Lost Girls (2020) R- 3 Stars

When it seems like police aren't doing nothing regarding the disappearance of Mari Gilbert's (Amy Ryan) daughter Shannan, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Based on a true story, "Lost Girls" enlightens viewers to the 12 murdered sex for hire hookers that went missing and no one seemed to care. The murderer became known as "LISK", the Long Island Serial Killer, but was't enough to keep these women off the streets.

Mari files a missing person report on the daughter she gave up at birth, but she feels Detective Richard Dormer (Gabriel Byrne), is not doing nearly enough to find her. Along with her other daughter, Sherre Gilbert (Thomasin McKenzie), Mari starts her own investigation learning of Shannan's last known whereabouts.  Joseph Brewer, living in a gated community of Long Island, was the last person to see her alive and Mari vows to not give up on her daughter for a second time, uncovering the field where the bodies were eventually discovered.

Langley Park Pictures Netflix

Director: Liz Garbus

Producer: Archer Gray

Writers: Robert Kolker, Michael Werwie

Gone Baby Gone (2007) R - 3 Stars

For me this movie started out on the slow side with a lot of mumble jumble that didn't make sense to me. Like, why were these two young private investigators called, were they famous or something? Affleck's roll I didn't find convincing and there was no chemistry between the couple. The story is tough to follow but finally it took a twisted series of events and pulled itself out of the hole and had a decent story line ending. Thank God for Morgan Freeman but to me, the movie is not as good as some reviews I have read.

Patrick Kenzie, (Casey Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) are boyfriend and girlfriend and also work together as Boston private investigators. An amber alert has been issued for a kidnapped girl. The couple watch the news in their home and sympathize with the mother Helen (Amy Ryan) and the police efforts. Three days later Helen's sister Bea McCready (Amy Madigan), and her husband Lionel (Titus Welliver), approach Patrick and Angie to hire them to help find their missing niece.

Captain Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman) and Detective Remy Bressant (Ed Harris) are the lead police on the case and they don't take too kindly to the young private "dicks." But they all come to the conclusion that Helen is a drug addict and they know about her involvement in robbing drug lord big wig, Cheese (Edi Gathegi). They figure they can trade the money back to Cheese for the child. Up at the cliffs during the night, they make an arrangement to hand over the money for the child. Instead, things go wrong, shots are fired and something falls into the river below and Angie jumps from the cliff thinking it was the child.

The case is dismissed thinking the child had drown even though the her body was not found. That is until, the two stumble upon new evidence and some very unusual characters, that can cost them their lives, their love for each other and put their morals to the test.

Awards are numerous and include:

2007 - Gone Baby Gone - Austin Film Critics - Best First Film
2007 - Gone Baby Gone - Boston Society of Film Critics - Best Supporting Actress
2007 - Gone Baby Gone - Boston Society of Film Critics - Best New Filmmaker
2007 - Gone Baby Gone - Chicago Film Critics Association - Most Promising Director

Miramax Films
Director: Ben Affleck
Writers: Aaron Stockard, Ben Affleck
Producers:Alan Ladd, Jr., Dan Rissner, Sean Bailey

Mad Money (2008) PG - 3 Stars

I guess the idea of the movie is feasible? NOT! But okay that aside, it has a few fun parts to it. Three ordinary women, Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton), Nina Brewster (Queen Latifah) and Jackie Truman (Katie Holmes) all have jobs at the local Federal Reserve Bank. The bank is where money is destroyed, and the girls decide to dip into the bins, just a tad, since it's just going to be thrown away.

Bridget lives with her husband Don (Ted Danson) and they have severe financial problems that could cost them their home, and their upper class standard of living. Don can't find work so Bridget picks up a job at the bank in the janitorial department. There she meets Nina, a single mother of two boys who's in charge of shredding the money, and Jackie, a young hip dancing girl in charge of moving the money from one area to another.

When Bridget gets tempted to touch money she looks at all day, she tries to come up with a plan of taking some of it home with her. Together with Jackie and Nina, the threesome come up with a plan to smuggle money out at the end of each shift. The women try to stay one step ahead of the authorities who are onto them even though they can't prove anything.

Overture Films
Director: Callie Khouri
Writers: Glenn Gers, Callie Khouri
Producers: James Acheson, Goldie Hawn, Frank Demartini

Sister Helen (2001) NR - 3 Stars

Good documentary on the life of Sister Helen and the halfway house she runs in South Bronx. Sister Helen was an alcoholic and became a Benedictine Nun after her life had touched bottom with the death of both her children (1 murdered) and also her husband. She got sober and vowed to turn her life around.

At age 70, she a strict nun with a potty mouth and takes no crap from the 21 men staying at her home. She's heard the lies before and only offers the men tough love. Some finally make it and some do not but all of their lives are changed forever with her death.


Awards:
2002 - Sister Helen - Sundance Film Festival - Director's Award.

R & R Films Inc.
Directors: Rebecca Cammisa, Rob Fruchtman
Producers: Rob Fruchtman, Rebecca Cammisa

Happy, Texas (1999) PG13 - 3 Stars

I just love the versatility of William H. Macy acting. Here he plays a goofy, coming out of the closet, gay sheriff and he's great as usual. The story line is pretty silly but none the less it does have some funny moments. The acting is pretty good which helps make up.

Harry (Jeremy Northam) and Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. (Steve Zahn) are two escaped prisoners who steal a motorhome only to find out it belongs to two gay male judges who are late getting to a beauty pageant. When they arrive in the town of Happy, Texas, Sheriff Chappy Dent (William H. Macy) gets them into the bank right away to collect half their pageant money. Being the con men they are, Harry and Wayne decide to take on the roles of two gay beauty pageant judges but are highly disappointed when they discover the girls are only 8 years old.

Harry has his eye on "Joe" Josephine McLintock (Ally Walker) the owner of the local bank. In a small town like hers, business is conducted with a hand shake and keys to vaults are left in top desk drawers. Harry makes quick note of that while he plans in his head how to rob the bank leaving Wayne to train the girls for the pageant. Wayne has no idea what to do with the girls and their teacher, Ms. Schaefer (Ally Walker), patiently tries to grasp the new techniques of his training.

Wayne and Harry are seen fighting many times which brings Sheriff Dent back into the picture as he asks Harry for a date. Staying true to character, he must accept. Wayne does start seeing a light at the end of his tunnel when he and Ms. Schaefer have wild sex.

With day of the bank robbery, the "Little Miss Fresh Squeezed" pageant event and the cops are hot on Wayne and Harry's tail, what could go wrong?

1999 - Happy, Texas - Independent Spirit Award - Best Supporting Actor.

Miramax Films
Director: Mark Illsley
Writers: Ed Stone, Mark Illsley, Phil Reeves
Producer: Mark Illsley

I viewed 5/08

Gates of Heaven (1978) NR - 3 Stars

Roger Ebert placed this documentary, by filmmaker Errol Morris, on his Top Ten Movies of All Time list. I thought it was an honest look at a sensitive subject regarding the pet cementary business. Since I work at an animal hospital, I have to deal with people who have lost their pets and for some it can't be any worse then if they had lost their child. I had never heard of "rendering a pet" before I worked at the hospital. Now, I could never consider dispoing of my pet in this way. However, I am not sure why this movie made Ebert's top ten list? While I found it informative and compassionate, it's just a decent documentary, made in the 70's, and I didn't walk away with some moment in awe that would find it on my top ten.

Foothill Memorial Gardens pet cemetery, located north of San Francisco, was started when the owner lost his own dog and could not stand the though of his pet being "rendered" rather than having a nice place to rest. And the need was great, as many animal lovers were eager to give their trusted friends some dignity after they've left this earth. But when the cemetery was forced to shut down, Bubbling Well Pet Memorial Park, in Petaluma, California, was where 450 pets needed to be moved to. The documentary focuses on with the families who have dedicated their lives and time to the preservation of the beloved family pet. The sons have joined with their mother and father and one, a rock guitar player, stands on the hill top playing to the pets below. The family has focused on death which has brought new life within them all.

Cremation is big at my hospital as no one wants to see their beloved pet, end up as a rendered pet. I don't want to gross you out but, many of you might have never given a thought to what they do with dead animal bodies. Every part of the animal is used for something including cement, lip stick and even pet food. Here are a few places to have a peek at if you really want to know. Corpse disposal is one place as well as sign a petition to Stop Rendering Our Pets Into Pet Foods and from Wikipedia.

New Yorker Films
Director: Errol Morris
Producer: Errol Morris

I viewed 7/08

The Syrian Bride (2004) NR - 3 Stars

Living my whole life in the United States and growing up with traditional American customs, it always enlightens me to watch movies that take me out of my comfort zone. The Syrian Bride is a reality check on my traditional values of what marriage means to me. The thought of an arranged marriage to someone you've never met, I just can't see how that is done. But here, it happens all the time. The problem for this Syrian bride is once she crosses the border to wed her husband, politics will never allow her to return home to her family. Her small village of Majdial Shame, has been under Israelie occupation since the 60's and the border is highly protected. Good movie at giving one an insight into living in the Middle East.

Hammed (Makram J. Khoury) is a leading political figure in the small Palestinian town of Majdal Shams. A while back, he arranged the marriage of his daughter Mona (Clara Khoury), to the now famous actor, Tallel (Derar Sliman), from Syria. The family is getting together to tend to Mona's needs. Hammed's youngest son Marwan (Ashraf Barhoum), works in Italy and is visiting for the wedding, Hammed's oldest son, Hattem (Eyad Sheety), has come from Russia with his Russian wife and son but has been out casted by his father for leaving his home land and marrying out of the culture. Another daughter Amal (Hiam Abbass), helps Mona prepare for her big day. Marwan dates a woman named Jeanne (Julie-Anne Roth), who works for the American United Nations and will help with the passport arrangement between the countries to transport Mona across the border. But much red tape comes along with this simple task and Mona is not allowed to cross over to her matrimonial destination unless the countries can reach some sort of agreement.

Arte France Cinéma, Eran Riklis Productions (ERP)
Director: Eran Riklis
Writers: Suha Arraf, Eran Riklis
Producers: Bettina Brokemper, Michael Eckelt, Eran Riklis

I viewed 7/11

Blades of Glory (2007) PG13 - 3 Stars

Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) have been rival men's figure skaters since their youth. Chazz is a macho skater that tears up the ice while women line up with shrieking screams of support. Jimmy also attracts a crowd and is famous for executing triple lutzes. It's the World Championship and both men want the title.

When the men tie for first place, and are both awarded gold medals, it's more than either can bare. They break out into a street brawl fight that takes out the mascot and embarasses the entire sport. After going before the skating commission board, they are both stripped of their medals and banned from competing in the men's figure skating for life. A pretty hard blow for both of them to take.

Three years later, the men discover a loophole that could allow the two to skate again this time as men's pairs. Now if they can just loose their anger towards each other, the two can becomes stars of the ice again.

Paramount Pictures
Directors: Will Speck, Josh Gordon
Writers: Dave Krinsky, Jeff Cox, Craig Cox
Producers: Stuart Cornfeld, Ben Stiller, John L. Jacobs

I viewed 9/07

Eastern Promises (2007) R - 3 Stars

A Russian sex trafficking ring has illegal girls held hostage and rapes them for sex toys. After one teenage girl becomes pregnant and about to go into labor, Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts) a midwife at North London's hospital, delivers the baby but the mother dies. Anna finds the mothers diary and tries to trace the baby's relatives. The diary is written in Russian and Anna's Russian-born uncle Stepan (Jerzy Skolimowski) warns Anna she might not know what she is getting into.

When Anna finds a business card for a local restaurant inside the diary, she takes it to the restaurant in search of clues. There she meets Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl), who agrees to translate the diary for her. Semyon tells her the diary contains information about his son Kirill (Vincent Cassell). After Kirill threatens Anna, she doesn't know who she can trust anymore but realizes the child's life may be in danger.

Nikolai Luzhin (Viggo Mortensen) is a driver for the Vory V Zakone criminal brotherhood. After learning of the child's fate, Nikolai has to decide to help either help Anna or keep his loyalty to the Vory.

2007 - Eastern Promises - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best Actor.

Focus Features
Director: David Cronenberg
Writer: Steve Knight
Producers: Robert Lantos, Paul Webster

I viewed 1/18

The Good Life (2006) R - 3 Stars

Written partially about the director / writer's experiences in real life, the movie really makes you think of the sadness and loneliness some people try to cover up. It's not the most exciting movie but it sends out a loud message of friendship, betrayal, innocence, love and compassion. I'm not sure I totally get the ending though.

Taking place in the late 1970's, in a small town in Lincoln, Nebraska where football is the king, Jason Prayer (Mark Webber), is a quirky teenage boy, born with an affliction of loosing his hair. He wears a hat and covers his head a lot so people won't notice or stare. His father committed suicide and leaving Jason with the responsibility of taking care of his mother (Deborah Rush). Having not been close with his father, he is afraid to open a package that is given to him after his father's death. Jason works at the local gas station and gets harassed a lot by the local jocks due to his condition.

Gus (Harry Dean Stanton) runs the local movie house, that only shows old movies, as he feels they are the best. But his mind isn't what it once was with the onset of Alzheimer's disease he needs Jason to help him out setting up reels and reminding him to make the popcorn.

Frances (Zooey Deschanel) befriends Jason after the local bad boy football jock Tad (Chris Klein), takes a beating to his face. She's sees more into Jason for who he is, not how he looks but doesn't tell the whole truth while she claims Judy Garland's lines as her own. Though everyone seems alone in their own misery, they find temporary comfort in each other.

TGL Productions LLC, Image Entertainment
Directors: Steve Berra
Writers: Steve Berra
Producers: Patrick Markey, Lance Sloane, Devin Sloane, Bill Paxton, Phyllis Laing

I viewed 12/08

The Hamburg Cell (2004) NR - 3 Stars

This movie gave me a pretty good realism into what I would think the people responsible for 9/11 were like. Somewhat normally behaving people amongst themselves but empty inside with non emotions. I plan on watching a lot of these type of films in order to get a better understanding of the minds of people who hate the U.S. and their religious devotion.

Meet the pilots behind the September 11, 2001 attacks. Ziad Jarrah (Karim Saleh) member of the Al Qaeda cell would force America to stand up and take a good look at terrorism. The film is about the cell of Al Qaeda members living in Hamburg Germany. It gives the viewer a first hand look at this group of religious extremists as they prepare to take planes as hostages in America.

Channel 4 Television
Director: Antonia Bird
Writers: Alice Perman, Ronan Bennett
Producer: Finola Dwyer

I viewed 12/06

The Reaping (2007) R - 3 Stars

Katherine Winter's (Hilary Swank), whole life was with the ministary. But after her husband and daughter are killed in Sudan through a sacraficial event, she stops believing in God. Now, a university professor and theology scholar, she believes more in studying facts rather than beliefs. She has traveled the world investigating all sorts of phenonomin like bleeding palms and weeping statues.

After the town of Haven, Louisiana has been swarmed on by locust and seen their rivers turn blood red, they believe a revisiting of the Biblical ten plagues has been thrust upon them. They also believe that a child Loren McConnell (AnnaSophia Robb) is the work of the devil and most want to destroy the girl in order to bring peace back to the town. However Katherine's tries to save the young "choosen" girl as she can be the one to defeat Satan's work.

Warner Bros Pictures
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Writers: Jacob Aaron Estes, Carey Hayes, Christopher Markus
Producers: Robert Zemeckis, Herbert W. Gains, Susan Levin

I viewed 11/17

Red State (2011) R - 3 Stars

Here's a freaky one for you starring John Goodman. A religious group of gay haters congregants three young boys who were looking for sex on the Internet. This grandpa preacher thinks he can save their souls by killing them. For me it was sort of a small glimpse into religious Wacko fanaticism as you watch these believers defend their holy grounds along with their preacher and an arsenal of weapons. The ending is not what I had expected. Not great, but worth a watch if you have Netflix.

Three young teenagers Travis (Michael Angarano), Billy-Ray (Nicholas Braun), and Jarod (Kyle Gallner) make an online date with an older woman (Deborah Aquila) who after some lewd conversation agrees to take on all three boys. The excited boys show up at the woman's trailer and offered beer to drink to set the mood. The beer is tainted knocking all three teens out. When they awaken, the boys are tied up together in the hands of Pastor Abin Cooper (Michael Parks), who accuses the boys of homosexuality since they were willing to have sex together with this woman. Pastor Cooper and his daughter Sara (Melissa Leo), as well as the entire congregation are convinced the boys need to die to rid the Satan within them. Government agent Joseph Keenan (John Goodman), has to treat these religious fanatics have now become terrorists and must be eliminated.

Awards:
2012 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards - Best Supporting Actor Michael Parks
2011 Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival - Best Actor - Michael Parks
2011 Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival - Best Film - Kevin Smith

Harvey Boys, SModcast Pictures

Director: Kevin Smith

Writer: Kevin Smith
Producer: Jonathan Gordon

I viewed 8/15

The Air I Breathe (2007) R - 3 Stars

Great all star cast, I was hoping the movie would be over the top but instead falls into the mediocre. The movie splits itself into 4 separate stories, based on an ancient Chinese proverb of four emotional cornerstones of life: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. But with all the great acting, the characters don't fall into place properly. While each name star gives a great performance, I didn't feel that powerful connection in the end to Sarah the way the director probably intended. On the same plane as movies like "Crash" and different lives intertwining, it does allow you to get close to the characters, feeling their pain and desperation but it just doesn't come all together properly, instead leaves you depressed and wondering what that point is suppose to be as the time line is so confusing.

When a nerdy businessman, "Happiness"(Forest Whitaker), is in the right place at the right time, he over hears three men talking about a horse that's a shoe in in tomorrows race. Taking his entire life savings, he attends the race putting his life on the line to find out there is no sure thing and now finds crime boss Fingers (Andy Garcia), about to dismember him if he doesn't come up with the money. This once quiet man, now desperate, robs a bank to come up with the cash.

A gangster, "Pleasure"(Brendan Fraser), who works for Fingers, is assigned the task of collecting money along with his nephew Tony, (Emile Hirsch). His assignment is to go after Trista "Sorrow", (Sarah Michelle Gellar) a famous pop singer, who has lost her contract to Fingers without her knowledge. Along the way he has a powerful premonition keeping him from doing his job.

A doctor "Love"(Kevin Bacon), will learn the true meaning of the word as he attempts to save the woman he loves Gina (Julie Delpy), who is dying from serious injuries. But her rare blood type will test his abilities in playing God with the one he loves. Each event seems to have an effect on the other characters to come to a head at the end.

ThinkFilm, Pathe International
Director: Lee Jieho
Writers: Bob DeRosa, Lee Jieho, Jieho Lee
Producers: Darlene Caamano Loquet, Paul Schiff, Emilio Diez Barroso

I viewed 4/09

The Expendables (2010) R - 3 Stars

Gosh, I usually love Lionsgate movies but for having such an all star cast, the movie is not only predictable but cheesy in oh so many ways. Though, if you like a good action movie to increase your testosterone levels, you'll probably love this one. I don't get how this macho Stallone, full of void and void of emotions, lets a woman he just met, get to him. For me, the best part of the movie is the massive gun Hale Caesar uses to blow everything away. Arnold Schwarzenegger even makes a brief cameo appearance.

Barney Ross, (Sylvester Stallone), is loyal to no one except his team of modern day warriors. When Church, (Bruce Willis), offers him an profitable assignment in Vilena, he quickly pulls together his team consisting of Lee Christmas, (Jason Statham), a former SAS who prefers knives to guns, Hale Caesar, (Terry Crews), weapon specialist, Gunner Jensen, (Dolph Lundgren), a precision sniper, Toll Road (Randy Couture), expert on blowing things up and the short guy, Ying Yang, (Jet Li). Their treacherous mission is to overthrow American Vilena dictator General Gaza,(David Zayas). In doing so, they will learn who their real enemies are in James Munroe, (Eric Roberts), former CIA and his body guard Paine, (Steve Austin). As Church and Ross scout out the island, their contact Sandra, (Giselle Itie), a guerrilla fighter, refuses to leave her people behind and is captured instead. Non emotional Ross, can't seem to bare he failed getting Sandra off the island, so he returns with his merry mob determined to save this damsel in distress.

Lionsgate
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Writers: Sylvester Stallone, Dave Callaham
Producers: John Thompson, Kevin King-Templeton, Avi Lerner

I viewed 12/10

The Invention of Lying (2009) PG13 - 3 Stars

Wow I just watched back to back movies starring Ricky Gervais. I think I liked this one just a little bit more. Once again, a cute romantic comedy but this one kept my attention more than Ghosttown. Gervais plays almost the same type of character, this time in a world where people can not tell a lie as they haven't evolved that far. Gervais quickly rises to the top as he develops the skills needed to learn to fib. Along the way, his heart is taken by a woman who only sees his physical attributes and he tries to teach her to look beyond his cover. Tina Fay makes a cameo appearance playing the office girl Shelley.

The world is somewhat awkwardly perfectly with everyone struck with brutal honesty, telling the truth with no thought of the consequences. Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais), is just an average guy who's been set up on a date with the gorgeous Anna McDoogles (Jennifer Garner). Right from the start, it's made perfectly clear that his DNA would never be good enough for her high standards of beauty. And even though Mark knows he's out of her league, he's finding himself more attracted to her. But Brad Kessler (Rob Lowe), constantly reaffirms Mark is just about as low as you can get on the food chain. Brad believes that Anna should be with one of superior quality, like himself.

And if things weren't bad enough for Mark, he looses his job and with only $300.00 to his name, he's about to become evicted. While at the bank withdrawing his life's savings, the computers are down to confirm his account balance. Something comes over him which causes him to over exaggerate his balance and asks the teller for $800.00. She quickly agrees and before he knows it, the wheels are turning in his head of how easy he can reach a higher life style proving himself worthy to Anna.

With his new trait, Mark convinces his suicidal neighbor Frank (Jonah Hill), not to kill himself and then takes his low life friend Greg (Louis C.K.), to Las Vegas to hone his new skills. Winning big at the tables and slots, Frank and Mark return with mountains of cash. But even with all his lying rewards, he can't lie his way into the heart of the girl he dreams of. And he can't prolong the death of his sickly mother. Seeing her in such despair on her dying bed, he quickly tells her of the "Man in the Sky" and all the rewards she has awaiting her. But when word gets out that Mark gets messages directly from a "Man in the Sky," they flock to him to learn more. Now, Mark has his work cut out as he teaches the world to open their eyes.

Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Directors: Matthew Robinson, Ricky Gervais
Writers: Matthew Robinson, Ricky Gervais
Producers: Sue Baden-Powell, Ricky Gervais, Lynda Obst

I viewed 2/10

The Wackness (2008) R - 3 Stars

A cute coming of age comedy about drugs, getting old and relationships. Kingsley is great in his role as a bored pot smoking therapist trying to keep his younger side alive. Peck is also great in his role as Luke, using his creative imagination selling drugs out of an ice cream cart, and Thirlby is gorgeous playing Luke's girl. Together they fill a void in each other while teaching themselves the meaning of life. Good sound track.

It's 1994 and Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck), a teenage drug dealer, is working the summer streets of Manhattan, peddling drugs from his disguised ices cart. Along his journeys he meets Dr. Jeffrey Squires (Ben Kingsley) who he trades drugs in exchange for therapy sessions. The two form an uncommon yet understood friendship where Dr. Squires encourages Luke to go after the girl he's been thinking about. But things get complicated when the girl Luke's after, turns out to be Dr. Squires step daughter, Stephanie (Olivia Thirlby).

Awards include:
2008 - The Wackness - Alliance of Women Film Journalists - Most Egregious Age Difference Between Leading Man and Love Interest
2008 - The Wackness - Sundance Film Festival - Audience Award

Occupant Films, LLC, Shapiro Levine Productions, SBK Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics
Director: Jonathan Levine
Writer: Jonathan Levine
Producers: Keith Calder, Joe Neurauter, Felipe Marino

I viewed 3/09

Whiteout (2009) R - 3 Stars

I have mixed emotions about this movie. It wasn't a great movie at all but something kept me drawn and somewhat nearing the edge on my seat a few times. Maybe it was just a good job of feeling the freezing blizzard or perhaps the uncertainty of a killer on the loose, hacking his way through what's left of the crew. But that's when it also got a little cheesy to me as this killer was really a bad shot. I think I counted at least 12 hacks toward Marshall Stetko, while never striking her once. If nothing else, it gives a pretty realistic feel to what it must be like to live and work at the North or South Pole.

U.S. Marshall Carrie Stetko (Kate Beckinsale), has been reassigned a position at Antarctica's South Pole research base after her partner turned on her and she had to shoot to kill. The betraying images still haunt her nightly so she prefers this solitude of misdemeanor crimes rather than deal with who she can trust. When a body is discovered on the snow away from base, her investigative instincts quickly return as it's apparent the man was murdered.

Dark Castle Entertainment, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Director: Dominic Sena
Writers: Jon Hoeber, Chad Hayes, Erich Hoeber
Producers: Susan Downey, Joel Silver, David Gambino

I viewed 2/10

Iraq in Fragments (2005) Part 1 NR - 3 Stars

This is a 2 part documentary of what you are not going to see on CNN or the local news. It's actual footage of how the Sunnie, Shia and Kurds feel about America and our invasion into their country. I watch every documentary I can about the war because it is the only way to see all sides of the story. It's subtitled and broken down into three chapters.

The first chapter is entitled Mohammed in Baghdad. Mohammed Haithem Majid is an 11 year old boy who is needs to look after himself after he's disconnected with his father during the start of the war. He works in an auto shop for a man he'd like to call his dad but he makes fun of him as he can't read or write and has flunked the same grade 4 times. This man tries to instill the importance of an education but with the talk of Americans invading his country, he's uncertain which direction he should take.

Chapter two is entitled Sadr's South. About the fundamentalist Shiite cabal of Moqtada Sadr and his strict government based on guns and Muslim Law. They are against alcohol of any type and raid swap meets where they know sellers are peddling their goods. Mehdi Army fighter, Naseriyah is featured. Scary to see fanaticism of these young men as one can trigger them all into fury. None of these Iraqi men are happy with the American invasion, some even saying things were better with Saddam.

Chapter three is entitled Kurdish Spring shows the Kurds as farmers making bricks holding onto the faith that someday will be better. They welcome the US presence as it has allowed them a measure of freedom previously denied.

Awards include:
2006 - Iraq in Fragments - Sundance Film Festival - Excellence in Cinematography - Documentary Competition.
2006 - Iraq in Fragments - Sundance Film Festival - Documentary Film Editing Award
2006 - Iraq in Fragments - Sundance Film Festival - Documentary Directing Award

To read more about the filming of this documentary, click here.

Typecast Releasing
Director: James Longley
Producers: James Longley, John Sinno

I viewed 5/08

Oxy-Morons (2011) NR - 3 Stars

Flipping through the choices on Netflix, this film caught my attention. Though I have heard about the drug known as "Oxy," I didn't realise the drug was so powerful. Writer John Hickey is also the main character Danny who's re-living his real life drama about his dependency on a pain relief opioid known as "Oxycontin." His purpose for the film, is to help others make the decision against abusing this powerful pain killer. This film is based loosely on his prior episodes with this drug and law enforcement. From the movie's official web site, "John Hickey makes his film debut as writer and director of “Oxy-Morons”. Known to local law enforcement as one of the most notorious “Oxy Bandits” in the Boston area, Hickey’s reign came to an end one night when jumped by a rival gang in Quincy MA and thrown off an 80 foot cliff. As his road to recovery and redemption progressed, Hickey produced the “Oxy-Morons” screenplay from his prison cell where he spent three years for a string of pharmacy robberies and the illegal distribution of Oxycontin. Upon release, Hickey went to work for the Federal Government helping law enforcement expose and incarcerate some of the most nefarious Oxycontin dealers in the country. When he was finally given a chance to put his screenplay into production, Hickey dove into the main role, fully committing to reliving his life experiences in an attempt to educate, as well as entertain." http://oxymoronsthemovie.wordpress.com/johnnyhickey/

The film is pretty violent but also for those addicted like John Hickey was, it's probably a pretty realistic portrayal of the dark side of surviving as a junkie. Language is not suitable for teens, though they hear it all in their music. I thought the acting was pretty good and the message very loud. Definitely gives the viewer the cons of addiction to this drug as it's not a glamorous life but this movie is not for everyone.

Danny (Johnny Hickey), and brother Jason (David Burns), have been raised alone by their addicted mother Patty (Patty Ross),after their father was killed years ago by a cop. Along with their best bro Fruit Loops (Brendan Brennan), the three hang out on the streets of Boston and are no strangers to law enforcement constantly being arrested for petty crimes. But the boys get themselves into robbing drug stores for Oxycontin, as this powerful pain killer can bring in more money. Though Jason keeps a clean head about the drug, Danny becomes addicted snorting all of his profit. Det. Greico (Damien Di Paola) and Det. Griffen (Jim Cullity) watch their every move and eventually they are all behind bars. But the story runs deeper when a dirty cop has something to hide about their father's murder.

Complex Films, Synergetic Distribution, Johnny Dangerously Film
Director: Johnny Hickey
Writer: Johnny Hickey
Producers: Damien Di Paola, John Gulielmetti, Brendan Brennan

I watched 10/12