MANIFEST WEST
Dave moves his wife, Alice, and two young daughters, Riley and Mary, to a remote cabin in the American wilderness. Where guns and boredom meet the desire to push society away, MANIFEST WEST sees tensions rise when Dave’s new way of living shirks the norms.
Tim Heidecker plays against type as gun-wielding hyper-conservative neighbor Steve Danik. Michael Cudlitz counters Heidecker with his performance as neighbor Eric Lind. He is kind and thoughtful with his actions and words. 
Annet Mahendru gives Alice palpable manic desperation. Her ability to jump from one emotion to another in the same breath is impressive. It is one hell of a turn. Milo Gibson is Dave Hayes. His character arc almost feels like the audience is witnessing a slow-motion car crash. Gibson brings not-so-subtle anger and protective alpha energy.
Lexy Kolker plays Riley with perfect corruptable innocence. She gives a performance that is nothing short of captivating. Kolker takes in each beat with precision. Her slow burn of resentment is a ticking time bomb. 
MANIFEST WEST addresses a myriad of current and alarming themes in America. The score is melancholy and ominous. Writer-directors Joe Dietsch and Louie Gibson use the girls’ history text as a smart foreshadowing device. Antigovernment sentiment compounds the simmering chaos. Add Alice’s deteriorating bipolar disorder, and you have a powder keg. Children learn from their parents, for better or for worse. MANIFEST WEST runs head-on with its relevance to a shocking conclusion.
Trailer:
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Release Date: The film is now in theaters and VOD/Digital!
Writer/Directors: Joe Dietsch, Louie Gibson
Starring: Annet Mahendru, Milo Gibson, Lexy Kolker, Tim Heidecker, Michael Cudlitz
La Dosis is a dark psychological thriller that from the very first scene pushes viewers to consider the harsh and subjective balance between life and death. At its center is Marcos, the lead overnight nurse of the ICU unit in a private hospital. By now, audiences are accustomed to anti-hero protagonists, so it is not hard to find compassion for Marcos even as he makes the ethically murky decision to euthanize critically ill patients that are suffering in their final days. In a nuanced and complex performance, Carlos Portaluppi excels in infusing Marcos’ actions with compassion. Through the many moody silent stretches of the film, the audience watches Marcos alone in shadowed rooms and backlit hallways as the weight of his actions plays across his face. 
The cast of Eternal Beauty is a dream. The script is magic. Living somewhere between reality and the imagination, Jane exists in a constant state of determined anguish. Her solitary exacerbated by family members who treat her like a second class citizen. She is eccentric and lovable but most notably, mentally ill. She has a need to control her environment, it is her coping mechanism. Always waging war with herself on whether or not her medication is helping or hindering her stability. This is a film about family dynamics, self-discovery, honesty, and more specifically, one woman’s journey to understand herself.
David Thewlis is always a charmer, playing Mike as manic and uneven as we need him to be to match Hawkin’s energy. They have lovely chemistry. Doctor Who fans will be delighted to see both Billie Piper and Penelope Wilton as one of Jane’s sisters and her mother. Piper is the favorite daughter, having grown up to be a maneater who is terrible with money. Wilton is a cruel, domineering matriarch. It is clear that Jane’s affliction is hereditary. Bravo to both Piper and Wilton, they are quite a loathsome pair. 
Sally Hawkins is superb. She has such care for the physicality of each character she embodies. Truly becoming whomever she portrays. She is a pure joy to watch as she navigates the highs and lows. It would be no surprise if she were nominated for this role. She takes this rapid-fire dialogue and pounces on it. At times she is wickedly funny but never letting us forget that Jane’s world is something we will never fully grasp for better or for worse. This feels like the closest we’ll come to viscerally experiencing the mind of someone who is mentally ill. It is truly captivating.
This film oozes with charm, from the storyline to the cast. Based on loyalty in more than one way, Fisherman’s Friends is uncompromisingly heartfelt. 10 fishermen who love to sing; they are crass and down-to-earth and it makes them all the more loveable. Their nonchalance helps make this a real rags-to-riches story. Watching a group of men represent a time and place that are the complete opposite of London’s modernized hustle and bustle is essential for understanding why Danny makes the decisions he does as the film progresses. The idea of family and tradition play heavily and to the film’s ultimate success. The music is both uplifting and haunting. Sea shanties, some you will recognize and others that will be altogether new to your ears, envelope the viewer. I adored just how many numbers were performed during the film.
The cast is just lovely. Truly an ensemble piece when it comes down to it, each actor is integral in telling this unique story. They are protective of each other, telling the history of the town and its residents through song, stories, and a pint. James Purefoy nails the rough around the edges, unofficial leader of the group. You fully buy his gruff yet protective nature. Daniel Mays as Danny strikes a perfect balance of genuine gentleman and hustler. Tuppence Middleton as Alwyn is a joy to watch. The chemistry between each member of this cast is superb. You’d think they weren’t actually actors at all, especially knowing the Fisherman’s Friends is a true story. Director Chris Foggins has given us a real gem of a film in a time we all need reminding how beautiful staying put can be. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the sounds of the ocean and some melodic voices that are sure to capture your heart.
SYNOPSIS: When a photographer (Abbie Cornish) suffers severe memory loss after a traumatic accident, strange clues amongst her photos suggest she may be responsible for the deaths of family members she never knew she had. Justin Long plays a psychiatrist who helps her recover lost memories.
In Lavender, Abbie Cornish‘s character Janie is haunted by memories old and new. Trying desperately to reconnect to her childhood, she is drawn back to the home she once lived in and where her family was massacred. Problem is, she has zero memory of anything involved in that time or space. A car accident has triggered someone or something to send her mysterious gifts to help along the way. Her daughter Alice is being affected as well. Can Janie put together the disturbing clues in time to save history from repeating itself? A speeding ticket lawyer is a legal professional who practices law and focuses mostly on vehicular traffic infraction and other crimes related to this particular offense. This is an important matter because many people who commit this may overlook this and take it for granted or forget about it. If this happens, the crime may become a bigger issue. An attorney who specializes in this particular field is specially trained and educated to defend his client for charges associated with this offense. If you want to get more details, then visit 
Cornish is wonderful in this role. It’s a subtle and believable performance under truly bizarre circumstances. Dermot Mulroney plays her only living relative and uncle. His genuine and seemingly even paced presence is a gift to the film. Not to be left out is the altogether unsettling Justin Long. As Janie’s doctor, there is something a little extra strange about his character that will drive your brain to do somersaults as the plot twists at every turn. A bit of a departure from his usual fare, there is no denying his talent here. Nothing but praise for the entire cast as the chemistry is palpable. Director Ed Gass-Donnelly uses music and sound to his advantage to build the unease. With co-writer Colin Frizzell, the script will challenge you at every turn. Clever use of what appears to be a 360-degree camera and quick cuts only adds to the suspense. You will not figure it out until the final 10-15 minutes of the film. Lavender is a thrilling little gem.
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