Serial Bomber (DVD)
A man obsessed with his ex-girlfriend plots revenge by planting a bomb somewhere in the city of Seattle. But when the plan of an intrepid FBI investigator goes awry, the bomber`s murderous intent shifts targets. Based on the novel Christmas Apocalypse by Toshiyuki Tajima.R"
Director: Keoni Waxman
ACTORS: Lori Petty, Jason London, Yuki Amami, James Le Gros, Kaoru Hatsuse
Texasville (DVD)
Director Peter Bogdanovich revisits small-town Texas life in the long-awaited sequel to his 1971 masterpiece THE LAST PICTURE SHOW. Its been over 30 years since Duane Jackson (Jeff Bridges), Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms), and Jacy Farrow (Cybill Shepherd) graduated from high school. Life is still bittersweet as the town prepares to host the countys centennial celebration. Duane struck it rich with oil, but is saddled with $12 million in debt and a shop-a-holic wife, Karla (Annie Potts). To make matters worse, his dysfunctional children are out of control: his teenage son has affairs with older, married women; his daughter is on a continuous carousel of divorces and engagements; and the twins are egg throwing, smart-mouthed adolescents. Duane himself is a local legend with the ladies, but hes completely thrown when Jacy, whos been living abroad, returns to his sleepy hometown to mourn the death of her child. Sonny, meanwhile, has become a local politician and businessman, but is increasingly forgetful and suffers from all too realistic hallucinations. Other cast members reprising their original roles from the first film include Cloris Leachman as Ruth Popper, Eileen Brennan as Genevieve Morgan, and Randy Quaid as Lester Marlow. TEXASVILLE, like its prequel, is based on a Larry McMurtry novel.R"
Director: Peter Bogdanovich
ACTORS: Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Cloris Leachman, Timothy Bottoms, Randy Quaid
Dakota (DVD)
A young man with a troubled family hits the road. He takes a job at a ranch and begins a romance with the rancher`s daughter. As he helps her handicapped son discover the joy of living, he wins the respect and admiration of the townspeople and comes to terms with his past.PG"
Director: Fred Holmes
ACTORS: Lou Diamond Phillips, Dee Dee Norton, Eli Cummins, Jordan Burton
Money Buys Happiness (DVD)
Money and Georgia are a couple who have never been successful in any arena. So it is no surprise that their marriage is failing, too. Their chance to reconcile comes when they walk across the city pushing a piano they were able to snag for free. A poignant black comedy with considerable warmth taking into account its hard-luck characters.NR"
Director: Gregg Lachow
ACTORS: Megan Murphy, Caveh Zahedi, Jeff Weatherford, Michael Chick, Cynthia Whalen
Vengo (DVD)
Celebrating the art of flamenco dancing and the culture from which it was born, VENGO is about a centuries-old dispute between two gypsy families in Andalusia, Spain. Separated into two groups of constantly battling gangs, the families struggle to move beyond violence to overcome their misunderstandings. Between confrontations, a physically disabled young man, Diego (Orestes Villasan Rodriguez), who has a passion for flamenco music and dance, is entertained by his uncle, Caco (Antonio Canales). Caco, whose own daughter died young, treats Diego like a son. To nurture Diego`s love of flamenco, Caco arranges for some of the top performers in the region to come give concerts. In an especially powerful scene, La Caita, a gypsy singer, wails her liberating anthems in a Seville restaurant.
Tony Gatlif (LATCHO DROM, GADJO DILO) directs this culturally rich, soulful film, which uses the rapid tempo of flamenco percussion to express both happiness and pain. A jumping, unsteady camera, and an often blurry focus give VENGO a visually realistic, documentary feeling. Extreme close-ups draw viewers to the characters, while distanced shots of eclectic parties and performances push the viewer back away from the action reinforcing the awe and admiration that spectators enjoy. It is also interesting to note that the lead actor, Antonio Canales, who is an accomplished flamenco dancer in real life, does not dance in the film.NR"
Director: Tony Gatlif
ACTORS: Antonio Canales, Orestes Villasan Rodriguez, Antonio Perez Dechent, Bobote, Juan Luis Corrientes
