Reviews

It is an embarrassment. How could you, John Malkovich?

I am so overwhelmed with emotions. How long is it going to take for the world to wake up and acknowledge the suffering of the Palestinian people under the hands of Israel?

From the moment Alex met Jenny, I knew that I would be enjoying Older, a film that I did not know anything about. Older is about Alex, who is in an open relationship with two women while examining his life as he gets older. Guy Pigden plays Alex, who gives a realistic, sympathetic, and convincing performance. He also excels as a writer, director, and editor of Older. Mr. Pigden is, without a doubt, a talent with many gifts. His film, Older, is a fantastic accomplishment that is done with care and honesty. The cast was outstanding, especially Liesha Ward Knox. The cinematography and the music enhanced the story throughout without intruding. Older is an example of what makes independent films unique.

The power of this film lies in its uniqueness. It is captivating throughout because of its style and its story, which is entertaining and thought-provoking. The Berlin Bride is a director's film, and every frame proves that. Director Michael Bartlett plays with our emotions through unusual believable characters, including a manikin. The camera work and the brilliant music add to the mystery of this 'haunting dream' movie. It took courage to make such a film, and it deserves to be seen and appreciated.

Turnover is a feel-good film with an uplifting and optimistic theme, which is very much appreciated and desperately needed during these difficult times. Director Linda Palmer has created a family made up of much diverse cast that we can relate to and sympathize with each of its members. Actor Paul Guilfoyle veteran TV and film gives a superb performance as the lead.

Everlasting is a haunting film that had all the ingredients to keep you hooked from the beginning to the end, a well-structured film, expertly structured and edited. Valentina de Angelis and Adam Perez, the lead actors, were credible and sympathetic. Director Anthony Stabley was in total control and had effectively succeeded in blending romance and mystery throughout the film. Everlasting is a well-made independent film that I highly recommend.

I honestly wasn't sure how to react while watching M.O.M. A psychological thriller about two characters, a mother and a son, each trying to survive the other in a deadly game. The tension throughout the film kept me hooked as I watched with a sense of guilt and sorrow; the deterioration of their disturbing relationships caught on hidden cameras planted throughout their house. Director Tucia Lyman was in command throughout, and the two lead actors, Melinda Page Hamilton and Bailey Edwards, gave strong performances. The film style, cinematography, and editing added to the unsettling emotions throughout the film. I highly recommend M.O.M, which grabs you from the beginning to the end without letting go.

My Senior Year tackles a familiar subject about a teenager coming of age dealing with the pressure of growing up in a dysfunctional family that self-destructs unexpectedly. My Senior Year, an independent film, directed by Joe Carlini, does not pull away from showing the emotional and heartbreaking relationship between a father and son. Brian, played by Perry Chicos, gives a sympathetic performance in a fully charged moving portrayal of a lost soul.

7 Hills I have no idea how a film can cover Civil wars, refugees, racism, children of wars, graffiti art, stereotyping, women equality, and skateboarding in one hour and thirteen minutes. Refuge kids from Syria, Palestine, Somalia, Iraq, and Yemen form friendships at the 7 hill skateboarding park in Amman Jordan. Each with a story to tell. Jesse Locke delivers a powerhouse documentary not only as a director but also as an editor. 7 Hills deserves attention from a wider audience.

Vindaloo Empire is a film with many ingredients, mixed together to create a flavored story. Sid migrates with his mom and sister, leaving behind his friends and 'motorbike' to join his father in New Zealand, who is supposedly working as a successful accountant. The combination of humor, drama, and culture makes Vindaloo Empire unique. The characters move with the flow, never feeling sorry for themselves or giving up despite the difficulties they face in a new culture. Director Cristobal Araus Lobos seems to be having fun making this movie. At the same time, he is in full command, as he takes us on a journey worth watching.

Closure moves smoothly from beginning to end as the main character, Nina, makes her journey from Kansas to Los Angeles looking for her sister. As we follow Nina on her journey, we are introduced to unique characters who amuse us, scare us, make us laugh and, challenge our typical way of life. Writer/director Alex Goldberg takes us on a journey that he orchestrates perfectly. Catia Ojeda and the rest of the cast are in top form, so are the cinematography and the music. I highly recommend Closure.

ARE YOU GLAD I'M HERE Is a film about spousal abuse in a country where men dominated for years. It is about a friendship between two neighbors, Kirsten, an American teacher, and Nadine, a Lebanese mother constantly abused by her husband. It is about two cultures where women's abuse knows no boundaries. Kirsten tries to convince Nadine, who has an eleven-year-old son, to leave her husband, but in Lebanon, it is not that easy. Nadine is trapped; she cannot file for divorce without losing everything, but there was no law against defending herself. ARE YOU GLAD I'M HERE is an intense drama with Lebanese humor, a mix of sarcasm and painful experiences, sprinkled from beginning to end. Director Noor Gharzeddine is clearly in command. The setups of her scenes are very impressive. There is no fast cutting. Many wide-angle shots staged effectively while the action takes place in the background. I loved everything about, ARE YOU GLAD I'M HERE, an independent film made in Lebanon with its Lebanese sounds, beauty, love, and humor. I highly recommend it on many levels. I can hardly wait for Noor's next movie.

For the Weekend For the Weekend, is a typical story about 'disconnected' friends hesitantly getting together to celebrate the birthday of one of their own in an isolated house in the desert. What's not typical is the approach directors Warren J. Williams, and Tom Dever took when one of the friends disappeared In the middle of the night. Was there going to be a murder, a who's done it plot or just a non-event incident that made the friend disappear? Directors Warren J. Williams and Tom Dever succeeded in balancing the suspense and comedy throughout. The characters were well developed, and the actors did an excellent job of bringing them to life. Both the camera work and the music enhanced the plot. For the Weekend, is a well-made independent film that's worth watching.

Only Humans I must admit that I was nervous, watching Only Humans. I wasn't sure how the subject matter will be handled. However, Director Vanessa Knutsen was masterful of handling such a topic. It took guts to make such a film. This is a film about loneliness, emptiness, guilts, needs, and acceptance. It's not about sex between a teenager and an older man. Only Human is an honest film that deals with the complexity of emotions that exist in every one of us.

Warrior Pride Making an independent film with a limited budget and with so many characters is a difficult task, and more often, the results are not what they were set up to be. However, the director, Janaya Black, did just the opposite with her film Warrior Pride. She made a film with a heart, based on real events and real characters, giving Warrior Pride a natural look and down to earth feel. Rockey Black did a great job portraying a coach full of passion and care for his players and their families. His performance was heartfelt, which propelled the story forward. The players and the rest of the cast did an excellent job of making us believe in their struggles and dilemmas. Warrior Pride is an uplifting movie perfect for the whole family.

Broken Ceiling Broken Ceiling is an unusual film with a unique way of storytelling. The film takes place in a large conference room with four main characters and a voice on the speakerphone. A set up that is usually dull and boring in movies, but not in Broken Ceiling. The confined location contributed to the dramatic conflict among the characters. The dialogue was snappy and precise, which made the interaction among the four intense and unpredictable. The actors did an excellent job, specially Karan Kendrick and Regen Wilson, who gave outstanding performances. Director and screenwriter Adam Davis was successful in setting us up for an unexpected ending.

Polaris Iranian-American filmmaker Soudabeh Moradian delivers a complex dark drama about a woman, Baran, an immigrant journalist of half-Iranian, half-European descent who suffers from PTSD, played perfectly by Alicja Bachleda, Polaris is a well crafted independent film with high production qualities and an ensemble of good actors. The characters are credible, armed with war memories, past love, and cultural dilemmas. Each with secrets, fears, and remembrance. Memories come crashing in when the three meet accidentally. Uncovered layers of fear, love, and sadness peel away, exposing the fragile life of the three characters. Polaris is worth every minute.

Rison: The Story of Chron "Hell Razah" Smith. It's always satisfying to see a movie about a topic that I knew nothing about and to come out loving the subject matter, the people in it, and the film as a whole. Rison: The Story of Chron was such a film. A moving documentary about rapper Hell Razah, who became the youngest member of Sunz of Man, an early affiliate group of the Wu-Tang Clan. Suddenly and without warnings, Chron had a brain aneurysm that deafened his voice and slowly pulled the music out from his inner soul. The years that followed were difficult as Hell Razah went into physical therapy, determined to get back to what he loved most, to become 'the music' once more. Rison: The Story of Chron took us into a world that was misunderstood by mainstream America and introduced us to hard-working artists who had something to say through the world of hip-hop. The Story of Chron is an inspiring and educational story that I strongly recommend.

From the first moment I saw David, a struggling screenwriter, in Dirty Beautiful, I liked him. He was awkward, vulnerable and lonely, living in a tiny apartment, spending all his time deciding what story to write. He was somehow content with his mundane, monotonous life until he accidentally met Kat, a gorgeous, vivacious, rebellious homeless young woman. David instantly falls in love with her and agreed to have her live with him in his tiny apartment. Slowly, Kat's veneer started to dissolve in front of David's eyes, revealing a tortured soul, a sad past and dysfunctional young woman. Writer and director, Tim Bartell was successful in creating a movie that revolved around two characters, stuck in a small apartment, getting to know each other as they confront their past, fears, and insecurities. The emotional bond between David, played by Ricky Mabe, and Kat, played by Jordan Monaghan, was believable throughout and was one of the main ingredients that propelled the story to its unpredictable ending. I highly recommend Dirty Beautiful for its uniqueness and honesty.

I have watched many Hollywood movies over the years with big stars, expensive productions and special effects, dealing with the same theme as 100 Kilos, but none were as effective. The main difference to me was character likability. In 100 Kilos, I really liked and sympathized with the main characters, Ricky, played by Glenn Plummer, and Big Loc, played by Dwayne Adway. They were honest and wanted to do the right thing, but simply couldn't withstand the temptation of quick money. The grittiness of the 100 Kilos, and its low budget production added to the strength of the film. The acting was top notch so was the direction. I recommend 100 Kilos to anyone, even to the ones who only watch Hollywood movies.

Huckleberry, makes its point without manipulation, hard hitting approach and propaganda. It sails through with ease as it delivers a powerful message. The story takes place around 2000, in a small town, successfully capturing the lives of its young people, their problems and their diversities. Even though the story took place 20 years ago, it is still, unfortunately, applicable today in the US and throughout the world. Daniel Fisher-Golden plays Huckleberry, a coming-of-age, transgender who has a crush on classmate Jolene played by Sarah Ulstrop, who's been abused by her boyfriend Clint, played by Justin Rose. Huckleberry rises to the occasion and tries to protect Jolene. Director Roger Hills, delivers a poignant independent film on a limited budget with an intriguing story and believable characters without the glitters of Hollywood.

The Back Pages, Season one: I watched the first 5 episodes. The length of each episode varied between 10 -13 minutes. The topics vary from comedy, science fiction, western, love, and a hairy werewolf. All with a tongue in cheek approach. A very smart idea. With some tweaking, this series could become very addictive.

Bearkittens, is an offbeat movie about eight offbeat young women teaming up to clean the garbage from a haunted forest. Director and writer Lars Kokemuller did an excellent job weaving in a compelling story based on his engrossing and unpredictable characters. The acting was excellent, so were the cinematography and the music. Bearkittens, is a very good film. I recommend it to everyone who wants to see something original.

The Stand Up Doll is an outstanding film about Risa Ingelfeld, a remarkable centurion. Her story is documented by writer, director, and actress, Evelyne Tollman Werzowa who is Risa's friend. With ease and comfort, Risa spoke about her life from the day she was born in Vienna, to her 100-year birthday celebration event in Los Angeles. Through the years, Risa endured many tragedies that most people would not be able to survive, but because of her resiliency and radiant smile, she always bounced back from adversity, disappointment instead of giving up. The Stand Up Doll has left and emotional impact on me and I'm certain it will have the same effect on you.