Catch .44 - 2011

Annapurna Productions, Emmett/Furla Films, Benaroya Pictures

Written and Directed by Aaron Harvey

Cast:

• Tes – Malin Akerman
• Sara – Reila Aphrodite
• Dawn – Deborah Ann Woll
• Sheriff Conners – Brad Dourif
• Ronny – Forest Whitaker
• Billy – Shea Whigham
• Mel – Bruce Willis

Story: In a crappy little, backwater diner in Texas, three young gals are about to rip off both drugs and money from two couriers when all hell breaks loose. Two of the girls are killed, along with a waitress, a driver, and a couple of tourists, leaving Tes and Billy, the cook, in a Mexican Standoff. But how did it all start? In the vein of Pulp Fiction and other film noir hits, we get flashbacks in bits and pieces to tell us how Tes got taken in to Mel's organization. Mel is the head man, the man running heroin and other drugs up and down from Mexico. He recruits Tes from one of his strip club / dives to work for him. But after three years the bloom is off the rose, so Tes and her friends are set up in the diner. How does it work out? You gotta watch the film.

Review: Film Noir is a lasting art form that rarely comes across for the general audience, and this film is no exception. Catch .44 is a gritty, no frills film with some excellent acting by both the principles and the cameo players. Bruce Willis and Brad Dourif are the supporting actors in this little drama, with Forest Whitaker taking the lead as Willis' second in command. Malin Akerman, Reila Aphrodite, and Deborah Ann Woll are excellent as the three clueless women who are thrust into a situation they were never meant to control. Most of the rest of the cast is window dressing, and the plot boils down to who lives through this dark drama. If you like Pulp Fiction or the old 40's style detective story, you'll probably enjoy this hour and a half of raw action. Rated R for violence, language and nudity, put this one back on the video store shelf after you've watched it.

The Prophecy 3: The Ascent - 2000

Dimension Films

Directed by Patrick Lussier

Cast:

• Gabriel – Christopher Walken
• Zophael – Vincent Spano
• Danyael – Dave Buzzota
• Maggie – Kayren Butler
• Joseph – Steve Hytner
• Zealot – Brad Dourif
• Pyriel – Scott Cleverdon
• Mary – Moriah Shining Dove Snyder
• Madge – Sandra Ellis Lafferty

Story: The Nephalim is fully grown and preaching. Young Danyael, who was orphaned when Molotov cocktails were thrown through the window of his home, is preaching against God to the homeless and disenfranchised when a zealot in the crowd opens fire and shoots him. Gabriel, who is mortal, defends the young prophet, and takes steps to clear his path as he comes back from the dead. Maggie, his companion and mate, is disbelieving, but soon realizes Danyael is not merely a “talking monkey” like the rest of us. The rebellious angels, now led by Zophael, must prevent Danyael from defeating Pyriel, the angel who has been chosen to lead the human race into genocide. When Danyael travels to meet Pyriel, he meets Mary, the native American girl, who prophecies to him. As Gabriel travels to observe the battle, he stops in to the same roadside cafe as the first movie, and has a meeting with Madge, the waitress. In the end, Nephalim and Angel must battle for the future of mankind.

Review: This final chapter of the trilogy brings together all the unanswered questions of the first two films. Walken, Hytner, and, delightfully, Sandra Ellis Lafferty reprise their roles with amazing clarity. Walken is the mortal Gabriel who was cast to earth after the final scene in Prophecy 2, and he makes it apparent whose side he is on. By becoming one of the “talking monkeys”, he now understands the value of their existence and realizes he can no longer oppose God's plan. Dave Buzzota, in his premier performance, is intense and powerful as the Nephalim who soon discovers he has been “kicking against the pricks”. When his destiny is revealed, he throws himself into the role with such vehemence that you get caught up in his mission. The characters are consistent with the first two films, and the overall feel of the movie is enticing and thrilling. Rated R for violence, language, and some brief nudity, this is a good film for followers of modern horror and a must see for anyone who enjoyed the first two film. Collectible with the set, meaningless without the others.