“He
has messed up his life big-time.
But clever thief John Cologne now has
just one ambition — to carry out one
last heist: to pull off the ultimate deal on Columbus Day that will get him out of
the business, back with his wife and
reunited with his estranged daughter
and grandson. Even if it kills him...” HAVING STOLEN A BRIEFCASE from dangerous gangster Jimmy Espinosa (Lobo
Sebastian) — who even killed his own mother — known
to contain something that the crime boss wants, John Cologne (Val Kilmer: Batman
Forever; True Romance; Heat) has to use his ingenuity to evade both the
Police and Espinosa's henchmen in order to stay alive.
At stake is the love of his former wife Alice (Marg Helgenberger: CSI; Erin
Brockovich; Species), his daughter Alana (Ashley Johnson) and her son Eddie
(Miles Platt) — and John is determined to take this one last chance, vowing
to do whatever it takes to retire to Miami and to get them back in his life.
But when fellow criminal Leonard (Mark Kelly) tries to make off with the briefcase,
John gives chase and finds himself faced with an impossible dilemma that could
wreck his chances of pulling off this once-in-a-lifetime deal.
Most of the action takes place in and around the lovely Echo Park, where John
conducts business from a telephone kiosk to avoid the risk of unsafe cell 'phones.
He calls his friend Manny (Richard Edson), Alice and also girlfriend Cheryl
(Ivana Milicevic) before attempting to sell the merchandise back to Espinosa
through his friend Max (Wilmer Valderrama).
But his actions will see somebody killed and somebody betraying him and John
will have to move quickly before he finds himself under fire, under pressure
and out of time on the last day of his criminal life.
In the park he meets a young black boy, Antoine (Bobb'e J Thompson), whose incessant
questions at first irritate John. But the inquisitive and lonely boy becomes
an important part of John's attempt to cheat death and John concerns himself
with both Antoine's life and that of pigeon-feeder Paul (Jack McGee), a widower
who lost both his sons in Vietnam.
How do Espinosa's men know where John is going to be? There is just one loose
end that Cologne has neglected to tie up and it is going to cost the life of
someone who matters to him. With both Espinosa and the authorities closing in,
will John be smart enough to see the game through?
Columbus Day is an absorbing, well-composed thriller with a twist: a
heart-warming quality threaded throughout, this exciting film tracks a master-thief's
final and dangerous heist and his last chance to get his family back. The part
played by the charming Bobb'e J Thompson — the insecure Antoine —
is woven cleverly around the plot with the dialogue between the boy and John
being especially of note as Antoine cries out for attention. Accusing John of
being a drugs dealer, he says: "Shouldn't use drugs — it can make you irrational."
Beautifully photographed and with a fine cast, Columbus Day also works
well against the background of life in the park and perfectly captures the feeling
of being part of the action. Using the poem El Dorado, which Antoine
recites to John, is a clever touch.
The original music is composed by Michael A Levine; Director of Photography
is Julio Macat, ASC; Produced by Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey, Evan Astrowsky
and Fred Roos. Written and Directed by Charles Burmeister.
• The gripping and suspenseful Columbus
Day will be released on DVD by DNC Entertainment on 20 April (2009). Catalogue
Number: DNC 1017 | RRP: £12.99 | Certificate: 15 | Running Time: 87 Minutes.
"Columbus Day is an absorbing, well-composed thriller
with a twist: a heart-warming quality threaded throughout, this exciting film
tracks a master-thief's final and dangerous heist and his last chance to get
back his family" — Maggie Woods, MotorBar
Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer is one of the most recognisable box office names over the past fifteen
years, having starred in many major films and received huge critical appraisal
for roles such as Jim Morrison in The Doors, Doc Holliday in Tombstone
and Iceman in Top Gun. He can currently be heard as the voice of KITT
in the 2008 remake of the popular television series Knightrider.
“He
has messed up his life big-time.