Queen of Katwe (2016)*

Title: Queen of Katwe
Rating: PG
Directed by: Mira Nair
Written by: William Wheeler
Based on the book by: Tim Crothers
Starring: David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o and Madina Nalwanga
Release Date: 9/30/2016
Running Time: 124 minutes

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“Queen of Katwe” is based on the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion.

For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Nalwanga) and her family, life in the impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. Her mother, Harriet (Nyong’o), is fiercely determined to take care of her family and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende (Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, she is captivated. Chess requires a good deal of concentration, strategic thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and Katende hopes to empower youth with the game. Phiona is impressed by the intelligence and wit the game requires and immediately shows potential. Recognizing Phiona’s natural aptitude for chess and the fighting spirit she’s inherited from her mother, Katende begins to mentor her, but Harriet is reluctant to provide any encouragement, not wanting to see her daughter disappointed. As Phiona begins to succeed in local chess competitions, Katende teaches her to read and write in order to pursue schooling. She quickly advances through the ranks in tournaments, but breaks away from her family to focus on her own life. Her mother eventually realizes that Phiona has a chance to excel and teams up with Katende to help her fulfill her extraordinary potential, escape a life of poverty and save her family.

What did you think of this film?

During Credits? Yes

during the credits

Each actor is shown in the Katwe chess club meeting room, and their corresponding real-life person appears and stands next to them. Next, there’s a series of still pictures from the movie. That’s followed by the music video for the song “#1 Spice” (https://youtu.be/DZ1OblYm5YY) that’s sung by the kids during the movie.

After Credits? No

Is this stinger worth waiting around for? Yes (No Ratings Yet)
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Memoriam: In Memory of Mohammed “Madikas” Ssekandi

Hands of Stone (2016)

Édgar Ramírez and Robert De Niro star in HANDS OF STONE

Title: Hands of Stone
Rating: R
Directed by: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Written by: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Starring: Edgar Ramírez, Usher Raymond, Rubén Blades, Ana de Armas, John Turturro and Robert De Niro
Release Date: 8/26/2016
Running Time: 105 minutes

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IMDb

“Hands of Stone” tells the story of how the legendary Roberto Duran and his celebrated trainer Ray Arcel changed each other’s lives. From 1964 through 1983, in the heart of the golden era of boxing, the film explores the true life tale of Duran’s infamous rivalry with Sugar Ray Leonard. Two time Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro stars as legendary trainer Ray Arcel, a Jew from Harlem who became the first boxing trainer to be elected into the Boxing Hall of Fame. He trained more than 2,000 fighters in his 70 year career, and none of them were ever seriously hurt. The movie captures his comeback after a retirement forced by the Mafia. Arcel agrees to train Duran for free, risking his own life, and beginning a journey that will change him forever.

What did you think of this film?

During Credits? No

After Credits? No

Memoriam: In memory of Stephanie Arcel Your legacy is love

Take Off 2 (2016)

Title: Take Off 2 (aka. Run-Off)
Rating: NR
Directed by: Jong-hyun Kim
Starring: Soo Ae, Jae-suk Ha and Ji-hee Jin
Release Date: 8/10/2016
Running Time: 126 minutes

IMDb
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Various women, including a North Korean defector, a banned short track skater, middle age woman and a middle school student, come together to form the first South Korean woman’s national ice hockey team.

What did you think of this film?

During Credits? No

After Credits? No

Special thanks to Frank S. for this submission

Undrafted (2016)

Title: Undrafted
Rating: NR
Directed by: Joseph Mazzello
Written by: Joseph Mazzello
Starring: Tyler Hoechlin, Chace Crawford and Joseph Mazzello
Release Date: 7/15/2016
Running Time: 90 minutes

IMDb
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When a star college baseball player is hit with the sobering news that he hasn’t been drafted, a meaningless intramural baseball game with his wacky teammates turns into the most important game of his life.

What did you think of this film?

During Credits? No

After Credits? No

Sultan (2016)?

Title: Sultan
Rating: NR
Directed by: Ali Abbas Zafar
Written by: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror and Anushka Sharma
Release Date: 7/6/2016
Running Time: 170 minutes

IMDb
Official Site
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Sultan is a story of Sultan Ali Khan – a local wrestling champion with the world at his feet as he dreams of representing India at the Olympics.

It’s a story of Aarfa – a feisty young girl from the same small town as Sultan with her own set of dreams.

When the 2 local wrestling legends lock horns, romance blossoms and their dreams and aspirations become intertwined and aligned.

However, the path to glory is a rocky one and one must fall several times before one stands victorious – More often than not, this journey can take a lifetime. Sultan is a classic underdog tale about a wrestler’s journey, looking for a comeback by defeating all odds staked up against him. But when he has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this fight for his life match… Sultan must literally fight for his life.

Sultan believes he’s got what it takes… but this time, it’s going to take everything he’s got.

“Wrestling is not a sport it’s about fighting what lies within”….. SULTAN

What did you think of this film?

During Credits? Unknown

during the credits

No information at this time

After Credits? Unknown

after the credits

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Is this stinger worth waiting around for? Yes (No Ratings Yet)
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Back in the Day (2016)*

Title: Back in the Day
Rating: NR
Directed by: Paul Borghese
Written by: William DeMeo
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Michael Madsen, Shannen Doherty, Danny Glover and William DeMeo
Release Date: 5/20/2016
Running Time: 121 minutes

Official Site
IMDb

Set in both the late 80’s and current day, “Back in the Day” is a gritty tale about Anthony Rodriguez (William DeMeo), a half Italian – half Puerto Rican teenager growing up on the streets of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, then a racist neighborhood filled with bullies, big shots and social clubs where all of the neighborhood shots were called. Anthony had to endure an abusive, alcoholic father but was blessed with a nurturing, hard-working mother whom he loses at a very early age. In spite of the odds, he struggles to uphold the morals his Mother taught him and retain his dignity. Anthony is taken under the wing of a local mob boss, Enzo DeVino (Michael Madsen), who along with his boss Gino (Alec Baldwin) supports Anthony’s wish to escape his demons through the sport of boxing. Enzo unites Anthony with a trainer, Eddie “Rocks” Trevor (Danny Glover), who turns Anthony into a contender. As Anthony journeys into adulthood with the nearly impossible goal of achieving a successful professional boxing career, he manages to not only go pro, but to fight his way to the Middleweight championship. Love and loss, humiliation and retaliation all play major roles in his journey, but when he finally makes it to the top he realizes that the real fight was outside the ring.

What did you think of this film?

During Credits? Yes

during the credits

William DeMeo and Joseph D’Onofrio explain that the fireworks scene couldn’t be filmed in Brooklyn, so they recreate the gas + fireworks scene in front of friends and crew.

After Credits? No

Is this stinger worth waiting around for? Yes (No Ratings Yet)
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Memoriam: Rest in Peace Mary Magner, Anthony Donofrio & “Lefty” The Dog

Special thanks to Frank S. for this submission

Pelé: Birth of a Legend (2016)?

Title: Pelé: Birth of a Legend
Rating: PG
Directed by: Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist
Written by: Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist
Starring: Vincent D’Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta and Kevin de Paula
Release Date: 5/6/2016
Running Time: 107 minutes

Official Site
IMDb
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Pelé. A name known around the world, a sports legend who changed soccer forever, and a national hero who carried the hopes and dreams of a country on his back. But before he was an icon, he was a kid from the slums of São Paulo, Brazil, so poor that he couldn’t afford a real soccer ball. Charting his meteoric rise—from scrubbing floors to support his family to honing his electrifying playing style on the streets to leading Brazil’s national team to its first World Cup victory at the age of 17—Pelé vividly brings to life the greatest sports story of the 20th century.

What did you think of this film?

During Credits? Unknown

during the credits

No information at this time

After Credits? Unknown

after the credits

No information at this time

Is this stinger worth waiting around for? Yes (No Ratings Yet)
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Program, The (2015)

Title: The Program
Rating: R
Directed by: Stephen Frears
Written by: John Hodge
Based on the book by: David Walsh
Starring: Ben Foster, Chris O’Dowd and Guillaume Canet
Release Date: 3/18/2016
Running Time: 103 minutes

Official Site
IMDb

The untold story of one man’s thirteen-year crusade to find the truth behind one of the greatest cons in history. A journalist with The Sunday Times and author of the book the film was based on ‘Seven Deadly Sins’, David Walsh undertook what has become one of the great pieces of investigative journalism by uncovering the truth about Lance Armstrong. Feted as a hero and adored by millions of people, how did Walsh bring down one of the most powerful icons in the world?

What did you think of this film?

During Credits? No

After Credits? No

Race (2016)

Title: Race
Rating: PG-13
Directed by: Stephen Hopkins
Written by: Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse
Starring: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree, Shanice Banton, Carice van Houten, Jeremy Irons and William Hurt
Release Date: 2/19/2016
Running Time: 134 minutes

Official Site
IMDb

Based on the incredible true story of Jesse Owens, the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler’s vision of Aryan supremacy. Race is an enthralling film about courage, determination, tolerance, and friendship, and an inspiring drama about one man’s fight to become an Olympic legend.

Race tracks the journey of James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens (portrayed by Stephan James of Selma). As a student and athlete in Depression-era America, Jesse bears the weight of family expectations, racial tension at his college Ohio State University, and his own high standards for competition.

At Ohio State University, Jesse finds a savvy coach and stalwart friend in Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis) – who is unafraid to push the young man to his limits. Bolstered by the love and support of Ruth Solomon (Shanice Banton), with whom he has a young daughter, Jesse’s winning ways in intercollegiate competitions earn him a place on the U.S. Olympics team…

…if there is to be a team going to the 1936 Olympics at all; the American Olympic committee weighs a boycott in protest against Hitler with committee president Jeremiah Mahoney (Academy Award winner William Hurt) and millionaire industrialist Avery Brundage (Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons) debating the issue. Once Brundage prevails with the committee and U.S. participation is confirmed, Jesse enters a new racial and political minefield after he arrives in Berlin with his fellow athletes.

What did you think of this film?

During Credits? No

After Credits? No

Concussion (2015)

Will Smith stars in Columbia Pictures' "Concussion."

<br /> Title: Concussion
Rating: PG-13
Directed by: Peter Landesman
Written by: Peter Landesman
Starring: Will Smith, Alec Baldwin and Albert Brooks
Release Date: 12/25/2015
Running Time: 123 minutes

Official Site
IMDb

In Pittsburgh, accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play.

What did you think of this film?

During Credits? No

After Credits? No

Tag: Sport

Queen of Katwe (2016)*

Hands of Stone (2016)

Take Off 2 (2016)

Undrafted (2016)

Sultan (2016)?

Back in the Day (2016)*

Pelé: Birth of a Legend (2016)?

Program, The (2015)

Race (2016)

Concussion (2015)

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