DEADLINE Movie Review

  "Deadline is a story of murder, family, race, and of redemption — for a small Southern town and for Matt Harper."  Steve Talley and Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts star as Matt Harper and Ronnie Bullock in Deadline. An African-American teen is murdered in a small Alabama town, but for nearly 20 years that crime has been "uninvestigated, unsolved and unpunished". But when Nashville Times reporter Matt Harper meets an idealistic young Trey Hall (Lauren Jenkins ), she convinces him that it is time to uncover buried, but not forgotten, secrets. His neglected fiancée (Anna Felix), a pompous publisher, and his father's cancer diagnosis are just a few of the deterrents in his search for justice. 

Deadline premiered in Nashville on Feb. 15, 2012, but will be showing in other theaters soon. Click HERE for other Deadline benefit premieres. Check out the official trailer too:

When this film was first mentioned to me, I was prepared to dislike it. I live in Alabama and the tarnished image of my state can sometimes be a bit of a sore point. So, I thought, "Great! Here is another cliched, stereotypical story about 'backwoods, racist, ignorant Alabama'!" Are there stereotypes and cliches in this film? Absolutely! I rarely see a film that doesn't have a few of those. Is there a good storyline, humor, some rockin' music, and a few surprising twists? Absolutely!

I soon didn't care that some of the characters were the types that would normally have me rolling my eyes, because it did veer into unexpected directions at times and a few of the lines made me laugh out loud. (A smile or my eyes getting a bit moist are usually as emotional as I get when watching a film. I hate to admit it, but I also cried during one scene) The story kept my interest, and I cared about what was happening with them. Dave Perkins blew me away with the musical score! Some great music in this film! Speaking of great music, I loved seeing J D Souther (writer of outstanding songs like Heartache Tonight, Best Of My Love, etc.) in the role of Lucas Harper.

Bottom line is that there are some flaws, and some of the acting isn't top-notch, but there was also no nudity, obscenities, or scenes I would have been embarrassed to watch with my grandparents...or grandkids. Overall, though, I think director Curt Hahn and writer Mark Ethridge, along with some very fine actors, have a film that shows where we've been, how far we have come, and what a difference truth and light make instead of simply burying our shame and fears. This film is also adapted from Mark Ethridge's novel Grievances. Ethridge is a former managing editor of The Charlotte Observer. Deadline will be released in theaters nationwide on April 13, 2012. 

Click here to LIKE Deadline on Facebook!

Deadline

Quite often I am asked if I know of any other good films coming up. A couple of days ago, someone did bring one to my attention. Here is a synopsis from their website:

Steve Talley and Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts star in Deadline, the story of the murder of an African American youth in rural Alabama that has gone uninvestigated, unsolved and unpunished for almost twenty years. But that changes when Nashville Times reporter Matt Harper meets an idealistic young blueblood bent on discovering the truth. Harper undertakes the investigation despite the opposition of his publisher, violent threats from mysterious forces, a break-up with his fiancée and his father's cancer diagnosis. Deadline is a story of murder, family, race, and of redemption — for a small Southern town and for Matt Harper.

Take a look at the trailer:

Inspired by a true story, Deadline is adapted from Mark Ethridge's novel Grievances. Ethridge is a former managing editor of The Charlotte Observer. Deadline will be released in theaters nationwide in 2012.

"Mark Ethridge has captured the South in a way that is every bit as evocative as Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and he has told a story as riveting as the best Grisham courtroom thriller. But Grievances is no mere thriller. It is a story of the heart that will resonate with readers long after they have turned the final page."
~ Pat Conroy, Author of My Losing Season, The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides

Transcendent produces high quality independent features and partners with The Panda Fund to release them theatrically. Our current projects are "Deadline" and "Jubilee", written by Curt Hahn. "No Regrets", Transcendent's first film, has been a worldwide success. Next, MGM acquired the worldwide rights to our co-production "Two Weeks". Drawing on the resources of parent company Film House, Tennessee's largest film production company, Transcendent produces the kind of inspiring, uplifting films that are often overlooked by Hollywood; meaningful stories that speak to the heart.

To find out more about the film, including sweepstakes and how to sign up for email updates, go to the Deadline website: http://www.deadlinefilm.com/
You will be hearing more from me on this one as the time draws nearer to theatrical release. In the meantime, LIKE Deadline on Facebook, and SHARE the news of this film with your friends!!