Classics: A Review of Lost Girls By Lauren Ennis

In the early morning hours of May 1, 2010 escort Shannan Gilbert made a 23 minute call to 911 from the gated community of Oak Beach, Long Island. During the call she repeatedly told the dispatcher "There's somebody after me". When police arrived an hour had passed and she had disappeared. She was never seen alive again. 2020's Lost Girls chronicles the fallout from Gilbert's disappearance, which eventually led to the discovery of a total of eleven bodies on Long Island's Gilgo Beach. The film follows Gilbert's mother, Mari, as she sets out to find her missing daughter and leads a crusade to obtain justice for nearly a dozen victims and their families. For the story behind the headlines join Mari in her search for the Lost Girls.

The story begins on the day before Shannan Gilbert's disappearance. Her mother, Mari, is struggling to make ends meet while raising Shannan's younger sisters, Sherre and Sarra. When Shannan fails to attend a family dinner Mari is disappointed but not surprised. After Shannan's boyfriend calls Sherre looking for her and Sherre's calls to Shannan go unanswered the family start to worry. During the police's reluctant search for Shannan, the bodies of ten others are discovered along Long Island's Gilgo Beach. Thus begins an investigation that has since become one of the most infamous in the history of modern crime. The film then follows Mari as she joins forces with the families of the other victims in their search for justice and embarks upon a mission to bring Shannan home. 

While meeting with the families of other victims Mari says "No one's talking about our girls. It's our job to make sure that these girls are not forgotten", and Lost Girls does just that. Rather than following the killer or the police tracking him, the film sets itself apart by maintaining a firm focus upon the victims and those that they left behind. In this way, the film puts a human face on the headlines and highlights the devastation that the killer left in his wake. By telling the victims' story rather than the killer's story the film removes the intrigue, mystery, and fascination that draws viewers to true crime, leaving only a raw tale of wounds that will never heal. As a result, the film fulfills Mari's wish by treating each of its Lost Girls with the empathy, dignity, and sympathy that they were denied in life. Easily one of the most difficult films to be released in recent years Lost Girls is also one of the most vital and important films to come out of Hollywood in years.

The film brings the true story of the lost girls of Gilgo Beach to heart breaking life thanks to the stellar work of its cast. Lola Kirke imbues victim Amber Costello's sister, and fellow escort, Kim with sass and Southern charm. Miriam Shor infuses victim Megan Waterman's mother, Lorraine, with warmth, even as she highlights the devastation of her loss. Dean Winters personifies callousness as dismissive police officer Dean Bostik. Oona Laurence aptly captures the torment of Shannan's mentally ill younger sister, Sarra. Thomasin McKenzie adeptly blends innocence and maturity as Shannan's straight-arrow younger sister, Sherre. Gabriel Byrne turns in one of the most complex performances of his career as world weary police Commissioner Richard Dormer. Even in the midst of compelling supporting performances Amy Ryan dominates the screen as Mari. Ryan lends a truly dynamic performance as she portrays Mari's inner torment with subtlety and nuance even as she depicts her public efforts to find Shannen with fiery bombast.

At once a moving tribute to the Gilgo beach victims and their families and a compelling call to action Lost Girls makes for some of the most powerful viewing in recent years. Through its equal parts intelligent and empathetic script the film relates its story with raw honesty and without judgment. The uniformly superb performances bring the devastation and resilience of the victims' families to visceral life. As the primary suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders dominates the headlines it is more vital than ever to remember his victims and ensure that their stories are heard. 

Classics: A Review of All Dogs Go to Heaven by Lauren Ennis

Family films are often dismissed as juvenile, sugary, and lacking in substance. During the 1980's, however, one studio set out to change the image of family entertainment. Over the course of sixteen years and nine films Don Bluth Entertainment Studios took family entertainment to some of the most magical, dark, and unforgettable places it has ever been. In the studio's 1989 All Dogs Go to Heaven the studio transported viewers through the dark alleys of 1930's New Orleans and the deepest depths of the human heart.  Over thirty years after its release the film relates a tale of redemption and friendship that continues to remind viewers why dogs truly are man's best friend.

The story begins with loveable con-man (or in this case dog) Charlie  escaping from death-row at the pound with the help of his loyal but hapless best friend, Itchy . Upon tunneling their way to freedom the pair celebrate with their friends by drinking and carousing at the local rat-track, where Charlie is reunited with his former business partner, Carface. It seems like old times until Carface calls out a mob hit on Charlie in order to avoid having to share their joint profits. After Carface has his henchmen carry out the hit  Charlie awakens to find that he has literally died and gone to Heaven. Rather than appreciate his good fortune at avoiding Hell after a life of crime, he immediately hatches a plot to escape Heaven and return to Earth, even though the angels warn him that once he leaves Heaven he can never return. When he learns that Carface has been using, Anne Marie, an orphaned child who can talk to animals to fix races he hatches a plan to exact his revenge upon Carface and make a profit along the way. The unlikely duo then set off on an adventure through New Orleans' criminal underworld and straight into viewers' hearts.

In an era of sequels, remakes, and generic imitations Bluth's work is more relevant and groundbreaking now than it was upon its release. His work throughout the 1980's took animation to soaring new heights and infused family entertainment with a depth that has rarely been rivaled since. Rather than falling into the trap of lecturing at young viewers or resorting to inane antics All Dogs Go to Heaven relates a surprisingly mature tale of its' hero's all too human failings and redemption. With the exception of Anne Marie all of the film's characters are morally compromised and yet only Carface is proven to be beyond redemption  As a result, the film's world surprisingly reflects the moral complexities of real life in a way that is still child-friendly. In this way, the film helps its young viewers to come to terms with their own faults as well as those around them while still reminding them of the importance of striving to overcome those faults. Even as it relates its tale of crime, punishment, and redemption the film still offers entertainment for the whole family. The film's criminal canine serve showcase whimsy and street-wise wit that kids will love while paying apt homage to gangland classics of the 1930's that are certain to appeal to cinema buffs. While the film was deemed a critical and commercial failure upon its release it has since gone on to become a cult classic, proving that you truly can't keep a good dog, or film, down. 

The film transports viewers to 1930's New Orleans thanks to its combination of animation and engaging voice acting. The film showcases Bluth's signature blend of traditional animation techniques and a modern gritty edge. The animation brings its setting to vibrant life and offers up some of the most expressive and original character designs in modern movie making.  The dogs in particular showcase the studio's skill as they show human emotion and engage in human behavior all while maintaining their canine characteristics. The vocal performances bring the story to vibrant life. Charles Nelson Riley makes for a hilarious henchman as Carface's hapless right hand dog, Killer. Vic Tayback channels Edward G Robinson to chilling effect as ruthless Carface. Dom DeLuise steals each scene in which he appears as Charlie's loveable comedic sidekick, Itchy. Judith Barsi embodies innocence and optimism in the final role before her untimely death as Anne Marie. Even in the midst of excellent supporting vocal performances the film belongs to Burt Reynolds as he infuses Charlie with a winning combination of roguish charm, street-wise wit, and bravado to rival James Cagney.

With the release of All Dogs Go to Heaven Don Bluth Entertainment Studios showed that even an old dog like the animated musical can learn new tricks. Through its inventive and intelligent script the film offers a story that will keep parents and kids equally entertained. The film puts the full artistry of Bluth's animation on display while its vocal performances infuse each of the characters with memorable personalities. Curl up with your favorite very good boy or girl and see why All Dogs Go to Heaven.

Classics: A Review of The Last Unicorn By Lauren Ennis

Unicorns are associated with the magic and innocence of childhood. 1982's The Last Unicorn, however, is anything but innocent. In classic 80's style the film explores such weighty themes as depression, loss, regret, and mortality to cast a dark spell that is anything but child's play. At once an ode to classic fairytales and a subversion of fairytale tropes The Last Unicorn is every bit as unique as its title heroine. Enter a world of magic and mystery with The Last Unicorn.

The story begins somewhere in Medieval Europe as two hunters search for game in a forest. When they fail to find anything to hunt they conclude that the forest must be protected by the magic of a unicorn. The forest's unicorn overhears the hunters and is shocked when they conclude that she must be the last of her kind. After a chance meeting with a well traveled butterfly the unicorn learns that the rest of the world's unicorns have been imprisoned by a mysterious creature known as the red bull. She then sets out on a journey to find her compatriots and set them free. Along the way, she befriends bumbling magician Schmendrick and bandit Molly. Together, the unlikely trio embark upon a quest  that continues to haunt viewers forty years after its release.

The Last Unicorn sets itself apart from the typical family fare associated with Western animation through its mature themes, gritty content, and refusal to offer easy answers. While the film begins with the unicorn's journey to find and liberate her imprisoned compatriots, the real journey is the one in which she discovers herself. Over the course of the film the unicorn is forced to face her fears after an eternity spent safely within the confines of her forest. She is also confronted with the complexity and challenges of personal relationships after living in essential isolation. Finally, the greatest challenge that she faces is not the hellish Red Bull but the prospect of her own mortality when she briefly takes human form. Through these internal conflicts the unicorn's journey mirrors that which we all face as we grow older and come to terms with the world around us. In this way, the film ensures that what should be an entirely unreachable heroine is in fact all too relatable. The film similarly showcases a variety of other characters' equally universal struggles as Molly makes peace with her regrets, Schmendrick learns to believe in himself, and Lir begins to lead his own life rather than striving to meet his father's expectations. By focusing upon the characters' internal journeys the film ensures that the often fantastic story remains grounded and offers insight that is certain to resonate with modern viewers. The script's focus upon the characters' efforts to confront the all too real crises of loss, regret, and impending mortality reveals the film to be more than just a fantasy, but instead a sobering meditation upon the human experience. Even the film's bittersweet ending more closely mirrors the compromises that we are forced to accept throughout our lives rather than the 'happily ever after'  that fairy tales promise. For a cinema experience as unique as a unicorn itself follow the trail of The Last Unicorn.

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The film brings Peter S. Beagle's story to vivid life thanks to the work of its animators and cast. Canadian based Rankin Bass utilized the work of Japanese animation company Topcraft, which would later partner with Hayao Miyazaki to form studio Ghibli. By utilizing the work of both companies the animation offers a blend of East and West that sets it apart from both Western animation and anime. The character designs avoid both the idealized images popularized by Disney and the exaggerated style common in anime, opting instead for a more naturalistic approach. With the exception of the unicorn the characters look like real people living in the middle ages and keep the often fantastic story grounded.

The cast ensure that the characters are all memorable, and believable. Angela Lansbury steals each scene in which she appears in her decidedly dark turn as fame-fixated witch Mommy Fortuna. Tammy Grimes infuses bandit turned ally Molly with earthy charm and humor. Jeff Bridges portrays Prince Lir with a humility and decency worth of a storybook hero. Christopher Lee is equal parts chilling and pitiful as King Haggard, a man who is so deeply in the throes of depression that he is unaware of his descent into villainy. Alan Arkin makes for an engaging everyman as the likeable but ever bumbling Schmendrick. Mia Farrow captures the otherworldly, ethereal, quality of the unicorn and the vulnerability of the unicorn's human form, Lady Amalthea with equal skill.

At once a classic fairytale and a modern meditation upon life and loss The Last Unicorn remains one of the most memorable and mature films in animation. Through its equal parts mystical and down to earth script the film brings Beagle's novel to vibrant life. The cast and animation ensures that viewers will be transported to the world of the characters and remain invested in their struggles regardless of how fantastic they might be. Embark upon an unforgettable journey with The Last Unicorn.

Classics: A Review of Sound of Freedom By Lauren Ennis

Arguably the most sinister crime is the abuse of children. With the advent of the internet the creation and distribution of child pornography has become one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world. While stories appear in the news about trafficking and abuse victims every day the sheer magnitude of this issue has left  the public at a loss as to what can be done to address it. 2023's sleeper hit Sound of Freedom follows one man as he makes it his personal mission to rescue trafficking victims and bring traffickers to justice. At once a compelling retelling of one man's journey into the darkest corners of the criminal underworld and a universal call to action the film is equal parts wrenching and inspiring. Witness the power of The Sound of Freedom.

The story begins in Honduras with eleven year old Rocio and her eight year old brother, Miguel, being approached by glamorous local beauty queen Gisselle. Gisselle presents the children with what seems to be the opportunity of a lifetime when she offers them the chance to audition for her child modeling agency. Despite his misgivings, the children's father, Roberto, reluctantly gives in to their pleas and agrees to allow them to attend the audition. The family's dream soon turns into a nightmare when  Roberto arrives to pick the children up from the audition only to find that they, along with the entire 'agency', have disappeared. It is then revealed that Rocio and Miguel, along with all of the other children at the audition, have been sold into human trafficking. Meanwhile,  DHS agent Tim Ballard is working in undercover operations tracking human traffickers. During one of his operations he manages to rescue Miguel, who begs for his help in finding Rocio. The film then follows Ballard on a harrowing journey into the dark world of human trafficking in pursuit of of the missing girl.

In the weeks since its release Sound of Freedom has taken audiences and the box office by storm and it is little wonder why. The film succeeds by putting a human face on the issue of human trafficking while still acting as an apt thriller. By focusing upon Ballard and his mission to rescue Rocio the film personalizes the horrors that trafficking victims are subjected to. Through this single-minded focus upon its characters and their unique struggles the film ensures that viewers will invest in the characters' fate without  resorting to lecturing or preaching. Even as the film relates its brutal tale it also offers thrills that rival those of its famous counterpart Taken. Whether busting child pornographers, outsmarting communist guerillas, or creating an elaborate sting operation worthy of Robert Redford and Paul Newman, Ballard's adventures are certain to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. What sets this film apart from its crime drama counterparts is the way in which it allows its true life story to speak for itself rather than relying upon unnecessary action sequences or embellishments. As a result, the film achieves the enviable balance of relating a vital message without restricting itself to merely being a 'message movie'. After one viewing you will be hard pressed to forget the echo of the Sound of Freedom. 

The film brings Ballard's harrowing story to life thanks to the brilliant work of its cast. Yessica Borroto expertly blends cool charisma and cold calculation as beauty queen turned child trafficker Gisselle. Javier Godino portrays Columbian policeman Jorge with an apt combination of empathy and world weariness. Eduardo Verastegui infuses millionaire playboy turned undercover operative Paul with roguish charm. Bill Camp steals each scene in which he appears as charismatic cartel accountant turned anti-trafficking operative, Vampiro. Jose Zuniga offers a heartbreaking turn as Rocio and Miguel's father, Roberto. Newcomers Cristal Aparicio and Lucas Avila are nothing short of haunting in their depiction of innocence lost as Rocio and Miguel. Jim Caviezel turns in the performance of his career as Ballard as he follows Ballard on a tortuous journey through the darkest, cruelest, depths of the human soul to ultimate redemption.

Sound of Freedom is difficult, uncomfortable, inspiring, and ultimately essential viewing. The film's script manages to raise awareness of the scope and scale of the issue of child trafficking while still relating a powerful and compelling drama. The stellar performances transport viewers from the US across Central and South America on a harrowing journey into the darkest depths of the  criminal underworld. For one of the most important cinematic experiences that you'll ever have listen to the Sound of Freedom.