Indie film review – Freelance Writer Janny(Jan Marie)C

Review

In Ava: A Twist In The Road, we meet Ava ( Catherane Skillen) and Bobby (Bill Lewis); together for 25 years, they are more in love than ever. And Ava’s adored and pampered life with Bobby is shown through a flashback where he gives her a beautiful emerald bracelet to show how much he loves and admires her being in his life. When tragedy strikes, we discover Ava is not Bobby’s wife but his lover of 25 years as she rushes to the hospital to see him, only to be kicked out by Bobby’s venomous son Bob jr. (Steve Dellatori). He is hell-bent on stripping her of everything, even taking her car that she loved that Bobby had gotten for her. With Bobby gone, Ava realizes she just really lived for Bobby. She didn’t have to work or pay bills, and all her clothes were bought residing in the quaint condo Bobby got for her. Her days were filled with shopping, luncheons with her friend Leanne (Tannis Benedict), charity work, and art classes. Her world is now shattered. Does Ava crumble, or does she rise?

Cathrane Skillen (Ava)

Ava: A Twist In The Road is an indie arthouse drama piece written and directed by Catherine Skillen, A winner of 8 film festival awards, including Toronto Film Magazine Fest (2021) and LA Sun Film Fest (2021). It is not a surprise, though, as Skillen unwillingly captures you as we follow Ava on her journey to regain herself. I enjoyed how we get a bit of Ava and Bobby’s love story more in flashback glimpses. Learning it was not what we may have perceived, how Ava’s predicament is her own doing, and the importance of talking and setting a plan of what would happen if a partner dies. Uncannily though, Ava’s sweet naivety and her love and relationship with Bobby are so beloved you sympathize with her. You do understand her.

Bobby (Bill Lewis) and Ava (Cathrane Skillen)

Performances-wise, the cast did a great job distracting from the minor in-synchronicities of the film’s shaky camera work in spots. Skillen is a triple threat, though, as she also plays Ava (Skillen directed and wrote). Skillen gives Ava a sweet naivety and likeability that is solid and believable as Steve Dellatori (Bob jr.) shines while being the complete opposite of Ava as her nemesis in the film.

Ava (Catherane Skillen) Partygoger Earl (Kevin Masterson)

While I am not much for drama films, Skillen manages to grip me with her elegant storytelling. I became invested in Ava and her journey, and Skillen did not disappoint. I did wish, though, that Skillen had chosen a different font for the film. I felt the font didn’t match the story, and I had a hard time reading the end credits of all the people who helped bring Skillen’s story to life. That is just me though.

My Rating 8/10

Ava: A Twist In The Road is available to watch on Prime Video and Tubi

Felix – too old to be a dreamer and too young to have lost every hope, has arrived at a crossroads in his life.

Should he continue with the same tedious routine – ridiculed by his boss and colleagues, ignored by beautiful women, without friends?

Or is there something else?

Does life have more to offer?

An unexpected encounter with a stranger brings the chance of a lifetime, but there is always a price… ~Tilman Borck.

****Rating: M for Mature Sexual situations and nudity****

AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME / AMAZON PRIME UK

The Midas Touch (2020) - IMDb — Tilman Borck ,Bernhard Bozman and Gino Wilson

In watching The Midas Touch, I deduced that a pack of horney women could be pretty dangerous. That aside, The Midas Touch is a complete reconstruction of the classic “King Midas” tale. We are introduced to shy, awkward Felix (Gino Wilson). Unlucky with the ladies and just life itself, Felix seems to be constantly reminded and teased every day by his lothario boss and co-workers. That is until he encounters a stranger at the bar who walks in with a flock of ladies adoring him. Seeing Felix admiring his way with the ladies, he strikes up a conversation saying Felix too can have all the women he wants just by touching them. He warns it is not all it’s cracked up to be, but he can pass this talent along. Felix, of course, jumps at the chance. As always, with great power comes great responsibility, but when Felix’s abilities catch the attention of the news, a cult leader, his boss, and their client, amusing debauchery ensues.

Written, directed, and produced by Tilman Borck, he also stars playing the flamboyant gothic dressing female empowerment super guru savior Sviatoslav Rau who basically steals the show. When Borck is on the screen, the film is at its best. Borck is absolutely brilliant. All the humorous parts come from Borck and his Sidekick (Bernhard Bozian). Gino Wilson’s performance as Felix holds his own, though, as he makes Felix a likable character to follow. When we first met Felix, I loved how Borck had him dressed in tan drab colors. Then once he received the “Midas touch,” his wardrobe changed to a vibrant blue suit representing Felix’s change. Other honorable performances are Clayton Nemrow (Ron the Boss), Kate G. Lacy (Jane the Secretary), and Noemi Domokos (Sarah Walker).

Borck creates a freshly entertaining slapstick comedy farce film that flows nicely. Filled with sex romp fun, I found Borck made it work, and I have never encountered that in a comedy farce film like The Midas Touch tries to be a part of. Borck does it right. He makes the use of nudity and sex to make absolute sense in a film, finally! In most cases, sex and nudity in comedy films seem forced and slipped in there being a bit gratuitous because sex sells. It is never really vital to the story’s plot. Here Borck weaves it lightly into his story. It is a part of the drive of the story. I say Tilman Borck definitely has the filmmaking touch.

Overall rating **** 4 out of 5 stars.

Tag: Indie film review

Indie Film Review: Ava, A Twist In the Road (2022)

Review

INDIE MOVIE REVIEW: The Midas Touch (2020)