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Send No Flowers (2013)
Send No FLowers is a hit!!
Directed by Fred Carpenter, Send No Flowers makes a smashing debut at the 16th annual Long Island International Film Expo winning six awards. Written by Lee Kolinsky and Michael A. Lovaglio "Send No Flowers" is one of the best indie gangland films I have seen in years. There is murder, intrigue and brutal beating in a strip club. This film is fast and densely exciting. Send No Flowers hooks you in early and does not disappoint, Sean Young is sensational playing a high-powered female boss who is just as ruthless in business and in love as men are. Supported by a cast that is smart and thrilling, the film also stars veteran actors Gianni Russo and Tony LoBianco and a fantastic surprising performance from comedian Jackie Martling. Send No Flowers is expertly shot and edited and gives the audience a simple plot that keeps you engaged until the credits roll. It's a film that demands to be watched again and again, although this movie resembles other gangster stories, I am looking forward to adding this movie to my DVD or Blu Ray collection.
I Could Have Been Five Feet (2008)
A documentary short worth watching
Highly recommended to anyone and everyone. I have given a 10/10 rating to this documentary because director Michael J. Arbouet focuses on how smoking affects Megan but in all honesty there are much bigger problems in Megan's life as a direct result from smoking. We see her kicked off the swimming team, refusing to go to school and the most shocking result, although not proved is the fact that smoking may have indeed stunted her growth. Its interesting to note that smoking depicted in the movies is a primary reason children ages 10 to 14 try cigarettes, or because they want to seem grown up or cool. Megan really hits home with her straight forward approach of why she started smoking and why she stopped. The best part of the film was that it wasn't preachy, the filmmaker just says "Here look at this one story and form your own opinion." Great job!
How to Grow a Fig Tree (2007)
A Future Classic!
Richard Signorelli has always been a screenwriter with a passion for bringing the culture out of the chaos trying to retain what is left of the American Italian culture trying to break the stereotype that all Italian Americans are mobsters. But what happens when the pursuit for meaning and belonging spiral in to despair? Richard delves into the emotional complexities of this question with his latest project, How to Grow a Fig Tree.
Based on a story that is loosely based on his life, How to Grow a Fig Tree follows two men, one at the beginning of his life and the other near his end. Widowed Grandfather Jack (Izzy Poidomani) is wracked with despair trying to cope with the death of his beloved wife while trying to raise his out of control grandson Michael (Chris Bashinelli) who struggles between an urge to find himself or just leave everything he has ever known for a better life, outside the close knit neighborhood. Richard along with director Michael J. Arbouet hopes the movie will make audiences look at family and culture in a new way. I saw this moving and powerful short film at the 2007 Long Island Big Fish Film Festival and was left wanting to see more. I was shocked after talking to the writer Richard Signorelli, when I found out that Izzy Poidomani the actor that played the grandfather never acted a day in his life. His performance was moving. Michael J. Arbouet directed the film with a beautiful eye and style that puts you in the film with these people and exposes you to their lives. I also found out that his short is actually based on a feature film Richard Signorelli is working on and that How to Grow a Fig Tree is part of a trilogy that he is working on. I'm not sure what other festivals this film will be showing at but if you are looking to see something new and fresh, I highly recommend this film.
4000 (2007)
An interesting little film, 4000 makes you think.
I greatly enjoyed this film short and recommend it to any agitated smoker out there and hope to see more films like this in the future. The film 4000 gave me a look in to a world I really didn't know too much about as a non smoker. I really thought it just took a person's will to quit smoking. Cigarettes are one of few products which can be sold legally which can harm and even kill you over time if used as intended. This film not only gave you the background of facts associated with smoking cigarettes but it also gave the viewer a glance in to other people's lives all struggling with the same problem. The host of the documentary, Fran Capo keeps the mood of the film light and funny and left me to draw my own theories and conclusions. I give it a thumbs up!
Falling (2005)
Falling is fantastic!
In 2004, Michael J. Arbouet's New York Minute, a short fictional story about the assassination attempt on New York City's mayor, was heralded as a gripping edgy film short about how many choices someone could make in a minute. Arbouet's new film short, Falling (premiered at the Long Island International Film Expo in July), uses cinematic form and a unique editing style to encompass the emotional journey one goes through when they fall in and out of love. It's amazing the way the Arbouet visually shows the raw and powerful emotion of the characters. Especially through his editing style. He was able to tap in to that energy and remind me of what I went through when I was in love and when I was going through heartache. Michael earned his nickname well as the "Story Teller." I hope this film gives him the recognition he deserves he is defiantly one of the new rising stars among the new generation of directors.
Serial (2007)
A dark comedy : Media vs. the Masses
This film is a dark comedy on the effects the media has on society. The film could be used as a guise of educating the masses on the dangers of the media. How what we consider news affects the masses. The directors of this film mix humor and horror to set the mode of what could happen to a little sleepy town invaded by the one eye bandit, that being the camera which is a main character in the film, that doesn't say much but sees all. The format at times feels like a reality show with the camera always on, capturing every moment. Just like those shows, the viewer is compelled to watch this voyeuristic film. Lauren Vélez plays television reporter Roseanne Crystal. Her character is our guide so to speak that allows us to join in and follow along in the story. Vélez delivers a stellar performance along with Erik Jensen and Kelly AuCoin. Like the urge to look through a stranger's medicine cabinet the viewers at times will feel, I think like they are intruding on these people's lives but we will continue to watch like a pepping tom through a window. Rich with interesting characters and comedic moments this film keeps the audience guessing until the very end. In the wake of every television show being made into a movie this film is a refreshing original masterpiece that the audience can really enjoy.
New York Minute (2004)
Suspense in a minute
Although this was a film short, I liked the fact that the film keeps you on the edge of your seat. Part of the film is shot in real time and I think it really adds to the overall mood of the film. The cast does and excellent job given the time frame and deliver edgy performances. The actor Jack Hodnett character is probably one of the scariest I've seen in recent years. His eyes alone set the pace for the entire film. The shots captured by the cameraman are simple but profound pulling the audience in. The director Michael J. Arbouet does an excellent job of creating suspense in a short amount of time. I'd love to see what he does with a full-length feature.