Tag Archives: jamie foxx

Best Crime Dramas of 2017 (10+1list)

Best Crime Dramas of 2017

written by Souranath Banerjee

Best Crime Dramas of 2017: Crime rate always been a problem but crime movies a treat to watch! Crime emerged as such an essential plot in almost every film that it eventually created its own separate genre, dramas based entirely on crimes.

Cool Crime Dramas always give us a certain insatiable rush, the bigger the crime the better, the chase and excitement more intense than ever.

And here we have a list of the Best Crime Dramas of 2017. Enjoy!

10. Logan Lucky

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPzvKH8AVf0

Crime-DramasChanning Tatum and Adam Driver – two brothers along with their sister  Riley Keough plans a robbery but they need the help of a convicted safe-cracker (who else than Daniel Craig) to finally get their plan into action.  

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, a surprisingly refreshing crime drama, a heist story with enough comedy to make you laugh at regular intervals.

9. Atomic Blonde

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8USk21Lt0f4

Crime-DramasThe backdrop being the Cold War – deadly and sensuous Charlize Theron, an undercover MI6 agent lands in Berlin to sniff out double-agents and also investigate the murder of a fellow agent.

James McAvoy, John GoodmanToby Jones, Sofia Boutella – a brilliant cast all at their best.

Ace stuntman turned director David Leitch has some of the best action sequences in the film!

8. Shot Caller

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQxjyRr9k2E

Crime-DramasAn accidental crime and then a prison sentence teaches a white-collar business professional new ways of survival. And pretty soon his lessons come handy.

Written and directed by Ric Roman Waugh, this one is a perfect crime drama with brilliant performances including Jon Bernthal, Lake Bell, Emory Cohen.

A much underrated movie definitely worth your time.

7. Brawl in Cell Block 99

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfAExhHTMM

Crime-DramasVince Vaughn is back – not in some romcom but with a tough-guy-role in this cool and violent crime drama.

A drug dealer who goes to prison after a sore deal and realises that he has landed in the midst of a battleground!

Directed by S. Craig Zahler, this action drama has extreme violent scenes that can be disturbing for some people.

6. Good Time

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrR-SbCRgCU

Crime-DramasA heist gone wrong but that’s not the only thing that doesn’t go according to the plan. In order to save his mentally challenged brother a thug has the misadventure of his lifetime in one night span!

Directed by Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie, a rollercoaster ride of intense drama and Robert Pattinson breaks away from his Twilight zone and gives a super cool performance.

5. American Made

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEBIJRAkujM

Crime-Dramas‘The gringo that always delivers’

The biography of Barry Seal who was started his career as an ordinary pilot but soon recruited by the CIA and later worked for none other than Pablo Escobar.

Directed by Doug Liman, and Tom Cruise playing the lead this is one of the most crazy twisted crime drama and very much based on real events!

4. The Foreigner

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om9YCk7ufHs

Crime-DramasAn act of politically-motivated terrorism takes away his daughter’s life and now as a father he will do anything to bring justice to the people involved in the act.

Directed by Martin Campbell, a cool crime drama – both emotional and intense.

Surely the best thing that happened for Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan in recent times. 

3. Wind River

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN9PDOoLAfg

Crime-Dramas‘You don’t catch wolves looking where they might be, you look where they’ve been.’

A young Native American woman gets murdered and a veteran tracker decides to help the police track down the guilty. A chilling revenge drama based on actual events.

Brilliant performance by Jeremy Renner along with Elizabeth Olsen and Graham Greene. Written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, probably the best crime thriller of the year!

2. John Wick: Chapter 2

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGk2EfbD_Ps

Crime-DramasKeanu Reeves is back as John Wick, the man whose car and dog you better don’t mess with! 

This is the second instalment of the superb 2014 action thriller John Wick, and this time it’s even more raw, brutal and action packed.

Directed by Chad Stahelski, this is the savage saga of what happens when you put a bounty on John Wick’s head!

1. Baby Driver

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9YZw_X5UzQ

Crime-DramasEvery successful heist ends with a thrilling car chase and Baby, the young getaway driver is there to guarantee your safety!

Super cool performances by Ansel Elgort, Jon Bernthal, Jon HammEiza GonzálezLily James and finally Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacey stealing the show.

Directed by Edgar Wright, a crime drama intertwined with classy soundtracks – racy and stylish.

and (The ‘+1’ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch)

+1. Detroit

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5h7Kgo-zeI

Crime-DramasThe brilliantly authentic portrayal of the 1967 Detroit riots – the largest Rase-riots in the history of United States particularly focusing on the Algiers Motel incident where a certain group of cops gone rogue and responded to a complaint with extreme retribution!

All over superb performances, raw and real, acclaimed director Kathryn Bigelow‘s latest – a brilliant fact-based crime drama!

Similar Interest: Best Thrillers Of 2016

Similar Interest: Best Hollywood Movies of 2017 so far

Similar Interest: Best of 2017 you may have missed

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.com, www.imdb.com.

Best Biopics on Musicians (10+1list)

Best Biopics On Musicians

written by Souranath Banerjee

While watching the recent biopic Love & Mercy (2014) based on
Beach Boys lead singer Brian Wilson’s life (starring John Cusack,
love-and-mercy-posterElizabeth BanksPaul Dano and Paul Giamatti), I had this observation that the more famous the artist, the more is the chance for them to be vulnerable and gullible in their personal life.

The extremely talented Musicians who are superstars on the stage, with all the money and fame in the world but in their real life, most of them are so alone and disturbed and emotionally unstable.

Either their family lives are torn apart as a direct side-effect of fame (too much of drugs, sex and ego) or else they are being bullied, cheated, harassed or exploited by none other than their close friends and relatives.

These films in the list are some of the Best Biopics on Musicians across the world, the lives of the crazy and the genius.

Let the music flow!

10. Amadeus (1984)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIzhAKtEzY0

amadeus-poster1‘I am a vulgar man but i assure you my music is not’ – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Directed by Milos Forman, an epic biopic made on the life of arguably the best composer ever existed. 

Mozart, Music and Murder -a colorful masterpiece, nominated for 11 Oscars and won eight of them, including best picture, actor and director!

9. The Doors (1991)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU0tR0EjAXA

doors-posterJim Morrison, the God of Rock – the story of his eccentric life; the madness and the genius.

Starring Val Kilmer and Meg Ryan, the film perfectly captures the energy, the style and the vibrant personality of the ‘Electric Poet’. 

Directed by brilliant Oliver Stone, a visual treat and for me, in the rock n’ roll genre this is the best biopic ever made. Watch it.

8. I’m Not There. (2007)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFUEofAr9GA

im-not-there-poster1

Christian BaleCate BlanchettHeath LedgerRichard GereBen Whishaw and Marcus Carl Franklin – six actors, six characters, one life, one artist – Bob Dylan!

Soaked in Dylan’s soulful music, it is made in a non-linear and avant garde fashion, a complete original take by director Todd Haynes

Challenging but certainly not mainstream. 

7. Walk the Line (2005)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsvZGwd8vrI

walk-the-line-posterDirected by James Mangold, this one is a biopic on country music legend Johnny Cash’s life.

His fame and family, his love and addiction, his depression and his will to survive; his ultimate success.

Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon both were Oscar nominated for their outstanding performances and Reese finally won the award.

6. Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pivm4oMEDRs

coal-miners-daughter-posterThe legendary singer Loretta Lynn and how she changed the rhythm and style of country-music forever.  

From poverty to worldwide fame, her life  and her musical career is a story to be told. Starring Sissy Spacek (oscar winning role)Tommy Lee Jones and Levon Helm.

Directed by Michael Apted, this biography deserves much more attention than it received.

5. Nowhere Boy (2009)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0Qu62_vPbo

Nowhere-boy-posterDirected by Sam Taylor-Johnson, this biopic focuses on the early life of musical sensation John Lennon.

Lennon’s relationship with his aunt Mimi and his mother Julia, his love for music and how he met his friends Paul McCartney and George Harrison!

Experience the evolution of the revolution, the man behind the most popular band ever – The Beatles.

4. Ray (2004)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVHCQfcugdw

ray-poster1Directed by Taylor Hackford, this one tells the story of Ray Charles, the legendary rhythm and blues musician of the 60s.

At the age of seven he lost his eyesight but still with his gifted voice and compositions, and his brilliance in playing the piano he became one of the most successful musicians of the time.

Jamie Foxx won Oscar for his role.

3. Control (2007)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2_B_cWK_M

control-posterA biography of the famous lead singer of the band Joy Division – Ian Curtis.

Directed by Anton Corbijnthe film depicts the troubled life of the musical genius which ended at the young age of 23 (he committed suicide).

The film is a simple yet stylized series of black and white visuals shot brilliantly by Martin Ruhe.

2. What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbzbd2wUGao

whats-love-got-to-do-with-it-posterIt’s a biopic on Tina Turner’s courageous life, both stage and personal.

The way she shot to stardom and became famous, the tough years when she was traumatized by her abusive husband Ike Turner and finally how she managed to break free.

Directed by Brian Gibson, a film that every woman should see and take inspiration from.

  1. Shine (1996)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTt4Ar6pzO4

shine-posterPiano player David Helfgott, a child prodigy who had a breakdown early in his life but later came back and became popular. 

Directed by Scott Hicks, a film that is so intense and yet so satisfying, so true to the life of the artist.  

The prime reason to watch this biopic is for Geoffrey Rush‘s brilliant performance for which he won the Oscar that year!

and now, (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch).

+1. La Vie en Rose (2007)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzEJ7NV_g98

vie-en-rose-posterA superb biopic on Édith Piaf‘s life, the famous French singer.

With the ever-beautiful Marion Cotillard in the lead, the film takes us into a nonlinear journey of the vulnerable yet talented singer’s childhood, then her rise to fame and the various ups and downs of her life. 

Directed by Olivier Dahan, a great work of passion and emotion.

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comwww.festivalinla.com.

Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)

My Ratings: 3.3/5

Horrible Bosses 2 is the second take on the lives of the three tormented employees who now want to open their own company and be their own bosses; none other than the amusing trio Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis), and Dale (Charlie Day).

But then again there are bosses everywhere who wants to bully them, trick them, betray them and take over their company.

So the real question is how far or how funny can they go in order to save their company?

Well, funny enough but may be not as hilarious as their first installment three years back, Horrible Bosses.

The new players in this sequel are Bert Hanson (underutilized Christoph Waltz) who tries to steal their company and Hanson’s son Rex (superb performance by Chris Pine) who is more twisted than you can imagine.

horrible-bosses-2-poster2So for Nick, Kurt and Dale the initial plan was simple – to kidnap Rex and ask for ransom from his rich father and ultimately regain control over their company.

But the execution was difficult beyond their imagination.

Horrible Bosses 2 has a handful of real humorous scenes and dialogues tossed here and there that WILL make you laugh. But then again most of the time it’s purely slapstick and the overall the script could have been much more witty and entertaining.

Only the incredible chemistry between the three main characters has saved the film.

Ever sexy Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston) and ever abusive Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) seems to enjoy their parts as much as they did in the first round.

And don’t forget “Motherfucker” Jones (Jamie Foxx) who gives the stupidest ideas but then again is always ready to help out. 

Horrible Bosses 2 director Sean Anders has done a decent job, or at least tried his best to make us laugh. But i insist, he along with his scriptwriters should have tried a little harder. May be they have reserved their best jokes for the third installment!

Colin Farrell as Bobby Pellitt – we miss you.