DESPERATION ROAD

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Nadine Crocker and Lionsgate comes a thriller based on the book by Michael Farris Smith of people on DESPERATION ROAD.

Recently out of an 11-year prison stint, Russell Gaines (Garrett Hedlund) is met in town by a very angry Larry (Ryan Hurst) who makes it clear that he is out for revenge for the death of his brother. At home, Russell's father Mitchell (Mel Gibson) is happy to see his son and realizes that problems are not far behind. Also in trouble is Maben (Willa Fitzgerald), a young mother trying to find a life with daughter Annalee (Pyper Braun). After a horrific incident, Maben will do anything to get away and comes across Russell. Offering to help them, they find refuge at Mitchell's place.

Investigating is officer and childhood friend Sheriff Boyd (Woody McClain) who believes there is some connection but cannot seem to find it. Trying to believe that Russell had nothing to do with it becomes difficult when he constantly disappears or only tells half-truths. Following up leads, Boyd discovers that someone named Maben may be involved and suspects that Russell knows more than he's saying. One thing becomes clear, it is serendipitous that Maben found Russell in the first place as he comes clean with the unspoken connection between the two of them from years before.

Larry is on a rampage and ex-wife Dana (Kate Foster) sees that his rage is going to get people hurt as a police chase gives way. Russell decides to come clean about everything to Boyd so that the chips will fall where they need to for some to be safe and some to pay. That's when the story has a chance to change and the potential for life to begin again.

Hedlund as Russell gives the performance of a man that has spent a long time beating himself up emotionally so that when someone is beating him physically, it doesn't seem to hurt. A mistake made years before, this character is reliving it on the daily and believes that he still has so much to pay for. Hedlund gives us the down-home country boy who completely understands how everything in his life went wrong and lives for ways to make it right. That being said, even he knows that some things can never be made right, they can only change in forgiveness and perspective. That's what Hedlund's Russell shows from the first frame to the last.

Fitzgerald as Maben is a woman also trying to escape something bad but with each step she takes, it only leads her to more bad. Her daughter is everything and there is nothing she won't do to protect her and that's when someone decides to use a mother's love in heinous ways. Maben doesn't trust, nor does she have any reason to but when her back is up against the wall, she must trust strangers. Fitzgerald is quietly pensive and always ready to run in her character of Maben, well done! Young Braun as Annalee is seeing the worst that adults do to one another but, at the same time, would change nothing to be with her mother.

Hurst as Larry is a man who has also been hurt and takes every opportunity to lash out. The arrival of Russell just sends the steaming pot overflowing with anger and a vengeful mind. Let me say this, having watched Hurst as Oppy in the series Sons of Anarchy (a personal favorite that I have watched repeatedly) and as Beta on AMC"s The Walking Dead, I don't know where he gets the rage from but, man, he scares me - which is the point!  McClain as Sheriff Boyd is happy to finally see his friend out of prison, but the town ugliness has him questioning his friend. When he doesn't like the answers or doesn't believe them, he searches harder because the questions keep coming.

Shout out to Mel Gibson as dad Mitchell who doesn't question much about what is happening with his son and makes it clear that 'I got your back' means something in their family. Gibson is protective and doesn't seem to worry about much in the way of people bothering him - but bother his family, well, that's a whole other weapon carrying situation.

Other cast include Ella Thomas as Sarah Magee, Michael Aaron Milligan as Walt, Katey Bodenhamer as Lacey, Frank Blake as Officer Jay, Bonita Elery as Brenda, Kyle Rankin as Jason and Paulina Galvez as Consuela.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000-motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

DESPERATION ROAD is the story of small-town living, corruption, family, secrets, anger and redemption all tied up into a neat little grungy package. Book author Farris wrote the screenplay himself which is why the story seems to stay organically close to the page. Farris also has other works in the pipeline with THE FIGHTER and BLACKWOOD. Director Crocker previously worked on the film CONTINUE bringing her filmography up to two with DESPERATION ROAD.

It is not a fast-paced film but instead takes its time in showing the progression of past mistakes and the pain as it comes toward the inevitability in the future. The possibility of redemption is always there but it comes at a cost and those who are willing to pay it. The cast each take their time to draw out their back stories and how it all comes to affect their futures

In the end – redemption can be had but at a cost!

FATHER STU

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from writer/director Rosalind Ross and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the story of the most unexpected change of life for FATHER STU.

Living in Montana in the 80’s, amateur boxer Stu Long (Mark Wahlberg) has a quick wit and a serious ego problem. No one knows that better than Mom Kathleen (Jacki Weaver) who seems to always be rescuing her son from trouble. She is good at it considering her life and marriage to Stu’s estranged father Bill (Mel Gibson).

All of this is caused by a rift between Stu, Mom and Dad when his younger brother died breaking the family apart. After a recent boxing match, Stu learns he should not be fighting anymore. That’s when he gets the bright idea to move to Southern California getting a job at a grocery store hoping it will get him discovered as an actor.

All it gets him is time in jail! Back at the grocery store, Stu meets Carmen (Teresa Ruiz) and is instantly smitten. Learning she is a Sunday school teacher; he finds himself at church and even agrees to be baptized. Getting an apartment and cleaning up his life, Stu gets a chance to do an infomercial. Having a drink, a stranger tells Stu not to ride his motorcycle home.

Ignoring the stranger, he heads out and crashes into a car and run over by another leaving him close to death. While lying in the street, Stu sees a beautiful angelic woman who says he will not die. At the hospital, and close to death, Mom, Dad and even Carmen come to help him recover.

When he and Carmen get closer, the young woman has no idea what has come to Stu. He believes that the call has come, and that Stu must enter the priesthood, which is not exactly what Carmen wanted to hear. Having to convince Monsignor Kelly (Malcolm McDowell) to allow him into the seminary, he also has to prove himself to friends Jacob (Cody Fern) and Ham (Aaron Moten).

Reaching out into a community in the only way Stu knows how, people listen to him. Maybe it is in the way he says it or maybe it is that he truly believes in change, but people listen. One day while playing basketball with friends, Stu literally falls ill only to discover he has inclusion body myositis, a rare disease.

And with that, the church decides that perhaps his illness is not conducive to being a priest. Like his whole life – he has to prove himself right for the job!

Wahlberg as Stu is a Tasmanian devil whirling through one thing after another and all destructive. Trying to get through the guilt of his younger brother and the estranged relationship with his father, it is Mom that tries to keep it all together. Wahlberg uses his fast wit speaking and edgy charm to bring Stu and Father Stu to life.

Weaver as Mom Kathleen has been dealing with both father and son for so many years that she seems to take it all in stride. Supporting her son in whatever idea he comes up with for his life, she takes it all in stride and in motherly love. Weaver is just so darn versatile that she can go from sweetly threatening a character to just being sweet period.

Gibson as Dad Bill has his own demons, and he certainly does not have a problem expressing himself. That makes the saying “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” believable between father and son. Supporting his son is not something Bill does well as they have been at odds for so long that neither but, things are about to change. Gibson gives the gruff older guy with the sprinkles of sarcasm and father-son exchanges his best shot.

Ruiz as Carmen is a young woman who has a strong faith and wants Stu to share in that. She does not quite expect the turn of events in their lives yet still remains strong in her friendship with Stu. Ruiz in this character is so sweet and strong. Moten as Ham becomes the spiritual friend Stu needs along with Fern as Jacob.

McDowell as Monsignor Kelly does not believe in Stu when they first meet but follows him with interest. Feeling as if he is a lost cause, it becomes clear that this particular lost cause has found something important for his life. I am thrilled to see McDowell in the film.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.

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Bonus Materials include You Don’t Know Stu: More About Father Stuart Long and Over 10 Minutes of Deleted Scenes.

FATHER STU is an inspirational film based on the life of Stuart Ignatius Long. A football player in his younger years, Long became a Golden Gloves heavyweight and graduated Carroll College with a degree in English Lit and Writing. This film is only a small glimpse into his journey from regular guy to Father Stu.

The film’s story moves about as fast as Wahlberg’s delivery of his lines. It is a journey of constantly seeking but never quite understanding why things did not work out. It took a slide on the asphalt for the most unusual calling comes to Stu Long.

Even though his friends and family might not have understood the path he was taking, he did not seem to need it. The path was clear, and nothing was going to stop Stu from following the call.

In the end – God wanted a fighter and He found one!

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!