Upside DVD review

UPSIDE
It's all how you look at it
From the looks of things, Solomon White has a well-mapped future. Finish his senior year of high school, select an elite university, continue his lacrosse career, and reap the rewards of success on whichever road life takes him.
But a devastating hit on the lacrosse field leaves his world literally turned upside down. Will he be able to gain the perspective needed to face his new reality?
UPSIDE provides a fresh look at life through the eyes of Soli (Randall Bentley, "Heroes"), a young athlete struggling to discover where he's headed, both figuratively and literally. Viewing the world upside down is a challenge few will ever face, but that hardly is the extent of Soli's pressing concerns.
He has trouble at home with his mom, he's trying to end his relationship with his girlfriend, and he has to come to grips with a teacher that thinks he can be much more than he wants to be. Suddenly, Soli's senior year looking nothing like he imagined it would be.
Add in Wren (Leah Sims), an unlikely love interest with a strong faith in God, and Soli must take a new look at everything he believes in.
Can Soli win the heart of Wren, who happens to be blind? Can he believe in something he can't see? Will he find a new direction for his life, even if his eyesight never returns to normal?
When you can't trust your eyes, you still have your voice. This unique story is an inspiring reminder that when life gets you down, there's always an UPSIDE.



SPYPLANE FILMS
Crew
KEN HORSTMANN (Writer/Director)
PETE WAGES (Director of Photography)
CASEY WALLACE (Producer)
ANDREW GREIN (Producer)


Upside is an inspiring film about faith and love that challenges us all to follow the unique path God has for us-Mark Hall, youth Pastor and Lead Singer, Casting Crowns.

The Actors

RANDALL BENTLEY (Solomon White)
Raised in Georgia, Randall Bentley started his acting career after winning an international talent competition at the age of 13. His first dramatic role was on the finale of "Judging Amy." He is best known for his role as Lyle Bennet on the hit NBC TV series "Heroes." His television credits also include "The Unit," "State of Mind," "Love's Unfolding Dream," and others including a recent pilot for CBS. Off the set, Randall is an avid soccer player and enjoys philanthropy, table tennis, singing and playing guitar, and spending time with his dog Sandy. He is currently attending Honors College at the University of Georgia in Athens.


LEAH SIMS (Wren Woods)
Leah Sims lives in metro-Atlanta with her husband Andy and two cats. She graduates from Kennesaw State University in December 2010 with a degree in Communication. When she's not fervently studying, Leah can often be found wandering the aisles of the nearest Barnes & Noble, singing on the worship team at her church, reading, hanging out with friends, or dabbling in screenwriting at local coffee shops. (Leah enjoys any excuse to lurk at local coffee shops.) Leah became interested in acting at six years of age when she dreamed of being a voice for animated movies. She began acting at the age of ten with Master's Academy of Fine Arts, a home school group for children interested in drama, music, art, and history. In high school, Leah branched into community theatre and finally took the leap into film during her sophomore year of college. UPSIDE is Leah's feature film debut.


TAYLOR ST. CLAIR (Mrs. Buck)
Taylor St. Clair has been performing professionally for more than 30 years. She has been in more than 35 theatrical productions including the premieres of Del Hamilton's Burning Bridges and The Troll; Jim Grimsley's The Existentialists, The Earthlings, and White People; Deena Metzger's Dreams Against The State; and Nicholas Kazan's Southern Comfort. She has also appeared in nine films including UPSIDE, Mona's Pets (Audience Award Winner at the International Short Film Festival in Clermont-Ferrand, France), Jinx'd, The Death Priest of Zeburon, and Evolution Creek (yet to be released). Taylor has trained with Joe Chakin, Steven Kent, Clayton Landey, Eric Morris, Ellen Stewart, Mike Pniewski, George Watkins and Paul Weber. Currently she is doing scene study at Creative Studios of Atlanta, writing her first play, and continuing her studies in French.

BLAIR JASIN (Cody)
Blair Jasin was born and raised in Carmel, Indiana before moving to Georgia when he was in high school. He recently graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia with a degree in theatre and a focus on performance. He has been working in the business for a few years, shooting everything from commercials to music videos. UPSIDE is his first full-length theatrical film. He currently resides in Atlanta and is continuing to work as an actor with many projects in the works.

JEREMY HARRISON (Craig Parker)
Jeremy studied theatre at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and has been a working actor in Chicago, L.A., and Atlanta, where he now resides. He has appeared in several commercials, industrials, and independent films. His stage credits include The Summer House in April, The Rocky Horror Show, Moonchildren, Stories Gone Wilde, Pirates of Penzance, Everyman, and A Tale of Two Cities.


KAY COPELAND (Cindee)
An Atlanta native, Kay Copeland began performing onstage in dance at age three. From there, she moved to church, school, and community musical theater. Kay has been pursuing her career in film and television in New York City since graduating from high school. She has been in various short films, independent films, and commercials. Kay recently completed a conservatory at Michael Howard Studios, where she was a student for two years. Playing Cindy in UPSIDE is her first feature film role.

My Review
“Upside” is a really super movie. A tender love story and it is also about a young man finding himself. In “Upside” everyone is telling Solomon what to do with his life and at first he doesn’t really think about doing anything else. His mom tells him to go to the college she did. His coaches tell him to play Lacrosse. When Soli is hurt while playing Lacrosse his vision becomes impaired. This changes everything for him. Soli meets a blind girl-Wren and at the same time his teacher Mrs. Buck introduces him to a writer/teacher Craig Parker who mentors Soli. He shows him he has talent in writing. Craig encourages him to think for himself and find his true potential in life.
I like this movie because Solomon is being pushed from one path to another until he starts to consider his options in what really matters in life. The best part is Solomon finds Jesus. Wren is a Christian and she takes Soli to church, he’s not really happy about it at first. Wren shows Soli you can have fun being a Christian even when you are a blind Christian.
“Upside” is a wonderful movie to have and view with your family, friends, church members. The movie teaches you to “Live the life you’re meant to.”
I recommend this for all ages. So buy it today and enjoy a wonderful movie. I know you really want to find out what Solomon decides.


http://www.upsidemovie.com/



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