LORENZO'S OIL

LORENZO'S OIL - 1992

RATING - PG-13 for a child's life threatening ordeal.  Some language. Very intense emotionally.

RATED - 57 Amazon (5/5), 189.877 Netflix (3.7/5), 7,755 IMDB (7/10).

STARRING - Susan Sarandon and Nick Nolte.

AWARDS - 1993 Academy Award Nominations for BEST ACTRESS (Sarandon) and BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY.

THEMES - Relationships, justice.

STORY - Based on the real life story of the Odones whose son Lorenze began to suffer from a number of neurological symptoms about age five. It was diagnosed as the rare disease ALD with the medical community giving him no hope of a cure and a limited life expectancy. The Odones would not accept the verdict. They were determined, at any cost and against extreme odds, to find a cure. They became self-educated about the disease and the science behind a potential cure. They mortgaged their home, took leave of their jobs and did everything humanly possible, racing against the clock, to save Lorenzo's life.  Part heart breaking drama and part medical mystery this is an extremely well written and well acted film.  Nolte and Sarandon are outstanding. It is also a fascinating look behind the scenes as to how medical research is done and how decisions are made as to which projects get priorities.  How would we react in a similar situation? Are there areas, perhaps not always life and death, where we have just accepted the 'professional' diagnosis and settled for something less than what could have been.  This is an inspiration not to take 'no' for an answer when our instincts tell us otherwise. This is an extremely well done film well worth watching.  Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12-05-2010,

LINKS - AMAZON, NETFLIX, IMDB/TRAILER

CAPTAIN ABU RAED

CAPTAIN ABU RAED - 2008

RATED - NR but PG/PG-13 for some violence although almost all is off screen.

RATINGS - 13 Amazon (5/5), 5,729 Netflix (3.7/5), 518 IMDB (7.4/10).

THEMES - Relationships, justice.

AWARDS - 15 wins and 3 nominations at various film festivals including winner of AUDIENCE AWARD at Sundance Film Festival.

STORY - This Jordanian film, nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Film division, is the story of an aging widower who is a janitor at the airport in Amman, Jordan.  Mistaken by neighborhood kids as an airline pilot, he begins to tell stories of travel and far away places that awe these poor children. The story develops as "Captain" Raed gets to the know the kids and the challenges they are facing at home. What I like about so many foreign films is that they are built on character development not fancy dialogue or non-stop action.  They actually make you think about the characters and what's going on in their lives and what the film is trying to say. At the end of the film, it leaves you wondering about some of the characters and what might have happened. Foreign films often do not have nice, neat, tidy endings like American films. There is some ambiguity. This is true of Captain Raed. If slick screenplay and unbelievable CGI's of action are your thing (nothing wrong with that) this will probably not interest you. If you enjoy realistic characters and a good story this is a worth watching.  It is also a slice of life and humanity and geography in a country many of us don't know much about - Jordan.  Highly recommend. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews.  07/18/2010.

LINKS - IMDB & TRAILER, NETFLIX

BULLITT

BULLITT - 1968

RATED - PG but some brief but fairly bloody and graphic violence for a PG.

RATINGS - 247 Amazon (4.5/5), 365,493 Netflix (3.8/5), 18,596 IMDB (7.5/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

STARRING - Steve McQueen (Detective Frank Bullitt), Jacqueline Bisset (Cathy-Bullitt's girlfriend), Robert Vaughn (Senator Chalmers).

AWARDS - 1969 Academy Award for Best Film Editing, AFI TOP 100 Thrills, 1970 BAFTA nominees for Best Direction & Best Supporting Actor (Vaughn).

STORY - Most people remember this film for perhaps the best (or one of the best) car chase scenes in film history with Steve McQueen (driving himself) in a Mustang Fastback chasing two gangsters in a Dodge Charger up and down the hills of San Francisco. It is memorable to be sure, but the movie, as a whole, is decent. While there is some brief but bloody violence it's not just a shoot 'em up film. Steve McQueen insisted that it be realistic and as a result you do get inside the character's heads. You experience detective work as much of it really happens, methodical with patience. Bullitt is assigned to what should be a fairly routine witness protection weekend assignment at the request of Senator Chalmers (Vaughn) who is on a crusade to clean up the mob and get credit for it - the credit is what he mostly cares about. This is his star witness and the hearings will be his stage. However, the assignment quickly goes bad and Bullitt wants to find out who leaked the location and who are the assassins. There are enough twists and turns to keep you involved and, of course, there's the car chase. Roger Ebert likes it because the role of the stoic cop Bullitt is so close to the real Steve McQueen. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 10/31/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB WITH TRAILER, ROGER EBERT

49TH PARALLEL

49TH PARALLEL - 1942

RATED - NR but probably PG

RATINGS - 19 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,920 Netflix (3.5/5), 1,399 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Laurence Olivier, Raymond Massey, Anton Walbrook & Leslie Howard.

AWARDS - Academy Award for BEST WRITING, ORIGINAL STORY and nominated for BEST PICTURE and BEST WRITING, SCREEN PLAY.

THEMES - War, propaganda, relationships.

STORY - First of all, this Criterion-restored version is a great quality picture, clean and crisp. Second, it is a movie with an ulterior motive, that of getting the then-neutral USA into the war. While I don't think it detracts from the entertainment merits, some people do. The story begins with a German U-Boat somewhere in the northern part of Canada. It destroys a Canadian cargo ship and then refuses to help save the survivors. The commander decides to head for Hudson Bay to lay low for awhile until they can escape. They send a small crew ashore to steal supplies they will need. While the U-Boat is surfaced, it is spotted by the Canadian Air Force and destroyed. The stranded crew on shore must try to navigate their way to the 49TH PARALLEL (the line dividing the US and Canada) and the neutral U.S. where they can find freedom. The propaganda enters in when they encounter Canadian citizens in their journey and enter into debates about the merits of democracy versus the white supremacy worldview of 'The Fuhrer'. There are some surprising turns and twists and a satisfying ending. A very interesting aspect of WWII and how it affected Canadians. There were some 500,000 Germans living in Canada at the time and apparently some 850 were interned for being Nazi spies as well as subversives and saboteurs. There are several interesting extras along with the Criterion edition. Enjoy. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 08/16/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM

THE SOUTHERNER

THE SOUTHERNER - 1945

RATED - NR but probably G/PG

RATINGS - 10 Amazon (4.5/5), 2,158 Netflix (3.2/5), 552 IMDB (7.6/10), Leonard Maltin (4/4).

STARRING - Zachary Scott, Betty Field. Directed by Jean Renoir.

AWARDS - 3 Academy Award nominations including BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SOUND and BEST MUSICAL SCORE. Winner of BEST FILM at the 1945 Venice Film Festival.

THEMES - Perseverance, the American dream, justice, relationships.

STORY - Why would someone in 2008 watch a B & W film made in 1945 about a 1930's family who are dirt poor trying start their own farm? First, this is a Jean Renoir film and many think he is the best director ever, certainly in the top five. Second, this is a film most of us can identify with at some level. It's about wanting a piece of the American dream, about starting your own business (farm) and creating something based on your abilities and desires. It's about trying to beat the odds, the odds like nature, no money, opponents and limited resources to make it. It's about having faith in yourself and in a higher power that gives purpose and meaning to what you do. Is there justice in this world for those who work hard and live a moral and upright life? You may or may not think so after watching this film. It's another reminder of what makes this country so great are the opportunities that it gives; though not are all equal, they are there for those with the courage and perseverance to follow a dream. Though the film quality is a little poor and Beulah Bondi as Granny Tucker is a weak link in the movie, it is definitely worth watching this little slice of Americana. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/09/2008.

LINKS - Amazon, IMDB, TCM

THE AFRICAN QUEEN

THE AFRICAN QUEEN - 1951

RATED - NR but probably G

RATINGS - 35 Amazon (3.5/5), 56,170 Netflix (4.2/5), 25,786 IMDB (8.1/10).

STARRING - Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, Bert Morley, directed by John Huston.

AWARDS - 1952 Academy Award for BEST ACTOR (Bogart) plus 3 nominations including BEST ACTRESS (Hepburn). AFI TOP 100 Movies & AFI TOP 100 Passions. 1952 BAFTA BEST FILM nominee & BEST ACTOR nominee.

STORY - The one word that best describes this film is CLASSIC. Put Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn on the same screen, add the directing of John Huston, and it's almost inevitably a classic. The film takes place in 1914 during WWI in German Central Africa. The prim and proper Rose (Hepburn) and her brother, the Rev. Samuel Sayer, are Methodist missionaries from England who have been there for 10 years. Charles (Bogart) is the hard drinking steamboat operator who delivers the mail up and down the river and keeps the natives supplied with cigars. The Germans attack and destroy the village where they live and Rose's brother is killed in the attack. Charles happen upon the village right after and helps Rose bury Samuel. Rose convinces Charles that they should retaliate against the Germans by sinking a German U-Boat Charles knows is patrolling the lake at the end of the river. To get there they must navigate a dangerous and treacherous river guarded by a German fort as well as many natural hazards. There couldn't be two more opposite personalities as they make their way toward the lake in the 30 year old flat-bottomed African Queen. A true classic. It's amazing that there still is not an American version of the DVD. You can buy import version thru Amazon. I watched that version and it shows fine although it's a little annoying that you can't turn the English subtitles off and there are mistakes in the translation. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/02/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

GRAND ILLUSION

GRAND ILLUSION - 1938

RATED - NR but probably PG for mild language.

RATINGS - 57 Amazon (4.5/5), 61,879 Netflix (4.0/5), 9,268 IMDB (8.1/10).

STARRING - Jean Renoir, Director. Considered to be one of top five directors of all time.

AWARDS - 1939 Academy Award nominee for BEST PICTURE.

THEMES - Class struggle, war, relationships, sacrifice.

STORY - The film itself is an amazing story but also the story of how the current print came to be. The Nazis stole the original print from the French as one of their first priorities at the beginning of WWII. It was considered 'Cinematographic Enemy Number One'. All showings later were from copies and pieced together with not so great quality. Decades later the original was found and is now the print used by Criterion, an almost perfect version with sharpness and clarity as if made yesterday. This is the prototype prison escape movie copied by many later. Not only a thrilling escape story but also the story of the end of the elite class in Europe. WWI was considered by many to be a 'gentleman's war' where honor and valor were still important and respected in your enemy. Remember the movie 'Silent Night' where they stopped the war on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Jesus together and resumed the war the following day. This is about a prison camp conducted by the Germans where it was assumed the French would not try to escape because they had given their word. It is certainly a different kind of war and a different kind of war story. I won't reveal the story but to say that this is a great film on several different levels and although it is B&W with subtitles it is worth watching. If you want more about the actual story, Roger Ebert's review gives a good summary. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/26/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

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

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

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.

GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT

GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT - 1947

RATED - NR but probably G/PG for mature themes.

RATINGS - 29 Amazon (4.5/5), 63,325 Netflix (3.7/5), 2,612 IMDB (7.3/10), TV Guide (5/5)

STARRING - Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield.

AWARDS - 3 Academy Awards including BEST PICTURE plus 5 Academy nominations. AFI TOP 100 Movies nominee.

THEMES - Prejudice, discrimination, justice, morality.

STORY - Gregory Peck stars as successful reporter Philip Schuyler who is given an assignment to write on anti-semitism. Looking for an angle for the story, he poses as a Jewish man with his son (he is recently widowed). At first, it's just about getting a more inside look for the story. It becomes very personal when both he and his son actually experience the prejudice he's writing about. Interspersed is a romance with Kathy Lacy (Dorothy McGuire), the divorced niece of the editor. While she is supportive and actually initiated the idea for the story, Philip finds there is a real difference between those who intellectually oppose prejudice and those willing to actually do something about it. When he finds out she owns a home in an area where there is a GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT not to ever sell to anyone Jewish, the romance hits the rocks and he turns into a crusader for the Jewish people. While the story may be somewhat outdated (it was actually shocking in 1947) the question to ask ourselves is where are we more like Kathy in areas of our lives that we should be outspoken about. Where can we make a difference by standing up for those who are experiencing discrimination or something less than equality? A film well worth watching and discussing. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/15/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

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