"Hollywoodland"

"Hounddog" by Deborah Kampmeier

Like a lily growing in the swamp, Lewellen, a precocious southern girl, radiates splendor amidst the murk that surrounds her. She is being raised by her abusive father and disciplinarian grandmother, and finds comfort, joy, and strength in music--she is obsessed with Elvis Presley and breaks into his songs whenever the mood strikes. In addition to music, playing in the woods with her friend, Buddy, brings a few other moments of childhood happiness. Their playing drifts toward innocent sexual games, however, and it becomes evident that Lewellen has a painful history that she keeps buried inside. When another tragedy strikes, will her spirit finally break, or will her inspiring resiliency carry her on?

A southern Gothic tale about a girl finding strength to overcome debilitating obstacles, Hounddog is endowed with a phenomenal performance by Dakota Fanning. She tackles an immensely challenging role--a role that would have scared off even the most seasoned of actors--with an awareness and ferocity that will leave audiences shaken to their core. Writer/director Deborah Kampmeier displays a delicate touch in handling the horrific events, which makes their impact even greater. Lacing the film with compelling imagery, she crafts a powerful story about an indomitable spirit and the power of the blues.

[This movie will be available in Bongorama Movie Club, a digital 'e-club', late 2007]

"Ted Bundy" (2001) Directed by Matthew Bright [WindowsMedia Trailer]

Matthew Bright (born June 8, 1952) is an American film director, writer and actor. Bright has visions of a surreal and ultra-violent America which has informed his work from the beginning. His first major role in film was as the twins Squeezit and René Henderson in Forbidden Zone. The film includes his characters being thrown in a garbage can, raped in an alternate dimension's bordello and decapitated by Satan (played by Danny Elfman). Bright was credited as Toshiro Boloney.

Films he wrote and directed include: Shrunken Heads (1994), Freeway (1996), Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby (1999), Ted Bundy (2001) and Tiptoes (2003).

Tiptoes (starring Gary Oldman) was mired in controversy. Bright either quit or was fired from the project and later showed up to its debut screening to deliver a tirade against his detractors on stage.

He grew up with writer/director Richard Elfman and his brother, composer Danny Elfman. In school, Matthew was bullied by the kids and called a faggot because he was skinny; he gives an expressive account of being in that position as Squeezit and Renee Henderson in Forbidden Zone.

According to his friend and Forbidden Zone director Richard Elfman during a New York question and answer session, he currently resides above a Mexican whorehouse.

Exit To Eden (1994) [WindowsMedia, 300K Trailer]

Tom Sizemore’s movie made $30.00!? Holy crap, how is that even possible?

The New Year hasn’t started well for troubled actor Tom Sizemore- his latest movie ZYZZYX Road has just been hailed the biggest flop of 2006.

In the final box office figures for the past year, the thriller earned just $30.00 at the US box office. The film, which also stars Katherine Heigl, only opened in Dallas, Texas, where it earned $20.00 in its opening weekend, and a further $10.00 the following week.

Sizemore is hoping to have more luck with his new reality TV series, Shooting Sizemore, which features home videos of the Black Hawk Down star shooting heroin at the height of his drug abuse problems.

Mein Fuhrer [QuickTime Trailer]

Obwohl der Krieg im Dezember 1944 fast schon verloren ist, plant Goebbels eine kämpferische Rede des Führers, mit der er die Massen zum Neujahrstag begeistern soll. Doch Adolf Hitler ist zu diesem Zeitpunkt nur noch ein Schatten seiner selbst und hat sich wegen seiner Depressionen aus der Öffentlichkeit zurückgezogen. Da die propagandistisch ungemein wichtige Rede am Neujahrstag unbedingt stattfinden muss, lässt Goebbels Hitlers ehemaligen jüdischen Schauspiellehrer Adolf Grünbaum aus dem KZ Sachsenhausen holen. Dieser hat nun fünf Tage Zeit den Führer wieder zu altem Glanz zu verhelfen.