Lu's Reviews

LORENZO'S OIL

2010-12-05T15:18:00.000-06:00

LORENZO'S OIL - 1992

RATING - PG-13 for a child's life threatening ordeal. Some language. Very intense emotionally.

RATED - 57 Amazon (5/5), 189.877 Netflix (3.7/5), 7,755 IMDB (7/10).

STARRING - Susan Sarandon and Nick Nolte.

AWARDS - 1993 Academy Award Nominations for BEST ACTRESS (Sarandon) and BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY.

THEMES - Relationships, justice.

STORY - Based on the real life story of the Odones whose son Lorenze began to suffer from a number of neurological symptoms about age five. It was diagnosed as the rare disease ALD with the medical community giving him no hope of a cure and a limited life expectancy. The Odones would not accept the verdict. They were determined, at any cost and against extreme odds, to find a cure. They became self-educated about the disease and the science behind a potential cure. They mortgaged their home, took leave of their jobs and did everything humanly possible, racing against the clock, to save Lorenzo's life. Part heart breaking drama and part medical mystery this is an extremely well written and well acted film. Nolte and Sarandon are outstanding. It is also a fascinating look behind the scenes as to how medical research is done and how decisions are made as to which projects get priorities. How would we react in a similar situation? Are there areas, perhaps not always life and death, where we have just accepted the 'professional' diagnosis and settled for something less than what could have been. This is an inspiration not to take 'no' for an answer when our instincts tell us otherwise. This is an extremely well done film well worth watching. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12-05-2010,

LINKS - AMAZON, NETFLIX, IMDB/TRAILER

THE STONING OF SORAYA M.

2010-12-05T14:18:00.000-06:00

THE STONING OF SORAYA M. - 2008

RATED - R for a disturbing sequence of cruel and brutal violence, and brief strong language. The scene is very bloody and brutal.

RATINGS - 65 Amazon (4.5/5), 197,128 Netflix (4.2/5), 3,223 IMDB (8/10).

STARRING - Academy Award Nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo and Jim Caviezel.

AWARDS - 4 WINS & 4 NOMINATIONS including Los Angeles Film Festival AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST FEATURE.

STORY - Based on a true story in 1986 about a French-Iranian journalist (Caviezel) whose car broke down while passing through a remote Iranian village. At the risk of her own life, the aunt of Soraya M. made contact with the journalist to tell the story of her niece in hopes that it would make it to the outside world. It reveals a dark side of Islamic culture and the deep prejudice against women and the double standard they allow for men against women. As horrific as this story is, it is too easy to sit in judgment of these people for what they did. This is a difficult film to watch on the order of THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST for its brutality to an innocent person. We end up asking the same questions - how could, family, friends and neighbors allow this, let alone take part in this horrific act? Yet, we look at our society and the racial discrimination that produced equally violent acts towards fellow Americans. How is that societies end up dehumanizing certain segments of the human race, whether by gender, race or religious belief? How do ordinary people end up being murderers and incredibly violent? For sure, this is a story about Iran and Islam and their dark sides but if we don't go any further than that we have missed an opportunity to see where perhaps we have our ugly sides. This is a powerful film with an incredible visual impact.

LINKS - AMAZON, NETFLIX, IMDB/TRAILER

36 HOURS

2010-11-13T13:16:00.000-06:00

36 HOURS - 1965

RATED - PG for mild language, non-graphic violence and tense moments. No nudity or sex.

RATINGS - 17 Amazon (4/5), 13,076 Netflix (3.6/5), 1,311 IMDB (7.3/10).

STARRING - James Garner (Rockford Files, etc), Eva Marie Saint (Oscar winner in On The Waterfront), Rod Taylor.

STORY - The story is set during WWII right before D-Day. Garner plays an Army intelligence agent who is assigned to make one more routine mission before the big invasion to keep the Germans thinking everything is still status quo. He has been in on the highest levels of planning and knows the Allied plans. In a surprise move, he is captured by the Germans who are aware of the knowledge he has and have come up with a most creative plan for getting it out of this well trained intelligence officer who can resist all the normal interrogation techniques. This is a psychological thriller with some very clever little twists. It's a plausible story and will keep you involved. Garner is terrific. While not in the category of a 'classic' it's worth watching if you like WWII and spy stories. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11-13-2010.

LINKS - NETFLIX, IMDB

WINTER'S BONE

2010-11-07T09:23:00.002-06:00

WINTER'S BONE - 2010

RATED - R for language and violence and drug content. Certainly not the worst R rated movie by any means. No sex or nudity. Some killing and skinning of animals. Take it seriously for under 15.

RATINGS - 38 Amazon (4.5/5), 34,556 Netflix (3.6/5), 4,954 IMDB (7.6/10).

AWARDS - THE GRAND JURY PRIZE for DRAMA at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

THEMES - Justice, relationships.

STORY - The story takes place deep in the Ozarks. The people in the film would be commonly referred to as 'white trash'. Their homes are more like junk yards than homes and they live in a culture dominated by drugs and violence (or the threat of violence). Ree is a 17 year old young woman left with the responsibility of raising her 12 year old brother and 7 year old sister and taking care of her mother who suffers from depression and is there in body only. The father has been in and out of trouble with the law for 'cooking crank' and spent time in prison. They live in a shack of a home with a 100 acres of woods behind. One of the more poignant moments occurs early when Ree takes her brother & sister to school and as she's leaving she looks in the windows of the classrooms where her peers are learning to care for a baby or practicing ROTC drills or other things that a normal 17 year old girl would be doing in school. But Ree is no ordinary 17 year old no matter how you slice it. She's determined to make it (if only to survive) with the cards she's been dealt. When she finds out that her father used their property as collateral to post bail for his upcoming court appearance and they will lose the home in a week if he doesn't show, she becomes obsessed with finding him to protect the only material possession they have. No one seems to know (or is willing to tell if they do) where her father is. Finding him is the plot of the story. But it is also a social drama on this overlooked subculture in America. This is not a feel good, happy ending film. It's a very realistic and well done drama about people who seem to have very little hope in this world for a better life and spend their lives living on the fringe of society with drugs and their family feuds. The violence and the language are not overly graphic or gratuitous but caution in watching with anyone under 15-16. Well done and well written film about this subculture. Hard to watch and riveting at the same time. Jennifer Lawrence does a great job as Ree. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11-07-2010,

LINKS - AMAZON, NETFLIX, IMDB

AMISH GRACE

2010-09-18T19:49:00.000-05:00

AMISH GRACE - 2010

RATED - PG for mature themes. Closer to G. The violence at the center of the film is only implied. Nothing is shown.

RATINGS - 5 Amazon (5/5), 211 Netflix (4.2/5), 143 IMDB (7.1/10).

STARRING - Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Father of the Bride 1 & 2)

AWARDS - Highest rated original movie shown on Lifetime.

THEMES - Relationships, spirituality, justice.

STORY - Based on the true story of the murder of five innocent Amish school girls in 2006 in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. The main family in the story is fictional, however. Great acting and screenplay. Emotional without being manipulative. Violent without showing any violence. Inspirational without being preachy. I have always been critical of faith-based films that are basically 'sermons disguised as films'. Faith-based films should be great stories where the message is an integral part of the story. This is one of those. At the heart of the story is a horrific crime. A lone gunman backs his pickup to a one room Amish school, walks in and proceeds to kill five young Amish girls and wound five others. What happens after that is almost as unbelievable. Three Amish men, including the father of one of the victims, visit the home of the killer to offer forgiveness and help to the gunman's widow. But not everyone finds it easy to forgive. Ida Graber (Paisley) isn't buying it. 'I will not betray my daughter by forgiving her killer'. What follows is for the most part the struggle between two women, both mothers & wives, struggling with forgiveness and their husbands from two totally different perspectives. While we may all have a tendency to see the Amish as stoic and and almost mechanical or robotic in their faith, this is not at all what comes thru in the film. While raising (but not answering) some inconsistencies in their practices, we see them as real humans struggling to deal with this horrific crime against their community. One of the most powerful scenes is at the funeral for the gunman. This is a movie that will haunt you and stick with you as you consider (at least I did) how to live out a live of forgiving with even just the most mundane grievances. What could this mean for communities, our nation and our world if forgiveness were truly practiced. I highly recommend this film. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/18.2010.

LINKS - IMDB, NETFLIX, AMAZON, The Power of Forgiveness

CAPTAIN ABU RAED

2010-07-18T15:04:00.003-05:00

CAPTAIN ABU RAED - 2008

RATED - NR but PG/PG-13 for some violence although almost all is off screen.

RATINGS - 13 Amazon (5/5), 5,729 Netflix (3.7/5), 518 IMDB (7.4/10).

THEMES - Relationships, justice.

AWARDS - 15 wins and 3 nominations at various film festivals including winner of AUDIENCE AWARD at Sundance Film Festival.

STORY - This Jordanian film, nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Film division, is the story of an aging widower who is a janitor at the airport in Amman, Jordan. Mistaken by neighborhood kids as an airline pilot, he begins to tell stories of travel and far away places that awe these poor children. The story develops as "Captain" Raed gets to the know the kids and the challenges they are facing at home. What I like about so many foreign films is that they are built on character development not fancy dialogue or non-stop action. They actually make you think about the characters and what's going on in their lives and what the film is trying to say. At the end of the film, it leaves you wondering about some of the characters and what might have happened. Foreign films often do not have nice, neat, tidy endings like American films. There is some ambiguity. This is true of Captain Raed. If slick screenplay and unbelievable CGI's of action are your thing (nothing wrong with that) this will probably not interest you. If you enjoy realistic characters and a good story this is a worth watching. It is also a slice of life and humanity and geography in a country many of us don't know much about - Jordan. Highly recommend. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/18/2010.

LINKS - IMDB & TRAILER, NETFLIX

AMREEKA

2010-07-04T11:49:00.000-05:00

AMREEKA - 2009

RATED - PG-13 for brief scene of teenagers smoking marijuana and some language. A pretty mild PG-13.

RATINGS - 11 AMAZON (4.5/5), 57,102 NETFLIX (3.5/5), 1,105 IMDB (7/10).

THEMES - Relationships, justice.

AWARDS - Nominee for BEST FEMALE LEAD & BEST FEATURE in the 2010 Independent Spirit Awards. Winner at 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

STORY - What happens when your life is turned upside down by your husband divorcing you for a slimmer, younger woman and walls are built around where you live adding hours every day to your commute to work and you spend every penny to keep your son in a private school? You take the first best opportunity that comes along to get out of that situation. Muna, a Palestinian single woman, does just that when she receives an offer to relocate free to America. This begins the adventures and misadventures of someone immigrating to America with the hopes and promises of a better life. She lands in a small town in Illinois to live (temporarily is the plan) with her sister and physician husband and teenage children until she can establish herself and son. She has two degrees and has had professional experience in the work world so it shouldn't take long - wrong! Told with humor as well as heartbreak (it's just after 9/11and anyone from the Middle East is the enemy), this National Geographic film is a reminder of why people still come to AMREEKA and how easy it is to be misunderstood and to struggle to make a living no matter how hard you are willing to work. It is worth watching by families whose children may be finding it difficult to accept those who don't talk or dress or act just like us. Changing schools as an American teenager can be very difficult. Try coming from another country, especially one we see as an adversary. Highly recommend. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/04/2010.

LINKS - IMDB & TRAILER, NETFLIX.

PARIS 1919

2010-07-03T22:01:00.000-05:00

PARIS 1919 - 2009 (TV)

RATED - NR but probably PG-13 for some graphic archival pictures of dead soldiers in WWI.

RATINGS - 7 AMAZON (4.5/5), 364 NETFLIX (3.2/5), 41 IMDB (7.2/10).

AWARDS- Winner of Banff World Television Award for BEST HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY.

THEMES - Justice, relationships.

STORY - This docudrama with both archival footage and drama tells the story of the peace talks in Paris in 1919 at the end of WWI which ended in the Treaty of Versailles. WWI was truly a world war and at the end dozens of nations wanted reparations or a piece of the spoils. They all convened in Paris for what they thought would be a 3-4 week conference to settle all the post war divisions. Nations' borders were being redrawn and people groups were being shuffled around like livestock. To Paris came kings and queens and caliphs and emirs and THEN the deity, Woodrow Wilson. The United States had entered the war and ended the war so everyone looked to the U.S. for answers and Woodrow Wilson was godlike, at least in the beginning. A large conference room was set up where nations could present their case in front of the representatives from Japan, Italy, Great Britain, France and Woodrow Wilson (U.S.). Japan was eliminated from the group after a short time and Italy had little influence in the end. This is a well done summary of a behind the scenes look at the Paris Peace Conference which stretched on for six months as countries jockeyed for position on the world scene, unknowingly setting the stage for WWII as they punished Germany into the ground, creating a backlash that produced evil like the world had never known and thought impossible. Even today we see and feel the effects of this peace treaty which spawned the League of Nations, the precursor to the United Nations and the brainchild of Woodrow Wilson. Another slice of history which helps to understand the world we live in today. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/03/2010.

LINKS - IMDB, NETFLIX

OFFSIDE

2010-06-26T13:52:00.000-05:00

OFFSIDE - 2006

RATED - PG for relatively mild language throughout.

RATINGS - 8 Amazon (4/5), 24,109 Netflix (3/5), 2,254 IMDB (7.1/10).

THEMES - Justice, discrimination, religion.

AWARDS - 4 wins and 3 nominations at various international film festivals.

STORY - It's 2005 in Tehran and Iran is playing Bahrain for the chance to advance to the World Cup. There are 100,000 spectators cheering on the Iranian team. What's wrong with that picture? They're all men - or supposed to be. Iran doesn't allow women to attend sporting events. The official reason is they will be exposed to foul language and men's legs (the players presumably). The real reason, of course, is women are discriminated against in Iran. However, not all the fans are men at the game - they just all look like men. Some are young girls (who are allowed to play soccer) who want to see the game so badly they try to disguise themselves as men and buy a ticket. Some make it but the 'gender police' are out in full force and some are caught. This is a film (banned in Iran by the way) about those who are arrested. They are taken to a holding pen right outside the stadium where they can hear but not see the game. The film is mostly about the interaction between these young female fans and the young male guards who are assigned to make sure they are 'tortured' by hearing but not seeing. While making the point well about discrimination, the film is also a light hearted story about how young men and women in Iran see their roles and the lengths some young women will go to see a forbidden soccer match. Don't expect soccer action (actual game footage is measured in seconds) but a good story about culture and another opportunity to learn about a country we hear so much about but really don't know much about. Much of the film was shot at the stadium the actual day of the big match so it has an authentic feel - a kind of docudrama feel. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews.

LINKS - IMDB & TRAILER

INVICTUS

2010-06-26T10:26:00.000-05:00

INVICTUS - 2009

RATED - PG-13 for brief strong language in lockerroom/athletic setting. Some sports violence as rugby is a very physical sport.

RATINGS - 74 Amazon (4/5), 102,561 Netflix (3.8/5), 22,310 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Directed by Clint Eastwood.

THEMES - Justice, relationships.

AWARDS - ACADEMY & GOLDEN GLOBE nominations for Best Actor (Freeman) and Best Supporting Actor (Damon) as well as GG nominee for Best Director (Eastwood).

STORY - It's 1995 and Nelson Mandela (Freeman) has just been elected the first democratically elected black president of South Africa. Not surprisingly, his supporters see this as the ultimate opportunity for pay back to the white community for all the years of oppression. But Mandela is a different kind of leader. He believes in working hard to unite all the people and forgiving those who have harmed him and his people. Everyone assumes Mandela will replace the white leadership of the struggling national rugby team with his own. However, Mandela sees this as an opportunity to unify the country through sports. He commits himself to working with the existing white leadership and particularly the captain of the rugby team played by Matt Damon. He challenges Damon to rise to the occasion and capture the World Cup which they are hosting. He is taking a great risk with the future of his leadership. Based on the true story of Nelson Mandela and South Africa, it is part history, part leadership lesson and a moving sports drama. Highly recommend. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews.

LINKS - IMDB & TRAILER

THE VERDICT

2010-05-29T13:02:00.000-05:00

THE VERDICT - 1982

RATED - R for language. Mostly early in the movie in onc scene a number of 'f' words. Pretty minor after that. No sex or nudity. One incident of violence where a woman is slapped across the face and shown with bloody nose.

RATINGS - 94 Amazon (5/5), 252.718 Netflix (3.8/5), 10,518 IMDB (7.7/10).

STARRING - Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, James Mason, Jack Warden.

AWARDS - Five 1983 Academy Award and four Golden Globe nominations including BEST PICTURE and BEST ACTOR.

THEMES - Justice, relationships.

STORY - The film opens with down and out attorney Frank Galvin (Newman) spending his day the way he usually does - with alcohol and playing pin ball games. A former editor of his college law review and partner in a prestigious law firm, he is now an ambulance chaser and alcoholic. A professional lapse in judgment which led to almost being disbarred and to the end of his marriage has taken its toll. A friend and former colleague, Mickey Morrissey (Warden) refers him a 'softball' case which should easily settle out of court with the insurance company for a nice fee. With only ten days before the case goes to court (Frank has forgotten) his conscience starts to bother Frank and he really believes he can go to court and win, contrary to the client's wishes and everyone else's advice. What follows is a fascinating courtroom drama as well as character study. Enough surprises and twists to keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. One of Newman's more overlooked gems. If you like legal thrillers and courtroom drama, this is a classic. Great supporting performances from Mason, Warden and Rampling.

LINKS - IMDB/TRAILER

THE HUSTLER

2010-05-29T11:19:00.000-05:00

THE HUSTLER - 1961

RATED - NR but probably PG-13. Almost every scene involves alcohol and adult topics. There is no foul language, sex or nudity. There is some minor violence, mostly partially hidden or off screen.

RATINGS - 115 Amazon (4.5/5), 337,363 Netflix (4.0/5), 24,464 IMDB (8.2/10)

STARRING - Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George Scott, Piper Laurie and Myron McCormick.

AWARDS - Nine Academy Award Nominations including BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS and two BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR. BAFTA BEST PICTURE award and several Golden Globe nominations including BEST ACTOR.

THEMES - Relationships, justice.

STORY - The film opens with a typical scene in a day of the lives of 'Fast Eddie' (Newman) and Charlie (McCormick). Another small town stop pretending to be salesman with car trouble on their way to a sales award convention so they need to spend a few hours at the local pool hall while their car is being worked on. They go into their routine to 'setup' the locals for the big hustle and at the end of the day the locals are a few hundred dollars lighter. The ultimate goal is to 'hustle' the mighty one, Minnesota Fats (Gleason) who hasn't been beaten in 15 years. The big match lasts 36 grueling hours and several bottles of booze. The cocky, swaggering Eddie has met his match but it wasn't the pool skills that did him in. Can he recover or is he the 'born loser' that Bert Gordon (Scott), the 'Fat Man's manager and professional gambler, accuses him of being? Sarah (Laurie) enters the picture and can two 'born losers' rehabilitate each other? The acting is outstanding by all five main characters and the settings in seedy bars, bus stations and pool halls genuinely gives the feeling of life in another world where day to day survival is fueled by alcohol and nicotine and petty pursuits. Can anyone pull themselves out of this environment or are they destined to be 'born losers'? Human nature at its most raw and vulnerable. One of Newman's great performances along with Gleason, Scott and Laurie. A classic!!!

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB/TRAILER

THE SECRETS OF JONATHAN SPERRY

2010-05-12T15:41:00.000-05:00

THE SECRETS OF JONATHAN SPERRY - 2008

RATED - PG for mild thematic elements. VERY family friendly.

RATINGS - 4 Amazon (5/5), 5,036 Netflix (3.7/5), 89 IMDB (6.1/10).

STARRING - Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat) as Jonathan Sperry, Jansen Panettiere as Dustin. Directed by Rich Christiano.

THEMES - Spirituality, relationships.

STORY - First of all, I love films where faith plays an important role in the story and where it fits into the movie but is not necessarily the center of the narrative. The latter tend to come across as sermons disguised as movies or books or whatever. This film has too much of that. The only thing missing was the altar call and I don't say that to be overly critical. For being set in 1970 it still comes across as too much like Leave It To Beaver. The 'good' kids seems a little too good and the 'bad' dude seems a little too good, also. In not wanting to offend the 'church' audience they sanitize it to the point it doesn't seem real. The bullies I remember used language that offended and other gestures that conveyed less than holy thoughts. Even good kids didn't always have it together or behave appropriately all the time. While the acting is pretty decent and it has warm fuzzies, it just doesn't come across as a realistic portrayal of the way life happens even to those whose faith is a priority in their life. Is it a waste of time? No, it has its merits and there are several meaningful lessons to be considered by viewers. Many will be inspired by the message of the film. There is nothing wrong with the movie, it's just that I would love to see people of faith concentrate on developing great stories where faith fits naturally into the story instead of developing a message and trying to fit it into a movie. There is a difference and the difference is between a realisic portrayal of life and what we would like to imagine life to be like. This is a film that has a message but ultimately it will probably 'preach to the choir'.

LINKS - IMDB/TRAILER

THE SONG OF SPARROWS

2010-05-08T09:21:00.006-05:00

THE SONG OF SPARROWS - 2008

RATED - PG for mild language. Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 2 Amazon (4/5), 9.536 Netflix (3.5/5), 781 IMDB (7.6/10).

STARRING - Directed by Majid Majidi who also directed the Academy Award winning CHILDREN OF HEAVEN and THE COLOR OF PARADISE.

AWARDS - Six wins and two nominations at various major film festivals. The Iranian entry for Academy Award category Best Foreign Language Film.

THEMES - Relationships, spirituality.

STORY - This is the story of Karim, the rural Iranian father of a deaf teen-aged daughter and two younger children. When, at the same time, he loses his job on an Ostrich ranch and his daughter loses her hearing aid right before important school exams, he heads to Tehran on his motorbike to look for work. By accident, he becomes a motorbike taxi driver and begins to make more money than he ever dreamed of. But he also begins to change as his desire for things and his ethics collide. Having promised his wife that the first priority would be to replace their daughter's hearing aid, he finds himself tempted by the material life he now has access to. Several heart breaking incidents cause him to examine what he has become. While the story/parable may be familiar, what is special is the way Majidi presents it. The dialogue is minimal letting the non-verbal actions of the characters speak for themselves as well as the great cinematography. Unlike many (not all)American films, it does not insult your intelligence with shallow dialogue and unnecessary action. Majidi really develops the characters into believable human beings. Reza Naji is great as Karim and the children in the film are so delightful and photogenic. And if you enjoy learning about and experiencing other cultures, it is a great window into Iranian culture, in this case, both rural and urban. With most of us only getting the sound bites about Iran we hear on radio or TV, this will give an insight into the real people and culture.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB/TRAILER

BASEBALL - A FILM BY KEN BURNS

2010-05-01T10:35:00.006-05:00

BASEBALL - 1994

RATED - NR but probably G/PG for some thematic elements.

RATINGS - 179 Amazon (4.5/5), 68,259 Netflix (4.0/5), 1228 IMDB (9.2/10).

STARRING - Every well known and not so well known baseball player who has contributed to the success of the sport since its beginning.

STORY - This is Ken Burns' epic series on the history of baseball. It is 10 discs for a total of about 20 hours. You don't have to watch them all and you don't have to watch in the chronological order they were produced but once you start it is hard to stop. Even those who may consider themselves marginal baseball fans can enjoy this amazing series. Baseball is so much a part of the history of our country since it began in the 1850's - yes, that's right they played baseball during the Civil War. Sometimes it reflects our culture (racial discrimination until Jackie Robinson) and sometimes it creates culture (hundreds of leagues at all ages playing the game in the beginning). Nobody does documentaries about our life in America better than Ken Burns and he is at his best with BASEBALL. He does a great job of bringing in political and cultural influences on the sport. The sport of baseball and particularly professional baseball does not exist in a vacuum and is subject to the same outside influences as any other institution in America. And, yes, there really was some good in the 'good old days' but there was also a lot that needed fixing and you will experience both during this series. As someone who once stood countless times along the chalk baseline in a straight row with teammates and sang the National Anthem waiting to hear the umpire say 'let's play ball', I can honestly say this is a priceless story of the game of baseball. Thanks, Ken Burns, for helping all of us understand why baseball is America's pastime and so much a part of American life. And for all those whose overly efficient mothers threw out their boxes of baseball cards when they went away to college, this is for you. And for all those sisters (I know at least four) who had to watch hundreds of their brothers' games growing up, this may help you to understand why he was so passionate about the game. Enjoy!!

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

UP THE YANGTZE

2010-03-28T14:32:00.005-05:00

UP THE YANGTZE - 2007

RATED - NR but PG in other countries. Might get PG-13 rating here due to fair number of 'f' words by one of the main characters. Since he is Chinese speaking the word appears in the subtitle each time. Otherwise, very family friendly. Subtitles are only used for Chinese speaking characters, roughly half the dialogue.

RATINGS - 6 Amazon (4.5/5), 28,675 Netflix (3.5/5), 891 IMDB (7.4/10).

AWARDS - Won or was nominated for many awards at various film festivals including Sundance.

STORY - The film is a documentary primarily about a Chinese family living in the town of Fengdu on the Yangtze River. The world's largest dam project, The Three Gorges Dam, will displace about two million people who live along the river when it is completed. Is this progress or destruction? The film does not attempt to answer the question. It simply tells the story of this family and several others whose lives are affected by the new dam. Yu Shui, the 16 year old daughter, wants to be the first to go on to higher education after finishing middle school. The family, however, knows their future is changing as their home (shack really) on the river will soon be underwater when the dam is completed. That means they will have to rent somewhere and will no longer be able to grow their own food. Yu will have to go to work and earn money to go to school. The film follows this shy, young girl and another, outgoing, young man as they are hired by a luxury cruise ship on the Yangtze catering to wealthy European and North American tourists. They must both learn how to please (cater to) these visitors. Her parents also must cope with the changes happening in their lives. This is a film about real people whose lives are being changed by forces beyond their control and they must adapt to a lifestyle that is both unfamiliar and uncomfortable. The contrast between these people and the 'westernized' Chinese of the larger cities that they visit on the ship's itinerary is also portrayed. As China's economy grows and they gain access to more and more of the world's goods and services, the people, whether they want to or not, are being forced to change. The film doesn't judge the merits, it simply tells the stories. One more opportunity to get acquainted with people from this giant country that has come on to the world stage with such great force. Like it or not, we need to know as much as we can about the people we are joined with at the hip in so many ways. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/28/2010.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

CRUDE

2010-02-27T07:52:00.005-06:00

CRUDE - 2009

RATED - NR but probably PG-13 for several uses of the 'f' word.

RATINGS - 3 Amazon (5/5), 1,700 Netflix (3.5/5), 136 IMDB (8.0/10).

THEME - Justice

AWARDS - Many awards and nominations at various film festivals.

STORY - I watched this video with high hopes after reading the reviews. It did not live up to the reviews. After all that Wall Street and other 'too big to fail' corporations have done to our country, I really wanted to see a story where a big corporation got what was coming to them for raping the environment and leaving a trail of destruction in the country where they made their fortune. While the film skillfully plays on your emotions with the editing of scenes back and forth between sick babies and sludge filled ponds and rivers where the people live, eat and drink, it is short on facts. It is clearly told from the plaintiffs point of view and that's fine (every 'objective' documentary has a story to tell) but you need to make your case. This was billed as a kind of 'legal thriller' documentary. I tried to look at it from a perspective juror's standpoint. As much as I felt emotionally for the people I don't know if I would be able to convict Chevron based on this film. It is woefully short on medical documentation connecting the dots between what Chevron did to their environment and the cancer outbreaks. There were no statistics of before and after cancer cases or how the environment contributed to the cancer. Also, it would be foolish, based on history, to think the government of Ecuador was an innocent player. Clearly, bribery and payoffs are the way business is done in third world countries, and the film did nothing to reveal the relationship between PetroEcuador and Chevron. Who in the government benefited from all this? What is their responsibility? While I have absolutely no sympathy for Chevron, they are all too easy of a target and it does not seem likely they could have pulled this off without a lot of inside help from government officials. It was also not made clear how much the plaintiff attorneys will benefit from this lawsuit. They are asking for $27 Billion. Are they doing it pro bono? If not, what is their take? As they say, 'follow the money'. Lastly, at the end of the film, they brought in a celebrity activist who contributed nothing to the overall story, just took credit for donating some water purification devices. As they used to say on Dragnet, 'just the facts, ma'am'. I wanted to really like this film but give me the facts, not just an emotional appeal for what seems to be a worthy cause. Watch it to be better informed about how multinational corporations and corrupt third world governments rape their countries and leave the citizens to live with the destruction but if you're on the jury and you vote with your head, I don't think you'll be convinced. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 02-27-2010.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

CALL NORTHSIDE 777

2010-01-01T13:53:00.005-06:00

CALL NORTHSIDE 777 - 1948

RATED - NR but probably G/PG for mature themes. Family friendly but probably not of interest for young children.

RATINGS - 39 Amazon (4.5/5), 17,476 Netflix (3.7/5), 2,393 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - James Stewart, Lee J. Cobb, Helen Walker, Richard Conte.

AWARDS - 1949 EDGAR (Mystery Writers Association) for Best Motion Picture.

THEMES - Justice, relationships.

STORY - Based on a true story, this docudrama-like film is the story of how police corruption in 1930's Chicago resulted in the wrongful conviction of Frank Wiecek for killing a policeman. A newspaper reporter for the Chicago Times (Stewart) responds to a two line personal ad offering a $5000 reward (a large sum then) for information helping to overturn the verdict 11 years later. He finds a hard working, floor scrubbing woman who is the mother of Wiecek. Since his conviction she has worked and saved every penny to free her son. Stewart is initially unconvinced but writes a sympathy article to promote her cause. Little by little, things come to light that indicate there may be some truth to her beliefs. Once convinced, he is relentless in his pursuit of freeing this man he now believes to be innocent. He reaches dead end after dead end but, finally, with time running out, he finds what he's looking for. Will it be enough and will it be in time? In addition to a very interesting story (and great acting by Stewart, etc) much of the film is shot on location in and around Chicago. Definitely an overlooked gem of Jimmy Stewart's great career. If you like law & order and courtroom dramas you will enjoy this. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 01/01/2010.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WIKIPEDIA.

THE PISTOL

2010-01-01T12:54:00.006-06:00

THE PISTOL - 1991

RATED - G - Very family friendly. Should be very interesting for Junior High and Senior High athletes, both boys and girls. Great film for coaches to show their teams.

RATINGS - 10 Amazon (4.5/5), 11,067 Netflix (3.7/5), 357 IMDB (7.1/10).

THEMES - Relationships, perseverance, racial issues.

STORY - Pete Maravich is the greatest scorer in the history of NCAA basketball. Think about it. This is a record that has stood for 40 years AND he did it before the three point rule (he was a guard with many of his shots outside today's three point boundary) AND freshman were not eligible when he played so he did it in three years. He averaged 44 points (charts show it would have been an incredible 57 with the three point rule) per game for three seasons. He also went on to become one of the all time great NBA players and was the youngest ever selected for the Hall of Fame. He was also a pioneer of the free wheeling style of basketball that dominates today. Behind the back passes and between the legs dribbling were unheard of in the white dominated basketball culture. Much more common in the segregated black teams and leagues, it was considered show-boating and hot-dogging in the white culture at that time. But Pete had a Dad, Press Maravich (a great player & coach in his own right), who was also a visionary and saw this as the future of basketball. This film is the story of how a father passed on his dream and vision to his talented and determined son at an early age. The film primarily covers Pete's eighth grade basketball, a coming of age experience, for this young man, both socially and athletically. Too good for his age and not politically correct to beat out the coach's son, he sits on the bench for a good part of the season until an injury puts him in the starting lineup. Basketball would never be the same again. While not a big budget film, nevertheless, it is a very satisfying story of this incredible athlete in this particular stage of his career. Adam Guier, who plays the eighth grade Pete, is no slouch as a basketball talent and makes the basketball scenes very real. Get the family or your team together for a fun and inspiring experience. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 01/01/2010.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WIKIPEDIA

LIVING PROOF

2009-12-26T10:27:00.005-06:00

LIVING PROOF - 2008 (TV)

RATED - NR but probably PG for mature themes. Family friendly but not for young children.

RATINGS - 11 Amazon (4.5/5), 17,365 Netflix (3.9/5), 239 IMDB (6.7/10).

STARRING - Harry Connick, Jr., Paula Cale, Bernadette Peters and others.

THEMES - Relationships.

STORY - This made for TV movie is based on the book, HER-2, which is the story of Dr. Dennis Slamon's passionate pursuit of a cure for breast cancer. It is essentially the battle between Slamon and Genentech, the company that owns the rights to Herceptin. Slamon is the lead research doctor on the drug and believes with all his being that it can give new life to at least 40,000 of the 200,000 new breast cancer cases each year. Genentech does not believe it has the potential to be financially successful, which is their definition of a successful drug (at least how it is pictured in the film). At a point in the development of the drug, Hollywood friends come to the rescue and raise the money to keep the project going. It is clearly Slamon's drive and passion that is keeping the research alive. It is also the general story of what it takes to bring a new drug to market through the FDA approval process-no insignificant task no matter how great your drug is. The film becomes very emotional as he finally wins approval to begin testing on women in stage IV breast cancer-those that are considered without hope from any approved treatments. Because of the extremely tight restrictions put in place by Genentech, he must exclude some women who are desperate for any hope of a cure. Even more heart wrenching are those who are helped in the Phase I testing but are not allowed to move to Phase II because of the Genentech restrictions. He also discovers that it helps some but not others which is powerfully visualized in a scene where the treatment room is shown full of the test patients that started and one by one those who have died disappear. The film is a testimony to the belief and perseverance of one man who was determined to make a difference against great odds. Where might that apply in our lives? While the drug is not without controversy today, it has saved thousands of lives and fulfilled Slamon's dream of making a difference in the battle against breast cancer. The one shortcoming in the movie is the depiction of Genentech as, more or less, the evil enemy of this dedicated doctor (which they may very well have been) but there is another side to every drug story. And that is that there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of potential drugs out there to cure all kinds of diseases and some are worthwhile and some are not. There is not enough money to find out if they all work and someone has to make the decisions of which ones to pursue and they all sound great in the development stage. Making those kind of life and death decisions requires the wisdom of Solomon, something very few people have. These decisions will only get more difficult as our population ages and the money shrinks to provide treatment for everyone for every disease. This is a wonderful, inspirational film worth watching. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/26/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

MEMPHIS BELLE

2009-12-19T09:41:00.005-06:00

MEMPHIS BELLE - 1990

RATED - PG-13, most likely for language and war violence and some fairly brief closeup scenes of wounded soldiers. A pretty mild PG-13 compared to many.

RATINGS - 97 Amazon (4/5), 314,220 Netflix (3.8/5), 8,472 IMDB (6.7/10), Roger Ebert (4/5).

STARRING - Harry Connick, Jr., Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, etc.

AWARDS - Nominated for one BAFTA in 1991.

STORY - This WWII film is based on the true story of the Memphis Belle, a B-17 bomber and crew based in England and flying daylight (the most dangerous) bombing raids over Western Europe. They have flown 24 successful missions and one more and they'll be done and able to go home. They would be the first crew in the Eighth Air Force to finish all 25. The fatality rate of these daylight missions is so high as to almost be considered suicidal. Over 200,000 men were killed in air battles over Western Europe during WWII. Because of their size and flying relatively low over targets, they were especially vulnerable to being shot down. The bombs were dropped by visually sighting the target and dropping the bombs. Needless to say, there was a great deal of 'imprecision' in hitting their targets. If the lead plane was off target, the rest of planes following their lead would be wrong, also. In the film, we see how seriously this particular pilot took the commitment to hit military targets and avoid civilians, although that wasn't always the case (they're all Nazis as one crew member screamed in defiance). They Army and Look magazine have already lined up a 'victory tour' around the U.S. to promote the war once they finish their 25th mission. But have they jumped the gun? They draw the Bremen, Germany assignment, one of the most dangerous. Once the plane takes off on their final mission, you are drawn into this drama and it won't let you go. The film is also punctuated with some archival footage of aerial combat. Take the time to watch the heroics of these crews who put their lives on the line every mission and changed the course of WWII and, ultimately, world history. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/19/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

2009-12-12T19:20:00.005-06:00

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER - 1958

RATED - NR but probably PG for adult content/mild violence.

RATINGS - 105 Amazon (5/5), 32,833 Netflix (3.7/5), 5.520 IMDB (8.0/10).

AWARDS - 1959 Golden Globes Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Film is in English but produced in Britain.

STORY - Most everyone is familiar with the story of the Titanic but if you've only seen the recent film versions, you may not know the real story. This is, arguably, the most accurate version of what happened that fateful night on April 15, 1912 to a ship that was 'unsinkable'. The film has the feel of a docudrama with no villains or fictional romances. The story of what actually happened is more than interesting. There are archival clips from the actual launching of the Titanic mixed in. In addition to the obvious arrogance of people thinking they had built an unsinkable ship, there was the arrogance of 'class' in society. The difference between those traveling first class and those in 'steerage' is shocking and , in the end, heart breaking, seeing the lower class passengers trying to escape the sinking ship. There are no CGI's but it was state of the art for that time and probably more realistic than CGI's. The extras on this Criterion version are excellent and very helpful in understanding the culture and setting for this tragic event. For example, there are two memorials side by side in the home of the Titanic, one for Titanic victims and one for war casualties. The names of the shipwreck victims are in order of importance and the soldiers are listed alphabetically. As tragic as the event was, caused by human error and poor decisions, there are true heroes and many more lives would have been lost if not for them. It was A Night To Remember. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/12/09.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, THE BOOK

INTO THE STORM

2009-12-05T14:22:00.007-06:00

INTO THE STORM - 2009 (TV)

RATED - TV-PG There is some fairly minor language including a couple 'F' words by Churchill. Some archival war footage with war violence but not overly graphic. Churchill is shown taking a bath and talking to FDR. His chest and feet are showing and when he gets out, his aid wraps a towel in the appropriate place which promptly falls off, leaving FDR pretty much speechless. We don't see anything other than the rear upper torso of Churchill. This is pretty family friendly and should be of interest to teens and older.

RATINGS - 4 Amazon (3/5), 1,937 Netflix (3.5/5), 461 IMDB (7.1/10).

STARRING - Brendan Gleeson (Churchill), Janet McTeer (Clementine Churchill).

STORY - An excellent HBO production on the life of Churchill during the war years following up on their terrific film, THE GATHERING STORM, leading up to the war years. I didn't think Gleeson was quite as outstanding as Albert Finney in GATHERING STORM or McTeer as Redgrave but they both gave excellent performances. There is no question that Churchill, warts and all, is one of the most fascinating men in modern history. In the GATHERING STORM we learn of Churchill's sense of destiny for his life. In this film we see why he may have indeed been destined for 'such a time as this'. The circumstances are overwhelming for Britain. The future of the country and the empire are literally on the line. The film begins with the very early stages of the war in 1940 and quickly flashes forward to 1945 with Churchill and family vacationing in France by the ocean, waiting for the results of the election for prime minister. These flashbacks and flash forwards are both the strength and weakness of the film. They show us the 'before' and 'after' Churchill but often make it a little confusing at first until you understand what's going on. It also helps to have some knowledge about Churchill and WWII as the scenes are usually fairly short and don't give a lot of context. What you do you get is some very interesting insights into the mind of Churchill in the various war situations. For example, when deciding whether to bomb Dresden, his military advisers are concerned about civilian casualties but Churchill shows no concern for civilians and we learn shortly after the decision that 58,000 civilians are killed and 200,000 lose their occupations due to the destruction of war factories. We learn that he has loved military strategy from a young child and people question whether this might just another 'game' for him. His relationship with 'Clemmy' is also a fascinating one. She is a strong person in her own right and without her, it is doubtful Churchill would have fulfilled his 'destiny' in the way he did. A highly entertaining and informative HBO film. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/05/09.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

I'LL BE SEEING YOU

2009-12-05T13:20:00.004-06:00

I'LL BE SEEING YOU - 1944

RATED - NR but probably G. VERY family friendly but not very interesting for young children. Older teenage girls may be interested in what a young woman (Shirley Temple) was like in the 1940's.

RATINGS - 19 Amazon (4.5/5), 14,657 Netflix (3.6/5), 381 IMDB (7.1/10).

STARRING - Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotten & Shirley Temple.

THEMES - Relationships, forgiveness.

STORY - A soldier and a young, attractive woman in a hurry to catch the train 'home' for the Christmas holidays, both stop at the newspaper stand simultaneously. The soldier (Cotten) is obviously nervous and distracted and the woman (Rogers) is confused why gum is not available. They end up sitting across from one another on the train. The conversation is awkward but the soldier decides quickly to create a story about going to the same destination in the hopes of seeing her again. As the story develops we learn the secrets each is carrying and the obvious risk there is in sharing that secret with someone they might care about. They each must deal with their secrets apart, also, as they wrestle the demons from the past. The story of the soldier could easily apply to any one of our troops today coming home from Iraq or Afghanistan. This is a well done story and performance by everyone involved. Shirley Temple is a little over the top as Roger's niece but turns in a solid performance as well. While not as well known as THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES or IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, it is a worthwhile addition to your Christmas collection. It's readily available from Netflix but is OOP and very expensive to purchase on Amazon. I bought a new copy very reasonably on Ebay from a foreign source and it played perfectly with a great quality picture. Enjoy the Christmas season and remember those you meet may be dealing with unseen demons in their lives. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/05/09.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE RON CLARK STORY

2009-11-15T14:57:00.007-06:00

THE RON CLARK STORY - 2006 (TV)

RATED - NR but probably PG for some minor violence and language. Family friendly. Best for age 12 and above.

RATINGS - 59 Amazon (4.5/5), 134,128 Netflix (4/5), 3,461 IMDB (7.6/10).

STARRING - Matthew Perry who was nominated for an Emmy as the Best Lead Actor.

AWARDS - Numerous nominations, including Emmy and Golden Globe. Won Family Film Award for Best TV Movie/Drama.

STORY - This is the true story of Ron Clark, a teacher in rural North Carolina, who had a dream to teach in the toughest area of New York City. The dream wasn't just for himself, it was for that indifferent young boys and girls, against great odds, could become successful in life if only they could believe it was possible. Not only were the odds great against any of his students going beyond elementary school, the odds seemed even greater against Ron Clark making it through his first year of teaching in the toughest school in Harlem. But he had a dream and he was 'naive' enough and idealistic enough to believe he could reach that goal. While optimism and belief are essential, it is also helpful to have talent and Ron Clark is a very gifted and creative teacher. He was willing to experiment with various ways to reach this rebellious kids who wanted nothing to do with school or him. If making a fool of himself trying to 'double dutch' jump rope would get their attention, then so be it. The kids were more important than his ego. His relationships with parents should be an example for any teacher who really wants to make a difference with their students. This is one of those truly inspirational films and stories that comes along once in a great while. Not only has he helped students reach their potential but he has written a best selling book of classroom rules called THE ESSENTIAL 55 for teachers. We may not all have the same talents as Ron Clark but we can all be inspired to use what we have to the best of our ability and for the benefit of others. Put this at the top of the list. Unfortunately, it's OOP and somewhat expensive to purchase but readily available as a rental. Enjoy! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/15/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

GIFTED HANDS

2009-11-14T12:42:00.006-06:00

GIFTED HANDS - 2009 (TV)

RATED - NR but probably PG for mature themes, minor violence and intense surgery scenes. Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 27 Amazon (4.5/5), 12,094 Netflix (4.3/5), 452 IMDB (7.3/10).

STARRING - Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Dr. Ben Carson

THEMES - Justice, relationships, spirituality.

AWARDS - 4 prime time Emmy nominations.

STORY - This is the life story of Dr. Ben Carson, chief of pediatric surgery at Johns Hopkins University and considered the world's best pediatric surgeon. The story begins with Dr. Carson being asked to consider operating on the two sons of a German couple who are joined at the abdomen and skull. No one has ever performed this surgery successfully with both children surviving. The film then flashes back to the childhood of Dr. Carson. He was raised by an illiterate but very loving and determined single mother who married at the age of 13 and was divorced soon after when she discovered her 'husband' was married at the same time to another woman with another family. She was determined that her two sons would not turn out the same way she did. It is an amazing story of this mother and her love and determination. Ben, not realizing he needed glasses, consistently performed way below the other students in class until his mother used all their savings to get him a pair. That, along with her firm hand in making the two boys read two books a week from the library (along with written reports) as well as limiting TV watching to two programs a week turned Ben into the 'student of the year' in 8th grade. Even that, however, was tainted, as a teacher at the award ceremony berated the other students for letting a 'boy of color' with serious disadvantages and a single mother outperform them. The story continues with his achievements and struggles through high school and his scholarship years at Yale and on to his residency at Johns Hopkins. The story then takes us back to the conclusion of the decision whether or not to operate on the German twins. It is an incredible story of someone who not had the 'gifted hands' needed to be a great surgeon but also the determination, humility and faith to make a life of great service to his fellow humans against great odds. The acting is outstanding. I would encourage everyone and every family to make this a 'must watch'. I would also highly recommend SOMETHING THE LORD MADE, another story about a great African-American surgeon, Dr. Vivian Thomas, who was born 30 years too early to be able to have the same opportunities as Dr. Carson, but nevertheless made a great contribution to medicine that is still being used today. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/15/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, SOMETHING THE LORD MADE REVIEW

P.S. As I was watching GIFTED HANDS and THE RON CLARK STORY and reflecting, also, on SOMETHING THE LORD MADE, I was impressed by how these men (in these particular cases), who were/are extraordinarily gifted, used their gifts to benefit others as opposed to the kind of greed and ego we see so often today, especially on Wall Street, where some (not all) have so abused their positions and ruined the lives of millions of others and almost took down the entire U.S. economy. It also reminded me that those of us who have lesser gifts still have those same options - whether to use them for the benefit of others or simply to profit from them. How will we be judged for what we have done with our giftedness??

OVERLORD

2009-11-07T15:08:00.005-06:00

OVERLORD - 1975 (Not released in U.S. until 2006)

RATED - NT but PG/PG-13. Some language, very brief glimpse of bare breast when a young woman starts to undress in a dream-like scene. No sex or other nudity. Some fairly tame war violence by today's standards.

RATINGS - 11 Amazon (3.5/5), 6,706 Netflix (3.0/5), 583 IMDB (7.5/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

AWARDS - Won two and nominated for one the 1975 Berlin International Film Festival.

STORY - The film, shot deliberately in black & white, opens with a young man in England leaving home for boot camp. He appears to be the definition of average, neither overly bright nor stupid. Naive might be a label that applies, if anything. Young men all over England are being called up as casualties mount on the European front and the Allies prepare for D-Day. The strength of the film is in its use of terrific archival footage from the Imperial War Museum within the movie. Our young soldier survives boot camp and thanks to a fellow soldier becomes a little more worldly than before he entered the service. The use of the archival film to show the massive buildup of troops and equipment contrasted with the loneliness and fear of the solitary soldier is effective in understanding D-Day. Some of the footage from the archives is amazing and worth watching the film for that alone. You have the most massive military invasion in history and yet at its core is the individual soldier. He meets and falls in love with a very nice young girl but will there be a future together-will there be a future at all? Neither of them can be sure. His unit learns that they will be among the first to land on D-Day. Cannon fodder-that's what they begin to see themselves. How would you react knowing your chances of surviving the invasion are slim and none? While some see this an anti-war film, I think it is more a reality of war film. While war may be a necessary evil in the face of greater evils, that doesn't change the fact that is evil and young lives and families are forever changed. A film that will make you pause and consider the consequences of even the most just war. The extras are very worthwhile. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/7/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

EARTH: THE BIOGRAPHY

2009-11-07T13:55:00.005-06:00

EARTH: THE BIOGRAPHY - 2008

RATED - NR but probably G. Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 25 Amazon (4/5), 14,022 Netflix (4.1/5), 295 IMDB (8.9/10).

STORY - Subtitled 'The Story of Our World', this is the BBC documentary on the make up of our planet; how it works, what sustains it and why our planet is unique in our solar system and probably in the universe (at least so far). There are five episodes: VOLCANOES, ICE, ATMOSPHERE, OCEANS & THE UNIQUENESS OF PLANET EARTH THAT ALLOWS FOR LIFE. If you're really into science there may not be any revelations here but at the very least this is a reminder of the incredible planet that we inhabit and the amazing way that it sustains itself and how unique and precise everything has to be to sustain life. Being a typical non-scientist, I can say there were things that I learned, especially about how important volcanoes are to sustaining life and how the atmosphere works. It also reinforces the mysteries that surround the origins of and life on planet earth. The BBC, in my opinion, has no peers in producing documentaries about nature. They are education and entertainment of the highest level. The host is Iain Stewart, an entertaining and energetic daredevil. The five episodes were seen on the National Geographic Channel in one hour shows. Planet Earth is truly amazing. Enjoy! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/07/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

GREEN FOR DANGER

2009-10-31T17:14:00.005-05:00

GREEN FOR DANGER - 1946

RATED - NR but G/PG. Nothing offensive but mostly adult content.

RATINGS - 32 Amazon (4.5/5), 11,769 Netflix (3.5/5), 1,453 IMDB (7.8/10), New York Times (4/5).

STORY - The setting is England during 1944 and the Nazis are sending V-1 unmanned bombs over. When the noise overhead stops, you know the bomb is about to explode and you better take cover. A postman who just completed a delivery on his bicycle to the rural hospital (temporarily converted estate) nearby that operates on bomb victims becomes the next victim. While his wounds require surgery, they are not life threatening until the surgery begins. He mysteriously and suddenly dies on the table. The new hospital administrator states there will be a full inquiry. A whimsical Scotland Yard inspector is brought in who quickly sequesters the surgery team and boasts he knows who did it and will reveal the killer shortly. One of the better whodunits I've watched, it is tightly scripted and the acting is superb. Every word and gesture counts. The eccentric inspector antagonizes just about everyone with his arrogance. Did I mention the tangled web of relationships that will keep you guessing? This Hitchcock-like British murder mystery will hold you to the end. The Criterion version has been restored exceptionally well. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 10/31/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

BULLITT

2009-10-31T16:22:00.004-05:00

BULLITT - 1968

RATED - PG but some brief but fairly bloody and graphic violence for a PG.

RATINGS - 247 Amazon (4.5/5), 365,493 Netflix (3.8/5), 18,596 IMDB (7.5/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

STARRING - Steve McQueen (Detective Frank Bullitt), Jacqueline Bisset (Cathy-Bullitt's girlfriend), Robert Vaughn (Senator Chalmers).

AWARDS - 1969 Academy Award for Best Film Editing, AFI TOP 100 Thrills, 1970 BAFTA nominees for Best Direction & Best Supporting Actor (Vaughn).

STORY - Most people remember this film for perhaps the best (or one of the best) car chase scenes in film history with Steve McQueen (driving himself) in a Mustang Fastback chasing two gangsters in a Dodge Charger up and down the hills of San Francisco. It is memorable to be sure, but the movie, as a whole, is decent. While there is some brief but bloody violence it's not just a shoot 'em up film. Steve McQueen insisted that it be realistic and as a result you do get inside the character's heads. You experience detective work as much of it really happens, methodical with patience. Bullitt is assigned to what should be a fairly routine witness protection weekend assignment at the request of Senator Chalmers (Vaughn) who is on a crusade to clean up the mob and get credit for it - the credit is what he mostly cares about. This is his star witness and the hearings will be his stage. However, the assignment quickly goes bad and Bullitt wants to find out who leaked the location and who are the assassins. There are enough twists and turns to keep you involved and, of course, there's the car chase. Roger Ebert likes it because the role of the stoic cop Bullitt is so close to the real Steve McQueen. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 10/31/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB WITH TRAILER, ROGER EBERT

GATES OF HEAVEN

2009-10-10T14:02:00.008-05:00

GATES OF HEAVEN - 1978

RATED - NR but probably PG. Nothing offensive but the subject matter is mostly adult oriented.

RATINGS - 26 Amazon (4.5/5), 20,232 Netflix (3.4/5), 1,640 IMDB (7.7/10), Roger Ebert (4/4)

STARRING - Academy Award-winning Erroll Morris (THE THIN BLUE LINE) is the film maker. The pet owners and pet cemetery owners are themselves in this documentary.

STORY - Roger Ebert calls this documentary 'A masterpiece...one of the top ten films of all time...They say you can make a great documentary about almost anything, if you see it well enough and truly, and this film proves it.' While on the surface, this might seem to be a film about people and their pets, it's really a study in human nature and psychology. It is people opening up to the camera about their dreams, hopes and disappointments. It initially is centered around the developer of a pet cemetery in Southern California that ultimately went bankrupt and how the 450 buried pets had to be dug up and transferred to another cemetery. The film then shifts to the owners of the new cemetery, a family run business, and the dynamics of the father and two sons as they share their 'success' strategies for life. Interspersed are interviews with owners whose pets had to be transferred and the trauma that goes along with that experience. This might have been a good candidate for 'reality TV' if that had existed. Not your everyday documentary but fascinating in its own way. Read Roger Ebert's fascinating review at the link below. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/10/09.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

NATURE'S MOST AMAZING EVENTS

2009-09-27T12:56:00.012-05:00

NATURE'S MOST AMAZING EVENTS - 2009

RATED - NR but probably PG. This is a very family friendly series but there are some scenes of animals attacking and killing other animals. Not overly graphic but perhaps a caution for younger children.

RATINGS - 17 Amazon (4.5/5), 12,558 Netflix (4/5), 69 IMDB (9.1/10).

STARRING - David Attenborough as narrator and some awesome camera and production crews.

STORY - This outstanding series from the BBC covers six of the most amazing events in nature that take place on a regular basis. You will travel from the Arctic to British Columbia and to the Serengeti on the first disc and then back to South Africa, on to Botswana and back to the Pacific Ocean and Alaska on the second disc. Not only are the events themselves amazing but the camera work is spectacular. It would be hard to overstate the work of the BBC in producing documentaries about our planet and nature. They are the best. Just as interesting as the episode itself is the 10 minute 'diary' at the end of each episode showing clips of the camera crew filming various scenes and the challenges they encountered in producing that particular show. These men and women are true adventurers in every sense of the word to get these films produced. I don't think anyone will regret the time spent watching these amazing films and learning more about this incredible planet we inhabit. Five stars all the way. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/27/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

GOD ON TRIAL

2009-09-12T14:20:00.008-05:00

GOD ON TRIAL - 2008

RATED - NR but probably PG for adult themes. Total rear nudity of male prisoners being 'examined' by the doctor to determine who dies and who lives.

RATINGS - 12 Amazon (5/5), 4,476 Netflix (3.4/5), 360 IMDB (7.3/10).

THEMES - Spirituality, justice, character of God.

STORY - This outstanding PBS Masterpiece Theater film recreates what was possibly an actual event that took place at Auschwitz. Some of the prisoners, including a group of new arrivals still in shock, were discussing (not unlike the debate Job and his friends had) whether God had broken His covenant with them as His chosen people by allowing them to be exterminated by the Nazis. They decided the only way to decide was to put God on trial. A panel of three 'judges' was selected, one of whom actually taught criminal law in real life. . What follows is a passionate discussion of whether God has abandoned His people and, therefore, is guilty of the atrocities happening there. The discussion is well reasoned and intelligent. How can a loving God allow this evil, especially with those He is supposed to have such a special relationship with? You may find yourself asking the same questions. How is this possible? What kind of God would allow this? A father and son, one slated to die the next day, vigorously disagree. It's one thing to talk about evil in the abstract. It's quite another to talk about when you are facing the death sentence the next day. You may be surprised at which one defends God and why. The debate is vigorous and stimulating. You may be surprised at the 'verdict'. For many people, this is the ultimate question. How do we deal with evil and a loving God? The acting is terrific and realistic. Watch this and 'you be the judge'. A wonderful contribution to quality programming on television. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/12/09.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ELIE WIESEL BOOK -TRIAL OF GOD

HARVARD BEATS YALE 29-29

2009-09-12T10:53:00.007-05:00

HARVARD BEATS YALE 29-29 - 2008

RATED - NR but probably G. This is a football documentary.

RATINGS - 13,718 Netflix (3.6/5), 130 IMDB (7.4/10).

STORY - It's November 23, 1968 and, for the first time since 1909 Harvard and Yale are meeting in the last game of the season and both teams are undefeated. Yale is ranked 16th in the nation and is heavily favored. The title of the film gives away the ending but doesn't tell you or show you the improbable, almost impossible, ending to this game. If this was Michigan & Ohio State it would have been the game of the century. For the most part, except for Calvin Hill and Tommy Lee Jones, there are no household names in either lineup. But it's more than just a game, it's Harvard & Yale, the elite of the elite, and it's 1968 and the Vietnam War is at its height and the country has had two more assassinations with MLK & RFK. As exciting as the game was, the film is also a commentary on our country, particularly what was going on in the colleges & universities. The documentary is the game footage interspersed (sometimes in the middle of the play to create suspense) with commentary from the actual players involved in that play. As you might expect, the players are articulate and intelligent. You get a lot more than just comments on the game. Do you want to hear one opinion on why the sexual revolution was going on? Do you want to know what it was like to date Meryl Streep and what was she like as a college co-ed? How about who roomed with Al Gore and George W. Bush and the pranks they were involved in? What of a former decorated Marine just back from Vietnam and what it was like to confront war protestors in front of every classroom building and play on the same team with players who protested and participated in SDS. While I agree that mostly real football fans are going to want to watch this, it has broader appeal than some reviewers give it credit for. It's very well done and entertaining as well as quite a game. A little nostalgia for baby boomer football fans. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/12/09.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER

MICKEY

2009-08-09T18:35:00.007-05:00

MICKEY - 2004

RATED - PG for adult themes. Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 15 Amazon (3.4/5), 34.086 Netflix (3.5/5).

STARRING - John Grisham wrote the screen play and Hugh Wilson (WKRP Cincinnati, Police Academy, First Wives Club) directed. Harry Connick, Jr. and Shawn Salinas (film debut) starred.

THEMES - Relationships, justice.

STORY - John Grisham is a huge baseball enthusiast and even has built a Little League complex on his property and runs the league every summer so this is not a subject far from his heart. And it shows in the film. The players are really top notch players, not actors trying to look like ballplayers. They actually recruited players from coast to coast and taught them acting skills. It has the feel of real competition when you're watching the game scenes and Grisham understands the dialogue between coaches and players and it seems very realistic to someone who has also been there. The story is about Tripp Spence and son Derrick. Tripp is recently widowed and his life revolves around coaching Derrick's Little League team. Derrick is 12 and has just finished his last year of Little League (or has he?). This is the point at which many boys quit or are eliminated from baseball as they have to make the move from the reduced size fields of Little League to full size fields. Derrick would love to have the last season over and stay at the magic age of 12 forever. Unfortunately, he will get the chance. Tripp has been cheating the IRS on his taxes due to the medical bills (sounds familiar in the health care debate) surrounding his wife's death. When the IRS comes calling, rather than face the music, he decides to create a new identity for himself and Derrick and leave the state. Derrick is now 12 again. There's plenty of action and suspense to keep you engaged and the story takes several unexpected twists at the end. Very family friendly. The couple negative reviews on Amazon seem to think the film encourages cheating and deception. I would disagree and say just the opposite. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/09/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON

EIGHT MEN OUT

2009-08-09T17:33:00.005-05:00

EIGHT MEN OUT - 1988

RATED - PG for adult themes, some language, smoking & drinking.

RATINGS - 63 Amazon (4.5/5), 209,647 Netflix (3.7/5.0), 7,880 IMDB (7.2/10), Roger Ebert (2/4).

STARRING - John Cusack, John Sayles, Charlie Sheen & others.

THEMES - Relationships, justice.

STORY - This is the story of the 1919 Chicago White Sox scandal in which 8 of the players were bribed to 'throw' the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, in which they were heavily favored. The Series had changed to best of 9 games that year so the star pitcher who won 29 games would get at least three starts. Without his participation in the scandal, they would have been unbeatable. He became 'in' when Sox owner Charlie Comiskey refused to pay him his bonus for winning 30 games because he 'only' won 29. Comiskey had ordered him benched toward the end of the season for two weeks, missing five starts, to prevent him from reaching 30 wins and earning the bonus. This was but one example of Comiskey 'cheating' his players out of money they had earned. At that time, the owner was king. There were no unions and not even a commissioner for the players to appeal to. This is a fascinating story about a major black spot on Major League Baseball and subject to much discussion as to whether all the players implicated really did intentionally play below their ability. Roger Ebert's lower rating is primarily due to his feeling you had to have too much knowledge of the scandal and the individual players before watching the movie because the individual players and other characters were not identified clearly and distinctly early on in the film. His criticism does have some merit but certainly not enough to avoid this very interesting incident in Major League Baseball and one of the few full-fledged scandals in profession sports, although steroid use may end up being right up there. The costumes and settings are well done and give you a real feel for the period. Another interesting sidelight is the players' relationship to the community. They were a real part of the community, even walking back and forth from home to the stadium for games and, of course, travel by train provided for a much different environment between players and the sportswriters who traveled along. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/09/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT, TRAILER

POWER, PASSION & GLORY

2009-07-26T17:26:00.006-05:00

POWER, PASSION & GLORY - The real story of Texas football madness. (2004)

RATED - PG Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 6 Amazon (4.5/5), 694 Netflix (3/5), 9 IMDB (7.6/10)

STORY - Celina, Texas (30 miles north of Dallas) is a small community of about 2,000 people with a big reputation for its high school football program. They were riding the crest of 57 straight victories and 4 state championships in their division, 2A and then lightning struck during the summer before the 2002 season. Their legendary coach, G.A. Moore, resigned, seemingly for no reason, and moved down the road to their biggest rival, Pilot Point, along with 3 of the nine coaches. Their enrollment for the coming school year also put them over the 2A limit by three students and they were bumped up to 3A where they would compete as the smallest school in the division. Can they continue their streak under new coach Butch Ford, who coached under Moore for 25 seasons but had never been a head coach and handle the bigger schools? Narrated by NFL great Pat Summerall, the documentary takes you behind the scenes with the players, coaches, parents and fans as well as highlights from the season. In Texas, football is life, whether the NFL or the smallest communities. As one of the former players summed it up, 'the season lasts about eleven and half months in Celina". If you love football, high school sports and small town America, this is for you. It is fun, lots of good football action and a look behind the scenes at the winningest football program in Texas history. Hollywood could not have crafted a better ending to a film. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/26/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WIKIPEDIA

BEING THERE

2009-07-19T13:34:00.007-05:00

BEING THERE - 1979

RATED - PG Probably best suited for older teens and above. Some sexually related dialogue and a scene where a woman fully clothed masturbates (mostly off screen) to attract a man who is not interested. No nudity and one scene of language from a gang member.

RATINGS - 16 Amazon (4/5), 445,118 Netflix (3.8/5), 22,017 IMDB (8/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

STARRING - Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine,

AWARDS - 1980 Academy Award for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR & BEST ACTOR nominee. AFI TOP 100 Laughs, 1981 BAFTA nominees for BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS & BEST FILM. 1980 Golden Globe awards for BEST ACTOR & BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR and nominees for BEST MOTION PICTURE, BEST DIRECTOR & BEST ACTRESS.

THEME - Satire, relationships.

STORY - Peter Sellers plays Chance the long time gardener for a wealthy gentlemen who dies early in the film. Chance's life revolves around television and gardening. He has a TV close by wherever he is, even while working. His ability to communicate with others is limited to parroting what he hears and sees on TV. Put out on the street (literally) when the owner dies with nothing but a suitcase full of the owner's custom made suits (perfect fit except about 3 inches short in the legs) he tries to find what life has next. A minor accident lands him in the home of a wealthy and dying industrialist who has a powerful influence on the presidency. (the film is set in D.C.) who assumes that his cryptic speech and tailor made clothes represent an eccentric genius. (The real genius is Seller's acting in the film) His 'words of wisdom' (often the most recent words he has seen on TV) take on a life of their own when coming from the mouth of this 'genius'. Read Roger Ebert's review for a more in depth discussion of the various levels of interpretation one might read into the film. While not everyone (action oriented viewers) will appreciate this film, it is a terrific satire on our culture and the way people react with pre-conceived perceptions of the way people dress and talk. While set in D.C., a great deal of the movie is filmed at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, an unbelievable landmark. People have discussed the meaning of the last scene, where Chance (appears to) walks on water across the pond, since the film was released. Great discussion potential, terrific acting and a fun (although somewhat quirky) movie. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/19/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB/TRAILER, ROGER EBERT

GEORGE WALLACE

2009-07-12T13:41:00.009-05:00

GEORGE WALLACE - 1997 (TV)

RATED - NR but probably PG-13/R for a scene of sexuality (passionate embracing on the bed clothed), violence in scenes of racial protest, various foul language of all sorts and cigar and cigarette smoking and drinking by almost all major characters. No nudity or sexual scenes except above. Mature teens and above.

RATINGS - 12 Amazon (4/5), 2,801 Netflix (3.5/5), 601 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Gary Sinise (Wallace), Mare Winningham (1st Mrs. Wallace), Angelina Jolie (2nd Mrs. Wallace), Clarence Williams III, directed by John Frankenheimer.

AWARDS - Three EMMY'S for OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR, OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS (Winningham). Jolie was nominated for an Emmy and won a Golden Globe for her supporting role and there were many other nominations and wins in various categories.

THEMES - Racial prejudice, hatred, reconciliation, forgiveness, justice.

STORY - The film begins with Wallace and second wife, Cornelia (Jolie), passionately embracing on the bed. It seems an odd beginning but as we learn later, this would be the last or one of the last times George Wallace experienced any physical pleasure. The movie then begins a series of flashbacks and flash forwards of the life of this man who become such a lightning rod for the civil rights movement in America. He came to represent what so many saw as what was wrong with the South and their policies of segregation. Wallace's campaign slogan became 'segregation now, segreation tomorrow, segregation forever'. Was he a true racist or a populist who played the cards he thought would get him elected. He ran for governor of Alabama four times and for president four times. Many thought he had a serious chance to be elected President before the assassination attempt. This would have been the reverse of what happened in 2008, only 36 years earlier. Is this a summary of how far our country has come in the last four decades or was Wallace simply a political aberration? This is an outstanding film, the acting (especially Sinise) is terrific and it gives a balanced picture of this unusual politician. George Wallace is a very real part of American history and anyone under 40, especially, should watch this to understand why the subject of racism, while different than the 60's, has not gone away. There are actual archival scenes of civil rights protest mixed in the film. It is a three hour mini-series, not the 370 minutes it says on Netflix. Well worth watching to get a fair picture of this man and the period of civil rights struggles in our country. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/12/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CAPITALISM

2009-07-04T09:11:00.005-05:00

THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CAPITALISM - 2008

RATED - NR but G/PG for mature themes and discussion.

RATINGS - 16 Netflix (3.5/5)

STARRING - Ted Koppel

STORY - Imagine if the population of the U.S. quadrupled and the increase came mainly from rural areas and earned a fraction of what the rest of us earned. That would be something like the great contrasts that exist in China as it establishes itself as an economic superpower and the U.S. and China go forward, awkwardly 'joined at the hip', possibly irreversibly so. In this four part documentary Koppel takes a look at this complex love/hate relationship. We hate China when they take our jobs with their cheap labor but the same people who lost their jobs are the same ones (with millions others) who love shopping at Wal-Mart and other retailers with cheap, imported goods from China. We all probably know that but what doesn't seem to make the nightly news is the appetite the growing Chinese middle class have for high end 'American-made' products such as Ethan Allen furniture where the fabric and some components come from China, assembled here and shipped to China. Same is true autos. GM & Ford are flourishing in China and Asia. A Black Buick is a status car in China where 25,000 new cars are added to the highways EVERY DAY - 9,000,000 every year. 80% of Chinese car buyers have never owned an automobile. Think of America's love affair with the automobile back in the 1950's. The segment on auto insurance and how they handle the tsunami of accident claims is entertaining. Making money is the new religion in China. It comes before everything else - product safety, environmental concerns and even morality. In 2006 over 24,000 government workers were convicted of graft. While clearly many more goods come from China than are exported, our relationship is not as simple as the sound bites make it seem. Many American companies have established a very strong presence there and will benefit from the continuing growth of this amazing country and the seemingly unlimited potential of its growing middle class. To understand our future and the future of the planet, we need to understand China, both the good and the bad (huge environmental and energy issues, lack of political freedom). Will we compete or cooperate or both? This excellent documentary is a good beginning for those of us who are not experts. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/04/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON

INTO THE ARMS OF STRANGERS

2009-06-27T16:04:00.004-05:00

INTO THE ARMS OF STRANGERS - STORIES OF THE KINDERTRANSPORT (2000)

RATED - PG for thematic elements.

RATINGS - 28 Amazon (5/5), 60,111 Netflix (3.8/5), 781 IMDB (7.9/10).

AWARDS - Academy Award for BEST DOCUMENTARY. Another 5 wins and 4 nominations.

STORY - Imagine being a young child and your parents put you on a train to England to live with people you've never met in a place you've never seen. This is the story of 10,000 children who lived in German-held lands and whose parents sent them to Great Britain with the hopes and prayers that they would have a better chance of surviving the terror and horror the Nazis were already inflicting on Jews and others. Mixing interviews with some of these children and their 'foster' families with rare archival footage, this Oscar winning film for BEST DOCUMENTARY, is a powerful story of the courage of not only these children but their parents who were willing to sacrifice for them. Almost all of these children lost their parents to Nazi atrocities. Some of them were able to help get their parents liberated after they reached England. One girl was pulled out of the window of the train as it was leaving because her father couldn't bear to see her go. She survived eight concentration camps to tell her story. Her parents did not. 1,500,000 children were exterminated by the Nazis. These 10,000 lived because of the compassion and kindness of the citizens of Great Britain. According to the film, a bill in the U.S. Congress died in committee because it was determined that 'adopting' the 25,000 children being proposed was a violation of God's law by separating parents from their children. While many of the films rightly emphasize the horrors of the holocaust, this one shows the goodness of those who gave of themselves so 10,000 children could live. A fascinating and moving film, not like other holocaust films. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06/27/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

THE EDWARD R. MURROW COLLECTION

2009-06-27T15:10:00.004-05:00

THE EDWARD R. MURROW COLLECTION - 2005

RATING - NR but G/PG. Family friendly but probably not much interest below mature teens.

RATED - 6 Amazon (5/5), 3,790 Netflix (3.6/5).

STORY - This collection consists of four discs covering a broad range of work by Murrow, arguably setting the gold standard for journalism since the beginning of television. He was determined to make sure this new medium would be used with the greatest possible integrity while at the same time being immensely entertaining. There is no doubt he accomplished his goal and, fortunately, some have tried hard to imitate him and maintain credibility with audiences while, unfortunately, others have deteriorated into the journalistic versions of professional wrestling. The disc, THE MCCARTHY YEARS, was the basis for the very successful movie GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK. Those five words were his trademark parting message every show. The four DVD's include the story of Murrow and his start in radio in London during WWII, clips from his show, 'See It Now' on location in Korea during that conflict, his journey into the South during the Civil Rights demonstrations and a very interesting interview with Grandma Moses. The last two discs are the complete shows of his confrontation with Joseph McCarthy, the Jr. Senator from Wisconsin challenging his communist witch hunt activities in the Senate, including McCarthy's response, and the full show on Thanksgiving Day in 1960 about the plight of migrant workers called "Harvest of Shame", one of the most famous documentaries of all time. A must watch for those who want to see what television has the potential to be and do. There was only one Edward R. Murrow. Unfortunately, a heavy smoker, he died from lung cancer at the age of 57. Nostalgia for some, but maybe a challenge and a goal for those considering journalism and the media as a career. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06/27/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON.

WHEN IT WAS A GAME - TRIPLE PLAY COLLECTION

2009-06-21T19:44:00.003-05:00

WHEN IT WAS A GAME - TRIPLE PLAY COLLECTION - 1992

RATING - NR but G. Very family friendly.

RATED - 24 Amazon (5/5), 19,967 Netflix (3.8/5), 157 IMDB (8.6/10).

STARRING - Every old time baseball star you can name and then some.

AWARDS - Winner of 1992 Television Critics Association Award for OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORTS.

THEME - Baseball - WHEN IT WAS A GAME!!

STORY - This HBO documentary is divided into three one hour segments, each remembering a different era. You can buy or rent them individually but I recommend watching all three. The entire series consists of 8mm and 16mm clips shot entirely by fans and players. Almost all are in color and none are done by professional photographers. The quality is amazing considering the sources -clear, sharp pictures. There are special features on Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson and others. This is for those of us who remember or want to know about when players lived in our neighborhoods, shopped at our stores and had second jobs during the off season to make ends meet. Dick Raddatz recalls making $6,000 pitching for the Red Sox during the season and $11,000 during the off season as a furniture mover. We lived for several years next door to Camilo Pascual, the great pitcher for the Senators and Twins. We would play catch in the back yard and my sisters would babysit his children. Jim Kaat shopped at my (future) in-laws corner grocery store and lived down the block. They were real heroes to all of us and they were regular people, too. This series starts in the 30's (they really did have color film) and ends in 1970 with the advent of free agency, which arguably changed the game forever, whatever you might think of its validity. This is nothing but three hours of fun and nostalgia. If you're a baseball fan, it would be hard to recommend anything else that would be as much just plain fun. None of us can turn back the clock but for three hours you can relive those years when baseball was just a game. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06/22/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE GATHERING STORM

2009-06-20T06:34:00.004-05:00

THE GATHERING STORM - 2002

RATED - NR (Adult language, adult content, brief non-sexual nudity).

RATINGS - 55 Amazon (4.5/5), 62,399 Netflix (3.8/5), 1,852 IMDB (7.5/10)

STARRING - Albert Finney, Vanessa Redgrave.

AWARDS - 2002 EMMY for BEST MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE plus 12 other wins and 21 nominations.

STORY - The HBO film opens with the camera under the bed of Churchill as he gets up stark naked from the rear and goes into the bathroom to relieve himself. With this very undignified beginning, we enter into the world of Winston Churchill in the days leading up to WWII. This is more than just about the political climate in England, it is the personal side of Churchill as well. It is about his life-long love relationship with his wife, Clementine as well as his life on his estate where he is struggling financially when the film opens and Clementine must step in to take over the finances to stay solvent. Much of the filming takes place on the actual estate which is amazing in itself. Of course, the focus of the film is the political world and Churchill's attempt to warn Great Britain and the world about the looming threat from Hitler and the Nazis. His is a lonely voice, at first. He had a true sense of destiny for his life and role in saving England. He had help, too, from inside the foreign affairs office, that would provide him confidential information about Hitler and his activities. It would be hard to imagine anyone playing Churchill better and more convincing than Finney. Redgrave is outstanding as well and is no minor character in his life or in the film. This is a film that deserves a much broader distribution than it has had. Really, a very brilliant picture of Churchill and the events leading up to WWII. You have to ask yourself, what would the world look like today without a Churchill? Warts (there are many) and all, this was an amazing human being. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06/20/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE BAND'S VISIT

2009-06-14T11:08:00.003-05:00

THE BAND'S VISIT - 2007

RATED - PG-13 for brief, strong language. A brief sexual encounter happens off camera. Pretty family friendly but probably a little slow for children.

RATINGS - 40 Amazon (4.5/5), 81,485 Netflix (3.5/5), 4,195 IMDB (7.7/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

AWARDS - 40 nominations and 9 wins at various film festivals including BEST PICTURE from the Israeli Film Academy.

THEMES - Relationships.

STORY - An Egyptian police band from Alexandria travels to Israel to perform at the grand opening of an Arab Cultural Center in a small town. Somehow their connections get mixed up and they end up stranded in the middle of nowhere in Israel. The picture of the eight of them in their formal powder blue uniforms against the stark desert landscape says it all. They're lost. What happens next is not a summit meeting that will solve all the Israeli-Palestinian issues but it does show how, as human beings, we all share similar stories in this journey called life. The story centers on three main people, the very stern, rigid leader of the band, a young free-spirited ladies man in the band and a middle aged woman who runs a deli and agrees to put the band up for the night since there is no hotel and the last bus for the day has left. Both the woman and the band leader open up to each other in ways they would never have expected at the beginning of that day. This is a delightful little story that reminds us that some of the best moments in life can be the unplanned ones, the interruptions that are initially very frustrating but can be life changing or, at least, very influential. Like having a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and a stranger stops to help. Though this movie does not attempt to solve any of the world's big problems, it does remind one that, as humans, we forget that we have more in common than we realize. While world leaders may use angry rhetoric and accusations, the vast majority of the world wants to learn to get along even with those we may call 'enemies'. Enjoy this entertaining hour and half. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06/14/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

SALAAM BOMBAY!

2009-06-14T10:00:00.005-05:00

SALAAM BOMBAY! - 1988

RATED - NR but some language (several 'f' words, some violence, no sex or sexual nudity shown).

RATINGS - 28 Amazon (5/5), 47,653 Netflix (3.8/5), 2,685 IMDB (8.0/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

AWARDS - Nominee for BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM -Academy Awards, BAFTA and Golden Globes.

THEMES - Relationships, justice.

STORY - I would call this film a docudrama. The screenplay is like a documentary but it feels like a real life drama. It is SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE without the millionaire. The entire film is shot on location in the slums of Bombay (now Mumbai) and it feels like you're right there with all the filth, the squalor and the mobs of people. The filmmakers also used real street children for the film. Krishna, an 11 year old boy, has been sent by his mother to work in the circus to earn money. One day, the circus leaves without him and he finds his way to the nearest 'big town', Bombay. There we meet the other main characters, street children, pimps, druggies and prostitutes. In their own way, they stick together and fight to survive. When they try to earn money honestly, the employers take advantage of them, knowing they have no one to defend them. Others give up on honest wages and turn to crime and drugs to survive. But they are all real people and have a story and that's the strength of this movie. You really feel like you have entered into the lives of these people and walked with them in their journey, however short and difficult it may be. Krishna's only goal is to make 500 rupees to take home, a modest goal for most people, but a huge obstacle in that environment. While there are plenty of depressing moments in the film, there is also hope, that with the right kind of guidance and opportunity, these are bright and resourceful children who would be successful in legitimate society if they were given a chance. The sad truth is that very few of them will have that life changing opportunity. There are millions of street children in India and around the world. Many of them just waiting for a sponsor to get them out of the cycle of poverty and crime through organizations that are doing a great work of love and compassion. One of the outstanding ones is COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL. If you watch the film, and I highly recommend it, don't stop there, get involved in making a difference. It changes our lives, too. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06/14/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT, COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL

EMPIRE OF THE SUN

2009-05-25T13:40:00.005-05:00

EMPIRE OF THE SUN - 1987

RATED - PG for violence and intense scenes of terror. Not overly graphic but take it seriously for younger children. Recommended for 13 and over.

RATINGS - 255 Amazon (4.5/5), 590,285 Netflix (3.9/5), 29,383 IMDB (7.7/10), Roger Ebert (2.5/4).

STARRING - Christian Bale (film debut), John Malkovich, Nigel Havers (Chariots of Fire), Ben Stiller.

THEMES - Relationships, the human spirit.

AWARDS - 6 Academy Award nominations and BEST PICTURE nominee Golden Globes.

STORY - Christian Bale makes his stunning movie debut in this Spielberg directed film as Jamie, a 12 year old British boy, who grows up in luxury and opulence as the son of a wealthy textile factory owner in China during WWII. Having attended the best private schools, having every conceivable luxury available to a young boy growing up in that era, not least of which is being able to give the servants orders in direct contradiction to the instructions given by his mother, his life is abruptly changed when the Japanese take over that part of China. His family moves into a hotel temporarily to see what happens and when the Japanese bomb that part of the city, thought to be safe, there is a panic as thousands of British and Chinese try to escape. Jamie and his parents are separated and do not reunite until the end of the war, approximately four years later. The film is the story of Jamie's survival during that time. An extremely bright and resourceful boy (played brilliantly by Bale), he uses his natural leadership and aggression to stay alive and become indispensable to the American who becomes the unofficial leader (godfather) of the prison camp. The camera work, acting and screenplay are exceptional, not to mention the music. The film loses a little something (I think) when Spielberg gets a little too artistic and surreal but this is still one of Spielberg's best. Overall, a very interesting and worthwhile movie about another slice of WWII and how the human spirit adapts when it is put into survival mode. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/25/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, ROGER EBERT

THE INCIDENT

2009-05-24T08:30:00.005-05:00

THE INCIDENT - 1990

RATED - NR but probably PG for some language (family friendly).

RATINGS - 5 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,499 Netflix (3.7/5), 228 IMDB (7.2/10).

STARRING - Walter Matthau, Harry Morgan, Susan Blakely.

AWARDS - EMMY for Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special & nominated for several other awards including two Emmy's.

THEMES - Justice, prejudice.

STORY - This made for TV special takes place in 1944 in the fictional town of Bremen, Colorado (it was filmed in Colorado Springs) which is home to a POW camp for German soldiers just outside town. The long-time, popular town physician (also the camp doctor) is murdered at the camp late one night. A makeshift Federal Court is set up in town to conduct the trial. No one doubts for a minute that one of the prisoners, Wilhelm Geiger, did it. To give him a 'fair' trial, he must have legal representation so the judge 'drafts' local down and out attorney, Harmon Cobb (Matthau) to do the job. Cobb, a decorated WWI hero, with a son serving in the military in France, is reluctant to take the job. The judge 'convinces' him to do it. Immediately, he and his family become targets for the local townspeople as 'German lovers'. As he gets into the case, he realizes that it's not all that it appears to be. The acting is great and the story is intriguing, especially since this is a part of WWII that has not had much publicity. A very informative and entertaining 100 minutes, especially for those who like courtroom dramas. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/24/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, POW LINK

P.S. I have to admit I was not aware that there were approximately 500 of these POW Camps in the U.S. during WWII. There were between 400,000-500,000 German and Italian soldiers held prisoner. Because of the war, there was a shortage of farm labor and many of them ended working on farms. It is a subject not given much publicity as far as I know. If you google 'german pow camps in america' you will find some interesting websites.

TAKING CHANCE

2009-05-23T09:43:00.005-05:00

TAKING CHANCE - 2008

RATED - TV-PG

RATINGS - 52 Amazon (5/5), 14,784 Netflix (4.2/5), 2,284 IMDB (7.3/10).

STARRING - Kevin Bacon as Lt. Col. Mike Strobl

THEMES - Sacrifice, relationships.

STORY - Based on a true life events, this HBO docudrama follows the journey of Lt. Col. Mike Strobl who volunteers to escort the body of Chance Phelps, who was killed in action in Iraq, to his home. Strobl initially volunteered because he saw that Phelps, who he had never met, was from the same home town in Colorado. It turns out, however, that the family wants him buried in Dubois, Wyoming and the real reason he wants to accompany the body is a deep feeling of guilt for not serving in Iraq. This is not only the personal story of Mike Strobl but an incredible look at the process of getting the bodies of fallen soldiers from foreign soil to their final home. The care, reverence, honor and respect that characterizes this process is amazing. From the smallest detail of making sure the last uniform they wear is absolutely perfect to the protocol of everyone involved along the way, including the civilians involved from airline ticket clerks to the pilot of the plane, the love and care will overwhelm you. It is also the story of Pfc. Chance Phelps, whose promotion to Lance Corporal had been overlooked the week before his death, a young man who died way before he should have. A gunner in a Humvee, his mission partners credit him for saving their lives when their convoy is hit by an IED. A potential college scholarship athlete, he chose the Marines to serve his country the best way he knew how. Like many gifted, confident young men, he probably thought he was invincible. Another terrific HBO movie and a great tribute to those who serve our country prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. Make sure to have a Kleenex handy. The extras about the real Chance Phelps and Mike Strobl are very good. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/23/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER

LIVE AND BECOME

2009-05-16T19:33:00.005-05:00

LIVE AND BECOME - 2005

RATED - NR but probably PG-13 for some language and violence.

RATINGS - 7 Amazon (4.5/5), 2,477 Netflix (4/5), 2,130 IMDB (8/10).

AWARDS - 9 wins and 6 nominations at numerous film festivals.

THEMES - Relationships, spirituality, justice.

STORY - This is the story of Schlomo (Solomon), a 9 year old Ethiopian young boy whose Christian mother disguises him as an Ethiopian Jew to take the place of a Jewish boy his age who has just died and whose mother is being airlifted out of a Sudan refugee camp in 1984 as part of a rescue mission operated by the Israeli secret service to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel. His mother's parting words as he very reluctantly leaves are 'go, live and become'. He does go and he does live (his 'new' mother dies shortly after arriving in Israel) and the film is about becoming. He is adopted by a secular Jewish family. Becoming is hard enough growing up under normal circumstances. What if you must keep the secret that you are not Jewish and should never have been admitted to the country, learn to live in family where you don't fit in easily, adapt to a culture that is foreign and unfriendly to blacks and experience all the many adolescent challenges of hormones, loneliness, and a great ache for your homeland and birth mother? How does one cope with all these challenges? The three actors that play the various stages of Schlomo's life do an outstanding job. There are many levels which hit your emotions as you watch this. You want to him to survive and mature but it's so difficult, the odds are not good and you know he most likely would have been dead had he stayed in Sudan. Somehow he must persevere and overcome and 'become'. A heart-breaking and uplifting story of the human spirit and the will to live and become. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/16/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

A WOMAN CALLED GOLDA

2009-05-16T18:57:00.004-05:00

A WOMAN CALLED GOLDA - 1982

RATED - NR but probably PG for some violence and thematic material.

RATINGS - 9 Amazon (5/5), 1,108 Netflix (3.4/5), 261 IMDB (8.4/10).

STARRING - Ingrid Bergman and Leonard Nimoy

AWARDS - Golden Globe and Emmy for BEST ACTRESS plus several other wins & nominations.

STORY - The made for TV mini-series begins with a limousine pulling up to an elementary school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Out steps Golda Meir, the former Prime Minister of Israel and the most famous graduate of this school. Born a Russian Jew, she and her family were forced to leave Russia in the early 20th century and emigrated to the US. Golda's dream became to live in Israel. As she answers questions from the school children she flashes back to her life and the events that led to her being the Prime Minister of Israel and one of the most influential women of the 20th century. Ingrid Bergman is outstanding as always and was a great choice to play the part of Golda Meir. This is not only the story of an incredible and influential woman but it is the story of Israel, its journey to statehood and its fight to survive in the midst of its enemies. It's a great biography and an excellent history lesson. It makes one wonder what it would be like now if there were a woman of her stature in Israeli leadership. It's four hours long with the DVD divided into two sections. Well worth the investment of time to learn more about this important area of the world. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/16/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

INDIA - FIVE FILMS

2009-04-25T12:40:00.012-05:00

THE STORY OF INDIA - 2007

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

SUMMARY - This is the PBS documentary in six one hour segments narrated by Michael Wood. A good place to start to get the overall picture of this amazing country. The blu-ray version is as cheap as the regular version and brings the country and people alive through great camera work. 4.5/5, 4/5, 8.7/10 ratings.

GANGES - 2007

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

STORY - You can't understand India without understanding the Ganges River and this three part BBC production is simply stunning in its photography of the river, the wildlife and the people that live on its banks. Almost 10% of the ENTIRE world's population lives within the Ganges' basin.

MOTHER TERESA - 2003

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

STORY - Starring Olivia Hussey as Mother Teresa, this made for TV movie is a wonderful portrayal of an amazing woman. Mother Teresa has become synonymous with Christian works of charity because of her work with the dying in Calcutta. Not only a family friendly story of her work but more insight into a segment of India's culture and the steel will of this woman who was determined to love the unlovable as Christ would love them. 4.5/5, 3.9/5, 7/10 ratings.

MOTHER TERESA - 1986

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

STORY - This is a documentary about Mother Teresa. Follow her around Calcutta and the world as she ministers to those forgotten by the rest of society. Her powerful witness to the love of Jesus is seen not only in the slums of the world but as she speaks to students at Harvard, the UN and world leaders around the globe. Her drive and determination to help those rejected by their communities are an inspiration to everyone. 5/5, 3.6/5, 7.3/10.

BORN INTO BROTHELS - 2003

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

STORY - This film won the 2005 Oscar for BEST DOCUMENTARY. It is the story of eight children of prostitutes in Calcutta's red light district, an area of extreme poverty and crime. Zana Briski is a free lance photographer who has been trying, unsuccessfully, to do a picture story of the red light district and the prostitutes who live there. She decides to choose eight children of the 'workers' and give them cameras and teach them photography to tell their own stories. She falls in love with these children and sets on a mission to get them out of their environment and break the destructive patterns they are most likely to live out. This is their story, the successes AND the failures. At the same time, both heart breaking and uplifting. One person can make a difference in someone Else's life if they care enough to sacrifice. 4/5, 3.8/5, 7.8/10 ratings.

I was inspired to watch these films as a result of our son's recent trip to India. He was profoundly affected by what he saw in the country and particularly in the slums as well as his visit to Mother Teresa's facility. Here is a link to his blog. It is hard for those of us who live in the West to understand the culture and the way of life in that fascinating part of the world where the majority of the world's population lives.

STONE PILLOW

2009-04-04T20:06:00.003-05:00

STONE PILLOW - 1985

RATED - NR but probably PG for mild language & non-graphic violence.

RATINGS - 23 Amazon (4.5/5), 9,312 Netflix (3.5/5), 150 IMDB (7.5/10)

STARRING - Lucille Ball ( her last film at the age of 74)

THEMES - Homelessness, charity, poverty, integrity, humility.

STORY - This made for TV movie was Lucille Ball's final film and she wanted to make a serious statement. Not everyone realizes she was a serious actress and starred in a number of movies before making her fame as I LOVE LUCY. This is a story about age and youth, about street-wise and naivete, about someone who has no hope and someone who wants to change the world. This is a story about Florabelle, a homeless woman, who 'owns' her corner in New York City. Everything she has is in her grocery cart. The merchants on her corner know her and help her. She knows the ways of the street. She's a survivor. It's also the story of Carrie, fresh out of college in her first job as a social worker in a woman's shelter. She's told to go interact with people on the street to better understand them. She meets Florabelle who thinks she's a runaway and tries to show her the ways of the homeless. She takes her underground and into the dark world of living on the street where you survive by your wits and with some help from your friends. Lucille Ball was a great actress and she 'Carries' the day in this outstanding film about what it's like to be one of millions of people living on the street. There's nothing comic about this movie and the serious message it had back in 1985 is perhaps even more appropriate today. As someone once asked the most famous rabbi of all, 'who is my neighbor?' This film will help to define who our neighbors are. As Carrie said near the end, 'how can I stay warm when you're cold'. How do we manage to stay warm when so many are living in the cold? This one may prick your conscience as it did mine. Available for immediate play on Netflix. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/04/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TURNER CLASSIC

THE ROBE

2009-04-04T17:10:00.004-05:00

THE ROBE (Special Edition) - 1953

RATED - NR but probably PG for non-graphic violence. Family friendly for 10+.

RATINGS - 116 Amazon (4/5), 82,158 Netflix (3.6/5), 2,431 IMDB (6.7/10).

STARRING - Richard Burton (Marcellus Gallio), Victor Mature (Demetrius)

AWARDS - 1954 Academy Awards for BEST COSTUME DESIGN COLOR & BEST ART DIRECTION COLOR & nominated for BEST PICTURE, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY COLOR & BEST ACTOR (Burton).

THEMES - Forgiveness, spirituality, relationships, truth.

STORY - THE ROBE is the first film ever released in CinemaScope, a major innovation in film at the time, basically wide screen instead of a box shaped picture on the screen. It is the story of Roman Tribune Marcellus Gallio, who falls into disfavor with the Emperor and is assigned to the 'pesthole' of the Roman Empire, Palestine. He brings his personal slave, Demetrius, with him. His first assignment is to carry out the Crucifixion of a man named Jesus. Marcellus has never driven spikes thru a man's wrists and ankles before. At the Crucifixion site, he wins the robe of Jesus by throwing dice. Something about the whole experience starts to drive him mad and he is sent back to Rome to recover. He realizes he must recover the robe and get to the bottom of who is this man Jesus, called Messiah & Son of God by His followers. What happens to him as a result of this search is at the heart of the film. This film has a much broader base than just simply those who profess to follow this man who claims to have risen from the dead. It is an intriguing story and the movie, the set and the music were all excellent. The picture quality in the special edition is sharp and almost as good as today's quality (it's available in blu-ray). Fun to see Richard Burton and Richard Boone (Pilate) in their younger days. Also, the insights into life in the Roman Empire at that time are interesting. Well worth spending an evening viewing this classic. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/04/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TURNER CLASSICS, TRAILER

SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER

2009-03-29T20:08:00.005-05:00

SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER - 1993

RATED - PG for thematic elements. VERY family friendly for ages 7+.

RATINGS - 106 Amazon (5/5), 336,733 Netflix (3.8/5), 12,330 IMDB (7.5/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

STARRING - Max Pomeranc, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne

AWARDS - 1994 Academy Award nomination for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY plus 4 other nominations and 5 wins.

THEMES - Relationships, gifts, winning.

STORY - The film is based on the true story of Josh Waitzkin and his family. What happens when a sportswriter, who has just given his son a new baseball glove for his 7th birthday, discovers that his son prefers chess over baseball. He not only prefers it but he is a child prodigy. He could be another Bobby Fischer. Unfortunately, as we see in flashbacks of Fischer's career throughout the film, being a genius and world champion did not necessarily make you a human success story. The question is: are genius and success as a human being mutually exclusive? Can you be a child prodigy and a 'normal' child? The film does a great job of exploring that question as we see the family struggle with first, Josh's gifts, and then, how to best use the incredible talent he has for visualizing the game of chess. As Josh says to one of his opponents during a match, 'It's over. You just don't know it yet." Genius sees things the rest of us mortals do not. The acting is superb, the cinematography, especially of the chess tournaments, is amazing, and the degree to which the film addresses the question of genius versus having a life is sometimes heartbreaking. A film that will challenge you and inspire you. You don't need to be a chess fan or even know anything about the game to enjoy this one. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/29/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT (Excellent Review)

COOL RUNNINGS

2009-03-29T19:20:00.003-05:00

COOL RUNNINGS - 1993

RATED - PG for mild language & brief violence. VERY family friendly for children 8+.

RATINGS - 84 Amazon (5/5), 481,379 Netflix (3.7/5), 20,178 IMDB (6.5/10).

STARRING - John Candy & friends.

THEMES - Follow your dream, justice, relationships.

STORY - Based on the true story of the 1988 Jamaica Olympic bobsled team. How much of the details of the film are actual facts is unknown but it is true that Jamaica did send a four man bobsled team to the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. This is the funny and inspiring story of how it came about, how they got there and what happened once they arrived. I'm not always a big John Candy fan but I think you'll like him in this film. More than just a comedy - I start laughing when I hear Jamaica, Olympic and bobsled all in the same sentence - this is a film about a world class athlete who loses his chance to compete in the Summer Olympics and is determined to get to the Olympics no matter how. What happens when he and John Candy, a former Olympic Gold Medalist in bobsledding for the USA, who is a down and out bookie living in Jamaica, get together is pure fun and magic. While there is no easy way to learn bobsledding in Jamaica, it won't be for lack of trying if they don't. This is the kind of film that Walt Disney built its reputation on. An upbeat soundtrack of Reggae music adds to the film as well as the great scenery. A fun evening for the whole family. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/29/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

THE COLOR OF PARADISE

2009-03-22T12:16:00.005-05:00

THE COLOR OF PARADISE - 1999

RATED - PG for mature themes. VERY family friendly.

RATINGS - 75 Amazon (5/5), 75,077 Netflix (3.8/5), 2,955 IMDB (7.7/10), Roger Ebert (4/4)

AWARDS - 10 wins and 8 nominations at various film festivals.

THEMES - Relationships, reconciliation, physical handicaps.

STORY - From the producer of the ACADEMY AWARD nominee, CHILDREN OF HEAVEN, Majid Majidi, comes this sequel, THE COLOR OF PARADISE. Described as 'Stunningly beautiful. A gem." by Stephen Holden of the New York Times. Winner of the BEST PICTURE at the 1999 Montreal Film Festival and other awards internationally, this is a story about an 8 year old blind boy and his relationship with his widowed father. It grabs your heart immediately as the boarding school for blind children in Tehran, where Mohammad attends, is ending for summer vacation. Mohammad is the only child left after all the other parents have picked up their children. He is sitting alone on a bench and hears a baby bird fall out of its nest and chirping on the ground. He also hears a cat nearby. He manages to shoo the cat away and find the baby bird and climb the tree and return it to its nest. Welcome to the world of the blind. His father finally arrives and wants to leave him there. We meet a poor, hard working man from a rural village who has lost his wife and is trying to raise his other two daughters and make a living as best he can. He also wants to remarry and considers Mohammad to be an obstacle to finding a wife. The rest is a wonderful human interest story. The scenery is outstanding. Iran is really a beautiful country in many areas. Many emotions come to the surface during the film. It is a film you can easily watch with children who are mature enough to understand the themes. It is worth watching just to better understand the handicap of being a blind child. If you've seen CHILDREN OF HEAVEN, you know what's in store. Rated PG for mature themes, there is no offensive language or material of any kind. YOU WILL BE DOING YOURSELF A FAVOR BY PUTTING THIS AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/22/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, ROGER EBERT

PASSING GLORY

2009-03-22T11:16:00.005-05:00

PASSING GLORY - 1999 (TV)

RATED - Not rated but probably PG for language and thematic elements.

RATINGS - 4 Amazon (5/5), 1,489 Netflix (3.4/5), 143 IMDB (6.6/10).

STARRING - Andre Braugher, Rip Torn, Ruby Dee, Sean Squire

AWARDS - Nominated for the HUMANITAS PRIZE in 1999.

THEMES - Relationships, justice, racial discrimination, reconciliation.

STORY - This made for TV movie is based on a true story. It's 1965 in New Orleans and St. Augustine's Catholic High School (boys) does an admirable job of educating young men from the black community and preparing them for life ..... in the black community. They know their place and their limitations. They were turned down by a vote of 185-11 to be a member of the Louisiana State High School Athletic Association so they must continue to compete against other black schools. They have never played a white school in their history. They can only wonder how their championship teams would compete against the white champions. This is all about to change when Father Verrett, a black priest from Baltimore is transferred to St. Augustine. He grew up in New Orleans but has tasted freedom in the North. He doesn't have the patience to be passive while the white community decides the fate of the black community. Father Verrett turns the school, students and parents into an activist community that is willing to take on the system, albeit pretty reluctantly, having already experienced the retaliation of some whites. The film builds to a climax of the first ever racially mixed high school basketball game in New Orleans. Another terrific film about the struggle of black Americans for the equal rights guaranteed to all citizens but at that time only available if you had the correct skin color. The acting is excellent and the screenplay was written by an actual member of the 1965 team, veteran actor Harold Sylvester. Magic Johnson was an executive producer. An overlooked TNT gem. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/22/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

CONSPIRACY

2009-03-14T17:37:00.005-05:00

CONSPIRACY - 2001

RATED - R for language. Not the worst I've heard but take it seriously.

RATINGS - 113 Amazon (4.5/5), 62,678 (3.6/5), 4,997 (7.8/10)

AWARDS - Many awards & nominations including Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody. AWARDS

THEMES - Evil, pure and simple.

STORY - This film is another relatively unknown HBO made for TV gem. It is based on the minutes of an actual meeting in 1942 of Nazi Department Heads. All the notes were to have been destroyed but one copy survived. This was a meeting convened by Adolf Eichmann in a suburban mansion outside Berlin. The agenda: what to do about the Jewish storage problem. With the Nazi war machine devouring the German treasury, they had to make a decision about all the Jews in work camps that were becoming very expensive to maintain. Until this point, there had been no overall German plan for dealing with the 'Jewish problem'. This meeting determined the fate of millions of Jewish citizens. The film does not try to sensationalize or over dramatize this event. In many ways, it comes across as a corporate board of directors meeting or cabinet level meeting for government. Evil can be so cold and calculating and seemingly rational. This is a reminder that evil does not always or often come in frenzied, worked up packages but often through the distorted worldview of 'normal' people like all of us. A well done, tightly scripted movie with excellent performances by the cast that will give you chills when you consider the ramifications of one hour of time with these 15 men. The setting (basically one room) and intensity remind me of 12 ANGRY MEN. Watch a piece of history that changed our world forever. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/14/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

CRY FREEDOM

2009-03-14T14:05:00.003-05:00

CRY FREEDOM - 1987

RATED - PG for mild language and violence. Violence is not graphic except one mob scene where innocent women & children are shown being shot in back as fleeing. Not overly graphic by today's standards but not for younger children.

RATINGS - 47 Amazon (4.5/5), 110,533 Netflix (3.9/5), 4,187 IMDB (7.3/10).

STARRING - Denzel Washington, Kevin Kline, Penelope Wilson, directed by Richard Attenborough.

AWARDS - 1988 OSCAR nominations for BEST MUSICAL SONG, BEST MUSICAL SCORE, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Washington), 1988 BAFTA nominations for BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTION, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST EDITING, BEST SCORE, 1988 GOLDEN GLOBE nominations for BEST MOTION PICTURE, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST ACTOR BEST ORIGINAL SCORE.

THEMES - Justice, friendship, racial discrimination, racial reconciliation.

STORY - Based on a true story and book by the same name the film starts out in 1975 in South Africa with the police raiding a black township and destroying almost the entire village along with killing and wounding many residents. Donald Woods, a liberal newspaper editor, captures some of the photos of the raid and publishes them along with a piece about Steve Biko, the black activist leader, accusing him of reverse racism. A black woman medical doctor manages to get thru to Woods and challenges him to personally meet Biko and see if he is really racist. Woods accepts the challenge and begins a friendship between two unlikely people in apartheid South Africa. Both men eventually must put their lives and families' lives at risk in the cause of overturning apartheid. Another one of several outstanding films portraying the struggle of blacks in South Africa for the freedom and dignity so many of us took for granted. The cinematography and music are outstanding along with Denzel Washington. Can be viewed by the whole family except younger children. Enjoy! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/14/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB & TRAILER

THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY

2009-03-07T13:53:00.006-06:00

THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY - 1978

RATED - PG for some language and adult themes.

RATINGS - 50 Amazon (4/5), 79,364 Netflix (3.6/5), 2,554 IMDB (7.2/10).

STARRING - Gary Busey (Holly), Don Stroud & Charles Martin Smith.

AWARDS - 1979 Oscar for BEST SCORE ADAPTATION as well as nominations for BEST ACTOR and BEST SOUND. 1979 Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.

STORY - This film is the story of the life of Rock N' Roll legend Buddy Holly who was tragically killed in a private airplane crash at the age of 22, leaving behind his wife and unborn child. Gary Busey does a great job of playing Holly and even does his own singing as does Charles Martin Smith, the group's other singer. There are 12 of Holly's greatest hits sung during the film. I understand the film takes some liberty with the facts but for the most part gives an accurate overall picture of the short but amazing career of Buddy Holly. If you haven't experienced the music and culture of the 50's, or you want to relive some of those days, this is a fun and entertaining option. At one point Holly & The Crickets are invited to perform at the Apollo Theater in New York, an all black entertainment format. The promoter only heard the music and assumed they were black. He was a big hit. Lots of fun and good music from the 50's. The film dwells on Holly's life, only briefly referring to the plane crash at the end. Holly has been called 'the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll music', influencing the music of the Beatles, Beach Boys, Bob Dylan and others. Was in the first group of inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They still celebrate his memory in Clear Lake every February 3rd, the site of his last concert before taking off for Moorhead, MN on the fateful night in 1959. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/07/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, THE BUDDY HOLLY COLLECTION, WIKIPEDIA

THE ISLAND ON BIRD STREET

2009-03-07T13:21:00.003-06:00

THE ISLAND ON BIRD STREET - 1997

RATED - PG-13 for violence. Not graphic. Family approved by the Dove Foundation.

RATINGS - 5 Amazon (4.5/5), 8,169 Netflix (3.7/5), 518 IMDB (7.1/10).

AWARDS - Numerous wins and nominations including 3 Emmy Awards.

THEMES - Relationships, justice, discrimination.

STORY - Based on a true story during WWII in Warsaw, Poland, it is the survival of an eleven year old Jewish boy separated from his father and uncle who are taken to work camps, from which no one returns. He has three things to sustain him: his pet white mouse, Snow; the book Robinson Crusoe; the promise of his father that he will return. The Nazis regularly patrol the bombed out buildings in the ghetto looking for stray Jews who may have escaped their clutches. It's survival in its most basic form. This overlooked film tells the amazing story of the imagination and wits of this 11 year old as lives day to day trying to survive against all odds. Ala Robinson Crusoe, he establishes a loft for himself in a bombed out building and uses every instinct he has to stay alive and not get captured. A fascinating story and well done film. Great camera work and editing. The many twists and turns in the story will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Strong performance by Jordan Kiziuk as the 11 year old Alex.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, THE BOOK

BELIEVE IN ME

2009-02-28T20:35:00.004-06:00

BELIEVE IN ME - 2006

RATED - PG for some language and thematic elements. Family friendly.

RATINGS - 2 Amazon (4.5/5), 61,013 Netflix (4/5), 263 IMDB (6.6/10).

AWARDS - 2006 Cowboy Award for Best Feature Film and Best Score.

THEMES - Relationships, justice, commitment, teamwork.

STORY - It's the fall of 1956 in Middleton, Oklahoma and Clay Driscoll, young and eager, reports for his new job and the start of what he believes is a career coaching boys basketball. It's basketball but he's been hired to coach the girls, not the boys. Based on the true story of Jim Owens, one of the greatest high school coaches in Oklahoma history, this was back when girls were truly considered second class by most in the sports world and the Middleton community barely gave them that much recognition. Clay Driscoll fights the school board, the parents and the man who runs the community with an iron fist to gain equality and respect for the girls' program. A terrific, family friendly film about the difference one person can make in a school, in a community, and in the lives of young people. It's the female version of HOOSIERS. It's well done and will grab your heart watching these young athletes fight back to gain the respect of their community and eventually, the entire state. An evening well spent. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 02/28/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE COLOR OF FREEDOM

2009-02-28T20:00:00.005-06:00

THE COLOR OF FREEDOM - 2007

RATED - R for language. Several brief outbursts of obscenities including some sexual references. Some violence, although not graphic.

RATINGS - 3 Amazon (3.5/5), 30,967 Netflix (3.8/5), 2,413 IMDB (7.1/10).

AWARDS - 2007 Peace Film Award

STARRING - Joseph Fiennes as James Gregory and Dennis Haysbert as Nelson Mandela.

THEMES - Justice, forgiveness, racial reconciliation.

STORY - Based on the true story of James Gregory's life as a prison guard in the South African prison system. Because he speaks the language of Mandela, he is assigned to Robben Island where Mandela has been a political prisoner for 10 years already in 1968. Gregory's assignment is to monitor Mandela's mail and visitors and report any important information to his superiors. Initially, a racist in his views like other South Africans, Gregory slowly begins to see the human side of Mandela, especially when Mandela's son is killed in a car accident (murder), which may have been set up because of information Gregory provided his superiors. It's a fascinating story and a very well done movie. The acting and the script are top notch. It reminds me of the words of U.S. Olympic Champion Jesse Owens: "Let's go for a walk. If we walk long enough and talk long enough, we may begin to understand each other." That's what Gregory and Mandela did for almost 20 years. Forgiveness and reconciliation are possible. This story proves it. As relevant today as it was twenty years ago. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 02/28/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE LAST SIN EATER

2009-01-31T16:34:00.003-06:00

THE LAST SIN EATER - 2007

RATED - PG-13 (For thematic elements and some intense sequences of violence). Not suited for younger children.

RATINGS - 68 Amazon (4.5/5), 137,781 Netflix (3.4/5), NY TIMES (4/5), 850 IMDB (5.6/10).

STARRING - Michael Landon, Jr., Director, Louise Fletcher, Henry Thomas.

THEMES - Justice, spirituality, relationships, redemption.

STORY - Based on the actual practice of the Welsh who settled in the Appalachian Mountains during the 18th & 19th centuries and the novel of the same name by Francine Rivers. The sin eater was someone in the community, picked by God through lottery, who was set apart to live alone, and only showed up at the burial site to perform a ritual of taking the dead person's sins upon himself, making the person acceptable to God in the afterlife. No one ever saw the Sin Eater. The story centers around young Cadi Forbes, whose sister died recently in an accident, and the guilt she feels for her death. She can't stand living with the guilt and can't wait until death to have her sins removed , so she seeks this elusive and strange person called the Sin Eater. In doing so, she confronts the demons and dark secrets that have haunted the community for decades. Who is this mysterious Sin Eater, where does he live and can he remove the sins of the living as well as the dead? While the film has a clear Christian message, it is intended for all audiences and is more than just an excuse to make a 'video sermon'. The story is well done, the scenery is gorgeous and the acting is more than adequate, all done on a relatively small budget. Reading the book is a plus in understanding as it would be helpful to have a little better knowledge of the role of the Sin Eater and the cause of Cadi's guilt a little earlier in the film. Produced as part of the FoxFaith Series. It will be over the head of and a little too violent for most children under 13.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, NY TIMES REVIEW

KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTH BRONX

2009-01-31T15:53:00.004-06:00

KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTH BRONX - 2005

RATED - TV PG (Family Friendly)

RATINGS - 9 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,077 Netflix (4.1/5), 276 IMDB (6.7/10).

STARRING - Ted Danson and a host of talented students.

THEMES - Relationships, pursuing your dream.

STORY - The film begins with former engineer businessman Richard Mason (Danson) showing up at an inner-city school for what he thought was to be his first day teaching sixth grade. It turns out to be fourth grade and they're not very interested in learning. Based on true events, Mason, a chess master, finds common ground with the students in teaching them the game of chess in a way that challenges and motivates them to want to be the best. Mason, dealing with his own demons at home, finds a new life in the classroom and so do the students. While the plot and ending may be somewhat predictable, the film feels true and realistic. There is always room for one more well done story of someone who thinks outside the box to change their world and those around them for good. May their tribe increase! Very entertaining and family friendly.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE WINDS OF WAR

2009-01-11T16:15:00.006-06:00

THE WINDS OF WAR - 1983

RATED - NR but probably PG for adult themes and some war violence.

RATINGS - 104 Amazon (4.5/5), 44,794 Netflix (4.0/5), 947 IMDB (8.5/10).

AWARDS - Nominated in 1984 for 4 Golden Globes including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for TV. Winner of several Emmys and nominated for others.

STARRING - Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, Ali McGraw, Jan-Michael Vincent, John Houseman, Peter Graves, Ralph Bellamy, etc.

STORY - Based on Herman Wouk's epic novel of the same title, this is the mini-series (15 hours) of the years leading up to Pearl Harbor and America's 'official' entrance into WWII as seen through the eyes of Captain 'Pug' Henry(Mitchum) and his family. Mitchum is assigned to the War Plans department of the U.S. Navy and sent to Germany to work through the embassy there, assessing and keeping on top of the situation in Berlin and Germany. His keen insight and analysis earn him a direct relationship with President Roosevelt (Bellamy) and entrance into the corridors of power throughout Europe and Russia , including meetings with Hitler, Churchill and Stalin. Through his eyes we see and understand the events leading up to our country's direct involvement in WWII. In addition to others, we see the Jewish persecution by Germany develop through the lives of Pug's son (Vincent), a submarine officer, and his fiance and eventual wife, Natalie Jastrow (McGraw), who is Jewish and spends a good deal of time in Europe trying to get her uncle, Aaron Jastrow (Houseman), a famous author to leave his beloved home in Italy. The acting is terrific and the story entertaining and gripping and a great way to learn more about that time in the history of our country and the world. It is part history, part drama and part war story. As close to perfection in a mini-series as you could hope for. Well worth the time and effort to watch. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lus' Reviews. 01/11/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

2008-12-28T21:10:00.004-06:00

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL - 1951

RATED - G (Some fairly mild violence by today's standards)

RATINGS - 360 Amazon (4.5/5), 25,714 IMDB (8.1/10), 366,729 Netflix (3.9/5).

AWARDS - AFI TOP 100 THRILLS, 1952 GOLDEN GLOBE 'Best Film Promoting International Understanding' and nomination for 'Best Musical Score'.

STARRING - Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Sam Jaffe, Hugh Barlowe and Billy Gray.

THEMES - Peace, justice, understanding, nuclear war.

STORY - This classic science fiction, the defining film of the genre for many people, is about a humanoid that travels 250,000,000 miles from another planet with a message for the people of our planet. He lands in Washington, D.C. with his guardian robot and attempts to connect with world leaders to make his message known. There is mistrust by those in power of someone they are unfamiliar with and powers they have not seen before. They are not willing to give him the opportunity to speak so he must attempt to get his message out through other channels. Are there people who will listen to his message of how to prevent Planet Earth from self destructing or being destroyed from outside forces? Will anyone take him seriously? You have to remember that this was made during the height of the Cold War and nuclear war was on the radar screen of almost every citizen. Watch the newsreel that coincides with the release of the movie to see what was going on in the world at that time and it will help to put the movie into context. While there is action and some violence this is also a movie of relationships and how people react to something/someone they're not familiar with. A classic still worth watching today with good entertainment value as well as plenty of food for thought. You can play it online at Netflix. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/28/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, TCM

THE FOURTH WISE MAN

2008-12-25T13:38:00.004-06:00

THE FOURTH WISE MAN - 1985

RATED - NR but most likely G.

RATINGS - 41 Amazon (5/5), 4,707 Netflix (3.5/5), 173 IMDB (6.7/10).

STARRING - Martin Sheen (Artaban), Alan Arkin (Orontes)

STORY - Based on the novel by Henry van Dyke, 'The Story of the Other Wise Man', it is the story of Artaban, a Magi and medical doctor who leaves his practice and wealth behind to find the King of Kings he believes has been born in Jerusalem. His father assigns his servant Orontes to go along and protect Artaban and promises to set him free when he returns safely. Artaban brings three precious and valuable gifts to present this new King. Pursuing every lead they find, they are always just missing Jesus at every turn. Their journey lasts 33 years culminating on Easter Sunday. Though fiction, it incorporates many Biblical facts and is a fascinating tale of one man's search for meaning in life and how that changes him along the way. Arkin also does a great job as the reluctant, humorous servant more interested in returning home and getting his freedom than finding this Messiah. Although not a big budget film, the acting is good and the story is very meaningful. Add this to your Christmas watch list for the whole family. It's available for instant play on Netflix. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/25/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

JOYEUX NOEL

2008-12-25T12:32:00.004-06:00

JOYEUX NOEL - 2005

RATED - PG-13 for some war violence and a brief scene of sexuality/nudity (it is very brief and very little is shown in a darkened room). The 'R' rating at Amazon is wrong.

RATINGS - 102 Amazon (4.5/5), 132,468 Netflix (4/5), Roger Ebert (4/5), 6,836 IMDB (7.8/10).

AWARDS - 2006 nominee for BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Academy Awards, BAFTA, & Golden Globe.

STORY - Based on a true story that took place on Christmas Day, 1914, during WWI, this film depicts the worst and best of the human spirit. On the one hand, it shows the brutality and insanity of war as we see men in the trenches literally being sacrificed by those calling the shots from the comfort of their headquarters. Trench warfare was brutal and the trenches were separated by only 50-100 yards. Soldiers tried to capture the enemies' trench by crawling on their stomachs across 'no-man's land' and surprising the other side or just plain attacking and hoping to overpower them with numbers and force. Much of the fighting was fought at very close range with bayonets or rifles. Living in the trenches during the winter was especially bitter with the cold and snow. But in 1914 something happened that showed that the power of Christmas and the Prince of Peace can overcome (at least for the moment) the hatred and fighting. It was an amazing evening under the stars as enemies came together in worship and fellowship and dropped their weapons to recognize there is One who has come and will come again to bring peace to the world and overcome all the differences that currently separate men from one another. The film personalizes the story through the lives of four people showing their lives before the war and how they arrived at the same place on earth that same night. A very inspiring movie about the true meaning of Christmas and 'Peace On Earth'. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/25/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, ROGER EBERT.

THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM

2008-12-20T14:24:00.006-06:00

THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM - 2007

RATED - NR but probably G. Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 49 Amazon (5/5), 3,440 Netflix (3.9/5), 16 IMDB (9.1/10)

STORY - Was the Star of Bethlehem as told in Matthew's Gospel of the New Testament true or was it a myth made up later by early Christians? What if you could go back in time and actually view the ancient skies at the time of Jesus' birth? This film attempts to answer the first question by doing the 2ND. Using state of the art software, the same as used by NASA and other agencies, it is possible to examine the skies of Bethlehem in the days and years surrounding the estimated date of Christ's birth. The stars and planets move in such mathematical precision that it is possible to project forward and backward with incredible accuracy using this software. That in itself is so amazing when you consider the 100 BILLION galaxies that contain 100 BILLION stars each. Each one has a precise orbit and path that never deviates. Is it possible for all this to be coincidence? What Frederick Larson, author, lecturer and attorney, attempts to show is that it was astronomically possible and indeed probable that at the time of Jesus' birth the Planets Jupiter and Venus converged into what looked like a very bright star to the naked eye. He lists the nine characteristics of the star outlined in Matthew and then shows how his theory satisfies all nine of those conditions. Does this prove the birth of Jesus or that He was God come in the flesh? No, but it is more evidence (not necessarily proof) as to the historical accuracy of the Bible and that the Bible narrative is not destroyed by science. If you are a follower of the one called Jesus, you will be encouraged and strengthened in your faith. If you are not, it will cause you to at least stop and consider the claims of this ancient, yet modern, story of the miracle of Jesus' birth. Worth watching just for the lesson on astronomy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/20/2008

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WEBSITE

LAKE OF FIRE

2008-12-20T13:04:00.005-06:00

LAKE OF FIRE - 2006

RATED - NR but caution as two abortions are seen as they are actually taking place, there are disturbing pictures of murder victims and a graphic picture of a woman who died while using a coat hangar to abort her baby and there are pictures of babies who have been aborted and their various body parts.

RATINGS - 10 Amazon (4.5/5), 13,486 Netflix (3.5/5), 569 IMDB (8.5/10), Roger Ebert (4.75/5).

STARRING - Tony Kaye, who worked on this for 18 years, is the producer. Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe), Terry Randall, Pat Buchanan, Noam Chomsky, Alan Dershowitz, etc. as themselves.

STORY - This is easily one of the most difficult films I've ever watched. It is a documentary about the abortion issue. It is told as objectively as humanly possible. Whatever your position, you will be angry with the story. It takes you into the operating room and you watch two abortion procedures as they happen. It shows the baby being suctioned out and the doctor emptying the bag into a dish to count all the body parts to make sure nothing has been left. Kaye takes you into the middle of the picket lines where both sides are shouting and cursing one another. You are there with a young woman when her boyfriend picks her up to take her to the clinic for the abortion and you sit in on her pre-op interview, view the abortion and hear the emotions she is experiencing after the procedure. You go into the homes and offices of those active in both the pro-life and pro-choice sides and hear their stories. You will hear one of the guests speculate why neither political party seems to want the issue to go away as it is an issue that activates the parties' bases like almost no other and it is always a winner in raising money. You will hear from pro-life activists that believe murdering doctors who perform abortions is morally necessary and justified. You will hear the remarkable conversion of Norma McCorvey, the anonymous Jane Doe in Roe vs Wade, from abortion advocate to pro-life Christian. You will hear some honest discussion about why abortion is such an emotional and divisive issue and how we must raise the level of discussion to more than the rhetoric that is typical currently from both sides. Is there room for compromise or is this an issue that will forever divide our country? I do not know anyone who is neutral on this subject. This film will only help to raise the understanding on both sides of this very, very divisive and emotional subject and hopefully lead to meaningful and serious discussion between the viewpoints. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/20/08.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, ROGER EBERT

THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER

2008-12-06T10:42:00.003-06:00

THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER - 1968

RATED - G

RATINGS - 28 Amazon (4.5/5), 4,327 (3.7/5), 1.028 IMDB (7.8/10).

STARRING - Alan Arkin, Sondra Locke

AWARDS - 1969 Academy Award & Golden Globe nominee in both Best Actor & Best Supporting Actress categories. Also Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture nominee.

THEMES - Relationships, loneliness, handicaps, discrimination.

STORY - The film is based on Carson MCuller's best-selling novel which is an Oprah Book Club selection. John Singer (Arkin) is a deaf-mute who works in a small town jewelry store doing engraving and repairs. He also apparently has responsibility for another deaf-mute, Spiros(Chuck McCann) who continually gets into trouble with the law and is sent away to a 'facility' in another small community. Singer moves there to be close and help his friend. He rents a room from a family struggling with finances due to the father's hip injury and inability to work. He enters into the life of the teenage daughter struggling with her identity and coming of age. His disability makes him very sensitive to the needs and hurts of those around him including an African-American doctor who refuses to treat whites. While selflessly reaching out to those around him, Singer harbors a secret known only to himself. A powerful story of love and relationships and redemption and the world of silence occupied by those who cannot physically hear or speak but in reality hear and say more than most who are not handicapped. Top performances by Arkin and Locke carry this timeless film. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/6/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, BOOK

SOLDIERS OF CONSCIENCE

2008-12-06T09:09:00.006-06:00

SOLDIERS OF CONSCIENCE - 2007

RATED - Not recommended for under 13. Graphic images of war and violence and adult language.

RATINGS - 12 IMDB (8.5/10). Not listed on Amazon & Netflix as of this date.

AWARDS - BEST DOCUMENTARY at the Rhode Island Film Festival, the Foyle Film Festival and the Salem Film Festival. Other nominations. Shown on PBS - Point of View (POV).

STORY - This documentary tells the story of four Iraqi war veterans who became conscientious objectors (CO)and their individual paths to that decision. All four are very thoughtful and very articulate in telling their stories. They are all different with the common link being the inhuman treatment they had all witnessed in Iraq toward civilians and enemy soldiers. Two of the soldiers were enemy interrogators, one at Abu Ghraib. The film begins with a study done by the U.S. Army after WWII in which it was discovered, on average, only 25% of soldiers fired their weapons at the enemy during combat, even when their own lives were in jeopardy. In effect, in the heat of battle, 75% of the soldiers became CO's. The military set about to change this, realizing that if the decision to shoot to kill had to pass through a soldier's conscience, the vast majority would choose not to. They started training soldiers to kill instinctively, making it a reflex action, rather than a conscious decision. They were successful in raising those numbers to 85-90% during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. The Army cooperated in making this film and their point of view is also given and no attempt is made to manipulate the viewer even though the story is really about the soldiers' journeys. In fact, there are difficult questions to answer regarding conflict. A West Point professor asks, 'how would Jesus have portrayed the Good Samaritan if he had come upon the victim while he was being attacked'. Would he have joined in and helped defend against the attacker? There are actual scenes from the military at training camps where soldiers are being 'trained' to kill. This film opens the door for potentially many great discussions about the nature of the military and what it does to young men and women who are trained to kill and then must 'turn that instinct off' when they come back home. Are CO's really cowards hiding behind a convenient philosophy? What really is the purpose of the military? Is our military today reflective of that purpose or have we gone way beyond that as President Eisenhower warned in his farewell speech? Watch it and join the discussion. It is a discussion that needs to happen. The pictures of civilians and enemy soldiers who are killed or wounded are quite graphic and not appropriate for young children. All four of the soldiers have written books and are linked in the CT Review below. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/6/2008.

LINKS - CT REVIEW, FILM WEBSITE, IMDB, PBS-POV

RESURRECTING THE CHAMP

2008-11-29T10:10:00.004-06:00

RESURRECTING THE CHAMP - 2007

RATED - PG-13 for boxing violence (in and out of the ring) and brief language.

RATINGS - 17 Amazon (4/5), 85,188 Netflix (3.5/5), Roger Ebert (3/4), 4,973 IMDB (7.1/10).

STARRING - Samuel Jackson, Josh Hartnett, Alan Alda, Kathryn Morris.

THEMES - Forgiveness, redemption, role model, ambition.

STORY - Based on a true story, Eric Kernan (Hartnett) is the son of a famous boxing broadcaster and is trying to get his career as a sports reporter, assigned to the boxing beat with the Denver daily paper, off the ground. His editor (Alda) is always on him about being lazy and sloppy. He is also trying to reunite with his son and wife, from whom he is separated. His wife (Morris) is a star journalist at the same paper. He literally falls into a career changing story about an ex-boxing great (Jackson), now homeless, an alcoholic and living on the street. The story propels him to the top of his career overnight. The rest of the story centers on some disturbing things he learns about the 'Champ' and ultimately about himself. Jackson is superb in his role as the 'Champ'. Hartnett could have been better but the overall performances and the story make this an entertaining and thought provoking film. For some reason, many of the best movies about human nature and ambition and greed are boxing stories. Add this to your list as one worth watching. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/29/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT, TRAILER

BLEAK HOUSE

2008-11-28T14:33:00.004-06:00

BLEAK HOUSE - 2005

RATED - NR but probably G/PG. Very family friendly but probably for teens and up.

RATINGS - 128 Amazon (5/5), 87,013 Netflix (4.2/5), 1,574 IMDB (9.1/10). One of the highest (if not highest) overall ratings I've seen.

AWARDS - Nominated for 2 Golden Globes including Best Mini-Series for TV and won/nominated for 24 others including several Emmys.

THEMES - Justice, relationships, forgiveness.

STORY - Charles Dickens is arguably one of the best at using the power of the story to attack injustice in society. The BBC is arguably one of the best at turning a novel into a miniseries for TV. Combine the two and you have BLEAK HOUSE. The injustice in this case is the legal system that was known for dragging out the settlement of wills and estates until there was nothing left for the rightful heirs. The story begins in the Court of Chancery where the lawyers would meet regularly to give the court updates on their cases and get their fees approved. The heirs would be there, also, in hopes of some good news about their case, only to hear that 'progress was being made' and here's your invoice for services. The case in the story is Jarndyce and Jarndyce, a very large estate that has been contested for decades because there is a dispute over the will. Many have been ruined by the cost of the suit and many have given up, including John Jarndyce, an independently wealthy heir. He brings into his household a young man and woman, orphans and cousins, who are heirs and still hopeful of a settlement. Along with them comes a young lady who will be their personal attendant. From there the story takes many twists and turns as the lawsuit 'progresses' and so do their lives. It takes you from the country estates of the aristocrats to the squalid slums of the homeless as the plot emerges and expands. You experience the entire social strata of England during the story and how they are affected by the law. The acting is superb as well as the costumes, the music and the sets. It is 7.5 hours long so it is a commitment to watch but yet you can hardly stop watching. It is well worth the investment of time. A great story told by some of the best in the business. If you enjoyed the high quality of the HBO mini-series on John Adams, I think you will appreciate this, also. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/29/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WEBSITE

THE DAY OF THE JACKAL

2008-11-22T10:15:00.004-06:00

THE DAY OF THE JACKAL - 1973

RATED - PG -There is some non-explicit violence and two very brief scenes of rear nudity after a sexual encounter which is unseen and it is in a very dark room.

RATINGS - 137 Amazon (5/5), 159,393 Netflix (3.8/5), 10,816 IMDB (7.9/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

STARRING - Edward Fox (The Jackal), Michael Lonsdale (Investigator Lebel).

AWARDS - Nominated in 1974 for an Academy Award, 4 BAFTA Awards, including Best Film, and 2 Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture.

STORY - This political thriller, based on the novel by Frederick Forsyth, begins with a failed assassination attempt by the OAS, an organization angered by President DeGaulle's liberation of Algeria. They realize they are now under intense surveillance by French security and intelligence and must go outside France to hire a professional killer. His code name becomes Jackal. When the French kidnap and torture a member of the OAS, they get the word 'jackal' out of him before he dies. With that slim clue and Investigator Lebel they go to work to track down this apparent assassin. The film runs two parallel tracks between the French security forces and The Jackal, who always seems to be one step ahead. While the film covers in great detail the plans of The Jackal to carry out the perfect plot and the painstaking intelligence work on the part of the French government (before computers and cell phones), it never seems to bog down or be boring. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, building to the climactic 'Day of the Jackal' when DeGaulle is to be assassinated. You don't have to suspend logic to believe this film. It is based on the cleverness and genius of the assassin as well as the intuition and perseverance of Investigator Lebel. Both are obsessed with their jobs and are up to the challenge. A top notch thriller. Roger Ebert calls it 'spellbinding'. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/22/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, ROGER EBERT

WE ARE TOGETHER

2008-11-22T09:06:00.004-06:00

WE ARE TOGETHER - 2006

RATED - PG for some thematic elements.

RATINGS - 2 Amazon (5/5), 453 Netflix (2.6/5), 121 IMDB (8.6/10).

STARRING - The children of the Agape Choir as themselves, Alicia Keys, Paul Simon.

AWARDS - 12 Wins at various film festivals.

THEMES - Relationships, spirituality, racial reconciliation.

STORY - Paul Taylor, writer and director, opens this beautiful documentary with a group of African children being awakened in the morning like kids anywhere, the difference being that these children live in The Agape Orphanage in South Africa. Their parents were the victims of AIDS. It is estimated there are 1.2 million AIDS orphans in Africa. Agape serves about 50 of these children. Music is a big part of the life of Agape as it is all throughout South Africa. As we enter the story, the children are rehearsing for a trip to England where they will perform to help raise money for the home. The story takes several turns as the trip to England is cancelled and two tragedies strike the home and the children during the three years of filming. Along the journey we get to meet and know 12 year old Slindile and her siblings along with many other children and get to know a culture so much different from our own. The music will inspire and uplift you as well as the infectious personalities of the children. The film is worth watching just to see the recording session in the studio of 'O Happy Day'. If you somehow feel we are suffering in our country because of the economy, etc., watch this movie. It will make your day. I believe you will realize how much we have in comparison to the rest of the world, even with our challenges. Highly recommend. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/22/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, SOUNDTRACK, WEBSITE

TORA! TORA! TORA!

2008-11-16T14:39:00.004-06:00

TORA! TORA! TORA! - 1970

RATED - G

RATINGS - 208 Amazon (4.5/5), 177,964 Netflix (3.8/5), 8,252 IMDB (7.5/10).

AWARDS - One ACADEMY AWARD for Best Visual Effects in 1971 plus four nominations.

THEMES - War, relationships.

STORY - TORA! TORA! TORA! is the Japanese signal to attack and this epic film co-produced by American & Japanese interests shows both sides of the story as it builds to the climatic attack on Pearl Harbor which ultimately brought America into WWII. The film does a terrific job of alternating back and forth between the Japanese and American stories so that the viewer gains a good understanding of the circumstances on each side as well as the sequence of events leading up to the attack. The story, by most accounts almost documentary like, is very accurate in depicting the mistakes made by the U.S. military in being caught off guard but it could have been much worse had any of the aircraft carriers been in port which were the real Japanese targets, knowing they had to try to defuse America's air superiority in the Pacific. In the end the Japanese realize they may have won the battle but 'they had awakened a sleeping giant' which they will now have to deal with. The battle scene is spectacular and even more so when you consider it is before computerized graphics and deservedly won the Oscar for visual effects. This is a history lesson that is both entertaining and family friendly. The commentary and additional documentaries with the special addition are excellent. Highly recommend. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/16/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

AFTER THE TRUTH

2008-11-15T10:22:00.005-06:00

AFTER THE TRUTH - 1999

RATED - NR but probably PG for some language and a shadowy image of an elderly man getting out of the shower.

RATINGS - Amazon - none, 2 Netflix (4/5), 476 IMDB (7.6/10).

STARRING - Gotz George (Dr. Josef Mengele), Kai Wiesinger (Attorney Peter Rohm)

AWARDS - Many nominations including EUROPEAN FILM AWARD for Best Actor (George).

THEMES - Justice, truth, eugenics, social Darwinism.

STORY - The Holocaust continues to haunt the world with the unbelievable evil and atrocities that occurred. This is the 'what if' story of Dr. Josef Mengele, the Auschwitz 'Angel of Death'. What if Mengele had turned himself in and was tried for his crimes. Who would defend him? Attorney Peter Rohm (Wiesinger), who grew up in Mengele's home town and is fascinated (obsessed?) with his story must decide whether to accept that challenge. He has wanted to write a book about Mengele but has been holding off because he can't understand why someone who was a former neighbor could be responsible for the deaths of some 400,000 individuals. He wanted to title the book 'One of Us'. In addition to believing everyone is entitled to legal representation, he wants to find out the truth so he accepts. What follows is a sobering and fascinating look at the mind of Mengele as he stands trial. First, we learn he was not alone. In 1920 the book The Permission to Destroy Life Not Worth Living was published and set the course for German medicine for the next 25 years. This is part thriller, part courtroom drama, part moral question. Was Mengele a psychopathic monster or just your neighbor gone wrong? In his closing argument Rohm says, 'The road to Auschwitz isn't so long, as long as you take it one step at a time.' As the end of the film is fading out, Mengele looks directly at the camera and asks, 'Do you see at least a bit of yourself in me?' Don't answer too quickly. A powerful film about evil that still haunts us today. Very highly recommend. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/15/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WIKIPEDIA, CHILDREN OF THE FLAMES, IGNATIUS PRESS

BLACK MAGIC

2008-11-08T09:20:00.005-06:00

BLACK MAGIC - 2008

RATED - NR but probably G.

RATINGS - 3 Amazon (5/5), 251 Netflix (2.4/5).

STARRING - Earl 'The Pearl' Monroe, Dan Klores (Director), many players and coaches as themselves.

THEMES - Relationships, racial prejudice, justice.

STORY - The first thing viewers have to understand is that this is NOT simply an ESPN basketball highlight film. It is that, too, but much, much more. It is a serious, historical documentary about race and sports, particularly basketball, in our nation as seen through the eyes of those athletes who attended Historical Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU). HBCU's were formed after the civil war to give African-American young people the opportunity for a college education that they were denied at the public & private segregated schools. Examples would be Howard, Grambling, Tennessee A & I, Southern University, etc. There were about a hundred schools. For many decades they produced outstanding students and athletes whose careers were limited by the racial situation in our country after they graduated. This film concentrates on those basketball players who played at one of the HBCU schools. Many you have never heard of and some went to become stars such as Earl Monroe, Bob Love, Avery Johnson, etc. The film moves back and forth between three main tracks: 1) letting the athletes tell their stories about growing up black and trying to succeed in a white world, 2) the civil rights movement that was happening parallel to their careers (including clips from various high and low points in that movement), and 3) their successes on the basketball court as players and coaches (lots of highlights-some of the footage is older and not of high quality but is all that is available). Hearing their stories always makes one wonder 'what if' our world had been different then....? These were some of America's greatest athletes hidden behind the curtain of racial prejudice from ever getting the recognition they deserved. It's a lot like the Negro Baseball League. Ironically, when integration finally happened it became the downfall of the HBCU's as white schools swooped in and recruited many of the best athletes. If you've watched any of Ken Burns's documentaries, this has the feel of one of those. The music is excellent and appropriate. If you really want to understand where much of black American has been, this is an important addition to that conversation and if you like basketball, that's icing on the cake. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/8/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, NBA, TRAILER

EXPELLED

2008-10-30T20:07:00.005-05:00

EXPELLED - 2008

RATED - PG for thematic material, some disturbing images and brief smoking.

RATINGS - 318 Amazon (3/5), 16,783 Netflix (3.6/5), 5,115 IMDB (3.6/10).

STARRING - Ben Stein as writer & host. Richard Dawkins, Guillermo Gonzalez and many others as themselves.

THEMES - Intelligent Design is being censored in the academic world and those who promote it are being expelled from higher education world.

STORY - First of all, Ben Stein is a talented and very smart individual. Second, there is no attempt to be unbiased in this documentary. The theme is that those who take a stand for Intelligent Design in the elite world of science and higher education are finding themselves out on the street sooner or later for their beliefs. The metaphor he uses for the science/academic world is Communist East Germany. The film flashes back and forth to Germany beginning with the building of the Berlin Wall as a symbol of academia building a wall around itself and its cherished Darwinian philosophy so that no competing theories can get in and muddy the waters. The film bounces back and forth between interviews with Intelligent Design proponents who, apparently, have lost their positions because of their beliefs, Atheistic evolutionary proponents and clips from Germany. The film moves along quickly and is entertaining, if not factual. Some might call this a 'red meat' film that plays to the ID base audience. There is very little, if any, attempt to validate the ID theory versus Darwinian evolution or to document that those 'expelled' actually lost their jobs due to prejudice. It is assumed the evolution is wrong and, in an effort to protect its turf in science and academia, it is purging the ID enemies. Ben Stein is no dummy and he has crafted a 'documentary' that 'proves' his point through some rather strong metaphors including using the Holocaust as an example of what random selection, survival of the fittest evolution leads to ultimately when it falls into the hands of someone as evil as Hitler. This is worth watching to better understand the battlefield between ID and Darwinian evolution in halls of science and academia which ultimately filter down into our schools and society. It is not the kind of film I would make if I was really wanting to start a serious conversation with those who differ with my viewpoint. Lu G. for Lus' Reviews. 10/30/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS - I believe that Intelligent Design is the product of good science and is a valid theory, one that is actually more and more becoming acceptable in scientific and academic circles. It is hard to defend the Origin of Species as proposed by Darwin. The science is outdated and would be akin to defending a 'flat earth' today. The problem seems to me both theories have been hijacked by those wishing to prove a religious belief. The creationist viewpoint of the three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam all point to ID as validating their religious faith in a Creator God. The Darwinians have been hijacked by a militant atheistic faction with spokespersons like Richard Dawkins and others. Both sides want science to do something it cannot - prove the existence or non-existence of God. I believe there is tremendous evidence for a loving Creator who is personally involved in our world and wants a personal relationship with each person through the historical person of Jesus Christ. But that does not mean ID is the proof for my faith. It is good evidence but it may give the same 'proof' to those who believe some intelligent alien force created the world. On the other side, there is a denial of the seemingly overwhelming evidence that life cannot be reduced to a simple cell that came from nothing and then through random selection and survival of the fittest got us to where we are today. Whether you go small and end up confronting DNA, the string theory, etc. or go big and encounter billions of stars and galaxies, and hundreds of events that must all be kept working together with zero tolerance for error to support life such as distance from the sun, the tilt of the earth's axis, the composition of our atmosphere, the odds are immeasurable of chance being the cause. Both sides need to follow the science and be willing to accept it for what it can and cannot do. ID is a valid theory but we should not assume that it automatically confirms our faith view as much as we might want that to be the case. Evolutionists need to follow the science, admit that legitimate science confirms there is intelligence behind the universe and not continue to claim that somehow this came out of pure chance. Those of us with religious beliefs should not force people who accept ID to accept our faith. Let's all work together and let legitimate science take us wherever it will without preconceived ideas. Science and faith are not mutually exclusive.

SEVEN MEN FROM NOW

2008-10-26T12:05:00.005-05:00

SEVEN MEN FROM NOW - 1956

RATED - NR but at least PG for western violence.

RATINGS - 45 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,795 Netflix (3.6/5), 827 IMDB (7.6/10).

STARRING - Randolph Scott, Gail Russell, Lee Marvin.

THEMES - Justice, relationships, honor.

STORY - First of all, this is in color and widescreen and the scenery is fantastic - the Arizona desert. This is not just a formulaic western with the good guys versus the bad guys, although it is that, too. The problem is we're not sure who the good guys are and who the bad guys are and sometimes they change. If you don't like westerns, this probably won't change your mind but if you're at all interested, this is worth watching for the complexity of the characters as well as some beautiful western background. Lee Marvin is a cool, cold blooded character like the kind he became known for. Randolph Scott is the somewhat detached ex-sheriff hunting for the seven men who held up Wells Fargo and killed his wife, an innocent bystander. Along the way he helps Gail Russell and Walter Reed, a married couple trying to get to California. Everything is not as it seems with them, also. When Lee Marvin and his sidekick join the trio, the tension mounts as you discover there was a past relationship between Marvin and Scott that still smolders. An underrated and not well known gem of a western. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/26/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, NY TIMES REVIEW.

IRON JAWED ANGELS

2008-10-25T13:11:00.004-05:00

IRON JAWED ANGELS - 2004

RATED - NR but probably at least PG for violence and adult themes. The DVD cover (left) is not a reflection of the content of the movie but there is a bathtub scene (nothing revealed) in which she appears to be fantasizing about a romantic encounter with a young man on a picnic (nothing sexual is shown). Also, there is some violence during a protest that turns violent and when Hilary is force fed in prison during a hunger strike.

RATINGS - 103 Amazon (4.5/5), 2,096 IMDB (7.4/10), 114,612 Netflix (3.9/5).

STARRING - Hilary Swank, Anjelica Huston, Margo Martindale, Frances O'Connor.

AWARDS - Winner of Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress and nominated for 5 Emmys plus a number of other awards and nominations.

THEMES - Civil rights, women's rights, relationships, the Constitution.

STORY - This is an HBO movie about the final fight for women's voting rights. It probably helps to have had some background in the long battle for women's right to vote as this story picks it up in the final stages and takes it to the finish line. Others have said that it may try too hard not to be a period piece and that is probably a fair criticism as the characters may be a little more reflective of today than the early 1900's. Having said that, it has always taken people who have that radical toughness and obsession to break down barriers in society. Isn't it amazing that our Constitution that proclaimed 'all men are created equal....' took so long to make it really viable for half of our population, not to mention the battles for freedom from slavery and the subsequent struggle for voting rights of African-Americans. Our country was founded in revolution and struggle-both ideological and physical and that was the beginning as we have struggled to define 'all men' since then. This is a movie worth watching for the reminder of the hard fought (they literally experienced physical violence and wrongful imprisonment) rights that some in our society have had to battle for while others have been able to take for granted those same freedoms. This is the story of a sad chapter in our history and the women who paved the way for their daughters and granddaughters to have an equal (mostly) seat at the table. In a year where we had a woman almost achieve the nomination for President and a woman is on the ticket of the other party, this is a testimony to those who made it possible. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/25/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER

ROOTS

2008-10-25T08:40:00.005-05:00

ROOTS - 1977

RATED - NR but at least PG for some violence and non-sexual nudity.

RATINGS - 161 Amazon (4.5/5), 132,101 Netflix (4.3/5), 3,019 IMDB (8.7/10).

AWARDS - Winner Golden Globe Best TV Series, 9 Emmy Awards and nominated for 35 other Emmy Awards plus, plus.

STARRING - LeVar Burton, Ben Vereen, Sandy Duncan, Lynda Day George, Ed Asner, Chuck Connors, Lloyd Bridges, Lou Gossett, Jr., Cicely Tyson and on and on.

THEMES - Family, relationships, slavery, freedom.

STORY - Perhaps the most famous TV miniseries of all time. Played for eight straight evenings in January of 1977. The country practically came to a halt during that time slot every evening. Over 130 million views tuned in to watch this amazing story of Alex Haley's family's roots and history. It has been translated into 28 languages since. While the story and technology may seem a little outdated today (how can it not?), this is one story worth watching to gain a better understanding our country's history and where we have come from. In many ways it is the story of our nation from the days of slavery through the great struggles for freedom for all. Kunta Kinte is the main character who was captured and forced into slavery as a young man and brought to America. Perhaps the most poignant moment in the movie is where he has refused to give up his African name and be called Toby, the name his master has given him. He is beaten until, finally, he verbally says his name is Toby. While he may no longer be Kunta Kinte on the outside, he retains his African identity inside and longs to be free to be himself. He tries to pass that heritage down to the next generation. Although slavery obviously plays a major role in the story, it is first and foremost a story of family and what gets passed down from generation to generation. I understand the request for family records from archive sources skyrocketed after the series played. Haley spent over 12 years researching his family's roots before writing the best-selling book that was the basis for the movie. The movie rights were actually purchased before the book was finished and the screenplay was written and finished at the same time as the book. It is a 12 hour investment of your time but something you will not regret. You don't need to watch it all at once-spread it out. Get some friends together. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/25/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROOTS THE BOOK, TRAILER.

UNCONSTITUTIONAL: THE WAR ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES

2008-10-17T20:16:00.005-05:00

UNCONSTITUTIONAL: THE WAR ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES - 2004

RATED - NR but probably PG

RATINGS - 29 Amazon (4.5/5), 24,746 Netflix (3.9/5), 223 IMDB (8.2/10).

STARRING - A cast of political characters as themselves.

STORY - Our country has been here before. During WWII, we put innocent Japanese citizens in internment camps because they were all considered to be security threats to our nation. In retrospect, most people can see what a horrible decision that was. Maybe it was not so clear at the time given the state of the world. When the horrible attacks of 9/11 occurred, it seems that same mindset reappeared and certain people are paying the price again for the evil deeds of others. Is it right to take away the liberties of people who happen to have a skin color or name similar to the terrorists? How far do we go in balancing security and individual freedom? Is the USA PATRIOT Act really making us safer? Was there enough thought and discussion before passing this bill that was rewritten during the wee hours of the morning and not one member of Congress read it through before voting? These and other controversial issues are discussed in this documentary as well as interviews with people whose lives have been affected by the PATRIOT Act such as a US Olympian whose name has made him a target. This is not a partisan issue as you see Bob Barr and Barney Frank teaming up in challenging the administration's actions. These past few weeks have shown us once again how politicians can 'use' a 'crisis' to push through governmental controls and once our freedoms are gone, they don't ever come back. The film makers have tried to present a balanced story although I'm sure not everyone will agree. It is a very difficult job trying to balance security versus freedom and one worthy of every one's involvement. How much freedom are you and I willing to give up to feel secure? Is this what our founding fathers had in mind? A worthwhile investment of your time. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/17/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WIKIPEDIA

UNCOUNTED

2008-10-11T10:39:00.002-05:00

UNCOUNTED - 2008

RATED - NR but probably G/PG

RATINGS - 14 Amazon (4.5/5), 347 Netflix (3.4/5), 30 IMDB (8.2/10).

STARRING - Emmy-winning filmmaker David Earnhardt

THEMES - Justice, Democracy, Freedom.

STORY - This is a documentary about the votes that go 'uncounted' for various reasons during elections. There are a variety of reasons, some through negligence and human error and others through deliberate attempts to sabotage our voting system. The story is mostly told from the Democratic' viewpoint, although it does try to be impartial. Obviously, the Democrats have been on the losing end of the national elections this century until 2006. The Republicans have no incentive to tell the story. Stripping all the politics away, this is a report about how susceptible our system, especially the electronic voting machines, is to to fraud. It's almost unthinkable that we are using a system that virtually has no check and balances to detect fraud. The same people, Diebold, that manufacture our ATM machines and verify who we are before it dispenses or takes our money and then gives us a receipt to verify the transaction, are responsible for much of the electronic voting equipment used in America. They alone have access to the computer code that control the machines so the government can't even check to see if the code has been altered after an election. It has been proven that these machines are easily rigged, yet they cannot provide equipment even as good as the ATM machines we use every day. Those with high blood pressure and heart disease may want to beware before watching this film. It will make you angry that our Democracy rests on such fragile legs and that we cannot be assured that the real winners of our elections actually get into office. The one check and balance is the exit polling that is done on election day. In both the 2004 & 2006 elections, the exit polls were significantly different from the tabulated results. Statistically, they were way beyond the margins of error from the final vote totals. Who was wrong and what went wrong? You decide. A secure and honest system is all that lies between us and the regimes that govern the countries we so oppose. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/12/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB. BLACKBOXVOTING.COM

THE LONGEST DAY

2008-10-04T14:24:00.005-05:00

THE LONGEST DAY - 1962

RATED - G

RATINGS - 199 Amazon (4.5/5), 193,480 Netflix (4/5), 13,712 IMDB (7.8/10).

STARRING - The list is too long. From Eddie Albert to John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, etc, there were over 40 international stars.

AWARDS - Two Academy Awards and five nominations including Best Picture. AFI Top 100 nominee for Best Thrills and Top Movies. 1963 Golden Globe nominee for Best Picture.

STORY - This is the definitive story of D-Day. It's almost beyond comprehension today to think of the scope of this mission which involved 11,000 planes, 4,000 ships and 3,000,000 men. The logistics of coordinating the attacks, keeping everyone supplied with fuel, ammunition, medical supplies, etc. is mind boggling. This film follows the day from start to finish from a number of different Allied assignments including the U.S., the English, the French and even the Irish contingent led by the ever present bagpipes. It also shows the day from the German side. You get the big picture that is not usually present in most war films. This was an incredible day in history. As big as it was, it was made up of individuals, all trying to fulfill their assignments. As we see, sometimes with humor, not all of them went well. Many ended tragically because of human error or weather conditions. There were also many, many heroes that day and we meet some of them. It was also a day that reminded us that 'war is hell'. There is no other way to describe war, even for the most noble causes-for those on the front lines, it is pure hell. We can all be grateful for the thousands of men from all countries who sacrificed their lives. One of the credits of the movie is that it is G rated and although there is plenty of war violence, it is not graphic. While some may say it is sanitized, and, therefore, not realistic, I think it allows for this film to be shown to a wide variety of audiences who will be able to better understand and appreciate the magnitude of this mission. There are plenty of graphic war films for those interested. This is a classic epic worthy of watching more than once. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/04/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

SECRET BALLOT

2008-10-04T09:35:00.004-05:00

SECRET BALLOT - 2001

RATED - G

RATINGS - 5,048 Netflix (2.9/5), 682 IMDB (6.5/10), 20 Amazon (3.5/5), Roger Ebert (3/4)

AWARDS - 10 wins and 3 nominations at various Film Festivals including Venice and London.

THEMES - Democracy, gender discrimination, politics.

STORY - The film begins with a plane dropping a large crate with a parachute on what appears to be a remote desert area by the ocean. It then pans to a bunk bed in the open by the beach with a soldier sleeping. He wakes and discovers the crate contains all the ballots and voting materials for the upcoming election and a notice that the voting agent will be arriving shortly and his assignment is to chaperon the agent around the island to collect and verify the votes. This is an Iranian island and when he discovers the bureaucratic agent is a woman, that is his first problem. The second is locating all the voters on the island and convincing them that voting is their responsibility and that it does impact their lives. The one day adventure of this odd couple, a reluctant Iranian soldier and enthusiastic, persevering female agent produces some humorous as well as sobering encounters with the reality of life on this island. Is the film primarily about democracy, gender discrimination or life in Iran? Perhaps it's a combination of all three in this documentary-like film. If you're only into action and fast-paced adventure, this movie is not for you, but, if you enjoy learning about other cultures and the people in other parts of the world who may be very different (or maybe not) from us, this is worth the time investment. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/03/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT.

LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN

2008-09-20T09:02:00.005-05:00

LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN - 2004

RATED - NR but probably G

RATINGS - 4 Amazon (5/5), 362 Netflix (2.6/5), 24 IMDB (6.1/10).

STARRING - The church members themselves and directed by Academy Award-nominated David Petersen.

AWARDS - OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2004 Sundance Film Festival other film festival awards.

THEMES - Spirituality, reconciliation, hope, justice.

STORY - This highly acclaimed documentary takes place in a small, storefront Black Pentecostal Church in Washington, D.C. in the shadow of the Capitol. While geographically close, the worlds of these two institutions are light years apart. This week our government has proposed hundreds of billions of bailout funds for Wall Street. In the film, church members pass the 'plate' to raise $200 so one of the members can repair their car to get to work. The film follows four members of the church for a year as they pursue their dreams and hopes. Each one faces significant challenges, both of the external variety and those of the self-imposed consequences. It also shows the church going into the community. While they are most of very modest, perhaps even impoverished means, they care as much for others in the community as they do for themselves. They offer free clothes, food shelves, shelter, medical care and counseling and, of course, spiritual healing to everyone regardless of whether they join the church or not. There is nothing subtle about their faith, that it is Jesus who has changed their lives and gives them strength for living each day. Whether you agree with them, you can't help but love these people who are so authentic and genuine in their care for each other and their community. They don't play church. They live it in a way most of haven't experienced who live in nice, neat suburban areas. Director David Petersen does a great job of letting them tell their own story without either glamorizing or putting it down. Perhaps our legislators should visit this church instead of the big cathedrals. It might help to keep life in perspective. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/20/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, NETFLIX, IMDB, CT REVIEW, THE FILM MOVEMENT.

KANDAHAR

2008-09-13T13:45:00.004-05:00

KANDAHAR - 2001

RATED - NR but probably G.

RATINGS - 25 Amazon (3.5/5), 42,647 (3.3/5), 2,582 IMDB (6.7/10), Roger Ebert (3.5/4).

THEMES - Injustice, Gender Discrimination, Evil.

AWARDS - Many film festival nominations and several wins.

STORY - This is more of a docudrama than a film with a plot and satisfying ending along with character development. Roger Ebert says it well: "KANDAHAR does not provide deeply drawn characters, memorable dialogue or an exciting climax. Its traffic is in images..." It is the images that stick. This was made before 9/11 to show the persecution of women in Afghanistan. It is partially based on a true story involving Nelofer Pazira (Nafas), an Afghan-born Canadian journalist. In the film she has received a letter from her sister who was left behind when the family evacuated Russian-controlled Afghanistan. Her sister, now living under the rule of the Taliban, no longer wants to go on living and has given a date, the lunar eclipse, when she will commit suicide. The letter was delayed in getting to Nafas and she has arrived at the Iranian-Afghan border with only three days until the eclipse. As a woman, she is not free to travel alone into Afghanistan. She must arrange for some male assistance. The rest of the film is about her journey to find her sister. Along the way she meets a Black American disguised as an Afghan medical doctor, a Red Cross camp helping land mine victims who have lost legs. The image of the doctor (he doesn't know she is from Canada initially) asking questions of Nafas thru a third party and being separated by a sheet with a hole to examine her ears, eyes and mouth would be humorous, if not true. A Red Cross helicopter makes a 'leg drop', parachuting artificial legs to the camp below and we are overwhelmed by the image of several dozen amputees with crutches literally racing each other to get a pair of legs. The image of a her young male guide (10-12 years old) pulling a ring off a skeleton in the desert and trying to sell it to her is wrenching. Once again, we are struck by the incredible cruelty that the human race is capable of inflicting on one another, simply because of race or gender. You will probably not remember the plot but you will remember the images, images the reinforce the knowledge that there is both good and evil in this world and we must counter evil wherever we find it. A sobering film. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/13/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT.

THE PRISONER OF SHARK ISLAND

2008-09-07T12:31:00.005-05:00

THE PRISONER OF SHARK ISLAND - 1936

RATED - NR but probably PG.

RATINGS - 5 Amazon (4/5), 793 Netflix (3.3/5), 472 IMDB (7.4/10).

STARRING - Directed by JOHN FORD with Warner Baxter & Gloria Stuart.

THEMES - Justice.

STORY - The film begins with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth jumping on to the stage and making his escape out the back of the theater. In jumping from the balcony, Booth breaks his leg and soon needs medical attention. In the movie he asks for directions to a local doctor and appears unannounced at the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who, of course (without the Internet & cable TV) has not yet heard of the assassination. He treats Booth and keeps him overnight until he can travel again. The authorities trace Booth's escape to Mudd's estate and arrest him for being an accomplice. He is tried in what appears to be somewhat of a kangaroo court and sent to Shark Island Prison in the Florida Keys. He tried to escape once, unsuccessfully. A violent outbreak of Yellow Fever in which he heroically saves the lives of many of the prisoners while risking his own, convinces his accusers to rethink his guilt. The question is whether Dr. Mudd was an innocent bystander as the movie depicts or was he, in fact, part of the Booth conspiracy. This movie is well done and entertaining and is a terrific introduction to the whole story of John Wilkes Booth and the conspiracy theories. Like the JFK assassination debate, was this a lone gunman or a conspiracy much larger? A fascinating subject. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/07/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IDMB, TCM(Spoilers), WIKIPEDIA

THE LAST HURRAH

2008-09-06T08:57:00.005-05:00

THE LAST HURRAH - 1958

RATED - NR but probably G/PG.

RATINGS - 15 Amazon (4/5), 8,591 Netflix (3.6/5), 815 IMDB (7.4/10).

STARRING - Spencer Tracy, Basil Rathbone.

AWARDS - Nominated for 1959 BAFTA Best Foreign Actor (Tracy).

THEMES - Politics, relationships.

STORY - The films begins with Mayor Frank Skeffington (Tracy) coming down the staircase of his large home and stopping to put a fresh flower in the vase under the picture of his deceased wife. He is soon joined in his large home office by his loyal staff who prepare him for the day's activities and getting ready to run for a fifth term. Soon he opens the door and one by one visits with the hundreds of people that have lined up outside his home to see him, a daily event. He's an old time politician, taking in every event in the city that concerns his people. He's got the people on his side but not the establishment whom he regularly 'blackmails' to get things done for 'his' people. They decide to go after him in this election and put up their own candidate backed by the local paper. It's a fresh, young man who knows how to use the 'new' medium called TV. What follows is classic Tracy with humor and drama as the contest turns into a horse race. The film is widely thought to be based on the life of Boston mayor James Curley. If you like Tracy, politics and a good story, this is worth the time. If, as they say, all politics is local, then this is a classic political film. Terrific acting by all involved and a heart wrenching ending. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/06/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM(Spoilers)

RECOUNT

2008-09-06T07:31:00.003-05:00

RECOUNT - 2008

RATED - NR but probably PG-13 for language. The 'f' word is used quite a bit.

RATINGS - 7 Amazon (4/5), 16,343 Netflix (3.8/5), 2,286 IMDB (7.7/10),

AWARDS - Nominated for 6 Prime Time Emmy's.

STARRING - Kevin Spacey, Tom Wilkinson, Bob Balaban, Denis Leary and Laura Dern. All of them were nominated for individual Emmy's.

THEMES - Justice, democracy, politics, winning at all costs.

STORY - We all know the outcome of the 2000 Presidential race so why would you want to watch this HBO made for TV movie? Like watching a movie about a sporting event or athlete where you know the end, it's about the game itself. This film is about the Florida recount in 2000 as seen mainly through the person of Ron Klain, Al Gore's former Chief of Staff who was dispatched to Florida to head up the Democratic team pursuing the recount. The acting is terrific and so is the writing. Since the event is so recent and all the players are still living, getting the story straight was important and it seems that they did. Even knowing the ending, this movie draws you in so that you almost forget what happened as you follow the events and drama within the inner circle of each party as they fight for Florida's 25 electoral votes and the Presidency. It's really a story about democracy and how it does and doesn't work, about our legal system and how it does and doesn't work and whether a Republic like ours can survive a crisis like that. Whether you think the system works, depends, of course, on what side you were on but our country did survive and I think some credit must be given to the parties involved, particularly Al Gore as the underdog, who could have gotten their supporters all riled up and created a very ugly situation. There were hardly any demonstrations by Democrats. Gore also called off the pursuit in the end when he could have continued to the further detriment of the country. It seems that there was a tangible case of 'Country First'. It is also a reminder that we still don't have this voting thing figured out in our country. We can put the proverbial man or woman on the moon but can't develop a consistent, reliable national voting system for national elections. Maybe there's a case for letting each state and precinct determine its own way, but in an election that affects every one of us, I'd like to think we were all playing by the same rules. This is another outstanding docudrama by HBO. Enjoy during this election year. Who knows, maybe it will be deja vu all over again. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/06/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

FOYLE'S WAR

2008-08-23T10:20:00.006-05:00

FOYLE'S WAR - 2002

RATED - TV-PG

RATINGS - 76 Amazon (5/5), 159,370 Netflix (3/5), 831 IMDB (9.0/10).

STARRING - Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks, Anthony Howell.

AWARDS - Nominated for several British TV awards.

THEMES - Justice, relationships, ethics.

STORY - This is a BBC made for TV series about Chief Detective Christopher Foyle (Kitchen) set in 1940 England in a small coastal community. Foyle would rather be defending his country somewhere but he must stay home solve the crimes (often related to war activities) that still occur on the home front. The chemistry between Foyle and his driver, Samantha Stewart (Weeks), and his assistant, Sgt. Paul Milner (Howell) is outstanding, as they go about solving crimes in this WWII environment which affects everyone in England. If you like WWII, detective mysteries, and character driven shows this is almost perfection. I can't recommend this highly enough. Aside from some violence around the crime scene, there is almost nothing to deter family viewing. This is about real people living out real life in a war-plagued country and they do it in a most entertaining and satisfying way. Try one and I think you'll be hooked. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/23/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

STATE OF THE UNION

2008-08-23T09:19:00.004-05:00

STATE OF THE UNION - 1948

RATED - NR but probably G/PG for adult themes.

RATINGS - 24 Amazon (4.5/5), 6,638 Netflix (3.7/5), 869 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Van Johnson, Angela Lansbury. Directed by Frank Capra (IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE).

THEMES - Relationships, Justice, Honor.

STORY - The story begins with Kay Thorndike (Lansbury) rushing to the side of her dying father, Sam Thorndike, newspaper publisher baron. He challenges her to remain ruthless and get back at the Republican Party which he feels betrayed his chance to be president. Kay decides the best way to get to the White House is by backing (with all her personal assets and the newspapers she controls) her good friend and wealthy aviation manufacturer Grant Matthews (Tracy). Rumors have linked Matthews and Thorndike romantically because he is unofficially separated from his wife Mary Mathews (Hepburn). A public image of a happy marriage is important to a successful campaign and Thorndike and company set about to get the marriage back on track, at least for the public. Matthews knows that Mary is no pushover and will not be manipulated for the sake of his campaign. Yet Mary believes in him and knows that at the core his ability to be honest and his business skills are what the country needs, especially someone outside the influence of the Washington insiders. She decides to wholeheartedly back Grant's run for the nomination all the while fighting back the rumors of his unfaithfulness and the influence of the ruthless Thorndike. This begins the tug of war between Mary and Thorndike as to how the campaign should be run - total honesty and openness or politically shrewd playing all sides. It would be hard not to have an entertaining film, especially about such a hot topic, with the stars involved and under the direction of Frank Capra. A lesser known gem of Tracy and Hepburn, this is a great time to pull it out and watch. Maybe there is still a Grant Matthews lurking out there that we could nominate. For aviation buffs, there is a great scene where a couple of Grant's test pilots pull up alongside the campaign plane and challenge him to a little game of 'chicken' in the air. The picture quality is excellent. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/23/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM (Spoilers)

1968 WITH TOM BROKAW

2008-08-16T10:10:00.003-05:00

1968 - 2008

RATED - NR but probably PG for brief scenes of drug use.

RATINGS - 6 Amazon (3.0/5), 255 Netflix (3.4/5), 46 IMDB (7.7/10)

STARRING - Tom Brokaw as commentator and various celebrities as themselves.

AWARDS - Nominated for an EMMY.

THEMES - Change, crisis, turmoil, tragedy, triumph.

STORY - This History Channel documentary with Tom Brokaw as host highlights the most turbulent year of, arguably, the most turbulent decade in our country's history. It is hard to dispute the statement that America changed dramatically during the sixties and 1968 seemed to be the year that everything changed. There were two major assassinations, a riot at the Democratic convention, violent protests on college campuses, and a very contentious presidential campaign with the sitting president, Lyndon Johnson, opting not to run again. Drug use was rampant among the 'hippie' generation. But there was also the 'silent majority' who continued to pursue their version of the American way. These views clashed in often violent ways stretching the ability of law enforcement to contain them at times. Not to mention the race issue inflamed by the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. Did I mention feminism and the rise of the women's liberation movement? And for good measure add a resurrected politician named Richard Nixon into the mix. It was fitting that the year should culminate in one of the greatest achievements of mankind, the Apollo 8 Space Mission to the moon. 1968 is not just a year in the past, it is an experience that still influences society today among those who experienced it and those influenced by them. If you missed the sixties, this is a good place to start in understanding what happened. Plenty of good archival footage from actual events. The low ratings of some people seem to have more to do with what's missing than what's included. Unfortunately a 90 minute documentary about 1968 will inevitably leave out some important events or different perspectives. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 08/16/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

49TH PARALLEL

2008-08-14T19:19:00.006-05:00

49TH PARALLEL - 1942

RATED - NR but probably PG

RATINGS - 19 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,920 Netflix (3.5/5), 1,399 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Laurence Olivier, Raymond Massey, Anton Walbrook & Leslie Howard.

AWARDS - Academy Award for BEST WRITING, ORIGINAL STORY and nominated for BEST PICTURE and BEST WRITING, SCREEN PLAY.

THEMES - War, propaganda, relationships.

STORY - First of all, this Criterion-restored version is a great quality picture, clean and crisp. Second, it is a movie with an ulterior motive, that of getting the then-neutral USA into the war. While I don't think it detracts from the entertainment merits, some people do. The story begins with a German U-Boat somewhere in the northern part of Canada. It destroys a Canadian cargo ship and then refuses to help save the survivors. The commander decides to head for Hudson Bay to lay low for awhile until they can escape. They send a small crew ashore to steal supplies they will need. While the U-Boat is surfaced, it is spotted by the Canadian Air Force and destroyed. The stranded crew on shore must try to navigate their way to the 49TH PARALLEL (the line dividing the US and Canada) and the neutral U.S. where they can find freedom. The propaganda enters in when they encounter Canadian citizens in their journey and enter into debates about the merits of democracy versus the white supremacy worldview of 'The Fuhrer'. There are some surprising turns and twists and a satisfying ending. A very interesting aspect of WWII and how it affected Canadians. There were some 500,000 Germans living in Canada at the time and apparently some 850 were interned for being Nazi spies as well as subversives and saboteurs. There are several interesting extras along with the Criterion edition. Enjoy. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 08/16/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM

THE SOUTHERNER

2008-08-09T11:45:00.004-05:00

THE SOUTHERNER - 1945

RATED - NR but probably G/PG

RATINGS - 10 Amazon (4.5/5), 2,158 Netflix (3.2/5), 552 IMDB (7.6/10), Leonard Maltin (4/4).

STARRING - Zachary Scott, Betty Field. Directed by Jean Renoir.

AWARDS - 3 Academy Award nominations including BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SOUND and BEST MUSICAL SCORE. Winner of BEST FILM at the 1945 Venice Film Festival.

THEMES - Perseverance, the American dream, justice, relationships.

STORY - Why would someone in 2008 watch a B & W film made in 1945 about a 1930's family who are dirt poor trying start their own farm? First, this is a Jean Renoir film and many think he is the best director ever, certainly in the top five. Second, this is a film most of us can identify with at some level. It's about wanting a piece of the American dream, about starting your own business (farm) and creating something based on your abilities and desires. It's about trying to beat the odds, the odds like nature, no money, opponents and limited resources to make it. It's about having faith in yourself and in a higher power that gives purpose and meaning to what you do. Is there justice in this world for those who work hard and live a moral and upright life? You may or may not think so after watching this film. It's another reminder of what makes this country so great are the opportunities that it gives; though not are all equal, they are there for those with the courage and perseverance to follow a dream. Though the film quality is a little poor and Beulah Bondi as Granny Tucker is a weak link in the movie, it is definitely worth watching this little slice of Americana. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/09/2008.

LINKS - Amazon, IMDB, TCM

THE BEDFORD INCIDENT

2008-08-06T20:59:00.004-05:00

THE BEDFORD INCIDENT - 1965

RATED - NR but probably PG for adult themes.

RATINGS - 44 Amazon (4.5/5), 16,139 Netflix (3.6/5), 1,306 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Sidney Poitier, Richard Widmark.

THEMES - Cold War, Nuclear War, Justice

STORY - It's during the height of the Cold War and a U.S. Naval destroyer, The Bedford, is racing through the icy waters of the North Atlantic as it tracks a Russian sub below. So the film opens and then a Navy helicopter comes into the picture keeping pace overhead with the destroyer. Two men, a black photojournalist, Ben Munceford (Poitier), and a Navy medical doctor, Liet. Cmdr. Chester Potter (Martin Balsam) are lowered onto the deck. Both men will come to wish they had not left the helicopter as they are introduced to Captain Eric Finlander (Widmark), the destroyer's skipper. Finlander is obsessed with pursuing and confronting this sub which has violated territorial waters. He knows he is pushing the sub beyond its limits to stay submerged and something will have to give sooner rather than later. As Mumceford, who is doing a feature on Finlander (he stood up to the Navy after a 'Cuba' affair and was subsequently passed over for Admiral) and Potter observer the Captain and the crew, they can see that not only is the sub reaching the breaking point of being submerged but The Bedford's crew of over 200 sailors is also being pushed physically and psychologically to the limit by constantly being called to 'GQ' (full alert) with very little rest. The tension and friction build to the breaking point on the ship as they continue to pursue relentlessly the cornered sub. This is a little known but powerful drama about the Cold War. One wonders how many of these incidents happened or nearly happened in real life. How many Cuban Missile Crises and Bedford Incidents have there been that brought the world to the brink of nuclear disaster? Poitier and Widmark are at the top of their game. Just a footnote - Wally Cox does an outstanding job playing the 'Radar' of the ship. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/06/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM(Spoilers Here)