JUSTFIED: City Primeval Season One Returns

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from FX and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the return of a successful series with JUSTIFIED: City Primeval Season One.

Willa Givens (Vivian Olyphant) is a fifteen-year-old problem child for Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) and it doesn’t get easier when criminals steal his car. That means he can’t take Willa off to camp meaning he now has to take her at the same time he is extraditing men to Michigan. Things don’t go easier in Detroit but, Raylan gets a gig with judge Guy (Keith David) as someone is trying to kill him. Things doing go according to plan when there is a third problem involving Clement Mansell (Boyd Holbrook) and Skender and they aren’t going to stop.

Rayland and Detective Robinson (Victor Williams) don’t know there is a history going back to 2017 and a robbery. Interesting that the good detective remembers the woman Sandy (Adelaide Clemens) and she is off telling Mansell the cops are snooping around and Sweety Sweeton (Vondie Curtis-Hall) is also in on what is happening. Later, Willa sees what her father is capable of when he deals with Mansell his way.

Mansell tells Carolyn but the police have other plans. One of the men working for Sweety finds the gun that could cause trouble and re-hides it. Things are getting heated as there is a larger plan that Raylan is getting involves with. Knowing this, Raylan has it out with his daughter making it clear she is returning to Florida.

Knowing that he is in bigger trouble than he could imagine, Mansell has Skender’s uncle after him. Sweety has no intention of helping Carolyn, especially when he learns that Judge Guy has a notebook that could destroy a lot of people and the Albanians are on the hunt as well. Raylan is in over his head with Carolyn and Mansell starts off his blackmail schemes to get money from anyone in the notebook.

Rayland, working with detective Downey (Marin Ireland) are trying to get information about the notebook as well. Everyone wants their name off the list and will do just about anything to get it. It’s all starting to fall apart when they learn where the mysterious gun might be and everyone starts singing like a flock of birds. When it is all said and done, Raylan wants to high tail it back to Miami to continue his retirement but – when the phone rings…..

Olyphant as Raylan brings back the swagger the series became known for and he picks it up like a favorite overcoat and the fit is perfect. The one thing about Raylan the viewer can be sure of, his involvement in things is not surface but goes deep with so many twists and turns that you could get whiplash keeping up. That’s what made the series so successful and I’m thrilled to see him back in action.

Other cast include Norbert Leo Butz as Norbert Bryl, Ravi V. Patel as Rick, Paul Calderon as Det. Cruz, Amin Joseph as Jamal, Regina Taylor as Diane, David Cross as Dickey, Terry Kinney as Toma Costia, Natalie Zea as Winona, Luiz Guzman as Officer Ramirez, Matt Craven as Dan Grant, David Koechner as Dep. Sutter, and Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder.

Episodes include City Primeval, The Oklahoma Wildman, Backstabbers, Kokomo, You Good?, Adios, The Smoking Gun, and The Question.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit http://www.sonypictures.com.

JUSTFIED: City Primeval is the perfect season one to binge on and, just to make things more interesting, I watched all the previous seasons prior. That made for a fun time getting to spend a little quality time with Raylan (come on, you know you love it) and remembering bits and pieces about the character that I had forgotten.

FX did a fantastic job creating this series in the first place with its memorable (shout out Goggins!!) characters. I don’t see this as much as bringing it back and picking up where we left off. There is no way that the character of Raylan was going to ‘retire’ because it is just not in his wheelhouse. Instead, he is still as good as he always was and will continue to be so, thanks to good writing, as we wait for a potential new season.

In the end – dust off your cowboy boots and hats because the handsome sheriff is back in town!

SOMEWHERE QUIET Proves Shocking at Screamfest 2023

Jeri Jacquin

At this years Screamfest, writer and director Olivia West Lloyd along with Last Rodeo Studios comes the story of unraveling SOMEWHERE QUIET.

Meg (Jennifer Kim) is recovering from a horrendous kidnapping that left her with anxiety and fears. Husband Scott (Kentucker Audley) is doing his best to try and bring some solitude and support taking her to a family home that is quiet and soothing.

Enjoying the quiet and time with Scott, that is all interrupted when his cousin Madeline (Marin Ireland) bursts onto the scene. Loud, boisterous and cutting with her words, Meg begins to feel that Scott is spending more time with Madeline and ignoring how it is affecting her. Lashing out in her own way, Meg’s behavior becomes slightly erratic which causes Scott to become unlike himself.

All Meg wants is quiet time with Scott to regather the life she once had, find answers to why it happened to her and remember who is responsible. In the way of it all is not knowing if what she sees and hears is real or a mix up in her mind. However, what is driving it all is more sinister than Meg could ever know!

Kim as Meg is brilliant as a woman who is trying to understand why she was kidnapped and how she is to find a normal life in the aftermath. Watching Kim take this character through every tragic emotion, this is a journey worth taking as the story goes from beginning to end. We are unwittingly invited on Meg’s journey of what is real and what are mixed up thoughts in her mind. Well done!

Audley as Scott is a husband who just doesn’t know how to handle the emotional situation his wife is going through. Trying to be there for her, he consistently tries to help her think through the mix ups Meg is experiencing. Lighting up when his cousin Madeline enters the picture, it is his chance to get away from the troubles in his marriage. Audley also gives us a range of character that has us following along with his part of the story.

Ireland as Madeline comes into the picture and brings laughs, childhood stories and wants to help the couple. Scott is thrilled his cousin is coming around to bring a little fun but Meg sees her as I did – completely irritating and creepy. That being said, I was fascinated with the way she behaves and the sharpness of speech. So well done!

Other cast include Paula Lord as the woman in the woods, and Michael Neeson as Joe.

Last Rodeo Studios is a team of accomplished film producers, writers and entrepreneurs with collective film credits that have been featured in film festivals around the world. These include Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, LAFF, SIFF, Telluride, DOCNYC and DIFF. These films have also been nominated for Golden Globes, BAFTA and Academy Awards. For more please visit www.lastrodeostudios.com.

SOMEWHERE QUIET is a well-written and even more well-filmed thriller. This is my favorite genre of ‘horror’ films because is has more to do with our own fears than blood and gore. Writer/director Lloyd takes the very simple premise and consistently pokes from all sides never letting us once off the hook.

The combination of what is real and what might be imagined had me thinking I needed paper and pen to keep notes! I loved that so much because it challenged what I saw and what I thought I saw within the story and what is presented on film. Keeping the cast small and the sets simple is also another favorite of mine and it lends itself so much to allow the focus to be on Meg.

SOMEWHERE QUIET is a treat and the cast is the one handing out the candy!

In the end – what is real?

Be Prepare for THE BOOGEYMAN

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray, DVD and currently on Digital from director Rob Savage and 20th Century Studios based on a short story by the master of horror Stephen King is THE BOOGEYMAN.

The Harper family is dealing with sadness as teen Sadie (Sophie Thatcher) returns to school for the first time. Along with younger sister Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair), the family is trying to find the new normal. Dad Will (Chris Messina) is a therapist who sees patients in his office located in the family home but has trouble talking to his own children.

Unexpectedly, Will comes face to face with Lester Billings (David Dastmalchian) who begs the doctor for help needing someone to talk to. He also has experienced devastation in his family and thought Will could relate. Will begins to suspect that Lester has deeper issues than he can handle. When chaos breaks out in the Harper home once again, it starts a chain reaction of fright.

It is Sawyer who first begins to understand that something is in their house and that something has the ability to speak. Trying to convince Sadie and dad Will, they just don’t see what the little girl does. After a gathering of friends at the Harper home, Sadie does not need any more convincing that what Sawyer has experienced is absolutely true.

Now Sadie must do whatever she can do protect her little sister while trying to make Will understand that what is in their home is powerful and deadly.

Thatcher as Sadie is a young teen dealing with sadness and grief and can’t find it within her home or with her friends. Feeling uber protective over sister Sawyer, she listens to the young girl’s tale but it takes her own moment of fright to believe. Thatcher gives a strong performance of a young girl determined to fight for family, home and whatever it takes to survive.

Messina as dad Will is doing what father’s do when dealing with fear and grief, act a bit as if it all can be explained as a therapist would. It doesn’t work! His daughters are both trying to tell him that something is in their home and he doesn’t listen – until he does. Messina gives us the broken family man who is busy being afraid of that to see the real fear.

Blair as Sawyer is so darn relatable for every child around the age of her character. Night lights on, monster check of the closet, check under the bed and anyplace else a monster could hide. Sawyer is charming, and watching what she goes through is a bit horrifying and this little actress gives it everything and make it believable.

Shout out to Dastmalchian as Lester because that man has the ability to bring you into a strange and frightening world of all kinds. This isn’t the first time he’s freaked me out and if he looks a tad familiar, he portrayed Albert DeSalvo in the 2023 BOSTON STRANGLER, Bob Taylor in the 2013 film PRISONER and 2008 THE DARK KNIGHT.

Also, shout out Marin Ireland as Rita Billings. She has an integral part to play in the backstory and the struggle is real, well done.

Other cast include Madison Hu as Bethany, Maddie Nichols as Natalie, Leeann Ross as Cassidy, Rio Machadio as Anne, Shauna Rappold as Cara Harper, Cristala Carter as Detective Garland, LisaGay Hamilton as Dr. Weller.

Twentieth Century Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit http://www.20thcenturystudios.com.

Bonus Features include Into the Darkness Featurette – Open the door into the dark world of THE BOOGEYMAN as the cast and crew share how the terrifying tale, based on Stephen King’s classic short, was crafted and Outtakes – It’s not all just jump scares and bumps into the night. Join the cast for some lighthearted full in the outtakes.

THE BOOGEYMAN is pure Stephen King and I don’t think fans will be disappointed. What I love about King stories is that it isn’t so much about the blood and gore as it is the suspense and anticipation of being scared out of our minds that is awesome. Be honest, we love being thrilled to the point of holding popcorn in our hands and just as we go to eat it – dead stop! I saw that at the screening.

There were jumps, several deep inhales followed by the infamous ‘wft’ moments. The film delves into things that have always frightened children but this time, adults are being brought back to their childhood only to discover that those fears never truly went away. Its honest time, who still walks a little faster when shutting off a bedroom light to jump under the covers, yea, thought so.

Did I jump? Absolutely, and I feel no shame in admitting it. My heart thump a few times, absofrakkenlootely! Once again, director Savage has taken moments all over the film to make sure we remember exactly who it is in the dark and the helplessness we can feel when the light is hard to keep on. I’m leaving out details of course because I want everyone to experience it without spoilers.

THE BOOGEYMAN comes in at an hour and thirty-eight minutes which is more than needed to bring this story full circle. It is dark, intense, thrilling, and brings a twisted face to the one thing we all were afraid of at one time in our lives. This movie doesn’t reinvent the wheel but it makes damn sure we hear the creaking when it rides down into our nightmares.

In the end – it’s not real, it’s not real, it’s not real!

He is THE BOOGEYMAN

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Rob Savage and 20^th Century Studios based on a short story by the master of horror Stephen King is THE BOOGEYMAN.

The Harper family is dealing with sadness as teen Sadie (Sophie Thatcher) returns to school for the first time. Along with younger sister Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair), the family is trying to find the new normal. Dad Will (Chris Messina) is a therapist who sees patients in his office located in the family home but has trouble talking to his own children.

Unexpectedly, Will comes face to face with Lester Billings (David Dastmalchian) who begs the doctor for help needing someone to talk to. He also has experienced devastation in his family and thought Will could relate. Will begins to suspect that Lester has deeper issues than he can handle. When chaos breaks out in the Harper home once again, it starts a chain reaction of fright.

It is Sawyer who first begins to understand that something is in their house and that something has the ability to speak. Trying to convince Sadie and dad Will, they just don’t see what the little girl does. After a gathering of friends at the Harper home, Sadie does not need any more convincing that what Sawyer has experienced is absolutely true.

Now Sadie must do whatever she can do protect her little sister while trying to make Will understand that what is in their home is powerful and deadly.

Thatcher as Sadie is a young teen dealing with sadness and grief and can’t find it within her home or with her friends. Feeling uber protective over sister Sawyer, she listens to the young girl’s tale but it takes her own moment of fright to believe. Thatcher gives a strong performance of a young girl determined to fight for family, home and whatever it takes to survive.

Messina as dad Will is doing what father’s do when dealing with fear and grief, act a bit as if it all can be explained as a therapist would. It doesn’t work! His daughters are both trying to tell him that something is in their home and he doesn’t listen – until he does. Messina gives us the broken family man who is busy being afraid of that to see the real fear.

Blair as Sawyer is so darn relatable for every child around the age of her character. Night lights on, monster check of the closet, check under the bed and anyplace else a monster could hide. Sawyer is charming, and watching what she goes through is a bit horrifying and this little actress gives it everything and make it believable.

Shout out to Dastmalchian as Lester because that man has the ability to bring you into a strange and frightening world of all kinds. This isn’t the first time he’s freaked me out and if he looks a tad familiar, he portrayed Albert DeSalvo in the 2023 BOSTON STRANGLER, Bob Taylor in the 2013 film PRISONER and 2008 THE DARK KNIGHT.

Also, shout out Marin Ireland as Rita Billings. She has an integral part to play in the backstory and the struggle is real, well done.

Other cast include Madison Hu as Bethany, Maddie Nichols as Natalie, Leeann Ross as Cassidy, Rio Machadio as Anne, Shauna Rappold as Cara Harper, Cristala Carter as Detective Garland, LisaGay Hamilton as Dr. Weller.

20^th Century Studios brings award-winning films for fans to enjoy and to see more of what the studio has coming to theatres please visit www.20thcenturystudios.com. There you can also discover favorite films and how to view them.

THE BOOGEYMAN is pure Stephen King and I don’t think fans will be disappointed. What I love about King stories is that it isn’t so much about the blood and gore as it is the suspense and anticipation of being scared out of our minds that is awesome. Be honest, we love being thrilled to the point of holding popcorn in our hands and just as we go to eat it – dead stop! I saw that at the screening.

There were jumps, several deep inhales followed by the infamous ‘wft’ moments. The film delves into things that have always frightened children but this time, adults are being brought back to their childhood only to discover that those fears never truly went away. Its honest time, who still walks a little faster when shutting off a bedroom light to jump under the covers, yea, thought so.

Did I jump? Absolutely, and I feel no shame in admitting it. My heart thump a few times, absofrakkenlootely! Once again, director Savage has taken moments all over the film to make sure we remember exactly who it is in the dark and the helplessness we can feel when the light is hard to keep on. I’m leaving out details of course because I want everyone to experience it without spoilers.

THE BOOGEYMAN comes in at an hour and thirty-eight minutes which is more than needed to bring this story full circle. It is dark, intense, thrilling, and brings a twisted face to the one thing we all were afraid of at one time in our lives. This movie doesn’t reinvent the wheel but it makes damn sure we hear the creaking when it rides down into our nightmares.

In the end – it’s not real, it’s not real, it’s not real!

Netflix Releases THE IRISHMAN

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on Netflix from director Martin Scorsese is the highly anticipated film streaming with THE IRISHMAN.

Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) served in World War II and is now a truck driver trying to take care of his family in 1950’s Philadelphia. When is truck breaks down, he meets Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) who seems to know how to fix it. Wanting to show his appreciation, Frank offers but Russell turns him down and both go on their way.

Selling a few things to a local crime family, he is accused of theft and lawyer Bill Bufalino (Ray Romano) convinces a judge that he is innocent. Bufalino introduces Frank to his cousin – Russel Bufalino and immediately he begins to work for Russell. As the head of the Scranton crime family, Russell is privvy to almost everything going on and becomes close friends with Frank. Their friendship starts real money coming to Frank and his family.

Jimmy Hoffa is the president of the Teamsters and an acquaintance of Russells. Sending Frank over to help Hoffa means dealing with Anthony “Pro” Provenzano (Stephen Graham) who is causing trouble. If that isn’t hard enough, Hoffa is having problems with the government and blames the Kennedys for all his difficulties. Bringing Frank aboard, Hoffa starts to feel as if there is at least one person he can trust.

When Robert Kennedy is named Attorney General, Hoffa can’t control his anger knowing that the President’s brother is going to do anything possible to bring him down. Eventually that is exactly what happens and while in prison, Frank goes back to work for Russell and the Teamsters is being run by Frank Fitzsimmons.

While in prison, Hoffa gets into a scuffle with Provenzano when insults are exchanged. Not realizing that this is a bad idea, Frank consistently tries to smooth their beef over with no luck. In 1971, President Nixon pardon’s Jimmy Hoffa but he can’t get back in with the Teamsters for a while.

He may not be able to jump back in the ring but certainly make plans to do it and that’s exactly what Hoffa does. Being as loud as everyone remembers him to be, Russell starts getting heat from the others that Hoffa is becoming a problem. Turning to Frank’s friendship with Hoffa, they ask him to convey that Hoffa needs to curtail the rhetoric. Well that couldn’t have had the worse effect on the former leader of the Teamsters.

Instead of cutting back a bit, he informs Frank loudly that he knows things about the dons that make him untouchable and all but dares them to try anything. When Bufalino’s daughter is to be married, Russell, Frank and their wives make a road trip to attend. Everything is fine until Russell tells Frank that he is going to make a side trip to meet Hoffa and bring Provenzano so they can finally put things to rest.

Putting things to rest is what Frank does best.

De Niro as Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran is fantastic but then again I would expect nothing less. Scorsese knows that if he is going to do a Mafia film he can’t exactly do it without De Niro. Having him start off as a younger man is a little unnerving and it is easy to spot the changes, but as the film goes along he just morphs into character and ages right along with him. What De Niro has the stunning ability to do is make you feel for a character that isn’t exactly an saint. The effects of this are lost on Frank but not on the family as his daughters struggle with the knowledge of who their father is.

Pacino as Hoffa is portrayed as an incredible character in that he has a mouth that I’m not sure how he got away with for so long. Well, absolute power does corrupt absolutely and Hoffa was definetly on the right side of that saying. He ran the Teamsters the way HE wanted to run it and whoa-be anybody that got in his way. Even prison didn’t stop him – much. Pacino adds a dynamic that is such a struggle for Frank and Russell, they want to understand, they try to understand but the noose starts to get tight around their necks. Pacino is everything marvelous and then some.

Pesci as Russell is such a treasure and what is interesting about this character is the eerie calmness. I’m used to seeing Pesci get loud, get crazy and make no excuses for any of it. In the role of Russell he gives a collected demeanor that never gets out of hand and plays everything close to the chest. There is nothing about the way that he behaves that gives anything away, no plans, no ideas…nothing. Instead, behind those eyes are plans upon plans and he makes no apologies for caring for those he loves first and foremost.

Graham as Provenzano is the thorn in Hoffa’s side, the thing that rubs him the wrong way and the very thing that sets his teeth to grinding. Feeling he owes Hoffa nothing, Provenzano has no problem hitting below the belt or in the eye – which ever. Graham gives his character a Superman complex of huge proportion and puffs his chest whenever his enemy is near.

Other cast include Bobby Cannavale as Felix DiTullio, Anna Paquin as Peggy Sheeran, Stephanie Kurtzuba as Irene Sheeran, Kathrine Narducci as Carrie Bufalino, Welder White as Jo Hoffa, Jesse Plemons as Chuckie O’Brien, Jack Huston as Robert Kennedy, Domenick Lombardozzi as Anthony Salerno, Paul Herman as Whispers DiTullio, Louis Cancelmi as Salvatore Briguglio, Marin Ireland as Dolores Sheeran, Sebastian Maniscalco as Joseph Gallo, Jim Norton as Don Rickles, Al Linea as Sam Giancana, Joseph Riccobene as Jimmy Fratianno and Harvey Keitel as Angelo Bruno.

Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with over 158 million paid memberships in over 190 countries. Enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films, Netflix is across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere and on any internet-connected screen. For more information please visit www.netflix.com.

The project came from De Niro after he read the 2004 book by Charles Brandt I Heard You Paint Houses. Bringing it to the attention of Martin Scorsese meant that it couldn’t have been placed in better hands. Industrial Light & Magic (emphasis on ‘magic’) did the de-aging for the film.

Scorsese said on The A24 Podcast that “there is a great deal of CGI because we’re doing this youthification of De Niro, Pesci and Al Pacino. We’re all concerned that we’re so used to watching them as the older faces.” I don’t think he has anything to worry about as the storyline takes over any thoughts about the youthification.

THE IRISHMAN is everything I want in a film like this and more. In fact the running time of 209 minutes means that every part of the story is explored. From Franks marriages to the relationships with his daughter, especially the strain with daughter Peggy and how people perceived Frank. The story of Russell is shrouded in a bit of mystery except for what Frank knows and shares with us in his narrations and I don’t mind that. The story of Hoffa and what got him in trouble with everyone is intense and constantly in flux.

The film is breath taking in scope and not a moment of time is wasted. Every minute is important and that’s something views are agreeing on. The last half hour as we are part of Frank’s mob-afterlife, I am even more giddy with De Niro, Pacino and Pesci’s performances. THE IRISHMAN is a film that reminds us of what an amazing world cinema creates for us all.

In the end – his story changed history!

THE FAMILY FANG is Like No Other

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Jason Bateman and Starz Digital Media comes a look at a dysfunctional family like none we have seen before because they are THE FAMILY FANG.

This is the story of the Fang family led by Caleb Fang (Christopher Walken), wife Camille (Maryann Punkett), daughter Annie (Nicole Kidman) and son Baxter (Jason Bateman). As the kids were growing up they learned that their parents were not quite the stereotypical Mom and Dad. No, the Fang’s were performance artists who consistently tried to shock and awe the world with their film making.

Years later Annie is now an actress trying to find the roles that would give her some satisfaction but instead made a name for herself as a basket case. Baxter is now a writer and with one successful book and a second not-so-much, he is in the middle of writers block in a very over due manuscript.

When Baxter’s agent gives him a chance to do an article, he sees it as a paying gig and does it. During the interview Baxter is injured and ends up in the hospital. Much to his distress the nurse says they called his parents to come and get him. In a panic he calls Annie begging her to rescue him from the clutches of the nutty parental units.

Going home again isn’t easy for either of them and within the first day they are each trying to find a way to run! Trying to make the best of things both Annie and Baxter actually slightly participate in their parent’s wacky new attempt at their art. When the day ends badly, Caleb tells the kids that he and Camille are off to the Berkshires for the weekend.

Thinking they had hit the jackpot, Annie and Baxter are relieved to see them go. One day later they receive a telephone call from the police saying their parent’s car has been found at a rest stop and there are signs of foul play. Annie immediately believes it is another stunt but Baxter isn’t so sure.

Now they both look back to look forward at what has happened to the parents they couldn’t wait to get away from!

Bateman as Baxter once again performs brilliantly. This actor has the amazing ability to draw an audience in with his straight faced wit and delivery. As Baxter, Bateman portrays a man stuck in the affect the Fang artistry has had on him. Knowing his parents aren’t exactly normal, he doesn’t really know what normal is! It takes stepping back and looking at those family moments that gives him clarity to go forward. The final scene with Walking and Punkett made my jaw drop because in real life someone’s jaw would be dropping and not in a nice way!

Kidman as Annie is a ball of anxiety! Watching this character start out a hot mess means there is no way to go but up and Kidman does just that. She becomes super-sleuth and it consumes her but for reasons she isn’t ready to face. Taking a brother who doesn’t seen that interested in finding his parents on her journey, Kidman spells out every step of her reasoning and isn’t going to let these parents get away with anything. In the same final scene with the parents, I really enjoyed watching Kidman give Annie what she needed to stand up for herself.

Punkett as Camille is a surprising character to watch. Believing in the art, she supports Caleb and the audience will be shaking their heads thinking ‘what is wrong with this woman letting Caleb just run amuck?’ Trust me, that was my thought as well but Punkett is intriguing to watch from start to finish.

Walken as Caleb once again turns in such an amazing performance. The character of Caleb is such a domineering personality in a family that goes-along-to-get-along and never really sees the damage he is causing. Truly believing that he is right in his ideas of art, he doesn’t give much leeway in letting his wife and kids have an opinion about anything. I have always said that Walken has the ability to sell ice to an Eskimo and playing the role of Caleb is no exception. Caleb’s rants are so heartfelt and strong at the time until the dust settles – and it settles all over the family!

Other cast include: Marin Ireland as Suzanne Crosby, Michael Chernus as Kenny, Josh Pais as Freeman, and Linda Emond as Miss Delano.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give THE FAMILY FANG four tubs of popcorn out of five. I truly love this film because it is a mesh of comedy, drama, family dynamics, dysfunction, emotions, lack of emotions and realizations. In the first few frames I was wondering what the heck am I watching? Catching me off guard is a good thing because it only leaves every moment after riveting to watch.

THE FAMILY FANG has put together a cast that pulls off the twists, turns and quirks needed. Bouncing off one another there isn’t any one person that stands out when all four are on the screen and, the same is said when it is Bateman and Kidman on the parental hunt. They all make it work so beautifully and I enjoyed every moment of it.

If you are looking for a film that pushes the norm in family dysfunction yet still resembles your family, then hit the theatres this week to experience THE FAMILY FANG for yourselves. Actually, you might walk away appreciating your own family nuttiness.

In the end – the Fang’s dysfunctionally perform one frame at a time!