"THE BANGER SISTERS"

Suzette is on a mission. She is going to Phoenix to find someone, someone very close to her in past reality, but far, far away from her in the present. She has just lost her job and her apartment. She has nothing—not even a cat.

Lavinnia lives in Phoenix. She is lost, but she doesn’t know it. She will find out and she will find herself—and none too soon—because she is Suzette’s mission, unknown to both as the story begins.

And so, Harry needs love. Suzette needs money and love. "Vinny" needs purpose and something more genuine than the love she thinks she has now.

Curious?

I was, too. All that should take a lifetime to unravel and resolve, much more time than the crisp and tidy ninety-five minutes of love, laughter and lessons that neatly unfold in this summer’s best hit, "The Banger Sisters."

But first, they—Suzette and Vinny—are not sisters and their last name is not Banger. Not so delicately speaking, they were groupies in their youth, who gained their nicknames at the pleasure of whatever rock group took them in for

awhile after a concert.

Suzette hasn’t changed much. Her last job—the one she couldn’t hold on to—was barmaid at hard rock establishment in West Hollywood. She talks the talk, walks the walk and dresses the dress. Goldie Hawn is the perfect Suzette. I will not stoop to say "Goldie glitters". Her performance is flawless.

Vinny has changed. Oh my, what a long way from the young and wild groupie to posh suburbia with it sprawling ranch homes and back yard resorts.

Vinny has two teenage girls—brilliant spoiled brats who take everything and give nothing. That, plus success, plus "Raymond", the successful lawyer/politician/husband with a reputation to protect, has Miss Lavinnia wound up tighter than a ten-dollar watch. Susan Sarandon is the perfect Lavinnia. That’s two out of two for the casting crew.

Hurry up, Suzette! It’s rescue time!

And what about Harry? Geoffrey Rush shines in his best performance since "Shakespeare In Love" as the fifty-year-old writer who is bound up in self pity, obsessive compulsive behavior and an ancient grudge against his father.

Harry is buried alive. Suzette, he shall find, is the only shovel that can help him dig himself out to freedom. Geoffrey’s wonderful performance makes it three out of three for the selectors of the stars.

"The Banger Sisters" is a delightful surprise, full of catchy quips, funny scenes and tender moments. Be forewarned—the language gets rough (this is not your "Laugh In" Goldie Hawn) and images are not sugar-coated. This movie hits hard, but the gloves are well padded.

Ever been down and out? Ever been so far down in a hole that it felt like night all the time? Ever get in the rut that kept echoing "Is that all there is?" Have you ever needed a change, but lacked the courage to make it happen? Have you ever sought to do what you love—what you feel called to do--regardless of the risk, the cost and the possibility of utter failure?"

No? Then, just consider yourself lucky, go see "The Banger Sisters" and see how true-to-life characters muster the courage to "do what is true."