In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the United States, causing $108 billion in damages and more than 1,800 casualties, making it one of the most severe disasters in recent American history. The story of Hour of Reckoning is drawn from a real-life event involving a father at the time. It depicts how, during the hurricane, Nolan’s wife died in childbirth, leaving him to protect their newborn. However, the floods caused by the storm breached coastal defenses, sending seawater surging into the city and cutting off electricity and water at the hospital. Nolan had to keep the premature baby’s respirator running. Despite the setbacks and hardships, the father had to persevere to protect his child...
Paul Walker earned high praise for his powerful portrayal of a father in Hour of Reckoning. (Image provided by Haile Pictures)
Action star Paul Walker, famous for the Fast & Furious series, took on the leading role in this film. After signing on, he found it quite coincidental because he was shooting Fast & Furious 6 at the time, in which his character also became a new father. So he basically treated Hour of Reckoning as a spin-off of Fast & Furious 6. However, in Hour of Reckoning, he virtually carried the entire film solo with a heavy workload, seeing it as a major challenge to prove his acting chops. At its premiere at the 2013 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, Walker did not disappoint fans, earning widespread acclaim for his heartfelt and convincing performance as a father.
Director Eric Heisserer is a seasoned screenwriter who often posts his works on screenwriters’ forums for producers to discover. His writing leans toward the thriller genre. In December 2008, he was recruited by Warner Bros. to co-write the screenplay for A Nightmare on Elm Street, marking his official entry into film scriptwriting. The box office success of A Nightmare on Elm Street quickly led to him being assigned the script for Final Destination 5, which became the most commercially successful installment in the series. Thus, his reputation as a master of thrillers was solidified.
Afterward, Eric took a long hiatus to craft a script he was fully satisfied with. Hour of Reckoning is based on a true story from the 2005 U.S. hurricanes, and he spent over a year revising it repeatedly. Once completed, he posted the script online, hoping to attract producer interest. A compelling story will always find its way—soon, producer Peter Safran approached him and even invited him to direct the film. As his debut feature, Eric approached the project with particular dedication.
Hour of Reckoning
Hours
Release Date: 2013-12-06
Runtime: Not provided
Director: Eric Heisserer (Final Destination 5)
Cast: Paul Walker (Fast & Furious), Genesis Rodriguez (Man on a Ledge)
The World of Messi
What Maisie Knew
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This Is How We Grow Up
The rooster trademark paper
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Release Date: 2013-12-06
Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes
Director: Scott McGehee, David Siegel (What Maisie Knew)
Cast: Julianne Moore (Chloe), Steve Coogan (Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life), Alexander Skarsgård (Battleship)
Based on the 19th-century novel of the same name by Henry James
A six-year-old girl named Maisie, born in New York, must adapt to a new life after her parents’ divorce. With each parent finding new partners, she is shuttled between two beautiful homes on a ten-day rotation. But what Maisie truly wants is something unspoken. Through her eyes and innocent words, the complex emotions of the adult world unfold.
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Release Date: 2013-12-06
Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes
Director: Maryam Milani
Cast: Shahram Poorasad, Shayan Jalali, Alireza Samimi-oghadam, Parnia Alipanahi, Roya Bakhtiyari, Danial Ebadi, Nima Ensafian, Narges Milani
Based on a true story from Iran, the film follows three children from ordinary families who harbor big hopes and dreams despite their young age. Amir, a young boy living with his mother and sister, works hard selling newspapers to help ease the family’s financial burden. One day, he sees a newspaper painting contest and decides to enter. Ali, Amir’s best friend, works at a bakery and loves soccer. During breaks, he sneaks to the field to watch players practice and secretly learns from them, dreaming of becoming a professional footballer. Mariam, Amir’s sister, is a creative girl who dreams of becoming a film director...
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Take a Photo of DadCapturing Dad
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Be a Fool at Least Once in Your LifeFruits of Faith  |
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Release Date: 2013-12-06
Runtime: 1 hour 14 minutes
Director: Ryota Nakano (Like Father, Like Son)
Cast: Makiko Watanabe, Erisa Yanagi, Nanoka Matsubara
Every family has its miscalculations of happiness
Sawa divorced her husband due to his affair and raised their two daughters alone. For 14 years, life had been peaceful. One day, she learned that her ex-husband was in the terminal stages of cancer and would soon pass away. Though she had once said she never wanted to see the unfaithful man again, she couldn't help but ask her daughters to visit him on her behalf, hoping they could bring back a photo of their father so she could see him one last time. The sisters actually knew their mother’s stubbornness stemmed from a deep longing for their father, and they too were eager to see the gentle dad from their vague memories. But when the sisters arrived at their destination, the person who greeted them was their much younger half-brother. What was supposed to be an emotional reunion took an unexpected turn.
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Release Date: 2013-12-06
Duration: 2 hours 08 minutes
Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura (“Delivery Man and the Beatles’ Lullaby”)
Cast: “Miracle at the Pacific”’s Lierobe Abe, “Wild Rose Barber Shop”’s Miho Kanno
Although Akinori poured all his effort into cultivating pesticide-free apples and spent every penny his father-in-law gave him, not a single apple bore fruit in ten years. The villagers and even his friends gradually thought he had gone mad, mocking him as someone “living off nothing.” After a decade of bitter failure, he finally felt cornered and went up the mountain to end his life. But just then, he spotted a lush fruit tree standing tall amid the overgrown weeds on the mountaintop. He thought, “Why is there such a fruitful tree growing in this barren place?” He rushed toward the tree and finally found the clue to the miracle!
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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG
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Snowpiercer
SNOWPIERCER
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Release Date: 2013-12-13
Duration: Not provided
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Luke Evans, Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace
In “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”, Prince Thorin Oakenshield leads a company of fifteen — including the wizard Gandalf and the hobbit Bilbo Baggins — on a perilous journey back to their homeland: the Lonely Mountain. They vow to reclaim their kingdom and treasure from the dragon Smaug. But Thranduil, the Elf king who has long been at odds with Thorin, surprisingly offers assistance. What is his motive? As the expedition nears the Lonely Mountain, they are stopped by Bard the Bowman, who believes they have no right to return and that Thorin will only awaken the slumbering dragon, bringing greater disaster. Tensions rise between the two sides. Meanwhile, Legolas and the elf warrior Tauriel fall in love, though King Thranduil disapproves of their relationship. As orcs launch a massive invasion of Middle-earth, an epic battle between good and evil unfolds. Humans, elves, and the company of dwarves must set aside their differences to face the coming fight. Meanwhile, Bilbo, who sneaks into the dragon’s treasure hoard, is discovered by Smaug. How will he escape the clutches of this terrifying beast?
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Release Date: 2013-12-06
Duration: 2 hours 06 minutes
Director: Bong Joon-ho (“Memories of Murder”)
Cast: “Captain America” Chris Evans, “Harry Potter” John Hurt, “The Host” Song Kang-ho, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” Tilda Swinton, “Jumper” Jamie Bell
As extreme climate change worsens, the entire Earth is covered in snowstorms. A train carrying the last survivors of humanity speeds toward an unknown destination. But inside the train, there exist two drastically different lives: the impoverished at the tail section suffer from hunger and cold, while the privileged elite at the front enjoy endless luxuries — even scarce drugs.
After 17 years on the run, rebel leader Curtis (played by Chris Evans) decides to fight for the survival rights of the tail section. He plans to stage a riot to seize control of the engine room — the heart of the train — from the mysterious and brutal dictator (Ed Harris). First, he must rescue Namgoong Minsu (Song Kang-ho), the imprisoned keyholder who designed the train, but he demands drugs for himself and his daughter in exchange for each car the rebels successfully take.
However, the plan becomes even more perilous due to unforeseen complications. How will they handle these unpredictable crises...
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