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I was looking for a scary and suspenseful film to watch this week, and Marc Zammit's Witch did not disappoint. The acting was top-notch, with a natural chemistry between the two main characters, Sarah Alexandra Marks (Twyla), and Ryan Spong (William), that drew me into the story immediately. The costumes and scenery were date appropriate and flawless in their design, which added authenticity to the movie's dark and creepy vibe. The film was nicely paced as well, giving the viewer bits and pieces of information about the symbols in the old man's book a little at a time, until at last we realize the full significance of the book, and the way it connects William and Twyla to the old man, the child Annabelle to the accused witch Joanna, and the town Marshall (also played to perfection by Fabrizio Santino) to each of the characters mentioned above. If you like a horror movie that has a surprising sci-fi slant, you may want to give Witch a watch.

This film clearly brings the hardships the people of India were forced to endure under British rule to light. It also gives us a glimpse of greed, prejudice, and corruption within the ruling class of Indian society. In Captain Miller, we see a man who has been broken by his actions, In his own eyes, he is no hero, but a traitor to his people. This film serves as a reminder that the road to freedom is hard won, and the mistakes made along the way are seldom forgotten, but sometimes forgiven. Captain Miller does find some peace in the end, as well as some degree of self acceptance. Plenty of action, great acting across the board, breathtaking scenery, and a surprising, but welcome twist at the end, make this a must see movie.

This film, which centers on the life of a homeless crack addict named Cody as he struggles to reconnect with his estranged son, is truly a gem. I loved the gritty scenery, both inside and outside of MacArthur Park, and the down-to-earth dialogue. But what I loved most of all about this movie was the filmmaker's brilliant presentation of Cody as a deep and complex character and not just a shadow of a man in the throes of addiction. I saw Cody as a friend and mentor, a savvy street hustler, a protector, a loving husband and father who lost his way, and a man who had the grace to hold on to the hope of a better life despite his dire circumstances. In short, I saw Cody, and the rest of the residents of MacArthur Park, as real human beings. If I learned one thing from this film, it's that MacArthur Park, and places like it, are more than just geographical locations marked by a series of dots on the map. They are also communities where friendships are forged and tested under the harshest of conditions, and places where humanity can be seen at its worst, but also at its best. Great acting across the board, a great screenplay by Tyrone Atkins, Aaron Courseault, Sheri Sussman, and Billy Wirth, and flawless directing (also by Billy Wirth), make this movie a must see.

What a great film! The viewer is drawn into this story from the first scene, not only because the conversation about the concept of time discussed in this in scene is so interesting, but also because this same conversation connects the viewer to both of the main characters, Sam and Jimmy, on a deep, emotional level. I mean, how many of us haven't grappled with the dismal feeling that our future was behind us, Iike Sam does? Or, experienced the same crushing sense of disappointment as Jimmy does when we'd realized that the shelf life of our dreams had expired? How many of us haven't searched for Jimmy's blissful state of no time no mind? As the film progresses, the viewer begins to wonder if these characters, Sam in particular, will be able to move past his sense of loss and grief, and accept and embrace an uncertain future. With the world still reeling from the unforeseen and devastating effects of the pandemic, I'm sure that many of us are wondering the same thing about ourselves. There are no elaborate special effects in this short film, no grand blow up scenes or mind blowing car chases to add to the grand finale. Instead, what we have are the powerful performances of Ian Buchanan and Billy Wirth, both of whom have more than enough screen presence to keep the audience thoroughly engaged from the first line to the last. Hats off to Sheri Sussman for her fine writing and directing. I'm looking forward to watching the full length movie, Sam's Place, when it's released.

Marc Zammit's Homeless Ashes is a well acted, well directed film that gives it's audience a harrowing glimpse of life on the streets. The brutality is raw and unapologetic, and at times, will make you cringe. But, what sets this film a cut above the rest is it's showcasing of the strength of the human spirit. Despite the abuse that the main character, Frankie, has suffered, he stills finds it in his heart to trust, love, and forgive. He has the same sweet temperament as an adult as he did as a child. Conveying the resilience of Frankie's inner grace on film is no easy feat, but Zammit does it effortlessly, both in his acting and his directing. The supporting cast was phenomenal. If I took one lesson away from this film, it would be to stop thinking of a fellow human being as a "homeless person"and start thinking of him or her as simply a person, one who deserves my respect.