THE STONING OF SORAYA M.

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

CALL NORTHSIDE 777

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

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

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

THE RON CLARK STORY

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

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??

SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER

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)

THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY

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

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

RESURRECTING THE CHAMP

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