NO MAN OF GOD

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on AMC+ from director Amber Sealey is a story based on the real transcripts conversations about Ted Bundy when it is discovered that he is NO MAN OF GOD.

Bill Hagmaier (Elijah Wood) is an FBI agent assigned to the Behavior Science Unit in 1985. His first case given by boss Roger Depue (Robert Patrick) with the unit is Ted Bundy (Luke Kirby) who is on death row. Everyone makes it clear that Bundy does not like the FBI and will not talk to him. After writing a letter, Bundy agrees to meet with Hagmaier. Their first meeting is a test run and the agent understands immediately that Bundy likes to play games.

A year passes when Hagmaier meets with Bundy once again bringing him an ice breaker of gum to the Florida State Prison. They begin with the case of Green River and Bundy begins to share his insights about murder and murderers. During their conversation, Hagmaier gives Bundy a bit of personal information that makes their talk turn dark. He is warned by Depue that getting to close to Bundy is dangerous and that he could end up in a place he can not get out of.

In 1987, Bundy starts to get edgy in their next conversations where he begins to share stories about the women he knew. Frustrated at how people have portrayed him, he shares his thoughts and Hagmaier listens. Asking very few questions, Hagmaier is careful not to upset or frustrate Bundy. It is Bundy who makes it clear that Hagmaier could have had the other life.

It is now 1989 and the Governor of Florida lets it be known that Bundy is to die in seven days even though Bundy is trying for a stay of execution. Depue tells Hagmaier that Bundy is ready to confess everything but will only talk to him. Arriving at the prison, Hagmaier meets Carolyn Lieberman (Aleksa Palladino) who is a civil attorney.

Bundy has changed his tactics believing that telling everything might jeopardize and overturn of execution. He immediately informs Lieberman that Hagmaier is in charge, and she is not happy about it. Hagmaier makes it clear that it is time to come clean and give closure to the families that are waiting for new of their daughters. As investigators come to question Bundy, Hagmaier is now the one that is frustrated.

The clock is ticking and Hagmaier can not believe it when evangelical Dr. James Dobson (Christian Clemenson) comes to do a television interview with Bundy. Down to the wire, a sanity hearing is called but the outcome does not change. Now everything comes to a head, and it is time to hear from Bundy as Hagmaier thought he was prepared for what he is about to hear.

Wood as Hagmaier is a man who is patient and knows exactly how to wait out Bundy’s game of cat and mouse. This is an intense role for Wood but one that I welcome because he is strong, consistent and even kind if that makes sense. The scene where he helps Bundy write a letter is heartfelt toward a man who continues to show no remorse for what he has done. The Wood gives us the opposite when it comes time to go under the water with Bundy. An excellent performance from beginning to end.

Kirby as Bundy is charming, good looking, smart, savvy and knows how to manipulate anyone in front of him in such a way that they do not even realize it is being done. Even his anger seems easily forgiven by those who experience it. When the final scene with Wood comes around, Kirby dives into a dark place and makes sure anyone watching is mesmerized by the terror he so easily speaks about. From that moment on, Kirby’s performance is of a man who can not fathom what is about to happen and still plays games. Excellent!

Palladino as Carolyn is a woman who defends someone the rest of the world can not understand. She makes it clear to Hagmaier why she is doing it but has her own opinion about the man she is helping.

AMC+ is an American subscription video on demand streaming service owned by AMC Networks that was launched in June 2020. The service streams THE WALKING DEAD franchise as well as MAD MEN, FEAR THE WALKING DEAD, A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES and currently THE NORTH WATERS. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.amcplus.com.

NO MAN OF GOD is a powerful film carried out by two actors that spend 90% of the film face to face, emotion to emotion, and frustration to frustration. Wood’s character is of a man not only trying to do his job but find closure for the families. He tries to reach Bundy to get him to understand not only the consequences of his actions but of the cruelty that each day brings.

Kirby brings Bundy from a charming prisoner to a man who has come to realize that his options and his cleverness are not going to save him. Watching these two men come to terms with their lots, one man will eventually not have to worry about it anymore and another man who will not have a moments peace for the rest of his life.

In the end - it is time to go under the water.

 

Sending Him to College to be RUSHED

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Vibeke Muasya, writer Siobhan Fallon Hogan and Vertical Entertainment is the sadness of a son being RUSHED.

The O’Brien’s are an Irish Catholic family living in Upstate New York. Jim (Robert Patrick) is a hard-working husband and father leaving the chaotic homelife in the capable hands of wife Barbara (Siobhan Fallon Hogan). Older son Jimmy (Jay Jay Warren), daughters Kelly (Lily Rosenthal) and Ciara (Ellie Frankel) are always on the move.

Jimmy and friend Vergil (Justin Linville) are getting ready to pledge to a fraternity and mom Barbara wants to make sure he puts his best foot forward. Promising to call later if he is accepted, she sleeps by her phone to the amusement of Jim who is secretly thrilled for his son.

At the fraternity, Jimmy and Vergil are subjected to different levels of humiliation by president Steven Croission (Jake Weary). Jimmy begins to become agitated with the whole process, but the alcohol is still being pushed. When it gets to him, Croission puts the pledge into a chair but Vergil notices something is wrong.

By the end of the evening, Jimmy is in the hospital and the O’Brien family are devastated. It is Barbara who is not about to let the fraternity get away with hurting her son. Even Jim sees that his wife needs to investigate the events further in her own way until it all comes to a frightening conclusion and a twist that is shocking.

Hogan as Barbara is a woman who lives a life of family and faith. Both of those are being tested at the same time and the anger of what the fraternity did to her son leads her on a journey of listening to other mothers carrying the same pain. Hogan takes on the pain by finding others who have dealt with similar circumstances and the walls put in front of them to get justice.

Patrick as Jim is a hard-working dad who is proud of his family and son. When their world falls apart, he is the one to reach out to those who could help Barbara on her journey to help others. Strong for his family, he tries everything to help but knows that Barbara has to do things her own way to find peace.

Warren as Jimmy wanted so much to pledge a fraternity but realizes quickly that this is not what he signed up for. Pushed further and further to do more is what led him to the chair. Linville as friend Vergil also wanted to pledge and saw the same difficulties as Jimmy and he knows the truth.

Weary as Steven is a kid who has taken his role as president of a fraternity a bit too far. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the character of Steven proves that from the pledging and beyond.

Other cast include Rusty Schwimmer as Joan, Peter Hogan as Vinny, Sean Cullen as Mr. Donohue, Peri Gilpin as Mrs. Donohue, Sinead Hogan as Jessie, Jordan Lage as the Senator, Fat Nick as Chezno, Jared Sandler as DZL, Ben Rosenthal as Tucker and Austin Patrick as Alexis.

Vertical Entertainment is a global independent distributor that offers a unique wealth of experience minus the studio costs. They have won a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress for Molly Shannon’s role in OTHER PEOPLE and the film won a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Film Limited Release, Best International Film for Babak Anvari’s UNDER THE SHADOW, a BAFTA and three Independent British Independent Film Awards as well.

“I wrote the film because as a mother of three, I understand that Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned. After I completed the script, I sent it to Zentropa Films as I have worked as an actress with Lars Von Trier for over 25 years in his films, DANCER IN THE DARK, DOGVILLE and THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. They immediately called me and agreed to co-produce the film which was fantastic. I am thrilled to have the film with Vertical Entertainment domestically and Octane Entertainment internationally,” said writer, producer and star Siobhan Fallon Hogan.

Hogan has taken on the challenge of telling the story that anyone can research on the internet and that is deaths due to hazing. Since 2000, there have been 50 deaths due to hazing with alcohol being one of the main factors. Of course, parents do not send their kids to college to die because of hazing which is where the pain exists.

The story is taken even further as Hogan decides that doing nothing is unacceptable. She cannot let her son rest without those who need to be accountable are held accountable. That is absolutely what I would expect from a mom like Barbara because I know it is absolutely what I would do. That being said, the ending is shocking!

RUSHED is a story of family, love, pain and the hopes that can turn so quickly are what fill every moment of the film. The pain that the O’Brien family endures is not just that of Barbara but Jim and the other children who are also trying to find their way through the heartache they never knew existed.  

In the end – she will fight for her family!

 

 

THE POISON ROSE

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from directors Francesco Cinquemani, George Gallo and Lionsgate is a story of the hazards of being a P.I. with THE POISON ROSE.

Carson Philips (John Travolta) is a self proclaimed private investigator who proclaims he ‘drinks to much, smokes to much and gambles to much’. In his office is a woman who wants Philips to investigate the nursing home Pleasant Meadows and the care of a relative. A chance to get out of town and a paid gig has him in the car driving to Galveston, Texas.

Arriving at the hospital he is met by Dr. Miles Mitchell (Brendan Frasier) who tells him that Barbara van Poole is in a therapy session. He also refreshes Philips memory that they went to school together and played a little football. Agreeing to call when she is out of therapy, he realizes the doctor isn’t exactly on the up and up.

Hitting up the local gambling joint he meets up with old poker friends Doc (Morgan Freeman), Chief Walsh (Robert Patrick) and Slide (Peter Stormare). He sees nothing has changed as the hustle and fights happen all around him. It’s back to the case however when he returns and confronts Dr. Mitchell on why he isn’t being allowed to see Barbara.

Seeing that he is going to have to take matters into his own hands, he immediately discovers that something nefarious is happening in the halls. Empty room and locked doors are everywhere but it’s the doctor’s office he needs to reach to find Barbara’s file. Now the reason behind hospital secrecy becomes even clearer.

He also meets the one person he didn’t intend to – his ex-wife Jayne (Famke Janssen) who wants to talk about a player Happy Chandler who had an accident on the football field. Daughter Rebecca (Ella Bleu Travolta) is also the players’ wife so Philips reaches out to the local coroner but Jayne reaches out to Doc.

Now Philips is looking for a missing woman, a potential murder suspect, dealing with an ex-wife, a man who has taken over the town and the secrets buried deep in a town he escaped from twenty years earlier.

Welcome home Philips!

Travolta as Philips seems to have lived his life on the rough edge. Going back to Galveston was meant to be a quick money proposition but instead turned into regret ever setting foot in the town. Travolta plays the part of a beat up P.I. with gruffness, a keen eye and a slow slang that fits the town he’s dealing with.

Freeman as Doc has the town locked up and isn’t happy that Philips is poking around. Offering to give him information about Barbara van Poole in exchange for leaving, Philips can’t bring himself to leave. That’s when they all start coming out of the woodwork to make his life even more difficult.

Janssen as Jayne is playing both ends against the middle. She wants her daughter protected and she wants any trace of suspicion taken off her daughter Rebecca. Fraser as Dr. Mitchell is absolutely creepy to the bone. He is playing his own game with Philips and he’s not exactly buying it. Fraser takes the role and runs with it in a direction that is surprising.

Patrick as Walsh is trying to get Philips out of town but he also continually drops hints to get out before it’s too late. Stormare as Slide gets to once again play the role he has become famous for, an untrustworthy, shade individual you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.

Ella Bleu Travolta as Rebecca has a smaller role in a big story. Her character is a woman who has been abused and now that the husband is dead she is the number one suspect. It’s interesting to see father and daughter on screen together.

Other cast include Kat Graham as Rose, Sheila Shah as Ashley, Claudia Gerini as Violet Gregory, Nick Vallelonga as the Bodyguard, Julie Lott as Mrs. Johnson, Ashley Atwood as Nurse Melissa, Nadine Lewington as Geraldine.

Travolta as Philips brings the film noir detective feel to this role. From the always-in-trouble-with-someone private investigator that needs to leave town but instead finds trouble in the next town he goes to. Freeman as Doc gets the chance to be the biggest rooster in the town’s henhouse. He makes it clear that no one is going to get in the way of what he wants – no one.

Janssen as Jayne needs to play both sides if she is going to protect her daughter. The problem is she is making a bigger mess than is already in front of Philips. Patrick has a small role as Chief Walsh but he seems to be on the side of Philips no matter what Doc might think. Ella Blue Travolta also has a small role but it is her scenes with her father John Travolta that are worth a watch.

The winner here is Brendan Fraser as Dr. Mitchell! This is a unique chance for him to really reach for it and he absolutely does and man does he ever. I think it is the final scene with Travolta that just blows me away.

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 it’s 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

The Bluray includes the Special Features of Commentary with Director George Gallo and Writer-Producer Richard Salvatore and Trailer Gallery.

THE POISON ROSE is several mysteries wrapped into one and you can’t blink or else you’ll miss the clues putting them all together. Currently On Demand, the film is based on the novel The Poison Rose by Richard Salvatore.

This is a tale of Texas murder and corruption but also of the deep dark secrets that keep a town filled with fear and those brave enough to take it all on – a target. Travolta takes his role head on and with a cast that include Freeman as a very smooth operator. It’s definitely a film that keeps you wondering who to trust.

In the end – a private eye, a public murder and a perfect crime!