Trapped Review

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(More customer reviews)As a producer on this film, I have a unique perspective. I knew the script, I saw the film being shot, and I watched pieces of the editing process. However, it wasn't until we screened the film for an audience that I really got a feeling for the film. The script read like a murder mystery, but as the film played out on screen - there were a number of scenes where the audience ended up laughing. That's when I realized that although meant to be a murder/mystery type of film, it comes across more like a black comedy.
There are some great one liners in the film. 1) Where were you yesterday morning? Wait a minute, it's coming back to me now....I was in bed....with your mother. 2) I've been doing this long enough, that I can smell a murderer, and Mr....You Stink! 3) Sorry? I think we're a little late for sorry! - look at her, she's dead!
When I watch the film in it's entirety, I'm reminded of other black comedy films, such as "The Ice Harvest" with John Cusack and "Fargo".
Give it a try, and all of us at Winter Morning Pictures hope that you enjoy it!
Mike Hamilton

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Trapped is the story of a high-stakes business swindle that involves financial deviousness, emotional blackmail, sexual deception, psychological coercion, fraud, forgery, extortion, intimidation, and ultimately murder. As friends and family celebrate the successful career of Edward Roth Hutton (Corbin Bernsen), and the closing of a very important business contract for Hutton Industries, we learn that far from being his loyal senior partner, Tighe `Ty` MacArthur (Tony Bingham) is not only sleeping with Hutton's wife, Margot Schugart Hutton (Dana Hardy), but is also conspiring with Margot and a shadowy compatriot, Liam (Jeff Carpenter), to murder his boss and mentor, Hutton.

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Nobody's Daughter - Rare Hungarian Film Review

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(More customer reviews)An orphaned girl of approximately 8 years of age, is horribly abused by various foster parents. With the first family, all the children are clothed but her, and while the other children play, she is made to do chores and if the other kids do something wrong, of course they blame it on her and she is beaten. Mind you, the movie will make you, as it did me, want to reach through the screen and choke the foster parents to death. They are at best Cruel to her until finally she runs away only to end up in an orphanage where yet again, abusive parents carry her to their home. The girl is totally sweet, one any loving family would want. One who truly is innocent, but being raised in households where she is constantly met with violence. The ending to the movie is even more heartbreaking, and of course I wont reveal the ending to you, you'll need to see the movie first. But its her words in the end that will solidly bring anyone with a heart to tears. I gave the movie 5 stars for one reason only, so that anyone who has a kind heart would want to watch the movie and be inspired to adopt a boy or girl themselves to keep the child from perhaps living the life this sad little girl lead in the movie.

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Water for Elephants (2011) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have to admit that Water for Elephants was a decent representation of the book. Take into consideration that a movie is never going to give you 100% of the book. That being said, I was disappointed with the parts of the book the movie left out. There were lots of little details and nuances that just can't come across on the full screen anyway, although you would have liked to have seen how they would have been portrayed. Although too numerous to mention and for those who haven't read the book it wouldn't matter anyway, the biggest (for those who have read it) would be the comedic scenes that play out with Jacob in the nursing home. All of those chapters were completely left out.
We open with an old man (Hal Holbrook) wandering into the parking lot of a circus that is packing up and moving out. A workman comes out to see if he is lost and invites him in out of the rain while the man calls the nursing home. The old man looks at the old black and white circus photos on the wall and recalls out loud which circuses they are from. This grabs the worker's attention and he mentions the Benzini Brothers Circus tragedy from years ago. The old man says he was there and the worker asks him to tell him about it. We flash back to a younger gentleman played by Robert Pattinson and the movie is played out as a flashback of the old man's story.
Although I never would have expected it, Robert Pattinson plays out a perfect Jacob. That irresistible smile he gets on his face when he's around the animals definitely lets us connect with Jacob the way we wanted to see him connecting with Rosie the elephant. Perfect choice for the part!
Christoph Waltz was a decent August, the ring master and circus owner. I pictured someone larger and darker, maybe more Italian looking, when I was reading the book but August's charm and charisma as a business man, and brutality and harshness as a monster, really made him a different type of character that readers will both appreciate and despise. We really see him on the verge of snapping and just how quickly it can happen. There is one scene where he becomes angry with Rosie that really sets that uncomfortable tone you get from him in the book.
Reese was Reese, what can I say. She's beautiful to look at, but just not as sexy and alluring as Marlena comes across sometimes in the book. Still a decent performance from her though and she and Robert make a cute couple.
Speaking of sex, there's a lot of it in the book including a strip tease tent in the circus. Those scenes are in the movie, but treated with dignity and careful camera angles - obviously allowing this movie its PG13 rating. It drags in places where we have to witness the slow glances and connections being made between Jacob and Marlena. August's discovery of the two is a bit rushed, but after that the action picks up making the last half of the movie pretty solid. The sad redlighting treatment of circus workers being thrown from the train out of spite and to lighten the financial load is there, balanced with a breathtaking scene of Jacob and August walking across the top of the train in motion. And then there's old Rosie, and you can't help but smile along with Jacob at the gentle beast when she performs or is providing comedic relief.
Non-book readers might find the movie a bit slow at times but will enjoy it overall. After all, we each have our own favorite circus act, right? Some book lovers will certainly be disappointed, but if you try hard to approach the movie with a different set of eyes (and lower your expectations just a tad) you will be well entertained. I know I was.

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George Mckenna Story (1986) Review

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(More customer reviews)I seriously doubt Mr. Denzel Washington is able to give anything less than a performance of total conviction, as he proves once again to me here in one of his earliest leading roles. In a true-life portrayal of George McKenna, new principal to the trouble-torn George Washington Memorial High School, he is wholly convincing. The problems he encounters are not solely those caused by the students, but also the parents and indeed some of the teachers. His determination to turn things round stems from his passion that his pupils WILL graduate to college if they want to, and that this will never happen if they don't feel anyone cares about them. Despite resistance from some pupils and teachers,(not to mention ongoing gang warfare within the grounds), others rise to the occasion, both for themselves and for McKenna himself, such is the respect he gains. In the process of such diligence his once supportive girlfriend leaves him under the pressure of his split commitments, but as for the School, he succeeds. Seeing the graduating students really is a heartwarming moment! Having previously seen "187", it does make the violent scenes and troublesome pupils here look bland by comparison, but its hard to tell if this film was sanitised or "187" sensationalised. Regardless, its still well worth the watch, especially if you respect Denzel's work in later movies already.

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The Old Man Who Read Love Stories Review

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(More customer reviews)I just purchased this DVD being a fan of Richard Dreyfuss and was excited about seeing this movie because I have heard good things about it. I had to first purchase a Region Free DVD player though because it is not released in Region 1 which is crazy! I know all the hang ups about its release in the US and all but come on!!!!
Anyway, this movie is fantastic and Richard Dreyfuss is amazing in it. I won't go through what it is all about because it is reviewed above. It is a bit of a slow mover but in the end you really get that good feeling from it. This is a different pace for Richard Dreyfuss but he can adapt to every character with ease it seems and does a fine job. I definitely would recommend this film to anyone that can get their hands on it. Right now being that it is not availible in Region 1 it feels special to be able to view this movie and have it in my collection. For any Richard Dreyfuss fans, don't pass up this movie!

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Adam at 6 a.m. (1970) Review

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(More customer reviews)Although I can answer the question of what movie they watched at the drive-in ("The Reivers"-1969), there is no obvious explanation for the "Adam at 6A.M" title. Adam (played by Michael Douglas) does not do anything special at 6AM- maybe the title just symbolizes his impulsiveness, since 6AM could be considered the waking hour of each new day. Anyway, Adam is a newly minted linguistics professor at a California college. He comes from a wealthy California family (his father is a relatively famous musician turned house builder) with roots in small-town western Missouri. Adam has just received his PhD and an appointment as an assistant professor. Summer break has begun and it gives him an opportunity at age 30 to stand back and take a look at where he is and where he is going. He doesn't particularly like what he sees and upon learning of a distant aunt's death in Missouri he impulsively drives there for her funeral, in his Porsche 911 (if it was a Porsche 6AM it would at least explain the title).
Given its 1970 release, this film unsuccessully attempted to cash in on the box-office success of The Graduate and Easy Rider. While there are related themes it is considerably less imaginative and much more conventional in tone and production technique.
As the vaguely disgusted Adam drives east into the unknown his energy level increases with his forward motion. The awkward and uncomfortable moments at the funeral and the reception are the most authentic scenes in the film. A highlight is a discussion of the movie "Blow-up" with a disgusted relative who went to the film thinking from its title that it was a war picture.
Adam is about to move on when he is introduced to Jerri Jo (Lee Purcell). They go to a drive-in movie (see The Reivers comment above) and soon fall in love. Unfortunately the Douglas/Purcell romantic scenes are weak and only the hormonal aspect of their relationship is believable. Douglas decides to spend the summer in Missouri and gets a job clearing brush for the local power company. The work crew certainly looks authentic; since they only have a couple lines of dialogue they may have actually been some local hicks.
He thrives in his new job and sincerely enjoys the change of pace and the lack of complications. He becomes friends with Joe Don Baker (apparently the only other professional actor on the crew) and sees how his marriage and kids keep him trapped in a going nowhere life. For some reason this depressing situation inspires him to propose to Jerri Jo, who has a very different idea of what their marriage will be like. There was a little foreshadowing about this back when Adam was explaining his academic specialty (semantics) to one of his relatives; he cited the communication problems that occur between two people when they have different meanings for the same word. Adam's idea of marriage is traveling around together having adventures. Jerri Jo's idea of marriage is setting up house in her hometown with her husband teaching semantics at the local college.
It slowly dawns on Adam that he and his prospective bride do not share the same vision of marriage. This is done through a wonderful semi-montage sequence of engagement party decorations, father-in-law dressed in an apron, hair curlers, laughing relative, domestic discussions with Jerri Jo's girlfriends, and the ice cream fetching errand. Adam leaves the party and drives to the A&P for ice cream. You suspect that he is going to bail out on the whole Missouri thing so having him actually buy the ice cream was a stroke of genius. He could have just left town immediately but this builds suspense, puts a more positive slant on his decision to leave (i.e. it is not just an impulsive irresponsible act-he gives it careful consideration), and it provides a prop for a great final image.
What Adam is saying is that he does not want to be like most people, he does not want to construct a small world for himself where he can keep everything orderly. He does not know exactly what he wants but he does know for certain that he does not want the average. Although this is a low budget production with some major flaws, it is a very solid effort. The theme is compelling, the score communicates as much as the dialogue, Douglas and Baker do a good job, and Purcell is very pretty.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

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Someone is Watching Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this movie thought it was excellent Give it 10 Stars.It has a little bit of everything in it. Like the title Someone Is watching you.Scary!!


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Baby Monitor: Sound of Fear (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)In this nice little thriller, the rich wife of a cheating husband hires a thug duo to kill the babysitter, who is pregnant with the hubby's child. The thugs decide to hold their 5 year old boy for ransom too and collect diamonds along with their hit money. Problem is, they've gone to the wrong condo, killed the wrong woman, and now have to deal with the real babysitter out to protect both boys. Suspenseful and not cheesy like some 'babysitter' killer movies, this one portrays the pretty blonde babysitter (played by cute Josie Bissett) as a likeable medical student with a lot of common sense and guts!!! The only thing I didn't like about the movie was that by the end, I was ready to kill the annoying 5 year old boy myself!!! Rated R for some violence, this must have been a made-for-cable movie, and should've been rated PG-13.

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Leona Helmsley: Queen of Mean (1990) Review

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(More customer reviews)This made-for-TV movie was based on the novel of the same name, by Piers Randsdell, and follows Randsdell's expose quite well. While the movie shows determination to show some compassion for Leona Helmsley, more so than the book, the hard, cold fact is that she is a very unlikable person.
From her childhood competition against her sisters for her mother's affections, through her first and second marriages, and forward into her opulent life as Mrs. Harry Helmsley, Leona showed admirable determination to better herself. Unfortunately, what might have been a commendable trait turned into a greed so self-focused that it became a shroud of ugliness rather than a cape of courage.
It's hard to believe that an intelligent businessman was so manipulated by this shark in woman's clothing, but only sharks swim with sharks, and Harry Helmsley was no innocent victim to this diabolical schemer. Leona could have written a book called `How to manipulate stupid rich men', highlighting the parts of inane flattery and a fake engagement to drive Helmsley into a decision.
Sharks also only give birth to sharks, and Leona's son Jay follows in his mother's footsteps by embezzling money from the Helmsley's themselves when appointed a cushy position in one of Harry's hotel chains. Leona did seem to be quite upset when Jay dies of a heart attack at a young age, but the Mean overrules the Queen when she disowns Jay's widow and her own grandchildren, cutting them off completely from any contact or inheritance.
From making her assistant wipe her shoes, to firing decorators so that she can take the credit, going off over wet lettuce, furnishing her private home through business purchases, and most of all believing that money allowed her to treat "little people" like Dirt, Leona Helmsley is truly the Queen Of Mean.
Especially for a made-for-TV movie, The Queen Of Mean is a definite jewel if you can find a copy. The VHS is hard to find, and it's too much to hope for this well adapted movie to come out on DVD (though my fingers are crossed). Look for an absolutely spectacular performances from Suzanne Pleshette as Leona Helmsley, and Lloyd Bridges as Harry Helmsley. Special mention to Raymond Singer as Jay, and a well fleshed out supporting cast.
Pleshette and Bridges really make the movie happen, I doubt it would have been as good with any other leads. I'm lucky enough to have an older VHS copy, so if dramatized biographies are your cup of tea, you may want to seek out a copy of this excellent film. Enjoy!


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Fallen Angel (1981) Review

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(More customer reviews)I first saw this movie when it first came out in the early 80's at age 11 or 12 years old. I am now 29 years old and had began a internet search for this movie. I collect movies and am now focusing on some of the more favorable movies of my childhood to add to my collection. Without a doubt Fallin Angel was at the very top of the list.The movie was absolutely wonderful! Obviously to rank among my favorite movies a good 19 years later! This movie is one that many can relate to their own childhoods as far as problems and unhappiness goes. THis is the incredible story of one girl...and her life within a messed up home and childhood who got the attention she needed and desperately wanted at home from a softball coach. A coach that fed her need for attention and self confidence and led her directly into child pornography! ANY adult,mother,father, or child this age should definitely see this movie! As old as it is....it is still a very good story of the dangers that young girls face in the real world. Please get this movie! You will enjoy it and please let your young daughters see it to let her be aware of the dangers out there! Through this search I found that the star of this movie is now dead. Dana Hill...how sad. She had such a great future ahead of her and was so wonderful! Dana Hill will be greatly missed!

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Elina: As If I Wasn't There ( Elina - Som om jag inte fanns ) Review

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(More customer reviews)I saw this at a foreign film festival several years ago. It is a really fantastic movie. I have been trying to find it in region 1 with English subtitles ever since. Amazing movie about the power of childhood, strikingly beautiful scenery.

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Ford: The Man & The Machine (1987) Review

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(More customer reviews)I think enemies of Ford had something to do with this film's production. It casts Henry in a very negative light. While I've heard so many great things about the man and his machine, this movie manages to leave most of them out of the story. The 800 page book by Robert Lacey which was the basis appears to have been far more even in its coverage, judging by its reviews.Did we gain appreciation for the genius of the assembly line process? No, we observed the painful effects it had on the laborers forced to work harder and faster than they could bear. Did we get to see Henry's intellectual friendship with Edison, and their little-known attempt to mass produce electric cars? No. Did we get to see Henry's all-too-human affair? And Henry's appalling treatment of Edsel? And the Nazi connection? Sure; the unflattering tidbits get special coverage here.The impression I was left with after many hours of viewing was: why is Ford Motor still alive today? After seeing the miserable family affairs of Ford crumble, the succession plan ruined, the union/mafia violence, and the vindictive senator's quest for revenge against Ford... I wonder how the company managed to survive and prosper. Clearly, one must turn to the book for an unbiased explanation. Still, it was an entertaining movie.

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Sex, Lies and Obsession Review

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(More customer reviews)While this film is reminiscent of many other made-for-TV film on a form of addiction (drug, gambling, kleptomania, etc.), it's bouyed by an interesting storyline and surprisingly strong acting by Harry Hamlin, and especially Lisa Rinna. Unlike many other "Based on actual events" films, it actually felt real. I highly recommend seeing it.
A warning: There are two or three scenes of brief nudity in the DVD version which was not aired on television (Lifetime Movie Network). While it didn't bother me at all, you rarely see that in a "Lifetime" movie no matter what medium it's shown. So I was taken aback for a second. Don't take that as a knock on the film in any way; it's still a must-see. I'm just giving potential viewer a heads-up.

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Item Name: Sex, Lies and Obsession; Studio:Allumination

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I'll Take Manhattan Review

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(More customer reviews)Great drama of a wealthy family torn between greed, love and running an empire. Starring great actors like Barry Boswick and Jack Scialia and of course Perry King.....what more can you ask for?
An excellent plot that keeps you glued to the screen to see what will happen next. This is a mini series made in the tradition when filmmakers actually knew how to make great mini series and compromised on nothing.
I saw this series on TV in the late 70's and when I saw that it was recently released in DVD I grabbed it. It was so well made that I'll Take Manhattan (the catchy title) just remained a pleasant memory.
Make this great stylish production a part of your memory too and buy a copy. You will not be disappointed and you will be spending some long hours on real quality viewing. It's a PROMISE!!!

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A Soul Haunted by Painting Review

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(More customer reviews)"A Soul Haunted by Painting" starring the incomparable Gong Li is one of her lesser publicized efforts, but no less commendable performances as the chinese painter, Pan Yuliang, whose work was largely rejected in China due to its nude content, but adored in Paris, where she ultimately studies and resides. The film follows the arc of her tortured existence, from being sold into prostitution as a teen, to her life as a minor wife of a Chinese Diplomat, to ultimately being posthumously regarded as one of the greatest painters of Chinese descent.
The detractions however, are not with this film, but with the quality of this DVD's release, which almost seems to be a copy, of a copy, of a print. Perhaps in some ways not even Gong Li's wonderful career and performance can save Pan Yuliang from what appears to be a continuos disregard, and minimalizing of her abilities and significance. The puzzling quality of this release in this day and age, is most assuredly no mistake.

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Story of a Cloistered Nun (1975) Review

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(More customer reviews)What the heck is going on here? When you make a film about a cloistered nun and the cover picture even shows a nun apparently putting the moves on a younger woman, you expect at least one good lesbian scene! But this film doesn't have any! How can that possibly be?
The beautiful young woman in the photo is the newest nun in the convent, and several of the older nuns cast covetous gazes in her direction as she removes her stylish clothing to change into her nun's habit. One slightly older nun in particular shows an interest in her, and later even tries to seduce the girl, but nothing comes of it as the girl refuses to comply. We also see a brief glimpse into this older nun's room where she happens to be entertaining another (nude) younger woman, but again we don't really see anything but that brief glance.
Again, why make a film about a beautiful young novice surrounded by older women and then not include a single good lesbian scene? I don't get it.

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Meet Prince Charming (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Meet Prince Charming" looks like something right out of a Romance Film 101 class. You have two neighbors, Samantha (Tia Carrere) and Jack (David Charvet), who hate each other at the start of the film. Why? Who knows...they never tell us what caused the tension to begin with. They both end up at the same dating service in the quaint little borough of Manhattan, NY. The service they use has a website and both of them immediately find someone online who they like. Neither one knows that they are in reality becoming enamored with the neighbor that they so despise (Imagine that!). Eventually, they go on a blind date and find out that they are actually made for each other (Imagine that again!!). Some of your favorite movie cliches are here too. You know...like the one where somebody tries to stop somebody else from getting married while they are at the altar. Or the one where two people who don't like each other get stuck in an elevator all by themselves. You gotta love it! The best thing of all is the long list of annoying product placements. It's like watching one long commercial. In fact, you should check out the credits and see the list of all the companies who paid to have their products in this film! All in all, the acting of both Carrere and Charvet is competent. I just wish they could find better scripts than boring junk like this.

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