South Central (DVD)
The emotional, hard-hitting tale of a former L.A. gang member who returns to his neighborhood from prison resolved to steer his young son away from street-gang life, SOUTH CENTRAL is a no nonsense drama from director Steve Anderson. Deuce gang member Bobby Johnson has just been released from prison. He returns to his old neighborhood to find a few surprises: First, Bobby learns he has a son, Jimmie. But Carole, Jimmie`s mother, is now a drug addict and the lover of fellow gang member Ray Ray. To make matters worse, the local pusher-pimp, Genie Lamp, hires a thug to force Bobby to take heroin. Vengeful, Bobby kills Genie and is sent to prison, this time for 10 years.
While serving his sentence, Bobby transforms himself from die-hard delinquent to righteous radical only to discover that his Jimmie -- now also involved with the Deuces -- was shot while robbing a car. Hopefully, Bobby will make it out of prison in time to be a real father to his son.R"
Director: Steve Anderson
ACTORS: Glenn Plummer, Carl Lumbly, Christian Coleman, Byron Keith Minns
Little Annie Rooney (DVD) Silent Film Tomboy Mary Pickford and her street urchin friends set out to find the one who killed her policeman-father. This silent film is set in the multi-ethnic slums of Lower East Side New York.
Tomboy Mary Pickford and her street urchin friends set out to find the one who killed her policeman-father. This silent film is set in the multi-ethnic slums of Lower East Side New York.
NR"
Director: William Beaudine
ACTORS: Mary Pickford, William Haines, Gordon Griffith
Cold Mountain (VHS)
Directed by Anthony Minghella (THE ENGLISH PATIENT), this Civil War saga addresses romance, friendship, and the ravages of war--both in the field and on the home front. Far more than a simple love story, Minghella`s film captures the horrors of war for both those fighting it, and for those left behind. Based on the Charles Frazier novel, this is a tale of hope, longing, redemption, second chances, and faith. Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman) is a proper lady who accompanies her preacher father (Donald Sutherland) to Cold Mountain, North Carolina. She waits for her love, W.P. Inman (Jude Law)--a sensitive man with little use for many words--to return from war. In the process she learns basic survival skills and finds strength from no-nonsense Ruby (Renie Zellweger), a spitfire who can work the land as well as any man. Meanwhile, wounded Inman has had enough of war and killing, and is slowly working his way back to Ada despite the perils of being a Confederate deserter. Law and Kidman are genuinely touching as two virtual strangers who invest all of their faith in each other, and Zellweger is astounding as the uncultured but compassionate Ruby. Rounding out the cast is an impressive array of actors, including Brendan Gleeson, Ray Winstone, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jack White (of the White Stripes), Kathy Baker, Giovanni Ribisi, and many others.R"
Director: Anthony Minghella
Little Shots of Happiness (DVD)
Frances has dug herself a hole of boredom and misery with her lifeless job and her loveless marriage. She begins to combat her lack of identity by creating a wild nightlife character for herself to play. Frances is soon clubhopping through Boston, taking home a different man every night in this darkly comedic study of identity crisis. Todd Verow directed, wrote, and plays a principle role in his follow up to the independent success, FRISK.R"
Director: Todd Verow
ACTORS: Bonnie Dickinson, Todd Verow
Bare Witness (DVD)
Julie Spencer is a porn actress and call girl with a large collection of videotapes of herself performing with clients. When she turns up dead, the first person the authorities come to for answers is her roommate Carly (Angie Everhart). But when it becomes clear that she is also a potential victim, Detective Killian (Daniel Baldwin) is assigned to protect her. It isn`t long before the two of them embark on an affair which will lead him into the eyes of a killer.R"
Director: Kelley Cauthen
ACTORS: Angie Everhart, Daniel Baldwin, Catalina Larranaga