The Actor

"Surprisingly funny and well written. Richard Blake (Hunter) and Major Dodge (Joe), kept me in a love - hate relationship with their characters throughout the movie. The budding relationship between Sheila Houlihan (Donna) and Hunter, left me wondering if there will ever be a kiss. This humorously and delightfully assembled cast and crew makes this a sequel worthy movie, full of well scouted locations and unbelievable scenery drawing the audience into the storyline and action." "The music selection, by Collective Soul, was superb." "There is no doubt that this movie should be added to your must see list."

For the love of all things film, can you and your other fellow "I can do it all" combo writer/actor/directors stop producing garbage like this that does nothing but inflate your ego and pay you more $ because of multiple credit titles?

Why can you not do one thing and do it well?

Repeat this every morning when you awaken.

Writers should ONLY write.

Actors should ONLY act.

Directors should ONLY direct.

Please stop producing such silly movies like this, and stop having all your friends give you 9 and 10 points when you yourself know its a 4 at best.

Do not write act and produce all at one, all that does is fan the flames of your I can do it all ego!

I had the good fortune last weekend to attend the premiere of "The Actor" in downtown Forth Worth. It is a wonderfully entertaining independent film about the passion and frustration of being an artist as well as the negative consequences of losing one's moral compass. It is a character driven throwback to heist films of the 1990's, a decade of film that I grow fonder of with each passing year. If a tense chase movie is on the menu for the weekend, this definitely could tickle your itch.

Authenticity is "The Actor's" greatest strength. I spent a decade in LA and this film nails the vacuous narcissism of the Hollywood based film industry. They often look down on the good hearted and the opening audition scene uses that reality to pull us right into who Hunter is and what his frustrations are. This connection that allows the audience to understand and follow the unfortunate decisions he makes leading to the central conflict. All of this is brought to life by a dynamic cast who bring a soul to each character. (The villains, in particular, clearly love playing villains. They bring a simultaneous sense of threat and humor to the piece.)

On the production end, I enjoyed the way this film uses well thought out steady long shots to heighten the tension. It also does not over cut, which I really like as an editor. It also does a nice job utilizing both its LA and Texas locations to great effect. Add in some cool practical effects on top of that, the final product is an all around solid piece.

Do I recommend the film? Most definitely. In a world of corporate sludge, it is refreshing to watch material with a soul made by filmmakers who care. This independent sphere is where the solid stuff is going to come from today. "The Actor" can be seen on Apple TV and Vudu. Check it out.

4/5.

Richard Blake crafts a captivating story about Hunter Durban: a struggling LA actor just trying to find himself. Hunter ends up falling into a large amount of cash, which a gang of bad guys with a fearless & uncompromising leader (Major Dodge) will stop at nothing to retrieve from him. What follows is a truly inspiring piece of storycraft, where Dodge among others steal the show in a cat-and-mouse chase.

What truly blew me away was this story told in the background of a fantastic soundtrack made up of some of Collective Soul's best work. The film is a gripping action comedy, which I would highly recommend to any fans of rock, indie films, or just a general well put together action comedy.

I am not a film critic, but I think back on the days of Siskel and Ebert. In my opinion Siskel looked at movies from a critic's perspective, while Ebert viewed them as a lover of film, entertainment - and that's how I look at films.

In my opinion, "The Actor" is a very good film. Richard Blake is the writer/director and played the lead role (Hunter) - and did an amazing job!

The performances are on point as the story progresses, it pulls you in more and more, with each actor bringing their character to life in a compelling way. The storyline is rich and engaging, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The cinematography is stunning, capturing the essence of each scene beautifully. Overall, "The Actor" is a great film that leaves a lasting impression and is a must-watch for any cinema lover.

As a good film should it leaves you wanting and waiting for a sequel!