Here is another of our five star reviews from the past from the vault. This was done ten years ago and is worthy of the word “classic”. Great story, great cast, great production values and award wins and nominations. Here is our original review.
Starmaker – Wicked Pictures – Director – Brad Armstrong – Cast – Asa Akira, jessica drake, Amia Miley, Courtney Taylor, Jan Marie Sullivan, Kalina Ryu, Kaylani Lei, Brad Armstrong, Kurt Lockwood, Tommy Pistol.
***** 5 stars
Once again Brad Armstrong hits the jackpot with his latest epic feature for Wicked Pictures. With a fantastic cast headed by Asa Akira, jessica drake, Tommy Pistol and Armstrong, this story of Hollywood blackmail and sinister dealings has an edge of your seat quality. Get the awards ready for this exceptional film! Armstrong has graced us with some super dramatic, high end and exceptional films over the years going back to films like Euphoria and Falling from Grace to Underworld, to the more recent Aftermath, Holly…..Would and Magic Mike XXXL A Hardcore Parody. Not only is Armstrong a fantastic director, but also a very competent actor and man of many behind the scenes talents. With “Starmaker” you are in for another solid, gripping, sexual storyline and all around production.
It all begins with a narration about writers, authors, the delays and waiting for the big break to score with a book or script. The opening scene in a coffee shop pits two of the main characters, Jeremy (Tommy Pistol) a would be writer and Mia (Asa Akira) an actress who is struggling, together. After some awkward conversation about their careers they form a friendship. Of course this leads to Mia going to Jeremy’s place and the first sex scene in the film. After their encounter Jeremy wants to know all about Mia and she begins to tell him about herself and the struggles she’s having. Jeremy says he thinks he can help her and offers to let her live at his place. This will be the beginning of a relationship and direction that neither one could have planned.
Mia is living with Jeremy now and he takes her to a big party at the mansion of movie producer Martin Anderson (Brad Armstrong). Once they get inside Mia is taken by everything she sees as martin and his wife Elise (Jessica drake) watch from atop the spiral staircase in their elegant home. As they observe the party goers there is a little sarcasm between them and Martin ambles off where two girls (Kalina Ryu and Kaylani Lei) are waiting to pleasure him and that they sure do. Martin give Mia his card, they meet his wife and while they seem like the perfect couple they’re not at all. Jeremy tells Mia after the party that he has a plan that can help the both of them. Mia is rather naive as to how Hollywood works as Jeremy clues her in and she learns quickly. In the meantime we see Martin’s wife Elise making comments about her cheating husband and it’s heard by a hired thug (Kurt Lockwood) who is busy pleasuring Elise. It seems that Elise has a plan she wants to put into action as well.
So how does the plan from Jeremy and Mia work out and what about Elise and what she wants? That is what is to come and builds up the rest of this gripping story as both plans are put into motion. Mia and Jeremy confront Martin while Elise has her lover handle his end of things. Elise also finds herself getting involved more in turning the tables. So who comes out the winner in all this? You’ll just have to watch this extremely well done film and its twists and turns to see how it all ends and who gets who and who gets what and who are the winners and losers. How this all ends will definitely come as a surprise as the story ends in a way you won’t see coming.
As in previous turns, Armstrong comes up with another strong original story that is crafted extremely well with a superb cast. One again Ms. Drake, as the drunk and sinister Elise, is picture perfect in her role and Asa plays Mia with the wide eyed, but equally smart persona to the hilt. Armstrong plays Martin in a very underscored way and Pistol continues to shine as one of the best actors in adult. The cinematography is stellar, the sex scenes simmer and sizzle, the acting is above par making the characters real and believable. If you are looking for a couples friendly feature film that has story, plot, good acting, steamy sex and a definite hold your interest level. This is the one to check out. It will, no doubt, be gathering a number of award nominations and I strongly recommend “Starmaker” for some very solid entertainment.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
