Bovie Movie

The gifted Michael Madsen (Crime Story, Reservoir Dogs, Donnie Brasco) stars in the low-budget, direct-to-video exploitationer UKM: Ultimate Killing Machine. The film concerns Waylon and Buddy, two friends who enlist in the armed forces but wind up in a top-secret experimental medical facility. They fall prey to a mad doctor intent on transforming their bodies into the “Ultimate Killing Machines” of the title. The boys then band together to stop the scientist’s unbridled insanity and destroy the other creations in his laboratory. David Mitchell directs, from a script by Tyler Levine and Tim McGregor.

Fiona and Grant are an Ontario couple who have been married for over 40 years. Now, in the oncoming twilight of their years, they are forced to face the fact that Fiona’s “forgetfulness” actually is Alzheimer’s Disease. After Fiona wanders away and is found after being lost, they agree she must go into a nursing home. For the first time in the five decades their relationship has spanned, they are forced to undergo a long-time separation since the nursing home has a “no-visitors” policy for the first 30 days of a patient’s stay, so they can adjust to their new surroundings. When Grant visits Fiona after the orientation period, he is devastated to find out that not only has she seemingly forgotten him, Fiona has transferred her affections to another man. The other man is Aubrey, a wheelchair bound mute patient at the nursing home. As the distance between husband and wife grows, Grant must draw upon his love for Fiona to perform an act of self-sacrifice in order to ensure her happiness.

A solid and interesting treatment of the related topics of weight and body image for women. Well thought out and portrayed, with insightful attention to significant issues for women today regarding self esteem, the importance of individuality versus societal acceptance, and the value of support and respect for physical differences among all people. Touches nicely on the difficulties women have of integrating the perceptions in society of how they should appear,(ie, the ideals of perfect womanhood) against the reality of the actual enormous range of women in the world today. The main character evolves from being insecure and naive, travels a path of self exploration and rises to a more noble and resilient place in the world. The lead roles are played with intelligence and touching candor, leading to a credible and positive climax for this film. I would like to see more from this team, particularly the actress in the lead- she is refreshing and memorable and a welcome presence on the screen.