Real Monsters Exist... "Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer"

Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer (2018)

PG-13

Starring Sarah Jane Morris, Dean Cain, Nick Searcy, Michael Beach, Cyrina Fiallo, Earl Billings,

Directed by Nick Searcy

The Story:

While running a narcotics investigation, Philadelphia police discover horrific, unsanitary conditions in a local women's clinic. As the investigation continues, they learn that at least one woman died from using the clinic and that the doctor may have been terminating pregnancies of infants well past the 24 week statute imposed by the State of Pennsylvania.

The production is well done for a film that was funded by people who wanted this story told. It's not a Hollywood blockbuster, but looks and feels like a well done made for cable film, complete with perfect fade-outs for commercials to be inserted. Nick Searcy does a fine job behind the camera as director, and is great in front of the camera as the Defense Attorney who has to attempt to refute all of the allegations against his client.

Something important to remember that the movie emphasizes as Gosnell (Billings) goes to trial:

This isn't about abortion.

This was about the murder of a female patient, and the murders of multiple babies that were likely delivered alive, then murdered by the doctor.

After all, abortion is legal in the country, and having a woman's right to choose is a hot-button issue, so it was a tough sell to take this case to trial...

Or to have a movie made about the trial.

Through crowdsourcing though, it was made and what is delivered is pretty much a note for note replay of the trial of Kermit Gosnell, a doctor who never felt he did anything wrong.

Will people change their mind on the issue of abortion if they watch this film?

Unlikely.

Pro-life advocates will point to this film and say, "this is why I am against abortion."

Pro-choice people won't see this film, period.  Why would they? 

They really should though.

If not to possibly change their stance (the prosecuting attorney was pro-choice as well, but still took the case...) then at least to demand that their state and local health departments never allow clinics like this one to exist.

When violations and concerns were voiced to the State... they turned a blind eye and never investigated one claim against Gosnell or ever even inspected his clinic.

As they point out in the trial, even nail salons receive a mandatory once a year inspection!

You would think pro-choice advocates would at least want the clinics that they are sending sisters, mothers, and daughters to, to at least adhere to some sanitary conditions and not be crawling with cats and have bags of medical waste literally scattered into every nook and cranny of the building.

However, when New York passes a law that says you can terminate a pregnancy at any time, who knows? Maybe Gosnell was simply ahead of his time.

:(

Shawshank Lite... "Vendetta"

Vendetta (2015)

Rated R

Starring Dean Cain, Paul "The Big Show" Wight, Michael Eklund,

Directed by  Jen & Sylvia Soska

The Story:

When Detective Mason Danvers (Cain) life is shattered, he lets go of his badge to get himself tossed into the same prison as Victor Abbott (Wight). However, life for a former cop isn't so easy on the inside.

Well, if you were ever wondering whatever happened to Dean Cain, now you know.

:)

From a few years back, this WWE Studios effort is actually a fairly decent action thriller.

The depths that Mason sinks not only to get into prison, but what he does after he's inside are truly horrifying for a former cop.

Of course, when you're in a prison as crooked as Shawshank, everything that is going to unfold behind the prison walls is not only possible, it's encouraged.

Eklund is particularly slimy as the warden, but Wight, otherwise known to a generation of wrestling fans as the Big Show, is particularly well suited as the gangster who is willing to go back to prison as long as he destroys Mason's life.

Nothing new and earth-shattering in cinematic history, but WWE Studios continues to put out well made films that will keep your attention from start to finish.

I'm okay with that.

Final Grade: C+

Perfect Review For A Sunday..."God's Not Dead"

God's Not Dead (2014)

Rated PG

Starring Shane Harper, Kevin Sorbo, David A.R. White, Dean Cain

Directed by Harold Cronk

The Story:

Josh (Harper) is getting ready to take a philosophy class with Professor Radisson (Sorbo).  The Professor employs a means to skip over the discussion of religion by having all of his students do the following:  Write on a piece of paper "God Is Dead" and sign it.  Josh can't bring himself to do it, and the battle lines are drawn.

So that's the main story going on here.

There are a few others that all intermingle during the course of the film.

That said, the underlying story is a pretty solid one.

Granted, the way that the story is told, and the way characters are utilized, they go full-on stereotype mode, and ratchet the character to an "11".  Dean Cain, in particular, is given some laughingly bad (and evil) dialogue to make us certain that he has zero redeeming qualities. 

That makes for a few weak chinks in the characterizations, but again, most of that takes place in the sub-stories that are happening on the screen.

The battle of wits between Josh and the Professor is the real story, and Josh has to simply argue for 20 minutes during 3 different classes that God is NOT dead.

If he can convince his peers that maybe, just maybe, the Professor is wrong.

The arguments made are pretty good ones also, probably the same ones we've all heard regardless of which side you take in the debate.  This is the meat and bulk of the movie, and these parts do not disappoint.

The final act is a bit too contrived in the way that all the characters seemingly must run into each other one more time, but so be it.

The story, while fictional, is based in part, as you'll see as the credits roll, on the dozens of similar attacks on students of faith on campuses all across America.

Pretty sad, but not surprising.

Final Grade: I'm going B+ on here.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'm going with a strong thumbs up on here.  The good far outweighed the bad.  I'd get it.