The Blessed Ones [Film]

Welcome to Day 5 of our unofficially titled “12 Non-Holiday Films for the Holidays”. For 12 days, we are showcasing 12 amazing non-holiday themed films for those of us who despise holiday films or the whole damned season altogether. Enjoy!

“An isolated cult hiding in a desert enclave prepare for an prophesied apocalypse, led by a charismatic Jim Jones-like leader. As the end of the world allegedly approaches, he binds them all to a suicide pact, in hopes of transcending earth for a new life in paradise. Two dissenters flee through the vast desert wasteland on the eve of the ceremony, hunted by the cult’s enforcer – who will stop at nothing to insure that they keep their part of the bargain.” – October Coast PR

I have always had a fascination with the idea of cults. I personally feel as though I do not have the mentality to follow the path that leads one to eventually give their lives on the orders of some Jim Jones-like leader, but I fully understand that some people are very apt for these scenarios. Mental health is a very serious problem that is continuously being validated in our society, but is also regularly responded to with ridiculousness that is both counter-active and shameful (i.e. it’s a “mental health” issue, not a “gun control” issue. Fuck you Tomi Lauren, it is BOTH). But, that is just me ranting, let’s get into the brilliant film that is The Blessed Ones.

The Blessed Ones is a brilliant independent take of what can happen when lost souls are tricked into believing that the end of days is coming sooner than they expected. Dave Vescio portrays the far the charismatic leader Elyon (which is the most appropriate cult leader name of all time, by the way), who is ultimately responsible for the chaos that ensues. He is absolutely amazing in the film, as well as the film’s real show stealer, the very talented Tamzin Brown, who is probably the most sane person you are going to see on the screen!

Yes, The Blessed Ones is a brilliant little film that was obviously able to pack so much into such a small digital space on a shoe-string budget, and create something truly mesmerizing and entertaining. Even if you are not one those people who is fascinated by the world of cults, you are going to find something to love about this film.

The Blessed Ones is available now on Amazon Prime from Wild Eye Releasing. Check out the trailer here:

Dalida [Film]

Welcome to Day 4 of our unofficially titled “12 Non-Holiday Films for the Holidays”. For 12 days, we are showcasing 12 amazing non-holiday themed films for those of us who despise holiday films or the whole damned season altogether. Enjoy!

“Recording in more than five languages, Dalida sold a record-breaking 170 million albums during her lifetime, with chart-topping hits spanning Edith Piaf-esque classics to emotional disco numbers. Following Dalida’s extraordinary rise from beauty pageant contestant to cabaret artist to international superstar, this visually stunning new film tells a captivating story of professional success and personal tragedy in exquisite period detail. Italian-model-turned actress Sveva Alviti paints a nuanced portrait of the star in her breakthrough role.”

– Emma Griffiths PR

Wow, just fucking WOW! This was an absolutely incredible cinematic experience. I will personally admit that I was completely unaware that Dalida was a person of note. Yes, I am an uncultured American scum who knows very little about what shook the world in the 50’s to 80’s Europe. My sincerest apologies. I had no idea who Dalida was before watching this film, and after watching the film, I am still not familiar with a single record she may have put out. But, I can say that thanks to an absolutely brilliant and Oscar worthy performance form Sveva Alviti, and an amazing film brought to us by Lisa Azuelos, I feel like I know of Dalida and her legacy a whole lot better than I could have ever imagined.

Seriously folks, even if you have absolutely zero interest in the career of a woman who sold over 170 million records worldwide, yet could only become a star in the states through the terrifying art of disco, this is truly a fascinating film that you are going to love. At its core, this is a film about the battle of the human spirit. It is a motion picture about the tyranny of trying to battle our inner emotions against the insane view from the world around us. Few people know what it is like to have the entire world watching you, and yet all you feel inside is a deep hole that has only been filled with regrets and a sadness and shame. This is the type of aura that you will you witness as it is so brilliantly displaced by Sveva Alviti, in a role that should really make her career, and make her a world-wide success. The charisma and skill that it took to bring this truly conflicted character to live in such an elegant manner had to be an absolute challenge. But, she succeeded, to say the least!

If you can be prepared to watch 2 hours of absolute struggle in a world where it seems as though a heroine has received everything she could ever want, yet feel so cold and alone inside that no amount of “success” could ever truly calm them, then Dalida is the film you are looking for. This is not just a biopic. This is an absolutely treasure of modern cinema, and it needs to be enjoyed by all.

Dalida is now available on VOD and across all major platforms. Check out this trailer for the film here:

Django [Film]

Welcome to Day 3 of our unofficially titled “12 Non-Holiday Films for the Holidays”. For 12 days, we are showcasing 12 amazing non-holiday themed films for those of us who despise holiday films or the whole damned season altogether. Enjoy!

“The year is 1943 in Nazi-occupied Paris and Django Reinhardt is at the pinnacle of his art. The brilliant and carefree jazz guitarist, king of ethereal swing, plays to standing-room-only crowds in the capital’s greatest venues. Meanwhile his gypsy brethren are being persecuted throughout Europe. His life takes a turn for the worse when the Nazi propaganda machine wants to send him on tour in Germany.” – Big Time PR

This one isn’t even really fair, folks! When asked if I would like to check out a biopic about arguably one of the finest musicians of any given time, it was a real no-brainer. It’s fucking Django Reinhardt!! There really isn’t a need to use the word “arguably” when speaking the finest jazz guitarists in history, because there simply is no argument. Django is the greatest there ever was, and there will probably be another like him.

I first learned of his work as a young child who was obsessed with the films of Woody Allen. These were even the days proceeding the hilarious Sean Penn led film Sweet and Lowdown. I’m talking more about a quick mention of Django in one of my favorite Woody films, Mighty Aphrodite. I’m talking about the how I fell in love with “Out of Nowhere” when I heard it on Deconstructing Harry. Or when I heard “Minor Swing” on just about every cool flick you could see in the 90’s and early 00’s. I have been hooked on Django ever since. But I soon realized after starting this film, I really had no idea who Django really was. Unlike other folks I have admired in the world of music since a young age (Bob Dylan, Tupac Shakur, etc.), I never really took the time to learn who Django really was. And I will be damned if I didn’t truly learn about the spirit of Django in this amazing biopic about a very specific, yet oh so important time in his life.

Django as a film, is something very special and amazing to watch even if you weren’t a weird ten year old who loved Django and Woody Allen movies at a ridiculously young age. It is just about as perfect of a film as you could ask for when depicting what life was like in the depths of Nazi occupation for people who wanted nothing to do with the fighting. Django was an established man of the people during this period, and (SPOILER ALERT!) his defiance to engage with German soldiers even for mild entertainment is a great bit of defiance that I knew nothing about, yet made me love this wild-eyed gypsy even more than I already did.

This film has it all people. Reda Ketab gives an absolutely perfect performance as the legendary Django himself that everyone could appreciate. For long time Django fans, or for people who just enjoy a masterfully told period piece, this is probably one of the best films you are ever going to see. It simply has everything, and deserves to be appreciated by the masses!

Django will be opening in New York on January 5th and Los Angeles on on January 19th. Additional markets are to follow, and VOD release is sure to follow shortly afterwards. Here is the trailer:

D-Love [Film]

Welcome to Day 2 of our unofficially titled “12 Non-Holiday Films for the Holidays”. For 12 days, we are showcasing 12 amazing non-holiday themed films for those of us who despise holiday films or the whole damned season altogether. Enjoy!

“A couple with longstanding marital issues lands at LAX after a failed getaway. For a few years now, Stefania has been unhappy in a job she detests, while Dan still dealing with his grief, hasn’t worked in years. Their strain is amplified when a Danish vagabond asks for a ride and much to his wife’s horror, Dan offers to bring this total stranger to their home. How will this affect the already strained couple? Over the course of three days, Stefania comes to discover that the desired change doesn’t always come in the package that we want or expect.” – Popular Press Media Group

I’m just going to throw this out there right off the bat….are you all ready to learn about the best film of 2017? I mean, this is a year that hd a lot of competition when it came to emotionally driven cinema, but I’m here to proclaim that Elena Beuca’s directorial debut D-Love is the finest work of cinematic art I have witnessed in the last decade. With a cast of newcomers and old hats, and a wonderful story that is based in distant reality, this is a film that is an absolutely perfect depiction of what it means to lose, to mourn, and hopefully find love all over again.

There is so much to love about D-Love that it is almost impossible to figure out where to begin. I guess I could kick things off the way I usually do, by telling you all that the cast of this film is absolutely amazing. But this feels inevitably as Elena Beuca and Dave Rogers are sort of just retelling the events of the emotional rollercoaster that was their lives. Rogers is credited for the script, Beuca directed, and the both portrayed versions of themselves in a perfect way. But, it is clearly obvious that this was a group effort, and D-Love is a film that was produced as a team.

But lest we forget that there were some other amazing performances as well! Including the titular character of D-Love, the one-with-the-earth and Burning Man bound character brilliantly portrayed by Ditlev Darmakaya. He is the Danish drifter who absolutely steals our hearts throughout the entire film. He’s less of a man, and more of a presence who was sent to change the lives of a couple who had nowhere to go but down. It is the freshness and naivety of that Mr. Darmakaya brings to the character that is absolutely charming and mesmerizing.

I honestly can not say enough great things about this amazing film. One specific scene alone really got to me though, and in attempt to not cause any spoilers, I would dive to far into it, but let’s just say it involves a minor car accident, and a bit of understanding and brilliant advice given by someone you may not have expected to give it to us. It’s not exactly the scene that truly steals the film, but it is the one that pulled on the heart strings a bit. I am always a sucker for a blue collar guardian angel type! Shoutout to veteran actor Michael Monks for making one of the smaller roles seem so huge and important.

Just weeks ago, it was all but set in my mind that I would be calling The Big Sick was going to be the emotional gem of a film to be seen in 2017. But, much like the titular character came in to help with the transformation of a couple’s soul, D-Love entered my life. And I will say that I am far more emotionally changed by the film than The Big Sick could do. While they are both wonderful films in their own right, D-Love just brings the love all the way back home in the most brilliant way possible.

D-Love will be available across all platforms soon, and is in select theaters across the country. Check out the trailer here:

Playground [Film]

Welcome to Day 1 of our unofficially titled “12 Non-Holiday Films for the Holidays”. For 12 days, we are showcasing 12 amazing non-holiday themed films for those of us who despise holiday films or the whole damned season altogether. Enjoy!

“Final day of school in a small Polish town. It’s the very last chance for 12-Year-Old Gabrysia to tell her classmate that she had fallen in love with him. She sets up a secret meeting and blackmails her love interest to show up. But what was supposed to be an intimate talk spins out of control and this seemingly normal day in life of three ordinary elementary school students culminates in shocking and terrifying events.” – October Coast PR

What the hell did I watch? I mean seriously, what the hell just happened? Have you ended a film and said this to yourself? And not in a negative way at all, just that feeling of where you are left a little bit dirty feeling inside. Well, if you have managed to avoid that feeling throughout your existence, be prepared experience something all new and terrifying.

Playground is one of those most unique experiences you will ever have in the world of cinema. The plot and premise of the film starts with a sort of confusing slow burn, and neither really truly reveal themselves very specifically. There is definitely a theme within the film. But, interpretation can easily be left with the viewer. There is a bit of sadness. There is obvious pain and confusion around the turmoil that can be constant in adolescence. But then there is a darkness that is unfathomable and entirely unreasonable. And that is the direction that Playground takes you.

This insane bit of Polish cinema from Bartosz M. Kowalski is a very well made and insanely tantalizing film. But, it is honestly very difficult to describe the events that take place within the film without completely spoiling the entire premise (which, again, isn’t entirely clear in a purposeful way). Let’s just say that Playground is a film that is going to leave you with a lot of questions about yourself, about humanity, and about existence in general. What can drive a person so young to such a dark place, so early in their existence? Is evil simply born, or is it inherited? These are actually the simplest of questions you may ask after watching this brilliant film.

Playground is available now on VOD and anywhere you find great films. Check out the trailer for the film here:

Sunday Matinee: Murder On the Cape [Film]

“Based on the true story of New York fashion writer Christa Worthington, who has an affair with a married fisherman while spending a winter holiday in Cape Cod. She returns two years later with his child looking to rekindle their love. When she is found murdered, a mystery unfolds within the tight-knit community, shedding doubt on the prime suspect’s guilt.” – Vision Films

I can vaguely remember hearing about this truly sad and gruesome events that rocked a small cape town so many years ago. I wasn’t completely following the events, and I was unaware of the full details. In fact, the outer-worldly events that took place in this film adaptation of the events may very well be all the facts I truly know. With even the lightest of research, I am finding Arthur Egeli’s stylistically shot dramatization to be a very believable translation of the events that occurred. It is a very sad tale, and many lives have been forever changed because of it. I dare say, that at the very least, Egeli has managed to present the story in a brutally honest and fair fashion. It is brilliant looking film that is far less of a murder mystery, and more of a deep look into the mishandling of life matters by a man who doesn’t quite know what he wants from the world, and a woman who is equally unassured by her own existence as well. It is sad people, doing sad things, in what appears to be the most one of the most well-to-do areas in the U.S.

While the film features brilliant performances all around, It behooves me to put the singular focus the brilliant work of Heather Egeli, who also happens to be a co-producer and co-writer on the film. Her role as the betrayed wife Nancy is stuff that acting dreams are made of. She is SO damn good, and definitely steals the spotlight each and every time she shows up on screen. Even while Jade Harlow is giving what could only be considered the role of her life time, and doing it extremely well, I can’t help but acknowledge that Ms. Egeli’s brilliance is a resounding benefit to the film. And in the rare instances that they are on screen together, it’s simply lightening caught in a beautiful bottle. Also local Cape Cod resident, Josh Walther, darts out the proverbial gates of acting in his first ever role, as the male lead. Quite an impressive introduction, to say the very least.

No matter your thoughts or followership on the events that took place 15 years ago in this sleepy little fishing town, Murder on the Cape is definitely a great film. It is a film that should be enjoyed for the sake of seeing good films. We just don’t get enough of them these days, and for that I am grateful that this one exists.

Murder on the Cape is available now on VOD & DVD wherever you find movies. Also check out some of these great stills from the film, featuring the wonderful actors and actresses mentioned above:

Sunday Matinee: The Problem With Apu [Film]

I have to be completely honesty and upfront here, right from the very beginning. I am claiming ignorance. I honestly did not know that this was an issue, or that there could be a problem with Apu. I always had an inkling that the idea of every 7/11 in the 90’s was owned or operator by a turban wearing man from India or the middle east was a little bit racist, but I had honestly always attributed this to being a “city thing” that I just wasn’t aware of. And above it all, I was too naive and a bit dimwitted to not realize that Apu was a seriously overdramatized version of a whole group of people, which is indeed problematic, and yes, racist. But hey, at least it was voiced by an Indian actor, right!? Right? Well……

This documentary is an absolutely brilliant take on a subject that is almost too sensitive to touch. And I’m not even talking about race. I’m talking about the mother-loving Simpsons! The Simpsons have been the golden standard for long-lasting comedy for the last 30 years, and it is obviously a very touchy subject to “attack” (parenthesis because it’s not actually happening, keep reading). But what comedian Hari Kondabolu has brought us with The Problem With Apu is a very unique and positive take on the possibility of change in a complicit industry that has left its stain on even the holiest of holy products like The Simpsons.

Again, I do not feel in the slightest that Kondabolu is attacking The Simpsons. He is simply stating the facts about his and other’s experience as an Indian person growing up in America during a time where the only representation of his people was an over dramatized typecast in animated form. He praises the show for its originality and deserved acclaim, but he simply recommends something that might make the show better for society. Which, in my opinion, is an extremely humbling god damned thing to do! I will admit, if I grew up being called Apu on a daily basis, I probably wouldn’t be nearly as kind on a subject matter. There are many reasons why Hari Kondabolu is a better person than I, but this is a big one!

And even looking beyond the potential impact and changes that a film like The Problem with Apu could bring, I feel as though it is important to note that this film is extremely well made! It is a documentary that hits all of the appropriate highs and lows and examines all applicable frustrations in a brilliant manner. Kondabolu has shown as much promise in the world of documentary filmmaking as he has in his work as a comic, and he has created something brilliant with The Problem with Apu that sends a very strong message, and should rightfully be enjoyed by all.

But, let’s be honest, this is America we are talking about, so rather than trying to be understanding, people are going to shit all over it before, or without even, seeing it for themselves. But, for those of you who can make the effort to both learn from and enjoy something, this is the perfect film for you.

The Problem with Apu premieres tonight on truTV at 10 p.m. ET. Check out the trailer here:

Saturday Special: Mr. Roosevelt [Film]

“In her feature directorial debut, Noël Wells portrays Emily, a talented but hard-to-classify comedic performer who left behind her home and boyfriend to pursue career opportunities in L.A. When a loved one falls ill, Emily rushes back to Austin where she’s forced to stay with her ex-boyfriend (Nick Thune) and his new-and-improved girlfriend (Britt Lower), a totally together woman with a five-year plan. Though Emily is the same, everything else is different: her house has been smartly redecorated, her rocker boyfriend is training to be a real estate agent, and her old haunts show serious signs of gentrification. Holed up in her own guest room, Emily–who has no idea what she’ll be doing five days from now, let alone five years–is forced to question everyone’s values: are they sell-outs or have they just figured out what makes them happy? And is she following her dreams or is she just a self-absorbed loser?” – Big Time PR

I feel compelled to start this out by saying that Mr. Roosevelt was one of my most anticipated films of the year. One platform that I tend to learn about some of the amazing artists and happenings in the world of film and television actually comes from a podcast. A little movie trivia game show podcast known as Doug Loves Movies, hosted by none other than legendary comedian Doug Benson (who has a nice, brief cameo in this film as well!). Throughout 2017, I heard episodes either featuring Noël Wells in support of Mr. Roosevelt, or several episodes in which the film was mentioned without her even being present. Needless to say, I was dying to see it. And when the opportunity presented itself to finally check it out, I had to jump on it. And might I dare say, I was definitely not let down. Mr. Roosevelt is one of the finest films of 2017, and one of the best indie projects of the last ten years.

Depending on where you live, work, and/or breath, it is likely that you know somebody like Noël Wells’s character Emily. At her heart, she is a very wonderful person, with a big heart and a tremendous talent. But if the world of adulthood has taught most of us anything, it is that none of that shit matters in the real world. The real world can be a very disturbing place where good things don’t always come to good people. And it is within this knowledge that we may find a turn with ourselves, and proverbially walk the line between kind and self-obsessed. And I feel like this is exactly where our heroine of Mr. Roosevelt is at in her life. She moved away from the fun-loving and stereotypically hip area of Austin, Texas to pursue her dream as a comedian(?), or something of that nature, to America’s dirty playground known as Los Angeles. And along this journey, she broke some hearts and left a dear friend, Mr. Roosevelt, behind who would unexpectedly perish while she was away. Mr. Roosevelt is a cat, by the way. But for some of us, that matters not.

At its core, Mr. Roosevelt is a film that explores the acceptance of one’s self whilst trying to find their place in the world. Even the most grounded of characters in this film seem to have demons hiding within themselves. You will either sympathize with Celeste (brilliantly portrayed by Britt Lower) or you are going to hate her right off the bat, which you will likely find to be a completely unreasonable emotion. One of my favorite characters of the film, Jen (Daniella Pineda), comes off as a character who is perfectly grounded in insanity, but is as emotionally complex as the rest of them. But, she seems to take this world in strides.

In the end, Mr. Roosevelt is a beautiful tale of love, loss, confusion, and attempting to find one’s self (whatever the hell that means?) in the modern world. Noël Wells has officially made a debut in the world of film that is an absolute hit, and I am so excited to see what the future holds for this brilliant artist. If this film is an indication of everything she is capable, it is extremely likely that we have a new strong female working behind the camera as well as in front of it, which is something we desperately need right now. This is a film that proves that women, while only making up less than 6% of world film behind the screen, are not only capable of doing great work, but are exceptional at it in most cases. And I truly believe that Mr. Roosevelt is nothing short of direct evidence to this case. You’re going to love it. I guarantee it.

Mr. Roosevelt is currently enjoying a run at the Arena CineLounge in Los Angeles, November 17th – 23rd. 

The film will also have its NYC premiere at the legendary Landmark Theatre’s Sunshine Cinema, November 22nd – 28th. 

Stay tuned for further announcements of the films release across digital platforms and in physical form as well. And check out the lovely trailer for Mr. Roosevelt, right here:

Sunday Matinee: ADDicted [Film]

Sunday Bloody Sunday Matinee: Sightings [Film]

Welcome to Day 22 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Month of Horror Showcase. Every day during the month of October, we will have a horror related interview and/or film review for your fright-filled reading pleasure! The set up will be the same as usual, but the topics will be far more terrifying. Enjoy!

“When former Sheriff and skeptic of the paranormal, Tom Mayfield (Boo Arnold), encounters three dead bodies on his TX ranch, he must enlist the help of his conspiracy-theorist brother-in-law (Rawn Erickson II), a local surveillance expert (Dante Basco), and a renowned cryptozoologist (Stephanie Drapeau), in order to uncover who or what is behind these mysterious events.While being pursued by the local detective (Kevin Sizemore) as a lead suspect for these deaths, Tom is forced to reconsider his preconceived ideas of what lies beyond our planet. Ultimately, he must mend the estranged relationship with his daughter (Tahlia Morgan) and come to grips with the truth of his missing wife (Tiffany Heath), as he discovers the importance of community in survival and the belief in the unseen.” – October Coast PR

To be quite honest, I wasn’t entirely sure about what I was getting into when I started Sightings. And now that I have completed a viewing, I honestly don’t know of a way to truly explain what I just watched without completely giving away EVERYTHING. I will say this though: Sightings is a brilliant film based around subjects that I normally could give two shits about. One of the subjects, as anyone could surmise, is about aliens. But the catch to it all is one that is going to blow your god damned minds. And guess what? It makes perfect sense while you are watching it! It’s only after you are done that the “Wait, what?” moments comes along. At least that is my personal opinion. This is a truly amazing production that was obviously done on a shoe-string budget, but also obviously employs some amazing talent in the visual department. I have to give a huge shout out to writer/director Dallas Morgan, as he did an amazing job. But it behooves me to mention that cinematographer Rocky Conly absolutely knocked it out the park, and made an indie thriller appear as though it were a 50 million dollar project. One can only hope that Morgan and Conly continue to work together, as the amount of quality material they could put out would be absolutely delightful!

And then there is the cast. As I have stated before, the cast can make or break a film. Well, thankfully while Sightings was visually stimulating, it also had a fine group of actors as well. So many props need to be given to Stephanie Drapeau who was amazing, and would have been great to see even more of in the film. And the same of for the great Dante Basco, who is an amazing actor who has done so much more than than what I consider to be Robin William’s WORST film of all time, known as Hook. That’s right folks, to get off topic but….Hook sucks. Just admit. Toss it with The Goonies and A Christmas Story as a batch of films that are only cool to say you like, but you know they are awful. Awful! Okay, end rant.

So as I have already stated, Sightings is brilliant and I could not recommend it highly enough. You are going love this film.

Sightings will be available for purchase on November 7th. Until then, check out the trailer here: