IN SEARCH OF FELLINI, a Magical Coming-of-Age Story, Warms the Season

"A charming drama about the love of movies and youthful passion" -- The New York Times "[A] fantastical fable... The adoration of Fellini's films comes through loud and clear" -- The Los Angeles Times AMBI FILMS AND SAMUEL GOLDWYN INVITE  HOME AUDIENCES ON A WHIMSICAL, WONDERFUL,  COMING-OF-AGE JOURNEY IN SEARCH OF FELLINI Ksenia Solo, Maria Bello and Mary Lynn Rajskub Star in This Festival Favorite Inspired by the Real Life Experiences of "The Simpsons" Emmy® Award-Winner Nancy Cartwright (Who Also Produced and Co-Wrote the Screenplay) Arriving on VOD and Digital HD on Leading Digital Platforms on December 19, 2017 and DVD on January 23, 2018 IN SEARCH OF FELLINI (Official Trailer) SYNOPSIS A coming-of-age adventure, IN SEARCH OF FELLINI follows Lucy (Solo,"Orphan Black," "Turn: Washington's Spies"), a small-town girl from Ohio who discovers the delightfully bizarre films of the legendary Italian filmmaker and sets off on a journey across Italy to find him. IN SEARCH OF FELLINI is inspired by the experiences of Emmy® Award-winning star Nancy Cartwright, who before creating the voice of Bart Simpson went off hunting the auteur of La Strada. This winsome drama, from Spotted Cow Entertainment, also starring Maria Bello (Prisoners, A History of Violence) and Mary Lynn Rajskub (Wilson, "24"), arrives on all VOD and leading digital platforms on December 19, 2017 and DVD on January 23, 2018. 20-year-old Lucy Cunningham has never kissed a boy, never had a job and never really had friends. Her best - and perhaps only - friend is her mother, Claire (Bello), who has shielded her from all the bad in the world, including Claire's own terminal illness. Claire's no-BS sister, Kerri (Rajskub), urges her to break her silence and tell Lucy the truth before it's too late. Lucy, aware that something is up, goes to Cleveland for an ill-fated job interview. There, she stumbles into a bizarre and wonderful festival of the films of legendary Italian director Federico Fellini and is instantly swept away with his Oscar®-winning film La Strada (1953).  The cleverly enigmatic tragicomedy leaves Lucy restless and aching for answers, and in a burst of courage, she leaves her small-town home to find the filmmaker and unlock his mysteries -- and her own.  What follows is a strange and spectacular journey through the romantic dreamscapes of Italy, as Lucy encounters characters, fantasies and nightmares from Fellini's films.  Her journey of discovery and life counterpoints Claire's gradual decline into death. Apart but connected, they fulfill both of their dreams as truth and fiction intertwine into the ultimate Felliniesque journey.  Katie Walsh of The Los Angeles Times calls IN SEARCH OF FELLINI "a whimsical tale of film, fandom and finding your way in a very intimidating world," and says the "imagery is striking."  "Ms. Cartwright creates a Felliniesque fantasy of her own" says Monica Castillo of The New York Times, calling it "an effusive love letter to travel lust."  And Paste Magazine's Andy Crump writes that the film is "a love note to its namesake... one gets the sense that if Il Mago still lived, he would approve, not only of [Director Taron] Lexton's flattering homage but also his understanding of the magic of cinema." BONUS FEATURES (DVD)  Audio commentary by Writer/Producer Nancy Cartwright and Director Taron Lexton Behind the Scenes Featurette Exclusive Trailers  PROGRAM INFORMATION Type:  VOD: DirecTV/AT&T, Spectrum, Comcast, Verizon, Frontier, Cox | Digital HD: iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, FandangoNow | DVD Running Time: 103 minutes Rating: R Genre: Drama Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audio:  5.1 Dolby Digital

My Thoughts

In Search of Fellini is a coming of age story that is all about learning to grow up, and experience the world. I always had been a big fan of Ksenia Solo. I had watched all the seasons of Lost Girl and think she is very talented. When I saw this I was interested in it because of her. The movie was very moving. As always her acting is impeccable. As a naive 20 year old with no life experiences, who has her mother as her only friend, she is forced to experience the world. This is her mother's (Maria Bello) way of helping to prepare for eventually losing her to a terminal illness. The movie is a mix of fantasy, and nightmare from Fellini's films. Throw in a little romance, and you have a moving, easy to watch fantasy, about letting go for both the parent and the child. You will definitely have your teary tissue moments, but it is very enjoyable to watch. 
The movie is based on a "mostly" true story about Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson. This movie is definitely a little trippy, but in the best way. If movies get too strange I tend to get turned off from watching them, but with this one I did not. I really enjoyed it. It has beautiful scenery, and definitely will make you want to travel to Italy, which is something I have always wanted to do anyway. This movie has a lot to offer, sentimentality, sensuality, romance, darkness, innocence, love, family, etc. It is definitely worth a look.

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DVD Review: Virtuous

Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review.

When a young woman, Simone Burner (singer/songwriter, Brandy Allison), is accused of murdering the man who assaulted her, she seeks out the helps of attorney Jack Evans (Erik Estrada, TV’s CHiPs) to prove her innocence. A ruthless and corrupt prosecutor engages her in a trial that brings the past she’s longed to escape to the forefront of her defense. “Virtuous” will inspire and ignite you to live the principles of Proverbs 31 –faith, integrity, wisdom and honor.

My thoughts;

A movie that follows women that have overcome some horrible things in their lives, but had the strength they found through their faith in god.

The main story starts when a young woman Simone is accused of murder.  Her lawyer is Jack Evans, who is played by Erick Estrada.  He has always been one of my favorite actors, and he played a great role in this movie.

The other women in this movie are a judge who is retiring that lives with her verbally abusive husband.  A Soldier who was tortured by the Taliban after captured her, a woman whose past involved drugs and abandonment, a news reporter and a cop.

I enjoyed watching this movie, but would not suggest that is a movie for younger audiences. 

  

Movie Review: The Father's Love

My thoughts:

I found this to be a spiritual movie.  

For Sarah, all she wants is to find love and fill the void of her father leaving her and her mother when she was a young girl.  Although she has letters that she leaves unopened and piled that her father has sent her.

She meets Reese and falls head over heals in love with him. But it isn't all that it seems to be on his part.  And she is shattered by what she finds out about him.  She starts to go to church and puts her faith and love into the lord. And although Reese comes back to her, will she go back to him?

DVD Review: When Calls The Heart: Trials Of The Heart

When Calls the Heart- “Trials of the Heart” is a feature length film from the episodes of the When Calls the Heart television series.  Season two of the When Calls the Heart television series debuted on the Hallmark Channel to more than 2 million viewers.   Distributed by Word Entertainment, previous DVD’s are available to purchase in Christian Retail.

Synopsis-  Elizabeth Thatcher (Krakow) is an independent, strong-willed teacher who has foregone the life of the big city and found a job, a home – and romance with a handsome Mountie named Jack – in the small frontier town of Coal Valley. But when she learns that her mother has taken ill, she returns to Hamilton, her hometown, with Jack as her escort. Once in the comparably opulent Hamilton, Elizabeth and Jack are confounded by Jack's ne'er-do-well brother and Elizabeth's former suitor, Charles Kensington. But it is Elizabeth's father, William, who drives a wedge between them when he suggests to Jack that Charles would be a better match for his well-bred daughter.

My thoughts:

I was so excited to see this.  I had watched all of the first season.   And I have to say I was not disappointed at all.  

Seems that there is going to be a lot going on in this season.  Elizabeth returns home after her mom has become ill.  Jack goes with her to make sure that she gets home safe.  Once home , Elizabeth's father is in hopes that she and Charles Kensington will fall in love and marry.  Jack makes it clear to Elizabeth that he will be waiting for her if she returns to Coal Alley.

My daughter and I enjoy watching this together.  She is a young teenager and this series has captured her attention.  It is a good clean family movie that all can enjoy.  

UNFREEDOM - Opening in Theaters May 29, 2015

UNFREEDOM juxtaposes two powerful and unflinching contemporary stories about religious fundamentalism and intolerance. Shifting between New York and New Delhi, one tale follows a Muslim terrorist who kidnaps a liberal Muslim scholar in order to silence him, while the other charts the travails of a young woman whose devout father tries to force her into an arranged marriage, which she resists because she is secretly in love with another woman. The four characters come face to face with gruesome acts of violence in battles of identity, sexuality, religion, love, and family.

My Thoughts:

First this movie is not to be watched with underage children.  It has acts of violence and shows some sexual scenes.  

I found this to be very sad that a young woman, Lala had to hide from her family that was a lesbian and was in love with another woman, Sucky Taylor.  Lala was to be married in an arranged marriage.  She left her home and a video of herself to her father that she was not going to marry the man he had arranged her to marry and she was gay.  She ran to her lover, Sucky.  But Sucky was not happy to see Lala after a year of not seeing her and tells her she is dating a man.  Well, Lala was not going to let Sucky do this and what she does is shocking.  





Shifting to New York, I found it very hard to watch what the Muslim terrorist does to the Liberal Muslim and his family after he kidnaps him.  Very sad.  

I did watch this movie from start to finish.  I don't know if I could watch it again, due to the sadness and violence throughout, but it was not a bad movie.


Website: http://www.unfreedommovie.com/Facebook, The Movie: https://www.facebook.com/UnfreedomMovie?ref=br_tf
Facebook, The Movement: https://www.facebook.com/Unfreedom

  

DVD Review: When Calls the Heart: Rules of Engagement

After taking care of the Tollivers, hero Jack returns to Coal Valley. His ex-fiancée Rosemary LeVeaux also arrives. Rosemary broke up with him long ago to become an actress. However, she now seeks to make Coal Valley her home and Jack her husband, putting Elizabeth at odds with Jack. Meanwhile, he has asked forensic investigator and friend Bill Avery to help Abigail in regards to Gowen, the mining company and the explosion. As Bill works with Abigail, he becomes attracted in her, admitting his intentions to Jack. Abigail also has the same purpose. Elizabeth receives news from back home, causing her to consider leaving Coal Valley


My thoughts:


Yet, another great episode!  Michael Landon Jr. sure did put some twists and wondering in Rules of engagement.

A Rose Mary shows up in Coal Valley claiming to be Jack Thorton's finance.  I may add she hasn't even seen him for a couple of years. Briarcliff Teaching Academy has offered Elizabeth a job.  She would be their first woman teacher.  But this job is also  back on the East Coast.

So now I am so excited to see the next season to find out what transpires with Jack and Elizabeth.  will Rose Mary go away quietly?  Does Elizabeth take the Briarcliff Teaching Academy offer and leave Coal Valley?

When Calls the Heart is a great DVD for the whole family to watch.  And once you watch one of these episodes, you will be sure to go get the next one.  It so nice to know that there are still wholesome movies to watch.

DVD Review : When Calls the Heart Change of Heart

 Jack finally gets Elizabeth to agree to join him for a dinner date just as Elizabeth’s younger sister, JULIE THATCHER, arrives in Coal Valley, surprising Elizabeth.  Julie is accompanied by Mountie PATRICK O’REILLY, the man who has been sent to inform Jack of his new posting, and become the new Constable of Coal Valley.  Jack had already forgotten that he sent in a request to transfer the week he arrived in Coal Valley, and the news takes him by surprise.





My Thoughts

Michael Landon Jr. did it again. This is a great family movie to watch.  I have watched Full House in my younger years, and my seven and ten year old watch the re runs now.  So we were delighted to watch this movie and watch Lori Loughlin,who was one of the actors from Full House play a role in this series.

In this series, Elizabeth's sister, Julie visits. and  just as it was at home trouble seems to follow her. All the while the town is still trying to rebuild and cope with the mining accident and the loss of their loved ones.

I was so happy to see that Elizabeth and her bounty Jack are starting to move their relationship a little futher than just a friendship.


Another great one I will keep in my movie library, and watch again.  Looking forward to the next series.

DVD Review & Giveaway: Perfect Summer

In The Perfect Summer, fatherless teenager Jake (Adam Horner) is happy living in Chicago, until his mother (Sydney Penny) decides to uproot them to a small surfing town where her estranged father (Eric Roberts), Jake's grandfather, lives. The transition isn't easy for anyone and it seems everywhere he goes, Jake manages to make enemies, including the town bully, Tyler (JD Banks), who doesn't like the new interloper or his interest in young surfing prodigy, Kayla (Katie Garfield). Stuck in the beach town with no friends and no knowledge of surfing, Jake has nowhere to turn until Cody (Jason Castro), the local surf shop owner, reveals that Jake's grandfather is a surf legend. Tired of feeling like an outcast, Jake asks Lou to teach him about surfing. Jake learns to face his fears, push through inhibitions and realizes that winning the respect of his new peers - and Katie's heart - might mean facing the biggest challenge of his life

My thoughts:

Bitter sweet family movie.

In this movie, Jake and his mom live in Chicago.  But after Jake's father's death, his mom moves them to a small surf town, where they end up living with his mom's father.  Jake doesn't surf and it seems everyone in this town does.

Jake starts to take surf lessons from his grandfather.  He meets a pretty girl.  But she comes along with a very jealous ex-boyfriend.  There are some challenges for Jake through out this movie.

I watched this movie with my ten year old and seven year old.  They both loved the surfing scenes in this movie.

Eric Roberts is one of my favorite actors, and he did a superb job as playing Jake's grandfather.  In fact the whole cast of this movie were great. A great movie for the whole family to watch!




The Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to receive a DVD copy of Perfect Summer. To enter, just fill in the Giveaway Tools form below.  This giveaway will end on  9/3/14. Open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to  for offering this fantastic prize.

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DVD Review: A Wife Alone

"Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review."

A Wife Alone is a dark psychological thriller about an ill-fated marriage in the suburbs of upstate New York. The plot centers around Jane, an attractive young bride who marries a naive investment banker named Park. The young, ostensibly happy couple buys a quaint house in a nice neighborhood and settles into the suburban dream before a visit to Park's godparents, Steve and Holly, sends their idyllic existence into a desperate tailspin. Park's godfather and mentor, Steve, is a cruel and domineering man with a penchant for illegitimate business deals and expensive prostitutes. He lords over his wife, colleagues, and anyone in his path with a single-minded goal of satisfying his deep-seeded, ego-maniacal urges. Steve immediately recognizes Jane as a woman he once "met in a hotel" and his own inner conflict swirls. As the fateful night unfolds, it is revealed that Jane's presence in the house was not some bizarre, unfortunate coincidence but rather a carefully orchestrated plot of revenge and corruption that builds to a ruthless, enduring climax.

My thoughts:

This movie is not a family movie, but one for adults to watch. 

Banker, Park has married a pretty young woman, Jane.  While visiting Park's god parents, Steve, Park's god father informs him that his new wife, Jane was a prostitute he had met in a motel room.
Park and Jane still stay over night at his god parents, even after Steve confronted Park with that news.

 Park's god mother, Holly confides in Jane that Steve has a horrible temper. He has to be the one in control of everything.  He even is controlling over an investment that Park put a lot of money into.

It is apparent at the end of the movie that Park and Jane's over night  visit at Steve and Holly's was planned ahead of time. There are some flash backs in this movie that will keep you wondering throughout.  It kept me in my seat. I would have never have guessed  the ending.

The movie plot was a well written to the very end.  The actors did a superb job, especially the actor who played Steve.  I would recommend this movie.




***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed in the review are my own and were not influenced in any way.***