Lana's Rain (2002) 6.5
Director:Michael S. OjedaWriter:Michael S. Ojeda |
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Lana's Rain (2002) 6.5
Director:Michael S. OjedaWriter:Michael S. Ojeda |
|
| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Oksana Orlenko | ... |
Lana
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| Nickolai Stoilov | ... |
Darco Lucev
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Luoyong Wang | ... |
Julian
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| Stephanie Childers | ... |
Katrina
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Stacey Slowik | ... |
Vermonica
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| David Darlow | ... |
Gen. Donoffrio
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Alex Diatchenco | ... |
Celo
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| Tony Castillo | ... |
Marco
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Kelly Haizen | ... |
Alex
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Robert Varvel | ... |
Nayona
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Yasen Peyankov | ... |
Cab Driver
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| Ron Dean | ... |
Lou
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| Jason Pardo | ... |
Leon
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Abelardo Ghoulam | ... |
Gus
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| Andrzej Krukowski | ... |
Doctor
(as Andrew Krukowski)
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This film is better and grittier than many dramas with ten times the budget, and there are plenty of suspenseful moments to keep even the most indie-phobic skeptic intrigued. Oksana Orlenko (who won an award in Milan for her performance) and Nickolai Stoilov are seamless as the charismatic leads, while Michael S. Ojeda's direction makes the best use of their talents and the skills of his cinematographer (Gennadi Balitski), as well as his own script.
I disagree with the one reviewer (out of ten so far) who didn't like the "execution" of this film. I think it is a perfect mix of action scenes that grab you, and intense character-driven dramatic moments that allow for time to take in all that has happened. Ojeda really captures the sense of peril one feels without a dime and no place to go. That gash in Lana's forehead on the film's poster gives an idea of how deep the film is, and the roller-coaster ride awaiting anyone who watches it. I wish I had seen it in the theater. Grade: A