'Somewhere' DVD Examiner Review, Written by: Karen Benardello
The public often feels that Hollywood actors have a charmed life after achieving unlimitless wealth and fame. But New York native Sofia Coppola hopes to debunk these ill-conceived beliefs in her fourth directorial effort, the Focus Features drama ‘Somewhere’ that stars Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning and is now available on DVD. The talented director hopes to prove with the small, low-budget film that everyone has doubts about their lives, and even the most successful people don’t always know how to deal with their new-found fame.
The core lessons presented in ‘Somewhere’ are similar to the themes presented in Coppola’s previous efforts, notably the main character facing challenges in their life and being forced to assume new responsibilities. The drama follows newly famous Hollywood actor Johnny Marco (played by Dorff), who has trouble adjusting to his new lifestyle. Despite living the high life at the Chateau Marmont hotel in L.A. and performing the numerous press obligations required for his new movie, he doesn’t seem content. Johnny deals with his loneliness by driving his Ferrari, drinking alcohol, taking pills and engaging in several sexual relationships with different women.
Johnny’s life drastically changes when his 11-year-old daughter, Cleo (portrayed by Fanning) shows up at his doorstep. Happy wallowing in his own pain, Johnny is reluctant to alter his ways when Cleo first arrives. However, after he discovers that her mother went away on vacation and has no immediate plans to return to their daughter, his entire prospective on life immediately changes.
While ‘Somewhere’ is similar to the overall themes presented in Coppola’s first three directorial efforts, including ‘The Virgin Suicides,’ ‘Lost in Translation’ and ‘Marie Antoinette,’ she deserves credit for attempting to slightly deviate from recycling all of their ideas. While her first three movies feature on feminine self-definition and maturation, Coppola easily transitions to instead focusing on a man’s seclusion and depression in ‘Somewhere.’ While Johnny doesn’t experience any major external conflicts because of his new fame and questioning of self-worth, as the movie has more of a character-based plot, Coppola is easily able to translate his lack of feeling of pleasure through her visual cues.
To read the rest of this post, please click here.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
'Cost of a Soul' Movie Review
'Cost of a Soul' Shockya Movie Review Written By: Karen Benardello
Director: Sean Kirkpatrick
Starring: Chris Kerson (‘Henry’s Crime), Will Blagrove (‘How Do You Know’), Judy Jerome (‘Bedwetter’), Gregg Almquist (TV’s ‘The Practice’)
Social commentary isn’t usually the first thing movie audiences think of when they watch films to be entertained. However, first time screenwriter/director Sean Kirkpatrick instantly grabs hold of the viewers of his full-length feature debut, ‘Cost of a Soul,’ by breaking the stereotype that dramatic interpretations of real-life issues can’t be captivating. His brave determination to show that continued violence hinders the growth of a community continuously shines through in the crime drama.
‘Cost of a Soul’ follows two wounded soldiers, Tommy Donahue (played by Chris Kerson) and DD Davis (portrayed by Will Blagrove), as they return home from active duty in Iraq to the slum neighborhood they grew up in. Both Tommy and DD seem proud of their accomplishments in the military, but are ashamed of the neighborhood they returned to. The two struggle to redeem themselves and improve their lives, but in the process, their families become involved in crime, violence and corruption.
Tommy returns home to his wife Faith (played by Judy Jerome) and disabled six-year-old daughter, Hope (portrayed by Maddie M. Jones). Faith is upset with Tommy for running off to the military when she was pregnant and leaving her without any health insurance. Tommy becomes distraught that Faith accepted money from the neighborhood crime boss, Charlie ‘Bernie’ Burns (played by Gregg Almquist), while he was in Iraq because she was desperate for help to take care of Hope. Bernie now has Tommy in his debt, and orders him to threaten and kill on his behalf.
Meanwhile, DD is struggling to find a job and make an honest living, and is disappointed that his older brother Darnell (portrayed by Nakia Dillard) has become the neighborhood drug lord. DD is determined to keep Darnell away from their younger brother James (played by Daveed Ramsay), so he doesn’t follow down the same path.
Kirkpatrick ambitiously wanted to tell the stories of the people of his hometown of North Philadelphia, one of America’s toughest and most violent neighborhoods. While filming ‘Cost of a Soul,’ Rogue, the studio that is releasing the movie, believed it would be impossible to complete it on its small budget and short 18-day shooting schedule. But Kirkpatrick proved what a resilient, creative filmmaker he is by pushing forward. His determination to show the anxiety wounded soldiers face when they return home from war brilliantly shines through in the movie’s plot-line and characters.
To read the rest of this review, please click here.
Director: Sean Kirkpatrick
Starring: Chris Kerson (‘Henry’s Crime), Will Blagrove (‘How Do You Know’), Judy Jerome (‘Bedwetter’), Gregg Almquist (TV’s ‘The Practice’)
Social commentary isn’t usually the first thing movie audiences think of when they watch films to be entertained. However, first time screenwriter/director Sean Kirkpatrick instantly grabs hold of the viewers of his full-length feature debut, ‘Cost of a Soul,’ by breaking the stereotype that dramatic interpretations of real-life issues can’t be captivating. His brave determination to show that continued violence hinders the growth of a community continuously shines through in the crime drama.
‘Cost of a Soul’ follows two wounded soldiers, Tommy Donahue (played by Chris Kerson) and DD Davis (portrayed by Will Blagrove), as they return home from active duty in Iraq to the slum neighborhood they grew up in. Both Tommy and DD seem proud of their accomplishments in the military, but are ashamed of the neighborhood they returned to. The two struggle to redeem themselves and improve their lives, but in the process, their families become involved in crime, violence and corruption.
Tommy returns home to his wife Faith (played by Judy Jerome) and disabled six-year-old daughter, Hope (portrayed by Maddie M. Jones). Faith is upset with Tommy for running off to the military when she was pregnant and leaving her without any health insurance. Tommy becomes distraught that Faith accepted money from the neighborhood crime boss, Charlie ‘Bernie’ Burns (played by Gregg Almquist), while he was in Iraq because she was desperate for help to take care of Hope. Bernie now has Tommy in his debt, and orders him to threaten and kill on his behalf.
Meanwhile, DD is struggling to find a job and make an honest living, and is disappointed that his older brother Darnell (portrayed by Nakia Dillard) has become the neighborhood drug lord. DD is determined to keep Darnell away from their younger brother James (played by Daveed Ramsay), so he doesn’t follow down the same path.
Kirkpatrick ambitiously wanted to tell the stories of the people of his hometown of North Philadelphia, one of America’s toughest and most violent neighborhoods. While filming ‘Cost of a Soul,’ Rogue, the studio that is releasing the movie, believed it would be impossible to complete it on its small budget and short 18-day shooting schedule. But Kirkpatrick proved what a resilient, creative filmmaker he is by pushing forward. His determination to show the anxiety wounded soldiers face when they return home from war brilliantly shines through in the movie’s plot-line and characters.
To read the rest of this review, please click here.
Interview: Bill George Talks 'I Am Number Four's Visual Effects
Read Shockya's interview with Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) visual effects supervisor Bill George, who oversaw the creation of the special effects in this year’s Touchstone Pictures sci-fi action film ‘I Am Number Four.’ The movie is set to be released on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Download three-disc combo pack, on May 24, 2011. George discusses with us, among other things, what his favorite scene in ‘I Am Number Four’ was, and how closely he worked with the movie’s director, D.J. Caruso.
Written by: Karen Benardello
Question (Q): How do you decide which movie you are going to work on?
Bill George (BG): Our executive staff reads a script and assigns a supervisor to it who they think is best suited for the project. Many times a studio that has worked with a specific supervisor in the past will request him or her.
Q: If you had to pick one one scene that you liked the best that you worked on for ‘I Am Number Four,’ what would it be?
BG: I really was happy with the destruction of the Mog commander. You can see in the special features section of the Blu-ray “Becoming Number 6″ how little was shot and what was added. We shot practical explosions and sparks and bombs and there is nothing more fun than blowing stuff up! When we work on our shots we don’t have the final sound effects that are added right at the end and the sound design for that sequence was rockin’!
Q: There are tons of sci-fi movies out there. What did you try to put into ‘I Am Number Four’ that would separate it from all other alien films?
BG: Cute teenagers in love!
Q: How closely did you work with D.J. Caruso?
BG: On set, the ILM team met with him every day. We kept him updated on the construction of Bernie and the Piken and I would discuss with him his plan for any of the plates we were shooting. Early on in post (production), we would travel down to LA for creative meetings, and later at the end when things were super crazy, we had video reviews. Early on I told D.J. to think of Steve (the animation director) and I as the Piken. Give us direction the way you would an actor and we’ll give you a performance. D.J. directed every performance from the Piken and Bernie and he seemed to be having a blast doing it.
To read the rest of this interview, please click here.
Written by: Karen Benardello
Question (Q): How do you decide which movie you are going to work on?
Bill George (BG): Our executive staff reads a script and assigns a supervisor to it who they think is best suited for the project. Many times a studio that has worked with a specific supervisor in the past will request him or her.
Q: If you had to pick one one scene that you liked the best that you worked on for ‘I Am Number Four,’ what would it be?
BG: I really was happy with the destruction of the Mog commander. You can see in the special features section of the Blu-ray “Becoming Number 6″ how little was shot and what was added. We shot practical explosions and sparks and bombs and there is nothing more fun than blowing stuff up! When we work on our shots we don’t have the final sound effects that are added right at the end and the sound design for that sequence was rockin’!
Q: There are tons of sci-fi movies out there. What did you try to put into ‘I Am Number Four’ that would separate it from all other alien films?
BG: Cute teenagers in love!
Q: How closely did you work with D.J. Caruso?
BG: On set, the ILM team met with him every day. We kept him updated on the construction of Bernie and the Piken and I would discuss with him his plan for any of the plates we were shooting. Early on in post (production), we would travel down to LA for creative meetings, and later at the end when things were super crazy, we had video reviews. Early on I told D.J. to think of Steve (the animation director) and I as the Piken. Give us direction the way you would an actor and we’ll give you a performance. D.J. directed every performance from the Piken and Bernie and he seemed to be having a blast doing it.
To read the rest of this interview, please click here.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
'The Bleeding House' Movie Review
'The Bleeding House' Movie Review by: Karen Benardello
Director: Philip Gelatt
Starring: Alexandra Chando (‘As The World Turns’), Patrick Breen (‘Men in Black’) and Betsy Aidem (‘Far From Heaven’)
While his characters are trying to run from their past, first time director and screenwriter Philip Gelatt is trying to pave the way for his filmmaking future with his debut movie, ‘The Bleeding House.’ The horror thriller, which had a successful run at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, strives to create an original idea about the fear people have when dealing with their past actions in a genre that’s success is based on purely violent sequels and remakes. While Gelatt deserves credit for striving to create a unique story and characters, the end result fails to live up to expectations.
‘The Bleeding House’ chronicles the life of the Smiths, a seemingly happy Texas family that includes reclusive 16-year-old daughter Gloria (played by Alexandra Chando) and 18-year-old son Quentin (portrayed by Charlie Hewson), who’s determined to move out with his girlfriend Lynne (played by Nina Lisandrello). While their parents, Matt (portrayed by Richard Bekins) and Marilyn (played by Betsy Aidem), are determined to keep the family together, a past secret that has damaged their social standing in their town seems to be tearing the Smiths apart. The family tries to resolve their problems after a mysterious preacher, Nick (portrayed by Patrick Breen), shows up at their door one night. He claims his car broke down on a nearby road, but won’t be able to get a tow truck until the next morning, as the town is desolate. But Nick seems to be keeping a terrifying secret of his own.
Chando, who has made a name for herself on television, including a regular role on ‘As The World Turns,’ and received top billing for ‘The Bleeding House,’ is the true breakout star of the horror thriller. She truly understands Gloria’s determination to keep herself isolated from her family and her constant need to revolt against her parents, like most teen girls do. However, Chando skillfully makes Gloria appear so happy to distance herself from, and rebel against, the social norms and her family’s desire to assimilate back into the community. Marilyn hints to Nick that Gloria has had trouble in the past, but never fully explains what kind of misfortune she got into. But Chando makes Gloria’s abnormal behavior, including killing small animals and keeping their bodies, so intriguing and the audience almost forgets to question why Gelatt didn’t delve further into her background.
To read the rest of this review, please click here.
Director: Philip Gelatt
Starring: Alexandra Chando (‘As The World Turns’), Patrick Breen (‘Men in Black’) and Betsy Aidem (‘Far From Heaven’)
While his characters are trying to run from their past, first time director and screenwriter Philip Gelatt is trying to pave the way for his filmmaking future with his debut movie, ‘The Bleeding House.’ The horror thriller, which had a successful run at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, strives to create an original idea about the fear people have when dealing with their past actions in a genre that’s success is based on purely violent sequels and remakes. While Gelatt deserves credit for striving to create a unique story and characters, the end result fails to live up to expectations.
‘The Bleeding House’ chronicles the life of the Smiths, a seemingly happy Texas family that includes reclusive 16-year-old daughter Gloria (played by Alexandra Chando) and 18-year-old son Quentin (portrayed by Charlie Hewson), who’s determined to move out with his girlfriend Lynne (played by Nina Lisandrello). While their parents, Matt (portrayed by Richard Bekins) and Marilyn (played by Betsy Aidem), are determined to keep the family together, a past secret that has damaged their social standing in their town seems to be tearing the Smiths apart. The family tries to resolve their problems after a mysterious preacher, Nick (portrayed by Patrick Breen), shows up at their door one night. He claims his car broke down on a nearby road, but won’t be able to get a tow truck until the next morning, as the town is desolate. But Nick seems to be keeping a terrifying secret of his own.
Chando, who has made a name for herself on television, including a regular role on ‘As The World Turns,’ and received top billing for ‘The Bleeding House,’ is the true breakout star of the horror thriller. She truly understands Gloria’s determination to keep herself isolated from her family and her constant need to revolt against her parents, like most teen girls do. However, Chando skillfully makes Gloria appear so happy to distance herself from, and rebel against, the social norms and her family’s desire to assimilate back into the community. Marilyn hints to Nick that Gloria has had trouble in the past, but never fully explains what kind of misfortune she got into. But Chando makes Gloria’s abnormal behavior, including killing small animals and keeping their bodies, so intriguing and the audience almost forgets to question why Gelatt didn’t delve further into her background.
To read the rest of this review, please click here.
Interview: Chris Kerson and Will Blagrove Talk 'Cost of a Soul'
Read Shockya's roundtable interview with actors Chris Kerson and Will Blagrove, who portray Tommy Donahue and DD Davis, respectively, in the new independent crime drama ‘Cost of a Soul.’ The movie follows the two soldiers who have recently returned home to North Philadelphia after serving in Iraq. Tommy and DD must not only readjust to civilian life, but learn how to cope with the crime, violence and drugs that are plaguing the streets of their slum neighborhood. Rogue will release ‘Cost of a Soul’ into 50 theaters across the country on May 20, 2011, as part of the AMC Independent program. Kerson and Blagrove discuss, among other things, how they prepared for their roles and what characteristics they feel make a good soldier.
Written by: Karen Benardello
Question (Q): Can you give us your background?
Will Blagrove (WB): I went to Benjamin Cardozo High School in Douglaston (New York). I went to St. John’s University in Queens. I was born in Jamaica, Queens.
Q: Do your parents still live in Queens?
WB: Yes, both of my parents are still in Queens. They’re actually from Jamaica Jamaica. Yay mon! But yeah, they still live in Jamaica, Queens.
Q: When you’re in New York, do you still spend time with them?
WB: Yes, I just got a good home cooked meal!
Chris Kerson (CK): I’m from Westchester (New York), and I live in Westchestser now. But I was born in New York City, and my father’s from New York City. My mother’s from Westchester, so I would go back and forth between the two a lot. But I went to Westchester high schools and all that. I had an apartment in Mamoroneck (New York) for a time. I went to college down in Virginia. I’ll say it, and all of a sudden, the accent comes back. I attended William and Mary. I also spent a little time in Los Angeles. But I’ve been back ever since.
Q: How long have you been back?
CK: I would say over ten years.
Q: Will, did you study acting at St. John’s?
WB: No. I studied at the William Esper Studio (in New York). I studied with William Esper.
Q: So what did you study at St. John’s then?
WB: Law. I was going to be a lawyer! I did this United Negro College Fund spot with Spike Lee. I said, “Maybe I should try the acting!” You gotta go where life takes you. Sometimes life tells you to go left. sometimes we go right for some reason.
CK: I was a psychology major at William and Mary. I had a job as an investment banker, in corporate finance. I was at the trading floor at 277 Park Avenue. I was hired by DLJ (investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette). I had a summer internship, where I was working 100-120 hours a week. My family was so excited because they thought I was going to make all this money coming out of college. Then I got an acting class my last semester of college. My teacher at the time, John Goodlan, said “You’ve done some of the best work I’ve ever seen here.” We had some good people come out of there, like Glenn Close. He said “I really think you should reconsider what you’re doing.” I came to New York and studied with Al Pacino’s mentor, Charlie Laughton. That’s one of the reasons why I went to L.A. to study one-on-one with him. I jumped in, and didn’t look back with the investment banking. My family wouldn’t talk to me for like two or three years after that.
Q: Was that a downside?
CK: That was one of the downsides My father was a poor Jewish kid from Brooklyn and the Bronx who wanted to see his son have his finances secure. that was very important to him. I was going into a profession where only half of a percent of people we hear about. It was a tough situation. If it’s what I’m supposed to do, so be it.
To read the rest of this interview, please click here.
Written by: Karen Benardello
Question (Q): Can you give us your background?
Will Blagrove (WB): I went to Benjamin Cardozo High School in Douglaston (New York). I went to St. John’s University in Queens. I was born in Jamaica, Queens.
Q: Do your parents still live in Queens?
WB: Yes, both of my parents are still in Queens. They’re actually from Jamaica Jamaica. Yay mon! But yeah, they still live in Jamaica, Queens.
Q: When you’re in New York, do you still spend time with them?
WB: Yes, I just got a good home cooked meal!
Chris Kerson (CK): I’m from Westchester (New York), and I live in Westchestser now. But I was born in New York City, and my father’s from New York City. My mother’s from Westchester, so I would go back and forth between the two a lot. But I went to Westchester high schools and all that. I had an apartment in Mamoroneck (New York) for a time. I went to college down in Virginia. I’ll say it, and all of a sudden, the accent comes back. I attended William and Mary. I also spent a little time in Los Angeles. But I’ve been back ever since.
Q: How long have you been back?
CK: I would say over ten years.
Q: Will, did you study acting at St. John’s?
WB: No. I studied at the William Esper Studio (in New York). I studied with William Esper.
Q: So what did you study at St. John’s then?
WB: Law. I was going to be a lawyer! I did this United Negro College Fund spot with Spike Lee. I said, “Maybe I should try the acting!” You gotta go where life takes you. Sometimes life tells you to go left. sometimes we go right for some reason.
CK: I was a psychology major at William and Mary. I had a job as an investment banker, in corporate finance. I was at the trading floor at 277 Park Avenue. I was hired by DLJ (investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette). I had a summer internship, where I was working 100-120 hours a week. My family was so excited because they thought I was going to make all this money coming out of college. Then I got an acting class my last semester of college. My teacher at the time, John Goodlan, said “You’ve done some of the best work I’ve ever seen here.” We had some good people come out of there, like Glenn Close. He said “I really think you should reconsider what you’re doing.” I came to New York and studied with Al Pacino’s mentor, Charlie Laughton. That’s one of the reasons why I went to L.A. to study one-on-one with him. I jumped in, and didn’t look back with the investment banking. My family wouldn’t talk to me for like two or three years after that.
Q: Was that a downside?
CK: That was one of the downsides My father was a poor Jewish kid from Brooklyn and the Bronx who wanted to see his son have his finances secure. that was very important to him. I was going into a profession where only half of a percent of people we hear about. It was a tough situation. If it’s what I’m supposed to do, so be it.
To read the rest of this interview, please click here.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Interview: Sean Kirkpatrick Talks 'Cost of a Soul'
Read Shockya's roundtable interview with Sean Kirkpatrick, who made his feature film writing/directing debut with the upcoming crime drama ‘Cost of a Soul.’ The independent movie won last year’s “Big Break Movie Contest,” which gives previously undistributed movies the chance to obtain exclusive on-screen distribution rights across the United States. ‘Cost of a Soul’ will be released by Relativity Media’s Rogue Division in 50 AMC Theaters nationwide on May 20 as part of the AMC Independent program. The film follows two wounded military veterans, Tommy Donahue (Played by Chris Kerson) and DD Davis (portrayed by Will Blagrove), as they return home to crime-ridden North Philadelphia from Iraq.
Written by: Karen Benardello
Question (Q): Can you talk about how, as an independent filmmaker, this deal came about, the process between Rogue and AMC Theaters?
Sean Kirkpatrick (SK): How it initially came about, we had been screening at the festival circuit for the last year. It played at about 10 film festivals. We had amazing sell-out screenings, encore screenings, standing ovations, you name it. We had an amazing festival tour. We were coming to the end of it, looking for distribution for it. My co-producer, Jonathan Risinger, walked into an AMC and saw a poster that said “Do you have a movie?” We had a movie. We submitted the film, and the rest is history.
Q: How’s the process been since signing up with them? Did they make any specific cuts?
SK: Unbelievably, no. It’s been incredible. As a first-time filmmaker, it’s so rare that it’s the filmmaker’s film that gets out there without being chopped or cut. The first thing I said, because it’s in the distribution contract that they have the final cut and edit, and they probably would re-cut the movie, and I said, “What are you guys going to change?” They said “Nothing, we love it the way it is. We don’t want to touch it, your movie’s staying intact.” It’s been an amazing experience. They let me maintain creative control throughout. I mean, everything from the design of the movie poster was approved by me. They’ve kept me in the loop on every creative decision possible, which has been amazing, rare thing for a studio like Relativity Media to allow a first-time director (creative control). I mean, they could have just said “Well, see you at the premiere, have a nice day.”
Q: Why do you think they did that?
SK: Well, I think their explanation was “We love the movie, we wouldn’t touch it, we wouldn’t dream of touching it.” That’s what they said. I think the movie just stands on its own, and I think they want the creative input from the artist and the filmmakers, which I think is great. I think that’s important too. It is all about dollars and cents at the end of the day, it is a business. But they were working with me, so we don’t compromise anything, so that I don’t compromise anything, any of the artistry in doing so.
To read the rest of this interview, please click here.
Written by: Karen Benardello
Question (Q): Can you talk about how, as an independent filmmaker, this deal came about, the process between Rogue and AMC Theaters?
Sean Kirkpatrick (SK): How it initially came about, we had been screening at the festival circuit for the last year. It played at about 10 film festivals. We had amazing sell-out screenings, encore screenings, standing ovations, you name it. We had an amazing festival tour. We were coming to the end of it, looking for distribution for it. My co-producer, Jonathan Risinger, walked into an AMC and saw a poster that said “Do you have a movie?” We had a movie. We submitted the film, and the rest is history.
Q: How’s the process been since signing up with them? Did they make any specific cuts?
SK: Unbelievably, no. It’s been incredible. As a first-time filmmaker, it’s so rare that it’s the filmmaker’s film that gets out there without being chopped or cut. The first thing I said, because it’s in the distribution contract that they have the final cut and edit, and they probably would re-cut the movie, and I said, “What are you guys going to change?” They said “Nothing, we love it the way it is. We don’t want to touch it, your movie’s staying intact.” It’s been an amazing experience. They let me maintain creative control throughout. I mean, everything from the design of the movie poster was approved by me. They’ve kept me in the loop on every creative decision possible, which has been amazing, rare thing for a studio like Relativity Media to allow a first-time director (creative control). I mean, they could have just said “Well, see you at the premiere, have a nice day.”
Q: Why do you think they did that?
SK: Well, I think their explanation was “We love the movie, we wouldn’t touch it, we wouldn’t dream of touching it.” That’s what they said. I think the movie just stands on its own, and I think they want the creative input from the artist and the filmmakers, which I think is great. I think that’s important too. It is all about dollars and cents at the end of the day, it is a business. But they were working with me, so we don’t compromise anything, so that I don’t compromise anything, any of the artistry in doing so.
To read the rest of this interview, please click here.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
'Priest' Movie Review
'Priest' Movie Review Written by: Karen Benardello
Director: Scott Stewart (‘Legion’)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q (TV’s ‘Nikita’)
A big budget, post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller with vampires is the perfect set-up for an entertaining, intriguing plot. Add in Cam Gigandet, who rose to fame after playing evil vampire James in the movie adaptation of ‘Twilight,’ and director Scott Stewart, who helmed last year’s similarly-themed film ‘Legion,’ and the new Screen Gems film ‘Priest’ seemed destined to become successful at the box office. But unfortunately, the story-line of the action-horror film fell under the pressure, and its only redeeming quality that positively captures the audiences’ attention is its visual effects.
‘Priest’ takes place in an alternate world, as Paul Bettany’s title character, a veteran warrior, tries to live in obscurity after the last Vampire War. Priest tries to assimilate with the other humans in one of the Church’s walled cities after the centuries-old war between vampires and humans ended. Church leaders are trying to make everyone believe that most of the vampires are dying in seclusion, but are still a danger to their society. But Priest is informed that his niece, Lucy Pace (played by Lily Collins), is kidnapped by the vampire leader Black Hat (portrayed by Karl Urban).
Priest defies Monsignor Orelas (played by Christopher Plummer) by breaking his sacred vows to leave the city to search for Lucy. Priest is accompanied by Lucy’s wasteland sheriff boyfriend Hicks (portrayed by Gigandet). While the two are searching for Lucy, Warrior Priestess (played by Maggie Q), is sent by the Monsignor to capture Priest and bring him back to the city, dead or alive.
To read the rest of this review, please click here.
Director: Scott Stewart (‘Legion’)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q (TV’s ‘Nikita’)
A big budget, post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller with vampires is the perfect set-up for an entertaining, intriguing plot. Add in Cam Gigandet, who rose to fame after playing evil vampire James in the movie adaptation of ‘Twilight,’ and director Scott Stewart, who helmed last year’s similarly-themed film ‘Legion,’ and the new Screen Gems film ‘Priest’ seemed destined to become successful at the box office. But unfortunately, the story-line of the action-horror film fell under the pressure, and its only redeeming quality that positively captures the audiences’ attention is its visual effects.
‘Priest’ takes place in an alternate world, as Paul Bettany’s title character, a veteran warrior, tries to live in obscurity after the last Vampire War. Priest tries to assimilate with the other humans in one of the Church’s walled cities after the centuries-old war between vampires and humans ended. Church leaders are trying to make everyone believe that most of the vampires are dying in seclusion, but are still a danger to their society. But Priest is informed that his niece, Lucy Pace (played by Lily Collins), is kidnapped by the vampire leader Black Hat (portrayed by Karl Urban).
Priest defies Monsignor Orelas (played by Christopher Plummer) by breaking his sacred vows to leave the city to search for Lucy. Priest is accompanied by Lucy’s wasteland sheriff boyfriend Hicks (portrayed by Gigandet). While the two are searching for Lucy, Warrior Priestess (played by Maggie Q), is sent by the Monsignor to capture Priest and bring him back to the city, dead or alive.
To read the rest of this review, please click here.
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