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'Audition' (2001 - Mark Baranowski)
Ryli Morgan auditions for a role in Mark Baranowski's horror film 'Despair' (2001).
'Audition' is a short film made from an audition tape by microbudget filmmaker Mark Baranowski. It's a bit like one of Baranowski's monochrome music videos for the band Marquis except it's in diffused colour.
'The Cranberries' (2002, Documentary - Susan Broe)
An interview with guitarists Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan about the release of the Cranberries' compilation album & accompanying dvd, 'Stars: The Best Of 1992 - 2002' released on September 16, 2002.
"Last year I interviewed Dolores O’Riordan for the RTÉ Guide. The Cranberries were promoting their new album – an orchestral reimagining of several classics and some new songs – and an accompanying tour across Europe. You hear all sorts of things about famous people, and have all sorts of preconceptions and biases. Dolores had been caricatured in the press for years, since the beginning in some ways; I won’t demean her memory by listing it all here. Suffice to say, the grab-all term “difficult” was often used. In reality, as it turned out, she – and Cranberries guitarist Noel Hogan – were two of the nicest people it’s ever been my pleasure to interview. Not just nice: the woman was funny, smart, honest, self-deprecating, generous with her time and memories. Dolores had great anecdotes, fascinating insights into life as a musician, amusing observations on herself and her little quirks (she wanted to quit smoking, she said, as it’s bad for the voice; but she needed to smoke because she felt so nervous all the time. She “woke up in the morning feeling nervous”, and didn’t know why.)"
Darragh McManus, Independent.ie
'Expendable' (2003 - Mark Baranowski)
Drug dealer David (Mark Baranowski) pays a visit to his ex-wife Nicole (Ryli Morgan) on his way to see a motel mystery girl (Brinke Stevens)
'Expendable' is a creepy neo-noir with an autumnal colour palette that's filmed partially in grainy brown hues. Digital witness Ryli Morgan is exceptional as suspicious addict Nicole who shares a dark secret with deadly lover Leslie (Rachelle Williams). Morgan's hypnotic dance seduction sequence is unforgettable. 'Expendable' is a fine companion piece to Baranowski's criminal grunge drama 'Runaway Terror' (2002) in which Morgan plays dual roles. Both films are shot in Charlotte, North Carolina but 'Expendable' adds footage taken in Los Angeles, California. The budget on 'Expendable' is estimated to have been around $2000 which shows what can be achieved if you stretch your funds wisely.
'Knight Of The Peeper' (2006 - Jose Sombra)
The spirit of a fallen knight infects a murderous peeper on a rampage.
The deadening medieval horror 'Knight Of The Peeper' is slow and repetitive, like watching a slow rinse wash cycle on repeat. Niki Notarile and Sativa Verte are among the victims in this poorly produced erotic thriller.
'Clint Eastwood : A Life In Film' (2007, Documentary, Clint Eastwood, le franc-tireur - Michael Henry Wilson)
French filmmaker Michael Henry Wilson is invited to spend time with film director Clint Eastwood who's busy promoting his flagship war films 'Flags Of Our Fathers' (2006) and 'Letters Of Iwo Jima' (2006).
'Clint Eastwood : A Life In Film' is a standard documentary about Clint Eastwood's career with an accent on obvious milestones like the 'Dollars' trilogy, the 'Dirty Harry' franchise and the television series 'Rawhide'. It's okay but left me wanting to learn a lot more which, in my opinion, is often the sign of an unsatisfying documentary. Clearly there was limited access allowed to the superstar who’s said to have vetted this production carefully with his personal staff.
'Sheryl Crow : Live From The Artists Den' (2008, Documentary - Jojo Pennebaker)
Musician Sheryl Crow ruminates on life and performs a live set with her band.
This is awesome, a straight-up, storming rock 'n' roll show put on by Sheryl Crow and her band. Crow’s interviewed in a hotel lobby but the concert’s where it's at.
'Trade In' (2009 - Jackie Lee James)
The unruly staff at a car dealership in Tucson, Arizona are taught discipline by professional fixer Gina (Christina Jo'Leigh).
'Trade In' is a funny low-budget feature from jack-of-all-trades Jackie Lee James that's firmly in the tradition of anarchic car comedies like Eddy Saller's 'Love By The Automobile' (1973), Robert Zemeckis' 'Used Cars' (1980) and Roger Donaldson's 'Cadillac Man' (1990). There are vivid comic turns from Christina Jo'Leigh as freelance fixer Gina and Tiffany Shepis as rock n roll sales girl Crystal. Corey Haim has a cameo during a dream sequence. The only let-down (as usual) is a painful non-performance from porn king Ron Jeremy as Ron Jeremy - other than his adult industry contacts, why do filmmakers keep on hiring this guy?
'No Surrender' (2011, TV Movie - Tristan Dubois)
Newspaper columnist Amelia Davis (Mena Suvari) launches a new blog appealing to women to fight back against domestic violence. In attendance is one of her prime inspirations behind starting ‘Never Back Down’, Jenny Reardon (Stephanie Bauder), who's been writing in under the alias 'Embarrassed'. Amelia's blog turns out to be a success but this success comes at a heavy price when she becomes the prime target of a malevolent stalker.
The Canadian made-for-television crime drama 'No Surrender' delivers a strong statement regarding the widespread damage inflicted by domestic abuse and celebrates the courage of those who come out against it. Mena Suvari shows considerable fortitude as crusading journalist Amelia Davis and Serge Houde is eminently believable as investigating police officer Detective Wilson.
'Raymond Did It' (2011 - Travis Legge)
Raymond Rourke (Kyle Hoskins) seeks vengeance against the bullies who hurt his family.
The microbudget slasher 'Raymond Did It' is a reasonable tale of domestic hardship with a dark psychological edge. At times it piles on the misery as if Ingmar Bergman is guest-directing but does so with conviction. Elissa Dowling relishes her role as despised bully Paige and Lindsay Felton is a revelation as lackadaisical cheerleader Tammy.
'Bettie Page Reveals All' (2012, Documentary - Mark Mori)
A show 'n tell expose of pioneering figure model Bettie Page's career in show business.
Check it out!
'Sorority Girls 3D' (2013 - Fred Olen Ray)
Six sorority inductees must survive their initiation.
Fred Olen Ray's experimental 3D sorority comedy 'Sorority Girls 3D' invites Beverly Lynne to school a group of sorority sisters through a game of Truth Or Dare. It's an inventive genre piece which is good to see, like the virtual horror 'Slumber Party Slaughterhouse' (2008). With Ray having confined himself to mostly making assembly line cable products, it's satisfying to see there's life in the old dog yet.
'The Pleasure Of Rope' (2015, Documentary - Bob Bentley)
A study of ancient erotic Japanese practises now being popularied in London, England.
Watch it in a double-bill with Bjork's eye-opening documentary on normalised sado-masochistic practises taking place inside the bedroom.
Normcore Sexuality by Bjork'Sheryl Crow : A Winding Road' (2018, Documentary - Gwen Nashley)
Sheryl Crow discusses some of her musical influences.
Sheryl Crow plays bass guitar like her life depends on it. There's no half-measures for this full-tilt boogie artist who’s a demon on the six-string too.