They Fight BEFORE DAWN

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from director Jordan Prince-Wright and Well Go USA is a look at war with young men with BEFORE DAWN.

Jim Collins (Levi Miller) is a young man from the Australian outback who has decided to sign up for war on the Western Front. His father is distraught about his decision but knows he can do nothing to change his mind. Finding himself in the trenches of France, he realizes that the Germans are as dug in as his battalion in.

Making friends is a necessity but also can be heartbreaking. Jim’s pals include Thomas Nickels (Travis Jeffery) and his brother Harry (Christian Dethlefsen), Bill (Aodhan Guy), Don (Ed Oxenbould), Ned (Jordan Dulieu) and all being watched over by Lt. Longhorn (Paul Walenkamp). As the bombs keep exploding around them night and day, with the mud seeping into every part of their being, Jim refuses to change who he is.

Trying to keep his friends safe, it sometimes causes Jim to come to the reality check that war does not care who you are, who your friends are or where the munitions land. Gone from home for almost three years, Jim is determined to follow all into battle so he can get home to the people that love him.

Miller as Jim is a young man who believes that joining the fight is something he needs to do. Finding camaraderie with other young man who signed up for the war, Jim, at moments, has difficulty relating to his fellow soldiers as he feels it is necessary sometimes to put himself in the fray. Miller does a superb job of portraying this character.

Jeffery as Thomas takes to Jim right away but when the unthinkable happens, the two soldiers try to understand that in war, nothing is guaranteed. Guy, Oxenbould and Dulieu finish out the friendship, looking out for one another can be difficult when someone is just across the way trying to end everything.

Shout out to Walenkamp as the elder soldier who knows what all of this means caught up between making sure the boys stay alive and doing his duty. Sometimes it clashes and Walenkamp portrayed the clash with strength.

Well Go USA Entertainment is a theatrical and home entertainment company specializing in bringing the best Action, Genre and Independent films from around the world to North American markets. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go USA Entertainment’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment currently releases three to five films per month. To see more please visit www.wellgousa.com.

Bonus features include a Behind-the-Scenes and trailer.

Other cast include Stephen Peacocke as Cpt. Beale, Myles Pollard as Sgt. Beaufort, Tim Franklin as Big Tooth, Lawrence Murphy as Charlie, Peter Williams as Roy, and Oscar Millar as Hammond.

Miller as Jim is the main focus of the story coming from a home deep in the outback with his parents and lovely girlfriend. Deciding to go to war is not something his father understands rather wanting his son to stay home. Once Jim is deep in the trenches of French mud, it feels as if he grasps what his father was trying to tell him. At the same time, surrounded by other young men, he finds comfort in the shared situation they are all in.

What moves me about the film is knowing that these young soldiers were from such a proud era in time fighting for something greater than themselves. Their fear comes through and made my heart hurt for what these characters were experiencing. That’s how you know the cast is one that melds together so well. Making a war film is difficult enough, especially when the story deals with human emotions and director Prince-Wright has taken that all into consideration. The conflict is not only what is outside the trenches, but sometimes also what is happening in the trenches.

In the end – leave no man behind!

 

 

Disney Brings Home A WRINKLE IN TIME

Jeri Jacquin

Coming soon to Bluray-DVD and Digital Code in a Multi-Screen Edition is from director Ava DuVernay and Disney is a search for A WRINKLE IN TIME.

Meg (Storm Reid) is a young girl having a difficult time. Since her scientist father Murray’s (Chris Pine), she feels the only connection to her life are Mom (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and little brother Charles Wallace (Dedric McCabe).

Hearing talk around school on the anniversary of her father’s disappearance, both Meg and Charles Wallace find themselves in trouble at school. Later that same night, the Murray family is visited by Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) leading to a cryptic message about her father’s work on time travel.

The next day Charles Wallace recruits Meg’s friend Calvin (Levi Miller) and they meet Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling) who takes them to meet Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey). She explains to the children that they came because of a call for help.

In order to find her father, Meg is told about The It. Woven through the universe, it is a bad energy that always wants something more. Meg just wants to find her father and it’s up to the three kids to discover where he is and get out before The It can work its worse on them all.

This is how warriors are born!

Reid is lovely as Meg, a young girl that has enough going on without the added pressures of being a bully’s target. Knowing her father is out there somewhere gives her strength to search no matter what it takes, She is also a pretty cool big sister who knows her brother is quite special. Reid gives her character soul and strength wrapped up in such a small girl with a big heart.

McCabe as Charles Wallace almost steals the film half way through. Watching the amazing energy he puts out to try and change the course of Meg’s journey. I was gob smacked at his small stature taking center stage in a pivotal moment and making his small size mean nothing – just wow!

Miller as Calvin wants to help Meg and she eventually learns that she isn’t alone in the life she leads. Calvin has a few secrets of his own to keep hidden inside himself. A strong side-kick to have if you are going to be time travelling.

Winfrey as Mrs. Which is the mother figure of the unusual trio. She wants Meg to find her own strength in being exactly who she is. Kaling as Mrs. Who is lovely and supportive. Witherspoon as Mrs. Whatsit is scatter brained and delightful but all with a purpose.

Pine as Mr. Murray doesn’t realize what his scientific obsession would cost him or his family until it is too late. Mbatha-Raw as Mrs. Murray keeps the family together and the hope alive for her husbands return.

Other cast include: Zach Galifianakis as Happy Medium, Michael Pena as Red, Andre Holland as Principal Jenkins, Rowan Blanchard as Veronica Kiley, Bellamy Young as Camzotz and David Oyelowo as The It.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment began distributing under its own label in 1980 and continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!

The Bluray/DVD of A WRINKLE IN TIME includes Bloopers, Deleted Scenes, A Journey Through Time: Director Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey and Some of the Cast and Crew Give an Up-Close Look at the Making of This Extraordinary Film, Music Videos: ‘I Believe’ by DJ Khaled Featuring Demi Lovato, ‘Warrior’ by Chloe x Halle and Audio Commentary with Director Ava DuVernay, Producer Jim Whitaker, Co-Writer Jennifer Lee and some of the Production Crew.

A WRINKLE IN TIME is a beautiful story of childhood that includes secret pain and the issue of bullying, keeping a family together and never giving up hope. That’s what Meg does, although she turns away from people to hide her feelings, the one thing she will stand up brazenly for is her family.

The film is also filled with grand imagination, special effects that set the tone for the story being told and stunning imagery. There is certainly nothing wrong with having a film that not only can be enjoyed by the whole family but is filled with such intense life lessons. Sometimes it only takes a good movie to get the family talking.

In the end – be a warrior!