MACHINE GUN PREACHER trailer
I can honestly say I’ve never disliked a Marc Forster picture. The director of Monster’s Ball, Stranger Than Fiction, and Finding Neverland, my personal favorite, returns with a movie that I would probably not see where he not at the helm: Machine Gun Preacher. What sounds like a B-movie is actually an inspirational action flick starring Gerard Butler as a reformed badass who finds his calling in the war-torn areas of Uganda and Sudan. Full synopsis: When ex-biker-gang member Sam Childers (Butler) makes the life-changing decision to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war, he is outraged by the unspeakable horrors faced by the region’s vulnerable populace, especially the children. Ignoring the warnings of more experienced aide workers, Sam breaks ground for an orphanage where it’s most needed in the middle of territory controlled by the...
Read MoreCIFF Quickie: Goodbye Solo
Goodbye Solo (2009)–**** Quick Review A Senegalese cab driver in Winston-Salem, North Carolina befriends an old man who wants to be driven to an area in the mountains where he plans to commit suicide. Another stunning film about people in the oft ignored corners of society, this quiet drama compels the audience to be aware of the selflessness and dignity of all people. Red West’s performance as the old man is deceptively understated, while Souleymane Sy Savane constructs a moving portrayal of a man discovering the ultimate meaning of friendship. The Blowing Rock mountain sequence is overwhelmingly affecting–physically, intellectually, and spiritually. A masterpiece from a filmmaker the world needs right now. Directed by Ramin Bahrani and beautifully shot by Michael Simmonds. This film was screened at the 33rd Cleveland International Film Festival. More at...
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