The Surrogate (Film)
A travel columnist from New York City goes to Tel Aviv to write about the city and sublets an apartment of a young good looking Israeli man but ends up drawn not just to Tel Aviv but to the young man himself.
Michael (John Benjamin Hickey) has a partner back in NYC and both are grieving over the loss of a child they had hoped to raise as their own. Tomer (Niv Nissim) really needs money and is happy to sublet his apartment – he struggles to earn a living as a filmmaker and is still trying to figure out what kind of films he wants to make. Tomer can’t imagine settling down and is into casual sex, avoiding anyone who wants to get serious. Michael hasn’t been to Israel since his Bar Mitzvah trip, which he didn’t enjoy much – his Jewish identity has never meant much to him. So Michael is surprised to find a city filled with fascinating contradictions and pulsing with life. Michael is also surprised to find that he it taking a liking to Tomer. They form an unlikely and intense bond as Tomer shows Michael around Tel Aviv, and also when Tomer shows Michael his playful side. But with a partner back home, and a deadline to meet, Michael needs to focus on both despite his growing affection for Tomer.
Director Eytan Fox, born in New York City and raised in Israel, really shows off Tel Aviv and the budding relationship between Michael and Tomer. While Hickey, an experienced stage and screen actor, really shines in his role, Nissim can’t quite convince us as the struggling filmmaker and young stud. Nevertheless, ‘Sublet’ is enjoyable and will make you want to go to Tel Aviv, next year.
‘After Love’ is the powerful debut feature by writer and director Aleem Khan and is an extraordinarily moving drama that features a compelling lead performance by Joanna Scanlan, alongside French actress Nathalie Richard and newcomer Talid Ariss in his first major English language role.
‘Port Authority’ is the New York City bus station on W. 42nd Street that is a dizzyingly hive of activity, both good and bad, and it’s also the name of a new film opening this week.
Directed by Danielle Lessovitz, In ‘Port Authority’ we first see Paul (Fiona Whitehead) who arrives at the bus station hoping to be picked up by his half sister Sara, but she never shows up. Paul, 20, got kicked out of his home in Pennsylvania, and is on probation, hence his escape to New York to start a new life. Outside there are a few ethnic youngsters rapping and dancing that catch his attention. But soon enough, with nowhere to go he’s riding the subways and gets beaten up by two thugs. Fortunately for Paul, Lee (McCaul Lombardi is sitting in the same subway car. Lee gets Paul a bed in his shelter and ropes Paul into working in his removals business. There is one black gay man at the shelter who Paul sees dancing in the stairway, and one late night Paul follows him to a place where a group of young adult are performing freestyle dancing. Paul also takes notice of Wye (Leyna Bloom) – and coincidentally they were the ones he saw outside the station on his arrival to NYC (too much of a coincidence). Paul is transfixed by Wyes beauty, and soon enough Paul is smitten with her. But he keeps his living situation in a shelter from her, while she in turn also harbours secrets she’s yet to tell Paul. They both lead doubles lives and must reconcile the truth before they can be together.
‘Port Authority’ is a special movie. The story is unique, the acting is perfect, and the underlying love story is very believable. Credit goes to Whitehead (previously scene in ’Dunkirk’) ) and Bloom (hard to believe but a complete novice to films) who light the screen on fire, together they are both emotional and raw. An original story also written by Lessovitz, ‘Port Authority’ played at Cannes Film Festival in 2019, and has been nominated for several awards internationally. Filmed in 2018 – ‘Port Authority’ is finally getting a cinema release it fully deserves.
Momentum Pictures will release ‘PORT AUTHORITY’ In Theaters on May 28th and On Demand and Digital on June 1, 2021.
John Patrick Shanley, director and writer of the memorable ’Moonstruck’ bring us ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ – memorable in a different way. It’s a romantic comedy set in the Irish countryside with two main characters who don’t realize they are meant to be together. Rosemary Muldoon (Emily Blunt) has been in love with her neighbour Anthony Reilly (Jamie Dornan) since they were 10 years old. Rosemary is aggressive and brash and dedicated to her farm, Anthony is shy and appears to have no clue that Rosemary has liked him all these years. Everyone in their farming community know they are meant for each other — except Anthony. Of course by just reading this you know how this film will end, but you have to sit through a lot of manure before.
Anthony has spent his entire life working on the family farm alongside his father Tony (Christopher Walken). The ageing Tony blindsides Anthony with his plan to sell the farm to Adam (Jon Hamm), his wealthy handsome successful nephew from New York City because Tony doubts Anthony has what it takes to run it. But when Adam comes to visit, his obvious interest in Rosemary complicates the situation further (what, there are no available women to date in NYC?). And when Rosemary goes to NYC for one day (yes, one day) to visit Adam it looks like Anthony might have missed out.
With everything that’s important to him about to slip through his fingers, Anthony has to move quickly to move in and sweep Rosemary off her feet (though he can barely put two words together in the meantime). But a series of losses and his own certainty that he is unlovable leaves his future with Rosemary in doubt. Drivel such as this should’ve been made into a television movie. ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ has no drama or suspense, especially in the last ten minutes of the film – a rain-soaked over-dramatic and over-the-top scene that cements (unfortunately does not drown) Anthony and Rosemary’s relationship. There’s so much rain I was kinda hoping they would wash away. Now that would’ve been a suspenseful and dramatic film!
WILD MOUNTAIN THYME is available to rent on all major digital retailers NOW.
#WildMountainThyme
Double Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman is back in the new mystery thriller ‘Into the Labyrinth.’