In a Day Stars: Lorraine Pilkington, Finlay Robertson, Rose Keegan In a day anything can happen, some days you wish would never end and others you wish had never started. In this movie we spend our days in London with English actress Lorraine Pilkington as she deals with a shocking encounter with a strange man. She is a young, struggling musician working a day job as a waitress. As she waits at a bus stop she encounters a vulgar man who talks to her as if she were a prostitute. When Lorraine runs away she meets another stranger, Finlay Robertson, but this young man is nice and tries to help her. After a while she wonders who is the mysterious man who comes to her rescue like a Knight in Shinning Armor? The story takes us from the present to the past and the difficult problems she went through then. It's easy to identify with her predicament as many of us have gone through similar problems in our past. The background music is well chosen for this movie as it helps to tell the story. "In a Day" is an entertaining look at life's constant struggles and Writer, Director, Evan Richards has already won many film festival awards including Best Screenplay from the Method Fest Independent Film Festival, Best Feature/Grand Prize at the Rhode Island International Film Fest, the Audience Award at the Santa Cruz Film Fest and was the AMC Movie Watchers Club pick for the USA Film Festival in Dallas, Texas. "In a Day" deserves a Top of the Hill rating. Goldcrest Films International |
America: Freedom to Fascism Documentary I don't know anyone who enjoys paying income taxes but most people think it's the law. This eye-opening film exposes the fact that there is no law saying the average American citizen has to pay income taxes. Aaron Russo is an award winning filmmaker who produced "The Rose" and "Trading Places." Recently, he decided to discover the truth behind this "no law" rumor concerning the ratification of the 16th Amendment also known as the "Tax Amendment." He interviews government officials from the IRS, FBI, Politicians and tax attorneys and authors to find out exactly what is the Federal Reserve. Even he is surprised that the Federal Reserve is not part of our federal government but is a private banking corporation operated by unidentified private bankers. The Federal Reserve has the right to counterfeit money because now money is not backed by gold! The Federal Reserve is a banking cartel. Thus the government works for a private bank and the bank works for its owners. The Federal Reserve is an illegal corporation. Many people think we have to pay income taxes to help pay for government services but there are many other taxes that pay for those services. This tax is what the English fought against, "Taxation without representation." Income taxes could be compared to paying for protection against the government so they won't put you in jail but if every citizen stood up and said "No, I'm not paying income taxes" the government would have to change just from the overwhelming population of protesters. The jails are so crowded now that they couldn't possibly put all the law-abiding citizens in also. Recently our so-called Democratic government is talking about forcing everyone to carry a National ID Card and having a computer "Spy Chip" placed under our skin to track every move we make. We must fight back against this. Watching "America: Freedom to Fascism" was like watching a true life horror film. A Fascist Nation is one in which big government and big corporations work together to stifle the people and Mr. Russo says he hopes he can wake up Americans to the myth that America is NOT still the land of liberty that it started out to be. Cinema Libre Studio www.FreedomtoFascism.com |
Devra Z. Hill |
Interview with Michael Caine There's something charming about an English accent, whatever they say it sounds elegant. Michael Caine was talking about the character he plays in a film entitled "The Statement." A difficult part for him because he hates Nazi's and he plays one who ordered the execution of seven Jews during the German occupation of France in the l940's. "Why did you take this part?" I asked. "Because I've been in 90 films so far and I'm 70 years old and looking for either parts that are challenging or fun. This one was challenging. My next film is a small part as Batman's Butler. That should be fun. "What was your childhood like?" "Eclectic. My parents were Protestant and Catholic and they sent me to a Jewish school as it was the closest to where we lived outside of London. The kids called me Morry the Goy. My real name was Morris." "Do you think the Nazi's were anything like the Terrorists?" "No. The Terrorists are not only religious fanatics but they are discontent with their lot in life. They are filled with hatred and don't care who they kill even if it's themselves. The Nazi's wanted to kill but didn't want to be killed." "Yes," I said, "what we have now is even more dangerous that what we faced in World War Two. Are there a lot of Muslims in England?" He nodded, "We have a Muslim group that puts out a newspaper saying they want to see the Islamic flag flying over Buckingham Palace. Needless to say, the Queen takes a dim view of that. I've been married for over 30 years and my wife is a Muslim but she doesn't want to take over the British government." "Is the British government worried about that group?" "Well, they haven't taken any action against them but they are keeping an eye on their activities." "In "The Statement" there were Catholic Church officials who actually helped the Nazi's right?" "Yes, there were Nazi sympathizers in many places and this is a true story. Between l940 and l944 there were 330,000 Jews living in France and they were deported by French Administrators and French Police to Concentration Camps. Without the zealous cooperation of many French citizens the Nazi's would have been unable to carry out their extermination job in France." "Interesting. There is an old saying that when evil happens and good people do nothing to stop it they help facilitate it. But on a lighter subject, you look very healthy and fit for being 70. How do you stay that way?" "I walk. I love to walk. You see so much more than when you drive. Plus, I lived in California for the first few years of my acting career and I learned how to make the light and lean California cuisine." I smiled, "Do you think you'll ever retire?" "I hope not," he winked. |
Copyright Devra Z. Hill © 2005 All Rights Reserved |
America: Freedom to Fascism Documentary I don't know anyone who enjoys paying income taxes but most people think it's the law. This eye-opening film exposes the fact that there is no law saying the average American citizen has to pay income taxes. Aaron Russo is an award winning filmmaker who produced "The Rose" and "Trading Places." Recently, he decided to discover the truth behind this "no law" rumor concerning the ratification of the 16th Amendment also known as the "Tax Amendment." He interviews government officials from the IRS, FBI, Politicians and tax attorneys and authors to find out exactly what is the Federal Reserve. Even he is surprised that the Federal Reserve is not part of our federal government but is a private banking corporation operated by unidentified private bankers. The Federal Reserve has the right to counterfeit money because now money is not backed by gold! The Federal Reserve is a banking cartel. Thus the government works for a private bank and the bank works for its owners. The Federal Reserve is an illegal corporation. Many people think we have to pay income taxes to help pay for government services but there are many other taxes that pay for those services. This tax is what the English fought against, "Taxation without representation." Income taxes could be compared to paying for protection against the government so they won't put you in jail but if every citizen stood up and said "No, I'm not paying income taxes" the government would have to change just from the overwhelming population of protesters. The jails are so crowded now that they couldn't possibly put all the law-abiding citizens in also. Recently our so-called Democratic government is talking about forcing everyone to carry a National ID Card and having a computer "Spy Chip" placed under our skin to track every move we make. We must fight back against this. Watching "America: Freedom to Fascism" was like watching a true life horror film. A Fascist Nation is one in which big government and big corporations work together to stifle the people and Mr. Russo says he hopes he can wake up Americans to the myth that America is NOT still the land of liberty that it started out to be. Cinema Libre Studio www.FreedomtoFascism.com |
In a Day Stars: Lorraine Pilkington, Finlay Robertson, Rose Keegan In a day anything can happen, some days you wish would never end and others you wish had never started. In this movie we spend our days in London with English actress Lorraine Pilkington as she deals with a shocking encounter with a strange man. She is a young, struggling musician working a day job as a waitress. As she waits at a bus stop she encounters a vulgar man who talks to her as if she were a prostitute. When Lorraine runs away she meets another stranger, Finlay Robertson, but this young man is nice and tries to help her. After a while she wonders who is the mysterious man who comes to her rescue like a Knight in Shinning Armor? The story takes us from the present to the past and the difficult problems she went through then. It's easy to identify with her predicament as many of us have gone through similar problems in our past. The background music is well chosen for this movie as it helps to tell the story. "In a Day" is an entertaining look at life's constant struggles and Writer, Director, Evan Richards has already won many film festival awards including Best Screenplay from the Method Fest Independent Film Festival, Best Feature/Grand Prize at the Rhode Island International Film Fest, the Audience Award at the Santa Cruz Film Fest and was the AMC Movie Watchers Club pick for the USA Film Festival in Dallas, Texas. "In a Day" deserves a Top of the Hill rating. Goldcrest Films International |
The Simpsons "The Simpsons" came to life on the TV screen 20 years ago and after 18 seasons and 400 episodes the Yellow People are now on the big screen. Homer Simpson is the epitome of the word screw-up and he does it again in this movie. Homer must save the world from an environmental catastrophe He created. Most people are aware that our environment is more polluted than ever and if we don't clean up now we will all go down the drain. Now Homer's wife Marge and his children Bart, Lisa and baby Maggie try to help save the world from people like Homer. I'm sure all the Simpson fans will find this film as funny as the hit TV series and the theme to clean up the environment is a good one. "The Simpsons" stumbles Three Quarters Up the Hill. Rated: PG 13 20th Century Fox |
Marigold Stars: Ali Larter, Salman Khan, Nandana Sen "Marigold" is the first co-production between the United States and India. It's Bollywood meets Hollywood. Actress Ali Larter plays Marigold who arrives in India from America with a bad attitude when her luggage is lost. Then she finds out the movie she was supposed to star in has lost its financing and she's stranded in Goa. But as fate would have it she meets the right film people and is cast in a small role in a Bollywood musical. Eager to prove herself a dancer she enlists the aid of the film's choreographer Salman Khan. Marigold gets renewed confidence from Salman and realizes she is falling in love with him. Then she discovers he's descended from royalty and is promised to a beautiful Indian girl. Complications evolve from his side and hers when her boyfriend arrives unexpectedly. Now the audience wonders who's love will be strong enough to prevail. "Marigold" is a charming, colorful, fun film and dances to the Top of the Hill. Rated: PG Hyperion Pictures |
The Bourne Ultimatum Stars: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Joan Allen, Albert Finney This story started in 2002 with The Bourne Identity then in 2004 The Bourne Supremacy and now in 2007 it's The Bourne Ultimatum. Matt Damon again is the trained assassin Jason Bourne but he has lost his memory and the one person he loved. Now he wants to find out who he was and who killed his loved one. However he is being hunted by the people who trained him to kill and they want to kill him. Matt is undeterred by the barrage of bullets and a new generation of highly trained killers after him as he searches for his past in order to find a future. He travels through Moscow, Paris, Madrid, London Tangiers and New York outmaneuvering cops, federal officers and Interpol Agents with him in their crosshairs. The story, action and acting are good and exciting but this film has some of the worst camera work I've ever seen and lately I've seen a lot of bad camera work. Again the camera swings back and forth too fast and the close-ups cut off the top of people heads. I'm surprised the Director doesn't see this and understand that it's distracting from the story so I rate "The Bourne Ultimatum" Half Way Up the Hill. Rated: PG 13 Universal Pictures |
Delirious Stars: Gina Gershon, Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Alison Lohman Steve Buscemi is a celebrity photographer and the word for his type of photography is "Paparazzi." The type of photographer that likes to catch a celebrity in an indiscreet moment. Michael Pitt plays a homeless kid who wants to be an actor. Michael and Steve meet when Steve is in the crowd trying to get a photo of Alison Lohman, a beautiful Pop Diva star. When Michael and Alison meet each other you can see the mutual attraction in their eyes. Steve feels sorry for Mike since he's homeless and hires him as his assistant but his pay is only room and board and he doesn't treat him very nice. Then Mike gets some good luck when he lands a part on a Reality Show partly by sleeping with the show's casting director, Gina Gershon. But his heart has been captured by Alison so he's torn between the two women as his career continues to rise. Now Steve wants to use Mike's connections to celebrities so he can go to their parties and secretly photograph them. I asked actress Gina Gershon how she feels about the Paparazzi and she said they scare her because they jump out of bushes when she's just trying to jog and try to catch her in an impromptu moment. I agreed with her since when I started writing about celebrities we politely asked them if we could take their picture. But Gina is not only an actress she's also a writer and musician as well and has an album available on "I Tunes" called "In Search of Cleo." I found the film "Delirious" very interesting as well as entertaining and rate it Top of the Hill. Rated: R Peace Arch Entertainment |
Rush Hour 3 Stars: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Hiroyuki Sanada The first "Rush Hour" movie debuted in l998 bringing us Jackie and Chris as the dynamic duo fighting crime. Now we have the third in the action packed, funny film series and this is the best one so far. Usually sequels are not as good as the original but this is the exception. The stunts from the streets of LA to the girds of the Eiffel Tower are truly breath taking. The chemistry and camaraderie of these two performers is magic and they do seem like brothers under the skin. What is thought an inexpensive movie these days costs between $3 and $4 million, this one cost $140 million! We watch Rush Hour 3 in the streets of LA and the streets of Paris as our heroes fight a deadly Asian gang known as the Triad Syndicate. The leader of the gang is a surprise even to Jackie and we really see the difference between good guy, bad guy even when they're considered family. "Rush Hour 3" is exciting, funny and entertaining as it fly's right up to the Top of the Hill. Rated: PG 13 New Line Cinema |
The 11th Hour Documentary narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio The motto of this film is "Consume Less and Live More." It is a look at the history of our planet. In the history of the planet, humanity's time on earth has been short but powerful and much like Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" it shows us how human greed is destroying the planet. Leonardo DiCaprio also produced this film because he feels it's important to show how the human drive to ensure its own survival and quality of life has revolutionized industry, science, nutrition and medicine and also effected unprecedented changes in the delicate balance that makes life on earth possible. It again appears that the greed and selfishness of some humans in charge of large corporations are destroying earth. But are these changes permanent? Or are we at the crossroads for life on planet earth? This is a human story that shows us who we are and the relationship we have to earth, our only home! The earth has grown warmer and not since a meteor hit our planet 55 million years ago have so many forms of life gone extinct. Everyone should see how each of us can help to reverse what is happening with global warming brought about by rising carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels to overpopulation causing pollution. Rated: PG Warner Independent Pictures |
Invasion Stars: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeffrey Wright The crash of an American Space Shuttle brings shattered pieces of the Shuttle to earth along with strange alien spores. The spore substance survived the extreme cold of space and the searing heat of reentry to invade humans. Nicole is a psychiatrist with a female patient who is terrified of her husband and says he has been replaced by a stranger. But it's soon Halloween and Nicole takes her son out for Trick or Treat. She is a single divorced mother and after returning home with her son she discovers a strange substance in her son's Halloween candy. Daniel Craig is a doctor friend who tries to help her find out what the substance is by taking it into his hospitals lab to be tested by a Scientist. It appears to be a virus, perhaps a new form of Flu. Soon the so-called Flu epidemic spreads and people all around her are transformed into Zombies with one imperative to infect others and take control. The problem with this story is that the Zombie people say they want to change humans into more peaceful beings so that the audience begins to wonder who are the bad guys? "Invasion" is confusing, frustrating science fiction with bad camera work again and I rate it A Quarter up the Hill. Rated: PG 13 Warner Bros. |
Superbad Stars: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen Superbad is aptly titled as it's rude, crude and lewd! The young men is this story are not just adolescents they're immature sex-crazed adolescents. To say the movie is profane is putting it mildly, the "F" word is used so often one wonders if the writers know any other words besides that and Penis. Jonah and Michael are asked to a party by a beautiful young girl but she requests they bring the liquor. Since they are under 21 they find a friend who can get a fake ID and then their troubles never end. The first half of "Superbad" is mildly funny but the second half is disgusting as they show policemen who should never have been hired as policemen and are certainly not a good example for young people and neither are the young people in this move. I rate "Superbad" Bottom of the Hill. Rated: R Columbia Pictures |
The Nanny Diaries Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti It's Mary Poppins in Manhattan with less laughs but a lot more reality. Scarlett is fresh out of college and has been under pressure from her mother to get an executive position in the business world. But by chance Scarlett winds up as a Nanny for a rich 5th Ave. family. Laura & Paul are the busy parents of a young boy who they don't have time to raise so enter the Nanny. Scarlett's degree is in Anthropology but she soon finds out that working for a high society family is a good way to study the culture and development of man. She learns a few things she never learned in college and falls for a handsome young man who she refers to as a Park Avenue Hottie. This is a good inside look at today's society where both parents are too busy to raise children and realize that children are a full time job and actually the most important job in life. "The Nanny Diaries" is a modern day portrait of what's happening now and fly's to the Top of the Hill. Rated PG 13 MGM & Weinstein Company |
Illegal Tender Stars: Rick Gonzalez, Wanda De Jesus, Dania Ramirez Here we go again with drug dealing gangster violence. This tells the story of one Latino family's quest for honor and revenge after the husband of Wanda and the father of Rick is killed. The killers aren't satisfied with just killing the father they want the mother dead too but she is determined to get away and take her son to a better life. Fortunately she has enough money to send him to college and he is an exceptional student with a good knowledge of English and a nice girlfriend. He has never wanted for anything for 21 years but his mother's past comes back to haunt them and he quickly learns he has to defend his family. His mother is forced to tell him about his father and show him the safe where she keeps guns. Weapons at the ready he begins to fight for his family as he also has a little brother to protect. "Illegal Tender" is a timely film and has a surprise ending but a bit slow in parts with subtitles still the surprise ending shoots "Half Way Up the Hill." Rated: R Universal Pictures |
In the Shadow of the Moon Stars: First Astronauts on the Moon Between 1968 and 1972, nine American spacecraft's voyaged to the Moon, and 12 men walked on its surface. Today they remain the only humans to have stood on another world. This documentary brings together for the first time surviving crew members from every Apollo mission that flew to the Moon and we hear them tell their story of what it was like. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 touched down on the Moon's Sea of Tranquility and the next day Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the American Flag on the Moon's surface. I had the pleasure of talking personally with Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, when he had a party to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Apollo 11's Moon landing. I asked him what it was like up there in the heavens and if he thought about God? He smiled and said the only thing he remembers thinking about was how to get back to earth and if the spaceship instruments were working properly. He is one of the 10 astronauts interviewed here. The producers of this documentary spent weeks examining the NASA films from the last 30 years and they uncovered many astonishing space shots which they re-mastered to show us what outer space looks like close-up. "In the Shadow of the Moon" is interesting and educational and rockets to the Top of the Hill. Rated: PG THINK Film |
The Brave One Stars: Jodie Foster, Naveen Andrews, Terrence Howard Jodie is the host of a radio show in New York called "Street Walk." She is engaged to Naveen Andrews and they love to walk the streets of New York with their dog. But on one terrible night everything she loves is taken from her when she walks with her fiance and is ambushed in a vicious attack that kills him and leaves her almost dead. As she recovers she is overwhelmed by fear so she decides to buy a gun for protection. The first two times she shoots it is in self-defense. Then her fear is replaced by a drive for revenge against bad guys. Soon stories appear in the local papers of an anonymous Vigilante roaming the city and NYPD detective, Terrence Howard, is determined to track down the killer. But as he puts clues together the evidence points not to a guy with a gun but a woman with a grudge who feels there is no justice in the justice system so she must be the justice system. "The Brave One" is an exciting, well-written and well-acted movie and shoots to the Top of the Hill. Rated: R Warner Bros. |
The Jane Austen Book Club Stars: Maria Bello, Emily Blunt, Kathy Baker, Jimmy Smits In 1800 England there was a prolific writer named, Jane Austen, whose many books were about the complexities of marriage, friendship, romantic entanglements and social manners. Fast forward to the present 21st Century and a group of people living in Sacramento, California who love Jane's books because they reflect their lives. Kathy Baker plays a free-spirited woman in her 50's who has married six times and is now single but she has friends and decides to form a Jane Austen Book Club with six of them. One of her friends Maria Bello declares she has never been in love except with her dog but when he dies she is engulfed with grief however she is energetic and becomes the engine that drives the book club. Emily Blunt is a young high school French teacher married to a sports-buff who seems a mismatch for her. Also among the group is a young girl comfortably open about her Lesbian life but hides from her mother that she's into extreme sports like Skydiving and Rock Climbing. Jimmy Smits finds his 25 year marriage stale and starts an affair and the beat goes on. "The Jane Austen Book Club" is an interesting look at everyday life and the plot makes it "Three Quarters Up the Hill. Rated: PG 13 Sony Pictures Classics |
TRADE Stars: Kevin Kline, Cesar Ramos, Paulina Gaitan This film was inspired by a New York Times Magazine story called "The Girls Next Door." The characters in Trade negotiate their way through the sex trade tunnels between Mexico and the United States only this is about child sex slavery. It begins with a 13 year old Mexico City girl, Paulina Gaitan, who is kidnaped by sex traffickers while she is bicycling. She is trapped and terrified by an underground network of international thugs who earn millions exploiting human cargo. However, she is lucky enough to have a 17 year old brother, Cesar Ramos, who sets out to save her. As her brother dodges immigration officers and other obstacles to track down the girls' abductors he meets, Kevin Kline, a Texas cop whose own family loss to sex trafficking leads him to be the boy's ally. "Trade" is a fascinating, heart breaking story that shows us the secret Internet Sex Slave Auctions and the brutal global criminal underworld that has come into the light with the invention of the Internet. "Trade" rates a Top of the Hill. Rated: R Roadside Attractions |
December Boys Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Christian Byers, Lee Cormie December Boys is about four orphan boys all born in the month of December who grow up in a Catholic Convent in outback Australia during the l960's. Daniel is the oldest,16, and he begins to realize that the older boys may never get a chance at adoption. But he and three of his younger friends get a chance to vacation at a South Australian seaside for the summer. A retired naval officer and his wife take charge of the boys and they live next door to a childless younger couple. The boys befriend the younger couple in hopes of being adopted. Then they compete with each other to be the most adoptable and this severely tests their friendship. "December Boys" has some beautiful scenery and some sadly emotional scenes but it climbs Three Quarters Up the Hill. Rated: PG 13 Warner Independent Pictures |
3:10 to Yuma Stars: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Gretchen Mol Western's are back but this time it's not just "Good Guys" and "Bad Guys" it's "Crazy Guys!" They seem to kill whoever gets in their way and it reminded me of today's Middle East, lot's of Psycho Mania senseless murders. Russell Crowe is the bad guy, unmarried and hoping to find available Prostitutes. Christian Bale the good guy with a wife and two sons who he needs to support and protect so he takes on the job of delivering Russell to the 3:10 Train to Yuma that will take Russ to jail. "3:10 to Yuma" is too much of the same old, same old, and even for those who like Westerns it doesn't match up to the John Wayne's of yesteryear. I rate it "Half Way Up the Hill." Rated: R Lionsgate |
In the Valley of Elah Stars: Tommy Lee Jones,CharlizeTheron,Susan Sarandon Everyone understands physical war wounds but only trained medical doctors understand mental and emotional war wounds that could turn good soldiers into ruthless killers. This is the story of a war veteran, Tommy Lee Jones, his wife, Susan Sarandon and the search for their son, a soldier who recently returned from Iraq but has mysteriously gone missing. Charlize Theron is the police detective who helps them search for their son. The title of the film refers to a spot in Israel where the battle of David and Goliath took place 3000 years ago. At that time King Saul sent David to fight Goliath armed with only 5 stones. It conjures up the current Iraq war of sending young people to fight against religious fanatics. "In the Valley of Elah" is a little slow but fights Three Quarters Up the Hill. Rated: R Warner Independent |