THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH

THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH - 1975

RATED - PG probably for adult issues and emotional intensity.

RATINGS - 10 Amazon (4.5/5), 3,242 Netflix (3.2/5), 268 IMDB (7.6/10).

STARRING - Maximilian Schell, directed by Arthur Hiller.

AWARDS - Academy Award nomination for Best Actor (Schell).

THEMES - Guilt, forgiveness, prejudice, persecution, hatred.

STORY - The film begins on the balcony of a luxurious penthouse apartment in New York City overlooking Central Park. An obviously wealthy, Jewish businessman, Arthur Goldman (Schell) is pontificating about seemingly random subjects to his loyal assistants. At first, he seems just eccentric but then you being to question his sanity. The line between sanity and eccentricity blurs even further as he sees his father (murdered in Auschwitz) working a food cart on the street below and as he begins to act paranoid over a blue Mercedes he believes is watching his apartment. Then, suddenly, two men (Israeli agents) break into his apartment and arrest/abduct him for being Adolph Dorf, the SS Colonel in charge of the concentration camp where Goldman's parents were killed. The scene moves to a jail cell in Jerusalem where the prosecutor fills Goldman/Dorf in on the charges and where he announces he will defend himself. The trial begins and Goldman/Dorf is put in a soundproof, bulletproof booth for his protection. I won't tell any more of the story but hang in there during the first half hour because here's where the story really gets interesting and Schell puts on a powerful performance worthy of his Oscar nomination. Who really is Goldman/Dorf. Is he the killer the Israelis believe or have they made a tragic mistake? What is the mental state of someone who has survived the holocaust while their family has been exterminated? Can the real truth be known? Originally, this was a stage play, and was adapted for the big screen as part of a project to bring the theater to the masses. It will leave you thinking much more deeply about the holocaust experience of the Jewish people. Not a light film by any means but worthwhile watching. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/26/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

SHANE

SHANE - 1953

RATED - NR but probably PG for non-graphic violence. Several all-out fist fights and a point blank shooting.

RATINGS - 164 Amazon (4.5/5), 123,588 Netflix (3.8/5), 10,006 IMDB (7.7/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

STARRING - Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Jack Palance, directed by George Stevens.

AWARDS - Academy Award for Best Cinematography plus five nominations including Best Picture. AFI Top 100 Movies. BAFTA nominee for Best Film & Best Actor.

THEMES - Good vs. Evil, justice, community.

STORY - The film opens with the Grand Tetons in the background and Shane (Alan Ladd) riding up to a farmer (Van Heflin as Joe Starrett) working outside his home and asking permission to cross his land. The farmer's young son is playing with a gun and the noise causes Shane to react strongly. We can see that in his world he is used to watching his backside. As Shane is leaving, a group of open range ranchers ride up to intimidate Starrett and his wife (Jean Arthur as Marion Starrett) with whom they have an ongoing battle in the valley. Shane returns and with his gun and presence resolves the situation. He ends up staying and working for Starrett as a hired hand. We become more involved in the ongoing war between the community of farmers who have settled here and the ranchers who want them off the land. On the surface, it seems a classic good versus evil battle. Shane and his white hat against the hired gun of the ranchers(Jack Palance as Jack Wilson) in his black hat. But there is a lot more going on than that at different levels. Who is Shane? Where did he come from? Will the subtle but obvious chemistry between him and Marion develop into anything? How will this dispute be settled when the law "is three days away" from this remote little town with a saloon, general store, hotel and cemetery stuck in the middle of nowhere? These are people who have left everything behind (somewhere) to begin a new life, a harsh, difficult life. Sociological studies have shown that those who became 'pioneers' were often people on the fringes of society - loners, criminals, etc., people who didn't want or need the law to solve their problems. More often that not, the 'gun' became the law and those most skilled in the use of the gun were the winners. More than just a good vs. evil western, this is an entertaining look at the settling of the western frontier and the people who were involved. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/26/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

WAR DANCE

WAR DANCE - 2007

RATED - PG-13 for SOME THEMATIC MATERIAL INVOLVING DESCRIPTIONS OF WAR ATROCITIES.

RATINGS - 16 Amazon (5/5), 5,201 Netflix (3.9/5), 302 IMDB (7.7/10).

AWARDS - Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. Other wins & nominations at various film festivals including Sundance.

THEMES - War, injustice, hope, freedom.

STORY - This is a documentary you won't soon forget about growing up in a refugee camp in war torn Northern Uganda. It takes you back and forth down two tracks until the grand finale. One track is the horrific stories of violence and terror as told by the children themselves (the PG-13 rating) about being forced to watch their parents and siblings being killed and picking up the body parts after, about being forced at gunpoint to kill others with a hoe and other unspeakable experiences. The other track takes you down a path of hope and optimism as you follow the preparation of Patongo Grammar School (the school in the camp) to participate in the prestigious national music and dance festival in Kampala. One very talented young student is determined to be the 'best xylophone player in Uganda'. This is the first time this school has been selected to represent their tribe at the competition. They bring in two professional teachers to help. The students are excited and confident and nervous-for many (if not most) their first trip to a real city. With the camp under 24/7 armed military guard, there is little opportunity to venture more than a few yards outside the camp perimeter. Finally, the big day arrives and the village sends them off in trucks with armed guards. Even in Uganda there is the 'wrong side of the tracks' and the students discover that the other students at the festival consider them to be from that side. This makes them even more determined to win. The competition is an exciting finish to this both horrific and heartwarming film. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/17/2008.

PERSONAL - Perhaps this has already happened but wouldn't it be great if some American elementary classes/schools started communicating with these children. Encourage your friends to watch this powerful documentary. It is available for instant viewing on Netflix.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, SHINE GLOBAL

THE ELEPHANT MAN

THE ELEPHANT MAN - 1980

RATED - PG for some physical and emotional abuse as well as its emotional intensity. Best for over 13.

RATINGS - 136 Amazon (5/5), 406,278 Netflix (3.8/5), 37.512 IMDB (8.4/10).

STARRING - Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt.

AWARDS - 8 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor (John Hurt), Winner of 1981 BAFTA Best Picture and Best Actor (John Hurt) Awards.

THEMES - Human dignity, love, relationships.

STORY - Based on the true story of John Merrick (John Hurt) who lived in the late 1800's, it tells of the transformation from a freak in a carnival to a person of worth and dignity. John Merrick was born perhaps the most disfigured and grotesque looking person in recorded history. We don't learn much about his birth and early life other than some surreal nightmares which allude to a traumatic experience in the past. We pick up his life as the police are shutting down his sideshow in the carnival because of it being 'inhuman' although the other 'freak' shows are allowed to continue. It takes about 20 minutes of seeing a glimpse here and there before we see the whole disfigured person. A London surgeon, Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins) hears about John and sneaks him into the isolation ward of the hospital to try and observe him and help him if he can. At first, he is convinced he is an imbecile, incapable of any meaningful human interaction. Then, he discovers a real person behind the grotesque face and the transformation begins thru Treves and other hospital staff. But Treves wonders if his motives are pure and has he just created another 'sideshow' for respectable people. The film is shot in black and white highlighting the era (Victorian) in which it took place as well as the stark reality of the circumstances. There are two particularly poignant moments in the film. One is John Merrick asking Treves if he can cure him and the other is when Merrick is being abused by a group of people who paid the night watchman at the hospital to bring them up to his room and look at him. One interesting note is that Mel Brooks Films produced this but kept his name out of it because he did not want people to think this was a comedy. Also, the incredible makeup job was actually done from an impression of the real John Merrick, made before he died. Besides being a terrific film on its own, it is a great reminder to all of us who may have judged someone by their outward appearance, that it is what is in the heart that matters. This is an outstanding movie, one to watch and rewatch. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/12/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB. JOHN MERRICK BIOGRAPHY

AMERICAN PASTIME

AMERICAN PASTIME - 2007

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

RATINGS - 19 Amazon (4/5), 18,885 (3.6/5), 228 IMDB (6.9/10)

THEMES - Racial discrimination, injustice, relationships, war.

STORY - On a macro level, this is about the United States imprisonment of over 120,000 American citizens who were of Japanese descent for four years during WWII. The reason: we were at war with Japan and every Japanese was suspected of treason and sabotage. The reality: there was never one case of treason or sabotage during the entire war by a Japanese citizen. In fact, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team consisting entirely of Japanese-American soldiers was involved in some of the fiercest fighting of the war, lost almost 10,000 soldiers and at one point lost 800 men in saving the lives of 200 in another unit. On a micro level this is the story of two families. The first is a Japanese-American family imprisoned in a camp in Utah. Like the rest they were given 10 days to take care of personal affairs and were allowed to bring what they could carry. The father, who had experienced success as a baseball player had to leave his job and take his wife & two sons to the camp. One son had just received a baseball scholarship to the University of San Francisco and gave that up. The other family also had a father who had experienced baseball success on the professional level and was in the Army assigned to the Utah camp. His son was serving in the Pacific and his daughter was working at the camp teaching music to Japanese children. The story is how all their lives intersect as they experience life in the camp. Needless to say many of the citizens of the nearby community in Utah were not happy about the camp and showed extreme prejudice toward their fellow American citizens of Japanese descent. It all comes to a climax when the baseball team made up of Japanese prisoners challenges the local semi-pro team. If you like baseball and WWII this is a good combination. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/03/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, 442ND COMBAT REGIMENTAL TEAM