Review of Jake's Corner (2008) by Joe L — 06 Sep 2008

[font=Times New Roman][b]Jake?s Corner ? [/b]Feature Drama :97 Minutes[/font].

[font=Times New Roman]Writer and Director: Jeff Santo[/font].

[font=Times New Roman]Producers: Tim Comstock, Hollywood Heard, Jeff Santo[/font].

[font=Times New Roman]Starring Richard Tyson, Colton Rodgers, Diane Ladd, Danny Trejo, David Della Rocco, Tony Longo, BJ Thomas[/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][b]Richard Tyson[/b] ([i]Black Hawk Down, Something About Mary, Kindergarten Cop[/i]) plays Johnny Dunn, Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star who moves far from the spotlight to an isolated town in the high desert of Arizona. Over the years, Johnny and the eclectic members of the town become like family. Johnny?s peaceful life is altered dramatically when he receives the news that his sister and her husband are killed in an automobile accident. He is now forced to care for his young nephew, Spence (newcomer [b]Colton Rodgers[/b]). Having never dealt with his own personal tragedy, Johnny is unable to tell the boy the truth about his parents and enlists the townsfolk to keep the death of the boy?s parents a secret. The boy brings an innocence and energy to this town of adults who in turn share their humor and wisdom with him. When Johnny?s lie begins to unravel, he must come to grips with the boy?s fate and his own.[/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][b][i]Jake?s Corner[/i][/b] takes place in the actual high desert town of Jake?s Corner, Arizona (60 miles north of Phoenix). This is a heartrending and finely nuanced film. The cinematography is breathtaking and provides a rare glimpse of desert beauty. In his 3rd film, Writer/Director [b]Jeff Santo[/b] has given us a [b][i]Northern Exposure [/i][/b]in the desert, a [b][i]Cheers[/i][/b] in the mountains of Arizona. While the film deals with serious themes its quirky, friendly and authentic characters make us feel at a home away from home and that is a testament to Santo. Tyson as Dunn gives the performance of his career as a strong and responsible man overwhelmed by his circumstances. The tension in Tyson?s face when he has to lie to the boy about his parents fate is the kind of stuff actors should study. Town members include a fantastic [b]Danny Trejo[/b] ([i]Heat, Grindhouse[/i]) who goes far away from his usual tough guy role and plays a simple and sympathetic man who likes his drink. It?s a pleasure to see 3-Time Academy Award Nominee [b]Diane Ladd[/b] ([i]Alice[/i][i] Doesn?t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart[/i]) return to the big screen. Ladd plays the town mystic who lives across the Corner but seems to know what every characters needs which is ultimately self-truth. Again, heavy themes play throughout this film but there are great moments of comedy mainly from [b]David Della Rocco[/b] ([i]Boondock Saints[/i]) who plays the town grill master who speaks in a slang language that only few understand. 5-Time Grammy Winner and legendary singer [b]BJ Thomas [/b](Hooked on a Feelin, Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song) is superb as a Vietnam Vet who is the town doctor and saloon singer. Thomas sings a few new tracks in this film and his voice is as pure as it was when he sang the Academy Award winning song ?Raindrops Keep Fallin on my Head? from [b][i]Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid[/i][/b]. [b]Tony Longo[/b] ([i]Angels in the Outfield, Eraser[/i]) is the town Sheriff, Dunn?s loyal friend who is a cantankerous yet approachable bear of a man. Longo is excellent in a scene with Tyson where their characters work through a difficult emotional situation by recounting a hilarious moment from their college football past. Newcomer [b]Colton Rodgers[/b] (12) as Spence shares almost as much screentime as Tyson and impressively holds his own. This boy is real. Interestingly, Rodgers was selected from an open casting call of hundreds of Arizona boys. Tyson and Rodgers are great in their scenes together and their uncle/nephew relationship provides the emotional glue that holds this film together. Another outstanding newcomer is Bosnian native and Arizona resident, [b]Sanel Budimlic[/b] as Dado, the town Bartender, who has more in common with Johnny and Spence than we realize. [/font].

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[font=Times New Roman]This is a film that you should watch with your family. It runs the gamut of emotions. [b][i]Jake?s Corner[/i][/b] is optimistic and implores all of us as humans to ?keep on keeping on?... I recommend people ?keep on seeing? this film.[/font].

[b][font=Times New Roman]Reviewed by Joe Lott[/font][/b].