Chicago – It was another city in another time when Andrew Davis directed his first film “Stony Island” in 1970s Chicago. The film was released in 1978 to acclaim, but faded into the mist of cinema. Andrew Davis is back in his hometown to introduce “Stony Island” at the Gene Siskel Film Center on Friday, November 17th, 2023. For tickets and info, click Stony Island.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Lovingly filmed on the gritty 1970s streets in the Chicago of Andy Davis, the film features his brother Richard Davis as Ritchie, a white boy guitarist trying to break into a Southside rhythm and blues band that cooks with its own brand of Windy City soul. Based a bit on his brother’s actual circumstances, the film features actual singers and players of the era, including a magnificent performance by Gene Barge as Percy Price, the centerpiece cat in the story who ends up in a fate of celebration.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Lovingly filmed on the gritty 1970s streets in the Chicago of Andy Davis, the film features his brother Richard Davis as Ritchie, a white boy guitarist trying to break into a Southside rhythm and blues band that cooks with its own brand of Windy City soul. Based a bit on his brother’s actual circumstances, the film features actual singers and players of the era, including a magnificent performance by Gene Barge as Percy Price, the centerpiece cat in the story who ends up in a fate of celebration.
- 11/16/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Celebrating its 45th anniversary, director Andrew Davis’ first film “Stony Island” will make its digital debut on major VOD platforms and DVD on Nov. 17. That same day, there will be a theatrical screening of the film at the Gene Siskel Center in Chicago. Following the one-night-only screening, Davis and his brother Richie Davis will host a Q&a session.
“Stony Island” tells the story of “two struggling musicians who buck the odds in their attempt to form an R&b band and take it on the road,” according to a release provided to Variety. It follows Richie Bloom, the only white kid on the block, who forms a band with his best friend Kevin Tucker. Aging sax legend Percy Price mentors them as they pull together a funky supergroup. Armed with little resources and facing heavy losses, the musicians must unite to make their smash debut.
The film received accolades...
“Stony Island” tells the story of “two struggling musicians who buck the odds in their attempt to form an R&b band and take it on the road,” according to a release provided to Variety. It follows Richie Bloom, the only white kid on the block, who forms a band with his best friend Kevin Tucker. Aging sax legend Percy Price mentors them as they pull together a funky supergroup. Armed with little resources and facing heavy losses, the musicians must unite to make their smash debut.
The film received accolades...
- 10/31/2023
- by Caroline Brew
- Variety Film + TV
Each week we take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly of the home entertainment offerings, reviewing and rating the films and the special features packed onto the discs.
Release of the Week
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Film
The BFI have been working hard on their Masters of Cinema collection, a British equivalent to the Criterion Collection. This is their fifth and final introduction into the John Cassavetes collection which includes Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under the Influence and Opening Night. The story of Cosmo Vitelli (Ben Gazzara – mesmerising), a small strip-club owner who gets in too deep with some murky characters because of his consuming gambling addiction which leaves him $23,000 in the red. The mob then use this as a handle to blackmail him into murdering someone to wipe off some of his debt. It goes behind the scenes of a seemingly successful man...
Release of the Week
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Film
The BFI have been working hard on their Masters of Cinema collection, a British equivalent to the Criterion Collection. This is their fifth and final introduction into the John Cassavetes collection which includes Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under the Influence and Opening Night. The story of Cosmo Vitelli (Ben Gazzara – mesmerising), a small strip-club owner who gets in too deep with some murky characters because of his consuming gambling addiction which leaves him $23,000 in the red. The mob then use this as a handle to blackmail him into murdering someone to wipe off some of his debt. It goes behind the scenes of a seemingly successful man...
- 7/19/2013
- by Adam Lowes
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
By Arlene R. Weiss
British actor, musician, Maxton Gig “Max” Beesley, Jr’s destiny as an actor was firmly set when his mom was inspired by American, Academy Award® winning actor Gig Young, in choosing her son’s middle name. Beesley, born and raised in his beloved Manchester, England, was raised in a family steeped in the arts. His father, Max Beesley, Sr. is a venerable jazz drummer and impressionist, and his mother Chris Marlowe was a jazz singer. His step-brother Jason Milligan is also an actor and Jason’s wife Angela Griffin is an actress.
At first, American audiences may not easily recognize Max Beesley’s name, but in fact, many are far more familiar with his esteemed CV of work, which includes numerous acclaimed acting roles in many stellar films, TV series, and also a supreme music career, than they realize.
Beesley has garnered considerable praise and is...
British actor, musician, Maxton Gig “Max” Beesley, Jr’s destiny as an actor was firmly set when his mom was inspired by American, Academy Award® winning actor Gig Young, in choosing her son’s middle name. Beesley, born and raised in his beloved Manchester, England, was raised in a family steeped in the arts. His father, Max Beesley, Sr. is a venerable jazz drummer and impressionist, and his mother Chris Marlowe was a jazz singer. His step-brother Jason Milligan is also an actor and Jason’s wife Angela Griffin is an actress.
At first, American audiences may not easily recognize Max Beesley’s name, but in fact, many are far more familiar with his esteemed CV of work, which includes numerous acclaimed acting roles in many stellar films, TV series, and also a supreme music career, than they realize.
Beesley has garnered considerable praise and is...
- 6/18/2013
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Timothy Bottoms Gets His Pound Of Flesh
By
Alex Simon
Timothy Bottoms became an overnight sensation at the height of the so-called “Easy Riders and Raging Bulls” era, after landing the leading role in The Last Picture Show (1971), Peter Bogdanovich’s film about the social and sexual rites of small town Texans in the early 1950s. Internationally acclaimed for his portrait of Sonny, a sensitive kid struggling to find his way in the harsh landscape of post-war America, the then-twenty year-old Bottoms suddenly found himself not only in-demand as a rising young star, but a major celebrity, as well, with younger brothers Sam (who co-starred in The Last Picture Show), Joseph and Ben following in their older brother’s footsteps, making names for themselves on stage and screen. Bottoms reprised the role of Sonny for Picture Show's 1990 sequel, Texasville.
After another triumphant turn with the lead in James Bridges’ The Paper Chase...
By
Alex Simon
Timothy Bottoms became an overnight sensation at the height of the so-called “Easy Riders and Raging Bulls” era, after landing the leading role in The Last Picture Show (1971), Peter Bogdanovich’s film about the social and sexual rites of small town Texans in the early 1950s. Internationally acclaimed for his portrait of Sonny, a sensitive kid struggling to find his way in the harsh landscape of post-war America, the then-twenty year-old Bottoms suddenly found himself not only in-demand as a rising young star, but a major celebrity, as well, with younger brothers Sam (who co-starred in The Last Picture Show), Joseph and Ben following in their older brother’s footsteps, making names for themselves on stage and screen. Bottoms reprised the role of Sonny for Picture Show's 1990 sequel, Texasville.
After another triumphant turn with the lead in James Bridges’ The Paper Chase...
- 5/22/2012
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Andrew Davis Returns To Stony Island
By Alex Simon
Director Andrew Davis made his name with hard-hitting action blockbusters like The Fugitive, Under Siege and The Guardian, but like most filmmakers, his first effort was a small film with a modest budget and a lot of heart. Davis’ directing debut Stony Island was shot in 1977, helmed by the then 30 year-old who had made a name for himself as a cinematographer, and conceived as a love letter to the South Chicago neighborhood where he grew up. Based loosely on the story of Davis’ younger brother Richie (starring as a fictionalized version of himself), who grew up as one of the few white kids in a largely African-American neighborhood, Stony Island follows a group of young musicians who try to form an R&B group in their racially-mixed neighborhood. Featuring the film debuts of now-notable names such as Dennis Franz, Susanna Hoffs,...
By Alex Simon
Director Andrew Davis made his name with hard-hitting action blockbusters like The Fugitive, Under Siege and The Guardian, but like most filmmakers, his first effort was a small film with a modest budget and a lot of heart. Davis’ directing debut Stony Island was shot in 1977, helmed by the then 30 year-old who had made a name for himself as a cinematographer, and conceived as a love letter to the South Chicago neighborhood where he grew up. Based loosely on the story of Davis’ younger brother Richie (starring as a fictionalized version of himself), who grew up as one of the few white kids in a largely African-American neighborhood, Stony Island follows a group of young musicians who try to form an R&B group in their racially-mixed neighborhood. Featuring the film debuts of now-notable names such as Dennis Franz, Susanna Hoffs,...
- 4/24/2012
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Cologne, Germany – "Picco," a hard-hitting prison drama from debut director Philip Koch, has won the German Independence Award at the 17th Oldenburg Film Festival.
The drama is based on a real-life event in a German youth prison where inmates tortured and killed a cellmate.
"A portrait of a true hell on earth," is how the Oldenburg International Jury, headed by actress Deborah Kara Unger, described "Picco," calling the film "clear and heartbreaking in any language."
Oldenburg's regular film fans preferred the lighter fare of Paul Gordon's "The Happy Poet." The comedy about a man trying to set up an organic heath food stand won Oldenburg's audience award.
Germany's leading indie film fest wrapped Sunday night with the world premiere of "Pound of Flesh," a drama directed by Tamar Simon Hoffs and starring Timothy Bottoms, Whitney Able and Malcolm McDowell.
The drama is based on a real-life event in a German youth prison where inmates tortured and killed a cellmate.
"A portrait of a true hell on earth," is how the Oldenburg International Jury, headed by actress Deborah Kara Unger, described "Picco," calling the film "clear and heartbreaking in any language."
Oldenburg's regular film fans preferred the lighter fare of Paul Gordon's "The Happy Poet." The comedy about a man trying to set up an organic heath food stand won Oldenburg's audience award.
Germany's leading indie film fest wrapped Sunday night with the world premiere of "Pound of Flesh," a drama directed by Tamar Simon Hoffs and starring Timothy Bottoms, Whitney Able and Malcolm McDowell.
- 9/19/2010
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This devious, and sex-filled thriller from Tamar Simon Hoffs is just completed, and she reminds us of Heathers and Wild Things with her crazy plot and darkly comic casting choices.
Malcom MacDowell is a popular university college professor who runs an escort service pimping the school's beautiful co-eds. After a co-ed is murdered he must stay out of reach of the law.
Also stars Angus MacFadyen, Timothy Bottoms, and Dee Wallace. We can't wait! More as we hear.
Malcom MacDowell is a popular university college professor who runs an escort service pimping the school's beautiful co-eds. After a co-ed is murdered he must stay out of reach of the law.
Also stars Angus MacFadyen, Timothy Bottoms, and Dee Wallace. We can't wait! More as we hear.
- 8/5/2010
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
Cologne, Germany -- Actor Timothy Bottoms, a star of the New Hollywood era with roles in films such as "The Last Picture Show" and "Johnny Got His Gun" and who received a late career revival playing President George W. Bush in Trey Parker and Matt Stone's Comedy Central series "That's My Bush!" will be honored with a retrospective of his work at this year's Oldenburg Film Festival (Sept. 15-19).
Oldenburg, the indie-focused fest known as "Germany's Sundance," will also screen the world premiere of Bottoms' latest, the thriller "Pound of Flesh" co-staring Malcolm McDowell and Angus Macfadyen.
"Pound of Flesh" director Tamar Simon Hoffs, also known as the mother of Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs and mother-in-law to "Dinner With Schmucks" helmer Jay Roach, will attend Oldenburg for the premiere.
Oldenburg is still fleshing out its lineup but Spanish drama "The Mosquito Net" from Agusti Vila, which won Karlovy Vary's grand prize,...
Oldenburg, the indie-focused fest known as "Germany's Sundance," will also screen the world premiere of Bottoms' latest, the thriller "Pound of Flesh" co-staring Malcolm McDowell and Angus Macfadyen.
"Pound of Flesh" director Tamar Simon Hoffs, also known as the mother of Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs and mother-in-law to "Dinner With Schmucks" helmer Jay Roach, will attend Oldenburg for the premiere.
Oldenburg is still fleshing out its lineup but Spanish drama "The Mosquito Net" from Agusti Vila, which won Karlovy Vary's grand prize,...
- 7/30/2010
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
By Neil Pedley
As the temperature rises, romance blooms amongst the geriatric set, "Mary Poppins" goes Bollywood, and parents will get their first chance to lay eyes on that which will likely have them driving to Toys "R" Us all summer long.
"Elsa and Fred"
Seeing anyone under 30 fall in love on screen is elusive these days, and so director Marcos Carnevale's gentle and endearing tale of romance between a couple with a real-life combined age of 176 is quite the breath of fresh air. In a role that nabbed several awards in his native Spain, Manuel Alexandre stars as Fred, an embittered widower whose chance encounter with Elsa (China Zorilla), a mischievous Fellini fanatic, leads the pair to Italy to fulfill her dream of reenacting the famous Trevi Fountain scene from Fellini's "La Dolce Vita." In Spanish with subtitles.
Opens in limited release.
"Finding Amanda"
Fans of the small...
As the temperature rises, romance blooms amongst the geriatric set, "Mary Poppins" goes Bollywood, and parents will get their first chance to lay eyes on that which will likely have them driving to Toys "R" Us all summer long.
"Elsa and Fred"
Seeing anyone under 30 fall in love on screen is elusive these days, and so director Marcos Carnevale's gentle and endearing tale of romance between a couple with a real-life combined age of 176 is quite the breath of fresh air. In a role that nabbed several awards in his native Spain, Manuel Alexandre stars as Fred, an embittered widower whose chance encounter with Elsa (China Zorilla), a mischievous Fellini fanatic, leads the pair to Italy to fulfill her dream of reenacting the famous Trevi Fountain scene from Fellini's "La Dolce Vita." In Spanish with subtitles.
Opens in limited release.
"Finding Amanda"
Fans of the small...
- 6/23/2008
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
"Everything's becoming genderized," director Martha Coolidge lamented Sunday during a panel titled "Directing Feature Film", which took place as part of the 2005 Women in Film & Television International Summit, which runs through Tuesday at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Century City. Discussing the challenges faced by female directors, Coolidge, a past president of the DGA, explained that as marketing has become more sophisticated, the film industry is aiming movies at ever-narrower slices of the audiences: Girls under 9, girls 14-17, girls 18-25. As a result, she described witnessing boys and girls going together to the multiplex, where the girls go off to one movie and the boys to another, and then they meet up again afterward. Coolidge was joined by fellow panelists Penelope Spheeris and Tamar Simon Hoffs.
- 10/30/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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