Films to See before you die (perhaps immediately prior)

The first in an occasional series.

Those who know me know I love both movies and music (those who don't will immediately sense it when they hear the cinematic way in which I linger over a strummed chord).

Sometimes, yet rarely, these twin passions combine, as in fine rockumentaries like I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, concert flicks such as The Last Waltz or even the occasional overblown Biopic.

Here's a corker, though, that I just can't wait to see.

Former Poison frontman Bret Michaels (real name Bret Michael Sychak) is perhaps better known these days for being a fat, diabetic ponce who stars in the semi-comical reality TV show Rock Of Love.

This is a seedy take on the modern dating/bachelor type program in which Bret proudly sleeps with as many of the contestants as possible (receiving nightly blow-jobs from one it is alleged) before choosing a winner who becomes his "girlfriend."

The winner of season one -- Jess -- promptly dumped his ass immediately.

Anyway, it turns out that Bret has other talents not related to his love of the Unskinny Bop.

I'm talking about the 1998 feature film A Letter From Death Row.

The film was written by Bret Michaels, Produced by Bret Michaels and Directed by a young whippersnapper by the name of Bret Michaels.

It tells the story of Michael Raine, a former rock star and convicted killer who sits on death row but maintains that he is innocent and has been framed for the murder of his girlfriend.

Raine is played by an up and coming actor by the name of Bret Michaels. As the action unfolds, a young researcher fights to prove Raine's innocence in what IMDB describes as a "psychological thriller."

Bret Michaels does all of his own stunts, which is pretty laudable for a guy in his late 40s.

In a surprise turn of events, Martin Sheen plays the convicted man's father. A clue to the origin of this strange casting choice lies with the cameo of Bret's Hollywood drinking/nailing strippers buddy Charlie Sheen, who plays Cop #1.

The soundtrack is written and performed by Bret Michaels and was also released as Bret's first solo album. But Brett couldn't handle it alone and old Poison pal Rikki Rocket helps out.

Songs featured in the film, such as The Devil Inside, Sounds Of Sex, 69, Steel Bar Blues and Violent Endings have a prophetic ring when one considers that Rocket (real name Richard Ream) is currently in prison for rape, after fleeing New Zealand on a plane to Los Angeles earlier this year.

I can understand why Rikki needed his nom de plume; Dick Ream is a pretty bad name for a rapist.

I'm rambling here but if anybody has this film on DVD, I'd love to borrow it. Can't do Blue-Ray, sorry.

Also, I've never seen Gone With the Wind, so should probably take care of that one some time too.