They Have the SITE

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres and Digital from writer/director Jason Eric Perlman and Blue Fox Entertainment comes the mind-bending story of SITE.

Neil Bardo (Jake McLaughlin) is a proud father of boy Wylie (Carson Minnear) but struggling in his marriage with wife Elena (Arielle Kebbel). At work, he and boss Garrison (Theo Rossi) are off to inspect a building that has been purchased by clients to build a new school. Gaining entry, they manage to turn on the power to inspect everything only to discover an odd structure in the lower level. Walking closer to the light, Neil begins to feel strange and he can not even begin to explain it.

Spending time with his son, Neil sees an accident in tunnel vision but can not stop it from happening as Wylie ends up in the hospital. Now he must come up with the funds for the intense medical attention his son needs as wife Elena is furious. As the days pass, Neil continues to see more strange things that are unexplainable along with the feeling he is being watched. Trying to explain it to both Elena and boss Garrison, it seems to just cause more problems.

After a scuffle with Garrison, Neil believes he must return to the building where all of his episodes began. Along with journalist friend Naomi (Miki Ishikawa), Neil takes her to the strange machine and she starts experiencing the same things. Determined to find out the connection between the building, its effects and history – it is going to take him on a journey of terror. The past and present begin to collide as connections between the treachery in a war-time prison camp and Neil’s family become more and more evident.

There is one chance to change it all!

McLaughlin as Neil is a man who clearly loves his family even if he and wife Elena are having issues. Working hard to provide for them both, he works closely with his boss until he realizes that mixing friendship with employment can be a problem. It is when he enters the building that his world is turned upside down and McLaughlin portrays that mash up extremely well. The special effects play into his story and it is actually cool to watch.

Rossi as Garrison gets a chance to portray a boss that most of us can not stand. He knows what he is doing wrong but manages to manipulate those around him for his own gain. The best part is that Rossi has that amazing side glare to let the viewer know when he’s up to no good and Derek is always up to no good.

Kebbel as Elena is having issues with her husband but knows that he loves his son. When he tries to explain what is happening to him, it is more frightening than she cares to admit. Kebbel’s takes her character into instant mama-bear mode and stays that way until the very end. Ishikawa as Naomi is the only person Neil can turn to with what he knows. Using her journalist skills, they track down what the building was used for and how to find the people in it, even as its mysteries begin to hit her as well.

Other cast include Yoson An as Jian, Danni Wang as Xifeng, Corey Jung as Guang, Hiroshi Otaguru as Ichiro, Neagheen Homaifar as Aravane, Ronish Nanda as Kavi and Eric Whitten as Tobin.   

Blue Fox Entertainment is a global film distribution and sales company specializing in connecting filmmakers to audiences and buyers in the United States and around the world internationally. For more of what Blue Fox Entertainment has to offer please visit www.bluefoxentertainment.com.

SITE is a mixture of history, science fiction, technology and the belief that we are all connected. The special effects are absolutely stunning and becomes another character in the story director Perlman has put together. Each step McLaughlin’s character takes brings us deeper and deeper into two storylines. One is present day and the deception that now can’t be stopped and the past as a family comes to terms with war and those who are evil because of it.

The special effects are wildly fantastic and my favorite is the tunnel itself. It actually reminds me of the 1966 series THE TIME TUNNEL and the 1994 film STARGATE but with the added twist of melding the present and the past. It also feels a bit on the reincarnation or karma side and I am absolutely here for every minute of it. Dealing with all of it against the backdrop of an injured son, the film is also about choices and the reverberation of consequences for those choices.

In the end - we are part of a great ocean!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VAULT Brings Famous Heist to DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from writer/director Tom DeNucci and Lionsgate comes a heist based on a true story of what happened in the VAULT.

Deuce (Theo Rossi) and Chucky (Clive Standen) are two robbers in 1975 Rhode Island who seem to have a knack of getting away with robberies. During one robbery, Deuce meets Karyn (Samara Wiley) and falls hard, so hard that he can’t wait for her to meet the family.

After getting popped for a robbery, Deuce and Chuck meet the Frenchman Gerry (Don Johnson) who is a tad upset with the Italian mafia, especially Raymond (Chazz Palminteri) and wants the boys to work for him. Once they are released, the boys case the business where there is a special bonded vault at Hudson Fine Furs & Storage. Deuce isn’t at all thrilled with the idea and wants to walk away.

A crew that include Buddy Providence (William Forsythe), Buddy Roxbury (Sean Ringgold) and Buddy Barrington (Eric Lutes) has been set up for them by Gerry. Karyn isn’t happy with Deuce distancing himself. She knows the job that Jerry is setting up is big and wants to walk away to start another life.

Detective Caretti (John Fiore) investigates the robbery that is now the biggest heist of $30 million in American history. Deuce takes off for with Karyn to Nevada after worrying that one of them Buddy’s goes missing. Trying to stay one step ahead of anyone that might be following them is starting to wear on them both.

Chucky shows up out of nowhere and now Deuce is even more aware of the dangers. They are still waiting to get their cut promised by Gerry as more of the heist crew begins to disappear. Karyn makes a move that forces Deuce to rethink how life got to this place and how to live what’s left of his own.

It is all getting out of hand!

Rossi as Deuce is a smart but small time crook who seems to be flying by the seat of his law breaking pants. This couldn’t be truer when he meets girlfriend Karyn during a robbery. Of course I will always remember Rossi for his role as Juice in the hit FX series Sons of Anarchy but as an actor he continues to takes roles that showcase what a talent he truly is. Here he is fast talking and easily swayed by his friendship with Chuck.

Standen as Chuck has a hard time not saying names during robberies but he’s about to change that with the Hudson heist. Talking Deuce into it is more of getting your buddy to help out of guilt especially if he really doesn’t want to take part. The robbery was the easy part and Standen as Chuck knows it’s what comes next that is hard.

Wiley as Karyn falls for Deuce the bad boy and wants a life with him. She knows he is a small time criminal and accepts it but what she doesn’t want is what follows them after the heist. Johnson as Gerry is plain creepy but talks the two friends into a plan that he knows will upset the mafia.

Palminteri as Raymond is completely absorbed with how the crime business is changing. He is keenly aware of what Gerry and keeps his ear to the public after the Hudson heist. You don’t get to be the head of a crime family by sitting around letting others keep secrets. Palminteri has always played these roles with ease and VAULT is no exception.

Other cast include Chuck Zito as Joey Bruno, Vincent Pastore as Frank, Gillian Williams as Jeanie, Armen Garo as Gus, Claudio Orefice as Ronnie, Burt Young as Don Ruggiero, Antonio Cupo as Dominic Ruggiero, Lala Kent as Edie, Dorthy Lyman as Ma and Ken Baltin as Abraham Levine.

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.

The DVD Special Features include Deleted Scenes, Behind the Scenes of VAULT, Commentary with Director Tom DeNucci and Director of Photography Sam Eilertsen and Trailer Gallery.

VAULT is a true story and the heist brought out $34 million which in today’s market would be $100 million. Still, none of what was stolen was ever recovered!

This film brings fantastic cinematography and when a period piece is done, it is the costuming that adds such a richness and depth. From the hair, makeup, cars and era-language, it all adds to bringing a story that needed to be told and director DeNucci did it extremely well.

In the end – it’s a crime based on a true story!