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"Trouble Is My Business"
A fun movie whose dialogue gets you gripped from the very beginning to the end.
What a lot of people don't realize is how much energy, creative effort, time and money are required to produce a movie/film. Being a video creator myself, it's a ton of work....but the final results are incredibly rewarding. Producing movies is a natural passion; It's an art; It's a visual form of storytelling, be it true or fictional. Ever wonder why these made-for-web projects are getting all the viewership and praise? Peek through the over-hyped movies marketed every 6 yoctoseconds, and you'll find that there are a chock full of independent, low-budget and under-recognized movies that the film industry *wishes* they made. Ladies and gentlemen of all ages, I present to you this: Trouble Is My Business.
The story is about a detective named Roland Drake, played by Thomas Konkle, whose sexy client Katherine Montemar asks for help in snatching a diamond—the Orlov Diamond—that belonged to her family. Along with detering the corrupt, mob-laden black market, Drake contacts those who may have connections as to where this may lead to while keeping innocent and anonymous. During his journey are a bunch of people intercepting his path trying to get him killed, like corrupt police officer Detective Tate, played by Vernon Wells. The movie overall gives off that classic film noir—the early days when the story and the dark life of gangsterism were the goings-on (still goes on today).
There's a bunch of things that go on in this movie that mentioning some parts are enough to ruin the entire thing. While, yes, movie/TV/video game reviews generally contain spoilers, it is a rare instance that a movie this good challenges us not to spill the beans too much. A mention of one or two things can ruin the next plot, but however, if you've watched enough gangster films, murder mysteries and/or the James Bond series, you'll find that this isn't just another movie in contrast to those titles. It's a story with sudden twists and hairpin turns, it'll drop your jaw. I was in awe at the transition from scene to scene.
"Well, I can't say no to a lady."
— Roland Drake
This is likely one of the classic lines in this movie—a modest detective reluctantly accepting the meeting with a beautiful woman needing his help. This happened twice to Mr. Drake with two women who happen to be sisters. I won't say anymore beyond that.
"I don't like a man with a sense of humor. I find it almost as unattractive as a woman with one."
— Evelyn Montemar
This made me smirk, but should inform you the kind of people—family—who are incredibly serious protecting prized possessions in the underworld. Gangsters do not have a sense of humor, since their operations involve not saying anything to where CIA or FBI could spot suspicious activity going on.
However, in my world above, women love men with a sense of humor and vice versa. Laughter is the best medicine, and is part of the universal language around the world.
"Just because you read accusations in the newspaper doesn't make them true."
— Jennifer Montemar
I feel this should tie to the skepticism people ought to adopt in the real world. Ever wonder why some news reports are served as "distractions?" Think about that.
As for the movie, you can tell the budget put into making this. It uses a lot of green screen, but remember, that this isn't focused on special effects compared to, say, space movies or scenes featuring explosions and flying (hello, Transformers, Star Wars and Superman fans). This movie is heavily focused on the story giving homage to the old, black & white movies when technology was so limited, movie producers worried more about the story and the acting. It's not like that today—promoting A-list actors to give low-rated movies some financial leverage. Give me a break....
The story overall is like a roller coaster ride: Once you're in it, buckle up because there'll be some surprising twists and turns. Just don't fall off the ride.
Blu-ray Disc Features review:
There's only two options on the Blu-ray menu: Play Movie and Play Trailer. There's no option for Scene Selections which may bother some Blu-ray fans. Whether you want that option or not, it gives the viewer a requirement to completely watch the film from start to finish, and there should be nothing wrong with that.
You may wonder why there are two discs: One for color and one for B&W. Why not put the same on one disc? I figured that they wanted to preserve the video quality putting them in separate discs. Putting two of them in one disc sacrifices the quality of the film which, as you know, will turn off a lot of movie/Blu-ray fans (let's not forget that a Blu-ray holds 25GB of data and a DVD only holds 4GB). The Black & White version of the movie gives that authentic mid-1900s feel, catering to those who dig the classic film library. As for the audio, there is no option on the Blu-ray as it is strictly 5.1 Surround. Majority of movie fans, depending on your audio system, prefer 5.1 audio anyway, but if you have a simple stereo system, it works just as well.
A movie specializing in detecting lives of crime finding truth in-between the lines while extracting secrets from a bunch of sketchy people and a family is what makes this a unique story-telling experience. I really want to talk about the film but, again, it'll spoil too much. It was so good we screened the film twice (perhaps again, after this review).
I want you, the viewer/fan, to enjoy the roller coaster ride this film brings especially when you arrive at the ending. The best way to describe it—I can't believe I'm doing this—I'll quote the bridge and chorus from the hit song "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift:
And he's long gone
When he's next to me
And I realize the blame is on me
'Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been
So you put me down
— Lyrics from "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift
Enjoy that scene as it will raise eyebrows.
While this movie just released on Blu-ray as recent as this month of June (2018), some of you may have obtained this packaging:
I've personally never seen this packaging. From all the Blu-rays we own in our SHOWSOTROS video library collection, this is a huge first. I thought it was an imitation but after doing research, this Blu-ray case is by a company brand Scanavo. I feel these cases are uncommon, but unveiling it on this review, expect studios and networks to invest and do business with them showing up more frequently at your local video and electronics stores. (Yeah, I was scared for a second fearing I got a pirated copy. You'd have to be a serious low life to still produce pirated copies in this modern age.)
It's been a long while, for me at least, to finally watch and enjoy something that grips you from start to finish. Now that we've brought this amazing piece into the spotlight, we'll likely see more of this story-telling style. Because of how much the story stacks up, it's good enough to turn into a TV series (you heard it from us first, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon and many of you TV writers/producers reading this). Actually, you know, turn this movie into a TV series because we'll definitely tune in.
This Blu-ray release is still hot, fresh and new. Grab your copy as we strongly recommend this movie!
- Brilliant writing.
- A perfect example depicting our belief that the story makes a movie great.
- One of the few independent films done nicely.
- Received a handful of awards.
- Feels like a mix of "James Bond," "Godfather," and "Murder She Wrote."
- Includes both the color and Black & White versions on Blu-ray.
- The story potentially can expand into an episodic series.
- Some chroma key imperfections on some scenes.
Fan Rating
PROFILE |
|
|---|---|
| Title | Trouble Is My Business |
| Description | [FRONT] 2-Disc Special Edition COLOR and BLACK & WHITE in HI-DEF PASSION MURDER BETRAYAL... JUST ANOTHER DAY ON THE JOB [BACK] Private Investigator Roland Drake falls for two sisters of the Montemar family. One may be dead and the other wants to kill him. In 1940's Los Angeles, Roland Drake (Thomas Konkle) cracks cases and romances femme fetales, while corrupt cops rule the underworld of the city. Drake has fallen on hard times - evicted from his office, ruined in the public eye and watched by the police. Redemption walks in - with curves - a sexy, dark haired beauty named Katherine Montemar, begging for help. The chemistry is immediate and Drake is pulled into her case - and into bed. Drake wakes up to a pool of blood where Katherine used to be. After a nervous encounter, with the skilled but unscrupulous Lew MacDonald (David Beeler). Drake is confronted by Katherine's icy blonde sister, Jennifer (Brittany Powell) - a dangerous beauty who knows more than she should about everything. Their destiny becomes entwined in a dark descent that leads them on a hunt for a priceless gem. Dogged by the corrupt police in the form of Detective Tate,(Vernon Wells) [sic] Drake must navigate a sinister world of betrayal, murder and secrets that might lay buried forever. |
| ISBN / Bar Code number | 8 10162 03402 3 |
| Blu-ray Amaray Movie Credits | A Random Media RELEASE OF A LUMEN ACTUS PRODUCTION "TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS" VERNON WELLS BRITTNEY POWELL TOM KONKLE STEVE TOM DAVID BEELER BEN PACE JORDANA CAPRA CASTING BY THOMAS KONKLE COSTUME DESIGNER ERIC SHANE JOHNSON SOUND YANCY PON & CHUCK ROCKFORD ORIGINAL MUSIC BY HAYDEN CLEMENT & THOMAS CHASE ART DIRECTORS REED JOHNS AND MICHAEL J. SMITH EDITED BY THOMAS KONKLE & MICHAEL J. SMITH DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY JESSE ARNOLD & P.J. GAYNARD EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS THOMAS KONKLE & MICHAEL J. SMITH WRITTEN BY THOMAS KONKLE & BRITTNEY POWELL DIRECTED BY THOMAS KONKLE |
| HD Video Format | 1.90:1 (16:9) / Widescreen (Letterbox) / 1080p |
| Audio Format | DOLBY AUDIO 5.1 Surround |
| Disc Count | Two (2) - Color & Black & White |
| Features | Play Movie, Play Trailer |
| Genre | Drama / Thriller / Action / Adventure / Crime |
| Run Time | 112 Minutes Disc 1: Color Feature: FBI Anti-Piracy Warning - :10, Random Media presentation clip - :12, Menu - 05:19, Play Movie - 1:52:57, Play Trailer - 02:04. Total disc time: 2:00:42 Disc 2: Black & White Feature: FBI Anti-Piracy Warning - :10, Random Media presentation clip - :12, Menu - 05:19, Play Movie - 1:54:56, Play Trailer - 02:04. Total disc time: 2:02:41 Total time for both discs: 4:03:23 |
| Language(s) | English |
| Subtitles | English [SDH] |
| Closed Captioning | Yes |
| Rated | Not Rated |
| Region | Region A - NTSC |
| Original Film Release | April 03, 2018 |
| Blu-ray Release | June 05, 2018 (DVD Release: April 05, 2018) |
| Production | Lumen Actus Production |
| Company | Random Media / Lumen Actus, LLC |
| Distributed by | Allied Vaughn |
| Specification | Color and Black & White |
| Blu-ray Product Number | ???? |
| Copyright | © 2018 Lumen Actus. All Rights Reserved. Art and Design © Lumen Actus. All Rights Reserved. Manufactured and Distributed by Allied Vaughn, 7600 Parklawn Ave. Ste #300 Edina, MN 55435. © 2018 LUMEN ACTUS, LLC |
| Other Formats | DVD, Digital Stream (YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, iTunes, Vudu, FandangoNOW, Xbox) |
| Quoted Reviews |
"The phrase 'they don't make them like this anymore' could not be more apt..." — Chris Olson, UK Film Review "Trouble Is My Business means business... it doesn't mind having a good chuckle as it walks the dark and winding path of double-crosses, corruption, and death" —Tim Cogshell, Rotten Tomatoes, Alt-Film Guide "It's a stylish love poem, really, lifting many of the timeless elements that made noirs so powerful..." —Dan Franzen, FrothyRuminations.com "Trouble is to film noir what Once Upon a Time in the West was to the western: the final word." —Kevin Ranson, MovieCrypt.com |
| Other | WARNING: Federal Law provides severe penalties for the unauthorized reproduction, distribution or exhibition of copyrighted motion pictures, video tapes or video discs. Criminal copyright is investigated by the FBI and may constitute a felony. Blu-ray Disc |
| Movie Awards | The Noir Fest (2018) Best Film New York Film Critics Circle Awards (1995) <Second place> Best Screenplay — Amy Heckerling Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival (2018) Official Selection L.A. Noir Film Festival (2017) Best Film — Narrative Feature Valley Film Festival (Los Angeles) [2017] Best Narrative Feature Culver City Film Festival (2017) Best Director — Narrative Feature L.A. Noir Film Festival (2017) Best Actress — Brittney Powell |
A Lumen Actus Production
A Thomas Konkle Film
Vernon Wells
Brittney Powell
Tom Konkle
Steve Tom
David Beeler
Jordana Capra
Ben Pace
Mark Teich
TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS
Music by
Hayden Clement
&
Thomas Chase
Executive Producers
Michael J smith & Thomas Konkle
Edited by
Thomas Konkle
&
Michael J Smith
Directors of Photography
Jesse Arnold
P.J. Gaynard
Screenplay by
Thomas Konkle
&
Brittney Powell
Directed by
Thomas Konkle
CAST
Detective Barry Tate VERNON WELLS
Jennifer Montemar & Katherine Montemar BRITTNEY POWELL
Roland Drake THOMAS KONKLE
Lew MacDonald DAVID BEELER
Gavron Grozney STEVE TOM
Evelyn Montemar JORDANA CAPRA
John Shannon BEN PACE
Manservant Rivers MARK TEICH
Richard Montemar GERRICK LAVON
Claude Allen WILLIAM JACKSON
Bert The Cabble PAUL HUNGERFORD
Officer Ostrowski STEVE OLSON
Wilson Montemar BENTON JENNINGS
Scottie the Newsie SEAN KONKLE
Nadia KSENIA DELAVERI
Bernice the Hotel Receptionist JANA BANKER
Waitress Marylou LAINE SCANDALIS
Jake the Valet E. SEAN GRIFFIN
Officer Bradley DOUG SPEARMAN
Officer Paduano PETE HANDELMAN
Officer Burke PATRICK HIGGINS
Officer Kreiger MATT FORMAN
Officer Matthews CARL BRYAN
Hotel Cab Driver PAUL IDELSON
Harold the Herald Reporter GINO C. VIANELLI
Russian Goon #1 JOE SOBALO JR.
Russian Goon #2 STEVE MOULTON
Screaming Russian Guard AARON LAPLANTE
Hoodlum Kid TYSON O'BANNON
Mavis the Maid MOLLIE FITZGERALD
Nadia's Kidnapper NIHILIST GELO
Pencil'd Kidnapper JULIAN GIANTONIO
Head Museum Guard DAVID ALLEN MOORE
Museum Guards Brian Greene
JORDAN DESTIN
PATRICK H. BREEN
Voice of Newspaper Magnate BROOKS WACHTEL
Voice of Russian Mob Messenger CARL BRYAN
Voice of Police Dispatcher MICHAEL J. SMITH
Newspaper Photographer MATTHEW SPENCER
Jewelry Story Woman LAUREN BYRNES
Drake's Ex-Wife In Picture DANA HAMM
Extras MARK JACOBSON
VAUGHAN MURRAY
Stunts Consultant JIN KELLEY
Producers BRITTNEY POWELL
DAVID PEELER
Associate Producer EZEQUIEL SOLIS
Line Producer MOLLIE FITZGERALD
Production Coordinators DIANE LOTE
VICTOR SOLIS
Office Production Assistant DONNIE BEACHAM
First Assistant Director GLENN R. MILLER
Second Assistant Director MICHELLE SUGIHARA
Art Directors REED JOHNS
RAE DESLICH
MICHAEL J. SMITH
CARL SOTO
Assistant Art Director/ Set Builder JUSTIN HARRIS
Set Decorator JENNIFER ALONDRA MUNOZ
Set Dressers ALEXX BONOVICH
ALISSA GIACONA
Set Dresser (Swing) RYAN STANLEY
Set Dresser (Digital) MICHAEL J. SMITH
Illustrator RICHARD DAVIES
Stylized Character Drawings LORENZO BARRUSCOTTO
Directors of Photography JESSE ARNOLD
P.J. GAYNARD
Additional Camera & Lighting JOEY RASSOOL
Camera Operators JESSE ARNOLD
JORDAN LANHAM
SETH JOHNSON
DEWEY TANN
ROGELIO MOSQUEDA
First Assistant Camera NICK GOTO
STEVE CARTER
Second Assistant Camera ARIC ABRAHAM
ALEX KEEME
JEN HOOK
CHRISTOPHER ENDOM
JORGE A GOMEZ
DEWEY TANN
Still Photographers DAVID BEELER
DEBBIE MAJOR
GINO C. VIANELLI
CHUCK ROCKFOLD
Sound Recordists / Mixers YANCEY "PON" FRANCO
CHUCK ROCKFORD
CALEB HOLLENBACK
Boom Person NICHOLAS BORSELLINO
Additional Sound Recording RYAN DEREMER
T.J. YOSHIZAKI
Lighting Supervisor (2nd Unit) RALPH KING
Master Armorer MIKE TRISTANO
Armorer VAUGHAN MURRAY
Script Supervisor MOLLIE FITZGERALD
Gaffer SAM COHEN-WADE
Rigging Best Boys Electric MICHAEL SHANMAN
Best Boy Electrician JACK ALEXANDER
JAY B. JULIO
Electrician JOEY HENDERSON
DAVID LECH
MATT HIBBS
Key Grip BOBBY CROCKET
Best Boy Grip ISABELO PASCUAL
KATE JOHNSON
Company Grips BENJAMIN SMYTHE
Swing Grip RON M. WILSON
Costume Design ERIC SHANE JOHNSON
Costume Supervisor / Consultant CHANTAL FILSON
Key Costumer SHEA WOLFE
Set Costumer SIERRA BARRETT
Seamstress MARCIE HALE
VERONICA TEONG
Tailor CHARLES NOHAI
Makeup Artists SABRINA SWEET
REBECCA HEAP
LINDSAY DABALOS
Makeup Assistant STEPHANIE UNGUEZ
Special Hair and Makeup REBECCA HEAP
ESSENCE KING
VANCE HARTWELL
Special Effects Coordinator THOMAS KONKLE
VISUAL EFFECTS BY LUMEN ACTUS
Visual Effects Producer MICHAEL J. SMITH
ROTOSCOPING BY BLEND FLUX VISUAL EFFECTS
Rotoscoping Leader PUNIT SHARMA
Rotoscoping Artists JITIN SHARMA
VINIT SHARMA
Additional 3D Modelling LIAN BANGGOR
XEZER ALLAHVERDIYEV
Additional Compositing THOR MELSTED
Studio Manager MARK JACOBSON
Construction Coordinator ARNOLD DASILVA
Construction Foreman MICHAEL VALENZUELA
Assistant to Producer DONNIE BEACHAM JR.
Set Production Assistants KARLOS "KC" CORTEZ
STEPHANIE UNGUEZ
Truck Driver RON M WILSON
AUDIO POST PRODUCTION BY MONKEYLAND AUDIO, INC
Supervising Sound Editor/Re-Recording Mixer TRIP BROCK, MPSE
Sound Effects Editor K. JOSHUA FERNBERG
Dialogue Editor DEMETRI EVDOXIADIS
Music Composed & Recorded by HAYDEN CLEMENT
THOMAS CHASE JONES
Logo & Promotional Music by DANIEL BEIJBOM
DIT THOR MELSTED
JESSE ARNOLD
JOEY RASSOOL
Colorist MICHAEL J SMITH
TITLES AND OPTICALS BY LUMEN ACTUS
Legal Services WILLIAM VU
Film Sales CIRCUS ROAD FILMS
GLEN REYNOLDS
JOSH HALLMAN
SPECIAL THANKS TO
NICKEL DINER
PASADENA CEMETARY ASSOCIATION
JACOBSON PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTRUMENTS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
Special Thanks to WILLIAM JACKSON
KIMBERLY STRONG
TY KLOCK
RALPH KING
EARL RUBENSTEIN
ROLAND CANAMAR at silver dream factory
NOREEN KONKLE
STEPHANIE SMITH
KAREN BORSTAD
MARCIA SMITH
MARK JACOBSON
DOUGLAS KENT
MONICA MAY
TINA BERG
The Producers Wish To Thank JIM SICKONIC
EARL RUBENSTEIN
KRISTEN TRATTNER
IN MEMORIAM
RALPH KING | REED JOHNS | MATT FORMAN
KICKSTARTER SUPPORTERS
KIMBERLY STRONG TY KLOCK EMILY DANYEL
DOUGLAS KENT BEN ROSS CAROLINA HOYOS
EMILY MANTHEI RONALD CARROLL VICKI LINES
CHIP JOSLIN JK LEONARD JOEL BAULCH
BILL FORS LAURENT SCOTT BAKER
SCOTT ELSON TIFFANY CAMPBELL GRUBNASH
JIM WILSON EDWIN HEIJMEN LINDA
KEVIN A. RANSON PAUL HICKMAN JEREMY SCHERLE
JOHANNES RENEE CARSON ALEC CORDAY
JOSEPH K. CURTIS LEWIS SRYGLEY WAYNE ROBINS
ADAM A. LOHNES PAUL EAGLETON JEFF ELWELL
LANCE RUNKLE JIM RODNEY BRIAN WARD
BRIAN Q. KELLEY GISELLE ACHECAR JESSE A. PRESNALL
TAI FAUCI ELAINE EWING STEVEN ITANO WASSERMAN
CANDICE FREEMAN BRIAN LEHRER SJ ZEITZEW
DAVID NETT MIGUEL DURAN CLINT CULP
MELINDA CHILTON SAM JULIANO ALFIE
JEREMY J. CAMPBELL MICHAEL NEILL ALISSA BLACK
MAXWELL G SHAWNA BENSON FRANKLIN TSE
INDIEGOGO SUPPORTERS
MICHAEL NELSON JOSEPH DUNN FRANK CHINDAMO
JOHN K. FREEMAN CHRIS M. CHARMICHAEL MISTY A. JOBE
MICHELLE MILLER JONATHAN WATTS TY L. KLOCK
JACKIE LARSON ERIK LUNDMARK VAUGHAN R MURRAVY
JOSHUA BERMAN BRENDA WHITE MATTHEW CARVERY
CHRIS M. CHARMICHAEL LAURA NIEMI SCOTT A. MERCER
ADRIA TENNOR ROSS MILSTEIN PETER PASQUALE
CARS PROVIDED BY
THE AUTOMOBILE DRIVING MUSEUM, EL SEGUNDO, CA
AUTOMOBILEDRIVINGMUSEUM.ORG
CAMERA SYSTEMS BY
PANASONIC & RED CINEMA
COPYRIGHT &2018 LUMEN ACTUS
THE EVENTS, CHARACTERS AND FIRMS DEPICTED IN THIS PHOTOPLAY
ARE FICTICIOUS. ANY SIMILARITY TO ACTUAL PERSONS, LIVING OR DEAD,
OR TO ACTUAL EVENTS OR FIRMS IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL.
OWNERSHIP OF THIS MOTION PICTURE IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT AND OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS,
AND ANY UNAUTHORIZED DUPLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR EXHIBITION OF THIS MOTION PICTURE
COULD RESULT IN CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AS WELL AS CIVIL LIABILITY.
A LUMEN ACTUS PICTURE
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