Monica Keena

Average customer rating:

Sandra and Bill...
sweet romantic comedy
Classic Comedy, Love Story and overall Family Fun.
Light and fun
Cute Romantic Comedy

While You Were Sleeping
Starring: Sandra Bullock , Bill Pullman , Peter Gallagher , Peter Boyle , and Jack Warden
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Manufacturer: Hollywood Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

You've Got Mail
Sleepless in Seattle (10th Anniversary Edition) [Region 99]
Sabrina
French Kiss
Notting Hill (Collector's Edition)

ASIN: 6304765266
Release Date: 1998-02-04

Amazon.com

If you don't mind a heavy dose of schmaltz and sentiment, this romantic comedy has a gentle way of seducing you with its charms. While You Were Sleeping was the first starring role for Sandra Bullock after her blockbuster success in Speed. In a role that nicely emphasizes her easygoing appeal, Bullock is the reason the movie works at all. She plays Lucy Eleanor Moderatz, a Chicago Transit tollbooth clerk who's hopelessly smitten with a daily commuter, Peter Callaghan (Peter Gallagher). She saves the object of her affection from certain death after he's mugged and falls onto the train tracks. While Peter is in a coma, she lets his family believe that she is his fiancée, and surprisingly finds herself drawn to his brother (Bill Pullman), for whom the attraction is definitely mutual. How Lucy gets out of this amorous predicament is what makes this pleasant movie less predictable than its familiar ingredients would initially indicate. It's feel-good fluff, with characters and performances that keep you smiling through the drippy plot mechanics. --Jeff Shannon

Description

You'll fall in love with WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, the hit romantic comedy that woke everyone up to adorable Sandra Bullock (SPEED, A TIME TO KILL). As Lucy, a lonely subway worker, she becomes smitten with a handsome stranger (Peter Gallagher -- MALICE). But when she saves his life after he's been mugged and fallen into a coma, his hilariously offbeat family mistakes her for his fiancee! Soon, the mix-ups escalate as Lucy fabricates a life between herself and a man she's never met! And when Lucy falls for his charming brother (Bill Pullman -- INDEPENDENCE DAY) the situation really gets uproarious as she's forced to make a choice between the two!

Customer Reviews:

Sandra and Bill..........2007-06-16

...what a great pair and what a fabulous movie. This is one of my faves of all time. It's funny, fun, and touches your heart. I am a huge Sandra Bullock fan since first seeing her in Speed and this made me a Bill Pullman fan as well. Previous to this movie he was always the guy who lost the girl, so seeing him as the male lead was a pleasant surprise.
Great movie...get it!!

sweet romantic comedy.......2007-05-25

This is one of my favorite romantic comedies of all time. Sandra Bullock is perfect in her role, and she has great chemistry with Bill Pullman. All the supporting cast is fabulous, from Peter Gallagher (perfect in his role as the superficial one of the two brothers) to the late always-hilarious Peter Boyle and reliable Jack Warden. Strong casting, an original storyline, great script, and perfect execution make for a highly enjoyable romantic comedy.

Classic Comedy, Love Story and overall Family Fun........2007-05-13

This movie shows that you are NOT crazy & you are not alone. Everyone has felt as if they don't fit in and "is it always going to be like this?" This film has several Titles. CLassic Family Fun & Comedy for anytime.

Light and fun.......2007-03-10

This is one of my "watch again and again" movies. It always lifts my mood.

Cute Romantic Comedy.......2007-03-08

I really liked the movie--in fact--I liked it so much that I saw it numerous times. It is one of those treasures that you want to keep in your collection to watch whenever you want. I liked the chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman in the movie. This movie is one of my favorites to see her in. It was funny and light. "While You Were Sleeping" was really enjoyable. It was not just Sandra who made this movie good and funny, it was the hillarious cast that kicked that humor up a bit more.

Freddy vs. Jason (New Line Platinum Series)

Average customer rating:

NOT VERY FUNNY, NOT VERY SCARY,
JASON'S THE REAL MAN!FREDDY ISN'T!
Couldve been better...
JASON AND FREDDY
Place your bets!

Freddy vs. Jason (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Robert Englund , Ken Kirzinger , Monica Keena , Jason Ritter , and Kelly Rowland
Director: Ronny Yu
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Slasher Flicks | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Teen Terror | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

New Line Platinum Series | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Jason X (New Line Platinum Series)
Jason Goes to Hell - The Final Friday
The Nightmare on Elm Street Collection
Friday the 13th - From Crystal Lake to Manhattan (8 Movies)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

ASIN: B0000VCZMK
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Amazon.com

After 11 years in development hell and screenplay drafts by 13 different writers, the long-awaited smackdown of Freddy vs. Jason finally arrives. After making their respective debuts in Friday the 13th (1980) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), the hockey-masked killer Jason Voorhees (Ken Kirzinger, replacing long-time Jason performer Kane Hodder) and razor-gloved Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) square off in a slasher-franchise combo-deal that only their most devoted fans will appreciate; turns out this is a lightweight match in which nobody wins. It's an average entry in the histories of these horror icons, comparable to half of their previous sequels, and Bride of Chucky director Ronny Yu satisfies purists with plenty of gushing blood and mayhem when Freddy recruits Jason to slice 'n' dice the ill-fated teens who've forgotten Freddy's once-formidable reign of terror. While it logically connects the gruesome legacies of Nightmare's Elm Street and Friday's Camp Crystal Lake, this horror hybrid is shockingly uninspired. It briefly peaks when Freddy gives the unconscious Jason a dream-world pummeling, but their ultimate showdown's a draw. In the immortal words of Peggy Lee, is that all there is? --Jeff Shannon

Description

It's the battle everyone's been DYING to see! Teenagers find themselves caught in the middle of a battle between two legendary boogeymen: Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger. Who will win in the bloodiest and goriest showdown in history? DVD Features:
3D Animated Menus
Alternate endings:Alternate opening and Ending
Audio Commentary:Commentary with Director Ronny Yu, Actors Robert Englund (FREDDY) & Ken Kirzinger (JASON)
Comparison Scenes
DVD ROM Features
Deleted Scenes:18 Deleted Scenes with optional commentary from Director Ronnie Yu and Executive Producer Douglas Curtis
Documentaries:--Behind the scenes coverage of the films development - including screenwriting, set design, make up, stunts and principle photography --Visual effects exploration
Featurette
Full Screen Version:Both fullscreen and Widescreen on one disc
Interviews
Music Video:Ill Nino "How Can I Live"
Storyboards
TV Spot:Lots of TV spots
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

NOT VERY FUNNY, NOT VERY SCARY, .......2007-05-28

This is the long awaited match up between iconic supernatural killers Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger. Fans of both films have been awaiting this movie, since "Jason Goes To Hell". Like "Jason Goes To Hell", this movie isn't very good.

The plot behind this movie is that Freddy (who is dead) resurrects Jason so that Jason will resurrect him. Its pretty stupid and overly explained throughout the film ad nauseum. Anyway the movie focuses on a group of hard partying, vapid teenagers living in Springwood who are soon terrorized by both Jason and Freddy (although mostly Jason). After a bunch of them get stabbed, the kids, led by the annoying Lori, somehow figure out what's going on and decide to save themselves by using Jason to kill Freddy....a plan that not suprisingly results in most of them being killed by Jason.

The movie is self-referential and somewhat parodies earlier films from the two series. But this is done without any tact. For example early in the movie Lori's friend Gibb is seen smoking a ciggarette, then as if the movie isn't screaming "SHE'S DOOMED!!!" into your face loud enough already, she throws the cigarette butt out the window and it hits Jason in the face. Things like this should be a bit more subtle. Another example would be how the movie goes out of its way to tell you who is a virgin. Hint: Virgins always make it 'til the end of these movies.

I guess this is to make up for the complete lack of fear in the film. Even the characters seem unfrightened the movie's killers openly mocking them and the silliness of their costumes. This inadvertently serves as a metaphor for how dated, silly and unfrightening '80's monsters like Freddy and Jason are today in the 2000's.

The almost all white cast of this movie is made up of stereotypical stock characters for these types of films. The "end girl", the guy she likes, the stoner, the nerd, the slut, the token black girl, the a--hole, ect. The kids recover pretty quickly from the grief of losing their friends, which I guess is understandable seeing as how vapid their friends were. The acting is pretty horrible and all the characters are super hateable. Also they are way too old to play teenagers.

This movie felt like a Nightmare movie more than a Friday movie, except Jason does all killing. There is no variety with Jason's kills, as New Line apparently believes his only weapon is the machete. Also there are some serious plot holes created from past movies. (Since when was Jason scared of water or Freddy of fire?). The end fight between the two was a bore and a total letdown. This movie has its highlights, but for the most part falls flat on its face. Only hardcore fans should bother checking this out.

JASON'S THE REAL MAN!FREDDY ISN'T!.......2007-05-12

I DIDN'T LIKE THIS MOVIE AT ALL!JASON DIDN'T HAVE ANY GOOD PARTS EXCEPT FOR ONE.THAT WASN'T FAIR TO JASON-THIS IS HIS MOVIE!THIS ISN'T FREDDYS MOVIE!THE ONLY PART I LIKED WAS WHEN JASON PUSHED FREDDY UP AGAINST THE WALL,AND HE SLID HIM ACROSS THE WALL-BREAKING ALL THE BEAMS WHICH CAUSED THE WALL TO FALL.IF YOU'RE A FREDDY FAN-YOU'LL LIKE THIS!GET IT!I'M A JASON FAN!HE'S MY MAN!

Couldve been better..........2007-05-01

I liked the movie and all but i find one major problem with it... Its robert englunds first time playing freddy in about 9 years, and we only see him killing one person (directly)? What a rip off. I was looking forward to more than that. But otherwise i enjoyed it.

JASON AND FREDDY.......2007-04-30

I DIDN'T LIKE THIS MOVIE BECAUSE IT MADE JASON LOOK LIKE A WIMP.JASON ISN'T A WIMP BY ANY MEANS!I NEVER LIKED FREDDY KRUEGAR OR HIS MOVIES.I ONLY LIKE JASON.I LIKED THE PART WHEN JASON GOT A HOLD OF FREDDY AND HE SLID HIM ACROSS THE WHOLE SIDE OF THE HOUSE,AND ALL THE BEAMS BROKE AND FELL.THAT'S MY JASON!IF YOU LIKE FREDDY - GET THIS DVD.

Place your bets!.......2007-04-02

Okay, I'll get this out of the way. Monica Keena was a rather annoying heroine, Jason Ritter smiled his way through emotional scenes (what?), some of the dialogue was atrocious, and Jason Voorhees was at times a bit too Michael Myers-ish. However, it is very hard to dislike this film. It is after all Freddy vs Jason not The Godfather. As a horror fanboy, this film was an absolute dream come true. The finale alone was worth the price of admission. The plot did not cheat the continuity of either franchise (although since when is Jason afraid of water? perhaps only subconsciously he is) and brought the contemporary horror icons together in a plot that actually made sense. Hell, Freddy was even scary again. Now that's a feat! His one-liners this time were actually funny as well. I give most of the success of the film to director Ronny Yu who injected a wonderful sense of style into the film. I loved the blue and red lighting and that bit with the green lighting in Jason's nightmare was a nice touch. The DVD itself is flawless. The picture and sound quality are razor sharp. The extras are interesting with documentaries chronicalling the movie's ten year development hell phase all the way up to New Line's premiere at Camp Hackenslash. If you're a fan of the franchises, you won't be disappointed. Others may enjoy it for cheesy fun. Everyone else, beware! I'm still hoping for that team-up with Ash from The Evil Dead series.

Average customer rating:

Snow White - A Tale of Terror
Sigourney rocks in Snow White
Sogornweve Fans
Quite a different tale!
dark and twisted fairy tale

Snow White - A Tale of Terror
Starring: Sigourney Weaver , Sam Neill , Monica Keena , Taryn Davis , and Gil Bellows
Director: Michael Cohn
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Company of Wolves
The 10th Kingdom
The Snow Queen
Jack and the Beanstalk - The Real Story
Arabian Nights

ASIN: B0000694XX
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Customer Reviews:

Snow White - A Tale of Terror.......2007-05-09

It's dark and has an interesting take on the classic story. Though the back story of Snow's love interest was lacking, it's still a keeper.

Snow's love interest ... I like to think that he was the son of a noble family, and his parents had opinions that others didn't agree with, which is why they were attacked.

Sigourney rocks in Snow White.......2007-02-08

Snow White as it was meant to be. Signourney and Sam are at their best in this dark and scary rendition of Snow White. Not for the faint of heart.

Sogornweve Fans.......2007-01-10

this movie is not ment for the kids this movie is ment for the adults. but let me tell you this is one movie that will knock your socks right off. injoy the movie and go and grab this movie before its too late. buy it for your collection. all thumbs up for this movie. and the twist of it all is a fair tall that you have not seen in you life time. its great for the adult but again not for the kids. tks.

Quite a different tale!.......2006-09-04

Sigourney Weaver was PERFECT as the evil stepmother. You know this from the very start, when she is first introduced in the movie. No, it's not a fairytale for kiddies, but if you like horror - you will like this version.

dark and twisted fairy tale.......2006-07-08

Based on the classic fairytale with a darker twist. A little girl's father remarries a nasty step mother. The step mother tries to have her killed and girl is forced to flee. She gets lost into he forest and stumbles across some guys who take her in. The step mother finds her and tricks her into eating an apple. Later she is awakened by "prince charming" ......and then returns to face her stepmother.

Very good movie with Sigourney Weaver, a beautiful dresser, and zombie-like servants. The "dwarves" were turned into a band of runaway criminals (with unfair convictions). Behind it all there is a little bit of romance, a little bit of suspense and some general creepiness.

Up until the middle, the movie presents the tale with a realistic twist in the sense that the step mother does not have supernatural powers. At first it seems like she just went insane and paranoid. The step mother miscarries a child, which gives her a mental break where she starts talking to mirrors and accusing everyone of conspiracy, etc.

Around this time, the movie goes down a little and they spin it into the typical fantasy/witchcraft tale. As it turns out, the step mother does possess magical powers that she uses against snow white. This in itself isn't too terrible because that's how the well-known story goes. However, I found it a little disappointing because I think it would have been ten times better if they kept going on the realistic side.

Average customer rating:

Good not great!
Tommy Lee Jones will make you laugh yourself sad
Nice cool and fun movie
Serious Tommy Lee Jones and Five Bubbly Cheerleaders: Just OK Fluffy Comedy
It's really a cute movie!

Man of the House [Region 99]
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones , Cedric the Entertainer , Christina Milian , Paula Garcés , and Monica Keena
Director: Stephen Herek
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Guess Who [Region 99]
The Pacifier (Widescreen Edition)
Monster-in-Law (New Line Platinum Series)
The Longest Yard (Widescreen Edition)
XXX - State of the Union (Widescreen Edition) [Region 99]

ASIN: B00096S4DK
Release Date: 2005-07-19

Amazon.com

Let's face it, sometimes you just want to watch some fluff. The ever-expanding subgenre of cheerleader cinema offers dependable fluff, of which Man of the House is a shiny, frivolous example. After a multiethnic cheerleading squad witnesses a mob execution, Texas Ranger Roland Sharp (Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive, Men in Black) is assigned to protect them. That's all you need to know--a formulaic plot follows, but the filmmakers recognizes that the formula is known by all so they doesn't waste time with unnecessary exposition. Instead, we go straight to amusing scenes of Sharp teaching the unruly (and scantily clad) girls some discipline and the girls teaching Sharp to loosen up and forge a better relationship with his estranged daughter. It's a one-joke movie, but thanks to Jones' leathery hound-dog face and cowpoke gravitas, the contrast between the girls and Sharp keeps being funny. Of its kind, Man of the House isn't in the same league as Bring It On (pretty much the ne plus ultra of cheerleader movies), but it's head and shoulders over the likes of Sugar & Spice. Also featuring Cedric the Entertainer (Barbershop), Anne Archer (Fatal Attraction), and R. Lee Ermey(Full Metal Jacket). --Bret Fetzer

Description

When five perky cheerleaders witness the murder of a drug bust informant, they require 'round-the-clock surveillance to keep from being the next victims. Enter tough-as-nails Texas Ranger Lt. Roland Sharp (Tommy Lee Jones), who masquerades as their assistant coach and camps out in their campus digs. But these feisty foxes just want to have fun, and the buttoned-down Sharp learns it's no easy task to keep the uncontrollable coeds in line and out of harm's way. Cedric the Entertainer joins this spirited cast in a comedy that busts out with high energy, pride, and the joy of a Texas Ranger getting in touch with his feminine side.

Customer Reviews:

Good not great!.......2007-04-07

Having been a student at the University of Texas some years ago, I was more interested in how students would be portrayed in this film.

The "UT cheerleaders" were made to look as if they were inept and stupid. Their parts in the film reminded me of those "blond" jokes.

The movie is supposed to be a comedy. It did have some funny moments. I enjoy watchng Tommy Lee Jones in any genre of movie though. He is a very good actor. It was great to see him wearing a "TEXAS" shirt. Go Horns!!!

The Longhorn Band was great to listen to as well even though their appearance was brief.

Over-all, this movie gets a "C"

Tommy Lee Jones will make you laugh yourself sad.......2006-12-07

IMHO, Tommy Lee Jones has never made a bad film. He's just too talented and has too much of a presence for anything that he's in to fail. I think we should all give thanks for that. If I was going to point out anything negative about TLJ is that he could not act his way out of paper bag.

A paper bag made out of toilet paper.

Single-ply.

I mean, what the shiznit! He plays the exact same role in every movie. The stoic tough guy with an attitude and Wranglers that are a whisper too tight. You know what I'm talking about. My advice to you, Tommy? Get yourself to a community college immediately and take Acting 101, because brother, you can only go up. It's like Tommy, come on! Expand the repetoire a little bit.

Cedric is awesome as the fat guy.

Nice cool and fun movie.......2006-08-21

What this movie lacks in consistency of plot, it makes up in humor. The story deals with Tommy Lee Jones protecting his witnesses of a murder from the bad guys, just that these witnesses are cheerleaders! So Jones is in his element as the unemotional and super-stiff cop, in charge of a bunch of bubbly teenagers. A slightly sad part about this movie is that it touches some interesting themes and characters, but does little in completely realising the potential of these characters or the complexity of their interplay. But there are loads of situations where there is wonderful humor, accentuated by the contrasting cast!
The plot has several holes and honestly is not really gripping, with too many side threads grabbing attention, but then this is one movie to be seen with an open mind and with the intent of enjoying the light hearted comedy that it is! Definitely watchable.

Serious Tommy Lee Jones and Five Bubbly Cheerleaders: Just OK Fluffy Comedy.......2006-03-29

One dead serious Texas Ranger played by Tommy Lee Jones must protect the five witnesses for the prosecution. And the five witnesses happen to be unruly and bubbly cheerleaders of the Texas University. The story sounds thin and weak, and actually it is much weaker than that of Whoopie Goldberg's hit movie `Sister Act,' but thanks to the dead-pan humor of Tommy Lee Jones, `Man of the House' manages to be an OK entertainment.

From the not-so-great opening including one now stale `cow humiliation' gag, you know the film itself does not take itself seriously. The blend of actions and comedy does not go well, especially when we see embarrassed Cedric the Entertainer holding a very, very dirty cell phone in his hand, and some cardboard characters getting killed in the alley.

The film gets better when it introduces the five cheerleaders. The dialogues exchanged between Tommy Lee Jones' Texas Ranger and the cheerleaders (who just want to have fun even after witnessing killing!) are not particularly witty, some based on the typical wrong idea that cheerleaders are not bright, but still work with Tommy Lee Jones' comic acting that could be seen in `Men in Black.' Actually, you mighty see no difference in two roles, one Roland Sharp Texas Ranger of this film and Agent K in `MIB.' I rememered Robert DeNiro who is virtually doing the same dead-serious comic turn since `Analyze This.'

The cheerleaders you see here are intentionally stereotyped ones, so don't expect that Monica Keena, Kelli Garner, Christina Millian, Paula Garces, and Vanessa Ferlito do real cheerleading. They are there as eye-candy, and though one of them seems to adore Tommy Lee's character, the director seems to have chosen to just drop the theme. After all, when Tommy Lee Jones meets them, and another elder female character, professor of literature played Ann Archer, the film has nothing to do except for showing funny bits of comedy (like those of TV sitcoms) about the clashing egos between the man and the girls, which are certainly enjoyable to see, and some obligatory set-pieces that keeps the story moving, which ends with a predictable conclusion.

The director is Stephen Herek, whose CV includes `The Might Ducks' Charlie Sheen's `The Three Musketeers' `Holy Man' and `Rock Star.' And don't forget `Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.' If you have seen any of these fairly entertaining, but otherwise undistinguished films, you know what you will see in `Man of the House.' Take it for what it is, and enjoy it.

It's really a cute movie! .......2006-02-13

The other evening my husband was watching this movie on television while I was reading a book. He kept getting tickled and every time he laughed I'd have to look up to see what was so funny. I rolled my eyes at some of the corny humor but finally had to put my book down and start watching. I have to say I enjoyed this movie and couldn't help laughing out loud quite a bit myself!

I always enjoy seeing Tommy Lee Jones and he wears his same old gruff exterior in this movie but with a nice comedic edge. He plays Roland Sharp, a Texas Ranger who is hired to protect a group of Texas Longhorn cheerleaders after the girls witness a mob killing. In order to give them full protection and still allow them to fulfill their cheerleading duties, Roland pretends to be their cheerleading coach and moves into a large house with them. There are some really very funny scenes in this film as the girls try Roland's patience time and time again. They're not happy with being cooped up all the time and having their social activities curtailed and monitored, and they give Roland grief every chance they get. He's more than a match for them, though, and they soon find out that where their safety is concerned the man of the house means business!

There's a nice subplot here about Roland's relationship with his estranged daughter. Also, lovely actress Anne Archer has a nice role as an English professor who Roland becomes attracted to. (Some of the funnier moments in the film take place when the cheerleaders decide to rally around their bodyguard, helping him to smooth over his rough edges and win the girl.)

This movie is cute and it's funny. Give it a try! You just might find yourself laughing a whole lot more than you thought you would! :)

Average customer rating:

(Far) Beyond expectations
Mike's Review
American Pie meets Go....
Very Funny Movie, Great Cast

Fifty Pills
Starring: Lou Taylor Pucci , Kristen Bell , John Hensley (II) , Nora Zehetner , and Eddie Kaye Thomas
Director: Theo Avgerinos
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Roman
The Quiet [Region 99]
The Prestige
Sherrybaby
Babel

ASIN: B000KWZ1R0
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Product Description

Official Selection - Tribeca Film Festival 2006; Bonus Features: Filmmakers' Commentary; Deleted & Extended Scenes; Behind the Scenes Featurette

Customer Reviews:

(Far) Beyond expectations.......2007-05-17

As a movie critic for my college rag, the ole interweb is my only outlet for writing movie reviews:

I peeped the trailer for this on a dvd rental a few monthe back and have been looking forward to it ever since. Boy, was I not let down.

Not only is the script hilarious, the movie's execution is superb. I have never seen an indie film cast as perfectly as this one, seriously. I have been known to party in my time and this film captured my college experience so well that I felt like I was watching a movie about my life (minus the part about selling drugs lol).

The film takes a bunch of relavent, real-life issues facing just about any male under 30 and handles them in a succint (88 minutes) and hysterical fashion.

The drug selling aspect is merely the glue that holds the plot together. I mention this because many people (my fiance included) get turned off by "drug comedies". There is certainly drug humor-- but it is used sparingly and in all the right places. Not only that,I have never ever seen an ecstasy movie, with the exception of the British "Human Traffic", that encapsulates (yeah, I used a pun in this review) what it is like to roll (take ecstasy for the uninitiated).

The movie doesn't take a shortcut for an easy laugh even once and maintains an integrity that I haven't seen since "The Girl Next Door". Did I mention that "Fifty Pills" also works of virtually zero budget?!? Every cent is put in the right place though and it never feels like a straight-to-dvd movie. Major studios REALLY dropped the ball by not picking up "Fifty Pills" after the Tribeca Film Festival and giving it a limited theatrical release (to boost street cred) before really promoting a dvd release shortly thereafter. It will certainly find its audience but I doubt it will make the money for the filmmakers that it deserves to make. Those who were involved in making "Fifty Pills" (particularly writer/producer Matthew Perniciaro) have a bright future if this movie does some business.

So on that note, if you dig teen comedies, drug comedies, or simply coming-of-age tales then give "Fify Pills" a shot. I guarantee that you will have a fantastic 88 minutes.

Mike's Review .......2007-04-16

A clever mix of Pulp Fiction, Risky Business, and American Pie with much better writing and extremely smooth production. It is a great movie if you just want to laugh and enjoy yourself without too much deep thought. With my normal overanalysis of movie plots, it might not hold up. However, I really do not think they would care. That was probably never the point. Kristin Bell is hot, and the other dude I've seen somewhere else was very good. For a straight to DVD movie I was very impressed and am curious as to why no one picked it up sooner. Top notch cast, excellent writing, directing and producing. 5 thumbs up.

American Pie meets Go...........2007-02-15

Saw this last year at Tribeca Film Festival. Very funny script and I found myself laughing out loud a number of times. IMHO, Michael Pena (World Trade Center) stole the show. Amazing cast for an independent movie.

Very Funny Movie, Great Cast.......2007-02-08

This straight to DVD movie is very entertaining. Not your typical college movie, the cast makes this one special.

Average customer rating:

At least it cost as much to buy as to rent it.
Awesome Original "Horror" Flick
Unusual horror offering
For a Direct to DVD, this is actually a fairly good story and movie
THE VIEWER IS LEFT IN DARKNESS

Left In Darkness
Starring: Monica Keena , David Anders , Tim Thomerson , Tarah Paige , and Chris Engen
Director: Steven R. Monroe
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Zombie Movies | Anchor Bay Horror Store | Stores | DVD | Video

The Devil Made Me Do It | Anchor Bay Horror Store | Stores | DVD | Video

All Titles | Anchor Bay Horror Store | Stores | DVD | Video

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( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Tooth Fairy
Clive Barker's The Plague [Region 99]
The Garden
The Woods (Widescreen Edition) [Region 99]
Aunt Rose

ASIN: B000FS2W62
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Description

Her mother died in childbirth, and she always felt responsible for the tragedy. When her father disappeared, her grandparents raised her. As she got older, her sense of guilt grew deeper. And on the night of her 21st birthday, Celia (Monica Keena of FREDDY VS. JASON) is drugged, raped and dies of an accidental overdose at a wild college frat party. But for some, death is only the beginning: Trapped in a netherworld between sanctuary and damnation, Celia must now battle the demons — including hordes of horrific Soul Eaters — that prowl the Afterlife. Is the spirit of her recently deceased grandfather (Tim Thomerson of TRANCERS) trying to lure her to an eternity of suffering? Can her guardian angel (David Anders of ALIAS ) safely lead her to the other side? And for a young woman caught in limbo, is there any way to go towards the light when your soul is LEFT IN DARKNESS?

Customer Reviews:

At least it cost as much to buy as to rent it. .......2007-04-22

Monica Keena's colagen lips were bigger than this movie's budget. The acting was decent considering its poor script and dialogue- Way to go Monica. No monsters. No darkness. Heaven and Hell consists of nothing more than recycled scenes. Nothing is scarier than realizing how much time you wasted watching it. There's no deep spiritual realization that everyone else claims. - Overall this film was lame. Rent "High Tension" if you're looking for fright or "Kolobus" for lower budget horror. Both
are great!!!

Awesome Original "Horror" Flick.......2007-02-01

Not your typical horror flick, and that's a good thing.
I enjoyed the actors and really cared about them.
The story had be hooked from the beginning and there were some creepy and scary moments. This movie also makes you think about life and death and is not one of those brainless blockbuster teen horror movies that make it to every movie screen. Instead, do some research and support independent horror movies. You'd do yourself a favor locating this gem.

Unusual horror offering.......2007-01-20

I saw this film on the Zone Horror channel a few nights back and was pleasantly surprised at how good it actually was.
Basically the plot sees a young girl - Celia(played by Monica Keenan) going to a party. There she gets slipped a date rape drug, gets raped, and dies as a result of overdosing on this drug. Coming too on another plane which is somewhere between Heaven and Hell, she is horrified to learn that she is dead. Worse this plane is full of zombie like 'Soul Eaters' who like nothing more than to snack out on the souls of the recently deceased if they can catch them... Among these soul eaters is the spirit of her deceased grandfather (Tim Thomerson - Near Dark, Trancers) who attempts to devour her soul by at first trying to trick her. Luckily for the deceased girl, there is a sanctuary of light created around the deceased which lasts for a few hours, and this light keeps these creatures at bay. However, the deceased can step out of it, and this light has the disconcerting habit of moving around every so often too.
Also on this strange plane of existence, Celia encounters a young man (played by David Anders) who appears to be a Guardian Angel of sorts and offers her help and advice in how to deal with the immediate danger and what she should do on a more long term basis. She also meets the souls of her mother and grandmother, and both also give her advice as to what she should do.

Having to make difficult and potentially damning choices, often in the heat of the moment, makes for a very difficult and dangerous experience, indeed. Just whose advice should Celia trust and are the beings that she encounters actually what they seem?
This is a tense and atmospheric little film with a very unusual setting and storyline which make it quite original in fact.
I actually quite enjoyed it and would recommend it to other viewers, wanting a horror film that is a little different.

For a Direct to DVD, this is actually a fairly good story and movie.......2006-10-23

The story is really not that complicated and convoluted. A young girl meets an imaginary friend who would be there with her as she grows up. When she goes to a party at the age of 21 she is drugged, raped, and killed. But she doesn't go to heaven or hell, more like a world in between (something akin to the movie Jacob's Ladder) where there are angels and demons waiting to either help her or destroy her. What she goes through is a spirited battled with creatures that would possess the soul, ravage the soul, and enslave the soul. At first you want to tell the main character to stop running around like a chicken with a head cut off. But I digress, by the midpoint of the story, you are really drawn into the characters and the mystical and horrific world the young woman's soul is in. While this is not a Christian film, I would have to say that there are some overtones that could be considered "Christian" in some sense...such as the idea of spiritual warfare, the idea of there being demons and devils that want to tempt you, torture you, and bring you down to the ground; while there is a LIGHT that draws you toward it ("God" in a sense) that wants to bring you into salvation. Again, let me reiterate, this is not a Christian movie but it does have a lot of interesting overtones that really need to be examined and considered. I really enjoyed this movie (the movie isn't perfect, but I feel sure that it should be given five stars). I think that if you enjoy horror and if you enjoy intelligent horror even more so, then you'd get a real pleasure out of watching this movie.

THE VIEWER IS LEFT IN DARKNESS.......2006-09-28

A sprightly convincing performance from talented Monica Keena (THE SIMIAN LINE) is the saving grace of this rather distraught and disconnected thriller. Producer Stephen J. Cannell (WISE GUY, A-TEAM, IT WAITS, THE GARDEN) obviously was hoping the film's mystical undertones would elevate it above the usual genre flicks, but it's contrived script and lack of a central focus ultimately drags it down.
The story focuses on Keena, a young girl celebrating her 21st birthday;she has felt guilt all her life because her mother died in childbirth. At a wild frat party, she is drugged, raped and killed; she returns in a sort of middleworld awaiting her ultimate fate to heaven or hell. Her lifelong "secret friend" Donovan (David Anders) shows up to help guide her and she even runs into her deceased grandfather (the ubiquitous Tim Thomerson) and her mother and grandmother as well. Not to mention the "soul eaters" who are after her.
It's all convoluted and doesn't make a whole lot of sense, with an ending that comes out of nowhere without a satisfying resolution.
Not the worst of the recent spate of horror flicks, but not one of the best either.

Average customer rating:

Nothing special
Quite an enigma
"Crime + Punishment" DVD Review
Destined for Greatness!!
The best "Teen" movie yet.

Crime + Punishment in Suburbia
Starring: Monica Keena , Ellen Barkin , Michael Ironside , Vincent Kartheiser , and James DeBello
Director: Rob Schmidt
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Another Day In Paradise
The Unsaid
Dandelion
Bad Girls From Valley High
Left In Darkness

ASIN: B000053V7I
Release Date: 2001-01-02

Amazon.com

This very loose update of Dostoyevsky will never gain the original's classic status, but on its own unseemly little terms it's an efficient genre flick. Trapped in a suburban Hell with an alcoholic stepfather (the always nasty Michael Ironside), suffering, molested high-schooler Rosanne (Monica Keena) begs her quarterback boyfriend (James DeBello) to help her bump him off. Things get complicated with the involvement of her weary mother (scrappy Ellen Barkin, still waiting for a decent role) and a sensitive, outsider classmate (Vincent Kartheiser). Larry Gross's script has Barkin's selfish character acting too much the idiot, though you won't hear a bad note from her or the rest of the appealing young cast (the invaluable Jeffrey Wright also has a nice bit as Barkin's lover). Even if director Rob Schmidt has too much of an MTV sensibility (showy cuts, booming soundtrack, etc.) and indulges himself with the gruesome murder, his glossy sensitivity to teen trauma redeems some of the pulp. The film can be seen in widescreen on DVD, as well as heard in French and Spanish. --Steve Wiecking

Description

This contemporary urban fable, loosely based on Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, is a gripping and provocative account of a young woman's attempt to permanently end the advances of her abusive stepfather. Starring Monica Keena ("Dawson's Creek"), Vincent Kartheiser (Another Day In Paradise) and James DeBello (American Pie), along with veterans Ellen Barkin (Drop Dead Gorgeous) and Michael Ironside (The Perfect Storm), Crime + Punishment in Suburbia is a deeply affecting and utterly disturbing tale of betrayal and redemption. Rosanne (Keena) is a cheerleader who dates a football player (DeBello) and gets drunk at parties. But she's also akiller. She convinces her boyfriend to sneak out of a pep rally for a date with destiny, revenge and the brutal murder of her abusive stepfather. But once she's gotten away with murder, Rosanne is shocked to learn that her mother's untimely arrival at the scene of the crime has put her behind bars!Now Rosanne must struggle with her inner demons. Can she do the right thing or will her Mom take the fall for Rosanne's vicious crime?

Customer Reviews:

Nothing special.......2005-02-26

This particular story could be turned into a breath-taking film with the right director. Too much is held back, and the film seemed all too typical. The director does not give a true, gritty, raw look into the troubled life this young girl led, and the story that unfolded. On the bright side, Vincent Karthieser is brilliant, and hes about the only one. Though there is nothing that makes this film stand out as great, it is entertaining, and will keep your attention.

Overall, its worth watching. A decent film I suppose. But it wont be one for the ages. It wont be one that will leave you "shocked" or "stunned". For a true gritty look into the troubled lives of adolesence with a slightly similar story...A movie that will really leave you stunned, watch 'Bully' instead.

Quite an enigma.......2004-07-20

There's no better way to put it, this film is an enigma, at least for me. At times it can be laughable because of how serious it takes itself and at other moments you get drawn into the obsessive tone of the film. It's hard to categorize this film when it simply wants to enjoy being anonymous and ellusive. The film would probably be a good cult movie if only it had a cult following. Though it could never live up to the competitors, including Donnie Darko (which had a better script, actors, and director).

Though being a very loose adaptation of the classic novel, it might draw people to enquire about the novel. I would hope that would be one of the outcomes of people viewing this film.

But if you're looking for a dark teen film watch Donnie Darko instead.

"Crime + Punishment" DVD Review.......2004-06-02

Rob Schmidt's modern day take on Dostoyevsky is a promising film that is so drowned in glossy imagery and bleak characters that it never seems to generate the type of interest in story-telling that it should. Monica Keena is the beautiful head cheerleader who seems to have the perfect life but in reality is trapped in a suburban nightmare. Vincent Kartheiser ("Another Day In Paradise") is the token bright but misunderstood outcast who lusts for Keena but can't find a way to her heart. When she murders her abusive stepfather with the help of her jock boyfriend, the evidence ends up pointing to her mother. This leads to a cycle of events that never seem to be captured with the level of drama or intesity that you'd expect. "Crime + Punishment" is as dark and devoid of energy as Larry Clark's "Kids" or Darren Aronofsky's "Requeim For A Dream" but it doesn't stand out the way they did. There are some solid perfomances from Keena and the always-dependable Michael Ironside as her drunken stepdad but none of the characters ever seem to stand out. While the story bares a passing resemblance to "American Beauty" in some areas, Schmidt never seems to move past his love for visual flare and give us any type of intriguing character moments. Keena's closing narrative makes for a good way to end the film but it seems like a case of "too little, too late" in my opinion.

Destined for Greatness!!.......2004-04-18

And on the eighth day, God said, "let there be 'Crime + Punishment in Suburbia,'" and it was so. And He saw that it was TOTALLY SWEET!! Let me tell you why this movie is quite simply one of the most face-slapping-in-a-good-way chefs d'uvre* ever created. First, Ellen Barkin, Michael Ironside, AND Jeffrey Wright in the same movie?! These three are the Lisa Leslie, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal of the acting world, respectively. There's just no way to go wrong when you've got a cast like that. But even this triumvirate of talent cannot alone account for this movie's astonishing success. Writer Larry Gross deserves a double high-five for the addition of C+P to the canon. Larry, the originator of the popular catchphrase "Don't touch me unless you love me!," can certainly touch me whether he loves me or not! C+P's is the hippest, smartest script this reviewer has had the pleasure of experiencing. But it doesn't take smarts like Mr. Gross's to realize that Crime + Punishment = AN INSTANT CLASSIC! The question is not whether this movie will change the way we think about cinematography, but when.

*alternatively, Works of Genius

The best "Teen" movie yet........2004-03-31

Some reviewers say this movie is a teen movie. It isn't. Some people say it's based on Crime and Punishment. It's not.

Customer Reviews:

PSYCHO MUFFIES.......2005-10-18

This movie is the last film the late Janet Leigh finished before her death. Appropriately so since Leigh's most famous role was as the victim in the classic PSYCHO. She doesn't have a lot of screen/scream time in this film, but she manages to make an impression. Otherwise, this is a dark little comedy in the vein of such films as THE CRAFT and HEATHERS. Three snooty girls (well embodied by Julie Benz, Nicole Bilderback and Monica Keena) have murdered a hunk's girlfriend and staged it as a suicide, all so one of them can claim the hunk for herself. On the first anniversary of the "suicide" a mysterious stranger from Romania appears and the girls are convinced she is the ghost of the murdered girl. They set out a plot to ensnare this girl and once again claim the hunk.
The movie doesn't live up to its possibilities, but there are some genuinely funny lines and scenes, and a good examination of the cliche class of highschoolers. Christopher Lloyd has a Jerry Lewis/Chevy Chase like bumbling role that he carries out with his usual aplomb. All in all, a fun way to spend ninety minutes.

This dark teen comedy doesn't fire on all cylinders.......2005-07-07

I love teen movies, no matter how dumb they are - and Bad Girls From Valley High (also known as A Fate Totally Worse Than Death) is pretty dumb. It's also a little bit eerie, featuring both Janet Leigh and Jonathon Brandis in one of their final films - although it should be noted that this film actually dates back to 2000. Leigh actually looks pretty bad here, much worse than she did in 1998's Halloween H20. The presence of Monica Keena was what clinched the deal for me, though, and it's really amazing just how much she doesn't look like the exceedingly fine Monica Keena I saw in Jason vs. Freddy. There are some who might compare this film to Jawbreakers, but Bad Girls From Valley High is really not in the same league as that Rose McGowan vehicle. This movie introduces a supernatural element to the story of high school cliquedom, doesn't always have the wittiest dialogue (although a few real zingers slip in there from time to time), and panders to the lowest, most obvious level of comedy time and time again.

Danielle (Julie Benz) is the leader of a little threesome of arrogant, mean high school girls; she and her rich friends Tiffany (Nicole Bilderback) and Brooke (Monica Keena) care only about their pampered selves (although Brooke has periodic misgivings). Surprisingly, though, they don't seem all that popular. No one really hangs out with them except a dumb jock and the class nerd, and poor Danielle is getting nowhere with Drew (Jonathon Brandis) - even after she and her pals kinda, sorta killed his last girlfriend. It's been a year, and Drew still ignores her - but he doesn't ignore the new foreign exchange student Katarina (Suzanna Urszuly). Since Katarina can't take a hint, Danielle begins plotting her downfall, as well. There's a slight problem, however. She and her friends begin experiencing a level of high weirdness in their lives, and we watch the girls rapidly age before our eyes as the film progresses. This leads to a number of embarrassing little incidents and only serves to make Danielle more desperate than ever. She'll sacrifice anything, even Drew, to get her youth and looks back.

Christopher Lloyd plays a suspicious teacher in the film, and he suffers through a continuing series of falls and spills of a painful and comedic (at least that was the intention) sort. These nonstop gags are just way too obvious and overdone, doing the film more harm than good, in my opinion. The ending of the film is good, though, as it actually manages to pull off a reasonably successful little twist - and doesn't end quite the way you might expect.

I'm pretty lukewarm in my opinion of this movie. As dumb comedy, it has its moments - but far too often the humor is strained, and the story is unconvincing. The supernatural aspects of the story reinforce the superficiality of the script, meaning this film really has nothing much to say about high school cliques or the like. I certainly didn't have any high school flashbacks watching this movie, and I don't think many other viewers will either. Bad Girls of Valley High is reasonably funny, but I can't help thinking that it could have been a much better, much funnier film.

Amazing.......2005-07-01

This is a very good movie! Somewhat like the movie Jawbreaker, but much better. It also stars the late Jonathan Brandis (RIP), you definitely won't be disappointed if you buy it.

If you like Teen movies, you might like this one.......2005-03-20

Bad Girls From Valley High is a camp dark comedy that hits stores on March 22nd. Similar to teen flicks "Jawbreaker" and "Heathers," this is a movie that makes a mockery of murder. Julie Benz stars as Danielle, a popular girl with a clique of two friends (sound familiar). Danielle is a mean girl. First things, first, at almost 30 years old, Julie looked far too old to play a high school student, but perhaps she was cast for that very reason. Danielle and her friends are rich and kinda stuck up acting for the most part. One year ago they killed, yes killed, a classmate named Chasity Chase. It was a prank that went wrong. The motive for harassing Chasity is that Danielle has a crush on her boyfriend, who was played in the film by the late Jonathan Brandis. When a new exchange student transfers to the school, weird things start happening to the trio. Things go from bad to worse. Danielle develops incontingence and a hairy mole, and all three girls fall apart. They start to age at a rapid pace.

This film has some funny moments. It is quite camp and ridiculous at times so it's hard to even take the film serious. There are also some very cliche and expected characters like the nerd with the crush on the popular girl, the member of the mean clique which has a soft side, and the white guy who speaks in hip-hop lingo. The late Janet Leigh also stars in the film. It was her last film role. If you like teen films like "Mean Girls," "Jawbreaker," and "Heathers," then you might like this movie.

A Fate Totally Worse Than Death.......2005-01-24

This movie was filmed some time ago, and originally titled "A Fate Totally Worse Than Death". It is based on the novel of the same name. This is one of the last films by Jonathan Brandis, and has been eagerly awaited by his fans.

Average customer rating:

Sandra and Bill...
sweet romantic comedy
Classic Comedy, Love Story and overall Family Fun.
Light and fun
Cute Romantic Comedy

While You Were Sleeping
Starring: Sandra Bullock , Bill Pullman , Peter Gallagher , Peter Boyle , and Jack Warden
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Bernard, Jason | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Boyle, Peter | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Bullock, Sandra | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Cusack, Dick | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Gallagher, Peter | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Johns, Glynis | ( J ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Pullman, Bill | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Walker, Ally | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Warden, Jack | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | VHS | Video

Turteltaub, Jon | ( T ) | Directors | VHS | Video

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You've Got Mail
Sleepless in Seattle (10th Anniversary Edition) [Region 99]
Sabrina
French Kiss
Notting Hill (Collector's Edition)

ASIN: 6303637574
Release Date: 1996-04-30

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Sandra and Bill..........2007-06-16

sweet romantic comedy.......2007-05-25

Classic Comedy, Love Story and overall Family Fun........2007-05-13

Light and fun.......2007-03-10

This is one of my "watch again and again" movies. It always lifts my mood.

Cute Romantic Comedy.......2007-03-08

Average customer rating:

Sorry, Wrong Number - Gone Cellular
A Good Start But... (spoiler warning!!!)
The Longest Journey
Curses! Another Serial Killer Is On The Phone--What's A Girl To Do?
Great thriller

Long Distance
Starring: Monica Keena , Ivan Martin , Kevin Chapman , Tamala Jones , and Lonnie Farmer
Director: Marcus Stern
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Left In Darkness
Danika
The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)
Hollywoodland (Widescreen Edition)
The Night Listener

ASIN: B000IOM0TC
Release Date: 2006-12-19

Description

When young, lonely grad student Nicole (Monica Keena, TV's Entourage, Freddie vs. Jason) misdials a phone number, she calls into a murder in progress. The killer (Jason Chapman, In Good Company, Ladder 49) latches onto her, taunting her by phone, as his string of serial killings heads closer and closer to her front door.

Customer Reviews:

Sorry, Wrong Number - Gone Cellular.......2007-03-20

This movie is a cousin of the classic thriller, "Sorry, Wrong Number," in which Barbara Stanwyck overhears a murder being plotted when she gets a crossed wire. Those were the days of telephone exchanges run by human operators.

Here instead of those manual exchanges, we get the potential danger of Caller ID. Instead of invalid Barbara Stanwyck, we get young and lushly beautiful Monica Keena. On her own in the big city, she should be safely enough immured in her apartment complex, but she finds she has been made only too vulnerable as a result of all those features that come with a typical Call Package. The trouble again comes from a wrong number - this time a wrong number that she herself dialed.

As Keena realizes her predicament, she reconstructs events. She dialed a wrong number; her call was answered by a serial killer in the very act of slaughtering his victims in their home in a distant city; the killer recovers Keena's number and address from Caller ID; he takes sadistic, erotic glee in calling her back, taunting, increasingly close and personal; the killer starts making his way across country towards her, leaving a trail of victims in his wake.

This is a compelling, frightening premise. And while I at first thought Keena was overacting, striking the wrong note, and exposing the budget Indie roots of this movie - I changed my mind as I got to know her character better. I think Keena pushes all the right buttons after all.

A Good Start But... (spoiler warning!!!).......2007-02-21

I have a few problems with this film. First, hasn't the "I know you're home alone" routine been done to death? This is a forgivable sin in my book however since I have a soft spot for slasher films.

My second issue is that this film was marketed as a gory horror flick which it certainly is not. The DVD disc itself is adorned with copious blood splatters and a shot of the main character giving her best "Psycho" shower scream. Alas, a few bloody sheets in crime photos are as close as this one gets to a slasher. But sadly this film even fails as a psychological/serial killer thriller.

The first act of this film is actually pretty good. The set-up is sufficiently engrossing and a few potentially interesting characters are introduced. However, as it moves into the second act, (which is the meat and potatoes of any film), it gradually unravels into a disjointed, overlong, and tedious mess with some pretty awful dialogue and acting thrown in for good measure (think Lifetime Network here). There are countless scenes which serve in no way to advance the plot.

The greatest sin of this film though, is that there is absolutely no sense of suspense or jeopardy after the first 20 minutes of the film. Any chance of that is dashed because the main character is accompanied in EVERY SINGLE SCENE either by a police detective who has opted to shack up in her apartment or the ever present and overacted FBI criminal psychologist. How can you create a sense of tension or danger when the girl is never alone!!! The only jeopardy is whether or not the cops can catch the killer before he claims another victim (which we don't really care about because we never see the killer or his random victims).

Of course the third act reveals the Shyamalanesque "twist" which is supposed to wipe away all the nonsense you're forced to endure for over an hour in the second act. And really this third act "revelation" shouldn't be much of a surprise to most viewers. SPOILER ALERT!!! It is revealed that the events leading up to the "surprise" have taken place in the mind of the main character who is mentally distrubed. That's right folks, the dreaded dream sequence card is played to end this one. A cardinal sin in my book. While this "surprise" revelation does provide a perfectly logical reason for why the second act is such a trainwreck, it is in no way enough of a payoff to justify the viewer being subjected to over an hour of paper thin and ludicrous characters, inane dialogue and largely directionless scenes. Just because it turns out that the entire second act took place in the main character's mind doesn't change the fact that you still had to sit through it! Many will like the film simply for the gimmick. As moviegoers we seem to like to be tricked. But as evidenced by Long Distance, being tricked doesn't necessarily equate to good filmmaking.

The Longest Journey.......2007-02-21

Ludicrous crime melodrama and a "psychological thriller" that totally misses its mark, LONG DISTANCE is still worth a look, if only to watch the scenes in which a beleaguered Monica Keena (playing a grad student at an unnamed Boston University) tries to take a recuperative bath but can't manage to sink below the level of the water because of her enormous lips, and to a lesser degree, her impressive breasts. It's really the lips that star in this film, for even when she's depressed or frightened beyond belief, our heroine never fails to glaze her lips with a bright candy apple red so they glow in the dark like exit signs. She's not a bad little actress by the way, it's only that the plot of the movie is like REPULSION minus any of REPULSION's feeling for surprise or nuance.

She's partnered by an actor who is photographed as though he were Mark Ruffalo, but without Ruffalo's skills at acting. He makes you appreciate Ruffalo (a one note actor if ever there were one) in contrast, for this guy's got a no-note range. And yet despite it all, LONG DISTANCE makes you care about the predictable romance between tough Boston detective and serial killer target, even though you've seen it millions of times before. What the movie could have used was hiring a few other people, so it didn't seem as though only two people live in the entire world, and also it could have used more of the divine theme song music, that you hear at the very end under the credits, "Long Distance" as sung by Channing Leblanc, this generation's Billie Holiday + Chan Marshall mixed together and thrown into the crying game as a single cry of pain.

Curses! Another Serial Killer Is On The Phone--What's A Girl To Do?.......2007-02-19

"Long Distance" is an intriguing little film that I discovered quite by accident. Yet another in a long line of low budget movies about serial killers, there is more to this indie than at first might meet the eye. It doesn't break any new cinematic ground, but manages to take a worn premise and make it feel fresh and different. The film is a claustrophobic, unsettling and dread-filled experience whose first half develops an effective mood that sustains the picture, even when aspects of the script start to strain credibility. Credit must be given to the tight direction, solid performances, and skillfully understated cinematography--even without a lot of money, you can create a real creepiness. And the creepy ambiance of "Long Distance" is what distinguishes it from less effective fare.

The film's simple setup puts us in the apartment of Nicole, played nicely by Monica Keena. Upset and alone after a recent breakup, Nicole gets into a long distance argument with her mother late one evening. When she attempts to call her back, she misdials and gets someone else's answering machine. Almost immediately, that call is returned by an unknown man calling himself an "average Joe." Having used Caller ID to reach her, they start a conversation that alternately amuses and annoys Nicole. He keeps calling, however, until Nicole shuts off her answering service. Thinking nothing of it, a detective visits the next day--seems the phone calls had come from the home of a lady who had been brutally murdered. Nicole is justifiably upset, but things get even worse when "Joe" starts calling more frequently--always from the scene of a murder. As "Joe" seems to be traveling cross country on his killing spree, Nicole works with the police to try and stop him.

On the surface, this seems like a pretty standard setup. What makes it work so well is Keena's performance. An interesting actress that has not followed the typical ingenue career path, Keena is extremely effective at conveying the many layers necessary for the part. Her fear, her shame, her helplessness--it all seems natural. The film is set exclusively in her apartment building and she is in almost every shot, so caring about her is vital to the success of "Long Distance." And I did care. The film develops a genuinely haunting mood, and the phone conversations are done impeccably. It's very scary, especially since it's all done via telephone.

Unfortunately, I didn't love everything in the film. The police procedural can seem pretty empty-headed or unbelievable at times. This is explained, in theory, during the film's conclusion, so you can forgive some of the frustration it may cause you. And the resolution, itself, has become somewhat of a standard cliche' in this type of film. Some may love it, but it seemed awfully familiar to me--especially after the rest of the film had been so surprisingly good. About 3 1/2 stars, I could really round it either way and it would be a fair rating. But in this case, the creepy mood and Keena's spot-on performance have me rounding up. KGHarris, 02/07.

Great thriller.......2007-02-16

This movie had me on the edge of my seat. If you are looking for a gore fest this isn't it, this is more suspensful, along the Hitchcock genre. The twist at the end is unexpected and mindblowing.

Actress:

Actress

Actress