Philadelphia Weekly

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Gun Hill Road
Tough guy Enrique (Esai Morales) emerges from a three-year-prison-stint facing more than he expected. Angie (Judy Reyes), Enrique’s partner of 17 years, is involved in an affair; his teenage son Michael (Harmony Santana) regularly performs poetry readings while wearing a padded bra and stylish women’s clothing, and each morning consists of working a dead-end job in an overcrowded kitchen. Writer and director Rashaad Ernetto Green’s focuses Gun Hill Road primarily on Enrique’s unique and deteriorating relationship with Michael. Enrique’s resolve to steer Michael into a “real man” burns stronger as Michael embraces his self-orientation. Michael bitterly complains he’s “not pretty” anymore after Enrique brutally cuts most of his long hair off and whimpers after being forced to engage in sexual acts with Enrique’s hired prostitute. These ill-fated attempts to change Michael propels Enrique and Michael’s relationship to a climactic breaking point where Enrique is forced to demonstrate what type of father and man he truly is. Unfortunately, several secondary relationship conflicts are left unresolved (hello Angie and Victor) and initial slow pacing prolongs the true heart of the story. (Reginald Hall Jr.)

Grade: B-  Thurs., July 14, 7:15pm, Ritz East; Sat., July 16, 4:45pm, Ritz East

So Hard to Forget
In this Brazilian drama, Julia is a sultry 30-something year-old English literature teacher whose enigmatic lover Antonia has recently deserted her, plunging our protagonist into a deep depression which leaves her grief-stricken at even the slightest event that triggers memories of her erstwhile lover. She moves into a house by the sea with her close friend Hugo, who is also suffering after the death of his life partner, and his friend Lisa, whose boyfriend dumped her upon learning of her pregnancy. The heartbroken trio learns to support one another, and when Lisa’s cousin, Helena, shows up, Julia finally starts to let go of the haunting memory of Antonia. While not exactly the most heartwarming of stories, it leaves you with the sense that maybe everything will be OK, after all. (Trishula Patel)

Grade: B+  Thurs., July 14, 5pm. Ritz at the Bourse

Finding Me: Truth
Director Roger S. Omeus Jr. takes viewers back into the urban tale of love, friendships, relationships and the trials of life with his sequel’s debut. Main character Faybien Allen reveals his true feelings to ex-lover Lonnie and in return deals with the harsh realities of life and love. As he struggles with rejection, his best friends Greg and Amera are too consumed with the drama of their own lives to really show Faybien the support he needs. He turns to alcohol and the club scene to console his distraught feelings. He ends up with the wrong crowd and in a life-threatening situation. The lack of flow remains evident throughout the film constantly jumping from Amera’s crazy girlfriend tendencies to Greg’s bi-sexual lifestyle as he juggles two relationships. All the while Faybien continues to crash before viewers’ eyes. Trying to keep up with the story line is tiresome and the cheesy slow jams do not ease the pain. (Melissa Straube)

Grade: D+  Thurs., July 14, 7pm, Ritz East; Sat., July 16, 2:15pm, Ritz East