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Good Fortune (2016)
The Unusual Story of an Extraordinary Man is Welcomed on the Big Screen
"Growing up I knew my father was different." John Paul DeJoria's daughter's words naturally speak to the heart of this film. Today, the idea of being "wealthy" has become old news. Countless TV shows feature people with enormous amounts of wealth and feature their lavish lifestyles (i.e Million Dollar Listing, Shark Tank, The Kardashians, etc.) and you don't have to look closely to see that everywhere billionaires are buying out the millionaires.
Praise then must be given to the directors of Good Fortune, Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell, for creating a film that is both unique and original. It would have been easy enough to simply portray JP's hard fought journey from the rock bottom to the star studded top: The son of a poor Greek immigrant living out of a car and eating off of the dollar menu to survive, then rising to become Co-Founder of hair goliath Paul Mitchell and founder of tequila king, Patrón. Through this, DeJoria encapsulates the idealistic American dream through his sheer determination. Yet the directors push further and deeper into the subject matter, diving headfirst into societal and moral themes that make DeJoria's story so exclusively captivating and worthy of the big screen.
"Profit, people, planet," JP's mentality of conscious capitalism is revolutionary and awe-inspiring. Whether it is standing on the bow of a ship fighting against whalers in the name of conservationism, giving back to the local Mexican community of the Patrón company, spending his wealth on innovative renewable energy and sustainability, or simply building up his employees at Paul Mitchell, JP lives by example and shows the audience the true meaning of philanthropy.
The film accomplishes this as it weaves its story through the use of a combination of vintage photos and home video, present-day clips, and a handful of celebrity commentaries all brought together by a great soundtrack and sharp narration by Dan Aykeroyd. In all, Good Fortune is an excellent film that paints a picture that truly deserves to be told. Documentary film fan or not, I whole-heartedly recommend this unusual, wonderful and joyous film.
Walk of Fame (2017)
Jesse Thomas's Backstage Look at Hollywood Life Brings Lighthearted Fun & Laughs
Our society has an obsession with celebrity and we are often fixated on every aspect of our favorite stars. From this, we have become quite familiar with this glorified version of Hollywood. However, things are switched up in Walk of Fame, which takes a lively crack at depicting how the other half struggles to make it in Jesse Thomas's vision of the more heinous side to Tinseltown. An oddball group of eccentric actors is introduced when Drew (Scott Eastwood) winds up following a love interest to her acting school in order to impress her. Each of the actors Drew encounters each have some strange quality that sets them widely apart from the average joe, especially when compared to Drew's everyday normalness. As Drew tries to navigate this strange world, hilarity ensues. By employing farcical humor, Jesse Thomas touches on a variety of subjects and stereotypes that are executed in perfect lighthearted fashion. Where you expect to have to rely on Eastwood for landing zingy one-liners and supplying witty humor, many of the supporting actors step up to the plate to help carry the film. Drew's best friend, Nate, as well as Rowe, one of the members of the acting class, especially impressed me. Other big names like Malcolm McDowell and Kris Kattan must also be acknowledged for their compelling performances despite having smaller roles. This all comes together via backstage fashion to help attribute a loony reality to the Hollywood sphere. Through this, Walk of Fame saves itself from falling trap to running the course of another conventional yet forgettable rom-com. Instead it manages to deliver a product that is both different and low key hilarious as long as you don't take it, nor yourself, too seriously.
One Night (2016)
Not Your Average Romantic Drama
1 Night is a unique movie that stands out in a genre dominated by Nicholas Sparks clichés and overused plot lines. Director Minhal Baig is put at the helm of a scenario in which a 30 something aged struggling couple are contrasted against a pair of high school seniors who are just finding out what it means to love. The script for 1 Night makes it an easy enough plot to follow with a clear commentary for the audience. As the two couples inevitably cross paths, the older couple reflects on fonder days and the future is foreshadowed for what lies ahead of the younger pair. At points it would seem that the film pushes it over the top and never delves too deep into any of the characters themselves despite compelling performances from the actors. Had this been the end of 1 Night, it would have gone down as just another forgettable rom-dram. Yet Baig is able to weave what appears at first as a rudimentary love story into something truly unique by placing his own charming take on it. Suddenly the characters become more lively and their evident vagueness actually winds up making them more relatable and allows the plot to develop. The plot is turned from a try-hard attempt into a thought provoking effort. It all comes together to create something special. I applaud this indie for taking a chance to do something different with a film. For this 1 Night is elevated from "OK" to an absolutely great film. You will definitely want to add this flick to your must watch list.
Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies (2016)
Zombies, Laughs, and Gory Fun
Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies delivers on exactly what its name suggests - an excellent addition to the purely-for-entertainment genre of zombie-comedy that spawned out of the horror hybrid style that embodied the Evil Dead franchise and film spoofs like Shaun of the Dead. Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies follows its predecessors in bringing grotesque violence scenes and subtle thrills together that are pocketed with slap stick humor to make for a bloody good time.
To be fair, this film was never attempting to be engaging in a serious manner and allows the laughs to soak in all along the way. The story follows a group of young snowboarders in the midst of a video shoot on the Austrian Alps. However, when Steve pulls a reckless prank, fellow snowboarders Josh and girlfriend, Branka, are inevitably stranded with no way down. As Steve tries to amend his relationship with Branka at the mountain's sole ski inn, the owners attempt to profiteer his slopes has unknowingly infected his lodgers leading to the longest and bloodiest night of the year for the sole survivors.
Thanks to a diverse cast, the talented young actors save Lederhosen Zombies from what might become a dull and monotonous plot. RedBull rider Marc Swoboda also lends his skills to spice things up and utilizing talent that worked on The Force Awakens and Mockingjay Part 2 creates a spirited indie effort that stands above your generic zombie flick.