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Film Reviews Stephanies Image Film News And Views - Film Reviews - Stephanies Image Film Reviews,,Stephanies Image,recommendation,shopping,advice,simple,movies,films,film news and views,news and views,film industy,movie reviews,film news,film,news,views,television,made for tv movies,interactive entertainment,hollywood,hollywood news,celebrity news,insiders perspective,film reviewer,watch film,film trailer,new releases,new release,new release movie,new release film,movie reviewer,opinion,viewpoint,forum,discussion
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Stephanies Image
by Erik Sean McGiven on Apr 09, 2009
When a documentary filmmaker investigates the apparent
murder of a former model she finds that there are numerous questions
surrounding her death. Interviews with
her friends and business associates provide only a mosaic-like picture of her
life and her relationships. The film
stars Oscar nominated actress Melissa Leo (Frozen River) in the title role as
the nebulous entity everyone is attempting to identify. The narrative/documentary style lends well to
depicting this crime mystery, who was Stephanie and why had she been
murdered. The police called it a murder
suicide with boyfriend (Chris Butler) pulling the trigger before turning the
gun on himself.
Janis DeLucia Allen plays the role of the narrator and also
directs this feature. From behind the
camera she probes those who knew Stephanie with questions that reveal more
about themselves than Stephanie. Photos,
some erotic, some with friends, add to the mystery, and slowly we find that
Stephanie was obsessed with finding the perfect picture that reflects who she
was as a person. JP Allen's script
deals with this image obsession and the dichotomy between ones inner and outer
image, the true and profound sides of one's life. We slowly discover that Stephanie was
troubled woman, troubled not so much by her fading beauty but by her
deteriorating self-image.
While some interviews lingered the structure of the story
held me till the end when Melissa Leo's tour de force monologue reveals the
solution to this mystery and her untimely death. Video, taped days before her death from a vantage
point overlooking the city, delivers the raw emotions of the person wanting to
explain yet still seeking answers. It
was well worth the journey for this subtle and unconventional drama delivers a
thought provoking ending that is certain to stirs discussions among
filmgoers. And yes, she found the
perfect photograph.
The film stars Melissa Leo, Janis DeLucia Allen, Mara
Luthane, J.P. Allen, Darren Bridgett, Sally Clawson, Richard Conti, Yvonne
Fisher, and Warren Keith as Detective McCaffrey. Written by J. P. Allen; Directed and Edited
by Janis DeLucia Allen; Director of Photography, K.C. Smith; Studio Photography
of Melissa Leo by Jan Stürmann; Music by Michael Slattery and Shoulders;
Additional Casting by John Dole.
Produced by Coffee & Language Productions. 71 Minutes Long.
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February 28, 2021
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