NOT ONE LESS

NOT ONE LESS - 2000

RATED - G

AWARDS - Many awards & nominations at various film festivals.

RATINGS - 69 Amazon (4.5/5), Roger Ebert (3/4), 2,942 IMBD (7.5/10)

THEMES - Persistence, love, relationships, overcoming obstacles.

STORY - NOT ONE LESS is in the same category as CHILDREN OF HEAVEN and THE COLOR OF PARADISE. If you like children (especially adorable Chinese children), are interested in education (anybody who's ever been a substitute teacher will definitely identify with Wei-students are no different in rural China than anywhere else when it comes to taking advantage of substitutes), interested in learning about other cultures (we should all be interested in China), then this is a wonderful film. Definitely a film that can be watched by the whole family (should be old enough to read the sub-titles which are not hard). Foreign film makers definitely seem to have the knack of making films that are extremely interesting without all the special effects and craziness that American films seem to need to appeal to audiences. Like the other two mentioned, this is a film about people, real people actually as these are not professional actors. ENJOY!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/27/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER, ROGER EBERT

BRIAN'S SONG

BRIAN'S SONG - 1971

RATED - G, very family friendly

AWARDS - Emmy, Peabody plus many nominations.

RATINGS - 50 Amazon (5/5), 2,483 IMBD (7.6/10)

THEMES - Courage, love, friendship, racial reconciliation.

STORY - This 1971 EMMY AWARD winning film about the friendship between Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo of the Chicago Bears is one of the great sports and human interest stories. Brian & Gale were rookies together in 1965, both running backs and great college football players. They became the first black and white players to room together on the Bears. It's hard to believe it was only 40 years ago and many teams still had not broken the racial barriers off the field. I remember watching it on TV when it first aired and it was as good or better the 2nd time. Their friendship transcended their racial difference and their competition for the same position into a genuine love and respect for each other. As Gale experiences a potential career ending injury and Brian is diagnosed with cancer, their friendship grows into something very special. The selflessness of Brian helping Gale to recover from his injury which will ultimately put him back on the bench after replacing Gale is an inspiration. A great family film and especially for young athletes. Many clips of Gale's outstanding touchdown runs and he was one of the all time greats. Have a Kleenex handy for the end. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/27/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

CHILDREN OF HEAVEN

CHILDREN OF HEAVEN - 1999

RATING - PG for mild language.

AWARDS - 1999 Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language film.

THEMES - Relationships, family, forgiveness.

RATINGS - 141 Amazon (5/5), Roger Ebert (4/4), 3,230 IMBD (7.9/10)

STORY - This 1999 Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Picture and Award Winner at the Montreal, Newport & Singapore Film Festivals is one of the most delightful, heartwarming pictures I've seen in a long time. As good as the story is, I'd watch it just for the insight into Iranian culture. A chance to see something of the people of Iran. No nukes or bombs, just a look at every day life in Iran. Put it at the top of your list to see. The following is from Amazon: "Triumphant prizewinner at many prestigious film festivals, this uplifting, crowd-pleasing story of family and love was also nominated for an Academy Award(R) as Best Foreign Language Film. When Ali loses his sister Zahra's school shoes, this young pair dream up a plan to stay out of trouble: they'll share his shoes and keep it a secret from their parents! But if they're going to successfully cover their tracks, Ali and Zahra must carefully watch their step on what rapidly turns into a funny and heartwarming adventure! A magical motion picture acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, CHILDREN OF HEAVEN is a charming treat you'll love too. " Roger Ebert sums it up so well: "``Children of Heaven'' is very nearly a perfect movie for children, and of course that means adults will like it, too. It lacks the cynicism and smart-mouth attitudes of so much American entertainment for kids and glows with a kind of good-hearted purity. To see this movie is to be reminded of a time when the children in movies were children and not miniature stand-up comics." Lu G. for Lu's Reviews 10/27/2007

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, ROGER EBERT

OLIVER

OLIVER! - 1968

RATING - G (There is some violence and darkness themes that may be a little too much for young children. Otherwise, a great family film.)

AWARDS - 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture plus 5 additional nominations. AFI Top 100 nominee. BAFTA Best Picture nominee.

RATINGS - Ebert (4/4), 109 Amazon ratings (4.5/5), IMBD (7.6/10)

STORY - OLIVER! is the musical adaptation of Charles Dickens famous story Oliver Twist. It is the story of young Oliver Twist who is orphaned and escapes his foster home after first being expelled from the orphanage. He ends up on the streets of 19th Century London where he is 'recruited' by another orphan who is part of a gang of pickpockets who work the streets for their master every day. They are only too happy to have Oliver 'consider himself a part of the family' and learn the trade. In addition to being an outstanding musical, it is a social commentary on England and its attitude toward orphans and child labor, a passion of Charles Dickens. The music, costumes, choreography and settings are all terrific. It deserves every award it received. A classic for the ages. The songs will stay with you long after the movie. Roger Ebert said it best, 'I GUESS IT IS AS WELL MADE AS A MOVIE CAN BE'. If you want to buy it, Amazon has a DVD/SOUNDTRACK combo at very reasonable price. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/20/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, ROGER EBERT

PATH TO WAR

PATH TO WAR - 2002 HBO TV

RATING - NR but probably PG for tense situations & some language.

AWARDS - GOLDEN GLOBE + 17 Other Nominations

STARRING - Alec Baldwin, Donald Sutherland, Michael Gambon

RATINGS - 19 Amazon (4.4/5), IMBD (7.4/10)

STORY - PATH TO WAR is an HBO film, almost a docudrama, about the war in Vietnam-not the one fought on the battlefield but the one being fought in the White House. Donald Sutherland (Clark Clifford) and Alec Baldwin (Robert McNamara) are outstanding and Michael Gambon (Lyndon Johnson) also turns in a terrific performance of a President fighting the battles of ego and conscience. LBJ was a very complex personality and much of that persona comes through in the film. The eerie part is the comparison between then and now-a President from Texas, with two daughters, a divided country, fighting a war that doesn't seem winnable, against an enemy that is hard to quantify. In fact, it seems like many times during the movie you could just substitute Iraq for Vietnam and it would fit perfectly. Combines actual newsreel footage in the film making it feel even more real. Obviously, a very traumatic period in American history, this is a fascinating look behind the scenes at how we got into Vietnam and, finally, the decision LBJ made to start the peace process and not run for re-election so he could concentrate on ending the war. Sadly, he never lived to see the official end to the war. Watching this and THE FOG OF WAR, the Academy Award winning documentary about Robert McNamara, gives a great inside look at the people behind the decisions that affect millions of people, here and abroad. You see the human frailties as well as strengths. At one point, LBJ was complaining to Clark Clifford about the advice he had been given, and Clifford looked him in the eye, and told him that no matter what the decisions had been there were his and he alone had to take responsibility. A very powerful film worth watching. While younger children probably won't be interested anyway, there is some language (LBJ was no saint) and a little bit of violence during the anti-war rallies. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/20/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

SEPARATE BUT EQUAL

SEPARATE BUT EQUAL - 1991

RATING - PG

STARRING - Sidney Poitier, Burt Lancaster

AWARDS - 7 Emmy Nominations, 2 Wins

RATINGS - 24 Amazon ratings (5/5), IMBD (7.5/10)

STORY - SEPARATE BUT EQUAL is one of my favorite movies. Nominated for seven Emmy Awards. It is about the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Case. Starring Sidney Poitier as Thurgood Marshall, the lead attorney for the NAACP, Burt Lancaster, as John W. Davis, arguing the other side, and Richard Kiley, as Chief Justice Earl Warren, it is a powerful story about one of the most important Supreme Court Decisions in the history of our country. The first half is set in South Carolina and depicts the human side of that tragic law called 'separate but equal'. They were separate but anything BUT equal. The second half is the legal battle. My only comment would be that this should be REQUIRED WATCHING to understand the background of the civil rights' movement and the racial situation in our country. As entertaining as it is educational. Five stars all the way. Unfortunately, it's hard to buy (VHS is still relatively cheap but very expensive on DVD) but readily available from Netflix, etc. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/20/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

THE MISSILES OF OCTOBER

THE MISSILES OF OCTOBER - 1973

RATING - NR but probably PG for some language and tense scenes.

REVIEWS - 32 Amazon reviews (4.5/5), IMBD (8.0/10)

AWARDS - Prime time EMMY plus other nominations.

THEMES - The Cold War, government in time of crisis, diplomacy, nuclear war, docudrama.

STORY- THE MISSILES OF OCTOBER (1974-NR) is a tense, tight, made for TV, docudrama about the Cuban missile crisis. It is a Golden Laurel award-winning film based on all historical evidence about those 13 days in October, 1962. Many of us have forgotten or never knew the crisis 45 years ago that brought us to the edge of nuclear war and possible extinction of life as we know it. Unbeknown to America and with full denial from Russia, the USSR had begun to build a nuclear missile arsenal in Cuba that was capable of destroying all of America and most of South America and it was 90 miles from our shores. When a U-2 spy plane discovered the project from 14 miles above the earth, it precipitated perhaps one of the greatest confrontations in world history. The two superpowers, the two nations capable of annihilating one another were face to face. Not that these weapons weren't already the greatest concern of the world already, but why was Russia putting these clearly 'offensive weapons' only 90 miles from the U.S. What were they up to? JFK and his administration had 10 days to figure it out and react before the missiles would be fully installed. The film is about those 13 days in October when the U.S. and Russia played the ultimate nuclear chess game. The film is mostly about the American side but also shows a very interesting side of the Russians during this time as it bounces back and forth between the two leaders. The tension was unimaginable as this was no theoretical discussion about war, this was nuclear war on our doorstep. It makes the discussion of WMD's in Iraq look like a elementary discussion. In reality, this might be a great film for all our leaders to watch before going to war. Kennedy had to face Khrushchev as well as his own military machine, who wanted to take out the nuclear weapons with military force. Kennedy, for all his personal flaws, really seemed to grasp the dangers of war and what responding militarily could do to the world. He chose, instead, to use our military might as the bargaining chip for peace. Khrushchev, also, had to battle his 'comrades' who were eager to take on the U.S. and he showed great courage in standing up to them and negotiating with the U.S. This is a well done film about a historical moment in our history that could have changed the course of world history overnight. As one reviewer said, this proves that history does not have to be boring. Should be required viewing for everyone under 50 as a reminder that we can deal with the most difficult of all situations and not have to go to war, even though it could have ended up with two nations destroying each other. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/13/2007

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

DUEL

DUEL - 1971

RATING - PG probably for tense scenes.

AWARDS - Golden Globe nomination plus others.

REVIEWS - 177 Amazon reviews (4.5/5), IMBD (7.7/10)

THEMES - Suspense, fun, good entertainment.

STORY - DUEL is Steven Spielberg's first full length feature movie (originally made for the CBS Movie Of The Week and then expanded for theaters) and the one that put him on the Hollywood map. If you're in the mood for a good Hitchcock-like movie, this is it. Watch it when you're home alone at night. The film stars Dennis Weaver and THE TRUCK. It starts out looking thru the lens of a camera mounted on the front bumper of a car backing out of the garage, then driving thru the suburban Los Angeles neighborhood, into the rush hour traffic of the LA freeway system. When you finally meet the middle-aged salesman on his way to meet a client somewhere outside of LA in a rural, desert area, he's turned off the freeway onto a lonely, two lane highway. That's where you also meet the co-star of the film, the Peterbilt truck with the tanker trailer. Peterbilt has the long, menacing-looking hood (the face) and the small windows (eyes) and this one looks like it went thru the Vietnam War and is dirty and greasy and has a set of various state license plates on the front bumper (which you learn in the commentary represent each state where he[it] has killed a motorist). Sick of the diesel smoke blowing in the window of his red 4 door Plymouth Valiant sedan, Dennis Weaver looks for an opening to pass THE TRUCK. Whether it was passing it that triggered the decision to terrorize the motorist or he was just waiting for the right victim to come along, we don't know but we keep waiting to see the driver and there are many suspenseful moments when you think the two men will confront each other face to face. The movie is full of suspense as THE TRUCK tries to run Weaver down in the mountains and desert of rural California on a lonely highway. The suspense is constant so that you don't want to turn away for a minute or you might miss something. There is little or no foul language, no sex, just good old fashioned suspense and a fist fight and some vehicles doing damage to property. Very climactic ending. The movie was made entirely on location in 12 days, a phenomenal accomplishment. Watch the interview with Spielberg and you will get a feel for the genius of him as a filmmaker. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/13/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

SMOKE SIGNALS

SMOKE SIGNALS (1998)

RATING - PG-13 for some intense images, mainly a burning house in which you see the victims trying to escape from a distance and the frightening rescue of one of them.

THEMES - Forgiveness, overcoming family problems.

AWARDS - Quite a few awards & nominations including the Audience Award at Sundance.

REVIEWS - "Two Big Thumbs Up"-Siskel & Ebert (3/4), "One of the Best Films of the Year!"-Rolling Stone, 171 Amazon reviewers (4.5/5)

STORY - This is a film written and directed by Native Americans. It is not meant to be politically correct. It is an inside story. It's about a journey that two totally different Native American young men take to discover a father and a hero that, they discover, they really did not know. The first is Thomas, whose parents were killed in the tragic fire when he was a baby. He was spared in a dramatic rescue by Victor Joseph's father. Thomas is raised by his grandparents and turns out to be the town nerd-hands down. Victor Joseph grows up stoic and masculine and tough, what you might expect for someone whose father one day walked out on him and his mother and left them to fend for themselves. Word comes that his father has died and his ashes are waiting to be picked up. He has no money for the bus ticket but Thomas does and offers to pay his way if he can go along. They both have very different memories of the man. Which one is the truth? The bus ride and what they discover when they get there is the heart of this often funny, but equally often serious and reflective film. You will chuckle at the 'traffic report' for the Indian radio station. They break to a remote location where a 'reporter' is sitting on the roof of a car in the middle of nowhere and gives a play by play of each car that goes by. A fun film with a message for the family. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/13/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, ROGER EBERT

ONCE UPON A TIME...WHEN WE WERE COLORED

ONCE UPON A TIME...WHEN WE WERE COLORED - (1995)

RATING - PG for thematic elements including mild violence, language and sensuality.

STARRING - Al Freeman, Jr., Phylicia Rashad, Leon

THEME - Racial discrimination, family, community, growing up in the South.

REVIEWS - Siskel & Ebert (4/4) 'TWO THUMBS UP'

STORY - The film begins in 1946 in a cotton field outside of Glen Allan, Mississippi. A young woman suddenly goes into labor and quickly delivers Cliff, the main character. The rest of the movie is about Cliff growing up in the Deep South from 1946-62. It's the story of Cliff's grandparents and aunt taking responsibility for raising Cliff when the family of his father refuse to have anything to do with him and his young, unmarried mother is unable to do so. It's about a community of African-Americans forced to live separately but (un)equally in a white dominated society where we see Grandad teaching little Cliff how to recognize 'W' and 'C' so he drinks from the correct fountain and uses the right bathroom. It's about a proud community that is willing to work hard and long for meager wages and still not accept charity. It's about a kind, white woman that keeps Cliff in supply of good reading when she realizes 'coloreds' aren't allowed in the library. It's about a community that worships together in a style and form that helps them overcome the daily oppression. And, finally, it's about hope that doing the right thing will eventually be rewarded. There is a feeling that this is probably very much what it was like to grow up in 1950's Mississippi. The only objectionable family scenes might be a brief fight in a bar setting where some sensual dancing between couples takes place and when Cliff and a friend sneak into the burlesque show tent at the circus. None of it is graphic or overemphasized. As one of the characters responded when asked why he returned to Glen Allan to visit, 'to remind me of why I left', so this movie should remind us of why we left discrimination 'officially' behind and why we must work to keep it behind. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/7/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, ROGER EBERT

SOMETHING THE LORD MADE

SOMETHING THE LORD MADE - (2004-NR)

RATING - NR but probably PG for some language & mature themes.

THEME - Racial prejudice, teamwork, humility, justice.

AWARDS - 2004 EMMY for Outstanding Picture.

STORY - (HBO Made for TV) Won the 2004 Emmy for Outstanding Picture. I don't know what the competition was but this is one of my favorite movies and deserves any awards it receives. It is the true story of Dr. Alfred Blalock and Vivian Thomas. The film begins in the 1930's when white heart surgeon Blalock hires Thomas, an African American, as the janitor in his medical lab. Thomas takes home textbooks at night and teaches himself medicine. He is also very skilled with his hands and wants to pursue a career as a surgeon but America is not a friendly environment for blacks who want to achieve in the scholastic world, especially the world of medicine. It soon becomes apparent to Blalock what a genius Thomas is and what a skilled surgeon he could make. While Thomas perfects a new technique that saves thousands of infant lives (still in use today I understand), Blalock gets all the credit. The acting is outstanding and the story will bring tears to your eyes. It's still hard to believe this was America 50 to 60 years ago. A great movie. Too bad it never made it to the theaters. Other than some brief, rough language on the part of Dr. Blalock this is a very family friendly film, one you will want to watch more than once. Better yet - buy several for family & friends. Five stars for sure. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/6/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

WHITE LIGHT, BLACK RAIN: THE DESTRUCTION OF HIROSHIMA & NAGASAKI

WHITE LIGHT, BLACK RAIN: THE DESTRUCTION OF HIROSHIMA & NAGASAKI - (2007-NR)

THEME - DOCUMENTARY of the survivors of Hiroshima & Nagasaki as well as several Americans who participated. Nuclear war.

STORY - A just released powerful HBO documentary. You know the statistics: winds at 1000 MPH and temperatures at 9000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT at ground zero and everyone nearby instantly vaporized. 140,000 dead in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki. What we don't always remember is the story of those who survived. This is the story of 14 Japanese civilians who survived and 4 Americans deeply involved in the attack. Many of these stories have not been told before. I found their stories both tragic for what they have had to live through and with and uplifting because it also reflects the best of the human spirit in surviving unbelievable circumstances, much like those who survived the concentration camps. These people have lived with scars and permanent disabilities, abandonment by their own government and discrimination in the work place. At least an additional 160,000 Japanese died from complications of their bomb wounds and thousands committed suicide rather than live with the horror. But tens of thousands survived to tell their story and to remind the rest of the world about the horrors of this incredible weapon. Whether we have the weapon or oppose those who have it or trying to get it, no one must underestimate the horrors accompanied by the use of it. People will debate whether we should have used it. It did end the war and save potentially hundreds of thousands of additional military casualties but at a tremendous price. Perhaps if enough people will continue to watch this powerful film and others like it, we will not forget this horror and make sure this was the first and last time this planet experiences a nuclear attack. The nuclear weapons in the world today EQUAL 400.000 HIROSHIMAS-A VERY SOBERING THOUGHT. The images of the destruction and mutilated and burned bodies (dead and alive) are very disturbing but perhaps we should all keep those images alive as a grim reminder of what these weapons can do. Put this at the top of your list. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/6/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD