“Breaking and Exiting” is the first directorial feature for actor Peter Facinilli, and first produced screenplay for actor-turned-producer/star Jordan Hinson. One hopes it was a good learning experience for all, because from a viewer’s perspective, the results don’t provide much reward.
This wafer-thin seriocomedy, basically one long meet-cute between a burglar and a suicidal woman, feels padded even at just 78 minutes. Whatever the promise of that premise, very little happens in the way of narrative or character development, which leaves the film over-reliant on a central chemistry (Milo Gibson is Hinson’s co-lead) that isn’t really there.
Despite surface polish, this indie feels like a classroom exercise that checks off the basic technical and narrative-beat boxes needed to get a passing grade, yet never develops any real personality of its own or raison d’etre. Freestyle Digital Media launches the film in limited theatrical release simultaneous with VOD on Aug.
This wafer-thin seriocomedy, basically one long meet-cute between a burglar and a suicidal woman, feels padded even at just 78 minutes. Whatever the promise of that premise, very little happens in the way of narrative or character development, which leaves the film over-reliant on a central chemistry (Milo Gibson is Hinson’s co-lead) that isn’t really there.
Despite surface polish, this indie feels like a classroom exercise that checks off the basic technical and narrative-beat boxes needed to get a passing grade, yet never develops any real personality of its own or raison d’etre. Freestyle Digital Media launches the film in limited theatrical release simultaneous with VOD on Aug.
- 8/17/2018
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Robert Walker: Actor in MGM films of the '40s. Robert Walker: Actor who conveyed boy-next-door charms, psychoses At least on screen, I've always found the underrated actor Robert Walker to be everything his fellow – and more famous – MGM contract player James Stewart only pretended to be: shy, amiable, naive. The one thing that made Walker look less like an idealized “Average Joe” than Stewart was that the former did not have a vacuous look. Walker's intelligence shone clearly through his bright (in black and white) grey eyes. As part of its “Summer Under the Stars” programming, Turner Classic Movies is dedicating today, Aug. 9, '15, to Robert Walker, who was featured in 20 films between 1943 and his untimely death at age 32 in 1951. Time Warner (via Ted Turner) owns the pre-1986 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer library (and almost got to buy the studio outright in 2009), so most of Walker's movies have...
- 8/9/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Teresa Wright: Later years (See preceding post: "Teresa Wright: From Marlon Brando to Matt Damon.") Teresa Wright and Robert Anderson were divorced in 1978. They would remain friends in the ensuing years.[1] Wright spent most of the last decade of her life in Connecticut, making only sporadic public appearances. In 1998, she could be seen with her grandson, film producer Jonah Smith, at New York's Yankee Stadium, where she threw the ceremonial first pitch.[2] Wright also became involved in the Greater New York chapter of the Als Association. (The Pride of the Yankees subject, Lou Gehrig, died of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in 1941.) The week she turned 82 in October 2000, Wright attended the 20th anniversary celebration of Somewhere in Time, where she posed for pictures with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. In March 2003, she was a guest at the 75th Academy Awards, in the segment showcasing Oscar-winning actors of the past. Two years later,...
- 3/15/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Leading Australian theatre producer John Frost today announced the return to the Australian stage by stars of screen and stage, Hayley Mills and Juliet Mills. The sisters will star in a national tour of the Australian Premiere of James Kirkwood's hilarious and touching comedy Legends which has broken box office records around the world wherever it has played.The Australian Premiere opens in Brisbane at Qpac in May for a strictly limited season, followed by seasons in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. Tickets are on sale from 9 February.
- 1/17/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
D.W. Griffith movies at the American Cinematheque (photo: D.W. Griffith circa 1915) A series of D.W. Griffith movies made at Biograph at the dawn of both the 20th century and the art of moviemaking will be screened at the American Cinematheque next weekend. "Retroformat Presents: D.W. Griffith at Biograph, Part 3 - 1909 – 1910" will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. in the Steven Spielberg auditorium of The Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. The evening will be hosted by Tom Barnes; musical accompaniment will be provided by Cliff Retallick. Among the D.W. Griffith films to be presented by Retroformat are the following: Lines of White on a Sullen Sea The Gibson Goddess The Mountaineer’s Honor Through the Breakers A Corner in Wheat Her Terrible Ordeal The Last Deal Faithful D.W. Griffith and his stars As found in Retroformat’s press release, those early D.W. Griffith efforts feature "innovative cinematography" by frequent Griffith collaborator G.W. Bitzer,...
- 4/24/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Paul Henreid: From lighting two cigarettes and blowing smoke onto Bette Davis’ face to lighting two cigarettes while directing twin Bette Davises Paul Henreid is back as Turner Classic Movies’ Star of the Month of July 2013. TCM will be showing four movies featuring Henreid (Now, Voyager; Deception; The Madwoman of Chaillot; The Spanish Main) and one directed by him (Dead Ringer). (Photo: Paul Henreid lights two cigarettes on the set of Dead Ringer, while Bette Davis remembers the good old days.) (See also: “Paul Henreid Actor.”) Irving Rapper’s Now, Voyager (1942) was one of Bette Davis’ biggest hits, and it remains one of the best-remembered romantic movies of the studio era — a favorite among numerous women and some gay men. But why? Personally, I find Now, Voyager a major bore, made (barely) watchable only by a few of the supporting performances (Claude Rains, Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nominee...
- 7/10/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Everybody's favorite movie decade: Which ones are the best movies released in the 20th century's second decade? Best Film (Pictured above) Broken Blossoms: Barthelmess and Gish star as ill-fated lovers in D.W. Griffith’s romantic melodrama featuring interethnic love. Check These Out (Pictured below) Cabiria: is considered one of the major landmarks in motion picture history, having inspired the scope and visual grandeur of D.W. Griffith’s Intolerance. Also of note, Pastrone's epic of ancient Rome introduced Maciste, a bulky hero who would be featured in countless movies in the ensuing decades. Best Actor (Pictured below) In the tragic The Italian, George Beban plays an Italian immigrant recently arrived in the United States (Click below for film review). Unfortunately, his American dream quickly becomes a horrendous nightmare of poverty and despair. Best Actress (Pictured below) The movies' super-vamp Theda Bara in A Fool There Was: A little...
- 3/27/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
One of the nation's leading programs for emerging playwrights -- Cherry Lane Theatre's award-winning Mentor Project -- celebrates its 15th anniversary this season with the production of four new plays by emerging writers -- each of whom is paired with an accomplished mentor playwright -- from February 20, 2012 to April 13 at the Cherry Lane Theatre 38 Commerce St. in Manhattan. Mentor Project is the recipient of the Ross Wetzsteon Obie Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Development of New Work, along with the 2009 James Kirkwood Award for fostering and promoting the work of contemporary American playwrights.
- 12/3/2012
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Today in 2008, the first Broadway revival of A Chrous Line closed at the Schoenfeld Theatre, where it ran for 759 performances. A Chorus Line is a musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch. With nineteen main characters, it is set on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre during an audition for a musical. The show provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers. The original Broadway production received 12 Tony Award nominations and winning nine of them, in addition to the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
- 8/17/2012
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Today in 1975, A Chrous Line opened at the Shubert THeatre, where it ran for 6137 performances. A Chorus Line is a musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch. With nineteen main characters, it is set on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre during an audition for a musical. The show provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers. The original Broadway production received 12 Tony Award nominations and winning nine of them, in addition to the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
- 7/25/2012
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Director: James Franco Writers: James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Stacey Miller, Michael Gregg Michaud (book) Starring: Val Lauren, Jim Parrack, James Franco, Vince Jolivette, Stacey Miller I have not read it yet, but I bet Dave Wilson's review of Sal is much more informative than mine. I plan on more of a drunkenly loose diatribe of why James Franco's bio-pic of Sal Mineo (Val Lauren) -- the teen idol and star of Rebel Without a Cause and Exodus -- is so damn important. Sure, Sal is destined to suffer the same cultish fate of most films about gay protagonists (Howl being an all too perfect example), but I think it deserves much, much more than that because Sal is a beautiful, sexually ambiguous portrait of a gay film star's final day of existence. Making a film that takes place within the rigid confines of the final day of its...
- 11/1/2011
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Why Watch? Because you shouldn’t fear black and white silence. It’s a coincidence that this is going up the same day as a very thoughtful exploration of G.W. Pabst’s Pandora’s Box, but it’s also great to see another initialed, iconic director’s early silent short works. This one, the story of a wheat king looking to monopolize production and crush the poor, was made back in 1909. That’s right. This short film is over 100 years old. Pretty amazing. It features some early advents of the cross-cutting and montage techniques as well as some stunning black and white imagery, and a final shot that’s as poignant as it is bittersweet. What Will It Cost? Just 14 minutes of your time. Does it get better any better than that? Check out A Corner in the Wheat for yourself: A Corner In The Wheat (1909) Directed By: D. W. Griffith...
- 4/20/2011
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Friends In Deed has announced that famed author Fran Lebowitz has joined the upcoming One Night Only staged reading benefit of the infamous Broadway-play-that-wasn't, Legends!. She will take the stage with fellow legends Charles Busch, Whoopi Goldberg and Lypsinka in the first-ever New York presentation of the play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner James Kirkwood (A Chorus Line), which will be presented on Monday evening, March 23 at 8Pm at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street).
- 2/26/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Friends In Deed will present a legendary trio as Charles Busch, Whoopi Goldberg and Lypsinka star in the first-ever New York presentation of the infamous Broadway-play-that-wasn't, Legends!. Written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner James Kirkwood (A Chorus Line), the play will be presented in a special One Night Only staged reading benefit on Monday evening, March 23 at 8Pm at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street).
- 2/6/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
TORONTO -- Canadian live theater producer Mirvish Prods. on Tuesday will announce it is bringing Monty Python's Spamalot and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me to Toronto as part of its 2006-07 season. The Toronto Star on Saturday said Mirvish Prods. had picked up the rights to Spamalot, which launched on Broadway with Eric Idle in the starring role. Martin Short, who made his stage debut in 1972 in a Toronto production of Godspell, also will reportedly bring his "musical mock-autobiography" here ahead of a planned Broadway run. The Mirvishes also will stage in Toronto James Kirkwood's comedy Legends, with Joan Collins and Linda Evans starring as two aging stars who bury their axes in a bid to resurrect their stalled careers. Mirvish Prods. this month launched an effects-heavy Toronto stage production of Lord of the Rings, based on the J.R.R. Tolkein epic, ahead of a run in London's West End.
- 2/27/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Outfest
There just might be a very good reason that "P.S. Your Cat Is Dead", both a novel and a short-lived Broadway play by James Kirkwood Jr. (co-author of "A Chorus Line"), had never been turned into a movie.
It likely has a lot to do with the fact that both versions -- which tell the story of a struggling actor-writer who has captured the young gay burglar responsible for repeatedly cleaning out his apartment -- have that early '70s feel of something that was once groundbreaking in a distinctly theatrical way but would now feel as quaintly dated as a "Boys in the Band" revival.
For some reason, that hasn't deterred Steve Guttenberg from taking a crack at the material in the triple guise of director, star and co-writer (with Jeff Korn). While his tenacity is undeniable, he would have been wiser to let sleeping cats lie.
In the Guttenberg version, his Jimmy Zoole character is having a very bad New Year's Eve. His latest one-man show has closed after a single performance; his girlfriend, Kate (Cynthia Watros), has dumped him; and his Hollywood loft is about to be robbed yet again.
But things take a fateful turn when Jimmy captures the culprit (Lombardo Boyar) and hogties him to the kitchen sink while figuring out an appropriate punishment.
Guttenberg's approach is essentially to choreograph everything like it was a kinkier version of "Love, American Style", then abruptly change gears for those more purposeful, soul-bearing passages.
While it still ends up inextricably stuck to the stage, the film does manage to serve as an effective showcase for Boyar, who as the charismatic, thieving Eddie Who's now Hispanic rather than Italian) delivers a remarkably compelling performance, which is no mean feat when you're face-down, bare-assed and bound for the majority of the picture.
There just might be a very good reason that "P.S. Your Cat Is Dead", both a novel and a short-lived Broadway play by James Kirkwood Jr. (co-author of "A Chorus Line"), had never been turned into a movie.
It likely has a lot to do with the fact that both versions -- which tell the story of a struggling actor-writer who has captured the young gay burglar responsible for repeatedly cleaning out his apartment -- have that early '70s feel of something that was once groundbreaking in a distinctly theatrical way but would now feel as quaintly dated as a "Boys in the Band" revival.
For some reason, that hasn't deterred Steve Guttenberg from taking a crack at the material in the triple guise of director, star and co-writer (with Jeff Korn). While his tenacity is undeniable, he would have been wiser to let sleeping cats lie.
In the Guttenberg version, his Jimmy Zoole character is having a very bad New Year's Eve. His latest one-man show has closed after a single performance; his girlfriend, Kate (Cynthia Watros), has dumped him; and his Hollywood loft is about to be robbed yet again.
But things take a fateful turn when Jimmy captures the culprit (Lombardo Boyar) and hogties him to the kitchen sink while figuring out an appropriate punishment.
Guttenberg's approach is essentially to choreograph everything like it was a kinkier version of "Love, American Style", then abruptly change gears for those more purposeful, soul-bearing passages.
While it still ends up inextricably stuck to the stage, the film does manage to serve as an effective showcase for Boyar, who as the charismatic, thieving Eddie Who's now Hispanic rather than Italian) delivers a remarkably compelling performance, which is no mean feat when you're face-down, bare-assed and bound for the majority of the picture.
- 7/23/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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