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

Not Easily Broken (2009) PG13 - 3½ Stars

I'm marking this movie in my religious category because it does carry the message of keeping yourself connected to God. I'm also putting it in the family category because I feel the movie sends a good moral message about competition, anger, friendship, getting along in your relationships and staying focused on what's important, without shoving religion down your throat. My favorite quote from the movie is "Sometimes the world has to turn you upside down so you can learn how to live right side up." This new married couple is having to do just that after an terrible accident that stressed their marriage vows.

I think Morris Chestnut is a great looking co-star as well as a very convincing actor. Taraji P. Henson plays the good bitching housewife, caught up in the rat race of life, too involved to see what's happening around her. Jenifer Lewis plays an irritating, scorn, mother in law who holds her own failed marriage as a sign that all men are evil and never good enough for women.

This is not an action packed movie but the message is strongly delivered with great direction and heart. Dave Johnson, (Morris Chestnut), has just married the love of his life Clarice Clark (Taraji P. Henson), and the two couldn't be more happy. As they were married, Bishop Wilkes (Albert Hall), places "a threefold cord is not easily broken," around the couples shoulders. He tells them that two of the cords represent their love and the third cord is keeping God close in their hearts. As they will learn, the world will throw obstacles at them but as long as they remain true to themselves and God, no one can ever tear them apart.

After a terrible accident, Clarice is forced into home rehabilitation and her divorced mother Mary (Jenifer Lewis), moves in to take care of her. As Clarice struggles with walking again, their marriage is about to be put to the test. If the couple is to succeed with their marriage, they must find their way back to their "not easily broken, threefold cord."

TriStar Pictures, Duke Media

Director: Bill Duke
Writer: Brian Bird
Producers: Aaron Norris, T.D. Jakes, Bill Duke

I viewed 11/11

Left Behind: The Movie (2000) PG13 - 2½ Stars

It's sort of ironic my sister and I were just having this conversation about if she suddenly disappears, I should not be worried because I will know where she has gone. With everything that is going on in the world right now, we have much debate into it's destiny. I choose to look at the world in more of a pragmatic fashion and entertain prophecies of the bible, Nostradamus predictions, and the Mayans calender as they are all open to interpretations of their content. I than prefer to form my own beliefs based on open minded and factual information. However, I can not dismiss the deep feelings I have that the world is headed for a major disruptment. I look for answers from the earth itself just getting tired of mankind taking it's toll on her over time. I feel she's ready to do something major to kick a bunch of us off. Reversal of the magnetic poles or something catastrophic to wake us up. My sister on the other hand, 100% believes in the bible and everything that is happening is just as it says it will. She constantly urges me to take a stand with God and avoid the horror that will be left for the non believers and sinners left on the planet. This movie is based upon a series of books written explaining Revelations and the Antichrists that will visit before Jesus makes his return to earth. Though in looking at some of the reviews, I fear the movie leaves a lot out.

I spent one entire weekend with the History Channel watching these different interpretations played out. First few hours was religious prophecies of the bible. Next few hours all about the Mayans and their calender that is suppose to show the world ending on Dec. 12, 2012. And then the predictions of Nostradamus. I choose to form my own opinions based on education and not faith. Maybe that is my problem too. I have no faith in much other than that of what I place in myself for my determination to get something down. Perhaps that is why it's sort of strange for me to keep finding myself renting movies that unbeknown to me, carry a religious content. Is something trying to tell me something? I am a spiritual person and do believe in a higher power that created us all and I do believe Jesus Christ did exist. I've even prayed to God many times for purely selfish reason, "PLEASE GOD, get me out of this one!" But it takes faith to believe in Adam and Eve, the rising up of Jesus from the dead, and that 12 virgins that are awaiting the Ala believers. For me, who's religion can possibly be the right one?

It would appear that organized religion is the cause of most problems in the world today. Ask a Muslim, a Jew, a Catholic, Buddhist or Christian and they all think their religion is the truth, just as my beliefs tend to come more from the earth itself. I guess I have more Mayan, Pagan, Indian belief that what we do in this world will come back to you. So now let me step off of the preachers box and get back to this movie regarding the "Rapture." It does seem a bit scary when you witness the scene at the United Nations where the Antichrist uses mind manipulation to gain control over the members. They walk out the door speaking a different tune then what was just played out. Basically the movie is about surrendering our lives to Christ before it's too late. I think "Left Behind" is a fair movie of the beliefs of the Christian faith. Though it was made 11 years ago, it sure fits into what the world is becoming today. I think it did a good job at taking the story to the big screen. At least giving me one more thing to rack around in my head regarding the return of Christ.

Buck Williams (Kirk Cameron) is a journalist headed to London where pilot Rayford Steele (Brad Johnson) is at the helm. Without warning, some of the passengers awake to find their loved ones are missing. All that is left in place is their material belongings, clothes, jewelry etc. But on a plane flying over 37 thousand feet, this is impossible. So where could all of these children and people go? Pilot Steele turns around and heads back to Chicago where he finds the same occurrences on the ground. It seems millions of people and all of the innocent children have vanished without a trace. As he arrives home, he finds his wife and son also are gone and the only thing remaining are the clothes left exactly as if they had melted out of them. Now, feeling extremely guilty over the affair he's been having with a flight attendant Hattie Durham (Chelsea Noble), to make up for the time he's felt his wife was wasting devoted to the church, he is beginning to take the bible more seriously.

Buck, being the journalist, is determined to get to the bottom of these disappearances as he ponders over reports about Dr. Chaim Rosenzweig (Colin Fox), an Israeli scientist who can turn the soil into the Garden of Eden making anything easy to cultivate in the soil of the earth. Dr. Rosenzweig is just ready to make his announcements to Nicolae Carpathia (Gordon Currie), who's taken over as head of The United Nations after some of the world leaders have vanished. Buck believes that Nicolae might is the Antichrist and that Revelations has begun. God help all us non believers now.

Cloud Ten Productions, Angel Studios, Namesake Entertainment
Director: Victor Sarin
Writers: Paul Lalonde, Alan B. McElroy, Joel Goodman
Producers: Ralph Winter, Peter Lalonde, Joel Goodman

I viewed 2/11

Departures (2008) PG13 - 4 Stars

A very touching look at honor, dignity and respect for the dead. While everyone frowns upon a job in the mortuary field, it's a normal part of life and some might just be a natural at it. Daigo is one such man that goes from revolt and disgust to having the greatest admiration for the work done, preparing bodies for their departure. Not only is it about respecting the life that used to be, but also comforting the family who are all engaged in the process. His music provides the meditated strength to connect during this time of need. The film also shows the traditions of other cultures as they send off their dearly departed to their next destination. In Japanese, koodoos for making the subtitles so nice and large so I could watch it on my normal T.V. without glasses. The film is actually pretty funny at appropriate times. Tasteful and thoughtful giving the viewer a new window into death that makes one think about life. I'm very thankful for the enlightenment into Japaneses traditions and ceremonies regarding death.

Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), is following his dream by investing in a fine expensive cello and playing in an full orchestra. But when the director comes in and says they must dissolve immediately due to lack of audience attendance, Daigo's dreams are chattered in an instant. His understanding wife Mika (Ryoko Hirosue), agrees to move back to his childhood home where they can live in his mothers old home rent free. With great hesitation, he sells his cello as they start their new lives. An ad in the paper needs help in "departures" and it sounds perfect for Daigo, thinking it's a travel agency, he applies. He meets with the owner and is hired on the spot, given an advance and sent home while still in shock over what the position entails. He is to become "Nokanashi" other wise known as an "encoffineer." Daigo can not find the strength to tell his wife exactly what his will be doing.

The next morning Daigo and his boss Ikuei Sasaki (Tsutomu Yamazaki), go to a scene where police have discovered and elderly woman, dead for at least 2 weeks. Daigo can not stomach a decaying body as he watches his mentor respect and gently preform the proper rituals. Daigo is angry and wants to quit the position but Ikuei sees his predecessor in Daigo's soul and encourages him to stay with it.

Daigo must eventually tell his wife what he is doing and others in town find out and look down on him, telling him to get a respectful job. It isn't until a very special woman of the small town, Tsuyako Yamashita (Kazuko Yoshiyuki), passes and Daigo is called to preform the ceremony. They now see the importance of his very special gift, giving way to great admiration from his wife and friends.

Awards:
2008 - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Foreign Language Film

Shochiku Company, Ltd., Regent Relasing, Here Films
Director: Yojiro Takita
Writer: Kundo Koyama
Producers: Toshihisa Watai, Toshiaki Nakazawa

I viewed 1/11

The Notorious Bettie Page (2005) R - 3 Stars

So "Politically Incorrect" for the times, Bettie Page was the "Pin-Up Queen of the Universe." She brought beauty to boots and bondage, shocking the nation with her provocative photos. Senate hearings heard debates over it's labeling of art vs. pornography. In the end, censors started to ban the distribution, especially through the U.S. postal system.

Gretchen Mol does an awesome job portraying Page in both her innocence and beauty but you never get a look inside what made her who she became. You get a small peek at a situation but the movie doesn't follow through. For example, does she make a lot of money taking these photos, is she really that naive that she doesn't realize men are masturbating to her photos and does she get a divorce from her husband?

At the end, the movie jumps to Page finding religion again but it seemed so sudden and out of the blue. Also, the characters selling the films and photos are portrayed as pleasant chaps you might have tea with. But were these sessions really innocent visions of art? There must have been a darker side to cause Page's overnight transformation to religion. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't tell us. Filmed in B & W, it really adds to the feel of the 50's, slightly turning to color just as the era did.

The story...

Bettie Page (Gretchen Mol), was born and raised in a conservative religious family of Tennessee. Her father was abusive and her mother constantly brought her to church to repent her sins of hamming it up for boys. For fun, she would allow men to take photos of her in bathing suits as she knew this was her asset God had blessed her with. In the late 1940's, after an abusive marriage, she walked out and set her sights on New York City. There she was discovered by a photographer who takes her to the next level of modeling. Also starring Christopher Bauer, Jared Harris, Sarah Paulson, David Strathairn, Lili Taylor and Jonathan M. Woodward.

PictureHouse, Cinetic Media, Killer Films, HBO Films
Director: Mary Harron
Writers: Guinevere Turner, Mary Harron
Producers: Christine Vachon, Katie Roumel, Pamela Koffler

I viewed 1/11

Easy A (2010) PG13 - 3½ Stars

Here's a movie I thought would be another mindless teen comedy. Pleasantly surprised, and not just a chick flick, it's a very cute story on how rumors get started. If I gave 3 3/4 stars, I'd give this an extra 1/4 point just for it's charm and creativity. Embracing high school life with it's awkwardness and diversity, Emma Stone plays the perfect goodie two shoes gone bad. I just love her parents attitude. Lisa Kudrow brings her quirky persona to the guidance office while Amanda Bynes gives a good annoying performance with her pretentious religious attitude. Easy A takes a simple girl next door and brands her with the modern day Scarlet letter. She goes from the girl no one notices to the girl everyone is talking about. Why not play the part, right?

Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone), is a smart student with good grades and a loving open minded relationship with her parents Dill(Stanley Tucci), and Rosemary (Patricia Clarkson). But she's not real popular with the opposite sex and spends most of her weekends at home. Her best friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka), is always ragging at her for not wanting to go out so Olive concocts a juicy story of spending the weekend with an imaginary man. Marianne (Amanda Bynes), the schools cheer leader for religion, happens to be in the bathroom as Olive tells Rhiannon. She instantly convicts Olive for her lucrative behavior, labeling her a promiscuous. Olive notices the next day at school, everyone is staring at her and boys are approaching her. Since this rumor has already condemned her, Olive decides to give them something to really talk about.

She starts acting out, landing her self in detention where she meets Brandon's (Dan Byrd), who's also in detention for fighting. Brandon is gay and picked up regularly so Olive helps his reputation out by pretending to sleep with him at a party where everyone could hear. Brandon is now the man on campus and Olive is the girl everyone wants to know. She attaches deep blood red A's to the front of her clothing to signify the way it feels to be labeled. Olive's English teacher, Mr. Griffith (Thomas Haden Church), tries to explain she is receiving the wrong kind of attention and sends her to see his wife (Lisa Kudrow), the guidance counselor but once this ball starts rolling, it's hard to make it stop. Olive must find a way to redeem her reputation while still making her point.

Olive Bridge Entertainment, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Releasing
Director: Will Gluck
Writer: Bert V. Royal
Producers: Will Gluck, Zanne Devine

I viewed 1/11

Angels & Demons (2009) PG13 - 3 Stars

This sequel to The Da Vinci Code feels more like watching a new movie than connecting to the first other than they are both about breaking a secret code. While this seems extremely challenging, it's almost too complex to stay on top of. You have to go along with what happens instead of being a part of it in your head. It reminds me of National Treasure. Hanks is probably the best thing about the movie as he's in a believable role exposing a conspiracy involving the Catholic Church.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has constructed a Large Hadron Collider and has captured three vials of antimatter. Father Silvano Bentivoglio (Carmen Argenziano) and Dr. Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer), are over seeing the project. After the capture, someone breaks in and steals one of the vials, killing Father Bentivoglio who tries to stop them.

Meanwhile the College of Cardinals' papal conclave is preparing to select their next pope as the Roman Catholic Church mourns the death of Pope Pius XVI. Camerlengo Patrick McKenna (Ewan McGregor) has temporary control of the Vatican until a new pope is selected. Everyone flocks to Saint Peter's Square to await the white smoke from the conclave which signifies an unanimous vote has been reached. A 400 year old, underground secret society known as the Illuminati, kidnap the four priests in line for the job, threatening to kill one an hour. Illuminati also has the missing vial which must be found before the vials battery life runs out causing the magnetic containment of it's contents to explode. Dr. Vetra works with Harvard University respected symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), after a symbol on the skin of a murdered victim, Langdon has deduced the four priests are hidden in the four altars of the "Path of Illumination." The only problem is to locate these alters in time to save the 4 priests and retrieve the vial before it explodes.

Imagine Entertainment, John Calley Productions, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
Director: Ron Howard
Writers: Akiva Goldsman, David Koepp
Producers: Ron Howard, John Calley, Brian Grazer

I viewed 12/09

To Save a Life (2010) PG13 - 3 Stars

Though I'm not into watching religious films, I have to applaud this one's effort. While I don't think you need to turn to religion to change your life, I do feel it involves self discipline and faith that a lot of us do not have. The film gives a great insight into what one can do to change a life and the lives of others around them. In the wake of the violence among young adults, I think the film makers have a made a nice little movie showing it just takes one who cares, to make a change. The popular jock takes the time to befriend the quiet boy nobody talks to and lots make fun of. The movie even explores teen age pregnancy. Possibly could have been a movie shown in high schools humanity classes if it didn't have a religious message behind it. There's more to life than drinking, drugs, being the most popular and always trying to live in the "in" crowd.

Jake Taylor (Randy Wayne), is a high school basketball star that gets the best looking chick Amy Briggs (Deja Kreutzberg) and hangs with the other jocks at parties. His old child hood friend Roger Dawson (Robert Bailey, Jr.), shows up to school with a gun and takes his own life. Thinking there might have been something Jake could have done to save Roger's life, he questions what's important anymore. Jake meets a priest named Chris (Joshua Weigel), who speaks at Rogers funeral. Chris tells him of the church he speaks over and invites Jake to attend the youth group meetings. The meetings open Jakes eyes to what he's been taking for granite in life. He reaches out to try and help Jonny Garcia (Sean Michael Afable), who seems like a quiet boy no one talk to and everyone talks about. He invites him to join the others and get to know each other. Then Amy ends up pregnant from one wild night at a party and Jake's parents are on the verge of divorce. It's all too much for Jake to handle who was suppose to be leaving for the school of his dreams on a scholarship. Jake must decide which priorities in his life really matter.

New Song Pictures,  Accelerated Entertainment,  Samuel Goldwyn Films
Director: Bryan Baugh
Writer: Jim Britts
Producers: Steve Foster, Jim Britts, Nicole Franco

I viewed 1/11

The Book of Eli (2010) R - 3 Stars

Like Mad Max and Thunderdome meet the bible. While it was a decent movie, there was just something lacking with me to make it an epic event. The message is purely religious and requires belief in the scriptures. For some, it's their importance of their faith that will rate this movie higher. My open mindedness refuses to believe this is the only ending.

30 years after the final war in the U.S., the cities of America are reduced to crumbled ruins, torn up streets and a handful of survivors. Those left have formed small gangs in desperate search of food, water and supplies and would kill their own mothers to get it. One male survivor Eli (Denzel Washington), carries the sacred tome, the only surviving bible, and protects it with his life as it holds the key to survival of the human race.

Silver Pictures, Alcon Entertainment, Warner Bros. Pictures
Directors: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Writers: Gary Whitta, Tony Peckham
Producers: David Valdes, Broderick Johnson, Susan Downey

I viewed 5/10

The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008) R - 5 Stars

This movie disgusted me and made me very angry. Long before 9/11, I was actively involved in spreading information regarding conditions the woman of Afghanistan endure with their suppressed conditions. Not able to be seen in public without another family member present, not able to get a decent education, treated like worthless commodities to the superior male population and face stoning if they disobey. I was really naive to the fact it's still happening in other countries around the world. This Iranian story is sub titled but don't let that stop you as it's a must see. The incredible true story of Soraya M., wife, mother of 4, niece, friend and neighbor, who was ruthlessly stoned to death for adultery based upon a lie her husband started to get rid of her. In a country where women will always be considered guilty while men are always presumed innocent, women have very few resources to defend and protect themselves.

The story...

Soraya M (Mozhan Marnò), is an Iranian woman with 4 young children, 2 boys and 2 girls. She is married to Ali (Navid Negahban), who acknowledges his sons but ignores his daughters. Soraya has withheld sex from her husband, and bares many bruises across her body to his lawful right to take from her. Now, Ali is no longer interested in her since a young 14 year old has caught his eye. He wants to marry this new girl soon with the blessings and assets of her wealthy and powerful father.

Ali refuses to pay wages to Soraya and she will not give him a divorce without it. A neighbor, Hashem (Parviz Sayyad), has just lost his wife and can not manage taking care of his young autistic son on his own. The village council suggest Soraya take a job with Hashem in exchange for wages to help feed and shelter her daughters. Soraya's outspoken aunt Zahra (Shohreh Aghdashloo), does what she can to comfort Soraya and help her keep her head held high. She begins to smile again as she feels useful as a caretaker. But Ali's assets will not allow him to return Soraya's dowry as custom dictates in a divorce, so instead he plans another way to get out of the marriage. He has dirt on Mullah (Ali Pourtash), and threatens to expose him if he does not follow through on Ali's accusations of infidelity. Ali also threatens Hashem to go along with his story or his son will end up in as an orphan in a mental institution. When Ebrahim (David Diaan), the mayor is told, he holds a fast tribunal to determine Soraya's guilt. It is determined she must be put to death by public stoning, in one hour, for the disgrace she has brought to the village. She is buried waist deep with her hands tied behind her back. Even the male children are allowed to witness and participate with Ali throwing the first stone which brings blood as her sons follow suit. Soraya's body is not allowed to be buried and the women take it next to the river to rest. The very next morning, Freidoune Sahebjam (James Caviezel), a journalist is diving by when his car breaks down. He must spend the day in this small village while his car is repaired. Zahra bravely contacts him in order to get her message out for the world to hear.

I want to pick up a boulder and smash it into Ali's skull so I guess that means Navid Negahban did an excellent job at convincing me he's a monster. Shohreh Aghdashloo, Zahra, is fantastic in telling the story. Unbelievable performances, see this fantastic movie, not for the squeamish, as it is a very realistic violent portrayal of a woman wrongly accused and stoned to death. This is the 21st century and it looks like we're back in the uncivilized stone age, no pun intended. Get as outraged as I did and do something about it. Please visit the web site http://www.thestoning.com/flash.php#/involved/ and do your part. I wouldn't last 5 seconds in a country like this. A movie you will never be able to erase from your mind.

Roadside Attractions, Mpower Pictures, Lionsgate
Director: Cyrus Nowrasteh
Writers: Cyrus Nowrasteh, Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh
Producers: Stephen McEveety, John Shepherd

I viewed 1/11

Blood in the Face (1991) NR - 3½ Stars

I love documentaries because they force me take a look into another real world. Having an open mind, I try to find the logic in what is portrayed to form my own opinions. Seeing the passion of how some feel, opens my eyes and in some cases, enlightens me. But personally, cults like these are the main reason I am against organized religion of any kind. In my opinion, spirituality doesn't need to be found by joining a organization.

This movie does make a good point about something, being a Caucasian, I've often thought about and that is the white race will someday be a minority due to the breeding ratio Caucasians have adhered to. But, it's the only thing I agree with in this film. To me. this is exactly how radicals started, racism grows and continues and wars are made. This is America, and everyone has a right to give their opinions no matter how ignorant it sounds.

"Blood in the Face," is a documentary featuring archival footage intertwined with live interviews from the late 80's and early 90's. The title literally means to blush or draw blood coloring to their face, feeling shame. These groups believe that only white people can have this reaction to their face, thus making white people the superior chosen ones. The movie gives a small peek into the beliefs of the American Nazi Party, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Aryan Nation of white supremacists. Live footage of David Duke and George Lincoln Rockwell plus Michael Moore is an off screen interviewer in the film.

First Run Features
Directors: Anne Bohlen, James Ridgeway, Kevin Rafferty
Writer: James Ridgeway
Producers: Charlie Arnot, Anne Bohlen, James Ridgeway

I viewed 12/10

Talking to Heaven (2002) PG13 - 3½ Stars

I don't really have a category for a religious type of movie like this so I added it to Sci-Fi as it really depends in what you believe in. I am a spiritual person but I'm against organized religion and do not support any religion's bible, but then again, that's a whole other topic. Even though this story has been done before, a man being able to see and hear from the dead where other's can't, this one has a pretty good all star cast with some great acting that kept me involved all the way till the end. It's also a good murder mystery of "who done it" with a surprising ending. Made for a two part television mini-series drama.

James Van Praagh (Ted Danson), is an ordinary man with what he feels a curse that allows him to see and feel things from the dead. Since he was 6, he has found he's seen and talked to people that others have not seen. Frowned upon by the other children as an outcast and close to his religious mother Regina (Diane Ladd), James tried to ignore and forget any psychic abilities he once had. With his company failing and his mind preoccupied with signs from the dead surrounding him, James hires Midge (Queen Latifah), to design a web site to build sales. He's gotten a good worker, but also a new good friend he can talk about these images that are haunting him.

After his mother's death, he begins to again see more of these dead people who can't get settled without resolving certain issues. And when young boys with their hands bound, start appearing, James works with Detective Karen Condrin (Mary Steenburgen), using his visions to help stop a serial killer.

Timeless Media Group, RHI Entertainment
Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal
Writer: John Pielmeier
Producers: James Van Praagh, Preston Fischer, John Pielmeier

I viewed 3/10

Knowing (2009) PG13 - 3½ Stars

This movie had me really going until the ending. Perhaps, a better ending would have been to show Earth, accepting the disaster thrown upon it, while "knowing," that life will still exist some day. I felt it somewhat presumptuous on the writers part taking into consideration only one religion of the world. But having said all that, I think Cage was at one of his better moments in time with this movie. Plenty of special effects and the action scenes and the airplane crash is pretty awesome. So much so, I backed up one part up about 4 times to see it over again. Granted there are a lot of things that happen in this movie that couldn't possibly really happen, but I love the concept and would have given it 4 stars if it didn't end so bad.

It's Massachusetts, 1959, and the newly constructed William Dawes Elementary School is having a ceremony to mark the occasion. Miss Taylor (Danielle Carter), and her class of young students, have been chosen to draw pictures of what they think the future will look like. Most of the students draw pictures of space ships and robots and fantasy worlds. But one young girl Lucinda (Lara Robinson), spends the entire assignment scribbling the front and back page of her imagery with a series of numbers. The class drawings are then placed in envelopes with the name of the student who drew it printed on the front. Now these images have been consumed into the time capsule where future generations of young students will unlock them, 50 years from now.

Professor John Koestler (Nicolas Cage), lives alone with his young son Caleb (Chandler Canterbury). Caleb's mother was killed from smoke inhalation in a hotel fire, two years prior making John overly protective on what he allows his young son to do. While he and Caleb attend the ceremony of the opening of the time capsule, Caleb is given the drawing Lucinda, made 50 years ago. At dinner, Professor Koestler sees the paper, wondering what the numbers represent. As he studies it closer, he notices amazing coincidence between certain numbers and certain disasters that have happened over the last 50 years. Next to each date, lays also the number of lives lost from each particular tragedy. The more his obsession grows over cracking this seeming decoded message, the farther his beliefs show him Lucinda was predicting the future. With the last three dates showing disasters yet to have happened, he feels he must try and intervene where ever possible to prevent the codes from harming his son.

Escape Artists, Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment
Director: Alex Proyas
Writers: Ryne Pearson, Stuart Hazeldine, Juliet Snowden
Producers: Steve Tisch, Alex Proyas, Jason Blumenthal

I viewed 7/09

Confession (2005) R - 3½ Stars

I love it when I get one of the free "inside" movies from Blockbuster and it turns out to be good. I'm surprised the movie didn't get better ratings as I thought it was a pretty good drama with some powerful performances by Bosley, and Daddo who is sworn to secrecy by hearing the truth through confession. He would rather take the blame than go against all he believes in his religion.

Luther Scott (Chris Pine) is the boy in school who is smart as a whip but doesn't always use his head. Instead he is finding ways to corrupt the men's dorm at St. Michael's Catholic Prep School. Along with his room mate, Robbie Willingham (Lukas Behnken) he sells beer, videos and Playboy Magazines to the other students to break up their boring school routines. When the boys are caught drinking in their dorm by Father Thomas Parker (Bruce Davison), all are brought in for questioning. No one opens their mouth to the truth except, David Bennet (Adam Bussell), which gets Luther and Robbie terminated from the school. Luther convinces Robbie to get David and make him pay for what he has done. Dressed in a white robe, Luther, finds David and chases him to the second story bridge of campus. There, the two wrestle until David falls from the railing to the pavement below. While Robbie runs to hide, Luther runs straight to Father Michael Kelly's (Cameron Daddo), confessional to explain his side of the story. He knows that Father Kelly will be bound to secrecy for his confession based on their religion.

When detective William Fletcher (Peter Greene), investigates the death, a witness comes forward to say he saw a white robed priest run from the scene. Father Abbot Sutton (Tom Bosley) assists detective Fletcher in questioning the priests one by one. Now Father Kelly's faith will be tested as he is framed for the murder of David and refuses to speak about what he knows.

Crazy Dreams Entertainment, Artist View Entertainment
Director: Jonathan Meyers
Writer: Jonathan Meyers
Producers: Randy Holleschau, Craig Anderson, Alex Yanev

I watched 5/09

W. (2008) PG13 - 3 Stars

I was hoping to get more from this movie and I was somewhat disappointed in it. Perhaps I was just looking to dig up the dirt on our ex president to make more sense of the world he left us with. I don't know how much liberty was taken with the story, but I didn't know just how much George W. struggled with alcoholism. I must say, if I closed my eyes and listened, Josh Brolin really sounded a lot like his character. A born again Christian, George W. found that religion was his drive behind his running for office.

Condoleezza Rice (Thandie Newton), was as annoying as I remember her voice to be and also starring Colin Powell (Jeffrey Wright), Donald Rumsfeld (Scott Glenn), George Herbert Walker Bush (James Cromwell), Barbara Bush (Ellen Burstyn), Laura Bush (Elizabeth Banks), Dick Cheney (Richard Dreyfuss).

Lionsgate
Director: Oliver Stone
Writers: Oliver Stone, Stanley G. Weiser
Producers: Eric Kopeloff, Paul Hanson, Jon Kilik

I viewed 2/09

Diamond Dogs (2007) NR - 3 Stars

The movie probably only really warrants a rating of 2 by most people but, I actually liked it. The acting is not the greatest and the story line not entirely believable however, it kept me thoroughly entertained. Maybe it was Ronson's character as he seemed to be the only decent actor and made the movie for me.

Xander Ronson (Dolph Lundgren) is the best of what America's got. An ex-Army officer, he is considered the best in his field, but also the worst when fellow soldiers died by his hands. Ronson has now made his way to China and living there making ends meet by hustling others in fighting, arm wrestling or any way he can. But he's in debt and when the underground fighting ring is busted, Ronson finds himself before a judge facing a long prison sentence. Able to bribe the judge with cash on hand he had just won, he is given two weeks to come up with the rest of the money owed or face prison.

As chance would have it, a group of American fortune seekers led by Chambers (William Shriver), and his step daughter Anika (Yu Nan), enlist Ronson's help for protection and as a guide to help them find an ancient artifact that in the Buddhist religion is known as the Tangka. Supposedly this Tangka has not been seen and hidden away for many years since the Soviets tried to outlaw the Buddhist religion from Mongolia. It is said the Tangka holds many great mystical secrets and it's rumored to be adorned with diamonds totaling over $50 million. This American team is willing to risk everything to find and possess the Tangka. Rosnon also knows that finding the Tangka would solve his financial dilemma and make it so he'd never have to worry about money again.

The team has a map that leads to a secret hiding place deep in the mountains of Mongolia. But unfortunately, the team is not alone in their quest. A group of Russian mercenaries, used to getting whatever they want, have followed Ronson and his team to the mountain. Now it's a match off with each other determination of obtaining the Tangka, as well as dealing with the curse of disturbing the Tangka from it's original hiding place.

Sony Pictures
Directors: Samuel Dolhasca, Shimon Dotan
Writer: Leo St. Pierre
Producers: Louis Liu, Shimon Dotan

I viewed 7/08

The Believer (2001) R - 3½ Stars

Boy, I'm really beginning to like Ryan Gosling in movies. He is absolutely outstanding in this role and the movie really sucked me in on his ability alone. A scary look at religious hatred amongst us today while still attaching a human personal look from within. It's most definitely worth the rental for for Gosling's acting alone. Based on the story of Daniel Burrows, a leader of the American Nazi Party, who committed suicide in 1965 after a writer from The New York Times found out he was Jewish and exposed him.

Danny Balint (Ryan Gosling) is Jewish and was a top religious student at his local Yeshiva. At age 22, Danny grows tired of his Jewish beliefs of the Torah and the Old Testament, as when starts questioning God, he's expelled from the temple. Danny transforms himself into the neo-Nazi movement of skinheads led by by Curtis (Billy Zane) and Lina (Theresa Russell).

Danny meets Carla (Summer Phoenix) and falls for her and secretly teaches her a new religion. I don't really get her character and not sure why they even needed her but... His contempt for Jews as well as himself, has him going through some extreme measures and even when the gang breaks into a Jewish temple, Danny struggles to fight for his roots and heritage as he protects the sacred Torah. One thing he can never let them know is that he really is Jewish.

2000 - Believer - Sundance Film Festival - Dramatic Grand Jury Prize.

Fuller Films
Director: Henry Bean
Writer: Henry Bean
Producers: Christopher Roberts, Susan Hoffman

I viewed 12/07