The Honourable Woman - New Sundance Mini-Series is a Hit

Maggie Gyllenhaal Gives a Stellar Performance

 

Maggie Gyllenhaal as Nessa Stein

Did anyone catch The Honourable Woman starring Maggie Gyllenhaal on Sundance last night?  In keeping with the other great series that are on Sundance (Top of the Lake, Rectify, The Red Road and my personal favorite, The Returned), The Honourable Woman is a drama-thriller that is shaping up to be a hit with both viewers and critics.

 

Described by Sundance Channel as a "fast-paced, labyrinthine thriller," this mini-series deals with very current

Lubna Abazal as Atika Halibi

topics.  Set in the Middle East, expect to see espionage, kidnapping and even murder as this realistic story plays out.  Read below Sundance Channel's synopsis of The Honourable Woman:

As children, Nessa Stein (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and her brother Ephra (Andrew Buchan) witnessed the assassination of their father, a well-known Israeli arms manufacturer. Now in her thirties, Nessa has taken control of the company and refocused its purpose on connecting Palestine and Israel to promote peace. Her efforts have resulted in an appointment from the House of Lords. Everything comes to a head when a secret from her past threatens to be exposed and those closest to her are potentially her most dangerous enemies. 

Gyllenhaal is an Academy Award nominated actress; she was nominated in 2009 for her role in Crazy Heart.  Gyllenhaal was also nominated for the Golden Globe in 2002 for Sherrybaby, and 2006 for Secretary, as well as the Saturn Award in 2006 for Stranger than Fiction and 2008 for The Dark Knight.  She has many other award nominations and  wins.  For more on Maggie Gyllenhaal's movie amazing movie career, take a look at her full filmography here: 
Maggie Gyllenhaal on IMDB

Gyllenhaal's portrayal of Nessa Stein is strong; I can already see a Best Actress in a Mini-Series nomination for her role as

Gyllenhaal is smooth & powerful as Nessa

Nessa if the series continues in this fashion.  Nessa has had to be an over-comer, and a leader.  Gyllenhaal is nailing it - not with overpowering acting, but with a smooth and powerful grace that will keep viewers watching.

Gyllenhaal (Nessa Stein) & Andrew Buchan (Ephra Stein)

Andrew Buchan plays the role of Gyllenhaal's brother in the mini-series.  You may recognize him from Nowhere Boy (2009), The Deaths of Ian Stone (2007) and Still Life (2013).  He gives a  quiet, yet compelling performance in the first episode that is very captivating, and I cannot wait to see more from him.

Overall, after watching episode one of this exciting drama-thriller, The Empty Chair, I give it ★★★★☆ and call this one a definite "To Watch."  I cannot wait to see the next episode!  The Honourable Woman airs on Sundance on Thursdays at 10:00pm EST.

NR/AO, TV-MA (V,L)   

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'Chele
The Film Fashionista


pictures courtesy of www.sundance.tv/series
series and actor information courtesy of IMDB.com


 

 

Persecuted: A film about government scandal, corruption & religious persecution

Written and directed by Daniel Lusko and starring James Remar, Raoul Trujillo, Dean Stockwell, Brad Stine, Bruce Davison, Fred Dalton Thompson and Natalie Grant, along with a very long cast of other talented actors, Persecuted is due to be released in U.S. theaters July 18th, 2014.  The film's story focuses on a popular evangelist (portrayed by Remar) who finds himself on the run after being framed for murder.  The evangelist's plight begins following his refusal to back a senator's proposition which calls for sweeping religious reform that would counter his beliefs. The film looks at the very heart of freedom of speech, and digs into government corruption and religious persecution. 

The official movie trailer is below:

  
Daniel Lusko has been the writer and director on several faith-based documentaries, including Inside the Revolution, Epicenter and Riptide.  He also has a film in post-production called 11 Seconds; it will be released in 2015.  Persecuted, which will be his first live-action thriller, is highly anticipated by many.

Below is a brief trailer about the making of the film and its message, both political and theological:



In a society with many uncertainties, and where we hear every day about government corruption and monitoring worldwide, the timing of this film seems spot-on.  It "goes there,"  dealing with religious persecution and government issues where other films do not.  This film is considered an action/thriller/drama/ mystery, but there is a true faith-based element to this film.  The film is rated PG-13 for thematic elements and violence, which are necessary to convey the particular message in this movie.

For more on this film, check out the film's official website here:   

Persecuted Website

This is a film with a message - one that needs to be heard.  Could religious rights in America be threatened in the future?  Are we seeing other constitutional rights being threatened in the present day?  It is good to see a writer and director taking the action-thriller approach for audiences in order to get this message across.

While the concept in Persecuted may seem a bit futuristic right now, someday it could happen...and soon.  Think about it: What would you do if you were persecuted for your beliefs?  I really recommend that you put this one on your list to see.  No matter what your political or religious affiliation is, this movie is mainly about our rights to Freedom of Speech and what could happen if we were in a similar situation.

Gretchen Carlson of Fox News, who has a small role in the film as a news anchor (ironic, huh?), told the Christian Reporter on February 13th: 

These are issues I have talked a lot about on Fox News and they're central in my life too. I'm a Christian and oftentimes felt the negativity of speaking openly about that...it's really ironic because when people see me on the street, if they happen to recognize me from ...the News, the thing they say to me is, 'thank you for standing up for the values and ideals that I believe in with my family,' ... and yet, that seems to be what I'm mostly criticized for as well. It's interesting, the dichotomy that goes on in society," she said.

What People Are Saying About This Film

"A big thumbs up." ~ American Family Association

"A timely thriller."  ~ Fox News

"I love political thrillers...I think this could do well." ~  Larry King

"Compelling story that shows what one man with faith can accomplish." ~ The Dove Foundation

"Intriguing." ~ National Review

"This movies trailer was recently # 1 on the iTunes most popular list, a feat insiders attribute to a robust Facebook page and the ripped-from-the-headlines themes that the movie explores." ~ The Hollywood Reporter

You can link to the Facebook page for Persecuted and "like" it if you wish, and get up to date information on the movie as the release approaches.  Here is the link:   

Facebook Page for Persecuted

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Trailers and pictures and quotes courtesy of persecutedmovie.com 
Carlson quote: christianreporter.com
Movie release info and actor/director info - imdb.com
 
 

Non-Stop: Thrills & Adventure on a Transatlantic Flight

Liam Neeson as a Federal Air Marshal

Non-Stop, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery and Scoot McNairy, is playing in theaters now.  While this won’t be an award-winning role for Neeson, this action/drama/thriller does keep you involved and paying attention from beginning to end, and certainly doesn’t lack surprises.   

Neeson always does a great job playing the action hero in a thriller, and collaborating with Collet-Serra again, as he did in 2011 in the mystery/thriller Unknown, it's no different in this film.  Collet-Serra also directed Orphan (2009) and House of Wax (2005).  Watch the Official Trailer to get a glimpse of how much action is packed into the 106 minute film:

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Neeson is a gifted actor and he does an excellent job of carrying this movie with intensity, even during the scenes that seem very unrealistic.  Here are just a few of the unrealistic points from the film: 1.) Some of the technology that's used at very high altitudes very easily seems unlikely to work in a real-world situation,  2.) There are crazy plot twists that occur and then seem to smooth out just a bit too quickly and easily and 3.) Neeson is a Federal Air Marshal that recruits fellow passengers to help him in his quest to find the bad guy(s), not knowing ANYTHING about who he is getting this help from.  Hmmmm……

Julianne Moore plays a passenger

Lupita Nyong'o as a Flight Attendant

 Moore does her  
 usual superb acting
 job in this one, but 
 the best I can really say about Michelle Dockery's performance (of Downton Abbey fame) was she was merely good in her role as a flight attendant.  I found it interesting that Lupita Nyong’o, recent Oscar winner, also has a small role as a flight attendant in Non-Stop.  Nyong'o glammed up that plane just walking down the aisle in what I would call a very "futuristic" flight attendant outfit; she truly is dazzling.  I loved her flight attendant uniform, and Michelle Dockery looked amazing in hers, too.

Michelle Dockery as a flight attendant

In fact, the most glamorous outfits in this film were the flight attendant's uniforms.  They were navy blue and a deep red, as well as sleeveless with leather trim.  Did I mention I loved them? ♥

Somehow, Neeson makes this movie work.  Unknown is still better, but Neeson is just so talented, that viewing this film I found myself not caring that the movie I was sitting there watching was hoping for me to be naïve.  Instead, I just wanted to sit back and enjoy Non-Stop for what it was; pure entertainment, action, who-done-it, adventure, and thrills.  After all, someone is killing people on a plane on a transatlantic flight, there is a $150 million in money being wire transferred (who is behind this? I must figure this out!), there are so many suspects, and will the plane even be able to land?  You will have to see Non-Stop to find out.

I give Non-Stop ★★★☆☆

MPAA Rating:  PG-13 

(intense sequences of action and violence, some language, sensuality and drug references)

Running Time: 106 Mins.

Sex           ★☆☆☆☆

Nudity      ☆☆☆☆☆
Language      ★★☆☆☆
Violence     ★★★☆☆
Alcohol/Drugs     ★★☆☆☆

Please take the poll at the top right of my blog: Which movie are you most excited ab0ut seeing that is being release in March or April?  

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(Pictures courtesy of nydailynews.com and flickr.com)