Review: Amy Ryan gives a moving performance in ‘Abundant Acreage Available’ winner of Best Screenplay at the Tribeca Film Festival

From writer/director Angus MacLachlan and Executive Producer Martin Scorsese, ABUNDANT ACREAGE AVAILABLE tells the story of a family in flux. Still reeling over the recent death of their father, brother and sister Jesse & Tracy (Terry Kinney & Amy Ryan) are attempting to settle into their new lives in his absence. Their quiet and simple existence is unexpectedly disrupted by the sudden arrival of three mysterious brothers, camping on their land and possessing a surprising connection to their family farm. The two sets of siblings are set on a direct collision course that will change all of their lives, for better or for worse. Tackling complicated issues of family legacies, and anchored by an amazing set of performances, the film is a brilliant showcase for all involved.

 

In Theaters September 29, 2017 at Cinema Village in New York
on demand October 6, 2017

Written & Directed by: 
Angus MacLachlan (Academy Award-nominated film Junebug)

Executive Produced by:
Martin Scorsese

Starring: 
Amy Ryan (Academy Award nominee for Gone Baby Gone, Birdman)
Terry Kinney (“Billions,” “Oz”) 
Steve Coulter (The Wizard of Lies, “House of Cards”)
Francis Guinan (Hannibal, Constantine)
Max Gail (42, “Barney Miller”)

Told almost entirely outdoors in the cold winter, Abundant Acreage Available, is a slice-of-life tale that surprises and moves you. Amy Ryan’s heartfelt performance reveals a woman who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her father as three brothers show up to reclaim their father’s land.

I especially enjoyed the dynamic between the two sets of siblings. Tracy and her brother, Jesse, both took care of their father until his recent passing. When three brothers show up, their own complicated history interferes but also strengthens their bond.

Secrets, illness, despair, loneliness, all of it pulls you into thinking how you would handle the same situation. You never know what’s around the next corner, but leaning on your sibling is not to be taken for granted.

Review: ‘Don Verdean’ is saved by its cast – Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement with Will Forte & Danny McBride

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Sam Rockwell is Don Verdean, a Biblical archeologist who is hired by a pastor and his wife (Danny McBride and Leslie Bibb) to excavate artifacts for their ministry to boost their congregation. Jemaine Clement is Boaz, an advantageous man assisting Don, Amy Ryan is Carol, his secretary turned research assistant and Will Forte makes an appearance as a rival minister. Have I got your attention? Oh, one more thing, it’s from the creative minds of Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre and Gentlemen Broncos, Jared and Jerusha Hess.

The best scene is when Boaz picks up Carol and asks her to wear a special dress. Even thinking about it makes me chuckle.The cast is a testament to the filmmakers, as this is the second film with Sam Rockwell and Jemaine Clement.

As with their other films, the comedy is extremely understated, barely requiring more than a chuckle or a smirk in most instances. When given their spotlight, however, each character does not disappoint. Characters don’t necessarily make a cohesive movie. Each scene on its own is subtly brilliant, but when they are all put together, it’s just too much.

New trailer for ‘Don Verlean’ from Jared & Jerusha Hess makers of ‘Napoleon Dynamite’

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With only three films under their belt, Jared and Jerusha Hess leave a mark with every one. First came Napoleon Dynamite, which has since become a cult classic, and then Nacho Libre starring Jack Black. Remember that movie? No. Unless you worked at a video store in 2007, you probably don’t. However, the most memorable and by far the weirdest film was Gentlemen Broncos. (SPOILER: an albino boa constrictor inexplicably gets diarrhea while being held by someone. YEAH. You’d be upset if I didn’t warn you.)DON VERDEAN still 1

The far out wackyness is exactly what you should come for and expect from these too. Two actors are returning to work again for Don Verlean: the very silly and extremely talented Sam Rockwell and Jemaine Clement. They are joined by Amy Ryan, Will Forte and Danny McBride whose humor is perfectly suited for an absurdist comedy like one of Hess’.

DON VERDEAN opens in theaters and On Demand DECEMBER 11, 2015.

New Spielberg Movie Officially Titled ‘Bridge of Spies’

ST. JAMES PLACE

DreamWorks Pictures’/Fox 2000 Pictures’ upcoming dramatic thriller directed by three-time Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List) and starring two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia), has been titled Bridge of Spies. In addition, 12-time Oscar® nominee Thomas Newman (The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Saving Mr. Banks) has been signed to score the film, as John Williams’ schedule was interrupted and he was unavailable to score the film due to a minor health issue, now corrected. The laws facing automotive dealers are niche specific and known by few. MLG team of experienced automotive lawyers has vast experience representing dealers in a variety of contexts. We have represented dealers in cases involving terminations, add-points, facilities upgrades, warranty chargebacks, allocation, curtailments, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud, both before the California New Motor Vehicle Board and in state and federal court.

A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, Bridge of Spies tells the story of James Donovan (Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life. The film will be released in theaters nationwide on October 16, 2015.

Williams, whose credits include Stars Wars: The Force Awakens and the Harry Potter films, will join Spielberg on his next film, The BFG, beginning later this year, continuing their unprecedented collaboration which they have enjoyed for over 40 years.

Newman has scored many films for DreamWorks, including The Help, Road to Perdition and American Beauty, the latter two for which he received Academy Award® nominations for Best Original Score.

 Bridge of Spies also stars three-time Tony Award® winner Mark Rylance (Twelfth Night, Jerusalem, Boeing Boeing) as Rudolf Abel, a KGB agent defended by Donovan; Scott Shepherd (Side Effects) as CIA operative Hoffman; Academy Award® nominee Amy Ryan (Birdman,Gone Baby Gone) as James’ wife, Mary; Sebastian Koch (A Good Day to Die Hard) as East German lawyer Vogel; and Academy Award nominee Alan Alda (M*A*S*H, The Aviator) as Thomas Watters, a partner at Donovan’s law firm.

Fox 2000 Pictures co-financed Bridge of Spies with DreamWorks in association with Participant Media, and will distribute internationally. Disney will handle domestic distribution. In addition to directing, Spielberg will produce the film with Marc Platt (Into the Woods, Drive) and Kristie Macosko Krieger (Lincoln), with Adam Somner (The Wolf of Wall Street), Daniel Lupi (Her), Jeff Skoll (The Hundred-Foot Journey) and Jonathan King (Cesar Chavez) serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Matt Charman (Suite Francaise) and three-time Academy Award® winners Ethan Coen & Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men, Fargo).