The Fourth Annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival is happening from April 23 to April 30, 2009. Sounds like a great lineup, too. The opening night features the film "Jump," written and directed by Joshua Sinclair, and produced by Lilly Berger. Patrick Swayze, who plays a Jewish lawyer in the film, will be honored, as well.

Other films include "On the Road to Tel Aviv," "Praying in Her Own Voice," "The Lemon Tree," "Broken Promise," and "Toyland," among others. In all, 30 films will be screened at theaters in the Los Angeles area, including Pasadena, Beverly Hills, West Hills, and Encino.

Other festival events include Q&A’s with filmmakers and actors. Actress Lainie Kazan is expected to attend the April 26 screening of "Beau Jest" at Laemmle’s Music Hall in Beverly Hills.

More after the jump, including trailers for "Jump" and "The Brothers Warner"…

Read more

You know what? More power to Patrick Swayze. He says he’s staying positive, despite horrible tabloid reports that he’s nearing the end after his year-long struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Swayze, 56, recently told PEOPLE that he’s continuing with treatment, working on a book, and enjoying his new dog.

“It’s amazing to me that the tabloids such as the National Enquirer print such negative stories about me and my health when there are so many positive things going on in my life right now. I’ve started a new chemotherapy and, once again, I am one of the lucky ones with pancreatic cancer that is responding well to the treatment.”

Swayze says he loves his new 12-week-old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy named Kumasai, and appreciates the fantastic response he’s getting from everyone on his A&E series “The Beast.”

“I hope in the future, the press will think twice about printing inaccuracies and painting an unpleasant picture when I have so much to be thankful for at this time.” It’s just amazing to me that he’s doing all his own stunts on “The Beast.” You know that can’t be easy in any way, shape or form.

Image: copyright, Universal Studios

Valentine’s Day is nearly here (two days away!), so I’m continuing my theme of Top Romantic Movie Moments. Read Part 1 of this series here, and feel free to add your own favorites in the comments section.

Notice how some people keep showing up on these lists? Like Patrick Swayze, Renee Zellweger, Julia Roberts, Richard Gere … I guess some people are just more romantic than others. I hope you’ll take some time to revisit some of these feel-good favorites!

1. Pretty Woman. As Vivian (Julia Roberts) gets ready to leave town and start a new life, we weep for the love she thought could never work. Then we see a limo pull up outside her apartment, and Edward (Richard Gere) is sticking his head out of the sunroof waving a bouquet of flowers. She comes to the fire escape in disbelief, as he climbs up to rescue her from a life of struggle (remember - he’s afraid of heights!). And she gets to "rescue him right back." Priceless. Two broken people, mended at last.

Read more

In honor of Valentine’s Day (this Saturday – are you prepared?!), I’ve compiled a list of top romantic movie moments. Since there’s no way I can put them all into one post, I’ll probably do another post or two. Let’s start with…

1. Dirty Dancing. "Nobody puts Baby in a corner." You tell ‘em, Johnny! And then the street-wise dancer grab’s the young girl’s hand and pulls her on-stage for "their" dance. Could there be a better ending to this nostalgic movie about young love at a 50’s-era summer resort? I think not.

2. Bridget Jones’s Diary. Daniel (Hugh Grant) and Bridget (Renee Zellweger) have just emerged onto the street from an intimate, candle-lit dinner. She raises her arm to hail a taxi, and then he pulls her into his arms and gives her one of THE most romantic kisses in cinema history. And then, of course, they go back to her apartment, where she realizes she wore…the BIG underpants! Just like real life.

Read more

I’m starting a new feature called “Film Gecko Five” – Top Five Movies in various categories. Feel free to email me at [email protected] with your ideas! Today’s list is my Top Five Sexiest Movies. See if you agree, and if not, what are YOUR favorite sexy movies? Tell me in the comments section below!

5. Gone With the Wind. What could be sexier than stepping over bodies strewn about the streets of Atlanta? Ok, maybe that’s not the sexiest scene of this classic 1939 film, but the banter between Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable more than makes up for it. Sexiest Scene: When Rhett says to Scarlett, “No, I don’t think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That’s what’s wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.” [Official Site]

More after the jump…

Read more

Patrick Swayze says he’s one of the few to respond well to treatment for pancreatic cancer, and he’s telling the tabloids to back off.

In a People.com story, Swayze, 56, says he’s doing well on his new series, “The Beast,” and is happy to be home for the holidays. “The only thorn in my side being that many tabloids have been consistently reporting lies and false information about me and those close to me,” he says. “And latest, they’re reporting that I’m on my last legs and saying goodbye to my tearful family!”

Swayze says that while pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease, he’s winning that battle. “It’s upsetting that the shoddy and reckless reporting from these publications cast a negative shadow on the positive and good fight I’m fighting,” he notes. “For me, my family, and those close to me, it amounts to downright emotional cruelty. That makes me angry when hope is so precious.”

He adds, “As always, I appreciate all the love and support people have sent and continue to send my way. I thank you.”

Image: Patrick Swayze, Black Dog, Universal Studios, 2002