Political assassination is a sensitive subject especially for those that believe in their government and support their leaders. Hindsight can make heroes or villains out of those who take the law into their own hands to end evil regimes.   13 Minutes is about an assassin that saw his absolute social responsibility to kill a very popular politician, Adolf Hitler. It was November of 1939 when carpenter and metal worker, Georg Elser , 36 undertook the killing of the most protected man in the world.   Elser had associated with Communists and had joined a workers union.   Elser considered Hitler both a criminal and a Gypsy.   He felt the ambitious dictator was dangerous for humanity. Elser hatched a clever plot to plant a bomb behind the speaker’s platform at the popular Burgerbraukeller Hall where Hitler gave an annual longwinded speech.   Elser was able to sneak into the venue at night spending two months rebuilding a wood and plaster column co...

Los Angeles, CA —I see a lot of films most of which are really forgettable.   I have a policy of only reviewing films that I totally enjoy.   This one certainly meets my criteria!   It’s called, T his Last Lonely Place staring Rhys Coiro, Xander Berkeley and Carly Pope .   The Humphrey Bogart Estat e through Santana Films,  produced this film, both written and directed by Steve Anderson .   It’s a Noir style film of the kind I always enjoy when the story is terrific as this one. Military veteran Sam Taylor ( Rhys Coiro ) is an L.A. taxi cab driver on his last scheduled shift before leaving for Hawaii to hopefully reunite with his ex and two young daughters. He picks up a fare, Frank Devore ( Xander Berkeley ) and the tale begins.  Devore is a troubled investment banker with a lot of questionable cash.  Soon they are joined by Devore’s hot mistress, Faye Gardner  ( Carly Pope )  and this surprising plot thickens. You wi...

Los Angeles, CA —I was invited by an Austrian actor friend, Thomas Mikusz to a screening at the Goethe Institute here.  He was moderating the Q&A of German film Director   Edward Berger  ( of the film, JACK ) and   music director  Reinhold Heil .    Ive been   watching this exciting series that now has me absolutely spellbound!  The writing is top notch.  It’s a Sundance-TV original series.  Sounds American, right?  No! It’s Called, DEUTSCHLAND 83 a cold war thriller about the East German Stazi Intelligence and the very hot cold war before Communism as we knew it fell. Interestingly enough this was released here first.   Germany will have to wait until next month to see this! In an age of reality TV garbage and sensational but mindless, over the top special effect films, this is a wonderful story and character driven series.   Yes, terrific actors actually bring the written words to life off ...

Los Angeles, CA —I have to say I enjoy going to film screenings and meeting cast and  crew-members  of the films that are in competition for the various awards.   This time it was The Imitation Game .    For me this was a treat! This is an untold but true World War Two story that was covered up in the name of National Security for more than 50 years.   Actors pray for a film character that can be their role of a lifetime.   The role of mathematician Alan Turing is just such a dream role.   Writers had to tell the story and in this case most or all the principals are all dead.   Their conversations must be recreated and the writers were incredibly clever.   Graham Moore crafted the screenplay based on Andrew Hodges’ book. This story is about the cracking of the impossible to break Nazi Enigma code that shortened the War and saved an estimated 20 million lives. The starring role of Alan Turing went to journeyman actor Bene...

Los Angeles, CA —Getting to see a film at the Darrell Zanuck Theater on the Fox lot has always been a treat.   Tonight it was Exodus:   Gods and Kings starring Christen Bale and Joel Edgerton .   Ridley Scott directed this film.   It happened to be in 3D but this was not our father’s 3-D.   It was amazing to say the least. The other production surprise was a generous use of camera drones.   They smoothly hovered and passed over the actors at low altitudes.    The story was an old one.   It’s an updated Ten Commandments with Christen Bale as Moses and  Joel Edgerton as Pharaoh Ramses. These are journeyman actors that gave great performances.   The special effects were epic and very believable. Fox security workers were out in force and armed with night vision equipment diligently looking for anyone trying to capture video or audio with any devices.   Unfortunately the camera ban prevented me getting selfie sho...

Los Angeles, CA —I attended a SAG screening of A Most Violent Year put on by the SAG Foundation . I never really know what to expect at these events however this was a very enjoyable and entertaining experience.   J.C. Chandor expertly wrote the script and directed the film.   It starred Oscar Isaac  as Abel Morales, an ambitious immigrant  and Jessica Chastain as his wife, Anna Morales .   All three stayed for a Q&A and were kind enough to press the flesh later.   The film is about a New York couple that is in the Home Heating Oil business.   This is a tough cutthroat industry in a city where corruption is a way of life.   Isaac seems to effortlessly play the male protagonist that seems to channel a young  Al Pacino from the Godfather films .  He dresses like a the cover of GQ Magazine and has the perfect haircut. He’s a handsome and classy man of his word caught in a mess. When you actually meet and talk to I...

Leni Riefenstahl Carice van Houten Berlin, Germany —I first talked about this last February when there was a tease article in Variety Magazine . The Jessie Owens story is coming to the big screen.   The film titled, Race  is starring  Stephan James   as Owens and he is joined Jeremy Irons  and William Hurt in this film.     Stephen Hopkins is directing the film.  Shooting  began this week in Berlin. The multi-talented Dutch actress, Carice van Houten  who happens to be my personal favorite has signed on to play the legendary German film director Leni Riefenstahl . Van Houten was cast in the once in a lifetime role of the accidental Dutch resistance hero, Rachel Stein / Ellis de Vries in Paul Verhoeven’s film, Black Book (2006).   That’s still is my favorite film of all time! Today, van Houten graces the Game of Game of Thrones  cast as the Red Priestess, Melisandre . Riefenstahl was a gorgeous dancer and...