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Reviews
By Courier (2000)
Oscar Nominated & Excellent!
I'm not sure where IMDb comes up with a rating of 4 on an Oscar NOMINATED film that has a "mathematical mean" of 7...
This is now on the King Of The Corner DVD as an "extra" (as of 10-28-05).
This short film is excellent! The writing is tremendous and the acting superb.
Peter Riegert and company have done a wonderful job of adapting this O' Henry classic - comedic misdirection's and all.
Great job!
Please, Riegert, make more films!!
Freedom Park (2004)
Headline: Nancy Saves The Day
This is an excellent family movie. After reading the logline I was skeptical/concerned/curious to see if Jon Artigo & Chad Meserve could pull off a family movie about gambling...They've succeeded with Freedom Park.
FP is fast, furious and VERY funny. The characters are well rounded -- and the acting is superb.
It's a huge accomplishment when film makers can produce a family film that actually appeals to adults as well as the target audience of children. Freedom Park does it.
You MUST see this film -- because only then will you truly understand the Headline above.
Awesome work!
King of the Corner (2004)
A movie - a real movie!
Nothing blows up in King Of The Corner -- but situations do explode into funny, neurotic, emotional, and utterly entertaining situations.
The performances are superb. Eli Wallach as the "incredibly shrinking old man" -- Isabella Rossellini as the mother who may be "losing" her little girl - Eric Bogosian as the synagogue-less Rabbi -- and Peter Riegert as the man lost in the middle of everything were fantastic.
Riegert makes an impressive feature directorial debut with King Of The Corner, too. The film is VERY funny but also has an excellent blend of intelligence and emotional realism that will creep up on you -- especially during the funeral scene.
I'd pay again to see King Of The Corner.
Great work Peter Riegert, cast & crew!
My Uncle Berns (2003)
Touching - fun - and a must see!
Lindsay Crystal knows her Uncle Berns like no other person on earth - except, of course, for her father Billy. This is one of the most touching documentaries that I've seen in quite a while. Uncle Berns, even when down, is seemingly the true inspirational/creative force of the Crystal family. I don't want to give too much away, but while watching, you'll understand, fairly quickly, that Uncle Berns is the comic inspiration behind Billy Crystal -- and that's not a bad thing! And I can venture a guess that Billy Crystal would be very proud to tell you that himself. I can also imagine that even after Uncle Berns leaves this world, his "teachings" will live on in the Crystal's family, as well as in the lives of the open hearted audience seeing this film. Here's to hoping everyone has an Uncle Berns in his or her own family. Great work Lindsay Crystal.
Steel Spirit (2002)
Very Good Indie Film
Steven J. Pershing is the Ted Williams of the film world. Why? Like Ted, Steven didn't jump into the film business for the money. He produced, wrote, directed, and starred in Steel Spirit because of his love and passion for the film game. This film is incredible. And I don't play the incredible card lightly. It's incredible for the fact that it was shot on a Sony camcorder over a two-year period (working only on weekends) by a novice writer/actor/director and his equally novice cast & crew, all working with no budget and highly charged imaginations. Steel Spirit is incredible because of the love and cooperation Steven received from his family and friends to see his vision through to completion. This is the little movie that shouldn't even exist. But it does. Not for the lack of story (fun, and action packed) or credible acting (cheeky, and amusing), either both categories work well within the production. Making a movie can be an enormous chore (I'm a credited filmmaker) especially without having the luxury of 'throwing money' at any problems that may arise. Steven J. Pershing had only heart and soul to toss at his film-making predicaments as they arose. Steel Spirit is truly an awe inspiring Independent film. When's the last time you've seen special effects (and good ones at that!) in a no budget movie? Steel Spirit has them, a lot of them. And when you learn, through the witty Directors Commentary (especially during the end credits don't miss Steven's 'apologies'), that Steven and crew made the special effects and armaments work by slaving over home PC's and visiting their local Home Depot -- not by working with Industrial Light & Magic. After viewing Steel Spirit you may be in awe yourself. This film and the DVD extras are an excellent investment in film-making heart and soul.