#OnTheBigScreen: Breakthrough, After and Hellboy

Breakthrough

Based on the inspirational true story of one mother’s unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds.

When Joyce Smith’s adopted son John falls through an icy Missouri lake, all hope seems lost. But as John lies lifeless, Joyce refuses to give up. Her steadfast belief inspires those around her to continue to pray for John’s recovery, even in the face of every case history and scientific prediction.

From producer DeVon Franklin and adapted for the screen by Grant Nieporte from Joyce Smith’s own book, it is an enthralling reminder that faith and love can create a mountain of hope, and sometimes even a miracle. Directed by Roxann Dawson.

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After

This adult romance follows the journey of self-discovery of Tessa (Josephine Langford). A dedicated student, dutiful daughter and loyal girlfriend to her high school sweetheart Noah, Tessa enter her first year of university with grand ambitions for her future. Her guarded world opens up when she meets the dark and secretive Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) – a brooding rebel that Tessa would typically shun, she is drawn to him by the passions they share that will change her forever.

Producers showed interest to turn Anna Todd’s best-selling novel After into a film before the story was published in book form; the story became a publishing sensation after beginning as fan fiction on the social storytelling sharing platform Wattpad, read more than 1.5 billion times on Wattpad.

Directed by Jenny Gage and the screenplay written by Susan McMartin. 

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Hellboy

Fifteen years after producing the first feature based on Mike Mignola’s acclaimed Hellboycomic book series, producers Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin knew the time was right to reimagine the film franchise.

The landscape of the horror-action-fantasy genre had changed dramatically in the ensuing decade and a half. Recent big-budget comic-book-based titles demonstrated that moviegoers were ready to embrace flawed superheroes (and antiheroes) and edgier, R-rated storylines.

Hellboy is caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge. Directed by Neil Marshall, the screenplay is crafted by Mignola and Andrew Cosby, a prolific screenwriter, producer and comic book creator.

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A Dog’s Way Home

This emotionally charged and uplifting spiritual odyssey that follows one dog’s journey home, highlights the power of unconditional love between a dog and her owner.

It chronicles the heart-warming adventure of Bella, a dog who embarks on an epic 400-mile journey home after she is separated from her beloved human, Lucas, an aspiring med student and VA hospital volunteer. Bella touches the lives of many during her unwavering quest; from an orphaned mountain lion cub to a homeless veteran down on his luck, Bella brings joy and comfort to everyone she meets with her unique spirit and faith.

Based on the bestselling novel by W Bruce Cameron, the beloved author of A Dog’s Purpose, it is directed by Charles Martin Smith from a screenplay crafted by Cameron and his wife Cathryn Michon.

Racetime

A spectacular sled race through the village. Frankie-Four-Eyes and his team, including Sophie as the driver, take on the newcomers: the mysterious and conceited Zac and his athletic cousin Charly. The fantastic sled designed by Frankie disintegrates right before crossing the finish line. It is a bitter loss for Frankie who refuses to accept that he might have made some building mistakes.

Together with his friends, he manages to prove that Zac cheated during the race. Frankie demands a rematch; which Zac accepts on condition that Frankie builds an entirely new race track. Frankie and his friends build a spectacular race track. Zac realises he is up against a worthy opponent, so he raises the stakes even more by cornering Frankie into adding a bet.

As the two teams prepare for race day, Zac has no scruples about cheating even more to weight the outcome of the race in his favour. But Frankie and his team have a few surprises of their own in store for him.

Canadian animated film directed by Benoît Godbout. A sequel to the 2015 film Snowtime.

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