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Lebanon, Pa. (2010)
Originally published in Reel Reviews
As soon as "Lebanon, PA" starts to spin, viewers are thrust into the life of Will (Josh Hopkins, "Cougar Town"), a 35-year old professional from Philadelphia who learns his father has just passed away. Will makes the trek to Lebanon to arrange for his fathers funeral and manage his estate; there, he wrestles with his relationship and memory of his father. Meanwhile, neighbor and distant cousin CJ (played wonderfully by newbie Rachel Kitson) attaches to Will and shares with him the secret of her pregnancy. As a high school senior her pregnancy opens a floodgate of internal emotions, social ramifications and family interference. "Lebanon, PA" is a feel good movie that does not feel very good. It is deep and questioning; it is disturbing and raw. Director Ben Hickernell turns the topic of Pro-Choice versus Pro-Life into an emotional fistfight between father and daughter. Through his film, Hickernell paints Lebanon as a roughneck, conservative, closed-minded countryside. When I think of Lebanon, I think of the city. So, the setting lost me. However, this film is not so much about place as it is about "your" place, where you belong as a human being, and the things that surround you making you truly unique. Catch this limited engagement if you can. You might feel bad after watching the movie, but it is worth it.
Twelve Thirty (2010)
Originally published in Reel Reviews
In continuing with my obsession of all things Jonathan Groff—the Lancaster native who gained fame on Broadway through "Spring Awakening," on the big screen in "Taking Woodstock," and on the TV hit "Glee"—I traveled to the big city (Philadelphia) to see "Twelve Thirty," an independent film by director Jeff Lipsky. "Twelve Thirty" is a dramatic and overpowering look into the lives of a family and a young man who enters and exits abruptly. Groff is that young man, Jeff, who befriends, falls in love, and loses his virginity to the youngest adult-daughter, date rapes the oldest daughter and has a tryst with the mother. Along the way, we learn many personal facts about everyone involved and even some facts about people who aren't even close to being involved. "Twelve Thirty" is far removed from the typical Hollywood movie, which makes it hard to review. At points, the film meanders through devastatingly boring dialog and at other times whips through a whirlwind of discourse that plays on every emotion. It is real. Sometimes in our personal lives we just don't want to hear what someone is saying, sometimes we don't want the conversation to end, this is the driving force behind "Twelve Thirty." During the walk from the theater to our dinner reservation, my wife and I talked and talked about the movie. We dissected scenes, connected with characters and wondered how much time we spent staring at naked bodies on the screen (yes, there is a lot of nudity). That conversation makes "Twelve Thirty" a good film. Get out and see "Twelve Thirty." If anything, it gives you something to talk about.