BELIEVE IN ME

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

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