'Twin Flower' DVD Review

Anna (Anastasiya Bogach) and Basim (Kallil Kone) are two teenage runaways fleeing from different paths. Anna had been kidnapped by a human trafficker who had killed her father. Basim is a refugee from the Ivory Coast who is simply wanting to find work. Anna had escaped from her fathers murderer but was being harassed by some male harassers. The two travel together through Sardinia hoping to begin new lives. Anna doesn’t say to much due to the trauma that had been her life. Basim is able to show Anna that he can be trusted and she is able to open up to him even in small ways. As the two travel the countryside they forge for anything to eat or simply use. Anna will eventually find work with a florist by the name of Fioraio (Giorgio Colangeli). Basim will eventually take some work as a prostitute.

The two become friends and probably much closer as the film moves on. The chemistry between the two is very personal to say the least. The sad part of the film is that Manfredi (Aniello Arena) the human trafficker who simply can’t allow Anna to get away. He hunts the countryside asking everyone he meets if they had seen her. Towards the end he comes close to capturing her again but I’ll let you find out what happens when you see the film. Writer-Director Laura Luchetti is only on her second film with the wonderful coming of age story. Many have acknowledged her efforts with this film and look forward for more to come from her in the future. Along with this film you will also have a short film to watch in addition.

Film Movement brings this wonderful coming of age story to DVD on December 24th, 2019. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are superb. The scenery help makes this film. This will be a wonderful addition to your personal library. Though this isn’t being released until Christmas Eve it could still be a great gift to that special someone. Whatever the reason you will want to check this one out and enjoy.

'A Feast Of Man' DVD Review

Gallagher (Laurence Joseph Bond) is a wealthy eccentric who lives in New York has died unexpectedly. His friends who are also socialites have been summoned to his country home for the viewing of the will. Yes Gallagher made a video for his friends to watch. Dickie (Jesse Rudoy), Wolf (Chris Shields), Judy (Katey Parker) and Judy’s fiancé Ted (Frank Mosley) have all arrived to the country home that overlooks the Hudson. The executor of the estate is Wolf and things just don’t seem to very well. The friends know that there is some serious money at stake with Gallagher’s will. What they don’t know is what Gallagher has added to the will.

When the viewing takes place the friends find out what’s needed to inherit. Each friend will inherit a million dollars each but they must eat Gallagher. Yup that’s right they must partake in a portion of Gallagher to inherit a portion of the will. At first they believe it’s a joke but as the deadline approaches they realize it wasn’t a joke and they must become a carnivore. There is comedy as well as drama suspense especially when the group is getting closer to the deadline. Can these humans do the most detesting thing known to man where they actually eat their friend for money, you alone will have to find out by viewing the film.

IndiePix brings this delicious film to DVD on December 17th, 2019. The quality of the DVD is fantastic and the sights and sounds are superb. This will be a wonderful addition to your personal library and it will make a great gift for that special person this Christmas. So you just might want to pick this one up and find out how a group of friends react to what’s expected for them to inherit a million dollars. The beautiful thing about this film is if you can put yourself in their shoes and think about what you might do if one of your friends does the same to you. Would you take a bite for your share of the loot.

'The Cotton Club Encore' Blu-Ray Review

It’s the 35th anniversary since the release of 'The Cotton Club'. The story dealt with the relationship between entertainers and gangsters back in the 1930’s Harlem Cotton Club. This was the place to be and be seen if you were trying to make a name for yourself. Whether it be in entertainment or crime they both went hand in hand. Director Francis Ford Coppola brought this all together and it has stood the tales of time. In other words the film is still as entertaining as ever.
Richard Gere, Gregory Hines and Diane Lane led the cast. Lonette McKee, Bob Hoskins, and James Kemar also starred in the film. Nicolas Cage, Laurence Fishburne, Allen Garfield and Fred Gwynne rounded out the list of stars for the film.

There are several noticeable aspects about the film that stick out and they did so in the 30’s. The only way a black person was to get into the Cotton Club was to be an entertainer and the audience was white. The Cotton Club also was in its hay day was during prohibition but alcohol flowed in the place. Gangsters like Dutch Schultz were always there and if you did one a favor like Richard Gere’s character Dixie you really could right your ticket. In the movie Dixie saved Schultz life and that allowed him to get what he wanted.

Coppola’s Encore version has changed some and added others but you will have to watch it to find out what was fixed. Is the film true to life somewhat. Is the film entertaining most definitely.
Lionsgate released the Cotton Club Encore on December 10th, 2019. The Blu-ray is in excellent quality. The sights and sounds are superb. This will make an excellent addition to that personal library of yours. This will also make a wonderful gift for that special person this Christmas. Step back in time and enjoy an era long gone and watch entertainment at its best.

'Semper Fi' Blu-Ray Review

A small group of friends live in upper New York near the Canadian border. They are in regular jobs with one thing in common in that they are in the Marine Corp Reserves and one weekend a month they travel to Fort Drum for duty. They are getting ready to go active and that makes everyone on edge. Cal (Jai Courtney) is a police officer and is the older brother of Oyster (Nat Wolff).  Oyster is always getting in trouble with the law and Cal is always getting him out of trouble. Cal had to get waivers on Oyster’s felonies so he could get him into the reserves. Jaeger (Finn Wittrock) is what one would call a ladies man. When he is in the car riding around all one can smell is his cologne

Transcendence. It literally stinks up the place. Jaeger’s hang up is he was with this one girl and he is still hung up on her. Unfortunately she has had enough and moved on.  Milk ( Beau Knapp) rounds out the group and is probably the grown up of the group. He is married and has a small child but still goes drinking with the group and like everyone else calls his friends Bro.

The time for deployment and heading off to war in Iraq but oyster gets in a bar fight and kills the guy. He is sentenced to 25 years and it’s not easy inside. The guards have singled him out for some sadistic treatment but the rest of the group gets shipped out. The three survive Iraq but when Cal gets back he believes his brother is going to die in prison. He talks with Jaeger and milk and they decide to get him out of prison. It’s not an easy job but you’ll have to watch the film to see what happens.
Lionsgate has already released this Blu-Ray and it is worth picking this up and adding it to that personal library. The Blu-Ray is excellent and the sights and sounds are superb. This film will also make a wonderful gift for that special person this Christmas.

'The Cotton Club Encore' - Announcement

It has been 35 years since the release of Francis Ford Coppola’s 'The Cotton Club'. The Cotton Club Encore will have scenes that weren’t in the original movie. The story is about entertainers who get involved with local gangsters. Their lives become intertwined in good and bad ways. The musical scenes are wonderful to watch. In this article you will see a clip of Stormy Weather that is rather entertaining.

The film stars Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, Diane Lane and Lonette McKee. It also has Bob Hoskins, James Kemar. Rounding out the rest of the cast was Nicolas Cage, Laurence Fishburne, Allen Garfield and Fred Gwynne.

In the 1930’s Harlem’s Cotton Club was the place to be. It had the entertainment and yes it had the gangsters. Some of the entertainers thought by getting involved with the gangster element it would promote their talents and put money in their pockets. For let us not forget money and jobs were in short supply during the 1930’s America. Coppola’s version of history is pretty right on which makes this a pretty enjoyable film.

Lionsgate brings The Cotton Club Encore to DVD and Blu-Ray on December 10, 2019. I for one am looking forward to seeing it. So enjoy the film clip of Stormy Weather and get out there and pick this one up in honor of the 35th anniversary of its release.

'Holly Near: Singing For Our Lives' DVD Review

Holly Near has been performing for at least five decades. She is a singer, songwriter and social activist and has been a part of social a activism for 50 years. She hails from a small town in Northern California but has traveled the world to spread her message. She has performed at million-person peace marches and each and every time she has empowered many with her music. She pushes for gay-rights, women’s rights, anti-war protests and basically for all human rights in general. Though she never got the empowerment as a Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell she has been noticed by Jane Fonda Gloria Steinem and Pete Seeger.

'Singing For Our Lives' is a true documentary on the life of Holly Near. It has interviews with the late Ronnie Gilbert, the late Tom Hayden, Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem. It is with this documentary that Near has been given the acknowledgment of iconic artist and activist. It is a status well deserved. This documentary allows the youth of America who are just beginning to believe in injustices that plague this nation that there has been a group of die hard protesters who have fought for decades to right the wrong.

Director Jim Brown has shown us the true nature of protest through this film. We do not have to be violent and destructive to right the wrongs. We can march in peace and love and sing the songs that have for so long been a part of the peace movement. On a personal note I was in Chicago back in the mid 80’s and saw her at a peace rally singing her songs and she was great.

Omnibus Entertainment brings us this wonderful documentary to DVD on December 10th, 2019. The quality of the DVD is fantastic and the sights and sounds are superb. This DVD will make a wonderful addition to that personal library of yours and would also make a wonderful Christmas gift to that special someone this holiday season.

'That Part Feeling- The Universe Of Arvo Part' DVD Review

Arvo Part is an Estonian composer who is a recluse at heart. He is one of the most performed composer living but would rather be by himself. Director Paul Hegeman saw an opportunity when Part was collaborating with the Cello Octet Amsterdam where he could show the man and his work in a documentary film. In the film the viewer gets to see the sensitivity of the man along with some humor and just how much energy he puts into his work. Part has gained a reputation that it is not through words that an artist communicates but through his music. Part is a recluse but what he says and means are not in words but in his music.

Part has become known for his work through a minimalistic style that he invented. His compositional style called ”tintinnabuli”is a spiritual harmonious minimalistic approach to music that has made him famous. It is through this feeling of beauty and a essence of being that is embraced by many.
It is through this film the one gets to observe Part’ universe through the intense collaboration with the Cello Octet Amsterdam. Part is able to mix his love for music into words that many are unable to speak in words.

Film Movement brings this wonderful film to DVD on December 3rd, 2019. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are superb. This is a must for that personal library. It is also a beautiful gift for that special person this Christmas. You will see greatness at its best and you can enjoy it over and over. Arvo Part is truly a genius and should be known by the world for the beauty that he extolls through his musical composing.

'The Miracle Of The Little Prince' DVD Review

'The Little Prince' was originally published in 1943. It’s the story of an angelic child that helps or befriends a pilot who is stranded in the North African desert. It is also one of the most translated books next to the Bible. It had been translated into some 375 languages. It is an amazing tale of alienation, friendship, loneliness and life eternal. Many who are outcasts or exiles understand this  story better than most.

'The Miracle of The Little Prince' is directed by Marjoleine Boonstra. The Dutch documentarian looks at the masterpiece as it is translated from French into Tibetan, Tamazight (North Africa), Sami (Northern Finland and Scandinavia) and Nawat (El Salvador). These languages are currently on their way out. The are very likely to become extinct very soon. Since this is one of the most translated story it is interesting to look at how it translates into these dying languages. It is interesting to see just how an alien prince on earth becomes interpreted into their culture. People are asked about the first time they actually read the book. This is a good read but as far as a film goes it’s going to be hard for the ordinary person to follow along. Boonstra’s approach is straightforward and this is actually a must see for most of us. As people’s and languages are becoming extinct it is good to learn and understand these cultures before they are lost in time.

Film Movement brings this film to DVD on December 3rd, 2019. The quality of the DVD is fantastic. The sights and sounds are superb. The knowledge we can take away from this film is wonderful. Your children will learn much and it doesn’t hurt that you sit with them and learn also. This will make a wonderful gift for that special person this Christmas season. Enjoy.