Alcatraz Avenue

Great film with a well-written script. The story takes place in Berkeley and a young man who is trying to launch his writing career moves in with an abusive family. He starts to manipulate them so he can continue writing his new novel. It all ends in a chaotic, thrilling plunge that slowly reveals a lot that we didn't know about the house.

I saw "Alcatraz Avenue" on February 1, 2002 at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival. The movie is about a struggling writer named David who rents a spare room from a Berkeley family. He wants to write a novel about an American family, so he observes the Contreras family. David puts listening devices in every room in the house so he can eavesdrop on the family and collect material for his novel. When real life events don't make for a juicy enough story, David manipulates the real life situation to where the family members turn against each other. An unhappy ending is just as well for this picture, because most of the characters aren't likable. The father is a deadbeat, and he is despicable enough, but I found David to be the worst character. All he cares about is his novel, and he doesn't care what harm he causes the family. This is not to say the movie is bad; it's just that one hopes for ill to happen to the characters, and it sure does.

The talented duel of brother and sister trigger this movie to pinnacle heights of achievements. Megan Casey's penetrating arsenal of talent shines brightly in her spectacular performance. She reaches in, grasping all she can and pulls out a handful of extraordinary brilliance that swells this movie with emotion and feelings phenomenally. Not far from her, is her brother Brian Casey. His performance in this movie is unrivaled. His creative talent motivates and transpires this movie beyond just any ordinary student film. A roster of talent ranging from professionalism, smarts, and personality, Brian Casey has established himself as foundation of new generation Actors who will one day themselves be the main rogues in hollywood. If you wish to discuss this movie and others, please come down to Gamestation, 3444 foothill blvd.