Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Rain Over Me
Genre: Drama
Rating: 9 of 10 - Any movie with a title based on a song by The Who gets an automatic one point boost on my scale!
Starring Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle, this movie, while it has a few funny moments, is not your typical Adam Sandler comedy. Not even close. The premise of the movie is coping with grief: when is it OK to resume a normal life after you lose someone you love? A pretty dark and depressing subject that could make for a terrible movie. However, the acting of Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler and the well-written script make this a movie that makes you think, cry, laugh, and appreciate your loved ones.
I won’t give away the plot of the movie here because if you haven’t watched this one yet, you really should. Not a kids movie though. The only very slight disappointment I had with this movie was the ending was a bit abrupt and left you with a few loose ends, but that is a minor complaint.
Rating: 9 of 10 - Any movie with a title based on a song by The Who gets an automatic one point boost on my scale!
Starring Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle, this movie, while it has a few funny moments, is not your typical Adam Sandler comedy. Not even close. The premise of the movie is coping with grief: when is it OK to resume a normal life after you lose someone you love? A pretty dark and depressing subject that could make for a terrible movie. However, the acting of Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler and the well-written script make this a movie that makes you think, cry, laugh, and appreciate your loved ones.
I won’t give away the plot of the movie here because if you haven’t watched this one yet, you really should. Not a kids movie though. The only very slight disappointment I had with this movie was the ending was a bit abrupt and left you with a few loose ends, but that is a minor complaint.
Ghost Town
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Rating: 7 of 10
This movie starred Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni, and Greg Kinnear. The movie explores, from my Christian perspective, forgiveness, and specifically forgiving those who have died. The movie doesn’t come right out and say that but that was underlying moral of the story for me.
Ricky Gervais is hilarious as an arrogant introvert dentist whose favorite part of his job is shoving dental equipment into patient’s mouths in order to shut them up.
Greg Kinnear plays the character that the story revolves around… a dead man who can’t get away from his past for some reason. His mission throughout the movie is to find closure, and he plays the smarmy character well.
Tea Leoni plays the dead guys wife and does a great job conveying remorse, grief, and bitterness while still maintaining the quirky sense of humor that she contributes to all of her movies (loved her in Spanglish & Dick and Jane).
Overall, this movie was a great blend of moral depth, humor, and love. The actors chosen were all perfect for their role.
Rating: 7 of 10
This movie starred Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni, and Greg Kinnear. The movie explores, from my Christian perspective, forgiveness, and specifically forgiving those who have died. The movie doesn’t come right out and say that but that was underlying moral of the story for me.
Ricky Gervais is hilarious as an arrogant introvert dentist whose favorite part of his job is shoving dental equipment into patient’s mouths in order to shut them up.
Greg Kinnear plays the character that the story revolves around… a dead man who can’t get away from his past for some reason. His mission throughout the movie is to find closure, and he plays the smarmy character well.
Tea Leoni plays the dead guys wife and does a great job conveying remorse, grief, and bitterness while still maintaining the quirky sense of humor that she contributes to all of her movies (loved her in Spanglish & Dick and Jane).
Overall, this movie was a great blend of moral depth, humor, and love. The actors chosen were all perfect for their role.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai – Across the 8th Dimension
Rating: Umm.... some 1, some 10
Genre: Comedy / Sci-fi / Adventure / Drama / Documentary
This movie from 1984 is a great blend of classic B movie sci-fi and 80s pop culture. Think “Back To The Future” meets “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” meets Rick Springfield. Then throw in some well-known character actors and some really bad bad acting, sprinkle in quantum physics and a skinny leather tie or two there you have it! The blend makes for a very unique viewing experience.
John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, Cristopher Lloyd, Ellen Barkin, Peter Weller (of RoboCop fame)…what a cast, right? You’d think! Actually, John Lithgow does do a pretty good job in his role as a racists-rebel-leader-alien-possessed mad scientist… very over-the-top in a way that only he could do.
The story itself begins with a journey through solid matter that opens the door to worlds within the 8th dimension. Yep, there are aliens in rocks, who knew?! The new-found aliens are caught in race war on Planet 10 and now Earth is smack dab in the middle of the crisis. The stories hero, Buckaroo Bonzai, and his wacky side-kick band made up of physicists and brain surgeons must stop the alien war before the aliens escalate Earth’s own military tension (we’re in the middle of the cold war still, remember?).
In the end, this movie was really, really bad in an unforgettably good way. I watched in the theatres when I was 15 and still have some of the creative, before-its-time imagery burned in my cortex. I still get a kick out of John Bigbooty & John Smallberries, two of the many John’s employed at Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems. Plus, you gotta love those wool chaps. If you don’t understand, I guess you’ll have to watch the movie!
Genre: Comedy / Sci-fi / Adventure / Drama / Documentary
This movie from 1984 is a great blend of classic B movie sci-fi and 80s pop culture. Think “Back To The Future” meets “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” meets Rick Springfield. Then throw in some well-known character actors and some really bad bad acting, sprinkle in quantum physics and a skinny leather tie or two there you have it! The blend makes for a very unique viewing experience.
John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, Cristopher Lloyd, Ellen Barkin, Peter Weller (of RoboCop fame)…what a cast, right? You’d think! Actually, John Lithgow does do a pretty good job in his role as a racists-rebel-leader-alien-possessed mad scientist… very over-the-top in a way that only he could do.
The story itself begins with a journey through solid matter that opens the door to worlds within the 8th dimension. Yep, there are aliens in rocks, who knew?! The new-found aliens are caught in race war on Planet 10 and now Earth is smack dab in the middle of the crisis. The stories hero, Buckaroo Bonzai, and his wacky side-kick band made up of physicists and brain surgeons must stop the alien war before the aliens escalate Earth’s own military tension (we’re in the middle of the cold war still, remember?).
In the end, this movie was really, really bad in an unforgettably good way. I watched in the theatres when I was 15 and still have some of the creative, before-its-time imagery burned in my cortex. I still get a kick out of John Bigbooty & John Smallberries, two of the many John’s employed at Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems. Plus, you gotta love those wool chaps. If you don’t understand, I guess you’ll have to watch the movie!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
Rating: 9 of 10
Genre: Documentary
Were you created in the likeness of a monkey or a crystal, or were created by a designer who has unparalleled knowledge? For me, one theory leads to life without hope and the other offers hope.
This movie stars Ben Stein who sets out to explore the anomaly of various college professors who’ve been expelled for mentioning the theory of intelligent design.
Exploring the history of this theory and the conflicting theory of evolution, Ben interviews people who side with each theory and lets their statements speak for themselves. While these are both just theories, this movie leaves you knowing that there is a decidedly over-weighted push for eradicating the teaching (and even mention) of the theory of intelligent design. The balance of fairness is radically skewed and becomes the crux of Ben’s unspoken argument.
So many people have grown up thinking that evolution is fact that, in America, we’ve lost sight of the fact that Darwin himself disproved his theory and had to come up with a modified version. Even his modified theory is still just a theory.
The historical facts revealed in this movie are fascinating to me, especially learning about the Eugenics movement in the USA during the early 20th century. The little known partnerships that the Nazi party had were also eye-opening.
Bottom line for me was this: I believe both theories should get equal airplay in America’s academic settings and be clearly stated as theories, then let the individuals decide for themselves.
Genre: Documentary
Were you created in the likeness of a monkey or a crystal, or were created by a designer who has unparalleled knowledge? For me, one theory leads to life without hope and the other offers hope.
This movie stars Ben Stein who sets out to explore the anomaly of various college professors who’ve been expelled for mentioning the theory of intelligent design.
Exploring the history of this theory and the conflicting theory of evolution, Ben interviews people who side with each theory and lets their statements speak for themselves. While these are both just theories, this movie leaves you knowing that there is a decidedly over-weighted push for eradicating the teaching (and even mention) of the theory of intelligent design. The balance of fairness is radically skewed and becomes the crux of Ben’s unspoken argument.
So many people have grown up thinking that evolution is fact that, in America, we’ve lost sight of the fact that Darwin himself disproved his theory and had to come up with a modified version. Even his modified theory is still just a theory.
The historical facts revealed in this movie are fascinating to me, especially learning about the Eugenics movement in the USA during the early 20th century. The little known partnerships that the Nazi party had were also eye-opening.
Bottom line for me was this: I believe both theories should get equal airplay in America’s academic settings and be clearly stated as theories, then let the individuals decide for themselves.
Eagle Eye
Rating: 7
Genre: Action
Who is watching you read this? This movie stars Shia LeBeouf in a conspiracy action thriller. His twin brother is a member of the FBI and the day of his brother’s funeral things begin to go haywire…
Caught up in a mad race to escape from the government while trying to uncover an assassination plot, he narrowly escapes death multiple times with the help of an unknown woman who directs his every move via telephone, internet message, and seemingly every other means of electronic communication.
Without giving away the plot, this movie moves so fast that it makes it difficult to predict the final outcome, though you get a sense of it as events unfold. There are enough edge-of-your-seat action scenes and block-buster crashes to make this movie worth watching. Shia does a great job making this movie as believable as it possibly can be.
Genre: Action
Who is watching you read this? This movie stars Shia LeBeouf in a conspiracy action thriller. His twin brother is a member of the FBI and the day of his brother’s funeral things begin to go haywire…
Caught up in a mad race to escape from the government while trying to uncover an assassination plot, he narrowly escapes death multiple times with the help of an unknown woman who directs his every move via telephone, internet message, and seemingly every other means of electronic communication.
Without giving away the plot, this movie moves so fast that it makes it difficult to predict the final outcome, though you get a sense of it as events unfold. There are enough edge-of-your-seat action scenes and block-buster crashes to make this movie worth watching. Shia does a great job making this movie as believable as it possibly can be.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Everything is Illuminated
Genre: Drama
Rank: 7 of 10
This is story about a collector. Elijah Wood (AKA Frodo Baggins) plays a young man of Jewish descent who is prompted to go on a journey after his grandmother’s death. The last thing his grandmother does is give him an old photograph of his grandfather with another woman. He proceeds to travel to the Ukraine to search for the place the photo was taken. His guides in Ukraine are a grandfather/grandson team who make some very important discoveries of their own along the journey.
This story is a bit slow to develop but ends up having some very poignant and heart-wrenching moments. Be prepared for some confusion and some loose ends, but also some funny and quirky pieces that make this a memorable movie. It is filmed in an unusual style to be sure. It does not follow the typical Hollywood formula, in fact, if you like Hollywood style movies then you may not like this one. I personally loved the ‘remembrance’ segments portrayed in the movie, as well as the soundtrack and the Eastern European accents. Those who are of Jewish descent and have ancestors in Eastern Europe will find it especially moving.
One huge caution: DO NOT watch the deleted scenes! They are like a deranged acid trip mix of Borat and Willy Wonka… the editor did the right thing by deleting them, so don’t bother.
Rank: 7 of 10
This is story about a collector. Elijah Wood (AKA Frodo Baggins) plays a young man of Jewish descent who is prompted to go on a journey after his grandmother’s death. The last thing his grandmother does is give him an old photograph of his grandfather with another woman. He proceeds to travel to the Ukraine to search for the place the photo was taken. His guides in Ukraine are a grandfather/grandson team who make some very important discoveries of their own along the journey.
This story is a bit slow to develop but ends up having some very poignant and heart-wrenching moments. Be prepared for some confusion and some loose ends, but also some funny and quirky pieces that make this a memorable movie. It is filmed in an unusual style to be sure. It does not follow the typical Hollywood formula, in fact, if you like Hollywood style movies then you may not like this one. I personally loved the ‘remembrance’ segments portrayed in the movie, as well as the soundtrack and the Eastern European accents. Those who are of Jewish descent and have ancestors in Eastern Europe will find it especially moving.
One huge caution: DO NOT watch the deleted scenes! They are like a deranged acid trip mix of Borat and Willy Wonka… the editor did the right thing by deleting them, so don’t bother.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Green Street Hooligans
Rating: 7 of 10
Genre: Drama / Action
This movie was about reputation; reputation in your place of work, your place of education, on the streets, amongst friends, and the reputation you have within your family.
The plot revolves around Matt Buckner (played by Elijah Wood AKA Frodo Baggins), a journalism student who is thwarted from continuing his esteemed college education and thrown into the rough and tumble lifestyle of English firms. In this case, firms are basically soccer gangs. Each soccer club has a group of ruffians who fist-fight rival firms after the match. The familial bond they share is earned with knuckles and blood.
The rep they build is, to them, their reason for living, and their day-to-day jobs are just a way to get them through until the next match. Matt quickly grows a name for himself and becomes engrained in this dangerous lifestyle to the point where he is forced to face and overcome his past.
The underlying message of the movie is that family is more important than reputation, even the reputation within family. Pride, not others, is always our greatest enemy.
Note: This movie, in line with the setting, is very violent and chock full o’ cursing – beware! Also, it helps to watch it with the sub-titles on because the English cockney is so thick.
Genre: Drama / Action
This movie was about reputation; reputation in your place of work, your place of education, on the streets, amongst friends, and the reputation you have within your family.
The plot revolves around Matt Buckner (played by Elijah Wood AKA Frodo Baggins), a journalism student who is thwarted from continuing his esteemed college education and thrown into the rough and tumble lifestyle of English firms. In this case, firms are basically soccer gangs. Each soccer club has a group of ruffians who fist-fight rival firms after the match. The familial bond they share is earned with knuckles and blood.
The rep they build is, to them, their reason for living, and their day-to-day jobs are just a way to get them through until the next match. Matt quickly grows a name for himself and becomes engrained in this dangerous lifestyle to the point where he is forced to face and overcome his past.
The underlying message of the movie is that family is more important than reputation, even the reputation within family. Pride, not others, is always our greatest enemy.
Note: This movie, in line with the setting, is very violent and chock full o’ cursing – beware! Also, it helps to watch it with the sub-titles on because the English cockney is so thick.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Hancock
Rating: 6
Genre: Action
This movie stars Will Smith as Hancock, a super hero with a bad attitude. He eventually hooks up with Ray (Jason Bateman), a PR man who tries to help him clean up his image.
I liked the 1st half of this movie but the second half splits off into a weird plot involving Ray's wife (Charlize Theron) and gets away from being a comedy and becomes an action movie. I personally think it should've stayed a comedy.
Pretty good special effects and nice concept but left me a bit disappointed.
Genre: Action
This movie stars Will Smith as Hancock, a super hero with a bad attitude. He eventually hooks up with Ray (Jason Bateman), a PR man who tries to help him clean up his image.
I liked the 1st half of this movie but the second half splits off into a weird plot involving Ray's wife (Charlize Theron) and gets away from being a comedy and becomes an action movie. I personally think it should've stayed a comedy.
Pretty good special effects and nice concept but left me a bit disappointed.
Run, Fat Boy, Run
Rating: 7
Genre: Romantic Comedy
This movie starred Simon Pegg (from Hot Fuzz & Shaun of the Dead) and Thandie Newton (Crash & Pursuit of Happyness). It's a comedy about a guy who is afraid of commitment but when he finds out his ex-fiance (and his son's mom) is dating another man, he decides to prove himself by running a marathon.
The movie had some very funny parts and, although it ends predictably, is one of the better romantic comedies I've seen in a while.
If you liked Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead, don't expect the same kind of movie. Some British humor to be sure but this one is more of a 'date' movie than those were. Not recommended for kidos.
On a side note, this movie was directed by David Schwimmer (of Friends fame) - he makes a much better director than an actor!
Genre: Romantic Comedy
This movie starred Simon Pegg (from Hot Fuzz & Shaun of the Dead) and Thandie Newton (Crash & Pursuit of Happyness). It's a comedy about a guy who is afraid of commitment but when he finds out his ex-fiance (and his son's mom) is dating another man, he decides to prove himself by running a marathon.
The movie had some very funny parts and, although it ends predictably, is one of the better romantic comedies I've seen in a while.
If you liked Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead, don't expect the same kind of movie. Some British humor to be sure but this one is more of a 'date' movie than those were. Not recommended for kidos.
On a side note, this movie was directed by David Schwimmer (of Friends fame) - he makes a much better director than an actor!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Fred Claus
Rating: 5
Genre: Family
This was a Christmas movie about Santa’s brother Fred. It had some pretty quality actors (Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Rachel Weisz, and Paul Giamatti) but I am not impressed with Vince Vaughn who played the lead role of Fred. He plays the same role in this movie as he does in many others: shallow yet practical instigator who ends up endearing and heart-warming. Yawn.
The only movie I really liked Vince Vaughn in was ‘Into the Wild’ because his character actually had believable depth. And I think that’s just it – he taints movies with his smarmy attempts at comedy but his sarcasm is just not that genuine or funny to me. He’s very similar to Ben Stiller that way; I can pretty much tell what their next move will be.
I don’t expect a lot from Holiday movies, and if you’ve read my other reviews you know that predictability is a huge factor in what I think makes a movie good or bad. So this one, while it had a few good moments, could’ve been much better with a less predictable actor in the lead role.
Genre: Family
This was a Christmas movie about Santa’s brother Fred. It had some pretty quality actors (Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Rachel Weisz, and Paul Giamatti) but I am not impressed with Vince Vaughn who played the lead role of Fred. He plays the same role in this movie as he does in many others: shallow yet practical instigator who ends up endearing and heart-warming. Yawn.
The only movie I really liked Vince Vaughn in was ‘Into the Wild’ because his character actually had believable depth. And I think that’s just it – he taints movies with his smarmy attempts at comedy but his sarcasm is just not that genuine or funny to me. He’s very similar to Ben Stiller that way; I can pretty much tell what their next move will be.
I don’t expect a lot from Holiday movies, and if you’ve read my other reviews you know that predictability is a huge factor in what I think makes a movie good or bad. So this one, while it had a few good moments, could’ve been much better with a less predictable actor in the lead role.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
August Rush
Rating: 7
Genre: Drama
August Rush is a movie about a boy who was orphaned as a baby and grows up with constant music in his head (played by Freddie Highmore who also had the lead role in Spiderwick Chronicles). He has an instinctual belief that his parents are out there somewhere trying to find him. Well, they aren’t.
OK, just kidding – of course they are! It’s a Hollywood movie, after all. But, so I don’t ruin the story for you, I won’t go into the details. The important thing is that the music he hears guides his journey. The movie is endearing and full of wonderment and ends far better than most other movies. Like a great symphony, this movie ebbs and flows with interjecting tones chiming in at specific points of the piece to accent the mood. It hits major and minor keys, and changes pace several times, finally ending on a full-on crescendo.
Keri Russell (who played in one of my favorite movies – Waitress) plays the mom and does a great job. The dad is played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Terrence Howard plays the social worker.
Overall, the movie was pretty good – albeit predictable in parts. Pretty cool guitar parts. Robin Williams plays the role of a crazy street dad to homeless kids. He dresses like he raided Bono’s wardrobe. He’s pretty much a freak in the movie but does have one of its best lines:
“You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe, a harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars.”
On a side note, the boy reminds me of myself in many ways (except for the musical genius orphan part… however, I hear music in my head all the time, I am adopted into God’s family, and will sing before God in Heaven one day - so there’s the similarity!). Also check out this link and you may be able to see why I connected with this movie: http://writingsofroyce.blogspot.com/2008/12/challenge.html
Genre: Drama
August Rush is a movie about a boy who was orphaned as a baby and grows up with constant music in his head (played by Freddie Highmore who also had the lead role in Spiderwick Chronicles). He has an instinctual belief that his parents are out there somewhere trying to find him. Well, they aren’t.
OK, just kidding – of course they are! It’s a Hollywood movie, after all. But, so I don’t ruin the story for you, I won’t go into the details. The important thing is that the music he hears guides his journey. The movie is endearing and full of wonderment and ends far better than most other movies. Like a great symphony, this movie ebbs and flows with interjecting tones chiming in at specific points of the piece to accent the mood. It hits major and minor keys, and changes pace several times, finally ending on a full-on crescendo.
Keri Russell (who played in one of my favorite movies – Waitress) plays the mom and does a great job. The dad is played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Terrence Howard plays the social worker.
Overall, the movie was pretty good – albeit predictable in parts. Pretty cool guitar parts. Robin Williams plays the role of a crazy street dad to homeless kids. He dresses like he raided Bono’s wardrobe. He’s pretty much a freak in the movie but does have one of its best lines:
“You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe, a harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars.”
On a side note, the boy reminds me of myself in many ways (except for the musical genius orphan part… however, I hear music in my head all the time, I am adopted into God’s family, and will sing before God in Heaven one day - so there’s the similarity!). Also check out this link and you may be able to see why I connected with this movie: http://writingsofroyce.blogspot.com/2008/12/challenge.html
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Geat Debaters
Rating: 8
Genre: Drama
This movie was set in 1935 and based loosely on a true story about the Wiley College debate team. Wiley College was a small all-black college in Texas during a time when segregation was not just prevalent, but standard. This story shows how this group of college students and professors used their words to debate inequality and justice and opened eyes to the plight of the African American who lived in America without those rights.
Denzel Washington plays the professor who is captain of the debate team, and Forest Whitaker plays the part of Dr. James Farmer, Sr., a Wiley College professor who's 14 year old son is one of the 4 members of the team. Denzel Whitaker (who was named after Denzel Washington and no relation to Forest) plays his son, James Farmer, Jr. The role of Samantha Booke is played by Jurnee Smollett; she plays a great part on the debate team and her emotion shows on-screen as genuine passion. Henry Lowe, played by Nate Parker, is the most experienced and crafty debater on the team. He is torn between the life of debauchery he grew up in and the genius and power in his mind. Often reacting on habitual instinct instead of doing what he knows is right, he throws a few interesting twists into the story.
The story comes to peak when the debate team from Wiley College eventually finally gets a chance to challenge the debate team at Harvard University. This story made me angry when I saw the lynchings and ignorance that went on, but it also showed the piece of history that helped pave the way for human rights activists like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Overall, this was a very inspiring movie with quite good acting.
Genre: Drama
This movie was set in 1935 and based loosely on a true story about the Wiley College debate team. Wiley College was a small all-black college in Texas during a time when segregation was not just prevalent, but standard. This story shows how this group of college students and professors used their words to debate inequality and justice and opened eyes to the plight of the African American who lived in America without those rights.
Denzel Washington plays the professor who is captain of the debate team, and Forest Whitaker plays the part of Dr. James Farmer, Sr., a Wiley College professor who's 14 year old son is one of the 4 members of the team. Denzel Whitaker (who was named after Denzel Washington and no relation to Forest) plays his son, James Farmer, Jr. The role of Samantha Booke is played by Jurnee Smollett; she plays a great part on the debate team and her emotion shows on-screen as genuine passion. Henry Lowe, played by Nate Parker, is the most experienced and crafty debater on the team. He is torn between the life of debauchery he grew up in and the genius and power in his mind. Often reacting on habitual instinct instead of doing what he knows is right, he throws a few interesting twists into the story.
The story comes to peak when the debate team from Wiley College eventually finally gets a chance to challenge the debate team at Harvard University. This story made me angry when I saw the lynchings and ignorance that went on, but it also showed the piece of history that helped pave the way for human rights activists like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Overall, this was a very inspiring movie with quite good acting.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
I Am A Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School
Rating: 8
Genre: Documentary
This documentary was shot in Philadelphia in 1992 at an inner city grade school. It follows moments in the lives of various students, teachers, and the principal.
The crux of the movie is the clashing struggle between potential and the existing socio-economic conditions. The principal points out the inequality she faces daily; the fact that her school is allocated $4,000 per child while suburban schools are allocated up to $16,000 per child, etc. She was an extremely caring lady who went way above and beyond just to give these kids as fair of a chance at life as she possibly could.
Some of the kids in the movie were so stinkin’ cute that you just wanted to hug them, feed them, and take them to the safety of your own home. Most of the students’ parents were single moms and many of the parents are either ex-convicts, drug addicts, or both. One girls parents were so messed up that she just started going home to a different place; the man who’s house she went to (she calls him grandpa) said she was like a hide-e-cat who just showed up at his doorstep and when we opened the door she came in and didn’t leave. This kind-hearted man took her in and raised her and kept her safe from the danger she faced from her parents crack-head lifestyle.
One of the teachers was an amazing role models for boys who had no other male role models. He taught them about overcoming racial barriers, not getting into drugs and alcohol, and how to respect themselves and others.
The movie, which won an oscar in 1994, was crushingly depressing at times… but was also charming and hope-filled. As the children’s choir sings this song at the end of the movie you can't help believe the words will come to fruition:
I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.
I can go anywhere that He wants me to go
I can be anything He wants me to be
I can climb the high mountains
I can cross the wide sea
I'm a great big promise you see!
Sadly, in our distracting world, much of the potentiality will be unrealized. Even the genuinly loving principal quit – she was so invested that she burned out due to the lack of internal (help from parents) and external (financial basics) support. I would’ve loved to see a ‘where are they now’ segment to find out how much these students were impacted by the people who tried so hard to build a solid foundation for them to stand upon.
Genre: Documentary
This documentary was shot in Philadelphia in 1992 at an inner city grade school. It follows moments in the lives of various students, teachers, and the principal.
The crux of the movie is the clashing struggle between potential and the existing socio-economic conditions. The principal points out the inequality she faces daily; the fact that her school is allocated $4,000 per child while suburban schools are allocated up to $16,000 per child, etc. She was an extremely caring lady who went way above and beyond just to give these kids as fair of a chance at life as she possibly could.
Some of the kids in the movie were so stinkin’ cute that you just wanted to hug them, feed them, and take them to the safety of your own home. Most of the students’ parents were single moms and many of the parents are either ex-convicts, drug addicts, or both. One girls parents were so messed up that she just started going home to a different place; the man who’s house she went to (she calls him grandpa) said she was like a hide-e-cat who just showed up at his doorstep and when we opened the door she came in and didn’t leave. This kind-hearted man took her in and raised her and kept her safe from the danger she faced from her parents crack-head lifestyle.
One of the teachers was an amazing role models for boys who had no other male role models. He taught them about overcoming racial barriers, not getting into drugs and alcohol, and how to respect themselves and others.
The movie, which won an oscar in 1994, was crushingly depressing at times… but was also charming and hope-filled. As the children’s choir sings this song at the end of the movie you can't help believe the words will come to fruition:
I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.
I can go anywhere that He wants me to go
I can be anything He wants me to be
I can climb the high mountains
I can cross the wide sea
I'm a great big promise you see!
Sadly, in our distracting world, much of the potentiality will be unrealized. Even the genuinly loving principal quit – she was so invested that she burned out due to the lack of internal (help from parents) and external (financial basics) support. I would’ve loved to see a ‘where are they now’ segment to find out how much these students were impacted by the people who tried so hard to build a solid foundation for them to stand upon.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Leatherheads
Rating: 7
Genre: Comedy
This movie was about Pro Football in the mid-1920s, so while it was a comedy it also had an historical note to it that I really loved - especially since I'm a huge football fan.
George Clooney is at his best when he plays a character who has an overtly faulty, everyday man quality, while at the same time is extremely sharp-witted and clever as he did in O Brother Where Art Thou. Such was the case in this movie too. Renee Zellweger plays the female lead, a newspaper journalist who shoots fiery quips right back at Dodge (Clooney). The two have a great on-screen chemistry that made this movie much better than it should've been. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert on The Office) played the other lead part and does a much much better job than he did in License To Wed.
The story was pretty fun and only slightly predictable. It reminded me of A League of Their Own with more wit and a bit deeper story.
Genre: Comedy
This movie was about Pro Football in the mid-1920s, so while it was a comedy it also had an historical note to it that I really loved - especially since I'm a huge football fan.
George Clooney is at his best when he plays a character who has an overtly faulty, everyday man quality, while at the same time is extremely sharp-witted and clever as he did in O Brother Where Art Thou. Such was the case in this movie too. Renee Zellweger plays the female lead, a newspaper journalist who shoots fiery quips right back at Dodge (Clooney). The two have a great on-screen chemistry that made this movie much better than it should've been. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert on The Office) played the other lead part and does a much much better job than he did in License To Wed.
The story was pretty fun and only slightly predictable. It reminded me of A League of Their Own with more wit and a bit deeper story.
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