Overview: An aspiring director risks his relationship and savings on a shady producer’s deal. After a devastating betrayal, he must find a way to start over.

Blu-ray Verdict: Johnny Penn (Walter Cox) is a man driven by a lifelong obsession to become a film director. His opportunity arrives via Leon Spickle (Brian Gromoff), a charismatic but low-budget producer who claims to have secured a deal with a major production company.

Despite warnings from his girlfriend, Veronica (Liese McDonald), and his friend Rick (Lee Barringer) about Leon’s integrity and rumored history as a drug dealer, Johnny is blinded by his own ambition.

When Leon claims the financiers require immediate seed money to start shooting, Johnny faces a moral crossroads. Driven by the fear of losing his only shot, he ignores the advice of his childhood friend, Father Joe (Joe Barile), and secretly withdraws $20,000 from the savings account he shares with Veronica. He convinces himself the ends justify the means and begins filming his screenplay, Fatal Suspicions--a dark tale about a childhood game of war that turns into a real-life cycle of revenge.

The deception shatters when Veronica discovers the empty bank account and confronts Johnny on set. The tragedy deepens when Johnny calls the production company and realizes Leon never had a deal; the producer has fled the city with their life savings.

Broken and alone, Johnny spends months in a spiral of guilt and alcoholism. His path to redemption begins when Leon’s introverted son, Cy (Roman Danylo), approaches him with saved money and a desire to clear his conscience by helping Johnny finish the film. Johnny eventually reconciles with Veronica and completes the movie, which becomes a major success.

In a final twist, Johnny witnesses a disgraced Leon being shot by thugs over past debts; though he saves Leon’s life, he finally recognizes that their paths must remain separate, having learned the true cost of blind ambition.

This is yet another fantastically shot, well lit and beautifully acted film from writer/director Francesco Lucente. It goes without saying that if you have seen any of his others that you will be as enthralled with this one as much as you undoubtedly were with them, of that you have my word.

Bonus Features:
Soundtrack CD
Auditions
Trailer

Disc 1:
Ludek Drizhal - Love Theme; Ludek Drizhal - Kids; Ludek Drizhal - Art Gallery; Ludek Drizhal - Love Theme Reprise 1; Ludek Drizhal - Cloak And Dagger; Olimpia Lucente - I Get Hungry; Olimpia Lucente - Pange Lingua; Ludek Drizhal - Cinema; Ludek Drizhal - Movie Set; Olimpia Lucente - La Vergine Degli Angeli; Ludek Drizhal - Love Theme Reprise 2; Ludek Drizhal - Leon’s Death; Ludek Drizhal - End Credits; Olimpia Lucente - Piece of My Heart; Olimpia Lucente - Wish You Were Here

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