Explicit Ills on DVD

Explicit Ills, which closed last year's Downbeach Film Festival, is now available on DVD. The movie, directed by Mark Webber, stars Rosario Dawson, Paul Dano, Lou Taylor Pucci and more. Pick it up at the local video store or through Netflix

My personal wish list for the remainder of the year:
Clint Eastwood agrees to star in and direct my comedy script, Knit One.
My detective series finds a publisher
I find the resources to produce my short, Santa Killer.

Night at the Opera Rocks

I switched the channel today just in time to watch the stateroom scene in the Marx Brothers' Night at the Opera. Even my daughter laughed at the snide jokes and the strong finish. One of the funniest movies in the Marx Bros' canon. One of the funniest ever. Let me know what your favorite Marx Brother movie is.

The Downbeach Film Festival in October wants to raise money. You can become a patron for $100 or $50. The $100 level gets a free festival pass for the event, October 16 to 18. The $50 level, gets you admission to the opening or closing night. To join, please send a check or money order payable to Downbeach Film Festival to Downbeach Film Festival, 401 Berkshire Drive, Ventnor NJ 08406.

Bare Knuckles turns martial arts on its head.

Eric Etebari's look at girl fighting in Bare Knuckles is a stunner in the sports movie genre. Stunt woman, Jeanette Roxborough, a newcomer to acting, plays the lead role Samantha. Longtime character actor, Martin Kove, plays her manager, Sonny Cool. Cool.

Thumbs up for Night Shift

DVR'd Night Shift the other night. It's an underrated film from 1982 with great performances by unheralded TV stars, Shelly Long and especially Henry Winkler, and a rollicking role played by Michael Keaton. The movie also introduced Rod Stewart singing Burth Bacharach's "That's What Friends are For."

Jay and Silent Bob thumbs up

"Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" on the tube tonight. Love those great cameos from George Carlin, Will Ferrell, Carrie Fisher, Seann William Scott. Gotta love Cherry Hill's Ali Larter. Saw "Paul Blart" tonight, too. The funny parts all made the trailer. I expected more from a product of Happy Madison and Adam Sandler.

Coming in October

Movie to watch out for: "Oy Vey. My Son Is Gay." Lainie Kazan and Saul Rubinek steal the show as the parents of a gay young man.

Animal House Still Great

I saw Animal House again tonight. Also DVR'd a where are they now show. Greatt stuff. Animal House holds up well.

Downbeach Film Festival Accepting Submissions

Downbeach Film Festival is looking for feature-length and short scripts and short, feature and documentary film submissions. Visit www.downbeachfilmfestival.org for details as to submission fee and information. Note change of address. Mail submissions to Downbeach Film Festival, 401 Berkshire Drive, Ventnor NJ 08406. Festival dates October 16 to 18. Stay tuned for further info.

Palminteri Sought for Film Fest event

Chazz Palminteri is in Atlantic City through August 9 with his one man play, A Bronx Tale. An outstanding performance. An outstanding movie. I'm hoping to convince Chazz to take time out while he's here to do a Q & A fund-raiser for the Downbeach Film Festival during a screening of his film, Yonker's Joe. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, catch the show if you can.

Academy expands Best Picture to 10 Noms

So the Academy Awards people expanded the Best Picture category to 10 instead of five. Good for them. It gives a little more recognition to the cream of the crop, and still gives an Oscar to the best of the 10. The Wrestler, The Changeling, Doubt were just a handful of worthy films left off the list. If you think otherwise, let me know.

Summer movie biz

I changed the name so as to not confuse the issue with a web site called filmbug....Welcome to July. New movies on the horizon. Harry Potter comes out. I read an article today on the state of summer movies which reported that A list stars don't drive films anymore. Concept does. Witness the success of The Hangover and Up and the flops like Taking of Pelham 1,2 ,3 and Year One. What do you think? Drop me a line...The Hangover ranks as one of the all time best comedies. Laughs from start to finish. I wish I wrote the screenplay.