filmguyCI

I caught this charming little indie on Netflix before I heard of Timothee Chalamet or had seen Call Me By Your Name. The plot revolves around a well meaning although slightly sad and lonely teacher, played by an excellent Lily Rabe, who takes three of her students to an out of town drama competition. One student, Billy (Timothee Chalamet), she is warned has emotional and behavioral issues.

From the drive to the festival to the rehearsals and social events leading up to the competition, the film is filled with both funny and poignant moments. Billy develops a crush on Miss Stevens and his charm and youthful energy draw her to him as well, something that both comforts and scares her..

What I loved about Timothee Chalamet's performance was that he was always in character, always reacting in ways that subtly show he has feelings for his teacher. He is a depressed kid with possible ADHD, but he feels deeply and the longing he has for his teacher is moving and palpable. When he performs his monologue from Death of A Salesman, it's clear he's channeled those repressed feelings into his performance. It also may be the best I've ever heard that monologue done. At that moment, a star was born both in the film and in real life.

I am a horror film fanatic and am always excited to find a film that isn't well known, but does it's job. This film completely surprised and at times, terrified me. If there was ever a horror movie murderer ripe for a franchise, Art the Clown, is the one.

A brother and sister return home from trick or treating. Their babysitter finds a VHS tape in the boy's bag and decides to watch it (with the kids!). The tape shows three short films revolving around a killer clown. These are pretty brutal and this clown is pure evil.

The babysitter gets more and more unhinged as she watches it and finally puts the kids to bed. But the fun doesn't stop there and shutting off the tape is not an option.

I started to become increasingly paranoid as the film took a final strange and unexpected turn. I literally couldn't move for a couple of minutes after it was over. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to watch this alone on Halloween night.

I can't believe that there is just one other review for this terrific show. And it's an unfairly negative one at that. A champagne glass?

This show profiles true life cases of people who have disappeared without a trace. Through interviews with family members and reenactments , we learn of the events that lead up to the person's disappearance. I have watched every episode of the show's 6 seasons and almost always, I am completely absorbed.

A person disappearing without a trace is disturbing and one can only imagine what the family members are going through as they search for answers. I have been so taken with some of these cases that years later I will think about someone I saw on an episode and do a search to see if there is any updated news on the case.

I'm not sure if this show has ever been responsible for someone being found as Unsolved Mysteries used to claim back in its day, however, it certainly doesn't hurt to have another forum to get the word out to help find these missing people.

I'm happy to learn that a 7th season is being produced due to viewer demand. Smart move by Investigation Discovery as it has been , in my opinion, their most important and highest quality show.

I hate to be cruel to a well intentioned film maker's efforts, but this one was rough.

A young gay couple travel cross country at Christmas time to one of the men's family in a small town called Red Lodge. There is a marriage proposal along the way that is accepted, then rejected. This causes friction in the relationship and for most of the movie they bicker. The movie was filmed with flashbacks as well as one of the men talking to the camera like a contestant on a dating reality show. This overused and unnecessary addition never failed to take me out of the moment.

The film even managed to mess up a potential sexy scene where a cute young ski instructor invites the men over to his hot tub for some fun. Note to the writer: Poppers are not usually used when sex isn't happening.

The two lead men had little chemistry. I would write their names here, however, the identity of the actors have been removed from the front of the DVD box. Guess they didn't like the film much either.

I watched The Chair, the documentary of the making of this film, and was anxious to see the final product. There were some things I really liked and some things I absolutely hated.

Shane Dawson at times infuriated me. I was not familiar with his You Tube stuff at all, but from what I learned, the videos were often tasteless and appealed to young teenage girls. Shane wanted to do something bigger, better, and more mature with his first film, yet, contradicted himself and made the wrong choices consistently. He faced so many consequences for the raunchy tasteless jokes in his film, from people not wanting to work on the movie to Zachary Quinto taking his name off it. And for what? None of the gross out scenes worked. It is not funny seeing a homeless person eating his own excrement. It is not funny watching a girl get vomited on repeatedly.

Shane was such a narcissist that he cast himself as the lead character, a guy who was the most popular guy in school. This is a person whom Shane clearly isn't, nor was he a good enough actor to pull it off. Casting the right actor for that part would have helped immensely.

Here's what i liked; the film was bright and colorful, some of the less raunchy jokes were very funny, and it truly captured teenagers today regarding their obsession with their phones and social media. And Drew Ronson who played a supporting character with an unrequited love was so charming and likable. I also liked the father of Shanes character as opposed to the other parents who were just ridiculous and way over the top.

If Shane Dawson ever gets the chance to do this again, hopefully he will learn from his mistakes and listen to people who know more than he does.

I saw this film around the holidays with the hope it would help put me in the Christmas spirit. It didn't. Although well intentioned, this film is a huge misfire.

Every 25 years, the town candle maker is given (magically?) a candle that grants the wish of the villager who receives it. For the sake of story, why not make it every 5 years because the villagers would likely forget after 25 years....but i digress. The new pastor in town tries to dispute this myth as he has his own reason to not believe in miracles.

Sounds good right?

Wrong. The story becomes increasingly muddled and boring with side plots of the villagers, each of whom wants the candle for their own reasons. Susan Boyle plays one of the villagers whose husband is ill. If you think Ms. Boyle is awkward in real life, wait till you see her try to act!

I hate to be a grinch, but this movie and the sappy conclusion left me cold. On a positive note, nice job with the scenery and capturing the quaintness of a 19th century village.

Being a fan of Kristin Wiig, I was excited for this movie. Then it was barely marketed, quietly released, poorly reviewed, and flopped. I don't understand.

Kristin Wiig plays Imogene, a neurotic and insecure woman unsuccessfully trying to make it as a writer in NYC. The character is very similar to the one she played in Bridesmaids....which is OK with me. I was more than happy to spend more time with this woman.

After faking a suicide attempt to get her ex boyfriend's attention, Imogene winds up in the hospital. She is subsequently released to the custody of her mother played by Annette Bening who is simply terrific playing a character who reminded me of the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Imogene returning to the tacky and dysfunctional home in New Jersey where she grew up makes for the comedy here. There are many laugh out loud moments. Living in the house is her mother's boyfriend George Boosh! (Matt Dillon) who claims to work for the CIA, her somewhat mentally challenged but sweet younger brother, and a border played by a very appealing Darren Criss whom Imogene develops an interest in.

There may be a bit too much going on in this film. A subplot of Imogene trying to find her biological father doesn't do too much to move the story along. The ending also goes way over the top. But ultimately, Kristin Wiig makes Imogene a flawed yet lovable character who we root for. I left the theater in a great mood.

When I heard about this film, it became a must see. The creators of Little Miss Sunshine? Steve Carrell and Toni Collette? A feel good coming of age story? What would not be to like? Basic plot, a 14 year old boy spends the summer with his mother (Toni Collette) and her obnoxious boyfriend (Steve Carrell) at his beach house. In order to escape his misery, he gets a job at a local water park where Owen (Sam Rockwell), the outrageous water park manager with a big heart takes him under his wing and helps him out of his shell. The plot is a lot like "Meatballs," one of my favorite films of the 70s. That may have been the problem for me. Sam Rockwell's characterization is so much like Bill Murray's that he should be arrested for stealing a performance.

The young boy portraying Duncan completely overplays the role. Duncan is so socially withdrawn and awkward that one would think that there was some level of autism going on. I found it hard to warm up to this character.

Plot holes run through the whole movie. We are to believe that Duncan is working every day at this water park and his mother doesn't even question where he is. When Owen, a grown man, drives him home for the first time, his mother casually questions "who is this friend of yours who drives?" and doesn't say another word about it.

There are other characters and plot lines that are never fully developed. Maya Rudolph plays Owen's boss. The two had a relationship that went south. This is mentioned in one scene and never explored further despite the fact that there seemed to be ongoing feeling between the two. There is also an ongoing joke about a neighborhood kid with a lazy eye that becomes a running gag despite it not being particularly funny.

I'm not getting all the glowing reviews. Maybe my expectations were too high. But another "Little Miss Sunshine" this is definitely not.

Sort of a Puerto Rican version of "The Family Stone", this holiday movie may be lacking in originality but more than makes up for it with it's humor and heart. Very talented cast of actors, especially Freddy Rodriguez, John Leguizamo, and Alfred Molina make this family one you care about. I certainly didn't mind spending an hour and a half getting to know them.

My only criticism was Debra Messing who never quite had a handle on who her character was; at first seeming like an uptight bitch but then making a far-fetched complete turnaround. I also thought that the subplot with Jay Rodriguez's character seeking revenge on the man who had murdered his brother was underwritten and overall not necessary for this story.

But these are small bones to pick. The movie ultimately achieved its goal; it entertained me and gave me a much needed reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

Kevin Smith has not made a decent film since "Chasing Amy" in 1997. While that film had interesting characters in complex relationships, "Zack and Miri" aspires to just be a raunchy comedy with heart. It doesn't succeed as either. Well, maybe the raunchy part...

The premise is this: Two down on their luck best friends (Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks) decide to make a porn film so they can pay the rent. They hold auditions for the rest of the cast (ugh... another audition of misfits scene) and then begin to film x rated versions of famous films.

This first problem is that this premise has been done before and better in other films. The idea also seems dated. With porn so available via the internet these days, would anyone really care about a homemade porn film? Another problem is the casting of the very attractive Elizabeth Banks who is not believable as the misfit she is portraying. It is also unbelievable that her character would agree to do the porn film in the first place. It also bothered me how it was never really discussed how they planned to market the film to make their money back.

The one part that did make me laugh was the high school reunion with a very funny appearance by Brandon Routh and Justin Long as gay lovers. Aside from that scene, the film was nothing more than gross out gags and cheap attempt at laughs at the expense of a decent believable story. I didn't buy the overly sentimental ending either.

Caught this movie on HERE! on Demand. What a nice surprise. Completely funny throughout, appealing characters, and interesting story. The premise revolves around a straight college guy who pretends to be gay to get closer to a girl he likes. This could have been another "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" which I found a bit offensive and patronizing. What's so refreshing about the film is that the film has a gay sensibility but does not try to preach gay acceptance. The characters are who they are. Sam Huntington as Clay was extremely appealing in the lead role. Lots of hilarious supporting characters too including Rachel Dratch as a very drunk, very old college student, and John Goodman who nailed it as a local bartender who teaches the lead character how to "be gay." Heather Matarazzo was a bit over the top as the New York Jewish girl but funny nonetheless. It's rare to find a movie that I have never heard of, yet enjoyed so much. I think whether gay or straight, if you are looking for a fun teen comedy, you will enjoy this film.

I'm usually a sucker for romantic weepies but this one fails miserably.

The problems begin immediately as the film abruptly starts with an argument between the two main characters Holly (Hillary Swank) and Gerry (Gerard Butler). Then they are kissing and making up and Gerry does an awkward strip tease that is meant to amuse the audience and show what a lovable guy he is. Next scene; Gerry is dead from a brain tumor. Where did this come from? Did we even know he was sick. He certainly looked fine in the last scene.

The plot revolves around a bunch of letters sent to Holly mysteriously from Gerry (written before he died)which guide her and encourage her to release her fears and live life to the fullest. These scenes plod along and are mixed with flashbacks and I didn't care about any of it. Gerard Butler and Hillary Swank had no chemistry. Gerard Butler basically is so cheerful and buoyant in every scene that the scenes just didn't ring true. Hillary Swank did her best, but with a weak leading man and poor script, she has little to work with. The supporting characters had little to do in underwritten parts, especially Harry Connick whose part could have been cut without it being missed.

I still like Hillary Swank, but she's treading on thin ice now.

Film follows the relationship between two thirty something New Yorkers through their first date, courtship, marriage, and eventual breakup. Interesting concept but this film is in dire need of an editor.

Film begins with a blind date at a diner where the two main characters meet. I was looking forward to experiencing the initial awkwardness of the first date; the small talk and uncomfortable moments which would then gradually transform into two people connecting on a more intimate level. Instead, the film starts mid date at the diner with the main characters and their friends who are distracting and don't need to be there. To make matters worse, Stuart (Justin Kirk) comes off as arrogant, and a bit smarmy. Nicole (Julianne Nicholson)is a mousy, dull young woman who appears to lack confidence. If you don't like the characters, who cares whether they like each other? A subsequent scene has Stuart in the rain lying his jacket between the curb and the cab so Nicole doesn't get wet, then leaves it there. This comes off more stupid than charming.

As the film progresses, Justin Kirk as Stuart does begin to tone things down and the character starts to become more likable as the couple's relationship develops. But then, Nicole begins to become more selfish, childish, and immature. Nicole's change in her feelings toward Stuart seems to come somewhat out of the blue. All this results in an ending that is a downer and a bit puzzling. The actors do what they can, but the writing, directing, and editing let them down.

Lots and lots of dialog here and unnecessary scenes that don't move the story. Also, several unnecessary characters and plot lines are introduced but fail to have much significance. Decent supporting performances, however, especially by Rebecca Schull as Nicole's mom. Also a surprising amount of nudity by both lead characters which was tastefully done.

"Flannel Pajamas" does have some important things to say about the difficulty in sustaining relationships today, especially with so many outside influences such as family, friends, and careers. Still, I'm not convinced that investing two hours in these characters was quite worth it.

I started watching this expecting a typical TV movie of the week. Excellent writing, directing, and acting by a great cast make it so much more. "Noel" is a beautiful story that is set in New York City on Christmas Eve and follows several characters whose lives intersect including Susan Sarandon as a lonely single woman caring for a sick mother, Paul Walker as an engaged man who can't seem to feel secure in his relationship with his fiancée(Penelope Cruz), and Alan Arkin as a man with a past that he can't seem to move on from. Themes of loneliness, jealousy, regret, are covered as well as love, acceptance, and reconciliation. If you are looking for a feel good tearjerker to watch over the holiday, I highly recommend this under seen gem.

As a huge fan of the book "Running With Scissors," I was extremely anxious for the film adaption. I mean with a cast like this, how could you go wrong. As I watched an overall well acted, directed, and faithful adaption of Mr. Burrough's book come to life, I couldn't help but feel something was missing. In the book, we learn about young Augusten's experiences of being abandoned by his mother to be raised by her crazy shrink's family through adult Augusten's eyes. His ability to look back on the whole ordeal with humor and acknowledgement of how his past shaped his future made the whole thing go down easier. Without his commentary, the whole thing is unsettling and not nearly as entertaining. And while the performances from Annete Bening and Brian Cox as Dr. Finch were outstanding, Joseph Cross was miscast as young Augusten. Certainly a likable actor, but I see him more in a film about a prep school. I didn't buy the gay aspect and his relationship with Neil Bookman lacked the sexual tension and intensity that was present in the book. Overall, is this a bad film? Definitely not. But neither is it a great one. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read the book first.

The premise is this: Two gay men, Adam and Steve, meet in the 80's and have a disastrous encounter. Fast forward to the present. Adam and Steve's paths cross again and they begin to date, neither remembering their history together. Until one does. How will the past affect the future? Somewhat interesting premise, however, writer and director Craig Chester doesn't have much faith in it and decides to fill the film with a barrage of gross out humor, slapstick, and silly over the top moments. While some of these are very very funny, others don't work at all. The end result is a movie that seems to sell out for cheap laughs rather than go for something real.

Craig Chester (who also wrote and directed) and Malcolm Gets are likable as Adam and Steve but don't generate much chemistry. Parker Posey is always good for a few laughs. Chris Kattan is basically wasted in a supporting role as the best friend.

If you are looking for a few laughs and don't have expectations too high, I would recommend this film. If you are seeking an authentic contemporary film about gay relationships, pass over this one and rent "All Over the Guy."

I caught this film at a gay/lesbian film festival and was blown away. Every so often, a film comes out that is so original that you can't help but wonder why no one has ever thought of it before. "Hard Pill" asks this question: What would happen if a pill was invented that could turn a gay person straight? The answer is a lot more complicated than you think.

"Hard Pill" tell the story of Tim (played by Jonathan Slavin in an outstanding performance). Tim is openly gay but unhappy with his life. He has had bad luck with relationships and doesn't feel very hopeful that that his life will turn around. When Tim hears of a new study that can change sexual preference, he decides to get involved. Tim is convinced that being straight would be a whole lot easier. What he doesn't realize is the repercussions that this change will have on his relationships and life.

This independent film appears to have been made with a shoestring budget, which fortunately doesn't detract but actually makes things on screen seem that much more authentic; almost as if we are watching real life unfolding. Also strong is the occasional humor that helped lighten things up when the subject matter became heavy. The ending is also quite satisfying and believable, not only leading one to think about the issue of sexual orientation, but also the risks of experimental drugs in general for non medical necessities. If my friends and I are any indication, we talked about this film for several hours afterward and I was moved to write a review which I don't usually do unless I really love something (or hate something.)

Kudos to John Baumgarten for both writing and directing this thought provoking film. Hope to see a lot more from him in the future!

Some may feel that queer cinema was due for a slasher film. But what is the point really? It's no longer enough for me to see a film only because it features attractive men with hot bodies. What about story? Character development? Acting? Are these not important?

The premise of this film is as follows. A psycho killer stalks a group of gay friends on Halloween night. That's it. More frustrating is the fact that at the end, the audience is given no indication as to who the killer is or why he did what he did. Honestly, if these were straight characters, would such an unoriginal film get released or even made for that matter? There wasn't even much humor in the film to make the excessive gore easier to take. I especially disliked the scene in the bathroom where the most likable character was beheaded right after he expressed his happiness about getting a phone number from a guy he liked.

So now we have our gay slasher film. A step forward or a step backward?

For those of you who enjoy a good cry, this will probably do the trick. A young wife and mother named Ann (played by an outstanding Sarah Polley) is told that she only has a few months to live. Rather than tell the people that she loves what is happening, Ann decides to spare them the heartache and goes about setting things up so that her loved ones transition to life without her is as easy as possible. Her actions includes introducing and fostering a friendship between her husband and daughters with the compassionate and vibrant woman next door whom she hopes will eventually take her place as wife and mother. In addition, Ann sets out to do the things she has always wanted to do which include having an affair with a handsome stranger, played by Mark Ruffalo in an intense and moving performance.

Certainly this is an interesting and original premise, yet, how much you buy into it will be based on your opinion of whether Ann not telling her family about her impeding death is more selfless or selfish. How exactly is her husband going to feel when he realizes that his wife never gave him the opportunity to love and support her through the most difficult days of her life? How will her daughters and mother feel that they were not even given the opportunity to make the most of their final days together?

The film left me wondering how any person could possibly find the strength to deal with their impending death completely on their own. This is definitely a thought provoking and moving film, but ultimately, it raises more questions than it answers.

The film starts out promisingly. Grace Beasley (Kathy Bates) is told by her husband of thirty years (Dan Ackroyd) that he no longer wants to be married to her and needs to find excitement in his life. A few days later Grace's favorite singer, Victor Fox, is murdered by a serial killer. About to fall off the deep end, Grace decides to live life herself and impulsively travels to England for the funeral of Mr. Fox. There she meets Dirk Simpson (Rupert Everett), Mr. Fox's long time "valet," and the two form an unusual friendship that benefits them both.

P.J. Hogan, who directed such films as Muriel's Wedding and My Best Friend's Wedding, also wrote and directed this film. Like Muriel, Grace Beasley is an overweight under-appreciated woman who is scared to live life, but ultimately decides to make changes. Kathy Bates does a splendid job in making the audience feel for this character as we slowly watch the transformation. Performances are strong by the whole cast. I would recommend it alone for the hilarious performance by Grace's dwarf daughter in law who steals every scene she's in.

In the last half hour, Grace and Dirk, decide to avenge Victor's death and find the "Crossbow Killer." At this point the characters lose credibility and the film goes way over the top. Director P.J. Hogan seems to enjoy adding scenes in his films where the characters break into song. Remember the funny "Say a Little Prayer" scene at the restaurant in My Best Friend's Wedding? Here the idea is used three times. Twice in unnecessary cameos by Julie Andrews and once in a scene on the Sally Jesse Raphael show. These musical numbers are really not that funny or necessary and detract from the film.

Despite the flaws, "Unconditional Love" ultimately wins you over with its heart. I guarantee you'll leave this film in a better mood.

Aren't Oscar winners supposed to choose their scripts more carefully? Cuba Gooding Jr. is a funny and talented actor but it is hard to tell that in this offensive and unfunny film. The plot has Gooding and his pal played by Horatio Sanz as two straight guys who get mistakenly booked on an all gay cruise thanks to an angry travel agent. After finding out too late (these guys were oblivious for so long it was ridiculous) they are stuck to make the best of the situation. This could be a funny premise, but, this boat is not filled with real people; instead a barrage of gay stereotypes. At one point Sanz's character realizes that ..hey...maybe gay people are not so bad after all. Wow, what a revelation. Oh but don't think that this film is just offensive to gays. I think women will find plenty to be offended by after our heroes rescue a boatload of female wrestlers. Don't ask. I give it 2/10 .....for the one chuckle I had watching Gooding sing "I'm Coming Out" in drag. I saw this film in a pretty full theater and I think that was about the only laugh the film got.

Wow, I can't believe I just sat through this. Being an American Idol fan, I was sort of looking forward to this film. I enjoy listening to Kelly Clarkson sing and thought it might be fun to see an update of the 50's beach party movies. But....Ugh!!! So much for wholesome entertainment. The script was so corny and lame that I continually cringed in my seat at the poor attempts at humor and the bad acting. At least if the film had the sense to make fun of itself....but it played it completely straight. Every character was a cardboard cutout. It was like watching a G rated version of a bad teen sex comedy from the 80's And Justin Guarini as the Big Man of spring break? I don't know, I find him so vain and obnoxious and totally ineffective as a leading man. Aren't his 15 minutes up yet? Kelly, tries to get through the movie despite her lack of chemistry with Justin, and hopefully will get through this fiasco without it hurting her career. I still like her...but please Kelly, stick to singing. I give this film 2/10 for a couple of decent songs and dance numbers. Note to Clay and Ruben: if AI producers offer you both a film together, run as fast as you can!