Review of film: "TOWELHEAD” [a/k/a “NOTHING IS PRIVATE”] -- UN-covering hidden problems

Review of film:  "TOWELHEAD” [a/k/a “NOTHING IS PRIVATE”] --  UN-covering hidden problems  =  

                 [ RATING:  7.75 of 10 stars ] 

Date Rated: Aug 26, 2008 | Rel. Date: Sep 12, 2008 =

This film (seen with a Q&A afterwards by writer/director ALAN BALL who wrote “American Beauty”) is a deeply SERIOUS depiction of problems including various types of abuse suffered by the 13-year-old daughter of a Christian Arab man (PETER MACDISSI) living in the U.S. at the time of the first Iraqi war...


...  On one hand, it’s almost maddening the way she (played by SUMMER BISHIL) seems so incredibly uninformed, naive and oblivious to the world and actions by people around her (including a creepy neighbor strongly played by AARON ECKHART); the word “No!” doesn’t seem to exist in her world...


...  But, as Ball commented, “I see her as a heroine— a SURVIVOR”, in that, at the end, “she stood up for herself” & “the girl is not DESTROYED” and “she’d found INNER strength & she’s not really a victim”...


 ...  Understand my recommendation is based upon the fine challenging ACTING & story-telling in this film (which isn't “easy” to take, and you must be aware of its exceptionally explicit R-rated nature in even going to see it)…

Review of film: “THE LONGSHOTS” --– Comes THROUGH as a Winner!

Review of film:  “THE LONGSHOTS” --– Comes THROUGH as a Winner! =   

                     [ RATING:  7.75 of 10 stars ] 

Date Rated: Aug 19, 2008 | Rel. Date: Aug 22, 2008 =

[Based on an advance preview:]  The story on the surface sounded almost a little “sappy”: a based-on-true-events recounting of the first FEMALE quarterback in Pop Warner football. But, surprisingly, the film turned out to be a WINNING venture...


...  ICE CUBE does an especially good job playing downtrodden ex-football star Curtis Plummer, who discovers his shy niece Jasmine (very well acted by KEKE PALMER) has an unusual ability at throwing a football...


...  She helps rally a demoralized team in a small town whose residents themselves had become very discouraged at their economic travails, & the town’s efforts for the team is one of the hearts of the film...


...  There’s a bunch of unusually good supporting roles, and the whole story strongly involved the audience in the theater who were CHEERING at a number of points in the film. Since the film was so successful at achieving what it wanted to do, I give it a possibly-unexpected HIGH rating.

Review of film: “SHOOT 'EM UP”

Review of film:   “SHOOT 'EM UP"  --  The SLICK & the Dead   = 

                   [ RATING:  7.75 of 10 stars ] 

Date Rated: Sep 5, 2007 | Rel. Date: Sep 7, 2007:

I saw an advance screening of this film:  Written & directed by Michael Davis, “SHOOT ’EM UP” is an [unusually] WELL-DONE, slick, breath-taking thriller with CLIVE OWENS playing a near-invincible, quasi-secret-agent type guy trying to save a baby from an unknown criminal gang run by PAUL GIAMATTI (who’s involved with a covert political agenda)...


...  It’s a stylish, smart, funny & clever romp, filled with crafty double-entendre patter, fine special effects and near-nonstop, blood-splattered action. This is not suggested for the squeamish or easily offended-- but it’s very HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to everyone else!...