Today is a very, very sad day.

I've never been a fan of horror, but I've always loved a movie that makes me think, while it entertains, and that’s what SEA OF DUST does.

I went to Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival (RIIFF) this weekend in Providence to see the movie; RIIFF is one of the most prominent international horror film festivals in this country. SEA OF DUST was selected as the featured film for premiere screening. And after seeing it, I can see why it’s drawing so much attention.

Because the movie is an homage to Hammer Horror Films of the 1960's (including the likes of Ingrid Pitt as Anna – one of the best known actresses of this genre), this stylistic film has elements that are often lost in contemporary horror.

Yes, it has the expected gore necessary for its classification, but it also in brings the humor and sophistication of Hammer Horror.  The beautiful women (Darby Lynn Totten, Suzi Lorraine, Sarah Dauber,) and gory special effects (Josh Turi), bring to this film the sexual ingredient that makes those old British horror films so fun to watch.

Director and writer Scott Bunt, through his script and direction has created characters that are driven to face moral and social issues that are relevant to current events of our time Yet, he does so without losing the endearing humorous aspect of this genre of horror. Thus making the magnitude these struggles more accessible to the audience.

The movie immediately brings you it to a confusing, intriguing, and powerful world (or should I say worlds). From the fear filled fleeing of a beautiful innocent woman; to the struggle of “the good guys” Doctor Maitland (Edward X. Young), Professor Sorel (Bill Timoney); to the unexpected temporal traversing of the young hero Stefan Christoph (Troy Holland) through different worlds, the audience is drawn in.

With unexpected turns of events and circumstances, the viewer fights, along with the characters, to understand what the next best step would be to tackle the pull to the evil-side, lead by Prester John (played by none other than the "King of Splatter" -- Tom Savini).

SEA OF DUST is an experience worth having, bringing you to places that are both visually astonishing and frighteningly seductive.

The eerie musical score (Jasper Drew), beautiful costumes (Joanne Haas), and stunning cinematography (Brian Fass), make for an integrated visual and visceral experience. SEA OF DUST is not at all the typical horror experience, which is what makes it so exceptional.

If you are a Horror Movie Fan, especially a Hammer Horror Fan...that likes a good think with your scare…this is the movie for you. 

Now available on Netflix!

Thank God, Charles Dickens and Jill Santoriello for finally getting a magical, dramatic, tender yet powerful, life-changing musical back on the Broadway stage. It’s been far, far too long that we (the musical theatre loving audience) have been waiting for a story to move us as A TALE OF TWO CITIES does.

From the first stirring swells of the orchestra, to the sweet sound of stunning voices, coupled with the creative set (Tony Walton), lighting (Richard Pilbrow) and costumes (David Zinn), this musical is what Broadway is supposed to be.

We go to Broadway to be swept away to a place that we cannot go without the magic of  theatre. And this show does exactly that. It's a story about love; true, unselfish, love. Yes, there is romance and passion in every word, look and movement. But beyond that, there is a remarkable blend of suffering and salvation reflected in the familiarity of these characters, superbly expressed through music.  

Yes, just like everyone else, I’d heard the scathing reviews. And upon hearing this I immediately decided that A TALE OF TWO CITIES was a must see. I never trust the critics. I trust the audience (and my gut).

 Even Richard Ouzounian in his bitter review of the show stated, "The audience stood and cheered at the preview I attended. Some even wept." See, the audience loves the show – it’s only a few, people – unfortunately those with the pen – that didn’t get it. (I often wonder why – but “the psychology of the critic" is a topic for another blog post.)

 All too often, because too many listen to those that are paid to comment on art (rather than those that pay to see a performance), shows suffer and close before their time. And I’m afraid that because of a few cruel and inaccurate assessment of this beautiful story in song, this masterpiece could be driven out of the theatre. So I felt compelled to bring it your attention and ask you to make the choice yourself. Go ahead and see good theatre against the critics advice. With our purchasing power we can buy the ticket that will keep shows like this open and keep Broadway alive.

The irony I found in many of the initial reviews, was that they complained that one of the show's major flaws was a similarity to Les Miz. But Les Miz – unarguably the best musical in its genre – changed the nature of Musical Theatre. So to be a musical worthy of such a comparison, speaks volumes to the brilliance of A TALE OF TWO CITIES. In my opinion this is one of the highest complements one can be given when creating an Epic dramatic musical. The fact that Broadway finally has another musical of this nature is reason enough to go running to the theatre to see it.

{Footnote: Les Miz initially received scathing reviews in most of the London papers, but within days of the opening, audiences spread the word and ticket sales sky-rocketed, and it played to sold-out houses from then on. – In my estimation, A TALE OF TWO CITiES audiences will do the same for this show.}

Before I went, I was warned that it was "long" although, surprisingly it didn't feel long at all; I could have sat through hours more of this magnificent production. Before I went, I knew that costumes would be beautiful and the show would be a spectacle (it is an Epic musical, after all, it is based on the Charles Dickens book). And if those were reasons enough to see it – the critics’ attempts to shut it down is the clincher.

This is an event that should not be passed over or slip away.

It celebrates the best and the worst of the human condition. It not only portrays inner struggles of one man but it inspires. Because it expresses the power of making life-changing choices as a result of our connections to those we love, A TALE OF TWO CITES is more than just a Broadway show, it’s an poignant and thrilling experience.

 Go see the greatest musical on Broadway today. A TALE OF TWO CITIES, it's amazing!

• ^{_{Warning Spoilers Ahead –read at your own risk.}} 

Everyone loves a comedy. And if you are looking for one of the funniest films in Theaters today, go see Nights in Rodanthe. Cleverly disguised as a romance in the trailer, the movie would be a tragedy if it actually fell into that category. But it’s precisely this irony, that makes the comedic nature of the film so strong. 

The best part is that this movie pays homage to all the great romances.
Shades of Rocky, as Paul is calling out “Adrienne...Adrienne” over and over again like a lost puppy dog.
Like La Rivière du hibou, there’s the old-fashion slow-motion running of two young lovers into each others arms (only in this case they were neither young, nor running through a field – but across a very short 20 foot driveway).
He cannot bring himself to leave her without one last kiss (unconcealed foreshadowing here).
The montage of love letters (portrayed through tasteless voice-overs and lovesick annotations)
The lonely endless night spent waiting for him to return to her, as the romantic dinner gets cold.
But it doesn’t end there. 
Yes, this never-ending movie continues…but I don’t want to ruin the surprise ending.

Because the characters Adrienne (Diane Lane) and Paul (Richard Gere) did not have one ounce of chemistry between them, and every moment was over-acted, the audience could care less what happens to them. This made the fact that the movie took itself so seriously, even funnier.

Adrienne is a pathetic woman who uses her family as an excuse to not live her own life and then wonders why her husband left her. She gave up her dream of being an artist and never recaptures that ☹.

An inspiring outcome of their encounter might have been that meeting Paul motivated Adrienne to live her dreams, but that would be a different movie. Alas, in this movie, she never changes. She never gains a sense of self nor stops defining herself by her relationships – no matter how shallow. And his character is just as bad (a boring, one-dimensional, cardboard cutout of a man).  Thus their “attraction” to each other is poetic.

In defense of Richard and Diane, there’s not much anyone could do to make such superficial characters attractive to the audience. They both dutifully cried on cue during the “sad” parts of the film – but there was no realty behind their tears. Since the characters were played with such simplicity, the on-the-nose expression of the sentiment felt like an attempt to spoon-feed the audience an emotional experience. As an audience member I would have been insulted, if I wasn’t so amused by the ridiculousness of it all. 

Honestly, I have never laughed so hard as I did during this movie. It makes a mockery of love and loss without knowing it.

Nights in Rodanthe is the best spoof on a romance novel that I’ve ever seen!

If you love cheese, ☺ you’ll love this Film.

So I've looked long and hard and I can't seem to find one review for NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN that isn't raving about how amazing it is.

I mean we all know that it won the Oscar for Best Picture, and we know that Javier is an excellent dancer...but did anyone see the movie I saw?

It was long, slow, uninteresting and meaningless. I suppose if you like that sort of thing, then watching this movie is a great way to spend your time.

I really tried to love it and I even watched it again after it won the Oscar, but I still couldn't love it or even care enough to hate it - I was indifferent to it. It didn't enhance my life, challenge me to think in a new way, entertain me or impact me at all. But with it winning the Oscar, I've started to wonder if I'm missing something that is so obvious to others.

Or is it the "bandwagon mentality" that occurs when a movie wins an award which make everyone speak highly of it? - No, that can't be it because critics were raving about it long before the Oscars. So what am I missing? I don't get it?

True, men with guns are sexy and tossing coins is a good way to make decisions, I don't deny these facts. But there was no seeming point to it and no character that I cared about in the story. So how does that make for a great movie? (I will admit that it was fun, after the movie to talk with my friend about some invisible meaning of the characters names and the dream, but that's not worth an Oscar in my opinion.)

So, please tell me, what is there to love about this movie? Or is it so "artistic" that it's not supposed to be understandable by the average viewer. Look, it was filled with great actors and, of course, "the enigmatic Coen brothers" so there's no excuse for it not to be a moving experience?  But it wasn't.

See, the thing is, I didn't hate the movie, I was just bored by it. And worst of all it didn't even put me to sleep.

I go to the movies to be entertained, to be moved but this movie did neither for me.

P.S. And another thing, how is Javier Bardem a Supporting Actor...such as the movie was, he carried it, yes? Doesn't he deserve a Leading Actor credit?