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| About Vera Farmiga and Her Movies
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http://www.filmstew.com
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In the first movie, Down To The Bone , Farmiga plays a mother of two, hooked on drugs. She checks into a rehab center, meets a fellow addict, and immediately starts compounding her propensity to make bad decisions.
Down To Bone shows the insidious lure of drugs. But this is saying it mildly. Most of us don't have a clue how pervasive drugs are in our culture. (According to Entrepreneurial Magazine, roughly 70% of people working have a substance abuse problem). Vera Farmiga is one gutsy actress; and, although Down To The Bone comes across as a B movie, she is first class.
In another movie called, Running Scared, Farmiga plays the "high ground" all the way. I would see any movie she's in and this one takes some effort. Running Scared includes elements of the Russian mob, American mob, drugs, particular meth amphetamines; corrupt cops, sadistic hockey players. Need I go on? The main characters in Running Scared are pretty likable, however, even though the story line is so implausible.
A scene with Farmiga is priceless. I don't want to give the story away, even if I could, but a Russian kid (her next door neighbor and best friend of her son) is caught in the web of a sicko affluent couple in the "burbs" who apparently kidnaps kids and murders them; much of that plot is not given. Regardless, Vera, tracks them down, discovers what the couple is doing as she rescues her neighbor; and, then, she does the only logical thing she can: blows them away.
The movie, Running Scared, is almost funny but was pretty interesting as she dispensed justice. I am still amazed that I continued to watch this movie to the end. It could be Farmiga all the way. I really don't know. The gratuitous violence makes something like Pulp Fiction look like child's play.
My suspicion is that taking roles like the one in Running Scared have probably not helped Farmiga's career given the incestuous nature of Hollywood. But, she is great and I hope she will be around for a long time. If her talent is not recognized over the long haul, we movie nuts will definitely be the loser. I am in love.
PS. If your grandma is visiting, do not let her watch either of these movies: the "f" word and related adjectives or nouns are used frequently. In a funny play on words, Farmiga as a mother forbids the "f" word being used in front of her children. jhl
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Movie Reviews 
