Indie Film Spotlight – PARTING WORDS

I love watching independent films that impress me far more than Hollywood’s billion dollar films composed mostly of their post production visual effects. PARTING WORDS is definitely one of those great films that speaks to you with great writing, acting, directing, cinematography, and soundtrack. You may have seen this film on WNET’s Reel 13, or heard the Director, Stan Schofield, on The Lionel Show, maybe you’ve even seen it during the Long Island Film Festival in 2008, and if you have not, then you should.

Stan Schofield’s film PARTING WORDS follows the dysfunctional relationship of Vince, Nick and Eddie, three 30-year old men and their childhood best friend, Laura. A little too good-looking and a lot too wild, an intoxicated Laura gets the pot boiling with a shocking toast at her friends’ wedding. The resulting emotional disaster takes the guys, their wives and their small town on a laughter-and-tears journey that dismantles, then reassembles each couple and takes them to a place far better than where they began.

The film reminds me a little bit of “St. Elmo’s Fire” relating to the closeness of their friendships in a small town. Schofield really connects with these characters and it shows with such great cinematic elements. His first film, “Cost of Living” starred Edie Falco andwon Best Feature at the 1999 AFI Fest. PARTING WORDS is currently streaming online at WNET’s website but you can watch the trailer below:

PARTING WORDS – Feature Film by Stan Schofield from MSophia Cortes on Vimeo.

A Good Life: The Joe Grushecky Story

MOVIEPIE.com Reviews “A Good Life: The Joe Grushecky Story” and gives the documentary 6 pie slices!  See review and Trailer below.

His story illustrates that it’s entirely possible to have a good life, even when your dream winds up looking an awful lot like reality.

I’m sure we all have an idea of what it would mean to be a rock star – to work in our chosen field, make lots of money, become a household name, win the love of critics and fans alike, befriend Bruce Springsteen, and live happily ever after. We know what living the dream looks like, right? Except that sometimes only parts of the dream come true, and the documentary A Good Life: The Joe Grushecky Story proves that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

If you’ve never heard of Joe Grushecky, you’re certainly not alone, but this dedicated musician has been working steadily since 1979. In fact, his first album was met with praise from both Rolling Stone and Billboard magazines. So what went wrong? Uncertain of how to market Joe’s unique sound, MCA failed to market his music at all. The TV appearances and opening gigs that should have brought national exposure never happened, and thirty years into his career, Joe Grushecky remains a journeyman musician who has always had to have a day job (principally teaching) to supplement his passion. This could be considered a fairly disappointing turn of events, and you really wouldn’t blame Joe for feeling cheated. The beauty of his story is that he doesn’t.

For all the things that didn’t happen for Joe, the fact remains that he can draw a crowd of hundreds whenever he plays in the New Jersey area. People do know his name and his work…really cool people, like Bruce Springsteen (with whom Grushecky recently collaborated). His story illustrates that it’s entirely possible to have a good life, even when your dream winds up looking an awful lot like reality.

DVD NOTES

Extra features include deleted scenes, the Iron City Houserockers Live, and an acoustic performance of “Beauty Fades”. The bonus cd features music from Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers at Nick’s Fat City in Pittsburgh.

(Courtesy of Moviepie.com)

 

ALSO FEATURED ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB:

Examiner.com

Dallas Post

WYTV

WTAE – TV

KDKA

MovieCityNews.com

Click here for more information about DVD from Virgil Films & Entertainment!

 

See Trailer Below

Downtown Calling — Trailer

This Film looks absolutely amazing and I can’t wait till it comes to NYC!

Narrated by Debbie Harry, the filmmakers take us back to the late 70’s and documents the evolution of NYC’s fertile music and art subculture. It tackles failed economy, crime, housing corruption, social strife, etc…and thru it all this amazing city rocked out international fashion, art, and music! This film showcases everything I love: music, art, and NYC! And it features Fab 5 Freddy (love him!!), Jazzy Jay, Bobbito Garcia, MOS DEF (luuuuuv!), DJ AM, and more!  It’s premiering at the Austin Film Festival and then hopefully will come around soon.

Check out the trailer for DOWNTOWN CALLING and sign up for their newsletter so you’ll know when it plays in your city/town!

Film Critic A.O. Scott Announces Gotham Indie Film Awards

New York Times film critic A.O. Scott hosted a live webcast today announcing the nominations for the 19th annual Gotham Independent Film.

Nominations in six categories were announced including: Best Feature, Best Documentary, Breakthrough Director, Breakthrough Actor, Best Ensemble Performance and Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You.

IFP’s Gotham Awards will be held on Nov. 30 at Cipriani Wall Street.

In addition to the competitive awards, director Kathryn Bigelow, actors Natalie Portman and Stanley Tucci, and producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, will each be presented with a career tribute at the awards event.

“I had nothing to do with this, I am only reading the nominations,” said A.O. Scott.  “Chances are I probably hate most of the movies that are nominated, The ones I hate the most have the best chance of winning.” he added.

See the full video announcement below:

more about “the Gotham Independent Film Awards 10…“, posted with vodpod

October DVD Oral Fixation

Halloween is just around the corner and we’re beginning the celebration with a great psycho stalker indie flick!  Winner of the Francis Ford Coppola Award Winner Drills For Thrills, ORAL FIXATION, stars Chris Keis, Kerry Aissa, and Emily Parker.  The critically acclaimed festival run film, which includes awards for Best Picture at the Atlanta Underground Film Festival, and Best Actress and Best Director at the Long Island Film Expo, is available now on DVD by LifeSize Entertainment!

The movieline says it all: “FINDING A GOOD DENTIST IS HARD, MAKING HIM LOVE YOU CAN BE MURDER.”

Rachel Marks is obsessed with her dentist. When he rejects her continued sexual advances her fragile psych cracks. She sets out to make herself a part of his life by any means necessary—even if it means murder.

It sounds a little glenn close-ish, and nothing like a little psycho chick to make men quiver during any season!

IndiefilmChat.com has a great interview with Director, Jake Cashill, talking about the film, cast, indie filmmaking and more!  You can check out the trailer on Youtube and there are some great reviews below…

MoviePie.com – “It’s not porn, but it is like those nightmares where your teeth fall apart”

Newsblaze.com – “This combo crimedy likely to induce substantial cringes, should also effectively leave viewers in stitches, and more than dentally speaking.”

MovieCityNews.com - “It’s not for people afraid to get their teeth fixed.”

Sad Sorry Saga contest winners announced!

MSOPHIA PR’s  SAD SORRY SAGA Contest is now closed and although it was hard to choose…the winners are on our website www.msophiapr.com!

I am sorry that we could not give all the ladies free tickets but those are the rules.  However, click on the Sheckys promo below, tell your friends, check out the dates and buy some tickets anyway!  The Shecky’s Girls Night Out is a great event that you should NOT miss!!!

SAD-SORRY-SAGA Contest

So far this year has been absolutely depressing…starting with the horrible recession, people lost their jobs, their homes, and even their boyfriends. Taylor Swift got the Kanye shaft, LeAnn Rymes left her hubby for another cutie, Jon & Kate are still up in the freaking air, the Kardashian sisters got their own damn show, Kristin is ruining “The Hills,” AND to top it off, we lost two icons, a dirty dancer and an amazing dj! I think it’s safe to say that so far, this year has sucked!!

I think it’s time we deserve a fun free escape from this horrible year — with that said we’ve got a great Free Giveaway contest to win a pair of Famous Goodie Bag tickets* for you and a friend to Shecky’s Girls Night Out!

Indulge in five hours of cocktails, beer pairings, amazing fashion deals, fab freebies in Shecky’s Famous Goodie Bag, and the best time ever with your BFFs!

Enter To Win at www.MSOPHIAPR.com

Don’t You Forget About Me – JOHN HUGHES

A little piece of my childhood has been yanked from my heart with the passing of John Hughes. He might have never been recognized by the Academy – but he has been recognized by millions of people across the nation. His films remain forever in our hearts, and in our memories. 16 candles, Weird Science, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, are among the favorite classics within my generation. During the ’80s, he gave a generation of young adults, freedom of expression, and a forum of teenage angst and undying laughter.

He has been recognized by esteemed critics like Roger Ebert and a roster of actors who have credited him for their achievements and incredible influences. There will never be another John Hughes in our lifetime.

The list of films Hughes directed, produced or wrote includes such enduring hits as “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Uncle Buck,” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “Curly Sue,” “Mr. Mom,” “Home Alone,” “Pretty in Pink,” “Weird Science,” “She’s Having a Baby,” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “Beethoven,” “101 Dalmatians” and “Baby’s Day Out” — Those films are his awards.

He will always be remembered, and will never be forgotten….and that is his Academy Award.

Thanks for the laughter John, may you R.I.P,

Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club

Check out the trailer to an upcoming documentary on John Hughes, which stars the brat pack on a quest to find the great director…  Don’t You Forget About Me

Time Magazine has a pretty good Top 10 list of his memorable movie moments…take a trip down memory lane…TOP 10 JOHN HUGHES MOMENTS

Humpday Highlights – Movies of the Week 7/23

One of my most anticipated movies coming up is Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” and I can’t wait!  The teaser trailer has JUST been released (via IGN.com):

I should also mention another upcoming flick, “El Camino” is an independent film which was given 3 stars by Roger Ebert, starring Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss and Chris Denham (“Charlie Wilson’s War” and Scorcesi’s upcoming film, “Shutter Island”).  The film will pleasantly surprise and surely satisfy.  Check out interviews with Director, Erik Weigel and starring actors, Chris Denham and Elisabeth Moss at Indiefilmchat.com.

The DVD debuts Tuesday, 7/28 and you can check out ElCaminoTheMovie.com for info, and buy the film at IndieFilmKiosk.com, and you can watch the trailer below:

Green Thursdays – 7/16

• Living in Brooklyn doesn’t mean we can’t get fresh, organic fruits & veggies from local farmers…it means we have to bring granny carts and avoid subways!  The entire list of the closest and local farmer’s market in Brooklyn are listed (with contact info) on this site, bookmark it!  NY Farmer’s Markets

• New Yorkers have another option besides the evil million-dollar man, Bloomberg for Mayor.  The Green Party has nominated Reverend Billy Talen for mayor of NYC and he may be the best candidate we’ve had so far.  Read all about his campaign and his “Rise of the 500 Neighborhoods” at www.VoteRevBilly.org — and then become his fan on facebook, follow him on twitter, and vote for him!  You can even visit him at his headquarters to get more info!  VoteRevBilly.org

• For those of you who missed the Mount Rushmore Banner Stunt by Greenpeace climbers….check out the activists behind-the-scenes footage here.  Pretty Cool stuff!  Ecorazzi 

• Another cool development:  Plantagon Develops Vertical Farm that can go anywhere!  via TreeHugger

• If you haven’t checked out the film, Food Inc., yet….you should!  The documentary uncovers the way our government poorly controls our food, regulations and unhealthy farms.  Organic food helps Americans stay healthy, safer for our children, reduces diabetes and overweight problems in our country, and helps sustain local economy.  Everyone wins!  Except the government and places like (evil) Wal-Mart who are all going to hell anyway (insert evil laugh).  Robert Kenner’s documentary is HIGHLY important, and even Chipotle Restaurant offered free screenings in NYC.  If you haven’t seen it yet…you SHOULD.  check out the trailer here: