Based on a true story – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Samir Oliveros

Written By: Samir Oliveros and Maggie Briggs

Story By: Amanda Freedman

Cinematography: Pablo Lozano

Editor: Sebastian Hernandez

Cast: Paul Walter Hauser, Walton Goggins, Maise Williams, David Straitharn, Shamier Anderson, Johnny Knoxville, Brian Geraghty, Shaunte Renne Wilson, Damien Young, Patti Harrison, Haley Bennett, Genesis Rodriguez

May 1984. An unemployed ice cream truck driver steps onto the game show Press Your Luck harboring a secret: the key to endless money. But his winning streak is threatened when the bewildered executives uncover his real motivations.

I know most of the story just from articles and watching the short documentary on the case and the character on Netflix. BIG BUCKS: THE PRESS YOUR LUCK SCANDAL. The only truth it seems to keep is the memorizing of the patterns of the game board to win.

The story that this film tells has been in development hell since 2000. When bill murray was attached to the film, before aging out and dropping interest in it.

The film of course didn’t have enough time nor the budget to tell the whole story in multiple events and days that this actually happened during hand on different shows so instead condenses it mostly all into one day and the film taking place in one studio do more to probably the production constraints

The film has a very impressive cast of actors all likable they hear they seem thrown into this production that means well, but ultimately comes across like a TV movie on the subject only with foul language allowed in.

As the film keeps going along at first you wonder is this supposed to be more of a character piece or what is his motivation truly and what it all about while the film shows the slippery politics have not only show business but also production as we see the reaction to his winning from the exact to the behind the scenes production staff to the other contestants, the host and partly the audience, and finally where the film really gets emotional at its heart is in the final 10 to 15 minutes of the film

It’s great to see Paul Walter Hauser have another leading man role as a kind of lovable misfit out there who has tons of get rich, quick schemes, and this one finally might actually pay off that he believes will help solve everything, but only seems to help rip it apart even more.

You only wish the actors had a better film or were given a better script overall or at least a slightly bigger production to be in

It’s a satisfying story, especially if you’ve never heard it before and will induce you to do your own research more into the story but other than that, it’s one of these stories that you feel should’ve been done better or been at least illustrated a little bit better. it’s none of the actor‘s fault who all rise in the occasion. It’s just that by the end it doesn’t quite feel as satisfying as it should, though by the end, it does hit an emotional level. That is unexpected.

Grade: C+

Directed By: Rachel Morrison

Written By: Barry Jenkins

Cinematography: Tommy Daguanno and Rina Yang

Editor: Harry Yoon

Cast: Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, De’Andre Aziza, Idrissa Sanogo Bamba, Adam Clark, Olunike Adeliyi, Chrystian Buddington, Lanette Ware, Sarah Allen

Claressa Shields becomes the first American woman to win a gold medal only to learn that not all dreams are created equal.

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That is truly what the film is about the passion that fires inside that won’t let you quit for any reason even when you try to walk away, there’s something that keeps bringing you back to it. That is what the film and the filmmakers tried to instill in this inspirational true story.

Though the second half of this film is more eventful. As well as the achievements of the person in real life this film is based upon. The film set up a strong foundation. Which we see as the discovery and maintenance of her drive and passion.

The film offers a look at her personal life, and those that she seeks out to support and those who truly support her. As the route, no character is one dimensional they managed to turn themselves around or show their true colors.

In that way, the film already plays against the traditional where all of a sudden one character stays the same throughout except for one scene or one final act where all of a sudden they change it kind of an apology or change for the worse.

The film is very inspiring, even showing what happens after initial success, and all the hoopla dies down. It shows how to maintain and find meaning afterwards, as well as the power of community when it comes to support in all different ways.

The film is a familiar story of sports discipline and training and saving someone from a bleak future by fighting against all odds .

The film doesn’t have as much fighting scenes as he would expect as it is more dealing with the day-to-day drama of her life, and her family unit parental child bonding with her coach and his family, and the jealousy provides in her family who seemed dysfunctional they were always changing and evolving Usually for the better though there are some trials and tribulations for the worse.

No truthfully, it’s that drama that keeps the film afloat and keeps the audience interested as this is a film of hope and what can be achieved with hard work, finesse, and belief in oneself

Grade: B-

Tag: Based on a true story

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