Two independent films opening locally
Two independent films debut this weekend. The first, a period piece, entitled “On Chesil Beach,” stars the talented Saoirse Ronan (“Ladybird”). It is 110 minutes in length and is rated 14A with a Sexual Content warning. It will show daily at 1:05, 6:45 and 9:30 p.m. The second film is an action thriller, starring John Hamm (“Million Dollar Arm,” “Baby Driver”) by the name of “Beirut.” It is rated 14A and carries a Coarse Language and Violence warning. It runs 109 minutes and shows daily at 4:10, 6:55 and 9:35 p.m.
The official site (Bleeker Street Media) says this about “On Chesil Beach” —– “Adapted by Ian McEwan from his bestselling novel, the drama centres on a young couple of drastically different backgrounds in the summer of 1962. Following the pair through their idyllic courtship, the film explores sex and the societal pressure that can accompany physical intimacy, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night. The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Billy Howle, Anne-Marie Duff, Adrian Scarborough, Emily Watson, and Samuel West.”
Bleeker Street Media is also the distributor for “Beirut” and has this to offer: “Mason Skiles had a great life as a diplomat in Beirut. He and his wife, Nadia, live in a beautiful house and have been mentoring a 13-year-old Palestinian boy named Karim. The opening scene is a party that the Stiles are hosting for other dignitaries. Karim is helping to serve the guests. When a CIA friend of Mason, Cal, comes to the party, he is interested only in taking Karim in for questioning about an older brother Mason doesn’t know about. What happens that night changes Mason’s life forever, along several others at the party.”
Jon Hamm delivers probably his best film role as Mason Skiles, an American diplomat living with his wife Nadia (Leila Bekhti) in Beirut in 1972. Fast forward a decade, and we learn that his world had been shattered by a violent tragedy. He is now back in the U.S., scraping out a living as a labour negotiator in the Boston area. He has been forgotten by everyone who once knew and cared about him, and he is fine with that. Mason is offered a speaking engagement in Lebanon, and it’s obvious there will be more to this trip than addressing college students. It feels more of a summons from the past than a request.
Upon arriving in Beirut, he finds a city laid waste by years of civil war, bearing little resemblance to the paradise he left behind. He quickly learns the purpose of his trip: his one-time best friend Cal (Mark Pellegrino), a top-level CIA operative, has been kidnapped, and the terrorists holding him hostage have specifically requested Mason as a negotiator. Two very different films for two very different audiences. I hope you enjoy! See you at the movie theatre! Please feel free to contact me with your comments or feedback – even an idea for an article – len@moviemill.com. Hope to see you at the movies!