Adulterers (2015) - free will ... and its consequences:

Adulterers

Adulterers is a cautionary tale, a powerful drama inspired by true events, and far more compelling than the contrived Fatal Attraction (1987) and Unfaithful (2002).

How you feel at the end of Adulterers may depend on your personal experience of the subject it deals with.

It’s right there in the title.

If you’ve ever been cheated on by your significant other – then this movie might sting.

If you have cheated on your significant other – then this movie should rightly sting if you have any conscience and sense of guilt about the choice you made.

Consequences for making the wrong choice is the theme unflinchingly examined in this movie, released in the United States on January 5, 2016, written, produced and directed by H.M. Coakley.

Lead actor, Sean Farris threw himself into this role of a betrayed husband.

We see the anguish of his character, his pain, regret, broken heart, broken life, and ultimately broken mind.

Sean Farris is Samuel, a store assistant, working extra hours during a sweltering New Orleans afternoon.

It’s his first wedding anniversary; a special day in any marriage.

Samuel is a proud and happy man, deeply in love with his wife, Ashley (Danielle Savre).

He regrets having to work so many hours and laments at their lack of money, but he plans on making it up to Ashley.

He swings by his home halfway through his day, carrying his wife’s favorite flowers and chocolates.

Besides their money troubles, all seems right with Samuel’s world until he catches Ashley and her lover, Damien (Mehcad Brooks), naked, having sex in the bedroom.

Devastated, Samuel shoots them both.

This is not a spoiler; it happens within the first twelve minutes.

Downstairs, he sits on the couch, and drinks whiskey straight from the bottle.

Suffering a psychological break, he rethinks the situation.

This time, in his imagination, he doesn’t pull the trigger.

What if I’d waited instead of acting on impulse?

What would I say to them?

How far would I go to punish them?

What would they say to justify their sin, or lie their way out of the situation? 

These questions are the basis for the imagined trial and torture he puts his wife and her lover through in that stifling room.

As Samuel struggles with the pain of betrayal and infidelity, the wedding ring, crucifix and Bible often the focus of the camera, he struggles with his faith.

Finally, as Samuel himself points out:

"You ain't sorry. You're just sorry that you got caught. It's time that you dealt with the consequences of your actions."

In forcing them to face the consequences of their actions, Samuel is then left to face the consequences of his own.

There are no winners in this story; everyone is destroyed.

Adultery … it’s all fun and games ... until you get caught!

On this day in movie history – The Purple Gang (1959):

The Purple Gang (1959),

directed by Frank McDonald,

written by Jack DeWitt,

was released in the United States on January 5, 1960.
Music by Paul Dunlap.

Cast:
Barry Sullivan, Robert Blake, Elaine Edwards, Marc Cavell, Jody Lawrance, Suzanne Ridgway, Joe Turkel, Victor Creatore, Paul Dubov, Ray Boyle, Kathleen Lockhart, Nestor Paiva, Lou Krugman, Robert Anderson, Mauritz Hugo, James Roosevelt.

Born on this day – Jane Wyman:

Jane Wyman

Actress

January 5, 1917 – September 10, 2007

Credits:

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993); Falcon Crest (1981); Charlie's Angels (1976); The Love Boat (1977); The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel (1979); Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1971); The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969); Amanda Fallon (1973); The Sixth Sense (1972); The Failing of Raymond (1971); Insight (1960); My Three Sons (1960); How to Commit Marriage (1969); The Red Skelton Hour (1951); Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963); Wagon Train (1957); Bon Voyage! (1962); The Investigators (1961); Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958); Checkmate (1960); Pollyanna (1960); Holiday for Lovers (1959); Lux Playhouse (1958); Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (1955); Miracle in the Rain (1956); Lucy Gallant (1955); All That Heaven Allows (1955); General Electric Theater (1953); Summer Playhouse (1954); Magnificent Obsession (1954); So Big (1953); Let's Do It Again (1953); Just for You (1952); Campbell Summer Soundstage (1952); The Story of Will Rogers (1952); Starlift (1951); The Blue Veil (1951); Here Comes the Groom (1951); Three Guys Named Mike (1951); The Glass Menagerie (1950); Stage Fright (1950); The Lady Takes a Sailor (1949); It's a Great Feeling (1949); A Kiss in the Dark (1949); Johnny Belinda (1948); Magic Town (1947); Cheyenne (1947); The Yearling (1946); Night and Day (1946); One More Tomorrow (1946); The Lost Weekend (1945); Hollywood Canteen (1944); Crime by Night (1944); The Doughgirls (1944); Make Your Own Bed (1944); Princess O'Rourke (1943); Footlight Serenade (1942); My Favorite Spy (1942); Larceny, Inc (1942); You're in the Army Now (1941); The Body Disappears (1941); Bad Men of Missouri (1941); Honeymoon for Three (1941); Tugboat Annie Sails Again (1940); My Love Came Back (1940); Gambling on the High Seas (1940); Flight Angels (1940); An Angel from Texas (1940); Alice in Movieland (1940); Brother Rat and a Baby (1940); Private Detective (1939); Kid Nightingale (1939); Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite (1939); The Kid from Kokomo (1939); Tail Spin (1939); Brother Rat (1938); The Crowd Roars (1938); Wide Open Faces (1938); Fools for Scandal (1938); He Couldn't Say No (1938); The Spy Ring (1938); Over the Goal (1937); Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937); The Singing Marine (1937); Little Pioneer (1937); Slim (1937); Public Wedding (1937); The King and the Chorus Girl (1937); Ready, Willing and Able (1937); Smart Blonde (1937); Gold Diggers of 1937 (1936); Polo Joe (1936); The Sunday Round-Up (1936); Here Comes Carter (1936); Cain and Mabel (1936); Stage Struck (1936); My Man Godfrey (1936); Bengal Tiger (1936); Anything Goes (1936); King of Burlesque (1936); Freshman Love (1935); Broadway Hostess (1935); Stolen Harmony (1935); George White's 1935 Scandals (1935); All the King's Horses (1935); Rumba (1935); College Rhythm (1934); Harold Teen (1934); Elmer, the Great (1933); The Kid from Spain (1932).

Born on this day – Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten:

Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten

Folk and Blues singer

Musician

January 5, 1893 – June 29, 1987

Born on this day – Francesca Bertini:

Francesca Bertini

Actress

January 5, 1892 – October 13, 1985

Credits:

1900 (1976); Una ragazza di Praga (1969); A sud niente di nuovo (1957); Dora la espía (1950); Odette (1935); La donna di una notte (1931); La femme d'une nuit (1930); Tu m'appartiens! (1929); La Possession (1929); Mein Leben für das Deine (1928); La fin de Monte-Carlo (1927); Fior di levante (1925); Consuelita (1925); La giovinezza del diavolo (1925); Ultimo sogno (1924); Marion (1923); Fatale bellezza (1922); La donna nuda (1922); Amore vince sempre (1921); La fanciulla d'Amalfi (1921); La donna, il diavolo, il tempo (1921); Oltre la legge (1921); Marion, artista di caffè-concerto (1920); Anima selvaggia (1920); Amore di donna (1920); Maddalena Ferat (1920); La ferita (1920); La sfinge (1920); L'ombra (1920); Lisa Fleuron (1920); La principessa Giorgio (1920); La serpe (1920); Il conquistatore del mondo (1919); Beatrice (1919); La principessa (1919); La contessa Sara (1919); Anima allegra (1919); La piovra (1919); La lussuria (1919); Spiritismo (1919); L'invidia (1919); L'accidia (1919); I sette peccati capitali (1918); L'avarizia (1918); Eugenia Grandet (1918); L'ira (1918); La gola (1918); L'orgoglio (1918); Mariute (1918); Frou-Frou (1918); Tosca (1918); Anima redenta (1917); Malìa (1917); Il processo Clémenceau (1917); La piccola fonte (1917); Andreina (1917); Baby l'indiavolata (1916); Vittima dell'ideale (1916); Il patto (1916); Nel gorgo della vita (1916); Maligno riflesso (1916); Fedora (1916); L'educanda monella (1916); Lacrymae rerum (1916); Il destino (1916); Eroismo d'amore (1916); La perla del cinema (1916); La colpa altrui (1916); Odette (1916); Don Pietro Caruso (1915); Diana, l'affascinatrice (1915); Assunta Spina (1915); La signora delle camelie (1915); Ivonne, la bella danzatrice (1915); Il capestro degli Asburgo (1915); Nelly la gigolette (1915); Nella furnace (1915); Hypocrites (1915); Una donna (1914); The Song of the Soul (1914); Sangue blu (1914); On Temptation's Trail (1914); Rose e spine (1914); La principessa straniera (1914); L'onestà che uccide (1914); Cabiria (1914); The Woman Who Dared (1914); Pierrot the Prodigal (1914); The Forbidden Trail (1913); L'arrivista (1913); L'arma dei vigliacchi (1913); L'anima del demi-monde (1913); L'ultima carta (1913); La bufera (1913); La vigilia di Natale (1913); La suocera (1913); His Symphony (1913); Tramonto (1913); The Artist's Model (1913); La maestrina (1913); L'ultimo atout (1913); Venomous Tongues (1913); The Land of Promise (1913); Ninì Verbena (1913); The Price of Silence (1913); Per il blasone (1913); L'avvoltoio (1913); Per la sua gioia (1913); The Bondage of Evil (1913); Panne d'auto (1912); Lagrime e sorrisi (1912); Idillio tragico (1912); Tragico amore (1912); Ritratto dell'amata (1912); All on a Summer's Day (1912); Il pappagallo della zia Berta (1912); Il fascino della violenza (1912); Cesare Borgia (1912); Un amore di Pietro de' Medici (1912); Rameses, King of Egypt (1912); Lucretia Borgia (1912); Tragedy at the Court of Milan (1912); I carbonari (1912); Red Falcon (1912); The Wandering Minstrel (1912); Beatrix d'Este (1912); Ruy-Blas (1912); Romeo and Juliet (1912); Florentine Drama (1912); Francesca da Rimini (1911); Marco Visconti (1911); The Countess de Challant (1911); Tristano e Isolda (1911); Cola di Rienzo (1911); Il mercante di Venezia (1911); Re Lear (1910); La morte civile (1910); Pia de' Tolomei (1910); Folchetto di Narbona (1910); Salomé (1910); Il trovatore (1910); La dea del mare (1907).

Aldous Huxley, on writing:

To write fiction, one needs a whole series of inspirations about people in an actual environment,

and then a whole lot of work on the basis of those inspirations.

- Aldous Huxley.

On this day in music history - Carnaval de Venise, by Catrin Finch (2001):

The album Carnaval de Venise,

by Catrin Finch,

was released on January 4, 2001.