Neil Abramson Movies
A young man tries to tie up some loose ends before he goes to war in this independent drama from director Neil Abramson. Mike Holland (Nick Cannon) is nineteen years old and has just completed his basic training as a private in the United States Marine Corps. Mike has a four-day leave so he can visit his family for Thanksgiving, and then has orders for combat duty in Iraq. Mike wants to spend time with his family and friends before he ships out, but he doesn't want to tell anyone that he'll be stationed in Iraq. While taking the bus home to Bakersfield, California, Mike meets Cristina (Melonie Diaz), and it doesn't take long for him to realize he's infatuated with her. Mike makes a date to spend some time with Cristina, but he already has a busy schedule over the next four days. Mike catches up with his little sister (Erica Gluck), his doting mother (April Grace) and her taciturn new husband (Tom Sizemore), and sees his estranged father (Chi McBride) for the first time in years. Mike also hangs out with his best friend Jake (Matt O'Leary), but discovers he's begun taking a different path in life while Mike was in boot camp. And Mike happens to meet a disabled soldier back from Iraq (Jay Hernandez) who gives him an idea of what he can expect during his tour of duty. American Son was screened in competition at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nick Cannon, Melonie Diaz, (more)
Filmmaker Neil Abramson chronicles the plight of children in war-torn northern Uganda in this compelling documentary. Chronicling the savagery and horror that thousands of children endure as they are forced from their homes to serve in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Soldier Child weaves a gripping tale of torture, rape, starvation, and brainwashing. Through black and white photos and on-camera interviews, the events at GUSCO--the rehabilitation facility for those fortunate enough to have escaped their captors--come to life. You'll see selected stories of the victims of brutality, including poignant footage of a young boy whose feet are so infected from marching in the army that he can no longer walk and a teen-aged girl who has given birth as the result of being raped by LRA soldiers. ~ Kathleen Wildasin, All Movie Guide
After the success of shock-jock Howard Stern's Private Parts, shock-TV host Jerry Springer made his own foray into celluloid. Fictionalizing only the name of his television show (what is normally called the The Jerry Springer Show, is now called "The Jerry Show"), Springer plays himself as a man who fronts a chair-throwing, dog-and-pony trash TV strip which gets high ratings in the backwoods, armpit communities of America. The story revolves around two sets of guests coming to Los Angeles to be on the show. First, the Zorzak family has slutty 19-year-old Angel (Jaime Pressly), sleeping with her stepdad (Michael Dudikoff). When her mom (Molly Hagan) finds out, she seeks revenge by sleeping with Angel's fiancé, Willie (Ashley Holbrook). The second group consists of Starletta (Wendy Raquel Robinson), who caught her man, Demond (Michael Jai White), sleeping with her best friend, Vonda (Tangie Ambrose). This makes all of them perfect for stardom on The Jerry Show. As all these guests arrive for their big day on national television, more chaos ensues with Springer getting propositioned by Angel and her mother. Even crew members show their stripes by getting involved in the sexual escapades with the guests. The whole scenario is finally brought to a knockdown, gender-bending finale live on national television -- right where it belongs. ~ Chris Gore, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Springer, Jaime Pressly, (more)
The self-destructive spiral of a young woman's life provides the basis of this provocative drama shot in the rundown quarters of Memphis, TN. The story is based on the former life of Lauri Crook, who plays the lead, Shay. As the film opens, Shay is seen hitchhiking and fending off a horny driver. Later she has an argument with "Radio," her boyfriend, in their grimy apartment. Radio is a depressive sort, and together they shoot up and feel sorry for themselves. Shay earns a little money dancing in a strip club late at night. But for Harry, a black trumpeter, she has no real friends. Following work, she and another dancer take a drug dealer back to a motel to exchange sex for drugs. Radio wanders the streets looking for her. When she finally comes home, an argument ensues; after much yelling and many tears, they make up and Shay's day begins again. It is exactly the same as the last. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
