Angels in Stardust Review – Genuine, Distressing, Emotionally Moving

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Category: Film

Published on Tuesday, 06 May 2014 16:04

Written by Janet Walker

"Angels in Stardust," from ARC Entertainment, presents a truthful performance of what has become the normal dysfunctional family living life in a poverty stricken town that offers little hope for change and no way out.

Directed and written by William Robert Carey, "Angels in Stardust" stars Alicia Silverstone, AJ Michalka, Billy Burke, Michael Spears, Amelia Rose Blaire and Adam Taylor.

 "Angeles in Stardust" begin with an imaginative conversation between Vallie Sue, portrayed by AJ Michalka and an old west cowboy, played by Billy Burke, who has become Vallie Sue's constant, "normal" male companion, offering insight and wisdom, Cowboy becomes that non judgmental adult who has time for her, listens and comforts. 

They meet under the deserted Drive in theater screen, where he was once a matinee mainstay and she now is forced to stay as the nights of entertaining the thriving community are long gone and replaced by lonely living in a rundown trailer park.

Watching Tammy, personified by Alicia Silverstone, looking not for love but for the rescue she transfers her parental role to her daughter, Vallie Sue, who ends up taking on the responsibilities of parenthood, caring for her younger brother, Pleasant, and the household.

Alicia Silverstone embodies the role of Tammy, a young mother of two children, well aware of the reality of her future, her limited time, life in a small town trailer park located on an abandoned drive in theater lot, a dust bowl, in the middle of Texas, with the mirror and the clock her only truths.

She, in the end, denies even the parentage of her children to marry a one week stand, who wanders into her small sphere with a ladder out.

AJ Michalka, portrays Vallie Sue, Tammy's smart, gifted daughter, a young budding writing talent, who hears the encouragement of teachers while living under the limitations placed on her by her mother and circumstances.

Each wants the other to stop looking for a way out. Tammy pressures her 14 year old daughter to find a man and settle down, and Vallie Sue wants her 31 year old mother to settle down and stop looking for a husband.

The two comes to blows, as Vallie Sue in teenage turmoil, battered by emotions, life, her everyday existence, hormones, the inability to handle the stress she is under, wanting her mother to settle down and stop looking for Mr. Right Now, overflow and both, momentarily act out.

More than simply a family drama, "Angles in Stardust," vividly portrays life under the poverty line, limitations in money, limits opportunity, emasculates hope, and incapacitates. Soon, the promising dreams, which could be fulfilled are ground to a fine dust, and lay disjointed in the mind with no hope of recovery.

Rounding out the story, "Angles in Stardust" with precision portrays the directions people move to when life has left them empty. Both sides, the gravitations to God and to earthly, temporal, numbing fulfillments and the depths of these road are presented with Michael Spears as Tenkills, Amelia Rose Blaire and Adam Taylor, as Pleasant, all hitting the mark.

Tammy explains to her daughter if she doesn't leave the home, the state will take her, as she will not change her plans. Fortunately, with the help of "Angel" Tenkills, Vallie Sue escapes the boundaries of Stardust.

"Angels in Stardust," is really a must see. Alicia Silverstone rocks this role. It was stunning to see her transformation from Beverly Hills privileged  Cher in "Clueless" to Tammy. She is gifted and gives and honest portrayal.

"Angles in Stardust" is filled with truthful performances throughout. The ensemble brings it in this family drama. "Angles in Stardust" has momentary heightened fear and deals with exploitation of women, friends gone missing, and physical and mental abuse.

First time Director, William Robert Carey has a hit with "Angels in Stardust."

"Angels in Stardust" is available everywhere. See it.