This week, we check out a couple of action films, along with a feel-good movie and a film that covers the life of a real American hero.
Dune (2021)
Based on author Frank Herbert’s 1965 book of the same name, this science-fiction drama is the first of two films (its title on-screen is “Dune: Part One”). We follow the film’s protagonist, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), of the prestigious House Atreides, as he contends with some very dangerous forces on the desert world known as Arrakis. The stakes? Control over the planet and the most valuable resource in the universe: spice.
This is an impressive film with great direction by Denis Villeneuve, a herculean score by composer Hans Zimmer, and excellent visuals that don’t overwhelm.
Action | Adventure | Drama
Release Date: Oct. 22, 2021
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya
Runtime: 2 hours, 35 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: In theaters
The Harder They Fall (2021)
If you want action and drama, served up Old West-style, then saddle up for this 130-minute thrill ride that could have easily been longer. Jonathan Majors stars as Nat Love, a revenge-minded man who, along with his rowdy bunch of outlaws, is on the trail of Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), who has recently been sprung from his imprisonment.
Majors and Elba are backed up by some spectacular supporting actors, such as Delroy Lindo as lawman Bass Reeves, the first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River, and Zazie Beetz as Mary Fields, aka “Stagecoach Mary,” a spirited member of Love’s gang.
Drama | Western
Release Date: Oct. 22, 2021
Director: Jeymes Samuel
Starring: Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, RJ Cylers
Runtime: 2 hours, 10 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Where to Watch: In theaters
Life Is Beautiful (1997)
Guido (Roberto Benigni) is an Italian man of Jewish descent who travels to Tuscany for better economic opportunities. Guido soon meets Dora (Nicoletta Braschi) and, with his relentless brand of outrageous humor, eventually wins her heart. They have a son, Giosué (Giorgio Cantarini), and the trio is sent to a concentration camp, where Guido uses his same wit and charm to protect his son from the horrors there.
This film is a modern classic and Oscar-winning blend of comedy, drama, and rising tension.
Comedy | Drama | Romance
Release Date: Dec. 20, 1997
Director: Roberto Benigni
Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini
Runtime: 1 hour, 56 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, DirectTV, Apple TV, Redbox
The Battle of Britain (1969)
The Germans have steamrolled much of Europe and launched an aerial attack to ravage their next target: Great Britain. The brave pilots of the RAF struggle to get their planes off the ground to challenge the overwhelming German air force.
An all-star cast and great action scenes complete this magnificent war drama.
Action | Drama | History
Director: Guy Hamilton
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Christopher Plummer, Michael Caine
Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
Release Date: Sept. 15, 1969
Where to Watch: Hoopla, Vudu, Kanopy
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
A band of banditos, led by a man named Calvera (Eli Wallach), has been plaguing a small Mexican village for years. The village enlists the help of a drifter named Chris Adams (Yul Brynner), who teams up with another man, Vin Tanner (Steve McQueen). The two add five more to their posse; each joins the group for different reasons.
Action | Adventure | Western
Release Date: Oct. 12, 1960
Director: John Sturges
Starring: Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson
Runtime: 2 hours, 8 minutes
MPAA Rating: Approved
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Redbox, Apple TV, Vudu
Jim Thorpe: All-American (1951)
This riveting tale about an outstanding athlete and iconoclast is quite a rollercoaster ride. Instead of focusing on the rosy parts of Jim Thorpe’s (Burt Lancaster) life, this movie is an exploration of all of the trials, triumphs, and tribulations that he went through. It’s also an appreciative look at a Native American hero.
Biography | Drama | Sport
Release Date: Aug. 24, 1951
Director: Michael Curtiz
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Charles Bickford, Steve Cochran
Runtime: 1 hour, 47 minutes
MPAA Rating: Approved
Where to Watch: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, DirectTV, Vudu
