The Fright of UMMA

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and Digital from writer director Iris K. Shim and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the story of mother-daughter relationships with UMMA.

Amanda (Sandra Oh) and daughter Chrissy (Fivel Stewart) lived on a secluded farm together. Mother and daughter made their living with a bee farm and sold their honey. The house was void of anything that had to do with electricity as Amanda would become sick. Mother and daughter seemed very happy with their life.

That is until Amanda receives an unexpected visit from an uncle from Korea with news that her mother Umma (MeeWha Alana Lee) had passed. There is obvious anger between the two relatives as he leaves a suitcase behind with her mother’s ashes. Almost immediately there is anxiety from Amanda remembering the situation of her own growing up that she has kept from Chrissy.

Within days, Amanda finds an application to go away to college that Chrissy didn’t tell her about and finds out it is family friend Danny (Dermot Mulroney) knew. That is not all, Amanda begins to see an angry Umma spirit and realizes that her own mother is trying to become part of her life and being – literally.

Explaining to Chrissy about Umma and her Korean ancestry, the young girl thinks her mother is not in her right mind. That is until she sees the power for herself as a confrontation finally happens and its time to make it all stop.

Oh as Amanda has come to live a very quiet life and with daughter Chrissy she feels it has been a good and safe life, but we all know you can not hide forever. Once Uncle shows up, it is game on and the relationship she has been running from is on her doorstep. Oh plays it straight and frightening going through her past that has led the family to right now.

Stewart as Chrissy has been happy with her life, but the teenage years are starting to bring on those feelings. College, friendship and having a life outside of the house is where her thinking is now, especially when ‘grandma’ comes into the house. Stewart gives us a teenager that is not whiny, entitled or disrespectful but instead a kid who is levelheaded and trying to figure it all out – even if she begins to see a different world.

Mulroney as Danny is trying to be a family friend without overstepping. He sees that Amanda is going through something and at the same time Chrissy is trying to have a life beyond the bees. Not a large role but more of a go-between mother and daughter.

Other cast include Odeya Rush as River and Tom Yi as Uncle.

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UMMA is a story of a family history from the Korean culture. Oh’s character is running from those things, even going so far as to change her name, but family is family. This is more of a thriller than a horror film and I prefer that more than anything. The spooks and jumps make a film worth it all and UMMA puts in her reasons to jump!

Keeping the cast small allows the viewer to become invested in the characters and become really interested in where the story is taking us. UMMA is actually Korean for ‘mum’ so you know exactly what you are getting.

In the end - a Mother’s love never dies!

 

 

 

 

 

SGT. WILL GARDNER is a Story of Pain and Redemption

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from writer/director Max Martini and Cinedigm comes the story of a man who has seen war and forgot his life in SGT. WILL GARDNER.

Will 'Ghost' Gardner (Max Martini) is a man struggling with life after his time in the military. After an explosion kills his close friend Samuel 'Top' Gallegos (Omari Hardwick) and causes brain injury, he leaves his life behind to wander the streets.

As the years pass, Ghost realizes he must get back into life and makes his way to see his young son. Along the way he meets Mary Anne (Lily Rabe) who accidentally mistakes him for a famous actor. The two get to know one another and discover they are both lost in the big world.

After reconnecting with his young son Will Jr. (Leo Martini), he sees his ex-wife Kimmy (Elisabeth Rohm) and new husband Buddy (Dermot Mulroney). She explains what happened with her life when Ghost went off to war and it is what they both needed to move forward.

Trying to find his way clear, Ghost takes one step forward and four steps back trying to find his way in a world that doesn't see him nor do they see his injury.  Relationships are held together by a thread, friendships are so difficult to maintain and sanity walks on the edge of what he wants his world to be.

This is his story but it is also the story of so many.

Martini as Ghost is a man who can not seem to find his way clear of the war. He wants so much to have the life he once knew but the trauma gets in the way. The emotional battle inside takes a piece of him little by little to the point where he can not see his way clearly. For every two steps forward he slides a little back but yet there is something inside him that refuses to stay down. That is his saving grace!

Hardwick as Top has become the conscience that Ghost doesn't want to deal with. Always with him, Top is a constant reminder of where they have been together. Hardwick gives a performance of a friend that offers strength and courage and we should all be so blessed to have a friend that makes that kind of impact in our lives.

Rabe as Mary Anne is a woman who is also looking for something that isn't exactly what she expects. Ghost does take advantage of that for a bit but Rabe, as we all know from American Horror Story, can give as good as she takes.

A shout out to Bordonada as Charlie Burroughs as a vet who seems to be a target for every person with big-man-syndrome. Even when he goes against Ghost, he discovers that there is someone else out there who understands the fear and pain of war. Bordonada is a bit of the missing piece for Ghost that can create a new path for them both.

Sinise as Larry makes an appearance and it must be said that anytime he shows up in a film it is an experience but every time he shows up in a film for vets it makes me love him even more. Dedicated to supporting veterans, Sinise has become a recognizable face for the cause of our active, wounded and retired service members.

Other cast include: JoBeth Williams as Sherry, Luis Bordonada as Charlie Burroughs, Holt McCallany as Officer Callahan, Justin Tucker as Farnsworth, Matthew Velez as Morley, Georgina Lighting as Emily Saunders, Jay DeMarcus as Top Gunner and Gary Sinise as Larry.

Cinedigm is a leading distributor of amazing content in storefronts, digital platforms, Internet and Demand platforms for cable television. With an extensive library of over 52,000 films and television shows, Docurama films, next-gen Indies and Independent films. At its inception, Cinedigm has played a pioneering role in transitioning movie theatres from traditional film prints to digital distribution to advance worldwide cinema modernization. For more on what Cinedigm has to offer please visit http://www.cinedigm.com.

Martini has pledged that 30% of SGT. WILL GARDNER's film proceeds will go to charities that help soldiers with homelessness, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury such as the character Ghost suffers from.

SGT. WILL GARDNER is an amazing film in that it is simple, straight forward and only a glimpse inside the lives of wounded service members. Tough as nails on one hand and spiritually tired on the other, this film shows that Ghost wants what everyone else wants - a simple life, love of family and to be of help to others.

The reality for all who serve is, "Although it is impossible to gauge accurately, the findings estimate approximately 50,000 veterans are still homeless on any given night in the United States of America. A recent DoD report states that 383,947 veterans have been diagnosed with war related Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) since the year 2000. In 2015, a VA Inspector General's report revealed that 307,000 veterans died while awaiting pending healthcare claims. The VA National Suicide Data Report claims that the average number of Veterans who die by suicide each day remains unchanged at 20" - leave no man behind!

It is stirring to see, rough to feel and real enough to take in what is happening to our veterans after serving our country.

In the end - sometimes the battle follows you home!