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Bookie Trailer
Bookie follows LA bookie Danny. As California leans towards legalizing sports gambling, Danny and his crew have to deal with their increasingly unstable clients to settle their debts, deal with his own risky bets, and adapt to a changing world.
Bookie is created, written, and produced by Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay. The eight-episode series stars Sebastian Maniscalco, Omar J. Dorsey, Vanessa Ferlito, Jorge Garcia, Andrea Anders, and Maxim Swinton and guest stars Charlie Sheen.
Bookie premieres on Max on November 30, 2023.
#bookie#chuck lorre#nick bakay#sebastian maniscalco#omar j dorsey#vanessa ferlito#jorge garcia#andre anders#maxim swinton#charlie sheen#max#TGCLiz#Youtube
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Michael Fassbender in The Killer (David Fincher, 2023)
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, Kerry O'Malley, Sophie Charlotte, Emiliana Pernia, Gabriel Polanco, Sala Baker, Monique Ganderton, Daran Norris, Jack Kesy. Screenplay: Andrew Kevin Walker, based on a graphic novel series by Alexis Nolent and Luc Jacamon. Cinematography: Erik Messerschmidt. Production design: Donald Graham Burt. Film editing: Kirk Baxter. Music: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross.
In essence, The Killer is a routine thriller about a hit man who screws up and then has to undo the consequences of his screwup. But director David Fincher, screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker, and actor Michael Fassbender make it seem fresh and novel, not by departing from formula but by creating characters and giving them something clever to say. Fassbender is The Killer (most of the dramatis personae are given labels rather than names), a lean, mean killing machine who rises above that cliché by a variety of quirks, including an addiction to maxims and mottoes that we hear from him constantly in voiceover: "Stick to your plan. Anticipate, don't improvise. Trust no one. Never yield to an advantage. Fight only the battle you're paid to fight." Even by itself that constant voiceover could be annoying, except that Fassbender makes it amusing by intoning it in a flat American accent, and by occasionally failing to follow his own advice. Fincher spends a long time on the setup to the first kill, which makes it even more startling when the suspense is broken by the Killer's mistake. There's some swift action as he gets rid of the equipment used in the shoot, then boards a plane (using one of his many passports and credit cards, all carrying fake names borrowed from TV characters) for his home in the Dominican Republic, where he finds that he still has to keep running, eliminating not only those pursuing him, but also everybody else who knows his true identity. These incidents introduce us to a variety of characters, wittily played by, among others, Charles Parnell (The Lawyer, aka Hodges, who is a middle man between The Killer and his targets), Tilda Swinton (The Expert, a fellow assassin who knows his identity), and Arliss Howard (The Client, one of the few people The Killer manages to intimidate but not kill). All of this nonsense -- which is praise, not criticism -- is set to a variety of songs, mostly by the Smiths, whose dark humor perfectly complements the style of the movie. I could quibble about this being one of those films in which the big fight scene takes place in the dark, so you're never quite sure who's beating whom, but then moral ambiguity is the whole point of the movie.
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Coming Attractions - June 2023
As usual, we present monthly previews of new movies being released. These are the movies that will be hitting your local cinemas (and streaming services) this month:
June 2nd
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - Return to the Spider-Verse with the sequel to 2018′s acclaimed and Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. And get ready for the follow-up, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse coming in March 2024.
The Boogeyman - Based on a short story by Stephen King comes this supernatural horror film starring Chris Messi and Sophie Thatcher.
June 9th
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II) takes over the directing duties from Michael Bay in this Transformers film based on the Beast Wars storyline. The film is set prior to the Bay films in 1994 and stars humans like Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback alongside the Autobots, Maximals, and Terrorcons.
Flamin’ Hot - Eva Longoria directs this biographical comedy-drama about the origins of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos for Hulu.
June 16th
The Flash - The Scarlet Speedster races onto movie screens with his first feature film and brings along Supergirl, General Zod, and a par of Batmen. The big selling point for the film, loosely based on the Flashpoint storyline, is the return of Michael Keaton to the cape and cowl 21 years after Batman Returns.
Elemental - Pixar is back with the story of a fire element, Ember, and a water element, Ripple, who meet and fall in love in a world filled with the elements of nature.
June 23rd
Asteroid City - After a limited release the prior week, Wes Anderson’s newest film will be released wide on June 23rd. Along for the ride with Anderson are Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, and another dozen or so actors and actresses that we don’t have room to mention.
No Hard Feelings - Jennifer Lawerence stars in this hard-R coming-of-age sex comedy (a genre rarely seen in theaters anymore). Andrew Barth Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, and Natalie Morales co-star.
June 30th
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny - Harrison Ford is back on Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. in this fifth installment of the Indiana Jones series. James Mangold takes over directing duties from Steven Spielberg in what billed to be Ford’s last outing on the adventure-find professor of archeology.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken - From Dreamworks animation comes this new fantasy action-film that feels part Luca and part Onward.
Now for a quick look ahead to July, my top picks for next month are Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One and Oppenheimer.
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Bookie
Bookie (Serie 2023) #SebastianManiscalco #OmarJDorsey #AndreaAnders #VanessaFerlito #JorgeGarcia #MaximSwinton Mehr auf:
Serie Jahr: 2023 (November) Genre: Comedy Hauptrollen: Sebastian Maniscalco, Omar J. Dorsey, Andrea Anders, Vanessa Ferlito, Jorge Garcia, Maxim Swinton, Bob Clendenin, C.S. Lee, Tara Holt, Christopher Bencomo, Beau Minniear, Selina Kaye, Danny Woodburn … Serienbeschreibung: Dem erfahrenen Buchmacher Danny (Sebastian Maniscalco) bereitet nicht nur die bevorstehende Legalisierung von…
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Motor Trade Insurance Market to Witness Excellent Revenue Growth Owing to Rapid Increase in Demand
Latest study released by AMA Research on Global Motor Trade Insurance Market research focuses on latest market trend, opportunities and various future aspects so you can get a variety of ways to maximize your profits. Motor Trade Insurance Market predicted until 2027*. Auto commercial insurance, also known as road risk insurance, is a policy intended to cover any injury, loss, or damage to third parties caused by the vehicles involved in the business. This insurance is ideal to meet the business needs of people involved in the auto and motorcycle sectors, or dealing with buying and selling cars, servicing, managing a workshop, etc. It doesn't matter if that business is small or large, part-time or full-time. From the value of replacing tools and machinery to replacing the vehicle, everything is covered by the policy. If a private individual makes a profit with a business in the automotive trade, they can protect themselves with special insurance. Unlike auto insurance policies, which are for individual use only, auto dealership insurance can cover many scenarios unique to auto dealerships. This includes driving customer vehicles and liability issues when dealing with the public. Certain insurance related to vehicles and running a business is a legal requirement that a commercial auto policy must contain. In addition, other features and benefits can be beneficial to the owner of an auto dealership business. However, the coverage of this insurance depends on the trade involved and the level of risk. Some of Key Players included in Motor Trade Insurance Market are:
Ardonagh Group (Swinton Insurance) (United Kingdom)
Quote Me Today (United Kingdom)
SBI General (India)
TATA AIG General (India)
One Call Insurance (United Kingdom)
Tradex (United Kingdom)
Gallagher (United Kingdom)
Oriental Insurance (India)
Magma HDI (India)
Sentry (United States)
Market Trends: Motor Trade Policies Based on the Location Which a Trader Trades is Trending the Market Growth.
Drivers: The Fluctuation Between Sales and Market Due to Pandemic Has Been Driving Traders to Opt for Motor Trade Policy.
Challenges: Increased Inflation Has Led to Increase in Insurance Premium.
Opportunities: Growing Uncertainty in Automobile Industry Due to Several Policy Changes and New Vehicles Rolling Out is going to Generate Many Opportunities for Motor Trade Insurance Market.The titled segments and Market Data are Break Down by Application (Vehicle recovery agent, Valet, Mechanic, Trader, Other), Coverage (Road risk., Public Liability, Employers Liability, Stock of Vehicles, Business premises, Tools & Equipment’s, Money cover), Distribution channel (Insurance Agents/Brokers, Direct Response, Banks, Others)
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AMA Research & Media LLP
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Raymond & Ray (2022) Review
Raymond & Ray (2022) Review
Two brothers who just happen to share the same name head out on a road trip for their estranged fathers funeral and must find out his final wishes for them, as they must come to terms with the past to move on in the future. ⭐️⭐️ (more…)
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#2022#Angie Campbell#Apple Original#Apple TV+#Chris Grabher#Chris Silcox#Comedy#Dominic Ward#Drama#Ethan Hawke#Ewan McGregor#Jalyn Baiden#Jennifer Esquivel#Laura Linda Bradley#Leydi Morales#Lyeneal Griffin#Maribel Verdu#Maxim Swinton#Oscar Nuñez#Raymond & Ray#Review#Rodrigo Garcia#Sophie Okonedo#Todd Louiso#Tom Bower#Vondie Curtis-Hall
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Diego with the child actor who played Joey Tyche In Lady Luck (and who apparently also played young Christopher Hargrave on The Blacklist Redemption)
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Tilda Swinton by Maxim Ford on the set of the music video for Orbital’s “The Box (part 2)”: 1996
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“Raymond & Ray” de Rodrigo García avec Ewan McGregor, Ethan Hawke, Maribel Verdú, Sophie Okonedo, Vondie Curtis-Hall et le jeune Maxim Swinton, octobre 2022.
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born in the United States
1 coach new tattoo extra large tote (2) Six days later, a law enforcement officer visited Noah's school to speak with him about the allegations. Kentucky was ranked No. It's the warrior mindset. Those who dismiss these crimes reveal not only their cowardice and callousness, but their alienation from the population at large. Thank you. Lebian kinky sex anal sex. Of Norwell v. The outcome will either separate Sarkisian from her daughters, three of whom are under age 18 and born in the United States, or force the girls to build a new life in a land they know next to nothing about, and whose language they neither speak well nor write. Werts was arrested Wednesday for speeding and misdemeanor cocaine possession when traces were found coach outlet clearance on the hood of the car. Bake for half an hour or until the egg mixture solidifies.. 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The choice of company capital structure can do great influence to the efficiency of the value and allocation of resources. The Generals kept pushing for the tying goal in the third period, but Perrone was up t othe task and was perfect in the final period. I asked Maxime Delaporte, a Sancerre producer, what he thought of 2014 when I bumped into him at the London Wine Fair, and his face broke into a grin. VAR and the new interpretation of the handball rule are going to be talking points throughout the season, and they certainly were at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Are you as an individual safe in Belfast or Paris? Or Bilbao? Or Istanbul? Yes, you are. Neither the failure of Sponsor to insist upon or enforce strict performance of any provision of these Official Rules nor the failure, delay or omission by Sponsor in exercising any right with respect to any term of these Official Rules, will be construed as a waiver or relinquishment to any extent of Sponsor right to assert or rely upon any such provision or right in that or any other instance. And there are good reasons most of us, including me, had never heard of it before: It has been around since October 1999, although it didn't have its own facility until October of last year.MLFH is now housed in a small space in an unassuming strip mall a few blocks north of Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach's continually evolving downtown area. Rather than rely on front of pack claims, get into the habit of checking the nutrition information panel and information on the back of the pack to provide a more accurate picture.. I felt so proud wearing this uniform.. Following the great examples in love set out by the likes of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael and Beethoven, Nadine Paul take the audience through a journey of how to live in perfect harmony, both on and off the stage.This is the first ever public performance of their special recipe, tried and tested over 10 years: Take one classical pianist and one jazz drummer and mix well. It's not like you can ONLY say "you don't have the job" or "we are interviewing other people". He wrote for a variety publications, from the St. FDA also launched awebsitetitled to Help Avoid Battery Explosions, but Russell, who treated the Nevada teenager, believes many users aren even aware that e cigarettes can explode meaning they don seek out resources on battery safety.. Cuomo has also proposed a statewide ban on plastic shopping bags.. On the part of miners and their families, there seems to be no question about the truth of the WSWS report. The city of Paris, its streets and landmarks,have held a special role as the artistic centre of the industry since its earliest days, so to restore what has been lost is to preserve its own history.. Therefore this study will be of interest to parents, teachers, policy makers, community workers, and other researchers of young children's literacy.. The City full backs gave a good account of themselves but when both were cautioned in the shadows of half time it suggested the floodgates were starting to creak. Avalanche airbags are designed to prevent the wearer from being buried, which is key to survival in the event of an avalanche suffocation is the main cause of death. The team is trying to lift a country still reeling from the March earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people. It is also calling on the Government to set fees for producers who make packaging that is difficult to recycle.. Admission is $15 or $10 for members, students and military servicepeople with ID. An artist is approaching you, it absolutely has to come first now. Recessed telescoping handle.
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Raymond & Ray (Rodrigo García, 2022)
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Ethan Hawke, Maribel Verdú, Sophie Okenedo, Todd Louiso, Oscar Nuñez, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Maxim Swinton, Chris Silcox, Chris Grabner, Tom Bower. Screenplay: Rodrigo García. Cinematography: Igor Jadue-Lillo. Production design: David Crank. Film editing: Michael Ruscio. Music: Jeff Beal.
Ethan Hawke seems to be everywhere these days: playing John Brown on the TV series The Good Lord Bird (2020) and King Aurvandil in The Northman (Robert Eggers, 2022), hiding behind a mask as the Grabber in The Black Phone (Scott Derrickson, 2022), making the double lives of Oscar Isaac's Marc Spector difficult as Arthur Harrow in Moon Knight (2022), and narrating and directing the well-received documentary series The Last Movie Stars (2022), about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Not that I'm complaining: Hawke has become one of our finest actors, able to more than hold his own in the company of a wizardly performer like Isaac, and it's good to see his energy hasn't flagged in the least. It's worth going back to watch some of his earlier films to see how he has grown as a performer, deepening his voice and gaining confidence. In Gattaca (Andrew Niccol, 1997), for example, there is still something callow and lightweight about him in comparison with his co-star Jude Law. I think he makes Ray a more credible character than Ewan McGregor, no slouch as an actor, does of the half-brother Raymond. The problem with Raymond & Ray is that it's not a movie that gives either actor much to play. It's a trifle, a would-be black comedy that isn't black enough or funny enough, depending mainly on the improbable discoveries that the mismatched half-brothers make as they uncover the secrets of their late father's life. Hawke and McGregor get good support from Maribel Verdú as the father's landlady/lover and Sophie Okenedo as the nurse who tended him as he lay dying, women privy to some of the surprise truths about his life. And the movie makes some nice hits at the insincerity behind the pieties of the funeral business. But Raymond & Ray is the kind of throwaway feature that used to be made when there was a demand to fill theater seats. The equivalent today is the film that gets a perfunctory theatrical release before swiftly heading to a streaming service, which is exactly what happened to this amusing but forgettable movie.
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SUMMER MOVIE LIST (Movie & Music) : The Sound of the New Millennium or How Electronic and New Music Genres Changed the Way We "Listen" to Movies...
Following the reading of a recent article on Noisey (link) about how THE BEACH and its electronic-music-infused soundtrack turned 18, one will realize that “techno/rave” music changed the way movies were scored or “musically supervised” and became an integral part of films playing almost as a new form of musical. Of course it all started back then with BLADE RUNNER or the original TRON but it bloomed in the late 90's early 00s with glorious soundtracks from BLADE or MATRIX; everybody knows “that song from that memorable scenes"!
Around the same period, we also saw a great hybrid of electro/metal genre (new wave Goth/Heavy-Metal was also trending in soundtrack with Marilyn Manson or Rammstein) and films like XXX, RESIDENT EVIL and even the MATRIX trilogy used this unique blend to maximize on the “dark future / strange doom” feeling associated with the new millennium.
It is interesting to also note that with this growing apprehension of the apocalypse came a "fashion" trend blending nothing and everything at a time where cultural appropriation was not a big deal! (It felt somehow "innocent" in term of cultural insensitivity; it was almost was perceived as acknowledging or "honoring" the booming multiculturalism as opposed to the sense of "exoticism" associated with exhibiting oriental outfit in the 70's...) From "ethnic-pun" with neon cornrows, glittery bindies (or any Indian jewel) and African inspired makeup to the "woke angel of death" that turn goth into samurai; it was a jolly time where everything was permitted and nonsensical because... We were all suppose to die in some planet/sun/star/universe explosion due to the Y2K bug! (Let's remember that it wasn't just because of the movie but MTV music videos stars helped this from Janet Jackson to Gwen Stephany up untill Shakira - mixing native Indian feather with rocker leather pants - and reaching a peak with Madonna 'Frozen era'... What a time to be alive it must have been! )
Anyway, in this spirit of nostalgia let's explore how these new music trend and particularly electronic music with its cool fresh sounds helped in shaping a new movie genre and created a specific (almost cliched!) cinematic atmosphere for the age.
What are some of these films past and present, that thanks to artists/composers from Pete Tongue to Trent Raznor, that made their marks on viewers and became canons of this “genre”!?
THE OG
BLADE RUNNER
THE BEACH
*song /fact/name dropping: Supervised by the superstar-dj-of-the-moment Pete Tong featuring that song from Moby and... Alex Garland wrote this! ( Also The Swinton was in this but some of us were babies at the time and did not know any better!)
TRAINSPOTTING
*song /fact/name dropping:That song by Underworld inescapable in club/festivals/dance at the time and the memory associated with it of memorable toilet scene (#2 after the JURASSIC PARK toilet scene of course!)
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MATRIX
*song/fact/name dropping: There is of course this one that is notorious for illustration feelings of extreme doubt, confusion or unexpected...Wile movie (or dodging bullet in slow-mo!)
BLADE
*song /fact/name dropping: No matter if you’ve seen the movie or not everyone knows that ‘Blood Rave’ song! If does not sound like the “epitomy of a doomsday rave” where everyone wear latex/vinyl-outfit neon contact lens, slick or spiky or symmetrical hairdo and all pretend they’re vampire ready to bite you neck!
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If you don’t know now you know!
REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
*song /fact/name dropping: The song that meant something ominous was about to happen!
THE ONES THAT CAN THANK THE DJ
HANNA
*song /fact/name dropping: This movie might have not live up to the hype but The Chemical Brothers signed this very good soundtrack!
TRON LEGACY
*song /fact/name dropping: Daft Punk what else is there!?
EDEN
*song /fact/name dropping: Guess this is about the Daft Punk so...
BERLIN'S CALLING *song /fact/name dropping: The one and only Pete Tong
THE ONE THAT WENT DARK XXX
QUEEN OF THE DAMNED
*song /fact/name dropping: This one might be “very metal” but it was riding the wave even featuring a goth rave! Synth, electronic deep sound and song by the most popular metal band at the time and it did not even had one song by the late Aaliyah...
RESIDENT EVIL
STRANGE DAYS
*song /fact/name dropping: For those who did not know the famous line from the song "Right here! Right now!" come from here!
THE NEW WAVE
DRIVE
*song /fact/name dropping: We will never know if it was because of the movie or the soundtrack or the Gos/Refn mix... #mystery
SPRING BREAKER
PALO ALTO
*song /fact/name dropping: More “hipster” than the usual but kinda fit the profile
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
*song /fact/name dropping: The films that put Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on the map as your “go-to-guys” for edgy soundtrack!
UNDERTHE SKIN
*song /fact/name dropping: Scored by Mica Levi possibly the best music composer of her generation (Her work on JACKIE is pure Masterpiece!)
SICARIO
Died-too-soon Icelandic composer Johann Johanson gave us the most scary song ever or sound echoing this era of film inspiring ”feelings of dread”
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ENTER THE VOID
BLADE RUNNER
THE BAD BATCH
120 BPM
*song /fact/name dropping: The whole film was a goddamn Masterpiece but Arnaud Robotini managed to gave us an equally captivating or tense at time, and sad or jovial at others. Not since REQUIEM FOR A DREAM was a movie soundtrack so perfectly adequate and canonical of this electronic-infused genre. If this is your “cuppa” listen to it all, but the exceptionally perfect remix and use of ‘Smaltown Boy’ by Bronski beat deserved a special kind of recognition...
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ANIHILATION
*song /fact/name dropping:It would not be an .Alex Garland without a trippy score! By the same duo who brought you EX MACHINA; Ben Salisbury & Geoff Barrow from Portishead
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#movie#film#cinephile#soundtrack#film soundtrack#movie soundtrack#movie and music#music and movies#music#music on screen#cinema
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NOW INTRODUCING: New Muse
MOIRA O’DEORAIN
130 years old Geneticist & Master of the Mystic Arts
Equal parts brilliant and controversial, scientist Moira O'Deorain is on the cutting edge of genetic engineering, searching for a way to rewrite the fundamental building blocks of life. Over seven decades ago, O'Deorain made waves when she published a controversial paper detailing a methodology for creating custom genetic programs that could alter DNA at a cellular level. It seemed like a promising step toward overcoming diseases and disorders and maximizing human potential. Dissent among her peers soon followed. Many considered her work to be dangerous because of its perceived ethical shortfalls, and O'Deorain was even accused of having the same unchecked desire for scientific advancement as the Nazis. In addition, other geneticists were unable to reproduce the results of Moira's research, which further called her discoveries into question. Instead of kickstarting her career, her paper seriously damaged her reputation. She received a lifeline in an offer from an unlikely source: Blackwatch. She continued her work in the shadows while developing new weapons and technologies for the organization. Her employment was a closely kept secret, until it was uncovered during inquiries following an incident that blew up Blackwatch's first headquarters. During the scandal, her relation with Blackwatch was completely denied and her funds cut. It was then, at the brink of despair, with no money left for science, that Moira heard the name of Kamar-Taj, a place where said sorcerers and sorceresses train. People often came here after being broken or damaged, physically and metaphorically. Not one to believe in any of this, but at the end of the rope, she bought a one-way ticket to Nepal. It took her months to forget all she had been taught, to open her mind to new ways, only then was she taught how the Masters of the Mystic Arts drew their power from other dimensions within the Multiverse which allowed them to shape reality, how to control a sling ring and open portals to other locations or dimensions, how to create an Astral projection of herself out of her own body or even how to go from the Real Dimension to the Mirror Dimension. But what took her even longer was to find peace within herself, hence her ten years disappearance. It took her ten years to find the strength to go back to the real world but she did not go back to her scientific studies. Instead, she started roaming Earth, looking for people in read need of help, hoping to bring them some kind of peace and, for the very few she deemed most in need, show them to Kamar-Taj, and she has not stopped since then.
Faceclaim: Tilda Swinton
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OUTFEST 2020 FILM REVIEW: T11 INCOMPLETE (4 Stars)
According to the Institute on Disability, “If people with disabilities were a formally recognized minority group, at 19% of the population, they would be the largest minority group in the United States.” They would, in fact, be the largest minority group in the world, but in terms of representation, among many other issues, the world has failed them. With that in mind, I’m thrilled that Outfest has included Suzanne Guacci’s T11 Incomplete in its program this year, as it not only features disability in its main storyline, but Guacci herself is disabled.
Hal Hartley stalwart Karen Silas stars as Kate, a Home Health Nurse assigned to care for Laura (Kristen Renton), a paraplegic with a T11 Incomplete spinal cord injury. Laura lives with her overprotective brother Steve (Colin Bates), who wants the best for his sister but can’t seem to get past his own toxic masculinity. Karen, ten years sober, lives with her ailing cat (more on that later), and lives near her son Jack (Zachary Booth), his wife Elizabeth (a vivid Katy Sullivan) and grandson Brady (Maxim Swinton). With unresolved issues in their past, likely due to Kate’s alcoholism, Jack tries to keep his son away from his mom as much as possible. Jack has his own issues, as we see him cheating on Elizabeth right at the outset and clearly carries around a lot of resentment. I mention all of these characters since Guacci wants to present an ensemble of broken people, not just the one in the wheelchair. Everyone is incomplete.
Kate’s a caring nurse, but her unresolved issues manifest themselves in many ways, including the fact that she tends to steal money from her patients. Laura, who still grieves her girlfriend who died in the accident which left her in a state of paralysis, finds herself drawn to Kate. Eventually their connection cannot be denied, resulting in a fascinating love scene in which the roles of caregiver and patient appear to switch. Laura has awakened something in Kate, which in lesser hands would feel like a tired trope in LGBTQ+ cinema, but Guacci is a wonderfully subtle filmmaker. We experience Kate’s evolution through a myriad of micro-expressions as opposed to pages of dialogue. Silas gives a brilliant performance, among this year’s best, as a woman who realizes that life didn’t turn out the way she had planned it, and what the hell is she going to do about it? You feel her struggling with her failures every time she has to spend money or tries to fix the broken heel of her shoes. It’s rare that we get to experience the panic of a middle-aged woman trying to get through every day in one piece, and Silas brings that pain to quiet, vivid life without the usual showy scenes or overdoing it.
It helps that Silas has such a fantastic supporting cast. Renton excels as a sweet soul who feels like she can’t connect with the world anymore. She drinks to excess and rebuffs the advances of another woman (a nice turn by Lauren Russell). It’s a tricky role to mix such kindness with deep wells of anger and yearning, but Renton rises to the task. Booth and Bates also find the empathy in roles which could easily have slipped into villainy.
This film is a slow cooker about flawed individuals. While very slight on incident, it hones in on the humanity of people trying to navigate through tough circumstances in such a believable way. Unfortunately, late in the film, Laura has a speech which lays out its themes in a too obvious fashion, but I forgave this overwriting because of the beauty in the performances.
Now about that cat. I understand low budget filmmaking and the difficulty of working with kids and animals, and this film has both, but there’s no getting around the “American Sniper baby” issue. Guacci uses an obvious stuffed animal and added odd whimpering sounds to sell us on Kate’s dying pet. I would have stuck with a real one as the imposter took me right out of scenes which should have succeeded in building our fondness for Kate. Actually, I would have jettisoned the feline altogether. There’s a better solution to showing Kate’s good side than resorting to the late Blake Snyder’s Save The Cat! tactics. Nevertheless, Guacci and company have delivered a fulfilling film for anyone who has felt like they drew a bad hand. I think, in this really bizarre time we find ourselves in, we can all relate.
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