KGB Productions

Based on a Eric Rohmer movie called " Chloe in the Afternoon " about a marriage & infidelity Chris Rock's movie " I think I love my Wife " seems to be an update on the theme. What may have looked good on paper doesn't translate too well on the screen. I understand that the theme is a universal one, and one that many directors have done. I guess the studio saw Chris Rock was doing it, and he would be able to put a hip new fresh slant on the old theme of marriage & infidelity. Only thing is that this movie doesn't know whether it wants to be a comedy or a drama. There are some comedic pieces in the film that feel forced, and the narration that Chris Rock does gets annoying at times. From the coming attractions I thought this had some potential, but after seeing it on cable over the week-end I have to tell you I was a bit disappointed. The film does have some interesting casting choices such as Steve Buscemi as George Rock's co-worker & f...

What possessed me to watch Brian DePalma's movie " Body Double " the other night I really can't say. I'm a fan of DePalma's and I do remember always laughing at his tributes to Hitchcock in his films. "Body Double" is a film that takes strongly from Hitchcock's " Vertigo " and " Rear Window ", and DePalma does it brilliantly. Roger Ebert said it best in the beginning of his review of the film that it bears repeating: " Body Double " is an exhilarating exercise in pure filmmaking, a thriller in the Hitchcock tradition in which there's no particular point except that the hero is flawed, weak, and in terrible danger -- and we identify with him completely. The movie is so cleverly constructed, with the emphasis on visual storytelling rather than dialogue, that we are neither faster nor slower than the hero as he gradually figures out the scheme that has entrapped him. And the casting of a Hitchcockian average guy als...

To begin with " American Gangster " has two good performances by Russel Crowe , and Denzel Washington . The picture directed by Ridley Scott is an interesting crime drama about the rise and fall of Frank Lucas a heroin kingpin from Manhattan in the early seventies. It is also about Det. Richie Roberts who eventually brought down one of the most powerful drug lords of America while at the same time cleaning up NYC's corrupt police force. This is of what epics are made for, but American Gangster doesn't feel epic. Instead it feels like a long "Law & Order" episode. The art direction and cinematography of the film is quite good, and it exudes that 70's era flavor. NYC was in decay, and the big apple had a few worms in it. The performances from both Washington, and Crowe are good, but nothing we've already not seen. Crowe's performance echos Paciono's performance in the film "Serpico", and Washington's performance gives us a bit...

I just happened to catch the movie Hot Fuzz on last night on one of the cable stations, and was thoroughly entertained by the film. Written by Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and directed by Edgar Wright Hot Fuzz is a spoof on the cop genre. Mr Wright is also responsible for the movie Shaun of the Dead which is a spoof of the zombie genre. Wright plays it more tongue in cheek throughout the film, and there are some funny laughs in the film which you don't see coming. The only problem with the film is maybe it's length at 122 minutes. I enjoyed the story, and the set-up, but I do know that sometimes audiences want more laughs and quicker pacing, Maybe that's why it didn't do as well as it should have when the film came out. Yet the soaring, rocking climax of the film more than justifies any pacing issues, and I'll tell you if you're waiting for the explosions and gunfire you won't be disappointed. All in all I liked this film, and I had a fun time. Simon Peg also w...

"John Adams" the mini series that is showing on HBO on Sunday nights is a interesting film about the man who served as our second president, and who many consider the voice of "The Declaration of Independence". Staring Paul Giamatti as John Adams and Laura Linney as his wife Abigail the series could be easily called John & Abigail since it describes their 54 year old marriage and love story. With that and the backdrop being the revolutionary war "John Adams is a dramatic piece of film making. Budgeted at over or about 100 million dollars the production value of the series is fantastic. The actors, the sets, and even the costumes are stellar. Produced by Tom Hanks's company Playtone, and HBO "John Adams" is a film that shows how the characters lived back then with unflinching candor. The screenplay written by David McCullough is one that portrays how the events actually transpired. McCullough wrote his Pulitzer prize novel about John Adams by d...

I had heard a lot about this film, and when it got nominated for several Academy Awards my interest peaked, but as much as I love the Coen Brothers I just didn't have the time to see this film until now on DVD. I thought the film was a strong character piece where the landscape played an important part in the narrative. I don't know what else to say about this movie that hasn't been said before. I came away from the movie knowing that I had seen a good piece of cinema. They say they don't make good films these days but "No Country for Old Men" is proof that they do. I've been a fan of the Coen brothers since "Blood Simple". In fact my film " Deadly Obsessions " was an attempt in trying to make a film like "Blood Simple" albeit on a radically lower budget then the Coens. Part action adventure, part film noir, part crime drama "No Country for Old Men" is a film that will stay with you long after you see it, and good fi...

 I first read about Amy Walker in the Philadelphia Inquirer. She is an actress who lives here in Philly. Her video of her doing 21 accents was posted to some web site called Break.com. Within days the video got several hundred thousand hits. The video turned "viral", and Amy has since been on the Today show with Matt Lauer & Meredith Vieira. Why write about Ms Walker? Simply put she has talent, and in order to make a film you need some good talent in front of the camera. I know some producers treat actors and actresses like cattle. A lot of directors & producers treat actors as props to move within the frame of their film and no more, but Ms Walker is the real deal. Take a look at her videos on YouTube . She's the whole package. I'd kill to work with actors of such caliber. I was fortunate to work with them in my film. It is that privilege of working with such creative spirits that compels me forward. There is no high better, and there is no substitute when a...

Okay so the debate has raged on for so long that there are converts on both sides. Coming from a film background I happen to like the digital video. Like I always said tape is cheap, film isn't. The other day I came across a article in Government video by Wayne Cole. The title of the article was " The impact of compact ", and he had some things to say that I've been concerned about, and why I still haven't abandoned film. To boil it all down the article dealt with resolution of DV cameras. This included DV, HDV and XD CAM HD. To quote the article: "Video resolution is related to the luminance bandwidth in the recorded signal. Smaller imagers capture less light and therefore less resolution. Lossy compression formats like DV, HD, and XD CAM HD are based on throwing out high-frequency information that will be least noticed by the human eye. In other words resolution is sacrificed in the hopes that viewers will not notice." This is what has always bothered ...

I just found out that John Polonia had passed away on Monday February 25th of a heart aneurysm. Now I only saw a few of both Mark & John's films, and I believe I met John way back at some convention whose name escapes me. No I wasn't a fan of their films, but I had a certain respect for the guys. They made a bunch of low budget horror films that got distributed and seen. John's knowledge of filmmaking and filmmaking history was astounding, and he LOVED what he was doing. In my book that's all that matters. So I feel obligated to write this in respect and admiration for John. He was taken way too young, and he leaves a wife and young son behind which is tragic enough. My condolences go out to his family, his wife and young son and all who knew John Polonia. There's a great tribute here to John

I finally sat down and watched the movie " Once ", and actually enjoyed it. I know this has been revered as the little movie that could, and its win for best song at the Oscars seems to bear that out, but actually it’s a good film. Written and directed by John Carney the film is about a relationship between two musicians. One is a street singer, and another is a young woman from Prague. Essentially the film is about the creative process, and most importantly the music. We are given back stories of the two main characters through the dialogue, and we find out that love is something both have in common. One who is nursing a broken heart, and another who is confused on what love is and should feel like. Through the music we hear their conflict, and what makes the film so special is that we are privy to the creation of some beautiful ballads. What I found interesting about the film is the style the director used in creating the film. The film was shot for around $100K an...