AMERICAN FIGHTER

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from director Shaun Paul Piccinino and Lionsgate comes the story of a young man trying to save his family by being an AMERICAN FIGHTER.

Ali Jahani (George Kosturos) is a young man living in the United States going to college in 1981. His parents are in Iran when he gets word that they will be coming to visit. Meeting them at the airport, he learns that tragedy has struck his family and they are still in Iran. Learning it will take a lot of money to get them out, Ali’s friend Ryan (Bryan Craig) has an idea.

Taking him to his Uncle McClellen’s (Tommy Flanagan) place, Ali is given a chance to make a large sum of money being in the ring. Showing what he has by accident, his fighting gets everyone’s attention. After his first fight, he meets Duke (Sean Patrick Flannery) who use to be a fighter but seems to have given it up just to hang around with McClellen.

When not fighting, Ali hangs out with the lovely Heidi (Allison Paige) and the two become close. He is running out of time as the war in Iran moves closer to his mother and the lawyer gives him only a few days to come up with the rest of the money. Duke knows there is something wrong and McClellen is the cause of it. So, there is only one thing to do, show Ali what he knows and set up the fight for his family’s life.

Kosturos as Ali is a young man who wants his parents with him in the United States as the problems in Iran intensify. When tragedy strikes, it reverberates into a large sum of money needed to bring his family together again. Kosturos gives us a son that will do anything for his family, even at a time when Iranians are not treated well.

Craig as Ryan is a friend to Ali and when he realizes that he needs money fast, knows there is only one way for that to happen. As both boys also are in college wrestling, they have to keep their fighting separate or risk getting caught. Paige as Heidi is an outgoing and lively young college woman who has taken a shine to Ali. There comes a moment when she does not understand everything about Ali, and it makes all the difference to them both.

Flanagan as McClellen is a man who has only one goal – to make as much money off the skin of others that he can. Seeing that Ali is a money maker, he does what he always does, uses the young man up. Flanagan has no problem playing the ‘bad guy’ because he does it so damn well!

Flannery as Duke has his own story to tell but it is hard to get it out of him when he’s neck deep in the nearest bottle of alcohol. Duke has the chance to teach a young man what he knows about fighting and the techniques that could possibly save his life in the night fight. Flannery’s character also knows what lengths McClellen will go to and does not want it for Ali.

Other cast include Parviz Sayyad as Mr. V, Salome Azizi as Mrs. Goli Jahani, Vince Bedford as Chet, Kevin Porter as Coach Jenkins, Anna Zielinski as Fiona, Christina Moore as Joy and John Ducey as Captain Martin.

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.

AMERICAN FIGHTER is the story of a young man dealing with the prejudices of 1981 and being Iranian in his college setting. Knowing that his family will not survive the destruction of his country, Ali knows he will do everything to get them to the United States. Motivated by love, Ali throws every punch with the intensity his emotions can muster.

Flannery has been extremely busy as this is his third film release this year. Most of his films are centered around the human condition mixed with the fighting style of jiu jitsu. Working with the character of Ali, Flannery as Duke offers these teachings to the young man as a way to not only bring him focus but save the ones he loves.

In the end – his battle never ends!

KILLERS ANONYMOUS Looks for Support

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and Digital from director Martin Owen and Lionsgate comes a film about a different kind of support with KILLERS ANONYMOUS.

Killers Anonymous is a meeting of people dealing with their addiction to talk about their kill-life choices. In the group meeting is the every paranoid Krystal (Elizabeth Morris), Alice (Rhyon Brown), Calvin (Tim McInnerny), Ben (Elliot Langridge), Leandro (Michael Socha) Markus (Tommy Flanagan) and led by Joanna (MyAnna Buring).

Senator Kyle (Sam Hazeldine) bursts into the meeting wanting to know why someone is trying to kill him. Joanna has answers for him but then again she has answers for all of them and truth be told – they aren’t going to like it. Even more paranoid, now the group wants to know who Alice is and why she is there. To add more thrills, a kid has heard and seen too much.

The Man (Gary Oldman) is only a phone call away when a killer wants to do what they shouldn’t and need to be talked down. Right now he’s on the phone with Violet (Suki Waterhouse) who was making a sandwich when her life became more stressful than she could handle.

Back at the meeting, the mystery person is revealed but there’s a knock at the door with more mystery. Once Joe explains everything and the mysteries unraveled, each of KA members now realizes that the answers were always right in front of them – if they weren’t so busy fighting urges!

Oldman as The Man is a phone in Dr. Phil where he talks to killers about what is setting them off and how to deal with it. I had to laugh at some of his advice and I don’t think I’ll look at chicken the same ever again. Buring as Joanna leads the KA group but she knows much more than she telling and what she does tell is even more confusing to the group.

Morris as Krystal is plain out nutty and has no problem taking a person out if they get in her way. Her moral compass is must less in the direction of compassionate than some of her counterparts. McInnerny as Calvin seems to be taking all the commotion in trying to piece together what is going on with the group.

Langridge as Ben doesn’t like being played and Socha as Leandro has more of a heart than a killer has a right to. Brown as Alice sits in the group and watches it all unfold before her. Even when the group gets heated around her, she lets them know that she had no problem handling herself.

Flanagan as Markus lets out his emotions, calls it as he sees it and has the attitude of someone you wouldn’t expect to find at a KA meeting. Personally I think he goes to the meetings to have someone to insult. Flanagan is a great bad guy without showing that he’s a bad guy…now that’s a talent.

Other cast include Isabelle Allen as Morgan, Sally Collett as Becky, Sadie Frost as Lucy, Takako Akashi as Lady Ming and Jessica Alba as Jade.

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 a Digital Copy of the film and Special Features of Deleted Scenes, Alternate Ending, Director’s Commentary and Trailer Gallery.

KILLERS ANONYMOUS is a twisted, crafty tale of them that do bad things but more importantly their world of paranoia while working on their trust and personal issues. The film just throws everything but the kitchen sink into their problems and every time it looks as if there are answers, the plot thickens.

This is a fast cast who are in a room together playing a group of people who are not fond of each other. They are twisted, weirdly witty, and bold in their story telling and yet kept me confused which is part of the trip.

In the end – take it one slay at a time!