#OnTheBigScreen: 'Unhinged', 'Mulan' and 'The King of Staten Island'

Unhinged

Russell Crowe, stars in Unhinged, a psychological thriller that explores the fragile balance of a society pushed to the edge, taking something we’ve all experienced – road rage – to an unpredictable and terrifying conclusion. Rachel (Caren Pistorius) is running late to work when she has an altercation at a traffic light with a stranger (Crowe) whose life has left him feeling powerless and invisible. Soon, Rachel finds herself, and everyone she loves, the target of a man who decides to make one last mark upon the world by teaching her a series of deadly lessons. What follows is a dangerous game of cat and mouse that proves you never know just how close you are to someone who is about to become Unhinged.

Directed by Derrick Borte, from a screenplay by Carl Ellsworth

“I wanted to try to write the most intense thing I’ve ever written, with an unrelenting pace and urgency, that unfolds in real-time and doesn’t let up until it’s over,” says screenwriter Carl Ellsworth of Unhinged, a timely psychological thriller that explores the fragile balance of a society pushed to the edge, taking something we’ve all experienced – road rage – to an unpredictable and terrifying conclusion.

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Mulan

Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro brings the epic tale of China’s legendary warrior to life in Disney’s Mulan, in which a fearless young woman risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known.

When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honored warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation… and a proud father.

Mulan brings audiences an incredible tale that celebrates the richness of Chinese culture and the power of female strength. A story that is Chinese yet transcends borders, Mulan reflects the breadth and depth of Chinese identity.

A combination on of relatable emotions, Mulan is a movie with universal appeal that embodies the timeless themes of honor, family, respect for elders and duty.

The film is directed by Niki Caro from a screenplay by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin suggested by the narrative poem “The Ballad of Mulan.”

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The King of Staten Island

With his singular mix of comic absurdity, incisive observation and genuine empathy, director, writer, and producer Judd Apatow has mastered the art of tackling fraught subjects—adult virginity, unexpected pregnancy, self-destructive behaviour, life-threatening illness and middle age. With The King of Staten Island, a fictionalized version of autobiographical events, he takes audiences on a deeply personal and darkly funny journey based on the life of his star, Pete Davidson.

In this bracing comedy about love, loss and laughter on Staten Island, Scott Carlin (Davidson) has been a case of arrested development ever since his firefighter father died when he was seven. He’s now reached his mid-20s having achieved little, chasing a dream of becoming a tattoo artist that seems far out of reach. As his ambitious younger sister Claire (Maude Apatow, HBO’s Euphoria) heads off to college, Scott is still living with his exhausted ER nurse mother Margie (Marisa Tomei). He spends his days smoking weed, hanging with his boys—Oscar (Ricky Velez, Master of None), Igor (Moises Arias, Five Feet Apart) and Richie (Lou Wilson, TV’s The Guest Book)—and secretly hooking up with childhood friend Kelsey (Bel Powley, Apple TV+’s The Morning Show). But when his mother starts dating loudmouth firefighter Ray (Bill Burr, Netflix’s F Is for Family), it sets off a chain of events that will force Scott to grapple with his grief and take his first tentative steps toward moving forward in life.

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