Direct to DVD- The West Wittering Affair, Romeo and Juilet Get Married

The West Wittering Affair
Year: 2007
Director: David Scheinmann
Stars: Danny Scheinmann, Sarah Sutcliffe, Rebecca Cardinale
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Lifesize Entertainment
Running Time: 92 Mins
Official Website: http://www.westwitteringaffair.com/

Jamie (Danny Scheinmann) is a guy who accepts an invitation to spend the weekend with a woman named Kathy (Sarah Sutcliffe) and her best friend Natasha (Rebecca Cardinale). Their weekend was supposed to be fun, but Jamie takes it too far, as he sleeps with both of the women, in the same night. Ashamed by this incident, he seeks help from a therapeutic (David Annen). The only problem is, he’s the boyfriend of Natasha. Soon, that night will affect, each of these four people, in this intelligent and serious look at relationships.

If your going into “The West Wittering Affair” looking to a slapstick romantic comedy, then you’ll be disappointed, as this is very intelligent and witty look at the ups and downs of relationships. Director, David Scheinmann does a very good job making the film feel realistic. He does that, by filming it, in a way that the relationships come off as real, not the cookie cutter ones that’s often seen, in these films. That helped bring a sense of authenticity to each of the characters. Another thing that helped made it realistic, is the fact that David Scheinmann makes sure that the actor’s performances come off as realistic too. By doing that, it helped made the characters interesting. He also make them funny, as well, by the way that the actor deliver the witty humor that was written for them.

But what made this film very good, the fact that the story and screenplay felt like a character study on relationships. The screenplay written by co-stars Danny Scheinmann and Sarah Sutcliffe (who both had very good performances here) does a great job exploring human relationships, while mixing in some witty humor to make the film entertaining. One of the things that made this a very good character study, the way the screenwriters approached each of the film’s characters. The four main characters in the film are conflicted over the events that takes place during that one weekend, whether they were there or not. It helped build the drama that was needed, for the witty humor to work in this film. They also did a very good job exploring the topic of sex. Whether it was through the destruction of the relationship or through this male bonding sex therapy, the screenplay take a serious approach, which helped the film its serious and witty tone.

“The West Wittering Affair” is an intelligent comedy that focuses on the issues of sex and intimacy, while being witty and entertaining

Review Rating: Four Stars

Romeo and Juliet Get Married
Year: 2008
Director: David Scheinmann
Stars: Marco Ricca, Luana Piovani, Luiz Gustavo
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Lifesize Entertainment
Running Time: 90 Mins
Language: Portuguese with English Subtitles





Romeo (Marco Ricca) is an ophthalmologist, who’s living with this mother and his 21-year-old son. His life is pretty dull, until he meets Juliet (Luana Piovani), in his office. The two will soon fall in love. It’s sounds like a happy relationship, but there is one problem. They both root for rival soccer teams, as Romeo is the chief uniformed rooting of Corinthians soccer, while Juliet’s father (Luiz Gustavo) is a fanatic fan and member of the Palmeiras soccer team’s board of directors. In order to win Juliet’s love, he must pretend to love her father’s team, in order to get close to him, so that they can marry each other. But will Romeo’s lie put their relationship in jeopardy, or will they live happily ever after.

While “The West Witting Affair” was the more serious comedy film, “Romeo and Juliet Get Married” is the more laugh- out loud film. Director Bruno Barreto, does a good job making all the action humorous, while keeping it’s main focus, on the love story. The romantic action worked very well. One of the reasons that this love story works, was the fact that Marco Ricca and Luana Piovani had great chemistry onscreen. The reason for that was that Barreto makes sure that the actors have their characters have certain affection, for each other. That makes the romance work. Also, the direction of the acting was very good. Barreto makes the actors bring personality to their roles, which makes the jokes funny and the characters likeable.

The screenplay written by Marcos Caruso, and Jandira Martini did a very good job balancing various elements to make this love story, very entertaining. One of the things that this screenplay explores is root of fanaticism of soccer, in Brazil. That theme is used throughout the film with the two main characters liking the other team, like one liking the Red Sox and the other liking the Yankees, that type of rivalry. It also goes into how someone can be obsessed with a team, as Juilet’s father wants her to marry someone, who is a fan of Palmeiras. Again, that explores one person’s obsession with one team. Nomally, this would be redundant and I’d be picking this screenplay apart, but it severed a purpose, as it helped be interested, in the love story, which was written well. The writers also go a good job with the timing of the humor, as the jokes were funny and weren’t too outrageous to effect the film’s love story.

“Romeo And Juliet Get Married scores a goal, as this is a very entertaining and funny love story for you and your valentine.

Review Rating: Four Stars