'Return' is the story of Kelli, (Linda Cardellini 'ER'), who is a member of the Ohio National Guard. She's been gone a year and is now returning home

Kelli is returning to her family, including her husband Mike, (Michael Shannon 'Take Shelter'), and her two little girls. Her relationship with all three of her family members is strained. Kelli is deeply depressed, and like a lot of returning vets, can't express it to anyone who hasn't been there.

Sleeping on the floor in her children's room, and going out with the girls are now her life. Her husband makes to make her feel uncomfortable. In one seen her husband is tickling her and she freaks out a bit. He was holding her down and it seemed to bring up memories. It soon becomes obvious that Mike has found comfort in another woman, Cara Lee (Bonnie Swencionis, 'Channel Your Inspiration'). Kelli finds out and her life goes spiraling out of control.

When her husband moves out and takes their children, the only thing she had left, she sinks into a bottle. A DUI was inevitable, as were the classes she had to participate in avoid incarceration.

Just as it seems she couldn't get any lower, fate steps in and deals her a blow that sets her on a path she never wanted to walk.

Linda Cardellini is a superior actress who takes each role and makes it her own. Her portrayal of Kelli isn't much of a stretch from 'ER', however, she brings a lot to the part.

During the film Kelli says several times 'Nothing bad happened to me over there, I was a lot better off than some people'. It doesn't take much reading between the lines to realize that something bad, very bad, did happen to her and she isn't coping with it very well.

'Return' takes a while to get going and drags in a few places, but it's a good and timely film.

'Return' opens this Friday February 10, 2012. Produced by 2.1 Films

4/5 stars

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This story revolves around Tony (Nathan Marston), a nice Catholic boy who was severely punished by a nun when he answered 'Gay' to the question she asked him one fine morning. The question (asked in the 60s) was 'How are you feeling today'?

Flash forward to Tony as an adult who is homophobic. He's engaged to the beautiful Sarah (Kirsten Lea). Their wedding is less than a month away on New Years Eve.

Tony works construction for a company headed by Joe (Tom Arnold) who's assistant, Steve (Tom Achdeacon who has a serious Tom Cruise thing going on) is obviously gay.  Joe's clients are celebrities in need of home repair. The crew that includes Tony are all 'HE MEN':  or are they?

Steve makes Tony's skin crawl and Tony doesn't care who knows it.

The days go by, Tony and Sarah's wedding is getting closer and closer. Things are good for the happy couple, however, the other couple are having a bit of trouble. Steve and his boyfriend Michael (Emrhys Cooper) are having commitment problems. Michael wants to, Steve isn't so sure.

With the holiday season in full swing, Joe brings a lovely angel, that he found in someone's trash, into the house being remodeled. This turns out to be a magic angel that grants wishes. Without this information, Steve and Tony get into a tiff and before you know it, there has been a sex change, so to speak. Tough guy Tony is now quickly becoming gay and gay Steve is quickly become straight. This is, of course, a big problem.

We've all seen this plot before, however, the switch in this film is unique and makes for some equally unique situations.

Anyone who reads my reviews knows that Rom-Coms are not my thing. 'Walk a Mile in My Pradas' is charming with many talented actors. It's a great film for the holidays, Rom-Com or not.

I do have one problem with the film and it has to do with stereotypes. There is a 'desperate fat girl' who would do almost anything to get a man.  Lindsay Hollister,  a lovely actress, plays a friend of Sarah's. Lindsay is a BBW (Big Beautiful Woman). Her character is shown as grabbing onto any guy she can. This isn't funny (even though Lindsay always does a great job with her acting)  Take note filmmakers of the world; WE'RE HERE, WE'RE BIG AND YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE A TWIG TO GET A GOOD PART IN A FILM!

Otherwise, 4/5 stars for a great film.

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Buy this film here.

If you could, would you want to know when you are going to die? Ponder what that would mean for a moment. Information such as this could ruin your whole life, in many ways.

What if; you find out your spouse will die before you? Same with your children, parents, etc. Not to mention the implications this would have on life and health insurance. Lastly, could you take measure to live longer? The scenarios are endless.

Filmmaker Joe McClean and Sarju Patel of 'Red and Tan Productions' started writing such a film. The amazing thing is that next year, such a test will be made available. (Check the video to the left.) Understand, the work on this film, the writing, was started way before this test was announced.

Below is the story of how working towards one film brought  about an amazing opportunity for a completely different film. This is the story of the making of an Independent film.

If you could, would you want to know when you are going to die? Ponder what that would mean for a moment. Information such as this could ruin your whole life, in many ways.

What if; you find out your spouse will die before you? Same with your children, parents, etc. Not to mention the implications this would have on life and health insurance. Lastly, could you take measure to live longer? The scenarios are endless.

Filmmaker Joe McClean and Sarju Patel of 'Red and Tan Productions' started writing such a film. The amazing thing is that next year, such a test will be made available. (Check the video to the left.) Understand, the work on this film, the writing, was started way before this test was announced.

Below is the story of how working towards one film brought  about an amazing opportunity for a completely different film. This is the story of the making of an Independent film.

Advertisement A few years ago, Joe was hired to write a script for a film called 'Viral'. The film never came to fruition, the producer never did the film, but Joe kept working on it because he fell in love with the story.  This  is the mark of a true Indie filmmaker.

Two years later Joe decided to do the film himself. An attorney was hired (Indie filmmakers take note, this is a very important step.) This particular attorney did work for the 'Harry Potter' films and 'Tomb Raider'. Her name is Bianca Goodloe and she knows her stuff.

Attached to the project are David  A. Armstrong. Joe got lucky with a phone call to Betty Mae Casting, a casting director answered the phone insidead of an intern. (NOTE; This  isn't an insult to interns, but getting a casting director on the phone just doesn't happen.) This particular casting agent, J.C. Cantu, who cast such films as Machete, Spy Kids and Predator. Joe 'pitched' the movie to him on a Thursday. On the following Monday Cantu signed on having loved the script.

The project did stall in casting. Attorney Goodloe, (see how important they are), suggested doing a smaller movie in the meantime.

This is where the film based on knowing the date of your demise comes in.

Joe had the idea for a film called 'Life Tracker', which he'd been toying with for years. It was now time to get the film made.

It's an 'end of the world' story and the only money Joe had came from 'under the cushions of his couch'. A budget for such a film can be HUGE. 'Couch cushion money not withstanding, Joe decided to proceed with the project. His idea was to use the 'found film' format which is hot and less expensive. Think Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity, a faux documentary.

Even though the film would be less expensive than 'Viral' it still needed a budget. Friends, family and golf buddies contributed. Then, another stroke of luck, Rebecca Marshall who was in Saw 3D and the upcoming Adam Sandler film, Donny's Boy, fell in love with the script. She wanted to be in the movie. Rebecca helped with her production company 'Moxie Lady'. She brought in NBA star, Baron Davis, (Verso Entertainment), and the budget was in place.

It was time to cast the other roles. J.C. Went to work. He called in actors for auditions and then sent a link every day to Joe for approval. One day a link to an actor was sent that made 'Joe's jaw drop'. The actor was Matt Dallas from TV's Kyle XY. Joe actually went to the same high school as Matt, Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix Arizona. Although Joe didn't know him, he certainly knew of him.

Can't make a film without a crew. Jeremy Weiss, (Al Pacino's  documentary Wilde Salome) was onboard as their DP. Also signed on was Tommy Aargaard (Transformers, Thor, and the 'now in production' The Avengers.

Filming starts January 17th through February 7th. Joe is hoping this film will get 'Viral' off the ground, remember Viral?

The Log line for Life Tracker is 'When Dillon decides to document a news story about a company claiming they can predict a human's future by analyzing DNA, has no idea how much it will affect his life and the world around him.'

In Hollywood, sometimes one failed attempt leads to the project of a lifetime.

'My Week with Marilyn movie review

This film has Colin Clark, (Eddie Redmayne), as a young assistant to Sir Laurence  Olivier (Kenneth Branagh). Marilyn Monroe is to star in his film 'The Prince and the Showgirl' in London. As the cast and crew await the arrival of  Monroe the film introduces Olivier and Colin whose relationship is a love hate situation. All is calm, except for the worry laden Olivier.

Finally, Marilyn arrives with then husband Arthur Miller in tow, and people start gushing over her, which was pretty much her life.

As shooting starts, in classic Marilyn Monroe style, she is sometimes hours late to the set. Suffering debilitating depression and addiction to both drugs and alcohol, with no one willing to take a hard line with her, Colin is assigned to keep her in line. Marilyn liked Colin, (the film portrayed them as possible lovers), so she lets him close enough to allow him to be her crutch. He is especially key in keeping her on track when Miller leaves to go back to the US to do his own work.

Everyone who met Marilyn immediately lost their ability to be objective. Anything she does is fine, every word she says is golden and if she is late for work, only Olivier has the nerve to say anything. Even Vivian Leigh, (Julia Ormond), gushes over her, and cast member Dame Sybil Thorndike, (Dame Judi Dench), makes her feel like every infraction is forgivable.

Since she is pretty much encouraged to act in any way she pleased, Colin is despatched to get her to the studio on time. Soon, he has fallen head over heels in love with her. The relationship he has with wardrobe girl Lucy, (Emma Watson), is ruined, he is chided by cast and crew, but he is fine because he has Marilyn. He soon finds out that everyone feel in love with Marilyn, but she stayed only long enough to get what she needed and then she moved on.

'My Week with Marilyn' is based on two books by Colin Clark in which he claims the relationship described above was real. If it's true or not is anyones guess, but I believe some of it has the ring of truth.

If the parts about Marilyn being as needy and as addicted are true, and it appears they are, then she was a sad person indeed. The fact that Marilyn used and was used by people in power is documented in many books by people who knew her. Her addiction is very well documented considering she died of an overdose, whether by her own or another's hand we will never know.

'My Week with Marilyn' is an OK film, it isn't stellar, just OK. I wasn't real impressed my Michelle Williams, she sometimes looked and acted like Marilyn, but many times she looked like herself in a blond wig. Also, whoever dressed Miss Williams had no idea what they were doing. In the first scene in which we see Marilyn, her hips look very curvy. But in other scenes she is tiny with almost no bust line. Marilyn reportedly wore a size 12 to a size 16, depending on which website you are reading. What is pretty much common knowledge is that Monroe's top measurement was 36D. Williams looks half that size. And she has almost no hips at all. Marilyn's weight went up and down during her whole career, however most women would give their left arm to look as good as she did.

One other thing that needs to be mentioned is that the film alludes to a pregnancy. Historically, Monroe was taken to a hospital where she reportedly has an appendectomy. The rumor mill started up right away and before you know it, Marilyn had either given birth and given up a baby, or she suffered a miscarriage. There was a woman years and years ago who made the talk show circuit saying she was that child.

Regardless of what Marilyn did or didn't do during her life, if this film is true she was a manipulative woman who only cared about herself and that just isn't sexy.

Award nomination have already started for 'MWWM', in the form of a best actress nomination by the Indie Spirit Awards for Michelle Williams.

Synopsis (taken from Wiki)
 

A meteorite crashes into Japan, releasing a toxic ash that turns the northern half of the country into bloodthirsty zombies. Some time later, with the North now walled off from the rest of Japan, a young woman (Hara) is charged with leading a group of ragtag soldiers into the infected region to kill the "zombie queen" (Shiina) - who also happens to be her homicidal mother.
 

This film is interesting and very different from any zombie type film I've ever seen. These zombies are created from alien influence so anything goes.

Each zombie has an antenna on top of its head that looks a bit like the antlers. When one of the characters is killing them, he takes the antlers as prizes (I think). It's in this scene that one of the greatest visuals of the film is contained. A zombie with a seriously stretched neck, actually his spine goes up a few feet from his body. His head, peeled out of his scull is on top. In the scene he 'pops' up in front of the zombie hunter. Very Cool.

For the last several years the Japanese have kicked ass when it comes to horror. Of course, the US, can do little except make inferior copies of these films. A few of our remakes are good, The Ring and The Grudge, are both high quality remakes.

HellDriver is a film that is a kin to the Japanese horror/sci fi films of the 50s and 60s. The Godzilla films with the twins are a good example. They sing, they talk in unison, but who the hell are they and why are they there. Don't misunderstand, these films are classics amongst many Horror fans. HellDriver brings these films to mind. If you go into watching this film with the above information, you will enjoy it more.

As far as making an American version of HellDriver, in the words of Paul McCartney 'Let it be'.

HellDriver will be hitting shelves on Tuesday November 22, enjoy

'More Brains A Return to the Living Dead' DVD review

From the filmmaker, Bill Philputt, who brought us the great documentary His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th, comes 'More Brains: A Return to the Living Dead'.

This is one of those films you just never want to come to an end. It's the perfect film for zombie lovers and horror/comedy lovers alike.

The main part of the documentary deals with the first film 'Return of the Living Dead'. Most of the cast tells their stories about being cast in their roles. They also tell on each other, it gets pretty juicy. Cast and crew take almost every detail that a fan would wonder about and tell it all.

Make-up people, special FX, everybody they could find for this film that had anything at all to do with ROTLD are all here; Jules Brenner (Cinematographer), Don Calfa (Ernie), James Dalesandro (Paramedic #2), Tony Gardner (Special FX, Make up. Tony is working to this day, casting his magic over such films as Zombieland, 127 Hours and The Hangover), Clu Gulager (Burt), Graham Henderson (Co-Producer), James Karen (Ed), Kenny Myers (make up), Miguel A. Nunez Jr. (Spider), Dan O'Bannon (director, Dan has passed, however there is a never before seen interview with Dan in the special features), Brian Peck (Brian started out as Scuz, but kind of worked his way into parts in all three films, even this doc...he narrates. John Philbin (Chuck), Beverly Randolph (Tina), John Russo (Wrote the book for not only Return of the Living Dead, but also for Night of the Living Dead), Jewel Shepard (Casey), Stanzi Stokes (Casting Director), Stacey Swain (Soundtrack, Tonight We'll Make Love Until We Die, there is a great video of Stacey performing this tune with zombies everywhere), Allan Trautman (Tarman, as it turns out, one of the scariest character in the film turns out to be a really sweet guy). The Best of all is listening to all the stories about the 'Scream Queen' Linnea Quigley who plays Trash. Yes, she of the heavenly body, turned zombie plaything and eventually queen zombie, all in the nude!

This DVD also covers Return of the Living Dead II. I was very surprised to find that most of the cast and crew found it to be an inferior film to the first. I've always loved both films, with the first being a bit higher on my list. Almost without exception most of those involved with part II believed it had too much comedy. As a matter of fact, most of them hated it.

Tidbits are thrown at you about how it  was that James Karen and Thom Mathews return for part II even though they died in the first film. The young man who played the little boy in the second film, Michael Kenworthy, is now a grown man. Seeing the film through his eyes is a real treat.

There is also a special feature on Part III, which most of the cast and crew thought was better than II. I disagree, but that's what makes it a ballgame...right?

Other special features (and yes, you should watch every second of everyone), are the above mentioned specials on parts II and III. The interview with Dan and the musical performance by Stacey are also there. One of my very favorite special features is the tour of the filming sites as they are today with Brian and Beverly.

Dan is gone, as is Mark Venturini who played Suicide.

This documentary is like the best meal you'll ever eat, More Brains!

5/5 stars

Bite Marks is not your everyday, ordinary vampire flick. As a matter of fact,  during the first part of the film it is unclear if the film is about vampires or zombies.

The film opens as a truck driver arrives to pick up his semi to make his nightly run. No one is around and there is noise in the huge trailer of his truck. Need I tell you what happens to him?

As the first driver has become incapacitated, his brother, Brewster (Benjamin Lutz),  is called to take his place. His trucker's license has been revoked, but it's a job and the married woman he's with just doesn't do it for him, or vice versa.

Cary and Vogel, (Windham Beacham and David Alanson) are a gay couple who have set out to hike across the US to save their relationship. Cary adores Vogel, however Vogel is a bit of a playboy. In an homage to 'Ghost', Cary says he loves Vogel, and Vogel responds with 'me too'. In Ghost Patrick Swayze replies 'ditto' to Demi Moore's I Love You.

It's obvious that the three men will meet and the adventure begins. Trucker Brewster picks up the boys to keep him awake as he drives.

The group arrives at what the GPS system says is their destination, but since the cargo is caskets, the junk yard doesn't seem right.

Before you can say the Twilight movies suck, there are zombieish vamps everywhere. They just happen to be very buff guys with no shirts, tight jeans, and really bloody, nasty faces. Oh what fun!

Right on que, the truck breaks down and our three guys can't escape the certain death of the vamps. Taping pages of the Bible on the windows of the truck cabin helps a bit.

The climax of the film isn't completely predictable which is refreshing. This film is really fun to watch. I especially enjoyed the huge tip of their hat the filmmakers gave to the first Fright Night film. Obviously, the main character's name is Brewster, same as the main character in Fright Night. But the biggest kick in the butt is that Stephen Geoffreys who played Evil Ed in Fright Night has a cameo.

There are also some very funny one liners. For instance; when the guys discover that crosses repel the vampires one of the guys quips 'they're vampires....or atheists! Hilarious!!!

Just to let you know, this film is of Gay interest. But this 54 year-old straight woman enjoyed the hell out of it.

Bite Marks on Facebook

Bite Marks will appear on DVD next Tuesday Nov. 15 and it gets an unprecidented 5/5 stars.

A young woman's desire to understand the homeless epidemic in her native city of Los Angeles takes her on an unexpected 4 year journey into the lives of several homeless individuals as they struggle to find homes, get clean, and survive.

Filmmaker Rachel Fleischer has created a film that is both uplifting and heart breaking.

In Without A Home, Rachel goes looking for reasons that people are homeless in L.A.. In doing so, she gets close to several people who either live on the streets or in flophouse hotels.

We meet several people who Rachel tries to help.

Eduardo is in the U.S. trying to forget a great loss. He dealt with this loss with a bottle.

Aric is a street musician with a huge record collection he keeps in storage.

Gilbert who has lost custody of his children due to his heroine addiction, needs to get clean to get them back.

Tina, is a very sad mentally ill woman who movies into her first apartment during the film.

Mike is a recovering addict who tries to help others kick drugs.

Rachel takes each person's story and tries to show them up close and person. Actually, she gets way too close to each of these unfortunate people. Going so far as making payment arrangements for one couple's overdue rent and backing it up with her own credit card. She also pulls some strings and gets Gilbert into rehab. Rachel is also there for him when he threatens to leave.

It seems like Rachel spends much of her time fielding phone calls from her new 'friends' during much of the film. She often steps in to help. During several scenes the viewer might fear for her safety.

When a tragedy hits her small group of homeless the film takes an even darker turn. 

Rachel does end up doing some good for a few of the people she helps, but at great risk to herself.

This four year journey into the underbelly of Los Angeles is sad with some triumph peppered in here and there. It's a well made film that will spark emotions in most people. Some people will be sad about these people's plight, while others will simply chalk it up to yet another bleeding heart liberal rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

4/5 stars

Jake Gibson (Cam Gigandet) has a really crummy birthday. He loses his girl, and his Porsche on his birthday. In addition to his loses, he also has to do a presentation for a class in school. His professor, (Nick Chinlund who is one of the best character actors in the business), is willing to make sure Jake doesn't graduate if he doesn't ace this presentation.

With all his bad luck on his birthday, which according to his Astrology sign should have been a Five Star Day, he has decided to disprove the theory of Astrological signs. Off he goes on a search for the three other people who were born on the same day, in the same hospital at approximately the same time. If they all had crappy days, his theory has validity.

He first encounters Sarah,  (Jena Malone), who thinks he's crazy and gets rid of his quickly whenever he shows up. Sarah does what most of us do when somebody asks 'how was your day'? She lied to Jake saying her day was fine. What she eventually tells Jake is that it was one of the worst days ever. Sarah's story touches Jake and stays with him during his journey.

Then he meets Yvette, (Brooklyn Sudano), who also makes up a story about how great her birthday was. However, with some further questioning by Jake, she reveals her birthday was not too great either.

Lastly, Jake meets Wesley Henderson, (Max Hartman), a  singer who plays a small lounge in Atlantic City. He seems happy, has a new CD coming out and loves partying in the casinos and clubs in AC.

Jake tapes each person to show in class during his presentation. However, he has partied a bit too hardy to do Wesley's interview, but Wesley tapes it for him as he sleeps the nights adventures off. Wes tells Jake not to worry, his interview is on the tape.

Even though Wesley is on a tight schedule, he stops to help Sarah who has a very sad story. He also sends Yvette some encouraging words, and a present to let her know there is a way to have a good day. But, it's Wesley's tape that is strikingly sad that makes Jake realize that his situation isn't so bad and life usually rights itself if you wait a few days.

Romantic comedies (RomComs) are not my favorite genre.  However, this story is so good, the acting so superior that it was love at first sight for me.

5/5 stars for everything from acting, to plot, to the few tears I shed.

Five Star Day is being released on November 4th and is worth seeing.

When was the last time you saw a real ghost movie? Go ahead, start listing them below in the comments, but think before you type...THINK!  Is THIS a ghost story? Was THAT a ghost story? Ohhh, don't type out Paranormal Activity,  don't tell me about Incidious and for goodness sake don't even try Ghost. These are all films parading around saying....look at me, I'm a scary ghost story. I will make you jump, scream and cry! We, as a society, have forgotten what a ghost is.

I blame a lot of this on Paranormal Reality TV. Yes, I write a column about them, but this is a movie review and I get to do the reviewing. My favorite paranormal reality show is Ghost Adventures. For the most part, GA deals with demons...ahhh, are you seeing a problem forming regarding GHOSTLY movies.

I might be able to give you Ghost as part of a ghost story...it's actually just parading as a ghost movie, it's really a RomCom. YUCK!

Paranormal Activity 1, 2 and (haven't seen three yet, but it won't be a ghost story) they are movies about demons.

Amityville -Demons
13 Ghosts-  (That's right), Demons
The Grudge- demons
The Eye- Demons (for the most part)

Do you know, dear reader, I had to go back to 1988 to find a ghost story that suited my 'ghost' criteria. And before that, I had to go back to 1944's The Uninvited. Oh, there was that one film with Bruce Willis...what was that? Oh yeah, The Sixth Sense in which we did see dead people, but didn't know it until near the end. We had to figure out when the color red was on the screen there was also a ghost and if we see the character's breath, on and on.

The Presence, is about a damaged women's, (Mira Sorvino, referred to only as 'the woman'), escape to the small island she spent summers on as a child. She is completely alone, with a small boat to go get food from the local larger island. She doesn't even have indoor plumbing. What she does have is a ghost, a presence. This presences is confused with no idea what he should or shouldn't be doing, however, he does seem attracted to his new roommate.

The film opens as a dichotomy.  The Woman arrives at the house and immediately the audience sees that there is a man (Shane West referred to as 'Ghost') in the house with her. She can't see him and he seems unable to communicate with her.

Soon, her boyfriend arrives (referred to as 'The Man') which upsets the apple cart right away. Our formerly fairly normal 'woman' becomes upset with her boyfriends arrival. Her past becomes clear, and it isn't pretty. Then, with another character revealed, our nice little ghost story slips right into a modern day rendition of Faust.

The Man in Black, not Johnny Cash or Will Smith, it's Tom Curren. Keep your eye on Curren, he has a small part in The Adventures of TinTin. TinTin is the highly anticipated film from Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg. This Man in Black makes an offer to Ghost and seems to be able to whisper little suggestions into The Man and Woman, influencing their moods and decisions.

As the film comes to an end, the story goes from; ghost story to faust to legend/fantasy.

The Presence is a well made story of a childhood lost to abuse and a future almost stolen by a different evil. If the evils are of the same origin is up to the viewer.

A beautiful, simple ghostly romance.

It's funny that this film starts out with a blurb about 'The Heroes Journey' and speaks about it several times during the film.  Joseph Campbell speaks of 'The Heroes Journey' and 'Following Your Bliss'. This is the perfect concept for independent film makers. Taking the Heroes Journey means to step away from your comfort zone and go on a journey, your journey. Part of this concept is to follow your bliss. Go after what you want, even if it means your comfort zone will disappear. It also means that your money source may dry up, your friends and family will think you're crazy. But it has to be YOUR journey. My advice to all is follow that bliss, it's the only way to truly be happy in life. Check the theory here to make sure you know what it's all about. 

Now, about this film Off the Boulevard. It centers on several musicians and actors who are following their bliss. They are trying to make it as an independent artist in the music and film industry.

One of the producers, Troy Duffy, is the man behind Boondock Saints. Troy is a great example of following his bliss. He did and made a great film, unfortunately, Hollywood can suck big time, and Troy was, for lack of a better term,  F'd over really bad. However, this film features Troy speaking about Boondock and he is an executive producer on Off The Boulevard film.

Featured in the film are such people as; Troy, speaking of Boondock Saints, Sanel Budlimic, David Della Rocco, Bob Rubin, Keith Jackson, Nick Nicholson, Jeff Santo, Peter Fonda, Joe Mantegna, Gilby Clarke, Sonny Barger, Dan Haggerty, Eddie Vedder, Ron Santo, Taylor Duff, Leon Mintek, Miles Soley, Solin Abrahall, Doug Flint, Kemal Hadzic, Bila Zaklan and Byron Filson.

This group features some successful actors and musicians. It also features some actors and musicians who should and might make it to the big time.

Bob Rubin is a stand-up comedian who also does some acting. He's very funny, as funny as anyone out there working right now.

Sanel Budimlic's story is particularly compelling. He is a Bosnian refugee who came to America to be an actor. He is charming, talented and the audience of this doc will love him. He is the classic American story, yes CLASSIC AMERICAN STORY. (Soapbox in place)...He came to the country, (our forefathers founded this country), to escape oppression from his own country, (to find a place where they can separate church and state and be free and safe). When it comes right down to it, the United States started out as an independent project.  I have stepped away from the soap box. Regardless, Sanel is delightful.

David Della Rocco, who everyone calls Rocco, was in Boondock Saints and rocked the movie big time. He does substitute teaching right now to earn a living.

Sonny Barger makes a few brief appearances, he is a co-founder of The Hell's Angels. It would have been interesting to hear more of his insights, but unfortunately, he can barely speak.

This film is full of inspiring stories; Troy Duffy and his little film that could and finally did (but along the way he never got the money that should have gone with it), Sanel Budlimic, who literally fought for his life and came to this country to act. Sanel found a wife and has a baby and a shot at acting he would never have had in Bosnia. Bob Rubin plugs away at the comedy clubs, a clown hiding the tears, but just barely. Keith Jackson who runs a bar, and has several albums out. He is punk, he is rockabilly and his is independent. He actually gave his CDs away to get the CD out into the world. Nick Nicholson is a country western singer with great potential. He works in the medical field by day and travels on the weekend playing gigs and getting his music out to the public on weekends.

All of the people listed above have a lot to say about following your bliss. Many of them  speak of hard knocks, many have minor and major successes. Regardless, they did followed their bliss and Off The Boulevard tells their story very well.

Bottom line is, it's hard to make it in show business. However, it's impossible to make it if you don't leave your comfort zone and try.

This film is out on DVD and you can and should buy it here. http://www.santofilms.com/store/OTBDVD.html

What is Net Neutrality 'Barbershop Punk' documents the details

Many people will read the name of this documentary and think they are about to hear some really odd music. However, if your cable company has its way, you might not be able to download this music. You might not even get some of the emails people send you. Why is this? Because your net neutrality is being denied you by your cable company.

Filmmakers Georgia Sugimura Archer, (director, producer, writer) and Kristin Armfield, (Co-director, producer) have put created an excellent documentary that explains net neutrality very well.

What IS net neutrality? According to savetheinternet.com?

Network Neutrality means that internet service providers may not discriminate between different kinds of content and applications online. Net neutrality guarantees a level playing field for all web sites and internet technologies.

Net Neutrality is the reason the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation and free speech online. It protects the consumer's right to use any equipment, content, application or service without interference from the network provider. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data — not choose which data to privilege with higher-quality service.

Barbershop Punk tells the story of Robb Topolski who wanted nothing more than to legally share files of some rare, turn-of-the-century barbershop quartet recordings.  These songs are over one hundred years old, there is no copyright issue. It is by this seemingly simple file share that Robb discovers illegal blocking of files by his cable company, Comcast. Comcast isn't the only cable company that is guilty of this practice, they are simply the cable company that Robb was using.

The main players in this doc are Robb, along with; Michele Combs (Director of Communication Christian Coalition), Damian Kulash (Musician OK Go), Jessica Gonzalez  (VP Policy and Legal Affairs National Hispanic Media Coalition) and Malkia Cyril (Executive Director Center for Media Justice). These groups are diverse and usually wouldn't interact, but they must because their net neutrality is being denied them.

Archer and Armfield have done an amazing job on this documentary. It's a labor of love for the these first time directors. They hit a home run on the first pitch. The topic is covered completely with people such as musicians and others who are directly effected by this issue. Technically, the film stands up well along side other documentaries that have garnered the type of festival attention that BP has.

    •    Official selection SXSW
    •    Official selection AFI Fest
    •    Official selesction Starz Denver Film Fest
    •    IFF Watch Docs
    •    Official selection Silverdocs
    •    Nominee WGA Silverdocs
    •    Programmers award Sidewalk moving picture festival

There is so much to this issue that I will give you links below to better understand what is happening, isn't happening and what needs to be happening.

One thing that needs to happen is for this documentary, Barbershop Punk, to be viewed by as many people as possible. The filmmakers have a kickstarter program going.  There are 13 days to go as of this writing. If everyone who reads this gave a tiny bit to this film they could meet their goal and get this film the publicity it needs. This is such an important issue, this is your freedom of speech.

SaveTheInternet.com

Barbershop Punk official website

YouTube

FaceBook

Twitter

This summer has been full of comic book based films, Thor, The Green Lantern and Hornet and, of course, Captain America....The Last Avenger (echoing in the background is each name over and over).



Super, the new James Gunn (writer Dawn of the Dead '04) movie, isn't actually based on a comic book-but the two main characters are super heroes of a sort.



The story revolves around Frank, (Rainn Wilson, The Office), whose wife Sarah, (Liv Tyler, Lords of the Rings Trilogy) has left him for an evil drug dealer Jacques (Kevin Bacon). Sarah is a recovering addict, who is no longer recovering.



Frank has only had two perfect moments in his life, his wedding to Sarah and telling a police officer which way a fleeing criminal ran...that's it. Obviously, Frank is the type of guy that people often make fun of, he's geeky, but sweet. One really geeky thing he does is sketch people in situations, or just people....it's hard to explain.


After watching the Holy Avenger a 'born again' christian show on TV, god spoke to Frank. As a result Frank becomes a self made superhero with no powers. Frank fashions and sews his own superhero suit. It's worth watching the film for the suit alone, the suit is a quirky character all by itself.



Having never read a comic book, he goes to a comic book store where he meets the comic book geek, Libby. After a false start Frank goes back to the comic book store and asks for comics with superheroes that have no powers. Libby comes up with several selections and Frank is ready to rock. He has decided his weapon of choice is a great big wrench that matches the suit.



Frank has met Jacques a few times and finally figures out what the audience knows already, Jacques has taken Sarah and she's back on drugs. Infuriated, the newly fashioned superhero goes a few rounds with Jacques' seriously mean body guards. These rounds don't go well. Libby thinks Frank needs a sidekick, like all superheroes. After a lot of begging, pleading and even showing off her sexy body, Frank turns her down. Libby is unrelenting, she eventually gets the green light, (which matches her yellow and green super sidekick costume), and a plan is made to rescue the fair Sarah from the evil drug dealer.



Writer/Director James Gunn calls Super an anti-genre film. He's right, there isn't a genre that would hold this way, way out there film. It has lite humor, dark humor, drama, sex, drugs, art and the balls to be all of the afore mentions genres.

Rainn, who names his alter ego The Crimson Bolt, is near perfect as the geeky, failure 'nay' superhero. Super doesn't stretch him too far from his Dwight character on The Office.



At points in the film you cheer for him and at other points you think...seriously?

Liv Tyler's Sarah is usually stoned in the film, but she is excellent in the role. However, could Frank really get a woman who likes like Tyler, well, she was a drug addict.



Libby, played brilliantly by Ellen Page, is really the most interesting character. She is totally ready to have this great adventure as Boltie, the superhero sidekick. The demure Page (5'1) looks really funny next to the 6'2 1/2'' Wilson. Page also looks like she's every minute of 16. She's actually 24, so the sexy stuff in the film is ok.



Linda Cardellini, (ER), plays a very small scene as the owner of a pet store employee. There are a few other super stars in the film that you may or may not spot. One is the fellow who plays the annoying devil to Nathan Fillion's more annoying Holly Avenger. Also, listen to the voice of God...NO, not right now-listen to him in the movie! Who is does that voice belong to?



One might think from reading the above synopsis of this film that the reviewer doesn't like this film. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It's funny, touching, and downright good entertainment. You can't ask for more in a film.

Super has finished it's VOD run and is out now on DVD.

Every once in a while a film comes along that charms its audience. This seems simplistic, but think about the last time you were 'charmed' and not just entertained. The Music Never Stopped is such a film, charming, sometimes intense, with actors up to the task of actual acting. No CGI, no big giant robots, not one zombie in sight. Just a pure, character driven film.

The Music Never Stops take the viewer between different decades to show the history of the Sawyer family. Father Henry (J.K. Simmons..Interview to follow soon), Cara Seymour (An Education) as Mrs. Sawyer, and Lou Taylor Pucci (Carriers) as son Gabriel. Julia Ormond, (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), plays music therapist Dianne Daley.

The Sawyers' were a typical American family in the 50s raising son Gabriel. Henry teaches his son about music, Henry's music, which was pre rock. Gabriel is able to tell his dad the name of the song, the artist, even where his dad and mom was when they first heard the song. He also teaches Gab about his uncle, Henry's brother, who died in Vietnam. Gab is named for his uncle and it's very important to Henry that Gab know how courageous Gabe was.
Flash forward to 1986, Gabe's parents are called to the hospital where Gabe has been admitted to the hospital. He has a large brain tumor. The family hasn't been together for twenty years. Gabe looks like he's been homeless for a while, he has a long beard and generally looks disheveled.

The doctors remove the tumor which is benign, however it does damage his brain. The tumor takes away his ability to form new memories. He forgets what happens almost immediately after it happens.
The movie then shows the family dynamics which led to the twenty year separation. The relationship between father and son became strained as Gabe went through the rebellious 60s. His dream of being a musician wasn't on his father's agenda. In a heated moment between the two, Gabe storms out the door with his father yelling, 'if you leave don't come back'. Gabe doesn't come back, until twenty years later. By this time there is little hope that Henry and Gabe will be able to reconcile.

Henry is forced to retire from his job, as he can't concentrate enough to be effective. His wife takes a job and it is then Henry's responsibility to visit their son alone, everyday at 10am.

A very determined Henry does a bit of research and finds music therapy. Diane Daley enters the picture at this point and after a few false starts Daley discovers a door that allowed Henry and Gabe build a bridge. Crossing the bridge to each other includes such things as The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Tie Dyed shirts and a lot of warmth between  father and son.

This film is based on a true story. This film was written by Gwyn Lurie and Gary Marks (screenplay) from an essay entitled The Last Hippie by Oliver Sacks. The director/producer is Jim Kohlberg, they all did a tremendous job.

This Music Never Stopped is out on DVD now. It's a great summer movie that will bring a laugh and a tear. It's appropriate for all family members and just might open a dialogue between a mom or dad and their child.

5/5 stars

Every generation has a movie that defines the high school/college aged kids lifestyle. For the present generation, Myth of the American Sleepover, does a great job of defining  today's young adults.

Revolving around the last weekend of the summer, the film follows several kids who are looking forward with anticipation, fear and joy.

There is a girls sleepover, a sleepover in a gym for new students and a guys party. At different points in the film, there are cross overs, otherwise known as sneaking around.

Maggie (Claire Sloma in her first film role) is a beautiful young woman getting ready to start high school. Maggie's best friend follows her around as they both drink, and hang out with a boy. A lot of this film's charm revolves around this part of the story.

In other stories told about that night, one young man seeks a girl he glanced at the grocery store. He looks everywhere, all over town for most of the night trying to find her.

A set of twins are at a sleepover at the high school gym for freshmen. One is the object of a young man's crush. He crashes the sleepover and takes the girls out for some talk. Which twin takes his fancy? The twins think it's a twin thing.

There are cat fights, stolen kisses, cheaters caught and relationships launched while others are changed forever.

In the end, the truth that people my age (older than these kids) know is revealed to these young people. Coming of age is bittersweet and should be enjoyed.

This film is helmed by first time feature director David Robert Mitchell.  Keep your eye on David. In the future he will be a force in Hollywood.

Also, keep your eye on Claire Sloma (check my interview which will be published shortly). Claire has a great future also.

Many critics are comparing Myth with American Graffiti (agree) and the John Hughes films (disagree).  American Graffiti truly defined one specific generation with characters that were very typical. Anyone in high school during that time knew one of these characters. The great John Hughes has a body of work, much of which is relevant to kids who grew up in the eighties. However, many of his plots and characters (Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off) are way over the top. They are classic films, but don't really fit in with a comparison of Myth.

Myth is sweet, sad, funny and dramatic. All of these emotions are felt by teens several times a day, sometimes all at once. Mitchell and his actors did really well catching on film this temporary madness that is growing up.

A great film to catch on Saturday night with your best friend.

4/5 stars

For those of you old enough to remember when Hammer Films was in its hayday, this is an exciting DVD. Hammer Films did many horror films from the 50s to the 70s. Films such as;

    •    The Curse of Frankenstein
    •    The Abominable snowman
    •    Horror of Dracula
    •    The Revenge of Frankenstein
    •    The Hound of the Baskervilles
    •    The Mummy
    •    The Brides of Dracula
    •    The Curse of the Werewolf
    •    Night Creatures
    •    These Are the Damned
    •    Maniac
    •    The Kiss of the Vampire
    •    The Evil of Frankenstein
    •    The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb
    •    The Secret of Blood Island
    •    Die! Die! My Darling!
    •    She
    •    Dracula: Prince of Darkness
    •    One Million Years B.C.
    •    Dracula Has Risen From the Grave
    •    Taste of the Blood of Dracula
    •    The Vampire Lovers
    •    Vampire Circus
    •    Dracula A.D. 1972
    •    To the Devil a Daughter

Last year Hammer was instrumental in bringing Let Me In to theaters.

To fans of Game of Thrones this will be even more exciting, the film stars Aidan Gillen who plays Petyr Baelish on GOT.

Patrick (Gillen) and Louise (Eva Birthistle)  are a young couple who have suffered the ultimate tragedy. Their daughter Alice (Ella Connolly) was attacked and killed by a savage dog. The apple of her parent's eye, Alice is gone and the couple tries to move on with their lives. They move to a small, strange town in Ireland named Wake Wood Patrick is a veterinarian and works with large bovine type animals while Louise works in a drug store.

Through a series of strange happenings, it is revealed to the couple that there is a possibility that they could get their daughter back....for three days only. The mysterious Arthur (Timothy Spall) tells the couple he can give them their daughter back. They need to have a few artifacts personal to their daughter. The closer it was to her the better. There is also one absolute rule before she is brought back, she must have been dead for less than a year. With all of the artifacts secured, the ritual begins and Alice appears out of the body of a recently dead villager.

A second chance to see, hold and talk to their daughter is a joyful time, however, its only for three days. What happens at the end of the three days? How does one say goodbye again? And what if you were less than honest regarding the artifacts or information given to Arthur?

In true Hammer style, Wake Wood, is a creepy good time. With the all new technology in special effects Hammer steps into its new incarnation with a statement. We are a force in the horror movie genre again, and we will be a mighty force.

Wake Wood pays homage to a few other works of horror. A big tip of their hat goes to the 1902 horror story 'The Monkey's Paw. There is also a small homage to Stephen King's Pet Sematary, and a very small tip of the their hat to Rosemary's Baby.  This film has a very similar feel to the Hammer of old. The ever present darkness, characters who make poor choices and villains that aren't always clearly defined.

Because a child is involved, the audience if often on the edge of their sets, throw in a pet that doesn't do well and some people may be upset from the get-go. Wake Wood is a creepy study of how grief can make a person do things they know are wrong. As Arthur points out in the film, there are always consequences to ones actions.

Wake Wood will be released July 5th on DVD.

4/5 stars

A former porn star, Elektra Luxx (Carla Gugino) tries going legit by teaching a 'How to be a porn star in bed' class.

Elektra is pregnant and mourning the death of her babies daddy, a rock drummer.  She's done with the adult movie business, but it's not completely done with her.

That is basically the plot, with some sex here and some intrigue there. A few known actors thrown in to make things more interesting.

The best part of the film is Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer).  He plays a character named Bert Rodriquez who kind of ties the film together with his webcasts on his site dedicated to porn queens. He calls himself a Sex Blogger.

There are some laughs in this film, but the story is the basic pro with a golden heart plot.

Also in the cast are Ermahn Ospina, Kathleen Quinlan and Tomothy Olyphant.

Now available on DVD.

2/5 stars

For those of you who think Indie shorts are a waste of time and film....TAKE THIS!

The Perfect Host stars David Hyde Pierce (Frasier), and Clayne Crawford (The Glades). This film is based on a short entitled 'The Host'.

John Taylor (Crawford) is a career criminal who has just pulled off a bank robbery. The cops were on to him pretty quickly with his description and even the car he was driving. Due to this huge set-back, John must get off the street. After a few false starts at getting into a private home and off the grid, John arrive at the mail box of Warwick Wilson (Pierce). A postcard inside the box from 'Julia', who was traveling in Australia, gives John his 'in' with Warwick.

The home of Warwick Wilson is a beautiful haven in John's crazy world. Warwick almost didn't let John in, eyeballing him from his security camera. However, any friend of Julia....John claims to have been mugged, he has no wallet. He also claims the airline lost his luggage.



As it happens, Warwick is cooking for his dinner party scheduled for that very night. John is invited to stay for the party after efforts to call the airport to find his lost luggage' fail.

The conversation turns to Julia. Warwick asks how she is enjoying Australia. John gives some throw-away answers.

Soon enough, John shows his true colors to Warwick. The twist comes when Warwick shows his true colors to John.

The Perfect Host is a man bites dog story. With less talented actors, this film could have been just another DVD non event. Director/Writer Nick Tomnay shows a great flare for not only comedy, but with hardcore psychotic thrills. David Hyde Pierce and Clayne Crawford are both perfect in their roles. All of this adds up to 5/5 stars.

The DVD will be released August 30 2011. It's worth buying, you're gonna want to watch it more than once.

In Las Vegas check out Wal-Mart for best selection of new DVDs.

There is a new kid in town, and he has a horror film that will soon be on many people's top ten list.

His name is Mike Flanagan and the film is Absentia. There is an interview with Mike at the end of this review.

Tricia's, (Courtney Bell),  husband Daniel ,(Morgan Peter Brown),  disappeared seven years ago; he can now be declared legally dead by Absentia (a legal term meaning presumption of death).

Having her husband declared dead is difficult for Trica, as it would be for most women. Her rather flighty sister, Callie (Katie Parker) moves in with Trica to help her get through this difficult time.

An avid runner, Callie sets off every morning with her thoughts and iPod along for the ride. She starts her run through a tunnel that is just across the street from the apartment. It is one of those subway type tunnels that goes under a street. Every time Callie runs, the tunnel seems longer and more sinister. Then, one day, the tunnel gives up a secret. This secret is in the form of Walter Lambert (Doug Jones) who is laying in the tunnel, barely alive. Mr. Lambert scares Callie, but she promises to return with some food. It is not food that Lambert wants he needs her help with other matters. He looks like one of the great unwashed, unsavory, down and out. Callie  does return with some food, however Walter has gone, she leaves the food  for him.

During her runs, Callie notices 'missing' posters. Men, women and animals are disappearing in larger than normal numbers in the girl's neighborhood.

Tricia finally brings herself to sign the papers declaring her husband dead. It is time to get on with her life. However, the sights that both Tricia and Callie start seeing in and around the apartment are a sign that no such normalcy is in the cards.

Callie takes to the Internet to investigate the area and finds a shocking pattern of missing people.

When Tricia's husband Daniel reappears, some of the pieces of this fear filled puzzle start falling into place. Tricia, Callie and Daniel, are at risk for a fate worse than death.

There's a lot to this film, much of which goes into spoiler territory. The above summary is vague on purpose, the story being tight with little room for reveals.  This movie could have ended up being no more than an also ran in the race for strong horror. The story is written to give the viewer an answer to the mystery. It was Mike's responsibility to determine how much of the answer to show, and he made the right choice. This one choice sets this film apart from films that have gone ahead and those that will follow after.

Absentia has something that decidedly few films have these days; originality. This story has not been told over and over, this way and that. It is fresh, scary and well made. No need for tons of CGI here, no need for anything except some special make-up effects. This is a story driven movie that will leave even the most jaded horror fan delighted.

Even though the stars of the film have relatively little experience, they come off as seasoned pros. The performance that Doug Jones gives as the pitiful Walter Lambert is powerful. It sets a new tone for the film and fore-shadows the horrors to come.

5/5 stars plus a definite place on this reviewers top ten Indie horror films list.

Interview with Absentia director/writer/producer Mike Flanagan.

You walked a fine line between a 'paranormal' film and a 'different type of film with some 'satanic' undertones. If you had to pick which is the closest to your vision which would it be?

That's a tough question, because I wasn't really going for any of those. Given those choices I'd have to say "paranormal." More than anything, we wanted this to be a film about horrific, unexplainable loss, and finding ways to play with that theme within the horror genre let us have a lot more fun with it than we would have any other way. We never set out to make a creature movie, and always wanted the supernatural elements to open to multiple interpretations, at least to a point.

THERE WAS A GOOD Q&A AT THIS POINT, I HAVE DELETED IT AS IT HAD MAJOR SPOILERS.

Katie Parker is a gem with  few projects under her belt, how did you decide on her for the Callie character?

I wrote the part with Katie in mind. I met her through Courtney Bell, who is another gem. Courtney was actually pregnant with our son while we were shooting the film. She's known Katie for years and I met Katie shortly after she moved to LA to pursue her acting career. The two of them have a very sisterly relationship as it is, and I wrote the script knowing they'd play those parts. I think they both do a fantastic job.

I LOVE Doug Jones with all my heart, he is one of the best actors Indie or not. He had a small but pivotal part. How did his casting happen?

Doug is actually very approachable and supportive of independent filmmakers. He's said many times that filmmakers should seek out the talent they want, and if actors are available and like the project they'll likely see if they can make it work. We approached Doug first through our Director of Photography, Rustin Cerveny, who had worked on a commercial with Doug the year before. Doug agreed to read the script, and luckily he really liked it. We met for coffee, which is actually a crucial part of how Doug decides if he'll work on an indie, and we hit it off. We only had him for one day, and I love what he brings to the movie.

Where did the story come from? I'm part Native American so I know a tiny bit about myth in that culture.

The story came a bit backwards. I live across the street from the tunnel (the apartment in the movie is mine), and I always felt like it would make a great setting for a horror movie. I knew what actors I wanted to cast before I knew what the story was, so I came up with the story to accommodate the resources that were available to me. It worked out much better than I ever would have expected under those circumstances.

But beyond that, I've always loved mythologies about people being "spirited away". There's something very creepy about that to me. A lot of horror movies operate from the idea that being killed what you should be afraid of, but I disagree - it's way worse to live in despair than die. The idea of being taken away, of falling through a crack in your world and finding yourself alone and amputated from your life ... that really disturbs me. Just like I think that what you can't see is scarier than what you can, I also feel like what you don't know only makes bad situations worse.

Death is hard enough to deal with, but the idea of having someone just vanish without a trace; that fascinates me. That a reasonable person could find themselves wishing their loved one was just dead, rather than letting the uncertainty consume their thoughts, is heartbreaking. And that made for a neat twist on a monster movie. Ours isn't a monster that is horrifying because of how it kills you; ours is a monster that is horrifying because of how long it keeps you alive. As a horror fan, I couldn't wait to make a movie about that monster.

I know you have a distribution deal, will it be on DVD, theatrical VOD...?

We've been picked up by Phase 4 films for North American distribution. The VOD premiere will be July 1st of this year, with a full DVD roll out scheduled for the very end of the year (or January 2012 at the latest). We're negotiating our foreign distribution deal right now and should have details about that shortly, but the film will be available worldwide over the course of the next year.

I always end my interviews with an open invitation for my subject to talk about anything they want known about the film...I offer this to you, anything is fine or nothing. It's up to you.

One of the unique things about this film is that it was partially funded through Kickstarter.com. We raised over $23,000 in a single month thanks to the generosity of over 300 people, and then were able to raise the rest of our budget in investment once we had that initial financing in place. I'd never used something like that before and it really worked out for us. A lot of people are responsible for this movie being made, and I think that's kind of awesome.

We made a series of fundraising videos during our Kickstarter drive that I cherish almost as much as the finished film itself. If anyone wants to see them, they're pretty funny and available here:

http://thefivedrive.blogspot.com/

I recommend starting at the bottom of the page and watching in order, from #1 to #8. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for taking the time and helping us get the word out about this little movie.

Director/writer/producer, Simon Rumley has released on the world 'Red, White & Blue' through IFC Films.

Rumley's vision of a  destroyed young woman who sleeps with every man she can is dark, dank and fascinating.

Amanda Fuller plays Erica who works cleaning the residence where she lives for a free room. When the owner of the house decides she wants Erica to pay for her room, the young woman gets a job.

Erica is emotionally disconnected from the men she has sex with, not caring about age or social stature. As soon as the encounter is over Erica leaves, never sleeping with the same man twice. Erica is not beyond having sex with more man than one man at a time. At a bar she meets a group of three friends who have a rock band. Franki, the leader of the band, and his mates take Erica back to his house and the four of them have group sex.

The early part of the film deals with Erica and her conquests.

Nate, (Noah Taylor) is a man who lives in the same flop house that Erica does. He also works in the home improvement store where Erica found her job. Its perfectly clear that Nate, a veteran of the war in the Middle East, is a dangerous man. However, Erica slowly warms up to him, as much as she is capable of. Nate explains to her he has hurt small animals as a child and other tidbits that make it clear he's a good candidate to be a serial killer.

At one point in the film, less than halfway through, the plot seems to completely change. Erica and Nate are forgotten and the story centers on Franki, his band and his cancer ridden mother.

Seemingly changing story lines mid movie is usually a very bad idea and I initially though Oh Oh this isn't a good move, what happened to Erica and Nate?

Never fear, keep watching the movie.

Franki and his band are actually good, a European tour might be in the works. His mother's cancer goes into remission and life seems great.

Then the two story lines crash into each other with the force of two locomotives. Shocking secrets are revealed and each character suffers the repercussions of their actions.

What I initially though was going to be a big mistake by director Rumley turns out to be a brilliant movie of a very talented artist.

The film could be set in almost any modern time within the last 30-years or so. There is little if no use of computers or cell phones. There is nothing to distract from this character driven story. There is no way to close your eyes or turn away from the fate of these flawed human beings.

Sometimes slow in places and sometimes just a bit confusing, this film turns out to be clever and horrific.

5/5 stars

'Summer Children' is a film that was completed in 1965 starring:

    •    Stuart Anderson
    •    Valora Noland
    •    John Hanek
    •    Sandy Gabriel
    •    Steve Bobbitt
    •    David Arkin
    •    Alison Julian
    •    Frank Luther


This film was never released and is historically significant because of the cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond.


Zsigmond is a world class artist that has been involved with many different projects starting off with some very i
nteresting B movies;



    •    The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopping Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies
    •    Psycho a Go-Go
    •    Rat Fink
    •    Mondo Made
    •    Satan's Sadists
    •    Horror of the Blood Monsters
    •    Blood of Ghastly Horror



After making his mark as a cinematographer of great talent in B films Vilmos (William) Zsigmond stepped up to some major motion pictures and eventually Oscar.



    •    Deliverance
    •    The Long Goodbye
    •    Cinderella Liberty
    •    The Sugarland Express
    •    Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    •    The Deer Hunter
    •    The Bonfire of the Vanities
    •    Maverick
    •    The Ghost and the Darkness
    •    The Black Dahlia

Zsigmond has been nominated for Oscar four times, winning for 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.


Directed by James Bruner from his original story. Produced by Jack Robinette. Laszlo Kovacs did the all important lighting with the help of Ernie Reed. The screenplay was written by Norman Handelsman.



'Summer Children'



Filmed in 1964, 'Summer Children' never had a wide release, playing at only a few festivals and Indie theaters, it was subsequently lost.



Rescued from certain destruction at Deluxe Labs in 2007, the film was restored and has been shown at such festivals as 'Slamdance'.  It is now available on DVD.



Filmed with style by Zsigmond in black and white 'Summer Children' is a look back in time when California was a backdrop for many 'beach movies'



However, this film is actually the link to the natural progression of the beach movie, it takes those few extra steps into adult themes, while still maintaining a 60's psyche.



West (Stuart Anderson) is the son of a wealthy man who gives money and luxury instead of affection.



After a motorcycle race where we meet Franky (John Kulhanek), the antagonist, who is self important and a pseudo ladies man.



West, Franky and their friends are taking a yacht belonging to West's father for a fun weekend on Catalina Island.


Characters become more defined as the yacht gets closer to Catalina and darkness.



Diana (Valora Noland) is a beauty who both West and Franky are interested in getting to know. It's never revealed, but Diana has some deep seeded pain which is only rivaled by West's hatred for his father who has given him everything and yet nothing.



Candy (Sandy Gabriel) follows Franky around like a puppy, accepting ANY little crumb he tosses her. She watches him chase skirts the whole weekend, yet still can't remove herself from him. During the sail to Catalina it is implied that Franky and Candy have an encounter. She is then cast away, to wait for that next little crumb.
 
Muffy (Steve Bobbitt), seems more drawn to the men than women during this trip. He seems to want the approval of Franky especially, however Franky treats him as he does everyone else, like dirt.



After arriving at the island of Catalina and after Franky and West shot testosterone shots at each other, Diana and West go off by themselves. Diana is coquettish, which drives West crazy. The 1960s sexual tension between Diana and West would have been intense back then, it is mild now. However, Diana's duplicity is timeless.



The group starts meandering into town to eat and get ready for the big dance that evening. At this point the film takes a turn to the darker side.



There are scenes from the dance showing the live band and the teens going through their tribal rituals on the dance floor. These scenes are very reminiscent of the California Beach movies that were so popular. However, its a different feel being in black and white and much more adult.



The film becomes very sexual as it continues on it's dark path to an end that is predictable in 2011, but was probably more surprising in 1965.
 
The character of Franky is so totally unlikeable its sometimes painful to watch his scenes.



West is immature and brooding, a bad match for the desirable Diana. They do a dance all through the first 3/4 of the film, a dance that Diana leads.



Her dance with Franky is similar, however Diana loses the lead to the contentious cad.



These three main characters set the tone for the others in the film.



Set to the music and scenes of 1960s California, 'Summer Children' falls short on a few levels. There is really not a lead character you can root for. West, who should be the hero, manages to become just as much of a cad as Franky.



Muffy, who is an annoying character at times, is probably the most likable. He is young, immature and just wants acceptance from the two alpha males.



One must keep in mind that this film is like a time machine trip. The lyric  'Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll' hadn't been written yet, but would have made a great tag line for this film.



The importance of this film is the glimpse into the culture of the 60s in California. It is also important because it is an early work of a master cinematographer as stated at the beginning of this article. This film is a major find with it's impressive B/W scenes of the Pacific Ocean and the inhabitants of this 1960s world.



A must have for the collector of classic films.

3/5 stars

' Rift' is a spooky, scary and sometimes uncomfortable film that just might turn into a cult classic

Based on true events, a combination of several homicides, goes a long way in creating the mood needed for such a horror story.  

The 'Town Creek Apartments' are the epitome of creepiness with its dark, dank hallways where terror stalks unknowing students. 

Jennifer Campbell (Darcy Fowers,'Messenger 2: The Scarecrow') , a journalist student, is doing an in-depth investigation into the murders of 2001. Seven college students were slaughtered in the apartment complex. Hoping to solve the very cold case,  Jennifer breaks into the now boarded up building and sets up shop.

Intertwined with her researching is a good look at the 2001 events.

2001: A group of friends are visiting a couple who now live in the building setting into motion a blood fest. Richie (Adam Cardon, 'Diamond Dawgs') sets off to get the electricity back on after everyone is thrown in creepy darkness. Richie never returns to the apartment and his friends start dropping like flies.

Three decades of horrific happenings unfold before Jennifer's eyes as she digs deeper and deeper into the madness of the Town Creek Apartments. Past and present collide as this roller coaster ride hurls towards its final scenes. Along the way viewers get glimpses of carnage. Seriously twisted shades of the past travel through dimensions, reaching out to takes its final victim.

Enjoyable from start to finish,  'Rift' covers some eclectic ground; murder, prostitution, ghosts, doppelgangers, dimensions, social comments, Satanic rituals with some sexual situations which are important to the story.

There are some scenes in this film that are as creepy and scary as any film I've seen lately. There is no huge use of CGI, which most films of this kind use heavily. 'The Rift' has a good story and some good actors:

'RIFT stars RICHMOND ARQUETTE (CSI, Prison Break, Halloween, Scream, Se7en), LESLIE EASTBROOK (Superman, Batman, Police Academy & Rob Zombie’s Devil’s Rejects) and TOM WRIGHT (Numb3res, 24, eRing, Southland, CSI).

The film gives one an uncomfortable feeling. Not everyone in the film is who they seem to be and that combined with the atmosphere set up by director/writer/producer LazRael Lison keeps you 'thrown off'.

Others who work as producers are: Tatiana Chekhova (TV show 'Cosmic Quantum Ray') and Jethro Rothe-Kushel (who has a long history of movies and TV work).

This film is scary, entertaining and a must see for horror film fans. I would say it's a cross between this film and that film, but it really stands alone as a really good scare.

Opening Friday the 29th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 9036 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, 90211
310-478-3836. The film will then go to a wider opening.

The producers have also announced the following:

One of the most terrifying films to be released in years is dedicating their entire weekend theatrical gross income directly to Japan’s victims through the AMERICAN RED CROSS.

Although in the world of movie-making, money is more precious than air, the idea of dedicating RIFT’s entire weekend box office gross receipts to the Japan victims truly signifies the sensitivity of executives at Gjenius Productions to the victims in Japan, and, to our human connection from across the oceans.

Cash donations will also be accepted at the theater.

'Rift' Facebook

Official Website

A much deserve 5/5 stars

Adam Green ('Hatchet and Hatch II') is one of the best writer/directors in the horror business.

'Hatchet' was not only scary, but also played for great laughs. 'Hatchet II' was more serious, the final kill making it one of the rare sequels worth watching.

Last year Adam released his film (masterpiece) 'Frozen'. The film premiered at 'Sundance', then had a limited theater run. 'Frozen' was released on DVD last September.

The above photo is of Adam and his wife at the 'Reaper Awards' where his film 'Grace' won best Indie film. It was at this award show that I found a copy of 'Frozen' in my 'gift bag'. The film was already on my radar, but there's no rest for the wicked so I'm just now getting around to this review.

Set at a ski resort, three friends, Parker (Emma Bell, 'Grace'), Joe (Shawn Ashmore, 'X-Men: The Last Stand) and Dan (Kevin Zegers, 'Dawn of the Dead'), are having a nice day of skiing and snowboarding.

Parker and Dan are an item with Joe being a third wheel. However, he is Dan's best friend since first grade so he is a fixture in Joe's life. The slight riff between Parker and Joe is generally overlooked by Dan.

Not having enough funds to buy three lift tickets Parker is talked into getting a huge discount from the lift operator. The trio have a bit of fun on the slopes with Parker spending more time on her butt than on her snowboard.

After a break the two guys want to get one good run in before it's time to leave. Parker encourages them to go on without her, however Dan will not hear of it, off they go. The lift is closing, but after some begging they are put on the last lift to leave the resort occupied.

The lift rises higher and higher with the three friends talking and laughing. It's all fun and games until the lift stops DEAD and doesn't move again.

Mean while, down at the ski lift loading station, everybody screws up, the lift is shut down, lights are turned off and everybody goes home. It's Sunday night, the resort won't open until the next Friday.

After some initial laughing and thinking the lift will start up again, the kids realize they are stuck. Not only stuck, but stuck way up high.

As time goes by a snow plow breaks the silence and the kids think they are saved. The driver, (Kane Hodder in a great cameo), doesn't hear nor see the kids who are high above him. As the three friends watch their last chance  for rescue disappear, reality sets in.

The only way to be saved is for one of the kids to jump from their high perch. Joe decides it should be him. Without much talking about it...he jumps from the ski lift. He snaps both his legs in to, he can now do nothing but lay there in horrible pain.

At this point in the film, Green could have gone terribly wrong. He could have had zombies, giant ants or mad men as the antagonist. However, what he chose is so simplistic that it's genius.

As nature closes in on the three abandoned young people, the film plays out to a perfect ending. Who lives, who doesn't? No spoilers here....but I do highly recommend this film for a dark, snowy night. Enjoy!

TK

5/5 stars

A film with no plot, bad acting and an eclectic set of characters. Oh...what fun!

Review on Examiner.com (National Indie Movie Examiner.

'The Defiled' movie review

With a tag line of We Are All Meat, this film seemingly sets itself up to fail. Any zombie lover will want a huge pay off with such a promising tag. Any film whose synopsis starts out In a Post Apocalyptic World, had better deliver.

Julian Grant (Airborne), who literally did everything on this film except compose the music, delivers. However, what he has created may not be what movie goers are expecting.

Synopsis from IMDb

In a post apocalyptic world, science and technology have backfired leaving unfathomable destruction and a permanently diseased planet in its wake. A virus is mutating the human race turning innocent survivors into mindless cannibals.

For those who don't know, IMDb (Internet Movie Database), is an excellent tool for anyone interested in movies. Its purpose is, for the most part, to assist industry people. I usually agree with their synopsis of any particular film because someone involved with the film usually writes them. For this particular synopsis, there is no credit given, so I have no way of knowing who contributed it to the site. AND,  I completely disagree with its explanation of this film.

 My Synopsis

In a post Apocalyptic world, (this much is true), a new species emerges from the rubble to join homo sapiens. Homo canibales, (OK, I made this name up and I claim all rights to it), are former homo sapiens who are infected with an unknown virus and become cannibalistic, but not mindless. There are groups of each species trying to survive in this ruined world.

Homo S, spends his/her days rounding up food and trying to eradicate Homo C, living presumably in covered and safe housing. Homo C spends his/her days dealing with the ravages of the virus, finding food, living in a forest and....having sex. One such sex act results in the pregnancy of one of the Homo C females.  This baby represents the continuation of a rapidly declining species. Homo C is at the bottom of the food chain, the top not wanting to lose any ground,  are hunting and killing what is honestly a lesser yet dangerous species.

Homo C has somewhat of a pack mentality, not unlike the Homo S. However, Homo S has guns, vehicles and more intelligence. Homo C has the willingness to eat anything (anything) and are infected making your typical Homo S give them a wide berth. Homo C is also subject to attacks by groups of their own.

When one, more vicious pack, attacks our primary character pack; all but the father of the baby is killed. (No head shots, no decapitation, Homo C is not immune to everything except destroying their brain.  They can be hurt, feel pain and feel emotions. Don't misunderstand, they are still a blood-thirsty species, however, they will eat whatever they can get their hands on. If it's bad food, it does make them sick and can also be a road to their demise.)

Feeling terrible grief after the loss of his pack, our main character, known as Yar in the credits, discovers the baby is still alive and delivers it himself. Assuring the survival of this child becomes his priority, second only to finding food.

As Yar is foraging food for he and his child, he spies another pack who has managed to capture two Homo S females.  After some back and forth, running and hiding, Yar ends up with a very attractive Homo S called Janice. Having already had some experience with the viciousness of Homo C, Janice is scared of Yar. The fear is softened when she finds that Yar has a baby with him.

Janice and Yar bond as much as the two species can, they set out to find a 'safe place'. In their world, as is often the case in ours, safe places are hard to come by.

The above is a very long synopsis and does have a bit of spoiler material, but not as much as you might think.

The Defiled is a low budget film that suffers little from the absence of money. There is no dialogue. There is grunting and growling, but no Homo S language is ever uttered.The film  is shot in black and white, which takes away the problems of special effects. The Homo C characters don't have to have amazingly perfect make-up to achieve the effect that Grant no doubt wanted. In addition, B/W film solves the problem of the color of blood which is often a problem in low budget films. Finally, the B/W format is an homage to the great-grand-father of zombie films Night of the Living Dead. Oh yes, I did evoke the great film that is sacred to most zombie fans. Does this mean that The Defiled is as good a film? No, it does not and it is not. This film is almost a new genre, neither zombie nor rager, no rabies infected characters are these. This film, is something different, something a bit more original.

This film does have a few things to overcome.  Many viewers will watch a few minutes of the film and decide to turn it off. This is partly because our society demands immediate gratification. This film is a process, it needs time to play out.  It isn't the best film you'll ever see, but I believe you'll appreciate what the filmmaker accomplished.

There are some lighting issues, B/W films often have them.

I believe this film could gather a cult following. Many people will enjoy yelling at the screen, making fun of the characters. However, it will still stand as a hybrid film in the years to come.

4/5 stars

The Defiled is out now on DVD. Watch the film and come back to discuss it. Contact us and we will start a blog page.
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Darwin, California, population 35, sets in the desolate terrain of Death Valley.  Documentary filmmaker, Nick Brandestini, who is originally from Switzerland was driving through the Mojave Desert and became interested in the many ghost towns that are scattered across Death Valley. As any good documentary filmmaker would, (Nick is becoming a very good doc filmmaker), he started wondering about the people who live or have lived in these towns. Having lived near several ghost towns with tiny populations it amazed me that Nick got so close to many of the inhabitants of Darwin. After watching the film, I understand that; people are people....some just want to stay to themselves. However, they will allow you close if you're a certain kind of person and secondly, Nick and crew are certain kinds of people.

With a population of 35 let me tell you what Darwin doesn't have.



56K only 28.8K
Broadcast TV
AM/FM radio
Cell Signal-all phone calls are long distance via landline
Stores
Restaurants
US Government

They do have:

Multiple T1 lines but no broadband
Groceries and gas are 40 miles away
Snakes
Dust
Sand
Good people

Darwin also has a post office. The postmistress, has the best job in town which is the only job in town. Susan has hippie idealism and a wicked sense of humor. She, as others in town, has lived through tragedy which bonds her to Darwin.

Monty is a typical old minor who has lived in Darwin since the 50s. With the help of his wife, Nancy, he has gotten through bad times. For people like Monty, as with all humans, bad times can hit at the most unexpected moments. The film shows Monty up-close and personal as he goes through yet another tragedy in his life. Formerly a violent person, Monty is now an artist and a very talented one at that.

Also compelling is the story of Ryal,  who is transgendering. He is in his twenties and lives with his partner Penny. Ryal's parents live in Darwin, which is how he and Penny ended up there. However, Darwin is not the place they want to settle and they speak of moving during the film, the only citizens of Darwin who seem to want to leave.

For the most part the whole town is made up of older trailers, the post office being one of the only buildings in town.

During the course of the film we see the Darwin government at work. The biggest issue is, as with most desert communities, water. Handling this issue in the past has actually brought some of the Darwin citizens to blows. Darwin dwellers will be the first to tell you that 'coming to blows' happens a lot in this small town. Mostly in the past when Darwin was a larger mining town, but I suspect some fists have flown in modern Darwin also.

Even thought most Darwin citizens have no use for a government who has basically ignored them for years, their nearest neighbor is the China Lake Navy Air Base.  In one scene a few people from town get as close as they can to the runway of the base and speak of Area 51 moving their secrets around. Helicopters are being seen more and more at night. These are all things that people who live in and around Death Valley experience.

Darwin is a fascinating look into the lives of people who are 'worse for wear'. The little town and the few people mesh together and form a  community.

At the least, this film will make you think of all you have and the burden those things can be on you. At most, it will make you long for a place like Darwin.

Darwin opened August 12th at the IFC Center in New York. It opens August 19 at the Laemmle's Sunset 5. Support Indie films and filmmakers, support the Laemmle's theaters, they are both a vital part of this fragile, wonderful artform.

Brooklyn, New York, is the star of this well made documentary that recounts the last several years of a monumental battle against billionaire Bruce Ratner who owns the Nets basketball team.

There is an old saying, 'you can't fight city hall'. This film proves part of this old saying to be true. You can fight the city, but the city doesn't play fair.

Battle for Brooklyn revolves around the neighborhood called Prospect Heights. Traditionally, a diverse neighborhood of older brown stones and lower cost apartments. The film tells the story of  Daniel Goldstein,  a graphic designer, who finally finds an apartment he likes after a five year search. However, he isn't left to be a happy homeowner for long. His new apartment sits on what will someday be center court for  the Brooklyn Nets basketball team.

The epic battle starts with Daniel refusing to accept that Ratner can simply claim 'Eminent Domain' LINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_domain and take 22 acres of prime Brooklyn property. Ratner wants to build a stadium and all the luxury buildings that comes with it. Daniel and many of his neighbors, both residential and business,  start a movement known as 'Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn'.

The film covers five years prior to the ultimate outcome of the story. Filmmakers Suki Hawley and Michael Galinsky shine a bright light on the whole process that Ratner goes through to take the 22 acres he wants for his stadium compound. It's not bad enough that the DDDB has to fight Ratner, they soon have to fight their own neighbors. Ratner has announced that thousands of jobs will be created for the neighborhood. Badly in need of jobs, a group of Prospect Height's citizens start a group to fight for the stadium and secure the jobs.

Daniel, a reluctant activist, is followed by cameras going to meeting after meeting and many protests.

During the five year fight, Daniel loses a girlfriend, meets a new girlfriend (a fellow activist). He gets married and has a child, much of the time  living as the only tenant in a building with 35 apartments.

This documentary reveals a lot of ugliness by the New York government. It also shows that he with the most money wins, regardless.

America is the greatest country on earth, however, this doc shows that not all men are created equal. It also shows that the Eminent Domain laws need to either be changed or at least followed.

The team of Hawley/Galinsky, husband and wife, have worked on several other good docs and a few films. This film, five years in the making, is amazingly filmed. The major issue of how wrong this land grab was, the little side stories of the activists and especially David and his family brings the film into everyone's realm. This could happen anywhere. A scary, cautionary tale that should be mandatory viewing for students in law school.

'Battle for Brooklyn' opens August 19 exclusively at the Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills.

4/5 stars

Cropsey, a documentary by Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio, is a nightmare come true.

Every neighborhood has its one scary house that kids run by, or cross the street to avoid. Staten Island had a complex of former hospitals that spawned the urban legend known as Cropsey.

One of the buildings in this complex was called Willowbrook State School, a benign name for a malignant place. Parents of the time used Willowbrook to keep their kids in line, Be good or Cropsey will get you. Crospey was a supposed mental patient who escaped and would snatch children off the streets. He supposedly lived in the now abandoned hospital.

In reality Willowbrook was a place pronounced as a snake pit by none other than Senator Robert F. Kennedy in the 60s. It finally took a young investigative reporter working for WABC-TV in New York to bring Westbrook the attention that even a Kennedy couldn't. Gerald Rivera secreted a camera into the facility and for the first time showed the world what a filthy place this school, (hospital), really was. Video can still be found online, if you want to see how horrible conditions were.

This documentary involves Willbrook, but only as a backdrop for the terrible urban legend come to life.

As children, filmmakers Zeman and Brancaccio heard the urban legends and were properly scared.

Then, in the summer of 1987, a 12-year-old girl who had Down Syndrome disappeared. Jennifer Schwiger was a much loved child who simply disappeared from the face of the earth. A search was launched for the young child, centering on the forest and grounds of the hospital complex. It was on that summer day in '87 that the children of Staten Island realized that Cropsey was real.

According to Zeman;

When Barbara and I first met, a conversation about our hometown quickly turned into a discussion of this urban legend and of the Island’s missing children.

The pair returned to Staten Island to find the truth, which turned into the documentary Cropsey.

Cropsey is a film that looks not only at the disappearance of Jennifer, but of several other children. Almost all of which were mentally challenged.

What Zeman and Brancaccio found was Andre Rand who they call a real boogeyman. Their investigation of the disappearances and Andre Rand is compelling film making. Interviews of both parents of missing children and other residence of Staten Island are heartbreaking.

The pair presents their case from the facts they were able to gather from old records and newspaper articles. It is through these articles, interviews and memories of principals involved in the story that actually gives plausible answers, something that is usually missing from true crime documentaries.

Cropsey won the Hammer To Nails Grand Jury Prize for best documentary at the 2009. The film deserved the award and will win more in the future.

A well deserved 5/5 stars

Sex Crimes Unit

An unprecedented look at the first division in the U.S. Dedicated to Sexual Assaults

The statistics about sexual assaults on women in America are horrifying.


A sexual assault occurs every two minutes in the U.S. One in six women in America will be the target of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. 40% of raps go unreported.

For the women who come forward (in New York City) there is a dedicated group of men and women working to bring these criminals to justice.

The Sex Crimes Unit takes a look inside this division of the New York District Attorney's office. This was the first unit of its kind in the nation. This film allows the viewer to set in on attorney's as they evaluate cases, track down evidence and witnesses, and argue cases in court before a jury.

This documentary was directed by Lisa F. Jackson, HBOs The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo. This film is scheduled to show at the L.A. Film Festival on June 18th at 4:30 and Sunday June 19th. Sex Crimes Unit will premiere on HBO on June 20.

Four decades ago New York State law required corroboration of every material element of a victim's account of her sexual assault. Sexual histories were fair games for the defense attorneys. Domestic or marital rape was not considered a crime and unlike other violent crimes, rape had no statue of limitations.

In 1974, Manhattan District Attorney Robert W. Morgenthau authorized the formation of the first Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit. Starting out with one investigator, the unit now has 53 people working for victims. The units first chiefs struggled to overcome archiac laws and fight for victim's rights.

Lisa Friel, current chief of the Sex Crimes Unit oversees 40 senior assistant DAs with than 300 pending cases on any given day.

This film takes the viewer along for the ride as cases pass through the unit for prosecution. The stories shown are shocking and brutal. A woman who was abducted from a nightclub and subsequently raped. The kidnapping was caught on tape. A Livery cab driver turned sexual predator and an alleged date-rape case derailed by surprising DNA results.

The most compelling story, which is the center piece of this film, is that of Natasha Alexenko who was attacked while entering her Manhattan apartment. She was raped at gunpoint in 1993. Her rapist escaped and her case went cold.

Natasha's case was one of the first to be taken on by the unit. Melissa Mourges and Marth Bashford, under Morgenthau's direction took this case on as one of its first cold cases. One of their advances was the 'John Doe indictment, which meants that in the absence of a suspect, a criminals DNA could be indicted. This indictment stops the clock on the statute of limitations. Nine months away from the expiration of Natasha's case the DNA in her rape kit was analyzed and entered into CODIS (Combined DNA Index System). Four years later, the DNA profile produced a hit. Finally Alexenko had her day in court. Natasha almost 'lost it' when she took the stand, coming face to face with her rapist almost a decade after the crime. However, she did take the stand and gave her testimony. The defendant was found guilty and was given the maximum release date of 2057.

Natasha Alexenko is but one women who went through the system and got justice. It gave her back her life and her power, both of which can be taken away after a sexual attack.

According to Jackson:
I had the great privilege of actually being inside the criminal justice system, observing first-hand the fierce dedication of the men and women whose goal is to deliver justice. However, what was most surprising was that although they were tenacious and compassionate and laser-focused, I was able to capture their true humanity in surprising ways: obsessing about TV shows, fretting a child's college financing, cajoling cops, having babies, talking baseball and worrying about weight. It's odd to say that a film about sexual violence can be full of laughter and joy and the infectious ride of doing good work, but that was the reality I found in these cluttered offices.

The statistics are outrageous and gives one pause to think about what they mean. If you are out with six girlfriends for dinner, statistically one of them have suffered a sexual assault or will during her lifetime.

This film humanizes the victims and the brave public servants who fight for the victim as best they can. This isn't an episode of Law & Order: SVU, this is the real deal. The DAs, ADAs, and medical examiners offer a chance to be heard and get closure (if there is such a thing) for their clients.

Documentaries are made to inform, Ms. Jackson's camera never blinks. She shines a bright light on the system, past and present and finds a beacon of hope in some hopeless situations. Audiences will come away armed with the knowledge of how important it is to report a rape. Even though the victim can be victimized again by the system. It is the job of these caring men and women to protect their client.  On occasion, taking them by the hand and walking them through the process of the justice system.

This is film making of the highest caliber. Ms. Jackson deserve the awards she has won. HBO is also commended for showing documentaries with such social relevance.

The DVD This Time, A musical Documentary, hits shelves on May 31, 2011. The film is not only a trip down memory lane, but a close-up story of the women who lived those memories.

To those of a certain age The Sweet Inspirations (SI) should bring to mind such iconic performers as Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley.

The film also features popular New York cabaret performer Bobby Belfry. Bobby and The Sweet Inspirations are in a juxtaposition that works well for this documentary.

Pat Hodges is also featured in This Time. Her story is incredible as she had a hit record on the Billboard charts while being homeless in Los Angeles.

With Bobby in New York City and the Sweet Inspirations and Hodges in Los Angeles, the film goes between the three stories with ease.

The SI had enormous success in all their incarnations over the years. Members have come and members have gone, but the group stayed in the public's eye making their music. They often sang back-up as stated above, but  they also have their own voice.  The song Sweet Inspirations  is one of their hits proving they do more than backing up other performers.

This Time delves deeply into the group, into both the happy times and the sad times.

The women of the SI are introduced while working on their new material. They are in the studio with their producer Peitor Angell working on their first album in 23 years. Estelle Brown, Portia Griffin and Mryna Smith work hard, laugh hard and in the past fought hard. This doc does not blink  it shows the nitty-gritty and dynamics of the women's relationships. Cissy Houston, Whitney's mother, is the founding member of the SIs and makes a pivotal appearance in the film.

In New York City, we find Bobby Belfry working as a singing bartender, a job he has had for the last 15 years. Belfry has talent, with a voice that would lend itself well to musical theater. Twenty years prior Bobby had minimal success in a rock band. Since then he has worked hard to achieve the music career that has evaded him. Life seems bitter sweet for Bobby. He is not where he wanted to be at this stage of life, but he is still singing. Bobby still works hard at his job and  his craft. He has not given up in all these years. At times in the film he expresses sadness but not defeat.

All of the players in the film are working on new albums. For the SI, it is their first album in 23-years. For Bobby Belfry, it is his second effort.

Pat Hodges does a few live performances during the course of the doc and seems delighted to be in front of an audience. Attendees at her show also seemed pleased.  Pat has talented and appreciative of a second chance. Pat is also shown walking around her South Central LA neighborhood. This is not the setting one would expect to see a woman with a Billboard charted hit song. However, due to life circumstances, South Central is her home.

Peitor Angell  works hard on both the SI's album and with Pat. It is during these scenes one gets a glimpse into the nuts and bolts of making an album. The scenes of the women recording a remake of Sweet Inspirations were particularly enjoyable.

Peitor has put not only his labor, but a lot of his own money into the new SI album. It is vital to Peitor and the women that the CD hits shelves and becomes successful. Peitor Angell is bright, knowledgeable and passionate about his work. He proudly shows off his record collection at one point, many of which feature the Sweet Inspirations in one way or another.

Every film needs conflict This Time is no different. That conflict comes in the form of early injuries for the SI. As it turns out a new conflict strikes both the women of the world famous group and even Angell. Unfortunately, the conflict (a betrayal) comes from the same place as it did in the past, proving that show business can be brutal.

The documentary is a must-have for fans of The Sweet Inspirations and their work. It is also an introduction to Bobby Belfry and his charming musical style. Pat Hodges proves she is still a strong performer.

There is a quote by one of the SI in the film that sums up the spirit of this film quite well:

It's not the song you sing, it's the life you lead.

Life has left  scars on each of the SI, making their lives challenging. There's been drug abuse, betrayal, illnesses and suicidal thoughts among the SI. This Time shows the viewer glimpses of all of the above with compassion.

The story portrayed in this doc is one of immense triumph and the long fall from grace on the part of the lovely women of The Sweet Inspirations. It shows the similar story of Pat Hodges. On the other hand, viewers see the inspiring story of the cabaret singer Bobby Belfry. Bobby is struggling up the entertainment ladder. There are steps forward and steps away from his goal. This talented singer keeps going in this business that can be both cruel and rewarding to the same people during the same career.

Polished, informative and entertaining, This Time, will leave the viewer hoping the best for this colorful cast of entertainers.

4/5 stars

There are ghost investigation shows all over TV and the net. Some of them are good, I love Doug Carnahan's 'Xtreme Hauntings Live' that runs online.

The kings of TV haunt hunts are 'The Ghost Adventures' guys. Zak Bagans, who is intense to say the least. Aaron Goodwin with his OMG face. Aaron is also quick to joke around which breaks tension very nicely. Then there's Nick Groff who is sort of a combination of both of the others. He can be deadly serious or crack jokes left and right.

'The boys' first effort is out on DVD 'Ghost Adventures, The Original Documentary'. You can purchase it here.  You can also purchase some of the seasons of the show at that link.

I first saw this documentary several years back, in the middle of the night on 'The Travel Channel'. I was horrified, but not because of the ghosts, but because these three young men, (OK, I'm old, get over it....I have), were going to get themselves possessed or otherwise harmed.

Now looking back, it would be the demons bad luck who tried to possess any one of these guys. They're hardcore.

However, back in the beginning, they were as green as grass. The doc covers the boys investigating Nevada's Virginia City and The Goldfield Hotel. All three investigators are Vegas residents.

VIRGINIA CITY

One of Nevada's treasures is left pretty much as it was back when it was a thriving mining town. However, mining towns were places of violence. Death could take anyone at any time.  In modern day Virginia City there are more people in cemeteries than there are alive and walking around.

Zak and crew investigated a haunted room in an old hotel, Zak slept in a bath tub, Nick got the bed...Aaron spent time in the car.  He was not the Aaron we know today. Some creepy sounds were heard however, not much there.

The Washoe Club showed off one of it's ghostly residents on camera. A full bodied apparition, (the holy grail of ghost hunting), was walking behind Nick. He was alone and a static camera caught the apparition. It is really a magnificent piece of film.

We then see the guys investigating one of several grave yards in Virginia City. They were trying to see and film 'cemetery lights'. They were successful and actually got the only video of the lights up to that time. But then they ran screaming out of the cemetery...I hate to say like little girls...but....

They spent the night in a haunted miner's cabin. It was only feet away from a mine where 36 men died. Aaron again showed fear that he just puts up with now. The cabin was creepy and some EVPs were captured with Zak throwing the recorder when he first hears a sentence with the word 'Devil' in it.


THE GOLDFIELD HOTEL

When I first moved to Vegas I went to the library (pre-internet, for me anyway) and looked up books on local haunts. The best I could find was on 'The Goldfield Hotel'. It was written by a woman named Shirley A. Porter and entitled 'Goldfield Hotel: But You Can't Leave, Shirley'. Shirley and her family bought the hotel and tried to rehab it for opening as a hotel once again. Needless to say, it's still standing as is and the Porter family is gone.

Many paranormal groups have investigated this spot, however I believe our boys were the second to do so, after the TV show 'Scariest Places on Earth'. I could be wrong...I was once, a long time ago. ANYWAY.

The boys get permission to investigate the creepiest hotel this side of The Stanley. Aaron didn't make the trip, the doc doesn't explain why. Zak and Nick are shown around by the former caretaker who actually channels a spirit named 'Bobby' during a seance.

Nick and Zak had a horrifying night at The Goldfield. After seeing something in the basement, both ran screaming and lost each other in the huge hotel. The rest of the story is for you to see.

This documentary is well made, if you don't believe in ghosts....this doc will at least make you wonder. If you do believe...you'll feel vindicated.

The film also answers a question that I've had a while about Zak. It reveals what Zak saw that made him want to hunt ghosts.

I love this DVD and I love 'Ghost Adventures'. At the least the show is entertaining and at most its proof.

5/5 stars and well deserved.

Colin Wilson is a prolific writer who has written on topics from aliens (Alien Dawn, which Wilson considers one of his best books) to Volumes on true crime.

The British author seems to be interested in every subject, as his collections of thousands of books attests to, and has written about many of them.

This documentary by 'Reality Films is entitled ' 'Strange is Normal' The Amazing Life of Colin Wilson'. The film is  basically a long lecture by the famous author. Lecture sounds boring, however, Wilson is anything but boring.

Wilson talks about his early days and how he became a writer. He also talks in-depth about the movers and shakers he has meet and in most cases befriended. His friends and acquaintances is an eclectic list of movie stars, literary giants and serial killers.

    •    Arthur C. Clark (whom he called an idiot)
    •    Marilyn Monroe
    •    Vivian Leigh (whom he called a nympho)
    •    Sir Laurence Olivier
    •    Ezra Pound
    •    T.S. Eliot
    •    Anthony Burgess (writer of 'Clock Work Orange')
    •    Arthur Miller
    •    Patricia Neal


Colin also revealed his thoughts on many subjects, some of which are surprising.

The Dead-When one dies there is no time. This affords the dead looks into the past, present and future.

Haunted Places-Ghosts that haunt specific places don't know they're dead.

God-The universe has an intelligent force with purpose.

Poltergeists-Are footballs of energy which passing spirits can use to cause the havoc they are known for.

Some of the most interesting parts of this documentary is when Colin speaks of true crime.

Jack The Ripper-Wilson use to believe Jack was James Maybrick was the infamous killer, however has since changed his mind. His interested in the 'Ripper' case comes from his grandfather who lived in White Chapel during the murders.

Colin Wilson wrote an encyclopedia of Murder.

His book on Rasputin, the Russian Mystic, was so accurate that Rasputin's daughter said it was the best book ever written about her father.

Most interesting is his relationship with the infamous 'Moor Murderer' Ian Brady. Wilson had an ongoing dialogue via mail with the murderous Brady. Colin's book entitled 'The Gates of Janus: Serial Killing and Its Analysis' was the result of this relationship.

Lastly, Colin Wilson gave wanna be writers some advice.

Start keeping a journal. Always remember that writing is a job that requires a hell of a lot of discipline.

This film drags here and there, especially if you aren't familiar with the topics which Wilson speaks about. However, there is a great payoff for listening to what he has to say, you actually learn things of value.

'Strange is Normal' The Amazing Life of Colin Wilson', is an important documentary which is a must see for historians, biographers and inspiring writers.

Ever on the lookout for new documentaries, I was delighted to have found 'Gone: The Mystery of the Don Disaster'.

'Gone' is from the Emmy nominated producers of 'IncredibleMAINE'; Marilyn Taylor, producer and Dave Wilkinson Director/Editor.

The screenplay was written by Marilyn Taylor, based on the book, 'Tragedy in Casco Bay' by Stacy Welner who also is an associate producer.  The re-creation actors are volunteers.

Using re-enactments, some actual photos, and interviews from friends and family.  'Gone' tells the story of the disappearance of the 44 ft pleasure craft 'Don'.

On a carefree day in 1941 a group of 34 people set out on what should have been a fun trip with lobster to eat and the beautiful ocean to enjoy. However, those 34 people never came back from their 'carefree' adventure. Instead they all disappeared along with the boat, never to be seen alive again. Some bodies floated to shore, but the boat was never found and the mystery lasted until the release of this documentary.

Putting together a crew of divers and other experts to search for the 'Don' a new chapter has been written. This chapter gives some answers that have been allusive since 1941.

The sinking of the 'Don' brought about some maritime changes. As the documentary points out; these changes were costly. This tragic chapter in Maine's history remains the worst boating disaster in all of New England.

With its history rich content of photos, interviews and recreations 'Gone: The Mystery of the Don Disaster' is an important piece of film making. It features original Maine locations which gives it merit and authority. The interviews are compelling with emotion still running high so many years later.

The film runs for one hour, this is my only criticism...I wanted more. However, in that one hour a tale is told that hasn't been told before on film.

This documentary is highly recommend it to any documentary lover or those who are interested in maritime history. 5 out of 5 stars.

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Purchase this film here.

Check my Review on examiner.com of 'Eyes of the Mothman'.

This is a statue in Point Pleasant, West Virginia of Mothman.

The review for 'Catfish can be read here.

There is a lot of talk around the web that this film is NOT  a documentary, but a work of fiction.

Check out these articles.

• Moviephone regarding a lawsuit 
• Movieline
• The L.A. Times
• Film School Rejects this site has an in-depth interview with Nev, his brother and fellow filmmaker. 

'Catfish' is out on DVD now. There are also several places online where you can watch 'Catfish' VOD.

3/5 stars

In the short film Second Glances, directed by Chris Wiegand, a young man is going through the motions at his dead-end job.  Seemingly cold, and unfriendly this man, (played by Taylor Brandt), puts his feelings into pencil drawings.

One day the artistic loner glimpses a beautiful woman, (Tamara Voss) , playing a guitar in the park. He is immediately smitten and obviously willing to end his loner status for her. However, she pays almost no attention to him, save for a charming smile in his general direction. Attempts to make contact are thwarted one way or another. When the guitar playing women seems to disappear, the young man goes on an all out search mission to find her.  Will she give him a second glance?

Well made, well acted and touching-Second Glances is nearly a silent film. The absence of speech adds to the bittersweet story.

Short films are an art form that looks easy, but are actually a huge challenge. Chris and company do a great job with their short film which runs 11 minutes.

Second Glances was nominated for seven awards at the 168 Film Festival and won two.  The cast and crew are listed below. You can watch the film here.

Director: Chris Wiegand
Producer: Brandon Carmichael
Writer: Alan Tregoning
Writer: Jason Walter Vaile
Cast: Taylor Brandt
Cast: Tamara Voss
Cast: Matt Socia
Cast: Cadince Irion
Director: Jordan Critz
Cast: Story Slaughter
Cast: Josh Spake
Cast: Laura Stillo
Cast: Trisha Tomasky
Cast: Casey Wiegand
Editor: Chris Wiegand
Director: Katrina Cook

4/5 stars

'Damn Your Eyes' is an independent short film by David Guglielmo.

Genre: Western

Sam (Jakob Von Eichel) is a mysterious cowboy who rides into town and promptly slaughters almost everyone in the local bar/brothel. He wears his hat completely over his face, his eyes are not visible.  

This tortured soul seeks a man named 'Scott', he will not stop until he finds him. Sam and Scott have history....really bad history.

A prostitute from the brothel helps heal Sam from a gunshot he sustained during his 'cleaning out' of the bar. Louisa  (Marisa Costa) is the prostitute with a heart type of character. She's lovely and flawed, but redeemable. Louisa has been beaten down by life, but still sees possibilities, still has hope for herself.

Sam has no redeeming qualities, he knows it and embraces it. This is how he gets through the things he does.

His mission is revenge for an unthinkable incident that happened to him as a child.

Some acts scream out to have revenge. Some people can never get enough revenge.

This short gives a huge homage to westerns of old. Sam could easily be Clint Eastwood in any number of his westerns of the sixties. However, this isn't to say that this film is simply a rehash of what others have done. It's actually original material that seems to have been done due to a great love of such films.

'Damn Your Eyes' is well made both technically and performance wise. I recommend it for a quick shot of a great film.

'Look' tag line is 'The quest for beauty always leads back to yourself.'

This short by Ryan Pickett as writer/director/executive producer/editor and actor, is a bit avante-garde.

'Look' features two women, one is a rather plain barkeep, while the other could be a model right out of 'Vogue' magazine. There are also two men, one seems interested in the barkeep until 'Vogue' model shows up. The other man is the photographer who is shooting the photos of the model.

To me this film played out like a dream, things were connected but it isn't clear how.

The man from the bar goes after beauty, but can't obtain the beauty because a better looking man stops him. He goes back to the barkeep, however the beauty is never far from his thoughts.

Deep and full of metaphor, this film is a good effort for first time director Pickett. Also featuring writer Spenser Fritz. Shane Bartlett is the cinematographer.

Artistic 3/5 stars