He is WHAT REMAINS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from writer/director Ran Huang, writer Megan Everett-Skarsgard, Kaleidoscope Entertainment and VMI Worldwide is the story of a mystery based on true events and WHAT REMAINS.

Scandinavian Mads Lake (Gustaf Skarsgard), a confessed murderer, has been in a psychiatric hospital for years and trying to find a life within the madness he feels. His therapist Anna Rudebeck (Andrea Riseborough) is trying to not only help him find answers, but distinguish between what is true and what is something else. One man who just wants the truth of it all is policeman Soren Rank (Stellan Skarsgard), who does hold much stock in having Lake at a psychiatric hospital.

Pushing Lake further and further into the investigation, Rank is convinced that he knows more than he is telling. Anna tries to tell Rank that he must go slow with Lake and allow him to help the investigation at his pace. With each step forward, Lake becomes more emotional as well as fearful. All three are handling this situation in their own unique ways and all have the same goal – to understand what happened and bring answers to families who have been waiting for years.

Adding to the stress for them is that Lake can not get the story from his own brother, Anna is trying to deal with her own past traumas and Rank struggles to find answers to his own home troubles.

Skarsgard as Lake is pure perfection in this role. Yes, I came to know of him through his equally perfect role of Floki on the hit television series VIKINGS. In WHAT REMAINS, Skarsgard gives us a look at a deeper character that is locked in the cycle of what is real and the torture of it all. For every step forward, Lake is sliding further and further into a place of fear and memories and Skarsgard takes us along stunningly.

Riseborough as Anna is a therapist who believes she can help Lake in discovering his past so that he can at last know where it all came from. Riseborough’s character is full of her own complexities and traumas which, it seems, she masks by helping Lake with his issues. She has always given an intensity to the roles she has played but this one in particular is slow in its telling but when it becomes clear, it is equally as sad. Well done!

Stellen Skarsgard as Rank is an officer having home problems and personal issues of his own. Becoming involved in the Lake case affords him a way to avoid dealing with it all. Going in guns blazing, he is forceful and hard on Lake without understanding how working with Anna instead of doing things on his own might help him get to the answers of missing children as well. What I enjoyed most about Skarsgard’s portrayal is watching his character evolve.

VMI Worldwide was founded in 2010 and since its inception, VMI has represented an extensive variety of cast-driven titles. During its evolution, VMI possesses the ability and desire to board the right project, at any state of development. Some of their films include THE PRICE WE PAY, THE LAST SUN, WANDER and WAKE UP starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Francesca Eastwood. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.vmiworldwide.com.

Other cast include Eva Magyar as Lillemor, Antti Luusuaniemi as Dr. Jepsen, Malka Ahlroth as Elin, Darren McStay as Martin, Charlie Peterson as Helvin Holst, and Henrikki Haavisto as Eric Gunnarson.

Director Huang uses his interest in true crime to work with Stellan Skarsgard and his wife Megan Everett-Skarsgard to work on the story. That is not where the Skarsgard connection ends however, as son Gustaf joins the ranks in the leading role of Mads Lake. This is a family that has placed their talents on the map joined with Bill and Alexander Skarsgard as well. From almost every genre possible in the film industry, the Skarsgard clan has cemented their place beautifully.

WHAT REMAINS is a film about traumas, tragedies and the stories we refuse to allow ourselves to believe or experience. Dealing with a man who has come from childhood trauma, Skarsgard’s portrayal of Lake brings dual emotions for the viewer because is he a killer or is he lost in jumbled up false memories? Riseborough is not that far off the mark herself as Anna is also avoiding her own traumas and inability to accept truths in her life. Skarsgard as Rank is an officer who has anger issues brought on by his own inability to handle life using Lake as a way to avoid it all.

The story is slow in the telling but, for myself, it speaks volumes of how the director wanted to be sure that everyone is on board for the ride. Exploring the main character is rough in the context of Lake’s situation but, exploring that of Anne and Rank is equally as important. Attempting to do their jobs respectively when they are having a difficult time themselves calls into question the moves that each makes. Skarsgard’s Lake is a sad and frightening character and I couldn’t take my eyes off his performance.

In the end – they must discover what is real!

 

PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Digital from director and award-winning photographer Fabrizio Ferri and VMI Worldwide is a look at one of the most photographed women with PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN.

This documentary, narrated by Charles Dance, looks at the life of an iconic queen and her legacy. This is a perspective on how she came to be so visually represented throughout her long and memorable reign. Referred to as a stable for in the lives of millions, people from all over the world have been affected by her presence. Her decades long presence in the life of her own subjects, they share their true feelings for the monarch.

But her pictures have always stood out beginning with the most prestigious with her first royal portrait after becoming queen. Equally stunning are photographs of the crowds on that very same day and the pride felt in their royal traditions.

Emma Blau, photographic artist and curator/co-owner of Camera Press, has a dedicated archive of the Queen. Photographers do their best to be original in their portrayal of her majesty. Blau makes her case in how photographing the queen from the first has brought about so many changes in the way a portrait is done.

John Swannell is one of the photographers of the Queen and recalls his encounter as the second big occasion to photograph the new queen was her wedding to Prince Phillip. Brian Aris was invited by the palace to do royal photographs as well. Meeting and photographing the Queen became quite a nervous experience, as one would expect.

Even Canadian singer and performer Brian Adams took photos of the Queen in 2004. What came of it is that one of his photos became the center of a Canadian postage stamp and her majesty loved it.

Pierpaolo Piccioli, creative director of Valentino, believes the Queen’s expressiveness spoke louder than words. Her clothing does the same thing and shows through photographs. Vivid colors and pastels become a staple of photographing the Queen.

Photographer Julian Calder speaks about the lasting images of the photographs taken at Balmoral. His photos of the queen near a river in her robes creates stunning and images that are unique and timeless.

Having informal photographs of the Queen, it shows a different aspect and perspective of her life. Photos with her children, family, husband and her beloved corgis brings about a sense of relatability to those who view them.

David Montgomery came to England in the 1960s and stays busy with his work. Getting his chance to photograph the queen, at first, he declines. After speaking with his wife, he agrees to take the pictures. He begins his work photographing the queen at Balmoral in Scotland in, what would be considered, a relaxed atmosphere. Fireside, corgis and her beloved horses all become prominent in these photographs. It is an amazing experience that he holds very dear.

Jason Bell is the photographer at the 2013 christening of her great-grandson Prince George. Bell did his research of previous portraits of the royal family. He gets to observe the family life of the royals as they come together for the photograph.

Chris Levine, an artist, uses light and laser to create his art. The queen sat for a holographic portrait. Explaining the process in detail is complicated, yet at one point Levine feels someone behind him and it is the queen herself. As an avid photographer herself, her interest in what is happening becomes very clear.

The queen has represented so much to the people and the biggest word to describe feelings is – respect. England is a complicated country, as most countries are, but the feelings toward the queen are clear, she is a beloved monarch.

Even after her death, this documentary is a beautiful, stunning and colorful reminder of a woman who spent her life in service, caring for a family and became an unwavering symbol during times of distress as well as joy.

Other voices in the documentary are Isabella Rossellini and Susan Sarandon.

VMI Productions started off with BLOOD OF REDEMPTION, starring Dolph Lundgren and Vinnie Jones (2012), and WICKED BLOOD, starring Sean Bean, Abigail Breslin, and James Purefoy (2014), which were both distributed and co-produced by Entertainment One in North America. VMI’s third film, WAR PIGS, starring Mickey Rourke and Luke Goss (2015), was released theatrically by Cinedigm in the US as part of a multi-picture output deal with Cinedigm for North American distribution for in-house productions. For more information, please visit http://www.vmiworldwide.com/

As a result of this evolution, VMI possesses the ability and desire to board the right project, at any stage of development, and is capable of attaching cast and/or financing as well as finding the right distribution partners for a film. VMI seeks to establish long-term working relationships with its production partners.

PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN is a stunning look through photography and those who created the images, the life of England’s monarch. Charles Dance is a voice worth listening to in every performance he has done but more so throughout this documentary. He reads diaries, stories and ideas on photography of those who had the honor of photographing her majesty.

Director Ferri says, “Elisabeth II has, over the years, worked with great photographers from whom she has commissioned the portraits used to build, communicate and manage her image. Paola Calvetti, author of the book Elisabetta II. Ritratto di Regina, asked me to direct and do the photography for the film PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN written by her. Paola’s intuition to take an unprecedented point of view and make a film about the collaboration between Queen Elizabeth II and the great photographers in compelling and winning. I started working on it with care and attention and began imagining a point of view that was also unprecedented in order to turn the book into a film.”

I enjoyed having Dance read and narrate the documentary as well as perspectives from Rossellini and Sarandon on their feelings towards not only being photographed but meeting the Queen. Each photographer brings something wonderful to this story and its telling of an icon while being in her presence. Each of them seems to tell of her interest in what they were doing and, having an opinion on their artistry.

For myself, I have always admired Queen Elizabeth II as a strong figure and personable in her own gracious way. From deaths, wars, family tragedy, political struggles, and the change in times – she made her own way through each. I never once saw in photographs or reels any sign of a woman overcome but it all. Instead, I saw a woman who showed how to make it through it all.

Of course, that is the image the palace wanted but it does not mean it wasn’t who she was and I’d prefer to believe that her gift was just that – a woman of strength and dignity who just happened to also wear a crown.

 

The Twists Come and All is Shattered on DVD!

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from director Natasha Kermani, VMI Worldwide and Cinedigm comes secrets and lies that lead to being SHATTERED.

Kate (Molly Burnett) is a young woman who is introduced to Mayor Forest Burnett (Ray Wise). He instantly thinks she would be a good match for his son Ken (Tom Malloy) and the Mayor is right. Kate also notices that the Mayor’s wife Maureen (Arianne Zucker) doesn’t seem too happy with her life no matter how much she smiles.

Married and starting their life together, Kate and Ken make the announcement that they are going to adopt a baby boy. Finding a nice house and raising son Logan (Tate Birchmore) and adding young daughter Emma (Kayleigh Finnegan), their life seemed wonderful.

But young Logan begins to show signs of not being well, outbursts and seeing things, Kate knows they need help. Forest doesn’t believe there is anything wrong with his grandson and Ken lets his father take the lead. When Dr. Panfil (Eileen Dietz) suggests that they discover more about Logan’s birthparents, the elder Burnett isn’t happy.

After an accident, Kate takes it upon herself to go to Maureen to ask for help. Believing there is more here than Forest or Ken are saying, it is time for her to find out for herself what everyone seems to know but her.

What Kate finds is not only disturbing and changes her life completely but it leaves her shattered!

Burnett as Kate tries to do what’s right for everyone but herself. Listening to the elder Burnett as the political and forceful leader of the family, she knows that it’s up to her to find the truth. Knowing that being under someone’s thumb isn’t a way to live, Burnett gives the character strength to stand up. It is nice to see Burnett again since her stint on the daytime television soap opera Days of Our Lives.

Wise as Mayor Burnett is a piece of work but then again I knew he could be. His performance in the iconic series TWIN PEAKS as Laura Palmer’s father, I knew he could be devious and terrifying with the calmness that is equally frightening. Wise is an amazing actor who has had a career I’ve enjoyed.

Zucker as Maureen is a woman who is in pain by the life she is living. Keeping it all together by dressing smartly, smiling and having more drinks than she should, it is clear that this character is trapped in her own making. Zucker is also a Days of Our Lives cast member who is playing opposite of Burnett once again.

Malloy as Ken is a man who is caught up in a life planned by his father. There are clearly issues of who he is and his place in the political dynasty his father is trying to create. The problem is that the deception he is responsible for goes deeper than Kate could have imagined.

Other cast include Jonathan Camp as Jax, LaRita Shelby as Pam, Shivonne Michelle as Emily, Adam Huss as Rocco, and Alfonso Freeman as Dr. Minton.

Cinedigm is a leading distributor of amazing content in storefronts, digital platforms, Internet and Demand platforms for cable television. With an extensive library of over 52,000 films and television shows, Docurama films, next-gen Indies and Independent films. At its inception, Cinedigm has played a pioneering role in transitioning movie theatres from traditional film prints to digital distribution to advance worldwide cinema modernization. For more on what Cinedigm has to offer please visit http://www.cinedigm.com.

SHATTERED is a film that is based on true events from T.T. Johnson’s bestseller The Shattered Faberge Egg. The story has just about everything including greed, secrets, mystery, and power politics mixing it all together with the Deep South sprinkled in. Interesting considering the political landscape going on now that includes everything listed above!

The twists and turns will keep you guessing because even I didn’t think it could get any more complex until it did.

In the end – this is a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller!