News: Festival sensation "Eat With Me" on VOD now and on DVD on June 2!

Life-Affirming Family Comedy about Food, Love and Life debuts digitally on May 5 across all digital platforms including iTunes, Vimeo On Demand and WolfeOnDemand.com... 

DVD release on June 2!

The award-winning film EAT WITH ME is a poignant and life affirming comedy-drama about the bonds of family and the love of food, as seen through the eyes of a mother and her gay son who must learn to heal, connect and grow together to save the son's Chinese restaurant. Starring Sharon Omi, Teddy Chen Culver, Aidan Bristow, Nicole Sullivan (TV's "Family Guy", "MADtv") and featuring a special appearance by George Takei ("Star Trek"). Wolfe Video releases the award-winning family food comedy EAT WITH ME on VOD May 5th and on DVD June 2nd. EAT WITH ME celebrates the unconditional love between mother and son and the strong cultural bonds of family, food and friendship.

Seen through the eyes of a mother and her gay son who must reconnect, heal, and grow together to save the son's Chinese restaurant, writer/director David Au has created a touching and personal tribute to his Chinese-American family, the healing power of food and love, and a transcendent tribute to motherhood.

Set in one of the glorious food capitals of the world, Los Angeles, this deliciously emotional and redemptive story features adept performances and a memorable cameo by iconic actor George Takei (Star Trek). Starring Sharon Omi, Teddy Chen Culver, Aidan Bristow, and Nicole Sullivan (TV's "Family Guy", "MADtv").

Watch the delightful trailer below...



XXX
Raymond Lo

Trailers: "Mark Defriest" documentary opens this Friday in New York and Los Angeles!

Opening March 6!
LA - LAEMMLE MUSIC HALL
NY -VILLAGE EAST

When a legendary escape artist comes up for parole after more than three decades years behind bars, a chance for freedom must be weighed against his infamous past.

Mark DeFriest is an American prison legend, a notorious escape artist who has spent 34 years behind bars, with little light, hope or human contact.

The film is the exploration of Mark DeFriest's life and mind, both the facts of the case and the hyper world of his design, as seen in animations. Interweaving the animated past of Mark’s case with the parole narrative, the film becomes a de facto courtroom where the facts of Mark’s case are finally laid out.

Mark DeFriest attempted 13 escapes and got out seven times, turning his original four-year sentence into Life. The original crime that sent him to prison: stealing his own father's tools. So how did a low-level criminal end up looking at life in prison? And will he ever get out?

Postscript:

After going the rounds of film festivals, including a much-talked about screening at the Los Angeles Film Festival last year, Mark Defriest has finally been granted parole! Gabriel added a new ending to the film.  Showing the film at LAFF and other festivals was actually key in Defreist's parole being granted!  Director Gabriel London has followed this story for 12 years and been a key player in pushing for his release, and was able to show it to the parole board.

Watch the explosive trailer below.

The Mind Of Mark DeFriest (trailer) from Ronan Coleman on Vimeo.

News: Theatrical release of acclaimed documentary "The Mind of Mark Defriest" announced!

OPENING MARCH 6, 2015
LA - LAEMMLE MUSIC HALL
NY - CINEMA VILLAGE VILLAGE EAST

**** March 1 Update *****
With the good news of Defreist's parole being granted, Gabriel added a new ending to the film!

This is one amazing news! I saw this film at last year's Los Angeles Film Festival and I was really taken aghast by the injustice committed against Mark Defriest and featured a review of the film in this blog. (You can read it here http://raymonddeasislo.blogspot.com/2014/06/los-angeles-film-festival-diary-day-6.html.) I also included this doc among my favorites movies of 2014.

And this is not even the great news yet. The greater news is that Mar Defriest was granted parole just two days ago! It is effective on March 10th! His original parole date set at 2085 will now be potentially cut by 70 years from his original release date --- this is one news that Mark has waited for three decades.

The film and the audience reactions have had a great impact in bringing awareness of the unjust incarceration of the film’s subject, Mark Defriest, which has aided this amazing possible sentence reduction. This is a testament to the power of film.  Award-winning filmmaker Gabriel London has been following Mark's story for 12 years and the possibility of Mark Defriest's freedom during his lifetime was, until a few months ago, incomprehensible.

The Mind of Mark Defriest
A FILM BY GABRIEL LONDON
www.defriest.com

This documentary captures the bizarre, infuriating story of a carefree19-year-old Mark Defriest who ended up in solitary confinement for most of his adult life in a Florida prison. His crimes? Taking the tools his father, who was recently deceased, had willed to him before the will was probated.

The only home he has ever known is a prison cell, despite repeated escape attempts and doubts that he ever belonged in prison. Originally found ‘incompetent to be sentenced’ by five of six psychiatrists, he, like many mentally ill prisoners, has spent an incredible amount of time in solitary confinement – 27 of the last 34 years. After years of disciplinary write-ups – common with the mentally ill – Defriest’s parole date stood at 2085.

After the film was released, audiences responded with anger and passion to the perceived injustice in Defriest’s case. Filmmaker Gabriel London traveled to Tallahassee to share the film to the Florida Commission on Offender Review.

Dubbed as “Florida’s Houdini” and “unluckiest prisoner” by the press, Defriest recently was granted parole. His legendary escapes and stranger-than-fiction entry to the injustice system now serve as an catalyst for prison reform.

"The Mind of Mark Defriest" has won awards and critics’ praises ever since its film festival debut. Filmmaker Gabriel London successfully captures the haunting story with exclusive interviews, access to the subject, and visually-stunning animations.

Top Ten Audience Favorite- 2014 HotDocs
Winner of Audience Award, Best Documentary- 2014 Naples International Film Festival
Winner of Best Documentary Feature- 2014 Lone Star Film Festival
Official Selection- 2014 Los Angeles Film Festival
Official Selection- 2014 Doc NYC
Official Selection- 2014 Starz Denver Film Festival
Official Selection-  2014 Key West Film Festival
Official Selection-2014 Tallgrass International Film Festival

You have to watch this movie!!!

XXX
Raymond Lo

News: LA Film Fest Winner "Man From Reno" to open March 27th!

Dave Boyle's award-winning film "Man From Reno" is set for a US theatrical release starting Marc 27th! The movie is about a Japanese crime novelist and a small town sheriff who are lured into the same strange murder mystery in this idiosyncratic and engrossing neo-noir.  The film stars Ayako Fujitani, Pepe Serna and Kazuki Kitamura and it will be out in New York and Los Angeles starting March 27th and will expand to additional markets on April 10th.

About the movie:

In a small town south of San Francisco, Sheriff Paul Del Moral is driving home through the fog one night when he accidentally strikes a pedestrian, a lone Japanese man.  However, before an investigation can take place the man disappears from the hospital without a trace.

At the same time, Japanese mystery author Aki Akahori takes a trip to San Francisco in order to escape the press tour for her latest book--a potboiler in her world-famous "Inspector Takabe" series.  Feeling lonely and vulnerable, she begins a romantic affair with a mysterious Japanese traveller from Reno who is staying in the same hotel.  Her new lover, Akira Suzuki, is charismatic and charming but abruptly disappears from the hotel, leaving behind his suitcase and a trail of questions...

Producer: Ko Mori
Director: Dave Boyle
Written By: Dave Boyle, Joel Clark and Michael Lerman
Cast: Ayako Fujitani, Pepe Serna and Kazuki Kitamura

Watch the explosive trailer below.

LAFF2014: Film Reviews: "The Well", "A Thousand Times Goodnight", "The Road Within"

Los Angeles Film Festival Diary

Wednesday, June 18, 2015

"The Well"

"The Well" is an apocalyptic thriller set in a barren Oregon valley where water has become scarce. The valley has been without rain for over ten years and the once fertile land is slowly becoming a desert. The main protagonist is 17-yr-old Kendal (Haley Lu Richardson), who is the only healthy surviving occupant of a compound that once belonged to The Wallace Farm for Wayward Youth. The entire valley has been claimed by a sinister man who kills the old and the sick but keeps the young alive as part of his militia. This man is keen on killing anyone "stealing" water from his valley. Kendal has been successful at evading capture and survives by skillfully hiding a well inside an abandoned barn while tending to his sick boyfriend who is suffering from a kidney disease.

The film has enough atmosphere of dread but it doesn't fully rise to the promise of its subject matter. There is not enough and consistent suspense to fully engage the audience and the climactic combat feels forced unfortunately. Most of the characters are not fully developed and they seem to just pop in and out of the narrative whenever convenient. The presence of the little boy that Kendal is providing daily ration of water and his significance to the narrative (besides adding tension to the story) is somewhat lost to me, too.

This movie is probably designed to attract the midnight crowd but I don't think they will find the movie any different than how i find it. The photography is impressive.

Rating; 2 Stars

"The Road Within"

This movie can be easily described as a road movie that doesn't seem to go anywhere. It is bursting with endearing and winning performances from the three main protagonists. Robert Sheehan, Dev Patel and Zooey Kravits play young adults suffering from certain kinds of health challenges. Robert plays someone with a severe case of Tourette syndrome, Dev is obsessive-compulsive while Kravitz plays an anorexic woman who is just one heart attack away from dying.

The three meet in a rehabilitation facility and circumstances lead them to steal a car and drive to California to see the ocean. Their road trip is not without challenges. They fight, a couple fall in love and another realizes the potential of him finally getting well if he just takes that one extra step.

I wish I could say that i completely loved the movie. There was something missing in the movie. It is funny but not the kind that warms your heart. What is good about it is that it deals with serious mental and health issues lightheartedly without becoming offensive.

Rating: 3 ½ Stars

"A Thousand Times Goodnight"

We have all seen many pictures taken from war zones all over the world. The images we saw have moved us, some even compelled us to take some action. But have you ever wondered about the lives of the photo journalists who have risked their lives documenting those wars and taking those pictures so that the world learns of what's going on elsewhere? This movie tries to answer that question.

Juliette Binoche is Rebecca. She is a celebrated war photographer who also happens to be a wife and a mother of two girls. The movie tries to take us in to the domestic turmoil that Rebecca's job causes their family. Her husband is on the verge of giving up on the marriage while her eldest daughter can't seem to move on from the trauma brought by an incident that almost took her life.

The movie plays like a domestic drama but keeps the audience continuously reminded that there is a bigger conflict outside of this particular home that needs more attention. But how do you choose between your family and your vocation? Would you sacrifice your safety for the sake of bringing justice to the oppressed? Or, would you sacrifice your family for the same reason? Conversely, would you turn your back on the world just because your family fears for your life?

The movie is bookended by two powerful scenes set in Afghanistan. The scenes are similar but the power evoked by each scene is different. The opening scenes introduces us to the character of Rebecca while the closing sequence introduces us to her tortured soul --- and we all leave the theater shattered and broken with no confident answers to the question we raised. There's a silver lining, however, Juliette Binoche's terrific performance!

Rating: 4 Stars

XXX

Raymond Lo 

LAFF 2014 Winners!

The 20th Los Angeles Film Festival concluded today with the announcement of the winners. I am happy that one of the outstanding movies I saw, "Walking Under Water," received an award. I did not get to see the rest of the winning films and I hope to catch them soon - in regular theaters, i hope.

Below are the winners. Congratulations!

Los Angeles Film Festival 2014 Winners

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Best International Feature: SOMEONE YOU LOVE

Best Short Film: THE GUNFIGHTER

Best Music Video: TURN DOWN FOR WHAT

Best Documentary Feature: MEET THE PATELS

Best Narrative Feature: THE YOUNG KIESLOWSKI

JURY AWARDS

Best Animated/Experimental Short Film: BUTTER LAMP

Best Narrative Short: THE RUNAWAY

Best Documentary Short: THE QUEEN

LA Muse Award: LOS ANGELES

Documentary Jury Award: STRAY DOG

Honorable Documentary Jury Award: WALKING UNDER WATER

Narrative Jury Award: MAN FROM RENO

Special Jury Award for Cast: RECOMMENDED BY ENRIQUE

The festival will officially close with the premiere of Clint Eastwood's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Jersey Boys."

XXX

Raymond

LAFF2014 Diary. Film Review: "Giuseppe Makes a Movie"

Los Angeles Film Festival Diary

Tuesday, June 17, 2014



Giuseppe Makes a Movie

I was running late yesterday afternoon and couldn’t find a parking spot quickly – I had to wait for 7PM just so I can park along Olympic, which meant that I would be late to the 6:45PM screening of "Someone You Love". And I was. But it was, I suppose, one of those moments of serendipity. There are great movies at every film festivals that get lost in the mix and you don’t get to see them at all. Fortunately, last night was a different story because I think I saw the finest film screening at the festival this year!

There are movies that are so unpretentious, so honest, and so raw that you just can’t help but champion it. "Giuseppe Makes a Movie" is one of those movies. It’s been nearly 24 hours since I saw it but I still can’t stop myself from thinking about it. I have been telling my friends about it, tweeted and retweeted and I still can’t help myself from heaping it praise after praise to any friends who would care to listen.

Perhaps I was moved by Giuseppe’s unyielding passion for the movies or the filmmaker’s sincere and respectful tribute to him and his love of moviemaking. Or perhaps both, I don’t know. But what I know is I loved what I saw and what I experienced. It’s funny, gross, weird, bad – nearly everything that would normally offend me but for some reason did not.

"Giuseppe Makes a Movie" is Adam Rifkin’s documentary about Giuseppe Andrews as he was about to make his 30^th feature. Giuseppe is a former child actor who just loves the movies. He is passionate about the films of Bunuel, Fassbinder, etc. and it is his dream to make a full-length movie in two days for only a thousand dollars budget. The documentary tracks those two days of unintended hilarity. If you can measure the amount of laughter the movie generated at its screening last night, you would think you are watching one of those widely-marketed comedies of James Franco (but this one is way better, FYI) instead of watching a movie shot in VHS.

What makes the movie successful is the subject character himself. He may appear weird or off-balance but you cannot doubt his sincerity and unbridled passion for the movies. He knows nobody’s going to be watching his movies outside of his crew but he doesn't care. A poet do not necessarily write a poem for the world to read, right? His supportive father is his producer and all-around crew while his girlfriend acts as his driver and occasional actress. His cast is mostly made up of his kind neighbors and his homeless friends. Their small community is not what one would traditionally associate with filmmaking but you cannot deny that their hearts are set on making a movie with Giuseppe at the helm and there’s no denying that. And we are fortunate that a group of "professional" filmmakers found the inspiration to document them in a movie and we are all now applauding them.

Rating: 5 Stars

August 20, 2015 Update:

I am so excited to learn that "Giuseppe..." is scheduled to be screened at the NuArt theater in Los Angeles in October! A sign of good things for this wonderful film!

See the trailer here: Warning [NSFW]

XXX

Raymond Lo

LAFF 2014. Film Reviews: "The Life and Mind of Mark DeFriest", "Starred UP"

Los Angeles Film Festival Diary

Monday, June 16, 2014

Saw two films at the LAFF yesterday. And I loved both. Both dealt with stories about men in prison. One was a documentary called "The Life and Mind of Mark Defriest" – my favorite film at this year’s festival, so far, and another was this Irish feature film called "Starred Up", which was a tough film to watch but an excellent film nonetheless.

"The Life and Mind of Mark Defriest"

I have featured "The Life and Mind of Mark Defriest" (dir. Gabriel London) among the movies to watch at this year’s fest and I was not wrong. It is a gripping and frustrating piece of cinema. The film tells the story of Mark Defriest, whose initial brush with the law resulted in him being locked up for more than half his life now. He has been in jail since 1981 with no chance of ever getting out. He is infamous for his daring and creative escapes from prison and his tendency to disobey the rules inside the prison. The film tries to get inside his mind and mine some information that could somewhat explain why someone whose initial "crime" was "stealing" some tools that his father willed to him would end up in a state prison alongside the likes of Ted Bundy and other notorious criminals. His story is both frustrating and heartbreaking. The penal system is in place so that thr public can be protected from criminals but sometimes the rules that were meticulously crafted works against the very individual it is supposed to protect. Mark’s case is an aberration. The system could have helped him years ago if he was only diagnosed correctly. He could have been one of the most brilliant artists of our time, he could have become somebody but instead he is languishing in jail with little hope of ever gaining freedom.

The filmmaking in "Mark Defriest" is astounding. The animation combined with archival footage make for an incredible, riveting and eye-opening cinematic experience.

Rating: 5 Stars

"Starred Up"

The opening sequence of "Starred Up" reminds one of the opening scenes of "A Prophet." But the similarities end there. Whereas "A Prophet" chronicled the rise of a gangster, "Starred Up" gives us a rare look into the life of a young violent offender transitioning into adulthood. This film from Irish filmmaker David MacKenzie is a tough one to watch. I would describe the narrative approach as lighthearted if only because the movie offers some laughs that somewhat mitigates the violence that threatens to erupt anytime. The film is set inside a prison and the audience would somewhat feel the isolation and frustration of being inside one while watching the movie. It does not look down into the criminals but instead humanizes them and makes them as relatable as possible to us. I am not sure if I should reveal here the central story but I would rather not. But I would cite the outstanding performances turned in by the cast specially the anguished performance of newcomer Jack O’Connell.

If I have one minor criticism about the movie it would be the lack of subtitles because the accents are sometimes too difficult to decipher and it somewhat lessens the audience's ability to grasp what's going on.

Rating: 4 ½ Stars

xxx

Raymond Lo

LAFF2014. Film Reviews: "The Liberator", "The Overnighters", "Walking Under Water"

Los Angeles Film Festival Diary

Sunday, June 15, 2014

I missed the first four days of the LA Film Festival because of some personal matters that i had to attend to. (I am interviewing for a new day job!)

So, I went yesterday and saw three films. One was a feature film about the heroic life of Venezuela's national hero Simon Bolivar and two documentaries.
 

The cast of "The Liberator" introducing the film at its
LAFF screening last night.





















"The Liberator" is an excellent biopic about Bolivar and features an outstanding performance by Edgar Ramirez and a truly memorable score by Venezuela's pride Gustavo Dudamel! The film chronicles the life of Bolivar from his privileged childhood to his revolutionary struggles to liberate South America from the Spaniards. It's both an epic and an intimate look at a hero that is not as popular as his modern-day Latin American equivalents but whose achievements far surpass that of many. 

Rating: 5 Stars



The author with "The Overnighters" director Jessy Moss



"The Overnighters" is a remarkable American documentary about a pastor who housed the homeless migrants searching for jobs in an oil town in North Dakota. The filmmaker shot the film over 18 months with zero crew to assist him. Amazing! The documentary also had a surprising conclusion that somewhat detracts from the main subject but offers a glimpse into the fortuitous possibilities of documentary filmmaking.

Rating: 

3 Stars 

"Walking Under Water" is a fascinating docu-drama about the disappearing culture of the Badjao tribe in the islands of Borneo. The underwater photography is splendid and the film powerful. Some scenes call to mind Dante Mendoza's "Thy Womb" but this movie has a far better scope, resonates more and feels more authentic.

Rating:

4 ½ Stars

On first glance, it would seem that the three films I saw share nothing in common but i like to find some common thread in the movies i watch on the same day (call it festival programming, I suppose) and I like to make a narrative of the films and try to rationalize why each one complements the other. And I found one:

The films are about people waging to varying degrees a battle against seemingly insurmountable odds.

In "The Overnightert", the jobless and homeless are fighting for their dignity. In "Walking Under Water", the Badjao people are fighting for their identity. And in "The Liberator", the oppressed are fighting for liberty.

In that regard, I invite you all to consider helping the young protagonist of "Walking Under Water" in securing a bright future for himself. Please help. Thanks.

XXX

Raymond Lo

LAFF 2014: 2 LGBT Themed Movies Not to Miss!

OutFest is still over a month away but it sure feels like movie buffs are going to get a preview of the type of movie selections to be had next month with two of the LGBT themed movies that are premiering at next week's Los Angeles Film Festival.

The first movie "Love is Strange" is an Australian fictional story about two men in love while the other, "Limited Partnership", is a powerful documentary about the gay couple who trailblazed the gay marriage rights advocacy in America.

Here are the two movies. Make sure you include them in your must-watch list.

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP　

This film by Thomas G. Miler is the 40-year love story between Filipino-American Richard Adams and his Australian husband, Tony Sullivan. In 1975, thanks to a courageous county clerk in Boulder, CO, Richard and Tony were one of the first same-sex couples to be　legally　married in the world. Richard immediately filed for a green card for Tony based on their marriage. But unlike most heterosexual married couples who easily file petitions and obtain green cards, Richard received a denial letter from the Immigration and Naturalization Service stating,　"You have　failed to establish that a bona fide marital relationship can exist between two faggots." 　Outraged at the tone, tenor and politics of this letter and to prevent Tony’s impending deportation, the couple sued the U.S. government. This became the　first federal lawsuit　seeking equal treatment for a same-sex marriage in U.S. history.

During a lifetime filled with legal challenges, Richard and Tony figured out how to maintain their sense of humor, justice and whenever possible, their privacy. Their personal tale parallels the history of the LGBT marriage and immigration equality movements, from the couple signing their marriage license in Colorado, to the historic U.S. Supreme Court rulings on gay marriage in June 2013.　

"Limited Partnership" celebrates Richard and Tony's long path towards justice and citizenship as they challenge the traditional definitions of "spouse" and "family." This tenacious story of love, marriage and immigration equality is a precedent-setting as it is little know until now.

The movie will hold its World Premiere at the festival (it will also screen at next month's OutFest) on Saturday, June 14, 2014, 2:25PM at the Regal Cinemas LA Live.

LOVE IS STRANGE

In "Love is Strange", Ben and George have lived and loved together for 39 years when they are finally allowed to marry. Surrounded by family and friends in their beloved New York City apartment, their wedding is a joyous event. But when the Catholic School where George works as a music teacher finds out, he loses his job, and soon after they have to give up their apartment and are forced to live apart, moving in with family and friends, whose own complicated lives are strained by houseguests who never seem to leave.

John Lithgow and Alfred Molina play Ben and George, and the chemistry between them is palpable and deeply felt. Poignant and perceptive, with a sterling cast that includes Marisa Tomei and Cheyenne Jackson, Ira Sach's luminous film is a quiet revelation: a beautiful, multi-generational ode to love, family and the wonders and pitfalls of big city life.

The Gala Screening for this movie will be held on Thursday, June 12, 2014, 7:30PM at LACMA's Leo S. Bing Theatre.

If you don't see any parallels in these two films, I failed to communicate with you.

See you at the festival!

XXX

Raymond De Asis Lo

LAFF 2014 Coverage: "They Came Together"

The 20th Los Angeles Film Festival starts in 5 days. If you are planning to attend the festival, you should have made your list of movies to watch by now. If you check the other posts I made to this blog in recent days, I have featured several titles that may be of interest to you. Surely, we cannot watch all the programmed movies so it is best to make a list. And you should do it now! :)

Anyways, Film Independent announced today a new inclusion to the line-up. The festival will now include

Lionsgate’s They Came Together in the Summer Showcase section. The movie originally premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

They Came Together

is directed by David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, Wanderlust, Role Models) and features a massive all-star cast, among them, Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Cobie Smulders, Christopher Meloni, Max Greenfield, Bill Hader, Ellie Kemper, Jason Mantzoukas, Melanie Lynskey, Ed Helms, Michael Ian Black, Michael Murphy, Kenan Thompson, Jack McBrayer, Ken Marino, Teyonah Parris, Zandy Hartig, Noureen DeWulf, Michaela Watkins, Randall Park and Erinn Hayes.

In this send up of the Hollywood romantic comedy, Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler star as a Manhattan couple who meet (cute, of course) on Halloween, both dressed as Ben Franklin. It’s hate at first sight, then love at second, then the obligatory complications, including his sexy ex and her psychotic one. Can the girl who runs a little candy store called Upper Sweet Side stay in love with a man who works for a big candy corporation that wants to run her out of business?

The film screens on Monday, June 16 at 8:00 pm with an encore screening on Thursday, June 19 at 2PM. Commercially, will release the film simultaneously in theaters and On Demand on June 27.

The reviews to this movie are amazing. But i don't need any reviews to make me go watch the movie. I only need one name: Amy Poehler, and i am in.

See you at the festival!

XXX

Raymond De Asis Lo

Los Angeles Film Festival: 3 Movies to Watch

So far, I have featured here in my blog about 10 movies that we all should watch at the 20th Los Angeles Film Festival. Here are three more. The festival will run from June 11 through June 19. There's plenty of time to catch all these movies and some more!

See you at the festival!

LAKE LOS ANGELES

Director / Writer: Mike Ott

Writer / Producer: Atsuko Okatsuka

Editor: Santos S. Santos

Producer: Hal Haberman

Sound Designer: Jan Bezouska

Cinematographer: Mike Gioulakis

Principal Cast: Johanna Trujillo, Roberto Sanchez

Screenings:

Saturday, June 14th, 7:30pm, Regal Cinemas 10

Wednesday, June 19th, 4:30pm, Regal Cinemas 13

Synopsis:

Lake Los Angeles will be the third film of Mike Ott's Antelope Valley trilogy, following Littlerock (2010) and Pearblossom Hwy (2012). This time, we follow the story of Francisco, a middle-aged Cuban immigrant working at a holding house, and Cecilia, a 10 year old Mexican girl who ends up there with no family members to fend for her. When Cecilia ends up on her own, she turns the desert into a fantastical world - creating characters and stories to make the hopelessness of the empty landscape a survivable habitat. Through navigating what was supposed to be both Francisco and Cecilia's promise land, they find a common hope in each other while journeying through the hauntingly beautiful and desolate world that is Lake Los Angeles.

　

THE LAST TIME YOU HAD FUN

Director / Editor: Mo Perkins

Screenwriter: Hal Haberman

Producer: Drea Clark

Cinematographer: Eric S. Zimmerman

Principal Cast: Eliza Coupe, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Demetri Martin, Kyle Bornheimer, Jimmi Simpson, Todd Berger, Charlene Yi.

Screenings:

Saturday, June 14th, 9:45pm, Regal Cinemas 11

Wednesday, June 18th, 6:30pm, Regal Cinemas 9

Synopsis:

"If anybody in the history of the planet needs a night out, it's the four of us." With those words, four thirty-somethings embark on a night of misadventure and half-baked debauchery in Mo Perkins' grown up comedy.

When Ida, cheeks streaked by mascara tears, unexpectedly shows up at her sister's house, the staid Alison bargains her way out of mom duty for the night and the two head off to an Eastside wine bar. There, they run into Will and the freshly divorced, sweat pants-attired Clark. After some slightly inebriated commiserating about mismanaged marriages and other adult concerns, the foursome head out into the night, determined to prove they still have what it takes to have a good time.





MAN FROM RENO

Director: Dave Boyle

Writers: Dave Boyle, Joel Clark, Michael Lerman

Producer: Ko Mori

Principal Cast: Ayako Fujitani, Pepe Serna, Kazuki Kitamura

Screenings:

Saturday, June 15th, 6:40pm, Regal Cinemas 9

Wednesday, June 18th, 9:00pm, Regal Cinemas 9

Synopsis:

In a small town south of San Francisco, Sheriff Paul Del Moral is driving home through the fog one night when he accidentally strikes a pedestrian, a lone Japanese man. However, before an investigation can take place the man disappears from the hospital without a trace.

At the same time, Japanese mystery author Aki Akahori takes a trip to San Francisco in order to escape the press tour for her latest book--a potboiler in her world-famous "Inspector Takabe" series. Feeling lonely and vulnerable, she begins a romantic affair with a mysterious Japanese traveller from Reno who is staying in the same hotel. Her new lover, Akira Suzuki, is charismatic and charming but abruptly disappears from the hotel, leaving behind his suitcase and a trail of questions.

XXX
Raymond Lo

Los Angeles Film Festival: 5 Films Not to Miss

The 20th edition of one of the biggest film festivals in Los Angeles is set to begin in a week's time. From June 11 through June 19, cinephiles, movie buffs, or whatever you call us will have a feast of some of the most interesting, imaginative, original, ground-breaking films at the fest. The venue is still at the Regal LA Live in downtown Los Angeles and parking will not be bad.

All that said, here are five films that i think we all should not miss. From "The Butler's" David Oyelowo's buzzy perf in "Nightingale" to the highly anticipated new Patricia Highsmith adaptation "Two Faces of January".

~~~~~~

NIGHTINGALE

World Premiere, Tuesday, June 17th at 9:15pm

Director: Elliot Lester

Writer: Frederick Mensch

Cast: David Oyelowo

Synopsis:

A provocative drama that probes the darkest corners of a disturbed mind, NIGHTINGALE tells the story of Peter Snowden and his obsession with an old army friend named Edward. The film follows Peter as he records his private thoughts and feelings -- his nightingale song -- in the days leading up to his reunion with Edward. Before long the hostile world outside Peter's door begins to threaten the idyllic future that he's so desperately trying to build.

~~~~~

TWO FACES OF JANUARY

Premiere, Tuesday, June 17th at 7:30PM

Director/Writer: Hossein Amini

Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst and Oscar Isaac

Synopsis:

Screenwriter Hossein Amini (The Wings of the Dove, Drive) makes a stylish directing debut with this sleek thriller set in Greece and Istanbul, 1962, and adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s novel. Intrigue begins at the Parthenon when wealthy American tourists Chester MacFarland (Viggo Mortensen) and his young wife Collete (Kirsten Dunst) meet American expat Rydal (Oscar Isaac), a scammer working as a tour guide. Instead of becoming his latest marks, the two befriend him, but a murder at the couple’s hotel puts all three on the run together and creates a precarious bond between them as the trio’s allegiance is put to the test.

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CUT BANK

World Premiere

Monday, June 16th at 6:30PM

(2^nd Screening: Wednesday, June 18th at 4:15PM)

Director: Matt Shakman

Writer: Roberto Patino

Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich, Billy Bob Thorton, Bruce Dern, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Oliver Platt

Synopsis:

DWAYNE MCLAREN (Liam Hemsworth, Hunger Games), a high school star athlete recently turned auto mechanic, dreams of getting out of tiny Cut Bank, MT – the coldest town in America – and whisking his pageant-hopeful girlfriend, CASSANDRA (Teresa Palmer), away to the big city. But his plan to do so sets in motion a deadly series of events and thrusts him into a police investigation headed by SHERIFF VOGEL (John Malkovich), the protector of Cut Bank and the closest thing Dwayne has to a father figure. Panic sweeps across the community in mere hours, but things are not what they seem. Cassandra’s father BIG STAN STEELEY (Billy Bob Thornton) is the only one who seems to realize this. However, the damage is already done and the events that unfold change Dwayne’s life – and the life of the town – forever.

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THE LIFE AND MIND OF MARK DEFRIEST

World Premiere

Friday, June 13th at 9:30PM

(2^nd Screening: Monday, June 16th at 7:00PM)

Director/Writer: Gabriel London

Cast: Mark DeFriest, Scoot McNairy, and Shea Whigham

Synopsis:

It isn't a prison sentence; it's guerrilla warfare. That's Mark DeFriest's philosophy concerning incarceration. Initially sentenced to four years over a misunderstanding, he's now spent three decades behind bars, amassing a laundry list of disciplinary reports and earning a reputation as the "Houdini of high security prisons."

"There's an art to everything," asserts DeFriest, who has demonstrated considerable creativity with his 18 escape attempts, whether dosing prison medical staff with LSD or coming out with handmade zip guns blazing. (In the Wild West, he would've assuredly gone out like Butch and Sundance, rather than withering away in a cell.) With fantastical animated sequences conveying DeFriest's past exploits and delving into his troubled psyche, Gabriel London's documentary questions how redemption can possibly be achieved when an unforgiving system simply won't allow for such things.

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FRANK

Premiere

Saturday, June 14th, 7:00PM

(2^nd Screening: Tuesday, June 17, 1:50PM)

Director: Lenny Abrahamson

Writer: Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy

Synopsis:

Jon, a young wanna-be musician, discovers he's bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank.

See you at the festival!

XXX

Raymond Lo

LAFF2014 Diary: Must-see Films!

Got my official accreditation approval notice last night to this year's fest. I haven't checked the entire line-up yet but i have been steadily receiving messages and e-mails about certain movies screening in the festival that i should not miss.

Here are five of the films that are already on my ever-expanding list of movies to see.

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EVOLUTION OF A CRIMINAL

Winner of FULL FRAME 2014 - GRAND JURY PRIZE - BEST DOCUMENTARY

Winner of FULL FRAME 2014 - FILMMAKER AWARD

Winner of DALLAS FILM FESTIVAL 2014 - SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

Documentary Feature Los Angeles Premiere Summer Showcase

Directed By: Darius Clark Monroe

Producers: Jen Gatien, Spike Lee

About the film:

How does a 16 year-old honor student evolve into a bank robber? In EVOLUTION OF A CRIMINAL, filmmaker Darius Clark Monroe asks this very question—about himself. After seeing his mother and stepfather struggle to make ends meet while living outside of Houston, Texas, Monroe decided to help them by robbing a bank with two friends.

Returning to his neighborhood several years after the crime, Monroe creates an incredibly intimate and personal journey of reflection and forgiveness while examining lower class struggles, the desperation of a teen under pressure, and the emotional impact that rippled in the aftermath of that day.

Monroe interviews family members, close friends, mentors and those innocent bystanders who happened to be at the bank on that fateful day. Family and friends recount the stages of his transformation - going from a joyous childhood to the moment he realized the severity of his family’s financial problems, and how their struggles changed his outlook on society and his life as a whole. The people from the bank remember that day vividly, as he asks for their forgiveness 10 years after the act.

EVOLUTION OF A CRIMINAL is not only a story of a good kid gone bad, but also brings forth the issues of economic injustice, poverty, race, and the importance of family in a very moving and insightful way.

Festival screenings:

Thu, Jun 12th 7:00pm Regal Cinemas 12

Mon, Jun 16th 2:00pm Regal Cinemas 12

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LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Documentary Feature World Premiere

Directed By: Thomas G. Miller

Producers: Kirk Marcolina, Karen Hori, David Ross

About the film:

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP is the 40-year love story between Filipino-American Richard Adams and his Australian husband, Tony Sullivan. In 1975, thanks to a courageous county clerk in Boulder, CO, Richard and Tony were one of the first same-sex couples to be legally married in the world. Richard immediately filed for a green card for Tony based on their marriage. But unlike most heterosexual married couples who easily file petitions and obtain green cards, Richard received a denial letter from the Immigration and Naturalization Service stating, "You have failed to establish that a bona fide marital relationship can exist between two faggots. " Outraged at the tone, tenor and politics of this letter and to prevent Tony’s impending deportation, the couple sued the U.S. government. This became the first federal lawsuit seeking equal treatment for a same-sex marriage in U.S. history.

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP celebrates Richard and Tony’s long path towards justice and citizenship as they challenge the traditional definitions of "spouse" and "family." This tenacious story of love, marriage and immigration equality is as precedent setting as it is little known…until now.

Festival Screening:

Sat, Jun 14th 2:25pm Regal Cinemas 8 Free Screening

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OUT IN THE NIGHT

Documentary Competition World Premiere

Directed By: blair dorosh-walther

Producers: blair dorosh-walther, Giovanna Chesler, Mridu Chandra, Yoruba Richen

Featuring: Renata Hill, Patreese Johnson, Terrain Dandridge, Venice Brown

About the film:

Taking us beyond the sensational "Attack of the Killer Lesbians" headlines, blair dorosh-walther's provocative documentary pulls back the curtain on a tragic miscarriage of justice. In New York City's West Village in 2006, four gay African-American women were brutally assaulted by a stranger whose unwanted sexual advances they'd just spurned. In defending themselves, they also unwittingly left themselves vulnerable to draconian prison sentences that wrested them from their supportive New Jersey families. dorosh-walther returns to the scene of their alleged crime, using security footage to condemn the deplorable conduct of unscrupulous reporters and callous police officers. With a deep compassion for its subjects tempering its outrage over the indignities they've suffered, the film poses a troubling question: How would have this unfolded had it been four straight white women instead?

Festival screenings:

Thu, Jun 12th 6:45pm Regal Cinemas 9

Mon, Jun 16th 4:15pm Regal Cinemas 14

　

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EAT WITH ME

Narrative Feature World Premiere LA Muse Section

Directed By: David Au Written By: David Au

Producers: Joyce Liu-Countryman, Michelle Ehlen

Cast: Sharon Omi, Teddy Chen Culver, Nicole Sullivan, George Takei, Aidan Bristow, Jamila Alina, Ken Narasaki, Scott Keiji Takeda, Burt Grinstead

About the film:

Feeling invisible in her bland marriage, Emma moves in with her son, Elliot, into his downtown L.A. loft. Elliot, a young chef, is facing foreclosure on his lackluster Chinese restaurant--and he's gay. Emma's disapproval has made strangers of mother and son, but the two need each other now more than ever, as Emma explores her newfound freedom--with the encouragement of a saucy new friend--and Elliot confronts his fears of intimacy. Words may fail them, but they find a common language through food.

This auspicious directorial debut from David Au offers a fresh take on life, love and food in the heart of Los Angeles. This deliciously emotional and redemptive story is supported by an endearing cast led by Sharon Omi, Teddy Chen Culver, Nicole Sullivan and a cameo with Star Trek legend George Takei.

Festival screening:

Sun, Jun 15th 4:30pm Regal Cinemas 8

　

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I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY

Documentary Feature Los Angeles Premiere Grand Performances at California Plaza

Directed By: Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker

Featuring: Caroll Spinney, Frank Oz, Sonia Manzano, Jerry Nelson, Bob McGrath, Emilio Delgado, Dr. Loretta Long, Joan Ganz Cooney

Producer: Clay Frost

About the film:

For over 40 years, Caroll Spinney has been the puppeteer behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Now, as his hand-picked successor waits to take over (as he's been waiting for the past 20 years), Spinney rejects retirement once again. It would mean saying goodbye to characters whom he loves like children, who represent two very different parts of who he is. Carroll can't say goodbye to Big Bird because he is Big Bird. In this touching documentary, comprised largely of highlights from his amazing, never-before-seen home videos, we gain incredible insight to Spinney's life, both past and present, and get an in-depth look at how he became the man who became the bird.

Festival screening:

Sat, Jun 14th 8:30pm California Plaza

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See you at the festival. June 11 - 19!

XXX

Raymond Lo