John Bianco Movies
- 2007
- PG13
A twentysomething misfit dedicates his life to giving the drummer some, even when the drums are only imaginary, in this comedy written and directed by comic Ari Gold. Power (Gold) grew up in a small mining town in New Mexico, where his father (Michael McKean) always imagined his son would one day join him in digging copper from the earth. But Power has a dream of playing the drums, and since he doesn't have a drum kit, he's become a master of "air drums," flailing his arms in the manner of Neil Peart or Keith Moon against a huge but nonexistent set of traps. Power's desire to become the world's greatest air drummer doesn't earn him much respect at home, so he travels to Mexico, where he learns of an air-drumming competition in Newark, NJ. Power hits the road for the garden state and meets Carlos (Steven Williams), a master air drummer who becomes his guide in the art of not really playing. Power also gets some much-needed encouragement from Annie (Shoshannah Stern), a sweet born-again girl living upstairs from him. But when Power learns that his father back home is leading a strike to save jobs for the employees at the local copper mine, winning the title becomes a matter of defending the honor of his family and his hometown, and he dedicates himself to defeating arrogant country music star Dallas Houston (Adrien Grenier), who is favored to win. Adventures of Power also stars Jane Lynch, Travis Johns, and Jimmy Jean-Louis. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ari Gold, Michael McKean, (more)
- 2006
A cruiserweight boxing champion in the process of training to become pro finds his interracial romance fanning the flames of hate and offering a newfound sense of clarity in a semi-autobiographical drama directed by Attika Torrence and starring real-life boxing sensation Punchin' Pat Nwamu. In the wake of his father's death, Pat begins to align himself with a local group of Italian-American gangsters while attempting to establish a concrete sense of community. Though Pat shows great promise in the boxing ring, his future career is suddenly thrown into question when he enters into an ill-advised relationship with neighborhood girl Gina (Rue Debona). The Guido Boys are a racist, Howard Beach neighborhood street gang who don't take kindly to interracial relationships, and before long Pat is locked up in the local jail. Though he may have taken a beating or two during the course of his career, Pat definitely has the brains to match his brawn, and after getting a second chance at life on the outside thanks to his physical talents and connections with local Lodge member and sympathetic father figure Frank Gibbs (Bruce Altman), this determined athlete is finally prepared to re-evaluate his questionable friendships and start from scratch no matter how bumpy the road that lies ahead. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Nwamu, Jr., Malik Yoba, (more)
