Something the Lord Made

Play Preview This Emmy-winning HBO film based on a true story follows white surgeon Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and his black assistant, Vivien Thomas (Mos Def), who teamed in the 1940s to develop a procedure to save children suffering from a heart defect. But Thomas's status as a second-class citizen prevented him from getting recognition, as Blalock took all the credit. Their relationship, while close, was complicated by the social realities of the time.

I have grown to appreciate the acting capabilities of Alan Rickman. In this film he plays the roll of Doctor Blalock. He’s very convincing in the roll. Mos Def is another great actor. This film was moving and very interesting. Doctor Blalock has a language problem which may be offensive to some.Kimball ***

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Music of the Heart

Play Preview In director Wes Craven's inspiring Oscar-nominated drama -- which is based on a true story -- violinist and single mother Roberta Guaspari (Meryl Streep) struggles to convince the administration at an East Harlem high school to let her establish a music program. Having won that battle, Roberta nonetheless continues to face an uphill climb as budget cuts threaten her determined and deeply felt efforts to bring the arts to underprivileged kids.

I love music anyway.  This is a great story and Meryl Streep is fantastic in her roll as Roberta.  Music is a powerful medium for both good and evil.  I praise those who use it for good.  The acting is great, the script well written, and the story is heart warming. Kimball ****

Netflix link to Music of the Heart

My Dog Skip

Lonely, 9-year-old Willie Morris (Frankie Muniz) lives in the flea-bitten town of Yazoo, Miss. He stinks at sports and has no playmates. So, over the strenuous objections of his hardnosed father (Kevin Bacon), Willie's mother (Diane Lane) buys him a dog that he promptly dubs "Skip." Before you know it, Skip transforms Willie's life: He makes friends, plays sports and develops an unbreakable bond with the spunky terrier. Based on a true story.

This is a nice film, and the fact that it is based on a true story makes just a little better. I’ve actually stayed the night in Yazoo City, MI. It’s a small town on the rail road and quite pretty. The story is rather predictable, but the acting is good and the coming of age themes are well treated. It’s a decent film. –>Kimball***

Link to My Dog Skip

Forever Strong

Rick (Sean Faris) is a star player on his dad's rugby team until a DUI lands him in a reformatory. While he's serving his sentence, tough rival coach Larry Gelwix (Gary Cole) allows him to play for his team, which helps Rick straighten up his act. Upon his release, however, Rick becomes a pariah to his former teammates and even his father when he refuses to divulge Gelwix's strategies. Sean Astin co-stars in this inspiring true story.

I enjoyed watching this film. The rugby sequences were really good and the story was uplifting. The acting was not really up to par and the lines were predictable, but all in all this is a good film. Sean Astin is the best actor in this flick co-staring as Rick's counselor at the juvenile detention facility. Rick is not your typical young man and if your teens can relate to him, well, then you have issues. -->Kimball***

Netflix link to Forever Strong

Swimming Upstream

Jesse Spencer ("House M.D.") stars in the true-life drama of Australian swimming champion Tony Fingleton. Desperate to escape his tortuous older brother and alcoholic father (Geoffrey Rush), Tony finds sanctuary and his life's calling at the local public pool. And though his new passion is marred by his father's growing animosity and illness, the talented athlete nevertheless perseveres, ultimately gaining both sports glory and self-respect.

Aside from his violent father and some profanity this is really a pretty good film. It's well acted and a great story. Tony rises to the top in spite of terrible odds motivated by his mother's love and his desire to go to the states to attend a prestigious university. He proves that anything is possible if you really want it. The terrible consequences of alcohol are portrayed with some disturbing scenes of domestic violence, and one is left feeling a certain degree of simpathy for Tony's father who is a victim of his past. I felt a desire to cheer Tony, love his mother, cry for his family, and help his father. It made me wonder what a difference it would have made in the life of this family to have found the gospel. -->Kimball***

Netflix link to Swimming Upstream

Amistad

Steven Spielberg directed this story about the 1839 revolt aboard Spanish slave ship La Amistad and the uprising's tragic aftermath. An African-born slave (Djimon Hounsou) leads a mutiny against his brutal captors. Because the ship is in American waters, a U.S. court must decide the slaves' fate. In an eloquent courtroom speech, ex-president John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) argues for the Africans' freedom.

Very interesting history. Very well made. Great performances by all including Matthew McConaughey and Morgan Freemanand. I was suprised that I hadn't heard of this film. The twists and turns of this story are great. It is very mature in its theme and drama. There are some disturbing scenes involving torture of slaves and black slave nudity. Small children should not watch this. For history sake and awareness I say this is a must see. Some may dissagree with me, but oh well, se la vi. -->Kimball****

Netflix link to Amistad

The Pennsylvania Miners Story

During the summer of 2002, time stopped for nine Pennsylvania coal miners who were trapped inside a mine for more than three days. Miraculously, all survived -- an uplifting ending to a story most thought would end in tragedy. This made-for-TV movie tells the miners' story from their point of view using actual locations and footage from the real-life Quecreek mine. Stars John Ratzenberger, Michael Bowen and Robert Knepper.

This was ok. Not really great as movies go, but a good story. It's worth seeing, but not as the main feature. -->Kimball**

Netflix link to The Pennsylvania Miners Story

The Great Raid

Based on real-life events, The Great Raid brings to light a daring rescue mission launched by Lt. Colonel Henry Mucci (Benjamin Bratt) that will put him and the battalion he leads in grave danger. His goal? To liberate the Americans and Filipinos who've been captured by the Japanese and thrown into brutal POW camps located in the city of Cabanatuan in the Philippines. Co-stars Joseph Fiennes and James Franco. The Blu-Ray version of this film is unrated.

I was attracted to this film because of it's historical content. I had learned years ago about general Douglas MacArthur who's famous words "I shall return" have stayed in my mind ever since. General MacArthur was assigned to fight the Japanese in the Philipines until President Roosevelt ordered him off the island. Roosevelt decided to focus the US millitary on the war in Europe and left some 72,000 troops, Allied and Phillipino to be taken captive after a brutal and extended standoff on the Baatan. MacArthur protested but left under orders vowing to return. Three years later a daring mission was devised by a young Westpoint grad in which 511 POW soldiers were rescued by 120 Army Ranger and a handful of Fillipino gorillas against a force of some 1300 Japanese. Pay attention to the stats at the end of the film. This is a graphically violent film not good for children. -->Kimball****

Netflix link to The Great Raid

The Express

Rob Brown stars in the true story of Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win football's Heisman Trophy. Dubbed the "Elmira Express" for his relentless drive, Davis also lived up to the nickname off the field as he battled for racial equality. Dennis Quaid co-stars as Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, who teaches Davis the game and in return learns much from his running back's bold civil rights achievements.

This is great film because Ernie Davis was really a great guy. Rob Brown is as good as he always is as is Dennis Quaid. I like seeing good people to great things and for the right reasons. This film may have a bit of a racial twist, but the story is fantanstic nonetheless. -->Kimball****

Netflix link to The Express

Believe in Me

After accepting a job to coach high school basketball, Clay Driscoll (Jeffrey Donovan) is disappointed to discover he's been assigned to the girls' team. But the harder he works his female players, the more he sees that they're just as capable of greatness as boys are. Samantha Mathis and Bruce Dern co-star in this small-town sports drama based on the true story of an Oklahoma coach who led his team to the state championships in the 1960s.

This film is based a true story. Jeffrey Donovan is not a great actor in my opinion, but he does a fare job with this one. Bruce Dern in the same old bad guy you've come to love from his past films. The story is a good one and if you like sports shows you'll like this one. -->Kimball ****

Netflix link to Believe in Me

Miracle at Midnight

A valiant Danish doctor (Sam Waterston) and his family struggle against Nazi oppression and try to help their Jewish countrymen survive the Holocaust by escaping across the Baltic Sea to neutral Sweden. Co-starring Mia Farrow, this taut and suspenseful movie originally aired on television's "The Wonderful World of Disney."

A great film. Intense and moving. I really liked the goodness of the characters. Very well acted, and wonderfully filmed. I wonder if there are people like this anymore. The doctor and his family risk all to save their Jewish friends and become in the end some of WWII's greatest heros. -->Kimball*****

Netflix link to Miracle at Midnight

The Children of Huang Shi

In this sweeping historical drama, British correspondent George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) attempts to save 60 war orphans during Japan's occupation of China in the 1930s. With help from a guerilla fighter (Yun-Fat Chow) and a nurse (Radha Mitchell), Hogg leads the children across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain -- struggling to overcome one obstacle after another -- while falling in love and learning what courage truly means.

This was a loooooong movie. Interesting history, and a really good story but it just took too long to tell it. Our hero George, turns out to be an impressive figure and a great example of courage, and sacrifice. The R rating is for some disturbing war seens where the brutality of the Japanese is shown in graphic images. Again, what I liked about this film most was that it was a fact based story. -->Kimball ***

Netflix link toThe Children of Huang Shi

The Greatest Game Ever Played

With a pint-sized caddie (Joshua Flitter) at his side, amateur golfer Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) shocked the world at the 1913 U.S. Open when he outplayed defending British champ Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane). But Ouimet's rise to the top wasn't easy, with a hard-nosed father (Elias Koteas) and a hard-knock life to overcome. Actor Bill Paxton (in his third time out as a director) helms this inspiring true-life story based on actual events.

A good family drama for teens and adults. Well acted, and good story. I like films based on real events. This is a low key film, not any action to speak of, but it gave me reason to cheer for the underdog. -->Kimball ***

Netflix link to The Greatest Game Ever Played

Night Crossing

Night Crossing tells the incredible true-life story of two intrepid East German families who hatch a plan (during the Cold War, of course) to escape and head west by using hot-air balloons. Starring John Hurt, Jane Alexander, Beau Bridges and Glynnis O'Connor, this family drama is an inspiring tale of the extraordinary lengths oppressed people will go to find freedom.

This is one of my all-time favorite films. If you haven't seen it, or haven't seen it for a long time, you need to get this one. It's full of suspense, mystery and family. It's a great main feature. Every American should have to watch this film before a presidential election. These families live in the prototype country that our ellustrious progressive leaders would like us to live in where the fairness doctrine is "all for them, none for you." The story is about two families escaping what we are becoming, East "Obamany". -->Kimball *****

Netflix link to Night Crossing

Luther

This epic movie follows the life of Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes), author of the then-controversial 95 Theses and founding father of the Protestant church who, with the courage of his convictions, faced the wrath of the church in the 16th century, all in the name of religious freedom. Co-stars Alfred Molina as John Tetzel, Jonathan Firth as Girolamo Aleander, Claire Cox as Katharina von Bora and Sir Peter Ustinov as Fredrick the Wise.

This film was spectacularly made. Great sets and impressing filming. Excellent story, and compelling drama. I feel like I need to see it again, there was so much to take in. Luther was a great man and this film does him justice. I have read some about this great reformer and I found the film to be mostly consistent with what I have read. The "Church in Rome" is portrayed as the oppressive political power that it actually was at that time. The PG-13 rating comes from a single scene lasting about 60 sec. in which corpses are strewn all over after the peasents revolt and are squashed by the King. Little kids don't need to see this. But the rest of the film has no offensive material. -->Kimball *****

Netflix link to Luther

Gettysburg

The fiercest battle fought on American soil comes to the screen in a stunning production that painstakingly re-creates the events of three fateful days in July 1863. Tom Berenger, Jeff Daniels, Martin Sheen and Richard Jordan play key roles in this magnificent epic (based on Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Killer Angels), which was filmed at actual battle locations and rigorously authenticated -- right down to the boots.

I really enjoyed this film. This is the second time I have seen it and I could watch it again. Mostly because I really enjoy history. But add to my love of history a very well acted and directed film and wa-la there you have it. The stories within the story are incredible. The battle scenes are well acted. The irony of this war is the fact than there really weren’t good guys and bad guys, just a difference of opinion. It’s long. It takes two nights to watch it, but it’s worth it. —>Kimball * * * * *

Netflix link to Gettysburg

The Lost Battalion

It began on October 2nd, 1918, when the men of the U.S. Army's 77th Division, 308th Battalion were surrounded by German troops in the Argonne Forest. Without food, water or reserve ammunition, cut off from supply and communication lines, they managed to hold off the enemy until they were finally rescued.

What an incredible story. I cringed, I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t look, I couldn’t move, I screamed. My heart was broken, my spirits lifted. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a moving story. The DVD has a documentary with it also that is a must see. The bravery and the sacrifice of these men turned the course of the war, but at great loss. The film is void of bad language or sex, but it is very violent, and very, if not too, bloody. The horrors of war are graphically displayed, and goodness and honor are championed in our hero, a New York lawyer-pacifist who commands a battalion of lower east side New Yorkers. -->Kimball * * * * *

Netflix link to The Lost Battalion

The Final Season

Tiny Norway, Iowa, loves baseball; games played by the high school team, the Tigers, unite the community. So when authorities decide the town is too small for its own school, the residents are devastated. Now, rookie coach Kent Stock (Sean Astin) must lead the Tigers to victory for one last season. Based on a true story, this touching drama co-stars Powers Boothe, Rachael Leigh Cook, Michael Angarano, Larry Miller and Tom Arnold.

This was a nice film. A bit slow, not high quality acting, but nice. It’s a good story, and worth seeing. The baseball sequences are very good, and believable. Sean Astin did alright with his roll, but I just couldn’t quite let go of him as Frodo’s buddy Sam. He wasn’t a very convincing coach. The film is a good relaxer. ->Kimball * * *

Netflix link toThe Final Season

Valkyrie

Wounded in Africa during World War II, Col. Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) returns to his native Germany and joins the Resistance, becoming involved in a daring plan to create a shadow government and assassinate Hitler. Soon, events dictate that he become a central player -- and he finds himself tasked with both leading the coup and personally killing Hitler. Based on true events, this drama co-stars Stephen Fry, Bill Nighy and Eddie Izzard.

A good drama, but not really a war picture. The previews led me to think this was an action war film, but instead it was a suspenseful drama. I did really enjoy the movie for it’s historical content, and compelling story. I’m not a big Tom Cruise fan but he gave a great performance in the film. The bravery and courage of the coup is inspiring and helps one understand that not everyone under a dictator likes what he is doing. In fact, as portrayed in the film most of Germany’s citizens were as much victims of Hitler as were his conquered and gassed subjects. –>Kimball * * * *

Netflix link to Valkyrie

End of the Spear

Many years after his missionary father was speared to death at the hands of Waodani tribesmen, a young man (Chad Allen of television's "Webster" and "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman") returns to the Ecuadorian jungle to meet the native (Louie Leonardo) who murdered his father and learn the truth about his family's legacy. The result is a life-altering experience that brings him closer to the kin of his father's killer.

I wasn’t sure about posting this one, but after consideration I decided it was worthy of viewing. The filming is incredible, and the native scenes are well done. The story is a bit slow at times, but worth seeing. There are scenes of violence that young children should watch. Forgiveness and change are the themes of this film. –>Kimball * * *

link to End of the Spear