The Black Dove
Black Dove
Unrated
Now Showing at: AMC Newport on the Levee
Review by: Larry Thomas

It’s always a good thing when local folk ply their filmmaking craft at home. Michael Corporale, a cinematographer by trade, has flexed his show biz muscles quite a bit by not only shooting The Black Dove, but also editing, writing, producing, and directing the film.

John Savage, of The Deer Hunter and Hair, plays Jake Williams, a former top-shelf country singer with a wild-living, hard-drinking lifestyle that lands him in the slammer for an eighteen-year stretch. When he is paroled, Jake finds that life in these United States is way different after such a long stretch. But before he can try again to make it in music, he needs to find and recover his missing, beloved Gibson Black Dove guitar, of which there were only two, and Elvis had the other one. And along the way there’s also an eighteen-year-old daughter he’s never seen.

After a set up like that it’s naturally tempting to compare John Savage and The Black Dove with Jeff Bridges and Crazy Heart. Sure, there are some similarities, but these are different films about different people.

Also in the talented cast are Kentucky native Sean Young, who was so good in Blade Runner and No Way Out, as Jake’s ex-wife. It’s nice to see her in a film again. Although you may not know the name Red West, you’ll know the face when your see it. He played Kelly Lynch’s uncle in Patrick Swazye’s cult fave Road House.

In making the rounds of several film festivals, The Black Dove won Best Original Dramatic Feature Film at the Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival, while John Savage nabbed the Best Actor Award from the Houston Film Critics Society.

The Black Dove is having its premiere showing next Sunday at AMC Newport on the Levee at 7 pm. Introduction will be by Michael Caporale, and he will moderate a Q and A session following the screening with the stars of the film.

There are also other events surrounding the premiere including a party at Jefferson Hall with live music furnished by the performers who wrote the songs for the film.

The Black Dove is worth seeing. It’s a well-made film with a good cast, and it’s nice to know that an independent film with such virtues can be made in Cincinnati.

Also, if you’re a member of Cincinnati World Cinema, there’s a special offer for you on the CWC website regarding the screening and party. Just go to our website at wvxu.org for a link to The Black Dove, Cincinnati World Cinema, and all the festivities at Newport on the Levee next Sunday, August 5th.