Barry Seal - Made in America, Cruising to the Big Screen

So it seems that Tom Cruise can tank at the box office after all, with reports that his remake of "The Mummy" is set to lose money, domestically anyway. Of course this won't tarnish the Cruiser's reputation for reigning in the cinematic big bucks and I am glad of this because much of his fare is of a high caliber (where is Mission Impossible 6?). Far from resting on his laurels it seems Tom has another film out this year and one that should peak everyone's interest; "American Made" is the true story of Barry Seal, pilot, smuggler, informant spy, and is directed by "The Bourne Identity's" Doug Liman. "Barry who?" I hear you shout, and I guess that is a fair question to ask. So who is Barry Seal?

I first heard about him in the early 90's when a film was made of his life starring the late and great Dennis Hopper called "Double Crossed". It was released at the height of the US's absurd war on drugs as a poorly underfunded DEA (along with unsubstantiated rumours of CIA involvement) battled the mighty and brutal Medellin Drug Cartels principally led by none other than that famous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. It seems that Barry Seal's involvement in helping bring down some of the cartel's most vicious and notorious figures was so clandestine that his death barely registered a blip on the worldwide media radar. So here is what we know.

Adler Berriman "Barry" Seal was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1939, and was thought to have started learning to fly at the age of 15. From 1966 to 1974 he was pilot for TWA Airlines until his dismissal. Now here is where it gets really murky; official reports indicate that Seal, in need of money went to work as a pilot and smuggler for the Medellin drug cartel transporting shipments of cocaine from Columbia to the US earning as much as half a million dollars per flight. That much is confirmed however stories have circulated that Seal worked for the CIA as far back as 1958 helping with the overthrow of Cuba's Batista regime to tenuous links to the assassination of John F Kennedy. Seal's drug enterprise was thought to be a CIA front with DEA support to aide the Cartel whom the agencies viewed as allies in the fight against Marxist revolutionaries in South America. Of course much of this has been denied which should come as no surprise.

What is recorded was that Seal ran his operation successfully from 1976 out of Arkansas before moving to Florida. In 1983 he was arrested for smuggling cocaine and marijuana and faced a prospect of 10 years in prison. Not surprisingly Seal negotiated a deal with the DEA to act as informant on his employers. The DEA ensured that his fleet of planes were equipped with the best surveillance equipment which coupled with his testimony resulted in the arrest of some of his former associates, all senior cartel figures. One of his most famous operations, and which sadly led to his disclosure as an informant and his death, was the 1984 Nicaragua sting operation. Armed with surveillance cameras,courtesy of the CIA, that were installed on his C-123 transport plane Seal presented pictures that showed soldiers of the country's Sandanista government alongside the Jorge Louis Ochoa Vasquez and Pablo Escobar loading huge cocaine shipments into the plane bound for the US. Seal testified that senior officials of the Sandanista government were involved in the deal though widely refuted. 

In July 1984 a Washington Times article outed Seal as an informant, which made an already suspicious Medellin cartel angry enough to put a contract on his life, one that was carried out in 1986 when he was brutally gunned down by a Colombian hit-man. Interestingly enough rumour has it Colonel Oliver North, the king of plausible deniability and a key figure in the Iran-Contra scandal leaked details of the operation to the press. This was most likely done to bolster support for the Contra rebels by showing the Soviet backed Sandanista government as both communists and drug dealers - not the sort of things you want to be accused of at the height of both the drugs war and the cold war. 

Officially Seal is on record as a pilot, smuggler, money launderer and gun runner who turned informant on his bosses and paid for that with his life. Those who knew him denied any involvement with US government agencies outside the DEA. That has never put an end to the speculation of his working with the CIA and the more it is vehemently denied the louder the conspiracy theorists' voices raise.

A quick look at the trailer and it seems "American Made", a film reminiscent of the excellent "Air America",  is playing on Seal's link to the CIA and their collusion to build a drug smuggling operation to get close to the Cartels. It has already attracted some controversy as to factual inaccuracies but with such a big shadow cast over Barry Seal's activities whose to say what is true or not?  

[Film Review] - Hux

Stars; Mageina Tovah, Harry Dean Stanton
Written, directed, produced and edited by Mageina Tovah.
Running time; 12 minutes

Hux is alone, frightened and one day rebels against the lonely isolation of her autism. braving the confusing, chaotic outside world. The sounds and sights prove too much for Hux with her attempts at interaction repeatedly thwarted by her powerful aversion to stimuli. Hux's isolation grows as a global pandemic decimates the population leaving her frightened and alone. When all seems lost, Hux finds one final chance to connect.

For Mageina Tovah, better known to Marvel fans as the shy Ursula in Spiderman 2 and 3 and with a host of roles in some of the US top television shows, Hux is a true labour of love. As well as starring in the title role the talented Miss Tovah wrote, directed, produced and even edited this stirring story of a young girl who finds the strength within to overcome her greatest fears. For this creative debut behind the lens, Tovah spun a delicate web of emotionally charged drama set against the backdrop of a cataclysmic world event. In coming up with Hux the story has familiar undertones.

Although the two projects are world's apart in almost every respect, the idea of Hux is reminiscent of another short film featured here in which the central character was limited or unable to communicate with the outside world. Whilst the outlook for Stutterer was more optimistic both films use their central protagonists coping mechanisms to tell the story, both even feature a supportive and understanding father figure. For Hux this was her grandfather played by late screen legend Harry Dean Stanton in flashback, a story telling tool that proves to be highly effect as we near the end. At the heart of the film though is its star and creator who not only puts in a career best performance but proves herself to be a capable storyteller.

As Hux, Mageina is delightful, successfully conveying the everyday struggles of people suffering with autism and accentuating it with an extraordinary global event that unfolds in the background. Mageina the director keeps the focus on her main character struggling through her everyday routine following the death of her grandfather. The viewer can't help at times but feel her frustrations with tasks most take for granted. Add in the foreboding events that sense of frustration is mixed with sadness as the viewer realises all too well this lovable child faces bigger challenges. Mageina really captures Hux's characteristics perfectly so much so that at the end when we see her take a big step we are left with a mixture of emotions, relieved yet with so much of the story to tell, a longing to know what happens next with a touch of hope that she will be OK.




Hux is an impressive debut film from Mageina Tovah who has proven herself to be impressive both in front and behind the camera. Skillfully edited by its writer/director/star and a stirring folk song from Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent  (formerly of American folk duo, Shovels & Rope) the film is touching, poignant and given its dark undertones life affirming enough to leave you with a smile on your face.    

Get into the Mind of Cactus Jack

What do you get if you cross Travis Bickle from the movie "Taxi Driver" with the anarchic energy of Barry Champlain from Oliver Stone's "Talk Radio"? In the age of the internet and social media it can only be "Cactus Jack". With the rise of divisive hate-mongering political figures on both sides of the continental divide it seems that the polarizing rhetoric of racism and xenophobia, and with the help of the Internet has exploded into mainstream politics. Through their singularly angst ridden protagonist Chris and Jason Thornton's seminal film looks to cast a discerning eye over today's increasingly hot tempered political scene. Through crowdfunding the Thorntons are looking to bring this no holds barred examination to chilling life.


SYNOPSIS

After being rebuked by radio talk show host for his less than favourable opinions, one man decides to take the host's rhetorical advice and so sets up his own podcast. Donning a mask and assuming the pseudonym "Cactus Jack" the angry angst ridden basement dweller unleashes a verbal tirade attacking every faction of society he finds objectionable; gays, immigrants, liberals there isn't anyone "Cactus Jack" doesn't hate. Of course his venomous words attract equally extreme opponents and it is here that Jack learns his words have consequences as one avid listener decides to go one step further to silence him.

THE CAMPAIGN

Chris and Jason Thornton with the help of Producer Sidney Sherman of Rosa Entertainment, are looking to raise $20,000 through the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo which will go to completing production of the film. The campaign has just 8 days left to reach its target and in return for the crowd's generous support the Thorntons offer a variety of rewards including a finished copy of the film, autographed script and producer credit including associate and executive. 

SUPPORT THE FILM 

"Cactus Jack" is a film that needs to be made and seen. Its decidedly dark subject matter through the eyes of an unapologetic hate filled bigot serves as the perfect study for the increasingly hostile political rhetoric on all sides of the fence seen today. Whether it's through social media or comments pages at the end of each news item it seems that debate has been reduced to abusive trolling, and violent threats looking to intimidate and silence anyone with an opposing view. So many films have featured a deranged disaffected figure who takes matters into their own hands to unleash their dissatisfaction with the world. "Cactus Jack" is the Travis Bickle of the digital age turning to the internet to vent his rage and in a bizarre twist finds himself the hunted in this dark thriller that is most definitely not NSFW. 

The Thornton Brothers are under no illusions as to the potential commercial viability of their cinematic labour of love with a portion of any profit that is made being donated to NOH8 and The Southern Poverty Law Centre;

"We're not making this thing for money or accolades. We're making it because it's gnarly and brazen and feels like a truthful expression of .what this country and world is going through right now, back to the beginning of time."

To find out more you can visit the film's Indiegogo page and be sure to check out the red band trailer below - not suitable for young minds and sensitive ears.

[Review] - Positive Discrimination

Director/Writer Charlo Johnson
Stars; Liam Burke, Niall Dempsey, Róisín O' Donovan, Maghnús Foy

Joe is an elderly man, terminally ill but receives financial help support from a local volunteer group. Tanya is a student sitting her finally exams but resorts to prostitution to pay debts; and a policeman. Three seemingly unconnected lives soon come together in this tale that takes the idea all is not what it seems to new heights.

I was once told that perception is reality, how people see things shapes the world around us. What is perhaps more accurate is that people's thoughts shape how they see the world which doesn't necessarily equate with the reality. Case in point is this engaging short film from Irish writer/director Charlo Johnson who takes the viewer's perceptions and turns them every which way possible. Even the title is deceptive, politically evocative indicating an underlying message that at first appears to be absent from the story but reveals itself as the story unfolds.

The film itself is simplistic, very little actually happens with outcomes revealed slowly and subtly. Johnson is adept at atmospheric setting; there's the gloomy start where the mysterious Garda Detective is picking up a prostitute on the street corner. He then introduces Joe struggling through his day helped by the kindness of passing strangers. this changes to something more comfortable with the introduction of his seemingly pleasant innocuous relationship with Tanya. All that changes again when Johnson beckons the viewer to  look underneath the surface, and teases with many quick hints and flashbacks of the Joe's (Maghnús Foy) younger days. When certain unpleasant truths are revealed the viewer is forced  to reconsider their perceptions and perhaps even redress societal assumptions and prejudices. Much attention needs to be paid as the big reveal approaches providing just enough answers yet leaving more questions.

Overall "Positive Discrimination" is an engaging film packed with intrigue. It is professionally crafted with clean editing, and a real sense of place and atmosphere ably aided with a music score that changes along with the film's tone. All the actors are compelling in their roles, even Niall Dempsey as the Garda Detective who is only on screen for 90 seconds and has minimal lines comes across very strong. Liam Burke as Joe gives a multifaceted performance and Róisín O' Donovan brings kindness and vulnerability as Tanya. Johnson's clever script however is the star, a cerebral rollercoaster of misconception and deceit that will leave your head spinning long after the credits roll.