Sunday Matinee: After Love [Film]

“From the director of Our Children, comes the stark story of Boris (Cédric Kahn) and Marie (Bérénice Bejo), a couple who have decided to separate after 15 years together. They have two girls that they adore. However, cash-strapped Boris is still living in the family home. When all is said and done, neither of the two is willing to give up.Now this apartment is a war zone and their situation a nightmare. Joachim Lafosse captures with great magnitude, the painfully intimate, harrowingly fascinating drama about the emotional and financial complexities of a separation and the complexity of the end of a long love story.” – Rotten Tomatoes

I feel the need to kick this thing off by stating first and foremost, this is the best film I have watched this year. It is just about everything I am looking for a in a film, with every bit of ground covered to make it an absolutely beautiful cinematic experience. It is a story that idealistacly  simple, yet emotionally complex. It is a tale as old as time, but with a bit of a twist. It is the battle between realistic possibilities and sometimes irrational power of the ego. It is Freudian at its most dramatic points, but absolutely sweet and loving during its more whimsical periods. It has just about everything you will need if you are a fan of cinema that goes truly deep.

One of the greatest elements of After Love is definitely the level of depth that director Jorchim Lafosse and cinematographer Jean-Francois-Hengens go to throw together a visual representation of just how damned awkward this situation could be! Imagine yourself in this scenarios, and then try to imagine how you would attempt to physically interact with the children you adore, and the person you are currently falling out of love with. I can say with reasonable certainty, the quick pace cuts and clever pans of the camera in a film like this would be closely comparable to the human eye in this dire situation.

And lest we not forget, the cast of After Love is absolutely phenomenal. I have a rule that I live by when watching a film: If I can visualize somebody else taking on the exact same role of the film, then the actor was not right for the role. They have to OWN it. And I am here to say, that the film’s top 3 billed characters definitely OWNED their roles, and I would struggle to envision anybody else taking on these roles. Cédric Kahn plays the role of the vulnerable powerhouse of a man absolutely perfect, while Bérénice Bejo will bring you in and out of realistic conceptualization as you watch her struggle with her feelings towards a man who she may despise, but has to remain strong and save face for the sake of her children, and all the while confusing herself even more by possibly re-establishing a connection with said man that she despises. The complexity of her character is very deep, and she pulls it off poignantly! And then there is Marthe Kelly who, let’s be honest, simply did what we all expected her to do. Kelly is an actress who has proven for decades that she is one of the finest actresses of this or any time. She was MADE to take on this role. She is a woman who loves her daughter so much, and wants to be emotionally available. But, she can not stand to see her daughter suffer so much, and sees the answer directly in front of her, but can’t get the child she loves to pull the proverbial trigger on the entire situation.

Overall, After Love is just one of those damn fine movies we just don’t see enough of anymore. It is shot beautifully, and features some of the finest acting you will ever witness. There is no glitz and glamour and not a single car explosion. It is just a truly gritty and heart-felt story that can be both relatable and disturbing. It is a masterpiece of modern cinema, and needs to be taken in by all!

After Love had it’s New York premiere earlier this month, and California viewers will have their chance this coming Friday, September 1st at Loemmle’s Royal Theatre, as well as the 4 Star Cinema in San Francisco on August 25th, with further U.S. dates to follow.

Sunday Matinee: Heckler [Film]

***Please be advised, this “review” of a truly great film, will very quickly turn into the ramblings of a bitter old blogger, and turns into a very long rant. Heckler is in there quite a bit, but be sure that if you scroll past it all, get to the links at the bottom to be able to support Heckler!***

There are several reasons I chose to showcase this Jamie Kennedy-produced documentary for you fine readers on this lovely Sunday. First of all, it’s a damn fine and informative flick. Secondly, a key player in the making of the film may be making a reappearance later this week! And finally, while I hope most of our readers are not the heckling type, as I truly believe you are all just wonderful people, who know how to sit down and shut the fuck up at a comedy show. Except for the laughing. Definitely do the laughing. But, besides that, seriously…keep your damn mouth shut!

We have been showcasing a lot of folks from the world of stand-up comedy lately (ironically, NONE of them appeared in this film!) and have come to notice that the problem with hecklers and critics in this part of entertainment is a persistent problem that doesn’t seem likely to be stopping any time soon. Just further proof that the human race is filled with too many terrible mouth breathing shitheads. That’s right, I’m critiquing..but, not critiquing art. Critiquing a society that never seems to learn. And that is also what the 2007 Michael Addis directed documentary Heckler has managed to convey ever so brilliantly! But here’s the thing..this film was released 10 years ago! Does anyone else remember 2007? The era of Myspace, around the dawn of Facebook, and before we could have fathomed series news being given to us, by our nation’s Commander in Chief for that matter, in the form of something called a “tweet”. In 2007, if somebody told you that they just “tweeted”, you’d probably lead this to a sexual reference of some sort of bout with mental illness. But alas, it is a commonality of today we all practice. So what the hell does this have to do with Heckler? Well it should be obvious, that this is a brilliantly made documentary that discusses the ideas of heckling and biased critical analysis, but occurs in a Pre-Tweet Society.

And I’ll tell you folks, it really looked frustrating in 2007, I couldn’t imagine what a redux of a showcase of these ridiculous problems would look like if made today. Granted, the idea of some drunk asshole standing up at a comedy club and yelling nonsense is a trait as old as time, and will not be fading away any time soon. But, to see Heckler in a time when tweeting and blogging have become actual legitimate things somehow, I’d probably finish off the whole thing in tears. And I’m a blogger!

But despite the amount of change that has occurred in the last decade, Heckler is still a damn fine and relevant documentary that encompasses the spirit of what it is like to be involved in stand up comedy (and other professions), and have to deal with so much ignorance and downright stupidity from people whom which they simply want to entertain. In essence, the film really seems to want to find out what exactly it is that makes people feel compelled to act like such savage creatures either in the audience of a comedy show, or even behind the guise of a publication in which they are being paid real money to shit all over someone else’s art. And while I feel the film does some wonderful analysis to try and help explain what goes through a heckler’s mind, I feel like the film’s strongest point that it is able to convey is a simple one…people fucking suck. Some of them anyway. Most of them. Damn near all. But, I am rambling.

While I came into watching Heckler mainly to learn about the stand up comedy element of it all specifically, I actually found myself most intrigued by the discussion of asinine critics who make a living shitting on everything. I am most fascinated because by all technicalities, some might call these scum-sucking pieces of shit, my “peers”. And I will be god damned if I allow that to happen. I have been “reviewing” and “critiquing” music, film, art, etc. for the last 10 years.  And I am proud to say that I have not done one single negative review, or made discouraging comments about a single interview subject. Why? Are you asking me why? Well first of all, that is a stupid question. It should really be reversed! Why WOULD you want to be negative? Just as Arsenio Hall, Roseanne, and many others point out.just because you don’t enjoy something, doesn’t mean it is necessarily bad. It’s just not for you. “You’re not going to impress everyone”, said the often despised (for strange reasons, I never understood) Carrot Top. And they are all right!

And does the fact that I have never written a negative review mean that I have not received some great piles of digital shit through my inboxes? No. I have sat through hours of god awful Brooklynite EMD nonsense that someone wanted to call music. I’ve watched hours of just insanely bad acted, poorly written, and infuriating cinema..that somebody wanted me to talk about. I’ve been offered and refused interview opportunities, some with very “high profiles” that could probably help boost the site views a bit, because it was with people I am absolutely no interest in and/or couldn’t think of a single nice thing to say about them. So why have I never said a word about them in any sort of publication? Because it obviously just wasn’t meant for ME! I didn’t like, but again, that’s just me. Who the fuck am I to shit on someone else’s dream when they are simply attempting to create. If they are not presenting something entirely negative and obscenely racist, homophobic, sexists, etc. and the only they thing it is offended is my eyes and ears with its shitty taste..why the fuck should I even open my mouth to say anything about it at all.

Alright, that is going to end my rant on the subject matter. Seriously folks, the simple idea that a film can bring this sort of emotion out of me should act as a good sign that it has done its job. If you have the ability to watch this film, and still continue to be able to attend any sort of live event are not able to simply keep your god damn mouth shut, then you have something physically and mentally wrong with you, and just simply stay in your home and prevent the world from being infected by whatever is wrong with you.

That’s it folks! See Heckler! It’s phenomenal! Visit jamie kennedy.com to check it out!

Check out this trailer for Heckler courtesy of High Fliers Films:

Sunday Matinee: Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk [Film]

“Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk explores Northern California’s pivotal role in evolution of punk rock – the loud, intense and anti-authoritarian philosophy of music and politics that arose in the late 1970s. Early San Francisco Bay Area punk pioneers like Dead Kennedys, Avengers and Flipper as well as the Maximum Rocknroll fanzine helped take the punk underground global.

As the once-vibrant local scene became wrought with violence, corruption and racism, punks over the bridge in the East Bay responded by creating a fun and inclusive style of punk that also carried on the region’s tradition of radical thought. Banding together around Berkeley’s all- volunteer 924 Gilman Club, this diverse collective of misfits created a do-it-yourself, no-spectators’ petri dish for art & music that changed the Bay Area punk scene… and the world at large.

Today, we know about some of the bands who emerged from this scene, like Green Day and Rancid, but their success is just the tip of the iceberg; the roots of this inspiring story go deep into the underground. Directed and produced by Corbett Redford, narrated by Iggy Pop and executive produced by Green Day, Turn It Around: The Story Of East Bay Punk is told by the people who were there.  The story of East Bay punk rock unfolds from its unlikely beginnings, continues through its struggles, and triumphs with its raucous power continuing to be influential today.” – Official Website, eastbaypunk.com.

Operation Ivy at 924 Gilman, 1988, photo by Murray Bowles

I have to kick off this showcase by delving into some emotional aspects of my experience watching this tremendous film. Do you know that feeling directly after accomplishing something that you have been waiting to do for quite a long damn time? Years even? Well, that is exactly how I felt after the credits rolled on Turn It Around. After years of watching this project develop, I was finally  able to witness the massive amount of work that our old friend Corbett Redford and his crew were able to pull off and put to screen. And when that project turns out to be even more majestic than you had ever expected, it makes it all that much sweeter.

Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk is brilliant documentary that EVERYONE can enjoy. I will be the first to admit, I am not a very “punk” person. I appreciated the punk world and its impact on society prior to watching this film, but I truly had no idea about just how much was going on in this world, specifically in the East Bay area. I had heard of some of the more obvious bands that mentioned in the film like Operation Ivy, Rancid, Green Day (even knew the Sweet Children references!), and Flipper. And it was amazing to hear about them! But halfway through the film, I found myself jotting down dozens of other bands who I had not realized were around at the time and having such a huge impact on the scene. I even created my own “poser” drinking game where I would take a drink every time a cool new band was mentioned, but had to quickly stop because the film runs delightfully long, and I was determined to get through they whole beautiful event!

Green Day at 924 Gilman, 1992, photo by Murray Bowles

As I mentioned, you do not have to be a true “punk” fan to enjoy this wonderful documentary. The emotional release and visual stimulation is so readily available that it will earnestly throw you into the world that is the subject at hand. This film is so masterfully made, that even the most noice punk fan is sure to enjoy it. The imagery becomes so delightfully real that you can almost smell the room temperature PBR and sweat moving through the proverbial and actual mosh pit that was the East Bay punk scene. Never before have I been able to watch a film and quickly realize just how much hard work has gone into telling a truly fascinating tale. The story of what was happening in the East Bay during this time period is not only a fascinating story for the music world, it is a genuinely important era of American history. And it needs to be appreciated! I feel as though Turn It Around truly does appreciate what was happening at places like 924 Gilman, and in the vast and different regions across the East Bay.

We spoke with the film’s director and co-writer, our old pal Corbett Redford last October, and I feel as though he was spot on with one of the statements he made in that interview:

“Our film’s ultimate focus is about the human need we all have to find a place to belong. A place we feel safe to be ourselves. With the recent rash of fear and sickness I have had since the US election results, suddenly I felt a new urgency for people to see what we have created in this documentary – which is really a story about the road to the emergence of the non-profit music collective, 924 Gilman in Berkeley, California.” (See full interview HERE)

Isocracy at 924 Gilman, 1987, photo by Murray Bowles

And honestly, as proven in my rambling before hand, I certainly couldn’t have said it better myself. Redford is an enigma in this world, and we are all so lucky that he decided to take on Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk. The man has not only created a lovely 2 1/2 hours of entertainment, he has documented an extremely important era in American history, and he did it amazingly!

I implore everyone to check out this film as soon as possible! It is an experience you will not soon forget.

Screenings this week at Berkeley’s Elmwood Cinema. Find more info HERE.

Sunday Matinee: A Better Place [Film]

With the anticipation of the upcoming premier of Christopher Downie’s Shooting Clerks that I know we are all crazy excited for, it has been a very Kevin Smith filled week in the hearts and minds of hardcore View Askew nerds. I’m sure everyone is going back to watch Clerks for the 337th time…just in case you missed something in the last 23 years, ya know? And I was half tempted to dedicated this Sunday  Matinee to the film for all appropriate rhyme and reason. But, I thought I would try and dig a bit deeper. Not that I had to search for anything, as I have watched this wonderful piece of cinema magic several times. I wanted to talk about A Better Place, one of my favorite additions to the View Askew library that I feel deserves more recognition.

For merely casual View Askew fans, A Better Place writer/director Vincent Pereria is a critical force in the early years of the View Askewnverse. Some would argue that there wouldn’t have been a Clerks without this man’s influence and inspiration. I mean, I definitely say that, knowing the history of how this film came to light. Vincent appeared in Clerks in multiple roles, and was a key member of the crew that helped make the whole thing possible. Vince would go on to appear in and work on several other films in the View Askew world, including Kevin Smith’s seminal classics Chasing Amy and Dogma, which probably receive the majority of Kevin’s critical acclaim.

But there was a whole other brilliant chapter in the View Askew universe that simply cannot be ignored. When Smith broke out into Hollywoodland, he brought his friends with him. The late 90’s and early 2000’s saw View Askew Productions putting out some of the finest independent cinema the world has ever known, in my humble opinion. Specifically, I can call out three films individually that still make my regular rotation: Malcom Ingram’s Drawing Flies, Bryan Johnson’s Vulgar, and, you guessed….Vincent Pereria’s A Better Place. All three of these films are brilliant in their own right. Beautifully written, gritty and controversial, just all around brilliant films. And A Better Place may very well be my favorite films from the View Askew universe, and one of my favorite films in general.

Vincent Pereria, circa 1998, courtesy of view askew.com

Every review or showcase that you will find about A Better Place is bound to have some very similar statements about the film’s premise. Opinions have simply led to fact at this point, which is a rare feet in the world of cinema. It is a story about teen violence and alienation in America during a time when it wasn’t being as widely covered as it is now. The story revolves around a young boy who simply wants to exist in the world without humiliation and deterrence from society, but feels the strain of a public who doesn’t want to give him a chance. And violence ensues. Opinions have led to fact when reviewers state that Vincent “called it” long before the mainstream American media began showcasing such violence in regular news reports. No longer an opinion, it is clear facts. The infamous Columbine shooting wouldn’t occur until 2 years after this film was released, but the hatred and mistreatment of awkward teenagers had been going on for decades, and Vincent was all to well aware of the hatred and incoming violence that was sure to ensue.

Now obviously, a story of this magnitude is quite different from the whimsical adventures of Jay and Silent Bob that we were used to from the View Askewniverse. So many fans may have been deterred. But, the majority of us were enthralled. The film is beautifully shot on a modest budget, and features an absolutely amazing cast featuring Eion Bailey and Robert DiPatri as the two boys who lead us on the terrifying journey that is A Better Place. The film also stars Joseph Cassese as the character who bares the blunt force of two teenager’s rage. EDITOR’S NOTE: Be on the lookout for a TWS Interview with Mr. Cassese in the coming months! Within the cast viewer’s will also find several other regulars from the View Askew world we all know and love like David Lynch, Carmen Llywelyn, Jason Lee, Scott Mosier, Ethan Suplee, and even Vincent himself!

As per usual, we are not going to give too much away about the actual plot of the film, well, any more than we already have in the previous paragraphs. I just want to state that A Better Place is one of the finest films I have ever seen. 20 years later, I am still in love with this film. It is shot wonderfully, is brilliantly written, and as we stated before, is well ahead of its time in so many ways.

Vincent Pereia’s has announced that he will be in attendance at the premiere of Shooting Clerks this coming weekend, August 5th at the Atlantic Highlands Cinema 5 inn Highlands, New Jersey. Vincent has a cameo in the film, and will be portrayed by Dale R. Murray within the film as well. This event is one that has been thinking something I never thought I would think: “I would fucking kill to be in New Jersey this weekend!” Several cast and crew of Shooting Clerks will be in attendance, as well as Kevin Smith himself. And come back around here at TWS for a great interview with Shooting Clerks writer and director Christopher Downie. Pick up tickets to the event right HERE.

So, if you are one of those smart and fortunate souls who will be at the event, and are planning on binge watching everything from the View Askewniverse, be sure not to forget about A Better Place!

Sunday Matinee: Mighty Ground [Film]

“The film takes an in depth look of how African American homeless people are treated in our world today and our broken system of race and economic class. The film follows homeless singer Ronald Troy Collins as he struggles throughout his days by singing to people on the streets of downtown Los Angeles and showcases his journey from the streets to uplifting people with his gift of song. This is the second documentary feature from multitalented African American female director Delila Vallot (Can You Dig This, LAFF award winner 2015).”

Grab the tissues folks, you are in for a wild emotional ride with The Mighty Ground. Homelessness is not a secret to anyone I am certain, but this amazing documentary shines a whole new light on a seriously dark subject matter. The story of Ronald Troy Collins is one of specificity and unique qualities, yet his situation is not uncommon and is a matter that needs to be discussed more in our common society. Director Delila Vallot does a fantastic job in combining the specificity with a true problem that affects so many people.

There are some documentaries that are able to viewed as “impactful” and “powerful” simply based around the subject matter. And Delila had the opportunity to cash in on this simplicity, but I am here now to say that she definitely DID NOT do so. Her stylized imagery and up close and uncomfortable look into the world of Collins is unprecedented and a thing of real beauty. When Ronald sings to the common passerby, you see all of him. You see his soul. You see the painful struggles of man and the beauty that lies within all of us if we are willing to look hard enough. I would be a damned liar if I didn’t say that I was choking up at moments, and finished the film feeling as though there is some good in the world knowing a piece of art like this can exist.

(SPOILERS) After a few bumps in the proverbial road, we can say full confidence that Ronald has found his stride and is now putting his talents to good use. He recently performed with the Urban Renewal Project on July 13th at The Federal Underground in Long Beach. And is only continuing to flourish in his career. I hope everybody gets a moment to check out this film, and feel the sort of hope filled joy that I experienced, and for more information on what Mr. Collins may have coming up, Like his artist page on Facebook!

Check out a nice trailer for The Mighty Ground that was created for the L.A. Film Festival right HERE:

Bad Frank [Film]

“Headlined with a true Breakout Performance by Award-Winner Kevin Interdonato, and featuring electric support from Amanda Clayton (Bleed For This), Tom Sizemore (Showtime’s Twin Peaks, Saving Private Ryan, HEAT), Brian O’Halloran (Clerks 1 & 2), and boxing icon Ray ‘Boom-Boom’ Mancini, Bad Frank has become a majorly sought after Film this year, and acquired by heavyweight Foreign Rep, Lotus Entertainment.

Frank Pierce (played by Interdonato) leads a seemingly normal life, but when a disturbing past re emerges and something precious is taken from him, his mask of sanity loosens and unearths the urge to be violent once again.”

I wasn’t exactly sure what I was expecting when I went into Bad Frank. It was definitely an intriguing sell, and definitely seemed worth the watch. For one, I always try to make an effort to see everything that Brian O’Halloran ever works on. Even if the part turns out to be minimal and underwhelming, he always does it so damn well. Such is the case in Bad Frank. And the addition of the legendary bad ass Tom Sizemore definitely jumped at me and made me think, “Alright, let’s see what this is about.” And dammit if I am not enthralled that I gave it a shot.

Bad Frank is a brilliant indie blood darling of a film. It is a brilliant tale about how the demons inside of us are sometimes impossible to sustain, and that the past is always there to haunt us even if we attempt to avoid any acknowledgement of its presence. Kevin Interdonato gives a truly gut-wrenching performance as the lead man, and is definitely a force of nature that we should all be looking out for. And Lynn Mancinelli was a sleeper act that really brought the whole thing together. And dammit if legendary Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini didn’t pull of a brilliant performance that he seemed to be born to do. Also as I already mentioned, we had the great Brian O’Halloran and his continuous brilliance.

Overall Bad Frank is a deeply disturbing story told extremely well with a cast that is top shelf. It is also a film that will leave you with a few “What If’s” on your mind. Especially, “what if they just had more money?”. I know I ended the film thinking just this. I was left with two thoughts: 1.) It is amazing what a talented filmmaker like Tony Germinario can pull off on what appeared to be a shoestring budget, and I want to know more about him, and 2.) It is plain sickening that more brilliant ideas like this aren’t being given the fair treatment they deserve. For every god damned Marvel movie that comes out every year, 50 brilliant films like Bad Frank could be coming out. But, that isn’t the way the cinema world works I’m afraid. No matter the budget though, there was nothing stopping me from enjoying Bad Frank for exactly what it is, a damn good story featuring damn good actors.

Check out this trailer for Bad Frank, available NOW on VOD:

Sunday Matinee: Leftovers [Film]

“I live a pretty good life, so I have no complaints. Nothing.” These are the words of a man who is in physical pain every damn day. A man who literally depends on the help of a Meals on Wheels program in order to live a life of pain that he considers “pretty good”. And when he can, he donates some of the little money that he may have to foundations that feed children. In just few brief moments in this film, he manages to show the world what great people should look like. And wouldn’t you know….he lives on the brink of starvation. And furthermore, we don’t seem to give a single solitary shit about him.

When I started to watch Leftovers, I had a feeling it would be a very impactful film, simply based on the subject matter. But, I honestly had no idea just how incredible emotional and on the brink of tears it could make me, on a subject I had honestly NEVER thought about before.  I just want to be real with you good readers. I was honestly under the impression that Meals on Wheels, and other organizations that feed the elderly, were more of a nicety than something that was so important and absolutely necessary. I was aware of food banks and types of programs that feed the children….but, I never considered the elderly. And I don’t believe many people really do. I know I personally never thought about how shitty we as a nation are treating our senior citizens. This is the main reason that Leftovers may very well be one of the most important documentaries I have ever seen. It is a gripping, beautifully produced, and damned inspiring film. First time filmmaker Seth Hancock truly knocked it out of the proverbial park on his first time out. He’s tackled such a specific and dangerous problem that absolutely must be dealt with accordingly. And an amazing film like Leftovers may be just the tool necessary to bring about some serious change. I know he got at least one heartless blogger to re-consider his lifestyle and seek to find what he could do to help.

Seriously Everyone, I am finding it hard to completely describe just how important and impactful this film truly is. You absolutely MUST see this amazing film. And after you do, find out how you can give back. Look into your local Meals on Wheels program, and figure out how you can help support the over 5 million Senior citizens who are going hungry every day. “There is enough food in this country to feed every man, woman, and child, we just the courage to do it.” This is NOT a line we should have to hear in a film, but sadly enough it is absolutely true. We shouldn’t need “courage” to fucking feed people. It should NOT be a courageous act to give people the nourishment they physically need to survive.

Unfortunately, because hunger has become acceptable in our nation, it is indeed a courageous effort to help people simply not die. As pointed out while Seth was visiting in Texas, it was easier to receive a concealed weapons permit than it is to receive food stamps. Our priorities are fucked, people, and it has to be stopped.
Please, watch Leftovers, and find out what you can do help the fattest nation in the world spread the wealth a little bit and help those who truly need it.

Leftovers is available now on VOD, and will be available August 29th, 2017 on DVD. Check out the trailer for this amazing film here:

Sunday Matinee: The Confessions [Film]

“A G8 meeting is being held at a luxury hotel on the German coast. The world’s most powerful economists are gathered to enact important provisions that will deeply influence the world economy. One of the guests is a mysterious Italian monk, invited by Daniel Roché, the director of the International Monetary Fund. He wants the monk to receive his confession, that night, in secret. The next morning, Roché is found dead…
Toni Servillo (Gomorrah), Daniel Auteuil (Jean de Florette), and Lambert Wilson (The Matrix Reloaded) co-star in a uniquely metaphysical whodunit, screening nationwide from July 7.”

I just have to come out and say this first off..there is SO much to love about this film. I honestly don’t even know where to begin. I know what I would like to focus on, which is the incredible cast. Of which I will speak of at lengths. But, I feel as though it would be behoove me to mention some of the other aspects that made The Confessions one of the best films to be released this year (for those of you in America, anyway).
The Confessions (or Le Confessioni) could easily be classified as an Italian film because, well, it’s made by and featuring Italians, but almost entirely set out of Italy and does not feature prominent Italian speaking roles, although much of it is. Confusing enough? Just go back to the first sentence of this article, and remember that the story takes place around a G8 meeting, and it should all make sense. Sadly though, I can tell that if this film had been a Hollywood production, it would have all been in English just for convenience sake. Thankfully it was not. No, this is not a Hollywood film, this is a true hearted and brilliant multi-cultured film. But, for the sake of argument and probably unnecessary categorization, let’s call it an Italian masterpiece. Although I would prefer to simply call it a masterpiece.

To start out with, filmmaker Roberto Andò had the brilliant mind to stack the deck a bit with an amazing script he co-wrote with Angelo Pasquini, as well as having Maurizio Calvesi work the cinematography. The look of this film is definitely one of the highlights, and truly pulls the words from the script out and into our ears like gentle daggers. It is a story that seems simple at times, but with the perfect bit of informational neglect, it keeps you on your toes and looks absolutely stunning while it does. With such a diverse and inscrutable group of characters, there was also no way this film wasn’t going to be amazing. Even then, it exceeded so many expectations.
Speaking of the group of characters, this is where the film truly gripped me like so few films coming out today seem to do. This was one hell of a cast. Obviously I have to state that Toni Servillo was absolutely phenomenal, and has again rose in the ranks as one of the finest actors of this modern time. While his role as Roberto Satus in The Confessions may not be as entirely fascinating as compared to his brilliance as the charasmatic Jep Gambardella in another amazing film, The Great Beauty, it simply shows that his versatility is absolutely amazing. We seriously need to see more of this guy in our world. And I mean in no way take away from his performance in this film, obviously. They were two entirely different roles, both some superbly well. Again, we need MORE Toni Servillo in our lives.

But, Toni couldn’t do it alone, and thankfully he didn’t have to! Literally every person in this film was absolutely incredible in handling their own, right down to the cute little Ben, the crazily obedient canine who played Rolf. Seriously, everyone in this film was so great, it is almost unfair to namedrop just a few. But, I guess I will: Marie-Josée Croze as the Canadian minister was a character that I felt was underplayed (or maybe I personally just wanted to see more of her) a bit, but every moment that Marie-Josée was on screen, she was absolutely dynamite.
Connie Nielsen (who is having a great year by the way, with the success of Wonder Woman as well) was all you would expect her to be as Claire Smith, which is nothing short of brilliant. Nielson is person I feel as though we need to see more of, and now that she has made her way into the DC universe, I feel like we will definitely be hearing more form her in the near future. But on a personal level, I am always going to adore her most for her work here in The Confessions.

Seriously folks, everyone in this film was absolutely incredible. Daniel Auteuil was just damn right spooky at times, and quite unpredictable as well! He had a wonderfully written part to work with, and he did it absolutely stunningly.
Again folks, I honestly cannot say enough good things about The Confessions. It is a beautiful tale of deceit, greed, and death that is as visually stunning as it is brilliantly written. For anyone seeking a true artistic experience in the world of cinema, I cannot recommend this amazing work of art any more. If I did the star rating thing, I would give this an easy 10 stars. Out of 5! Yes, It is that great. So check it out!

Check out a trailer for The Confessions which will receive a U.S. nationwide release this Friday, July 7th, 2017.

Sunday Matinee: Unpresidented [Short]

Hello Everyone! Yes, we are coming to you all on the unusual Sunday here with a new feature on the site that we are very excited to share with you all. Welcome to the Sunday Matinee! I know that we have less than subtly been pulling an MTV on you all and skewing away from being a music centric site, and have leaned into the world of film and television. And with the addition of this feature, there is obviously no stopping the monsters within. But, I think you all are going to love it.

For the first official edition of the Sunday Matinee, we would like to share an amazing new short from the fine folks at Ganglebot Films entitled Unpresidented. You may recognize Ganglebot from the sensational viral videos aptly titled The Drunk Series, which we also highly recommend. And the company’s latest venture into the world of politics is absolutely incredible, and something we are so happy to share with you fine readers.

Unpresidented is a short bit of satire that feels absurd and ridiculous in it’s own right. I mean, it is children saying some frightening and offensive things on camera. Problem with it is, 95% of the frightening and offensive dialogue the children are using, are taken almost directly from the voice of our current sitting President of the United States of America. And that is what should truly be frightening and offensive to the viewers. The film manages to clearly explain the events surrounding the 2016 Presidential Election that led us to the state that we are in today. It is a masterpiece of satire and hilarity that is sure to make you cringe while laughing hysterically.

So please enjoy Unpresidented, our first venture into the world of the Sunday Matinee.

Besetment [Film]

I want to start this thing out by saying that I had far more fun with this film that I thought I would. Also, if you are a person like me who enjoys a splendid ending to a very fucked up tale that has you shaking your head and muttering “God, dammit” in a truly positive way, I can absolutely guarantee that Besetment is the film for you. So let’s begin….

Filmmaker Brad Douglas is definitely one of these amazing guys that was obviously destined to be a masterful storyteller for the screen. With Besetment, he has managed to visually display a truly original story even if it surrounds itself in usual circumstance. I won’t pretend to think that I am the first person who is going to say that Besetment is Psycho meets Twin Peaks, right down to the wonderful music and the police comradely. These things are obvious, and a brilliant homage. But where Douglas stands out is in his obvious belief that nothing exceeds like excess. I’d love to explain this further, but I really feel like you need to watch the film, and only then will you truly know what I am talking about. And with that, maybe an explanation of the film itself is in order. So here we go:

“Besetment stars Abby Wathen (The Bay) as a young woman who takes a hotel position in a small town where she ends up fighting for her life.

Amanda Millard, struggling and desperate for a job, takes a position at a hotel in a small town in Oregon. It’s a creepy, back country kind of town but owners Mildred Colvin and her son Billy seem nice enough at first. It’s not long before Amanda discovers their real intentions, and her struggle to make a living becomes a nightmarish fight for her life.”

Yeah, that just about explains the story in the most generalized context, without giving some truly amazing and completely fucked up little bits that truly make the film original and compelling. Brad Douglas has the same sort of gall that I have always admired in the likes of a brilliant B Horror filmmaker like Steve Sessions, who many readers will already know I admire whole-heartedly. Both Douglas and Sessions are wonderful writers and filmmakers who know how to get to the true essence of a story, and how to portray it on film in a great way…yet, you wish the land of Hollywood was able to throw them a few million bones to bring their amazing vision to a more polished work. But, when you live in a constant state of resentment for the bullshit that is brought before our eyes on a weekly basis, you learn how to look back at the brilliant independent filmmakers who simply want to tell a brilliant/terrifying as fuck type of tale. And that is exactly what we have with Besetment. You could wish it had a couple of million dollars thrown at it, or you can simply respect it for what is in front of you.

And speaking of what is in front of us, the acting is mostly something I would definitely NOT trade out for the world. For anyone who is reading this post viewing, you are bound to and should be ordered to say that Marlyn Mason was absolutely brilliant and fucking disturbing! She is definitely an obvious highlight of the film. But, Abby Wathen’s performance should not be over-shadowed as she is a brilliant actress with an incredible amount of promise that we are sure to see more of in the future.

Overall, this is a brilliant independent horror film that, if given a proper chance, can be truly appreciated by anyone who enjoys a great story and a collection of wonderful performances. So watch Besetment folks, you won’t be disappointed.

Besetment premieres on VOD June 6th with a DVD release to follow September 5th.

Check out the trailer for Besetment, here: