Among the new movies that were released Friday, Feb. 28 are a dramedy about a young woman who works at a sex shop, a romantic comedy centered around the National Air Sex Championships and a thriller that takes place 30,000 feet above the ground.
Emma Roberts plays a naive college graduate who believes that she is destined to be a great poet and begrudgingly accepts a job at a sex shop while she pursues a mentorship with a reclusive writer (John Cusack). (R – 97 minutes)
At one point during “Adult World,” the new dramedy’s characters complain about the hardships of a 20-something-year-old – the awkward age of an individual who can no longer be considered a kid but is not quite ready to enter into adulthood. The triviality of the grievance is a great example of the entire flick’s callow outlook. That is to say that while there are scenes of momentary amusement throughout the movie, it is mostly an exercise in petty whining from characters who would never have even the slightest chance of surviving in the real world. As a result, you absolutely refuse to root for any of them – especially star Emma Roberts – to succeed. (Thumbs Down!)
Michael Stahl-David plays a brokenhearted man who flies to Austin for the weekend in hopes of “accidentally” running into his ex-girlfriend (Ashley Bell) only to arrive to find their best friends (Zach Cregger and Sara Paxton) in the middle of their own vicious breakup. (NR – 91 minutes)
Perhaps writer/director Bryan Poyser recognized that the “love” part of “Love & Air Sex” was a bit too conventional and therefore decided to spice things up with the “air sex” part. However, as it turns out, conventional is a whole lot better than tasteless. Granted, the concept of Air Sex World Championships may sound amusing but, if this real sporting event (if you can call it that) is anything like it is portrayed in this motion picture, it is far more moronic than anything. And the good part of this romantic comedy – the conventional yet really relatable part – suffers as a result. (Thumbs Down!)
‘Non-Stop’
Liam Neeson plays an air marshal who springs into action during a transatlantic flight after receiving a series of text messages that put his fellow passengers at risk unless the airline transfers $150 million into an off-shore account. (PG-13 – 110 minutes)
“Non-Stop” is an incredibly intense motion picture. However, as far as thrillers that take place 30,000 feet above the ground go, it flies fairly low. That is to say that while the new Liam Neeson-led actioner gets the job done it does not quite reach the heights of, say, “Red Eye,” “Flightplan” or “Turbulence.” That is because after a spectacularly suspenseful first half, the flick loses a little of its credibility with a few plot holes before eventually throwing all caution to the wind and becoming absolutely ludicrous. Granted, this yields fun and excitement, but it does not exactly jive with the movie’s otherwise somber message about how our skies may not be as secure as some would lead us to believe. (Thumbs Up!)
Director Thomas Morgan and producer Angela Bernhard Thomas recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about their new documentary “Waiting for Mamu.”
“Waiting for Mamu,” which screens 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 and 9 a.m. Sunday, March 2 at the Sedona Film Festival, follows internationally-lauded social worker and 2012 CNN Hero of the Year award-winner Pushpa Basnet as she helps children whose parents are sent to prison and, lacking any other guardians, are locked away along with them.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Morgan and Thomas by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the director and producer discuss the inception of “Waiting for Mamu.”
“I met Pushpa [Basnet] really by chance. We were at the same dinner and … I listened to her tell this story with such compassion and passion for her work. At first I thought that I had misunderstood what she was saying. I couldn’t believe that there were children in prison. So I asked her right then and there, ‘Can I make a documentary film about this’ I think she thought I was joking but … I was truly committed. I didn’t really know how I was going to fund it or how I was going to go about it but the story was just so incredible that I had to do it.” – Thomas Morgan
“[Pushpa] really is the most important piece. One of the most amazing things about this story is that Pushpa started this when she was 21 years old. She was studying social work in school and ended up visiting a prison. That is where she learned about this situation. One day when she went to leave the prison a young girl grabbed her shawl, looked up and gave her this really big smile. It just touched Pushpa’s heart so much that when she left she knew she had to do something to help these children.
“So she just started to, one by one, slowly bring these children in. And when they come into the home, they are just so blessed and enjoy being there. Pushpa makes sure that they get a good education. She gives them lots of wonderful food – she is a wonderful cook – they do crafts, and they learn all about taking care of the home and being a part of a family. So the environment that she is able to provide for these children is amazing. It is truly a blessing.” – Angela Bernhard Thomas
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Among the new movies that were released Friday, Feb. 21 are a romantic dramedy about a perpetual screw-up who falls in love with a mental patient and an action adventure about one of the most well-known volcanic eruptions of all time.
‘Barefoot’
Scott Speedman plays the “black sheep” son of a wealthy family who meets a young psychiatric patient (Evan Rachel Wood) who has been raised in isolation her entire life and takes the naive young woman home for his brother’s wedding. (PG-13 – 90 minutes)
“Barefoot” may only be the cinematic equivalent of a dog doing its best big eyes expression at the dinner table and, as such, is just as inconsequential but by golly is it just as cute, too. The new film’s flaws become more apparent as the story progresses into the second half, which tries to add more weight to the relationship that develops between its characters that it deserves. However, the flick’s first half is so funny and those aforementioned characters are portrayed with so much enigmatic charm by stars Scott Speedman and Evan Rachel Wood that you simply succumb to its sweet-naturedness. (Thumbs Up!)
‘Pompeii’
Kit Harington plays a slave-turned-gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love, who has been betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts, he must fight to save his beloved as Pompeii crumbles around him. (PG-13 – 102 minutes)
Forgive the pun but “Pompeii” an absolute blast. That is to say that the new action adventure flick about the ancient city that was swallowed by ash and pumice during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius is a little silly but a lot of fun, entertaining viewers first with engrossing melodrama before eventually having all hell break loose upon it. Granted, historically accurate it is not, but what it lacks in significance it more than makes up for in spectacle. Bravo to both Emily Browning for being so gosh darn gorgeous and Kiefer Sutherland for being the very best villain imaginable. (Thumbs Up!)
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Among the new movies that were released Friday, Feb. 14 are an actioner that previously played in competition at the Phoenix Film Festival, a romantic drama starring Alex Pettyfer and a sci-fi flick set in 2028 Detroit.
John T. Woods plays a smuggler who is coerced by violent mid-level traffickers into designing a foolproof plan to bring several kilos of cocaine across the Mexico border and maneuvers to rid himself of their hold over him once and for all. (NR – 95 minutes)
“Down and Dangerous” is a spectacularly slick-looking flick. Writer/director Zak Forsman has an excellent cinematic eye as this crime thriller has the look and feel of a studio release, which is an accomplishment in and of itself when one is working with an independent filmmaker’s budget. However, while Forsman tells a story that is out of the ordinary and rarely regarded, he does so with a conventionality that otherwise obscures its originality. It is possible to predict each narrative move which, in turn, leads to one feeling as though they have already experienced this potboiler in the past. (Thumbs Down!)
Gabriella Wilde and Alex Pettyfer play a privileged girl and a charismatic boy, respectively, whose instant desire sparks a love affair made only more reckless by parents trying to keep them apart. (PG-13 – 103 minutes)
“Endless Love” is dripping with so much cheese that even its target audience – naive teenage girls and other hopeless romantics – will barely be able to tolerate it. If said cheese was solely confined to the romanticism of writer/director Shana Feste’s new drama, then it could be classified as some sort of guilty pleasure. However, nearly each and every line of dialogue spoken during the flick is so laughably ooey-gooey that viewers are almost driven into sheer madness. The only thing that keeps male audience members from going completely insane is their ability to tune out their surroundings and focus on star Gabriella Wilde’s celestial beauty. (Thumbs Down!)
‘RoboCop’
Joel Kinnaman plays a loving husband, father and good cop who, in 2028 Detroit, is critically injured in the line of duty. That is when multinational conglomerate OmniCorp sees its chance to create a police officer that is part-man and part-robot. (PG-13 – 108 minutes)
“RoboCop” is a surprisingly smart and exceptionally exciting sci-fi actioner. The new remake of the 80’s cult classic leaves its predecessor in the dust, adopting a far more serious tone while saying something significant about both free will and the necessity of emotion. The movie’s only misstep is its attempt to incorporate humor and political farce through a series of scenes featuring Samuel L. Jackson while its grandest accomplishment is its audacious display of its title character’s organic torso – a shocking image that is certain to stay with you long after you leave the theater. (Thumbs Up!)
Actor Alex Pettyfer recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role in the new romantic drama “Endless Love.”
In “Endless Love,” which opens Friday, Feb. 14, Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde play a charismatic boy and a privileged girl, respectively, whose instant desire sparks a love affair made only more reckless by parents trying to keep them apart.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Pettyfer by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses the challenge of portraying someone in love as well as what he hopes that viewers take away from “Endless Love.”
“I think that love is built on trust and [writer/director Shana Feste] created this environment for me and Gabriella Wilde to learn to trust each other. We spent a month together beforehand where we just built trust. So it became very easy as we became companions for both of us to trust each other in the movie and go with what we needed to go with in order to portray two people falling in love.
“As for portraying love instead of anger, anger is a very easy emotion for some people to access. And for some people it is very hard to access love and happiness because of insecurities. But I really feel like you have to have a childlike mind when you are in love. You are kind of brought back to that time period in your life when you are 18 or 19 years old. For me it was hard but I had a lot of fun doing it.
“I think that when you are 24 years of age you want to be 30 and you want to act like 30 and have the mindset of a 30-year-old. When I read the script I saw that I was playing 18. So that time period that Shana created for me and Gabriella to go back to and be 18 again was incredible. It was worth doing the movie for.
“Hopefully [people] go see [‘Endless Love’] with someone they care about or love and if not then their friends or family and have a good experience. That is what going to the movies is all about – going in and experiencing something. This is a very lighthearted and fun film. I am glad that it is coming out on Valentine’s Day. Hopefully it is just a good, little adventure that will entertain them for 90 minutes.” – Alex Pettyfer
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Among the new movies that were released Friday, Feb. 7 are a historical drama starring George Clooney, an Irish import starring Will Forte and a romantic comedy starring Tyler Labine.
‘A Fantastic Fear of Everything’
Simon Pegg plays a children’s author turned crime novelist whose detailed research into the lives of Victorian serial killers has turned him into a paranoid wreck, persecuted by an irrational fear of being murdered. (R – 100 minutes)
What is “A Fantastic Fear of Everything?” That is a question that will plague moviegoers’ minds for at least a few moments after having seen the new supposed comedy starring Simon Pegg. Fortunately, the film is so forgettable that said question will not be a nuisance for very long but it is still something troubling considering there are some incredibly inspired bits in the mix. However, a scene in which Pegg amusingly brings to life his character’s fear of the laundromat and an animated segment about a foul-mouthed hedgehog are mere pit stops on an otherwise wildly unfocused journey through one man’s madness. (Thumbs Down!)
An unlikely World War II platoon is tasked with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their rightful owners. Stars include George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman and Jean Dujardin. (PG-13 – 112 minutes)
At first glance, “The Monuments Men” looks like it would be somewhat of a historical fact-based “Ocean’s Eleven.” Unfortunately, George Clooney’s new flick is proof that appearances can be deceiving as moviegoers who are duped into seeing it will soon find themselves subjected to nothing but a boring history lesson. Granted, the potential is there to make this as entertaining as it is substantial – especially given the impressive cast – but said potential is almost completely squandered, with even a glimmer of a sense of humor only rarely peeking its head up out of the trenches. (Thumbs Down!)
Will Forte plays an American doctor who travels to Ireland to study a family after its patriarch (Edward MacLiam) suffers a stroke which changes his personality, leaving his wife (Maxine Peake) to run the show. (NR – 105 minutes)
One wants to like “Run & Jump.” After all, it stars “Saturday Night Live” comedian turned dramatic actor Will Forte, who was in last year’s remarkably rewarding “Nebraska.” And if acting were all that mattered, “Run & Jump” would undoubtedly make the grade as Forte and his co-stars give very emotional performances here. However, writer/director Steph Green’s new Irish import is entirely too cluttered, trying to be a million things at once without ever stopping long enough to do any of them particularly well. More than anything, this jumbled technique only poses a challenge to viewers’ attention. (Thumbs Down!)
Damon Wayans Jr., Hayes MacArthur and Thomas Middleditch play childhood friends who scheme to find a wife for their socially inappropriate pal (Tyler Labine). Their plan completely backfires when his new girlfriend Melanie (Lucy Punch) turns out to be just like him. (NR – 86 minutes)
“Someone Marry Barry” is an extremely entertaining romantic comedy that, in spite of a few fart jokes, even carries a nice message about how there really is somebody for everybody – even the Barrys. Granted, the entire ordeal is unbelievably juvenile and these characters’ quirky… er… annoying traits are a bit too amplified but it definitely delivers on its promise of fun and, much like the exasperatingly immature people in your life with whom you remain friends for no logical reason whatsoever, you cannot help but like these characters and want to see them succeed with one another in the equally illogical thing called love. (Thumbs Up!)
Adam Brody plays one of several unsuspecting office workers who must battle nature – and each other – when they find themselves stranded on a desert island after a corporate retreat led by an unhinged former Marine (Jean-Claude Van Damme) goes horribly wrong. (NR – 95 minutes)
“Welcome to the Jungle” desperately wants to be the next great satirical comedy about life in the workplace. And in the beginning, it does a pretty good job of emulating things like “Office Space” and “Severance.” However, it does not take long before the movie – much like the characters in it – loses its footing on the real world and winds up going entirely too far over the top. The pivotal deal-breaking moment occurs when star Jean-Claude Van Damme is mauled by a wild tiger – over and over and over again – and yet survives the ordeal with hardly life-threatening injuries. (Thumbs Down!)
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Writer/director Mark Jones recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new thriller “Scorned.”
In “Scorned,” which will be available beginning Tuesday, Feb. 4 on Blu-ray and DVD, a romantic weekend turns horrific and sadistic when a young woman (AnnaLynne McCord) discovers that her boyfriend (Billy Zane) is having an affair with her best friend (Viva Bianca).
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Jones by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses what he hopes that viewers take away from “Scorned” as well as what he took away from making the film.
“It is a guy’s worst nightmare. He gets caught cheating by his text messages. It is a lesson to make sure to erase them if you are going to do stuff like that. The lovely girl that he goes away to a weekend lake house with kind of turns into a young, pretty Kathy Bates from ‘Misery.’ Sadie (AnnaLynn McCord) probably says it best when she says, ‘You men need to learn to delete your text messages a little more often.’
I did the picture purely to entertain people. I tried to have fun with the movie and not really take myself seriously in terms of some underlying message. I think it moves quickly. I am one of the directors who has ADD so I tend to cut my pictures very quick. I take things out of the movie. Most directors want to keep things in. But my voice is saying, ‘Let’s cut. Let’s get going.’ I just want people to just enjoy the picture.
“No matter how many pictures you work on, direct or write, every time you do another project you learn something. You think that you have got to the point where you know how to do [everything] but what is interesting is that you learn something new every time you make a movie. Just as an overview from a director – and I am going to speak for Steven Spielberg or somebody on that level – I bet you that every picture he does he walks away and learns something new.” – Mark Jones
Among the new movies that were released Friday, Jan. 31 are a trio of romance flicks – one in which Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga meet on a college campus tour; one in which Josh Brolin takes Kate Winslet hostage and one in which Jessalyn Gilsig finally feels comfortable in her own skin.
Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga play two strangers who meet on their children’s campus tour at the idyllic Middleton College. What begins as an afternoon of fun soon becomes a revealing and enlightening experience that will change their lives forever. (R – 93 minutes)
Thanks primarily to a playful performance from star Vera Farmiga, “At Middleton” is – at least for a while – an incredibly charming little romance flick. One cannot help but fall in love with the actress and her character during the first half of writer/director Adam Rodgers’ new film, which plays out a bit like a college-campus-set “Before Sunrise.” However, as a result of co-star Andy Garcia’s too-quirky character with whom she has very little chemistry and a story that digs a lot deeper than it should, the movie ends with a thud despite having started out as light as a feather. (Thumbs Down!)
Kate Winslet plays a depressed single mom who offers a wounded, fearsome man a ride. As police search town for the escaped convict, she gradually learns his true story and her options become increasingly limited. (PG-13 – 111 minutes)
For a movie that is essentially about a mother and son who are taken hostage by a convicted murderer, “Labor Day” hits on emotions that most viewers will likely never see coming. In fact, when all is said and done, the entire ordeal is actually remarkably romantic – albeit in an extremely strange sort of way. As far-fetched as its 5-day chain-of-events are, the family that is forged by the finale of this fantastic feature film is much more real than most and arrives with a moving message about how the universe finds a way to ensure that we never truly have to walk through life alone. (Breakthrough!)
Jessalyn Gilsig plays a woman who gets mixed up in a convenience store robbery and makes a split-second decision to walk out of her life and into the unknown. On her travels, she meets a teenage drifter (Graham Patrick Martin) on his own journey of self-discovery. (NR – 96 minutes)
“Somewhere Slow” is a fascinating character study about one woman’s journey from an affected existence that leads her to nothing but unhappiness to a genuine one that grants her an opportunity to experience life for the first time. Actress Jessalyn Gilsig gives an extraordinarily engrossing performance in writer/director Jeremy O’Keefe’s new motion picture, skillfully using body language and facial expressions to reveal her character’s internal transformation. The film’s best bits are its bookends, though, as actor Graham Patrick Martin’s character is somewhat unlikeable and is more of tool of the plot than someone real like Gilsig’s character, with whom we empathize against all odds. (Thumbs Up!)
Author Joyce Maynard recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about the new romantic drama based on her book “Labor Day.”
In “Labor Day,” which opens Friday, Jan. 31, Kate Winslet plays a depressed single mom who offers a wounded, fearsome man a ride. As police search town for the escaped convict, she gradually learns his true story and her options become increasingly limited.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Maynard by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the author discusses what she hopes viewers take away from the pie scene in “Labor Day” as well as the movie as a whole.
“Frank (Josh Brolin) is hiding out in a Adele’s (Kate Winslet) house over the course of a long, hot Labor Day weekend and a crucial moment in the story occurs when a neighbor stops by with some overripe peaches. Adele is just about to throw them out when Frank says, ‘I have a better idea,’ and proceeds to make a pie. It has been compared to the potter’s wheel scene in ‘Ghost.’ It is the sexiest pie scene – possibly the sexiest baking scene ever in my opinion. And it is really the moment when we see Frank, Adele and the boy Henry bonding with each other in a very moving way.
“There are lots of different ways for people to experience sexual chemistry and heat and only some of them occur in bed with their clothes off. I wanted to show two people with big, powerful emotions for each other in a different way than we normally see them. So, nobody takes off their aprons but you certainly feel the heat between those two. And I wanted to show the tenderness of this man. He is this big, tough-looking, scary-looking guy but he also makes a good pie, which, for me, there is nothing more moving than a man who is able to be tender and gentle as well. I wanted the audience to get to know him and you get to know a person when you see that person make a pie.
“I hope people leave the movie hopeful – hopeful about love and hopeful about second chances. I don’t want to give away what happens. It’s not a fairytale but it is about two people with some miles on them and some big-time losses and heartbreaks who get a second chance. And I believe in those; you’re talking to somebody who just got married for the first time after 25 years last summer at the age of 59. So if you want a big full-on love story, you’ll get one from this movie. And I’d love it if they go home and read my book. Of course, as good as the movie is, the book is always the best.” – Joyce Maynard
Actor Andy Garcia recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role in the new romantic dramedy “At Middleton.”
In “At Middleton,” which opens Friday, Jan. 31, Garcia and Vera Farmiga play two strangers who meet on their children’s campus tour at the idyllic Middleton College. What begins as an afternoon of fun soon becomes a revealing and enlightening experience that will change their lives forever.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Garcia by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses what he hopes that viewers take away from “At Middleton” as well as what he took away from the experience making the movie.
“The conceit is that sometimes in life you can encounter sort of a thunderbolt – that moment when you see or meet someone that can change your life. I think that happens a lot of times. Whether you act upon that or not is a different story. But that is what the movie explores. The movie explores and maybe celebrates the conceit of that magical moment when two people meet and that special thing happens.
“I think that is a very romantic notion and a lot of times it can change people’s lives. You can commit the relationship or continue to explore it or [allow it to be] just a moment in time. Whether it is a man or a woman, maybe that person becomes your best friend; but you feel a deep connection right away and you say, ‘I feel like I have known you forever and I really feel that we can be special friends or lovers or partners. This happens all of the time and I think that the movie tries explore that.
“On a personal level, what I take with me is the actual experience as an actor and the experience of making the film creatively with my fellow collaborators – from the director and the producers to Vera [Farmiga] and the [rest of the] cast. I also take great pride in the fact that we set out to tell a story on our own with very little help and we got it done. I think that is a very beautiful thing for all of us who worked hard to do that and all of us who showed up to be a part of this. So that is sort of where I hang my hat.” – Andy Garcia
Writer/director Jeremy O’Keefe and actress Jessalyn Gilsig recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about their new drama “Somewhere Slow.”
In “Somewhere Slow,” which opens Friday, Jan. 31 exclusively at AMC Esplanade, Gilsig plays a woman who gets mixed up in a convenience store robbery and makes a split-second decision to walk out of her life and into the unknown. On her travels, she meets a teenage drifter (Graham Patrick Martin) on his own journey of self-discovery.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with O’Keefe and Gilsig by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which they discuss what they hope viewers take away from watching “Somewhere Slow.”
“There are some external things about Anna that, of course, are really troubling. She has really bad skin and I remember going to my hairdresser and saying, ‘Just give me really bad highlights.’ I wanted it to be a little stripy, like her hair has been over-processed. And, obviously, she has got these overgrown lips because she has sort of gone too far with plastic surgery and cosmetic intervention.
“But, really, I think that her outward appearance is informed by how uncomfortable she is on the inside; how uncomfortable she is with herself; how awkward she is just interacting with people, being real and being fully present. So much of the story Jeremy wrote is about that journey of relaxing, trusting people and letting them in. I think that when the film opens there is a lot of love around Anna.
“She has got a very attentive husband and she has got a mother and a sister who are sort of harping on her but it comes from a place of love. But she cannot receive it. She can’t even return it. I think that through her journey … she learns to relax, to breathe, to be in the moment and to actually receive people with an open mind. So as much as there are these external things that make her unattractive and seem sort of forced and tense, I actually think that all of that comes more from the inside.” – Jessalyn Gilsig
“There is this complexity within all of us. I think that what Anna feels is something that all of us feel. It is what we feel as kids and in our 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, etc. It is something that is much more universal than unique. I wrote a story that takes place over 8 days. It takes place almost in real time. So rather than having it feel like [Anna] has to take a giant leap forward, the movie is about the realization that you can make a first step to change the way you are, to grow and to be happier with yourself.
And a lot of that can be done without a lot of dialogue; with just Jessalyn’s expressiveness and the way she lives as Anna. Having someone who was so committed to the simplicity of Anna … there is something about [Jessalyn] not trying to drive home this point about how crazy we are or how uncomfortable we are and instead sort of just going from beat to beat. So I was allowed to just watch that. I was allowed to just capture that and have that tell the story. We didn’t have to do much more on top of that. We wanted to keep it simple.” – Jeremy O’Keefe
I am excited to say that this is my first blog! While my blogs in the future will be a bit more content driven, I want you to get to know me first. My name is Kim Isaac. I am an autism specialist and co-host of “Understanding Autism” radio show. Almost 17 years ago, a friend of mine gave out my phone number to a mother of a 13 year old, non-verbal boy who had autism. His mother had been looking for people to work with him in his home-based therapy program. When she first called me, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to meet them. I knew nothing about autism. After some ‘backing and forthing’ with myself, something inside told me to go and at least meet them. This decision changed my life. I remember the exact moment that I met him… Kyle. I remember his mom walking me back to his room to meet him and he slowly walked out. He had a little cold at the time, so he was sniffing a little. I knew that he was non-verbal and felt a little bit nervous, as I wasn’t sure how he was going to express himself. How would I know if he was upset? Confused? Needed help? I was cautious approaching. He slowly approached us and gently put his index fingertip on my shirt and guided me to his room. His mother said, “That means he wants you to go with him.” His sweet gentility struck me. I was amazed that he chose to engage me on some level. I was amazed that this boy, who had so many challenges was so sweet-natured. At that moment, I realized that I wanted to help this boy. Like I was struck by lightening, it became very clear that my purpose in life involved helping him and others like him. I began working in his home program. At the time, his family was involved in a therapy called, “Son-rise”. Learning about Kyle, autism and this therapy, intrigued me. After awhile, I began working with other children and families. I was exposed to and trained in a variety of therapies and methodologies. I learned about ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), TEEACH, NACD, and Floor-time. I also had many observational learning sessions from speech pathologists, occupational therapists and autism consultants from all around the country. My initial work with Kyle, led me to working in home-based habilitation programs working with many children on the autism spectrum.Eight years ago, I earned a professional certification in Certified Relationship Development Intervention (RDI). After being involved in so many different therapies, I found this program to be the ‘missing link’ to all that I still couldn’t define about autism. Since becoming a Certified RDI Consultant, I have changed my focus to working with families, as well as teenagers and adults on the spectrum. At present, I have an autism consulting practice and consult with individuals and families all over the United States. In addition to my professional certification, I have a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Counseling Studies.Paul and I met not too long after he received an Aspergers diagnosis (which is no longer identified by that particular name in the DSM, but is identified in the category autism spectrum disorder.). As our work together progressed, Paul began to express so much of what he was thinking and how he was processing the world. He was able to do this in such clear and insightful ways. I recognized that his ability to do this was rare and very powerful- not only in helping me to help him, but also that it was something that could be shared with others. A few years ago, I received an offer to create and host an autism radio show. At first, I turned it down. While I consider myself to be a welcoming and friendly person, I prefer to be in the background vs. the spotlight. Co-hosting a radio show on my own would be way out of my comfort zone. I began to think about Paul. He was in the process of learning about himself and finding some direction. I began to wonder if he would want to pursue using his strengths to move forward in his own life, as well as help others through speaking. As a guide, I knew that we would start out as a team. Even though I was nervous, I knew it would be positive for Paul and had great potential to evolve into something great. After some discussion, Paul agreed to try it out and here we are now…two and half years after “Understanding Autism” radio show was born. Paul continues to offer insight based on his life experience and his evolving understanding of autism and I bring my 17 years of professional experience and expertise, in hopes of helping people to better understand autism.Our show is focused around the idea of understanding. We want to help people to truly understand autism, not just be aware of it. People tend to fear or judge things that they don’t understand. Many families, individuals and communities need support and an increased understanding of autism, so that they can relate to their loved ones in order to better help them.
Among the new movies that were released Friday, Jan. 24 are a crime thriller imported from Israel, a drama about homelessness starring Vanessa Hudgens and an exploitation flick about white-tank-top-clad women who are forced to beat each other to death.
A series of brutal murders puts the lives of three men on a collision course: The father of the latest victim now out for revenge, a vigilante police detective operating outside the boundaries of law, and the main suspect in the killings – a religious studies teacher arrested and released due to a police blunder. (NR – 110 minutes)
Once upon a time there were a couple of filmmakers named Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado who turned the horror genre on its head with a movie called “Rabies.” Now they try to do the same thing with crime thriller “Big Bad Wolves.” And while their sophomore effort is not nearly as revolutionary as their previous project, their sick-and-twisted sense of humor and sincerely shocking end-game revelations keep viewers interested and engaged from start to finish. You have probably heard this story before, but never with this much knack for tone and torture. (Thumbs Up!)
Vanessa Hudgens plays a pregnant teenager whose journey plummets her into a perilous struggle until finding salvation in a suburban shelter for homeless teens where she is finally able to break the shackles of her past and embrace the future with clarity, maturity and hope not only for herself but her unborn child. (PG-13 – 100 minutes)
On the one hand, “Gimme Shelter” feels like a film that would be released by a faith-based studio. After all, it has got some strong Christian undertones, boasts a very valuable message and features many emotional moments that feel forced and a little heavy-handed. Even star Vanessa Hudgens’ performance is a bit too amplified – although it is impressive that she is able to break free from her “High School Musical” roots. Yet, as the motion picture progresses, the emotions come increasingly more natural and the story’s uplifting elements shine through – as do revelatory performances from supporting players Ann Dowd, Brendan Fraser and especially Rosario Dawson. (Thumbs Up!)
‘Raze’
Zoe Bell plays a young woman who is abducted by an elite, secret society and wakes to find herself in the company of 50 other women who are, just like her, forced to fight for their lives in an unimaginable hell. (NR – 87 minutes)
Do you get a kick out of watching white-tank-top-clad women beat each other to death? Well, keep your eyes peeled for an e-mail from me with the name and number of a hopefully helpful therapist. In the meantime, the new film “Raze” will add more fuel to your frankly very disturbing fire. Although the final 15 minutes are riveting and rewarding, the rest is revolting – devoid of any redeeming value whatsoever (unless, of course, you equate exploitation with entertainment). Adding insult to injury is the fact that the beautiful Rachel Nichols receives top billing despite barely even being in the movie. (Thumbs Down!)
Writer/director Ronald Krauss and Several Sources Shelters President Kathy DiFiore recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about the new drama “Gimme Shelter.”
In “Gimme Shelter,” which opens Friday, Jan. 24, Vanessa Hudgens plays a pregnant teenager whose journey plummets her into a perilous struggle until finding salvation in a suburban shelter for homeless teens where she is finally able to break the shackles of her past and embrace the future with clarity, maturity and hope not only for herself but her unborn child.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Krauss and DiFiore by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which they discuss what they hope that audiences take away from watching “Gimme Shelter.”
“I would like this film to carry the mantle of us as a society reviewing where we are at today and how we have been sort of classifying things up until this point. The first is family and that in today’s world the definition of family is quite different than what it was even 5 years or 10 years ago. Family sort of looked like Brendan Fraser’s [character’s] family – the American dream and the opportunity of just getting it all and having it perfect. But the world is not perfect.
“The truth is that most people don’t have that and are made to feel like outcasts. But even friends are your family. And you are not an outcast; you are just as good as everybody else. I think that more and more people are starting to understand that. We are all each other’s family. We need each other’s support. I am hoping that people who see this film will recognize these things as well as that there is always hope – especially if you have a selfless person caring about you. As long as you have somebody – anybody, even just a friend – there is a chance.” – Ronald Krauss
“[After the screening of the film in Phoenix], a young man came up to me crying. He kept saying, ‘That was me.’ I hugged him and kept burying him in my shoulder because I felt that this young man needed so much love and so much attention. It made me realize that when people watch this movie … they might get sideswiped like this young man. And our culture has to pick up people who need help. It made me think of the fact that we don’t look at each other much face-to-face anymore. We are so involved in the wonderful electronics that we have but we need that love, that sense of dignity and that sense that somebody cares about the fact that we are wounded.’” – Kathy DiFiore
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Dolly SteamboatAmong the new movies that were released Friday, Jan. 17 are a high school reunion comedy starring Michael Rosenbaum, a CIA action-drama starring Chris Pine and a cat-and-mouse thriller starring Dominic Cooper and Samuel L. Jackson.
Michael Rosenbaum plays a man who heads home for his 20-year high school reunion and, in an attempt to relive the glory days with his boys and explore an old romance, nearly destroys his hometown and friendships. (R – 93 minutes)
Writer/director/star Michael Rosenbaum may have been able to get away with the juvenile humor in his new comedy “Back in the Day” had its characters been celebrating their 10-year high school reunion. However, seeing men who are closing the gap on age 40 get their kicks by farting on one another is not amusing; it’s pathetic. That is just the beginning of a long laundry list of things that are wrong with Rosenbaum’s complete train-wreck, though. The script is superficial, the acting is affected and the story is stale, hitting all of the same notes we have heard countless times before on the way to an expected ending. (Thumbs Down!)
Chris Pine plays a young covert CIA analyst who uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack. Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley and Kenneth Branagh also star. (PG-13 – 106 minutes)
Having only seen (and, for the most part, forgotten) 2002’s “The Sum of All Fears,” “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” may as well be this film columnist’s first encounter with the film franchise based on late author Tom Clancy’s bestselling books. That introduction to a new generation of moviegoers is likely exactly what Paramount Pictures is hoping for here, having hot-ticket star Chris Pine step into shoes previously worn by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. And while the result is a fairly familiar affair in terms of the action-drama genre, its intelligently choreographed intensity makes for one exciting cinematic experience. (Thumbs Up!)
Dominic Cooper plays a District Attorney whose life is turned upside down when he becomes involved in a hit and run and another man (Samuel L. Jackson) is arrested for his crime and charged with murder. (R – 90 minutes)
“Reasonable Doubt” is kind of contrived but its serpentine story and snappy pace save the day, making the movie well worth watching – even though you may wind up forgetting it soon thereafter. Granted, those who are exposed to the film’s trailer will have the vast majority of the motion picture’s surprises spoiled for them, so try your best to experience the story uninformed in order to dispense the most gasps. Moreover, the roller-coaster loops distract you from the fact that the flick fails to operate with any real-world sensibility, which would have elevated an adequate piece of entertainment into terrific territory. (Thumbs Up!)
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Among the new movies that were released Friday, Jan. 10 are a dysfunctional family drama starring Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep, a romantic dramedy starring Joaquin Phoenix and an actioner starring Mark Wahlberg.
A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. (R – 121 minutes)
You will not see a finer example of spectacular acting in all of 2013 than the performance delivered by any one of “August: Osage County’s” stars. Nor will you be able to recall a more accurate example than John Wells’ cinematic adaptation of Tracy Letts’ play of a story that works better on the stage than it does on the screen. Granted, the powerful performances – especially those of Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep – are worth the price of admission in and of themselves (not to mention more fun to watch than your own dysfunctional family’s vehemently violent verbal exchanges) but it all adds up to too much talk and not enough action. (Thumbs Up!)
‘Her’
Joaquin Phoenix plays a lonely writer who develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system (Scarlett Johansson) that is designed to meet his every need. Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde and Rooney Mara also star. (R – 120 minutes)
“Her” is essentially a one-man show about a man who is living life like it is… well… a one-man show. Given only a very small handful of scenes in which he has got another human being to act opposite, star Joaquin Phoenix gives an emotional performance that is nothing short of outstanding – which is made even better by writer/director Spike Jonze’s constant close ups of the actor’s incredibly expressive face. Having said that, while Jonze’s romantic dramedy makes a remarkable point about our ever-decreasing willingness to make potentially risky, interpersonal connections and the individual and widespread consequences of that, 2002’s “S1m0ne” made a similar point with much more entertainment value. (Thumbs Up!)
Mark Wahlberg plays the lone surviving member in a team of Navy SEALS who are tasked with the mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shahd. Other stars include Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster and Eric Bana. (R – 120 minutes)
From its title alone, you know the outcome of “Lone Survivor.” What you do not know, though, is that this game of “10 Little Indians” plays out in excruciatingly drawn-out fashion as the Navy SEALS who risk – and, in this case, give – their lives for the safety of the citizens of the United States of America do not go down without a fight. Writer/director Peter Berg’s new movie mimics their relentlessness as the entertainment experience, in all of its graphic brutality, is undoubtedly unique while paying tribute to the men who will take a bullet to their head and break every bone in their body but remarkably keep moving forward. (Thumbs Up!)
Kaya Scodelario plays a troubled young woman who becomes preoccupied with her mysterious new neighbor (Jessica Biel) who bears a striking resemblance to her dead mother. In offering to babysit her newborn, the young woman unwittingly enters a fragile, fictional world of which she becomes the gatekeeper. (NR – 96 minutes)
The truth about “The Truth About Emanuel” is that while it features a very distinct mood and two terrific performances from leading ladies Kaya Scodelario and Jessica Biel, writer/director Francesca Gregorini’s new dramatic thriller’s thematic identity is far too unfocused. Should viewers be scared or merely intrigued? Should they feel sympathetic toward these characters or instead laugh at their often outlandish behavior? Granted, a good movie will deliver all of the above but this motion picture amalgamates it all into one confusing concoction that moves at a slightly too-measured pace and repeatedly goes off the deep-end with hallucinatory dream sequences. (Thumbs Down!)
Anna Margaret Hollyman plays a woman who, after an unexpected tragedy, struggles to put her life back together during a sad, strange Christmastime in suburban Virginia. (NR – 82 minutes)
On the one hand, “White Reindeer” is a breath of fresh air, reflecting the fact that perfection is merely an illusion – even at Christmastime. After all, the juxtaposition of joy and melancholy always makes for an interesting concoction as exhibited by this past fall’s brilliant “All is Bright.” On the other hand, writer/director Zach Clark’s new dark dramedy does not go anywhere of specified significance, leading to an experience that is often amusing but rarely if ever moving. Star Anna Margaret Hollyman gives a great performance and the whole thing is uniquely depressing but also in dire need of a story arc. (Thumbs Down!)
Mark Burnham plays one of several bad cops who look to dispose of a body that one of them accidentally shot. (NR – 82 minutes)
Writer/director Quentin Dupieux’s first film produced by Realitism Films – “Rubber” – was a wacky work of genius. His second outing – “Wrong” – was amusing but ultimately unable to retain the viewer’s interest throughout. Dupieux’s downward spiral from greatness into awfulness not only continues but accelerates with his third effort – the lazily titled “Wrong Cops.” The new comedy is not only lacking a cohesive plot, coming across as a series of loosely connected skits, it is also lacking laughs. And without those, it nothing more than annoying nonsense. (Thumbs Down!)
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Writer/director Francesca Gregorini recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about her new dramatic thriller “The Truth About Emanuel.”
In “The Truth About Emanuel,” which opens Friday, Jan. 10, Kaya Scodelario plays a troubled young woman who becomes preoccupied with her mysterious new neighbor (Jessica Biel) who bears a striking resemblance to her dead mother. In offering to babysit her newborn, the young woman unwittingly enters a fragile, fictional world of which she becomes the gatekeeper.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Gregorini by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses the themes of “The Truth About Emanuel.”
“‘The Truth About Emanuel’ is [the story of] one girl’s coming-of-age and, in a sense, one woman’s coming-of-age. I like coming-of-age stories. And I like female-driven [stories]. I think that that is probably going to be consistent in my work. We don’t have enough of it and I’m good at it so I think that that is probably going to be a recurring theme in my work.
“I think that with ‘The Truth About Emanuel” I maybe dug a little bit deeper in terms of issues that that I was interested in tackling – like madness, mortality and loss. And even though they sound quite macabre and like a bummer, having seen the film you know that you don’t walk out of there being bummed out about life. Hopefully there is a sense of hope and a sense of wonder. And I hope to bring both of those things to my future works.
“Like I said, I think that the feeling is hopefully one of hope and I think that the message, if there is one, is that we can’t save ourselves. But in saving one another, that is how we save ourselves. Emanuel cannot get past the hurdle of her mother being dead and is unwilling to take even the most remote steps in that healing process.
“But I think that when she realizes that unless she does that Linda is also going to be sort of in a sea of trouble, she steps up and does it. I think that that is a beautiful characteristic of us humans. Sometimes we are unwilling to do something to care for ourselves but in caring for one another we sort of end up healing ourselves.” – Francesca Gregorini
Director Stephen Frears recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new drama “Philomena.”
In “Philomena,” which is now playing, Steve Coogan plays a world-weary political journalist who picks up the story of a woman’s (Judi Dench) search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Frears by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the director discusses what drew him to “Philomena” and what he hopes that audiences take away from the film.
“What I liked about it is that it is a tragedy and a comedy at the same time. It is a tragedy and, on top of that, there is a romantic comedy or a road movie or a buddy movie or whatever you want to call it. That is what made it so interesting. Philomena’s story is so dreadful and then, on top of that, there is humor and lightness and I thought that those two complemented each other very well. The work was always about balancing those two elements.
“I thought that the pairing [of Steve Coogan and Judi Dench] would be very good. In the old days, they used to talk about chemistry between actors and I thought that these two had very good chemistry. [Judi Dench] is constantly the most wonderful woman. She is an incredible woman. She can play joy in a way that nobody else can. She is fantastic.
“Philomena sort of gets a new son [in the film], doesn’t she? It seems to me that we made it with a lot of love and there is a lot of love in the film. And there is a lot of innocence against cynicism – things like that. So I hope that [audiences] have a good time. It taught me that I am not capable of forgiveness in the same way that Philomena is.” – Stephen Frears
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Jersey Boys
“A blend of vintage memories, which ignited the senses and brought back a time where youth had no limits.”
I knew the songs but I had no idea of the story behind the songs. The real life experiences of how Frankie Valli and the four seasons became one of the most popular musical groups in history.
The Jersey Boys playing now at Paris in Las Vegas is the story of Frankie Valli and the four seasons. This classy musical not only brought back wonderful memories of the some of the greatest songs that were ever written but between each song told a history of the group and each members personal struggles as well as good times. However, the sparkle, fame, fortune and the glamorous life that celebrities seem to have, often creates an untouchable status that seems far removed from reality. As Fans, it is often difficult to relate to them on a personal level. Yet, this musical brought the audience inside the lives of each group member and as their story unfolded, tears, joys and awe allowed the audience to create an instant bond with the members of the group.
The cast was remarkable in being able to bring their musical talents by way of voices, instruments and harmony to the stage along with their superb acting ability to present to the audience the story behind the story.
The audience was mesmerized by the exquisite rendition of the number one hits that Frankie Valli and the Four seasons performed.
The #1 hits came flying off the stage such as:
Oh what a night
Rag Doll
Silhouette
Earth Angel
Big girls don’t cry
Sherry baby
Walk like a man
My eyes adored you
Let’s hang on
Working my way back to you girl
I can’t take my eyes off of you
As the musical was wrapping up, the audience started dancing in the isles.
A new meaning was born with regards to the songs, the story and real life experiences of the one of the greatest musical groups of all time – Frankie Valli and the Four seasons.
Earth Angel Frankie Valli Jersey Boys The Four Seasons
