Costa Theo Movies
- 2007
A new pastime sends a woman down a path of spiritual chaos and financial ruin in this drama from South Africa. When she was a teenager, Abeeda (Rayda Jacobs) lived a reckless life, but as a middle-aged single mother she's learned the importance of responsibility and has become a devout Muslim. Abeeda spends most of her free time with a small circle of friends from her mosque, and one day one of her pals, Garaatie (Nabeweya Scello), invites Abeeda to join her for a visit to a local gambling casino. Abeeda is wary, but she tries playing a slot machine and to her surprise hit the jackpot on her first coin. While Garaatie enjoys an occasional visit to the casino, Abeeda becomes deeply fascinated with playing the slots, and after the death of her son Reza, her new hobby becomes an obsession. Abeeda is very much aware that her faith forbids gambling, but her addiction to slot machines drowns out her sense of personal morality, and before long her habit has robbed her of her life savings as she prays for a way out of her predicament. Confessions Of A Gambler was adapted for a novel by Rayda Jacobs, who also plays Abeeda and directed the film in collaboration with Amanda Lane. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rayda Jacobs, Nabeweya Scello, (more)
James Keach's romantic comedy Blind Dating concerns a 22-year old blind man named Danny (Chris Pine. Though Danny refuses to let his visual deficiency keep him from enjoying every aspect of life, he does shy away from women. When his brother Larry (Eddie Kaye Thomas) discovers Danny is a virgin, he makes every effort to lift that burden from him. Although a series of dates goes very wrong in a number of ways, Danny eventually meets a nurse (Anjali Jay), who agrees to go out with him, although her Indian family may prove a greater hindrance to their happiness than his medical condition. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Pine, Eddie Kaye Thomas, (more)
