The Front Runner movie is a 2018 drama released at the Telluride Film Festival and directed by Jason Reitman. It stars Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons, and Sara Paxton. When a candidate is a front-runner for the presidency, his campaign suddenly becomes at risk.

Welcome to politics, a world where everyone wants to climb to the most prestigious #1 spot. Namely, become president. In fact, for that achievement, candidates need to become senators before being taken into consideration for the presidency.

Therefore, between the years 1975 and 1987, Gary Hart (played by Jackman) offered his services as a senator of Colorado, U.S.A. Hence, this opened the doors for him to compete in the 1988 presidential election. So, with his wife, Lee (Farmiga), he was up for the challenge.

At rallies and with a great team, including his manager, Dixon (Simmons), Hart would speak about valuable ideas for a better future. But more importantly, the citizens supported him. Thus, becoming the front runner in the movie.

In the late ’80s and the beginning of the ’90s, journalism had its rise. Clearly, once in the public eye, everyone will want to tarnish your persona. Regardless, Hart felt undefeatable.

One day, he meets a young woman named Donna (Paxton). Soon he learns that the candidates are the least of his worries but the tabloids. They will go to lengths to diminish his future.

“The Front Runner” is based on true events. It portrays Gary Hart’s three-week period that led to the 1988 presidential campaign.

Moreover, what I liked about the movie is revisiting a pre-internet era, and how the news spread across the globe.

Hugh Jackman delivers a well-acting role. He has proved he can tackle serious and funny roles as shown in “Deadpool and Wolverine.”

He won the “Actor Award” at the “Hollywood Film Awards” (2018). On the other hand, despite having limited on-screen time, the actress Sara Paxton leaves a mark with her performance.

Watch the next interview discussing her role in the “Front Runner” film.

1. “The Front Runner” movie. Directed by Jason Reitman (Columbia Pictures, 2018). ↩︎
2. “The Front Runner” movie. Directed by Jason Reitman (Columbia Pictures, 2018). ↩︎

The post “The Front Runner” movie: A political campaign at risk appeared first on Music, Movies, and Me.

Wild is a biographical movie adventure that premiered at the “Telluride Film Festival” in 2014. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, it stars Reese Whitherspoon, Laura Dern, Gaby Hoffmann, and Thomas Sadoski. Once a woman loses a relative, she searches for therapy in the wild.

Cheryl Strayed (played by Whitherspoon) has just lost the most important person in her life, her mother, Bobbi Grey (Dern). At just 22 years of age, she had so much to learn from her role model.

Truth is grievances can make a person derail paths. And that is exactly what happened to her. Despite being married to her husband Jonathan (Sadoski), she finds something to cope with the pain: heroin and casual sex.

Unfortunately, she acts no different to Aimee (Hoffmann), her friend, who barely recognizes her anymore. But Cheryl can’t care less and continues her wild way of living.

Ultimately, this dissolves her marriage. Now, she has hit rock bottom. Whereas many tend to resort to counseling, she chooses a bold goal: to hike the “Pacific Crest Trail” (PCT).

The PCT is a hiking trail starting at the Mexican border (Campo). It expands through California, Oregon, and Washington, reaching its end at Manning Park near the Canadian border. Not an easy task if you ask me. Therefore, she buys all the equipment necessary to endure the Trail which includes:

• Backpack
• Tent & clothing
• Food & beverages
• Books & notebooks

Straight from the get-go, she realizes it will be burdensome. Moreover, she doesn’t have the experience or is trained for such a hazardous task. Just setting up the tent is a struggle. But she isn’t willing to quit.

During the hike, she learns that strangers are her best ally. That is, to receive a helping hand with essentials such as a warm place to crash in and eat warm food, before moving on to the next day.

Throughout the journey, she has joyful memories of her childhood but also hurtful recollections. A fine line to uplift or break her while searching for the meaning of life. But with a length of 2,650 miles, will she cross the finish line?

“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every day, and you can choose to be there for it.”

– Bobbi Grey, Wild (2014)

“Wild” is based on the real-life experience of Cheryl Strayed, who hiked the PCT (1995). In addition, she released a memoir called “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail” (2012).

Whitherspoon and Dern were nominated for “Best Actress” and “Best Supporting Actress” at 2015’s Academy Awards, respectively.

Watch the trailer in the link below.

1. “Wild” movie. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2014). ↩︎
2. “Wild” movie. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2014). ↩︎

The post “Wild” movie: Searching for the meaning of life while hiking appeared first on Music, Movies, and Me.

Adrift is an adventure movie drama that premiered on June 1st, 2018 in Los Angeles. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, it stars Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin. When a couple is stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, their quest for survival has begun.

23-year-old Tami Oldham (played by Woodley) is looking for a getaway place. Or in her own words, “To chase adventures.” Therefore, she travels to the remote Windward Islands. More specifically, its largest one which is named “Tahiti.”

Upon her arrival, she meets Richard Sharp (Claflin). As the days transcend, they begin making each other acquaintances. Thus, he invites her for dinner on his beloved boat, “Mayaluga.”

Adventures come in different tastes. Whereas some prefer air activities, others prefer on the ground. Nevertheless, for Richard, his passion is in the water. A place where it’s just him and the “infinite horizon.” And Tami starts to comprehend such beauty.

Adrift

Later on, he encounters a couple who offers him money to sail their yacht to San Diego, California. Despite a 4,000-mile distance, this is the perfect opportunity for their adventure.

However, while adrift, they encounter a category 5 hurricane and the largest storm in the Pacific Ocean. Will they survive?

Director Kormákur was eager to bring a female hero to the silver screen, and Shailene makes it justice. From her breakthrough in 2011’s “The Descendants” to “The Spectacular Now” (2013) to “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014), she has excelled in dramatic roles.

Lastly, “Adrift” is based on the 2002 book “Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea,” penned by Tami Oldham Ashcraft. It narrates her adrift during 1983’s Hurricane Raymond.

Watch “Adrift’s” premiere carpet in the link below.

1. “Adrift” movie. Directed by Baltasar Kormàkur (STX Entertainment, 2018). ↩︎
2. “Adrift” movie. Directed by Baltasar Kormàkur (STX Entertainment, 2018). ↩︎

The post “Adrift”: Castaway in the Pacific Ocean appeared first on Music, Movies, and Me.