They are Running Away From THE AVIARY

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming from directors Chris Cullari, Jennifer Raite, Saban Films and Paramount Pictures is the story of escaping a nightmare created in THE AVIARY.

Running across the New Mexico desert is Jillian (Malin Akerman) and Blair (Lorenza Izzo) who are escaping from a cult known as Skylight. Leader Seth (Chris Messina) has brought fear to the women as they try and navigate with a map taken from their home.

There are problems almost immediately as they try to navigate as it appears they are going in circles. With minimal food and water, Blair twisting her ankle slows them down even more. Jillian sets up a place for Blair to rest while she heads up a hill to get a better look. Almost immediately she sees something that does not make any sense.

What Jillian does not know is that Blair also sees something that does not make any sense. This is where the tension between the two women begin. They start talking about Seth and what he is capable of and their worry for friend Delilah (Sandrine Holt). More importantly, both women have secrets that they are keeping from one another.

As they walk goes on, so does the frightening visions each of the women are having which makes them not want to trust one another. As if a miracle, they discover a camper with food and water. Jillian discovers there is power in the camper and hooks up a computer taken from Seth when they escaped.

What she discovers changes everything!

Ackerman as Jillian is straight forward and the stronger of the two women. She is consistently propping up Blair trying to get her as far away from Seth as possible. Akerman’s character is put to the test physically and emotionally trying to decern between the reason she left and what keeps trying to pull her back. That being said, Ackerman gives us a strong performance.

Izzo as Blair wants to get away from Seth for more reasons than just the way Seth treats people at Skylight. It is interesting that this character does not hesitate to call out Jillian’s imperfections or reasons for leaving the group but hides what she knows and what she has seen. Izzo gives us a complex character until the complexities are made known.   

Saban Films was launched in 2014 and has built an impressive slate of high-quality feature films distributed with partner Lionsgate. Focusing on talent-driven films, the company looks at projects in all stages of production to be released across multiple platforms. Films such as SISTER OF THE GROOM, FATMAN and BREACH are part of the wonderful Saban slate, and more information can be found at www.sabanfilms.com.

Paramount Pictures is the longest operating and remaining major studio in Hollywood that has been on the ground floor of every major development in film. From the advent of motion pictures to the emergence of television, through the digital revolution, Paramount Pictures has been there. During our 100-year history, we have served as the production site for thousands of notable movies and television shows. For more please visit www.paramountstudios.com.

THE AVIARY is a look into how these two women were each affected by a society created and led by a cult leader. Each of the women had different experiences and through their conversations tried to explain why they were even at Skylight in the first place. Blame is thrown out and secrets slowly begin to creep out.

The results are surprising, and the ending is shocking.

In the end – believing is deceiving!

 

RAMPAGE Lets Loose!

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres this Friday from director Brad Peyton and New Line Cinema is a story about a man, his friend and saving a city from RAMPAGE.

Up in space, an explosion of an experimental station sends debris falling from the sky including canisters that the Chicago based Energyn company wants back. Claire (Malin Akerman) and Brett Wyden (Jake Lacy) are siblings who want to make sure no one else gets their hands on it.

Primatologist Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson) works with animals at a sanctuary and his best friend is an albino gorilla named George. Speaking to one another through sign language, they have a connection of friendship and humor.

Later that night George finds the canister as it opens shooting a mist into his face. The next morning Davis and his team discover that George is not only acting peculiar but has grown in size. Wanting to know what has happened to his friend, Davis meets Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris), a geneticist who tells him what has happened.

Showing up to take George is OGA-man Harvey Russell (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) who knows everything about Davis and Kate. Russell shares with them that George isn’t the only creature on the loose – there is another! The one thing the OGA doesn’t know is that the Wyden siblings have set off a signal calling to both creatures.

Now Davis, Kate and Russell are racing against time to save George before the military makes there move. Plus – there is one other large thing they need to take care of as well.

Johnson as Davis comes on strong and keeps it going from beginning to end. Of course he is charming, funny and has one-liners that absolutely work giving his character a fun edge. That could be considered odd since he is fighting big creatures but hey, you have to enjoy it a little bit or why else save the world with your friend George.

Harris as Kate has her own bone to pick with the Wyden siblings and at the same time wants to help Davis understand what is happening. Knowing things are out of control means jumping right in or perhaps more like jumping right out of things falling all around them.

Morgan as Russell grabs his swagger and quickly learns to believe what he is told by Davis. During the screening, the moment Morgan came on the screen the audience went buck wild. Of course the word ‘oh wow, it’s Negan’ was heard loud and clear but this character is the opposite of the bat-toting psycho. Instead, Russell is in it to help Davis and Kate because missiles aren’t friendly and downtown Chicago doesn’t need anymore renovating than necessary.

Akerman as Claire owns a company that obviously doesn’t care one wit about the human race. She also doesn’t care about ‘liquidating’ anyone that gets in her way. Cold and calculated doesn’t even begin to cover it and brother Brett played by Lacey is just along for the ride leaving sister Claire to do all the dirty work.

Other cast include Joe Manganiello as Burke, Marley Shelton as Dr. Atkins, P.J. Byrne as Nelson, Demetrius Grosse as Col. Blake, Jack Quaid as Connor, Breanne Hill as Amy and Will Yun Lee as Agent Park.

RAMPAGE is pretty much everything you’d think – it’s predictable, a bit hokey, unbelievable with the usual destruction of a major city (this time Chicago) and yet I didn’t care not one little bit. Instead I absolutely had a good time reveling in all those points because hey, it’s Dwayne Johnson and that’s all anyone needs to know.

George is cute and very funny and actually makes a pretty awesome partner for Johnson. I mean if you are going to play opposite The Rock, you better bring some muscle of your own. If you are looking for the bigger picture of the film it’s that George and Davis know the true meaning of friendship and don’t mind kicking a little creature butt to prove it.

This is a big-tub-of-popcorn-share-with-the-family-no-brainer-fun-adventure-action film that the whole family can see. It’s nice to just let a movie be exactly what it is, a movie that gives us all a chance to forget where we are, cheer on the big guy (either one works) and walk away feeling like a good time was had by all.

In the end – big meets bigger!

THE TICKET Brings Seeing to a Whole Other Level

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres and VOD this Friday from writer/director Ido Fluk and Shout! Factory Films is a story about seeing what’s important with THE TICKET.

James (Dan Stevens) is blind and living with wife Sam (Malin Akerman), and son Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) they have a nice life together. He works for a company as a telemarketer that gives people cash for their homes. Working with him is buddy Bob (Oliver Platt) and together they have a friendship based on their lack of site.

One morning as James is waking up, he become aware that he is seeing light. Immediately they see the doctor and discover that his sight has returned. It is an amazing happening as the couple are thrilled.

James takes time to enjoy having his sight back and all too quickly things begin to change. His employer notices that James production is way up and rewards him accordingly. James also notices Jessica (Kerry Bishe) who flirts openly with him.

As he spends more and more time away from home, Sam begins to see a change in her husband. Even their son Jonah can not help but see that James has become someone they don’t recognize.

Taking everything too quickly has its consequences as his marriage, fatherhood and friendships all flip like a light switch and leave James in a different kind of darkness.

Stevens as James perfected the role of blind-to-site and dealing with the trappings of both worlds. It is difficult to know how anyone would behave in the same situation which is the point, this characters tests us all and Stevens gives us plenty of pause.

Akerman as Sam is a woman who truly loves her husband. Living a life of caretaking for him is a labor of love and James forgets that easily. I loved watching the turmoil Akerman portrays and I give her kudos for being stronger than a lot of women. Now I stand an applaud when she gives James a choice and sticks to it!

Gaertner as Jonah is a young man who is at that age where nothing escapes his attention – even a changing father. Bishe as Jessica is a character I wasn’t about to warm up to and again that’s perhaps there is a lesson in that as well.

Platt as Bob is such a good friend and even when James is being a douche bag Bob is still a good friend. But, as with all friendships, there comes a point at which the choices we make affect everything and everyone – Bob is no exception.

SHOUT! Factory has grown into a tremendous multi-platform media company. Releasing new animated features such as the exquisite Long Way North, and the epic fantasy Beauty And The Beast. Also their own original horror film, Fender Bender gives fans a good scare. For more of what SHOUT Factor has to offer please visit www.shoutfactory.com.

THE TICKET has several layers to the story telling where are so in depth here. From a man who is living a good, even if simple life, until a change he never thought would happen wasn’t just a change of his eye sight. Watching James change is actually quite sad because it begs the question – what does it take to know a good thing?

Scenes between Stevens and Platt are absolutely amazing but their final scene together is one that just broke my heart. It is the final scene that will leave the audience holding their breath waiting for an answer that just might not come.

Using the back drop of a serious economy and the ‘we buy houses’ signs, Fluk says, “I live in Brooklyn, and would often see these flyers everywhere. There were houses being foreclosed, and some people were profiting from it.” It makes for an even deeper look at how people treat one another in the worst of times.

Stevens says of THE TICKET, “It’s a film that asks some very, very big questions. It’s the kind of film that, as you leave the movie theatre, you just want to talk about for hours”. Well said!

In the end – life can be both seen and felt!