The Judge

THE JUDGE is a beautiful movie (as in texture), because of the phenomenal acting and writing. Robert Downey, Jr. plays a lawyer who escapes to the big city because of the problems he had with his father while growing up in a small town. His father, played by Robert Duvall, is the town’s judge.

The lawyer returns home for a family matter, and while he is there his father is accused of murder. The lawyer ends up providing legal counsel for the judge, and that is when family secrets are unveiled. There are other surprises in the movie by way of the well-written characters and the actors who play them.

For more information about THE JUDGE visit http://www.thejudgemovie.com.

A Most Wanted Man

A MOST WANTED MAN is an excellent film based on the book by John le Carre. It is a spy thriller full of suspense, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe, and Robin Wright.  All the performances are exceptional. I was especially impressed with McAdams’ portrayal of an attorney helping immigrants, which Hoffman’s character refers to as “a social worker who helps terrorists.”

A MOST WANTED MAN is one of the best films I have seen in a long time and is currently playing in theatres. For more information visit http://amostwantedmanmovie.com/.

"Party Tonight!" in Post-Production

I adapted the short story "Party Tonight!" from my book, Growing Pains - 10 short stories about growing up (http://www.tdaentertainment.com/growingpainsbook.htm). The short film is currently in post-production, which means it is being edited. The story is about 'Kim,' a conservative college freshman, who has a roommate named 'Teresa' who likes to party. The odd pairing makes the narrative comedic and dramatic.

I produced and directed "Party Tonight!" It stars Desiree Cruz as 'Kim' and Aryn Bigler as 'Teresa.' David Lundell appears as 'Joe' (Teresa's boyfriend).

The official Web site for "Party Tonight!" is http://www.tdaentertainment.com/PartyTonight.htm.

Bates Motel

The television series Bates Motel is extraordinary. PSYCHO movie enthusiasts are drawn to the show because it is a prequel to the film. For the series’ writers, exploring the early life of Norman Bates must be a complex, but enjoyable task. As a writer, I would dive into the opportunity of writing for this show (the writing staff is all female with the exception of executive producer Carlton Cuse). The Norman character is complicated, and his mother Norma Bates is equally interesting, as she operates on various levels. They are both complex. This makes Bates Motel an adventure for viewers; no one knows what to expect.

Anthony Perkins played Norman Bates in PSYCHO, and would probably be satisfied with Freddie Highmore’s magnificent portrayal of the character. Olivia Hussey played Norma Bates very well in PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING, and Vera Farmiga takes the character’s insane antics even further in Bates Motel. Farmiga deserved her 2013 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and it would not be surprising if she is nominated again.

Bates Motel takes place in White Pine Bay, Oregon as opposed to Fairvale, California in PSYCHO. This is an intelligent change, as the idea of a coastal community makes it more likely that people would visit the quaint town and need a place to stay. However, with the storyline about the bypass being built, it is uncertain if Norma will have many guests at the motel. This makes Norma extremely angry. Watching her go off on the city council is amusing and frightening at the same time. She is one crazy lady, and this is why Bates Motel should be on television: viewers get to see Norman is nutty courtesy of his unbalanced mother.

On the other hand, Norma’s eldest son Dylan, played favorably by Max Thieriot, seems more balanced. However, being a part of such an insane family must affect him in some ungainly way. The writers know this and viewers have seen Dylan in situations that support this notion.

The town of White Pine Bay is home for several peculiar residents, including the obscure sheriff, played by Nestor Carbonell. Overall, the writers have created engaging characters and storylines. Hopefully Bates Motel will be on television for a long time and sufficiently reveal the irregular lives of Norman Bates and Norma Bates.

Bates Motel broadcasts internationally on television. In the U.S. it airs Monday nights on A&E network. For more information, visit http://www.batesmotel.com/ and http://www.aetv.com/bates-motel.