Festival Movie Review – ‘Knuckle Draggers’ – Get The Big Picture

As long as there have been movies, there have been movies about relationships. One of the very first films to play for an paying audience was The Kiss, which was a 47-second smooch made in 1896. It was quite controversial at the time.

Obviously, the form handles love in broader terms now, with romantic comedies and dramas of every stripe, and even the majority of action films have some love interest.

It does make the world go ’round, they say.

Working outside the mainstream, the adult romantic comedy Knuckle Draggers examines men and women, but mostly men. In particular, how men work in and out of relationships, how they deal with women, and how their attitudes can be shaped by their male friends.

Ethan (Ross McCall) has just been dumped. His beautiful girfriend (Jennifer Alden) is tired of waiting for the life she wants, even though Ethan is working towards a dream she should have long since understood. He’s devastated but his brother Kyle (Paul J. Alessi) sees this as an opportunity to … READ MORE

Award-winning indie comedy Knuckle Draggers to screen at Toronto’s ReelHeART Film Festival

The indie comedy Knuckle Draggers will be screening at the ReelHeART Film Festival as an official closing night film this Saturday, June 27th, at 7:15pm.

The indie comedy – which has already nabbed two “Rising Star” awards at the DelRay Beach Film Festival – stars Ross McCall, Jillian Murray, Omar Gooding, Jennifer Alden, Melissa Ordway, Justin Baldoni, Sarah Laine, Danielle Nicolet, Lisa Waltz, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Katrina Law, Tom Kiesche, Sara Sanderson, Amie Barsky and Karrie MacLaine.

Knuckle Draggers was writer and directed by Alex Ranarivelo, and produced by Paul J. Alessi, who plays the main character’s misogynist brother Kyle in the film.

Here’s the synopsis for Knuckle Draggers:… READ MORE

Partners In Crime Films announces the Canadian Premiere of Knuckle Draggers at the ReelHeart Film Festival

Knuckle Draggers is on a roll, with a sold out World Premiere in Newport Beach California, and two “Rising Star” awards – Outstanding Feature by a New Filmmaker/Producer & Best Close-up in a feature film at the DelRay Beach Film Festival, Partners In Crime films is proud to announce the Canadian Premiere of the feature film Knuckle Draggers at the ReelHeART Film Festival as an official closing night film on Saturday June 27th at 7:15pm.
“Comes at us with an undertone that makes it relatable and compelling” – Screen Rant

“It’s fun, clever, witty and well-acted” – Ramas Screen

“All in all a telling slice-of-life, well worth-watching” – Cult Movies

“The movies pacing is excellent, it moves from scene to scene seamlessly” – Crave Online

“A relationship roller coaster ride with funny highs and dramatic lows.” – Movie Vine

Written and directed by Alex Ranarivelo, produced by Paul J. Alessi, and co-produced by Amie Barsky and Baptiste DeRivel. Knuckle Draggers takes a humorous but very real look at the state of modern male/female relationships. Knuckle Draggers is the relationship movie from a male perspective.

The story follows Ethan, an all around nice guy who gets dumped because he wasn’t able to provide his fiancée with the plush, stable life her friends were living. Desperate to get her back, he seeks help from his older brother Kyle, a tough talking sexist who seems to have a way with the ladies. Kyle gives Ethan a crash course on women and dating much to the disgust of some of Ethan’s female friends. Just when it seems Kyle’s misogynistic theories are about to prove themselves true, things take an unexpected turn and force Ethan, Kyle and their friends to reassess their views on relationships.

In the spirit of movies like Swingers and Brothers Brothers McMullen, Knuckle Draggers gives us a unique point of view, a timely message, and a lot of heart. Not another indie film about friends hanging out, Knuckle Draggers provokes questions about what modern couples want versus what they need, and how their needs may not have evolved much from those of our caveman ancestors.

Scottish actor Ross McCall heads a dynamic ensemble cast in the lead role of ‘Ethan’. His credits include the HBO miniseries ‘Band of Brothers’ and most recently ‘Crash’, the Starz TV series. Paul J. Alessi, plays ‘Kyle’, Ethan’s sexist outspoken brother. His credits include the Ten til Noon and the TV series Desire. Omar Gooding plays Ethan’s best friend ‘Russell’. Omar’s credits include ‘Baby Boy’, the HBO series ‘Deadwood’ and he’s just joined the cast of the upcoming Jerry Bruckheimer TV series ‘Miami Trauma’. Amie Barsky plays ‘Patricia’, Ethan’s strong-minded female best friend. The film also includes Danielle Nicolet ‘The Starter Wife’, Justin Baldoni ‘Heroes’, Serah D’Laine ‘General Hospital’ and Jennifer Alden‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’.

Knuckle Draggers features a musical score by Austin Wintory, whose credits include the multiple award-winning Captain Abu Raed. A dynamic soundtrack accompanies the score, including tracks by J Mello & Dave Navarro, Tyler Hilton, Marching Band, and Jennifer Love-Hewitt & Sophie B. Hawkins.

The Canadian Premiere takes place on Saturday, June 27th at 7:15pm, at Innis Town Hall, Innis College, 2 Sussex Street, U of T Campus, Toronto, M5S 1J5 http://www.reelheart.com/2009/festival/saturday-june-27/main-a-715pm/

For all inquiries please contact Paul J. Alessi at Paul@partnersincrimefilms.com.

See the trailer at www.KnuckleDraggersTheMovie.com

tribute.ca Knuckle Draggers Movie Review

Current Tribute rating: 5.00 Current rating: 5.00

Ethan (Ross McCall), an all around nice guy, gets dumped because he wasn’t able to provide his fianc—e with the plush, stable life her friends were living. Desperate to get her back, he seeks help from his older brother Kyle (Paul J. Alessi), a tough talking sexist who seems to have a way with the ladies.

Kyle gives Ethan a crash course on women and dating much to the disgust of some of Ethan’s female friends. Just when it seems Kyle’s misogynistic theories are about to prove themselves to be true, things take an unexpected turn and force Ethan, Kyle and their friends to reassess their views on relationships.

Source: http://www.tribute.ca/movies/Knuckle+Draggers/19742