BROKEN ARROW

BROKEN ARROW - 1950

RATED - NR but probably PG for violence & thematic elements.

RATINGS - 28 Amazon (5/5), 12,788 Netflix (3.8/5), 1,355 IMDB (7.3/10).

AWARDS - 3 Academy Award nominations including Best Supporting Actor (Jeff Chandler as Cochise), a Golden Globe award and several other nominations.

THEMES - Racial reconciliation, courage, relationships, justice, prejudice.

STORY - This is the story of Tom Jeffords (Jimmy Stewart), as told by him, and how he was recruited to 'remove' the Apache tribe that was ambushing the mail carriers in the Arizona area. Jeffords changes his mind after a 'Good Samaritan' experience. Riding through the desert he spots the buzzards circling and looks for their prey. It's a severely wounded young Apache Brave who has been shot 8 times (in the back no less) by American soldiers. Jeffords stops and saves his life and when the tribe finds them both and lets him go after realizing what he did, he comes to believe there is the possibility of negotiating a peace treaty instead of 'removing' them. He spent a month learning the language and customs of the Apaches from a real Apache. He then went alone into Apache territory to try to meet Cochise (something no white man had ever done). What happens is a powerful story of reconciliation and trust between Cochise and Jeffords. Both men must convince those around them that the other can really be trusted, a very difficult challenge. This builds to a tragic, but ultimately hopeful climax. A powerful film in its own right but also a story for everyone who feels we have to 'remove' our enemies. Is it not better to try to understand them first? Would this plan not be a better first step in dealing with our enemies rather than the last? How about in our families, in our communities? Could we not all do better pursuing understanding rather than removing? A powerful film. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/28/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

HEAT WAVE

HEAT WAVE - 1990

RATED - NR but probably PG for language & violence. Rated PG in Canada.

RATINGS - 6 Amazon (5/5), 913 Netflix (3.2/5), 70 IMDB (7.0/10).

STARRING - Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood, Sally Kirkland, James Earl Jones

AWARDS - EMMY for Best Supporting Actor (Jones) plus five other wins & one nomination.

THEMES - Racial discriminiation, injustice, relationships, family.

STORY - The film, based on a true story, begins with a scene from the Watts riot with two cousins (Bob Richardson & J.T. Turpin) arguing over whether to throw a molotov cocktail. It then flashes back to show how they and their family arrived at that point. How did a routine traffic stop flare into one of the worst riots in our history? How did the flames of racial prejudice get so hot? Richardson (Underwood) moved, along with cousin J.T. Turpin and their family, from Alabama to LA. It was supposed to be the land of opportunity but for the Turpins it becomes another racial ghetto and they end up in dead end jobs and alcohol. Richardson goes on to college and a tour of duty in the military. He returns and gets an entry level job as a messenger with the LA Times. He has finally entered into the lowest level of a white dominated profession and has ambitions of advancing. When the riots continue, the white reporters don't dare return to the scene and Richardson volunteers. A very realistic and sobering look at the racial situation in our country during that time (today?). There are several hopeful relationships such as the one Richardson formed with a young white police officer and with Junius Johnson (Jones), both of whom tried in their own way for reconciliation among blacks and whites. Those were voices ignored by both sides for the most part. An overlooked and underrated film. Still relevant and important today. Very well done. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/26/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

A PATCH OF BLUE

A PATCH OF BLUE - 1965

RATED - NR but probably PG for minor violence & language.

RATINGS - 52 Amazon (4.5/5), 61,259 Netflix (3.9/5), 1,903 IMDB (7.9/10).

AWARDS - 1966 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Shelley Winters) plus 5 Academy nominations. 1967 BAFTA Best Actor nominee (Sidney Poitier).

THEMES - Racial reconciliation, relationships, love, justice.

STORY - Imagine, you're 18 years old, blind, uneducated and virtually a prisoner of your own home. Your father is gone, your mother is abusive, demanding and overbearing and your grandfather is a hopeless alcoholic. Salina (Elizabeth Hartman) is that young woman, who is confined to a dumpy, small apartment and for practical purposes, is the personal slave of her mother(Shelley Winters) and 'ol granpa'. She knows her way around the apartment without hesitation and cooks, cleans and washes their clothes. She also strings beads to earn money and has a daily quota. On a rare day, someone takes her to the park and leaves her until night when 'ol granpa' picks her up on his way home from the bar. One day, she's noticed by Gordon (Sidney Poitier) who befriends her. They eventually become friends. She remarks one day that 'friend' is her new favorite word and asks Gordon what his is. He replies 'tolerance'. While Salina is color blind (literally) Gordon is struggling with his own racial feelings. His brother, a doctor, belittles him for helping a white girl. 'Let Whitey take care of their own', he says. This is a story about friendship, racial prejudice and what it means to be truly color blind. This movie was made in the middle of one of the most racially charged decades of our history to put it into perspective. The story builds to an emotional climax when the mother discovers she's been seeing a black man. Another gem with Sidney Poitier. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/25/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

THE SANDY BOTTOM ORCHESTRA

THE SANDY BOTTOM ORCHESTRA - 2000 TV

RATED - G (Very family friendly)

RATINGS - 8 Amazon (4.5/5), 4,481 Netflix (3.3/5), 133 IMDB (5.9/10).

THEMES - Family, forgiveness, relationships, beauty, spirituality.

AWARDS - One EMMY Award plus several other wins and nominations for various awards.

STORY - This is a Hallmark/Showtime made for TV movie adapted from the Novel by Garrison Keillor who also acted as a consultant for the movie. Norman is the father who dreams of conducting classical music and practices while shaving and managing his herd of dairy cows. Ingrid is the mother who gave up a promising musical career to marry Norman and live in the small community of Sandy Bottom, WI. She is also the town activist. Rachel is the 14 year old daughter who has inherited her mother's musical talent but can't find a place in school where all her friends are into girls' baseball and cheerleading. Can this out of place family find a way to connect with the rest of the townspeople or will they will be forever the joke of the community. This is a movie about life in a small town and the agony of growing up different. It's about family and friends and community and the problems and crises they experience. Is it really possible to live out your dreams no matter where you find yourself? And it wouldn't be a Garrison Keillor story without a Lutheran Church that is somewhat dysfunctional about its music. While this could easily have turned out sappy and syrupy, it's quite satisfying emotionally and intellectually. It's definitely as family friendly as they come. No sex, no violence, one bad word that I can remember, it's a Hallmark film in their best tradition. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/19/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER

ONCE

ONCE - 2006

RATED - R for language. Lots of swearing mostly using the 'f' word although with their accent it's a little hard to understand and isn't used gratuitously but seems part of the culture they're in. But take it seriously. Netflix rates it 13 and over.

RATINGS - 184 Amazon (4.5/5), 15,220 IMDB (8.2/10), 270,520 Netflix (3.8/5).

AWARDS - 2008 OSCAR for Best Achievement in Music Written For a Motion Picture, Original Song. Total of 13 wins and 17 nominations at various film festivals and other venues including Sundance.

THEME - Love, Forgiveness, Relationships, Beauty of Music.

STORY - I want to start out saying ONCE upon a time because it might have fairy tale qualities but it also seems like something that really could happen. You don't have to check the rational side of your brain at the beginning. You come away thinking, that really could have happened in life. Glen lives and works with his widowed father who owns a vacuum cleaner repair service. He has also just broken off a romantic relationship with a girl who is still living in London. He wants to be a full time musician and in his spare time he plays in the downtown area on the streets of Dublin. Marketa and her infant daughter live with her widowed mother in a small apartment. We learn she is estranged from her husband (still living in the Czech Republic) and it just wasn't working out. She sells flowers and other small items on the streets to support her small family. They meet on the street when she listens to one of his songs and strikes up a conversation. She, too, loves music and 'borrows' a piano at the local music store during lunch because she can't afford a piano of her own. They find they have a shared passion for writing and creating music. A relationship starts to develop. Where will it lead? Is it more than just music? Is this the ONE chance for both of them to fulfill their dreams together? Michael Phillips of The Chicago Tribune says, "ONCE may well be the best music film of our generation."

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER.

AUGUST RUSH

AUGUST RUSH - 2007

RATED - PG for thematic elements, mild violence & language. Family friendly for ages 9 and over.

RATINGS - 91 Amazon (4.5/5), 47,428 Netflix (4.1/5), 8.876 IMDB (7.4/10).

STARRING - Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard and Robin Williams.

THEMES - Relationships, family, justice.

STORY - The film starts with two young musicians performing in two very different venues, Lyla as a cellist with the New York Philharmonic and Louis as a lead singer/guitar player in a rock band. Before I go too far, it is important to remember that this is more of a fairy tale than a believable story. That doesn't take anything away from the movie-you just have to turn off the rational part of your brain and enjoy the movie for what it is, a very entertaining story. The two 'hook up' afterwards at a party for a one night stand in which Lyla gets pregnant. Flash forward to Evan, an 11 year old boy living in a New York orphanage who is teased by the others because he hears music in his head which he believes is his mother & father calling him. Afraid of being adopted or sent to a foster home, he runs away to try and find his parents. The film follows the lives of the three who separately discover thru their music that all roads lead to NYC and a 'stand up and cheer' ending. A delightful and entertaining family film with great music. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/06/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, VITUS MOVIE

DEEP WATER

DEEP WATER - 2006

RATED - PG for thematic elements, mild language, incidental smoking.

RATINGS - 13 Amazon (4/5), 462 IMDB (7.7/10), 22,241 Netflix (3.3/5), TV Guide (5/5).

THEMES - Fame, ego, challenges.

STORY - This is the true story of Donald Crowhurst and to a lesser degree the other sailors who took on the challenge in 1967 of sailing around the world solo in a sailboat non-stop, something never before attempted. Of all the participants, Crowhurst was the least experienced and the least prepared. The race began in England and participants had a window of several months during which they could leave before the weather turned against them. While all the others had left weeks before, Crowhurst finally had his boat ready on the very last day possible. Remember, this was before GPS and the only contact was when they happened to be in range of radio contact. Several, including Crowhurst, had movie cameras along as well as audio taping equipment to record their journey. From the beginning Crowhurst had laid everything on the line. His financial future was tied to the success of the race. What makes someone in the prime of life risk family, finances and future on a challenge that only proves you can do something no one else has done? Why didn't family or friends or both talk him out of this utterly absurd expedition? What a person does when they face the ultimate challenge in his life reveals his character. Crowhurst found himself in the incredible position of placing 2nd or failing. Either would be disastrous. What he did revealed his character. Entertaining and suspenseful. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 04/06/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER