Acts of Worship (2001)

Director:

Rosemary Rodriguez

Writer:

Rosemary Rodriguez (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

You never know what someone's been through.

Plot:

Alix is taken in by a photographer, Digna, who despite her friends' protests, tries to help Alix piece...

Plot Keywords:

Photographer | Friend | Addiction | New York City | Boyfriend Girlfriend Relationship

Awards:

5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Ana Reeder	...	Alix
Michael Hyatt	...	Digna
Nestor Rodriguez	...	Anthony
Christopher Kadish	...	Mark
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Ahearn	...	Fence
Wren Arthur	...	Kathy
Cello Ayala	...	Bustee
Ellen Blake	...	Sammy's Mom
Jan Bohan	...	Crazy woman
Brian J. Burchill	...	Dan
Michael Buscemi	...	Guy #1
Buster	...	Lookout
Peter Butler	...	Hairdresser
John Cesare	...	Waiter
Raven Chaney	...	Ann
Kelly Cole	...	Carl
Rick Davis	...	Second man
Lisa De Fuso	...	Paramedic #2
Brett Dolisi	...	Frankie
Arthur French	...	T
Stephen Gevedon	...	Rick
Simon Gonzalez	...	Little Louie
Robert Gualtieri	...	Cowboy
Alby Guzman	...	Cuba
Johnny Hardesty	...	Phillip
Thomas Humes	...	Paramedic #1
Michael Kaycheck	...	Undercover cop
Van Lederer	...	Man buying book
Cesar Leonardo	...	Pete
Kimmerie Lynch	...	Crackhead
John Matos	...	Man on payphone
Christopher McCann	...	Jack
Chris McKinney	...	Mike
Jimmy Noonan	...	First man
Susan O'Connor	...	Lisa
James Joseph O'Neil	...	Louis
Victor Otero	...	Undercover cop
'Lee' George Quinones	...	Sammy
Shawn M. Richardz	...	Prostitute
Heather Robbins	...	Maria
Danusia Roberts	...	Pregnant woman
Elizabeth Rodriguez	...	Jan
Bonnie Rose	...	Prostitute on street
Matthew Saldivar	...	Steve
Shalimar	...	Club patron
Carter B. Smith	...	Drug Dealer
Carter Smith	...	Drug dealer on street
Eddie Sullivan	...	Guy at projects
Vickie Tanner	...	Carla
Ruperto Vanderpool	...	Guy #2
Vince Verga	...	Bodega man
Dorothy Whyte	...	Tiny woman

MPAA:

Rated R for strong drug content, pervasive language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R

Company:

Manifesto Films

Quotes:

Alix: I found out how hard it is to change, really change. Even hell can get comfortable if you're used to it. All I wanted my whole life, was for that lonliness inside me to go away. But, it never did, no matted what I drank, or what drug I took, or where I went...

Outstanding

I believe this was a marvelous accomplishment which brought out the truth of living on the streets. Rosemary Rodriguez experienced it so, no one can say that this is cliché. Not even in relating it to other films in this genre. Alix's character is a drug addict right? but we believe her to have a grasp over it. that she is more than the addiction. this is partly true. like the director said, "there's humanity in everyone one of them". our belief at this point is predetermined but vanishes with change. with her willingness to stay clean being severed by the acts of her conscious temptations and every junkie around her. we believe her to live two lives. a straight life and a drugged up life. as in when she's playing with louie. kinda carefree, laughing. she, for the most part, separates herself from it, from the addiction, but she still has that guilt like when digna takes her picture with louie. even when she runs away from dignas place and pretends that she's clean around her friends, shooting them off and swearing at them. then, a day later she's back into her fix. that doesn't happen a whole lot in other films. Wonderful cinematography and great performances that make this film very believable. This film is very vivid and blunt with the characters addictions. It makes you cringe just seeing it. surely surreal. i like the directors use of narration from the main character's point of view or the non-verbal narration through what the character may be experiencing in their mind. What's the difference between reality and fallibility. But there's a good plot structure so it's not just random. not predictable. sure as heck not. One event stirs off the next. there's a sense of serenity that the characters meet up with and it's interesting how you seem slip out of it once again. some of it real serenity, some of it false. real heart wrenching. makes you feel for people who get involved with drugs and alcohol. how you're not only responsible for yourself but others. makes you investigate your own crutches. makes you examine your own life. yup. so anyways. Go out and rent it today!