David Till Movies
A father (Andrew McCarthy) and son (Evan Williams) set out on a cross-country trip to deliver their prized Sitka Spruce to Washington, D.C. after it's selected as the official White House Christmas tree. Along the way, they discover the true meaning of Christmas, and forge memories that will last a lifetime. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2009
- PG13
- Add Amreeka to Queue
A Palestinian single mother and her son resettle in the American Midwest with bittersweet results, in first-time director Cherien Dabis' gentle fish-out-of-water comedy drama Amreeka. Nisreen Faour stars as divorcée Mouna, a resident of the West Bank who works as a local bank manager while raising her 16-year-old son, Fadi (Melkar Muallem), on the side. Each day, the two must put their lives in jeopardy by driving through potentially lethal Middle Eastern checkpoints to accomplish their daily business, but their situation changes dramatically when Mouna finally succeeds at getting a green card. The two fly from Jerusalem to Chicago, but get a bitter taste of the reality behind the American dream when the customs department claims the money that Mouna wrapped in a cookie tin, leaving her penniless. The nascent immigrants promptly move in with Mouna's sister, Raghda (Hiam Abbass of Lemon Tree), and her family, and Mouna sets about trying to find a bank job in the U.S. that is equivalent to her old position at home; unfortunately, this proves impossible and she ends up serving "sliders" at a White Castle fast food franchise and earning minimum wage. Meanwhile, Fadi begins attending a local high school and runs headfirst into not-so-subtle racism and the imminent threat of nativistic violence. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem, (more)
A young girl learns some important lessons about life, love, friendship, and death from her ailing grandfather in this affectionate family drama starring Tom Bosley and Jordy Benattar. 12-year-old Casey Baker (Benattar) may be generations removed from her loving grandfather Charlie (Bosley), but they have so much in common that they're the very best of friends. They've been together since Casey was four years old and her mother died in a car accident. In the aftermath of that tragedy, Casey's father Jeff withdrew into his work, leaving his precocious daughter in the care of the aging widower. Then, one day, as Jeff is en route to Beijing on a business trip, Charlie suffers a massive heart attack and Casey's life changes forever. Later on at the hospital, the distressed girl does her best to convince Dr. Robert Graham not to subject Charlie to emergency surgery. When the doctors insist in consulting with an adult on the matter, Casey lies and tells them that she has consulted with her father on the matter, and that by no means is Charlie to be operated on. The decision ultimately turns out to save Charlie's life, as his body would have been too week to sustain the trauma of such an operation. As Jeff returns and Charlie recuperates, Dr. Graham's girlfriend Dr. Fran Gilford forms a close bond with the Bakers. A few weeks later, Charlie is healthy enough to take a brief vacation with his granddaughter, during which he takes the time to help Casey overcome her fear of public speaking, and eases her fears with a frank yet thoughtful discussion on death and the grieving process. Meanwhile, back home, Jeff summons the courage to ask Fran out on a date. Fran has grown tired of Dr. Graham's tactless bedside manner, and happily accepts. Jeff is doing his best to get back into the swing of fatherhood, and knowing that Charlie and Casey love to pass the time playing chess, he begins brushing up on his game so they can play together when Charlie is gone. Eventually, the inevitable happens and Charlie passes away, but not before having a heart-to-heart with Casey in which he insists that she limit her grieving time to just one month, and then move on with her life. Though at first it isn't easy, Casey does just that, eventually deciding to enter into a career as a cardiologist under the mentorship of her old friend Dr. Graham. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Bosley, Jordy Benattar, (more)
A successful New York magazine editor returns to her tiny Massachusetts hometown to carry out her estranged father's deathbed wish, in the process embarking on a deeply affecting journey of healing and personal discovery. Catherine Madigan (Laura Leighton) hasn't spoken to her father in years. Upon learning of her father's passing, Catherine vows to fulfill his final wish of having his ashes scattered across the Massachusetts town where her family once lived. At first Catherine intended to simply carry out her obligations and be on her way, but sometimes when things don't go according to plan, we discover more about ourselves than we ever thought possible. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laura Leighton
