"Hacksaw Ridge" Review by Tim Hellman

'HACKSAW RIDGE': Five Stars (Out of Five)

The new war biopic set during WWII, and based on the life of Desmond Doss; the first conscientious objector, and American pacifist, to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The film was directed by Mel Gibson, and it's the first movie he's directed since 2006's 'APOCALYPTO'. It was written by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Rachel Griffiths and Hugo Weaving. It's received rave reviews from critics and fans alike, and it's also been a modest hit at the Box Office (costing just $45 million to make). I think it's one of the best war films I've ever seen!

Desmond T. Doss (Garfield) was raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, by a very religious mother (Griffiths). His father (Weaving) was an alcoholic, due to his negative experiences in the Great War. After almost killing his brother, Hal (Roman Guerriero), while fighting when they were kids, Desmond becomes a very passionate believer in the Sixth Commandment. This becomes a severe problem when Desmond feels the need to serve his country, during World War II. After a great deal of harassment, and several obsessive attempts by his commanding officers (Worthington and Vaughn) to have him thrown out of the Army, Desmond goes on to save the lives of 75 fellow soldiers, as a medic during the Battle of Okinawa, and win the Medal of Honor.

The movie has been praised by many critics as being the best war film since 'SAVING PRIVATE RYAN', and I would agree; it's every bit as horrifically realistic, and violent, and it's also just as well made. I'm a big fan of Mel Gibson; as an actor and a director, but especially a director (and I've missed him over the last ten years). This film stands as one of his greatest; it's at least in the same league as 'BRAVEHEART' and 'THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST'. I'm also a fan of Andrew Garfield; he's my favorite Spider-Man, and I think he's a very talented and passionate actor. He's good in the lead, and Worthington, Vaughn and Weaving are all outstanding in supporting roles as well. What I most like about the film is it's message; it deals with a very passionate rebel outcast, who must do battle with nearly everyone else, and take on a lot of harassment, in order to stick up for his beliefs; and he does it beautifully. The movie is extremely moving, and breathtakingly beautiful; it's one of the year's very best!

"Everest" Review - Written by Tim Hellman

'EVEREST': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Disaster flick, based on actual events; detailing the fatal attempts of two exhibition groups, to summit Mount Everest. It was directed by Baltasar Kormakur and written by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy. The film stars Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Sam Worthington, John Hawkes, Emily Watson, Robin Wright and Keira Knightley. It's a slow moving, but ultimately intense, mountain climbing adventure flick; not great, but definitely worth the watch.

The film takes place in 1996; and follows a very experienced mountain guide, named Rob Hall (Clarke). Gyllenhaal plays Scott Fischer; another very skilled guide, who led another group up Everest. Other climbers included a doctor named Beck Weathers (Brolin), and a mailman named Doug Hansen (Hawkes). The movie details their disastrous attempts, to reach the summit that spring (and come back down), as well as many others.

The first half of the movie is extremely slow-paced, it did help me to get to know, and care for, a lot of the main characters though. The second half of the film is both suspenseful and visually spectacular (it especially looks beautiful in 3D). It's also pretty depressing; and I was surprised to learn which characters survived, and which didn't. The directing is decent, and I like most of the main cast (especially Gyllenhaal). It's not the most consistently thrilling adventure flick, but it is entertaining enough.

Official Trailer for the Upcoming Western Thriller "The Keeping Room"

Drafthouse Films recently send us over the official trailer for their upcoming film "The Keeping Room". The film stars Brit Marling, Hailee Steinfeld, Muna Otaru, Sam Worthington.

"The Keeping Room" hits theaters in limited release on September 25th with nationwide rollout during the month of October.

Plot Synopsis:

In this radically reimagined American Western set towards the end of the Civil War, Southerner Augusta (Brit Marling, Arbitrage, The East) encounters two renegade, drunken soldiers (Sam Worthington, Avatar) who are on a mission of pillage and violence. After escaping an attempted assault, Augusta races back to the isolated farmhouse that she shares with her sister Louise (Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit, Pitch Perfect 2) and their female slave Mad (newcomer Muna Otaru.) When the pair of soldiers track Augusta down intent on exacting revenge, the trio of women are forced to take up arms to fend off their assailants, finding ways to resourcefully defend their home--and themselves--as the escalating attacks become more unpredictable and relentless.

Based on Julia Hart's revered 2012 Black List screenplay, and directed by Academy Award® Nominated Daniel Barber (Harry Brown), The Keeping Room is a tense and uncompromising tale of survival that also shatters both gender and genre conventions.

"The Keeping Room": Official Trailer

Official Stills for the Upcoming Film "Kidnapping Mr. Heineken"

Alchemy recently released stills for their upcoming film "Kidnapping Mr. Heineken". The upcoming film stars Jim Sturgess, Sam Worthington, Ryan Kwanten, Jemima West and Anthony Hopkins.

"Kidnapping Mr Heineken" hits theaters in limited release on March 6th.

Plot Synopsis:

Based on crime journalist Peter R. de Vries’s account of what has been called "the most notorious kidnapping of the 20th Century”, "KIDNAPPING MR. HEINEKEN” explores the abduction of Dutch brewery magnate Freddy Heineken(Anthony Hopkins) and his chauffeur, Ab Doderer, who were kidnapped in 1983 and held for what was the largest ransom at the time.

Drafthouse Films Acquires North American Rights to "The Keeping Room"

Drafthouse Films recently released information that they've acquired the North American rights to the Toronto International Film Festival standout "The Keeping Room". The film stars Brit Marling, Hailee Steinfeld and Sam Worthington.

"The Keeping Room" hits theaters in Fall of 2015.

Press Release:

Drafthouse Films has acquired North American distribution rights to Julia Hart's powerful Black List Western feature, The Keeping Room, after its acclaimed world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival.

Expertly directed by Daniel Barber (Harry Brown), The Keeping Room focuses on the violent resilience and dramatic camaraderie of three Southern women as their home is besieged during the purges at the close of the American Civil War. Forced to defend their land and fight for their lives, the women take up arms against their male oppressors, shattering gender and genre conventions in the process.

A forceful turn from Brit Marling (Arbitrage, I Origins) heads a formidable trio of female leads that includes Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, Ender's Game) and newcomer Muna Otaru in a powerful break out role. Playing against his usual character, Sam Worthington (Avatar, Man On A Ledge), excels as a villainous renegade soldier intent on killing the women and razing their home.

Based on Julia Hart's revered 2012 Black List screenplay, The Keeping Room deliberately eschews Hollywood Western tropes and challenges gender politics as the female protagonist is defined in brave and provocative fashion. Described as "a feminist western with bite" (Indiewire) and "a beautifully breathless revisionist western" midway between Cold Mountain and Straw Dogs (Little White Lies),The Keeping Room is unflinching filmmaking anchored in the "bold and fearless" performances (Film School Rejects) delivered by its lead women.

"The Keeping Room is a film that instantly resonated with us on so many levels," said James Emanuel Shapiro, Drafthouse Films COO. "Not only is it filmmaking of the highest level but it challenges formulas with such convictions that we were all affected by its potency."

"We could not ask for a better partner than Drafthouse for The Keeping Room," said producer Justin Horowitz. "As with everything they do, we look forward to a theatrical release that is classy, energetic, passionate, and a whole lot of fun."

The Keeping Room will open in an expansive theatrical release across North America in September 2015 and will be released on a variety of VOD platforms and digital, DVD, and Blu-ray formats after its theatrical run.

The Keeping Room is a production of Wind Dancer Films, Gilbert Films and Anonymous Content and was produced by Jordan Horowitz, Judd Payne, Matt Williams, David McFadzean, Dete Meserve and Patrick Newall. Executive Producers are Gary Gilbert and Michael Sugar. The deal was negotiated by WME Global on behalf of the producers and James Emanuel Shapiro and Tim League from Drafthouse Films.