Home Media Magazine - November 11-17, 2007 - (Page 30) REVIEWS I IN THE WINTER DARK Street 11/27 BFS, Thriller, $24.98 DVD, NR. Stars Brenda Blethyn, Ray Barrett, Richard Roxburgh, Miranda Otto. www.homemediamagazine.com healing touch — before God gets the chance to cart him off to heaven. He meets a surly teen, James, as well as a wounded mystery man with a crown of dark curls, a beard and a suspiciously familiar wound in his side. The trio run from police, each for their own reasons. Flynn is incredibly sweet as Seamus — his knitted brows encapsulate all his childish confusion, as well as his unwavering faith — but it’s John Travers as the 15-year-old James who brings the conflict and heart to 48 Angels. Led toward chaos and troublemaking by a tragedy, Travers genuinely projects his irritation at the ridiculously pious Seamus, while also showing his own personal struggle between good and evil, and his desperation for a father figure — be it Jesus or an IRA terrorist. Marion Comer is a triple threat as producer, writer and director. His quiet, lyrical style wonderfully exploits the beauty of Ireland and lends a needed gravitas to Seamus’ fanciful quest for life. That’s not to say the film is humorless, but whatever frustration James or “The Man” (the wounded Jesusfigure) has with Seamus’ certainty, his quest is never treated lightly. 48 Angels is not a film for young children. Rather, it’s more suitable for the Bridge to Teribithia, Grave of the Fireflies or even My Girl crowd who can handle heavier questions of death and religion. – Laura Tiffany I Victory Multimedia Presents 411 On The Independent Music Movement: What all Independent Artists Need to Know MRSP: $49.99 In this new DVD series, music experts come together with everything independent artists need to know. The 6 hour, 3 disc series provides useful information on the music industry, giving the emerging musician a leg up on the competition and getting their music heard. The series offers instruction on distribution, retailing and airplay, marketing, and how to set up your business. Listen to the experts’ advice and practical suggestions such as Derek Sivers, of CDBaby.com, and D.J. John Dean in the UK to name a few. Aneel Robinson Music 4 Da Soul Records 253-831-8834 www.411onmusic.com Order Date 11/27 Street Date 12/11 Distributed By: Baker & Taylor: 800-775-2600 - Handleman Company: 248-362-4400 Ingram: 800-759-5000 - Navarre: 800-728-4000 - VPD: 800-366-2111 WAXWORKS: 800-825-8558 n the Winter Dark is a spellbinding thriller about four neighbors residing in an isolated Australian farming valley who are brought together by their fear of the unknown. The film unfolds like a modernday fable filled with ominous metaphors. The main character, Maurice Stubbs (Barrett), a lifelong farmer with many dark secrets of his own, and his wife of 30 years, Ida (Blethyn), watch their simple way of life usurped by an influx of city folks into their tranquil countryside. First comes Murray Jacob (Roxburgh), a loner with a uncertain past who runs a lawn service and drowns his sorrows in alcohol and country music. Then there’s Ronnie (Otto), a young, out-of-control gothic-looking pregnant woman who is abandoned by her boyfriend and left to fend for herself and tend to a small farm. For the most part, the neighbors mind their own business and keep to themselves, until the day they begin hearing strange noises and seeing a shadowy figure lurking around their farms at night. But it’s not until their animals start turning up mutilated that the four neighbors join forces to stop the mysterious catlike creature that seems to be stalking them. Unfortunately, working together only increases the tension, driving the neighbors to the brink of insanity and forcing them to confront their own personal demons, which may prove more dangerous than the deadly beast hiding in the farmland. In the Winter Dark, based on Tim Winston’s novel of the same name, is not your typical action-packed thriller. The filmmakers create an intense, disturbing mood by leaving a lot of the plot open for viewers to make their own inferences. What really holds the film together are its powerful characters and eerie setting, which have helped make it a favorite at international film festivals since its release. The film also hit the jackpot with an amazing cast of both accomplished actors with Blethyn (a twotime Oscar nominee and Golden Globe Winner for Secrets & Lies) and Barrett, as well as rising stars Roxburgh and Otto. – Matt Miller I 48 ANGELS Prebook 11/13; Street 12/11 MTI, Drama, $24.95 DVD, ‘PG-13’ for brief language and some violence. Stars Shane Brolly, Ciaran Flynn, John Travers, Daragh Kelly. I rish boys in the movies tend toward one of two sides: Uber-literal religiosity or bordering-on-criminal rapscallion behavior. The meditative, touching 48 Angels features both. It treads on ground familiar to fans of Danny Boyle’s excellent Millions, but trades the cash from that film for salvation, healing and death. Seamus, the literal one, is an 8year-old with a death sentence due to a bum heart. Enamored by a friend’s tale of St. Columcille, who left Ireland in a boat without oars or a sail, guided only by God’s wind, Seamus floats off in a rowboat to seek God’s I AN ANGEL NAMED BILLY Street 11/13 Ariztical, Drama, $29.95 DVD, NR. Stars Dustin Belt, Richard Lewis Warren, Hank Fields, Buddy Daniels Friedman. A t best, An Angel Named Billy will serve as a fairy tale for closeted teens or those who’ve been rejected by family for coming out of the closet. As a dramatic story to take seriously, however, the professionalism just isn’t there. The best thing about An Angel Named Billy is Dustin Belt as Billy, a young adult kicked off the farm by his insane father after he discovers Billy kissing another boy. Within about 48 hours, Billy hitchhikes to Los Angeles, finds a gay-friendly café and new best friend, and a live-in job caring for a stroke victim, Mark — no references or background checks necessary. Indeed, within the first day of work, Mark is calling Billy an angel, and Mark’s son, James, has already fallen for Billy. Belt does show a sparkle and inno- cence that might encourage others to so easily invite him into their lives. Hank Fields, as James, is reminiscent of Kyle McLachlan — charming, but with the wide age and experience difference between James and Billy, their relationship comes off as a little creepy, rather than heart-crushingly romantic as the director/writer Greg Osbourne intends. Almost all of the secondary characters — Mark’s drag-queen best friend, the café proprietress, and especially Billy’s father — come off as loud caricatures. This isn’t the type of movie one wishes were never made, such as a bad video-game adaptation. Rather, I just wish it was made better. An Angel Named Billy imparts a crucial message — even if your family doesn’t accept your homosexuality, there are people who will and you can create a new family. Kids such as Billy may sometimes be angels, but they always need to find their own angels — and if this film helps them realize that, it’s worth watching. – Laura Tiffany 30 Home Media Magazine November 11–17, 2007 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.411onmusic.com
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