The Passenger (2023)

Released August 4th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Louisana.

The story: Bradley is a quiet, withdrawn young man.

He is employed at a local burger joint and he is a very dedicated worker.

But Bradley is battling some pretty tough demons...

One morning while at work, a nasty fellow employee belittles Bradley and he allows it.

Benson, another employee watches this until he can no longer take it.

Benson proceeds to take out everyone working at the burger joint except for Bradley.

He takes Bradley along with him in a sort of hostage situation but that's only because Benson has a plan for Bradley.

Benson is going to force Bradley to stand up for himself once and for all.

Stars  Carson Minniear, Johnny Berchtold, Billy Slaughter, Kyle Gallner, Matthew Laureano, Jordan Sherley, Sue Rock, Kanesha Washington, Lupe Leon, Angie Dillard, Brooks Ann Hayes, Pete Marinovich, Morgana Shaw, Merah Benoit, Rob Eubanks, Audree Nack, Steven Skipper

Directed by Carter Smith

Not Rated

MYSTERY/THRILLER

Mama's Boy (2007)

Released November 30th in the US.

Filmed in California.

The story: 29-year-old Jeffrey lives with his mom , still.

When he was younger, he lost his dad.

Since then, Jeffrey has been clinging to his mother and his current mentality is that of a much younger person than himself.

But he is perfectly happy with how he lives his life.

When Jeffrey's mother finds a guy she really likes, this doesn't sit well with Jeffrey.

Things only get worse for him when his mom's new boyfriend moves right in.

When Jeffrey can no longer take his mother being taken away from him, he looks for ways to ruin his mother and new boyfriend's relationship.

Stars Hank Doughan, Eli Wallach, Jon Heder, Diane Keaton, Mary Kay Place, Jeff Daniels, Anna Farris, Simon Helberg, Adam Devine, Dorian Missick, Laura Kightlinger, Sarah Clarke

Directed by Tim Hamilton

Rated PG13

COMEDY/DRAMA

Stardust (2020)

Released November 25th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Canada.

Based on truths.

The story: It's 1971. 

David Bowie has been struggling to have a big hit for years.

Marc Bolan of T Rex is at the top of the charts.

David just released a new album and the first single never even charted.

His record label wants to drop him but his manager has convinced them to give him a chance.

David believes that if he can reach American audiences, there is hope for his music.

His manager decides to send David to America to work with Mercury record label publicist, Ron Oberman.

Ron is a fan of David's work and believes in him. Ron thinks that if anyone can help, he can.

David spends many months traveling around by car with Ron, looking for any way they can get him noticed without actually getting him a gig showcasing his music to a large audience.

Unfortunately, while in America, things get heavy for David. 

He has many bad experiences, enough so that any music artist would give up on pursuing a music career.

But David carries on and by 1972, while back in England, David finally invents the onstage persona which truly and finally made him famous.

Stars Johnny Flynn, Julian Richings, Jena Malone, Lara Heller, James Cade, Derek Moran, Aaron Poole, Ryan Blakely, Marc Maron, Monica Parker, David Hubbard, Anthony Flanagan, Richard Clarkin, Annie Briggs, Olivia Carruthers, Geoffrey MacGivern, Paulino Nunes, Gord Rand

Directed by (& story partly written) Gabriel Range

Not Rated

BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY/DRAMA/MUSIC

Look Away (2018)

Released October 12th in the US.

Filmed in Canada.

The story: Maria is a quiet lonely high school senior.

Neither her mother nor father get her and the one girl she can call a friend , really isn't one.

One evening, Maria sees her reflection in the mirror, but her reflection is doing other things than she is.

At first, this scares her, but then Maria begins talking with her reflection.

Her reflection seems to have a lot more confidence than Maria and convinces her that she can help her.

Maria agrees to trade places with her but she soon finds out that her twin has it in for almost everyone in Maria's life.

Stars India Eisley, Penelope Mitchell, Harrison Gilbertson, John C MacDonald, Mira Sorvino, Jason Isaacs, Kristen Harris, Kiera Johnson, Michal Bernstein, Glenn Odero, Adam  Hurtig, Ernie Pitts 

Directed by (& story written) Assaf Bernstein

Rated TVMA

THRILLER/SCIFI

Peacock (2010)

Released on DVD,  April 20th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Iowa.

The story: In small-town Peacock, Nebraska, lonely, quiet, and quite broken John Skillpa resides...

Growing up, John was constantly emotionally abused by his overbearing mother, which has left its scars.

His mother, who lived with him in the home he grew up in has recently passed away.

Now John spends all the time he isn't at work portraying his alter ego,  Maggie.

But no one who knows him actually knows about Maggie.

While Maggie is hanging laundry to dry one day, a train plows through the yard.

To her rescue are many neighbors, with many questions about who she is.

As time passes, people begin questioning John about Maggie, assuming she must be his wife.

John does not refute the assumption and days go on as normal , only now people actually get to know Maggie.

When the town mayor wants to use John/Maggie's yard, John refuses while Maggie agrees, due to the mayor's kind wife.

Then, a woman from John's past arrives with their child needing money.

John was unaware that his mother was paying for his child but with this knowledge, he begins thinking of ways Maggie can help without ruining his child's life.

Stars Cillian Murphy, Bill Pullman, Eden Bodnar, Keith Carradine, Susan Sarandon, Graham Beckel, Josh Lucas, Ellen Page, Flynn Milligan, Chris Carlton, Virginia Newcomb, Jaimi Paige

Directed by ( & story partly written) Michael Lander

Rated PG13

DRAMA/MYSTERY

Boyhood (2014)

Released August 15th in the US.

Filmed in Texas.

The story: Mason is a young boy living with his older sister and single mother.

His mother relocates them due to wanting to attend college to make a better life for them.

Where they land is closer to their maternal grandmother.

Their father is also back in their life after being in Alaska for a while.

Soon Mason's mother is marrying her college professor and Mason and his sister find themselves with a new stepfather and two step-siblings.

But before too long, that marriage breaks up and they are living on their own again.

Now Mason's mother is teaching at a local college.

After a small get-together at their house for Thanksgiving, Mason's mother is on marriage number two.

But just like the last, things don't work out and the small family is living on their own once more.

While spending time with his father and growing into his own, Mason falls in love, sees his older sister off to college, and watches as his father gets married and starts a new family.

Stars  Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, Patricia Arquette, Elijah Smith, Steven Chester Prince, Ethan Hawke, Libby Villari, Marco Perella, Jaime Howard, Andrew Villarreal, Ryan Power, Charlie Sexton

Directed by (& story written) Richard Linklater

Rated R
DRAMA