BOYCOTT

BOYCOTT - 2001

RATED - PG for thematic material & some language.

RATINGS - 14 AMAZON (4.5/5), 334 IMBD (7.2/10), 10,696 (3.7/5).

STARRING - Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

AWARDS - 5 wins & 11 nominations in the 'made for TV' movie categories.

THEMES - Racism, solidarity, non-violent protest, civil rights.

STORY - It's 1955 and Rosa Parks has been arrested for refusing to give up her seat on the public bus to a white person. The black (Negro) community immediately reacts with what they think will be a short boycott of the public transportation system. It turns into a 381 day marathon of wills between the black community and the whites who want to preserve the status quo. How they did that is the story of this HBO film. There were many times when the boycott could have fallen apart. Many of the blacks did not have cars and relied on public transportation to get to work, often quite a distance from their segregated communities. It is a remarkable story of perseverance, hope and faith. Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. carries the movie but there are impressive supporting performances as well that keep this story moving and entertaining. It is doubtful that any of us can see and learn too much about this ugly part of our country's history. It is a reminder of the incredible ability the human race has to inflict pain and persecution upon fellow humans. It is also a testimony to what hope & faith can overcome. Put this at the top of your list. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/29/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER

REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT

REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT - 1962

RATED - NR but probably PG for some boxing violence & adult themes.

RATINGS - 25 AMAZON (4/5), 757 IMBD (7.8/10), 20,270 NETFLIX (3.8/5).

STARRING - Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, Julie Harris

THEMES - Loyalty, friendship, love, gambling, hustling.

STORY - The film begins in the ring with the aging heavyweight boxer Mountain Rivera (Quinn) getting pounded by the then real life Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali). Once ranked as high as 5th in the world, he has been reduced to a sure win for those on the way up and a payday for his manager. It's all he's ever done and he's not prepared to do anything else in life. The doc tells him this is it. Another blow to the head and his eyesight may not survive that one. His manager (Gleason) and trainer (Rooney) have other ideas. Mountain is their paycheck and besides, Gleason just bet (and lost) that Mountain wouldn't last 4 rounds against Clay. He needs to keep the franchise going because he isn't prepared for anything else, either. Mountain tries the unemployment office where the case worker (Harris) takes a personal, as well as professional, interest in helping this 'mountain' of a man who is lost outside the ring. The scene when he takes her to the bar where he always hangs out and tries to treat her like a 'lady' is a classic. Gleason, meanwhile, is being pursued by the mob to make good on his bet. Rivera is caught in the middle of this tragedy as friendship and loyalty are put to the test. This is NOT an uplifting, all ends well story. I can't imagine a better cast for this story written by Rod Serling (Twilight Zone) for TV six years earlier.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

THE BISHOP'S WIFE

THE BISHOP'S WIFE - 1947

RATED - NR but almost certainly G. VERY family friendly.

RATINGS - 109 Amazon (4.5/5), 3,313 IMBD (7.5/10), 25, 224 Netflix (3.9/5).

STARRING - Cary Grant, David Niven, Loretta Young.

AWARDS - 1 Academy Award for BEST SOUND & 4 nominations including BEST PICTURE.

THEMES - Faith, hope, love, spirituality.

STORY - This could be subtitled 'be careful what you pray for'. David Niven is the Bishop and he's under a lot of pressure to raise money for a new Cathedral. There is one wealthy donor that can make it happen but it means compromising to satisfy her. This pressure has also put a strain on what has until now been a wonderful marriage. It's also Christmas and his family wants to spend time with him which he doesn't believe he can spare. In desperation he cries out to God for wisdom. He thought he was asking for help in building the cathedral. He received something entirely different. Cary Grant shows up as Dudley the Angel and sets about trying to help the Bishop. He also tries to mend the relationship between Julia (Loretta Young) and the Bishop and finds himself becoming attracted to her. The Bishop also senses this. It eventually comes to a head and leads to a much different conclusion than the Bishop expected. This is a delightful, romantic comedy and should be a Christmas favorite right along with It's A Wonderful Life and other Christmas classics. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/23/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER.

THE NINTH DAY

THE NINTH DAY - 2004

RATED - NR but probably PG for some mature themes and non-graphic violence.

RATINGS - 4 Amazon (5/5), 508 IMBD (7.3/10), 4,375 Netflix (3.7/5).

AWARDS - 1 GERMAN FILM AWARD (Academy Award Equivalent) and 7 nominations plus numerous other award and nominations at various film festivals.

THEMES - War, faith, love, prejudice.

STORY - The film begins in the Dachau concentration camp, one of the most brutal. We stay there long enough to meet Father Henri Kremer and his fellow clergy prisoners and to experience the day to day brutality and persecution they endure. One day, Henri is asked to follow the guard. Fearing the worst, a fellow pastor was just hung from a cross, he heads toward the area where the crosses are set up. Instead, he is redirected to the Commandant's office where, to his utter amazement, he is given his release. He boards the train to his home in Luxembourg. Trudging his way home in the snow from the station, he is picked up by the head of the Gestapo, Herr Gebhardt and told to report to his office promptly in the morning where he will discover, it's not a release he was given but a nine day pass. So begins Day one of nine in which he is to persuade the Bishop of Luxembourg to cooperate with the Nazis or he and his fellow clergy will be transferred to a death camp in the east. Will Father Kremer compromise his faith to save his and the others' lives? Every day he must report his progress to Gebhardt, personally, who uses every psychological trick he knows to persuade Henri to cooperate. Gebhardt is really Evil incarnate. It is a showdown between religion that would use power to dominate and control versus faith that seeks to serve and to love. It is the ultimate showdown of good and evil-the one with the weapons and the power and the one with love and faith. This is a powerful story that never lets up. It is intense to the end. What would you do in the same situation? Do you believe anything that you would be willing to die for? Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/22/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER.

THE ROCKET

THE ROCKET - 2005

RATED - PG for rough sports action, including fighting, some bloody images, some language, and historical smoking throughout.

RATINGS - 2 Amazon (5/5), 1,144 IMBD (8.1/10), 1,937 Netflix (3.7/5).

AWARDS - 9 GENIE AWARDS (Canadian Academy Awards) and 4 nominations.

THEMES - Discrimination, perseverance, teamwork.

STORY - It may be hard to imagine today but in 1937 the NHL consisted of 6 teams and was on the verge of folding. It desperately needed a hero. Working as a machinist in a factory was a young French-Canadian named Maurice Richard with dreams of playing in the NHL. When he finally earned a tryout with the Montreal Canadiens, he had already suffered one serious injury, and despite an impressive tryout, the owners did not want to take a chance. The coach took a hard line stance in favor of the young Maurice and got him on the team. He soon proved the owners right by getting injured again. It took some incredibly hard rehabilitation as well as enduring some brutal attacks by teammates who were testing him to convince the owners to give him another chance. So began the career of, arguably, the most loved and well known Montreal Canadien ever. He has been called the 'Babe Ruth of hockey'. In some ways, he was more like Jackie Robinson. French-Canadians had about the same status as African-Americans in the U.S. Although not the first F-C to play in the NHL, his success and popularity threatened the status quo. Despite scoring 50 goals in 50 games, he didn't win the scorng title because the teams conspired against him to the point of awarding assists to players not even on the ice to build up their point totals. As an aside, F-C fans even had to sit in a segregated section of the arena which was enclosed by a chain link fence. Not only is this an entertaining and inspiring hockey movie but it's a great education for someone not familiar with the history of Quebec and the fight for equality by the French Canadians. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/22/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

THE GROUND TRUTH

THE GROUND TRUTH - 2006

RATED - R for disturbing violent content & language.

RATINGS - 30 Amazon (4/5), 277 IMBD (7.7/10), 20,708 Netflix (3.8/5).

STARRING - Our veterans.

THEMES - The horrors of war and the after effects on individuals.

STORY - This is not an easy film to watch. First of all, let me say that I did not view this film from a political viewpoint (even though it is clearly not promoting the war) and would encourage anyone who watches to see it as the story of these young men and women and their experience in a war. At the very least, they went to serve our country and defend us and I believe it is an obligation to at least listen to their story. They are now living with the consequences of knowing they deliberately killed innocent children and women (as in running over children who happened to get in the way of their vehicle). They are psychologically scarred and physically disabled (in many cases) for life. In the best scenario war is horrible and tragic and this reminds us of how reluctant we need to be about going to war no matter the cause. This documentary brings it a little closer to home-these are our sons and daughters, neighbors and friends in a war that is still going on. This is their story. Hear it for what it is, knowing that there are others who may tell a different story which is just as valid. The government has estimated it will take $300 BILLION to take care of the Iraq veterans the rest of their lives. My hope is that this would inspire all of us to remember those who have served and reach out to them when they return. Regardless of a person's position on the war, we cannot abandon or forget them. It's rated R for graphic war violence and language you don't hear in church.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER

MISS EVERS' BOYS

MISS EVERS' BOYS - 1997

RATED - PG for theme & related elements.

RATINGS - 15 Amazon (4.5/5), 333 IMBD (7.1/10), 74,690 Netflix (3.8/5).

AWARDS - 4 EMMYS plus 1 GOLDEN GLOBE plus many nominations and other wins.

STARRING - Alfre Woodard, Laurence Fishburne, Craig Sheffer.

THEMES - Racial discrimination, government cover up.

STORY - Another outstanding movie from HBO based on the true story of a sad and tragic chapter in our country's medical history. Well worth watching and contemplating where might those kinds of things be going on right now. Governments are made up of people who are good intentioned but with flawed thinking or perhaps outright corrupt and nowhere has this been more true than in the area of racial discrimination. It's still hard to imagine living in the North with the kind of discrimination African-Americans lived with in the South, even though it certainly wasn't just a southern problem. Highly recommend.

The following is from the product description: "Based on the shocking true story, Miss Evers' Boys exposes a 40-year government backed medical research effort on humans which led to tragic consequences. It is 1932 when loyal, devoted Nurse Eunice Evers (Alfre Woodard) is invited to work with Dr. Brodus (Joe Morton) and Dr. Douglas (Craig Sheffer) on a federally funded program to treat syphilis patients in Alabama. Free treatment is offered to those who test positive for the disease included Caleb Humphries (Laurence Fishburne) and Willie Johnson (Obba Babatunde). But when the government withdraws its funding, money is offered for what will become known as "The Tuskegee Experiment", a study of the effects of syphilis on patients who don't receive treatment. Now the men must be led to believe they are being cared for, when in fact they are being denied the medicine that could cure them. Miss Evers is faced with a terrible dilemma-to abandon the experiment and tell her patients, or to remain silent and offer only comfort. IT is a life or death decision that will dictate the course of not only her life, but the lives of all of Miss Evers' Boys."

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

GOING MY WAY

GOING MY WAY - 1944

RATED - NR but almost certainly a G. VERY family friendly.

RATINGS - 24 Amazon (4.5/5), 2,073 IMBD (7.5/10), 12,674 Netflix (4.0/5).

STARRING - Bing Crosby & Barry Fitzgerald

AWARDS - 7 Academy Awards including BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR (Crosby), BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Fitzgerald) & BEST MUSIC, ORIGINAL SONG and 3 additional nominations. FYI: Fitzgerald was nominated & a finalist for BOTH Best Actor & Best Supporting Actor. He could have won both. Rules were changed to prevent this in the future because of this movie.

STORY - This isn't a Christmas movie but it's sure a good time of the year to watch it. The film opens with the elderly Father Fitzgibbon (Fitzgerald) meeting with the St. Dominic Church bankers and being told they are turned down for a loan for a new furnace and if they don't get caught up with their mortgage payments, they will foreclose. Shortly after, the new assistant, young Father O'Malley shows up. What Fitzgibbon doesn't know & O'Malley doesn't have the heart to tell the crusty old priest is that O'Malley is really sent to replace Fitz who has spent 45 years at St. Dominic. O'Malley sets about to get the church out of the financial crisis while letting Fitz take the credit. There are a number of side plots such as the gang of young men that O'Malley turns into a (surprise) boys choir. Just when you think everything has turned out rosy, tragedy strikes and tests the faith and spirit of everyone involved. This is a wonderful, feel good movie with lots of entertainment and good Bing Crosby music, including the Academy Award winning song SWINGING ON A STAR. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/9/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES

ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES - 1938

RATED - NR but probably PG for some non-graphic gangster shooting and violence.

RATINGS - 22 Amazon (4/5), 5,017 IMBD (7.9/10), 25,504 Netflix (3.9/5).

STARRING - James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart & The Dead End Kids.

AWARDS - 3 Academy Award nominations including BEST ACTOR (Cagney)

THEMES - Forgiveness, faith, the brotherhood of gangs, consequences of crime & sin.

STORY - "What do ya hear? What do ya say?" The words of greeting by Rocky Sullivan (Cagney) to everyone he meets. Is there anyone with more self confidence combined with an endearing smile than Cagney. He must have driven his teachers crazy growing up. The movie starts with scenes of Rocky and Jerry Connolly (O'Brien) growing up in a tough part of town. Both are prone to get into trouble and eventually Rocky (who can't run as fast as Jerry) gets caught and ends up in reform school, where he only gets better (at being a criminal) and leads to more crime and longer stints in various prisons where he continues to hone his criminal skills. Jerry, meanwhile, has become a Catholic priest and is serving the parish in his old neighborhood. Rocky looks up Jerry after getting released for the 4th or 5th time, not because he has any intentions of going straight, but he wants to take over the organized crime in that neighborhood, which he believes is owed him by Humphrey Bogart, the head of crime in the city. Bogart doesn't see it that way and doesn't want any partners so he tries to eliminate Rocky. Rocky, meanwhile, has become the Pied Piper for a gang of kids (The Dead End Kids) that Father Jerry is trying to lead down the straight & narrow. The battle is on for the lives and souls of these young men. Can Rocky take over the crime in the 'hood'. Can Father Jerry win back the love & loyalty of these kids from the charismatic Rocky? A terrific story that leads up to one of the most poignant endings in any movie. Did Rocky end up a coward or a hero? People have been pondering that question since 1938. 'What do ya hear? What do ya say?" You decide. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/8/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

HOLIDAY INN

HOLIDAY INN - 1942

RATED - NR but almost certainly G. Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 33 Amazon (4.5/5), 2,451 IMBD (7.5/10), 90,722 Netflix (3.9/5)

STARRING - Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire

AWARDS - 7 Academy Awards including BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR (Bing Crosby) & BEST MUSIC SONG plus 5 nominations. AFI TOP 100 Movies nominee.

STORY - Bing , Fred and Virginia Dale have a love triangle/musical act that is very successful and demanding. Bing is ready to retire and be a gentleman farmer in Connecticut. He assumes Dale, who has led both men on, will come with him, get married and settle down. Wrong! -as they say. He takes off and leaves Dale & Astaire to their own career. One year of farming is enough for Bing and he decides to turn the farm into the HOLIDAY INN, a rural nightclub which will only be open only on holidays. He discovers a wonderful new song and dance partner in Marjorie Reynolds. By this time Dale has dumped Astaire and he shows up unexpectedly at the Holiday Inn quite drunk, looking for work and dances a number with Reynolds. Later, he comes back and tries to find her, only remembering what a great time he had but not recognizing her. Bing does everything to hide her-he's already lost one girl to Fred. Lots of fun and laughs as they go round and round. Every holiday brings a new set and new act so there is lots of music and singing including the premiere of WHITE CHRISTMAS. There is one scene that caused a lot of stir and that was the act celebrating Lincoln's birthday in which white actors painted their faces black and gave tribute to Lincoln as freed black slaves. Is controversial in some circles even today. Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire-what more can you say. A terrific classic. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/2/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD

THUNDER ROAD

THUNDER ROAD - 1958

RATED - PG for some non-graphic violence. One car is blown up & two others crash and burn.

RATINGS - 41 Amazon (4.5/5), 824 IMBD (6.7/10), 11,476 Netflix (3.4/5)

STARRING - Robert Mitchum, Gene Barry

THEMES - Justice, family, crime.

STORY - Lucas Doolin (Mitchum) returns from the Korean War to take over the family moonshine business. He hauls the stuff while his dad makes it and his little brother keeps the car running. Success in the business depends on a car that can outrun the Feds. Not only are the cars equipped with racing engines, you can turn the switch and drop some oil on the road behind you for anyone chasing to lose control. Lucas is the premier 'runner' in his territory, an area that not only are the Feds (led by Gene Barry) trying to clean up but an organized crime competitor is trying to take over. Lucas is definitely the cool dude and, apparently, this was a popular drive-in movie in the South for many years. Mother Doolin keeps the family in line and while they may make a living of crime, she makes sure they are in church on Sundays. In an early scene she & the two sons sit down to eat and they forget to pray so she asks Robin (Mitchum's son in real life) to pray. He prays, 'Thanks for the food, thanks for the meat, it's getting late, let's eat'. Furious with his irreverent attitude, she gives him a back hand slap to the head and knocks him off his chair. If you're a Robert Mitchum fan or just looking for some 'cool' entertainment, this is a classic. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/1/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER

DAY ONE

DAY ONE - 1989 (Made for TV)

RATED - NR but probably PG for mature themes (war, atomic bomb)

RATINGS - 9 Amazon (5/5), 120 IMBD (7.5/10)

STARRING - Brian Dennehy, David Strathaim, Michael Tucker

THEMES - War, nuclear warfare, justice.

AWARDS - Primetime Emmy

STORY - This is a fascinating story of 'The Manhattan Project', maybe the best version out there. It begin with Leo Szilard, the Hungarian physicist, leaving on the last train out of Hungary. He believes an atomic bomb is possible and wants to help the U.S. develop one. Many of the scientists who became involved in the project were Jews who were motivated to build a bomb that would end the war. So begins the incredible Manhattan Project. The movie transitions back and forth among the scientific, military and political factions involved and how they all play with AND against each other. The film does a wonderful job of making the dialogue seem real and authentic not just slick speeches by actors. A couple of interesting points. Eisenhower was passionately opposed to dropping the bomb on Japan. Along with Fleet Admiral Leahy, he believed the Japanese were ready to surrender and the bomb was unnecessary. The Jewish scientists had a different view of how the bomb should be used after Germany surrendered and Hitler was dead and tried to make their views known to the military and administration. It is still amazing that Truman was kept in the dark until Roosevelt died and he became President, especially when you consider there were 100,000 persons working on the project and two BILLION dollars had been spent. Since it was made for TV, this film hasn't received the exposure it deserves. The story of the atomic bomb may be the most important story of the 20th century - it changed our world forever - and this movie tells it well. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/1/2007.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD