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Forget for a moment that this is a documentary and see this wonderful movie. There are amazing and unforgettable characters, heart wrenching situations, plot twists and a surprise ending... Everything you could hope for in a movie, made only more poignant knowing that these aren't actors but real people. Desperation, hope, salvation and damnation are all interwoven and you won't know which will come out on top until the end. I can't remember the last time I saw a documentary that was so engaging. The film centers on Pastor Reinke, who helps the often destitute folks who find their way to his town looking for work, with a place to stay for the night and a bite to eat. We also discover his own demons and limitations. I hope people will ultimately see him in a positive light as I do, for we all fall short of perfection, but director Jesse Moss doesn't push it one way or the other. The film is timely as it forces us to confront many current issues, including the effects of the new energy boom, the lingering effects of job displacement after the great recession, xenophobia, and the ongoing need to help others. See it, you won't be disappointed. It was among my favorites at the Three Rivers Film Festival.

Locally produced films can be hit or miss at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Film Festival. While everyone expected Foxcatcher to be this year's great local hit, there wasn't a lot of advanced buzz for The Umbrella Man. But this much lower budget film delivered and the audience loved it. Umbrella Man is wonderfully acted, especially Carter Roy's performance. Much like the much loved time travel movie "Primer," Umbrella Man deftly weaves a fairly simple concept into a complex story as obsession and grief battle within Roy's character. This film has great heart and is wonderfully entertaining. Certainly those interested in the Kennedy assassination will want to see it, but there's far more to enjoy.

I had high hopes for this movie but it fell flat as a near total disappointment. The only high point of the movie was Ryan Gosling's performance, which came as a surprise because I watched it hoping for something interesting from Bradley Cooper, but his role will simply put you to sleep. Unfortunately Ryan only appears in the first half of the movie, and nobody steps forward to fill the vacuum. Thus the movie plays much as though there was a revolt half way through filming, with the director and lead actor leaving, with a much less capable director charged with completing the movie with a dispirited and decimated cast.

Bottom line: Not even worth the Netflix download time.