Love and the Sea lead to ADRIFT

       

Jeri Jacquin

Sailing into theatres this Friday from director Baltasar Kormakur and STX Entertainment comes the true story of survival when you are ADRIFT.

Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley) is a young woman who has left her San Diego home to travel the world. Going where ever the tide and jobs take her, Tami ends up in Tahiti cleaning boats.

Putting into the dock, Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin) is a man clearly in love with the sea, even the worst parts of it. Meeting Tami they clearly find a connection for wandering and explore the island and their relationship. They also sail on the boat Richard built himself, the Mayaluga, and Tami couldn’t be happier.

Richard runs into family friends Peter (Jeffrey Thomas) and Christine (Elizabeth Hawthorne) who own the 44-foot yacht called the Hazana. They are thrilled to ask Richard if he wants to take their boat back to harbor in San Diego with a thank you fee of $10,000 and a return ticket back to Tahiti.

Tami isn’t sure she wants to return to her hometown but Richard sees the money as a way for them to continue to sail where ever their hearts want to go. They set sail on their first 4,000 mile adventure together!

What they are unaware of yet is that one of the most catastrophic hurricanes is coming their way. Trying to avoid it doesn’t work as they batten down the sails and attempt to ride it out. Being thrown around, Tami wakes to a tossed ship, the sails in the water and Richard badly hurt. 

Getting him settled, Tami takes stock of the provisions that are still aboard and drinkable water in the tanks. Grabbing the sextant and a map, she begins to figure out what is the best way they can be rescued before their supplies run out. Questioning every move she makes, it is the steady voice of Richard that guides them.

Because in that is the power of their love.

Woodley as Tami is a free spirited individual who makes it very clear that she goes where the jobs take her with no thought of staying or going. Meeting Richard is a chance to not only share a little bit of herself but really understand the freedom of her life. Woodley personifies that spirit as she has in so many other films. In this instance she is the right actress to draw us all into the journey.

Claflin as Richard is Woodley’s equal on the screen with the same ability to draw us into the spirit of someone who lives for the sea. Good, bad or otherwise, Richard has built a boat that takes him wherever he wants without apologies. It is easy to see how the two would be drawn into a relationship. Richard is a little more reserved that Tami and it is clear he is in love.

ADRIFT is based on the true story from the book Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss and Survival at Sea by Tami Oldham Ashcraft. The event happened in October of 1983 when Ashcraft was 23-years-old. A Category 4 hurricane with 50 foot high waves and 160 mph winds were no match for the two sailors.

The film is very well done as it is impossible to not become involved in the story. Of course I believe that all stories about ocean survival are incredible from the mere fact that it is the ocean! It is unpredictable, unrelenting, surprising and majestic and when its waves are ruffled, there is nothing more fierce.

Also, compelling in knowing that there is very little one can do on the ocean when what keeps you alive is taken away. The panic for just food and water isn’t something you can do much about unless you are willing to fish and pray for rain. That’s what makes the difference between giving up and total survival.

Woodley and Claflin are stellar together and watching them from beginning to end brings a sniffle. The portrayal of their real-life counterparts is sweet and spirited bringing the audience into their story of love and survival.

In the end – their every emotion is as deep as the ocean!

ON CHESIL BEACH Shows Life Regret

Jeri Jacquin

This Friday from the works of Ian McEwan, director Dominic Cooke and Bleeker Street is a story of young awkwardness ON CHESIL BEACH.

It is 1962 and Florence Ponting (Saoirse Ronan) is a young violinist in a string quartet and a strong will. Edward Mayhew (Billy Howle) is an awkward young man living in a home with understanding father Lionel (Adrian Scarborough), two sisters and mother Marjorie (Anne-Marie Duff) who has suffered from an accident.

Thrilled that he has received high marks in school but no one to tell about it, Edward wandered into town. There he meets Florence and is taken immediately with her and they quickly become a couple. Always together, talking and sharing both the families see where the relationship is heading.

On their honeymoon, there is still an awkwardness that Edward tries to help Florence through. When it all becomes too much for Florence, the couple end up on the beach and a secret is revealed that could change the course of their dreams forever.

Words can sometimes haunt us forever.

Ronan as Florence has once again given us a strong, memorable and stellar performance. I have longed believed there isn’t a role that this young actress couldn’t capture and ON CHESIL BEACH proves it. There is such a depth to this young character and levels of Florence trying to keep herself together and, at any moment, the wire could suddenly snap. It is Ronan that keeps control of that wire and does so brilliantly.

Howle as Edward is a young man who finds in Florence one thing in his life that makes sense. He is moved by her and, in a sense, believes she is everything he needs. Willing to work for her father to be a providing husband, even his own father Lionel believes Florence is good for him. Howle has an innocence about him and that wraps deeply into the heart of this character.

Scarborough as Lionel is a man who sees what the accident has done to his wife and is amazed when Florence brings such change in her. Duff as Marjorie is living the best life she can since the accident. Watson as Florence’s mother Violet constantly tests the young girl will as only this fine actress can do. 

Other cast include Samuel West as Geoffrey Ponting, Bebe Cave as Ruth Ponting, Bronte Carmichael as Chloe, and Jonjo O’Neill as Phil.

ON CHESIL BEACH is a stunning look at an innocent time where secrets have no way out and truths don’t fit it. Both of these young people have issues that are so deeply engrained in who they are, it was inevitable that something would come to the surface.

It is in their reactions that the stories are truly told, yet each does not see the answers in the other. Instead, anger and frustration take over and in flash one decision in life can be devastating. That is what is so heartbreaking about this story for me, that even when faced the choice once again, it is decision that can either right things or stay on the path of nothing.

Ronan and Howle are heartbreaking to watch and artfully beautiful at the same time. Experiencing their characters struggle to find a way out of their pain is worth every moment on screen. Well done, absolutely well done.

The novella On Chesil Beach by British writer Ian McEwan has been translated into several languages and was nominated in 2007 for the Booker Prize.

In the end – life can still change when you do nothing.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

 

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SPINNING MAN Brings Unexpected Twists

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray/DVD and Digital from director Simon Kaijser and Lionsgate comes the story of what happens when what you believe and what is real can cause one to become a SPINNING MAN.

Evan Birch (Guy Pearce) is a philosophy college professor living with wife Ellen (Minnie Driver) and daughter Zelda (Eliza Pryor) and son Adam (Noah Salsbury Lipson).  Life is idyllic until a young high school cheerleader goes missing bringing Det. Robert Malloy (Pierce Brosnan) on the case.

Evan goes about his business until there is a knock on his door asking to search his car. Both he and Ellen aren’t sure what is happening or what Evan is being accused of. Reaching out to their family lawyer friend Paul (Clark Gregg), he is asked straight out if there is any chance of involvement.

Upset that anyone would think so, it becomes even more difficult when evidence is found in the car and stories don’t match up. Det. Mallory isn’t making it easy either by planting suspicions in Ellen’s mind. She immediately makes it clear to Evan that she isn’t going to cover for him.

The only light to his days is that of student Anna (Alexandra Shipp) who doesn’t ask much of him other than coffee and talk about his book. As Evan waits for the police to find the missing cheerleader, his mind begins to chase between what is real and the truth.

Both are a matter of life and death.

Pearce as Evan is a man who absolutely has command of the classroom and the subject he is teaching. Living the stereotype of an attractive man professor and yet he is jittery that no one believes in his innocence in all things. Trying to balance his life, his secrets and his persona is what could be his undoing. There is something about Pearce on the screen from PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT to L.A. CONFIDENTIAL to ALIEN: COVENANT that I know his role is going to be unique and memorable.

Brosnan as Det. Malloy isn’t ruffled in the slightest by anything that Evan says or does. He is one slick policeman when he plants little hints around the wife to get help in solving the case. There are even moments where it is easy to forget he is a cop when in the car with Evan which is, after all, what makes a good cop. Brosnan is still fun to watch and this role gives him grit.

Driver as Ellen is the dutiful wife and stands by her man, even if she’s done it more times that she would like. She also isn’t helping the police much in their investigation but that doesn’t mean she isn’t doing a little home detective work of her own. Driver gives character Evan a little public ‘what for’ shaming and I actually applauded her. It’s good to bend but Driver doesn’t break.

Shipp as Anna is a nice diversion to Evan’s problems and this is certainly the type of student a professor should run from – and run fast! Pryor as Zelda is at that age where parents can be embarrassing and this is just a few steps past the norm. Gregg as lawyer Paul is trying to get his client to stop talking and I suggest superglue to the lips!

Other cast include Jamie Kennedy as Ross, Sean Blakemore as Killian, Jeannie Austin as Barbara, Natasha Bassett as Carrie, Sterling Beaumon as Matt, Patrika Darbo as Kelly, Jennie Fahn as Irene and Odeya Rush as Joyce Bonner.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theater 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 and Digital include the Special Features of Deleted Scenes, Inside SPINNING MAN Director’s Commentary and Trailer Gallery. SPINNING MAN is based on the book The Spinning Man by George Harrar.

SPINNING MAN is a cat and mouse game and most of it is being played by Pearce’s character. All of his antics begin to meld together and that causes him to have problems knowing what the facts are and what is the mind just playing stress tricks. The addition of Brosnan’s character is that of a cop who will let a person hang themselves because he’s got all the time in the world to wait.

Pearce is definitely juggling this character and where it all falls is anybody’s guess – right up until the very last second. That’s what makes a good psychological thriller and this qualifies.

In the end – what you believe and what you know is all in how you spin it!

THE MIMIC Is Calling You!

Jeri Jacquin

Coming soon to Bluray from director Huh Jung and Well Go USA Entertainment is the sound of voices that can only come from THE MIMIC.

Hee-yeon (Yum Jung-ah), husband Min-ho (Park Hyuk-kwon) and their daughter Jonahed (Bang Yu-seal) have decided to move to Mt. Jang. Their son has been missing for several years and Hee-yeon believes that her mother holds the key to finding him. The problem is that Soon-ja (Heo Jin) has gone silent.

Taking the family back to some place she will remember, Hee-yeon is hoping it will trigger something. Instead, they aren’t even done unpacking when two kids who are looking for their dog discover a cave that frightens them. Min-ho and Hee-yeon help them and in the process discover a small girl (Shin Rin-ah) wandering in the woods.

Hee-yeon takes in the girl but her husband is insistent that she turn her over to the police. Quickly, mysterious things begin to happen that are hard to ignore. Especially when a local woman tries to warn them to get away as soon as possible with the story of the Jangsan Tiger.

Hee-yeon feels an attachment to the young girl who calls herself Joon-hee and this causes a strain with Min-ho. When Soon-ja becomes violent towards Joon-hee #2 and it becomes clear that she can’t live with them any more. That night the family begins to not only disappear but discover that the cave is calling Hee-yeon by using the one weakness in her heart.

Jung-ah as Hee-yeon gives the perfect expressions of a grieving mother who hasn’t come to terms with the loss of her son. Relying on her mother to bring her some hope, it is put on hold when the mysterious young girl comes into their lives. Every emotion of fear, fright and sadness is so clear with Jung-ah. I loved her role in A TALE OF TWO SISTERS and WOOCHI showing her strength as an actress.

Hyuk-kwon as Min-ho is trying to keep the family together. Feeling the stress of a mother-in-law that isn’t responding to anyone, a young daughter also dealing with the loss of a brother and a wife who seems determined to self-destruct. When he finally takes a stand, it may cost him everything.

Rin-ah as the foundling girl calling herself Joon-hee is brilliant! She is small, timid yet extremely powerful in her role. Watch the scene between the two Joon-hee’s and tell me that this young lady doesn’t have something extremely powerful. I was captivated by her.

Other cast include Lee Yool as Detective Kim, and Lee Jang-won as Jangsan Tiger.

Well Go USA Entertainment is an amazing company that brings the best of Action and Independent films from around the world. There format includes theatres, digital, cable and VOD along with Bluray. For more of what they have to offer go to www.wellgousa.com.

The story is based on the mythological Tiger of Mt. Jang who is said to be a man-eater that has sharp teeth and white fur. It is said it can be found in the mountains of Busan and can sound like a crying lady. A classic Korean ghost story that will give fans who love chills and jumps a chance to do that right in their own home.

I’m a huge fan of films that aren’t slasher-gory but instead have a story to tell with jumps, creaks, whispers and wind to keep the goose bumps happy. Yum Jung-ah and Shin Rin-ah carry the weight of the film and do it with frightening ease.

THE MIMIC received nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actress from the 1^st Seoul Awards and the 54^th Grand Bell Awards. The 38^th Blue Dragon Film Awards also nominated the film for best Technical Award.

In the end – don’t follow its voice!

SATELLITE GIRL and MILK COW Visits Earth in Stunning Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and DVD from director Chang Hyung-yun, GKids and Shout! Factory is the extraordinary story of two amazing individuals with SATELLITE GIRL AND MILK COW.

When a satellite going around the planet picks up the sound of a song, it wants to find out more about it. Coming to Earth is Cat-1 who meets Merlin who himself has been turned into a walking roll of paper and giving her a human-like form.

The song came from Kyung-Chun, a young man who is dealing with a broken heart and after a strange twist of fate it turns him into a milk cow. If that isn’t bad enough, there is a man with a plunger trying to take his liver! Cat-1 protects Kyung-Chun but also learns that her satellite form might be in trouble.

When she discovers that getting back might be difficult, Kyung-Chun aka Milk Cow feels bad for her. Actually, it’s more than that as he finds himself having feelings for Cat-1 although he is having a hard time admitting it. The struggle isn’t helped by the Witch of the North who wants to take Milk Cow somewhere he can be safe.

But Kyung-Chun can’t leave Cat-1 behind and in the morning light the two are confronted by an incinerator monster mid-argument. Even when people try to separate the two, they protect one another without even a thought to it. But Cat-1 believes the only way to stop their feelings is by leaving.

Cat-1 faces the incinerator monster alone and Merlin reaches out to Kyung-Chun to use the one thing he knows will reach her. Inside the monster is a world of gray and he finds the real Merlin who tells him to be strong and find Cat-1.

Being different doesn’t mean love isn’t possible!

Satellite Girl may be an arm-firing rocket shoe wearing un-girl but that doesn’t mean her feelings aren’t human. She is strong, powerful and yet has the same fragile emotions as any teenage girl.

Kyung-Chun as Milk Cow is a young man who has had his heart broken or has he? Being around Cat-1, he is more secure about his alter ego and starts to understand what caring about someone truly feels like – even if her arm and head can take off at a moments notice.

Merlin is hilarious as a role of toilet paper, I mean really? He wants to help both Cat-1 and Milk Cow and tries to keep the chaos from getting out of hand. That doesn’t mean he isn’t hilarious to look at.

SHOUT! Factory has grown into a tremendous multi-platform media company. Releasing new animated features such as the exquisite Long Way North, and the epic fantasy Beauty And The Beast. Also their own original horror film, Fender Bender gives fans a good scare. For more of what SHOUT Factor has to offer please visit www.shoutfactory.com.

GKIDS brings award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. The company has received ten Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations including The Secret of Kells, A Cat in Paris, The Tale of Princess Kaguya and The Breadwinner. GKIDS is also a distributor for Studio Ghibli films including Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke and many more. To learn more about GKIDS please visit www.gkids.com.

SATELLITE GIRL AND MILK COW includes the Bonus Features of Coffee Vending Machine and Its Sword Short Film and Trailers.

This is a beautiful story about hope, love, music, friendship, silliness, loyalty and wanting to do what’s right for the person you care about. In the midst of the chaos they are constantly in, Cat-1 and Kyung-Chun find that others may see them as different but their feelings are the same.

Of course they spend time avoiding their feelings and actually Cat-1 doesn’t think she has a right to ‘human’ emotion but Kyung-Chun, even as Milk Cow, changes that. The most touching moment is when Cat-1 gives Milk Cow a kiss because she sees beyond his outward appearance and that is beautiful.

In the end – love always finds a way!

THE STEAM ENGINES OF OZ Revisited After a Century

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and DVD from Arcana Studios, Cinedigm and direction Sean Patrick O’Reilly is a story of old friends meeting new heroes in the animated THE STEAM ENGINES OF OZ.

It has been a century since Dorothy, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Tin Man (Mathew Anderson) brought us all to Oz. Now, the Emerald City has been turned into metal mayhem and is ruled by a different Tin Man.

Victoria Wright (Ashleigh Ball) is a young engineer who has the gift to fix things below the city as needed but dreams of one day seeing the city. When a pack of flying monkeys swoops her up, she is introduced to the Queen of the North Locasta (Julianna Hough) in the Emerald Forest.

She learns that the Tin Man wants to destroy the forest with industry and needs to stop it. Along with Lion Magnus (Ron Perlman), Scarecrow (Geoff Gustafson), Oscar ‘Oz’ Diggs (William Shatner) and a band of munchkins, all of this can be turned around by finding the Tin Man’s missing heart.

When they band together, Victoria and her friends don’t just fight for the Emerald City but one another with friendship, loyalty and heart!

Ball as Victoria is a bright spot and is drawn in by everyone she meets, even if they don’t want to be. Hough as Locasta knows that Victoria is the one to make things right again and gives encouragement to the young girl.

Perlman as Magnus is perfect as he has the right vocal disposition for the part. Of course it is practically impossible not to recognize the voice of William Shatner who plays the great Oz himself.

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.

Arcana Studios owns one of the largest libraries of graphic novels and comics that include thousands of characters. Their high quality brand of entertainment is filled with stories that transcend gender, age, cultural and geographic boundaries. THE STEAM ENGINES OF OZ is based on a graphic novel of the same name. To learn more about Arcana Studios please visit www.arcana.com.

THE STEAM ENGINES OF OZ is definitely something different than what most of us have known about the Wizard of Oz. That’s actually what makes this story so unique because it is what has happened since our trip down the yellow brick road.

The Tin Man has lost the one thing that made him feel so much and becoming metal minded he is ruining what we all knew about the Emerald City. Young Victoria is the new face of saving Oz and rising up out of the basement, as it were; she sees what Oz has become.

It isn’t until she goes outside the city does Victoria realize how beautiful the Emerald City could be again. Finding those who see what is happening is challenging but finding the right those who believe in the Emerald City and Victoria is paramount.

The vibrant colors and animation of THE STEAM ENGINES OF OZ is entertaining and the story challenges us all to think further on down the road. We’d all love for the Emerald City to stay the same but a century is a long time for that to happen. The stun is that the Tin Man would lose the one thing he fought so hard to get!

Victoria is a character that has such a giving heart and although it takes a little convincing, others believe she is the one to lead them. I really enjoyed the quirkiness of the characters as did my granddaughter.

In the end – it is about friendship, determination and love!