There is no doubt that Oscar nominee Sally Kirkwood is a excellent actress.  And after seeing this quirky new movie SALLYWOOD we can appreciate that she is also a very brave one.  We cannot think of many other actors of her calibre and fame who would willing take part in a comic parody based of an incident from their own lives.

It revolves around Zack (Tyler Steelman) a geeky young man in Maine who is so obsessed with Sally that he jumps in his car and drives all the way too California so he can meet his idol. We know that it is all based in real life as the movie is written and directed  by Xaque Gruber ie. the real Zack.

As this is Hollywood naturally Zack runs into Sally practically his first night in town  at an art gallery where she’s showing her paintings, and she asks him then and there to be her assistant.  He soon realizes that at the age of 85 and unemployed, her star doesn’t shine so bright but the quickly become friends

Zack is determined to restore her somewhat tarnished star even it means making really bad decisions .  Like getting her a part in the very low budget movie his roommate Tom (Tom Connolly) is making . Its a terrible alien horror not exactly the right choice to put her back on top   (actually the irony is that this wee film itself may help her do exactly that). 

The odd relationship the two enjoy is so delightful and is what sustains the film, helped by Kirkland’s sheer chemistry. Once a star always a star.

The telling of this wee fairy (!) story is enhanced by some familiar old faces such as Jennifer Tilly, Keith Carradine, Maria Conchita Alonso , Eric Roberts and Michael Learner and you can sense the fun they must have had together on set.

There is a running joke throughout about Kirkland wanting her obituary written, but in reality it should have been more about the (hopeful) death of several entertainment industry prejudices which sadly deny the existence of legendary actors when they age out. 

ROGER WALKER-DACK Creator, Editor-in-Chief Miami Beach, FL / Provincetown, MA IG @QUEERGURU  Member of G.A.L.E.C.A. (Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association)  and NLGJA The Association of LGBT Journalists.  and The Online Film Critics Society. Ex Contributing Editor The Gay Uk & Contributor Edge Media Former CEO and Menswear Designer of  Roger Dack Ltd in the UK