Papa: Hemingway in Cuba

Ernest Hemingway is one of the most influential writers from the 20th century. It is fitting that a movie would be made about him. The film is called PAPA: HEMINGWAY IN CUBA, and follows a journalist, played very well by Giovanni Ribisi, who is an admirer. Ribisi's character, Ed Myers, is inspired by Hemingway to become a great writer.

After several years of working as a journalist, Myers writes Hemingway a letter, telling him what a big impression he made on a young man. Myers is surprised when Hemingway (an excellent portrayal by Adrian Sparks) responds via a telephone call. Hemingway invites Myers to visit him in Cuba; the two men develop a friendship.

Denne Bart Petitclerc, the real life 'Ed Myers,' is the screenwriter of PAPA: HEMINGWAY IN CUBA. He is someone who had a true friendship with Hemingway, being invited into his home and also befriending Hemingway's wife Mary.  Mary is played by the outstanding actress Joely Richardson. Watching Hemingway and Mary's relationship is intriguing, as they were authentic individuals.

This movie is for people who are curious about Ernest Hemingway's life. Certainly he has inspired many writers, and Petitclerc's screenplay includes writing tips and wisdom Hemingway shared with him. In addition, readers' of Hemingway's books and short stories will be interested to find out about how circumstances were for him privately, behind the scenes.

Mariel Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway's granddaughter, makes an appearance in the film, which takes place in Havana, and was shot on location at Hemingway's home. It is the first American movie to be made in Cuba since 1959.  PAPA: HEMINGWAY IN CUBA is currently playing in theatres.

A Hologram for the King

In the movie A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING Tom Hanks plays Alan Clay, a man who is dealing with personal problems and chooses to focus on having a successful career. Many people can probably relate to this. The story serves as a character study, which is a portrayal of traits and qualities of a single individual. In other words, Alan's personality is more important than the plot. Maybe this aspect is what attracted Mr. Hanks to the role.

Another interesting character is Yousef, played by Alexander Black.  Yousef is Alan's driver while he is in Saudi Arabia on business. He is also humorous and manages to intrigue Alan with details about his life. Surprisingly, this movie even provides Alan with a love interest from an unlikely individual. Falling in love really is the last thing on Alan's mind, but that is usually when it occurs.

A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING is based on the book of the same title by Dave Eggers. It is currently playing in theatres in the United States and Germany.

Caged No More

Human trafficking is a huge problem throughout the world.  Often the victims are young and unsuspecting. It is disturbing knowing that every 30 seconds someone is captured.  The movie CAGED NO MORE offers an illustration of how the process works and affects people who know the individual being enslaved. The movie stars Kevin Sorbo, Loretta Devine, Cynthia Gibb, Alan Powell, Debra Wilson, Abigail Duhon, and Cassidy Gifford.

Devine plays Aggie, the godmother of a dying woman who pleads with her to save her girls from their malicious father, Jack, played by Sorbo (Sorbo gives an outstanding performance as Jack and his righteous twin brother Richard). Jack is the one responsible for the human trafficking of his daughters. When Aggie discovers this, she does what is necessary to seek help from Richard. Richard, his family, friends, and church help Aggie through the process of locating Jack's daughters.

Richard is a wealthy man. Human trafficking can happen to anyone, even to people in the most affluent communities. CAGED NO MORE does an excellent job of bringing awareness to the issue. At the end of the movie, writer, producer, director Lisa Arnold and cast members speak to the audience, explaining how serious the problem is and informing there will be two more films; CAGED NO MORE is part of a trilogy.

For more information about CAGED NO MORE and how you can get involved, visit the official Web site at http://www.cagednomoremovie.com/.

The Masked Saint

A unique film released this year is THE MASKED SAINT.  It stars Brett Granstaff (as Chris Samuels),  Lara Jean Chorostecki, Diahann Carroll, Roddy Piper (his final film performance), and Mykel Shannon Jenkins. The movie is based on the book The Masked Saint by Chris Whaley. Whaley is a former professional wrestler (The Saint) who became a pastor.

THE MASKED SAINT is a family film with an inspirational message (The wrestling sequences may frighten some, but most will be able to view them.)  Chris Samuels is a professional wrestler who decides to retire, despite threats from his wrestling promoter, Nicky Stone (played by Piper), and become a pastor of a church in a small town.

When Chris, his wife (Chorostecki), and daughter arrive at their new home, he discovers the town has quite a bit of crime activity.  Chris decides to fight injustice by masquerading as The Masked Saint, a vigilante superhero.

The plot may seem silly, but ultimately the story is an allegory.  Chris is a man of faith who wants to help people. His methods are unconventional, but his heart is in the right place.

In addition to the crime in town, Chris' church experiences financial difficulties. As a result, he goes back into the ring to raise money. Unfortunately, he is greeted by wrestling promoter, Nicky, with a comment like, "I knew you would be back," but stays focused on his goal.  Eventually, being a pastor, father, husband, "superhero," and wrestler starts becoming too much for Chris. He is forced to make an important life decision.

For more information about THE MASKED SAINT, visit the official Web site at http://themaskedsaint.com/.

Brooklyn

Colm To'ibin's novel Brooklyn is the inspiration for the movie, BROOKLYN. I have experienced being an immigrant just like Ellis Lacey (played by Saoirse Ronan). Usually hope and some fear are a part of the process.  Hope carries more weight, except in BROOKLYN Ellis is very young and still trying to discover who she is and if the dreams she has are actually hers. She also has difficulty leaving her mother and sister in Ireland.

The immigration process can include much adventure due to challenges of learning another culture. In the United States Ellis discovers there are many other Irish immigrants in Brooklyn, including the boarding home in which she lives. She also receives support with enrolling in school and finding a job. She even starts socializing and meets an Italian man named Tony (played by Emory Cohen) at a dance.

In the 1950's there are several opportunities for Ellis to discover who she is via experiences she has when getting help from people she meets, especially Tony. Falling in love for the first time is overwhelming for her, and thinking about going back to Ireland provides confusion. She does not even tell her mother and sister about Tony.

BROOKLYN is a coming-of-age story that is engaging. The writing and performances are excellent. It is always a pleasure watching Saoirse Ronan portray interesting characters.

For more information, visit the official Facebook page for BROOKLYN at https://www.facebook.com/BrooklynMovie.

Woman In Gold

I saw the movie, WOMAN IN GOLD, almost one year ago. I realized I had not written about it here so today I will share my thoughts on this really nice film about Maria Altmann (played by Helen Mirren). Maria was a Jewish refugee forced to flee Vienna during World War II.

The movie begins at present day, following Maria living in Los Angeles, and the narrative is given in a series of flashbacks. She pursues obtaining a painting of her Aunt Adele, known as "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I." At the time Maria escaped from Vienna, not only are Jewish individuals being captured, but the Nazis are stealing many items from them. "Portrait of Adele Block-Bauer I" is a painting of the "Woman in Gold," and very special to Maria. It means so much to her that she hires an attorney, played by Ryan Reynolds, to help her get it back from Austria. Unfortunately, the Austrian minister and art director are unwilling to part with the painting.

It is intriguing watching Maria and her inexperienced lawyer, Randy, as they travel to Austria to retrieve the portrait. When the minister and art director insist on leaving the painting at the gallery, Maria and Randy argue their position within the law. The case is even heard by the United States Supreme Court.

WOMAN IN GOLD is a historical and educational film.  Through literature I teach students about the Holocaust. The stories are usually from the point of view of survivors that were forced into concentration camps. Those stories are important and should be shared. However, WOMAN IN GOLD brings an awareness of the other wrongs committed by the Nazis, such as stealing valuable artwork.  These details should become known and taught as well. It furthers the reality that the Jewish people taken by force had class and lived normal lives.

For more information about WOMAN IN GOLD, visit the official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WomanInGoldMovie/timeline?ref=page_internal.

The Big Short

THE BIG SHORT is a film that answers several questions about the financial crisis that took place during 2007-2010.  The director and cast are believable and do a fantastic job of showing various aspects of the problem.  The presentation is unique: the story is a drama with some quirky comedy included.

The crisis was incredibly unfortunate and affected so many hard-working people. Individuals were laid off jobs, lost retirement savings, and abandoned homes they could no longer afford. Greed caused the situation and THE BIG SHORT makes that clear.

THE BIG SHORT is based on the book of the same title written by Michael Lewis.  The movie is playing in theatres, winning awards, and receiving numerous nominations for more awards. To learn more about the film visit http://www.thebigshortmovie.com/.

Mr. Holmes

MR. HOLMES is a wonderful film for Sherlock Holmes admirers.  MR. HOLMES stars Ian McKellen.  The story takes its audience into Holmes' private life and not just him being a sleuth. He masterfully solves a mystery, even when intending to shift into another phase of life.

For more information, visit the official Web site: http://www.mrholmesfilm.com/.

War Room

This week I had the pleasure of attending a preview screening for the movie WAR ROOM.  The film is produced by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick.  The Kendrick brothers are the creators of FIREPROOF, COURAGEOUS, and FACING THE GIANTS.

Usually people see prayer as a last resort, but WAR ROOM shows how having prayer as a daily part of one’s life can make a difference.  Relationships with others can be more positive and one can be at peace. In the movie a couple’s marriage relationship is strained.  Elizabeth, a real estate agent, meets a new client, Miss Clara, who shows her how a “war room” and battle plan for prayer can help her family.

WAR ROOM is an entertaining and inspirational film. To learn more visit the official Web site at http://www.WarRoomTheMovie.com.  The film will be in theatres on August 28^th.

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.

Black Nativity

The movie BLACK NATIVITY is a great story about family and forgiveness. Screenwriter and director Kasi Lemmons adapted the Langston Hughes play for the screen.

BLACK NATIVITY is a musical drama starring Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Tyrese Gibson, Jacob Latimore (impressive performance), Mary J. Blige, Nas, and Vondie Curtis-Hall. Since the movie is based on a play, when leaving the theatre after the screening one feels like he or she has just attended a stage play presentation. That is a good feeling. Because the actors are all good singers, the film provides a musical theatre experience.

The Bible

THE BIBLE miniseries currently on the History Channel is an excellent adaptation of the Bible. In the past filmmakers have focused on one book of the Bible. But executive producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett have endeavored to adapt the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

THE BIBLE shows all the drama, conflict, romance, and redemption of the Bible in its proper time period. However, it is filmed for a present day audience. For example, the special effects for the parting of the Red Sea could not have been filmed as magnificently as it was if this miniseries had been produced before the technology used to create it.

Watching THE BIBLE miniseries is similar to reading the book, THE STORY. THE STORY is the Bible as one continuing story of God and His people. THE STORY is written in the New International Version (NIV), condensed into 31 chapters, so it can be read like a novel.

Damages

The DirecTV Audience Network series, Damages, ended this week. It was certainly an amazing program! The storylines were consistently intriguing and unique. The actors were always superb. Excellent casting and writing made Damages very enjoyable to watch.

Glenn Close is nominated for an Emmy–Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series. It is her fourth Emmy nomination for her portrayal of ‘Patty Hewes’ on Damages. She truly deserves the award (it would be her third Emmy for the role).

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is a movie about British retirees who move to India. The story shows how uncertain life is and the importance of just living.

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL has a talented cast: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Tom Wilkinson, and Maggie Smith. All of the actors know how to present a story well.

The film is currently playing in theatres, and being placed on even more screens faster than usual. For more information about this movie, visit http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thebestexoticmarigoldhotel/.

Signs

SIGNS is a short film about communicating without speaking. It is a very captivating story. You may watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy0HNWto0UY&feature=player_embedded.

Auburn Library Book Signing

On Saturday, May 12th I will be participating in The Auburn Friends of the Library event, Gold Country Authors Faire, from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m at 350 Nevada Street in Auburn, California. I will sell and sign my book, Growing Pains - 10 short stories about growing up.

For more information about Growing Pains - 10 short stories about growing up, visit http://www.tdaentertainment.com/growingpainsbook.htm. Thank you for your support; I look forward to meeting you.

Mayor Cupcake

MAYOR CUPCAKE is a fun movie. Lea Thompson is wonderful as ‘Mary Maroni,’ a cupcake baker who lives in Bridgeville, Delaware with her husband ‘Donald’ (played by Judd Nelson) and their three daughters. Unknowingly, ‘Mary’ is nominated for mayor of Bridgeville and wins the election, beating out a four-term mayor and another male opponent. She is unenthusiastic about the job, but swiftly makes the best of it and does very well with help from her friend ‘Albert’ (played by Dorian Harewood). She even takes pride in her duties since she was born and raised in Bridgeville and loves the town. However, there is conflict because some do not want her being their mayor. It is comical watching them try to thwart her.

Bridgeville has unique residents. One man makes it his chore to let drivers know to slow down since the police write a lot of speeding tickets, and another man owns an antique store but does not want to part with any merchandise. These and other characters are what make MAYOR CUPCAKE fun. Stories like this are good for the whole family to watch.