Robert Washington Movies
Two guys used to drinking beer for fun suddenly become fierce competitors in a sort of Lager Olympics in this over-the-top comedy. Todd Wolfhouse (Erik Stolhanske) and his brother Jan (Paul Soter) are from a German-American family but have never visited the Old Country until their grandfather dies and they fly to Germany to scatter his ashes. Todd and Jan arrive during the annual Oktoberfest celebration and accidentally discover a secret competition, "Beerfest," in which the world's leading beer guzzlers determine who can handle the most brew during several days of heated drinking games. Todd and Jan are no slouches when it comes to downing suds and offer to compete, but the German branch of the family, the Von Wolfhausens, scoff at their desire to enter the contest and inform them no mere American could hope to carry away the Beerfest honors. Determined to prove Yanks can swill beer and embarrass themselves just as well as anyone, Todd and Jan bring their most skilled drinking buddies to Germany to defend America's honor on the field of drunken battle and show their German relatives that the family's talent didn't vanish when they crossed the pond. Beerfest was written and directed by Jay Chandrasekhar of the comedy troupe Broken Lizard, and several other Broken Lizard members pop up in the film's cast, as do Will Forte, Mo'nique, Cloris Leachman, and Jürgen Prochnow. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jay Chandrasekhar, Steve Lemme, (more)
Directed by Nick Cassavetes, this adaptation of author Nicholas Sparks' bestselling novel revolves around Noah Calhoun's (James Garner) regular visits to a female patron (Gena Rowlands) of an area nursing home. Rather than bore her with the inanities of everyday life, Calhoun reads from an old, faded notebook containing the sweeping account of a young couple (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) whose love affair was tragically put to a halt after their separation in the midst of World War II. Seven years later, the couple was reunited, and, despite having taken radically different paths, they found themselves unable to resist the call of a second chance. The Notebook also features Joan Allen, Sam Shepard, and Kevin Connolly. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, (more)
Elvis Presley may be gone, but his legacy lives on, and while many fans are content to recall one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th Century by listening to his records or watching his movies, there's another breed of fan who seeks to bring Elvis back to life in a sense, devoting a remarkable amount of time, money, and energy in an effort to re-create the look and sound of the King of Rock & Roll on-stage. Almost Elvis is a documentary that looks at the cultural phenomenon of the Elvis impersonator, featuring interviews with a number of performers who play the nightclub circuit as they make like Elvis the Pelvis. Performers include Doug Church (called "the Voice of Elvis" by fans for his uncanny recreation of Presley's vocal style); Irv Cass (a perennially high-ranking contender in nationwide Elvis impersonation competitions); Mori Yasumasa (the Asian Elvis); Robert Washington (the African-American Elvis); Quentin Flagg (the teenaged Elvis); and Dean Z (who specialized in Elvis during his days in the Army). The film also offers a look at the annual Elvis World Championships in Memphis, in which impersonators battle for top honors during the city's annual Elvis Week celebration. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Doug Church, Quentin Flagg, (more)
