun Shop Suicide
Vic Browder … Gun Shop Owner
Ivan Brutsche … Above and Beyond Worker

 

Plot: In order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school, a mom starts an unusual business — a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service — with her unreliable sister.

 

Awards: 1 win & 3 nominations

The Wackness

Friday, January 18th, 2008

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama, Romance

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime: 99 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Sometimes it's right to do the wrong things.

 

Cast: Ben Kingsley … Dr. Jeffrey Squires
Josh Peck … Luke Shapiro
Famke Janssen … Kristin Squires
Olivia Thirlby … Stephanie
Mary-Kate Olsen … Union
Jane Adams … Eleanor
Method Man … Percy
Aaron Yoo … Justin
Talia Balsam … Mrs. Shapiro
David Wohl … Mr. Shapiro
Bob Dishy … Grandpa Shapiro
Joanna Merlin … Grandma Shapiro
Shannon Briggs … Bodyguard #1
Roy Milton Davis … Homeless Man
Alexander Flores … Kid in Bar

 

Plot: It’s the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing with hip-hop. Set against this backdrop, a lonely teenager named Luke Shapiro spends his last summer before university selling marijuana throughout New York City, trading it with his unorthodox psychotherapist for treatment, while having a crush on his stepdaughter.

 

Awards: 1 win & 3 nominations

Bottle Shock

Friday, January 18th, 2008

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime: 110 min

Languages: English | French | German

Director:

Tagline: Based on a true story of love, victory and fermentation.

 

Cast: Chris Pine … Bo Barrett
Hal B. Klein … Shenky
Alan Rickman … Steven Spurrier
Jean-Michel Richaud … Maitre d'
Dennis Farina … Maurice Cantavale
Bill Pullman … Jim Barrett
Kirk Baily … Loan Officer
Freddy Rodríguez … Gustavo Brambila (as Freddy Rodriguez)
Philippe Bergeron … Pierre Tari
Rachael Taylor … Sam Fulton
Louis Giambalvo … George Taber
Jean-Pierre Gillain … Pierre Bréjoux
Greg Collins … Trucker
Luis Saguar … Man #1 (as Louis Saguar)
James Hiser … Man #2

 

Plot: The story of the early days of California wine making featuring the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as “Judgment of Paris”. add synopsis

 

Awards: 1 win

The Yellow Handkerchief

Friday, January 18th, 2008

All Genres:
Drama, Romance

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime:

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline:

 

Writers: Pete Hamill (story) and Erin Dignam (screenplay)

 

Cast: William Hurt … Brett Hanson
Maria Bello … May
Kristen Stewart … Martine
Eddie Redmayne … Gordy
Emmanuel Cohn … Doctor
Nurith Cohn … Nurse
Veronica Russell … Warden Genaro rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eric F. Adams … Bank Accessor
Barbara Balentine … Grocery store customer
Ross Britz … Blonde's Friend
Lisha Brock … Waitress
Victor Brunette … Chippy White
Grover Coulson … Farnsworth
Lucy Faust … Snotty girl in diner
Aimee Spring Fortier … Teenage mother
Ross Francis … Boyfriend
Jeff Galpin … Cop #2
Douglas M. Griffin … Cop
Michael D. Kennedy … Tony Freckles
Rebecca Newman … Ilene
Bello Nock … Bello Nock
Holly O'Quin … Female nurse
Ashlynn Ross … Delivery Girl
Shayne Tingle … Ferry Driver
John Gregory Willard … Blonde
Dawna Williams … Waitress

 

Plot: A road trip through Louisiana transforms three strangers who were originally brought together by their respective feelings of loneliness. add synopsis

Frozen River

Friday, January 18th, 2008

All Genres:
Crime, Drama

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime: 97 min

Languages: English | French | Chinese | Urdu

Director:

Tagline: Desperation knows no borders.

 

Cast: Melissa Leo … Ray Eddy
Misty Upham … Lila Littlewolf
Charlie McDermott … Troy J. 'T.J.' Eddy
Michael O'Keefe … Trooper Finnerty
Mark Boone Junior … Jacques Bruno
James Reilly … Ricky Eddy
Jay Klaitz … Guy Versailles
John Canoe … Bernie Littlewolf
Dylan Carusona … Jimmy
Michael Sky … Billy Three Rivers
Gargi Shinde … Pakistani Mother
Rajesh Bose … Pakistani Father
Azin Jahanbakhsh … Pakistani Dealer
Jack Phillips … Pakistani Baby
James Phillips … Pakistani Baby

 

Plot: Takes place in the days before Christmas near a little-known border crossing on the Mohawk reservation between New York State and Quebec… add synopsis

 

Awards: Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 23 wins & 14 nominations

Transsiberian

Friday, January 18th, 2008

All Genres:
Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Release Year: 2008

Country: Spain | Germany | UK | Lithuania

Runtime: 111 min

Languages: English | Russian | Spanish | Chinese | French

Director:

Tagline: Arrive on time.

 

Cast: Woody Harrelson … Roy
Emily Mortimer … Jessie
Ben Kingsley … Grinko
Kate Mara … Abby
Eduardo Noriega … Carlos
Thomas Kretschmann … Kolzak
Etienne Chicot … Frenchman
Mac McDonald … Minister
Colin Stinton … Embassy Official
Perlis Vaisieta … Manager Hotel Pushkin
Mindaugas Papinigis … Young Detective
Mindaugas Capas … Military Officer
Visockaite Sonata … Female Train Attendant #1 (as Sonata Visockaite)
Larisa Kalpokaite … Female Train Attendant #2
Valentinas Krulikovskis … Young Waiter

 

Plot: A Trans-Siberian train journey from China to Moscow becomes a thrilling chase of deception and murder when an American couple encounters a mysterious pair of fellow travelers.

 

Awards: 2 wins & 11 nominations

In Bruges

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

All Genres:
Crime, Drama, Thriller

Release Year: 2008

Country: UK | USA

Runtime: 107 min

Languages: English | German

Director:

Tagline: Shoot first. Sightsee later.

 

Cast: Elizabeth Berrington … Natalie
Rudy Blomme … Ticket Seller
Olivier Bonjour … Film Director
Mark Donovan … Overweight Man
Ann Elsley … Overweight Woman #2
Colin Farrell … Ray
Jean-Marc Favorin … Policeman
Ralph Fiennes … Harry Walters
Brendan Gleeson … Ken
Eric Godon … Yuri
Zeljko Ivanek … Canadian Guy
Sachi Kimura … Imamoto
Anna Madeley … Denise
Louis Nummy … Harry's child #3
Clémence Poésy … Chloë Villette

 

Plot: Holed up in Bruges, Belgium after a difficult job, two hit men begin to differ on their views of life and death as they become used to local customs.

 

Awards: Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 32 nominations

First Sunday

Friday, January 11th, 2008

All Genres:
Comedy, Crime, Drama

Release Year: 2008

Country: USA

Runtime: USA:96 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Keep the faith. Steal the rest.

 

Cast: Ice Cube … Durell
Katt Williams … Rickey
Tracy Morgan … LeeJohn
Loretta Devine … Sister Doris
Michael Beach … Deacon
Keith David … Judge B. Bennet Galloway
Regina Hall … Omunique
Malinda Williams … Tianna
Chi McBride … Pastor Arthur Mitchell
Clifton Powell … Officer Eddie King
Nicholas Turturro … Officer D'Agostino
Olivia Cole … Momma T
Red Grant … Harold
C.J. Sanders … Durell Jr.
Rickey Smiley … Bernice Jenkins

 

Plot: Durell and LeeJohn are best friends and bumbling petty criminals. When told they have one week to pay a $17,000 debt or Durell will lose his son, they come up with a desperate scheme to rob their neighborhood church. Instead, they end up spending the night in the presence of the Lord and are forced to deal with much than they bargained for. add synopsis

Ballet Shoes

Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

All Genres:
Drama, Family

Release Year: 2007

Country: UK

Runtime: 90 min | UK:180 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Dreams do come true…

 

Writers: Noel Streatfeild (novel) Heidi Thomas (screenplay)

 

Cast: Emilia Fox … Sylvia Brown
Victoria Wood … Nana
Emma Watson … Pauline Fossil
Yasmin Paige … Petrova Fossil
Lucy Boynton … Posy Fossil
Richard Griffiths … Great Uncle Matthew
Marc Warren … Mr. Simpson
Lucy Cohu … Theo Dane
Gemma Jones … Dr. Jakes
Harriet Walter … Dr. Smith
Eileen Atkins … Madame Fidolia
Heather Nicol … Winifred
Mary Stockley … Miss Jay
Teresa Churcher … Clara
Skye Bennett … Young Sylvia

 

Plot: The story of three orphan girls (Pauline, Petrova, and Posy), adopted by an eccentric explorer, Great Uncle Matthew, and his niece Sylvia, in 1930s London. add synopsis

 

Awards: 2 wins

O' Horten

Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama

Release Year: 2007

Country: Norway | Germany | France

Runtime: 90 min

Languages: Norwegian

Director:

Tagline:

 

Writers: Bent Hamer (writer) Harold Manning (french adaptation)

 

Cast: Baard Owe … Odd Horten (as Bård Owe)
Espen Skjønberg … Trygve Sissener
Ghita Nørby … Fru Thøgersen
Henny Moan … Svea
Bjørn Floberg … Flo
Kai Remlow … Steiner Sissener (as Kai Remlov)
Per Jansen … Lokfører
Bjarte Hjelmeland … Konduktør rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tone Stern Bergersen … Jente i svømmebasseng
Peter Bredal … Brevmann
Einar Breian … Flyveleder
Dag Brekke … Skliende forretningsmann
Bård Brinchmann … Toller
Andreas Cappelen … Cateringpersonell
Kjell Ove Carlsen … Ground service luggage
Øyvind Dahle … Sivilpoliti
Øyvind Dvergsdal … Lokomotivfører
Gard B. Eidsvold … Stinesen
Nils Gaup … Same
Anton Lohne Hamer … Nordahls storebror
Peder Anders Lohne Hamer … Nordahl
Jørn Hansen … Arrestert kokk
Elin Hamnes Holm … Ground service
Peter Hredal … Man with letter and stamp
Trond Hultgren … Stamgjest på Valkyrien
Lina Jagels … Jente i svømmebasseng
Bjørn Jenseg … Valkyrijen kelner
Kari Loland … Vera Horten
Nils Petter Mørland … Lokomotivfører
Kjell Arvid Odden … Sivilpoliti
Tor Øines … Ground service security
Lars Øyno … Connery
Claus Plapp … Cateringpersonell
Lasse Ramstad … Nordahls far
Morten Rudå … Röhmer
Anette Sagen … Ung Vera Horten
Paal Schøyen … Mann i badstu
Kristine Rui Slettebakken … Nordahls mor
Thorolv Stangnes … Valkyrienpar
Elisabeth Stavenes … Valkyrienpar
Fredrik Steen … Ground service luggage
Ronald Stiansen … Flyveleder
Karl Sundby … Kjell
Trond-Viggo Torgersen … Opsahl
Michael Tung … Engineer
Terje Alsvik Walløe … Man på pissoar
Lena Wermelin … Gate service

 

Plot: A drama focused on a life-changing moment in 67-year-old train engineer Odd Horten’s existence: the evening of his retirement. add synopsis

 

Awards: 3 wins & 7 nominations

P.S. I Love You

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

All Genres:
Drama, Romance

Release Year: 2007

Country: USA

Runtime: 126 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Sometimes there's only one thing left to say.

 

Cast: Hilary Swank … Holly
Gerard Butler … Gerry
Lisa Kudrow … Denise
Gina Gershon … Sharon
James Marsters … John
Kathy Bates … Patricia
Harry Connick Jr. … Daniel
Nellie McKay … Ciara
Jeffrey Dean Morgan … William
Christopher Whalen … George
Dean Winters … Tom
Anne Kent … Rose Kennedy
Brian McGrath … Martin Kennedy
Sherie Rene Scott … Barbara
Susan Blackwell … Vicky

 

Plot: A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life.

 

Awards: 1 win & 3 nominations

The Bucket List

Sunday, December 16th, 2007

All Genres:
Adventure, Comedy, Drama

Release Year: 2007

Country: USA

Runtime: 97 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: When he closed his eyes, his heart was opened

 

Cast: Jack Nicholson … Edward Cole
Morgan Freeman … Carter Chambers
Sean Hayes … Thomas
Beverly Todd … Virginia Chambers
Rob Morrow … Dr. Hollins
Alfonso Freeman … Roger Chambers
Rowena King … Angelica
Annton Berry Jr. … Kai
Verda Bridges … Shandra
Destiny Brownridge … Maya
Brian Copeland … Lee
Ian Anthony Dale … Instructor
Jennifer Defrancisco … Emily (as Jennifer DeFrancisco)
Angela Gardner … Female Administrator
Noel Gugliemi … Mechanic

 

Plot: Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.

 

Awards: 3 nominations

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Thursday, December 13th, 2007

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Music

Release Year: 2007

Country: USA

Runtime: 92 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Here comes trouble.

 

Cast: Jason Lee … Dave
David Cross … Ian
Cameron Richardson … Claire
Jane Lynch … Gail
Justin Long … Alvin (voice)
Matthew Gray Gubler … Simon (voice)
Jesse McCartney … Theodore (voice)
Allison Karman … Female Intern #1
Tiara Parker … Female Intern #2
Kira Verrastro … Female Intern #3
Veronica Alicino … Amy
Beth Riesgraf … Mother in Store
Adriane Lenox … Vet
Don Tiffany … Engineer
Lorne Green … Director

 

Plot: A struggling songwriter named Dave Seville finds success when he comes across a trio of singing chipmunks: mischievous leader Alvin, brainy Simon, and chubby, impressionable Theodore. add synopsis

 

Awards: 2 wins & 1 nomination