A workplace comedy about three frustrated employees who hatch a plan to kill their micromanaging bosses. Nick (Jason Bateman) hates his boss Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) because his hours are long, a minute late is a crime and he's blackmailed so he can't quit. Dale (Charlie Day) also hates his dentist boss (Jennifer Aniston) because of her unwanted advances and he’s on a list of child offenders so he can’t quit. Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) actually likes his job but his boss dies (Donald Sutherland) and is replaced with his coked-out psycho son (Colin Farrell). The economic times are very bad so who would be crazy enough to quit their jobs? Dale and Kurt drunkenly and hypothetically discuss how to kill their bosses. The next thing they know, they have hired a murder consultant to help them pull off the three deaths??
There is a lot of gross-out humor, obscenities and coarseness. Only funny at times and raunchy many times. Heavy sexual innuendo and almost constant foul language. One character has a cocaine problem and the main characters accidentally get high and drink too. One character is a womanizer. A different role and look for Jennifer Aniston. I’m not a Kevin Spacy fan so I can picture him as a horrible boss! 3* (This movie is OK)
98 min, Comedy directed Seth Gordon and written by Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley with Jason Bateman, Steve Wiebe, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Lindsay Sloane, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell, Donald Sutherland, Julie Bowen, Isaiah Mustafa, Michael Albala, Jennifer Hasty, Reginald Ballard, George Back, Barry Livingston.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10 with 410,202 views, 69% with 220 critics 70% audience on Rotten Tomatoes with 106,618 ratings, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 2,873 ratings, Metacritic 57 out of 100 with 40 critics (21 positive 14 mixed 5 negative) 7.6 out of 10 with 45 ratings (401 positive 116 mixed 28 negative, Letterboxed 3* to of 5*, Common Sense Media Jeffrey M. Anderson, age 18+, 1* positive, 3* violence, 4* sex, 5* language, 1* consumerism, 3* drinking, drugs, smoking, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*.
Special Note: Filmed Los Angeles, Torrance, Glendale, Los Angeles, California.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Monday, April 13, 2020
Cold Weather 2010
Doug was studying forensic science at a college in the Midwest. After a few months he feels burned out. He leaves to move back to his hometown of Portland Oregon. He's living with his sister and gets a job at an ice making plant which requires just a little bit of effort. He had originally planned to work with the police because of his passion for classic detective fiction like Sherlock Holmes. Suddenly, a real life case appears when his former girlfriend disappears. Doug and his co-worker Carlos put their love of old detective novels to good use to try to solve this mystery!!
This movie is good if you are washing dishes, reading the newspaper, combing or washing your hair or considering which came first, the chicken or the egg? The camera shots are 5 minutes long (it seems) of scenic vistas and the plot is very thin. Also, I did not like the ending. It does have quirkiness and an indie feel? 2 1/2* (This movie is so-so)
96 min, Drama directed and written by Aaron Katz and also written by Bredan McFadden and Ben Stambler with Cris Lankenau, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Raul Castillo, Robyn Rikoon, Jeb Pearson, Brendan McFadden, Ben Stambler, Katy and Paul Rothert, Jerry Moyer, Virgil L. Howell, Barry Seltzer, Orianna Milne, Elliott flick, Josh Locy.
Note: Imdb 6.2 out of 10 with 2,137 views, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, 78% with 63 critics 52% audience with 2,050 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, The Guardian 2* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, Amazon 3* out of 5* with 30 reviews, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*,
Special Note: Filmed in Portland, Cannon Beach, The Dales, Oregon.
This movie is good if you are washing dishes, reading the newspaper, combing or washing your hair or considering which came first, the chicken or the egg? The camera shots are 5 minutes long (it seems) of scenic vistas and the plot is very thin. Also, I did not like the ending. It does have quirkiness and an indie feel? 2 1/2* (This movie is so-so)
96 min, Drama directed and written by Aaron Katz and also written by Bredan McFadden and Ben Stambler with Cris Lankenau, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Raul Castillo, Robyn Rikoon, Jeb Pearson, Brendan McFadden, Ben Stambler, Katy and Paul Rothert, Jerry Moyer, Virgil L. Howell, Barry Seltzer, Orianna Milne, Elliott flick, Josh Locy.
Note: Imdb 6.2 out of 10 with 2,137 views, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, 78% with 63 critics 52% audience with 2,050 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, The Guardian 2* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, Amazon 3* out of 5* with 30 reviews, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*,
Special Note: Filmed in Portland, Cannon Beach, The Dales, Oregon.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 2011
This film is based on a Swedish novel written by Stieg Larsson and adapted in English. A discredited journalist, Michael Blomkvist and a computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander work to solve the mystery of a 40 year old murder. A wealthy patriarchs niece disappeared? This is a remake of a 2009 Swedish movie with the same name. The deeper they dig for the truth, the closer they come to a confrontation with the killer. Salander has many piercings, tattoos and she is excellent at delving into computers. There is one important item they have learned. It is that there was immense corruption beyond anything they have seen or imagined to cover up this murder.
Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara and the other actors are good in this movie but there are only a few differences from the 2009 Swedish release. Noomi Rapace has the role of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish version. This film does seem to be at a faster pace and easier to watch because there are no subtitles. But, what is the point of making a second movie almost identical to the first? I expected more people to be in the theater but word of mouth may have caused a loss of viewers? 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
158 min, Crime directed by David Fincher and written by Steven Zaillian with Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard, Steven Berkoff, Robin Wright, Yorick van Wageningen, Joely Richardson, Geraldine James, Goran Visnjic, Donald Sumpter, Ulf Friberg, Bengt C.W. Carlsson, Tony Way, Per Myrberg.
Note: Goodreads gives the book 4.13* with 2,474,477 ratings and 67,287 reviews, Blockbuster 3 1/2*, Imdb, 7.8 out of 10, 85% critic, Rotten Tomatoes 86% with 246 critics 86% audience with 118,888 ratings, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, RollingStone 2 1/2* out of 4* Peter Travers, Amazon gives the book 4.3* out of 5* with 9,772 ratings.
Special Note: This book is the first of a trilogy and now a tetralogy with writers David Lagercrantz and George Goulding finished with the The Girl Who Lived Twice novel. They used the manuscripts Larsson left behind prior to his death. The other film titles are The Girl Who Played with Fire 2009 and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest 2010.
Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara and the other actors are good in this movie but there are only a few differences from the 2009 Swedish release. Noomi Rapace has the role of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish version. This film does seem to be at a faster pace and easier to watch because there are no subtitles. But, what is the point of making a second movie almost identical to the first? I expected more people to be in the theater but word of mouth may have caused a loss of viewers? 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
158 min, Crime directed by David Fincher and written by Steven Zaillian with Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard, Steven Berkoff, Robin Wright, Yorick van Wageningen, Joely Richardson, Geraldine James, Goran Visnjic, Donald Sumpter, Ulf Friberg, Bengt C.W. Carlsson, Tony Way, Per Myrberg.
Note: Goodreads gives the book 4.13* with 2,474,477 ratings and 67,287 reviews, Blockbuster 3 1/2*, Imdb, 7.8 out of 10, 85% critic, Rotten Tomatoes 86% with 246 critics 86% audience with 118,888 ratings, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, RollingStone 2 1/2* out of 4* Peter Travers, Amazon gives the book 4.3* out of 5* with 9,772 ratings.
Special Note: This book is the first of a trilogy and now a tetralogy with writers David Lagercrantz and George Goulding finished with the The Girl Who Lived Twice novel. They used the manuscripts Larsson left behind prior to his death. The other film titles are The Girl Who Played with Fire 2009 and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest 2010.
The Hangover Part II 201
This film is a follow-up to The Hangover I of 2009. The time setting of this film is two years after the first film in Las Vegas. Phil, Alan, Doug and Teddy travel to Thailand to see Stu get married. Stu has vowed to keep his bachelor party very low key with a subdued brunch prior to the wedding after their previous Las Vegas fiasco. It is a quiet night on the beach with beer and toasting marshmallows. In the morning, Stu, Alan and Phil wake up in a seedy apartment in Bangkok? Doug is at the resort and Teddy is missing? There is monkey with a severed finger. Alan’s heads is shaved. Stu has a tattoo on his face and they cannot remember anything? They attempt to retrace their steps through strip clubs, tattoo parlors and the place where they got the cocaine dealing monkey? It is very important that they find Teddy before the wedding!!
This doesn't seem to be as good or as funny the Hangover I film or maybe the concept has already been pushed to the limit? This film attempts to surpass The Hangover I by being cruder and more explicit than the Hangover I film. There is non-stop swearing throughout this film. Possibly, the only redeeming quality is the beautiful scenery of Thailand? 3* (This movie is OK)
102 min, Comedy directed by Todd Phillips and written by Craig Mazin, Scott Armstrong, Todd Phillips with Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Paul Giamatti, Mike Tyson, Jeffrey Tambor, Mason Lee, Jamie Chung, Sasha Barrese, Gillian Vigman, Aroon Seeboonruang, Nirut Sirichanya, Yasmin Lee, Bryan Callen.
Note: Imdb 6.4 out of 10 with 447,721 views, 35% critics, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* and 2,071 reviews, 33% with 245 critics 52% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd 2.6* out of 5*, Metacritic 44 out of 100 with 40 critics (10 positive 22 mixed 8 negative) 5.7 out of 10 with 665 ratings (256 positive 284 mixed 125 negative), Common Sense Media S. Joanna Robledo, age 18+, 3* violence, 5* sex, 5* language, 1* consumerism 5* drinking, drugs & smoking, Dove Review 4* sex, 5* language, 2* violence, 5* drugs, 4* nudity disrespect of the police and spitting in the face of a person.
Special Note: During filming of the scene with Stu discovering the tattoo on his face, Bradley Cooper genuinely broke out into laughing. Co-Writer and Director Todd Phillips decided to keep the take in the film. Ed Helms in the role of Stu was severely sick from food poisoning when he danced in the street shirtless. After each take, Helms would assume a fetal position until it was time to film again. Development began two months before The Hangover 2009 was released. In the original script Alan played by Zach Galifianakis was meant to have his beard shaved instead of his head. Zach refused!! There is a mistake with the Delta plane shown landing in Thailand? It is an Airbus A300. Delta has never had the A330 in their fleet and the A310 was retired in the mid- 1990’s. There is also The Hangover III 2013.
This doesn't seem to be as good or as funny the Hangover I film or maybe the concept has already been pushed to the limit? This film attempts to surpass The Hangover I by being cruder and more explicit than the Hangover I film. There is non-stop swearing throughout this film. Possibly, the only redeeming quality is the beautiful scenery of Thailand? 3* (This movie is OK)
102 min, Comedy directed by Todd Phillips and written by Craig Mazin, Scott Armstrong, Todd Phillips with Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Paul Giamatti, Mike Tyson, Jeffrey Tambor, Mason Lee, Jamie Chung, Sasha Barrese, Gillian Vigman, Aroon Seeboonruang, Nirut Sirichanya, Yasmin Lee, Bryan Callen.
Note: Imdb 6.4 out of 10 with 447,721 views, 35% critics, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* and 2,071 reviews, 33% with 245 critics 52% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd 2.6* out of 5*, Metacritic 44 out of 100 with 40 critics (10 positive 22 mixed 8 negative) 5.7 out of 10 with 665 ratings (256 positive 284 mixed 125 negative), Common Sense Media S. Joanna Robledo, age 18+, 3* violence, 5* sex, 5* language, 1* consumerism 5* drinking, drugs & smoking, Dove Review 4* sex, 5* language, 2* violence, 5* drugs, 4* nudity disrespect of the police and spitting in the face of a person.
Special Note: During filming of the scene with Stu discovering the tattoo on his face, Bradley Cooper genuinely broke out into laughing. Co-Writer and Director Todd Phillips decided to keep the take in the film. Ed Helms in the role of Stu was severely sick from food poisoning when he danced in the street shirtless. After each take, Helms would assume a fetal position until it was time to film again. Development began two months before The Hangover 2009 was released. In the original script Alan played by Zach Galifianakis was meant to have his beard shaved instead of his head. Zach refused!! There is a mistake with the Delta plane shown landing in Thailand? It is an Airbus A300. Delta has never had the A330 in their fleet and the A310 was retired in the mid- 1990’s. There is also The Hangover III 2013.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Rise of the Planet of the Apes 2011
Caesar is a genetically engineered chimp who was created in a San Francisco lab by an ambitious scientist. A substance called ALZ-112 is designed to help the brain repair itself and it gives advanced intelligence to a chimpanzee. Will Rodman the creator of the drug and he rescues the baby chimp when the project is cancelled by the lab after an adult chimp escapes the enclosure. The chimp is raised like a child by Rodman and primatologist Caroline Aranha. Caesar’s mother Bright Eyes passed the gene alteration on to him and he has remarkable intelligence plus green eyes. There is an altercation between Will's father who has dementia and a neighbor. Caesar attempts to rescue Will’s father but he uses too much of his extra physical power. He is placed in an ape sanctuary in San Bruno until a hearing is held in three months. Things are not what they seem at the ape sanctuary?
This is supposed to be sci-fi & fantasy but it is actually a comedy? It is an origin story with less sci-fi and more about relationships. It is also more about the relationship of animals and humans co-existing when there is no intelligence barrier. The location is San Francisco so it makes everything seem more real? It is also REAL acting for James Franco to keep a straight face during some of the action!! Are there that many apes in the City? Not much language, sexuality or drinking but the animal-human scenes get intense in the second half. The apes smash cars, throw spears, push police officers off a bridge and wreak havoc. This does make you want to go back to the original movies!! 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
105 min, Sci-Fi directed and written by Rupert Wyatt and also written by Amanda Silver with James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Andy Serkis, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, David Oyelowo, Karin Konoval, Terry Notary, Richard Ridings, Christopher Gordon, Devyn Dalton, Jay Caputo, Tyler Labine.
Note: Imdb 7.6 out of 10 with 484,710 views, Rotten Tomatoes 82% with 267 critics 87% audience with 449,051 ratings, Roger Ebert 3*, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, Metacritic 68 out of 100 with 39 critic reviews (27 positive 12 mixed) 7.8 out of 10 with 964 ratings (827 positive 112 mixed 25 negative), Letterboxd 3.6* out of 5*, Common Sense Media Sandie Angulo Chen, age 13+, 2* positive 2* role models, 3* violence, 1* sex, 2* language, 1* consumerism, 1* drinking, drugs & smoking.
Special Note: Filmed in Stanley Park, The Agrodome, Pacific National Exhibition Grounds, Robert Burnaby Park, East Burnaby, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Wellington, New Zealand; San Francisco, California; Oahu, Hawaii; Louisiana, USA. This is one of the first movies to use motion-capture in an on-location setting. Motion-capture had been limited to special studio set-ups with special motion-capture cameras in very clearly defined surroundings. Caesar is shown putting together a stature of liberty model/puzzle and he is holding the spiked crown of the statue. This is a key scene in Planet of the Apes 1968. Koba, the scarred lab ape in this film and some apes at the Gen-Sys and the sanctuary are bonobos. This species was assumed until very recently to be a subspecies of chimp and that explains its absence in previous films. When the apes climb the tree to escape the dome, they form a double helix, the symbol of DNA and the Gen-Sys logo.
This is supposed to be sci-fi & fantasy but it is actually a comedy? It is an origin story with less sci-fi and more about relationships. It is also more about the relationship of animals and humans co-existing when there is no intelligence barrier. The location is San Francisco so it makes everything seem more real? It is also REAL acting for James Franco to keep a straight face during some of the action!! Are there that many apes in the City? Not much language, sexuality or drinking but the animal-human scenes get intense in the second half. The apes smash cars, throw spears, push police officers off a bridge and wreak havoc. This does make you want to go back to the original movies!! 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
105 min, Sci-Fi directed and written by Rupert Wyatt and also written by Amanda Silver with James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Andy Serkis, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, David Oyelowo, Karin Konoval, Terry Notary, Richard Ridings, Christopher Gordon, Devyn Dalton, Jay Caputo, Tyler Labine.
Note: Imdb 7.6 out of 10 with 484,710 views, Rotten Tomatoes 82% with 267 critics 87% audience with 449,051 ratings, Roger Ebert 3*, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, Metacritic 68 out of 100 with 39 critic reviews (27 positive 12 mixed) 7.8 out of 10 with 964 ratings (827 positive 112 mixed 25 negative), Letterboxd 3.6* out of 5*, Common Sense Media Sandie Angulo Chen, age 13+, 2* positive 2* role models, 3* violence, 1* sex, 2* language, 1* consumerism, 1* drinking, drugs & smoking.
Special Note: Filmed in Stanley Park, The Agrodome, Pacific National Exhibition Grounds, Robert Burnaby Park, East Burnaby, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Wellington, New Zealand; San Francisco, California; Oahu, Hawaii; Louisiana, USA. This is one of the first movies to use motion-capture in an on-location setting. Motion-capture had been limited to special studio set-ups with special motion-capture cameras in very clearly defined surroundings. Caesar is shown putting together a stature of liberty model/puzzle and he is holding the spiked crown of the statue. This is a key scene in Planet of the Apes 1968. Koba, the scarred lab ape in this film and some apes at the Gen-Sys and the sanctuary are bonobos. This species was assumed until very recently to be a subspecies of chimp and that explains its absence in previous films. When the apes climb the tree to escape the dome, they form a double helix, the symbol of DNA and the Gen-Sys logo.
Friday, April 10, 2020
The Grace Card 2010
Police officer Mac McDonald has never recovered from losing his son in a tragic accident eighteen years ago. He has spent these years in rage and hostility and his relationships both with his family and on the force are crumbling. Mac is passed over for promotion because of his attitude. He begins to boil over when he is partnered with an officer who has been promoted. Sam Wright is a part-time pastor and he is also a loving family man. These two men have many differences. Sam starts out with the idea that every day we have the opportunity to build relationships and heal deep wounds. We are able to do that by asking for and receiving grace.
A little bit soap opera and predictable but this is still interesting. Relationships are not easy at home or work for Mac but eighteen years of bitterness and anger is a large obstacle to overcome. Finally, Mac realizes he could lose the one son he has left. He needs to decide to remain angry or to ask for help? There is some humor in this film but there are also battles with racist behavior. 3* (This movie is OK)
101 min, Drama directed by David Evans and written by Howard Klausner with with Louis Gossett, Jr., Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom, Joy Parmer Moore, Dawntoya Thomason, Rob Erickson, Kiana McDaniel, Taylor Ollins, Cindy Hodge, Chris Thomas.
Note: Imdb 6.4 out of 10, 33% with 27 critics 82% audience with 3,963 views on Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic 43 out of 100 with 14 critics (4 positive 6 mixed 4 negative) 7.2 out of 10 (2 positive 3 negative) , dove.org 2* language 2* violence 1* drugs, 2* racism.
Special Note: This is the first film role for Rob Erickson as Blake McDonald. Michael Joiner as Bill 'Mac' McDonald lived and studied in Los Angeles for ten years. He went on three hundred and fifty auditions and he landed forty roles. He moved back to Kansas City, Missouri and two months later, he got the call to play the lead role in this movie without an audition. This is a small-budget film made by the Memphis’ Calvary Church. It was inspired by and modeled after a film released by Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia titled Fireproof, Facing the Giants. David Evans has been a non-profit director for many years. He directed several successful Passion plays for his home church. This is his first job as a film director.
A little bit soap opera and predictable but this is still interesting. Relationships are not easy at home or work for Mac but eighteen years of bitterness and anger is a large obstacle to overcome. Finally, Mac realizes he could lose the one son he has left. He needs to decide to remain angry or to ask for help? There is some humor in this film but there are also battles with racist behavior. 3* (This movie is OK)
101 min, Drama directed by David Evans and written by Howard Klausner with with Louis Gossett, Jr., Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom, Joy Parmer Moore, Dawntoya Thomason, Rob Erickson, Kiana McDaniel, Taylor Ollins, Cindy Hodge, Chris Thomas.
Note: Imdb 6.4 out of 10, 33% with 27 critics 82% audience with 3,963 views on Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic 43 out of 100 with 14 critics (4 positive 6 mixed 4 negative) 7.2 out of 10 (2 positive 3 negative) , dove.org 2* language 2* violence 1* drugs, 2* racism.
Special Note: This is the first film role for Rob Erickson as Blake McDonald. Michael Joiner as Bill 'Mac' McDonald lived and studied in Los Angeles for ten years. He went on three hundred and fifty auditions and he landed forty roles. He moved back to Kansas City, Missouri and two months later, he got the call to play the lead role in this movie without an audition. This is a small-budget film made by the Memphis’ Calvary Church. It was inspired by and modeled after a film released by Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia titled Fireproof, Facing the Giants. David Evans has been a non-profit director for many years. He directed several successful Passion plays for his home church. This is his first job as a film director.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Cropsey 2009
This film is a documentary about a legend that was originally started to keep kids from exploring abandoned buildings, especially the Willowbrook State School. The school is abandoned now but it was for the mentally disabled. Two filmmakers realize that the urban legend of their youth has actually come true?? They delve into the mystery surrounding five missing children. Is there a real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances? A man is arrested, tried and convicted but is he really guilty? Later he is tied again for an earlier abduction and convicted again but the question is still, is he really guilty again?
Many local people are interviewed and the known facts are presented but cameras are not allowed into the courtroom. The defendant does not testify in the second trial because his criminal record could influence the jury. This movie seems weak since there is only a partial resolution to the case plus the same scenes are shown multiple times? It is a troubling story and the film doesn’t set your mind at ease or prove the arrested man is really guilty?? 3* This movie is okay)
84 min, Doc directed by Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zeman also written by Joshua Zeman with Bill Ellis, Dorothy D’Eletto, Joshua Zeman, Geraldo Rivera, Barbara Brancaccio, Karen Schweiger, David Navarro, Donna Cutugno, Ralph Aquino, Bobby Jensen, Ernie Anastos.
Note: Imdb 6.3 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 91% with 44 critics 61% with 2,679 user ratings, Amazon 3.6* out of 5* with 265 reviews, Metacritic 73 out of 100 with 14 critics (13 positive 1 mixed) 6.3 out of 10 with 18 ratings (11 positive 5 mixed 2 negative), Roger Ebert 3*.
Special Note: Filmed at Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA. The film was awarded a Hammer to Nail’s Grand Jury Prize for best documentary at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Loosely structured around the criminal trials of Andre Rand. He was convicted of kidnapping two of five children who disappeared on Staten Island between 1972 and 1987. Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio both grew up on Statin Island and they remain neutral about the case. They struggle to untangle folklore from forensics. Geraldo Rivera presented a 1972 television special based on the Willowbrook State School.
Many local people are interviewed and the known facts are presented but cameras are not allowed into the courtroom. The defendant does not testify in the second trial because his criminal record could influence the jury. This movie seems weak since there is only a partial resolution to the case plus the same scenes are shown multiple times? It is a troubling story and the film doesn’t set your mind at ease or prove the arrested man is really guilty?? 3* This movie is okay)
84 min, Doc directed by Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zeman also written by Joshua Zeman with Bill Ellis, Dorothy D’Eletto, Joshua Zeman, Geraldo Rivera, Barbara Brancaccio, Karen Schweiger, David Navarro, Donna Cutugno, Ralph Aquino, Bobby Jensen, Ernie Anastos.
Note: Imdb 6.3 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 91% with 44 critics 61% with 2,679 user ratings, Amazon 3.6* out of 5* with 265 reviews, Metacritic 73 out of 100 with 14 critics (13 positive 1 mixed) 6.3 out of 10 with 18 ratings (11 positive 5 mixed 2 negative), Roger Ebert 3*.
Special Note: Filmed at Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA. The film was awarded a Hammer to Nail’s Grand Jury Prize for best documentary at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Loosely structured around the criminal trials of Andre Rand. He was convicted of kidnapping two of five children who disappeared on Staten Island between 1972 and 1987. Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio both grew up on Statin Island and they remain neutral about the case. They struggle to untangle folklore from forensics. Geraldo Rivera presented a 1972 television special based on the Willowbrook State School.
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