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Reviews
Rock, Paper, Scissors (2018)
Keeps you guessing
Indy thrillers are rare but this one nails it and manages to juggle a lot of elements . Starts as a drama about a crumbling marriage , morphs into a thriller about overcoming a tragedy , and then turns into an action/revenge flick. Along the way they manage these transitions well due to excellent casting , good writing , and assured direction that mixes the best elements of so many genres (did I even mention Film Noir).
I caught this at a film festival (We Regret to Inform You) in Austin , Texas . Director ,Doug Bollinger , was on hand . A surprisingly genial man , down to earth, and completely amiable . I met him and we chatted before the film and was surprised (quite pleasantly) that his film turned out to be dark , edgy , and true to life. I had him pegged as a comic drama sort but he can deliver the chills.
New Jersey now has another film maker to add to its own impressive list . I hope he continues to work there as this film makes excellent use of the various locations one has access to in the Garden State .
Vortex: A Film Anthology (2022)
Portmanteau Sci-Fi Style
Really enjoyed this anthology of Science Fiction stories which featured good camera work , pacing , and performances . I watched this the same day I learned I would be working on a short film with Berry and Ward . Five minutes I I knew I would be in good hands as these folks are fine story tellers .
The acting here is top notch so that actually made me nervous . How do they achieve this quality of performance? Was I in for a drubbing . As the most inexperienced cast member(I had only done a handful of films) I was a bit concerned . This was a professional shoot and my only appearances were in independent films.
Turns out these guys get great work out of you by treating everyone on set with respect . They encouraged everyone, were positive, and shot efficiently . In two days we had all the coverage needed for our film and it is about to hit the festival circuit. Berry and Ward are extremely talented and energetic. They are also swell people who make good movies.
Reminisce (2013)
Shy senior falls for Head Cheerleader.
I enjoyed this film when it was previewed in Hagerstown, Maryland. Nerdy senior falls for cheerleader who is dating the arrogant quarterback. Fun with earnest performances by the young cast. Incidentally I am biased as I played the Principal. The guy pictured is a different Tom Doty who has made a few low budget action flicks. His fans will be a little disappointed as he doesn't appear here.
The F.B.I.: The Game of Terror (1971)
A pair of teens plot a fake kidnapping but don't bank on their hideaway being imperiled by a construction project.
This is a change of pace episode for the series. It focuses on a prank/kidnapping scheme by a pair of juveniles . The performances are top notch .Richard Thomas is especially good as an icy sociopath . The final act is a nail biter with inspector Erskine mounting a search and rescue attempt rather than the traditional shootout finale with the bad guys. A true highlight of an exceptional season that also included the intense, Richard Stark-like, two part heist episode's," The Mastermind." The locations are good too . Quinn Martin knew how to put together a solid series and never skimped on guest stars or dynamic locations.