BAU: ARTIST AT WAR

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Sean McNamara, ShowBiz Direct and Republic Pictures is the story of a talent that saved many lives with BAU, ARTIST AT WAR.

Joseph Bau (Emile Hirsch) is a Jewish artist living in Krakow, Poland in 1943 as the Nazi’s wreak havoc across Europe. He is a talented artist but also talented at creating identification cards for his people feeling the need to be of help. The one person who isn’t happy about it is father Abraham (Eugene Lipinski) which upsets mother Cyla (Pam Kearns). Living in the Krakow, they are all rousted late in the night by soldiers sent to ‘liquidate’ the ghetto by sending all to the Plaszow concentration camp.

Kommendant Goeth (Josh Blacker) almost immediately calls Bau to his office wanting to use his artistry and map making skills. There, he meets Itzhak Stern (Adam Tsekhman), Oskar Shindler’s (Edward Foy) accountant who sets him up for the work Bau is to do. By day he fulfills the duties of map maker to stay alive and by night uses his art to bring a bit of joy to the other survivors. He also meets the lovely Rebecca (Inbar Lavi) who sees Bau as a little strange but intriguing.

Goeth’s henchman Franz Gruen (Yan Tual) has issues with Bau and has made it his personal mission to be as brutal as possible toward him. That doesn’t stop Bau from getting deeper in the camp learning more about Schindler and Itzhak’s plans and about Rebecca. The time will come when all must sacrifice in the name of the people and the name of survival. Years later it will be time to hold accountable those who tried to destroy a nation and Bau has a story to tell with unexpected help.

Hirsch as Bau gives us a look inside the life of an amazing artist who also had a talent for comforting people and helping to save them as well. Bau is a complex person from the very beginning as Hirsch gives his portrayal light in the darkest of times. Aware that every move that anyone in the camp makes could result in death, Hirsch’s Bau walks carefully and teeters on the edge of danger many times. This portrayal is moving and still allows for moments of smiles and hope.

Blacker as Goeth is the man everyone is afraid of and rightfully so. His willingness to end life has no limits and the constant threat by anyone around him is palpable. There seems to be only one person that doesn’t feel his wrath as Blacker doesn’t hesitate to take on the role of a man that is pure evil. Below him is Tual as Gruen, a man perhaps more ruthless than Goeth as he finds a twisted sense of accomplishment in his ending of life. He becomes focused on Bau and it brings on such brutality that spreads into others. Tual is also an actor bravely taking on a role that brings on such a visceral reaction of those watching, so well done.

Tsekhman as Stern works in Goeth’s office keeping things running smoothly and takes Bau under his wing as it were. Seeing the potential of what Bau can do for the cause of saving lives, Tsekhman’s role as Stern is one of strength, courage and cunning all in the name of helping his people survive insurmountable odds. Foy as Shindler is a man who has plans of his own that started out one way and turned into another. Taking advantage of the war for financial gain, it doesn’t take long before he realizes that he can do so much more than that and knows exactly how to make it all work.

Lavi as Rebecca meets Bau and isn’t sure what to make of him. Standing back, she watches how he is with others in the camp and especially with the young boy Michal and her heart changes. I love the strength Lavi shows in her portrayal of Rebecca and I was horrified at the scene with Goeth and held my breath many, many times. Lipinski as Abraham is a father who wants what’s best for his son even if he doesn’t truly understand him. Once they are in camp together, he begins to understand who he truly is and what he offers those around him. Kearns as mother Cyla understands her son Joseph and enjoys his sense of artistry and humor. She clearly is portrayed as a loving person and we see that in Kerarns’ performance. 

Shout out to Zuckerman as Michael who shows up in Bau’s life in 1971 with secrets of his own and has the chance to hear Bau’s story from beginning to end. 

Other cast include Chris Cope as Mietek, Michael Benyaer as Saul, Boris Bilic as Nathaniel, Aias Dalman as Michal, Dalias Blake as Alesky, Tori Griffith as Dyta, Leslie Deschutter as Alicija, Craig Erickson as Karl Richter and Josh Zuckerman as Michael.

Showbiz Direct is a pioneering motion picture distribution company dedicated to transforming the landscape of movie distribution. They stand as a direct catalyst for bringing deserving content into the limelight ensuring that voices have a chance to be heard and visions have the opportunity to be seen on the big screen. For more please visit www.showbizdirectdistribution.com.

Republic Pictures, originally founded in 1935, is revitalized under Paramount Global Content Distribution. Their library includes such films as BLACKBERRY, MILLERS IN MARRIAGE, MOTHER MOTHER, TWINLESS and BAD APPLES. For more please visit www.paramountmovies.com/Republic-Pictures.

BAU: ARTIST AT WAR is a remarkable film that could easily be watched alongside SCHINDLER’S LIST. The cinematography of black and white dotted with color brings an appreciation of the two eras being portrayed. The subject matter is always one that tugs at the heart because of the fear and intensity it brings up, especially in the world we find ourselves in now. People taken for no other reason than their Jewish ancestry, people taken because they were seen as inferior to a man with inferiorities of his own making, seem familiar?

The cast does a stunning job of bringing the story of Joseph Bau in this film. The running time of two hours and 10 minutes is worthy of every moment. This history of Joseph and Rebecca Bau is a stunning one and should be a teachable moment, and serve as a reminder to us all. Rebecca helped survivors of the Holocaust deal with their pain and Bau eventually worked for the Mossad and the Israeli Intelligence Agency returning to Israel in 1950.

In the end – it is all about love!

FORCE OF NATURE

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Digital and On Demand this week from director Michael Polish and Lionsgate comes a mixture of crime and drama when added to a FORCE OF NATURE.

Cardillo (Emile Hirsch) is having trouble with life and his job being a cop. Wanting to do as little as possible is not going to be the order of his day. As a storm moves in, he is ordered to go building to building to evacuate residents. Helping him with this is Jess (Stephanie Cayo) who sees right away that working with Cardillo is not going to be easy.

First problem is Griffin (William Catlett) who refuses to leave until he has fed his cat! They can’t possibly see what’s coming next when they meet Ray (Mel Gibson), an ex-cop who is set in his way and in the chair he has staked his claim to. Arguing with Cardillo and Jess, Troy (Kate Bosworth) steps in to settle the dispute. On another floor there is Cruz (Joksan Ramos) and they convince him to go with them only to be met by men carrying guns.

That would be Migs (Blas Sien Diaz), Dillion (Tyler Jon Olson) and Bennie (Julio Velez) and more who are ordered by John (David Zayas) to get what Cruz has. Confused yet? Oh don’t be because mother nature is about to make her entrance into the mix and with Ray on their side it doesn’t bode well – or does it?

Hirsch as Cardillo is all grown up and in a role that has secrets of his own. Cardillo isn’t happy by any means to go out into the storm, he’d rather stay behind the police desk and ride out the weather. When ordered to go, he is still doing it kicking and screaming and making it clear to anyone who will listen that helping people is not his agenda.

Bosworth as Troy does her best to keep Cardillo and Ray from knocking each other out which helps since she’s a doctor. Helping where she can and having eyes where they need them is her goal. Gibson as Ray sees what everyone is up against as an ex-cop, he does not mind getting in one last shot at the bad guys. He is a grumpy old codger that does not like to be told what to do which is interesting because Cardillo is exactly the same - only 30+ years younger.

Cayo as Jess isn’t having an easy time working with Cardillo but an even less easy time with the bad guys looking for them. New to the precinct, I’m sure this isn’t what she signed up for as a perfect storm is brewing! Catlett as Griffin has a little furry friend that takes precedence over anything else but sometimes furry friends have claws. Griffin wants to leave but quickly becomes part of the chaos.

Now the villainy! Diaz as Migs, Olson as Dillon and Velez as Bennie are men taking orders from Zayas as John. They aren’t about to let a little thing like hurricane winds and torrential rains stop them from getting what they want. I mean what do they have to lose right?

Other cast include: Jorge Ramos as Bergkamp, Vazquez as Pride, Jesy McKinney as Babie, Xavier Reyes as Ernesto and Luillo Ruize as Super Louie Joe.

Lionsgate is a global content leader with a reputation for innovation whose films, television series, location-based and live entertainment attractions and Starz premium pay platform reach next generation audiences around the world. For more information and to see what Lionsgate has to offer please visit www.lionsgate.com.

FORCE OF NATURE is a story filled with twists and turns with the most unlikely of characters calling the shots. Surrounded by a Cat-5 hurricane, it only makes things even more deadly and more dangerous. There are moments where its easy to get wrapped up in both!

The characters aren’t hard to grasp and each has a story to tell, just ask Griffin, and it comes out in bits and pieces are the inner-building game of cat and mouse continues. The hurricane is frosting on the cake.

In the end – when the perfect crime meets the perfect storm!

A Different Buddy Story When Pulling an ALL NIGHTER on DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Looking for a buddy film with a twist? Well, on DVD and Digital HD this week from director Gavin Wiesen and 20^th Century Fox Home Entertainment wants you to prepare yourself for an ALL NIGHTER.

Martin (Emile Hirsch) is a banjo player in love with Ginnie (Analeigh Tipton). Uncomfortably he agrees to meet her father Frank Gallo (J.K. Simmons) over dinner and immediately knows this is going to be uncomfortable. It doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things because six months later Martin is single.

A surprise knock on the door from Frank puts Martin’s emotions in high gear when Ginnie can’t be found. Jumping from friend to jobs, the two turn into detectives trying to find people who may know where she is.

That of course means dealing with those who want to make Martin feel worse and people challenging the dynamic-duo. Roberta (Kristen Schaal) and Gary (Taran Killam) are friends who are so busy trying to deal with their own relationship they can’t be of much help. Then there is Megan (Xosha Roquemore) and her crazy boyfriend Bri-baby (Trenton Rostedt) who would rather throw up and fight than to be helpful.

Discovering where Ginnie lives, Frank turns a search for his daughter into breaking and entering with cops chasing them through the streets of West Hollywood. Sitting in a jail cell, Frank and Martin get real and life changes for them both.

Simmons as Frank is very funny in this role. Snappy wit and ice blue eyed stares I enjoyed the laughs he provided. He is the well dressed and self-assured one of the two but sometimes impeccable on the outside can mean a mess on the inside.

Hirsch as Martin is a self-doubting and depressed ex-boyfriend who can’t seem to get his act together. Spending the evening on the Ginnie-hunt with Frank isn’t exactly his idea of a good time yet something begins to change for him. Every step Martin is being dragged yet this buddying between Hirsch and Simmons is pretty cool.

Schaal as Roberta is a complete psycho yet I know someone exactly like her! Killam as Gary is just a whipped human being and when he tries to escape, doesn’t help Frank and Martin but sure makes me laugh! Tipton as Ginnie is basically the beginning and end of the film as the focus of the all nighter.

Other cast include Jon Bass as Trevor, Shannon Woodward as Lois, Meta Golding as Kelly, Jon Daly as Jimothy, Stephanie Allynne as Tracy, Rebecca Drysdale as Lizzie, and Connor Barrett as Dean.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

The ALL NIGHTER is a dynamic of two totally different people but with one goal – even if it means wearing a pink princess shirt to do it (congrats on that Simmons!). I just love the relationship between Hirsch and Simmons, not just because of the age difference because really that fades fast, but because their one commonality isn’t what keeps them going.

I think it’s more about these two guys who both have serious issues with life and relationships discovering they are in the same boat. Paddling against one another for a bit, they slowly begin to let the current take them and stop fighting each other. Of course finding all this out on the streets of West Hollywood brings the laughs.

In the end – the fastest way to get over an ex is staying up all night with her dad!