MOVIE PREVIEWS
MADE IN ITALY
Rated: R
Release Date: 08/07/2020
Production Company: Lionsgate Films

Cast:
Liam Neeson, Miche?l Richardson, Valeria Bilello and Lindsay Duncan.

Crew:
Director: James D'Arcy. Producers: Michael S. Constable, Pippa Cross, Alessandro Mascheroni, Alberto Monte and Sam Tipper-Hale. Executive Producers: Janette Day, Anders Erden, Tara Finegan, Marie Gabrielle Stewart and Peter Touche. Screenwriter: James D'Arcy. Cinematographer: Mike Eley.
Plot:
By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

Liam Neeson, best known as the tough guy with the ?special set of skills? in actioners like ?Taken,? ?Run All Night? and ?Non-Stop,? shows a softer and compassionate side in his latest movie, ?Made In Italy.?

Directed and written by actor James D?Arcy (?Avengers: Endgame? and ?Dunkirk?), ?Made in Italy? is a slow moving, yet gripping drama set in beautiful Tuscany, Italy.

Neeson plays a well-renowned London artist named Robert who tries to reconnect with his estranged 25-year-old son Jack (Neeson?s real-life son, Michael Richardson, TV?s ?Big Dogs?).

A family tragedy has left them miserable and they haven?t spoken to each other since Jack was a kid.
Now, Jack is forced to reach out to his father when Jack?s wife Raffaella (Helena Antonio, ?Sunburn?) tells him that not only is she buying the British art gallery he?s been managing so well, but that she?s also ready to finalize their divorce.

She gives Jack one month to come up with his portion of the money. Jack and his dad own the family house in Tuscany and Robert had been planning to sell it. When they return to their old stomping ground, Jack is stunned to see that the house he grew up in and had so many wonderful memories, is completely rundown. He?s mad that his father just let the place go.

They?ll need the Property Brothers, Chip and Joanna Gaines and a whole lot of divine intervention before they can get this place on the market and turn-key ready. The clock is ticking.

Despite its appearance, the house still has plenty of character according their local real estate agent Kate (Lindsay Duncan, ?Gifted?). Plus, it?s all about location and Tuscany is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Then again, Kate might say anything just to get in good and next to Robert. She really does give them some good advice about the place and before long some local handymen who have admired the house for years jump in and help with the renovations.

Meanwhile, Jack?s anger toward his father subsides a bit when he meets restaurant owner and chef Natalia (Valeria Bilello, TV?s ?Curon?).

Although Natalia proves to be a calming force for Jack, she also has a young daughter and her husband is still in the picture which leaves Jack in limbo again.

As Jack and Robert work to paint and restore the house, they slowly begin to honestly and tearfully opens up and talk about the pain and anguish that has consumed them for so many years. It helps and begins to mend their relationship.

?Made in Italy? is a thoughtful father and son movie. It?s good to see Neeson step away from all the wild, action stuff. Fans don?t need to worry though. Neeson will be back to his old ways busting things up again in his upcoming movie ?Honest Thief.? Until then, ?Made in Italy? is a nice departure.

?Made in Italy? is available on VOD starting Aug. 7.

Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 1530 AM and 93.1 FM.

Look At This Trailer For "MADE IN ITALY"

Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics? Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The Alliance Of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.

OLD SCHOOL VIDEO PICK OF THE MONTH

<b>MAHOGANY</b> Title: MAHOGANY
Year Released: 1975
Running Time: 109
Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Director: Berry Gordy, Tony Richardson and Jack Wormser
Director of Photography: David Watkin
Screenwriter: John Byrum and Toni Amber
Author: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

REVIEW: DIANA ROSS AND BILLY DEE WILLIAMS DAZZLE IN "MAHOGANY"

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for? When you look behind you, there's no open doors. What are you hoping for? Do you know? "Theme from Mahogany...
  MOVIE TRIVIA
 
The "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" was sung by Diana Ross in the 1975 movie "Mahogany." But, who initially recorded the song in 1973?
"Roberta Flack"
"Natalie Cole"
"Deniece Williams"
"Thelma Houston"