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Reviews
Vlad (2003)
Such unrealized promise!
This is a pretty watchable movie as it is--but lost so much of its potential in the final act! It is enjoyably, wonderfully cerebral through the first two thirds, not a typical buckets-of-blood go-for-the-cheap horror flick. Nor is it a "vampire" movie most of the way, but sets up Vlad Tepes as more of a revenant spirit (think a hard-as-nails medieval lord as the spirit in The Grudge!)
But the filmmakers didn't have the guts to follow through on their own creativity and a muddled mixing of the revenant spirit idea with stereotypical vampirism took the thunder out of it. Then to top it off there was a whole unnecessary time-loop element that just muddled things further. Still, if you're prepared for the final disappointments it's definitely worth buying and enjoying most of it.
The Gnostic (2007)
My Utmost Joy
It was my utmost joy to be the screenwriter on this little project and work with some truly awesome professionals--especially Lance Miccio, Francesco Quinn, Tom Marchak, and all the rest. This film was adapted from a short story published long ago in the magazine "Tales of the Unanticipated," a story itself that took many years to finally see print. Moreover, that story and a number of others revolve around a character I've been developing for over two decades.
To have such a stand-up group of people be willing to virtually donate their time and services, to snare a truly top level actor--and to have the producer and crew treat a writer and his vision with the greatest respect (when we know that's hardly the norm!)--truly touched me. As much as we're trying to take this character further in much bigger pieces, no one knows what the future will bring; but if nothing more on film ever comes of it I'll still treasure the result my whole life.
Thank you all so much.
Rock 'n ' Roll Made in Mexico (2007)
An important chapter in history
Few people are aware of the importance of the evolution of Rock and Roll in Mexico--or that all the turmoil of the 60s and early 70s experienced in the U.S. connected to music was paralleled by an even greater turmoil in Mexico.
Kent State cost four valuable lives, but what about the hundreds gunned down in Mexico by an even more threatened, even more repressive privileged class and their mercenary soldiers? This is an important chapter of history that not only needs not to be forgotten--it needs to be told in the first place. Bravo to these filmmakers for paying attention!
The Tonto Woman (2008)
Searingly poignant
This film is more-than-perfect adaptation of Elmore Leonard, making only a few small changes that nevertheless even improve on the literary original.
Ruben Vega comes across both tough and romantic, a too-well-traveled man whose best and perhaps only chance at love saves a strong, beautiful woman taken for granted by the ignorant men around her. And SHE in turn becomes his salvation. Even if--as may or may not be the case--he pays for this act with his life.
The free clips I've seen online hint at how powerful this film is, but its full effect can only be seen by viewing it in its entirety. Do that and it will become apparent it's about the most flawless short ever. No other in the Oscar hunt this year--or almost any other year--is in the same league.
Hints at violence here are not only apropos but subtle, while any nudity is even more touching and apropos; if these characters are hinted to "make love," they do justice to the term. A million "clean" films I've seen are infinitely dirtier in their soul.